Today on Back Porch, Lisa & Allison kick off a new six-part series Mountains & Valleys, exploring how God meets us in both the highs and lows of life. From Lisa’s 50-mile Appalachian Trail hike to Moses’ burning bush encounter, they remind us that God’s presence is steady, His covenant sure, and our journeys best walked with persistence and community. So grab a pumpkin flavored latte, pull up a chair, we’re so glad you joined us!

During today’s conversation on the porch, Lisa, Allison, and Dr. Brian Litfin unpack the Nicene Creed, emphasizing the Trinity’s unity, the power of the resurrection, and the role of the Holy Spirit. Dr. Litfin contrasts the gospel’s hope with pagan despair, giving historical and cultural insight into Christ’s victory over sin, death, and Satan. You might be asking - How does this all apply to us today? Listen in as we discuss – right here on the porch!

Today’s conversation on Back Porch Theology is one of the best we’ve had in a while because it’s basically a dissertation on why play and celebration should be a part of every Christ-follower’s spiritual formation plan! 

While there’s no single verse proving that our Savior laughed and played during His earthly life and ministry, there are a plethora of passages that imply it like the literary. The Bible proves over and over again that Christoformity – being shaped like Jesus – isn’t always supposed to be serious and somber. Being playful can be every bit as spiritual as being prayerful. 

Today’s going to be a fun day on the porch y’all, so you might want to bring a caffeinated drink, a yummy snack, and your Bible. And try to talk one of your small group friends who thinks spiritual maturity and grumpiness are congruent into hanging out with us too, because we’re going to expose that myth as being biblically indefensible! Thanks for carving the time out of your day to be with us – we love getting to spend these moments on the porch with you.

During today’s conversation on Back Porch Theology, Alli and I are tip-toeing carefully into foreign territory because we’re talking about the massive benefit of having moments when we’re not talking! 

C.S. Lewis wrote extensively about the value of solitary moments and considered silence to be a powerful force for spiritual transformation – he described it as a strategic way to get closer to God. 

It’s going to be a good day on the porch, y’all – whether you’re a saint of few words or a gabber like us – so please pour yourself a mug of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate, grab your Bible, and pull up a chair. We’re so glad we get to spend this time leaning more fully into the love of God with you.

Today’s conversation on Back Porch Theology we’re talking about the spiritual discipline of fasting – the willingness to forgo food, or social media, or some other physical or emotional comfort in order to focus more of our attention and affection on God. 

One of my favorite ancient theologians, Thomas A’Kempis, wrote this in his classic book “The Imitation of Christ”: True peace of heart therefore is found by resisting our passions, not by obeying them. Our Savior is the only One who can master us without abusing us. And sometimes, allowing ourselves to feel physical hunger pains is what prompts us to lean more fully into Jesus to satisfy the spiritual hunger in our hearts and minds. 

We’re diving in pretty deep today y’all, so please grab a tall glass of something refreshing, along with your Bible and a notebook or sticky pad and come hang out on the porch with us. We’re so grateful we get to spend this time with you.

Today’s conversation on Back Porch Theology is the first in a 4-part series exploring the biblical foundations of “Spiritual Formation.” 

There are lots of strong opinions regarding which practices in particular should be included in a classic spiritual formation plan, but we’re only going to cover a couple here on BPT, beginning with table fellowship. Have you ever noticed how often Jesus gathered around a table with His friends and disciples and shared a meal? 

The Gospels include as many depictions of our Savior eating as it does Him praying! Frankly, sharing meals and worshipping God are synergistic throughout the Bible. Please grab your favorite beverage, a couple of snacks, and your Bible then come prop your feet up on the porch with us. We’re really glad you’re here!

Today’s conversation on Back Porch Theology is a sequel because Alli and I got to hang out with one of our dear friends, Professor Kristi McLelland. This snippet from Kristi’s new book, Feasting on God’s Word, will give you a glimpse of the adventure we’re diving into today: “Life is both long and short. It has high and low moments. The promise of the Bible is that God is with us in and through it all. He has never been afraid of entering into the dust and ruin; restoration renewal, and repair are part of who He is.” We’re diving in pretty deep today y’all, so I’d encourage you to lean in and listen when you’ve got some breathing space and a little elbow room for the great, big, beautiful – albeit possibly weary – heart of yours. So please grab your favorite beverage, some yummy snacks, and that divine love letter we call the Bible. Then pull up a chair and prop your feet up on the porch with Alli, Professor Kristi, and me – we’re grateful you’ve carved out the time and space to be with us today.

During today’s conversation on Back Porch Theology Alli and I have the distinct privilege of diving deep into this divine love letter we call the Bible with one of our very dear friends who just so happens to be a world-renowned Bible scholar, Professor Kristi McLelland. Kristi spent over a year living in Egypt and Israel so that she could study Scripture in its original socio-historical context, and the fruits of her labor will leave you gob-smacked with wonder over the accessible, redemptive truisms in God’s Word. Just listen to this excerpt from her new book, Feasting on God’s Word, “We are not orphans; we are not fatherless. We do not have to open the Bible and dig something out to feed ourselves. We are not alone in the moment. When we approach the Word of God, we do so as sons and daughters postured to receive. Rather than having to feed ourselves, we are readying ourselves to inherit and take in whatever the living God is ready to say and do as we interact with the Text.” If you want less duty and more delight when you engage with the redemptive narrative and promises found in God’s enscripturated revelation, today’s episode is tailor made for you, baby! So please grab an iced mocha and of course bring your Bible as you pull up a proverbial chair on the porch with us…we’re really glad you’re here!

During today’s conversation on Back Porch Theology, Alli and I are hanging out with one of my dear friends, DawnCheré Wilkerson, who’s really gifted at something I really struggle with, which is waiting. The first time I met DawnCheré – about ten years ago – she and her husband, Pastor Rich Wilkerson, were in the midst of a very long season of infertility. And yet she was somehow pregnant with hope. When I asked her how she held onto genuine hope and joy after so many years of heartbreak and disappointment, she told me that God was teaching her to live in the wait. Waiting is inescapable. And while we might feel like a whole lot of nothing is going on in a slow burn, we couldn’t be more wrong. There most definitely is something going on. God has not forgotten you and because of His immutable presence and grace, we can all experience the miraculous juxtaposition of divine wonder within our waits. So please fix yourself a cup of coffee and your Bible, and come hang out on the porch with us. We’re really glad you’re here today.