Ministry Deep Dive

Part 2 of our conversation with Jen Pollock Michel as we continue to discuss her book, In Good Time. We are all busy, and have a hard time cultivating the habits that enable both being and doing. If we can't cultivate good habits, we have a harder time fulfilling God's mission.

In this episode, Travis and Jenn discuss some of the seven deadly sins, and how our contemporary online lives are often guilty of the sin of vainglory, and our constant scrolling is a form of the ancient sin of acedia. We need to address these sins and cultivate habits that enable godliness.

Jen is a writer, speaker, coach, and podcast host. She is the author of five books: A Habit Called Faith, Surprised by Paradox (winner of Christianity Today’s 2020 Award of Merit for Beautiful Orthodoxy), Keeping Place, and Teach Us to Want (winner of Christianity Today’s 2015 Book of the Year). She holds a B.A. in French from Wheaton College, an M.A. in Literature from Northwestern University, and is working to complete an M.F.A from Seattle Pacific University. After eleven years of living in Toronto, Jen now lives in Cincinnati with her husband and two youngest children. You can follow Jen on Twitter and Instagram @jenpmichel, subscribe to her Monday letters at www.jenpollockmichel.com, and listen to episodes of the Englewood Review of Books podcast.

Learn more about Jen

Listen to Part 1

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Are you tired of being tired? Tired of being stressed out? Tired of not getting stuff done? How are those New Year's resolutions coming along? We all can get frustrated and overwhelmed with all the things that need to be done. Every year there is a new guru who pops up to help us do more, but what about "be" more? How can we get done what we need to get done, but resist hurry and practice peace at the same time?

Today, we welcome Jen Pollock Michel onto the show to discuss her book, In Good Time.

Jen is a writer, speaker, coach, and podcast host. She is the author of five books: A Habit Called Faith, Surprised by Paradox (winner of Christianity Today’s 2020 Award of Merit for Beautiful Orthodoxy), Keeping Place, and Teach Us to Want (winner of Christianity Today’s 2015 Book of the Year). She holds a B.A. in French from Wheaton College, an M.A. in Literature from Northwestern University, and is working to complete an M.F.A from Seattle Pacific University. After eleven years of living in Toronto, Jen now lives in Cincinnati with her husband and her two youngest children. You can follow Jen on Twitter and Instagram @jenpmichel, subscribe to her Monday letters at www.jenpollockmichel.com, and listen to episodes of the Englewood Review of Books podcast.

Learn more about Jen

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Takeaways:

• The conversation emphasizes the importance of reexamining our relationship with time in order to avoid the pitfalls of modern productivity culture, which often views individuals as mere machines.
• Jen Pollock Michel's book, 'In Good Time', introduces eight habits designed to help individuals resist the impulse to hurry and embrace a more peaceful approach to productivity.
• The podcast discusses the notion that time management, as understood today, has been co-opted by modern assumptions, detracting from its original biblical intent of redeeming time.
• The hosts reflect on the societal pressures that lead individuals to feel excessively busy, often at the expense of meaningful relationships and spiritual growth.
• A significant theme of the episode is the concept of belonging and how our relationships with others are fundamental to living out our faith amidst the chaos of contemporary life.
• The discussion also touches on the alarming conditions faced by workers in modern corporations like Amazon, which serve as a metaphor for broader societal issues concerning human dignity and productivity.

Travis Michael Fleming engages in a thought-provoking dialogue with Dr. Albert Mohler, a prominent figure in evangelical thought and the current president of Southern Seminary. The conversation traverses a wide array of topics, primarily focusing on the evolving landscape of Christianity and the challenges faced by the church today. Mohler reflects on the significant cultural shifts impacting the church, particularly the recent phenomenon termed the 'great dechurching,' where millions are leaving traditional church settings. He provides a nuanced perspective, arguing that this trend is not entirely surprising, given the historical trajectory of secularization in society. Both Fleming and Mohler explore the implications of these changes, emphasizing the need for a robust Christian cultural identity that stands in contrast to the prevailing secular norms, advocating for a gospel that is not only preached but lived fully in every aspect of life.

They also tackle the topic of political engagement for Christians, especially during an election cycle characterized by division and moral complexity. Mohler asserts that while Christians must take a stand on social issues such as abortion and marriage, they should do so with a spirit of humility and a clear understanding of the gospel's transformative power. The discussion is rich with historical context, drawing on past theological insights to inform current practices, and highlights the importance of establishing vibrant, convictional communities that reflect the teachings of Christ. Mohler's insights serve as both a warning and a call to action for believers navigating the tumultuous waters of modernity, urging them to embrace their faith with courage and conviction while engaging meaningfully with a world that is increasingly hostile to traditional values.

Takeaways:

• Dr. Albert Mohler emphasizes the importance of a thick Christian culture that transcends contemporary cultural norms.
• The decline of church attendance reflects a loss of cultural convenience rather than conviction.
• Engaging in the political arena is necessary for Christians, but we must maintain integrity.
• The church must focus on translating the gospel into every culture while retaining its essence.
• Mohler argues for the necessity of Christianity in supporting liberal democracy and human dignity.
• Christians should not fear societal decline but rather engage with renewed commitment to faith.

Learn more about Dr. Mohler, his program The Briefing, and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

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Can our Lord be seen by our politics? What do our politics say about us? Is the message of Jesus communicated in it? What about the way of Jesus? How is our Christian witness being affected by our politics? Do the means we employ reveal the message we believe? What happens if we focus on the message but miss the means? Listen in as Travis and Pete continue their conversation on politics in evangelicalism.

Travis welcomes special guest Pete Wehner to the show today. Pete is a Senior Fellow at the Trinity Forum, a writer and thinker who served in the Reagan administration and both Bush presidencies including as head of the office for strategic initiatives. He has written three books and has written for many publications, recently for The Atlantic and the NY Times. I met Pete at a symposium and found him to be a thoughtful and insightful voice in evangelicalism and into evangelicals' political involvement. He is a committed Christian, a political insider, and a voice needed for this moment.

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Takeaways:

• The healing of a country fundamentally relies on the healing of individual lives, emphasizing personal relationships.
• As Christians, it is imperative to engage with those who differ in opinion, fostering understanding and compassion rather than viewing them as mere political adversaries.
• Political engagement should reflect our identity as Christians, prioritizing our faith over partisanship and political gain.
• The Christian witness is severely compromised when political actions contradict the core tenets of love and unity emphasized by Jesus.
• Building genuine relationships and understanding others' stories is essential for reducing divisions within the church and society at large.
• In politically charged climates, Christians are called to embody the values of patience and compassion, reflecting Christ's teachings in all interactions.

Is our political focus, which we believe is for the greater good, actually doing the opposite for the Christian witness today? How do we maintain our integrity in the midst of political compromise? Is there a third way? Should we focus on the lesser of two evils? What happens if we continue to do that?

Travis welcomes special guest Pete Wehner to the show today. Pete is a Senior Fellow at the Trinity Forum, a writer and thinker who served in the Reagan administration and both Bush presidencies including as head of the office for strategic initiatives. He has written three books and has written for many publications, recently for The Atlantic and the NY Times. I met Pete at a symposium and found him to be a thoughtful and insightful voice in evangelicalism and into evangelicals' political involvement. He is a committed Christian, a political insider, and a voice needed for this moment.

Episodes featured in today's show: Misreading Scripture with Individualist Eyes by Randy Richards.

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Takeaways:

• The healing of a nation fundamentally relies on the healing of individual lives, emphasizing personal transformation.
• Engaging with differing perspectives within one’s community fosters understanding and deepens relationships, transcending mere political discourse.
• The political landscape today poses significant challenges for communities of faith, often resulting in division among congregants and families.
• Christians must navigate the complexities of political engagement while maintaining their commitment to the teachings of Jesus Christ.
• Many church leaders express a desire to avoid political discussions to focus solely on spiritual matters, yet they must confront the realities of their congregants' beliefs.
• The approach to politics among Christians should be characterized by integrity, empathy, and a commitment to truth, rather than divisive rhetoric.

Travis and Kevin reflect on their favorite episodes and books for 2023 and give a vision for Apollos Watered moving forward to help you water your world!

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Listen in as many of the guests from Apollos Watered over this past year read the Christmas story. Merry Christmas!

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Where is their idolatry in the evangelical church today? What idolatries have we smuggled into the church? How do we handle this? What will happen if we don't? How do we reach our crazy post-everything world today? Is there anyone we can turn to? Is there a person who can give us clarity? Is there a different perspective that we have to consider?

In this second conversation with professor and former missionary, Matthew Bennett, they continue to discuss his book, Hope for American Evangelicals.

Using Lesslie Newbigin as a guide, Matthew takes a missionary perspective to help us look at the American evangelical house and what needs to be done to remodel it by removing the rot and enhancing the good. Travis and Matthew discuss evangelicalism, missions, contextualization, multi-ethnic ministry, sexual ethics and so much more. It's a conversation to help you find the connecting points to reach your world with the glorious news of Jesus.

Check out part 1 of the conversation or Reaching and Teaching Ministries International.

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How do we reach our crazy post-everything world today? Is there anyone we can turn to? Is there a person who can give us clarity? Is there a different perspective that we have to consider? Travis welcomes professor and former missionary, Matthew Bennett, to the show to discuss his book, Hope for American Evangelicals. Using Lesslie Newbigin as a guide, Matthew takes a missionary perspective to help us look at the American evangelical house and what needs to be done to remodel it by removing the rot and enhancing the good. Travis and Matthew discuss evangelicalism, missions, contextualization, multi-ethnic ministry, sexual ethics and so much more. It's a conversation to help you find the connecting points to reach your world with the glorious news of Jesus.

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Help revitalize the church in this moment! Support the ministry of Apollos Watered and transform your world today!

Are you creative? Have you felt your creative gifts weren't desirable or valuable for the gospel and the expansion of God's kingdom? If you have, then this episode is for you! Too often the creatives among us have been relegated to the kids' table of ministry, and in doing so we have lost the ability to tap into the imagination and help people to see who God is. There have been so many creatives that the church has lost simply because there wasn't a value placed upon them.

Travis welcomes Amy Howley Pierson to the show to discuss her book, Makers in a Thinker's World: What Brain Science Teaches about the Spiritually Transforming Power of Creativity. Rediscover what it means to be creative, what our brains say about it, and how important it is in our spiritual formation.

Learn more about Amy.

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