More to the Story with Andy Miller III

In this podcast, Dr. Chris Lohrstorfer joins me to unpack a frequent misunderstanding in Wesleyan theology: the idea that we simply “have a free will” in the doctrine of salvation.

John Wesley and the Methodist tradition do affirm human responsibility and the ability to respond to God—but not through an inherent, independent free will untouched by sin. Instead, Wesley emphasized that sin binds the human will, rendering us unable to turn to God on our own. This is where prevenient grace comes in: God’s initiating, enabling grace that goes before us, restoring a measure of freedom so we can graciously respond to His work in Christ.

Chris and I walk through this doctrine carefully, aiming to bring clarity to what it truly means to have a grace-enabled response to God’s actions on our behalf through the person of Jesus. We address the common error of overemphasizing “free will” without anchoring it in divine grace, and explore how this fits into the broader Wesleyan understanding of salvation.

Whether you’re exploring Arminian theology, wrestling with questions of predestination and choice, or simply want a clearer picture of Methodist beliefs on freedom and grace, this episode offers thoughtful, biblically grounded insight.

I think you’ll enjoy this one—tune in for a clarifying discussion on one of the most debated topics in soteriology!

Youtube - https://youtu.be/WkN-wqTUTcE

Audio - https://andymilleriii.com/media/podcast

Apple -  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/more-to-the-story-with-dr-andy-miller/id1569988895?uo=4

If you are interested in learning more about my two full-length video-accompanied courses, 

Contender: Going Deeper in the Book of Jude and

Heaven and Other Destinations: A Biblical Journey Beyond this World , visit andymilleriii.com/courses

And don’t forget about my most recent book, Contender, which is available on Amazon! 

Five Steps to Deeper Teaching and Preaching - Recently, I updated this PDF document and added a 45-minute teaching video with slides, explaining this tool. It's like a mini-course. If you sign up for my list, I will send this free resource to you. Sign up here - www.AndyMillerIII.com or Five Steps to Deeper Teaching and Preaching. 

Today’s episode is brought to you by Wesley Biblical Seminary. Interested in going deeper in your faith? Check out our certificate programs, B.A., M.A.s, M.Div., and D.Min degrees. You will study with world-class faculty and the most racially diverse student body in the country. www.wbs.edu

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend and leave a review! For more from Andy Miller III, visit andymilleriii.com or follow @andymilleriii on X.

Thanks too to Phil Laeger for my podcast music. You can find out about Phil's music at https://www.laeger.net

In this episode of More to the Story, I sit down with Dr. David A. Croteau, professor of New Testament, to discuss his book Urban Legends of the New Testament: 40 Common Misconceptions. We explore how context, history, and Greek often get overlooked, leading to popular misinterpretations of Scripture. From the Gospels to Revelation, David shares insights on correcting these “urban legends” with careful exegesis—equipping listeners to read the Bible more accurately. A thoughtful conversation for anyone wanting deeper understanding.

Youtube - https://youtu.be/UrapRu7KYz4

Audio - https://andymilleriii.com/media/podcast

Apple -  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/more-to-the-story-with-dr-andy-miller/id1569988895?uo=4

Here is a link to David’s book - https://a.co/d/3UMXLp3

If you are interested in learning more about my two full-length video-accompanied courses, 

Contender: Going Deeper in the Book of Jude and

Heaven and Other Destinations: A Biblical Journey Beyond this World , visit andymilleriii.com/courses

And don’t forget about my most recent book, Contender, which is available on Amazon! 

Five Steps to Deeper Teaching and Preaching - Recently, I updated this PDF document and added a 45-minute teaching video with slides, explaining this tool. It's like a mini-course. If you sign up for my list, I will send this free resource to you. Sign up here - www.AndyMillerIII.com or Five Steps to Deeper Teaching and Preaching. 

Today’s episode is brought to you by Wesley Biblical Seminary. Interested in going deeper in your faith? Check out our certificate programs, B.A., M.A.s, M.Div., and D.Min degrees. You will study with world-class faculty and the most racially diverse student body in the country. www.wbs.edu

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend and leave a review! For more from Andy Miller III, visit andymilleriii.com or follow @andymilleriii on X.

Thanks too to Phil Laeger for my podcast music. You can find out about Phil's music at https://www.laeger.net

In this powerful and inspiring episode of More to the Story, I sit down with Garry Ingraham, founder of Love and Truth Network, for a candid conversation about his personal testimony. Garry shares his story of transformation—growing up in a Christian home, struggling with same-sex attraction, living in the LGBTQ community, and ultimately finding freedom and redemption through faith in Jesus Christ. We dive deep into themes of identity, grace, healing, and the intersection of love and truth in today's cultural conversations. Whether you're wrestling with similar issues or seeking to understand how God's love can change lives, this episode offers hope, compassion, and biblical insight. Don't miss Garry's raw honesty and the practical wisdom he imparts for those supporting loved ones on similar paths.

Youtube - https://youtu.be/U_FaRuhfvhw

Audio - https://andymilleriii.com/media/podcast

Apple -  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/more-to-the-story-with-dr-andy-miller/id1569988895?uo=4

Love and Truth Network - https://loveandtruthnetwork.com/

If you are interested in learning more about my two full-length video-accompanied courses, 

Contender: Going Deeper in the Book of Jude and

Heaven and Other Destinations: A Biblical Journey Beyond this World , visit andymilleriii.com/courses

And don’t forget about my most recent book, Contender, which is available on Amazon! 

Five Steps to Deeper Teaching and Preaching - Recently, I updated this PDF document and added a 45-minute teaching video with slides, explaining this tool. It's like a mini-course. If you sign up for my list, I will send this free resource to you. Sign up here - www.AndyMillerIII.com or Five Steps to Deeper Teaching and Preaching. 

Today’s episode is brought to you by Wesley Biblical Seminary. Interested in going deeper in your faith? Check out our certificate programs, B.A., M.A.s, M.Div., and D.Min degrees. You will study with world-class faculty and the most racially diverse student body in the country. www.wbs.edu

If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend and leave a review! For more from Andy Miller III, visit andymilleriii.com or follow @andymilleriii on X.

Thanks too to Phil Laeger for my podcast music. You can find out about Phil's music at https://www.laeger.net

As America approaches its 250th anniversary, Os Guinness asks a sobering question: Will the republic renew its founding ideals or collapse under cultural conflict? In this episode, Os and I explore the key themes of his new book, America Agonistes: America’s 250th and the Restoration of a Nation in Conflict with Itself and Its Past. We discuss the fragility of freedom, the crisis of identity, and why moral and spiritual renewal—not just political reform—is essential for America’s future.

Youtube - https://youtu.be/HxwDZbeKreE

Audio - https://andymilleriii.com/media/podcast

Apple -  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/more-to-the-story-with-dr-andy-miller/id1569988895?uo=4

Get his book here! https://a.co/d/9tiThmS

If you are interested in learning more about my two full-length video-accompanied courses, 

Contender: Going Deeper in the Book of Jude and

Heaven and Other Destinations: A Biblical Journey Beyond this World , visit andymilleriii.com/courses

And don’t forget about my most recent book, Contender, which is available on Amazon! 

Five Steps to Deeper Teaching and Preaching - Recently, I updated this PDF document and added a 45-minute teaching video with slides, explaining this tool. It's like a mini-course. If you sign up for my list, I will send this free resource to you. Sign up here - www.AndyMillerIII.com or Five Steps to Deeper Teaching and Preaching. 

Today’s episode is brought to you by Wesley Biblical Seminary. Interested in going deeper in your faith? Check out our certificate programs, B.A., M.A.s, M.Div., and D.Min degrees. You will study with world-class faculty and the most racially diverse student body in the country. www.wbs.edu

Thanks too to Phil Laeger for my podcast music. You can find out about Phil's music at https://www.laeger.net

In this episode I talk with Dr. Caleb T. Friedeman about his groundbreaking new book, Gospel Birth Narratives and Historiography: Reopening a Closed Case (Baylor University Press). For centuries, scholars have debated whether the birth narratives of Jesus in Matthew and Luke were intended as history or legend. Many modern studies dismiss them as legendary embellishments.

Dr. Friedeman challenges this skepticism by showing that, in ancient biographies, birth narratives were typically written with historiographic intent. His research demonstrates that the Gospel birth narratives fit this pattern, meaning they were meant to be understood historically—not as myth.

We discuss:

• Why modern scholarship often sidelines Jesus’ birth narratives
• How ancient biographers like Plutarch and Suetonius treated birth stories
• What this means for reading Matthew 1–2 and Luke 1–2 today
• Implications for historical Jesus studies and Christian faith

This conversation will deepen your appreciation for the Gospels and their historical reliability.

Youtube - https://youtu.be/3j6SQLa_zCM

Audio - https://andymilleriii.com/media/podcast

Apple -  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/more-to-the-story-with-dr-andy-miller/id1569988895?uo=4

Dr. Caleb T. Friedeman (PhD, Wheaton College) is David A. Case Chair of Biblical Studies and Associate Research Professor of New Testament at Ohio Christian University. He is the author of The Revelation of the Messiah and coauthor of Holiness: A Biblical, Historical, and Systematic Theology. His latest work, Gospel Birth Narratives and Historiography, reframes the discussion of Jesus’ birth in historical scholarship.

Resources & Links:

• Order Gospel Birth Narratives and Historiography from Baylor University Press
• Connect with Dr. Caleb Friedeman: calebfriedeman.com

If you are interested in learning more about my two full-length video-accompanied courses, 

Contender: Going Deeper in the Book of Jude and

Heaven and Other Destinations: A Biblical Journey Beyond this World , visit andymilleriii.com/courses

And don’t forget about my most recent book, Contender, which is available on Amazon! 

Five Steps to Deeper Teaching and Preaching - Recently, I updated this PDF document and added a 45-minute teaching video with slides, explaining this tool. It's like a mini-course. If you sign up for my list, I will send this free resource to you. Sign up here - www.AndyMillerIII.com or Five Steps to Deeper Teaching and Preaching. 

Today’s episode is brought to you by Wesley Biblical Seminary. Interested in going deeper in your faith? Check out our certificate programs, B.A., M.A.s, M.Div., and D.Min degrees. You will study with world-class faculty and the most racially diverse student body in the country. www.wbs.edu

Thanks too to Phil Laeger for my podcast music. You can find out about Phil's music at https://www.laeger.net

On Today’s Podcast - Learn how Methodism became a worldwide mission.
It is broadly understood that John Wesley was the founder of the Methodist movement that spread around the world in the eighteenth century. He is known for being a missionary in Georgia, his “heart-warming” experience at Aldersgate, field preaching, and the famous quote “the world is my parish.” It is also assumed that Wesley was a proponent of world missions and helped spread the Methodist movement around the world. Phillip examines this assumption and, after a closer look, reveals John Wesley’s reluctance to send missionaries overseas. This was a fascinating discussion that I think gives nuance to the way we think about the history of world missions. 

In this episode of More to the Story, I sit down with Dr. Kenneth J. Collins, Professor of Historical Theology and Wesley Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary, to discuss his latest book, Generous Divine Love: The Grace and Power of Methodist Theology (Abingdon Press). Dr. Collins offers a fresh vision of Wesleyan theology centered on the abundant generosity of God’s holy love.

We explore:

• Why Wesleyan theology emphasizes grace as a gift rather than something earned
• The beauty of “holy love” and its transformative power for Christian living
• Practical implications for pastors, scholars, and laity

This conversation will inspire you to rediscover the heart of Methodist theology—a theology that celebrates God’s lavish grace and calls us to overcome division and tribalism with generous love.

Youtube - https://youtu.be/SxwRMWa4zxw

Audio - https://andymilleriii.com/media/podcast

Apple -  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/more-to-the-story-with-dr-andy-miller/id1569988895?uo=4

Dr. Kenneth J. Collins is an internationally recognized scholar in Wesley Studies and Historical Theology. He has authored more than nineteen books, including The Theology of John Wesley and The Scripture Way of Salvation. His newest work, Generous Divine Love, invites readers into a doxological celebration of God’s holy love and grace.

Dr. Collins’ Book - Generous Divine Love from Abingdon Press

If you are interested in learning more about my two full-length video-accompanied courses, 

Contender: Going Deeper in the Book of Jude and

Heaven and Other Destinations: A Biblical Journey Beyond this World , visit courses.andymilleriii.com

And don’t forget about my most recent book, Contender, which is available on Amazon! 

Five Steps to Deeper Teaching and Preaching - Recently, I updated this PDF document and added a 45-minute teaching video with slides, explaining this tool. It's like a mini-course. If you sign up for my list, I will send this free resource to you. Sign up here - www.AndyMillerIII.com or Five Steps to Deeper Teaching and Preaching. 

Today’s episode is brought to you by Wesley Biblical Seminary. Interested in going deeper in your faith? Check out our certificate programs, B.A., M.A.s, M.Div., and D.Min degrees. You will study with world-class faculty and the most racially diverse student body in the country. www.wbs.edu

Thanks too to Phil Laeger for my podcast music. You can find out about Phil's music at https://www.laeger.net

Jay Hanson is the conference superintendent for the South Georgia Global Methodist Church and the lead pastor at the Chapel in Brunswick, Georgia. In his new book, God is Still Calling: How to Listen to God's Voice in a World Full of Noise, Jay offers practical wisdom and inspiring stories to help you recognize God's voice in everyday life, transforming busyness into purpose, connection, and clarity.

Youtube - https://youtu.be/3uq-Kv2Laro

Audio - https://andymilleriii.com/media/podcast

Apple -  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/more-to-the-story-with-dr-andy-miller/id1569988895?uo=4

Here is a link to Jay’s book - https://www.inviteministries.org/store/view/god-is-still-calling/

And here is a link to Seeking More Light: Essays in Salvation Army Thought Honoring R. David Rightmire - https://a.co/d/bp7g8Gv

If you are interested in learning more about my two full-length video-accompanied courses, 

Contender: Going Deeper in the Book of Jude and

Heaven and Other Destinations: A Biblical Journey Beyond this World , visit courses.andymilleriii.com

And don’t forget about my most recent book, Contender, which is available on Amazon! 

Five Steps to Deeper Teaching and Preaching - Recently, I updated this PDF document and added a 45-minute teaching video with slides, explaining this tool. It's like a mini-course. If you sign up for my list, I will send this free resource to you. Sign up here - www.AndyMillerIII.com or Five Steps to Deeper Teaching and Preaching. 

Today’s episode is brought to you by Wesley Biblical Seminary. Interested in going deeper in your faith? Check out our certificate programs, B.A., M.A.s, M.Div., and D.Min degrees. You will study with world-class faculty and the most racially diverse student body in the country. www.wbs.edu

Thanks too to Phil Laeger for my podcast music. You can find out about Phil's music at https://www.laeger.net

Audio - https://andymilleriii.com/media/podcast

Apple -  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/more-to-the-story-with-dr-andy-miller/id1569988895?uo=4

If you are interested in learning more about my two full-length video-accompanied courses, 

Contender: Going Deeper in the Book of Jude and

Heaven and Other Destinations: A Biblical Journey Beyond this World , visit courses.andymilleriii.com

And don’t forget about my most recent book, Contender, which is available on Amazon! 

Five Steps to Deeper Teaching and Preaching - Recently, I updated this PDF document and added a 45-minute teaching video with slides, explaining this tool. It's like a mini-course. If you sign up for my list, I will send this free resource to you. Sign up here - www.AndyMillerIII.com or Five Steps to Deeper Teaching and Preaching. 

Today’s episode is brought to you by Wesley Biblical Seminary. Interested in going deeper in your faith? Check out our certificate programs, B.A., M.A.s, M.Div., and D.Min degrees. You will study with world-class faculty and the most racially diverse student body in the country. www.wbs.edu

Thanks too to Phil Laeger for my podcast music. You can find out about Phil's music at https://www.laeger.net

Mark Tooley says that, “Antisemitism, in subtle and blatant forms, likely will grow in American Christianity. Discerning American Christians must prepare to counter it.” Join me for this discussion on this week’s podcast.

Youtube - https://youtu.be/P4X4NqnvNno

Audio - https://andymilleriii.com/media/podcast

Apple -  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/more-to-the-story-with-dr-andy-miller/id1569988895?uo=4

https://juicyecumenism.com/2025/11/02/christian-antisemitism/

If you are interested in learning more about my two full-length video-accompanied courses, 

Contender: Going Deeper in the Book of Jude and

Heaven and Other Destinations: A Biblical Journey Beyond this World , visit courses.andymilleriii.com

And don’t forget about my most recent book, Contender, which is available on Amazon! 

Five Steps to Deeper Teaching and Preaching - Recently, I updated this PDF document and added a 45-minute teaching video with slides, explaining this tool. It's like a mini-course. If you sign up for my list, I will send this free resource to you. Sign up here - www.AndyMillerIII.com or Five Steps to Deeper Teaching and Preaching. 

Today’s episode is brought to you by Wesley Biblical Seminary. Interested in going deeper in your faith? Check out our certificate programs, B.A., M.A.s, M.Div., and D.Min degrees. You will study with world-class faculty and the most racially diverse student body in the country. www.wbs.edu

Thanks too to Phil Laeger for my podcast music. You can find out about Phil's music at https://www.laeger.net