Beloved Covenant College professor, author, and family man, Dr. Kelly Kapic, joins us to talk number 2 pencils and the spirituality of college students. He shares some of his joys teaching at Covenant College, a small private Christian college atop Lookout Mountain, and also voices misconceptions of Christian college. There are some valid concerns Dr. Kapic has for today’s Christian college student yet many encouraging thoughts, too. So what hurdles does a Christian education pose to a students’ spirituality? What invaluable lessons about community and singleness can be gleaned from such a unique institution? And what’s this … the Mad Woman went to Covenant College - who ever let her out of the attic!?

Child abuse … it's not just a Catholic church issue but pervades into the pulpits and pastorate of the Protestant church, too. What measures does your church take in checking the backgrounds and even reputations of its leaders? What cover-ups are there? Is there room for questioning a leader…even leaders with "immaculate" records or "big-names"? The Church must take seriously the damage done when turning a blind eye, misusing grace and mercy at the expense of victims who may remain silent and leaders going unchecked in their power. 1 Timothy and Titus give us ample reason to put our leaders under a magnifying glass so to protect the flock from a potential, even preying shepherd. This is a relevant conversation, one every church should take time to consider and apply.

With us today is Dr. Scott Manetsch from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. His charge for us is to consider the importance of reading and “knowing” John Calvin. Dr. Manetsch wears many hats: a professor of Church History and the History of Christian thought, author of Calvin’s Company of Pastors, and old friend to Carl Trueman. (It goes without saying, his most trying role is that of his friendship to Carl. Surely heaven’s reward is to be great for such a long-suffering saint!). Tune in to hear Dr. Manetsch attest to Calvin’s exemplary, intense pastoral care as he shares inspiring stories from Calvin’s ministry.

Two shady sheep wandered into Todd's megachurch today. Skirting by security, Carl and Aimee are incognito to rate Todd's preaching and their notes are ... lacking in content. Aimee's doing her usual multitasking - doodling nun chucks and jotting her grocery list while Carl's a man of one talent today: sleep.  Probably not the shining examples you'd expect but raises an important question: How are we on listening to the preached word? Take it from these two, it's not always easy, especially with Pruitt in the pulpit. Is sitting under God's preached word something we take seriously, strategically, thoughtfully? Are we diligent or complacent, prepared or passive? And is there a difference between listening and hearing? Carl, Aimee & Todd take these questions to task while offering some basic tips and aids for congregants and their covenant children. Listen up, this is something we all need to hear.  

The Sledge Sisters sing about it, we are born into one, and it’s God’s idea: Family. So how does family relate to the Church and its grander mission (even the Great Commission!)? What constitutes a family, how does it reflect the image of God and … what about singles? We are joined by John McClean, Vice President of Christ College in Australia, teaches Systematic Theology and Ethics, and was a minister four years at Cowra Presbyterian Church. Dr. McClean discusses family in its biblical nature and purpose. He’s Australian so there’s an unspoken competition between the two foreigners, Carl vying he has the more appealing accent, but let’s be honest … anyone or anything sounds better than an Englishman from Gloucestershire.