Not Just Sunday: Christian Life, Following Jesus, & Daily Discipleship

Well-read? Well, that’s dead. But is it true? Are Americans really reading far less today than in the past? According to recent polls, the answer is yes. Research shows that the current median for American adults is reading five books per year, with half of adults reading less than that. But why are we reading less? And why does it matter? On today’s episode, fellow bookworms Keith and Patrick give a quick cultural analysis of the ways that lower literacy rates are impacting both the culture and the church. They describe oral cultures of the past, citing that America is neither an oral nor a literary culture, but that the digital era has forever changed the way that we take in information. And how should the church respond, particularly Christian leaders? The two end with some practical tips, giving suggestions for why, what, when, and how to read more. Listen now! 

Note: This episode is from our previous podcast, Truth Over Tribe. We’ve kept a few of these conversations on our feed because they're worth revisiting, but the tone and focus have shifted from what we’re doing now on Not Just Sunday. For new episodes focused on how Christians can live out a full-time faith, check out Not Just Sunday, right here on the same feed.

Last Friday Tim Keller passed away after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. In this episode, Patrick opens by remembering Tim Keller's influence on his own life, and then has a conversation with Keller's biographer, Colin Hansen about Tim's ministry. This conversation was recorded before Keller's life.

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Joshua Butler’s book on sex, Beautiful Union, has been the center of an online controversy for two months, with many critics warning that it's profoundly harmful. In it, Josh issues a call for Christians to see sex as a window into God’s story. Today, Patrick sits down with Josh to ask him to explain the book’s themes in his words and respond to many thoughtful, substantive critiques. You’ll hear Josh explain his upbringing, who he wrote the book for, and why the beauty of sex is an important apologetic. Plus, you'll hear him address some incredibly important critiques: Is referring to sex as an icon of divine reality really appropriate? Is he just rewrapping purity culture? Was his language too graphic? Does his way of thinking lead to trinitarian heresies? Could it be used to justify marital rape? Does theologizing about sex ignore the real-world plight of women? And more. 

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Buy the Beautiful Union Book

“Participation in mainstream religion has plummeted, but Americans have never been more spiritually busy.” That’s how author Tara Isabella Burton describes today’s shifting religious landscape in her book, Strange Rites: New Religions for a Godless World. Today, she joins Patrick to discuss this phenomenon which she refers to as “remixed spirituality,” or the pick-and-choose model of religion that’s driven by our intuitions over our institutions. You’ll hear Tara explain how much of today’s bespoke religions are designed around personal freedom and self-expression. But would Jesus have been pro-self-care? Is society really a cage that must be rejected? And whether we realize it or not, have we let this thinking slip into our understanding of Christianity? Listen now!

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Oh my bot! This episode is a first of its kind! This week, we teamed up with the podcast, Love Thy Neighborhood, to talk about whether or not artificial intelligence can be subverted for Gospel purposes. If you’re not already familiar, Love Thy Neighborhood is a narrative-style podcast that explores discipleship and missions for modern times. In this episode, Patrick joins the LTN team to discuss AI in depth: how it works, how it’s shaping our world, and how it’s impacting the faith lives of real-world Christians. You’ll hear stories from several guests detailing AI gone wrong, AI gone right, and whether or not AI can help us have a meaningful relationship with Jesus. Ultimately, we must ask ourselves: What are the problems associated with AI? And can we genuinely use it for good? Listen now! 

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Listen to the Love Thy Neighborhood Podcast

4,000 weeks. That’s all we get. And that’s assuming you live 76 years which obviously isn’t a guarantee. According to Oliver Burkeman, author of Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, there’s immense value in finally arriving at this realization: life isn’t as long as we think it is. So, what should we do about it? Squeeze every imaginable thing we can into every single day? Burkeman believes in a better way. Today, he and Keith discuss: Why do humans have such a hard time living in the present? Why do we crave busyness? What makes our life meaningful, and how can we practically decide to do things that matter? What’s the lie behind time management and the promise of efficiency? And how do Christians and non-Christians approach these questions differently? Listen as Burkeman explains why it’s so crucial to live in the present and accept our mortality and finitude.

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Buy the Four Thousand Weeks Book

Buy The Antidote Book

It’s no secret that institutional trust in America is at an all-time low. But is that lack of trust merited? And what should we do about it? This week, Keith sits down with Bonnie Kristian, a seasoned journalist and the author of Untrustworthy, a book that dives into why we’re losing trust in institutions, specifically media institutions. Listen as Bonnie answers: Why has this breakdown of institutional trust occurred? What are the consequences of low trust? What are the negative effects of the Information Age? How have technology shifts and incentive restructuring compromised today’s media? And why are Christian media outlets fracturing as well? Not only does Bonnie diagnose these problems, but she provides solutions by issuing a challenge: Ultimately, the key to making a difference and building back trust starts with YOU. Listen now! 

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Buy the Untrustworthy Book

Buy the A Flexible Faith Book

Oh, baby! You won’t want to miss this one! Did you know that in the last 50 years, the global fertility rate has been rapidly declining? But why is this happening? And is it a big deal or not? Today, Keith and Patrick examine the fertility decline in the U.S. and abroad, plus they discuss the impacts of lower fertility on society. What’s causing this shift in thinking: Government? Finances? Climate change? Culture? What’s more irresponsible: To breed? Or not to breed? And how should Christians, in particular, approach having children? Listen now! 

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Do you care enough about local politics? Or have you, like many Americans, sold your soul to national politics, potentially missing what’s going on in your own backyard? Today, Patrick sits down with the hosts of the popular podcast Pantsuit Politics: Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silvers. Together, Sarah and Beth provide a tangible example of navigating political differences in a healthy way. Their recent book Now What? elaborates on that concept, urging readers to find connection when our differences are constantly on display and understand our work as citizens in a diverse country. In this episode, they tackle several topics: What’s the risk of being too fixated on national politics? How has their experience in local politics changed their views? And is there enough diversity represented in local politics? Plus, what good can come from social media in our politically polarized landscape? And what tests must politicians pass in order to earn their votes? Listen now!

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Buy the Now What? Book

Listen to Pantsuit Politics

Ever played Pac-Man? Remember how it felt when all of the ghosts had you backed into a corner and began to close in on you? For many Christians, today’s cultural moment feels similar to living in this nostalgic arcade game. The far-left, the far-right, and the far-too-upset-with-Christians-crowd descend upon you, and you’re left attempting to navigate the tense (and sometimes hostile) cultural maze as a faithful follower of Jesus. So, why is there so much tension between Christians and today’s culture? That’s what Keith and Patrick discuss this week. Has the world really changed that much in the last five, ten, or fifteen years? Demographic, language, and moral shifts, as well as Christianity’s prominence and reputation, definitely play a role in heightened tensions. But is today’s tension really all new? Should we attempt to find a place in this culture, or will the culture always be a new version of Babylon that we’re forced to navigate as exiles? Most importantly, how does God want us to respond to the tension we feel? Listen now!

Ok, truth time... Did you like this episode? Tell us by leaving a rating or review! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 If you did, you won't want to miss what's next (so subscribe now!). And help a friend by sharing this with them. Thank you! 🙏

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