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

Is it possible to change Washington, D.C. without it changing you? Today’s guest, Peter Wehner, thinks so. But he’s also a bit of an anomaly: a serious Christian who felt he never had to compromise his faith while serving in the Reagan and both Bush administrations. How did his faith and career merge? Did he ever have to hold back on what he believed in order to keep his role as an advisor? How did he justify the decisions around the wars going on at the time? Hear Peter and Keith discuss how serving in the highest levels of politics can (and can’t!) corrupt your faith. And what kinds of pressures do all Christians face to conform? Listen now!

Are you an advisor like Peter? Or maybe you’re an artist, protester, trainer, builder, or ambassador? Find out by taking our quick quiz now: https://joyfuloutsiders.com/archetype-assessment

Have you read "Joyful Outsiders" yet? It's available now! Learn more, read a sample chapter, and grab your own copy here: https://joyfuloutsiders.com/

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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We all like to think of ourselves as good people, right? Had we been around “back then,” we would have opposed slavery, marched for women’s suffrage, and rescued Jews from the Holocaust. But can we be so sure? The reality is that many prominent Christians, including those considered to be the Founding Fathers of Evangelicalism, have had major blindspots, particularly concerning slavery. But does the context and timeline in which you grew up provide a credible excuse for your behavior? Today’s guest, Sean McGever, is a historian and the author of “Ownership: The Evangelical Legacy of Slavery in Edwards, Wesley, and Whitefield.” Hear him unpack how the cultural thinking of the 18th century impacted Christianity and whether or not we should take that into consideration, or cancel these men altogether. Plus, is it generally true that Christians led the eventual abolitionist movement? And what are some possible modern blind spots in our culture today?

"Joyful Outsiders" is available now! Learn more, read a sample chapter, and grab your own copy here.

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! 🙏

Plus, the conversation is just beginning! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to join in on the dialogue! If you disagree with anything in this episode, we'd love to hear your thoughts here. Want to learn more about Truth Over Tribe? Visit our website and subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

Want more truth over tribe? Check out our resources!

“I enjoy running toward darkness.” “The only way to cultivate justice is to resist injustice!” Resonate with those statements? Then you might be a protester, or someone who knows God opposes injustice and speaks courageously on behalf of the powerless. On today’s episode, we’re continuing our series breaking down the six types of joyful outisders that God uses to impact culture. Scott Crosley, the founder and President of Pivot, an organization that rescues women and children from sexual slavery, joins us to provide one such example. In this inspirational interview, Scott explains the process of exposing hidden brothels and rescuing trafficked women and children around the world. He explains how the victims end up in these situations and what he’s observed as some of the core drivers behind human trafficking. But where did he get his desire to do this? How does he cope with all he sees? Is his ministry really solving the root of the problem? Listen now!

Are you a protester too? Or maybe you’re an artist, builder, trainer, builder, advisor, or ambassador? Find out by taking our quick quiz now: https://joyfuloutsiders.com/archetype-assessment

"Joyful Outsiders" is available now! Learn more, read a sample chapter, and grab your own copy here: https://joyfuloutsiders.com/

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! 🙏

Plus, the conversation is just beginning! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to join in on the dialogue! If you disagree with anything in this episode, we'd love to hear your thoughts here. Want to learn more about Truth Over Tribe? Visit our website and subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

Want more truth over tribe? Check out our resources!

So, a Christian and a secular film festival director walk into a bar. Actually, they’re the same person. How? That’s the crazy story we’re telling on today’s episode when we continue our series breaking down each of the six types of “Joyful Outsiders” God uses to engage with culture. Jeremy Brown, a Christian and former Executive Director of a progressive, non-Christian film festival, joins us to provide an example of the advisor, those who impact culture by influencing the influential. Advisors are “in the room where it all happens” and aren’t necessarily in charge, but influence people in power. Jeremy explains his backstory and how he got involved with the internationally recognized True/False Film Fest. Did this secular organization know much about his personal faith convictions? How did he help bridge the gap between the film fest and one of the festival’s sponsors, his own church? And how did he handle the controversy that ensued after a contradictory sermon at his church led to a dramatic partnership ending that drew national attention? What kind of advice would he offer to other advisors with a foot in both worlds? Listen now!

Are you an advisor too? Or maybe you’re an artist, protester, trainer, builder, or ambassador? Find out by taking our quick quiz now.

"Joyful Outsiders" is available now! Learn more, read a sample chapter, and grab your own copy here.

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! 🙏

Plus, the conversation is just beginning! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to join in on the dialogue! If you disagree with anything in this episode, we'd love to hear your thoughts here. Want to learn more about Truth Over Tribe? Visit our website and subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

Want more truth over tribe? Check out our resources!

Is it culturally acceptable to be a Christian again? Is it cool to be a conservative now? Is culture turning its back on the last ten progressive, anti-religious years? Consider today’s episode a vibe check on our current cultural moment. Everybody seems to be talking about a cultural vibe shift, but what does it mean? What’s changed? Keith and Patrick team up on today’s episode to break it down. They examine American vibe shifts of the past and provide a number of recent examples to prove a new cultural shift is here: Bible sales rising to an all-time high, Joe Rogan showcasing his spiritual openness, “Trump dances” trending in the NFL, tech billionaires proudly attending the inauguration, businesses shutting down DEI departments, Meta firing fact checkers, and more. But why is all of this happening? Did the progressive movement become a victim of its own success? And how should Christians react? Does this new cultural vibe shift present more opportunities for spreading the Gospel? Will a more shallow version of “cultural Christianity” begin to rise? Listen now!

"Joyful Outsiders" is available now! Learn more, read a sample chapter, and grab your own copy here.

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.

“A period of cultural change is commencing.” That’s what Paul Anleitner recently posted on X. But what cultural vibe shift is he referencing? Have we come to the end of postmodernism? Paul joins Patrick on the pod today to discuss our new metamodernism moment. Paul is a writer, theologian of culture, podcast host, and pastor. He begins by explaining the progression from modernism to postmodernism, and how the 1990s ushered in a level of cynicism and suspicion that’s remained until just recently. He then explains how he’s observed a newer metamodern vibe shift: the exhaustion of cynicism, the failure of postmodernism, the myth of secular progressivism, and the crisis of meaning that’s led to a sincere desire for authenticity. Providing examples such as Creed and Ted Lasso, he explains why he believes our culture is ready to “embrace the cringe.” But what does a new metamodern era look like? And what opportunities does this metamodern moment open up for Christians? Listen now!

"Joyful Outsiders" is available now! Learn more, read a sample chapter, and grab your own copy here.

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.

“Create wealthy, autonomous consumption machines.” That’s been described as the end goal of the American dream. Sounds positive at face value. But is it biblical? This week’s episode continues our series of breaking down the six ways that Christians can impact culture as presented in our book, “Joyful Outsiders.” Today, we’re focusing on builders, or people who build institutions where we live our common life (think: business, healthcare, education, church, etc.). To illustrate, we’re talking to Brent Beshore, Founder and President of Permanent Equity, a private equity firm that operates much differently than its counterparts. Brent starts by detailing his own journey and how he went from an atheist to a Christian. He explains how he weaves his faith into business, resisting the urge to create a model that’s built on self-reliance. He points out the pitfalls of the American dream, describes his ultimate goal for his businesses, and shares where he allows Christian values to come into play in business settings. Plus, is it a sin to be rich? How can someone know if it’s God, or the allure of the American dream, that’s calling them to an opportunity? And what advice would he give to people who want to resist the temptation to build their own kingdoms? Listen now!

Are you a builder too? Or maybe you’re an artist, protester, trainer, builder, advisor, or ambassador? Find out by taking our quick quiz now.

"Joyful Outsiders" is available now! Learn more, read a sample chapter, and grab your own copy here.

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.

How can we change culture without being changed by culture? In our new book, “Joyful Outsiders,” we explore this question and share six ways that Christians are called to navigate and transform the world around them. In today’s episode, we’re focusing on the trainer, or someone who changes the world by discipling others, changing habits, and introducing people to the Bible and prayer. Dirk Smith, VP of Eastern European Mission, joins Patrick to provide one such example. Through EEM, Dirk is taking Bibles and Bible-based materials into 30+ countries in over 20 languages. Hear Dirk share a specific example from Ukraine, where he helped place Bibles in over three-fourths of their public schools and has seen measurable impacts on their society as a whole. Plus, what are some lessons that the Church needs to learn from trainers? What would he say to churches that are tempted to be fixated on politics over evangelism? Listen now! 

Are you a trainer too? Or maybe you’re an artist, protester, builder, advisor, or ambassador? Find out by taking our quick quiz now: https://hubs.li/Q034ztC30

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.

You know what’s better than FOMO? JOMO. The JOY of missing out. Because once you accept your calling as an outsider, you can experience the joy of Jesus. On today’s episode, we’re giving you a sneak peek inside the pages of our new book, Joyful Outsiders. The book is officially available on January 21, 2025, but you can hear chapter one today! In this chapter, you’ll learn about the event that sparked the idea for this book: a community crisis that caused local Christians to disagree on an appropriate, “biblical” response. Maybe you’ve felt this way: Our culture is chaotic and confusing. Should we condemn it? Condone it? Ignore it? What if our calling isn’t to resist the tension, but to embrace it? To follow the example of Jesus and choose the path of the outsider? And to do so… joyfully? Listen now! 

Preorder Joyful Outsiders now and be the first to receive it next week.

Joyful Outsiders lays out six ways to navigate our confusing culture. Are you an ambassador? An advisor? Or maybe you're a trainer, artist, builder, or protester? Find our in our free self-assessment.

Have you benefitted personally from Truth Over Tribe or seen it have a positive effect on someone you know? have you used the podcast, book, or blog as a catalyst for conversation on polarizing topics? We want to hear about it! Share your story at choosetruthovertribe.com/story.

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! 🙏

Plus, the conversation is just beginning! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to join in on the dialogue! If you disagree with anything in this episode, we'd love to hear your thoughts here. Want to learn more about Truth Over Tribe? Visit our website and subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

Want more truth over tribe? Check out our resources!

Have you ever thought, “I want to get better at sharing my faith, but I don’t know where to start”? Then this episode is for you! In our new book, “Joyful Outsiders,” we break down six ways that Christians can change culture (without being changed by culture). On today’s episode, we’re focusing on ambassadors, those who find great joy in sharing the gospel with people who are far from God and seeing them come to faith in Jesus. Joining us to provide such an example is our friend, Patrick Cox. Patrick is the Chief Production Officer at Veterans United Home Loans in Columbia, Missouri. Today, Patrick shares some practical evangelism tips learned through years of sharing his faith through “Faith and Doubt” discussion groups at work. He explains the motivation behind his drive for evangelism, whether or not he ever feels intimidated by the process, and how he addresses people’s most intense questions and skepticisms. Plus, what are the most common doubts he encounters? Has he noticed a current shift in the public’s opinion on Christianity? How should Christians approach those who have experienced church hurt? Patrick ends by providing some practical guidelines for more effectively sharing your faith. Listen now!

Are you an ambassador? Or maybe you're an advisor, trainer, artist, builder, or protester? Find out in our free self-assessment.

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.