How do you know if God is calling you into vocational ministry? How do you know if you should go to seminary? Where do your desires fit into your calling? Expect to hear answers to these questions as well as Sam's own story of how God called him into ministry and the role that Dan played in process.

Are there more or less essential doctrines in the Christian faith? Are there worse sins? How do we order and rank doctrines and practices? In this episode, Sam and Dan discuss theological and ethical triage. They also discuss the need for triage today, especially in the online Christian media world. Some things are not worth fighting about. How do we know what those issues are?

In this episode, Sam and Dan talk about their recent ministry in the South Pacific. They discuss teaching evangelism cross-culturally as well as their recent experiences doing evangelism.

In this episode, we discuss the buzz around Harrison Butker's commencement speech at Benedictine College in Atchison, KS. Throughout Scripture, we see the undeniable reality that Christians are going to be hated by the world. Jesus was called horrible names, slandered, and ultimately killed. He promised nothing different for His disciples. Harrison Butker's speech revealed that the issues of manhood and womanhood are the main issues under attack today. We need to stand firm, like Butker, for what we believe. We cannot cave to name-calling and cancelation attempts. Christians change culture by getting married, having kids, and stepping into the calling of biblical manhood and womanhood.

To read the transcript of Butker's speech, click this link: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesfarrell/2024/05/15/heres-harrison-butkers-controversial-commencement-speech-in-full/?sh=33d47d3c7937

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In this episode, we discuss a quote from Doug Wilson from his interview with Tucker Carlson. After Tucker asked Doug why so many people are out to get him even though his Christian beliefs are quite normal, Doug Wilson responded by saying "I mean it." So what does it mean to mean your faith? The Christian life is not a theory. It is a life of action and holy living. Doctrine is meant to be applied. And when it is, it exposes the people whose faith is a mere facade.

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One of the sins that everyone does to varying degrees is emotional blackmail. Emotional blackmail is when you condemn someone as guilty because he/she hurt your feelings even though he/she did nothing wrong. And often, these feelings are hurt because of unmet expectations. You have to ask yourself, though, are my expectations realistic? And did I communicate these expectations to this person I know am emotionally blackmailing? The solution: be a servant, giver, and helper -- considering others more significant than yourself.

To learn more about our ministry, visit: afci.us

How important is reading? In this episode, we make a theological case that reading the written word is deeply significant, not only the Bible but books of all genres in general. Dan and I discuss our journies with reading and several tips for what to read and how to develop a habit of reading.

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In this episode, we discuss the controversial "He Gets Us" Super Bowl ad and the foot-washing scene in John 13. What is Jesus teaching by washing His disciple's feet? Why does Jesus only wash the feet of the twelve? What does the Bible mean by love and hate? We answer all these questions and more as we consider the reality of the gospel.

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What motives should characterize gospel ministry? What are the impure motives that tend to stigmatize many preachers and evangelists? What are the methods consistent with the gospel? Does God care about methods? We answer these questions as we unpack 1 Thessalonians 2:3-4 and consider Paul's ministry amidst a negative world.

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In this episode, we discuss the history of evangelicalism in America and how we, as evangelical Christians, arrived in a negative world. Long before Aaron Renn popularized his framework of the three worlds of evangelicalism, Dan reminds us that a number of earlier evangelical leaders were warning us about the sudden shift in America in doctrine, morality, and fundamental worldview beliefs. Men like Francis Schaeffer and Chuck Colson are among them. Apparently no one listened to their warnings.

To learn more about our ministry, visit:

afci.us