It’s easy to point out the flaws in your own spiritual family, the blemishes, the baggage, the things you’d change. But when was the last time you stopped to name what you love?

After a summer break, Wes McAdams and Marcus Stenson return to talk about why, despite its imperfections, the Church of Christ is still the fellowship they call home. Why is a cappella singing spiritually formative? What makes this a surprisingly good moment for churches committed to Scripture over spectacle? Plus, Wes and Marcus share an announcement they’ve been sitting on all summer.

Whether you grew up in this fellowship or you’re just curious about it, this conversation might help you see Churches of Christ with fresh eyes.

Links and Resources

* The Christian Chronicle Podcast

* Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer

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What does the Bible say about the person and work of the Holy Spirit? What if the way you think about the Holy Spirit is quietly shrinking your relationship with God? Most of us have been shaped by a culture that wants to take everything apart; to understand the mechanics, extract maximum value, and move on. But what happens when we bring that mindset to the Holy Spirit? When He becomes a force to harness rather than a divine person to know?In John 14, Jesus doesn't introduce the Spirit as a power source. He introduces him as another Helper; the same kind as Jesus Himself. Wes and Marcus dig into what it actually means that the Holy Spirit is a he, not an it; a divine person, not an impersonal force. And they wrestle with why that distinction changes everything: how we pray, how we read Scripture, how we live together as a church, and what the Spirit is actually up to in the world.

Links and Resources

* Empowered by the Spirit by Wes McAdams — Wes’s new book, referenced throughout the episode as the context and backdrop for the whole conversation.

* Logos Bible Study Software - Extended Free Trial

* VidAngel - Filter the TV Shows and Movies You Watch

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Can a Christian actually watch a movie to the glory of God? Play a video game in the name of Jesus? It sounds almost absurd until you realize Paul's command in 1 Corinthians 10:31 doesn't stop at the church door, "Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." That means entertainment too. But what does that actually look like in practice? And how do you avoid the two traps: writing off all entertainment as spiritually dangerous, or treating it as a completely neutral zone where faith has no say? Wes and Marcus have both wrestled with this personally. They bring their own stories, their own failures, and a surprisingly deep theological case for why how and why you consume entertainment matters just as much as what you choose to consume.

Links and Resources

* VidAngel - Skip & mute offensive content you don’t want to see or hear in thousands of movies & TV shows, including profanity, nudity, violence & more.

* When I Relax I Feel Guilty by Tim Hansel — Wes mentioned this book sat on his shelf for years, unread — which, he noted, proved its point perfectly.

* Logos Bible Study Software - Extended Free Trial

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"Count it all joy when you face trials," you've probably heard James 1:2 before. However, if we're being honest, it sounds offensive. Maybe even cruel. When life is falling apart, the last thing most of us want is a command to be joyful about it. Our instinct is to escape, to find someone or something that will rescue us from the pain as fast as possible.But what if that instinct — that desperate need to avoid suffering at all cost — is actually leading us somewhere dangerous? What if James, Peter, Paul, and even Job are all pointing to something we're not sure we really want? Wes and Marcus dig into James 1:2-4 and a surprising thread through Scripture: that suffering isn't just something God permits — it may be exactly what you need to become who you're meant to be.

Links and Resources

* Sponsor: Freed Hardeman University - fhu.edu/graduate

* Pre-Order Wes’ New Book: Empowered by the Spirit: God’s Gift to Strengthen His People and Transform the World

* Free Trial of Logos Bible Study Software

This description contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. We only recommend resources we genuinely believe in.

Most of us have been taught to make peace with death: The circle of life. A natural part of things. Even well-meaning Christians sometimes shrug at the grave, "They're in a better place, so I shouldn't be sad." But what if this instinct to soften death actually robs us of something important? Scripture calls death an enemy, one that God himself wept over, one that steals not just a final breath, but everything that was supposed to flourish before that moment.

And yet Scripture also speaks of God wielding death, of the angel of death in Exodus, of death being cast into the lake of fire. How do we hold those things together? Wes and Marcus wrestle with one of the most heart-wrenching tensions in all of Scripture and what it means for how we grieve, hope, and live.

You’ve heard it your whole life, “Do not be anxious about anything.” But what happens when that verse makes your anxiety worse? When the command to stop worrying just adds guilt on top of the worry you already can’t shake?

Wes and Marcus get honest about the tension so many Christians feel around anxiety: caught between preachers who call it a sin and a culture that treats it as simply unavoidable. What does the Bible actually say? And is there a way out that doesn’t feel impossible or fake?

This conversation might change the way you read Philippians 4:6, and the way you talk to yourself when anxiety hits.

Links and Resources

* The Gospel of Being Human by Marty Solomon — Referenced at the top of the episode; Wes and Marcus discuss their recent conversation with Marty and how his framework undergirds this topic.

* The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt — Wes borrows Haidt’s language to describe the cultural moment we’re living in.

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What if being human isn’t the problem, but the point?

Wes and co-host Marcus Stenson sit down with Marty Solomon, host of the BEMA Discipleship Podcast, campus minister, and author, to explore his newly released book, The Gospel of Being Human (co-authored with Reed Dent). The conversation digs into one of the most transformative questions in theology: What if the gospel story actually begins in Genesis 1 (with humanity’s creation), not Genesis 3 (with our fall)? Marty challenges the assumption that being human is fundamentally bad news. When we recapture the biblical vision of humanity as image-bearers, it changes how we see ourselves, treat our enemies, and participate in God’s redemptive work in the world. If you’ve ever felt like Christianity teaches you to hate yourself before you can be saved, this conversation will be a breath of fresh air.

Links and Resources

Books:

* The Gospel of Being Human by Marty Solomon & Reed Dent (NavPress, 2026)

* Asking Better Questions of the Bible by Marty Solomon (NavPress, 2023)

Podcast:

* The BEMA Discipleship Podcast

Marty Solomon:

* MartySolomon.com

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Anxiety is at an all-time high — but Psalm 46 has been speaking into fearful times for thousands of years. In this episode, Wes McAdams and Marcus Stenson dig into one of Scripture's most powerful psalms about finding refuge in God when the world feels like it's shaking apart. They explore the historical context of siege warfare, what it meant for ancient Israel to declare "God is our refuge," and why that confession is even more radical today. They also unpack the famous phrase "Be still and know that I am God" — and why it may not mean what most of us think. If you're struggling with fear and anxiety in uncertain times, this conversation is a reminder that God is your fortress, evil cannot win, and the best thing you can do is be still and remember who God is.

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Links & Resources

Songs Mentioned:

* "Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies)" — Chris Tomlin

* "10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)" — Matt Redman

* "Our God" — Chris Tomlin

Scripture References:

* Psalm 46 (the full text of the episode's focus)

* Psalm 103 — "Bless the Lord, O My Soul / Forget Not His Benefits"

* Philippians 3:20 — "Our citizenship is in heaven"

* Luke 10 — "Your names are written in heaven"

* Hebrews 6:17–18 — "We who have fled for refuge"

* Romans 8:32 — "He who did not spare his own Son..."

* 1 Corinthians 2:8 — "The rulers of this age did not understand..."

* Job 13:15 — "Though he slay me, yet will I trust him"

What does it truly mean to win? In this episode, Wes and Marcus sit down with Chip Pugh, chaplain and director of team development for the Tennessee Titans, to explore his new book, Made to Win: Six Practices of Jesus for a Life on Mission. Chip brings a unique blend of NFL chaplaincy, college coaching, and decades of disciple-making to challenge our culture's distorted scoreboard of success. Together, they unpack how identity rooted in Christ —not performance, religion, or titles — unlocks the life God designed you to live. Chip walks through his SKILLS framework: six practices modeled on Jesus' own life that help believers hear God's voice, invest in others, and share their faith naturally and authentically. If you've ever wondered whether discipleship and disciple-making is really for "regular" people, this conversation will encourage and equip you.

Links and Resources:

Made to Win: Six Practices of Jesus for a Life on MissionNote: As an Amazon Associate, Radically Christian earns from qualifying purchases. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. We only recommend resources we genuinely believe will benefit you in your walk with Jesus. Thank you for supporting Radically Christian!

Has someone told you that the Bible condemns medicine because of the Greek word pharmakeia? Wes McAdams and Marcus Stenson dig into this popular claim making the rounds on social media and YouTube — and carefully examine what pharmakeia actually means in its original context. They explain why a word’s etymology doesn’t determine its modern meaning, what sorcery truly looked like in the ancient world, and why this passage has nothing to do with your local pharmacy. Along the way, they tackle how to read the book of Revelation responsibly, why psychedelic drug use is a legitimate modern application of the warning, and how Christians can wisely navigate questions about medicine, mental health treatment, and reliance on God. If you’ve seen these videos online and wondered whether to take them seriously, this episode will help you think clearly, biblically, and without unnecessary fear or guilt.

Links and Resources:

* Sponsor: Freed-Hardeman University (https://fhu.edu/gradtheology)

* Loyal to the Lamb (Revelation Sermon Series)

Note: This podcast description may contain affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, Radically Christian may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. We only recommend resources we genuinely find helpful. Thank you for supporting Radically Christian!