The final city of our series is one of the most important in the New Testament. Ephesus was Paul's home base for many years, a gospel hub and gateway to Greece. The church was pastored by Timothy, and the Apostle John made it his home as well. The church received a letter from Paul, two to Timothy, and one from Jesus in Revelation. It was a city transformed by the Gospel, and a model for ministry today. 

One of the goals of great books is to help us see our world more clearly. Few books do this like J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. In Robert Dobie's new book The Fantasy of J.R.R Tolkien, he shows how Tolkien recovers a Christian vision of the world, nature, language, myth, virtue, death, and humanity. 

The first major church outside of Jerusalem was founded in Antioch. Paul and Barnabas pastored there before they were sent out on their missionary journeys. This church would be their home base for decades afterward. It is the church in the New Testament that gives us a glimpse of how to do missions and church planting. 

The world wars were driven by attacks on the very values of the West. Liberty, justice, the rule of law, and the dignity of all people were directly under assault. Shaped by the First World War, C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien offered a clear moral vision during the Second. In this episode, Cole talks with Joseph Loconte about his book The War for Middle-Earth and the values worth fighting for. 

What does it mean to be a disciple? The Gospel of Matthew is more than just a description of Jesus's life, death, and resurrection; it is a literary masterpiece designed to invite us into a life of discipleship. The teaching, narratives, and portraits of Jesus show us who he is and who we have been called to be. 

Grab a copy of Jonathan Pennington's book, Becoming a Disciple of the King. 

Where did Jesus grow up? Where did he choose to live during his ministry? Did Jesus own a home? This week, Cole and Terry discuss the cities of Nazareth and Capernaum, what they would have been like in Jesus' day, and the role they play in his life and ministry. 

Although it is not among the older cities in the Bible, it is one of the most important. Caesarea Maritima is the harbor gateway into Israel. Built by Herod the Great, it is also a tribute to Rome. Later, it would become the base of Pontius Pilate and other Roman officials. But later, God would redeem this city and turn it into an intellectual center for the early church. Cole and Terry discuss the redemption story and impactful history of Caesarea.

How do we pray the psalms of judgment and vengeance? What about the imprecatory prayers? In his book Arise, O Lord: A Christian Guide to Cursing with God, Dr. Trevor Laurence digs into these psalms and shows us that they are faith-building, help us understand our story, and revive our sense of justice. 

What does it mean to be a godly man? Is there a kind of non-toxic masculinity? In Men of Virtue, Dr. Zachary Wagner reframes the conversation around the topic of virtue. Godly men must pursue the virtues, starting with the fruits of the Spirit, and do so in a way that fulfills God's design for masculinity. 

Get a copy of the book! Men of Virtue: How the Fruit of the Spirit Forms Male Character in the Modern World. 

What do the opening chapters of Genesis teach us about what it means to be human? How do we live in this world after the fall? Brian Brock's book Joining Creation's Praise: A Theological Ethic of Creatureliness explores the creation story and traces the themes of home, worship, sin, and restoration. In the second part of this interview, Cole and Brian discuss the practical implications of our creatureliness, including death, sabbath, and the culture wars. 

Check out Brian's book: Joining Creation's Praise.