It's been a while since we've chatted! On this episode, Pastors Tyler, Nick, and Jim get caught up on all the happenings at our churches and lives and then we take a look at an article about Augustine's City of God. While it was written centuries ago, there is still practical application to our church's struggle within the world today. Enjoy!

Follies of the week include "hate" speech, a ranch dressing spill, the DNC, and emotional support parrots.

Read "Finding Ourselves in Augustine's City of God" below:
https://mereorthodoxy.com/finding-ourselves-in-augustines-city-of-god

We're taking a break this week from some serious things to have a little fun! Together we take a look at a "Top 30" list of things to do during the summer in Michigan. We hope you enjoy and maybe laugh a little bit.

Top 30 Things To Do In Michigan During Summer

On this episode, we read an article about Richard Dawkins' claim that he is a "cultural Christian." What the heck does that mean in our society today? Can one truly be a cultural Christian? How does that impact our walks with Jesus and our interactions with our neighbors? All that and more on this week's show. Enjoy!

Richard Dawkins and Mere Cultural Christianity 

Follies include satanic preaching from the Episcopal Church, Juneteenth, and hiking with Senior High youth.

On today's episode we explore a very recent article about the decline of "mainline" churches and what are the implications of that for the marginalized, if any at all. Why are our churches declining when some preach to the "itching ears"? Do we just strive to be in a place of belonging? Is the government effectively providing for the poor? What about charity and good works among nominal Christians or non-Christians? All of that and more on the show today. Enjoy!

The Great Dechurching Will Hurt Poor People by Matthew Loftus

Follies this week include Roman Catholicism and Steven Furtick.

Today we explore a thought provoking sermon from RC Sproul on counting the cost to follow Jesus. Can we truly count the cost? Do we even understand what the cost is? None the less, Jesus says to us, "follow me."

Follies are back this week and include "oppressive" Christianity and Jesus needing forgiveness.

After a big transition for the pastors, we are BACK! In the beginning of our sermons we often pray, "Lord, help us to become more than just hearers of the Word, but doers of it as well. Amen." Today we talk about what that means. Church Father CFW Walther writes a sermon in 1849 about the dangers of JUST hearing the Word and going through the motions. As the apostle James will say, "faith without works is dead." Hearing and believing the Word will inevitable lead us to "doing the Word." Of course, we know that it is not us doing the good works, but the Holy Spirit in us, brought upon by hearing the Word, that does the Word in us. Have a listen!

Interested in more Walther? Buy the book that Pastor Nick and Pastor Tyler have HERE

We're back with another heresy today. We all know about the loud and obvious prosperity Gospel...but what about the subtle prosperity Gospel of positivity, optimism, and speaking blessings? How can we tell if what we are hearing is the prosperity Gospel? How can (should we) we defend against it? All this and more on this week's episode!

Follies of the week include cultish social media groups, a new movie, and Washington's removal of the Bar Exam.

Pastor Tyler is joined this week by Pastor Mark Renner to talk about Pastor Mark's new book, "Curious Cases: A Series of Short Pastor Case Studies." In this book, Pastor Mark explores different situations that have arisen in the church, or that might arise in the church, and how might we as THE Church work with God's people. It is a book that can be used in studies, staff matters, or just to inform the Christian about struggles they may not have considered before. Praise be to Christ for Pastor Mark's work and love for people in writing this book!

Amazon: Curious Cases
Wipf and Stock: Curious Cases

What about the mysteries of God? Can we be in the dark about some of God's ways and works? Today we talk about an ancient heresy called "Gnosticism" that continues to rear its ugly head in 2024. A belief that pits the physical against the spiritual, Gnosticism is a denial of the human nature of Jesus Christ and the holding on to the "spiritual nature" of God in our worship and daily life. Unfortunately, a denial of Christ's humanity is a denial of Christ himself. How do we bridge this gap? All that and more on this weeks episode!

Follies of the week include a famous WWII picture being cancelled, and Travis Kelce's "rules" for dating Taylor Swift.

Pastor Nick joins us again as we talk about a heresy that we all may have heard, subscribed to, and even believed in at some point: the sneaky "Moralistic Therapeutic Deism." The temptation for many Christians is to worship God and ask God to fix our problems, to make us feel "better", and to be soft and comforting. While God can fix our problems in this world, while He certainly makes us feel better in the assurance of His grace, mercy, and forgiveness, and while He certainly is the great Comforter, there is SO much more to God. We must not forget Christ and Christ crucified FOR YOU! 

We know this is a very brief overview, so if you would like to hear more or ask more questions, please do not hesitate to ask. You can find our emails on the Family of God website at www.fogdetroit.com

Folly of the week features cereal for dinner!