In this final episode of 2024, Pierce returns to AoH to chat with Carolyn about her election to the role of Bishop in the Global Methodist Church. AND!... Carolyn shares a new series coming in January, 2025. Listen all the way through to get to the good stuff! 

David Thomas was a business professional before becoming an ordained pastor, serving in both the local church and on staff with Seedbed Publishing and the New Room Conference. He serves on the Board of Alpha USA and helps to steward a new movement on college campuses called The Awakening Project. I’ve known David for years and can attest to his passion for seeing an awakened spirit in the Church of Jesus Christ. Today, we talk about a piece he wrote that got my attention and interest on Methodism as an awakening movement. 

Today we’re going to talk about the legacy of a great Bible teacher and about the sanctifying power of God. Warren Weirsbe’s commentaries and Bible studies are legendary. Weirsbe’s commentaries and Bible studies were on every shelf and in every small group in the late 20th century, and I keep them on my shelf. So I am excited to talk to Dan Jacobsen, Weirsbe’s grandson, who has spent the last two years shaping an unpublished manuscript written by his grandfather. A great conversation about faithfulness, legacies, and the vocation of study. 

Dr. Craig Keener is a professor at Asbury Theological Seminary, where he teaches subjects as varied as New Testament background (check out his HUGE commentaries on Acts ... yes, multiple volumes), the historical Jesus, miracles (check out a previous podcast with him on this subject), and ethnic/racial reconciliation. Dr. Keener received his M.Div. from an Assemblies of God seminary and his PhD from Duke. A prolific writer, deep thinker, and global churchman, Dr. Keener has much to say about what we can learn from Acts about the Church today ... and that's where out conversation will focus. I hope you listen. 

Dr Kenneth Collins is a theologian and professor who has been teaching at Asbury Seminary since 1995 (he and I arrived on that campus at the same time!). He is internationally known as a scholar of historical theology who has spoken in England, Finland, South Korea, Japan, Russia, Estonia, Costa Rica, Brazil, Australia … lots of places. And that’s why I want to talk to him today. I want to talk about how our theology travels. Be sure to check out his latest book, Jesus the Stranger: The Man from Galilee and the Light of the World, published by Seedbed in 2021. I have such deep respect for this man and his work and it is an honor to introduce him to you today, so we can talk about what it looks like through a Methodist lens to share Christ with the whole world. 

This one is like drinking from a chocolate fountain. Dr. Joe Dongell (Asbury Theological Seminary), who is not just a New Testament Bible scholar but a legit theologian. In this podcast, he gives us his best thinking on the biblical notion of love, and helps us understand love as the center of everything. He goes deep on this, and still barely scratches the surface so we'll have to have him back. What a great conversation. I hope you listen .

I met Tim Gaines when we were teaching together at a Salvation Army Bible camp (where I discovered so many very cool people). Tim immediately captured my attention with his teaching on what it means to serve the gospel in a secular culture, and that's what we'll be talking about on this podcast. Dr. Gaines serves as Associate Professor of Religion at Trevecca Nazarene University, where he teaches theology and ethics and directs a graduate program in theology and biblical studies. He has authored and coauthored several books, including Christian Ethics, Kings and Presidents: Politics and the Kingdom of God, and A Seat at the Table: A Generation Reimagining Its Place in the Church. He also serves as a pastor at Trevecca Community Church. 

Together with her husband, Bill, Diane Ury serves as the National Ambassador for Holiness in The Salvation Army. That’s the best job title I’ve ever heard, and I admit to being just a little jealous of her job! I also admit to being a bit of a fan-girl. Diane  excels at everything her job description calls for --  a strong preacher, inspired teacher, articulate writer, and courageous communicator of the Salvation Army's mission and its holiness doctrine and history. You are going to love this person and this conversation. 

My brilliant and beautiful friend Sandy is on AoH for the third time with this episode, making her the most interviewed (and also the most listened-to) of our guests. We love Sandy Richter! This time, she is talking about Deborah the prophet, subject of a newly released study in the Epic of Eden series. Professor at Westmont College, Dr. Richter is an OT scholar and an epic (pun intended) story-teller. You'll love this episode!

Rev. Dr. Jerry Kulah is an Elder in the United Methodist Church. He serves as an Evangelist, Pastor, Teacher, and Administrator.  Since 1997, he has served in the Liberia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, and currently serves as Vice President of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies at the Graduate School of Theology at United Methodist University (UMU). He also serves as the General Coordinator of the Africa Initiative, an advocacy group within the three Central Conferences of Africa that is committed to upholding the practice of biblical Christianity within the church. This is how we met, as we've contended together for orthodoxy on two continents. Today, we talk discipleship. This is an especially important conversation for those seeking a truly global expression of Methodism.