The Eikon Podcast

Marshall Mead, Executive Director of the World Discipleship Summit planned for July 31-August 7, 2022 in Orlando, Florida, joins Michael to share the journey of the conference that was originally planned for July, 2020. Marshall talks about the challenges of planning, postponing, and rescheduling such a large event and shares about important spiritual lessons learned during that process. He gives a rundown of the new plan and schedule for the conference as well as how it is going to be different both logistically and in content from the original 2020 plan.

For more information or to register: www.worlddiscipleshipsummit.com 

Michael and Jason share their five favorite books that they read this year and Gianna invites her husband, professional basketball player, Reggie Hearn on to share his five favorite books of the year. The lists are wide-ranging and will prove to be rich resources for the readers in the audience. Before signing off for the year in this final episode of season 4, the crew announces and explains the new name of the podcast and the direction that we will take in season 4. 

Season 4 will begin on January 17th, 2022.

Michael, Jason, and Gianna review the major points of the great lie from this season, talk about why it matters for the church to understand the deception of the great lie and the danger of ignoring its effects, and chat about a few things that weren't discussed this season. Michael discusses his upcoming book on the great lie and shares a few important items that will be covered in the book that weren't explored this season on the podcast.

Jason explains to Michael and Gianna what Advent is and why it is such a potentially important, but often overlooked or ignored, tool for the Christian community.

MyCresha Burns joins the podcast to talk about the welcome table and how the concept applies to our lives. She insightfully utilizes the traditional African American spiritual song to examine the biblical concepts of hospitality and welcoming the stranger. She discusses how churches that are a diverse congregation can still miss the point of the welcome table and become less than what Jesus envisioned for us to be.

The discussion today centers around whether the focus of the church should be on social justice or on "preaching the gospel" and saving souls. There are groups of Christians that feel strongly about and advocate for both of those issues as the primary purpose of the church. The question is, which one is correct? Then there are those that argue for finding balance between these two areas. But what if none of those are the best position for followers of Jesus? What if there is a different way to look at this discussion that is more in line with the New Testament vision for the church?

Why does it seem that we can tell more about how someone will interpret or respond to big issues of the day or news events based on what news shows they watch than by their faith in Christ? Michael, Gianna, and Jason talk about this phenomenon and much more today as it relates to the concept of what they are calling antidiscipling. They discuss what it is and why it has become such a powerful force in the church today.

Michael and Mark Kang, a minister in the Detroit Church of Christ, have served together in the same regional family of churches for over 15 years and they agree on many things. But there are also some areas in which they disagree. Michael invited Mark on this special bonus episode and gave him an open mic to talk about whatever he wanted, point out any areas where he thinks Michael has been wrong, challenge him on anything he wishes, and ask any questions he has. 

The Corinthian church was rife with prejudice, division, and inequity. So why would Paul open his letter by calling them holy ones of God rather than bigots, fools, or idiots? The answer is just as important to understand for our context today as it was then. Michael, Gianna, and Jason talk about this important truth of identity and what the real problem is when we label others with identity markers other than beloved image bearer of God.

Have we been misreading 1 Corinthians by neglecting its context and subsequently missing some of the true challenge that Paul laid out for disciples of Jesus in that passage? Michael, Gianna, and Jason discuss the historical and cultural background of one of the most famous sections of the New Testament and what it might mean for us in practice today.