In Acts 25, Paul once again stands trial for his life before a Roman governor. Accused of sedition against Rome and blasphemy against the temple, Paul uses this trial to assert his innocence, witness to the Resurrection, and appeal directly to Caesar so that the gospel will go to Rome. How does Paul deal with pauses or waiting in ministry, and how does he confidently stand and witness to the Resurrection each time he is tried for his life? And how does the hatred of the Council and the corruption or reluctance of the Roman governors play directly into God’s plan of redemption? All of that and more in this remarkable chapter.

Big Idea: The early church carried the gospel throughout the known world in approximately 30 years and transformed an empire in 3 centuries. Now the church seems intimidated, uncertain amidst swift cultural changes. So, what did the early Christians, commanded by Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit, do that we are not doing? Here are their Acts, and may they inspire our own.

Outline:

The Internal Revenue Service included a critical clarification in a court filing last week concerning pastors and politics. In sum, the IRS stated that a pastor or church speaking about political issues and even candidates to its members does not violate the tax code or jeopardize the church’s tax-exempt status. In this episode, I review what this does and does not mean for churches, as well as some practical considerations for churches following this clarification. Also, I review several key Supreme Court cases and include some thoughts on the legal and cultural trends they represent. Key Cases:

Key Takeaways:

The Internal Revenue Service included a critical clarification in a court filing last week concerning pastors and politics. In sum, the IRS stated that a pastor or church speaking about political issues and even candidates to its members does not violate the tax code or jeopardize the church’s tax-exempt status. In this episode, I review what this does and does not mean for churches, as well as some practical considerations for churches following this clarification. Also, I review several key Supreme Court cases and include some thoughts on the legal and cultural trends they represent.

Key Cases:

Key Takeaways:

What are the most effective methods for cultivating a Biblical worldview amidst the constant influence of media, culture, and technology? What lessons about spiritual renewal can we learn from the life and times of Jonathan Edwards? What challenges do Christian students face in secular higher education, and how should we practically live out our faith in the public life? In this interview with pastor and theologian Josh Moody, we cover these topics and more with a practical emphasis on disciple-making in a quickly changing culture and practical application of God’s Word to all of life.

Josh Moody (Ph.D., University of Cambridge) is the senior pastor of College Church. He is the president and founder of God Centered Life Ministries, which proclaims God’s Word worldwide through daily broadcasts on Moody Radio, One Place, podcasts, and live streaming on godcenteredlife.org. He is a theologian shaped by his research in understanding the challenges of the secularization of the Enlightenment to Christian faith and the answers that influential pastor Jonathan Edwards brought, culminating in a doctorate in historical theology from Cambridge University. He did a research fellowship at Yale Divinity School and was a Fellow at the Jonathan Edwards College of Yale University.

Since we celebrate the 4th of July every year (and it involves fireworks and time off work), it is easy to glance over the deeper meaning of the holiday. Beyond the fact that it marked the birth of the United States, why should we celebrate the 4th of July? What did and does it mean? And what lessons should we draw from it as we look to the future?

Here are 4 facts about the 4th of July and some reflections on America’s present and future.

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In this chapter, the Apostle Paul stands alone and on trial for his life before a corrupt and powerful Roman official, Antonius Felix. How will the high priest and their representative lay out their case against him? How will Paul respond, and what will Felix make of Christ and the Resurrection? In this high-stakes story, we can learn much about our public witness, inner strength and peace, and pointing all people (including governing officials) to the hope of the gospel.

Big Idea: The early church carried the gospel throughout the known world in approximately 30 years and transformed an empire in 3 centuries. Now the church seems intimidated, uncertain amidst swift cultural changes. So, what did the early Christians, commanded by Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit, do that we are not doing? Here are their Acts, and may they inspire our own.

Outline:

Key Takeaways:

Father’s Day weekend is an important reminder of the role of dads in the lives of their children, and it is always encouraging to see the number of good role models on social media. However, our society has grappled for some time with a fatherless epidemic, and its impact is staggering. Here is an overview of the causes and consequences of fatherlessness and some practical steps for churches and committed Christians to make a difference.

The impact of fatherlessness in our society is staggering. For example, according to the Department for Health and Human Services, 85% of youth in prison or some form of incarceration grew up in a fatherless home. This is not meant to disparage the heroic efforts of single moms or downplay the success of many children who are growing up or grew up in a home without a dad. But, if we are to successfully reverse the breakdown of the family and impact a host of societal ills, this issue of fatherlessness stands out as a critical and often overlooked root cause. In this episode, I discuss the fatherless epidemic and how to respond with Sean Teis. He has a powerful personal testimony and leads God is My Dad, a ministry dedicated to serving fatherless families and equipping churches to do the same.

Key Takeaways:

Pastor Tate Throndson leads a growing church he planted in Colorado, and he developed strong concerns about a recent Colorado bill challenging parental rights (HB 1312). In addition to preaching on Biblical principles related to identity and human sexuality, he signed up and showed up to testify against HB 1312—along with more than 700 other Coloradans. In this interview, Pastor Throndson explains why and how he engages in public life, how he disciples his congregation in the area of citizenship, his experience at the Colorado State Capitol at the hearing on HB 1312, and why other church leaders and committed Christians should promote Biblical principles in their churches and in the public square.

In late March of 2025, legislators in the Colorado House of Representatives made national news by introducing HB 1312—a bill that ominously defined the act of a parent referring to a child according to that child’s biological sex as “coercive control.” This bill also allowed a trial court to withhold parenting time and even make custody determinations based on “deadnaming” (using a child’s birth name) or “misgendering” a child. Some of these startling provisions were removed from the bill before final passage by the Colorado Senate, but the bill still adds “deadnaming” and “misgendering” to Colorado’s nondiscrimination law. And Colorado Governor Polis recently signed the bill into law.

Key takeaways/links:

How should disciples of Jesus navigate a society clawing itself apart through politics? Should we disengage? Pick a side? Offer slogans which sound nice but express little? Insist that true Christians vote in such-and-such a way? Pursue tranquility by making contentious topics off-limits for church? 

Can we lean into the issues and love well? 

Following Jesus in a Politically Divided World suggests that disciples of Jesus navigate a politically divided world . . . by being disciples of Jesus. Jesus models the character and provides the tools we need to live as perceptive and peaceable in volatile times. [from book description] In this interview with the book’s author’s, we discuss key points of public theology and practical application and dig into some of the key questions they ask and answer in the book. 

In their book, Whittaker and McCoy invite you to answer 21 questions, including:

Resources

Artificial Intelligence is no longer a concept of the future—it’s a present-day reality transforming society and even impacting the church. In this episode, we unpack the rapid development of AI and the opportunities and challenges of the gaming world and what it means for church leaders and other committed Christians today. From evangelism through gaming and sermon prep tools to ethical dilemmas and deepfake risks, the AI revolution presents both remarkable opportunities and serious challenges for ministry.

David Beatty is the Senior Pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in New Braunfels, Texas. He has also worked at high tech companies and is passionate about creating immersive and engaging experiences that connect people and communities across the world. And he maintains an expertise on the metaverse, gaming, and developing technologies.

In this episode, we explore how pastors and other Christian leaders can steward this technology wisely, equipping their congregations to think biblically in a rapidly changing digital age. What are the opportunities and proper safeguards when it comes to gaming? How can churches leverage AI and other developing technologies for kingdom impact? And how can the church both leverage these technologies while remaining the conscience of our society as we face this technological frontier? 

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