The Wednesday Conversation

By Coram Deo Church Community

What's The Wednesday Conversation about?

A weekly conversation about how the gospel of Jesus Christ connects to the questions and issues of everyday life. Hosted by the leaders of Coram Deo Church in Omaha, Nebraska.

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The Wednesday Conversation episodes:

06.19.2024
Episode 482: TWC Commentary | When You Shouldn’t Trust “The Science”
Wiley and Sons, the largest publisher of scientific journals in the world, announced that they had found over 8,000 junk papers—papers written by artificial intelligence but attached to the name of a researcher—and were pausing publications of several scientific journals....
06.12.2024
Episode 481: The Omnicause
In a recent article, Mary Harrington uses the term “omnicause” to describe how progressivism opposes whatever is considered mainstream, institutional, or Western. In this episode, we discuss where Harrington’s analysis has validity, where we might disagree, and how Christians can...
06.05.2024
Episode 480: TWC Commentary | What Did Harrison Butker Say?
Harrison Butker, the placekicker for the Kansas City Chiefs, has received a lot of ire from media outlets following a speech he made at the commencement of Benedictine College. In this episode, Bob breaks down the context in which his...
05.29.2024
Episode 479: From the Archives | The Three Phases of Discipleship
What does discipleship to Jesus look like over the course of your life? And how does that change as you move into different seasons of life? In 2018, we used Ronald Rolheiser’s book “Sacred Fire” to discuss the three phases...
05.22.2024
Episode 478: Making Faith Magnetic
How can we have meaningful evangelistic conversations with our non-Christian friends and family? In his book “Making Faith Magnetic,” Dr. Dan Strange develops the work of J.H. Bavinck, proposing 5 "magnetic points" that are present within every human and every...
05.15.2024
Episode 477: Takeaways from the Keller Center
After gathering in NYC with the other fellows of The Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics, Bob shares some insights he gained and lessons he learned. He also discusses some of the ways the fellows are seeking to apply the intellectual...
05.08.2024
Episode 476: The Need for Competence
Human beings have an inherent desire to be good at something. But becoming competent requires self-awareness and humility. In this episode, we lay the groundwork for how the gospel frees us to admit our strengths & weaknesses, discover our aptitudes,...
05.01.2024
Episode 475: From the Archives | Taking Church Membership Seriously
Why does church membership matter? In this episode from 2016, we discuss the importance of being committed to the local church.
04.24.2024
Episode 474: An Interview with Johan Verster | Part 2
This episode continues Bob's conversation with special guest Johan Verster, exploring the particulars of Ligpunt Church and the context of growing and planting churches in South Africa.
04.17.2024
Episode 473: An Interview with Johan Verster | Part 1
Bob sat down with Pastor Johan Verster during his time in the United States to talk about his story, his journey to faith, and how he came to plant Ligpunt Church in Pretoria, South Africa.
04.10.2024
Episode 472: From the Archives | Four Views of Communion
It’s easy for the sacrament of communion to become commonplace, and it can be tempting for Christians to participate mindlessly. Many Christians may not know the answers to questions like, “What is communion?” and “Why do we observe it regularly?”...
04.03.2024
Episode 471: Where the Trans Conversation is Headed
In a recent article for New York Magazine, Andrea Long Chu asserts the belief that kids should have the freedom to change their bodies and sexual identity at any time for any reason. In this episode, we discuss what that...
03.27.2024
Episode 470: The Resurrection As History
For much of the 20th century, the resurrection of Jesus was believed by Christians as a matter of faith, but doubted by scholars as a matter of history. NT Wright’s book “The Resurrection of the Son of God” changed all...
03.20.2024
Episode 469: How to Feel
As image-bearers of God, we are made to feel. Yet we can have a limited emotional range or lack the ability to tap into what we’re feeling in a given moment. In this episode, we discuss why emotional awareness is...
03.13.2024
Episode 468: The Negative World (Again)
Aaron Renn’s new book “Life in the Negative World” uses the experience of The Crossing Church as an example of what happens when a church tries to minister faithfully in a "negative world." Patrick Miller, pastor of The Crossing, wrote...
03.06.2024
Episode 467: Reflections on the Evangelical Fracturing
2014 was the year American evangelical Christianity began to fracture. In today’s episode, we reflect on a Jake Meador article that uses the Acts 29 Network as a case study exploring that fracturing. Based on our own experiences during that...
02.28.2024
Episode 466: The Stories We Could Tell...
In ministry work, pastors often have rich, joyful, redemptive stories to tell. And there are also some odd stories. The ones that make you ask, “Did that really happen?” From being interrupted while preaching a sermon to being asked to fly across...
02.21.2024
Episode 465: Evaluating “Gentle Parenting”
“Gentle parenting” is the latest parenting trend, and parents are increasingly being exposed to it as it gains popularity through social media. In this episode, we discuss what the gentle parenting approach entails, and how Scripture evaluates this method of...
02.14.2024
Episode 464: Should Christians Observe Lent?
Many Christians observe Lent. Others criticize the practice, claiming that Lent is "too Catholic." In this episode, we explore the history of Lent and discuss why it can be a very meaningful season for Christians. We also disagree with one...
02.07.2024
Episode 463: Who Is My Neighbor?
How do we apply the Good Samaritan parable in a world where we’re constantly exposed to the needs of others? Do we have the same moral obligation to those across the world as we have to those closest to us? Prompted...
01.31.2024
Episode 462: From the Archives | The Gospel and Shame
Almost 10 years ago, we sat down with Dr. Gary Nebeker to talk about shame and its impact on the soul. Because shame can hinder us from experiencing the joy and freedom of the gospel, it's important that we attend...
01.24.2024
Episode 461: The Creep of Christian Nationalism
Many episodes ago, we discussed the topic of Christian nationalism and whether this term was even precise enough to be meaningful. More recently, media outlets have been applying the label "Christian nationalist" to almost any political proposal that's self-consciously Christian....
01.17.2024
Episode 460: What Did You Expect To Be Hated For?
Every disciple of Jesus should expect opposition. Jesus teaches as much in the Sermon on the Mount. But if the world used to oppose Christians for matters of grace – the exclusivity of the gospel, personal piety, or a relationship...
01.10.2024
Episode 459: The Pope and Same-Sex Blessings
Pope Francis recently issued a statement on blessings for same-sex relationships: unleashing celebration, critique, and every reaction in between. In this episode, we explore some responses from prominent Catholic and Protestant voices and discuss the latest topic of cultural division...
01.03.2024
Episode 458: The Things We Liked in 2023
In the first episode of the new year, we sit down to talk about the things that stood out to us in 2023: specifically, some of the best or most interesting books or articles we read, movies we watched, or...
12.13.2023
Episode 457: The Christian Family | Chapter 10
In the final 2023 episode of The Wednesday Conversation, we discuss the final chapter of The Christian Family. Herman Bavinck writes about what he sees on the horizon for how society and governments will treat the family, but also reminds his...
12.06.2023
Episode 456: A Less Prominent Atheist Becomes a Christian (David Sundman’s Story)
A few weeks ago, we shared the conversion story of prominent atheist Ayaan Hirsi Ali. This week, we want to highlight the story of another former atheist, Coram Deo pastoral resident David Sundman. In this episode, David shares his story...
11.29.2023
From the Archives | Episode 455: A Conversation With James K.A. Smith
After a weekend of teaching in Omaha in 2017, Christian philosopher Dr. James K.A. Smith sat down with the pastors at Coram Deo to talk about his life, his work, and his calling.
11.22.2023
Episode 454: A Prominent Atheist Becomes a Christian
Ayaan Hirsi Ali is well-known in intellectual circles and was one of the most prominent atheists in the world. Once a devout Muslim, she became an atheist after the 9/11 attacks. Even more recently, she’s become a Christian. In this...
11.15.2023
Episode 453: TWC Commentary | The Rhetoric of Decolonization
The conflict between Israel and Hamas continues to be a central, global focus. One troubling aspect of the situation is the justification for Hamas’ terrorism that has been offered from all corners of our society. In this episode, we analyze...
11.08.2023
Episode 452: Revival Among Gen Z
Gen Z (1997 to 2012) is a generation marked by digital savviness and infinite connection, but also profound loneliness. And in the wake of the Asbury revival last year and the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, many believe that this...
11.01.2023
Episode 451: The Future of the Church
What’s next for the church? In August, Mere Orthodoxy editor-in-chief Jake Meador laid out a vision for the future of the church in America, combining cultural observations with insights from recent church history. In this episode, we discuss Jake's proposal that the...
10.25.2023
Episode 450: Israel, Hamas, & Biblical Prophecy
On Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist group Hamas launched an attack on Israel. Since that day, the unfolding conflict has been the focus of newspapers, political pundits, social influencers, and concerned citizens alike. This was the biggest loss of Jewish life...
10.18.2023
Episode 449: The Christian Family | Chapter 9
"One who destroys the family is digging away the moral foundations of society," writes Herman Bavinck in Chapter 9 of The Christian Family. In this installment of Third Wednesday Theology, we explore Bavinck's insights about the connection between family and society.
10.11.2023
Episode 448: How to Show Up to a Funeral
The week of this recording, we officiated three funerals. Funerals can feel unnatural and even uncomfortable, and many people find them difficult to navigate. But the gospel frees us to show up with a Spirit-filled presence in moments of loss....
10.04.2023
Episode 447: Does God Heal?
If you’ve walked through a season of physical suffering, you’ve probably had someone say they are “praying healing over you” or even “claiming healing for you.” In today’s episode, we explain what the Bible says about healing and try to...
09.27.2023
Episode 446: Does De-Churching Begin at Home?
Weeks ago, we talked about The Great Dechurching (ep. 439) - the downward trend of church involvement in America over the past 20 years. In a new article, Lyman Stone suggests this de-churching problem is less about the secularization of...
09.20.2023
Episode 445: The Christian Family | Chapters 7 & 8
Is it nature or nurture? Herman Bavinck weighs in on the age-old question about human formation in this installment of Third Wednesday Theology. In chapters 7 and 8 of The Christian Family, Bavinck speaks of singleness, marriage, childbearing, and the nurture of...
09.13.2023
Episode 444: Millennium Mail Bag
Our digital mail bag was full of questions about Revelation 20 after our “Four Views on the Millennium” conversation (Episode 441)! In this follow-up episode, we aim to answer questions like, “What does it mean to take the Bible literally?”...
09.06.2023
Episode 443: How Should the Church Do Mercy Ministry?
One of our listeners posed a question spurred by the ministry of Charles Spurgeon in London. By 1884, Spurgeon's Metropolitan Tabernacle was running 66 benevolent ministries encompassing just about every human need at that time. So: is mercy ministry meant...
08.30.2023
From the Archives | Episode 442: Does God Change His Mind?
In this episode from 2017, we discuss Jonah chapter 3, where God relents from destroying Nineveh. By the end of the story, the people repent, and God does not bring about the prophesied disaster. So we examine the question, “Does...
08.23.2023
Episode 441: Four Views on the Millennium
A few listeners have asked us to discuss the millennial reign of Christ as taught in Revelation 20. Historically, this has been a point of debate and even confusion for Christians. How should we read Revelation 20? How does symbolism...
08.16.2023
Episode 440: The Christian Family | Chapters 5 & 6
We continue our discussion about Herman Bavinck's book The Christian Family during this Third Wednesday Theology conversation. In this episode, we engage chapters five and six: The Family In the New Testament and Dangers Confronting the Family.
08.09.2023
Episode 439: The De-Churching of America
40 million Americans have stopped attending church in the past 25 years. This represents the largest concentrated change in church attendance in American history. In this episode, we discuss why people are leaving — and the main reason is far...
08.02.2023
Episode 438: The Problem of Scientism
In a recent article published in Harper's magazine, Pepperdine professor Jason Blakely writes about the impact of scientism—the overextension of scientific authority. In this episode, we discuss his findings as well as the separation between hard science, social science, and political decision-making—and...
07.26.2023
Episode 437: Summer Check-In
Part of being a joyful Christian is being a joyful human. So every once in a while, we take a break from theological and cultural topics to just talk about the things we're enjoying as human beings. In this episode,...
07.19.2023
Episode 436: Interview with Dr. James Eglinton
For the last three years, we've been discussing the work of Herman Bavinck on our Third Wednesday Theology episodes. This week, we're privileged to have Bavinck's biographer, Dr. James Eglinton, join us for a special interview. Eglinton is the Meldrum Senior...
07.12.2023
Episode 435: TWC Commentary | The Limits of Liberalism
Freedom. Liberty. Rights. Democracy. These are the stock terms of our American political lexicon, and they come to us from the tradition known as liberalism. Whether right, center, or left, we’re all liberals in our political philosophy. However, as Christians,...
07.05.2023
Episode 434: TWC Commentary | Deconstructing Judith Butler
Judith Butler is perhaps the most important academic professor you've never heard of. A book she wrote in 1990, asserting that sex and gender are both social constructs, has totally reshaped the way our culture thinks about gender. We're all...
06.28.2023
Episode 433: Woke Therapy
The Free Press reported in May 2023 that Critical Social Justice ideology is beginning to transform the mental health professions. If you doubt that claim, you'll want to listen to this episode as special guest Audrey Conrad narrates her journey...

What's The Wednesday Conversation about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

The Wednesday Conversation episodes:

Episode 482: TWC Commentary | When You Shouldn’t Trust “The Science”

Episode 481: The Omnicause

Episode 480: TWC Commentary | What Did Harrison Butker Say?

Episode 479: From the Archives | The Three Phases of Discipleship

Episode 478: Making Faith Magnetic

Episode 477: Takeaways from the Keller Center

Episode 476: The Need for Competence

Episode 475: From the Archives | Taking Church Membership Seriously

Episode 474: An Interview with Johan Verster | Part 2

Episode 473: An Interview with Johan Verster | Part 1

Episode 472: From the Archives | Four Views of Communion

Episode 471: Where the Trans Conversation is Headed

Episode 470: The Resurrection As History

Episode 469: How to Feel

Episode 468: The Negative World (Again)

Episode 467: Reflections on the Evangelical Fracturing

Episode 466: The Stories We Could Tell...

Episode 465: Evaluating “Gentle Parenting”

Episode 464: Should Christians Observe Lent?

Episode 463: Who Is My Neighbor?

Episode 462: From the Archives | The Gospel and Shame

Episode 461: The Creep of Christian Nationalism

Episode 460: What Did You Expect To Be Hated For?

Episode 459: The Pope and Same-Sex Blessings

Episode 458: The Things We Liked in 2023

Episode 457: The Christian Family | Chapter 10

Episode 456: A Less Prominent Atheist Becomes a Christian (David Sundman’s Story)

From the Archives | Episode 455: A Conversation With James K.A. Smith

Episode 454: A Prominent Atheist Becomes a Christian

Episode 453: TWC Commentary | The Rhetoric of Decolonization

Episode 452: Revival Among Gen Z

Episode 451: The Future of the Church

Episode 450: Israel, Hamas, & Biblical Prophecy

Episode 449: The Christian Family | Chapter 9

Episode 448: How to Show Up to a Funeral

Episode 447: Does God Heal?

Episode 446: Does De-Churching Begin at Home?

Episode 445: The Christian Family | Chapters 7 & 8

Episode 444: Millennium Mail Bag

Episode 443: How Should the Church Do Mercy Ministry?

From the Archives | Episode 442: Does God Change His Mind?

Episode 441: Four Views on the Millennium

Episode 440: The Christian Family | Chapters 5 & 6

Episode 439: The De-Churching of America

Episode 438: The Problem of Scientism

Episode 437: Summer Check-In

Episode 436: Interview with Dr. James Eglinton

Episode 435: TWC Commentary | The Limits of Liberalism

Episode 434: TWC Commentary | Deconstructing Judith Butler

Episode 433: Woke Therapy