Think Deeper

Think Deeper episodes:

• 05.27.2024

  Taylor Swift, Andrew Tate, and Today’s Role Models

  People have long had cultural role models, but in today's world of social media there are more voices than ever before. Who are today's major voices, what are they teaching, and how do we navigate the positive and negative influences? We...

  
• 05.20.2024

  Pharisees in the Church?

  "Pharisee" is a religious insult so broadly used that is often becomes almost meaningless. But the word does have a meaning, and it's important we understand it. We discuss: - The history of the Pharisees and why they weren't all bad- How...

  
• 05.13.2024

  Rejecting Brain-Free Christianity

  Not everything is a black and white, thou shalt/thou shalt not issue. For some, this means we should not talk about such issues but rather leave everything up to individual interpretation. Phrases like "But is it a sin?" and "You...

  
• 05.06.2024

  Is "Placing Church Membership" Biblical?

  You won't find the words "place membership" in the New Testament. And, when you're baptized, you're added by God to His church. So do we need to publicly declare our membership with a local congregation? We discuss, including: - Defining "church" and...

  
• 04.29.2024

  Drafting All 66 Bible Books

  The guys decided to have some fun this week and sat down to draft 22 Bible books apiece. Tune in to see where the books got taken and how their favorites line up with yours. And, tell us who's "team" of 22...

  
• 04.22.2024

  Women, Kids, and More Questions About Prayer

  We continue the discussion on prayer by examining a number of specifics, including: - How should public prayers differ from private prayers?- "Abba Father" and reverence vs. closeness- How to know when an answer is from God- Does "Let the men...

  
• 04.15.2024

  How Does Prayer Work with an All-Knowing God?

  Prayer is one of the basics of the Christian faith, but it's also a remarkably deep concept that raises all kinds of questions. Topics include: - Why do we need to pray if God already knows our thoughts?- Does it make...

  
• 04.08.2024

  The Biggest Threat to the Church Today

  The majority of kids raised in Christian homes continue to leave the church in adulthood. In fixing the problem, the most logical place to start has to be the biggest external influence in their lives - namely, the public schools. We...

  
• 04.01.2024

  The Feminized Church

  The church will be driven by masculine sensibilities or by feminized sensibilities - it can't be driven by both.  This week we explore how the church has become driven by feminized sensibilities, why that isn't God's design, and what the consequences...

  
• 03.25.2024

  The Lost Art of Church Discipline

  The church's task of confronting "sin in the camp" is clearly laid out in the Scriptures... and yet it almost never happens. Why not? What would it look like if we did practice it? We discuss: - The OT roots of the...

  
• 03.18.2024

  3 Marriage Lessons We’ve Learned

  This week the guys each bring three lessons they've learned about marriage. Topics include: - Why self-esteem is so important to a marriage- A mindset both spouses need to bring to the relationship- How to get better at conflict Tune in to...

  
• 03.11.2024

  Thinking Biblically About Immigration

  With millions of immigrants crossing the border into the US in recent years, and immigration becoming arguably the biggest concern of this year's election, what should Christians think about the issue? We discuss:- Why the issue can't be ignored by Christians-...

  
• 03.04.2024

  The Age of Accountability

  This week we discuss the age of accountability and how we should think about youth baptisms (including our own). - Why we reject infant baptism- Reasons for younger (10-13) baptisms- Reasons for older baptisms (16 and up)- The role of fear...

  
• 02.26.2024

  Don’t “Follow Your Heart”

  We look at the disastrous culture of individualism and following our hearts. "Do what makes you happy" and "I come to God in my own way" set people up for misery and separation from God. Yet, many churches are built...

  
• 02.19.2024

  Fear, Indoctrination, and Climate Change, with Dr. Brad Harrub

  Dr. Brad Harrub joins the show to talk about climate change! In this episode: - The history of climate alarmism- What the science really shows- Biblical environmentalism and caring for God's world- How news media manipulates through fear- The indoctrination and...

  
• 02.12.2024

  Marriage, Faithful Kids, and Elder Qualifications

  We dive into the elder qualifications of 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 and discuss the importance of getting them right while also looking at the controversies involved. Topics include:- How the qualifications have been downplayed, and the consequences we're seeing-...

  
• 02.05.2024

  Why Christians Need to Be Ready for AI

  Christians were caught unaware by the rise of the internet, but we can't afford to make the same mistake with the newest booming technology. Almost overnight, artificial Intelligence has gone from a fringe technology to a feature of everyday life. While...

  
• 01.29.2024

  Women’s Roles: Church Offices, Ladies’ Days, and More

  The role of women in the church has long been a debated topic. This week we take on the big issues like women preachers and what prominent women in the Bible teach us, along with a number of practical questions,...

  
• 01.22.2024

  How Much Free Will Do We Have?

  This week we take on one of the Bible's most philosophically challenging questions: how much free will do we actually have? Topics include: - Where do we fall on the spectrum of determinism, middle knowledge, or open theism? - Did Pharaoh have...

  
• 01.15.2024

  Does God Choose Who He Saves?

  The guys take a look at Calvinism and the big questions it presents, including:   - The 5 points of Calvinism (TULIP) - Whether man has a sin nature - Which system is more consistent with God's character - Calvinism's weakest point   With Will Harrub, Jack...

  
• 01.08.2024

  Suicide: Selfish and Sinful, or Something Else?

  This week we take on the difficult but important topic of suicide. Topics include: - Why the rate is so much higher among males than females- How the mental health industry often doesn't help and sometimes makes the problem worse- Why faith...

  
• 01.01.2024

  Why Goals and Growth Are Essential for Christians

  Some people are big on chasing goals and resolutions. Others aren't. Does it matter? Do Christians have a duty to aim to grow year over year? Topics include:- Why aimlessness makes us the 1 talent man of Matthew 25- How do...

  
• 12.26.2023

  Q&A: PM Worship, CoC Leaders, and More

  We respond to listener questions, including: - Does the church of Christ have a cult of personality problem?- Why should I stay in the church of Christ?- What's the biggest challenge facing congregations in 2024?- What are the advantages and disadvantages...

  
• 12.18.2023

  Lines of Fellowship and Church Autonomy

  In the churches of Christ congregations are autonomous... to a point. Deciding when a line has been crossed and others have become beyond fellowship is a delicate but critical matter. Topics include: - The tendencies of progressivism and hyperconservatism- Being open to...

  
• 12.11.2023

  Romans 14, Christmas, and Matters of Opinion

  There are many things the Bible does not discuss. There are also plenty of things it discusses briefly or vaguely without giving a firm answer as to what we should do. How do we handle those matters? Romans 14 shows...

  
• 12.04.2023

  The Church Clothes Controversy

  How we dress for worship has been a hot topic on social media recently. We discuss the controversial meme that started it all and give our takes on the matter of church clothes from a number of angles, including: - Is...

  
• 11.27.2023

  Best Case, Worst Case for the Church in 10 Years

  We discuss what the church may look like in 10 years and what needs to change. Topics include: - Why the status quo can't be maintained- The single biggest issue we're facing- How we've failed at training leaders- The place of...

  
• 11.20.2023

  100 Questions in 100 Minutes - Episode 100

  We celebrate our 100th episode with a "Get to know your hosts" series of questions. Topics cover a wide range, including: - Bible questions- Church matters- Personal goals- Food, sports, and culture takes- The past and future of the podcast, and...

  
• 11.13.2023

  How Masculinity and Femininity Improve Sexuality

  We continue our 2-part series on sexuality with a look at how proper masculinity and femininity aid the married couple's sexual relationship, and how misplaced gender roles hurt it. We also share advice for the unmarried, young marrieds, and beyond. With Will...

  
• 11.06.2023

  The Church's Mishandling of Sexuality

  Sex used to be a taboo topic in both the church and the culture. But when the culture started talking about it in all the wrong ways, we didn't rise to meet the challenge. We discuss:   - The two ditches the culture...

  
• 10.30.2023

  Paganism’s Alarming Return

  Paganism has seen rapid growth in recent years, with people giving up Christianity and even atheism to worship "gods" like Thor, Odin, and Zeus. TikTok is especially driving this trend among young people. We may be a few years away from...

  
• 10.23.2023

  Israel, the Church, and the End of the World

  Many operate with the belief that Israel remains God's chosen people. This drives both their current politics and their expectations for how the world will end. In fact, dispensational premillennialism may be the foremost view of the end times in evangelicalism...

  
• 10.16.2023

  What Happens When We Die?

  Everybody who's ever lived wants to know what happens after we die. Though the Bible does not lay out a full description of how things will be, it does give us a number of glimpses. This week's episode examines those and explores...

  
• 10.09.2023

  Bad Meme-ology

  We look at popular memes and shareable quips from social media and examine their Biblical accuracy, including:   - "God gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers" - "You don't have a soul, you are a soul. You have a body." - Heaven...

  
• 10.02.2023

  Self-Love, Self-Care, Self-ish?

  We live in a culture obsessed with self-love and self-care. In this week's episode, we discuss: are these practices selfish, or should Christians engage in them? Topics include: - How modern innovations have created mental health problems - If Jesus practiced self-care - Where...

  
• 09.25.2023

  Was Jesus a Socialist?

  We conclude our brief series on money with a look at the claim that Jesus was a socialist.   Topics include: - Did the early church practice socialism in Acts 2 and Acts 4? - Is it true that socialism is "a good idea...

  
• 09.18.2023

  Misunderstandings About Money

  Money is one of the most misunderstood topics of the Christian life.  This week we try to cut through the confusion on a number of topics, including: - Is it wrong to desire to make good money? - Where is the balance between...

  
• 09.12.2023

  How "Nice Guys" Destroy the Home, Church, and Society

  We discuss the "Nice Guy" issue plaguing modern masculinity and why it subverts everything God intended for men to be. Topics include: - Why "Nice Guys" are unsuited to lead their home and make everyone miserable- The reason "bad boys" like Andrew...

  
• 09.04.2023

  19 Duggar Kids, Purity Culture, and Other Evangelical Trends

  We conclude our brief series on evangelical trends with a look at: - The "Radical" discipleship of Francis Chan and David Platt - What to take from the Duggars and Bill Gothard's representations of patriarchy and homeschooling - What happened when Josh Harris...

  
• 08.28.2023

  "Religion Over Relationship" and Other Evangelical Trends, Pt. 1

  We start a two part series on evangelical trends of the last 50 years, this week focusing on the rise of megachurch/seeker sensitive churches, plus the "Emerging Church" of the early 2000s. Topics include: - Where "Relationship over Religion" came from...

  
• 08.21.2023

  The Church's Deadly Cancel Culture

  This week we discuss the church's long and storied "Cancel Culture," when Christians cut off relationships and silence brethren over minor doctrinal disputes. We cover:- The wicked incentives of measuring our doctrinal purity by others- Why we should be careful with...

  
• 08.14.2023

  Worship Reexamined

  We take on a subscriber suggestion to reexamine the ways we do worship and see how they could be more effective. Topics include: - How can we bring more passion to our song service without making it a performance?- Can the...

  
• 08.07.2023

  Aliens and UFOs: Hoax, Real, or Something Else?

  Aliens and UFOs have long been a fringe interest in our society - that is, until very recently. With government officials claiming encounters with UFOs and maybe even aliens themselves, suddenly the issue is being taken much more seriously. What are...

  
• 07.31.2023

  The Top 5 Bible Books

  This week we share our Top 5 Favorite Bible books and debate each others' lists. We finish with a discussion of what might be the Top 5 Most Important or Impactful books in the Bible. We'd love to read what's on your...

  
• 07.24.2023

  Does God Tempt? Has Man Seen God? and Other Alleged Contradictions

  This week we look at alleged Bible contradictions, including some tough questions like: - Did God tempt Abraham, contradicting James 1:13? - Moses talked with God face to face, why does John 1:18 say no one has seen God? - Was God dishonest...

  
• 07.17.2023

  Why You Can Trust Your Bible

  One of the biggest attacks on the Christian faith today is aimed at the Bible's reliability. The culture insists we should see the Word as nothing more than a flawed collection of folk tales. We discuss why you can have full...

  
• 07.10.2023

  Situational Discipleship

  We've lost all understanding of what it means to be a kid, an adult, and an elderly person. Kids are rushed into adulthood by being confronted with serious issues and being allowed to make all kinds of decisions for themselves. Adults...

  
• 07.03.2023

  "Choose Your Own Adventure" Christianity

  We talk about the status quo of church membership, a "choose your own adventure" approach. If people want to be highly active and involved, they can be. And if they want to barely take part, we encourage them to do more...

  
• 06.26.2023

  Do We Need Preachers?

  We examine the role of the preacher, including questions like: - How do we strike the balance between the over-powered pastor role and the "employee of the church" views so prevalent today? - Are there qualifications for preachers? - Was the work of...

  
• 06.19.2023

  Racial Division

  With today being Juneteenth, the most recently-minted federal holiday, we discuss racial division in the church and society. Topics include:- What unity would take- What racism is, and what it isn't- When colorblindness helps, and when it doesn't- Whether natural affinities...