Upon This Rock

On today's episode I talk with Pastor Brian Zahnd. Brian is the founding pastor of Word of Life Church in St. Joseph Missouri, the author of multiple books, and the biggest Bob Dylan fan you'll ever met. Brian and I have a vary open and candid conversation about what its like being a pastor, his sense of vocation and calling, and what he wishes the average congregant knew about being a pastor.  

Want more? Read and subscribe to my Substack feed to get more theological reflections and exclusive content.

My email is [email protected] and you can send me a voice memo at the link below.

In today's episode I talk to Greg Coles about how the Church should relate to culture. We speak about the culture wars, sexuality, Harry Potter, those awkward Youth Group "sex talks", and a more. I think you are going to enjoy this conversation. 

Want more? Read and subscribe to my Substack feed to get more theological reflections and exclusive content.

My email is [email protected] and you can send me a voice memo at the link below.

The is the final episode in our three part series on baptism being the foundational reality for the Church's identity. In today's episode we continue tracing to story of salvation by water from creation, to Noah, to Moses and the Exodus, to Joshua and the promised land, arriving finally at Jesus in the Jordan. All these stories, including our own, form one story, the story of one God, one Lord, one Spirit, one baptism, and one people in Christ.

If you've enjoyed this series please share them with others, post them to social, or leave a review and rating on iTunes. 

Want more? Read and subscribe to my Substack feed to get more theological reflections and exclusive content.

My email is [email protected] and you can send me a voice memo at the link below.

This is part two of three of our look at baptism being the foundational reality which shapes the identity of the Church. In the last episode we examined Matthew 28 and Genesis 1. Today, we tackle the story of Noah's flood, 1 Peter 3, and the age old question, "Does baptism save you?" (yes but now in the way you probably think). 

Want more? Read and subscribe to my Substack feed to get more theological reflections and exclusive content.

If you have a question or comment you can reach me at [email protected] or by clicking the link below. If you're enjoying these talks on baptism please pass them on to friends, post them to social, or leave a review and rating on iTunes.

Over the next three episodes I want to dive deep into the idea that baptism is the foundational reality which shapes the identity of the Church; that to be the Church is to be the baptized people of God. For many baptism is not the first or fourteenth thing that comes to mind when we think about the identity of the Church, but I think we need to bring it to the top of our lists. 

Want more? Read and subscribe to my Substack feed to get more theological reflections and exclusive content.

My email is [email protected] and you can send me a voice memo at the link below.

In many ways the call of the Church, and of every local church body, is to model cruciform love and care for one another in a world built by Cain. But all us know that such an ideal is far from the truth. Sadly, in the church we still hurt each other, wound one another, and fail to be present with one another in times of pain and grief. This happens on a peer-to peer-level and also from the top-down with pastors, bishops, elders, and deacons inflicting pain on those they are meant to care for.

My conversation today is with Dr. Glenn Kreider about the reality of being hurt by the Church. Dr. Kreider teaches at Dallas Theological Seminary, travels the country speaking, and is the author of several books. 

Want more? Read and subscribe to my Substack feed to get more theological reflections and exclusive content.

My email is [email protected] and you can send me a voice memo at the link below.

NEW SERIES: This is the first episode of a new series on what it means to be the Church and how we live as the Church in the world. On today's episode I talk with Pastor Glenn Packiam from New Life Church in Colorado Springs about corporate worship. Our discussion ranges from a theology of corporate worship, worship as a way to retell the story of God, to lights and smoke and liturgy. 

Want more? Read and subscribe to my Substack feed to get more theological reflections and exclusive content.

My email is [email protected] and you can send me a voice memo at the link below.

Dr. Chris E.W. Green is back on the pod to conclude our series on misunderstood words as we talk about the power of God; our misconceptions about it, how we have formed movements around those misconceptions, and how the cross is a better lens through which we can understand what the power of God actually is and how it works in the world. 

Want more? Read and subscribe to my Substack feed to get more theological reflections and exclusive content.

My email is [email protected] and you can send me a voice memo at the link below.

Revival. The very word conjures up dreams of sings, wonders, and miracles overtaking cities and nations. But have we missed something else in the name of revival? Let's talk about revival and revival "culture". 

Want more? Read and subscribe to my Substack feed to get more theological reflections and exclusive content.

My email is [email protected] and you can send me a voice memo at the link below.

You can't talk about hell without eventually talking about heaven. Sadly, I think heaven is just as misunderstood as hell and that we have built a large portion of our spirituality on that faulty dualism. 

Want more? Read and subscribe to my Substack feed to get more theological reflections and exclusive content.

My email is [email protected] and you can send me a voice memo at the link below.