Vision For Life

In our sixth Spring Book Club episode, Hunter and Autumn cover chapters 18–20 of Knowing God by J. I. Packer. In these chapters, Packer writes of the heart of the gospel and what it means to belong to God. Christ’s substitutionary work satisfies God’s justice and permits all who accept his atoning sacrifice to be adopted as sons and daughters. Packer calls adoption the highest privilege the gospel offers—bringing warmth, security, and intimacy to the Christian life.

In this episode, Dave and Autumn discuss Protestant identity, tracing its roots in the Reformation and the call to be a church “always reforming” in light of Scripture. They examine core convictions like sola scriptura and sola fide, the rejection of institutional exclusivism, and the Reformers’ vision for “one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church” shaped by both truth and mission.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

What It Means To Be Protestant by Gavin Ortlund

The Missionary Movement in Christian History by Andrew Walls

A growing interest in religion among Gen Z, alongside rising church attendance across the United States and Western Europe, is capturing the attention of researchers, journalists, and church leaders alike. Dave and Autumn explore how this trend is playing out locally in Denver, highlighting renewed curiosity around Protestantism, Catholicism, and historic expressions of worship. Together, they reflect on what this moment might mean for the church and its witness.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

On Bullshit by Harry G. Frankfurt

Honestly with Bari Weiss

Maiden, Mother, Matriarch with Louise Perry

In this episode, Hunter and Autumn consider the Supreme Court’s decision in Chiles v. Salazar and what it means for counselors, parents, and the future of conversion therapy—an umbrella term for therapies aimed at changing sexual orientation or gender identity. Using recent reporting from WORLD and Colorado Public Radio, they discuss the competing claims at the heart of the case—free speech versus harm—and ask questions about desire, identity, and the roles of counsel and the gospel in helping people pursue God’s good design.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Former state lawmaker ‘devastated’ and ‘disgusted’ as Supreme Court overturns Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy - CPR News

Counselors feel new freedom after Chiles ruling - WORLD mag

Supreme Court overturns Colorado ban on conversion therapy - Rocky Mountain PBS

Is God Anti-Gay? by Sam Allberry

In this episode, Hunter and Autumn discuss chapters 14–17 of Knowing God by J. I. Packer, wrestling with the often-avoided themes of God’s judgment, wrath, and justice. In a cultural moment that prefers a God of love without severity, Packer helps us see why God’s role as Judge is essential to understanding the gospel and the reality of evil. Holding together God’s justice and grace gives us a fuller, truer vision of who God is—and what it means to truly know Him.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Christ and Culture by Richard Niebuhr

The Kingdom of God in America by Richard Niebuhr

In today’s spring book club episode, Hunter and Autumn discuss chapters 11–13 of Knowing God by J. I. Packer, reflecting on how God’s Word should rightly shape what we think and who and what we love. Packer’s writing deepens familiar truths about God’s love and grace, challenging our sentimental assumptions and showing how these realities only make sense in light of sin, justice, and God’s sovereign character.

In this episode, Hunter and Autumn discuss chapters 7–10 of Knowing God by J. I. Packer, which teach us about God’s immutability, majesty, and wisdom. Packer calls us to resist reshaping God in our image and instead to see Him as He is: utterly reliable, infinitely great, and perfectly wise, even when we don’t understand His ways. As we wrestle with the gap between what we want God to do and what He is doing, we consider how a right vision of God, knowing him as he is, leads not to control but to deeper trust, reverence, and confidence in His purposes.

In this episode, we discuss David French’s New York Times column, “James Talarico Is a Christian X‑Ray,” and why the rise of James Talarico is attracting attention from Christians across the political spectrum. Many people find Talarico’s well-spoken, respectful conduct compelling in today’s rancorous political climate. Yet a theological divide has long existed between evangelical Protestantism and liberal Protestantism, and it is on display in the debates swirling around Talarico. Does political style and conduct or doctrinal faithfulness and policy alignment best reflect a genuinely Christian approach to public life?

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Opinion | James Talarico Is a Christian X-Ray by David French

The Real Difference Between Evangelicals and Liberal Protestants by Daniel K. Williams

Today, on the Vision for Life Podcast, Hunter and Autumn respond to a listener’s question about Christians and gun ownership. They ask together how Christians can think biblically and prudentially about gun ownership in America and examine key biblical texts on self-defense and non-retaliation. What are the wisdom questions Christians should ask about security, love of neighbor, and the teaching of Jesus? They also discuss the important distinction between personal gun ownership and public policy, asking what faithful Christian engagement might look like in both.

In Hunter’s recent Substack article, “Why Spiritual Formation and Gospel-Centered Need Each Other,” he asks why spiritual growth can feel difficult even when we have sound theology and sincere effort. Hunter and Autumn pick up that discussion in today’s podcast. They draw on insights from Dallas Willard and Timothy Keller, considering how habits or practices and grace work together in the life of faith, and why each movement arose to correct real weaknesses in Western Christianity. The podcast concludes with practical encouragement: pursue steady habits of prayer and Scripture, and when you fall short, turn to God to receive the grace that is readily available to us.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard

Shaped by the Gospel by Tim Keller

A Heart Aflame for God: A Reformed Approach to Spiritual Formation by Matthew Bingham

Why Spiritual Formation and Gospel-Centered Need Each Other by Hunter Beaumont