Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Julie Ferrell to discuss motherhood.

Questions Covered in This Episode:

• How did you reflect on motherhood before you were a mom?
• What would you say to the people who think motherhood is a burden?
• What would you say to the people who think motherhood is a woman's highest calling?
• What does it mean that the act of mothering can look different but our calling as moms is the same?
• What are your thoughts on choosing where your kids go to school?
• What difference does it make in your parenting that you are a follower of Jesus?
• What is the best way to disciple your kids?
• For Christians, does allowing our kids to struggle with others who disagree with their faith, help them grow their faith?
• What does it mean to be a spiritual mom to others in the church?

Guest Bio:

Julie Ferrell is a stay-at-home mom with 4 daughters. She and her husband live in the greater Boston area. She graduated from Duke University with a double major in religion and history with a minor in chemistry. 

Resources Mentioned:

• Colossians 3:3
• Jen Wilkin
• “The Anxious Generation” by Jonathan Haidt

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Confronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon.

Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Rachel Gilson to have a conversation about whether the Bible affirms same-sex relationships.

Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Can you share your story?
• What is the most common question about what the Bible says about relationships?
• What would you say to someone who asks how a loving God could be against relationships like this?
• How does our church community offer love to those in our congregation who are lonely due to singleness?
• How do you love your friend without compromising your beliefs?
• What is covered in the book?

Guest Bio:

Rachel Gilson is on the leadership team for theological development and culture for Cru. She is the author of Born Again This Way: Coming Out, Coming to Faith, and What Comes Next. Rachel has a Master of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and is pursuing a Ph.D. from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. She is married to Andrew and has a daughter.

Resources Mentioned:

• 1 John 4:7-21
• “Does The Bible Affirm Same-Sex Relationships? by Rebecca McLaughlin

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Confronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon.

Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Sam Allberry to discuss what it means to have union with Christ.

Questions Covered in This Episode:

• What does it mean that Christians are united with Christ?
• How does union with Christ bring Christians together?
• How does the Bible describe Christian friendship?
• What does union with Christ mean for our desire to sin?
• What prompted you to write this book?

Guest Bio:

Sam Allberry is a pastor, apologist, and speaker. He is the author of a number of books, including Is God Anti-Gay?, Why Bother with Church?, 7 Myths about Singleness, and What God Has To Say About Our Bodies.

He has written extensively for numerous organizations, including The Gospel Coalition, Desiring God, and Living Out.

Resources Mentioned:

• 1 Corinthians 13, 1 John 4, Romans 15:7
• “7 Myths about Singleness” by Sam Alberry
• “Is God Anti-Gay?” by Sam Alberry
• “One with My Lord” by Sam Alberry

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Confronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon.

Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Kenza Haddock to share her story of how Jesus changed her life.

Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Tell us about your life story.
• Was your identity tied to being a Muslim?
• What changed when you moved to the US?
• What does “the end times” mean for a Muslim? What does it mean for a Christian?
• How did you know it was Jesus in your dream?
• What was it that led you to believe in Jesus?
• What is Romans 10:9?
• Why did you have to move away from your family?
• What would your advice be to people who were raised in a Muslim home and are trying to figure out faith in Jesus?
• How has your faith in Jesus helped you understand more of yourself in mental health challenges? How has it helped you, help others?
• How would you as a Christian help others to think better about their Muslim neighbors?

Guest Bio:

Kenza Haddock is a Christian author, licensed professional counselor, and a board certified pastoral counselor. She is the co-owner of Oceanic Counseling Group LLC, an outpatient mental health agency headquartered in South Carolina. Haddock is a sought-after speaker—she has spoken at conferences and churches, and she has been featured in dozens of news channels, including ABC 15, for her expertise in Christian counseling.

Resources Mentioned:

• Romans 10:9, Hebrews 4:6,1 John 1:9
• “The Ex-Muslim's Guide to Christianity” by Kenza Haddock

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Confronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon.

Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Tom Rudelius to discuss Tom’s story, the probability of the multiverse, belief in God, and where hope can be found in suffering.

Questions Covered in This Episode:

• How did you become a Christian?
• How did you originally tie science and academics with your faith once you became a Christian?
• What areas and topics are you currently researching?
• Why is it called string theory?
• Is the idea of the Big Bang incompatible with belief in God?
• Help us understand where we are today in the Universe in the laws of nature with intelligent life and/or the multiverse.
• Do most of your colleagues believe in the multiverse? What do they think of people who believe in God?
• What does Christianity have to offer in terms of facing suffering?

Guest Bio:

Tom Rudelius completed his undergraduate work at Cornell, earned a doctorate in physics at Harvard, and has conducted postdoctoral research at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey. Currently a postdoctoral researcher in theoretical physics at the University of California, Berkeley, Tom will begin a faculty position at Durham University in the fall of 2023. His research focuses on string theory, quantum field theory, and early universe cosmology. A man of faith and an avid sports fan, he is frequently requested to speak on topics related to science and faith.

Resources Mentioned:

• Romans 13, Genesis 1, Job
• “Just Six Numbers” by Martin Rees

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Confronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon.

Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Matthew Martens to discuss if Christianity can help reform the criminal justice system. 

Questions Covered in This Episode:

• What is the quick summary of what you are proposing in this book?
• What does Christianity have to do with the criminal justice system?
• Why does Christianity have a proposal for reforming the criminal justice system in America?
• The number of people has increased substantially, what is the reason for that?
• When you think about where we are today for criminal justice, how is that politically motivated?
• Is the right Christian response to just let people go freely even if they have done something wrong?
• How can we tell if someone has truly repented of their crimes?
• Were you a Christian before you became a lawyer? Did that lead to your decision to become a lawyer?

Guest Bio:

Matthew Martens has been a lawyer for 27 years after graduating first in his class at the University of North Carolina School of Law in 1996. At the outset of his legal career, Matthew spent two years in Washington, DC serving as a law clerk for a federal court of appeals judge and then to Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist at the US Supreme Court.

In the years that followed, he has worked both as a federal prosecutor (9 years) and as a criminal defense attorney (13 years). Matthew is currently a partner in the Washington, DC office of one of the world's largest law firms. Along the way, he attended seminary part-time at Dallas Theological Seminary, graduating with a master's degree in biblical studies in 2010. Matthew is currently pursuing a Th.M. in theological ethics at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Resources Mentioned:

• Romans 13
• “Reforming Criminal Justice” by Matthew T. Martens

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Confronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon.

Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Vermon Pierre to have a conversation about how God's love for His church deepens our love for each other

Questions Covered in This Episode:

• What does your day-to-day life look like as a pastor?
• How did you become a Christian? What draws you to Christian community?
• What ethnic background was the church you grew up in?
• What was your experience with your faith at Princeton?
• What do you think about the local church theologically? What does that look like practically?
• Can you share an example where you have seen this lived out?
• How would you encourage someone who is hesitant to participate in a local church?
• How can someone be vulnerable in friendship?
   

Guest Bio:

Vermon Pierre is a founding pastor and the lead pastor at Roosevelt Community Church in Phoenix, Arizona. He is the author of Gospel Shaped Living, Dearly Beloved and a contributor to The New City Catechism Devotional. Vermon is a Princeton University graduate and has a Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He and his wife Dennae live in downtown Phoenix and have five children.

Resources Mentioned:

• “Dearly Beloved” by Vermon Pierre

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Confronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon.

Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Ian Hutchinson to discuss the relationship between science and the Christian faith.

Questions Covered in This Episode:

• What is your scientific research on?
• When did you become a Christian?
• Is there a contradiction between the Christian faith and science?
• How would help someone who thinks miracles are not plausible?
• What is the strongest piece of evidence for the resurrection of Jesus?
• What would you say to someone who doesn’t think there is a need to choose to believe or not believe?
• What would you say to someone who feels like it is too late to put their faith in Jesus?

Guest Bio:

Ian H. Hutchinson is Professor Emeritus of Nuclear Science and Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His primary research interest is plasma physics, especially the magnetic confinement of plasmas (ionized gases): seeking to enable fusion reactions, the energy source of the stars, to be used for practical energy production. Hutchinson received his B.A. in physics and M.A. from Cambridge University. He then received his Ph.D in engineering physics from Australian National University, where he was a Commonwealth Scholar. 

In addition to 250 journal articles on a variety of plasma phenomena, Dr. Hutchinson is widely known for his standard textbook on measuring plasmas: Principles of Plasma Diagnostics, and A Student's Guide to Numerical Methods. He has written and lectured extensively on the relationship between science and the Christian faith, and authored the books Monopolizing Knowledge and Can a Scientist Believe in Miracles?. 

Resources Mentioned:

• 1 Corinthians 15:3-8
• “Can a Scientist Believe in Miracles?” by Ian Hutchinson

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Confronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon.

Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Irwyn Ince to have a conversation about CrossFit, Jesus, and where his hope is found. 

Questions Covered in This Episode:

• How did you get into CrossFit?
• Tell us about the community aspect of Crossfit.
• How did you become a Christian?
• How did becoming a Christian change your way of thinking?
• How does the history of race in America impact the way we view church today?
• What would you say to someone who knows something is missing from their life but thinks that CrossFit is meeting their need for community?
• How does the reality of hope in the Christian life inform the race you are running now?

Guest Bio:

Irwyn Ince is a pastor at Grace DC Presbyterian Church, director of the Grace DC Institute for Cross Cultural Mission, and a Board member of The Gospel Coalition. He has contributed to the books Heal Us, Emmanuel and All Are Welcome: Toward a Multi-Everything Church and authored The Beautiful Community: Unity, Diversity, and the Church at Its Best. He and his wife, Kim, have four children.

In addition to his passion for his family and for ministry, Dr. Ince is gleefully committed to coffee and CrossFit. When he’s not spending time with his family or preaching and teaching in the church, you can find him coaching classes at a local CrossFit gym in DC.

Resources Mentioned:

• Hebrews 11-13
• “Hope Ain't a Hustle” by Irwyn Ince

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Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny Theologians

Confronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon.

Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Vaneetha Risner to discuss her life story and what God has taught her through suffering. 

Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Can you share a little of your life and how you became a Christian?
• What happened once you became a Christian?
• Has suffering helped you set your eyes on the future hope we have as Christians?

Guest Bio:

Vaneetha Rendall Risner is the author of several books including but not limited to; Desperate For Hope, Walking Through Fire, and The Scars That Have Shaped Me. Vaneetha and her husband Joel live in Raleigh, NC, where she writes at her website, encouraging readers to turn to Christ in their pain.

Resources Mentioned:

• Psalm 119, John 11, 2 Corinthians 4:17

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Confronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon.

Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Gray Sutanto to have a conversation about why God doesn’t save everyone.

Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Can you give us a 60 second overview of your life?
• When you were 12, what made you turn to atheism? When you were 17 what made you turn to Jesus?
• Why doesn't God save everyone?
• Are human beings fundamentally good?
• What is concupiscence?
• Were we created with concupiscence? Or is this a feature of our curroption from the fall?
• How is it fair that God chooses one person over another to save?
• How is this invitation open to everyone, if not everyone has heard the gospel?

Guest Bio:

N. Gray Sutanto (PhD, University of Edinburgh) is assistant professor of systematic theology at Reformed Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. He is the author of God and Knowledge, coauthor of Neo-Calvinism: A Theological Introduction, cotranslator of Herman Bavinck’s Christian Worldview, and coeditor of Handbook to Neo-Calvinism. Gray is married to Indita and they have a daughter. He is an ordained minister in the International Presbyterian Church. You can follow him on Twitter.

Helpful Definitions:

• Concupiscence: The gravitational pull to sin.

Resources Mentioned:

• Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:4-5, Romans 3, Job

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Our Sister Shows:
Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Starting Place | Tiny Theologians

Confronting Christianity is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon.

Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠