Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley discuss if Christians should gamble.

Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Why is this timely?
• Why does this matter?
• Do Christians know how to answer this question?
• What is categorized as gambling?
• What was the most surprising thing you learned when you wrote your article?
• Does the level of risk matter?
• Does the purpose or heart behind gambling matter?
• Can you have poker night?
• Can you buy a lottery ticket?
• What do I do if I’m struggling with gambling?
• How can parents teach children about the nature of gambling and/or money?

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• “Sports Betting Has Become Too Prevalent for Christians to Ignore” by Kyle Worley

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Kyle Worley is joined by Peter Gurr to answer the question, “Why trust the New Testament?”

Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Why trust the New Testament?
• When you are talking about the resurrection, is it a spiritual reality or a historical event?

Guest Bio:

Dr. Peter Gurry is Associate Professor of New Testament at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author of several books, including but not limited to Scribes and Scriptures. He is the Co-director of the Text & Canon Institute. He holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• Acts
• “Scribes and Scripture” by John D Meade and Peter J Gurry

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Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley discuss the question, Is God still speaking audibly today?

Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Is God still speaking audibly today?
• In the Bible, has God spoken through dreams, visions, prophecies, and audibly?
• What are some strange ways God speaks in the Bible?
• Is there a time in scripture we are told this is over?
• What additional revelation do we need if he has spoken to us through His son?
• What does God still give?
• How would you define prophetic ministry in the context of the church?
• What if someone is wrong?
• Why does Paul give non-apostles instructions on how to use the gift of prophecy if it's not a gift that's continued in the life of the church?
• How is prophecy different from preaching and teaching?
• If someone never receives a prophetic word, does that mean they have an impoverished experience of the Christian life?
• Where does the Bible make the distinction between prophetic office and prophetic ministry?
• What would you call someone who claims to speak on behalf of God?
• Where does this go sideways in the life of the church?

Helpful Definitions:

• Prophetic Ministry: The reception of a God granted insight that has the magnification of Christ as its goal, the edification or exhortation of the church as a byproduct. 
• Prophecy: God ordained commentary on scripture.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• Numbers 22:21-39, Daniel 5, Matthew 3:16-17, Hebrews 1:1-4, 1 Corinthians 14:37, Deuteronomy 13:1-3, Deuteronomy 18:20
• Deep Discipleship Program
• Knowing Faith: Demons and Angels

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Kyle Worley is joined by Dr. Travis Montgomery to discuss how technology impacts spiritual formation.

Questions Covered in This Episode:

• What is one blessing and one burden that technology provides on the journey of spiritual formation?

Guest Bio:

Dr. Travis Montgomery is the Assistant Professor of Christian Studies and Assistant Dean of Global Campus at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He holds a B.A from Ozark Christian College and an M.Div. and Ph.D. from Midwestern. He is husband to Lauren, and a dad of three boys—twins Ebenezer (Ben) and Hezekiah (Ki), and Boaz (Bo). 

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• Colossians 3, Genesis 1
• Deep Discipleship Program

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Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley have a conversation about what the Bible says about angels, demons, and Satan.

Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Did you have any interest in this stuff as a non-Christian?
• Does talking about demons and angels make people a little uncomfortable?
• If someone brings this up in conversation with you, how do you react?
• What are some clear things that we can agree on around demons and angels?
• What is the primary work of demons and angels?
• Are demons and angels active in the world? In what ways?
• Can demons read our minds?
• Can you open portals in your life to demonic activity?
• What is the foothold Ephesians 4 is talking about?
• How do I distinguish between my own desires and something demonic?
• How do we account for deliverance-based prayer?

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• Luke 2:8-14, Genesis 3, Job, John 8, Luke 13:10-17, Ephesians 4:27
• Deep Discipleship Program

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Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley are joined by Bobby Jamieson to discuss his book “Everything Is Never Enough,” the book of Ecclesiastes, and what happiness is.

Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Is it wrong to want to be happy?
• Why did this become your thing?
• What are the common misconceptions about what happiness is?
• Do you feel like the answer lies in the book of Ecclesiastes or in the rest of the Bible?
• What does fear of the Lord mean?
• When you talk about happiness, what do you have to clear off the ground?
• Is it possible to be “too God centered” where you miss out on the goodness of creation?
• How have you learned to talk about this to your congregation?
• How do you respond to people who say, “don’t find your identity in being a mom, find your identity in Christ?”
• If we enjoy something, is it an idol?

Helpful Definitions:

• Fear of the Lord: Reverence awe of His power, humble trembling at His generosity, confessing before His holiness, and marveling at His grace.

Guest Bio:

Bobby Jamieson serves as an associate pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He has an MDiv and ThM from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a PhD in New Testament from the University of Cambridge, where he also taught Greek. Bobby and his wife, Kristin, have four children, Rose, Lucy, William, and Margaret.

Bobby is the author of several books, including but not limited to; Sound Doctrine: How a Church Grows in the Love and Holiness of God, Going Public: Why Baptism Is Required for Church Membership, Jesus' Death and Heavenly Offering in Hebrews, The Paradox of Sonship: Christology in The Epistle to the Hebrews, and The Path to Being a Pastor: A Guide for the Aspiring.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• Ecclesiastes, Proverbs 31:30, Psalm 16:6
• “Everything Is Never Enough” by R B Jamieson
• “Remaking the World” by Andrew Wilson
• Knowing Faith Has Therapeutic Language Invaded The Church?
• “Desiring God” by John Piper

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Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley are joined by Gavin Ortlund to have a conversation about why Christians have disagreements and how we can engage in disagreements biblically.

Questions Covered in This Episode:

• If all Christians believe the bible, why do they disagree so often?
• What’s the distinction between significant disagreement that separates and real disagreement that doesn’t require separation?
• How would we disagree well about using justification by faith as an identifying mark as a fundamental part of someone claiming to be a Christian?
• What are the main contributing factors to disagreements among Christians currently?
• How do you respond to people telling others with doctrinal disagreements in Protestantism to come back to the one true church?
• What is the priesthood of all believers?
• How do you coach leaders to handle disagreement in a group setting?
• What are your top three rules of engagement for disgareemnet?

Guest Bio:

Dr. Gavin Ortlund is a pastor, author, speaker, and apologist for the Christian faith. He is a husband to Esther, and a father to Isaiah, Naomi, Elijah, Miriam, and Abigail. He serves as President of Truth Unites, Theologian-in-Residence at Immanuel Nashville, and Visiting Professor of Historical Theology at Phoenix Seminary.

Gavin has a Ph.D. from Fuller Theological Seminary in historical theology, and an M.Div from Covenant Theological Seminary. He is the author of a number of books including: Why God Makes Sense in a World that Doesn’t, What it Means to be Protestant, and the Art of Disagreeing. Gavin is a fellow of The Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics, a fellow of The Center for Baptist Renewal, a fellow of Credo, a member of St. Basil Fellowship of The Center for Pastor Theologians, and a Visiting Scholar at Reasons to Believe. 

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• James 2:24, Ephesians 2:10
• “The Art of Disagreeing” by Gavin Ortlund
• “Finding the Right Hills to Die On” by Gavin Ortlund
• “The Reformed Pastor” by Richard Baxter
• “Biblical Authority after Babel” by Kevin J Vanhoozer
• “Dominion: The Making of the Western Mind” by Tom Holland
• Truth Unites

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Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley have a conversation around the question, “Why doesn’t God always heal the sick?”

Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Why do people get sick? Where does sickness come from?
• What's the difference between personal sin and the presence of sin?
• Throughout the Bible, we see God perform miraculous healings. What are some examples that come to mind?
• Does my faith play a role in someone's healing?
• Is “not my will but yours” a prayer of faith?
• What is God’s best for us?
• What is the purpose of Jesus’s miracles?
• Why doesn’t God always heal the sick?

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• Genesis 50:20, Luke 13, John 9, Mark 5:21-43, John 11:38-44, Mark 2:1-12, John 5:1-18, James 5:13-16, Daniel 3, Matthew 26:39, Revelation 21-22, 2 Timothy 4:20, John 16:33, Genesis 3

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Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley have a conversation around giving and generosity in the life of a believer.

Questions Covered in This Episode:

• What does the word “tithe” mean?
• Where do we get the principle of the “tithe?”
• What's the difference between tithes and offerings?
• How is Israel functioning in the Old Testament?
• Is tithing biblical? Must Christians tithe?
• Should they give 10% of their earnings/income?
• How do you pastor people regarding giving and generosity?
• What are some of the wrong messages that can be taught around giving?
• Should Christians do more than tithe?

Helpful Definitions:

• Tithe: Maintaining the bottom line of Israel's religious life, supporting the ongoing ministry functions. 
• Offering: Responsive gifts given out of thanksgiving or celebration.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• Leviticus 27:30, Numbers 18:21
• Deep Discipleship Program

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Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley are joined by Ian Harber to have a conversation about deconstruction in the Christian faith. 

Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Is deconstruction good?
• What is deconstruction?
• What are some common examples?
• What is your personal story of deconstruction?
• How is your faith different from what it was before your deconstruction journey?
• Is there such a thing as healthy and unhealthy doubt?
• How can we be a good companion to those going through a season of deconstruction?
• It seems like many instances of deconstruction are tied in some way to the desire to dismiss or circumvent the clear biblical teaching on sexuality and/or gender - am I off on this? If not, how does that shape our engagement with those deconstructing?
• What would you want to tell someone who is going through a deconstruction journey?

Helpful Definitions:

• Deconstruction: Is a crisis of faith that leads to the questioning of core doctrines and the untangling of cultural ideologies that settles in a faith different from before.

Guest Bio:

Ian Harber is the Director for Communications and Marketing at Mere Orthodoxy, author of Walking Through Deconstruction, and a graduate of the Deep Discipleship Program. With a B.A. in Communication Theory from Dallas Baptist University, he has done marketing for nonprofits, churches, and small businesses for 10 years. Ian lives in Denton, TX with his wife Katie, and two sons, Ezra and Alastair. Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and Threads.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• 1 Corinthians 3:12-15
• “Walking Through Deconstruction” with Ian Harber
• Deep Discipleship Program

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Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley are joined by Ronni Kurtz to discuss the impassability of God.

Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Why this is problematic to say (if it is): God has an emotional life.
• Does God feel?
• Is impassability part of historic Christian doctrine?
• What is true and beautiful about this?
• Are passions and emotions the same thing?
• When we say God is simple, what are we saying?
• What if you don’t feel God’s love?
• What do we lose if we lose impassability?
• As an image bearer, am I supposed to try to be impassable?
• Why is the doctrine of accommodation important to this conversation?

Helpful Definitions:

• Impassable: God is not subject to emotions.
• Passion: Undergoing something.
• Diviven Simplicity: God is not composed of parts.
• Anthropomorphism: God describing himself in creaturely-like parts.
• Anthropopathism: God reveals himself in human emotive language.
• Anthropocronism: God describes himself in human-like time.

Guest Bio:

Ronni Kurtz serves as Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. Kurtz holds a PhD in Systematic Theology, a ThM in Pedagogy, and an MDiv from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He also has a BA in Biblical Studies from Southwest Baptist University. Dr. Kurtz is the author of numerous books and academic articles, including but not limited to Fruitful Theology, Proclaiming the Triune God, and Light Unapproachable. 

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• 1 Peter 2, Romans 6:12, 2 Timothy 2:22, 1 John 4:7, Acts 14, Hebrews 4-5, Philippians 2, Exodus 33, 1 Samuel 15, Exodus 20, Job 4, 1 Samuel 15, Deuteronomy 32, Genesis 6
• Deep Discipleship Program

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You can now receive your first seminary class for FREE from Midwestern Seminary after completing Lifeway’s Deep Discipleship curriculum, featuring JT, Jen and Kyle. Learn more at mbts.edu/deepdiscipleship.

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