Think Deeper

We discuss some alarming statistics about young people's failure to reach milestones like marriage, childbearing, home ownership, and more, along with how it got this way and what the church can do about it. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro and research07:09 - Discussing the causes15:17 - Feminism's influence27:03 - Economic factors30:27 - Priorities for young men41:30 - Re-centering marriage51:34 - Think Fast: AI Goes Rogue With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie Visit our sponsor at cobbpublishing.comJoin us for the Deep End at focuspress.org/plus

Grok, the AI chatbot found on Elon Musk's X, went off script recently, calling itself "MechaHitler, questioning the holocaust, and more. We discuss the lessons to be taken for Christians and their usage of AI Catch the full episode of Think Deeper on Monday, 7/14! With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie focuspress.org

We revisit one of our oldest takes with a look at the place of reverence in Vacation Bible School, but also in. worship and other church activities. With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie Join us for the Deep End! focuspress.org/plus And, visit out sponsor at cobbpublishing.com

We continue our examination of critiques from former church of Christ members, including a lengthy look at the Command, Example, Necessary Inference method of application that drives most church teaching. 00:00 - Intro04:30 - The thief on the cross06:55 - Attendance requirements13:03 - Are women oppressed in the church?19:00 - CENI and the Silence of Scripture, the two big principles25:17 - The need for balance28:18 - Alternatives to CENI31:20 - Do we mirror the early church?40:00 - How much does opinion and personal interpretation factor in to our doctrines?49:00 - Are we inconsistent in applying CENI? With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie Referenced: Thats Jesus Channel, Reddit r/excoc Join our email list and sign up for the Deep End at focuspress.org/plusSign up for Jack's email list at jackwilkie.coAnd, visit our sponsor at cobbpublishing.com

We dive in to online critiques of the churches of Christ from former members and weigh which arguments have some validity and which ones are way off. Chapters00:00 - Intro and disclaimers04:07 - An "Indoctrination" problem?10:18 - Reasons people leave the church19:42 - Are Christians judgmental?26:20 - Arguing over Easter30:35 - "We only follow the Bible"34:38 - Conservative purity spiraling39:19 - Pushed out by politics46:05 - No debates allowed48:40 - The pull of a capella worship51:47 - Think Fast: Supreme Court Upholds Ban on Trans Treatment for Minors With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie Check out our sponsor at cobbpublishing.com Visit us at focuspress.org and join us for the Deep End by signing up at focuspress.org/plus

The Supreme Court has upheld Tennessee's ban on transgender treatment for minors in United States v. Skrmetti. We discuss what this means and what it teaches us about Christians, politics, evangelism, and more. Subscribe to catch the full episode on Monday, June 23!

This week we discuss stereotypical "problem members" in the church and how not to be one of them. Our top 10 list: 00:00 - Introduction03:02 - The Pot Luck Specialist05:23 - The Co-Teacher08:01 - The Nine-Fifteener and the Ten-Fifty-Sevener11:47 - The No-Show16:36 - The Critic22:46 - The Absentee Voter29:08 - The Taker34:08 - The Emotional Landmine36:57 - The CryBully44:00 - The Bully47:10 - Think Fast: Simone Biles Flips on Trans Athletes With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe WilkieVisit us at focuspress.org/thinkdeeperCheck out our sponsor at cobbpublishing.com

Decorated American gymnast Simone Biles had strong thoughts on those who oppose male participation in female sports... until she had a sudden change of heart. We discuss what happened and what lessons can be taken from the episode.

Vince Boling joins the show to tell stories from his time working on set alongside some of Hollywood's biggest names, and how the darkness he saw led him back to the Lord. Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction and Vince's backstory11:20 - Noticing something was "off"16:18 - The behind the scenes overlap of Hollywood and the porn industry18:36 - Is Satan's influence direct or indirect?33:05 - Does Vince participate in boycotts?36:50 - What advice would Vince give to young people who have Hollywood aspirations?40:00 - Can you be Christian in Hollywood?42:48 - The horror stories that drove Vince out of Hollywood and back to church51:28 - Think Fast: Is Pride Month fading? With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe WilkieJoin our Patreon at focuspress.org/plus for more! Chapters (00:00:00) - Introduction and Vince's backstory(00:11:20) - Noticing something was "off"(00:16:18) - The behind the scenes overlap of Hollywood and the porn industry(00:18:36) - Is Satan's influence direct or indirect?(00:33:05) - Does Vince participate in boycotts?(00:36:50) - What advice would Vince give to young people who have Hollywood aspirations?(00:40:00) - Can you be Christian in Hollywood?(00:42:48) - The horror stories that drove Vince out of Hollywood and back to church(00:51:28) - Think Fast: Is Pride Month fading?

Many have noticed that Pride Month seems to lack the energy it once had. Are corporations changing their tune? Is this an effect of a change in government? Is this a trend, or a momentary pause? We discuss these on this week's Think Fast. For the full episode, tune in Monday, June 9 for a special interview with a guest who has seen Hollywood's inner workings and has plenty of stories to tell.

At the judgment, every human will meet their fate of reward or punishment. But once we've been sorted into one of those categories, will there be extra reward or extra punishment based on our deeds? Can we add "jewels to our crown" as some say? 00:00 - Intro and what we believe07:10 - Scriptures on levels of reward25:42 - Scriptures on degrees of punishment37:30 - What form would greater rewards and punishment take?47:00 - Answering objections1:08:10 - Think Fast: Phil Robertson and the Duck Dynasty Legacy Chapters (00:00:00) - Intro and what we believe(00:07:10) - Scriptures on levels of reward(00:25:42) - Scriptures on degrees of punishment(00:37:30) - What form would these rewards and punishment take?(00:47:00) - Answering objections(01:08:10) - Think Fast: Phil Robertson and the Duck Dynasty Legacy

With Phil Robertson's passing, we discuss the impact made by his business and the Duck Dynasty television craze, along with what good and bad Christian entertainment looks like. Catch the full episode of Think Deeper on Monday, 5/29 as we discuss the idea of levels of reward and punishment in heaven and hell

God wired men and women differently, with different strengths, skills, and tendencies. Unfortunately, Satan knows this and can turn our tendencies into temptations. We discuss: - The most-discussed sin for men and for women- How a sin like pride manifests differently for the two- How social media amplifies bad tendencies- The power struggle set forth by Adam and Eve and more! With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie Check out our sponsor at cobbpublishing.comAnd, visit us at focuspress.org

With reports that podcasting megastar Joe Rogan has begun to regularly attend worship services, we react to what this says about the culture, the blessings and challenges of celebrity conversions, and what the churches of Christ can learn from this.

We examine common quips and phrases you'll hear in the churches of Christ, including "Steps of Salvation," "the Brotherhood," "Separate and Apart from the Lord's Supper," and more! SECTIONS: 00:00 - Intro 5:30 - "Ready Recollection," "Separate & Apart," and Other Cliches 18:20 - Bible Things in Bible Ways, the Pattern, and Silence 38:00 - The Steps of Salvation 46:45 - "Church of Christ" and "The Brotherhood" 54:44 - Think Fast: Must Christians Support Israel? Chapters (00:00:00) - Intro(00:05:30) - "Ready Recollection," "Separate & Apart," and Other Cliches(00:18:20) - Bible Things in Bible Ways, the Pattern, and Silence(00:38:00) - The Steps of Salvation(00:46:45) - "Church of Christ" and "The Brotherhood(00:54:44) - Think Fast: Must Christians Support Israel?

In this week's Think Fast we look at President Trump's negotiations in the Middle East and the rumors that the US and the Israeli government are not on the same page. Many Evangelicals believe God has commanded the US and all other nations to support Israel... but is that true? From the Think Deeper Podcast episode, Guide, Guard, and Direct Us: Church of Christ Lingo available Monday, May 19

We live in possibly the most generationally divided time ever. Thanks to mass media and the rapid growth of technology, we have 4 generations with as little in common as any. We discuss: How the Post-WWII world has changed things so drastically for all of us The strengths and weaknesses of each generation Statistical insights that help us understand each other What it's going to take to bring the generations together Chapters: 00:00 - Intro and defining terms 03:10 - Generational defensiveness 9:30 - Where the breakdown began 22:20 - Interesting statistics 30:15 - The turning tide 36:00 - Self-awareness of our failures 49:10 - Think Fast: A New Pope Chapters (00:00:00) - Intro and Defining Terms(00:03:10) - Generational Defensiveness(00:09:30) - Where the breakdown began(00:22:20) - Interesting statistics(00:30:15) - The turning tide(00:36:00) - Self-awareness of our failures(00:49:10) - Think Fast: New Pope

We're back! This week Think Deeper returns with a look at the question of whether Christian teens should go to prom, whether parents should allow it, and the place of rites of passage in young people's growth. 5:25 - our answers and making the "steel man" case for prom11:45 - is this a Romans 14 issue, a matter of opinion?17:30 - parents' responsibility to their children22:47 - statistics that shed light on the prom experience30:13 - is modesty conditional?36:30 - answering arguments40:45 - what about formal banquets and prom alternatives?53:55 - what other rites of passage might be useful for young people?1:07:00 - THINK FAST! Tariffs and living with less With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie Visit us at focuspress.org, and join us at focuspress.org/plus to get access to the Deep End and plenty of other exclusives! Chapters (00:05:25) - our answers and making the "steel man" case for prom(00:11:45) - is this a Romans 14 issue, a matter of opinion?(00:17:30) - parents' responsibility to their children(00:22:47) - statistics that shed light on the prom experience(00:30:13) - is modesty conditional?(00:36:30) - answering arguments(00:40:45) - what about formal banquets and prom alternatives?(00:53:55) - what other rites of passage might be useful for young people?(01:07:00) - THINK FAST! Tariffs and living with less

Think Fast returns! Each Friday we'll be reacting to some major headline or talking point of that week, beginning with this discussion of President Trump's comments on some of the expected effects of tariffs. Keep an eye out for our return episode Monday - The Prom Question and Rites of Passage

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 one another without becoming compromised- Being exclusive without being exclusionary- Whether there's a difference between salvation issues and fellowship issues- Are churches supposed to "police" one another? With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie

Feminism's influence runs deep in our day, making it difficult for us to discern what God's design for women should look like. In this week's rewind, the guys examined the Bible's teachings on the design of women, their strengths, their weaknesses, and how our culture has missed the mark.

The world clearly has no idea what a man is, nor what a woman is. But do Christians know? Can we articulate the differences? Can we explain the strengths and weaknesses God gave to men, and why they matter? In this episode the guys discuss the common stereotypes of harmful masculinity before contrasting them with the role for which God created men. Originally aired March 29, 2022

Originally published in September 2022 Some Christians claim Jesus explicitly told us to prepare ourselves for self-defense. Other Christians claim Jesus expressly prohibited us from doing so. How can there be such a wide chasm of opinions on this matter? And what does the Bible really say? We discuss in this episode. Topics include: How both sides of the debate often misunderstand Jesus What the Old Testament teaches us on the matter Situations such as home intrusions, active shooters in the church building, war, and the like For more, join us at patreon.com/focuspressinc

We're no strangers to controversy, but we want to be sure we're understood properly when we do wade into the controversial.In this episode, we look back on 169 episodes of Think Deeper (so far) and clarify some of the views we've shared and how they've been received. Topics include: - An announcement about the show - 00:00 - What do we REALLY believe about the man and woman's roles in the home? - 05:39- Servant leadership... are we against servants, leaders, both, or neither? - 15:19- Have we been too hard on the church? - 23:20- Are we against Christian conferences and colleges? - 41:05- Do we think Christians should mix country and religion? - 51:24 With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie Visit our sponsor at cobbpublishing.com Check us out at focuspress.org And, sign up for our exclusive Deep End episodes and much more at patreon.com/focuspressinc

The church's under-discussion of the Old Law combined with the rise of popular online Bible study communities is leading many astray with regard to Law-keeping. We discuss the rise of Torah Observant Christianity and Messianic Judaism and how it misunderstands the place of the Law of Moses, including: - Why so many are feeling drawn to keep the Law - Why they believe what they do, and what the Scriptures say - Is Sunday the new Sabbath? - What ARE we supposed to do with the Mosaic Law? - THINK FAST: A JFK Files spin-off question Will Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie Check out our sponsor at cobbpublishing.com And, visit us at focuspress.org

We discuss the theological importance of hymn lyrics and how they teach us doctrinal truths - even when we don't realize it. Topics include: Is 'Just a Little Talk with Jesus' teach wrongly about salvation? Does 'The Old Rugged Cross' glorify the cross instead of Jesus? Should we sing about our 'Mansion Over the Hilltop?' How can we know what's a personal nitpick and what's a legitimate complaint with a song? Plus, blind ranking classic hymns! Check out our sponsor at cobbpublishing.com And, visit us at focuspress.org

The winds of change are kicking up in the culture and the church, and a lot of positive developments are coming with them. However, correction always comes with the risk of overcorrection. We discuss: - Finding balance between feminism and an increasingly popular chauvinism - How rejecting "anti-racism" can turn into full-blown racism if we're not careful - The decline of Christian Gnostic tendencies and how the new perspectives can go wrong - Why older generations have to learn not to fight positive change - Why younger generations have to reform with humility and more Check out our sponsor at cobbpublishing.com And, visit us at focuspress.org

Jack and Joe break down the logical fallacies and bad arguments used to introduce false teachings and teach you how to spot them. Topics include: - The primary logical fallacy that has been used to bring in LGBT support, women preachers, and all kinds of other errors - How to represent an opponent's beliefs without building a straw man argument - How empathy gets weaponized against good-hearted Christians - When the slippery slope is a bad argument, and when it's a good argument and more! Check out our sponsors at cobbpublishing.com And, visit us at focuspress.org

We discuss the distractions in life that keep us from doing the things we know we should, including: How sports can dominate a family's life The way social media eats our time without us realizing it Why even church activities can be distractions What we can do to keep our priorities in line With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie Check out our sponsor at cobbpublishing.com, and visit us at focuspress.org

For 10+ years, "woke" views on race, sexuality, and more have dominated the culture and even infiltrated the church. But is the tide turning? We discuss: How bad did it get? What was the tipping point, and what factors have caused this turnaround? Is this a permanent change in direction, or is the ideology just lying low for a while? 3 ways Christians are likely to respond Join us at the benefit dinner! focuspress.org/benefit Check out our sponsor at cobbpublishing.com

With Valentine's Day around the corner, we discuss the Christian's path toward finding a spouse. Topics include: - Rating college, apps, events, and other places where people go to find connections- Dating, courtship, and hybrid approaches- Pitfalls to avoid- The place of attraction- The most important qualities to look for and more! With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie Check out our sponsor at cobbpublishing.com And, keep up with all the latest by joining our mailing list at focuspress.org Join us in the Deep End for an exclusive bonus episode each Friday - focuspress.org/plus

Vice President JD Vance started a controversy recently when he stated that Christianity teaches a hierarchy of loves beginning with the home. We discuss: Are Christians supposed to love some people more than others? If there is to be a hierarchy of loves, what is it? How have "love your neighbor" and "love one another as I have loved you" been misunderstood? How does it affect the church when we get this wrong? Go to focuspress.org to shop, donate, or check out the latest content Looking for more Christian podcasts? Subscribe to Godly Young Men for more from Joe and Will, and Church Reset for Jack And, check out our sponsor at cobbpublishing.com

We continue the discussion on church finances. This week we look at: Are preachers paid fairly? Ways churches can help their preachers make a proper income, even if they don't have enough money Should elders be paid? How much is too much when it comes to spending on building luxuries or events? and more! For more, go to focuspress.org With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie

We begin a 2-part look at church finances, including: - Is tithing an obligation, a good idea, or an outdated concept? - Can church efforts to care for the community be misguided? - Should we have a widow payroll like Paul discusses in 1 Timothy 5? - What is the place of missions in the church's budget? and more! Stay tuned for next week when we'll discuss paying elders, preacher salaries, church spending, and more. With Will Harrub, Joe Wilkie, and Jack Wilkie

The home was mankind's first institution, and its health goes a long way toward determining a people's health - which is why Satan is so eager to tear it down. In this month's Think Magazine crossover episode, we examine some of the primary ways the home can be torn apart. Topics include: - The subversion of God's authority structure - When to involve the elders in a marital conflict - Divided loyalties caused by social media, peer groups, and other outside influences - The ripple effects of sexual sin - Think Fast: Would you rather raise a family 100 years in the past or 100 years in the future? To get the magazine issue - focuspress.org/think

Sure, everyone wants to pray and read their Bible more in 2025. But beyond those two things, what are other actionable steps we can take to make an impact this year? We discuss: Upgrading your Sunday morning habits Ways to grow closer with your church family Ideas for drawing closer to God with your spouse and more! With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie Visit focuspress.org for more

We review the biggest headlines from 2024, including: Luigi Mangione, Daniel Penny, and the online reaction to the two cases The wild Presidential election Hurricane Helene and the government's heartless response toward its own people, and what the church can learn from it Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s health push vs. the growing adoption of Ozempic/Wegovy/Mounjaro shots Diddy, Jay-Z, and the exposure of the entertainment industry's dark side and more! With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie Check out our sponsor at cobbpublishing.com Donate at focuspress.org/donate

We get together to have some fun ahead of Christmas and New Year's Eve, playing a few games and rating hot takes submitted by YOU! Topics include: - Blind ranking Focus Press stuff and some of our, um, "favorite" controversies- Listener hot takes on issues like Bible Bowls and ministry roles- Underrated/overrated, Bible edition and more! With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie Donate at focuspress.org/donate Follow us at facebook.com/thinkdeeperpod

In part 2 in our look at the left and right edges of the church of Christ spectrum, we turn our attention to the right side. Topics include: - The strengths and weaknesses of Command, Example, and Necessary Inference Bible application - Was this the intended end of the "Restoration plea?" - The slippery slope of legalism - How hyperconservatism kills growth and more With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie

There is a broad spectrum of doctrinal beliefs among the churches of Christ. This week we focus on the progressive end of the spectrum. Topics include: Defining our terms The strengths and weaknesses of the progressives The place for giving grace in doctrinal disagreements How academia and intellectualism often create a drift Are they the true continuation of the Restorationist Movement? Tune in for Pt 2 next week as we discuss hyperconservative churches of Christ! With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie Donate at focuspress.org/donate Check out our sponsor at cobbpublishing.com

Like it or not, many of the ideas we think we came to ourselves were placed there by some person or group of people. Ideas spread so rapidly and so subtly in our day that we can be influenced in ways we don't even realize. What does this mean for our Christian view of the world? Topics include: - The good and bad of the TradWife and Manosphere movements- Why (and how) secular people are finding truths that Christians have long been missing- Using online resources for inspiration without getting idealistic or discontent- A rapid-fire look at other popular corners of the internet including the Pet Parents/DINKS, high church, health and homesteadingand more With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie Check out the holiday sales at focuspress.org/shop And, visit our new sponsor at cobbpublishing.com!

With each passing year, there's more discussion about the how difficult Thanksgiving and the holiday season are due to strained family relationships. Some even advocate skipping family gatherings entirely. We discuss:- What obligations do we have to our families?- How does the dysfunction of the American family parallel problems we're seeing in the church?- Are traditions really that important?- The impact of individualism and therapy cultureand more! With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie

Many members of the churches of Christ struggle to feel "good enough" and often lack understanding of God's grace. Is there something unique to the church's teaching that creates this uncertainty? We discuss: The benefits of our strong emphasis on doctrine and obedience Why the doctrinal precision in our fellowship's DNA can make members feel unsure of their salvation How much do we have to get right in order to be saved? How God's character can give us assurance even if we are falling short in our actions or our knowledge and more! With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie

Dr. Brad Harrub joins the show to talk about 'Arrows in the Hands of a Warrior,' the new book on parenting he co-wrote with his wife, Melinda! Topics include: - The importance of parents admitting mistakes - Challenges previous generations of parents didn't have to face - Why discipline has grown so misunderstood - Navigating grandparent involvementand more!With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie Pick up the book at Focus Press or Amazon today! Join us on Focus+ for the Deep End bonus episode - focuspress.org/plus And, subscribe to Think magazine - focuspress.org/think

Just because we're spiritual, it doesn't mean we don't have to be grounded in the reality of the physical here and now. So many of the platitudes uttered in Christianity today come off as tone-deaf, totally unconcerned with the world around us. We discuss: How heaven is over-emphasized in modern Christianity and makes us look cold and uncaring about people's problems here and now What it looks like to be "so heavenly minded we aren't any earthly good" The gross misunderstanding of what "Jesus is on His throne" means How Gnosticism has crept into the church's view of being salt and light Being realistic about the state of the world without being anxious or fearful With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie Join us November 16 in Burns, TN for Think Deeper Live! Register free at thinkdeeperlive.com

We revisit a long-running Think Deeper debate and discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly surrounding Halloween and the Christian. Topics include: Where we draw the line on Halloween participation The pagan influences surrounding the day "All Saints Day" and the value of recognizing death Whether Christians should consume Harry Potter and other magical fiction Horror movies and haunted houses THINK FAST: The Harding University controversies With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie

Sometimes the Bible can be intimidating and you don't know where to start. Other times it can feel like we know all the relevant information already and don't have a lot left to explore. This week we look at how to study the Bible more deeply and share some nuggets we've found that have helped the Bible come alive and drawn us into further study. We discuss: - Why Bible reading is underrated- The joy of Bible study- The right and wrong way to study topically- How to get started in deeper exegetical study- Useful tools- How to exercise discernment in the resources you use, and which teachers to be wary of and more! Ads: - Check out the rest of our podcast network at focuspress.org/podcasts - Join us for Think Deeper Live on November 16! RSVP at thinkdeeperlive.com

We have some BIG announcements to share on this one to go along with this week's episode on the importance of grasping Bible terms. Topics include: - Sacrifice and offering and how the new system isn't as different from the old as we might think- Justification and sanctification- Faith and works and whether we're saved by "faith alone"- Why repentance isn't just a "step" of salvation and more! With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie Join us for Think Deeper Live on November 16! RSVP at thinkdeeperlive.com

The Christian's war is fought on the philosophical level, and modern day philosophy has done a great job slithering into churches today, often almost entirely undetected. We discuss what this philosophy is and how it undermines God's Word, including: - The dominant philosophical tool of our day, its history, and how it presents itself- How this philosophy uses Christian terms to seem Biblical while directly undermining God's authority- How the inerrancy and sufficiency of Scripture are casually discarded in the face of these ideas- Buzzwords and emphases that show how this philosophy has crept into a church's teaching and leadership style and more. With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie

As young parents we don't claim to be experts in terms of how-to advice, but we do have goals for our families. Those are the focus of this week's discussion, and topics include: - Helping our kids learn to love the church - Differing goals for our boys and our girls - Lessons in self-discipline - How we want to break them of the individualism of today's world and more! With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie