Think Deeper

We examine what the Bible teaches about the Holy Spirit and His work today. Topics include: - What the Spirit did in the Old and New Testaments- The charismatic, the indwelling, and the "only through the Word" camps- How indwelling works practically- Why this topic is so uncomfortable and more! With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie

This week we look at traditions in the church, including: - Why traditions are important and necessary - When traditionalism can become overbearing - Navigating generational preferences for changing vs. maintaining traditions - Debating traditional church practices With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie

Personal conflict and confronting others is one of those inevitable parts of life that none of us enjoy. But how we do it makes a big difference. This week we look at how confrontation and conflict can be handled well, including: - How personal conflict brings us closer - Knowing when to speak up and when to let it go - The difference between confronting someone over their sin against you vs. a general sin in their life - How church leadership sets the tone for healthier confrontation and more With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie

We pick up with part 2 of answering listener questions, including: - Should Christians decline cremation? - Does "leave and cleave" mean you shouldn't live near family when you get married? - Can men use Bible study material written by women? - Is rural life more conducive to faithfulness? - Is apostolic succession valid for church authority? and more!

We respond to questions from the Deep Thinkers! This week's edition includes questions on: When and when not to judge What kind of care do new Christians need to receive from the church, and who is responsible for it? Why do many people who have wrong beliefs still seem to have true joy and peace? and more! With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie

We continue the discussion on worship in song with comments and questions from our Focus+ members. Topics include: Whether it's important to have technically proficient song leaders What to do if you attend a church with weak singing Why men especially need to take singing seriously How churches of Christ view those who use instruments in worship With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie

This week's episode looks at the importance of music in our praise to God. Topics include: - How music combats Christian gnosticism- Why we don't use instruments- The proper and improper place of emotion in worship- Questions about praise teams, clapping, and touring chorus groups With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie

The world's evil has been on overdrive lately. We discuss the latest headlines with an eye toward what Christians should do in the midst of the madness. Topics include: - Why being "above it all" or burying our heads in the sand is not holier- Whether we should just "let the world be the world"- The crowd-pleasing impulse to blame our fellow Christians- The importance of developing discernment and understanding the times- Effective ways to stand up With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie

This week we discuss how NOT to use the Bible when trying to discuss the Scripture with others. Topics include: - Right and wrong ways to use the Scripture to make a point- "Tone policers" and "mic droppers"- The place of the Old Testament in our lives today- How to respect someone's argument even when you strongly disagree With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie

We discuss whether God expects physically able married couples to bear children, or if it's just a personal choice. Topics include: - Our culture's hatred of kids- Whether "Be fruitful and multiply" still applies today- The benefits of kids- Advice for those who want children but don't/can't have them With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie

Our resident licensed therapist, Joe Wilkie, leads a discussion of the pros and cons of therapy. Topics include: - Therapy vs "Therapy Culture" - How therapy terms get weaponized to excuse sinful behavior - The right way and wrong way to think about brokenness and weakness - A debate over whether society would be better or worse off without therapy With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie

We discuss the church's statistical decline and what it could mean for the future. Topics include: How the decline of Christendom in Europe gives us a glimpse of what may be headed our way What will happen if and when persecution ramps up Why the community church model reached so many people, and why we expect it to fail Why Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy are seeing a resurgence and what we can learn from them With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie

Every year, more men leave the pulpit. Churches struggle to replace them. Many smaller congregations can't afford to bring someone in even if they wanted. Among those who still preach, some are unqualified. In short, the church is in a tough spot when it comes to the future of preaching. Is our current system of selecting, training, and hiring to blame? We discuss: - Who should become a preacher?- Is there a better way to match preachers with vacant pulpits?- What are the pros and cons of preaching schools and Christian university Bible degrees programs?- What can be done about common preacher problems like low pay, the glass house, and constantly uprooting the family? We discuss these issues and more. Join us at Focus+ to submit your questions and get access to the exclusive Deep End show each Friday, plus hundreds of other pieces of content for your Christian walk! patreon.com/focuspressinc

The role of preacher is a central part of most churches today. But is it supposed to be? We discuss:- The Biblical concept of the preacher- Stereotypical preacher problems- Are sermons overrated?- The problem of members disrespecting their ministersand more!With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie

Not everyone is going to be a preacher, elder, teacher, or missionary... so how can they serve the church? What has God called them to do? We discuss: - How we've overrated ministry and church work and underrated other efforts- What is the end goal of "making disciples?"- What's true and untrue about "all of life is worship"- What "priesthood of all believers" means in practical terms- Is every Christian called to evangelize?- How the church has misunderstood kingdom work

Summer is usually a church's busiest time of year as VBS, camp, and other events start to fill the calendar. We discuss the pros and cons of these events for spiritual formation. Topics include: Have youth and family ministries been sincere but misdirected from the start? When camps help young Christians grow into spiritual adulthood, and when they hinder The danger of building a walk with God around scheduled spiritual highs Is it time to reconsider VBS? With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie

As June begins and the rainbow flags start flying again, we revisit the origins of the LGBT movement and how the decline goes back much farther than we typically think. We discuss: - 90's propaganda- The sexual revolution- Abortion's role- The rise of pornography in the 1950s- How Christians opened the door to it all by forfeiting the family

People have long had cultural role models, but in today's world of social media there are more voices than ever before. Who are today's major voices, what are they teaching, and how do we navigate the positive and negative influences? We discuss: - Taylor Swift, Candace Owens, Andrew Tate, "Trad Wives," Joe Rogan, and more - Feminism on the left and the right - Powerless masculinity, powerful masculinity, and finding balance - How parents and church leaders can use cultural role models to teach lessons With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie

"Pharisee" is a religious insult so broadly used that is often becomes almost meaningless. But the word does have a meaning, and it's important we understand it. We discuss: - The history of the Pharisees and why they weren't all bad- How progressives overuse the term- What Pharisaical Bible study looks like- What Pharisaism looks like in the church today- How to guard against a Pharisaical heart With Jack Wilkie and Joe Wilkie

Not everything is a black and white, thou shalt/thou shalt not issue. For some, this means we should not talk about such issues but rather leave everything up to individual interpretation. Phrases like "But is it a sin?" and "You can't bind that" are thrown around to shut down discussion. But discernment is at the heart of Christian maturity. This week, we discuss the difference between the two approaches and why God wants us to engage our brains. Topics include: - The importance of discerning Good/Better/Best on any issue- Is it legalistic to get into specifics like school choices, entertainment options, etc.?- Why a "broad brush" is a good and proper tool for Bible teaching- Why avoidance of the controversial kills unity

You won't find the words "place membership" in the New Testament. And, when you're baptized, you're added by God to His church. So do we need to publicly declare our membership with a local congregation? We discuss, including: - Defining "church" and "member" Biblically- Is church an "organism" or an "organization?"- Do baptized teens become members separate from their parents?- Individualism vs. Collectivism- The importance of elders (and other church leaders) in defining membership With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie

The guys decided to have some fun this week and sat down to draft 22 Bible books apiece. Tune in to see where the books got taken and how their favorites line up with yours. And, tell us who's "team" of 22 books you would pick if you could only read and study one set. With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie

We continue the discussion on prayer by examining a number of specifics, including: - How should public prayers differ from private prayers?- "Abba Father" and reverence vs. closeness- How to know when an answer is from God- Does "Let the men pray in every place" extend to the home, including with one's wife and children? With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie

Prayer is one of the basics of the Christian faith, but it's also a remarkably deep concept that raises all kinds of questions. Topics include: - Why do we need to pray if God already knows our thoughts?- Does it make a difference to pray audibly vs. just in our heads?- Do we pray to all 3 members of the Godhead, or just the Father?- Does prayer change God's mind?- Does God hear everyone's prayers? and more. With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie Join Focus+ to get access to our weekly Q&A show, The Deep End! patreon.com/focuspressinc

The majority of kids raised in Christian homes continue to leave the church in adulthood. In fixing the problem, the most logical place to start has to be the biggest external influence in their lives - namely, the public schools. We discuss: - Just how bad it's gotten (even in the "good" schools)- The Deuteronomy 6 mandate- Valid reasons vs. excuses- Ways churches can get creative to help families With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie

The church will be driven by masculine sensibilities or by feminized sensibilities - it can't be driven by both. This week we explore how the church has become driven by feminized sensibilities, why that isn't God's design, and what the consequences have been. Topics include: - Why femininity and masculinity are both needed, and the only way they can coexist- What a feminized pulpit, eldership, and congregation look like- How political correctness and self-policing hinder the truth- Why weak men are at the heart of the problem With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie

The church's task of confronting "sin in the camp" is clearly laid out in the Scriptures... and yet it almost never happens. Why not? What would it look like if we did practice it? We discuss: - The OT roots of the practice- What a lack of church discipline has caused- Why discipline is the only loving way- The danger of overreach- How church discipline might change the world With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie

This week the guys each bring three lessons they've learned about marriage. Topics include: - Why self-esteem is so important to a marriage- A mindset both spouses need to bring to the relationship- How to get better at conflict Tune in to catch these and six more lessons. Got one to contribute? Comment on our Facebook page!

With millions of immigrants crossing the border into the US in recent years, and immigration becoming arguably the biggest concern of this year's election, what should Christians think about the issue? We discuss:- Why the issue can't be ignored by Christians- What the Bible has to say- How issues like this make us better Bible students- Whether Christians can have national interests, or if being "not of this world" prohibits us- What obligations we have on the matter Check out Focus+ to get access to the exclusive Deep End episodes and much more! patreon.com/focuspressinc With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie

This week we discuss the age of accountability and how we should think about youth baptisms (including our own). - Why we reject infant baptism- Reasons for younger (10-13) baptisms- Reasons for older baptisms (16 and up)- The role of fear as a reason to get baptized- When, if ever, is rebaptism necessary? With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie

We look at the disastrous culture of individualism and following our hearts. "Do what makes you happy" and "I come to God in my own way" set people up for misery and separation from God. Yet, many churches are built on this ideology. Topics include: - How "Follow your heart" culture has infiltrated churches - Why the heart wrecks lives and marriages - What's wrong with the minimalist, libertarian view of the Bible - How to know when you're following your heart vs. following God With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie Join us on Focus+ to get access to the weekly Deep End bonus episodes! focuspress.org/plus

Dr. Brad Harrub joins the show to talk about climate change! In this episode: - The history of climate alarmism- What the science really shows- Biblical environmentalism and caring for God's world- How news media manipulates through fear- The indoctrination and weaponization of young minds for the causeWith Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie

We dive into the elder qualifications of 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 and discuss the importance of getting them right while also looking at the controversies involved. Topics include:- How the qualifications have been downplayed, and the consequences we're seeing- What does "able to teach" mean?- Why "peaceable" is a more important qualification to get right than you might think- Does an elder have to be married?- Do an elder's children have to be baptized, faithful Christians? With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie

Christians were caught unaware by the rise of the internet, but we can't afford to make the same mistake with the newest booming technology. Almost overnight, artificial Intelligence has gone from a fringe technology to a feature of everyday life. While it comes with numerous useful features, it certainly has its dark side, too. We discuss what you need to know about the issue in this episode, including: - The history and where it stands today- The threats to relationships posed by AI- A dark turn in the porn addiction epidemic- AI's incentives toward laziness and plagiarism, including for those in ministry With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie

The role of women in the church has long been a debated topic. This week we take on the big issues like women preachers and what prominent women in the Bible teach us, along with a number of practical questions, including: - Non-speaking roles in worship- "Children's minister" and other titles- Church internships- Ladies Days With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie See focuspress.org for more!

This week we take on one of the Bible's most philosophically challenging questions: how much free will do we actually have? Topics include: - Where do we fall on the spectrum of determinism, middle knowledge, or open theism? - Did Pharaoh have a choice when he was "hardened by God?" - What about when God allowed a "deceiving influence" to do His work? - Were key players like John the Baptist and Judas effectively forced to help God accomplish His will? - What are the limits of free will? With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie

The guys take a look at Calvinism and the big questions it presents, including: - The 5 points of Calvinism (TULIP) - Whether man has a sin nature - Which system is more consistent with God's character - Calvinism's weakest point With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie

This week we take on the difficult but important topic of suicide. Topics include: - Why the rate is so much higher among males than females- How the mental health industry often doesn't help and sometimes makes the problem worse- Why faith is the answer... but also why it's not as simple as that- Questions like is suicide a sin, and does it bring automatic condemnation? With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie

Some people are big on chasing goals and resolutions. Others aren't. Does it matter? Do Christians have a duty to aim to grow year over year? Topics include:- Why aimlessness makes us the 1 talent man of Matthew 25- How do we balance contentment with what we have in life without becoming complacent?- How to make plans without assuming we know what tomorrow holds (see James 4)- All of the things and people depending on your growth- Tips and resources for sustained growth With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie

We respond to listener questions, including: - Does the church of Christ have a cult of personality problem?- Why should I stay in the church of Christ?- What's the biggest challenge facing congregations in 2024?- What are the advantages and disadvantages of small groups?- What should we make of the decline of evening services? And is extended AM worship a positive change?- Can Christians join others' religious celebrations to "become all things to all men?"- Where is the line between righteous judgment and being judgmental?- When do we go from being a person who sins to being a sinner?- Is the Bible anti-democracy? With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie

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

There are many things the Bible does not discuss. There are also plenty of things it discusses briefly or vaguely without giving a firm answer as to what we should do. How do we handle those matters? Romans 14 shows us. We discuss:- The role of the weaker brother and stronger brother- The "tyranny of the weaker brother" vs. the laxness of those who may think themselves strong- How God expects us to use our wisdom- What elders can and can't bind- Specifics like religious holidays, entertainment choices, boycotts, clothes, and more Hosted by Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie

How we dress for worship has been a hot topic on social media recently. We discuss the controversial meme that started it all and give our takes on the matter of church clothes from a number of angles, including: - Is it only a matter of where a person's heart is? - James 2 and preferential treatment - Why do we dress differently on Wednesday night? - What the Old Testament teaches us - Should we avoid making visitors uncomfortable? Join us on Focus+ for the exclusive Deep End episode each week! focuspress.org/plus With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie

We discuss what the church may look like in 10 years and what needs to change. Topics include: - Why the status quo can't be maintained- The single biggest issue we're facing- How we've failed at training leaders- The place of doctrine in the coming years- How the family and the home are key to a better future and more! With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie Join us on Focus+ at focuspress.org/plus to get access to the Deep End bonus segments, our Revelation class, and plenty more!

We celebrate our 100th episode with a "Get to know your hosts" series of questions. Topics cover a wide range, including: - Bible questions- Church matters- Personal goals- Food, sports, and culture takes- The past and future of the podcast, and more! With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie

We continue our 2-part series on sexuality with a look at how proper masculinity and femininity aid the married couple's sexual relationship, and how misplaced gender roles hurt it. We also share advice for the unmarried, young marrieds, and beyond. With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie

Sex used to be a taboo topic in both the church and the culture. But when the culture started talking about it in all the wrong ways, we didn't rise to meet the challenge. We discuss: - The two ditches the culture has created for us, and how we fall into both - What the Bible has to say on the matter, particularly in the Song of Solomon - Answering the specific questions that rarely get discussed This is a mature discussion, so we advise not listening in the company of children. With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie

Paganism has seen rapid growth in recent years, with people giving up Christianity and even atheism to worship "gods" like Thor, Odin, and Zeus. TikTok is especially driving this trend among young people. We may be a few years away from these religions posing a major opposition to the church. So, what do Christians need to know about them? We discuss this and more, including: - What do modern pagans even do?- Pagan gods in the Bible and their role in Christian history- What role did Harry Potter, Marvel movies, and popular media play?- How can the church learn from this movement and improve our shortcomings? With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie

Many operate with the belief that Israel remains God's chosen people. This drives both their current politics and their expectations for how the world will end. In fact, dispensational premillennialism may be the foremost view of the end times in evangelicalism today. This week we examine that belief.Topics include: - The history of these beliefs, and why you should be wary of your study Bible- Israel's place in history, and the future- Differing views of which Bible prophecies are yet to happen- How difficult texts like Daniel 9 and Romans 11 factor into differing viewpoints With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie

Everybody who's ever lived wants to know what happens after we die. Though the Bible does not lay out a full description of how things will be, it does give us a number of glimpses. This week's episode examines those and explores a number of questions about the afterlife, including:- What is the difference between Hell and Hades, and what is Sheol?- Do we go to heaven when we die, or a place of waiting?- If we're already sorted into places of rest and torment, what is the point of Judgment Day?- Will we exist physically in eternity, or spiritually?- What does "eternal life" actually mean? Join us on focuspress.org/plus to submit questions for the Deep End segment. To support the show, go to focuspress.org/donate