Think Deeper

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

We look at popular memes and shareable quips from social media and examine their Biblical accuracy, including: - "God gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers" - "You don't have a soul, you are a soul. You have a body." - Heaven gained another angel." and more Plus, a discussion on maintaining reverence in our humor, and on the Christian's use of social media.

We live in a culture obsessed with self-love and self-care. In this week's episode, we discuss: are these practices selfish, or should Christians engage in them? Topics include: - How modern innovations have created mental health problems - If Jesus practiced self-care - Where "Jesus, Others, Yourself" often goes wrong - Does "Love your neighbor as yourself" require us to develop self-love? - How therapeutic terminology gets corrupted to legitimize bad habits

We conclude our brief series on money with a look at the claim that Jesus was a socialist. Topics include: - Did the early church practice socialism in Acts 2 and Acts 4? - Is it true that socialism is "a good idea on paper?" - Shouldn't the Christian advocate for everyone to have healthcare, shelter, etc.? Don't forget to check out the books going up for pre-order at focuspress.org/shop

Money is one of the most misunderstood topics of the Christian life. This week we try to cut through the confusion on a number of topics, including: - Is it wrong to desire to make good money? - Where is the balance between preparing like the Proverbs vs. the vice of building bigger barns (Luke 12)? - Gambling - Is Dave Ramsey right? - Do we need to tithe? - What should churches do with their excess contributions? Join us on Focus+ to contribute comments and questions for our weekly Deep End bonus segment! focuspress.org/plus

We discuss the "Nice Guy" issue plaguing modern masculinity and why it subverts everything God intended for men to be. Topics include: - Why "Nice Guys" are unsuited to lead their home and make everyone miserable- The reason "bad boys" like Andrew Tate are popular- "Nice Guys" in positions of political power- "Nice Guys" vs. True masculinity in the Bible- How "Nice Guys" in church leadership slowly choke the life out of the congregation- The role of women in raising and encouraging "Nice Guyism" in men Join us on Focus+ to submit comments and questions for our Deep End segment that releases each Friday! focuspress.org/plus

We conclude our brief series on evangelical trends with a look at: - The "Radical" discipleship of Francis Chan and David Platt - What to take from the Duggars and Bill Gothard's representations of patriarchy and homeschooling - What happened when Josh Harris kissed dating goodbye and what became of all those "True Love Waits" promise rings

We start a two part series on evangelical trends of the last 50 years, this week focusing on the rise of megachurch/seeker sensitive churches, plus the "Emerging Church" of the early 2000s. Topics include: - Where "Relationship over Religion" came from and why it's wrong - How the biggest churches of the 80s and 90s set us up for the decline we're seeing today - What ever happened to the "Emerging church" and its anti-building, anti-rules emphasis? - Where we see the influences of these movements in the churches of Christ

This week we discuss the church's long and storied "Cancel Culture," when Christians cut off relationships and silence brethren over minor doctrinal disputes. We cover:- The wicked incentives of measuring our doctrinal purity by others- Why we should be careful with terms like "false teacher" and "false doctrine"- How "Do not judge lest you be judged" comes into play- When to draw the line, and how to do it in love Join us on Focus+ to get access to the Deep End bonus episode every week, along with other exclusive content that goes up daily Monday-Friday! focuspress.org/plus

We take on a subscriber suggestion to reexamine the ways we do worship and see how they could be more effective. Topics include: - How can we bring more passion to our song service without making it a performance?- Can the Lord's Supper be made more communal?- Are there "5 acts of worship?"- Is the invitation Biblical? Join us on Focus+ where you'll get access to the video episodes of Think Deeper along with a weekly Deep End episode where we respond to comments and questions. focuspress.org/plus

Aliens and UFOs have long been a fringe interest in our society - that is, until very recently. With government officials claiming encounters with UFOs and maybe even aliens themselves, suddenly the issue is being taken much more seriously. What are Christians to make of this? Do aliens exist? And if so, what would that mean for the Christian faith? Is it all one big hoax, created to distract us from some other more pressing news? Or, is it all very real, but not what we think? Join us for the strangest episode of Think Deeper yet.

This week we share our Top 5 Favorite Bible books and debate each others' lists. We finish with a discussion of what might be the Top 5 Most Important or Impactful books in the Bible. We'd love to read what's on your lists! Leave a comment on Focus+, our FB page, or the YouTube video.

This week we look at alleged Bible contradictions, including some tough questions like: - Did God tempt Abraham, contradicting James 1:13? - Moses talked with God face to face, why does John 1:18 say no one has seen God? - Was God dishonest in dealing with Ahab and the prophet Micaiah? We answer these and more! Don't forget to check out our 25% off summer sale at focuspress.org/shop

One of the biggest attacks on the Christian faith today is aimed at the Bible's reliability. The culture insists we should see the Word as nothing more than a flawed collection of folk tales. We discuss why you can have full confidence in your Bible, along with:- Scientific proofs- Prophetic and historic accuracy- Plus, a discussion on how to properly use apologetics, as sword or shield

We've lost all understanding of what it means to be a kid, an adult, and an elderly person. Kids are rushed into adulthood by being confronted with serious issues and being allowed to make all kinds of decisions for themselves. Adults want to get to their 20s and stay there as long as possible. And nobody wants to be old. But God has given us blessings and responsibilities in each of these phases in life. Sadly, too many Christians have been discipled by the culture and don't have His view of how to be who they're supposed to be today. This week, we discuss how to develop and live out a proper understanding of every situation in life.

We talk about the status quo of church membership, a "choose your own adventure" approach. If people want to be highly active and involved, they can be. And if they want to barely take part, we encourage them to do more and hope they step up... but we know most never will. Was it supposed to be this way? If not, what can we do about it?

We examine the role of the preacher, including questions like: - How do we strike the balance between the over-powered pastor role and the "employee of the church" views so prevalent today? - Are there qualifications for preachers? - Was the work of the preacher a short-term, first-century role that should no longer be practiced? - Do preachers have any authority?

With today being Juneteenth, the most recently-minted federal holiday, we discuss racial division in the church and society. Topics include:- What unity would take- What racism is, and what it isn't- When colorblindness helps, and when it doesn't- Whether natural affinities and affections should be avoided

We explore all kinds of questions and topics regarding substances, including: - Was Biblical wine alcoholic? - Is there a difference between private and social drinking? - What about tobacco and vaping? - Is marijuana "better than alcohol?" - What about microdosing and psychoactive substances? - What do we need to know about the opioid crisis? and more Join us on Focus+ to get access to the Deep End, our exclusive member Q+A podcast each Friday! Visit focuspress.org/plus for more

The rainbows are out in full force once again. We discuss the LGBT's not-so-subtle moves toward sexualizing children, what parents can do, and how boycotts are often misunderstood and misapplied. Join us on Focus+ to get access to the weekyl Deep End bonus podcast, along with all kinds of other exclusives! focuspress.org/plus

This week we conclude our series on relationships with a look at navigating the difficult times. God told us to bear with one another, but what does that look like? In practical terms, what can we do to work through difficult relationships without giving up on them or sealing ourselves off from people? Topics include: - How to handle it when someone's wronged you - What to do when someone's in sin - Congregational rifts - Interpersonal strife - What to do with the people you just don't click with Join us on Focus+ to get access to the Deep End, where we'll go a little deeper and answer subscriber comments and questions! Visit focuspress.org/plus for info

We continue our series on loneliness and relationships with a look at the differences between male friendships and female friendships, and the keys and pitfalls to each. Since God wired the two sexes so differently, the ways we relate to each other will also differ greatly. The attributes God gave us as strengths are also the very attributes Satan seeks to twist to sow discord and drive us into isolation. Join us as we discuss the keys and pitfalls of friendships between men, and the keys and pitfalls of friendships between women. Don't forget to check out Focus+, where you'll get exclusive access to The Deep End, our members-only extended segment! focuspress.org/plus

All this technology was supposed to make us more connected than ever, but instead we're a culture more lonely and separated than perhaps any in human history. So many people have no one to talk to, no one to share life with, no one to encourage them. The church should have the answer for this problem, but in too many cases it's very hard to go beyond the surface level with each other. In this episode we discuss the scope of the problem of loneliness, the challenges involved, and solutions we can all pursue. Join us as we begin a brief arc on relationships, one of the great needs of our day.

Another couple heading for divorce.Another case of adultery.Another husband caught up in porn.Another preacher hauled off to jail for sexual sin. As we've kept hearing account after account over the last few years, it's hard to come to a conclusion other than this: the church has a growing marriage crisis. This week we discuss the scope of the problem, some of the causes behind it, and what can be done to prevent the next case failed marriage. Be sure to join us on Focus+ to get access to The Deep End, our member-exclusive segment of Think Deeper.Go to focuspress.org/plus for signup information.

This week we look at a popular trend in the world of social media - gentle parenting. We discuss what it gets right, including accurate critiques of previous parenting methods, along with how it has over-corrected. Topics include - An "in their own words" breakdown of advice from gentle parenting advocates- Oft-neglected wisdom from the Proverbs- Whether spanking is Biblical, and its role in the home Be sure to join us on Focus+ to discuss the episode and give feedback and questions for the members-only "Deep End" episode! focuspress.org/plus

One of the primary ways people change Christianity to their own desires is by pitting Jesus against the things they want to discredit. For example, some say Jesus was opposed to how God operated in the Old Testament, others say Jesus would disagree with Paul, and so forth. This week we examine 6 of these fake enemies of Jesus and how they're used to give cover for false doctrines. Don't forget to check out Focus+ at focuspress.org/plus! Launches May 1

We conclude our look at the church's leadership crisis with an examination of how we've totally misunderstood the role of church leader. We discuss: - What "above reproach" means - Why men should desire to be elders - What we can learn from the Bible's shepherd analogy of leadership - How church leaders create a culture - What to do if your church's elders are weak or unqualified

Why has the church declined so much in recent decades? Why are we met with constant news of church closings, church splits, and church compromise? In a word, leadership. Many congregations cannot even produce two men who are qualified as elders. In this episode we discuss: - The nature and scope of the leadership crisis - How "bad sheep" are compounding the problem - The leadership God is looking for - The Biblical qualifications of elders

The line between kid and adult has been blurred beyond all recognition. There are no firm expectations set for how and when a teen is to grow out of childhood and into adulthood. This has enormous societal consequences, and the church is not immune to such consequences. In this episode we discuss: - Why adolescence has grown so extended - The war on childhood and the war on adulthood - The problem of low expectations - Privileges and responsibilities and more.

We spend a lot of time talking about ways the church can grow and improve. But what do the churches of Christ do well? In seeking to improve, what building blocks are in place for us to "excel still more?" In this episode we offer our list of 5 ways the churches of Christ are excelling. Join the conversation on our Facebook page or YouTube channel!

Every day seems to bring more bad news - bank collapses, concerns over Russia, inflation, rampant sexual immorality, etc. As Christians, we know we should be hopeful, but sometimes it feels foolish to be optimistic about the future. Yeah, we know eternity will be great - but what about now? In this episode we discuss why Christians can have a positive outlook for the here in now even without denying the reality of the challenges we face.

We weigh in on the suddenly white-hot debate: does God care if Christians choose marriage or singleness? Should one be taught as a priority over the other? Should the church encourage young people one way or the other? We answer these questions and more. And, beyond the specific topic of marriage and singleness, the debate offers the opportunity to examine common mistakes of Bible interpretation.

What happens when you read, pray, attend, and do everything you know how only to feel God is impossibly distant? What do we do we know God is real on a conceptual level, but struggle to connect with Him on a relational level? We discuss these questions and more in a unique, free-ranging episode.

In our 2nd Q&A episode, the ‘Deep Thinkers’ hit us with some incredibly hard questions yet again. - What do we make of church innovations? Examples include children's church, online giving, mic'd singers, and more - Can (or should) a Christian serve more than one church? - Are wives and mothers meant to work in the home? And plenty more!

Evangelism... it's that thing we know we're supposed to do, but it's difficult. It's uncomfortable. Where do we even start? This week we look at some of the challenges and excuses along with some tips and tactics before rolling out the Think Deeper Evangelism Challenge! We hope you'll join us in this challenge and pray that God would bring much fruit from it.

Entertainment is a part of life, but our rapidly declining culture makes it difficult for Christians to determine what to watch and listen to. Sexual content, violence, and language in particular give us much to wade through when determining where our line should be. Though the Bible gives us principles on the matter, there are few verses that can be applied directly. In this case, we have to use our wisdom and discernment when attempting to determine what we should and should not take in. Join us for a discussion of the black, white, and gray areas of our entertainment choices as we "strive to learn what is pleasing to the Lord."