Think Deeper

The guys engage in a lively debate about Halloween. As occultists celebrate the day, should Christians avoid it? What about the aesthetics of blood, death, and ghouls? They also touch on horror movies and the Biblical principles we should keep in mind when choosing what to watch.

Jack and Joe trade notes on how ministers can serve their members, how elders can help set ministers up for success and guard their flock, and how members can find growth by communicating with their leadership.

"Honor your father and mother" - it's a commandment you hear a lot as a kid, but after that we often fail to give it much thought. Maybe it's time to revisit it. In this episode we talk about the far-reaching consequences of our neglect in this area. Topics include: - Why God commanded those who cursed their parents to be stoned - How our society teaches us to hate our parents - Honoring difficult parents in your adulthood - Reaching out to adult children who have distanced themselves

We share our rankings of what we think are some of the most challenging commands God has given us in His Word. Far from complaining about their difficulty, we want this to be an appreciation of the holiness God has called us to and a chance to humble ourselves in recognition of just how much we need His grace and strength. So... what commands might you put on the list?

Many seem to believe that work is a necessary evil, something we have to get through on our way to enjoying our "real life" of weekends, vacations, and retirement. The Bible doesn't see it that way. Work was part of God's purpose for man's life from the very beginning, and rightly ordered it can bring us much joy. In this episode we discuss: - Why laziness and carelessness are unbecoming of Christians - How a "chase your dreams" career approach causes trouble - Why poverty isn't inherently more pious - Avoiding the idolization of work and money

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

Every Christian knows they are to pray, study the Word, attend worship, and so on. But many Christian families don't know that God expects them to come together in the home to spend time in teaching, worship, and prayer. This week we discuss the what, why, and how of family worship, including: - Why Christian families should view family devotionals as a non-negotiable part of their schedule - What Deuteronomy 6 and Proverbs 22:6 teach us about God's expectations and promises for parents - How to find time in a busy schedule - Practical tips and tools for developing a family worship habit in your home, including Will's brand new Family Worship Guide available at focuspress.org!

Many Christians place little importance on the physical world, including our bodies, concluding that such things don't matter because "it's all gonna burn anyway!" That's not how God sees the matter, though. In this week's episode we discuss why it's important for Christians to strive to be healthy. Topics include: - Why the "it's all going to burn" mindset distorts the Scriptures - How our physical appearance confirms or detracts from the truths we seek to proclaim - Practical tips that have helped us live more healthily

This week we take a look at Critical Race Theory (CRT) and why it does not fit with the Gospel What CRT is and how it came to be - The abominable fruit CRT is bearing in society - Why this new approach to race is anti-Gospel - What churches can do to push back on CRT and uphold healthy racial unity

Everybody has a worldview, but not everybody knows what worldview they hold. For Christians, it's imperative that we understand the world God's way, using the Bible as our guide. But how can we do that? And how can we know if we're employing a Biblical worldview? It's as simple as checking your pockets, actually. We explain in this episode. Music: “Focus” by A. A. Aalto Free Music Archive (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/A_A_Aalto/Connections/Focus)

This week we entertain an intriguing hypothetical: if you were involved in helping plant a new congregation, what 3 non-essential practices would you change? We give our answers in 3 categories: - Worship and the assembly - Fellowship and study time - Leadership -------- Music: "Focus" by A. A. Aalto Free Music Archive (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/A_A_Aalto/Connections/Focus)

Everybody talks about having a "church family," but do we act like we really believe it's a family? In episode 3 of our Church Reset series, we discuss what it would look like to truly act as a family in the way God intended, including: - Why consumer Christianity fails to produce family-like churches - Examining the "one anothers" - Practical ways we can build stronger fellowship - The 3 types of fellowship, and which one we need the most Music: “Focus” by A. A. Aalto Free Music Archive (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/A_A_Aalto/Connections/Focus)

How do we break out of the consumeristic church structure that rules the day? It starts with revisiting perhaps the most widely misunderstood text in the entire Bible - the Great Commission. This week we discuss how we've gotten it wrong, and why getting it right is essential to become the church God intended us to be.

Our 4 part "Church Reset" series begins with a look at consumer Christianity. - Why a business-like view of the church creates weak, shallow Christians - What Jesus would do with today's church growth strategies - How to be a true Christian rather than just a church customer - How church leaders can stop creating customers and start creating disciples

God has established hierarchy throughout creation, in nations, churches, and the home. However, in our day of independence and individualism, we don't often take kindly to being told what to do. God created these structures in His infinite wisdom, we're going to come to terms with that word we view so negatively: "submit." Topics include: - Why the 4 different offices are more similar than we think - The problem with "servant leadership" - The privileges and burdens of leadership - When to submit, and when to resist Music: “Focus” by A. A. Aalto Free Music Archive (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/A_A_Aalto/Connections/Focus)

Cary Gillis joins the show this week to discuss the challenges and blessings of Christian singleness. Topics include: - 2 Biblical forms of singleness, and 1 popular unbiblical form - Principles to keep in mind when making your "list" of qualities desired in a potential spouse - Why singles are the church's "secret weapon" - How the church can help singles feel valued as part of the family rather than second-class citizens segregated to their own corner Cary Gillis is the newly announced director of Latin American Missions and minister of foreign evangelism with the Forrest Park church of Christ in Valdosta, GA.

This week we celebrate Independence Day with a look at patriotism. - Should Christians be patriotic? - How patriotism can go wrong - Why patriotism and love of country is about rights rather than duties - "This World Is Not My Home," or "This Is My Father's World" - which one?

"Love God," "Love your neighbor," the 10 Commandments, and others get a lot of the attention of Christians. But there are some significant Biblical commands that fly under the radar at best and go almost completely ignored at worst. In this episode we examine 6 commands that often get forgotten but deserve our attention. ----- Music: “Focus” by A. A. Aalto Free Music Archive (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/A_A_Aalto/Connections/Focus)

Jesus calls us to be compassionate, to put others first, and to love our neighbors. However, Satan knows he can use these good commands to his advantage among good-hearted Christians who lack discernment. This week we look at how progressive ideas gain a foothold by turning honest, good hearts into pawns for their ideology.

This week we take a look at the issue of modesty. There's a strong push these days to silence discussion of the matter as unimportant or up for personal interpretation. We explain why we disagree, along with: - Why it's important to discuss - Whether the Bible gives us a standard for modesty - How everybody agrees on modesty, to a point - Why men's lust and women's immodesty are related... and why they aren't Music: "Focus" by A. A. Aalto Free Music Archive (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/A_A_Aalto/Connections/Focus)

Exactly how bad is it? This week Jack, Joe, and Will break down what you need to know about the state of public schools and what you can do to protect your kids' souls. They also answer objections that might arise and offer a challenge for parents to take up. Check out "Failure: What Christian Parents Need to Know About American Education" on the Focus Press store Music: "Focus" by A. A. Aalto Free Music Archive (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/A_A_Aalto/Connections/Focus)

There are plenty of incorrect ideas surrounding the issue of baptism. This week, we set out to debunk popular myths about baptism - including those believed by those who are staunchly pro-baptism. __________________________ Music: “Focus” by A. A. Aalto Free Music Archive (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/A_A_Aalto/Connections/Focus)

Pornography addiction may well be the #1 sin facing Christians today... and yet in many cases little to nothing is being done about it. This week we discuss the statistics, the causes, the solutions, and the Gospel message the church needs to grasp in order to fight this battle. For more, subscribe to the Focus Press YouTube channel.

With the internet being such a large part of our lives, it's vital that Christians know how our faith shapes our time spent online. We discuss: - Should we engage in controversial topics and debates online, or steer clear? - Are satire and memes unbecoming for Christians? - How do we keep ourselves and our families safe from harmful content? - How do we handle the tech addiction that cuts us off from the people around us?

Summertime often brings about some of the greatest highs and lows of the Christian life. Camps, VBS, and other church events can bring a feeling of strength and energy. On the other hand, vacations and other plans can disrupt our devotional and fellowship routines. In this episode we discuss how to contextualize the highs so they don't create unrealistic expectations, and how to remain steady through the lows and temptations.

Most of the biggest issues within the church all find their root in one common problem: a "check the box" mentality among Christians. This week the guys discuss what the "check the box" mentality is, how it manifests itself in the church, and how a proper understanding of the Gospel puts us back on the right track. Music: “Focus” by A. A. Aalto Free Music Archive (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/A_A_Aalto/Connections/Focus)

This week the guys weigh in on Sunday night worship. - In the aftermath of Covid, what have we learned about Sunday nights? - Do Christians really need to attend? - Can churches make better use of the time? Let us know your thoughts in the comments, and be sure to subscribe to the Focus Press YouTube channel for all the latest!

This week Dr. Denny Petrillo of Bear Valley Bible Institute joins the show for a wide-ranging discussion on all things Bible study, including: - Greek tools anyone can use - How to grow from reading into studying - What "exegesis" is and why it's so important - Which Bible versions are best for study There's something in the episode for everyone - from new Bible students to those who have studied for years. ___ Dr. Denny Petrillo is the President of Bear Valley Bible Institute International and one of the premier Bible scholars in the churches of Christ today. He holds a B.A. in Bible (Harding University), M.A. in New Testament (Harding Graduate School of Religion), and a Ph.D. in Religious Adult Education (University of Nebraska). __ Music: "Focus" by A. A. Aalto Free Music Archive (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/A_A_Aalto/Connections/Focus

With the rise of transgenderism, Christians face tough questions about how to navigate the changing world. One such question: what do we do when a male or female rejects their created sex and insists on being called by a new name and by their own chosen pronouns? What is a Christian to do when their job mandates compliance with transgender people's new chosen identities? Can we be both truthful and loving? We tackle these questions and more in this week's Think Fast. Be sure to catch the 4/18 Think Deeper podcast episode on LGBT issues for more.

In this episode of Think Fast, the guys debate the practice of going to prom. Is it a harmless rite of passage, or do the dangers and temptations involved put it into the realm of playing with fire?

Our series on gender concludes with an examination of the confusion surrounding gender in the LGBT movement. As transgenderism gains wider acceptance, how can Christians combat the arguments being thrown at us? How can we protect our kids from the confusion that is rampant in their generation?

As Disney continues to make it clear that their values are anti-God and anti-family, what should Christians do? Are boycotts a tool Christians should use? If so, when is the proper time to use them? The guys discuss these questions and more in the inaugural episode of Think Fast. For video, subscribe to our YouTube channel where we'll be uploading our Think Fast episodes!

The series on gender and gender roles continues with a look at marriage and the myths and bad advice that set us on the wrong path. The church must hold marriage in high honor and celebrate it as a beautiful gift from our God, but too often we accept the world's view of marriage and pass that on to young couples. Music: "Focus" by A.A. Aalto - Free Music Archive (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/A_A_Aalto/Connections/Focus)

Feminism's influence runs deep in our day, making it difficult for us to discern what God's design for women should look like. This week the guys examine 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.

Misuse of Bible verses is rampant in today's world. In this episode the guys list their top 5 most misused verses, while also giving principles for study and interpretation to understand the Bible better and avoid misusing the Word.

A rapidly changing world means new challenges for the church to navigate. This week the guys share their lists of what they see as the top 3 challenges facing the church in 2022.

Many Christians struggle with feeling assured of their salvation. It often seems as though we overreacted to "once saved, always saved" by running to "once saved, barely saved." In this week's episode: - Addressing "I hope I've done enough" and other misunderstandings of God's grace - The proper place of works and fruit in the Christian life - How you can know you are saved

The youth dropout rate in Christianity remains high. Is youth ministry helping, or is it hurting? In this week's episode: - What we should expect of young people - The pie chart of responsibility for a teenager's soul - How teens can contribute

This week co-host and licensed therapist Joe Wilkie takes the show through an examination of mental health from a Biblical perspective Topics discussed include: - What good mental health looks like - Whether self-love and self-care are helpful or hurtful - How the church can help (or hinder) people's struggles

We couldn't possibly have prepared ourselves for the upheaval covid and the response to it has brought to our lives and our churches. It's been a difficult time for all of us. However, it would be a mistake to move on without reviewing what was done well and what could have been done better. This week the guys share 3 lessons they've each learned over the last 2 years.

Two years into Covid, death has been brought to our attention far more than we are accustomed to. We've also learned just how little work had been done to develop a Biblical theology of death among Christians. Shouldn't we have a different view of death than those without eternal hope? How should we view death? Listen to this week's episode to find out.

This week we discuss the hotly debated issue of Christian nationalism, what Christians should expect of the government, and why it's important to fight for the proper definition of such terms.

This week the guys discuss how the Christian life can feel like a chore to many people, and how we can find the joy in it that God always intended for us

You've heard that the generations (Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, Zoomers) are sworn enemies. Is it true? If so, what can we do to bring everyone together? How can the church bridge the gap relationally and stylistically as each generation pushes for their own way?

Join Jack, Joe, and Will this week as they continue their discussion of the importance of using each year to grow as a Christian.

Think Deeper is back for 2022! Jack Wilkie is joined by co-hosts Will Harrub and Joe Wilkie to discuss how we can make the most of the days God gives us this year and grow in our walk with Him.