THINQ Media Podcast

How are Christians called to contribute to flourishing? This is a question Sho Baraka helps us engage on this episode of the Q Ideas Podcast. In addition to being a globally recognized artist and activist, Sho is also the author of the new book, He Saw That It Was Good: Reimagining Your Creative Life to Repair a Broken World. In this conversation, Sho challenges us to take seriously the call to cultivate our creativity, understand our history and contribute to the common good—regardless of our vocation. Want to engage in more conversations like these alongside a select group of Christian leaders? Register now for The Collaborative, our brand-new cohort experience kicking off in September. Visit qideas.org/cohort to learn more and register.

How has the past year affected the most vulnerable communities around the world—and how can Christians step in and advance good? On today's episode, Jordan Gustafson joins Gabe Lyons to share his perspective. Jordan leads church mobilization and partnership efforts at Food for the Hungry, a global Christ-centered NGO working in over 20 countries with the vision of seeing all forms of poverty ended through sustainable holistic community development and disaster relief. To learn more about Food for the Hungry's efforts and how your church can get involved, visit fh.org/qideas. Want to join The Collaborative, our new eight-month cohort experience? Limited space remains, so learn more and register at qideas.org/cohort.

In our unique cultural moment, how is the local church being equipped to advance the common good? In this episode of the Q Ideas Podcast, Luke Bobo joins Gabe Lyons to engage this question. Luke serves as director of strategic partnerships for Made to Flourish, an organization that empowers pastors and their churches to integrate faith, work and economic wisdom for the flourishing of their communities. Together, Luke and Gabe share an honest conversation about how our churches can champion these ideas as a way to advance good. To learn more from Made to Flourish, make plans to participate in the Common Good Conference on October 1. Learn more and register at commongoodconference.com. Don't miss the opportunity to join The Collaborative, our new eight-month cohort experience convening 100 like-minded leaders this September. Limited space remains, so reserve your spot now at qideas.org/cohort.

How is the digital revolution shaping the way churches reach their communities? Slingshot Group's Keith Robinson believes the digital disruption has given us the greatest opportunity for evangelism in 2,000 years. In this episode, he shares more about this idea and challenges church leaders to take online evangelism seriously while also making space for life-on-life discipleship. Want to learn more about Slingshot Group? Check out their work—and some free resources they're creating for church leaders—at slingshotgroup.com. If you're a leader who cares about these conversations, don't miss the chance to participate in The Collaborative, our brand-new cohort experience. Learn more and register at qideas.org/cohort.

In a post-Christian culture, how can we equip our children to become resilient disciples of Christ? That's a question Matt Markins helps us wrestle with on this episode of the Q Ideas Podcast. As the Chief Strategy Officer at Awana, Matt is a leading expert in the world of children's ministry. In this episode, Matt shares his own story, highlights key research on what our kids really need and points us toward a hopeful future of the Church. To learn more and register for the Child Discipleship Forum, visit resilientdisciples.com Want to listen to Matt's talk from the Culture Summit + hundreds more centered on how we can live faithfully in this cultural moment? Start a free trial at qideas.org/trial.

As Christians, we're confident in the gospel's power to redeem us as individuals. But perhaps what we don't talk about enough is the gospel's power to transform larger systems, structures and cultures. This is a truth Heather Rice-Minus challenges us to see. As a senior vice president at Prison Fellowship, Heather articulates the case for restorative criminal justice solutions and explains how churches play a critical role in meeting the needs of those impacted by crime and incarceration. Want to go deeper in this conversation? Get your free copy of Outrageous Justice and sign up for Prison Fellowship's virtual small group study at www.prisonfellowship.org/outrageousjustice. To listen to more talks like this one, start a free trial to Q Media, our online learning platform for Christian leaders, at qideas.org/trial.

When we read the news, we are not merely informed—we're also formed. In his new book, Reading the Times, author Jeffery Bilbro helps us gain a theological and historical perspective on the nature and very purpose of news. Offering an alternative vision of the rhythms of life, he suggests thoughtful practices for media consumption in order to cultivate healthier ways of reading and being. To learn more from Jeffery Bilbro, find his new book available now wherever books are sold.

How can we move from shallow Christianity to deep transformation? Pete Scazzero argues it starts in our discipleship. Author of the new book Emotionally Healthy Discipleship, Pete shares his own journey toward emotional health and casts a hopeful vision for how the global Church can overcome its current discipleship crisis. Pete's new book is available now wherever books are sold. You can also learn more about his organization at emotionallyhealthy.org. Want to engage more conversations about how Christians can live faithfully in our current cultural moment? Start a 30-day free trial to Q Media, our online learning platform for Christian leaders, at qideas.org/trial.

We were made for intimacy—spiritual intimacy with God that brings oneness and bears powerful fruit. We were made to know Him and be known by Him, fully. So why do we often feel burnt-out, distant and disheartened in our journey of faith? Sharing her own story, Mo Aiken helps us wrestle with this question in today's episode of the Q Ideas Podcast. Author of the new book Fully Known: An Invitation to True Intimacy with God, Mo helps us see why this message is so important—especially for our current cultural moment. This conversation is part of our Q Ideas Book Tour, where each month we feature authors who share ideas important for this cultural moment. Want to join us for additional resources and conversations as part of the Q Ideas Book Tour? Get connected at qideas.org/booktour.

In the U.S. Senate now, the Equality Act is a proposed piece of legislation that would add sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes under federal civil rights law. However, this bill has been met with significant controversy as many believe it would go too far to inhibit individual religious freedom. In light of this, how should Christians respond? Kristen K. Waggoner, who serves as general counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom, shares her perspective in this episode of the Q Ideas Podcast. Want to get access to hundreds more talks like this? Start a 30-day free trial to Q Media, our online learning platform for Christian leaders, at qideas.org/trial.

When you think about orphans, what comes to mind? Maybe you think of kids living in orphanages who have no parents or family. Maybe you think of this as a global problem, not affecting the United States. And maybe you think this is a problem that is simply too big to be solved. In today's episode of the Q Ideas Podcast, Lindsay Hadley and Elli Oswald dispel each of these myths with the truth about the global orphan crisis—and they share how we can help be part of the solution. Together, they are part of Orphan Myth, a campaign that unites NGOs, child advocacy specialists, influencers, faith leaders and businesses dedicated to help every child belong in a safe loving family. Want to get instant access to more talks like these? Start a free trial to Q Media, our online learning platform for Christian leaders, at qideas.org/trial.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, research has revealed a troublesome uptick in mental health concerns. In light of these trends, how can we best respond to those who may be struggling with their mental health and contemplating suicide? Brooke Keels, executive director of counseling services for Mercy Multiplied, shares her perspective with us on this episode of the Q Ideas Podcast. Want to get instant access to the entire Culture Summit? Get your on-demand digital pass now at qideas.org/culturesummit. For $49, this gives you access to every single talk and conversation from the Culture Summit + 30 Expert Q&As.

Do you know where your food comes from? Jason Streubel, also known as "Dr. Dirt," asks us to consider this question in today's episode of the Q Ideas Podcast. As the senior director for agriculture and food security at Convoy of Hope, he helps us see the ways in which our food is complex, political and spiritual, and he challenges the Church to lead the way in pursuing food security in our local communities. Want to get instant access to the entire Culture Summit? Get your on-demand digital pass now at qideas.org/culturesummit.For $49, this gives you access to every single talk and conversation from the Culture Summit + 30 Expert Q&As.

How should Christians be thinking well about the state of the pandemic? In this episode of the Q Ideas Podcast, we bring you four conversations from the Culture Summit, the fifteenth annual conference hosted by Q Ideas, where no topic is off-limits and we're not afraid to ask difficult questions. In this segment, Gabe Lyons interviews Dr. Francis Collins (director of the NIH), Dr. Martin Kulldorff (Harvard epidemiologist and vaccine safety evaluator), Alex Berenson (journalist & author), and Naomi Schaefer Riley (child welfare expert) about their perspectives on everything from vaccines and covid passports to lockdowns, masks and more. Want to get instant access to the entire Culture Summit? Get your on-demand digital pass now at qideas.org/culturesummit. For $49, this gives you access to every single talk and conversation from the Culture Summit + 30 Expert Q&As.

What's happened to critical thinking in our society? In this episode of the Q Ideas Podcast, Gabe Lyons shares his talk from this year's Culture Summit. In this talk, he challenges Christian leaders to be more intentional about asking good questions and thinking critically—a skill that is perhaps more needed than ever in our current cultural moment. Stay tuned as we share more talks and conversations from the Culture Summit over the next few weeks. Want to get instant access to the entire Culture Summit? Get your on-demand digital pass now at qideas.org/culturesummit. For $49, this gives you access to every single talk and conversation from the Culture Summit + 30 Expert Q&As.

For thousands of years, prayer has been understood as both a powerful and essential Christian discipline—but in today's culture, do we still understand, appreciate and revere this practice as we should? Since 2013, Dimas Salaberrios has served as the president of Concerts of Prayer Greater NY, which is a Christ-centered network of pastors and churches promoting a culture of prayer across ethnic, economic and denominational lines. In this episode of the Q Ideas Podcast, Dimas shares what he's learned with us, and he will encourage and challenge us to embrace the labor of prayer in our daily lives. Want to hear more talks like these? It's not too late for you to join us for the Q 2021 Culture Summit! Register now at qideas.org/culturesummit.

Jo Saxton understands the power of hospitality—an ancient practice, rooted in Scripture, that can transform our lives, our relationships and our communities in even the most challenging moments. Drawing from the depths of her own personal story, Jo shares what it means for Christians to embrace the true gift of hospitality, reaching out to those beyond the walls of our churches and inviting them in. Want to gather your people together to experience the Q 2021 Culture Summit? It's not too late to sign up to host a Watch Party! Register now at qideas.org/culturesummit.

John Mark Comer joins Gabe Lyons on this episode of the Q Ideas Podcast for a conversation about what Christian leaders need to understand about deconstruction and progressive Christianity. John Mark is one of 70+ leaders joining us at this year's Culture Summit, taking place April 22-23 in Nashville and online. Want to participate? Register now at qideas.org/culturesummit to participate live or watch on-demand.

In this episode, pastor Jon Tyson joins Gabe Lyons for a conversation about the issues he sees as being most important for our current cultural moment. Originally from Adelaide, Australia, Jon moved to the United States twenty years ago with a passion to seek and cultivate renewal in the Western Church. He now serves as lead pastor of Church of the City New York, and he is one of the experts you have the opportunity to learn from at the Culture Summit, taking place in Nashville and online April 22-23. Want to join us for Culture Summit? Register now at qideas.org/culturesummit. Want to check out the books Jon and Gabe discussed in this episode? Visit these links: The Rise & Triumph of the Modern Self by Carl Trueman, Ordering Your Private World by Gordon MacDonald, 2084: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity by John C. Lennox.

Across America, many church buildings are sitting on acres and acres of unused green space. Quite literally, Joey Lankford sees this as an untapped mission field. His organization, Cul2vate, grows and delivers local produce to those in need of food while offering jobs and training to those in need of a second chance. In this episode, Joey shares how something as simple as a community garden can be a source of restoration and flourishing in our communities. Want to join us for the Q 2021 Culture Summit (April 22-23) to hear more talks like these? Register now for in-person or online access at qideas.org/culturesummit.

Dr. Preston Sprinkle joins Gabe Lyons for a timely and important dialogue on gender identity and the Church's role in this complex conversation. Through his work as a biblical scholar and president of the Center for Faith, Sexuality and Gender, Preston is a leading expert in this conversation. He is also the author of the new book Embodied: Transgender Identities, the Church and What the Bible Has to Say. Want to go deeper into this conversation? Preston is one of the experts joining us for the Q 2021 Culture Summit taking place in Nashville and homes, offices and churches around the world this April 22-23. Register and learn more at qideas.org/culturesummit.

On this episode of the Q Podcast, Gabe and Rebekah Lyons sit down to discuss our opportunity to unite with other believers and lead well in this cultural moment. They also share a first look at Culture Summit—this year's Q Conference taking place in Nashville and in communities around the world this April 22-23. Want to learn more about how you can participate in Culture Summit? Learn more and register at qideas.org/culturesummit.

Perhaps the most central calling for any Christian is to "go and make disciples." However, there remains a lack of true discipleship in so many western churches. In a season when everything's gone online, it's more important than ever for us to learn the strategies and principles necessary for effective digital discipleship. We dive into what this looks like in this episode, featuring a portion of an extended conversation with pastor Jon Tyson, author Annie F. Downs and IF: Gathering founder Jennie Allen. Want to hear this full Q&A on digital discipleship? Get free access to this conversation and more when you start a free trial to Q Media at qideas.org/qa.

Why is "fun" something we should be paying attention to, especially as Christian leaders? Annie F. Downs shares her perspective—and why this conversation matters—in this podcast interview with Q Ideas president Gabe Lyons. This conversation is part of our new Q Ideas Book Tour, where each month we go deeper with your favorite authors—and maybe some you haven't even heard of yet—for bonus content + extended conversations centered around their latest work. Learn more at qideas.org/booktour.

In the wake of the horrific racial injustice that came to light in 2020, we've been forced to reckon with the reality of racism and injustice in American society. From protests in the streets to social media campaigns, this is a moment that demands our attention, but still, many pastors and church leaders remain unsure of how to best engage. This podcast episode features three leaders—David Bailey, Mika Edmondson and Rasool Berry—who help guide us in this conversation. Want to hear this full Q&A on race + justice? Get free access to this and more when you start a free trial to Q Media at qideas.org/qa.

With its oldest members now filling college campuses and entering the workforce, Gen Z is emerging as an increasingly influential generation—a trend that is only likely to continue in the years to come. In the midst of this, what do pastors and church leaders need to know to best reach and engage this new generation? That a question we engage on this episode of the Q Podcast, featuring a portion of a conversation with Gen Z leaders Sadie Robertson Huff and Gabrielle Odom. Want to hear this full Q&A? Get free access to this and more when you start a free trial to Q Media at media.qideas.org/trial.

Perhaps more than ever, it seems many western Christians are feeling the need to deconstruct their faith. Amid this reality, many questions remain. Where do we get our desire to deconstruct? How can we know when this deconstruction is a helpful practice—and when can it negatively impact our faith? These are questions we dive into on this episode of the Q Podcast as we feature an excerpt of a conversation with John Mark Comer from our recent Q&A event. Want to go deeper into this conversation with John Mark Comer? Start a free trial to Q Media to get access to this full Q&A and more at media.qideas.org/trial.

In this episode, Gabe and Rebekah Lyons come together to reflect on some of their favorite Q Moments from 2020. As this chaotic year comes to a close, we know you'll appreciate the chance to take a step back and reflect on what the Q Community learned this year, so you can prepare well for what might lie ahead in 2021. Want to watch these full talks and conversations? Join the Q Media community! Get your first month free with code "freemonth" at qideas.org/about-qmedia.

In a year of racial unrest, what can we learn from the stories of two men who challenged segregation in the 1950s? That's a question we engage in this episode of the Q Podcast. Gabe Lyons is joined by Rev. Freddie Augustine and Gary Fleming. Now in their 70s, these two men played in one of the first integrated Little League baseball games when they were 12 years old. In this conversation, they talk about what that experience meant to them, how it's shaped their understanding of race in America, and the hope they have for the tensions we face now. To go deeper into this conversation, check out Long Time Coming—a documentary that tells the story of this historic baseball game. You can stream it on Q Media when you start a subscription at qideas.org/about-qmedia.

How should Christians think about the environment? That's a question Dr. Rusty Pritchard helps us engage in this episode of the Q Podcast. Rusty serves as Vice President of Tearfund USA, an organization that works alongside the local church to overcome poverty and injustice. He is also a resource economist who has worked at the interface between international economic development and global environment sustainability for nearly 30 years. In this conversation, Rusty helps us dive deep into the legacy of environmental injustice, the threat of climate change around the world, and the reality of skepticism in this conversation—pointing us to our unique role and worldview as Christians.

In our current moment, what is hindering the breakthrough of authentic prayer and revival? That's a question we dive into in this episode of the Q Podcast. Featuring an excerpt from a longer conversation on this critical topic from our recent Q&A gathering, this episode brings together leaders like Jon Tyson, Christine Caine and Corey Russel to get to the root of the problem in our churches and communities of faith when it comes to prayer and revival. To get access to this full conversation, plus seven more on the topics critical for Christian leadership in the year ahead, purchase a digital pass to watch Q&A on-demand at qideas.org/QA.

It's no secret that the isolation we've experienced in 2020 has led to a significant impact on mental health—particularly for pastors and church leaders. In this episode of the Q Podcast, we'll go deeper by listening to an excerpt from an important and timely conversation on mental health and suicide with psychiatrist Curt Thompson, pastor Scott Sauls and author Rebekah Lyons from our recent Q&A gathering. As the pandemic continues to affect our society—and our churches—in a myriad of ways, this conversation helps us understand how we can pursue a better way forward together. To get access to this full conversation, plus seven more on the topics critical for Christian leadership in the year ahead, purchase a digital pass to watch Q&A on-demand at qideas.org/QA.

Following the divisiveness of the U.S. Presidential election, Don Everts joins Gabe Lyons for a helpful and hopeful conversation about how we can create a better future by pursuing the common good in our neighborhoods. Don is the author of the new book, The Hopeful Neighborhood, and he serves as content developer for The Hopeful Neighborhood Project. In this interview, Don shares why he believes our neighborhoods are so important and the opportunity we have—particularly in a moment like this—to love and serve our neighbors well.

In this episode, Rod Dreher sits down with Gabe Lyons for an honest and sobering conversation about his new book, Live Not by Lies: A Manual for Christian Dissidents. In this book, Rod draws upon the wisdom of Christian survivors of Soviet persecution to warn American Christians of approaching dangers. Rod shares what inspired this book, why he believes America is moving toward "soft" totalitarianism, and how we can prepare to live faithfully as Christians in a challenging season ahead.

More than ever in our lifetimes, the pandemic has forced us to consider the question—"what is the purpose of the Church?" Francis Chan helps us engage this topic on today's episode. Francis is perhaps most well-known for leaving his thriving megachurch in Northern California to start smaller, gospel-focused house churches. However, as the coronavirus began its spread around the globe, Francis and his family relocated to Hong Kong to serve as missionaries and spark a similar movement. In this episode, Francis shares how this pandemic moment might help the American Church become what he believes it ought to be.

How can parents best engage conversations about race with their kids? As the author of the children's book God's Very Good Idea, Trillia Newbell helps children and families learn to celebrate diversity, see how people from all ethnic and social backgrounds are valuable to God and understand how Jesus came to rescue all kinds of people. In this episode, Trillia points us toward theologically faithful, culturally smart and practical ways for us to teach our kids these important truths.

We are living in a culture that doesn't often like to talk about sin, but it is a very real and active problem that affects every aspect of our lives and our world. In this episode of the Q Podcast, Addison Bevere shares about the effects of sin in our culture and challenges us to recover an understanding of what it means to be saved from sin's power and penalty. Addison is the author of Saints: Becoming More Than "Christians."

Christian leaders and pastors within the American Church are debating whether to open, shut, stay virtual or enact civil disobedience. Through Q Sessions: Church & State, we recently hosted the only conversation brining all of these perspectives to bear in this essential moment. You can listen to an excerpt from that conversation on this episode of the Q Podcast. From John MacArthur to Andy Stanley, hear two conflicting opinions on how churches and pastors should move forward in a confusing moment.

As we wrestle with the global coronavirus pandemic, pastor and New York Times bestselling author Tim Keller offers thoughtful context, reflections and hope for the way forward. In this episode, he helps us better understand the larger trends shaping our current culture, and he points toward a post-pandemic future for the Church and the world.

In today's culture, what does it look like for faithful Christ-followers to never settle? That's a question Greg Holder helps us consider in this episode of the Q Podcast. Greg is the author of a new book called Never Settle: Choices, Chain Reactions and the Way Out of Lukewarminess. In this conversation, Greg helps us see how our everyday decisions, habits and relationships have incredible potential for world-changing, redemptive impact—especially amid a challenging, uncertain season like the one we're all currently living through.

In a divided, isolated and confusing cultural moment, what can we learn from the history of our country and those who came before us? From its founding to now, Pat Murdock argues that throughout American history, we see a long line of leaders, visionaries and change-makers who were inspired by the values of faith and liberty. As the executive director of the new Faith & Liberty Discovery Center coming to Philadelphia in 2021, Pat shares why this historical perspective is so important for our current moment—and how we can apply those same values to advance good today.

Nick Hall joins Gabe Lyons on this episode of the Q Podcast for a powerful conversation about our opportunity for evangelism and discipleship in this new cultural moment. Nick Hall serves as an evangelistic voice to this generation. He is the visionary of Together, author of the book Reset and the Founder and Chief Communicator for Pulse Movement, which exists to make Jesus known and to equip His followers to be disciples who multiply.

How can Christians reach their cities for the gospel—especially at a time when tensions, distrust and fear are high? This is something Kevin Palau and his team at City Gospel Movements have been working toward for 15+ years. As a branch of the Luis Palau Association, City Gospel Movements provides best practices to leaders who unite the Church in cities around the world. In this conversation with Gabe Lyons, Kevin shares what he and his team are currently learning in their own city of Portland, Oregon, and he challenges us to consider how we might ignite gospel movements in our local context.

How can the Church step up to better serve the most vulnerable children and families during a pandemic? This is a question Chris Palusky helps us consider in this episode of the Q Podcast. Chris serves as president and CEO of Bethany Christian Services, a global nonprofit with a mission to stand up for vulnerable children, refugees and families around the world, because family holds an incredible power to connect us, lift us up and transform lives. In this interview, Chris shares the most pressing needs in this moment, how COVID-19 has affected Bethany's work and how we can all be part of the solution.

What makes a Christian's perspective unique during a time of crisis, such as our global coronavirus pandemic? In this Q Talk, New York Times bestselling author Priscilla Shirer points to the hope we have in Christ that transforms the way we believe, think and act in this uncertain moment.

In a tense cultural moment, it can be hard for Christians to know how to best engage challenging and complex conversations about race and repair. In this episode, Arrabon founder David M. Bailey joins Gabe Lyons to reflect on our recent Q Session featuring ten talks on this one topic. David shares what stuck out the most to him from this live event, and he offers some hopeful, practical and productive ways we can continue to pursue racial justice this week, this year and over the next decade. To watch the talks David & Gabe mention in this episode, start a free trial to Q Media at qideas.org/sessions.

In a confusing and uncertain moment, leadership is needed now more than ever. But how can you lead well through a type of cultural crisis none of us have ever lived through before? Slingshot Group's David Miller argues, "there's no script for effective leadership. But you don't need one." In this podcast episode, David shares five core competencies that leaders need to navigate our new moment.

John Kingston joins Gabe Lyons for a candid, passionate and hopeful conversation about our current cultural moment and the future of America. A lawyer by training and a businessman by experience, John is a social entrepreneur at the forefront of a new campaign called American Awakening. Kingston first gained national attention in the 2016 and 2018 political cycles, with innovative and inclusive campaigns positioned at the extremes of American politics. With the core of his team, John later launched American Awakening, a campaign for the soul of America. He shares the heart behind this initiative, what we can learn from our current season, and how we can engage in awakening together.

Even before the pandemic, our culture felt increasingly complex and disruptive, leaving many pastors and church leaders unsure how to see clearly, lead confidently and engage effectively. That's why, in partnership with gloo, Barna Group embarked on its most comprehensive look at the state of the Church in its 35-year history. Barna president David Kinnaman introduced us to this idea in a talk he gave at the Q 2020 Virtual Summit. In today's podcast, David Kinnaman revisits the talk he gave at the Q 2020 Virtual Summit and goes deeper, updating us on the latest insights his team is learning.

Following up on her talk at the Q 2020 Virtual Summit, Valerie Bell shares a timely and necessary conversation with Gabe Lyons about discipleship among children and the future of the church. Valerie serves as the CEO of Awana, a world-wide nonprofit ministry focused on providing Bible-based evangelism and discipleship solutions for ages 2-18. Valerie is also the author of the book, Resilient: Child Discipleship and the Fearless Future of the Church.