God makes all things work together for our good. The Bible tells us that. But what does that mean? This week, the guys go in-depth on Romans 8, and discover that God's goodness is something deeper than we tend to realize.  Aaron's recommendation: Suffering: Gospel Hope When Life Doesn't Make Sense by Paul David Tripp, https://smile.amazon.com/Suffering-Gospel-Hope-Doesnt-Sense/dp/1433556774/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=paul+david+tripp+suffering&qid=1623108628&sr=8-3

This week, the guys talk about love... and how the famous chapter of love may not be fully about what we think it is.  Tony's recommendation: "2001: A Space Odyssey," directed by Stanley Kubrick, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oR_e9y-bka0 Also, listen to "God is Love" by Marvin Gaye, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ui9S040GwPA

This week, the guys dig in to one of the most famous verses in all of the Bible: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." So, what is this passage saying? Does God NOT have good plans for us? Listen and find out! (Spoiler: Yes, but not perhaps in the ways we think.) Aaron's recommendation: A Church Called Tov: Forming a Goodness Culture that Resists Abuses of Power and Promotes Healing by Scot McKnight,...

This week, the guys tackle Psalm 46:10, in which we encounter God in our stillness... or something like that. Join us as we continue to find meaning in these passages of Scripture while keeping them in the right context. Aaron's recommendation: How to Read the Psalms by Tremper Longman III,...

Continuing our series on verses which tend to be taken out of context, we look at Revelation 3, in which Jesus tells us it is better to love him or hate him than to be lukewarm, and that he stands at the door knocking, asking, pleading with us to let him into our hearts and receive salvation. Right? The guys get into this and more as we seek to put the right context around these familiar passages. Tony's recommendation: Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an...

We just celebrated the National Day of Prayer, and usually one of the more prominent verses at events like this is 2 Chronicles 7:14. But is it actually used correctly? We look at what it means within the context of the broader passage, and how we can still apply it to our lives (and our country) today. Our recommendations: "2 Chronicles 7:14 Isn't About American Politics" by Russell Moore, https://www.russellmoore.com/2016/01/14/2-chronicles-714-isnt-about-american-politics/ Onward: Engaging...

Today we begin an occasional series looking at verses that are typically taken out of their biblical context, and we attempt to put them back into their context. First up, Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Ever popular in the sports world, we talk about what it really means to have Christ strengthen us, and how we can apply it in our everyday lives. Our recommendations: 1) Read the Bible. 2) Become a member at a church. 3) How to Read the Bible for All...

The fact that high-profile Christian comedians are extremely rare and that Christ, as the “man of sorrows,” appears so dour throughout the gospels suggests that Christianity is incompatible with good humor. But is it? We explore humor in the Bible and a biblical and theological justification for comedy. Hopefully we laugh a bit along the way. Tony's recommendation: Is This Anything? by Jerry Seinfeld,...

It’s no secret that many evangelicals consider conservatism of some kind to be the default approach to Christianity. But many others associate the progressive impulse with Jesus Christ himself. Which is it? The guys discuss this over, well, several takes. The article that jump-started our discussion, "Progressive Christians Arise! Hallelujah!" by Nicholas Kristof, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/20/opinion/sunday/progressive-christians-politics.html?searchResultPosition=4 Aaron's...

We consider the various books, movies, and other cultural artifacts that have had their availability to be consumed curbed in some way due to potentially offensive content. How should we as Christians understand this phenomenon? What should we do about it? Tony's recommendation: Watch baseball!

The guys consider repentance—what it is, why we need it, and how we actually do it.  Aaron's recommendation: Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther by Roland H. Bainton, https://smile.amazon.com/Here-Stand-Life-Martin-Luther/dp/1426754434/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=here+i+stand+bainton&qid=1617122258&sr=8-1

This week, the guys answer some of your questions, and Aaron almost makes it through without a blooper. Maybe next time. Tony's recommendation: Zack Snyder's Justice League, https://www.hbomax.com/feature/urn:hbo:feature:GYDAnZgCFQ8IJpQEAAAAN  

This episode is not strictly business: social media can be dangerous. Platforms like Twitter and Facebook open us up to all kinds of barbs and arrows, horse heads and rotting fish, making us offers of glamor and self-righteousness that we all too often can't refuse. The guys discuss some of these dangers, as well as how to use social media in ways that honor God and love other people. 

Spiritual disciplines—like fasting, biblical meditation, and the like—have a reputation as being only for super spiritual people. Au contraire, we say! While they can be difficult and require, well, discipline in order to do, they are also incredibly valuable for living the Christian life—in our technological age, one might say now more than ever.  Tony's recommendation: Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald S. Whitney,...

We're back! Telling people about Jesus can be incredibly difficult. This week, the guys discuss approaches that have helped us, why evangelism is so important, and how we can practically do it in our everyday lives.  Aaron's recommendation: The Explicit Gospel by Matt Chandler with Jared C. Wilson, https://smile.amazon.com/Explicit-Gospel-Paperback-Matt-Chandler/dp/1433542110/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=explicit+gospel&qid=1614811007&sr=8-1  

This week the guys discuss all things Christmas: the best Christmas movie, the best Christmas music, why Tony is right, and who the real Santa Claus is. (Tony definitely did not write this description.)  Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Merry Christmas! Aaron's recommendations: "Who was St. Nicholas?" by Kevin DeYoung, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevin-deyoung/who-was-st-nicholas-2/ The Chosen TV series, https://studios.vidangel.com/the-chosen

The guys consider some of the essential components of Anabaptism, based on an almost 80 year old essay. No, some of the essential components are not wearing bonnets and growing lengthy beards.  Our recommendation: The Anabaptist Vision by Harold Bender, https://www.goshen.edu/mhl/Refocusing/d-av.htm 

This week, the guys consider the issue of divine impassibility, thanks to a deep, theological question from Tony's three-year-old daughter.  Our recommendations:Songs for Saplings, https://songsforsaplings.com/spotify-english/None Greater: The Undomesticated Attributes of God by Matthew Barrett, https://www.amazon.com/None-Greater-Undomesticated-Attributes-God/dp/0801098742/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=none+greater&qid=1606343455&sr=8-1 

Listen to these NERDS talk about reading books! Some of the best books we've read this year:Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom by David Blight, https://www.amazon.com/Frederick-Douglass-David-W-Blight/dp/1416590323/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3IB5CKVQUD35R&dchild=1&keywords=frederick+douglass+prophet+of+freedom+by+david+blight&qid=1606327902&sprefix=Frederick+Douglas%2Caps%2C248&sr=8-3The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien,...

This week is Thanksgiving, which will give us many opportunities to eat great food, reflect on all we are thankful for, and have difficult discussions with family members. How do we handle those? This week, the guys share what they have learned in years of having difficult conversations themselves. Thank YOU for listening!

We can all think of instances where we have found out that our heroes in the faith have fallen, either into gross error or sin. This week, the guys consider how we should think, and what we should do, when something like this happens. Aaron's recommendation: James Leo Garrett, Systematic TheologyVol. 1,...

In this episode, the guys conclude their study through Rebecca McLaughlin's book, Confronting Christianity, in which they explore the nature of heaven and hell in the afterlife and how God is just throughout the process.Tony's Recommendation: "The Tree of Life" from Terrance Malickhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrAz1YLh8nY 

The guys continue reading through Rebecca McLaughlin's Confronting Christianity by considering the age-old problem of suffering. They have no pat answers, but find great comfort in Jesus Christ's suffering for us. Aaron's recommendation: Walking with God through Pain and Suffering by Timothy Keller,...

This week, the guys celebrate Reformation Day (Halloween, for some of you) by considering the great Protestant debate over the Lord's Supper. Our apologies for the length, but let's be honest: you knew what you were getting into.  Our recommendations: Three Treatises by Martin Luther, https://www.amazon.com/Three-Treatises-Martin-Luther/dp/0800616391/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Luther+three+treatises&qid=1603387536&sr=8-1Theology of the Reformers by Timothy George,...

Is Jesus a card-carrying member of the MAGA Express? Or is he Ridin' with Biden? How ought Christians view politics? This week, the guys take on the issue of faith and politics, offering an approach to the issue. Their recommendation: Read across the political spectrum!The New York Times, https://www.nytimes.comThe Wall Street Journal, https://www.wsj.comNational Review, https://www.nationalreview.comThe New Republic, https://newrepublic.comNightly News with Lester Holt,...