S5: E19 The Parsing of “Racism”

Greg Armstrong joins again to examine the evolution and ideology of the word “racist.” The word “racist” has changed from meaning prejudice to including the unconscious systems of white supremacy. Now, drawing from the work of John McWhorter’s, we see the third wave that equates the word “racist” equated with subjective feelings.
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S5: E18 A Theology of Protest

How do we make sense of the protests and riots that have erupted after the murder of George Floyd? Greg Armstrong, Director of Admissions at Northern and pastor of Renew Church (Lombard, IL) joins Mike and Dave as they discuss the church’s response to and participation in public demonstrations.
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S5: E15 Suffering During the Pandemic

“I’m more apt to catch a bullet than the coronavirus” That is a sentiment Mike has heard repeatedly in his church. What can we learn from populations in America that have lived under constant threats of “coronaviruses” and imminent death?
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S5: E8 Universal Salvation: w/Geoff Hosclaw

This week we welcome back the co-founder of Theology on Mission, Geoff Holsclaw! Geoff recently wrote a response to David Bentley Hart’s book on universal salvation. After bantering for a good five minutes Fitch, Moore, and Holsclaw talk about the challenges and hopes of Christian universalism.
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S5: E7 The Shape of Liturgy

Evangelicals have discovered liturgy and non-denominational kids are becoming sacramental adults! What are we to make of this liturgical turn? Fitch and Mike look at the trends of evangelicals on the “Canterbury Trail,” and offer some considerations for those who have discovered a new love for liturgy.
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S5: E5 The Evangelism Pendulum

Fifty years ago gospel tracts, four spiritual laws, and street witnessing were pillars of evangelism for the evangelical church. Recently, the pendulum has swung the other way to the point where some Christians are reticent to evangelize, or, just don’t know how!
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S5: E3 Understanding Joshua Harris: Doubt & Belief

Two months ago, pastor-writer Joshua Harris publicly announced he was no longer a Christian. Fitch and Moore do an “icy take” on his announcement, seeking to understand Harris’ evangelical culture. Fitch and Moore attempt to grasp the purity culture that Harris helped shape and then explore how legalism, individualization, and cognization produce a church unable to doubt and ask meaningful questions.
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S5: E2 Eschatology for Mission

Who cares about the “end times”? Should we leave behind the “Left Behind” conversations? Does pre-trib, post-trib, etc, even matter? Fitch & Moore talk about “over-realized eschatology” and how it can inhibit the church.
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S4: E16 Summer Reading Recommendations

If you haven’t read these books yet, pick them up! Mike highlights our top 3 episodes from the past year and gives a list of corresponding reading. If you haven’t already read these fine books add them to your list for summer 2019. S4: E6 Caught in the Middle: Human Sexuality –Phenomenology of the Spirit by G.W.F.
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S4: E12 Resurrection. Time. Worship

Does it matter when we worship corporately? Midweek service? Saturday night? What about corporate worship over Facebook Live and YouTube? Drawing from the work of Alexander Schmemann, Fitch and Moore discuss the cultural view of “flat” time that commodifies worship.
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S4: E10 Us vs Them: Salvation

This is part two of our three-part series on Fitch’s upcoming book: The Church of Us vs. Them. We talk about our first concerts, “making a decision for Christ,” and how to reimagine salvation in terms of witness and presence.
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S4: E9 Us vs. Them: The Inerrant Bible

Is a hotdog a sandwich? This is the first of our three-part series on Fitch’s upcoming book: The Church of Us vs. Them. We talk about “clobber verses,” the narrative arc of Scripture, and how the Bible gets turned into an “enemy making machine.
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ReAdvent

Just in time for Christmas, we talk about Advent! 😉 Fitch and Moore repurpose the four Sundays in Advent around the themes of God’s disruptive and generous presence in this world.
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Conservative–>Progressive–>Atheist???

A recent article from The Gospel Coalition observes the “slippery slope” of belief from Progressive to Atheist. Dave and Mike back it up one step to include Conservatives and contend that Progressives and Conservatives are essentially the same–just different teams unaware of the Christendom field they are fighting on.
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Should Christians Vote?

Is this even a question Christians should be asking? Does it reek of privilege and entitlement? Fitch and Moore discuss if/how Christians should vote in the upcoming election. Fitch does an average Hauerwas impression and examines how our culture means we now “vote for commercials, not people.”
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Interview with Pastah J

Fitch is in Canada so Mike takes over the podcast!!!! He sits down with Jonathan “Pastah J” Brooks to talk about his new book “Church Forsaken: Practicing Presence in Neglected Neighborhoods.”
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Elitism in the Church

How should the church engage “elite culture”? Should our books be on the New York Times bestseller list? Our influence wielded in the halls of power? James Davidson Hunter’s book “To Change the World” has a unique proposal for engaging “elite culture.”
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Bible Battle

  New season! New co-host! Mike Moore joins Dave Fitch to talk about the B-I-B-L-E. How do we appeal to the Bible in midst of conflict? How does a pastor steward their leadership position?
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Does Pentecost Obliterate Differences?

Does Pentecost overcome Babel? Does baptism in Jesus obliterate all distinctions? David Fitch and Geoff Holsclaw talk about Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
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6 Ways to Ruin Easter

Make people feel guilty for only showing up twice a year? Put Jesus up on the cross again? What else should we avoid when it comes to Easter Sunday? In this zany & serious episode, Geoff Holsclaw—joined by Matt Tebbe and Ben Sternke—talk about how not to ruin Easter.
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Should we be Hero-Makers?

Should we strive to be hero-makers? Should we just be side-kicks? And are Dave and Geoff just being too picky about stuff? David Fitch and Geoff Holsclaw end the year talking about the importance of language when it comes to leadership in the church?
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Are Sacraments for Mission?

Are sacraments for those outside the church? Are sacraments for those coming in or going out? Can something that’s not a sacrament be sacramental? Ranging across topics, David Fitch and Geoff Holsclaw have two guests on—Ben Sternke and Matt Tebbe of Gravity Leadership—to talk about the role of sacraments in mission.
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Going Deep in APEST? with Alan Hirsch

APEST: Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Shepherd, and Teacher. But do these functions or callings go even deeper than personal calling and church organization? David Fitch talks with Alan Hirsch about Hirsch’s new book, 5Q: Reactivating the Original Intelligence and Capacity of the Body of Christ.
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5 Challenges Facing the Church

What do the issues of power, justice, culture, and Jesus have in common? They are all things that church needs to figure out how to relate to! Professors David Fitch and Geoff Holsclaw talk about the 5 Challenges Facing the church as a sneak preview of the upcoming “Theology and Mission Lectures” with Stanley Hauerwas (WHICH YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS).
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What is the Benedict Option?

Should Christians withdraw from a hostile culture? David Fitch and Geoff Holsclaw discuss Rod Dreher’s “Benedict Option” as a Christian response to American culture. While appreciative, Dave and Geoff offer points of concern and criticism.
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Against Antagonisms?

Can we find peace in a polarizing world? Can we cultivate true dialogue in a defensive world? David Fitch and Geoff Holsclaw talk about living on the thin line between stoking and reenforcing the cultural and political antagonisms of our day, and the need for staying alert to injustices in the world.
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Aliens and Exiles (with Dennis Edwards)

Do you need a 1st Century Church Planting Manual? Or, What does 1 Peter teach us about being faithful to Jesus? David Fitch and Geoff Holsclaw talk with Dennis Edwards, a pastor and scholar, about exiles, the vocation of the church, and submitting to all human institutions (and what that might mean).
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A Lot Has Been Going On

A lot has been going on. Sometimes the best thing to do is listen. With so much going on in America, Geoff Holsclaw and David Fitch slow down and talk with two area ministers, Juliet Liu Waite and Greg Armstrong, about what they are seeing, feeling, and experiencing, and how the future of the church is multiracial leadership.   Juliet Liu Waite is a co-pastor at Life on the Vine, a church in the suburbs of Chicago, and she teaches at Trinity International University.
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A Thanksgiving Survival Guide

This Thanksgiving, what are you to do when your only relationship with someone is that they are your relative? David Fitch and Geoff Holsclaw offer three quick tips on how to bring Jesus into every Thanksgiving situation without being all religious.
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