S7: E7 Increase Density. Decrease Numbers.
What would it look like for us to focus our ministry on increasing density, rather than increasing numbers? Listen to find out!
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S6: E6 Church Planting Webinar with Hugh Halter
This bonus episode is the audio from our webinar with Hugh Halter on church planting. Our conversation kicks off the introduction of the Church Planting Institute at Northern Seminary. Check us out at www.churchpi.com
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S6: E5 What to do with the 74 Million?
How do we respond to a post-Trump presidency? Fitch suggests a few different approaches drawing on authors who write about post-Nazi Germany and Ta Nehisi Coates.
To be clear, we aren’t accusing those who voted for Trump of being Nazi’s!
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S6: E4 Advent for “the Rest of Us”
“To pursue liturgy for our own depths of formation and ignore the cultural engagement of those outside the faith is a luxury of Christendom.” –Dave Fitch
In this episode we discuss the “post-evangelical” turn towards liturgy and the great joy of celebrating Advent.
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S6 E3: Third Way Politics
Just in time! On the eve of the election Fitch and Moore describe a ‘Third Way’ approach to theology of church and culture. Some suggest a ‘Third Way’ approach is merely a position of privilege that too easily compromises and disengages.
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S6: E2 Critical Theory & Tim Keller: Part 2
In this episode, Fitch and Moore explore critical theory and what it offers the church for seeing our “frames.” The conversation follows Fitch’s response to Tim Keller’s article on biblical justice and covers an expanse of topics: race, sexuality, ideology, identity politics, and more (links to articles below).
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S6: E1 Foundations: Tim Keller & Justice: Part 1
Dave wrote an article at Christianity Today that responded to Tim Keller’s recent piece on justice. In this podcast, Fitch and Moore explore how “justice” is up for grabs post-Christendom. They agree with Keller’s assessment of the culture, but diverge when it comes to the issue of foundations and posture.
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S5: E21 Top Five Fundy Backlashes (As Seen in Progressive Evangelicals)
Fitch and Moore look at the fundamentalism of evangelicalism in North America and how it has led to a backlash in progressive evangelicalism. They explore the backlashes to purity culture, penal substitutionary atonement, the inerrancy of Scripture, making a decision for Christ, and more.
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S5: E20 White Man Speaking
This podcast starts pretty meta: two white men speaking about white men speaking.
How should white men position themselves in leading the church? While white supremacy and misogyny poison the church how should white men respond?
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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 E17: What Difference Does The Gospel Make?
Over the last month, a little theological scuffle has emerged regarding what is the gospel. Reformed pastor, Greg Gilbert, criticized Scot Mcknight and Matthew Bates formulations of a “kingship gospel.” You can see the articles and conversation below in the links.
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S5 E16: Video Killed the Embodied Church
Is video killing the church? This week we invite Geoff Holsclaw on the podcast to discuss church growth in the era of video church. Should we be concerned about falling into attractional modes of worship with the increase of online Sunday worship?
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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: E14 Faithful Presence During The Pandemic
These are unprecedented times and an uncertain future for the global church. How is the church to respond with restrictions on gatherings, mass anxiety, and an uncertain future.
Fitch and Moore draw from their distinct contexts and discuss this somber moment.
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S5: E13 Depression. The Challenge of Ministry.
Studies suggest that around 70-80% of pastors experience depression. For many in the ministry, mental illness is inevitable. The question isn’t, “Will I become depressed?” The question is, “Who will I journey through depression with?”
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S5: E12 Are you lonely? Angry? Lost?
When you gather around the table as the church how should we talk and listen to each other? Fitch proposes three questions to ask around any table fellowship:
Are you lonely?
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S5: E11 To Volunteer or Not
We are back for 2020! Fitch and Moore discuss volunteerism and how it encourages and discourages mission for the church. How does volunteering in the community actually hinder the work of the church?
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S5: E10 Non-Violent Atonement with J. Denny Weaver
Mike’s college professor, J. Denny Weaver joins the show to talk about his work on atonement and the crucifixion. Almost 20 years ago Weaver’s book, The Nonviolent Atonement, was published and contributed significantly to Anabaptist interpretations of atonement.
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S5: E9 Divine Violence & The Warrior God: Greg Boyd and Claude Mariottini
Buckle up friends, we have a special episode for you this week.
Two Northern professors, Greg Boyd and Claude Mariottini debate how to interpret the violence in the Old Testament. Fitch guides the conversation through a few Old Testament passages as Boyd and Mariottini discuss how to make sense of violent portrayals of God in the Old Testament in light of Jesus’ crucifixion.
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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: E6 The “Third Way” of the Church with Jerry Sittser
The early church distinguished itself from the Roman and Jewish religions by adopting a “third way.” Fitch and Moore sit down with historian Jerry Sittser to talk about what we can learn from the ancient church about evangelism, identity, and worship.
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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: E4 When Theologians Fail Morally
What should be done with the theology of theologians who have failed morally? John Howard Yoder, Dr. King, Paul Tillich, Karl Barth, etc.
Dave and Mike outline the common responses and try to construct a way forward.
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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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S5: E1 Big Problems. Are There Solutions?
We are back!
Fitch and Moore talk about big problems (gun control, homelessness, policing) and how to initiate solutions. How do we address massive and systemic issues that outsize our communities?
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S4: E17 Antagonisms vs Conflict
Drawing from Matthew 10 and 18 Fitch and Moore talk about the differences between antagonisms and conflict.
Does anger have a place in our redemption? How do we identify sin in the midst of our conflicts?
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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.
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S4 E15: INTERVIEW: C. Christopher Smith
We are sitting down with our good friend C. Christopher Smith to talk about talking! Chris’ new book, “How the Body of Christ Talks,” explores how the church can recover the practice of conversation.
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Multicultural Church? From a Black Church Perspective
What is the culture of the multicultural church? How does it include and neglect the black experience in America? Fitch and Moore sit down with Rev. Dr. Joe Mitchell to discuss critiques of the multicultural church.
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S4: E13 Reformed Soteriology is Passive Aggressive
Welp, at least the title of this podcast isn’t passive aggressive! Fitch and Moore talk about how modern individualism has tainted our soteriology. The tropes of guilt, legalism, and populist fundamentalism have led to a thin soteriology.
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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: E11 INTERVIEW: Karen Swallow Prior
Dave and Mike sit down at Missio Alliance 2019 (thus the background noise) to talk with Karen Swallow Prior about her new book On Reading Well: Finding the Good Life through Great Books.
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Post Willow Creek Era: Vulnerability & Repentance
What do the public leadership failings of Harvest Bible Chapel and Willow Creek mean for the church? How should we respond and repent? Fitch and Moore talk about why it is hard for pastors to be vulnerable and how we can find guidance on this topic during the Lenten season.
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S4: E11 Us vs Them: Politics
This is part three of our three-part series on Fitch’s upcoming book: The Church of Us vs. Them.
We talk about Canada, the cold, and privilege. Oh yeah, and we also talk about the title of this episode.
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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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S4: E8 INTERVIEW with Michael Gorman
Dave and Mike sit down with Michael Gorman to talk about mission, the book of John and his new book, “Abide & Go: Missional Theosis in the Gospel of John.”
Michael Gorman is the Raymond E.
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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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Caught in the Middle: Human Sexuality
What should church leaders do when caught in the middle of a conflict? Fitch and Moore discuss practices for navigating the conversation regarding human sexuality
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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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Is the Church Being Feminized?
Is the church being feminized?
Is that a mark of decline?
Or of revival?
David Fitch and Geoff Holsclaw jump into another episode talking about the supposed feminization of the church and what it means for you.
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Can I Get a Witness? or, the weakness of God
If God is so powerful, why does God need witnesses?
What kind of God needs others to speak for him?
David Fitch and Geoff Holsclaw jump in again by tackling the question, “Why does God entrust the future of the world to human messengers?”
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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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You Don’t Know What the Church Is!
How do you judge the size of your church?
How do you know if your church is healthy?
David Fitch and Geoff Holsclaw talk about what makes for a church, how to count it, and what impact that might have on faithful mission.
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For Sinners & Sufferers: The Baptism of Jesus
Why was Jesus baptized?
And what is sin, really?
And what is sin nature vs. sin nurture?
Geoff Holsclaw, along with special guest Scott Kent Jones, talk about the baptism of Jesus (Fitch is out teaching his week-long intensive for his DMIN cohort—detail below).
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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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Beware the Language Police
Ever been corrected for saying the wrong thing?
Ever been confused that what you said was so offensive?
Ever felt like you were speaking a different language while speaking English?
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How Clear Should the Church Be?
How clear should your church be about stances on sexuality?
How should that clarity be communicated?
Is the search for clarity in service to the weak and vulnerable?
Is the search for clarity another power play?
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Why is Your Church Here? The 3 Streams of Cultural Accommodation
Why is your church here? What are you doing? How are you moving forward?
The answer to these questions is often based on your assumptions about the church’s place in culture.
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Are You a Tool? on God’s glory and the Nashville Statement
“Many deny that God created human beings for his glory…” This comes from the preamble of the Nashville Statement.
David Fitch and Geoff Holsclaw talk about what being “created for God’s glory” might mean for pastors, for mission, and for handling contentious topics.
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