Theology in the Raw

 I first met Bert in Fall 1997 when I transferred in as a Junior at The Master’s College (now University). Bert was one of my roomates and we quickly began a mentoring friendship. For the next 3-4 years, Bert poured into and helped lay some vital spiritual foundations in my life. He has been, quite simply, one the most influential persons in my life.  But Bert has his own tumultuous story, which involved getting saved out of a gang culture and thrust into the Christian spotlight as a singer, preacher, Chaplain, and mentor to many. After several years of major “Christian success,” he fell back into his old ways, even darker than before, and ultimately ended up in jail. He’s been slowly and faithfully building back his faith again, without needing the stage to validate his Christian worth.  Support Preston Support Preston by going to patreon.com Venmo: @Preston-Sprinkle-1 Connect with Preston Twitter | @PrestonSprinkle Instagram | @preston.sprinkle Youtube | Preston Sprinkle Check out his website prestonsprinkle.com If you enjoy the podcast, be sure to leave a review. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dr. Laidlaw is a board certified Endocrinologist with an MD in Endocrinology from USC. He’s been involved in the conversation surrounding trans* identified teens and the use of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones (CHT). In this conversation, Michael gives us the the honest facts about what we know and don’t know about short term and long term effects of blockers and CHT. Support Preston Support Preston by going to patreon.com Venmo: @Preston-Sprinkle-1 Connect with Preston Twitter | @PrestonSprinkle Instagram | @preston.sprinkle Youtube | Preston Sprinkle Check out his website prestonsprinkle.com If you enjoy the podcast, be sure to leave a review. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Aaron Keyes has been a worship pastor for over 20 years, currently serving as the worship pastor at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, CO. Aaron is also the founder of Mere Worship, a network of worship pastors who are reimagining Christian worship, and the founder and director of 10,000 Fathers, a discipleship-orientated worship school.  In this episode, we talk about all kinds of things related to Christian worship and worship leading, including the difference between subjective and objective oriented songs, the need for character in a worship pastor, why musical talent alone is insufficient in a worship leader and how it can even be destructive, “Jesus is my boyfriend” type songs, and some potential problems with the CCLI industrial complex.  Check out the 10,000 Fathers worship school: https://worship.school And the Mere Worship community: https://www.mereworship.com Support Preston Support Preston by going to patreon.com Venmo: @Preston-Sprinkle-1 Connect with Preston Twitter | @PrestonSprinkle Instagram | @preston.sprinkle Youtube | Preston Sprinkle Check out his website prestonsprinkle.com If you enjoy the podcast, be sure to leave a review. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Few people understand the intersection between faith and culture better than Gabe Lyons. In this conversation, we avoid all the easy topics and only discuss the highly controversial ones: Qideas (not Qanon), COVID vaccines, can we trust the government, how should we think through the “facts” about the pandemic, is censorship really happening, how to think through sexuality and gender questions, and much more.  Gabe Lyons is the co-author of Good Faith (2016), unChristian (2007) and authored The Next Christians (2010), as a manifesto for how Christians can faithfully lead in a changing culture. He is the founder of Q, a learning community of Christian leaders where they are equipped to engage our cultural moment. Their Q Conference (www.Q2017.com) annually convenes thousands of leaders from all industries while Q Commons, their global event simultaneously unites 140 cities and over 10,000 people on an October evening (www.QCommons.com). Called "sophisticated and orthodox" by The New York Times, Q equips Christians apply their faith to daily life by addressing some of the most difficult and controversial issues of our time. Gabe speaks to over 100,000 people each year on topics of equipping the next generation, cultural issues and research related to the intersection of faith and public life. He lives in Nashville with his wife, Rebekah, and their three children. Support Preston Support Preston by going to patreon.com Venmo: @Preston-Sprinkle-1 Connect with Preston Twitter | @PrestonSprinkle Instagram | @preston.sprinkle Youtube | Preston Sprinkle Check out his website prestonsprinkle.com If you enjoy the podcast, be sure to leave a review. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rich Villodas is the Brooklyn-born lead pastor of New Life Fellowship, a large multiracial church with more than seventy-five countries represented in Elmhurst, Queens. Rich holds a Master of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary. He enjoys reading widely, preaching and writing on contemplative spirituality, justice-related matters, and the art of preaching. He's been married to Rosie since 2006 and they have two beautiful children, Karis and Nathan. His first book, The Deeply Formed Life, is now available wherever books are sold. In this conversation, we talk about what it was like pastoring a church that is located at the epicenter of the pandemic in Queens, NY. We also discuss the beauties and challenges of pastoring a church where 75 different nations are represented, especially when they are all over the map on political and racial issues. We conclude by talking about Rich’s first book, The Deeply Formed Life, which focuses on the personal and public practices that contribute to our spiritual formation.  Read more about Rich Villodas here: https://www.richvillodas.com  Purchase Rich’s book here: https://www.amazon.com/Deeply-Formed-Life-Transformative-Values/dp/0525654380/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=a+deeply+formed+life&qid=1618348231&sr=8-1  Support Preston Support Preston by going to patreon.com Venmo: @Preston-Sprinkle-1 Connect with Preston Twitter | @PrestonSprinkle Instagram | @preston.sprinkle Youtube | Preston Sprinkle Check out his website prestonsprinkle.com If you enjoy the podcast, be sure to leave a review. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Francis Chan, a renowned pastor and author, and Benny Hinn, a famous faith healer, dive into deep conversations about faith and church unity. They share a remarkable encounter that challenged their perspectives, discuss the evolving significance of the Eucharist, and explore the complexities of denominational divisions. From personal growth to the joy of planting house churches in Hong Kong, this candid dialogue emphasizes the need for authenticity and love within the Christian community, encouraging listeners to pursue deeper relationships with God.

Grant Skeldon is a leading expert in understanding GenZ and has spent the last several years of his life raising up and discipling GenZ leaders. In this podcast episode, Grant walks us through an indepth look at GenZ and corrects some wrong assumptions older people have about this vibrant generation.  Grant started Initiative Network when he was 23 with the goal to develop young leaders into Christ-loving, city-changing, church-investing, disciple-making local missionaries. Initiative has united and accelerated some of the most diverse and dynamic next gen leaders from across the country. In 2020 Grant got married and moved to Nashville to become the Next Gen Director for Q. He has written for The Wall Street Journal, Relevant, and The Gospel Coalition. His book on millennials, The Passion Generation has helped thousands of pastors and parents who are trying to reach, raise, and retain the next generation. Grant serves on the board of Catalyst, as well as an associate for Leadership Network and Exponential. Learn more about Grant on his website: http://grantskeldon.com Support Preston Support Preston by going to patreon.com Venmo: @Preston-Sprinkle-1 Connect with Preston Twitter | @PrestonSprinkle Instagram | @preston.sprinkle Youtube | Preston Sprinkle Check out his website prestonsprinkle.com If you enjoy the podcast, be sure to leave a review. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this podcat episode, Preston and Lindsey talk about the beautiful complexity of female sexualtiiy and why so many teen girls today identify as bisexual (as opposed to lesbian or striaght). Lindsey is a a gay Christian woman committed to the historical biblical sexual ethic and is passionate about teaching the Church how to love and disciple LGBT+ people well. She is thrilled to get the opportunity to write content for EQUIP ministries, specifically for and about gay women. Lindsey graduated from Taylor University in 2014 with a BA in Film and Media Production. She is currently working towards a Master's in Social Work. Her goal is to become a counselor and journey with others like her who are navigating the tension between their Christian faith and sexuality. Support Preston Support Preston by going to patreon.com Venmo: @Preston-Sprinkle-1 Connect with Preston Twitter | @PrestonSprinkle Instagram | @preston.sprinkle Youtube | Preston Sprinkle Check out his website prestonsprinkle.com If you enjoy the podcast, be sure to leave a review. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A. J. Swoboda (PhD, University of Birmingham) is assistant professor of Bible, theology, and world Christianity at Bushnell University. He also leads a Doctor of Ministry program around the Holy Spirit and leadership at Fuller Theological Seminary. He is the author of a number of books, including the award-winning Subversive Sabbath. He is married to Quinn and is the proud father of Elliot. They live and work in Eugene, Oregon. In this podcast episode, we talk about his latest book After Doubt, which is all about deconstruction and doubt; or, as the subtitle states: How to Question Your Faith without Losing It. And A.J. is the perfect guide. He has his own deconstruction story and he very much resonates with some of the problems that conservatives or progressives have with American evangelicalism. And he helps us navigate these issues in this podcast episode.  Learn more about A.J. here: https://www.ajswobodawrites.com Support Preston Support Preston by going to patreon.com Venmo: @Preston-Sprinkle-1 Connect with Preston Twitter | @PrestonSprinkle Instagram | @preston.sprinkle Youtube | Preston Sprinkle Check out his website prestonsprinkle.com If you enjoy the podcast, be sure to leave a review. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Josh Butler is a good friend and one of the most gifted, enjoyable, and all around brilliant dudes I’ve ever met. He’s a pastor, teacher, scholar, writer, and scandalous witness to the gospel of Christ. I could do ministry with this dude any day of the week. He’s written two incredible books: The Skeletons in God’s Closet and The Pursuing God--both are absolute gems. Josh also serves as a lead pastor at Redemption Church in Tempe, AZ, and served as a pastor for over 15 years at Imago Dei Church in Portland, OR. In this podcast, we banter around about all kinds of things related to politics, race, discipleship in 2021, pastoring in a post-Covid world, nationalism, partisanship, and how to deal with Christians who are heavily influenced by the partisan politics of our day.  Support Preston Support Preston by going to patreon.com Venmo: @Preston-Sprinkle-1 Connect with Preston Twitter | @PrestonSprinkle Instagram | @preston.sprinkle Youtube | Preston Sprinkle Check out his website prestonsprinkle.com If you enjoy the podcast, be sure to leave a review. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.