THINQ Media Podcast

Our modern culture is obsessed with identity. However, theologian Carl Trueman argues that no historical phenomenon is its own cause. From Augustine to Marx, various views and perspectives have contributed to the modern understanding of the self. In his timely book, The Rise of the Modern Self, Carl analyzes the development of the sexual revolution as a symptom rather than the cause of the human search for identity. In this episode of the Q Ideas Podcast, he explains what that means for the Church's witness today, and he gives guidance for the future as Christians navigate our culture amidst humanity's ever-changing quest for identity. Want to participate in more conversations like these? Join The Collaborative, our brand-new cohort experience designed for passionate Christian leaders. Over eight months, we'll build community and take a deep dive into the most important conversations for our moment. Learn more and register at qideas.org/cohort.

In 2018, social scientist Lisa Littman published a study on "rapid-onset gender dysphoria." The study pointed to an increasing trend of adolescent girls suddenly identifying themselves as transgender and seeking treatment, perhaps due to social pressure and media influence. The study was met with controversy and left many debating this new idea. Together, Preston Sprinkle (President of the Center for Faith, Sexuality and Gender) and Helena Kerschner (a former transgender man who is now de-transitioned) discuss this topic and provide practical guidance for parents and teens. Want to engage in more conversations like these? Join us for The Collaborative, an eight-month cohort for Christian leaders. Learn more and register: qideas.org/cohort.

What does our modern, secular culture get wrong about the Bible? That's a question Dan Kimball helps us wrestle with on this episode of the Q Ideas Podcast. Dan is a pastor at Vintage Faith Church in Santa Cruz, California and the author of the recent book, How (Not) to Read the Bible. In this conversation, Dan brings clarity to some of the more confusing parts of Scripture. He also shares why it's so important that Christians understand the Bible and teach others—especially the next generation—to do the same. 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.

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.