Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture

Does life really have any meaning? Are all human beings actually equal? These are some of the big questions of life, which we wrestle with in this episode. At its core, these are deep worldview questions that have powerful and practical implications for how we live our lives. Embracing a biblical perspective on these questions, as opposed to a secular worldview, helps us love our enemies and find joy in hardship.  Why You Matter: How Your Quest for Meaning is Meaningless without God  Mike Sherrard is senior pastor at Crosspoint Community Church and faculty member at Summit Ministries. He is the author of Relational Apologetics and a national speaker specializing in biblical worldview, ethics, and evangelism. He lives in Peachtree City, Georgia, with his wife and five kids.   Read a transcript of this episode at: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/think-biblically/2021/why-you-matter  ==========Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, which offers degrees both online and on campus in Southern California.   Find all episodes of Think Biblically at: https://www.biola.edu/think-biblically.   To submit comments, ask questions, or make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.  

Is the scientific data pointing towards a universe of design or towards a universe that needs no supernatural explanation? In this interview, Sean and Scott talk with leading intelligent design proponent Stephen Meyer about his latest book The Return of the God Hypothesis. Dr. Meyer argues that cosmology, physics, and biology all point to the existence of a transcendent mind and that God is making a comeback in both academia and the wider culture.  Stephen C. Meyer received his Ph.D. in the philosophy of science from the University of Cambridge. A former geophysicist and college professor, he now directs Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture in Seattle. He has authored the New York Times best seller Darwin’s Doubt: The Explosive Origin of Animal Life and the Case for Intelligent Design (HarperOne, 2013), Signature in the Cell: DNA and the Evidence for Intelligent Design (HarperOne, 2009), which was named a Book of the Year by the Times (of London) Literary Supplement in 2009, and now, The Return of the God Hypothesis (HarperOne, 2021).   Read a transcript of this episode at: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/think-biblically/2021/return-of-god-hypothesis  ==========Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, which offers degrees both online and on campus in Southern California.   Find all episodes of Think Biblically at: https://www.biola.edu/think-biblically.   To submit comments, ask questions, or make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.  

From certain reproductive technologies to divorce and to same-sex marriages, our culture focuses far more on the desires of adults than the rights of children. In her book Them Before Us, Katy Faust argues that we need a movement that restores the rights of children to be raised by their mom and dad in a stable home. In this interview, she discusses how the rights of children is an issue that Democrats and Republicans can both agree on.  Katy Faust is the founder and director of Them Before Us, an organization committed to advancing social policies that encourages adults to actively respect the rights of children rather than expecting children to sacrifice their fundamental rights for the sake of adult desires. She is the author of the book Them Before Us.   Read a transcript of this episode at: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/think-biblically/2021/them-before-us  ==========Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, which offers degrees both online and on campus in Southern California.   Find all episodes of Think Biblically at: https://www.biola.edu/think-biblically.   To submit comments, ask questions, or make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.  

Prayer is often a hard subject to talk about, and one reason for that is the guilt that it induces as people inevitably face up to the challenges and failures in their life of prayer. Talbot spiritual formation professors Kyle Strobel and John Coe, take a new look at prayer, offering helpful realism and insightful practices to make prayer more real and vibrant. Join Scott and Sean as they interview Dr. Strobel about this new book.   Read a transcript of this episode at: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/think-biblically/2021/prayer-becomes-real  ==========Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, which offers degrees both online and on campus in Southern California.   Find all episodes of Think Biblically at: https://www.biola.edu/think-biblically.   To submit comments, ask questions, or make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.  

Since the summer of 2020, Critical Race Theory, and Critical Theory in general, have come out from the academic world and moved into popular culture. Helen Pluckrose, a self-described "exile from the humanities" and James Lindsay, have co-authored a detailed assessment of these Critical Theories. Join Scott and Sean as they interview Helen and she makes a complex subject accessible for those unfamiliar with the topic.  Helen Pluckrose is Editor in Chief of Areo Magazine, devoted to free speech, reason and the western tradition of human rights.   Read a transcript of this episode at: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/think-biblically/2021/critical-cynical-theories  ==========Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, which offers degrees both online and on campus in Southern California.   Find all episodes of Think Biblically at: https://www.biola.edu/think-biblically.   To submit comments, ask questions, or make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.  

The people of God are called to engage with the issues of the culture, which can involve at times, some difficult and challenging conversations. How to insure that the church's cultural engagement remains a positive contribution instead of furthering division is the subject of well-known scholar Darrell Bock's new book, Cultural Intelligence. Join Sean and Scott for this helpful guidance on engaging culture productively.  Dr. Darrell Bock is Executive Director of Cultural Engagement at the Hendricks Center for Leadership and Senior Research Professor of New Testament Studies, both at Dallas Theological Seminary. He is the author of more than 40 books and is widely sought out by various media outlets for his expertise.   Read a transcript of this episode at: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/think-biblically/2021/cultural-intelligence  ==========Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, which offers degrees both online and on campus in Southern California.   Find all episodes of Think Biblically at: https://www.biola.edu/think-biblically.   To submit comments, ask questions, or make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.  

What is "progressive Christianity" and why is it so important to understand today? In this interview, we talk with Alisa Childers about her latest book Another Gospel? A Lifelong Christian Seeks Truth in Response to Progressive Christianity. As Childers explains, progressive Christianity is a popular movement that holds a different view of the gospel, biblical authority, and a range of important Christian doctrines that thoughtful Christians must recognize with discernment.  Alisa Childers is a wife, mom, an author, blogger, a speaker, and a worship leader. She was a member of the award-winning CCM recording group ZOEgirl. You can connect with Alisa online at alisachilders.com.  Read a transcript of this episode at: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/think-biblically/2021/another-gospel  ==========Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, which offers degrees both online and on campus in Southern California.   Find all episodes of Think Biblically at: https://www.biola.edu/think-biblically.   To submit comments, ask questions, or make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.  

The intersection of the transgender movement and sport is at the forefront of sport policy discussions. Dr. Higerd recently finished his doctoral dissertation examining the effects that transgender sports policies would have on girl's track and field. In this episode, Sean and Scott discuss with Dr. Higerd why biology matters for sports competition and how deeply transgender athletes would dominate girl's sports.  Dr. Gabriel Higerd is a transgender sport policy researcher who completed a doctoral dissertation: "Assessing the potential transgender impact on girl champions in American high school track and field" at the United States Sports Academy. He is a certified strength and conditioning specialist, father of six, and was an adjunct professor of Exercise Science at Azusa Pacific University, and an Army Officer.   Read a transcript of this episode at: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/think-biblically/2021/transgender-sports-policy  ==========Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, which offers degrees both online and on campus in Southern California.   Find all episodes of Think Biblically at: https://www.biola.edu/think-biblically.   To submit comments, ask questions, or make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.  

Is there a difference between sex and gender? What does it mean to be transgender? And what about intersex? In this interview, Sean and Scott talk with Dr. Preston Sprinkle about these important questions and more. They discuss his latest book Embodied: Transgender Identities, the Church, and What the Bible Has to Say. The interview focuses on understanding the transgender phenomenon scientifically and biblically so Christians can love transgender people well.  Dr. Preston Sprinkle is a professor, speaker, and a New York Times bestselling author. He earned a Ph.D. in New Testament from Aberdeen University in Scotland (2007), and he currently is the director for the Center for Faith, Sexuality, and Gender. He hosts the popular podcast “Theology in the Raw” and is the author of the recent book Embodied: Transgender Identities, the Church, and What the Bible Has to Say.   Read a transcript of this episode at: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/think-biblically/2021/embodied-transgender-identities-and-the-church  ==========Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, which offers degrees both online and on campus in Southern California.   Find all episodes of Think Biblically at: https://www.biola.edu/think-biblically.   To submit comments, ask questions, or make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.  

Many consider the Equality Act the most serious threat to religious liberty in our lifetime. What is it? And how should Christians respond? Sean interviews author Caleb Kaltenbach, who has researched the issue extensively, to understand it better and to discuss how Christians can best respond. Caleb consults with Christian organizations in regard to religious liberty, so he has some practical suggestions too. This BONUS episode was first recorded on Sean's YouTube channel, which is in partnership with the Talbot Apologetics program.  Caleb's document, "How Religious Organizations Can Understand the Equality Act and Discern Next Steps," is available here: https://www.messygracegroup.org/equality-act-document.  Caleb Kaltenbach is a pastor and founder of The Messy Grace Group where he helps churches love and foster community with LGBTQ individuals without sacrificing theological convictions. He's currently writing Messy Truth and has also authored God of Tomorrow and Messy Grace (where he discusses being raised in the LGBTQ community, following Jesus, and how loving others doesn’t require shifting beliefs). He has been featured in The New York Times, Fox & Friends, and more. He graduated from Talbot School of Theology.   Read a transcript of this episode at: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/think-biblically/2021/bonus-equality-act  ==========Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, which offers degrees both online and on campus in Southern California.   Find all episodes of Think Biblically at: https://www.biola.edu/think-biblically.   To submit comments, ask questions, or make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.