EFCA Theology Podcast

In the fall of 2018, a number of pastors and leaders from across the EFCA gathered at the national office for the annual Missional Summit. Our theme for the Summit was “What it Means to be Evangelical,” which was the topic of the opening lecture. On this episode, we include the second session, part 1, which includes messages from Ken Young and Jenni Key, with a more focused and specific message to us, “What It Means to be Evangelical in the EFCA.” The speakers addressed the following questions: What are the challenges or positive aspects you face in reaching your community because of the name evangelical? Does this term cause barriers or does it open doors? Do church members and attenders know the rich history of evangelicalism or do you need to take time to explain what the word evangelical means? How do you share with someone: Who you are? Why you exist? What it is you believe and do as an Evangelical Free Church? The speakers provided practical insights from their own ministry contexts that helped us to think through how we can better serve the gospel of Jesus Christ in the EFCA. Ken Young serves as Professor of Systematic Theology and Christian Ministries at the University of Northwestern, St. Paul, Minnesota, and Jenni Key serves as Director of Women and Prayer ministries at EvFree Fullerton, Fullerton, California.

In the fall of 2018, a number of pastors and leaders from across the EFCA gathered at the national office for the annual Missional Summit. Our theme for the Summit was “What it Means to be Evangelical”. Considering societal turmoil, the word "evangelical" has developed various meanings, some which are not favorable. On this episode of the podcast, we share the opening message from the Summit by David Dockery, in which he chronicles the history of evangelicalism and where he sees evangelicalism today. In his message, David also provides a look forward with a focus on some ways we in the EFCA can respond in order to be a beacon of hope and light in an increasingly challenging world. Since 2014, David has served as President of Trinity International University in Deerfield, Illinois — the educational arm of the EFCA.

During this Advent and Christmas season, Christians and churches remember and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. This emphasizes his full humanity. As we remember the birth of Jesus Christ, we also worship him. This emphasizes his full deity. This is the heart of who Jesus Christ is, God the Son incarnate, fully God and fully man. In our EFCA Statement of Faith we confess, “4. We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully man, one Person in two natures. Jesus—Israel's promised Messiah—was conceived through the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.” To guide us in our thinking about the incarnation this Christmas season, Steve Wellum joined me for a discussion on Christmas and the Incarnation. A couple of years ago he wrote a masterful book on this topic entitled, God the Son Incarnate: The Doctrine of Christ. Steve serves as Professor of Christian Theology at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, a role he has held since 1999. Prior to his ministry as a professor training pastors, Steve served as a pastor in the EFCA.

In 2016, EFCA pastors and church leaders gathered in Des Moines, Iowa, for the annual Theology Conference. The focus of the postconference was on the theme, “The Ministry of the Gospel and Gender Dysphoria.” On this episode of the podcast, we share the third and final message from Mark Yarhouse, “Gender Dysphoria: Toward a Pastoral Response.” Mark is the Hughes Endowed Chair and professor of psychology at Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where he is a core faculty member in the doctoral program in clinical psychology. Mark is also the founding director of the Institute for the Study of Sexual Identity.

In 2016, EFCA pastors and church leaders gathered in Des Moines, Iowa, for the annual Theology Conference. The focus of the postconference was on the theme, “The Ministry of the Gospel and Gender Dysphoria.” On this episode of the podcast, we share the second message from Mark Yarhouse, “Gender Dysphoria: Scientific – Biological, Psychological and Sociocultural Considerations.” Mark is the Hughes Endowed Chair and professor of psychology at Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where he is a core faculty member in the doctoral program in clinical psychology. Mark is also the founding director of the Institute for the Study of Sexual Identity.

In 2016, EFCA pastors and church leaders gathered in Des Moines, Iowa, for the annual Theology Conference. The focus of the postconference was on the theme, “The Ministry of the Gospel and Gender Dysphoria.” On this episode of the podcast, we share the first message from Mark Yarhouse, “Gender Dysphoria: Foundational Considerations (Key Terms and Biblical Perspectives).” Mark is the Hughes Endowed Chair and professor of psychology at Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where he is a core faculty member in the doctoral program in clinical psychology. Mark is also the founding director of the Institute for the Study of Sexual Identity.

In 2016, EFCA pastors and church leaders gathered in Des Moines, Iowa, for the annual Theology Conference. The focus of the postconference was on the theme, “The Ministry of the Gospel and Gender Dysphoria.” On this brief episode of the podcast, we share the introduction to this topic from Greg Strand.

On this episode of the podcast, we share a message from that preconference by Roy Oksnevad, “Who are the real Muslims?” Roy serves as Director of COMMA Network, a Coalition of Ministries to Muslims in North America, and ReachNational All People Director of Muslim Ministry.

In 2018, EFCA pastors and church leaders gathered in San Antonio, Texas, for the annual Theology Conference. The focus of the preconference was on the theme, “Understanding Islam, Loving Our Neighbors.” On this episode of the podcast, we share a message from that preconference by Mike Urton entitled, “What do Muslims Believe?” Mike serves as Associate Director of the COMMA Network, a Coalition of Ministries to Muslims in North America, and ReachNational All People Muslim Ministry.

At the end of the day, we long to hear the words of Jesus: "Well done, good servant!" (Luke 19:17). In light of the topic of this Theology Conference, what does that mean? What guides us to that end? What enables us to live in such a way? Jesus informed us in some of his final words to his disciples on the way to the cross, the time and manner in which the new covenant would be ushered in through his death, burial and resurrection and the subsequent pouring out of the Holy Spirit. Join us in the final message of the EFCA Theology Conference from John Perkins as he discusses how we move forward in unity.