The Good Citizen Podcast

To many in the United States, Christ’s resurrection from the dead is “old” news in the sense that they are familiar with the basics of the Easter story. This does not mean we stop telling the story for those that are unfamiliar (as Biblical illiteracy is on the rise), but I have found it helpful to explain Easter’s importance in the here and now as well as the hereafter. With that in mind, here are 3 reasons Easter is essential in our secular age. Link to blog post. Watch on YouTubeThe post #420 3 Reasons Easter is Essential in a Secular Age first appeared on The Good Citizen Project.

Is your ministry prepared to minister with confidence in a changing culture? In this episode, we explore recent legal developments and explain proactive steps your ministry can take to build and maintain strong legal protections. Recent legal developments: Define what you intend to defend. Exemption from religious education. Encouraging developments in sports. Developments in employment. Persistence pays off on parental rights. The rollout of the federal education tax credit. Click to Watch on YouTubeThe post #419 6 Legal Challenges in Christian Education in 2026 first appeared on The Good Citizen Project.

William Wilberforce, well known for his work on the abolition of slavery, also championed the protection of children during the Industrial Revolution. Now, it is our turn to guide and protect the next generation in the midst of a developing digital and sexual revolution. In this episode, we will explore five recent cultural developments and provide proven recommendations for responding to them in 2026. Watch on YouTubeThe post #418 A Wilberforce Moment: Responding to 5 Cultural Challenges Impacting the Next Generation first appeared on The Good Citizen Project.

In Esther 2, Xerxes returns from a disastrous Greek campaign and focuses on replacing his deposed queen. We are also introduced to Mordecai and Esther as well as the ugly reality of the harem system and the contest for the crown that Esther faced. Here, we find deep truths and difficult lessons about identity, purity, and our own resilience in the face of disaster. Big Idea for the Series: Once upon a time—and I mean in God’s perfect time—a Jewish orphan girl named Esther became a Persian Queen. But, as many of you know, this book is less fairy tale and much more mystery—a book full of lessons about the mysteries of divine calling, evil and justice, finding courage to stand for truth, and understanding God’s eternal purposes in history and in our story. Though her husband claimed the title “king of kings,” Esther’s ultimate allegiance lay elsewhere—to the high King of the universe. In that sense, here’s the story and the lessons we should learn from Esther: the King’s Queen. Outline: The Disaster The Cousins The Pageant The Plot Key Takeaways: The failure of the Persian invasion of Greece at Thermopylae, Salamis, and Plataea–and the impact of that failure on the story of Esther. Questions about Mordecai’s actions in this chapter. The ugly reality of the harem system and what Esther faced. Key lessons about identity, purity, and trust in the midst of disaster. Watch on YouTubeThe post #417 Esther: The King’s Queen, Chapter 2 first appeared on The Good Citizen Project.

I often ask government officials this question: “What is the worst problem in your district/area of responsibility?” The answer is often the same and even phrased in the same way: “the breakdown of the family.” In this interview, Delano Squires explains this collapse of two-parents homes raising children in the United States; the profound impact of that collapse on education, income, and incarceration; and how we can strengthen this critical institution for America’s future by starting in our own homes, churches, and neighborhoods. In his upcoming book The Vanishing Black Family: How Welfare and Feminism Made Marriage Optional and Children Vulnerable (and in this discussion), Delano focuses first on family breakdown in the black community leading to almost 70 percent of black children being born to unmarried parents and close to half growing up without a father at home. He then applies the same creation order principles to all families and and critiques the cultural forces pushing away from children being raised in a loving home with a mom and a dad. Delano Squires is Director of the Richard and Helen DeVos Center for Human Flourishing at the Heritage Foundation, where he focuses on policies and social norms that promote marriage, fatherhood, and healthy families. Squires is the author of the forthcoming book The Vanishing Black Family: How Welfare and Feminism Made Marriage Optional and Children Vulnerable. His writings have been published by Newsweek, National Review, The American Conservative, The Federalist, The New York Post, World, The Institute for Family Studies, Black Enterprise, Blaze Media, Black and Married with Kids, The Root, and The Grio. Before joining Heritage, Squires worked for the District of Columbia government for more than a decade. During that time, he ran a citywide technology program for low-income residents and served in the city’s gun violence prevention office. Squires earned his bachelor of science degree in computer engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and a graduate degree in public policy from The George Washington University. He resides in Maryland with his wife and four children. Key Takeaways: The role of the church in the breakdown of the family and the resurgence of family values. The significance of the Moynihan report and Delano’s new book on the state of the black family in America. The impact of the welfare state and feminism in the disintegration of the family. The Greater Than Campaign. Practical suggestions for strengthening families and marriage in your zip code. Follow Delano on X. The post #416 How to Strengthen America’s Families with Delano Squires first appeared on The Good Citizen Project.

Ideas that start in the ivory tower of America’s universities do not stay there; and higher education has fundamentally impacted our families, churches, and communities. And, as goes the American university (with 1 in 3 world leaders attending a U.S. school), so goes the world. In this interview with Dr. Corey Miller based on his new book, he explains the religious foundation of American higher education, the progressive revolution that ideologically captured those institutions, and why we should not give up on them. He explains a developing “third revolution” and practical steps church leaders and other committed Christians can take to impact the American university. Corey Miller, PhD, is the President/CEO of Ratio Christi (2015-Present). While he grew up in Utah as a seventh generation Mormon, he came to Christ in 1988. He has served on pastoral staff at four churches and has taught nearly 100 college courses in philosophy, theology, rhetoric, and comparative religions at various places (Purdue, Indiana University, Multnomah University and Ecola Bible College). From 2009-15 he served on staff with Cru’s Faculty Commons ministry at Purdue. He taught philosophy and comparative religions at Indiana University for 12 years. He is an accomplished author as well. Dr. Miller holds masters degrees in philosophy, biblical studies, and in philosophy of religion and ethics. His PhD is in philosophical theology from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. Key takeaways: Link to The Progressive Miseducation of America A link to Ratio Christi’s library of booklets and other resources on a range of relevant topics. An in-depth explanation of how American higher education went from Christian foundation to progressive bulwark. The developing “third revolution” on college campuses and how to encourage and participate in it. Practical ideas for arguing for Christianity’s goodness on and off campus. Click Here to Watch on YouTubeThe post #415 The Progressive Miseducation of America: Confronting the Cultural Revolution from the Classroom to Your Community with Dr. Corey Miller first appeared on The Good Citizen Project.

Once upon a time—and I mean in God’s perfect time—a Jewish orphan girl named Esther became a Persian Queen. But, as many of you know, this book is less fairy tale and much more mystery—a book full of lessons about the mysteries of divine calling, evil and justice, finding courage to stand for truth, and understanding God’s eternal purposes in history and in our story. Though her husband claimed the title “king of kings,” Esther’s ultimate allegiance lay elsewhere—to the high King of the universe. In that sense, here’s the story and the lessons we should learn from Esther: the King’s Queen. Outline: The Book The King The Queen The Temper Key Takeaways: The size and scope of the Persian Empire. A sketch of how Daniel, Esther, Nehemiah, and Ezra fit on a timeline. The geopolitics of the time, including the pending Persian invasion of Greece by Xerxes. The story of Esther as set in God’s grand plan of redemption. Lessons about Providence and God’s rule and reign throughout history. Watch on YouTubeThe post #414 Esther: The King’s Queen, Chapter 1 first appeared on The Good Citizen Project.

The definition of sex as binary–male and female–is a creation order issue (Gen. 1:26-27) and at the core of a number of current cultural and legal debates. This definition impacts sports, birth and medical records, medical treatment, placement in correctional facilities, our sense of self, and apologetics and disciple-making at home and in the local church (to name a few). And culture and especially the transgender movement has pushed for an understanding of sex as a subjective spectrum rather than the male/female binary. In this interview, Zachary Elliott from the Paradox Institute sets out the evidence in genetics and fetal development (as well as other fields) for the binary reality of sex; responds to common arguments for the sex spectrum and objections such as intersex conditions/Disorders of Sexual Development; and explains why accurately defining sex as binary is critical for the common good. Zachary A. Elliott is a science educator who has studied the biology of sex since 2017. Through his research of the scientific literature, he has authored four books on sex differences, combining rigorous research with accessible explanations for a general audience. His work has been informed through collaboration and consultation with medical doctors, biologists, and other experts in the field. Key Takeaways: How to accurately and concisely define sex in the midst of cultural confusion. How to respond to common objections, such as intersex conditions and Disorders of Sexual Development. Why we do not all “start as female.” The importance of this topic for apologetics and disciplemaking at home and in the local church. Binary: Debunking the Sex Spectrum Myth The Sex Development Handbook Paradox Institute YouTube Channel Watch on YouTubeThe post #413 Binary: Debunking the Sex Spectrum Myth with Zachary Elliott first appeared on The Good Citizen Project.

What do you think about the future of the United States? Should we expect and just accept further division and decline? Can the United States remain, well, united amidst differing worldviews and visions for the future of the country? The national debt, the temperature of our political rhetoric, the departure from Biblical principles, the dysfunction of Washington, D.C, and the rise of geopolitical forces new and old are certainly cause for grave concern. And it is easy to grow discouraged about the direction of the country. But, there are still strong Biblical and practical reasons for us to re-invest in the American experiment. Here are four.The post #412 The American Future: 4 Reasons We Should Not Give Up on the American Experiment [Encore] first appeared on The Good Citizen Project.

In our current political climate, patriotism is often treated with spiritual and secular suspicion. Especially as we mark America’s 250th birthday, is waving a flag or celebrating America’s rich spiritual heritage “political idolatry” or “Christian nationalism”? The short answer: no. Patriotism can and should be an expression of rightly ordered love and commitment to the place where God has placed us (Jer. 29). In this episode, Dan Darling joins me to discuss his timely book A Defense of Christian Patriotism and explain why love of country (i.e., place) is essential for the Christian. We discuss America’s founding principles, the necessity of telling the full story of America including here failures and triumphs, the importance of Christian civic engagement, and practical ways we can impact America’s future from our own back yards. Daniel Darling is an author, pastor and thought leader. He currently serves as the Director of The Land Center for Cultural Engagement at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Assistant Professor of Faith and Culture at Texas Baptist College.  Dan has served in a variety of senior executive positions, including eight years as Vice President of Communications at the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, where he is now a research fellow. He has also pastored churches in Illinois and Tennessee. He is also a columnist for World and a contributor to USA Today.  Key takeaways/links: Link to In Defense of Christian Patriotism . Link to The Land Center for Cultural Engagement. Connect with Dan Darling on X. Click Here to Watch on YouTubeThe post #411 In Defense of Christian Patriotism with Daniel Darling first appeared on The Good Citizen Project.