Cameron has been reading a new book about apologetics that sparks our conversation in this episode. Instead of seeing the task as “sanctified argumentation,” perhaps there’s a bigger way to conceive what defending the faith is all about — a way that brings imagination to the forefront. Mark shares his thoughts, as always, and has a book to recommend, too.
Some Christians give the impression that the only true believers are the ones who belong to their particular church — or perhaps their denomination. At Grace, we have a more optimistic view of God’s work in the broader body of Christ. In this episode, Mark and Cameron discuss that optimism, and the confidence from which it flows.
In this follow-up to last week’s episode on the crisis of masculinity, Mark and Cameron look at the growing epidemic of “friendlessness.” Inspired by an essay by David French, they discuss the decline of deep friendship, its causes, and possible solutions — with a special emphasis on building friendships in the body of Christ.
Cameron and Mark tackle a topic in this episode that they’ve been kicking around behind the scenes for some time: the so-called “crisis of masculinity.” How should we think about what it means to be a man? Is there a larger crisis this question shines light on — and could biology settle the matter once and for all? Mark also talks with Dan about the official re-launch of Grace’s small groups this Sunday, and what this means for our quest for “more community.”
In this episode, Cameron quizzes Mark on a detail from his most recent sermon on Zechariah 11. Then Mark talks to Dan about what to expect in his upcoming sermon on Titus 3. After that, Cameron about why Grace gives new members of the church copies of the ESV Reader’s Bible. What is the goal behind this gift?
This Sunday (July 4) worship at Grace will be restored to our pre-pandemic norms. In this episode, Mark explains what that restoration will look like. In addition, Mark and Cameron talk about a recent essay by the novelist Paul Kingsnorth on his conversion to Christianity — and how it is that intelligent, well-informed people can nevertheless fail to grasp what the Gospel is really about.
Cameron and Mark take a deep dive in this episode on the topic of “worldview,” asking what it really means to make the right assumptions about reality. We contrast the traditional approach’s emphasis on philosophical abstractions to a more organic focus on the presuppositions of biblical authors. Also, we check in with Dan prior to his next sermon on Titus, previewing a shift from the leadership of the church in the last chapter to the faithful lives of its members in Titus 2.
in this episode, Mark talks to Cameron about strategies for understanding the “big picture” of the biblical story. Then he quizzes Dan about our new sermon series on Titus, and how the Apostle Paul’s approach to cultural influences can teach us how to relate to our own setting. They also discuss how Paul’s teaching on authority in the church hints at the larger ecosystem of discipleship — and make connections to Zechariah 10.
How you interpret the Bible will ultimately rest on what you perceive the Bible to be. In this episode, Mark and Cameron contrast the Westminster Confession’s strong affirmation of biblical inspiration and authority with those who take Scripture to be merely a human document. They also discuss why doxology is so important to our worship, and what to expect in Grace’s final sermon series on Zechariah.
The task of rebuilding our community in the post-pandemic world is immense. There are so many needs! In this episode, Cameron and Mark talk about why we should start by rebuilding relationships. Starting with rebuilding lessons from Haggai and Zechariah, they discuss simple, practical ways to get the process started.
In a recent sermon, Mark contrasted “moralists” — like the ones we discussed in our “Empty Moralism” episode — with “realists,” whose awareness of their spiritual shortcomings can make it hard to stay hopeful. This episode unpacks those categories while asking what it takes to turn a moralist into a realist. Cameron and Mark also talk about how a true assessment of our shortcomings can open a door to God’s grace.
Mentioned in this episode:
“The Fading of Forgiveness,” by Tim Keller
https://www.cardus.ca/comment/article/the-fading-of-forgiveness/
In this episode, Mark and Cameron tackle the question of whether a church like Grace is too conservative, or not conservative enough. Do political labels like this translate well to theology, or is there a better way of understanding who we are? In an age where “everything is political,” are there still some things — the gospel, for example — which transcend politics? In addition, following up on last week’s episode, we will suggest addition resources to help cultivate a life of prayer.
All too often, our conversations about prayer focus on how to think about it rather than how to do it. In this episode, Cameron and Mark do their best to focus on the practical, commenting on what prayer actually is, how it is learned, and what resources are helpful for cultivating a habit of prayer.
As we work through the “fasting oracles” in Zechariah 7-8, Mark and Cameron dig into the all-too-human habit of substituting man-made rituals for what God commands. From prescriptive musical pronouncements to prohibitions on smoking, drinking, and dancing, this episode tries to understand the reasons we add to Scripture … and what to do about it.
In this special episode, Mark asks Cameron about the church experience that inspired a poem he wrote: “The End of Confession.” Why is there always more sin left to confess when the moment of silence is over, and what does the interruption of pardon teach us about God’s grace? Our commenters unpack the collaboration between poet and painter embodied in Cameron’s Vanora Project, and tell you how to experience the art for yourself.
In this episode, Mark and Cameron share some music recommendations to enhance your Good Friday devotion, comment on what the crucifixion and resurrection teach us about Christ’s humiliation and exaltation and explain why the Christian hope is not to spend eternity in heaven. They will also ask what it is about Easter that speaks to every human heart.
