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In this episode, Christopher Ash discusses the story of Job to answer the question "Where is God in the midst of suffering?" With honesty and compassion, he explores the roles Satan, the fall, the cross of Jesus Christ play in human suffering, and how we can find assurance that God will be with us in Christ through every season and every trial.Christopher Ash is the author of Trusting God in the Darkness: A Guide to Understanding the Book of Job.Read the full transcript.If you enjoyed this episode be sure to leave us a review, which helps us spread the word about the show!

In this episode, Kathryn Butler discusses her work as a trauma surgeon working in an ICU. She shares what it was like to be inundated with life-and-death situations, day in and day out; how she coped with the stress and eventually began to see God’s grace at work, even in the midst of deep pain and tragedy; and what she saw working in a hospital at the height of the COVID pandemic.Kathryn Butler is the author of Glimmers of Grace: A Doctor's Reflections on Faith, Suffering, and the Goodness of God.Read the full transcript.If you enjoyed this episode be sure to leave us a review, which helps us spread the word about the show!

In this episode, Garrett Kell discusses why all Christians are called to be discipled and to disciple others. He reflects on why that might look different for different people in different seasons of life, highlights why discipling must always be a two-way street between the discipler and the disciplee, and discusses how to know when to take a break from a discipling relationship.Garrett Kell is the author of How Can I Find Someone to Disciple Me?Read the full transcript.If you enjoyed this episode be sure to leave us a review, which helps us spread the word about the show!

In this episode, Greg Gilbert discusses why Christians so often struggle to clearly define a simple yet foundational concept: the gospel. He highlights the temptation we all face to subtly subtract from or add to the gospel in response to various cultural pressures; he explains why he doesn’t like or use the phrase “this or that is a gospel issue”; and he responds to the common critique that evangelicals often have an overly individualistic view of the gospel.Greg Gilbert is the author of What Is the Gospel?Read the full transcript.If you enjoyed this episode be sure to leave us a review, which helps us spread the word about the show!

In this episode, Ruth Chou Simons discusses her life as an artist. She digs into what makes her tick, including her passion for creating beautiful pieces of art that reflect the beauty of our Creator, shares her journey from doing watercolor paintings in her kitchen to starting GraceLaced Co. and becoming well-known around the world for her artwork, and she shares what her day to day life looks like as an entrepreneur who also is a wife and a mother to six boys.Ruth Chou Simons is a contributing artist to the new ESV Single Column Journaling Bible, Artist Series.Read the full transcript.If you enjoyed this episode be sure to leave us a review, which helps us spread the word about the show!

In this episode, Michael Kruger discusses what it takes for Christian college students to make it through college with their faith intact. He highlights the top intellectual challenges to biblical Christianity many students will face on a secular campus including unprecedented pressure to abandon the Bible's teaching on gender and sexuality, how Christians can take the heat out of controversial conversations with non-Christians by remaining humble and asking good questions, and he shares why it's so important for parents and churches to focus on worldview formation for young people before they arrive on campus.Michael Kruger is the author of Surviving Religion 101: Letters to a Christian Student on Keeping the Faith in College.Read the full transcript.If you enjoyed this episode be sure to leave us a review, which helps us spread the word about the show!

The Bible is full of exciting stories that fill children with awe and wonder. But kids need to know how all those classic stories connect to Scripture’s overarching message about God’s plan to redeem his rebellious people.In The Biggest Story, Kevin DeYoung—a best-selling author and father of nine—leads kids and parents alike on an exciting journey through the Bible, connecting the dots from the garden of Eden to Christ's death on the cross to the new heaven and new earth.Narrated by the author, this 26-minute audio book—complete with music and sound effects—retells the Bible’s core message, showing children that God's promises are even bigger and better than we think.We’re pleased to share the complete audio recording of this best-selling book as a resource for your family leading up to Easter.

In this episode, Jen Wilkin discusses a well-known yet, according to Jen, often misunderstood and misapplied section of Scripture: the Ten Commandments. She explains why the Ten Commandments are more interesting and more applicable than we might think, what's wrong with the way we often talk about the Law and the dangers of legalism, and what it really means to take the Lord's name in vain.Jen Wilkin is the author of Ten Words to Live By: Delighting in and Doing What God Commands.Read the full transcript.If you enjoyed this episode be sure to leave us a review, which helps us spread the word about the show!

We’ve all heard it before: Christianity isn’t about following rules, it’s about a relationship. Unfortunately, the rise in popularity of this phrase coincides with a growing disinterest and misunderstanding about the role of God’s life-giving, perfect law in the Christian life. Rather than the source of joy it was intended to be, the law is viewed as an angry god’s restrictions for a rebellious people.Jen Wilkin wants to change that. In her new book, Ten Words to Live By: Delighting in and Doing What God Commands, she presents a fresh biblical look at the Ten Commandments, showing how they come to bear on our lives today as we seek to love God and others, to live in joyful freedom, and to long for that future day when God will be rightly worshiped for eternity. Her aim with the book is to help listeners learn to see the law of God as a feast for their famished souls, open to anyone who calls on the name of the Lord.Interested in listening to the entire book? Learn more about the audio book today!If you enjoyed this episode be sure to leave us a review, which helps us spread the word about the show!

In this episode, Dave Harvey discusses why plural leadership, a team of elders, is so crucial for the health of a local church. He explains why he thinks the term plurality is often affirmed, but then also often misunderstood and misapplied, highlights the need for transparency, accountability, and group decision-making among a church's elder team, and he explains what he means when he says that the senior pastor should be considered the first among equals.Dave Harvey is the author of The Plurality Principle: How to Build and Maintain a Thriving Church Leadership Team.Read the full transcript.If you enjoyed this episode be sure to leave us a review, which helps us spread the word about the show!

In this episode, Rebecca McLaughlin discusses what it looks like for parents to prepare their teens for a life in a post-Christian world. She reflects on kids' propensity to ask hard questions and why that's a good thing, highlights some of the key challenges to a Christian worldview facing young people today, and offers advice on how to protect teens from harmful influences while at the same time encouraging them to form their own opinions and convictions.Rebecca McLaughlin is the author of 10 Questions Every Teen Should Ask (and Answer) about Christianity.Read the full transcript.If you enjoyed this episode be sure to leave us a review, which helps us spread the word about the show!

Matt Merker discusses the central importance of corporate worship for the life of the Christian. He shares his thoughts on the effect that COVID-19 pandemic could have on church gatherings in the future, explains why the concept of a church liturgy is a good and necessary thing, and offers encouragement to the person who may be toying with the idea of not returning to church once the pandemic is over.Matt Merker is the author of Corporate Worship: How the Church Gathers as God's People.Read the full transcript.If you enjoyed this episode be sure to leave us a review, which helps us spread the word about the show!

A couple of weeks ago, we asked readers to submit their questions for Dane Ortlund, and many of you sent in questions from around the world. Questions like how Christ's gentleness fits with his wrath, whether or not we should really say God has emotions and if so, what they're like, and how Jesus, God Incarnate, can really understand what it's like to face temptation like we do.Dane Ortlund is the author of Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers.Read the full transcript.If you enjoyed this episode be sure to leave us a review, which helps us spread the word about the show!

Stephen Nichols discusses the fascinating life and ministry of the late R. C. Sproul. He reflects on the first time he met Sproul and talked with him face-to-face, shares more about how R. C. was like in private as a husband, father, and friend, including his passion for hunting and love of practical jokes, and he explains the key theological emphases and controversies that shaped Sproul's public ministry.Stephen Nichols is the author of R. C. Sproul: A Life.Read the full transcript.If you enjoyed this episode be sure to leave us a review, which helps us spread the word about the show!

R. C. Sproul (1939–2017) was a pastor, a professor, an author, and the founder and president of Ligonier Ministries. His contributions in the areas of biblical studies, theology, worldview and culture, Christian living, and church history continue to be held in high regard.This special two-hour episode includes the introduction and first chapter of R. C. Sproul: A Life in which Stephen J. Nichols offers an in-depth look at Sproul’s life and ministry—his childhood; his formative seminary education; his marriage and partnership with his beloved wife, Vesta; his influence on broader American evangelicalism; and his many friendships with key figures such as James Montgomery Boice, John MacArthur, John Piper, J. I. Packer, and Chuck Colson. This biography details the profound impact Sproul had on the lives of many during his lifetime, and highlights the various ways his legacy continues to influence countless pastors and students worldwide.Interested in listening to the entire book? Learn more about the audio book today!If you enjoyed this episode be sure to leave us a review, which helps us spread the word about the show!

Christopher Ash discusses why anger is such a powerful, dangerous emotion for the Christian. He walks through some of the key Bible passages that address the topic of anger, explains how we should think of imperfect, often selfish human anger compared to God's perfectly righteous anger, and offers advice to the person who struggles to control his or her anger on a regular basis.Christopher Ash is the author of The Heart of Anger: How the Bible Transforms Anger in Our Understanding and Experience.Read the full transcript.If you enjoyed this episode be sure to leave us a review, which helps us spread the word about the show!

Conrad Mbewe discusses what American Christians should know about the church in Africa. He dispels common misconceptions related to African Christianity; summarizes the big issues facing local congregations including unbiblical superstitions, widespread poverty, and a lack of theological education; and he highlights what American believers can learn from our African brothers and sisters in Christ.Conrad Mbewe is the author of God's Design for the Church: A Guide for African Pastors and Ministry Leaders.Crossway is partnering with pastors, churches, and ministries to translate and distribute thousands of copies of Conrad's book throughout the continent of Africa. If you have a heart for Africa and want to find out how you can get involved, please visit crossway.org/Africa.Read the full transcript.If you enjoyed this episode be sure to leave us a review, which helps us spread the word about the show!

Sam Crabtree discusses what the Bible really means when it says to be "thankful always and for everything" in passages like Ephesians 5:20. He explains why the topic of gratitude is actually more foundational to the Christian life than you probably think, offers practical advice for cultivating gratitude in the ups and downs of our everyday lives, and highlights how a belief in God's absolute sovereignty over all things connects to having a thankful heart in all things.Sam Crabtree is the author of Practicing Thankfulness: Cultivating a Grateful Heart in All Circumstances.Read the full transcript.If you enjoyed this episode be sure to leave us a review, which helps us spread the word about the show!

Brett McCracken discusses what it looks like to pursue true wisdom in a noisy and confused age. He highlights the dangers of living in a constantly connected, information-saturated world, explains why the local church, good books, and even nature are crucial for our spiritual health, and he makes a critical yet often overlooked distinction between gaining knowledge and pursuing wisdom.Brett McCracken is the author of The Wisdom Pyramid: Feeding Your Soul in a Post-Truth World.Read the full transcript.If you enjoyed this episode be sure to leave us a review, which helps us spread the word about the show!

Marshall Segal discusses singleness and dating as a Christian. He shares some of his own story including his struggle with contentment as a single person, how to deal with feelings of guilt and shame related to your past, and advice for discerning whether or not you and your significant other are ready to take that next big step and tie the knot.Marshall Segal is the author of Not Yet Married: The Pursuit of Joy in Singleness and Dating.Read the full transcript.If you enjoyed this episode be sure to leave us a review, which helps us spread the word about the show!