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Overview: This is a talk given by Isaac at a local church in Alabama explaining why it is so hard for us, even as Christians, to talk about race. We pray you are encouraged by it. Links & Show Notes: Isaac’s article explaining why he started this ministry. And here’s the link to our donation page for anyone wanting to partner in our year-end match.

Overview: This is the last new episode we plan to release this year. Isaac and Austin remember how United? We Pray started, the motivations behind it, where we are, and where we hope to go. We will be posting some classic episodes over the holidays, so stay tuned for that. Links & Show Notes: Isaac’s article explaining why he started this ministry. And here’s the link to our donation page for anyone wanting to partner in our year-end match.

Overview: This sermon was given at an event hosted by Iron City Church and United? We Pray. Dr. Williams explains why Redemptive Kingdom Diversity has been God’s plan from the beginning and charts a way forward for the diverse people of God to live together in Gospel unity. Links & Show Notes: This talk draws heavily on themes from Dr. Williams’ excellent book, which you can find here.

Overview: Following Dr. Williams’ address at Iron City Church, we had a time of Q&A. Austin interviews Jarvis and then takes questions from the audience. Particularly interesting were Dr. Williams’ answers on how history does not define a person but must me acknowledged to understand a person. We hope this is helpful for you. Links & Show Notes: This talk draws heavily on themes from Dr. Williams’ excellent book, which you can find here.

Overview: Our friend Jarvis Williams was in town! Dr. Williams is associate professor of New Testament at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. We talked to him about his life and ministry, then Isaac grabbed the steering wheel to ask him about race & ethnicity. He has great insight into how those words are used Biblically, which gives clarity to today’s conversations. Links & Show Notes: Dr. Williams mentioned this article he wrote with ways to help Eastern Kentucky.

Overview: This episode is a follow-up to episode 103, in which we discussed race. Isaac and Austin answer the question, “what is racism?” This touches on personal and corporate categories of sin. We compare our definition to others posed by our friends and highlight strengths of various approaches. Please join is in praying and working against this sin. Links & Show Notes:

Overview: This special episode is a sermon given by pastor Jared Torrence of Covenant Fellowship Church in Glen Mills, PA. Jared looks at some passages from the Gospels to see what Jesus has to teach us about ethnic unity in our churches today. Links & Show Notes: You can learn more about Covenant Fellowship here.

Overview: In this episode, Isaac and Austin have a more theoretical discussion around the question, “What is race?” Scripture uses the word “race” in several different ways, and the concept of race has a complicated historical, sociological, and theological legacy. Understanding these complexities is crucial not just to check a box, but to understand and love our neighbors well. .Will you join us in praying for wisdom? Links & Show Notes: Chris Jones’ series on the so-called “Curse of Ham.”

Overview: In this episode, Isaac and Austin are joined by some pastor friends as we think about our place in broader Christianity. When most of our contemporaries are white Evangelicals, how can we learn from what is good while also recognizing that Evangelical norms aren’t infallible, or even normal for Christianity throughout the ages? Links & Show Notes: Austin’s article about being the only white guy at the cookout.

Overview: This is part two of a roundtable discussion we had with some of our favorite pastors. We talk through what primarily white churches should think about before they consider hiring a black pastor. Part one is mostly about things to avoid. This episode is about the things we should be doing. Links & Show Notes: Austin’s article about being the only white person at the cookout.

Overview: This is part one of a roundtable discussion we had with some of our favorite pastors. We talk through what primarily white churches should think about before they consider hiring a black pastor. Part one is mostly about things to avoid. Part two (next week) will be about the things we should be doing Links & Show Notes:

Overview: We are joined today by Jasmine Holmes. Jasmine puts up with our nonsense and blesses us with her wisdom on life, history, theology, interacting with those who disagree, and how she balances it all. This is an instant favorite of ours and we hope you enjoy. Links & Show Notes: You can get Jasmine’s latest book here. The article she did for us. Her website where you can buy or download the resources we discussed in the episode.

Overview: There’s so much hard news these days. Isaac and Austin sit down to talk about how we cope with the hard things in life, how and when to take a break from receiving news, and how to stay engaged without either going numb or despairing. Links & Show Notes:

Overview: Author Blake Long joins Austin on the podcast to talk about his book, Gospel Smugness. Blake has a particular burden to influence Christians toward godlier discourse as we engage each other and the watching world. We hope you are encouraged. Links & Show Notes: You can get Blake Long’s book here.

Overview: Austin and Isaac discuss diversity in local churches. What does it mean for a church to be multi-ethnic? How should churches think about diversity? Does diversity mean adding minority members to white churches, or can it be more than that? Links & Show Notes: Derwin Gray has done good work on thinking through multi-ethnic churches. Get his books here. Jamie Dunlop’s article on how diversity is hard and costly.

Overview: Sean DeMars of the Defend & Confirm podcast stopped by to talk with Isaac about the different inclinations Christians can have toward complicated, controversial topics. Sean also shared his heart about how Christians passionate about truth must not be unkind in how they go about making their case. Links & Show Notes: Kevin DeYoung’s article on four approaches to complex issues. Austin’s article on not calling people woke, choosing our battles, preaching the gospel, and on not being a jerk. Our kit on Critical Race Theory.

Overview: This episode is part housekeeping while trying to also practice what we preach. Isaac and Austin talk about some slight changes coming to the podcast, our heart behind those changes, and a hard conversation we had recently that demonstrates why this is important. Links & Show Notes: Austin’s article on choosing our battles and on not being a jerk.

Overview: Dr. Thomas Kidd stopped by to talk with Austin about his new book Thomas Jefferson: A Biography of Spirit and Flesh. How we process complex historical figures is something we’ve discussed at some length here at United? We Pray. Thomas Jefferson is perhaps one of the most complicated figures one could study, and Dr. Kidd has done a thorough and fair job in this excellent book. There is much to learn and lament about this tragic figure. Links & Show Notes: Dr. Kidd’s book.

Overview: Dr. George Yancey stopped by to talk with Austin about his new book Beyond Racial Division. He talks about his mutual accountability framework and the importance of moral persuasion. This hopeful conversation lays out ways forward in what seems at times like a discouraging topic. Dr. Yancey reminds us that God is still working and that normal Christian categories can apply to conversations about race. Links & Show Notes: Dr. Yancey’s new book. Dr. Yancey’s essay for us on mutual accountability.

Overview: This episode was prompted by several of our favorite people leaving social media. Our friends Ray Ortlund and Jackie Hill Perry announced (independently from each other) that they would be leaving social media due to unkind, discouraging behavior seeming to dominate sites like Twitter and Facebook. Isaac and Austin talk about how Christians should view social media and our participation in it. Links & Show Notes: Isaac’s article on tone. Austin’s article on speech.