CPT fellow Danny Houck joins for the second part of our conversation on Thomas Aquinas and original sin. In this episode Danny traces three challenges he sees in the evolutionary narrative of human origins for a Christian understanding of human fallenness. He suggests that Aquinas' account of human nature and renewal can be put into productive dialogue with these challenges and create new possibilities for theology and Christian discipleship.
Charles Anderson shares his story of faith and calling as a pastor theologian, reminding us all that God is the providential giver of our lives and vocations. He talks about the various influences and experiences God gave to lead him towards a PhD and then full time pastoral ministry. His story shows us that God's providence, like the Hebrew language, is best read backwards.
Chris Castaldo and Brad Littlejohn join the podcast to discuss their recent book Why Protestants Convert. In this conversation we talk about the reasons why many Christians, particularly in the contemporary evangelical church, feel both pushed and pulled towards a conversion to Roman Catholicism. Along the way we talk about the historic Christian moral theology, smoke machines, the place of evangelism and catechesis in the Christian faith, and especially why there is a rich historic heritage available to Protestants within their own tradition.
Books we're reading in February 2024:
Coleman Ford joins the podcast to talk about his story of coming to faith and how the Lord led him to academic ministry. He also talks about his recent book on discipleship, Formed in His Image. During this conversation we cover everything from the power of narratives (especially in movie form), the trinitarian aim of discipleship, the necessity of the church for forming people into the image of Christ, and much more!
In a new format for our podcast, we hear a sermon by the Rev. Dr. Cole Hartin preached on Epiphany Sunday in which he calls us to look beyond the ordinary and mundane of the every day to see the mysterious and miraculous work of the triune God who calls and sanctifies his church. We hear from Cole about a theology of liturgy, the role of the sermon in the liturgy of the Episcopal church, the power of baptism, and more!
Douglas Estes joins the podcast to discuss a collection of essays he edited on theology in the works and worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien. We talk about the role of narrative fiction in shaping pastoral theology and how works like The Lord of the Rings can serve those who lead the church in the present day, as well as other topics like why Tolkien disliked allegory, the loss of deep friendships, how Eugene Peterson is like Treebeard, and more!
Kimlyn Bender joins the podcast to discuss the theology of the word and preaching that has formed the context for the Fellowship gatherings of CPT Fellows. We talk about the nature of the word of God and how that relates to preaching, particularly within the context of evangelicalism’s focus on the text of Scripture, expanding particularly on the statement in the Second Helvetic Confession of Faith that the preaching of the word of God is the word of God. Our conversation touches on Karl Barth, Martin Luther, Søren Kierkegaard, authority in the pulpit, the presence of the risen Christ, and more!
Karen Swallow Prior joins the podcast to discuss her recent book The Evangelical Imagination. We discuss the role the imagination—both of the individual and the society at large (i.e. the social imaginary—plays in shaping the church, the difference between worldview and imagination, what it means for us to be enculturated Christians, modernity, literature, and much more!
Collin Hansen joins the podcast to discuss his unique biography of Tim Keller, Timothy Keller: His Spiritual and Intellectual Formation. We dig deeper into the sources behind Hansen’s biography, the role of biography and scholarship in shaping Keller, his relationship with his wife Kathy, and the particular way Tim lived out the calling of a pastor theologian. All this and much more!
Obbie Tyler Todd joins Joel Lawrence and Zach Wagner to tell his story of how he became a pastor theologian. Along the way he shares his story of coming to faith in Christ, his educational path, and how his training has helped him serve the church. He also discusses issues of the church and state, difficult decisions in the church, and the opportunities and challenges presented pastors in this day and age.
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