Food Trucks in Babylon

Delve into the challenges of personal change and the universal struggle of sticking to goals. Discover how self-help literature pales in comparison to the profound transformation of the gospel. Listen to the difference between superficial behavioral tweaks and true spiritual renewal. The conversation explores authentic change through gospel truths and the importance of identity in Christ. With practical insights from Mark 8, learn about the grace-filled journey of self-denial and the true call to transformation in faith.

Dive into the essence of the gospel as the foundational good news of Jesus, exploring its profound significance in salvation. Delve into themes of death, burial, and resurrection, emphasizing the intentional role of the cross. Discover the transformative impact of the gospel on believers' lives, stressing the ongoing journey of faith and the importance of perseverance. Address potential errors that can distort the gospel and champion the life-changing power of forgiveness, urging a deeply rooted understanding of grace.

Todd and Andrew dive into the contentious topic of penal substitutionary atonement, debating its foundational importance within Christianity. They explore various models of atonement, including the intriguing idea of Jesus as the new Adam creating a renewed humanity. The discussion emphasizes the complexities of divine justice in light of Christ's sacrifice and promotes a communal understanding of atonement over individualistic perspectives. Ultimately, they highlight the profound significance of the crucifixion for believers today.

Todd and Andrew welcome back Taylor Turkington to the podcast for a conversation about the necessity of equipping women for ministry. They think through why some complementarian pastors have been hesitant to encourage the women in their churches to get theological training, whether women are better than men at teaching women, and how the church can do a better job encouraging women to be theologically trained.Taylor is the director of BibleEquipping, an organization that supports women who follow Jesus to study the Bible and teach it to those around them. 

Todd welcomes Professor Bryan Warren to the podcast to talk about a model of Christian counseling that integrates both theology and psychology. They talk through the implications of holding up Scripture as the the Word of God while simultaneously learning from the insights of psychology to better understand people and the human condition.  Bryan is assistant professor of counseling at Western Seminary. Western's counseling program offers the unique integration of Christian theology and counseling in a seminary context.

Todd and Andrew discuss Andrew's upcoming book on a theology of response. Andrew unpacks how the story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19 and Paul's "therefore" in Romans 12 help us see how the Christian life ought to be framed as a response to all that God has done for us in Christ.

Todd sits down with Professor Stephen Stallard, PhD as they reflect upon their experiences preaching through Galatians in their churches this year. They explore the gospel clarity found in Galatians as well as some of the challenges they faced preaching through the book verse by verse.  Stephen is Assistant Professor of Pastoral Ministry at and the director of the MDiv at Western Seminary. He is also the English Pastor of the Chinese Evangelical Church of Portland, and the author of 'Diverse Teams: Rediscovering an Ancient Approach to Urban Mission.'

Roni Sasaki is a former Paralympic gold medalist, speaker, author, and entrepreneur. She joins Todd and Andrew to share what it was like to be born with one leg, how she fulfilled her dream of becoming an Olympic athlete, and why her disability testifies to the goodness of God.Roni is a Western Seminary student studying in the MA in Biblical and Theological Studies program. 

Gerry Breshears, professor of theology at Western Seminary, discusses the problem of evil. He explores Christian responses and highlights the importance of focusing on the incarnation. The podcast explores different types of suffering, the question of God's involvement, and the challenge of promoting goodness in the face of evil.

What do we do when our faith begins to feel stale? Daniel K. Eng, PhD, sits down with Todd to talk about what it looks like to grow spiritually at different stages of the Christian life. He explains that while many churches understand how to meet the needs of new believers, they often struggle to help mature believers continue in sanctification. He lays forth some biblical principles for how pastors and church leaders can help facilitate "spiritual growth 201."Daniel is Assistant Professor of New Testament Language and Literature at Western Seminary. He lives in Portland with his wife and three daughters.