Ideas Have Consequences

Prosperity and flourishing are part of God's beautiful plan for His people, and his desire for nations. But trials, tribulations, and persecutions are also a reality in our fallen world. In today's discussion, the team dives into what the Bible teaches about prosperity and flourishing—concepts many avoid for fear of being associated with the heretical “prosperity gospel.” We point out the critical lies of the prosperity gospel and contrast it with the flourishing God wants for all of us. Does God want us to be materially prosperous?  When does a good thing cross over into idolatry? How can we avoid overreacting against prosperity by emphasizing austerity? Join us as we unpack all this and more in today's episode of Ideas Have Consequences.Episode Landing PageWebsite: Disciple Nations Alliance

Is Christianity opposed to science, as we often hear from teachers, professors, and the scientific elite? Or are certain core biblical principles actually at the foundation of science? Today's discussion explores these vital questions. At its essence, science is a search for truth by means of a careful analysis of the physical universe, or what the Bible calls “the visible world.” The scientific method emerged and flourished within the soil of a Western culture deeply shaped by the Bible, and that was no accident. But today, science has been hijacked by those committed to a secular, naturalistic worldview that has no room for God or the human soul. As a result, science is no longer a search for truth. Evidence is ignored or denied if it conflicts with the presupposition of naturalism. This is philosophy or religion masquerading as science, or what many call “scientism.” As Christians, we must oppose it and defend true science as a quest for truth, following the evidence wherever it leads.Episode Landing PageWebsite: Disciple Nations Alliance

Join us for this fun and truly profound discussion on how discipleship leads to joy, beauty, and transformation. Jessica Shakir is a Kingdomizer who lives out her commission to make disciples, whether in a Hollywood studio, a start-up business, or at home. She is the perfect example of how God works through every situation and vocation to disciple the nations. We hope this episode encourages you to see every area of your life as an opportunity to make disciples.In our discussion, Jessica shares how God used unexpected circumstances to help her discover the source of lasting joy in her life. Stepping away from her work as a Hollywood makeup artist, Jessica founded The Beautiful Mind Academy. This online community teaches women how to think biblically, learning about God as the source of beauty and helping them understand that they glorify him when they create things with beauty.Episode Landing PageWebsite: Disciple Nations Alliance

New Year's resolutions are becoming increasingly unpopular. A new fatalism is rising in the West. It tells people they are victims of powerful, oppressive systems and structures that are stacked against them, and there is little they can do to change. For people trapped in this mindset, setting goals is a pointless exercise. As followers of Jesus, we acknowledge the reality of oppression in our fallen world, and that some people truly face greater challenges and disadvantages than others. But we also acknowledge that God has given all people personal agency, discipline, the ability, and means to improve with the help of God and others. Join us as we unpack these competing worldviews and reflect on our own New Year’s resolutions for 2023.Website: Disciple Nations AllianceEpisode Landing PageLearning tool: Disciplines of Love Application Plan

Welcome to part 2 of this 2-part series exploring what it means to be human in light of God’s design for us. If you have not listened to part one, we would encourage you to start there.This week, we explore the two most prominent worldviews in the West that are vying for the redefinition of what it means to be human, as featured in The Atlantic’s article “The People Cheering for Humanity’s End” by Adam Kirsch. Anthropocene Anti-Humanism, commonly known as extreme environmentalism and Transhumanism, dangerously distort and diminish the true value of human life. Humans are not a blight on this planet or a biological machine that needs to be mechanically improved; instead, we are made in the image of God with souls and intrinsic value.For those of you who are new, Ideas Have Consequences is a podcast of the Disciple Nations Alliance. Our host is Scott Allen, who's joined by his coworkers Dwight Vogt and Shawn Carson, and our producer is Luke Allen.Website: Disciple Nations AllianceEpisode Landing Page

Christ's birth implicates the immense worth of human life, which must change our thoughts and form our actions toward others. While our culture continues to move further from its Christian roots, how should we live and where can we find encouragement?Website: Disciple Nations AllianceEpisode Landing PageInstagramFacebookYouTube

Naomi Smith was a modern feminist who, following the lead of feminists like Betty Friedan, thought a woman’s value came from the workplace and from being like a man. After having her first child, however, Naomi realized that modern feminism erased the importance and beauty of motherhood and the God-designed differences between men and women. Website: Disciple Nations AllianceEpisode Landing PageInstagramFacebookYouTube

What is God's ultimate aim in creation? Is it to see people from every nation come to a saving faith in Christ? Is it to see new churches planted? Is it to see the hungry fed? These are all important, but they are not God's ultimate aim. They should be viewed as essential "means," not ends. God's ultimate aim is that the knowledge of His glory would fill the earth as the waters cover the seas (Hab. 2:14). To be sure, this ultimate purpose won't be fully realized until Christ returns. But until then, on the basis of His finished work on the cross, Jesus calls us to pray and to work, in His strength, to advance His Kingdom "on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10). Not only does God have a comprehensive plan for creation; He has a strategy to advance it. It is an inside-out process of transformation with five specific, sequential steps.Join us as we unpack these practical and applicable steps in today's epsidoe. Website: Disciple Nations AllianceEpisode Landing PageInstagramFacebookYouTube

Our good friend, Gary Brumbelow, was a missionary working with indigenous peoples in Canada, Alaska, and Siberia. Gary saw churches planted and many come to Christ. By traditional missionary standards, his work was successful. But Gary was plagued with a nagging question: “Shouldn’t the Gospel going into a community bring about a change?” What was wrong? Is the Gospel not a powerful change agent? Next, Gary read a book that changed his life and his concept of missions. Listen to this special episode for the complete story!Episode Landing PageWebsite: Disciple Nations AllianceTraining: The Coram Deo Basics CourseBook: Discipling Nations by Darrow Miller

The so-called Respect for Marriage Act threatens the perfectly designed beauty of marriage by putting into law a radically harmful definition that misleads people about the transcendent nature of marriage. In contrast to the harmful consequences that become manifest when something as essential and foundational to society as marriage is redefined, strong marriages recognize and value the way God has created us and our children and create a safe and beautiful family space for the development of children, culture, communities, and nations. Let us boldly stand for marriage and love our neighbors by helping them understand what is lost when they miss out on their Creator's perfect design. Episode Landing PageWebsite: Disciple Nations Alliance