The Deep Thoughts Podcast with Matt Shantz

We are one generation removed from the days of Dr. Jack Kevorkian, who helped terminally ill patients end their lives through physician-assisted suicide. Today, euthanasia or ‘Medical Assistance in Dying’ (MAiD) is legal in a handful of western countries, Canada being one of them. So Matt sat down for a conversation with his mom, a long-time palliative care nurse and coordinator, to talk about MAiD — specifically, 4 Issues for Christians to consider when thinking about MAiD. Yes, the dinner conversations at the Shantz household are unique. Season 2 of The Deep Thoughts Podcast engages some deep thinkers on a number of topics that are gripping many of our current cultural conversations. *Disclaimer: Incredibly, no deep thinkers were harmed in the making of this podcast. ABOUT: HEATHER SHANTZ Heather Shantz lives in Calgary, Alberta, is involved in her local church and has enjoyed giving back to the community through participating in programs like ESL and grief support. This time a year ago, she was informed that the breast cancer she had five years prior had metastasized to her lungs, lymph nodes, and bones — which makes this conversation personal and not merely intellectual or theoretical.

There isn’t much that concerns people about the Christian faith as much as hell, judgment, and holy war. So Matt gets Josh Ryan Butler on the line to talk about those very things. He’s the author of The Skeletons in God’s Closet: The Mercy of Hell, the Surprise of Judgement, the Hope of Holy War and pastors at Redemption Church in Tempe, Arizona. Season 2 of The Deep Thoughts Podcast engages some deep thinkers on a number of topics that are gripping many of our current cultural conversations. *Disclaimer: Incredibly, no deep thinkers were harmed in the making of this podcast. ABOUT: Joshua Ryan Butler Joshua Ryan Butler has written two books, The Pursuing God (2016) and The Skeletons in God’s Closet (2014) and is Co-Lead Pastor at Redemption Church in Tempe, Arizona.

Matt gets Dan Strange on the line in London to talk about his great book, ‘Plugged In’ that seeks to help you connect your faith to what you watch, read, and play.  His object is to teach Christians how to think and speak about culture in a way that plugs into a bigger and better reality—the story of King Jesus, and his cosmic plan for the world. Plus, Matt tries to find out what kind of dark superpowers Dr. Strange has. Season 2 of The Deep Thoughts Podcast engages some deep thinkers on a number of topics that are gripping many of our current cultural conversations. *Disclaimer: Incredibly, no deep thinkers were harmed in the making of this podcast. ABOUT: DAN STRANGE Daniel Strange is College Director at Oakhill Theological College in London where he lectures on Culture, Religion and Public Theology. Dan is married to Elly and they have seven children. He is an elder at East Finchley Baptist Church and loves jazz music and West Ham football club.

Matt gets Preston Sprinkle on the line for a theological yet highly practical conversation about LGBT+, Jesus, and the Church. The rapid-fire Q&A at the end of the interview alone is worth the price of admission. Season 2 of The Deep Thoughts Podcast engages some deep thinkers on a number of topics that are gripping many of our current cultural conversations. *Disclaimer: We in no way guarantee that this podcast will include deep thoughts. Incredibly, No deep thinkers were harmed in the making of this podcast. ABOUT: PRESTON SPRINKLE Preston Sprinkle has a Ph.D. in New Testament and Early Judaism and has been a college professor for a number of years. He's a New York Times bestselling author, who’s written several books including People to Be Loved: Why Homosexuality Is not Just an Issue. Preston currently serves as the president of The Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender, an organization that’s aimed at helping Christians engage questions about faith, sexuality & gender with theological faithfulness and courageous love. If you have questions related to the LGBTQ conversation, please check out The Center’s website, centerforfaith.com, for lots of great resources. Questions about faith, sexuality & gender are among the most pressing ethical questions facing the church today. This is why I’m so excited to tell you about the Grace/Truth learning experience, the highly acclaimed small group material produced by The Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender. Grace/Truth 1.0 and 2.0 is a 10-week small group learning experience that helps Christians, churches, and community groups to engage the conversation about homosexuality and LGBTQ related questions with theological faithfulness and courageous love. If you’re interested in engaging this conversation with other Christians, then the Grace/Truth learning experience is a perfect place to begin.

Emily takes over as host and they discuss the season that was and the season that’s coming in the new year. Thanks for listening! *Disclaimer: No deep thoughts included in this episode.

We wrap up Season 1 with an episode about church, acknowledging two things at once: It can be difficult and it is important. Season 1 of The Deep Thoughts Podcast focuses on a handful of faith doubts common to many. *Disclaimer: We in no way guarantee that this podcast will include deep thoughts. No deep thinkers were harmed in the making of this podcast.

We get Dr. Paul Chamberlain on the line to talk about whether or not science refutes too much about God and the Bible. Plus, Emily assesses Matt’s health and fitness. Season 1 of The Deep Thoughts Podcast focuses on a handful of faith doubts common to many. *Disclaimer: We in no way guarantee that this podcast will include deep thoughts. Incredibly, No deep thinkers were harmed in the making of this podcast.

With so much injustice throughout church history, what are we to make of Jesus, Christianity, and the Church? Plus, Matt and Emily work on ending segments properly. Season 1 of The Deep Thoughts Podcast focuses on a handful of faith doubts common to many. *Disclaimer: We in no way guarantee that this podcast will include deep thoughts. Incredibly, No deep thinkers were harmed in the making of this podcast.

With so many religions and myths out there, how do we know Christianity is for real? Isn’t Christianity just another fairytale? For this episode, Matt is joined by Chris Battle. Chris is the Lake Errock Campus Pastor at Central Community Church. Season 1 of The Deep Thoughts Podcast focuses on a handful of faith doubts common to many. *Disclaimer: We in no way guarantee that this podcast will include deep thoughts. No deep thinkers were harmed in the making of this podcast.

Many find Jesus compelling but the hypocrisy of Christians often leads them to not only reject the church, but Jesus too. Plus, Matt and Emily try to think of each other’s greatest hypocritical behavior and find it surprisingly hard. Season 1 of The Deep Thoughts Podcast focuses on a handful of faith doubts common to many. *Disclaimer: We in no way guarantee that this podcast will include deep thoughts. No deep thinkers were harmed in the making of this podcast.