Winsome Conviction

Dr. Preston Sprinkle (Ph.D.) joins today’s episode to speak with Tim and Rick on the work he's doing to help foster civil, thoughtful, and faithful disagreements on contentious issues. Preston unpacks some of the motivations with his wildly popular Theology in the Raw podcast, and they also discuss the Theology in the Raw conference - an annual conference where people of differing views come together for 3 days to speak with one another on some of the more polarizing topics affecting the church today.Show notes and a full transcript are available.

Special guest Tim Milosch (Ph.D.) joins today’s podcast to speak with Tim and Rick on the multifaceted phenomenon of Christian Nationalism. They cover questions including: What is Christian Nationalism? Why has it been important and garnered so much attention? Who are the kinds of people who identify with this cultural phenomenon? What are some of the confusions around Christian Nationalism? And what are noteworthy cautions for Christians who are thinking through how to practice political engagement?Show notes and a full transcript are available.

We like to do segments that highlight people who are doing civility right, and it’s pretty special when we see Biola students who are doing it right. On today’s episode, Tim speaks with one of his students, Markus, who is also a film major at Biola. Markus wrote and directed a short film, “Halfway,” that addresses the animosity and reconciliation between two families, Israeli and Palestinian. Tim and Markus also reflect on the role of film in helping to foster perspective-taking, including Markus’s stint as an intern on the set on the wildly popular tv series, The Chosen.Show notes and a full transcript are available.

On today’s episode, Rachel Gilson speaks with Tim about sexuality, same-sex attraction, and living faithfully as a follower of Jesus. The conversation dips into Rachel’s journey in coming to faith, being attracted to the same-sex and yet choosing to follow the Bible’s teaching on sexuality, considerations of sexuality for discipleship, and what the Church is doing well and not doing well with transgender and LGBTQ communities. Show notes and a full transcript are available.

We regularly host episodes speaking with people who are doing civility right. These “Reports From The Front” provide insights and illustrations from people who are practicing civility and conviction in the day to day. On this episode, Tim and Mark Muha, Vice President for Student Development at Biola University, reflect on a recent learning experience they went through that involved engaging their political opposite. Tim and Mark discuss and unpack some of the stigmas people have with “conservative” and “Christian,” the need for nuance and humor, and leading with curiosity when listening to another’s personal story.Show notes and a full transcript are available.

Dr. Rebecca McLaughlin (Ph.D. Cambridge University) joins today's episode to speak with Tim on how to engage challenging questions and challenging people. Through the course of the conversation they consider such questions as: How can persuasion be an act of love? When can challenging a person’s belief be a sign of respect? What are the telltale signs that someone is listening to you? And what might loving and respectful engagement look like in contentious topics such as homosexuality and abortion? If Jesus is the truth and the life, this should shape the manner in which Christians engage with others, especially when we engage with people who do not believe in the claims of Christianity. Show notes and a full transcript are available.

Chris McKinney, co-author of the book Neighborhoods Reimagined, is back on the podcast to speak with Tim and Mike on the surprising relevance of the beatitudes for being better neighbors. They also talk about a litmus test for gauging individualism, the challenges of “having time,” and Chris shares stories on the role of food in bringing people together, including a food event they creatively call “Bite of the World.”Show notes and a full transcript are available.

Recent surveys say less than half of Americans trust their neighbors. What might be some of the reasons for this erosion of trust? On today’s episode, Chris McKinney, co-author of the book Neighborhoods Reimagined, speaks with Tim and Mike on some of factors contributing to healthy and unhealthy neighborly relations, and they discuss the surprising relevance of the beatitudes. Chris also shares some of the practical steps he and his family are taking to build trust with their neighbors and the lessons they have learned.Show notes and a full transcript are available.

The presidential election is about to happen, so Tim and Rick take time on this episode to reflect on our cultural moment. They share ideas for having perspective, provide tips for speaking with people who are affiliated with another political party, and emphasize the need for the Church to preserve her integrity regardless of the candidate who becomes president elect.Show notes and a full transcript are available. 

Do people even want to engage in civil discourse? How does myside bias keep us from engaging others? On today’s episode, Mike and Tim discuss these questions and more as they discuss some of the motivations in writing End the Stalemate: Move Past Cancel Culture to Meaningful Conversations, a recently published book that Tim co-authored with Sean McDowell.Show notes and a full transcript are available.