What Would Jesus Tech

Austin Gravely, Andrew Noble, and Joel Jacob
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Apr 1, 2025 • 57min

Multiplying the Word: Steward Your Story, with Ian Harbor

"Just ship it, even if you're 19.""You can only control your outputs."In this episode, Andrew Noble, Austin Gravley, and Ian Harber discuss the intersection of marketing, faith, and personal branding. This is our fourth and final public episode of Multiplying the Word. They explore how marketing can be a tool for spreading ideas. We should steward our stories and reputations. Ian shares insights from his journey in writing and marketing, emphasizing the need for authenticity and the value of connecting with an audience. Vulnerability and authenticity don't always mix well. Ian discusses how to appropriately share.Chapters00:00 - Intro02:05 - Is Marketing Dirty?10:52 - Mind Your Reputation21:29 - Tactics29:44 - The Stewardship Journey32:35 - Navigating Personal Stories and Vulnerability39:39 - Crafting a Personal Narrative43:36 - Advice for Aspiring Writers/CreatorsCohosted by Andrew Noble, Joel Jacob, and Austin Gravley. Original Music by Abigail Neale. To learn more about What Would Jesus Tech and to support the show visit whatwouldjesustech.com. Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/fAqx3WGu
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Mar 25, 2025 • 36min

Choosing and Using GenAI as Christians

The hosts dive into the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence, comparing it to the rise of mobile social media. They discuss the shift from traditional search engines to generative AI tools and the implications for users. Ethical considerations surrounding major AI models like ChatGPT and Claude are examined, with a focus on user experience and transparency. The conversation also touches on open-source AI, its significance, and the role of AI in cybersecurity, highlighting the importance of balancing tech efficiency with critical thinking.
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Mar 17, 2025 • 55min

Multiplying the Word: Creating Local Digital Content as a Church, with Pastor Luke Simmons

In this episode of What Would Jesus Tech, hosts Andrew Noble and Austin Gravley chat with Luke Simmons, a lead pastor, discussing the intersection of digital marketing and pastoral ministry. One of our most practical episodes for what churches can be doing!We explore the role of social media for pastors, the potential harms of digital media, and how to leverage digital tools for local ministry. Luke shares practical tips for creating engaging church communications, overcoming barriers to digital engagement, and navigating the challenges of content creation, including the use of AI. We also address the celebrity pastor culture, and how local-first is the way to build out your digital content as a church.Follow Luke Simmons on Twitter/X.FaithfulandFruitful.com (Pastoral and Leadership Resources from Luke).Takeaways from this episodePastors should consider using social media as a tool for expanding their "word" and discipleship ministry. Digital content (like podcasts or social media posts) cannot replace visitation, preaching, and pastoral care, but it can help teach people the ways of Christ.Digital media can pose risks, including moral dangers (e.g. lust) and distractions. This isn't for every pastor or every church.Digital content creation should be approached with a mindset of iteration and experimentation.Utilizing email effectively can significantly increase engagement rates.Balancing personal interests with pastoral responsibilities is crucial in communication.The use of AI in content creation should be approached thoughtfully and authentically.Support us on Patreon.Join our Discord Group.Chapters0:00 - Introduction to Digital Marketing for Pastors2:00 - The Role of Social Media in Pastoral Ministry3:33 - Potential Harms of Social Media for Pastors7:03 - Using Digital Tools for Ministry (e.g. podcast)12:43 - Transforming Church Communication (e.g. emails)16:42 - Creating & Repurposing Content27:33 - The Importance of Practice in Communication28:57 - Leadership and Communication: The Core Connection30:02 - Choosing Topics & Outlets for Digital Ministry39:20 - Addressing the Celebrity Pastor Culture43:01 - Practical Tips for Digital EngagementWWJT is cohosted by Andrew Noble, Joel Jacob, and Austin Gravley. Original Music by Abigail Neale. These show notes were co-created by Andrew and an AI tool. To learn more about What Would Jesus Tech and to support the show visit whatwouldjesustech.com
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Mar 5, 2025 • 51min

Market Mania and Moral Formation, with Glenn Butner

In this episode, co-hosts Andrew Noble and Joel Jacob speak with Dr. Glenn Butner about the intersection of theology, economics, and moral formation. They discuss how markets function, the moral implications of economic systems, and the role of trust in transactions. The conversation emphasizes the need for Christians to engage thoughtfully with economic practices and the importance of understanding the complexities of market design. Butner's book, 'Work Out Your Salvation,' serves as a foundation for discussing how faith can inform economic behavior and moral formation.Support WWJT on Patreon and receive a book! Must sign up before March 31st, 2025.Buy Butner's book: https://www.amazon.com/Work-Out-Your-Salvation-Formation/dp/1506479413Read Andrew's review: https://adfontesjournal.com/book-review/work-out-your-salvation-a-review/Takeaways (AI Generated with Human Oversight): Markets are not just economic systems; they are technologies that shape our interactions and form who we are. Incentives can significantly alter behavior, sometimes in unexpected ways. Christian engagement with economics should be nuanced and informed by scripture. The church has a role in shaping economic practices and moral formation. A doctrine like Common Grace can help us make sense of how markets can form us in good ways. Understanding social sin is crucial in navigating market dynamics. Christians should analyze specific markets rather than endorse or condemn entire systems. Moral formation can occur outside the church through various societal interactions. Every individual has a responsibility to consider the ethical implications of their economic choices.Chapters00:00 Introduction and We'll Send You A Book!02:21 Understanding Markets and Moral Formation06:46 The Impact of Incentives on Behavior14:52 Theological Perspectives on Markets23:32 Moral Formation in Secular Markets28:02 Practical Takeaways?40:47 Innovative Hiring Practices and Market Design42:30 The Role of Markets in Social Justice46:41 Moral Formation and Market Interaction49:28 Conclusion and Reflections on Agency
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Feb 26, 2025 • 56min

Multiplying the Word: Growth & Institutions, with Caleb Wait

Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/YskwNchCHow do we navigate content creation in a digital age? We consider this today through the angle of institutions, like media organizations who are trying to spread good resources across varyingly helpful digital outlets. Joining us is Caleb Wait. He is the Director of Content at Sola Media (the makers beyond multiple top Christian podcasts, including the White Horse Inn, Core Christianity, and Theo Global).In Multiplying The Word we explore the whats, the whys, and the hows of digital marketing: living in the digital, but not of it.Welcome to What Would Jesus Tech. A podcast devoted to imitating Jesus in a technological age. We believe deep thinking with biblical theology, courageous building of good technology, and rich reflection on what it means to be human. I am Andrew Noble, I am a Theology PhD Student with a background in AI, I'm joined by our two cohosts, Austin Gravely, Social Media Manager at The Gospel Coalition with a background in ministry and online marketing, and Joel Jacob, Principle Product Manager at Splunk with a background in Robotics, AI, and EngineeringCohosted by Andrew Noble, Joel Jacob, and Austin Gravley. Original Music by Abigail Neale. To learn more about What Would Jesus Tech and to support the show visit whatwouldjesustech.com
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Feb 19, 2025 • 49min

A Tech Agenda for the Family, with Brad Littlejohn and Clare Morell

Technology, particularly AI, poses a threat to the necessity of humanity. We see this in students using AI to bypass learning, self-driving vehicles replacing human drivers, AI competing with medical diagnosticians, and tablets which aim to replace traditional teaching methods. The question isn't hypothetical – these developments are already challenging human roles in education, transportation, healthcare, and beyond.We don't just need to respond. We need a vision. We need direction. We need a New Technology Agenda that values the human person, and there is no value in persons if they have no place in families.A couple weeks ago, Brad Littlejohn, Clare Morell, and a team of others published A Future for the Family: A New Technology Agenda for the Right. It includes ten principles designed to serve the family.Add your name: https://afutureforthefamily.org/The Ten Principles (the original New Agenda as published in First Things). In today's episode, Andrew and Joel discuss this "New Agenda," how Christians working in technology could adopt it, and a way forward for a kind of limited dynamic innovation in North America.0:00 - Preamble2:08 - Intro to Brad and Clare4:06 - The Principles8:00 - The Government Against Innovation? For it? How?17:53 - Children, AI, and Limits32:33 - "I want to see more dynamic innovation" - Brad34:20 - Implicitly Christian; Common Sense Values38:39 - Specific Recommendations?Other links: Human Nature Isn't Enough By Brad LittlejohnThe Tech Exit by Clare MorellClare Morell's SubstackBrad Littlejohn's SubstackEPPC.orgWhat Would Jesus Tech is a listener-supported podcast. Support us and receive various perks (some early access to episodes and a bonus mini-episode each month). https://www.patreon.com/WWJT
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Feb 12, 2025 • 1h 13min

Multiplying the Word: Wise Digital Marketing, with Chris Martin

Today we kick off our new series: Multiplying The Word. We will explore the whats, the whys, and the hows of digital marketing: living in the digital, but not of it. We hope this podcast will help pastors, Christian organizations, and individual believers embrace principles and practices of digital marketing, based on our conversations with leading experts, to multiply the word in our digital world. We believe you can use social media for good, to share Christian content, for the love of our neighbors and to the glory of God. But how? How can we reconcile all the harms of social media (such as the ways it sucks you into loops of anxiety-ridden dopamine loops) with using it for good?To help us, we're joined again by Chris Martin. He's written multiple books on the harms of the social internet, and yet he's here to tell you there are ways to use it for good.0:00 - Intro and Background3:53 - What's Chris doing? Key insights from his books10:45 - Reconcile dangerous social media with using it for good?15:34 - How to build? Audio? Video? Strategies26:10 - Just post loser38:20 - Stewardship53:20 - Navigating different platforms1:07:40 - Engagement vs Content EngineJoin our Discord here!To learn more about What Would Jesus Tech and to support the show visit whatwouldjesustech.com
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Jan 28, 2025 • 28min

Canadian Christian Technologists in Trump’s Economy?!?

In this episode, our two Canadian Christian hosts, Andrew Noble (with a background more in AI and SaaS) and Joel Jacob (with a background more in IoT and robotics), talk through Trump's recent announcements that are pro-AI, pro-crypto, and anti-Canada.0:00 - Intro1:26 - CES Trends (Glasses and Robotics & Generalized Tech)4:30 - 500 Billion for AI7:46 - Ethical & Environmental Concerns of Massively Scaling AI14:40 - Canada's Place In All This21:55 - Tech Oligarchy? Regulation?Part Two is available for Patreon supporters, including:27:25 - David Sacks, PayPal Mafia, and Cutting the Red Tape33:59 - C.S. Lewis' N.I.C.E. Prediction, and How Should Christians Act?Thanks for your support!We'd love your feedback for future shows, episode feedback, potential guests, etc..Reach out at whatwouldjesustech.com
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Jan 23, 2025 • 53min

Technology Literacy 101, with Keith Plummer

A Christian theology of technology sees both the good and bad in technology; the ways it creates blessings and instills burdens. The Bible has plenty to say about technology. In fact, the bible says that humanity has a technological impulse that began when we were created and will continue into eternity.To help us unpack Christian Technology Literacy 101, we're glad to be joined by Dr. Keith Plummer. He is the Yoda of Technology & Discipleship with the voice of Darth Vader.Podcast thumbnail co-created with ChatGPT. (Yes, it's uncanny. We know.)To learn more about What Would Jesus Tech and to support the show, visit whatwouldjesustech.com . To join our discord: https://discord.gg/HK2umKDd
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Jan 4, 2025 • 55min

2025 Technology Predictions

AI Agents, Robotics, VR/AR, Crypto and more! While we don't discuss every potential technology shift that could happen in 2025 (Andrew regrets never mentioning self-driving cars and online sports betting), we do go through some of the expected changes that are coming to the world of technology, as well as how those shifts may impact Christians.0:00 - Intro2:29 - 2024 Predictions Recap8:25 - Rise in AI Agents13:28 - Increasing Tech Polarization20:37 - Honey Scam and Changing Revenue Streams for Content Creators24:48 - Crypto will Continue to Grow34:03 - AGI gods by 202835:17 - Continued Growth in AR and VR Tech41:57 - Impact of Haidt's Research/Book. Momentum in Anti Big Social Media Movement.50:57 - Closing ThoughtsJoin our Discord: https://discord.gg/AhCyjHD8Subscribe to Grandview Church's Thinking About It podcast going through the New City Catechism on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.Support WWJT at https://www.patreon.com/WWJT

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