Real Life Theology Podcast

Navigating Church Leadership and Discipleship in a Changing World For more information about other Renew.Org podcasts visit: https://renew.org/media/podcasts/  Piggybacking off the past 4 episodes this track goes into detail on some very relevant questions about discipleship, and culture. This session engaged with individuals who asked some critical questions so that we could draw some important lessons from them. This episode features a discussion on church leadership, discipleship, and the innovative approaches to ensure the sustainability and growth of church missions within changing cultural contexts. Leaders share experiences and strategies on financial modeling, making disciples who make disciples, and the concept of failing forward as a method to discover effective practices in ministry. The dialogue also tackles the critique of traditional church models and the necessity of church planting, alongside enhancing existing churches to fulfill the mission of spreading the gospel more effectively in today's world. Critical points include rethinking financial models to support outreach and discipleship, embracing failure as a learning tool for improvement, and the challenge of balancing the need for new church plants with the call for unity and efficiency within the existing church landscape. Key Takeaways 00:00 Opening Remarks and Q&A Session Kickoff 00:54 Deep Dive into Financial Models and Church Budgeting 03:44 Embracing Failure and Innovation in Church Leadership 07:53 Rethinking Church Models: A Case Study on Cutting Sermons 08:49 The Debate on Church Planting in Saturated Areas 17:50 Revolutionary vs. Evolutionary Change in Churches For more information about other Renew.Org podcasts visit: https://renew.org/media/podcasts/    Watch our 2024 Gathering Main Session Recordings          

For more information about other Renew.Org podcasts visit: https://renew.org/media/podcasts/  In this engaging discussion, three friends, Ryan, Russ, and Tom, share their journeys toward fostering disciple-making movements within their respective churches. Each speaker highlights the fundamental importance of prayer, obedience, and sharing the teachings of Jesus as core to sparking spiritual movements. Ryan begins by reflecting on his personal challenges and realizations, emphasizing the pivotal role of prayer in connecting with God and facilitating change. He shares how his church has incorporated various forms of prayer into their regular activities, emphasizing the power of prayer in disciple-making. Russ and Tom further elaborate on the practical aspects of creating disciple-making communities, stressing simplicity, the Holy Spirit's guidance, and practical tools like the Discovery Bible Study. Collectively, they underline the transformative potential of seeking God wholeheartedly and the need for churches to focus on supporting discipleship in practical, everyday contexts. Key Takeaways  00:00 Welcoming the Panel: Insights into Disciple Making Movements 00:30 Practical Steps Towards Disciple Making: Ryan's Journey 01:24 The Power of Prayer in Disciple Making 04:22 A Moment of Prayer and Reflection 06:04 Expanding the Prayer Movement: Ryan's Church Initiatives 07:25 Russ's Perspective: Friendship and Practical Disciple Making 10:19 Tom's Unique Approach to Disciple Making and Multiplication 14:49 Concluding Thoughts on Disciple Making and Prayer 18:38 The Essential Principles of Disciple Making Movements   Watch our 2024 Gathering Main Session Recordings          

Jeff Duerler starts off this track by talking about some practical next steps to shift culture and launch new churches. He shares his own experience with his church on steps they have taken towards the disciple-making movement. Jeff hands it off to Paul Huyghebaert who continues the conversation and shares his personal experience.    For more information about other Renew.Org podcasts visit: https://renew.org/media/podcasts/ 

In this episode, Paul Huybhebaert and Todd Wilson talk about the culture of disciple-making. Todd Wilson talks about a national study on disciple-making conducted by Discipleship.org and talks about the current state of disciple-making in the Church in the United States. Furthermore, Todd talks about the operating system of the church.   For more information about other Renew.Org podcasts visit: https://renew.org/media/podcasts/    Join us this April at our 2024 Courageous Renewal Gathering          

In this episode we kick off Season 7 of the Real Life Theology Podcast (Moving Towards a Disciple Making Movement), Paul Huyghebaert engages Josh Howard in a conversation about disciple-making movements where Josh shares some of his personal experiences of making disciples in India.    For more information about other Renew.Org podcasts visit: https://reallifetheologypodcast.podbean.com/   Join us this April at our 2024 Courageous Renewal Gathering          

Navigating Complex Cultural and Ethical Questions as a Christian Leader (feat. Chad Ragsdale and Daniel McCoy). This video script discusses how Christian leaders can thoughtfully navigate difficult cultural and ethical questions while staying true to their faith. The conversation covers a wide range of topics including handling accusations of Christian nationalism, preaching on controversial topics, engaging with culture wars, and the Christian approach to professions that involve ethical complexities like military service. It emphasizes the importance of understanding different perspectives, showing grace, and having nuanced, informed convictions that don’t compromise on core beliefs. The talk also addresses how to deal with disagreements within the Christian community and the significance of not allowing cultural issues to dictate the focus of the church’s message. Key Takeaways  00:00 Introduction to Hypothetical Scenarios 00:08 Dealing with Criticism as a Church Leader 01:00 Understanding the Importance of Relationship in Communication 02:06 Addressing Misunderstandings within the Church 04:04 Navigating Political Conversations in the Church 05:23 Balancing Biblical Teachings and Current Issues 06:54 Addressing Controversial Topics in the Church 08:34 The Role of Church Leaders in Guiding their Congregation 11:12 Navigating Family Disagreements on Cultural Issues 13:53 Understanding the Complexity of Christian Beliefs 20:16 Addressing Differences in Teaching within the Church 24:44 Navigating Concerns about Media References in Sermons 26:35 Creative Approaches to Introducing Jesus 27:53 Addressing Criticisms of Church Spending 28:18 Navigating Cultural Criticisms and Cynicism 29:24 The Role of Extravagance in Worship 29:55 Debating Church Resource Allocation 32:06 Navigating Disagreements on Cultural Celebrations 34:44 The Intersection of Christianity and Fantasy 39:16 Navigating the Decision to Join the Military as a Christian 44:22 Understanding the Nuances of Christian Engagement with Culture 49:25 The Importance of Accuracy and Conviction in Apologetics   Join us this April at our 2024 Courageous Renewal Gathering          

Navigating Complex Issues in Faith and Modern Life (feat. Chad Ragsdale and Daniel McCoy). This extensive discourse features a dialogue with Chad Ragsdale, discussing how various philosophies outside the church influence Christian thinking negatively, with a focus on emotional reasoning and the impact of technology on faith. Ragsdale expresses concerns over the church's adaptation to modern cultures, emphasizing the need for sober-mindedness against hollow and deceptive philosophies. The conversation also explores the conflict between following one's heart versus adhering to biblical truths, the challenges posed by a technologically driven culture, and the philosophical shift towards a therapeutic societal approach. Further, it delves into practical applications of faith in modern societal roles like the military and law enforcement, touching on navigating political landscapes as Christians. The dialogue also touches on dealing with disagreements within the church community, the importance of nuance in forming convictions, and balancing the dynamic between embracing cultural shifts and maintaining spiritual integrity. Get the Book Key Takeaways  00:00 Introduction and the Dangers of External Philosophies 00:51 The Seduction of Emotional Reasoning 02:29 The Impact of Technology on Our Thought Processes 03:41 The Influence of Artificial Intelligence on Our Lives 04:46 The Dangers of Offloading Our Abilities to Technology 06:57 The Influence of Emotional Reasoning and Technology on Our Faith 07:11 The Struggle to Cultivate a Genuine Inner Life 09:19 The Impact of Moral Therapeutic Deism on Our Decisions 12:34 The Role of Church Leaders in Addressing Cultural Philosophies 19:14 The Importance of Deep Thinking in Our Spiritual Life 22:00 The Challenge of Addressing Controversial Issues in the Church 22:50 Navigating Disagreements and Differences 23:01 Understanding the Complexity of Social Issues 23:05 The Role of Passion and Perspective in Faith   Join us this April at our 2024 Courageous Renewal Gathering            

Navigating Differences and Fostering Unity among Christians in Today's Culture (feat. Chad Ragsdale and Daniel McCoy). In today’s episode we continue the discussion on how Christians can navigate differences within their community and engage with the broader culture effectively. Today’s episode explores the concept of postures versus gestures, emphasizing the need for biblical wisdom to discern when certain responses are appropriate. The discussion highlights the dangers of adopting rigid postures, like hostility or accommodation, as one's default position towards cultural issues and the importance of a balanced, thoughtful approach. Specific issues such as political courage, the transgender moment, and the porn industry are mentioned as examples requiring discernment. The speaker introduces the problems posed by 'Heresy Hunters' and 'Tower Topplers' within the church, individuals who create divisiveness by labeling others too quickly or attacking their beliefs. To combat these issues and foster unity, the presentation suggests focusing on faith, asking two key questions to understand others better, recognizing the importance of different levels of doctrinal importance, and thinking like a missionary to connect more effectively both within the church and with the outside world. The role of empathy, grace, and technology's impact on our ability to think well are also discussed as part of the broader challenge of maintaining Christian unity in a post-Christian culture.   This session was filmed at Ozark Christian College  Get the Book   Watch the Video    Key Takeaways  0:00 Episodes 2 The Disciples Mind Workshop (Ozark CC)  05:32 The Role of Humility in Thinking 07:26 The Importance of Thinking Well 07:39 The Role of Thinking in Connecting with Others 08:09 The Power of Thoughtful Leadership 09:02 The Impact of Disunity in the Church 09:32 The Three Worlds of Evangelicalism 10:49 The Challenge of Hostility Within the Church 11:06 The Dangers of Heresy Hunters and Tower Topplers 16:45 The Role of Thinking in Promoting Unity 17:00 Four Key Elements to Consider for Unity 18:29 The Importance of Empathy and Understanding   Join us this April at our 2024 Courageous Renewal Gathering          

Navigating Faith and Thinking Critically in Today’s World (feat. Chad Ragsdale and Daniel McCoy). Welcome back to the Real Life Theology Podcast. In today's episode, Chad Ragsdale, the Academic Dean at Ozark, and Daniel McCoy, the Editorial Director for Renew.org, explore the importance of critical thinking and a biblical worldview for Christians navigating today’s complex cultural challenges. This session was taken live from an Event at Ozark Christian College, therefore I am honored to get to share it with you today. They introduce their new book, 'The Disciple's Mind,' aimed at encouraging Christians to think more biblically and critically. The session includes discussions on the impact of competing ideas in society, the necessity of loving God with our minds, and practical advice on promoting unity and thoughtful engagement within the church. The speakers also address common obstacles to effective thinking, such as tribalism, emotional reasoning, and the influence of technology. This insightful session, enriched by audience interaction, emphasizes the importance of wisdom, understanding, and empathy in our responses to both cultural issues and within church communities. This session was filmed at Ozark Christian College  Get the Book   Watch the Video   Key Takeaways  00:00 Introduction and Setting the Stage 04:11 Presenters' Background and Purpose of the Session 08:05 The Importance of Thinking Biblically and Critically 09:52 Historical Examples of Destructive Ideas 13:42 The Need for Discipleship of the Mind 14:51 Understanding the World as a Christian   Join us this April at our 2024 Courageous Renewal Gathering          

The Journey of Faith and Unity: A Conversation with Jason Ishmael Today we feature Jason Ishmeal, lead pastor of Antioch Christian Church in the Cedar Rapids, Iowa area. Daniel and Jason talk about the Restoration movement, some of its history but they emphasize the conversation about unity and faith in our culture today. In this episode Jason discusses his early calling to ministry, the influence of his diverse religious upbringing, and his pastoral journey at the church in Eastern Iowa. Jason Ishmael shares insights into his passion for unity within the church, derived from his extensive study in Church History and Historical Theology, looking critically at both the past division and potential for unity within Christianity. Drawing from his education and personal experiences, he emphasizes the importance of unity, not for its own sake but as a mission to follow Jesus’s command to spread the Gospel. The discussion also goes into the challenges and opportunities of leading a church within the Restoration Movement, fostering a community geared towards discipleship, and leveraging every aspect of church life towards fulfilling the Great Commission. If you are interested in more conversations about Unity, Faith, the restoration movement and more visit Renew.org.  Get the Book:   Watch the Video    Key Takeaways  00:00 Introduction to Jason Ishmael and Antioch Christian Church 00:48 Jason's Early Calling to Ministry and Religious Background 02:30 Finding a Vibrant Community of Faith 04:06 The Impact of Antioch Christian Church in Eastern Iowa 06:12 Jason's Academic Journey in Church History and Theology 08:16 Exploring the Challenges and Controversies in Church History 15:46 Discovering the Restoration Movement 20:37 Restoration Movement Principles in Leadership 22:32 Reflecting on Restoration Movement History and Unity 29:19 The Gathering and Discipleship Strategies Join us this April at our 2024 Courageous Renewal Gathering