Those Who Serve The Lord

What happens if we co-opt political power for godly means? Or what if we use evil people to do good things? What if we put people in political power whose character is awful? Is that good or bad? Is it so cut and dry? Of course, there have always been evil people in political office, but the issue is not whether there are low-character people in political office, the issue is calling Christians to embrace evil people, glancing over moral issues, in order to get what they believe to be righteous results. In other words, does the end justify the means? What's at stake in all of this? Is it possible that we can win some big battles politically, but lose a greater war for the faith and its credibility? What is really going on in American evangelicalism?Joining Travis on today's show is Dr. Russell Moore, the editor-in-chief of Christianity Today to discuss his new book, "Losing Our Religion: An Altar Call for Evangelical America." Travis and Russell discuss the status of evangelicalism in America. Is it really representative of the upside-down kingdom that Jesus is talking about? Or is it a type of Christian atheism or even, dare we say a form of Christian paganism? What does it mean to be patriotic in the midst of this? Is it possible to be patriotic and not a Christian nationalist? What is wrong with Christian nationalism anyway? These are just some of the questions they discuss on today's show as Russell guides us into the landmines of today's American evangelical landscape, helping us to see where the minefields are, but also where there is safe ground as we seek to be biblical faithful Christians, fulling the mission God has for us in this unique cultural moment. Conversations like this are meant to help encourage and equip you in your mission encounter with Western culture. Our Western culture has many great things in it, but also some unique underlying idolatries that many who are within a Western culture often miss. Dr. Moore helps us to see some of these idolatries and how many within American evangelicalism are not living out biblical Christianity, but rather destructive idolatries that are toxic to biblical faith. It's a fascinating and insightful conversation and one that will unmask idolatries you may have in order that you may forsake them and live out of the truth of the Gospel as you go about your missionary encounter with Western culture. Sign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.Help support the ministry of Apollos Watered and transform your world today!

Do you feel stuck? Are you frustrated that life is not working the way you thought it would? Are you angry with God because others are seemingly finding success and you aren't? Are you frustrated by your limits? What if your limits are not bad things, but good things? Have you ever wondered if your belief that you can do everything is not from God but from the devil? Have you ever wondered if God has given you limits to show something of Himself in your life? Today, we welcome Ashley Hales to the show to discuss her book, A Spacious Life: Trading Hustle and Hurry for the Goodness of Limits. Travis and Ashley discuss the habits of hurry we have cultivated, the need for rest and rhythm, and steps that we can embrace the spacious life God has laid out for us. Learn more about Ashley. Some of the episodes referred to on today's show:#171 | Transfigure Your Imagination, Pt. 1 | Malcolm Guite#172 | Transfigure Your Imagination, Pt. 2 | Malcolm Guite#179 | The Joy Switch, Pt. 1 | Chris Coursey#180 | The Joy Switch, Pt. 2 | Chris Coursey#181 | The Evangelical Imagination, Pt. 1 | Karen Swallow Prior#182 | The Evangelical Imagination, Pt. 2 | Karen Swallow PriorSign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.Help support the ministry of Apollos Watered and transform your world today!

Mike Goheen, expert in biblical story and the Kingdom of God, discusses the modern church's cultural irrelevance and idolatry in Western culture. He explores the impact of Christianity on Western culture, the challenges of countering consumerism, and the irrelevance of the church. The podcast also includes recommendations on Newbigin's books and the challenges of following Jesus.

Mike Goheen, an expert on idolatry in Western culture, discusses the presence of idols and false gods in the West. The podcast explores topics such as the reduction of faith to ideas, the influence of the American dream, and the marginalization of Christians. They also delve into various forms of idolatry in American and Canadian churches, including freedom, consumerism, and technology. The conversation highlights the failure of the Western story and invites listeners to embrace the bigger story that God offers.

As we go about our missionary encounter with Western culture, we need instruction from the Scriptures. And we need to see the Scriptures from the vantage point of the audience it was written to. There have been more tears cried on the pages of the Psalms than any other book, because it is a book that instructs us about who God is, who we are, and what to do in times of crisis. In the Psalms, we are taught how to look forward to the Messiah's kingdom, how to lament, celebrate, praise, trust, and recognize God's coming King. It is one of the most mysterious books and the most encouraging books, and it can be an interpretive minefield, which is why it helps to have such a renowned Old Testament scholar like Bruce Waltke step in as our guide. Travis and Bruce discuss his most recent book which he co-authored with Fred G. Zaspel, How To Read and Understand the Psalms (Crossway, 2023). Dr. Waltke is one of the preeminent Old Testament scholars, an "ent" of Old Testament studies. He holds a doctorate in Greek and New Testament from Dallas Theological Seminary and a doctorate in Ancient Near Eastern Languages and Literature from Harvard. His teaching career, spanning Dallas Theological Seminary, Regent College, Reformed Theological Seminary, Westminster Theological Seminary, and Knox Theological Seminary won him a reputation of being a master teacher with a pastoral heart. Dr. Waltke also pastored several churches, lectured at many evangelical seminaries in North America and has spoken at numerous Bible conferences.He is a member of the Committee of Bible Translation of the New International Version and helped translate the New American Standard Version. He served as editor for the Theological Word Book of the Old Testament, The New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis, The New Geneva Study Bible, and Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible.Dr. Waltke has traveled widely as a Bible expositor, as an Area Supervisor for excavations at Gezer, Israel, and as Director of field study trips to the Middle East and the Classical World. He is married and has three grown children.Dr. Waltke has published widely in various scholarly journals and contributed to many scholarly reference volumes.Sign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.Help support the ministry of Apollos Watered and transform your world today!

How does social change happen? Can a movement like the Asbury Renewal spark real social change? What in our society causes movement? Is it just a changing of generations? What role does technology play? What role is Artificial Intelligence going to play? These are just some of the questions that we discussed in today's episode. Travis and Anne have a discussion of all things life: vacations, musicals, poets, generational shifts, Asbury, Comment Magazine, humanization practices, and Travis even does a little singing :-)Anne is the editor-in-chief of Comment Magazine, host of The Whole Person Revolution podcast, and co-editor of Breaking Ground: Charting Our Future in a Pandemic Year. Prior to working at Comment, she worked for Laity Lodge, the H.E. Butt Foundation in Texas, the Ethics and Public Policy Center, World Affairs Journal, and the New York Times. She is a Senior Fellow at the Trinity Forum and a Fellow at the Urban Reform Institute.She is the author of The Fabric of Character: A Wise Giver’s Guide to Renewing our Social and Moral Landscape (2019) and has been published in The Atlantic Monthly, the Washington Post, and Bittersweet Monthly. Anne spent the formative years of her childhood overseas. Upon returning to the U.S. she received her bachelor’s degree from Wheaton College (IL) and a master’s degree from Georgetown University. She currently lives in Washington, D.C.Anne referred to a variety of books today:Keys to Bonhoeffer's Haus: Exploring the World and Wisdom of Dietrich Bonhoeffer by Laura M. Fabrycky.The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria Von TrappMy Bright Abyss: Meditation of a Modern Believer by Christian WimanSign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.Help support the ministry of Apollos Watered and transform your world today!

What do the Beatitudes look like in a culture where politics rules in a zero-sum game? What role do the Beatitudes play in helping us with our anxiety? How do we hold this purifying vision of God in the Beatitudes in a world? Today's guest is Pastor and Theologian Chris Castaldo back to the show to discuss his new book, Upside-Down Kingdom. They discuss the Beatitudes and everyday life, but season it with all things Italy, Italian food, the Italian Reformation, and so much more. Chris is the author of Holy Ground: Walking with Jesus as a Former Catholic, Talking with Catholics About the Gospel: A Guide for Evangelicals, and co-authored more. Listen to the first part of the conversation: #204 | Living A Countercultural Life, Pt. 1 | Chris CastaldoCheck out Chris' website.Sign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.Help support the ministry of Apollos Watered and transform your world today!

How do we live in a culture obsessed with success? How has the Christian faith morphed from a countercultural movement to one that is obsessed with power and politics? These are questions we all wrestle with and the Bible speaks to the longings and ragings of our hearts, showing us a better way forward that seems counterintuitive, but is true. Today's guest is Pastor and Theologian Chris Castaldo back to the show to discuss his new book, Upside-Down Kingdom. They discuss the Beatitudes, and everyday life, but season it with all things Italy, Italian food, the Italian Reformation, and so much more. Chris is the author of Holy Ground: Walking with Jesus as a Former Catholic, Talking with Catholics About the Gospel: A Guide for Evangelicals, and co-authored more. Check out Chris' website.Sign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.Help support the ministry of Apollos Watered and transform your world today!

Travis and Chris Martin continue their conversation on his new book, The Wolf in Our Pockets: 13 Ways the Social Internet Threatens the People You Lead? In this conversation, they discuss free speech, politics online, YouTubers, Facebook, the all-knowing algorithm, how these platforms are forming us, anxiety, the high school hallways, and what should and should not be posted online. It's a free-flowing conversation that helps us know the dangers of the social internet as well as how to use it in such a way that it doesn't bring you anxiety. It's a conversation that gives you some guidelines in approaching your social internet usage. Chris Martin is a content marketing editor at Moody Publishers and a social media, marketing, and communications consultant. He writes regularly in his newsletter, Terms of Service, and refers to Bibletolife.comIt's a conversation about where we all live and the challenges that the social internet brings to each one of us. Chris lives outside Nashville, Tennessee with his wife, Susie, their daughter, Magnolia, and their dog, Rizzo.Check out part 1- #202 | The Wolf In Your Pocket, Pt. 1 | Chris MartinSome other episodes on technology and its effect on us:#84 | Analog Church | Jay Y. Kim#95 | Restless Devices-Countering Conformity With Ancient Christian Practices, Pt. 1 | Felicia Wu Song#96 | Restless Devices-Countering Conformity With Ancient Christian Practices, Pt. 2 | Felicia Wu Song#160 | Analog Christian | Jay Y. KimSign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.God continues to grow our ministry, but He calls people like you to help do it! Support the Ministry of Apollos Watered today!

How much does social media affect you on a daily basis? How much is it threatening the people you lead? How much are they medicating themselves? What can we do about it? Chris Martin is here to help!Chris Martin is a content marketing editor at Moody Publishers and a social media, marketing, and communications consultant. He writes regularly in his newsletter, Terms of Service, and refers to Bibletolife.comTravis and Chris discuss his new book from Moody Publishers, The Wolf in Our Pockets: 13 Ways the Social Internet Threatens the People You Lead? It's a conversation about where we all live and the challenges that the social internet brings to each one of us. Chris lives outside Nashville, Tennessee with his wife, Susie, their daughter, Magnolia, and their dog, Rizzo.Some other episodes on technology and its effect on us:#84 | Analog Church | Jay Y. Kim#95 | Restless Devices-Countering Conformity With Ancient Christian Practices, Pt. 1 | Felicia Wu Song#96 | Restless Devices-Countering Conformity With Ancient Christian Practices, Pt. 2 | Felicia Wu Song#160 | Analog Christian | Jay Y. KimSign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.God continues to grow our ministry, but He calls people like you to help do it! Support the Ministry of Apollos Watered today!