Ministry Deep Dive

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!

It's part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Mark Baker. We are talking about becoming a centered-set church. What is that? Most churches are bounded or fuzzy, but its the churches that are centered that see the greatest transformation. How do we know that? Because that's what we did! The question is: are sinners welcome at your church? Yes, we call people to repentance, but when does that happen? Do you require them to behave before they belong? Believe? What's the order? Do they have to look and sound like everybody else before they are accepted? What are the standards? Who is in and who is out? Is there room for a process? What happens when someone sins? What about the person who is in sin and just starting to come to church and wants to learn? And what about the person who is considered an insider but whose personal life is a complete mess? What do we do? What is more important: believing? behaving? belonging? Which should come first? And what does that matter? Our guide in our journey today is Dr. Mark Baker. Mark is the J.B. Toews Chair Professor of Mission and Theology at Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary and the author of Centered-Set Church: Discipleship and Community Without Judgmentalism (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2021) Mark helps us to examine what he calls three different approaches to church. Borrowing from the missiologist Paul Hiebert, he helps us to see what is considered a "bounded set," "fuzzy set," and a "centered" set approach to church. This is a conversation about where you live in the everyday-its about how we judge and shame others, and what the best approach is to ensure flexibility with the process while honoring the purity of obedience. You can learn more at Centered-Set Church. Get the first part of the conversation: #200 | Does Your Church Allow For People In Process?, Pt. 1 | Mark BakerSign 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!

What does it mean to belong to your church? What are the standards? Who is in and who is out? Is there room for a process? What happens when someone sins? What about the person who is in sin and just starting to come to church and wants to learn? And what about the person who is considered an insider but whose personal life is a complete mess? What do we do? What is more important: believing? behaving? belonging? Which should come first? And what does that matter? Our guide in our journey today is Dr. Mark Baker. Mark is the J.B. Toews Chair Professor of Mission and Theology at Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary and the author of Centered-Set Church: Discipleship and Community Without Judgmentalism (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2021) Mark helps us to examine what he calls three different approaches to church. Borrowing from the missiologist Paul Hiebert, he helps us to see what is considered a "bounded set," "fuzzy set," and a "centered" set approach to church. This is a conversation about where you live in the everyday-its about how we judge and shame others, and what the best approach is to ensure flexibility with the process while honoring the purity of obedience. You can learn more at Centered-Set Church. Kevin also mentioned some of his favorite episodes:#105 | Prophetic Voices in Chaotic Times | Trevin Wax#117 | Defending Shame, Pt. 1 | Te-Li Lau#118 | Defending Shame, Pt. 2 | Te-Li Lau#126 | You Are Not Your Own Pt. 1 | Alan Noble#127 | You Are Not Your Own, Pt. 2 | Alan Noble#129 | Relax, You're Only Human, Pt. 1 | Kelly Kapic#131 | Relax, You're Only Human, Pt. 2 | Kelly Kapic#164 | The Thrill of Orthodoxy, Pt. 1 | Trevin Wax#165 | The Thrill of Orthodoxy, Pt. 2 | Trevin WaxTravis referred to some of his:#60 | The Magna Carta of Humanity, Pt. 1 | Os Guinness#61 | The Magna Carta of Humanity, Pt. 2 | Os Guinness#166 | Biblical Critical Theory, Pt. 1 | Christopher Watkin#167 | Biblical Critical Theory, Pt. 2 | Christopher Watkin#171 | Transfigure Your Imagination, Pt. 1 | Malcolm Guite#172 | Transfigure Your Imagination, Pt. 2 | Malcolm GuiteSign 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! Takeaways: The concept of a centered-set church shifts the focus from rigid boundaries to a relational orientation toward Jesus, fostering inclusivity. In a centered-set framework, individuals are recognized as belonging based on their movement towards the center, rather than strict adherence to rules. The centered-set model encourages deep transformation and discipleship, as it emphasizes personal growth and relational connection over judgmentalism. By prioritizing relationship with Jesus as the center, churches can cultivate a more compassionate and understanding community, moving beyond superficial metrics of membership.

How do you reduce anxiety? What can you do to relax? What does the Scripture say? What does brain science tell us? What about holy noticing and multitasking to do with it? Plenty!Travis welcomes Charles Stone to the show today. Charles has been a pastor for over 40 years serving as a Lead Pastor, Teaching Pastor, Associate Pastor, and Church planter. He has an engineering degree from Georgia Tech, a Master's of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Doctorate of Ministry from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. His most recent degree is an executive master's in the neuroscience of leadership from The Neuroleadership Institute. He's completing a post-baccalaureate certificate in Therapeutic Models of Mindfulness from Wilfred Laurier University and has completed a graduate certificate in Mind, Brain, and Teaching from Johns Hopkins University. He's currently enrolled in the Ph.D. program at Columbia Biblical Seminary and is researching stress in pastors.He's been professionally trained in these areas by these organizations:Professional coaching through the Professional Christian Coaching Institute (ACC certified under the International Coaching Federation)Strategic Planning through Ministry Advantage (certified)Vision Clarity through the Church Unique Process with Auxano (certified)Conflict Management through PeacemakersBrain-Based Leadership through the Neuroleadership Institute and the Academy of Brain-Based LeadershipLearn more about Charles and get the book.If you want to learn more about neurotheology through these episodes:If you want to learn more about neurotheology check out our previous conversations:#107 | Jim Wilder, God on the Brain, Pt. 1#108 | Jim Wilder, God on the Brain, Pt. 2#109 | Michel Hendricks-Relational Reformation, Pt. 1#110 | Michel Hendricks-Relational Reformation, Pt. 2#120 | Marcus Warner: Our Walk, Wounds, and Warfare, Pt. 1#121 | Marcus Warner: Our Walk, Wounds, and Warfare, Pt. 2#140 | Jim Wilder, Escaping Enemy Mode, Pt. 1#141 | Jim Wilder, Escaping Enemy Mode, Pt. 2#179 | The Joy Switch, Pt. 1 | Chris Coursey#180 | The Joy Switch, Pt. 2 | Chris Coursey#193 | Escaping Enemy Mode in Marriage & Families | Jim Wilder Sign 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!

Is Christianity in America on the decline? What does Christianity look like around the world in places like Mongolia, Italy, Oceania and the like? What are the biggest challenges facing the global Church today?Today we welcome Dr. Gina Zurlo for the second part of our conversation about Global Christianity. Dr. Zurlo holds a PhD in History and Hermeneutics from Boston University School of Theology (2017). She is the Co-Director of the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (South Hamilton, MA) and Visiting Research Fellow at Boston University’s Institute on Culture, Religion and World Affairs. She is an interdisciplinary scholar, crossing between history, sociology, and World Christianity with a particular interest in women’s experiences of Christianity and church life worldwide.Dr. Zurlo is the co-editor of the World Christian Database (Brill) and associate editor of the World Religion Database (Brill). She is one of the authors of the third edition of the World Christian Encyclopedia (Edinburgh University Press, 2019), which covers the history and current status of Christianity in every country of the world down to the denominational level.Travis and Dr. Zurlo discuss her newest book, Christianity Around the World, which is a popular reference work to introduce readers to the state of Christianity in every nation of the world, complete with colorful maps and graphs. They discuss the state of Christianity in America, how it is shifting, and what it means for us today.If you want to hear the first part of this conversation:#197 | What Does the Future of Christianity Look Like? Pt. 1 | Gina ZurloSome other episodes related to this episode or referred to in this episode:#30 | What God Is Doing In The World, Pt. 1 | Todd M. Johnson #32 | What God Is Doing In The World, Pt. 2 | Todd M. Johnson#69 | The Insanity of God, Pt. 1 | Nik Ripken#70 | The Insanity of God, Pt. 2 | Nik Ripken#71 | The Insanity of God, Pt. 3 | Nik Ripken#103 | Reaching the Nations in Your Neighborhood | David Garrison#161 | Inalienable: How Marginalized Kingdom Voices Can Help Save The American Church | Eric Costanzo, Daniel Yang, & Matthew SoerensSign 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!