In this episode, Dr. Mark Turman sits down with Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Ryan Denison to explore topics ranging from biblical leadership principles, modern temptations, faith, and rationality to the geopolitical implications of Islamic eschatology. They discuss how to balance shepherding and equipping within the church, the importance of rational faith, and how temptation works in our lives today. Listen as they provide thought-provoking insights on how to foster a flourishing community rooted in biblical values.Topics(00:27): Introducing Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Ryan Denison(02:20): Discussing Leadership and Integrity(08:31): Biblical Principles of Shared Power(11:43): Understanding Temptation and Sin(18:22): The Craftiness of the Devil(26:45): Understanding Temptation and Resistance(29:06): The Rationality of Faith(34:51): Metaphors in the Bible and Church Dynamics(44:27): The Mahdi and Geopolitical ImplicationsResourcesEpisode Transcript (PDF)Reflecting on the funeral of Jimmy CarterWhat does the Bible say about pornography? Can you break free from sexual temptation?Defeating temptation before it becomes sinIran is “closer than ever” to a nuclear bomb: Why this is a global threat, and how Christians should respondWhy does God value integrity?The Coming Tsunami About Dr. Jim DenisonJim Denison, PhD, is a cultural theologian and the founder and CEO of Denison Ministries. He speaks biblically into significant cultural issues at Denison Forum. He is the chief author of The Daily Article and has written more than 30 books, including The Coming Tsunami, the Biblical Insight to Tough Questions series, and The Fifth Great Awakening.About Dr. Ryan DenisonRyan Denison, PhD, is the Senior Editor for Theology at Denison Forum. Ryan writes The Daily Article every Friday and contributes writing and research to many of the ministry’s productions. He holds a PhD in church history from BH Carroll Theological Institute after having earned his MDiv at Truett Seminary. He’s authored The Path to Purpose, What Are My Spiritual Gifts?, How to Bless God by Blessing Others, 7 Deadly Sins, and has contributed writing or research to every Denison Forum book.About Dr. Mark TurmanDr. Mark Turman is the Executive Director of Denison Forum and Vice President of Denison Ministries. Among his many duties, Turman is most notably the host of The Denison Forum Podcast. He is also the chief strategist for DF Pastors, which equips pastors and church leaders to understand and transform today’s culture.About Denison ForumDenison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, The Denison Forum Podcast, as well as many books and additional resources.

In this episode of the Denison Forum Podcast, host Mark Turman kicks off 2025 by introducing listeners to the new Culture Brief podcast. Joined by Connor Jones and Micah Tomasella, the discussion covers the objectives and format of Culture Brief, highlighting its focus on news, sports, entertainment, and technology from a biblical perspective. The trio dives into current topics like the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, the tragic murder of a healthcare CEO, and the excitement surrounding NFL and college football playoffs. They examine these events' cultural and spiritual implications, offering listeners a taste of what's to come with Culture Brief.Topics(00:28): Introducing the New Podcast: Culture Brief(01:24): Meet the Hosts: Connor and Micah(03:07): What to Expect from Culture Brief(05:13): The Format and Audience of Culture Brief(12:16): Diving into the First Stories(18:07): The Tragic Story of Brian Thompson(28:10): Mental Health and Spiritual Influences(29:33): Syria's Political Upheaval(31:30): Impact on the Middle East(35:46): Prayers and Humanitarian Efforts(41:12): Football Season Highlights(50:54): Faith in Sports(53:57): Conclusion and Call to ActionResourcesCulture Brief Podcast Luigi Mangione charged with murder in death of insurance CEOThe Health Care System Is Flawed. Let’s Fix It.Boise State’s faith-driven journey to the College Football PlayoffsWhat Travis Hunter’s Heisman win says about our cultureCivil war in Syria escalates as rebels take HamaWhat does the Syrian conflict mean for the world?About Micah TomasellaMicah Tomasella is the Advancement Officer at Denison Ministries and co-hosts Denison Forum's "Culture Brief" podcast. A graduate of Dallas Baptist University, Micah is married to Emily, and together they are the proud parents of two daughters. With an extensive background in nonprofit work, finance, and real estate, Micah also brings experience from his years in pastoral church ministry.About Conner JonesConner is the Director of Performance Marketing at Denison Ministries and Co-Hosts Denison Forum's "Culture Brief" podcast. He graduated from Dallas Baptist University in 2019 with a degree in Business Management. Conner passionately follows politics, sports, pop-culture, entertainment, and current events. He enjoys fishing, movie-going, and traveling the world with his wife and son.About Dr. Mark TurmanDr. Mark Turman is the Executive Director of Denison Forum and Vice President of Denison Ministries. Among his many duties, Turman is most notably the host of The Denison Forum Podcast. He is also the chief strategist for DF Pastors, which equips pastors and church leaders to understand and transform today’s culture.About Denison ForumDenison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, The Denison Forum Podcast, as well as many books and additional resources.

Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Mark Turman explore how Christians have lived faithfully in their cultural moment for thousands of years, how we must break free from the Sunday/Monday heresy, the importance of a personal relationship with Christ, how Christianity is a bad religion without such a personal relationship, and how the culture has created a new religion of humanism and self-affirming authenticity.Mark discusses how we often don’t see the results of our faithfulness in our lifetime, and we must leave the results to God’s providence. Faithfulness takes patience, and, as Jim has written, “You can’t measure the eternal significance of present faithfulness.” They delve into the Protestant Reformation, how it began, and some of the key believers in the movement.They then address the “Sunday/Monday heresy,” which refers to the view of many Christians who live as Christians on Sunday morning but have their own lives every other day of the week. Christ calls us to give every minute of our lives over to him. This leads them to discuss the essential part of Christianity as being in the relationship with Christ, not the religion. While religion is important, i.e., going to church, singing hymns, liturgy, etc., without the relationship, religion is an empty shell. Jim reveals a time when, as a pastor, God convicted him that while Jim loved Jesus, he wasn’t in love with Jesus. They then delve into what has become the overarching ideology or creed of our culture: personal authenticity. They discuss the evolution of this creed over time: how Christianity was at first important and culturally encouraged, then it became a personal hobby, then irrelevant, and now it’s considered dangerous. The culture has almost fully bought into humanism. They consider the implications of this creed, how nowadays everything is centered around feelings and our experience. Sometimes, true repentance is harder than religion. Often, having a relationship with Christ is more difficult than following an empty creed. Many issues in our culture stem from the transference of responsibility to anything and everyone but ourselves. There’s a sense in the culture now that “I” cannot be at fault; it must be the system or other people. While there are complex issues here, the gospel ultimately relies on the submission of oneself to Christ, no matter our circumstances. Resources and further readingThe Coming Tsunami, Jim Denison The Master Plan of Evangelism, Robert E. Coleman To Change the World, James Davison Hunter “The Third Great Awakening,” Christianity Today About Dr. Jim DenisonJim Denison, PhD, is a cultural theologian and the founder and CEO of Denison Ministries. He speaks biblically into significant cultural issues at Denison Forum. He is the chief author of The Daily Article and has written more than 30 books, including The Coming Tsunami, the Biblical Insight to Tough Questions series, and The Fifth Great Awakening.About Dr. Mark TurmanDr. Mark Turman is the Executive Director of Denison Forum and Vice President of Denison Ministries. Among his many duties, Turman is most notably the host of The Denison Forum Podcast. He is also the chief strategist for DF Pastors, which equips pastors and church leaders to understand and transform today’s culture.About Denison ForumDenison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, The Denison Forum Podcast, as well as many books and additional resources.

In this episode, Mark and Jim begin by giving a personal biography of their lives and testimonies. In this, Jim explores how several key people who were faithful with their gifts helped bring him to trust in Jesus as his savior.Jim discusses how the term theological middleman began to define his ministry calling, with a clear, strong conviction from the Lord. A large part of Denison Ministries’ niche is equipping believers to love God with all of their minds. We often encounter a resistance to intellectual thinking in Christianity. A common Christian sentiment in the ’60s and ’70s was: Don’t let college ruin you. Thankfully, in recent years, evangelicals have shown that we are not antagonistic to reason. John Lennox and Russell Moore are two prime examples. Then, Mark and Jim discuss the merits and flaws in Karl Marx’s philosophy. Many of Marx’s criticisms were accurate. Seeing the world through the lens of “class” is helpful, but only to a point, and it cannot provide a solid worldview. Later, certain philosophers in the Frankfurt School developed Critical Theory out of Marxism. This plays out in our era through Critical Race Theory, for example.The philosophy behind Critical Theory is that if you are a part of a group that has benefited from oppression, you are also culpable to the oppression. The spread of this kind of thinking is evident, even in Texas public schools. Many, like Ibram Kendi, have now said that if we maintain the status quo, we are complicit in racism. Instead, we must be antiracist.Mark and Jim then delve into why Critical Theory doesn’t take sin nature into account. If the oppressed become powerful, they will be just as likely to oppress others, which is exactly what happened in the Soviet Union.All of that said, Jim then argues that systemic racism continues to exist in modern-day America and gives several, well-attested facts that point to that truth. As believers, our first questions should be of self-examination: “How am I prejudiced? How can I amend where I have hurt others?” This means personally engaging with people who aren’t like us and listening to their pains.Resources and further readingJim Denison, The Coming Tsunami Russell Moore, website Jon Lennox, website William Barclay, Commentary on the New Testament “Theological middleman.” Ibram X. Kendi, How to be an Antiracist Richard Delgado, Jean Stefanic, Critical Race Theory: An Introduction Karl Marx, The Communist ManifestoAbout Dr. Jim DenisonJim Denison, PhD, is a cultural theologian and the founder and CEO of Denison Ministries. He speaks biblically into significant cultural issues at Denison Forum. He is the chief author of The Daily Article and has written more than 30 books, including The Coming Tsunami, the Biblical Insight to Tough Questions series, and The Fifth Great Awakening.About Dr. Mark TurmanDr. Mark Turman is the Executive Director of Denison Forum and Vice President of Denison Ministries. Among his many duties, Turman is most notably the host of The Denison Forum Podcast. He is also the chief strategist for DF Pastors, which equips pastors and church leaders to understand and transform today’s culture.About Denison ForumDenison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, The Denison Forum Podcast, as well as many books and additional resources.

Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Mark Turman discuss the sexual revolution and its implications for today’s culture. They discuss how the church’s witness is hurt by its bad example, how biblical morality is going to be persecuted, the implications of the Equality Act, how US laws should legislate certain moral judgments and not others, and how the world’s understanding of sex ultimately leads to harm.First, Mark and Jim show why it’s important to have historical context for cultural ideas today. Much of the LGBTQ movement in today’s world is a symptom, not the cause, of the cultural tsunami. To address the root causes, however, the church must start within our own doors and hearts. Since the church abuse scandals, comparable levels of divorce rates, and the acceptance of cohabitation, the church has lost credibility in the eyes of the culture. In the case of the new sexual morality, biblical Christians are becoming more ostracized and considered even dangerous for our beliefs. Indeed, while all laws legislate morality in some way, we must get clear on religious freedom and what the State can legislate. They unpack how this played out in the legalization of abortion. Jim then elaborates on how civil rights laws protecting minorities are categorically different from those protecting based on sexual orientation, both biblically and under secular arguments, and how the Equality Act poses a serious threat to biblical Christian institutions. Finally, they discuss how Christians can respond to today’s sexual revolution following Paul’s model from Corinthians. Jim argues that we shouldn’t take the easy route, but rather we must let our light shine. We have the heroes of Hebrews 11 to inspire us. (Correction: Cardinal Francis George first said, “I expect my successor to die in prison . . . .”) not Archbishop Collins.)Resources and further readingThe Coming Tsunami, Dr. Jim Denison The Benedict Option, Rod Dreher  “The Equality Act: What Christians need to know,” Dr. Jim Denison “Religious Liberty Isn’t Enough,” Ryan T. AndersonAbout Dr. Jim DenisonJim Denison, PhD, is a cultural theologian and the founder and CEO of Denison Ministries. He speaks biblically into significant cultural issues at Denison Forum. He is the chief author of The Daily Article and has written more than 30 books, including The Coming Tsunami, the Biblical Insight to Tough Questions series, and The Fifth Great Awakening.About Dr. Mark TurmanDr. Mark Turman is the Executive Director of Denison Forum and Vice President of Denison Ministries. Among his many duties, Turman is most notably the host of The Denison Forum Podcast. He is also the chief strategist for DF Pastors, which equips pastors and church leaders to understand and transform today’s culture.About Denison ForumDenison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, The Denison Forum Podcast, as well as many books and additional resources.

Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Mark Turman discuss the foundation for Denison Forum by first unpacking apologetics ("to make a defense"), which has its roots in the book of Acts. Cultural apologetics refers to giving a defense of biblical truth in the context of cultural issues like same-sex marriage, abortion, or euthanasia. They discuss starting points for those conversations, which need to begin outside of the Bible and with varying assumptions, depending on the audience. Next, they discuss the origins of Protestants’ split from Roman Catholicism and its further divisions. Evangelicalism is a relatively recent movement, however, beginning in the 20s and 30s, and gaining prominence after WWII. Evangelicalism, in some ways, rose in reaction against a perceived liberal drift of mainline denominations. But, from the start, with people like Billy Graham, the main point was to spread the simple gospel. Nowadays, the word evangelical has become associated with the political right more than its core biblical beliefs, from the well-intentioned “we want a nation God can bless” acting as part of the Moral Majority, and activism, to its disparaged status in culture. Culture tends to view evangelicals as a political action movement, especially with some preachers endorsing Donald Trump. Finally, Mark and Jim discuss the earthquakes that Jim outlines in The Coming Tsunami. Denial of biblical truth, the first earthquake, is in many ways the one which starts the fall of dominoes. Many Christians are trying to address these problems by tackling the symptoms of the cultural tsunami. That leaves us blind to the actual, invisible causes of the cultural decline we see today.Each person deals with their own unique presuppositions, so the best way to change the tide is to influence the people where you are as best you can. In the midst of this discussion, Mark and Jim begin to unpack further cultural earthquakes. Resources and further readingThe Coming Tsunami, Jim DenisonGood Faith, David French, Curtis ChangLeadership is an art, Max DupreeAbout Dr. Jim DenisonJim Denison, PhD, is a cultural theologian and the founder and CEO of Denison Ministries. He speaks biblically into significant cultural issues at Denison Forum. He is the chief author of The Daily Article and has written more than 30 books, including The Coming Tsunami, the Biblical Insight to Tough Questions series, and The Fifth Great Awakening.About Dr. Mark TurmanDr. Mark Turman is the Executive Director of Denison Forum and Vice President of Denison Ministries. Among his many duties, Turman is most notably the host of The Denison Forum Podcast. He is also the chief strategist for DF Pastors, which equips pastors and church leaders to understand and transform today’s culture.About Denison ForumDenison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, The Denison Forum Podcast, as well as many books and additional resources.

On The Denison Forum Podcast, host Dr. Mark Turman interviews knowledgeable guests on timely news and relevant spiritual topics.Each week an author, commentator, pastor, theologian, or a topical expert joins the show to bring biblical insight and practical applications to help Christians further develop a biblical worldview on current events.

Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Mark Turman talk about the origins of Jim’s book, The Coming Tsunami, and God’s calling on Jim’s life to cultural apologetics. In this first episode, they cover:how Christians should engage the culturenewfound unity between denominationsrising atheismhow to turn the cultural tideand hope for a new awakening In part 1, Jim and Mark delve into Jim’s life and upbringing. Jim’s father experienced the horrors of World War II and couldn’t reconcile them with Christianity. So, Jim grew up in a “loving, wonderful home but no spiritual life and all my father’s questions.” Eventually, after following Christ in his teens, God called him to ministry. Fast-forward to two or three years ago. The Holy Spirit pressed on him the “urgency of the moment” in our culture, which eventually led to the writing of The Coming Tsunami. The analogy runs like this: unseen forces (earthquakes) can lead to cultural symptoms that make Christianity a danger in the eyes of the culture (the tsunami).In part 2, Jim and Mark discuss: the sociology of how to change the cultureand the best strategies for Christians to accomplish it in AmericaThe election of conservative Christians to the presidency seems to have led to passivity among many Christians; political officials cannot change the culture. The way to change culture is to practice what you preach and exercise your influence wherever you are.In part 3, they talk about encouraging ways God is moving. For instance, they discuss the growing unity in the church between denominations, the miraculous awakenings in Islam, and the explosive growth of Christianity in Asian countries. Next, they cover the influx of atheist, secular thinkers into mainstream Western culture. Many are brilliant scientists but overstep into philosophy and theology, places where they make frequent errors but still hold massive influence. This and subjects like the church abuse scandals have broken the church’s image in the modern eye. Philosophy has consequences, and you can trace the ideas of today back generations to people like Kant. Finally, Jim shares his pastoral insight into how the Lord moves. While we may feel desperate now, God works awakenings when a culture is on the brink of despair. The Spirit has worked like that before in America, and he can do it again.Resources and further readingThe Coming Tsunami, Jim DenisonWrestling With God, Jim DenisonHow to Change the World, James Davidson HunterThe Screwtape Letters, C.S. LewisThe God Delusion, Richard Dawkinsgod is not Great, Christopher HitchensThe CEO Forum: “Created to support and minister to Christian CEOs and Senior Executives, CEO Forum exists to provide a unique approach to The Great Commission.”"How dreams and visions of “Isa” are awakening the Islamic world," Mark LeggAbout Dr. Jim DenisonJim Denison, PhD, is a cultural theologian and the founder and CEO of Denison Ministries. He speaks biblically into significant cultural issues at Denison Forum. He is the chief author of The Daily Article and has written more than 30 books, including The Coming Tsunami, the Biblical Insight to Tough Questions series, and The Fifth Great Awakening.About Dr. Mark TurmanDr. Mark Turman is the Executive Director of Denison Forum and Vice President of Denison Ministries. Among his many duties, Turman is most notably the host of The Denison Forum Podcast. He is also the chief strategist for DF Pastors, which equips pastors and church leaders to understand and transform today’s culture.About Denison ForumDenison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, The Denison Forum Podcast, as well as many books and additional resources.

In this episode of the Denison Forum Podcast, Dr. Mark Turman engages in a deep conversation with Robin Pou, an executive coach and author, about the complexities of leadership. They explore Robin's personal faith journey and the importance of listening to God's voice. They discuss the significance of relationships in faith, the purpose of vocational work, and the role of doubt in leadership.  In this conversation, Robin Pou discusses the themes of forgiveness, purpose, and leadership within the context of faith and work. He emphasizes the importance of forgiveness as a spiritual discipline, the struggles leaders face in forgiving others, and the necessity of finding purpose in one's career as a form of ministry. The discussion also touches on the reception of his book, The Reluctant Disciple, and the differences between leading in ministry versus business. Finally, Robin reframes the concept of pressure as a privilege, encouraging listeners to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth.Topics(02:58): Robin Pou's Background and Faith Journey(05:52): The Reluctant Disciple: A Catalyst for Change(09:09): Listening to God's Voice(11:53): The Importance of Relationship in Faith(14:53): Understanding Purpose in Vocational Work(18:04): Miracles and Daily Encounters with God(21:03): The Role of Doubt in Leadership(23:54): Forgiveness and the Reluctant Disciple(27:02): The Power of Forgiveness(30:18): Struggles with Forgiveness in Leadership(34:25): Finding Purpose in the Workplace(37:18): Contentment in Current Circumstances(44:08): Leading in Ministry vs. Business(51:47): Reframing Pressure as a PrivilegeResourcesEpisode Transcript (PDF)Buy The Reluctant DiscipleSign up for The Confident Leader newsletterhttps://robinpou.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinpou/About Robin PouAs a result of a kidnapping and near-death experience on a mission trip in Africa, Robin Pou wrote The Reluctant Disciple, an inspirational parable of how to reconcile the pursuit of business success with a purpose-driven life.Robin is an Executive Coach, Author, Speaker, and Founder of a leadership development firm with a mission to make bad leadership extinct by building high-achieving individuals into leaders who value their teams and grow meaningful businesses. As an executive coach and frequent keynote speaker on leadership trends, he works with Fortune 500 executives and CEOs of high-growth organizations. Robin has also authored two books and shares his latest leadership insights in a popular weekly newsletter called The Confident Leader. Robin’s leadership development programs operate to inspire, teach, and train confident leaders to overcome doubt, build businesses that matter, and reach their full potential.Robin lives in Dallas, Texas, with his wife Karen and their three kiddos: Robert, Cate, and Boyd (and their pandemic puppy, Charlie).About Dr. Mark TurmanDr. Mark Turman is the Executive Director of Denison Forum and Vice President of Denison Ministries. Among his many duties, Turman is most notably the host of The Denison Forum Podcast. He is also the chief strategist for DF Pastors, which equips pastors and church leaders to understand and transform today’s culture.About Denison ForumDenison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, The Denison Forum Podcast, as well as many books and additional resources.

This conversation explores the current situation in Israel, focusing on the aftermath of the October 7th attacks by Hamas. The speakers share personal experiences and insights into the existential threats facing Israel, including external enemies and internal divisions within society. They discuss the resilience of the Israeli people amidst ongoing conflict and the impact of hostage situations on the nation. The conversation emphasizes the importance of prayer and support for Israel during these challenging times. In this conversation, the speakers discuss the multifaceted nature of the Israeli conflict, emphasizing the importance of international support, personal connections, and the complexities of political dynamics. They explore potential future scenarios for Israel, the significance of friendships across cultural divides, and the distinction between anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism. The conversation concludes with reflections on community, hope, and the power of prayer for peace in the region.Topics(09:55): Personal Experiences and Perspectives from Israel(19:56): The Existential Threats Facing Israel(30:14): Internal Divisions and Social Dynamics in Israel(39:51): Resilience Amidst Ongoing Conflict(42:42): Imagining Possible Futures for Israel(46:35): The Complexity of Victory and Politics(49:19): Friendships Across Divides(56:08): Understanding Anti-Zionism vs Anti-Semitism(01:03:20): Finding Solace and Hope in CommunityResourcesEpisode Transcript (PDF)Further resources on the war in IsraelAbout Danny LampelDanny Lampel is an Israeli citizen and tour guide. Since 1980, he has guided tours of Israel for many Christian groups from all over the world. He also worked as a Marketing Director for the Spanish-speaking segment of one of the leading tour operators in Israel. Danny studied social work and graduated with a master's degree in community work from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He and his wife have two daughters and four grandchildren.About Dr. Mike FanningMike Fanning is the founder and president of MBF Enterprises, “a group tour operations company that specializes in organizing, marketing and leading unique, one-of-a-kind trips. These trips include pilgrimage tours to Israel, Jordan and Egypt, as well as “Journeys of Paul” cruise tours to Greece, Turkey and Italy.” He holds a PhD in Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), Ancient Near Eastern Archaeology, Modern Middle East History, Anthropology, and Hebrew/Greek from Baylor University.About Dr. Jim DenisonJim Denison, PhD, is a cultural theologian and the founder and CEO of Denison Ministries. He speaks biblically into significant cultural issues at Denison Forum. He is the chief author of The Daily Article and has written more than 30 books, including The Coming Tsunami, the Biblical Insight to Tough Questions series, and The Fifth Great Awakening.About Dr. Mark TurmanDr. Mark Turman is the Executive Director of Denison Forum and Vice President of Denison Ministries. Among his many duties, Turman is most notably the host of The Denison Forum Podcast. He is also the chief strategist for DF Pastors, which equips pastors and church leaders to understand and transform today’s culture.About Denison ForumDenison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, The Denison Forum Podcast, as well as many books and additional resources.