The Denison Forum Podcast - Christian perspective on current events, Christian news and culture, Biblical wisdom

Jodie Berndt joins Dr. Mark Turman to discuss why praying the Scripture helps draw us closer to God, uplifts our marriages, helps us get started talking to God in creative ways, and why Christians should pray with our spouses.  Show notes:  Jodie Berndt shares her testimony, how she met her husband, and how she became an author of the acclaimed series on praying the Scriptures (3:32). She reflects on why she prays with the Bible, how to share your heart with God, and heroes of the faith who’ve inspired her (14:06). Berndt discusses why it's so encouraging to pray the Scriptures over your marriage and how her new book leads couples (20:28). She shares why it's so hard for spouses to pray together and how Praying the Scriptures for Your Marriage can uplift marriages into new spiritual depths, including how it has helped her marriage (30:04). Berndet closes by talking about her chapter on kindness, encouraging people in difficult marriages, and explaining why her book is not just for wives (46:21).  Resources and further reading: Praying the Scriptures for Your Marriage: Trusting God with Your Most Important Relationship, Jodie Berndt JodieBerndt.com “What does the Bible say about spiritual health?” Dr. Jim Denison About the host  Mark Turman, DMin, is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church.  About the guest  Jodie Berndt is bestselling author of the Praying the Scriptures book series, which includes volumes for Children, Teens, Adult Children, and Life, plus the brand new Praying the Scriptures for Your Marriage. Jodie has been a trusted speaker, Bible teacher, and prayer warrior for over thirty years. She and her husband, Robbie, have four married children, and they live in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Nancy Pearcey joins Dr. Mark Turman to discuss the rise of secular masculinity, what makes a “good” man versus a “real” man, how Christianity makes men less misogynistic, not more, why young men are struggling, and how Christians can reclaim manhood.    Show notes:  Nancy Pearcey discusses why she wanted to write on masculinity, sharing her story of meeting Francis and Edith Schaeffer, converting from agnosticism, and her experience with an abusive father (3:01). She reflects on the history of masculinity, the growth of toxic masculinity during the Industrial Revolution, and why modern women seem to hate men (11:26). Pearcey talks about why she wrote the Toxic War on Masculinity, which delves into the ideas of Christ-like and secular masculinity (19:61). They reflect on the dangers of nominal Christianity, why dedicated evangelical men have the best marriages, but Christian-in-name-only men create the worst marriages (36:44). She says, “nominal Christian men can take the secular script and then sort of baptize it, and the end of actually living worse than secular men.” She provides a multitude of research demonstrating that men becoming evangelical Christians makes them less misogynistic (52:31). She closes by reflecting on the current landscape, how men are falling behind women in all areas, and how true Christians can reclaim masculinity in a healthy way (56:09).    NOTE: We’ve launched our summer campaign. As a 100-percent donor-supported ministry nonprofit, we rely on believers like you to give toward our calling “to equip the saints for the work of ministry” (Eph. 4:12). If our work has encouraged or inspired you, please give today.   Resources and further reading:   The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes, Nancy Pearcey “What is the “death movement”? Nancy R. Pearcey defends a biblical view of the body in Love Thy Body” Mark Legg Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, Nicholas D. Kristof, Sheryl WuDunn  Soft Patriarchs, New Men: How Christianity Shapes Fathers and Husbands, Brad Wilcox   About the host    Mark Turman, DMin, is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church.    About the guest    Nancy R. Pearcey is a bestselling author and speaker. A former agnostic, she was hailed in The Economist as “America's pre-eminent evangelical Protestant female intellectual.” Her work has appeared in the Washington Post, Washington Times, First Things, Human Events, American Thinker, Daily Caller, The Federalist, CNS News, and Fox News. She has appeared on NPR, C-SPAN, and Fox & Friends.  She is currently a professor and scholar in residence at Houston Christian University. Pearcey's books have been translated into 18 languages and include Total Truth, The Soul of Science, Saving Leonardo, Finding Truth, and Love Thy Body.  

Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Mark Turman discuss Psalm 42, how we get the idea of the “soul” wrong, evangelicalism’s weak spot, why we should yearn for God, and how to start hungering for a relationship with Jesus.    Show notes:    Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Mark Turman discuss the image of a deer panting after water in Psalm 42 (2:12). They talk about how evangelicalism can unhealthily swing the pendulum away from spiritual discipline to praying “the prayer” of salvation (7:50). They consider in-depth how the Hebrew authors thought of the “soul” and how it differs from the modern notion (17:36). Dr. Denison talks about C.S. Lewis, why we can only find peace in God, and the difference between knowing “about” God versus knowing God personally (27:45). They point listeners to where they should start if they want to yearn for God and consider how to grow that true, intimate longing to be with God (32:50).   NOTE: We’ve launched our summer campaign. As a 100-percent donor-supported ministry nonprofit, we rely on believers like you to give toward our calling “to equip the saints for the work of ministry” (Eph. 4:12). If our work has encouraged or inspired you, please give today.   Resources and further reading: First15.org You Are the Beloved, Henri Nouwen  Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster   About the host    Mark Turman, DMin, is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church.    About the guest  Jim Denison, PhD, is a cultural theologian and the founder and CEO of Denison Ministries, which is transforming 6.8 million lives through meaningful digital content. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy and a Master of Divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He also received an honorary Doctor of Divinity from Dallas Baptist University. Dr. Denison is the Theologian in Residence for the Baptist General Convention of Texas. Prior to launching Denison Forum in 2009, he pastored churches in Texas and Georgia.  

Scot McKnight, PhD, Cody Matchett, and Dr. Mark Truman discuss the flaws of dispensationalism, Revelation’s message for discipleship, the Christian life as a peaceful political dissident, how to read Revelation generally, and what this means for Christian worship today.    Show notes:    New Testament scholars Scot McKnight, PhD, and Cody Matchett explain their background with the book of Revelation and why they wrote Revelation for the Rest of Us (2:41). Dr. McKnight explains dispensationalism, its history and ideas, why it fails, and why their reading of Revelation leads to hope rather than paranoia (10:04). They explain what it means to be a dissident disciple, the importance of politics in Revelation, and John’s constant allusions to Rome (24:52). They talk about why this more biblical interpretation makes Revelation apply so fervently to modern Christians. They consider the drama in Revelation’s colorful language and how to interpret John’s vision (30:01). They discuss why John was exiled to Patmos and how Christianity was deemed threatening to the political order (38:19). Revelation compares and contrasts the woman of Babylon and the woman of Jerusalem, revealing to modern churches how to worship more powerfully (47:31).    NOTE: We’ve launched our summer campaign. As a 100-percent donor-supported ministry nonprofit, we rely on believers like you to give toward our calling “to equip the saints for the work of ministry” (Eph. 4:12). If our work has encouraged or inspired you, please give today.   Resources and further reading:   “Revelation for Too Many: An excerpt from Revelation for the Rest of Us”  Revelation for the Rest of Us: A Prophetic Call to Follow Jesus as a Dissident Disciple, Dr. Scot McKnight, Cody Matchett Pivot: The Priorities, Practices, and Powers That Can Transform Your Church into a Tov Culture, Dr. Scot McKnight, Laura Barringer Reading Revelation Responsibly, Dr. Michael J. Gorman The Rise and Fall of Dispensationalism, Dr. Daniel G. Hummel   About the host    Mark Turman, DMin, is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church.    About the guests    Scot McKnight (PhD, University of Nottingham) is a world-renowned speaker, writer, professor, and equipper of the Church. He is a recognized authority on the historical Jesus, early Christianity, and the New Testament. His books have been translated into Chinese, Korean, Russian, and Portuguese. He is the author of The Jesus Creed, The Blue Parakeet, The King Jesus Gospel, Revelation for the Rest of Us, numerous commentaries, and is now writing a sixteen-volume series of reflections called The Everyday Bible Study.   Cody Matchett is the Scholar in Residence at First Assembly Church in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Cody holds a bachelor’s degree in biblical Studies (Briercrest College) and a Master of Arts in New Testament (Northern Seminary). He is pursuing his PhD at Ridley College, Melbourne. He lives in Calgary with his wife Brianna and his daughter Aleitheia Theodora.  

Abdu Murray, JD, and Dr. Mark Turman discuss Murray’s conversion from Islam, ho the Bible is neither sexist nor racist, why Christianity historically propelled human rights, why he’s optimistic about race relations in the church, and the effect of Ravi Zacharias’ abuse.    Show notes:    Abdu Murray, JD, begins by talking about his upbringing as a devout Muslim in Detroit, Michigan, and how he came to faith in Christ (1:45). As a now full-time apologist, Murray describes how the younger generation doubts Christianity because they question the Bible’s morality, which led him to write on sexism and racism in More Than a White Man’s Religion (9:05). Murray and Dr. Turman consider how deconstructing can be good, but how historically, Christian thought has led to greater human rights, for women and ethnic minorities. Murray explains the difference between description and prescription in the Bible (21:00). They consider how Anglo people weren’t the first Christ-followers and how Christianity is currently growing most in non-western places (26:40). They talk about why Murray is optimistic about the way churches have pursued diversity, that we can continue to heal from racism despite lingering challenges (33:18). Murray talks about his unique experience as a Muslim outsider in his community. They then celebrate how Jesus opposed sexism in his culture (40:25). They close by reflecting on the legacy of Ravi Zacharias, his treatment of women, and the need for a gracious savior (49:50).    NOTE: We’ve launched our summer campaign. As a 100-percent donor-supported ministry nonprofit, we rely on believers like you to give toward our calling “to equip the saints for the work of ministry” (Eph. 4:12). If our work has encouraged or inspired you, please give today. Resources and further reading:   More Than a White Man's Religion: Why the Gospel Has Never Been Merely White, Male-Centered, or Just Another Religion, Abdu Murray. “Racial injustice and the fierce urgency of now: A conversation with Jemar Tisby, author of ‘The Color of Compromise’” Jemar Tisby  “What does the Bible say about racism?” Dr. Jim Denison “In ‘Beyond Racial Division,’ Dr. George Yancey argues that colorblindness and antiracism aren’t helpful: How do we heal racial division?” Mark Legg   About the host    Mark Turman, DMin, is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church.    About the guest    Abdu Murray (JD, University of Michigan) is an apologist who has led dialogues, open forums, and debates around the world at universities, churches, and business and government gatherings. He hosts the podcast All Rise and is the author of many articles and three books, including Grand Central Question and Saving Truth.

Dr. Russell Moore and Dr. Mark Turman discuss Tim Keller's legacy, how to live in courage rather than fear, loneliness in standing for what’s right, cynicism inside and outside the church, and why the wedding of politics to Christianity is so disastrous.    Show notes:    Dr. Russell Moore and Dr. Mark Turman discuss Tim Keller, his impact, and Dr. Moore’s friendship with him (3:41). They discuss why Dr. Moore decided to write a book about courage, especially one that focuses on Elijah as an imperfect exemplar (10:39). They talk about signs of when you might be living according to fear instead of faith, and why it is God works most in the most uncertain moments (20:54). Dr. Moore explains why loneliness is sometimes necessary in pursuing courage, and why brave people often don’t realize their own courage (29:43). Dr. Moore talks about Losing our Religion, a future book release of his that discusses cynicism inside and outside the church, especially in the case of politics and Christianity (47:55).   NOTE: We’ve launched our summer campaign. As a 100-percent donor-supported ministry nonprofit, we rely on believers like you to give toward our calling “to equip the saints for the work of ministry” (Eph. 4:12). If our work has encouraged or inspired you, please give today—and know that your gift will be doubled by a generous $75,000 match. Resources and further reading:   Losing Our Religion: An Altar Call for Evangelical America, Dr. Russell Moore The Courage to Stand: Facing Your Fear Without Losing Your Soul, Dr. Russell Moore “How to die like Tim Keller” Dr. Jim Denison Between Compromise and Courage: The Choice Every Christian Must Make, Dr. Jim Denison   About the host    Mark Turman, DMin, is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church.    About the guest    Russell Moore is Editor in Chief of Christianity Today and is the author of the forthcoming book Losing Our Religion: An Altar Call for Evangelical America. Dr. Moore was named in 2017 to Politico Magazine’s list of top fifty influence-makers in Washington and has been profiled by such publications as the New York Times, the Washington Post, TIME Magazine, and the New Yorker. An ordained Baptist minister, Moore served previously as President of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and, before that, as the chief academic officer and dean of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he also taught theology and ethics. He also hosts the weekly podcast The Russell Moore Show and is co-host of Christianity Today’s weekly news and analysis podcast, The Bulletin. Russell was President of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention from 2013 to 2021. Prior to that role, Moore served as provost and dean of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, where he also taught theology and ethics. A native Mississippian, he and his wife Maria are the parents of five sons. They live in Nashville, where he teaches the Bible regularly at their congregation, Immanuel Church.  

Dr. Katie McCoy and Dr. Mark Turman discuss Dr. McCoy’s upcoming book, To Be a Woman, the origin of transgenderism, why so many more women and girls are transitioning, and how to practically, lovingly, engage with trans ideology.   Show notes:    Dr. Katie McCoy talks about why she wrote To Be a Woman and the definition of gender dysphoria (3:13). She discusses the history of ideas that led to the transgender movement and reflects on the surge in female-to-male trans people (13:17). Dr. McCoy defines other terms like gender-affirming care and the effect of social contagion, pointing to social media as a reason for the rise in trans teens (22:24). She ties together critical theory, trans identity, and philosophy to explain how gender and sexuality became separated (42:14). They close by reflecting on gender pronouns, whether Christian kids should be in public schools, and other practical questions of how to live faithfully (51:06).   NOTE: We’ve launched our summer campaign. As a 100-percent donor-supported ministry nonprofit, we rely on believers like you to give toward our calling “to equip the saints for the work of ministry” (Eph. 4:12). If our work has encouraged or inspired you, please give today—and know that your gift will be doubled by a generous $75,000 match.   Visit DFpodcasts.org to give today.    Resources and further reading:   To Be a Woman, Dr. Katie McCoy  Blondeorthodoxy.com “What does the Bible say about transgenderism?” Denison Forum “Responding to Pride Month with Fidelity Month,” Dr. Jim Denison “Is Critical Race Theory Marxist,” Mark Legg   About the host    Mark Turman, DMin, is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church.    About the guest    Katie J. McCoy serves as Director of Women's Ministry at Texas Baptists. She holds a PhD in Systematic Theology from Southwestern Seminary (TX), where she served on faculty for five years. Katie teaches and writes on the intersection of theology, culture, and women's issues, and has co-authored a work on the doctrine of humanity as part of the Theology for the People of God series (B&H Academic). Included among her research is discovering the pattern of justice for women in Old Testament laws. You can find Katie online at blondeorthodoxy.com.  

Chris Legg, LPC, joins Dr. Mark Turman to discuss how psychology and faith integrate, how Legg works as a therapist and pastor, a biblical understanding of mental disorders, Jesus’ flawed but sinless life, and the need for a healthy community.    Show notes:    Chris Legg talks about his family and career, how he became a licensed counselor, owner of a counseling practice, and head pastor of South Spring Church (2:14). Dr. Turmans asks for the definition of mental illness, which brings their discussion to a biblical understanding of disorders (8:00). Legg talks about how therapy and Christianity integrate in a holistic way, and explores how everyone is broken in one way or another  (15:27). They consider how God’s will is not for us to be perfectly healthy in this life, and how we can pray for disorders to be healed (37:37). They talk about Jesus being perfect but not flawless as a sinless human and the need for a community to battle isolation (45:54). Legg closes by encouraging anyone struggling to seek help, that counselors, pastors, friends, family, and the Lord want to walk alongside you in dark times (56:34).   Resources and further reading:   Alethia Counseling       South Spring Baptist Church   Chrismlegg.com “3 reasons why churches fail at mental health,” Chris Legg    “Struggling with mental illness? Consider these 7 ideas,” Chris Legg    About the host    Mark Turman, DMin, is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church.   About the guest    Chris Legg received his Master’s in Marriage and Family Counseling and Christian Teaching from Southwestern University and is a licensed professional counselor (LPC). He is the founder and owner of Alethia Counseling Center (which offers counseling, speaking, and business consulting) and is the head pastor at South Spring Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas. He is passionate about helping others find freedom in Christ and training disciples to make disciples, equipping them to live life to the fullest. Legg speaks on various subjects to schools, camps, and conferences, but he is particularly expert in unpacking marriage, sex, and healthy relationships. He previously worked as the chaplain for Pine Cove Christian camps, establishing the Christian leadership program The Forge. He publishes a wide range of articles in his casual blog on Chrismlegg.com. He has been joyfully married to his wife, Ginger, for over twenty-five years and has five children, two of whom are adopted. He cherishes his family and prioritizes his role as husband and father, which are second only to his allegiance to Christ.

Curtis Chang joins Dr. Mark Turman to talk about his book, The Anxiety Opportunity, how anxiety affected Chang’s life, why anxiety is not a sin but a chance for spiritual growth, how anxiety reflects a fear of loss, and how Jesus speaks into our worries.    Show notes:    Curtis Chang begins by sharing a deeply personal story about struggling with his anxiety disorder as a senior pastor and how God helped him see anxiety as an opportunity for spiritual growth (3:04). Chang explains how some level of anxiety is natural and why we can’t just “pray it away” (8:04). They discuss how anxiety is the fear of future loss, and this should prompt us to ask: what are we afraid of losing (20:10)? Chang gives practical ways to overcome the symptoms of anxiety while warning that we must also address the deeper heart issues, relying on the power of the Holy Spirit (29:31). They consider the danger of avoiding loss at all costs, remembering that we will lose everything on this earth at some point, and how loss avoidance can end in a false version of the gospel (38:46). They close by talking about the importance of community to deal with anxiety, taking it first to God and then to others who love us (54:10).    Resources and further reading: The Anxiety Opportunity: How Worry is the Doorway to Your Best Self, Curtis Chang Redeeming Babel The Good Faith podcast “In “The Anxiety Opportunity,” Curtis Chang says that worry opens doors to our best selves” Mark Legg   About the host    Mark Turman, DMin, is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church.    About the guest    As a theologian, Curtis is on the faculty of Duke Divinity School and is a Senior Fellow at Fuller Theological Seminary. His ministry experience includes serving as a senior pastor of an Evangelical Covenant Church in California, a campus minister with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, and engaging in racial reconciliation work in Soweto, South Africa. He has authored or contributed to numerous books, including Engaging Unbelief: A Captivating Strategy from Augustine and Aquinas (IVP). Curtis is the founding Executive Director of Redeeming Babel, a nonprofit that produces content to promote a reformation in how Christians engage the wider world. He also co-hosts (with David French) the Good Faith podcast, where they discuss how Christian faith intersects with culture, law, and politics. His biblical insights are enriched by his own secular career, which includes founding a White House award-winning nonprofit consulting firm and teaching strategic planning as a faculty at American University’s School of International Service. Curtis graduated from Harvard University and is a former Rockefeller Fellow.  

Matt Jacobson joins Dr. Mark Turman to discuss being a biblical spouse, the pornography epidemic, how to have freedom from sexual temptation, and the power we have amid spiritual warfare through our identity in Christ.  Show notes:  Matt Jacobson begins by talking about his testimony, biblical marriage, and the severity of the sin of fornication in the Bible (1:32). Jacobson says that the way Christians believe the lie that they are weak in confronting sexual temptation leads to bondage (14:36). He emphasizes the spiritual warfare around us and at the same time, the choice we have to sin (17:21). They discuss how pornography leads to lonely emptiness, and why Christians must know their power in the Spirit (30:59). Jacobson talks about practical ways to fight the spiritual battle against sexual temptation, drawing on our identity as children of God (39:42). They close with advice for parents and a word of grace and hope for those addicted to pornography (47:53).  Resources and further reading: Freedom Course “What does the Bible say about pornography” Mark Legg Faithful Man 100 Ways to Love Your Husband/Wife Faithful Life Podcast Fight the New Drug About the host  Mark Turman, DMin, is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church.  About the guest  Matt Jacobson is a teaching pastor of Cline Falls Bible Fellowship and founder of FaithfulMan.com, an online social media community focusing on marriage, parenting, and biblical teaching. He is the creator of Freedom Course, teaching men the powerful, biblical path to getting completely free from porn and sexual sin. Matt is the author of the bestselling Loving Your Wife Well and 100 Words of Affirmation Your Wife Needs to Hear. He lives with his wife, Lisa, in the Pacific Northwest, where they have raised their eight children. Together Matt and Lisa are cohosts of the popular Faithful Life podcast.