Faith & Clarity - Biblical Perspectives and Biblical Wisdom on News & Cultural Issues

Lou Phillips, Director of Church Relations for the Center for Faith, Sexuality, and Gender, joins Dr. Turman to discuss his work in Christian sexual ethics apologetics, how churches make an idol of marriage and sex, the way to reach out to LGBTQ+ people, and why the culture finds its identity in sexuality.    Show notes:    Lou Phillips starts by sharing his testimony, why he works in teaching Christian sexual ethics in an apologetic setting, and how he’s been received by secular audiences (1:50). They turn to consider how marriage has become an idol in the church and how Christians seek fulfillment in marriage rather than in God (11:20). Phillips and Dr. Turman talk about why sexuality, tied together with suffering, has become the biggest obstacle for our culture coming to Christ (18:17). They dive into the issues of identity, why culture finds it in sexuality, and whether sexual sin is worse than others (29:19). Phillips goes into a complex practical question: Should Christians with homosexual attraction call themselves gay (43:40)? They close by returning to how churches need to do better at supporting single people, which is equally as fulfilling as marriage—it needs to be the crux of the entire argument for Christians (56:02).     Resources and further reading: The Center for Faith, Sexuality, & Gender “What does the Bible say about homosexuality?” Dr. Jim Denison Embodied: Transgender Identities, the Church, and What the Bible Has to Say Dr. Preston Sprinkle   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    Lou Phillips is the Director of Church Relations for the Center for Faith, Sexuality, and Gender.  Phillips attended Grove City College and graduated with a Bachelor of Science, double majoring in molecular biology and political science. Lou also received his certificate of theological studies from the University of Oxford (Wycliffe Hall) and was trained at The OCCA (The Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics). For the past eight years, Lou has been traveling and speaking at universities, conferences, and churches, entertaining people’s biggest objections to Christianity. Lou is most interested in topics such as meaning, identity, and sexuality as they relate to the Christian worldview, especially in the lives of students and young adults.   

Dr. Ryan Denison joins Dr. Mark Turman to discuss church history and heretics, the book he coauthored on the Sermon on the Mount, The Path to Purpose, and the meaning behind Jesus’ preaching.    Show notes:    Dr. Ryan Denison discusses his love of church history, how heretics are formed, and the book he partnered with his dad Dr. Jim Denison to write, The Path to Purpose (2:07). They discuss the meaning behind the title of the book, which covers Jesus most famous sermon, The Sermon on the Mount while giving the broad points behind the sermon (19:39). Dr. Ryan Denison talks about the context and the importance of the beatitudes for framing Jesus’ teachings (30:44). They consider the holistic purpose behind the sermon, why it's not meant as a spiritual scorecard, and why it remains relevant to our lives today (39:30). Dr. Ryan Denison closes by sharing what he hopes readers will get out of the book—a deeper relationship with God (55:40).  Denison Forum's newest book, The Path to Purpose, takes a closer look at the Sermon on the Mount and how Jesus’ timeless truth can help you discover God’s will for your life.   Resources and further reading:   The Path to Purpose: Christ’s Vision for your Life in the Sermon on the Mount, Dr. Ryan Denison and Dr. Jim Denison   About the hosts  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    Ryan Denison is the Senior Editor for Theology at Denison Forum, where he 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. Ryan has also taught at BH Carroll and Dallas Baptist University. He and his wife, Candice, live in East Texas and have two children.  

Calev Myers, a prominent Israeli lawyer, discusses with Dr. Mark Turman his civil rights advocacy, efforts to support justice in Israel, and the origin and solution to the current civil unrest against the Israeli government.    Show notes:    Calev Myers begins by talking about his career and the founding story of the Jerusalem Institute for Justice, which focuses on Hamas’ abuse of Palestinians while also advocating on behalf of Israeli citizens (4:21). He discusses the relatively peaceful coexistence of Israelis and how to communicate inter-religiously (15:31). Myers elaborates by unfolding the origin of modern Israel and the specific issues he’s dealt with in their Supreme Court (19:47). He then talks about ARISE, a group that helps make business connections and grows Israel economically, which combats an insidious boycott movement called “BDS” (33:52). He shares some of ARISES’ success stories (41:55). Myers and Dr. Turman then consider the current protests and unrest, starting with Israel’s lack of a founding constitution and the imbalance of power in its government (47:44). Myers closes with how we can pray for Israel (1:04:04).    Resources and further reading:   ARISE, website Jerusalem Institute of Justice, website Crucial Alliance: African-Americans, Jews, and the Middle East Conundrum, Calev Myers "What I learned in Israel about the recent Israeli elections," Dr. Jim Denison "How to think biblically about Israel", Podcast with Dr. Jim Denison “To Follow in His Footsteps,” Dr. Jim and Ryan Denison   About the hosts    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    In 2004, Myers became a partner at Yehuda Raveh & Co., a law firm. In 2004, Myers also founded the Jerusalem Institute of Justice (JIJ), a human rights group active in Israel and its adjacent territories, and has presented reports on their behalf before governmental bodies. In 2009, Myers became a founding partner of the Jerusalem City Center Branch of Yehuda Raveh and Co., which primarily serves foreign clients investing or donating in Israel. Myers’ legal practice focuses primarily on corporate and intellectual property law, as well as non-profit law, immigration law, and civil rights.  Myers is the Founder and Chairman of ARISE – Alliance to Reinforce Israel’s Security and Economy and serves as the Chairman of the Anti-BDS Commission of the Israel Association of Bi-National Chambers of Commerce.  

Tara-Leigh Cobble and Dr. Mark Turman discuss Cobble’s testimony, the importance of biblical literacy, reading Scripture in the community, and their deep love for Israel.    Show notes:    Tara-Leigh Cobble begins by sharing her testimony, how she fell in love with the Bible, and how The Bible Recap grew to become one of the most listened to podcasts (2:37). She then shares why reading the Bible in a community is so important and how D-Groups began in her living room (18:27). Dr. Turman and her share their experiences in Israel, their favorite memories, place, and restaurants, and how making a pilgrimage to the Holy Land can bring new light to biblical stories (29:29).    Resources and further reading:   D-Group, discipleship-based Bible studies The Bible Recap website Israel: Beauty, Light, and Luxury, Tara-Leigh Cobble The Bible Recap, Tara-Leigh Cobble   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    Tara-Leigh Cobble’s zeal for biblical literacy led her to create and develop an international network of Bible studies called D-Group (Discipleship Group). Every week, over 250 men's and women's D-Groups meet weekly in homes and churches around the world to study Scripture. She also writes and hosts a daily radio show called “The God Shot” and a daily podcast called "The Bible Recap," designed to help listeners read and understand the Bible in a year.  In just over a year, the podcast has been downloaded nearly 20 million times, and more than 20,000 churches around the world have joined their reading plan to know and love God better.    

Mary Jo Sharp joins Dr. Mark Turman to discuss Gen Z’s unique needs, why we need apologetics, and Dark Room, the free high-budget video series aimed to help Gen Z navigate the hardest questions.    Show notes:    Mary Jo Sharp shares her testimony of becoming a Christian after atheism and why she ended up studying apologetics (1:36). Sharp then discusses “Dark Room,” a video series and curriculum built on real questions and stories from Gen Z. She then specifically addresses why Gen Z is seeking rational answers to deep questions and why Gen Z distrusts the church (10:48). She talks about the problem of evil and sin nature, explaining why those ideas are so important for young generations (21:38). She points out the needs of Gen Z at this time, their interest in science and faith, and the need for spiritual mentorship (31:06). Sharp shares her favorite episodes from Dark Room, the mission behind it, and how churches and parents can use it for free (35:13).   Resources and further reading:   Dark Room Faith Mary Jo Sharp (website) Why I Still Believe: A Former Atheist’s Reckoning with the Bad Reputation Christians Give a Good God Mary Jo Sharp Why Do You Believe That?: A Faith Conversation Marj Jo Sharp “What does Gen Z value? 4 truths about what they believe” Mark Legg “The viral revival at Asbury reveals Gen Z’s unique approach to faith and spirituality” Laurel Wood   About the hosts    Jim Denison, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, and the CEO of Denison Ministries, which is transforming 6.8 million lives through meaningful digital content.  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    A former atheist who came to faith, Mary Jo Sharp is now an assistant professor of apologetics at Houston Christian University and the founder and director of Confident Christianity Apologetics Ministry. She has been featured in Christianity Today’s cover story “The Unexpected Defenders” and is an international speaker on apologetics.  She serves on the faculty with Summit Ministries Student Conferences and is a published author with Kregel Publications, B&H Publications, and Zondervan. Mary Jo is the author of the top-selling Bible study, “Why Do You Believe That?” as well as Living in Truth with LifeWay Christian Resources. She recently released Why I Still Believe.   

Alex Kondratev, Steph Thurling, Dr. Mark Turman, and Dr. Jim Denison discuss women in leadership, especially in ministry, the discrimination women often face in churches, the SBC removing Saddleback for having a female pastor, complementarianism, and egalitarianism.     Show notes:    Dr. Mark Turman and Dr. Jim Denison begin the discussion by talking about the theological and historical background of women in leadership, the patriarchy, and complementarian versus egalitarian views (4:27). Alex Kondratev discusses her background, God calling her to lead, and the difficulties she has faced. Steph Thurling steps in to relate her story and similar calling to leadership, as well as the roadblocks she faced (12:53). Dr. Denison and Kondratev continue by discussing hermeneutics, feminism, and the cultural differences in the Bible (25:56). Thurling and Kondratev discuss the hindrance to their careers because of them being women pursuing leadership in ministry (39:34). Then, they delve into the SBC controversy. The denomination believes the office of pastor is restricted to men and removed Saddleback church and others when they didn’t comply (46:27). They close by discussing the “Billy Graham rule,” its upsides and downsides, and why Christian men in leadership should especially think critically about issues of sexual accountability in a way that doesn’t lead to the hindrance of women (56:55).   Resources and further reading: “Should women be pastors? Or church leaders, deacons, or teachers?” Dr. Jim Denison  “Can a woman be a pastor? “40 Questions About Women in Ministry” offers many answers” Denison Forum “Redeeming the “shecession”: How Christian working women can reframe their careers post-Covid” Dr. Joy Dahl   About the hosts    Jim Denison, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, and the CEO of Denison Ministries, which is transforming 6.8 million lives through meaningful digital content.  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    Alex Kondratev serves as the Chief Content Officer at Denison Ministries. With experience in creating and aggregating media from hundreds of Christian ministries, she leads the Denison Ministries brands in getting relevant and transformative content to the world.   Steph Thurling is the Executive Director of Christian Parenting and host of The Christian Parenting Podcast. Steph has her master’s in youth, family, and culture from Fuller Theological Seminary and has a background in youth and children’s ministry. She is co-author of Raising Prayerful Kids, a book that shares easy, life-giving, and fun ways to teach kids to pray. She loves helping families grow closer to each other and to God through meaningful experiences and conversations.   

Erin Kerry joins Dr. Mark Turman to discuss how functional and traditional medicine can complement each other, why self-care done right can be biblical, the importance of seeing ourselves as body, mind, and soul, and why nutrition is important to mental health.   Show notes:    Erin Kerry talks about her life story, including her struggle with serious mental illness and how she developed a passion for helping others in the same place (1:40). Kerry discusses integrative nutrition, functional medicine, and how they can complement traditional medicine (8:01). The conversation turns to the difference between self-medicating and self-care, whether Christians should use self-care, and the necessity of sabbath (18:09). She highlights the importance of silence and spiritual rest (31:33). Kerry talks about gluten and why it’s become trendy, as well as how digestion works in your body (38:15). She ends by sharing practical tips better to integrate your life with healthy habits (45:50).   Resources and further reading:   sparkingwholeness.com  “How to practice biblical self-care” Erin Kerry  “Should I take meds for my depression? A Christian approach to the mental illness epidemic” Erin Kerry    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   Erin Kerry is a certified integrative nutrition health coach and mom to three children. She has received training from The Institute for Integrative Nutrition and The School of Applied Functional Medicine. As a survivor of mental illness, she is passionate about advocating for mental health. She is the owner of Sparking Wholeness, host of the Sparking Wholeness podcast, and works as the Integrative Health Coach at Living Well Counseling and Wellness Center in Tyler, Texas.  

Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Mark Turman sit down to discuss the mission of Denison Forum, the origin story of the ministry that now reaches millions of people, how he writes The Daily Article, and the different brands of Denison Ministries.    Show notes:    To begin, Dr. Jim Dension gives the elevator pitch for Denison Forum and how James Davison Hunter’s idea of “manifesting faithful presence” clarified his vision for Denison Forum (0:25). Dr. Denison discusses how Christians should use their influence in America (7:59). Then, he launches into the history of Denison Forum, starting with the early years then moving into The Daily Article (16:15). They consider what “culture” means, and why we want to equip Christians to change the culture (28:57). Dr. Denison shares how he makes The Daily Article and how he picks the topics for it (33:35). They talk about what Denison Ministries does, and its unique mission with multiple brands (44:57). Dr. Denison closes by talking about whether strategic planning is biblical, and how we can use influence to advance Christ’s kingdom (48:34).   Resources and further reading:   Denison Forum’s mission, story, and impact Denison Ministries 2022 impact report The Coming Tsunami, Dr. Jim Denison To Change the World, Dr. James Davison Hunter   About the hosts  Jim Denison, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, and the CEO of Denison Ministries, which is transforming 6.8 million lives through meaningful digital content.    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.

Jon Erwin, director of Jesus Revolution, joins Dr. Mark Turman and Mark Legg to talk about the inspiration for Jesus Revolution, the true story behind the movie, how the Holy Spirit moved on set, and his hope for a new Jesus movement among Gen Z.   Show notes:   Acclaimed director Jon Erwin shares his heart behind moviemaking, how he got started with humble beginnings in Alabama, and why he loves to tell true dramas (3:41). He shares the reason for making Jesus Revolution in particular and how Time magazine’s 1971 cover story inspired his interest in the shocking true story (11:52). Erwin talks about how they were connected to Lionsgate and Kelsey Grammer and the resurgence in Christian media in Hollywood (18:31). He discusses the striking similarities between Gen Z and the generation that took part in the counterculture movement in the 60s and 70s portrayed in Jesus Revolution. He expands on this theme by encouraging Christians to go on the spiritual offense by living on mission with optimism. (28:57) Erwin shares his favorite theme and scene in the movie, why “Pirate’s Cove” in California is so important to Jesus Revolution, and the way the Holy Spirit moved in miraculous ways while they filmed (40:53) He closes by challenging the audience to trust Jesus, get out of their seats to reach Gen Z, and watch for God to work in this generation. (49:53)   Resources and further reading:   Jesus Revolution tickets, showing everywhere Friday, February 24 “Why are teens sadder, lonelier, and more depressed than ever before?” Mark Legg “The Fifth Great Awakening,” Jim Denison “Asbury revival draws massive crowds” Jim Denison “Is God bringing revival to Asbury and America?” Jim Denison   About the hosts    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. Mark Legg is an Associate Editor for Denison Forum. He graduated from Dallas Baptist University in 2021 with a degree in Philosophy and Biblical Studies.   About the guest   In 2002, Jon Erwin founded a production company with his brother, Andrew Erwin. Their first ventures were commercials, documentaries, and music videos. The brothers soon directed videos and produced concerts and television programs for platinum recording artists such as Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Casting Crowns, Switchfoot, Skillet, and others and received eleven GMA Dove Awards nominations and three wins for Music Video of the Year. Alongside their award-winning music videos, Jon and Andrew have also produced and directed several documentaries. These include the multi-award-winning 9/11 story, The Cross and the Towers. Their features have all opened in the top ten box office on opening weekend, and they have received the coveted A+ Cinema Score twice. Their features include October Baby, Mom’s Night Out, Woodlawn, and the 2018 surprise hit I Can Only Imagine, which became the #1 independent film of 2018, earning over $83 million at the box office. In 2019, Jon and Andrew launched Kingdom Story Company, alongside their partners Kevin Downes and Tony Young, with a first-look deal with Lionsgate. Jon serves as Chief Executive Officer at Kingdom Story Company as well as writes and co-directs feature films with Andrew. He is also the author of the upcoming book For Love and Honor.

Dr. Katie Frugé, Dr. Mark Turman, and Mark Legg discuss why new technology shapes the culture war, the positives and negatives of social media, why algorithms require more regulation, and how parents should navigate social media.    Show notes:    Dr. Katie Frugé talks about her background in seminary and her multi-faceted job as the Director of the Center for Cultural Engagement at the BGCT (1:33). She talks about the so-called culture wars and how social media changes the landscape of public discourse (10:52). She discusses social media algorithms, needed regulation, and tech exploiting sin nature (19:19). Dr. Frugé continues by explaining the upsides to social media and why we’re more connected than ever, but also lonelier than every (28:40). They discuss how rapidly technology advances and the generational gaps in understanding about social media (35:44). Dr. Frugé ends by covering some basic rules for parenting and how to navigate the often dark world of tech, facing the potential dangers of pornography and sexual grooming (42:54)   Resources and further reading:   Following Jesus in a Digital Age (Bible Study) The Center for Cultural Engagement  “Why are teens sadder, lonelier, and more depressed than ever before?” Mark Legg   About the hosts  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.  Mark Legg is an Associate Editor for Denison Forum. He graduated from Dallas Baptist University in 2021 with a degree in Philosophy and Biblical Studies.   About the guest    Katie Frugé, Ph.D., earned her Master of Divinity degree and Ph.D. in systematic theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Katie Frugé has been named director of Texas Baptists’ Center for Cultural Engagement and the Christian Life Commission. Frugé began her service with the Baptist General Convention of Texas in 2019 as the hunger and human care specialist with the CLC. She later took on the role of associate director of the CLC.