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

Explore the greatest commandment of Jesus and its impact on our lives. Dive into the January 6 riot and its cultural implications. Learn about the importance of history in understanding and living out the Christian faith.

In this wide-spanning conversation on current events and the Christmas season, Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Mark Turman discuss what’s happening in the Israel–Hamas war, Pope Francis' recent declaration concerning the blessing of irregular relationships, and the incarnational miracle of Jesus' birth as the Savior of the world.Topics(00:24): Why are the Houthis disrupting commerce on the Red Sea?(09:39): How should Israel handle its Hamas hostage crisis?(16:37): What does the Bible say about relating to people who don’t act in good faith?(24:16): Why did Pope Francis allow priests to bless same-sex couples?(32:50): How does the world define “blessing”? Should we seek blessings?(41:54): What’s your favorite rendition of A Christmas Carol?(43:56): The incredible reality of the Christmas storyResourcesWhy are the Houthis a threat to us? A reflection on the path to encouraging peaceColorado Supreme Court bars former President Trump from 2024 ballot: An explanation and three biblical responsesHow should Israel respond to Hamas?“Pope Francis allows priests to bless same-sex couples”Why we love holiday movies: A reflection on the source of true joyTranscript (PDF)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.Guest bioAbout 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.

Cultural apologist Dr. Jim Denison answers a few challenging questions about the Bible from our audience, many of which seemed to ask the same question: Is God just? For example, can people in hell be saved? Did Jesus go to hell after his crucifixion and before his resurrection? If “God is love,” as 1 John 4:16 says, is hell necessary?And what about the millions of people who lived before Jesus came to earth? Are any of them saved? What about people living today who may never hear the gospel? And did God condone genocide in the Old Testament?Dr. Denison also speaks to the postmodern belief underlying the popular statement that “God made me this way” as it relates to same-sex attraction, alcoholism, and other temptations.Topics(00:51): Did Jesus go to hell after his crucifixion?(08:10): Can salvation happen after death?(13:05): Why is hell necessary?(18:21): If salvation is only through Jesus, what about the people who lived before Jesus?(22:24): If people today never hear the gospel, will they go to hell?(31:15): The danger of saying “God made me this way”(41:17): Is God guilty of genocide in the Old Testament?ResourcesDid Jesus go to hell?Why Jesus?Why did God tell the Jews to kill the Canaanites?Why is the God of the Old Testament so vengeful?Wrestling with God by Dr. Jim DenisonThe Problem of Pain by C. S. LewisThe Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert ColemanGlobal Media OutreachWhat does the Bible say about homosexuality?Episode transcript (PDF)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.

“Jesus is not calling people to align themselves with heaven. He calls people to align themselves to him.”Skye Jethani is an award-winning author, former pastor, and speaker. He is also the cohost of the popular Holy Post podcast.In this episode of The Denison Forum Podcast, Jethani discusses his latest book, What If Jesus Was Serious about Heaven?. The conversation contrasts Christians’ traditionally held views of heaven with what the Bible actually says about heaven.Jethani discusses the idea of viewing heaven as a restoration mission rather than a rescue mission. This perspective shifts the narrative from an afterlife escapism to a present-life commitment toward living in union with Jesus.Host Dr. Mark Turman and Jethani also reflect on Jesus' teachings about the earthly application of his “kingdom come” and how that should influence our lives today as Christians.Topics(01:48): Skye Jethani’s journey to faith(05:24): What did Skye’s father think about his choice to go to seminary?(07:25): The story behind the uniqueness of Skye’s name(08:24): How did you come to meet and later work with Phil Vischer on The Holy Post?(11:12): Why did you start a series of books titled What If Jesus Was Serious About . . . ?” And why did you decide to write on heaven in your most recent book?(14:39): An accessible but challenging devotional with deep theology(18:43): A heaven-centered faith vs. a Christ-centered faith(24:06): What does Jethani mean by “thin places”?(28:05): Why we pray “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”(30:24): Is Jesus coming on a rescue mission or a restoration mission?(36:20): Scriptural fallacies that well-meaning Christians believe because of tradition(40:21): What did Peter mean when he wrote that “the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved”?(43:54): Oneness with Christ(47:39): Why does a right understanding of heaven matter to us today?ResourcesWhat If Jesus Was Serious about Heaven? By Skye JethaniIf Jesus was serious . . . then our view of heaven must match his: An excerpt from "What If Jesus Was Serious about Heaven?" by Skye JethaniThe Holy Post podcastMore about Skye JethaniAbout Skye JethaniSkye Jethani (MDiv, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is an award-winning author, former pastor, and speaker. He is cohost of the popular Holy Post podcast, with over 600,000 downloads per month. Jethani has written numerous books, including the What If Jesus Was Serious? series, and served for more than a decade in numerous editorial and executive roles at Christianity Today. He also writes a daily devotional called With God Daily. He and his wife live in Wheaton, Illinois, with their three children.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.

“The goal is to equip Christians to pray powerfully and use their influence effectively for the cause of peace in the Middle East.”Denison Forum recently released a free ebook entitled The War in Israel: What You Need to Know about This Crisis of Global Significance. In this episode of The Denison Forum Podcast, Dr. Jim Denison shares what led him to write this book, why the current war in Israel differs from the many that have preceded it throughout history, and how this war could be a catalyst for spiritual awakening, both in the Middle East and in one’s own heart.Topics(00:12): How did Dr. Denison’s passion for the people and place of Israel begin?(06:01): Why did Dr. Denison write his book The War in Israel?(08:27): How do you define Israel? (race, region, religion)(12:33): Does Israel’s geographic location matter in its war today?(15:51): Why is Israel “the home of hope”?(18:22): Is Israeli solidarity built around race, religion, or both?(19:43): Are the Jewish people the most oppressed people group across history?(23:14): Are the Jews still “God’s chosen people”?(26:57): Do the Jewish people need Jesus?(29:56): A brief account of Israel’s recent history(36:38): Have any Arab nations disavowed Hamas as a terrorist group?(39:25): Are Hamas’s claims and Israel’s claims morally equivalent?(43:32): Why is the current war in Israel different from its previous conflicts?(49:37): How can we best pray for those affected by the Israel–Hamas war? ResourcesDownload The War in Israel ebook for freeRead the ebook in online chaptersOur collection of resource on the war in IsraelMike Fanning Israel toursDreams and Visions: Is Jesus Awakening the Muslim World? By Tom DoyleEpisode transcript (PDF)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.

Dr. Mark Yarhouse offers practical tools for discussing gender identity with “compassion, civility, and conviction.”Dr. Yarhouse is a professor and the director of the Sexual & Gender Identity Institute at Wheaton College. He is also the author of multiple books, including his most recent, Talking to Kids about Gender Identity: A Roadmap for Christian Compassion, Civility, and Conviction.In this episode of The Denison Forum Podcast, Dr. Yarhouse helps parents understand gender identity issues that their kids and teenagers may be facing and how to talk about these issues with them in a practical and helpful manner.Topics(02:10): Who is Dr. Mark Yarhouse?(04:53): Why is gender identity suddenly a popular cultural topic? What gender-identity-related terms should people know (e.g., transgenderism, nonbinary, gender dysphoria)? How prevalent is transgenderism today?(10:19): What does it mean to be a “cultural ambassador of compassion, civility, and conviction”?(17:51): Can we say with confidence what causes transgenderism?(21:05): How to reduce fear-based parenting(26:25): How can the Bible help us today with gender-identity issues?(30:21): Why should people understand the differences between issues like transgenderism and homosexuality?(34:23): What role does “social contagion” play in increased gender-identity issues among children and teenagers?(38:37): Defining social (e.g., pronoun usage), hormonal, and surgical transitioning(43:19): Would you use preferred pronouns with a child or teenager?(45:22): What’s your advice for the parent or church leader who wants to welcome a person wrestling with gender-identity issues?(48:48): Is there a framework for talking to your kids in age-appropriate ways about sexuality, including gender identity?(53:26): Where can people follow Dr. Yarhouse’s work?ResourcesTranscript (PDF)Talking to Kids about Gender Identity: A Roadmap for Christian Compassion, Civility, and Conviction, Dr. Mark YarhouseThe Sexual and Gender Identity Institute at Wheaton College@MarkYarhouse on X (formerly Twitter)How and When to Tell Your Kids about Sex: A Lifelong Approach to Shaping Your Child’s Sexual Character, Stan and Brenna JonesStart Talking to Your Kids about Sex: A Practical Guide for Catholics, Julia SaduskyWhat does the Bible say about transgenderism?, Denison ForumIs cross-dressing a sin?, Denison ForumThe “transgender craze” seducing teenage girls and doing “Irreversible Damage”, Mark LeggRelated Denison Forum Podcast episodesTransgender ideology and what it means to be a woman: A conversation with Dr. Katie McCoy“Does the Bible Support Same-Sex Marriage?” A conversation with Preston Sprinkle Sex, singleness, LGBTQ+, and marriage idolatry: A conversation with Lou PhillipsAsk Jim: Gay “Side-B” Christians, the spectrum of abortion positions, and church disciplineWhat is biblical manhood? And, “The Toxic War on Masculinity”: A conversation with Nancy PearceyAbout Dr. Mark YarhouseDr. Mark Yarhouse is the Dr. Arthur P. and Mrs. Jean May Rech Professor of Psychology at Wheaton College, where he also directs the Sexual & Gender Identity Institute. An award- winning teacher, psychologist, and researcher, Dr. Yarhouse has authored numerous books and articles, including the featured white paper on sexual identity for the Gospel Coalition's Christ on Campus Initiative. He lives in Winfield, Illinois.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.

“The Bible begins and ends with rivers and trees.”Steven Bouma-Prediger, PhD, is an author and professor at the intersection of theology and ecology. In this episode of The Denison Forum Podcast, he discusses the concept of “earthkeeping” as a Christian practice, ecological issues like climate change, and the importance of Christianity in driving change—including whether “just one person” can truly change the world.Topics(02:14): How Dr. Bouma-Prediger got involved in combining ecology and theology(10:42): Defining earthkeeping(20:48): What do you say to people who question if the climate is in crisis?(24:45): The biggest challenge to creation care discipleship(31:20): An invitation to curiosity(39:38): On listening to a wide variety of voices in Christian thought(43:07): What gives Dr. Bouma-Prediger hope for creation care issues?ResourcesTranscript (PDF)Creation Care Discipleship: Why Earthkeeping Is an Essential Christian Practice by Steven Bouma-Prediger, PhDEvangelical Environmental NetworkAbout Steven Bouma-Prediger, PhDSteven Bouma-Prediger (PhD, University of Chicago) is the Leonard and Marjorie Maas Professor of Reformed Theology at Hope College in Holland, Michigan. He also oversees the Environmental Studies minor and cochairs the Campus Sustainability Advisory Committee. In addition, Bouma-Prediger has taught theology and ethics at Western Theological Seminary and is a board member of the Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies. He is author or coauthor of 6 books, including Earthkeeping and Character: Exploring a Christian Ecological Virtue Ethic and For the Beauty of the Earth: A Christian Vision for Creation Care.His most recently released book is Creation Care Discipleship: Why Earthkeeping Is an Essential Christian Practice.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.

Is Israel an oppressive occupier?Among the many surprising incidents surrounding the war in Israel, the size and vitriol of many American college students decrying Israel’s ground invasion of Gaza is among the most surprising. What’s spurring their protests? And how can parents and families discuss the war in Israel with their college students with truth and in love so that serious discussions can happen without fracturing relationships? Topics(00:34): The latest news from Israel and the ground offensive in Gaza(05:29): Iran’s role in the Israel war(07:26): How Israel and Hamas are responding to global pressure(11:06): Why Israel’s government has Arab representation(18:00): Why Critical Theory calls Israel an “oppressor”(21:59): Has Critical Theory replaced “majority rule with minority rights”?(24:49): Why are many college students protesting the Israel war?(26:59): Blending anti-Zionism with antisemitism(29:34): Why does Palestine keep rejecting a two-state solution?(34:15): Why do so many believe Israel is an “occupying colonizer”?(40:12): How to navigate conversations about the war in Israel with family and friendsResourcesTranscript (PDF)Is Israel committing genocide?Hamas and Radical Islam: What Christians need to knowAntisemitism on American college campusesPodcast: How to talk to your kids about the Israel crisisWhen Critical Theory collides with conflict in the Middle EastWhy do so many people hate the Jews?Book: Respectfully, I DisagreeFurther Denison Ministry resources on the war in IsraelAbout 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.

“They shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us)” —Matthew 1:23Janet Denison is the author of numerous Advent devtionals, including this year’s most recent release, The Gift of Immanuel. As a long-time Bible study teacher, Janet offers accessible insight into God’s word at Foundations with Janet.In this episode of The Denison Forum Podcast, she discusses her newest Advent devotional, how to ensure Christmas remains a holy celebration and not just a holiday season, why Jesus had so many names, and why Isaiah predicted that the savior would be called Immanuel but Joseph named him Jesus.Topics(02:58): The Janet Denison story (briefly)(05:35): Settling in to a new place(06:48): How Janet Denison became a Bible study teacher(11:43): What’s your favorite part of the Bible?(12:50): What is Advent?(14:47): Why is this year’s Advent devotional called The Gift of Immanuel?(19:59): Why are Christmas devotionals popular?(24:20): On writing this year’s Advent devotional(28:36): How to have a quiet time(34:57): What is Wisdom Matters?ResourcesTranscript (PDF)The Gift of ImmanuelWisdom MattersFoundations with JanetAbout Janet DenisonJanet Denison has been writing and teaching Bible study for almost forty years and speaks with a voice that has experienced the truth of God’s word. She often says the reason she gets out of bed each day is to help others understand and apply the truth of God’s word to their daily lives. Teaching the Bible is her great privilege, and her goal is to help people live a life that God is able to bless. She is the primary author of the Bible studies at Foundations with Janet.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.

“We are a Bible-haunted nation.”Kaitlyn Schiess is the author of The Ballot and the Bible: How Scripture Has Been Used and Abused in American Politics and Where We Go from Here. She joined The Denison Forum Podcast to discuss her latest book, which Publisher’s Weekly called “​​a nuanced look at America's legacy of scriptural language.”Schiess talks about how we can read, interpret, and apply Scripture with integrity to the working of our democracy. She also speaks to how we can rightly bridge these worlds and discover what God is saying to us through his word, the Holy Spirit, and our communities of faith. In an intriguing phrase, she calls America “a Bible-haunted nation,” and she speaks to why she labeled our country that way.Ultimately, you’ll be led to ask: “How should I see myself, my opportunities, my problems, and my politics through the lens of Scripture and God's eternal and good purposes?”Topics(02:20): “I think the rest of my life is studying this stuff.”(06:16): How Schiess became involved with the Holy Post Podcast(08:49): Why Schiess wrote The Ballot and the Bible(13:37): The benefits of political fatigue(18:28): “We are a Bible-haunted nation.”(22:55): An overview of the history in The Ballot and the Bible(27:54): Why should Christians “understand the times” and the Bible?(33:50): Who should read The Ballot and the Bible?(38:04): How we misapply “Render unto Caesar” today(43:08): How Jeremiah 29 profoundly affects our political outlook today(49:40): Culture warriors vs. cultural missionaries(52:00) Schiess’s hope for The Ballot and the BibleResourcesTranscript (PDF) The Ballot and the Bible: How Scripture Has Been Used and Abused in American Politics and Where We Go from Here, Kaitlyn SchiessThe Bible and the Civil Rights Movement: An excerpt from The Ballot and the BibleThe Holy Post PodcastThe Holy Post Podcast on The Ballot and the Bible About Kaitlyn SchiessKaitlyn Schiess (ThM, Dallas Theological Seminary) is a writer, speaker, and theologian. She is the author of The Liturgy of Politics: Spiritual Formation for the Sake of Our Neighbor and is a regular cohost on the Holy Post podcast with Skye Jethani and Phil Vischer. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, Christianity Today, Christ and Pop Culture, Relevant, and Sojourners. Schiess is currently a doctoral student in political theology at Duke Divinity School. She lives in Durham, North Carolina.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.