To Be The Church

It’s 2016! We thought it would be great to kick off the year by having a conversation with some friends about what it looks like to be the church in their lives. Sarah, Holly, and Cory join Andrew and discuss being the church at Red Lobster, Costco, in their homes, and more.CONTACT US: podcast@tobethechurch.com, facebook.com/tobethechurch & twitter.com/tobethechurch

Merry Christmas! This week, we’re talking Christmas. Can we take Christ out of it? How should we watch Christian Christmas movies? Should we? Andrew and Tyler discuss this, as well as talk about some of their favorite Christmas traditions, Christmas movies, and the worst gifts they’ve ever received.RECOMMENDED RESOURCES: The Problem with Christian Films by Andrew BarberCONTACT US: podcast@tobethechurch.com, facebook.com/tobethechurch & twitter.com/tobethechurch

Today we talk about equipping the church for the work of the ministry, and we have the conversation with an intern, a former intern, and a music pastor. We also talk “Christian or Christianese,” and recommend a few resources that are in our wheelhouse.RECOMMENDED RESOURCES: Surprised by Hope by NT Wright, goodreads.com, bookriot.com, The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer, For the Glory of God by Daniel Block, gospelsongunion.comCONTACT US: podcast@tobethechurch.com, facebook.com/tobethechurch & twitter.com/tobethechurch

We love getting questions from our listeners. Today, we have one of those listeners in the studio with us, all the way from Pennsylvania. We talk about mentorship, Syrian refugees, problems with the Western Church, and much more.RECOMMENDED RESOURCES: Radical Reformission by Mark Driscoll, Who Do You Think You Are? by Mark Driscoll, Benjamin Franklin: An American Life by Walter Isaacson, Leap Over A Wall by Eugene Peterson, Garden City by John Mark Comer, Last Best League by Jim CollinsCONTACT US: podcast@tobethechurch.com, facebook.com/tobethechurch & twitter.com/tobethechurch

This week we talk about the point of kid’s ministry, cheesy Christian kids music, and contextualizing the gospel for kids. For today’s “ology” segment, we talk Sabbath. Is it required? Is it smart? What should a sabbath look like for a Christian?RECOMMENDED RESOURCES: Garden City by John Mark ComerCONTACT US: podcast@tobethechurch.com, facebook.com/tobethechurch & twitter.com/tobethechurch

A few weeks back, when we talked about revivals, Tyler promised a story about his own experience in a revival setting. Today he tells that story, which sparks an entire conversation about healing, healing rooms, and name it/claim it theology.CONTACT US: podcast@tobethechurch.com, facebook.com/tobethechurch & twitter.com/tobethechurch

Today is asmorgasbord of topics. We’re talking about the red cup… or actually, the outrage over the outrage of the red cup. We also talk Christian or Christianese, and spend our “ology” segment talking eschatology, specifically: what’s the point of the new heavens and new earth?RECOMMENDED RESOURCES: To Be The Church Episode 5, Surprised by Hope by N.T. Wright, Heaven by Randy Alcorn, Heaven for Kids by Randy Alcorn, Garden City by John Mark Comer, The Skeletons in God’s Closet by Joshua Ryan ButlerCONTACT US: podcast@tobethechurch.com, facebook.com/tobethechurch & twitter.com/tobethechurch

In our local church, November is a month that we focus on global missions… so today, we extend that conversation onto the podcast. Why is it ? We discuss the importance of the church being on the mission globally, and we talk with missionaries Andy Ziesemer and Ashley Olsen of A Jesus Mission.RECOMMENDED RESOURCES: A Jesus Mission, Convoy of HopeCONTACT US: podcast@tobethechurch.com, facebook.com/tobethechurch & twitter.com/tobethechurch

Predestination. The word itself can carry a ton of baggage, yet the Bible clearly talks about it. So how do we approach this issue without the labels, frustrations, and arrogance that can so easily accompany those on both sides of this doctrine?RECOMMENDED RESOURCES: Acts 4, Romans 8, Ephesians 1, Hand in Hand by Randy Alcorn, Jacob Arminius: Theologian of Grace by Keith Stanglin & Thomas McCall, Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility by D.A. Carson, What is Reformed Theology by R.C. Sproul, Chosen by God by R.C. Sproul, Against Calvinism by Roger Olson, Arminian Theology: Myths and Realities by Roger OlsonCONTACT US: podcast@tobethechurch.com, facebook.com/tobethechurch & twitter.com/tobethechurch

This episode is pretty much just a large Christian or Christianese segment. In addition, Tyler talks about virtual reality and the church, and Andrew talks about unity and diversity in the Church.RECOMMENDED RESOURCES: Jaunt VR, Google CardboardCONTACT US: podcast@tobethechurch.com, facebook.com/tobethechurch & twitter.com/tobethechurch