This world is not our home. It was never intended to be. We are pilgrims here on earth and we should live as such. The problem that has arisen is that many Christians have become escapists instead of pilgrims. They see the world as a hostile place, so they run and hide from it. No matter what our eschatology is, we must focus not on escapism, but on simple acts of obedience, which are the building bricks of the Kingdom!  In part 5 of our class on "Advancing the Kingdom", Aaron Salvato helps us see the power of simple acts of obedience when it comes to moving God's Kingdom forward, and has a compelling discussion with students Zach & Ellie Owens, Sam Bucelli, and Emilia DiNatale.  Class produced by Calvary Global Network (CGN).

In the New Testament, Christians are called to be in the world but not of the world. In other words, we are called to live in society and interact with others while maintaining our distinctiveness. When we turn away from those who are broken or make choices that are contrary to God's word, we have made the grave mistake of ceasing being a light in dark places.  Too many have a separatist mindset. Christians are called to be missionaries to the culture, not to run and hide from it!   In part 4 of our class on "Advancing the Kingdom", Aaron Salvato helps us learn the principles of being a cultural missionary, and has a great discussion with students  Zach & Ellie Owens, Sam Bucceli, and Emilia DiNatale!  Class produced by Calvary Global Network (CGN).

This week we present to you an old episode from season 2! We are hoping it will bless some of you listeners who may have missed it the first time it aired. Aaron & Brian get the amazing Dr. Gerry Breshears on the show to discuss all our burning questions about Salvation. What does it mean to be saved? Can you lose your salvation? How do you know someone is saved? All this and more on today’s GoodLion Podcast!

How does a Kingdom advance normally? Through the sword. Violence, war, and bloodshed. Jesus' Kingdom is much different. The Kingdom of Heaven does not advance through the sword, but rather through something much more powerful: preaching and the Gospel. It advances in this way: by converting one soul after another. In the Gospels, Jesus never employs violence to achieve his ends. His life and ministry model for us an ethic of non-violence. This is a hard mentality for us to accept, because we have been raised to see the world as a place where "might makes right". Jesus turns this mentality on it's head by showing us what true might and strength look like! In part 3 of our class on "Advancing the Kingdom", Aaron Salvato contrasts the way of violence with the way of Jesus, and has a great discussion with students Julianne Foster, Tim Cass, Zach Owens, and Kayla Reed! Class produced by Calvary Global Network (CGN).

There is a dangerous tendency today to make the Kingdom of Heaven about what we need, or want. It is not about us. The Kingdom is about Him. He should be in the center of everything we do as His followers. Self-interest is the great enemy of godliness. It's a sin we commit every day, in all kinds of ways. This is why we have to be so careful about it. We take this mentality to our approach regarding the Kingdom. We falsely believe that the main way God advances His Kingdom is through US getting what WE want. We forget that we are called to pray, THY Kingdom Come, not MY Kingdom come.   In part 2 of our class on "Advancing the Kingdom", Aaron Salvato helps us see the first and foremost way the Kingdom of God advances forward: in our hearts.   Discussion Students: Julianne Foster, Tim Cass, Zach Owens, and Kayla Reed  Class produced by Calvary Global Network (CGN).

Welcome to the GoodLion theology class, a brand new segment on the show where we bring you rich theological lessons and thoughtful discussions with our students! In part one of our 6 part mini series on "Advancing the Kingdom of God", Aaron Salvato teaches a lesson on defining what the Kingdom of Heaven actually is. If we are going to understand HOW to advance God's Kingdom, we need to actually grasp WHAT it is, and what it isn't! Aaron walks us through a theological framework for how we can understand the Kingdom, setting the stage for the next 5 lessons. Students and CGN/GoodLion interns Julianne Foster and Kai Willbanks join in on the discussion, bringing some great questions. In this class we look at questions like When Jesus taught us to pray "thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven, what did He mean? Should Christians focus on Heaven, or Earth? How can we begin to advance the Kingdom? What part does prayer play in this mission? And more!

Sexuality is one of the main ways people identify themselves today. Our modern moment asks people to freely express who they are by unchaining themselves from traditional concepts of sexuality. This has led many Christians to revert to hardline stances about what a person must be, and particularly, what a person must avoid, in order to be accepted by God. What if there was a different way to look at sexuality? A way more Biblical, more God-honoring, and more holistic? In this conversation, Aaron and Brian talk to Dr. Christopher Yuan, author of Holy Sexuality and the Gospel: Sex, Desire, and Relationships Shaped by God’s Grand Story. Dr. Yuan explains what he refers to as “holy sexuality”, a belief that being pure isn’t just about orientation or marriage, but about being a person who is wholly seeking God in all things, including sexuality. Throughout this episode, Aaron, Brian, and Dr. Yuan work to explain what holy sexuality means, understand why this is such a tricky topic to navigate in our current culture, and how we can see Jesus through all of it. We’re so glad you could join us for this conversation. You're listening to the GoodLion Podcast!

Aaron and Brian take some time to answer a great question from a friend: "Why do I feel closer than ever to Jesus one day, and then other days I feel so distant I hardly remember I'm a Christian?" We believe this is a real, raw, and valid question that gets to the heart of what so many Christ-followers face: the roller coaster of faith. We would be the first to admit, we have experienced this struggle ourselves! In this episode we want to help you face this challenge, and help you understand how to navigate the highs and lows of faith. Following Jesus is a slow, steady practice of long obedience in the same direction. It will not always feel the same. Discipleship is key! Our hope is this episode helps you on your path with Jesus.

Aaron and Brian chat with their friend Michael Bowles (Pastor, former youth pastor, and current student at Western Seminary) about the challenges of wrestling through the supernatural. The guys talk about their own experiences with things like God speaking, signs from God, healings, and even exorcisms of demons... while acknowledging that in a lot of our western Church culture the supernatural can seem bizarre and rare. Our goal In this episode is to help you wrestle with the reality of the supernatural, and your relationship with the miraculous as a follower of Jesus.

Prof Gerry Breshears is back for his record breaking 3rd time on the show! In this episode we dive into the debate swirling around PSA (Penal Substitutionary Atonement) and ask Gerry all the hard questions! In this episode we cover: What exactly is PSA, and why do so many Christians disagree about it? Can you defend PSA Biblically?  What exactly happened on the Cross? What was the Trinity doing? Are the classic song lyrics correct? Did the Father turn his face away from Jesus on the Cross? Was Jesus forsaken on the Cross? Bonus: Which atonement theory does Gerry prefer? And: How can our understanding of the atonement impact our preaching to young people / postmoderns / deconstructionists? Note from Aaron: The idea for this episode has been sitting in my brain for almost 7 years... back when I read a post from my friend and pastor Evan Wickham about his convo with Gerry about the atonement. The insights blew my mind then, and I hope they blow your mind now!