In this episode, I got to talk with the Lead Pastor from The Bridge Church in Alexandria, Kentucky, Vince Pierri. Vince has his MDiv from Trinity International University and has been in various types of ministry for over a decade. I have known Vince for over five years from when he worked at High Point Church in Madison, WI. When I was 17, Vince shared the Gospel with me and became a relentless mentor in my life helping me grow in my faith and become more like Christ.We talked about an album Vince created years ago while he was working at High Point Church in Madison, WI, The Greatest Story Ever Told. Vince shared his journey to creating the album and we talked about its theological impact on kids. Then we discussed my (Andy) article on Art, Music, and Worship. We talked about the different musical mediums a person can use to elicit different kinds of emotions. We also discussed the way people perceive the Truth of God and how we should respond to many different interpretations of the truth. I hope you enjoy! Sign up for my newsletter and never miss an episode: https://optivnetwork.comFollow me on X: https://x.com/andyschmitt99Email me at andy@optivnetwork.com with your questions!Music: "nesting" by Birocratic (http://birocratic.lnk.to/allYL)

In this episode, I got to talk with the author of the Dream Keeper Saga, Kathryn Butler. Kathryn got her M.D. at Columbia University and completed her surgical and critical care trailing at Massachusetts General Hospital. She then left the medical industry to homeschool her kids. As a stay at home mom, Kathryn started to write articles for Desiring God and the Gospel Coalition and eventually wrote several books including, Between Life and Death and Glimmers of Grace.In our conversation, we talked about her children’s fantasy series, The Dream Keepers Saga. We also discussed why stories help children build a Christian worldview and a systematic theology. Finally, we talked about how J.R.R. Tolkien persuaded C.S. Lewis to faith by explaining that Christianity is the one True Myth. I hope you enjoy! Sign up for my newsletter and never miss an episode: https://optivnetwork.comFollow me on X: https://x.com/andyschmitt99Email me at andy@optivnetwork.com with your questions!Music: "nesting" by Birocratic (http://birocratic.lnk.to/allYL)

In this episode, I got to have a conversation with the Professor of New Testament, Biblical Interpretation, and Systematic Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary, Dr. Vern Poythress. Dr. Poythress has six academic degrees including his PhD from Harvard University and his Masters of Letters at the University of Cambridge. He is also an ordained teaching Elder in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). Poythress served as the New Testament Chair on the oversight committee for the ESV Bible. And on top of all that, he has written many books including, Redeeming Reason, Redeeming Science, and Truth, Theology, and Perspective.In our conversation, Vern and I discussed his newest book, Typology: How the Old Testament Points to Christ, His Church, and the Consummation. We talked about the way in which many people read the Old Testament and problems that arise when one does not look for Christ in their study of the Old Testament. We also discussed the significance of proper Typological study and what can happen if someone does it wrong. I had a great time talking with Dr. Poythress, I hope you enjoy!You can read this book and others for FREE at www.frame-poythress.org Sign up for my newsletter and never miss an episode: https://optivnetwork.comFollow me on X: https://x.com/andyschmitt99Email me at andy@optivnetwork.com with your questions!Music: "nesting" by Birocratic (http://birocratic.lnk.to/allYL)

In this episode, I got to talk with Dr. Stephen Carlson. Dr. Carlson is the Associate Professor of Biblical and Early Christian Studies at the Australian Catholic University. He earned his Ph.D in New Testament from Duke University and went on to complete his postdoctoral research fellow at Uppsala University in Sweden. Stephen is also the author to three books; The Gospel Hoax, The Text of Galatians and its History, and Papias of Hierapolis.We talked about textual criticism, what it is, and how it affects our Bible translations. Just recently, Dr. Carlson was in France where he made a discovery of a unregistered manuscript of the Gospel of Mark, we talked about this discovery and what it means. Finally, we discussed why Christians should trust their English Bible translations and we (maybe) learn which Bible translation is Dr. Stephen Carlson’s favorite. I hope you enjoy! Sign up for my newsletter and never miss an episode: https://optivnetwork.comFollow me on X: https://x.com/andyschmitt99Email me at andy@optivnetwork.com with your questions!Music: "nesting" by Birocratic (http://birocratic.lnk.to/allYL)

In this episode, I got to talk with Jared Compton. Jared is the Associate Professor of New Testament and Biblical Theology at Bethlehem College and Seminary in Minneapolis, MN. Jared has written several books including Psalms 110 and the Logic of Hebrews and Biblical Theology according to the Apostles: How the Earliest Christians Told Israels Story. He is also a frequent writer for Desiring God and has written some for The Gospel Coalition.In this conversation, Jared and I discuss his newest article at Desiring God, Should We Envy Abraham? Jared explains the difference between the Old Covenant God made with His people in the Old Testament and the New Covenant God made through Christ in the New Testament. We talk about the story set forth in Scripture revealing that the New Covenant is better than the Old Covenant! We also discuss how this relates to the necessary relationship between truth and beauty. I hope you enjoy! Sign up for my newsletter and never miss an episode: https://optivnetwork.comFollow me on X: https://x.com/andyschmitt99Email me at andy@optivnetwork.com with your questions!Music: "nesting" by Birocratic (http://birocratic.lnk.to/allYL)

Exploring biblical decision-making with the Holy Spirit, the podcast challenges cessationist views and delves into modern-day prophecy. The discussion includes interpretations of Corinthians, divine guidance in decision-making, and navigating life's crucial choices. It also explores handling theological disagreements in church dynamics and embracing the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

In this episode, I got to talk with Dr. Christopher Yuan. Dr. Yuan is a scholar, author, and the founder of the Holy Sexuality Project. Christopher tells his testimony about how he went from being a gay, drug dealing convict, in prison for the possession of 9.1 tons of marijuana to repenting of his sins and following Christ. Dr. Yuan has taught at Moody Bible Institute for 12 years and has a doctorate of ministry along with his Masters in Biblical Exegesis and his undergraduate degree.He has written several books including one that he co-wrote with his mom, Out of a far Country: A Gay Son’s Journey to God, A Broken Mother’s Search for Hope, this book has been translated to 7 languages and has sold over 100,000 copies. He also wrote a book called Holy Sexuality and the Gospel: Sex, Desire, and Relationships Shaped by God’s Grand Story. Right now, Christopher is working on the Holy Sexuality Project. This project is an online training on Biblical sexuality made for families. This includes a 12 part class on Holy Sexuality with animated videos made by the animators at the Bible Project.My conversation with Dr. Yuan was wide ranging, as we discussed his testimony, indwelling sin, the nature of man, sexual identity vs. a Biblical, Christ-centered identity, Gay people’s desire to maintain a gay ethos while claiming to be Christian, and much more. I hope you enjoy!Please go to www.holysexuality.com to look at The Holy Sexuality Project and try a free sample lesson! Sign up for my newsletter and never miss an episode: https://optivnetwork.comFollow me on X: https://x.com/andyschmitt99Email me at andy@optivnetwork.com with your questions!Music: "nesting" by Birocratic (http://birocratic.lnk.to/allYL)

In this episode, I got to sit down with the Professor of Faith and Culture at Union University, Dr. Hal Poe, and the Co-Director of the Wade Center in Wheaton, IL, Dr. David C. Downing. We talked about why it’s important for Christians to write fantasy stories, what inspired C.S. Lewis to write the Chronicles of Narnia, and the relationship between intellectual thinkers and creative artists. Dr. Hal Poe is a professor and author to many books including The Inklings of Oxford, Becoming C.S. Lewis, The Making of C.S. Lewis, and The Completion of C.S. Lewis. Dr. Poe served as the President of the Edgar Allan Poe foundation for ten years and the American Scientific Affiliation. He also served as the President of The Academy for Evangelism and Theological Education and The C.S. Lewis Foundation of Redland, CA and Oxford, England. Hal Poe is the Founder of the Inklings Fellowship in which he directs the annual Christianity in the Academy Conference, the Inklings Weekend, and every three years, the Inklings Week in Oxford, England. Dr. David C. Downing is the Co-Director of the Marion E. Wade Center at Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL, he is the author of C.S. Lewis: Planets In Peril, The Most Reluctant Convert, and Into The Wardrobe: C.S. Lewis and the Narnia Chronicles. Dr. Downing also received the Paul F. Ford Award for Excellence in Lewis Scholarship and Teaching. David Downing added an introduction and over 400 notes to the new edition of The Pilgrims Regress: The Wade Annotated Edition. I did this podcast in partnership with Rocketsled Studios, Rocketsled Studios is run by Greg Silker. Greg is a film maker, producer, and entrepreneur from Minneapolis, MN. I’ve been working with Greg for over a year now and our team has finally gotten a contract signed that will allow us to start working on an adaptation of the Tales of the Kingdom children’s book series written by David and Karen Mains. We’re super excited to be working on this project. This podcast is part of our research and promotion for this project. If you want to learn more about the project, you can go to www.rocketsledstudios.com and check it out. Sign up for my newsletter and never miss an episode: https://optivnetwork.comFollow me on X: https://x.com/andyschmitt99Email me at andy@optivnetwork.com with your questions!Music: "nesting" by Birocratic (http://birocratic.lnk.to/allYL)

In this episode, Andy talks with the Associate Professor of Church History and Theology at Covenant College about the early church, the apostles creed, how the books of the Bible were chosen, and the Great Schism.Clifton Ward is a Professor and has authored many academic books on church history, the church Fathers, and Christian intellectualism.This podcast focuses on the early church Apostles and their relationship to the early church Fathers - how did the Apostles pass their authority on to their disciples? Andy and Clifton also discuss how the 66 canonical books of the Bible came to be. They also talk about the Great Schism that split the church in 1054 A.D. Sign up for my newsletter and never miss an episode: https://optivnetwork.comFollow me on X: https://x.com/andyschmitt99Email me at andy@optivnetwork.com with your questions!Music: "nesting" by Birocratic (http://birocratic.lnk.to/allYL)

Brad Littlejohn, founder of the Davenant Institute, discusses the reasons why young Protestants are converting to Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy. They explore the desire for doctrinal clarity and certainty, the allure of history and liberal arts, and the balance between rationality and mystery in faith.