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Original Episode Date: June 23, 2023 Dr. Michael Lynch of the Davenant Institute joins us to discuss the controversial topic of the atonement. Theologians throughout church history have debated over the nature and extent of Jesus's death on the cross. Did God unjustly punish an innocent man? Did Jesus's death make forgiveness of sins actual or merely possible? How do we understand theological words like "imputation" and "penal substitution?" Dr. Lynch helps us navigate these treacherous waters with precision and clarity by mining the depths of the Reformed tradition through the works of John Calvin, R.L. Dabney, John Davenant, John Owen, and others.  Show Notes Purchase Dr. Lynch's Davenant Institute Lecture Series

What did C. S. Lewis think about gender? The answer might surprise you. Lewis drew on Scripture and ancient tradition to ground his vision of reality as a gift bestowed by a benevolent Creator — and he expressed that vision through narrative. The Chronicles of Narnia and the Space Trilogy each portray the glory and nuance of male and female in ways that still resonate with readers today. In this episode, Joshua Herring joins us to talk about his book Sons of Adam, Daughters of Eve and how Lewis brings clarity to our present confusion over gender. We also get into where Lewis's vision cuts against feminist ideology and how he recovers the complementarity of men and women. You will not read his fiction the same way again. Show Notes Buy Josh Herring's book: https://a.co/d/08ZzSLRN Support the Podcast Support us on Patreon Website: thatllpreach.io IG: thatllpreachpodcast YouTube Channel

In this episode I sit down with historian Dr. Michael Haykin to work through the strange, largely forgotten world of Baptist sacramentology. We start with the language itself — the way early Baptists could speak of Christ's real presence and of genuinely feeding on him at the Table, in terms that would make a lot of modern Baptists twitch. From there we ask how a tradition that once treated the Supper as central to congregational life ended up treating it as an occasional appendix to the sermon, and what was lost in the trade. We also get into the fights. Should a Baptist church share the Lord's Supper with Christians who were baptized as infants — and what does your answer say about what you think baptism is? And the bigger question underneath all of it: can Baptists honestly claim a place in the Great Tradition while holding the line on believer's baptism, or does that commitment put us outside the room we keep asking to be let into? If you've ever suspected that "just a symbol" isn't the whole Baptist story, this one is for you. Show Notes Buy Michael Haykin’s book: https://a.co/d/03C6Wg8b Support the Podcast Support us on Patreon Website: thatllpreach.io IG: thatllpreachpodcast YouTube Channel

Therapeutic language now shapes how we see almost everything — including the church. Increasingly, congregations and their leaders are judged by standards of psychological wellness rather than biblical faithfulness. In this episode, Matthew Loftus joins us to talk about his book Resisting Therapy Culture: The Dangers of Pop Psychology and How the Church Can Respond. He argues that therapy and church do good but different work, and that confusing the two shortchanges both — churches should be places of healing and love, but their calling is to gather people to worship God, not to replace clinical care. We talk about what a healthy church/therapy relationship looks like, why the roles shouldn't blur, and what it means for leaders to refocus on their actual mission. Show Notes Pre-order Resisting Therapy Culture: hhttps://a.co/d/06bcpwMi Learn more about Matthew Loftus: https://matthewandmaggie.org/ Support us on Patreon Website: thatllpreach.io IG: thatllpreachpodcast YouTube Channel

What did Augustine and Aquinas actually believe about virginity — and what does it reveal about us? In this episode, we explore the surprisingly rich theology of the Church Fathers on sex, celibacy, and the body. Their views can seem strange to modern ears, but that strangeness might be the point: it forces us to examine assumptions our culture takes for granted. We also tackle one of the harder pastoral questions in the church today — can unwanted singleness ever be called a "gift"? And what role does a voluntary vow play in living out the kind of celibacy the Bible actually describes? Support the Podcast Support us on Patreon Website: thatllpreach.io IG: thatllpreachpodcast YouTube Channel

What if the key to understanding the Bible is to read it like music? In this episode, we talk with Alastair Roberts about his book Echoes of Exodus, co-written with Andrew Wilson. He began this book as a 40-day Lenten reflection that grew into something much bigger. This episode provides a practical lens for reading Scripture by recognizing “echoes” — call-backs, allusions, and patterns — that link Exodus to the rest of the Bible's story of redemption. Exodus is the main theme that courses through the narrative of Scripture, connecting what may seem like isolated stories into an unfolding symphony of music. If you’ve ever felt lost reading the Old Testament and feel like the Bible doesn’t make sense, this conversation gives you the tools to start hearing it that way. Show Notes Get Alastair’s Book Echoes of Exodus: https://a.co/d/0cvo3WF8 Alastair’s Substack: https://argosy.substack.com/

Anxiety fills our social media and creeps into our lives. How do we cultivate a sound mind in the midst of the chaos and polarization? Rev. Ben Miller joins us with practical insights on cultivating a sound mind in a chaotic world. Original Episode Published: December 13, 2022 Show Notes Conversations in Crisis Series with Alastair Roberts and Ben Miller

Can demons hear your thoughts? A lot of Christians assume the answer is yes—but what if that assumption actually confuses what belongs to God alone? In this episode, we dive into Thomas Aquinas’ fascinating argument that angels and demons cannot directly read the human mind or will. They can observe, infer, tempt, and influence—but they do not have direct access to your inner thoughts. Only God does. We explore why this matters for spiritual warfare, human freedom, temptation, prayer, and the uniqueness of God himself. Along the way, Aquinas dismantles some common Christian assumptions and offers a surprisingly comforting vision of the human person: your mind is not an open spiritual battlefield. Support the Podcast Support us on Patreon Website: thatllpreach.io IG: thatllpreachpodcast YouTube Channel

Will you recognize your spouse, your friends, your people in heaven? Or does eternity flatten us into something less personal? In this episode, we lean on Thomas Aquinas to answer question behind it all: What does it mean to still be human after the resurrection? We cover: Why your personal identity must remain intact Whether we actually know specific people in glory If resurrected bodies eat and drink How heaven is physical, but not driven by biological necessity Because if you don’t remain meaningfully yourself, then resurrection isn’t redemption—it’s replacement. Heaven doesn’t erase your humanity. It perfects it. Support the Podcast Support us on Patreon Website: thatllpreach.io IG: thatllpreachpodcast YouTube Channel

Everyone talks about polarization in America—political, cultural, and even within the church. Reactivity has become the norm, and with it, a quiet anxiety that shapes how Christians think, argue, and divide. So where do we turn for wisdom when disagreement feels unavoidable? In this reposted conversation, Dr. Brad Littlejohn introduces us to Richard Hooker, a Reformed Anglican theologian who navigated deep tensions during the Reformation between Presbyterians and Episcopalians. Hooker offers a model for holding conviction without radicalism, and reform without hubris. We explore how Hooker sought to combine the theological clarity of Protestantism with the formative power of historic liturgy—and why his approach speaks directly to our present moment of social change and gridlock. This episode is a timely reminder that faithful reform requires patience, humility, and a refusal to let anxiety drive the church. Show Notes Get Hooker's Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity Vol. 1 in Modern English: https://davenantinstitute.org/hookers-laws-ihttps://davenantinstitute.org/god-is Support us on Patreon Website: thatllpreach.io IG: thatllpreachpodcast YouTube Channel

Few figures in church history are as controversial—or as influential—as Origen. Brilliant, speculative, and often misunderstood, his ideas sparked debate in his own lifetime and cast a long shadow over Christian theology for centuries to follow. In this episode, Gerald Bray (Beeson Divinity School) joins us to explore who Origen really was, why some of his ideas were considered problematic, and why he remains impossible to ignore. We discuss Origen as a major turning point in the intellectual life of the church—one of the first to seriously systematize the Christian faith, ask hard questions, and push theology into new territory. This conversation isn’t about rehabilitating Origen or dismissing him, but about understanding why engaging him still stretches the church’s thinking today—and why his legacy continues to provoke, challenge, and stimulate serious theological reflection. Support the Podcast Support us on Patreon Website: thatllpreach.io IG: thatllpreachpodcast YouTube Channel

What actually helps Christians grow together over time? In this episode, Paul Gutacker joins us to discuss his book Practicing Life Together, exploring how shared spiritual practices shape both personal faith and Christian community. Using the idea of a rule of life as a trellis, Paul shows how habits like prayer, shared meals, study, and Sabbath provide structure that supports lasting growth. This conversation offers a practical and hopeful vision for intentional Christian living—together. Show Notes Purchase Paul’s book: https://a.co/d/2BSbNzt Support the Podcast Support us on Patreon Website: thatllpreach.io IG: thatllpreachpodcast YouTube Channel

Christian leadership often celebrates strength — gifting, vision, productivity. But Scripture keeps pushing us somewhere counterintuitive: to weakness, dependence, and the kind of leadership where God’s power is the point, not ours. In this episode, Dave Harvey unpacks the core message of The Clay Pot Conspiracy: leaders don’t fall because they’re weak — they fall because they hide it. And when we cover our limits, protect our image, or outrun our character, we step away from the very place where God works most powerfully. We talk about the quiet patterns that shape leaders over time, why vulnerability is essential for integrity, and how embracing our fragility isn’t a liability but the doorway to sustained, God-dependent ministry. For pastors, ministry leaders, and anyone who wants to lead without pretending to be strong, this conversation offers a clear, honest, and deeply hopeful path forward. Show Notes Purchase Dave’s Book: https://a.co/d/5GNqVtk Learn more about Dave’s work: https://revdaveharvey.com/ Support the Podcast Support us on Patreon Website: thatllpreach.io IG: thatllpreachpodcast YouTube Channel

What did the early Christians actually expect about the future? Were they vague or symbolic, or did they have a clear picture of what was to come? In this episode, Dr. Michael Svigel shares insights from his book Fathers on the Future, revealing that second-century leaders like Irenaeus anticipated a real, visible kingdom, Christ’s return, and a renewed world. We’ll explore: How the early church imagined the future Common misunderstandings about their expectations What we can learn about hope and faith from their perspective Even if you’re not familiar with debates about the “millennium” or the end times, this conversation offers a fascinating window into how the first Christians lived in light of what they believed was coming. Purchase Michael’s Book: https://a.co/d/jjeZz2K Learn more about Michael’s work: https://fathersonthefuture.com/ Support the Podcast Support us on Patreon Website: thatllpreach.io IG: thatllpreachpodcast YouTube Channel

Most of us learn to pray by listening to others. But what if we could learn from the prayers of believers who have gone before us — prayers shaped by Scripture, refined through centuries, and written to form our hearts and words together? In this episode, we talk with Jonathan Kanary about The Book of Common Prayer — what it is, how it’s structured, and why it’s one of the most deeply Protestant resources ever written. They explore how written prayers don’t replace spontaneous prayer, but actually train us for it, and how praying together with common words shapes a community in faith, humility, and love. If you’ve ever wondered whether written prayers are “too formal” or “too high church,” this conversation will give you a fresh, surprising look at a book designed to help ordinary believers learn to pray.