What does it mean to truly become the man God designed you to be? In this episode, I sit down with John Simons, author of "The Man You’re Meant to Be," to talk about biblical manhood, identity, and purpose in a world that seems to have lost its bearings.
John Simons (PhD candidate in Ethics & Public Theology at Southern Seminary) is the Men's Pastor of Rolling Hills Community Church. He received his B.A. in Political Science from California Baptist University, as well as a M.A. in Philosophy, and a M.Div from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University. He also served as a Small Groups & Men’s Community Pastor in Southern California. John and his family live in Franklin, TN.
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Faith isn’t passive—it’s active, alive, and always moving. When Paul met Christ, his entire life changed direction. He went from persecuting Christians to proclaiming Christ with boldness and purpose. Abraham’s faith was the same—he believed God, and he went. True Christian faith doesn’t stop at belief; it transforms how we live, where we go, and what we do.
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In this episode, Todd Korpi joins me to discuss his new book, "AI Goes to Church: Pastoral Wisdom for Artificial Intelligence." In our chat we explore the potential for both the use and abuse of AI within the Church, asking how pastors, leaders, and congregations can engage this powerful technology with wisdom, discernment, and theological depth.Todd Korpi (DMiss, Fuller Theological Seminary) serves as Missiologist in Residence at OneHope and Director of the Digital Mission Consortia at the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center. He is Assistant Professor of Christian Leadership at Fuller Theological Seminary and Dean of Digital Ministry programs at Ascent College. With Tara, Todd co-hosts the Mutuality Matters podcast in partnership with the Christians for Biblical Equality. His work has been featured in publications such as Outreach Magazine and Churchleaders.com and has contributed to numerous white papers and book projects.Todd is the author of AI Goes to Church (IVP, 2025), Your Daughters Shall Prophesy (Wipf & Stock, 2023), and The Life-Giving Spirit (Urban Loft, 2017).
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What did Jesus actually say about himself? Was he simply a wise teacher—or did he claim something far more profound? In this episode, I talk with Mikel Del Rosario — “The Apologetics Guy” — about his new book, "Did Jesus Really Say He Was God?: We explore the biblical and historical evidence for Jesus’ divine identity, as well as some common objections, key passages, and how the earliest Christians understood him.Mikel Del Rosario (PhD, Dallas Theological Seminary) is professor of Bible and theology at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. He has coauthored thirty-one journal articles on apologetics and cultural engagement in Bibliotheca Sacra with his mentor, Darrell L. Bock. A member of the Evangelical Theological Society, Del Rosario is host of The Apologetics Guy Show, a podcast on YouTube and the Christianity Today Network. He previously hosted Dallas Theological Seminary’s cultural engagement podcast, The Table.
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In this episode, I sit down with John McCabe to discuss his new book "Dietrich Bonhoeffer: The Last Eight Days." We talk about the myths that have grown around Bonhoeffer’s death, the unreliable testimonies that shaped past biographies, and the fresh sources that reveal a truer picture of his courage, faith, and humanity in the final days of the Third Reich.
John McCabe is Research Associate at the Von Hügel Institute, Cambridge and served as Rector of St Mary’s Church Byfleet from 2006 to 2024.
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In this episode I have the chance to sit down with Dr. Eric Mason to talk about his new book, "Rebranding the Church." We dig into what “rebranding” really means (and doesn’t mean), how the church’s witness has been distorted, and what it will take to restore credibility and trust to the church.Eric Mason is the founder and senior pastor of Epiphany Fellowship in Philadelphia. With over thirty years in ministry, Dr. Mason is known for his commitment to biblical justice, theological depth, and passion for biblical literacy. As a leading voice in urban apologetics, Dr. Mason addresses pressing cultural, societal, and theological issues through a biblical lens. He is the author of several books, including Urban Apologetics and Woke Church, and most recently, Rebranding the Church.
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From 120 believers in Acts to billions today, God’s Kingdom has faced epidemics, persecution, political hostility, and cultural opposition—yet it has never stopped growing. The lesson? No matter what threats arise in our own day, the Church will endure because God’s purposes cannot be stopped.
What does James really mean when he says, “faith without works is dead”? In this episode, I talk with New Testament scholar Joel B. Green about his latest commentary on one of the most misunderstood books in the Bible. We explore how James connects faith and works, why he’s often (wrongly) set against Paul, and what it looks like to live out a faith that actually transforms lives.
Joel B. Green is professor of New Testament interpretation and associate dean for the Center for Advanced Theological Studies, Fuller Theological Seminary. He was an editor of the first edition of the Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels and is the author and editor of numerous books, including The Gospel of Luke (NICNT), Body, Soul and Human Life: The Nature of Humanity in the Bible, The Theology of the Gospel of Luke and (with Mark Baker) Recovering the Scandal of the Cross.
What does exercise have to do with following Jesus? In this conversation, I talk with David Mathis from Desiring God, about his new book "A Little Theology of Exercise: Enjoying Christ in Body and Soul." We explore how movement, discipline, and embodied habits can actually deepen our joy in Christ, shape our discipleship, and help us serve others better.
David Mathis is executive editor for Desiring God and pastor at Cities Church. He is a husband, father of four, and author of many books, including most recently, A Little Theology of Exercise: Enjoying Christ in Body and Soul (2025).
What happens when hip hop, art, and apologetics collide? In this conversation, I sit down with Troy Lydiate—better known as Scribe Music—to talk about how art shapes culture, how the church has often struggled to engage with it, and why beauty and creativity matter for apologetics. We explore the tension between the sacred and the secular, the prophetic voice of hip hop in society, and how the church can learn to listen and speak more faithfully in the culture.
Troy Lydiate is the Creative Director at Apologetics Canada, where he also serves as host of “The AC Podcast.” As a graduate of Providence University with a Bachelor’s Degree focused on Social Sciences, much of Troy’s professional career has been spent working with youth and young adults. Operating under the artistic moniker Scribe Music, Troy has unveiled four studio albums, skillfully utilizing his music as a conduit to convey the gospel message. His music production has garnered him nominations at the GMA (Covenant Awards), further complemented by widespread recognition through blog features and regular airplay on Canadian Christian radio.
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+ Listen to the end for an exclusive new song preview from CityAlight, written in conjunction with Tim Challies' and Tim Keesee's new book, "From the Rising of the Sun."
Together again with Tim Challies, this time to talk about his new book, "From the Rising of the Sun," co-written with Tim Keesee. The book journeys around the globe, following the sun from Fiji to Alaska, to witness how believers in different nations and cultures worship the same Lord in diverse and beautiful ways.In our conversation, we discuss what the global church can teach us about worship, the surprising ways Christians express their faith across cultures, and how seeing the worldwide body of Christ at worship can challenge and enrich our own understanding of what it means to gather in Jesus’ name.Tim Challies is a pastor, noted speaker, author of numerous articles, and a pioneer in the Christian blogosphere. Tens of thousands of people visit Challies.com each day, making it one of the most widely read and recognized Christian blogs in the world. Tim is the author of several books, including Visual Theology, The Next Story, and, most recently, Pilgrim Prayers: Devotional Poems That Awaken Your Heart to the Goodness, Greatness, and Glory of God.
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As the one-year anniversary of the Westminster Study Bible approaches, I am joined by one of its editors, Dr. Emerson Powery, to dive into the vision, process, and purpose behind it. What really goes into the notes, commentary, and theological decisions of a study Bible? How does a study Bible shape the way we read Scripture? And why does the Westminster Study Bible offer something distinct from the many others already available?
Emerson B. Powery is Professor of Biblical Studies at Messiah College. He is the coeditor of True to Our Native Land: An African American New Testament Commentary and the author of Jesus Reads Scripture: The Function of Jesus’ Use of Scripture in the Synoptic Gospels and Mark in the Immersion Bible Studies series. Powery also serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Biblical Literature and the Common English Bible.
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Can ancient philosophy help us understand the Christian faith? Louis Markos joins me to talk about his latest book, "From Aristotle to Christ," and how Aristotelian thought shaped the way the early church expressed its beliefs. Our conversation digs into topics like why Aristotle still matters, how philosophy can sharpen faith, and what it means for Christians today.Louis Markos (PhD, University of Michigan) is professor of English and scholar in residence at Houston Christian University, where he holds the Robert H. Ray Chair in Humanities. His many books include From Achilles to Christ: Why Christians Should Read the Pagan Classics, From Plato to Christ: How Platonic Thought Shaped the Christian Faith, The Myth Made Fact: Reading Greek and Roman Mythology through Christian Eyes, Apologetics for the 21st Century, Atheism on Trial, From Aristotle to Christ, and On the Shoulders of Hobbits: The Road to Virtue with Tolkien and Lewis. Personal Website/Writing: https://www.ryleyheppner.comApologetics Canada: https://apologeticscanada.com/ryley-heppner/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryleyhepp/
The most important question you will ever answer is this: Who is Jesus? In Acts 17, Paul reasoned with people from the Scriptures, showing that the Messiah had to suffer and rise again—and that Jesus fulfilled those promises. His simple argument was this: 1)The Scriptures foretold a suffering and risen Messiah 2) Jesus died and rose again. Therefore, Jesus is the Messiah—the risen King.This same question and argument confront us today. Did He rise? If so, then Jesus is who He claimed to be—and that changes everything!
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Historical context can bring incredible weight to the Bible. Take Revelation 1:9 as an example. John wasn’t just casually writing from an island; he was exiled to Patmos, a place reserved for Rome’s most serious criminalshttps://www.ryleyheppner.comhttps://apologeticscanada.com/ryley-heppner/
What is the church and why does it still matter? In this episode I chat with Dr. Guy Waters to explore the beautiful biblical doctrine of the church. Drawing from his book One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, we discuss the church’s identity, its purpose, and its essential role in the Christian life.
Guy Waters is the James M. Baird Jr. Professor of New Testament and the academic dean of Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, MI, where he has taught since 2007. He also serves as an associate editor of the Reformed Exegetical and Theological Commentary on Scripture.
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Biblical scholars Doug Huffman and Paul Gondreau join for me a conversation to explore the historical, theological, and interpretive dimensions of The Chosen. Drawing from their new book "Watching The Chosen: History, Faith, and Interpretation," we discuss how the series portrays Jesus and His followers, where it aligns with the biblical text, where it takes creative liberties, and how viewers can engage with it thoughtfully.
Dr. Douglas S. Huffman, the evangelical biblical consultant for the television series The Chosen, is Professor of New Testament and Associate Dean of Biblical and Theological Studies at Talbot School of Theology (Biola University) in California.Paul Gondreau is a professor of theology at Providence College. He teaches and publishes in the area of moral theology with an emphasis on marriage, Christology, and sacraments, with a specialization in the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas. He is also an associate editor of the journal Nova et Vetera and a contributor to Inseparable: Five Perspectives on Sex, Life, and Love in Defense of Humanae Vitae.https://www.ryleyheppner.comhttps://apologeticscanada.com/ryley-heppner/
Did Jesus ever claim to be God? In John 8:58, Jesus declares, “Before Abraham was, I am.” and his audience responds by picking up stones to execute Him for blasphemy.
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I wonder what the impact would be if this week, everywhere you normally would take your phone, you took your Bible instead, or also? And then, what if every time you wanted to pick up your phone to scroll this week, you picked up your Bible instead and read it?
Seven years of lead pastoring and I have now resigned. I don't know what is next, but if it is pastoring again, there are some things I would do differently and a few things I'd do the same.
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