Science should be a quest to discover truth. Christian faith means following the one who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. This pair of facts defines the life and work of this episode’s guest, former director of the National Institutes of Health, Francis Collins. He and Moore discuss COVID-19, conspiracies, and the creator God. Their conversation draws upon Collins’ new book, The Road to Wisdom, and highlights Christian hope for perspective amidst polarization. Collins and Moore also talk about Artificial Intelligence, the power of the Sermon on the Mount, and their common friend, the late Tim Keller. Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest(s) include: BioLogos Human Genome Project The Road to Wisdom: On Truth, Science, Faith, and Trust by Francis Collins The Singularity Is Nearer: When We Merge with AI by Ray Kurzweil Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis  Democracy and Solidarity: On the Cultural Roots of America's Political Crisis by James Davison Hunter The Lost World of Genesis One: Ancient Cosmology and the Origins Debate by John H. Walton The Advancement of Learning by Francis Bacon The Resurrection of the Son of God by N.T. Wright Promised Land Do you have a question for Russell Moore? Send it to questions@russellmoore.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How can Christians act with integrity, fortitude, and gospel hope in a volatile political season? That’s the question that David French, Curtis Chang, Ashley Hales, and Russell Moore consider on this special episode. Recorded live at a spring The After Party event in Washington, DC, the first half of the episode features a live panel discussion. In the second half, Moore, Chang, and French consider audience questions on practical engagement for Christians. Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest(s) include: The After Party David French Curtis Chang Ashley Hales “Firm Centers and Soft Edges” The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt Do you have a question for Russell Moore? Send it to questions@russellmoore.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There's an unintentional thread that runs through this quarterly books episode: apocalyptic themes. "That probably tells you what my headspace is right now,” says Russell Moore. Later, he adds, “There is a reckoning in these books.”  On this episode of The Russell Moore Show, Moore and producer Ashley Hales talk about books, authors, and storytelling. They discuss what draws readers to fateful accounts and trace such tales from the Psalms up to new releases. Their reads span from poetry to prose and sermons to songs. Tune in for an episode that is as honest about the darkness as it is certain of the light. Books and resources mentioned in this episode include: I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger The Faithful Spy, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and the Plot to Kill Hitler by John Hendricks The Crisis of Narration by Byung-Chul Han The Doors of the Sea: Where Was God in the Tsunami? by David Bentley Hart The Message in the Bottle: How Queer Man Is, How Queer Language Is, and What One Has to Do with the Other by Walker Percy Wrestling with God: The Meditations of Richard Marius edited by Nancy Grisham Anderson Praying with the Psalms: A Year of Daily Prayers and Reflections on the Words of David by Eugene Peterson The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky “The Working of the Spirit”  “God Is Always Doing 10,000 Things in Your Life”  Martin Luther: The Christian between God and Death by Richard Marius Richard Mouw “Dr. Russell Moore on the Power of Prayer” “Eugene Peterson – Answering God” The Songs of Jesus: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Psalms by Timothy Keller Mariner: A Voyage with Samuel Taylor Coleridge by Malcolm Guite The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Other Poems by Samuel Taylor Coleridge Aegypt by John Crowley Do you have a question for Russell Moore? Send it to questions@russellmoore.com. Click here for a trial membership at Christianity Today. “The Russell Moore Show” is a production of Christianity Today Executive Producers: Erik Petrik, Russell Moore, and Mike Cosper Host: Russell Moore Producer: Ashley Hales Associate Producers: Abby Perry and McKenzie Hill Director of Operations for CT Media: Matt Stevens Audio engineering by Dan Phelps Video producer: Abby Egan Theme Song: “Dusty Delta Day” by Lennon Hutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When people think of Bill McKibben, they likely think of issues like environmentalism and climate change. As Russell Moore points out in this episode, it may seem like a surprise that McKibben’s latest book is titled The Flag, the Cross, and the Station Wagon: A Graying American Looks Back at His Suburban Boyhood and Wonders What the Hell Happened. But, as Moore points out, McKibben has long been pondering the cultural influences that shape suburbia and those who grew up within it. And if there’s ever been a time to talk about the ways that the individualism that’s highly prized in suburbia affects Christians in America, it’s now. Tune into this episode for a discussion between two men who do not always agree yet respect each other’s intellectual positions and work. McKibben and Moore discuss the influence of the past on the present, how comfortability affects Christian formation, and the importance of solidarity. Their discussion touches on history, science, philosophy, theology, and politics—and how the gospel affects it all. “The Russell Moore Show” is a production of Christianity Today Chief Creative Officer: Erik Petrik Executive Producer and Host: Russell Moore Director of Podcasts: Mike Cosper Production Assistance: CoreMedia Coordinator: Beth Grabenkort Producer and Audio Mixing: Kevin Duthu Associate Producer: Abby Perry Theme Song: “Dusty Delta Day” by Lennon Hutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How can pro-life Christians engage in meaningful conversations about abortion with their pro-choice friends? Is attending church online equivalent to sitting in the sanctuary on a Sunday morning? And what is Russell Moore’s new book about? Russell Moore responds to all of these questions and more on this episode of The Russell Moore Show. Listen in for nuanced answers to listener inquiries such as: How should pro-life Christians respond when pro-choice friends say the pro-life position is only religious and therefore shouldn’t be imposed on anyone else? What can women who have had abortions, or men who have empowered them, do if they are struggling with an ongoing sense of guilt? How should Christians act when a coworker exhibits narcissistic behaviors? What are the differences between Calvinism and Arminianism, and how important are they? Is it okay for introverts who are drained by the work week to watch church online instead of attending in person? Future listener question episodes will include topics like grandparenting, retirement, and heaven. Do you have a question for Russell Moore? Send it to questions@russellmoore.com.“The Russell Moore Show” is a production of Christianity Today Chief Creative Officer: Erik Petrik Executive Producer and Host: Russell Moore Director of Podcasts: Mike Cosper Production Assistance: CoreMedia Coordinator: Beth Grabenkort Producer and Audio Mixing: Kevin Duthu Associate Producer: Abby Perry Theme Song: “Dusty Delta Day” by Lennon Hutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this special episode of The Russell Moore Show, author and professor Stephen Prothero discusses the overturn of Roe v. Wade and what it may mean for the United States. Moore and Prothero talk about potential implications for other legislation like Obergefell. They consider the potential effects of the Roe v. Wade overturn on America’s culture wars. Listeners may appreciate their conversation on talking about abortion with someone who holds a different opinion, and what it may look like to have a reasoned, productive dialogue on the subject. “The Russell Moore Show” is a production of Christianity Today Chief Creative Officer: Erik Petrik Executive Producer and Host: Russell Moore Director of Podcasts: Mike Cosper Production Assistance: CoreMedia Coordinator: Beth Grabenkort Producer and Audio Mixing: Kevin Duthu Associate Producer: Abby Perry Theme Song: “Dusty Delta Day” by Lennon Hutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Author and pastor Scott Sauls knows what it’s like to be his own worst critic. “Even if we’re being unfairly critiqued, there’s usually at least a kernel of truth in there somewhere that gets under our skin and bothers us,” Sauls says on this episode of The Russell Moore Show. Those kernels of truth can lead to guilt and shame. And, as Sauls says, “We have done things that render us guilty.” But we also have a victorious Savior who “accomplished a satisfactory victory” for us. Sauls and Moore talk about regrets, grace, seasons of suffering, and clinging to the gospel. They discuss the range of the human experience—everything from freedom and joy to guilt, shame, anxiety, and depression—and the God who draws near to us. Sauls’ new book is called Beautiful People Don't Just Happen: How God Redeems Regret, Hurt, and Fear in the Making of Better Humans. Sauls and Moore reference “The Catastrophe of Success” by Tennessee Williams, Moore’s recent episode with Arthur Brooks, and “Learning in War-time” by C. S. Lewis.Quotations mentioned in this episode include:“People may spend their whole lives climbing the ladder of success only to find, once they reach the top, that the ladder is leaning against the wrong wall.” - Allen Raine, though often attributed to Thomas Merton “[Envy] consists in seeing things never in themselves, but only in their relations. … If you desire glory, you may envy Napoleon, but Napoleon envied Caesar, Caesar envied Alexander, and Alexander, I daresay, envied Hercules, who never existed.” – Bertrand Russell “Preach the gospel to yourself.” – concept by Martin Luther, quote by Jerry Bridges “The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.” – Roy and Jane Nichols in Death: The Final Stage of Growth, compiled by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross “The Russell Moore Show” is a production of Christianity Today Chief Creative Officer: Erik Petrik Executive Producer and Host: Russell Moore Director of Podcasts: Mike Cosper Production Assistance: CoreMedia Coordinator: Beth Grabenkort Producer and Audio Mixing: Kevin Duthu Associate Producer: Abby Perry Theme Song: “Dusty Delta Day” by Lennon Hutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Humans are into rituals. Birth rituals, marriage rituals, naming rituals—each of these and more are integral to the lives of most people. One type of ritual, perhaps, is most common of all: death rituals. On this episode of The Russell Moore Show, author and professor Stephen Prothero joins Moore to discuss a sweeping change in death rituals: cremation's rapid rise in popularity. They talk about the theological and cultural implications of cremation, important questions to consider about how bodies are treated after death, and the role of the resurrection. “The Russell Moore Show” is a production of Christianity Today  Chief Creative Officer: Erik Petrik  Executive Producer and Host: Russell Moore  Director of Podcasts: Mike Cosper  Production Assistance: CoreMedia  Coordinator: Beth Grabenkort  Producer and Audio Mixing: Kevin Duthu  Associate Producer: Abby Perry  Theme Song: “Dusty Delta Day” by Lennon Hutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"Happiness requires a lot of unhappy when you finally confront life in all of its complexities." Dr. Moore and Arthur C. Brooks, Harvard professor and author of the book From Strength to Strength, discuss how if you're spending all of your time and energy trying to avoid unhappy, you will paradoxically avoid your own happiness by cutting the purpose and sacredness out of your life. Addressing loneliness, mental health, relationship building and the struggles this current generation is facing, Brooks shares his ultimate hope for a new day for Christian evangelicalism and the way that Gen Z is going to save America by rebelling against the culture war, lead by love, not hate.  “The Russell Moore Show” is a production of Christianity Today Chief Creative Officer: Erik Petrik Executive Producer and Host: Russell Moore Director of Podcasts: Mike Cosper Production Assistance: CoreMedia Coordinator: Beth Grabenkort Producer and Audio Mixing: Kevin Duthu Associate Producer: Abby Perry Theme Song: “Dusty Delta Day” by Lennon Hutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The following episode was recorded on May 13, 2022. “Having grown up just down the road, the son of the senior pastor at another church in town, I’ve spent my life watching evangelicalism morph from a spiritual disposition into a political identity,” Tim Alberta recently wrote at The Atlantic. “It’s heartbreaking.” On this episode of The Russell Moore Show, Alberta and Moore discuss the shift in evangelical life that has taken place over the past several years. They share honest, insightful stories about the grief of unwillingly losing relationships over political differences—stories that many listeners may find familiar. They talk about changes in politics, namely the culture of high-energy political passion we see today, and what it looks like for Christians to live as people of truth in a chaotic age. “The Russell Moore Show” is a production of Christianity Today Chief Creative Officer: Erik Petrik Executive Producer and Host: Russell Moore Director of Podcasts: Mike Cosper Production Assistance: CoreMedia Coordinator: Beth Grabenkort Producer and Audio Mixing: Kevin Duthu Associate Producer: Abby Perry Theme Song: “Dusty Delta Day” by Lennon Hutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rachael Denhollander is horrified by the information inside the monumental third-party investigative report into sexual abuse in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). But she’s not surprised. “The most sobering part,” Denhollander tells CT public theologian Russell Moore, “is that we should have known, and in many cases, we did know and did nothing.” The first woman to pursue criminal charges and speak publicly against USA Gymnastics’ team doctor Larry Nassar, Denhollander is an internationally recognized voice on the topic of sexual abuse. As an attorney, author, advocate, and educator, she speaks with gravity and clarity about the crisis of sexual abuse in the SBC and the extreme abuses of power that allowed it. This is a heavy episode on a devastating topic, but we hope you’ll stick with it. Denhollander’s wisdom provides key ways to resist injustice and honor the vulnerable in a critical time. Resources mentioned in the episode: What Is a Girl Worth? by Rachael Denhollander How Much Is a Little Boy Worth? by Rachael Denhollander How Much Is a Little Girl Worth? by Rachael Denhollander The Great Sex Rescue by Sheila Wray Gregoire Diane Langberg Caring Well Handbook “The Russell Moore Show” is a production of Christianity Today  Chief Creative Officer: Erik Petrik  Executive Producer and Host: Russell Moore  Director of Podcasts: Mike Cosper  Production Assistance: CoreMedia  Coordinator: Beth Grabenkort  Producer and Audio Mixing: Kevin Duthu  Associate Producer: Abby Perry  Theme Song: “Dusty Delta Day” by Lennon Hutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What the heck has been happening since 2014? That’s the question that today’s guest—NYU professor, psychologist, and author Jonathan Haidt—has been trying to answer ever since NYU students started to say that certain speakers shouldn’t be allowed on campus. Then came the arrival of safe spaces, discussions of microaggressions, and trigger warnings. What in the world was going on?  On this episode of The Russell Moore Show, Haidt suggests that these cultural shifts—which have rippled far beyond college campuses and into the arts, journalism, and even the church—took place at the time they did for a specific reason: people who had grown up using social media were entering adulthood.  Tune in for a rich conversation on how social media shapes us, and especially how it influences the developing minds of children and adolescents. It's bad news, but the alternative ways of thinking, living, and being that Moore and Haidt propose are full of goodness. “The Russell Moore Show” is a production of Christianity Today Chief Creative Officer: Erik Petrik Executive Producer and Host: Russell Moore Director of Podcasts: Mike Cosper Production Assistance: CoreMedia Coordinator: Beth Grabenkort Producer and Audio Mixing: Kevin Duthu Associate Producer: Abby Perry Theme Song: “Dusty Delta Day” by Lennon Hutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Should parents read books to their children that feature disobedient characters? How can Christians engage in public service when they are concerned about the trajectories of both major political parties? Are Christians called to admit all of their sins to fellow believers or can they just confess to God? Russell Moore addresses all of these listener questions and more on this episode of The Russell Moore Show. Listen in for nuanced responses to inquiries such as: What happens to a Christian marriage if one spouse cannot participate in sexual intimacy for medical reasons? If this information is known during engagement, should the couple still get married? If a Christian woman is dating a non-Christian man and becomes pregnant with his child, should she marry him? Should churches fly the American flag? How do we remind ourselves that God forgives us even when we don’t feel like it, and how much should Christians share their past sins with each other? Should I read Surprised by Hope by N. T. Wright if I’m not sure that I know enough theologically to identify where I agree or disagree with him? How should parents handle reading with their children when their children's school is banning books? What should someone who feels both a clear call to vocational public service and deep disenchantment about the direction of both major political parties do? How should Christians think about their rights in light of the fact that Scripture says to give up our rights? Do you have a question for Russell Moore? Send it to questions@russellmoore.com. “The Russell Moore Show” is a production of Christianity Today Chief Creative Officer: Erik Petrik Executive Producer and Host: Russell Moore Director of Podcasts: Mike Cosper Production Assistance: CoreMedia Coordinator: Beth Grabenkort Producer and Audio Mixing: Kevin Duthu Associate Producer: Abby Perry Theme Song: “Dusty Delta Day” by Lennon Hutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“There is so much grace.”  That’s what Melissa B. Kruger, Bible teacher, author of several books including Parenting with Hope, and vice president of discipleship programming at The Gospel Coalition wants families with teens to know. Not only that, it's what she hopes all who care about the next generation will bear in mind. On this episode of The Russell Moore Show, Kruger shares insights gained from her years of raising three now-adult children. She talks about the importance of emphasizing relationships with Jesus and one another over a formulaic approach to faith or parenting. Moore and Kruger discuss practical issues in teen life, including mental health concerns, smartphone usage, and how families may be unintentionally raising young people to be “curated…rather than dearly beloved.”  Kruger and Moore offer hope for families that are struggling and encourage parents to think about preparing their children to encounter risks in the real world with wisdom and hope. Resources mentioned in this episode include: Melissa B. Kruger The Gospel Coalition Parenting with Hope: Raising Teens for Christ in a Secular Age by Melissa B. Kruger “Jonathan Haidt’s Way Forward for an Anxious Generation”  "An Update to The Anxious Generation with Jonathan Haidt" Reformed Theological Seminary The Price of Privilege: How Parental Pressure and Material Advantage Are Creating a Generation of Disconnected and Unhappy Kids by Madeline Levine, Ph.D.  The Gift of Good Land: Further Essays Cultural and Agricultural by Wendell Berry  Do you have a question for Russell Moore? Send it to questions@russellmoore.com. Click here for a trial membership at Christianity Today. “The Russell Moore Show” is a production of Christianity Today Executive Producers: Erik Petrik, Russell Moore, and Mike Cosper Host: Russell Moore Producer: Ashley Hales Associate Producers: Abby Perry and McKenzie Hill Director of Operations for CT Media: Matt Stevens Audio engineering by Dan Phelps Video producer: Abby Egan Theme Song: “Dusty Delta Day” by Lennon Hutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

At first glance, it may seem hard to believe that former NFL Super Bowl champion Benjamin Watson has much in common with the rest of us. But listening into his conversation with Russell Moore, you’ll find that he shares many of the same struggles that his fellow brothers and sisters in Christ do. On this episode of The Russell Moore Show, Watson shares his story of growing up in a Christian home where he came to faith as a young boy. He and Moore talk about Watson’s struggles with perfectionism, turning to works-based righteousness, and seasons of having “one foot in the world” despite his ongoing faith. Moore and Watson also discuss issues that many people are trying to navigate, including: Managing personal ego in light of God’s love Protecting sacred time while playing sports Addressing racial injustices, which Watson writes about in his book Under Our Skin: Getting Real about Race. Getting Free from the Fears and Frustrations that Divide Us. “The Russell Moore Show” is a production of Christianity Today Chief Creative Officer: Erik Petrik Executive Producer and Host: Russell Moore Director of Podcasts: Mike Cosper Production Assistance: CoreMedia Coordinator: Beth Grabenkort Producer and Audio Mixing: Kevin Duthu Associate Producer: Abby Perry Theme Song: “Dusty Delta Day” by Lennon Hutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Should Americans and NATO support a no-fly zone over Ukraine? How large of a role did religion play in the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol? Is Russian propaganda responsible for much of the division we see in the world today? Is turning our focus to local politics the best way to address the chaos of national politics? Russell Moore and Representative Adam Kinzinger discuss these questions and more on today’s episode of The Russell Moore Show. Kinzinger, a member of the House committee investigating the January 6 attack, speaks to the way politics is dividing families, the anger-driven posture of today’s Republican Party, and the importance of standing up for issues of life and dignity. “The Russell Moore Show” is a production of Christianity Today Chief Creative Officer: Erik Petrik Executive Producer and Host: Russell Moore Director of Podcasts: Mike Cosper Production Assistance: CoreMedia Coordinator: Beth Grabenkort Producer and Audio Mixing: Kevin Duthu Associate Producer: Abby Perry Theme Song: “Dusty Delta Day” by Lennon Hutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“Are the times we’re living in really as crazy as they seem?” This is the first question that Russell Moore has for David Brooks, a New York Times op-ed columnist, author, and commentator. Brooks’s recent column “The Dissenters Trying to Save Evangelicalism From Itself” details some of the unsettling, disheartening events within evangelicalism over the past few years and highlights several individuals who are trying to forge a different path. On this episode of The Russell Moore Show, Brooks and Moore discuss many types of people that “evangelical” can describe. They talk about the difficulties of resisting the climate of the times. And they talk about what politics are meant to do and be. “The Russell Moore Show” is a production of Christianity Today Chief Creative Officer: Erik Petrik Executive Producer and Host: Russell Moore Director of Podcasts: Mike Cosper Production Assistance: CoreMedia Coordinator: Beth Grabenkort Producer and Audio Mixing: Kevin Duthu Associate Producer: Abby Perry Theme Song: “Dusty Delta Day” by Lennon Hutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is the Enneagram compatible with Christianity? Ian Cron, author of The Road Back to You and The Story of You says “yes.”  On this episode of The Russell Moore Show, Cron and Moore talk about the Christian roots of the personality typing system known as the Enneagram. They discuss how helpful the Enneagram can be as a tool for spiritual formation. And they talk about the power of digging into our personal stories—false messages and all—so that we can learn how to rewrite them according to the truth, love, and kindness of God. “The Russell Moore Show” is a production of Christianity Today Chief Creative Officer: Erik Petrik Executive Producer and Host: Russell Moore Director of Podcasts: Mike Cosper Production Assistance: CoreMedia Coordinator: Beth Grabenkort Producer and Audio Mixing: Kevin Duthu Associate Producer: Abby Perry Theme Song: “Dusty Delta Day” by Lennon Hutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How should Christians think about the insurrection at the Capitol one year later? What’s the point of reading those long genealogies in Scripture? Do leaders in ministry have to use social media? On this week’s Q&A episode of The Russell Moore Show, Moore answers these questions and more. Tune in for an episode that speaks to timely issues with timeless wisdom. How should Christians think about the insurrection at the Capitol one year later? Is it necessary to read the lineages in the Bible? How does Moore handle the challenges that come with speaking publicly, especially on social media?If a husband and wife have clear consciences about sterilization, and they agree that they aren’t going to have any children (or any more children), which spouse should undergo a procedure? Who is God, and how do I figure it out? How do I begin a gospel conversation with someone who doesn’t believe the Bible? What is a Christian perspective on climate change/the floods, fires, and droughts happening all over the world? Do you have a question for Russell Moore? Send it to questions@russellmoore.com. ---- “The Russell Moore Show” is a production of Christianity Today Chief Creative Officer: Erik Petrik Executive Producer and Host: Russell Moore Director of Podcasts: Mike Cosper Production Assistance: CoreMedia Coordinator: Beth Grabenkort Producer and Audio Mixing: Kevin Duthu Associate Producer: Abby Perry Theme Song: “Dusty Delta Day” by Lennon Hutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Do you feel worn down? Are you tired? Musician Andrew Peterson gets it. On this episode of The Russell Moore Show, Peterson and Moore talk about community, physical exhaustion, and the faith challenges that can arise during intense seasons of life. They discuss their common feeling that something is wrong with them that isn’t wrong with others and what it looks like to hold fast to the person of Jesus when that feeling gets loud. And they talk about the ways that God nourishes his people through friendship, art, and story. Do we talk about why we’re lonely? We do. Does he discuss deconstruction? He does. Is there talk about how a garden could help the Bible comin’ through? There is. Is it good that you should listen here with us? It is. Is it Berry? Is it Tolkien? Is it a monastery trip under a fake name? Is it all this, is it all this, plus the Ryman and Jesus and pipes? It is. --- “The Russell Moore Show” is a production of Christianity Today Chief Creative Officer: Erik Petrik Executive Producer and Host: Russell Moore Director of Podcasts: Mike Cosper Production Assistance: CoreMedia Coordinator: Beth Grabenkort Producer and Audio Mixing: Kevin Duthu Associate Producer: Abby Perry Theme Song: “Dusty Delta Day” by Lennon Hutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ligon Duncan and Russell Moore agree on a lot of things, but baptism isn’t one of them. While Moore comes from a believers’ baptism tradition, Duncan practices infant baptism. On this episode of The Russell Moore Show, Duncan answers questions about the importance of baptism and how the Christian understanding of baptism has changed over time. He shares his perspective on the mode of baptism, the efficacy of the sacraments, and the importance of commitment regardless of denomination. He describes infant and adult baptisms within his Presbyterian context and explains how baptism is a passive rite and the Lord’s Supper is an active rite. Listen in for great questions and a robust yet digestible discussion of one of our most dearly held Christian sacraments. “The Russell Moore Show” is a production of Christianity Today Chief Creative Officer: Erik Petrik Executive Producer and Host: Russell Moore Director of Podcasts: Mike Cosper Production Assistance: CoreMedia Coordinator: Beth Grabenkort Producer and Audio Mixing: Kevin Duthu Associate Producer: Abby Perry Theme Song: “Dusty Delta Day” by Lennon Hutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When the Access Hollywood “locker room talk” tape hit the mainstream on October 7, 2016, both Russell Moore and historian Kristin Du Mez were horrified. But while Moore felt surprised by the evangelical response—or lack of response—to the video, Du Mez saw it as a predictable outcome of militant masculinity within evangelicalism. In their conversation, and in her book Jesus and John Wayne, Du Mez explains why. On this episode of The Russell Moore Show, Moore and Du Mez talk about the overlap of history, politics, and Christianity when it comes to understanding American evangelicalism’s relationship to gender. They also discuss the centrality of sexual purity in much of American Christianity in the past few decades and the specific devastation caused by leaders who espoused those messages and later acted as predators. They share their thoughts on the parallels between changes in the Republican party and evangelicalism over the past few years, and what it means to realize that what you once saw as a fringe group within your tribe was, in fact, more of a core than you had ever imagined. Listen in for an episode filled with great questions, thoughtful answers, and mutual engagement on challenging topics. “The Russell Moore Show” is a production of Christianity Today Chief Creative Officer: Erik Petrik Executive Producer and Host: Russell Moore Director of Podcasts: Mike Cosper Production Assistance: CoreMedia Coordinator: Beth Grabenkort Producer and Audio Mixing: Kevin Duthu Administrators: Christine Kolb and Pam Vodenova Theme Song: “Dusty Delta Day” by Lennon Hutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this bonus episode, Russell Moore and Beth Moore talk about overcoming bitterness and how to avoid quarrels. They discuss the exvangelical/evangelical divide and what it looks like to guard against self-righteousness. Both of them share a few words of advice for current Southern Baptist leaders as well. Tune in for an insightful, rich conversation. What is a practice you use to overcome bitterness? (0:56) On the other side of leaving, are there new or unexpected ways of thinking you find yourself entering into? (03:16) How can we encourage a public discourse about making us what God expects us to be? (6:02) How do you know when to challenge your loved ones’ dangerous views and when to let go and quit pushing them? (9:12) What would you say to those who choose to stay? (12:30) Russell, what would you say to the 2016 version of yourself? (17:55) What advice would you give to church leaders currently affiliated with the SBC who are wrestling through how to consider whether or not to unaffiliate? (21:29) If one feels uncomfortable or disillusioned in the current evangelical culture, should one move to the exvangelical movement? (26:00) How do you guard yourself against self-righteousness when in disagreement with someone over convictions? (29:00) “The Russell Moore Show” is a production of Christianity Today Chief Creative Officer: Erik Petrik Executive Producer and Host: Russell Moore Director of Podcasts: Mike Cosper Production Assistance: CoreMedia Coordinator: Beth Grabenkort Producer and Audio Mixing: Kevin Duthu Administrators: Christine Kolb and Pam Vodenova Theme Song: “Dusty Delta Day” by Lennon Hutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Does “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” really mean what we think it does? In this episode, Russell Moore is joined by author and activist Shane Claiborne to discuss the death penalty. While Claiborne and Moore both agree that execution should not be celebrated, they differ on whether it is a means of justice. Tune in for a gracious and frank discussion on how Christians should think about capital punishment. With thought-provoking insights on the reality of the effects on former executioners, Claiborne describes restorative justice, proposes that “the road of violence is a dead end,” and emphasizes that “we are not made to kill.” Claiborne and Moore wrestle with the similarities between war and capital punishment and ultimately wrestle with a fundamental question: Has Jesus commanded us to kill? “The Russell Moore Show” is a production of Christianity Today Chief Creative Officer: Erik Petrik Executive Producer and Host: Russell Moore Director of Podcasts: Mike Cosper Production Assistance: CoreMedia Coordinator: Beth Grabenkort Producer and Audio Mixing: Kevin Duthu Administrators: Christine Kolb and Pam Vodenova Theme Song: “Dusty Delta Day” by Lennon Hutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“That is one nutty hospital.” So says Bill Murray’s character, Jeff Slater, in the 1982 film Tootsie—and, effectively, so say many listeners of The Russell Moore Show when they reach out with questions or comments about the state of society and politics today. America is trying to recover from the physical, emotional, and economic effects of COVID-19 while simultaneously barreling toward an election season that is particularly rife with discord.  On this episode of The Russell Moore Show, we’re bringing together clips from four past episodes that provide, as Moore puts it, “some counsel of sanity in really crazy times.” Listeners hear from Jen Wilkin on unfair pay for women in churches and Beth Moore on how abuse has affected her view of God as a father. Yuval Levin speaks to what we can do as the institutions around us crumble and the late Tim Keller reminds us that we can both claim the power of forgiveness and seek justice. Tune in for an episode that offers focus, encouragement, and hope for weathering the days to come. This episode features clips from the following episodes of The Russell Moore Show: “Beth Moore Speaks Out” “Jen Wilkin on Women in the Church” “Yuval Levin on What Christians Can Learn from Religious Minorities” “Tim Keller Says Forgiveness Is Key to Christian Witness” Resources mentioned in this episode include:  Tootsie “Honor Thy Church Mother—with Wages” The Westminster Confession of Faith All My Knotted-Up Life: A Memoir by Beth Moore American Covenant: How the Constitution Unified Our Nation―and Could Again by Yuval Levin Exclusion and Embrace, Revised and Updated: A Theological Exploration of Identity, Otherness, and Reconciliation by Miroslav Volf A Timbered Choir: The Sabbath Poems, 1979-1997 by Wendell Berry The Diary of a Country Priest: A Novel by Georges Bernanos Do you have a question for Russell Moore? Send it to questions@russellmoore.com. Click here for a trial membership at Christianity Today. “The Russell Moore Show” is a production of Christianity Today  Executive Producers: Erik Petrik, Russell Moore, and Mike Cosper  Host: Russell Moore  Producer: Ashley Hales  Associate Producers: Abby Perry and McKenzie Hill Director of Operations for CT Media: Matt Stevens Audio engineering by Dan Phelps  Video producer: Abby Egan  Theme Song: “Dusty Delta Day” by Lennon Hutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Russell Moore is joined by Philip Yancey, author and former journalist, to discuss his new memoir, Where the Light Fell. Yancey and Moore have a lot in common, including their Bible Belt upbringings and even a shared distant ancestor. In this episode, Yancey speaks of his childhood faith and the fear that shook it, which eventually led him to discover the Jesus he never knew. He and Moore talk about the toxic ideas that arise when churches paint a false picture of who God is. Finally, they discuss the eye-opening, true nature of God and how, ultimately, his love should cast out fear. “The Russell Moore Show” is a production of Christianity Today Chief Creative Officer: Erik Petrik Executive Producer and Host: Russell Moore Director of Podcasts: Mike Cosper Production Assistance: CoreMedia Coordinator: Beth Grabenkort Producer and Audio Mixing: Kevin Duthu Administrators: Christine Kolb and Pam Vodenova Theme Song: “Dusty Delta Day” by Lennon Hutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are Christians asking the right questions when it comes to critical race theory? How should we think about purity culture? Should believers leave the church when it does not align with their political beliefs? These are just some of the questions that Russell Moore answers this week on The Russell Moore Show. Tune in for a thought-provoking episode that emphasizes the importance of engaging all topics, concerns, and issues of the day from a biblical perspective. When should I leave the church? (04:45) Based on recent scandals, should there be more rigorous ordination standards? (17:10) Are Christians asking the right questions when it comes to critical race theory? (23:12) How should we think about purity culture? (34:10) Do you have a system for organizing your library? (40:10) “The Russell Moore Show” is a production of Christianity Today Chief Creative Officer: Erik Petrik Executive Producer and Host: Russell Moore Director of Podcasts: Mike Cosper Production Assistance: CoreMedia Coordinator: Beth Grabenkort Producer and Audio Mixing: Kevin Duthu Administrators: Christine Kolb and Pam Vodenova Theme Song: “Dusty Delta Day” by Lennon Hutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

David French, a former attorney and political commentator, joins Russell Moore to give listeners a taste of their conversations over coffee. Moore and French share similar values when it comes to having difficult conversations without animosity. As leaders with their fingers on the pulse of American society, they discuss the Christian’s role in advocating for religious liberty. In this episode, Moore and French get to the bottom of what “David Frenchism” is. They discuss the importance of respect and decency when having differing beliefs on controversial topics. They demonstrate gracious debate, giving listeners a framework for a mature dialogue. Finally, they show how Christians can have fruitful discussions by taking on the opposing view’s side. “The Russell Moore Show” is a production of Christianity Today Chief Creative Officer: Erik Petrik Executive Producer and Host: Russell Moore Director of Podcasts: Mike Cosper Production Assistance: CoreMedia Coordinator: Beth Grabenkort Producer and Audio Mixing: Kevin Duthu Administrator: Christine Kolb Theme Song: “Dusty Delta Day” by Lennon Hutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Russell Moore and Beth Moore are often mistaken for siblings, spouses, or even parent and child in social media discussions. While they share no familial relation, Russell and Beth have shared similar joys and heartbreaks in their Christian lives. They both know the beauty of growing up in churches that loved them well. They’ve experienced the privileges and complexities of living as public faith leaders. And, more recently, they’ve both walked through the process of leaving the Southern Baptist Convention—a place they’d called home for decades. In this episode, Russell and Beth talk about how both staying and leaving can be tremendously difficult and tremendously sweet. They share honestly about how painful and disorienting it can be when the people in your inner circles suddenly seem to turn against you. They discuss how their experiences may seem unique, but in many ways, they mirror relationship losses that Americans and people all around the globe have passed over the past several years. And they call their brothers and sisters to dwell together in unity, empowering one another to testify to the gospel. “The Russell Moore Show” is a production of Christianity Today Chief Creative Officer: Erik Petrik Executive Producer and Host: Russell Moore Director of Podcasts: Mike Cosper Production Assistance: CoreMedia Coordinator: Beth Grabenkort Producer and Audio Mixing: Kevin Duthu Administrator: Christine Kolb Theme Song: “Dusty Delta Day” by Lennon Hutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Signposts, I am joined by Sam Allberry to talk about his new book, What God Has To Say About Our Bodies (Crossway, 2021). In our conversation we talk about the effects of the pandemic on the body, the importance of the body to our life, and our incorrect theologies of the body. Sam Allberry is a pastor, apologist and speaker. He is the author of a number of books, including Is God Anti-Gay?, Why Bother with Church?, 7 Myths about Singleness, and What God Has To Say About Our Bodies. He has written extensively for numero­­us organizations, including The Gospel Coalition, Desiring God, and Living Out. I invite you to listen in to our conversation and be sure to subscribe to receive future episodes of Signposts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Signposts, I am joined by Dr. Tod Bolsinger to talk about his new book, Tempered Resilience: How Leaders Are Formed in the Crucible of Change (IVP, 2020). In our conversation we talk about leadership, dealing with conflict and pastoral exhaustion, and how to equip and encourage future leaders. Tod Bolsinger (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is a speaker, executive coach, former pastor, and author who serves as associate professor of leadership formation and senior fellow for the De Pree Center for Leadership at Fuller Seminary. His books include the Outreach Magazine Resource of the Year in Pastoral Leadership, Canoeing the Mountains, and the Christianity Today Award of Merit recipient, It Takes a Church to Raise a Christian. I invite you to listen in to our conversation and be sure to subscribe to receive future episodes of Signposts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Signposts, I am joined by Dr. Philip Jenkins to talk about his new book, Fertility and Faith: The Demogrpahic Revolution and the Transformation of World Religions (Baylor University Press, 2020). In our conversation we talk about secularization, the relationship of religion to childbearing, and the shifting demography of religion and religious behavior. Dr. Philip Jenkins is the Distinguished Professor of History and Co-Director for the Program on Historical Studies of Religion at Baylor University. He holds a PhD from Cambridge University. His research includes the study of global Christianity, new religious moments, and twentieth century US history. His books include The Many Faces of Christ (Basic Books, 2015), The Great and Holy War (HarperOne, 2014), and The Next Christendom: The Rise of Global Christianity (Oxford, 2011). I invite you to listen in to our conversation and be sure to subscribe to receive future episodes of Signposts.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Signposts, I am joined by Dr. Tara Isabella Burton to talk about her new book, Strange Rites: New Religions for a Godless World (PublicAffairs, 2020). In our conversation we talk about secularization, the breakdown of religious institutions, and the connection of fitness culture and religiosity. Dr. Burton received a Doctorate in Theology from Trinity College, Oxford where she was a Clarendon Scholar in 2017. She is the author of two books: the novel Social Creature (Doubleday, 2018) and Strange Rites (Public Affairs, 2020). She also has two other books that are forthcoming: another novel, The World Cannot Give (Simon and Schuster, 2022) and another work of non-fiction, Self-Made: Curating Our Image from Da Vinci to the Kardashians (Public Affairs, 2023). She has written for The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, and others. She also serves as a columnist for Religion News Service and a former staff religion writer at Vox.  I invite you to listen in to our conversation and be sure to subscribe to receive future episodes of Signposts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Signposts, I am joined by Jasmine Holmes to talk about her new book, Mother to Son: Letters to a Black Boy on Identity and Hope (IVP, 2020). In our conversation, we talk about race, justice, how the church can equip women, and how to talk to our children about these topics. She is a homeschool teacher, former teacher at a classical school, and author. Her writing has appeared The Gospel Coalition, Desiring God, Fathom Mag, Modern Reformation, and RAANetwork. She and her husband, Phillip, and her son, Walter Wynn, live in Jackson, Mississippi.  I invite you to listen in to our conversation and be sure to subscribe to receive future episodes of Signposts.     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Signposts, I am joined by Pastor Tim Keller to talk about his new book, Hope in Times of Fear: The Resurrection and the Meaning of Easter (Viking, 2021). In our conversation, we talk about wrestling with our mortality, how to order our loves in this life, and finding hope in the midst of suffering. Pastor Timothy Keller is the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, which he started in 1989 with his wife, Kathy, and three young sons. For 28 years he led a diverse congregation of young professionals that grew to a weekly attendance of over 5,000. He is also the Chairman & Co-Founder of Redeemer City to City (CTC), which starts new churches in New York and other global cities, and publishes books and resources for ministry in an urban environment. Dr. Keller’s books, including the New York Times bestselling The Reason for God and The Prodigal God, have sold over 2 million copies and been translated into 25 languages. I invite you to listen in to our conversation and be sure to subscribe to receive future episodes of Signposts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“In this season of my life, I’m not concerned with ego. I’m just trying to figure out how to serve and how to do the right things.” So says four-time Grammy-award-winning rapper Lecrae on this episode of The Russell Moore Show. This lack of concern with ego hasn’t always been easy. Lecrae, whose two most recent Grammy wins occurred this year, shares that he had to spend a lot of time learning that God is the one who determines who he is. He and Moore discuss imposter syndrome, performance, and comparison. Their conversation covers anxiety, depression, and how God enters into our dark moments. Lecrae and Moore talk about what deconstructing really means. They also consider how Western exceptionalism arises in Christian spaces, including a reckoning with lauded historical theologians who were slaveholders. They also talk about how Lecrae views the music industry, the importance of close friends when fame is part of your life, and what it looks like to live as though death has no power over us. Resources mentioned in this episode include:  Lecrae Church Clothes 4 “Your Power” I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger God Gave Rock and Roll to You: A History of Contemporary Christian Music by Leah Payne “W.W. Jay-Z?”  “Underneath the Door” Do you have a question for Russell Moore? Send it to questions@russellmoore.com. Click here for a trial membership at Christianity Today. “The Russell Moore Show” is a production of Christianity Today  Executive Producers: Erik Petrik, Russell Moore, and Mike Cosper  Host: Russell Moore  Producer: Ashley Hales  Associate Producers: Abby Perry and McKenzie Hill Director of Operations for CT Media: Matt Stevens Audio engineering by Dan Phelps  Video producer: Abby Egan  Theme Song: “Dusty Delta Day” by Lennon Hutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Signposts, I am joined by Dr. Esau McCaulley to talk about his new book, Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope (IVP Academic, 2020). In our conversation we talk about biblical scholarship, the black church, and place of hope in interpreting the scriptures. The Rev. Canon Esau McCaulley is a New Testament scholar and an Anglican Priest. He completed his doctoral studies at the University of St Andrews where he studied under the direction of N.T. Wright. In addition to Reading While Black, he is the author of Sharing the Son's Inheritance (T&T Clark, 2019). He is a contributing opinion writer for the New York Times. He has also appeared in outlets such as Christianity Today and the Washington Post. He is also the host of the Disrupters Podcast and functions as a Canon Theologian for his diocese. Dr. McCaulley, currently, serves as assistant professor of New Testament at Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL. He is married to Mandy, a pediatrician and a Navy reservist. Together, they have four wonderful children. I invite you to listen in to our conversation and be sure to subscribe to receive future episodes of Signposts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Signposts, I am joined by Dr. Marilynne Robinson to talk about her new novel, Jack (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2020). In our conversation we talk about the place of religion in society, sin and evil, and the transforming place of grace in each of our lives. and Robinson is an American novelist and essayist. She is the author of novels such as Gilead(Picador, 2005), Home (Picador, 2008), and Lila (Picador, 2014), as well as a collection of essays, The Death of Adam (Picador, 2005). Across her writing career, Robinson has received numerous awards, including the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2005, National Humanities Medal in 2012, and the 2016 Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction. In 2016, Robinson was named in Time magazine's list of 100 most influential people. Robinson began teaching at the Iowa Writers' Workshop in 1991 and retired in the spring of 2016.  I invite you to listen in to our conversation and be sure to subscribe to receive future episodes of Signposts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Signposts, I am joined by Pastor Dane Ortlund to talk about his book, Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers (Crossway, 2020). In our conversation we talk about the comfort of Christ for the suffering, the effect of isolation on our understanding of Christ as a friend, and the role of the church in bearing burdens and offering healing for those who are struggling. Ortlund serves as senior pastor of Naperville Presbyterian Church in Naperville, Illinois. He is an editor for the Knowing the Bible series and the Short Studies in Biblical Theology series, and is the author of several books, including Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers. Dane lives with his wife, Stacey, and their five children in Naperville, Illinois. I invite you to listen in to our conversation and be sure to subscribe to receive future episodes of Signposts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Signposts, I am joined by John Dickerson of CBS 60 Minutes to talk about his book, The Hardest Job in the World: The American Presidency (Random House, 2020). In our conversation, we talk about the place of politics in culture, the challenges of the modern presidency, how the position can shape and change the person, and his observations from years reporting on Capitol Hill and White House. Prior to that, he was a co-host of CBS This Morning, the anchor of Face the Nation, and CBS News's chief Washington correspondent. Dickerson is also a contributing writer to The Atlantic, co-host of Slate's Political Gabfest podcast, and host of the Whistlestop podcast. Dickerson won the Ford Prize for Distinguished Reporting on the Presidency as Slate's chief political correspondent. Dickerson covered the White House for Time during his twelve years at the magazine.   I invite you to listen in to our conversation and be sure to subscribe to receive future episodes of Signposts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In today’s special episode of Signposts, I wanted to let you listen to a conversation I had with David French of The Dispatch as part of their “What’s Next” event on the future of the GOP. He is a graduate of Harvard Law School, the past president of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, and a former lecturer at Cornell Law School. He has served as a senior counsel for the American Center for Law and Justice and the Alliance Defending Freedom. In our conversation, we talked about the future of evangelicalism and what comes next.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this special episode of Signposts, we hosted a discussion about the COVID-19 vaccines with Dr. Francis Collins, the Director of the National Institutes of Health. During our event he shared insights about the development of the vaccines, misconceptions about them, and what it will take to get our church life back to "normal."  During the webinar, Dr. Collins mentioned a website where you can find more information about joining vaccine or clinical trials or donating plasma to help win the fight against COVID-19. Click here to learn more: https://combatcovid.hhs.gov/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Signposts, I am joined by Pastor Scott Sauls to talk about his book, A Gentle Answer (Thomas Nelson, 2020).  In our conversation, we talk about outrage culture, spiritual exhaustion, and the proper place of anger toward injustice. Scott began serving as our Senior Pastor in March of 2012. A graduate of Furman University and Covenant Seminary, Scott is married to Patti and is dad to Abby and Ellie. Scott previously served at Redeemer Presbyterian Church. He was also the founding pastor of churches in Kansas City and Saint Louis. While in Saint Louis, Scott also taught homiletics (preaching) to students at Covenant Theological Seminary.  I invite you to listen in to our conversation, and be sure to subscribe to receive future episodes of Signposts.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Signposts, I am joined by Justin Earley to talk about his book, The Common Rule (Winner of the Christianity Today 2020 Book of the Year Award). In our conversation, we talk about calling, habits of the heart and mind, and the way Christians can build lasting routines and spiritual disciplines rooted in the truths of Scripture to cultivate the proper worldview. Justin is a business lawyer in Richmond, Virginia. He is married to Lauren and they have four sons.  I invite you to listen in to our conversation, and be sure to subscribe to receive future episodes of Signposts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Signposts, I am joined by pastor Ray Ortlund to talk about ministry, integrity, and transition points in life. Pastor Ortlund was ordained into the Christian ministry by Lake Avenue Congregational Church, Pasadena, California, in 1975.  He taught Old Testament and Semitic Languages at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Illinois, from 1989 to 1998.  His primary ministry, for 28 years, has been as a pastor in California, Oregon, Georgia and Tennessee. In addition to numerous essays and articles, Ray has published eight books.  His latest, Marriage and the Mystery of the Gospel, was named “2017 Christian Book of the Year” in the category Bible Study. Ray is also the President of Renewal Ministries and serves on the Council of The Gospel Coalition. Ray and his wife Jani have been married for forty-five happy years, they have four delightful children and 13 amazing grandchildren.   I invite you to listen in to our conversation, and be sure to subscribe to receive future episodes of Signposts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Signposts, I am joined by artist Makoto Fujimura to talk about his art, beauty, and faith. Makoto Fujimura is a leading contemporary artist whose process driven, refractive “slow art” has been described by David Brooks of New York Times as “a small rebellion against the quickening of time”. Fujimura’s art has been featured widely in galleries and museums around the world, and is collected by notable collections including The Museum of Contemporary Art in Tokyo, The Huntington Library as well as Tikotin Museum in Israel.    I invite you to listen in to our conversation, and be sure to subscribe to receive future episodes of Signposts.     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Carolyn Weber didn’t have a dependable earthly father, so she had no intention of trusting a heavenly one. As a hardworking, intellectual agnostic, she decided to read the Bible from front to back so she could show her Christian friends how ridiculous their beliefs were. Instead, she found that the Bible made sense to her. Not only that, but it drew her to the person of Jesus.  On this episode of The Russell Moore Show, Weber talks about her personal story of conversion and how it led to her memoir, Surprised by Oxford, and the resulting film. She and Moore talk about the influence of C.S. Lewis on both Weber and modern Christianity, the power of literature, and how fiction can help us develop a moral imagination. They discuss poetry, philosophy, and prayer, considering the many beautiful ways God reveals himself to us. Resources mentioned in this episode include:  Carolyn Weber Surprised by Oxford: A Memoir by Carolyn Weber Surprised by Oxford (film) Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis The Weight of Glory by C.S. Lewis The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien Life Is a Miracle: An Essay Against Modern Superstition by Wendell Berry “Surprised by Joy” by William Wordsworth The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin by Beatrix Potter Do you have a question for Russell Moore? Send it to questions@russellmoore.com. Click here for a trial membership at Christianity Today. “The Russell Moore Show” is a production of Christianity Today  Executive Producers: Erik Petrik, Russell Moore, and Mike Cosper  Host: Russell Moore  Producer: Ashley Hales  Associate Producers: Abby Perry and McKenzie Hill Director of Operations for CT Media: Matt Stevens Audio engineering by Dan Phelps  Video producer: Abby Egan  Theme Song: “Dusty Delta Day” by Lennon Hutton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Signposts, I am joined by Pastor Max Lucado to talk about his latest book You Are Never Alone. Max Lucado is the Teaching Minister at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, TX and the author of over 40 books. Lucado says he “writes books for people who don’t read books.’ Every trade book Max Lucado has written during the last 30 years began as a sermon series for his home church Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas. Max and Denalyn live in San Antonio, Texas, and have three grown daughters, two sons-in-law, and two grandchildren. I invite you to listen in to our conversation, and be sure to subscribe to receive future episodes of Signposts. === You can preorder Max’s new book here: http://youareneveralonebook.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Signposts, I am joined by Dr. Yuval Levin to talk about his latest book A Time to Build. He is the director of Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI). He also holds the Beth and Ravenel Curry Chair in Public Policy. The founding and current editor of National Affairs, he is also a senior editor of The New Atlantis and a contributing editor to National Review. Dr. Levin served as a member of the White House domestic policy staff under President George W. Bush. He was also executive director of the President’s Council on Bioethics and a congressional staffer at the member, committee, and leadership levels. I invite you to listen in on our conversation, and be sure to subscribe to receive future episodes of Signposts.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Signposts, I am joined by Dr. Stephen Prothero to talk about religious literacy. Dr. Prothero is the C. Allyn and Elizabeth V. Russell Professor of Religion in American at Boston University. He is the author of Why Liberals Win the Culture Wars (HarperOne, 2016), God Is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions that Run the World—and Why Their Differences Matter (HarperOne, 2010), and the New York Times bestseller Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know—and Doesn’t (HarperOne, 2007). I invite you to listen in on our conversation, and be sure to subscribe to receive future episodes of Signposts. === I reviewed Dr. Prothero's book Why Liberals Win the Culture Wars for The Gospel Coalition. You can read that here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices