Explore every episode of the podcast The Denison Forum Podcast - Christian perspective on current events, Christian news and culture, Biblical wisdom
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The role of politics in protecting the sanctity of life - Part 7 | 12 Sep 2024 | 01:00:12 | |
In this seventh episode of the special eight-episode series called ‘Politics discerned differently,’ Dr. Mark Turman discusses the sanctity of life and the issue of abortion with Dr. Katie Fruge and Dr. Ryan Denison. The conversation explores the cultural and political landscape surrounding abortion and the challenges faced by the pro-life movement. They emphasize the importance of approaching the conversation with a biblical perspective and a recognition of the innate dignity and worth of every human being. They also discuss the need for a holistic pro-life approach that not only focuses on the pre-born but also supports families and creates a culture of life. The conversation explores the complex and nuanced topic of the sanctity of life, particularly in relation to abortion and IVF. The speakers discuss the different perspectives on when life begins and the sacredness of every stage of life. They emphasize the importance of understanding and respecting differing viewpoints, as well as the need for better conversations around the topic. They also address the role of politics and political parties in addressing the sanctity of life, highlighting the need for a holistic approach and the dangers of oversimplification. The speakers conclude by urging churches to take a comprehensive approach to promoting a culture of life and addressing the various causes of abortion. Topics
ResourcesRelated Denison Forum Podcasts:
Katie Frugé, Ph.D., earned her Master of Divinity degree and Ph.D. in systematic theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Katie Frugé has been named director of Texas Baptists’ Center for Cultural Engagement and the Christian Life Commission. Frugé began her service with the Baptist General Convention of Texas in 2019 as the hunger and human care specialist with the CLC. She later took on the role of associate director of the CLC. About Dr. Ryan DenisonRyan Denison, PhD, is the Senior Editor for Theology at Denison Forum. Ryan writes The Daily Article every Friday and contributes writing and research to many of the ministry’s productions. He holds a PhD in church history from BH Carroll Theological Institute after having earned his MDiv at Truett Seminary. He’s authored The Path to Purpose, What Are My Spiritual Gifts?, How to Bless God by Blessing Others, 7 Deadly Sins, and has contributed writing or research to every Denison Forum book. About Dr. Mark TurmanMark Turman, DMin is the Executive Director of Denison Forum and Vice President of Denison Ministries. Among his many duties, Turman is most notably the host of The Denison Forum Podcast. He is also the chief strategist for DF Pastors, which equips pastors and church leaders to understand and transform today’s culture. About Denison ForumDenison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, The Denison Forum Podcast, as well as many books and additional resources. | |||
| How to be salt & light for Christ as outsiders in America - Part 6 | 05 Sep 2024 | 01:03:52 | |
In this sixth episode of the special eight-episode series called ‘Politics discerned differently,’ Dr. Mark Turman discusses the importance of being salt and light for Christ in uncivil times and navigating the political season. He is joined by Carmen LaBerge and Patrick Miller, who share their insights on echo chambers, media consumption, and the role of Christians as cultural missionaries. They emphasize the need to engage in diverse conversations, listen to different perspectives, and represent Christ in every interaction. They also challenge the idea of winning in the culture and highlight the importance of suffering and serving as missionaries in a broken world. In this conversation, Patrick and Carmen discuss the tension and frustration that some Christians in America feel about their role in society. They explore the idea of Christians as outsiders and the historical context of America as a new Jerusalem. They emphasize the need for a complex understanding of American history and the importance of recognizing that Christians have been outsiders at various points in history. They also discuss the concepts of majority rule and minority rights, and how Christians should navigate being in the majority or minority position. The conversation then shifts to the topic of extremism and the vulnerability of Christians to becoming radicalized. They encourage Christians to be curious, open-minded, and willing to admit when they don't know or have changed their minds. They also remind Christians to focus on the kingdom of God and to engage in local communities to make a real difference. Topics
Related Denison Forum podcasts:
Related Denison Forum articles and resources:
Other trusted resources:
Carmen LaBerge is a Christian author, speaker and radio host equipping Christians to get off the sidelines and into the cultural conversations of the day. Her weekday show is Mornings with Carmen on the Faith Radio Network and Carmen engages with audiences via CarmenLaBerge.com. With clever candor, Carmen is a distinctively Christian voice in today's cultural conversations and she has influence with a wide variety of audiences. As both a theologian and everyday communicator, Carmen takes large complex subjects and helps readers and listeners develop the mind of Christ on the matters of the day. She addresses everything from foreign affairs to affairs of the heart, politics to parenting, reconnecting the eternal with the everyday. She holds a B.S. in Business from the University of Florida and an M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary. She resides on a farm west of Nashville with her husband, Jim, where they raise kids, cows, and chickens and cultivate fruit trees, laughter and a very good life. About Patrick MillerPatrick Miller is a pastor and cultural commentator who writes about politics, culture, and technology, contributing articles to Christianity Today, Newsweek, The Gospel Coalition, and other publications. His podcast, Truth Over Tribe, is one of Apple's top news commentary podcasts, featuring interviews with leading Christian thinkers, writers, and scholars. He's the co-author of Truth Over Tribe: Pledging Allegiance to the Lamb, Not the Donkey or the Elephant and Joyful Outsiders: Six Ways to Live Like Jesus in a Disorienting Culture. Patrick received a Master of Divinity from Covenant Theological Seminary and pastors a politically diverse church, The Crossing. He and his wife, Emily, have two children. About Dr. Mark TurmanDr. Mark Turman is the Executive Director of Denison Forum and Vice President of Denison Ministries. Among his many duties, Turman is most notably the host of The Denison Forum Podcast. He is also the chief strategist for DF Pastors, which equips pastors and church leaders to understand and transform today’s culture. About Denison ForumDenison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, The Denison Forum Podcast, as well as many books and additional resources. | |||
| Investigating Christianity: A conversation with J. Warner Wallace | 11 Jul 2024 | 01:03:15 | |
Join Dr. Mark Turman, executive director of Denison Forum, in a profound discussion with J. Warner Wallace on the latest episode of the Denison Forum podcast. Wallace, a celebrated cold case homicide detective and best-selling author, discusses the themes of his new book, The Truth in True Crime: What Investigating Death Teaches Us About the Meaning of Life. They explore humanity's obsession with drama, the nature of truth and grace, and the deep implications of holding justice and mercy in balance within the Christian faith. This episode offers rich insights into cultural and spiritual identity, humility, and provides practical tools to help listeners think biblically, live holy, and serve redemptively. Topics(00:57): Society's Obsession with Drama (02:39): Interview with Jim Wallace: True Crime and Christianity (04:29): Jim Wallace's Journey to Faith (11:00): The Human Condition and Need for a Savior (17:59): Identity and Trauma (32:21): Exploring Hope and Mortality (34:47): Christian Worldview and Hope (38:46): Humility: The Secret to Flourishing (45:02): The Dangers of Celebrity Culture (51:18): Balancing Justice and Mercy (01:00:18): Concluding Thoughts and Recommendations ResourcesCold-Case Christianity: A Homicide Detective Investigates the Claims of the Gospels 'The Truth in True Crime: What Investigating Death Teaches Us About the Meaning of Life About J. Warner WallaceJ. Warner Wallace is Dateline-featured cold-case homicide detective, popular national speaker, and best-selling author. Relying on more than two decades of investigative experience, Wallace provides the tools needed to investigate the claims of Christianity and make a convincing case for the truth of the Christian worldview. About Dr. Mark TurmanDr. Mark Turman is the Executive Director of Denison Forum and Vice President of Denison Ministries. Among his many duties, Turman is most notably the host of The Denison Forum Podcast. He is also the chief strategist for DF Pastors, which equips pastors and church leaders to understand and transform today’s culture. About Denison ForumDenison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, The Denison Forum Podcast, as well as many books and additional resources. | |||
| “Death to Deconstruction”: How orthodoxy is radical: A conversation with Joshua S. Porter | 19 Dec 2022 | 01:02:06 | |
Joshua S. Porter (stage name Josh Dies) joins Mark Legg to discuss deconstruction, offensive Christian art, orthodoxy, objective truth and relativism, and how Jesus’ ministry was like a rebellion. Show notes:Josh Porter begins by defining deconstruction, and why we can’t neglect the emotional, personal side of the issue (1:20). They talk about why Death to Deconstruction feels dark and provocative, and the place of offensive, Christian art, and literature in church tradition (9:30). They move on to discuss how faithfulness is an act of rebellion, and how Jesus was radical (16:13). Porter discusses the book’s unique, but orthodox, perspectives and his own belief in pacificism (28:41). They talk about why Porter personally arrived at orthodoxy and the process of his deconstruction (33:24). Although intellectual arguments are important, they consider the personal, emotional side of the deconstruction movement (44:59). The end by reflecting on truth itself, relativism, worldview, and apologetics (52:06). Resources and further reading:
Mark Legg is an Associate Editor for Denison Forum. He graduated from Dallas Baptist University in 2021 with a degree in Philosophy and Biblical Studies. About the guestJoshua S. Porter (Josh Dies) is the lead singer of the American Christian hardcore punk rock band, Showbread. Though the band disbanded, he continues to take on alternative musical side projects. He is a prolific fiction writer, and pastor of teaching and creative vision at Van City Church. | |||
| How to know God personally and “First15”: A conversation with Craig Denison | 12 Dec 2022 | 00:44:53 | |
Craig Denison and Dr. Mark Turman share how to cultivate a personal relationship with God through daily devotionals, prayer, and worship, how the First15 devotional was created, and how to hear God’s voice in your life. Show notes:Craig Denison opens by talking about being Dr. Denison’s son, how he made his faith his own, and his early career as a musician and worship leader (3:22). Then they talk about his heart behind writing First15, the daily devotional available for free (7:31). They discuss the idea of personal, devotional time with the Lord (11:00), and how to discern the voice and will of God in prayer (16:36). Then they consider how God wants us to both rely on him and grow to make our own decisions, guided by the wisdom that he’s taught us (22:07). They talk about why Craig Denison crafted First15 the way he did, and how to worship God with your whole being (24:16). They discuss how to cultivate a personal relationship with God, and how it can differ from person to person (35:10) Craig Denison closes by encouraging listeners to start now in alone time with God and start somewhere, regardless of your life circumstances (41:47). Resources and further reading:
Dr. Mark Turman is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church. About the guestCraig Denison, son of Dr. Jim Denison, is a speaker, songwriter, worship leader, and the author of First15 daily devotional – helping almost 2 million believers a month in more than 200 countries connect with God in daily worship, reading, and prayer. Craig also serves as the Chief Innovation Officer of Denison Ministries. | |||
| “Where the Light Fell”: A conversation with Philip Yancey | 05 Dec 2022 | 00:55:57 | |
Philip Yancey, Dr. Mark Turman, and Gerald Griffin discuss the good and bad of the local church, the dangers of fundamentalism, Yancey’s personal life story, and the power of memoirs. Show notes:
Dr. Mark Turman begins by introducing Philip Yancey, thanking him for his personal impact (0:10). They talk about what prompted Yancey’s memoir, Where the Light Fell, and they talk about parallels between their own lives (5:13). Then, they discuss the spiritual abuse that takes place in many churches and how that was part of Yancey’s story (10:49). Yancey talks about when he realized how backwards his church was—and that was seeing how wrong racism was (14:44). They talk about fundamentalism and why Yancey continues to ascribe to evangelicalism even after abandoning fundamentalism (18:27). Yancey continues to share his testimony and why he started writing books (25:30). They talk about the local church and Yancey’s older brother (33:05). They discuss the power of memoirs and the message Yancey wants to come through—especially to Gen Z and those who’ve left the faith (44:36). They end by talking about Yancey’s dad and the trustworthiness of Jesus (51:30). Resources and further reading:
About the hosts
Mark Turman, DMin, is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church.
Gerald Griffin is the pastor of Preston Ridge Baptist Church in Frisco, Texas. He received his MA in Christian Education from the Dallas Theological Society. About the guest
Philip Yancey's books have garnered 13 Gold Medallion Book Awards from Christian publishers and booksellers. He currently has 17 million books in print and is published in 50 languages worldwide. He’s still “in recovery” from a bad church upbringing, searching for the possibility of a faith rooted in grace instead of fear. Philip Yancey began as an Editor and then Publisher for Campus Life magazine. In 1980 he and his wife moved to downtown Chicago where he began freelance writing. Yancey has written over 30 books, including A Companion in Crisis and his long-awaited memoir, Where the Light Fell. | |||
| Are churches safe? How to run church security: A conversation with John Mark Caton and Paul Cobb | 28 Nov 2022 | 01:02:14 | |
Dr. John Mark Caton, Paul Cobb, and Dr. Mark Turman discuss church safety, how to run a safety team with laypeople and specialists, and why church security is a hospitality ministry. Show notes:
Paul Cobb begins by addressing how we so often don’t think about safety at churches, and they explain what church safety should look like (2:23). They go over some stories of crime and medical emergencies that took place at their churches (6:25). Dr. Caton explains how he became aware as a pastor of the need for better church security (16:20). They go over the biblical foundation for smart church security (21:58). Cobb discusses the principle of victim avoidance and deescalation (33:43). They also point to the importance of churches having hospitable, friendly security teams (39:41). Cobb briefly talks about their firearm policy for churches, then they return to the importance of taking security seriously, and how lay people can be involved (50:16). Resources and further reading:
About the hosts
Mark Turman, DMin, is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church. About the guests
John Mark Caton, Ph.D., is the Senior Pastor at Cottonwood Creek Baptist Church for twenty-seven years and the author of several books. He received a Master of Theology from Criswell College, and a Master of Divinity with Biblical Languages degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He earned his Ph.D. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2001.
Paul Cobb consults with churches for their security and safety needs. He’s worked in corporate America, serving in the banking industry, and data centers, and specializes in project management. He serves as an elder at Crosspoint Church in McKinney, Texas. | |||
| Can America be moral without God? | 21 Nov 2022 | 00:58:12 | |
Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Mark Turman discuss the roots of morality, whether America was founded as a Christian nation, how to lovingly disagree with family, and why the Bible is our ultimate source of truth. Show notes:
Dr. Mark Turman and Dr. Jim Denison discuss how culture flows from a people’s morality, and why morality is like a natural law (1:28). They talk about why everyone can’t escape truth and morality, how our deepest desires always become idols (7:05). They talk about whether a country can be moral without religion, and whether America was founded as a Christian nation (11:31). They turn to talk about discussing morality and politics with family at Thanksgiving, and love family over the long term (24:06). They discuss what Jesus means by loving him more than family (32:53). Dr. Denison leads listeners in how to pray for and talk to lost family members, and how to keep friendships beyond disagreements (45:05). Then, Dr. Denison closes by pointing to the Bible as being capital “T” truth as the foundation for our lives (51:11). Resources and further reading:
About the hosts Jim Denison, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, and the CEO of Denison Ministries, which is transforming 6.8 million lives through meaningful digital content. Mark Turman, DMin, is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church. | |||
| Advent: The Songs Tell the Story: A conversation with Janet Denison | 14 Nov 2022 | 00:33:14 | |
Janet Denison talks with Dr. Mark Turman about her Advent devotional series, The Songs Tell the Story, why she wrote it, and shares her favorite hymn and how to make Christmas about Jesus. Show notes:
Janet Denison and Dr. Mark Turman discuss Janet Denison’s book, The Songs Tell the Story (along with the kid’s version), a Christmas devotional that explores the meaning and origin of our favorite holiday songs. They talk about how Janet wrote the devotional study and the history of Advent (1:02). Janet especially loves O Holy Night, and was surprised to discover its origins (6:10). They discuss why hymns were so important in history for the layperson to understand theology, and their own most profound experiences with hymns (14:42). They give insiders perspective on Christmas in the lives of ministers (20:58). They close by talking about how to use The Songs Tell the Story, and how to make the busy season focused on Jesus (28:47). Resources and further reading:
About the hosts
Mark Turman, DMin, is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church. About the guest
Janet Denison teaches others to live an authentic faith through her writing, speaking, and teaching ministry. She blogs weekly at FoundationsWithJanet.org and leads virtual and in-person Bible studies. She is also the author of The Songs Tell the Story and Content to Be Good, Called to Be Godly, among other books. Janet and her husband, Dr. Jim Denison, live in Dallas, Texas. When they’re not writing or ministering to others, they enjoy spending time with their grown children and their four still-growing grandchildren. | |||
| We’re in between eras. How to have a non-anxious presence: A conversation with Mark Sayers | 07 Nov 2022 | 00:51:47 | |
Mark Sayers, Mark Turman, and Mark Legg discuss the great shift the world is going through, the lingering effects of Covid, how the “gray zone” affects ministry, and how to remain a “non-anxious presence.” Show notes:
Mark Sayers talks about his faith journey and how he started writing (2:14). The three Marks talk about the significance of our culture’s ongoing shift, and the anxiety that comes from it (8:08). Sayers discusses the role of the internet in that shift, and the “hardware” change our culture is going through, focusing on the effects of Covid (12:50). They turn to discuss the culture’s widespread sense of false security, and how abundance leads to us trusting God less (27:16). Sayers digs further into the idea of the “gray zone,” and why confusion leads to anxiety and fear, and how the Bible applies to those struggles (32:14). Sayers ends by discussing the importance of leadership, and why God’s presence is critical in times of transition (43:19). Resources and further reading:
Dr. Mark Turman is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church.
Mark Legg is the Associate Editor for Denison Forum. He graduated from Dallas Baptist University in 2021 with a degree in Philosophy and Biblical Studies. About the guest
Mark Sayers is the senior leader of Red Church in Melbourne, Australia. He is passionate about spiritual renewal and the future of the church. Mark is the author of a number of books including Strange Days and Reappearing Church. Mark lives in Melbourne with his wife, Trudi, his daughter, Grace, and twin boys, Hudson and Billy. | |||
| Truth over tribe: A conversation with Patrick Miller | 31 Oct 2022 | 00:57:54 | |
Patrick Miller joins to talk about why Christians should value truth over their tribe, how to talk about politics with family and friends, why Jesus was “political,” and how to avoid fear in our post-truth culture. Show notes:
Patrick Miller begins by discussing his podcast, Truth Over Tribe, why it was started, and how it’s become so successful (1:47). Then, he talks about writing the book, and how he learned how tribalism can be a good thing in its proper place, in addition to why it’s so dangerous (7:45). They turn to consider the loss of common ground and truth in our culture (16:47). They explore the importance of love in a post-truth culture, how to talk about politics, and how the left and right can be relativistic (21:00). Miller moves to talk about why Jesus was “political” (33:13). He then turns to focus on how Christian the state should be, and why we don’t need to worry (41:29). They close by talking about the way we should use social media redemptively (50:48). Resources and further reading:
About the hosts
Dr. Mark Turman is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church.
Mark Legg is the Associate Editor for Denison Forum. He graduated from Dallas Baptist University in 2021 with a degree in Philosophy and Biblical Studies. About the guest
Pastor, Co-Director of Digital Relationships. Patrick Miller has called Columbia home since 2006. He met his wife, Emily, at Mizzou, where they both completed their undergrads. Together they have two children. Patrick started following Jesus his Freshman year of college after getting connected to The Crossing. He joined the Veritas college ministry staff team in 2010, helped co-direct the ministry in 2015, and became the Director of Crossing Twenties in 2017. He graduated from Covenant Theological Seminary in 2018 and was ordained as pastor shortly after. Patrick leads the Digital Relationships Team, co-hosts Truth Over Tribe, Ten Minute Bible Talks, leads two Covenant Seminary cohorts, and teaches Men's and Women's Bible studies. | |||
| Can you trust American institutions? A conversation with Curtis Chang | 24 Oct 2022 | 01:03:34 | |
Curtis Chang joins Dr. Mark Turman to discuss our failing trust in institutions and how to redeem them, the role of Christians in politics and the workplace, election integrity, and how to combat anxiety. Show notes:
Curtis Chang begins by talking about his ministry Redeeming Babel, which trains Christians to engage redemptively in different kinds of communities (2:19). Chang talks about the rising distrust of institutions, and how we can help redeem them, specifically pointing to Colossians 1:15–17 (9:47). In particular, Chang and Dr. Turman talk about work and the role of jobs in Christianity (20:27). They talk about the Trinity and how it helps us understand community (29:14). Chang delves more into how we can trust broken institutions, and how throwing them away will probably lead to greater destruction (38:00). They turn to converse about idolatry, politics, election integrity, and the boundaries of governments (48:53). Chang concludes by touching on anxiety and fear (58:37). Resources and further reading:
About the hosts
Mark Turman, DMin, is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his degree from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church. About the guest
Curtis Chang is consulting professor in innovation and organization at Duke Divinity School. He has won an Obama White House award for social innovation as the founder and head of Consulting Within Reach, a firm serving nonprofits and government. He graduated from Harvard Summa Cum Laude. He holds a faculty appointment at American University and is also a senior fellow at Fuller Theological Seminary. He is the author of Engaging Unbelief: A Captivating Strategy from Augustine and Aquinas (IVP) and is a former Rockefeller Fellow. | |||
| How God sees America in 2022 | 17 Oct 2022 | 00:59:36 | |
Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Mark Turman discuss how God sees America, our culture’s individualism, midterm politics, whether God is judging America, and whether people can be moral without God. Show notes:
Dr. Mark Turman and Dr. Jim Denison discuss the Bible’s understanding of the nations, as well as the difference between individualism and collectivism (1:36). They talk about the unity of the individual and community in the Bible (9:37). Dr. Turman asks about the different political issues to consider in the 2022 midterm elections (16:36). They talk about God’s passive and active punishment of cultures, then consider if America is in that process of judgment (23:09). They talk to what extent Christians should isolate themselves from the culture (39:18). They talk about whether we can be moral without God (50:38). They end by challenging whether a nation can be “Christian” at all (54:41). Resources and further reading:
About the hosts
Jim Denison, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, and the CEO of Denison Ministries, which is transforming 6.8 million lives through meaningful digital content.
Dr. Mark Turman is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church. | |||
| Parenting with purpose: Insight and tools from Courtney DeFeo | 04 Jul 2024 | 00:48:18 | |
Join Dr. Mark Turman, executive director of Denison Forum, as he speaks with Courtney DeFeo, host of the 'Pardon the Mess' podcast. They discuss the importance of integrating faith into family life and resources available through Christian Parenting such as the valuable prayer journal, 'A Life of Faith: Knowing, Loving, Following, and Sharing Jesus.' They also discuss the challenges of managing technology and social media, the apologizing to children, and the power of prayer. Through open, honest dialogue, they aim to provide practical, faith-based support for families navigating today's world. Topics(02:06): The Story of Timothy and Christian Parenting (03:31): Introducing Courtney DeFeo (04:30): Courtney's Background and Passion for Parenting (06:56): Navigating Parenting Challenges and College Choices (10:19): Courtney's Faith Journey and Ministry Work (14:58): The Impact of Working at Chick-fil-A (17:34): Pardon the Mess Podcast and Prayer Journal (22:53): The Power of Prayer in Parenting (23:49): Challenges and Realizations in Parenting (26:57): The Importance of Apologizing and Personal Growth (29:00): Journaling as a Tool for Spiritual Growth (36:06): Resources for Christian Parenting (38:24): Navigating Technology and Social Media (44:29): Final Thoughts and Encouragement ResourcesA Parent’s Prayer Journal: A Life of Faith: Knowing, Loving, Following, and Sharing Jesus About Courtney DeFeoCourtney is the host of Pardon the Mess! She is the author of In This House, We Will Giggle and Treasured. She is also the creator of ABC Scripture Cards and the kindness movement, Light ‘Em Up Acts. She loves to encourage parents and women through speaking, writing, and podcasting. She also serves on the board of Lighthouse Family Retreat. Her deepest desire is to encourage others and give generously in a way that draws people to God. Her most honorable mention is her husband Ron and their two wildly fun girls (Ella, 17 and Larson, 15). Courtney is passionate about Jesus, coffee, Auburn football, Coca-Cola classic, her dog Mazie, spending time with friends and family, and finding deals at TJ Maxx. About Dr. Mark TurmanDr. Mark Turman is the Executive Director of Denison Forum and Vice President of Denison Ministries. Among his many duties, Turman is most notably the host of The Denison Forum Podcast. He is also the chief strategist for DF Pastors, which equips pastors and church leaders to understand and transform today’s culture. About Denison ForumDenison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, The Denison Forum Podcast, as well as many books and additional resources. | |||
| Peace in Politics, how to reduce anxiety during the 2022 midterms: A conversation with Josh Miller | 10 Oct 2022 | 01:02:02 | |
Josh Miller, Dr. Mark Turman, and Mark Legg discuss partisanship bias, Christian hypocrisy, dealing with anger and anxiety, and how to maintain peace during political uncertainty. Show notes:
Mark Turman begins by asking about the top five issues for the 2022 midterms, and they discuss how the different politicized news sources will cover the topics (1:45). They turn to discuss the role fear plays in politics now, and how to try to get both sides of the perspective (7:31). Josh speaks about why he wrote Peace in Politics, and the hypocrisy of many Christians when they talk about politics, especially the prevalence of anger and anxiety (20:50). They turn to humility as a crucial part of wrestling with politics for the Christian (32:52). We must not dehumanize political “opponents”, instead we show compassion first and foremost (43:08). They discuss the technology behind social media and how that contributes to our division, and how to practically deal with the intrusion of bias, anger, and anxiety in this political season (47:42). Resources and further reading:
About the hosts
Dr. Mark Turman is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church.
Mark Legg is the Associate Editor for Denison Forum. He graduated from Dallas Baptist University in 2021 with a degree in Philosophy and Biblical Studies. About the guest
Josh Miller is the Creative Director of Denison Ministries and author of First15's free e-book: "Peace in Politics." He’s also a musician, writer, and teacher for a local church in the Dallas area. | |||
| How to vote for imperfect political parties: A conversation with Jason Yates | 03 Oct 2022 | 00:59:33 | |
Jason Yates, CEO of My Faith Votes, discusses why our faith should matter to our politics, principles for voting based on biblical truth, and how to wrestle with imperfect political parties. Show notes:
Jason Yates, CEO of My Faith Votes begins by explaining their mission and why they exist: To encourage Christians to pray, think, and vote (1:45). They discuss why Christians should vote and overcome apathy to begin with (10:31). Yates provides four principles to remember while we vote:
He continues by discussing the different levels of government and personal responsibility (19:10). Yates talks about how we often misuse the idea of “separation of church and state” (27:11). They move to talk about how to prioritize the issues when voting and how to struggle well with difficult political questions (31:50). Yates talks about the importance of how to disagree without giving up biblical principles (43:28). They close by affirming the importance pastors talking about the issues to their congregations, without endorsing any party (52:22). Resources and further reading:
About the host
Mark Legg is the Associate Editor for Denison Forum. He graduated from Dallas Baptist University in 2021 with a degree in Philosophy and Biblical Studies. About the guest
Jason Yates has over 25 years of proven leadership experience in strategy development, marketing, and product development from Fortune 100 companies. In 2015, his passion to see Christians act on their faith to make a difference in their communities and our nation led him to leave corporate America and assume the role of CEO of My Faith Votes at its inception. With Jason’s leadership, My Faith Votes made a measurable impact on Christian voter turnout in 2016 and is continuing to do so by motivating and equipping every Christian to Think, Pray, and Vote. Jason has served in leadership roles on several non-profit boards, including his role as Chairman of the Board for Club Christ Ministries and Board Director of Governance and Strategic Planning at Junior Achievement. Jason has a BA from Carleton College and an MBA in Strategic Management and E-Business from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. | |||
| Ask Jim: Should Christians celebrate Halloween? What happens when we die? Does demon possession still happen today? | 26 Sep 2022 | 00:56:31 | |
Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Mark Turman discuss Halloween, the rise of the occult, what happens when we die, spiritual warfare, Satan and demon possession, and how to rely on God to fight against temptation. Show notes:Dr. Jim Denison begins by giving the background of Halloween and why we should celebrate heroes of the faith (2:15). They move on to practical advice for parenting and why we must be careful of the occult and witchcraft (10:30). Dr. Denison discusses death and what happens when we die (13:50). They consider Satan and demons and what power they have today (23:37). They turn to talk about spiritual warfare and why David prays for the destruction of his enemies when Christ says to love them (30:23). Dr. Turman returns the conversation to talking about demon possession, and Dr. Denison relates a story where he helped perform an exorcism (40:20). They hone in on how the Devil strategically tempts us and how to fight it (47:15). Resources and further reading:
About the hosts
Jim Denison, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, and the CEO of Denison Ministries, which is transforming 6.8 million lives through meaningful digital content.
Mark Turman, DMin, is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church. | |||
| How to help prevent suicide and aiding survivors: A conversation with Dr. John Mark Caton | 19 Sep 2022 | 01:05:39 | |
Dr. John Mark Caton and Dr. Mark Turman discuss Dr. Caton’s personal experience with the tragic suicide of his older brother, lingering survivor’s guilt, the importance of community, and how to talk to people contemplating suicide. Show notes:
Dr. John Mark Caton and Dr. Mark Turman begin this difficult discussion by talking about Caton’s tragic story and the suicide of his older brother (3:27). They talk about guilt, the lingering cloud of sorrow, and the importance of stories (11:15). They summarize how the Bible talks about suicide and whether it’s the unpardonable sin (17:01).
Dr. Caton discusses the importance of community and the church, how to talk to people considering suicide, and why calling 911 is of strong importance (24:46). Dr. Turman and Dr. Caton consider the state of our culture’s relationship to suicide and why it’s gotten worse in young people (40:21).
Dr. Caton brings up the impact of intergenerational relationships as a way to combat rising rates of isolation (48:18). He also gives closing thoughts on next steps in approaching someone in your life whom you’re worried about (56:04). They end by reflecting on the way Dr. Caton has been changed by the death of his brother (1:03:12). Resources and further reading:
Jim Denison, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, and the CEO of Denison Ministries, which is transforming 6.8 million lives through meaningful digital content.
Dr. Mark Turman is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church. About the guest
John Mark Caton, Ph.D., is the Senior Pastor Cottonwood Creek Baptist Church for twenty-seven years and the author of several books. He received a Master of Theology from Criswell College, and a Master of Divinity with Biblical Languages degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He earned his Ph.D. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2001. | |||
| Digging into doubts and how to minister to Gen Z: A conversation with Barnabas Piper | 12 Sep 2022 | 00:57:08 | |
Barnabas Piper joins Dr. Mark Turman and Mark Legg to discuss being a pastor’s kid, talking to teens and Gen Z about doubts, the importance of humor, and depending on Christ in all things. Show notes:
Barnabas Piper begins by reflecting on his own life’s story and how the Lord refreshed the idea of the church to him (2:32). They discuss the hypocrisy of some Christian leaders and how to move forward with grace (12:31). Piper talks about the restoration of Christian leaders, how to talk to kids openly about your own doubts, and how to raise children who ask deep questions (18:09). They turn to converse about the openness and authenticity of Gen Z (30:56). With everything being in Christ’s hands, they discuss how we can live without fear, and how The Happy Rant podcast came from that sentiment (39:09). They look at the importance of humor, honesty, and self-depreciation in ministry (43:19). Barnabas ends by talking about political idolatry and faithful churches (52:11). Resources and further reading:
Dr. Mark Turman is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church.
Mark Legg is the Associate Editor for Denison Forum. He graduated from Dallas Baptist University in 2021 with a degree in Philosophy and Biblical Studies About the guest
Barnabas Piper is an author, a speaker, and an assistant pastor at Immanuel Church of Nashville. He’s also the co-host of the Happy Rant podcast and co-author of the new book, The Happy Rant. Visit barnabaspiper.com. He has authored four other books: The Pastor’s Kid, Help My Unbelief, The Curious Christian, and Hoping for Happiness. | |||
| How to navigate suicide, self-harm, depression, and emotions with preteens and teens: A conversation with Jeff and Terra Mattson | 05 Sep 2022 | 01:05:41 | |
Jeff and Terra Mattson join Dr. Mark Turman to discuss the suicide epidemic, how to talk to children and teens about self-harm, suicide, and emotions, and how to navigate parenting through depression and anxiety. Show notes:
Jeff and Terra Mattson begin by framing the suicide epidemic and mental health crisis (4:02). They discuss how to start early in parenting by putting language to different emotions, and why it’s so important to put words to feelings (10:30). They specifically look at suicide and suicidal ideation, and when to have that conversation with kids (19:15). The Mattson’s talk about the importance of vulnerability and relationships in parenting, and how technology can get in the way of healthy relationships (26:43). They consider when parents should be concerned about their child’s emotional wellbeing (34:14). Dr. Turman asks directly about how to deal with teens who struggle with self-harm (45:15). To close, they discuss the problem of bullying and how to draw healthy boundaries with immature people (52:25). Resources and further reading:
P.S. What are my Spiritual Gifts? by Ryan Denison Ph.D. is available now at Denison Forum. The book includes biblical examples of each gifting in action. We’ve also refreshed our free spiritual gifts test at whataremyspiritualgifts.org. If you don’t know your spiritual gifts or are unsure how to use them, we encourage you to take the test and pick up a copy of What are my Spiritual Gifts? today. About the hosts
Dr. Mark Turman is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church. About the guests
Jeff holds a master's degree in organizational leadership and has decades of experience as a leader in startup companies, family businesses, and nonprofit organizations, which includes universities and ministry settings. Since 2011, he has worked with business and organizational leaders to develop their potential and solve people issues. Terra holds a master's degree in marriage and family therapy from George Fox University in Portland. She is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Licensed Professional Counselor, and now works as an executive coach. For the last 15 years, she has run a thriving private practice while speaking to women, couples, and leaders, including at the American Association of Christian Counselors conference. She is the founder and clinical director of Living Wholehearted counseling and has served as an adjunct professor at George Fox University's Graduate counseling department. She is the author of Courageous: Being Daughters Rooted in Grace. Together, Jeff and Terra co-authored Shrinking the Integrity Gap: Between What Leaders Preach and Live. They founded a global movement called Courageous Girls, an online resource to help moms navigate the needs of their daughters through every season of their lives. They co-host the Living Wholehearted podcast and run the living wholehearted lodge and retreat, and co-host the Dear Mattsons podcast. They currently live just outside of Portland, Oregon, as they raise their two teenage daughters. | |||
| How BibleProject uses art to communicate the Bible: A conversation with Michael McDonald | 29 Aug 2022 | 00:52:21 | |
Michael McDonald, director of strategic relations at BibleProject, Dr. Mark Turman, and Mark Legg discuss how BibleProject approaches interpreting the Bible, communicating to the modern generation, how to face deconstruction, and why art communicates the Bible’s message so well. Show notes:
Michael McDonald begins by sharing what BibleProject is and its heart to show how the Bible is a unified story that leads to Jesus (3:27). McDonald discusses how BibleProject videos and podcast approaches interpreting the Bible, and why they spend so much time in Genesis (10:00). They discuss how deconstruction can be healthy, and why BibleProject appeals to many unbelievers as well as Christians (13:26). They consider why the BibleProject’s videos exploring spiritual beings is so popular, and why we shouldn’t avoid hard questions (20:32). They turn to reflect on how BibleProject uses art so effectively to communicate deep truths (28:48). McDonald explains their new app, and why it’s unique as it provides wholistic learning (38:15). They discuss how the Bible is not a kid’s book, but how to teach children about the Bible (41:43). They close by reflecting on the history of BibleProject (45:08). Resources and further reading:
About the hosts
Jim Denison, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, and the CEO of Denison Ministries, which is transforming 6.8 million lives through meaningful digital content.
Dr. Mark Turman is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church.
Mark Legg is the Associate Editor for Denison Forum. He graduated from Dallas Baptist University in 2021 with a degree in Philosophy and Biblical Studies.
About the guest
Michael McDonald is Director of Strategic Relationships for BibleProject, a crowdfunded nonprofit animation studio dedicated to communicating a single, powerful message to the world: the Bible is one unified story that leads to Jesus.
McDonald is a former pastor. Prior to joining BibleProject, he served for over a decade in more than 15 countries working to improve people’s daily lives. He focused on educational, micro/macro financing projects, conflict resolution, and economic development, he was able to impact over 100,000 people in over 60 communities. McDonald lives in Portland, Oregon with his wife Melissa.
BibleProject is a nonprofit animation studio that produces short-form, fully animated videos to make the biblical story accessible to everyone, everywhere. We create videos, podcast, and study guides that explore the Bible's unified story by focusing on its overarching themes and each book's literary design. We are committed to understanding the Bible in its historical context and communicating its wisdom for the modern world. Ultimately, we want to change how people read and use the Bible. | |||
| The greatest thing Jesus ever said | 22 Aug 2022 | 00:55:30 | |
Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Mark Turman discuss Dr. Denison’s unique role and calling, apologetics and theology, “Loving your neighbor,” how to manifest our faithfulness well, and how Christians must avoid dualism. Show notes:
Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Mark Turman discuss Dr. Denison’s various roles he’s taken on (including his job at Dairy Queen) and God’s calling on his life (2:00). They reflect on the meaning of apologetics and theology, especially in reference to culture (7:32). They turn to talk about how to shine our light into the world by manifesting faithfulness well, and how to love our neighbors (13:19). After this, Dr. Denison talks about the pitfall of dualism and Gnosticism, which says that the body doesn’t matter in this life as they unpack Jesus’ saying to Love God with “all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength” (32:31). They conclude by talking about whether we can measure our spiritual health and three steps on how to draw closer to God (46:45). Resources and further reading:
About the hosts
Jim Denison, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, and the CEO of Denison Ministries, which is transforming 6.8 million lives through meaningful digital content.
Dr. Mark Turman is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church. | |||
| What are my spiritual gifts? A conversation with Dr. Ryan Denison | 15 Aug 2022 | 01:07:35 | |
In tandem with the release of Denison Forum’s latest book, What Are My Spiritual Gifts?, Dr. Ryan Denison and Dr. Mark Turman discuss spiritual gifts, how they are powered by the Holy Spirit, how we can know our spiritual gifts, the difference between talents and gifts, and how the Lord uses them. Show notesDr. Ryan Denison and Dr. Mark Turman discuss Dr. Ryan Denison’s new book, What Are My Spiritual Gifts: How to Discover, Understand, and Apply Your Spiritual Gifts (2:11). They talk about what spiritual gifts are, how the Bible talks about them, the motivation behind using them, and how they’re used in the church. They talk about how the Spirit uses our talents, personality, and experience to develop our gifts (10:06). They turn to discuss the spiritual gifts inventory we’ve developed at whataremyspirituagifts.com. Denison also discusses how to use the test, how it’s not the final say, and why you might want a friend to fill it out for you (22:46). They also consider why Dr. Ryan Denison divided them up with his categories of “Public, Personal, and Paradigm.” (31:49) They hone in on music as a more unique gift that Dr. Denison identifies (37:31). They end on specifically thinking about the gift of giving (55:40). Resources and further reading:
Jim Denison, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, and the CEO of Denison Ministries, which is transforming 6.8 million lives through meaningful digital content. Dr. Mark Turman is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church. About the guestDr. Ryan Denison is the Senior Editor for Theology at Denison Forum. He holds a Ph.D. in church history from B.H. Carroll Theological Institute. He’s written four hundred articles for the Denison Forum in addition to other works, including How to Bless God by Blessing Others and the recently released What Are My Spiritual Gifts? Dr. Ryan Denison is Dr. Jim Denison’s son. He is married to his wife Candice; they have two children and live in East Texas. | |||
| Ask Jim: What is a cultural missionary, and how can God redeem the Uvalde shooting? | 08 Aug 2022 | 00:58:52 | |
Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Mark Turman discuss the difference between cultural missionaries and cultural warriors, how to engage with woke businesses, whether our souls are “sent to earth,” and how to make sense of the Uvalde massacre. Show notes:
Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Mark Turman discuss how we define the difference between cultural missionaries and cultural warriors and why we should exemplify humility as well as boldness (1:29). They discuss the difference between spiritual war and loving people (10:00).
One listener asks whether they should write to the CEO of a grocery store they love expressing displeasure with the LGBTQ support shown by the company, and Dr. Denison responds with how to actively engage in cultural change (19:25). They then consider why businesses feel the need to make statements about LGBTQ issues in culture (24:24).
They turn to another listener question that asks why our souls were “sent to earth” if our goal is to be in heaven (34:10). Dr. Denison responds by addressing some possible confusion in the question, showing the influence of dualism in some Christian theology.
They answer a final question about the problem of evil: How can God redeem the Uvalde tragedy and SBC abuse (39:56)? They continue by talking about how we can lament while ensuring we’re not overwhelmed with compassion fatigue (46:30).
You can submit a question too at askjim@denisonforum.org. Resources and further reading:
Jim Denison, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, and the CEO of Denison Ministries, which is transforming 6.8 million lives through meaningful digital content.
Dr. Mark Turman is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church. | |||
| Navigating extremism: A conversation with Elizabeth Neumann | 27 Jun 2024 | 01:04:31 | |
In this episode of the Denison Forum Podcast, host Dr. Mark Turman converses with Elizabeth Neumann, former Assistant Secretary for Counterterrorism and Threat Prevention at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Elizabeth discusses her book, 'Kingdom of Rage: The Rise of Christian Extremism and the Path Back to Peace' which highlights her professional journey and insights into radicalization post-9/11 leading up to January 6. The conversation explores the intersections of fear, anger, extremism, and the misuse of Christian principles for political aims. Elizabeth emphasizes the role of communities, especially faith communities, in addressing radicalization and fostering peace. Additionally, she shares her experiences and current work with Moonshot, a company aimed at redirecting those at risk of radicalization towards mental health support. Topics(01:07): Elizabeth's Background and Career (03:27): The Impact of 9/11 and Rise of Domestic Extremism (06:28): Understanding Radicalization and Extremism (15:44): Self-Care and Navigating a Toxic Environment (18:49): The Role of Fear and Anger in Extremism (23:42): The Scale of the Problem and Potential Solutions (29:25): Reclaiming Civility in a Post-COVID World (33:26): The Merging of Extremist Movements (35:07): The Threat of Political Violence (42:09): Radicalization and the Role of Networks (49:30): Addressing Extremism in Communities and Churches (57:19): Elizabeth's Current Work and Final Thoughts ResourcesKingdom of Rage: The Rise of Christian Extremism and the Path Back to Peace 🎧 When politics get extreme, what should Christians do? A conversation with Tim Alberta 🎧 What does it mean to be a Christian patriot? What the controversial God & Country documentary gets right and wrong: Should you watch? About Elizabeth NeumannElizabeth Neumann served as the Assistant Secretary for Counterterrorism and Threat Prevention at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Neumann is a frequent guest on national news outlets, and the Chief Strategy Officer at Moonshot. She is based in the Denver, CO area. About Dr. Mark TurmanDr. Mark Turman is the Executive Director of Denison Forum and Vice President of Denison Ministries. Among his many duties, Turman is most notably the host of The Denison Forum Podcast. He is also the chief strategist for DF Pastors, which equips pastors and church leaders to understand and transform today’s culture. About Denison ForumDenison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, The Denison Forum Podcast, as well as many books and additional resources. | |||
| The church and urban ministry: A conversation with Chris Brooks | 01 Aug 2022 | 00:57:12 | |
Radio show host, pastor, and writer Chris Brooks joins Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Mark Turman to discuss urban ministry, discipleship and evangelism, and how the Bible defines the church. Show notes:Chris Brooks begins by giving his background and how he got into the world of pastoring and urban apologetics (6:13). They discuss the importance of evangelism and social justice—the advancement of salvation and living well in this life (10:54). They turn to talk about Marxism and Nietzsche’s ideas on human nature, and how Christianity responds to their claims (24:30). They talk about church membership, church leadership, and the connection between theology and practice (31:04). Brooks considers the importance of anthropology in the Bible in particular. They finish by reflecting on how God’s love for us can fight the despondency felt in our culture (47:12). Resources and further reading:
Jim Denison, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, and the CEO of Denison Ministries, which is transforming 6.8 million lives through meaningful digital content. Dr. Mark Turman is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church. About the guestChris Brooks is the Senior Pastor of Woodside Bible Church, a multisite congregation across the metro-Detroit area. He served as the campus dean of Moody Theological Seminary in Plymouth, Michigan. A popular Detroit radio host since 2005, Chris is the author of Kingdom Dreaming and Urban Apologetics. He graduated from Michigan State University with a BA in Finance, completed his MA in Christian Apologetics at Biola University, and graduated from the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics. He and his wife, Yodit, are the proud parents of 6 children, Christopher, Zewditu, Cameron, Judah, Sophia, and Christyana. | |||
| Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Mark Turman’s mentors | 25 Jul 2022 | 00:28:08 | |
Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Mark Turman reflect on the most meaningful mentor figures in their life, Dr. Denisons talking about Dr. John Newport, while Dr. Turman talks about the first church he ever pastored. Show notes:
Dr. Denison and Dr. Turman briefly discuss certain mysteries of the Christian faith (2:41). Then, they turn to talk about mentors in their lives, Dr. Denison reflecting on Dr. John Newport’s academic and pastoral mentorship (10:41). Dr. Turman talks about his experience as a church pastor of five people and how the deacons mentored him (18:14). They conclude by talking about how eternally significance can come from present faithfulness. Resources and further reading:
About the hosts
Jim Denison, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, and the CEO of Denison Ministries, which is transforming 6.8 million lives through meaningful digital content.
Dr. Mark Turman is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church. | |||
| When Dr. Jim Denison met Billy Graham | 18 Jul 2022 | 00:25:31 | |
Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Mark Turman continue the “summer favorites” series. In this episode, they each discuss the most impactful time they met someone and their recent trips to Israel.
Show notes: Dr. Denison and Dr. Turman talk about Jim's most recent experience in Israel and what he learned on this trip (1:03). Then, they talk about their most impactful meetings with heroes of the faith (11:42). For Dr. Denison, it was meeting with Billy Graham, and for Dr. Turman, it was meeting Jim Henry (16:03). Resources and further reading:
About the hosts
Jim Denison, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, and the CEO of Denison Ministries, which is transforming 6.8 million lives through meaningful digital content.
Dr. Mark Turman is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church. | |||
| Our favorite books—how many does Dr. Denison read each week? | 11 Jul 2022 | 00:35:48 | |
Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Mark Turman continue their summer favorites series by discussing their favorite vacation spots, favorite books, and the way Dr. Jim Denison reads.
Show notes: Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Mark Turman begin by reflecting on their favorite vacation spots (1:43). They then discuss their favorite books, how Mere Christianity impacted Dr. Denison, and about C.S. Lewis’ life (5:00). They also discuss Dr. Denison’s reading habits, which includes reading or skimming about five books a week (25:45). Resources and further reading:
About the hosts
Jim Denison, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, and the CEO of Denison Ministries, which is transforming 6.8 million lives through meaningful digital content. Dr. Mark Turman is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church. | |||
| Our favorite summer movies, vacations, Bible verses, and Bible characters (not named Jesus) | 04 Jul 2022 | 00:31:42 | |
In their "summer favorites" series, Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Mark Turman discuss their favorite summer movies, summer eats, and summer vacations before delving into more spiritual matters and sharing their preferred Bible translations, favorite Bible verses, and their favorite Bible characters—not named Jesus.
Jim Denison, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, and the CEO of Denison Ministries, which is transforming 6.8 million lives through meaningful digital content. Dr. Mark Turman is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church. | |||
| How can Christians relate to the LGBTQ+ community with truth and love? A conversation with Bruce Miller | 28 Jun 2022 | 00:56:19 | |
Summary: Pastor Bruce Miller is the author of Leading a Church in a Time of Sexual Questioning. He joins Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Mark Turman for a robust and honest discussion on how Christians can relate to those in the LGBTQ+ community without sacrificing truth or love. Show notes:
About the hosts Jim Denison, PhD, is a cultural theologian and the founder and CEO of Denison Ministries, which is transforming 6.8 million lives through meaningful digital content. Dr. Mark Turman is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett Seminary at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church. About the guest Bruce Miller has been the pastor of Christ Fellowship Church in McKinney, Texas, since 1997. He founded Centers for Church Based Training and helped develop The WISDOM Process©, a systematic way to think through issues and make decisions. Bruce taught theology at Dallas Theological Seminary and is the author of six books. He speaks at churches, organizations, and conferences about the culture’s changing views on human sexuality and the impact on the church. Bruce and his wife, Tamara, have five grown children and live in McKinney, Texas | |||
| Living pro-life: Serving the voiceless and their parents in a partisan world | 24 Jun 2022 | 01:01:36 | |
NOTE: This episode was recorded the day before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Dr. Mark Turman discusses protecting the sanctity of life with Holly and Aaron Snell, the executive directors of Hope Women's Center in McKinney, Texas. They are joined by Lisa Freeman, the executive director of Thrive, a crisis pregnancy center in the Dallas area.
| |||
| We're on break | 13 Jun 2022 | 00:00:52 | |
We're taking a short summer break. We'll be back in a couple of weeks with a "summer favorites" series. These will be episodes about Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Mark Turman's favorite things, including movies, life Bible verses, and more. | |||
| Reaching the global youth culture and Ukraine: A conversation with Aaron Pierce | 06 Jun 2022 | 00:50:40 | |
Aaron Pierce and Dr. Mark Turman discuss Steiger International’s ministry to the “global youth culture,” how our audience can help in Ukraine, how Christians have heroically served in Ukraine, and how we can evangelize in the modern world.
Show notes: Aaron begins by relating how Steiger International was founded about forty years ago in Amsterdam and how music became a part of the movement (1:24). They turn to talk about the situation in Ukraine and how Steiger International has seen the Lord work through courageous missionaries (6:50). They move into discussing the refugee crisis this war has created and more stories of ministry by Ukrainian Christians (18:57). Pierce talks about the need for gospel-centered humanitarian help (27:09). They turn to consider how the church has lost credibility in our modern context and how we can reach young people (30:18). Pierce explains how their ministry works on the city level in small groups to build relationships and bring people to Jesus (41:37). Although they originally focused on Europe, they’ve turned to building teams in America as well. Pierce ends by telling the true story of an American volunteer and how God uses unexpected people (45:14). Resources and further reading:
About the hosts
Jim Denison, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, and the CEO of Denison Ministries, which is transforming 6.8 million lives through meaningful digital content.
Dr. Mark Turman is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church. About the guest
Aaron Pierce oversees Steiger International’s strategic direction, while teaching at its training events, developing new church and ministry partnerships, continuing to participate in evangelistic outreaches and tours around the world, and much more. Aaron preaches regularly at churches, conferences, and events around the world. Aaron was a member of the evangelistic rock band No Longer Music from 2005 to 2011, preaching the Gospel all over Europe, South America, and the Middle East. | |||
| Responding to the Uvalde shooting: A conversation with Carmen LaBerge | 30 May 2022 | 00:52:13 | |
Carmen LaBerge, Dr. Jim Denison, and Dr. Mark Turman discuss the tragic shooting in Uvalde, how to respond to grief, how the church can help prevent shootings, and the recent SBC scandal.
Show notes: Carmen LaBerge, Dr. Jim Denison, and Dr. Mark Turman begin by talking about the tragedy of the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas (2:20). They then turn to discuss how churches can step up to be proactive and redemptive to prevent shootings like these through care and love of the isolated (9:00). Carmen talks about bearing grief and how to respond to tragedies (15:34). They reflect on how important prayer is in these circumstances and how pastors can respond to these issues (23:04). They discuss how we can be cultural missionaries as opposed to cultural warriors and spiritual warfare (31:48). LaBerge considers how we can respond to the SBC scandal, her affiliation with the SBC, and how we can move forward (39:28). They end by discussing the ministry that Carmen does through her radio show, which is linked below. Resources and further reading:
About the hosts
Jim Denison, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, and the CEO of Denison Ministries, which is transforming 6.8 million lives through meaningful digital content. Dr. Mark Turman is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church. About the guest
Carmen LaBerge is a writer, speaker, and Christian talk radio host. Carmen is a graduate of the University of Florida and earned an M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary. She lives outside of Nashville, TN with her husband Jim and family. Currently, she is the host of Mornings with Carmen LaBerge heard live Monday-Friday, 7-9 a.m. nationwide on The Faith Radio Network, streaming at MyFaithRadio.com and via the Faith Radio app. Carmen’s passion is helping people reconnect the eternal with the everyday by equipping Christians to engage the culture in ways that honor Jesus. She has written for ChristianityToday.com, the Christian Post, and other outlets. | |||
| Addressing trauma and loss: A personal conversation with Steve Carter | 25 Jun 2024 | 00:54:30 | |
In this conversation, Dr. Mark Turman interviews Steve Carter about his new book, which explores his journey of resignation from Willow Creek Community Church in the wake of misconduct allegations against the former pastor, Bill Hybels. The book is titled 'Grieve, Breathe, Receive: Finding a Faith Strong Enough to Hold Us,' which reflects the three key words that guided Steve through his season of struggle and healing. The conversation delves into the events surrounding the resignation, the decision-making process, and the challenges of leadership in the face of institutional preservation. Steve also discusses the themes of grief, breathing, and receiving in the context of personal and ministry transitions. They explore the significance of the Easter weekend and how it aligns with the process of grieving, breathing, and receiving. They also delve into the importance of waiting and how pastors can care for themselves and their families during challenging times. Steve shares insights on the pain, privileges, and promises of ministry, emphasizing the need for both firsthand and secondhand healing. Topics(03:20): The Traumatic Events at Willow Creek (08:14): Writing the Book: Why Now? (12:59): Resignation: Staying or Leaving? (28:46): Losing Loved Ones and the Impact on Identity (30:40): The Mantra of Grieve, Breathe, Receive (36:30): The Journey from Grief to Receiving (40:34): The Difference Between Hope Preached and Hope Embodied (43:34): The Relationship to Waiting and the Definition of Grief (46:38): Honoring Feelings and Trusting God in the Waiting (49:14): Caring for Family in Ministry and the Importance of Healing (52:08): Acknowledging the Pain, Privileges, and Promises of Ministry (54:08): Steve Carter's Current Work and Podcast ResourcesGrieve, Breathe, Receive: Finding a Faith Strong Enough to Hold Us Why the church doesn’t want to talk about trauma The truth about triggers: What the church needs to know about trauma About Steve CarterSteve Carter is a pastor, speaker, author, podcast host, and the former lead teaching pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago. He hosts the Craft & Character podcast, where he helps people get better at the art and craft of communication while ensuring their character always leads the way. An avid sports fan, Steve has co-hosted with ESPN sports anchor Samantha Ponder, NFL player Sam Acho, and Trey Burton The Home Team Podcast, which unpacks the intersection between faith, culture, sports, and family. With a degree in Biblical Studies from Hope International University, Steve has a heart for the local church. He is currently a teaching pastor at Forest City Church in Elgin, IL, and often speaks for churches, conferences, events, camps, and retreats all over the country. Steve lives in Chicagoland with his wife, Sarah, and their two kids. About Dr. Mark TurmanDr. Mark Turman is the Executive Director of Denison Forum and Vice President of Denison Ministries. Among his many duties, Turman is most notably the host of The Denison Forum Podcast. He is also the chief strategist for DF Pastors, which equips pastors and church leaders to understand and transform today’s culture. About Denison ForumDenison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, The Denison Forum Podcast, as well as many books and additional resources. | |||
| Processing the SBC sexual abuse crisis | 25 May 2022 | 00:52:35 | |
Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Mark Turman discuss the tragic findings of an investigation into the Southern Baptist Convention’s handling of sexual abuse, where they failed and mistreated the victims, and how the convention will move forward. Show notes: Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Mark Turman begin by giving a heartfelt apology to all the victims of sexual abuse, expressing their grief alongside them. They walk through the broader narrative of this report, where it started, and what the report broadly found (7:16). They discuss why this case is unique because of the way the Southern Baptist Convention works (13:10). They talk about the dilemma the SBC executive team faced, and why they failed to address cases and in some cases, were even guilty of further abuse and stonewalling hurting victims (17:32). They talk about what the board could have done differently (24:18). Then, Dr. Denison gives practical, pastoral application and why we need the Holy Spirit (34:32). They consider what will happen to the future of the SBC, and how this will bring about good change (39:21). They end by considering how Christians should be personally holding each other accountable and practical application (45:35). Resources and further reading:
Jim Denison, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, and the CEO of Denison Ministries, which is transforming 6.8 million lives through meaningful digital content. Dr. Mark Turman is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church. | |||
| Faith and works: A conversation with Dr. Albert Reyes | 23 May 2022 | 01:00:23 | |
Dr. Albert Reyes and Dr. Mark Turman discuss how the gospel and meeting physical needs are two sides of the same coin of advancing God’s kingdom, how Buckner lives this out from “womb to tomb,” the importance of family, and how to get involved.
Show notes: Dr. Albert Reyes and Dr. Mark Turman discuss the unfortunate conflict between two supposed teams: Christians who help people with physical needs and Christians who help with spiritual needs (3:22). Actually, Jesus did both in an integrated way, they are two sides of the same coin (7:16). They talk about the importance of healing, peace, and justice, along with the importance of words (12:13). They discuss the history of Buckner International and the life of Robert Cooke Buckner, the baptist minister who lived out this idea in his life and founded the ministry as an orphanage (19:12). Dr. Reyes then talks about their senior living ministry, and why it's so important in our culture (28:40). Their ministry spans from “womb to tomb,” helping children through fostering, adopting, and orphanages (34:49). Then, they talk about the importance of family and how their ministry supports all kinds of families (38:42). Millennial Christians have learned the importance of adoption, it’s a beautiful return to the roots of Christianity (49:56). They end by talking about how our audience can get involved, and their slow, deliberate process of taking families through the decision to foster and adopt (50:52). Resources and further reading:
About the hosts
Jim Denison, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, and the CEO of Denison Ministries, which is transforming 6.8 million lives through meaningful digital content. Dr. Mark Turman is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church. About the guest
Dr. Albert L. Reyes is the sixth President and CEO of Buckner International. He previously served as president of Buckner Children and Family Services. Prior to his tenure at Buckner, Albert was president of Baptist University of the Américas in San Antonio. He also has served as pastor of three churches and as a manager for Sprint’s National Customer Service Call Center. Albert and his wife, Belinda, have three children. They are members of Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas. | |||
| Ask Jim: When does science say life begins? What about IVF? And other answers to tough questions. | 16 May 2022 | 01:05:30 | |
Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Mark Turman answer four audience questions: does the “1619 project” reflect badly on the New York Times, is God male or genderless, when does life begin, and how do you love people in public sin without compromising your witness?
Show notes:
Dr. Jim Denison responds to your questions on a wide range of topics. In this episode, he begins by addressing the controversial “1619 project.” The journalistic project looks at history and claims that American history truly began when the first African slaves arrived in 1619. Dr. Denison explains why this is faulty reasoning and discusses journalistic standards and the New York Times (1:28). They digress into discussing political biases in reporting. They then move on to discuss whether God is a “male,” whether God has a gender, and the use of metaphor in the Bible (15:10). Third, they go in-depth into Dr. Denisons’ position on when life begins. They consider IVF and think through the consequences of differing views (26:15). Finally, they answer a question about doing ministry alongside people in public sin. They consider Jesus’ heart, which is to become friends with sinners (like we all are), and how to not be naive or compromise our witness, especially with friends in the LGTBQ community (51:24). Resources and further reading:
About the hosts
Jim Denison, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, and the CEO of Denison Ministries, which is transforming 6.8 million lives through meaningful digital content.
Dr. Mark Turman is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church. | |||
| Faith at the movies: The Skit Guys talk about their new film, "Family Camp" | 11 May 2022 | 00:55:22 | |
Tommy Woodard and Eddie James (the Skit Guys) join Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Mark Turman to discuss why humor is so important to faith, why we should pursue excellence in the arts, and their new film: Family Camp.
Show notes:
Tommy Woodard and Eddie James begin by sharing their testimonies with Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Mark Turman; how God called them to comedy, how church media picked up in the ‘90s, and what they do in their ministry (0:49). They discuss how Christian media doesn’t need to be bad, why laughter is important to the Christian faith, and how Jesus used humor (6:41). They dive into how God can use humor to redeem hurt (15:31). Woodard and James then go through the backstory of their first full-length movie: “Family Camp,” and how God was involved throughout the process (20:02). They talk about why they wanted to make an excellent, faith-based, family-friendly movie that defies expectations (26:16). Dr. Denison then discusses the history of why the arts have become less important to many modern Christians, and why we should change that (31:25). In fact, God used “secular” media to reach Dr. Turman and James before they became Christians (39:26). They also discuss the idea of a “faith-based comedy” and the preconceptions of Christian movies (43:30). In closing, they consider how this movie will uniquely speak to our culture and give a hopeful picture of family (48:00).
P.S. We highly encourage our audience to go see Family Camp on its opening weekend, in theaters on May 13th. You can buy individual tickets or take a group. You can visit their website: https://familycampmovie.com/ Resources and further reading:
About the hosts
Jim Denison, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, and the CEO of Denison Ministries, which is transforming 6.8 million lives through meaningful digital content.
Dr. Mark Turman is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church. About the guests
Tommy Woodard and Eddie James are the “Skit Guys,” and have traveled the world performing for families at events, churches, and conferences. Their SkitGuys.com website has grown into a treasured media resource for families, pastors, and churches. Their numerous short films, skits, and scripts are used to reach families all over the world. On YouTube alone, their channel has collectively reached over 33 million views. | |||
| Faith in the public square: A conversation with David French | 07 May 2022 | 00:59:32 | |
David French, Dr. Jim Denison, and Dr. Mark Turman consider partisan hostility, why Trump divides Christian Americans, the persecution complex of many conservatives, why making abortion illegal won’t solve the problem of abortion, why we need to invest with love in communities, and ultimately how Christians should act in the public square.
Show notes:
Commentator David French joins Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Mark Turman to discuss the leaked Supreme Court ruling that could overturn Roe v. Wade and why the partisan divide threatens our country.
They discuss the overreactions of conservatives and liberals, how Christians can go beyond hateful political exchanges, and why we should not be cultural warriors (3:12). French points out how good we have it in America and the persecution complex that Christian conservatives often have. He also talks specifically about Donald Trump and how evangelicals have a worrying tendency to defend Trump’s problems (8:36).
They then look to the Civil Rights movement as a model for real cultural change through peaceful means under actual persecution (12:58). French explains why he isn’t worried about the Equality Act under the current Senate (17:14).
They address the “all-or-nothing” trap that politics puts us in and how we subconsciously become lawyers for blue or red instead of the jury or judge (19:10). French points out that God is on the throne, so Christians cannot lose, whether Biden or Trump is president (27:11).
They discuss how making abortion illegal won’t solve the problem of abortion. Rather, it will take a cultural heart change, and there is hopeful news there (31:17). They consider how we need to make change through small institutions and communities, like through Little League, church, and making friends, not through politics.
They also consider how and why fewer and fewer abortions are being done and the current cultural backlash against the sexual revolution (45:47). Lastly, they reflect on Jesus’ teaching to love your enemy with no qualifications and why we need to be Christians in every area of our lives, not just on Sunday (50:16). Resources and further reading:
About the hosts
Jim Denison, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, and the CEO of Denison Ministries, which is transforming 6.8 million lives through meaningful digital content.
Dr. Mark Turman is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church. About the guest
David French is a senior editor for The Dispatch and was formerly a senior writer for National Review. David is a New York Times bestselling author. 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. David is a former major in the United States Army Reserve. In 2007, he deployed to Iraq, where he was awarded the Bronze Star. He has written for The Atlantic, as well as other notable publications. | |||
| The Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade: Dr. Jim Denison weighs in on abortion | 04 May 2022 | 00:58:27 | |
Dr. Mark Turman and Dr. Jim Denison discuss the breaking news that suggests the Supreme Court will overturn Roe v. Wade, taking this special episode to consider the implications, as well as the arguments for and against abortion from a biblical perspective.
Show notes: Dr. Mark Turman and Dr. Jim Denison discuss the morally defining issue of our age: abortion. They address the breaking news that a draft of the Supreme Court’s majority opinion shows the judge’s plan to overturn Roe v. Wade in an upcoming decision. They discuss the details of this breaking news (0:23). They talk about the history of abortion becoming legal, how this decision affects America, and where this initial report came from (10:05). They discuss in-depth arguments for pro-life and for pro-choice positions, which are often complex. Dr. Denison considers all of the strongest arguments for abortion and responds to them (13:33). He considers all spectrums of positions, and how some, like Peter Singer, are even advocating for the utilitarian killing of some infants after pregnancy (29:28). They then discuss the Bible’s position, why the Bible doesn’t ever say: “thou shalt not abort a pregnancy,” and what the Bible does say (43:41). Then, Dr. Denison discusses the practical implications of these ideas in the States, about how you may be able to help, how you can pray, and how you can love people who have had abortions, who are thinking about getting one, and what the government’s role should be (48:02).
“This is not a war on women. This is actually as you said earlier, a spiritual war for the abundant life that the flourishing God intends for every human being.” - Dr. Jim Denison Resources and further reading:
About the hosts Dr. Jim Denison is CEO and co-founder of Denison Forum and a cultural scholar. He received his Ph.D. in philosophy and Master’s in Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Dr. Mark Turman is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church.
| |||
| Our new abnormal: A conversation with Kerby Anderson | 02 May 2022 | 00:52:27 | |
Kerby Anderson, Dr. Jim Denison, and Dr. Mark Turman discuss the state of culture post-pandemic, the economic realities, freedom of speech and religion, how to be involved in politics, and how God is redeeming the darkness overshadowing our culture.
Show notes: Kerby Anderson, Dr. Jim Denison, and Dr. Mark Turman discuss several trends of decline in American culture. They begin by considering the pandemic, and the effects it has had on our culture, inflation, and sociological trends (6:55). They discuss how mRNA vaccines could revolutionize medicine, but how we can’t put our entire trust in scientists (17:23). They look into some positive news in the midst of what feels like lots of bad news, how God is redeeming technology and how we can be a light in the dark world right now (19:13). They consider the sanctions against Russia and their repercussions (24:23). Dr. Denison talks more about the “post-truth” state of our culture, and they consider why religious liberty cases are so important in the face of LGBTQ issues (31:00). They then delve into how Christians should be involved in politics, how we can do good in it, how to handle Trump, and how we shouldn’t allow our involvement with politics to interfere with the gospel (42:23). Resources and further reading:
About the hosts
Jim Denison, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, and the CEO of Denison Ministries, which is transforming 6.8 million lives through meaningful digital content. Dr. Mark Turman is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church. About the guest
Kerby Anderson is a cultural apologist and serves as host of “Point of View” (USA Radio Network) and president of Probe Ministries. He holds a master's degree from Yale and Georgetown University. He is also the author of twenty-five books. | |||
| A dive into cryptocurrency with Dr. Lee Bratcher | 25 Apr 2022 | 00:58:00 | |
Dr. Lee Bratcher and Dr. Mark Turman dive into the world of cryptocurrency, why Bitcoin is uncensorable, how refugees use it to flee oppression, why Bitcoin will likely rival gold, and why blockchain technology is already being used by banks and governments.
Show notes: Dr. Mark Turman and Dr. Lee Bratcher discuss the Institute for Global Engagement at Dallas Baptist University and the Texas Blockchain Counsel, the nonprofit run by Dr. Bratcher. They reflect on what money is, the basics of economics, and the history of Bitcoin (8:16). They discuss the power of Bitcoin to be uncensorable, how even the US government cannot track it, and how it’s already helping refugees escape from authoritarian regimes (16:41). They discuss online “wallets,” how Bitcoin gained value, where it comes from, and how it uses the internet to be decentralized (19:50). Dr. Bratcher goes in depth into why Bitcoin is so secure and why Bitcoin has a market cap of around one trillion dollars right now (28:06). They consider why so many use Bitcoin and how it can be an asset like a stock (even though they are technically not) (38:25). Interestingly enough, they consider how this blockchain technology can make banking as a whole much more efficient and how China is using it already (45:35). Finally, they discuss why religious freedom and Bitcoin are connected, and why Bitcoin is fair according to biblical standards (51:25). Resources and further reading:
About the host
Dr. Mark Turman is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church. About the guest
Lee Bratcher serves as the Chair for the Politics, Philosophy, and Economics major at Dallas Baptist University as well as the Executive Director for the Institute for Global Engagement, a DBU affiliated think tank. He is a Captain in the US Army reserves working as an instructor for ROTC cadets at DBU and UT Dallas.
Lee received a master's in International Relations from St. Mary's University and is in his sixth year as a Ph.D. candidate at UT Dallas writing a dissertation on the implications of blockchain technology on property rights and real estate. Prior to his transition to academia, Lee served in the military and as a police officer in the DFW area. Lee has been married to Becca Bratcher for 6 years and they have two daughters, Kenzie and Ivy. | |||
| How to think biblically about Israel | 18 Apr 2022 | 00:52:28 | |
Dr. Mark Turman and Dr. Jim Denison discuss how to understand modern Israel through a theological lens, the current political climate, the history of the Jewish people, how to pray for Israel, and how Christian and Jewish beliefs differ.
Show notes: Dr. Mark Turman and Dr. Jim Denison begin by giving a brief description of Israel’s geography and its demographics as of today (5:37). Then, Dr. Denison provides a summation of the history of Israel and of the Old Testament (12:05). They discuss how going to Israel makes the Bible 3D and tangible (15:42). He then goes on to fit the story of Jesus into the context in a vivid description in the historical context and discusses why most modern Jews today reject Jesus as the “suffering servant” Messiah (21:43). Dr. Denison then explains differing views on the fulfillment of God’s purpose for Israel and Judaism, including Dispensationalism and “replacement theology.” (27:49) Dr. Denison relates his own view that, while the Jewish people are not chosen by God in fulfillment of prophecy, they have a special quality about their culture that is blessed by God. While God loves all people, Palestinians, Arabs, Muslims, and Jews, he seems to particularly bless the Jewish culture, even in the modern day (31:04). Dr. Turman presses in, asking more about how we can uniquely evangelize to Jews, recognizing that Jesus, his disciples, and the earliest churches were all Jewish (34:41). Within that, they discuss the evident spiritual warfare going on in the hearts of the Jewish people and in Israel right now, which is manifesting as violence. They discuss the current political climate of Israel and how to pray urgently for them (45:45).
P.S. Jim’s most pivotal book to date, The Coming Tsunami, is now available on Kindle, hardcover, and Audible. Resources and further reading:
About the hosts
Jim Denison, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, and the CEO of Denison Ministries, which is transforming 6.8 million lives through meaningful digital content.
Dr. Mark Turman is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church. | |||
| What does it mean to be a Christian patriot? | 11 Apr 2022 | 00:42:37 | |
Dr. Mark Turman and Dr. Jim Denison discuss the differences between patriotism and nationalism, why Christians should be good citizens, what role nationalism plays in the war in Ukraine, and how to avoid echo chambers.
Show notes: Dr. Mark Turman and Dr. Jim Denison discuss Jesus’ trial at the crucifixion and how politics played into the crucifixion (0:39). Dr. Denison then helps the audience understand the difference between patriotism and nationalism and why their definitions are so important (6:03). They discuss how Christians should be good citizens while still giving their ultimate allegiance to Christ and why modern expressions of nationalism over patriotism are misplaced. They then consider how nationalism might play a role in the Russian and Ukrainian war (14:07). Social media plays a massive role in the discussion about patriotism in today’s America. Dr. Denison and Dr. Turman give practical advice on how to get a wide range of sources to avoid echo chambers, reflecting on long-gone journalistic standards (20:20). They close by reflecting on taxes and the biblical idea that Christians can be good citizens and patriots without being nationalists (39:02).
P.S. Jim’s most pivotal book to date, The Coming Tsunami, is now available on Kindle, hardcover, and Audible. Resources and further reading:
About the hosts
Jim Denison, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, and the CEO of Denison Ministries, which is transforming 6.8 million lives through meaningful digital content.
Dr. Mark Turman is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church. | |||
| A biblical conversation on immigration with Dr. Ryan Denison | 19 Jun 2024 | 01:00:02 | |
Dr. Mark Turman, Executive Director of Denison Forum, hosts Dr. Ryan Denison to discuss the challenging issues of immigration and refugees from a biblical standpoint. As a nonpartisan ministry, they seek to approach the topic holistically, emphasizing compassion, the importance of borders, and the rule of law. Touching on recent political actions, historical contexts, and biblical principles, this episode aims to equip listeners to think biblically and live out their faith in practical and impactful ways. Highlights include understanding refugee rights, the complexities of asylum policies, and actionable steps for individuals to get involved. Topics
Resources President Biden issues “Proclamation on Securing the Border” Separating children at the border: 3 options and my response About Dr. Ryan Denison Ryan Denison, PhD, is the Senior Editor for Theology at Denison Forum. Ryan writes The Daily Article every Friday and contributes writing and research to many of the ministry’s productions. He holds a PhD in church history from BH Carroll Theological Institute after having earned his MDiv at Truett Seminary. He’s authored The Path to Purpose, What Are My Spiritual Gifts?, How to Bless God by Blessing Others, 7 Deadly Sins, and has contributed writing or research to every Denison Forum book. About Dr. Mark Turman Dr. Mark Turman is the Executive Director of Denison Forum and Vice President of Denison Ministries. Among his many duties, Turman is most notably the host of The Denison Forum Podcast. He is also the chief strategist for DF Pastors, which equips pastors and church leaders to understand and transform today’s culture. About Denison Forum Denison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, The Denison Forum Podcast, as well as many books and additional resources. | |||
| "Free to believe" is for everyone: A conversation with Randel Everett of the 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative | 04 Apr 2022 | 00:40:14 | |
Dr. Randel Everett joins Dr. Mark Turman and Dr. Jim Denison to discuss religious freedom, the 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative, and why the state shouldn’t be run by religion.
Show notes: After giving his personal story, Dr. Randel Everett discusses the surprising role of a Baptist in religious freedom in the US’s founding (7:22). He then talks about the 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative, how they got started, and how they defend religious freedom and challenge persecution and oppression (10:39). Dr. Everett relates what this mission currently looks like internationally, such as in Myanmar, Burma, and Bangladesh (20:18). They discuss the unique aspect of the Judeo-Christian ethic that allows for freedom of belief (28:10). Dr. Jim Denison considers the negatives of when the church tries to control the state (32:25). Finally, Dr. Everett ends by encouraging us to strive for virtue to make society a better place from the ground up, and how listeners can get involved in 21 Wilberforce (35:21).
P.S. Jim’s most pivotal book to date, The Coming Tsunami, is now available on Kindle, hardcover, and Audible. Resources and further reading:
Dr. Randel Everett founded 21Wilberforce in 2014 to focus attention on religious persecution abroad and the enduring importance of religious liberty in the United States.
As President, Randel leads the 21Wilberforce team, often on the front lines internationally. He spent four decades pastoring churches in Florida, Virginia, Arkansas, and Texas. He founded the John Leland Center for Theological Studies, led the Baptist General Convention of Texas, and currently serves in leadership for the Baptist World Alliance. Throughout his career, Randel has traveled to nearly 40 countries and witnessed persecution first-hand. About the hostsJim Denison, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, and the CEO of Denison Ministries, which is transforming 6.8 million lives through meaningful digital content.
Dr. Mark Turman is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church. | |||
| Ask Jim: How can I share my faith in light of evolution? And other answers to tough questions | 28 Mar 2022 | 00:51:33 | |
In this week’s episode, Dr. Jim Denison and Dr. Mark Turman respond to the audience's questions, including how to be salt and light, is baptism necessary for salvation, how to handle evolution, and how to deal with feelings of hopelessness when a family member doesn’t believe in God.
Show notes: First, Dr. Mark Turman and Dr. Jim Denison discuss the Benedict Option by Rod Dreher, as people are asking Jim: What do we tell our children about the issues brought up in culture (3:21)? How do we prepare for the coming cultural tsunami which already affects our lives and our family’s lives? Dr. Denison believes in a balanced approach, saying that we must have retreats to spend time with God, to spend quality time with other believers, and make sure we “get away” from the world. However, at the same time, we are salt and light to the world, and we shouldn't hide that from people who desperately need to hear the gospel (16:04). We must engage with the culture in a biblical, loving way.
Next, they discuss a question about how to engage with non-believers. Dr. Denison gives some practical tips, and they consider the value of presence (9:23). Sometimes, we don’t have to say anything; we just need to be there for people. The Holy Spirit will give us the words to say, and he works in ways we don’t often expect. They also discuss how vocational ministry fits into this need for rhythms of rest and regeneration.
Next, they answer the question: Is baptism necessary for salvation? Dr. Denison relates a short history of the theology of baptism, why baptism is important, which option, in his view, most aligns with the Bible, and application for our listener who asked the question (21:04).
Another listener, in the context of sharing their faith, asks how we as believers should handle evolution and the intersection of faith and science (31:18). Dr. Denison believes that these issues are not essential for salvation. It shouldn’t be an issue that divides us. Dr. Denison says it shouldn’t prevent anyone from coming to faith since Christians interpret the Bible differently in this respect. Dr. Denison relates his own view about evolution. He believes in microevolution but not macroevolution, and he explains these views further.
Dr. Denison weighs in on another heavy question: How does the Bible deal with the salvation of close friends or family (44:13)? How do we, as our listener put it, sleep at night? What if one of our children or close relatives doesn’t believe in Jesus? Dr. Denison gives a hopeful message in response and discusses how we can give that weight over to Jesus, knowing that he loves them more than we ever could. He also says to never give up; it’s never too late. Continually pray for them, but know that their salvation is not ultimately your responsibility—it’s between them and God.
P.S. Jim’s most pivotal book to date, The Coming Tsunami, is now available on Kindle, hardcover, and Audible. Resources and further reading:
About the hosts
Jim Denison, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, and the CEO of Denison Ministries, which is transforming 6.8 million lives through meaningful digital content.
Dr. Mark Turman is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church. | |||
| Metanarratives: The story we find ourselves in | 21 Mar 2022 | 00:50:10 | |
Summary: Dr. Mark Turman and Dr. Jim Denison discuss how societies are driven by metanarratives, the Western and Eastern differences between them, religious metanarratives, Putin’s metanarrative for Russia, and how they all match up against the Bible.
Show notes: Dr. Mark Turman and Dr. Jim Denison begin by covering the basics of metanarratives. Every culture and country has a north on its compass, a “larger story we find ourselves in.” Dr. Denison provides the history of the Western metanarrative, that the government exists to serve the individual. The West believes, “I, the individual, am the center of my existence.”
He contrasts this view with the Eastern perspective, which holds generally that the individual is not the center. He considers Greek philosophers, Hinduism, Islam, radical Islam, Marxism, snd then the current imperialist Russian perspective held by Putin. Each of these reflects a unique metanarrative. In particular, Dr. Denison reflects on the massive clashes between Russia against the West (in the cold war and now in Ukraine) and radical Islam against the West (terrorism, 9/11, etc.).
The source of recent conflict becomes clearer when we consider Putin’s view that NATO is encroaching on their borders and the radical Islamic perspective that the West has been the aggressor against them since the Crusades. Both of these play into the divide in metanarratives that set countries against each other. In the case of Russia, Dr. Denison shares the history of Russia over the past centuries as context for Putin’s mindset. Putin’s mindset, while not Communist, is one that values the collective greatness of Russia over the individual.
Dr. Turman and Dr. Denison then turn to America to consider our country’s narratives through the centuries, the cultural shifts, and the consistent metanarrative that the individual is the highest consideration. Then they reflect on how the “American dream” holds up when compared to Scripture. The American (and Western) individualistic mindset, while not all bad, does not match with God’s ultimate metanarrative revealed in the Bible. Neither does the Eastern mindset that values the collective above all else.
This is because the collective of God’s kingdom, the church, is most important. Within this, however, each person must respond to the call as an individual before being adopted into the Father’s kingdom.
We exist to serve God’s kingdom with other believers, in a community. The Bible, then, provides its own metanarrative for us to live by. Dr. Turman and Dr. Denison close by reflecting on this one, true metanarrative for Christians to live by.
P.S. Jim’s most pivotal book to date, The Coming Tsunami, is now available on Kindle, hardcover, and Audible. Resources and further reading:
About the hosts
Jim Denison, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, and the CEO of Denison Ministries, which is transforming 6.8 million lives through meaningful digital content.
Dr. Mark Turman is the executive director of Denison Forum. He received his DMin from Truett at Baylor and previously served as lead pastor of Crosspoint Church. | |||