What does it really mean to be human? In this episode of The Holy Trinity Institute Podcast, Malissa and David explore how Scripture’s story—creation, fall, redemption, and restoration—shapes our understanding of identity, dignity, and purpose. They reflect on how cultural narratives of autonomy contrast with the biblical vision of embodied image-bearers renewed in Christ, and consider how a gospel-centered view of humanity reshapes our relationships, work, and everyday discipleship.

Inside this episode:

• What it means to be made in the image of God — embodied, dependent, and dignified

• How modern culture’s vision of the “self” differs from Scripture’s story of humanity

• Why sin distorts — but does not erase — our created worth

• How redemption in Christ restores our identity and reshapes daily life and vocation

• How a biblical vision of embodiment informs conversations around gender, sexuality, and human flourishing

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• ⁠What God Has to Say about Our Bodies: How the Gospel Is Good News for Our Physical Selves by Sam Allberry

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/pecan-pie/evening-kisses

License code: ODESUSTTXDCE0SFF 

In this episode, David, Malissa, and Alyssa unpack the big picture of the Bible as one unified story that God is telling from beginning to end. Drawing on the Institute course, Genesis to Revelation, we explore how Scripture’s grand narrative — from creation and fall to redemption and restoration — reveals God’s redemptive purposes and shapes how we read the Bible as disciples today.

Inside this episode:

• Why understanding the Bible as one story transforms how we read Scripture and follow Jesus

• How the grand narrative from Genesis to Revelation shapes our identity and mission

• Key resources and insights that help connect the dots across Scripture

• Practical ways to engage the whole biblical storyline in daily life and discipleship

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• God's Big Picture: Tracing the Storyline of the Bible by Vaughn Roberts

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/pecan-pie/evening-kisses

License code: ODESUSTTXDCE0SFF 

In this episode of The Holy Trinity Institute Podcast, hosts Malissa and David reflect on the 2025 Spring Semester course News Worth Sharing: Foundations and Practices of Evangelism. They explore what it means to understand and proclaim the good news of Jesus in a way that’s both faithful to Scripture and relevant to our culture. Drawing on the course content, the conversation highlights biblical foundations for evangelism, practical practices for sharing the gospel, and insights from personal experience that help listeners think about how Christians can be more confident and compassionate bearers of Christ’s message in everyday life.

Inside this episode:

• The core biblical basis for evangelism and why it matters today

• How to think about news worth sharing in a world saturated with competing messages

• Practical practices for listening, speaking, and living as witnesses to the gospel

• Encouragement and insights for engaging others with grace and truth in your community

In this season finale of the Holy Trinity Institute Podcast, David and Malissa are joined by Pastor Sully Curtin to explore a foundational question: What is the Church?

In a cultural moment shaped by consumerism, digital gathering, and post-pandemic confusion, many Christians are rethinking what the church actually is — and what it’s for. Is it a building? A weekly event? A place to receive spiritual goods and services? Or is it something far more profound?

Together, they unpack a biblical vision of the church as “the gospel made visible” — a redeemed community formed by Christ, sent on mission, and shaped through embodied worship, sacrament, and shared life. From the Great Commission to the rhythms of gathered worship, this episode invites listeners to rediscover the beauty, purpose, and necessity of the local church.

Inside This Episode:

• Beyond Consumerism: Why viewing church as a "product" to consume stifles our spiritual growth.

• The Gospel Lens: How the local church acts as the "hermeneutic" (the lens) that helps the world make sense of God’s story.

• Embodied Community: Why gathering in person is a "divine reality" that shapes our hearts in ways a screen simply can't.

• A People on Mission: The church doesn't just have a missions department; the church is the mission of God in the city.

• Heart Reorientation: How the liturgy—from the Call to Worship to the Benediction—realigns our "heart compass" for the week ahead.