King & Culture

Luke and Seth discuss the results of the 2024 election, looking at the failures of the Pro-Life cause and the success of Trump. Is it wrong to be overly sad or happy about these things? Is there a Christ-less Conservatism that will dominate political thinking the next few years? How will we respond to it? How do we interact with the growing non-Religious Right in light of the mission of God's people? How will the church respond to the coming mental health crisis that Mark Halperin predicted?

Seth and guest Aaron Renn discuss how, since 2014, we've been living in an America that is differently hostile to the Christian faith than ever before. What does that mean for us as the people of God? What does that mean for us both politically and personally?

https://www.aaronrenn.com

Book: Life In the Negative World

Article: Three Worlds of Evangelicalism

Seth and Luke talk through how much the Bible shapes our understanding of various key political issues. They begin with character vs. policy and then dive into 7 of the key issues in the 2024 election:

Taxes / Economy
Abortion
Immigration & Border
Sex & Gender
Climate & Environment
Foreign Policy
Corruption & Oppression

Just War Episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/king-culture/id1531036631?i=1000642083516

Luke and Seth discuss how Biblical Values have shaped politics in Western Culture. They look at the eight ideologies and six moral taste buds that shape our political engagement.

In each one, they explore what the ideology is, how it reflects some biblical good, but how it also is distorted and eventually can lead to a kind of tyranny. 

The Eight Political Ideologies:

1. Liberalism
2. Conservatism
3. Nationalism
4. Democratism
5. Socialism
6. Marxism
7. Economicism
8. Technologism

Then they explore the six moral "taste buds" put forth by Jonathan Haidt:

Compassion
Liberty
Loyalty
Fairness
Authority
Sanctity

Books Referenced:

David Koyzis, Political Visions & Illusions: A Survey & Christian Critique of Contemporary Ideologies: https://amz.run/9Wqf

Jonathan Haidt, The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion: https://amz.run/9Wqg

Seth and Luke discuss the religious nature of politics and explore John Stuart Mill's "Harm Principle" as it relates to the nature of limited vs unlimited government. Should Christians care about politics? Why? How do you know if you care too much or too little?

Seth and Guest Dr. Andrew Walker discuss the role of creation in establishing ethical norms for both Christians and Non-Christians.
Check out Walker's new book Faithful Reason and his article on Natural Order.

Seth and guest Kyle discuss the key differences between Mormon theology and traditional, orthodox Christianity while considering a few strategies that ought to guide our interacts with our LDS neighbors.
Follow Kyle here.

Seth and returned host Luke discuss Church Discipline.

Seth and guest Jay discuss his book Analog Church and how digital technology can lead us away from what the Bible teaches us about what the church actually is.
Check out Jay's books here 

Seth and guest Dan discuss his forthcoming book on Patriotism. Should Christians love their country? How do you know if your affection for your nation is idolatrous? What practices are helpful for developing an appreciate love of America?
Check out Dan's website here: https://danieldarling.com

Seth and guest Dr. Miles Smith IV discuss the religious roots of America and to what extent it is true that America was founded as a Christian Nation. Discussed Links: https://davenantinstitute.org/religion-republic

Seth and Cathi discuss how Cathi's story led to her involvement in the Pro-Life cause and how her relationship to Jesus animates her work in the realm of public policy.
AZ Policy Website
Vineyard Pregnancy Center
Hope Women's Center

Seth and guest Nancy Pearcey discuss some of her newest book The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes. She is professor and scholar in residence at Houston Christian University. She’s been described by The Economist as "America's pre-eminent evangelical Protestant female intellectual."

www.nancypearcey.com/

Seth and guest Dr. Dani Treweek discuss singleness and the church. How did the early church view unmarried people? What does the bible have to say about unmarried people? How can the church grow in her love for and inclusion of unmarried people?

Read Dani's book here.

Seth and guest Jennifer Greeberg discuss various misconceptions of joy, how misused bible verses have harmed God's people, and practically discuss how we can follow Jesus who "for the joy set before him endured the cross.

Seth and guest Ashley Lande discuss her journey into and out of the search for God using drugs and pagan spirituality before eventually coming to faith in Jesus.
Article
Pre-order Ashley's book here

Seth and guest Josh Butler discuss the four political religions in America and six strategies for how Christians can faithfully engage politically.

Buy Josh's book here.

Seth and Luke discuss how to think, speak, and pray about authority figures and leaders.

Seth and Luke discuss the warnings given to the rich in the Bible and the tension that exists between enjoying God's blessings and living with radical generosity.

Luke, Seth, and Guest Ian Harber discuss the crisis of deconstruction and how to walk with people in the process of reconstructing their faith.
Ep 24. Deconstructing Deconstruction
Ep 12. Decolonizing Deconstruction
Read Ian's TGC Article here
Subscribe to Ian's Substack here

Seth and guest Tony Ziolko LPC discuss the nature of trauma and how to develop resilience in ourselves and our children.

Seth and Luke discuss various types of Christian Nationalism and how we should hold our faith in the public square. 

Luke and Seth discuss Biblical and historical arguments regarding Just War Theory, Pacifism, and self-defense. 

Seth and Luke discuss various spiritual disciplines to experiment with in 2024.

Luke and Seth discuss what God's people were expecting vs what they got when God took on Flesh in Jesus.

Seth and Luke discuss how to think about and pray for Evil Men considering the fact that they are made in the image of God. 

Enjoy this recording from Revelation Q&A Night on November 9. Luke and Seth answer questions that had been submitted online and in person. 

Seth and Luke discuss the new name of Redemption Gateway, the significance of metaphors for growing in our faith, and the Psalm 1 vision for how we can be a faithful presence as a church.

Luke and Seth discuss CS Lewis' concept of the Inner Ring and how not to "love the glory. that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God." (John 12:43)

Seth and Luke discuss various ways to make sense of the relationships between magic, religion, science, and technology.

Luke & Seth unpack FAQs for the book of Revelation and issues related to eschatology (the study of the last days).

Revelation Series Overview w/ resources, songs, and key interpretative issues
Alpha & Omega (Revelation w/ Dr. John DelHousaye)
Life After Life After Death
Get the Hell off of Earth
Mark of the Beast
To Be Or Not To Be Left Behind 

They're back! In today's episode, Seth and Luke discuss Seth's sabbatical, male insecurity, gender, and the role humiliation plays in virtue development.

Enjoy this replay of one of Luke and Seth's favorite episodes. In this episode, they discuss the importance of both theology and therapy in the life of a Christian. 

Enjoy this replay of one of Seth and Luke's favorite episodes. They discuss the dangers of conforming with the secular right and the importance of following the heart of Christ. 

Please enjoy this replay of one of Seth and Luke's favorite episodes. They reframe what 'taking God's name in vain' looks like and how we can honor God's name in our speech and words. 

Enjoy this replay of one of Luke and Seth's favorite episodes. This episode originated in a mini-series about Seth's dissertation. 

Enjoy this replay of one of Seth and Luke's favorite episodes. They discuss what the bible says and doesn't say and the ways in which our culture possesses 'The Mark of the Beast'

Seth welcomes special guest Dr. John DelHousaye to discuss the book of Revelation. They ask how to interpret it, how to submit to it, and how to live in light of the End of History.
Chiasm diagram

Luke and Seth discuss various types of rest, how to achieve them, and the benefit they provide both to the one doing the resting and to people around them. Seth talks about his plans to implement rest on his upcoming sabbatical.

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Seth and Luke discuss the similarities between spiritual, emotional and sexual intimacy

Learn more about Redemption Gateway here
Follow us on Instagram here

Luke and Seth discuss the value of emotions in our lives and how they image Jesus.

The Emotional Life of our Lordby BB Warfield

Seth and Luke discuss a biblical vision for masculinity. It confronts left-wing visions that make men and women interchangeable and right-wing views that over-emphasize their differences. Whether your male or female, this is an important conversation for this cultural moment.

Seth and Luke discuss how to set goals and establish direction that is congruent with our created designs.

Luke and Seth discuss the contours of biblical humanity.

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Seth, Luke, and Matthew answer a bunch more questions that they hadn't been able to get to in last month's Ask Anything.

To Be or Not to Be Left Behind by Dr. Seth Troutt
Pleasing God by our Obedience by Dr. Wayne Grudem

1:54 - Do you think when Israel became a nation in 1948, that started the clock towards Jesus’ return?
7:30 -  Will there be a literal rapture of the church followed by a 7 year tribulation period and then the second coming of Christ?
16:06 - In light of Prov 22:6, what encouragement would you have for parents who have raised children in a Christian home but those grown children are now rejecting the faith?
22:10 - Evangelicals find basis for gender and sex in biological markers. How do you square this with a God who, at least as Father and Spirit, identifies as male but possesses none of the biological traits?
12:07 - Is capital punishment biblical?
30:13 - Two fairly consistent messages I hear: 1) God loves you and there is nothing you can do to earn His love, therefore stop trying to earn it; 2) Faithfulness and obedience to God’s law are for your benefit and pleases Him, therefore we are responsible for our growth. Help flesh out how these work together.
37:25 - How do you live a purposeful life as a believer?
44:58 - How do I best handle a workplace that is increasingly pushing worldly cultural norms?
47:33 - How do you stay friends with non-believers without letting your faith suffer as a young adult?
50:21 - Advice for those who are looking to ensure longevity in serving/loving the church?
53:46 - What primarily shapes the order of our worship services?
1:01:03 - What is the direction Pastor Luke and the elders see our youth group going?

Seth and Luke continue their series on the Doctrines of Grace by considering how God holds onto us. They also discuss how all this grace comes with both privileges and responsibilities.

Seth and Luke continue their discussion of the Doctrines of Grace by looking at how Christ's death on the cross made it such that God's people would be saved.

J. I. Packer Article

Not that election **wink wink**
Seth and Luke dive into the doctrine of election (sometimes called *unconditional election*). Everyone who reads the Bible sees that God chooses his people... but what does that mean?

Luke Simmons joins Nikki Reeves and Geoffrey Wilcoxson for a special crossover episode to discuss the movies of 2022.

Listen to For Jesus

Seth and Luke continue a series about Reformation theology by exploring the truths of inability (sometimes called "total depravity") and conversion (sometimes called "irresistible grace"). 

Seth and Luke begin a series on the Doctrines of Grace by discussing the Five Solas of the Reformation.

Seth and Luke discuss what constitutes heresy, what an evangelical is, and common doctrinal problems that are creeping into popularity.

Christianity Today Article

Luke and Seth discuss the mental struggles present in different stages of life.

Midlife Crisis Article

Bobb Biehl's Decade by Decade Summary:
1-10 - Security
10-20 - Self
20s - Survival
30s - Success
40s - Significance & Struggle
50s - Stride
60s - Strategic
70s - Succession
80s - Slippery 
90s - Sleep

Seth and Luke answer questions in front of a live audience at King & Culture LIVE!

Luke and Seth discuss how culture defines self love and how the Bible says we should regard ourselves. 

This episode was recorded in front of a live audience at King & Culture LIVE! at Redemption Gateway.

Join us for King & Culture LIVE! on Monday, September 19 at 7pm for a live episode and Q&A featuring the Mike Griffith Trio

Seth and Luke discuss the work required to establish "new normals" within families while considering genetics, epigenetics, and the generational curses in the Old Testament.

Seth and Luke discuss what good friendship is and why our culture is so bad at it. 

King & Culture LIVE!
Boston Globe Article

Seth and Luke discuss how the Scriptures give us the resources we need to maintain loving relationships

King & Culture LIVE!

Seth and Luke respond to the recent SCOTUS ruling overturning Roe v Wade.

Luke and Seth discuss the value, function, and role of beauty.

Seth and Luke discuss Scientism's failure and how pockets of modern culture are drifting back towards paganism.

Seth and Luke discuss tragedy, evil, and what God wants from and for his people in the wake of disaster.

Gun Control Debate

Seth and Luke discuss who we should learn from, listen to, and how to discern various dangers that arise both when we listen and when we don't listen to outsiders.

Seth and Luke discuss how health leads to growth and how theological development is a relational process.

Seth and Luke discuss what it means to do "the Lord's Work in the Lord's Way" and the extent of our responsibility for both means and ends in our day to day lives.

The Lord's Work in the Lord's Way- Crossway
Use Means, but Don't Trust in Means; Trust in God- Desiring God

Luke and Seth discuss different cultural approaches to resiliency, difficulty, and courage. 

Seth and guest Dr. Brian Arnold discuss how key figures in church history teach the church to persevere in persecution. 

Seth and Luke discuss four political tribes within America and how the non-religious right is a threat to the heart of the church.

Luke and Seth talk about Heaven, Hell, death, and judgment. They answer questions about what happens when we die, pets in heaven, God's justice, whether those in heaven are paying attention to us, what hell is like, and more.

Luke, Seth, and Matthew Braselton take on even more questions that were submitted on Ask Anything Sunday, including:

Check out Follow-Up #1 and Ask Anything 2022

Luke, Seth, and Matthew Braselton take on additional questions that were submitted on Ask Anything Sunday, including:

Luke and Seth discuss different aspects of God's law and how it's different than the laws of humankind.

Seth and Luke discuss the emotional complexity of Christmas and how Jesus being a Man of Sorrows affects our Holly Jolly Christmas celebrations.

Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund

Luke and Seth discuss healthy and unhealthy ways to talk about “deconstruction” and various reasons people engage in the process.

Josh Butler: 4 Causes of Deconstruction
Apple Podcasts: Decolonizing Deconstruction
Spotify: Decolonizing Deconstruction
UK Deconstruction Facade Photo

Seth and Luke discuss how God is not a polygamist — he only has one bride — but because of consumerism and insecurity, Christians are tempted not to functionally believe that.

The Third Commandment means more than not using God's name to swear. Seth and Luke explore how common and easy it is to take the Lord's name in vain. They talk about acting like God can be magically controlled, the "flags" we fly to show the world our identity, our tendency to use God to excuse what we just want to do, and more. 

"Salvation" is a word that seems like just a churchy, religious word — but we see the concept of salvation at work all around us. Luke and Seth explore this countercultural conviction around salvation, noting that the broader culture struggles with God's wrath while Christians often struggle with God's sovereignty. They talk about why God's sovereignty matters and get to the core thing we have to understand to embrace it.

Watch or listen to Josh Watt's sermon, "Salvation."
Get more resources on salvation, reformed theology, and the doctrines of grace.
See the "Turtle on a Fence Post."

Luke and guest Matthew Braselton sit down to discuss the Countercultural Convictions series message on "Generosity." They talk about the tension between generosity and wise stewardship, how suffering provides opportunities for generosity, how to discern what to invest in, and the importance of being able to receive generosity.

Watch or listen to the related sermon.
Explore additional resources on generosity.

In today's episode, Luke Simmons and Mark Andress dive deeper into our Countercultural Convictions series with the topic of The Vulnerable; What does The Bible say? How would we respond? And why is this topic countercultural? We will see you next week with another epsiode.