Author

  1. 444: Tertullian - A Proper Seeking After Divine Knowledge is Always Within the Rule of Faith

    book
    06/19/26
    13 mins
    By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley
    The Times They Are A-Changin’. In this episode, we sit with Tertullian’s writing on “Prescription against Heretics.” What is “the rule of faith”? What constitutes a proper seeking after divine knowledge? What does Tertullian mean by “Heretics Encourage and Perpetuate Thought Independent of Christ's Teaching”? What does he mean by “Restless Curiosity, the Feature of Heresy”? Should heretics not to be allowed to argue out of the Scriptures?
    444: Tertullian - A Proper Seeking After Divine Knowledge is Always Within the Rule of Faith

  2. 442: Giertz - A Shepherd's Letter

    book
    06/05/26
    11 mins
    By Donavon Riley | Christopher Gillespie
    We’re in This Together. In this episode, we sit with Bo Giertz and read his open letter to the churches — A Shepherd’s Letter. As translator, Bror Erickson says of the opening section (we read on the show), “Crises and Sources of Strength”: “Christians had been systematically persecuted by the Nazis, and this systematic persecution continued in soviet countries. However, in Western Europe, church leaders like Bo Giertz saw how increasing industrialization was also assisting an increasing secularism. There were huge population shifts into the city, and people lost track of the church even as the church lost track of the people during these shifts. Some political parties were also actively hostile to the church. The trends toward secularism and atheism in the West have continued, of course, and have also become a point of consternation for believers even to this day. This age has not ceased to be evil since Paul designated it as such in Gal. 1:4. So the church continues and will continue to suffer crises, and so the essay “Crises and Sources of Strength” takes on a sort of timeless dimension that way.
    442: Giertz - A Shepherd's Letter

  3. 441: Trueman - The Value and Role of Creeds and Confessions

    book
    05/29/26
    12 mins
    By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley
    With Arms Wide Open! In this episode, on the eve of Trinity Sunday, we sit with Carl Trueman’s essay, "The Value and Role of Creeds and Confession.” Is there any usefulness of Creeds and Confessions at present? Are they important as historic documents? Are they authoritative for the churches? What are the biblical origins of the ecumenical creeds, and are they the rule of faith for contemporary Christians? What about contemporary churches that write their own creeds, confessions, or statements of faith — do they participate in the catholic faith, or are they confessing something separate from historic, orthodox Christianity? All that and much, much more on this episode of Banned Books.
    441: Trueman - The Value and Role of Creeds and Confessions

  4. 440: Heiser - Reading Your Bible Again... for the first time

    book
    05/21/26
    12 mins
    By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley
    The Mosaic Word. In this episode, we sit with Michael Heiser's book, The Unseen Realm, on reading the Bible. What are the rules of engagement when one reads Scripture? What filters do we apply to the biblical texts, and are they helpful or do they blind us? What, then, are the obstacles that prevent us from enjoying the biblical narratives? What do we assume about the Bible that is true, and what is not? Have moderns been desensitized to the vitality and theological importance of the unseen world? Does modern Christianity suffer from two serious shortcomings when it comes to the supernatural world? Do we assume that a lot of things in the Bible are too odd or peripheral to matter? What if the weird parts of the Bible are the most important?
    440: Heiser - Reading Your Bible Again... for the first time

  5. Demons Are Real But Christians Don’t Need to Be Afraid

    book
    04/10/26
    5 mins
    By Caleb Keith | Bruce Hillman | Adam Francisco
    Contemporary Christianity often ignores or understates the realities and existence of spiritual warfare and spiritual beings. The naturalistic Western world views these things as superstitious. How can Christians talk about the existence and work of demons without being sensationalized?
    Demons Are Real But Christians Don’t Need to Be Afraid

  6. Understanding Revivalism with Dan van Voorhis

    book
    03/03/26
    5 mins
    By Daniel van Voorhis | Kelsi Klembara
    What does revival really mean for the modern church?
    Understanding Revivalism with Dan van Voorhis

  7. Understanding the American Religious Landscape with Ryan Burge

    book
    01/13/26
    5 mins
    By Kelsi Klembara
    Kelsi is joined by data analyst, Ryan Burge, to discuss the current American Religious Landscape as well as his newest book, The Vanishing Church: How the Hollowing Out of Moderate Congregations Is Hurting Democracy, Faith, and Us.Dr. Ryan Burge is an associate professor of political science at Eastern Illinois University.
    Understanding the American Religious Landscape with Ryan Burge

  8. Has Lutheranism Failed?

    book
    01/11/26
    5 mins
    By Caleb Keith | Adam Francisco | Bruce Hillman | Scott Keith
    Has Lutheranism Failed? In this episode, the Thinking Fellows discuss the purpose and aim of the church to examine if Lutheranism in America has failed.
    Has Lutheranism Failed?

  9. Monday, January 5, 2026

    book
    01/05/26
    12 mins
    By Daniel van Voorhis
    Today on the Christian History Almanac, we head to the mailbag to answer a question about Eastern Orthodoxy and the Bible.
    Monday, January 5, 2026

  10. 419: C.S. Lewis - All that Christianity adds to Paganism is the cure

    book
    12/05/25
    9 mins
    By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley
    Pagan Neart, Christian Soul. In this episode, we read C.S. Lewis’ “A Christmas Sermon for Pagans.” Why does the post-Christian person need to become pagan again to be prepared to hear the gospel? How has a mechanistic view of nature led us to kill each other? Why do we reject the good news that Jesus ended the need for guilt-offerings, sin-sacrifices, and fear about the afterlife? What happened as a consequence of moderns pushing heavenly truth out of the material world? What is the message of Christmas that offers a cure for all that ails us?
    419: C.S. Lewis - All that Christianity adds to Paganism is the cure

  11. Written vs Spoken

    book
    10/31/25
    4 mins
    By Steven Paulson | Caleb Keith
    In this episode of the Outlaw God, Dr. Steven Paulson and Caleb Keith focus on Paul's interpretation of Moses in 2 Corinthians.
    Written vs Spoken

  12. Evangelism in the Age of Despair with Andrew Root

    book
    09/23/25
    11 mins
    By Kelsi Klembara
    In this episode, Kelsi talks with theologian and author, Andrew Root, about his work on the secular age and his newest book, Evangelism in the Age of Despair.
    Evangelism in the Age of Despair with Andrew Root