Author

  1. 453: Athanasius - Against the Wiles of Satan

    book
    09/12/26
    13 mins
    By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley
    The Cost of Discipline. In this episode, we sit with St. Athanasius and his writings on the life of St. Antony. How did Christians in the 4th century view spiritual warfare and affliction? What is the relation of discipline to prayer, piety, and resisting temptation? What did 4th century Christians think about virtues and vices, and whether they were (or weren’t) related to the Christian life? Is it better for Christians to seek a place of solitude or community when focusing on heavenly things versus worldly things? How does Mammon factor into this? What does Scripture teach about the evil one, demons, dark powers, and evil spirits? Do we as modern Christians agree with Athanasius and Antony’s views about spiritual warfare, and if not, why? This and much, much more on this week’s episode.
    453: Athanasius - Against the Wiles of Satan

  2. 452: Anonymous - Ars Moriendi

    book
    09/05/26
    9 mins
    By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley
    Are You More Spiritual Than a Medieval Peasant? In this episode, we sit with The Book of the Craft of Dying to discuss how medieval spiritual warfare was explained in the 1415 text Ars Moriendi. What temptations do Christians experience in the midst of death? How do temptations to desperation, impatience, complacency, and concern about worldly matters seduce Christians? How do we distinguish between divine actions and nefarious powers at work? How many times can Gillespie interrupt and contradict Riley before he goes apoplectic? Are there patterns Christians can look for to recognize when temptations are approaching? Is there anything we can do to avoid temptations? Is being tempted the same as sinning? Why is so much of medieval piety and discipline no longer taught by the churches? This and much, much more on today’s episode of the podcast.
    452: Anonymous - Ars Moriendi

  3. 426: Thielicke - The Alluring Miracle of Display

    book
    01/31/26
    12 mins
    By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley
    Fight the Power! In this episode, we learn from pastor and theologian Helmut Thielecke about the gods we worship, the God that encounters us, and what technology actually does to us. What do Satan’s temptations teach us about Jesus, God’s Word, piety, and making sense of mystery? Is Christianity supposed to be a sensible religion? What kind of “opium” does the evil one offer us to lead us away from the Truth? What is distinctive about the worshippers of the God of power? What happens when technology becomes a means of power rather than merely a tool? What does God’s fight for the world look like, and how does it conclude?
    426: Thielicke - The Alluring Miracle of Display

  4. 405: Barfield - Myth is the Ghost of Concrete Meaning

    book
    08/22/25
    9 mins
    By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley
    Little Plastic Castles. In this episode, we read the first Inkling, Owen Barfield, as he defends the use of old words, old stories, and old ways of expressing what’s good, beautiful, and true against modern proponents that argued for more modern “scientific” ways of judging language, esp., poetics and myth, as well as religion and culture.
    405: Barfield - Myth is the Ghost of Concrete Meaning

  5. Philosophy amidst theology (with Dr. Dan Deen)

    book
    05/14/25
    4 mins
    By Adam Francisco | David Andersen | Daniel Deen
    Dr. Dan Deen of Concordia University Irvine joins David and Adam to discuss how he approaches philosophy at a college dominated by theology.
    Philosophy amidst theology (with Dr. Dan Deen)

  6. 386: Pastoral Debrief with a bit of Flacius

    book
    04/04/25
    8 mins
    By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley
    Kick Out the Jams. In this episode, we focus on the raw, real work of life in the parish—the ordinary burdens, the hidden insecurities, and the quiet faith that holds it all together. We explore the distinction between philosophy and theology and why attempts to fuse them often leave both diminished. There’s talk of reformation—its drama, its necessity, and its cost. We reflect on the pervasive victim-perpetrator dynamic that shapes so much of modern life and how the gospel when rightly preached, breaks that cycle. At the heart of it all is this: the power of Christ’s mercy to open what we’ve shut tight, to drive out the bitterness we’ve made into habit, and to speak a word stronger than shame.
    386: Pastoral Debrief with a bit of Flacius

  7. Luke 4:1-13 – Lent 1 (C)

    book
    03/04/25
    6 mins
    By John W. Hoyum | Steven Paulson
    On this episode of Preaching the Text, John Hoyum and Steve Paulson discuss the temptation of Christ in the wilderness according to Luke's narrative.
    Luke 4:1-13 – Lent 1 (C)

  8. The CHA Weekend Edition Presents: the “Who” Made You Do it? A History of the Bible’s Bad Guy Part 1

    book
    03/01/25
    6 mins
    By Daniel van Voorhis
    Weekend Edition for March 1-2, 2025
    The CHA Weekend Edition Presents: the “Who” Made You Do it? A History of the Bible’s Bad Guy Part 1

  9. Should We Still Send Our Kids to College?

    book
    02/26/25
    6 mins
    By Scott Keith | Caleb Keith | Adam Francisco
    In this episode of the Thinking Fellows podcast, Caleb Keith, Scott Keith, and Adam Francisco engage in a friendly discussion about the current state of university education.
    Should We Still Send Our Kids to College?

  10. The Limits of Worldview and the Utility of Epistemology

    book
    01/24/25
    4 mins
    By Caleb Keith | Adam Francisco | Scott Keith
    In this episode of the Thinking Fellows podcast, Caleb Keith, Scott Keith, and Adam Francisco discuss the relevance of epistemology versus worldview in the context of Christian engagement with culture and society.
    The Limits of Worldview and the Utility of Epistemology

  11. What is theology?

    book
    12/11/24
    5 mins
    By Adam Francisco | David Andersen
    What is theology? Is it akin, adjacent, or perhaps inimical to philosophy? How does it relate to a worldview?
    What is theology?

  12. The problem of evil (F&RE)

    book
    10/02/24
    4 mins
    By Adam Francisco | David Andersen
    David and Adam were joined by Dr. Lex Newman, Professor of Philosophy at the University of Utah, to talk about the problem of evil.
    The problem of evil (F&RE)