Author

  1. 73: John Bunyan, “The Pilgrim's Progress” - The City of Destruction

    book
    09/05/19
    2 mins
    By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley
    Once I was a pilgrim, a road warrior searching for a righteous end. Gillespie and Riley read and discuss John Bunyan's "The Pilgrim's Progress." This week, chapter one, The City of Destruction. We talk about apocalyptic literature, our old friend Plato, the necessity of a real present tense Jesus, and why Riley's version of The Pilgrim's Progress would be a pamphlet.
    73: John Bunyan, “The Pilgrim's Progress” - The City of Destruction

  2. 62: Thomas O. Chisholm - “Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father”

    book
    06/19/19
    2 mins
    By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley
    Do You Have a Great Hymn This Week? Go Fish! This week, Gillespie and Riley discuss Thomas Chisholm’s poem turned hymn, Great is Thy Faithfulness. More discussion of hymnody, church music, and how what we sing can help or hinder pastoral care.
    62: Thomas O. Chisholm - “Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father”

  3. 61: Joseph Scrivener - What a Friend We Have in Jesus

    book
    06/12/19
    1 min
    By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley
    Jesus joins us in our weirdness. In this episode, Gillespie and Riley continue their discussion of how to judge a hymn with Joseph Scriverner’s classic hymn, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus."
    61: Joseph Scrivener - What a Friend We Have in Jesus

  4. 60: John Newton - Amazing Grace

    book
    06/05/19
    2 mins
    By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley
    Pump the hate brakes, Riley! This week, Gillespie and Riley begin a four-episode discussion on how to judge a hymn. In the first installment, they look at Amazing Grace and ask: "Is this a great, good, or bad hymn?" What makes a Christian hymn great? What should a church do with bad hymns?
    60: John Newton - Amazing Grace

  5. Episode 4: Cinderella

    book
    04/24/19
    1 min
    By Cindy Koch
    On this episode we talk about Cinderella, the difference between circumstance and identity, God's gifts found in ordinary objects, and our longing for the "happily ever after" ending. We were inspired by an essay by J.R.R. Tolkien called “On Fairy Stories”. Ultimately, these fun stories stir up simple truths about ourselves, our God, and the greatest story we know in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
    Episode 4: Cinderella

  6. Episode 5: Jack and the Beanstalk

    book
    04/24/19
    1 min
    By Cindy Koch
    On this episode we recall the story Jack and the Beanstalk, discussing God's Kingdom and its perceived insignificance, also drawing connections from this fairy tale to the biblical account of David and Goliath. We were inspired by an essay by J.R.R. Tolkien called “On Fairy Stories”. Ultimately, these fun stories stir up simple truths about ourselves, our God, and the greatest story we know in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
    Episode 5: Jack and the Beanstalk

  7. Episode 6: Lion King

    book
    04/24/19
    1 min
    By Cindy Koch
    Join the conversation with Cindy Koch and her children in this six-part series involving select FAIRY TALES. On this episode we discuss the Lion King, recognizing sin and deceit in this world, but also finding hope for the happy ending promised to us in Christ. We were inspired by an essay by J.R.R. Tolkien called “On Fairy Stories”. Ultimately, these fun stories stir up simple truths about ourselves, our God, and the greatest story we know in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
    Episode 6: Lion King

  8. 47: Flannery O’Connor - Good Country People, part 2

    book
    03/06/19
    2 mins
    By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley
    Gillespie and Riley go back to O’Connor’s short story, Good Country People to discuss faith, humility, and the uncomfortable truth about ourselves.
    47: Flannery O’Connor - Good Country People, part 2

  9. 46: Flannery O’Connor - Good Country People, part 1

    book
    02/27/19
    1 min
    By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley
    This week, Gillespie and Riley read and discuss Flannery O’Connor’s short story, Good Country People. What does it mean that someone is a good Christian?
    46: Flannery O’Connor - Good Country People, part 1

  10. 45: Fyodor Dostoevsky - The Failure of Christendom

    book
    02/20/19
    2 mins
    By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley
    This week, Gillespie and Riley read from Dostoevsky's novel, The Idiot, and discuss the roots of the Roman Catholic church, atheism, socialism, and distinguishing between Christ and the Gospel and our own need to be God in God's place.
    45: Fyodor Dostoevsky - The Failure of Christendom

  11. 44: Bo Giertz - "Jesus Only"

    book
    02/13/19
    1 min
    By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley
    This week, we read from Bo Giertz’s novel, “The Hammer of God,” and discuss belief, revivalism versus liturgy, and what happens when Jesus alone is the focus of all our attention.
    44: Bo Giertz -

  12. 42: William Barclay - Are All People Saved?

    book
    01/30/19
    2 mins
    By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley
    This week, Gillespie and Riley read from William Barclay's spiritual biography, whether all people go to heaven.
    42: William Barclay - Are All People Saved?