1. Suffering is hard, but does it have meaning? Craig and Troy begin this new series with a basic conversation on the Biblical understanding of suffering.
  2. The Christian life is not all glory, power, and happiness, we will share in the cross of Christ. What does that mean? You can listen to today's program and find out. Guest: Dr. Steve Hein recorded at 1517.org Here We Still Stand Conference in San Diego, CA. Get Dr. Hein's book and be sure to look for his other books! https://shop.1517.org/products/the-christian-life-cross-or-glory?variant=12227844833365
  3. Sane People Would Pay Top Dollar for This Kind of Podcast. Gillespie, Riley, and special guest Chad Bird read from his book, "Your God is Too Glorious." They then discuss baptism, suffering, and vocation.
  4. Daniel and Erick start Paul’s letter to the Philippians in this episode. To live is Christ, to die is gain, and some suffering is a gift.
  5. Sometimes life is hard and seems unbearable. How could someone actually rejoice in suffering?    The Apostle Paul writes to us in Romans 5:3 "...we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." Join Craig and Troy as they talk about suffering and character.   
  6. Daniel and Erick wrap up the 1 Peter in this episode. There is some discussion about ecclesiology and why Peter calls himself an elder.
  7. Peter gives some examples of how to keep our conduct “honorable” before other people.
  8. Paul says that all his suffering doesn’t compare with the glory that is coming. How is this an encouragement to us?
  9. The Brutal, Humiliating, Joyous Christmas Gospel! Gillespie and Riley return this week with another episode dedicated to Martin Luther's Christmas sermon. This time, they dig into the underlying brutality of the Christmas Gospel, Mary's humiliation, and Joseph's dilemma.
  10. Christmas: the Perfect Time of Year for a Theologian of the Cross! In this episode, Gillespie and Riley read from a Christmas sermon by their favorite heretic, Martin Luther. They discuss Mary's example of how God makes theologians of the cross through suffering, oppression, weakness, and hopelessness.
  11. Please, Love Me Like You Do... This week, Gillespie and Riley wrap up their reading of Gerhard Forde's "On Being a Theologian of The Cross." What are the ramifications for Christians when God creates (He does not find) that which is pleasing to Him?
  12. Don't Like That We're Righteous Apart From Works? We're Not Done Yet. Continuing their conversation from episode #31, Gillespie and Riley follow Gerhard Forde, and with him examine Luther's Heidelberg Disputation. This week, Aristotle, righteousness, and whose work is worth calling "good."