Podcast Overview

Author

430: Tolkien - The Journey Through the Desert: The Lenten Quest

02/27/26

12 mins

By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley

Lent in Middle-earth. In this episode, we discuss the Lenten subtext, language, and images in J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Return of the King.” What can Christians learn from fiction authors about the faith, devotional reading, understanding the world outside the churches through the view of the cross, and how all of reality is bent towards Easter at all times, in all places, by all people? This and much, much more on today’s show.
Monday, February 16, 2026

02/16/26

13 mins

By Dan van Voorhis

Today on the Christian History Almanac, we head to the mailbag to answer a question about Dan’s favorite books.
- Christian History
- Literature
425: Lewis - Myth Became Fact

01/23/26

9 mins

By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley

The Hangman’s Nous. In this episode, we read an excerpt from The Maniac, by G.K. Chesterton, followed by Myth Became Fact, from C.S. Lewis’ book of essays, “God in the Dock.” The primary question we discuss, then, is whether men and women can live a healthy and sane life with mystery, without myth, and without higher truth. What has happened to modern churches that exorcised mystery from preaching, teaching, evangelism, and worship? What anchors the Body of Christ when it’s unmoored from Church history and tradition? What have been the consequences for churches that treat the Christian story as more fantasy than fact? What does Lewis mean that God is “mythopoeic”? What does it mean that Christianity is, according to Lewis, “perfect myth and perfect fact”?
422: Post-Christmas and Post-New Year Debrief

01/03/26

9 mins

By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley

What’s the Frequency, Kenneth? In this episode, we gather for a post-Christmas, post-New Year pastoral debrief. We talk about symbols and meaning, Christmas and holidays, signs and seasons, and how modern churches quietly cleared the path for culture to push Christ out of Christmas without much resistance. We explore the strange and largely arbitrary ways the world measures time, along with the old Adam’s never-ending pyramid project. That is, his need to build meaning upward by effort, progress, and control rather than receive it as a gift. From there, we return to symbol and meaning. We ask why ancient liturgy’s nostalgia or ornamentation, but the distilled shape of reality itself, why the Lord’s Supper isn’t a side practice, but the beating heart of the Church, of worship, and of the Christian life. And why stories’ decorations for faith, but the way truth takes on flesh and finds us where we actually live. This is a conversation about time, worship, memory, and why the Church invents meaning but receives it again and again at the table.
415: Luther - The Mass is a dangerous thing, fabricated and invented without God’s Word and will

11/07/25

9 mins

By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley

Mass Effect. In this episode, we continue our reading of The Smalcald Articles, focusing on Luther’s critique of the Roman Mass and all its consequences for the churches and Christian life. We discuss mimetic desire, sacrificial religion, the exclusive work of Jesus.
Written vs Spoken

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.
414: Luther - God is extravagantly rich in His grace

10/31/25

9 mins

By Christopher Gillespie | Donavon Riley

An Arm-Twisting Confession. In this episode, we read Martin Luther’s Smalcald Articles on the gospel, baptism, and the Lord’s Supper. Why did he have to have “his arm twisted” to write them? What is he trying to teach the churches about the gospel? How does the gospel circumscribe and define the Church, worship, and Christian life? Why does something written in the 1530s matter today? We look to answer all these questions and more on this episode of the Banned Books podcast.
Why Do Christians Sing Hymns? | Dr. Steve Mueller, Concordia University Irvine

10/02/25

5 mins

By Scott Keith | Caleb Keith

Singing is one of the most recognizable parts of Christian worship. But why do Christians sing hymns?
- Hymns
- God's Word
- Liturgy
- Worship
Psalm 31 (our very first episode of Hidden Streams featuring Kris Winrich singing "Waiting for My Deliverance"

09/12/25

4 mins

By Chad Bird

Waiting on God, Who alone is our only hope in this life and will safely guide us to be with Him for eternity.
The Gift of Holy Scripture with Jonathan Linebaugh

09/09/25

9 mins

By Kelsi Klembara

Kelsi is joined by Jonathan Linebaugh to discuss his new book, The Well that Washes What it Shows: An Invitation to Holy Scripture.
Mysticism's Silence of the Lamb

09/03/25

4 mins

By Steven Paulson | Caleb Keith

In this episode of the Outlaw God, Steven Paulson and Caleb Keith look at Martin Luther's interpretation of Psalm 18.
Monday, August 25, 2025

08/25/25

14 mins

By Dan van Voorhis

Today on the Christian History Almanac, we head to the mailbag to answer a question about practices surrounding Holy Communion.