These Go To 11

Get your candy corn and hot cider ready- it's the Halloween episode! Nathan, Greg and Matt discuss costumes, the conscience and candy! Does Halloween have pagan/satanic origins? Is it ok to be scared? Also- shout out to listener Matt Hatcher for posting this intriguing article to our Facebook page!

Dr. Thomas Schreiner joins the podcast. He is a brilliant New Testament scholar, and the guys ask him a lot about NT Wright and the New Perspective. Greg is like a kid in a candy shop having one of his favorite commentators on the show. Nathan asks him if we are wiser than Solomon. Steve asks if women can speak in church? Wha- whaaaat?

In what is sure to be a more controversial episode, Nathan, Greg  and Steve talk about trends in many reformed circles today. Piper rails against, security-craving, entertainment-addicted Christians. Platt says that "abandoning ourselves is the central message of Christianity."  DeYoung thinks that the movie ratings guidelines from the 1930's were better times (but institutional racism was embraced then!).  To be fair, this is largely Greg's hobby horse, but Nathan and Steve make great riding partners!

World renowned apologist, Dr. Peter Kreeft, joins Greg and Nathan. We discuss his outstanding book, Between Heaven And Hell. JFK, C.S. Lewis and Alduous Huxley all died on the same day, November 22, 1963. Kreeft imaginatively paints a brilliant conversation in "heaven's waiting room" among these three men. It's great stuff! So is Dr. Kreeft's helpful suggestions in answering a skeptic.

A well rested Steve Hartland rejoins the discussion. Nathan has gotten some questions from listeners on Kim Davis and marriage licenses. Is she right to refuse them as an elected official? What roles does the conscience play in ethical decisions? Greg vents about blood moons (although he's highly interested in blood orange beer!) and the Harbinger.

Pastor, author, editor and blogger par excellence, Trevin Wax, joins us from Nashville. He is one of the minds behind the outstanding Gospel Project. Greg asks him how we avoid giving "be good boys and girls" moral instruction when teaching the Bible to kids. Nathan asks him about the role and mission of the Gospel Coalition.

Nathan and Greg go full-throttled fire-side chat in this episode. Nathan wants to know what things discourage pastors that most pastors won't ever share. And yeah- there may be something to do with Benny Hinn in this episode- sort of.

Dave Shive phones in from an underground bunker in an undisclosed location. Nathan asks Greg and Dave why such a large number of evangelicals are for a dude like Donald Trump. They also continue there conversation on birth control.

Greg and Scott Perry are like kids in a candy store! Scott Garceau- the former voice of the Ravens stops by the podcast to give his take on the 2015 Ravens Season. Nathan is outside most of the time stopping a nosebleed!

Brian Davidson, Nathan's father-in-law, has been doing sports ministry for over 30 years and has traveled all over the world engaging kids and adults with the gospel through the means of sports. Throughout his experiences he's developed something of a theology of sports. 

Get your popcorn buttered and your 2 pound bag of twizzlers ready! Film critic Nathan Bartlebaugh joins Greg and Nathan to talk about the components of a good movie, how a Christian might want to think about what to watch and whether or not "Christian" movies should even be made.

Nathan, Greg and Steve resume their conversation on marital fidelity- this time with a twist- is there ever a road back to vocational ministry for maritally unfaithful pastors? Conventional wisdom among a large number of Christians is "no."  The guys kick around the pros and cons of that premise in this intense episode. They also explore the implications of understanding heaven, hell and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in a relational way rather than a spatial one.  WHAT??? 

Greg, Nathan and Steve reconnect. Steve can ride his motorcycle with full medical approval! Greg recently heard of a man who abandoned his wife and was prompted to tell Lisa "I will NEVER do that to you." The guys banter about whether or not a husband can do that in light of his own sinful nature. Then the guys just joyfully meander from topic to interesting topic.

Dave Shive makes his first visit since the infamous Calvinism debates! Nathan and Greg ask him questions about the "right" number of kids Christians should have, birth control and "procreation evangelism." Dave's sister and brother-in-law Tammy and Joe Thomas from New Winegate missions also join the panel. They have been missionaries in Germany for the last 9 years and we talk about the current spiritual state of the once glorious seedbed of Protestantism. And please consider supporting the Thomases in this very unique missions work. You can email them at Joeandtammy@newwinegate.com

Tanner, husband, father, med student and co-host of reformedpubcast.com and co-founder of reformedpub.com joins Greg and Nathan. Tanner gives us a great window to the life of a medical student and shares some provocative thoughts on medicine and healthcare.

Matt Smith talks about his time at the Billy Joel concert. Nathan and Greg discuss principles for wisdom in music and entertainment choices. Matt challenges some traditional paradigms in preaching.

It’s just Nathan and Greg tonight. Fresh from the Orioles game Greg shares a theology of fandom. Nathan asks Greg some probing questions about his second book on Satan. Finally they discuss whether or not Christians take the Ephesians 6- Armor of God passage too far.

Fresh from a Taylor Swift concert, pastor and author Joe Thorn stops by to talk about his first book- Note To Self. Our friends at Reformed Pub did a great podcast with Joe recently on his second book- Experiencing The Trinity. Greg asks how Christians can PRACTICALLY preach the gospel to themselves each day. Nathan asks Joe questions about pastors, anxiety, depression and the potential role of medication for these problems.

Calvinist Batman- aka "Bruce" stops in to join the show. While committed to reformed theology, he is equally committed to continuationism regarding all of the spiritual gifts. Nathan shares some of his negative experiences in his own past with hyper-Pentecostalism. Greg asks him why 1 Corinthians 12-14 convinces Bruce that the spectacular sign gifts weren't just for the apostles.

Nathan has it easy this week- being a non-baseball guy he simply turns it over to the guys who bleed orange! MASN Network writer and 105.7 The Fan radio personality, Steve Milewski, returns to give his take on the Orioles just before the All Star Break. His good friend, Scott Perry, joins the podcast to add his two cents (the dude sounds like a DJ himself!). Greg has a blast picking the brains of these Orioles experts!