Influence Podcast

What is the center of Paul’s theology? Traditionally, Protestants taught that justification by faith was the center. More recently, scholars proposed reconciliation, union with Christ, and transforma…

“Christian ministry includes fully supported church workers, those bivocational only out of financial necessity, and those who have chosen to serve covocationally. All should be honored, but one’s at…

“Churches in North America face an uncertain future,” writes Joseph Lear.

“Seventy percent of churches have an average weekly attendance of under 100 people, which means that should nearly three-quar…

Doug Clay is the 13th general superintendent of the Assemblies of God, which explains the title of his most recent book —13: Leadership Is More than Luck. The book explores leadership principles and …

“Few would argue against the proposition that Paul’s letter to the Romans is his magnum opus,” writes Glen Menzies.

“Romans is an exceedingly important book. The impact it has made is literally incal…

“According to research, approximately 61 percent of U.S. teenagers never read the Bible, and 74 percent don’t attend church regularly. That means well over half of middle and high school students in …

“My college basketball coach, Coach High, used to talk about two types of pain — the pain of discipline and the pain of regret. In basketball (as well as life and ministry), pain is inevitable. No on…

“It behooves us as Christians to think theologically and ethically about what it means to live as humans in the age of AI and about the potential opportunities and challenges that may arise from its …

“There are no seasons at the feet of Jesus. There are no age barriers when the fire of Acts 2:4 Pentecost falls. And when the Holy Spirit stirs us as men and women of God, at any age, to speak His wo…

“We don’t have to look far to realize there’s a void of godly voices in modern youth culture. When we look around and see students struggling with self-harm, gender identity, as well as depression an…

In Episode 383 of the Influence Podcast, I talked to Allen Tennison about the good news of Christ’s death and resurrection. The biblical narrative doesn’t end with Christ rising from the dead, howeve…

This summer marks the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicea, which promulgated the Nicene Creed. Along with Catholics and the Orthodox, many Protestant churches affirm the theology of the Nicene…

“I am a survivor of child abuse,” writes Samantha Rose Jones.

“The abuse impacted every aspect of my humanity — physically, emotionally, socially, mentally, and spiritually. All the instances were in…

“As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success.”

That is what 2 Chronicles 26:5 says about Uzziah, king of Judah in the early eighth century B.C.

According to Warren D. Bullock, this verse is k…

April is Autism Acceptance Month.

According to the website, Autism Speaks, autism or autism spectrum disorder refers to “a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, re…

In 1 Corinthians 15:1–2, the apostle Paul wrote:

“Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this g…

Jesus asked His disciples an important question in Matthew 16:15: “Who do you say I am?”

Ligonier Ministries surveyed Americans in 2022 about how they perceived Jesus. Responses to three statements i…

If you could travel back in time and share life lessons with your younger self, what would they be?

That’s the premise of Doug Clay’s new book, Conversations with My Younger Self.

“If I could go back…

“The future is coming, and you’re not in it.”

That’s what Rear Admiral Chester Cain (played by Ed Harris) says to Captain Pete Mitchell (played by Tom Cruise) in Top Gun: Maverick.

Cain’s reasoning? …

Some time ago, a pastor called Chris Sonksen and confessed, “Our church is stuck, and I feel empty. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know how much longer I can keep doing this.”

A lot of pastors feel…