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Think Deeper

Focus Press

The Think Deeper Podcast is a weekly show created to explore the challenges facing Christians today and address current issues from a distinctly Christian view.

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  • 20 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 1 hr 5 min
  • English
  • Monday · 1 hr 19 min

    Was Jesus Forsaken, Guardian Angels, Baptism for the Dead, and Other Bible Debates

    It's the second edition of our Bible debates series! Last time we considered the Nephilim, the author of Hebrews, and a few other hotly debated topics. This time we add five more entries to the list. CHAPTERS:00:00 - Intro and ground rules02:48 - Baptism for the dead (1 Cor. 15:29)14:24 - What happened between Ham and Noah (Genesis 9:20ff)37:46 - Do people have personal guardian angels? (Matthew 18:10)46:02 - What is the purpose of Song of Solomon?53:23 - Did the Father truly forsake Jesus while

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  • October 12 · 1 hr 2 min

    Rest for the Spiritual Workaholic

    This week we talk spiritual burnout, and when to take a step back from involvement for a season of rest. CHAPTERS:00:00 - Introduction and the ups and downs of life09:17 - Is there a time to step back from church work?16:21 - Historic practices of rest24:46 - What changed during the COVID years33:13 - When the church calendar gets to be too much38:08 - Why church work is often the first thing to get cut from the schedule51:35 - Does the Bible tell us not to take these seasons of rest? With Will

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  • October 5 · 1 hr 5 min

    What Freedom In Christ Is NOT: On Halloween, Modesty, and More

    This week, we discuss a viral tweet that claimed that the strongest of Christians are people who watch Disney, celebrate Halloween, drink alcohol, and wear bikinis, and what it says about an all-too-common view of freedom in Christ. CHAPTERS:00:00 - Intro, and the tweet that inspired the episode08:27 - Pitting Jesus against discernment16:28 - Why heaven isn't all that matters26:12 - The attitude problem behind "you can't bind that"33:40 - The issues: boycotts, Halloween, swimwear, etc.58:01 - Ho

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  • September 28 · 1 hr 3 min

    Not Catholic, Not Orthodox: The Case for the Churches of Christ

    Marco Arroyo from In Between Sundays join's Jack to discuss why we haven't joined in the trends to convert to Roman Catholicism or Eastern Orthodoxy. CHAPTERS:00:00 - Intro and the current religious landscape04:37 - Our issues with Roman Catholicism10:47 - Our issues with Eastern Orthodoxy17:47 - Sola Scriptura vs. church tradition27:17 - Do church councils solve doctrinal division?39:51 - Infant baptism 43:53 - Do "household baptisms" in Scripture inidicate infant baptism?53:01 - The fruits of

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  • September 21 · 1 hr 3 min

    Can Christians Use Sarcasm, Satire, and Strong Speech?

    CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Intro, and the time and place for tougher talk06:21 - Starting with the cautions and limitations10:27 - Friendly teasing, thicker skin, and how men and women differ in their communication19:32 - Sarcasm and mockery in the Bible30:29 - Principles for properly using humor with an edge38:20 - The time and place for sharp words44:20 - Are we allowed to speak like Jesus, Paul, and Elijah did?48:43 - When does it go too far? When is an apology necessary?53:39 - Think Fast: Ed Sheeran

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  • September 15 · 1 hr 2 min

    Apathy in the Church: What Causes It, What to Do About It, and More

    Last week at the Engage Conference, Dr. Brad Harrub joined us for our first ever episode in front a live audience! We discussed the problem of apathy in the church, including:- How leadership can cause it, and what they can do to fix it- The "good enough" mindset that leads people to give minimum effort- Dealing with the busyness that keeps us from doing more- Ways the church can do a better job of engaging the men in the pews With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie Check out our sponsor a

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  • September 7 · 1 hr 2 min

    What are Deacons for?

    Deacons are one of the most misunderstood roles in the church. We discuss the differences between deacons and elders, the qualifications for the role, and how deacons can help oversee practical responsibilities such as budgets, maintenance, education, and logistics. The conversation also addresses questions like whether deacons are elders in training, who should appoint them, whether churches can have deacons without elders, and whether Romans 16:1 justifies deaconesses. CHAPTERS:00:00 - What is

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  • August 31 · 1 hr 4 min

    Same Team! Loving The Brotherhood In The Churches of Christ

    In Christ, Christians form what Peter called a "brotherhood"—but that doesn't mean we always see eye to eye. On this episode, we look at the issues that complicate our relationship with the brotherhood at large, including sectarianism, differences in perspectives, and the command to love each other through it all.  CHAPTERS00:00 - How a simple command becomes complicated09:12 - Surveying some of the different camps and views in the broader church14:15 - Recognizing value in each other even when

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  • August 24 · 57 min

    The Many Difficult Angles of the Lindsay Clancy Story

    A tragic case involving the death of three small children has gripped the internet, with debates raging about postpartum depression and psychosis, what justice looks like, women's issues, and more. We discuss a number of the angles to the story. CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Introducing the case 06:41 - Joe gives a therapist's view on postpartum depression and psychosis 15:48 - The danger of glamorizing struggles 20:26 - The "Victim mindset" of Critical Theory's intersectionality 27:57 - Women's resistance

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  • August 17 · 1 hr 7 min

    Image vs. Reality: The Challenge of Being Authentic

    Everybody wants "authentic" relationships from the church. But how do we build them? What can we do to keep authenticity from being an end in itself? We discuss what it looks like to be authentic, and the obstacles that get in the way. CHAPTERS00:00 - Navigating a world of fake, cultivated personas08:16 - When genuineness becomes a commodity17:17 - Dealing with shallow relationships in the church25:14 - Authenticity and openness in our worship32:14 - Hospitality helps, but it's hard38:07 - Evang

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  • August 4 · 1 hr 2 min

    How Christians Build Toward the Future

    We gathered for a wide-ranging roundtable chat, focusing largely on thinking toward the future with how we equip the next generation. CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Intro, and when boys become men 11:02 - When girls become women 19:47 - Passing the baton from generation to generation 25:23 - Thinking of your family strategically 32:05 - How parenting can sharpen you 37:06 - Making a content home life without becoming complacent 42:28 - Think Fast: The Odyssey, DEI casting, and revisiting our boycott takes Wi

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  • July 27 · 1 hr 9 min

    Difficult Husbands, Unsubmissive Wives: Marriage Case Studies

    The Bible gives ideals for us to pursue in the husband and wife roles... but life isn't always ideal. What's a woman to do if her husband won't lead? What can a man do if his wife fights his leadership? In this highly practical episode, we examine what recourse Christians have in difficult marriage situations. CHAPTERS00:00 - Intro, and whether marriage is hard or easy11:50 - Dealing with a passive, lazy husband21:53 - The Bible's counter-cultural advice27:11 - What a husband can do with an unsu

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  • July 20 · 1 hr 5 min

    The Proverbs 31... Man?

    The Bible gives us a great description of a Godly woman in Proverbs 31. But what about men? Is there a parallel text? What are characteristics a man should pursue? CHAPTERS00:00 - Piecing together a list from around the Scriptures05:51 - Proverbs' focus on the wise son11:33 - "Men don't ask for directions"15:55 - Laziness is unacceptable22:06 - Physical health: the most accepted way to lack self-discipline25:00 - The many practical effects of this shortcoming38:38 - A brief discussion on GLP-1s4

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  • July 13 · 1 hr 8 min

    Getting the Proverbs 31 Woman Right

    The Proverbs 31 woman is the subject of a lot of drive-by analysis, often cited as part of an agenda that she doesn't really fit. But what does this text tell us about what a real Godly woman looks like? CHAPTERS:00:00 - Intro, and why discuss this06:26 - "An excellent wife"15:09 - The division of labor23:34 - The work of the home35:28 - The challenges added by the modern family structure46:26 - Was she a career woman?58:24 - Her role as teacher1:01:59 - The glory of motherhood With Will Harrub,

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  • July 6 · 1 hr 3 min

    In the News: Fighting Pastor, Children’s Church, Divorce Celebrations, and More

    We take on a roundup of some major headlines from the last two weeks, touching on Christians and self-defense, a Biblical view of divorce, birthright citizenship, and whether children should stay in the worship assembly. CHAPTERS:00:00 - The importance of following the news with a Christian eye04:20 - Tony Spell, the fighting pastor15:09 - The Supreme Court's birthright citizenship decision: a major turning point?31:06 - Frankie Muniz, Jelly Roll, and celebrating divorce48:43 - A controversial p

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  • June 29 · 1 hr 4 min

    Should Churches Acknowledge America 250?

    With America's 250th anniversary coming up this weekend, we take a look at the Christian's place in celebrating our country. CHAPTERS00:00 - Intro and why 250 matters08:23 - Is America a "Christian Nation?" Is there such a thing?15:41 - Should churches celebrate America 250?27:40 - Extremes in both directions in the church32:13 - Should sins of the past dampen our celebration?40:49 - What we love about our country49:46 - Blind rankings! Joe ranks American landmarks55:22 - Jack ranks 10 US states

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  • June 22 · 1 hr

    Best Bible Chapters Draft!

    We take turns picking 7 of the Bible's great chapters apiece. Once a chapter is taken, it's off the board. Give it a listen and tell us who picked the best list, and tell us what Bible chapters you think we missed! SECTIONS:00:00 - Explaining the draft03:37 - A Romans-heavy Round 112:23 - Matthew-centric Round 223:26 - Looking to the OT in Round 333:48 - Ephesians gets the spotlight in Round 443:19 - Two Psalms in Round 550:52 - Luke takes over Round 654:25 - Final picks! With Will Harrub, Jack

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  • June 15 · 1 hr 2 min

    Grappling with Our Shortcomings

    This week the guys take a look at their own walks and discuss ways in which they want to grow in their walks as Christians. Listen in and see if you can relate! CHAPTERS:00:00 - Intro and the idea behind the episode02:27 - The challenge of building relationships11:32 - Finding opportunities to do good20:00 - Maintaining spirituality in a busy, balanced life31:04 - Being realistic without becoming cynical34:58 - Finding peace and joy41:04 - Receiving feedback and criticism without taking offense4

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  • June 8 · 1 hr 8 min

    Spanking and the Child Discipline Debate, with Brad Harrub

    Dr. Brad Harrub joins the show to discuss recent research on generational views about spanking, including a lively debate on the "village" approach to parenting. CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Intro and reviewing recent headlines on discipline07:22 - The proper context for spanking13:02 - The cultural shift and the disappearance of the parenting "village"24:43 - Navigating a culture in which you can't trust the village36:25 - Biblical wisdom on discipline40:11 - The need for parents to be open to constructiv

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