Renewtheology

We're back with the second instalment of our occasional "heroes of the faith" series. Not only did John  Newton write the famous hymn "Amazing Grace," but he was a sailor, slave, slave ship captain, preacher, abolitionist, and writer. He came to faith the hard way but by the power of Christ left a legacy of God's grace.

We break down a big theological topic in the Church today: Calvinism (aka reformed theology). We explain the five main points of Calvinism, why some Calvinists are "four-point" instead of five-point Calvinists, and recommend some great Calvinist teachers if you want to learn more.

The concept of listening prayer is new to many, but Dr. Don & Jen Love have seen it have an incredible impact on the lives of believers they have ministered to. As professors at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA, the Loves have watched their prayer ministry grow as God continues to use this prayer practice to change lives. Listen in as we chat with them about what listening prayer is, biblical support for it, how it can help us deal with sin and hurt, and lots more.

Happy Monday! In this bonus episode, we tell you about some exciting changes on the podcast: new name, new cover art, new website, & more! Tune in to hear a quick update & some of things we're excited for in 2020!

Join us for the second (and final) part of our two-part series on the Holy Spirit! Last week, we talked about the theology of the Holy Spirit, and this week we're sharing some of our biggest obstacles when it comes to following the leading & guidance of the Holy Spirit, as well as how God has worked in our hearts to help us overcome those obstacles. Tune in for a friendly, heartfelt discussion about what it means to walk in the Spirit.

Welcome back to the podcast! To kick off the new year, Emily & Bethany discuss the Holy Spirit: Who He is, why He's important, and what it means to "walk in the Spirit" on a daily basis. Tune in to hear more about the Holy Spirit!

Merry Christmas! Today on the podcast, Emily & Bethany debunk some popular Christian myths surrounding Christmas. Many claim it has pagan roots, that Christmas trees have less-than-admirable origins, and by the way, was Jesus really born in a stable? All this and more in today's episode!

Emily & Bethany go back to the basics of Christianity and dig into the gospel message. In addition to defining what the gospel actually is, they share other Christian leaders' takes on the gospel, false expressions of the gospel, and the cost of following Christ.

Bethany & Emily kick off a new occasional series of episodes in which they share about historical Christian "giants" who have contributed to the Church and our heritage of faith. This week, they're discussing the lives of dynamic duo John and Charles Wesley: two brothers who worked together to found the Methodist movement and write thousands of hymns.

Welcome back! In today's episode, Emily & Bethany walk through the famous "suffering servant" passage of Isaiah 53, which prophesies about the coming Messiah. Not everyone sees it that way, though: Jewish leaders ignore this passage in their readings. Click play to hear more!

This week, Bethany & Emily explore what the Bible actually says about submission; not what everyone thinks it says (or doesn't say). They discuss the benefits of submission and how it must be done right in order to be edifying. Tune in to hear more!

Have you ever wondered why the gospels sometimes tell different stories, have contradicting details, or leave out parts? At first glance, this can seem to invalidate the accounts of the four disciples, but in reality, a lot of these differences are what make the gospels so reliable. Tune in to hear more!

The issue of spiritual gifts is one that has a wide range of responses in the Protestant church. But what support is there for either side? Listen in as Bethany & Emily discuss both sides of this debate.

Emily & Bethany take a break from discussing Christian denominations & branches of Christianity in this week's episode and talk about four religious groups that, though they find their roots in the Bible, have drifted far from biblical truth (and one that hasn't). Tune in to learn more about these popular "pseudo-Christian" religions.

This episode is the last one on Christian church denominations, and Bethany and Emily talk about two denominations that seem to be lesser-known in North America. Both these denominations are prevalent in other areas of the world, so it's helpful to know about them (especially because they play big roles in church history). Listen in as Emily and Bethany discuss the history & doctrine of these two churches.

Last week on the podcast, Emily and Bethany discussed the various Protestant denominations that were born out of the Reformation of 1517. This week, they dig into the church that the early protestants could no longer tolerate: the Roman Catholic Church. Tune in to hear about the Catholic Church's view of Mary, their sacraments, and what they think about sin.

If you're part of a local church, you probably know what denomination you're part of. But how much do you know about other denominations in the Protestant Church? This week, Emily and Bethany dig into the core beliefs of several main denominations in the Church today: Lutheranism, Pentecostalism, Anabaptism, and more! Tune in to hear about how these denominations differ from each other and what they have in common.

This week, Bethany & Emily venture into the land of hamartiology: the theological study of the doctrine of sin. They discuss the three words used to describe breaking God's law in the Bible: "sin", "iniquity", and "transgression". How are these different, and what does it mean for us? Click play to hear more.

Has anyone ever challenged you with contradictions in the Bible? Bethany & Emily offer helpful explanations for three Bible contradictions:1. Will everyone who calls on the Lord be saved or not? (Matt. 7:21 - 23 & Rom. 10:11 - 13)2. "Eye for an eye" or "turn the other cheek"? (Ex. 21:22 - 25 & Matt. 5:38 - 42)3. Is God all-powerful or does He have limitations? (Judg. 1:18 - 19 & Matt. 19:23 - 26)Tune in to hear the answers for each of these!

Another week, another podcast episode! This week, Emily & Bethany chat about misconceptions many Christians have about women in the early church. They discuss three specific issues that are often brought up regarding women teaching, wifely submission, and more. Tune in to join the discussion!