Month: June 2025

Scrolling Ourselves to Death: Discipleship in the Digital Age – with Brett McCracken

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What does it mean to follow Jesus in an age of constant distraction and digital overload?

In this episode of the Theology for the People Podcast, I am joined by Brett McCracken — senior editor at The Gospel Coalition and editor of the new book Scrolling Ourselves to Death: Reclaiming Life in a Digital Age.

Drawing inspiration from Neil Postman’s classic Amusing Ourselves to Death, this conversation explores how modern technology is shaping our souls, eroding our attention, and forming a plausibility structure that makes it harder to believe in transcendent truth.

Brett and I discuss:

  • How social media is forming us spiritually
  • The dangers of disembodied discipleship
  • Why embodied church gatherings still matter
  • How the internet fosters epistemological chaos
  • Practical ways churches and families can reclaim real life in the digital age

I hope this episode will challenge and encourage you to think more deeply about how you engage with technology.

Follow Theology for the People on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@theologyforthepeople

Click here to listen to the episode, or listen in the embedded player below.

Scrolling Ourselves to Death: Discipleship in the Digital Age – with Brett McCracken – Theology for the People

What does it mean to follow Jesus in an age of constant distraction and digital overload?In this episode of Theology for the People, Nick Cady is joined by Brett McCracken — senior editor at The Gospel Coalition and editor of the new book Scrolling Ourselves to Death. Drawing inspiration from Neil Postman’s classic Amusing Ourselves to Death, this conversation explores how modern technology is shaping our souls, eroding our attention, and forming a plausibility structure that makes it harder to believe in transcendent truth.They discuss:How social media is forming us spirituallyThe dangers of disembodied discipleshipWhy embodied church gatherings still matterHow the internet fosters epistemological chaosPractical ways churches and families can reclaim real life in the digital ageWhether you’re a pastor, parent, or just a thoughtful Christian navigating life with a smartphone, this episode will challenge and encourage you to think more deeply about how you engage with technology.📘 Get the book Scrolling Ourselves to DeathVisit TheologyForThePeople.com

I have recently started posting more on the Theology for the People YouTube channel. You can watch this interview on video here:

How God’s Grace Meets Us at Rock Bottom: Ray Ortlund on Isaiah 57:15

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In this episode of the Theology for the People Podcast, I am joined by pastor and author Ray Ortlund Jr. to talk about how God’s grace meets us in our lowest moments.

Ray  is the president of Renewal Ministries, and the pastor to pastors at Immanuel Church in Nashville. He is an Old Testament scholar, has taught as a professor, and was a contributor to the ESV Study Bible.

Expositing Isaiah 57:15 and drawing from his own personal experiences of betrayal, regret, loneliness, and loss, Ray explains how the gospel offers real hope for crushed and broken people.

Topics include:
• How to heal from betrayal
• What to do when you’re trapped by your own sin
• Why loneliness is a spiritual crisis
• How the doctrine of justification by faith brings healing
• What it means to die well — and live in light of resurrection

This conversation is filled with biblical encouragement for anyone struggling or walking alongside those who are.

Find Ray’s book here: Good News at Rock Bottom: Finding God When the Pain Goes Deep and Hope Seems Lost

Follow Theology for the People on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@theologyforthepeople

Click here to listen to the episode, or listen in the embedded player below.

How God's Grace Meets Us at Rock Bottom: Ray Ortlund on Isaiah 57:15 – Theology for the People

In this episode, Nick Cady is joined by pastor and author Ray Ortlund Jr. to talk about how God's grace meets us in our lowest moments.Ray  is the president of Renewal Ministries, and the pastor to pastors at Immanuel Church in Nashville. He is an Old Testament scholar, has taught as a professor, and was a contributor to the ESV Study Bible.Drawing from Isaiah 57:15 and Ray’s personal experiences of betrayal, regret, loneliness, and loss, they explore how the gospel offers real hope for crushed and broken people.Topics include:How to heal from betrayalWhat to do when you’re trapped by your own sinWhy loneliness is a spiritual crisisHow the doctrine of justification by faith brings healingWhat it means to die well — and live in light of resurrectionThis conversation is filled with biblical encouragement for anyone struggling or walking alongside those who are.Find Ray's book here: Good News at Rock Bottom: Finding God When the Pain Goes Deep and Hope Seems LostCheck out the Theology for the People website at theologyforthepeople.com

I have also started posting more on the Theology for the People YouTube channel. You can watch this interview on video here:

Reader Questions: What Will Be the Work of the Holy Spirit in Eternity?

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There is a page on this site where readers can submit questions or suggest topics. Recently I received the following question:

Both God the Father and the Son have distinct and obvious eternal roles that we see in the Bible, but as I was thinking through the role of the Holy Spirit in eternity, I couldn’t come up with anything concrete.

Could you give a brief overview of the role of the Holy Spirit in eternity?

Great question! I would begin by stating, that from God’s perspective, eternity is not a future reality, but an ongoing reality. Jesus said (speaking to the Father): “this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3) In other words, eternity is the continuation of what has already been ongoing for eternity past. For that reason, there are many things about the Holy Spirit which will not change, but, there are some that will.

I laid out the distinction between the “ontological Trinity” (who the members of the Trinity are) and the “economic Trinity” (what the members of the Trinity do) in this post, which is worth checking out: The Trinity: Ontological & Economic

What will not change

For eternity, the Holy Spirit will continue to be the third person of the Trinity—fully God, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Son.

Furthermore, the Spirit, who now dwells in believers as a guarantee of our inheritance (Ephesians 1:13–14), will continue to indwell God’s people, enabling perfect love, worship, and joy in the presence of the Triune God.

What will change

Some of the roles of the Spirit in the present age include:

  • Conviction of sin and the need for a savior
  • Empowerment for mission and fulfilling God’s callings
  • Sanctification of believers

In eternity, these roles will not continue, because they will no longer be needed. However, the indwelling Spirit will continue to unite the redeemed, not only with one another, but also with the Father and Son as we are brought into the eternal communion of the Godhead in a greater way than we experience now here on Earth.

Unlocking Scripture: Six Keys for Faithful Bible Interpretation – with Jon Nielson

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Everyone who reads the Bible engages in interpretation whether they realize it or not – so how do we do it faithfully and well?

In this episode, Pastor Jon Nielsen of Christ Presbyterian Church in Wheaton, Illinois joins to discuss his latest book, Understanding God’s Word, the third installment in his Theology Basics series. 

John shares his background in ministry, from campus work at Princeton to serving in Wheaton, and unpacks the essentials of biblical hermeneutics. 

He introduces six key tools—Context, Construction, Christ, Clarity, Courtroom, and Crux—for interpreting and applying Scripture faithfully. We also explore common mistakes in Bible study, the doctrine of the clarity of Scripture, and how believers can approach God’s Word with confidence.

Follow Theology for the People on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@theologyforthepeople

Click here to listen to the episode, or listen in the embedded player below.

Unlocking Scripture: Six Keys for Faithful Bible Interpretation – with Jon Nielson – Theology for the People

Everyone who reads the Bible engages in interpretation whether they realize it or not – so how do we do it faithfully and well?In this episode, Pastor Jon Nielsen of Christ Presbyterian Church in Wheaton, IL joins to discuss his latest book, Understanding God's Word, the third installment in his Theology Basics series. John shares his background in ministry, from campus work at Princeton to serving in Wheaton, and unpacks the essentials of biblical hermeneutics. He introduces six key tools—Context, Construction, Christ, Clarity, Courtroom, and Crux—for interpreting and applying Scripture faithfully. We also explore common mistakes in Bible study, the doctrine of the clarity of Scripture, and how believers can approach God’s Word with confidence.Follow Theology for the People on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theologyforthepeople

I have also started posting more on the Theology for the People YouTube channel. You can watch this interview on video here:

Why Epistemology Matters More than Ever – with Miles DeBenedictis

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In this episode of the Theology for the People Podcast, I am joined by Pastor Miles DiBenedictus of ⁠Cross Connection Church⁠ in Escondido, California.

Miles is a PhD student at Southern Seminary studying AI ethics, and in this discussion, they explore the topic of epistemology: what it is, why it matters, and how it affects everything from how we read the Bible to how we navigate truth in a world of misinformation and digital confusion. 

Whether you’re new to the term or already intrigued by philosophy, this conversation will help you think more clearly about how we know what we know—and why that matters for following Jesus today.

Click here to listen to the episode, or listen in the embedded player below.

Why Epistemology Matters More Than Ever – with Miles DeBenedictis – Theology for the People

In this episode, Pastor Nick Cady interviews Pastor Miles DiBenedictus of Cross Connection Church in Escondido, California.Miles is a PhD student at Southern Seminary studying AI ethics, and in this discussion, they explore the topic of epistemology: what it is, why it matters, and how it affects everything from how we read the Bible to how we navigate truth in a world of misinformation and digital confusion. Whether you're new to the term or already intrigued by philosophy, this conversation will help you think more clearly about how we know what we know—and why that matters for following Jesus today.Follow Miles on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@pastormilesVisit Miles' website: https://pastormiles.com/

I have also started posting more on the Theology for the People YouTube channel. You can watch this interview on video here:

After Chalcedon: The Role of Early Church Councils for Evangelicals Today – with Matt Pursely

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What is the enduring legacy of the early church councils, and what role should they play in the lives of Bible-believing Christians today?

In this episode of the Theology for the People Podcast, I am joined once again by Matt Pursely, Executive Pastor at Park Hill Church in San Diego, California and graduate of Westminster Theological Seminary with a focus on Historical Theology, to discuss what happened after the Council of Chalcedon (451 AD), and why it matters for believers today.

We also discuss the views of William Lane Craig, who holds to a Neo-Apolinarian Christology which many see as being in conflict with Chalcedon. We explain his view, and how other early councils, such as Constantinople III, speak to it.

We also explain the importance of the debate over monothylitism and dyathelitism and the question of impeccability vs. peccability and whether Jesus was truly tempted internally or if his temptations were merely external.

Click here to listen to the episode, or listen in the embedded player below.

After Chalcedon: The Role of the Early Church Councils for Evangelicals Today – with Matt Pursely – Theology for the People

What is the enduring legacy of the early church councils, and what role should they play in the lives of Bible-believing Christians today?In this episode, host Nick Cady is joined again by Matt Pursely, Executive Pastor at Park Hill Church in San Diego, California and graduate of Westminster Theological Seminary with a focus on Historical Theology, to discuss what happened after Chalcedon, and why it matters for believers today.We also discuss the views of William Lane Craig, who holds to a Neo-Apolinarian Christology which some see as being in conflict with Chalcedon. We explain what this view is, and how other early councils, such as Constantinople III speak to it. We also explain the importance of the debate over monothylitism and dyathelitism and the question of impeccability vs. peccability and whether Jesus was truly tempted internally or if his temptations were merely external. Subscribe to the Theology for the People YouTube Channel here.Visit the Theology for the People website here.

I have also started posting more on the Theology for the People YouTube channel. You can watch this interview on video here: