Have you ever wrestled with doubts about your faith? If so, then you are in good company. The Bible contains several stories of men and women of faith who also had seasons in which they struggled with doubts.
In this episode Dr. Ryken shares advice for those currently struggling with doubts, with the goal of also helping others to be equipped to help those around them to come to greater confidence in Jesus and a more vibrant faith.
Faith Under Pressure: How Wrestling Through Your Doubts Can Lead to Deeper Faith – with Dr. Philip Ryken –
Theology for the People
Have you ever wrestled with doubts about your faith? If so, then you are in good company. The Bible contains several stories of men and women of faith who also had seasons in which they struggled with doubts.
Dr. Philip Ryken is the President of Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois. He has a Doctorate in Philosophy from Oxford University, and he is the author of over 50 books. His latest book is called I Have My Doubts: How God Can Use Your Uncertainty to Reawaken Your Faith.
In this episode Dr. Ryken shares advice for those currently struggling with doubts, with the goal of also helping others to be equipped to help those around them to come to greater confidence in Jesus and a more vibrant faith.
Listen to Dr. Ryken's previous episode on Theology for the People: The Role of Beauty in Theology
Visit the Theology for the People website at nickcady.org
Leadership is a very popular topic in modern business discussions, but what does the Bible have to say about leadership? And is there a difference between the vision for leadership given in the Bible versus that which comes from the world?
In this episode of the Theology for the People Podcast, I speak with John Currie, who is professor of pastoral theology at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He has also served as a pastor in different churches and denominations, and in these roles, he has seen that sometimes pastors thrive in preaching, but struggle with leadership, or vice versa.
Leadership is a very popular topic in modern business discussions, but what does the Bible have to say about leadership? And is there a difference between the vision for leadership given in the Bible versus that which comes from the world?
John Currie is professor of pastoral theology at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He has also served as a pastor in different churches and denominations, and in these roles, he has seen that sometimes pastors thrive in preaching, but struggle with leadership, or vice versa.
In his recent book, The Pastor as Leader: Principles and Practices for Connecting Preaching and Leadership, John gives a biblical vision for a uniquely Christian approach to leadership.
Cameron Cole experienced every parent’s worst nightmare: they put their son to bed one night, and in the morning they awoke to find that he had died in his sleep. However, the message of the Gospel, is that their son did indeed wake up — in a greater and more profound way: he awoke to eternal life with Jesus, his Savior.
In the wake of his son’s death, Cameron did a deep dive into the passages in the New Testament where Paul the Apostle writes about Heaven and eternal life. That study gave birth to his recent book, Heavenward: How Eternity Can Change Your Life on Earth.
In this episode of the Theology for the People Podcast, I speak with Cameron about what he learned through this experience, and how it made him more heavenly minded. Cameron also shares about how to the hope of eternal life ought to shape the way we live here and now.
Cameron’s ministry, Rooted, seeks to equip parents and churches to disciple children and students towards lifelong faith in Jesus Christ.
Cultivating a Heavenward Mindset in an Epicurean World – with Cameron Cole –
Theology for the People
Cameron Cole experienced every parent’s worst nightmare: they put their son to bed one night, and in the morning they awoke to find that he had died in his sleep.
However, the message of the Gospel, is that their son did indeed wake up in a greater and more profound way: he awoke to eternal life with Jesus, his Savior.
In the wake of his son’s death, Cameron did a deep dive into the passages in the New Testament where Paul the Apostle writes about Heaven and Eternal Life. That study gave birth to his recent book, Heavenward: How Eternity Can Change Your Life on Earth. In our discussion, Cameron shares what he learned through this experience, and how it made him more heavenly minded. Cameron also shares about how to the hope of eternal life ought to shape the way we live here and now.
Check out Cameron’s ministry: Rooted, which seeks to equip parents and churches to disciple children and students towards lifelong faith in Jesus Christ.
Visit the Theology for the People website at nickcady.org
Is baptism a requirement for salvation? There are some Christian groups who say that it is and others who say it isn’t.
In this episode of the Theology for the People Podcast, I am joined by Pastor Stephen Pomeroy of White Fields Community Church, and we look at the Bible verses and arguments which are central to the debate over “baptismal regeneration,” and aim to show you why we believe that every Christian should be baptized, but that, as Christians, we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
Is baptism a requirement for salvation? There are some Christian groups who say that it is, and others who say it isn’t.
In this episode of Theology for the People, I am joined by Pastor Stephen Pomeroy from White Fields Community Church, and we look at the Bible verses and arguments which are central to the debate over “baptismal regeneration.”
We aim to show you why we believe every Christian should be baptized, but that, as Christians, we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
Visit the Theology for the People website at nickcady.org
Do you know what sex robots, racism, and gender identity all have in common? In addition to being topics that are discussed in this episode of the Theology for the People Podcast, these topics are all related to the subject of Theological (or Biblical) Anthropology.
My guest in this episode is Michael Payne. Mike is the Worship Pastor at White Fields Community Church, and he is a graduate student at Western Seminary, where he is pursing a Masters in Theology.
In this episode we talk about what Biblical Anthropology is and how it shapes the way we understand ourselves and others, as well as how our view of anthropology shapes the way we live and interact in the world.
Theological Anthropology: What is It, and How Does It Shape Our Understanding of Ourselves & Others? – with Michael Payne –
Theology for the People
Do you know what sex robots, racism, and gender identity all have in common? In addition to being topics that are discussed in this episode, these topics are all related to the subject of Theological (or Biblical) Anthropology.
My guest in this episode is Michael Payne. Mike is the Worship Pastor at White Fields Community Church, and he is a graduate student at Western Seminary, where he is pursing a Masters in Theology.
In this episode we talk about what Biblical Anthropology is and how it shapes the way we understand ourselves and others, as well as how our view of anthropology shapes the way we live and interact in the world.
Check out Michael's music on Spotify here.
Visit the Theology for the People website at nickcady.org
What role should creeds and confessions play in the life of a Christian or of a church? If we have the Bible, then why are creeds and confessions necessary at all?
In this episode of the Theology for the People Podcast, I speak with Dr. Carl Trueman. Dr. Trueman is the professor of biblical and religious studies at Grove City College. He is an esteemed church historian, and a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center.
Clarity is Kindness: Why Creeds and Confessions are Helpful for Transmitting and Protecting the Faith – with Carl Trueman –
Theology for the People
What role should creeds and confessions play in the life of a Christian or of a church? If we have the Bible, then why are creeds and confessions necessary at all?
Dr. Carl Trueman is the professor of biblical and religious studies at Grove City College. He is an esteemed church historian, and a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center.
Dr. Trueman’s recent book Crisis of Confidence: Reclaiming the Historic Faith in a Culture Consumed with Individualism and Identity addresses the claim that we, as Christians, need no creed but the Bible, and makes an appeal from history, reason, and Scripture for what he calls “confessional evangelicalism.”
Visit the Theology for the People website at nickcady.org
Spiritual disciplines are intentional, repeated practices which help you to grow in relationship with God.
In this episode of the Theology for the People Podcast, I speak with my friend and colleague, Mike Neglia about his practice of journaling, and how it has benefited him spiritually.
Almost 6 years ago, Mike handed me a Field Notes notebook at a coffee shop in Estes Park. He told me to keep it in my pocket, and he said it would change my life. It took me an entire year to use up that first notebook, but since then writing and journaling in notebooks has become a regular part of my everyday life, and Mike was right: it has changed my life!
In this episode, Mike and I talk about the practice of taking notes in church, the value of different types of notebooks, and other tactile things we can do, which will help us grow in our faith.
Together, Mike and I serve on the Executive Team of Calvary Global Network, and we are both leaders in the Expositors Collective initiative to raise up the next generation of Christ-Centered Expository Bible Teachers.
Expositors Collective will be offering an in-person two-day training weekend in the Bay Area of California on May 24-25, 2024. You can find more information and register here.
Habits of Grace which Lead to Growth: the Benefits of Journaling & Other Spiritual Disciplines – with Mike Neglia –
Theology for the People
Spiritual disciplines are intentional, repeated practices which help you to grow in relationship with God.
In this episode, I speak with my friend and colleague, Mike Neglia about his practice of journaling, and how it has benefited him spiritually.
We also talk about the practice of taking notes in church, the value of different types of notebooks, and other tactile things we can do, which will help us grow in our faith.
Mike is the pastor of Calvary Cork, in Cork City, Ireland, and he is the host of the very popular Expositors Collective Podcast.
Together, Mike and I serve on the Executive Team of Calvary Global Network, and we are both leaders in the Expositors Collective initiative to raise up the next generation of Christ-centered expository Bible teachers.
Visit the Theology for the People website at nickcady.org
Mike also recently spoke at White Fields Church, and you can watch his message here:
I first met Wendy and her husband Danny back when I lived in Hungary, and they were studying at Bible College. Since that time, they have moved to a city in Central Serbia called Kragujevac, and they have planted a church there. I recently got to visit Wendy and Danny and see their church, and I’m excited to introduce you to them, and for you to hear more about God’s work in Serbia, and in their lives.
Wendy recently wrote a book about her experiences of stepping into unknown, both in Serbia and in Central Asia, where she spent time earlier. The book is called: Hard Is Only Half the Story: Real Adventures from My Journey into the Unknown. In this book, Wendy talks about the important role that taking steps of faith plays in our spiritual growth, and our relationship with God.
In our conversation, we talk about what it’s like to live as a missionary in Serbia, what makes Serbia unique, and some of the ways that taking steps of faith in obedience to God shapes us and helps us grow.
Hard is Only Half the Story: The Role of Taking Steps of Faith in Spiritual Growth – with Wendy Zahorjanski –
Theology for the People
Taking a step into the unknown can be scary, and yet, when led by God, it can lead to incredible spiritual growth and benefits for your life.
Wendy Zahorjanski is a missionary in Serbia with her husband, Danny, in the city of Kragujevac, where they planted a church.
Wendy recently wrote a book about her experiences stepping into unknown, and she talks about the important role that taking steps of faith plays in our spiritual growth and relationship with God.
Several groups have told me that that they have used the book for group studies, for small groups at their church and for youth groups. One person told me about a lunchtime study group she started at her workplace using the book.
Study Guide Coming Soon
To help those who want to use the book for group studies, I am currently writing a Group Study Guide resource to be a companion to the book, and I’m doing it by teaching the youth group at our church, White Fields Community Church. I’ve had some great help in creating the content from some of the excellent leaders at White Fields.
When the guide comes out, each session will include a group activity, a synopsis, and several study questions which correspond to the content of each chapter. Additionally, we are planning to create a series of videos which can be watched along with the study guide, for groups to use.
That study guide should be coming out in early 2023.
New book in the works
Additionally, I am working on another book called, So That You May Believe, which will be based on the evidence given in the Gospel of John about who Jesus is, and why you should believe in him.
Since my first book was The God I Won’t Believe In, hopefully this next book will be a good follow-up or companion, showing people the evidence for who Jesus is and why he came, So That You May Believe.
I hope to be able to release that book by the end of 2023.
In his 1986 book, Power Evangelism, John Wimber suggested that when people see miracles, they are more inclined to believe in Jesus and embrace the gospel.
But is that true? Is that actually what we see in the Bible?
There are verses like John 2:11, where it says that Jesus’ disciples, having seen the first of his signs by which he manifested his glory, believed in him. Furthermore, at the end of the Gospel of John, John says that he has told us about these particular signs that Jesus performed, so that we may believe in him.
However, another common theme in the Gospel of John is that many people in Jesus’ time saw him perform miracles, and although they were fascinated with and captivated by seeing miracles, it did not translate into genuine faith and devotion to Jesus.
Regarding the disciples and the verse in John 2:11 that they believed in Him after they saw the sign he performed, it should be remembered that at this point they were already his disciples – which means they already believed in him. What this miracle did was cause them to believe in a deeper way. It solidified their belief, in other words.
Something that always strikes me, is the fact that Jesus fed over 5000 people (on two occasions!), thousands of others saw him perform miracles, yet on the Day of Pentecost, there were only 120 committed followers in the upper room.
The question that must be asked is: WHY did Jesus perform miracles? Was it an evangelistic strategy (as Wimber supposes), or was it because those miracles were signs, pointing to something beyond themselves (as John tells us in his gospel)?
It would seem that if miracles were Jesus’ evangelistic strategy, they weren’t very effective in producing lasting, genuine faith. A good example is found in John 4, where there is a contrast made between the Samaritans, who believed in Jesus because of his word (John 4:41) – even though they never saw a miracle, and the Galileans, whom Jesus chastised because they were only willing to believe if they saw signs and wonders (John 4:48).
The message is that faith, rather than coming from seeing miracles, comes from hearing the Word of God and believing. This same message is repeated at the end of John’s Gospel in John 20:29, where Jesus tells Thomas: “Have you believed because you have seen? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
In a recent Sermon Extra, Michael and I discussed signs and wonders, whether miracles produce genuine faith:
Theology for the People 