Tag Archives: gospel

What Is Karmic Christianity? An Interview With E.D. Burns

In this eye-opening episode, we sit down with E.D. Burns, author of Karmic Christianity: Finding Peace by Faith Alone, to dissect the pitfalls of blending karma with Christian faith. Burns warns missionaries against the trap of treadmill living, where the focus shifts from God’s grace to human effort, leading to ministry burnout and a distortedContinue reading “What Is Karmic Christianity? An Interview With E.D. Burns”

Chad Vegas on the Clarity of the Gospel | Radius 2023

We speak often about the need to right methods. But missions also depends upon having the right message. In our first exclusive interview from the 2023 Radius Conference, Pastor Chad Vegas joins to discuss the vision behind their conference theme: the clear gospel. Also: Cloud of Witnesses is an upcoming podcast coming to the ABWEContinue reading “Chad Vegas on the Clarity of the Gospel | Radius 2023”

The Resurrection and Mission With Dr. Tim Bertolet

What does the resurrection of Jesus Christ mean for global missions? In this thought-provoking podcast, Tim Bertolet (Ph.D., University of Pretoria), initiatives strategist with ABWE, dives deep into the importance of the resurrection and its relationship with redemption, evangelism, and our future hope. With insightful analysis of key verses from 1 Corinthians, Romans, and Acts,Continue reading “The Resurrection and Mission With Dr. Tim Bertolet”

Seeds and Stars: Resting in Christ for Great Commission Service With E.D. Burns

Many modern evangelicals confuse God’s law with God’s grace, mistaking rules and best practices for the gospel itself. How can missionaries understand the difference between law and grace, and what impact can it have on their ministry? E.D. Burns returns to the show this week to discuss his upcoming book with Founders Press, Seeds andContinue reading “Seeds and Stars: Resting in Christ for Great Commission Service With E.D. Burns”

Josh McDowell: What Missionaries Need to Know About Apologetics

What do missionaries need to know about apologetics? Veteran author, speaker, and apologetics Josh McDowell reminds us about our commitment to defending truth—and sharing the evidence. Josh McDowell has been at the forefront of cultural trends and groundbreaking ministry for more than 58 years. He shares the essentials of the Christian faith in everyday languageContinue reading “Josh McDowell: What Missionaries Need to Know About Apologetics”

Is Obedience-Based Discipleship Biblical? Alex and Scott Discuss

What is obedience-based discipleship, and is it biblical? The issue isn’t as simple as it seems. This week, Alex and Scott discuss Alex’s article addressing the topic and explore all the related questions of law, gospel, and salvation by faith alone. Support this podcast and impact God’s mission. Want to ask a question or suggest aContinue reading “Is Obedience-Based Discipleship Biblical? Alex and Scott Discuss”

Why Every Christian Isn’t a Missionary: Conversations on When Everything Is Missions with Matthew Ellison and Denny Spitters

Not every Christian is a missionary, and not everything that parades itself as missional activity is. This sounds controversial—but should it? We ask Matthew Ellison and Denny Spitters, who discuss these issues in their latest book, Conversations on When Everything Is Missions, the follow-up to book to When Everything Is Missions. Hear our previous interviewContinue reading “Why Every Christian Isn’t a Missionary: Conversations on When Everything Is Missions with Matthew Ellison and Denny Spitters”

Mega Episode: Honor, Shame, and the Gospel With Chris Flanders

More and more missiologists are tired of talking about the gospel only in terms of guilt and innocence. This growing school of thought claims these concepts are “Western.” Writers like Roland Muller, Jayson Georges, and Jackson Wu say that honor and shame—not guilt and innocence—hold the keys to evangelism in Majority World cultures. Are theyContinue reading “Mega Episode: Honor, Shame, and the Gospel With Chris Flanders”

Was Adam a Missionary? Matthew Newkirk on the Creation Mandate and Missions

In Genesis, Adam was told to be fruitful, multiply, and take dominion of creation. He failed. Now, believers in Christ are called to spread the good news of Christ to the world. Are these two separate missions, or is the Great Commission a renewal of the original marching orders from Eden? Matthew Newkirk, author ofContinue reading “Was Adam a Missionary? Matthew Newkirk on the Creation Mandate and Missions”

Brooks Buser Answers: How Dare Missionaries Seek to Convert?

On August 8, 2020, a simple tweet by Brooks Buser, president of Radius International, ignited a firestorm of controversy: “Thank you for the prayers for Amdu people and team. By God’s grace, there are now members of that people group who are reconciled to God, who no longer have their sins counted against them.” Skeptics,Continue reading “Brooks Buser Answers: How Dare Missionaries Seek to Convert?”

Paul Davis: Why the Gospel Must Be ‘Preached’

In the missions community, we all believe the gospel must be spread. But there is increasing resistance to the idea of “preaching” or “proclaiming” the gospel with authority and simplicity. Why is that? ABWE President Paul Davis joins Scott and Alex this week to explain what is burdening him and what he’s seeing in the heart ofContinue reading “Paul Davis: Why the Gospel Must Be ‘Preached’”

Bonus Episode: The Government Shall Be Upon His Shoulder

The holidays are a time of quaint familiarity, but let’s be honest. We wax philosophical about the royal gifts the magi later bring the Christ-child, but we treat “King” mainly as an honorific title. We think, after all, this Boy grows up to be a controversial Jewish Rabbi, an inspiring religious figure, not a Caesar.Continue reading “Bonus Episode: The Government Shall Be Upon His Shoulder”

Are Honor and Shame the Keys to Cross-Cultural Evangelism?

In the West, we tend to think in terms of law, justice, guilt, and innocence. Our gospel presentation naturally picks up this flavor. But in many Eastern cultures, honor and shame are the dominant values—and in tribal contexts, it’s fear and power that take center stage. Has the Western church focused too much on aContinue reading “Are Honor and Shame the Keys to Cross-Cultural Evangelism?”

Rachel Jankovic on Identity, Christian Women, and the Mission Field of Motherhood

How are Christian women to respond to the onslaught of lies barraging them from the surrounding culture about who they are and the basis of their identity? And how is motherhood a “mission field” for the Christian woman? This week Rachel Jankovic, pastor’s daughter and author based in Moscow, Idaho, tackles these questions with whit,Continue reading “Rachel Jankovic on Identity, Christian Women, and the Mission Field of Motherhood”

Dean Inserra on How to Reach America’s Most-Underrated Mission Field

Christmas-and-Easter Christians. Mainline Protestants. Nominal Catholics. Bible-Belt believers. Let’s face it—cultural Christians are everywhere. And the problem is that we see cultural Christianity as a discipleship issue rather than an evangelistic field. In this enriching conversation, Dean Inserra expounds on his book The Unsaved Christian and the eight types of cultural Christians he identifies asContinue reading “Dean Inserra on How to Reach America’s Most-Underrated Mission Field”

What Is Gospel-Centered Missions?

What is the gospel? It’s a question missionaries can’t afford to take for granted. Specifically, what would a distinctly gospel-centered approach to missions look like, and how would it differ—or not differ—from forms of mission that focus heavily on meeting physical, tangible needs? What is the relationship between gospel proclamation and cultural engagement? Scott and AlexContinue reading “What Is Gospel-Centered Missions?”

Josh Daggett on Personal Evangelism and Prayer

We’ve all struggled to share our faith in one-on-one conversations. We also struggle with personal spiritual disciplines intimately connected to our effectiveness in evangelism—i.e., prayer. On this episode, Josh Daggett, lead pastor at Living Waters Fellowship in Des Moines, Iowa, shares his own encouragements, failures, and victories in these critical areas of ministry. We digContinue reading “Josh Daggett on Personal Evangelism and Prayer”

Jared C. Wilson: Why Missionaries Need the Gospel Too

Pastors and missionaries are supposed to be sharing the gospel, but inwardly, many believe that they’re justified by their own performance. In this episode, Jared C. Wilson—a “failed church planter” who “once made a mess of his marriage” (his words, not ours!) whose rediscovery of gospel-centeredness transformed his life and ministry—shares why missionaries need to beContinue reading “Jared C. Wilson: Why Missionaries Need the Gospel Too”

God’s Sovereignty, Human Responsibility, and Missions

Is Reformed theology antithetical to missions? Can Calvinists and Arminians partner together in gospel ministry? Today, Scott and Alex take a swing at these hotly-debated topics and provide answers from a biblical perspective recognizing that God’s sovereignty is fully compatible with the call to repent and believe the gospel—and how the fact that Christ hasContinue reading “God’s Sovereignty, Human Responsibility, and Missions”

The Kingdom of God and the Authority of the Great Commission

We speak so much of the “kingdom of God”—but what does that mean, and how does Jesus’ present reign in heaven impact our mission? These questions are often neglected, misunderstood, or purposefully avoided in American evangelicalism, and there’s lots of confusion about Christ’s return and the nature of his kingdom. But understanding Jesus’ present authorityContinue reading “The Kingdom of God and the Authority of the Great Commission”