Think Deeper

We talk a lot about ways to improve the church... but what should Christians do in the meantime?What if you're in a tough church situation and it seems it's not getting better any time soon? How do we examine what we want to see in the church while being okay with what it actually is? We discuss these questions in this week's episode. Chapters:00:00 - Intro, a message to the disgruntled06:30 - Three bad options when church is frustrating13:25 - The pride in constant criticism22:31 - Loving criticism vs. detached criticism33:44 - The myth of the ideal church41:55 - The place of patience in building up a better church45:37 - Practical issues: weak preaching, uncertain leadership, lackluster fellowship56:43 - Think Fast: disagreeing about the Red Baron Pizza man With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie Check out our sponsor at www.cobbpublishing.com Visit us at www.focuspress.org and www.jackwilkie.co Join us for the weekly Deep End bonus episode for supporters at focuspress.org/plus

This week we discuss gluttony, weight issues, and self-control. CHAPTERS:00:00 - Intro and outline06:43 - The question, and defining our terms14:46 - The steel man argument: navigating a tricky situation18:29 - The visible fruits of poor eating27:54 - Biblical considerations35:15 - Is it a sin to be overweight?41:52 - Why does the church avoid this subject?51:43 - Poor metabolism, insulin resistance, and avoiding excuses55:27 - Avoiding Gnosticism, and practical tips With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie Check out our sponsor at www.cobbpublishing.comVisit us at www.focuspress.org and www.jackwilkie.co  Become a supporter on our Patreon at www.focuspress.org/plus  Jack's article - https://jackwilkie.co/p/what-is-the-sin-of-gluttony  Our Godly Young Men episode on practical tips - https://youtu.be/anxVvUmHxTw?si=EEfIbGzfozryONpb 

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 on the cross? We'd love to hear your takes on Focus+, our YouTube channel, or the Focus Press Facebook page! With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie Check out our sponsor at www.cobbpublishing.comVisit us at www.focuspress.org and www.jackwilkie.co  You can support us and get the weekly Deep End episode and a huge library of Bible study material at www.focuspress.org/plus 

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 Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie Visit our sponsor at www.cobbpublishing.comVisit us at www.focuspress.org and www.jackwilkie.co Join Focus+ and get our huge library of content by going to www.focuspress.org/plus 

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 - How can churches discuss these issues? With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie Visit our sponsor at www.cobbpublishing.com Check us out at www.focuspress.org and www.jackwilkie.co  Join us for the weekly Deep End segment by supporting our Patreon - www.focuspress.org/plus