America is divided on many issues including the “refugee crisis.” The real question is: How should we as Christians respond to this global crisis when it comes into our own cities, towns and villages? Shaun LePage discusses the issue with Rich Casebolt, founder of RefugeKC which "exists to welcome refugees as our new-American neighbors with Gospel-focused ministries of mercy so they might know, love and follow Jesus into His Kingdom."
What does it mean to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength”? Before we can answer this question, we have to answer another one.In this conversation, the Calvary Conversations team explores this “foremost commandment” from the Law textually. In other words, Matthew, Mark and Luke all record a similar passage, but there are some differences that need to be explored. So, the question that has to be answered first, is why? Why are there differences between these writers? This raises other questions that can’t be ignored: Are these errors in the text? Can we trust that these writers documented the actual words of Jesus? ____________________Join the conversationCalvary UniversityWatch on YouTube
Contemporary Christian Music is huge! It has impacted the lives of millions of people. At the same time, there are some problems with some of the messages in some lyrics. Music has an ability to evoke emotions while bypassing the intellect, so many may not be using critical thinking skills while listening. No one is suggesting we should stop listening, but is all Christian music Christian? Calvary University’s Dr. Joshua Paxton invited Calvary University music students, Nathan Smith and Declan Killeen to discuss this important issue. ____________________ Join the conversation Calvary University Watch on YouTube
How should we respond to seemingly hopeless situations? Who can we turn to for help, for guidance, for deliverance? The Bible book Ruth is about two women, and a nation, facing seemingly hopeless situations! And yet God had been working providentially behind the scenes to provide for them and to work out His will through them—despite the seemingly hopeless situations they faced! Calvary University’s Dr. Mike Dodds invited author Dianna Penner to discuss this important topic. Penner is the author of Ruth – Building on the Firm Foundation, recently published by CU Press. Her book is a personal and group Bible study guide for learning how to build our response to life’s hopeless situations on the foundation of God’s covenant love. ____________________ Join the conversation Calvary University Watch on YouTube
Is all worship good? Are some forms of worship superior to others? Does it matter? What distinguishes mundane, everyday worship from vibrant worship? Is it the music style? Spontaneity? Liturgy? Dr. Joshua Paxton—one of the hosts of Calvary Conversations—invited Pastor Greg Washington, pastor of Abiding Faith Baptist Church and Mission in Raytown, Missouri, to discuss worship and some of the misconceptions around modern expressions of worship. ____________________ Join the conversation Calvary University Watch on YouTube
An “evangelical” is a “good news proclaimer”! It’s a perfectly good word to describe those who take the Bible seriously and desire to “proclaim the good news” of Jesus Christ. But, in recent times, it has become politicized—evangelicals are now thought of by many as a voting bloc. So, many who would have at one time embraced the label “evangelical” now consider it an outdated word that has obscured the true mission and message of God's people. What do you think? In this Calvary Conversation, Calvary’s Shaun LePage, will lead the Calvary Conversations team—Drs. Tim Hange, Josh Paxton and Mike Dodds—to explore the question of whether evangelicals should give up their “activism” and mind their own business. ____________________ Join the conversation Calvary University Watch on YouTube
Does everyone need to be converted to Christianity? Evangelicals say yes. It’s called “Conversionism”: the belief that lives need to be transformed thorough a “born-again” experience through faith in Jesus Christ. But not everyone is excited about this belief. It assumes everyone is a sinner—we’re not okay the way we are. Dr. Joshua Paxton leads the Calvary Conversations team—Dr. Mike Dodds, Dr. Timothy Hange and Shaun LePage—in a conversation about this distinctive of Evangelicals listed by historian David Bebbington. How shall Christians be “evangelical” in a world that can easily be offended by conversionism? ____________________ Join the conversation Calvary University Watch on YouTube
Is the Old Testament for us today? Is everything in it for Christians living in the 21st Century? If we fail to study the Old Testament, what might we be missing? What might we be getting wrong? Calvary’s Dr. Mike Dodds invited Joel Williamson, professor of Hebrew and Old Testament studies at Calvary University, for a conversation about the importance of studying the Old Testament today. ____________________ Join the conversation Calvary University Watch on YouTube
The cross is an unusual choice for the symbol of a religion. It shows that the death of Jesus is one of the key beliefs of Christians—evangelicals in particular. But many today are asking whether we got it right—was Jesus our substitute? Was His death an atonement which satisfied the wrath of God? Some say this is akin to “cosmic child abuse.” Dr. Tim Hange led a conversation with the Calvary Conversations Team—Dr. Mike Dodds, Dr. Joshua Paxton and Prof. Shaun LePage—about what is technically labeled as “crucicentrism.” Is the cross truly central to the Christian faith? Join us as we explore this important question, and we invite you to participate in the conversation using the links below. ____________________ Join the conversation Calvary University Watch on YouTube
Your host, Joshua Paxton, had a conversation with Adrion Roberson about urban leadership challenges and racial and cultural issues. Adrion is Calvary alumnus and is on the core leadership team of the Kansas Leadership Center, pastor of the Berean Fellowship Church in Kansas City and founder of KC United! Youth Sports & Education Initiative in the urban metro KC area.
First ever Calvary Conversations. Meet the hosts and hear about the purpose of this podcast. Calvary Conversations is a ministry of Calvary University, 15800 Calvary Road, Kansas City, MO, 64147, calvary.edu.
Computer technology is a given part of our lives. We cannot live our modern lives without interacting with it. But we must be aware of the negative ideas some who see the world from other than the biblical worldview intend for AI. How can we protect ourselves from those negative uses of AI? How might AI be used in the fulfillment of the biblical prophecies surrounding Jesus’ Second Coming? Calvary University's Mike Dodds invited Dr. Richard Schmidt of Prophecy Focus Ministries to have a conversation about Artificial Intelligence (AI), which is also the title of his most recent book Artificial Intelligence: Transhumanism & The De-Evolution of Democracy.___________________________MORE INFO: Dr. Schmidt's Ministry: Prophecy Focus Ministries Book via VCY.orgBook via Amazon Join the conversationCalvary UniversityWatch on YouTube
What's the difference between someone who is "unreached" and someone who is unsaved? Why should we care and what should we do about it? How many people groups are considered "unreached"? Calvary University's Dr. Joshua Paxton invited Jeff McLinden, Executive Director of The Alliance for the Unreached, to discuss this important subject as well as the upcoming "International Day for the Unreached." ____________________Join the conversationCalvary UniversityWatch on YouTubeMORE INFO: Alliance for the Unreached
What’s love got to do with it? Why is love so central to the ministry of Jesus and the Christian, biblical worldview? When Jesus was asked what was the foremost commandment in the Law, He responded with Deuteronomy 6:5, “And you shall love the Lord your God…” Why? Why is this the foremost commandment? Why does it “sum up the Law and the Prophets”? In this conversation, the Calvary Conversations team begins a multi-episode conversation about what it means to love God with all we are—heart, mind, soul and strength. ____________________Join the conversationCalvary UniversityWatch on YouTube
Christians instinctively know that we should speak out on the moral issues of our time. But it’s not always easy to discern what is a wise approach for wading into politics. Which political issues are moral issues and which are not? How should Christian citizens respond to corrupt governments? Should pastors address political issues from the pulpit? Calvary’s Dr. Mike Dodds led a discussion with the Calvary Conversations team—Shaun LePage, Dr. Joshua Paxton and Dr. Tim Hange—to address these questions and more. ____________________ Join the conversation Calvary University Watch on YouTube
The challenges of local church leadership are as old as the church itself. Financial and resource problems, relational problems, unrealistic expectations and numerous other problems are the cause of numerous pastors walking away from the ministry. What can be done? Calvary’s Dr. Joshua Paxton invited Dr. David Deets of the Institute for Biblical Leadership to address this issue and offer advice to pastors who desire to preserve long term. ____________________ Join the conversation Calvary University Watch on YouTube
Some people love it! They say “The Chosen” has changed their lives. Others criticize it, call it heretical and blasphemous! Which is it? Is “The Chosen” a faith-building, uplifting, inspirational work of art or is it an unhelpful reimagining of the gospel story? Calvary University’s Dr. Tim Hange invited Prof. Shaun LePage, Dr. Josh Paxton and Dr. Mike Dodds to explore the value of the popular but controversial television series “The Chosen” and whether it is worth watching. Join us for this conversation and be sure to start your own conversation about this important, Christ-related theme. ____________________ Join the conversation Calvary University Watch on YouTube
The popular television series “The Chosen” has presented Christians with a dilemma: Is it wrong or confusing to speculate about what Jesus may have looked like? Is a visual depiction of Jesus the same thing as creating idols? Or, is it wrong to imagine what conversations—outside the text of the Bible—Jesus may have had with His disciples? Is it adding to Scripture? Calvary University’s Dr. Tim Hange led the Calvary Conversations team—Dr. Joshua Paxton, Dr. Mike Dodds and Shaun LePage—in a conversation exploring these questions. ____________________ Join the conversation Calvary University Watch on YouTube
In the recent Super Bowl ads entitled “He Gets Us!” we’re told that “Jesus didn’t teach hate. He washed feet.” Certainly He didn’t teach hate. But did He really wash feet? Did He wash everyone’s feet? Is the symbolism of foot-washing appropriate for thinking about what Jesus wants to do in our lives today? Does this imagery help or hinder engaging a post-Christian culture with the gospel today? Join the “Calvary Conversations” team—Dr. Mike Dodds, Dr. Tim Hange, Dr. Joshua Paxton and Shaun LePage—as they explore these questions and others raised by the “He Gets Us” campaign, as well as some practical ideas for how to engage a post-Christian culture with the gospel message. ____________________ Join the conversation Calvary University Watch on YouTube
The recent Super Bowl ads proclaimed, “He gets us!” What does it mean that Jesus “gets us”? Is that true? Is that the right message? The gospel message? Is it too short? Is it a distortion of the gospel? Is this an appropriate method for sparking conversation about Jesus? Calvary University’s “Calvary Conversations” team discussed and debated the value and shortcomings of the “He Gets Us” ad campaign as well as some ways Christians can engage a post-Christian culture with the gospel message. ____________________ Join the conversation Calvary University Watch on YouTube