Listening In

In this stand alone special edition of Listening In, host Warren Smith talks with Christian actor Max McLean. He is the founder of Fellowship for Performing Arts, a New York City-based company that produces live theater and film from a Christian worldview. McClean is the unmistakable voice of several popular audio versions of the Bible, including the English Standard Version, the New International Version, and the King James Version. He is also well known for his stage adaptations of the works of C.S. Lewis. In 2021 he turned Surprised by Joy into a successful film production as COVID restrictions kept him from performing live. He is currently touring the country with his stage production: Further Up And Further In! Learn more at Fellowship for Performing Arts.Listening In is a listener supported program produced by WORLD Radio. To hear past interviews, visit our archives here. You can also subscribe to the Listening In podcast at: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/listening-in/id800844888

Communicating biblical truth to a post-modern culture is no easy task. But Christopher Watkin, author of the new book, Biblical Critical Theory, not only understands the post-modern mindset, but also how to communicate what he calls the "unique treasures" the Bible offers for rightly interpreting the world in which we live. Christopher Watkin has a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge and is associate professor of French studies at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. Listening In is a listener supported program produced by WORLD Radio. Additional support comes from Summit Ministries. Now We Live invites and equips Christians to propel faith into action. This free, worldview Bible study will spark rich discussions about some of life’s most foundational questions. These six videos from Summit Ministries offer life-on-life discipleship for churches, small groups, and families. Get free access today at summit.org.

In this second part of Warren Smith's conversation with Rick Warren, the two men chat as they walk through Rick Warren's substantial library at the Rick and Kay Warren Foundation headquarters, in Orange County, California.Listening In is a listener supported program produced by WORLD Radio.Additional support comes from Summit Ministries. Now We Live invites and equips Christians to propel faith into action. This free, worldview Bible study will spark rich discussions about some of life’s most foundational questions. These six videos from Summit Ministries offer life-on-life discipleship for churches, small groups, and families. Get free access today at summit.org.

Rick Warren’s 2002 book The Purpose Driven Life sold more than 50-million copies, making it one of the best-selling books of all time. He was an adviser to George W. Bush, and he delivered the invocation prayer at Barack Obama’s inauguration. Time, Newsweek, and U.S. News and World Report have all named him to their lists of the most influential people in the world. After more than 40 years as pastor of Saddleback Church, he is retiring. Warren Smith recently spent an afternoon with Rick Warren to talk about this milestone and his life of ministry.Listening In is a listener supported program produced by WORLD Radio. Additional support comes from Summit Ministries. Now We Live invites and equips Christians to propel faith into action. This free, worldview Bible study will spark rich discussions about some of life’s most foundational questions. These six videos from Summit Ministries offer life-on-life discipleship for churches, small groups, and families. Get free access today at summit.org.

Very few things are harder for a Christian to do than forgive. Yet there is nothing more countercultural today than loving our enemies, and praying for those who spitefully use us. In this conversation with Warren Smith, Tim Keller talks about his newest book: Forgive: Why Should I and How Can I? Keller builds on decades of pastoral counseling and Christian experience as he expounds on what the Bible says about forgiveness--helping believers find healing while not ignoring God's justice. Tim Keller is a best selling author, founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, and co-founder of the Gospel Coalition.Listening In is a listener supported program produced by WORLD Radio. Additional support comes from Summit Ministries. Now We Live invites and equips Christians to propel faith into action. This free, worldview Bible study will spark rich discussions about some of life’s most foundational questions. These six videos from Summit Ministries offer life-on-life discipleship for churches, small groups, and families. Get free access today at summit.org.

Irish singer and songwriter Keith Getty is best known for the hymn “In Christ Alone,” but he is much more than a songwriter. The Gettys annual “Sing” conferences, held in Nashville, have become “must attend” events for worship leaders. In this interview with Warren Smith, Keith Getty talks about his newest recording project Christ Our Hope in Life and Death. Plus he discusses his vision of building a strong community of worship leaders that seeks to bring both excellent musicianship, sound theology to the worship experience.Listening In is a listener supported program produced by WORLD Radio. Additional support comes from Summit Ministries. Now We Live invites and equips Christians to propel faith into action. This free, worldview Bible study will spark rich discussions about some of life’s most foundational questions. These six videos from Summit Ministries offer life-on-life discipleship for churches, small groups, and families. Get free access today at summit.org.

Todd Stiefel had nagging doubts about his Catholic faith during his youth. He says in college, he found the answers he was looking for...by walking away from his Christian upbringing. In this conversation, hear what led Stiefel to this decision as he and Warren Smith have a frank conversation about love, beauty, and truth. Stiefel is the founder and president of the Stiefel Freethought Foundation. He was the chair of the Openly Secular campaign. He is currently chair of the ScienceSaves campaign and is on the advisory board for Secular Coalition for America and the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science.Listening In is a listener supported program produced by WORLD Radio. Additional support comes from Summit Ministries. Now We Live invites and equips Christians to propel faith into action. This free, worldview Bible study will spark rich discussions about some of life’s most foundational questions. These six videos from Summit Ministries offer life-on-life discipleship for churches, small groups, and families. Get free access today at summit.org.

Andrew Peterson thoughtfully engages many aspects of what it means to be made in the Image of God. He is the founder of an artistic community in Nashville: The Rabbit Room--producing events, publishing books, and mentoring artists. Peterson is also the author of the award winning fantasy series: The Wingfeather Saga. Angel Studios has turned the books into an animated series released this weekend. In this interview with Warren Smith, Peterson discusses the creative process and his journey to broader artistic opportunities for ministry.Listening In is a listener supported program produced by WORLD Radio. Additional support comes from Summit Ministries. Now We Live invites and equips Christians to propel faith into action. This free, worldview Bible study will spark rich discussions about some of life’s most foundational questions. These six videos from Summit Ministries offer life-on-life discipleship for churches, small groups, and families. Get free access today at summit.org.

Summary/Description: After the death of his 20-year old son, Tim Challies started to write: not for others, but himself. The popular blogger and author chronicled his private journey through grief and loss. He later decided to share those reflections in: Seasons of Sorrow: The Pain of Loss and the Comfort of God. In this conversation with Warren Smith, Tim walks through the early days of sorrow, and shares the comfort than brought him through that difficult first yearListening In is a listener supported program produced by WORLD Radio. Additional support comes from Summit Ministries. Now We Live invites and equips Christians to propel faith into action. This free, worldview Bible study will spark rich discussions about some of life’s most foundational questions. These six videos from Summit Ministries offer life-on-life discipleship for churches, small groups, and families. Get free access today at summit.org.

Trevin Wax compares theological orthodoxy to buried treasure. The deeper you dig, the more you discover. In his new book The Thrill of Orthodoxy: Rediscovering the Adventure of Christian Faith, Trevin Wax says that the way forward for the evangelical church is to look back to the ancient creeds and confessions. Trevin is vice president for research and resource development at the North American Mission Board.Listening In is a listener supported program produced by WORLD Radio. Additional support comes from Summit Ministries. Now We Live invites and equips Christians to propel faith into action. This free, worldview Bible study will spark rich discussions about some of life’s most foundational questions. These six videos from Summit Ministries offer life-on-life discipleship for churches, small groups, and families. Get free access today at summit.org.

Robert Jeffress is pastor of First Baptist Church of Dallas and the author of nearly 30 books including 18 Minutes With Jesus: Straight Talk from the Savior about the Things That Matter Most. During the 2016 presidential election, Jeffress endorsed and appeared at rallies for Donald Trump. He later served on his Evangelical Advisory Board and White House Faith Initiative. In this conversation, Jeffress talks about faith and witness in these politically divisive times.Listening In is a listener supported program produced by WORLD Radio. Additional support comes from Summit Ministries. Now We Live invites and equips Christians to propel faith into action. This free, worldview Bible study will spark rich discussions about some of life’s most foundational questions. These six videos from Summit Ministries offer life-on-life discipleship for churches, small groups, and families. Get free access today at summit.org.

Bart Barber is a small-town pastor, church historian, and the newest president of the Southern Baptist Convention. The SBC is the largest protestant denomination in the country with about 14-million members. Barber steps into leadership during a tumultuous time but he is hopeful for the future of the Evangelical Church and it's mission worldwide.Listening In is a listener supported program produced by WORLD Radio. Additional support comes from Summit Ministries. Now We Live invites and equips Christians to propel faith into action. This free, worldview Bible study will spark rich discussions about some of life’s most foundational questions. These six videos from Summit Ministries offer life-on-life discipleship for churches, small groups, and families. Get free access today at summit.org.

Michael Kruger is a New Testament scholar and seminary president. He believes the church needs strong pastors who are also gentle shepherds--prized for their character over their giftedness. In this conversation with Warren Smith, Kruger warns against the lure of celebrity status that has led many pastors to ruin. His newest book is: Bully Pulpit: Confronting the Problem of Spiritual Abuse in the ChurchListening In is a listener supported program produced by WORLD Radio. Additional support comes from Summit Ministries. Now We Live invites and equips Christians to propel faith into action. This free, worldview Bible study will spark rich discussions about some of life’s most foundational questions. These six videos from Summit Ministries offer life-on-life discipleship for churches, small groups, and families. Get free access today at summit.org.

Adbu Murray spent years investigating the major world religions and worldviews. He eventually discovered that the historic Christian faith is the only one that answers the questions of the mind and the longings of the heart. In his latest book: More Than A White Man’s Religion: Why The Gospel Has Never Been Merely White, Male-Centered, or Just Another Religion, Abdu explains how only the gospel can change hearts and heal the divisions in our world.In this interview with Warren Smith, Adbu Murray also reflects on the last days of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries--where he served as North American Director and general counsel.Listening In is a listener supported program produced by WORLD Radio. Additional support comes from Summit Ministries. Now We Live invites and equips Christians to propel faith into action. This free, worldview Bible study will spark rich discussions about some of life’s most foundational questions. These six videos from Summit Ministries offer life-on-life discipleship for churches, small groups, and families. Get free access today at summit.org.

Listening In comes to you from WORLD News Group, and this program is just one of the many podcasts and publications available. To find out more about our complete family of products visit WNG.org.Tune in next week to hear my conversation with Robert Jeffress. Robert Jeffress has been one of most vigorous defenders of Donald Trump in the world of evangelicalism. I’ll ask him about his relationship with former President Trump, and we’ll also talk about his new book, 18 Minutes With Jesus, a book about The Sermon on the Mount.The producer for today’s program is Paul Butler. Johnny Franklin is our technical producer. Production assistance from Lillian Hamman. I’m your host, Warren Smith. And you’ve been Listening In.

Jazz has been called the only distinctively American art form. Theologian and musician William Edgar notes that jubilation and beauty of jazz bears witness to a joyful reality of the Christian experience: That while sin leads to death, the Gospel leads to life. Dr. William Edgar is professor of apologetics and coordinator of apologetics at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. His latest book is A Supreme Love: The Music of Jazz and the Hope of the Gospel.Listening In is made possible in part by support from Summit Ministries. Now We Live invites and equips Christians to propel faith into action. This free, worldview Bible study will spark rich discussions about some of life’s most foundational questions. These six videos from Summit Ministries offer life-on-life discipleship for churches, small groups, and families. Get free access today at summit.org.

Max Lucado is one of the best-selling Christian authors of all time. His books have sold a hundred-million copies in 56 languages. He's been called “America’s pastor” by Christianity Today, and he's served as the pastor of San Antonio’s Oak Hills Church since 1988. In this conversation with Warren Smith he talks about his new book: Help is Here: Finding Fresh Strength and Purpose in the Power of the Holy Spirit.Listening In is made possible in part by support from Summit Ministries. Now We Live invites and equips Christians to propel faith into action. This free, worldview Bible study will spark rich discussions about some of life’s most foundational questions. These six videos from Summit Ministries offer life-on-life discipleship for churches, small groups, and families. Get free access today at summit.org. 

In this special Listening In episode,  we remember Ron Sider, who died last week at the age of 82.   Ron Sider’s 1977 book “Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger” elevated him to a national and international stage.  Its challenging call for Christians to both declare a biblical gospel and demonstrate compassionate care for the poor as part of the gospel message resonated with a generation of young evangelicals.  Sider went on to form Evangelicals for Social Action, which championed social causes, and he continued to write, authoring more than 30 books.

Prolifers have prayed and advocated for an end to Roe v. Wade for decades. Now that abortion is no longer legal in all 50 states, pregnancy resource centers have a big job ahead, meeting the needs of mothers in crisis. In this conversation with host Warren Smith, CareNet president Roland Warren talks about how centers in its network are responding and how the church has an opportunity to be rethink its stance as pro-abundant life.

Jefrey Breshears is one of the most quietly influential thinkers in evangelicalism today. He's a former history and theology professor, and today he runs the Aeropagus Forum, a study center that combines apologetics with history and contemporary cultural issues. In this conversation with host Warren Smith, Jefrey Breshears talks about the origins of America's culture war and what Christians can do in response.