Think Deeper

CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Intro, and the time and place for tougher talk06:21 - Starting with the cautions and limitations10:27 - Friendly teasing, thicker skin, and how men and women differ in their communication19:32 - Sarcasm and mockery in the Bible30:29 - Principles for properly using humor with an edge38:20 - The time and place for sharp words44:20 - Are we allowed to speak like Jesus, Paul, and Elijah did?48:43 - When does it go too far? When is an apology necessary?53:39 - Think Fast: Ed Sheeran and Macklemore's Israel/Palestine fiasco With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie Visit us at www.focuspress.org and www.jackwilkie.co  Check out our sponsor at www.cobbpublishing.com Join us for the weekly Deep End episode and hundreds of hours of audio and video Bible studies and sermons at www.focuspress.org/plus 

Last week at the Engage Conference, Dr. Brad Harrub joined us for our first ever episode in front a live audience! We discussed the problem of apathy in the church, including:- How leadership can cause it, and what they can do to fix it- The "good enough" mindset that leads people to give minimum effort- Dealing with the busyness that keeps us from doing more- Ways the church can do a better job of engaging the men in the pews 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 Deep End and more at www.focuspress.org/plus  

Deacons are one of the most misunderstood roles in the church. We discuss the differences between deacons and elders, the qualifications for the role, and how deacons can help oversee practical responsibilities such as budgets, maintenance, education, and logistics. The conversation also addresses questions like whether deacons are elders in training, who should appoint them, whether churches can have deacons without elders, and whether Romans 16:1 justifies deaconesses. CHAPTERS:00:00 - What is a deacon, and what are the qualifications?10:59 - Differences between elder and deacon qualifications, and what that tells us about the roles18:20 - Is the deacon role a stepping stone to eldership?23:24 - What kind of work is deacon work vs. elder work, and how much should the elders exercise oversight?38:24 - Is it an ongoing role, or task-based?43:09 - How are they to be appointed?48:59 - Can you have deacons if you don't have elders?56:09 - Why Phoebe wasn't a "deaconess"  With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie Come hear us at the Engage Conference in Waxahachie, TX September 11-13! cocbrownstreet.org/engage Visit our sponsor at cobbpublishing.com Check us out at focuspress.org and jackwilkie.coJoin us for the Deep End and more at focuspress.org/plus

In Christ, Christians form what Peter called a "brotherhood"—but that doesn't mean we always see eye to eye. On this episode, we look at the issues that complicate our relationship with the brotherhood at large, including sectarianism, differences in perspectives, and the command to love each other through it all.  CHAPTERS00:00 - How a simple command becomes complicated09:12 - Surveying some of the different camps and views in the broader church14:15 - Recognizing value in each other even when we disagree24:48 - Learning from Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark29:53 - Fighting viewpoints, not people40:42 - How do you know who's right?46:12 - How social media helps and hurts our love for each other52:51 - The challenge of loving people we don't really know in person With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie Visit our sponsor at cobbpublishing.comFollow us at focuspress.org and jackwilkie.co Join us for the Deep End at focuspress.org/plus Jack's article referenced - https://jackwilkie.co/p/but-which-side-is-biblical

A tragic case involving the death of three small children has gripped the internet, with debates raging about postpartum depression and psychosis, what justice looks like, women's issues, and more. We discuss a number of the angles to the story. CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Introducing the case 06:41 - Joe gives a therapist's view on postpartum depression and psychosis 15:48 - The danger of glamorizing struggles 20:26 - The "Victim mindset" of Critical Theory's intersectionality 27:57 - Women's resistance to accountability in cases like these 37:12 - The cost of the church downplaying sin 42:05 - The problems with the current fixation with "true crime" and internet sleuthing 52:40 - The importance of being there for each other With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie Check out our sponsor at cobbpublishing.com Visit us at focuspress.org and jackwilkie.co Join us on Focus+ at focuspress.org/plus