All Things New

In this Faith + Work episode, Bob Thune and Bethany Gilbert sit down with architect, urban planner, and nonprofit leader Scott Dobbe to explore how Christians can pursue the common good through architecture, city planning, and real estate development. Together, they discuss beauty as a reflection of God's character, the importance of stewardship over ownership, the challenges of balancing idealism with political and financial realities, and why ordinary Christians should invest in the places they call home.

In this episode, Bob introduces the theology and worldview of Neo-Calvinism, a movement that stems from the work of Abraham Kuyper and Herman Bavinck. Bob explains how Neo-Calvinism offers a compelling Christian response to secular modernity by affirming Christ's lordship over every sphere of life, recognizing that every person is inherently religious, and embracing the truth that grace restores nature.

In this episode, Bob Thune and Will Walker discuss Carl Trueman's recent book The Desecration of Man and its central claim that our modern crisis isn't one of disenchantment but of desecration. They explore how abandoning a biblical vision of humanity has led to the objectification of people, the loss of shared purpose, and a culture shaped by power rather than truth.

The Soul Brothers set the docket with three timely topics: reports of rising church attendance, Carl Trueman's insights on technology and expressive individualism, and the public witness of Ben Sasse as he faces terminal illness. Hunter Beaumont and Kevin Cawley join Bob Thune to discuss evangelism, discipleship, AI, consumerism, human finitude, and why embracing God-given limits is essential for faithful Christian living.

Public education is often the subject of cultural consternation and controversy — so what does it look like to follow Jesus as a schoolteacher? In this episode, Bob Thune and Bethany Gilbert sit down with Courtney Tompkins, a high school math teacher, to discuss the joys and challenges of serving students in today's educational environment. Courtney shares how her faith shapes her work, the challenges of caring for students, the importance of Christian community in the workplace, and why ordinary faithfulness matters in the classroom.

In this edition of Bob Reads Books, Bob Thune and Will Walker discuss Alan Noble’s book To Live Well: Practical Wisdom for Moving Through Chaotic Times. Framed around the seven classical virtues, the book offers a practical guide for navigating modern life with clarity. Bob and Will explore why virtue formation matters, how habits shape character, and what it looks like to choose decisively, suffer steadfastly, and live moderately in a culture that often pushes us in the opposite direction.

In this episode, Bob and the Soul Brothers (Hunter Beaumont and Kevin Cawley) explore five elements of good preaching: biblical exposition, theological coherence, rhetorical power, cultural insight, and unction. They discuss the difference between preaching and teaching, the challenges of developing young preachers, and why faithful preaching requires both biblical depth and real-world application.

When the Pope speaks, millions around the world listen. That’s why in this episode, Bob examines Pope Leo XIV’s newly released encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, an expansive document designed to help Christians think critically about AI. Bob highlights three key insights from the document — the moral nature of technology, the dangers of a technocratic paradigm, and the value of human personhood — while also offering Protestant critiques.
 
Articles & Resources:https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/encyclicals/documents/20260515-magnifica-humanitas.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/26/technology/pope-leo-ai-religion.html

College campuses are often places of identity exploration, cultural tension, and individual expression — so what does it look like to be a faithful Christian in the collegiate workplace? In this episode, Bob Thune and Bethany Gilbert sit down with Bailey Tupper, a university administrator, to discuss faith, higher education, and the quiet ministry of Christian hospitality. Bailey shares her story of coming to faith in college, navigating secular workplace culture, serving students with excellence, and learning how to relate to people with grace and truth.

What everyday habits are most important for Christian formation?
We all know that our habits form us, for better or for worse. But it can be overwhelming to confront our bad habits and consider the good habits we should be building. In this episode, Dusty White and Bob Thune commend three simple, basic practices for Christian formation: meditation on Scripture, self-denial, and embodied community. In an age dominated by distraction, consumerism, and digital immersion, these three practices are essential to counter-cultural discipleship — and to a slower, deeper, more relational way of following Jesus.