All Things New

How does the gospel critique and confront modern Western culture?
Will Walker joins Bob Thune to introduce a new feature of the podcast called “Bob Reads Books." In this episode, Will talks with Bob about Lesslie Newbigin’s book “Foolishness to the Greeks.” Together they explore how Western culture has been shaped by secular assumptions about truth, freedom, and religion. They discuss the fact/value split, individualism, pluralism, the public truth of the gospel, and why the local church itself may be the church’s strongest apologetic in a post-Christian world.

What will shape the future of the church in America?
In a 2023 lecture and essay, Bob made the case that the future of the church is contested. But much has changed in the past three years. In this episode, Bob is joined by Kevin Cawley and Hunter Beaumont — two members of a long-standing pastoral cohort known as the “Soul Brothers.” Together, they reflect on their decade-long friendship and discuss the church’s contested future.The conversation explores the changing landscape of evangelical Christianity, the challenges facing the church in a polarized culture, and what it means to remain theologically grounded while engaging missionally with the world.

From rising costs to demanding schedules, the current state of youth sports often pressures families to sacrifice time, money, and agency. In this episode, Bob interviews Dusty about his experience starting a new youth baseball team — one that prioritizes character, family rhythms, and Sunday worship over performance and profit. Bob and Dusty also reflect on the challenges of navigating select sports, the importance of setting boundaries, and how Christians can creatively build alternatives that better align with their convictions.

Steph Juliot joins Bob and Bethany for the first Faith + Work episode to talk about her role as a writer for The Pour Over, a news platform helping Christians stay informed without becoming overwhelmed. We discuss faith and vocation, healthy news consumption, AI, media ethics, and how the gospel shapes the way Christians respond to current events.

Introducing All Things New — reflecting on faith, culture, and the human soul.
Welcome to All Things New, the newly reimagined midweek podcast from Coram Deo Church. In this episode, we share the vision for the podcast moving forward, including new formats, guest conversations, and recurring themes like faith and work, leadership, and spiritual formation.
We also explore three major cultural developments: the rise and fall of the metaverse, growing legal accountability for social media companies and their impact on mental health, and the reevaluation of the “quiet revival” narrative in the UK after flawed data was uncovered. Through these discussions, we invite Christians to think critically about technology, culture, and the ongoing work of renewal in the world.

How should Christians think about Israel? Questions about the nation of Israel and its place in the world have resurfaced following the October 2023 attack by Hamas and Israel’s response. These events have precipitated a rise in anti-Semitism and prompted pointed conversations around Zionism. How should Christians relate to the modern state of Israel? In this episode, Bob responds to a listener request for some perspective on that question. He defines Zionism, addresses four common critiques, and offers three compelling reasons for Christian Zionism.Chapters:(0:00) How Should Christians Think about Israel?(1:18) What is Zionism and Why is it in the News?(7:00) Answering Four Critiques(27:22) Christian and Zionist?(33:32) Closing ThoughtsArticles & Resources: https://firstthings.com/the-patriarch-and-the-palestinians/

In Chris’s final episode, we reflect on his journey over the past 11+ years.In this episode, we say goodbye to Pastor Chris Hemmelman as he prepares to move from Bellevue, Nebraska to Woodstock, Georgia. We reflect on his journey from church planting resident to lead pastor at First City Church — and what he’s learned along the way. Chris shares what he’s learned about church planting, leadership development, risk-taking, and the slow, relational work of faithful ministry. The conversation closes with reflections on gratitude, presence, and trusting God in seasons of transition.Chapters:(0:00) Introductions: Chris’s Farewell Episode(2:00) Discernment, Risk, and Residency(7:45) Lessons in Leadership Development(10:30) What Would You Tell Yourself 10 Years Ago?(15:20) Favorite Podcast Moments(22:40) Transition, Presence, and Prayers for What’s Next

How do we make sense of the differences within the four Gospels?Readers of the Bible can't help but notice that Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John sometimes tell the same stories differently. Was there one angel at the tomb (Matthew), or two (Luke)? Did Jesus cleanse the Temple at the beginning of his ministry (John), or near the end (Matthew)? In this episode, we explore how to make sense of this variety within the Gospel accounts. We discuss apparent contradictions, the literary conventions of first-century biographies, and how to read the Gospels with wise confidence in the reliability of Scripture.Chapters:(0:00) Introductions: The Problem of Harmonization(4:27) Not Video Camera Footage(10:50) Place Names and Geography(14:25) Order, Grouping, and Theological Structure(21:09) Letting Matthew Be Matthew

Why does American life feel so fractured, and what can Christians do about it?American society feels increasingly polarized, anxious, and divided — and many people sense that the problem is deeper than politics. In this episode, we explore the idea that what’s really fraying is solidarity. Drawing on James Davison Hunter’s Democracy and Solidarity and a recent article by Jake Meador, we examine three competing visions for renewing American solidarity. We argue that neither free-market individualism nor ethnic nationalism offers a meaningful solution, and we discuss how Christianity provides a framework for a distinctive and robust solidarity.Chapters:(0:00) Introductions: The Future of The Wednesday Conversation(7:45) Liberal Individualism and the Loss of Solidarity(14:55) Nationalism as a False Solution(22:34) A Christian Vision of Dependence(30:35) What Solidarity Looks Like in Everyday Life(34:00) Stitching the Fabric Back Together Locally

Do evangelicals really lack cultural elites — and if so, does it matter?An essay in First Things argues that evangelicals have failed to cultivate elites in America’s most influential institutions, leaving them underrepresented in culture-shaping domains like media, academia, and politics. In this episode, we examine author Aaron Renn’s claims, question his definition of “elite,” and explore where the argument resonates — and where it falls apart. We discuss populism within evangelicalism, the absence of a robust theology of vocation, the tension evangelicals feel toward ambition and power, and reflect on how the gospel reframes ambition, faithfulness, and cultural impact.Chapters: (0:00) Introductions: Evangelical Elites? (8:07) Why Evangelicals Struggle with Power (19:08) Ambition, Leadership, and Discernment (26:26) The Need for Flagship Churches (32:29) The Gospel’s Reframing of Success