Real Life Theology Podcast
We renew the teachings of Jesus to fuel disciple making. We envision disciple-making disciples among all nations and ethnic groups. The Renew.org Network Podcast champions all biblical truth, including hard topics, by sharing discussions, webinars, public presentations and other similar resources.
Episodes

10 hours ago
10 hours ago
19 min
This episode features a RENEW.org Review of Richard and Christopher Hays’s ‘The Widening of God’s Mercy’. For more information view this article by John Whittaker: https://renew.org/review-of-the-widening-of-gods-mercy/
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3 days ago
3 days ago
16 min
A Critical Review of 'Letter to the American Church' Movie Visit: Renew.org for a written in depth review. John Whitaker provides an in-depth review of 'Letter to the American Church,' a movie by Eric Metaxas that parallels issues faced by the American church today with the German church during Hitler's rise and the Chinese church under Mao. The film, a follow-up to Metaxas's bestselling book, aims to rally the American church against what it perceives as a critical juncture resembling past authoritarian takeovers, citing concerns like abortion, gender ideology, BLM, and pandemic-related mandates. Whitaker expresses discomfort with the movie's hard-selling approach, its fear-based, alarmist tone, and the unbalanced comparisons it draws. He acknowledges some positive aspects, such as the call to justice and awareness of political harm, but criticizes the film's militancy, lack of nuanced discourse, and its potential to deepen divisions within the American church. Whitaker suggests a more helpful focus on discipleship and engagement with foundational issues of the church's role in society, recommending David Young's book 'Resilient' as a more balanced resource.
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Jul 16, 2026
Jul 16, 2026
14 min
In this episode on the Real Life Theology Podcast you’l hear a review of the new book Scrolling Ourselves to Death.
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Check out the following from RENEW.org:Events: https://renew.org/resources/events/Videos: https://renew.org/media/videos/Podcasts: https://renew.org/media/podcasts/Articles: https://renew.org/articles/Free eBooks: https://renew.org/resources/free-ebooks/Books: https://renew.org/resources/books/Audiobooks: https://renew.org/resources/audiobooks/Sermon Tools: https://renew.org/resources/sermon-tools/Job Board: https://jobs.renew.org/Renew University: https://renewuniversity.org/Real Life Theology Conversations: https://renew.org/rltc/
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Jul 14, 2026
Jul 14, 2026
1hr 15 min
Exploring Church History: Key Figures and Renew Network Vision
Join us in this episode as Bobby and David dive into an insightful discussion about their journey with the Renew Network, aiming to restore and renew the New Testament church. They explore notable figures in Christian history, such as Irenaeus, Augustine, Aquinas, and Luther, who contributed to shaping Christianity. The founders discuss the importance of following God's Word, the challenges of embracing the Holy Spirit, and the need for courageous leadership. They highlight the mission and values of Renew Network, focusing on discipleship, church planting, and upholding biblical authority. Discover their vision for the future and how they plan to equip churches and individuals to make disciples and expand God's Kingdom.
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Check out the following from RENEW.org:Events: https://renew.org/resources/events/Videos: https://renew.org/media/videos/Podcasts: https://renew.org/media/podcasts/Articles: https://renew.org/articles/Free eBooks: https://renew.org/resources/free-ebooks/Books: https://renew.org/resources/books/Audiobooks: https://renew.org/resources/audiobooks/Sermon Tools: https://renew.org/resources/sermon-tools/Job Board: https://jobs.renew.org/Renew University: https://renewuniversity.org/Real Life Theology Conversations: https://renew.org/rltc/
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Jul 9, 2026
Jul 9, 2026
1hr 27 min
After Alexander Campbell: Restoration Movement History from 1865 to 2018
Join us in this episode where hosts David and Bobby discuss the significant developments in the Restoration Movement after the death of Alexander Campbell, covering the period from 1865 to 2018. Discover the impacts of the Civil War on the movement, the publication history of influential magazines like the Gospel Advocate and the Christian Standard, and key figures such as David Lipscomb, Foy Wallace, James A. Garfield, and Marshall Keeble. The episode explores the divisions within the movement, including the rise of the Disciples of Christ, Christian churches, and a cappella Churches of Christ, while delving into modern challenges and their ongoing legacy. Learn how the Restoration Movement shapes evangelical thought today and the central role of Renew in its future. This comprehensive overview is essential for anyone studying church history and the evolution of Christian denominations in America.
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Check out the following from RENEW.org:Events: https://renew.org/resources/events/Videos: https://renew.org/media/videos/Podcasts: https://renew.org/media/podcasts/Articles: https://renew.org/articles/Free eBooks: https://renew.org/resources/free-ebooks/Books: https://renew.org/resources/books/Audiobooks: https://renew.org/resources/audiobooks/Sermon Tools: https://renew.org/resources/sermon-tools/Job Board: https://jobs.renew.org/Renew University: https://renewuniversity.org/Real Life Theology Conversations: https://renew.org/rltc/
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Jul 7, 2026
Jul 7, 2026
1hr 21 min
Exploring the Roots of the Restoration Movement: The Impact of Alexander Campbell and Barton Stone
In this episode, we dive into the significant impact of Alexander Campbell and Barton Stone on the Restoration Movement in American Christian history. David Young opens with a prayer before diving into last week's topic on revivals. The discussion encompasses Barton Stone's foundational contributions, his role in American Christian revivals, and the subsequent establishment of 'Christian Churches'. The narrative transitions to Thomas Campbell, Alexander Campbell's father, exploring Thomas’s journey from a Scottish Presbyterian minister to an influential figure in the Restoration Movement. The key ideas include the rejection of binding creeds, the emphasis on adhering strictly to the Bible, and the notable debates that Alexander Campbell engaged in to advocate for these principles. The historical challenges, triumphs, and the notable Union meeting of 1832 between Stone's and Campbell's followers are also covered. The episode concludes with an examination of baptismal practices, the influence of cultural and doctrinal shifts, and the ongoing relevance of these historical movements in shaping modern Christian faith.
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Check out the following from RENEW.org:Events: https://renew.org/resources/events/Videos: https://renew.org/media/videos/Podcasts: https://renew.org/media/podcasts/Articles: https://renew.org/articles/Free eBooks: https://renew.org/resources/free-ebooks/Books: https://renew.org/resources/books/Audiobooks: https://renew.org/resources/audiobooks/Sermon Tools: https://renew.org/resources/sermon-tools/Job Board: https://jobs.renew.org/Renew University: https://renewuniversity.org/Real Life Theology Conversations: https://renew.org/rltc/
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Jul 2, 2026
Jul 2, 2026
1hr 27 min
Join us in a deep dive into the pivotal moments in American Protestantism, focusing on the contributions of figures like James McReady and Barton Warren Stone. This episode explores the historical context and significance of the First and Second Great Awakenings. Learn about key events such as the Red River Revival and the Cane Ridge Revival, and understand how these movements sparked widespread religious transformations that continue to influence modern evangelical Christianity. We also dive into discussions around Calvinism, revivalism, and the lasting impact of these awakenings on American religious life. Special guest David guides us through a recorded presentation and a live Q&A session, offering insights into the revivalist spirit that reshaped the Christian landscape across the United States.
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Jun 30, 2026
Jun 30, 2026
1hr 27 min
Join Bobby Harrington and David Young from Renew.org as they dive into the history of the early church, focusing on the Restoration Movement, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Roman Catholicism. In this episode, Harrington recounts the early church period, highlights key historical events such as the fall of Rome, and discusses the development of the Eastern Orthodox Church and the schism that led to the formation of the Roman Catholic Church. The conversation addresses major theological differences, such as the role of scripture, tradition, and the concept of theosis, while exploring the significance of the Protestant Reformation. Engaging and informative, this class provides a comprehensive overview for anyone interested in church history and the key distinctions between major Christian traditions.
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Check out the following from RENEW.org:Events: https://renew.org/resources/events/Videos: https://renew.org/media/videos/Podcasts: https://renew.org/media/podcasts/Articles: https://renew.org/articles/Free eBooks: https://renew.org/resources/free-ebooks/Books: https://renew.org/resources/books/Audiobooks: https://renew.org/resources/audiobooks/Sermon Tools: https://renew.org/resources/sermon-tools/Job Board: https://jobs.renew.org/Renew University: https://renewuniversity.org/Real Life Theology Conversations: https://renew.org/rltc/
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Jun 25, 2026
Jun 25, 2026
1hr 22 min
Join us on our very first video featuring Bobby Harrington and David Young as they teach a class on the History of the Protestant Reformation and Early Church History. Join Bobby Harrington and David Young in this engaging and informative beta course, the first recorded for the Renew Certificate in Theology. Bobby outlines the structure and goals of the course, which covers the 12 courses offered at his home church, aimed at ordaining qualified individuals for ministry. Key topics include the Restoration Movement, early church history, and significant Christian doctrines. David Young dives into crucial theological questions spanning 1500 years of Christian history, covering topics such as the church’s approach to Judaism, the development of the New Testament canon, ecclesiastical authority, Christology, and the doctrine of salvation. This session also addresses relevant contemporary questions and historical perspectives. For resources, the suggested readings include 'The Fool of God' and Gavin Ortland’s 'What It Means to be Protestant.'
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Jun 23, 2026
Jun 23, 2026
54 min
Welcome back to the Real Life Theology Podcast. In this episode Guy Hammond explains why tone matters in conversations about LGBTQ issues and how churches can combine dignity, truth, and hospitality.
Guy shares his personal journey, the scriptural context he relies on, practical advice for parents and churches, and why acceptance need not equal approval while still offering a welcoming place to learn about Jesus.
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Jun 18, 2026
Jun 18, 2026
55 min
Dave Clayton challenges listeners to renew their hunger for Jesus, explaining that God shows up where He is wanted. Drawing on revival stories like Cane Ridge and personal anecdotes, he encourages acknowledgment of spiritual emptiness, asking God for hunger, resisting modern distractions, tuning our souls to eternal things, and persistently inviting Jesus into every area of life.
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Check out the following from RENEW.org:Events: https://renew.org/resources/events/Videos: https://renew.org/media/videos/Podcasts: https://renew.org/media/podcasts/Articles: https://renew.org/articles/Free eBooks: https://renew.org/resources/free-ebooks/Books: https://renew.org/resources/books/Audiobooks: https://renew.org/resources/audiobooks/Sermon Tools: https://renew.org/resources/sermon-tools/Job Board: https://jobs.renew.org/Renew University: https://renewuniversity.org/Real Life Theology Conversations: https://renew.org/rltc/
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Jun 16, 2026
Jun 16, 2026
26 min
On this episode of the Real Life Theology Podcast, Shodankeh Johnson, about having hard conversations in prayer with God and how faith grows through suffering.
He shares personal stories—including the loss of his son—reflecting on missionary legacy, intercession, and the need for a conquering faith that seeks to please God, believes He exists, and trusts He will reward those who diligently seek Him.
Johnson also encourages revival in the church in America and calls listeners to step aside for God to move, trusting in God’s faithfulness amid pain.
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Check Out Our Podcast Book Series
RENEW.org prints and publishes books for church leaders, churches and everyday disciple makers. Our books, as with everything we seek to create, focus on good theology through culturally relevant engagement. These podcast series feature some of RENEW.org's most popular books and provide a behind the scenes conversation with some of our authors.

Following Jesus in a Politically Divided World
CAN WE LEAN INTO THE ISSUES AND LOVE WELL?
How should disciples of Jesus navigate a society clawing itself apart through politics? Should we disengage? Pick a side? Offer slogans which sound nice but express little? Insist that true Christians vote in such-and-such a way? Pursue tranquility by making contentious topics off-limits for church?
Following Jesus in a Politically Divided World suggests that disciples of Jesus navigate a politically divided world . . . by being disciples of Jesus. Jesus models the character and provides the tools we need to live as perceptive and peaceable in volatile times. Whittaker and McCoy invite you to answer 21 questions, including:
- What is the purpose of government?
- Do you know the times you’re living in?
- What hills are worth dying on?
- How do you pray for your nation?
- How do you figure out what’s right and wrong as a Christian?
- What does Christianity teach about the bedroom, womb, deathbed, environment, and battlefield?
Together, let’s face stormy horizons the way Jesus showed us: fully awake, yet filled with peace.
Get the Book

The Disciple’s Mind
A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR DISCIPLESHIP OF THE MIND
Why should we devote time to becoming a better thinker? Is it to be the most interesting person in the room? To dominate the ideological opposition? To cultivate confidence?
Or this: the better we think, the more we become like Jesus.
What our world needs is serious disciples of King Jesus. If you desire Christlikeness in yourself and the people you lead, then let Jesus disciple your minds. A concise, punchy guidebook, The Disciple’s Mind walks you through core how tos for discipleship of the mind, including how to spot toxic ideas, cultivate intellectual virtues, think redemptively, disagree graciously, and seek the Holy Spirit’s renewal of our minds.
Your thoughts powerfully guide your life’s direction. The Disciple’s Mind will help set your thoughts in the direction of true life.

The Fool of God
--
The Story of Alexander Campbell, Who Made Scripture His Final Authority and Catalyzed a Movement
Get the Book
Podcast Episodes

RHYTHMS
How to Live as a Disciple of Jesus (Real Life Theoloogy)
OVERWHELMED BY LIFE?
SLOW DOWN AND LEARN THE HOW TOS.
When does playing music go from formidable to fun? It starts getting fun when you feel the rhythm and join in. In the same way, the Christian life gets more doable when you take the time to learn its rhythms. Knowing what we ought to do only leaves us feeling guilty until we take time to learn the how tos.
This podcast series features 4 episodes talking about the Rhythms of life. Click HERE to view the series.

Sermon on the Mount:
40 Days of Learning the Ways of the Kingdom
Have you been wading in the shallows of Christianity? When longtime Bible student Jeremy Bacon began seriously studying the Sermon on the Mount, he found his tidy worldview exploding.
In the Sermon on the Mount, street-level wisdom and prophetic declaration collide. This sermon forces you to decide whether you’re going to remain part of the crowd or step out in faith and be a devoted student of Jesus.
Choosing the way of Jesus means more cost—and more reward—than you ever would have guessed. Sermon on the Mount is a forty-day discipling resource that walks you through the ways of Jesus’ Kingdom. Will you respond to the call to go deeper?
Click HERE to check out the podcast Episodes!
Other Renew.Org Podcasts

Step Into Scripture
Tina Wilson, author of Step into Scripture, develops Biblical literacy by exploring the nature of God, the centrality of Christ, the context and purpose of biblical texts, and shadow—fulfillment connections within the Bible.

Scripture in Black and White
Scripture in Black and White is a show that examines what scripture teaches with clarity and no uncertain terms. We discuss the scriptures in black and white and bring perspectives from ministers who happen to be black and white.











