As the hymn writer noted, our hearts have a proneness to wander from the Lord we love. On account of this inclination, God, through the writer of the book of Hebrews, calls us to “pay much closer attention to [the gospel] lest we drift away from it.” In his book Lest We Drift, Jared C. Wilson explains the subtle yet powerful ways that even those who claim to be “gospel-centered” can stray from the purity of the gospel of grace and the counterfeits we drift toward in its place. He joined Dr. Keith Plummer to talk about this and more.

One doesn't have to look too hard or too far to recognize the church's shortcomings. But according to Brad Edwards, author of The Reason for Church, these obvious flaws aren't the main reason people dismiss the idea that church helps humans flourish. Edwards argues that both Christians and non-Christians have absorbed two powerful assumptions: anti-institutionalism and radical individualism. These beliefs make many view the church with cynicism and suspicion, preventing people from recognizing how its work and witness can help address our deepest needs. In this episode, he joins Dr. Keith Plummer to discuss these cultural assumptions and how even committed Christians can mistake these ideas for genuine biblical faith.

The Edmiston Center focuses on Christian endurance in the midst of competing cultural narratives. Mrs. K.A. Ellis, its director, joined Dr. Keith Plummer to talk about how she came to Christ and the people and things God used to form her heart for Christians experiencing persecution around the world. What different forms does persecution take, and despite these differences, what commonalities underlie them? What can Christians in the West learn from how Christians around the world and across time have persevered in the face of severe opposition? How can American Christians conquer cultural anxiety? Karen answers these questions as well as whether American Christians are being persecuted. She and Dr. Plummer also discuss what led her to “jump ship” from X (Twitter).