Theology on Mission

Theology on Mission

For those longing to connect theology and mission, we are talking about God and everything else. Broadcasting from NORTHERN SEMINARY, in partnership with Missio Alliance, David Fitch and Mike Moore bring their experiences as pastors and professors to bear on issues of mission and church. Pull up a chair or take them and their guests with you around town.

  1. MAY 6

    S10:E14 Church Planting Post-COVID with Dr. Eun K. Strawser

    Is it time to refresh the old church planting playbook? In this forward-thinking episode, Dave Fitch and Mike Moore sit down with Dr. Eun K. Strawser to explore how church planting must evolve in a post-COVID world. Drawing on her work with the IWA Collaborative, her leadership at Ma Ke Alo o, and insights from her upcoming book You Were Never Meant to Lead Alone, Eun outlines a vision for leadership that is local, diverse, co-vocational, and built on discipleship, not metrics. 🎙️ In This Episode: Why the old church planting model no longer fits post-pandemic realities The rise of co-vocational, prophetically bent leaders—especially Black, Brown, and women leaders Redefining success: from attendance metrics to neighborhood presence A vision of shared leadership rooted in communal discipleship The emerging partnership between Northern Seminary and IWA Collaborative 📌 Highlights: [00:08:00] What the Eva bird teaches us about leadership and local nesting [00:13:00] Co-vocational leadership and the shift away from big-budget, parachute church plants [00:22:00] How prophetic, local leaders are already planting churches—whether they call it that or not [00:29:00] Eun’s forthcoming book: You Were Never Meant to Lead Alone (pre-order available soon) [00:33:00] Five pillars of the new church planting initiative: Centering Discipleship (book link) Intercultural Dynamics Sharing Leadership Pastoring Co-Vocationally Exegeting Neighborhoods 💡 Takeaway: Church planting isn’t dead—it’s just waking up to a new imagination. The future belongs to grounded leaders who know their neighborhood, share power, center discipleship, and stop disqualifying themselves from God’s call. 📖 Resources Mentioned: Centering Discipleship by Eun K. Strawser (IVP) Eun’s upcoming book You Were Never Meant to Lead Alone (Fall 2024 – Preorder link coming soon) Northern Seminary Church Planting Initiative IWA Collaborative Lawndale Christian Community Church Christian Community Development Association (CCDA)

    40 min

  2. APR 30

    S10:E13 Preaching in a New Key with Mark Glanville

    What happens when expository preaching meets jazz improvisation? In this musical and moving conversation, Dave Fitch and Mike Moore welcome Mark Glanville, pastor, jazz pianist, and author of Preaching in a New Key, to explore how preaching can meet the needs of post-Christian communities. From shifting cultural landscapes to the crisis of plausibility in faith, this episode unpacks how the preacher’s voice, imagination, and presence can open up space for beauty, belonging, and belief. 🎙️ In This Episode: Why a 1970s preaching manual is still #1 on Amazon—and why that’s a problem What a “crisis of plausibility” means for modern preaching Why Scripture must be heard as a communal word, not just an individual one How preaching can surprise people into faith through beauty and truth What jazz, blues, and the Psalms can teach us about crafting sermons today 📌 Highlights: [00:07:00] Faith in a post-Christian city: what’s changed since the Bible-under-the-arm days [00:13:00] The power of preaching to restore trust in Scripture [00:22:00] From “you” to “we”: how preaching shapes the beloved community [00:36:00] Why preaching from your humanity is not optional—it’s essential [00:39:00] Blues as a metaphor for the church: grief, joy, and solidarity 💡 Takeaway: Preaching today is less about having the right answers and more about being fully present—bringing Scripture to life with the imagination, lyricism, and beauty that awakens faith. In a culture suspicious of authority, the ironic authority of wisdom is what opens hearts.

    43 min

  3. MAR 31

    S10: E12 Bonhoeffer, Resistance, and the Role of the Church with Michael DeJonge

    What does real resistance to an unjust state look like—and can the church still embody it today? In this episode, Dave Fitch and Mike Moore sit down with Bonhoeffer scholar Michael DeJonge to explore the famed theologian’s approach to resisting authoritarian power. Drawing from his article How to Resist an Unjust State and his books on Bonhoeffer's theology, DeJonge unpacks the Lutheran roots of Bonhoeffer’s political vision and why his legacy resists easy appropriation in today’s culture wars. 📖 Suggested Resources: How to resist an unjust state? Dietrich Bonhoeffer and his theology of political resistance Bonhoeffer on Resistance: The Word Against the Wheel Bonhoeffer's Theological Formation: Berlin, Barth, and Protestant Theology 🎙️ In This Episode: The historical truth behind Bonhoeffer’s involvement in plots to resist Hitler Why Bonhoeffer’s theology of resistance goes far beyond assassination debates A deep dive into Lutheran two-kingdom theology—and how Bonhoeffer revised it How the church can speak into state injustice without being co-opted by political power Lessons for resisting both passivity and polarization in today’s divided landscape 📌 Highlights: [00:08:00] Did Bonhoeffer support violence? His participation in anti-Nazi plots clarified [00:14:00] Bonhoeffer’s “authentically Lutheran” resistance—and why it still matters [00:27:00] Evangelicals, Trump, and the preservation/redemption split—dangerous echoes [00:38:00] The meaning behind “jamming a spoke in the wheel” [00:44:00] From preaching to presence: Why Bonhoeffer built community to resist 💡 Takeaway: Bonhoeffer’s legacy isn’t about mimicking the past but learning how to discern our moment. Resistance begins not with outrage but with the church being the church—formed, faithful, and ready to speak a word against injustice when the time demands it.

    51 min

  4. MAR 27

    S10: E11 Nothing More Evangelical Than a Post-Evangelical

    Is leaving evangelicalism really a departure—or just a shift within the same framework? In this provocative episode, Dave Fitch and Mike Moore wrestle with the deep similarities between evangelical and post-evangelical spaces. Are we just switching teams while playing the same game? From the role of the self in faith to justice work and power structures, they explore what truly changes (and what doesn’t) when people move from white evangelicalism to progressive or mainline Protestant spaces. 🎙️ In This Episode: Why leaving evangelicalism doesn’t necessarily mean leaving evangelical ways of thinking. The modern self: how both fundamentalist and progressive Christianity center personal identity. Justice as something we do vs. justice as something Jesus is doing. The trap of power: why both evangelicals and progressives wield authority in similar ways. How a neo-Anabaptist vision could reshape discipleship and engagement with culture. 📌 Highlights: [00:05:00] Does moving from evangelical to post-evangelical really change anything? [00:13:00] How both camps center faith around the individual self. [00:21:00] Justice work: Are we doing it for people or with people? [00:32:00] Power dynamics: Why both evangelicals and progressives assume an expert posture. [00:37:00] A vision beyond the binaries: toward a new way of being the church. 💡 Takeaway: Shifting theological or political stances doesn’t automatically transform the way we engage culture, power, and justice. Without rethinking the self, mission, and power dynamics, we risk reinforcing the very systems we hoped to escape.

    39 min

  5. MAR 7

    S10: E10 Beyond The Salvation Wars: Rethinking Salvation with Matthew Bates

    Is our understanding of salvation too small? In this thought-provoking episode, Dave Fitch and Mike Moore sit down with Matthew Bates, professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary and author of Beyond the Salvation Wars, to challenge long-held assumptions about the gospel. From the pitfalls of individualistic salvation to the deeper call of allegiance to King Jesus, they explore what it truly means to be saved—and why both Protestants and Catholics need to rethink their approach. 🎙️ In This Episode: Why reducing the gospel to “justification by faith” misses the bigger picture. How allegiance to Jesus reshapes our understanding of salvation. The problem with both evangelical and progressive approaches to discipleship. Why the Gospel Coalition and the Catholic Church might have more in common than we think. How pastors can cultivate a Gospel Allegiance Culture in their churches. 📌 Highlights: [00:04:00] The problem with how Protestants and Catholics frame salvation. [00:12:00] Justification as a benefit of the gospel, not the gospel itself. [00:19:00] Rethinking righteousness: Imputed, imparted, or incorporated? [00:27:00] Why spiritual disciplines should be allegiance opportunities. [00:32:00] The danger of reducing faith to “try harder and do better.” 💡 Takeaway: The gospel isn’t just about avoiding hell or doing justice—it’s about swearing allegiance to King Jesus and being swept up in his mission for the world. When we move beyond an individualistic, works-based mindset, we discover a deeper, more holistic understanding of salvation. 📖 Additional Reflection: What would change in your life if you saw faith not as belief or effort, but as allegiance to Jesus? Let us know your thoughts!

    36 min

  6. JAN 27

    S10: E9 Bridging the Divide: How to Have Transformative Conversations with Dan White Jr.

    What if the way forward in our polarized world begins at the table?  In this compelling episode, Dave Fitch and Mike Moore sit down with Dan White Jr., author of Love Over Fear, to discuss the art of engaging in difficult conversations. They explore how compassion, curiosity, and a theology of the table can heal divisions in our churches, neighborhoods, and beyond. 🎙️ In This Episode: Dan White Jr. shares how the Kineo Center equips weary leaders to find healing. The four transformative practices for depolarized conversations. Stories of profound breakthroughs during “depolarization dinners.” How Jesus’ table practices challenge the powers of polarization and invite kingdom living. 📌 Highlights: [00:05:00] Dan introduces the Kineo Center as a space for healing weary leaders. [00:12:34] The Power of Conversation in Polarized Times [00:17:00] The origins of Love Over Fear: lessons from a politically divided church. [00:29:00] Four practices for depolarized conversations, including compassionate curiosity and subversive stories. [00:29:33] Techniques for Depolarization [00:41:00] A theology of the table: how Jesus confounds the powers of polarization. 💡 Takeaway: The practice of kingdom living starts at the table, where power shifts from winning arguments to mutual transformation. In a polarized world, Christians are called to disrupt division and embody Christ's love through listening, storytelling, and trust in God’s presence. 📖 Additional Reflection: How can you use the table as a space for transformation and reconciliation in your community?

    46 min

  7. 12/09/2024

    S10: E8 The Violent Take It by Force with Matthew Taylor

    What happens when revivalist faith meets political power?   In this episode of Theology on Mission, Dave Fitch and Mike Moore sit down with scholar Matthew D. Taylor to uncover the startling rise of the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR)—a movement reshaping the landscape of evangelical Christianity and American politics. Taylor reveals how this influential network of apostles and prophets has grown from obscure beginnings to a force wielding colossal sway, intertwining charismatic zeal with far-right rhetoric. From the Seven Mountains Mandate to the dramatic spiritual warfare on January 6, this conversation peels back the layers on how NAR’s vision of Christian supremacy is impacting both the church and democracy. Brace yourself for a deep dive into the movement's roots, its rapid ascent, and what it means for the future of faith and public life. Timestamps:  01:49 Introducing Northern Seminary's New President 04:17 Meet Our Esteemed Guest: Dr. Matthew Taylor 05:49 The Violent Take It By Force: Book Overview 07:50 The New Apostolic Reformation and January 6th 09:24 C. Peter Wagner: The Man Behind the Movement 12:23 Signs, Wonders, and Church Growth 17:51 Strategic Level Spiritual Warfare 20:19 Theological Implications and Controversies 23:11 The Rise of Pragmatic Theology 24:11 From Fringe to Mainstream: The Evolution of NAR 26:16 The Seven Mountain Mandate 27:32 Sarah Palin and the NAR's Political Ambitions 28:10 Donald Trump: The Anointed One 30:57 The Theology of Christian Trumpism 32:02 The January 6th Insurrection 34:35 Theological Reflections and Critiques 38:11 Christian Supremacy vs. Democracy 44:44 Cultural Resentment and Conservative Christians 48:54 Final Thoughts and Future Directions

    51 min

  8. 11/18/2024

    S10: E7 Prophets Beyond Activism with Julia O’Brien

    What is the deepest emphasis of the prophets in the Bible?   Prophets beyond Activism insightfully challenges the common progressive narrative that the prophets of ancient Israel were primarily concerned with social justice. Instead it daringly offers more life-giving ways of engaging the prophetic books for the causes of justice. The assumption that the prophets of ancient Israel were primarily concerned with social justice so permeates the thinking and the discourse of progressive Christianity that it might be considered an interpretive orthodoxy. For example, progressives characterize prophets as those who speak truth to power and “prophetic preaching” as social critique. Yet, they often do so without explanation or consideration of alternative views. Timestamps:   01:54 Introducing Dr. Julia O'Brien 03:05 Prophets as Activists Orthodoxy 09:06 Biblical Ventriloquism and Social Justice 13:46 Challenges of Interpreting Prophetic Texts 20:14 The Role of Prophets in Modern Social Justice 45:37 Concluding Thoughts and Final Remarks

    50 min
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4.7
out of 5
125 Ratings

About

For those longing to connect theology and mission, we are talking about God and everything else. Broadcasting from NORTHERN SEMINARY, in partnership with Missio Alliance, David Fitch and Mike Moore bring their experiences as pastors and professors to bear on issues of mission and church. Pull up a chair or take them and their guests with you around town.

Information

  • Creator
    Theology on Mission
  • Years Active
    2015 - 2025
  • Episodes
    206
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Theology on Mission

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