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The Vision For Life Podcast

New episodes every Wednesday!

Episode 164.5 | The Church & Higher Ed: Epilogue

March 27, 2024 • Autumn Gardner, Dave Morlan

Episode 164 | The Church & Higher Ed, Part 5: The Role Of Christian Education

March 27, 2024 • Autumn Gardner, Dave Morlan, Mark Young

What is the role or purpose of seminaries or institutions dedicated to theological training? Are seminaries sending out men and women who are rooted in scripture and able to withstand the shifting winds of culture without being tossed about (Eph 4:14). What does “rootedness” look like? The President of Denver Seminary, Dr. Mark Young, joins Dave and Autumn to discuss what unapologetic love coupled with distinct theology looks like in practice. Dr. Young lends insight into the current state of seminary training on the whole and why the hope of the gospel is the greatest need in theological education today.

Episode 163 | The Church & Higher Ed, Part 4: The Online Model

March 20, 2024 • Autumn Gardner, Dave Morlan, Earl Waggoner

Are students who enter institutions of higher learning fundamentally in need of equipping or transformation? Is the goal of Christian higher ed to produce trained workers or vocationally-minded followers of Jesus? Or is the dichotomy not that simple? Dr. Earl Waggoner, Dean of the School of Biblical and Theological Studies at Colorado Christian University, sits down with Dave and Autumn to discuss the advantages of online learning, particularly for adult students. Dr. Waggoner shares his perspective on the state of Christian higher education and discusses how CCU's College of Adult and Graduate Studies is navigating the tensions within higher education.

Episode 162 | The Church & Higher Ed, Part 3: The Cohort Model

March 13, 2024 • Autumn Gardner, Dave Morlan, Michael Morgan

Institutions of Christian higher education are responding in various ways to the cultural and technological pressures of our day. The William Tennent School of Theology, based in Colorado, utilizes a retreat plus cohort model to provide theological training that is “academically rigorous and theologically robust, while also stoking affection(s) for Jesus.” Dave and Autumn speak with Dr. Michael Morgan, Academic Dean and Professor of Historical Theology at Tennent, to ask what constitutes a formational educational experience and why Tennent has chosen the retreat plus cohort modality.

Episode 161 | The Church & Higher Ed, Part 2: The Church's Response

March 6, 2024 • Autumn Gardner, Dave Morlan

In an era of rapid cultural and technological change, institutions of higher education are grappling with questions about the nature of institutions, the purpose of higher education, the response to cultural pressures, and what modalities will lead to their desired outcome. In part two of this five-part series, Dave and Autumn consider the opportunity for churches to respond thoughtfully to the state of the University and shifting cultural tides by deeply rooting the family of God in biblical truth.

Episode 160 | The Church & Higher Ed, Part 1: Tension Points

February 28, 2024 • Autumn Gardner, Dave Morlan

Historically, the University owes its existence to the Church, as the Medieval Church played a central, if not exclusive, role in establishing the earliest universities. In the 18th century, the School began to separate itself from its Christian roots and ceded increasing control to the State. Even so, the School and the Church shared some common purpose: to shape individuals into participants in society whose vision for the good life included care for neighbors, civic action, and understanding of the world. In the present American system of higher education, which includes both secular and religious institutions, that shared purpose has waned. Trust in the University is low, and higher education as a whole is struggling to find its footing in the world of rapid technological development. In part one of this five-part series, Dave and Autumn discuss the tensions within Christian Higher Ed. They consider the unique opportunity for churches to respond thoughtfully to the state of the University and shifting cultural tides by deeply rooting the family of God in biblical truth.

Episode 159 | Q&R: New Birth

February 21, 2024 • Autumn Gardner, Hunter Beaumont

Does Scripture teach or emphasize a “moment” of salvation? What is a biblical understanding of “conversion?” Hunter and Autumn respond to a listener's question about justification with an examination of Jesus’ teaching on new birth from John 3:1-15.

Episode 158 | VFL Reads: The Flip Side To Church As Family

February 14, 2024 • Autumn Gardner, Hunter Beaumont

Does “Church as Family” convey an unrealistic portrait of the church, leading people to believe they will encounter loyal, committed, honorable brothers and sisters, perpetuating disillusionment and hurt if they don’t? Would we better serve people to gently adjust their expectations to level with the messy, dysfunctional family that seems to match their experience? Trevin Wax considers these questions in an article recently posted on The Gospel Coalition. Hunter and Autumn comment on the article and suggest that expectations of the church are best when leveled with Jesus’ and the Apostles’ depictions of the family of God rather than with our own disappointing experiences.

Episode 157 | Family Of God, Part 4: Membership

February 7, 2024 • Autumn Gardner, Andy Barlow

Jesus spoke of His followers, the inhabitants of the kingdom of God, in familial terms. Being connected to Christ implies a simultaneous connection to members of His body, whom He calls family. This new family is distinct, marked by a fullness not found in the kingdoms of the world. This new family grows together in distinct expressions of kingdom life and is characterized by the corporate rhythms of generosity, community, worship, and commitment to God and each other. In part four of this four-part series of conversations, Andy and Autumn discuss the biblical understanding of membership and its relevance to the modern local church.

Episode 156 | Family Of God, Part 3: Worship

January 31, 2024 • Autumn Gardner, Hunter Beaumont

Jesus spoke of His followers, the inhabitants of the kingdom of God, in familial terms. Being connected to Christ necessarily implies a simultaneous connection to members of His body, whom He calls family. This new family is distinct, marked by a fullness not found in the kingdoms of the world. This new family grows together in distinct expressions of kingdom life and is characterized by the corporate rhythms of generosity, community, worship, and commitment to God and each other. In part three of this four-part series of conversations, Hunter and Autumn discuss the habit of weekly corporate worship. Gathered worship allows us to experience the fullness of the family of God and is a means of ordinary grace, yet making space in our lives for weekly corporate worship can be challenging. Hunter and Autumn identify five mindsets that discourage participation in worship and respond to each one.

Episode 155 | Family Of God, Part 2: Creating Community

January 24, 2024 • Autumn Gardner, Hunter Beaumont, Andy Barlow

Jesus spoke of His followers, the inhabitants of the kingdom of God, in familial terms. Being connected to Christ necessarily implies a simultaneous connection to members of His body, whom He calls family. This new family is distinct, marked by a fullness not found in the kingdoms of the world. This new family grows together in distinct expressions of kingdom life and is marked by the corporate rhythms of generosity, community, worship, and commitment to God and each other. In part two of this four-part series of conversations, Hunter, Andy, and Autumn discuss the current sermon series and the way in which this new family cultivates a unique community. Resources mentioned in this episode: https://a.co/d/74gkd6m

Episode 154 | Family Of God, Part 1: Generosity

January 17, 2024 • Autumn Gardner, Hunter Beaumont

Jesus spoke of His followers, the inhabitants of the kingdom of God, in familial terms. Connection to Christ results in connection to His body, which he also calls His family. This new family is distinct, marked by a fullness not found in the kingdoms of the world. This new family grows together in distinct expressions of kingdom life and is marked by the corporate rhythms of generosity, community, worship, and commitment to God and each other. In part one of this four-part series of conversations, Hunter and Autumn discuss the current sermon series and the corporate practice of generosity that marks the family of God. Resources mentioned in this episode: https://fellowshipdenver.org/media/series/schmgf2/first-to-the-lord

Episode 153 | Daily Life With God In 2024

January 10, 2024 • Autumn Gardner, Hunter Beaumont

Regular, personal time with God spent in Scripture and in prayer connects us relationally to our Father and allows us to experience His presence. Building the habit of daily life with God requires a regular time and a regular plan. Hunter and Autumn discuss how to craft a plan to connect with God personally, and they share their own anticipated Bible reading, Bible study, and prayer plans for 2024.

Episode 152 | Autumn & H's Best Reads Of 2023

January 3, 2024 • Autumn Gardner, Hunter Beaumont

Hunter and Autumn share some of the books that challenged, informed, encouraged, inspired, and delighted them during 2023. --Spiritual Life-- https://www.amazon.com/timothy-keller-spiritual-intellectual-formation/dp/0310128684 by Collin Hansen (AG & HB) https://www.amazon.com/outgrowing-ingrown-church-john-miller/dp/0310284112by Jack Miller (HB) --Theology and Bible-- https://www.amazon.com/genesis-gender-christian-theory/dp/1621644081 by Abigail Favale (AG & HB) https://www.amazon.com/love-thy-body-answering-questions/dp/0801075971/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2kxsnup2phu52&keywords=love+thy+body&qid=1703139378&s=books&sprefix=love+thy+body%2cstripbooks%2c122&sr=1-1 by Nancy Pearcey (AG) --Biography and History-- https://www.amazon.com/last-lion-winston-churchill-1874-1932/dp/0385313489 by William Manchester (HB) https://www.amazon.com/reformation-renewal-retrieving-catholic-apostolic/dp/031009755x by Matthew Barrett (HB) --General Interest-- https://www.amazon.com/10x-easier-than-world-class-entrepreneurs/dp/140196995x by Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy (HB) https://www.amazon.com/art-loading-brush-agrarian-writings/dp/1619020386/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1xqxy4kykm40t&keywords=the+art+of+loading+brush&qid=1703139697&s=books&sprefix=the+art+of+loading+brush%2cstripbooks%2c124&sr=1-1 by Wendell Berry (AG) --General Interest On Helping Us Understand the Modern, Western Culture in Which We Live-- https://www.amazon.com/conservative-rediscovery-yoram-hazony/dp/1684511097 by Yoram Hazony (HB) https://www.amazon.com/s?k=the+air+we+breathe&i=stripbooks&hvadid=174223692691&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9028783&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=3455781462939237724&hvtargid=kwd-5293845821&hydadcr=22537_9636735&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_2mn7t75sat_e by Glen Scrivener (AG - Apologetics / Evangelism) https://www.amazon.com/remaking-world-1776-created-post-christian/dp/1433580535 by Andrew Wilson (HB) https://www.amazon.com/strange-new-world-activists-revolution/dp/1433579308/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=utf8&qid=1703138685&sr=1-1 by Carl Trueman (AG) --General Interest On Sexuality and Gender-- https://www.amazon.com/case-against-sexual-revolution/dp/1509549994/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=utf8&qid=1703141032&sr=1-1 by Louise Perry (AG) https://www.amazon.com/feminism-against-progress-mary-harrington/dp/1684515262/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=utf8&qid=1703141779&sr=8-1 by Mary Harrington (AG) --Children’s Literature-- https://www.amazon.com/little-more-beautiful-story-garden/dp/1956393005 (picture book) by Sarah Mackenzie, illustrated by Breezy Brookshire (AG) https://www.amazon.com/hotel-oscar-mike-linda-mackillop/dp/108777098x/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3eoww3yo3fxa8&keywords=hotel+oscar+mike&qid=1703143301&s=books&sprefix=hotel+osc%2cstripbooks%2c145&sr=1-1 (middle-grade novel) by Linda MacKillop (AG) https://store.rabbitroom.com/products/the-lost-tales-of-sir-galahad-ships-spring-2022?variant=40005538709591, a compilation of stories by various authors (AG) --Fiction and Literature-- https://www.amazon.com/finding-time-again-penguin-classics/dp/0143133713 by Marcel Proust (HB - Content Warning) https://www.amazon.com/year-provence-peter-mayle/dp/0679731148/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3j5p3mivx5zgi&keywords=a+year+in+provence&qid=1703142634&sprefix=a+year+in+provence%2caps%2c128&sr=8-1 by Peter Mayle (AG) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0199217947 by Henry James (HB)

Episode 151.5 | Christmas Break!

December 20, 2023 • Autumn Gardner

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