ERLC Podcast

In this episode of the ERLC Podcast, Josh and Lindsay are joined by Chelsea Sobolik. Chelsea is a Policy Director in the ERLC’s office on Capitol Hill, known as Leland House. With Brent in the U.K. working on a major pro-life initiative there, Josh, Lindsay and Chelsea talk about this week’s ERLC content and highlight recent events from news and culture including updates on the March for Life, Impeachment, the Iowa Caucuses, and the Nigerian pastor who was recently martyred by the terrorist group Boko Haram.   About Chelsea   Chelsea is the author of Longing for Motherhood: Holding onto Hope in the Midst of Childlessness. She has a B.A. in International Relations from Liberty University, and lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband Michael. You can follow her on Twitter: @ChelsPat   ERLC Content   Why families are critical for human flourishing by Josh Wester Kobe Bryant and the fragility of life by Jeremy Linneman How can we utilize creativity and technology to disciple Christians? by Ben Mandrell The Bible as an app: One man's quest to have everyone engaging with Scripture by Lindsay Nicolet Culture   Pro-Life is Pro-Woman (ERLC) A Good Decade for the Pro-Life Movement (NRO) Visual Guide to the Iowa Caucuses (WSJ) Nate Silver’s Iowa Caucus rundown (FiveThirtyEight) The martyrdom of Nigerian Pastor Lawan Andimi (CT) Read Scripture app Explainer on Boko Haram (CNN) Kirk Cousins on reading the Bible Aaron Rodgers on losing his faith (Relevant) TN man smokes marijuana in front of judge (ABC News) Mayor Mike Bloomberg meets a dog for the first time (CNN)  Lunchroom Lindsay: Kobe Bryant; Prayer by Tim Keller Chelsea: Alarm clocks. Listen to find out why. Josh: Libraries "Visiting the library remains the most common cultural activity Americans engage in, by far. The average 10.5 trips to the library U.S. adults report taking in 2019 exceeds their participation in eight other common leisure activities."     ERLC Resource   Never Walk Away: Lessons on Integrity From a Father Who Lived It by Crawford Loritts     Connect with us on Twitter @ERLC @jbwester @LeatherwoodTN @LindsNicolet

In episode two of the re-launched ERLC Podcast, Josh Wester, Lindsay Nicolet, and Brent Leatherwood talk about this week’s ERLC content and highlight recent events from news and culture. Also on this episode, they talk with special guest J.T. English. J.T. is a pastor at The Village Church and oversees The Village Institute. He also hosts the Knowing Faith podcast with Jen Wilkin and Kyle Worley. You can follow him on Twitter: @jt_english. ERLC Content Increasing religious persecution in China by Chelsea Sobilik & Casey Hough Three tips on teaching your children about racism by Jason Thacker What Mayor Pete Buttigieg’s comments reveal about the state of religious liberty by Andrew T. Walker Culture The rise of a global class-driven trust divide (Axios) Arkansas Disaster Relief volunteers respond to real-time disaster (Biblical Recorder) Rainbow Cake Girl: The True Story (The American Conservative) 5 Facts about the history of the SBC and the pro-life cause (ERLC) Gov. Bill Lee announces new fetal heartbeat bill, comprehensive abortion restriction legislation (Tennessean) China coronavirus outbreak: Authorities are locking down cities in an unprecedented bid to contain the virus (CBS News) 'The Office' Is Officially Leaving Netflix. But You Still Have Time to Watch It (Time)  Lunchroom Brent: New book released by our friends and partners at Lifeline Children Services | Image-Bearers: Shifting from Pro-Birth to Pro-Life by their executive director, Herbie Newell. Lindsay: The Read Scripture App Josh: 1917. At the height of the First World War, two young British soldiers, Schofield and Blake are given a seemingly impossible mission. In a race against time, they must cross enemy territory and deliver a message that will stop a deadly attack on hundreds of soldiers—Blake’s own brother among them. ERLC Resource In honor of the March for Life, we’re sharing a talk by Karen Ellis from our Evangelicals for Life conference last year: Pro-Life and Civil Rights: Loving Our Unborn Neighbors. Connect with us on Twitter @ERLC @jbwester @LeatherwoodTN @LindsNicolet

On this inaugural episode of the re-launched ERLC Podcast, Josh Wester, Lindsay Nicolet, and Brent Leatherwood introduce the new format for the podcast, talk about this week’s ERLC content, and highlight significant events in the culture. Also on this episode, they talk with a special guest, Amy Whitfield.  Amy is the co-host of the SBC This Week podcast, along with Jonathan Howe. She serves as Associate Vice President for Convention Communications. You can follow her on Twitter: @acwhit. ERLC Content Christians are called to counter anti-Semitism—and all hatred—with hospitality by Casey B. Hough 4 technology issues to watch out for in 2020 by Jason Thacker Some questions and answers about foster care by Jenn Kintner 4 ways Sir Roger Scruton shaped me by Bryan Baise Culture Newly passed adoption agency bill a win for Tennessee’s children by Russell Moore (The Tennessean) Don’t Panic, Just Worry by Yuval Levin (The Dispatch) Liberty Gained and Power Lost by David French (The Dispatch) Lunchroom Brent: A new study from Dartmouth University that says the peak of unhappiness is age 47! Lindsay: David French’s “It’s Not Good That Man Should Be Alone” (The Dispatch) Life can’t get too busy to obey God. And while the verse in Genesis that titles this piece refers to Adam and Eve, it still speaks a truth beyond husband and wife. It speaks to the truth of friendship and community. It is not good for a man to be alone.   Josh: Sola: How the Five Solas Are Still Reforming the Church (a resource from our friends at MBTS) ERLC Resource From our 2018 ERLC National Conference, "The Church as the Family of God: Singleness, Same-Sex Attraction, and the Hope of Hospitality" by Sam Allberry Connect with us on Twitter @ERLC @jbwester @LeatherwoodTN @LindsNicolet

America’s children are facing a crisis. Many are displaced from their homes, vulnerable and in need of care. What can we, as Christians, do to address this orphan crisis? At Evangelicals for Life, Brent Leatherwood hosted a panel discussion on creating an adoption culture, featuringcHerbie Newell, Emily Chapman Richards, Chelsea Patterson Sobolik, and Tony Merida.

The world of relationships has been dramatically altered by social media, dating apps, and online dating sites. Furthermore, the sexual revolution clashes with a biblical understanding of sexuality and the meaning of relationships. Ben Stuart speaks at the ERLC National Conference on navigating life and love in the modern age.

Since Roe v. Wade was written into law in 1973, millions of babies have been aborted. But in the midst of such tragedy, the pro-life movement has been growing. With the 50th anniversary of Roe looming, what does the future of the legislation look like? At Evangelicals for Life, Travis Wussow and Kristen Waggoner discuss this and the future of pro-life policy.

In today’s society, children will grow up with far more access to technology than previous generations. Each piece of art that they will come in contact with tells a certain story. With this in mind, how can parents use the gifts of story and song as a way of shaping families and their children? At our National Conference, Russell Moore lead a panel discussion with Sally Lloyd-Jones, Andrew Peterson, Randall Goodgame, Phil Vischer on what role the arts can play in family life.

As we live in the tension between the Fall and the full restoration of all things, suffering is an undeniable fact of life. What comfort does the presence of God have to offer to the suffering family, and what does the Gospel say to these families? At the 2018 ERLC National Conference, Erick Erickson opens the conversation on reconciling God’s goodness with our suffering.

Life in ministry is often rich and rewarding. But there are challenges and season of struggle, as well. These struggles can take a toll on marriages in particular. At our National Conference, Phillip Bethancourt moderated a panel with Christine Hoover, Nicole Lino, Chris Osborne, and Kevin Ueckert as they discussed strengthening marriage in ministry by overcoming jealousy, resentment, discouragement, and loneliness.

A brief look at the the things that are popular in our culture—movies, songs, TV shows, fashion—reveals that we are obsessed with sex. But our culture’s understanding of sex is upside down from what the Bible teaches. At the ERLC’s National Conference, Phillip Bethancourt addresses God’s design for sex, love, and marriage.

Many Christians look at the world through disillusioned eyes and fear the way culture is changing, but a Christian worldview gives us courage to live in the world, and to advance the kingdom by engaging, not retreating from, the world. At the SBC Pre-Conference, Russell Moore gave a talk on a Christian approach to cultural engagement.

As culture changes, ministry leaders inherit both new opportunities and new challenges. At the SBC Pre-Conference, J.D. Greear discusses what these new contexts mean for ministry leaders today and how we can be faithful to God’s calling.

The Bible tells us that those who are Christians have been adopted into the family of God. How can we mirror the Gospel by opening up our own homes? And what is God’s heart for the orphaned? At Evangelicals for Life, Russell Moore had a conversation with Steven Curtis Chapman, and his wife Mary Beth Chapman, about their passion for adoption.

As injustices and inequalities have been exposed, there have been increasing calls to correct the criminal justice system and our prisons. What might Christians have to say to minister to those in prisons? What is our calling toward and for the incarcerated? At Evangelicals for Life, Steven Harris moderated a panel with Thabiti Anyabwile, Heather Rice-Minus, and Julie Warren on these very issues.

Dr. Seuss famously wrote, "A person’s a person no matter how small." As Christians, we go a step further and say, "A person’s a person no matter his or her age, stage, ability, or perceived value in society." Dan Darling spoke about this at Evangelicals for Life and encouraged us to see how God’s Word upholds the dignity of every individual.