I met Tim Gaines when we were teaching together at a Salvation Army Bible camp (where I discovered so many very cool people). Tim immediately captured my attention with his teaching on what it means to serve the gospel in a secular culture, and that's what we'll be talking about on this podcast. Dr. Gaines serves as Associate Professor of Religion at Trevecca Nazarene University, where he teaches theology and ethics and directs a graduate program in theology and biblical studies. He has authored and coauthored several books, including Christian Ethics, Kings and Presidents: Politics and the Kingdom of God, and A Seat at the Table: A Generation Reimagining Its Place in the Church. He also serves as a pastor at Trevecca Community Church. 

Together with her husband, Bill, Diane Ury serves as the National Ambassador for Holiness in The Salvation Army. That’s the best job title I’ve ever heard, and I admit to being just a little jealous of her job! I also admit to being a bit of a fan-girl. Diane  excels at everything her job description calls for --  a strong preacher, inspired teacher, articulate writer, and courageous communicator of the Salvation Army's mission and its holiness doctrine and history. You are going to love this person and this conversation. 

My brilliant and beautiful friend Sandy is on AoH for the third time with this episode, making her the most interviewed (and also the most listened-to) of our guests. We love Sandy Richter! This time, she is talking about Deborah the prophet, subject of a newly released study in the Epic of Eden series. Professor at Westmont College, Dr. Richter is an OT scholar and an epic (pun intended) story-teller. You'll love this episode!

Rev. Dr. Jerry Kulah is an Elder in the United Methodist Church. He serves as an Evangelist, Pastor, Teacher, and Administrator.  Since 1997, he has served in the Liberia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, and currently serves as Vice President of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies at the Graduate School of Theology at United Methodist University (UMU). He also serves as the General Coordinator of the Africa Initiative, an advocacy group within the three Central Conferences of Africa that is committed to upholding the practice of biblical Christianity within the church. This is how we met, as we've contended together for orthodoxy on two continents. Today, we talk discipleship. This is an especially important conversation for those seeking a truly global expression of Methodism.  

Today, we’re talking to someone I met while helping another friend with her doctoral work. One of her professors on that journey was Winn Collier, who is the Director of The Eugene Peterson Center for Christian Imagination, and Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology and Christian Imagination at Western Theological Seminary. He is also the authorized biographer for Eugene Peterson’s story. His biography of Peterson, called A Burning in My Bones, was released in 2021. He has other books to his credit, as well, and it is actually one of those other books we'll talk about today. His book, Holy Curiosity, looks a nine questions Jesus asked people he met on the journey. Collier’s study of those questions unleashes in me a curiosity about questions in general and how we might use them in the work of becoming holy. In this conversation, we'll talk about questions and imagination and Eugene Peterson and curiosity and holiness. Enjoy. 

Today, I’m talking to Amy and Rob Dixon, authors, academics, and ministry leaders. Amy is an editor, marketer, and the author of several children’s books. Rob serves on the faculty of Fuller and on staff with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. Together, they've written a marvelous children's book called Penny Preaches,  illustrated by Jennifer Davison. This beautiful book is why I got in touch with them. Rob has also written book on a related topic called Together in Ministry: Women and Men in Flourishing Partnerships. Relevant conversation, close to my heart. I hope you get some good stuff from this one. 

Sean McGever talks like an academic, but he has the heart of a pastor and the gifts of a prophet. He has a PhD from the University of Aberdeen, and serves on the faculty of Grand Canyon University. He is also an area director for Young Life in Phoenix, Arizona and has written books on evangelism and the theology of conversion. Today I want to talk with him about his latest book — Ownership: The Evangelical Legacy of Slavery in Edwards, Wesley, and Whitefield. McGever wants to get us beyond the subject matter to the deeper issue of how we live this life, how we make decisions, what legacy we want to leave. He is using history to do a very pastoral thing, and I am honored to have this opportunity to learn from someone who takes the notion of witness seriously. 

Dr. Matt O'Reilly is Lead Pastor of Christ Church in Birmingham, Alabama, a fellow of the Center for Pastor Theologians, and Director of Research at Wesley Biblical Seminary, where he provides leadership for their Doctor of Ministry program. He has a ton of honors to his credit, and it doesn't take much of a listen to understand why. Today we talk to him about two things he is passionate about: holiness and Methodism. He has published books on both this month -- Free to Be Holy: A Biblical Theology of Sanctification (published by Seedbed) and Reconstructing Methodism (published by The Francis Asbury Society). I hope you will be as encouraged as I am by the relevance of both topics for our real lives in this real world today. 

Caleb Campbell has been a pastor at Desert Springs Bible Church in Phoenix, Arizona, since 2006 and lead pastor since 2015. He is a doctoral student at Fuller Theological Seminary and serves as the regional director for the Surge Network. Today, we’re talking to him about a passion of his that syncs with this season. Caleb has just released a book called Disarming Leviathan: Loving Your Christian Nationalist Neighbor, that addresses the whole issue of Christian nationalism. But listen! He does so from the perspective of a missionary and pastor. It is a compassionate look at part of our culture that needs the tender care of Jesus. I’ll tell you now that parts of this conversation may rattle your worldview, but I’m asking you to listen all the way through and consider how God might have you rethink your response to those with whom you disagree in this election season. 

This is Lo's second time on our podcast, but he brings a whole new subject to the table this time. Urban Hymnal is a very cool project unfolding in the heart of Houston, Texas. It is a collection of (hundreds, yall!) creatives and young adults gathering weekly for worship and community. Lo and the design team have developed a beautiful structure to hang it all on, so there is a lot to learn here. I hope you'll listen with a spirit open to all the Spirit is doing. 

Dr. Elesha Coffman is a professor at Baylor University and the author of several books … including her latest, Turning Points in American Church History: How Pivotal Events Shaped a Nation and a Faith. I want to thank Scot McKnight for his review of this one, which got me very interested. So let’s talk history and Holy Spirit … 

Elesha Coffman is a journalist who became an academic, which probably makes her the best kind of academic. She has learned how to remain unbiased in search of truth. Even in our brief correspondence she insisted on staying true to the tools of her trade as a historian, and that alone both won my respect and got my curiosity going. So … what can we learn about the Holy Spirit from a historian? That’s the question on tap today. And our guest is just the person to engage that question. Dr Coffman is a professor at Baylor University, the author of several books … including one about Margaret Meade, which I’m so interested in reading. And then her latest … Turning Points in American Church History: How Pivotal Events Shaped a Nation and a Faith. I want to thank Scot McKnight for his review of this one, which got me very interested. So let’s talk history and Holy Spirit … 

Oops! Uploaded the wrong "Bryan Loritts" earlier this week, so let's try this again. Dr. Loritts has written a deep and inviting book about the art of friendship. In an age when we are all scattered, smothered and covered (thank you, Waffle House, for that imagery), it is good to be reminded of the importance of being unified, loving, and full of grace. I hope you find much to inspire you toward relational health as you listen in ... 

Dr. Bryan Loritts is a prolific writer, dynamic preacher, and strong advocate for multiethnic communities of faith. We've talked with him before on The Art of Holiness. This time, we have a great conversation around his latest book, Enduring Friendships: : Sticking Together in An Age of Unfriending. It is a great conversation, well timed for a season when division is is our go-to. Here, we discover another option ... the way of Jesus. 

Great conversation! Dr. Matt Friedeman has been a professor at Wesley Biblical Seminary since 1987, where he teaches evangelism and discipleship. He is the author of The 5Q Method of Discipleship, The Doctrine of Good Works, and Discipleship in the Home … all of which we’ll talk about today. Matt is also an ordained Nazarene minister who serves as the founding pastor of Day Spring Community Church in Clinton, Mississippi. He is all about discipling students, so I’ve brought a student pastor with me into this discussion.

Dan Wilt is an author, speaker, worship leader, song writer, and student of the Holy Spirit. He is part of both the Anglican Communion and the Vineyard Church and has taught in conferences, university settings, seminaries, and churches across streams of the Body of Christ. He is part of the Seedbed and New Room families and has published several books through them, the latest of which is all about the Holy Spirit. Receive the Holy Spirit is more than a book. It is a primer and a spiritual guide — a 70-day practice of Scripture reading, prayer, and reflection that spans the first moments of creation all the way to today.

Mark Tooley is brings a wealth of real-world experience to his post as president of the Institute on Religion and Democracy and editor of IRD’s foreign policy and national security journal, Providence: A Journal of Christianity & American Foreign Policy. He worked eight years for the Central Intelligence Agency and is a graduate of Georgetown University. He founded UMAction, a subset of IRD. He is both author of and contributor to a number of books, including  The Peace That Almost Was: The Forgotten Story of the 1861 Washington Peace Conference and the Final Attempt to Avert the Civil War (2015). He has written for multiple publications you know the names of, like The Wall Street Journal and National Review. All this is to say that Mark is kind of a rock star, and yet one of the most approachable and faithful men  I know who is speaking into American politics and culture. Today we talk to him about Methodism, democracy, the rise of Christian nationalism and anti-semitism, and of course, about holiness. 

Kevin Watson is a professor at Asbury Theological Seminary, based at their Tulsa campus. Before going to Asbury, he taught at Candler School of Theology, where he was awarded tenure, and Seattle Pacific. He has written some very important books for our tribe; Blueprint for Discipleship,  The Class Meeting,  and The Band Meeting; and this month he publishes Doctrine, Spirit and Discipline. Way beyond being an academic and writer, Kevin cares for souls. As he writes on his blog site, "My favorite thing to do is walk with people who have a calling to local church ministry and help them grow in their confidence in their calling and gifting for ministry.” That heart for people and their call oozes out of Kevin and makes him one of our favorite people. Today we talk to him about his latest book, and about where the Methodist movement is headed. 

Dr. Sterling Allen currently serves as the Director of Music and Worship Arts at Good Shepherd Global Methodist Church in Cypress, Texas. He holds multiple degrees in music, including Doctor of Worship in liturgics and hymnology from the Webber Institute in Florida. He has sung as an operatic baritone internationally and is a recognized Charles Wesley Scholar specializing in soteriological-lyrical theology. We’re talking to him today about a his latest publication, a hymnal of Charles Wesley hymns. I didn’t know how much I don't know about Wesley’s hymns, nor did I realize how much I want to know … but I do! So let’s talk about hymnody and theology and eschatology and all that gets packed into a song that stands the test of time. 

This conversation is close to my heart because these are people I dearly love. Laura Curry is a sister in the faith who has a beautiful story of recovery and redemption. Joining me in this interview is my dear son-in-the-faith, Christopher Goss (who also happens to be the artist responsible for the theme music on AoH). There's a lot of meat here for those hungry to know more about how the 12 steps work.  

Justin Gravitt is dedicated to making disciples and it shows. You can find him at JustinGravitt.com, and he is also on board with The Navigators. He has planted campus ministries and developed disciplemaking resources. He has served on mission in southeast Asia, and lives to cultivate disciple making cultures. His book, The Foundation of a Disciplemaking Culture, comes out later this year. Today we talk about what it means to make disciples who make disciples, and what needs to shift in order for followers of Jesus to do that good work.

Dr. Cheryl Bridges Johns is a visiting professor of Pentecostal Studies at United Theological Seminary. She is the author of four fantastic books, the most recent of which we will discuss today -- Re-enchanting the Text: Discovering the Bible as Sacred, Dangerous, and Mysterious. She has spent a lifetime in the academic world but somehow has an incredible read on culture and a tremendous sensitivity to social justice issues. She is a mentor to many, a fine example of Spirit-led living. When Cheryl speaks, people listen. I’m honored to call her friend and love sharing in this conversation with her today. 

I love introducing you to very cool people I know, and Max and Jim are among the very coolest. Max served as a pastor in Florida and Hawaii for 26 years prior to becoming president and CEO of TMS Global. We've heard from him before on The Art of Holiness so go find that podcast so you can learn about his book, Focusing My Gaze, and his podcast called Brilliant Gaze. Max is stepping down from TMS and Jim Ramsey is stepping up. Jim and his wife, Shawn, served in Kazakhstan for 10 years before joining the staff of TMS, and has trained and mobilized who knows how many cross cultural workers over the years. He has a passion for training and sending people into the world to share the good news, and he also has a passion for partnership. It is a joy to have these two good friends on AoH for a great conversation about missions, transitions and life. 

Dr. Carmen Imes is the Associate Professor of Old Testament at Biola University in La Mirada, California. She is a prolific and creative scholarly writer, having written everything from a beautifully illustrated version of the Psalms in Hebrew, to an illustrated Exodus in Hebrew. She has written on praying the Psalms in Hebrew, and among her latest books are two we will talk about more today … Bearing God’s Name and Being God’s Image … both reflections on themes found in Genesis. Dr. Imes earned a PhD in Biblical Theology from Wheaton College, an MA in Biblical Studies from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and a BA in Bible and Theology from Multnomah University. She and her husband, Daniel, served as missionaries with SIM for 15 years. Today we talk with her about what it means to be the image of God. 

MaryLou Reece has owned a successful construction company, raised three thriving kids, joined her husband in ministry, and then walked with him into the episcopacy when Scott Jones was consecrated Bishop in the United Methodist Church. They have since contended faithfully for orthodox Christianity both within and beyond their denomination. They now serve together in the Global Methodist Church and have recently returned from a nine-country tour of Methodists who are finding their way into the GMC. This is a great conversation about how to follow faithfully where God leads.  

Mark Webb was a United Methodist for more than four decades, where he served as pastor, district superintendent and bishop, before moving into the Global Methodist Church to become one of two active bishops in this new movement that we call the GMC. He and Bishop Scott Jones are reshaping how we understand what Methodists call the episcopacy, and that’s what we talk about in this episode. We’ll talk not only about the role of bishop, but the broader concept of spiritual leadership and the nature of the church and how all this impacts how you and me. 

In February, 2023, Zach Meerkreebs -- writer, speaker, & Pastor in Residence at Asbury University -- preached a solid but "normal" message at a morning chapel service at AU. Chapel was dismissed and most students moved on to class ... but some lingered to reflect on the message and what God was doing in their lives. By that afternoon, the chapel was beginning to fill up again with students who were sensing a move of the Spirit. By the end of this outpouring, Asbury's chapel was overflowing with folks from around the world. This incredible phenomenon -- and all that has happened in the year since --  is what Zach and I sat down to discuss.

Ivan Filby is one of my favorite people in the world, He has a prophetic gift that bears such good fruit, and he has lived most of his call at a unique intersection of church, academia, and the business world. Today, he serves as the CEO of Seedbed (that's the publishing house birthed by Asbury that has published most of my books, so yeah ... I'm a fan). I love this conversation about publishing, prophecy, and holiness. I hope you listen.  

Suzanne Nicholson is a professor at Asbury University. She received her Ph.D. in New Testament Studies from the University of Durham in England, an M.Div. at Asbury Theological Seminary, and a B.A., magna cum laude, in journalism from the University of Minnesota. Dr. Nicholson is an elder in the Global Methodist Church, and in this podcast she talks to us about how Wesleyans read the Bible. Its a great conversation, and includes Bob Kaylor, a new cohost for AoH. Thanks for listening!

Dr. Ryan Danker is the Director of the John Wesley Institute, which is part of the Institute on Religion and Democracy. Danker is an author, historian, and Wesley scholar committed to the Wesleyan vision. He has some great books, like Wesley and the Anglicans: Political Division in Early Evangelicalism; and edited another one on Exploring a Wesleyan Political Theology. He has published articles in all kinds of professional journals.  Today he talks about The School of Methodism, a very cool new initiative he's working with some very cool colleagues. 

This is a special episode. Its just Pierce and Carolyn, talking about the last three years of podcasting together, and about the nature of transitions. This will be Pierce's last episode on AoH. The podcast continues after this week with Carolyn, some occasional co-hosts and a fresh focus on Spirit-filled Methodism.  So much gratitude for Pierce and his idea to do this together ... 

Friends, this is a deep and beautiful conversation with a man who has found faith in the fire and who has borne such fruit for the Kingdom. Rich Wilson is the founder of the Fusion Movement, reaching college students for Christ in the UK and US. You'll appreciate Rich's story and and the depth of his wisdom. And this is the last of our New Room 2023 podcasts ... we didn't want you to miss any of the "good!" 

Pete Hughes is the founding pastor of King's Cross Church in London, and one of the best thought leaders on the emerging Church -- renewal, revival, planting ... all of it. Pierce does this interview with Pete at the 2023 New Room Conference and we're sharing it here to get you ready for this year's New Room Conference. If you don't have your tickets yet, get 'em here. 

Rica McCroy has been with us before. She is a favorite among New Room attenders, and always brings such a fresh and rich word … which comes from a deep well of faith. Find her articles on the Holy Spirit at seedbed.com, along with her featured Bible study, called Wildfire. Today, she’s talking to us about her latest passion, which is deliverance ministry … which might not sound passion-worthy, but keep listening. She gives us a ton of great insight as well as a compelling reason to pursue a ministry that comes against the darkness and wounds that hold us back. 

Reward Sbanda became a friend of the New Room Community through his work with The Potters House in Dallas, Texas, where he was steeped in, modeled, and taught the deep-end work of community prayer. He is originally from Zimbabwe, and is now on staff at Saddleback Church where he serves at the intersection of Kingdom and justice. He thrives on this kind of conversation. He has such a fresh and deeply discerned perspective that challenges conventional thinking, and today’s discussion puts us right in the middle of Reward’s best … 

Last week, we interviewed our first Canadian. This week, we interview our first Australian. We are covering some miles, friends! Rev. Dr. Mandy Smith is the pastor of St Lucia Uniting Church in Brisbane, Australia. She is a regular contributor to Christianity Today and author of three books —  The Vulnerable Pastor: How Human Limitations Empower Our Ministry, and Unfettered … Imagining a Childlike Faith Beyond the Baggage of Western Culture. And her newest book, Confessions of an Amateur Saint: The Christian Leader's Journey from Self-Sufficiency to Reliance on God, releases in October 2024. She is a recent graduate of the Doctor of Ministry program at Western Theological Seminary. Mandy and her husband Jamie, a New Testament professor, live with their family in Australia. Her work can be found at TheWayIsTheWay.org.

Our first Canadian guest, y'all! Dr. Gordon T. Smith is the president of Ambrose University and Seminary in Calgary, Alberta, where he also serves as professor of systematic and spiritual theology. He has written extensively on gifts and call, and he comes at this conversation from a deep place — challenging us to consider how we make decisions for our lives and take responsibility for our place on this earth. We talk to him today about his latest book, Your Calling, Here and Now, and also about an earlier publication called Courage and Calling.  

Jeff Haanan is the founder of The Denver Institute for Faith and Work. He has a lot to say about practicing faith in the marketplace but also about how to live and work from a deeply authentic place. He also writes for Christianity Today and is the author of two books on work. One is An Uncommon Guide to Retirement, and his most recent is called Working From the Inside Out. When Jeff talks about work, he talks about things like thinking theologically about your job, and about living a holy life through your work.  Its a great conversation about a huge chunk of our lives … I hope you listen. Show Notes: Jeff's Study Guide:  A0331-study-guide.pdf (ivpress.com)

This week, we talk to Dr. Dennis Edwards, an author, pastor, educator, and activity, about the fascinating topic of humlity. In his latest book, Humility Illuminated, Dr. Edwards talks about an under-processed character trait that is actually central to holy living. Dr. Edwards is associate professor of New Testament at North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago. He has planted churches and worked in inner city ministries, was educated at Cornell, Trinity Evangelical, and Catholic University of America. He writes on race and power and justice, and now he offers a word on the personality of Christ. 

Maxie D. Dunnam is the former president and chancellor of Asbury Theological Seminary. He is now Senior Pastor Emeritus and Executive Director of CCGlobal at Christ United Methodist Church in Memphis. Dr. Dunnam is a powerful and prolific writer, having authored more than forty books, including the Workbook of Living Prayer, which sold more than one million copies.

Sandra Glahn has a PhD from the University of Texas and teaches at Dallas Theological Seminary. Her interests range widely from art, gender, sexual intimacy in marriage, first-century backgrounds as they relate to gender, bioethics ... so you can see why she advocates for "thinking that transforms." She is a thinker, and among the best. She has more than twenty books to her credit, along with multiple Bible studies and online ventures. It is a privilege to talk with her today about her latest book, Nobody's Mother which addresses the topic of women in church leadership through the lens of Paul's word to the church in Ephesus about women and childbearing. 

Brian Russell is a gentle force. He is an author, blogger, coach, mentor to many, and among the most accessible academics we know. He is a professor at Asbury Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida, but he is so much more. He has written deeply on the devotional study of scripture and also on the practice of centering prayer. On his website, brianrussellphd.com, he makes the bold statement, “I can help you thrive and flourish as the person God created you to be.” And that’s his mission. It is to help the rest of us flourish as followers of Jesus. Today we talk to him about his passions — centering prayer and reading scripture transformationally, and  about his new book, “Astonished by the Word: Reading Scripture for Deep Transformation.” 

Dan Wilt is the co-author of Sheltering Mercy and Endless Grace: Prayers Inspired by the Psalms (Brazos), as well as Jesus in the Wild (Seedbed), and is a writer, speaker,worship leader, songwriter, and encourager of Christians in many streams of the Church.Dan is part of the Vineyard and Anglican communions of the Church, and has taught in conferences, university settings, seminaries, and churches across streams of the Body of Christ.He is completing his doctoral studies with Asbury Theological Seminary in KY, and is a part of the team at Seedbed and New Room—serving the church with resources and events encouraging awakening in our generation.Dan lives with his wife Anita outside of Nashville, TN, and they have three grown children.

Mark Elliott is a retired professor of history, having taught at Asbury University, Wheaton College, Samford University, and Southern Wesleyan University. Dr. Elliott has a remarkably deep global perspective with particular expertise in East-West Christian studies. He has traveled extensively in Russia, Ukraine, Central Asia, and Central and Eastern Europe. And he brings all this experience and a well-honed mind for history to the work of chronicling the Asbury outpouring. We are thrilled to have his wisdom, perspective, and experience in this conversation about just what happened in Wilmore in February, 2023. 

This is another great conversation with Dr. Steve Seamands, who is one of our favorite people in the world. Dr. Seamands served as the Professor of Basic Christian Doctrine at Asbury Seminary for close to 40 years. In addition to that class, he taught Introduction to Spiritual Warfare, Introduction to Healing Prayer, and a class studying the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. So Steve knows healing! He has authored several books, including Wounds That Heal and Ministry in the Image of God (a Christianity Today book award winner), and his new book, Follow the Healer: Biblical and Theological Foundations for Healing Ministry (Zondervan, 2023) is maybe his best yet. He takes us “under the hood” of healing ministry and helps us understand the theory behind the practice. I (Carolyn) am so excited about this book, because it roots the charismatic work of healing solidly in the Wesleyan tradition.

We have a lot of reasons to love Becky Castle Miller. She is a PhD student in Biblical and Theological Studies at Wheaton College, under the supervision of Esau McCauley (an Anglican priest we follow and love!). She is an adjunct professor at Northern Seminary so hangs out regularly with Scot McKnight (who we also love!). She regularly quotes Pete Scazzero (we love his work), and Alison Cook (whose work is admirable). And!… Becky is diving deep into the whole area of Jesus and the Spirit-led emotional life, and what she has to say on this subject is just fascinating and oh-so helpful. May this conversation inspire you toward emotional wholeness and deeper intimacy with God. 

This week, we are working together with our dear friends at Spirit and Truth, a renewal ministry led by Matt Reynolds. This time, Matt asked if he could interview us, so we all sat down for a more personal conversation about how our podcast happened, what it’s like to do ministry with family, and where the Lord is leading from here. Enjoy this look behind the scenes of The Art of Holiness. 

Bryan Loritts is a prolific writer, dynamic preacher, and strong advocate for multiethnic communities of faith. He is a teaching pastor at The Summit Church in Memphis and serves as the President of The Kainos Movement, an organization that “ exists to see the multiethnic church become the new normal in our country.” Dr. Loritts is the author of eight books, including The Offensive Church, Insider Outsider, and Saving the Saved (which won a Christianity Today book award in 2017). In today’s podcast, we talk together about ethnic unity, how the church can navigate the coming election season, and how we can all play offense in the work of building ethnic unity in the church. 

Dr. Pete Bellini is the Professor of Church Renewal and Evangelization at United Theological Seminary. His areas of interest are our areas of interest … particularly the intersection of pneumatology and holiness. I mean, does it get any better than that? I don’t think so. Dr. Bellini has written exceptional books on both mental health and deliverance ministry. His latest books, The X Manual (out last year) and Thunderstruck! The Deliverance Ministry of John Wesley (out this year) offer us a deep dive into Wesleyan spirituality and its take on deliverance ministry. This is deep-end stuff ... and good. I hope you listen. 

Brenna Bullock is the worship leader of The Harvest, a contemporary worship expression, at The Woodlands Methodist Church. Brenna has a heart to see all people encounter the presence of God and be transformed. Brenna and her husband are passionate about writing songs that will align every heart with the power and truth of the gospel. Brenna helps lead Bristol House, a worship collective of worship leaders writing new songs for the people called Methodists. 

Dr. Chris Bounds, professor of theology at Asbury Theological Seminary, has literally written the book on holiness … or should I say books. His upcoming book, co-authored with Matt Ayers and Caleb Friedman, is called Holiness: A Biblical, Historical, and Systematic Theology. That one will be released this fall. But he has also co-authored, with Jim Harlow, Christy Lipscomb and Joann Lyon … one of my favorite people on the planet … a book called Holiness: The Power to Transform You, Your Church, and Your World. I’m thinking that book may have been re-released as Holiness for the Real World. And then just to make sure we get it that there is a lot more to say about holiness than we’ve thought about, he also co-authored with Jim Lo a book called Unholiness: Overcoming the Forces that Attack Your Soul. That’s a lot of holiness coming out of one guy. This is going to be a great conversation about something we’re all about … the art of holiness.

The world needs more people like Beth Felker Jones. She has a PhD from Duke and teaches theology at Northern Seminary. She has a dozen books to her credit, including a seminary staple -- Practicing Christian Doctrine: And Introduction to Thinking and Living Theologically -- which is now in its second printing. Dr. Felker Jones is a prolific writer, on-fire blogger, and truly beautiful human being, and it is our pleasure to talk all kinds of theology with her on today's podcast. 

Dr. David Watson is the academic dean and professor of New Testament at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. He is the author of Honor Among Christians, and Scripture and the Life of God: Why the Bible Matters Today More than Ever (Seedbed). In this episode, we chat about an article David has written for Good News Magazine on holiness and what it means to be a Wesleyan Christian. We also talk to him about honor and humility in the life of Christ and in Christian culture. This one is all about the art of holiness!

In this episode, we interview Eric Peterson, a writer and pastor raised into faith by one of our generation's most well-known spiritual voices -- Eugene Peterson. We talk with Eric about his father's spirituality and about the re-release of Traveling Light, a thoughtful commentary on the book of Galatians. This one is all about genuine, biblical freedom, something we're all hungry to encounter. 

Todd Hunter is the founding Bishop of an Anglican diocese called Churches for the Sake of Others. His spirituality has been raised up through leadership in Alpha USA, so he has been formed by that deep heart for gospel-centered evangelism. His native language is Kingdom, justice, peace, Spirit-empowered leadership and missional ecclesiology. And his passions play out in places like The Center for Formation, Justice and Peace, which he founded … and in seminaries and universities all over the country where he participates in training up the next generation of spiritually formed, justice-seeking followers of Jesus. Bishop Hunter is a gift to the Church, and his latest book — What Jesus Intended: Finding True Faith in the Rubble of Bad Religion — is written to call that Church to become all it is meant to be. 

Paul Lawler is the pastor of Christ Church Memphis. He comes to this role after fifteen years at Christ Church Birmingham, where he cast a vision that saw hundreds of new church plants and ten of thousands of people come to Christ. His heart for evangelism is both courageous and contagious. We wanted to talk to him about that, and about the move of Christ Church to the GMC, and about his vision for reviving a heart for evangelism in the Methodist tribe.  

Dr. Scot McKnight is a world-renowned speaker, writer, professor and equipper of the Church. He is a recognized authority on the historical Jesus, early Christianity, and the New Testament. He blogs at a Christianity Today site called Jesus Creed, and more recently on his own sub stack newsletter (Scot’s Newsletter). He writes prolifically there, offering book reviews, social commentary, and solid scholarship on all kinds of topics relevant to the Church today. Scot is a recognized authority on the New Testament, and has two books out just this year — Revelation for the Rest of Us, and The Second Gospel. That’s a lot of productivity for one guy! We sat down to talk to him about both of these solid books. 

Max Wilkins is the President of TMS Global (TMS stands for Train. Mobilize. Send.) and a man with a fire for global missions. He travels the world encouraging cross-cultural witnesses, developing training materials for those called to serve cross-culturally, and raising up leaders in the Christian movement. His enthusiasm for the world Christian movement is contagious. We hope you listen. 

Rev. Mark Sorensen is the senior pastor of the Woodlands Methodist Church in The Woodlands Texas, just north of Houston. Mark has stepped into the beautiful history of The Woodlands Methodist Church of 45 years. Mark is the second senior pastor of in the church's history. While honoring the past leadership of Dr. Ed Robb, Mark is also bringing in his new vision that builds upon what has been. We will hear all about Mark's story and his vision for where the church is leaning in this new season. It was an honor to have him on the podcast! 

Austin and Maddie Wofford are the head pastors at Arise Church, which is a house church movement based in Lexington, Kentucky. They meet in House Churches across the city and every first Sunday of the month all Arise House Churches meet together! Arise Church is birthed out of a conviction around church looking like a place for people to be deeply loved, discipled, challenged, and formed into a lifestyle and identity that reflects Jesus.Austin and Maddie have a deep heart for the next generation, prayer, revival, and discipleship. Come listen and catch the fire of God they carry. 

Aaron Calhoun, is a Foursquare pastor, church planter, and Director of next gen ministries with the FourSquare Church. He is bright, humble, faithful, and curious about how to build intergenerational relationships inside the church. Listen to him say more about intergenerational ministry at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TNu8LQRufs. Such a great conversation.

Dr. Sandra Richter is with us for a second time, to talk about the prophetic life. Hers is a voice you want to hear on this subject. She is an internationally known Old Testament scholar, the author of the extraordinary Epic of Eden Bible study, and professor and Dean at Westmont College. Raised in a pentecostal tradition and trained at Harvard, she relates to the beautiful subtleties of God’s voice in our lives like few people do. We hope you listen to this one, and find fresh energy for listening for God’s voice. 

Pete Greig is someone we keep coming back to, because his ministry and story have so much to offer. What a great example he is of one who has given himself deeply to the work of prayer over most of a lifetime. Pete is the founder of 24-7 Prayer Network, which reaches more than half the nations on the globe. He is also the pastor of Emmaus Road in England. In this podcast, we talk about the art of prayer and the extraordinary work of living out a long obedience. 

Bishop James Swanson is well-known name among Methodists. He has served as a bishop in the United Methodist Church since 2004, and travels widely sharing love and Jesus as a charismatic and prophetic preacher of the Word. In this conversation, he shares his own story of being raised in a Pentecostal tradition and coming home to Methodism as an adult. 

Join Pastors Carolyn Moore and Pierce Drake in this introductory conversation and hear why they've decided to start this podcast. You'll hear a little bit of their stories as well as their hope and prayer for this community. We are excited to have you in this conversation!