In this episode, Rebecca McLaughlin talks with evangelist and surgeon Sam Chan about why Christmas still matters in an anxious, skeptical world. Drawing on Sam’s book The Missing Piece, they explore how the incarnation meets our deep longing for peace—not by fixing everything, but by God coming near to us in Jesus.

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Blog | X | Instagram

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Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

What does a 4th-century African bishop have to do with smartphones, social media, and AI chatbots? Rebecca sits down with ethicist Autumn Ridenour to explore how Augustine’s famous line, “our hearts are restless until they rest in you,” exposes both the appeal and the danger of our digital lives—from endless scrolling to AI “relationships” and deepfake-fueled distrust.

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Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Therapist and ministry leader Zach Ellis spends his days walking with men tangled up in porn, shame, and unwanted sexual behavior. In this episode, Zach and Rebecca talk about lust as both sin and sign, how trauma fractures us, and why the opposite of addiction isn’t willpower but connection—being truly known by God and his people. If you’ve ever wondered whether your sexual history puts you beyond repair, this episode is a gentle but honest invitation to bring your story into the light of Christ.

Follow Zach:

• Mosaic Counseling Center - Boston Area Christian counseling for problematic sexual behavior

• The Nathan Project - New England region ministry offering group-based recovery from sexual addiction and betrayal trauma 

• Pure Desire Ministries- National ministry offering in-person and online recovery groups, podcast and more

• 423 Next - National ministry offering online support groups for youth struggling with problematic sexual behavior

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Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Christine walks through 2 Corinthians, Paul’s deeply personal letter about weakness, suffering, and the upside-down way of Jesus. She shares honestly about writing her new Bible study, More Than Enough: An 8-Week Study of 2 Corinthians, while her 20-year-old son was undergoing treatment for cancer.

Get the Book:
More Than Enough: An 8-Week Study of 2 Corinthians

Follow Christine:
Instagram | Website

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Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Portia Collins is a Bible teacher, author, and speaker from the Mississippi Delta. She’s the author of Finding Freedom in Christ: An 8-Week Study in Galatians, founder of She Shall Be Called, and serves on staff with Revive Our Hearts. Portia is passionate about helping women grow in Bible literacy and embrace the true freedom found in Jesus.

Get the Book:
Finding Freedom in Christ: An 8-Week Study of Galatians



Follow Portia:
Instagram | Substack

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Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rebecca and theologian Dani Treweek explore why the Bible calls both marriage and singleness meaningful gifts — and how rediscovering the purpose of singleness can strengthen the whole church.

Get the book:
Single Ever AfterA Biblical Vision for the Significance of Singleness

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Instagram | Website

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Can Christians enjoy stories with “magic”? Marian Jacobs and Rebecca unpack how fantasy can train us to love Jesus and discern the occult—using a simple rubric rooted in Scripture and the self-giving love at the heart of the gospel.

Get the book:
On Magic & Miracles: A Theological Guide to Discerning Fictional Magic

Follow Marian:
Instagram | Website

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Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Harvard-backed research says weekly churchgoing lowers depression, boosts health, and lengthens life — and Rebecca explains why those benefits point beyond “religion” to Jesus, the church as true family, and the hope Gen Z is rediscovering.

Get the book:
“How Church Could Literally Save Your Life” (Crossway)

Check out Collin's Podcast:
Gospelbound

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Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rebecca and J.D. Greear explore how Christians can transcend the culture war by leading with grace and truth, loving hard-to-love neighbors, keeping politics downstream of discipleship, and holding fast to the gospel with joyful confidence.

Resources Mentioned:

• J.D.'s Website
• Summit Church
• Everyday Revolutionary: How to Transcend the Culture War and Transform the World

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Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

How can anxiety become a doorway to deeper faith? Blair Linne joins Rebecca to discuss her new book Made to Tremble: How Anxiety Became the Best Thing That Ever Happened to My Faith. She recounts the accident that led to panic attacks, unpacks natural / sinful / religious fear, and shows how Scripture’s “do not fear” is an invitation to rest in God’s presence.

Resources mentioned:

• Made to Tremble – Blair Linne
• Finding My Father – Blair Linne

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Rebecca welcomes back Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley for part two of their conversation about Theology Together. They unpack the Deep Discipleship Program—a tested, church-based framework for theological formation that is both sacrificial and accessible. They discuss lowering vs. raising the bar in ministry, how to call believers into deeper study and practice, and why the church must reclaim the life of the mind as part of following Jesus.

Resources mentioned:

• Deep Discipleship
• You Are a Theologian
• Formed for Fellowship
• Remember & Rehearse
• Training The Church
• Knowing Faith Podcast

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Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rebecca welcomes Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley (Knowing Faith) to explore why every believer is a theologian, how women and men learn together in the church, and how practices of grace form us for fellowship with God and one another. They discuss You Are a Theologian, Deep Discipleship, Formed for Fellowship, and Remember & Rehearse—along with church-as-family, Priscilla & Aquila (Acts 18), and helping new Christians live inside God’s big story.

Resources mentioned:

• You Are a Theologian
• Deep Discipleship
• Formed for Fellowship
• Remember & Rehearse
• Training The Church
• Knowing Faith Podcast

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Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rebecca welcomes Vaneetha Risner for a candid conversation about suffering, unanswered prayer, and the presence of Christ in our deepest pain. Vaneetha recounts her story (childhood polio, the death of her infant son, an unwanted divorce), how John 9 reframed her “why,” and why Christian hope rests in the character of God—not in guaranteed outcomes. They also explore lament, community, and practical ways to walk with those who hurt.

Resources mentioned:

• Watching for the Morning (90-day devotional): vaneetha.com/watching-for-the-morning
• Desperate for Hope (7-session Bible study): vaneetha.com/desperate-for-hope
• Vaneetha’s website: vaneetha.com
• Joni Eareckson Tada & Steven Estes, When God Weeps: Amazon
• John 9 (Jesus and the man born blind): Read
• John 11 (Jesus with Mary & Martha): Read

0:00 Exploring Faith and Suffering Through Personal Trials
3:12 Finding Faith Amidst Life's Trials and Unanswered Prayers
14:05 Finding Faith and Comfort Amidst Suffering and Loss
19:53 Unexpected Suffering and the Journey of Writing Through Pain
23:11 Finding Hope and Purpose in Suffering Through Faith
32:19 Exploring Faith, Suffering, and Devotionals with Vaneetha Risner

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Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Rebecca sits down with Karen Swallow Prior to explore vocation that comes from outside us, the goodness of “ordinary” faithfulness, and why pursuing the true, the good, and the beautiful gives shape to our work in every season. They reflect on biblical portraits of calling (Paul, Moses, Jonah), the role of community in discernment, and how serving others—not chasing status—aligns our lives with Jesus.

Resources mentioned:

• Karen's Website: karenswallowprior.com
• You Have a Calling: Finding Your Vocation in the True, Good, and Beautiful (Karen Swallow Prior)
• On Reading Well: Finding the Good Life Through Great Books (Karen Swallow Prior)
• The Evangelical Imagination: How Stories, Images, and Metaphors Created a Culture in Crisis (Karen Swallow Prior)
• Bible passages:
  • Acts 9 (Paul’s calling)
  • Exodus 3–4 (Moses)
  • Jonah (running from calling)
  • Colossians 3:23–24 (work as unto the Lord)

0:00 Exploring Vocation and Identity in Confronting Christianity Podcast
2:34 Understanding Life's Callings and Their External Origins
7:23 Discerning Personal Calling Amidst Biblical and Modern Examples
13:57 Discovering Your Calling Through Truth and Community
14:52 Jesus's Teachings on Power and Christian Vocation
17:47 Redefining Life's Calling Beyond Glamorous Achievements
24:09 Christian Perspectives on Vocation and Service
28:42 Finding Purpose in Serving Others Over Personal Ambitions
33:28 Finding Purpose in Caring for Creation
36:07 A Humbling Experience in a School Swimming Contest
36:56 Discovering Personal Callings Through Community and Encouragement
40:39 Exploring Beauty and Vocation Through a Christian Lens

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Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Season 7 of Confronting Christianity is here! Rebecca gives a sneak peek at upcoming conversations—from finding hope in suffering and living faithfully as a single Christian, to confronting anxiety, pornography, and the meaning of Jesus’ death. Subscribe now so you don’t miss a single episode.

📚 Resources Mentioned

• Rebecca’s forthcoming book: How Church Could Literally Save Your Life (Releases October, preorder available)
• Rebecca's Website
• Weekly newsletter signup

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Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

What happens when you’ve tried everything—and nothing works? In this episode, Justine shares how she searched for meaning through alcohol, relationships, yoga, crystals, and tarot—only to find herself more lost than ever. But a YouTube video, a prayer in Madrid, and a series of quiet nudges led her to confront the truth she could no longer ignore: she needed Jesus. Whether you're skeptical, curious, or clinging to faith, this story of rescue will challenge your assumptions and stir your soul.
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Based on his beloved song, Penelope Judd, Shai Linne shares a beautiful allegory to help kids grasp the gospel—that Jesus, like the Prince in the story, enters our broken world and invites us into something new. Using the song’s lyrics, this book offers a creative way to start gospel conversations with the children you love.

Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

What if rock bottom isn’t the end of the story, but the place where grace runs deepest? In this episode, I talk with Dr. Ray Ortlund about the kind of suffering that strips us bare—and the kind of Savior who meets us there. We dig into betrayal, isolation, and the painful honesty of self-examination. Ray shares wisdom from his new book, Good News at Rock Bottom, reminding us that Christianity doesn’t offer a shallow fix—but a Redeemer who walks with us through the wreckage. If you’ve ever felt like your faith is hanging by a thread, this conversation is for you.
Buy Ray's Book:
Good News at Rock Bottom
Follow Ray:
Instagram
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What does it look like to follow Jesus at Harvard? In this episode, I talk with senior Andre Kolic about coming to faith in high school, navigating life as a Christian at a secular university, and how literature, economics, and community all play a part in shaping a thoughtful, lived-out faith.
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Instagram | X

Based on his beloved song, Penelope Judd, Shai Linne shares a beautiful allegory to help kids grasp the gospel—that Jesus, like the Prince in the story, enters our broken world and invites us into something new. Using the song’s lyrics, this book offers a creative way to start gospel conversations with the children you love.

Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

I’m joined by my friend Elizabeth Woodson—Bible teacher, author, and all-around theological powerhouse—to talk about Paul’s letter to the Galatians. We dig into what it really means to be free in Christ, why Paul’s transformation from persecutor to apostle matters so deeply, and how he surprisingly elevated the role of women in his ministry. Elizabeth shares wisdom from her new Bible study, Live Free, and together we unpack how belief in Jesus reshapes both our individual lives and our communities.
Buy Elizabeth's Study:
Live Free - Bible Study: A Study of Galatians
Follow Elizabeth:
Instagram | TikTok
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Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Historian Molly Worthen joins Rebecca to unpack her journey from agnosticism to faith, the pull of charismatic leaders, and why Jesus—not political saviors—is the only one truly worth following. From Trump-era evangelicalism to the Spirit-led church, this episode asks: What kind of power really saves?
Buy Molly's Book:
Spellbound: How Charisma Shaped American History from the Puritans to Donald Trump
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Instagram | X

Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠