Shows
Those Who Serve The Lord#258 | Exploring the Depths of the Christian Imagination: A Conversation with Malcolm Guite, Pt. 2Travis Michael Fleming and Malcolm Guite continue their conversation on the Christian imagination. They explore the historical context of imagination within Christian thought, tracing its evolution from the Enlightenment to the present day. They discuss how figures like Coleridge and Kant influenced our understanding of imagination, positing that imagination is a necessary faculty for discerning meaning and beauty in a world often perceived as grim. By recovering a 'sacred way of seeing', the hosts challenge listeners to cultivate their imagination, suggesting that creativity and artistry are not just ancillary to faith but central to living out the Christian narrative...2025-07-0154 minThose Who Serve The Lord#257 | Exploring the Depths of the Christian Imagination: A Conversation with Malcolm Guite, Pt. 1Travis Michael Fleming and Malcolm Guite's conversation offers a rich exploration of the Christian imagination and its pivotal role in spiritual life and cultural discourse. Guite reflects on his transformative experiences with poetry, particularly the impact of John Keats on his understanding of beauty and transcendence. He emphasizes the necessity of imagination in articulating the complexities of faith, suggesting that it allows believers to navigate the intricacies of existence with a renewed perspective. By engaging with literature and the arts, Guite argues, individuals can discover a deeper connection to the divine, fostering a sense of wonder and awe. This...2025-06-2443 minThose Who Serve The Lord#256 | From the Archives-Revisiting the Wisdom of C.S. Lewis for Imagination in Ministry, Pt 2Travis Michael Fleming and Jerry Root delve into the inspiring legacy of C.S. Lewis, particularly as it pertains to the realm of evangelism. They discuss how Lewis, despite his scholarly acumen, possessed a unique ability to communicate complex theological concepts in an accessible manner, thereby inviting individuals from various backgrounds to engage with the Christian faith. Root emphasizes that each believer is called to be an ambassador for Christ, underlining the imperative nature of evangelism in the life of every Christian, regardless of their specific gifts or vocations. Through their discussion, they share...2025-06-1246 minThose Who Serve The Lord#255 | From the Archives-Revisiting the Wisdom of C.S. Lewis for Imagination in MinistryTravis Michael Fleming and Jerry Root engage in a conversation on the intersections of C.S. Lewis's literary imagination and the practice of evangelism. Central to their discussion is the assertion that Lewis's imaginative prowess facilitates the understanding of complex theological concepts, making them accessible to a broader audience. Root explores how Lewis employs narrative and metaphor to penetrate the defenses of skepticism, thus allowing individuals to encounter the divine in compelling and transformative ways. They explore the implications of fostering a Christian imagination within contemporary culture, arguing that such creativity can revitalize evangelistic efforts and deepen one's faith...2025-06-0335 minThose Who Serve The Lord#254 | Understanding the Modern Mission Field: Insights on Ministry and DiscipleshipJoin the Blueprint Cohort – Starting May 28!Are you ready to go deeper in your faith and discover how to live out God's Kingdom in today's world?Sign up for the Blueprint Cohort, a 5-week guided journey through Blueprint: Kingdom Living in the Modern World. We’ll meet Wednesdays from 12–1 PM ET, starting May 28 via Zoom.🗓 Meeting Dates:May 28June 4June 11June 18June 25Whether you're a pastor, leader, or simply hungry to grow, this cohort is designed to refresh, equip, and encourage you.👉 Sign-Up Link Here!Spots are limited...2025-05-2045 minThose Who Serve The Lord#253 | Why You Can’t Follow Jesus Alone: Rediscovering the Power of Christian CommunityJoin the Blueprint Cohort – Starting May 28!Are you ready to go deeper in your faith and discover how to live out God's Kingdom in today's world?Sign up for the Blueprint Cohort, a 5-week guided journey through Blueprint: Kingdom Living in the Modern World. We’ll meet Wednesdays from 12–1 PM ET, starting May 28 via Zoom.🗓 Meeting Dates:May 28June 4June 11June 18June 25Whether you're a pastor, leader, or simply hungry to grow, this cohort is designed to refresh, equip, and encourage you.👉 Sign-Up Link Here!Spots are limited...2025-05-1339 minThose Who Serve The Lord#252 | The Love That Shapes Everything: Rediscovering the Great CommandmentLove God. Love people. Sounds simple, but in many churches today, the Great Commandment has largely been unintentionally overlooked.Today's conversation is about rediscovering the Great Commandment, which calls us to love God with the entirety of our being and to extend that love to our neighbors. But it's not about love in abstract theory, but everyday practice. It's a call to learn the skills of how we love our neighbors (and our enemies).We delve into the profound implications of this commandment and how love must permeate our existence and...2025-05-0248 minThose Who Serve The Lord#251 | Fixing Our Evangelism: 4 Ways to Reclaim the Great CommissionThe primary focus of this podcast episode is the evolving nature of evangelism and discipleship in light of contemporary cultural shifts, as articulated in Travis Michael Fleming's book, "Blueprint: Kingdom Living in the Modern World". The discussion emphasizes that traditional methods of evangelism, once effective in a more monocultural context, are now inadequate due to the increasing pluralism brought about by globalization. As we engage with individuals from diverse backgrounds who may not possess a foundational understanding of Christianity, we must reconsider our approach to sharing the gospel. The episode further explores how the Great Commission should be understood...2025-04-2354 minThose Who Serve The Lord#250 | Navigating the Crisis: A Blueprint for Church RenewalTravis Michael Fleming embarks on a profound exploration of his book, Blueprint: Kingdom Living in the Modern World, addressing the prevailing crisis within evangelicalism. He articulates a sobering assessment of the current state of the church, underlining the alarming statistics that indicate a significant exodus from church attendance, quantified at over 40 million individuals in recent years. Fleming references notable thinkers such as Russell Moore and Trevin Wax, who emphasize that the church is simultaneously experiencing both a crisis and an opportunity for renewal. He postulates that this moment of upheaval necessitates a re-evaluation of traditional practices and beliefs, advocating...2025-04-0821 minThose Who Serve The Lord#249 | Exploring the Depths of Scripture: The Importance of the Whole Story with Christopher J.H. Wright, Pt. 2Travis Michael Fleming and Christopher J.H. Wright engage in a profound discourse concerning the implications of Chris' book, "The Great Story and the Great Commission". Central to their conversation is the assertion that the Great Commission must not merely be perceived as a task to be completed, but rather as an enduring invitation to partake in God's ongoing narrative of redemption. They elucidate the daunting reality that a significant portion of the global population remains unaware of the Christian faith, emphasizing the necessity for sustained commitment to evangelism and discipleship. As they navigate the complexities of leadership within...2025-04-0133 minThose Who Serve The Lord#248 | Exploring the Depths of Scripture: The Importance of the Whole Story with Christopher J.H. Wright, Pt. 1In this enlightening episode of "Those Who Serve the Lord," Travis Michael Fleming engages Christopher J.H. Wright in a thought-provoking discussion that centers around the latter's book, The Great Story and the Great Commission. The discourse emphasizes the importance of a coherent understanding of the biblical narrative, which is essential for effective ministry and discipleship. Wright articulates how the biblical story is not merely a historical account but a living narrative that frames the entirety of Christian life and mission. He contends that the Great Commission is fundamentally about shaping disciples who are informed by this grand narrative...2025-03-2529 minThose Who Serve The Lord#247 | Building Unity Amid Polarization: Calling You Deeper Than Media Headlines with James Davison Hunter, Pt. 2Travis Michael Fleming engages in a profound dialogue with Dr. James Davison Hunter regarding the pressing themes articulated in Hunter's seminal work, "Democracy & Solidarity: The Roots of America's Political Crisis". Central to their discourse is the assertion that genuine political change is inextricably linked to the deeper structures of culture, which politics alone cannot transform. As they navigate through the complexities of American political culture and its pervasive polarization, they underscore a critical inquiry: why have political solutions often faltered in effecting lasting change? Hunter elucidates the distinction between superficial activism and profound cultural transformation, advocating for a more...2025-03-1852 minThose Who Serve The Lord#246 | Building Unity Amid Polarization: Calling You Deeper Than Media Headlines with James Davison Hunter, Pt. 1In this episode, Travis Michael Fleming sits down with Dr. James Davison Hunter to unpack the deep fractures in our political and cultural landscape—fractures that don’t just divide Republicans and Democrats but also cut through the pews of our churches. How can Christian leaders navigate these landmine differences without blowing up their churches or losing their way?Dr. Hunter, the author of Democracy and Solidarity, brings profound insight into how culture is formed, how power is wielded, and why our current moment feels so divisive. We’ll discuss the cultural forces shaping our worldview, the tensio...2025-03-1148 minThose Who Serve The Lord#245 | The Art of Living in Season with Sylvie VanhoozerThe more we are online, the more disembodied we are. As Christians, we want to be rooted in a time and in a place. In The Art of Living in Season, Sylvie Vanhoozer invites readers to join this community of little saints and to follow them not only at Christmas but also throughout the whole year. Each chapter introduces a new santon (little saint) and opens up another aspect of our annual pilgrimage toward Christ. Structured as weekly reflections and illustrated with Vanhoozer's own botanical illustrations, this book invites us to follow Christ in our own places and seasons...2024-11-2643 min
The Management Theory ToolboxEpisode 14: Mastering Extinction: How to Stop Reinforcing Bad Behavior at Work with Dr. Michael DomjanEpisode Highlights:Introduction to the concept of extinction in behavioral psychology.Explanation of operant conditioning and its application in the workplace.Examples from "The Big Bang Theory" illustrating positive reinforcement and extinction.Detailed discussion with Dr. Michael Domjan on the process and effects of extinction.Real-world examples of applying extinction to undesirable workplace behaviors.The importance of careful implementation to avoid frustration and aggression.Key Topics:Operant Conditioning: Modifying behavior through reinforcement.Extinction: Reducing behaviors by removing positive reinforcers.Paradoxical Reward Effects: How intermittent reinforcement can lead to greater persistence.Practical Tips...2024-08-0230 minThose Who Serve The Lord#243 | The Spirit of Our Politics with Michael Wear, Pt. 2In this second conversation with Michael Wear, Travis and Michael continue discussing his book, The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life. Travis and Michael discuss abortion, same-sex marriage, partisan politics, how politics is spiritually forming us, political exhaustion, helplessness, Dallas Willard, and so much more. Michael Wear is the Founder, President, and CEO of the Center for Christianity and Public Life, a nonpartisan, nonprofit institution based in the nation's capital with the mission to contend for the credibility of Christian resources in public life, for the public good. For well over...2024-06-2453 minThose Who Serve The Lord#242 | The Spirit of Our Politics with Michael Wear, Pt. 1We are in the political season and every election cycle, we hear that there is so much at stake and that this election is the most important ever. We hear about one scandal or another, and we hear about the issues (which are extremely important), but it's gotten to the point where it is a zero-sum game, and Christians are being used to engage in politics in a way that denigrates their testimony and sacrifices the content of their faith. Is there a way to protect life and honor Jesus at the same time? Michael Wear has an idea. 2024-06-2156 minThose Who Serve The Lord#236 | Can We Actually Be Political Disciples? with Vincent Bacote"Christians should not be talking about politics!" is what I heard when I was a young Christian. Is that true? How can Christians be engaged in politics in a biblically faithful way? What does it mean to be a political disciple? Should we as Christians stay out of politics? These are questions that we all must wrestle with if we are to have an effective witness in the world. Join Travis and Dr. Vincent Bacote as they discuss what it means to be a political disciple in a polarized world. Dr. Vincent Bacote is a...2024-05-031h 10Those Who Serve The Lord#235 | What Are Christians For? with Jake Meador, Pt. 2Travis and Jake continue their conversation discussing his book, "What Are Christians For?" Surprisingly, there is a great deal of confusion as to what the role of Christians should be in society. Is it only to be disciples who make disciples? Is it to glorify God and enjoy Him forever? What about in our public life? What role does our Christian faith play in the political sphere? Our vocation? Does it have any effect on the environment? The answer may surprise you. Jake is the editor-in-chief of Mere Orthodoxy, an online periodical seeking to be a voice...2024-04-2657 minThose Who Serve The Lord#228 | The Great Dechurching: Understanding the 40 Million Who Left the Church with Michael GrahamThe stats reveal trouble in evangelicalism, Bible reading is down, church attendance is down, and the none's are rising. What's going on? In The Great Dechurching, authors Michael Graham, Jim Davis, and Ryan P. Burge have done the work and come back with the stats. It's both better and worse than we could imagine. 40 million people have stopped going to church in the last 25 years and that's just the tip of the iceberg. However, amid such depressing news, there is hope. Because many of them are willing and ready to come back! Listen as Travis an...2024-03-041h 02Those Who Serve The LordNavigating the Chaos: Dr. Albert Mohler on the Future of Faith and CultureTravis Michael Fleming engages in a thought-provoking dialogue with Dr. Albert Mohler, a prominent figure in evangelical thought and the current president of Southern Seminary. The conversation traverses a wide array of topics, primarily focusing on the evolving landscape of Christianity and the challenges faced by the church today. Mohler reflects on the significant cultural shifts impacting the church, particularly the recent phenomenon termed the 'great dechurching,' where millions are leaving traditional church settings. He provides a nuanced perspective, arguing that this trend is not entirely surprising, given the historical trajectory of secularization in society. Both Fleming and...2024-01-261h 00Those Who Serve The Lord#222 | Is Politics Killing Evangelicalism? Pt. 2 with Pete WehnerCan our Lord be seen by our politics? What do our politics say about us? Is the message of Jesus communicated in it? What about the way of Jesus? How is our Christian witness being affected by our politics? Do the means we employ reveal the message we believe? What happens if we focus on the message but miss the means? Listen in as Travis and Pete continue their conversation on politics in evangelicalism. Travis welcomes special guest Pete Wehner to the show today. Pete is a Senior Fellow at the Trinity Forum, a writer and thinker...2024-01-1953 minThose Who Serve The Lord#217 | Hope for American Evangelicals with Matthew Bennett, Pt. 1How do we reach our crazy post-everything world today? Is there anyone we can turn to? Is there a person who can give us clarity? Is there a different perspective that we have to consider? Travis welcomes professor and former missionary, Matthew Bennett, to the show to discuss his book, Hope for American Evangelicals. Using Lesslie Newbigin as a guide, Matthew takes a missionary perspective to help us look at the American evangelical house and what needs to be done to remodel it by removing the rot and enhancing the good. Travis and Matthew discuss evangelicalism, missions, contextualization, multi-ethnic...2023-12-0145 minThose Who Serve The Lord#213 | How 1776 Made the Post-Christian West with Andrew WilsonWhat does 1776 have to do with LGBTQ+? What does it have to do with expressive individualism? What does it have to do with the rise of atheism, agnosticism, and secularism? Plenty. Travis welcomes Andrew Wilson to the show to discuss his book, Remaking the World: How 1776 Created the Post-Christian West. It's a discussion of how we got WEIRDER: Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic, Ex-Christian, and Romantic. Travis and Andrew discuss how the post-Christian West came to be, what it means for us now, and how we can live effectively. Andrew Wilson (PhD, King’s College Lon...2023-11-0456 minThose Who Serve The Lord#212 | C.S. Lewis in America with Mark NollWhy do so many Christians and evangelicals in particular love C.S. Lewis so much? What is it about him that transcends borders of culture and denominational and theological tribes? Today's guest is historian Mark Noll. Mark and Travis talk about C.S. Lewis and his reception by Americans in the early to mid part of the 20th century. Unlike any author before or since, Lewis tapped into the imagination with the truth that people could grab a hold of and understand. Join Travis and Mark as they sift through Lewis' reception by Catholics, Protestants, and the...2023-10-231h 30Those Who Serve The Lord#211 | Losing Our Religion: An Altar Call for American Evangelicalism | Russell MooreWhat happens if we co-opt political power for godly means? Or what if we use evil people to do good things? What if we put people in political power whose character is awful? Is that good or bad? Is it so cut and dry? Of course, there have always been evil people in political office, but the issue is not whether there are low-character people in political office, the issue is calling Christians to embrace evil people, glancing over moral issues, in order to get what they believe to be righteous results. In other words, does the end justify...2023-09-2256 min
Unstoppable MindsetUnstoppable Visionary and Chief Marketing Officer with Travis MichaelTravis Michael is all of what the title says. As he says he “played jump rope his entire life over the Mason-Dixon line spending time between the mountains of Johnstown Pennsylvania, and the city bay life of Baltimore”. As I spoke with Travis during our initial call as well as during our episode he is an incredibly curious person who also wants to do good in the world.
He will tell us a great deal about his new app called “Bridgd” which you can learn about at www.bridgd.com.
In addition to app development, he and his company help other...2023-09-051h 06Those Who Serve The Lord#206 | Charting Social Change | Anne SnyderHow does social change happen? Can a movement like the Asbury Renewal spark real social change? What in our society causes movement? Is it just a changing of generations? What role does technology play? What role is Artificial Intelligence going to play? These are just some of the questions that we discussed in today's episode. Travis and Anne have a discussion of all things life: vacations, musicals, poets, generational shifts, Asbury, Comment Magazine, humanization practices, and Travis even does a little singing :-)Anne is the editor-in-chief of Comment Magazine, host of The Whole Person Revolution podcast, an...2023-09-0551 minThose Who Serve The Lord#195 | Are We Living For Biblical Honor Or Worldly Success? Pt. 1 | David DeSilvaWe talk about theology, but we live in a social world of status, slights, and social media. How does the world of the New Testament jive with our modern world? What does it mean to live an honorable life according to our modern culture? Can success be a synonym? Is modern success equivalent to NT honor? Or is it something else? In our world, today, is honor or success going to a great school? Making a lot of money? Having a nice house and car? Where do sacrifice and self-denial fit in? How does that fit with how the...2023-07-2551 minThose Who Serve The Lord#194 | How You Shape History Will Shape You | Scott SunquistDoes history really matter in our modern world? What about Christian history? Is there a good way to understand history that relates to us? Is there a bad way of doing history? What can history show us about living as Christ-followers in our modern world? The answer is, of course, plenty!Travis welcomes Dr. Scott Sunquist, President of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, to the show to help us navigate and harness the story of history so that we might be able to help the church chart a new path forward in our modern post-everything world. Christian history can...2023-07-2153 minThose Who Serve The Lord#193 | Escaping Enemy Mode in Marriage & Families | Jim WilderWhat do you do when you find yourself in enemy mode in your own family? With your spouse? With your kids? Travis welcomes Jim Wilder back to the show to discuss how to escape enemy mode in marriage, and this time, Travis' wife, Melissa, joins him! It's a conversation that helps equip us to recognize when we go into enemy mode in our marriage or with our kids, and how we can find a way out. This isn't a theoretical conversation, but one rooted in the Fleming household whenever one of its members goes into enemy mode...2023-07-1857 minThose Who Serve The Lord#189 | Savoring Scripture | Andy AbernethyAre you bored reading your Bible? I know you feel guilty in saying that, but we all experience boredom every once in a while. We know that God is not boring, nor is His Word, but we get bored due to a variety of factors. We get confused, we don't know always what to read or what a text means and that's when we need a guide. Travis welcomes Old Testament professor Dr. Andy Abernethy to the show as they discuss his book Savoring Scripture. In addition, to being an Old Testament professor at Wheaton College, Andy...2023-07-041h 25Those Who Serve The Lord#188 | The Emotions of God, Pt. 2 | David T. LambDoes God hate? What does that mean? How does God love the sinner and hate the sin when biblically the two seem connected (Revelation 21:8)? Does God get envious or jealous? God's jealousy disturbed Oprah so much that she left Christianity behind. But is God jealous? And if so, is that wrong? How does our jealousy differ from His? Travis and Dr. David T. Lamb continue their discussion on his new book, The Emotions of God (IVP, 2022). Dr. Lamb is the MacRae Professor of Old Testament Dean of the Faculty at Misso Seminary in Philadelphia, PA. Dr. Lamb...2023-06-3048 minThose Who Serve The Lord#186 | The Toxic War on Masculinity, Pt. 2 | Nancy PearceyTravis and Nancy continue their conversation on the war on toxic masculinity. They discuss what biblical masculinity is and what it's not, what a "good man" is, the shape of the home, the industrial revolution, and some of the differences the data reveals between men and women. Nancy shows how the Bible gives a vision of masculinity that is actually not toxic, instead, it is healthy, wonderful, and necessary for the success of society.Nancy Pearcey is the author of the upcoming book The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes. Her most recently published boo...2023-06-231h 01Those Who Serve The Lord#174 | Spiritual Abuse | Michael J. KrugerWhat did James MacDonald, Mark Driscoll, and Bill Hybels have in common? They were all guilty of spiritual abuse. We have all heard of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, just to name a few, but spiritual abuse? Spiritual abuse is the most incipient of abuses, but it happens all the time. What exactly is spiritual abuse? What are the signs? How do we differentiate spiritual abuse from true godliness and leadership? Michael J. Kruger has some words of wisdom to help guide us into this very difficult, painful, and confusing subject. Dr. Michael J. Kruger serves as...2023-05-1259 minThose Who Serve The Lord#171 | Transfigure Your Imagination, Pt. 1 | Malcolm GuiteHave you ever felt stuck? Like you can't go anywhere. You can't make progress, you can't go back, and you just are stuck where you are? Sometimes we need to tap into our imaginations as Jesus did. The imagination is a powerful tool-from running scared through potential hazards or leading us into a world of dreams, our imaginations can be used for good or for ill. But what does it look like to cultivate a truly Christian imagination? Malcolm has an idea! Malcolm is an English poet, songwriter, Anglican priest, and recently retired professor from Cambridge. He...2023-05-0250 minThose Who Serve The Lord#170 | Discovering God Through Diversity: A Conversation on Polycentric Missiology with Dr. Allen YehDr. Allen Yeh joins Travis Michael Fleming to explore the concept of Polycentric Missiology, emphasizing that the center of Christianity has shifted from the West to the majority world. This transformation highlights how 78% of today's missionaries come from non-Western countries, showcasing the diverse and global nature of faith. As they discuss the historical roots and implications of this shift, they reflect on the richness of theological perspectives that arise from different cultures. Dr. Yeh argues that understanding these diverse viewpoints is essential for a more holistic view of God and His mission. The conversation encourages listeners to engage with...2023-04-281h 15Those Who Serve The Lord#168 | Revelation Movement | Vishal MangalwadiTravis welcomes Vishal Mangalwadi to the show. Vishal is India's foremost Christian intellectual. He is a social reformer, activist, author, and columnist whose writings and videos have been featured around the world. He has lectured in over 40 countries, written 17 books, and contributed to several others. He joined Travis to discuss his book, The Book That Made Your World, but quickly transitioned to discuss the Third Education Revelation. Out of all of our episodes, this is probably the most controversial and our longest episode to date. Rather than divide it into two we wanted to you to get...2023-04-212h 09Those Who Serve The Lord#166 | Biblical Critical Theory, Pt. 1 | Christopher WatkinHave you ever sat in a philosophy class and wondered, "How in the world does this fit within the Gospel?" or "How can I explain the Gospel when it has to answer all these questions?" If you have ever heard the names of Michel Foucault, Jacques Derrida, or Friedrich Nietzsche, then you know that they have a huge role in shaping the thought currents and structures in our world today. Thoughts shape lives and their work has given shape to terms we use every day: postmodernity, post-truth, deconstructionism, relativism, tolerance, etc. Their fingerprints are all over the contemporary thoughts...2023-04-1854 minThose Who Serve The Lord#165 | The Thrill of Orthodoxy, Pt. 2 | Trevin WaxIn this second part of our conversation with Trevin Wax, we continue discussing the subject of orthodoxy, denominational issues, how we can tell heresy, doctrinal drift, and how we live in this polarized era. It's a conversation sure to help you stand more confidently upon the Word of God and against error. Check out Trevin's blog at the Gospel Coalition or sign up to be on his email list.Follow Trevin on Twitter or get his books.Sign up for the Apollos Watered newsletter.Help support the ministry of Apollos Watered...2023-04-1444 minThose Who Serve The Lord#164 | The Thrill of Orthodoxy, Pt. 1 | Trevin WaxTravis welcomes Trevin Wax back to the show! Does orthodoxy matter anymore? Or is it only for theologians and academics to quibble over? What role does it play in the life of the everyday believer? Travis welcomes Trevin Wax back to the show as they delve into the subject of orthodoxy. Trevin shows us that rather than being a dry academic exercise, orthodoxy provides the lifeblood of truth and unity in the church that is essential for the church to carry forth its mission. However, there are always threats to orthodoxy and those threats demean not only...2023-04-1139 min