THE CHARGE with Dennis Metzler

America's Book: The Bible and 19th Century United States History (1794-1911) with Dr. Mark A. Noll

We start with 1794 and the aftermath of the founding of the United States. Dr. Noll considers Thomas Paine’s works, proprietary and sectarian churches, and the role of Asbury and the Methodists. We discuss how America saw itself as a Hebrew republic, the African-American experience, and how the Bible functioned on both sides of the slavery debate. Noll covers the Bible’s relationship to democracy, freedom, women, Native Americans, the Civil War, Reconstruction, denominational upheavals, Catholics, and Jews.
Dr. Mark A. Noll is Professor Emeritus of History at University of Notre Dame and author of “America’s Book: The Rise and Fall of a Bible Civilization 1794-1911”
I (Dennis) would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment or send me an email at thecharge.info@gmail.com
Check out Dr. Noll’s book, “America’s Book: The Rise and Fall of a Bible Civilization 1794-1911”: https://www.amazon.com/Americas-Book-Decline-Civilization-1794-1911-ebook/dp/B09V88TVB5/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1685572377&sr=8-1

Are the Gospels Historically Reliable? with Michael Jones from Inspiring Philosophy

Michael Jones makes a case for the historical reliability of the gospels as we consider the genre of ancient biography, eyewitness testimony, Aramaic sources, oral tradition, anonymity and authorship, dating, alleged textual corruption, the crucifixion, the resurrection, the messiahship and divinity of Jesus, external and internal evidence, and the alleged evolution of the gospels.
Michael Jones is the host and producer of Inspiring Philosophy. Check it out:
https://www.youtube.com/@UC5qDet6sa6rODi7t6wfpg8g
https://inspiringphilosophy.org/
 
I, Dennis, would love to hear from you. Leave a comment or send me an email at thecharge.info@gmail.com

Metaphysics and Epistemology for Christian Apologetics with Dr. Steve B. Cowan

We consider the topics of epistemology, skepticism, experience, coherence, foundationalism, knowledge, internalism, externalism, epistemological evidentialism, scientific realism, methodological naturalism, metaphysical universals and nominalism, metaphysical materialism, free will and determinism, arguments for God's existence, and finally application for the church today.
I would love to hear from you. Please send me an email at thecharge.info@gmail.com
Dr. Steven B. Cowan is Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Lincoln Memorial University and the editor of "Problems in Metaphysics and Epistemology: An Introduction to Contemporary Debates"
https://www.amazon.com/Problems-Epistemology-Metaphysics-Introduction-Contemporary/dp/1350016063
Dr. Cowan is also the editor of "Five Views on Apologetics"
https://www.amazon.com/Five-Views-Apologetics-Steven-Cowan/dp/0310224764/ref=sr_1_1?crid=VFT453WY62SL&keywords=5+views+on+apologetics&qid=1682968345&s=books&sprefix=5+views+on+apologetics%2Cstripbooks%2C215&sr=1-1

Neither Antiracism Nor Colorblindness: Beyond Racial Division with Dr. George A. Yancey

George Yancey defines America's race problem, considers the meaning, strengths, and weaknesses of antiracism and colorblindness, takes a look at systemic racism and racial disparities and examines how diversity, equity, and inclusion programs often function. Yancey explains his alternative view as mutual accountability and marshals evidence to support it. He presents a biblical and theological basis for his view and describes how it can look in daily life. Using affirmative action as an example, Dr. Yancey considers how antiracism, colorblindness, and mutual accountability would approach it. Dr. George A. Yancey is Professor of Sociology at Baylor University.
I would love to hear from you. Please send me an email at thecharge.info@gmail.com
Check out Dr. Yancey's books: Beyond Racial Division: A Unifying Alternative to Colorblindness and Antiracism
https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Racial-Division-Alternative-Colorblindness/dp/1514001845/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1PG4E1RFL2F3R&keywords=George+A.+Yancey&qid=1666224301&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjAwIiwicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=george+a.+yancey%2Caps%2C237&sr=8-3
Beyond Racial Gridlock: Embracing Mutual Responsibility
https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Racial-Gridlock-Embracing-Responsibility-ebook/dp/B001IDXXYS/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=1PG4E1RFL2F3R&keywords=George+A.+Yancey&qid=1666224401&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjAwIiwicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=george+a.+yancey%2Caps%2C237&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1
One Faith No Longer: The Transformation of Christianity in Red and Blue America
https://www.amazon.com/One-Faith-Longer-Transformation-Christianity/dp/1479808687/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1PG4E1RFL2F3R&keywords=George+A.+Yancey&qid=1666224401&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjAwIiwicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=george+a.+yancey%2Caps%2C237&sr=8-3

Christian Intentional Community and Religious Vitality with Dr. Mark Killian

We discuss the nature of Christian intentional communities, religious vitality, the 5 historic waves of Christian intentional communities (CIC) in the U.S., the biblical basis for CICs, the components of CICs, the key strengths and weaknesses of CICs, as well as the structural, organizational, and individual explanations for religious vitality. We also consider the relationship of CICs to society and the greater church and examine the theme of alienation. The issues of economic sharing, agency, charisma, authority, in-group and out-group orientation, strictness, leniency, and commitment are all covered. Finally, as a pastor, church planter, and sociologist Dr. Killian offers his ideas on how churches can grow in vitality. Intentional communities play such a vital role in the church yet they can easily overdo it in their effort to foster greater togetherness. Killian includes both beautiful examples of the church as family as well as absurd examples of overreach and oversharing. Dr. Mark Killian is Professor of Sociology at Whitworth University and the author of Religious Vitality in Christian Intentional Communities: A Comparative Ethnographic Study
I would love to hear from you. Please send me (Dennis) an email at thecharge.info@gmail.com
Check out Mark Killian's book:
https://www.amazon.com/Religious-Vitality-Christian-Intentional-Communities/dp/1498546609/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2J2EGTURQ1V7M&keywords=Religious+Vitality+in+Christian+Intentional+Communities%3A+A+Comparative+Ethnographic+Study&qid=1664918572&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjgwIiwicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=religious+vitality+in+christian+intentional+communities+a+comparative+ethnographic+study%2Caps%2C187&sr=8-1

God’s Word For Us: Psalm19:8-10

Cultural Identity, Race, Ethnicity, and Nationality Meet Biblical Theology--with Dr. Steven Bryan

New Testament scholar, Steve Bryan (Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) defines culture, ethnicity, nations, states, and race. He explains how identity as the people of God is foundational for making sense of life rather than ethnicity or race. We also cover the creation story and other primal stories in Genesis to understand God's plan in human diversity. Dr. Bryan discusses how the Abrahamic covenant and the conquest of Canaan are related to cultural identity. Bryan covers themes of privilege and hospitality in Matthew and describes how Israel is restored in Jesus. Finally, we discuss how diversity and culture are dealt with in Romans and Revelation and consider how cultural identity, purpose, and hope are related.
I would love to hear from you. Send me an email at thecharge.info@gmail.com
Checkout Dr. Bryan's book which just came out in July of 2022: "Cultural Identity and the Purposes of God: A Biblical Theology of Ethnicity, Nationality, and Race"
https://www.amazon.com/Cultural-Identity-Purposes-God-Nationality/dp/1433569736/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?crid=2NCRY8OPALBC9&keywords=Steven+Bryan+ethnicity+culture+race&qid=1663624479&sprefix=steven+bryan+ethnicity+culture+race%2Caps%2C113&sr=8-1-fkmr0

Peace, Justice, & Supernatural Spiritual Gifts: A New Manifesto & the Kingdom of God w/ Bob Ekblad

Bob's personal story as well as the theology of the kingdom of God, supernatural spiritual gifts including healing and words of knowledge, ministry to the poor and marginalized, resisting the powers including militarism, racism, and nationalism, interpreting Romans 13, justice, non-violence, forgiveness, love, and the cross are topics all dealt with here in our discussion about Dr. Ekblad's book "A New Christian Manifesto: Pledging Allegiance to the Kingdom of God". Most importantly, he discusses how the church can unite its ministry of peace and justice with its ministry of supernatural spiritual gifts.
I would love to hear from you. Send me an email at thecharge.info@gmail.com
Check out Bob Ekblad's books: A New Christian Manifesto: Pledging Allegiance to the Kingdom of God
https://www.amazon.com/New-Christian-Manifesto-Pledging-Allegiance-ebook/dp/B002LE88L6/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2OR18WZBIYXU1&keywords=bob+ekblad+books&qid=1662306901&sprefix=%2Caps%2C155&sr=8-5
The Beautiful Gate: Enter Jesus' Global Liberation Movement
https://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Gate-Global-Liberation-Movement/dp/1540815668/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2OR18WZBIYXU1&keywords=bob+ekblad+books&qid=1662306950&sprefix=%2Caps%2C155&sr=8-3
Reading the Bible with the Damned
https://www.amazon.com/Reading-Bible-Damned-Bob-Ekblad/dp/0664229174/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2OR18WZBIYXU1&keywords=bob+ekblad+books&qid=1662306950&sprefix=%2Caps%2C155&sr=8-2
Guerrilla Gospel (Guerrilla Gospel and Bible Studies Series)
https://www.amazon.com/Guerrilla-Gospel-Bob-Ekblad/dp/1546671366/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2OR18WZBIYXU1&keywords=bob+ekblad+books&qid=1662306950&sprefix=%2Caps%2C155&sr=8-1

Jesus as Teacher

Intentional Christian Community: Intimacy, Mission and Radical Discipleship-Dr. Luther E. Smith, Jr.

The biblical basis, plus issues of ecclesiology, historical circumstances, orientation to place, covenant, convictions, structures, commitment, membership, authority, outreach, spiritual growth, and ecclesial practices are all considered in relation to intentional Christian communities. Dr. Smith spent years researching five Christian communities: Church of the Messiah, Koinonia Partners, Patchwork Central, Sojourners, and Voice of Calvary. He goes into detail about these communities in his book "Intimacy and Mission: Intentional Community as Crucible for Radical Discipleship".
Follow the link below to check it out:
https://www.amazon.com/Intimacy-Mission-Intentional-Community-Discipleship/dp/1556355378
I would love to hear from you. Send me an email at thecharge.info@gmail.com