ERLC Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Mother’s Day, Nicolas Cage, and a conversation with Chelsea Sobolik May 08, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, Josh, Lindsay, and Brent discuss reopening churches, Mother’s Day, a growing mental health crisis, Nicolas Cage Cast as Tiger King Joe Exotic, and mini pancakes. Lindsay also gives a rundown of this week’s ERLC content including a piece from Jared Kennedy with 12 things to consider with reopening children’s ministry, Eric Costanzo with 7 ways to serve our immigrant and refugee neighbors during a pandemic, and Alex Ward with 5 mothers who helped shaped Christian history. Also in this episode, the hosts are joined by Chelsea Sobolik for a conversation about life and ministry.

About Chelsea

Chelsea Patterson Sobolik serves as a Policy Director in the Washington, D.C. office. Previously, she worked in the U.S. House of Representatives on pro-life policies, domestic and international religious freedom, adoption, and foster care issues. Chelsea is the author of Longing for Motherhood – Holding onto Hope in the Midst of Childlessness. She has a B.A. in International Relations from Liberty University, and lives in Washington, D.C., with her husband Michael. Twitter: @chelspat

ERLC Content

Jared Kennedy with 12 things to consider when reopening your children's ministry.
Daniel Patterson and Jenn Kintner with What should churches do as they consider reopening after the coronavirus?
Eric Costanzo with 7 ways to serve our immigrant and refugee neighbors during a pandemic.
Alex Ward with 5 mothers who helped shape Christian history.

Culture

A Message from President George W. Bush
The Covid-19 Riddle: Why Does theVirus Wallop Some Places and Spare Others?
The coronavirus pandemic is pushing America into a mental health crisis
Don’t Forget the Other Pandemic Killing Thousands of Americans
Illinois Governor Pritzker confirms churches will not be allowed to have services with more than 50 people until there is a vaccine
A Georgia man was chased and killed while jogging, his mother says
Supreme Court Arguments Resume — But With A Twist
Supreme Court considers abortion mandate again
Poland postpones presidential election
5.5 magnitude earthquake rattles Puerto Rico, damages buildings in Ponc

Listen to more episodes of The ERLC Podcast at erlc.com/podcast.

Parks and Rec returns, beaches closed in California, and a conversation with Sara Groves May 01, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, Josh, Lindsay, and Brent discuss presidential race updates, food supply shortages, LifeWay cut backs, and the golden age of reruns. Lindsay also gives a rundown of this week’s ERLC content including a piece from Mike McCarty on why home is not always a safe place, Lindsay Nicolet’s interview with First Baptist Church of Picayune on how they are providing childcare for essential workers, and Dane Hays on what to do when disagreeing with family and friends about social distancing. Also in this episode, the hosts are joined by Sara for a conversation about life and ministry.

About Sara: Sara Groves is singer/ songwriter and recording artist with a passion for justice and a heart of mercy. She has joined forces with International Justice Mission to advocate for victims of human trafficking for the past 12 years. Sara has produced a string of successful albums including her latest, Abide With Me, a collection of hymns recorded in a 110-year-old church, and Joy of Every Longing Heart (Christmas). Twitter: @grovesroad

ERLC Content

Mike McCarty with Why home is not always a safe place during stay-at-home orders: The increased risk of sexual abuse during COVID-19.
Lindsay Nicolet with How one church provided childcare for essential workers during the pandemic.
Dane Hays with What should you do when disagreeing with family and friends about social distancing?

Culture

Rep. Justin Amash announced on Tuesday that he has "launched an exploratory committee" to seek the Libertarian Party's 2020 nomination for a possible third-party presidential run.
Trump EO; Meat plant workers to Trump: Employees aren't going to show up
Biden announces a committee to help with VP selection
Biden is also dealing with allegations of a potential sexual assault that happened several decades ago.
9 Ways Schools Will Look Different When (And If) They Reopen
LifeWay announces budget cuts and staff reductions amid COVID-19
Coronavirus reaches 1 million cases
Another 3.8 million Americans file for unemployment
California to close all beaches
Costco will start requiring customers to wear masks Monday
More than $400,000 so far raised for

Listen to more episodes of The ERLC Podcast at erlc.com/podcast.

Unemployment, Zoom fatigue, and a conversation with Dan Darling Apr 24, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, Josh, Lindsay, and Brent discuss facemask requirements, unemployment rates, cats with Coronavirus, and Zoom fatigue. Lindsay also gives a rundown of this week’s ERLC content including a piece from Casey B. Hough on 3 ways to lead Christ’s sheep through the valley of the shadow of COVID-19, Ericka Andersen on quarantine as an opportunity for churches emerging stronger, and Josh Wester on why religious liberty is so important to Baptists. Also in this episode, the hosts are joined by Dan Darling for a conversation about life and ministry.

About Dan

Daniel Darling is the Vice President for Communications for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention (ERLC). Dan is a bestselling author of several books, including Teen People of the Bible, Crash Course, iFaith, Real, Activist Faith, The Original Jesus, The Dignity Revolution, The Characters of Christmas and the forthcoming, A Way With Words, releasing in September 2020. He is the general editor, along with Trillia Newbell, of a small group study on racial reconciliation, The Church and the Racial Divide and is a contributor to The Worldview Study Bible and The Couples Devotional Bible. Dan has served churches in Illinois and Tennessee. He and his wife Angela have four children and reside in the Nashville area. They attend Green Hill Church in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, where Dan serves as Pastor of Teaching and Discipleship. Twitter: @dandarling

ERLC Content

Casey B. Hough with 3 ways to lead Christ’s sheep through the valley of the shadow of COVID-19
Ericka Andersen with The quarantine is an opportunity for churches to emerge stronger
Josh Wester with Why is religious liberty so important to Baptists?

Listen to more episodes of The ERLC Podcast at erlc.com/podcast.

Religious liberty, SNL from home, and a conversation with John Inazu Apr 17, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, Josh, Lindsay, and Brent discuss what sports will be coming back first, SNL’s new set up for social distancing, Apple’s new budget iPhone, government restrictions and religious liberty. Lindsay also gives a rundown of this week’s ERLC content including a piece from Joe Carter on When will our church buildings reopen, Aaron Mercer on coronavirus testing international religious freedom, Melissa Affolter and Jonathan Holmes on how to help the rise of domestic abuse, and Jeff Pickering with a Q&A for churches on government restrictions with a religious liberty attorney. Also in this episode, the hosts are joined by John Inazu for a conversation about life and ministry.

About John

John Inazu is the Sally D. Danforth Distinguished Professor of Law and Religion at Washington University in St. Louis. He is the author of Liberty's Refuge: The Forgotten Freedom of Assembly and Confident Pluralism: Surviving and Thriving Through Deep Difference, and he authored Uncommon Ground with Tim Keller. You can follow him on Twitter: @JohnInazu

ERLC Content

Joe Carter with When will our church buildings reopen?
Aaron Mercer with The coronavirus pandemic is testing international religious freedom commitments
Melissa Affolter and Jonathan Holmes with How to help during the rise of domestic abuse due to social isolation
Jeff Pickering with A Q&A for churches on government restrictions with a religious liberty attorney: Navigating the tension between church and state during a pandemic

Culture

Deadly tornadoes sweep across the South on Easter Sunday
Amazon announced it is now “creating an additional 75,000 jobs to help serve customers during this unprecedented time.”
Universities begin considering canceling in-person classes until 2021
22 million Americans have filed for unemployment benefits in the last four weeks
Large pork processing facility in the US is closing until further notice
Walmart CEO says we’re in the ‘hair color’ phase of panic buying

Listen to more episodes of The ERLC Podcast at erlc.com/podcast.

Holy Week, the Queen’s speech, and a conversation with Catherine Parks Apr 10, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, Josh, Lindsay, and Brent discuss Bernie Sanders ending his presidential bid, an important ruling on abortion, Queen Elizabeth’s speech on COVID-19, more laughs from the Cuomo brothers, and a very different looking Easter. Lindsay also gives a rundown of this week’s ERLC content including a piece from Alex Ward on coronavirus and Holy Week, Chelsea Sobolik on the pandemic’s effects on the vulnerable, and Stephen Grcevich on the church and mental health concerns during this crisis. Also in this episode, the hosts are joined by the ERLC’s Catherine Parks for a conversation about life and ministry.

About Catherine

Catherine Parks has loved reading biographies since she was a kid. When she's not reading, she loves playing volleyball and basketball, traveling with her family, and helping lead worship for her church. She's the author of Empowered and Real: The Surprising Secret to Deeper Relationships and lives in Nashville, Tenn., with her husband, two children, and a cute dog named Ollie. You can follow her on Twitter: @CathParks

ERLC Content

Alex Ward on What Holy Week reminds us of in the midst of a pandemic
Chelsea Patterson Sobolik on How the coronavirus is affecting vulnerable children: And how Christians can help
Stephen Grcevich with How churches can promote mental health through the coronavirus pandemic
PLUS: Dan Darling in National Review and Russell Moore in Christianity Today (on Easter Sunday)

Culture

A new White House Press Secretary
Wisconsin’s complicated primary
Bernie drops out
Ruling: Abortions are not essential services
Are abortions essential during

Listen to more episodes of The ERLC Podcast at erlc.com/podcast.

Social distancing extended, the rise of Zoom bombing, and a conversation with Jen Wilkin Apr 03, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, Josh, Lindsay, and Brent talk about the extension of social distancing, staggering unemployment numbers, the rise of Zoom bombing, and the brothers who won’t stop making America laugh. Lindsay also gives a rundown of this week’s ERLC content including a piece from Scott James on praying for medical providers, Lieryn Barnett on caring for your mental health, Aaron Mercer on international religious freedom, and Russell Moore on how churches should think through pursuing SBA-backed loans available through the CARES Act. Also in this episode, the hosts are joined by Jen Wilkin for a conversation about life and ministry.

About Jen

Jen Wilkin is a wife, a mother of four, and an advocate for women to love God with their minds through the faithful study of his Word. She writes, speaks, and teaches women the Bible. Jen is the author of multiple books including None Like Him, Women of the Word, and In His Image. She and her family are based at The Village Church in Flower Mound, Texas. You can follow her on Twitter: @jenniferwilkin

ERLC Content

Scott James with Six ways you can pray for medical providers
Lieryn Barnett on 3 suggestions for keeping your mental health in check during COVID-19
Aaron Mercer with Are U.S.-India relations good for religious freedom?
Russell Moore with Do SBA-backed loans violate the separation of church and state?

Culture

6.5 million people file for unemployment. Nearly ten million have filed in the last two weeks
Social distancing extended until April 30th
Joe Diffie passes away from Covid-19 + Ellis Marsalis at 85
The DNC delayed until August
Are abortions essential during coronavirus?
Zoom announces steps for call security
Southern Baptists donate masks, supplies
State Conventions gather to pray virtually
Facebook

Listen to more episodes of The ERLC Podcast at erlc.com/podcast.

$2 trillion in relief, the Olympics postponed, and a conversation with Dr. Charles Smith Mar 27, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, Josh, Lindsay, and Brent talk about life in isolation, the Olympics being postponed, the latest in the Democratic primary, and how much most of us are missing baseball. Lindsay also gives a rundown of this week’s ERLC content including a piece from Brad Hambrick on talking to your kids about COVID-19, Brandt and Jill Waggoner on loving your neighbor during social distancing, Daryl Crouch on local churches stepping up during a crisis, and the Russell Moore’s content on religious liberty and love of neighbor. Also in this episode, the hosts are joined by Charles Smith for a conversation about life and ministry.

About Charles

Charles Smith is assistant professor of leadership and vice president for institutional relations at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Spurgeon College in Kansas City, Mo. You can follow him on Twitter: @Charleswsmithjr

ERLC Content

Brad Hambrick with 4 principles to remember when talking to your children about coronavirus
- conversation, not a monologue; answer child’s questions, not your priorities; grapevine effect; remember body language.
Brandt and Jill Waggoner with 7 ways to love our neighbors while socially distanced
- Blood banks; food for school children; check on neighbors
Daryl Crouch with 3 ways the local church is ready for challenging times
- Just as hospitals are built to treat sick people and schools are built to educate uneducated people, churches exist to give hope and help to people who need hope and help.
Russell Moore with God Doesn’t Want Us to Sacrifice the Old and Does it violate religious liberty to close churches over coronavirus?

Culture U.S.

Biden operating from home; Bernie still wants to debate
Cuomo becoming a media star for a nation stuck at home
Yuval Levin: A Hard Pause, Soft Start
Companies are hiring
$2 trillion COVID-19 rescue pack

Listen to more episodes of The ERLC Podcast at erlc.com/podcast.

Quarantine, coronavirus, and a conversation with Dr. Scott James Mar 20, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, Josh, Lindsay, and Brent talk about coronavirus and quarantines, the latest in the Democratic primary, and some good news to end your week. Lindsay also gives a rundown of this week’s ERLC content including a piece from Joe Carter on reading the news with discernment, Dane Hays on talking to your kids about COVID-19, and the ERLC’s reading recommendations during social distancing. Also in this episode, the hosts are joined by Dr. Scott James, an infectious disease specialist, for a conversation about coronavirus and his new children’s book.

About Dr. James

Scott James serves as an Elder at The Church at Brook Hills. He and his wife, Jaime, have four children and live in Birmingham, Ala, where he works as a pediatric physician. He is the author of two family worship books (The Expected One: Anticipating All of Jesus in the Advent; Mission Accomplished: A Two-Week Family Easter Devotional), as well as illustrated children's books, including The Littlest Watchman (The Good Book Company, 2017) and his latest book, Where Is Wisdom? (B&H).

ERLC Content

Joe Carter with How to read the news with discernment
- “Guard your mind,” “Consume less news”
Dane Hays with How to talk to your kids about coronavirus
- What kind of memories are you building, even now, for your children and loved ones about the coronavirus outbreak of 2020? Thirty years from now, my prayer is they will they speak of things like more family time, serving others, and most importantly, hearing about the love and goodness of Christ.
Melissa Affolter with What I’ve learned from working with survivors of abuse and trauma: The power of story and community in healing
Jason Thacker with Reading recommendations during the coronavirus shutdown.

Culture

This week marked the first day of Spring!

Politics

Biden vs. Bernie; Bill Weld suspends campaign; campaigns uses texting instead of door-to-door;
Mitch McConnell uses campaign to deliver groceries and Chick-fil-A
Election results!
- Joe Biden has won the Florida

Listen to more episodes of The ERLC Podcast at erlc.com/podcast.

Harvey Weinstein sentenced to prison, the coronavirus shuts down the U.S., and a conversation with Dr. Randy Davis Mar 13, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, Josh, Lindsay, and Brent talk about the coronavirus upending life all over the U.S., justice in the case of Harvey Weinstein, the results of Big Tuesday, and NASA’s new Mars rover Perseverance. Lindsay also gives a rundown of this week’s ERLC content including a piece from Courtney Reissig on parenting and work, Neal Hardin on LGBT issues at BYU, and Russell Moore’s article “Don’t Quarantine the Great Commission.” Also in this episode, the hosts are joined by Dr. Randy Davis for a brief conversation about life and ministry.

About Dr. Davis

Dr. Randy C. Davis became the executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board in 2010 after 34 years of pastoral ministry, serving churches in Mississippi and Tennessee. Davis is a graduate of William Carey College, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and Southern Baptist Center for Biblical Studies. Davis and wife, Jeanne, have two adult daughters, Wendy and Beth, and four grandchildren.

ERLC Content

Understanding how men and women approach parenting and work: A new study reveals many women prefer working part time by Courtney Reissig
- “What this study does is provide us with the freedom to divide care and work according to what works for our family, while also showing us that mothers and fathers care both about the home and the marketplace.”
Explainer: BYU removes section from honor code about homosexual behavior by Neal Hardin
- “The cultural pressure to change stances on the vast array of LGBTQ issues is being brought to bear on every Christian institution, and it won’t stop. Because of this, Christians need to know how to think through these issues well.”
How meeting practical needs helps vulnerable families: A family restoration success story by Lindsey Teat
Don’t Quarantine the Great Commission by Russell Moore

Culture

Coronavirus

Widespread alarm and misinformation, we recommend you follow live updates on Covid-19 from the Washington Post
Pulling out all the stops to stem the tide, churches, schools, and major events across the nation are delayed, cancelled, or moving online.
The NCAA has cancelled both the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, the NBA and NHL have suspended play, and the MLB has ceased operations and delayed opening day.

International

Russian moves toward extending Vladimir Putin rule

Listen to more episodes of The ERLC Podcast at erlc.com/podcast.

Tennessee tornadoes, an abortion case at SCOTUS, and a conversation with Jason Thacker Mar 06, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, Josh, Lindsay, and Brent talk about an abortion case at the Supreme Court, coronavirus (COVID-19) spreading in the U.S., tornadoes in Tennessee, Joe Biden’s comeback, and rumors about Ed Sheeran. And don’t miss Lindsay’s rundown of this week’s ERLC content including a Q&A with infectious disease specialist Scott James M.D. about how to prepare for coronavirus, a piece from Rebecca McLaughlin on winsome apologetics, and our explainer on ethical concerns about research using fetal tissue. Also in this episode, the hosts are joined by Jason Thacker for a brief conversation about faith and technology.

About Jason

Jason Thacker is the author of The Age of AI: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity. He serves as the Creative Director and an Associate Research Fellow at The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. He is a graduate of The University of Tennessee in Knoxville and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. His writing has been featured at The Gospel Coalition, Christianity Today, and many other outlets. He is married to Dorie and they have two sons. You can follow him on Twitter: @jasonthacker