Scripture in Black and White

Latest Episodes:

Do Politics Belong in the Pulpit | Tom Steele VS Michael Demastus Oct 19, 2026

Show notes

Should pastors connect biblical teaching to political positions and politicians? Explore two perspectives on preaching and Christian political engagement.

Go deeper with this related RENEW.org article on preaching politics:

https://renew.org/preaching-politics-6-thoughts-from-the-book-of-daniel/

Tom Steele and Michael Demastus join moderators Daniel McCoy and Anthony Walker for Season 7, Episode 9 of Scripture in Black and White Podcast. Their discussion examines whether pastors should connect biblical teaching to specific political positions and politicians during a sermon.

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Have Protestants Gotten Paul Wrong? | John Whittaker & Bob Turner Oct 12, 2026

Show notes

The New Perspective on Paul challenges how Christians read Romans, Galatians, justification, and works. John Whittaker and Bob Turner examine its strengths and weaknesses.

Explore what it means to be Protestant and always reforming: https://renew.org/what-it-means-to-be-protestant/

John Whittaker and Bob Turner join moderators Daniel McCoy and Anthony Walker on this episode of Scripture in Black and White to examine the New Perspective on Paul. They begin with its central question: Have Christians read Paul in his first-century context, or have they filtered Romans and Galatians through Martin Luther and the concerns of the Protestant Reformation?

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Are House Churches More Biblical? [Part 2] | Jordan Arnold VS. Matt Dabbs Oct 05, 2026

Show notes

House churches and traditional churches offer different strengths and risks for disciple making. Matt Dabbs and Jordan Arnold examine both models.

Learn how churches can align leaders around disciple making: https://renew.org/leadership-alignment-training-for-disciple-making/

This conversation continues the discussion of house churches and traditional churches. Anthony Walker and Daniel McCoy moderate as Matt Dabbs, a home church planter, and Jordan Arnold, teaching minister at Harpeth Christian Church, examine how church structure shapes discipleship.

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Are House Churches More Biblical? Jordan Arnold VS. Matt Dabbs Sep 28, 2026

Show notes

Are House Churches More Biblical? Matt Dabbs and Jordan Arnold discuss what the New Testament says about house churches, larger gatherings, and making disciples.

Want to become a disciple making church, learn more about RENEW.org's Leadership Alignment Training for churches -- https://renew.org/leadership-alignment-training-for-disciple-making/

Is Speaking in Tongues Legitimately Happening Today? David Young VS. David Young Sep 21, 2026

Show notes

Is speaking in tongues a real human language, a private prayer language, or a spiritual gift the church no longer needs?

Explore a biblical approach to the gifts of the Spirit
https://renew.org/gifts-of-the-spirit/

In Season 7, Episode 5 of Scripture in Black and White, hosts Anthony Walker and Daniel McCoy sit down with David Young, academic dean of RENEW University, for a format they have never tried before: asking one guest to argue both sides of the same question.

Speaking in tongues appears in five clear New Testament passages, yet debates over what it means—and whether the gift continues today, have shaped entire denominations and still divide Christians within the same congregation.

Daniel and Anthony press David on how each side answers the other’s strongest arguments, including Paul’s instruction that speaking in tongues during a church gathering requires an interpreter.

Read more and engage with these types of conversations at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/

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Does the Bible Clearly Teach a Young Earth? Jeff Randleman VS Ben Stroup Sep 14, 2026

Show notes

Does the Bible clearly teach a young earth, or is there room for an old earth reading of Genesis 1?

Explore more content at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/

Hosts Anthony Walker and Daniel moderate a frank conversation between Jeff Randleman (young-earth perspective) and Ben Stroup (old-earth perspective) about whether Genesis 1 clearly teaches a young earth. They explore scriptural language, the meaning of "yom," the death-before-fall argument, distant starlight, and pastoral implications for faith and science.

The episode emphasizes shared convictions, God as Creator and the need for redemption, while outlining different interpretive approaches and practical ways ministers can guide doubting or curious listeners.

Read more and engage with these types of conversations at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/

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Is Multisite a Healthy Option for Churches? Jason Ishmael VS. Brett Kays Sep 07, 2026

Show notes

Hosts Anthony and Daniel sit down with Jason Ishmael and Brett Kays to debate whether multi‑site churches are a healthy path for growth. The conversation weighs biblical eldership, practical leadership challenges, and the impact on church planting, especially in under‑resourced rural areas.

The episode explores real‑world fears and case studies, including when to launch, release, or subsidize campuses, how to preserve local pastoral care and autonomy, and strategies for multiplying healthy, independent churches while reaching more people for the gospel.

Read more and engage with these types of conversations at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/

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Is the Modern Nation of Israel of Prophetic Significance? John Whittaker VS Bobby Harrington Aug 31, 2026

Show notes

Does the modern nation of Israel still have a role in Bible prophecy, or have God’s promises to Israel been completely fulfilled in Jesus?

Read the article, “Does God Still Have a Plan for Israel?” https://renew.org/does-god-still-have-a-plan-for-israel/

In this episode of Scripture in Black and White, Bobby Harrington and John Whittaker discuss one of the most debated theological questions in the church today.

Bobby Harrington, lead pastor of Harpeth Christian Church, argues that Scripture points to an enduring and not-yet-fulfilled role for Israel and the Jewish people. He builds his case from passages including Romans 11, Genesis 17, Deuteronomy 30, and Zechariah 12–14.

John Whittaker, creator of the Listener’s Commentary, argues that God’s promises to Israel find their complete fulfillment in Jesus. He explains why he believes the New Testament identifies the people of God as everyone who places their faith in Christ, both Jew and Gentile.

Key Takeaways

00:00 - Introduction
01:00 - Welcome to Scripture in Black and White
02:00 - Why this question matters for theology, geopolitics, and church unity
05:30 - Meet the guests: Bobby Harrington and John Whittaker
08:00 - What is at stake if we get this wrong?
10:30 - Bobby’s case: Romans 11, Genesis 17, Deuteronomy 30, and Zechariah 12
18:00 - John’s case: Jesus as the fulfillment of Israel’s identity and promises
25:00 - Questions for Bobby: Dispensationalism, the land promise, and modern Israel and Gaza
38:00 - Questions for John: Christian responsibility toward Jewish people, the “everlasting” covenant, and Zechariah 12 compared with Revelation 1
44:30 - Debating Romans 11:26: “All Israel will be saved”
47:00 - Zechariah 14 and the return of Jesus
50:00 - Bobby and John identify each other’s most convincing point
53:00 - Closing thoughts: Jesus is the center

KEY PASSAGES DISCUSSED

Genesis 12:1–3, Genesis 17:7–8, Deuteronomy 30:4–5, Amos 9
Zechariah 12–14, Luke 21, Acts 2 and 15, Romans 4:13, Romans 9–11, Galatians 3 and 6, 2 Corinthians 1, 1 Peter 2, Revelation 1

Explore more episodes of Scripture in Black and White:
https://renew.org/scripture-in-black-and-white-podcast/

If this conversation helped you think more carefully about Israel and Bible prophecy, like the video, subscribe to the channel, and share it with someone exploring the same questions.

Visit RENEW.org to sign up for our email newsletter and be the first to know about new content, books and resources.

https://renew.org/

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Is "Christian Nationalism" a legitimate threat OR a boogeyman used to keep Christians out of the public square? David Young VS Paul Huyghebaert Aug 24, 2026

Show notes

How should Christians engage in politics? Is "Christian Nationalism" a legitimate threat OR a boogeyman used to keep Christians out of the public square? David Young VS Paul Huyghebaert

Learn more about this topic at RENEW.org: https://renew.org/

Welcome to a new season on Scripture in Black and White. Where we examining the hard topics through a biblical lens, bringing multiple perspectives, and asking what it means to follow Jesus in a politically divided world.

This first episode of this new series focuses on Christian Nationalism.

Christian nationalism ignites debate across pulpits and podcasts. But what does the term actually mean? In this conversation, Anthony Walker and Daniel McCoy bring two trusted voices into the room, David Young, academic dean at RENEW University and scholar in residence at renew.org, and Paul Huyghebaert, lead minister at Southside Christian Church in Fort Pierce, Florida. They unpack what's really at stake.

What emerges is nuanced, articulate, and honest. They disagree on the method but share a conviction: Christian principles are best for any nation. The real question is how we get there, and whether the church loses its soul in the process.

Key Highlights

0:00 Christians and the public square: confronting rulers, defending truth
4:15 What is Christian nationalism and why the passion?
7:45 David Young: Christian principles as the foundation of justice
13:20 Paul Hugo Bard: The danger of entangling church and state
20:00 Horizontal vs. vertical law: what should government legislate?
26:40 The role of Christian heritage in Western civilization
33:20 Paul's response: persuasion over coercion
40:00 Civil rights as a case study: law and changed hearts
46:40 Constantine and the corruption of the church
53:20 Finding common ground: what we all agree on
58:45 Jesus is Lord—what does that mean for nations?

Visit RENEW.org to sign up for our email newsletter and be the first to know about new content, books and resources.

https://renew.org/

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[Special] Baptism, What Does the Bible Actually Teach with Dr. Bobby Harrington Nov 26, 2025

Show notes

Get the book Baptism According to Scripture: A Clear, Short, and Unfiltered Guide -- https://a.co/d/9htbUnm

Unpacking Baptism with Dr. Bobby Harrington.

Join Wes and Dr. Bobby Harrington as they dive deep into the biblical and theological significance of baptism in this enriching podcast episode. Dr. Harrington, a key figure in church planting and disciple-making movements, shares his life story in four transformative quarters, emphasizing his journey from a non-Christian upbringing in Calgary to becoming a pivotal leader in Christian ministry. The discussion covers Dr. Harrington's academic background, professional milestones, and an in-depth exploration of baptism's role in salvation, particularly focusing on its normative and exceptional cases. Dr. Harrington also tackles historical views, contemporary misunderstandings, and the necessity of baptism as an expression of faith in Jesus. Tune in to understand why baptism should be a unifying factor among Christians and how to effectively communicate its importance within church communities.

Key Takeaways
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:20 Bobby Harrington's Early Life and Conversion
01:59 Academic and Ministerial Journey
04:05 Founding and Leading Churches
04:51 Discipleship and Renew.org
07:23 Defining Baptism
11:17 Biblical Basis for Baptism
21:34 Personal Experiences and Challenges with Baptism
27:29 Common Misunderstandings about Baptism
29:11 Debating the Significance of Baptism
30:17 Rejection of Baptismal Regeneration
32:05 Unity in Baptism Across Christian Denominations
33:03 Challenges and Misconceptions About Baptism
34:54 Writing and Publishing the Book on Baptism
40:15 Normative vs. Exceptional Cases in Baptism
50:53 Historical Perspectives on Baptism
54:50 Promoting Unity and Disciple Making