The Deep Dish

Latest Episodes:

AI: Friend or Foe? (with Michael Graham) May 14, 2026

Show notes

Melissa Kruger and Courtney Doctor talk with Michael Graham about what Christians should know about artificial intelligence.

They discuss the benefits it could bring to society and how they personally use it. They consider theological categories and questions for how to evaluate which uses are helpful and which are dangerous. Finally, Graham explains the Christian Benchmark project and how it exposes the inherent biases in AI platforms.

Key Terms:

Generative AI: Large language models (LLM) that can simulate conversation and create audio, video, and text based on prompts (ChatGPT, Anthropic, Claude, and Grok).
Agentic AI: Systems that are semi- or fully autonomous and thus able to perceive, reason, and act on their own.

Resources Mentioned:

What Is Tri-perspectivalism? by John Frame
Mindset by Carol S. Dweck
AI Christian Benchmark Project

Related Resources:

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Before listening to this episode, what was your view of AI (benefit, threat, or neutral)? Has that perspective changed?

2. What are some ways AI can be used for good in work, ministry, or everyday life?

3. Are there certain uses of AI that concern you? Why?

4. Why is it important to realize that AI isn’t a neutral source? How does that shape the way you interact with it?

5. How can we help younger generations develop discernment in addition to skills when it comes to AI?

6. What does it look like to trust God’s sovereignty in times of rapid cultural and technological change?

7. What’s one step you would like to take in using technology intentionally and faithfully?

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When You (or a Friend) Face Unwanted Divorce (with Vaneetha Risner and Wendy Alsup) Apr 30, 2026

Show notes

Courtney Doctor talks with Wendy Alsup and Vaneetha Rendall Risner about their experiences of divorce. They share the Scripture passages that helped them keep going and talk honestly about what to say (and what not to say) to someone going through a divorce. They explain why it can be hard for a newly divorced Christian to go to church and why it’s vital to go anyway.

Resources Mentioned:

Walking Through Fire: A Memoir of Loss and Redemption by Vaneetha Rendall Risner
I Forgive You by Wendy Alsup

Related Resources:

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. How has divorce affected your family or close friendships? What were the hardest spiritual or emotional struggles you or those close to you faced during that season?

2. What promises of God are especially important to remember when walking through deep disappointment or loss?

3. If you knew a friend was going through a divorce, what might hold you back from reaching out to her?

4. In what ways have you seen the church support women (and their children) walking through unwanted divorce well? In what ways could the church provide more support or encouragement to the marginalized or hurting?

5. What suggestions from this conversation helped you understand how to walk with friends or family navigating divorce?

6. In seasons when you cannot control outcomes for your family, what does it look like to trust God?

7. What does gospel hope look like in the aftermath of something as painful as divorce?

Pick up a copy of Stand In Awe wherever books are sold or visit crossway.org/standinawe to learn how to get 30 percent off with a free Crossway plus account.

Get 20% off a course of your choice when you use code DEEPDISH20 at checkout. Learn more and register now at lifeway.com/academy. That’s lifeway.com/academy

Check out The Pour Over Podcast — politically neutral news for people who want the facts without the spin, and with a brief biblical perspective

Click here for more information about Women's Initiatives at The Gospel Coalition!

Click here to sign up for notification of on-demand access to keynotes and breakout sessions from our recent conference, TGCW26!

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Worship Is More than a Playlist (with Emily Jensen) Apr 16, 2026

Show notes

Melissa and Courtney talk with Emily Jensen about how to broaden our understanding of worship to think of it as a response to God’s worth. Worship is more than singing on Sunday morning, but corporate worship is an essential part of the worship God desires. They talk about the role our feelings should play in how we think about worship and how to offer up the mundane moments of our lives to the glory of God.

Resources Mentioned:

Worship (Disciplines of Devotion) by Emily A. Jensen
“God Moves In a Mysterious Way”
“Holy Forever”
“We Rest on Thee”

Related Resources:

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. What is a hymn or worship song that has encouraged you recently?

2. Before listening to this episode, how would you have defined worship? How does the definition that worship is “our response to who God is and what he has done” expand or challenge your thinking?

3. What are some everyday moments in your life that could become opportunities for worship? What could that look like for you?

4. What’s the difference between using worship to change our feelings and worshiping because God is worthy, regardless of how we feel?

5. What has helped you approach worship, even when you feel anxious, distracted, or spiritually dry?

6. What modern-day idols compete for our worship?

7. How does the image of a child offering imperfect efforts to a loving parent shape the way you think about your own worship?

Pick up a copy of Stand In Awe wherever books are sold or visit crossway.org/standinawe to learn how to get 30 percent off with a free Crossway plus account.

Get 20% off a course of your choice when you use code DEEPDISH20 at checkout. Learn more and register now at lifeway.com/academy. That’s lifeway.com/academy

Check out The Pour Over Podcast — politically neutral news for people who want the facts without the spin, and with a brief biblical perspective

Click here for more information about Women's Initiatives at The Gospel Coalition!

Click here to sign up for notification of on-demand access to keynotes and breakout sessions from our recent conference, TGCW26!

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Recognizing Our Own Marks of Righteousness Apr 02, 2026

Show notes

Courtney and Melissa talk about how to recognize and repent of the ways we may be relying on self-righteousness rather than the righteousness of Christ. They talk about tribalism, what happens when debatable issues are treated as primary, and how, paradoxically, the areas where we feel despair may point to areas of pride or self-righteousness in our lives.

Related Resources:

Finding the Right Hills to Die On by Gavin Ortlund
The Sticky Sin of Always Being Right
Self-Righteousness Wears Many Disguises

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. What are some things that come to mind (such as good practices or habits) that can quietly become a source of pride?

2. In what ways do you notice self-righteousness creep into Christian community in subtle or socially acceptable ways?

3. Are there particular areas of obedience or conviction where you feel tempted to compare yourself with others? What might that reveal about your heart?

4. In Philippians 3:4–10, Paul calls his impressive spiritual résumé “rubbish” compared with knowing Christ. What does this passage teach us about the difference between our righteousness and Christ’s righteousness?

5. Why do you think it can be so easy to trust in our own efforts rather than resting in Christ’s righteousness?

6. What are some red flags in your thoughts, attitudes, or conversations that might signal self-righteousness creeping in?

7. How can Christian communities encourage holiness and obedience without creating an atmosphere of pride, comparison, or tribalism?

Pick up a copy of Stand In Awe wherever books are sold or visit crossway.org/standinawe to learn how to get 30 percent off with a free Crossway plus account.

Get 20% off a course of your choice when you use code DEEPDISH20 at checkout. Learn more and register now at lifeway.com/academy. That’s lifeway.com/academy

Check out The Pour Over Podcast — politically neutral news for people who want the facts without the spin, and with a brief biblical perspective

Click here for more information about Women's Initiatives at The Gospel Coalition!

Click here to sign up for notification of on-demand access to keynotes and breakout sessions from our recent conference, TGCW26!

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Why We Can Trust the Resurrection Mar 19, 2026

Show notes

Courtney and Melissa talk with New Testament scholar (and Melissa’s husband) Mike Kruger about the excellent evidence that Jesus physically rose from the dead and the difference that makes for our lives.

Dr. Kruger points out that because Jesus predicted his own resurrection, it validates his claims to be the Son of God and the Messiah. Dr. Kruger highlights the resurrection's transformative effects on early Christians, including their willingness to be martyred for their faith.

Related Resources:

Did the Resurrection Really Happen? (TGC Hard Questions) by Timothy Paul Jones
3 Reasons to Believe in the Resurrection
Why Is the Resurrection Good News?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Why do you think the resurrection continues to be questioned or dismissed in our culture?

2. Why is the resurrection not just one doctrine among many but central to the Christian faith? What would Christianity lose if the resurrection weren't true?

3. What evidence of Christ’s resurrection is particularly compelling to you?

4. Read 1 Corinthians 15 together. Paul says that if Christ hasn't been raised, our faith is futile—but if he has been raised, everything changes. As a result, what should change in

our view of suffering?
our courage in evangelism?
our fight against sin?
our hope in death?

5. How does the knowledge that Christ is alive and reigning without rival make a difference in your life right now?

Pick up a copy of Stand In Awe wherever books are sold or visit crossway.org/standinawe to learn how to get 30 percent off with a free Crossway plus account.

Get 20% off a course of your choice when you use code DEEPDISH20 at checkout. Learn more and register now at lifeway.com/academy. That’s lifeway.com/academy

Check out The Pour Over Podcast — politically neutral news for people who want the facts without the spin, and with a brief biblical perspective

Click here for more information about Women's Initiatives at The Gospel Coalition!

Click here to sign up for notification of on-demand access to keynotes and breakout sessions from our recent conference, TGCW26!

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A Deep Dish Birthday Party (with Special Guests)! Mar 05, 2026

Show notes

To celebrate the first birthday of The Deep Dish, Courtney and Melissa welcome special surprise guests to answer tough questions sent in by listeners. They talk about the difference between shame and the Spirit's conviction, how to seek advice about a conflict without gossiping, how to sit with the tension of a biblical text, how to keep the Sabbath, and more.

Resources Mentioned:

Related Resources:

Sabbath Rest (Disciplines of Devotion series) by Megan Hill
Women of the Word by Jen Wilkin
Gospel Parenting During the Little Years

Pick up a copy of Stand In Awe wherever books are sold or visit crossway.org/standinawe to learn how to get 30 percent off with a free Crossway plus account.

Get 20% off a course of your choice when you use code DEEPDISH20 at checkout. Learn more and register now at lifeway.com/academy. That’s lifeway.com/academy

Check out The Pour Over Podcast — politically neutral news for people who want the facts without the spin, and with a brief biblical perspective

Click here for more information about Women's Initiatives at The Gospel Coalition!

Click here to sign up for notification of on-demand access to keynotes and breakout sessions from our recent conference, TGCW26!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Kickstart Your Prayer Life Feb 19, 2026

Show notes

Courtney and Melissa discuss helpful practices they’ve used in their prayer lives, including developing regular rhythms, alternating prayer with Scripture reading, and incorporating confession of sin as a part of personal prayer. They talk about how to be faithful to a promise to pray for someone else and how to make prayer part of a friendship.

Rather than speaking from a place of prescriptive legalism, Melissa and Courtney speak with infectious enthusiasm about the possibilities of a rich and growing prayer life.

Resources Mentioned:

The Deep Dish: Conversations with God
Lord, Teach Me to Pray in 28 Days by Kay Arthur
5 Things to Pray for Your Kids by Melissa Kruger
5 Things to Pray for Your Spouse by Melissa Kruger
The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian
Parenting with Hope by Melissa Kruger
I’m Praying for You: 40 Days of Praying the Bible for Someone Who Is Suffering by Nancy Guthrie
Piercing Heaven: Prayers of the Puritans edited by Robert Elmer
Every Moment Holy series

Related Resources

Prayer (Disciplines of Devotion series) by Courtney Reissig
In Prayer, Structure Serves Spontaneity
7 Ways to Fight Distraction in Prayer

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Do you have a routine for prayer? When and where do you usually pray?

2. What strategies do you use to organize your prayer time and guard against distractions?

3. How has God used prayer to rightly orient you toward seeking his will above your own?

4. When have you struggled to persevere in prayer or to accept an answer to prayer?

5. What benefits have you experienced as a result of praying with others (family, friends, or ministry partners)?

6. What next step will you take in your practice of prayer? What do you want to start, stop, or continue doing?

Pick up a copy of Stand In Awe wherever books are sold or visit crossway.org/standinawe to learn how to get 30 percent off with a free Crossway plus account.

Get 20% off a course of your choice when you use code DEEPDISH20 at checkout. Learn more and register now at lifeway.com/academy. That’s lifeway.com/academy

Check out The Pour Over Podcast — politically neutral news for people who want the facts without the spin, and with a brief biblical perspective

Click here for more information about Women's Initiatives at The Gospel Coalition!

Click here to sign up for notification of on-demand access to keynotes and breakout sessions from our recent conference, TGCW26!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Fighting Materialism in a Materialistic World Feb 05, 2026

Show notes

Melissa and Courtney talk with Jen Oshman about the lie that our worth is measured by what we possess. They discuss why we try to fill a God-shaped hole with earthly things and how to recognize materialism in our lives.

They talk about strategies to combat materialism, including inviting trusted friends into your financial decisions, seeking to be as generous to others as possible, and setting your heart on heavenly possessions rather than earthly ones.

Resources Mentioned:

Heaven by Randy Alcorn
The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn

Related Resources:

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. In what ways do you see materialism connected to deeper desires in your heart? How might you be settling for lesser gifts instead of storing up treasure in heaven?

2. What types of things most often capture your attention or stir up desire (e.g., clothes, home decor, technology, experiences)?

3. What rhythms or practices (daily, weekly, or monthly) could help you become more mindful of how you consume, spend, and steward what God has given you?

4. Share a time when you experienced God’s abundant provision. How does remembering his care grow your desire to trust him and reflect his generosity?

5. What Scriptures or truths about God’s character help reorient your heart when you feel the pull toward “more”?

6. How could other believers help you with accountability or input in the areas of spending, consumption, and giving?

7. What’s one next step you would like to take based on what you’ve heard and discussed today?

Pick up a copy of Stand In Awe wherever books are sold or visit crossway.org/standinawe to learn how to get 30 percent off with a free Crossway plus account.

Get 20% off a course of your choice when you use code DEEPDISH20 at checkout. Learn more and register now at lifeway.com/academy. That’s lifeway.com/academy

Check out The Pour Over Podcast — politically neutral news for people who want the facts without the spin, and with a brief biblical perspective

Click here for more information about Women's Initiatives at The Gospel Coalition!

Click here to sign up for notification of on-demand access to keynotes and breakout sessions from our recent conference, TGCW26!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Remembering Death Teaches Us to Live Jan 22, 2026

Show notes

Courtney Doctor talks with Colleen Chao about how her faith has grown and flourished through living with a terminal cancer diagnosis. They discuss the difficulty of knowing she may not live to see her son grow up, what keeps her clinging to Jesus, and what excites her about the life to come. Colleen expounds a rich theology of suffering accompanied by contagious joy in the Lord.

Resources Mentioned:

She Laughs at the Days to Come (Colleen’s story)

Related Resources:

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. How do you practice “setting your mind on things above” amid ordinary life or in seasons of suffering?

2. What circumstances or experiences have made you more aware of your limitations?

3. How have you experienced the closeness of your Shepherd in dark or fearful seasons? In what specific ways has his nearness been your good?

4. What does it mean to think of suffering as something you’re “entrusted with”? How does that perspective shape the way you steward hard experiences?

5. As you think about eternity with God, what excites or comforts you most about the life to come?

6. What does it look like to entrust those we love most to God when the future feels uncertain?

7. What truths from God’s Word have most strengthened or steadied you in seasons of suffering?

Pick up a copy of Stand In Awe wherever books are sold or visit crossway.org/standinawe to learn how to get 30 percent off with a free Crossway plus account.

Get 20% off a course of your choice when you use code DEEPDISH20 at checkout. Learn more and register now at lifeway.com/academy. That’s lifeway.com/academy

Check out The Pour Over Podcast — politically neutral news for people who want the facts without the spin, and with a brief biblical perspective

Click here for more information about Women's Initiatives at The Gospel Coalition!

Click here to sign up for notification of on-demand access to keynotes and breakout sessions from our recent conference, TGCW26!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How to Make Friends in Real Life Jan 08, 2026

Show notes

Courtney and Melissa talk with Christine Hoover about why we need friends and how to make them. They discuss how to get over the awkwardness of walking into a room where you don’t know anyone, why our friendships may shift in different life stages, how our friends shape us, and how an idealized view of friendship (where your friends never disappoint you) runs counter to the gospel.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

The Hard Work of Lifelong Friendships

RELATED RESOURCES:

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. How has your experience of making friends changed in different seasons of your life? Which seasons have been most challenging, and why?

2. In what ways are your current friendships gospel-centered? Where do you sense room for growth?

3. Where has God placed you—at church, at work, at home, or in your community—to notice and include those who may feel overlooked or alone?

4. What qualities of a faithful, Christlike friend are you asking God to grow in you right now?

5. How does the gospel speak to the fears or expectations that hinder our friendships?

6. How are you intentionally prioritizing fellowship with Christ? How does your relationship with him shape what you offer in your friendships?

7. What next step is God calling you to take in your pursuit of gospel-centered friendship?

Pick up a copy of Stand In Awe wherever books are sold or visit crossway.org/standinawe to learn how to get 30 percent off with a free Crossway plus account.

Get 20% off a course of your choice when you use code DEEPDISH20 at checkout. Learn more and register now at lifeway.com/academy. That’s lifeway.com/academy

Check out The Pour Over Podcast — politically neutral news for people who want the facts without the spin, and with a brief biblical perspective

Click here for more information about Women's Initiatives at The Gospel Coalition!

Click here to sign up for notification of on-demand access to keynotes and breakout sessions from our recent conference, TGCW26!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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