The Esau McCaulley Podcast

Latest Episodes:

LA Fires, Climate Change, and Christian Responsibility Jan 23, 2025

Show notes

When disaster strikes, what should Christians do? Esau sits down with Jamie Aten, a disaster relief expert, and the Blanchard Chair of Humanitarian and Disaster Leadership at Wheaton College. They talk about the devastating wildfires in California, how climate change and policy decisions are making disasters worse, and why churches play a crucial role in relief efforts.

List of Ways to Contribute:

https://www.holypost.com/post/ways-to-contribute-to-la-fire-relief

What Squid Game Says About Us (And Capitalism) Jan 16, 2025

Show notes

What happens when a Korean drama holds up a mirror to the world? Esau sits down with Cultural Critic, Rebecca Sun to talk about Squid Game—the Netflix phenomenon that just released its second season. Esau and Rebecca break down how the show's brutal, beautifully shot narrative forces us to wrestle with big questions: What is the show actually saying about capitalism? What happens when art critiques its own existence? And what does Squid Game's creator really want us to take away from all the chaos?

Rebecca Sun's Articles:

There's a Reason 'Squid Game' Hit a Global Nerve"

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/04/opinion/squid-game-season-2-essential-twist.html

'Squid Game' Returns: Inside Netflix's Darker, Terrifyingly Relevant Season 2:

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/squid-game-season-two-creator-lee-jung-jae-interview-1236058780/

Denzel's Ministry and What We Want From Celebrity Christians Jan 09, 2025

Show notes

Denzel Washington was recently baptized and now believes he's been called to ministry. How does he compare to other celebrity Christians and do we expect too much, or not enough from the most famous believers? Also, Esau talks about a recent CT article on family estrangement drawing from his own personal experience. How do we follow the commandment to honor our mother and father when we are cut off from them?

Christianity Today article on Estrangement: https://www.christianitytoday.com/2024/11/estrangement-parents-love-carrie-mckean/

The Biggest Stories of 2024 Jan 02, 2025

Show notes

Esau is joined by Justin Giboney and Tish Harrison Warren to look back at the major religious, cultural, and political stories of 2024. From the impact of the election and the rise of AI in churches to surprising shifts in church demographics and the ongoing challenges of political polarization, the conversation dives deep into what shaped the church this year.

Why We Celebrate: The History and Meaning of Christmas Traditions Dec 26, 2024

Show notes

Esau is joined by fellow Wheaton professors, Emily McGowin and Timothy Larson to talk about the origins of some of our favorite Christmas traditions and why Christians should fully embrace celebrating all 12 days of Christmas.

What is Bible Reading For? Dec 19, 2024

Show notes

Why do we read the Bible? What are the best practices to interpret it? And how does the way we approach scripture shape who we become? Kevin Vanhoozer joins Esau to try to answer these questions as they discuss his most recent book, Mere Christian Hermeneutics. They discuss CS Lewis' influence on the book and why there is a difference between reading the Bible literally and literalistically

Mere Christian Hermeneutics: Transfiguring What It Means to Read the Bible Theologically: https://a.co/d/fLINdN9

Russell Moore's Book List:

https://www.russellmoore.com/2024/12/11/my-favorite-books-of-2024-2/

Best Movies of 2024 with NY Times Film Critic Alissa Wilkinson Dec 12, 2024

Show notes

New York Times film critic Alissa Wilkinson, joins the show to talk about her journey to becoming a movie reviewer, the best films of 2024, and what makes a movie truly great. Esau and Alissa also dive into their favorite Christmas movies and the state of religious films in the industry today.

Mary the Apostle: Correcting History's Biggest Biblical Misconception Dec 05, 2024

Show notes

Esau sits down with Dr. Jennifer Powell McNutt to discuss her latest book, The Mary We Forgot: What the Apostle to the Apostles Can Teach the Church Today. Together, they explore the fascinating history and theology surrounding Mary Magdalene, dismantling misconceptions about her past and highlighting her role as a model disciple and preacher. Along the way, the conversation touches on spiritual warfare, women in ministry, and the importance of retrieving overlooked stories from church history.

The Mary We Forgot: What the Apostle to the Apostles Teaches the Church Today:

https://a.co/d/6JqNrh2

Mailbag! Thanksgiving Food Draft, What Esau Got Wrong, and Tackling Jesus' Tough Teachings Nov 28, 2024

Show notes

It's Thanksgiving, and we're serving up a special holiday edition of The Esau McCaulley Podcast! First, Esau, Kaitlyn Schiess, and Skye Jethani go head-to-head in a Thanksgiving food draft to create the ultimate feast. Then, Esau and Producer Mike dig into your questions, tackling how to lovingly disagree with others, a time when Esau admitted he was wrong, what Jesus meant when he said he came not to bring peace, but a sword, and Esau's hot take on turkey.

What's in Trump's Cabinet? Nov 21, 2024

Show notes

Mike Cosper joins Esau to talk about Trump's cabinet picks—Dr. Oz? Matt Gaetz? These picks are more controversial than past presidential cabinet picks and show a bit of where the administration's priorities lie. He also breaks down the big ideas in his book, The Church in Dark Times.

The Church in Dark Times: Understanding and Resisting the Evil That Seduced the Evangelical Movement by Mike Cosper: https://a.co/d/avuGHsI

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