Thinking Fellows

Lost in Translation? Sep 18, 2026

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In this episode of Thinking Fellows, Caleb Keith, Adam Francisco, and Bruce Hillman discuss how important Greek and Hebrew are for pastors and theologians. They talk about the benefits of studying the biblical languages, the limits of knowing only a little, and how modern tools and English translations can help with Bible study. They also explain how these skills can serve the church by helping pastors understand Scripture, answer difficult questions, and give Christians confidence in the Word of God.

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Are We Being Formed by AI? Sep 15, 2026

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In this episode of Thinking Fellows, Caleb Keith, Adam Francisco, and Bruce Hillman talk about how Christians should think about AI and how it is changing the way we work, think, and interact with the world. They discuss AI as a powerful tool and an environment that is shaping us, along with questions about writing, education, truth, technology, and the growing role of AI in everyday life. Most importantly, they argue that Christians should be grounded in God's Word and the truth of the Gospel so that we do not look to AI for answers that only Christ can give.

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Apologetics, Academia and Algorithms Sep 04, 2026

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In this episode of the Thinking Fellows podcast, Caleb Keith, Adam Francisco, and Bruce Hillman talk about the state of modern Christian apologetics. They discuss Adam's recent apologetics conference in Cambridge, the value of serious Christian scholarship, and why clear thinking and clear writing still matter. They also look at materialism, science, certainty, and the ways Christians can respond when anti-Christian ideas show up on their phones and online.

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Law and Gospel with Rod Rosenbladt Aug 28, 2026

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In this episode of Thinking Fellows, Caleb Keith, Scott Keith, and Daniel Emery Price listen to an old recording from Rod Rosenbladt and discuss the Lutheran view of Law and Gospel. They explain that the Law shows us our sin and puts the old sinner to death, while the Gospel gives life through Christ and has the final word. They also discuss Christian freedom, antinomianism, vocation, and why the Gospel is what creates new life.

Rod Rosenbladt Legacy

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Summer Reading Roundup Aug 21, 2026

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In this episode of Thinking Fellows, Caleb Keith, Adam Francisco, Bruce Hillman, and Scott Keith share their summer reading lists, ranging from the Bible and church fathers to history, politics, philosophy, fiction, and swimming. Their conversation explores everything from the transition of Rome from paganism to Christianity and Thomas Sowell's ideas about human nature to the problem of evil and the history of Finland during World War II. They also discuss Lutheran scholarship, vocation and theological disagreement.

Adam Francisco

The Bible — New Living Translation (NLT)
The Quran
Conflict of Visions: Ideological Origins of Political Struggles — Thomas Sowell

Bruce Hillman

On Death and Eternal Life — Gregory of Nyssa
The Oxford Reading and Philosophy: Problem of Evil — Marilyn McCord Adams (editor)

Scott Keith

The Long Way Home: A Journey into the History of Captain Robert Ford — Ed Dover
The Fourth Option — Jack Carr
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold — John le Carré
Ice — Ulla-Lena Lundberg
How Finland Survives Stalin: From the Winter War to the Cold War, 1939–1950 — Kimmo Rentola
Why We Swim — Bonnie Tsui

Caleb Keith

The Final Pagan Generation: Rome's Unexpected Path to Christianity — Edward J. Watts
The Pieper Lectures: The Lutheran Doctrine of Vocation, Vol. 11 — various authors

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Is Your Church Healthy or Dying? Aug 14, 2026

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What makes a church "healthy"? In this episode of the Thinking Fellows, Caleb Keith, Scott Keith, Adam Francisco, and Bruce Hillman examine the popular language of healthy churches, church growth, and discipleship. They question whether marketing metrics have replaced the biblical marks of the church and argue that the true measure of the church is the faithful preaching of Christ crucified and the right administration of the sacraments. Rather than chasing marketing strategies or growth models, they contend that the church exists to deliver the forgiveness of sins through Word and Sacrament, trusting God's promises instead of chasing the latest trends.

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Whose Father was Abraham? Jul 31, 2026

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On this episode of Thinking Fellows, the guys ask what it means to call Christianity, Judaism, and Islam the "Abrahamic faiths." They look at the history of the term and what these religions actually share. They also explain why their differences, especially about Jesus Christ, matter more than the label and how Christians can talk with Jews and Muslims without losing the truth of the Gospel.

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Challenging Children's Church Jul 24, 2026

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In this episode of Thinking Fellows, the guys discuss the ongoing debate over children's church and whether kids should be separated from adults during worship. They argue that Christian worship is more than age appropriate teaching. God works through the proclamation of His Word and the sacraments for believers of every age, making children an important part of the gathered church. Drawing from Scripture, Luther, and recent research, they make the case that worshiping together as families helps pass the faith from one generation to the next and forms children in ways that children's church alone cannot.

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