Best Michael Niebauer Podcasts (2025)

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The Great Disconnect 15:32

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4d ago15:32

15:32

Now on video. Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWeBelieve Order Four Mountains: Encountering God in the Bible from Eden to Zion Why does our experience reading the Old Testament seem so different than our experience reading the New Testament? Do you long to have those kind of life changing encounters with God not just in the Gospels, but…

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Building Thriving Congregations | Steve Williamson 33:13

18d ago33:13

33:13

CPT Manager of Church Programs, Steve Williamson, joins Zach and Joel to discuss this year's slate of cohorts for church leaders, exploring ecclesial identity, the arts, and cultural apologetics. Learn more and apply at: https://www.pastortheologians.co/identity-cohort and https://www.pastortheologians.co/learningcohorts Living Church - Awe and Pre…

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New Season: Reading the Bible Like the Early Church 4:54

19d ago4:54

4:54

Now on video. Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/@ThisWeBelieve This special season of This We Believe teaches Christians how to read the Bible like the early Church. It will examine the problems with modern approaches to readings scripture, how the wisdom of the early church can help Christians encounter the Glory of Jesus Christ in every boo…

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Becoming a Pastor Theologian | Joey Sherrard 46:14

1M ago46:14

46:14

In this episode of the CPT Podcast, Zach Wagner and Joel Lawrence talk with CPT fellow Joey Sherrard, discipleship pastor at Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church. Joey shares his story of coming to faith, studying theology at Rhodes, Duke, and St. Andrews, and discerning his calling as a pastor-theologian. He reflects on the influence of mentors, th…

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Becoming a Pastor Theologian | Shaun Brown 49:47

2M ago49:47

49:47

Shaun Brown, senior minister at Rocky Mount Christian Church and a fellow in the St. Hildegard Fellowship, joins the podcast to explore his journey through the Stone-Campbell movement, academic theology, and vocational ministry. Shaun shares how his faith was shaped by early experiences in church and Christian education, ultimately leading him from…

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The Age of Hitler, with Alec Ryrie 44:06

2M ago44:06

44:06

For centuries, the lodestone of the West's moral compass pointed to Jesus. Today, it points away from Hitler. That shift from a positive to a negative moral touchstone can be seen in popular culture's panoply of dark lords—Darth Vader, Sauron, Voldemort—each a rather unsubtle echo of Hitler himself. Join Sam Fornecker for a conversation with Alec R…

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What Makes a Good Shepherd? | Amy Peeler 31:23

2M ago31:23

31:23

Amy Peeler for a rich conversation exploring pastoral identity, theological formation, and the upcoming Pastor Theologians Conference, Good Shepherds: Pastoral Identity and the Future of the Church. Amy shares insights from her latest projects—including a forthcoming book on Ordinary Time and an in-depth study of Paul’s use of birth and incarnation…

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Joy and Sorrow | Chris Bruno 45:37

3M ago45:37

45:37

Chris Bruno joins the podcast today to tell us about his recent book, Sharing Christ in Joy and Sorrow: A Theology of Philippians. What are the key theological themes in the book of Philippians? How do those themes fit together and inform one another? How does Philippians encourage and exhort those who are in seasons of suffering? What does Union w…

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Becoming a Pastor Theologian | Ed Gerber 52:09

3M ago52:09

52:09

Ed Gerber joins us to share his story of becoming a pastor theologian. How can the Lord use even a significant break up to prepare someone for ministry? How can those who prepare future ministry leaders be both preachers and teachers to their students? What is the balance between head and heart for those who study theology academically? This and mo…

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What We're Reading — June 2025 38:09

4M ago38:09

38:09

For our June episode on books, we, the CPT staff, have been reading: JD Vance, Hillbilly Elegy (2016) Rémi Brague, Kingdom of Man: Genesis and Failure of the Modern Project, (2018) Elizabeth Goudge, The Dean's Watch, (2012) Living Church - Awe and PresenceBy The Center for Pastor Theologians

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Encountering God in the Bible | Michael Niebauer 52:22

4M ago52:22

52:22

Today on the podcast we are joined by Rev. Dr. Michael Niebauer as he shares about his recent book, Four Mountains: Encountering God in the Bible from Eden to Zion. How can Christians encounter Jesus on every page of the Bible? What can we learn from how the earliest Christians read Scripture, and connect seemingly disparate stories in the text? Wh…

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Becoming a Pastor Theologian | Jason Meyer 1:06:43

4M ago1:06:43

1:06:43

Jason Meyer, lead pastor of Urban Refuge Church in Minneapolis, MN, joins the podcast today to tell us about his journey towards becoming a pastor theologian. After serving eight years as a pastor at Bethlehem Baptist, Jason shares what he learned about his own calling, and the identity of a "pastor." This and more on today's episode! Living Church…

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Special Episode: Four Mountains 4:19

4M ago4:19

4:19

In these special episodes, Dr Niebauer discusses how the early Christians read scripture, and how his new book, Four Mountains: Encountering God in the Bible from Eden to Zion can help both new and mature Christians read the Bible in a similar manner. Available here: https://a.co/d/9F3FjzC If your church wants to use Four Mountains for a Bible stud…

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Feed My Sheep | Doug Sweeney 54:53

4M ago54:53

54:53

CPT board member Doug Sweeney joins the podcast today. He previews his topic for the 2025 CPT Conference, Good Shepherds: Pastoral Identity and the Future of the Church. What are good Christian pastors supposed to be like? On the other hand, what malformative models of pastoral identity are common in our culture today? Doug also tells us about his …

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On Christ and Masculinity | Casey Hough 59:29

5M ago59:29

59:29

Casey Hough joins us to talk about his recent book,When Poets Were Warriors: Retrieving a Biblical Vision of Masculinity (B&H Publishing, 2025). “Masculinity” is an increasingly popular subject for public discourse. Drawing on his experiences as a pastor and father, Hough argues that Christians ought to return to the complex and challenging example…

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Culture and Christians | Dennis Greeson 51:02

5M ago51:02

51:02

What is culture, and what is our relationship to it as Christians? Dennis Greeson joins the podcast today to talk about his recent book The Way of Christ in Culture: A Vision for All of Life (Lifeway 2024), coauthored with Benjamin T. Quinn. In the book, the authors provide a framework for knowing one’s time in God’s story, one’s place in creation,…

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Owned by God | James Arcadi 55:31

5M ago55:31

55:31

This week, James Arcadi joins the podcast to talk about his latest book, Holiness: Divine and Human (2023). He also shares about his dual calling to both pastoral ministry as a full-time Anglican rector, and to academic theology as a guest professor at Wheaton College. What is the relationship between abstract ideas and practical application? What …

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Becoming a Pastor Theologian | Adam Copenhaver 53:41

5M ago53:41

53:41

On the podcast this week, Adam Copenhaver shares with us about his early ministry caring for an older congregation, and his education and research on Colossians. He also tells us about his current pastoral context leading a church in a small, migrant farm town which had previously been led by an abusive pastor. He previews the breakout topic he wil…

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The Swearing of Oaths and Duplicitous Speech 8:54

6M ago8:54

8:54

What are the vows that we make before God, and how are they different from the promises and pledges we make in the world? What do the promises we make to others tell us about promises we make to God? This episode discusses the teaching of Jesus regarding speech in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:33-37). If you would like connect further, please …

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Becoming a Pastor Theologian | Ben Burkholder 1:02:54

6M ago1:02:54

1:02:54

This week we are joined by CTP Fellow Ben Burkholder. Ben shares how he developed an interest in learning how people grow as disciples. Reflecting on his time as a student, Ben also shares insights about the relationship between psychology and spiritual formation. This and more on today’s podcast! Living Church - Awe and Presence…

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Becoming a Pastor Theologian | Eric Rivera 49:40

6M ago49:40

49:40

Join us this week as we get to know Eric Rivera. Eric will be a plenary speaker at the 2025 Pastor Theologians Conference, Good Shepherds: Pastoral Identity and the Future of the Church. On this episode, Eric talks about how his story shaped his interests and calling in church history and pastoral ministry. Drawing from his context as a pastor at a…

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To Gaze upon God | Samuel Parkison 56:36

6M ago56:36

56:36

Samuel Parkison joins the podcast today to talk about his recent book, To Gaze upon God: The Beatific Vision in Doctrine, Tradition, and Practice (InterVarsity Press 2024.) He also shares with us his story and calling to academic ministry at the Abu Dhabi Extension Site at Gulf Theological Seminary in the United Arab Emirates. What is the beatific …

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What We're Reading — April 2025 35:49

7M ago35:49

35:49

For our April episode on books, we, the CPT staff, have been reading: CR Wiley, In the House of Tom Bombadil (2021) Ryan Holiday, The Obstacle Is the Way (2014) Percival Everett, James (2024) Harold Netland, Religious Experience and the Knowledge of God (2022) Living Church - Awe and PresenceBy The Center for Pastor Theologians

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Lust and Divorce 10:27

7M ago10:27

10:27

What is the relationship between adultery and the ways in which we gaze upon the images of other human beings? Why does Jesus only permit divorce in the case of sexual immorality? When, if ever, is remarriage allowed after divorce? This episode continues our series on the sermon on the mount by discussing Jesus' teaching on adultery and divorce in …

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Mothers, Dignity, and Utility | Nadya Williams 53:02

7M ago53:02

53:02

Nadya Williams joins the podcast to talk about her recent book, Mothers, Children, and the Body Politic: Ancient Christianity and the Recovery of Human Dignity (IVP Academic, 2024.) How do our attitudes towards motherhood reflect either a commodification of human life or, by contrast, a rich affirmation of the imago dei? This and more on today’s po…

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Becoming a Pastor Theologian | Stephen Campbell 55:00

7M ago55:00

55:00

Stephen Campbell joins us today on the CPT podcast. Stephen tells us about witnessing his family's ministry through his childhood. He also shares how the Lord prepared him for his current context pastoring in Germany, and his research on the book of Deuteronomy. This and more on today's podcast! Living Church - Awe and Presence…

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What is Holiness? | Matt O'Reilly 48:13

7M ago48:13

48:13

Matt O'Reilly joins us today to talk about his recent book Free to Be Holy: A Biblical Theology of Sanctification. What does the Bible teach us about holiness? How can the broader Evangelical community learn from historically Methodist theologies of sanctification? How can ecclesial styles of theological writing serve pastors and congregations as t…

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A Vision of Freedom | Brad Littlejohn 51:11

7M ago51:11

51:11

Brad Littlejohn joins the podcast today to talk about his new book, Called to Freedom: Retrieving Christian Liberty in an Age of License. What is human "freedom"? Where do American theological, moral, and political concepts of freedom and liberty come from? How do Scripture and our culture view "freedom" differently, and how can pastors help the Ch…

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Becoming a Pastor Theologian | Steve Turnbull 49:27

8M ago49:27

49:27

Steve Turnbull joins the podcast to share his journey of becoming a pastor and Biblical scholar. As a pastor theologian, Steve has worked to develop a rich Biblical narrative imagination. Today, he serves as a senior pastor of Upper Arlington Lutheran Church in Ohio, as well as the provost and professor of New Testament at The Master's Institute in…

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Critical Theory | Carl Trueman 34:33

8M ago34:33

34:33

We are excited to have Carl Trueman on the podcast today. Carl discusses his some of his recent books, including To Change All Worlds: Critical Theory from Marx to Marcuse, which provides an introductory intellectual history of Critical Theory, primarily non-polemically. In this episode, Carl walks us through the key figures and orienting ideas of …

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Becoming a Pastor Theologian | Aaron Friesen 49:47

8M ago49:47

49:47

Aaron Friesen joins the podcast today to share his story of becoming a pastor theologian. Aaron describes how, in part though his seminary education at Fuller, he developed a vision and sense of calling for integrating theological education and service to the local church within his pentecostal tradition. Today, Aaron serves at CitySalt church in E…

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The Fantastical Fiction of C.S. Lewis | Rhys Laverty 53:49

8M ago53:49

53:49

Today we are joined on the podcast by Rhys Laverty as we discuss Life on the Silent Planet: Essays on Christian Living from C.S. Lewis’s Ransom Trilogy (Davenant Institute, 2024). This volume, edited by Laverty, is a collection of essays highlighting Lewis's insights on topics such as gender, contraception, bureaucracy, and transhumanism, as he wov…

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Sabbath Rest | Jon English Lee 50:02

9M ago50:02

50:02

Jon English Lee joins the podcast today to discuss his book, There Remains a Sabbath Rest for the People of God: A Biblical, Theological, & Historical Defense of Sabbath Rest as a Creation Ordinance. What is the theological significance of rest in Scripture? What does it mean for a pastor to lead from a restful soul? This and more on today's podcas…

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Mary Magdalene, Apostle to the Apostles | Jennifer McNutt 48:12

9M ago48:12

48:12

Jennifer Powell McNutt joins the podcast once again to discuss her recent book, The Mary We Forgot: What the Apostle to the Apostles Teaches the Church Today (Brazos Press 2024). Mary Magdalene's story has often been undervalued and confused, in part due to what Jennifer calls the "muddle of Marys" in the Gospels. What can we gain by a more careful…

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Becoming a Pastor Theologian | Matthew LaPine 52:03

9M ago52:03

52:03

Matthew LaPine joins the podcast to share his journey of faith through mental health challenges in his family and more. How can "playing the long game" shape our perspective as we navigate life's challenges? This and more on today’s episode! Living Church - Awe and PresenceBy The Center for Pastor Theologians

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Augustine, Humility, and Preaching | Charles G. Kim 48:46

9M ago48:46

48:46

Charles (Chad) Kim joins the podcast to talk about his book, The Way of Humility: St. Augustine’s Theology of Preaching. How is Augustine’s theology and specifically the virtue of humility reflected in Augustine’s Sermon? Hear this and more on today’s episode. Living Church - Awe and PresenceBy The Center for Pastor Theologians

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Becoming a Pastor Theologian | Ryan Jackson 55:10

10M ago55:10

55:10

Ryan joins the podcast today to share his story, including his background in the Pentecostal tradition. Find out how that tradition has shaped him as a pastor theologian. Further, how can we learn from themes of doubt, deconstruction, and anti-intellectualism? How do we think about these themes as ministry leaders? All this and more on today’s podc…

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Year-End Reflections 18:24

10M ago18:24

18:24

As we wrap up 2024, in this episode the CPT staff reflects on the past year, and looks ahead to what the Lord might do through our ministry in 2025.By The Center for Pastor Theologians

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Peace | Jonathan Huggins 43:44

10M ago43:44

43:44

Jonathan Huggins joins us on the podcast today with a sermon for the season of Advent reflecting on peace. How does the Gospel redefine shalom—peace—with God, within ourselves, and with others? How can we maintain relational and psychological rest in our souls when facing the anxiety-producing situations of our modern world? Living Church - Awe and…

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What We're Reading — December 2024 45:07

11M ago45:07

45:07

For our December episode on books, we, the CPT staff, have been reading (and, on this occasion, watching): JRR Tolkien, Return of the King, (1955) Mark A. Noll, The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind (1995) Stephen King, Carrie (1974) Cormac McCarthy, The Border Trilogy, (1999) Jennifer Ratner-Rosenhagen, American Nietzsche: A History of an Icon and H…

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Church and Caesar in Acts 17 | Chris Ganski 47:24

11M ago47:24

47:24

Today, Chris Ganski shares a sermon on Acts 17:1-9. In the wake of the 2024 election, the book of Acts can be an excellent resource to consider the relationship between church and politics. In the context of Acts 17, does Caesar have anything to fear from the church? What is the church, and what does it mean to belong to the church? How does the ch…

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Pastoring Post-Election | Caleb Campbell 59:20

11M ago59:20

59:20

Pastor Caleb Campbell joins the podcast to discuss how pastors might guide their congregations through the results of the 2024 election, drawing from his experience pastoring in Phoenix, AZ. He also discusses his book "Disarming Leviathan: Loving Your Christian Nationalist Neighbor." How can we helpfully engage those in their community who align wi…

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On Tolkien and Theology | Part II | Douglas Estes 50:27

11M ago50:27

50:27

Douglas Estes joins the podcast once again to discuss the second volume of a collection of essays he edited on theology in the works and worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien. We talk about the role of narrative fiction in shaping pastoral theology and how works like The Lord of the Rings can serve those who lead the church in the present day. Living Church - A…

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Reading Scripture Faithfully | Kevin Vanhoozer 48:56

11M ago48:56

48:56

Kevin Vanhoozer joins us on the podcast this week to discuss his recent book, Mere Christian Hermeneutics: Transfiguring What It Means to Read the Bible Theologically. Christians across traditions and vocations have wondered what it means to read Scripture faithfully. Are there essential principles for reading the Bible as Scripture everywhere, at …

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What We're Reading — November 2024 44:18

12M ago44:18

44:18

For our November episode on books, we, the CPT staff, have been reading: Claire Keegan, Small Things Like These (2021) James Davison Hunter, Democracy and Solidarity: On the Cultural Roots of America's Political Crisis (2024) Yuval Noah Harari, Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI (2024) Kelly Kapic, You're Only H…

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Becoming a Pastor Theologian | Justin Allison 49:07

12M ago49:07

49:07

We are joined on the podcast today by Justin Allison. Justin shares his story of faith and how the Lord has worked through different seasons in his life, from a bout with illness as a child, to serving as a hospital chaplain, and now in his current ministry context. Living Church - Awe and PresenceBy The Center for Pastor Theologians

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An Always-Reforming Church | Gavin Ortlund 52:04

12M ago52:04

52:04

This week, Gavin Ortlund joins us to discuss his recent book “What It Means to Be Protestant: The Case for an Always-Reforming Church.” Many evangelicals have recently begun to explore more sacramental and liturgical church traditions, such as Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism. What underlying desires drive this renewed interest? Can these de…

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Becoming a Pastor Theologian | Cory Wilson 55:40

1y ago55:40

55:40

Cory Wilson joins the podcast to tell his story of becoming a pastor theologian. He shares about his work as a missionary in West Africa and how that significantly shaped the trajectory of his life and ministry. What is the nature of theology? Why do we pursue it? And why does it find its home in the church? Living Church - Awe and Presence…

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Follow Jesus Like It's 199 :: Stephen Presley on Christian Witness in the Age of Caesar 42:46

1y ago42:46

42:46

How can Christians stay embedded within our culture while pursuing virtue and rejecting vice, in personal and in public life? Join Sam Fornecker for a chat with Stephen Presley, author of Cultural Sanctification: Engaging the World like the Early Church (Eerdman's, 2024), about what the modern church has to learn from Christians of the second and t…

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Becoming a Pastor Theologian | Nathan Chang 47:07

1y ago47:07

47:07

Nathan Chang joins the podcast to tell his story about becoming a Pastor Theologian. Nathan shares about his experiencing growing up with deaf parents and in a deaf church and the impact that had on his vision of and for the church. He explains his journey of faith, his passion for the word of God, and his journey of education and ministry. Living …