Think Deeper: Daily Summaries Delivered

Apathy in the Church: What Causes It, What to Do About It, and More

Last week at the Engage Conference, Dr. Brad Harrub joined us for our first ever episode in front a live audience! We discussed the problem of apathy in the church, including:- How leadership can cause it, and what they can do to fix it- The "good enough" mindset that leads people to give minimum effort- Dealing with the busyness that keeps us from doing more- Ways the church can do a better job of engaging the men in the pews With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie Check out our sponsor at www.cobbpublishing.com Visit us at www.focuspress.org and www.jackwilkie.co Join us for the Deep End and more at www.focuspress.org/plus

What are Deacons for?

Deacons are one of the most misunderstood roles in the church. We discuss the differences between deacons and elders, the qualifications for the role, and how deacons can help oversee practical responsibilities such as budgets, maintenance, education, and logistics. The conversation also addresses questions like whether deacons are elders in training, who should appoint them, whether churches can have deacons without elders, and whether Romans 16:1 justifies deaconesses. CHAPTERS:00:00 - What is a deacon, and what are the qualifications?10:59 - Differences between elder and deacon qualifications, and what that tells us about the roles18:20 - Is the deacon role a stepping stone to eldership?23:24 - What kind of work is deacon work vs. elder work, and how much should the elders exercise oversight?38:24 - Is it an ongoing role, or task-based?43:09 - How are they to be appointed?48:59 - Can you have deacons if you don't have elders?56:09 - Why Phoebe wasn't a "deaconess" With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie Come hear us at the Engage Conference in Waxahachie, TX September 11-13! cocbrownstreet.org/engage Visit our sponsor at cobbpublishing.com Check us out at focuspress.org and jackwilkie.coJoin us for the Deep End and more at focuspress.org/plus

Same Team! Loving The Brotherhood In The Churches of Christ

In Christ, Christians form what Peter called a "brotherhood"—but that doesn't mean we always see eye to eye. On this episode, we look at the issues that complicate our relationship with the brotherhood at large, including sectarianism, differences in perspectives, and the command to love each other through it all. CHAPTERS00:00 - How a simple command becomes complicated09:12 - Surveying some of the different camps and views in the broader church14:15 - Recognizing value in each other even when we disagree24:48 - Learning from Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark29:53 - Fighting viewpoints, not people40:42 - How do you know who's right?46:12 - How social media helps and hurts our love for each other52:51 - The challenge of loving people we don't really know in person With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie Visit our sponsor at cobbpublishing.comFollow us at focuspress.org and jackwilkie.co Join us for the Deep End at focuspress.org/plus Jack's article referenced - https://jackwilkie.co/p/but-which-side-is-biblical

The Many Difficult Angles of the Lindsay Clancy Story

A tragic case involving the death of three small children has gripped the internet, with debates raging about postpartum depression and psychosis, what justice looks like, women's issues, and more. We discuss a number of the angles to the story. CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Introducing the case 06:41 - Joe gives a therapist's view on postpartum depression and psychosis 15:48 - The danger of glamorizing struggles 20:26 - The "Victim mindset" of Critical Theory's intersectionality 27:57 - Women's resistance to accountability in cases like these 37:12 - The cost of the church downplaying sin 42:05 - The problems with the current fixation with "true crime" and internet sleuthing 52:40 - The importance of being there for each other With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie Check out our sponsor at cobbpublishing.com Visit us at focuspress.org and jackwilkie.co Join us on Focus+ at focuspress.org/plus

Image vs. Reality: The Challenge of Being Authentic

Everybody wants "authentic" relationships from the church. But how do we build them? What can we do to keep authenticity from being an end in itself? We discuss what it looks like to be authentic, and the obstacles that get in the way. CHAPTERS00:00 - Navigating a world of fake, cultivated personas08:16 - When genuineness becomes a commodity17:17 - Dealing with shallow relationships in the church25:14 - Authenticity and openness in our worship32:14 - Hospitality helps, but it's hard38:07 - Evangelizing with authenticity, vs. brokenness culture and fake authenticity49:29 - Sharing our struggles without wallowing or shutting down1:02:12 - Think Fast: The WNBA's wokeness implosion With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie Check out our sponsor at cobbpublishing.com Visit us at focuspress.org and jackwilkie.co

Nephilim, Hebrews Author, Thorn in the Flesh, and Other Bible Debates

How Christians Build Toward the Future

We gathered for a wide-ranging roundtable chat, focusing largely on thinking toward the future with how we equip the next generation. CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Intro, and when boys become men 11:02 - When girls become women 19:47 - Passing the baton from generation to generation 25:23 - Thinking of your family strategically 32:05 - How parenting can sharpen you 37:06 - Making a content home life without becoming complacent 42:28 - Think Fast: The Odyssey, DEI casting, and revisiting our boycott takes With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie Visit our sponsors at cobbpublishing.com Follow us at focuspress.org and jackwilkie.co Join us on Focus+ for the weekly Deep End episode and a huge library of content for your daily walk! focuspress.org/plus

Difficult Husbands, Unsubmissive Wives: Marriage Case Studies

The Bible gives ideals for us to pursue in the husband and wife roles... but life isn't always ideal. What's a woman to do if her husband won't lead? What can a man do if his wife fights his leadership? In this highly practical episode, we examine what recourse Christians have in difficult marriage situations. CHAPTERS00:00 - Intro, and whether marriage is hard or easy11:50 - Dealing with a passive, lazy husband21:53 - The Bible's counter-cultural advice27:11 - What a husband can do with an unsubmissive wife38:17 - Catching these problems before they start45:47 - What if the husband's self-improvements don't work?53:47 - What can a wife do with a domineering husband?1:04:22 - Don't settle for complacency With Will Harrub, Jack Wilkie, and Joe Wilkie Visit us at focuspress.org and jackwilkie.co Visit our sponsors at cobbpublishing.com