Influence Podcast

394. Understanding Romans

“Few would argue against the proposition that Paul’s letter to the Romans is his magnum opus,” writes Glen Menzies. “Romans is an exceedingly important book. The impact it has made is literally incalculable, for it is impossible to imagine how Christianity would have developed without it.” In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk to Menzies about how to interpret Romans. We start with introductory issues about the letter and its recipients before moving on to points of debate about Romans specifically and Pauline theology generally. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Glen Menzies is an ordained Assemblies of God minister. For 27 years, he served as professor of New Testament and Early Christianity and dean of the Institute for Biblical and Theological Studies at North Central University in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is now retired. He is author of A Pentecostal Commentary on Romans, published by Wipf & Stock. ————— This episode of the Influence Podcast is brought to you by My Healthy Church, distributors of The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Discipler. The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Discipler equips you with an understanding of the Holy Spirit's role in your life. As a resource for both laypeople and ministry leaders, it also imparts practical insight for anyone discipling others in receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit. For more information about The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Discipler visit MyHealthyChurch.com.

393. Training Students to Evangelize Their Peers

“According to research, approximately 61 percent of U.S. teenagers never read the Bible, and 74 percent don’t attend church regularly. That means well over half of middle and high school students in our nation aren’t disciples and likely haven’t put their faith in God. As followers of Jesus, what are we going to do about this?” asks Lee Rogers. He goes on to say: “Today in our nation there are over thirty-three million students in over sixty-nine thousand middle and high schools. Only 23 percent of those schools are known to have a campus missionary or a gospel-sharing club present. That leaves over fifty-three thousand schools with no known gospel-sharing presence. As Spirit-empowered witnesses, what are we going to do about this? In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk to Rogers about how to train students to evangelize their peers. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Lee Rogers is director of Student Evangelism for Assemblies of God Youth Ministries and is general editor of The Campus Missionary Guidebook, published by Gospel Publishing House. ————— This episode of the Influence Podcast is brought to you by My Healthy Church, distributors of The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Discipler. The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Discipler equips you with an understanding of the Holy Spirit's role in your life. As a resource for both laypeople and ministry leaders, it also imparts practical insight for anyone discipling others in receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit. For more information about The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Discipler visit MyHealthyChurch.com.

392. Developing Healthy Habits for Ministry

“My college basketball coach, Coach High, used to talk about two types of pain — the pain of discipline and the pain of regret. In basketball (as well as life and ministry), pain is inevitable. No one can avoid it, even if we try. But in some cases, you can determine the pain you will live with,” writes Steve Svoboda. He goes on to say: “When it comes to your life as a minister, choose the pain of discipline. Live a life devoted to becoming the best version of you possible, because the greatest version of you will inevitably have the greatest impact in the Kingdom.” In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk to Svoboda about how to develop the right disciplines in five key areas of life. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Steve Svoboda is director of Strategic Partnerships for Called, an Assemblies of God ministry to help discover and equip young people with a call to vocational ministry. He is author of Rhythms, forthcoming from Gospel Publishing House. ————— This episode of the Influence podcast is brought to you by My Healthy Church, distributors of the Ignite Parenting Conversation Cards. Strengthen your family’s relationships with God and each other with these easy-to-use Conversation Cards. Each card is uniquely designed with a question, faith builder statement, and a Bible verse to spark meaningful conversations that cultivate an open and nurturing environment in your home. For more information about the Ignite Parenting Conversation Cards visit MyHealthyChurch.com.

391. Thinking Christianly About AI

“It behooves us as Christians to think theologically and ethically about what it means to live as humans in the age of AI and about the potential opportunities and challenges that may arise from its widespread adoption, both in the short-term and long-term future,” writes Todd Korpi. “Contrary to popular belief, technology is not acultural, neutral in its orientation, or immune from pitfalls that can harm vulnerable populations. We therefore must think ethically about technology from a Christian perspective.” In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk to Korpi about how to think Christianly about AI. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Todd Korpi is missiologist at OneHope, dean of digital ministry programs at Ascent College, assistant professor of Christian leadership Fuller Theological Seminary, and director of Digital Ministry Consortia at the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center. He is author of AI Goes to Church, published by InterVarsity Press. ————— This episode of the Influence podcast is brought to you by My Healthy Church, distributors of the Ignite Parenting Conversation Cards. Strengthen your family’s relationships with God and each other with these easy-to-use Conversation Cards. Each card is uniquely designed with a question, faith builder statement, and a Bible verse to spark meaningful conversations that cultivate an open and nurturing environment in your home. For more information about the Ignite Parenting Conversation Cards visit MyHealthyChurch.com.

390. Using Our Voices for Good

“There are no seasons at the feet of Jesus. There are no age barriers when the fire of Acts 2:4 Pentecost falls. And when the Holy Spirit stirs us as men and women of God, at any age, to speak His words in strategic moments, we sill have a treasured opportunity to trust Him and simply use our voices and obey,” writes Beth Grant. In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk to Grant about how she has made the most of the opportunities God has given her to use her voice for good. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Beth Grant is an ordained Assemblies of God minister, longtime missionary to India, cofounder of Project Rescue, and the first woman to serve on the executive presbytery of the Assemblies of God. She is author of Leading with a Whisper, coming out this September from Charisma House. ————— This episode of the Influence podcast is brought to you by My Healthy Church, distributors of the Ignite Parenting Conversation Cards. Strengthen your family’s relationships with God and each other with these easy-to-use Conversation Cards. Each card is uniquely designed with a question, faith builder statement, and a Bible verse to spark meaningful conversations that cultivate an open and nurturing environment in your home. For more information about the Ignite Parenting Conversation Cards visit MyHealthyChurch.com.