Q Podcast

Although we are more connected than ever before, loneliness seems to be plaguing our modern society more and more each passing year. Why do people, particularly young people, feel more lonely than ever? How can we as Christians respond to the problem of loneliness amongst our friends, families, and churches? Guided by current research from Barna Group, Susan Mettes explores these questions and more in her new book, The Loneliness Epidemic. Listen in to this interview to hear her tackles some of these tough questions. The Loneliness Epidmeic is our latest selection in the Q Ideas Book Tour series. To read along with us, participate in a Live Q&A and get access to additional resources, visit qideas.org/booktour. 

Thanks to documentaries like The Social Dilemma and an abundance of eye-opening research, we’re all-too aware of the pitfalls surrounding social media. But is there a better way for us to engage? Is it possible for us to succeed at social media without losing our souls? Author and podcaster Annie F. Downs argues the answer is yes. She shares her insights and best practices with us in this talk. To engage in more culturally important conversations like this one, make plans to join us at the Culture Summit, taking place in Nashville on April 28-29, 2021. Over two days, you will hear 35+ talks on the most important ideas for Christians to engage in our moment. Register now: qideas.org/cs2022. 

In a culture focused on outcomes and success, are Christians called to live any differently? Author and spoken word artist Hosanna Wong argues the answer is yes. Through an original spoken word poem and a powerful talk, Hosanna challenges us to be those who are intentional about listening to God—first and foremost.   Want more talks like these? Start a free trial to Q Media, our online learning platform for Christian leaders. Get started at qideas.org/trial.

We were designed to create and co-create. How do feelings stemming from shame prohibit our ability to fulfill that calling? How does human desire play into this conversation? Dr. Curt Thompson helps us connect ideas between shame, desire and creating.   Find more talks like this, including more from Dr. Curt Thompson, on Q Media. Start a free trial at qideas.org/trial.

Over the past few years, our culture has watched at the #MeToo and #ChurchToo movements rock our institutions. How can we, as Christians, be a people that champions the vunerable, protects the weak and redeems the God-given place of power? Dr. Diane Langberg offers her clinical and theological perspective on these questions and how Chrisitans can navigate these sensitive issues. Her book, Redeeming Power, is our latest selection in the Q Ideas Book Tour series. To read along with us, participate in a Live Q&A and get access to additional resources, visit qideas.org/booktour. 

In our culture, it’s cool to talk about justice. But are we actually advancing good? In this powerful talk, artist and activist Danielle Coke challenges us to move beyond performative allyship and live into our true calling as Christ-followers. Want more talks like these? Start a free trial to Q Media, our online learning platform for Christian leaders. Get started at qideas.org/trial. 

It can feel unproductive and hopeless to talk about the state of public life in America today. The upcoming generations are increasingly disillusioned that the world is going in a positive direction. Is it possible to overcome the divide in our nation and fight for a society that encourages the diverse thought? AEI's Faith & Public Life Director, Jeff Pickering, encourages us with what the Christian brings to the table and how college students are productively engaging the conversations of our day.   Interested in learning more about the issues facing the next generation? Join us for our free digital event, Nxt Gen Summit, at qideas.org/nxtgen.

How is God moving in the next generation? In this episode of the Q Ideas Podcast, Luke LeFevre shares the powerful ways he’s seen God move in his city, pointing to hope for revival in this generation. Luke leads a local movement among teenagers in Nashville that has led hundreds to respond to the gospel, and he also founded Revival Coalition, which focuses on inspiring and mobilizing young adults to see this generation reached with the gospel and set on fire for God.   To engage in more conversations like these, check out Q Media, our online learning platform for Christian leaders. Get your first month free at qideas.org/trial. 

How can we faithfully engage the specific lane of culture we have been called into? This is a question Christian battle rapper Street Hymns challenges us to consider in this episode of the Q Ideas Podcast. As one of the founding members of the Christian battle rap group IV Horseman, Street Hymns encourages us as he shares his own story.  For more talks like this, start a 30-day free trial to Q Media, our online learning platform for Christian leaders. Get started at qideas.org/trial.

Is it possible to have it all? Jeff & André Shinabarger talk with Gabe Lyons to provide practical insight and address the complexities of juggling careers, family and marriage in our modern era. Jeff & André founded Plywood People in Atlanta, GA and co-authors of the book Love or Work: Is it Possible to Change the World, Stay in Love, and Raise a Healthy Family? To learn more about Jeff & André's work, find their book wherever books are sold. Find hundreds of talks and conversations like this one on Q Media, our online learning platform for thoughtful Christian leaders. Get started at qideas.org/trial.

We live in a culture that worships celebrity and idolizes platform. But what happens when this ideology infiltrates the Church? In this powerful talk, pastor Rich Villodas confronts our tendency to gravitate towards celebrity Christianity. Want to watch more talks like this one? Start a free trial to Q Media, our online learning platform for thoughtful Christian leaders. Get started at qideas.org/trial. 

What is freedom of conscience—and why is it such an important concept for us to understand? On this episode of the Q Ideas Podcast, Montse Alvarado educates us on this key topic. Montse serves as the Vice President and Executive Director of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, a non-profit, public-interest legal and educational institute with a mission to protect the free expression of all faiths.  If you want to learn more about this topic, check out Becket Fund’s podcast, Stream of Conscience, which just launched its second season. You can find it now on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.  To watch hundreds of more Q Talks, start a free trial to Q Media, our online learning platform for thoughtful Christian leaders. Get started at qideas.org/trial. 

How can we raise sons of courage and character? That’s the focus of Jon Tyson’s new book, The Intentional Father. In a culture wrestling with deep father wounds and toxic masculinity, Jon shares an intentional vision for raising the next generation. His book is our latest selection in the Q Ideas Book Tour series. To read along with us, participate in a Live Q&A and get access to additional resources, visit qideas.org/booktour. 

Our modern culture is obsessed with identity. However, theologian Carl Trueman argues that no historical phenomenon is its own cause. From Augustine to Marx, various views and perspectives have contributed to the modern understanding of the self. In his timely book, The Rise of the Modern Self, Carl analyzes the development of the sexual revolution as a symptom rather than the cause of the human search for identity. In this episode of the Q Ideas Podcast, he explains what that means for the Church’s witness today, and he gives guidance for the future as Christians navigate our culture amidst humanity’s ever-changing quest for identity. Want to participate in more conversations like these? Join The Collaborative, our brand-new cohort experience designed for passionate Christian leaders. Over eight months, we'll build community and take a deep dive into the most important conversations for our moment. Learn more and register at qideas.org/cohort.

In 2018, social scientist Lisa Littman published a study on “rapid-onset gender dysphoria.” The study pointed to an increasing trend of adolescent girls suddenly identifying themselves as transgender and seeking treatment, perhaps due to social pressure and media influence. The study was met with controversy and left many debating this new idea. Together, Preston Sprinkle (President of the Center for Faith, Sexuality and Gender) and Helena Kerschner (a former transgender man who is now de-transitioned) discuss this topic and provide practical guidance for parents and teens. Want to engage in more conversations like these? Join us for The Collaborative, an eight-month cohort for Christian leaders. Learn more and register: qideas.org/cohort.

What does our modern, secular culture get wrong about the Bible? That’s a question Dan Kimball helps us wrestle with on this episode of the Q Ideas Podcast. Dan is a pastor at Vintage Faith Church in Santa Cruz, California and the author of the recent book, How (Not) to Read the Bible. In this conversation, Dan brings clarity to some of the more confusing parts of Scripture. He also shares why it’s so important that Christians understand the Bible and teach others—especially the next generation—to do the same.  If you’re a leader who cares about these conversations, don’t miss the chance to participate in The Collaborative, our brand-new cohort experience. Learn more and register at qideas.org/cohort. 

How are Christians called to contribute to flourishing? This is a question Sho Baraka helps us engage on this episode of the Q Ideas Podcast. In addition to being a globally recognized artist and activist, Sho is also the author of the new book, He Saw That It Was Good: Reimagining Your Creative Life to Repair a Broken World. In this conversation, Sho challenges us to take seriously the call to cultivate our creativity, understand our history and contribute to the common good—regardless of our vocation. Want to engage in more conversations like these alongside a select group of Christian leaders? Register now for The Collaborative, our brand-new cohort experience kicking off in September. Visit qideas.org/cohort to learn more and register. 

How has the past year affected the most vulnerable communities around the world—and how can Christians step in and advance good? On today’s episode, Jordan Gustafson joins Gabe Lyons to share his perspective. Jordan leads church mobilization and partnership efforts at Food for the Hungry, a global Christ-centered NGO working in over 20 countries with the vision of seeing all forms of poverty ended through sustainable holistic community development and disaster relief.  To learn more about Food for the Hungry’s efforts and how your church can get involved, visit fh.org/qideas.  Want to join The Collaborative, our new eight-month cohort experience? Limited space remains, so learn more and register at qideas.org/cohort.

In our unique cultural moment, how is the local church being equipped to advance the common good? In this episode of the Q Ideas Podcast, Luke Bobo joins Gabe Lyons to engage this question. Luke serves as director of strategic partnerships for Made to Flourish, an organization that empowers pastors and their churches to integrate faith, work and economic wisdom for the flourishing of their communities. Together, Luke and Gabe share an honest conversation about how our churches can champion these ideas as a way to advance good. To learn more from Made to Flourish, make plans to participate in the Common Good Conference on October 1. Learn more and register at commongoodconference.com.  Don't miss the opportunity to join The Collaborative, our new eight-month cohort experience convening 100 like-minded leaders this September. Limited space remains, so reserve your spot now at qideas.org/cohort. 

How is the digital revolution shaping the way churches reach their communities? Slingshot Group’s Keith Robinson believes the digital disruption has given us the greatest opportunity for evangelism in 2,000 years. In this episode, he shares more about this idea and challenges church leaders to take online evangelism seriously while also making space for life-on-life discipleship. Want to learn more about Slingshot Group? Check out their work—and some free resources they’re creating for church leaders—at slingshotgroup.com. If you’re a leader who cares about these conversations, don’t miss the chance to participate in The Collaborative, our brand-new cohort experience. Learn more and register at qideas.org/cohort.