Christian Mission in the Muslim World | Dr. Wes Watkins | It's Elementary Podcast Ep. 36

Christian Mission in the Muslim World | Dr. Wes Watkins | It's Elementary Podcast Ep. 36

What does it mean to share the gospel in a Muslim context? And what can the global Church learn from Christians living and serving in the Middle East? In this episode of It’s Elementary, Dr. David Watson sits down with Dr. Wes Watkins, missiologist with One Collective, faculty member at Arab Baptist Theological Seminary in Beirut, and longtime practitioner of ministry in the Middle East, for a thoughtful conversation on mission, discipleship, Islam, and the future of the Church. After spending sixteen years in the Middle East, Dr. Watkins reflects on his experiences among Arab communities, his research on conversion among Muslims, and why relationships and Scripture remain at the heart of Christian witness. He challenges common Western assumptions about Islam and offers a framework for understanding mission that is rooted in friendship, humility, and a Christ-centered focus. The conversation explores frontier missiology, the growth of Muslim background believers, refugee ministry, theological education in majority Muslim contexts, and what it means to point people toward Jesus without imposing Western cultural expectations. Along the way, Dr. Watkins offers a hopeful vision for the future of Christianity in the Middle East and North Africa. KEY TOPICS COVERED 0:00 Introduction to Wes Watkins 1:00 Moving to the Middle East and learning Arabic 3:00 Mission, discipleship, and personal transformation 4:00 Research on conversion among Muslims 7:00 Common misconceptions about Muslims 10:00 Understanding Islam's diversity 13:00 What is frontier missiology? 16:00 Church, discipleship, and movement-building 20:00 Following Jesus in a Muslim context 22:00 Individualism vs collectivism 24:00 Developing a Christian theology of Islam 30:00 Do Muslims and Christians worship the same God? 33:00 Working with refugees and displaced people 36:00 Theological education in the Middle East 40:00 Muslim background believers and the future of the Church 43:00 Advice for cross-cultural ministry MENTIONS • One Collective - https://onecollective.org • Arab Baptist Theological Seminary - https://abtslebanon.org/ • Dr. Watkins' Academia Page (Under Pseudonym) https://independent.academia.edu/WarrickFarah MORE RESOURCES BY DR. WATKINS • Margins of Islam: Ministry in Diverse Muslim Contexts -https://amzn.to/4wAZECI • Movemental Ecclesiology, Podcast with Asbury's Center for Church Multiplication - vimeo.com/1183507774  • Dr. Watkins' Substack - https://substack.com/@warrickfarah ASBURY SEMINARY LINKS Podcasts: https://asbury.to/podcasts Website: https://asburyseminary.edu/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AsburySeminary/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asburyseminary TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@asburyseminary Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent the official position of Asbury Theological Seminary. The material presented is for general information purposes only.

Moscow Physicist to Patristic Scholar | Dr. Paul Gavrilyuk | It's Elementary Podcast Ep. 35

What happens when a future physicist in the Soviet Union secretly reads the Bible and discovers a calling to theology instead? In this episode of It’s Elementary, Dr. David Watson and Dr. Jessica LaGrone welcome Dr. Paul Gavrilyuk, Aquinas Chair in Theology and Philosophy at the University of St. Thomas, noted Orthodox theologian, scholar of the early Church, and founder of Rebuild Ukraine, for a wide-ranging conversation about faith, theology, war, and Christian hope.  Growing up in Soviet Ukraine, Gavrilyuk had little religious instruction until his mother obtained a Russian translation of the Bible. What began as curiosity eventually became a life-changing encounter with Christianity, leading him from studies in physics at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology to theological studies and a distinguished academic career.  The conversation explores the spiritual senses, the role of theology in Christian formation, the legacy of Billy Abraham, and the significance of the Nicene Creed for the Church today. Dr. Gavrilyuk also reflects on Russia’s war against Ukraine, the theological challenges it raises, and the work of Rebuild Ukraine in supporting children, refugees, and communities affected by the conflict.  Whether you're interested in Orthodox theology, church history, Christian unity, or the question of how faith endures amid suffering, this episode offers wisdom, insight, and hope.   KEY TOPICS COVERED 0:00 Introduction to Paul Gavrilyuk 1:00 Growing up in Soviet Ukraine 4:00 From physics to theology 8:00 Studying at Perkins School of Theology 11:00 The influence of Billy Abraham 16:00 What are the spiritual senses? 21:00 Cultivating awareness of God's presence 25:00 Rebuild Ukraine and humanitarian work 31:00 Theology in the midst of war 33:00 The Russian Orthodox Church and the war in Ukraine 40:00 The International Orthodox Theological Association (IOTA) 42:00 Why the Nicene Creed still matters 48:00 Orthodoxy, modernity, and the future of the Church   MENTIONS • War and Peace — Leo Tolstoy • Canon and Criterion — Billy Abraham • The Epistle to the Romans Commentary — Karl Barth • International Orthodox Theological Association (IOTA) - https://iota-web.org/ • Rebuild Ukraine - https://rebuild-ua.org/   ASBURY SEMINARY LINKS Podcasts: https://asbury.to/podcasts Website: https://asburyseminary.edu/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AsburySeminary/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asburyseminary TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@asburyseminary   Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent the official position of Asbury Theological Seminary. The material presented is for general information purposes only.

Pentecostals Are Wesleyan | Dr. Dale Coulter | It's Elementary Podcast Ep. 34

Are Pentecostals actually Wesleyans? And what does the global Pentecostal movement have to do with John Wesley, holiness, and the work of the Holy Spirit? In this episode of It’s Elementary, Dr. David Watson and Dr. Jessica LaGrone welcome Dr. Dale Coulter, Professor of Historical Theology at Pentecostal Theological Seminary and ordained minister in the Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee), for a fascinating conversation on the origins of Pentecostalism, the Wesleyan tradition, and the future of Spirit-filled Christianity. Drawing from his work as a theologian, historian, and leading interpreter of Pentecostal theology, Dr. Coulter argues that Pentecostalism emerged from the global Wesleyan movement and cannot be understood apart from its Methodist and Holiness roots. Dr. Coulter shares his personal story, from growing up in a Pentecostal church to studying theology at Oxford University, and explains how the Christian tradition, especially medieval spirituality, helped him better understand Pentecostal faith and practice. The conversation also explores some of today's most important theological questions, including apostles and prophets, spiritual gifts, political theology, and how Christians can recover a richer vision of holiness that leads to wholeness, healing, and transformation. KEY TOPICS COVERED 0:00 Introduction 2:00 Growing up Pentecostal and a personal calling to theology 6:00 Why medieval theology shaped his faith 12:00 Pentecostal spirituality and Christian mysticism 15:00 Why “Pentecostals Are Wesleyans” 18:00 Spirit baptism and the influence of John Fletcher 20:00 Azusa Street and the global Pentecostal movement 23:00 Pentecostal, charismatic, and neo-charismatic Christianity 26:00 Apostles, prophets, and church leadership 35:00 The Protestant Mind and the future of Protestantism 39:00 Evangelicalism, politics, and R.J. Rushdoony 47:00 Wesleyan political theology and natural law 55:00 Holiness, sanctification, and the Christian life 1:00:00 Why holiness is about becoming whole MENTIONS Newsletter * The Protestant Mind — Dale Coulter (https://protestantmind.com/authors/dale-coulter) Books * The Desire of the Nations — Oliver O'Donovan * Resurrection and Moral Order — Oliver O'Donovan * Nine Modern Moralists — Paul Ramsey * The Four Books of Sentences — Peter Lombard * Institutes of Biblical Law — R.J. Rushdoony * By What Standard? — R.J. Rushdoony * Steppenwolf — Hermann Hesse   ASBURY SEMINARY LINKS Podcasts: https://asbury.to/podcasts Website: https://asburyseminary.edu/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AsburySeminary/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asburyseminary TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@asburyseminary Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent the official position of Asbury Theological Seminary. The material presented is for general information purposes only.

Women, Ministry and the Bible | Dr. Suzanne Nicholson | It’s Elementary Podcast Ep. 33

What does the Bible really say about women in leadership, and why is this conversation still shaping the Church today? In this episode of It’s Elementary, Dr. David Watson and Dr. Jessica LaGrone welcome Dr. Suzanne Nicholson (Asbury University professor, ordained minister, and member of the Firebrand Magazine editorial board) for a thoughtful and deeply biblical conversation on women in ministry and leadership. Drawing from her widely discussed Firebrand article, “10 Scriptural Truths About Women in Leadership,” Dr. Nicholson explores key biblical passages that have shaped the debate for generations and offers a framework for reading them in their historical, literary, and theological contexts. Dr. Nicholson argues that understanding Scripture requires careful attention to context, culture, and the broader biblical story. Rather than focusing only on disputed passages, she points listeners to the many places where God raises up women to teach, lead, prophesy, and serve His people. The conversation also explores how churches can cultivate healthier patterns of leadership modeled after Christ's humility, encouraging believers to pursue collaboration, service, and the fruit of the Spirit rather than power and status. KEY TOPICS COVERED 0:00 Introduction to Dr. Suzanne Nicholson 1:00 Why she wrote “10 Scriptural Truths About Women in Leadership” 3:00 Women and leadership in Genesis 1–2 5:00 The Fall and broken power structures 8:00 Philippians 2 and Christ-like leadership 11:00 Understanding 1 Timothy 2 in context 17:00 Phoebe and women in the early church 18:00 Interpreting 1 Corinthians 11 and 14 22:00 Women as witnesses to the resurrection 24:00 Current trends in the church 28:00 Leadership, collaboration, and service 31:00 Disagreeing graciously within the Church 35:00 Hope for the next generation MENTIONS * “10 Scriptural Truths About Women in Leadership” — Suzanne Nicholson (Firebrand Magazine) - https://firebrandmag.com/articles/10-scriptural-truths-about-women-in-leadership-firebrand-big-read ASBURY SEMINARY LINKS Podcasts: https://asbury.to/podcasts Website: https://asburyseminary.edu/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AsburySeminary/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asburyseminary TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@asburyseminary Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent the official position of Asbury Theological Seminary. The material presented is for general information purposes only.

What Makes a Good Sermon? | Dr. Jessica LaGrone | It's Elementary Podcast IE 32

In this episode of It’s Elementary, Dr. David Watson sits down with Dr. Jessica LaGrone, a beloved and widely respected preacher, teacher, and leader at Asbury Theological Seminary, for an in-depth conversation on the art, theology, and practice of preaching. Drawing from years of experience in the pulpit and the classroom, Dr. LaGrone offers insight into what makes preaching not just effective but transformative, helping listeners move from simply hearing Scripture to encountering Christ through it.  Dr. Watson and Dr. LaGrone also discuss the hidden work of preaching, the long, often unseen process of prayer, study, editing, and discernment that shapes every message before it is ever spoken.  They reflect on the challenge of communicating deep theological truth in ways that are accessible, faithful, and transformative—so that listeners don’t just understand the text, but are invited into God’s story.   KEY TOPICS COVERED 0:00 Why preaching matters 2:00 What makes a sermon “good” 4:00 Scripture and the central idea 7:00 Connecting with the audience 10:00 Preaching with empathy and context 15:00 Growing as a preacher 17:00 Every sermon points to the gospel 23:00 Jessica LaGrone’s sermon preparation process 27:00 Finding clarity and cutting content 30:00 Content vs. delivery (“the container”) 33:00 Avoiding overly abstract preaching 36:00 Testimony and authenticity in preaching 38:00 Authority vs. humility 44:00 What makes preaching Wesleyan 47:00 The Holy Spirit and the power of a sermon MENTIONS Preaching — Tim Keller Preaching from the Soul — Ellsworth Kalas The Witness of Preaching — Thomas G. Long Novel Preaching — Alyce McKenzie Preaching with Empathy — Len Luchetti ASBURY SEMINARY LINKS Podcasts: https://asbury.to/podcasts Website: https://asburyseminary.edu/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AsburySeminary/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asburyseminary TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@asburyseminary Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent the official position of Asbury Theological Seminary.