There have been a number of changes in the last few months that seem to a) demonstrate an openness in culture toward Christianity and b) an alignment with some aspects of Christian morality.

Given these trends, how should we think about our place in a "negative" world? How should we respond given these realities? What does discipleship look like in a culture that's no longer predominantly Christian?

Wyatt Graham, Andrew Noble, and Phil Cotnoir discuss.

Wyatt Graham is the Executive Director of The Davenant Institute, the part-time Editor in Chief of The Gospel Coalition Canada, (Adjunct) Professor (Redeemer, Heritage, Ryle), and the cohost of Into Theology. He also serves with The Davenant Institute. You can follow Wyatt at https://wyattgraham.com/.

Phil Cotnoir is a professional writer and editor. He also works in automation (robots, gizmos, blinking lights). He has been published at Mere Orthodoxy, Faith Today, TGC Canada, THRIVE, and AgapeReview. Phil was a co-editor of A Glorious Fellowship of Churches. You can follow his writing at https://philcotnoir.com/.

Andrew Noble is a Theology PhD student at The University of Nottingham (as of Oct. '24). He is also a Pastoral Assistant at Grandview Church and the cohost of What Would Jesus Tech. You can follow his writing at https://www.andrewnoble.net/.

What is the incarnation? How should we speak of the Christmas miracle? How might we better see the wonder and beauty while speaking with precise theological language?

Today we pull from Athanasius' On The Incarnation to understand the meaning and mystery of Christmas.

Wyatt Graham has written about this book here: https://www.wyattgraham.com/p/why-you-should-read-on-the-incarnation

Cohosted by Wyatt Graham, Andrew Noble, and Phil Cotnoir.

Defining the image of God? It is best to include both the ontological aspect (the being) and the functional aspect (living in that identity). The functional aspect, due to the Fall, is damaged. But the ontological aspect is not since we remain in the essence of the image.

In our technological age, we build digital images. We focus on efficiency. We think of men as machines. And in Canada, we face particular challenges to the dignity of people regardless of if they are functionally effective.

This episode analyses some aspects of the image of God and how it relates to our technological age.

0:00 - Defining the Image of God and background to Kilner's Dignity and Destiny

11:55 - Tech's influence

15:40 - Bible, image, and social media

How should Christians think about beauty? How should they behold beauty? In our pragmatic, surface-deep world, how does the Christian vision recognize the good in the beautiful?

0:00 - What is beauty?

9:49 - How is the evangelical community doing at beholding beauty?

19:02 - Beauty in Life and Education

28:20 - Living it Out and Loving a Beautiful God

Word and Words is hosted by Wyatt Graham, Phil Cotnoir, and Andrew Noble.

Few know how to read a book. That is, few know how to read wisely. It's not just about "context" but a holistic search for truth.

"Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding." Proverbs 23:23

In this episode, Andrew Noble describes his insights from Mortimer Adler's How To Read A Book, Wyatt Graham advocates for the supremacy of audio books, and Phil Cotnoir keeps us sain amidst it all.

Every teenager seems to have a phone in their pocket, but should they? And how do we encourage healthy tech habits without falling into legalism?

In this episode we compare purity culture in the 90s with tech culture today.

0:00 - I kissed social media goodbye? Legalism and parenting.

10:56 - How bad are smartphones for teens?

18:00 - Freedom and the Search for Culture

29:09 - A Postive Vision for Life & Tech

40:05 - Maturing to Wisdom; Beyond Tech Rules

Links referenced:

• Jonathon Haidt's After Babel website.
• Haidt's book: The Anxious Generation How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness
• Statistics on teen mental health that Andrew referenced.
• Andrew's other podcast: What Would Jesus Tech
• The Verge interview with Mark Zuckerberg
• Andrew's article on Parental Controls for your Child's Phone.

Word and Words is hosted by Wyatt Graham, Phil Cotnoir, and Andrew Noble.

What's all the fuss around the doctrine of God, and in particular, what some people have started calling classical theism? That terms is meant to reflect the general Christian consensus over the last 2000 years about the doctrine of God, which some today say evangelicals and Protestants generally have drifted away from. Why are Christian thinkers animated about it?

Why is Wyatt so animated about it? (He gets animated about it.)

0:00 - Intro to Classical Theism

5:56 - What We Yearn For (and Augustine)

13:03 - How Modernity Modernized God

26:54 - Knowing God Is Practical

43:14 - Islam is a Christian Heresy and Common Sense in Scripture Reading

How should we instill virtue in the next generation?

Parenting can often be reduced to a building up of skills to be placed on one's resume: sociability, math proficiency, computer literacy, and perhaps a few participation trophies too. But modern education can often lack the cardinal virtues: wisdom (prudence), justice, courage (fortitude), and self-control (temperance), as well as the theological virtues: faith, hope, and charity (love).

In this episode, we riff off of Phil's latest pieces for The Gospel Coalition Canada: How Then Shall We Educate?

0:00 - Virtue in Parenting

4:43 - Parental Minimalism and Gaps in Education

10:06 - Potential for Virtue

16:14 - Why Virtue Formation Is Important Now

21:31 - Classical Schools?

27:59 - The Bible and Virtue