Every Thought Captive Podcast

On this episode, Michael, Chad, and Doug talk about the recent Academy Awards and discuss how Hollywood and the film industry sees its role as moral authority. They also talk about the power of film to shape imagination, and how we can watch movies as Christians. They conclude by reviewing Black Panther, the latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Mark Moore from Christ's Church of the Valley in Peoria, AZ joins Michael, Chad, and Doug to talk about what "taking every thought captive" looks like in the local church, working with the stories of real people and real (sometimes very challenging) situations. Disclaimer: this is an adult conversation. Not intended for children. The Every Thought Captive podcast is brought to you by Ozark Christian College in Joplin, MO. Your mission is out there. Training starts here. Go to occ.edu for more information.

In this episode, Michael DeFazio, Chad Ragsdale, and Doug Welch discuss what it truly means to be happy, to live the good life, and if Christians should be pursuing happiness. They discuss factors for why people today seem less happy than in previous eras, and what suggestions they have toward living joy-filled lives.

For their first episode of 2018, Michael DeFazio, Chad Ragsdale, and Doug Welch discuss why we make New Year's resolutions, the difference between resolutions and goals, and what each one of them is hoping for the New Year. The Every Thought Captive podcast is brought to you by Ozark Christian College. Your mission is out there. Training starts here. Go to occ.edu for more information.

Michael DeFazio, Chad Ragsdale, and Doug Welch say goodbye to 2017 in their last podcast episode of the year. In many ways, 2017 was an unsettling year, but we still learned a thing or two. In this episode, the ETC guys review what they watched, what they read, what they heard, and what they learned in 2017. The Every Thought Captive podcast is brought to you by Ozark Christian College. Your mission is out there. Training starts here. Go to occ.edu for more details.

We're preparing for the holidays here at ETC, and our first gift to you is a round of "Ask Ourselves Anything," where Michael, Chad, and Doug ask a series of random questions, both silly and serious, to one another. Silly questions include: what are our favorite Christmas movies (and is DieHard a Christmas movie?) and what sports theories we have. Serious questions (which begin around 12:30 of the episode) include: what gift would we give Evangelicalism at the end of 2017, where should someone who wants to study the Bible begin, what will ministry preparation look like in the next 25 years, and what does faith look like for a college student today. The Every Thought Captive podcast is brought to you by Ozark Christian College. Your mission is out there. Training starts here. Go to occ.edu for more information.

In an appearance on Meet the Press in 1960, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said that 11:00am on Sunday morning is the "most segregated hour in America." Things have not gotten appreciably better in 57 years. In this episode, Chad Ragsdale and Doug Welch sit down with Matthew McBirth, Director of Diversity at Ozark Christian College, to talk about God's heart for diversity in His church, and the steps (small and large) we can take toward that vision. The Every Thought Captive podcast is brought to you by Ozark Christian College. Your mission is out there. Training starts here. Go to occ.edu for more information.

What do we do when we learn that one of our ministry or theological heroes has clay feet? Should we reject every good thing that a "fallen hero" has done in the past? In this episode, Michael DeFazio, Chad Ragsdale, and Doug Welch discuss the danger of putting Christian leaders and thinkers on pedestals, and give advice to young leaders in avoiding that kind of adulation. The Every Thought Captive podcast is brought to you by Ozark Christian College. Your mission is out there. Training starts here. Go to occ.edu for more information.

In this episode, Michael DeFazio, Chad Ragsdale, and Doug Welch talk about the value that our culture gives to "authenticity" and the desire to not be "hypocrites." The guys discuss whether or not the desire for holiness leads you to such a thing as "good hypocrisy. Oh, and also they talk about which one of them is the biggest snob.. The Every Thought Captive podcast is brought to you by Ozark Christian College. Your mission is out there. Training starts here. Go to occ.edu for more information.

People threaten to leave their church all the time. But are there legitimate reasons for people to leave a local congregation? Michael DeFazio, Chad Ragsdale, and Doug Welch discuss the issues that would cause them to consider leaving a church, but also what issues they would "stay and fight" over (or just deal with and get over). The Every Thought Captive podcast is brought to you by Ozark Christian College. Your mission is out there. Training starts here. Go to occ.edu for more information.

Chad Ragsdale and Doug Welch talk to Casey Tygrett, author of "Becoming Curious: A Spiritual Practice of Asking Questions" about the importance for Christians to ask questions and think deeply about their faith. They discuss how moving forward with God in faith requires us to wrestle with difficult questions, and to find delight in them. You can find Casey's book here: https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Curious-Spiritual-Practice-Questions/dp/0830846271/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1506031358&sr=8-1&keywords=becoming+curious The Every Thought Captive podcast is brought to you by Ozark Christian College. Your Mission is Out There. Training Starts Here. Go to occ.edu for more information.

Michael DeFazio, Chad Ragsdale, and Doug Welch discuss the recent Nashville Statement on biblical sexuality from the Council of Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. How should Christians think and act with regard to the issues of homosexuality and transgenderism today? The Every Thought Captive podcast is brought to you by Ozark Christian College. Your mission is out there. Training starts here. Go to occ.edu for more information.

Michael DeFazio, Chad Ragsdale, and Doug Welch all survived the solar eclipse with their retinas intact. But how is their eyesight with regard to how they read biblical prophecy? The Every Thought Captive podcast is brought to you by Ozark Christian College. Your mission is out there. Training starts here. Go to occ.edu for more information.

Michael DeFazio, Chad Ragsdale, and Doug Welch are back from their summer travels to begin a new season of podcasting. In this episode, they get caught up with each other, talk about what they did and what they've learned, and discuss the issues they want to talk about in upcoming episodes. The Every Thought Captive podcast is presented by Ozark Christian College. Your mission is out there. Training starts here. Go to occ.edu for more information.

More questions and more conversation. Michael DeFazio, Chad Ragsdale, and Doug Welch talk about a host of issues during the second half of this Q&A. Questions asked include: (1) Is U2 overrated? (2) What influential authors do we read that we shouldn't talk about? (3) How do we reach the generation who finds no need for church? (4) Can you grow a church without dynamic preaching and worship? (5)What's the best thing about the millennial generation? (6) Is the "Billy Graham rule" biblical? At the end of the episode, the guys have questions for each other.

You've got questions... and we've got conversations. In this episode, Michael, Chad, and Doug reflect on 5 different questions that listeners have asked on Facebook and Twitter (@EveryTCPodcast). Questions asked include: What is the gospel? How can I know if I'm an "evangelical"? How do I start reading the Old Testament? What's the responsibility of Christians on social media? What's the last good novel you're read? Every Thought Captive is brought to you by Ozark Christian College NextLevel videos. Go to occ.edu/nextlevel to start using free video resources for you and your church.

It's not just the plot of a time-travel movie from the 80's, it's the question we explore on this episode of Every Thought Captive. Michael, Chad, and Doug reflect on what we would say to our 16-year-old selves if we had a few minutes to impart some wisdom. This episode is brought to you by Ozark Christian College Admissions. Go to occ.edu/requestinfo for information on becoming a student at OCC. Your mission is out there. Training starts here.

In this episode, the guys talk about Rod Dreher's latest book, "The Benedict Option" (don't worry if you haven't read it; Michael hasn't either). They examine whether or not Dreher is correct in his assessment of culture, and whether or not Christians should strategically withdraw from culture in order to remain faithful to God.