Confronting Christianity with Rebecca McLaughlin
Hard questions, faithfully explored. Hosted by Rebecca McLaughlin.
Should We Be Deconstructing? - SUMMER REPLAY
Kyle Worley and Rebecca McLaughlin talk about deconstructing; where has this come from and how should we engage?
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Why Does God Let Us Suffer? with Vaneetha Risner - SUMMER REPLAY
Rebecca is joined by Vaneetha Risner to discuss her life story and what God has taught her through suffering.Â
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Why Does God Care About Who We Sleep With? with Rachel Gilson - SUMMER REPLAY
Kyle Worley and Rebecca McLaughlin are joined by author Rachel Gilson to talk about why God cares about who we sleep with.Â
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Why Doesn't God Make Himself Obvious? with Gavin Ortlund - SUMMER REPLAY
Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Gavin Ortlund to answer the question; why doesn't God make Himself more obvious?
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Will We Be Single Forever? with Dani Treweek - SUMMER REPLAY
Rebecca McLaughlin is joined by Dr. Danielle Treweek to have a conversation about singleness and marriage.
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Is Euthanasia Wrong or Kind? with James Eglinton - SUMMER REPLAY
Rebecca is joined by James Eglinton to have a conversation about the arguments for and against euthanasia, how Christians should think about it, and where our hope can be found.
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Are Transgender Women, Women? - SUMMER REPLAY
Kyle Worley and Rebecca McLaughlin discuss the question; are transgender women, women?Questions Covered in This Episode:
What is a man? What is a woman?Is a transgender woman a woman?What issues has this confusion presented?What is our primary responsiblity we have as Christians in this conversation?To what degree should we advance Christian ethics in public squares that are not purposefully evangelistic?Are all feminists on the same page with the question of “are transgender women women?”What do we do with the question of “preferred pronouns?”Helpful Definitions:
Transgender woman: Someone who is biologically male but...
Why Should Christians Care for Immigrants? with Bri Stensrud - SUMMER REPLAY
The conversation centers around the complexities of being pro-life in a broader context. Bri shares her transformative journey from traditional pro-life advocacy into a holistic pursuit that sees immigration and refugee care as extensions of the same intrinsic Christian value of life and dignity. She elaborates on the misconceptions that surround the pro-life movement and the importance of engaging with human dignity issues beyond political boundaries. She also touches on the hurdles Christians face in balancing political and scriptural obligations.
Key Takeaways:
Choosing Proximity: Bri emphasizes the influence of building relationships with people...
Good News at Rock Bottom with Ray Ortlund - SUMMER REPLAY
What if the worst season of your life became the place where you encountered God most deeply?
Rebecca talks with Ray Ortlund about suffering, betrayal, loneliness, depression, and why the cross and resurrection of Jesus offer a hope that no other worldview can match.
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How Do Christians Cope with Depression? with Alan Noble - SUMMER REPLAY
What do you do when getting out of bed feels impossible? Rebecca McLaughlin talks with Dr. Alan Noble about depression, anxiety, suffering, and the surprising hope Christianity offers—not by removing pain, but by giving us meaning, purpose, and a reason to keep going.
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Parenting Without Panic in an LGBT-Affirming World with Rachel Gilson - SUMMER REPLAY
Rachel Gilson is a noted author and speaker specializing in Christian sexual ethics. She serves on the leadership team for theological development and culture at Cru, a dynamic missionary organization. Rachel is also in the advanced stages of completing her PhD in public theology from Southeastern Theological Seminary. Her acclaimed book, "Born Again This Way: Coming Out, Coming to Faith, and What Comes Next" is considered a valuable resource on Christian sexual ethics. Rachel is passionate about helping Christians navigate complex cultural issues with a gospel-centered approach.
Key Takeaways:
Navigating Cultural Shifts: Rachel...
What Do I Do With My Doubts? - SUMMER REPLAY
Kyle Worley and Rebecca McLaughlin talk* about doubt and where we can find a stable foundation that honors and invites our doubt toward goodness, truth, and beauty.
*This is a replay episode from 1/31/23
Questions Covered in This Episode:
Have you ever experienced profound doubt?What do you think are some of the most common places of doubt?What is doubt an invitation to?Do we find doubt in the bible?Where do you find a stable foundation that honors and invites your doubt toward goodness, truth, and beauty?If someone is listening to...
Should Women Preach? with Dani Treweek and Ellie Wiener - SUMMER REPLAY
Rebecca hosts a discussion* with Dani Treweek and Ellie Wiener, exploring whether women should preach in church. Both Dani and Ellie share their insights and differing perspectives, rooted in a deep respect for Scripture. The conversation goes into key biblical passages, including 1 Timothy 2 and 1 Corinthians 11, providing nuanced interpretations. Dani and Ellie's dialogue underscores their shared belief in the gospel's transformative power, encouraging all believers to proclaim the message of salvation.
*This is a replay episode from 4/8/25
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Why Modern Culture Keeps Borrowing from Christianity with Collin Hansen
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What Does the Bible Really Say About Happiness? with Andrew Wilson
Rebecca and Andrew Wilson explore the Bible’s vision of happiness, why joy and suffering often go together, and how true happiness can only last forever if it’s rooted in God.
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The Story Behind Every Great Story with Kyle Worley
Why do stories about heroes, sacrifice, and victory over evil move us so deeply?
Rebecca and Kyle Worley explore how imagination, storytelling, and even fantasy reflect the deeper reality of the gospel. From the armor of God to dragons and great heroes, they show why the story of Jesus is the one all others echo.
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Why Jesus Is Bigger Than You Think (Colossians Explained) with Lee Gatiss
What if Jesus is far more than you’ve ever imagined?
In this crossover episode (with Church Society), Rebecca and Lee Gatiss unpack the book of Colossians—and why its claims about Jesus completely reshape identity, purpose, and freedom. They also tackle one of the Bible’s most misunderstood topics: slavery, and why the gospel actually undermines it from the inside out.
Follow Lee:
Church Society Website | Twitter
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Are You on the Right Path? with Elizabeth Woodson
Rebecca talks with Elizabeth Woodson about the subtle ways culture shapes us—and how the gospel reorients us toward true joy, peace, and purpose. They explore how to recognize when you’ve drifted and take small, faithful steps back toward the way of Jesus.
Follow Elizabeth:
Website | Instagram
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What Does “Identity in Christ” Actually Mean? with Justin Poythress
Who am I?
It’s one of the most common—and most confusing—questions in our culture today.
Rebecca is joined by author and theologian Justin Poythress to explore the deeper meaning of identity and why so many modern conversations fall short. Drawing from his upcoming book Who Am I, What Am I, and What Am I Doing with My Life?, Justin explains why identity is more complex than we think—and why trying to “find yourself” often leads to instability.Â
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Website
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Why Are We So Lonely? with Shelby Abbott
We’ve never been more connected—and never more lonely. In this episode, Rebecca talks with Shelby Abbott about the growing loneliness epidemic, especially among Gen Z, and why digital connection often leaves us feeling more isolated.
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What If Jesus Really Rose? with Mike Hood
What if the resurrection of Jesus isn’t just a belief—but a historical reality? Rebecca is joined by evangelist, pastor, and writer Mike Hood to explore the evidence behind Christianity’s boldest claim: that Jesus physically rose from the dead. Mike shares how wrestling with this question as a teenager shaped his faith—and why he keeps coming back to it today.
Buy Mike's Book:
The If That Changes Everything by Mike Hood
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Was Jesus Punished in Our Place? with Derek Rishmawy - Part 2
Rebecca and Derek explore why God’s judgment is necessary, how Jesus’ death defeats sin and Satan, and why the cross is the clearest display of both divine justice and divine love.Â
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Was Jesus Punished in Our Place? with Derek Rishmawy - Part 1
Why would a loving God judge sin? Rebecca talks with theologian and pastor Derek Rishmawy about one of the most difficult questions in Christianity: why Jesus needed to die in the first place.
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Is Aging Good, Bad or Ugly? with Jen Wilkin (Part 2)
Rebecca and Jen Wilkin explore the often-overlooked spiritual power of middle age. They discuss why younger Christians need older mentors, how church should function as a true family across generations, and why following Jesus reshapes how we think about aging and influence.
Preorder Jen's Book:
Dust to Dust: Aging Wisely in an Anti-Aging World
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Is Aging Good, Bad or Ugly? with Jen Wilkin (Part 1)
Rebecca talks with Jen Wilkin about her new book Dust to Dust: Aging Wisely in an Anti-Aging World.Â
They explore how Scripture reframes aging as a gift, why the church must recover a richer vision of family, and what it means to be pro-life at the end of life.
Preorder Jen's Book:
Dust to Dust: Aging Wisely in an Anti-Aging World
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Where Does The Bible Come From? with Dr. Peter Gurry and Dr. John Meade (Part 2)
Rebecca talks with John Meade and Peter Gurry about the New Testament canon, “lost gospels,” and why New Testament writers sometimes quote the Old Testament differently. They address common objections—Constantine, politics, the Apocrypha—and why studying Scripture’s history tends to deepen faith rather than undermine it.
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Where Does The Bible Come From? with Dr. Peter Gurry and Dr. John Meade (Part 1)
Where did the Bible come from—and how do we know we can trust it? Rebecca is joined by textual scholars John Meade and Peter Gurry to explore how Scripture was written, copied, translated, and recognized as canon. From the Septuagint to the Apocrypha, they unpack the Bible’s complex history—and why that history strengthens rather than weakens Christian confidence in God’s Word.
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Why Read Poetry? with Stephen Witmer
Rebecca talks with pastor and author Dr. Stephen Witmer about why poetry—especially the work of 17th-century priest George Herbert—can deepen our understanding of the gospel. Through Herbert’s poems, they explore themes of inadequacy, priesthood, and the imputed righteousness of Christ. Along the way, they discuss why Scripture itself uses poetry and why beauty, metaphor, and imagination matter for Christian faith.
Buy Stephen's Book:
In All Things Thee to See: A Devotional Guide to Selected Poems of George Herbert
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Can Psychology Help Us Become More Like Christ? with Jo Johnson
Are human beings basically good—or fundamentally broken? Rebecca is joined by clinical neuropsychologist Jo Johnson to explore what decades of psychological work reveal about human nature, shame, and our deep sense that something is “off.” Together they argue that Christianity doesn’t deny our inner darkness, but offers the only true freedom: being fully known and fully loved in Jesus.
Buy Jo's Book:
Disentangled
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Should We Abolish Gender? with Rob Smith | Part 2
Rebecca McLaughlin and Dr. Rob Smith continue their conversation on sex, gender, and transgender theory by tracing how the New Testament holds together real equality and real difference between men and women. They discuss gender dysphoria, disorders of sexual development, and why Christians can pursue deep compassion without affirming claims they believe are untrue. Throughout, they argue that keeping Jesus—and imitation of his servant-hearted love—at the center helps everything else fall into its proper place.
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Should We Abolish Gender? with Rob Smith | Part 1
Rebecca talks with Anglican minister and theologian Dr. Rob Smith about what “transgender theory” actually claims—and why clarity matters before conversation can even begin. They explore how the Bible frames bodies, sex, and “gender expression,” starting in Genesis and touching on why Christians can’t simply throw the word “gender” away. This is Part 1 of a two-part discussion of Rob’s book The Body God Gives.
Buy Rob's Book:
The Body God Gives: A Biblical Response to Transgender Theory
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Instagram
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The Missing Peace with Sam Chan
In this episode, Rebecca McLaughlin talks with evangelist and surgeon Sam Chan about why Christmas still matters in an anxious, skeptical world. Drawing on Sam’s book The Missing Piece, they explore how the incarnation meets our deep longing for peace—not by fixing everything, but by God coming near to us in Jesus.
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Blog | X | Instagram
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Finding Wisdom in an AI World with Autumn Ridenour
What does a 4th-century African bishop have to do with smartphones, social media, and AI chatbots? Rebecca sits down with ethicist Autumn Ridenour to explore how Augustine’s famous line, “our hearts are restless until they rest in you,” exposes both the appeal and the danger of our digital lives—from endless scrolling to AI “relationships” and deepfake-fueled distrust.
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Sex, Shame, and The Hope of Redemption with Zach Ellis
Therapist and ministry leader Zach Ellis spends his days walking with men tangled up in porn, shame, and unwanted sexual behavior. In this episode, Zach and Rebecca talk about lust as both sin and sign, how trauma fractures us, and why the opposite of addiction isn’t willpower but connection—being truly known by God and his people. If you’ve ever wondered whether your sexual history puts you beyond repair, this episode is a gentle but honest invitation to bring your story into the light of Christ.
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Mosaic Counseling Center - Boston Area Ch...
You Aren't Enough with Christine Hoover
Christine walks through 2 Corinthians, Paul’s deeply personal letter about weakness, suffering, and the upside-down way of Jesus. She shares honestly about writing her new Bible study, More Than Enough: An 8-Week Study of 2 Corinthians, while her 20-year-old son was undergoing treatment for cancer.
Get the Book:
More Than Enough: An 8-Week Study of 2 Corinthians
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Instagram | Website
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Can Jesus Give Us Freedom? with Portia Collins
Portia Collins is a Bible teacher, author, and speaker from the Mississippi Delta. She’s the author of Finding Freedom in Christ: An 8-Week Study in Galatians, founder of She Shall Be Called, and serves on staff with Revive Our Hearts. Portia is passionate about helping women grow in Bible literacy and embrace the true freedom found in Jesus.
Get the Book:
Finding Freedom in Christ: An 8-Week Study of Galatians
Follow Portia:
Instagram | Substack
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What’s The Point of Singleness? with Dani Treweek
Rebecca and theologian Dani Treweek explore why the Bible calls both marriage and singleness meaningful gifts — and how rediscovering the purpose of singleness can strengthen the whole church.
Get the book:
Single Ever AfterA Biblical Vision for the Significance of Singleness
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Instagram | Website
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On Magic and Miracles with Marian Jacobs
Can Christians enjoy stories with “magic”? Marian Jacobs and Rebecca unpack how fantasy can train us to love Jesus and discern the occult—using a simple rubric rooted in Scripture and the self-giving love at the heart of the gospel.
Get the book:
On Magic & Miracles:Â A Theological Guide to Discerning Fictional Magic
Follow Marian:
Instagram | Website
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How Church Could (Literally) Save Your Life
Harvard-backed research says weekly churchgoing lowers depression, boosts health, and lengthens life — and Rebecca explains why those benefits point beyond “religion” to Jesus, the church as true family, and the hope Gen Z is rediscovering.
Get the book:
“How Church Could Literally Save Your Life” (Crossway)
Check out Collin's Podcast:
Gospelbound
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Should Christians Be Defined by The Culture Wars? with J.D. Greear
Rebecca and J.D. Greear explore how Christians can transcend the culture war by leading with grace and truth, loving hard-to-love neighbors, keeping politics downstream of discipleship, and holding fast to the gospel with joyful confidence.
Resources Mentioned:
J.D.'s WebsiteSummit ChurchEveryday Revolutionary: How to Transcend the Culture War and Transform the World
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