Best Miroslav Volf Podcasts (2024)

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Episode #50: How Theology can Help you Flourish, with Dr. Miroslav Volf 50:04

9d ago50:04

50:04

Dr. Miroslav Volf is a prominent theologian, scholar, author, and founding Director of the Yale Center for Faith and Culture. Born in Croatia, Miroslav experienced the religious and political tensions of his homeland firsthand, which deeply influenced his academic and theological pursuits. He has authored numerous influential books, including Exclu…

1
221. Miroslav Volf's Take on Moving Forward, a Quick Conversation with Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson 8:24

16d ago8:24

8:24

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking! Tod Bolsinger brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this conversation, challenging us to resist nostalgia and the allure of a past era—like the 1960s, when the church thrived in a very different context. Reflecting on a quote from Miroslav Volf, Bolsinger, together with Markus Watson, …

1
Theologian of Hope: Remembering Jürgen Moltmann (1926 – 2024) / Miroslav Volf 42:54

28d ago42:54

42:54

On June 3,2024, Jürgen Moltmann died. He was one of the greatest theologians of our time. He was 98 years old. In this episode, Miroslav Volf eulogizes and remembers his mentor and friend. We then share a previously released conversation between Miroslav Volf and Jürgen Moltmann. This episode first aired in April 2021—and it includes Moltmann’s con…

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Learning to Disagree / John Inazu 35:46

21h ago35:46

35:46

Genuine disagreement is vanishingly rare. But to disagree with careful listening, empathy, respect, and independent thinking—it’s an essential part of life in a pluralistic democratic society. In this episode, legal scholar and author John Inazu joins Evan Rosa to talk about his new book, Learning to Disagree: The Surprising Path to Navigating Diff…

1
223. Discovering Where God is Already at Work, a Quick Conversation with Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson 7:30

2d ago7:30

7:30

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking! Markus Watson and Tod Bolsinger engage in a discerning conversation about the leadership and mission implications of the idea that God is already pesent in every culture. They consider the respect and humility required when entering new cultures and relationships, especially with the understand…

1
The Gospel as Voyage and Return 37:43

4d ago37:43

37:43

In a Voyage and Return story the central character travels out of their familiar, “everyday” surroundings into another world completely cut off from home. This other world is strange, different, exotic, and perhaps at first, exhilarating. But eventually a shadow intrudes. Things begin to change…for the worse. The traveler increasingly feels threate…

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Disillusioned with Faith: Finding Hope in Our Scars / Aimee Byrd 58:56

8d ago58:56

58:56

We live in a time of disillusionment. Trust is waning in the public sphere, religious affiliation is on decline, and some feel a deep tension or ambivalence about their community—whether that’s a region, family, political party, or spiritual tradition. How should we think about the experience of disillusionment, particularly the threat of becoming …

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222. Building a Multi-Inclusive Church, with Efrem Smith and Dan Kreiss, authors of Church for Everyone 39:40

9d ago39:40

39:40

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking! Efrem Smith and Dan Kreiss, the authors of Church For Everyone: Building a Multi-Inclusive Community, explore the importance of multi-inclusivity in church leadership, the need to empower young people in decision-making, and the steps required to break down socio-economic and cultural barriers …

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Scripture and the Public Square 35:49

9d ago35:49

35:49

The language of the Bible has often been invoked in American political discourse through the centuries. Scripture has been quoted by suffragists and secessionists, invoked in arguments for (and against) American independence, the Civil War, and each succeeding conflict, and cited by virtually every President across parties. So how should we discern…

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The Gospel as the Quest 36:06

11d ago36:06

36:06

"You seek a great fortune, you three who are now in chains. You will find a fortune—though it would not be the fortune you seek. But first, first you must travel—a long and difficult road, a road fraught with peril. You shall see things wonderful to tell. You shall see a cow on the roof of a cotton house, and oh, so many startlements. I cannot tell…

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Black Motherhood: Love & Resistance / Kelly Brown Douglas 27:34

14d ago27:34

27:34

“Black motherhood has consistently been a contested space. Black women have just fought for their rights to be. And so when we say Black motherhood, to me, the reality of Black motherhood itself is the resistance. And we still stand and we claim what it means to be Black mothers. We've got to consistently stand firm trying to raise healthy children…

1
The Gospel as Rags to Riches 36:00

18d ago36:00

36:00

Rags to riches is the familiar story where we begin with an apparently ordinary, insignificant person, overlooked or even dismissed by everyone else, who suddenly takes center stage and is revealed to be someone quite extraordinary. And the greatest rags to riches story is the gospel story of Jesus of Nazareth.…

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220. Leading Through Tragedy, Adversity, and Crisis, with Gayle Beebe, author of The Crucibles that Shape Us 43:43

23d ago43:43

43:43

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking! In ministry leadership, how we respond to crises significantly impacts not just our journey, but also the communities we serve. Painful experiences like this can be crucibles that mold our character, highlight the importance of emotional presence, and underscore the need for institutional stami…

1
What Really Matters with Charlie Peacock and Andi Ashworth 39:32

24d ago39:32

39:32

What Really Matters with Charlie Peacock and Andi Ashworth Ours is an age that values and valorizes productivity, speed, and scale, and emphasizes precise and perpetual measurement and management of those markers. A whole range of organizations, including nonprofits, and even churches, as well as individuals believe that what is valuable is empiric…

1
Episode #49: Why your mindset matters and what to start doing about it 50:18

23d ago50:18

50:18

We interview Dr. Gemma Leigh Roberts, a chartered psychologist and author specialising in wellbeing, resilience and mindset. She is a Top 5 LinkedIn Learning instructor, and over five million people have taken her LinkedIn Learning courses. Over 650,000 people subscribe to her 'Mindset Matters – Thriving at work' newsletter. The newsletter led to t…

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The Gospel as Overcoming the Monster 32:37

25d ago32:37

32:37

The greatest stories, epics, and myths offer a profound insight into the deepest longings of the human heart, for as Ecclesiastes says, “God has placed eternity in their hearts.” In analyzing the great stories we discover that there are seven basic plots: Overcoming the Monster, Rags to Riches, The Quest, Voyage and Return, Comedy, Tragedy, and Reb…

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219. The Role of Joy in Effective Church Leadership, a Quick Conversation with Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson 7:52

1M ago7:52

7:52

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking! This episode explores the critical role of joy in fostering deep connections within our communities. As Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson consider how an atmosphere of joy can be crafted and communicated through our actions, they discuss how this translates to effective ministry and church leader…

1
Lord of the Story 38:40

1M ago38:40

38:40

The gospel is first and foremost a story—it’s the story of Israel, the story of Jesus, the story of God saving the world. And this story is what all the great stories in one way or another point to—because, indeed, Jesus Christ is Lord of the Story.By Brian Zahnd

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Christian Pluralism: Living Faithfully in a World of Difference 38:52

1M ago38:52

38:52

Christian Pluralism: Living Faithfully in a World of Difference The term ‘pluralism’ has been subject to misunderstanding – even misuse – over the past several years. Some read or hear the word and think simply of a multiplicity of opinions. Others think of a sort of moral relativism that affirms your truth and my truth, no matter how contradictory…

1
Episode #48: How to build great relationships, with Dr. Rick Hanson 53:00

1M ago53:00

53:00

We interview Dr. Rick Hanson, a prolific writer and practitioner of all things psychology, neuroscience, resilience and well-being. Rick Hanson, Ph.D., is a psychologist, Senior Fellow at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, and New York Times best-selling author. His seven books have been published in 33 languages and include Making Great Re…

1
The Circle of Divine Love 34:42

1M ago34:42

34:42

The unique way Christians talk about God is found in ancient language. We say God is a Holy Trinity. We believe the one true living God, the creator God, the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob has been revealed in three distinct persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We believe in one God, one divine essence and substance in three persons…

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218. Trust, Teams, and Transformational Leadership, with Mike Bonem, author of The Art of Leading Change 43:54

1M ago43:54

43:54

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking! Strong sermons, pastoral care and counseling, leading Bible studies. These are all really important for effective ministry leadership. But leading a church or organization is more than just that, isn’t it? In this episode, Mike Bonem--consultant, coach, and author of The Art of Leading Change--…

1
217. Holding on or Venturing Forth, a Quick Conversation with Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson 6:43

1M ago6:43

6:43

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking! Markus Watson and Tod Bolsinger reflect on their passion for exploration as an essential element of leadership, discussing the current crisis where the church often resists change and clings to the past rather than venturing into the unknown. Together, they explore the challenges in embracing e…

1
The Very First Church 36:58

2M ago36:58

36:58

The church born on Pentecost -- the very first church -- devoted itself to four things: 1. The Apostles' Teaching (Didache) 2. The Fellowship (Koinonia) 3. The Breaking of Bread (Eucharist) 4. The Prayers (Liturgy)By Brian Zahnd

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216. Overcoming 'Puny' Spirituality, with Warren Brown and Brad Strawn, authors of Enhancing Christian Life 37:52

2M ago37:52

37:52

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking! In this episode, Warren Brown and Brad Strawn, authors of Enhancing Christian Life, explain how contemporary Christian practices can often lead to what they call a 'puny' experience of Christianity that elevates personal feelings of closeness to God over outward expressions of faith. They argue…

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Towards a Better Christian Politics 1:04:00

2M ago1:04:00

1:04:00

The relentless pull and pressure of partisan antagonisms and tribalism have fractured friendships, families, communities — and churches. In a time of conflict over what is good and confusion over what is true, what can church leaders do to cultivate a more faithful form of civic engagement? How can we learn to discern the call to love and justice a…

1
Episode #47: Digging into how to “be well” with Dr. Rick Hanson 1:00:18

2M ago1:00:18

1:00:18

We interview Dr. Rick Hanson, a prolific writer and practitioner of all things psychology, neuroscience, resilience and well-being. Rick Hanson, Ph.D., is a psychologist, Senior Fellow at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, and New York Times best-selling author. His seven books have been published in 33 languages and include Making Great Re…

1
Christ of the Tanakh 29:24

2M ago29:24

29:24

Tanakh is a Hebrew acronym for the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings/Psalms. After his resurrection Jesus told his disciples, "Everything written about me in the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms had to be fulfilled." Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. If we want our minds to be opened to understand the Scriptures, there’s o…

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Mobilizing Hope in Women’s Prison: Discovering Agency, Community, and Creative Resilience / Sarah Farmer 41:42

2M ago41:42

41:42

How do you find hope when you can only see yourself and your future in light of your past mistakes? When you’re certain that everyone on the outside looking in is doing the same, punishing you, immobilizing you, invisibilizing you…? Seems the only way out of that spiral is the “God Who Sees.” Practical theologian Sarah Farmer joins Evan Rosa to dis…

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215. The Contagion of Anxiety in Spiritual Leadership, a Quick Conversation with Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson 8:16

2M ago8:16

8:16

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking! This episode unpacks the concept of differentiation—how it allows us to recognize when someone else's anxiety affects us and vice versa, and the significance of maintaining our personal identity while staying connected in relationships. With vivid examples and relatable scenarios, we'll explore…

1
The Uncontrollable Mystery 29:09

2M ago29:09

29:09

The Apostle Paul speaks often of the mystery of Christ as the supreme revelation of God, but this in not a mystery we can place under our control. In his poem The Magi, William Butler Yeats aptly describes the incarnate Word born at Bethlehem as "the uncontrollable mystery on the bestial floor."By Brian Zahnd

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Peaceable Assembly: Protests, Collective Belonging, and Refuge in a Forgotten Right / John Inazu 35:39

2M ago35:39

35:39

Protests dominate the news. And while we’re familiar with freedom of speech, free exercise of religion, and freedom of the press—what about the freedom of assembly? The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution—also contains “the right of the people peaceably to assemble.” But what exactly does that secure? How does this foundational, but often forg…

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214. Leading with Purpose and Authenticity, with Tommy Nixon, CEO of Urban Youth Workers Initiative 37:50

2M ago37:50

37:50

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking! Healthy leadership is about paying attention to what God is up to in the people we’re leading. Our job, then, is not to force people to be something they’re not so they can support our own initiatives. Our job is to take note of how our people are wired and then help them live that out for the …

1
A Life Worth Living with Miroslav Volf 33:10

2M ago33:10

33:10

A Life Worth Living What makes a good life? What habits of attention, reflection, and action orient us towards knowing, desiring, and doing what is good, true, and beautiful? Such “big questions” may seem unanswerable and intimidating — but their exploration is at the heart of the human quest for meaning. Drawing on his popular Yale course, theolog…

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Episode #46: How to leverage failure and psychological safety in your team or organization, with Dr. Amy Edmondson 54:01

2M ago54:01

54:01

We interview Dr. Amy C. Edmondson, Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at Harvard Business School, a chair established to support the study of human interactions that lead to the creation of successful enterprises that contribute to the betterment of society. She has pioneered the concept of psychological safety for over 20 years and wa…

1
Pastures of Peace 35:56

2M ago35:56

35:56

The landscape of our current culture seems to be filled with fury and it has left the condition of our souls vexed with anxiety. If we trust and follow Jesus, the one who cares for our soul, he will lead us, as the Good Shepherd, out of the landscape of fury and into pastures of peace.By Jacob Taylor

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213. Embracing Limitations as a Ministry Resource, a Quick Conversation with Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson 6:06

2M ago6:06

6:06

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking! In this episode, Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson explore the powerful reminder that as pastors and leaders, we are not God and that recognizing our human limitations can prevent dysfunction within our ministries. This conversation will shed light on the protective nature of limitations for both…

1
Freed from the Chains of the Fear of Death 34:12

3M ago34:12

34:12

By Peri Zahnd

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Desire: How Avarice and Acquisition Distort Our Longing for the Sacred / Micheal O'Siadhail 53:19

3M ago53:19

53:19

"Having lost a sense of the sacred, the only thing we want is acquisitiveness—more of everything. How can we break this vicious cycle of avarice? It seems to me that the only way we can possibly reign this in on ourselves is some retrieval of the sense of the sacred, something beyond ourselves. And I think that relearning humility—realizing that a …

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Episode #45: What can existential psychotherapy do for your ability to flourish?, with Dr. Sara Kuburic 50:22

3M ago50:22

50:22

We interview Dr. Sara Kuburic, existential psychotherapist, writer, and columnist for USA Today, about how existential psychotherapy can help us to flourish. In particular, we discuss Sara’s work on “self-loss”: what it is, how to identify it and rebuild our sense of self; how overcoming self-loss can help us flourish; and how to live a more authen…

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212. Unlearning Old Paradigms for Kingdom Leadership, with Terry Walling, author of Unlikely Nomads 41:27

3M ago41:27

41:27

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking! Terry Walling is Founder and President of Leader Breakthru and the author of Unlikely Nomads. In this episode, Terry Walling shares about people he calls “nomads.” They love Jesus, but they don’t love the more traditional expressions of the church. They want to be part of the church, but the wa…

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The Kingdom, The Power, and The Glory with Tim Alberta 42:19

3M ago42:19

42:19

The Kingdom, The Power, and The Glory with Tim Alberta American Christians are certainly not immune to the anger, division, and fear that characterize our political moment. For many, the prospect of another election year is a source of dread or of numb exhaustion; others have responded with aggression or defensiveness. On our podcast, author and jo…

1
Why Are You Frightened? 35:57

3M ago35:57

35:57

Do you believe in ghosts? The disciples may have. Upon seeing the resurrected Jesus, they wrongly assumed he was a ghost. This opens the door for Jesus to assure them(and us) that he has risen indeed. If Jesus has been raised, then death has been defeated, and we need not fear. Therefore, Jesus continues to ask "Why are you frightened?".…

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How to Read Flannery O'Connor / Jessica Hooten Wilson 57:08

3M ago57:08

57:08

Flannery O’Connor is known for her short stories in which “A Good Man Is Hard to Find.” But it’s often those ugly, mean, disgusting, scandalizing, violent, weird, or downright hateful characters in Flannery O’Connor stories that become the vessels of grace delivered. So, how should we read Flannery O’Connor? Jessica Hooten Wilson (Pepperdine Univer…

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211. Fire and Suffering, a Quick Conversation with Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson 7:23

3M ago7:23

7:23

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking! In this episode, Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson unpack a powerful quote from Steve Carter, "You only learn resilience through the fire and through the suffering." This quote emerged from Steve Carter's experience of letting go of everything he had known and worked towards when he offered his r…

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Episode #44: The Antifragile: Antifragility with Entrepreneur, MBA, AI consultant and dad, Josh Hernandez 54:02

3M ago54:02

54:02

In this episode we dive into the extraordinary life journey of a Josh Hernandez. Born and raised in El Paso, Texas, to teenage parents, our guest grew up in a nurturing environment where his father was in trucking and his mother ran a home daycare. This early exposure to leadership and working with people laid the foundation for his path. Despite g…

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A Doorway into a New Life 34:25

3M ago34:25

34:25

One way to think about the resurrection is to see it as Jesus’ first step towards ascension. Another way is to think of the resurrection of Jesus like a wormhole, a tunnel through time and space. From this perspective, Jesus went into death creating a passageway from this broken down world into God’s new world where all things are new again. In ste…

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A World Out of Joint: Pilgrimage and the Possibilities of Homemaking / Ryan McAnnally-Linz 48:06

3M ago48:06

48:06

This conversation is based on a free downloadable resource available at faith.yale.edu. Click here to get your copy today. “We may heed the call of Jesus to follow me and find him leading us right into the home we already have.” (Ryan McAnnally-Linz) What are the possibilities of homemaking in a world out of joint? What does it mean for Christians …

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210. Cultivating Cultural Competence, with Daniel Lee, author of Doing Asian American Theology 38:39

3M ago38:39

38:39

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking! Daniel Lee is the academic dean for the Center for Asian American Theology and Ministry at Fuller Theological Seminary and author of Doing Asian American Theology. Daniel Lee discusses the fact that each of us does theology from a particular persepective. Recognizing our own "particularities" m…

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Connecting Spiritual Formation and Public Life with Michael Wear 33:10

3M ago33:10

33:10

Connecting Spiritual Formation and Public Life with Michael Wear In the midst of what is proving to be a frustrating, fractious, and even frightening election year, how can Christians best respond to the situation in front of us, and how can we offer a positive contribution to our common life? Drawing on the life and work of the late philosopher Da…

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