Candid Conversations with Jonathan Youssef

Do you feel intimidated by the idea of evangelism or wonder how to share your faith in today’s world?

In this remarkable new episode of Candid Conversations, Jonathan sits down with his father, Dr. Michael Youssef, to discuss the misconceptions surrounding evangelism and share this simple truth—it’s just one beggar telling another where to find bread.

During the conversation, Dr. Youssef reflects on the sermon that led him to Christ 60 years ago, a message about God’s open door of mercy, and how that eternity-changing message now fuels his ministry at The Church of The Apostles in Atlanta, Georgia, and around the world through Leading The Way.

Listen in as one generation encourages the next to press ahead as long as the door remains open.

If you have questions or want to engage a community around this topic, connect with Jonathan and the Candid community:

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In this thought-provoking episode of Candid Conversations, Dr. Jonathan Youssef explores the pervasive cultural narrative that prioritizes feelings, personal pleasure, and subjective truths above all else. Our malls display it, our shows advise it, our commercials glorify it, and our universities disseminate it. Every aspect of our culture proclaims that our feelings matter most in life. But how should Christians respond to this secular storm that seeks to silence the message of the Gospel?

Join Jonathan as he explores the growing pressures on Christianity in the Western world and reminds listeners of the global spread of the Christian faith that defies cultural trends.

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In this profound episode, Jonathan is joined by esteemed theologian and author Michael Horton to discuss his latest book, "Recovering Our Sanity: How the Fear of God Conquers the Fears that Divide Us." In a world teetering on the brink of chaos—from unsettling politics to the lingering effects of the global pandemic—Horton's book offers not a typical self-help guide but a deep theological exploration of how a proper fear of God can liberate us from our myriad earthly fears.

Dr. Horton, Professor of Theology and Apologetics at Westminster Seminary, explains what it truly means to fear God—both biblically and theologically—and how this reverential fear can effectively drive out fears of the future, others, and even death itself.

Throughout the episode, Dr. Horton discusses the different types of fears that plague our society—from cultural anxieties to personal struggles—and how these stem from a lack of genuine fear of God. He emphasizes confronting our earthly fears with the hope found in Christ, rooted in the Gospel, and the shift from self-preservation to a Christ-focused life.

This episode is a humbling, thought-provoking, and hope-igniting journey that challenges listeners to replace false securities with the profound joy of knowing Christ, who commands us, "Do not be afraid." Join us as we explore how cultivating a healthy fear of God can recover our sanity in these turbulent times.

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TRANSCRIPT:

This transcript recounts Candid Conversations with Jonathan Youssef Episode 249: Recovering Our Sanity: How the Fear of God Conquers the Fears That Divide Us: Michael Horton.

[00:01] Jonathan: My very special guest is Mike Horton. He is a professor of systematic theology and apologetics at Westminster Seminary in California, and he is the author of many books, including The Christian Faith Ordinary and Core Christianity. He also hosts the White Horse Inn radio program. He lives with his wife, Lisa, and their four children in Escondido, California, and it looks like he’s on his back patio, having a conversation with me and being very gracious with his time. Mike Horton, thank you so much for taking the time to be on Candid Conversations.

[00:45] Michael: Thank you, Jonathan.

[00:50] Jonathan: I do thank you for your time. Now Mike, I’ve read your books, I have subscribed and I do recommend all of our listeners subscribe to the White Horse Inn. If you could just give us a quick, whirlwind tour of your story, we can talk a little bit about the podcast and some of your books as we progress through the interview.

[01:19] Michael: Well, thank you, Jonathan. Yeah, I was raised in a Christian home and came to understand the doctrines of grace partly through my older brother. Kind of had my own little, not little, my own Romans revolution and then started digging deeper into Church history and theology and biblical studies, and eventually went to Biola University, Westminster California, then to Oxford for doctoral studies and then post-doc at Yale and came back to teach at my alma mater and have been here for 25 years. Blessed to be able to have a hand, with my colleagues, in training pastors; pastors training pastors.

[02:17] Jonathan: I’ve been a recipient of many of the students of Westminster Seminary who taught me at Reformed Theological Seminary in Atlanta, and I’ve been really blessed by your work. You’ve got a very jovial, friendly, California vibe to you, but when you speak, you’re like a double-edged sword. It’s so penetrating. And I think there could be a theological issue that I’ve been struggling with for months and you’ll say it so concisely in a few sentences, and I’ll think, Where was that when I needed that?

[03:09] Michael: You’re too kind. Thank you.

[03:11] Jonathan: Tell us a little bit about the White Horse Inn. It has been on for something like ...

November rolls around and we all think about giving thanks. Jonathan welcomes Mary Mohler to Candid Conversations to discuss what Biblical gratitude really is – a gratitude that is more than thanking God for all the good things in our lives.

Mary Mohler serves in ministry alongside her husband, Dr. Al Mohler, at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. She is also the founder and director of Seminary Wives Institute, an academic program for students' wives that she started over 20 years ago at Southern Seminary.

A native of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, Mary is a summa cum laude graduate of Samford University where she earned a BS in Biology. She is a proud mother of two children and several grandchildren. She is also the author of the book, Growing in Gratitude, Rediscovering the Joy of a Thankful Heart - a book you won't want to miss on Biblical gratitude.

Join the conversation now and be encouraged to cultivate a heart of gratitude that goes far beyond our usual gratitude checklists.

Get Your Copy of Growing in Gratitude: Rediscovering the Joy of a Thankful Heart

After you listen to this episode, you may have your own questions. We would love to hear from you! To ask Jonathan a question or connect with the Candid community, visit https://LTW.org/Candid

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There are many unknowns right now. Among them is the long term effect of the COVID crisis on both the economy and our personal finances. Jonathan Youssef welcomes David Nicholas to Candid to help explain what we are facing financially, as well as how we should frame it in light of Scripture. David also offers some practical counsel like the best way to prepare for the months ahead and how to use your stimulus check.

David Nicholas is President and Founder of Nicholas Wealth Management, a financial planning and investment advisory company. He is a weekly market commentator on major media networks including Fox Business, CNBC, CNN and CBS. He was recently named as one of Atlanta's most powerful leaders by Atlanta Magazine. David serves on the vestry at his church and in his free time enjoys traveling and spending time with his wife Kristin and their two daughters.

To ask Jonathan a question or to connect with the Candid community, visit https://LTW.org/Candid

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/candidpod

Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecandidpod