We are most vulnerable to drifting from the core teachings of the Christian faith when we find them boring, irrelevant, or embarrassing. Dr. Trevin Wax wrote his book The Thrill of Orthodoxy: Rediscovering the Adventure of Christian Faith to counteract the familiarity with Christian teaching that he says is “the enemy of wonder.” He joins Dr. Keith Plummer to discuss a wide array of topics including the subtle yet often imperceptible ways that we drift from the gospel; how ancient summaries of scriptural teaching like the Apostles’, Nicene, and Athanasian creeds serve as valuable maps and grammars; why doctrinal details matter; and how Christian orthodoxy, contrary to its detractors, is actually broader, richer, and more satisfying than its heretical contenders.

Episode Notes

Drawing from his own journey of deconstructing and reconstructing his Christian faith, Ian Harber describes deconstruction as an existential crisis of faith that consists of much more than intellectual questioning. In this episode, he joins Dr. Keith Plummer to offer insights about how we are to understand and accompany loved ones in the midst of such crises. Among the topics they discuss are contributing factors to deconstruction, the importance of a theology of suffering, and the vital roles that sound biblical truth and genuine Christian community play in healing and reconstruction.

Episode Notes

Two years ago, Dr. Randy Newman joined Dr. Keith Plummer on Defragmenting to discuss the third edition of his book, Questioning Evangelism: Engaging Peoples’ Hearts the Way that Jesus Did. Dr. Newman went to be with the Lord a year ago this month. To honor his legacy, we have re-released his conversation with Dr. Plummer, which still holds just as much relevance and application as it did when it was first released. In this episode, they discuss why asking questions and listening well are so important, some of the top questions non-Christians ask about Christians, why the new edition of his book includes a new chapter on science and Christianity, the difference between evangelism and pre-evangelism, and more.

Episode Notes

Because the triune God has graciously revealed himself, he is knowable. But because he is infinite, there is always more to him than finite creatures can comprehend. Dr. Ronni Kurtz explains and explores the profound and often overlooked doctrine of incomprehensibility in his book Light Unapproachable: Divine Incomprehensibility and the Task of Theology. In this episode, he and Dr. Keith Plummer discuss the biblical basis of the doctrine; its historical development; and why its contemplation should elicit worship, foster humility, and produce joy-filled hope.

Episode Notes

Reading and interpreting the Bible is more, never less, than applying the correct principles. That's because the Scriptures are unlike any other writing in that they are God's words to his people. In his book Mere Christian Hermeneutics: Transfiguring What it Means to Read the Bible Theologically, Dr. Kevin Vanhoozer writes, “Biblical interpreters are answerable not only for the ‘correctness’ of their reading but for the way they respond to what they read, and to the one who is saying it.” In this episode, he joins Dr. Keith Plummer to discuss his book and what truly faithful biblical integration looks like.