Theologically Driven
- Episodes
- 261
- Released
- weekly
- Latest episode
- Nov 12, 2026
About the podcast
A podcast for those who want to know God through his word and have that knowledge drive their decisions. Learn more at dbts.edu.
Episodes 261
Praying for the Sanctification of the Saints w/ Ryan Meyer
On this episode of Theologically Driven, we talk with Dr. Ryan Meyer about Paul's prayer for the saints' sanctification in 2 Thessalonians 1:3–12. Notes (PDF)Learn More about DBTS
Isaiah 53 and Prosperity Theology w/ Jeremy Pittsley
On this episode of the podcast, we talk with Jeremy Pittsley about Isaiah 53 and how Prosperity Theology twists the meaning of the text. Learn more about DBTS at https://dbts.edu
PTSD, Trauma, and Biblical Counseling w/ Matt Statler
We are joined on the podcast today by Matt Statler to talk about PTSD, Trauma, and Biblical Counseling. Learn more about DBTS at https://dbts.edu
On Preaching and Prayer w/ Conrad Mbewe
We are joined by Dr. Conrad Mbewe to talk about preaching and prayer in pastoral ministry. He has served as the pastor of Kabwata Baptist Church in Lusaka, Zambia, since 1987 and is also the President/Vice …
Show notes
We are joined by Dr. Conrad Mbewe to talk about preaching and prayer in pastoral ministry. He has served as the pastor of Kabwata Baptist Church in Lusaka, Zambia, since 1987 and is also the President/Vice Chancellor of African Christian University.
Learn more about DBTS at https://dbts.edu
Dealing with a Dark Past w/ Jacob Elwart
In this episode of Theologically Driven, we talk with Dr. Jacob Elwart about dealing with a difficult past, drawing on Psalm 3. Learn more about DBTS at https://dbts.edu
The Prosperity Gospel w/ Jeremy Pittsley
On this episode of Theologically Driven, we talk with Jeremy Pittsley about the essence and danger of the prosperity gospel.Learn more about DBTS at https://dbts.eduRegister for E3 at https://e3pc.org
Systematic Theological Preaching w/ Mark Snoeberger
We talked with Dr. Mark Snoeberger about the difference between Biblical Theological Preaching and Systematic Theological Preaching, and how preaching systematic theology helps build a comprehensive biblical …
Show notes
We talked with Dr. Mark Snoeberger about the difference between Biblical Theological Preaching and Systematic Theological Preaching, and how preaching systematic theology helps build a comprehensive biblical worldview in listeners.
Learn more about DBTS at https://dbts.edu
Regsiter for E3 at https://e3pc.org
Steps to Exegesis w/ Ryan Meyer
On this episode of Theologically Driven, we talk with Dr. Ryan Meyer about exegesis including literary context, historical context, textual criticism, translation, tracing the argument, and more. Regsiter for …
Show notes
On this episode of Theologically Driven, we talk with Dr. Ryan Meyer about exegesis including literary context, historical context, textual criticism, translation, tracing the argument, and more.
Regsiter for E3 at https://e3pc.org
Learn more about DBTS at https://dbts.edu
Biblical Counseling and the Local Church w/ Jacob Elwart
On this episode of Theologically Driven, we talk with Dr. Jacob Elwart about biblical counseling and the local church.Register for E3 at https://e3pc.orgLearn more about DBTS at https://dbts.edu
DBTS Seminary Wives Institute w/ Claudia Doran
We talked with Claudia Doran about the DBTS Seminary Wives Institute. Learn more about DBTS at https://dbts.edu
Study Habits for Pastors and Seminary Students w/ Ryan Meyer
On this episode, we talk with Dr. Ryan Meyer about study habits for pastors and seminary students. Learn more about DBTS at https://dbts.edu
Spurgeon and the Downgrade Controversy w/ John Aloisi
On this episode of Theologically Driven, we talk with Dr. Aloisi about Spurgeon and his fight against the downgrade in the Baptist Union.Learn more about DBTS at https://dbts.edu
New McCune Systematic Theology of Biblical Christianity w/ Ryan Meyer
Regular Baptist Press and Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary are pleased to announce the release of the one-volume McCune Systematic Theology of Biblical Christianity. Purchase it on the RBP website. RBP …
Show notes
Regular Baptist Press and Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary are pleased to announce the release of the one-volume McCune Systematic Theology of Biblical Christianity. Purchase it on the RBP website.
RBP: https://www.rbpstore.org/Products/5702/a-systematic-theology-of-biblical-christianity?srsltid=AfmBOoqk_nX1Ugzby6kyLzMkyPr08f8Nlhnz4CoIR7UPJzBtXK_UBFxg
Learn more about DBTS at https://dbts.edu
The Church and Missions w/ Jeremy Pittsley
What is a missionary, biblically speaking—and why should the local church, not the individual, be at the center of missions? In this episode of Theologically Driven, Phil Cecil is joined by Jeremy Pittsley, a …
Show notes
What is a missionary, biblically speaking—and why should the local church, not the individual, be at the center of missions? In this episode of Theologically Driven, Phil Cecil is joined by Jeremy Pittsley, a Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary professor and former missionary to Kenya, to unpack a biblical theology of church and missions.
Jeremy walks through the definitions of "church" and "missionary" from Acts 13 and 16, explains why sending must come from a local congregation, and lays out the core task of a missionary: gospel proclamation, gathering believers into local churches, and raising up indigenous leadership. Whether you're a pastor shaping your church's missions strategy, a missionary raising support, or just want a clearer biblical framework for missions, this episode offers grounded, practical theology drawn straight from the book of Acts.
Learn more about Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary and fall class registration at dbts.edu.
Answering Objections to Animal Sacrifices in the Millennial Kingdom w/ Jeremy Pittsley
Does a literal sacrificial system in Ezekiel 40–48 contradict the finality of Christ's sacrifice in Hebrews? Jeremy Pittsley walks through the main interpretations of the millennial temple and answers the three …
Show notes
Does a literal sacrificial system in Ezekiel 40–48 contradict the finality of Christ's sacrifice in Hebrews? Jeremy Pittsley walks through the main interpretations of the millennial temple and answers the three most common objections to taking Ezekiel literally: that it's a retrogression to the Mosaic system, that it redefines atonement, and that it denigrates the sufficiency of Christ.
Theologically Driven is a podcast of Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary. Learn more at dbts.edu.
On Writing w/ Mark Snoeberger
Does writing still matter once you're out of seminary? Dr. Mark Snoeberger joins Theologically Driven to make the case that good thinking and good writing go hand in hand — and that a well-researched paper is …
Show notes
Does writing still matter once you're out of seminary? Dr. Mark Snoeberger joins Theologically Driven to make the case that good thinking and good writing go hand in hand — and that a well-researched paper is closer to a sermon than most pastors realize. He covers why every preacher should manuscript, how to write for the church instead of the academy, the discipline of setting work aside and returning with fresh eyes, and how to take criticism without falling apart. He also gives a candid assessment of AI: helpful for editing and bibliography, dangerous for composition, and no substitute for the insight that only comes from doing the work yourself.
Theologically Driven is a podcast of Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary. Learn more at dbts.edu.
When Two Churches Become One: Lessons from a Church Merger w/ David Doran Jr.
Pastor David Doran Jr. of Resurrection Church in Lincoln Park joins Theologically Driven to talk about leading a church through a merger. Drawing on his own experience merging two congregations in 2019, David …
Show notes
Pastor David Doran Jr. of Resurrection Church in Lincoln Park joins Theologically Driven to talk about leading a church through a merger. Drawing on his own experience merging two congregations in 2019, David walks through why mergers are increasingly strategic for the church, the good reasons to merge (and the good reasons not to), how to tell whether two churches are truly compatible beyond their statements of faith, and the leadership traits — humility, honesty, and hard work — the process demands. He also unpacks the dangers that derail mergers (fragmentation, reminiscing, and dithering) and offers a memorable framework for the journey: dating, engagement, and marriage. A practical, honest conversation for pastors, church planters, and seminary students.
Learn more about DBTS at https://dbts.edu
Financial Stewardship for Pastors and Seminary Students w/ John Aloisi
Financial planning for pastors doesn't require a big salary—it requires a plan. In this episode of Theologically Driven, Dr. John Aloisi joins us to talk about biblical financial stewardship for pastors …
Show notes
Financial planning for pastors doesn't require a big salary—it requires a plan. In this episode of Theologically Driven, Dr. John Aloisi joins us to talk about biblical financial stewardship for pastors, ministry leaders, and seminary students. We cover the one principle that matters most (spend less than you make and invest the difference), how to calculate your net worth and cash flow, the 4% rule for retirement planning, budgeting, where we agree and disagree with Dave Ramsey, Roth IRAs vs. traditional retirement accounts, and ministry-specific issues like parsonages, housing allowances, and opting out of Social Security. Whether you're decades into ministry or just starting seminary, these practical first steps will help you steward what God has given you.
Theologically Driven is a podcast of Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary. Learn more at dbts.edu.
What Happens When a Culture Kills God? with Ryan Meyer and Jeremy Pittsley
In this episode of Theologically Driven, we review Carl Trueman's latest book, The Desecration of Man. Following The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self and Strange New World, Trueman argues that the West's …
Show notes
In this episode of Theologically Driven, we review Carl Trueman's latest book, The Desecration of Man. Following The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self and Strange New World, Trueman argues that the West's rejection of God has led to the desecration of humanity itself, since humans bear God's image. We discuss his case that our culture's problem is not disenchantment but desecration, how technology has handed us godlike power over life and death (IVF, surrogacy, genetic screening, assisted suicide), why Protestants need a more robust anthropology, and where we think the book falls short on the gospel.
Theologically Driven is a podcast of Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary. Learn more at dbts.edu.
The Content of Natural Law w/ Phil Cecil
Is God's moral law written on every human heart? In this episode of Theologically Driven, host Phil Cecil continues the discussion of natural law, walking through the key New Testament passages—the Golden Rule …
Show notes
Is God's moral law written on every human heart? In this episode of Theologically Driven, host Phil Cecil continues the discussion of natural law, walking through the key New Testament passages—the Golden Rule in Matthew 7:12, Paul's sermons in Acts 14 and 17, and Romans 1, 2, and 13—including the debated question of whether Romans 2:14–15 describes believing or unbelieving Gentiles. The conversation then turns to how human depravity fits with natural law, the content of natural law (life, family, community, and religion), the five ways it can be known, and its three primary uses for the Christian life and civil society.
Theologically Driven is a podcast of Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary. Learn more or apply at dbts.edu.
A Biblical Defense of Natural Law w/ Phil Cecil
What does the Bible actually say about natural law? In part two of our three-part series, host Phil Cecil and his guest make the biblical case that God has woven a real, knowable moral order into creation — one …
Show notes
What does the Bible actually say about natural law? In part two of our three-part series, host Phil Cecil and his guest make the biblical case that God has woven a real, knowable moral order into creation — one that even unbelievers can perceive.
Guided by three questions (Is there an objective moral order? Has it been revealed? Can the unregenerate perceive it?), they walk through the key Old Testament texts: the ordered creation and image of God in Genesis 1–2, the universal Noahic covenant and the institution of human government in Genesis 8–9, and the wisdom-in-creation theme of Proverbs 3 and 8. Along the way they explore why capital punishment is distinct from murder, the "two governments" framework, Solomon's famous judgment between two mothers, and Old Testament unbelievers like Abimelech and Jethro who clearly grasp God's moral order. They then turn to the New Testament, beginning with Jesus' teaching in Matthew 6 and what our instinctive moral reactions reveal about the law written on the heart.
The discussion continues in part three next week. Theologically Driven is a podcast of Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary. Learn more at dbts.edu.
00:00 Introduction and recap
02:24 Three guiding arguments for natural law
06:16 Genesis 1–2: an ordered, purposeful creation
09:08 The image of God and human nature
13:33 The Noahic covenant and human government (Genesis 8–9)
20:53 Wisdom in creation: Proverbs 3 and 8
26:32 Solomon's judgment and the limits of "rules"
28:52 Unbelievers who perceive moral order: Abimelech and Jethro
32:13 Turning to the New Testament: Jesus in Matthew 6
35:06 What our moral instincts reveal
36:37 Wrapping up — and a look ahead to part 3
Natural Law and God's Two Governments w/ Phil Cecil
In part one of a series on natural law, host Phil Cecil sits down to define natural law, distinguish it from natural theology and general revelation, trace why Protestants grew suspicious of it, and explore how …
Show notes
In part one of a series on natural law, host Phil Cecil sits down to define natural law, distinguish it from natural theology and general revelation, trace why Protestants grew suspicious of it, and explore how it fits a dispensational, two-governments view of civil and redemptive life.
Learn more about DBTS at https://dbts.edu
Helping Someone Who Is Deconstructing Their Faith w/ Dave Marriott
What should you do when someone you love says they're "deconstructing" their faith? In this episode of Theologically Driven, host Phil Cecil sits down with Pastor Dave Marriott of Lakewood Baptist Church, whose …
Show notes
What should you do when someone you love says they're "deconstructing" their faith? In this episode of Theologically Driven, host Phil Cecil sits down with Pastor Dave Marriott of Lakewood Baptist Church, whose doctoral research focused on equipping the church to respond to deconstruction and deconversion. They discuss what true conversion is, the difference between deconstruction, deconversion, and a simple doctrinal shift, the four phases that typically lead someone away from the faith, and how the stories people tell about leaving Christianity often hide the real reasons. The conversation closes with practical help for church members walking alongside a doubting friend and for pastors who want to prepare their congregations before doubts take root.
Learn more about DBTS at https://dbts.edu
What did Paul teach about slavery? w/ Ryan Meyer
What did Paul actually teach about slavery — and does it speak to modern controversies? In this episode of Theologically Driven, host Phil Cecil continues his conversation with Dr. Meyer about Paul's view of …
Show notes
What did Paul actually teach about slavery — and does it speak to modern controversies? In this episode of Theologically Driven, host Phil Cecil continues his conversation with Dr. Meyer about Paul's view of slavery in the Greco-Roman world. They examine key passages in Ephesians, Colossians, 1 Timothy, Titus, and 1 Corinthians 7 to understand what Paul commanded of both slaves and masters, whether Paul ever encouraged slaves to seek freedom, and why the gospel — not social reform — was always his primary concern. The episode also addresses how Paul's principles undermine ancient slavery from within, why modern chattel slavery and sex trafficking stand directly condemned by his teaching, and what Chrysostom's reflection from AD 400 reveals about the eternal perspective Paul wanted believers to carry into every circumstance.
Slavery in the Greco-Roman World w/ Ryan Meyer
In this episode of Theologically Driven, host Phil Cecil sits down with Dr. Ryan Meyer to explore one of the most challenging topics in New Testament studies: Paul's view of slavery. Before diving into Paul's …
Show notes
In this episode of Theologically Driven, host Phil Cecil sits down with Dr. Ryan Meyer to explore one of the most challenging topics in New Testament studies: Paul's view of slavery. Before diving into Paul's letters, Dr. Meyer lays essential groundwork by unpacking what slavery actually looked like in the first-century Greco-Roman world — and it may surprise you.
Dr. Meyer explains how slavery in Paul's day differed dramatically from the race-based chattel slavery of American history. In major Roman cities, up to a third of the population were enslaved. Slaves held roles ranging from household servants to doctors, teachers, ship captains, and city officials. Slavery was primarily a legal category, not an ethnic one, and manumission by age 30 was a reasonable expectation for many urban slaves.
Yet none of that softens its fundamental evil. As Dr. Meyer puts it, what makes all slavery wrong — ancient or modern — is one image bearer owning another.
This episode helps listeners avoid two common errors: minimizing how bad slavery was in order to defend Paul, or reading first-century texts through a purely modern lens. It's an honest, careful look at the historical context every reader of Paul's letters needs.
A History of the Reformation Part 2 w/ John Aloisi
Today on the podcast, we welcome Dr. John Aloisi to talk about the Protestant Reformation. Learn more about DBTS at https://dbts.edu
A History of the Reformation Part 1 w/ John Aloisi
Today on the podcast, we welcome Dr. John Aloisi to talk about the Protestant Reformation. Learn more about DBTS at https://dbts.edu
The Reformational View of Justification and Sanctification w/ Mark Snoeberger
Host Phil Cecil continues his conversation with Dr. Mark Snoeberger on one of theology's most debated distinctions — the relationship between justification and sanctification. After reviewing the Roman Catholic …
Show notes
Host Phil Cecil continues his conversation with Dr. Mark Snoeberger on one of theology's most debated distinctions — the relationship between justification and sanctification. After reviewing the Roman Catholic view from last week, they turn to Holiness theologies, tracing their roots through Wesley. Dr. Snoeberger unpacks Wesley's "sequence of graces," the concept of a second work of grace, and why that framework falls short of the Reformation view — which holds justification and sanctification as distinct but inseparable benefits of union with Christ, both received at the moment of regeneration. A clear and accessible walk through a topic that matters for how every believer understands the Christian life.
The Roman Catholic View of Justification w/ Mark Snoeberger
Preorder McCune's Systematic Theology of Biblical Christianity here. What's the difference between justification and sanctification — and why does it matter? In this episode of Theologically Driven, host Phil …
Show notes
Preorder McCune's Systematic Theology of Biblical Christianity here.
What's the difference between justification and sanctification — and why does it matter? In this episode of Theologically Driven, host Phil Cecil sits down with Dr. Mark Snoeberger of Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary to unpack two of the most important doctrines in Christian theology and explore how different traditions relate them to one another.
Dr. Snoeberger begins by carefully defining each term. Justification is the one-time, legal declaration that a sinner is righteous before God, grounded in the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ and received by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Sanctification, by contrast, is the experiential process of being made holy — typically described in three phases: definitive (or initial) sanctification at conversion, progressive sanctification throughout the Christian life, and final sanctification or glorification.
From there, the conversation turns to the central question: how are justification and sanctification related? Dr. Snoeberger lays out three major positions:
- The Roman Catholic view, which absorbs sanctification into justification through an ongoing process of infused grace, sacraments, merit, and a final justification at the end of life.
- The Holiness/Keswick view, which divorces the two by inserting a "second work of grace."
- The Reformation view, which treats them as parallel, simultaneous benefits flowing from the believer's union with Christ.
This episode focuses on a thorough examination of the Roman Catholic position — including baptismal regeneration, the role of the sacraments, venial and mortal sins, purgatory, and why the Reformers' insistence on sola fide (faith alone) was such a watershed moment. Dr. Snoeberger also explains the "hopeful and causal relationship" Catholic theology draws between sanctification and final justification, and why this framework leaves believers without assurance.
Whether you're a pastor, student, or curious listener, this episode offers a clear, accessible introduction to a doctrine at the heart of the gospel and the Protestant Reformation.
Topics covered:
- Definitions of justification and sanctification
- Imputed vs. infused righteousness
- Definitive, progressive, and final sanctification
- Union with Christ and the duplex beneficium
- Roman Catholic soteriology, sacraments, and purgatory
- Venial and mortal sins
- Why Luther opposed the sale of indulgences
Theologically Driven is a podcast of Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary. Learn more at dbts.edu.
Serving Kids with Disabilities
Today, we are joined by Ben and Wendy Russell to discuss how churches can serve kids with disabilities. Learn more about DBTS at https://dbts.edu
These are the latest 40 of 261 episodes. You’ll find older episodes in the podcast’s feed.
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