In this episode of Local Theologians, Dr. Travis Montgomery talks with Dr. John Inman—Instructional Designer and Adjunct Professor of Church History at Midwestern Seminary’s Global Campus—about the formative role of culture and community in the first Great Awakening and subsequent revivals. Drawing from Scripture and church history, John reflects on how revival is rarely the product of ‘heroes’ alone and more often emerges within ordinary communities shaped by God’s Word, prayer, and earnest faith. Through examples from the Great Awakening, Jonathan Edwards’s ministry among Native Americans, and lesser‑known testimonies from revival history, the conversation explores how churches today can cultivate environments where spiritual renewal is possible.

About the Podcast

Local Theologians is a podcast for everyday Christians and ministry leaders from Midwestern Seminary's Global Campus. Learn more about online theological education at mbts.edu/global.

Keywords

revival, Great Awakening, church history, Jonathan Edwards, spiritual awakening, Christian culture, discipleship, community, biblical literacy, Bible study

Takeaways

• Spiritual awakenings are often rooted in cultures shaped by Scripture, prayer, and communal expectation—not just individual leaders.

• Church history reveals the importance of ordinary believers and local communities in revival movements.

• Jonathan Edwards’s ministry to Native Americans demonstrates how gospel truths can be faithfully communicated across cultures and levels of biblical literacy.

• Earnest desire for God’s Word often flourishes where teaching, worship, and everyday life are deeply interconnected.

• Healthy churches intentionally pursue cultures of discipleship that carry believers along at different stages of growth.

• Effective ministry requires sensitivity to audience, context, and spiritual maturity without compromising biblical truth.

• Primary sources from church history help modern Christians see how God has worked through faithful communities in every era.

In this episode, Dr. Travis Montgomery chats with Dr. Russ Meek—Adjunct Professor of Old Testament and Hermeneutics at Midwestern Seminary’s Global Campus and Senior Academic Editor at Kregel Publications—to explore a common tension: formal theological study versus spiritual formation. Russ shares how, contrary to common warnings, serious academic engagement with Scripture has deepened rather than diminished his love for Christ and the church. Together they discuss integrating scholarly study and devotional life, resisting false dichotomies between heart and mind, and approaching academic work itself as an act of worship. The conversation offers encouragement to students, pastors, and teachers seeking to love God with both intellect and affection.

About the Podcast

Local Theologians is a podcast for everyday Christians and ministry leaders from Midwestern Seminary's Global Campus. Learn more about online theological education at mbts.edu/global.

Keywords

theological education, spiritual formation, seminary, devotional life, loving God with the mind, Old Testament studies, academic theology, Christian vocation

Takeaways

• Formal theological study and spiritual formation are not rivals but should be mutually reinforcing.

• Academic engagement with Scripture can function as an act of worship when approached with the right heart posture.

• Maintaining a distinct devotional life helps prevent academic study from becoming performative or pride-driven.

• Time constraints and ministry pressures can actually sharpen focus and deepen dependence on God’s Word.

• Integrating coursework with real ministry contexts helps students see the relevance of what they study.

• Faithful scholars and pastors from earlier generations can continue to disciple us through their writings.

• Whole-person discipleship includes loving God with the heart, soul, strength, and mind.

In this Global Campus Forum, Dr. Travis Montgomery hosts Jen Wilkin—author, Bible teacher, and co‑host of the Knowing Faith podcast—for an in‑depth conversation about Bible literacy and what it truly means to know Scripture well. Jen distinguishes between Bible literacy and Bible fluency, challenges devotional and quiet‑time paradigms that prioritize feelings over understanding, and calls Christians to become learners who can interpret, apply, and teach the Scriptures faithfully. Together they explore literacy trends in both church and society, the limits of sermon‑only discipleship, and how thoughtful instructional design can cultivate deep, durable engagement with God’s Word.

About the Podcast

Local Theologians is a podcast for everyday Christians and ministry leaders from Midwestern Seminary's Global Campus. Learn more about online theological education at mbts.edu/global.

Keywords

Bible literacy, Bible fluency, discipleship, theological education, Jen Wilkin, active learning, Bible study methods, Christian formation, discipleship, Knowing Faith, Deep Discipleship

Takeaways

• Bible literacy involves firsthand knowledge of Scripture, not merely knowledge about it.

• The goal of Bible literacy is Bible fluency—learning to inhabit the worldview and language of Scripture.

• Quiet‑time culture often prioritizes instant emotional payoff over long‑term formation.

• Scripture should first be read to understand who God is before applying it to the self.

• Deep learning requires faithful, repeated engagement—like deposits in a long‑term savings account.

• Effective discipleship requires scope and sequence, not only content or preferences.

• Active learning environments help believers move from dependence on teachers to confident participation.

• Theological growth occurs best when personal study, discussion, and teaching work together.

• Raising expectations does not discourage real learners; predictability and trust sustain commitment.

• Bible literacy fuels worship, clarity, confidence, and faithfulness to the Great Commission.

In this episode, Dr. Travis Montgomery talks with Dr. Mason Ballard—Lead Pastor of Resurrection Church in Charleston, WV—about the doctrine of catholicity (little‑c) and how recovering a sense of the church’s universality across time and space has transformed his ministry. Mason explains how Baptist convictions harmonize with the historic Christian confession of ‘one holy, catholic, and apostolic church,’ why ‘catholic’ doesn’t mean ‘Roman Catholic,’ and how embracing the wholeness of the global and historic church shapes worship, partnership, posture, and humility. They discuss practical expressions of catholicity in church planting, liturgy, ecumenical charity, and ministry context as well as cautions for those rediscovering ancient practices for the first time.

About the Podcast

Local Theologians is a podcast for everyday Christians and ministry leaders from Midwestern Seminary's Global Campus. Learn more about online theological education at mbts.edu/global.

Keywords

catholicity, universal church, Baptist identity, retrieval, liturgy, worship, church history, unity, ecumenism, Mason Ballard, Resurrection Church

Takeaways

• Catholicity means ‘universal’—a doctrine about the wholeness of Christ’s church across time and space.

• Affirming catholicity does not mean affirming Roman Catholicism; Baptists can joyfully confess the church’s universality.

• Catholicity shapes posture: awareness of the broader church, humility, charity, and discernment in cooperation.

• The doctrine calls pastors and churches to listen to voices from church history and global Christianity.

• Catholicity brings unity and diversity together—local expressions vary without abandoning shared essentials.

• Worship liturgy can be shaped by historic Christian practices while remaining contextual and convictional.

• Beware ‘cage‑stage’ retrieval—learn from tradition without constantly shifting traditions or despising one’s roots.

• Ecumenism is guided by convictions: partner where you can but remain rooted in Scripture and confessional clarity.

In this Global Campus Forum, Dr. Travis Montgomery interviews Dr. JT English—Lead Pastor of Storyline Church, co-founder of Training the Church, co-host of the Knowing Faith podcast, and author of *Deep Discipleship*—about the growing movement of church-based theological education. JT shares his story of coming to faith, discovering theological formation in seminary rather than the local church, and why he has devoted his life to bringing robust discipleship back into the heart of congregational life. Their conversation covers the value of theological education, why churches are reclaiming discipleship, how seminaries and churches partner well, and how ordinary believers can discern next steps toward deeper training and ministry involvement.

About the Podcast

Local Theologians is a podcast for everyday Christians and ministry leaders from Midwestern Seminary's Global Campus. Learn more about online theological education at mbts.edu/global.

Keywords

church-based theological education, discipleship, seminary partnership, deep discipleship, JT English, Training the Church, Knowing Faith podcast, ministry preparation, local church leadership

Takeaways

• Every Christian is called to deep discipleship—not just pastors or academics.

• Theological education was historically centered in the local church and is returning there today.

• Seminaries provide expertise, structure, and formation that local churches cannot fully replicate.

• Church-based training keeps developing leaders embedded in their congregations while they grow.

• The rise in online learning and delivery platforms has opened new hybrid models of formation.

• Pastors should invite hungry members into deeper study and help them discern calling.

• Churches can begin by asking key questions: What is a disciple? How do disciples grow? How will we send them?

• Programs like Deep Discipleship and local institutes help churches start without building everything from scratch.

• Preaching and classroom-style teaching complement one another—neither replaces the other.

• All Christians need theological formation, even if they do not pursue formal academic degrees.

In this episode, Dr. Travis Montgomery talks with Dr. Jared Kathcart—Assistant Professor of Christian Education at Midwestern Seminary—about the surprising and sanctifying role humility has played in his theological formation and ministry. Jared shares how early confidence gave way to deeply humbling moments in youth ministry, how the Dunning–Kruger effect reveals our spiritual blind spots, and why humility is essential for healthy study, discipleship, and leadership. Their discussion explores how pride distorts learning, how humility opens us to true growth, and why Christians must learn to think of themselves less in order to love God and others well.

About the Podcast

Local Theologians is a podcast for everyday Christians and ministry leaders from Midwestern Seminary's Global Campus. Learn more about online theological education at mbts.edu/global.

Keywords

humility, sanctification, theological education, Christian leadership, pride, ministry formation, Dunning–Kruger effect, discipleship, spiritual growth

Takeaways

• Humility is foundational for Christian life, ministry, and theological study.

• The Dunning–Kruger effect explains why new learners often feel overconfident—and why growth requires recognizing our limitations.

• Pride can distort ministry motivation, while humility enables genuine service to others.

• Humility allows Christians to learn from Scripture, professors, mentors, and life experiences.

• Formal and informal theological education flourish when motivated by love for God and neighbor, not self-promotion.

• Recognizing what we do not know—and what no mere human can ultimately know—keeps us grounded and worshipful.

• True growth occurs where humility meets opportunity, whether in a classroom, a pulpit, or a youth room.

Sound Bites

• “Humility wasn’t on my list—but it’s become the most important part of my formation.”

• “The more I learned, the more I realized how much I didn’t know.”

• “Education serves the kingdom best when it’s not about me.”

• “Some of God’s greatest lessons come disguised as moments of embarrassment.”

• “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.”

In this Global Campus Forum, Dr. Travis Montgomery sits down with Dr. Thor Madsen—Dean of Doctoral Studies, longtime professor of philosophy, ethics, and New Testament at Midwestern Seminary—to explore why Christians should study philosophy and apologetics. Dr. Madsen traces his own academic journey, explains the tools these disciplines give to believers, and shows how philosophical precision and apologetic awareness strengthen evangelism, preaching, counseling, and everyday discipleship. The conversation also addresses AI, worldviews, understanding unbelievers, and cultivating critical thinking in the church.

About the Podcast

Local Theologians is a podcast for everyday Christians and ministry leaders from Midwestern Seminary's Global Campus. Learn more about online theological education at mbts.edu/global.

Keywords

philosophy, apologetics, worldview, critical thinking, evangelism, Alvin Plantinga, Thomas Aquinas, AI and ethics, theological formation, pastoral ministry

Takeaways

• Philosophy equips Christians with critical thinking skills essential for ministry and everyday life.

• Apologetics helps believers understand unbelievers' assumptions and respond charitably and persuasively.

• Christians already use philosophical categories—learning them intentionally clarifies theology and communication.

• Studying worldview helps Christians discern cultural influences and counsel others more effectively.

• Philosophy deepens comprehension of Scripture by uncovering arguments within biblical texts.

• Understanding intellectual history helps theologians avoid uncritically adopting false assumptions.

• Apologetics complements evangelism by removing unnecessary barriers to belief.

• AI raises important questions about human nature, consciousness, and the image of God.

• Pastors can equip their people by teaching worldview basics and asking the right questions.

Sound Bites

• “Philosophy trains you to ask the right questions—and that’s invaluable in ministry.”

• “Everyone has a worldview, even if they don’t know they have one.”

• “The Bible doesn’t just inform; it argues—and philosophy helps you see the argument.”

• “Apologetics is understanding people well enough to love them wisely.”

• “Sometimes atheists don’t even understand their own worldview until you explain it to them.”

In this episode, Dr. Travis Montgomery talks with Zach Salsbury—Assistant Professor of Christian Studies and Dean of Students at Midwestern Seminary—about the dignity of ‘ordinary work.’ Zach shares his own story of wrestling with calling, early pressure to pursue foreign missions, and the liberating theological insight that God’s kingdom encompasses all of life. Together they discuss vocation, motives, discernment, and how every believer can serve the Lord faithfully in ordinary work, family, and church life without assuming a formal ministry role.

About the Podcast

Local Theologians is a show for everyday Christians and ministry leaders learning to think theologically about their local contexts through Midwestern Seminary’s Global Campus. Learn more about online theological education at mbts.edu/global.

Keywords

calling, vocation, missions, kingdom of God, discernment, theological formation, work and faith, Christian life, Francis Schaeffer, spiritual motives

Takeaways

• You don’t have to become a foreign missionary to be faithful to God’s calling.

• The kingdom of God encompasses all of life—not just formal ministry roles.

• Motives matter; Christians must learn to exegete their desires and examine why they pursue certain paths.

• Local churches and mentors play a crucial role in helping believers discern calling.

• Ordinary work (design, business, parenting, maintenance, etc.) is meaningful kingdom work when done unto Christ.

• Students often need help expanding their view of calling beyond ‘ministry vs. everything else.’

• Faithful discernment requires introspection, prayer, Scripture, and community guidance.

Sound Bites

• “You don’t need to go die on the mission field to serve the Lord and His kingdom.”

• “Christ has authority over the far reaches of the earth—and also right here where I am.”

• “Work is not redeemed by evangelism; ordinary work has intrinsic kingdom value.”

• “Exegete your motives. Ask why—then ask why again.”

• “We are kingdom citizens in every task, from dishes to discipling.”