Every day we give and receive communication. But good communication doesn’t always come naturally. Strengthening our skills is vital not only for those who specialize in communication but for everyone who wants to have healthy relationships, love our neighbors, and shape the world around us for good.

In Authentic Communication, educators Tim Muehlhoff and Todd Lewis offer a wealth of resources from both communication studies and the Bible. This textbook unpacks the essential elements of communication and applies them to common challenges, offering a unique look at biblical principles of communication such as loving our enemies and blessing those who insult us.

Dr Tim Muehlhoff's website

Dr Tim Muehlhoff at Biola University

Dr Tim Muehlehoff on IVPress

Book: Authentic Communication, Christian Speech Engaging Culture

• Living Out Authentic Communication
• Biblical Forgiveness and Communication
• Communication Reflects Discipleship

Dr Tim Muehlhoff is a professor of communication at the Bible Institute of Los Angeles (Biola) in La Mirada, CA. He is the senior director of the Winsome Conviction Project that seeks to open lines of communication, not close them.

His newest book, Authentic Communication: Christian Speech Engaging Culture, written with Todd Lewis, blends biblical wisdom with communication research to help Christians become better listeners, wiser speakers, healthier peacemakers, and more faithful witnesses.

• Dr Tim Muehlhoff's website
• Dr Tim Muehlhoff at Biola University
• Dr Tim Muehlehoff on IVPress
• Book: Authentic Communication, Christian Speech Engaging Culture

00:38 - Introducing Dr Tim Muehlhoff

01:48 - Living Out Authentic Communication

02:22 - ...destructive conflict vs conflict that helps relationships grow

03:06 - ...compromise

03:55 - ...latent conflict

04:22 - ...setting ground rules

04:36 - ...it will take time

04:50 - Conflicts Within the Church

05:16 - ...expect conflict

06:06 - ...advancing Jesus' kingdom

06:39 - ...the danger of choosing not to engage in conflict

09:23 - Biblical Forgiveness & Communication

10:00 - ...authentic forgiveness

10:19 - ...giving up your right to get even

10:39 - ...not the same as reconciliation

13:12 - ...not forgiving is not an option

14:33 - Being persuasive without manipulation, marketing, and winning arguments

16:00 - ...the most persuasive thing is your reputation

16:45 - Christians Engaging in Popular Culture

17:29 - ...being part of the community

18:17 - ...help our enemies

19:43 - Communication Reflects Discipleship

20:15 - ...Jesus only overturned the tables once...

21:02 - ...but what did Jesus mostly do?

22:06 - A Few Habits to Incorporate Authentic Communication

22:27 - ...talk is cheap

23:14 - ...how you start a conversation

23:39 - ...believe the best about a person

24:02 - Finding Dr Muehlhoff - winsomeconviction .com

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Every day we give and receive communication. But good communication doesn’t always come naturally. Strengthening our skills is vital not only for those who specialize in communication but for everyone who wants to have healthy relationships, love our neighbors, and shape the world around us for good.

In Authentic Communication, educators Tim Muehlhoff and Todd Lewis offer a wealth of resources from both communication studies and the Bible. This textbook unpacks the essential elements of communication and applies them to common challenges, offering a unique look at biblical principles of communication such as loving our enemies and blessing those who insult us.

Dr Tim Muehlhoff's website

Dr Tim Muehlhoff at Biola University

Dr Tim Muehlehoff on IVPress

Book: Authentic Communication, Christian Speech Engaging Culture

• Communication is Harder Than We Realize
• Perspective-Taking
• The Way We Communicate Reflects Our Spiritual Maturity

Dr Tim Muehlhoff is a professor of communication at the Bible Institute of Los Angeles (Biola) in La Mirada, CA. He is the senior director of the Winsome Conviction Project that seeks to open lines of communication, not close them.

His newest book, Authentic Communication: Christian Speech Engaging Culture, written with Todd Lewis, blends biblical wisdom with communication research to help Christians become better listeners, wiser speakers, healthier peacemakers, and more faithful witnesses.

• Dr Tim Muehlhoff's website
• Dr Tim Muehlhoff at Biola University
• Dr Tim Muehlehoff on IVPress
• Book: Authentic Communication, Christian Speech Engaging Culture

00:42 - Introducing Dr Tim Muehlhoff

03:06 - Communication is Harder than We Realize

03:25 - ...isolation, negative attitudes, stereotypes

03:56 - ...let people self-identify

04:48 - ...often we focus on ourselves and not on others

05:52 - Book: Authentic Communication, Christian Speech Engaging Culture

06:12 - ...monologue conversations

06:51 - ...authentic conversations

08:08 - ...agenda anxiety

09:11 - Perspective-Taking

09:22 - ...step into the other person's perspective and feelings

11:12 - ...walking with the person

12:15 - A Better Framework in an Argument Culture

13:01 - ...connectiveness makes conflict go easier

14:08 - ...we do not talk to each other

15:05 - Communication in Social Media

15:53 - ...do you really want to engage or just unload?

16:58 - ... what's the goal of posting?

17:20 - ...opportunity to be Christian communicators

17:46 - The Way We Communicate Reflects Our Spiritual Maturity

18:24 - ...responding in love and gentleness

18:50 - ...speaking in the right frame of mind and heart

19:39 - Communication Research Aligns with Scripture

22:04 - Encouragement When You May Have Not Communicated Authentically

22:34 - ...love wins

25:21 - ...start by hearing the other person's perspective

25:59 - Communicating More Like Christ

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God invites you to love him with all of who you are for all time. How do we remain steadfast in our love and faith?

Dr Lina Abujamra is a pediatric ER doctor, now practicing telemedicine, and the founder of Living With Power Ministries. Known for her bold faith and down-to-earth honesty, she’s passionate about helping people connect biblical truth to everyday life. Whether through teaching, writing, or podcasting, Lina brings hope to those wrestling with life’s hardest questions. When she’s not speaking or creating content, she’s providing medical and humanitarian aid in crisis zones like Lebanon and Uganda.

Dr Lina Abujamra's Website

Dr Lina Abujamra on IVPress

Book: All Your Life

• Emotional Spiritual Experiences Are Not Enough
• What Jesus Really Wants for His Disciples
• Helping Ourselves and Others to Love Jesus and Follow His All Our Live

Lina Abujamra is a pediatric ER doctor, now practicing telemedicine, and the founder of Living With Power Ministries. Known for her bold faith and down-to-earth honesty, she’s passionate about helping people connect biblical truth to everyday life. Whether through teaching, writing, or podcasting, Lina brings hope to those wrestling with life’s hardest questions. When she’s not speaking or creating content, she’s providing medical and humanitarian aid in crisis zones like Lebanon and Uganda.

• Dr Lina Abujamra's Website
• Dr Lina Abujamra on IVPress
• Book: All Your Life

00:39 - Introducing Dr Lina Abujamra

01:38 - Questions and challenges that Gen Z Have About Faith

02:50 - ...Shift in the last five years - revival pockets

04:03 - ...social media is not spiritual formation

07:20 - Emotional Spiritual Experiences Are Not Enough

07:52 - ... conferences are a reset

11:26 - The Role of Discipleship

12:13 - ...to become more Christlike

13:05 - ...not an individual sport, but a group experience

15:07 - ...foundational practices

15:41 - ...the goal of a Christian life

20:32 - What Jesus Really Wants for His Disciples

20:45 - ...Matt 28

20:52 - ...John 15

20:56 - ...John 17

21:06 - ...vertical and horizontal elements

21:23 - ...spiritual giftedness

21:26 - ...your story

22:35 - ...must result in changed people

23:09 - Highlighting Chapters in Book: All Your Life

24:01 - ...does God have your heart?

25:35 - ...the calling

27:23 - ...emotions

29:25 - Helping Ourselves and Others to Love Jesus and Follow His All Our Lives

29:50 - ...desire to follow Jesus

30:17 - ...ask Jesus

31:42 - ...obedience

31:50 - ...practical aspects

32:22 - ...engage someone; mentorship

33:36 - Lina's Heart's Desire

34:35 - Getting in Touch with Dr Lina Abujamra

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God invites you to love him with all of who you are. But what does that actually look like when following Jesus feels hard, and the questions you face are overwhelming?

Dr Lina Abujamra is a pediatric ER doctor, now practicing telemedicine, and the founder of Living With Power Ministries. Known for her bold faith and down-to-earth honesty, she’s passionate about helping people connect biblical truth to everyday life. Whether through teaching, writing, or podcasting, Lina brings hope to those wrestling with life’s hardest questions. When she’s not speaking or creating content, she’s providing medical and humanitarian aid in crisis zones like Lebanon and Uganda.

Dr Lina Abujamra's Website

Dr Lina Abujamra on IVPress

Book: All Your Life

• Relevancy of Book, All Your Life, for Gen Z
• Dr Abujamra's Faith Journey
• Managing Disappointment with God

Lina AbuJamra is a pediatric ER doctor, now practicing telemedicine, and the founder of Living With Power Ministries. Known for her bold faith and down-to-earth honesty, she’s passionate about helping people connect biblical truth to everyday life. Whether through teaching, writing, or podcasting, Lina brings hope to those wrestling with life’s hardest questions. When she’s not speaking or creating content, she’s providing medical and humanitarian aid in crisis zones like Lebanon and Uganda.

• Dr Lina Abujamra's Website
• Dr Lina Abujamra on IVPress
• Book: All Your Life

00:37 - Introducing Dr Lina Abujamra

06:30 - Book: All Your Life

07:04 - ...a resource for Gen Z

07:53 - ...encompass aspects of life in Gen Z age group

08:21 - ...deconstruction of Millennials

08:29 - ...compensation of Gen X's

08:55 - ...Gen Z's experiencing revival

09:13 - ...and when life doesn't turn out as expected

09:30 - ...everything that happens culturally should not be a surprise

10:13 - ...pour into the next generation to stand strong in faith

11:28 - Lina nearly loosing her faith

21:12 - Managing Disappointment with God

21:49 - ...in the trial

22:28 - ...community in the church

23:18 - ...non-negotiables

23:53 - ...warning and informing the next generation

25:02 - Life's disappointing moments are defining moments in our faith

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Dr Louis Markos' new book, My Apologetics Dinner Party, presents a method of talking about Christian faith that is not based primarily on propositional logic or the defense of truth claims (though these features do show up). Instead, he aims to clarify what Christians actually believe through a winsome and engrossing narrative in the tradition of Socratic dialogue.

Book: My Apologetics Dinner Party: A Real-Life Socratic Dialogue

Dr Markos' Bio

Dr Louis Markos at Houston Christian University

• The Importance of a Meal
• Interrogations or Conversation?
• Common & Difficult Questions That People Have

Dr Markos Louis Markos is a professor of English and scholar in residence at Houston Christian University, where he holds the Robert H. Ray Chair in Humanities. He has written many books on topics including the intersection of the classics and Christian faith and apologetics. His most recent book is My Apologetics Dinner Party: A Real-Life Socratic Dialogue.

• Book: My Apologetics Dinner Party: A Real-Life Socratic Dialogue
• Dr Markos' Bio
• Dr Louis Markos at Houston Christian University

00:37 - Introducing Dr Louis Markos

02:51 - Christian Apologetics in the Friendship Evangelism Model

04:29 - ...join my group first, see love and authenticity, accept Christ

04:53 - ...see lived out in community and want to be part of the community

05:21 - Book: My Apologetics Dinner Party: A Real-Life Socratic Dialog

06:13 - ...difference between apologetics and evangelism

07:00 - ...apologetics is pre-evangelism

07:56 - ...lays a foundation for the gospel

08:51 - What is the Socratic Method and Why is it Effective in Discussing Fatih?

09:30 - ...listen to the full question

10:01 - ...better definitions (what does it mean?)

11:15 - The Importance of a Meal

11:27 - ...open to sharing when eating

11:37 - ...little / separate dialogues

11:51 - ...hospitality

12:31 - What is the Goal of Inviting Someone to Dinner?

12:38 - ...get to know, respect, learn about the culture of a person

13:09 - ...prepare by reading John 3-4

14:05 - ...what struggles and desires does the person have?

15:30 - ...avoid "gotcha" moments

16:03 - ...you don't have to close the deal

17:25 - ...kronos vs chairos

18:11 - ...be the Chrisitan friend who can explain

19:23 - Interrogation or Conversation?

19:38 - ...let them come to the understanding themselves by encouraging

20:12 - ...draw them out and understand the references and contexts

22:07 - Common Questions that People Are Really Asking

24:46 - Difficult Questions on People's Minds

29:24 - Role-Play Exercise About the Virgin Birth

38:33 - Getting Started in Having an Apologetics Dinner Party

41:03 - Be Patient

43:34 - Finding Dr Louis Markos and His Work

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Many Christians experience vocational restlessness and anxiety, unsure or unaware how their faith can guide them in their workplaces. What would it look like for your church to affirm, equip, and commission your congregation to embrace a sense of calling and mission in their everyday labor?

In Dr Matt Rusten's new book, Pastoring for Monday, he helps you lead your church to form Christians who follow, represent, and commune with Christ amid their daily work. This book equips you to bridge the divide between the sacred and secular, transforming how your church disciples people for the workplace.

Dr Matt Rusten Bio

Book: Pastoring for Monday

• Sunday-to-Monday Gap
• Work is Central to God's Mission
• Being Effective at Work for God's Mission

Dr Matt Rusten is president of Made to Flourish and editor in chief of Common Good magazine. He received his Doctor of Ministry degree in faith, work, economics, and vocation from Fuller Theological Seminary. Dr Rusten regularly speaks and writes in the areas of faith, work, and economics. He has served in churches in North Dakota, the Chicago area, Kansas City, and Madison, Wisconsin.

• Dr Matt Rusten Bio
• Made to Flourish
• Book: Pastoring for Monday

00:38 - Introducing Dr Matt Rusten

02:52 - Sunday-to-Monday Gap

03:46 - ...difficulty in integrating faith life and work life

04:34 - ...no affirmation from the church about work and profession

09:54 - Real-Life Experiences that Separate Spiritual Life and Work Life

10:41 - ...vocational restlessness

12:26 - ...vocational woundedness

13:49 - ...vocational disillusionment

17:11 - Work is Not Secondary, But Central to God's Mission

17:49 - ...pattern of work and rest

19:38 - ...work is a part of glorifying God in the world

20:12 - ...story of Joseph in Genesis

21:34 - Helping People Connect Sunday to Monday

22:05 - ...make disciples

22:27 - ...teaching disciples to obey what Jesus has commanded

22:36 - ...work will be where most people are following everything that Jesus commanded and the Gospel is applied

23:17 - ...in the Epistles, the topic of work comes up

24:51 - ...practice the presence of God in our work

28:51 - Discipleship & Mentorship to Be Effective at Work for God's Mission

29:10 - ...connect your story of work to God's story

34:54 - Ways to Bridge the Sunday-to-Monday Gap

38:13 - Contacting Dr Matt Rusten - madetoflourish.org

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Are fear and anxiety holding you back from sharing your faith? Does the thought of evangelism make you uneasy or leave you concerned about making others uncomfortable? Dr Mark Teasdale shares insights and tools for sharing Jesus.

Dr Mark Teasdale's Website

Book: Socially Awkward Evangelism

• "I want to share Jesus, but I can't."
• Sharing Jesus is Countercultural in Today's World
• Misconceptions about Evangelism

Mark R. Teasdale (PhD, SMU 2010) is the President of United Theological Seminary and the former E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and an adjunct professor of evangelism at Emory University and the Methodist Theological Institute in Yangon, Myanmar. He is ordained in the United Methodist Church and served for 12 years in local churches. He is the author of several books and articles on evangelism, missiology, and Methodist studies, including Evangelism for Non-Evangelists, Participating in Abundant Life, and most recently Socially Awkward Evangelism.

• Dr Mark Teasdale's Website
• Book: Socially Awkward Evangelism

02:14 - Encouragement and Advice for Those Who Say, "I want to share Jesus, but I can't."

02:47 - ..."I'm introverted and not gifted for evangelism."

03:57 - ......quiz: where are you personality-wise and how to engage in evangelism

07:29 - ..."My life isn't perfect."

11:43 - Sharing Jesus is Countercultural in Today's World

12:54 - ...not hostility, but indifference

13:22 - ...Is God is not necessary for morality?

15:04 - ...faith is irrelevant

15:20 - ...social anxiety & cancel culture

18:04 - Misconceptions about Evangelism

19:00 - ...that evangelism has to be confrontational

19:52 - ......overcoming the hurt from confrontational experiences

26:44 - Why Isn't Information Enough?

27:08 - ...psychological barrier

27:44 - ...spiritual formation

30:27 - Steps and Tools

30:39 - ...ivpress.com/socially-awkward-evangelism

32:49 - Evangelism Starts with Our Claiming Jesus as Good

33:08 - We are Beloved and Valuable to Jesus

33:47 - Finding Dr Mark Teasdale and his Books

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Are fear and anxiety holding you back from sharing your faith? Does the thought of evangelism make you uneasy or leave you concerned about making others uncomfortable? The biggest barrier to evangelism, Mark Teasdale argues, is not lack of training or information—it’s fear.

Dr Mark Teasdale's Website

Book: Socially Awkward Evangelism

• How Well Are We Sharing Jesus in a Dark World?
• Why Feeling Anxious or Awkward in Sharing Jesus with Others
• Responding to Anxiety

Mark R. Teasdale (PhD, SMU 2010) is the President of United Theological Seminary and the former E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and an adjunct professor of evangelism at Emory University and the Methodist Theological Institute in Yangon, Myanmar. He is ordained in the United Methodist Church and served for 12 years in local churches. He is the author of several books and articles on evangelism, missiology, and Methodist studies, including Evangelism for Non-Evangelists, Participating in Abundant Life, and most recently Socially Awkward Evangelism.

• Dr Mark Teasdale's Website
• Book: Socially Awkward Evangelism

00:32 - Introducing Dr Mark Teasdale

02:28 - How Well Are We Sharing Jesus in a Dark World?

04:08 - ..."WE" is inconsistent across the global church

04:40 - ...recognize that the gospel is the supremely Good News

05:10 - ...inconsistent formation of Christians

05:23 - ...Book, Socially Awkward Evangelism, is focused on the western context

06:26 - ...struggling with formation and our claiming of just how good the gospel is

06:50 - ...follow-up question 1: evangelism outside of the western hemisphere

07:07 - ......much high priority and conviction

07:54 - ......even with freedom of religion in the west, it is socially uncomfortable

10:20 - ...follow-up question 2: what is the best global practice?

12:00 - ......there is not a single best practice because of distinct contexts

14:57 - ......relational engagements

17:10 - ...Organic Non-Western vs Planned Western Church Planting

18:01 - Why Feeling Anxious or Awkward in Sharing Jesus with Others

18:56 - ...seminarians are anxious in sharing their faith publicly

19:42 - ...wired to feel anxious

21:13 - ...allows us to act

22:21 - ...problem of anxiety

23:15 - ...cancel culture

23:56 - ...what is life about and what to believe

25:26 - Responding to Anxiety

28:13 - ...intellectual: understand the gospel better to articulate it

29:05 - ...emotional, social, physical: tools from behavioral psychology therapy

31:34 - ...build a new example of what evangelism looks like

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