Matt Smethurst says the aim of his book, Tim Keller on the Christian Life is to synthesize and distill Tim Keller’s best teaching on the Christian life. We believe he succeeded at that task, and we’re not alone. World magazine selected it as its 2025 Book of the Year, stating, “This well-written book will convict but also encourage Christians who read it, helping them as they pray, pursue friendships, go to work, consider how to help their poor neighbors, and endure suffering themselves.” Pastor Smethurst joined Dr. Keith Plummer to talk about why he wanted to write the book and some of the recurring themes of Tim Keller’s thinking, writing, and preaching about following Jesus.

Might a popular understanding of Paul’s words in Romans 7:14-25 contribute to a learned helplessness with respect to sin in the lives of many Christians? New Testament scholar Dr. Joseph Dodson believes the answer is yes and explains why in his book Conquerors Not Captives: Reframing Romans 7 for the Christian Life. In this episode, he joins Dr. Keith Plummer to discuss his take on this much-contested passage.

The adverse effects of a screen-immersed life on children and teens becomes harder to ignore on what seems to be a daily basis. What are parents to do? In her book The Tech Exit: A Practical Guide for Freeing Kids and Teens from Smartphones, Clare Morell offers well-researched and hope-giving answers. She joined Dr. Keith Plummer to talk about the dangers screen immersion, the inadequacy of screen limiting and parental control software, how to prepare for a family digital detox, and how and why to fill the time previously consumed by fixation on devices. This informative and encouraging exchange is not foremost about saying no to digital tech but rather, about acknowledging and embracing what God has made us for.