Did you know the modern State of Israel wasn’t originally going to be called “Israel”? In this clip from my interview with Dr. Jason Staples, he explains the surprising history of how the nation’s name came about. Staples walks us through several alternative names that were proposed, and even reads from President Harry Truman’s notes, where “Israel” was penciled in at the very last minute.

This historical detail not only sheds light on modern politics but also raises important questions about the meaning of “Israel” in Scripture and how it relates—or doesn’t relate—to the modern state.

📘 Check out the full interview with Jason Staples here → https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-32b8x-1932da7

📗 Get Jason’s Book: Paul and the Resurrection of Israel → https://amzn.to/3HDUMc0

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Why are pastors the de facto theological leaders of the church? What is a pastor theologian? Why do we need pastors to embrace their theological identity? In this episode, we'll hear from Dr. Joel Lawrence, who is president of the Center for Pastor Theologians (CPT). We talk about the difference between academic theology and ecclesial theology, and why the natural home of theology is the church.

Check out the CPT website: https://www.pastortheologians.com/

Join us for the CPT conference: https://www.cptconference.com/

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FREE RESOURCE: "4 Practices to Build Trust on Your Staff"

Whether you’re leading a large, medium, or small church, trust is the foundation of healthy leadership. I’ve created a free resource outlining four practical and proven strategies to help you build trust with your team and take your leadership to the next level.

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BOOKS FROM MATT O'REILLY

Free to Be Holy: A Biblical Theology of Sanctification https://amzn.to/4gOn4gN (print) https://amzn.to/47pttuz (Kindle)

Reconstructing Methodism: Crucial Issues Facing the Global Methodist Church https://amzn.to/3TnkYKS

Paul and the Resurrected Body: Social Identity and Ethical Practice https://amzn.to/4orssKw

Dr. Matt O'Reilly is Lead Pastor at Christ Church in Birmingham, Alabama, Director of Research at Wesley Biblical Seminary, and a Senior Fellow the Center for Pastor Theologians.

Pastors are more than sermon-givers—they are called to be theologians. In this sneak peek from my conversation with Joel Lawrence, president of the Center for Pastor Theologians, we explore why the theological vocation of the pastor is essential for the church today.

The full conversation is COMING SOON - don't miss it.

Check out the CPT website: https://www.pastortheologians.com/

Join us for the CPT conference: https://www.cptconference.com/

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FREE RESOURCE: "4 Practices to Build Trust on Your Staff"

Whether you’re leading a large, medium, or small church, trust is the foundation of healthy leadership. I’ve created a free resource outlining four practical and proven strategies to help you build trust with your team and take your leadership to the next level.

👉 Download it here: https://theologyproject.kit.com/buildtrust

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BOOKS FROM MATT O'REILLY

Free to Be Holy: A Biblical Theology of Sanctification https://amzn.to/4gOn4gN (print) https://amzn.to/47pttuz (Kindle)

Reconstructing Methodism: Crucial Issues Facing the Global Methodist Church https://amzn.to/3TnkYKS

Paul and the Resurrected Body: Social Identity and Ethical Practice https://amzn.to/4orssKw

Dr. Matt O'Reilly is Lead Pastor at Christ Church in Birmingham, Alabama, Director of Research at Wesley Biblical Seminary, and a Senior Fellow the Center for Pastor Theologians.

Music: "Steps" by Anno Domini Beats

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What does it mean to be deeply rooted in the Christian faith while also embracing the distinctive gifts of the Methodist tradition? In this episode, Dr. Jason Vickers joins me to discuss his new book, Profoundly Christian, Distinctly Methodist. We explore how the Methodist movement emerged as a Spirit-led renewal within the wider body of Christ, why Wesleyan theology offers a compelling vision for the church today, and how these convictions can shape our worship, preaching, and mission.

Jason reflects on the core doctrinal commitments that Methodists share with the broader Christian tradition and the unique emphases—such as holiness of heart and life—that give Methodism its distinctive character. Whether you are a lifelong Methodist, new to the tradition, or simply curious about its theological DNA, this conversation will deepen your understanding of how Methodism can serve the whole church in the 21st century.

Get the book HERE: https://my.seedbed.com/product/profoundly-christian-distinctly-methodist/

Is the meaning of “Israel” obvious? That question was hotly debated recently by Senator Ted Cruz and Tucker Carlson. In this Theology Project interview, Dr. Jason Staples takes us deep into what the Bible actually says about Israel, the Jews, the Hebrews, and how Paul redefines everything in Romans 9–11.

Dr. Staples is the author of Paul and the Resurrection of Israel, a groundbreaking book that challenges how Christians and others have traditionally understood Paul’s view of Israel in relation to the church.

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Whether you’re leading a large, medium, or small church, trust is the foundation of healthy leadership. I’ve created a free resource outlining four practical and proven strategies to help you build trust with your team and take your leadership to the next level.

👉 Download it here: https://theologyproject.kit.com/buildtrust

📘 Books by Jason Staples:

Paul and the Resurrection of Israel

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The Idea of Israel in Second Temple Judaism

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Free to Be Holy: A Biblical Theology of Sanctification

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GET THE VIDEOS https://my.seedbed.com/product/free-to-be-holy/

Reconstructing Methodism: Crucial Issues Facing the Global Methodist Church https://amzn.to/3TnkYKS

MATT'S OTHER BOOKS

Paul and the Resurrected Body: Social Identity and Ethical Practice https://amzn.to/2xOJmyj

The Letters to the Thessalonians (w/ videos) https://amzn.to/3B0m6su

Bless the Nations https://amzn.to/3eEpiiF

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Across the Wesleyan-Methodist family, something remarkable is happening: churches and denominations are rediscovering the heart of their theological heritage—holiness. In this video, Matt O'Reilly and Bill Ury reflect on how various Wesleyan groups are recovering a robust, life-giving vision of holiness rooted in grace, love, and transformation. This isn’t about legalism or moralism. It’s about reclaiming the beauty of being made holy in Christ.

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▶️ Watch the full interview here: https://youtu.be/SX2oIq7NtIA

-------------------

🛠️ FREE RESOURCE: "4 Practices to Build Trust on Your Staff"

Whether you’re leading a large, medium, or small church, trust is the foundation of healthy leadership. I’ve created a free resource outlining four practical and proven strategies to help you build trust with your team and take your leadership to the next level.

👉 Download it here: https://theologyproject.kit.com/buildtrust

-------------------

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Reconstructing Methodism: Crucial Issues Facing the Global Methodist Church https://amzn.to/3TnkYKS

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Watch the whole discussion here: https://youtu.be/lAtmxFIIXIs

In this clip, Dr. Matt O'Reilly and Dr. Bill Ury discuss how forgiveness of sin and justification by faith are sometimes set up as the main point of Christianity and key books of the Bible like Romans. What is the point of Christianity? Matt and Bill explain how Christian faith is about being drawn more deeply into the life of God such that his presence makes us holy. Justification by faith is the means to the end of sanctification.

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Free to Be Holy: A Biblical Theology of Sanctification

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Reconstructing Methodism: Crucial Issues Facing the Global Methodist Church

https://amzn.to/3TnkYKS

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What are the enemy’s most effective strategies—and how can Christians resist them? In this conversation, Dr. Jason Vickers joins me to unpack John Wesley’s sermon Satan’s Devices and explore the timeless tactics the devil uses to discourage, divide, and derail believers. We discuss how Wesley’s 18th-century insights still speak with power today, why temptation is often unrecognized, and what practical steps we can take to stand firm in faith.

If you’ve ever wondered how Satan works in the details of everyday life—or how to recognize his schemes before they take root—this interview will give you biblical wisdom and pastoral insight for the fight.

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🛠️ FREE RESOURCE: "4 Practices to Build Trust on Your Staff"

Whether you’re leading a large, medium, or small church, trust is the foundation of healthy leadership. I’ve created a free resource outlining four practical and proven strategies to help you build trust with your team and take your leadership to the next level.

👉 Download it here: https://theologyproject.kit.com/buildtrust

-----

Read the sermon -- "Satan's Devices" by John Wesley

Grab Jason's new book coauthored with Ryan Barnett -- Profoundly Christian, Distinctly Methodist

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MATT'S BRAND NEW BOOKS

Free to Be Holy: A Biblical Theology of Sanctification

https://amzn.to/4gOn4gN (print)

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GET THE VIDEOS https://my.seedbed.com/product/free-to-be-holy/

Reconstructing Methodism: Crucial Issues Facing the Global Methodist Church https://amzn.to/3TnkYKS

MATT'S OTHER BOOKS

Paul and the Resurrected Body: Social Identity and Ethical Practice https://amzn.to/2xOJmyj

The Letters to the Thessalonians (w/ videos) https://amzn.to/3B0m6su

Bless the Nations https://amzn.to/3eEpiiF

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