Allen Levi’s Golden Friends and the Real-Life Theo

Theo of Golden may be the most unlikely breakout bestseller of all time. So far, the book has sold around 4 million copies, has been on The New York Times bestseller list since February, and is on its way to becoming a major motion picture involving Tom Hanks.Nobody saw this one coming.When Allen Levi self-published Theo, it was joining more than 2.6 million other self-published titles that year. The odds of anyone (other than his friends and family) reading it were miniscule—the average self-published book sells around 250 copies over its lifetime. So why did Allen, who was then 67 years old, bother to join them? Well, he wasn’t going to—until his best friends encouraged begged him do it. Who are these friends? And how can we grow friendships like this, where we know each other well, love each other deeply, and encourage each other to use our gifts to love God and neighbor?  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

If we have learned anything from our last two technological waves—smart phones and social media—then we know one thing: Those who are probably going to be most harmed by AI are our kids. AI is already taking over their education. It’s trying to build emotional relationships with them. And it might take away their jobs. But our theology tells us AI does not surprise or alarm God. He is sovereign over this too. So how can we calmly and clearly see what is happening and then protect, guide, and prepare our children? Join Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra as she sorts out fears, finds the facts, and proposes a faithful way to parent in the age of AI. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Gen Z is the most secular generation on record—the least likely to believe in God, go to church, or have a religious affiliation. One reason for this is their parents—Gen Z is also the generation least likely to have grown up in church, attended Sunday school, or prayed over a meal with their family.But Gen Z hasn’t been hostile to the faith. They’re not protesting Christian speakers or telling stories of how Christianity hurt them. Instead, they’ve been largely apathetic.Until now.This past fall, we began hearing from campus ministry staff about packed-out gatherings, rapidly growing Bible studies, and unexpected numbers of conversions.“When we hear the gospel—that somebody loved us even when we were wretched and sinful—that's what really draws our attention,” one University of Illinois Chicago student told me. “That's what really drew me in. And I feel like that's what's going on with Gen Z as well.”  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Can you trust AI?Mike Graham, program director for TGC’s Keller Center, decided to find out. He asked seven major AI platforms seven basic questions about the gospel. Since AI platforms largely rely on the same technology and draw from the same body of information, he figured the answers would be similar.He was wrong.Not only were the answers different, but only two platforms nudged a searcher toward Christianity.In this episode of Recorded, Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra asks Mike, Keith Plummer, and Gavin Ortlund what the experiment revealed, why it matters, and whether Christians should be concerned. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Thirteen years ago, pastor Alton Hardy planted a church in an underresourced African American community near Birmingham, Alabama. Alton worried about the crime, poverty, and lack of education he saw around him. But more than that, he worried about families.And most of all, he worried about fathers.In 2023, the CDC recorded that 70 percent of African American babies were born to single mothers. Overall, 40 percent of all births in the United States are now to unmarried moms, a number that doubled between 1980 and 2010.Alton got to work, preaching the gospel, teaching God’s design for our lives, and calling young black men to become strong leaders of their churches, homes, and communities.I can’t tell you he's witnessing a wholesale revival. But Alton’s church is growing. And for the first time in decades, couples with baby strollers are walking the sidewalks in his community.This is the story of how the gospel can change a life, a family, and a neighborhood. But it’s also a story that can change the way you think about your parents, your kids, and why God loves you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Two and a half years ago, a plane went down in a Texas pasture. On board were five men—the lead pastor, the executive pastor, an elder, and two faithful members of Harvest Church near Memphis, Tennessee.Four of the men were killed instantly—experts later determined the chances of survival were zero percent. But one of the men—lead pastor Kennon Vaughan—lived.This is his story. But this is also the story of what happens when a church of disciple-makers walks through their darkest hours together. And this is the story of what God can do when lives—and deaths—are surrendered to him.—• This episode includes audio provided by StoryTellers Live, Harvest Church, and Gracepointe Church. We're thankful for their generosity and support in telling this story.• This episode is sponsored by Dordt University. To learn more, visit dordt.edu Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Over the past few years, we’ve been hearing rumblings of revival on college campuses. To chase down the story, Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra headed over to Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, to see what was going on with the largest campus ministry you’ve never heard of—the Salt Company.Salt Company does a lot of things you’d expect—large worship gatherings, small group Bible studies, and summer mission trips. But they also do some things you wouldn’t anticipate, such as talking about sin, taking kids through Wayne Grudem’s systematic theology (the abridged version), and requiring student leaders to be members of a local church.In today’s sensitive, selfie-obsessed culture, you might wonder if discussions of sin or of robust theology would be a good on-ramp to Christianity. But over the last 40 years, Salt has grown to 12,000 students on 33 campuses (and churches!) in 16 states.What is drawing the most anxious generation to the gospel? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Join Collin Hansen and Melissa Kruger for their annual discussion as they look back on the top theology stories of 2024. They also share their favorite books from 2024, updates on personal projects, and what they're each looking forward to in life and ministry in 2025. They discuss: The rise in Bible sales in 2024Declining fertility rates worldwideBig changes for the United Methodist Church and the role of the Global SouthThe advance of assisted suicide in the UKThe Cass Report and the truth about transgender treatmentsEncouraging signs among Gen ZTrump’s election victory and a GOP shiftAnticipating the 2025 Gospelbound seasonBook highlights from 2024Personal projects and updatesDon Carson’s legacy and an important update about his life and ministryMentioned on this episode:"My Top 10 Theology Stories of 2024" by Collin Hansen (article)Help The Gospel Coalition build up a renewed church for tomorrow. Let's Build Together: Donate Today at tgc.org/together Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Over the last few decades, church music has shifted. Congregations sing fewer hymns and more praise songs. We hear fewer organ chords and more guitar riffs. We read lyrics that are less theological and more generic.The move toward quicker and more casual songwriting means new music hits our Spotify—and CCLI—lists more quickly. But it also means Christians are sometimes singing repetitive choruses, nonsensical lyrics, or wrong theology.That matters, because we sing those songs so often that we memorize them. We hum them in the car. We play them while we’re making dinner. We lean on them when hard times hit.About 10 years ago, a church in Australia noticed these problems. They tried a different songwriting process. It was slow and clunky and never should have worked—and yet it did.Odds are, you’ve sung their good theology in your church, in your car, or in your kitchen.Help The Gospel Coalition build up a renewed church for tomorrow. Let's Build Together: Donate Today at tgc.org/together Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Registration fees. Weekend tournaments. Travel teams.Youth sports in America has shifted over the last several decades. Instead of playing ball in the backyard with friends after school or on Saturday mornings, our kids climb into the minivan so we can drive them to practice, pay for uniforms and court fees, and pick up dinner from the concession stand.Youth sports, it seems, is a merry-go-round of time and money that we can’t get off, because we know it would never slow down enough for us to get back on.At TGC, youth sports is one of the top concerns we hear from pastors and youth leaders: they can’t preach to, disciple, or encourage people who miss Sunday after Sunday for basketball or soccer or baseball.But we know sports is a good gift from God. He created our kids to run and jump and throw, and to delight in doing that with friends. Done well, those things honor him.So how can we do them well?Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra talked to parents, coaches, and pastors to find out.Help The Gospel Coalition build up a renewed church for tomorrow.Let's Build Together: Donate Today at tgc.org/together Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.