The Stumble: Discussions on Faith and Doubt

In this episode of the Stumble, Sam is joined by Tim Montgomery. Time is the Student Pastor at Fellowship of Wildwood in Wildwood MO. Join us as Sam and Tim explore the problem of Christianity's place within the larger spectrum of religous belief. Doesn't the plurality of religious belief bring some question to the legitimacy of Christianity as a worldview? Don't most people simply adopt the religious beliefs of their culture and upbringing? If you're in the St. Louis area and want to meet up with Sam to discuss your own doubts and stumbling blocks, reach out at [email protected] and you can schedule a coffee and discussion. Check out: Immanuel Fellowship Church - https://www.immanuelfellowshipstl.org/ Fellowship of Wildwood - https://www.fellowshipofwildwood.org/ Travis Teel Paige - https://open.spotify.com/artist/3XqxkxLKPkfV3VB53p6s8T Chapters (00:00:00) - The Stumble(00:02:47) - Exploring the Diversity of Religious Belief(00:03:46) - Meet Tim Montgomery(00:08:44) - Does Being Irish Make You a Catholic?(00:15:03) - Beyond Culture, What Drives People's Beliefs?(00:18:12) - When Do You Stop Believing in God?(00:22:02) - Deconstruction: The Bible Invites Questions(00:29:03) - God's Love for We All(00:30:20) - Are All Religions Similar?(00:36:36) - Do All Religions Think They're the Same?(00:39:57) - What Makes Christianity So Unique?(00:47:21) - Believers in the Bible: A Critique(00:50:41) - The Case for Criticism of Christianity(00:57:59) - What Is Sin and Salvation in Christianity?

In this episode of the Stumble, Sam is joined by Karen Kallberg. Karen is the director of spouse care at FirstLight Ministries in St. Louis MO. Join us as Sam and Karen explore the problem of Christianity's relationship with itself. Shouldn't Christian faith be a transformative faith that drives Christians to treat one another with honor and care? If so, why do stories of church hurt and spiritual abuse seem so common place? If you're in the St. Louis area and want to meet up with Sam to discuss your own doubts and stumbling blocks, reach out at [email protected] and you can schedule a coffee and discussion. Check out: Immanuel Fellowship Church - https://www.immanuelfellowshipstl.org/ FirstLight - https://www.firstlightstlouis.org/ Travis Teel Paige - https://open.spotify.com/artist/3XqxkxLKPkfV3VB53p6s8T Chapters (00:00:04) - Stumble: Doubt and How to Live With It(00:02:59) - Celebrating Compulsive Sexual Behavior with Karen Kahlberg(00:04:44) - The Transformational Dimension of the Gospel(00:10:34) - Christian Concerns about Spiritual Abuse(00:17:43) - How to Be Transformed by the Gospel(00:22:39) - The Sanctification of the Good Samaritan(00:29:50) - The Need for Community(00:30:45) - The Signs That a Christian Community Is Distracting(00:35:00) - Pastor Karen on False Confessions(00:36:44) - How to Heal the Christian Community(00:42:45) - Sam and Karen on Giving Christianity A Second Chance

In this episode of the Stumble, Sam is joined by Michael Byrd. Mike is the founding pastor of Faith Community Bible Church and a missionary mobilizer for the SEND network of the North American Mission Board. Join us as Sam and Mike explore the observation that the evangelical Christian community has become increasingly politicized and hypocritical. If the gospel is true, why doesn't it seem to change church communities? If you're in the St. Louis area and want to meet up with Sam to discuss your own doubts and stumbling blocks, reach out at [email protected] and you can schedule a coffee and discussion. Check out: Immanuel Fellowship Church - https://www.immanuelfellowshipstl.org/ Faith Community Bible Church - https://fcbcstl.com/ The SEND Network - https://www.namb.net/send-network/send-city/st-louis/ Travis Teel Paige - https://open.spotify.com/artist/3XqxkxLKPkfV3VB53p6s8T Chapters (00:00:04) - Stumble: Debunking Your Faith(00:02:22) - Mike Bird at Faith Community(00:02:50) - Meet the Sin City Missionary(00:03:51) - St. Louis and the Christian Community(00:12:44) - Partial Gospel(00:17:42) - Mike Huckabee on the Christian Community(00:20:15) - Samuel: True Christian Community(00:27:26) - Progressive Church: A Consumeristic Faith(00:29:15) - Sam Harris: The Broken Church(00:36:10) - Exercising the Planner's Role(00:42:02) - What Advice Do You Have for Someone Struggling With Faith?(00:45:25) - Christians vs the Culture(00:49:52) - Sam Tenell

In this episode of the Stumble, Sam is joined by Alex Lee. Alex is the founding pastor of Invite Church in Ballwin MO. Join us as Sam and Alex explore the cultural movement of deconstruction. What does the prevalence of this movement say about the legitimacy of Christianity? If you're in the St. Louis area and want to meet up with Sam to discuss your own doubts and stumbling blocks, reach out at [email protected] and you can schedule a coffee and discussion. Check out: Immanuel Fellowship Church - https://www.immanuelfellowshipstl.org/ Invite Church - https://www.youareinvited.church/ Alex Lee - https://www.youtube.com/@alexleeministries Travis Teel Paige - https://open.spotify.com/artist/3XqxkxLKPkfV3VB53p6s8T Chapters (00:00:04) - Stumble: Faith and Deconstruction(00:02:37) - Applause for Deconstruction(00:04:29) - Does the Deconstruction of Christianity delegitimize Christianity?(00:08:19) - How Much of the Deconstruction Movement is Based on an In(00:10:52) - Deconstruction in the Christian Church(00:15:20) - Alex Has Been Through a Deconstruction Period in His Faith(00:23:55) - Ex-Vangelicals: Why Deconstruction is so prevalent(00:31:55) - On Postmodernism and The New Atheist Movement(00:37:32) - Walter on Dissent and the Bible(00:42:21) - Richard Dawkins Refuses to Discuss The God Delusion(00:45:05) - The Real Story of Doubt(00:47:11) - De-Deconstruction and Reformation(00:52:59) - Paul on Faith and Its Discontamination(00:54:13) - A Christian in a Season of Deconstruction and Reform(00:58:32) - Alex on Helping Would-Be Doubters(01:01:44) - The Capital Club: A Conversation About Doubt

In this second episode of the Stumble, Sam is joined by David Peterka of When the Saints based out of Malawi Africa. Join us as they discuss the work of When the Saints and the reality of human suffering in the world. How does the reality of suffering impact our understanding of the Biblical teaching on God? Can suffering be something that actually empowers a life of faith instead of damaging it?  If you're in the St. Louis area and want to meet up with Sam to discuss your own doubts and stumbling blocks, reach out at [email protected] and you can schedule a coffee and discussion. Check out: Immanuel Fellowship Church - https://www.immanuelfellowshipstl.org/ When The Saints - https://www.whenthesaints.com/ Travis Teel Paige - https://open.spotify.com/artist/3XqxkxLKPkfV3VB53p6s8T Chapters (00:00:04) - Stumble: Doubt and How to Live With It(00:03:25) - David Paterka of When the Saints in Malawi(00:07:12) - Initial Thoughts on Human Suffering(00:11:43) - Malawi: The Types of Suffering(00:24:40) - Adam: Maybe We Think God Causes Suffering(00:30:02) - The Mystery of God's Plan for Humanity(00:37:21) - David on His Hardening of His Heart(00:45:05) - Malawi's sexual abuse crisis(00:52:26) - Family Time: Travis Steele and the Capital Club

In this inaugural episode, Sam and Dr. Aaron Halstead, a local pastor and professor, discuss the issue of divisions and disagreements within Christianity. They explore why, if Christianity is true, there are so many different denominations and passionate disagreements among Christians. The conversation also delves into how individuals can navigate these differences and find confidence in their beliefs amidst varied interpretations. Chapters (00:00:00) - Stumble: Faith is Hard, Dissent Is Real(00:03:20) - Dr. Aaron Halstad(00:06:22) - 9 Things That Cause People to Question Their Christianity(00:12:23) - Tribal Triage(00:18:52) - The Problem With Splintering the Church(00:26:51) - on Divisions in the Church(00:29:58) - Philosopher on the Differences in the Bible(00:38:42) - The Separation of the Christian Faith(00:45:36) - The Nicene Creed's 1700 Year Birthday(00:47:39) - Anxious Christians Find a Non-(00:56:26) - Separation of the Church and the Questions(00:58:22) - The Need for a Community

Doubt is a normal part of the life of faith. Join us on The Stumble as we take time to discuss the real doubts and questions people have toward faith generally and Christianity specifically. Over the course of this podcast we'll discuss: Why Christianity is so divided The tension of the Bible's description of a loving God and the reality of human suffering The abundance and diversity of human religious expression The reality that Christians can be so hurtful to one another and the world around them The prevalence of faith deconstruction Biblical ethics and human freedom The seeming obsession of some Christians with politics  Chapters (00:00:03) - Stumble Discussions on Faith and Doubt