This Is The Good Life
This Is The Good Life
This Is The Good Life is a podcast devoted to deciphering what it means to live as a Christian in this day and age. Our long-term goal is to bring Virtue and Character back into the conversation of what it means to be Christian. At a time where so many people are focused on getting out to do “real ministry," the hard work of laying down a solid foundation of character through the acquisition of virtues must be done before any of us are capable of doing truly “good work”. As the theologian Ed Witherington says, "You can’t do Christia...
Episodes
S6E6: A Good Church and Story
A “Good Church” is filled with people who have allowed God to incorporate them into His story. Steve and Dean talk about how the people of God “re-present” the story of God.
S6E5: A Good Church and Community
A church is not a gym—we do not just share space, time, and language—it is a community. Steve and Dean share how God binds churches together as the people of God.
S6E4: A Good Church and Language
Christianity has its own language and way of speaking. Steve and Dean talk about how a “Good Church” speaks the language of God—only in English…don’t worry, no Hebrew, Greek, or speaking in tongues required.
S6E3: A Good Church and Time
God is making all things new and that includes time. Steve and Dean discuss how the church “redeems time” through its observations and practices.
S6E2: A Good Church and Space
What makes a space a “church”? A cross, a pulpit, pews? Steve and Dean talk about the need for “Christian spaces” that reflect the Kingdom of God.
S6E1: What is a Good Church?
Steve and Dean kick off a new “mini-season” with a six-part series on what makes a good church a “Good Church”.
S5E10: Orthodoxy - A Conversation with a Millennial
Steve and Dean are joined by their producer and confessed Millennial, Jonas as they wrap up this season on heretics with a further conversation on what it means to be a Christian.
S5E9: Orthodoxy
Following the example of G.K. Chesterton, Steve and Dean finish up their conversation on heretics with a conversation on what it means to be orthodox.
S5E8: The Good Person
To insure they have offended every friend they have left, Steve and Dean discuss how the “Good Person” is, in fact, a heretic.
S5E7: The Emotivist
Steve and Dean turn to the dominant moral philosophy of our present age, Emotivism, and how it has erased the entire concept of heresy and heretics, which makes it one of the most dangerous of all heresies.
S5E6: The Humanist
Steve and Dean discuss the persistent influence of Humanists and Humanism on the basic assumptions that form many of today’s dominant worldviews resulting in heresy and heretics.
S5E5: The Scientist and Psychologist
Having taken on their own professional fields, Steve and Dean turn the conversation towards their friends by addressing some of the more heretical aspects of both Science and Psychology.
S5E4: The Philosopher
Following Steve’s comments about Dean as a heretical Bureaucrat in Episode Three, the conversation moves over to the heretical side of Steve’s field of Philosophy.
S5E3: The Bureaucrat
Steve and Dean address MacIntyre’s concept of The Bureaucrat in terms of how such a person would, in fact, be a heretic with Steve providing pointed examples from Dean’s professional career.
S5E2: Heretics, Part 2
Steve and Dean continue to discuss what it means to be a heretic and how this particular season will most likely end their respective careers.
S5E1: Heretics
Steve and Dean launch a new season with a conversation about what it means to be a heretic because…they’ve got nothing to lose at this point.
S4E10: The Practice of Time
In this final episode of Season 4, Steve and Dean are joined by Matt Hastings, Pastor of Hermitage Church of the Nazarene for a conversation on the practice of time within the Christian tradition.
S4E9: The Practice of Mercy
The practice of mercy is central to living together as the people of God. As those who have received mercy, we offer mercy. Steve and Dean share how mercy has shaped their lives and helped them to enter into this difficult but essential practice.
S4E8: The Practice of Witness
As Christians, we have a better story to tell, and we tell it through our every word and action. Steve and Dean discuss the practice of being good witnesses to the story of God.
S4E7: The Practice of Discipleship
Steve and Dean talk about discipleship as a practice that includes mentoring and caring for one another in addition to Bible study and devotions.
S4E6: S4E6: The Practice of Worship
In this episode, Steve and Dean transition from individual practices to those practices we share as the body of Christ. and central to the virtue and character of a good church is good worship.
S4E5: The Practice of Rest
The good life requires a rhythm of work, play, and rest that resonates with the life of God. Steve and Dean talk about the necessity of true rest amid the hectic pace of modern life.
S4E4: The Practice of Giving
Generosity is essential to living a good life and in this episode Steve and Dean explore the ways in which the practice of giving requires not only being generous with our money but also our time, talents, and other resources.
S4E3: The Practice of Reading
Steve and Dean discuss how reading, whether for the purpose of study, devotion, or leisure, is an essential practice for developing the virtues.
S4E2: The Practice of Prayer
Steve and Dean talk about prayer as the central practice that empowers all the other Christian practices.
S4E1: Christian Practices - An Introduction
Steve and Dean introduce the newest season of "This is the Good Life" and discuss the importance of practices in the development of virtue and character.
S3E8: Faith, Hope, & Love
In this episode, the final episode of Season Three, we are joined by Dr. Matt Hastings, Pastor of Hermitage Church of the Nazarene, as we discuss the three great Christian virtues of faith, hope, and love.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
S3E7: Courage
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S3E6: Simplicity
"Simplicity grows from the satisfaction of knowing that you want the right things rightly” (Stanley Hauerwas, "The Character of Virtue"). Join Steve and Dean as they talk about what it means to live a simple life…a good life.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
S3E5: Joy
Join Steve and Dean as they explore the virtue of Joy—a virtue that is both a result of and a reason for pursuing the other virtues.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
S3E4: The Virtue of Friendship
Aristotle wrote, "Friendship is the virtue most necessary for life." But true friendship can be hard to come by. Join Steve and Dean as they talk about what true friendship looks like as well as, oddly enough, Hobbits.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
S3E3: The Virtue of Kindness
One of the hardest things to do in our present culture is separate kindness from sentimentality. Steve and Dean take on this difficult task by exposing the Myth of Sentimentality which says that "we can be kind without being truthful."See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
S3E2: The Virtue of Truthfulness
Steve and Dean discuss the importance of both speaking and hearing truth in the life of a community in pursuit of the virtues. "Peace rides on the back of truthful speech." (Stanley Hauerwas, "The Character of Virtue")See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
S3E1: The Character of Virtue
Join Steve and Dean as they kick off a third season of the podcast which will be an exploration of the virtues as described by Dr. Stanley Hauerwas in his collection of letters to his godson titled, "The Character of Virtue."See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Christmas Special: The Virtue of Generosity
Join Steve and Dean for a special Christmas edition of This Is The Good Life as they talk about the virtue of Generosity.Connect with us:https://linktr.ee/thisisthegoodlifewww.trevecca.eduSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
LIVE from Trevecca Nazarene University
Join Steve and Dean in this special LIVE EDITION of This Is The Good Life as they talk to the student body at Trevecca Nazarene University about decision-making and the Good Life.Connect with us:www.thisisthegoodlife.onlinewww.trevecca.eduSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
S2E8: A Conversation with a Millennial in Purgatory
Steve and Dean have a candid conversation with good friend and podcasts producer, Jonas, about questions that have surfaced in his mind while producing this podcast.Connect with us:www.thisisthegoodlife.onlinewww.trevecca.eduSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
S2E7: Christian Virtue as a Habit
Join Steve and Dean as they talk about the role of habit in forming virtue and character.Connect with us:www.thisisthegoodlife.onlinewww.trevecca.eduSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
S2E6: What are the Virtues?
Steve and Dean discuss the classic virtues, how they are interdependent, and some of the ways the virtues are acquired.Connect with us:www.thisisthegoodlife.onlinewww.trevecca.eduSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
S2E5: Why Virtue?
Steve and Dean talk about the role of virtue in living the good life, how virtue is acquired, and how the practice of the virtues leads to the development of character and a life worth living.Connect with us:www.thisisthegoodlife.onlinewww.trevecca.eduSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
S2E4: Christian Character & The Virtues - An Introduction
In this episode, Steve and Dean launch the first in a series of conversations on what it means to have Christian character, how it is formed, and how to live a virtuous life.Connect with us:www.thisisthegoodlife.onlinewww.trevecca.eduSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
S2E3: The Myth of Freedom
The Myth of Freedom tells us we are absolutely free to shape our own truth. We can believe whatever we want, be whatever we want, and do whatever we want. We are free from all constraints. Which is all fine until our freedom puts us in direct conflict with the freedom of someone else. Join Steve and Dean as they talk about what true freedom is and how it leads to living the good life.Connect with us:www.thisisthegoodlife.onlinewww.trevecca.eduSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
S2E2: The Myth of Progress, Part 2
In this second segment on the "Myth of Progress", Steve and Dean talk about what happens when "the good life" becomes wrapped up in the idea that "new is always better", especially when that idea makes its way into the church and into our personal lives.Connect with us:www.thisisthegoodlife.onlinewww.trevecca.eduSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
S2E1: The Myth of Progress
Steve and Dean kick off a new season of "This Is The Good Life" by challenging the widely believed "Myth of Progress" , which says humankind is on a steady upward climb towards some ideal version of humanity. Are things getting better? Have we confused progress with simply passing through time? Listen in as they tackle these and other questions related to progress and living the good life.Connect with us:www.thisisthegoodlife.onlinewww.trevecca.eduSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
S1E6: Christianity As The Good Life
After wading through the waters of multiple worldviews and philosophies, the time has come to examine how Christianity functions as 'the good life.' What makes it special? What makes it worth pursuing? Why should we devote ourselves to anything at all? Steve and Dean have a few answers to these questions.Connect with us:www.thisisthegoodlife.onlinewww.trevecca.eduSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
S1E5: Be All That You Can Be
It's a dog-eat-dog world, so why not be all that you can be to succeed? Should we show any restraint in our pursuance of the good life? How does our obsession with accolades, status, and ability affect those around us? Steve and Dean offer some insight in today's episode.Connect with us:www.thisisthegoodlife.onlinewww.trevecca.eduSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
S1E4: Do Your Duty
What could be more important than doing one's duty? Shouldn't we always do what's expected of us? What happens if we make it the utmost priority in our life? Steve and Dean have a few thoughts to share about this in today's episode.Connect with us:www.thisisthegoodlife.onlinewww.trevecca.eduSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
S1E3: I Gotta Be Me
One of the most important concepts to American society today is the assertion that one must be authentically 'themselves.' Shouldn't we always live as the truest version of ourself? What could go wrong with being 'real?' Join the conversation with Steve and Dean to find out.Connect with us:www.thisisthegoodlife.onlinewww.trevecca.eduSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
S1E2: Don't Worry, Be Happy
In this episode, Steve and Dean dive into a version of the good life that has long been the mantra of western civilization: the goal of happiness. But what happens when you put happiness under a microscope? Can it hold its own as a philosophy?Connect with us:www.thisisthegoodlife.onlinewww.trevecca.eduSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
S1E1: What Is The Good Life?
On today's episode, Steve & Dean begin to explore the reason this show exists: to understand what 'the good life' actually is! With so many philosophical worldviews in our world today, it can feel impossible to land on just a single one. But, as Dean reminds us, the 'salad bar of ideas' isn't always as satisfying as one might think.Connect with us:www.thisisthegoodlife.onlinewww.trevecca.eduSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.