Elephant in the Pew

Are fresh starts only for new Christians?  Can we as Christians be refreshed yearly, monthly, weekly, daily?  Today Ryan and Stephen ask these questions and dive into discussion on Fresh New Beginnings and wonder if it is possible to “refresh” on a regular basis as believers.  Enter into the discussion on the Elephant in the Pew.

December 4, 2016 marks the First Sunday of Advent.  We are expecting and hopeful for his birth. Credits: Speaker: Ryan Ramsey Music: http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music Readings based on Mt. Bethel UMC Advent readings

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!  Elephant in the Pew has returned for Season 2!!  Also Advent began this past Sunday and Ryan and Stephen have opinions and thoughts in regards to this joyous time of year and how it relates to the Church and to all Christ followers.  Hop on in and join the conversation as theRead More

November 27, 2016 marks the First Sunday of Advent.  We are expecting and hopeful for his birth. Credits: Speaker: Stephen Whitten Music: http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music Readings based on Mt. Bethel UMC Advent readings

This past year has become a pivotal year in both Ryan and Stephen’s lives.  So many things have happened and so many views have changed (literally and figuratively).  In this episode they enter into a discussion of a topic that has become an Elephant in the Pew in the past 50-60 years and both of the guys have had theirRead More

In a way the church is the ultimate over-looker. Though God has often took the “least of these” approach and showed us what to do with the hurting and lost; we, the church, often find ourselves in this game of looking past the unfortunate and in need and replacing it with our own troubles and woe. We don’t necessarily haveRead More

“A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush,” unless of course you’re God. In the first part of Luke chapter 15 you see that God doesn’t settle for just 99 sheep, he wants all of his sheep. He never even thinks about the idea of not having 100 he just goes after the one sheep who hasRead More

In culture there is a trend, it has been around for millenia, that humans are relatively good people that make bad decisions. Ryan and Stephen want to look at this trend and reevaluate this Elephant in the Pew. Are we, as humans, good but make mistakes or are we inherently bad people who are need of a savior. Jon theRead More

Sometimes things are not what we think they are, in fact most things appear to be something when in reality they are completely different. Sometimes we are fed a line so many times that we end up believing that it is true when the truth of the matter is that it is actually false. Ryan and Stephen discuss the mythRead More

“A wish and a prayer” these phrases seem to go hand in hand, but what if we quit praying our wishes? What if we took a different approach at prayer? The guys sit down and discuss an Elephant that seems to be creeping slowly into the church. What is prayer for and what should we do with it? The timeRead More

“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering,” According to our friend and beloved character Yoda, fear is the path to the dark side. When asking the question of whether an organization is a Christian Church or a cult that ascribes to certain teachings that can be confusedRead More

In today’s United States of America, life is different than it was 200 years, 100 years, 50 years, even 25 years ago. We have this question amongst us, “Are we now, or have we ever been a Christian Nation?” This question is disregarded many times, and never really put to the test. Ryan and Stephen delve into the banks ofRead More

In today’s United States of America, life is different than it was 200 years, 100 years, 50 years, even 25 years ago. We have this question amongst us, “Are we now, or have we ever been a Christian Nation?” This question is disregarded many times, and never really put to the test. Ryan and Stephen delve into the banks ofRead More

“…with liberty and Justice for all” these words ring true for all Americans, but what about the church? Should the church care about justice? If so, what justice are we talking about? It seems that at moments of despair and depravity the church is called on to take a stance, while at other times it is called on to justRead More

“If you build it they will come…” How many times have we heard this line quoted? However, when pertaining to church outreach, sadly we are one Shoeless Joe short of the dream, and our fields are empty. Everyone has an opinion on what is the most successful form of outreach, yet nobody wants to sit down and actually discuss thisRead More

In today’s news it seems that violence around our country let alone our world has begun to increase rapidly. Can we as Christians seek self-protection? Is protection equal unwarranted violence? Does the Church have to be pacifists? Is there biblical evidence that speaks into nonviolence at all cost? This particular ‘Elephant’ doesn’t get talked about within the church nearly enoughRead More

Has the church become partially ineffective due to our rising attitude towards the world? Could we have become exactly what those who came before us feared? Is cynicism the thorn that has pierced the side of the church and is now causing an infection that could destroy our witness? Ryan Ramsey and Stephen Whitten sit down and discuss the ElephantRead More

Fundamentalism is misunderstood, and definitely misrepresented in the media. On this episode the discussion is opened up to discuss the ‘Fun’ in fundamentalism. Join in the discussion as the Elephant in the Pew is discuss in much detail.

The guys talk about July 4th and if America is favored by God? A huge Elephant in the Pew is the blurred lines with being an American and Christian. Tune in to hear the guys discuss and ask hard questions about America and Jesus and the Elephant in the Pew.

Have you ever wondered what translation of the bible you should use? Well the church doesn’t always talk about it, actually they rarely talk about it these days. Tune in while the guys discuss different translations and which ones they have found useful and have chose to use as their preferred form of reading the Bible.