Fresh Ground Theology

Augustine’s Manual for Meaning (Part II)

Augustine does not end On Christian Doctrine with a flourish. He ends with a commission. Having summoned the preacher to love God more than words, to read Scripture as more than text, he now turns—carefully, compellingly—to the twin matters that make proclamation possible: metaphor and eloquence. One clarifies meaning; the… Listen ⇢
The Eucharist: Presence, Tradition & Mystery

In this first episode of a new multi-part series, Nate and David begin their exploration of the Holy Eucharist—also known as communion or the Lord’s Supper—and the diverse Christian perspectives surrounding it. They clarify their aim: not to declare a single “right” view, but to present the theological landscape and… Listen ⇢
Augustine’s Manual for Meaning (Part I)

There are books that whisper wisdom and books that throw open cathedral doors. Augustine’s On Christian Doctrine—more accurately rendered On Christian Instruction—belongs to the latter. First completed in the early 5th century in the shadow of Rome’s decline, the work is neither a doctrinal treatise in the confessional sense, nor… Listen ⇢
Christ in the Midst of the Elohim

Long before empires rose and fell, before the rush of wind over Eden’s grass or the pounding of bronze on battlefield shields, there was a council. It gathered not in any earthly chamber but beyond the veil—in light and smoke and fire. They were many. They were mighty. And they… Listen ⇢
The High Cost of Spiritual Highs – The Dangers of Spiritual Greed

Episode SummaryIn this deeply reflective episode, host Nate Labadorf guides listeners into the uncomfortable but necessary conversation about spiritual greed—the quiet temptation to chase experiences, feelings, and objects in the name of devotion, while unknowingly drifting away from God Himself. Drawing from the writings of St. John of the Cross,… Listen ⇢
Is the Bible Really All About Jesus?

Today, if you spend much time in church or around Christian books, you’ll hear people say things like “the Bible is all about Jesus.” It’s a big idea, often called Christocentric theology. That just means “Christ-centered”—that everything in the Bible somehow points to Jesus Christ. But what does that really… Listen ⇢
The Boniface Option: A Book Review, a Challenge, and a Conversation Worth Having

Episode Summary:In this special edition of Fresh Ground Theology, Nate and David take a detour from their regular theological deep dives to explore a thought-provoking, and at times troubling, book: The Boniface Option: A Strategy for Christian Counteroffensive in a Post-Christian Nation by Andrew Isker. What begins as a potentially… Listen ⇢
Fathers of the Soul: What the Orthodox Church Can Teach Evangelicals About Spiritual Leadership

In the Orthodox Church, there is a figure revered not for his charisma or public speaking, not for his visionary leadership or institutional power, but for something far more intimate and haunting: his capacity to father souls. He is the spiritual father: a priest, monk, or elder whose life is… Listen ⇢
The Subtle Snare: Battling Spiritual Pride

Episode Overview:In Episode 4 of The Distracted Christian Podcast, host Nate Labadorf tackles one of the most uncomfortable—but essential—truths of the spiritual journey: spiritual pride. Often hidden in plain sight, spiritual pride masquerades as maturity, discipline, and even holiness. But as St. John of the Cross warns in The Dark… Listen ⇢