I am a Guest on the Discovering God Podcast

Discovering God Podcast with Rip Wahlberg and Jeff McLain
For the past few weeks, I have been a regular guest on the Discovering God Podcast that is hosted by Rip Wahlberg. This well done video and audio podcast is excellently produced by Blake Wahlberg, and covers a diversity of topics related to the church and the scriptures. It is the hope of this podcast to take aspects of discipleship online.

For those of you that do not know, Rip Wahlberg and I have been good friends over the past decade. Our friendship formed as we both invested our time on the Leadership Team at the Lancaster Vineyard Church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Additionally, years later, our family would settle for a season into Sanctuary (A Vineyard Church) where Rip was the Lead Pastor. In that season, Katie and I joined the Transition Team, and I also served on the Preaching Team. Though our friendship has spanned both of those shared experiences, it was in these collaborative efforts that we learned of our similar but also different approaches to church and the scriptures. 

The Discovering God Podcast is meant to be a thoughtful and intentional approach to conversations around the scriptures and the church, especially for those who may not have access to a local church community. Overall, the podcast is designed to create a space where thinking seekers can encounter God by exploring the scriptures and the teachings of Jesus. As an engaging host, Rip Wahlberg provides practical and relevant insights to encourage growth for individuals in their faith journey. Rip's passion for helping others develop an informed and personal relationship with Jesus is evident in his conversations.

In a world where people are seeking answers about the meaning of life, purpose, and peace, it has been a lot of fun to join this podcast. For me, as someone who is dedicated to thinking differently about Jesus, life and everything in between - being a guest on this podcast has given me a place to help inspire some new thoughtful and conversational fodder on faith, Jesus and the church.

I encourage you to take some time and watch the four episodes that I have appeared on below. The video editions of these conversations are available on YouTube. You can also listen and subscribe to the audio edition of the podcast through BuzzSprout.


Episodes 12-15

On Episode 12, I (Jeff McLain) join Rip Wahlberg on his Discovering God Podcast, to converse about what seems to be a growing concern in the global and local church - a problem of fame.

On Episode 13, I (Jeff McLain) join Rip Wahlberg on his Discovering God Podcast, to converse about the first of three disciplined approaches to interpreting and understanding the Bible. The first method we look at is Systematic Theology. In this episode we discuss the pros, cons, history and foundations of the Systematic Theology approach.

On Episode 14, I (Jeff McLain) join Rip Wahlberg on his Discovering God Podcast, to converse about a second disciplined approach to interpreting and understanding the Bible, a method referred to as Biblical Theology. In this episode we discuss the pros, cons, history and foundations of the Biblical Theology approach.


On Episode 15, I (Jeff McLain) join Rip Wahlberg on his Discovering God Podcast, to converse about a third disciplined approach to interpreting and understanding the Bible, a method referred to as Practical Theology. In this episode we discuss the pros, cons, history and foundations of the Practical Theology approach.






I grew up inspired by Jesus, Jacques-Yves Cousteau, the California Raisins, and The Clash. I'm an avid fan of baseball, boardwalks, beaches, and books. Additionally, I am currently a doctoral student at Kairos University, and finishing a third master's degree, an MBA in Executive Leadership, at City Vision University. Previously I have earned two master's degrees - one in Theology and Ministry and another in Leadership - both from Fuller Seminary. I also graduated summa cum laude with a Graduate Certificate in Non-profit Management and an Associate Degree in Christian Ministry and Leadership from City Vision University.

Popular Posts

Book Review: Shattered by Rip Wahlberg

Image
This is a review of Shattered , a book authored by Rip Wahlberg on surviving and thriving in the worst pains of life. Released in 2023, through Life Rich Publishing , this book follows Rip Wahlberg’s journey after losing his four-year-old son to a tragic drowning accident. Throughout this book, Rip shares the story of losing his son and explores the difficult decisions that followed his death. Even more, Wahlberg unpacks the effect it had on his and his family’s life and faith. Rip also provides a framework and witness to what he learned about God's ability to heal sorrow. This is a short read, just a little over 110 pages, but in no way is it an easy read, as Shattered is full of vulnerability and raw emotional honesty. I do believe that it will be a helpful read for any follower of Jesus who is trapped in their pain or traveling the road of unaddressed sorrow. The reader learns how “pains in our lives become idols that we end up protecting,” and ultimately they keep us from the ...
Read more

Book Review: Lennon, Dylan, Alice, & Jesus by Greg Laurie and Marshall Terrill

Image
This is a review of Lennon, Dylan, Alice, & Jesu s by Greg Laurie and Marshall Terrill . Released in 2022 by Salem Books , Lennon, Dylan, Alice, & Jesus is an exhaustive spiritual biography on rock and roll. Authors Greg Laurie and Marshall Terrill tell the tales of many popular musicians who find Jesus on their spiritual search, and when they reach the end of themselves. Music, especially that which emerged through the rock and roll scene, has long been an influence on our societal ethos; it has been the companion for many individuals on their spiritual journey, and it at times has influenced others spiritually. It should not surprise us then that many musicians have taken spiritual sojourns in their private lives, and in the public squares, which has often influenced their songs and musical endeavors. For generations, musicians have been taking their fans on pilgrimage with them. Some of our biggest music celebrities have not only searched for spiritual meaning in very publ...
Read more

Book Review: How Much Land Does a Man Need by Leo Tolstoy

Image
This is a book review of How Much Land Does a Man Need by Leo Tolstoy . This 2010 version of  How Much Land Does a Man   Need  was translated by Boris Dralyuk and published by Calypso Editions . As a read, How Much Land Does a Man Need is a short reflective parable from a classic that was first released in 1886. This edition of a lesser celebrated work of Tolstoy is in Russian and English inside the book.  Though not one of the most popular translations, Boris Dralyuk translates  How Much Land Does a Man   Need, a  short work of Tolstoy, because of the way it speaks to our seasons that are “marred both environmentally and economically by the consequences of unbridled greed.”[1] To accurately translate Tolstoy into a modern era, his goal was “to recreate Tolstoy’s idiosyncratic voice with as much faith and color as possible.”[2] He mentions the ways he was hoping to capture the “subtly modulated version of what the Russians call skaz” that was utili...
Read more