Interviews - Redeemer City Church

Ask Anything Sunday: Israel, the Rapture, Alcohol, and Assurance of Faith

Sun, 21 Dec 2025 21:00:00 -0500

Bring your hardest questions and keep your Bible open. We sat down for an unfiltered Ask Anything night and mapped our convictions with theological triage—what Christians must die for, what we might divide over, and what we can debate without breaking fellowship. That clarity became a framework for everything else: assurance and perseverance, the church’s role in recognizing genuine faith, and how to disagree with charity while guarding first-tier truths like the Trinity, the exclusivity of Christ, and justification by faith.

From there, we waded into cultural headwinds. We unpacked support for Israel with biblical categories from Galatians 3 and Ephesians 2, argued for loyalty to Christ’s church over any nation-state, and clarified the muddled idea of “Christian nationalism.” We took a pastoral line on alcohol—neither legalism nor license—by prioritizing conscience and neighbor-love. We spoke plainly about sexuality and sanctification, pointing to 1 Corinthians 6:11’s hope: “such were some of you.” On the rapture, we rejected date-setting and explained why the New Testament presents a public, climactic return of Christ, not a secret escape. Practical discipleship stayed close to the ground: building non-negotiable rhythms for prayer and Scripture, quieting a noisy mind, and training children toward Christ with catechisms, songs, and visible parental devotion.

We also weighed questions about marriage before church and state, when deception may be morally justified (think Rahab and the Hebrew midwives), God’s sovereignty and human responsibility in salvation, adoption as a living picture of the gospel, and whether Catholics can be Christians while warning about doctrines that obscure grace. We closed with stories of calling to pastoral ministry and a simple aim: for the joy of the city through the good news of Jesus. If this conversation sharpened you or sparked a question, share it with a friend, subscribe, and leave a review—then tell us the one topic you want us to tackle next.

Ask Anything Sunday: Church Membership, Denominations, Depression, Clubbing, and Christ the King

Sun, 21 Dec 2025 21:00:00 -0500

Big questions deserve clear answers, and we don’t dodge them. We start with trusted theological voices and move straight into the biblical case for local church membership—why covenant belonging matters for shepherding, discipline, gifts, and growth. From there, we navigate denominational lines with both conviction and humility, tracing Protestant roots and why clarity on core doctrines protects unity and mission.

The conversation gets practical fast: should Christians go to bars or clubs, and how should we think about alcohol, dancing, and marijuana? What about using medication for anxiety or depression—where do prayer, lifestyle, and wise counsel fit? We weigh just war and government authority through Romans 13, consider the moral gravity of the death penalty through Genesis 9:6, and talk about living as witnesses in polarized political moments by remembering that Jesus is King. We also address the apocrypha’s value (and limits), the salvation of the unreached through the urgency of Romans 10, and the image of God made visible in Christ.

We share concrete practices for a strong, Christ-centered marriage—communication, Scripture, simple date rhythms, and generosity in presence—while warning against common traps: neglecting prayer, chasing new teachers without discernment, and letting entertainment replace connection. On birth control, we reject abortifacients, examine motives, and commend trust in God’s goodness. On tithing, we point to cheerful generosity and the wisdom of ten percent as a starting pattern rather than a ceiling. Finally, we outline how to discern a call to ministry: aspiration, character, church affirmation, and real opportunities that test and grow the gift.

If you’re ready to tether everyday life to Scripture with clarity, charity, and courage, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves hard questions, and leave a review with the topic you want us to tackle next.

The Campus Outreach Interview (ft. Audy Smothers)

Sun, 21 Dec 2025 20:00:00 -0500

We sat down with Audy Smothers, campus director for Campus Outreach at the University of Tennessee, to talk about how authentic relationships, gospel clarity, and a strong tie to the local church can turn a four-year whirlwind into a lifelong walk with Jesus.

Audy shares his own journey—from meeting Christ as a teen without discipleship to finding mentors who opened their homes and lives. That experience now fuels his work at UT, where the norm often leans toward nominal faith and cultural Christianity. We dig into the real pressures of SEC campus life, the subtle ways students drift, and the practices that help them move from “I’m good” to grounded: opening Scripture together, honest confession, and simple obedience in daily choices. You’ll hear a powerful testimony of a freshman who hid alcohol at the Orange and White game and, months later, trusted Christ, discipled others, and is now joining staff. It’s a vivid picture of multiplication in motion.

We also unpack why Campus Outreach prioritizes fun and real talk in the same room—because students keep showing up where they feel safe, seen, and challenged. From large-group gatherings to small groups and one-to-ones, the aim is to connect every student to a healthy local church so spiritual growth lasts beyond graduation. Audi highlights practical ways to get involved, the reality of spiritual warfare on campus, and why prayer and financial partnership matter for frontline ministry in Knoxville. If you care about the next generation, this conversation offers hope, strategy, and plenty of real-life stories from Rocky Top.