Season 17 - Learn to Think Theologically

Summary

Knowing Faith – Season 17: "Learn to Think Theologically"

Hosts: Kyle Worley, JT English, Jen Wilkin
Episode Release Date: August 6, 2026

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Episode Overview

This season kickoff episode invites listeners into the heart of Knowing Faith's mission: to help Christians learn not just what to believe, but how to think theologically about all of life. The hosts reflect on the evolution of the podcast, preview key questions for the season, and candidly share their own excitement and anxieties about the topics ahead. Throughout, the tone is friendly, relatable, and inviting, emphasizing a journey of communal learning rather than expert-to-novice instruction.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

Welcoming in "Senior Year" (Season 17)

• The hosts use a high school analogy to mark their 17th podcast season, playfully dubbing it the "senior year" and joking about "senioritis"—the excitement and potential apathy that comes with being seasoned podcast veterans.
  • Notable moment: JT English: "Senioritis: we're either, like, all in, going to be valedictorian or it's like, you know what? I don't know anymore." (02:51)

The Shift to a Question-Based Format

• The team reflects on their decision to pursue a question-driven format, crediting Jen with the idea.
• They admit initial hesitation and now see increased listener engagement and personal enjoyment.
  • Jen Wilkin (on breaking from line-by-line study): "You guys have such a bad attitude about all that… Oh, my gosh. This is way better." (04:32–04:44)

Listeners' Impact on the Show

• The hosts highlight how listener questions shape the podcast.
• They explain the process for submitting questions—via Apple Podcast reviews—and stress that listener feedback directly feeds the season’s content.
  • Kyle Worley: "I read every single one of them and I consider them for future episodes. Some of the questions in this season were because people went over to Apple Podcasts and left a review." (05:01–05:28)

Season 17 Preview: Hot Topics and Anticipated Episodes

• The hosts outline major questions for the season, including:
  • Was the Reformation good?
  • Are women pastors biblical?
  • What did sacrifices in the Old Testament actually do?
  • What's going on with the Song of Solomon?
  • Why is everyone upset with purity culture?
• Each host shares their most anticipated topic:
  • JT English: Most eager for the purity culture discussion, noting his unique background and desire for a nuanced conversation that could help and heal listeners.
    • "I kind of came into evangelicalism when this was a big conversation... I think it'll be a really fun conversation. I think it could be helpful for a lot of people. I think it could be healing for some people, and maybe we can help set a chart forward." (06:56–07:34)
  • Jen Wilkin: Looks forward to Old Testament sacrifices, anticipating lively debate due to differing approaches among the hosts (typological vs. other viewpoints).
    • "Everybody knows I lean pretty typological and some of us lean the other direction." (07:34–07:55)
  • Kyle Worley: Expresses excitement over tackling Song of Solomon, teasing possible disagreements among the hosts.
    • "I'm pretty confident that we will [disagree], actually." (08:09–08:13)
  • Jen's insight on conflict: "Now, you guys know who are listening, that we don't actually sit down and go, do we disagree on this? We just show up and find out." (08:13)

Podcast as a Learning Community

• The team emphasizes that Knowing Faith is not about passing down static knowledge, but about mutual discovery.
  • JT English: "We're not just downloading the stuff we have on a sheet and saying, you should believe this. I mean, this is stuff that we're also growing as disciples. We all want to know our Bibles more deeply. We want to delight in God's Word more seriously." (08:54–09:09)
• The hosts hope listeners join not just to “download” opinions, but to grow in how to approach complex and sensitive questions with a theological lens.
  • Kyle Worley: "The goal of Knowing Faith isn't for you to down what we think about anything, but to learn how to think theologically about everything." (08:25)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• JT English, on senior analogies and podcasts:
  "Senioritis: we're either, like, all in, going to be valedictorian or it's like, you know what? I don't know anymore." (02:51)

• Kyle Worley, describing the feedback loop with listeners:
  "I read every single one of them and I consider them for future episodes." (05:01)

• Jen Wilkin, on lively debate:
  "It'll be interesting to see what we actually think was happening there." (07:53)

• JT English, on learning as hosts:
  "I'm being discipled by these conversations." (09:04)

• Jen Wilkin, on spontaneous disagreements:
  "You guys know who are listening, that we don't actually sit down and go, do we disagree on this? We just show up and find out." (08:13)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Season 17 intro, senior year analogy: 02:27–03:15
• Rationale for question-driven format: 04:23–04:57
• Listener questions and show feedback process: 05:01–05:28
• Season topics overview: 05:52–06:47
• Hosts preview favorite episodes: 06:47–08:13
• Emphasis on communal learning & theological thinking: 08:25–09:09

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Tone and Style

• Relatable, humorous, self-deprecating, and warm; a balance of playful banter and earnest engagement with weighty topics.
• Openness about learning alongside the audience, rather than "top-down" teaching.

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Final Takeaway

Knowing Faith launches its 17th season inviting listeners, new and old, to journey alongside the hosts as they tackle big, sometimes contentious questions. The goal is not mere knowledge transfer, but to foster deeper theological thinking grounded in scripture and honest conversation. The hosts' transparency about what they know—and don't—sets a collaborative and engaging tone, making the podcast a safe and stimulating space for honest exploration of faith and doctrine.

"The goal of Knowing Faith isn't for you to down what we think about anything, but to learn how to think theologically about everything." – Kyle Worley (08:25)

Transcript

[A]

This episode of knowing faith is brought to you by Crossway, publisher of Dust to Aging Wisely in an Anti Aging World. In this extended exploration of aging, Jen Wilkin draws poetic parallels between the first half of life and the second. Exploring the changing realities of caregiving abilities and potentiality, she helps us to trace God's give and take design. At every stage, Wilkin offers practical insights on body image, honoring the elderly, the essential value of family, and more. Pick up a copy of Dust to Dust wherever books are sold, or visit Crossway.org DusttoDust to learn how to get 30 off. Is your Jesus shaped more by culture than by scripture? In our instant world, we've made Jesus into a life coach, a therapist, a political ally. The Missing Messiah, a new book by Kyle Idleman and Mark Moore, helps us understand how Western culture has gradually reshaped Jesus into our image and recognize the difference between a personalized savior and a revolutionary king. If you believe there is a more dangerous, more majestic messiah than the one you've inherited, visit. Visit missingmessiah.com to learn more. Do you ever feel like you're just going through the motions? Busy, responsible, but not really grounded? The truth is, every man is being formed by something. So what's shaping you right now? That's why I want to tell you about the Men's Retreat at Camp of the Woods. It's a weekend away to step away from the noise, reset your direction, and reconnect with God alongside other men who

[B]

are asking the same questions.

[A]

It's in beautiful upstate New York and we have a great time and this year for the men's retreat to 2026,

[B]

I, Kyle Worley, will be the camp speaker.

[A]

I did this last year and we had a wonderful time with hundreds of men throughout the country who made the trek up to get away in the beautiful, beautiful upstate New York.

[B]

And so if this sounds of interest

[A]

to you or to men that you lead in your church or men in your life, I want to encourage you to go to the campofthewoods.org mensretreat and find out more information about how you

[B]

can come and join us up in

[A]

upstate New York this fall for a men's retreat. So go check that [e-mail] I hope you'll make time to come join us and just reconnect or with the Lord and other men in your church and in your community. So come hang out with [e-mail] for the men's Retreat this fall. This is Kyle Worley and I'M joined

[B]

by my co host, Jen Wilkin and J.T. english. And if last season we got our driver's license. It is season 17 on Knowing Faith. Not only do we have our driver's license, now, we are one year away from being able to vote in any publicly held election in this country.

[C]

So is this the, Is this the senioritis year?

[B]

I guess it is. This is our. Wow. I hadn't even thought about it. This is our senior year.

[C]

Senioritis were either like all in, going to be valedictorian or it's like, you know what? I don't know anymore.

[B]

Most most likely to flunk out of seminary. I don't know. Well, when my dad graduated or when my dad went back for his high

[A]

school reunion at like year 20 or

[B]

whatever, he got most unlikely job occup. He had been a pastor for that because I don't know what that says about what my peers thought about me whenever he was a senior in high

[C]

school, but did you guys go back to your reunions?

[B]

I have not gone to one earlier

[D]

ones, but once Facebook was out, I'm like, we're fine.

[C]

I got it. I got what I need.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, you have. You have a daily reunion.

[D]

Were you voted a most likely?

[C]

No, no, I was. I was voted most likely to be married to the girl I was dating. Are you sure?

[D]

That would make me not want to go back for reunion.

[C]

We were like, we were like the homecoming. We were like the. We did all the stuff. Sweetheart couple. I mean, all that stuff.

[B]

And Macy, your wife just came in and stomped that out.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

Well, Listen, on season 17 of Knowing Faith, we have some great questions that we are exploring. Was the Reformation good? Are women pastors biblical? What did sacrifices in the Old Testament actually do? What's going on with the Song of Solomon? Why is everyone upset with purity culture? You know, we are going to. To hit these questions. I love. We've. We've been having so much fun. When we first started the question format, which I think Jen is the one. I actually, I know Jen is the

[D]

one who suggests the format.

[B]

I was staggered when you suggested this because you're you, you know, you're kind of like Mrs. Line by Line.

[D]

Yeah, but you guys have such a bad attitude about all that. Is that.

[B]

Did we grind you down? Is that what it was? Yeah, JT made one too many.

[C]

Oh, it wasn't me, it was you.

[D]

Oh, my gosh. This is way better.

[C]

How many books of Samuel are in the Bible again?

[B]

Somewhere between 1 and 100. But no, we're going to keep it. We're honestly, we're not tired of it. We're having.

[D]

We.

[B]

We have had more fun these last two seasons and it seems like you are as well, because when we see you at conferences and when you share the episodes and when you message us online or you submit Q and A episodes, it just seems clear that, gosh, you guys are enjoying it. And if you want to submit a question for this season, it's really easy. We'll tell you exactly how to do it. And I read every single one of them. If you go over to Apple podcast and leave a review so you, like, give it a star rating and you leave a review and you type in your review and a question. I read every single one of them and I consider them for future episodes. Some of the questions in this season were because people went over to Apple Podcasts and left a review. So that helps us. It helps you get your questions in front of us. So go check that out. If you want access to these episodes early and ad free and some special episodes, you can go to trainthechurch.com support. We do special episodes over there for that support community along with. They get the episodes early, they get them ad free, and they get video. When we started this 17 seasons ago, nobody was even talking about watching podcasts. What do you mean watching podcasts? A podcast? What I listen to while I fold the laundry or why I'm sitting in the school pickup line or while I'm mowing the yard. It certainly is not something I'm watching now. Everybody wants to watch podcasts. So if you're a glutton for punishment and you really just want to watch the faces that JT and I make when Jen says something crazy or the face that Jen makes when I say something that she wishes I would not have said, which is just about every single episode. You can catch all of those glances and stances [e-mail] support and you can help make the show possible and free for everybody else. So that's it. Season 17 senioritis. We are ready to jump into it to get into these questions and we're gonna have a great time. Jt, what's your. What's your most anticipated episode for the season?

[C]

Oh, man, that's a good one. You know, I just. What's fun is I just kind of heard the list right there for the

[D]

first time, so haven't looked at the list, but thanks for putting it together. Kyle, you're the best.

[C]

But I think the one I'll enjoy having the conversation with you guys the most that, honestly, I've been a little. Not confused about, but just kind of. I don't know. I kind of came into evangelicalism when this was a big conversation, but it's the purity culture conversation. Becoming a Christian when I was 18 years old, kind of then inheriting that tradition, which was very much not a part of my lived experience through high school, and then seeing kind of some of the reaction to that. I think that'll be a really fun conversation. I think it could be helpful for a lot of people. I think it could be healing for some people, and maybe we can help set a chart forward about what that could look like in the future. So I'm looking forward to that one, Jen.

[D]

Off the top of my head, I would say the. The one on Old Testament sacrifices is interesting to me because I could see where we might fight a little, because everybody knows I lean pretty typological and some of us lean the other direction, so it'd be interesting. I think it'll be interesting to see what we actually think was happening there.

[B]

That's good.

[D]

Yeah. I don't know that that'll be the fightiest one that we have, but. But we'll see if we can.

[B]

I really am excited about talking about what is going on with Song of Solomon.

[D]

Oh, yeah, actually, that's going to be a good one, too. But do you think we disagree?

[B]

I don't know. I don't.

[D]

We'll find out.

[B]

I don't want to tease it now, but I. I'm pretty confident that we will, actually.

[D]

Yeah. Now. Now, you guys know who are listening, that we don't actually sit down and go, do we disagree on this? We just show up and find out.

[C]

We just assume we do.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Well, listen, we hope that you'll join us whether you agree or you disagree. The goal of Knowing Faith isn't for you to down what we think about anything, but to learn how to think theologically about everything. And we're really excited that you'll join us on this season of Knowing Faith.

[C]

I want to just highlight something here. One of the things I'm loving about these seasons, just personally, outside of being one of the hosts of the podcast, is I'm learning. Like, I think at the core of what we're trying to do for Knowing Faith is, is we want to help you learn, but it's not an act. We're learning as we go. I'm. I'm constantly.

[D]

We don't want to be bored while we're helping you learn.

[C]

No, we're not just downloading the stuff we have on a sheet and saying, you should believe this. I mean, this is stuff that we're also growing as disciples. We all want to know our Bibles more deeply. We want to delight in God's Word more seriously. So these are fun for me because I'm being discipled by these conversations.

[B]

That's right. Well, we're excited to learn together with

[A]

all of you as you listen along

[B]

this season on season 17 of Knowing

[A]

Faith, we hope you will enjoy the

[B]

discussions Grace and Peace.