Thinking Fellows

Thinking Fellows is a podcast that explores Christian theology, apologetics, history, and doctrine through lay-level conversations. Hosted by Scott Keith, Caleb Keith, Adam Francisco, and Bruce Hilman, this show engages deep theological topics with clarity, scholarly insight, and a commitment to share the Gospel message. Whether discussing the proper distinction between law and gospel, the defense of the Christian faith, or the rich history of Reformation theology, the Thinking Fellows bring engaging and thoughtful conversation grounded in Scripture.

Justin Martyr Father of Apologetics 08/18/2025

Justin Martyr Father of Apologetics The Thinking Fellows explore the life and significance of Justin Martyr, an early Christian apologist. They focus on the challenges Justin faced, and his example for contemporary apologetics. Justin's work also highlights the distinction between apologetics and polemics, emphasizing defending the Christian faith against external criticisms and internal heresies. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/thinkingfellows/id/37864620

Martin Luther And The Rule Of Faith 08/06/2025

Martin Luther And The Rule Of Faith The Thinking Fellows are joined by Todd Hains to discuss the concept of the Rule of Faith as articulated by Martin Luther. Todd explains the significance of the Ten Commandments, the Apostles' Creed, and the Lord's Prayer in shaping Christian doctrine and practice. The discussion delves into how these elements serve as a catechetical foundation for both preaching and personal faith, emphasizing their role in guiding believers in their interpretation of Scripture and their relationship with God. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/thinkingfellows/id/37710290

C.F.W Walther: The Proper Distinction Between Law and Gospel 07/29/2025

C.F.W Walther: The Proper Distinction Between Law and Gospel The Thinking Fellows podcast breaks down C.F.W. Walther’s classic work The Proper Distinction Between Law and Gospel. This episode offers a brief introduction to Walther and explores why properly distinguishing between Law and Gospel is a vital task for every Christian preacher. Distinguishing Law and Gospel is one of the most difficult yet essential tasks of the Christian life. Command and promise are not merely theological slogans; they are the means by which God delivers faith and creates saints out of sinners. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/thinkingfellows/id/37595980

Was Peter the First Pope? 07/25/2025

Was Peter the First Pope? Caleb, Scott, and Adam take up the question: was Peter the first pope? They follow this with a conversation about why contemporary Lutherans need not long for the ecclesiology of Rome or the papacy. In the second half of the episode, the Fellows discuss the growing number of pastoral vacancies in the LCMS. They encourage patience and thoughtful reflection as congregations navigate this challenging reality. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/thinkingfellows/id/37551725

The Difference Between the Comfort of the Gospel and Therapeutic Language 07/15/2025

The Difference Between the Comfort of the Gospel and Therapeutic Language In this episode of the Thinking Fellows podcast, Bruce Hillman, Scott Keith, and I take a look at the difference between the comfort that comes from the gospel and the kind of therapeutic language that's become common in our culture. We talk about how this language has crept into everyday life—including the church—and how it ends up reshaping the way people think about faith, identity, and community. Along the way, we highlight the importance of the gospel as an objective promise, the problems with journey-style language, and the real need for Christian community when people are struggling. At the heart of it, we’re calling for a return to the central message of Christianity: the forgiveness of sins and the church as a place of genuine comfort and consolation. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/thinkingfellows/id/37420435

James Bond and Other Nonsense 07/09/2025

James Bond and Other Nonsense In this episode of the Thinking Fellows podcast, hosts Caleb Keith, Bruce Hillman, and Scott Keith engage in a free-for-all discussion. They explore the differences between the James Bond books and movies, delve into the theological significance of infant baptism, and discuss the historical context of Mao's Great Famine. The conversation also explores the shifting dynamics of young men in the church, the impact of generational changes on women's roles, and the increasing gender disparity in church attendance. The hosts conclude with reflections on societal coveting and the importance of recognizing that everything we have is a gift from God. Show Notes: Fundraiser! What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/thinkingfellows/id/37348795

Thinking Fellows Live in Northwest Arkansas 07/03/2025

Thinking Fellows Live in Northwest Arkansas Caleb, Scott, and Adam recorded their annual live show at the Here We Still Stand regional conference in Northwest Arkansas. They cover multiple topics, including concerns about IVF advancements and technology, the Shroud of Turin, and the importance of family. Show Notes: Fundraiser! What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/thinkingfellows/id/37277870

Our Pet Peeves 06/26/2025

Our Pet Peeves The Thinking Fellows discuss their church pet peeves; habits or developments that get under their skin and why. This episode offers a chance to have a little fun as each host vents and explains their perspective. Show Notes: Fundraiser! What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/thinkingfellows/id/37164065

Does Christianity Have a Reliable Morality? 06/16/2025

Does Christianity Have a Reliable Morality? In this episode, the hosts delve into the reliability of the Bible, with a particular focus on the moral content of scripture and its implications for one's faith. They discuss how younger generations perceive the Bible as unreliable due to its moral teachings, particularly in relation to contemporary cultural values. Christianity does have a clear moral vision, but most importantly, it finds its stability in Christ. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/thinkingfellows/id/37029345

Can You Trust the Bible? 06/05/2025

Can You Trust the Bible? In this episode of the Thinking Fellows podcast, Caleb Keith, Adam Francisco, and Bruce Hillman assert the trustworthiness of Scripture. They discuss the importance of biblical inerrancy, the implications of textual variants, and the transparency of the Christian tradition in handling manuscript evidence. The conversation underscores the importance of a thoughtful approach to understanding Scripture in the face of contemporary challenges to faith. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/thinkingfellows/id/36866795

Are Lutherans Catholic? 05/29/2025

Are Lutherans Catholic? In this episode of the Thinking Fellows podcast, the hosts explore the complexities of Lutheran identity, particularly in relation to Catholicism. They discuss the meanings of 'Catholic' in both small and large contexts. What are the historical implications and the ongoing challenges of using the word "catholic?" The fellows discuss the effectiveness and downfalls of ecumenical movements that rally around small c catholic identity and critique how they can overlook core theological differences, particularly regarding the gospel. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/thinkingfellows/id/36781385

Are Lutherans Protestant? 05/21/2025

Are Lutherans Protestant? Lutherans started the Protestant Reformation. However, they shy away from the term today. The Thinking Fellows discuss why the term became contentious but why Lutherans must still identify with it. The conversation highlights Lutherans' challenges in identifying themselves within the broader Christian community and the need for more effective engagement with other traditions. The episode concludes with reflections on the future of Lutheran identity and a teaser for the next episode. What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/thinkingfellows/id/36662665

Are Lutherans Evangelicals? 05/10/2025

Are Lutherans Evangelicals? The Fellows continue their conversation about Lutheran identity. This time, they discuss the term "evangelical." Lutherans have used the term to describe themselves since the early Reformation. In recent times, confessional Lutherans have turned away from the term. Caleb, Scott, Adam, and Bruce discuss why the word is worth using and qualifying, even though it has come to gain new definitions in Western Christianity. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/thinkingfellows/id/36517970

What is a Confessional Lutheran? 05/02/2025

What is a Confessional Lutheran? The Thinking Fellows continue discussing the issue of a Lutheran identity crisis. This week, they deal with the moniker: confessional. They define confessional and explain why it is essential to Lutheranism. They also cover how the term has been used within specific movements in American Lutheranism, particularly the LCMS, to bludgeon people over a reasonable disagreement. Overall, Lutherans must subscribe to the Lutheran Confessions and thus be confessional, but it is not necessary to be involved in the gatekeeping that "confessional" movements can participate in today. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/thinkingfellows/id/36410920

A Lutheran Identity Crisis 04/22/2025

A Lutheran Identity Crisis In this episode of the Thinking Fellows podcast, Caleb Keith, Adam Francisco, Bruce Hillman, and Scott Keith engage discuss an ongoing identity crisis within Lutheranism. They explore various terms such as confessional and missional, their meanings, and the implications for the Lutherans. The conversation explores the historical context of Lutheran identity, the role of tradition and doctrine and how they shape the identiy of a church. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/thinkingfellows/id/36263170

Things Christians Shouldn't Do 04/10/2025

Things Christians Shouldn't Do How should Christians navigate the shoulds and shouldnots of daily life, especially on matters not explicitly covered in Scripture? The Fellows look at common questions about civil behavior that Christians ask online. They also consider the idea of Christian behavior as a witness to their neighbor. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/thinkingfellows/id/36089935

Let's Talk About Infant Baptism 03/28/2025

Let's Talk About Infant Baptism There are lots of objections to infant baptism floating around in American Christianity today. In this episode, the Fellows respond to some common objections leveraged against advocates of baptizing infants. The objections came from X-post comments; they do not represent the most sophisticated arguments for the credo-baptist position but rather some ordinary objections that real people believe and profess. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/thinkingfellows/id/35915680

Can You Make The Gospel Relevant? 03/17/2025

Can You Make The Gospel Relevant? In this episode of the Thinking Fellows podcast, Caleb Keith, Adam Francisco, Bruce Hillman, and Scott Keith discuss the relevance of the gospel in contemporary society. The conversation delves into the roles of law and gospel, cultural contextualization, and the challenges faced by churches in effectively communicating the gospel message. The Fellows emphasize that while the gospel itself cannot be changed. They also discuss the potential roadblocks that can hinder understanding, the importance of context in evangelism, and the dangers of conflating the gospel with law. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/thinkingfellows/id/35731870

Hypocrisy or Consistency? The Church and Sexual Sins 03/11/2025

Hypocrisy or Consistency? The Church and Sexual Sins In this episode of The Thinking Fellows, the hosts take on a challenging question: Are Christians hypocritical when it comes to sexual sins? This discussion is often raised in conversations about LGBTQ issues and the Church’s stance on morality. The Fellows explore how the Sixth Commandment applies to all sexual sins and emphasize that the Church’s teaching should be consistent—preaching repentance and forgiveness for every violation, not just the culturally controversial ones. They also push back on the common accusation that churches are obsessed with homosexuality, pointing out that society, not the Church, is hyper-fixated on the issue. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/thinkingfellows/id/35621655

Should We Still Send Our Kids to College? 02/26/2025

Should We Still Send Our Kids to College? In this episode of the Thinking Fellows podcast, Caleb Keith, Scott Keith, and Adam Francisco engage in a friendly discussion about the current state of university education. They explore whether the traditional concept of the university is dead, the role of universities in preparing students for the job market, and the cultural influences that shape modern education. The conversation also touches on the challenges of implementing a liberal arts curriculum and the varying expectations of what a university should provide to its students. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: Take 20% Off Our Lenten Devotionals until March 5th: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/thinkingfellows/id/35444395

Did Martin Luther Start a New Religion? 02/18/2025

Did Martin Luther Start a New Religion? In this episode of the Thinking Fellows podcast, the Fellows answer, "Did Martin Luther invent a new religion?" They explore the historical context of the Reformation, the theological implications of Luther's teachings, and the ongoing debates between Catholicism and Protestantism. The conversation highlights the role of humanism in the Reformation and the centrality of scripture for understanding justification by faith. Ultimately, they conclude that Luther did not create a new religion but instead rightly reformed and returned to the core tenets of Christianity. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: Take 20% Off Our Lenten Devotionals until March 5th: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/thinkingfellows/id/35321905

Technology Can't Stop Death 02/07/2025

Technology Can't Stop Death The Thinking Fellows talk about the limitations of scientific progress. Skepticism of previous scientific advancements in medicine and chemical engineering has paved the path for more people to question technological progress and the good it can do for humanity. Yet many skeptics still look to the future and advancing technology as a solution for death, suffering, and sin. By understanding the realities of sin and death, Christians can walk a realistic line where technology can be leveraged for the good of this life and neighbor. Still, we know it will never solve death and can always be used to accomplish evil means. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: Take 20% Off Our Lenten Devotionals until March 5th: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/thinkingfellows/id/35191855

The Limits of Worldview and the Utility of Epistemology 01/24/2025

The Limits of Worldview and the Utility of Epistemology In this episode of the Thinking Fellows podcast, Caleb Keith, Scott Keith, and Adam Francisco discuss the relevance of epistemology versus worldview in the context of Christian engagement with culture and society. They explore the historical development of these concepts, their utility for understanding different belief systems, and the challenges of navigating a pluralistic society. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/thinkingfellows/id/34998420

Crusades 01/17/2025

Crusades In this episode of the Thinking Fellows podcast, the Fellows explore the complex history of the Crusades, their origins, motivations, and the theological implications that arise from them. They discuss Pope Urban II's call to arms and the evolution of the Crusades from a war of liberation to a series of hard-to-follow conflicts. The conversation emphasizes the distinction between political and religious acts, the role of the church, and the implications for contemporary Christian thought. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/thinkingfellows/id/34897770

Lutherans React to Wesley Huff’s Joe Rogan Appearance 01/10/2025

Lutherans React to Wesley Huff’s Joe Rogan Appearance In this episode, Caleb Keith, Scott Keith, and Adam Francisco discuss the viral appearance of Wesley Huff on Joe Rogan's podcast. They explore the impact of the conversation on Christian apologetics, the nature of truth and science, and the role of miracles in faith. The discussion also delves into textual criticism, cultural context, and the theological insights presented during the interview. The hosts reflect on the effectiveness of Huff's approach and the importance of continuing the conversation about faith in a modern context. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/thinkingfellows/id/34812570

The Venerable Bede 01/06/2025

The Venerable Bede The Thinking Fellows dive into the life and work of the Venerable Bede, one of the most influential figures in early Christian history. Often called the "Father of English History," Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People shaped our understanding of the Church's growth in Britain. This episode explores Bede's contributions to theology, historiography, and education, and considers how his work continues to inspire Christian scholarship today. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/thinkingfellows/id/34741875

Bonaventure: The Souls Journey into God 12/29/2024

Bonaventure: The Souls Journey into God The Fellows discuss medieval theology by surveying Bonaventure's The Soul's Journey Into God and note the scholastic tendency to speculate from God's general natural revelation. These developments in scholastic theology, in part, led to the necessity of the Reformation. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/thinkingfellows/id/34641450

Eusebius 12/19/2024

Eusebius Eusebius was one of the greatest historians of the early church. The Fellows discuss his contributions to theology and history. The episode pays special attention to the way Eusebius treats the Old Testament. Eusebius starts his history of the church at the beginning of Genesis and asserts that Christianity is not a novel faith but the faith of all Old Testament believers. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/thinkingfellows/id/34533295

Broken Bonds: A Novel of the Reformation 12/10/2024

Broken Bonds: A Novel of the Reformation Amy Mantravadi joins Caleb and Bruce to discuss her novel Broken Bonds: A Novel of the Reformation. Amy was inspired to follow the lives and conflicts of Martin Luther, Desiderius Erasmus, and Philipp Melanchthon. The episode dives into the history behind the novel and the significance of Luther's The Bondage of the Will. Show Notes: What’s New from 1517: More from the hosts: /episode/index/show/thinkingfellows/id/34364890

Fueling the Mission: Supporting 1517 to Proclaim the Gospel 12/03/2024

Fueling the Mission: Supporting 1517 to Proclaim the Gospel This is Caleb Keith, director of the 1517 Podcast Network. Today, as many of you may know, is Giving Tuesday. On this special day, I have a question for you: Does this podcast bring Jesus and His Gospel of peace into your life on a regular basis? At 1517, our mission—and the mission of the 1517 Podcast Network—is to declare and defend the Good News that we are forgiven and free through the death and resurrection of Christ alone. Because of Jesus, God has made peace with you and continues to actively give you His peace. You can give by visiting or by following the link in the show notes. /episode/index/show/thinkingfellows/id/34266345

Thinking Fellows

TOPICS