Hot Topics: How to think

HOT TOPICS

How to think Biblically about God, Life & Culture

Equipping Workshop, Sandhurst July 2026

Remember when it was fun to discuss current topics?

Remember when disagreement was helpful for growing your perspective?

Remember when people weren't offended by different points of view, but valued them?

Let's bring that back.

Let's bring back compassionate conviction.

Let's address hot topics rigorously and respectfully.

Here's a few ideas how...

How to fail it: two ditches

• Oversimplify: This is the knee-jerk shout (usually online) to demonize “them." We throw out that well-crafted sarcastic one liner hoping to expose all the ignorant people out there and win the thoughtful to our obvious side.

• Overcomplicate: This is the too complex approach - which assumes there is no right answer to this (or maybe any) issue so the best any thinking person can do is to settle for a forced agnosticism.

Thankfully, those are not the only two options.

As is usual, the truth is in the messy middle (see opening lines).

How to nail it: frame + clarify + apply

• FRAME: what it is (What is this?)

  • Eternal context: Bible

  • Historic context: History

  • Modern context: Leaders

Resources for framing context:

1. Bible

   1. Concordance & Cross References

   2. Bible languages StepBible.org

   3. Bible tools BlueLetterBible.org

   4. Bible media BibleProject.com

      
      

2. History

   1. Search Scripture: BibleHub.com, scroll to “parallel commentaries”

   2. Search Theme: “What has the church historically taught on…”

   3. Search Theme: “What did (historic leader) teach on…”

   4. Augustine (400), Aquinas (1200), Luther/Calvin (1500), CS Lewis (1900)

      
      

3. Leaders

   1. 3 Orgs

      1. thegospelcoalition.org

      2. desiringgod.org 

      3. bible.org

   2. 3 People (“Johns & Jen”)

      1. Jon Tyson

      2. John Mark Comer

      3. Jen Wilkin

• CLARIFY: what it means (How do I understand this?)

  • Contrast truth with false views & your views: “If it’s x it’s not y…”

• APPLY: what it means for me (How can I live this?)

  • Articulate perspectives, attitudes, habits, to feed or starve…

Remember when diplomacy had a backbone and wasn't a euphemism for conceding to the bully? Let's bring back truly courageous dialogue.

Compassion and conviction.

Rigor and respect.

Honesty and honor.

Stay tuned for posts where we'll run the model on various hot topics...