The NewCity Orlando All of Life Podcast

In this episode, Nate Claiborne is joined by theologian-in-residence Dr. Michael Allen to explore the enduring value of Christian creeds, particularly the Nicene Creed. Together, they consider why creeds exist, what they accomplish, and how they serve both as summaries of the Christian faith and safeguards against theological error. Dr. Allen outlines three key functions of creeds: summarizing the vast narrative of Scripture, highl...

In this deeply personal episode, Pastor Benjamin Kandt sits down with Joshua Esquivel to explore his remarkable journey from legalistic religion and inner turmoil to vibrant faith and intimate communion with Jesus. Joshua shares candidly about growing up in a devout Seventh-day Adventist community, wrestling with shame surrounding his same-sex attraction, and the years of isolation, performance, and self-rejection that followed. He...

In this episode, Senior Pastor Damein Schitter interviews Sarah Williamson about her practice of fasting. Sarah shares her initial experience with fasting in college, where it was primarily seen as a special measure for significant spiritual needs. Her perspective shifted when she began practicing regular fasting as part of her church community's "common rhythm," transitioning it from an occasional to a habitual spir...

In this episode, Benjamin Kandt sits down with JD Widhalm, Michael Hampl, and Dylan Yost. The discussion revolves around Dylan’s journey to faith and how the community at NewCity played a significant role in his transformation. Dylan shares how he initially connected with the church through friendships, particularly with JD, Michael, and Ben. His journey began with social interactions—working out at a park, attending backyard wrest...

In this episode, Nate Claiborne and Benjamin Kandt discuss the spiritual practice of fasting, particularly in the context of Lent. They explore the historical and biblical foundations of fasting, explaining how it has traditionally been used as a means of self-denial, preparation, and spiritual discipline. They highlight the connection between fasting and feasting, emphasizing that both are essential parts of Christian life—fasting...

In this episode, Nate Claiborne and Michael Allen continue their deep dive into the book of Hebrews, focusing on its rich connections to the Old Testament. They explore how Hebrews serves as a bridge between the two testaments, highlighting the importance of cross-references in understanding the text. The hosts explain that nearly a quarter of the New Testament consists of direct quotes or allusions to the Old Testament, making too...

In this episode of the All of Life podcast, Nate Claiborne and Michael Allen dive into the New Testament book of Hebrews, offering background context and exploring its significance within Christian scripture. They describe Hebrews as a unique combination of sermon and letter, mysterious in its origins, and rich with Old Testament references—especially around themes of sacrifice, holiness, and Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of th...

In this episode, Nate Claiborne and Benjamin Kandt discuss the practice of engaging with Scripture as part of the Common Rhythm. The central theme revolves around prioritizing "Scripture before screens," emphasizing the importance of immersing oneself in God's word before being influenced by the myriad of voices from technology, social media, and daily distractions. Their discussion highlights the different ways peop...

In our latest episode of the All in Life Podcast, Nate Claiborne and Benjamin Kandt kick off by connecting Leviticus to Hebrews and lay the groundwork for the upcoming spring sermon series at NewCity. They also talk about the importance of the Nicene Creed and plan to record a few episodes later this spring unpacking the riches and depths of this statement of faith.

Later this season, there will also be episodes supporting...

In this episode, Damein Schitter discusses following Jesus in politics with Robert Cunningham. Robert is the founder and director of Christ for Kentucky, and the former Senior Pastor of Tates Creek Presbyterian Church. He and Damein were at Covenant Theological Seminary at the same time, and Robert is now a current Ph.D. candidate at the University of Leicester, researching the role of religion in America's founding era.
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In this episode, Senior Pastor Damein Schitter and Theologian in Residence Michael Allen tackle the question, "can Scripture truly govern the conscience, and what does that mean for preaching?" By diving into the Westminster Confession of Faith, they emphasize the immense responsibility preachers carry in conveying God's word accurately. They also uncover the advantages of expository preaching and discuss how the sym...

In this episode, Nate Claiborne talks with Michael Allen about the significance of holiness, not just as a theme in Leviticus, but as an important emphasis in the New Testament as well. They examine concept of holiness that threads through the sacrificial practices and the moral teachings of the holiness code. By shedding light on how these seemingly distinct sections of Leviticus are unified under the theme of holiness, they aim t...

In this episode, Damein Schitter sits down with Jay Sklar, who is Professor of Old Testament and Vice President of Academics at Covenant Theological Seminary. Their conversation tackles why Leviticus feels so daunting and seemingly irrelevant, from its legalistic nature to its cultural oddities and ritual focus. Dr Sklar passionately makes the case for its importance, emphasizing its pivotal role in the Pentateuch and shedding ligh...

In this episode, recorded live at our Following Jesus in Politics Learning Event, Pastor Damein Schitter interviews Todd Deatherage, Executive Director and Co-Founder of The Telos Group. Their mission is to form communities of American peacemakers across lines of difference, and equip them to help reconcile seemingly intractable conflicts at home and abroad. In this interview with Todd, we are hear about his background from a conse...

In this episode, Nate asked Pastor Damein about the vision for the upcoming season of the All of Life podcast. This season, we're building on the learning event and sermon series, Following Jesus in Politics. We'll have guests like Mike Allen on the role of preaching in Presbyterian thought, Todd Deathrage on steering through tough conversations, and Robert Cunningham on the nuanced world of public theology and political ...

In this episode, the second of our Psalms and Secure Attachment series, Nate Claiborne talks with Benjamin Kandt about more of the specifics of attachment theory. The core of attachment theory is the dynamic processes that nurture emotional and spiritual bonds: attunement, containment, and the dance of rupture and repair in relationships. 

Alongside this, we address the complexities of establishing a bond with a deity we c...

In this episode, Nate talks with Pastor of Formation & Mission Benjamin Kandt about the connection between attachment theory and the most widely used metaphor in the Psalms.

Nate and Ben unpack the concept of God as a refuge and its parallels with secure attachment. The Psalms unveil a portrait of God as a safe haven and a secure base, concepts so vital to our growth and sense of safety. Moreover, the linguistic shift ...