Q Ideas

How can partners mutually thrive? It can be hard for husbands and wives to work together in a way that is respectful and beneficial. As married co-pastors working together, Alex and Henry Seely model what it looks like to submit to one another in a relationship that shares a similar calling. Whether you work with your spouse or not, their stories and real-life experiences provide encouragement for couples who feel compelled to journey together in advancing good. Also, in many ways, the 21st century is a revolutionary age of opportunity for women. Along with owning 30% of American businesses, women currently make up 57% of college graduates and 63% of master's degree holders. But we can only look up to those whose stories we know. If we only pass the torch to the already successful, we have failed to share the vision. What does it look like to inspire the next generation of women? Nicole Baker Fulgham discusses the importance of sharing these stories with young girls whose vision is limited by economic cont

How do relationships transform people? When probation officer Tiffany Whittier was assigned to self-avowed white supremacist Michael Kent, an unlikely friendship developed, eventually leading Michael away from a life of racism. Tiffany and Michael will talk about building relationships in unexpected places and finding safe spaces to grow while standing firm in our convictions. Also, we often ask how to alleviate poverty.  PovertyCure director and host Michael Miller challenges us to re-imagine a solution to poverty. He explains that the real questions don't revolve around alleviating poverty but around creating prosperity for families and communities.

How is distrust eroding the sacred?   In what Barna calls “an erosion of the sacred,” Americans find it harder to trust authorities for guidance, including God. But in a society plagued by skepticism, “fake news,” and distrust, where can people turn for comfort and direction? David Kinnaman, president of the Barna Group, details these trends, offers hope in the midst of uncertainty, and explains how Christians can provide a hopeful presence for a culture that is floundering. Plus, while the world might offer only a vision for pursuing happiness at all costs, Christians can offer a better story. Christians can recognize the truth of people's pain, sit with it and imagine renewal through it. Founder of Q, Gabe Lyons challenges Christians to be part of shaping the cultural imagination.

Sex. In a world overwhelmingly obsessed with it, why is the church so silent about it? While our secular culture twists, perverts, cheapens, and idolizes sex, there are gaping holes in the church’s guidance of young people. The result is generations of sexually illiterate people drowning in the repercussions of overwhelming sin struggles. With raw vulnerability and a bold spirit, Mo Isom shares her own sexual testimony, opening up the conversation about misguided rule-following, virginity, temptation, porn, promiscuity, false sex-pectations, sex in marriage, and more and calling readers back to God’s original design for sex–a way to worship and glorify him. Plus, research suggests that pornography is a "new narcotic" with equally powerful effects on the brain as addictive drugs. In a globalized world, how can we overcome the temptations and tragedies of technology? Jefferson Bethke believes the answer lies within the problem. The voice of the viral YouTube video "Why I Love Jesus but Hate Religion," Jeff us

How Do We Overcome Our Prejudice? In society, racism is more prevalent than ever, engendering doubts, fears, suspicions, and even hostility about the “other.” LaTasha Morrison leads an organization dedicated to building bridges that span racial, experiential, and socio-economic divides. Her stories provide a framework through which we can engage others in a way that leads to reconciliation, peace, and mutual benefit to one another.  

Does God form us in all circumstances? Many of us who have experienced painful challenges know that God can find us in any place and any moment of our lives. Bianca Olthoff knows the depth of this truth firsthand. Working and worshiping with incarcerated women, Bianca speaks about creating church in prison and witnessing the power of God to forgive and bring new life. Also, more than 7 million Americans—1 in 31 adults—have been or are currently incarcerated. That’s the highest incarceration rate in the world. More often than not, those who are set free become repeat offenders within years or even months. Christians must begin discussing how we can help complete the restorative justice process by welcoming and training these individuals for vibrant post-prison lives.  Catherine Hoke shares with Gabe and Bryan Stevenson how she believes we can love those whose offenses might make them appear difficult to love.

Understanding our current cultural climate may feel like an impossible quest. Yet as Christians, we are called to be the ones who understand the times and know how to lead and offer hope. How can we make sense of the confusion and think soundly about the chaos? Greg Thompson, with a Ph.D in Theology, Ethics and Culture and as director of Thriving Cities, helps us find clarity and perspective so we are equipped to help others make sense of our unique cultural moment.

Many in our communities suffer from the rising air- and water-borne toxin levels in our local environments. From Asthma to Autism, one of the most hotly contested debates in the medical world today is, “How much does our polluted environment contribute to our diseases and sicknesses?” Gabe Lyons talks with Mitch Hescox of The Evangelical Environmental Network and Lyndsay Moseley of The American Lung Association's Healthy Air Campaign. Also, maps show how the poor disproportionately live in some of the worst environmental places. Resource economist and Tearfund advisor Rusty Pritchard helps us focus our understanding of place and space toward an awareness of the geography in which we live. He helps us understand how past decisions have created unjust environments for under-resourced people groups, and our opportunity to change this reality. What responsibilities do we have to ensure safe, healthy environments?

How do we navigate ideological diversity? Existing in an ideologically-diverse culture can be challenging, and often leads to individuals retreating behind their battle lines. David Coleman, President and Chief Executive Officer of The College Board, believes that institutional diversity, civil disagreement, and patience with others whose beliefs differ from yours creates the best learning environments.

We’ve seen over the last year the devastation inflicted on cities by natural disasters such as hurricanes and flooding. We’ll hear from two voices — a Houston pastor who helped mobilize resources in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, and a founder of a technology company helping people volunteer to meet the needs of their city. Rob and Chris will share their story of responding to local need.

What is possible when we risk in relationship? Krish Kandiah is the author of God is Stranger and the founding director of Home for Good, a charity seeking to make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable children. Believing we meet God when we welcome the stranger, Krish shares how an unscripted life helps us experience and trust God more fully. Also, what are things Christians can do on a practical level to bring a sense of community and caring back to their neighborhoods? Eugene Cho, Julie Mavis and Precious Jones share their insights from three very different perspectives and areas of influence.

The way we think about our life's work has the potential to advance good or to become self-referential. If we focus on understanding God's purposes and where we can join His work in the world, the results will be very different from self-focused individualism. Jo Saxton looks at the thin line between calling and narcissism offering Christians a way of viewing calling through the eyes of God. Also, life coach Pete Richardson talks with Gabe Lyons about why some people never pursue their calling.

How can the church be bold, yet beautiful? On the heels of the #metoo movement came #churchtoo — exposing the abuse, harassment, and misogyny taking place in churches, places where people should experience mutual support, leadership, and empowerment. Lisa Bevere shares how the New Testament shows people of different genders working together for the good of all.

Christians often talk about the common good but find it difficult to pursue it in a world of competing voices. Miroslav Volf claims the confusion stems from misunderstandings about human flourishing, abundant living and co-existing alongside adherents of other faiths. He explains how pursuing the common good in a pluralistic context doesn’t mean compromising our deeply held convictions.

Every year the number of churches closing their doors in America increases, the average age of church attendees goes up, and more Americans are ceasing to identify with any religion, especially Christianity. In a nation in which the church was once a dominant and unifying mainstay in America life, what does it look like to be the minority? Russell Moore, President of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, calls the Church to faithfulness in a post-Christian society.

People of faith differ on how much concern we should pay to the culture at hand, questioning what good can we really do engaging in a broken world. Can we really make a significant difference? Does God share these concerns? Every generation must answer these questions in the same way creatives, artisans, industry and civic leaders have done for two millennia. Tim Keller, New York Times bestselling author and outgoing pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City provides a fundamental perspective on why culture matters to God and therefore must matter to us.

We live in a world of broken relationships. From parent to child, employee to boss, neighbor to co-worker and husband to wife, we long for harmony but often it escapes us. New York Times bestselling author Lysa Terkeurst, wonders if the relationship disappointments we experience are opportunities for something more. Could God be at work in the unmet expectations, the misunderstood words and the long distances that creep in between life long friends? Also, Gabe talks with Jenni Allen of IF: Gatherings about how as women humbly live out their callings, their influence increases.

Gabe Lyons continues the discussion with writer and hip-hop artist, Sho Baraka about this year's Q Conference in Nashville April 11-13.  Baraka will be co-hosting the event.  More information at www.qideas.org/2018. Plus, theologian Stanley Hauerwas says that "the heart of the gospel is that you don't know Jesus without the witness of the Church." As church membership declines, will this witness be dampened?  Sho Baraka, explores the history of the Christian faith, why its growth has slowed in western societies, and how the Church can reclaim our role as witnesses of Christ.

As a special episode release, Sho Baraka and Gabe Lyons discuss the vision and mission behind the upcoming Q Conference, April 11-13 in Nashville. Listen in on a challenging conversation that sets up many of the important conversations we should be having as we thoughtfully navigate our changing culture. Q 2018 will prepare you to explore what renewal and faithfulness might look like in society.

One-third of people viewing porn are women, but this demographic is largely unaddressed when pornography addictions are discussed. Audrey Assad, a singer/songwriter and worship leader, is seeking to change that by transparently sharing her journey to overcome porn addiction. Audrey gives voice to an issue too often kept quiet, and bears witness to the power of freedom from addiction, even amidst a culture that condones porn and exploitation. Research suggests that pornography is a "new narcotic" with equally powerful effects on the brain as addictive drugs. In a globalized world, how can we overcome the temptations and tragedies of technology? Jefferson Bethke believes the answer lies within the problem. The voice of the viral YouTube video "Why I Love Jesus but Hate Religion," Jeff uses the internet as a positive means of confession and expression. His challenging talk will address a serious issue in today's society.