Welcome back to The Stoop Sessions where we have casual conversations about ministry on the Baltimore stoop. In each episode, Joel, Stephanie, and Eric talk through different topics and occasionally bring on a friend.

In this episode, Matt Martens join us on the stoop. Matt is trial lawyer and partner at an international law firm in Washington, DC. Over the past 25 years, he has practiced criminal law both as a federal prosecutor and as a defense attorney. Matt served as a law clerk to Chief Justice Rehnquist at the U.S. Supreme Court and also served as a political appointee in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Justice Department under Attorney General Ashcroft.

In many neighborhoods, such as the communities we seek to plant churches, incarceration rates are double or triple the community next door. Join us as Matt shares why he wrote the forthcoming book, Reforming Criminal Justice: A Christian Proposal. Matt believes reform within our criminal justice system is necessary, and he presents a solution. The Christian is called to love one’s neighbor as himself. Listen as Matt explains how this changes our approach to criminal justice.

Matt and his wife are members at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC, and have two sons and a daughter. 

Learn more about Matt Martens: Twitter @martensmatt1 Website: https://matthew-martens.com

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On one hand, the world increasingly disregards the Bible. God’s Word is not believed. On the other hand, Christians often minimize the necessity of Scripture in preaching, missions, and evangelism. Is the Bible needed?

The ONE HOPE Conference focuses on applying theology to urban ministry. As we anticipate our next ONE HOPE Conference on March 5, 2022, here’s a gem from year’s past. Shai Linne preached at the 2017 ONE HOPE Conference on the necessity of Scripture. In this episode, we present Shai’s message for your edification and enjoyment.

Join us for the ONE HOPE Conference: Faith Alone on March 5, 2022. Speakers include Shai Linne, Thabiti Anyabwile, Alejandro Molero, and Joel Kurz. Register at faithalone.eventbrite.com.

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“Discover your destiny.”

“Find your purpose."

We live in a world which has turned “purpose” into some mysterious secret you need to figure out. It grips many in our context. And it, strangely enough, gets tied up with our pride and the flesh. In a culture so obsessed with being seen as exceptional, driven to discover your purpose, the pressure to fulfill some yet unknown destiny becomes paralyzing. This week’s episode delves into the difference between purpose and calling, and whether the world’s wisdom aligns with the wisdom given in scripture. Are we left to forge our own path? What reasons does God have for choosing us at all? Do we contribute to His kingdom by having the right job which showcases our gifts? Listen as Stephanie, Eric, and Joel discuss our freedom as we move toward a destiny determined by God, and with the assurance that Christ’s success will overrule our insufficient record.

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Does theology matter in urban ministry? Most definitely. Healthy ministry in tough places isn’t driven by good programming, it’s driven by good theology. As we kick off year two, we want to focus on the topic of justification by faith. How can a sinner be right with God? Is it really by faith alone? The answer is more crucial than any other question we could ask ourselves. Yet we are prone to attach to our works to our justification. That Christ has done it all, can simply sound too good to be true. Understanding justification by faith begins with knowing our own hopelessness. A clean outward appearance is useless, unless we are washed in the blood of Christ. On this episode, Stephanie, Joel, and Eric dive into the doctrine of justification by faith, exploring its impact for the urban context.

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Watch for updates on ONE HOPE Conference: Faith Alone at faithalone.eventbrite.com

The church is weakened when its mission is unclear. Is the mission of the church simply to make disciples? Or is it also expanding or ushering in God’s kingdom? How does community transformation relate to our mission? Is it the church’s mission to paint every fence and feed every belly? If not, should the church do these things anyway? It is easy to confuse the church’s mission, and start acting as if we are God, instead of relying on God. In this episode, the Joel, Eric, and Stephanie discuss the primary mission of the church, as well as, the nuanced role it plays in the community. As the church makes disciples, disciples “love their neighbor.” And things change. Listen in and join the conversation!

This week’s episode looks at another common excuse used to reject the gospel: God knows my heart. Many cling to the belief that salvation can be found in having good intentions, in being “less wicked” than your neighbor, in the hope that good deeds will outweigh the bad. God does know our heart, but do we? Are we autonomous and good intentioned, or actually in bondage to sin? To recognize our guilt without hope is a burden that crushes the spirit, overwhelmed with the reality that we are never going to be good enough. Listen as Eric, Joel, and Stephanie examine the phrase “God knows my heart” through a theological and Biblical worldview. But they don’t stop with a critique. The Stoop crew presents a Savior who can remove our hearts marred by sin, and replace in us, a heart that holds the promise of eternal life.