Modern Cloister

How To Use The Psalms

In this episode, we discuss how the psalms were used historically within the church and share practical insights into how to use the psalms today in both corporate and private worship and prayer. This includes several on-air, live examples of praying and singing the psalms.

This is the 2nd episode in our series on the psalms. In the 1st episode, we provided an overview of the psalms, including their history, organization, difficulties, themes, language style and poetic nature, along with our personal stories in coming to love and appreciate the psalms.

You can listen to that episode below:
A Guide to Understanding the Psalms

If you're new to the Modern Cloister, check out our first full series on community via the links below and listen to our introductory episode to learn all about the "why" behind our podcast. 

Welcome to the Modern Cloister
A History of Christian Community
The Decline of Community
The Future of Community
The Impact of COVID-19 on Community

Remember to rate, review and subscribe to be the first to get our newest episodes! And connect with us to share your thoughts and feedback at moderncloister@gmail.com. 

A Guide to Understanding the Psalms

In the first episode in our series on the psalms, we discuss the significant value and purpose of the psalms in both the private worship and prayer lives of Christians and the corporate life of the church. During the conversation, we cover their history, organization, difficulties, language style and poetic nature, themes, and also share our personal stories in coming to love and appreciate the psalms. 

Below are our reviews of the books mentioned in the episode:

How To Read The Psalms
Learning To Love The Psalms
Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God

If you're new to the Modern Cloister, check out our first full series on community via the links below and listen to our introductory episode to learn all about the "why" behind our podcast. 

Welcome to the Modern Cloister
A History of Christian Community
The Decline of Community
The Future of Community
The Impact of COVID-19 on Community

Remember to rate, review and subscribe to be the first to get our newest episodes! And connect with us to share your thoughts and feedback at moderncloister@gmail.com. 

In The News: Losing Our Religion, Refugee Cap, Human-Monkey Embryo, Women Songwriters, and Dawkins Excommunicated

In this "In The News" episode, we discuss a recent Gallup poll showing church membership dropped below 50% for the first time, Biden's failure to raise the refugee cap, the first monkey-human embryo, women songwriters, and Richard Dawkins losing the "Human of the Year" award. 

Resources mentioned during the episode:

Gallup Poll 
U.S. Church Membership Falls Below Majority for First Time
Losing Our Religion by Russell Moore
Politics Podcast: Americans Are Losing Their Religion. That’s Changing Politics
Modern Cloister: The Decline of Community
Modern Cloister: The Future of Community

Refugee Ceiling
How Evangelicals Pushed Back on Biden’s Refugee Reversal
Biden reverses course on refugee cap after faith groups express outrage
Book Review: Seeking Refuge -- On the Shores of the Global Refugee Crisis 

The nonprofit we mentioned is World Relief, an evangelical nonprofit that serves and advocates for the world’s most vulnerable people, and this work includes refugee resettlement. For those interested, we encourage you to check out their work. In full disclosure, we have both donated to and volunteered with them. 

Medical Ethics
First Monkey–Human Embryos Reignite Debate Over Hybrid Animals

Women Songwriters 
Brave Worship Podcast

Richard Dawkins
Richard Dawkins Loses ‘Humanist of the Year’ Title Over Trans Comments

The Impact of COVID-19 on Community

In this episode of the Modern Cloister, we discuss the significant impact of COVID-19 on community over the past year, both inside and outside the church, and share personal stories about our experiences living through the pandemic. This is the 4th and final episode in our series on community. The 1st covered the history of Christian community, the 2nd focused on the decline of community from the 1950s to present day, and the 3rd discussed the future of community within the church. 

The Future of Community

In this episode of the Modern Cloister, we discuss trends and projections for where the church is headed, along with our thoughts and commentary on the opportunity we have as Christians to influence the future of both the church and Christian community over the next decade. This is the 3rd episode in our series on community. The 1st covered the history of Christian community and the 2nd focused on the decline of community from the 1950s to present day.

Resources mentioned in this episode: 

• Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
  This is the book mentioned at the end of the podcast, for anyone interested in further reading.

In The News: Atlanta Spa Shootings, Beth Moore, Audrey Assad, and Evangelicals Least Likely to Care for Others

In this "In The News" episode of the Modern Cloister, we discuss the Atlanta Spa Shootings, Beth Moore's departure from the Southern Baptist Convention, Audrey Assad leaving the faith, and recent survey results that show evangelicals are the least likely group of society to care for others.

[Please note - we experienced audio quality issues when recording this episode and will ensure those are fixed by next time. Thanks for your understanding.]

Resources mentioned in the episode:

• ‘A crime against us all’: Atlanta mayor condemns deadly spa shooting spree
• Stop Asian Hate: How We Got Here and What We Need to Do
• Russell Moore's letter regarding Beth Moore's departure from the SBC
• The Spiritual Problem at the Heart of Christian Vaccine Refusal

 

The Decline of Community

In this episode of the Modern Cloister, we discuss the decline of community in America from the 1950s through present day from the perspective of both contemporary society and the modern church. This is the 2nd episode in our series on community. The 1st covered the history of Christian community.

A History of Christian Community

In this episode of the Modern Cloister, we discuss the history of Christian community, exploring what both the Old and New Testaments show us about community and how the early church existed in community together. This is the 1st episode in our series on community. 

Welcome to the Modern Cloister

Welcome to the Modern Cloister! In this brief introductory episode, you'll hear about our purpose and vision of cultivating deeper thinkers and worshipers and learn the meaning behind our name and how it's emblematic of the type of community we hope to create through the Modern Cloister podcast.