Fight Like Jesus, with Jason Porterfield: An Author Event by NCB’s Radix Live

We hosted an online conversation with Jason Porterfield, author of Fight Like Jesus (2022), a book that challenges readers to embrace the radical peacemaking of Christ. In this interactive event, Jason explored how Jesus waged peace throughout Holy Week, offering insight into the events leading to the cross—and what they mean for peacemaking today. Timely, indeed.

Guiding the conversation was Michael Barram, professor of theology and longtime advocate for justice and discipleship. Drawing from Jason’s years of ministry among the urban poor and his theological study, the dialogue helped us understand how we, too, can cultivate God’s shalom in a world desperate for peace.

After discussing his book—which has been described as a compelling narrative of Holy Week and a practical guide for everyday peacemaking—we invited questions from participants. For those who long for a faith that actively pursues reconciliation and justice, this conversation offered both challenge and encouragement.…

Centered-Set Church: An Author Event by NCB’s Radix Live

Our monthly NCB’s Radix Live event featured host Matthew Steem inviting Mark D. Baker to discuss his book, Centered-Set Church: Discipleship and Community Without Judgmentalism (IVP Academic, 2022). A "centered-set" was presented as an alternative to either a "bounded-set" (churches with hard boundaries that could repel newcomers or make it difficult for them to join) or a "fuzzy-set" (churches with so much inclusion that they lacked a vital sense of shared faith and identity).
This Radix Live event included a conversation between Mark and our two panelists, Steve Joh, with Arbor Communities (a ministry of Rewire), and Dustin Maddox, with North Fresno Church, who had implemented a centered-set approach in their ministries. Attendees were welcomed to ask questions – and, as you’ll see, there were some good ones!…

Midwinter Light with Marilyn McEntyre

In this interactive event, Marilyn shared the art of reading poetry, something she is especially skilled at. She also discussed how fluidity of thought and shifting perspectives shape our understanding and reflected on the place of meditative, poetic writing in today’s world. After discussing her latest book (part of a lineage of works exploring language and spirituality, poetry and prayer, faith and public discourse), we invited questions from participants.…

Is Your God Good? Special Guest Dave Jackson

In this timely—and thought-provoking!—conversation, Jackson addressed one of faith’s most challenging questions: how can we reconcile belief in a perfectly good God with the reality of suffering, unanswered prayers, and troubling depictions of God in Scripture? He also explored the character of God, the problem of evil, and the way Jesus Christ reframes our understanding of divine goodness.…