Caffeinated Christianity

Our Personal Influences

Cooper Short — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 21:22:03 +0000

The Boys have been real busy, so it's been a while since they talked. But on this episode of Caffeinated Christianity, the Boys have a conversation about our personal influences-- pastors, authors, podcasts, you name it. We recorded this before the end of March Madness, so feel free to skip the intro unless you want to see how right or wrong we were. Your call. #NoDoubt

Church Membership

Cooper Short — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 21:08:20 +0000

Joining a church is really important, but for many people that entire idea can be misunderstood, complicated, or carry a lot of baggage. Maybe you have no qualms with church membership. Maybe you've never considered it. Maybe you think it's like Costco. No matter what you think, this episode will dispel any and all myths surrounding church membership. We think it's important, and we think you should think it's important. Humor us for about an hour to hear why. #ThanksMarkDever

The Ordinary Means of Grace

Cooper Short — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 21:04:12 +0000

Have you ever stopped to think about what exactly your church does? When you think of what your church should be doing, do you think of programs? Preaching? Benevolence? All of the above? On this episode of the Bible Belt Boys, Caleb and Cooper take a deep dive into the ordinary means of grace-- a fancy term to describe many things your church probably already does. But as they make the case here, perhaps your church could do them even better.

Assurance of Salvation

Cooper Short — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 20:54:55 +0000

If you have spent any time around evangelical Christianity, particularly Southern Baptists, then you have likely heard some talk of being "once saved, always saved!" We refer to this as the assurance of your salvation. On this episode, this is exactly what we tackle. Is your salvation secure? How do you know that? When you should you start to worry? Who will win the NCAA tournament? Find the answers to all that and more on this episode of *checks notes* Caffeinated Christianity.

Things that plague our context — part 2

Cooper Short — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 18:29:21 +0000

Caleb and Cooper both pastor Bible Belt churches in the Bible Belt-- redundant, we know. But this particular context in and of itself comes with some of its own unique challenges. And it actually changes the way the ministry can and should be done. On this two-part podcast conversation, the Bible Belt Boys drill down … Continue reading Things that plague our context — part 2 →

Things that plague our context — part 1

Cooper Short — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 18:13:09 +0000

Caleb and Cooper both pastor Bible Belt churches in the Bible Belt-- redundant, we know. But this particular context in and of itself comes with some of its own unique challenges. And it actually changes the way the ministry can and should be done. On this two-part podcast conversation, the Bible Belt Boys drill down on some of the unique challenges that plague the Bible Belt churches many of you may attend.

The Bible Belt Boys: the Introduction

Cooper Short — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 16:21:19 +0000

On this here inaugural episode of the Bible Belt Boys, Caleb and Cooper talk about snow, planning services, who they are, what they do, and the life and legacy of Thomas Broom. Time stamps: (0:00-12:35) Snow and services (12:36) The origin of the Bible Belt Boys (16:42) Caleb's background (19:15) Cooper's background (24:45) Our friend Thomas Broom

Coffee With Friends #12: Things Christians Say — Part 2

Cooper Short — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 16:07:24 +0000

Christians are guilty of saying all sorts of things-- including us. And sometimes, some of the things we say are, well, goofy. Or theologically incorrect. Or something in between. The Boys have another two-parter where they discuss all sorts of things Christians say, all sorts of quippy things they come up with. Everyone is guilty of saying something wrong, but of course, the three of us never do! Enjoy!

Coffee With Friends #11: Things Christians Say — Part 1

Cooper Short — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 16:04:36 +0000

Coffee With Friends #10: Membership — Part 2

Cooper Short — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 19:28:35 +0000

Church membership is extremely important, and for many people, something they know a little bit about. But what is the importance in church membership? How should churches practice it? What are the good and bad things about certain membership ideas? Does membership even matter? This podcast has two parts because the Boys have a lengthy roundtable discussion about it, covering a wide range of topics. This is probably one of our best chats. We hope you enjoy.

Coffee With Friends #9: Church Membership — Part 1

Cooper Short — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 19:20:08 +0000

Coffee With Friends #8: Church History w/ MattGPT

Cooper Short — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 20:57:32 +0000

On this episode of CWF, Friend of the Show and Chaperone of the Year MattGPT joins the Boys for a bonafide nerd fest. This discussion is centered around Church History. We discuss Church History facts and figures, what's interesting to us, and most importantly we answer this question: why is learning church history important? History is important, and it's really important for Christians. You will also learn pretty quickly how and why Matt has earned his nickname. Long live John Harmon Melton!

Coffee With Friends #7: Merry Christmas!

Cooper Short — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 13:28:12 +0000

On this episode of Coffee With Friends, the Boys are back with Friend of the Show Gabe Short to discuss all things Christmas. Specifically, we get into the traditions and implications of the Christmas Holiday. But that all comes after a debate over the future of the Chiefs and the Panthers playoff hopes. Also, for about 8 minutes in the middle, the microphone is picking up someone's heart beat, so don't freak out when you hear it. Anyway, Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night! #EggNog

Coffee With Friends #6: Christian Athletes & Celebrities

Cooper Short — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 21:00:52 +0000

There are famous people online and on television constantly referring to their faith, to God, to Jesus, to various other things related to or adjacent to Christianity. How is it that we should think about these things? Do we need to think deeply about this? Does it really matter? Should Jameis Winston pastor my church? Join the Boys plus friend of the show Gabe as they think through famous Christians and what that means for us-- not-so-famous Christians.

Coffee With Friends #5: Spiritual Discipline — Prayer & Meditation

Cooper Short — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 20:09:46 +0000

On this episode, we talk about prayer, mediation, and some other things. Prayer and mediation-- what are those? Is meditation something Christians do? Does my prayer life need to be ceremonial and routine? What does it mean to pray without ceasing? We answer those questions and more on this episode of Coffee With Friends. #Pray #Praysomemore #MeditationIsntHumming

Coffee With Friends #4: Spiritual Discipline — Bible Intake

Cooper Short — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 14:36:47 +0000

If you have been around a local church-- or around the three of us-- then you have likely been encouraged to read your Bible. What does that look like? What does it accomplish? How do you pull it off? Is it easy to read or hard to read? We talk about all that and more on this episode. #ESV #JohnsAHeretic (0:00-5:40) Intro and Christmas Chatter (5:45-13:41) Biblical foundations (why read the Bible?) (13:45- 24:59) What our daily routines look like (25:00-32:00) How to get started reading the Bible (32:01-38:00) Bible Translations (38:01-End) Other Bible intake methods and more conversation

Coffee With Friends #3: Roundtable — Christian Music

Cooper Short — Fri, 28 Nov 2025 16:02:22 +0000

Join the Boys plus Gabe Short on this episode to discuss Christian Music. There are some hot takes, some good discussion on best practices, and some general banter. (0:00-3:00) — Intro & Special Guest (3:01-4:25) Is music in the Bible? (4:30-End) Christian Music Hot Takes & General Discussion

Coffee With Friends #2: Evangelism & Discipleship in Gen Z

Cooper Short — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 18:21:49 +0000

On this episode of Coffee With Friends, special guest, friend of the show, and Cooper's little brother Gabe joins The Boys for a lengthy discussion on evangelism and discipleship in Gen Z and the local church in general. Gabe talks about his time at UNCW and his local church there, their evangelism efforts, and what he sees on the ground. Then, there's a round-table discussion on mission, tactics, what we see happening, and what local churches can do to get in on the harvest. If you want to skip the football banter, start listening at about 10 minutes. Times: (0:00-9:15) — College football banter (10:30-17:50) — Gabe’s experience with church and Evangelism at UNCW - (18:00-25:30) —Biblical foundations for evangelism and discipleship (25:31-26:40) — what is evangelism and discipleship? (26:45-44:00) — What actually works in evangelism and discipleship? Why is the “harvest plentiful”? (44:05) — What doesn’t work and what does to reach the next generation?

Coffee With Friends #1: The Boys

Cooper Short — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 01:14:21 +0000

Welcome to the Coffee With Friends podcast. Join Lucas, John Harmon, and Cooper as they introduce themselves, introduce the pod, and talk about where and how God has called them into vocational ministry.

Ep. 55: How do we know the Bible is true?

Cooper Short — Wed, 14 Sep 2022 17:28:41 +0000

The Bible is awesome. The Bible also gets constantly used and misused. Some people value it. Others don't. Lots of people read it. But the key question is this: is the Bible actually true? Is it a reliable collection of historical documents or is it an amalgamation of fairytales and good advice? Well... let's find … Continue reading Ep. 55: How do we know the Bible is true? →

Ep. 54: How to Read your Bible

Cooper Short — Wed, 14 Sep 2022 17:13:00 +0000

Photo by John-Mark Smith on Pexels.com Many of us have been told countless times, "Read your Bible!" This is all good and well. But do you actually know how to read your Bible? Do you know what that looks like? In this episode, we break down why we read the Bible, how Jesus viewed scripture, … Continue reading Ep. 54: How to Read your Bible →

Ep. 53: [Myth #5] Mental Health isn’t a big deal for Christians.

Cooper Short — Wed, 12 May 2021 18:47:02 +0000

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Many people would presumably say that mental health struggles are not a big deal for Christians. Surely, they have all the resources and solutions in the world, right? They're hurting? Let's just toss them a Bible verse. On this episode, we are dispelling the myth that mental health doesn't … Continue reading Ep. 53: [Myth #5] Mental Health isn’t a big deal for Christians. →

Ep. 52: [Myth #4] “God knows I’m not perfect… and that’s just fine with Him.”

Cooper Short — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 16:40:11 +0000

Many, if not all, of us have even guilty of qualifying our mistakes. We say things like, "Well, God knows I'm not perfect... listen, I know I'm not perfect.... that's okay, nobody is perfect..." And don't get me wrong-- all of these things are true. But truthfully, is this an okay thing? Should we just … Continue reading Ep. 52: [Myth #4] “God knows I’m not perfect… and that’s just fine with Him.” →

Ep. 51: [Myth #3] The real world is ruining our Christian kids!

Cooper Short — Mon, 19 Apr 2021 19:31:46 +0000

Many people are convinced that the "real world"-- whatever that even means-- is ruining our kids, our church members, etc. Here, we are going to talk about why in the world that is really probably not the case. Check out the blog for this podcast here. Welcome to Caffeinated Christianity. We are a site dedicated … Continue reading Ep. 51: [Myth #3] The real world is ruining our Christian kids! →

Ep. 50: [Myth #2] As long as God is on the schedule, I’m doing just fine.

Cooper Short — Fri, 01 Jan 2021 01:29:15 +0000

Photo by Suzy Hazelwood on Pexels.com We all thought that maybe 2020 would help us get a lot of our priorities straight. Maybe, it did. For a lot of believers, it didn't. On this episode of Caffeinated Christianity, step into a bit of the philosophical as we wrestle with the idea of priorities, why God … Continue reading Ep. 50: [Myth #2] As long as God is on the schedule, I’m doing just fine. →

Ep. 49: [Myth #1] The Christian life is supposed to be covered in bubble wrap… right?

Cooper Short — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 15:49:39 +0000

Photo by Andrew Neel on Pexels.com 2020 has been quite the year, and it's not even over yet. Many things have happened, begging us to ask the question: was it really supposed to be that hard? Doesn't God want us to be more successful than this? Find out more as we tackle our first myth … Continue reading Ep. 49: [Myth #1] The Christian life is supposed to be covered in bubble wrap… right? →

Ep. 48: The Myths of Christianity

Cooper Short — Wed, 11 Nov 2020 17:43:44 +0000

We could say, "Hey, the Loch Ness monster is going to eat your boat!" But you won't believe us when we say that. Why? You know the Loch Ness monster isn't real-- it's a myth. On this new series of podcasts, we're going to walk through the myths of Christianity. You won't find the Bigfoot … Continue reading Ep. 48: The Myths of Christianity →

Ep. 47: The Ten Commandments — Honor Your Parents [Promises]

Cooper Short — Tue, 05 May 2020 14:50:47 +0000

https://youtu.be/BEyRqqDB25E I love my parents. Chances are, you do, too. So, if that is the case, why did God go out of His way to tell us we need to honor our parents. And why also does this commandment come with a promise-- unlike the several commandments before it? I tackle this on more on … Continue reading Ep. 47: The Ten Commandments — Honor Your Parents [Promises] →

Ep. 46: The Ten Commandments — “Honor the Sabbath” [Don’t Watch Netflix]

Cooper Short — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 15:09:16 +0000

https://youtu.be/nTc6QkDELwk Audio Only On this episode of the podcast, we are back with the next installment of the series on the 10 Commandments. In Exodus 20, beginning in verse 8, God commands the Israelites to honor the Sabbath Day (the Seventh Day of the Week) as He did and rest-- shabbat. What does mean for … Continue reading Ep. 46: The Ten Commandments — “Honor the Sabbath” [Don’t Watch Netflix] →

Ep. 45: The Ten Commandments — You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain…

Cooper Short — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 23:34:04 +0000

https://youtu.be/cwVONgnU2y4 Audio Only On this episode of the podcast, we are going to be looking at the third commandment-- taking God's name in vain. We've all been told what this means growing up, but perhaps it's not really what you think it means. Check out our next episode of the Caffeinated Christianity podcast here, on … Continue reading Ep. 45: The Ten Commandments — You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain… →

Sermon — Nature vs. Nurture — 1 John 2:28-3:3

Cooper Short — Fri, 21 Feb 2020 02:34:13 +0000

https://youtu.be/rvdBCh0dDrE Audio Only This is a sermon given by me, Cooper Short, at Bethel Baptist Church in Laurens, SC. This is a part of a series walking through 1 John. At the time of this posting, I am serving as pulpit supply for Bethel Baptist while finishing my undergraduate at Presbyterian College in South Carolina. … Continue reading Sermon — Nature vs. Nurture — 1 John 2:28-3:3 →

Sermon — Key Words — 1 John 2:18-27

Cooper Short — Fri, 21 Feb 2020 00:07:01 +0000

https://youtu.be/k0IGgkrvnoQ Audio only This is a sermon given by me, Cooper Short, at Bethel Baptist Church in Laurens, SC. This is a part of a series walking through 1 John. At the time of this posting, I am serving as pulpit supply for Bethel Baptist while finishing my undergraduate at Presbyterian College in South Carolina. … Continue reading Sermon — Key Words — 1 John 2:18-27 →

Sermon — Same and Different — 1 John 2:12-17

Cooper Short — Fri, 21 Feb 2020 00:05:21 +0000

https://youtu.be/0L9LoiY5AXc Audio only This is a sermon given by me, Cooper Short, at Bethel Baptist Church in Laurens, SC. This is a part of a series walking through 1 John. At the time of this posting, I am serving as pulpit supply for Bethel Baptist while finishing my undergraduate at Presbyterian College in South Carolina. … Continue reading Sermon — Same and Different — 1 John 2:12-17 →

Ep. 44: The Ten Commandments — “You shall not make for yourself a carved image…”

Cooper Short — Thu, 20 Feb 2020 23:29:27 +0000

https://youtu.be/dY0cWVlIs0s Audio Only Full disclaimer: I took some interpretive (with a little research) freedom on this one. On this episode, we are talking about making carved images. No, this isn't art class. It won't be high quality, but it sure will be fun. #JohnOneFive Welcome to Caffeinated Christianity. We are a site dedicated to one … Continue reading Ep. 44: The Ten Commandments — “You shall not make for yourself a carved image…” →

Ep. 43: The 10 Commandments — Idolatry

Cooper Short — Thu, 13 Feb 2020 21:20:22 +0000

On this episode of the podcast and video cast, we are tackling the first commandment of the 10-- "You shall have no other gods before me." It's not our natural inclination to think of ourselves as pagan idolaters, but I think the case can be made that we pretty much are. Check it out now! … Continue reading Ep. 43: The 10 Commandments — Idolatry →

Sermon — Love Kills — 1 John 2:7-11

Cooper Short — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 20:52:48 +0000

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bu4hrVqmWw Here is a sermon given by me, Cooper Short, on 1 John 2:7-11. I preached this at Bethel Baptist Church in Laurens, SC. This is a part of a series walking through 1 John. At the time of this posting, I am serving as pulpit supply for Bethel Baptist while finishing my undergraduate at … Continue reading Sermon — Love Kills — 1 John 2:7-11 →

Ep. 42: The 10 Commandments — Intro

Cooper Short — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 00:26:39 +0000

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EagIHBjvxrM We are finally an audio and video podcast. I'm no sure if that's good or bad. Let's just say good for now! On this inaugural episode of the Caffeinated Christianity Podcast, we are going to kickoff a series on the 10 Commandments. I'm sure you've heard them before, but you've never heard-- or seen-- … Continue reading Ep. 42: The 10 Commandments — Intro →

Sermon — Walk as He Walked — 1 John 2:1-6

Cooper Short — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 23:33:06 +0000

Here is a sermon I gave as part of a series on 1 John. At the time of this posting, I am serving as pulpit supply for Bethel Baptist Church in Laurens, SC. This series is my first sermon series ever. All feedback is welcome as I am learning the ropes of this whole preaching … Continue reading Sermon — Walk as He Walked — 1 John 2:1-6 →

Sermon — Let’s be honest… — 1 John 1:5-10

Cooper Short — Thu, 16 Jan 2020 22:12:06 +0000

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsieMsGos68 Here is a sermon I gave as part of a series on 1 John. At the time of this posting, I am serving as pulpit supply for Bethel Baptist Church in Laurens, SC. This series is my first sermon series ever. All feedback is welcome as I am learning the ropes of this whole … Continue reading Sermon — Let’s be honest… — 1 John 1:5-10 →

Sermon — Introduction to First John — 1 John 1:1-4

Cooper Short — Thu, 16 Jan 2020 22:10:49 +0000

Here is a sermon I gave to begin a series on 1 John. At the time of this posting, I am serving as pulpit supply for Bethel Baptist Church in Laurens, SC. This series is my first sermon series ever. All feedback is welcome as I am learning the ropes of this whole preaching thing. … Continue reading Sermon — Introduction to First John — 1 John 1:1-4 →

Ep. 41: The Story of Us — Consummation

Cooper Short — Thu, 16 Jan 2020 22:06:58 +0000

We have taken quite a long time to tell one story. I know, I know... you're bored by now. But this is our final episode of the series! We have been walking through what are, in my view, the six major parts of the Story of the Bible-- the Story of Us. Here on this … Continue reading Ep. 41: The Story of Us — Consummation →

Ep. 40: The Story of Us — Expectation

Cooper Short — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 17:00:23 +0000

We're back. We started a Story in September. Due to some technical difficulties, we are still en route to finishing that story. Please extend some grace for our absence. The Bible is one big, interwoven story of redemption that Christ created for humanity. This is the story of us as people-- not just historical people. … Continue reading Ep. 40: The Story of Us — Expectation →

Ep. 39.5: An Update From Cooper

Cooper Short — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 15:53:15 +0000

I've been on administrative leave due to some technical difficulties with recordings and all that jazz. I also chose to take a huge load of classes while also playing a college sport. Silly me! Check out this quick update on what's been happening. More content is on the way!

Ep. 39: The Story of Us — Salvation

Cooper Short — Wed, 09 Oct 2019 16:46:16 +0000

We're back, and of course, it's not in a timely manner. Please, do not criticize-- I'm a busy person. On this episode, we are in stage 4 of the Story of Us. We've talked about creation. We've talked about this creation being broken by sin. This sin puts us in a frustrating cycle. The only … Continue reading Ep. 39: The Story of Us — Salvation →

Ep. 38: The Story of Us — Frustration

Cooper Short — Thu, 26 Sep 2019 17:18:58 +0000

The Bible is one, big story. It's a story of history, yes. But it's also the story of you, me, and everyone else. In the first episode, we looked at creation. Last episode, we looked at devastation-- sin. On this episode, we are taking a look at the third part of the story: frustration. The … Continue reading Ep. 38: The Story of Us — Frustration →

Ep. 37: the Story of Us — Devastation

Cooper Short — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 18:13:36 +0000

The Bible is one big story. On the last podcast, we talked about the first part of this story: Creation. God created the world to be perfect and awesome. Creation as we know it today is still pretty spectacular. But there is something off. There is still war. There is still pain. Something happened to … Continue reading Ep. 37: the Story of Us — Devastation →

Coffee With Friends #8: Gavin James

Cooper Short — Thu, 12 Sep 2019 16:16:21 +0000

On this installment of Coffee With Friends, for one, there is actually coffee being consumed during the recording. That's probably a first. I got to sit down and talk to a teammate and friend of mine, Gavin James, about something very unique-- metal music. We talked about metal culture, Gavin's own metal band, and more. … Continue reading Coffee With Friends #8: Gavin James →

Ep. 36: The Story of Us — Creation

Cooper Short — Thu, 12 Sep 2019 16:16:14 +0000

I am back from my accidental sabbatical. My life has been doing 1200 things since July, and not one of those things is slowing down. Caffeinated Christianity is still alive and well. I'm fired up. On this episode, we are going to be kicking off a new series (I really like series, don't I?) on … Continue reading Ep. 36: The Story of Us — Creation →

Coffee With Friends #7: Keith Schmutzler

Cooper Short — Wed, 07 Aug 2019 17:49:04 +0000

On this next episode of CWF, I got to sit down with Keith Schumtzler, another native Illinoisan. Keith and I talked about the call t0 ministry, preaching, bi-vocational pastoring, small churches, and more. Check it out now!

Coffee With Friends #6: Sue Barlow

Cooper Short — Wed, 07 Aug 2019 17:46:47 +0000

On this installment of Coffee With Friends, we are interviewing Sue Barlow, a native Illinoisan. Sue Barlow works for a local insurance agency. I got the chance to sit down with Sue and talk about the intersectionality between faith and working in the secular workforce. Check it out!

Ep. 35: the Cornfield Chronicles — Episode 8… The Finale

Cooper Short — Fri, 02 Aug 2019 19:15:44 +0000

The Finale is here. On episode 8 of the Cornfield Chronicles, we recap the trip, we talk bibles (again), CHH (of course), and fight through the tears to give my takeaways from this wonderful summer. Thank you to Forsyth Baptist Church for being an 8-episode podcast series. And thanks be to God for letting me … Continue reading Ep. 35: the Cornfield Chronicles — Episode 8… The Finale →

Sermon – July 21, 2019 – Tick Tock

Cooper Short — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 19:24:26 +0000

Here is a sermon I gave on July 21, 2019, at Forsyth Baptist Church in Forsyth, Illinois. The passage I preached on was 2 Timothy 4:1-5.

Ep. 34: The Cornfield Chronicles — Episode 7

Cooper Short — Wed, 24 Jul 2019 15:17:05 +0000

The corn is getting tall. The tales are getting taller. On this episode of the Cornfield Chronicles, it's a lot of the same, but also a lot of new things. I talk about Bibles, preaching, Christian rap, crying, my little sister, and so much more. Oh, and peep the new instrumental at the end. I … Continue reading Ep. 34: The Cornfield Chronicles — Episode 7 →

Ep. 33: The Cornfield Chronicles — Episode 6

Cooper Short — Wed, 17 Jul 2019 18:40:08 +0000

Yes, indeed. We are back with the sixth installment of the Cornfield Chronicles. God called me to the state of Illinois this summer to serve as an interim pastor. This series is my audio diary of what's been going on during this process. On this episode, we talk about Bibles, Antiques, the Stoning of Stephen, … Continue reading Ep. 33: The Cornfield Chronicles — Episode 6 →

Sermon – July 7, 2019 – The Real Deal

Cooper Short — Wed, 17 Jul 2019 02:29:45 +0000

Here is a sermon I gave at Forsyth Baptist Church in Forsyth, Illinois, on the Acts 7:54-60.

Sermon – June 30, 2019 – The Bible vs. You

Cooper Short — Wed, 17 Jul 2019 02:27:51 +0000

Here is a sermon I gave at Forsyth Baptist Church in Forsyth, Illinois, on John 8:31-32.

Sermon – June 23, 2019 – Grace? Grace died 2000 years ago!

Cooper Short — Wed, 17 Jul 2019 02:24:08 +0000

Here is a sermon I gave at Forsyth Baptist Church in Forsyth, Illinois, on Jeremiah 32:36-44.

Sermon – June 9, 2019 – David & Goliath & You

Cooper Short — Wed, 17 Jul 2019 02:21:18 +0000

Here is a sermon I gave on June 9, 2019, at Forsyth Baptist Church in Forsyth, Illinois, on the story of David and Goliath.

Ep. 32: The Cornfield Chronicles — Episode 5

Cooper Short — Fri, 12 Jul 2019 21:10:19 +0000

We're back, folks-- Week 5 of the Cornfield Chronicles! On this episode of the Cornfield Chronicles, I cover several things. I talk about my family. I talk about St. Louis. I talk about plumbing. I talk about fireworks. I even throw a couple Bible verses in there. Check it out! If you haven't listened to … Continue reading Ep. 32: The Cornfield Chronicles — Episode 5 →

Ep. 31: The Cornfield Chronicles — Episode 4

Cooper Short — Wed, 03 Jul 2019 15:05:08 +0000

Welcome back to the third episode of the Cornfield Chronicles. This summer, God called me to serve as an interim pastor in Forsyth, Illinois. Newsflash: it's very far from home. Instead of casually sneaking things about the experience in my other podcasts, I decided to make a series of podcasts on what I'm doing here … Continue reading Ep. 31: The Cornfield Chronicles — Episode 4 →

Ep. 30: The Cornfield Chronicles — Episode 3

Cooper Short — Fri, 28 Jun 2019 15:06:07 +0000

Ep. 29: The Cornfield Chronicles — Episode 2

Cooper Short — Wed, 19 Jun 2019 11:21:55 +0000

We're back and better than ever. On this second episode of the Cornfield Chronicles, I go over week two. I talk about church membership. I talk about McDonald's. I talk about a guy named Keith. And of course, I talk about Jesus. Come check it out!

Ep. 28: The Cornfield Chronicles — Episode 1

Cooper Short — Wed, 12 Jun 2019 14:58:28 +0000

Welcome to the first episode of the Cornfield Chronicles. I'm on a 2-month journey in Illinois to serve as an interim pastor. I couldn't fit you all in my car. So, we are going to be sharing this experience digitally. On this first episode, I'm laying some of the groundwork-- how I got here and … Continue reading Ep. 28: The Cornfield Chronicles — Episode 1 →

Coffee With Friends #5: Jonathan Bundon

Cooper Short — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 15:00:48 +0000

On this next installment of "Coffee With Friends," I get to ask Dr. Jonathan Bundon about everything from harmonicas, to praise and worship genres, to Christian rap music. Come listen to us chat about worship!

Coffee With Friends #4: Jeff Johnson

Cooper Short — Wed, 29 May 2019 16:08:51 +0000

Welcome back to another episode of "Coffee With Friends." On this installment, we are talking to Jeff Johnson. Jeff is the missions pastor at First Baptist Church Kings Mountain in Kings Mountain, NC. He's also a former Floridian and frisbee junkie. I got to interview Jeff about what missions are, what their role is in … Continue reading Coffee With Friends #4: Jeff Johnson →

Ep. 27: Which Bible Do You Read? – NKJV, RV, NIrV, MSG, & ICB

Cooper Short — Wed, 22 May 2019 18:28:21 +0000

We're rounding out the series on Bible translations! Come spend some brain cells with me while we address the New King James, Reina Valera, New International Reader's Version, Message, and International Children's Bible! It's a nerdy time! || Sources used: thomasnelsonbibles.org, tommynelson.org, thenivbible.com, messagebible.com, and biblegateway.com ||

Ep. 26: Which Bible Do You Read? – NLT, ESV, & CSB

Cooper Short — Wed, 08 May 2019 22:51:40 +0000

On this episode, we are still tackling the top 10 best-selling translations of the Bible. Here, I break down the NLT, ESV, and CSB. There's a little bit of history. There's a little bit of reading. There's a lot of Bible. It's a great time. || Sources used: tyndale.com, esv.org, and csbible.com

Coffee With Friends #3: Chris Amond

Cooper Short — Wed, 08 May 2019 21:21:25 +0000

Welcome back to our latest installment of "Coffee With Friends." On this episode, we are interviewing Chris Amond about when, where, how, and why we share the Gospel. Chris has got some great things to say. Give it a listen!

Ep. 25: Which Bible do you read? – NIV & KJV

Cooper Short — Wed, 01 May 2019 18:38:19 +0000

Starting this week, we are going to be doing a few episodes on the top 10 best-selling Bible translations. There is going to be a breakdown of each translation and its history. On this episode, we are doing an introduction. Then, we will get to the top 2 sellers of 2019: the NIV and KJV. … Continue reading Ep. 25: Which Bible do you read? – NIV & KJV →

CCP Ep. 24: Easter Break

Cooper Short — Wed, 24 Apr 2019 15:17:03 +0000

I know, I know. It's a few days removed from Easter. Why are we talking about it? We're talking about it because it's the greatest day in history. On this episode, we're going to be taking a look at the historical resurrection of Jesus Christ and what that means for Easter and Christians. Thanks for … Continue reading CCP Ep. 24: Easter Break →

CCP Ep. 23: Culture Pt. 4

Cooper Short — Wed, 17 Apr 2019 19:31:37 +0000

Have you ever, I don't know, listened to music? I know I have. I do every single day-- several times per day. In light of that, what does Christ expect of us when we listen to music? I don't technically know the answer to that. But I'm going to take a crack at it.

Coffee With Friends #2: Preston Stevenson

Cooper Short — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 15:32:27 +0000

On our latest installment of "Coffee With Friends," we're going to be talking to another good friend of mine, Preston Stevenson, about dating, Christianity, Christian dating, dating a Christian, and how Christians should date. Do you see what I did there?

CCP Ep. 22: Culture Pt. 3

Cooper Short — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 15:29:44 +0000

Some people, like myself, enjoy a strong cup of coffee. I mean, have you seen the name of this podcast? But there are a lot of people who like something a little stronger than a strong cup of coffee. Today, you're going to see how unqualified I really am. Let's tackle another hot topic in … Continue reading CCP Ep. 22: Culture Pt. 3 →

Coffee With Friends #1: JC Younger

Cooper Short — Fri, 05 Apr 2019 15:33:18 +0000

Welcome to the first episode of "Coffee with Friends." CWF is an interview special where we're going to talking to different believers about their lives, their roles, and their worldview in their various circles and arenas. On this episode, we're talking to one of my friends from school, JC Younger, about being a Christian athlete. … Continue reading Coffee With Friends #1: JC Younger →

CCP Ep. 20: Culture Pt. 1

Cooper Short — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 14:36:39 +0000

Have you ever had to wash your mouth out with soap? I presume that was terrible. Today, we're going to wash our mouths out with the Bible. Figuratively, of course. The Culture series has the green light!

CCP Ep. 19: Welcome to the Culture

Cooper Short — Wed, 06 Mar 2019 16:06:49 +0000

On this episode, we're going to be kicking off a new series on being a Christian in culture. I hope you're fired up because I'm fired up.

CCP Ep. 18: Label Maker

Cooper Short — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 15:13:55 +0000

If you are going to call yourself a Christian, there are a lot of things that entails. 1 John 3 is one of the places this gets talked about. Let's go, off the cuff, and talk about what it says. I'm excited. Are you?

CCP Ep. 17: The Song that Changed the Game

Cooper Short — Wed, 20 Feb 2019 15:13:22 +0000

I'm a huge Christian rap fan in case you didn't know. I would love to talk to you about one song that has come out recently that has been a huge gamechanger for me. Enjoy.

CCP Ep. 16: Sir Readsalot

Cooper Short — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 16:05:48 +0000

Believe it or not, I can actually read. And even crazier than that, I've been utilizing that ability for the last few weeks, and I've read real books with paper and everything. Let's talk about those.

CCP Ep. 15: Teammates

Cooper Short — Wed, 06 Feb 2019 15:33:10 +0000

Have you ever done something and thought, "wow, this would be way better with two people?" God thought of that, too. Let's talk about it.

CCP Ep. 14: Bible Verses Galore

Cooper Short — Wed, 30 Jan 2019 16:01:56 +0000

Fun fact-- most Christians have favorite verses out of the Bible. I find myself to be in that majority. Let's talk about a few of the ones I really like.

CCP Ep. 13: the Son of Man

Cooper Short — Wed, 23 Jan 2019 15:08:04 +0000

Jesus very frequently calls Himself the "Son of Man." What does He mean? And where did He even get that from? Let's talk about it.

CCP Ep. 12: David vs. Goliath

Cooper Short — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 15:32:33 +0000

I think everyone has heard the story of David defeating Goliath. But have we really looked at all the angles of the story? Maybe. Maybe not. Let's take another look. Also, Happy 116 Day!

CCP Episode 11: Discipline Szn

Cooper Short — Wed, 09 Jan 2019 18:18:56 +0000

Perhaps the biggest key to maintaining a healthy spiritual walk is discipline. I've seen this as a huge deficiency in myself. This semester, I'm changing that for good. Find out how here. It's a great time.

CCP Ep. 10: Jesus Pt. 6 — The Gospel Jesus

Cooper Short — Wed, 02 Jan 2019 19:19:27 +0000

Who should you be in light of who Jesus is? Well, let's talk about it.

CCP Episode 9: Jesus Pt. 5 — Practical Jesus

Cooper Short — Wed, 26 Dec 2018 16:45:54 +0000

So, we've established a lot of things. We've talked about the Bible and why it's accurate. We've talked about the Jesus of history and the Jesus of prophecy. Who, then, is the Jesus of reality? If we were there with Him, what would we notice? What would we see? Well, let's talk about it. || … Continue reading →

CCP Episode 8: Jesus Pt. 4 — The Prophetic Jesus

Cooper Short — Thu, 20 Dec 2018 01:00:47 +0000

So, we've covered the Bible and Jesus of History. Now, we're going to take a look at Jesus of the Old Testament. You say, "Jesus of the Old Testament?" Yes. Yes, I said that. Let's talk about it. For more prophecies, check out: http://www1.cbn.com/biblestudy/biblical-prophecies-fulfilled-by-jesus || https://bible.org/article/messianic-prophecies

CCP Ep. 7: Jesus Pt. 3 — Historical Jesus

Cooper Short — Wed, 12 Dec 2018 19:22:54 +0000

On this episode of Caffeinated Christianity, we are going to be talking about the Historical Jesus. Was Jesus a real person, or simply a figment of someone's imagination? Check us out at caffchrist.com! Sources used: https://www.bethinking.org/jesus/ancient-evidence-for-jesus-from-non-christian-sources https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/jesus-historical-jesus/did-jesus-exist/ https://aleteia.org/2018/04/12/heres-the-historical-evidence-from-non-christian-sources-that-jesus-lived-and-died/ https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/1357-jewish-talmud-and-the-death-of-christ-the

CC Podcast Episode 6: Jesus Pt. 2 — The Preface

Cooper Short — Wed, 05 Dec 2018 23:34:05 +0000

If we are going to talk about Jesus, we have to use the Bible. If we are going to use the Bible, how do we know if it's credible? Let's talk about that. Episode 6 Download Sources on the Canon: https://www.housetohouse.com/can-we-trust-the-bible/ http://www.earlychristianhistory.info/canon.html https://www.biblica.com/resources/bible-faqs/how-were-the-books-of-the-bible-chosen/ https://www.christianitytoday.com/history/issues/issue-43/how-we-got-our-bible-christian-history-timeline.html Source read from on Resurrection: https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/historical-evidence-for-the-resurrection

CC Podcast Episode 5: Jesus Pt. 1 — Who?

Cooper Short — Wed, 05 Dec 2018 23:06:02 +0000

On this episode of Caffeinated Christianity, we are going to be kicking off a new series about the Son of Man Himself. You maybe didn't think I was unqualified before now. To that, I say one thing: don't hold your breath. Know Christ. Reflect Christ. Episode 5 Download

CC Podcast Episode 4: Drink the Rain

Cooper Short — Wed, 28 Nov 2018 23:38:44 +0000

So, I'm a sinner. I didn't actually do this episode on John. But no worries. On this episode of Caffeinated Christianity, I'm going to share with you what my personal ministry philosophy is: I just drink the rain. You can also check out this podcast on Apple Podcasts. Episode 4 Download

CC Podcast Episode 3: My Secret Sauce

Cooper Short — Sun, 25 Nov 2018 23:42:56 +0000

Episode 3 Download

CC Podcast Episode 2: SCRAM!

Cooper Short — Thu, 15 Nov 2018 00:48:27 +0000

Episode 2 Download

CC Podcast Episode 1: Who is this guy?

Cooper Short — Thu, 08 Nov 2018 01:41:32 +0000

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1SFU2h-gZLHUElX4ODchuLpXUZ4Az-1zP