The Flip Side with Noah Filipiak

(12/7/18) Episode 10: Interview with Damon Seacott on choosing a life of singleness and celibacy

Episode 10 brings a special guest interview with Damon Seacott, who has chosen to live a life of singleness and celibacy.  This is a great episode for singles to have someone to relate to, and great for married folks to learn how to be in community with singles and why that's so important for both.  The Church has much to learn on how it over-emphasized marriage and the damage this can do to the mission and community of the Church. 

(11/1/18) Episode 9: Why Most Accountability Doesn't Work + The Importance of Both Wings of God's Airplane (Judgment & Mercy)

A great question from the mailbag brings up why a lot of accountability is ineffective.  Noah gives his thoughts on what you must have for accountability to work.  There's a new segment on breaking down a piece of Scripture as a guide for how to spend your daily time with the Lord.  This episode's scripture passage is Psalm 131:1-2.  The topic of the day is on the importance of emphasizing both God's wrath/judgment and his grace/mercy in order to be freed from sexual temptation.  These are two wings on an airplane and one without the other won't cut it.

Episode 8: What does the Bible mean by "One Flesh" as God's design for sex?

In episode 8, Noah unpacks what the Bible means by "One Flesh" as it relates to sex.  Many thing "One Flesh" is talking about what happens when two people get married, but it's what happens when two people have sex.  This understanding is a big piece of the puzzle in understanding why we should not objectify people or think that sex is only about body parts. 

(9/18/18) Episode 7: Singleness & How to Spend Daily Rhythm Time with Jesus

The mailbag brings a great question about singleness, particularly regarding singles where it doesn't seem like marriage is around the corner.  Noah then draws out how to spend daily rhythm time with Jesus, making sure we understand how essential this type of time is in order to quench the desire for sexual sin.

(8/22/18) Episode 6: Tools + fresh off the presses: BEYONDTHEBATTLE.NET !

In episode 6, Noah wraps up the 6 episode series that goes through each of the small group videos for the book Beyond the Battle.  The "Tools" episode focuses on the need for next steps to take after a group is over.  In the mailbag, Noah discusses with men ages 45 to 54 have high rates of suicide.
The fresh-off-the-presses beyondthebattle.net is also unveiled in this episode.  Head over to sign up for the online video conference groups that Noah hosts, with the next round starting soon!  You can also read testimonials from previous group members and pick up the Beyond the Battle Leader's Guide if you are planning to lead your own group.

(7/22/18) Episode 5: Embracing Reality

In this episode, Noah breaks down the 5th video in the 6th video small group curriculum.  The topic is "Embracing Reality" as we look at the perils of living in fantasy.  It doesn't matter how good fantasy food looks, you will die of starvation if you try eating it.  The mailbag also brings up the question of domestic violence and how porn is used as an escape when marital trouble strikes.

(6/27/18) Episode 4: God's Recipe, Premarital Sex, New Audiobook!

Beyond the Battle author Noah Filipiak breaks down the fourth video in the BTB free small group curriculum, "God's Recipe."  This episode discusses how we use Satan's recipe for sex as motivation for Christians to stay sexually pure, and how that just doesn't work.  Also, the Beyond the Battle is now available at southfrancispress.com !

(5/31/18) Episode 3: Objectification - The Dehumanization of Women

Beyond the Battle author Noah Filipiak breaks down the third video in the BTB free small group curriculum, "Objectification: The Dehumanization of Women."  This gets us beyond the surface of simply telling ourselves, "Don't lust, it's bad," to retraining our brains to the point we don't even want to lust.  We look at Psalm 139 and discover who women really are, rather than the lie our oversexualized culture has taught both men and women to believe.

(5/8/18) Episode 2: Golden Gods with Golden Hair

Beyond the Battle author Noah Filipiak breaks down the second video in the BTB free small group curriculum, "Golden Gods with Golden Hair."  The idea of this episode is that men look to women to give them what only God can, which is always (whether that's in porn, fantasy, or even marriage) going to end in disappointment.  The same holds true for women looking to this from men.  The episode looks at what it is we are truly looking for in relationships and sex, and the only guaranteed way to have that need met.  This episode also looks at several Christian purity or marriage books which set marriage up as an idol and cater to our self-seeking sin nature in order to produce short-term results that have long term repercussions.

(4/26/18) Episode 1: Entitlement is Your Worst Enemy

In the inaugural episode, Noah breaks down the first video of the Beyond the Battle free small group curriculum, "Entitlement is Your Worst Enemy," giving an expanded explanation of the video.  He looks at Exodus 19, Romans 2:5, and Matthew 18:21-35 to look at how holy God is and how when we grasp this in balance with his grace, it brings tangible freedom to our struggles with sexual and relational sin. 

(10/16/18) THE FINAL EPISODE: Noah's new job, pornography, Does God hate people?

In this bittersweet episode, the Black & White Theology comes to a close.  Noah has taken a new job as a Church Consultant with Covenant Eyes.  We close out the podcast by answering the remaining questions in the mailbag.  We discuss, "Does God hate people?" like Romans 9 says he hates Esau.  We also discuss pornography and sexual sin and if there are differences between the reasons white people and black people struggle with sexual sin based on entitlement. 
If you'd like to keep up with Noah and Tyler, you can read Tyler's blog tylerpspeaks.com and subscribe to Noah's sexual purity podcast that he'll be continuing The Beyond the Battle Podcast, or read his blog at noahfilipiak.com

(8/25/18) Episode 8: Perseverance of the Saints & Partnerships Over Planting in African American Communities

Noah and Tyler finish the "TULIP" with Perseverance of the Saints, in which Noah takes some issue with the traditional Reformed view.  From the mailbag, we discuss if planting or partnering with existing African American churches is best in African American communities. 

(7/31/18) EPISODE 7: IRRESISTIBLE GRACE & SHOULD BLACK PEOPLE GO TO WHITE CHURCHES?

Pastors Noah Filipiak and Tyler St. Clair continue their breakdown of Reformed Theology's TULIP, discussing Irresistible Grace.  They also listen to an interview with Pastor Michael R. Jordan, a black pastor in Birmingham, AL who does not want a white megachurch putting a campus in his neighborhood and who is telling black people not to go to white churches.

(7/10/18) Episode 6: Limited Atonement & Cultural Appropriation

Episode 6 hits on the "L" in TULIP, Limited Atonement.  Noah argues the word should be TUDIP instead.  In the mailbag section, we talk about cultural appropriation and if it is stealing from a culture or respect for a culture. 

(6/22/18) Episode 5: Worship Style & Racism! Spray painted N-Words! Ferguson! Abortion! Jeff Sessions! Romans 13! Immigration! Limited Atonement???

Episode 5: Worship Style & Racism! Spray painted N-Words! Ferguson! Abortion! Jeff Sessions! Romans 13! Immigration! Limited Atonement???

(6/7/18) Episode 4: Unconditional Election, God's skin color, Steve Kerr, and megachurches

Noah and Tyler take on the "U" in TULIP for the theological topic of this episode, Unconditional Election.  Via the mailbag, they discuss God's skin color and why megachurches should not be seen as the definition of a successful church in America.  And Tyler can't help but bring up President Trump's cancellation of the Philadelphia Eagles' White House visit, in which we look to our special correspondent Steve Kerr for insight on. 
(Unconditional Election Bible verses referenced in the episode can be found here)

(5/23/18) Episode 3: Dr. James Cone's Black Liberation Theology

Pastors Tyler and Noah dive into the mailbag to answer questions about marijuana, binding and loosing, and goals to set for someone who wants to fight racism.  Our topic for the day is a combination of a race issue and a theology issue as we discuss Dr. James Cone's black liberation theology in light of Dr. Cone's recent death. 

(5/2/19) Episode 2: Total Depravity & The Starbucks Arrests

Pastors Tyler and Noah dive into the mailbag to discuss Joyce Meyer and why we are analyzing well-known people's theologies at all.  The theological topic for this episode is the "T" in Reformed Theology's "TULIP", Total Depravity.  The race relations topic for this episode is the two black men who were arrested at a Philadelphia Starbucks.  

(4/19/18) EPISODE 1 (or 42): THEOLOGY PREVIEW & ROCHESTER HILLS SHOOTING

Pastors Tyler St. Clair and Noah Filipiak introduce the Black and White Theology podcast by going over some of the theological topics they will be hitting on in upcoming episodes and discussing the recent Rochester Hills shooting.  We'd love to hear what topics you'd like to hear about and we'd love to hear your reaction to our take on the Rochester Hills / Brennan Walker shooting.

Episode 41: the final episode + 2 new podcasts from Noah

41 episodes has been a great ride!  This is the final episode of the Behind the Curtain Ministry Podcast.  Tune in to hear Noah's reflections on the past episodes, plus find out about two brand new podcasts he has started:
The Beyond the Battle Podcast
The Black & White Theology Podcast

Episode 40 - Hip hop artist James Gardin on insecurity, overcoming rejection, and using parables

Noah Filipiak interviews James Gardin's about overcoming rejection and persevering in the music industry.  About what it's like to get a song on ESPN and how to handle the insecurities.  James explains what his message is as a Christian artist, and last but not least freestyles about Noah's hometown of Oconomowoc!
Connect with James on social media:
On Facebook
On Twitter
On Instagram
Shop James's music.
Illect Recording artist James Gardin has used his multifaceted skill set of empowering rhymes, fun melodies, energetic stage presence, and deft fashion sense to become the most successful emcee in his hometown of Lansing, Michigan. He has performed hundreds of shows around the world, amassed thousands of plays and downloads with coverage on top web sites and publications (2DopeBoyz, HipHopDX, Rapzilla , DJ Booth etc). He has also had songs featured on ESPN, GaryVee TV, and Black&SexyTV. He has also shared the booth and the stage with artists such as Grieves, Macklemore, Dessa, Murs, Talib Kweli, Astronautalis, KING, and many more. James aims to use his art and message to inspire all those around him to live their life fully, and encounter their purpose daily.

Episode 39 - Tyler St. Clair (the sequel) on real life church planting in Detroit + the Contend Conference

Two years ago, Pastor Tyler St. Clair was interviewed in Episode 17 of the Behind the Curtain Ministry Podcast, discussing what it was like to gear up for his urban church plant in Detroit and what it was like to do fundraising as a black pastor.  Today, Noah Filipiak catches back up with Pastor Tyler to see what actually planting and pastoring has been like after all the hype has died down.  The two church planters talk about life in the trenches of pastoral / church planting ministry and about how important it is to keep realistic and biblical expectations as a pastor.  Tyler also discusses the Contend Conference, coming up in Detroit on February 28th.
Tyler on Twitter
Tyler on Facebook
Tyler on Instagram
Tyler’s Blog

Episode 38 - Kent Carlson discusses shifting the church he founded from a seeker-driven megachurch to a church of spiritual formation

Noah Filipiak interviews Kent Carlson on what led him and his team to shift the seeker-driven megachurch he founded into a church of spiritual formation. A shift that led to around 1500 people leaving the church. Kent is the co-author of Renovation of the Church, a book that chronicles the journey of Oak Hills Church and its leadership. He was mentored by Dallas Willard and currently serves as Vice President of Leadership Formation for the North American Baptist denomination. 
Connect with Kent on Twitter
 

BONUS Episode - Noah Filipiak breaks down his new book "Beyond the Battle"

In this bonus episode of the "Behind the Curtain" Ministry Podcast, host Noah Filipiak takes time to break down the content of his new book Beyond the Battle.  In the first half of the episode, Noah talks about his personal testimony of overcoming a pornography addiction, how he was tempted to get a divorce, and how going beyond symptom-based solutions to sexual sin transformed him as a man.  In the second half of the episode, Noah talks about the toll his book publishing journey did on his soul, and why he chose to publish independently.
Purchase copies of Beyond the Battle here, including discounts on group orders.
Check out the free 6-week men's small group video curriculum here. 

Episode 37: Dr. Mike Wittmer on the effects Christian celebrityism is having on the Church at large

Noah Filipiak interviews Dr. Mike Wittmer on the effects Christian celebrityism is having on the Church at large.  Prior to the internet explosion, good content would get a book published. Nowadays, the only thing that will get someone published is popularity (called "platform" in the publishing industry). Noah and Mike explore the effects this trend has on the souls of authors (namely, themselves!) and on the type of theology being put into the hands of Christians.  
Dr. Michael Wittmer is the Professor of Systematic & Historical Theology at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary.
Connect with Mike on Twitter and Facebook
Mike's blog: MikeWittmer.blog 
Mike's books:
Heaven Is a Place on Earth: Why Everything You Do Matters to God by Zondervan
Becoming Worldly Saints: Can You Serve Jesus and Still Enjoy Your Life? by Zondervan
The Last Enemy: Preparing to Win the Fight of Your Life by Discovery House
Despite Doubt: Embracing a Confident Faith by Discovery House
Don't Stop Believing: Why Living Like Jesus Is Not Enough by Zondervan
Christ Alone: An Evangelical Response to Rob Bell's "Love Wins" by Edenridge Press LLC