Cage Free Theology
"Cage Free Theology" is a weekly Bible Q&A discussion with two Baptist, Calvinist, and Premillennial, pastors.
As Spurgeon said, there's no need to defend a lion in a cage; simply open the cage door and the lion will fend for itself! We don't defend a preconceived system of theology, we just let the Bible speak for itself, and we go wherever a literal hermeneutic takes us.
The hosts are pastors Clint Archer (MDiv, ThM, DMin, PhD) and Will Brannon (MDiv, DMin), based at Christ Fellowship Baptist Church in Mobile, Alabama.
They both trained at The Master's Seminary and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and between the two of them they have nearly 30 years of full-time ministry experience. Much of that has involved fielding questions from new believers, old believers, and unbelievers, and then sharing what the Bible has to say on a wide array of topics.
They will cover subjects with their engaging and light-hearted banter, including explaining theology, offering interpretations of various difficult Bible passages, discussing counseling scenarios, and even the nuts and bolts of ministry and expository preaching. (Clint occasionally digresses about how animals should live cage-free while Will reminds him of the appeal of meat!)
Each episode addresses one main question, without rambling or irrelevant interjections, to equip listeners to answer questions they have, or questions they get asked by friends. Subscribers get to send in their questions too!
Jesus came to set us free, so beware of manmade cages!
Cage Free Theology
Episode #052: Tolle Lege - What To Read In 2026
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Happy anniversary! In our 52nd weekly episode of Cage-Free Theology, Clint Archer and Will Brandon celebrate one year of the podcast by returning to the basics: Tolle Lege (Take up and read).
While we love reaching you through your headphones, we believe the best way to grow in your faith is by diving directly into the Word and deep theological texts. In this episode, we break down:
- Bible Reading Strategies & Reading Plans
- Top Book Picks
- 2026 Reading List
Whether you are a new believer or a seasoned student, this episode will give you a roadmap for a more disciplined and intellectually rich 2026.
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👇 Jump to moments (chapters):
[00:00:50] – A Special Milestone: 52 Weeks of Cage-Free Theology
[00:01:33] – "Tolle Lege": The Story of St. Augustine’s Conversion
[00:03:20] – Why Books are Better than Podcasts for Learning Theology
[00:05:04] – The Grant Horner Bible Reading System (10 Chapters a Day)
[00:09:16] – Seeing Connections: Why Syncing Your Bible Reading Matters
[00:11:32] – Tips for Beginners: The "Date of the Month" Reading Method
[00:12:41] – The 30-Day Immersion Plan: Mastering One Book at a Time
[00:13:54] – Highlighters & Color Coding
[00:15:47] – The 60-Day Bible Sprint: A High-Intensity Challenge
[00:18:15] – Systematic Theology Recommendations: Grudem vs. MacArthur
[00:22:01] – Deep Dives: Providence, Heaven, and the Nicene Creed
[00:30:18] – The Controversy
[00:37:24] – Beyond Theology: Non-Fiction Picks for 2026
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Resources mention in today’s episode:
· Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine by Wayne Grudem
· Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth by John MacArthur, Richard L. Mayhue
· Providence by John Piper
· Christ's Prophetic Plans: A Futuristic Premillennial Primer by John MacArthur, Richard L. Mayhue
· Heaven by Randy Alcorn
· Guarding the Faith: Understanding the Nicene Creed edited by Al Mohler is a forthcoming collection of essays from the faculty of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
· Paul and the Gift by John M.G. Barclay
· Studies in the Sermon on the Mount by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
· Church History in Plain Language by Bruce L. Shelley
· 2,000 Years of Christ's Power: The Age of the Early Church Fathers - Volume 1 by Nick Needham
· An Introduction to Early Judaism by James C. VanderKam
· Daily Scripture Guidebook: A 52-Week Journey Through the Bible by Tim Wildsmith
· The Unseen Realm: Recovering the Supernatural Worldview of the Bible by Michael S. Heiser
· The Nicene Creed: A Scriptural, Historical, and Theological Commentary by Jared Ortiz, Daniel A. Keating
· Every Moment Holy, Volume III: The Work of the People by Douglas Kaine McKelvey
· Apocalypse Never: Why Environmental Alarmism Hurts Us All by Michael Shellenberger
· Nuclear War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen
