Show Notes
Tim Keller was Lecrae's Michael Jordan. Ten years of sermons, a shared reading list with Kendrick Lamar, and a friendship that started with him shaking like "a stripper in church on Sunday." Then 2016 happened, and Lecrae stopped listening to any theologian who looked like Keller. In week two of his series on the men who shaped his theology, Lecrae gets brutally honest about Doctor Timothy Keller: the missionary sermon that rewired how he saw the city, the years of silence during his own "disorientation," and the moment he came back around to find Keller had been standing in the gap the whole time. He talks about writing a book together, watching Keller invest in Bronx pastors most reformed circles ignored, and the small paperback — The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness — that became a spiritual anchor. And he tells the story of a breakdown in Mexico, a copy of Prodigal Prophet, and an actual whale outside his window. This one is personal, complicated, and honest about a man Lecrae calls one of the great Western Christian thinkers — flaws included. Struggling with intrusive thoughts around your faith? It could be OCD, and it's highly treatable. Book a free 15-minute call with NOCD: [NOCD LINK — confirm exact URL/promo code from sponsor before publishing] Feeling stuck in your faith, marriage, or purpose? Reconstruct U is Lecrae's community for rebuilding all three. [Confirm exact URL — transcript audio is unclear between "start.reconstructu.com" and a possible hyphenated variant; verify before publishing] Chapters: 00:00 The theologian who made him nervous like a fan meeting Jordan 03:05 Picking up where the Piper conversation left off 05:00 The father wound behind every theological hero 08:28 A friend named Miguel and the sermon that changed everything 10:13 Trained to be missionaries, not just pastors 10:31 The oil spill metaphor that reshaped his view of the city 16:40 2016 and the year he went quiet 20:51 Why he stopped listening to every white theologian 23:39 Coming back around and catching wind of what he'd missed 27:28 The panel, the book, and the wisdom he didn't expect 28:42 Why he thinks history will remember Keller like C.S. Lewis 34:55 The thin book he makes every artist he signs read 36:18 A breakdown in Mexico, a book about Jonah, and a whale outside the window 41:01 What's coming next: Mark Driscoll Step Into Reconstruction: https://reconstruct-u.com/ 📱Connect with us on Instagram! - https://www.instagram.com/deependlecrae/ 📱Connect with Lecrae - https://linktr.ee/Lecrae Stream the Deluxe Album: https://music.apple.com/us/album/reconstruction/1828052699 👕 Shop Lecrae Merch: https://lecrae.store/
More from The Deep End With Lecrae
Does your ancestry determine whether you're one of God's chosen people? Lecrae sits down with Hebrew Israelite artist Zaydok and pastor and author Jerome Gay for an honest conversation about race, faith, and identity. What do Hebrew Israelites actually believe? Why do different groups disagree? And where do those beliefs align with, or depart from, Christianity? Together, they examine the controversial 12 Tribes chart, the whitewashing of Christianity, scriptures used to justify slavery, and the difference between honoring your heritage and making it the foundation of your faith. Zaydok also challenges beliefs within his own movement, including claims that salvation is limited by race. It's a conversation about belonging, what we believe about Jesus, and how to talk through real disagreements without losing sight of one another's humanity. Where do you draw the line between celebrating your identity and making it an idol? Let us know in the comments. #Lecrae #TheDeepEnd #HebrewIsraelites #Christianity #Faith
Chance the Rapper joins Lecrae on The Deep End for an honest conversation about faith, music, and the experiences that have shaped his life and career. Chance opens up about growing up in the church, the struggles that led him to develop his own relationship with God, and how his faith has influenced his music over the years. He reflects on the evolution of his projects, from Acid Rap to Coloring Book, the pressure of success, and navigating the public criticism surrounding The Big Day. The conversation also gets into his relationships within the music industry, the importance of genuine friendship, and what fatherhood and co-parenting look like in his life today. Lecrae and Chance also discuss black liberation theology, the relationship between Christianity and systemic injustice, and the responsibility of the Church to address oppression. Throughout the conversation, Chance shares how his understanding of God continues to grow and what it means to pursue faith while navigating life in the public eye. 1:10 Intro 3:22 Chance's Personal Journey with God 7:02 Wrestling with Faith and Surrender 9:46 The Evolution of Chance's Music 13:50 Faith Behind Acid Rap and Coloring Book 20:13 Responding to Criticism of The Big Day 25:38 Navigating Fame and Christian Expectations 30:08 Chance's Relationship with Kanye West 36:48 Friendship and Competition with Vic Mensa 46:42 Fatherhood and Co-Parenting 48:06 Black Liberation Theology and Christianity 52:20 Addressing Personal Sin and Systemic Injustice 59:56 The Church's Role in Fighting Injustice 1:03:56 Chance's Perspective on Christian Hip Hop 1:08:20 What's Next for Chance the Rapper Stay hydrated throughout your day. Use code Lecrae for 20% off at dripdrop.com Quo keeps your business calls, texts, and voicemails all in one place, with AI that can answer calls and book appointments when you're unavailable. Get 20% off your first six months with Quo at www.quo/deepend. Step Into Reconstruction: https://reconstruct-u.com/ 📱Connect with us on Instagram! - https://www.instagram.com/deependlecrae/ 📱Connect with Lecrae - https://linktr.ee/Lecrae Stream the Deluxe Album: https://music.apple.com/us/album/reconstruction/1828052699 👕 Shop Lecrae Merch: https://lecrae.store/
Lecrae sits down with Joyce Meyer for a candid conversation about the story behind more than 50 years of ministry. Joyce opens up about surviving childhood sexual abuse, the long process of healing, and how her painful past ultimately shaped the way she ministers to others. She reflects on the early years of her calling, navigating ministry as a woman, and the criticism and misconceptions that have followed her throughout her career. They also unpack her connection to the Word of Faith movement, why her understanding of faith changed over time, and why she rejects the prosperity preacher label. Joyce shares what decades of walking with God have taught her about suffering, renewing your mind, forgiveness, and continuing to obey God when life does not go the way you prayed it would. Throughout the conversation, Joyce reflects on the lessons behind her memoir, My Battlefield: A Life Broken and Made Whole, and why she believes what you've been through can become part of how God equips you to help someone else. 01:33 Introduction 03:26 Joyce Meyer's Story of Abuse and Survival 09:19 How Joyce Was Called to Ministry 12:26 Your History Doesn't Have to Be Your Destiny 14:00 Sponsor 15:37 Healing After Sexual Abuse 20:03 Navigating Criticism as a Woman in Ministry 22:08 The Story Behind My Battlefield 23:11 Is Joyce Meyer a Prosperity Preacher? 26:39 How Her Understanding of Faith Changed 33:05 Lecrae's Experience with Battlefield of the Mind 39:21 Finding Purpose in What You've Been Through 44:16 Why Time with God Still Comes First 51:06 Healing Through Forgiveness 57:28 Confronting Evil and Helping People in Need 1:01:35 What Keeps Joyce Going After 50 Years? 1:04:33 Showing God's Love to People If God is calling you into counseling or ministry, take the next step! Apply to Richmont Graduate University by November 1 and use promo code "Lecrae" to waive the $50 application fee. Richmont.edu Reclaim your faith from OCD. Book a free 15 min call at https://www.treatmyocd.com/ Step Into Reconstruction: https://reconstruct-u.com/ 📱Connect with us on Instagram! - https://www.instagram.com/deependlecrae/ 📱Connect with Lecrae - https://linktr.ee/Lecrae Stream the Deluxe Album: https://music.apple.com/us/album/reconstruction/1828052699 👕 Shop Lecrae Merch: https://lecrae.store/
Divorce is one of the hardest things to talk about in church. We know how to celebrate marriage, but we don't always know how to sit with people when it ends. I sat down with four Christians who have lived through divorce or a broken engagement. We talked about the warning signs, the grief, the questions they had for God, and how they began to rebuild. They were honest about their own choices and about the ways the church helped—or made an already painful season harder. If you've ever felt like the end of a relationship made you less welcome in church, I hope this conversation reminds you that your story isn't over. Full episode of The Deep End is out now.
Rickey Smiley sits down with Lecrae for a deeply personal conversation about faith, grief, and the pain hidden behind a lifetime of making people laugh. Rickey opens up about losing his 32-year-old son, Brandon, and the devastating journey that followed. He shares what it was like learning the news while alone in Dallas, having to lead his family through the tragedy, and why he says he didn't simply lean on God—God carried him. They also discuss Rickey's upbringing in the Black church, surviving being shot at point-blank range, the golden era of '90s comedy, the importance of therapy, and why Black men need the freedom to cry. Rickey also reveals how friends disappeared and people attacked him publicly during the darkest year of his life. This is an honest conversation about trusting God when life no longer makes sense, finding gratitude in unimaginable grief, and using your pain to help somebody else survive theirs.