New Churches Podcast | Season 5 | Episode 9

Biblical Diversity in the Church

J.A. Medders, Elizabeth Woodson, Dean Inserra & Bryan Loritts

Watch this video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/V4lvbVsY3MM

In this episode of the New Churches Podcast, host Jeff Medders is joined by Elizabeth Woodson, Dean Inserra, and Bryan Loritts to explore the diversity of the early church in Acts, focusing on the church at Antioch. They discuss how cultural, ethnic, and social differences shaped gospel ministry, offering practical insights for church planters seeking to reach their entire communities with intentionality and love. Listeners will gain encouragement and guidance for fostering authentic unity, representation, and “gospel greed” in their own local churches.

Helpful Resources:

  • Are you part of a new church plant? Learn more about our new church offer here.

Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review on iTunes.

Published on October 28, 2025

About the Podcast

New Churches Podcast

The New Churches podcast delivers biblical and practical insights to help you be a faithful and effective church planter. Learn from trusted pastors, theologians, missiologists, and faithful leaders who can help you pursue the mission God has given you. 

See All Episodes

Subscribe

Meet the Authors

J.A. Medders

General Editor New Churches

J. A. Medders (PhD, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is the director of theology and content for Send Network, and the general editor for New Churches. He is the author of Gospel Formed, Humble Calvinism, and co-author of The Soul-Winning Church. You can follow Jeff on X, Instagram, and his newsletter.

More Resources from J.A.

Elizabeth Woodson

Elizabeth Woodson is a Bible teacher, author, and Founder of The Woodson Institute, an organization that equips believers to understand and grow in their Christian faith.  She loves helping people internalize their faith and connect it practically to everyday life. Elizabeth is the author of the Bible studies, Live Free and From Beginning to Forever, Embrace Your Life: How to Find Joy When the Life You Have Is Not the Life You Hoped For, and a contributing author for World on Fire. She is also a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary with a Masters in Christian Education and the host of the podcast Starting Place, where she talks about what Christians believe and how those beliefs connect to our everyday lives.

More Resources from Elizabeth

Dean Inserra

Dean Inserra is the founding and lead pastor of City Church, in Tallahassee, Florida, where he leads the vision and preaching. Dean graduated from Liberty University and attended Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He holds a master’s degree in theological studies from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and is pursuing a D.Min from Southern Seminary. Dean is an advisory member of the Leadership Council for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. He also is a member of Baptist 21. Dean is married to Krissie, and they have two sons, Tommy and Ty, and a daughter, Sally Ashlyn. Dean likes baseball, wrestling and the Miami Hurricane.

More Resources from Dean

Bryan Loritts

Vice President, Regions Send Network

Bryan Loritts (D.Min., Liberty University) is the Teaching Pastor at The Summit Church. An award-winning author of seven books, Dr. Loritts has spent the bulk of his ministry serving and resourcing the multiethnic church. He co-founded Fellowship Memphis in 2003 and serves as the President of The Kainos Movement, an organization committed to seeing the multiethnic church become the new normal. His ministry takes him across the globe annually, as he speaks at conferences, churches, and retreats. Bryan has been a featured speaker for Catalyst and the Global Leadership Summit. Currently, he serves on the board of Biola University and is a regular visiting professor at Grimke Seminary. He is also the Vice President of Regions for the Send Network. He is the husband of Korie, and the father of Quentin, Myles, and Jaden.

More Resources from Bryan