Gospel Simplicity Podcast

You might have heard that C.S. Lewis believed in Purgatory, and that's true. But his vision of Purgatory is unique, combining Protestant and Catholic sensibilities. In this video, I unpack what Lewis taught about Purgatory in Letters to Malcom and The Great Divorce, looking specifically at the theological foundation for his views and what that means for us today.

Join Me on the Camino!: https://www.gospelsimplicity.com/pilgrimage

Pre-order my novel, The Long Road to Holy Island: https://amzn.to/4sISAC9

Get access to my book club, one-on-one office hours, show notes, and more:  https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity
Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicity
Book a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity/meet-with-austin
Read my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com

Videos Referenced: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXsyqFRVIh4&t=314s

00:00 Lewis on Purgatory
01:35 Letters to Malcolm
04:11 The Great Divorce
07:55 Theological Foundations
13:53 Implications for Protestants

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In this episode, I'm joined by Rev. Hannah Miller King to discuss how understanding the Eucharist can change how we see the entirety of the Christian life. We talk about grief, community, and divisions in the church along the way as we explore what the Eucharist really means. 
Join Me on the Camino!: https://www.gospelsimplicity.com/pilgrimage

Pre-order my novel, The Long Road to Holy Island: https://amzn.to/4sISAC9

Get access to my book club, one-on-one office hours, show notes, and more:  https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity
Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicity
Book a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity/meet-with-austin
Read my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com
About the Guest: Hannah Miller King is a priest and writer in the Anglican tradition. She has been a campus minister among conservatory musicians, an apartment minister in downtown Dallas, and a parish pastor in Northern Virginia and South Carolina. She currently serves as the Associate Rector at The Vine Anglican Church in Western North Carolina. She is a contributing writer for Christianity Today and Holy Post Media, and her work has appeared in Fathom Magazine, Mere Orthodoxy, The Living Church and Smoky Mountain News.  Her first book was published by InterVarsity Press in February 2026. 
Hannah holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Westminster Choir College and a Master of Arts in Religion from Redeemer Seminary. She is currently being schooled in the minutia of Star Wars (and other galactic battles between good and evil) by her three kids. 
Find Rev. Hannah on Substack: https://hannahmillerking.substack.com/?utm_campaign=profile_chips
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Last week, the Priestly Society of Saint Pius X consecrated four bishops without papal mandate, and 24 hours later, the Vatican pronounced that the SSPX clergy had incurred excommunication and warned that laypeople who formally adhere to the SSPX could be guilty of excommunication as well.

It was major news, but at first, I thought I'd just leave it to the Catholics and SSPX to sort this out. However, as I was tracking the discourse on this, I became intrigued by one particular thread of the conversation: the comparisons between the SSPX and the Reformation. As a Protestant, this interested me. It also put me in an odd situation. I disagree with the SSPX on a number of things, not least of which is their assessment of the theological emphases of Vatican 2. However, much of the structure of their argument, especially the idea of the state of necessity felt familiar. Indeed, it has interesting overlaps with the Reformation. And it's those overlaps that I decided to explore in this video.

Join Me on the Camino!: https://www.gospelsimplicity.com/pilgrimage

Pre-order my novel, The Long Road to Holy Island: https://amzn.to/4sISAC9

Get access to my book club, one-on-one office hours, show notes, and more:  https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity
Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicity
Book a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity/meet-with-austin
Read my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com

SSPX Quotes referenced came from the following article: https://sspx.org/en/state-necessity-30464

00:00 The News
01:20 The SSPX
02:38 The State of Necessity
05:53 Reformation Similarities
07:40 Dissent from a Council
09:25 Rejecting Innovations
13:18 Appealing to a Higher Authority
15:39 The Crux of the Issue

Disclaimer: Links in the description may contain affiliate links, from which I receive a small percentage of the purchase.
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In this video, I'm joined by Dr. Jordan Steffaniak to discuss Classical Theism, what it is, how it's Biblical, and why all Christians, Protestants included, should hold to it. If you've ever wondered why things like Divine Simplicity or impassibility matter, this video is for you.

Pre-order my novel, The Long Road to Holy Island: https://amzn.to/4sISAC9

Get access to my book club, show notes, ad-free episodes and more:  https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity

Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicity
Book a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity/meet-with-austin
Read my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com

About the Guest: Jordan L. Steffaniak (PhD, University of Birmingham, UK) is President of the London Lyceum and Publisher for Hanover Press. He owns and operates Professor Lending, a residential mortgage brokerage and teaches at several institutions. He has a wonderful wife and three sons.

Get the book: https://amzn.to/4eLRTDV
Learn more: https://thelondonlyceum.com/

00:00 Introduction to Classical Theism
08:50 Classical Theism & Happiness
12:01 Is it Practical?
18:00 Aseity
21:01 Simplicity
39:53 Impassibility
51:10 Immutability
59:23 Classical Theism and Protestantism
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In this video, I'm joined by Fr. Matthew C. Dallman to discuss the distinctive elements of Anglican Spirituality as well as major figures within the Anglican spiritual tradition.

Fr. Matthew Dallman is the leading expert on Martin Thornton, and has published a new book on him, alongside republishing his works.

Find him on Substack: https://substack.com/@frmcdallman
Akenside Institute for English Spirituality: https://www.akensideinstitute.org/

Pre-order my novel, The Long Road to Holy Island: https://amzn.to/4sISAC9

Get access to my book club, show notes, ad-free episodes and more:  https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity

Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicity
Book a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity/meet-with-austin
Read my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com

00:00 Anglican Spirituality
02:51 Role of the BCP
06:10 Benedictine Spirituality
12:04 The Riches of Anglican Spirituality
18:02 Influential Figures
26:52 The Impact of Saints
43:13 Martin Thornton's Legacy
01:10:18 The Need for Spiritual Direction
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