The Ordinary Christian Podcast: Recent Episodes
Craig Thompson
A podcast dedicated to real people like you, seeking to live out your Christian faith in the ordinary aspects of everyday life.
I began the Ordinary Christian Podcast in 2020 just before the world shut down from a worldwide pandemic. In the four years since then, the podcast has continued in starts and stops. For the 100th episode, I decided to revisit some lessons we all learned during COVID shutdowns, but which we are on the verge of forgetting.
In this episode I encourage you to:
- Prioritize people over possessions.
- Live where you live.
- Don’t sleep on rest.
- Go for a walk.
- Practice hospitality.
- Slow down.
What COVID lessons do you remember? Which ones have you already forgotten to practice?
Thank you for being part of the Ordinary Christian Podcast for the last 100 episodes. I look forward to the next 1oo! Please let me know how this podcast has blessed you or how it could bless you in the future.
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In this episode, I share tips on how to stay awake and engaged during sermons. I emphasize the importance of going to bed early on Saturday nights, preparing ahead by reading the passage of Scripture, arriving early to find a comfortable seat, and actively participating in worship through singing. It also helps if listeners to expect to be challenged and changed, take notes, plan to discuss the sermon later, sit near the front, bring a physical Bible, and avoid distractions. By following these tips, you can get the most out of sermons and have a deeper encounter with God’s Word.
Takeaways
- Go to bed at a decent time on Saturday nights to ensure you are well-rested for Sunday morning worship.
- Prepare ahead by reading the passage of Scripture and praying for understanding.
- Arrive early to find a comfortable seat and engage in the entire worship service.
- Actively participate in worship through singing, awakening your senses and mind.
- Expect to be challenged and changed by the Word of God.
- Take notes during the sermon to enhance your understanding and create a reference for later reflection.
- Plan to discuss the sermon later, either in a life group or with family and friends.
- Sit near the front to better focus and engage with the sermon.
- Bring a physical Bible to minimize distractions from mobile devices.
- Avoid distractions and be mindful of creating a distraction-free environment during the sermon.
Dr. Chris Rappazini, a professor of leadership, discusses his new book Moving Forward After Messing Up and the importance of second chances. He shares a personal story about his relationship with his brother and how it inspired him to write the book. The conversation explores the challenges of recognizing and accepting our mistakes, the role of empathy in ministry, and the practical implications of God’s grace. The episode highlights the need for vulnerability and authenticity in building strong relationships and offers a fresh perspective on the prodigal son story.
In this conversation, Dr. Rappazini and I discuss the importance of preaching to the people that God has called pastors to, rather than preaching to an idealized church. We also explore the concept of forgiveness and humility in the context of dealing with prodigals and those going through deconstruction. Chris shares his personal experiences with his brother’s addiction and the role of community in the recovery process. The conversation concludes with a discussion on how Chris’s book, Moving Forward After Messing Up, can be used as a tool for group discussions and support.
Takeaways
- Recognizing and accepting our mistakes is the first step towards moving forward after messing up.
- Empathy and vulnerability are essential in building strong relationships and connecting with others who have experienced similar struggles.
- God is a God of second chances and is willing to forgive and redeem us, no matter how far we’ve strayed.
- The prodigal son story takes on a new meaning when we realize that we are all prodigals in need of God’s grace.
- Theology should not be limited to academic study but should help us better understand and love God. Preaching should be tailored to the specific needs of the congregation and focused on helping them apply biblical principles to their lives.
- The best preachers are often found in small churches, where they intimately know their congregation and can speak into their lives.
- When dealing with prodigals or those going through deconstruction, it is important to approach them with love, humility, and a willingness to listen.
- Forgiveness and humility are crucial for both the person going through a difficult time and those supporting them.
- Community and support groups play a vital role in the recovery process, providing a safe space for sharing and healing.
- Chris’s book, ‘Second Chances: From Tragedy to Triumph,’ can be used as a resource for group discussions and as a conversation starter for those struggling with addiction or other challenges.
Sound Bites
- “Snow, rain, all in the same day, all in the same spot.”
- “The God of Second Chances”
- “God’s been in that place on your behalf.”
- “That’s good. That’s that’s strong.”
- “Preach to the people that God’s called you to pastor.”
- “The best preachers are the ones that you’ve never heard of.”
Chapters
00:00Introduction and Background
03:37Discussing the Book ‘Moving Forward After Messing Up’
11:09The Impact of Personal Struggles on Ministry
14:20The Prodigal Son Story: A New Perspective
20:05The Challenge of Denial
22:34The Practical Implications of God’s Grace
25:08Preaching to the People God Has Called You to
27:03The Best Preachers Are the Ones You’ve Never Heard Of
30:27The Role of Community in Recovery and Healing
39:45Using ‘Second Chances: From Tragedy to Triumph’ as a Tool for Group Discussions
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On this episode, Dr. Kevin Gushiken and I discuss his upcoming book A Theology of Play and the importance of incorporating play into the Christian life. He explores the reasons why Christians often don’t prioritize play and suggests that grounding play in theology and scripture can give us permission to enjoy life. He emphasizes the need for a playful attitude and spontaneous moments of play, as well as scheduled play.
Dr. Gushiken also highlights the benefits of play in relationships, workplaces, and discipleship. In this conversation, Kevin Gushiken and Craig Thompson discuss the importance of play in our lives, especially in the midst of pain and struggle. They explore the idea that play brings joy, freedom, and perspective, and helps us connect with others and with God. They also discuss the impact of technology on play and the need to prioritize play in our lives. The conversation concludes with a discussion on favorite ways to play and a reminder to step into play and make it a part of our daily lives.
Takeaways
- Grounding play in theology and scripture can give Christians permission to enjoy life.
- Playfulness and spontaneous moments of play should be incorporated into all aspects of life, not just scheduled play.
- Play can deepen relationships, build trust, and increase productivity in workplaces.
- Play can be a valuable tool for discipleship and spiritual growth.
- The Bible affirms the importance of play and enjoyment of life. Play brings joy, freedom, and perspective to our lives.
- Play helps us connect with others and with God.
- Technology can hinder our ability to play and disconnect from the busyness of life.
- We need to prioritize play and make it a part of our daily lives.
- Play can be a source of strength and resilience in the midst of pain and struggle.
Sound Bites
- “Why is it that Christians, and I think this applies to people who are non-Christians as well, why is it that we don’t play?”
- “Have you played this week?”
- “We’re not doing an excellent job at discipling young men… We’ve created discipleship methods and models that are very driven towards… readers… but just aren’t interested in reading a 300-page book on theology or a 250-page book on spiritual disciplines.”
- “We have an Abba father. Why would it be any different for our Abba father when he gave us this good creation? I think he gets great pleasure when we enjoy the relationships, the gifts, the creation, the ability to play, to connect with people.”
- “How connected are we to our phone, our email? And so we almost become sterilized in life, right? Because we’re so connected to technology that we don’t disconnect to enjoy.”
- “The best antidote to mental health is let’s go play a little bit.”
Chapters
00:00Introduction: A Theology of Play
08:54Play as a Discipleship Method
23:15Play in the Workplace: Increasing Productivity
30:59Disconnecting from Technology and Prioritizing Play
40:29Rediscovering Play as Empty Nesters
53:12Stepping into Play: Making it a Habit and Routine
Preorder A Theology of Play here.
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Dr. Greg Quiggle discusses his new book on D.L. Moody, titled Bread and Bibles: D. L. Moody's Evangelism and Social Action, which explores Moody's evangelism and social action. Moody was a prominent English-speaking evangelist in the 19th century and had a significant impact on Protestant Christianity. He was known for his ability to connect with the common person and his earnestness.
Moody established various institutions, including Moody Bible Institute and Moody Church, and played a key role in the development of Christian publishing. He believed in the three Rs: ruined by sin, redeemed by Christ, and regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Moody's theology was practical and focused on the essentials of the Christian faith. He was a pre-millennialist and believed in the imminent return of Christ to establish his rule on earth for a thousand years. Moody's influence extended beyond his lifetime and continues to impact evangelicalism today. DL Moody's ministry was characterized by his focus on evangelism and his love for people. He was driven by the love of God and had a deep understanding of the struggles of the poor and marginalized. Moody's ministry was marked by humility and a focus on Jesus, not himself. He believed in preaching the gospel and also in practical acts of service and social engagement.
Takeaways
- D.L. Moody was a prominent English-speaking evangelist in the 19th century and had a significant impact on Protestant Christianity.
- Moody established various institutions, including Moody Bible Institute and Moody Church, which continue to have a lasting impact today.
- His theology was practical and focused on the essentials of the Christian faith, emphasizing the three Rs: ruined by sin, redeemed by Christ, and regenerated by the Holy Spirit.
- Moody was a pre-millennialist and believed in the imminent return of Christ to establish his rule on earth for a thousand years.
- His influence extended beyond his lifetime and continues to impact evangelicalism today. Moody's ministry was characterized by his focus on evangelism and his love for people.
- He had liberal theological friends and was not vociferously anti-Catholic.
- Moody's theology was caught, not taught, and he learned by listening and asking questions.
- He was driven by the love of God and had a deep understanding of the struggles of the poor and marginalized.
- Moody's ministry was marked by humility and a focus on Jesus, not himself.
- He believed in preaching the gospel and also in practical acts of service and social engagement.
Sound Bites
- "Dwight Moody, unfortunately, has largely dropped out of memory for a lot of people."
- "Moody's genius was he had the ability to catch the conscience and the imagination of the common person."
- "By the time he leaves, there's about two million people that have attended his services in London alone."
- "He was not vociferously anti-Catholic, and he got slaughtered for that a lot."
- "Ultimately he's an evangelist, right? His goal is to preach the gospel and get people to the counseling room."
- "Moody's theology is caught, not taught. He learned by listening and asking questions."
Chapters
00:00Introduction and Background of Dr. Greg Quiggle and D.L. Moody
02:08Discussion of Dr. Quiggle's Book: Bread and Bibles
10:06D.L. Moody's Early Life and Conversion
14:02Moody's Impact in England and Worldwide
23:43Moody's Humility and Legacy
28:48Moody's Theology and Controversies
29:17DL Moody's Relationship with the Catholic Church
30:09Moody's Focus on Evangelism
31:31Moody's Theology: Caught, Not Taught
35:38The Love of God and the Love for the Marginalized
38:44Moody's Humility and Focus on Jesus
40:14Preaching the Gospel and Practicing Social Engagement
As parents, our “no” can often be more powerful than our “yes.” But, saying “no” comes with risk as well as reward. On this episode of the podcast, I sit down with two other pastors from Malvern Hill and discuss why saying “no” must be a part of our regular conversations with our children. We discuss a recent sermon, travel sports, ballet, screen time, social media, and internet gaming. Perhaps most importantly, we discuss the opportunity costs that come with the choices we make for our families.
Hopefully, along the way, we give other parents some extra tools in their tool kit to help make raising our kids a little easier.
One of the major topics in this podcast is Jonathan Haidt’s newest book, The Anxious Generation. Use this link to access information about the book and the research that supports it.
We also mentioned Brant Hansen’s book, The Men We Need.
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In this episode of the Ordinary Christian Podcast, Craig Thompson interviews David Mathis about the theology of exercise. They discuss the importance of exercise in their personal lives and how it impacts their roles as husbands, fathers, and pastors. They explore the biblical metaphor of running and the idea of embracing difficulty for the sake of reward. They also touch on the different types of exercise and the importance of finding enjoyment in physical activity. Overall, the conversation highlights the connection between physical health and spiritual well-being. In this conversation, Craig Thompson and David Mathis discuss the importance of physical movement and exercise in the Christian life. They explore how our sedentary lifestyles can hinder our ability to glorify God and serve others. They emphasize the need for balance and moderation in caring for our bodies, avoiding both neglect and idolatry. They also discuss the impact of exercise on mental and emotional well-being, as well as its role in parenting and community building. Overall, they highlight the holistic nature of the Christian life and the importance of stewarding our bodies for the glory of God.
Takeaways
- Regular exercise can make us better husbands, fathers, and pastors by increasing our energy levels and improving our overall well-being.
- Embracing difficulty in exercise can train our will and help us develop discipline in other areas of life.
- Different types of exercise, such as aerobic training, strength training, and balance training, all have their own benefits and can contribute to our physical and spiritual health.
- Exercise should be enjoyable and bring a sense of playfulness to our lives.
- The biblical metaphor of running can remind us of the importance of perseverance and finishing strong in our spiritual journey. Our sedentary lifestyles can hinder our ability to glorify God and serve others.
- Caring for our bodies through exercise is a spiritual discipline that can enhance our mental and emotional well-being.
- Physical activity can be a way to bond with our children and set a healthy example for them.
- Exercise should be approached with balance and moderation, avoiding both neglect and idolatry.
- Engaging in physical activity can lead to a more joyful and obedient Christian life.
Links
- A Little Theology of Exercise by David Mathis
- Your Health is a Spiritual Issue
- We Need to Talk about Gluttony
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Sound Bites
- “Exercise should be enjoyable and carry with it some play.”
- “Running is a biblical metaphor, a promise.”
- “In the midst of suffering, there is something good that’s going to come out as a result.”
- “When you have easy access to Doritos, we are not concerned with gluttony.”
- “I want to let my light so shine in such a way that others see my good deeds and give glory to my father in heaven. That’s going to take movement.”
- “I have a responsibility. God’s given me this body. It’s beautiful. Well, it’s beautiful as it can be.”
Chapters
00:00Introduction and Personal Background
08:23The Theology of Exercise and its Impact on Daily Life
16:00Training the Will through Exercise
29:24Personal Responsibility and Stewardship
36:24The Importance of Modest Upkeep
44:06Living a Happier, Obedient Christian Life
What if life is supposed to be hard? What if difficult is normal, and easy is the rare icing on the cake. If life is supposed to be challenging, then part of the struggles in our lives do not come about because life is so difficult, but because we have made too much of life easy and have created an expectation that easy is normal.
The Bible is filled with words of warning about difficult days and with words of promise that we are not alone in difficult days. But, the Bible is also full of verses that teach us about the joy and glory to be found in struggle and even in suffering. On this episode of the podcast, we take a brief dive into some of the positive aspects of suffering and struggle.
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Bryan Plyler is a husband, father, aspiring angler, and the pastor of the River Church in Camden, SC. On this episode, Bryan shares about his recent health struggles that nearly left him without a voice and how God has worked in spite of that situation. He shares some helpful tips on anxiety and tells about lessons learned from hard spiritual struggles. The podcast closes with a good conversation on friends and how even friends of convenience are God’s kindness toward us and should be treasured.
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We are failing our boys. No one denies that boys in our culture are struggling, but perhaps you are not aware of just how great the struggle is. Boys are failing or falling behind in nearly every category imaginable. Consider a few stats:
- Nationally, 70% of high school valedictorians are female.
- In 2010 only 44% of college applicants were male.
- As of 2016, the dropout rate for boys is 40% higher than for girls.
- 2/3 of the population labeled as “learning-disabled” is boys.
- For every 100 girls who repeat kindergarten, 194 boys repeat.
- Boys make up 70% of medicated preschoolers and kindergartners.
- Boys make up 80% of the suspects in juvenile courts.
On this episode, I offer some hope from the Bible and some suggestions for what you can do today to begin making boys healthier.
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When we try to teach biblical discernment, it is difficult for the same reasons that teaching someone to play baseball is difficult. Baseball is a relatively simple game to play…if you know how to play baseball. If you do not know how to play baseball, it is a game filled with complicated, sometimes abstract instructions, skills, and coordination and you have already forgotten many of the beginning and intermediate steps in the process of learning how to throw and hit a baseball.
If you are teaching biblical discernment, you have probably forgotten many of the steps involved in that process as well process. Discernment becomes second nature to you as you mature in Christ and grow in your knowledge, understanding, and application of God’s word.
But, for those who are new to the concept, we have to break discernment down into practical steps that can be used to arrive at a decision.
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Have you ever gone through a difficult season of life, only to look back and see God at work through the whole thing?
Rob Tims is a husband and father of four children. He is also the pastor of Beech Haven Church in Athens, Georgia. On this episode of the podcast, Rob and I dig into a period of intense struggle in his life that God used to refine him and give him a greater appreciation for the gospel. Rob explains how anxiety and depression can have physiological impacts. He also shares the difference between living for God’s glory and for man’s applause. Rob is very transparent about the struggles of his past, but also shares some great insight on how to avoid falling into those dark places yourself. Rob’s story also has a happy ending because the result of his struggle was a greater dependence upon the Lord and a return to healthy and fruitful ministry.
Your story can have a happy ending as well!
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Benjamin Laird is associate professor of biblical studies at the John W. Rawlings School of Divinity of Liberty University. He is a respected New Testament scholar and the author of several books. On this episode of the Podcast, I speak with Dr. Laird about his latest book, Creating the Canon: Composition, Controversy, and the Authority of the New Testament.
Dr. Laird explains the process of canonization and explains what canonization means (it is the process whereby the New Testament books were deemed to be sacred and authoritative–essentially, the process of those writings becoming the New Testament). We talk a bit about liberalism and higher criticism. Dr. Laird explains why inspiration, inerrancy, and infallibility are essential components to affirming the authority of the New Testament. If you have ever wondered where the New Testament came from and how we came to understand it as divinely inspired, this podcast is for you.
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Tremendous suffering is the normal experience of being in this world. Beauty and love and joy are normal, but so is suffering. Alan Noble is a professor at Oklahoma Baptist University and has written a fantastic book on the burden and beautiful gift of living. In, On Getting Out of Bed, Alan Noble encourages his readers to know that God loves them and that they are a part of his good creation intended to glorify God and enjoy him forever.
On this episode of the podcast, Alan and I discuss the joys and challenges of living. We talk about how suffering is norma. Hopefully you can be reminded that just because your life is hard, that does not make you broken or unique. Life is often challenging, but you can and should continue to live abundantly even when you might not feel like it. You can’t always trust your feelings. You don’t always feel like getting out of bed. Sometimes, all you can do is the next thing, but even if the next thing is just getting out of bed, you can even do that for the glory of God and the good of others.
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Jared Patrick Boyd is a pastor, spiritual director, and founding director of the Order of the Common Life, a missional monastic order reimagining religious vocations for the twenty-first century. He and his wife have four daughters and live in Columbus, Ohio. On this episode of the podcast, Jared and I discuss his latest book, Finding Freedom in Constraint: Reimagining Spiritual Disciplines as a Communal Way of Life.
As we discuss his book, we talk through the ways spiritual disciplines can be practiced in community. We consider how the beatitudes can be practically applied to help us know ourselves better and walk in deeper relationship with Christ. Jared also offers some practical tips on how you can begin to live more intentionally in community and suggests that the first step in a deeper spiritual growth may be a commitment to silence and solitude. If you are looking for way to grow in your relationship with the Lord or if you have ever wondered how ancient monastic principles could be lived out in modern life, this podcast is a great place to start.
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I've written several times on physical health in the past and just recently, I wrote on gluttony. On this episode of the Podcast, I try to merge the gluttony conversation with a few words about physical health and what it looks like to find balance. I hope you will join me as we consider the steps you can take to battle gluttony, and how 5+1 can help you to find joy and satisfaction--and maybe even help you to climb out of a funk.
Our spiritual health is related to our physical health, whether we like it or not. So, it is time that we get serious talking about it.
Whenever you reach for your phone or scan a newspaper to get caught up, you are not being merely informed, you are also being formed. News consumption can shape your sense of belonging, how you judged the value of your life, and even how your brains function. Jeff Bilbro believes Christians must not let the news replace prayer, Bible reading, and simple disciplines of the Christian life.
On this episode of the Podcast, Dr. Bilbro and I discuss the news, the power of daily habits, and the role of both the Old Testament prophet and the informed Christian today. Dr. Bilbro also explains how being "more informed" through news media may not be as good as you think it is and why it is important to not spend your best time of the day in devotion to news media instead of God.
After listening to the podcast, I encourage you to pick up a copy of Reading the Times: A Theological Inquiry into the News.
Mark Noll is a retired professor of history and prolific author with a focus in history and the history of the church in America. His most recent book, C. S. Lewis in America looks at the reception of C. S. Lewis in America during and following World War II. In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Noll and I discuss Lewis, the need for academic rigor in evangelicalism, and the historical context behind Lewis's American reception. Along the way we learn how Lewis avoided politics and why he was more concerned for his soul than his success.
This is a fun conversation with a renowned scholar. If you are a C. S. Lewis fan, it is an added bonus, but even if you have never heard of C. S. Lewis, you will benefit from Dr. Noll's wisdom and insight.
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Lyman Stone is a husband, father, and follower of Jesus. He is also a PhD Candidate in Sociology at McGill University. As a demographer, Lyman specializes in understanding fertility preferences. On this episode of the podcast, however, we focus primarily on what demographic data tells us about the state of marriage in the United States today. We consider the happiness that marriage brings, the best steps single people can take today to find a mate or be more "marriageable" themselves. Lyman also shares some research related to secularization of children and why you need to worry more about what you teach your kids about Jesus at home than what they are going to learn in college. We also discuss marriage tax penalties and why cohabiting is a terrible idea for anyone who desires marriage in the future.
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Recently, I wrote about anxiety, and it resonated with many of you. Most of you know at least a little bit of what anxiety can feel like. You have experienced struggles or worries. Some anxiety is over large things, often we can even be anxious over small issues. Occasionally, we can feel anxious for seemingly nothing at all. In the midst of anxiety, all sorts of little things can feel like they are piling up and threatening to smother you.
On this episode of the podcast, I speak about how God met me in the middle of all the things and reminded me that even trials come to mould me into his image.
Our trials can even be places of joy when we remember that God meets us there.
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
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James 1:2-4
Brian Owen is the planting pastor of Grace City Church in Boston, Massachusetts. Brian has a heart for redemption and helps us to see the terrible fall of sin in Genesis 3, but the great hope of the gospel that is pointed to first in that passage of Scripture. Along the way we discuss the differences between Boston and Camden, we celebrate the joy of Waffle House and Cracker Barrel, and SmashBurger. Along the way we wrestle with some of the gruesome details that are often overlooked in teaching about sin and shame.
As you hear this conversation, please take time to pray for Brian, his church, and the city of Boston. Consider whether God might desire for you to join him in the work he and others are doing in Boston, Mass.
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Nancy Pearcey's latest book is The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes. Her earlier books include Love Thy Body: Answering Hard Questions about Life and Sexuality, The Soul of Science, Saving Leonardo, Finding Truth, and two ECPA Gold Medallion Award Winners:How Now Shall We Live (coauthored with Harold Fickett and Chuck Colson) and Total Truth. Her books have been translated into 19 languages. She is professor and scholar in residence at Houston Christian University. A former agnostic, Pearcey has spoken at universities such as Princeton, Stanford, USC, and Dartmouth. She has been quoted in The New Yorker and Newsweek, highlighted as one of the five top women apologists by Christianity Today, and hailed in The Economist as "America's pre-eminent evangelical Protestant female intellectual."
On this episode of the podcast, Professor Pearcey discusses her motivations for writing this book and how she believes the war on masculinity is trickling down to impact boys of all ages. Nancy explains the underreported good news that committed evangelical Christian men are the best husbands and fathers on the planet. We also discuss how women have a unique perspective to speak into the masculinity crisis and how Darwinism and evolutionary psychology has the potential to perpetuate the sinful excuses of Adam.
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Families usually share things in common--the Thompsons are all Atlanta Braves fans, for instance (and all but one of our kids are South Carolina Gamecock fans, but that is another bitter story). There really is joy to be found in shared experiences and commitments within the family. When members of the family are not on the same page--like having a Clemson fan in a Carolina household--the family can experience tension.
When the tension surrounds a college football team, it can be overcome. But, there are tensions that are fare greater. If you are a follower of Jesus who lives in a family that does not share your faith, you know what it is like to live with tension. You experience the tension of having close relationships in your church that the rest of your family does not share. You probably even wrestle with the existential angst that your family members are no Christians whose eternal destiny hangs in the balance. If you are one of those people, you are not alone and this podcast is for you.
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I have written several times through the years about why you should be concerned with orphan care and shared some of our family’s story of adoption. On this episode of the podcast, my wife, Angela joins me to share about the needs for orphan care and to share a bit about our story. If you have ever considered orphan care as a possibility in your home, I know this episode can help you. If you have ever had a desire to help children in hard places but thought there was nothing you could do, make sure you listen in for all the ways you can support orphan care, even if you do not have the ability to welcome children into your home.
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How much margin do you need in your life? How well do you know yourself? Terry Linhart joins me today to talk about some of the most common personal challenges we face in life and ministry. He offers some guided reflection to help us overcome our blindspots and become more effective leaders.
If you could use help setting up healthy margins in your life or maybe processing your emotions, this podcast is for you. You will also be challenged to see yourself as others see you, not just as you wish to be perceived. If you want to learn more about Terry, you can do so by going to his website, terrylinhart.com
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Louis Markos is a professor of English at Houston Christian University. He is also an expert and scholar on C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien. On this episode of the podcast, Dr. Markos helps us to understand a little background on C. S. Lewis and gives us some tips on how to read Lewis a little more carefully. Dr. Markos shows us how C. S. Lewis is important for today and how we can use Lewis’s approach to be more winsome in our Christian witness to the world around us.
Dr. Markos is a lot of fun, and you will enjoy hearing his passion bleed through in the conversation. If you would like to know more about Dr. Markos, you can find his books here. You can also read his article, What I Learned from Rereading C. S. Lewis, which we discuss in the podcast. You may also enjoy this podcast from The Art of Manliness where I first heard Dr. Markos speak about C. S. Lewis.
If you enjoy this podcast, please consider sharing it with a friend or leaving a rating or review to help us get the word out.
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On this episode, I sit down with my friend and co-worker, Ginger Chestnut, to talk about Lies Young Women Believe, parenting, and mentoring the next generation. Through the course of the conversation we discuss ice cream and popcorn for dinner, burned meals, and living room campouts. If you are a woman or young woman, you will love learning from Ginger's wisdom.
If you are a man or a young man, you need to hear this because the women in your life have some challenges that are a bit different than yours. You need to know how to love them well.
Finally, if you have ever been tempted to believe that your whole life has to be determined by your mistakes, make sure to pay close attention to the last five minutes. One moment does not have to destroy your entire life.
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Pastors have a biblical expectation and responsibility to welcome guests into their homes. There is not a biblical expectation that they become extravagant hosts or live in a particular kind or size of home. There is not a biblical expectation that pastors always have people in their home. But, there is a biblical expectation that the homes of pastors be open to guests and that they welcome them with joy.
If you are not a pastor, you’re not off the hook. Hospitality is a biblical expectation for all of God’s children. Just consider 1 Peter 4:9, “Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.”
If hospitality is a struggle for you or if you just don’t know how to begin making your home more hospitable, this podcast is a good place for you to begin. I've put together a list of a few tips to help you begin to make your home (and yourself) more hospitable.
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Grieving people need the comfort of community. But, in times of grief, we can often say things we don't mean or attempt to comfort people with words that hit wrong. Todd Warnock joins me on the podcast today to talk about the things that were helpful for him when he lost his son and to share some of the really stupid things people said to him in those hard days.
At some point, you will sit with grieving people and you will wonder what to say and what to do. This podcast gives some insight from someone who has a been there. I enjoyed this conversation with Todd and I know you will enjoy and benefit from his wisdom, experience, and even his humor.
You can find more resources on this topic here.
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Have you ever found yourself longing for more than an online experience? Have you ever missed a payphone or a real textbook? Maybe you remember the smell of your elementary school or the relationship with your high school youth leader. If any of these describe you, you know something about the desire for analog experiences.
David Sax is an award winning writer and keynote speaker. He is also a father, husband, and amateur lake surfer. On this episode of the podcast, David shares about two of his books, The Revenge of Analog and The Future is Analog. David shares how our digitally focused world has led to a revival of analog experiences like vinyl records and board games. We also discuss how COVID lockdowns revealed just how important analog experiences are to human existence. Along the way we talk about the tactile experience of religious services, Christmas parties, and Latvian saunas.
Regardless of whether you love boardgames or vinyl records, you will enjoy David's perspective on the real world and why we all need it. To learn more about David, visit his website at www.saxdavid.com.
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Social media likely shapes the people you love and disciple more than you do. With that Sentence, Chris Martin begins his book, The Wolf in Their Pockets. On this episode of the podcast, Chris shares about the premise behind his book, the positive aspects of social media and the dangers that it presents. Chris encourages believers to engage with social media thoughtfully and actively rather than passively. We discuss how social media can be utilized to extend relationships--like keeping up with college friends--and to communicate important information.
Along the course of our conversation, we discuss the Cubs, the designated hitter, and the new pitch clock in MLB. If you are a consumer or a creator of social media content, this podcast is for you.
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Are you willing to give of yourself to reach others with the gospel? Jesus proclaimed the gospel authentically. He didn’t just say it, he lived it before them and with them. He allowed them to see him, to touch him. Later he would even eat with them. As you seek to share the gospel with others, they are looking for a gospel that is more than words.
People around you are often fearful and they struggle to believe. Their lives are messy and hard. If you are going to reach them, you’ve got to be willing to climb down into their mess with them. Like Jesus, you have to meet them in their mess so that they can be delivered.
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Lanny Gunter is a husband, father, business owner, and a veteran. He is also active in his church where he volunteers with children’s ministry, he is a dog trainer, and an enthusiastic coffee drinker. But, Lanny’s life has not always been so closely tied to a local church. On this episode of the podcast, Lanny shares his story of self-reliance, substance abuse, and a few close-calls with death. He also tells how Jesus has changed his life and how he is trying to make a difference in the lives of others today.
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Mark Hodge is the Head Football Coach at Spartanburg High School in Spartanburg, South Carolina. As the head coach there, Mark has implemented a program to help his players to become more than athletes, but to grow into young men of character, consequence, and courage. Mark says the REFINED program is “designed to give support, structure and opportunities for our children to become the best they can possibly be as adults. It encompasses the socio-emotional, academic, psychological, physical and financial aspects of life.”
As discussed on a previous episode of the podcast, we live in an age where high school teachers (and coaches) are more trusted than pastors. Educators have a wonderful opportunity and Mark Hodge is working to make the most of that opportunity. If you are interested in learning more about the REFINED program, reach out to Mark.
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Lt. Colonel Cary Snelling is a chaplain with the US Army. On this episode of the podcast, Lt. Col. Snelling sits down to share his story in ministry, the importance of chaplains, the purpose of chaplains, and to offer a plea for more people (especially young me) to pursue this important missional calling. If you are like me, this might be the first time you have ever considered the need to pray and plea for more chaplains. You'll also hear some valuable advice for ministering to and with chaplains, caring well for military families, and why the greatest threat to chaplaincy is probably not what you think.
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According to a recent gallup poll, trust in pastors fell to an historic low last year. Only 34% of Americans believe members of the clergy to be people with high ethical standards. On this episode of the podcast, I spend time with Pastor Craigan Blankenship who has been working over the last five years to build trust within his own community. Join us as Craigan shares his experiences and as we explore ways you can become more influential and trusted in your own community as you seek to bring others to Jesus. If you are a teacher, police officer, or medial worker, you’ll want to pay special attention because, according to gallup, the public trusts you far more than they trust your pastor.
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Merry Christmas! Like most people, you probably have some great Christmas traditions in your family. But, many Christmas traditions cross family lines and even cultural barriers. In this episode of the podcast, Adam Whiteside helps me to share some Christmas traditions, shed some light on the origins of Santa Claus, and offer some input on how to use Christmas traditions to ground your family in Christ and his church. I hope you have as much fun with this as we did.
Merry Christmas!
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Bethany melton is a young writer with a desire to bring attention to stories of ordinary people living faithfully and making large impacts in small places. In this episode of the podcast. Bethany shares a few stories of ordinary impact, offers some advice to young writers, and reveals some of the beauty and contentment that can be found from 21 years growing up in the same church and community. You can read more about Bethany and read her work on her blog, https://bethanyjmelton.com.
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If you could change one thing about your home this Christmas season, what would it be? On this episode of the podcast, I discuss my new book, Home for the Holidays. Home for the Holidays is an Advent devotional I have written that I hope will help you restore hope, love, joy, and peace in your home this Christmas season as you direct your attention to the Savior who was born to rescue the world from the curse of sin.
You can purchase a copy of Home for the Holidays in paperback or kindle edition on Amazon here. It would be my honor to help you and your family focus more on Christ this Christmas season.
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Dr. Bryan Chapell is the leader of the Administrative Committee of the Presbyterian Church in America and serves as Pastor Emeritus of the historic Grace Presbyterian Church in Peoria, Illinois and President Emeritus of Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. Dr. Chapell has authored numerous books and is also a husband, father, and grandfather of six grandchildren.
On this episode of the Podcast, Dr. Chapell discusses is most recent book, Grace of Work: Redeeming the Grind and Glory of Your Job.In the course of the discussion, Dr. Chapell explains how a proper understanding of glory can lead to greater satisfaction in work. We also discuss how the dignity of work is ultimately rooted in the dignity of human beings, not in the actual work being done. If you have ever felt stuck in your work or wondered if your work had anything to offer to the Kingdom of God, this podcast is perfect for you.
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Matt Reynolds is the founder of Barbell Logic, a former professional strongman, and has performed as an elite-level powerlifter. Matt is a former gym owner and a long-time respected strength coach. Most importantly, Matt is a committed follower of Jesus with a powerful story of grace and redemption. On this episode of the podcast, Matt share’s his story, speaks of his awakening to the full power of the gospel, and brags on his amazing wife. Along the way we explore the value of discipleship, accountability, and strong churches. For fun, Matt and I discuss some lifting and the torture that is the Rogue Echo Bike. Matt also shares some advice for anyone who might be interested in beginning their physical strength journey. Quote to remember:
There is something refining about voluntary hardship.
Matt’s story is one of hidden sin and the power of Jesus. If you are struggling with your own hidden sins, Matt would love to talk with you. You can email Matt at mreynolds@barbell-logic.com
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On this episode of the podcast, Craig talks about the value of committing to community through a local church. The world is desperate for community, for relationships and even accountability. People are looking for a place to belong. The secular world will offer many options to fill the void caused by loneliness and isolation. Let’s do all that we can to show the people around us that the church is the perfect place to know and be known by others. And, to know and be known by the Savior who takes away the sin of the world.
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Often, the most important disciplines in our life are the decisions we will make before our discipleship. In this episode of the podcast, Craig offers three suggestions to help you grow as a disciple of Jesus:
- Remover barriers to spiritual growth.
- Make the right decision the easy decisions.
- Make the discipleship decision the appealing decision.
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You may also enjoy Snackable, Stackable Discipleship
I am blessed to pastor a church with healthy children’s and student ministries. I get asked often how to create these ministries. On this episode of the podcast, I sit down with Adam Whiteside, our student pastor, and discuss student ministry. Topics addressed include:
- What is a healthy student ministry?
- How to create a healthy student ministry within a healthy church.
- How to create a healthy student ministry within an unhealthy church.
- Attractional models of student ministry vs. creational models.
- The importance of pastoral support and buy-in.
Healthy age-graded ministries are not rocket science. Healthy ministries are built on healthy discipleship models.
In the course of our conversation, Adam mentions the Malvern Mike and Mary profile used in the student ministry at Malvern Hill. I've included the PDF below. This profile describes the kind of students we hope to create at Malvern Hill.
Malvern Hill Mike and Mary
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Jake Morris is a teacher and assistant head football coach at Dorman High School in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Jake is also a committed follower of Jesus, a husband, and a father. I have known Jake since I was his youth pastor when he was in middle school. On this episode of the podcast, Jake and I talk about the importance of investing in young men and how coaches can and must care about more than X's and O's. Along the way, Jake tells us what makes the most difference in the kids he coaches and how kids today are the same as they were twenty years ago and what is different.
As young people in our culture more consistently live in fatherless homes, the role of male coach is more important than it has ever been. Even more important, however, is for coaches to accept the responsibility to be more than a ball coach, to be people of character and courage who help raise young men up to make a difference in the world around them. Our culture needs Christian coaches who will represent Christ first. Jake is one of those coaches. I know you will enjoy this episode.
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What is secularism? Wikipedia says,Secularismis the principle of seeking to conduct human affairs based onsecular,naturalisticconsiderations. It is most commonly defined as theseparation of religion from civic affairs and the state, and may be broadened to a similar position concerning the need to remove or to minimize the role of religion in any public sphere. On this episode of The Ordinary Christian Podcast, Craig explains there are at least three different types of secularism and distinct ways Christians should respond to each. Subscribe to The Ordinary Christian Podcast.
After one more normal night of frustration, exhaustion, and feeling like a failure at parenting, Justin Whitmel Earley realized that something needed to change in his house. He recognized that the habits of his household were not nurturing his marriage and his children in the way that he wanted. So, he decided to make some changes. The changes in the Earley household focused around gospel shifts in regular daily habits with the realization that our habits are connected to our hearts.
On this episode of the podcast, Justin explains how he and his wife, Lauren, are working to steward the hearts of their four boys by stewarding the habits of their family. Justin shares some great tips on how you can steward the hearts in your household as well.
For more information about Justin, check out his website: www.justinwhitmelearley.com
His latest book, Habits of the Household, can be purchased on Amazon.
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Is news important? How should Christians consume news, respond to the news, and even publish news of our own. On this episode of the podcast, Dr. Chris Hefner helps Christians think carefully through some of these issues.
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Much is said about the work pastors can do to make their churches healthier. But, churches have far more lay members than pastors. Healthy churches are made up of ordinary, healthy church members. You don't need to be a pastor to make your church healthier. Your church needs everyone to do their part to be healthier. Brian Croft of Practical Shepherding joins me today to show you some steps to make your church healthier today.
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Paying the tax we do not owe often means choosing to be the offended if it advances the gospel or helps to maintain unity within the church. Paying the tax may mean apologizing even when you do not feel that you were wrong (or that you were the only one wrong). Sometimes in ministry, paying the tax may mean keeping our mouths shut when we could share information that would make us to look better.
God created us not only for romance, but for friendship as well. In some ways, being a friend is just being you and being available. In other ways, friendship is active–you can bea friend by doing something for those whom you love. You need friends and your friends need you. Tune in to learn how you can be a friend to someone who needs it today.
Often people walk into marriage with unrealistic expectations and unspoken assumptions. In this episode of the podcast, Craig helps to unpack some of those common myths so that you can work to bring your marriage out of fantasy and into the real world. Subscribe to The Ordinary Christian Podcast.
Recent months and years have brought much discussion around the topic of complementarianism–the belief that women and men are given different roles in the home and the church. Joel Rainey helps to unpack some of the abuses around the idea of complementarianism and gives some really good advice on raising sons and daughters. Along the way we talk about changing oil, loving our wives, and raising kids to love Jesus in very normal homes. You will be blessed with Joel’s wisdom and candor.
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Smart phones are tools that can help us to live our lives and communicate with others more efficiently. However, like any tool, when used improperly, phones can become a danger. This is especially true among teen culture. Listen in as Adam Whiteside and I work to help you navigate the dangers of cell phone abuse among teens and young adults.
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Thomas Austin was a standout football player at Clemson University and spent several years playing offensive line in the NFL. After his NFL career Thomas served as a graduate assistant at Clemson, an offensive line coach at Georgia State University, and has recently returned to Clemson as an offensive analyst. Thomas is married to Margaret and they have four kids. In this episode, Thomas speaks of the joys of ministry through his platform, the mentoring opportunities that coaching brings, and the challenges of caring well for his wife and kids with a busy schedule. You will also hear how growing up in a Christian home prepared Thomas to follow Christ in college and the NFL, the value of local church, and the power of a godly father. Thomas also gives a couple of good book suggestions and works diligently to convert me to being a Clemson fan.
Is social media a good thing? A bad thing? A necessary evil? It can be any and all of those things. But, like most things, social media is a tool that we can leverage faithfully as followers of Christ. Matt Rogers helps us to think more carefully through issues surrounding the use and misuse of social media. Along the way, we share some particular ways pastors struggle with social media as well.
“I am a woman trapped in a man’s body.” That statement drove Carl Trueman to investigate what has happened in Western culture to create a situation where, “I am a woman trapped in a man’s body,” are words that makes sense in the same sentence. On this episode of the podcast, we discuss Dr. Trueman’s latest book, The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self, which traces cultural transitions from Romanticism to the modern era to show how some unlikely philosophical partners have come together to create the cultural vertigo of the 21st Century. If you feel as though your head is spinning trying to understand our current cultural situation, Dr. Trueman’s wisdom might help you make sense of it all.
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Have you ever struggled to share the gospel? The Great Commission is everyone’s job, but sometimes that job isn’t easy. Listen in as Dr. Tim Beougher shares some tips on personal evangelism. Simple steps like praying for your waitress or inviting a co-worker to church can open doors for you to share the gospel. In this episode you’ll also get tips on how to use gospel tracts and what kinds of tracts should be avoided.
Current statistics say that it takes 86 church members to reach one person for Christ. However, over 11% of unchurched people say they would come to Christ if someone would only tell them how. 27% of the unchurched claim to be almost ready to accept Christ. The fields are white unto harvest. 63% of people are most willing to hear about church through a personal conversation with a family member and 56% would like to have that conversation with a friend or neighbor. Take the tips in this podcast and use them to change someone’s life.
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Tom Mullikin is a senior environmental attorney, seasoned expert on global environmental policy, award winning documentarian and author, and senior military officer. Tom’s environmental work has taken him to every continent on earth, including multiple trips to the Arctic and Antarctica. Tom is also a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. I know you will learn much from Tom in this podcast, just as I have.
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A Baptist and a Presbyterian walk into a bar…Not really, but this is a conversation between a left leaning Presbyterian doctor and a right leaning Baptist pastor. Russ Blackwelder is doctor and faculty member at the Medical University of South Carolina. Russ is also one of my college roommates and a long time friend. In this episode of the podcast, Russ and I discuss how we can disagree agreeably, love one another regardless of our politics, and try to pave a way for Democrats, Republicans, and everyone in between to get along a little bit better. Russ also gives some hard facts about COVID vaccines and answers some of your questions related to safety and efficacy. Russ speaks for himself and not MUSC in this podcast, but his wisdom is well worth your time.
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Aesthetics is the study or appreciation of beauty and beautiful things. As it relates to the Christian life, aesthetics is more than just pretty things, it is the appreciation of beauty in light of the Creator. An appropriate understanding and appreciation of beauty helps us to better worship and appreciate God. In this podcast we discuss the beauty of a sunset, of The Smashing Pumpkins, and of a perfectly executed barbell squat. Along the way we address apologetics, worship, grief, and C. S. Lewis. Matt also gives a great answer to the question, “Is beauty only in the eye of the beholder?” Join me on this journey and learn to appreciate beauty in a different lens.
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Slow thinking doesn’t fit well within the age of social media and immediate news. Slow thinking looks more like philosophy and conversation and less like soundbites and tweets. Slow thinking looks like books and newspapers, coffee shop conversations, and complicated intellectual wrestling matches. Slow thinking takes hard topics and resists the temptation to boil them down to their least common denominator and instead wrestles with the hard and complicated truths.
Be quick to listen and slow to speak. The world will one day thank you for it.
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Dr. Donny Mathis wrote The Seven Arrows along with his pastor, Dr. Matt Rogers. On this episode of the podcast, I speak with Donny about how the Seven Arrows can help you to understand and apply the Bible. We also work to show how skipping straight to application can cause us to misunderstand and misapply God’s word.
You can also find the Seven Arrows Study Bible here.
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What is a Christian worldview and why should you have one? Listen in as I speak with Dr. Tony Beam about the value of a Christian worldview and how you can develop one. Along the way we discuss discernment, politics, and wisdom as well as how you can live out your Christian worldview every day.
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What is a Christian worldview and why should you have one? Listen in as I speak with Dr. Tony Beam about the value of a Christian worldview and how you can develop one. Along the way we discuss discernment, politics, and wisdom as well as how you can live out your Christian worldview every day.
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Have you ever wondered how you might use sports as a ministry or mission opportunity. Today on the show, I speak with Aaron Shaw about how sports has enabled people engage in their own communities, internationally, and even within prison systems. If you are passionate about sports and how you might use them as a part of your ministry, this podcast is perfect for you.
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Do you ever feel like you are a blue-collar person stuck in a white-collar church? Or maybe, you’re a white-collar person trying to understand a blue-collar culture? I grew up in a blue-collar family. My dad was a mechanic for twenty years and my mom managed the high school cafeteria. My first jobs involved manual labor. I learned to work on cars, mow lawns, paint houses, and repair decks. I went off to college and got a white-collar education and then to seminary to further cement myself among the white-collar crowd of professors and pastors. In this episode, I offer a few tips on how to embrace blue-collar Christianity.
Do you struggle to make Sabbath rest a priority? Adam Mabry talks with me about his book The Art of Rest and how he had to nearly break-down to finally stop and rest. He also shares how his journey toward rest was and continues to be important for the people to whom he ministers. You will be blessed by this conversation with Adam. Please excuse some of the technical glitches along the way during this episode.
Quotable wisdom from Adam in this podcast: “We give to our kids the parable of our lives.”
I love tools. Home improvement projects are often just excuses for me to add to my tool collection. But tools are much more than collectors items, they have particular purpose. Good tools help us to accomplish tasks more effectively and efficiently. I have found tools helpful in all areas of my life where I have responsibility. Figuratively I have separate tool boxes as a pastor, as a parent, as a husband, and in other areas of my life. In this episode of the Ordinary Christian Podcast, I share ten tools that I have found to be indispensable in my parenting toolbox.
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Glossophobia is the fear of public speaking and 73% of our population is affected by it. At least that many people are afraid of praying in public as well. If you are among those who are terrified that you might get called on to pray in a small group or over a family dinner, this podcast is for you. On this episode of the Ordinary Christian Podcast you will hear 6 easy steps to help you overcome your fear of praying in public.
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On this episode of the Ordinary Christian Podcast, I sit down with two of the other pastors at Malvern Hill and discuss popular music, Netflix, and the degradation of pop culture. We talk music, dance, and movies. In the most surprising (and disappointing) twist of the podcast so far, Adam compares Boyz II Men to Florida-Georgia Line.
Parents, pay attention to this podcast. You need to know what your kids are watching and listening to and, in some cases, you need to interfere with their entertainment choices.
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Sean Clayton is a former American Ninja Warrior competitor, a victim of violence, a U. S. Army veteran, an obstacle course competitor, husband, dad, and Christian. Join us today as Sean shares his story of pain and redemption. He also shares how his dad stuck by his side in his darkest days and how Christ freed him from his sin, anger, and pain. Along the way we get a couple of training tips, talk about half-caff coffee and the absolute value of hot Krispy Kreme donuts.
Sean’s story is incredible. I hope you will listen in and share this episode with someone you know who might be in a dark place today.
For more information about Sean you can look him up on Instagram. You can also see his home gym, The Woodshed, (which I try not to covet) here.
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The primary marker of godly men is a commitment to godliness. Godly men may be office workers, crane operators, weight lifters, or duck hunters, but they don’t have to be any of those things. First and foremost, a godly man loves Jesus and takes responsibility for his family.
Ashley Turner spent seven years touring as a vocalist for the Christian group, Palisade. After her time in the music industry, she felt burned out and struggled to find her place in ministry. On this episode of the podcast, hear her story of God’s grace as she found her calling, not on the national stage, but in the ordinary aspects of ministry leading worship in her local church, loving her husband, raising her kids, and trying to make an impact in her own community.
If you’d like to hear Ashley sing, you can find her here on Apple Music
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When you consider your responsibility as a Christian to engage the world around you with the gospel, you may think about apologetics training or mission conferences. But, Luke Tolbert argues that the church is the most important ingredient in training Christians to engage the world with the gospel. The church is God’s institution to carry the gospel and fulfill the Great Commission. Local churches are the proving ground for missionaries and the sending agencies that can best support international efforts.
We also discuss how a local church can minister to missionaries, cold beet soup, and SEC football (Luke is a Clemson fan, but he acknowledges the supremacy of the SEC). If you have ever questioned the importance of belonging to a local church, this podcast may help to answer some of your questions.
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Do you feel rushed, hurried, and unfulfilled? Brian Gregor argues that part of the reason may be our unwillingness to set apart special times for special things. Increasingly in American culture, time is not viewed as special, but rather as an “empty container…Everything is available all the time. At first this feels liberating–no need to wait–but it’s really enslaving because it gives no rest. No genuine leisure. No time or space to be still and know that God is God (Psalm 46:10).”
On this Episode of the podcast, Dr. Gregor and I discuss how the answer to your lack of fulfillment may not be in doing more things, but in doing fewer things in more intentional ways. Along the way we discuss books, Canada, a California heat wave, and how a 19th century atheist may be a good guide for helping you to grow in your spiritual life.
The book discussed on this episode of the podcast is The Cross Before Me.
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Have you ever felt like your pastor was the only real minister in your church? Maybe you’ve doubted your ability to make a difference for the kingdom on your job or in the ordinary areas of your life. On this episode of the podcast, I chat with Jason Fletcher who left vocational ministry to manage his family business in North Carolina and volunteer at a new church plant. He shares how this move has opened doors for ministry. Along the way he also helps to dispel some myths about the pastorate and explains how challenging the spiritual struggle is for many of you working in the secular world.
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Have you ever doubted your salvation? You aren’t alone. Many people struggle with assurance of their salvation. In today’s episode of the Ordinary Christian Podcast we will look at some good reasons why you should doubt your salvation. We will also consider some remedies against those doubts that sometimes plague God’s people.
Here is a link to the sermon mentioned in this episode: Safety In Christ
Are missionaries just people who couldn't hack it in the United States? How would you transition from your 8-5 job in South Carolina to become an international missionary? How would you break the news to your spouse that you feel called to international missions? How in the world would you help your kids in that process? Today, my conversation with Walt covers all of these areas and more. Tune in to learn how others have transitioned to the international mission field and how you could too.
On this episode of the Podcast, Dr. Chris Hefner and I discuss the importance of everyday ministry. We talk about Francis Schaeffer, Moses's staff, and floating axe heads. Along the way Chris helps us to see how the Elisha's ministry was important and valuable even though it is often overshadowed by Elijah. If you have ever felt like your ministry at work, at home, or among your peers didn't matter, this is the podcast for you!
Here's a link to the book discussed on today's episode, No Little People
My kids wonder what exactly a pastor does. I assume that many of you wonder the same thing. I am often asked, “How long does it take to write a sermon?” In today’s podcast, I try to answer that question for any of you who may have been wondering.
You can have a better marriage today with just a little effort. Stop putting it off until tomorrow. On this episode of the podcast, consider these 5 easy steps to improve your marriage now.
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D. J. Horton is senior pastor at The Church At The Mill in Spartanburg, SC. He is married to Laurel with six children. D. J. Helps us understand how to practice discipleship in our homes and how to make time to grow in Christ. Along the way we hear about a monster deer, the pursuit of turkeys, and practical tips for leading your kids toward Christ. You can learn more about D. J. at Living Worthy Ministries.
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How can you grow as a Christian? After 25 years of strength training, I’ve learned that the recipe for growth is almost the same in every area of life. To get physically stronger you need 3 basic ingredients: 1. Nutrition 2. Time Under Tension 3. Rest. The same is true in your spiritual life. To grow as a Christian you need 1. Spiritual Nutrition 2. Time Under Tension 3. Sabbath Rest.
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How should the white evangelical church help to heal the racial divide in our country? Here, I continue my conversation with Stephen Splawn from the SC Baptist Convention about race relations, country music, and sushi. We also address some more serious issues like stereotypes and injustice. Listen in to see how you can do your part to make a difference in your own church.
How should the white evangelical church help to heal the racial divide in our country? Today, I speak with Stephen Splawn from the SC Baptist Convention about race relations, country music, and sushi. We also address some more serious issues like stereotypes and injustice. Listen in to see how you can do your part to make a difference in your own church.
Everyone wants to be a part of a healthy church, but not everyone knows how to get there. There are tons of resources on what a healthy church is and what a healthy church should look like. But, if we were to boil all of that down to six necessary components, what would they be and what would that puzzle look like? Here's an ordinary guide to a healthy church.
Does social media wear you out? Does it seem to be negative all the time? Maybe you agree with a friend who once told me, “Nothing on social media makes me like my friend more, but it does often make me like people less.” The Bible doesn’t mention social media, but it has a lot to say about how we use words. This episode of the Ordinary Christian Podcast will help you monitor your own social media posts.
Aimee Byrd is the author of five books including Theological Fitness: Why We Need A Fighting Faith. I asked Aimee to come on to the podcast today to help us understand how a "fighting faith" can sustain us during hard times. We also talk about some of her other writings and how rest can be active. If you would like to know more about Aimee, you can read her work here.
International missionaries approach the world through a unique lens. Zane Pratt, Vice President for Global Training with the International Mission Board discusses the status of the IMB today and how the church can support missions. Dr. Pratt also helps us to understand how the pandemic is different in developing countries, how social distancing is a privilege for the wealthy, and what he sees as the next phase for global Christianity after Covid-19. If you are having trouble coping with the coronavirus pandemic, Dr. Pratt also shares some lessons from the international mission field that can help all of us to cope with difficult days.
What are your parenting plans after the pandemic? How will you apply the lessons learned from this slow down? Here are five steps you can take to utilize the lessons learned during this unique time.
- Prioritize discipleship at home.
- Prioritize church attendance.
- Reduce busyness.
- Keep academics in their place.
- Push extracurricular activities to the edges.
Are you participating in online or parking lot worship services right now? For many people, these experiences have been an important lifeline during the coronavirus crisis. However, most people acknowledge that these online or parking lot experiences leave them a bit dissatisfied. Why is that? On this episode of the Podcast we hear from Dr. Ricky Stark about why it is that online and parking lot services are helpful, but certainly do not serve as a replacement for more traditional (and biblical) forms of worship.
But, this time of forced sabbath should be teaching us all the value of rest and the importance of simple joys. There are lessons to learn. What are you doing to remember them?
Parents, read the Proverbs and take them to heart. Train up a child in the way that he or she should go. But, beware of how you may be leading your children astray. Beware, because for those who lead others astray, it would be better if they were drowned in the sea with a giant stone around their neck. Beware, because by leading your children to sin, you may lead them to hell. These are hard truths and they certainly are not fun, but life is real and eternity is forever, and you are the greatest hope your children have of learning about Jesus.
As COVID-19 continues to spread across the world, church buildings are shuttered. But, in hard days, the church is still the church. Here are 8 ways you can continue being the church, even in social isolation.
Some of you are going to have extra time on your hands over the next several weeks. It might be a good time to consider some reading. Many of you who listen this podcast don’t enjoy reading as much as I do, so I thought I could help you by suggesting some books I’ve enjoyed or found useful. I limited this to non-fiction only.
COVID 19 is the disease of the day right now. Hopefully in a few months or years, COVID 19 will be a distant memory. But, regardless of what happens with COVID 19, we will always have sickness among us, and people who are sick need our ministry.
In Matthew 25:36, Jesus said, “I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”
Have you ever felt disconnected from your church? Do you struggle to feel like you fit in? Try these steps to help you get the most out of your church.
- Attend Regularly
- Join a LifeGroup
- Be a Friend
- Prepare for Worship
- Remember that community is messy...and so are you.
- Invest in others and invite them to attend worship with you.
- Show up early and stay late.
Do you struggle to have regular and meaningful devotions. Are you ever tempted to believe that everyone else seems to have this figured out except you? Today on Episode 2 of the Ordinary Christian Podcast, I hope to help you improve your devotional life and take steps to grow in your Christian faith over the next several year.
Have you ever noticed that many of the important or significant events in your life are unplanned or unexpected? Some of those are negative events: a health scare, the death of a family member, or a car accident.Some are positive like a pay raise or a surprise visit from a friend. The same thing is true for our discipleship opportunities as Christians. Many of our most rewarding spiritual experiences come about in unplanned and sometimes even unexpected circumstances.