Ministry Minded

In this episode, I get to chat with author and pastor Luke Kjolhaug about his book Sinner Saint and why the sinner-saint paradigm, commonly known as simul iustus et peccator, is so formative for understanding the life of faith. We explore how this dynamic shapes preaching, pastoral care, sanctification, and our daily Christian lives.

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Luke is the pastor of Elim Lutheran Church in Osakis, Minnesot...

In this episode, I’m joined by my good friend Brad Kafer to discuss the crucial distinction between God’s law and God’s gospel, and the fallout when those two words get confused. We explore how the law-gospel paradigm is foundational for the Christian life, informing what the church preaches, how it worships, and where its members go to find assurance.

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Brad lives in Wausau, Wisconsin, with his w...

In this episode, Pastor Eric and I tackle the timely and difficult subject of the fallout when ministry leaders fall into public sin. We discuss how the church should respond to such moral failures in light of the words of God’s law and God’s gospel, ministering to all involved with discernment, compassion, and grace. We also explore the tension between these public scandals and the responsibility of the local church, the danger of...

In this episode, I’m thrilled to chat with essayist and fellow Substack-er Griffin Gooch! Throughout this episode, we explore the intersections of theology, writing, and storytelling. We also talk about the subtle ways social status and comparison shape the way we live our lives as Christians, even when we think they don’t. Whether you’re an aspiring writer wrestling with your latest draft, a pastor preparing for another sermon, or...

In this episode, I chat with Dr. Jason Alligood about the value of studying theology both in the academy and for the church. We aim to show how theology is the life-giving discipline of knowing God that equips the church for faithful Christian living. We also discuss Christian liberty, how those in the church can disagree well, and the importance of theological retrieval for the health of the church.

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In this episode, Pastor Eric and I discuss the rise of deliverance ministries and how Christians can discern spiritual warfare through a biblical lens. Looking at Acts 16 and Paul’s encounter with the demon-possessed girl in Philippi, we explore the dangers of both denying and sensationalizing demonic activity, showing how many modern ministries stray from Scripture and exploit fear for profit. True deliverance, of course, never po...

In this episode, I get to chat with David Zahl about his brand new book, The Big Relief, which explores what makes the message of grace so essential not only to the Christian faith but also to the human experience. In a world that is fraught with weariness, brokenness, and the incessant pressure to perform, the gospel of grace is the counterintuitive announcement of the gift of relief. Dave and I unpack this message and what it mea...

In this episode, I chat with Philip Nation about how Bible publishers can promote more engagement with Scripture and help stem the tide of biblical illiteracy in churches, and some of the current challenges facing church leaders. Philip also shares his heart for encouraging and shepherding pastors in a cultural climate that is rapidly changing and offers some insight into the unique benefits of Thomas Nelson’s The OPEN Bible.

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In this episode, Pastor Eric and I discuss how Christians can biblically and thoughtfully navigate the blistering speed of social media and the omnipresence of social media. Similar to stand-up comedians who are constantly mining their lives for material, unchecked social media use can quickly lead to distraction and inauthenticity. Our aim is to think theologically about how believers can engage with social media without over-cons...

In this episode, Pastor Eric and I explore the reasons why systematic theology is so important for the church. Those who study systematic theology will deepen their faith and guard themselves against false teachers. From the prodigal son to the Good Samaritan, we endeavor to uncover Scripture’s deeper truths and challenge biblical illiteracy.

Eric is on staff with me at Stonington Baptist Church in Paxinos, Pennsylvania, where he li...

In this episode, Pastor Eric and I talk about what happens when a preacher’s sermon outline goes from helpful to hazardous. We discuss the purpose of preaching from an outline and why sermons are more like stories than they are like lectures.

Eric is on staff with me at Stonington Baptist Church in Paxinos, Pennsylvania, where he lives and serves with his wife, Jade, and their son, Rosco. You can connect with him on Facebook.

Resourc...

In this episode, Pastor Eric and I talk about what it means to preach the Bible with a “fallen condition focus” and how without the honest recognition of everyone’s fallenness, there is no true hope to be preached. We also talk about the overlap between stand-up comedy and preaching the gospel and why it is so crucial to confront the aches of the world through the preaching of the Word so that the comfort of Christ can be given.

Eri...

In this episode, Pastor Eric and I chat about the daunting task of studying the Old Testament and how students of Scripture can and should dive into this challenge. Rather than “unhitching” the Old Testament from our faith, the first thirty-nine books of your Bible are vital to your understanding of the Bible itself.

Eric is on staff with me at Stonington Baptist Church in Paxinos, Pennsylvania, where he lives and serves with his wi...

In this episode, Pastor Eric and I talk about how aspiring pastors can discern and distinguish the “call to the ministry” and why that is such a serious endeavor. Using Paul’s words in 1 Timothy 3, we examine what qualifies one for pastoral ministry along with the side effects of churches being shepherded by pastors who haven’t been genuinely called to the ministry.

Eric is on staff with me at Stonington Baptist Church in Paxinos, P...

In this episode, Pastor Eric and I touch on the subject of pastoral encouragement, how pastors can battle it, and why they shouldn’t try to hide it if they are serious about equipping the church to do the work of the ministry. After all, the Body of Christ is built up not by the pastor’s eloquence or excellence but by the grace of Christ that manifests in weakness.

Eric is on staff with me at Stonington Baptist Church in Paxinos, Pe...

In this episode, I am once again joined by Pastor Eric Attinger as we continue unpacking what makes for a biblically faithful sermon. This time, we chat about the heart of worship and how a preacher’s delivery of a sermon can lead to mistaken views of the preaching event itself. We also talk about the worship service itself and why it is not just about singing.

Eric is on staff with me at Stonington Baptist Church in Paxinos, Pennsy...

In this episode, I am once again joined by Pastor Eric Attinger to continue our conversation concerning biblically faithful sermons. This time, we discuss what makes a sermon authoritative, the source of a preacher’s authority, and the pitfalls that arise when a preacher starts to buy his own press.

Eric is on staff with me at Stonington Baptist Church in Paxinos, Pennsylvania, where he lives and serves with his wife, Jade, and thei...

In this episode, I am joined by Pastor Eric Attinger to chat about what makes for a biblically faithful sermon and why preachers should preach with an Emmaus Road hermeneutic.

Eric is on staff with me at Stonington Baptist Church in Paxinos, Pennsylvania, where he lives and serves with his wife, Jade, and their son, Rosco. You can connect with him on Facebook.

Resources

“Delivering the goods,” an article by yours truly

“Rightly handlin...

In this edition of the Ministry Minded Podcast, I am thrilled to be joined by my friend, Chad Bird, to talk about his new book, Hitchhiking with Prophets, and what it looks like to pursue a biblical theology that is centered on Christ alone.

Chad and his wife Stacy live in Tyler, Texas, where he works as a Scholar-in-Residence for 1517. Along with writing, speaking, and teaching, you can also listen to him on the “40 Minutes in the ...