Join Collin Hansen and Melissa Kruger for their annual recap discussion on the biggest stories affecting the church around the world in the last year. This conversation was originally featured on TGC's Gospelbound podcast. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
In his message at TGC Netherlands 2023, Michael Keller addresses the rise of secularism and the increasing indifference toward religion, contending that societies become secular not by completely rejecting religion but by becoming apathetic to it. He emphasizes the need for cultural narrative fluency to address the perceived irrelevance of Christianity in today's culture. Keller identifies four prominent secular cultural narratives—identity, freedom, happiness, and power—and advocates for Christ...
Join Don Carson and Sandy Willson as they reflect on their relationship with Tim Keller, including their in-depth discussions about theology, evangelism, and cultural apologetics. They discuss the work of The Gospel Coalition and the challenges and growth it has faced in recent years. Finally, they end by discussing the current state and future trends of various social and cultural issues in the United States, expressing optimism about the future of the church, and emphasizing the importance of ...
In his message at TGC Netherlands 2023, Collin Hansen discusses Tim Keller's insights into cultural apologetics and mission in a post-Christian era, focusing on the background of Keller's book Making Sense of God . Keller, influenced by thinkers like James Davison Hunter, Charles Taylor, Alistair McIntyre, Philip Rieff, and Robert Bellah, critiques the Enlightenment and its inability to provide meaning and justice in the absence of Christian resources. Hansen outlines seven steps inspired by Kel...
In his message at TGC Netherlands 2023, James Eglinton delves into Tim Keller's evolving relationship with Neo-Calvinism. He recommends Central Church by Tim Keller as the primary source for understanding Keller's mature theological voice and biblical basis for his ministry. Eglinton's sermon discusses the evolution of Keller's thinking, showcasing a shift from a distant association with Neo-Calvinism to Keller explicitly identifying as a Neo-Calvinist in later years. Eglinton suggests that a ca...
In his message at TGC Netherlands 2023, Michael Keller talks about the influence of Jonathan Edwards and the Puritans on his father, Tim Keller, and how these influences shaped the way Tim Keller presented the gospel—particularly in the context of New York City in the 1980s—and beyond. Michael Keller identifies two key piety-based innovations that Tim Keller drew from Jonathan Edwards: Justification by faith: We are accepted by God not because of our obedience but because of God's grace. This wa...
At TGC Netherlands 2023, Collin Hansen examines Tim Keller's life and ministry through the concept of "rings on a tree," revealing the different influences that shaped Keller as a believer and pastor. Hansen describes how Keller held an inspiring commitment to lifelong learning and spiritual formation, even in the face of illness, and how Keller's final years were marked by a deep focus on eternity, as he searched for a deeper communion with God and prepared for his own death. Hansen also highli...
In her message at TGC's 2022 Women's Conference, Blair Linne teaches on the importance of understanding the role of God as our Heavenly Father, especially in the context of healing from fatherlessness or difficult relationships with earthly fathers. Linne highlights these key points: The Blessing of Adoption: God's love and choice to adopt us is not based on our merit but on his grace and love. This adoption into the family of God allows us to have a rich relationship with God as our Heavenly Fa...
In his message at TGC's 2018 West Coast Conference, Bobby Scott teaches on 2 Timothy 3:10-17 and emphasizes the importance of being a bearer of the gospel and living a life centered on the Word of God. He challenges believers to consider whether our actions and words reflect the beautiful message of grace found in the gospel of Jesus. Scott focuses on how the Word of God leads to salvation, and that perseverance in the Word is crucial, especially in the face of fear and persecution. As we draw w...
In his message at TGC's 2018 West Coast Conference, Juan Sánchez teaches the importance of discerning false teachers and ungodly influences within the church. He discusses the challenge of discerning between those who are open to repentance and those who are hard-hearted, unrepentant, and opposing the truth. Sánchez encourages pastors to pursue righteousness and patience, cleansing themselves from dishonorable ways through faith in Christ, rather than relying on personal efforts or good works. H...
“I want to be content in the presence of God with me, no matter what the circumstances are around me.” – David Platt David Platt preaches a message at TGC21 based in Hebrews 13:1-21. He begins by reminding us that we have an adversary who wants to destroy our intimacy with Jesus and divert his people from his mission in the world, which is why we have the book of Hebrews. Platt gives 25 ways that God directs his people through instructions, expectations, declarations, and a benediction in the fi...
In this panel discussion from TGC's 2018 West Coast Conference, Collin Hansen, Ray Ortlund, Kevin DeYoung, and Juan Sánchez discuss the prevalence of suffering in the lives of faithful Christians, citing examples from history and encouraging listeners to embrace their own suffering as a means of deeper spiritual growth. They advise younger pastors and ministry leaders to trust in the Lord as their defender, wait for him to straighten out tough situations, and give honest answers in formal settin...
In his message at TGC's 2018 West Coast Conference, Kevin DeYoung teaches from 2 Timothy 2:1–13 on what it means for Christians to be strong, not according to their own strength, but by that which has been given to them by God through Christ. When Paul writes to Timothy, he compares spiritual strength to a soldier's readiness for battle. DeYoung emphasizes the importance of understanding that suffering is a part of life as a soldier, and not to be surprised or emotionless about it. He also encou...
In his message at TGC's 2018 West Coast Conference, Michael Horton teaches on 2 Timothy: 9–18, encouraging believers to live unashamed of the gospel, even amid suffering. Focusing on the centrality of the gospel in suffering witness according to God's power within us, Horton says the ministry of Paul and Timothy isn't merely about their personalities or abilities but about Christ's testimony. Just as Paul wasn't ashamed of the gospel because he knew he was entrusted with it and that God complete...
In his message at TGC's 2018 West Coast Regional Conference, Ray Ortlund emphasizes the importance of enduring faithfulness and making sacred commitments to the Lord. He draws inspiration from the book of 2 Timothy and highlights the theme of God's enduring faithfulness. Ortlund reads verses from 2 Timothy where Paul expresses gratitude to God and encourages Timothy to not be ashamed of the gospel. Ortlund urges ministry leaders to recognize their rich spiritual ancestry and find courage in thei...
Are you ready to tell someone about Jesus? How can you be prepared? Matt Smethurst, author of Before You Open Your Bible and companion book Before You Share Your Faith , outlines seven tips for becoming “evangelism ready.” “The greatest obstacle to evangelism is not unbelievers,” Smethurst says. “The greatest obstacle to evangelism is Christians who don’t share the gospel.” Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data...
Today’s generation of young people is more anxious, more depressed, and less Christian than ever before. What is causing this? Chris Colquitt, campus minister for Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) at Northwestern University, explores how safetyism and fragility are hazards to Generation Z's mental health and spiritual health. Colquitt says the Christian gospel provides realism that challenges our fragility (“In this world you will have trouble,” John 16:33), but also hope to sustain us ("But ...
Trevin Wax, general editor of The Gospel Project and author of the book, Rethink Your Self , observes that today's common wisdom says you’re free to create yourself, design yourself, and define yourself. Yet the way of Jesus, Wax argues, would have us realize we’re already created, designed, and defined. Jesus confronts a “me first” way of life with a “God first” world. The world says we should look inward; Jesus says to look upward. To learn more, check out Trevin Wax's book, Rethink Your Self:...
Gavin Ortlund—writer and pastor at First Baptist Church of Ojai (California)—ponders the question, why do we feel a sense of transcendence when we listen to beautiful music? Where does that feeling come from? What's the best explanation for it? Ortlund compares the naturalistic and theistic answers to these questions, ultimately concluding that music is not a distraction from reality but a window into reality—and that the theistic framework gives a much more satisfying explanation for why it mov...
Jeremy Treat, pastor at Reality LA in Los Angeles, observes how our longing for God does not disappear in a secular society. It just reappears in different forms: sports, politics, sexuality, and more. Treat describes how secular people today seek power, purity, and peace—traditionally sought in religion—in things like witchcraft, wellness, and mindfulness apps. Yet our deepest longings, Treat says, will not be found in any spiritual system or clean diet, but in a person: Jesus Christ. Hosted by...
Michael Horton explains why there is no such thing, in the new covenant, as a “Christian nation” apart from the worldwide body of Christ. “The problem with Christian nationalism is not that some Christians are taking a biblical idea too seriously,” says Horton, professor of systematic theology and apologetics at Westminster Seminary California, “but that they are confusing America with Israel under the old covenant. From a biblical perspective, it’s actually heretical. It confuses the law with t...
Irwyn Ince—pastor and author of The Beautiful Community: Unity, Diversity, and the Church at Its Best —explains why beauty compels us to pursue justice. The harmony and goodness of beauty reflect God’s creation as it was meant to be. Redeemed by Christ’s death and resurrection, his followers should pursue justice because it foreshadows the coming perfection of beauty in the new creation. Check out Irwyn Ince’s book, The Beautiful Community (InterVarsity Press, 2020). Hosted by Simplecast, an Ads...
Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra—co-author (with Collin Hansen) of the new book Gospelbound: Living with Resolute Hope in an Anxious Age —discusses some of the reasons anxiety is on the rise. She explains how Christians can find peace in two seemingly contradictory ways: by thinking big, and by thinking small. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising....
Pastor and apologist, Sam Allberry, addresses the reasons Christian pastors have become less trustworthy in society, and how they might become trusted again. Pastors need to appreciate why trust has been lost, Allberry says, and they should prioritize compassion, honesty, pointing people to Jesus, and striving to become more like Jesus themselves. The more like Jesus pastors are, the more trustworthy they'll become. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information ab...
Justin Giboney—co-founder and president of the AND Campaign—addresses the self-serving lies conservative and progressives tell themselves about issues like justice, identity politics, and critical race theory. Many of us would prefer to be lied to rather than confronted with a truth that complicates our preferred narrative. Yet if we are going to address the race issue faithfully, Giboney argues, “We must not only confront the lies that offend us, but also the lies that serve us.” Hosted by Simp...
At TGC Chicago's 2022 Regional Conference, Colin Smith moderates a panel discussion with Kevin DeYoung, H. B. Charles, and Juan Sánchez on on ways to enhance your prayer life. Kevin DeYoung defines prayer as, “a lifting of conversation in our hearts Godward.” They consider different practical ways to deepen personal prayer—like prayer cards, walking while praying, praying as a family, using devotionals, and the use of Scripture in prayer. H. B. Charles emphasizes the importance of motivation for...
In his message at TGCW22, Michael Kruger addresses the issue of doubt in Christianity, both in individual spiritual lives and within the larger culture. Kruger critiques two ineffective approaches to doubt: doubting shaming and intellectual superficiality. He argues that doubt should be approached with the compassion of God, and not seen as a virtue or as something to be shamed. Kruger also highlights various causes of doubt, including unanswered questions, suffering, church corruption, and unre...
In his message from TGC Chicago's 2022 Regional Conference, Colin Smith teaches us how to pray the Lord’s prayer through five specific categories, drawing from Luke 11 when Jesus’s disciples actually requested that Jesus teach them to pray, not how to pray. Smith highlights five things on which to focus while praying: God’s name should be honored in prayer. We ought to pray that God would raise up people who know him in the midst of a world that despises him. As we pray that God’s kingdom comes,...
During a panel discussion led by Collin Hansen at TGCW22, Jackie Hill Perry, Preston Perry, Melissa Kruger, and Michael Kruger discuss what it looks like to have healthy, godly marriages. Both couples emphasize the need for respect, listening, authenticity, and confession. The panel also talks about the importance of focusing on the positive aspects of your spouse and being for your spouse in every situation, never trying simply to win an argument. Hansen asks questions like “How do you protect ...
“God is so faithful. He says, ‘If you bring me your sin, if you uncover it before me, I will cover it. I will do the very thing that you're trying to do in your own strength and power. I will cover it in the blood of my Son.’” — Juan Sánchez In his message at TGC Chicago's 2022 regional conference, Juan Sánchez uses Nehemiah’s example of prayer to illustrate how we should earnestly seek the Lord. He emphasizes that believers must be people of action and that a crucial first step always involves ...
