Today we are talking about leaving a church. There are times, of course, when you may need to leave a church due to moving from one city to another. But is there ever a time where you should leave your church to attend another one? In the West we sure like our choices. Churches are often seen as different products on a shelf - you get to pick which one you like. If the one you picked turns out not to be exactly what you wanted - that's fine! Leave and try something else out. But is that the Bibl...
Apr 11, 2024•44 min
Today Matt and I answer an email we received from a listener about some of the differences between us and Anglo-Catholics. What distinguishes Anglo-Catholics from High Church Anglicans? Where did Anglo-Catholicism originate, and what was/is its purpose and role in the larger Anglican tradition? We also discuss how we think the 39 Articles should be interpreted and what it means for Scripture to be "prime" authority.
Mar 21, 2024•45 min
We're working backwards from talking about preaching and the sacraments to the importance of going to church in general. In this episode we discuss - what happens to you when you go to a local church, - why going to church and listening to a sermon is different (and more important) than listening to a sermon from years ago - how movie theater churches have changed people's thinking about the church (in a bad way) - the "marks of a true church" - and why saying, "we are the church" is not a reaso...
Mar 07, 2024•48 min
Matt and Jon were not able to meet together this week, so here is a wonderful sermon on serving God's people through tribulation. We hope it's encouraging for you in your ministry!
Feb 29, 2024•38 min
We are finally finishing our discussion on the Lord's Supper! If you haven't listened to episode 35, then go ahead and give it a listen, because it introduces our topic and walks through the various views of what happens at communion. In part 2 we discuss what it means to partake of the Lord's Supper in a worthy manner, why we believe baptized children of believers should be allowed at the table, and why some Anglicans call the "table" an "altar." If you like this episode, please leave us a revi...
Feb 22, 2024•45 min
Here is a recording of our continuing series on the 39 Articles. This week Matt looks at Articles 16-18 on human free will, predestination, and election.
Feb 15, 2024•1 hr 2 min
This week Matt and Jonathan leave the typical format of the pod and respond to the current controversy surrounding Alistair Begg's advice to a grandmother to attend the wedding of her grandson and his transgender partner. We discuss Begg's original comments and then his recent sermon doubling-down on his counsel to this woman. Is there any context that allows a Christian to attend an LGBTQ wedding? How can you continue to be a witness to your friends and family if they feel like you reject them?...
Feb 01, 2024•54 min
This week we continue our discussion of the sacraments and examine the Lord's Supper. We don't get to everything we wanted to talk about, so we are making this Part 1 on the topic of Communion! In this episode we look at the different views that Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Anglicans, and other Protestants have regarding the Jesus' presence in the Supper. We also discuss the importance of all the elements (including the words of institution), and we tell you why partaking in Coke and chips in you...
Jan 25, 2024•41 min
Last week Matt and Jonathan discussed the primary task of a pastor - preaching the word of God. This week they continue walking through the essential tasks of a pastor by addressing the first of the two sacraments: baptism. What is baptism? Why did Jesus command that we baptize people? Does God do something in a person when they are baptized? Why do Anglicans see a comparison between circumcision in the Old Covenant and baptism in the New Covenant? And, last of all, why do we baptize children of...
Jan 18, 2024•51 min
Welcome to the first episode of 2024! We know we are a week late, but we hope this episode is encouraging for you. Today we discuss the job of preaching the word of God. We discuss the difference between preaching and teaching and try to persuade you that preaching from a manuscript is the way to go. If you'd like more information about the Cranmer Fellowship, you can visit https://thecranmerfellowship.com/ .
Jan 11, 2024•48 min
In this episode we continue our walk through the 39 Articles. We are working through Articles 13: Of Works before Justification, 14: Of Works of Supererogation, and 15: Of Christ alone without Sin.
Dec 06, 2023•1 hr 2 min
Covenant Theology is concerned with the promises God has made to all people for all time. This week Matt and Jon sit down to discuss these promises that God laid down before the foundation of the world. We discuss God's plan of salvation and whether or not God has any distinct plans between physical Israel and the church.
Nov 29, 2023•47 min
Matt and Jonathan have a busy week, so this episode is this past Sunday's sermon on Acts 13:42-52. Enjoy!
Nov 15, 2023•35 min
In this episode, Matt and Jonathan are joined with Bishop William Love to discuss his call to ministry and his experience in the Episcopal Church - including his discipline for not complying with TEC's teaching on same-sex marriage.
Nov 08, 2023•56 min
In this episode Matt and Jonathan discuss what authority a pastor has in the church, how a pastor is to carry his authority, and where the pitfalls might be that could lead to a pastor abusing his power. If you like the pod, please leave us a review and share it with your friends and family - especially those you know who are considering pastoral ministry.
Nov 01, 2023•49 min
In this episode Jonathan interviews his co-host, Matt Kennedy, on his life before Christ and ministry, his time at a liberal seminary, and the early years of pastoring Church of the Good Shepherd. If you like this podcast, please leave us a review and share it with your friends and family - especially those who may be thinking about pastoral ministry. And don't forget to check out our pastoral training program, The Cranmer Fellowship, at thecranmerfellowship.com ....
Oct 25, 2023•42 min
Welcome back to the podcast! This week Matt and Jonathan sit down to discuss how Anglicans govern the church. What is different about Anglican church governance from congregational-led or elder-led churches? Where do we Anglicans get the idea of the threefold order of ministry (bishop, priests, and deacons)? And what are the upsides and potential downsides to Anglican polity? Reach out to us at [email protected], or you can follow and DM us on Instagram @cranmerfellows....
Oct 18, 2023•42 min
This week is a sermon from the Rev. Matt Kennedy on James 5:13-20. We pray that it will encourage you in your faith!
Sep 27, 2023•43 min
This week Matt walks us through Articles 11 (Justification by Faith) and 12 (Good Works) in the 39 Articles of Religion. Are you currently wrestling through how justification and good works fit together? Do you need help in how to explain to your church the distinction between justification and sanctification? We pray that this episode is both enlightening and encouraging for you!
Sep 13, 2023•1 hr 2 min
This week is a sermon by Matt Kennedy on Genesis 11:1-9.
Sep 06, 2023•39 min
Matt and Jon are back together in the Zoom studio discussing a question that was sent to them: why should a pastor preach on sin to Christians? Don't we Christians already know we are sinners? Don't we already believe in the Gospel? Do we really need sermons that continue to highlight sin? Won't that make the congregation depressed - to hear every Sunday that they are sinners? If you are a pastor or a lay person, we pray that this episode will help you think through why the Scriptures make preac...
Aug 30, 2023•46 min
In this week’s podcast we look at Articles 9 and 10 of the 39 Articles of Religion. Matt spends most of his time working through Article 9 - Of Original or Birth-Sin, and then ends on a discussion regarding the next article - Of Free Will. These are no small topics, and they tend to invite much debate in the church. These articles succinctly and confidently define the historical Anglican belief. We hope this episode is edifying and insightful for you.
Aug 23, 2023•1 hr 5 min
In this episode we continue our walk through the 39 Articles by looking at Article 8: Of the Three Creeds. Do Christians today need creeds? Don't we just need our Bible? Isn't it too ritualistic to recite creeds in church? You can probably guess what we think... This is a recording of Good Shepherd's Christian Education hour. This particular study was led by Bishop Julian Dobbs of the Diocese of the Living Word.
Aug 09, 2023•35 min
[Be advised: the sound of the recording at first is a bit loud, but it levels out as it continues] This week, Jonathan is joined by The Rev. John Onstott who serves as the Rector of St. Michael and All Angels Anglican Church in Kerrville, Texas. As pastors (or aspiring pastors) we can easily fall into the trap of thinking that the success of our ministry is connected to our Average Sunday Attendance. While numerical growth is a blessing from God, numbers cannot substitute for faithfulness on the...
Aug 02, 2023•1 hr 11 min
In today’s podcast, Jonathan sits down with a friend and fellow minister in the Anglican Diocese of the Living Word, The Rev. Clayton Hutchins. Clayton serves as a vicar at Holy Cross Anglican Church and hosts a podcast with The Rev. Steven Wedgeworth, called the BCP Propers Podcast. Clayton and Steven discuss the Sunday proper readings appointed in the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, and you can find them on all major platforms. In this episode, we discuss Clayton’s denominational journey from Bapt...
Jul 26, 2023•1 hr 7 min
The podcast is back, and we have a very special guest with us: the Revd Dr. Lee Gatiss. Lee is the director of Church Society , a lecturer, author, editor, and much more. One of his most recent projects was an edit of the First Book of Homilies into modern English. We are using Lee's edition in our Christian Education hour at Church of the Good Shepherd, so we thought it would be a good time to sit down with Lee and discuss what the homilies are, what use they have for pastors and laypeople toda...
Jul 19, 2023•58 min
We are very excited to announce The Cranmer Fellowship at Church of the Good Shepherd in Binghamton, NY. Listen here for more info, or go to www.thecranmerfellowship.com .
Jul 18, 2023•3 min
We'll be off in June. We will return with new episodes in July! In Christ, The Cranmer Fellows
May 31, 2023•2 min
This week's episode is a sermon by Matt given a couple weeks ago. The text is John 15:1-5. We pray that you are comforted and built up by the gospel! If you like this podcast, please consider subscribing and leaving us a review.
May 24, 2023•38 min•Ep. 16
This week we are continuing our walk through of the 39 Articles. Today Matt works through: Article 6: Of the Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures for Salvation Article 7: Of the Old Testament Have you ever wondered what place the Apocrypha has and why, for Protestants, it is not considered Scripture? Or what about the Old Testament - specifically the Law... Should Christians still consider the Old Testament as God's word to them today? Matt covers all of these questions and many more....
May 17, 2023•55 min•Ep. 15