Matthew McCullough discusses how thinking and being really honest about the reality of death can paradoxically free us to find hope and joy in God like never before. He reflects on our culture's strategies to avoid death at all costs, highlights how COVID-19 has brought our mortality to the forefront of our collective consciousness in a unique way right now, and discusses why the practice of intentionally remembering death finds support in both Scripture and church history.
Jul 20, 2020•43 min•Ep. 74
In this special episode, we want to remember J. I. Packer, who went home to be with the Lord yesterday. Born in 1926, J. I. Packer is widely recognized as one of the most influential theologians of the 20th century. Sam Storms discusses Packer’s remarkable life and ministry, reflecting on how Packer came to faith, the impact that his many books have had on generations of Christians, and how he thought about his own death. Sam Storms is the author of Packer on the Christian Life: Knowing God in C...
Jul 18, 2020•46 min•Ep. 73
Michael Haykin discusses what we can learn from the early church fathers today. He reflects on what we should make of the early church's allegorical reading of the Bible, the value of early Christian creeds for helping to define our faith today, and where to start if someone is interested in reading the church fathers for him or herself.
Jul 06, 2020•31 min•Ep. 71
Gunner Gundersen discusses what to do when you just don't feel like going to church. He explains why that might be the most important time to lean into corporate worship with other Christians, reflects on the hard work of bringing our emotions and affections in line with what we know to be right and good for us, and he offers advice for the person who feels hurt or betrayed by the church.
Jun 29, 2020•37 min•Ep. 70
Denny Burk discusses how Christians should think about transgenderism. He walks through the Bible's countercultural teaching on gender and sexuality, offers timely advice for parents who want to be proactive about helping their kids navigate these issues, and answers two critical questions many of us have when it comes to the transgender movement: how did we get here, and what's next?
Jun 22, 2020•36 min•Ep. 69
Melissa Kruger discusses the importance of mentoring relationships for all Christians. She reflects on her own experiences learning life-changing lessons from older women, highlights some of the core aspects that should be in place in every mentoring relationship, and shares advice for overcoming the imposter syndrome that so many of us feel when it comes to helping others follow Christ.
Jun 15, 2020•42 min•Ep. 68
Betsy Childs Howard discusses stories and the importance of moral formation for children. She talks about why stories are such a powerful tool for instilling deep, biblical truths in our kids, how the world catechizes our children everyday even in ways that might surprise us, and why intentional moral formation and an emphasis on the gospel of God's grace are not mutually exclusive.
Jun 08, 2020•35 min•Ep. 67
Mark Vroegop discusses the challenge of racial reconciliation and how the biblical practice of lament offers Christians from different backgrounds a common language for productive, God-honoring conversation. He shares from his own experiences walking alongside and learning from minority culture Christians, recounted the time that God opened his eyes to his own blindness while sitting in the office of an African-American pastor, and offered a response to those who wonder if the evangelical church...
Jun 06, 2020•40 min•Ep. 66
Megan Hill discusses the importance of the local church for our lives as God's people. She reflects on the challenging season we've all been in due to COVID-19, explains why the local church is so essential for our spiritual growth as Christians, and offers three practical suggestions for cultivating deeper relationships with other church members.
Jun 01, 2020•30 min•Ep. 65
Rhyne Putnam discusses how Christians should think about theological diversity and disagreement within the body of Christ. He highlights the importance of reading and assuming the best about those with whom we disagree, explains when it's appropriate to call something a gospel issue and when it's not, and suggests three questions to ask ourselves when evaluating whether or not a specific doctrinal position is worth fighting for.
May 25, 2020•38 min•Ep. 64
Today, we're excited to announce the launch of a new podcast from Crossway created for the whole family: The Big Picture Story Bible podcast! In this full audio recording of the best-selling The Big Picture Story Bible, join author and narrator David Helm on a 26-episode journey through the whole storyline of God's Word from Genesis to Revelation. Listen now: Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts RSS
May 23, 2020•6 min
David Chapman discusses what it's like to be an archaeologist. He shares from his experiences overseeing an excavation site in the Middle East, explains how archaeology can bolster our faith and enhance our understanding of the Bible, and reflects on the most exciting archaeological discovery of his career.
May 18, 2020•38 min•Ep. 63
Ligon Duncan discusses how Christians can face profound life-changing suffering with their faith intact. He shares stories of severe suffering from his own ministry as a pastor, reflects on God's role in our suffering and how he often uses it to draw us closer to himself, and offers encouragement from God's word to listeners currently in the midst of a season of intense pain.
May 04, 2020•35 min•Ep. 61
Jonathan Leeman discusses his argument that multiservice and multisite models run counter to the pattern for the local church we see in the New Testament. He explores the irony of discussing church gatherings in the midst of a quarantine, lays out his biblical and practical reasons for believing this, explains how we define the Greek word for church ekklēsia is so important in this conversation, and reflects on pushback received from other pastors, such as the objection that it could harm our ch...
Apr 27, 2020•37 min•Ep. 60
Dane Ortlund discusses his answer to a question we've all wrestled with at some point: does God actually like me? He highlights what Scripture says about God's disposition towards us as redeemed sinners. He explains what Jesus meant when he said that he is "gentle and lowly in heart." He explores what it means that Christ is continually interceding for us before the Father in Heaven, and why that truth should be the source of so much comfort and hope for us as Christians.
Apr 20, 2020•41 min•Ep. 59
Nancy Guthrie discusses some of the less well-loved characters of Scripture like tax collectors, scribes, Pharisees, and even Judas Iscariot, Jesus's betrayer. She also highlights what we can learn from Jesus's scandalous family tree, and why it's good news for sinners like us.
Apr 13, 2020•35 min•Ep. 58
In this special episode, we're sharing a full audio recording of Coronavirus and Christ—a brand-new book written and read by John Piper.On January 11, 2020, a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) reportedly claimed its first victim in the Hubei province of China. By March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization had declared a global pandemic. In the midst of this fear and uncertainty, it is natural to wonder what God is doing. In this audiobook read by the author, John Piper invites readers around the w...
Apr 08, 2020•2 hr 9 min
In this episode, Gavin Ortlund discusses what to do when you disagree with another Christian on some point of doctrine. He shares his thoughts on the pros and cons of having theological debates on social media, highlights the importance of theological humility when engaging with people who think differently, and explains why the metaphor of triage can be helpful when thinking about the relative importance of different doctrines. Gavin Ortlund is the author of Finding the Right Hills to Die On: T...
Apr 06, 2020•37 min•Ep. 57
The Gentle and Lowly podcast is a 14-day audio devotional exploring the heart of Christ for sinners and sufferers. Join Dane Ortlund each day for a brief Scripture reading as well as a devotional meditation on a different aspect of the heart of Christ, as he helps you discover afresh not just what Jesus has done for you but how he feels about you as his beloved. Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts RSS Learn more at crossway.org/GentleandLowlyPodcast.
Mar 31, 2020•3 min
Collin Hansen discusses the idea of blindspots—problems with our lives, priorities, and even theology that we don't even know are there. He explains our tendency as Christians to separate ourselves into one of three camps, highlights how technology and our politically charged culture fuel division in the church, and reflects on what it would look like to wake up to our own blindspots and to lovingly engage with those with whom we disagree.
Mar 30, 2020•37 min•Ep. 56
Phil Ryken discusses the literary qualities of Scripture. He makes the case for focusing not just on what the biblical writers said, but also on how they said it, which contributes to the meaning of the text. He also explains why this literary approach to the Bible has largely been neglected by evangelicals, what it really means to read the Bible literally, and how all of this relates to the plain meaning of the words of Scripture.
Mar 23, 2020•28 min•Ep. 55
Bob Cutillo discusses the current coronavirus pandemic. He explains what's currently happening in the US and around the world, offers a broader perspective on how we should think about this virus in light of history and our Christian faith, and offers godly, practical advice to all Christians as we seek to trust God and love others well in these uncertain times.
Mar 19, 2020•46 min•Ep. 54
Tim Patrick explores how to plan a sermon series. He highlights his own process for conceptualizing, scheduling, and studying for a new series, shares his thoughts on determining an ideal length for a series, and offers advice related to staying on track and in sync when multiple preachers are involved.
Mar 16, 2020•41 min•Ep. 53
Matthew Harmon discusses eight simple questions to ask when studying the Bible, questions that help us get at the true meaning of Scripture, and how to apply it to our lives today. He explains why all Christians, not just those with a seminary degree, can study the Bible deeply for themselves. He highlights what Jesus himself teaches us about how to rightly read Scripture, and explores how to move from understanding to application without making the Bible all about us.
Mar 09, 2020•45 min•Ep. 52
Jen Oshman discusses what it looks like to pursue real fulfillment in God, rather than in self. She explains what's wrong with the self-obsessed, individualistic culture that dominates our world today, breaking down the massive popularity of books, podcasts, and conferences that say that what we really need is to believe in ourselves. She also discusses what the evangelical church can learn from the MeToo era and shares the key lessons she hopes her own daughters take from her as they transition...
Mar 02, 2020•31 min•Ep. 51
Sam Storms discusses what the Bible teaches about tithing. He explores the word's Old Testament background, examines whether or not Christians are obligated to give 10% of their income today, offers advice related to living generously, speaks to the sensitive issues of pastor's salaries, and reflects on how giving to support missions, the poor, and other charities fits into this conversation.
Feb 24, 2020•40 min•Ep. 50
Jen Wilkin discusses our God-given limits as created beings. She reflects on why the common refrain that we should look inside ourselves for meaning and purpose is so misguided, how our personal stories and family past impact our view of God, and why embracing our limits in the presence of a limitless God is the only path to true peace.
Feb 17, 2020•35 min•Ep. 49
Christopher Ash discusses how to navigate conflict in marriage. He reflects on some of the struggles that he and his wife have wrestled with over their three decades of marriage, shares biblical wisdom for working through disagreements related to money, sex, and kids, and offers practical advice for couples who feel like conflict has become the norm in their marriage.
Feb 10, 2020•35 min•Ep. 48
Ajith Fernando discusses the critical importance of personal discipling relationships for every Christian. He shares why he thinks there's a discipleship crisis in the church today, even among pastors and church leaders, how to think about the value of structured discipleship programs, and common mistakes to avoid when entering into a discipleship relationship.
Feb 03, 2020•30 min•Ep. 47
Tim Chester discusses the Lord's Supper, explaining why he thinks many evangelical churches undervalue communion, the significance of the fact that Jesus gave us the physical elements of bread and wine, and what it means when we say that Christ is present in our celebration of the Lord's supper.
Jan 27, 2020•31 min•Ep. 46
