This week Cameron and Luke reflect on how their understanding of the need for rest has grown over ministry. They also reflect on sermon writing and the work that goes into them. They dig into why sermon length matters and their process for writing. We hope this more reflective and less topical episode gives you greater insight not only into pastoral ministry but also the gift of rest and sabbath.
Pastor Cameron and Pastor Luke decide to talk about the Duggers documentary "Shiny Happy People." They hope to add some reflection and help people navigate the difficult story that is told. It seems like a story that is run on repeat too many times. Another Christian scandal where abuse was hidden and justified using the Bible. We need to wrestle with the evil that was committed while also understanding that this doesn't have to destroy our faith. Because of the documentary's content, this episo...
One of the most famous sections of Jesus' teachings in the Bible is also one of the often most misunderstood. In response to a listener question Cameron and Luke do a quick overview of the Beatitudes and hopefully shed some light on a passage that has sometimes led to confusion.
What does a mall and a church have in common? Well, hopefully nothing, but unfortunately, the mindset of consumerism continues to rise in all of our places. Cameron and Luke discuss the rise of the consumer mindset that is slowly eating away at the true call of Christ.
We all need friends, but somewhere between the schoolyard and adulthood, it gets hard. Why is it that so many of us struggle to make and maintain friendships as adults. What makes a good friendship and how does one start a friendship? This week Cameron and Luke are joined by Cylas Conway, a friend of Luke’s.
This week Cameron and Luke talk about Pentecost, the Holy Spirit, and tounges! They sift through what is clear and unclear and shed some light on some common theological pitfalls regarding the Holy Spirit.
This week Cameron and Luke reflect on the balance of pastoring and shepherding but also needing to run a church. Ministry takes people and energy, something that is often in short supply. They reflect on the balance of wanting to call people to serve and letting people not feel overwhelmed in life.
Does deconstruction always lead in one direction? How do we love and sit with someone who is deconstructing? Too often, we fail to listen deeply to those wrestling with God. But we must still hold the truth that God remains God, and we are not. This week we pick up with deeper reflections on deconstructing and detangling our faith.
This week we dig into what exactly deconstruction is and why people everywhere seem to be doing it. We examine the good and bad role it can play in our walk with God. Our hope is that you find this discussion helpful wherever you find yourself.
This week we have an honest conversation about sticking it out in ministry even on weeks when we feel like we don't have much left to give. This one is an honest episode, and we hope that you find some encouragement if you ever find yourself with very little left in the tank.
This week we continue our discussion on sacraments. We dive into what baptism is and what its role is in the life of the believer. We tackle the questions of who should be baptized and when. The underlying meaning of baptism is sometimes lost and we hope this discussion gives greater clarity to what baptism means. (00:41) - Catholic? (03:19) - Review & Meaning of the Sacraments (11:10) - Do I have to get baptized? (15:02) - Baptism of Jesus (22:41) - When should someone get baptized? (28:31)...
What is communion? What do we mean when we call something a sacrament? This week we continue our conversation from last week and dig into the specifics of communion and its underlying theology. (00:43) - Denomonationalism (16:24) - What do we mean by sacraments? (19:42) - Is communion "biblical"? (46:56) - Communion in the New Testament (01:13:21) - closing thoughts
What's the deal with the church calendar? How much liturgy and ritual are we supposed to have in our services? This week we explore how we have grown to appreciate the meaning behind liturgical practices and how we integrate them in our own leadership. We begin to dig into the meaning behind the sacraments and set up a larger discussion about their importance and practice. (00:29) - Maundy Thursday (07:45) - The Church Calendar (17:48) - How we plan what we preach (26:12) - Appreciating Liturgy ...
We continue our discussion about homosexuality and Christian theology and practice. We dig into some practical questions about conversion therapy and whether an openly gay couple can attend church. We hope that our conversation models grace and truth. It's a matter of seeking Jesus above seeking to live by a moral checklist. (02:53) - What about conversion therapy? (12:37) - Can a homosexual be a Christian? (22:55) - What if a gay couple shows up to church? (39:35) - Responding to an affirming s...
Is homosexuality compatible with orthodox Christian belief? Do we need to be speaking out more? Why is it such a difficult topic for some? This week we talk openly about our theology surrounding sexuality, especially homosexuality. We attempt to give a starting place for our theological opinions and wrestle with the difficult pastoral task it presents. We want to love our neighbors and point others to Jesus but we must remain truthful on our convictions about what the Bible teaches. We read this...
Are protestants just heretics? Today respond to a listener-submitted video. A catholic makes several points accusing protestants of simply being heretics. We take her points as a launching pad for our discussion. You can watch the original video here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CoFeqt5LY8v/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= We cover some of the significant differences between Catholics and Protestants. While there are many differences, there are some similarities. We hope this conversation sparks critical...
Why is it that Christians often have a hard time integrating mental health struggles into their faith journey? We discuss the gaps that we might have in our theological understandings. To submit your questions and topic you can text our mailbag at - (716) 201-0507 Christians can forget that we are created as whole beings, with a body and mind as well as a soul. Too often, mental health struggles are disregarded or shamed in the church. We think we need to be creating space in the church to have ...
It's our first Mailbag Episode! We tackle questions dealing with sabbath, demons, and when to give someone a Bible. If you want to contribute your topic or question to our mailbag you can text us at - (716) 201-9467 Pastor Cameron went on a sabbatical last year. We both take time to reflect on both of our experiences during that time, and how the need for rest and sabbath is an ongoing need. The next question leads us down the path of spiritual warfare and demons. We do our best to share what is...
When did pastors become celebrities? We have seen a massive shift in who pastors are expected to be. We discuss the tricky dynamics of people elevating pastors to an unhealthy place. This episode is not meant to be a deep dive or a calling out of specific pastors. We also talk briefly about the difficult task of forgiveness amidst hurt and failure. Sermons on forgiveness https://share.transistor.fm/s/df9d8690 https://share.transistor.fm/s/ab0de8c5 https://share.transistor.fm/s/9efa79ac...
A lot is being said about the Asbury revival, but we felt that some things were being left unsaid or unexplored. We made this episode quickly this week as a bonus to enter into the discussion of how we approach and talk about not just the Asbury revival that is happening right now but a revival in general. We discuss what revival is but also offer our own personal reflections on the topic. We hope this stirs up in you a desire to pursue Jesus and see revival in your own life wherever you are....
With the popular rise of Artificial Intelligence, it becomes necessary to begin thinking through one practical implication of text writing AIs like Chat GPT. What do we make of the possibility of AI being used to write sermons? Does it make a difference if AI writes a sermon if it is still true and based on God's word? In this episode, we use a video made by Matt Whitman as a starting point for our conversation. Matt puts three sermons together, two done by AI and one not. The video we watched i...
Why do so many people use gravitate toward guilt and shame? Is shame a good part of the spiritual life? This week we talk about the question of whether or not God uses shame to draw us to Himself. We deal with why maybe we are drawn to shame and how we have confused that with what it means to be spiritual. We examine the Bible for themes and see what God says about how he intends for us to come close to him. It seems like God intends rather to use kindness. Pastors Cameron and Luke explore this ...
Online church has become a normal thing but is it an assumed good thing? Does theology have any impact on how wether we watch online or come in person to church.
This week we talk about pastoral calling, what you should call your pastor, and discerning God's will. [1:30] - What should you call your pastor? [19:20] - Finding God's Will
In our first full episode, we discuss the question, "is that biblical?" We often encounter questions of whether a thing or a decision is good or right and try and place it against the Bible. Today we talk about if that's really the best way to even use the Bible.
Text your questions and topics to (716) 201-0507
