Ministry Minded

In this episode, I’m joined by pastor and theologian Tony Phelps to talk about why it’s so important for preachers to preach God’s law and God’s gospel. Together, we trace this necessary distinction from Sinai’s altars to Luther’s breakthrough, and relish in the heartbeat of gospel preaching, which tells sinners not what they must do but what Christ has done.Tony serves as the teaching elder of Christ Our Hope Presbyterian Church in Carolina, Rhode Island, where he lives with his wife, Donna. He’s a frequent contributor to The Heidelblog. You can also follow him on Facebook and YouTube.Resources: “Not Man’s Gospel: An Exposition of Galatians 1:11–24 (Part 2),” Tony Phelps “A Letter to Recovering Pharisees: An Exposition of Galatians (Part 2),” Tony Phelps Commentary on Saint Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians (1535), Martin Luther Finding God in the Darkness: Hopeful Reflections from the Pits of Depression, Despair, and Disappointment, Bradley GraySponsor: You can support Ministry Minded by buying some coffee from Fresh Roasted Coffee, a locally owned and operated coffee house in the heart of Central Pennsylvania that produces the freshest coffee and delivers it at peak drinkability. Use the offer code “GRACE10” at checkout to get a discount on your next order. Buy some coffee today!Credits: Intro music: It Just Makes Me Happy Composer: DJ Quads, soundcloud.com/aka-dj-quads License: Creative Commons (BY-NC 3.0), creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ Music powered by BreakingCopyright: breakingcopyright.com Get full access to Grace Upon Grace at www.graceupongrace.net/subscribe

In this episode, I’m joined once again by Obbie Tyler Todd to talk about life, pastoral ministry, and the challenges of preaching in post-Christian contexts. We also spent some time discussing the church’s role during times of cultural upheaval, the myth of America as a “Christian nation,” and why the church’s mission has never changed, no matter what the present crisis looks like.Obbie is the pastor of teaching at Cross Community Church in Beaufort, South Carolina, where he lives with his wife, Kelly, and their two children, Roman and Ruby. He holds a Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and serves as an Adjunct Professor of Theology at Luther Rice College & Seminary. He’s the author of several books, and his writing has been featured in The Gospel Coalition, Christianity Today, Themelios, Desiring God, WORLD, and The Baptist Courier, among others. You can also follow him on Facebook and Instagram.Resources: The Beechers: America’s Most Influential Family, Obbie Tyler Todd The Moral Governmental Theory of Atonement: Re-envisioning Penal Substitution, Obbie Tyler Todd A Baptist at the Crossroads: The Atonement in the Writings of Richard Furman (1755-1825), Obbie Tyler Todd “When were the ‘golden years’ in America?,” Obbie Tyler Todd Finding God in the Darkness: Hopeful Reflections from the Pits of Depression, Despair, and Disappointment, Bradley GraySponsor: You can support Ministry Minded by buying some coffee from Fresh Roasted Coffee, a locally owned and operated coffee house in the heart of Central Pennsylvania that produces the freshest coffee and delivers it at peak drinkability. Use the offer code “GRACE10” at checkout to get a discount on your next order. Buy some coffee today!Credits: Intro music: It Just Makes Me Happy Composer: DJ Quads, soundcloud.com/aka-dj-quads License: Creative Commons (BY-NC 3.0), creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ Music powered by BreakingCopyright: breakingcopyright.com Get full access to Grace Upon Grace at www.graceupongrace.net/subscribe

In this episode, I’m joined by my good friend Brad Kafter 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.Brad lives in Wausau, Wisconsin, with his wife, Bethany, and their five children. He is currently pursuing a Master’s degree from Reformed Theological Seminary. You can connect with him on Facebook.Resources: The Reclamation Podcast, Brad Kafer and Michael Lewis Commentary on St. Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians (1535), Martin Luther A Treatise on the Law and Gospel, John Colquhoun Learning God’s Two Words: A Brief Catechism on the Law and the Gospel, Jay Wipf God’s Two Words: Law and Gospel in the Lutheran and Reformed Traditions, Jonathan Linebaugh Law and Gospel: A Theology for Sinners (and Saints), William McDavid, Ethan Richardson, and David Zahl Finding God in the Darkness: Hopeful Reflections from the Pits of Depression, Despair, and Disappointment, Bradley GraySponsor: You can support Ministry Minded by buying some coffee from Fresh Roasted Coffee, a locally owned and operated coffee house in the heart of Central Pennsylvania that produces the freshest coffee and delivers it at peak drinkability. Use the offer code “GRACE10” at checkout to get a discount on your next order. Buy some coffee today!Credits: Intro music: It Just Makes Me Happy Composer: DJ Quads, soundcloud.com/aka-dj-quads License: Creative Commons (BY-NC 3.0), creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ Music powered by BreakingCopyright: breakingcopyright.com Get full access to Grace Upon Grace at www.graceupongrace.net/subscribe

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 just someone who’s trying to live authentically amid the constant barrage of virtue signaling and curated identities, this conversation is for you.Griffin is currently working on a PhD in theology from the University of Aberdeen. He is also an adjunct professor at Northpoint College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Apart from his Substack, Griffin’s writing has been featured in other outlets, such as Christianity Today, Mere Orthodoxy, and Ekstasis. Griffin and his wife, Tiffany, live in Kalamazoo, Michigan. You can follow him on Instagram.Resources: “The Witch Trials of John Mark Comer,” Griffin GoochDo Not Lose Heart: An Assault on Apathy, Griffin Gooch On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction, William Zinsser A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life, George Saunders Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life, Anne Lamott Write Useful Books: A modern approach to designing and refining recommendable nonfiction, Rob Fitzpatrick Smart Brevity: The Power of Saying More with Less, Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen, and Roy Schwartz The Art and Business of Online Writing: How to Beat the Game of Capturing and Keeping Attention, Nicolas Cole “You need theology,” an article by yours truly Finding God in the Darkness: Hopeful Reflections from the Pits of Depression, Despair, and Disappointment, Bradley GraySponsor: You can support Ministry Minded by buying some coffee from Fresh Roasted Coffee, a locally owned and operated coffee house in the heart of Central Pennsylvania that produces the freshest coffee and delivers it at peak drinkability. Use offer code “GRACE10” at checkout to get a discount on your next order. Buy some coffee today!Credits: Intro music: It Just Makes Me Happy Composer: DJ Quads, soundcloud.com/aka-dj-quads License: Creative Commons (BY-NC 3.0), creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ Music powered by BreakingCopyright: breakingcopyright.com Get full access to Grace Upon Grace at www.graceupongrace.net/subscribe

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 points anywhere but to Christ alone.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: Trimmed & Burning, Eric Attinger’s teaching ministry Finding God in the Darkness: Hopeful Reflections from the Pits of Depression, Despair, and Disappointment, Bradley Gray Grace: So Much More Than You Know and So Much Better Than You Think, Bradley GraySponsor: You can support Ministry Minded by buying some coffee from Fresh Roasted Coffee, a locally owned and operated coffee house in the heart of Central Pennsylvania that produces the freshest coffee and delivers it at peak drinkability. Use offer code “GRACE10” at checkout to get a discount on your next order. Buy some coffee today!Credits: Intro music: It Just Makes Me Happy Composer: DJ Quads, soundcloud.com/aka-dj-quads License: Creative Commons (BY-NC 3.0), creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ Music powered by BreakingCopyright: breakingcopyright.com Get full access to Grace Upon Grace at www.graceupongrace.net/subscribe

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.Philip Nation is the Vice-President/Publisher of Thomas Nelson Bibles. He has served as a pastor, church planter, and education minister in local churches. He frequently travels to speak in churches and at conferences. Philip earned a Doctor of Ministry from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has authored and edited numerous books and Bible studies. Philip is a University Fellow for Arizona Christian University and has been a professor at Union University and Houston Christian University. You can connect with him on Facebook, X/Twitter, and Threads.Resources: The OPEN Bible The NET Bible, Full Notes Edition The Forgotten Preface: Surprising Insights on the Translation Philosophy of the King James Translator, Joshua Barzon Finding God in the Darkness: Hopeful Reflections from the Pits of Depression, Despair, and Disappointment, Bradley Gray Grace: So Much More Than You Know and So Much Better Than You Think, Bradley GraySponsor: You can support Ministry Minded by buying some coffee from Fresh Roasted Coffee, a locally owned and operated coffee house in the heart of Central Pennsylvania that produces the freshest coffee and delivers it at peak drinkability. Use offer code “GRACE10” at checkout to get a discount on your next order. Buy some coffee today!Credits: Intro music: It Just Makes Me Happy Composer: DJ Quads, soundcloud.com/aka-dj-quads License: Creative Commons (BY-NC 3.0), creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ Music powered by BreakingCopyright: breakingcopyright.com Get full access to Grace Upon Grace at www.graceupongrace.net/subscribe

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 lives and serves with his wife, Jade, and their son, Rosco. You can connect with him on Facebook.Resources: “Evangelical controversies and the LeBron problem,” an article by yours truly “You need theology,” an article by yours truly Christian Theology: An Introduction, Alister E. McGrath Christian Theology, Millard J. Erickson The Moody Handbook of Theology, Paul P. Enns Stonington Baptist Church, sermons podcast Finding God in the Darkness: Hopeful Reflections from the Pits of Depression, Despair, and Disappointment, Bradley Gray Grace: So Much More Than You Know and So Much Better Than You Think, Bradley GraySponsor: You can support Ministry Minded by buying some coffee from Fresh Roasted Coffee, a locally owned and operated coffee house in the heart of Central Pennsylvania that produces the freshest coffee and delivers it at peak drinkability. Use offer code “GRACE10” at checkout to get a discount on your next order. Buy some coffee today!Credits: Intro music: “Night In Kyoto” by AVBE via Uppbeat. License code: NZW9CUKLWDL4PMYI. Get full access to Grace Upon Grace at www.graceupongrace.net/subscribe

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.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: Christ-Centered Preaching: Redeeming the Expository Sermon, Bryan Chappell “Preach as though you were dying,” an article by yours truly “Should we be laughing right now?,” an article by yours truly “Trapped ‘Inside’ with Bo Burnham,” an article by yours truly Finding God in the Darkness: Hopeful Reflections from the Pits of Depression, Despair, and Disappointment, Bradley Gray Grace: So Much More Than You Know and So Much Better Than You Think, Bradley GraySponsor: You can support Ministry Minded by buying some coffee from Fresh Roasted Coffee, a locally owned and operated coffee house in the heart of Central Pennsylvania that produces the freshest coffee and delivers it at peak drinkability. Use offer code “GRACE10” at checkout to get a discount on your next order. Buy some coffee today!Credits: Intro music: “Night In Kyoto” by AVBE via Uppbeat. License code: NZW9CUKLWDL4PMYI. Get full access to Grace Upon Grace at www.graceupongrace.net/subscribe