Pastor Writer: Conversations on Reading, Writing, and the Christian Life

Jared C. Wilson — Faithfulness in Writing

August 13, 2019 09:00 - 1 hour - 44.6 MB

Jared C. Wilson is a prolific author of both fiction and non-fiction. He is an Assistant Professor of Pastoral Ministry at Spurgeon College and is an Author in Residence at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He also services General Editor of For The Church. Jared joins me to talk about his career in writing and pastoral ministry. We discuss the role of writers in the work of the church and how writers can sustain the work even against a complicated and overwhelming publishing process.

Alisse Goldsmith-Wissman — Summer Reading: Upcoming Releases from IVP

August 05, 2019 14:00 - 36 minutes - 24.9 MB

As a part of our summer reading series, Alisse Goldsmith-Wissman joined me to talk about her role at InterVarsity Press and some of their upcoming releases. In addition to new releases, Alisse also shares some of her favorite IVP books. I've been extremely impressed with IVP's work and added several new books to my list based on this conversation.

Tommy Brown — From Idea to a Published Book

July 29, 2019 15:00 - 44 minutes - 30.9 MB

Tommy Brown is a pastor and a published author, having published the book, Seven Money Types, with Zondervan in 2017. Tommy joins me to talk about how his idea developed into a publishing contract and a best-selling book. If you have ever thought about publishing a book, there is a lot of helpful advice and perspective in this episode. We talk about the significance of a book's concept and how that concept can even help overcome a limited platform. Tommy was candid and honest about the pro...

Andrew Root — The Pastor in a Secular Age

July 23, 2019 13:00 - 54 minutes - 37.8 MB

Dr. Andrew Root is a professor at Luther Seminary since 2005. He is often mentioned as one of the leading scholars in youth ministry and practical theology in the world. His first book, Revisiting Relational Ministry (IVP, 2007) presented a new trajectory for youth ministry, offering the field one of the first robust theological projects. Since then, he has published sixteen books. His latest project is a three-volume series with Baker Academic called “Ministry in a Secular Age.” Volume one...

Article — I'm Allergic to Meat But God Honors Excellence

July 08, 2019 15:00 - 14 minutes - 10.3 MB

Can you imagine Ron Swanson waking up to discover he was suddenly allergic to meat? No steaks, no brats, no bacon, no cheeseburgers. Can you imagine his reaction? It would have made a great episode, but maybe it sounds too far fetched. Believe it or not, a meat allergy is a real thing, and I was as horrified to discover I had it as Ron Swanson would have been. Two years ago, I developed what I thought was strep throat. I found myself with a cough and having trouble swallowing. Quickly it wo...

Patrick Schreiner — Finding Your Own Approach to Studying and Writing

July 02, 2019 21:00 - 36 minutes - 25.3 MB

Patrick Shcreiner teaches New Testament at Western Seminary in Portland Oregon. His Ph.D. work was on spatial theories and their relationship to the kingdom in the Gospel of Matthew. In addition to his dissertation work, he is also the author of, The Kingdom of God and the Glory of the Cross(A part of the crossway Short Studies in Biblical Theology Series), and the soon to be released Matthew, Disciple and Scribe: The First Gospel and Its Portrait of Jesus. I was interested in talking with...

Gary S. Selby — C. S. Lewis and Earthy Spirituality

June 24, 2019 19:00 - 46 minutes - 32.2 MB

When C. S. Lewis was asked where he wished his book royalties to be paid upon his death, Lewis responded, "after I've been dead five years, no one will read anything I've written." For all Lewis got right, he predicted that one wrong. Lewis's impact has only continued to grow. It's hard for me to estimate just how influential Lewis has been on my faith and thinking. Gary S. Selby's new book on Lewis captures this deep love and respect for Lewis's writings. Pursuing and Earthy Spiritualit...

Article — Žižek, Peterson, and the Christian Atheist

June 21, 2019 21:00 - 23 minutes - 16.4 MB

This year’s debate between Jordan Peterson and Slavoj Žižek was marketed as one of the greatest intellectual debates of the century. At one point, tickets were being scalped for over $1,500 a seat. To many’s disappointment, but probably for the best, the event went off without the anticipated drama. Peterson and Žižek managed to find significant common ground. The debate, which lasted over two and a half hours, has been watched online by more than 350,000 viewers. The interest in Peterson a...

Jenaye White — Summer Reading: Upcoming Releases from B&H

June 18, 2019 20:00 - 40 minutes - 27.7 MB

As a part of our summer reading series, Jenaye White joined me to talk about her role at B&H Publishing and some of their upcoming releases. In addition to new releases, Jenaye also shares some of her favorite B&H books. Her recommendations include non-fiction, memoir, children's, and even a cookbook. I hope a book catches your interest and might become a great summer read for that upcoming vacation.

Summer Reading — 16 Books Every Christian Should Read

June 12, 2019 18:00 - 19 minutes - 13.3 MB

One of the greatest joys in life is finding a really really good book. That doesn’t happen nearly as often as I would like. But every once in a while, you come across a book, and something about it, usually it only 10 to 15 pages, you just know this book is going to impact your life. Honestly, so much of my reading is just searching for that. To be fair, there is some reading you do just because you are trying to learn something about a particular topic. But everyone in a while you find one...

Article — Why Every Millennial Man Should Reread The Samson Story

June 07, 2019 13:00 - 16 minutes - 7.8 MB

Samson is everything a man might imagine becoming. I like to imagine him in Ray-Bans, a man bun, and a CrossFit t-shirt, hiking through some remote red stone canyon, documenting his adventurous life on Instagram. He is the model man, driven by passion and restless for adventure and romance. He was fascinated with the seductive nature of Philistia, the risk of roaming into enemy territory only making it all the more adventurous. Samson’s story is the millennial story—pursue your desires and ...

Phil Ayres — Getting Started Writing

June 04, 2019 19:00 - 39 minutes - 18.1 MB

Phil Ayres is a pastor serving what he describes as a small church just north of Orlando, Florida. Phil blogs and writes about the challenges of doing ministry in a small church setting. He has published two books, How to Survive Ministry and Flannel-Graph Jesus. And he is also the host of the Bible Revealed podcast. In our conversation, we explore pastoring in a small church setting and the personal benefits of writing. Phil shares the challenges of getting started writing and how those c...

Article — Aladdin, Self-Expression, and Our Search for a Happily Ever After

May 31, 2019 14:00 - 21 minutes - 9.68 MB

I recently found a computer emulator for playing vintage Super Nintendo games. And who knew you could buy USB Nintendo controllers on Amazon for eight bucks. Two days of waiting for our Prime package to arrive, and I sat down to introduce my son to the video games of my childhood. The first game I downloaded was Aladdin. Like so many of the other 30-somethings packed into this past Saturday evening’s showing, I was nervous and excited for the remake. Disney’s recent streak of live-action re...

Jon Bailey — The Lost Art of Listening to the Bible

May 21, 2019 20:00 - 34 minutes - 16 MB

Jon and his brother have spent the past 12 years building software for the faith-based community. But they have always had a passion to redesign the experience of listening to the Bible. With the help of their supporters, the Dwell Bible App became the #4 most funded app on Kickstarter. Today, the Dwell app is supported by a large and passionate community of users. With a rich feature set, customizations, and careful attention to the user experience Dwell really has changed the way people a...

Chris Nye — Reflections on Pastoral Writing

May 15, 2019 14:00 - 47 minutes - 21.9 MB

This May, Chis Nye is releasing his second book, Less of More: Pursuing Spiritual Abundance in a World of Never Enough. Chris is a pastor in the Bay area and his writing has appeared in the Washington Post, Christianity Today, and RELEVANT Magazine. Chris is passionate about the craft of writing and has thought deeply about how writing has impacted him as a pastor. If you enjoy episodes on writing, this one's for you.

Alan Noble — The Writer As Disruptive Witness

May 07, 2019 20:00 - 38 minutes - 17.7 MB

Alan Noble articulates a need for a kind of Christian witness which can break through the secular and distracted lifestyle dominating our culture. Unfortunately, much of how we practice and preach Christ may only be contributing to the challenges we face. Alan's book, Disruptive Witness: Speaking Truth in A Distracted Age, calls for a kind of witness which disrupts the ways we spend our time the ways we typically evaluate new ideas. We also explore how Christian writers can take up this di...

Chase Replogle — Easter and Mark's Strange Gospel Ending

April 29, 2019 21:00 - 22 minutes - 10.4 MB

If you are familiar with the gospel of Mark or have paid close attention to your bible’s footnotes, you know there are major questions about how Mark intended to end his gospel. The gospel of Mark ends with chapter 16, and most Bible's include this strange note between verses eight and nine. The ESV puts it, “Some Of The Earliest Manuscripts Do Not Include 16:9–20.” I think Mark was making a literary move. I think Mark intended for his gospel to conclude with an open ending. I think he had ...

Adam Lewis Greene — Redesigning Your Bible Reading Experience

April 17, 2019 15:00 - 49 minutes - 22.5 MB

Adam Lewis Greene is the designer behind the top Kickstarter Bibliotheca campaign to redesign a reader-friendly version of the Bible.

David Rawlings — From Non-Fiction to a Debut Novel

April 10, 2019 10:00 - 41 minutes - 19 MB

David Rawlings joins me to talk about his transition from copywriting and non-fiction to novels. David just released his debut novel, The Baggage Handler, and is under contract with Thomas Nelson for two more. David's books are modern parables that help readers discover Christ's kingdom through story. We discuss making the transition to fiction and how studying fiction can impact non-fiction writers. There is a lot of helpful information for both fiction and non-fiction writers and encourag...

Pierce Taylor Hibbs — A Christian Perspective on Language

April 02, 2019 04:00 - 54 minutes - 25 MB

Pierce Taylor Hibbs serves as the Associate Director of the Theological English Department at Westminster Theological Seminary. He is the author of "The Speaking Trinity and His Worded World: Why Language Is at the Center of Everything" and "Finding God in the Ordinary." At the core of our conversation is the question, is there such a thing as Christian writing? Are there qualities that Christian writers should possess.

Glenna Marshall — Writing with a Young Family

March 27, 2019 04:00 - 38 minutes - 17.7 MB

Glenna is a pastor's wife, a mom to two boys, a musician, and writer. She released her first solo album, Hold Me fast, in 2017. You can find her music on Spotify and iTunes. Her first book, The Promise is His Presence: Why God is Always Enough, releases this summer with P & R Publishing. And she already has another book, Everyday Faithfulness, set to release from Crossway in 2020.

Chase Replogle — Not Funny & Not at Another's Expense

March 15, 2019 04:00 - 16 minutes - 7.74 MB

I enjoy sharing lessons I'm learning from my writing. This episode addresses my attempts at humor and the disturbing discovery those jokes have lead me to.

David Mathis — God Made You a Writer: An Invitation to Every Christian

March 05, 2019 05:00 - 51 minutes - 23.8 MB

David Mathis is executive editor for desiringGod.org and pastor at Cities Church in Minneapolis/St. Paul. He is the author of Habits of Grace: Enjoying Jesus through the Spiritual Disciplines.

Dan Herod — Suffering Well and Telling Your Story

February 27, 2019 05:00 - 42 minutes - 19.6 MB

Dan Herod joins me to talk about his deepest sufferings and how they have shaped his story and ministry. Pick up his book, Suffer Well: Walking Victoriously Through Your Valleys.

John Onwucheckwa — Praying Together and Writing on Prayer

February 18, 2019 05:00 - 30 minutes - 14 MB

John serves as pastor of Cornerstone Church in Atlanta, Georgia. He is the author of Prayer: How Praying Together Shapes the Church.

Mat Perman — Gospel Centered Productivity

February 11, 2019 05:00 - 45 minutes - 20.8 MB

Matt Perman has taken up the task of reshaping productivity with a commitment to Gospel centrality. His advice is practical and deeply theological.

Chase Replogle — Scripture Can Teach You to Write: Setup and Payoff in 2 Samuel

February 04, 2019 05:00 - 25 minutes - 11.8 MB

The second in our series, Scripture Can Teach You to Write, we take a look at how the author of 1 & 2 Samuel uses setups and payoffs to keep the reader's attention through the story.

Kate Motaung — A Christian’s Struggle with Building A Platform and Influence

January 21, 2019 05:00 - 38 minutes - 17.9 MB

Kate Motaung is the author of the memoir, A Place To Land: A Story of Longing & Belonging as well as the newly released book, co-authored with Shannon Popkin, Influence: Building A Platform that Elevates Jesus (Not Me).

Chase Replogle — Scripture Can Teach You To Write: Learning Structure from Luke's Acts

January 15, 2019 11:00 - 22 minutes - 10.4 MB

The Bible is an incredible work of literature. With careful attention, there is a lot you can learn about writing from it.

Jonathan Rogers — Consider New Year’s Habits Over Goals

January 07, 2019 05:00 - 39 minutes - 18.3 MB

Jonathan Rogers is a writer and educator. Through his weekly emails and online courses, he helps writers improve their craft, overcome the fear of grammar, and create new writing habits.

Chase Replogle — Top 10 Books of 2018 and Some Thoughts on Buying Them

December 30, 2018 20:00 - 23 minutes - 10.7 MB

I've compiled my top 10 reads of 2018 and some additional thoughts on buying books in the new year.

Jeff Medders — Tools for Writing and Avoiding Discouragement

December 17, 2018 21:00 - 49 minutes - 22.8 MB

Jeff Medders is a pastor, author, and host of the Home Row Podcast, a show with writers on writing. He joins me to talk about writing tools and what he calls the "sin of platforming."

Daniel Im — Perseverance in Writing and Publishing

December 10, 2018 05:00 - 45 minutes - 20.7 MB

Daniel Im is the Director of Church Multiplication for NewChurches.com at LifeWay Christian Resources. He's also the author of two books including, No Silver Bullets: Five Small Shifts that Will Transform Your Ministry.

Karen Ball & Erin Taylor Young — Why Writers Give Up

December 03, 2018 18:00 - 50 minutes - 23 MB

I'm joined by Karen Ball & Erin Taylor Young, cohosts of the Write from the Deep Podcast. From their experience as authors, editors, and coaches they describe why so many writers give up.

Chase Replogle — I Write to Keep From Getting Robbed

November 26, 2018 05:00 - 17 minutes - 8.19 MB

You need to know why you write. One of the things I've learned from a year of interviews is that authors write for very different reasons. What matters is knowing why you do.

Scott Lindsey — Logos 8 for Pastors and Writers (With a Listener Discount)

November 18, 2018 22:00 - 47 minutes - 21.9 MB

Scott Lindsey is the Executive Director of Faithlife, the parent company of Logos Bible Software. Scott is a nationally renowned expert on the future of digital Bible study and has been a conference presenter and trainer for 20+ years. “Years ago a good friend of mine, who was a few years my senior, told me I was behind the curve on bible software. Since then I have found Logos to be the most intuitive and complete bible software out there. Scott, as the ambassador of Logos, greatly helped ...

Benjamin Vrbicek — Reflections on the Pursuit of Writing

November 11, 2018 05:00 - 43 minutes - 20.1 MB

Benjamin Vrbicek is the author of the soon to be released, Don't Just Send a Resume and has written for Desiring God, The Gospel Coalition, and For the Church.

The Writing and Legacy of Eugene Peterson — with Drew Dyck

November 04, 2018 04:00 - 43 minutes - 20.1 MB

Drew Dyck, Acquisitions Editor at Moody and Editor for Christianity Today Pastors, joins me to talk about his experiences with Eugene Peterson, his writing and legacy.

Doug Wilson — Writing is Life and Conversation

October 28, 2018 04:00 - 35 minutes - 16.6 MB

Doug Wilson is a prolific author across a wide range of topics: from education and history to parenting and cultural issues. He joins me to talk about his book, Wordsmithy: Hot Tips for the Writing Life.

Zack Eswine — A Stamina for Being Overlooked

October 22, 2018 04:00 - 49 minutes - 22.6 MB

Zack Eswine is the author of the book, The Imperfect Pastor: Discovering Joy in Our Limitations through a Daily Apprenticeship with Jesus. It's on my must-read list for pastors.

Heath Adamson — Writing with David and the Psalms

October 15, 2018 04:00 - 54 minutes - 25.2 MB

Heath Adamson is the author of the recently released, Grace in the Valley: Awakening to God's Presence When He Feels Far Away. The book offers a personal and contemplative look at Psalm 23.

George P. Wood — You Aren't Taking Your Reading Seriously Enough

October 08, 2018 04:00 - 55 minutes - 25.3 MB

George P. Wood has reviewed hundreds of books. Amazon users have recognized his work, by ranking him as #543 in all Amazon reviewers. His passion for books and reading supports his work as the executive editor of Assemblies of God Publications. One of the most obvious takeaways from my conversation with George is how seriously he takes his reading. It's long been a mantra that "leaders are readers." George demonstrates the importance of thinking more deeply about what you read. And deciding...

Pastor Writer: Conversations on Reading, Writing, and the Christian Life

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