Bible Teaching, Ministry Friendships, and the Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness with Trillia Newbell

Feb 11, 2025

Trillia Newbell, a Bible teacher, author, and Acquisitions Director at Moody Publishers, shares her journey from self-doubt to confident teaching. She emphasizes the importance of self-forgetfulness in serving others and building meaningful ministry friendships. Discussing pastoral loneliness, she highlights the need for accountability and support. Trillia also touches on her children's book, which advocates for understanding friendship through a gospel lens, showing why this concept is essential for both kids and adults.

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INSIGHT

Shifting Focus

Trillia Newbell credits Tim Keller's The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness with changing her focus.
She now prioritizes serving others rather than fixating on herself while teaching.

ANECDOTE

Growth as a Teacher

Trillia Newbell discusses her growth as a Bible teacher through years of studying and reading.
She now embraces lifelong learning and accepts that she will not know everything.

ADVICE

Preparation and Self-Compassion

Prepare thoroughly and ask God to honor your teaching.
Focus on being faithful to the text but avoid being too hard on yourself.

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In this episode of theExpositors Collective Podcast,Mike Neglia speaks withTrillia Newbell—Bible teacher, author, andAcquisitions and Editorial Director at Moody Publishers—about her journey inteaching the Bible, overcoming self-consciousness in ministry, and the importance of friendship for pastors and Bible teachers.

Trillia sharesher early experiences of teaching, how she’s grown in confidence, and the ways thatTim Keller’sThe Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness helped her shift her focus from herself toserving others with joy. She and Mike also explorefriendship in ministry, discussing whetherpastors can have friends within their congregation, how tonavigate pastoral loneliness, and whyaccountability and support outside the pulpit are essential.

Additionally, Trillia shares insights from herchildren’s book,Jesus and the Gift of Friendship, explaining why she believes thatfriendship is a foundational part of the Christian life—one that kids (and adults) need to learn about from a gospel perspective.

This episode is packed with wisdom and encouragement forpastors, Bible teachers, and anyone seeking to grow in their personal faith, relationships, and confidence in teaching God’s Word.

📖 Resources & Books Mentioned in This Episode:

📚The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness by Tim Keller – https://store.thegospelcoalition.org/product/9781906173418/the-freedom-of-self-forgetfulness-paperback
📚Jesus and the Gift of Friendship by Trillia Newbell – https://www.crossway.org/books/jesus-and-the-gift-of-friendship-case/
🌍Bible to Life (Moody Publishers' online Bible resource) – https://bibletolife.com/
📖The Moody Bible Commentary –https://www.moodypublishers.com/the-moody-bible-commentary/
Friendship and Church Planting featuring Mike Neglia and Clay Worrell : https://cgnmedia.org/podcast/cultivate-church-planting/episode/the-importance-of-friendship-mike-neglia-and-clay-worrell
Dr Wayne Baxter on Guest Speaking: https://cgnmedia.org/podcast/expositors-collective/episode/from-the-page-to-the-pulpit-wayne-baxter
Philip Nation on Guest Speaking: https://cgnmedia.org/podcast/expositors-collective/episode/how-to-be-a-good-guest-speaker-how-much-you-should-tell-your-kids-about-church-drama-and-so-much-more-1ltc

📝 Topics Covered in This Episode:

✔️ Trillia’sfirst time teaching the Bible—and how she’s grown since then
✔️ Gaining confidence as a Bible teacher and learning toserve rather than stress
✔️ HowTim Keller’sThe Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness changed Trillia’s approach to ministry
✔️Can pastors have close friends within their congregation?
✔️ Whyministry can be lonely—and how pastors can cultivate real friendships
✔️The inspiration behindJesus and the Gift of Friendship and how to teach kids about biblical friendship
✔️Practical advice for pastors and Bible teachers seeking to grow in faith and ministry

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