
The Sword & The Trowel
The Sword & The Trowel is the weekly Founders Ministries podcast with Tom Ascol. New episodes drop every Tuesday.
Latest episodes

Feb 13, 2024 • 26min
TS&TT: He Gets Us... But Not Like That!
Today on The Sword and The Trowel, Tom Ascol and Graham Gunden talk about the "He Gets Us" campaign and the two most recent ads that played during the Super Bowl. They unpack the ads and discuss how they miss the real Jesus and the whole Gospel. Are these ads helpful? Does Jesus really "get us"?
SHOW NOTES:
2025 National Founders Conference: Revive Us, O Lord!: https://founders.org/conference
Support Founders Ministries: http://founders.org/give
Find out more about The Institute of Public Theology: https://www.instituteofpublictheology.org
Founders Church Search: https://church.founders.org
Founders Sermon Podcast Stream: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sermons-by-founders-ministries/id1613963681
Follow Founders Ministries:
Website: https://founders.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FoundersMin/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FoundersMin
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foundersministries/
All Founders Ministries resources are copyrighted and any use and distribution must be approved by Founders Ministries.

Feb 6, 2024 • 33min
TS&TT: Traveling Through Vanity Fair - Living Faithfully In A Fallen World
Today on The Sword and The Trowel, Tom Ascol and Graham Gunden talk about traveling through Vanity Fair, borrowing an analogy from John Bunyan in his allegorical book: Pilgrim's Progress. They talk about living under the authority of Christ, when we are living in a wicked and fallen world. Our culture is always trying to disciple us in ways that are contradictory to what God says is right and true and beautiful. How do we live faithfully in this world and fight to remain on the path of righteousness?
SHOW NOTES: 2025 National Founders Conference: Revive Us, O Lord!: https://founders.org/conference
Support Founders Ministries: http://founders.org/give
Find out more about The Institute of Public Theology: https://www.instituteofpublictheology.org
Founders Church Search: https://church.founders.org
Founders Sermon Podcast Stream: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sermons-by-founders-ministries/id1613963681
Follow Founders Ministries:
Website: https://founders.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FoundersMin/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FoundersMin
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foundersministries/
All Founders Ministries resources are copyrighted and any use and distribution must be approved by Founders Ministries.

Jan 30, 2024 • 45min
TS&TT: Josh Abbotoy | Thinking Christianly About The Texas Border Crisis
Today on The Sword and The Trowel, Tom Ascol and Graham Gunden talk with Josh Abbotoy, Harvard Lawyer and Executive Director of American Reformer. Josh has been tracking the border crisis in Texas and in this podcast, he helps give some guidance on how we should think about this in a Christianly way. His insight into the movements of Governor Abbott and President Biden will prove helpful for you as you consider this issue.
SHOW NOTES:
2025 National Founders Conference: Revive Us, O Lord!: https://founders.org/conference
Article by Josh Abbotoy: "American Crisis" - https://americanreformer.org/2024/01/american-crisis/
American Reformer: https://americanreformer.org/
PRE-ORDER A Revolutionary Reading of Romans 13 : https://press.founders.org/shop/a-revolutionary-reading-of-romans-13/
Find out more about The Institute of Public Theology: https://www.instituteofpublictheology.org
Support Founders Ministries and become a part of the F.A.M: https://press.founders.org/fam/
Founders Church Search: https://church.founders.org
Founders Sermon Podcast Stream: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sermons-by-founders-ministries/id1613963681
Follow Founders Ministries:
Website: https://founders.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FoundersMin/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FoundersMin
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foundersministries/
All Founders Ministries resources are copyrighted and any use and distribution must be approved by Founders Ministries.

Jan 23, 2024 • 28min
TS&TT: Using Social Media As Christians
Today on The Sword and The Trowel, Tom Ascol and Graham Gunden talk about how we should engage on social media as Christians. What are some principles we should apply and boundaries we should set? Is social media worth using as a Christian or would we be better off without it?
SHOW NOTES: 2025 National Founders Conference: Revive Us, O Lord!: https://founders.org/conference
PRE-ORDER Spurgeon’s Forgotten Sabbatarianism: https://press.founders.org/shop/spurgeons-forgotten-sabbatarianism/
PRE-ORDER A Revolutionary Reading of Romans 13 : https://press.founders.org/shop/a-revolutionary-reading-of-romans-13/
Find out more about The Institute of Public Theology: https://www.instituteofpublictheology.org
Support Founders Ministries and become a part of the F.A.M: https://press.founders.org/fam/
Founders Church Search: https://church.founders.org
Founders Sermon Podcast Stream: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sermons-by-founders-ministries/id1613963681
Follow Founders Ministries:
Website: https://founders.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FoundersMin/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FoundersMin
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foundersministries/
All Founders Ministries resources are copyrighted and any use and distribution must be approved by Founders Ministries.

Jan 16, 2024 • 28min
TS&TT: Brandon Rhea | Spurgeon’s Forgotten Sabbatarianism
Today on The Sword and The Trowel, Tom Ascol and Graham Gunden talk with Brandon Rhea, author of Spurgeon’s Forgotten Sabbatarianism: The Role of the Fourth Commandment in the Life and Theology of the Prince of Preachers. They discuss the genesis of this book, the fourth commandment and the beauty of the Lord's Day.
SHOW NOTES:
2024 National Founders Conference: Remember Jesus Christ - FREE LIVESTREAM: https://founders.org/livestream
PRE-ORDER Spurgeon’s Forgotten Sabbatarianism: https://press.founders.org/shop/spurgeons-forgotten-sabbatarianism/
Find out more about The Institute of Public Theology: https://www.instituteofpublictheology.org
Support Founders Ministries and become a part of the F.A.M: https://press.founders.org/fam/
Founders Church Search: https://church.founders.org
Founders Sermon Podcast Stream: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sermons-by-founders-ministries/id1613963681
Follow Founders Ministries:
Website: https://founders.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FoundersMin/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FoundersMin
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foundersministries/
All Founders Ministries resources are copyrighted and any use and distribution must be approved by Founders Ministries.

Jan 9, 2024 • 39min
TS&TT: A New Election Year - Looking Ahead in 2024
Today on The Sword and The Trowel, Tom Ascol and Graham Gunden talk about being a new presidential election year in the US and how we should think about it as Christians? What do we do in the midst of the uncertainties and difficulties that are sure to come? How are we to stand firm as God's people?
SHOW NOTES: Obey God, Defy Tyrants - Pastor Graham Gunden: https://truegraceofgod.org/resources/sermons/obey-god-defy-tyrants/
2024 National Founders Conference: Remember Jesus Christ | https://founders.org/conference/
PRE-ORDER Spurgeon’s Forgotten Sabbatarianism: https://press.founders.org/shop/spurgeons-forgotten-sabbatarianism/
PRE-ORDER A Revolutionary Reading of Romans 13: https://press.founders.org/shop/a-revolutionary-reading-of-romans-13/
Find out more about The Institute of Public Theology: https://www.instituteofpublictheology.org
Support Founders Ministries and become a part of the F.A.M: https://press.founders.org/fam/
Founders Church Search: https://church.founders.org
Founders Sermon Podcast Stream: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sermons-by-founders-ministries/id1613963681
Follow Founders Ministries:
Website: https://founders.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FoundersMin/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FoundersMin
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foundersministries/
All Founders Ministries resources are copyrighted and any use and distribution must be approved by Founders Ministries.

Jan 2, 2024 • 28min
TS&TT: Baruch Maoz | Update On The War In Israel
Today on The Sword and The Trowel, Tom Ascol and Graham Gunden talk with Pastor Baruch Maoz. Having just returned from ministering in Israel, Pastor Maoz gives an honest update and perspective on the situation there with Hamas and the Gaza strip.
SHOW NOTES:
Connect with Pastor Maoz: https://themaozweb.com/
2024 National Founders Conference: Remember Jesus Christ | https://founders.org/conference/
Find out more about The Institute of Public Theology: https://www.instituteofpublictheology.org
Support Founders Ministries and become a part of the F.A.M: https://press.founders.org/fam/
Founders Church Search: https://church.founders.org
Founders Sermon Podcast Stream: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sermons-by-founders-ministries/id1613963681
Follow Founders Ministries:
Website: https://founders.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FoundersMin/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FoundersMin
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foundersministries/
All Founders Ministries resources are copyrighted and any use and distribution must be approved by Founders Ministries.

Dec 19, 2023 • 39min
TS&TT: David Schrock | Contemporary Challenges in Pastoral Ministry
Today on The Sword and The Trowel, Tom Ascol sits down with David Schrock, Pastor of Preaching at Occoquan Bible Church and Editor-In-Chief at Christ Over All. They discuss a wide range of topics from plagiarism, biblical anthropology, the SBC, political theology, Christian Nationalism (& more) and how to navigate and think rightly about them in Pastoral ministry.
SHOW NOTES: Follow David Schrock: https://twitter.com/DavidSchrock
Christ Over All: https://christoverall.com/
ORDER A Revolutionary Reading of Romans 13: https://press.founders.org/shop/a-revolutionary-reading-of-romans-13/
2024 National Founders Conference: Remember Jesus Christ | https://founders.org/conference/
Find out more about The Institute of Public Theology: https://www.instituteofpublictheology.org
Support Founders Ministries and become a part of the F.A.M: https://press.founders.org/fam/
Founders Church Search: https://church.founders.org
Founders Sermon Podcast Stream: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sermons-by-founders-ministries/id1613963681
Follow Founders Ministries:
Website: https://founders.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FoundersMin/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FoundersMin
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foundersministries/
All Founders Ministries resources are copyrighted and any use and distribution must be approved by Founders Ministries.

Dec 12, 2023 • 43min
TS&TT: Timothy Decker | Romans 13: Subjection To The Civil Magistrate & Resistance To Tyrants
Today on The Sword and The Trowel, Tom Ascol and Graham Gunden talk with Dr. Timothy Decker about his new book: A Revolutionary Reading of Romans 13: A Biblical Case for Lawful Subjection to the Civil Magistrate and Dutiful Resistance to Tyrants. They discuss the difficulties and questions that arose for Pastors and Churches in 2020, sphere sovereignty and how Christians think through these issues in a Biblical way.
SHOW NOTES:
Follow Timothy Decker: https://twitter.com/timldecker
ORDER A Revolutionary Reading of Romans 13: https://press.founders.org/shop/a-revolutionary-reading-of-romans-13/
2024 National Founders Conference: Remember Jesus Christ | https://founders.org/conference/
Find out more about The Institute of Public Theology: https://www.instituteofpublictheology.org
Support Founders Ministries and become a part of the F.A.M: https://press.founders.org/fam/
Founders Church Search: https://church.founders.org
Founders Sermon Podcast Stream: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sermons-by-founders-ministries/id1613963681
Follow Founders Ministries:
Website: https://founders.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FoundersMin/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FoundersMin
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foundersministries/
All Founders Ministries resources are copyrighted and any use and distribution must be approved by Founders Ministries.

Dec 5, 2023 • 30min
TS&TT: Josh Daws | Christian Nationalism: A Primer For The Layman
Today on The Sword and The Trowel, Tom Ascol and Graham Gunden talk with Josh Daws, host of The Great Awokening Podcast. They discuss his article on American Reformer that accesses the Christian Nationalism movement, Christian Federalism, and how to engage well in the public square while keeping the Lordship of Christ as our foundation.
SHOW NOTES:
Follow Josh Daws: https://twitter.com/JoshDaws
Read Josh Daws' article on American Reformer: https://americanreformer.org/2023/10/christian-nationalism-a-primer-for-the-layman/
Get 20% off with code: HOLIDAY20 - https://press.founders.org/
2024 National Founders Conference: Remember Jesus Christ | https://founders.org/conference/
Find out more about The Institute of Public Theology: https://www.instituteofpublictheology.org
Support Founders Ministries and become a part of the F.A.M: https://press.founders.org/fam/
Founders Church Search: https://church.founders.org
Founders Sermon Podcast Stream: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sermons-by-founders-ministries/id1613963681
Follow Founders Ministries:
Website: https://founders.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FoundersMin/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FoundersMin
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foundersministries/
All Founders Ministries resources are copyrighted and any use and distribution must be approved by Founders Ministries.