TGC Podcast

Vaneetha Rendall Risner delivered a message titled “Forgiveness: The Hardest and Most Life-Changing Thing We Can Do” at TGC’s 2021 Women’s Conference. Speaking from her own difficult experience learning to forgive someone who had hurt her deeply, she encouraged those listening to explore and understand what forgiveness really is—allowing God to heal them through the process.Risner clarified what forgiveness is and, just as importantly, what it is not, as she outlined what it means to forgive in a healthy, biblical manner.  

Jen Wilkin delivered a message at TGC’s 2021 National Conference called “Female Bravery and the Mission of God.” Walking through Scripture, Wilkin relayed stories of women who feared God rather than men and stood against the Serpent, risking their very lives. The imagery revealed in the stories, she taught, is the metaphor necessary for the modern church to understand in order to also be shrewd as a serpent and innocent as a dove—overcoming the enemy that wages war against our very souls.

Phillip Holmes moderated a panel with Carl Ellis and Walter Strickland at TGC's 2021 National Conference titled “Free at Last: The Gospel and the African American Experience 25 Years Later.” From the framework developed in Carl Ellis’s Free At Last, the panel addressed questions regarding the African American experience over the last 400 years, including history, cultural contexts, and cultural biases and how that has affected African Americans and their faith.  

Paige Brown discusses the practical importance of the kingdom of God, emphasizing its relevance for believers today. The podcast explores the theological concepts of salvation and the purpose of the kingdom, delving into the present and future aspects of the kingdom. It highlights the role of the church in proclaiming the goodness of the kingdom and encourages active participation in fulfilling the Lord's work.

Brett McCracken hosted a panel discussion at TGC's 2021 Women’s Conference with Alisa Childers, Preston Perry, and Trevin Wax titled “Before You Lose Your Faith: Deconstructing Doubt in the Church," addressing the topic of healthy deconstruction as discussed in the book by the same name. The panel addressed multiple questions, from what healthy deconstruction looks like to cultural structures that fuel deconstruction processes, to how believers address conversation about deconstruction, and much more. Ultimately, the process of healthy deconstruction should allow for questions while pointing to Jesus—reminding those who question of all that Christ has done. 

Mike Kruger delivered a message at TGC’s 2021 Women’s Conference titled “Can I Lose My Faith? Understanding Apostasy.” Susan Pevensie, of The Chronicles of Narnia fame, serves as the jumping off point of the message, having been so central to the beginning of Lewis’s storyline, yet so glaringly absent from its conclusion. As Peter, her brother, explained, she was eventually “no longer a friend of Narnia.” Her story is reminiscent of many believers who seem to be strong in their faith but eventually walk away from Christ and his kingdom. “Apostasy,” as it is known, is a difficult and touchy subject. In his message, Kruger addresses the topic, first clearly defining what it is (and isn’t), pointing to biblical examples, clarifying truths about apostasy, and finally, denoting how Christians should respond to it.   

Christine Hoover delivered a message at TGC's 2021 Women’s Conference titled “Messy Beautiful Friendship: Learning to Love Others in a Christlike Way.” Speaking from her own experiences building friendships—first as a child, then as an adult—Hoover discussed the “wish dream”: the idealized vision of a perfect friendship that too many women embrace. She compared this to the reality of mature, biblical friendship that, despite all its flaws and blemishes, is a priceless gift from God.She looked at four components of biblical friendships, exemplified by Christ, that women should pursue:– Focus on giving (serving) and befriending others– Erase unnecessary restrictions– Devote yourself to people– Be vulnerable

Julius Kim delivered a message to the Bay Area Regional Chapter of TGC titled “Weakness & Witness” as part of the series “Testify: Bearing Witness to Christ in the Present Age.” 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 served as the text by which Kim encouraged his listeners to testify to the goodness of God even in the midst of overwhelming weakness. When we feel intimidated, overwhelmed, hopeless, powerless, paralyzed, and demoralized in the face of a culture that esteems success and shuns godliness, we are empowered by the same spirit—the spirit of the resurrected Christ—that enabled Paul to witness with power and confidence to the elite in Athens. 

Sam Allberry delivered a message to the Arizona Regional Chapter of TGC titled “Is God Anti-Gay?” Springboarding from his own personal struggle with homosexuality, Allberry addressed the question of sexuality and its association with sin according to Jesus’s own words. He refuted the idea that Jesus was silent on the issue of sexual ethics; in fact, he intensified the already stringent sexual ethic of the Old Testament. Jesus’s expectation for his people in marriage and sexuality—just as in all of life—is high. It requires the denial of one’s own sinful, selfish desires in order to become who we were meant to be and receive life. It is a costly proposition. And it is always worth it.

Andy Davis delivered a message to the Carolinas Regional Chapter of TGC titled “How the Scriptures Equip” as a part of the series “Equipped for Every Good.” Teaching from 2 Timothy 3:14-17, he argued that scripture alone is perfectly sufficient to equip believers for our journey of salvation—from unbelief to faithful, growing followers of Jesus. He then applied that truth to the responsibility pastors steward as they preach and lead their churches. Summarizing Spurgeon, he challenged them, “There should be real teaching in your sermon. The doctrine should be solid and substantial. There should be a system of truth building up in your hearers if they hear you over a length of time.” And scripture—in concert with the direct ministry of the Holy Spirit—provides all you need to wisely lead each person under your care in godliness.