TGC Podcast

The Advent season offers unique opportunities for family and personal discipleship. So how can we prepare well? In this episode, The Gospel Coalition staff Kendra Dahl, Melissa Kruger, Jared Kennedy, and Bill Kynes share their experiences navigating the Christmas season as individuals, as families, and within church communities. They suggest resources, reflect on memorable traditions, and consider opportunities for outreach, connection, and celebration.Recommended Resources:Unto Us: 25 Advent Devotions About the MessiahJared Kennedy, “Why Advent Is a Time to Build on Family Traditions”Melissa Kruger, “Celebrating Advent: Looking Back and Looking Forward”Jared Kennedy, “Countdown to Christmas with These 6 Resources for Advent”Jared Kennedy, “The Good News That Jesus Came for You”GoodKind Advent BlocksHelp The Gospel Coalition build up a renewed church for tomorrow. Let's Build Together: Donate Today at tgc.org/together 

At TGCW24, Courtney Doctor teaches on Jesus’s statement, “I AM the Good Shepherd” from John 10:11-18. A good shepherd cares for, protects, and provides for his sheep.Throughout scripture, we're compared to the sheep who go astray or get lost. We need continual care and vigilant protection, and Christ offers us that and so much more. He's a shepherd who seeks out the one lost sheep and rejoices at its discovery! He leads us, guides us, and restores our souls.Doctor teaches the following: The role of shepherds in the biblical narrativeJesus as the Good ShepherdSurprise 1: seeking unexpected sheepSurprise 2: leading on unexpected pathsSurprise 3: dying an unexpected deathThe Lamb is worshiped as the shepherd in Revelation 7Know the Good Shepherd and follow him foreverHelp The Gospel Coalition build up a renewed church for tomorrow. Let's Build Together: Donate Today at tgc.org/together

At TGCW24, Vanessa Hawkins invites us to consider Jesus’s third I AM statement, "I AM the door" from John 10:1-10.There are times when we rely more on what Jesus gives us access to rather than resting in the truth that he himself is our access. Jesus is not merely our passage to eternal life with God—he is always more and better than we can imagine. As we turn to Jesus and learn from him, we will more clearly recognize his voice. As we read, study, and obey the Word of God, his voice will become easier and easier to follow.Hawkins teaches the following: The positive impact of a father’s relationshipAdam and Eve’s relationship with God and separation as a result of sinThe promise of a Savior and the closing of a doorThose who do not enter the sheepfold by the door are thieves and robbersA real threat: the enemy's attempts to steal, kill, and destroyWhat are the spiritual thieves and robbers in our lives?Jesus's promise of abundant life and what it truly means for usWalking in obedience and embracing the invitation from JesusThe power of death defeated and the hope of resurrectionEnter through the Door and walk into the Father's presence with bold accessHelp The Gospel Coalition build up a renewed church for tomorrow. Let's Build Together: Donate Today at tgc.org/together

At TGCW24, Jen Wilkin shares Jesus’s second I AM statement, “I AM the Light of the World" from John 8:12-30. We all have first-hand experience of the darkness and brokenness that exists in our world. Jesus, the light that shines in the darkness, offers the “light of life” to anyone who follows him. Jesus’ message confronts the darkness in our hearts and in our world and offers us great hope in all of it.Wilkin teaches the following:The symbolism of light in ScriptureJesus' use of light as a metaphorThe Feast of Tabernacles and its significanceThe manifest presence of God in the Old TestamentThe role of light in the New TestamentThe challenge of lesser lightsThe role of the church in carrying the lightThe collective impact of believers' lightHelp The Gospel Coalition build up a renewed church for tomorrow. Let's Build Together: Donate Today at tgc.org/together

At TGCW24, Melissa Kruger teaches on Jesus’s declaration in John 6, “I AM the Bread of Life.”The day before the events in this passage, Jesus fed a large crowd by miraculously multiplying bread and fish. But Jesus has something greater than their physical needs in mind—he wants to meet their spiritual needs. He extends an invitation to be satisfied and sustained in him, telling his listeners then and now that he is “the living bread that came down from heaven.” Jesus is the Bread of Life who offers good news for spiritually hungry people.Kruger teaches the following:The persistent problem: seeking satisfaction in the wrong placesThe surprising solution: Jesus as the Bread of LifeThe difficult decision: believing in Jesus and seeking him dailyThe call to invite others to the feastHelp The Gospel Coalition build up a renewed church for tomorrow. Let's Build Together: Donate Today at tgc.org/together

In this special episode of TGC Podcast, Collin Hansen, Jen Wilkin, Kori Porter, and Michael Kruger discuss the vital partnership between men and women in ministry, and the historical and biblical importance of women's contributions to the church. They advocate for visible female leadership, the value of gender-specific spaces for discipleship, and creative ways to foster healthy male-female collaboration in church life and ministry. They discuss:Historical perspectives on women in ministryHealthy family structures and a complementarian viewEmbodied church mothers and the influence of virtual spaces Gender-specific spaces and their valueChallenges and solutions in shepherding women Positive examples of men and women working together

In this engaging discussion, biblical theology experts Ben Gladd, Courtney Doctor, and Elizabeth Woodson dive into how understanding the grand narrative of Scripture transforms personal lives. They share how biblical theology reshaped their faith journeys, highlighting the crucial connections between the Old and New Testaments. The guests recommend resources for further study, exploring allusions and themes that enrich theological understanding. Their insights reveal how a Christ-centered approach can illuminate both theology and everyday living.

In this breakout session from TGC's 2023 National Conference, a panel featuring Vincent Bacote, Steve DeWitt, John Dickson, and Phil Ryken considers how race, sex, politics, and social media are tearing evangelical communities apart. They reflect on what pastors, teachers, and other Christian leaders can do to restore true Christian fellowship and empower effective gospel witness that is faithful to Scripture and relevant to culture.They discuss:Challenges in the evangelical churchThe church's reputation and loyaltyWhat it means to live in a post-Christian societyThe need for pastoral resilienceThe term "evangelical" and its usefulness in the broader worldEducational decisions for Christian familiesPolitical emphasis in the church and the need for discernment

We live in a world increasingly marked by accusation and anger, and our churches are called to be places where the love of Christ is not just a theological tenet but a felt reality. In this session from TGC's 2023 National Conference, Ray Ortlund and Sam Allberry discuss how, with God’s help, our churches can be marked by honesty, safety, and renewal.They discuss: The need for gospel cultureThe role of love in gospel credibility"You're Not Crazy" book and its purposeHonesty and honoring in gospel cultureThe beauty and blessing of human relationships in gospel cultureA vision for gospel culture in churchesListen to the You're Not Crazy podcast from The Gospel Coalition.

Dr. G. K. Beale, a theologian dedicated to exploring scripture and new creation, dives into the gripping themes of Revelation and the dangers of materialism. He discusses the call for believers to separate from worldly comforts, drawing parallels with biblical narratives. Beale warns against the intoxicating influence of 'Babylon,' urging a deeper reliance on Christ amidst societal pressures. By embracing Christ's death and resurrection, he emphasizes the hope of escaping judgment and eagerly anticipating the new creation.