Jon English Lee joins the podcast today to discuss his book, There Remains a Sabbath Rest for the People of God: A Biblical, Theological, & Historical Defense of Sabbath Rest as a Creation Ordinance. What is the theological significance of rest in Scripture? What does it mean for a pastor to lead from a restful soul? This and more on today's podcast episode!

Jennifer Powell McNutt joins the podcast once again to discuss her recent book, The Mary We Forgot: What the Apostle to the Apostles Teaches the Church Today (Brazos Press 2024). Mary Magdalene's story has often been undervalued and confused, in part due to what Jennifer calls the "muddle of Marys" in the Gospels. What can we gain by a more careful analysis of Mary's story? How can we be served by approaching the biblical text with a "hermeneutic of surprise"? How can Mary Magdalene serve as a model for Christian discipleship today? This and more on today's podcast. 

Matthew LaPine joins the podcast to share his journey of faith through mental health challenges in his family and more. How can "playing the long game" shape our perspective as we navigate life's challenges? This and more on today’s episode!

Charles (Chad) Kim joins the podcast to talk about his book, The Way of Humility: St. Augustine’s Theology of Preaching. How is Augustine’s theology and specifically the virtue of humility reflected in Augustine’s Sermon? Hear this and more on today’s episode.  

Ryan joins the podcast today to share his story, including his background in the Pentecostal tradition. Find out how that tradition has shaped him as a pastor theologian. Further, how can we learn from themes of doubt, deconstruction, and anti-intellectualism? How do we think about these themes as ministry leaders? All this and more on today’s podcast. 

Speakers reflect on the past year, sharing optimism for growth and community in pastoral ministry. They discuss the doubling of local theologian fellowships and the importance of addressing political conversations within church circles. The significance of pastoral identity is explored in shaping the church's future as they celebrate a decade of conferences. The conversation highlights the need for diverse voices at an upcoming conference, promoting community engagement and encouraging listeners to get involved.

Jonathan Huggins, Chaplain at Berry College and a fellow of the Center for Pastor Theologians, shares profound insights on peace during Advent. He redefines shalom, discussing its impact on our relationships with God and ourselves. Huggins emphasizes the importance of spiritual practices for cultivating inner tranquility in an anxiety-filled world. He explores the significance of the Sabbath and the transformative journey towards rest and renewal, encouraging listeners to seek deeper connections with Jesus amidst modern distractions.

For our December episode on books, we, the CPT staff, have been reading (and, on this occasion, watching):JRR Tolkien, Return of the King, (1955)Mark A. Noll, The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind (1995)Stephen King, Carrie (1974)Cormac McCarthy, The Border Trilogy, (1999)Jennifer Ratner-Rosenhagen, American Nietzsche: A History of an Icon and His Idea, 2011Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin. (2024)

Today, Chris Ganski shares a sermon on Acts 17:1-9. In the wake of the 2024 election, the book of Acts can be an excellent resource to consider the relationship between church and politics. In the context of Acts 17, does Caesar have anything to fear from the church? What is the church, and what does it mean to belong to the church? How does the church’s identity influence our understanding of the gospel as political? This and more on today’s podcast. 

Pastor Caleb Campbell joins the podcast to discuss how pastors might guide their congregations through the results of the 2024 election, drawing from his experience pastoring in Phoenix, AZ. He also discusses his book "Disarming Leviathan: Loving Your Christian Nationalist Neighbor." How can we helpfully engage those in their community who align with combative political perspectives? How can pastors support members who are struggling to have conversations with family members, or for whom the election stirs up difficult emotions? This and more on today's episode.