The Bullpen with J.D. Greear

Is the tithe just an Old Testament law? Should you still give when you’re drowning in debt? How do you raise kids who aren’t ruled by money? In this episode of The Bullpen, J.D., Matt, and Curtis are joined by Molly Vidovich, a longtime Summit worship leader and the voice of Summit Life, to talk about how to tell when being responsible with money has turned into loving it. They also get honest about comparison, from the neighbors’ lifestyle to the first-class cabin. Molly tells how a spare bedroom changed the way her family thinks about generosity with time, talent, and treasure. And with the midterm elections just behind us, the group asks how Christians should process the results and whether politics belongs in small group. Scripture: Matt. 6:19-24 Watch the full sermon HERE. Get the sermon transcript HERE. 00:00 Intro 03:45 Sermon Recap: The Greatest Sermon on Generosity Ever Given 05:30 When Being Responsible Becomes the Love of Money 09:39 When Tithing Feels Impossible 11:19 Comparison and the First-Class Cabin 15:24 How Molly Loosened Money’s Grip 18:41 Is the Tithe Just Old Testament Law? 20:36 Gross vs. Net and Giving While in Debt 23:16 Generosity When You’re Very Wealthy 27:04 Time, Talent, and Treasure 30:25 Opening Your Home for Ministry 33:54 Serving Beyond Church Programs 37:52 Raising Kids Who Aren’t Ruled by Money 45:27 How Christians Should Respond to the Midterms 51:50 Talking Politics in Christian Community Text BULLPEN to 97000 to stay in the loop on The Bullpen.

Why didn’t J.D. tell the church who to vote for? Is it wrong to want a church that meets your needs? And how do you talk about Jesus without being weird? In this episode of The Bullpen, J.D. and Matt are joined by J.D.’s wife, Veronica Greear, and John Muller, campus pastor at the Summit’s Capital Hills campus. Together they unpack J.D.’s sermon on the church in Antioch in Acts 11… and by the way, why didn’t J.D. tell the church who to vote for? They also discuss how to evangelize without being weird. Finally, they explore social media influencers who mix Christian faith with crystals, grounding, and moon water. Scripture: Acts 11:19-30; 13:1-3 Watch the full sermon: https://summitchurch.com/GetFile.ashx?Guid=a25ee27f-f28b-41f3-b811-7f53c9673a2e 00:00 Intro 04:01 Veronica’s Summary of the Antioch Sermon 13:00 Is It Wrong to Want a Felt-Needs Church? 19:34 When Should You Stay or Leave a Church? 25:05 Sharing Your Faith Without Being Weird 32:11 Practical Tools for Sharing the Gospel 38:32 Why J.D. Doesn’t Tell the Church Who to Vote For 41:27 Signs Politics Has Become Your Identity 48:08 The Lesser of Two Evils Is Still Evil 50:35 Christian Influencers, Crystals, and Syncretism 57:42 Knowing the Word for Yourself 1:01:00 Shirt Critiques and How to Subscribe Text BULLPEN to 97000 to stay in the loop on The Bullpen.

Can you find real community in a megachurch? Why would a growing church send away its best leaders? And how do you know if God might be calling you into ministry? In this bonus episode of The Bullpen, J.D. and Matt are joined by Kyle Mercer of Two Cities Church and Andrew Hopper of Mercy Hill Church. Fresh off the Collaborative Conference, these three pastors share the joys and challenges of leading growing churches—and why their vision extends far beyond filling their own seats. 00:00Why attendance and serving matter for feeling connected 01:33The Collaborative’s vision and shared values 03:20Mercy Hill’s move from planting a church to planting a network 05:28Why Kyle Mercer joined the movement 09:15What pastors find most rewarding about church growth 12:22The personal impact of sending leaders 15:42How large churches address connection and care 20:15Community groups, DNA groups, and serving as next steps 22:29Identifying and developing future ministry leaders 24:33Holding everyday vocation and ministry callings together 30:21Chosen, Open Bible, Open Life, and episode resources — Text BULLPEN to 97000 to stay in the loop on The Bullpen.

Is temptation itself a sin? Why do Christians follow some Old Testament laws but not others? And can you be pro-life while supporting the death penalty? This week on The Bullpen, J.D., Matt, and Curtis welcome a special guest: J.D.’s wife, Veronica Greear! After Veronica grades J.D.’s sermon (and his fashion choices), the conversation turns to what it means that Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament law—and why Christians still follow some commands but not others. They also tackle some difficult questions about capital punishment, biblical justice, and the relationship between being pro-life and supporting the death penalty. Finally, they explore the difference between temptation and sin, why changing our behavior isn’t the same as changing our hearts, how obedience and accountability help us grow, and why baptism is a starting point rather than something we have to earn. Scripture: Matt. 5:17-22 Watch the full sermon HERE. Get the sermon transcript HERE. Stay Connected! Text BULLPEN to 97000 for updates about the podcast. Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode of The Bullpen!

Can God lead you into a decision that fails? J.D., Matt, and Curtis close out Ecclesiastes by talking about the small compromises that can eventually take someone out, the difference between faith and recklessness, how to discern God’s will, and why peace isn’t necessarily proof that a decision will succeed. Then they turn to Christian nationalism—religious liberty, who gets to define what counts as Christian, the viral University of Texas student-section photo, race and national identity, immigration and enculturation, and the difference between Christian influence in government and government authority over Christianity. Read Pastor J.D.’s article, “Why I’m Not a Christian Nationalist,” at The Gospel Coalition: HERE Scripture: Ecclesiastes 10-12 Watch the full sermon HERE. Get the sermon transcript HERE. Stay Connected! Text BULLPEN to 97000 for updates about the podcast. Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode of The Bullpen!

Are you building a life that looks successful—or one that will actually matter when it’s over? In this episode of The Bullpen, J.D. Greear sits down with Matt Love, Curtis Andrusko, and special guest Julius Tennal to go deeper into Ecclesiastes 7 and the surprising wisdom that can come from hardship, loss, and even thinking about death. They talk about the difference between résumé virtues and eulogy virtues, what we tend to sacrifice in the pursuit of success, why we need people in our lives who are willing to tell us the truth, and how obedience can quietly become an attempt to control God. Julius also shares what it means to “live sent,” why Christians shouldn’t always wait for a dramatic calling before taking a step of obedience, and his family’s journey toward planting a church in South Africa. Plus, with football season back, we tackle the explosion of sports betting and ask whether “Is it a sin?” is even the right question. Scripture: Ecclesiastes 7 Watch the full sermon HERE. Get the sermon transcript HERE. Stay Connected! Text BULLPEN to 97000 for updates about the podcast. Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode of The Bullpen!

Why do bad things happen to good people—or are we asking the wrong question? In this episode of The Bullpen, J.D. Greear sits down with Matt Love and Curtis Andrusko to go deeper into Ecclesiastes 3 and what it means to trust God in seasons we don’t understand. They talk about why “God has a plan” can be true and still be difficult to hear when you’re hurting, how Christians can respond to suffering without minimizing someone’s pain, and why J.D. says the Bible actually reframes one of our biggest questions about God and evil. They also talk about learning to enjoy the season you’re in instead of constantly waiting for the next one, whether our pets will be in heaven, and how Christians can hold together grace and truth as questions about gender and sexuality continue to play out in culture. Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-14 Watch the full sermon HERE. Get the sermon transcript. Stay Connected! Text BULLPEN to 97000 for updates about the podcast. Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode of The Bullpen!

Why is it that getting what we want so often leaves us wanting something more? In the first episode of The Bullpen, J.D. Greear sits down with Matt Love and Curtis Andrusko to go deeper into his first sermon in the book of Ecclesiastes and the search for a meaningful, satisfying life. They talk about why success and pleasure can’t carry the weight we put on them, how Christians can genuinely enjoy God’s gifts without turning them into idols, and what Ecclesiastes has to say to a culture constantly looking for the next thing. They also discuss social media, our endless appetite for more, and what it looks like to build your life around the things that actually last. Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:1-11 Watch the full sermon HERE Get the sermon transcript. Stay Connected! Text BULLPEN to 97000 for updates about the podcast. Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode of The Bullpen!

For years now, whenever Pastor J.D. Greear preaches, he writes far more than he can actually say in the sermon. The material that doesn’t make the cut—the extra illustrations, the rabbit trails, the good questions he didn’t have time to chase—gets kept in a section of his notes he calls the “bullpen.” All of that material, all these years, has just sat there and never seen the light of day. But that changes next week. Each time J.D. preaches, he’ll sit down with a couple of people and unpack the message. They’ll go deeper into the passage, wrestle with the hard questions just like they always have, and bring out implications they didn’t have time to get into during the message. And if there’s something big happening in the world, or a controversial question that could use some Christian wisdom applied to it—even if it wasn’t directly addressed by the text—they’ll discuss that too. No scripts. Just a free-flowing conversation. And as always, J.D. is praying it will be a resource to help you grow deeper in your love and understanding of the gospel. Episode Links: Watch on YouTube: YouTube Channel Listen wherever you listen to podcasts.

In another special episode, Pastor J.D.  addresses the question: “Is the Deliberate Pursuit of Ethnic Unity the Same As DEI?” Key Takeaways: There is an unbiblical DEI that really is about quota and virtue signaling. Hiring practices should consider the experience of candidates over age 50. Ageism can be a concern when hiring for specific demographics. DEI initiatives can sometimes miss the mark by focusing on superficial metrics. Experience can be more valuable than age in certain roles. The conversation challenges traditional views on diversity in hiring. Understanding the context of DEI is crucial for effective implementation. Church leadership hiring should prioritize the ability to connect with the community. Quotas can undermine the true purpose of diversity initiatives. Real diversity includes valuing experience alongside demographic factors. Dive more into this conversation with Pastor J.D.’s new book, Everyday Revolutionary, which explores how ordinary believers can live out the gospel in ways that transform their communities. Episode Links: Listen to Pastor J.D.’s interview on the Bully Pulpit podcast HERE Watch on YouTube: YouTube Channel Listen on Apple Podcasts: Ask the Pastor Listen on Spotify: Ask the Pastor Become a Gospel Partner: jdgreear.com/donate