The Weight

Show Notes:J.D. Walt, former dean of the chapel at Asbury Seminary in Wilmore, KY, and founder of Seedbed, joins Chris and Eddie with a strong conversation about the gospel being a transformative force, rather than a self-improvement program. Walt dives into how sin is like cancer, and later discusses his newly released book on Romans.Resources:Learn more at Seedbed’s official website.Listen to J.D. Walt’s podcast here.Read J.D. Walt’s articles here.Purchase “Romans: From Sin Management to Love Unleashed (Daily Seeds)”.

Show Notes:Not only is Matt Campbell a licensed psychologist, he’s also a friend of Eddie and Chris (and a member of Chris’s church—which also used to be Eddie’s church—in Oxford, MS). Matt has worked in private practice since 2003, and is a member of the American Psychological Association, the Mississippi Psychological Association, and the National register of Health Service Psychologists. He earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology at Clemson University and his PhD in clinical psychology from The University of Mississippi.Resources:Learn more about Matt’s practice hereFollow Matt on Facebook Buy his book, Our Primal Five: The Simple 5-Week Guide To Self-Care

Show Notes:“Everybody in the system affects everybody else in the system.” Chris McAlilly and Eddie Rester dive into a thoughtful discussion about what it means to have a healthy church culture and leadership. They discuss everything from trust to gratitude to humor, while discussing their own personal experiences and with growing a strong team dynamic.Resources:Learn more at the Weight’s website.Read about Chris McAlilly on OU’s official website.Learn more about Eddie Rester at Lovers Lane official website.

Peter Storey, the former president of the Methodist Church of South Africa, shares his transformative journey through apartheid. He recounts his experiences as a chaplain at Robben Island, where he preached hope to political prisoners, including Nelson Mandela. Storey emphasizes the church's shift from complicity to a prophetic voice against apartheid. He discusses four biblical priorities for ministry, his collaboration with Desmond Tutu, and the power of prayer. A powerful reflection on faith, justice, and courageous witness in challenging times.

Show Notes:Dr. Mark Chancey joins Eddie and Chris for an open and frank conversation about moral formation. Where should children learn about the Ten Commandments? Is it within families and the church or should it be put into public schools, as it has in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas? What are the implications of using religious symbols like the Ten Commandments to gain political influence?Mark Chancey is a Professor of Religious Studies at Southern Methodist University. He earned both his B.A. and M.A. from the University of Georgia and his Ph.D. from Duke University. He is the author of several books, including The Myth of a Gentile Galilee, the Galilee of Jesus, and the co-author of The Bible in the Public Square: Its Enduring Influence in American Life (Biblical Scholarship in North America.

Show Notes:Dr. Ted Campbell is a returning guest to The Weight, this time for an introduction into the Nicene Creed. 2025 marks the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, which originally created the Nicene Creed, a statement of faith that declares God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and affirms the divinity and humanity of Jesus. The Nicene Creed is one of the most widely used Christian creeds, and unites Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, and many Protestant denominations.Ted is a church historian and a recently retired professor and pastor who served as the president of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary from 2001-2005, and then as the Associate Professor of Church History at Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. He is the author of several books about Wesleyan theology and historyResources:Learn more about Ted at his website, https://tedcampbell.com/Listen to his previous episode on The WeightLearn more about the Nicene Creed 

Show Notes:Suffering and pain are part of life. We all struggle with finding meaning in our suffering and the suffering of others. We all need help finding hope and encouragement in dark times, and one place we can find that hope is in prayer. It’s through prayer that we stand alongside our suffering friends and neighbors to offer them our attention and empathy. Prayer connects each of us in ways that can transform the world.Dr. Sarah Coakley is an Anglican priest, systematic theologian, and philosopher of religion. She is a retired professor with degrees from Cambridge and Harvard Universities. Dr. Coakley has held positions at various institutions, including Cambridge, St. Andrews University, Australian Catholic University, Oriel College, Harvard Divinity School, and Princeton. She is also an author and essayist and the editor of Spiritual Healing Science, Meaning, and Discernment.Resources:Learn more about Dr. Coakley on her website, sarahcoakley.comFind her books and essays hereFollow her on Facebook and YouTube

Show Notes:“I’m not necessarily a winner. Maybe I’m a loser that just never gave up.”No one would call Robert St. John a loser. A life-long Mississippian and a successful restaurateur and entrepreneur, Robert has turned his mistakes and failures into valuable learning experiences that push his desire to help others. In addition to being a restaurateur, Robert is also an author and philanthropist and an advocate for the state of Mississippi, a place where he sees potential and opportunity for growth and change.Robert’s restaurants include Crescent City Grill, Mahogany Bar, Branch, Tabella, Ed’s Burger Joint, The Midtowner, and Loblolly Bakery in Hattiesburg, MS, and Enzo Osteria Ridgeland, Mississippi. In 2009, St. John founded Extra Table, a statewide non-profit organization that currently ships over 300,000 pounds of healthy food to over 60 Mississippi soup kitchens and mission pantries each month, at no charge to the agencies.Resources:Learn more about Robert and his restaurants at his website, https://robertstjohn.com/Learn more about Extra TableRead his weekly columnBuy his books 

Show Notes:Eddie and Chris are joined by previous guest Austin Carty for the first part of a double episode about his new book, Some of the Words Are Theirs: The Art of Writing and Living a Sermon. Preachers are human, and just like all of us, they are influenced by their past, their community, and their surroundings. Preaching is a form of self-discovery that not everyone experiences, but Austin encourages all of us to take some time to sit with our pasts and write it out--if only to allow the transformational Spirit to work through us.Austin is pastor of Boulevard Baptist Church in Anderson, South Carolina. He earned his MDiv from Wake Forest University and his DMin from Emory University. He is the author of High Points and Lows: Life, Faith, and Figuring It All Out and The Pastor’s Bookshelf: Why Reading Matters for Ministry, which received the 2023 Christianity Today Award of Merit and was named Book of the Year by Preaching magazine. Resources:Follow Austin on FacebookBuy Some of the Words are TheirsListen to Austin’s previous episode on The Weight