Topical Series

This episode of the Pastor Talk Podcast features the second in our our series of Pastors' reflections on lessons learned during the last year. In this episode, the Pastors reflect upon the many kinds of division present throughout this season. Some time is spent reflecting on the source of division, the devastating impact of unchecked division, and how Christians are called to navigate a constantl...

For the season of Lent, our Wednesday podcast will feature interviews with individuals who reflect upon the struggles, triumphs, and lessons learned throughout 2020. Though everyone's experience of the pandemic and its ensuing struggles are unique, it has become quickly apparent how many of these challenges we have shared and how we can stand to learn much from each other. In addition, during Lent...

Beginning our Sunday night Lenten series, this Pastor Talk Podcast episode features Pastors Clint and Michael as they reflect upon the first of the lessons that they have learned throughout the last year. In this discussion on change, they explore how difficult change can be, especially when it seems like it goes on without end. The conversation ultimately asks all of us to consider how we have ad...

For the season of Lent, our Wednesday podcast will feature interviews with individuals who reflect upon the struggles, triumphs, and lessons learned throughout 2020. Though everyone's experience of the pandemic and its ensuing struggles are unique, it has become quickly apparent how many of these challenges we have shared and how we can stand to learn much from each other. In addition, during Lent...

In this second (and final) episode of our mini-series on Peace, Pastors Clint and Michael discuss how Christians can practice spiritual disciplines that foster peace in our lives. Though we live in a moment filled with anxiety and fears of all kinds, Christians can experience peace as a gift of God. This conversation is filled with practice suggestions of the small things that Christians can do to...

Peace is more than just a good idea, it is a spiritual command interwoven throughout the entire Bible. Yet, to most Christians, peace seems ever elusive, a simple idea to understand but an unbelievably difficult spiritual discipline to practice. In this first episode of our Pastor Talk Podcast mini-series "Peace", the pastors explore what makes peace so important to God and why it so difficult for...

Church history is filled with examples of when Christians picked the wrong fights but does that mean that there aren't any things worth fighting for? Absolutely not! Join Pastors Clint and Michael in this concluding conversation in the Faith Fights series as they discuss what things are worth fighting for in the Christian church. Be sure to subscribe and share with others so that they too can be p...

When people think of Faith Fights, they often think about the knock down, drag out fights about what things Christians can and cannot do. In this episode, Pastors Clint and Michael discuss how Christians can think about faith and discipleship without falling into either moralism or permissivism. They explore how faith can become a source of transformation of character as opposed to a rulebook for...

Faith Fights, like all fights, tend to divide people into opposing camps. In this conversation, Pastors Clint and Michael explore how the church is similar to other organizations in that we struggle to keep ourselves from dividing into bitter opposition. And yet, unlike other organizations, the church is united in the person and work of Jesus Christ. This reality should reshape all of our church c...

Among the most notable church arguments in the last decade, the church fights over worship became known as the "worship wars." Although these arguments are well known, in truth, churches have fought over nearly every aspect of worship for hundreds of years, from the music, to the sanctuary, to the the types of clothes congregants should wear. In this conversation, Pastors Clint and Michael attempt...

In some ways the biggest faith fight of all time, the Reformation stands as one of the most tumultuous times for the Christian church. Join Pastors Clint and Michael as they review the history of the Reformation, explore its key figures Luther, Calvin, and Knox, as well as explore its fundamental disagreements. The Reformation began one of the most significant transformations in Christian history...

This week, Pastors Clint and Michael discuss the many different faith fights over the Bible. Every Christian would agree that the scriptures are an important part of the faith but throughout history until today there has been significant disagreement about the Bible. Christians have fought over which books should be included, how to read them, what to do with different translations, and how Christ...

This week, Pastors Clint and Michael explore the historically foundational argument of the Christian church, the substance and meaning of Jesus. This conversation is a deep dive into the history and implications of the biggest conflicts in the early church. Though at times heady, these fights later became codified in the church's creeds as the final definition of right belief and practice for all...

Join Pastors Clint Loveall and Michael Gewecke as they begin a new series called "Faith Fights." From historic arguments over doctrine to modern conflicts over preferences, Christians have managed to fight about almost anything. Some of these family squabbles have had monumental importance and some have been largely a waste of time and energy. Join Clint and Michael weekly in D...

Join Pastors Clint Loveall and Michael Gewecke as they conclude the Practicing Faith series. In this week's conversation, you will be encouraged to choose and practice at least one new practice that will help you see God's presence all around you. Regardless of what practices you will find most helpful in this current season, rest assured that the Christians who have gone before us have left us mo...

Join Pastors Clint Loveall and Michael Gewecke as they discuss how Christian hospitality is so much more than just simply hosting others. At it's core, Christian hospitality invites us to practice loving our neighbor even as we are loved by Jesus Christ. This practice, even more than some others in this series, may surprise you with how much deeper our Christian practice can take us than we expect...

Join Pastors Clint Loveall and Michael Gewecke as they discuss how pursuing simplicity can help us identify the stuff that threatens to become overly important in our lives. By intentionally pursuing simpler schedules, homes, relationships, etc. we discover a fundamentally important spiritual discipline. Though not always an easy practice, the pursuit of Christian simplicity can often be life-chan...

Join Pastors Clint Loveall and Michael Gewecke as they discuss how gratitude is an essential practice of the Christian life. Though we set aside Thanksgiving as a season to think about the material blessings of our lives, Christian gratitude is rooted much deeper in the life and love of Jesus Christ who gave himself for us so that we might know eternal life. Following Christ's gift, everything els...

Join Pastors Clint Loveall and Michael Gewecke as they discuss different ways to grow in the faith through self-reflection and Bible study. Whether you are drawn to a new kind of journaling, scripture study, or the examen , everyone will find a way to practice their faith through more intentional reflection. Have a different kind of reflection that has been more meaningful to you? Feel free to sha...

Join Pastors Clint Loveall and Michael Gewecke as they discuss how our everyday physical practices can serve as gateways to a growing spiritual awareness. From prayer walks to "normal everyday routines" we can begin to see new signposts to God's presence in our lives and his love that constantly surrounds us. The physical aspect of the historic practices of the faith can be challenging, especially...

Join Pastors Clint Loveall and Michael Gewecke as they discuss how last week's conversation about a Christian understanding of confession naturally leads to a fuller conversation about forgiveness. Whether we are talking about receiving forgiveness for ourselves or offering forgiveness to others, most people find forgiveness easy to understand but yet hard to do. We must not forget that Jesus proc...

Join Pastors Clint Loveall and Michael Gewecke as they discuss the difficult and yet necessary Christian practice of confession. The two Pastors discuss how often the spiritual practice of confession is misunderstood as celebrating overwhelming feelings of personal guilt. Everyone is welcome to join the conversation as the Pastors explore how a healthy practice of confession should be an active ga...

In this conversation about the foundational spiritual practice of prayer, Pastors Clint and Michael discuss how prayer can be much more varied and creative than we often consider. Turning to scripture and the wisdom of the historic church, the Pastors explore how we might all reimagine prayer as an ongoing conversation with a living God. This gracious and life giving invitation is available to all...

In this introductory conversation, Pastors Clint and Michael kick off a new series exploring Spiritual Practices called "Practicing Faith." These Biblical and ancient Christian practices allow Christians to deepen their faith and create a greater awareness of God's presence in their lives. In this introductory conversation, the pastors help define a broad understanding of spiritual awareness and w...

Pastor Clint teaches on the sixth great ends of the church as found in the PC(USA) Book of Order. You can read the original text for yourself here.