For the Church Podcast

Having trouble making sense of the Bible? Don't know how or where to start? Bible study can sometimes feel overwhelming, but Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz are here to help. On this episode, they share a little bit about their personal disciplines in Scripture reading before offering some practical steps to read the Bible in a way that's more spiritually fruitful.

Jared Wilson has a new book releasing this month -- Pastoral Mentoring for the Care of Souls -- about the training and formation of pastors in the local church context. The guys discuss the important roles of both seminary and the church, and they outline the centrality of congregational life in the raising up of the next generation of church leaders. Preorder Pastoral Mentoring for the Care of So...

Here's a fun one! Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz discuss what books they'd want with them if they were castaways on a deserted island. Ronni mainly wants to know how many he can bring. Jared wants to not overthink the question. The guys share books and authors and genres that would make their exile from civilization more enjoyable, survivable, and spiritual.

In this latest installment of the FTC Mailbag, Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz discuss listener-submitted questions and topics, including: family worship, elder pathways, ministry calling, loving a dying church, and sermon scheduling. As always, you can submit a question or topic for the mailbag at any time by emailing mailbag@ftc.co

In this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz discuss the prayer in the church. Why do some of us find it so difficult? What do we make of awkward or even absent prayer in our gatherings? Why does public church prayer sometimes feel so weird?

First, Jared goes off on why Gen-X'ers need to let the *Star Wars* franchise go, and why Millennials probably should too. Then, the guys dive into the latest installment of the FTC Film Club, this time dicussing the recent blockbuster and family-friendly release Project Hail Mary.

Inspired by Ronni's refusal to record on a particular topic, Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz discuss the things they don't want to discuss. Consider this the Banned Episodes episode. What topics feel "off limits?" What subjects do we feel out of our depth about? What issues do we just want to avoid? And why?

Guess who's back? No, it's not Slim Shady. It's our dearly beloved former cohost Ross Ferguson. This time back in the guest chair, Ross catches up with Jared Wilson on his most recent ministry season in Canada and how the Lord has been blessing him and his family.

Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz dive back into that bag of indeterminate color, the FTC Mailbag! Answering your submitted questions and topics, the guys discuss age gaps between staff pastors, baptizing nonverbal churchfolk, how to share concerns with a pastor, what to do if your pastor is having AI write his sermons, and more. You can always send us a question or topic via mailbag@ftc.co

Christians are a singing people! But what songs should we sing? And how should we sing them? In this episode, Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz discuss the content and attitudes of Christian worship music.

In the latest installment of our occasional Grab Bag feature, Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz ask each other surprise questions. This time Ronni comes with a bonus question, so there's a bit more bang for your buck.

Alright, single dudes. This one's for you. Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz offer advice on how to win a godly girl.

From the rise to progressive Christianity that erodes doctrinal fidelity to the "apostasy vibes" embraced by "ex-vangelicals" like they're the latest fashion, ministry in our current season faces some serious challenges in the face of popular deconstruction. Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz talk about how pastors and church members can navigate these volatile ideological -- and relational -- waters.

It's another Mailbag! It doesn't matter what color it is. It only matters how stuffed with quality questions it is. On this episode, Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz discuss helping people scared of baptism, ministry focus for lay elders, "hearing from God," humor in the Bible, and more.

"If Christ is not raised, we of all people should be pitied the most." In this annual holiday episode, Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz talk about the truth and transforming power of the resurrection of Jesus.

The Film Club is back. In this installment, Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz discuss the late, great Robert Duvall showpiece, 1997's "The Apostle."

Maybe no subject in church life is more polarizing than the prospect of small kids in the church service. Are they a delight? Or a distraction? The guys sort it out on this episode of the FTC Podcast.

In an age of increasing church consumerism and church division, Christians sometimes leave churches for less than honorable reasons. But what are the honorable ones? In this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz talk about the why's and how's of leaving a local church.

Most Christians know what it is. Most Christians don't practice it. What is a biblical fast, and what's the point of it? On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz discuss the spiritual discipline of fasting.

It's a helpful principle for sorting out unity and debate. But how exactly does theological triage work? In this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz discuss the relative importance of first order, second order, and third order doctrines, and how the application of theological triage can help us with Christian charity and kindness.

Mailbag time! Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz answer listener-submitted questions and discuss listener-submitted topics. In this installment, the guys cover advice for first-time pastors, when associate pastors disagree with senior pastors' vision, dealing with criticism, how Baptist churches hold pastors accountable, how a new Christian can bear witness to the gospel among unbelieving friends and fa...

In this special Valentine's week episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz talk about love. We all want it. We all sometimes struggle to give it. But what is it? And how can we know we have it at all times?

It's a sad consequence of the fall and the brokenness of the world: suffering. In this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz reflect on the problem -- and the promise -- of suffering in the Christian life.

It's the return of the Grab Bag! Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz come with surprise questions for each other. You never know what you'll hear when the guys are put on the spot.

Another cold take on a literally hot topic. Kirk Cameron recently announced he was moving away from the doctrine of eternal conscious torment and toward conditionalism or annihilationism. On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz discuss what's at stake in this doctrinal shift, the relevant passages that should inform our views, and why ETC is an important doctrine for gospe...