For the Church Podcast

It's now come to be expected in evangelical headlines -- the fallen pastor. Whether by sexual immorality or greed or abusive patterns of leadership, ministers big and small, famous and relatively unknown, seem to be dropping like flies. How does it happen? And, perhaps more intriguingly, can they be restored? In this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared and Ross talk about fallen pastors and the poss...

In the occasional Grab Bag! feature of the podcast, Jared and Ross come prepared with two surprise questions for the other. No prep, no warning -- just unfiltered, off-the-cuff responses to each other's curiosity.

Our debate over the quality of Christian movies is now notorious and a running gag on the podcast, but this is only the second time ever we've done an official "movie swap." Ross assigns Jared a Christian movie to watch. Jared assigns Ross a "Christian-"eque movie to watch. Then they sit and down and compare notes. On this week's episode of the podcast, the guys discuss 2006's "Facing the Giants"...

An American and a Scotsman walk into a podcast studio . . . It's not just the start of an obscure joke; it's the start of this conversation about patriotism. Is it a sin? Is it biblical? How should Christians think through national patriotism in a way that still maintains their allegiance to God above all?

It's another installment in the FTC Mailbag feature, where Jared and Ross answer listener-submitted questions. This week's topics include pastors keeping in contact with previous churches, preaching "balance," whether churches should lock their doors during services, the purpose of the trees in the garden of Eden, and suprisingly influential books.

From two guys who don't read a lot of biographies comes a list of favorite biographies. On this week's ep of the For The Church Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ross Ferguson discuss the Christian biographies that have impacted them the most.

What's the big deal? You're just standing up there, talking. On this week's episode of the For The Church Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ross Ferguson suggest some things about preaching the average church member may not know. Some misunderstandings, misperceptions, and even mis-aimed appreciations.

One thing Jared and Ross share is sarcasm as a love language. So on this week's ep they're revisiting the subject of humor -- sarcasm among friends, mockery on social media, the pros and cons of humor, the ins and outs of humor sensitivity, and what the Bible says about it all.

It's a mailbag episode! On this week's For The Church Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ross Ferguson dig into the inbox and tackle questions related to sheep swapping and church hopping, the pursuit of writing, fruitful pulpit supply, and how Satan's rebellion connects to questions of worship, sanctification, and the possibility of sin in the new heavens and new earth. As always, to submit a question for...

Was Gen-Z at TGC? Beginning with that strange question, today's episode of the FTC Podcast transitions to a conversation about the calling of young adults for Christ's kingdom. At some point in the last fifty years, our society began to see the young adult years as a season of life when you can just “figure things out” and have as much fun as possible while you do. Of course, our teens and twentie...

Lots of singles in the church. Fewer and fewer marriages. What gives? In this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ross Ferguson talk about their own observations and experienes in the "dating world" of the local church. Why are young men and women finding it difficult to find potential spouses? Why do they find it difficult sometimes to even talk to each other? What are the relational lan...

Is there a particularly Christian way to approach sports? Does the Bible say anything about it? Beyond the typical warnings about idolatry and obsession, what good can Christians derive from athetlics and athletic competitions? In this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ross Ferguson discuss the importance and influence of sports, including the question about whether Christians should pa...

Capitol Hill Baptist Church, located just blocks away from the center of American power, has a rich 150-year history. Its members have participated in significant world events, advocated for religious freedoms, and spoken out against the moral failings of the times. There’s no doubt this church has had a unique impact on evangelicalism from a significant location. But these lively characters and t...

This week the guys decide to touch one of the touchiest subjects in the church -- money. What's it really for? Why is it so difficult to talk about among Christians? How can we best steward it? And how is generosity a reflection of worship?

In this episode, the latest annual reflection during Easter week, Jared Wilson and Ross Ferguson discuss why too many preachers and churches frequently leave out the resurrection in their gospel presentations. Why is it so easy to forget the resurrection? And what should this week's emphasis on Christ's emergence from the grave mean for our thinking and ministry year-round?

In the second of two live episodes recorded at the Federated Fellowship Bible Conference in Pella, Iowa, this time around Jared and Ross answer questions from the conference audience. No pre-screening. No safety net. Just a couple of guys, a couple of mics, and a handful of surprise queries.

Here's a first for the FTC Podcast! Jared and Ross recorded this Mailbag episode live at the Federated Fellowship Bible Conference in Pella, Iowa on March 8, 2025 as the first part of two total live episodes. The questions submitted by listeners include: when should pastors speak out about politics, why evangelism feels "transactional," the impact of conferences and podcasts on our understanding o...

Wonder and awe of the beautiful is essential to the human experience. Our souls are often shaped and formed by the aesthetic experiences provided by the Creator. When we neglect this aspect of our lives, we fail to realize how God has created us uniquely to not only enjoy beauty, but to also create the beautiful. A distinctly Christian vision of these realities opens our eyes to see how God has en...

Jared and Ross return to a past episode format -- "mixing it up" -- where they draw out the usual podcast banter to specific subjects. No agenda; no plan. Just a free-form conversation -- this week, on student ministry.

JFK. 9/11. QAnon. Lizard people? This week, Jared Wilson and Ross Ferguson discuss conspiracy theories! Why do they attract? What's the fascination? Are they all bunk? And how should Christians think about them?

It's a new mailbag installment of the podcast, where Jared and Ross answer listener-submitted questions. On this episode, the guys weigh in on: first steps for newly appointed lay elders, pastors running for political office, cultivating healthy desires in a church, "fencing the table," navigating differences of opinion on alcohol, and more.

On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson visits with Cedarville University's Dr. Jason Alligood about his new book Raised in Splendor and about the hope of glorification in our secular age.

The author of Hebrews says endurance produces proven character. How so? What is endurance? How do we get it? In this episode of the podcast, Jared and Ross talk about the relevance of endurance to ministry and the Christian life in general.

Sometimes small church folks are overly critical of big churches. Sometimes big church folks are uncharitable towards smaller churches. We're here to settle the scores! Well, kind of. In this ep of the FTC Podcast, Jared and Ross discuss the pros and cons of big churches versus smaller churches and discuss ways we can encourage and think the best of each other.

Hebrews 2:1 warns us to pay closer attention to what we have heard "lest we drift away from it." In this episode of the podcast, Jared and Ross talk about the concept of gospel drift -- what it is, what are the signs, and how to avoid it. Relevant to the discussion is Jared's brand new book Lest We Drift: 5 Departure Dangers from the 1 True Gospel, now available from Zondervan Reflective wherever...