Imprint Out Loud

Some of the most perplexing—yet often most actively avoided—questions in life surround death. This is a topic we tend to put off, but it is one that is unavoidable and that Christians must think about well. This week on Imprint Out Loud, Doug Van Meter joins Tommie to discuss death and end-of-life decisions from a biblical perspective, exploring how Christians can approach their mortality with fai...

The question of vocational versus non-vocational elders—those who are paid for their ministry and those who serve while maintaining other employment—raises important considerations for both church leadership and congregations. What can a church expect from each type of elder, and when might a transition from lay to full-time ministry be appropriate? This is the discussion that Doug and Tommie ente...

With the new year comes New Year’s resolutions. But how should Christians think about resolutions? In this bonus episode, Tommie and Banele explore a theology of New Year’s resolutions versus commitments from a Christian perspective. While resolutions often rely on self-confidence and ignore past failures, commitment acknowledges human weakness and dependence on Christ’s strength. Commitment force...

Is Satan bound or roaming free? Drawing on 1 Peter 5:8 and Revelation 20:1–3, Tommie and Doug explore the reality that Satan is both bound and active—he prowls like a roaring lion but on a leash. The discussion covers spiritual warfare, the millennium as the present church age, taking responsibility for sin rather than blaming demons, renewing our minds through Scripture, and maintaining a balance...

How and why is it acceptable for some people to be wealthy—to possess material things like expensive houses and cars—while others struggle? Should we use our money to help others instead, or can we enjoy what we have? This question touches on a tension that runs particularly deep in conservative Christian circles—the notion that poverty is somehow virtuous in itself. We see this reflected in how s...

Having recently discussed the importance of devotional reading with Doug Van Meter, Tommie and Banele talk through a practical method for devotional Bible reading, using Colossians 1:15–23 as an example. Drawing from Charles Simeon Trust principles, he demonstrates how to identify repetition in Scripture, ask probing questions of the text, notice shifts in focus from Christ to the church, make con...

Following from last week’s discussion on reading, Tommie and Doug dig into the topic of devotionally engaging Scripture in particular. Doug shares practical wisdom from forty years of daily devotional life, exploring how to develop sustainable rhythms of Bible reading and prayer for both individuals and families. They discuss Scripture reading plans, the proper role of devotional aids versus direc...

The festive season is upon us, during which many of us are privileged to take a step back from the regular busyness of life. As we find ourselves with perhaps a little more free time, there are few more productive things we can fill it with than good reading. Reading is more than just a pastime—it’s an essential discipline that shapes our understanding of the world, deepens our faith, and equips u...

People sometimes assume that the church is a place where everyone has it together, but a healthy church is more like a hospital: a place where sin is acknowledged and addressed with transparency. In this episode, Tommie and Doug discuss how genuine church health involves recognising brokenness while working toward healing through gospel-centred ministry. They encourage patient, persistent ministry...

The term “gravitas” describes a weightiness of character—a quality that every believer (perhaps especially Christian men) should cultivate as we reflect God’s image. This week, Tommie and Anton examine how Christ demonstrated unmatched gravitas that couldn’t be ignored; discuss practical ways men can avoid undermining their influence; and explore gravitas through the lens of enterprise, constancy,...

Discussions on the responsibilities of church leadership abound, but what are the responsibilities of church members, and how do they fulfil those responsibilities? In this episode, Tommie and Doug discuss importance of informed church membership, exploring how congregations must understand their biblical responsibilities in three key areas: the what, the who, and the how of the gospel. Healthy ch...

How do we think rightly about Christian liberty—the biblical balance between freedom and responsibility in the Christian life? Drawing from 1 Peter 2:16, Tommie and guest Anton Beetge examine how believers avoid two dangerous extremes: libertarianism and legalism. They discuss the two aspects of Christian freedom—liberation from slavery to sin and from the law’s condemnation—while emphasising that...

Tommie and Banele recently read Christopher Ash’s book  Listen Up , and Banele has some questions. In this episode, they explore the vital but often overlooked skill of listening well to sermons. They discuss how to prepare your heart before Sunday, what should occupy your mind during preaching, and why listening together as a gathered congregation matters more than consuming sermons alone through...

The Millennium is one of Christianity’s most debated yet often misunderstood topics. Drawing from Revelation 20, this episode surveys the three main views: premillennialism, postmillennialism, and amillennialism. Tommie and Doug examine the key debates surrounding biblical interpretation and Israel’s role, highlighting how each position seeks to remain faithful to Scripture. Ultimately, they narro...

Christians sin. Some are tempted to feel overwhelmed with guilt over sin, while others might be tempted to minimise the severity of sin in light of forgiving grace. In this episode, Tommie and Doug explore a biblical approach to dealing with sin. They distinguish between godly remorse that leads to repentance and worldly grief that produces despair. The discussion provides practical guidance on fi...

Scripture calls believers to live out the Christian faith, rather than just acquiring knowledge of the Bible. Knowledge easily leads to pride and arrogance, which can ignore the expectation to actively live out one’s faith. In this episode of Office Talk, Tommie and Banele explore the false dichotomy between knowing and living truth and speak to those who struggle to put their knowledge into actio...

The elders of Brackenhurst Baptist Church recently started a new Sunday night sermon series on 1 Timothy 3:1–7, which lists the character qualities of church elders. But these are more than requirements for eldership; they are the kind of character that every Christian should pursue. The text serves as a model for the entire church, not just its leaders, to emulate Christlike character. This week,...

How should Christians think about ambition? What does it mean to pursue excellence as Christians? While ambition can be a healthy driver—especially for hesitant younger generations—it becomes dangerous when it consumes us or when we’re willing to step on others to achieve our goals. In this episode of Office Talk, Tommie and Banele challenge the common Christian language of being “called” to speci...

In churches that operate on a leadership structure of elder-led congregationalism, elders lead, but church members vote on key matters affecting church life. What is the basis for this leadership model? What is the biblical basis for church members exercising their responsibility in decision making? In this episode, Tommie and Doug talk about congregational voting: what, when, and how. They make c...

After more than three decades in pastoral ministry, Doug has often encountered the inevitable companion of faithful service: fatigue. This is the topic of today’s discussion between Tommie and Doug. Offering counsel for both church leaders and church members, they draw a careful distinction between fatigue and tiredness, and offer some valuable insight into ways to combat the fatigue that can so e...

The Sunday service has ended. Coffee is brewing in the church hall, and congregants are beginning to mingle. Inevitably, someone approaches the pastor with the familiar refrain: “Thank you for your sermon,” or, “I really enjoyed that message.” But is this helpful feedback, or merely polite convention? And how can both pastors and church members make these post-service interactions more meaningful?...

Sins of the tongue are some of the most tolerated in the evangelical church today—and yet they are some of the most damaging to Christians and churches. In this episode of Imprint Out Loud, Anton Beetge from Brackenhurst Baptist Church joins Tommie as they explore the destructive nature of gossip and how it differs from slander. Anton offers eight practical warning signs to help Christians recogni...

The book of Amos, though only nine brief chapters, rewards careful study and personal reflection. Its themes of judgement, mercy, and restoration offer both warning and hope for contemporary believers seeking to live faithfully in an age of prosperity and spiritual complacency. In this episode, Doug Van Meter, pastor of Brackenhurst Baptist Church in South Africa, joins Tommie to talk about why he...

Corporate fasting represents a significantly neglected spiritual discipline in the modern church, despite clear biblical precedent. Drawing from Jesus’ teaching, which contrasts joyful, secret fasting with the gloomy, public displays of the Pharisees, corporate fasting should be characterised by joy, prayer, worship, anticipation, and dependence on God rather than human effort. In this episode, To...

The prosperity gospel has become a significant theological movement, particularly affecting Christian communities across Africa and beyond. This brand of theology makes bold claims about health and wealth that demand careful biblical examination. This week, Tommie is again joined by John Musyimi, senior pastor at Northpoint Baptist Church in Nairobi, Kenya, as they discuss all things prosperity… S...