The Common Good Podcast

What would it look like if Christians didn't just believe the right things — but actually became like Jesus? Host Brian From sits down with Keas Keasler, associate professor of spiritual theology at Friends University and author of  Kingdom Apprenticeship: Dallas Willard's Formational Theology and Missional Vision . Drawing on seven years of deep research — including time spent in...

It's one of those days — taxes are due, life feels heavy, and the news keeps coming. Host Brian From takes a look at the cultural and spiritual moments that have him thinking. He reflects on the trap of comparison after actor Rainn Wilson admitted he was miserable during the height of his fame on  The Office . He digs into Joy Behar's surprising claim on The View that Jesus never actual...

When Chicago Bulls guard Jaden Ivey was released after speaking openly about his Christian faith and pushing back on the NBA's Pride Month celebrations, it sparked a conversation much bigger than basketball. Brian From sits down with Paul Batura — Vice President of Communications at Focus on the Family and Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Citizen — to unpack what the Ivey story reveals abo...

Brian From reflects on the anxieties of Tax Day and the deeper question of contentment in uncertain times. He shares a powerful story of courage as a high school principal risks his life to stop a potential tragedy, raising the question: would we have the same courage? Brian also explores the challenging story of Jonah, unpacking themes of grace, judgment, and God’s relentless compassion. Al...

Brian From reacts to the firestorm over President Trump's AI-generated image depicting himself in a Christ-like pose — and why even his staunchest Christian supporters called it blasphemy. From there: the weird zombie passage in Matthew 27 that nobody preaches on Easter, whether most Christians are secretly prosperity gospel believers without knowing it, why evangelism doesn't have to feel l...

If you've ever wondered whether you're really hearing from God or just talking to yourself, you're not alone. Author Rachel Groll joins Brian From to discuss her new daily devotional Hearing Jesus , why she believes the Psalms are the perfect school for learning to recognize God's voice, and how seasons of deep pain can actually sharpen our spiritual hearing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privac...

A Virginia megachurch made headlines for all the right reasons — and Brian Fromm wants to make sure you heard about it. Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria raised over a million dollars through its Easter offering and used every penny to stop the eviction of 338 families in public housing. That's the church being the church. From there, Brian reflects on the Sunday after Easter and wh...

What if the child doctors told you to let go became the greatest teacher of your life? Brian From sits down with Ken and Mary Sue Grein, whose son Jacob defied every medical expectation — living 37 remarkable years despite cerebral palsy, deafness, a kidney transplant, and a lifetime of physical challenges. Far from a story of hardship, Jacob's life was defined by joy, humor, and a remarkabl...

Financial anxiety, a $100 million church renovation, and Joel Osteen's mansion — Brian opens the show with some honest questions about money, contentment, and whether our attitudes toward both line up with the posture of Jesus. Then, a disturbing story from one of the country's largest school districts, where teachers may be keeping parents in the dark about their children's gender transitio...

Brian is joined by his weekly guest Adam Holtz from Plugged In, Focus on the Family's media review ministry, for a Friday rundown of what's worth your time — and what to know before you watch. First, Adam shares exciting news about an Adventures in Odyssey animated film in development, Journey into the Impossible , an origin story for the beloved Mr. Whitaker that fans can actually help brin...

What does a $22 smoothie have to do with your faith? More than you'd think. Brian unpacks a fascinating study on why Americans keep splurging even when the economy feels uncertain — and finds a surprisingly deep spiritual truth underneath the consumer psychology. He also reflects on Elisabeth Elliot's challenge to live with "reckless abandon for the Lord," the powerful story of Jesus restori...

A landmark Supreme Court decision — decided 8 to 1 — just struck down a Colorado law banning certain forms of counseling for minors. But what does it actually mean for families, therapists, and states across the country? Brian sits down with Jeff Johnston, issues analyst and writer for Focus on the Family's Daily Citizen, to break it all down. They discuss what "conversion therapy" act...

Brian From explores the tension between Christian freedom and holiness, reflecting on how the evangelical pendulum has swung away from the rigid rule-keeping of past generations toward a more permissive culture — and why both extremes miss the mark. He draws on the biblical stories of John Mark and Demas to illustrate two contrasting paths: the redemptive power of second chances and the caut...

An astronaut's view from space puts Earth's beauty and human unity in stunning perspective. Plus: Should Christians speak up about the president's Easter morning post? And unpacking the Greek word tetelestai — what Jesus really meant when He cried "It is finished." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brian From returns from a wild spring break in Florida — sunburned, stranded overnight in an airport, and just in time for Easter. He reflects on why the resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of everything, shares Tim Keller's powerful words about hope in the face of cancer, and explores what it means to serve out of your identity rather than your ego. Plus: a CBS News story on why more Am...

Brian talks with Ian Vaillancourt about his new book "Unfolding Redemption: The Heart of the Gospel in the Story of Old Testament History". See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brian talked with Adam Holz from Focus on the Family's "Plugged In" ( https://www.pluggedin.com ) about a new podcast recommendation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brian talks with Jim Ramos of Men in the Arena and author of the new book "Guardrails: Ten Boundaries for an Unbreakable Marriage". See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brian From sits down with Mark Boone, owner of All Citizens Lending to talk about how to handle the anxiety that comes with dealing with household finances.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Friday before Spring Break, Brian talks about the ongoing TSA hassles at airports, as well as the story about Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm suing his parents for millions of dollars, accusing them of misusing his money. He also talked about what happens when the church injures. He also reflects on what it means to prepare for Easter next week.  See omnystudio.com/listen...

Brian From covers a wide range of topics that matter for faith and everyday life — from a landmark $3 million jury verdict finding Meta and YouTube liable for a young woman's social media addiction, to Russell Moore's reassuring reminder that God's call to "not be anxious" is an invitation of grace, not a rebuke. Brian reflects on John Piper's powerful challenge that the most important thing...

Brian From sits down with Bret Eckelberry from Focus on the Family's Plugged In ministry to discuss their second annual Screen Fast — a seven-day challenge encouraging families to step away from personal screen time. Bret shares the spiritual and mental health benefits of unplugging, including research showing that 75% of teens report feeling happier and more peaceful when away from their ph...

Brian From tackles a packed lineup on this Wednesday edition of The Common Good. First, with TSA agents going unpaid during the government shutdown, Delta Airlines makes a bold move — pulling perks from members of Congress. Then, are parents holding their kids back in 8th grade for sports scholarships actually helping them — or just setting them up for disappointment? Brian weighs in o...

Brian From covers a range of stories that each point back to a central question: what are we really living for? He reflects on the heroism of the Air Canada pilots killed at LaGuardia Airport, whose split-second decisions likely saved dozens of lives. He then turns to the sobering death of OnlyFans owner Leonid Radvinsky — a man who built a $3 billion fortune and died of cancer at 43 —...

Brian From reflects on the importance of moral consistency, calling out the double standard that emerged when President Trump celebrated the death of Robert Mueller — and challenging Christians to hold all people to the same standard of decency regardless of politics. He explores what it means to make Jesus the center of our lives rather than ourselves, drawing on Tim Challies' reflections o...