The Common Good Podcast

Catherine McNiel joined Aubrey Sampson to pinch hit for Brian From. Catherine is the author of the new book “Fearing Bravely: Risking Love for Our Neighbors, Strangers, and Enemies”   (00:00-10:49): Catherine recently tweeted "That God might menstruate, have a womb, or nurse an infant just as readily as God might wield a mighty arm became inconceivable, for the ideal human (male) did none of these...

(00:00-09:36): Is there value in evangelical ecumenism? Brian and Aubrey did a deep dive into a piece from Ed Stetzer. (09:36-18:52): Brian and Aubrey shared Eleven Signs You Are Becoming a Church Consumer Instead of a Committed Church Member . (18:52-28:12): Brian and Aubrey demonstrate their amazing lack of modern music knowledge by playing the game “Lollapalooza Band or Children’s Book Title?”...

(00:00-09:32): Brian sees some parallels between the joy of sports (Specifically the Mets game last night) and what the church should be. (09:32-18:40): The Mega Millions jackpot is now over $1 billion . Brian and Aubrey talked about how to find happiness when you inevitably find yourself as losing out on the lottery. (18:40-28:11): Christian music icon Amy Grant has been named a Kennedy Center ho...

(00:00-10:46): The abortion divide is alive and well. Vice President Kamala Harris had some telling comments about the overturning of Roe vs. Wade . Meanwhile, Jim Harbaugh is taking some flak for offering to help players who are dealing with unexpected pregnancies . (10:46-19:16): Brooklyn bishop Lamor Miller-Whitehead was the target of a $1 million jewelry heist . Brian and Aubrey shared their t...

(00:00-09:57): University of Michigan medical students walked out of a pro-life speaker's keynote address at their White Coat Ceremony . The speech had nothing to do with abortion. Brian and Aubrey talked about the need to be civil and respectful to people with which you disagree.  (09:57-19:18): Elli Oswald is the Executive director of the Faith to Action Initiative . She joined Brian and Aubrey...

(00:00-11:06): In last night’s hearing by the January 6th committee , we learned President Donald Trump’s aides and kids begged for him to stop the Capitol insurrection. Vice President Mike Pence’s Secret Service officers prepared to say goodbye to their families and use “lethal options” to clear a path to safety. Brian shared his reaction (11:06-19:03): Many Pastors have left the church during th...

Aubrey is out this week and Brian was joined by Steven Coble, the Teaching and Discipleship Pastor at Renewal Church in Chicago. (00:00-09:41): Experts are warning that political violence might be on the horizon in the United States . How should Christ followers react? (09:41-18:07): Tyler Huckabee at Relevant Magazine is sick and tired of “me-centered” worship music . Brian and Steven shared thei...

Aubrey is out this week and Brian was joined by Steven Coble, the Teaching and Discipleship Pastor at Renewal Church in Chicago. (00:00-11:02): Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh is taking some flak for pro-life comments he made at an anti-abortion event . Brian and Steven shared their thoughts about what a Christ-like response to the abortion debate would look like. (11:02-20:38): JD Greear ask...

(00:00-08:27): Aubrey is out this week and Brian was joined by Steven Coble, the Teaching and Discipleship Pastor at Renewal Church in Chicago. (08:27-18:49): Brian and Steve talked about the state of the church after COVID, both their respective churches and the larger church in general. (18:49-29:14): Jay Y. Kim serves as the lead pastor at WestGate Church in the Silicon Valley and on the leader...

(00:00-08:56) It was a busy weekend at Wrigley Field, and Brian gets to spend the week at home. (08:56-18:20) Science points us back to God https://www.newsweek.com/how-science-stopped-backing-atheists-started-pointing-back-god-opinion-1724448   (18:20-26:45) Why more pastors suddenly want to quit | Church & Ministries News (26:45-35:02) Christ Is All || Paul Washer (35:02-44:06) Be generous i...

(00:00-09:52): After the COVID pandemic a lot of people are suffering from “Compassion Fatigue.” What should Christians do when their compassion runs out? (09:52-18:43): How do you decide what TV and movies to let your kids watch? Brian and Aubrey shared 10 tips to help you decide . (18:43-28:42): Brian and Aubrey tried to lighten things up by sharing some Weird Stories from Around the Internet  (...

(00:00-08:58): Why do people leave Christianity? Brian and Aubrey shared a variety of perspectives on the issue. (08:58-17:33): Heather Caliri wrote a piece called “God Takes Joy Seriously (And So Should You) . Brian and Aubrey shared their reaction. (17:33-25:31): Greg Laurie posted on Twitter : "When the Barna Group asked nonbelievers what they value most when talking about spiritual things, a m...

(00:00-08:43): The Family Research Council and other organizations have been trying to become churches , mostly for financial benefit. (08:43-18:26): Research says that statistically people who marry young do better than people who wait until later in life . Brian and Aubrey shared their reaction as people who married young. (18:26-27:54): Brian and Aubrey played a round of “Bible Verse or Movie Q...

(00:00-08:55): President Biden is facing increasing skepticism after he repeated the horrifying story of a 10-year-old rape victim to push his executive order on abortion — without seeking any evidence that the tale is true. The White House says President Biden was just making a point. Does actual truth matter? (08:55-17:32): According to a new poll, Confidence in American Institutions, including...

(00:00-08:55): Former Japanese leader Shinzo Abe died on Friday after being shot at a campaign event, in an attack that shocked a country where gun violence is virtually nonexistent. (08:55-17:32): An 8-year-old boy who was attending the Highland Park Fourth of July parade with his parents and twin brother was shot and is now paralyzed from the waist down. Brian shared his reaction to all of the s...

(00:00-10:01): A 2-year-old in Highland Parks is now left to grow up without either of his parents after both were victims of the shooting on the 4th of July. A GoFundMe page has raised over $2.5 million to help his grandparents raise him. (10:01-18:10): Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Green has already said the shooting was a “False Flag” operation . Brian shared his reaction. (18:10-26:55): Bruce...

Catherine McNiel joined Aubrey Sampson to pinch hit for Brian From. Catherine is the author of the new book “Fearing Bravely: Risking Love for Our Neighbors, Strangers, and Enemies”   (00:00-08:22): Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill that will require university students and professors to register their political beliefs with the government . Catherine shared her reaction as someone who p...

Catherine McNiel joined Aubrey Sampson to pinch hit for Brian From. Catherine is the author of the new book “Fearing Bravely: Risking Love for Our Neighbors, Strangers, and Enemies”     (00:00-09:42): It was an eventful 4th of July, with a mass shooting at the parade in Highland Park and also protests over a police shooting in Ohio . Aubrey and Catherine talked about how we can respond when things...

(00:00-09:44): How often should pastors talk about current cultural issues? It’s a question that’s come up a lot lately thanks to the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe vs. Wade. (09:44-18:06): What role does Evangelism play in our daily lives? (18:06-27:00): Brian and Aubrey lightened the mood by sharing some “Weird Stories From Around the Internet” (27:00-35:46): The American Medical Associa...

(00:00-09:22): Pride in being an American has hit a record low in new Gallup polling . Brain and Aubrey talked about what healthy patriotism looks like. (09:22-20:08): Steven Barr is the Lead Past of Castmember Church. He joined Brian and Aubrey to talk about his new book “KINGDOM INFLUENCE: Three Proven Keys to Revealing Jesus in a Skeptical and Suspicious World” (20:08-28:08): Social Media Water...

(00:00-10:10): Today marks the 15th anniversary of something that has completely changed life for all of us. (10:10-16:03): Reacting to the reaction on the Roe vs. Wade ruling, Skye Jethani posted on Twitter : "Wherever you stand on overturning Roe, saying the court is "illegitimate" is no different than Trump saying the election was "rigged." Our response to every loss cannot be to burn the whole...

(00:00-10:03): The chief argument against the overturning of Roe vs. Wade seems to be “Bodily autonomy” but Tish Harrison Warren wrote in the New York Times that isn’t applicable . (10:03-19:21): Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot made a profane attack on the SCOTUS at a Pride event in Chicago. Brian and Aubrey talked about how we can get back to having leaders who are respectful even when they disagree...

(00:00-10:32): Roe vs. Wade has been overturned. Everyone seems to have an opinion on it one way or another. But what does it mean for the church? (10:32-18:53): David French had some thoughts on how the church should greet the end of Roe vs. Wade. (18:53-26:46): Brian has made his triumphant return from vacation and had some reflections on the anxiety that comes at the end of vacation. (26:46-33:...

Catherine McNiel joined Aubrey Sampson to pinch hit for Brian From. Catherine is the author of the new book “Fearing Bravely: Risking Love for Our Neighbors, Strangers, and Enemies”    (00:00-09:39): According to a new poll , the number of people in the US who believe in God has hit an all-time low. But that’s not the most surprising thing about the numbers. (09:39-17:48): Catherine recently had a...

(00:00-08:58): Aubrey was joined by her husband Kevin Sampson. Kevin is the Lead Pastor for Renewal Church in West Chicago. Aubrey and Kevin talked about why they thought it was important for their church to be a multiethnic community when they planted the church seven years ago. (08:58-19:24): Matthew Soerens is the US Director of Church Mobilization for World Relief and the National Coordinator...