The Good Citizen Podcast

In the closing chapters of the book of Esther, we see God’s providence and the leadership of Esther and Mordecai in delivering the Jewish people from their ancestral enemy, the righteous use of government authority to defend the innocent, and the importance of remembering and celebrating God’s protection for generations to come. Here, we catch a unique glimpse of how God works out His eterna...

Alex J. Adams is the lead federal official in Washington, D.C. overseeing child welfare, and he successfully launched a now 50-state initiative titled A Home for Every Child Initiative. The goal of this initiative is simple–to have homes waiting on kids, not kids waiting on homes. In this episode, Assistant Secretary Adams explains his call into public life, the significant reforms he implem...

What if we redesigned America’s safety net to help people truly flourish–and not just track the delivery of benefits? In this episode, Clarence H. Carter, the current Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Human Services and a public servant with 30 years of experience, including roles under four Governors, two Presidents, and a Mayor, joins me to explore the challenges facing our curre...

How should Christians respond when given an opportunity to direct government authority to counter injustice and protect the innocent? Esther 8 provides a powerful answer. In this chapter, Haman is off the scene; but his genocidal plan remains in effect due to a Persian custom of irreversible royal decrees. Mordecai and Esther are faced with the difficult task of honoring the king but also thwartin...

American history–or how we tell the American story–is critical to our future, and we should fully understand that past so we can explain and defend it. In this episode, Dr. Matthew Spalding joins me to discuss his newest book The Making of the American Mind: The Story of Our Declaration of Independence as well as the 1776 Commission, America250, and his recent testimony before Congress...

Our national debt–which recently crossed the $40 trillion threshold–is a critical issue that must be addressed to preserve our future. In this episode based on his new book, Tom Newell (pastor, former state legislator, and current Chief of State for the Oklahoma Department of Education) explains that America’s addiction to borrowed money and borrowed ideas isn’t primarily a...

Esther is often remembered for her courageous entrance into the Persian throne room as she hazarded death to save her people form genocide. But that is not the most remarkable (in my opinion) moment in the book. In Esther 7, Esther finally and boldly confronts Haman–the master manipulator who bears the king’s authority–and her erratic, egotistical husband-king who signed her deat...

The right of parents to direct the education, health care, and religious instruction of their children is under scrutiny and assault in our schools, courts, child welfare systems, and the broader culture. How should parents respond—and what can pastors, churches, and other concerned citizens do to protect children and preserve the God-given role of parents? In this episode, Vernadette Broyles, Pre...

The advanced AI revolution is here; and much of the national conversation is focused on breakthroughs in productivity, national security, and healthcare. But what happens if AI becomes powerful enough to reshape government surveillance, human relationships, and even our understanding of human purpose? In this conversation, Randan Steinhauser from The Alliance for Secure AI . explains how we can se...

Esther is a remarkable story because it turns on, of all things, a case of royal insomnia. In Esther 6, the same divine hand that guided David’s sling guides the hand of a Persian servant to select a record of Mordecai’s forgotten service to the king, Haman faces humiliation and a forecast of the consequences of fighting against God, and a great and just reversal is set in motion. In t...

What does Christian engagement in public life look like in New Zealand? And what lessons should we learn from a nation further down the road of secularization and hostility toward Christian principles? In this episode, Bob McCoskrie from Family First New Zealand shares about his personal journey into ministry and his calling to engage the culture and government for the good of his nation; the syst...

The 2022 Dobbs decision marked a historic victory for the pro-life movement—but it also ushered in a new era of challenges and opportunities. In this episode, Sue Swayze Liebel —Director of State Affairs for SBA Pro-Life America and a leading pro-life advocate—joins me to discuss where the movement stands today. We explore the rapidly changing legal landscape; state-by-state battles over abortion;...

After two years of research and writing and just in time for America’s 250th, my latest book – Created Equal – is now live! The United States was founded on a profound and Biblical idea: all people are created by a Creator and are, therefore, equal. Though the phrases “created equal” and “made in the image of God” are often used in American public life, do we fully un...

As we prepare to celebrate America’s 250th birthday or semiquincentennial, here are 4 facts about the 4th of July and some reflections on America’s present and future. It was improbable. It was impressive. It was imperfect (think “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the ge...

After an inspirational family trip to Washington, D.C. in 2022, John and Faith Gelsthorpe launched Lost History Tours to create app-based, self-guided history tours that make David Barton’s rich historical knowledge accessible to everyone, anywhere. Just in time for America’s 250th (and summer road trips), here’s the story of this homeschool family’s kingdom entrepreneurshi...

In this chapter, the fate of Esther and her people hangs in the balance as she approaches the Persian king without invitation. This episode/sermon explores this dramatic moment, including the courage required to stand before an unpredictable ruler, the wisdom behind Esther’s surprising strategy, and the deadly pride and bitterness that consumed Haman. Along the way, we consider God’s p...

As we count down toward America’s 250th anniversary, here’s a brief review and lessons from six of the most remarkable moments in our brief history as a nation: the signing of the Declaration of Independence against seemingly impossible odds, George Washington’s voluntary resignation of military power, the spark of the Second Great Awakening and spiritual and social renewal, Abra...

Many Christians know where to find religious freedom in the U.S. Constitution, but do we know where to find it in the Bible? In this interview, theologian and ethicist Andrew Walker discusses the Biblical roots of this “first freedom,” the current state of religious freedom in the United States and explains why Christians should defend and promote it in the coming years. Dr. Walker serves as Assoc...

The future of our churches, communities, and country is tied to the strength of the family, and that institution is in free fall. Here’s how to respond. In this episode, I sit down with J. P. De Gance, founder of Communio , to discuss why marriage ministry is essential to the mission of the church and the future of the nation. Together, we explore the connection among strong marriages, thriv...

Against the backdrop of the massive Persian empire and a decree of destruction, Mordecai grapples with grief and how to encourage and challenge Esther to action without exposing her to Haman. Esther, a young queen, is then confronted with a terrifying reality: approach the king uninvited and risk death, or remain silent while her people perish. In this compelling passage, we find lessons about dea...

In this week’s episode, I welcome Answers in Genesis founder Ken Ham to the podcast for a conversation on why America’s renewal must begin—not with politics, economics, or education alone—but with a return to God’s created order revealed in Genesis 1. Ken shares his personal spiritual formation in Australia, his early ministry, and the remarkable story behind his move to America and the foun...

Given the resurgence in armed conflict around the globe, what does it mean for Christians to think Biblically about war? In this episode, I review the striking exchange between President Trump and Pope Leo XIV, explain the Christian just war tradition, and explore how that tradition applies in the current conflict with Iran. If you have ever wrestled with the intersection of foreign policy, nation...

In this episode, I welcomed Tim Goeglein—Vice President of External Relations at Focus on the Family and former special assistant to President George W. Bush—back on the podcast to discuss his timely new book, What Really Matters: Restoring a Legacy of Faith, Family, and Freedom . Drawing from decades of experience in Washington, D.C., Goeglein offers a compelling vision for recovering the foundat...

I recently had the honor of sitting down with Indiana Governor Mike Braun for an in-office discussion on faith, leadership, and public service. Governor Braun shares the story behind his call (quite literally) into public life, why he chose to step away from the U.S. Senate to serve his home state, and why faith is important to him personally as an entrepreneur and public servant. We also explore...

In this chapter, we encounter Haman–the antagonist of the story–and the question of Old Testament violence. How should we answer objections about the destruction of Amalek and the Canaanites, and what do these stories teach us about God’s justice and His merciful plan to redeem humanity? Mordecai also models when and how to stand up for one’s beliefs, and King Ahasuerus mod...