The Ordinary Christian Podcast

I've written several times on physical health in the past and just recently, I wrote on gluttony. On this episode of the Podcast, I try to merge the gluttony conversation with a few words about physical health and what it looks like to find balance. I hope you will join me as we consider the steps you can take to battle gluttony, and how 5+1 can help you to find joy and satisfaction--and maybe...

Whenever you reach for your phone or scan a newspaper to get caught up, you are not being merely informed, you are also being formed. News consumption can shape your sense of belonging, how you judged the value of your life, and even how your brains function. Jeff Bilbro believes Christians must not let the news replace prayer, Bible reading, and simple disciplines of the Christian life. On this e...

Mark Noll is a retired professor of history and prolific author with a focus in history and the history of the church in America. His most recent book,  C. S. Lewis in America  looks at the reception of C. S. Lewis in America during and following World War II. In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Noll and I discuss Lewis, the need for academic rigor in evangelicalism, and the historical context beh...

Lyman Stone is a husband, father, and follower of Jesus. He is also a PhD Candidate in Sociology at McGill University. As a demographer, Lyman specializes in understanding fertility preferences. On this episode of the podcast, however, we focus primarily on what demographic data tells us about the state of marriage in the United States today. We consider the happiness that marriage brings, the bes...

Recently,  I wrote about anxiety,  and it resonated with many of you. Most of you know at least a little bit of what anxiety can feel like. You have experienced struggles or worries. Some anxiety is over large things, often we can even be anxious over small issues. Occasionally, we can feel anxious for seemingly nothing at all. In the midst of anxiety, all sorts of little things can feel like they...

Brian Owen is the planting pastor of  Grace City Church  in Boston, Massachusetts. Brian has a heart for redemption and helps us to see the terrible fall of sin in Genesis 3, but the great hope of the gospel that is pointed to first in that passage of Scripture. Along the way we discuss the differences between Boston and Camden, we celebrate the joy of Waffle House and Cracker Barrel, and SmashBur...

Nancy Pearcey's latest book is  The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes . Her earlier books include  Love Thy Body: Answering Hard Questions about Life and Sexuality ,   The Soul of Science ,  Saving Leonardo ,  Finding Truth , and two ECPA Gold Medallion Award Winners:   How Now Shall We Live  (coauthored with Harold Fickett and Chuck Colson) and  Total Truth . Her...

Families usually share things in common--the Thompsons are all Atlanta Braves fans, for instance (and all but one of our kids are South Carolina Gamecock fans, but that is another bitter story). There really is joy to be found in shared experiences and commitments within the family. When members of the family are not on the same page--like having a Clemson fan in a Carolina household--the family c...

I have written several times through the years about why  you should be concerned with orphan care  and shared some of our  family’s story of adoption . On this episode of the podcast, my wife, Angela joins me to share about the needs for orphan care and to share a bit about our story. If you have ever considered orphan care as a possibility in your home, I know this episode can help you. If you h...

How much margin do you need in your life? How well do you know yourself? Terry Linhart joins me today to talk about some of the most common personal challenges we face in life and ministry. He offers some guided reflection to help us overcome our blindspots and become more effective leaders. If you could use help setting up healthy margins in your life or maybe processing your emotions, this podca...

Louis Markos is a professor of English at Houston Christian University. He is also an expert and scholar on C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien. On this episode of the podcast,  Dr. Markos  helps us to understand a little background on C. S. Lewis and gives us some tips on how to read Lewis a little more carefully. Dr. Markos shows us how C. S. Lewis is important for today and how we can use Lewis’s...

On this episode, I sit down with my friend and co-worker, Ginger Chestnut, to talk about  Lies Young Women Believe , parenting, and mentoring the next generation. Through the course of the conversation we discuss ice cream and popcorn for dinner, burned meals, and living room campouts. If you are a woman or young woman, you will love learning from Ginger's wisdom.  If you are a man or a young...

Pastors have a biblical expectation and responsibility to welcome guests into their homes. There is not a biblical expectation that they become extravagant hosts or live in a particular kind or size of home. There is not a biblical expectation that pastors  always  have people in their home. But, there is a biblical expectation that the homes of pastors be open to guests and that they welcome them...

Grieving people need the comfort of community. But, in times of grief, we can often say things we don't mean or attempt to comfort people with words that hit wrong. Todd Warnock joins me on the podcast today to talk about the things that were helpful for him when he lost his son and to share some of the really stupid things people said to him in those hard days. At some point, you will sit wit...

Have you ever found yourself longing for more than an online experience? Have you ever missed a payphone or a real textbook? Maybe you remember the smell of your elementary school or the relationship with your high school youth leader. If any of these describe you, you know something about the desire for analog experiences. David Sax is an award winning writer and keynote speaker. He is also a fat...

Social media likely shapes the people you love and disciple more than you do.  With that Sentence, Chris Martin begins his book,  The Wolf in Their Pockets . On this episode of the podcast, Chris shares about the premise behind his book, the positive aspects of social media and the dangers that it presents. Chris encourages believers to engage with social media thoughtfully and actively rather tha...

Are you willing to give of yourself to reach others with the gospel? Jesus proclaimed the gospel authentically. He didn’t just say it, he lived it before them and with them. He allowed them to see him, to touch him. Later he would even eat with them. As you seek to share the gospel with others, they are looking for a gospel that is more than words. People around you are often fearful and they stru...

Lanny Gunter is a husband, father, business owner, and a veteran. He is also active in his church where he volunteers with children’s ministry, he is a dog trainer, and an enthusiastic coffee drinker. But, Lanny’s life has not always been so closely tied to a local church. On this episode of the podcast, Lanny shares his story of self-reliance, substance abuse, and a few close-calls with death. He...

Mark Hodge is the Head Football Coach at Spartanburg High School in Spartanburg, South Carolina. As the head coach there, Mark has implemented a program to help his players to become more than athletes, but to grow into young men of character, consequence, and courage. Mark says the REFINED program is “designed to give support, structure and opportunities for our children to become the best they c...

On this episode of the podcast, an SBC Army Chaplain sits down to share his story in ministry, the importance of chaplains, the purpose of chaplains, and to offer a plea for more people (especially young me) to pursue this important missional calling. If you are like me, this might be the first time you have ever considered the need to pray and plea for more chaplains. You'll also hear some va...

According to a recent gallup poll, trust in pastors fell to an historic low last year . Only 34% of Americans believe members of the clergy to be people with high ethical standards. On this episode of the podcast, I spend time with Pastor Craigan Blankenship who has been working over the last five years to build trust within his own community. Join us as Craigan shares his experiences and as we ex...

Merry Christmas! Like most people, you probably have some great Christmas traditions in your family. But, many Christmas traditions cross family lines and even cultural barriers. In this episode of the podcast, Adam Whiteside helps me to share some Christmas traditions, shed some light on the origins of Santa Claus, and offer some input on how to use Christmas traditions to ground your family in C...

Bethany melton is a young writer with a desire to bring attention to stories of ordinary people living faithfully and making large impacts in small places. In this episode of the podcast. Bethany shares a few stories of ordinary impact, offers some advice to young writers, and reveals some of the beauty and contentment that can be found from 21 years growing up in the same church and community. Yo...

If you could change one thing about your home this Christmas season, what would it be? On this episode of the podcast, I discuss my new book, Home for the Holidays . Home for the Holidays is an Advent devotional I have written that I hope will help you restore hope, love, joy, and peace in your home this Christmas season as you direct your attention to the Savior who was born to rescue the world f...

Dr. Bryan Chapell is the leader of the Administrative Committee of the Presbyterian Church in America and serves as Pastor Emeritus of the historic Grace Presbyterian Church in Peoria, Illinois and President Emeritus of Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. Dr. Chapell has authored numerous books and is also a husband, father, and grandfather of six grandch...