The Ordinary Christian Podcast

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...

Matt Reynolds is the founder of Barbell Logic , a former professional strongman, and has performed as an elite-level powerlifter. Matt is a former gym owner and a long-time respected strength coach. Most importantly, Matt is a committed follower of Jesus with a powerful story of grace and redemption. On this episode of the podcast, Matt share’s his story, speaks of his awakening to the full power...

On this episode of the podcast, Craig talks about the value of committing to community through a local church. The world is desperate for community, for relationships and even accountability. People are looking for a place to belong. The secular world will offer many options to fill the void caused by loneliness and isolation. Let’s do all that we can to show the people around us that the church i...

Often, the most important disciplines in our life are the decisions we will make before our discipleship. In this episode of the podcast, Craig offers three suggestions to help you grow as a disciple of Jesus: Remover barriers to spiritual growth. Make the right decision the easy decisions. Make the discipleship decision the appealing decision. Subscribe to  The Ordinary Christian Podcast . Y...

I am blessed to pastor a church with healthy children’s and student ministries. I get asked often how to create these ministries. On this episode of the podcast, I sit down with Adam Whiteside, our student pastor, and discuss student ministry. Topics addressed include: What is a healthy student ministry? How to create a healthy student ministry within a healthy church. How to create a healthy stud...

Jake Morris is a teacher and assistant head football coach at Dorman High School in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Jake is also a committed follower of Jesus, a husband, and a father. I have known Jake since I was his youth pastor when he was in middle school. On this episode of the podcast, Jake and I talk about the importance of investing in young men and how coaches can and must care about more t...

What is secularism? Wikipedia says, Secularism  is the principle of seeking to conduct human affairs based on  secular ,  naturalistic  considerations. It is most commonly defined as the  separation of religion from civic affairs and the state , and may be broadened to a similar position concerning the need to remove or to minimize the role of religion in any public sphere...

After one more normal night of frustration, exhaustion, and feeling like a failure at parenting, Justin Whitmel Earley realized that something needed to change in his house. He recognized that the habits of his household were not nurturing his marriage and his children in the way that he wanted. So, he decided to make some changes. The changes in the Earley household focused around gospel shifts i...

Is news important? How should Christians consume news, respond to the news, and even publish news of our own. On this episode of the podcast, Dr. Chris Hefner helps Christians think carefully through some of these issues. Subscribe to  The Ordinary Christian Podcast .

Much is said about the work pastors can do to make their churches healthier. But, churches have far more lay members than pastors. Healthy churches are made up of ordinary, healthy church members. You don't need to be a pastor to make your church healthier. Your church needs everyone to do their part to be healthier. Brian Croft of Practical Shepherding joins me today to show you some steps to mak...

Paying the tax we do not owe often means choosing to be the offended if it advances the gospel or helps to maintain unity within the church. Paying the tax may mean apologizing even when you do not feel that you were wrong (or that you were the only one wrong). Sometimes in ministry, paying the tax may mean keeping our mouths shut when we could share information that would make us to look better.

God created us not only for romance, but for friendship as well. In some ways, being a friend is just being you and being available. In other ways, friendship is active–you can  be  a friend by doing something for those whom you love. You need friends and your friends need you. Tune in to learn how you can  be  a friend to someone who needs it today.

Often people walk into marriage with unrealistic expectations and unspoken assumptions. In this episode of the podcast, Craig helps to unpack some of those common myths so that you can work to bring your marriage out of fantasy and into the real world. Subscribe to The Ordinary Christian Podcast.

Recent months and years have brought much discussion around the topic of complementarianism–the belief that women and men are given different roles in the home and the church. Joel Rainey helps to unpack some of the abuses around the idea of complementarianism and gives some really good advice on raising sons and daughters. Along the way we talk about changing oil, loving our wives, and raising ki...