The Ordinary Christian Podcast

Smart phones are tools that can help us to live our lives and communicate with others more efficiently. However, like any tool, when used improperly, phones can become a danger. This is especially true among teen culture. Listen in as Adam Whiteside and I work to help you navigate the dangers of cell phone abuse among teens and young adults. Subscribe to  The Ordinary Christian Podcast .

Thomas Austin was a standout football player at Clemson University and spent several years playing offensive line in the NFL. After his NFL career Thomas served as a graduate assistant at Clemson, an offensive line coach at Georgia State University, and has recently returned to Clemson as an offensive analyst. Thomas is married to Margaret and they have four kids. In this episode, Thomas speaks of...

Is social media a good thing? A bad thing? A necessary evil? It can be any and all of those things. But, like most things, social media is a tool that we can leverage faithfully as followers of Christ. Matt Rogers helps us to think more carefully through issues surrounding the use and misuse of social media. Along the way, we share some particular ways pastors struggle with social media as well.

“I am a woman trapped in a man’s body.” That statement drove Carl Trueman to investigate what has happened in Western culture to create a situation where, “I am a woman trapped in a man’s body,” are words that makes sense in the same sentence. On this episode of the podcast, we discuss Dr. Trueman’s latest book, The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self , which traces cultural transitions from Roman...

Have you ever struggled to share the gospel? The Great Commission is everyone’s job, but sometimes that job isn’t easy. Listen in as Dr. Tim Beougher shares some tips on personal evangelism. Simple steps like praying for your waitress or inviting a co-worker to church can open doors for you to share the gospel. In this episode you’ll also get tips on how to use gospel tracts and what kinds of trac...

Tom Mullikin is a senior environmental attorney, seasoned expert on global environmental policy, award winning documentarian and author, and senior military officer. Tom’s environmental work has taken him to every continent on earth, including multiple trips to the Arctic and Antarctica. Tom is also a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. I know you will learn much from Tom in this podcast, ju...

A Baptist and a Presbyterian walk into a bar…Not really, but this is a conversation between a left leaning Presbyterian doctor and a right leaning Baptist pastor. Russ Blackwelder is doctor and faculty member at the Medical University of South Carolina. Russ is also one of my college roommates and a long time friend. In this episode of the podcast, Russ and I discuss how we can disagree agreeably,...

Aesthetics is the study or appreciation of beauty and beautiful things. As it relates to the Christian life, aesthetics is more than just pretty things, it is the appreciation of beauty in light of the Creator. An appropriate understanding and appreciation of beauty helps us to better worship and appreciate God. In this podcast we discuss the beauty of a sunset, of The Smashing Pumpkins, and of a...

Slow thinking doesn’t fit well within the age of social media and immediate news. Slow thinking looks more like philosophy and conversation and less like soundbites and tweets. Slow thinking looks like books and newspapers, coffee shop conversations, and complicated intellectual wrestling matches. Slow thinking takes hard topics and resists the temptation to boil them down to their least common de...

Dr. Donny Mathis wrote The Seven Arrows along with his pastor, Dr. Matt Rogers. On this episode of the podcast, I speak with Donny about how the Seven Arrows can help you to understand and apply the Bible. We also work to show how skipping straight to application can cause us to misunderstand and misapply God’s word. You can also find the Seven Arrows Study Bible here . Subscribe to  The Ordi...

What is a Christian worldview and why should you have one? Listen in as I speak with Dr. Tony Beam about the value of a Christian worldview and how you can develop one. Along the way we discuss discernment, politics, and wisdom as well as how you can live out your Christian worldview every day. Subscribe to  The Ordinary Christian Podcast

What is a Christian worldview and why should you have one? Listen in as I speak with Dr. Tony Beam about the value of a Christian worldview and how you can develop one. Along the way we discuss discernment, politics, and wisdom as well as how you can live out your Christian worldview every day. Subscribe to  The Ordinary Christian Podcast

Have you ever wondered how you might use sports as a ministry or mission opportunity. Today on the show, I speak with Aaron Shaw about how sports has enabled people engage in their own communities, internationally, and even within prison systems. If you are passionate about sports and how you might use them as a part of your ministry, this podcast is perfect for you. Subscribe to  The Ordinar...

Do you ever feel like you are a blue-collar person stuck in a white-collar church? Or maybe, you’re a white-collar person trying to understand a blue-collar culture? I grew up in a blue-collar family. My dad was a mechanic for twenty years and my mom managed the high school cafeteria. My first jobs involved manual labor. I learned to work on cars, mow lawns, paint houses, and repair decks. I...

Do you struggle to make Sabbath rest a priority? Adam Mabry talks with me about his book The Art of Rest and how he had to nearly break-down to finally stop and rest. He also shares how his journey toward rest was and continues to be important for the people to whom he ministers. You will be blessed by this conversation with Adam. Please excuse some of the technical glitches along the way during t...

I love tools. Home improvement projects are often just excuses for me to add to my tool collection. But tools are much more than collectors items, they have particular purpose. Good tools help us to accomplish tasks more effectively and efficiently. I have found tools helpful in all areas of my life where I have responsibility. Figuratively I have separate tool boxes as a pastor, as a parent,...

Glossophobia is the fear of public speaking and 73% of our population is affected by it. At least that many people are afraid of praying in public as well. If you are among those who are terrified that you might get called on to pray in a small group or over a family dinner, this podcast is for you. On this episode of the Ordinary Christian Podcast you will hear 6 easy steps to help you overcome y...

On this episode of the Ordinary Christian Podcast, I sit down with two of the other pastors at Malvern Hill and discuss popular music, Netflix, and the degradation of pop culture. We talk music, dance, and movies. In the most surprising (and disappointing) twist of the podcast so far, Adam compares Boyz II Men to Florida-Georgia Line. Parents, pay attention to this podcast. You need to know what y...

Sean Clayton is a former American Ninja Warrior competitor, a victim of violence, a U. S. Army veteran, an obstacle course competitor, husband, dad, and Christian. Join us today as Sean shares his story of pain and redemption. He also shares how his dad stuck by his side in his darkest days and how Christ freed him from his sin, anger, and pain. Along the way we get a couple of training tips, talk...

The primary marker of godly men is a commitment to godliness. Godly men may be office workers, crane operators, weight lifters, or duck hunters, but they don’t have to be any of those things. First and foremost, a godly man loves Jesus and takes responsibility for his family.

Ashley Turner spent seven years touring as a vocalist for the Christian group, Palisade. After her time in the music industry, she felt burned out and struggled to find her place in ministry. On this episode of the podcast, hear her story of God’s grace as she found her calling, not on the national stage, but in the ordinary aspects of ministry leading worship in her local church, loving her husba...

When you consider your responsibility as a Christian to engage the world around you with the gospel, you may think about apologetics training or mission conferences. But, Luke Tolbert argues that the church is the most important ingredient in training Christians to engage the world with the gospel. The church is God’s institution to carry the gospel and fulfill the Great Commission. Local churches...

Do you feel rushed, hurried, and unfulfilled? Brian Gregor argues that part of the reason may be our unwillingness to set apart special times for special things. Increasingly in American culture, time is not viewed as special, but rather as an “empty container…Everything is available all the time. At first this feels liberating–no need to wait–but it’s really enslaving because it gives no rest. No...

Have you ever felt like your pastor was the only real minister in your church? Maybe you’ve doubted your ability to make a difference for the kingdom on your job or in the ordinary areas of your life. On this episode of the podcast, I chat with Jason Fletcher who left vocational ministry to manage his family business in North Carolina and volunteer at a new church plant. He shares how this move ha...

Have you ever doubted your salvation? You aren’t alone. Many people struggle with assurance of their salvation. In today’s episode of the Ordinary Christian Podcast we will look at some good reasons why you should doubt your salvation. We will also consider some remedies against those doubts that sometimes plague God’s people. Here is a link to the sermon mentioned in this episode: Safety In Chris...