Episode 156: A Conversation with Dr. Russell Moore (10/31/2023) - Andrew and Brady take the time in this episode to sit down with author Dr. Russell Moore to discuss his book Losing Our Religion, An Alter Call for Evangelical America. Russell shares the history that created a need for such a book, but also the weight of utilizing his prophetic voice in a time of need (3:36). Dr. Moore goes on to share a few key ideas and principles around how to better discern and live wisely when dealing with the great social challenges of our day (15:53). The trio then round out the conversation contemplating the moral fiber of Read More
Episode 155: A Conversation with Frederick Christian Bauerschmidt (10/5/2023) - On this episode of the Essential Church podcast Andrew Arndt is joined by Pastor Daniel Grothe for a conversation with special guest Frederick Christian Bauerschmidt. The trio ask the all-important question about the nature of prayer (00:50). Andrew then guides the interview towards a breakdown of the Lord’s Prayer and raises the question: is Jesus teaching us to pray backwards (8:00)? Our hosts and guest spend the remainder of the episode having a truly honest and vulnerable discussion around the struggles and tensions of prayer — the distractions, the theological stumbling blocks, and more (18:40)! Be sure to subscribe to Read More
Episode 154: Five Key Elements of Successful Preaching (9/14/2023) - Essential Church’s Andrew Arndt is joined by Rory Green, Associate Lead Pastor at New Life East to talk all things preaching and teaching ahead of the Essential Church Learning Community on September 19th. (9:49) The duo goes on to discuss the “Five key elements of successful preaching” — Preparation, Presence, Authority, Content, and Creativity. (20:05) Along with conversations around preaching as “show-and-tell”, (29:15) how to move from writing a sermon, to mind mapping one, (43:26) as well as an announcement of a brand new podcast called Preaching Lab. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel and follow us on Read More
Episode 153: The Ache for Meaning – An Interview with Tommy Brown (8/31/2023) - In this episode we sit down with pastor and author Tommy Brown to talk about his new book The Ache for Meaningand how the temptations of Christ reveal who we are and what we are seeking. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to stay connected with us throughout the week! I was more depressed than I realized and was at a near crisis in ministry… I had lost touch with what it meant to be a pastor… Reading through the temptations of Christ one day, I knew I was on Read More
Episode 152: Neuroscience and Spiritual Formation – A Conversation with Michael Hendricks (4/27/2023) - In this episode we sit down with Michel Hendricks to talk with him about his book The Other Half of Church: Christian Community, Brain Science, and Overcoming Spiritual Stagnation. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to stay connected with us throughout the week! This book was written out of frustration and confusion… some pastors and I were talking about our frustrations with discipleship, and one of the pastors said, “Michel, I think we’re ignoring the neuroscience angle,” and I had no idea what he was talking about… The left side of Read More
Episode 151: Good News for Anxious Christians – An Interview with Philip Cary (4/20/2023) - In this episode we sit down with Dr. Philip Cary to talk about unbiblical and unhelpful stuff that evangelicals believe and how the gospel liberates us. Grab his book Good News for Anxious Christians here. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to stay connected with us throughout the week! Good News for Anxious Christians came from my conversations with Christians who were anxious because of the ‘practical advice’ they'd been given about how to improve their lives... When the Gospel is replaced by practical advice, before long you’ll get anxious about whether Read More
Episode 150: The Rule of Life Part 2: Perils and Pitfalls (4/13/2023) - In this episode (part 2 of 2) we continue our conversation with Pastors Brad Baker and Sarah Jackson to talk about some of the perils and pitfalls of working with a Rule of Life. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to stay connected with us throughout the week! RESOURCES: Seeking God (Esther de Waal) The Rule of St. Benedict The rule of life goes back to the fifth century… a monk named Benedict put together a kind of code for himself and his followers… it helped them live out the Read More
Episode 149: What is a Rule of Life (Pt. 1) (3/30/2023) - In this episode (part 1 of 2) we sit down with Pastors Brad Baker and Sarah Jackson to talk about what a ‘rule of life’ is, why it matters, and how to develop one. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to stay connected with us throughout the week! RESOURCES: Seeking God (Esther de Waal) The Rule of St. Benedict The rule of life goes back to the fifth century… a monk named Benedict put together a kind of code for himself and his followers… it helped them live out the Read More
Episode 148: When Narcissism Comes to Church with Chuck DeGroat (Pt. 2) (3/23/2023) - In this episode we sit down with therapist and educator Chuck DeGroat to talk about the phenomenon of narcissism; what it is, how to spot it, and how to address it in our communities. Chuck is the author of When Narcissism Comes to Church. This is part 2 of 2. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to stay connected with us throughout the week! An emotionally intelligent leader is able to differentiate himself from you and doesn’t need to draw from you for his own ego… We base our idea of narcissism Read More
Episode 147: When Narcissism Comes to Church with Chuck DeGroat (Pt. 1) (3/16/2023) - In this episode we sit down with therapist and educator Chuck DeGroat to talk about the phenomenon of narcissism; what it is, how to spot it, and how to address it in our communities. Chuck is the author of When Narcissism Comes to Church. This is part 1 of 2. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to stay connected with us throughout the week! When we’re talking about narcissistic personality disorder, one of the things you see is an incapacity to empathize with others… Some people say that narcissism is born in Read More