"Tethered to the cross" is how the renowned nineteenth-century English Baptist minister Charles H. Spurgeon (1834–1892) described the task of ministry and his approach to preaching. For nearly four decades, Spurgeon served as the pastor of the church at the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London. But what specifically guided the reading of Scripture by the man known as the "Prince of Preachers"? Tracing the development of Spurgeon's thought and his approach to biblical hermeneutics throughout his ministry in Tethered to the Cross: The Life and Preaching of Charles H. Spurgeon (IVP Academic, 2020), theologian and historian Thomas Breimaier argues that Spurgeon viewed the entire Bible through the lens of the cross of Christ. This method led Spurgeon to interpret texts in a consistent fashion, resulting in sermons, articles, and instruction that employed cross-centered language, which was aimed at the conversion of unbelievers. With Breimaier as our guide, better understanding of how Spurgeon approached the task of interpreting Scripture and preaching the gospel might enable us, too, to be tethered to the cross of Christ.
Author

Thomas Breimaier (PhD, University of Edinburgh) is the Director for Learning and Training at Hope City Church in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Host

Michael Shaw is a PhD student in Historical Theology at Union College, Belfast, and a Visiting Lecturer at the Irish Baptist College. His research focuses on the thought of the Independent Puritan theologian Jeremiah Burroughs (1599–1646). His primary academic interests lie in historical theology, particularly early modern Baptist and Congregationalist theology and ecclesiology. He also serves as the Associate Pastor at Strandtown Baptist Church, Belfast.

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Dr. John Townsend shares practical tips for parents struggling to set boundaries with their children. He’ll provide insights into relatable situations spanning every stage of the parenting journey, from teaching unruly toddlers to dealing with adult children who still live at home. Hear his advice for teaching kids to take responsibility and grow into healthy adults.  

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Because names matter, we should always take the God-given task of naming seriously.

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New 90-day sprint to finish your book starts September 10, 2026. Details at: https://www.trainingauthors.com/sprint

Your testimony is not only part of your past. It may be the very thing God wants to use to encourage, heal, or give hope to someone today.

In this Hitz Blitz, Shelley reflects on Psalm 9:11 and God's invitation to tell others what He has done. She shares how her mom's healing story opened the door for an unexpected conversation in Michaels, and how one Christian Book Academy member turned her life story into a tiny testimony book that continues to impact readers.

You do not have to write your entire memoir or wait for the right platform. Your story can give God glory through a short book, a social post, a podcast, or one conversation with the person He puts in front of you.

Don't forget to join us for the next 90-day sprint to finish your book here: https://www.trainingauthors.com/sprint

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What if the fastest way to grow your business isn't finding more customers, but getting more value from the customers and assets you already have?

In this conversation, Kurt Luidhardt talks with business growth strategist and keynote speaker Carl Gould about practical ways entrepreneurs can generate more revenue by rethinking pricing, creating premium offers, and understanding what their best customers truly value.

Carl explains why many business owners are emotionally attached to their pricing and how an “obnoxious offer” can give passionate customers a reason to willingly pay more.

Carl shares the story of a bar exam tutoring company that transformed a $3,000 service into $25,000, $45,000, and eventually $75,000 premium offers by adding stronger guarantees and greater access to its master tutor.

He explains why bold guarantees are often less risky than business owners assume and why value should drive pricing more than cost plus a markup.

The conversation also explores Carl's path from starting a landscaping business after leaving college to working with Tony Robbins and coaching businesses around the world.

Carl breaks down the framework from his book The Anatomy of a Comeback, explaining the four stages of moving through adversity: break in, breakthrough, breakout, and break away.

He shares why meaningful change requires taking inventory, making a radical shift, building a plan that makes success more likely, and being willing to say no to people and habits that pull you away from your goals.

Carl closes by reflecting on entrepreneurship, legacy, helping others reach their potential, and building a sustainable, profitable business that supports the life you actually want to live.

00:00 How a $3,000 Service Became a $25,000 Offer

00:34 Meet Carl Gould

02:02 Optimize What Your Business Already Has

02:23 Why Most Business Owners Undercharge

03:46 Creating an “Obnoxious Offer”

05:22 What Premium Customers Are Willing to Pay For

08:07 How to Know When You Can Raise Your Prices

10:56 Turning a $3,000 Service Into a $75,000 Offer

14:31 Why Bold Guarantees Aren't as Risky as You Think

15:24 How Carl Became an Entrepreneur

17:28 Working With Tony Robbins

22:22 Turning Adversity Into a Comeback

24:30 The Four Stages of a Comeback

27:47 Building a Plan That Makes Success Inevitable

29:00 Why Success Requires Saying No

31:00 Why Entrepreneurship Can Feel Lonely

33:23 Lessons From Coaching 150,000 Businesses

36:19 What Makes a Life Well Lived

37:46 Carl's Current Rabbit Holes

39:33 How to Connect With Carl

RESOURCES

● Carl Gould Official Website
https://carlgould.com/

● 7 Stage Advisors
https://7stageadvisors.com/

● Carl Gould on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlgould

● The Anatomy of a Comeback by Carl Gould and Chuck Getchell
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0692144145

● The Obnoxious Offer by Carl Gould
https://carlgould.com/obnoxious-offer-book

● Tony Robbins: Unleash the Power Within
https://www.tonyrobbins.com/events/unleash-the-power-within

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Most writing advice assumes you have a healthy body and a full tank of energy. But what if you don't? What if chronic pain, fatigue, brain fog, or an autoimmune disease makes every paragraph a fight?

Some authors have a bad week or a bad month, but others deal with conditions unlikely to ever go away.

So how do you write with a chronic health challenge?

In this week’s episode, you’ll hear from Glenna Marshall, who has published six books and many articles, most of them while living with a painful and rare autoimmune disease. Her new book, Praying in Pain, is the resource she wished someone had handed her when the pain first started 16 years ago.

You’ll discover

• Scheduling tips that can help you get the most out of your good days.
• Tools that can help you work when you can barely walk.
• Encouragement for your soul for the very hard days
• What to do when you can’t do anything

Whether you live with chronic illness yourself or you want to understand a fellow writer who does, this episode will change the way you think about productivity, calling, and what faithfulness looks like when every word costs more than it should.

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One of the greatest gifts you can give your spouse is regular time together. Bill and Pam Farrel’s weekly marriage meetings have helped them proactively handle conflict and work through important decisions for over 40 years. In this conversation, Bill and Pam describe how you can strengthen your marriage by affirming your spouse, cultivating healthy habits, and planning time for romance.

Receive a copy of the Marriage Meet Ups bundle and an audio download of "Strengthen Your Marriage with a Meet Up" for your donation of any amount! Plus, receive member-exclusive benefits when you make a recurring gift today. Your monthly support helps families thrive.

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Welcome to a special edition of the BreakPoint podcast. In view of the 20th anniversary of the 9-11 terrorist attack on the United States, our team went back and revisited commentaries from our founder Chuck Colson.