Elisha's Bears: Conversations about Baptists and the Church with Pastor Danny

Life as a preacher's kid has its own special set of challenges, stressors, and blessings. Kelly Dean Johnson talks with Pastor Danny about her parents and what it was like growing up in a church and town as a "PK." She shares some of the joys as well as difficulties of that experience, and some life lessons she learned along the way. Kelly is Director of Clinton City Schools in the historic town of Clinton, TN, where her dad served as Pastor of Clinton's First Baptist Church for 20 years.

Rev. Jason Taylor talks about a recent sermon concerning the bribe and lie the religious leaders gave the soldiers to explain the empty tomb. Yet there have been additional "lies" that have been told that impact the church's life and ministry. Jason talks with Pastor Danny and offers some additional thoughts about how to respond to questions about the Christian faith, while emphasizing the importance of authenticity for followers of Christ. Jason is an ordained Baptist minister and graduate of Carson Newman University. He is currently serving on staff at First Baptist Church in historic Clinton, TN.

FOMO is a real thing! Pastor Danny talks about how the "fear of missing out" can distract or even consume our lives, keeping us from doing those things which can glorify Christ. It's important to note that even one of those first disciples who walked with Jesus still failed him. Simon Peter suffered a rather humiliating and public failure and a public restoration, yet this was not enough for him--he had to know what Jesus had in mind for someone else. This unhealthy interest in what the Lord is doing in the lives of others is one in which we struggle with today.

Mother's Day is an emotional holiday for many people for a lot of reasons. Pastor Danny talks about this, as not every woman is wife or a mom, and some persons are approaching this day for the first time since the death of their mom. Yet, it is also a very happy time for moms and families who have good relationships and can be together. The relationship of Jesus and his own mother is a good model for us to consider as we try to understand the meaning of Mother's Day in our familie and churches. Jesus gave attention to his mother with one of his last words from the cross, and these words provide great meaning for us today.

Hypocrisy is a real problem in the church, yet many religious leaders do not see this character flaw in their own lives. It's easier to point out the sins of others than it is to recognize on our shortcomings and failures. Jesus saved his harshest criticisms for the Pharisees and Scribes who were responsible for guiding the people into the knowledge of God. Yet, they often "did not practice what they preached." This continues to be an issue for those inside the church, and the challenge in becoming like Jesus is to realize the nature of spiritual maturity. We shouldn't compare ourselves to other people, only to Christ.

Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, and his funeral has drawn political and religious leaders from around the world. Soon after this, the Roman Catholic Church leadership will enter a time and place to call their next Pope. Pastor Danny talks about Conclave as a secretive and ancient process resulting in the election of the next Pope to lead more than one billion Roman Catholics worldwide. Obviously, not all churches function in this manner when it comes to calling their leadership. Baptists in particular have their own process with the strengths and weaknesses too. While the calling of a Pope has global interest, most men and women serving in churches are doing so in obscurity and out of the public eye. It's important to encourage such individuals and recognize that "our labor for the Lord is not in vain."

Thomas is best remembered for his "doubting" when the other disciples told him that they had seen the Lord. It wasn't called "deconstruction" then, but Thomas provides an example for this kind of struggle to discern between truth and fiction. There are many who question and doubt regarding Christianity's truth claims. There's nothing wrong with honest doubt, provided that it is part of a process of discovery and spiritual growth. Thomas processed his doubts within a community of faith, and the church would do well to provide that kind of safe space today.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most important event in human history. Christians as well as unbelievers come together on Easter Sunday to hear the testimony of the eyewitnesses to the risen Jesus as recorded in the Bible. The church exists not because of the power of human effort but due to the truth of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. While there are a number of witnesses to this event, Mary Magdalene stands out because she was the first to hear and see the risen Jesus. It's also significant because women were not viewed as credible witnesses during that time period. Jesus asked her two questions by that empty tomb that are important to ask today.

In this episode, we explore the profound significance of Holy Week, emphasizing the importance of reflecting on the events leading up to Easter. This is the last week of Jesus' earthly life, and includes his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the cleansing of the temple, and the emotional responses of the people. It's important for us to embrace the journey of Holy Week, while acknowledging the challenges and disappointments that may arise. In our rush towards Easter, we may miss out on experiencing depth and meaning of those preceding events relating to the suffering and death of our Lord.

Habakkuk is considered a minor prophet because of the brevity of his prophecy. He is frustrated to God's perceived inactivity in dealing with injustice in his world, and this leads to his complaining to God about his situation. Habakkuk provides a wonderful model of moving through the spiritual seasons of complaint, prayer, and ultimately praise of God despite the circumstances around us.