Grace Upon Grace

In this episode, I’m joined by pastor and writer Randy Greenwald to talk about his newsletter, “Greatheart’s Table,” and why pastoral efficiency is a bad thing, along with a host of other topics relating to ministry in the local church.

Randy Greenwald is the pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Oviedo, Florida, where he lives and serves with his wife Barb. Along with serving the church, Randy is a visiting lecturer at the Orlando campus of Reformed Theological Seminary, as well as the author of the pastoral-helps newsletter Greatheart’s Table.

Resources.

Something Worth Living For: God, the World, Yourself, and the Shorter Catechism, Randall Greenwald

“Mr. Greatheart and This Metaphorical Table,” Randall Greenwald

“The Inefficiency of God,” Randall Greenwald

“Neurotics for the Kingdom of God,” Randall Greenwald

“On Breathing Deeply,” Randall Greenwald

“Futility Is Resistible,” Randall Greenwald

“Pastors Share Top Reasons They’ve Considered Quitting Ministry in the Past Year,” Barna Group

“The Pastors Aren’t All Right: 38% Consider Leaving Ministry,” Kate Shellnutt

Grace: So Much More Than You Know and So Much Better Than You Think, Brad J. Gray

Sponsor.

Ministry Minded is sponsored by Fresh Roasted Coffee, a locally owned and operated coffee house in the heart of Central Pennsylvania that produces the freshest coffee and delivers it at peak drinkability. Use offer code “GRACE10” at checkout to get a discount on your next order. Buy some coffee!

Credits.

Intro music: “Explorers (Instrumental Version)” by The Midnight, The Midnight Music LLC, 2018.

Ad music: “Coffee Stains” by Finley, licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Title: The Sweet Smell of Success

Text: 2 Corinthians 2:14–17

Originally delivered on 19 February 2023 at Stonington Baptist Church, Paxinos, PA

For more content like this, visit www.graceupongrace.net

In this episode, I talk about the recent proliferation of articles and essays that speak to the negative side-effects of social media, and how this negativity can be discerned just by examining the ways in which social media has changed since its inception. I also talk about the good news of God’s rest as found in Christ and why Thomas Jefferson’s “version” of the Bible was a complete and utter failure.

Resources.

“How Connectivity Made Us Miserable,” Samuel D. James

“Another Week Ends: Social Media’s End and the Cost of Love,” Bryan Jarrell

“The Age of Social Media is Ending,” Ian Bogost

“Doubting Thomas: On Peter Manseau’s ‘The Jefferson Bible’,” Ed Simon

“Thomas Jefferson on Jesus,” Colin Brown and Craig A. Evans

Christless Christianity: The Alternative Gospel of the American Church, Michael Horton

Grace: So Much More Than You Know and So Much Better Than You Think, Brad J. Gray

Sponsor.

Ministry Minded is sponsored by Fresh Roasted Coffee, a locally owned and operated coffee house in the heart of Central Pennsylvania that produces the freshest coffee and delivers it at peak drinkability. Use offer code “GRACE10” at checkout to get a discount on your next order. Buy some coffee!

Credits.

Intro music: “Explorers (Instrumental Version)” by The Midnight, The Midnight Music LLC, 2018.

Ad music: “Coffee Stains” by Finley, licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Title: Abide in Him

Text: 1 John 2:18–29

Originally delivered on 5 February 2023 at Stonington Baptist Church, Paxinos, PA

For more content like this, visit www.graceupongrace.net

Title: Jesus Is Our Better Rest

Text: Hebrews 3:7—4:13

Originally delivered on 5 February 2023 at Stonington Baptist Church, Paxinos, PA

For more content like this, visit www.graceupongrace.net

Title: Through Fire and Water

Text: Psalm 66:1–20

Originally delivered on 29 January 2023 at Stonington Baptist Church, Paxinos, PA

For more content like this, visit www.graceupongrace.net

In this episode, I reflect on some articles that talk about the emergence of the “therapeutic gospel” which, in effect, leads congregants into functional atheism. I also reflect on Bono’s Christian testimony and what falls within a pastor’s remit.

Resources.

“A therapeutic church is an atheist church,” Brad East

“Sin, preaching, and the therapeutic gospel,” Brad East

“Bono’s Punk-Rock Rebellion Was a Cry of Hopeful Lament,” Mike Cosper

“U2 @ 46,” Brian Mattson

“Abuse, Burnout, and the Pastoral Remit,” Harrison Perkins

Grace: So Much More Than You Know and So Much Better Than You Think, Brad J. Gray

Sponsor.

Ministry Minded is sponsored by Fresh Roasted Coffee, a locally owned and operated coffee house in the heart of Central Pennsylvania that produces the freshest coffee and delivers it at peak drinkability. Use offer code “GRACE10” at checkout to get a discount on your next order. Buy some coffee!

Credits.

Intro music: “Explorers (Instrumental Version)” by The Midnight, The Midnight Music LLC, 2018.

Ad music: “Coffee Stains” by Finley, licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Title: Jesus Is Better Than Moses

Text: Hebrews 3:1–6

Originally delivered on 15 January 2023 at Stonington Baptist Church, Paxinos, PA

For more content like this, visit www.graceupongrace.net

Title: The Church of God Steadied by the Purposes and Promises of God

Text: Acts 7:1–60

Originally delivered on 10 January 2023 at Good News Club, Inc., Northumberland, PA

For more content like this, visit www.graceupongrace.net

Title: Know That You Know

Text: 1 John 2:3–17

Originally delivered on 8 January 2023 at Stonington Baptist Church, Paxinos, PA

For more content like this, visit www.graceupongrace.net