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What if better theology could actually make your church kinder, calmer, and more unified? We sit down with Dr. Matthew Haste of Southern Seminary to explore how loving God with our minds translates into healthier congregations, steadier leaders, and clearer discipleship. From the joy of “light bulb” moments to the hard work of guarding against drift, we unpack why training pastors isn’t elitist—it’s practical care for the people they serve.

We start with the case for continuing education in ministry and why professional doctorates help pastors sharpen real-world skills. Dr. Haste shares his own journey—from a reluctant college student who stood up to encourage a peer with Scripture, to a professor forming “expert practitioners” who bring biblical clarity back home. Along the way, we look at how knowledge and love belong together: Paul prays for love to abound with knowledge and discernment, because robust affection needs true understanding to guide it.

Then we put tools in your hands. Theological triage helps us hold first order truths like the Trinity and the gospel with firm conviction, recognize second order doctrines like baptism that organize local churches, and keep third order debates charitable. Practical triage—command, wisdom, conscience, preference—gives language for everyday tensions. Many conflicts cool when we stop promoting preferences to commands or forcing personal convictions on everyone. This framework doesn’t water down faith; it strengthens unity and mission by giving each issue its proper weight.

If you care about sound doctrine, wise shepherding, and a church that grows in grace and knowledge, you’ll find clear categories and hopeful steps here. Want more conversations like this? Follow the show, share it with a friend who loves the church, and leave a review telling us which triage category helped you most.

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What if the life you want can only be found on the other side of surrender? We open Luke 9:23 and sit with Jesus’ words to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Him—then we trace what that actually looks like when comfort collides with calling.

Jonathan walks through the stark paradox at the heart of discipleship: losing life to find it, dying to truly live. We contrast the rich young ruler’s sorrowful refusal with the fishermen who left everything to pursue a greater joy. Their flaws didn’t disqualify them; their direction did the shaping. From there, we bring the call into the present: obedience when it hurts, forgiveness when wounded, faithfulness when unseen, and integrity when compromise feels easier. Along the way, we keep our eyes on Christ’s pattern—He carried His cross for our redemption and leads us on a path where the cross is never the end. Resurrection is.

This conversation doesn’t romanticize sacrifice; it locates it within hope. We count the cost with honesty, remember brothers and sisters who suffer for their faith, and anchor our courage in Romans 8:18. Then we get practical with probing questions to help you surrender your schedule, your desires, and your hidden motives. You’ll leave with a clearer sense of what it means to release control, why you can’t carry the cross in one hand and the world in the other, and how the “great exchange” trades temporary comfort for durable joy, peace, and purpose that nothing can take away.

If this encouraged your faith, share it with a friend, subscribe for more gospel-centered episodes, and leave a review to help others find the show. What’s the one area you’ll surrender to Jesus this week?

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Ever wonder why so many sincere believers still feel unmoored—attending services, sampling sermons, but never truly belonging? We explore how Scripture paints a richer, sturdier vision of the local church and why being counted and known is essential to a healthy Christian life. With Pastor Jim at the table, we walk through Acts 2’s immersive community, where teaching, prayer, generosity, and the Lord’s Supper form a shared life that assumes clear commitment. We look at Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12 to show how one body with many members actually functions, honoring both visible and hidden gifts. And we turn to Hebrews 13:17 to explain why shepherds must know their flock and why meaningful accountability only works when people commit to a real congregation.

From there, we get practical. We highlight four positives that make membership compelling: belonging that endures conflict and builds trust, accountability that cares rather than surveils, ministry that helps you discover and deploy your gifts, and mission that links your life to the Great Commission through a specific church family. We share personal stories about planting roots, resisting church hopping, and finding joy in co‑laboring for the gospel. You’ll hear why busyness is not the same as growth, how leaders can create healthy on‑ramps for service, and why settling into a church helps you flourish without burning out.

This conversation aims to help you love Christ’s bride as he does, embracing the ordinary means God uses to make extraordinary disciples. If you’re wrestling with membership, seeking a place to blossom, or simply needing fresh courage to stay and serve, this one’s for you. If it helps, share it with a friend, subscribe for future episodes, and leave a review so more people can find the show. Have a question about church membership? Email questions at pleasinggodpodcast.org.

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The most important conversations in a church rarely happen behind a desk; they start in pews, hallways, and kitchens. We sat down with Pastor Seth to explore how counseling can move from a specialized silo to a normal rhythm of discipleship, where Scripture, the Spirit, and the local church work together to bring hope, clarity, and change. Instead of outsourcing every struggle, we outline a path to recover competent Christian counseling inside the body—biblical, compassionate, and practical.

We dig into why counseling is baked into creation itself, why the fall makes it indispensable, and how the Bible equips us for salvation and sanctification. Seth shares a clear framework for competence: a counselor shaped by God’s Word, dependent on the Counselor-Spirit, and supported by a healthy church. We talk through common tensions—when to keep care in-house, when to refer, and how to navigate intimidating labels without losing pastoral wisdom. Expect concrete examples, from helping marriages on the brink to guiding everyday decisions, all while keeping the gospel central.

You’ll hear how ordinary believers can grow a baseline of skill, why pastors must equip rather than carry every burden, and practical ways to build a culture of “member-to-member” care. We highlight tools and training that actually change lives, starting with our own. If you’ve wondered how to help people suffer well, counsel unbelievers with integrity, or turn Sunday sermons into weekday care, this conversation will give you steps you can use immediately.

If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a leader who cares about people, and leave a review to help others find it. Got questions or stories from your church? Reach out—we’d love to hear them.

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What if the strongest marriages are built on simple, steady friendship? We dive into how liking your spouse—laughing together, choosing small moments of care, and protecting time that isn’t about the kids—creates a marriage that feels safe, joyful, and resilient. From a spur-of-the-moment golf date to “sushi Sundays” after bedtime, we share real rhythms that keep us connected in the middle of ministry, parenting, and packed calendars.

We anchor the conversation in Scripture: Genesis and Ecclesiastes point to our design for companionship, while the Song of Solomon beautifully names a spouse as both beloved and friend. Love is commanded, but liking is a daily choice—showing up with warmth, curiosity, and preference. We talk about practical tools that actually fit real life: long walks that turn into decision time, laughing to reset tension, and screen-free check-ins that make sure we see each other clearly. When conflict hits, we lean on clear communication, quick forgiveness, and short accounts to keep issues from hardening into distance.

Trials have a way of either isolating or knitting hearts closer. We reflect on walking through loss, late-night ER trips, and everyday stress as teammates, and how leaning on Jesus keeps us tender and honest with each other. A Christ-centered friendship becomes the spine of the relationship, shaping how we speak, forgive, and re-engage when life gets noisy. If you’re married, dating, or simply hungry for better friendships, these habits and heart-postures will help you build a bond that lasts and a home that feels warm. If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review to help more listeners find the show.

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What if the whole Bible is one story with Jesus at the center? We open the text with that question and follow the thread from Genesis to Revelation, letting the Emmaus Road guide how we read, interpret, and apply Scripture. Rather than treating the Bible as a grab bag of inspirational lines or moral tales, we explore how Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms bear witness to Christ—and why that lens changes our daily walk.

We dig into the big themes that hold Scripture together: covenants that progress from Noah and Abraham to David and the promised New Covenant, the already-and-not-yet kingdom Jesus inaugurates, and the sacrificial system that finds its fulfillment in the once-for-all cross. Along the way, we map the patterns of typology—Adam, Moses, and David as signposts toward the true and better Prophet, Priest, and King. We also face common pitfalls: reducing stories to “be like” morals, reading with self at the center, fragmenting books from the larger narrative, or stopping at insight without obedience.

From Isaiah 53’s suffering servant to Genesis 3:15’s first gospel, we show how promises converge on the Messiah and how beholding him leads to concrete application—real repentance, deeper trust, and active discipleship. You’ll leave with practical questions to take into any passage: What does this reveal about Christ? How does this shape my worship, my holiness, and my love for others? And how can I teach this clearly to someone else?

If this journey deepens your love for the Word, subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review to help others discover the show. Have a question for us? Email [email protected] and join us next week as we talk about cultivating friendship in marriage.

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What if the church’s health could be seen in the air—balanced, steady, and lifting—because evangelism and discipleship finally fly on two wings? That image frames a rich conversation with Pastor Jim about a calling forged in the Navy, nineteen years of waiting that taught presence over programs, and a pastoral philosophy where outreach grows from love of souls and discipleship is built on clear, human-scale spaces.

We walk through stories that make theology tactile: remembering a visitor’s name that changed her posture, and why names matter from Genesis to the book of life. We sketch a practical discipleship pathway patterned after Jesus and extended by Paul—corporate worship for the whole church, community groups for belonging, D-groups for depth, and an institute for leaders. Along the way, we distinguish teaching centers from community centers so people arrive with the right expectations and leave with real formation. For pastors and volunteers who feel stretched thin, we tackle the input–output problem, the difference between eloquence and unction, and the hard-won wisdom to never hit send on a Monday resignation. Endurance, we argue, springs from closeness to Christ, living for the unseen “Well done,” and resting in grace even in weeks stacked with sermons and funerals.

If your heart longs for a church that loves the lost and feeds the sheep, that says names with care and opens homes with joy, this conversation offers a map and the motivation to walk it. We also introduce New Day Mercies, a daily encouragement stream of Scripture, short devotionals, and video reflections designed to flood tired feeds with good news. Subscribe, share with a friend who leads, and tell us: which space in your discipleship pathway needs attention this season?

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What sustains a pastor through decades of ministry in one church? In this deeply personal conversation, Jonathan Sole interviews his father, Pastor Jim Sole, about his remarkable 23-year journey leading Quinnessett Baptist Church.

The conversation traces Pastor Jim's unlikely path from Navy sailor to church leader, beginning with his conversion at age 21 aboard a destroyer in the Mediterranean Sea. Unlike traditional seminary routes, his ministerial formation happened organically through Navy service, church involvement, and Bible institute studies. Most powerfully, we witness how meaningful discipleship shaped his ministry philosophy—the quiet sailor who "never preached a sermon" but "loved my soul" became his model for authentic spiritual leadership.

With refreshing candor, Pastor Jim addresses the challenges every minister faces. "You can't avoid sheep bites, but you can keep them from getting infected," he notes, sharing wisdom about handling criticism without becoming bitter. Equally insightful is his warning about praise: "Praise can be a well-intended thing that can ruin a man" when ministers become dependent on affirmation rather than finding satisfaction in faithful service.

The discussion reveals how ministry priorities evolve with experience. Looking back, Pastor Jim wishes he'd spent more time in prayer and intercession, especially during difficult seasons. Yet his greatest joy has been witnessing cultural transformation as the church shifted from being perceived as "exclusive and stuffy" to becoming known for community engagement and care.

Perhaps most remarkable is the successful father-son leadership transition now underway—a rarity in church settings. As Pastor Jim prepares to pass the baton completely, he expresses confidence that the church stands poised for even greater community impact under his son's leadership.

Want to hear more? Join us for our next episode as we continue exploring discipleship within the local church context and discuss encouragement for the next generation of ministry leaders.

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What does it truly mean to follow Jesus? In a world where Christianity is often reduced to Sunday attendance and general morality, we need to rediscover the radical nature of discipleship that Jesus actually calls us to.

The call to follow Jesus is fundamentally personal. When Jesus walked along the Sea of Galilee calling his first disciples, he wasn't inviting them to join a religion or adopt a philosophy—he was calling them to himself. Simon, Andrew, James, and John didn't hesitate; they immediately left their nets, boats, and livelihoods to follow him. This teaches us a profound truth: for everything we say yes to, we must say no to something else. Saying yes to Jesus means leaving our old life behind.

Jesus never sugarcoated the cost of discipleship. He explicitly told his followers to deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow him. Self-denial means surrendering control and saying no to our own desires when they conflict with Christ's calling. Taking up our cross involves daily dying to self—putting to death our selfish ambitions. Yet here's the beautiful paradox: through this death comes true life. As Jesus said, "Whoever loses his life for my sake will save it." While the world promises freedom but delivers slavery, Jesus demands surrender but gives abundant life.

The question we must each answer is this: Are we followers of Jesus or merely fans? Have we responded to his personal call? Are we willing to count the cost? What comfort or security are we unwilling to surrender? Take a moment to identify one act of obedience you've delayed, and commit to taking that step this week. Remember, the Christ who calls you is the Christ who walks with you—"Christ in you, the hope of glory."

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Jonathan and Katelyn return with a fresh start in Season 4, sharing life updates and discussing the challenges and blessings of remaining faithful to God during difficult seasons.

• Season 4 begins with personal updates, including the addition of twin boys to their family of seven children

• Biblical perspective on faithfulness from James 1:2-4 - counting trials as joy because they produce steadfastness

• Four practical ways to remain steadfast: relying on relationships, immersing in Scripture, preaching the gospel to yourself, and maintaining proper perspective

• The importance of church community in supporting believers through challenging times

• Shifting focus from self to serving others during difficult seasons as modeled by Christ

• Galatians 6:9-10 encourages us not to grow weary in doing good, knowing we will reap a harvest

• A reminder that trials are temporary, but the character they develop is lasting

Weekly episodes will drop every Tuesday morning, with a new Pleasing God Weekly newsletter available on Wednesdays. Subscribe on Substack through the link in the show notes. If this show blessed you, please share it with someone who might need encouragement.

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