TGC Podcast

In this episode of TGC Podcast, Kendra Dahl, Andrew Wilson, and Glen Scrivener explore the incarnation's richness and the unique opportunities for evangelism during Christmas.

They discuss the following:

• Cultural challenges and the transition from Advent to Christmas
• The richness of the incarnation
• Challenges of preaching the incarnation
• Learning from the United Kingdom's evangelism at Christmas
• Christmas as a paradigm for year-round evangelism

Recommended resources:

• Andrew Wilson, It’s Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas (book)
• Glen Scrivener, The Gift (book)
• Glen Scrivener, “Glory to God in the Lowest” (article)
• SpeakLife “There’s a Dragon in My Nativity” (video)

Help The Gospel Coalition build up a renewed church for tomorrow. Let's Build Together: Donate Today at tgc.org/together

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Isn't it fascinating how melody, harmony, and even chord progressions in music can stir our hearts to worship God and remind us of the beauty of his character? In this episode of TGC Podcast, Brett McCracken talks with musicians Caroline Cobb, Cody Curtis, and Eric Owyoung about the unique power of Advent and Christmas music.

They explore how music captures the longing, joy, and tension of the season—reflecting the celebration of Christ’s first coming and the anticipation of his return. The artists share insights on creating music for these themes, highlighting how Advent and Christmas music can deepen our worship and reflection.

Mentioned on this episode:

Unto Us: 25 Advent Devotions About the Messiah, Advent devotional by TGC

“The Weary World Rejoices: A TGC Advent Concert”

“Advent Longing / Christmas Joy” by Brett McCracken: article and Spotify playlist

Caroline Cobb:

• Advent for Exiles: 25 Devotions to Awaken Gospel Hope in Every Longing Heart by Caroline Cobb
• A Seed, A Sunrise album by Caroline Cobb

Cody Curtis: Advent Songs and Christmas Songs albums by Psallos

Future of Forestry:

• “O Come O Come Emmanuel” and “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus”
• “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring”
• “The Advent Song”
• “The Earth Stood Still”
• “What Beauty”

Help The Gospel Coalition build up a renewed church for tomorrow. Let's Build Together: Donate Today at tgc.org/together

Check out The Pour Over Podcast — politically neutral news for people who want the facts without the spin, and with a brief biblical perspective

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In his TGCW24 message, David Platt teaches Jesus’s final “I am” statement from John 15:1–11, which Jesus spoke to his disciples on the night he was betrayed.

Jesus calls all believers to abide in him like a branch remains in its vine, drawing everything we need from him. We don’t rely on our obedience to save or sanctify us; we rely on the finished work of Jesus, depending fully on him. Because apart from him, we can do nothing. He is the true vine.

Platt teaches the following:

• Childlike boldness and the will of God
• The metaphor of the vine
• Jesus as the true vine
• Experiencing abundant life in Jesus
• The role of prayer and meditation
• The battle for belief and trust
• Bearing fruit for the world

Help The Gospel Coalition build up a renewed church for tomorrow. Let's Build Together: Donate Today at tgc.org/together

Check out The Pour Over Podcast — politically neutral news for people who want the facts without the spin, and with a brief biblical perspective

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In her TGCW24 message, Ruth Chou Simons unpacks Jesus’s statement “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” from John 14:1–14.

When we believe that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, we find comfort and hope, knowing that nothing in the world can shake this truth. Jesus’s claim is exclusive, and many will find it offensive. But the truth that no one can come to the Father except through Jesus is the greatest comfort for troubled hearts. Christ, the perfect offering, is the only One who could make a way to God for us.

Simons teaches the following:

• Struggles with striving and seeking clear paths
• Jesus's response to the disciples' troubled hearts
• Believing in Jesus and his promises
• Hoping in Christ and our eternal home
• Looking to Jesus as the way, truth, and life
• Choosing Jesus and following his path

Help The Gospel Coalition build up a renewed church for tomorrow. Let's Build Together: Donate Today at tgc.org/together

Check out The Pour Over Podcast — politically neutral news for people who want the facts without the spin, and with a brief biblical perspective

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At TGC24, Nancy Guthrie helps us understand what Jesus means when he says, “I AM the resurrection and the life” in John 11.

In John 11:17-44, Jesus offers eternal hope as he boldly confronts death. Jesus gives us the hope of life in the future and access to resurrection life right now. We can rejoice knowing that if we trust in Jesus, we are no longer spiritually dead but are now united with him in the newness of life.

Guthrie teaches the following:

• Jesus's love and the illness of Lazarus
• Jesus's delay and the purpose of sickness
• Martha's struggle with Jesus's delay
• Jesus's claim: I am the resurrection and the life
• Jesus's question: do you believe this?
• The sign of raising Lazarus
• Confidence in Jesus's resurrection power
• Jesus's role as weeping friend and divine warrior
• The final victory over death

Help The Gospel Coalition build up a renewed church for tomorrow. Let's Build Together: Donate Today at tgc.org/together

Check out The Pour Over Podcast — politically neutral news for people who want the facts without the spin, and with a brief biblical perspective

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The Advent season offers unique opportunities for family and personal discipleship. So how can we prepare well? In this episode, The Gospel Coalition staff Kendra Dahl, Melissa Kruger, Jared Kennedy, and Bill Kynes share their experiences navigating the Christmas season as individuals, as families, and within church communities. They suggest resources, reflect on memorable traditions, and consider opportunities for outreach, connection, and celebration.

Recommended Resources:

• Unto Us: 25 Advent Devotions About the Messiah
• Jared Kennedy, “Why Advent Is a Time to Build on Family Traditions”
• Melissa Kruger, “Celebrating Advent: Looking Back and Looking Forward”
• Jared Kennedy, “Countdown to Christmas with These 6 Resources for Advent”
• Jared Kennedy, “The Good News That Jesus Came for You”
• GoodKind Advent Blocks

Help The Gospel Coalition build up a renewed church for tomorrow. Let's Build Together: Donate Today at tgc.org/together

Check out The Pour Over Podcast — politically neutral news for people who want the facts without the spin, and with a brief biblical perspective

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At TGCW24, Courtney Doctor teaches on Jesus’s statement, “I AM the Good Shepherd” from John 10:11-18. A good shepherd cares for, protects, and provides for his sheep.

Throughout scripture, we're compared to the sheep who go astray or get lost. We need continual care and vigilant protection, and Christ offers us that and so much more. He's a shepherd who seeks out the one lost sheep and rejoices at its discovery! He leads us, guides us, and restores our souls.

Doctor teaches the following: 

• The role of shepherds in the biblical narrative
• Jesus as the Good Shepherd
• Surprise 1: seeking unexpected sheep
• Surprise 2: leading on unexpected paths
• Surprise 3: dying an unexpected death
• The Lamb is worshiped as the shepherd in Revelation 7
• Know the Good Shepherd and follow him forever

Help The Gospel Coalition build up a renewed church for tomorrow. Let's Build Together: Donate Today at tgc.org/together

Check out The Pour Over Podcast — politically neutral news for people who want the facts without the spin, and with a brief biblical perspective

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At TGCW24, Vanessa Hawkins invites us to consider Jesus’s third I AM statement, "I AM the door" from John 10:1-10.

There are times when we rely more on what Jesus gives us access to rather than resting in the truth that he himself is our access. Jesus is not merely our passage to eternal life with God—he is always more and better than we can imagine. As we turn to Jesus and learn from him, we will more clearly recognize his voice. As we read, study, and obey the Word of God, his voice will become easier and easier to follow.

Hawkins teaches the following: 

• The positive impact of a father’s relationship
• Adam and Eve’s relationship with God and separation as a result of sin
• The promise of a Savior and the closing of a door
• Those who do not enter the sheepfold by the door are thieves and robbers
• A real threat: the enemy's attempts to steal, kill, and destroy
• What are the spiritual thieves and robbers in our lives?
• Jesus's promise of abundant life and what it truly means for us
• Walking in obedience and embracing the invitation from Jesus
• The power of death defeated and the hope of resurrection
• Enter through the Door and walk into the Father's presence with bold access

Help The Gospel Coalition build up a renewed church for tomorrow. Let's Build Together: Donate Today at tgc.org/together

Check out The Pour Over Podcast — politically neutral news for people who want the facts without the spin, and with a brief biblical perspective

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At TGCW24, Jen Wilkin shares Jesus’s second I AM statement, “I AM the Light of the World" from John 8:12-30. 

We all have first-hand experience of the darkness and brokenness that exists in our world. Jesus, the light that shines in the darkness, offers the “light of life” to anyone who follows him. Jesus’ message confronts the darkness in our hearts and in our world and offers us great hope in all of it.

Wilkin teaches the following:

• The symbolism of light in Scripture
• Jesus' use of light as a metaphor
• The Feast of Tabernacles and its significance
• The manifest presence of God in the Old Testament
• The role of light in the New Testament
• The challenge of lesser lights
• The role of the church in carrying the light
• The collective impact of believers' light

Help The Gospel Coalition build up a renewed church for tomorrow. Let's Build Together: Donate Today at tgc.org/together

Check out The Pour Over Podcast — politically neutral news for people who want the facts without the spin, and with a brief biblical perspective

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At TGCW24, Melissa Kruger teaches on Jesus’s declaration in John 6, “I AM the Bread of Life.”

The day before the events in this passage, Jesus fed a large crowd by miraculously multiplying bread and fish. But Jesus has something greater than their physical needs in mind—he wants to meet their spiritual needs. He extends an invitation to be satisfied and sustained in him, telling his listeners then and now that he is “the living bread that came down from heaven.” Jesus is the Bread of Life who offers good news for spiritually hungry people.

Kruger teaches the following:

• The persistent problem: seeking satisfaction in the wrong places
• The surprising solution: Jesus as the Bread of Life
• The difficult decision: believing in Jesus and seeking him daily
• The call to invite others to the feast

Help The Gospel Coalition build up a renewed church for tomorrow. Let's Build Together: Donate Today at tgc.org/together

Check out The Pour Over Podcast — politically neutral news for people who want the facts without the spin, and with a brief biblical perspective

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