TGC Podcast

John Yates leads a pastoral panel with Matt Carter, Vermon Pierre, and Afshin Ziafat in a discussion on how hard ministry can be and what it takes to not lose heart. They discuss their personal experience of carrying the weight of the church and encountering criticism and fatigue. Together, they suggest how to prevent burnout by having: great mentors, friends inside the church, and a safe place to confess sin. They close with an emphasis on the importance of being surrounded by other believers and letting them speak into your life.

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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On today’s bonus episode of TGC Podcast, we’re featuring a selection from TGC’s narrative podcast, Recorded. 

In "Escape from Kabul", TGC senior writer Sarah Zylstra tells the story of God's dramatic work through the underground church in Afghanistan. 

To hear the full episode, subscribe to Recorded on Apple Podcasts. 

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 TGC21, Darryl Williamson explains how Hebrews 12 uncovers the purpose of opposition in the Christian life. Spiritual conflict has been our defining reality since the fall of man, and God has used the church—people—to show himself to the world.

Williamson says as we consider Christ, we cannot miss the cross and the way of suffering. Jesus doesn’t tell us to avoid suffering. Instead, he says to not be afraid about what we are about to suffer. The purpose of this suffering, Williamson explains, is to endure and remain faithful through it. We’re to share in Christ’s afflictions and therefore share in his glory and rejoice in his faithfulness.

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Sam Allberry leads a breakout session at TGCW21 on receiving the gift of singleness. Allberry encourages Christians, both married and single, with three reasons why singleness is a gift and not a curse.

He explains that the culture, and even sometimes the church, has taught us that we can only find happiness and intimacy through marriage. But the true, Biblical view of singleness shows us that:

1. Singleness is good, and we should embrace it as a gift.
2. Singleness allows us to find intimacy and deep friendship within the church—our true family.
3. Singleness reveals our longing for Jesus, our true and perfect Bridegroom, and we can rejoice in the marriage we have in Christ.

With this in view, singleness can become an opportunity to taste the goodness of God. When singleness is seen as a gift, the single Christian can therefore be thankful to God—and gratitude changes everything.

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Courtney Doctor, Vanessa Hawkins, Melissa Kruger, and Trillia Newbell discuss what discipleship is and why it is important, especially within the local church. The panel defines discipleship as a lifelong growing in the knowledge of the Lord, a growing in his likeness, and a growing in affection for Christ until he returns.

Kruger explains that discipleship isn’t “you becoming like me,” but instead becoming like the Lord together. A practical path to discipleship is outlined during the discussion:

• Ask boldly for someone to disciple you.
• Find it within systems in your local church.
• When you ask, express what you want, when you want it, and for how long.

By following these guidelines, discipleship is more attainable for you and your mentor. Kruger describes that discipleship is like tethering a young sapling to an old oak tree. The sun and rain still make the sapling grow, but it is guided in the right direction by the help of standing beside the older, more mature tree. The panel closes with the reason why we should be a part of discipleship—it impacts all of eternity.

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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Julius Kim closes the Book of James with an explanation of why we should pray, tying together all the teachings from TGCW21. Kim connects all the previous teachings on steadfastness by describing what James meant in his closing statements of the book. Kim explains that what we pray about reveals the priorities of our hearts.

In his letter, James teaches us exactly what we should pray and why, listing four reasons why we should remain steadfast in prayer:

1. God hears us.
2. God heals us.
3. God forgives us.
4. God fortifies us.

Kim argues that when we pray, it is a grace by which we are strengthened, calling us all to steadfast prayer in the midst of suffering—just like our example, Christ Jesus.

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 TGCW21, Nancy Guthrie teaches on James chapters 4 and 5 and paints a picture of two different songs being sung to us—the world’s song of self-indulgence and self-accomplishment, and the song of God’s sovereign plan of patient endurance through suffering. She explains that we must reject the world’s song and instead, sing the song of Scripture, which tells us to wait patiently for the coming of the Lord.

Singing God’s song of Scripture so that it comes out in our dreams, ambitions, and plans is the way to endure suffering. Guthrie encourages steadfast waiting with two reminders:

1. The prophets suffered and were blessed, and so will we be.

2. Consider Job, who refused to give up on God, and be sure that God will work in and through the worst things in our lives to refine us as we wait on him.

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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Unpacking James chapters 3 and 4 at TGCW21, Paige Benton Brown teaches us how to discern where worldliness has crept into our lives:

1. Worldliness in Our Logic
2. Worldliness in Our Longings
3. Worldliness in Our Loyalties

As we recognize our worldliness, we can become humble, draw near to God through repentance, and reflect the wisdom God gives. Worldly striving is no longer necessary since Christ already exalted us and seated us with Him in the heavenly places. Brown ends with the glorious news that Jesus rescues us by giving more grace—and there is always more grace.

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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Courtney Doctor teaches at TGCW21 on James 2:14-26, and carefully examines the true meaning of “faith apart from works is dead.”

Are we justified by faith alone or justified by works along with faith? In her keynote address, Courtney Doctor explains that true and living faith transforms us and changes what we do, creating the good works to which James calls us. We should not muster up these good works to be right with God. Instead, we can follow the four examples of living faith James gives us in his letter:

1. Living faith shows itself in active compassion.

2. Living faith shows itself in a deep love for God.

3. Living faith shows itself in radical obedience to God.

4. Living faith shows itself in full identification with all of God’s people.

If we can simply love and abide in Christ, our good works will be a response from our hearts rather than a striving towards salvation.

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 TGC's 2021 Women's Conference, K. A. Ellis presents a message called, “Whose Story Will You Follow?” based off of James 1 and 2.

Ellis explains that the Bible is an ancient and true story that God has created for his people. She also speaks of the false stories and idols that we, as humans, are so quick to follow. Ellis, preaching from the Book of James, lays out what it means to choose to follow God’s story, instead of all the other false stories that lead us astray.

The theme she creates is that our “say” should match our “do.” When our words (our say) match our actions (our do), we show the story of the Kingdom of God, but when they do not match, our idols lead us to destruction and dehumanization. Ellis uses James’ words to encourage us to ask which story we are following—God’s true story, or the idols of our hearts.

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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