The Common Good Podcast

Brian From explores why Gen Z is intentionally unplugging from their phones, the growing push to limit cell phone use in classrooms, and what those trends reveal about loneliness, attention, and formation. The conversation then turns to politics and faith, including disappointment over renewed Planned Parenthood funding and a thoughtful look at why Christians often misuse Romans 13 when thinking about government authority. The episode closes with reflections on God’s delight in His children, offering a reminder that true hope, joy, and identity are ultimately grounded not in technology or politics, but in how God sees us.

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Brian From sits down with Pastor Scott Oberle of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Downers Grove to talk about ministry, calling, and what it means to truly serve a community. Scott shares his journey into pastoral ministry, his experience with street ministry, and how his church centers dignity, hospitality, and presence for people on the margins. Together, they reflect on how churches can move beyond self-preservation to live faithfully as salt and light in their neighborhoods.

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Brian From reflects on modern loneliness and cultural change, from a viral “Are You Dead?” app to the fading role of malls as community hubs, asking what real connection looks like today and where the church fits in. The episode also examines self-righteousness, political independence among younger Americans, and why an eternal perspective actually fuels meaningful engagement in the present world. Brian closes with sober but hopeful reflections on integrity, legacy, and what it means to live coram Deo—fully aware that our lives are lived before the face of God.

'Are You Dead' App Is a Smash Hit 

More Americans now identify as independents: Gallup polling | AP News 

Ed Stetzer on X: ""If you read history, you will find that Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next... Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at Earth and you will get neither." -C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity" / X 

The Sticky Sin of Always Being Right 

Don't Love a Good Thing Less - Eric Geiger – Eric Geiger, Author and Senior Pastor, Mariners Church 

Given the Choice, Science Says the Average Employee Would Choose a Fancy Job Title Over a Pay Raise? 

Are Never Attenders More Secular Today? - by Ryan Burge 

The Yancey We Never Knew: Living Coram Deo and in Gospel Community Helps Guard Our Hearts 

Daily Devotional | Ezra: Back to Basics | Today in the Word 

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Brian From reflects on perseverance in the face of repeated setbacks, using everything from car trouble to playoff sports comebacks as reminders of faithfulness when life feels stacked against us. The episode explores what it means to leave a meaningful legacy—one shaped intentionally by how we live, love, and follow Christ today. Along the way, Brian highlights viral stories of unusual memorabilia, radical rest, and a grandfather’s powerful gift of Scripture, all pointing back to endurance, hope, and lives grounded in God’s Word.

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Brian From invites listeners to rethink resolutions—not around what we want to accomplish, but who we want to become—anchoring the year in Jesus’ call to love God more deeply and love others more faithfully. The episode also tackles financial anxiety in an uncertain economy, asking whether Christ is truly enough and how prayer and contentment reshape our fears about money and the future. Brian closes with a powerful warning about the danger of losing awe and wonder in our faith, urging believers to fight apathy and rediscover the joy that fuels worship, obedience, and a life lived for God.

The Danger of Loss of Wonder for Ministry Leaders - Eric Geiger – Eric Geiger, Author and Senior Pastor, Mariners Church 

Dr. Derwin L. Gray on X: ""The latest data means 2025 saw the weakest annual job growth since 2003, with just 584,000 jobs added last year." https://t.co/yf8z8na8Tc" / X 

Happy 80th Birthday, John Piper - Christianity Today 

New Heights on X: "Matt Damon gave us some of the most emotional parenting advice we’ve ever got on this show https://t.co/RbzkmxxHJ4" / X 

Most People Lie About Their Finances To Make Themselves Seem More Desirable | YourTango 

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Brian From reflects on what we discover when connection is suddenly taken away, how our lack of control drives us to prayer, and why empathy should come before outrage in moments of public tragedy. The episode explores the courage found in true encouragement, the call to finish well with integrity, and the steady hope believers cling to when faith feels fragile. From parenting and discipleship to politics, perseverance, and historic Christian witness, this conversation centers on one enduring truth: Christ holds us fast, even when everything else feels uncertain.

The Courage in Encouragement 

California can’t bar teachers from telling parents about student’s gender identity at school, judge rules | The Independent 

Peter Schrager on X: "Greg Olsen, his father Chris Olsen, Sr. (NJ high school coaching legend), Luke Kuechly, and Jonathan Stewart coach a middle school football team together in Charlotte. You'd think they know it all. They don't. What's the one thing Olsen learned this season? @OmahaProd https://t.co/68bg97k3VD" / X 

Justin Bass on X: "In the last decade, these men did not finish well: Ravi Zacharias  Philip Yancey  Bill Hybels  Jerry Falwell Jr.  Steve Lawson  Robert Morris Brian Houston Mike Bickle  Carl Lentz Makes me very thankful for men in the public eye who did finish/are finishing well: Alistair Begg" / X 

When I Fear My Faith Will Fail 

Cliffe Knechtle Explains How Christians Should Vote—Without Endorsing a Party—at Passion 2026 

Operation Auca · Elisabeth Elliot 

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Adam Holz discusses the importance of actively engaging with entertainment and technology, especially as the new year begins. He emphasizes the need to shift from passive consumption to a more thoughtful approach, encouraging listeners to consider how their media choices affect their values and relationships. The discussion includes biblical references that guide decision-making in entertainment, highlighting the significance of being aware of the influences of media on one's heart and mind.

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On the seventh anniversary of The Common Good, Brian Fromm reflects on the heart of the show—encouraging believers to run the race faithfully, keep the faith, and grow deeper in their love for Christ. The episode weaves together personal stories of parenting, mission trips, and God’s long-game faithfulness with a powerful reminder that Jesus is not merely a moral example, but Lord and Savior.

Matt Smethurst on X: "My favorite moment from @WesleyLHuff’s conversation with @JoeRogan. https://t.co/JsuJ7zDhXh" / X 

De Christian Life on X: "Pastor Craig is a true example of leadership in the body of Christ https://t.co/rBTXYhQ6az" / X 

Teenager died of overdose 'after ChatGPT coached him on drug-taking' 

Cheating Husband Sues Restaurant After Promotional TikTok Clip Reveals Infidelity 

Aaron New on X: "“Author Philip Yancey Confesses Affair, Withdraws from Ministry” Oh man. This one makes me sad. https://t.co/164vk5GvqM" / X 

Wade Lentz on X: "On this day in 1850, a blizzard in Colchester, England, changed the course of church history. A 15-year-old Charles Spurgeon, burdened by the weight of his sin, was blocked by the snow from reaching his usual place of worship. He ducked into a small Primitive Methodist Chapel on https://t.co/85brN191WZ" / X 

Why Is There Only One Way To Heaven? | Tim Challies 

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Brian From speaks with Pastor Darrell Moore of Greater New Life Church in Roseville. They discuss the church's mission, community outreach efforts, the challenges of starting a church, and the resilience shown after a devastating fire. Pastor Moore shares insights on the importance of church attendance and the excitement of being part of a community, emphasizing the revival he believes is coming to Detroit.

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Brian From reflects on the sobering honesty of Dilbert creator Scott Adams as he faces terminal cancer and wrestles publicly with faith, eternity, and the limits of Pascal’s Wager. The episode also pushes back on cultural narratives that portray parenthood as misery, arguing instead that children are a hard but profound gift that reshapes how we understand joy and purpose. Brian closes with a powerful reminder from Martin Lloyd-Jones that what the church needs most today is not novelty or politics, but absolute clarity and confidence in the gospel of Jesus Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit.

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