The Cranmer Fellows Podcast

This is a Difficult Passage Episode. Today Matt and Jon sit down to discuss a bizarre passage in Judges 11. Jephthah, a judge in Israel, makes a tragic vow to God. If God gives him victory over his enemies he'll offer the first thing that comes out of his home to greet him as a burnt offering. What was he thinking? Well, either way - his daughter comes out to greet him once he gets back...

Matt and Jon talk about the two primary views of this passage, share what they think, and discuss how one might preach Judges 11.

Hope you enjoy!

- The Cranmer Fellows

This week we continue talking about end times. We're diving more into postmillennialism, some different ways of approaching Revelation as an entire book, and some tips on teaching the darn thing.

Enjoy!

The Cranmer Fellows

We're back! And we're talking about the end of all things!

In today's episode, we talk about the book of Revelation - how we interpreted it in the past and what's changed in our thinking. And we discuss a little bit of what we think about the Millennium.

It's really good to be back recording! We hope you enjoy this episode.

- The Cranmer Fellows

This is the second part to the conversation Jonathan and Scott had about training as preachers. We primarily talk about manuscript writing and delivery.

In Christ,

The Cranmer Fellows

In this episode Jonathan is joined by Scott Pineau. Scott is one of the wardens at Church of the Good Shepherd and assists Matt and Jonathan in preaching.

Scott and Jonathan talk about what it's like to be preachers in training. They discuss things they assumed about preaching that they no longer believe, what it's like having someone else edit and review their sermons, and how they prepare to preach.

This is the first half of the conversation. The second half will come out next week.

In Christ,

The Cranmer Fellows

How successful is your ministry? Are your sermons impactful and meaningful? How full is your church? Are you getting results? 

Let's face it, as pastors we often equate our success in ministry with "greatness" and bigger numbers. But what do you do if God has assigned to you an "unexciting" ministry? Is God really in a church with 45-50 people? Definitely not 10 people, right? What about when you suffer in ministry - is God in the midst of that? Our guest today, Chad Bird, helps us see that not only is God present, but He's more present in these things than we realize. 

In today's episode Chad unpacks what Martin Luther meant when he wrote of the "theologian of the cross." The theologian of the cross understands that the things of God are rarely the mountain-top experiences. Rather, God reveals Himself in suffering, in un-met expectations, in ordinary life, in the word, in bread, in wine, in water. 

Pastor, if you've been weighed down by the burden of greatness, be encouraged to lay that aside and just be a normal minister who preaches the good news and administers the sacraments. 

In this special edition of the Cranmer Fellows Podcast, Matt and Jonathan set up a camera to record the first ever (and perhaps only ever) video pod. It's all because we have a special announcement regarding the Cranmer Fellowship at Church of the Good Shepherd.

Are you discerning whether or not God is calling you to ministry in the church? Do you want to get hands on ministry experience? What about seminary? Is there a way to combine education and experiential training? Let's talk. Email us at [email protected]!

We have another sermon for you this week. This is from last Sunday and is taken from Acts 17:16-21.

Enjoy!

This episode is the recording of Matt's Pentecost sermon this year.

We hope it encourages you this week!

In Christ,

The Cranmer Fellows

A few weeks ago we had the pleasure of welcoming Dr. Carl Trueman to our diocesan synod. During that time we were privileged to sit down with Dr. Trueman to ask him questions about his pastoral experience.

In this episode we talk about the call to pastoral ministry, earning and burning good will with parishioners, dealing with physical abuse in the church, balancing pastoral and scholarly work, and much more.

We hope you enjoy the pod!

In Christ,

The Cranmer Fellows.