The Jim Bradford Podcast

Today, Pastor Jim and I are discussing the reality of suffering. For many people, the presence of pain, suffering, and evil in the world presents a significant obstacle to faith. How can a good God allow people to suffer?

In this episode, we take a closer look at this difficult question, offering insights from Christian apologetics as well as our perspectives as pastors walking alongside people in the midst of real suffering. We hope this conversation encourages you and helps you grow deeper in your faith.

Our apologetics series continues this week as we sit down with Pastor Jim to explore the reliability of Scripture. Following last week's discussion on the existence of God, we turn to the question of whether the Bible can be trusted. In upcoming episodes, we'll also tackle questions about suffering and even the existence of aliens. Through these conversations, we hope to strengthen your faith and equip you to thoughtfully engage with questions from your congregation, friends, family, and neighbors.

Pastor Jim has long made apologetics a regular part of his preaching at Central Assembly. In this four-week series, he returns to some familiar questions and takes up a few new ones: Does God exist? Can the Bible be trusted? Why is there suffering? Could there be aliens? The series also explores how apologetics is changing and the questions people are asking now.

Pastor Jim and I reference our trips to Israel all the time. It's a place we both love, and one that's been largely closed to visitors these last few years. We had a rare chance to sit down with Dr. Wave Nunnally, who we've both studied under in Israel, along with one of his close friends and Israeli tour guides, Yoav Rotem. We talk about what makes studying in Israel so valuable, and we ask them the questions people are asking about the war.

Today we’re talking about book recommendations for new believers, but the conversation quickly expands into a broader discussion about reading itself. What role should reading play in the life of a Christian? How can books deepen our faith, sharpen our thinking, and help us grow in wisdom? We also explore practical ways to cultivate stronger reading habits and develop the discipline to read more thoughtfully and consistently.

Anyone who preaches regularly faces the temptation to return to what they already know. Sometimes repetition is unavoidable. Other times, it may be a sign that we need more preparation or need to stretch our own learning.

In today’s episode, Pastor Jim and I continue our conversation on preaching. We discuss repetition, why preachers fall into familiar patterns, and how to stay fresh in the pulpit after years of preaching.

This isn't the first time we've discussed AI on the podcast, but things are changing fast. Nearly everyone, pastors included, has seen the advice and marketing about how AI will transform their work. But while the tools keep getting better and faster, how we should use AI in pastoring and preaching remains an open question with complicated ethical considerations. In today's episode, Pastor Jim and I explore how we're actually using AI, and where it can help and where it can hurt.

We're taking a few weeks to talk about preaching, and this week we have a great question from a listener that takes us into a conversation on preaching themes, voice, and learning to embrace who you are as a preacher. We hope it's a helpful conversation for anyone who is regularly preaching, teaching, or reflecting on the themes of their life's work. 

While the scriptures often direct our attention to how we spend money and our motivations for generosity, the topic can be uncomfortable for some people. In today’s episode, Pastor Jim describes why generosity matters and how church leaders can cultivate generosity in honest and transparent ways. It’s a helpful conversation for those responsible for teaching and for all who seek to live a more generous life. 

We live in an age of distraction. From our phones to twenty-four-hour news cycles, there's always something competing for our attention. It affects us as leaders and also as Christians. Our attention can be hijacked, and our eyes pulled toward worthless things. In today's episode, Pastor Jim offers advice for cultivating deeper focus and explores why distraction is one of the discipleship challenges of our age.