Joel Lawrence and Zach Wagner host Jim Samra as he tells his story of becoming a pastor theologian. Jim tells the story of his conversion to Christ and how the Lord led him through a series of unique and critical moments in his life to direct him to pursue a PhD at Oxford and eventually the pastorate.

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Mike Cosper joins the podcast to refresh and expand on conversations from the 2023 CPT Conference about the nature of pastoral authority and how that authority can be abused. During the show, Cosper offers a definition of authority that highlights the locus of authority in relationship, encouraging pastors not to view themselves as inaccessible shepherds but as pastors of the people. Mike covers topics from mega churches to Mark Driscoll to Hannah Arendt.

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Todd Wilson, Joel Lawrence, and Gerald Hiestand discuss the origins and history of the Center for Pastor Theologians, how the vision has developed and clarified over time, and what the future might hold. They also discuss the recent transition, with Joel stepping in as the new president and Todd's plans for the future.  

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In this plenary message from the 2023 CPT Conference, Power and the Pulpit, Matthew Kim asks us to consider whether our preaching embodies a contemporary pursuit of power or a Pauline theology of weakness. Reflecting on the examples of Jesus, Paul, and his own on personal history, Matthew Kim challenges preachers to lead the church from a posture of humble weakness that depends on the power of Christ.

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Jennifer Powell McNutt joins the podcast to discuss the role of preaching in the church, how the practice of lectio continua shaped preaching during the Reformation, and how churches today can benefit (and potentially abuse) this practice. Along the way, Jennifer shares some of the story of her call to ministry and her personal formation as well as offering an encouragement to listeners to join the upcoming CPT conference. Listen now to gain a better historical perspective on the centrality of the preached word in the life of the body. 

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Jeremy Treat, pastor of Reality LA and a CPT Fellow, joins the podcast to discuss his most recent book The Atonement: An Introduction as well as his role in the upcoming CPT Conference on preaching. He discusses his contribution to atonement theology, which focuses on how the cross fits into the story of the kingdom and how the notion of theories of the atonement can detract from the multi-dimensional nature of Christ's work on the cross. He also explains how a rich theology of the atonement fuels the weekly work of shepherding through proclamation. Listen now for answers to such questions as: Who has been most influential in his understanding of the atonement? How does atonement theology transform preaching? What is the role of preaching in the church? How can one preach effectively in diverse settings? Where does atonement fit in the gospel? And much more!

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Author and speaker Iain Provan joins the podcast to discuss his recent book, Cuckoos in Our Nest: Truth and Lies about Being Human. Contemporary Western culture offers up various visions of what it means to be human, visions that many within the church have unknowingly adopted yet which contrast sharply with biblical revelation. Like the murderous offspring of the cuckoo bird, once these ideas take root, they drive out biblical assumptions of anthropology, even while masquerading as Christian. In this episode, Iain highlights three of these “cuckoos” and explains their effects on Christian thinking, addressing such questions as: What is the relationship between science and faith? What are the origins of current ideas about the self? Which sources should Christians consider authoritative? How does culture catechize the church? How can the church identify and dethrone the cuckoos that have already taken hold?

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CPT fellow Chris Castaldo joins the podcast to discuss his recent book, The Upside Down Kingdom: Wisdom for Life from the Beatitudes. Jesus didn't offer the beatitudes as an unattainable moral example. They are his description of what disciples ought to look like in his kingdom, a kingdom that rejects the mechanisms of the world and advances instead through the meek, firm witness of its subjects. Chris encourages pastors to take up the beatitudes as their roadmap for discipleship, addressing such questions along the way as: How do the beatitudes form shepherds? How might we apply them to liturgical questions concerning preaching and worship? What do they have to say about pursuing justice? How have Christians in history applied them in the face of persecution? How do they liberate believers from the anxiety and outrage that characterize so much contemporary discourse?

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Author Katelyn Beaty joins the podcast to discuss her recent book, Celebrities for Jesus: How Personas, Profits, and Platforms are Hurting the Church. We discuss the history of evangelicalism as it relates to the use of mass media, as well as how the wider cultural phenomenon of celebrity relates to the evangelical movement. How has celebrity shaped pastors' sense of vocation? What are the dangers associated with the megachurch movement and famous pastors? This and much more on this episode.

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CPT fellow Danny Houck joins for the second part of our conversation on Thomas Aquinas and original sin. In this episode Danny traces three challenges he sees in the evolutionary narrative of human origins for a Christian understanding of human fallenness. He suggests that Aquinas' account of human nature and renewal can be put into productive dialogue with these challenges and create new possibilities for theology and Christian discipleship.

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