Wisdom for the Wilderness

Dr. Mark Warnock joins the podcast today to talk about the pastoral leadership crisis; the slow avalanche of declining religious engagement, the expected retirement or passing away of current spiritual leaders within the next decade, and the new generation of leaders. Church residencies play a vital role in training new ministry leaders, bridging the gap between academic study and practical ministry application.

Josh Weidmann joins the podcast this week. He is senior pastor at Grace Chapel in Denver, CO, and a certified biblical counselor. Pastor Weidmann and Dr. Hutchens discuss an increasingly important topic in the world of developing technology; screen time. TV's, computers, and phones have taken over many of our lives. It can be hard even for adults to take a break from the internet. Today's episode explores biblical principles for managing children's screen time and navigating a device-saturated culture. Dr. Hutchens and Pastor Weidmann also provide practical advice and suggestions on how to enforce healthy screen time boundaries.

Resources mentioned: 

• Bark Phone & App:  https://www.bark.us/bark-phone/?srsltid=AYCX9vLN-nEDvpFqhsorovyuj5q5M5AqDlbLyOnmSD4dIEsMBWYv1NiR
• Protect Young Eyes: https://www.protectyoungeyes.com/

• Raising Screen Time Kids: Biblical Principles for Parenting in a Device-Saturated World https://www.amazon.com/dp/057834050X?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback 

Charles Haddon Spurgeon maintained unwavering biblical conviction despite the hardships that surrounded him. On this episode, Dr. Hutchens and Matt Perry discuss the life, ministry, and enduring theological impact of Charles Spurgeon. They also analyze Spurgeon's approach to preaching and how it remains applicable to modern pastoral work places like Denver and Fort Collins.

Brandon Dupre returns to discuss the Old Testament book of Jonah with Dr. Josh Hutchens. They focus on Jonah's reluctance to preach to Nineveh which is contrasted with the faith of Pagans along his journey and with the compassionate responses of the Ninevites upon hearing Jonah's message. Their conversation underscores the importance of compassion in missionary work, drawing parallels between Jonah's story and the broader themes of biblical theology and the role of God's mercy and discipline.

2026 is the 70th anniversary of the Colorado Baptist General Convention and the 30th anniversary of the Rocky Mountain Campus of Gateway Seminary. Claudean Boatman joins the podcast this week to reflect with Dr. Hutchens on the on the history of Southern Baptist missions in Colorado. They talk about the real grassroots efforts it took to create the Colorado Convention and they highlight several leaders like Miss Nicy Murphy. They also discuss the importance of theological education, the challenges of ministry in rural areas, and the need for local leaders to sustain and grow the faith in Colorado.

Stacy is back to discuss modesty with her husband! Stacy and Josh discuss the biblical background and wisdom for modesty, particularly in the context of purity culture in America. They address the historical context and common misconceptions that have arisen as the culture has shifted with time, and they emphasize the importance of modesty as a reflection of internal character and respect for others, referencing 1 Timothy 2:9-10 and 1 Peter 3:3-4.

Dr. Josh Hutchens and Isaac Dzimbiri, director of Gospel Life Global Missions in Malawi, have known each other for years and have served in the field together. In today's episode, these old friends discuss the importance of friendship in missions, drawing parallels to the Apostle Paul's relationships. They address criticisms of Westernization and Christianity's impact on African culture, emphasizing its positive contributions.

The best guest ever joins the podcast this week, Stacy Hutchens, Dr. Josh Hutchens' wife! Together, they discuss the role of a pastor, focusing on the most prevalent models of pastoral ministry in American churches. Josh and Stacy emphasize the vulnerabilities of those models, such as the church's dependence on one leader and the potential for moral failures, and advocate instead for a New Testament model of plural pastor elders, emphasizing the benefits of shared leadership, wisdom, and stability.

In the first episode of our new season as the official podcast of Gateway Seminary’s Rocky Mountain Campus, Dr. Josh Hutchens talks with Brandon Dupre, pastor of Overland Church North Fort Collins. Together, they discuss the importance of understanding the culture we are called to reach and explore six “false gospels” that shape life along Colorado’s Front Range—the good life, self-creation, wellness, social progress, niceness, and nature. Throughout the conversation, they examine how these cultural narratives promise identity, purpose, and fulfillment but ultimately fall short of the hope found in Christ, offering practical insight into faithfully proclaiming the gospel in the unique context of the Mountain West.

We are back! Our first episode of season three airs on September 8th. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch on YouTube.