Shows / The Whole Counsel
The Whole Counsel
John Snyder, host of the Behold Your God Study and an elder of Christ Church New Albany, walks us through the realities of the Christian life with an emphasis on experiential Christianity. We love books on our podcast, so we tend to find great help in old books written by church fathers, puritans, and others. John has a plethora of guests to come on the show and share different insights into the books we discuss.
Episodes
- The Whole Counsel
The Letters of Thomas Charles VII: The Conscience of the Believer
In this episode of The Whole Counsel Podcast, John Snyder returns to the writings of Welsh pastor Thomas Charles, examining his 1784 essay “Natural and Renewed…
- The Whole Counsel
Letters of Thomas Charles VI: Realizing Faith
In this episode of The Whole Counsel Podcast, John Snyder explores Thomas Charles’s 1784 essay “Realizing Faith,” which examines the nature of biblical faith…
- The Whole Counsel
Letters of Thomas Charles V: Spiritual Appetite
In this episode of The Whole Counsel Podcast, Dr. John Snyder explores Thomas Charles’s essay on spiritual appetite, written in 1782. Charles compares the…
- The Whole Counsel
Letters of Thomas Charles IV: How Does God Guide His People?
In this episode of The Whole Counsel, Dr. John Snyder returns to the writings of Welsh pastor and theologian Thomas Charles, focusing on Charles’s essay on…
- The Whole Counsel
Letters of Thomas Charles III: Where Does Assurance Rest?
In this episode of The Whole Counsel, Dr. John Snyder continues the series on Thomas Charles’s pastoral letters, focusing on a letter he wrote to his newlywed…
- The Whole Counsel
Letters of Thomas Charles II: Doubting Love
In this week’s episode of The Whole Counsel Podcast, Dr. John Snyder discusses a letter from Thomas Charles to his future wife, Sarah Jones, also known as…
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Letters of Thomas Charles I: Introduction
“Thomas Charles is God’s gift to North Wales.” —Daniel Rowland This week on The Whole Counsel, we return to our series on great letter-writers in Christianity…
- The Whole Counsel
Biblical Help for Life's Problems V: How We Grow
In episode five of Biblical Help for Life’s Problems, Dr. John Snyder is once again joined by pastor and counselor Louis Sacran. Drawing on Romans 13:14, Louis…
- The Whole Counsel
Biblical Help for Life's Problems IV: Living According To Our Purpose
This week on the Whole Counsel, Louis Sacran, an experienced pastor and biblical counselor, sits down with Dr. John Snyder to discuss how to apply what we have…
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Biblical Help for Life’s Problems III: God’s Faithfulness, Our Expectations
In today’s episode of The Whole Counsel, Dr. John Snyder is once again joined by Louis Sacran, an experienced pastor and counselor. In session three of…
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Biblical Help for Life’s Problems II: The Truth About Trials
In today’s episode of The Whole Counsel, Dr. John Snyder is joined by Louis Sacran, an experienced pastor and counselor from Ripley, Mississippi. Today, John…
- The Whole Counsel
Biblical Help for Life's Problems I: Reframing Biblically
This week on The Whole Counsel, John is joined by Louis Sacran to discuss how to handle difficult problems biblically. Louis has many years of experience as…
- The Whole Counsel
Hebrews I The Jaw Dropping Beauty of Jesus (originally aired 11.11.2021)
This week we are taking a short break between series and re-airing a favorite episode in which John Snyder is joined by a long-time friend and fellow minister…
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A Life of Joy V: Christ Is All
There is a secret to finding contentment. The secret has been revealed in the Bible, and Christians have proclaimed it for 2000 years. Despite this, humanity…
- The Whole Counsel
Life of Joy IV: Contentment Combats Complacency
There is a vast difference between contentment and complacency, though we may be tempted toward the latter. In this episode of The Whole Counsel, John Snyder…
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Life of Joy III: Obstacles to Contentment
Contentment is one of the distinguishing marks of the Christian life—but it is also one of the most difficult graces to cultivate. Why is it so hard to gain…
- The Whole Counsel
Life of Joy II: The School of Contentment
In the first episode of this series, Justin Miller helped us understand what Christian contentment is and why it differs from both complacency and stoicism…
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Life of Joy I: Contentment, Not Complacency
For years, believers have turned to Jeremiah Burroughs’ classic work The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment to learn what it means to rest in God’s wise and…
- The Whole Counsel
Letters of Samuel Rutherford X: Entertain Christ Well
Samuel Rutherford’s letters are often remembered for their soaring descriptions of the beauty and loveliness of Christ. But Rutherford was not content merely…
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Letters of Samuel Rutherford IX: Small Souls and a Boundless Christ
Samuel Rutherford knew suffering, imprisonment, isolation, and loss. Yet from his prison cell came some of the richest descriptions of communion with Christ…
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Letters of Samuel Rutherford VIII: Make Your Choice
This week we continue our study through the letters of Samuel Rutherford by looking at the cost Rutherford paid for following Christ faithfully. Dr. John…
- The Whole Counsel
Letters of Samuel Rutherford VII: When Christ Comes with a Cross
Samuel Rutherford’s letters are filled with counsel for Christians walking through suffering, affliction, persecution, and grief. Having endured imprisonment…
- The Whole Counsel
Letters of Samuel Rutherford VI: The Love and Loveliness of Christ
In this episode of The Whole Counsel Podcast, Dr. John Snyder returns to the letters of Samuel Rutherford to consider a central theme of his writings, the love…
- The Whole Counsel
Letters of Samuel Rutherford V: Am I What I Say I Am?
We appreciate you giving us time to prepare new studies and to let you know about the study with Dr. Stephen Yuille that we just released. You can find more…
- The Whole Counsel
Kingdom Life: A New Study from Media Gratiae
For the past two weeks, we’ve mentioned an upcoming study with Jeremy Walker. This week, we’re pleased to announce that our new study with Dr. Stephen Yuille…
- The Whole Counsel
Praying Together III: Priming the Pump (Originally Published 4.10.25)
As we mentioned last week, Media Gratiae is currently producing a new study with Jeremy Walker. We’re excited about this project and will share more details…
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Praying Together I: Digging the Well (Originally Published 03.27.25)
This week, we began work on a new Media Gratiae study by Jeremy Walker on the topic of killing sin. We always find Jeremy’s teaching careful, warm-hearted, and…
- The Whole Counsel
Letters of Samuel Rutherford IV: Assurance of Faith
This week we continue reading from the prison letters of Samuel Rutherford. Though he was suffering under house arrest, Rutherford never lost his pastoral…
- The Whole Counsel
Letters of Samuel Rutherford III: Dark World, Fair Jesus
In this week’s episode, John Snyder continues exploring the letters of Samuel Rutherford. Rutherford is known for his poetic descriptions of Christ. Even when…
- The Whole Counsel
Letters of Samuel Rutherford II: No Poison in Christ’s Cup
This week on The Whole Counsel, Dr. John Snyder continues our series on the great letterwriters in Christendom: Letters of Samuel Rutherford. After introducing…
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Letters of Samuel Rutherford I: Six People Who will Benefit
This week, Dr. John Snyder continues exploring classic Christian letters by focusing on one of the greatest Puritan letter writers, Samuel Rutherford. If…
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Letters of John Calvin VI: The Final Farewell of the Reformer
This week, we conclude our journey through the letters of John Calvin, exploring the final days of the Magisterial Reformer. Dr. John Snyder shares the…
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Letters of John Calvin V: Letters of John Calvin V: The Reformer’s Love and Loss
This week Dr. John Snyder continues our series on the letters of John Calvin, one of the most influential figures of the Protestant Reformation. In this…
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Letters of John Calvin IV: On a Royal Conversion
What happens when a queen discovers Christ in the midst of wealth, luxury, and political turmoil? John Calvin’s letter to the Queen of Navarre offers timeless…
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Letters of John Calvin III: John Knox, Queen Mary, and Reformational Clarity
This week, the Media Gratiae team is back at work. We are grateful for the patience and kindness many of you showed as we navigated the aftermath of the recent…
- The Whole Counsel
Fighting and Killing Sin II: Watch and Pray (Originally published 10.20.22)
As we continue to recover from the winter storm that affected northeast Mississippi, we’re grateful for your patience and prayers. We didn’t want to leave you…
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Fighting and Killing Sin I: Temptation and Testing (Originally published 10.13.22)
You may have heard about the significant ice storm that has swept through northeast Mississippi. Like many in our area, the Media Gratiae team has been…
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Letters of John Calvin II: Reconciliation and Encouragement toward John Knox
In this week’s episode of The Whole Counsel podcast, Dr. John Snyder continues reading from the letters of John Calvin. As he noted in the previous episode…
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Letters of John Calvin I: Encouraging the Persecuted
This week we begin a new series of letters, this time reading directly from John Calvin. We often read about Calvin—about his theology, his controversies, or…
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Winter of the Soul III: Why Faithful Servants Grow Weary
This week, Dr. John Snyder continues reflecting on spiritual weariness by returning to a lecture Charles Spurgeon delivered to ministerial students on what he…
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Winter of the Soul II: Why Faithfulness Doesn’t Prevent Depression
This week on The Whole Counsel, Dr. John Snyder continues a thoughtful discussion on seasonal depression—whether that season is influenced by winter’s effect…
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Winter of the Soul I: January Outside and Inside
We often remember John Newton for his wisdom, joy, and enduring hymns. But like every Christian, Newton knew seasons of profound sadness and spiritual…
- The Whole Counsel
Advent Meditations III: Helping You Conquer Your Sin
Merry Christmas from Media Gratiae. In this special episode, Jordan and John conclude their series on meditating on the incarnation of Jesus. They explore what…
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Advent Meditations II: Isaac Ambrose’s Practical Observations
The incarnation is one of the most familiar doctrines in Christianity—and yet one of the most overlooked. This week, Dr. John Snyder is joined again by Jordan…
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Advent Meditations I: The Mystery of the Incarnation
25 Meditations on the Incarnation: https://shop.mediagratiae.org/pages/advent-meditations This week, Dr. John Snyder is joined by Jordan Thomas, a familiar…
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A Word in Season: A New Devotional from Jeremy Walker
In this week’s episode, Dr. John Snyder welcomes pastor and author Jeremy Walker to discuss his new devotional, A Word in Season: 50 Days of Hope for Hard…
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Getting the Incarnation Right: Athanasius on the Deity of Christ
In recognition of the upcoming 1,700th anniversary of the Nicene Creed, we are presenting a special episode from our Navigating the Classics series. Dr. John…
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2025 Supporter Update
As this year comes to a close, we want to present to you a report on what the Lord has guided Media Gratiae to accomplish over the course of 2025. This week…
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2025 Book Recommendations
It’s one of our favorite episodes of the year—sharing new Christian books worth reading and giving. In this 2025 edition, Dr. John Snyder highlights an updated…
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Letters that Continue to Speak XI: Final Letter to Mrs. —
John Newton’s final letter to Mrs. — reminds believers that suffering is never wasted. Dr. John Snyder explores Newton’s insights on sanctification, God’s…
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Letters that Continue to Speak X: Humility Over Blessings
Dr. John Snyder continues the Letters that Continue to Speak series with John Newton’s Letter 5. In this pastoral letter, Newton teaches how God uses trials to…
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Letters that Continue to Speak IX: God’s Kindness in Our Trials
In this week’s episode of The Whole Counsel, Dr. John Snyder continues our series on Christian letters from the past, focusing on Letter 4 to Mrs. —, written…
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Letters that Continue to Speak VIII: Fighting Without; Fears Within
Last week, we introduced “Mrs.. —.” She is a lady whose name is lost to history, but John Newton’s “shepherding through the post,” as Dr. John Snyder phrased…
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Letters That Continue to Speak VII: Dust and Divinity
This week, we return to our series of Christian letters from history. Previously, we have looked at letters John Newton wrote about stages of the Christian…
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Study Preview Special: Christ Our Treasure
This is our final week of previewing studies Media Gratiae has produced through the years. If you have been through Behold Your God: Rethinking God Biblically…
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Study Preview Special: The Nature and Practice of True-Hearted Discipleship
We are continuing our special series highlighting studies Media Gratiae has produced through the years, and this week, we are presenting to you one of our…
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Study Preview Special: The Weight of Majesty
We are taking a break from our series on letters from Christian history to give Teddy James and his family a short break while they care for their new…
- The Whole Counsel
Study Preview Special: Rethinking God Biblically
We are celebrating an addition to the Media Gratiae family over the next few weeks. If you have listened to The Whole Counsel for a long time, you may remember…
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Letters That Continue to Speak VI: Thoughts on the exercise of Social Prayer
Public prayer, whether it is praying in a corporate setting or simply asking a blessing over a meal with friends, can cause many Christians to feel…
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Letters That Continue to Speak V: The Full Corn in the Ear
Dr. John Snyder has spent the last two weeks looking at John Newton’s seasons of the Christian life, which he likens to a growing stalk of corn. The Christian…