Shows / Ministry Minded
Ministry Minded
A podcast that seeks to marvel at the mercy of God that meets us in our messy ministries.
www.graceupongrace.net
Episodes
Ministry MindedPastors, Platforms, and the Problem of Angry Absolutists with Joe Thorn
In this episode of Ministry Minded, I sit down with my old friend Joe Thorn to talk about Christian conference culture, online absolutism, the manosphere, how…
Ministry MindedThe Banned Book That Every Pastor Needs to Read with Jeffrey Perry
In the 1700s, the Church of Scotland told its clergy not to recommend a certain book that was making the rounds — the reason being it was offering Christ to…
Ministry MindedFear Not: When God’s Command Is Actually a Promise with Luke Kjolhaug
What if the most prevalent two words in Scripture — “fear not” — aren’t a command to try harder, but a promise to hold onto? This is the question Luke Kjolhaug…
Ministry MindedChrist for You and Why the Gospel Must Stay the Gospel with Justin Perdue
What if our efforts to better Christians are actually taking our eyes off Christ? In this edition of Ministry Minded, I sit down with Justin Perdue to talk…
Ministry MindedTorah, Freedom, and the Finished Work of Christ with R. L. Solberg
From the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15 to today, there is a nagging stream of questions surrounding the church and its relationship to the Torah. Are Christians…
Ministry MindedIsrael, the Church, and the Hourglass Shape of Scripture with Chad Bird
Mentioning the word “Israel” nowadays is a surefire way to stir political, theological, or eschatological pots. But Scripture gives us the grammar to make…
Ministry MindedWounded Shepherds Identifying with the Wounded Messiah with Raphael Mnkandhla
In this episode, I’m joined once again by Raphael Mnkandhla for part two of a two-part mini-series reflecting on and reviewing the book The Clay Pot Conspiracy…
Ministry MindedWriting and Preaching and Throwing Spaghetti at the Wall with Dave Zahl
In this episode, I’m delighted to share a conversation with my friend and brother in ministry, Dave Zahl, as we reflect on the strange yet holy overlap between…
Ministry MindedCracked Pots, Hidden Treasure, and What Nobody Tells You About Pastoral Ministry with Raphael Mnkandhla
In this episode, I’m thrilled to share part one of a two-part mini-series with my friend and brother in ministry, Raphael Mnkandhla, as we reflect on the book…
Ministry MindedPreaching Christ in Season and Out with Tony Phelps
In this episode, I’m joined by pastor and theologian Tony Phelps to talk about why it’s so important for preachers to preach God’s law and God’s gospel…
Ministry MindedChrist Alone and the Homiletical Moment with Bob Hiller
In this episode, I’m joined by Bob Hiller to talk about the craft of preaching, how to navigate the pressures of pastoral ministry in 2026, and what belongs in…
Ministry MindedChurch History, Revivalism, and the Myth of the Golden Age with Obbie Todd
In this episode, I’m joined once again by Obbie Tyler Todd to talk about life, pastoral ministry, and the challenges of preaching in post-Christian contexts…
Ministry MindedLost Boys and Living Hope with Marc Sims
In this episode, I sit down with Marc Sims to have an honest conversation about the current crises facing young men, the reality of living with depression in…
Ministry MindedWhy Preaching Still Matters with Michael Cooper
In this episode, I’m joined by pastor, author, and professor Michael Cooper to talk about preaching, theological retrieval, and the rich history of Baptist…
Ministry MindedWhy the Church Should Laugh More with Tommy Woodard
In this episode, I’m delighted to welcome pastor, actor, and comedian Tommy Woodard to the show to talk about how faith and comedy overlap, and the role humor…
Ministry MindedGrief and Glory in Light of the New Heaven and New Earth with Jordan Moody
In this episode, I’m joined once again by my friend and fellow pastor Jordan Moody to talk about his new book about heaven and eternity, and the hope that…
Ministry MindedVanity, Vapor, and God’s Gift of Joy with Josiah Ott
In this episode, I sit down with my friend and fellow pastor Josiah Ott to talk about what it means to be a young pastor and how preaching and studying the…
Ministry MindedLightbulb Moments in Marriage with Dr. Emerson Eggerichs
In this episode, I’m thrilled to be joined by author, speaker, and founder of Love and Respect Ministries, Dr. Emerson Eggerichs, to talk about some lightbulb…
Ministry MindedStatus, Social Perfectionism, and How the Gospel Frees You to Try with Griffin Gooch
In this episode, I’m joined once again by writer, professor, and fellow Substack-er, Griffin Gooch, to talk about navigating expectations as young leaders, the…
Ministry MindedChurch Hurt, Pastoral Burnout, and Hopeful Ministry with Pilgrim Benham
In this episode, I’m joined by pastor, author, and professor Pilgrim Benham to talk candidly about the grief and grace that’s found in pastoral ministry. We…
Ministry MindedOn Advent, the Church, and Longing for Christ in the Psalms with Raphael Mnkandhla and Trevor Route
In this episode, I’m joined by pastors Raphael Mnkandhla and Trevor Route for a delightful conversation about pastoral ministry, the necessity for community…
Ministry MindedTroubled Consciences and the Comfort of Grace with Jonathan A. Linebaugh
In this episode, I’m delighted to be joined by author, theologian, and scholar Jonathan A. Linebaugh to talk about his new book The Well That Washes What It…
Ministry MindedLiving as a Sinner-Saint with Luke Kjolhaug
In this episode, I get to chat with author and pastor Luke Kjolhaug about his book Sinner Saint and why the sinner-saint paradigm, commonly known as simul…
Ministry MindedReclaiming Gospel Clarity with Brad Kafer
In this episode, I’m joined by my good friend Brad Kafter to discuss the crucial distinction between God’s law and God’s gospel, and the fallout when those two…
Ministry MindedMoral Failure, Ministry Fallout, and the Gospel with Eric Attinger
In this episode, Pastor Eric and I tackle the timely and difficult subject of the fallout when ministry leaders fall into public sin. We discuss how the church…
Ministry MindedWriting, Status, and Storytelling with Griffin Gooch
In this episode, I’m thrilled to chat with essayist and fellow Substack-er Griffin Gooch! Throughout this episode, we explore the intersections of theology…
Ministry MindedChristian Liberty, Church Life, and the Joy of Knowing God with Jason Alligood
In this episode, I chat with Dr. Jason Alligood about the value of studying theology both in the academy and for the church. We aim to show how theology is the…
Ministry MindedHow to Spot the Difference Between the Holy Spirit and the Circus of Deliverance Ministries with Eric Attinger
In this episode, Pastor Eric and I discuss the rise of deliverance ministries and how Christians can discern spiritual warfare through a biblical lens. Looking…
Ministry MindedThe Lopsided Relief of Grace with David Zahl
In this episode, I get to chat with David Zahl about his brand new book, The Big Relief, which explores what makes the message of grace so essential not only…
Ministry MindedKeeping Your Bible Open and Unfurling the Deep Things of God with Philip Nation
In this episode, I chat with Philip Nation about how Bible publishers can promote more engagement with Scripture and help stem the tide of biblical illiteracy…
Ministry MindedFaith in the Fast Lane and Using Social Media Thoughtfully with Eric Attinger
In this episode, Pastor Eric and I discuss how Christians can biblically and thoughtfully navigate the blistering speed of social media and the omnipresence of…
Ministry MindedGood Samaritans, Prodigal Sons, and the Need for Systematic Theologians with Eric Attinger
In this episode, Pastor Eric and I explore the reasons why systematic theology is so important for the church. Those who study systematic theology will deepen…
Ministry MindedWhen Preaching Outlines Go from Helpful to Hazardous with Eric Attinger
In this episode, Pastor Eric and I talk about what happens when a preacher’s sermon outline goes from helpful to hazardous. We discuss the purpose of preaching…
Ministry MindedPreaching with a Fallen Condition Focus and the Comedy of the Gospel with Eric Attinger
In this episode, Pastor Eric and I talk about what it means to preach the Bible with a “fallen condition focus” and how, without the honest recognition of…
Ministry MindedNavigating the Challenges of Studying the Old Testament with Eric Attinger
In this episode, Pastor Eric and I chat about the daunting task of studying the Old Testament and how students of Scripture can and should dive into this…
Ministry MindedDiscerning the Call to Ministry with Eric Attinger
In this episode, Pastor Eric and I talk about how aspiring pastors can discern and distinguish the “call to the ministry” and why that is such a serious…
Ministry MindedThe Gospel’s Encouragement for Discouraged Preachers with Eric Attinger
In this episode, Pastor Eric and I touch on the subject of pastoral encouragement, how pastors can battle it, and why they shouldn’t try to hide it if they are…
Ministry MindedThe Heart of Worship with Eric Attinger
In this episode, I am once again joined by Pastor Eric Attinger as we continue unpacking what makes for a biblically faithful sermon. This time, we chat about…
Ministry MindedThe Source of a Preacher’s Authority with Eric Attinger
In this episode, I am once again joined by Pastor Eric Attinger to continue our conversation concerning biblically faithful sermons. This time, we discuss what…
Ministry MindedPreaching Faithful Sermons with Eric Attinger
In this episode, I am joined by Pastor Eric Attinger to chat about what makes for a biblically faithful sermon and why preachers should preach with an Emmaus…
Ministry MindedHitching a Ride Through the Foothills of Biblical Theology with Chad Bird
In this edition of the Ministry Minded Podcast, I am thrilled to be joined by my friend, Chad Bird, to talk about his new book, Hitchhiking with Prophets, and…
Ministry MindedOn Tolkien, Storytelling, and the Eucatastrophe of Grace with Sam Schuldheisz
In this episode, I am joined by pastor and writer Sam Schuldheisz, who accompanies me on a short excursion to Middle-earth to chat about the ubiquity of…
Ministry MindedOn the Nuances of Reformation History and Theology with Amy Mantravadi
In this episode, I am joined by essayist Amy Mantravadi as we dive into the particulars of the Reformation movement of the 1500s, the theological and…
Ministry MindedThe Anchor of Historical Theology for the Local Church with Raphael Mnkandhla
In this episode, I am joined by Pastor Raphael Mnkandhla to talk about the importance of historical theology and church history not only for pastors and…
Ministry MindedOn the beauty and blessing of biblical preaching with Kris Estep
In this episode, I am joined by Pastor Kris Estep to talk about the state of preaching in the modern church and why preaching expositionally through the Bible…
Ministry MindedGod’s love for unnoticed things, the precariousness of preaching, and a gospel tornado.
In this episode, I share some thoughts on what ought to undergird every sermon and why the good news of the gospel can be likened to a thunderstorm of grace…
Ministry MindedDetermining the timing of Holy Week and the subversive good news of Easter.
In this episode of the Ministry Minded podcast, I share a helpful way to make heads-or-tails of the timing of Holy Week, along with some thoughts on the…
Ministry MindedOn God’s great heart for pastors with Randy Greenwald.
In this episode, I’m joined by pastor and writer Randy Greenwald to talk about his newsletter, “Greatheart’s Table,” and why pastoral efficiency is a bad…
Ministry MindedSocial media is dead, how Facebook has changed, and the failure of the Jefferson Bible.
In this episode, I talk about the recent proliferation of articles and essays that speak to the negative side-effects of social media, and how this negativity…
Ministry MindedThe fallacy of the therapeutic church, Bono’s testimony, and pastoral remit.
In this episode, I reflect on some articles that talk about the emergence of the “therapeutic gospel” which, in effect, leads congregants into functional…
Ministry MindedHoliday odds and ends, and the one-way love of Christmas.
In this episode, I reflect on the holiday season and welcome the New Year by talking through a myriad of holiday-themed articles I’ve been chewing on recently…
Ministry MindedSouthern Yankees, low anthropology, Doubting Thomases, and the famine of the Word.
In this episode, I reflect on the scene where doubt of poor ole “Doubting Thomas” was quelled — and why we, too, can find so much solace in the Christ of God…
Ministry MindedTales from the carpenter’s desk, the risk of Bible study, and the Black Swan of Puritanism.
In this episode, I talk about why Jesus never used carpentry in any of his parables, why Tobias Crisp is the “Black Swan of Puritanism,” and why studying the…
Ministry MindedWasting your life trusting in the efficiency of God, the SBC’s reckoning, and the Word that abides forever.
In this episode, I share a few brief thoughts on the recent reckoning in the Southern Baptist Convention before zeroing in on the truest hope for our times —…
Ministry MindedLeaving Lordship salvation behind and the languishing of ‘Lightyear’.
In this episode, I share some thoughts on the recent hullabaloo surrounding the newest Disney/Pixar film Lightyear, plus why Lordship Salvation should be left…
Ministry MindedGetting back at it.
In this episode, I reflect a little on the recent “face-lift” the blog has received, courtesy of my dear friend Sara Bordner; plus I talk about some other…
Ministry MindedRedeeming the time with Pastor Mike Gray.
In this edition of the Ministry Minded Podcast, I get to share a conversation my dad and I were able to have during our recent vacation in South Carolina on…
Ministry MindedA much-needed rest and holding fast to faith when it doesn’t make sense.
In this episode of the Ministry Minded Podcast, I share some reflections on a much-needed vacation spent with family as well as some timely encouragement on…
Ministry MindedAn assortment of biblical encouragement.
In this episode of the Ministry Minded Podcast, I recap some sermons and talk about how God’s grace gives us the freedom to be present, right now, where we…
Ministry MindedSensationalizing the present means we’ve turned a blind eye to the past.
In this episode of the Ministry Minded Podcast, I share some updates on this “beautifully exhausting” season of life and ministry, as well as the concrete hope…