Shows / The Common Good Podcast
The Common Good Podcast
The idea of “the common good” has a rich history within the Christian church. It’s the notion that, as we pursue Jesus in our lives and in the lives of others, we are fulfilling God’s purposes for His creation. This pursuit can be messy. It means rolling up our sleeves and creating space for hard conversations about real issues that impact our lives. Things like parenting, marriage, finances, politics, art, and culture. On The Common Good, Brian From creates space to…
Episodes
- The Common Good Podcast
Christians Can Disagree About the Age of the Earth, but No Politician Is Saving God
Brian From returns from Dallas, where he officiated the wedding of a former youth group student, reflecting on how staying connected to Jesus is the key to a…
- The Common Good Podcast
Mark Batterson Says Not My Circus: Living with Conviction and Compassion in a Chaotic World
Brian From talks with New York Times bestselling author and Washington, D.C. pastor Mark Batterson, a Naperville native, about his new book, Not My Circus…
- The Common Good Podcast
The Changing Seasons Point to an Unchanging God, and Every Part of Sunday Worship Matters
Brian From kicks off the weekend reflecting on what fall’s changing seasons reveal about a God who never changes. He vents about increasingly reckless…
- The Common Good Podcast
An NBA Ball Boy Shows What Everyday Evangelism Looks Like, While Campaign Politics Sink Lower
Brian From opens with another cautionary youth sports story: a former MLB player and his wife charged with diverting about $60,000 from a youth baseball…
- The Common Good Podcast
Impact Latin America’s Houses of Peace Are Reaching Gang Members, Widows, and Whole Neighborhoods
Brian From spends the afternoon again with Susana Sharp of Impact Latin America, which now counts more than 17,000 people who have come to faith since 2019…
- The Common Good Podcast
We Want Closure on Every Story, but Faith Means Trusting God with What We Can’t Explain
Brian From starts with a press pitch about Amelia Earhart’s missing plane and asks why unsolved mysteries fascinate us. He suggests we crave closure, and…
- The Common Good Podcast
We’re Never Fully in Control, but We Can Know What Heaven Holds
Brian From opens with his son’s hours-long flight delay back to college as a reminder that we’re never fully in control, but God is. He questions…
- The Common Good Podcast
Elections Matter, but They Aren’t Ultimate, and Jesus Isn’t on the Ballot
Brian From starts the weekend glad to have his son home from college for fall break, remembering his own first trip home from Wheaton. With the midterms weeks…
- The Common Good Podcast
Plugged In’s Adam Holz Returns from a Health Scare to Review a Movie Set Inside a Sperm Whale
Adam Holz of Plugged In rejoins Brian From after several weeks away. He shares that a kidney tumor removed in surgery turned out to be benign despite a 90…
- The Common Good Podcast
A Daily Walk Can Help Your Mental Health, and Delight in Someone Else’s Misfortune Reveals Something About Your Heart
Brian From opens with a study linking walking to better mental health in teens, a good reminder for all of us. In a vulnerable moment, he admits that hearing…
- The Common Good Podcast
Impact Latin America Is Equipping Ordinary Believers to Plant ‘Houses of Peace’ Across the Region
Brian From sits down with Susana Sharp of Impact Latin America, an interdenominational ministry that partners with more than 35 denominations in about 20…
- The Common Good Podcast
Ben and Stacy Reaoch Finish the Family Devotional Ben’s Late Mother Began
Brian From catches up with his former college roommate Ben Reaoch and Ben’s wife, Stacy, about their new book, The Word in Our Home: A Family Plan for…
- The Common Good Podcast
Nearly 100,000 Churches Could Close in the Next Decade, the Answer Is the Gospel.
Brian From comes off a beautiful homecoming weekend reflecting on his church’s Bible reading class, where the cycle of judgment and hope in Isaiah…
- The Common Good Podcast
A 157-Year-Old Palatine Church Is Still Reaching Its Community, One Family at a Time
Brian From talks with Pastors Warren Schilf and Donald Antor of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Palatine. Warren shares how he grew up in the church and its…
- The Common Good Podcast
Halloween Candy Is the Latest Thing Priced Out of Reach, and Greed Is About More Than Money
Brian From kicks off the weekend with a report that Halloween candy prices have jumped 71 percent in five years, along with near-$5 gas, and reminds listeners…
- The Common Good Podcast
New Senior Pastor Tre Moore Shares How Lakeland Church Moves People from Consuming to Contributing
Brian From talks with Tre Moore, who became senior pastor of Lakeland Church in Gurney, Illinois, a few months ago after years as a member and elder there. Tre…
- The Common Good Podcast
Dr. Deana Thayer Explains Why Resilient Kids Don’t Just Bounce Back, They Move Through
Brian From talks with Dr. Deana Thayer, parenting and marriage specialist at Focus on the Family, about raising resilient kids. Deana argues that resilience…
- The Common Good Podcast
Bobbie Schaeperkoetter Offers a Flexible, Guilt-Free Way to Spend Time with God Every Day
Brian From talks with pastor, nonprofit leader, and spiritual director Bobbie Schaeperkoetter about her new book, With God Every Day: A Flexible Framework for…
- The Common Good Podcast
Two Adopted Sisters Found Each Other on a Softball Field, and Brian From Weighs the Death Penalty
Brian From opens with a real-life Parent Trap: two Montana teens, adopted as babies by different families, discovered they were biological sisters when a…
- The Common Good Podcast
A Padres Pitcher Chose His Newborn over the Playoffs, and That Was the Right Call
Brian From starts midweek with an embarrassing story about taking a volleyball to the face while looking at his phone, and a reminder to stop living…
- The Common Good Podcast
Why AM Radio is Disappearing From Cars (And How to Save It) with Troy Miller
Are automakers quietly phasing out AM radio to control what you listen to? In this episode of The Common Good, host Brian From sits down with Troy Miller, CEO…
- The Common Good Podcast
Christians Can Vote Differently and Still Worship Together
With the midterms approaching, Brian From asks whether Christians can vote differently and still worship side by side. He highlights Pastor Robert Jeffress…
- The Common Good Podcast
Bishop Dr. Michael Love Shares How a 13-Person Bible Study Grew into a Thriving Church and a Jail Ministry
Brian From welcomes back Bishop Dr. Michael Love, founding senior pastor of Trinity Baptist Community Church in Crystal Lake. Michael tells how a corporate…
- The Common Good Podcast
Yes, Jesus Loves You, and Yes, You Need to Rest
Brian From opens the week by calling a perfect Midwest fall day a reminder of the Creator's goodness. He shares how the podcast Ctrl+Z: Rewritten got him…
- The Common Good Podcast
Sports Betting Is a Predatory Industry, and Young Men Are Its Prime Target
Brian From talks with Emily Washburn, issues analyst and writer at Focus on the Family's Daily Citizen, about the rapid growth of sports gambling. Emily…
- The Common Good Podcast
Should We Be Held Accountable for What We Said as Teenagers?
Brian From starts the weekend with a reminder about the work it takes to build adult friendships once the kids leave home, and why we need people who point us…
- The Common Good Podcast
There's Not Much Family-Friendly Fare at the Box Office This Week, but Plugged In Has Some Alternatives
With Adam Holz out, Brian From welcomes fellow Plugged In reviewer Bret Eckelberry for the weekly entertainment check-in. Bret warns families that this week's…
- The Common Good Podcast
Angel Tree Brings Christmas, and Christ, to Children Whose Parents Are in Prison
Brian From talks with John Brennan, national recruiting coordinator for Angel Tree, a Prison Fellowship ministry that works through local churches to deliver…
- The Common Good Podcast
Four Hundred to Go with Michael Woolworth and Bible League
Brian From welcomes back Michael Woolworth of Bible League International for the final push of their month-long campaign to put Bibles in the hands of…
- The Common Good Podcast
Reminded, Not Instructed
Brian From opens October with an attempted mid-air attack on a commercial flight and the passengers and off-duty pilots who stopped it. He then recaps his…
- The Common Good Podcast
Every Table an Altar: Ian Simkins on Reclaiming Connection
Brian welcomes back former co-host Ian Simkins, now lead pastor of The Bridge in Tennessee, to discuss his new book, Every Table and Altar: Reclaiming…
- The Common Good Podcast
Jews.com: A Bold New Tool to Share Messiah with the Jewish Community
Brian talks with Rabbi Kirt Schneider, host of Discovering the Jewish Jesus, about a remarkable ministry development. Rabbi Schneider shares an unusual…
- The Common Good Podcast
Embodying God's Multiethnic Kingdom: Living Diversity Beyond Sunday
Brian talks with Nathan Walton about his new book, Embodying God's Multiethnic Kingdom: Live Out the Diversity of Heaven Every Day. Nathan shares the story…
- The Common Good Podcast
Why We Worship: Recovering Reverence and Awe in a Declining Church Culture
Brian talks with Adriel Sanchez, senior minister at North Park Presbyterian Church in San Diego and author of the new book Why We Worship: Experiencing Heaven…
- The Common Good Podcast
Ugly Headlines, Checklist Sanctification, and Why We've Stopped Hosting
Brian processes two disturbing stories of Christian public figures — authors Heather and Seth Day and a Project Rescue director — facing serious…
- The Common Good Podcast
From Rehab to the Pulpit: Pastor Jeremiah Stingl on 10 Years at Living Water
Brian talks with Pastor Jeremiah Stingl of Living Water Community Church in Bolingbrook, Illinois, as the church approaches its 10-year anniversary with him as…
- The Common Good Podcast
Justin Verlander's Emotional Retirement, and Should Churches Sing Bethel or Hillsong?
Brian shares the emotional moment of pitcher Justin Verlander's final game with the Detroit Tigers, when his daughter ran onto the field as he was pulled from…
- The Common Good Podcast
Bringing Hope: Providing Bibles to Believers Worldwide with Bible League International
In a world filled with headlines that can often weigh heavy on our hearts, it’s refreshing to focus on the light of hope and faith. This episode features…
- The Common Good Podcast
Press Freedom Restored, the Loneliness Epidemic, and Should Christians Delete Social Media?
Brian discusses a federal judge's ruling that President Trump's ban of CNN, MS Now, and Politico from the White House was likely unconstitutional, arguing…
- The Common Good Podcast
Getting Older, Living with Financial Stress, and Learning to Forgive
Brian reflects candidly on the small signs of getting older as he approaches 50, and pivots to processing his disappointment over New York Giants quarterback…
- The Common Good Podcast
A Rogue Leaf Floods the Basement, and the Ministry of Presence
Brian shares a comically frustrating weekend story — a single leaf clogging his garage drain and flooding his basement despite recent drainage work…
- The Common Good Podcast
Living in God's Presence Daily, and Should the Church Speak Out on Sports Gambling?
Brian opens with a rich theological reflection on living coram Deo — before the face of God — arguing that God's presence isn't confined to two…
- The Common Good Podcast
Shaun the Sheep's Halloween Horror Spoof, and a New Daniel Movie
Brian catches up with Adam Holz of Plugged In for a lighter Friday roundup. They discuss Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom, a Halloween-themed…
- The Common Good Podcast
The Lindsey Clancy Trial and a Culture of Moral Confusion
Brian talks with Paul Batura, VP of communications and chief editor of the Daily Citizen at Focus on the Family, about the disturbing public sympathy that…
- The Common Good Podcast
Happiness Isn't the Enemy of Holiness: A Biblical Case for Joy
Brian talks with British pastor and Christianity Today columnist Andrew Wilson about his new book, Happiness: What It Is, Where to Find It, and How to Make It…
- The Common Good Podcast
When 'America's Pastor' Hid His Struggle, and Why Marriages Go Cold
Brian reflects on the recently resurfaced story of Max Lucado secretly battling alcohol at the height of his ministry success, drawing out lessons on the…
- The Common Good Podcast
Radical Generosity Doesn't Need to Be Extreme
Brian talks with Blair Korschun, CEO of Adelphi Christian Banking, about his article "Radical Generosity Doesn't Need to Be Extreme." Blair makes the case that…
- The Common Good Podcast
Bible League International: Providing Scripture to the Bibleless
In this special broadcast, Brian partners with Michael Woolworth of Bible League International for the ministry's annual fall fundraising drive, aiming to…
- The Common Good Podcast
From the Marines to the Pulpit: Pastor Andrew Fetzer's Journey at Alpha Baptist Church
Brian talks with Pastor Andrew Fetzer of Alpha Baptist Church in Livonia, Michigan, about his path from conversion at 18 through four years in the United…
- The Common Good Podcast
A Weekend with My Son, the 'No Contact' Movement, and What It Means to Not Be Lukewarm
Brian recaps a whirlwind weekend driving to visit his college freshman son, watching Sunday Night Football together, and reflects on how family time reorders…
- The Common Good Podcast
Rescuing Christian Leadership from Burnout and Self-Reliance
Brian talks with Dr. Margaret Diddams, former provost at Wheaton College and co-author with Shirley Mullen of the new book Tried and True: The Countercultural…
- The Common Good Podcast
25 Years After 9/11: A Personal Story, the Problem of Evil, and Tim Keller's Sermon of Comfort
On the 25th anniversary of September 11th, Brian shares a deeply personal memory of Jerry Paskins, a kind, ordinary man from his home church in New Jersey who…
- The Common Good Podcast
Grandparents' Day: Building a Legacy of Faith Across Generations
Ahead of Grandparents' Day on September 13, Brian talks with Dr. Joannie DeBrito, licensed marriage and family therapist with Focus on the Family, about the…
- The Common Good Podcast
Remembering 9/11 Through Film, and The Passion of the Christ Returns to Theaters with Adam Holz
On the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Brian catches up with Adam Holz of Plugged In to discuss the best films for remembering that day and passing its history on to…
- The Common Good Podcast
25 Years After 9/11, and the Danger of Trivializing Violence
On the eve of the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Brian reflects on that day's lasting impact and shares the inspiring story of Wells Crowther, "the man in the red…
- The Common Good Podcast
Responding to the Colombia Earthquakes: How You Can Help
Brian partners with Daniel Patino of Food for the Poor to raise awareness and support for families devastated by recent earthquakes in Colombia. Daniel, who is…
- The Common Good Podcast
Hunting for God: How the Outdoors Points to Scripture
Brian talks with twin brothers Chad and James Hampton, pastors and co-founders of Hunt the Truth Ministries, about their new devotional, 100 Days of Strength…
- The Common Good Podcast
Remembering 9/11 Twenty-Five Years Later, and What True Repentance Looks Like
Brian reflects personally on the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, sharing his own memory of that day and encouraging listeners not to let the…
- The Common Good Podcast
When a Good Reputation Isn’t Enough
In this episode of The Common Good, Brian From reflects on the tension between outward reputation and inward reality, beginning with JD Greer’s sobering…
- The Common Good Podcast
The Bible Has More to Say About Trauma and Loneliness Than You Think
Brian covers a lot of topics in this episode, moving from a solo reflection on God making broken things new, to interviews on generosity, suffering, biblical…