When to Leave a Church
In an age of increasing church consumerism and church division, Christians sometimes leave churches for less than honorable reasons. But what are the honorable ones? In this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz talk about the why’s and how’s of leaving a local church.
The Christian Hope in Mourning
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the practice of delaying funerals became routine. Often postponed out of necessity, delayed funerals complicated the mourning process and created difficult conversations resurfacing months later. Indeed, by mid-2021, articles began appearing in major publications contemplating the awkwardness and grief attending the phenomenon of delayed funerals. A palpable sense was afoot that […]
Peace in a World Full of Conflict
The familiar car pulled into the church parking lot. As the driver stepped out, my stomach tightened and my heart raced. This churchgoer had a history of sharp words toward me, and I knew he had been involved in conflicts I’d mediated for others. My mind spiraled: “What is he going to say today? What […]
Jesus Loves the Self-Righteous Sinner
For years, I believed Jesus reserved His loving kindness for the obviously broken: the prodigals, the tax collectors, the sinners who knew they were lost. But then I read Mark 10. In Mark 10, the rich young ruler comes to Jesus sincerely, respectfully, and with remarkable confidence in his own obedience. “All these [laws] I […]
From the Archives | What Does it Mean to be Gospel-Centered?
Originally aired on July 21, 2021 On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz break down the implications of gospel-centrality beyond the buzzword.
Episode 335: Hosea
It’s another installment in our occasional Bible book feature. This time around, Jared Wilson talks with Dr. Andrew King, Assoc. Prof. of Biblical Studies and Assistant Dean of Spurgeon College, about Hosea. Who was this prophet? What does his story have to do with the story of Jesus? And how can this book impact a local church?
Episode 333: A Fond Farewell to Ross
It’s time to say goodbye to our Assistant Director of Ministry Policeman. Raise a bottle of Irn Bru in the air to toast our irrascible, Christian movie-loving co-host, Ross Ferguson, as he shares more about his new ministry assignment, offers some words of wisdom on life and ministry in reflection, and the guys walk down a bit of the podcast memory lane, sharing some favorite famous (and infamous) moments from their 125 episodes together.
Episode 332: Acts
This week’s episode of the FTC Podcast begins an occasional feature where we talk to an expert on different books of the Bible. In this first Bible book episode, Jared Wilson talks with Dr. Patrick Schreiner, Assoc. Prof. of New Testament and Biblical Theology at Midwestern Seminary, about the book of Acts, Luke’s chronicle of the early church after Christ’s resurrection. What are the major themes? What do we make of some tricky texts? And what is the importance of this book for the average local church?
Episode 326: Prodigal Parents
Does obeying the fifth commandment mean never bugging your unbelieving parents about their spiritual state? How might other passages of Scripture provide some guidance on evangelizing our lost mom or dad? It’s common for Christians to think about winning prodigal children, but in this episode of hte FTC Podcast, Jared and Ross discuss how to handle having “prodigal parents.”
Episode 323: Movie Swap!
Our debate over the quality of Christian movies is now notorious and a running gag on the podcast, but this is only the second time ever we’ve done an official “movie swap.” Ross assigns Jared a Christian movie to watch. Jared assigns Ross a “Christian-“eque movie to watch. Then they sit and down and compare notes. On this week’s episode of the podcast, the guys discuss 2006’s “Facing the Giants” and 1998’s “Simon Birch.”