In the occasional Grab Bag! feature of the podcast, Jared and Ross come prepared with two surprise questions for the other. No prep, no warning — just unfiltered, off-the-cuff responses to each other’s curiosity.

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.”

An American and a Scotsman walk into a podcast studio . . . It’s not just the start of an obscure joke; it’s the start of this conversation about patriotism. Is it a sin? Is it biblical? How should Christians think through national patriotism in a way that still maintains their allegiance to God above all?

It’s another installment in the FTC Mailbag feature, where Jared and Ross answer listener-submitted questions. This week’s topics include pastors keeping in contact with previous churches, preaching “balance,” whether churches should lock their doors during services, the purpose of the trees in the garden of Eden, and suprisingly influential books.

From two guys who don’t read a lot of biographies comes a list of favorite biographies. On this week’s ep of the For The Church Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ross Ferguson discuss the Christian biographies that have impacted them the most.

What’s the big deal? You’re just standing up there, talking. On this week’s episode of the For The Church Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ross Ferguson suggest some things about preaching the average church member may not know. Some misunderstandings, misperceptions, and even mis-aimed appreciations.

One thing Jared and Ross share is sarcasm as a love language. So on this week’s ep they’re revisiting the subject of humor — sarcasm among friends, mockery on social media, the pros and cons of humor, the ins and outs of humor sensitivity, and what the Bible says about it all.

It’s a mailbag episode! On this week’s For The Church Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ross Ferguson dig into the inbox and tackle questions related to sheep swapping and church hopping, the pursuit of writing, fruitful pulpit supply, and how Satan’s rebellion connects to questions of worship, sanctification, and the possibility of sin in the new heavens and new earth. As always, to submit a question for the mailbag, email us at [email protected]

Lots of singles in the church. Fewer and fewer marriages. What gives? In this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ross Ferguson talk about their own observations and experienes in the “dating world” of the local church. Why are young men and women finding it difficult to find potential spouses? Why do they find it difficult sometimes to even talk to each other? What are the relational landmines in seeing the church as a dating pool? And what can singles actually do to enhance their potential for Christian marriage?

Is there a particularly Christian way to approach sports? Does the Bible say anything about it? Beyond the typical warnings about idolatry and obsession, what good can Christians derive from athetlics and athletic competitions? In this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ross Ferguson discuss the importance and influence of sports, including the question about whether Christians should participate in sports like boxing and MMA.