Holy Joys Podcast

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A discussion of theology and ministry practice, all for a holy, happy church. A ministry of holyjoys.org.

Johnathan Arnold

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    • May 6, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 38m AVG DURATION
    • 118 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Holy Joys Podcast

    Bedtime Prayer for Kids (Psalm 31)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2025 18:39


    A special episode for young children, part of a series of "Kids' Compline: Bedtime Prayer for Young Children."Support the show

    Bedtime Prayer for Kids (Psalm 4)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2024 25:39


    A special episode for young children, part of a series of "Kids' Compline: Bedtime Prayer for Young Children."Support the show

    Bedtime Prayer for Kids (Psalm 91)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2024 25:39


    A special episode for young children, the first in a series of "Kids' Compline: Bedtime Prayer for Young Children."Support the show

    Introduction to Catechesis and the New Methodist Catechism

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2024 50:12


    Johnathan Arnold and David Fry discuss catechesis and the forthcoming New Methodist Catechism.Support the show

    Fred Sanders on Hilary of Poitiers and the Trinity

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2024 59:55


    Support the show

    Evangelism and Being a Missional Church

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2023 23:26


    David Fry and Johnathan Arnold discuss approaches to evangelism, the evangelistic duty of the pastor-theologian, and the priority of missions in the life of the church.Support the show

    Catechism Class, Week 6: The Means of Grace

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2023 49:01


    In this special episode of the Holy Joys Podcast, Johnathan Arnold teaches through an early draft of the New Methodist Catechism in preparation for a baptism and church membership class at Redeemer Wesleyan Church, where he serves as Senior Pastor.Support the show

    Church Growth: Numbers and Maturity

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2023 40:55


    Johnathan Arnold and David Fry discuss David's recent article, "What Does Healthy Church Growth Look Like?"Support the show

    Catechism Class, Week 5: The Church & Sacraments

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2023 51:31


    In this special episode of the Holy Joys Podcast, Johnathan Arnold teaches through an early draft of the New Methodist Catechism in preparation for a baptism and church membership class at Redeemer Wesleyan Church, where he serves as Senior Pastor.Support the show

    Catechism Class, Week 4: The Holy Spirit and New Life

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2023 49:41


    In this special episode of the Holy Joys Podcast, Johnathan Arnold teaches through an early draft of the New Methodist Catechism in preparation for a baptism and church membership class at Redeemer Wesleyan Church, where he serves as Senior Pastor.Support the show

    The Case for At Least Weekly Communion

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2023 20:29


    In this special episode of the Holy Joys Podcast, Johnathan Arnold talks through his article "How Often Should We Receive the Lord's Supper?"Support the show

    Preparing for the Sunday Service

    Play Episode Play 46 sec Highlight Listen Later Sep 20, 2023 53:37


    David Fry and Johnathan Arnold discuss the Sunday Service and how they prepare for weekly worship.Support the show

    Catechism Class, Week 3: The Son of God and Redemption

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2023 49:01


    In this special episode of the Holy Joys Podcast, Johnathan Arnold teaches through an early draft of the New Methodist Catechism in preparation for a baptism and church membership class at Redeemer Wesleyan Church, where he serves as Senior Pastor.Support the show

    10 Favorite Online Resources

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2023 26:53


    Johnathan and David discuss some of their favorite online resources.Johnathan's list:ccel.org — a wealth of free Christian books; allows you to make an account so that you can save notes and highlightsnewadvent.org — especially newadvent.org/fathers, which has the full text of many patristic worksstepbible.org — Step Bible by Tyndale House, my favorite online Biblewesley.nnu.edu — Wesley Center Online with the full text of Wesley's sermons, Notes on the Bible, etc.bestcommentaries.com — commentary recommendations on each book of the Biblethevcs.org — Christian art in conversation with Scripturebibleproject.com — a wealth of free Bible study resources (e.g., animated video overviews of each book of the Bible)bcponline.org — the Book of Common Prayer onlinelectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu — the Revised Common Lectionary with readings and other liturgical resourcesbiblehub.com — some free commentaries (e.g., Calvin's Commentary) in an easy-to-read formatDavid's list:1. The Wesley Center Online (free)A database of Wesleyan and holiness materials created by Northwest Nazarene University.I like it because it has some hard-to-get resources.2. Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL.org)SearchableIncludes Schaff's 38-volume Church Father's seriesCalvin's CommentariesWorks of Arminius (3 Vol. Nichols ed.)No page numbers3. NewAdvent.org (free)Similar to CCELMore readable in my opinion4. The Revised Common Lectionary (lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu)5. Papalencyclicals.net (free)Every important document ever put out by the Roman Catholic ChurchThe search feature is difficult to use because titles are often only in Latin.6. Perlego.com ($18/month)This would be in my top two or three if it still had the daily subscription option.Tons of contemporary books.7. Wesley Scholar (wesleyscholar.com) (free)An independent collection of Wesleyan-Methodist and early Christian works. Contains articles as well as original works.8. Open Access Digital Theological Library (libguides.thedtl.org) Contains some free materialContains PhD dissertations9. Books.Google.com Used to be able to download as PDFs.Gives all the information about a book including the nearest library or where to get it online.10. Gutenberg.org (free)Over 70,000 of free ebooksChristian and secular booksSeveral different formats including actual facsimiles of pagesEverything is public domainSearchableHonorable Mentions:JSTOR.org (fee)Usually accessible through a student library accountNot really affordable for individuals.Academia.edu (fee and free)Up-to-date scholarshipPay by subscription or by itemSupport the show

    Reflections on the 2023 Healthy Church Conference

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2023 46:43


    David Fry and Johnathan Arnold discuss their experience at the recent Holy Joys Healthy Church Conference in Frankfort, IN. Visit holyjoys.org/conference for more info about the conference and next year's dates.Support the show

    Joey Ratcliff on Confession of Sin and Restoration Assessment

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2023 57:05


    Joey Ratcliff joins Johnathan Arnold and David Fry to discuss restoration assessment—what to do if someone's sin comes to light in the local church.Support the show

    10 Books Every Pastor Should Have in Their Library

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2023 65:27


    Visit holyjoys.org/books-pastor-library to see David and Johnathan's lists.Support the show

    Catechism Class, Week 2: Sin and the Law

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2023 46:40


    In this special episode of the Holy Joys Podcast, Johnathan Arnold teaches through an early draft of the New Methodist Catechism in preparation for a baptism and church membership class at Redeemer Wesleyan Church, where he serves as Senior Pastor.Support the show

    "Feed My Sheep": Theology and the Church

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2023 26:53


    David Fry and Johnathan Arnold discuss the relationship between the church and theology, using John 21:17* as a starting place and drawing from William Burt Pope's Compendium on "Theology in the Church."*In the discussion, the verse was accidentally cited as John 21:21. Support the show

    Catechism Class, Week 1: God the Father and Creation

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2023 41:18


    In this special episode of the Holy Joys Podcast, Johnathan Arnold teaches through an early draft of the New Methodist Catechism in preparation for a baptism and church membership class at Redeemer Wesleyan Church, where he serves as Senior Pastor.Support the show

    The Church: A Central Doctrine

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2023 35:12


    Johnathan Arnold and David Fry discuss why ecclesiology (the study of the church) should be of central importance to every Christian, especially pastors, and explore several key concepts that are neglected or misunderstood. Support the show

    We're Back! An Update on Holy Joys

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2023 32:34


    After a three-month hiatus, Johnathan Arnold and David Fry discuss why they were gone and what to expect from Holy Joys going forward.Support the show

    Good Friday Collects

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2023 3:51


    The collects for Good Friday from the Sunday Service of the Methodists in North America, John Wesley's adaptation of the Book of Common Prayer. Piano track by Lucas Shrout, used by permission.Support the show

    Todd Hains on Children's Catechesis and Martin Luther

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2023 56:05


    Todd Hains, Associate Publisher at Lexham Press, joins Johnathan Arnold and David Fry to discuss children's catechesis and the FatCat series of children's books. Todd is the author of Martin Luther and the Rule of Faith: Reading God's Word for God's People. See also his recent article "Family Discipleship: 5 Easy Things You Can Do with Your Kids."Support the show

    Eric Himelick, Andrew Graham, and David Fry on the Asbury Outpouring

    Play Episode Play 30 sec Highlight Listen Later Feb 24, 2023 55:39


    Eric Himelick and Andrew Graham join David Fry and Johnathan Arnold to discuss their experiences at Asbury University and the theology of revival.Support the show

    Small Talk: Ministry, Books, and the Work of Holy Joys

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2023 39:58


    After a short break, Johnathan Arnold and David Fry get back to the podcast with a casual discussion of ministry, books, and the work of Holy Joys.Support the show

    Substance and Person: Two Key Terms

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2022 23:57


    In this special episode of the Holy Joys Podcast, Johnathan Arnold offers a primer on two key terms in the doctrines of the Trinity and incarnation: "substance" and "person."Support the show

    Church & Sacraments, Part 5: Baptism: Sacrament of Entrance into the Church

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2022 39:37


    Johnathan Arnold continues his series on the church and sacraments by looking at how baptism is the sacrament of our entrance or initiation into the church.Support the show

    Church & Sacraments, Part 4: Matthew 18, Church Membership and Excommunication

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2022 50:06


    Johnathan Arnold continues his series on the church and its relationship to the kingdom.Support the show

    Theological Triage: Ranking Doctrines by Relative Importance

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2022 59:29


    Johnathan Arnold and David Fry discuss the article "Theological Triage: Unity in Essentials, Charity in Nonessentials," and the attached triage chart.Support the show

    Church & Sacraments, Part 3: Matthew 16, the Church and the Keys of the Kingdom

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2022 42:22


    Johnathan Arnold continues a class on the church and sacraments, looking at the link between the church and the kingdom in Matthew 16: King Jesus has entrusted the keys of the kingdom to the church.Support the show

    Church & Sacraments, Part 1: A Neglected Doctrine

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2022 40:57


    In this episode of the Holy Joys Podcast, Johnathan Arnold teaches the first lesson in a six-week class on the church and sacraments.Topics addressed include:The evangelical emphasis on personal salvationCorruption and hypocrisy in the churchAttitudes towards the church todayThe Bible as a story about God and his peoplePersonal and corporate salvationActs 2:47 and 1 Jn. 2:19Luther, Calvin, Augustine, and Cyprian on the church and salvationRecovering a biblical vision of the churchSupport the show

    W. B. Pope on the Pentecostal Foundations of the Church (Part 2)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2022 39:51


    Part of "A Series on William Burt Pope's Doctrine of the Church."Support the show

    W. B. Pope on the Pentecostal Foundations of the Church (Part 1)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2022 40:16


    Johnathan Arnold and David Fry continue their discussion of William Burt Pope's Doctrine of the Church.Support the show

    W. B. Pope on Preparations for the Church in the Gospels (Part 2)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2022 17:37


    David Fry and Johnathan Arnold continue their discussion of William Burt Pope's doctrine of the church, looking at the second half of his section on "The Preparations in the Gospels."Support the show

    W. B. Pope on Preparations for the Church in the Gospels (Part 1)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2022 28:55


    David Fry and Johnathan Arnold continue their discussion of William Burt Pope's doctrine of the church, looking at the first half of his section on "The Preparations in the Gospels."Support the show

    Introduction to William Burt Pope's Doctrine of the Church

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2022 29:05


    David Fry and Johnathan Arnold begin a series on Methodist theologian William Burt Pope's doctrine of the church. Read along: holyjoys.org/the-christian-church/.Support the show

    David Fry on Healthy Membership

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2022 27:19


    At our 2022 Healthy Church Conference, David Fry spoke in the third, Friday morning session on the topic of Healthy Membership. His points were drawn from Colossians 2:19, Ephesians 4:16, and the book of 1 Corinthians. Church membership is designed by God to increase harmony and holiness in the church.Support the show

    Sarah Fry on Being an Emotionally Healthy Church

    Play Episode Play 16 sec Highlight Listen Later Sep 2, 2022 28:26


    At our 2022 Healthy Church Conference, Sarah Fry spoke in the first Saturday session on how to be an emotionally healthy church. A healthy church is one where people are learning both how to regulate their own emotions and treat lovingly other people's emotions. We easily fall into a “fix-it” mentality. We love one another by listening and letting others know that we are safe for them. Support the show

    Four Questions About Ordination

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2022 43:08


    Johnathan Arnold and David Fry discuss four questions about ordination:1. What is ordination?2. What does the Bible say about ordination?3. Who should be ordained?4. Who has the authority to ordain?Support the show

    Modest Clothing, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2022 48:52


    Johnathan Arnold and David Fry continue to discuss modest clothing and biblical nakedness.Topics discussed:Genesis 2–3A biblical definition of nakednessNakedness in the lawCultural changeDressing modestly todaySupport the show

    Modest Clothing, Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2022 43:23


    David Fry and Johnathan Arnold discuss modest clothing and biblical nakedness.Topics discussed:Genesis 2–3NakednessSin and shameClothing as a gospel symbolAtonementSupport the show

    Roe v. Wade and Christian Social Witness

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2022 56:58


    Johnathan Arnold and David Fry discuss the church's social witness and how Christians can approach the issues of the day.Topics include:Roe v. WadeChristian social witness1908 Social Creed of the Methodist Episcopal ChurchTransitional Discipline of the Global Methodist Church, Part 2: Social WitnessA Call to the CHM, "A Call to Christian Social Witness"Support the show

    Tithing and Christian Generosity

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2022 44:10


    In this episode, David Fry and Johnathan Arnold discuss tithing and the larger issue of giving generously from the heart because of God's inexpressible gift to us in Christ.Topics discussed:Views on tithingTithing in the OTRelationship of OT Law to NT believersVerses on tithing in the NTTithing in church historyGiving generously, cheerfully, humblySupporting the local church2 Corinthians 91 Timothy 6Support the show

    What is the Gospel of the Kingdom?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2022 56:08


    Johnathan Arnold and David Fry discuss "the gospel of the kingdom" (Mt. 4:23). Topics discussed include:The gospelThe kingdomDominion, reignThe image of GodDwellingExileHellThe kingdom and the churchThe Great CommissionHeaven and earthThe millennial kingdomSupport the show

    Has the Altar Call Displaced the Sacraments?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2022 60:33


    Topics addressed:History of the altar callAltar call and baptismAltar call and the Lord's SupperSacramental practice in church history and MethodismChurch membershipThe office of the keysThe church and salvationSuggestions for using the altar callSupport the show

    Announcing the Holy Joys Sermon Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2022 0:41


    We're pleased to announce a new Holy Joys Sermon Podcast. Click "Sermons" in the header menu at holyjoys.org or visit https://www.buzzsprout.com/1762957. The HJ Sermon Podcast is available on Spotify and Google Podcasts, and it's coming soon to Apple Podcasts.

    When and How to Leave a Church

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2022 57:42


    David Fry and Johnathan Arnold discuss legitimate reasons to leave a church, and how to go about doing it in a way that honors Christ.What are acceptable reasons to leave a church?What are the characteristics of someone who is mature enough to leave a church well?What steps should be taken before leaving a church?What should you do after you leave a church?

    The Church Discipline: Is It a Burden or Blessing?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2022 55:38


    Dr. David Fry and Johnathan Arnold discuss church manuals/disciplines, common problems and frustrations, and how approaching the discipline/manual in light of the church's disciple-making mission can help us work towards a healthier future for the church and its members.

    Recovering the Biblical Office of Deacon

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2022 46:31


    Johnathan Arnold and Dr. David Fry discuss the biblical office of deacon (aka the diaconate). Key topics/passages include:1 Timothy 3:8–13Acts 6:1–6Philippians 1:1Romans 16:1Female deacons (deaconesses)Deacons in the apostolic fathers and early church traditionDeacons in the Reformers and early MethodismOrdinationDeacons in relationship to EldersTips for implementation

    Did the Father Forsake the Son on the Cross?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2022 28:32


    Travis Johnson joins Johnathan Arnold and David Fry to discuss Matthew 27:46, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"Why does Jesus quote Psalm 22:1 from the cross?Is there a break or separation between the Father and the Son on the cross?Does Jesus bear the wrath of God on the cross?Why is important for pastors to address the myth that the Father utterly forsook the Son?

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