Ministry Mondays

We talk about what kinds of gifts people should consider buying for their ministers for Christmas. The Game Chris Couldn't Remember: https://www.amazon.com/VINCI-Bang-Dice-Game/dp/B00DH8D0HC/ref=pd_bxgy_img_sccl_1/144-3101623-3657355?pd_rd_w=KLHak&content-id=amzn1.sym.7f0cf323-50c6-49e3-b3f9-63546bb79c92&pf_rd_p=7f0cf323-50c6-49e3-b3f9-63546bb79c92&pf_rd_r=VY34626D3ACGP77VRQKA&pd_rd_wg=bntno&pd_rd_r=ac84c753-f051-4f67-97e1-ffaedff6519c&pd_rd_i=B00DH8D0HC&psc=1 Recommendation: https://www.thejenkinsinstitute.com/selected-guest-posts/2021/11/dales-colossal-christmas-catalog-conferment-for-churchmen-aka-my-annual-gift-list-for-preachers

Paul walks us through this year's week of Harding lectures from his perspective.

We look at the recent Barna report on ministers leaving the ministry, and make some suggestions on how congregations might work to stem that tide.

We talk about our most embarrassing moments in ministry... Up to this point.

Paul and Chris have their kids "spin the wheel" and share about their experience (up to this point) as the children of ministers.

Paul and Jordan interview Tyler White!

We talk about some of our favorite portrayals of Christianity and/or Christians in media. With an eye toward looking at the flip-side next week.

What does the summer season have in store for us?

We discuss an Easter Weekend camp Jordan recently directed, our history with camp Hensel, and our general ideas about the goals we have in directing camp.

With Jordan out for the week, Chris and Paul talk about preacher things. Specifically, why we tend towards preaching exegetically instead of topically. We also point out some instances in which topical preaching may be called for and even beneficial in the life of an exegetical preacher.

We talk about something that happened in pop culture! Please forgive the delay in this episode arriving, as it was miss-scheduled when uploaded last week!

Paul and Chris discuss no ones favorite subject.

We conclude our discussion (for now) on deconstruction! 

We talk about deconstruction, differentiate between general deconstruction and catastrophic deconstruction, and our understanding of what leads to either/both.

We talk a bit about how we navigate members of our congregations/youth groups dating one another; the positives, negatives, and unknowns of these relationships; and the ways we've seen this play out in our own congregations.

Chris interviews Jake Doberenz about entrepreneurship, creativity, and knowing when to let a project die in Ministry.   

We discuss our experience with congregations working together. 

We interview veteran and long tenured youth minister, Rodney Keeton!

We explore the question of what might happen in our ministries and homes if we were to meet an untimely end. What plans do we have in place, and how does that relate to stewardship.

Paul and Jordan discuss the problems (and benefits) they see in the Pastor Model employed by many churches today.

We talk with Michael about his experience as a single man in ministry and how the church might work with single ministers.

We sit down with friend of the show, Michael Welch, to discuss his experience growing up as the child of a minister. This is part one of the interview, with a second part to follow next week. Recommendations: Big Chair Bible- https://www.amazon.com/chair-bible-Samuel-David-Goliath/dp/0996974504 Bible Project App- https://bibleproject.com/app/ Tolkien and Faith- https://www.amazon.com/Tolkien-Faith-Essays-Christian-Middle-Earth/dp/B09FBX6RD9 No Stones- https://www.amazon.com/No-Stones-Redeemed-Sexual-Addiction/dp/083083740X Keeping the Sabbath, Taking A Sabbatical- https://christianchronicle.org/keeping-the-sabbath-taking-a-sabbatical/

We look at Chris' favorite parable: The Prodigal (Lost) Son. Recommendations: Christmas With The Petersens- https://petersenband.com/product/christmas-with-thepetersens/ 10 Lessons In Productivity and Brainstorming From The Beatles- https://medium.com/fluxx-studio-notes/10-lessons-in-productivity-and-brainstorming-from-the-beatles-ea14385e27a4 Faith for Exiles- https://faithforexiles.com

We discuss Jordan's favorite Parable, The Wedding Feast.

We discuss Paul's choice: The Good Samaritan.

After feeling a bit aimless for a week, we found ourselves quite excited to begin a look at the parables. This week we do a little overview of our relationship to and thoughts on the parables in general. We also discuss some of our favorite parables in brief.  Look forward to the coming weeks as we dig deep into how we might go about teaching these parables.

This week we change up our format a bit by covering not one, but SIX topics! We hope you enjoy this more light hearted episode as we work to change things up just a bit. YouTube Illustration Videos: Birth Of A Tool- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3nojb-gFH4&t=259s  Pay It Forward- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gw0Lvr4eK-k Everything Skit- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8vL3cN1fRc Recommendations: Evidence That Demands a Verdict- https://www.amazon.com/Evidence-That-Demands-Verdict-Life-Changing-ebook/dp/B01MYP99J3/

Paul and Jordan talk thankfulness as we move into a season of thanksgiving.   Recommendations: If... Questions For The Game of Life: https://www.amazon.com/Questions-Game-Life-Evelyn-McFarlane/dp/0679445358/

Jordan spends some time reflecting on the last year and what ministry and podcasting means for him moving ahead.

Paul reflects on 2021 and plans for 2022. 

In the first of three episodes leading up to our one year anniversary, Chris reflects on the previous year and shares his thoughts and intentions for 2022. Recommendations: https://yearcompass.com

We talk about our experiences with communication both good and bad in ministry. 

We discuss crisis management and the approaches our congregations have (or maybe don't) to working through crisis situations. Recommendations: Out of the Silent Planet- https://www.amazon.com/Silent-Planet-Space-Trilogy-2003-03-11/dp/B017WQJRE4/ The Complete Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook- https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Worst-Case-Scenario-Survival-Handbook/dp/B0032FO5CE

Paul and Jordan record in person together for the first time ever as they reflect on a week at the Harding University Lectures for 2021.