You're Not Crazy

You're Not Crazy: Gospel Sanity for Young Pastors, hosted by Sam Allberry and Ray Ortlund, is returning for a third season in which the hosts will focus on the book of 2 Timothy. Over the course of ten episodes, Ray and Sam encourage pastors and ministry leaders through discussions on the essential elements of pastoral ministry, how to live unashamed of the gospel, the importance of a gentle spirit in the age of contention, and more.Tune in to You're Not Crazy season three, starting on Monday, October 9. If you're a pastor or ministry leader who feels overwhelmed and in need of a refreshment of gospel hope, Ray and Sam invite you to listen and be reminded that you're not crazy. A note from our sponsor, Crossway: In their new book, You're Not Crazy, Ray Ortlund and Sam Allberry want to help weary leaders renew their love for ministry by equipping them to build a gospel-centered culture amid every aspect of their churches. If you have benefited from the You're Not Crazy podcast, then we think your church will really benefit from this book.Pick up a copy of You're Not Crazy today, and receive 30% off when you sign up for a free Crossway Plus account at crossway.org/yourenotcrazy. 

In the final episode of season two of You're Not Crazy, Ray Ortlund and Sam Allberry answer pressing questions from you, the listeners.• Introduction (0:00)• Icebreaker: Where do you most love to be? (1:22)• Why does small talk matter? (4:45)• How do you encourage a culture of grace among team leaders across the church? (8:07)• How do you deal with people in the church who are opposed to gospel culture? (11:17)• How do you prioritize unhealthy areas to address? (15:25)• Is there ever a right time to commend someone to another church? (18:45)• How can a church care for its pastor? (23:38)• Recommended resource: What God Has to Say about Our Bodies by Sam Allberry (26:23)

“Romans 15:7 says, ‘Therefore welcome one another, as Christ has welcomed you for the glory of God.' So, welcome one another. That's gospel culture. That's the horizontal dimension of grace.” – T. J. TimsIn this episode of You're Not Crazy, Ray Ortlund and special guest, T. J. Tims, discuss how pastors cultivate gospel culture in their churches at the ground level so that it becomes an intergenerational reality.• Introductions (0:00)• The horizontal dimension of grace (2:18)• What's at stake (5:14)• Sensing what's in the room (9:31)• Everyone feels like an imposter (11:31)• Intergenerational gospel culture (17:55)• Recommended resource: Deeper: Real Change for Real Sinners by Dane Ortlund (22:39)

“We're like sprinters, we're hurtling down the track at top speed, giving it our best, giving it our all. But, we're not made of titanium, and we can't live at full stretch all the time. We must pull back and be replenished, and experience rejuvenation for the next big push.” – Ray OrtlundIn this episode of You're Not Crazy, Ray Ortlund and Sam Allberry address the need for pastors to rest. In an unprecedented time fraught with fragmentation and a heartbreaking number of pastors collapsing under the weight of leadership in these circumstances, rest is not an option, it's an imperative for the soul.• Introductions (0:00)• Favorite foods (2:19)• We're like sprinters (3:49)• Rest is not just a part of the fallen world (5:50)• We don't have to rest perfectly (7:19)• We need regular renewal (10:51)• “Go to sleep in peace. God is awake.” (14:17)• Where we find refreshment (18:14)• Recommended resource: The Death of Porn by Ray Ortlund (20:50)

In this episode of You're Not Crazy, Ray Ortlund and Sam Allberry discuss the biblical idea of finding strength in weakness.• Introductions (0:00)• “Gospel Culture,” the album (1:08)• Boasting in weakness (5:07)• Liberatingly less (10:13)• Wonderfully ordinary (13:53)• A thorn to harass (15:50)• Where the power of Christ rests (19:16)• Recommended resource: Weakness is the Way: Life with Christ Our Strength by J.I. Packer (22:39)

“We like instruction. We need instruction. But preaching is meant to be so much more than that. It's not just data transfer . . . it's wanting people to encounter Jesus Himself.” – Sam AllberryIn this episode of You're Not Crazy, Ray Ortlund and Sam Allberry discuss sermon preparation for a gospel culture.• Introductions (0:00)• What are we asking the Lord to do? (1:45)• Not developing our own brand (7:06)• Study and preparation, alliterated (11:06)• Digging (15:50)• Waiting (16:28)• Writing (18:21)• Recommended resource: Crossway Scripture Journals (19:33)Explore more from Ray Ortlund on sermon preparation.

In this episode of “You're Not Crazy,” Ray Ortlund and Sam Allberry discuss the role of positivity in the life of a pastor and how to build positivity in a world that would prefer cynicism.• Introductions (0:00)• Best book in the last 10 years (1:02)• Staying positive in a cynical world (6:34)• Resourcing positivity (9:25)• Irritating Scripture (14:02)• Getting more granular (17:31)• Recommended resource: A Dozen Things God Did with Your Sin by Sam Storms (19:33)

“One of the ways that ministers injure people is by rebukes that are too severe. People are never helped by being cornered and pressured and embarrassed, especially publicly embarrassed.” – Ray OrtlundIn this episode of You're Not Crazy, Ray Ortlund and Sam Allberry discuss biblical criticism and correction.• Introducing Larry (0:00)• Gospel culture and criticism (1:52)• Blessed by correction (5:37)• Correction is a two-way street (8:40)• Reasonable and biblical (13:22)• Gentle restoration (16:12)• Conflict aversion (19:14)• Recommended resources: ESV Devotional Psalter (Crossway) and In the Lord I Take Refuge by Dane Ortlund (21:01)Explore more from TGC on the topic of relationships.

“I think what I most deeply needed to know was not just that I was forgiven, but that if it came to the worst, I wouldn't be alone.” – T. J. TimsIn this episode of You're Not Crazy, Sam Allberry and his pastor, T. J. Tims, discuss the topic of friendship and gospel culture.• Introduction to T. J. Tims (0:00)• Friendship is a gospel issue (2:28)• The honesty and freedom in true friendship (4:22)• Friendship can't be about friendship (9:01)• Creating space between the systems in our churches (13:56)• The ministry of lingering (18:07)Explore more from TGC on the topic of friendship.

“Maturity in the Christian life is needing Jesus more, not needing Jesus less. We don't graduate out of needing him.” – Sam AllberryIn this episode of You're Not Crazy, Ray Ortlund and Sam Allberry address, from Scripture and their own experience, the exceptionally important role of the minister to bring comfort to suffering people.Comfort to the suffering (00:00)Does Jesus regret getting involved with you? (2:18)Pastors who sin and suffer caring for people who sin and suffer (7:39)How painful the goodness of the Lord will be (12:01)3x5 cards in a cupboard (15:05)Not supposed to feel pain (19:18)Recommended resource: Suffering Wisely and Well by Eric Ortlund (21:37)Explore more from TGC on the topic of suffering.

Season 2 of “You're Not Crazy” launches with a lively conversation between Ray Ortlund and Sam Allberry discussing what makes Christian leadership distinctly “Christian.” • Introduction—why is anyone even listening? One great experience from the last year (00:00)• Answering the main questions (6:02) • Gentle and lowly, like Jesus (7:26) • The opposite of that (8:39) • It's not a strategy (10:00) • Christian leadership is not leadership that advances Christian orthodoxy (11:57) • PR for Jesus (15:25) • The arch-enemy of authentic ministry (16:43) • It's emotional and relational (19:06) • Recommended Resource: Letters Along the Way: From a Senior Saint to a Junior Saint Explore more from TGC on the topic of Spiritual Leadership.

This season, Ray Ortlund and Sam Allberry gather again to discuss more topics that center around gospel-centered pastoral leadership. Ray Ortlund describes that, "Christian leadership is leadership that is, itself, operating with, moving forward in, flavored by Christ Himself."Any young pastor who might be tempted to give up and is wondering, What on earth have I signed up for?  You're not crazy.

In this episode, Ray Ortlund and Sam Allberry discuss the cost of building and sustaining gospel culture. - Introduction—where you'd really like to preach (and Ray Ortlund's kilt. And bagpipes.) - There's a cost (4:08) - It's not always going to be easy (6:27) - Nullifying the grace of God (8:56) - Time for some decisions (16:31) - Not just icing on the cake (20:36) - Linking arms together—contacting us for prayer (22:16) - Recommended resource: ESV Expository Commentaries (22:58) https://www.crossway.org/articles/introducing-the-esv-expository-commentary-series/ Explore more from TGC on the topic of Gospel Culture and leadership. (https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/topics/gospel/)  To reach out directly to Ray and Sam with questions or prayer-related requests, please email notcrazy@tgc.org We want to thank Crossway for helping to make this podcast possible. For more gospel-centered resources and Bibles visit Crossway.org  SUBSCRIBE TODAY Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/youre-not-crazy/id1579561852 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2gjO1xAJVSomEdK6dVwnQh Google Podcasts: https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zaW1wbGVjYXN0LmNvbS9FQm9Xbmlfbg%3D%3D Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/645475 TGC Website: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/podcasts/youre-not-crazy/

In this episode, Ray Ortlund and Sam Allberry discuss gospel culture, renewal, revival, and awakening. • Introduction—favorite piece of music• Nothing less than another Great Awakening (2:00)• Regular ministry of the gospel with unusual amounts of fruit (2:57)• The kingdom is at hand (4:29)• Modeling repentance (6:54)• Repentance is personal (12:04)• When repentance is the norm (14:10)• Jesus Movement (19:02)• Fullness of the power of God (22:33)• Your church is fully equipped for the next Great Awakening (25:51)• Because we do not ask… (27:10)• Recommended resource: Help! I'm Married to My Pastor by Jani Ortlund (30:42) Explore more from TGC on the topic of Revival. To reach out directly to Ray and Sam with questions or prayer-related requests, please email notcrazy@tgc.org PODCAST SPONSORSHIPWe want to thank Crossway for helping to make this podcast possible. For more gospel-centered resources and Bibles visit Crossway.orgSUBSCRIBE TODAYApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/youre-not-crazy/id1579561852Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2gjO1xAJVSomEdK6dVwnQhGoogle Podcasts: https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zaW1wbGVjYXN0LmNvbS9FQm9Xbmlfbg%3D%3DStitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/645475TGC Website: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/podcasts/youre-not-crazy/

In this episode, Ray Ortlund and Sam Allberry discuss pastors, social media, and gospel culture.- 00:00 Introduction—favorite animals- 1:29 Social media platforms- 3:21 Why Tweet?- 6:20 Jesus-honoring Instagram- 7:03 Social media landmines- 8:32 Knowing the limits- 10:45 Once on the Internet, it lasts forever- 13:18 The message worthy of the platform- 14:16 Stop these things- 16:47 Do these instead- 22:11 Live peaceably with all…online- 27: 17 Recommended resource: The Gospel Comes with a House Key by Rosario ButterfieldExplore more from TGC on pastors and social media 

In this episode:Introduction—best family vacation (0:00) Not every church service needs utility (2:56)Gospel culture is not an optional add-on (4:53)Church culture reflects what we believe (6:46)Does anything go? (9:33)When you don't have a gospel culture (12:00)Cultivating gospel culture long term (13:56)It starts with the pastor (16:32)Why the team follows the pastor (20:35)Gospel culture in your leadership team (23:41)It's not “baptized corporate America” (24:43)Honesty and vulnerability in leadership (26:38)Recommended resource: Lead by Paul Tripp (29:18)Explore more from TGC on cultivating gospel culture in your church.

In this episode:Introduction—favorite movies (0:00)Creating gospel culture (1:56)Two of the most important minutes of the service (3:43)It's pastoral ministry (6:04)“How did you come…?” (9:52)Challenging messages are a total failure (11:17)Setting a tone for the glory of Christ (13:56)Pastoral prayer (14:52)Sermons that nurture gospel culture (21:27)Three Ps of preaching (25:01)It's an anointing (28:45)Send people out with a message (32:02)Recommended resource: What God Has to Say About Our Bodies by Sam Allberry (37:03)Explore more from TGC on creating a gospel culture in your church. 

Ray Ortlund and Sam Allberry address gentleness as a necessary characteristic of gospel culture.In this episode:Introduction—favorite sitcoms (0:00) Let your gentleness be known to everyone (1:29)Gentle people believe that Jesus is real (3:58)Gentleness, sin, and politics (6:16)Church as a shock absorber (12:24)Gentleness when someone is wrong (16:31)It matters for pastors, too (18:47)It's our superpower… (21:23)…And it's not an option (22:50)Recommended resource: The Death of Porn by Ray Ortlund (26:32)Explore more from TGC the topics of gentleness.

In this episode, Ray Ortlund and Sam Allberry address gospel culture through the lens of confession and showing honor to one another with special guest, Russell Moore.Introduction—favorite concerts (0:00)“Therefore, confess your sins.” (2:12)Confession, prayer, and healing (6:48)Outdoing one another in showing honor (11:01)Celebrating evidence of grace (15:00)Practicing what we preach—showing honor to our friend (20:03)Recommended resource: Finding the Right Hills to Die On by Gavin Ortlund (26:24)Explore more from Ray Ortlund the topics of confession and showing honor.

Ray Ortlund and Sam Allberry continue the conversation about gospel culture, focusing on the necessity of honesty, openness, and courage within gospel community.In this episode:Introduction—the need for enjoyment (0:00)Gospel culture in Scripture (6:09)Welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you (8:08)A new kind of community (11:37)Stir up one another to love and good works (18:26)Doing what a good statement of faith cannot do (23:54)Recommended resource: Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund (26:24)Explore more from Ray Ortlund the topic of gospel culture.

Ray Ortlund and Sam Allberry introduce the first episode of You're Not Crazy: Gospel Sanity for Young Pastors and address the idea of gospel culture—the way gospel doctrine creates an orthodoxy of community that is equally as important.In this episode:Introductions to the podcast and hosts (0:00)Gospel sanity (1:55)What the gospel says—doctrine; what the gospel does—culture (3:39)You're not crazy (7:43)Why this conversation matters to Sam (8:33)Why this conversation matters to Ray (12:22)True fellowship (15:09)Felt forgiveness (20:03)Pitfalls of neglecting gospel culture (20:46)Captivating community (23:31)Resource recommendation: No Little People by Francis Schaeffer (24:42)Explore more from Ray Ortlund the topic of gospel doctrine and gospel culture.

Introducing You're Not Crazy: Gospel Sanity for Young Pastors, hosted by Ray Ortlund and Sam Allberry. Throughout their discussions, Ray and Sam point young pastors back to the simplicity of gospel doctrine which creates a healthy gospel culture within the church. Navigating the tough, common issues that young pastors might face—from spiritual burnout to resenting ministry altogether—Ray and Sam tie each episode together with gospel hope and practical encouragement. As recipients of the grace of Jesus, how can pastors then see that grace express itself outwardly—shaping church, ministry, and relationships? Considering it a privilege to serve their listeners, Ray and Sam want to say, "You're not crazy."