Ask the Pastor with J.D. Greear

Pastor J.D. shares how he makes time for reading (or working out or any number of other things) and other advice he’s found helpful to remain an avid reader. A glimpse inside this episode: Time is most valuable resource we have, and we all have the same amount of it. Every day you get an installment of 86,400 seconds and whatever you don’t use you lose. First I start with the importance of reading. “Read or get out of the ministry.” -Wesley Importance of daily rhythms. (Even in small installments, like starting with five minutes.) Even when you’re busy. For example, Winston Churchill even during the most hectic days of WW2, always took time to paint and read. Big rocks: We make time for what we think is important. If you’re too busy to read, you’re not too busy. You’re saying (with your life) that you think something else matters more. Honestly, how much time are you spending on social media or watching TV? My guess is that you probably have the time; you just aren’t convinced that spending it reading is worth the investment. Do the hard stuff first. Me at night. Ready then watch TV. TODD: OK, but any advice about reading in particular? I like to read different genres. Take notes: Capture what you took in hunting. Taking notes and transferring them. Feel free to ditch a bad book. No thief like a bad book. Use shortcuts like audiobooks or Blinkist.   This Episode’s Sponsor: With Ministry Grid’s library of over 3,000 training videos, it’s now simpler than ever to train every volunteer and leader in your church. And this is training you can trust. Each Ministry Grid video features an experienced ministry leader who has been where you are now. Learn how to get unlimited access for you and your church at MinistryGrid.com.

Pastor J.D. reviews the major approaches people take regarding miracles and explains why caution, not cynicism, is necessary. A glimpse inside this episode: Brief review of major approaches: Continuits: miracles never stopped Cessasionists: Stopped after disciples died. Third Wave: Miracles happen in movement-based waves. Open but cautious: Nothing in the Bible that indicates that miracles have stopped. I am open but cautious: It’s okay to be a little skeptical, not believing everything you hear about what God has said to person, or even everything you personally feel. To be honest, I probably don’t believe 60 percent of the “miracles,” “visions” or “God told me” reports that I hear. But don’t let that caution turn into cynicism. One heresy: Miracles are not a benefit we can just claim, like we can Isaiah 53 (“by his stripes we are healed”). We can’t just claim healing like forgiveness. Sam Storms in his book, Practicing the Power, talks about expectancy. What would God do? When you see him in the Gospels, how did Jesus react? They are signs: Miracles don’t suspend the natural order; they are a return to the natural order. They are not just a naked display of God’s power or magic tricks, but reveal the redemptive purpose of his power. CS Lewis: “Miracles are a retelling in small letters of the very same story which is written across the whole world in letters too large for some of us to see.” Examples: Jesus didn’t levitate or do a Vader choke-hold on his opponents. He turned water into wine (which God does, but usually in a longer process). He multiplied food so that more people could eat it (again, a divine, but usually slower process). He made blind people see, deaf people hear, dead people alive—he took the brokenness of the world and healed it.   This Episode’s Sponsor: With Ministry Grid’s library of over 3,000 training videos, it’s now simpler than ever to train every volunteer and leader in your church. And this is training you can trust. Each Ministry Grid video features an experienced ministry leader who has been where you are now. Learn how to get unlimited access for you and your church at MinistryGrid.com.

Pastor J.D. shares some encouragement and wisdom for the worship leaders, reminding them of the vital role they play in the church. A glimpse inside this episode: One of our leaders asked me to come speak to a group of worship interns, telling them “everything I thought pastors wanted worship leaders to know.” When I agreed to do it, I thought it would be a stretch to come up with three or four things. That was a bit naïve. By the time I was done, it grew to a list of 14! Teach the people how to respond in worship. Our impulse is to blame the congregation for being too cold. But as leaders, we need to assume that the fault lies with us. If people aren’t responding to God in worship, the easy way out is to gripe about the people. The leader’s way out is to ask how we can disciple people to grow. Responding appropriately in worship is something that has to be taught. On the practical side, it helps if you start by teaching those who are already bought in to the mission. Teach the staff and leaders, then lead in concentric circles. The posture guides the heart. Interesting: The Bible commands postures of worship. We were created as holistic beings—with intellects, emotions, and bodies all working in concert with one another. This is why the Bible commands us to kneel, stand, sing, shout, and lift our hands. It doesn’t say, “Shout to the Lord if you have that kind of personality and the mood strikes you.” It simply says, “Shout.” Our hearts often guide our posture in worship, but it is equally true that our posture guides our heart. Your people need a pastor, not a performer. Not that they are at odds… But you aren’t there to simply sing in front of folks. Don’t hide backstage before and after the service. Get out there and mingle with people. Be available. As a worship leader, you should be leading people to worship with you, not merely in the same room as you. Don’t lead for the artists. Lead for the congregation. They want to impress other artists. The congregation doesn’t get tired of a song nearly as quickly as you. I always say that when I get sick of saying something around the Summit, I find that our people have just heard it. That’s how leadership and vision works. It works the same for music, too. For songs to stick in people’s hearts and minds, they’re going to have to hear them a lot. You’ll get sick of those songs right around the time people start to really ingest them and love them. Stick it out for their sake, and don’t shift too rapidly. The key–is it good for the congregation or for you? No one is as enamored with your music as you are. We write a lot of our own songs at the Summit. I think they’re incredible, and I want more of that. I think more worship leaders should be trying their hand at their own stuff, offering it to their congregations as a way of contextualizing and applying the gospel to their context. But it’s easy to buy into your own hype a little too much. Balance your songs with music from the broader church—both contemporary songs and hymns. And don’t take yourself too seriously. The mission is serious, and we should care deeply about it. But we are servants, and we should think of ourselves rather lightly. Talk with your pastor about what you’re trying to do. The more you talk with your pastor about why you want to do a certain song (or avoid one), the further you’ll get in actually achieving your goals together. Worship should be a rhythm of revelation and response. Once you and your pastor agree on that, the specifics of songs and sets becomes easier to manage. Take audience mood into consideration. You’re dealing with music and singing, which brings certain sociological elements into the picture. So don’t be surprised if you do three slow, soft songs in a row and find your people checking out. They aren’t necessarily being unholy. They’re following the mood you set. There’s a reason we generally start off with a more upbeat song in our services, rather than a contemplative and mournful one—just like I usually start my sermons with an illustration. You can easily go overboard on this, but don’t ignore it altogether. Setting the mood and using artistic style is one way of honoring God with your talents and leading your people well. Think about what you are going to say I know that not every worship leader prides himself on public speaking. But you will be doing some speaking up there, so be smart about it and write it out. We carelessly say things that end up being more befitting of a rock show. Don’t just execute the plan. Read the moment. This is as true of a sermon as it is a worship set. In the planning stage, it all makes sense. But then you get into the service, and a spark of intuition tells you, “The last song we planned doesn’t fit. We should be slowing down and giving people space, not amping up and trying to be triumphant.” It can be maddening for everyone around you if you do this too much, but you need to have some flexibility to change the plans. And, at

Pastor J.D. talks about those who have influenced him and his preaching the most over the years and what he’s learned from them. A glimpse inside this episode: Two foundational texts for a lot of young preachers are Haddon Robinson’s Biblical Preaching and Bryan Chapell’s Christ-Centered Preaching. I’ve read both, and appreciate their concern to make preaching both expositional and engaging. To use as a standard, cookie-cutter approach, though, I find their models a little too constraining. While the principles of exegesis, interpretation, and hermeneutics are the same (and can never be abridged), different texts and subjects call for different approaches. In addition to Robinson and Chapell, I’ve been greatly influenced by (and sometimes imitate the style of): Tim Keller. Keller has probably influenced my basic thought on how to structure an outline more than anyone else. (And he’s avowedly indebted to Chapell, so it’s complementary, not contradictory). His basic structure goes something like this: “1. This is what God’s Word says should be—and we all wish would be. 2. But we can’t do it. 3. This text points to Jesus, who did it perfectly for us; accepting his finished work on our behalf changes our hearts, so we can begin to do it, too.” John MacArthur and Tommy Nelson–careful attention to the text. They simply move through a text, explaining what it means as you go. This is a way of helping people to “read the Word of God better,” to borrow from Nehemiah’s famous explanation of preaching. In sermons like this, there isn’t a real “outline,” or often even a main point. The goal is simply to help people read a passage better. Even more, David Jeremiah and Tony Evans–who preach like leaders, discipling along the way. I love the communication abilities of Andy Stanley. Love his intro and application. Obviously, there’s a number of things we approach differently. Andy has a very simple outline for just about every message, and I think about that for every introduction and conclusion that I write. Sometimes, based on the topic or the text, I’ll use his outline outright. I’ll let him explain it in his own words: “The outline revolves around five words, each of which represents a section of the message. They are: Me, We, God, You, and We. With this approach, the communicator introduces a dilemma he or she has faced or is currently facing (Me). From there, you find common ground with your audience around the same or a similar dilemma (We). Then you transition to the text to discover what God says about the tension or question you’ve introduced (God). Then you challenge your audience to act on what they’ve just heard (You). And finally, you close with several statements about what could happen in your community, your church, or the world if everybody embraced that particular truth (We).” Rick Warren. Warren also is great for how to structure the application points. He preaches like a disciple-maker, leading you to something rather than simply explaining the text. In my view, a preacher is a leader who exegetes, not an exegete who inadvertently leads. Remember: our goal is disciple-making, not information transfer. Warren says that, in general, sermon points shouldn’t be about the Bible character, but about the audience. So instead of saying, “David was caught in temptation because he was disengaged from the battle,” you should say, “You will be most prone to temptation when you’re disconnected from ministry.”

Pastor J.D. discusses the difference between having a consumer and a committed relationship with the church and where the Bible discusses the concept of church membership. A glimpse inside this episode: Spoiler alert: Yes! The word is not there, but the concept is. (“Trinity” isn’t either, but of course the concept is.) Concept: covenant community where you belong. We see that evidenced in multiple places: 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians: Paul talks about removing a sinning brother from their fellowship (1 Cor) and then commends them for their actions (2 Cor). Acts 6: They have an election In 1 Timothy 5:3-16, we see a clear teaching on how to handle widows in the church. There’s even language of creating a roster so the leaders know how to care for them well. Consumer: don’t want to belong. Nothing wrong with consumer… if you’re talking about fast food. Apply it to marriage or my kids, that’s a problem! Church is definitely a committed, not consumer relationship. You can see that probably easiest in the primary metaphor for the church in the Bible: a body. Imagine your body with non-committed body members? How do you use your gifts and experience the gifts of others? How do you fulfill the “each other” commands? Practically: what if I am afraid to join? Find a church with good biblical preaching; teaches community; practices accountability; focuses on getting you into ministry. I’m willing to put up with most anything else if those things are there. Don’t wait for a perfect church: if you do, when you find and join it, it won’t be perfect anymore. Bonhoeffer’s three stages of growth: disgust at the sins of others; disgust at your own sin; ready to re-enter church as an instrument in the hands of the Redeemer who has been redeemed yourself than as a self-righteous Pharisee committed to judging everyone.

Pastor J.D. talks about how social media shapes us—whether we like it or not—and how we can participate in it in healthy ways. A glimpse inside this episode: Myth: the medium of communication is neutral, only content matters Truth: Medium shapes the message and also you E.g. Brand Luther: the printing press forced writers to write on more common levels and shorter Blogs have made it even shorter; Twitter shorter still!   Our social media shapes our days in dangerous ways: Tony Reinke in Twelve Ways Your Phone is Changing You: the average person checks their phone 81,500 times each year, or once every 4.3 minutes of our waking lives, twice in this podcast) Email every 5 minutes in the midst of whatever else they are doing. The problem is that it takes an average of 64 seconds to resume the previous task after you finish (which means that because of email alone, we typically waste 1 out of every 6 minutes in ‘transition’ back to the previous task!) Dis-traction: French word meaning “pulled apart” (drawn and quartered) I know of one Christian counselor who says that distraction destroys more relationships than just about anything else today. Distraction, he says, makes intimacy impossible, because, you see, in order for someone to feel intimate with you—be that a spouse, a child, or a good friend—they have to believe (1) that you consider them a priority in your life; (2) you have plenty of unrushed time available for them; (3) you are giving them your undivided attention. Busyness and distraction make those three things impossible. Nothing ruins my day faster (in good mood with kids, open up Twitter, and they can tell I’m on edge even if I don’t say anything). Accomplishes little: Everyone running the same direction getting the earth spinning again Those are the negatives. On the positive: To disengage is to intentionally mute our witness. I saw Al Mohler say something about this years ago. He, as much as anyone, bemoans the ways that Twitter is not a format for nuanced and deep thought. But he also admitted, “There are people who won’t hear what we’re saying unless we say it in these formats. And I want people to hear this message.” Some practical steps: Set a limit for the time you spend on social media. Our phones, thankfully, now have the capacity to track and limit the amount of time we spend on various apps. I found this out after I turned on my “screen time” app on my iPhone. I thought, “I have pretty good habits here. This will confirm that.” And after a couple days, when I looked at the numbers, I realized I wasn’t doing as well as I had thought. Honestly, do you want to be spending 45 minutes a day on Facebook? Is that an investment of time you feel good about when you lay your head on your pillow at night? Probably not. So have your phone set a limit. You don’t have the discipline to do this by yourself. That’s fine. Neither do I. Use technology to save you from technology. Don’t use it as a crutch. John Piper wrote a great little article that asks why we are so drawn to turn to technology first thing in the morning and at the first sign of a lull. He gives 6 reasons. Novelty Candy. We have (FOMO). We’re afraid that our friends are going to know something we don’t know. (Sociologists have classified a condition where you experience a legitimate anxiety of being too separated from your phone—it is called “nomophobia.” Not kidding. Without Jesus your FOMO will lead to nomophobia. But with Jesus you’ll have NoMoFoMo.) Ego Candy (We want to know what people are saying about us, so we get on social media looking for likes and positive comments!) Entertainment Candy (We want to feed on what is fascinating, weird, strange, wonderful, or shocking.) – Oh look, this woman in Oregon has an Alpaca that can do Calculus. Boredom Avoidance (We want to put off the day ahead, especially when it looks routine to us.) Responsibility Avoidance (We want to put off the responsibilities God has given us as fathers, mothers, bosses, employees, students.) Hardship Avoidance (We want to put off dealing with relationship conflicts or the pain, disease, and disabilities in our bodies.) Diversify: don’t get in an echo chamber. Unfollow people who consistently make you envious. Yes, you should diversify your social media feed. But if you’re consistently taking in things that are toxic for your soul, that’s a problem. The deeper problem is your heart. But there’s also a lot of wisdom in just keeping yourself out of tempting situations. Like Martin Luther said, “If your head is made of butter, stay away from the fireplace.” Personal for me: Try to remember that people on social media are people, too. People get nasty on social media—nastier than in real life, because the person they’re attacking seems just like an idea on a screen. I used to criticize people in public eye until I got to know a few: I may still be critical, but I do so remembering I am talking about (and to) a real person. Christians have a responsibility and

Pastor J.D. addresses some common misconceptions about male leadership and explains the Bible’s plan for it in relationships, the home, and life. A glimpse inside this episode: There are a number of reasons someone might find the idea of male leadership difficult: Perhaps there is a history of abuse, which changes how male leadership looks and feels. Feel like it is archaic: strong dominated the weak. More practical, perhaps a mother is raising children without the father around. So why, with all of the potential problems, do we say that God’s design in the home is for men to lead? Ephesians 5:23, the Bible calls the husband to be the head of the wife and the wife to submit to the husband like Christ submitted to the church. Headship is not a designation of the husband’s greater value (egalitarians Galatians 3:28 vs. complementarians 1 Timothy 2–both are important, but of his specific role and responsibility). Starts with mutual submission: In fact, greater submission in that sense is mine. I should lose 95% of all arguments in my home. Look not on my own interests To serve rather than be served Crown is one of thorns. I am a tie-breaker. Tim Keller: Moving to NYC example. He felt yes; she no. They had to make a decision; to not make one would be, functionally, to make one. He conceded: “OK, if you don’t want to go, we won’t go.” Kathy: No, you are letting me make the decision. You have to make it. Submission means man has to make the decision in the best interest of the family. The number of times this has actually happened in my marriage, I could count on one hand. People who say, “Well, just work it out.” That doesn’t work practically. Somebody ends up submitting. Like a dance: somebody leads. If two people are dancing face to face, they cannot do exactly the same thing without running into each other and ending the dance. The movements cannot be identical and equivalent; they have to be complementary and harmonious. The creation account in Genesis 1–2 (particularly 2:5–23) provides more detail about the nature of the husband’s headship. In that text, we see God giving Adam a share of his authority by commissioning him to cultivate the Garden of Eden and name the animals (Genesis 2:15, 19–20). This provides a template by which we can understand the leadership that men should demonstrate in the home. Husbands should lead in provision, as Adam was given a job prior to his marriage to Eve (Genesis 2:15). Husbands should lead in spiritual growth, as Adam both had a relationship with God and had heard God’s words before Eve was brought to him (Genesis 2:16, 18). Husbands should lead in romance, since, as the text notes, it is the man who is to leave his family in order to cleave to his wife (Genesis 2:24). It is also the man that writes the first romantic poem for his wife, not vice versa (Genesis 2:23). Husbands should lead in protection, as Adam and Eve are referred to as “one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). Paul picks up this imagery to remind husbands that they are responsible to love their wives “as their own bodies,” protecting them as they would their very selves (Ephesians 5:28). God did not make us exactly the same. Not good Edzer kenegdo: a different one of the same kind A great deal of resistance arises from core misconceptions about the concept itself. We reject the following misconceptions of submission as false and unbiblical: The misconception that women, as a group, are to submit to men. The virtue of submission, biblically speaking, is one that all believers are called to practice. Christians are called to submit to the leadership of the church, to governing authorities, to other believers, and most importantly, to God. The circumstances may differ, but we all must exhibit the humility required to submit to God’s order. Submission is not a “female” virtue, but a Christian one. The misconception that women are inferior to men. The creation narrative of Genesis 1–2 depicts men and women with equal worth. Both are created in the image of God, blessed, and given a commission to rule the earth (Genesis 1:27–28). The wife’s role of submission no more implies an inferior worth than does Jesus’ role of submission to the Father. The misconception that wives submit to their husbands through unconditional obedience. The command to “submit to your husbands as to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:22) does not mean, “Submit to him without question, as if he is your God.” Rather, Paul’s command is for wives to submit as a way of serving God. If a conflict arises between the commands of God and the headship of the husband, wives are to submit to the higher authority—God. The misconception that husbands must make all family decisions unilaterally. The complementarian position on gender attests that men and women have creational, fundamental differences. This means that life is incomplete if viewed only through the lens of one gender. Husbands, therefore, should include their wives in family decisions, since they bring uniq

Pastor J.D. would obviously have lunch with Nicolas Cage, but who are the others? They just might surprise you. A glimpse inside this episode: Adoniram Judson: A broken heart for the lost and wicked smart. HIs biography To The Golden Shore was one of the most formative in my life. I even named my son, Adon, after him. I hope to follow him back overseas one day. Martin Luther: How could I not mention him? What I love most about him is how real and authentic he was. He was funny and didn’t take himself too serious. Charles Spurgeon: I’d like to have lunch with him once. Such a scholar but also tender. He knew when to give theology and when to weep with his members. A couple of my favorite possessions are his actual sermon notes, his handwritten notes, that were given to me. Bonus: Shelby Steele: African American sociologist. Keen insight into a lot of the racial issues of today. Bonus: Michael Jordan: I was a boy in North Carolina, how could I not love him? And Pastor J.D. explains the root of his adoration for Nic Cage.

Pastor J.D. shares that the Christian Sabbath is much more than a day off to do what we want to do. Rather, the Sabbath is a principle for all of life as we put God first. A glimpse inside this episode: We believe regular corporate gathering on the Lord’s Day is an essential, non-negotiable element in the life of a disciple. Verses such as Hebrews 10:24-25 tell us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. We believe that God has instituted into creation a 7-day rhythm or work and rest/worship. We don’t think believers are no longer under Old Testament laws, but the design reflected in those laws advises us to set aside a day every week for rest and worship. We see this practice reflected in the early church, who seem to use Sunday as their primary day of gathering. Thus, we make a commitment to our regular corporate gatherings part of our membership covenant, explaining that church discipline applies to those who do not observe it. What do you mean by “we are no longer under it”–take it or leave it? The OT laws are fulfilled in Jesus, so we no longer are bound to the particulars, but the principle behind is the same. In fact, if you’ll let me, it’s not just with one day a week that we see the Sabbath principle play out—Let me list out a few. 1. One day a week for rest, renewal and relationships Again, one day to be rather than to do. To focus on God, relationships, and enjoy his creation. It doesn’t have to be on a Sunday. When the early church changed it from Sat to Sunday they were showing that it wasn’t a particular day that was essential. For most of you it should be, but it’s at least one day a week where you cease from your labors and enjoy God and the gifts he has given. Public worship should always be a part of it, because your relationship with God is central in in your life. But it’s also a day to be with family, and be outdoors, and to do things you enjoy. This next one might surprise you at first, but hear me out… 2. Tithing (You think, “You always know how to tie it back to this… hear me out). Tithing is an application of the Sabbath principle (Deuteronomy 7–8) Tithing means giving at least the first 1/10 your income back to God. You don’t do it because you have 10% extra in your budget you can’t figure out what to do with. You do it, just like they took the Sabbath day off, as a declaration that God is the provider and ultimately you trust him to make the ends meet. That’s why when people say, “I can’t afford to tithe!” I say, “You can’t afford not to!” God said, “Obey me by giving me 10% you think you can’t afford, and watch how I multiply the remaining 90%!” I can’t explain exactly how he does it… only that he always does! You can’t out-give him. It’s only when I’ve violated this principle that I’ve gotten in real trouble. It’s like with 6 days… do less than you can and he will multiply the rest Here’s another one that may surprise you… 3. Sleep Let me take you to one of my favorite passages (that I have tattooed on my wrist! Psalm 127:1-2 “Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.” What’s the sign in this verse that you are beloved by God? Sleep. Looking out at you right now, I can see several of you are feeling beloved by God right at this very moment! But if you are asleep, whose got the city? Who is building the house? Who is watching the city? The psalmist smile sweetly and says, “God is.” God intended sleep to be a time every day where you remind yourself you’re not God. Personal confession: The more responsibility I get, the more trouble I have sleeping. I always wake up worried. Don’t send me your new miracle pillow or new herbal remedy or essential oil that you want me to rub on my kneecaps that’s going to make it all better. That’s not the problem. I sleep badly sometimes because I am worried about who is watching the city—of my family, the church, the SBC. But here’s what I’ve learned: God wants me to lay down each night (it’s kind of like a daily Sabbath) just to remind myself that I’m not God. So, when I lie down to sleep I say, “God, I am turning myself off, even though there is a ton to do… and lots to worry about… but you are staying on and you designed me to turn off, so I can trust you to handle what I can’t.” At 3:30, you’ve not appointed me to worry about “the city,” appointed me to sleep which must mean you have the city 4-hour work-week example: I was reading an article by a small-business owner who said he had trouble sleeping… It is not my responsibility to guard the city or finish the house or pay the bills—that’s God’s job. It’s my job to be faithful, and after you’ve been faithful you can lie down to sleep and leave it in his hand. 4. Daily Sabbath Daily times to unplug and refocus yourself That means d

Pastor J.D. explains that while hell is a difficult reality, it is something that the Bible teaches, and we can’t fully understand God and his world unless we grapple with it. A glimpse inside this episode: When we ask these questions, we have to evaluate if it’s because we want to get away from the seriousness and heaviness of what the Bible says about Hell. I do believe that the vast majority of images used in the Bible about Hell are literal. There obviously is a metaphorical co-import into them. For example, darkness represents the complete absence of God and fire represents an insatiable desire, etc. So, it’s possible that there are both metaphorical and literal images that are part of what the Bible says about Hell. However, one of the best explanations I’ve ever heard of this is if a particular image is a metaphor in the Bible, it’s almost always because the full reality behind it can’t really be described. In those situations, the reality is always much more intense than the actual physical image that is used. So, it’s not that you’d say, “Oh, it’s a metaphor, so it’s really not that bad.” Instead, it is something in which the reality is so intense that the best way to describe it is by using these awful and horrendous images. In the end, we must conclude, like the writer of Hebrews concludes, that, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:31) C.S. Lewis put it this way: “In the long run the answer to all those who object to the doctrine of hell is itself a question: ‘What are you asking God to do?’ . . . To leave them alone? Alas, I am afraid that is what He does. . . . In the end, there are only two kinds of people– those who say to God “thy will be done” and those to whom God says in the end ‘thy will be done.’” (The Problem of Pain, “Hell,” 116 and The Great Divorce, 69.) God’s word tells us about hell for a reason. God tells us about hell to demonstrate to us the magnitude of His holiness. Hell is what hell is because the holiness of God is what it is. Hell is not one degree hotter than our sin demands that it be. Hell should make our mouths stand agape at the righteous and just holiness of God. It should make us tremble before His majesty and grandeur. In fact, if you count up the verses, Jesus spoke more about hell than he did about heaven. One of the most famous skeptics in history, Bertrand Russell, said in his book, What I’m not a Christian, that Jesus’ teaching on hell was “the one profound defect in Christ’s character.” If we want to avoid the idea of hell, we can’t ignore the problem by just focusing on “meek and mild Jesus.” In one sense, God doesn’t send anyone to hell; we send ourselves. In another sense, God does send people to hell; and all his ways are true and righteous altogether.

Pastor J.D. continues the discussion from Episode 19 and specifically talks about how Christians should respond to a police shooting. A glimpse inside this episode: When we see the broad strokes of racism in our past, we cannot avoid seeing how racism has deeply impacted social realities like families, governments, and schools. Social realities are slow to change, and while laws are good, they cannot immediately overcome generations of unjust practices.We see this reality play out when news hits of a white police officer shooting and killing a person of color. On one side, African Americans are keenly aware of racial injustice in our history, so they sense enough of a pattern to assume injustice in this particular case. This one incident calls to mind the long period of public lynchings and other instances of racial violence. This is a valid viewpoint. On the other side, white commentators often respond by counseling patience. The historical realities may create a disturbing pattern, but it would be unjust to assume the guilt of any individual—white or black—without letting our justice system pursue the facts. I asked Dr. George Yancey about these situations: “What do you do in a moment like this? It seems we’re being asked to choose between two responses, both of which are bringing in strong (and seemingly contrary) assumptions. How do we speak in a way that communicates sympathy without subverting the justice system? I don’t want to commit one injustice (depriving the police officer the presumption of innocence and due processes of law) in order to rectify another.” Dr. Yancey responded, “You can always—and should always—come out quickly with sympathy for the victims. After all, it is a tragedy when anyone is shot and killed. But you can go further, lamenting the fact that we still live in a racialized society whose past makes questions like this even pertinent. It should be unthinkable that ethnicity plays a role in police shootings. But it’s not. And that’s a tragedy.” Dr. Yancey is right. If, God forbid, my white son was shot by the police, I would never ask if his death had anything to do with his skin color. My African American friends should have that same privilege. It’s past time we quit thinking about this as a conservative or liberal issue. The dividing line on this issue is not between Conservatives and Liberals. The dividing line runs between those who care about the problem and those who don’t.  

Pastor J.D. discusses the origins of privilege, its influence in society, and the responsibility Christians have in the issue. A glimpse inside this episode: This term “privilege” was first developed by a white woman in the 1980’s to talk not about race but male privilege in academics. (Learned from Dr. George Yancey) Definition: “An invisible package of unearned assets that whites can count on cashing in each day.” Privilege is multi-dimensional. There is never one exclusive privileged class and one underprivileged class. Rather, there are various ways in which a person may be privileged or not. For example, a white woman growing up in poverty, with an abusive father, may experience far fewer benefits of “privilege” than a black man growing up in an affluent, healthy family. Dr. Yancey says there is tall privilege and good-looking privilege. He says that Asians are often given a “they must be smart at math privilege.” The phrase “white privilege” indicates that—all other factors being equal—there is more social advantage in being white in the United States than in being non-white. Or, in other words, because “whiteness” is the social norm, those who are in that group have more benefits than those outside that group. Examples: As a white guy, if a traffic cop pulls me over, I never have to wonder if it was because of my race (Almost all POC have stories about this) As a white guy, the same is true when I see a clerk looking at me in the store. As a white guy, I don’t have to worry about my name causing me to be overlooked on a job or housing application. (Chris Green tells a story about assumptions being made by a lender about his income because he was black.) We want to see all people in our society have access to the same rights and privileges. When Dr. George Yancey, an African-American sociologist from North Texas University, came to speak to our church recently, he made a really interesting comment about privilege: He said “privileges” are like “rights.” It’s not that we want to take rights from one group and give them to others, but we want to see the rights that one group enjoys extended to all. He said often, in discussing privilege (white privilege or male privilege), there’s an unspoken assumption: “Things are not equal between these two groups, and we need to make them equal by pulling the top group down.” But if we think about privilege more like rights, it changes the conversation. When I think of the privileges that I have as a white person, or as a man, what I want is to see those privileges extended to as many people as possible. I don’t want people to lose all of their rights. I want more people to have those rights! These are just a handful of examples that show us that at least at some level, privilege exists. Another way to say it (that I’ve found helpful) is that the judicial and empowerment structures in our society, while better than in generations past, are still tilted. There is a sort of center-of-gravity toward the majority culture. What to do about it? There is responsibility to use that privilege to help others Politicians are divided: some will say that because our history of exploitation and discrimination has undoubtedly contributed to creating some of these realities, that demands certain benefits and privileges be extended to the black community Others will say that that won’t help: now that the doors of opportunity have been opened, only black people can go through them. DESK: Diploma, employment, spouse, kids. These are things everyone can do and are proven to fight poverty.

Pastor J.D. shares why Christianity that is not built on “it is written” is insufficient for both personal faith and sparking a worldwide resurgence of the Christian movement. A glimpse inside this episode: Todd: Pastor J.D., some are saying today (Andy Stanley, for example) that because our culture no longer accepts the authority of the Bible, we should refrain from saying, “the Bible says” in our preaching. What do you think about this? Response: True, as a starting point. But if it doesn’t quickly translate into “thus says the Lord,” it’s not a sufficient basis for faith A Christianity that is not built on “it is written” is insufficient for personal faith, much less sparking a worldwide resurgence of the Christian movement. There is an advantage to thinking about this the way our overseas missionaries think and share with different cultures where the Bible doesn’t have authority. For instance, you might say, ‘John says,” or “Paul says…” Apostles: “It is written.” The early church had written text, so the argument that they didn’t have Scripture isn’t accurate. 2 Peter 3:16 Paul, if you are spiritual, acknowledge these commands Matthew 7:24–27 shows us what love looks like; gives us confidence in the face of Satan Paul/Ephesians: built on the foundation of Apostles and their writings! Jesus with Satan! (Luke 4) Again: A Christianity that is not built on “it is written” is insufficient for personal faith, much less sparking a worldwide resurgence of the Christian movement. 2 Timothy 3:16 Billy Graham’s most used phrase, “The Bible says…”  

Pastor J.D. talks about creating a sending culture in the church by sending as many people as possible on short-term mission trips to open eyes to missional culture and principles. A glimpse inside this episode: First, let’s answer why we would want to create a sending culture in our churches. All of the promises Jesus gave about the church had to do with the church being raised up and sent outside its doors. God grows his church through multiplication. Paul’s entire strategy was centered around going to strategic cities and planting churches. Then, let’s talk for a second about culture. Sometimes we go to a conference or read a book and then go home and try to implement what we learned. Nearly always, it fizzles out. The French mystic Antoine de Saint Exupéry once said, “If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea.” As people yearn for the salvation of the world they will start pushing for sending without you even doing anything formally. It is the preaching of the gospel that creates this yearning. So, one very practical thing you can do to encourage a sending mentality is to send as many people on short-term mission trips as possible. Few things open our eyes to missional living like spending time with missionaries overseas. The more that mentality gets into the bloodstream of the church, the more church members become willing to apply missional principles to their own context. During the first two years after our church’s re-launch, we sent an inordinate amount of our people and leaders overseas. It cost a lot of money and took up valuable time, but it did two things. First, it raised the level of generosity in our church. Having seen the needs on the field, the people gave. The trips may have cost us a lot of money, but they paid for themselves many times over. Second, it made our people ask themselves if we were laboring to reach our city the same way that missionaries overseas were laboring to reach theirs. When you create a sending culture in your church, you will likely lose some of your best people to a church plant or a missions assignment. But don’t be afraid; the sending culture creates more leaders to take their place. It has worked for us like the five loaves and two fish: the more we give away, the more is multiplied and given back to us. Resources: jdgreear.com North American Church Planting: thesummitnetwork.com

Pastor J.D. gives parents some helpful guidelines for navigating conversations about sexual identity with their kids. A glimpse inside this episode: This is an excellent question, and one that more and more pastors, specifically, need to be equipped to answer. I am still learning how to navigate questions like this, and I’ve been incredibly thankful for Brad Hambrick, the counseling pastor at the Summit, for teaching me how to think through this not only theologically, but also pastorally. From the beginning of my ministry, I decided that if I could preach like anyone, I wanted to preach like a counselor. You can check out his website for a lot more helpful resources: bradhambrick.com Now, when talking with kids about “sexual identity,” here are a handful of ideas, most of which I’ve borrowed from Brad: 1. “The talk” is different today than it was for us growing up. By that, I mean a couple things. First, kids aren’t just going to be curious about sex (which is pretty universal). But as our society’s views about gender identity evolve, our kids will be exposed to different ideas than perhaps we’ve ever heard. Second, statistics tells us they will be exposed to sexual ideas way earlier than most of us were. For most of us, we need to have these discussions earlier than we’d expect. 2. When our kids bring up a potentially awkward subject, we shouldn’t over-react. This is true whether your kid is asking about gender identity for himself, for someone else, or just out of curiosity. Your initial response to your kids signals whether you are someone they can or should approach with these questions. 3. We need to talk about sex and sexuality proactively, not just reactively. If the only times we talk with our kids about sex is when they approach us, it will distort the biblical message about sexual ethics. Questions about sexuality and gender identity will start on the wrong foot if we let culture dictate the sorts of things our kids are asking us. 4. Be sure to ask as much as you teach. When your kid asks you about sex—especially when they’re younger, say elementary school—the most important part of that conversation will be what you learn from them (not vice versa). 5. We want our kids to be biblically informed and personally compassionate. We don’t have to agree with someone or understand their experience to love them. We believe that everyone is made in the image of God and deserves our honor and respect.If they’re hurting, we try to represent God’s compassion. If they’re sinning, we let them know of God’s forgiveness through the gospel. If we’re not sure, we listen and ask questions.

Pastor J.D. discusses his hopes and goals for the new year. A glimpse inside this episode: Each new year gives us an opportunity to refocus and recalibrate about the year ahead. A practice I’ve learned from John Piper is taking some dedicated time to pray about my calling and specifically if we’re called overseas each year. On our staff team, each December we prepare for the next year. For example, in 2019, we’re praying for 1,000 baptisms in the coming year through our Who’s Your One? initiative. Another thing we’re focusing on is the number of people in small groups. Those are re-calibration items we’re seeking God for this year. Personally, I have a standard set of goals each year. One is a goal for the number of books I’ll read next year, and I spend time researching what I want to read and if there is a theme. My wife and I set time each week to plan ahead for the next week. And then every three months, we set time to talk about the next six months. And so, going into 2019 we have plan for our shepherding our kids and mission trips we plan to take. What happens when the Bible and humanity collide? Not what you’d expect. Living & Effective, a podcast collaboration between Christianity Today and the Christian Standard Bible, journeys through history, current events, theology, and the human condition to uncover surprising ways the Bible accomplishes God’s plan in the world.”

Pastor J.D. speaks to the recent claim that Christians should unhitch their faith from the Old Testament and explains why doing so is unwise and untrue to the nature of Scripture. A glimpse inside this episode: True: Wrong use of the Old Testament has been a major obstacle to faith. Paul in Galatians: Obligating yourself to one part obligates you to all of the law. “Some would like to subjugate us to certain parts of the Mosaic Law. But this is not to be permitted under any circumstances. If we permit Moses to rule over us in one thing, we must obey him in all things.” -Martin Luther Andy Stanley talks about the problem of mismatching which I agree with. Throughout history, Christians have found two uses of Old Testament Law: Mirror – Reveals where we are sinful 1 Corinthians 7 Galatians 3 Awakenings are always built on preaching of the 10 Commandments Guide – After being saved, shows us how to live pleasing to God. Jen Wilkin, “When you are an unbeliever, the Law points to your need for grace. When you are a believer, grace points to your need for the Law.” But should we unhitch from the Old Testament altogether? The sacrificial death of Jesus makes very little sense without the history of the sacrificial system. Ephesians 6:1 Stanley says Jesus released into the world a new law: love But what does love look like in action? Jesus came to fulfill the law not abolish the law. 2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture (referring specifically to the Old Covenant) is breathed out by God and profitable for doctrine (understanding what love really is), for reproof (understanding what it is not), for correction and for training in righteousness (understanding how to live it out), that the man of God may be complete, not lacking in anything.” The real problem that “de-converts” have: Skeptics’ main objection to Christian faith, in my experience, is not why Christians today borrow from the Old Testament, but how we could ever believe God had said in it the things that he said. Plus, they are just as skeptical of the New Testament as the Old (Hello Romans 1!). Old Testament and how it pointed to Jesus saved my faith. Same for disciples in Luke 24 And so much more! What happens when the Bible and humanity collide? Not what you’d expect. Living & Effective, a podcast collaboration between Christianity Today and the Christian Standard Bible, journeys through history, current events, theology, and the human condition to uncover surprising ways the Bible accomplishes God’s plan in the world.”

Pastor J.D. explains why it’s important to not only read but also remember what you read with some helpful tips he’s found throughout the years. A glimpse into this episode: A guy once told me that in 5 years you’ll be the same person except for the books you read and the people you meet. First of all, you should be reading. John Wesley, “Read or get out of the ministry.” “Readers are leaders.” But assuming you already are a reader… I talk to people all the time who read a lot but are frustrated at how little they seem to retain. They want to know the secret to reading books well. People always see my library, which is pretty large–over a thousand books, and invariably ask me the same question, “Have you read all of these?” I believe it really doesn’t matter how many books you’ve read if you can’t remember what’s in any of them. As Proverbs 12:27 says, “Whoever is slothful will not roast his game, but the diligent man will get precious wealth.” Here are my two action items for you on how to read a book well: First, take notes. If you look into one of my books, you’ll notice that I underline passages, add stars next to others, and scribble short responses in the margins. Sometimes I’m agreeing with the author; sometimes I’m arguing; sometimes I’m making dumb jokes that only future J.D. will find funny. But I’m engaging the words, not simply looking at them. Second, create a cheat sheet. This is the toughest part, and it’s where most dedicated readers fall off. After the book is done, and you’ve been scribbling throughout it, create a 1-2 page cheat sheet that acts as your guide for the book. I like to use the empty pages at the front of the book for this (which, if I’m remembering correctly, is what Mortimer Adler suggested in his classic book, How to Read a Book). Now, if you’ve ever seen one of my books, you know that my cheat sheet isn’t comprehensive (or even always legible). That’s okay: it’s not for anyone else but me. But that cheat sheet helps me remember what I liked about a book and where to find it. So at a glance, I can remember, for instance, that Tim Keller has a great evangelism analogy about a doughnut on page 46 (or whatever). I also have a filing system by topic and book of the Bible where I catalogue a lot of the helpful things I read. And after 20 years of ministry I’ve created a rich storage of useful things that I can use later for sermons or anything else. I keep track of all of the books that I read, but it ends up being about 65-70 books a year. I also use a service called Blinkist that gives short summaries of leadership books.   What happens when the Bible and humanity collide? Not what you’d expect. Living & Effective, a podcast collaboration between Christianity Today and the Christian Standard Bible, journeys through history, current events, theology, and the human condition to uncover surprising ways the Bible accomplishes God’s plan in the world.”

Pastor J.D. discusses the difference between playing along with the idea of Santa Claus and helping kids distinguish truth from fiction. A glimpse into this episode: Every year my wife and I take a Santa doll and cut it into shreds and burn the remnants in front of our children’s eyes to remind them how badly that God hates lies. Then we read all the passages in the Bible about lying, and then we show them that by simply switching 2 of the letters, “Santa” becomes “Satan.” Just kidding. I think there is an appropriate place for fantasy in a child’s life, and I don’t mind playing “kids’ games” with my children when they are kids. So, when my kids were 4 or 5, we talked about Santa as if he was real. But all of my kids are older, now, and they realize that what we did when they were little kids was “playing a game.” Now, I will say that things were a little different when my kids asked me directly about Santa. I’m not about lying to my kids about anything, but I didn’t want my kid being the one telling everyone in their class that their parents were liars. So when my kids asked, I tried turning the question around. “What do you think?” And then changing the subject. My oldest, of course, had a lawyer’s mind from the time she was 3. (She’s 15 now.) So she wouldn’t let us get away with dodging the question. When she was 6 she cross-examined my wife like a grizzled court attorney, and my wife cracked. The next month we went to a local mall, and that was the first time she saw someone dressed as Santa, and she grabbed my arm and said, “Dad, Mom told me he wasn’t real, but there he is.” Personally, I don’t think playing along with a fantasy with young kids is damaging. But trust matters, and at a certain age (say, 5 or 6), your kids will ask you directly. They’re learning to separate truth from fiction, and it’s important we reinforce that by being honest with them. I know some families who parse this differently. One couple I know tells their kids that Santa is pretend, but that part of the game is not telling other kids that he’s pretend. Other parents just lay out from Day 1 that Santa is a fairy tale. Having parented four kids through those early years, I’m willing to show a lot of grace, because other people may have it figured out better than me. (Before I had kids, I had 4 great ideas on parenting and 0 kids. Now I have 4 kids and 0 great ideas on parenting.) By the way, if there’s any kids listening in, this is all just a joke. Of course Santa is real. What happens when the Bible and humanity collide? Not what you’d expect. Living & Effective, a podcast collaboration between Christianity Today and the Christian Standard Bible, journeys through history, current events, theology, and the human condition to uncover surprising ways the Bible accomplishes God’s plan in the world.”

Pastor J.D. shares his process for developing his weekly sermons, from research to manuscript and everything in between. A glimpse inside this episode: Research Big picture—picking the content of the entire sermon series. This happens anywhere from 3 to 6 months prior to the start of a particular series. I consult with several key church leaders to determine what to preach. (I let a lot of people speak into my process, from the very beginning even through the weekend I’m preaching.) We ask questions like: What parts of Scripture have we not preached recently? What is going on in our church that requires pastoral leadership? What has God been teaching me and our leaders? Alternate between book-by-book (Old Testament and New Testament) and then occasional topical series. Both are faithful methods. John Stott on the preacher’s role as steward’s (cooking for the kids, etc.) Listening to communicators and how they present the material From research to outline If I’m preaching through the book of Judges, I’ll read the book a dozen times. I want to get it into my blood. My weekly pattern Monday (initial research and rough draft) Tuesday (fill out the draft) Wednesday (feedback from campus pastors) Sermon ends up being preached to the 10 people the pastor met with that week, so we want to expand that net Thursday (flesh out the draft, incorporate changes based on feedback) Friday (generally let it sit and not fuss with it too much) Saturday (some last minute additions before my first sermon) Do you preach from the outline or do you use a full manuscript? I wouldn’t necessarily advise this for everyone, but I write out my sermon outline almost word-for-word, so that it is written down just as I would preach it. The reason I say I wouldn’t advise this is that most people don’t write exactly how they speak. So when they try to do a full transcript, their preaching ends up sounding like someone reading a position paper. (Even though I say this to guys all the time, most people end up trying to do what I do. My advice would be: don’t.) Of course, anyone familiar with my outlines will recognize that there are certain illustrations, stories, and points that I don’t write out completely. Many times I’ll just need a word or two (“Karate Kid”) that makes perfect sense to me but would be essentially nonsense for someone who happened to pick up a manuscript later.   What happens when the Bible and humanity collide? Not what you’d expect. Living & Effective, a podcast collaboration between Christianity Today and the Christian Standard Bible, journeys through history, current events, theology, and the human condition to uncover surprising ways the Bible accomplishes God’s plan in the world.”

Pastor J.D. explains the three concentric circles of friendship—care, influence, and intimacy—and gives wisdom for how to approach relationships in each one, especially those affected by negativity. A glimpse inside this episode: Part of this depends on what kind of “friend” we’re talking about: Three concentric circles—care, influence, intimacy In the innermost circle, intimacy, you have a small group of friends—probably just three or four—that profoundly shape you, and vice versa. If you’re married, your spouse goes in this circle. These are people that share the ultimate convictions you have. These are the ones that forecast your future—and it would take a lot for you to “break up” with them, so to speak. In the next circle, influence, you have a larger number of friends. You influence them, and they influence you—not as deeply as your closest friends but still in meaningful ways. In the outermost circle, care, you have the largest number of friends, including more casual acquaintances. These are people that you love and care for. You legitimately want the best for them and are willing to sacrifice for them, sometimes in stunning ways. When it comes to It’s wise to have different ways of assessing our relationships based on which circle we’re talking about. In my relationship with my wife, who is in that innermost circle, there will never be a time when her “negative impact” on me makes me say, “Well, you know what, this is just too draining.” But in the “care” circle, there are going to be times when it’s best to say, “This isn’t healthy for either of us.” God doesn’t want us in toxic relationships, relationships where the net result is leading both people further into sin. Helpful principle—first sinner, second sinned against. Another helpful principle—”turn the other cheek” (and what that actually means) Neither of these mean we always allow others to hurt us. But this should be the baseline for how we approach our friendships. Resources from Brad Hambrick on jdgreear.com.

Pastor J.D. discusses three problems with the belief that all religions lead to God and also explains that if God is real, it’s only natural that he sets the terms for where and how we seek him. A glimpse inside this episode: The contemporary wisdom of our day says that the more sophisticated we become, the more we’ll realize that God is “bigger than we can describe.” He’s like a mountain, and different religions are really just paths up that mountain. We may prefer our path, but the truly wise person sees that they all lead to the top in the end. This attitude is epitomized in the parable I heard in college: Several blind men fall into a pit. An elephant happens to be in that pit, so the blind men begin to argue about what they’ve discovered. Grabbing the tusk, one says, “It’s like a spear.” Grabbing the tail, another says, “No, it’s like a rope.” Feeling the elephant’s side, still another says, “It’s like a wall.” And the last takes hold of an ear, claiming, “It’s like a fan.” The point is pretty clear. We’re the blind men groping in the dark, and God is the elephant. We’ve got to stop being so narrow-minded and dogmatic and open up our minds a little bit. Respectfully, as the saying goes, “It’s good to have an open mind, but not so open that your brains fall out.” I worry that many of the well-intentioned “wise” of our day may have loosened the hinges on their mind a little too much. Here are three problems with the idea that all religions lead to God: The Arrogance Problem On the surface, it seems humble to say that “God is like a mountain,” or that “we all only see a part of God’s truth.” That would be well and good, if it weren’t for the total enlightenment that the speaker assumes for herself. Both of the illustrations above reflect this problem. With the mountain illustration, the narrator looks at us feeble religious folk, stumbling up our path, and says, “Well, if you could just see what I see, you’d realize these paths are all the same!” With the elephant parable, this is even clearer. The blind men (again, this is us) don’t know what they’re looking at, but the narrator does. That’s the only way she can confidently conclude that the blind men are interacting with one complex reality: She sees it and can correct their ignorance. The Logical Problem It takes some real mental gymnastics to claim that the major religions of the world are really just saying the same thing in different ways. Most people are only able to make statements like this because they haven’t thought too deeply about the supposed contradictions between the religions. The mountain and elephant metaphors hinge on the notion that religious claims are complementary. Certainly many of them can be. But all? As just one example, take the issue of what happens to people when they die: Some say you go to heaven or hell; some say you are reincarnated into another life here on earth; some say you disappear into nothingness. Even a child can see that you can’t possibly do all of these things at once. The Relational Problem Honestly, where else in our lives do we think like this? If you are having a heart attack, you need a cardiologist. But what if you decided to head to Walmart to find one? You think, “I just love Walmart. Their prices are great. There aren’t any pesky employees around to bother me by asking if I ‘need anything.’ So I think I’ll take my heart problem there.” You can be as sincere as you want, but you won’t find what you’re looking for at Walmart. You can get a lot at Walmart—a Big Mac, an eye exam, a haircut, a tire rotation, a bathing suit you’ll immediately regret. But heart surgery? Not your best bet. If you want to find a cardiologist, it matters where you look, and the consequences of looking in the wrong place can be fatal. “Come to my place,” the cardiologist says, “with my name on the door, and my healing instruments inside. I can give you help, but you have to actually come to me.” The Answer If God were a fiction we’ve made up or some projection of our imaginations, it wouldn’t matter where we sought him. But if God is real, then as unpopular as it sounds, he gets to set the terms of where we seek him and how we seek him. He’s more like a cardiologist than he is an elephant or a mountain. The gospel message is a narrow one, and many sophisticated people balk at it, just as they did in the days of the Apostles. But we make the same claim that they did. There really was a man with miraculous healing power, who made the blind see and the dead come to life. And only through him, through Jesus Christ, can we—blind and dead as we are—receive the sight and life we need.

Pastor J.D. shares the importance of building relationships with the grace and truth of the gospel and why these relationships need to be stronger than our words as we befriend our neighbors. A glimpse inside this episode: The narrative our culture puts forward regarding homosexuality is that we have only two options—affirmation or alienation. Sadly, the church has far too often simply condemned and alienated those in the LGBT community. What greater lie could we tell about our Savior than to distance ourselves from others, especially at their moments of greatest hurt and vulnerability? Jesus shows us that a third response—a gospel response—is possible. He shows us how to respond with grace and truth, how to hold out God’s truth and God’s love, not having to choose between the two. Truth without grace is fundamentalism. But grace without truth is vapid sentimentality. Failing in either puts us out of step with Jesus. As believers, we should be known not only for our unflinching commitment to truth, but also for our excessive love toward our neighbors. We must not only speak the truth of Christ, we must do so with the spirit of Christ. Now, this specific question: My hope with this is that the invitation would come in the context of a true friendship. Brad Hambrick has written a book called Do Ask, Do Tell, Let’s Talk, all about how important it is for Christians to develop deep friendships with people in the LGBT community. If our words about homosexuality are stronger than our actual relationships with the gay and lesbian community, we’ve made a mistake. As Rosaria Butterfield puts it, it is “violence” to have our words be stronger than our deeds. So if you’re going to say “no” to an invitation to a gay wedding, you should couple that with a “yes” to inviting them into your home. If me declining the invitation is a surprise to them, then I haven’t been a good friend to them by being honest about what I believe and what the gospel says. In the end, though, it is never loving to lie to someone—either overtly or indirectly—by telling them we approve of something God does not. When I attend a wedding, I do so to support what the couple is doing and to pledge to uphold their marriage. I could never do that with a gay couple. Bonus question: would you bake a cake for a homosexual wedding? Similar to just before, I couldn’t support in a way that celebrates the union. Giving my art as a cake designer would be celebrating in the marriage – same if I was a photographer or caterer.

Pastor J.D. shares his thoughts on dating and courtship, as well as some helpful guidelines for appropriate displays of affection before marriage. A glimpse inside this episode: Courting vs. Dating Why I don’t agree with courting: Courting goes beyond the Bible teaches; it is inconsistent (e.g. giving flowers can be sexual); and it puts unhealthy pressure on dating when you court. But we can learn from the idea of courting. But I think we should keep dating light Dating is a road that is leading toward marriage. Dating is best when it is non-exclusive, non-physical, non-escalating (especially when you’re younger). Appropriate show of affection vs. foreplay Lynn’s Laws (from Pastor J.D.’s father): Nothing in the dark Nothing should last longer than 5 seconds Nothing below the neck Never lie down

Pastor J.D. explains the reality that all Christians are called to do whatever they’re gifted in for the glory of God, wherever God places them. A glimpse inside this episode: I was looking for a mystical call from God like looking for God’s will in my Cheerios. You don’t need a voice when you have a verse. Every believer has spiritual gifts and a spiritual calling. Spiritual gift tests (why I’m skeptical) A spiritual gift is: (1) an unusual effectiveness in a responsibility given to all believers. (2) We discover our spiritual gifts as we actively pursue those responsibilities. (3) Ability / Affinity / Need or Affirmation (where do these things overlap?) Nehemiah 2:12 Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe gifts to the children Whatever you’re good at, do it well for the glory of God, and do it somewhere strategic for the mission of God. The question is no longer if you’re called; it’s only where and how.  

Pastor J.D. discusses that moral failures should cause Christians to ask, “Where am I susceptible to the same sin?” and strive for a culture of accountability among church members and leadership. A glimpse inside this episode: Back in 2007, I sat in a conference filled with ministry leaders, listening to a prominent pastor share some sobering statistics: In the U.S., 1,500 pastors leave the ministry each month due to moral failure, spiritual burnout, or contention in their churches. 50% of pastors’ marriages will end in divorce. 80% of pastors feel unqualified and discouraged in their role. 50% of pastors are so discouraged that they would leave the ministry if they could, but they have no other way of making a living. 70% of pastors constantly fight depression. Almost 40% of pastors polled said they had an extra-marital affair since beginning their ministry. 80% of pastors’ wives feel that their husband is overworked. Over half of pastors’ wives surveyed said that the most destructive event that has occurred in their marriage was the day their husband entered the ministry. Not long ago, that same pastor—the one who had warned us about pastoral burnout and moral failure—was removed from pastoral leadership in 2016. He had abused his pastoral authority, shut out any attempts to hold him accountable, and pursued inappropriate relationships with a couple different women. I know this man loved Jesus in 2007, and that he loves Jesus today. And I know he sincerely believed what he told us in that conference. But that didn’t prevent him from becoming one of the statistics he dreaded. Galatians 6:1–2 The first thing we should ask when something like this happens is not, “What was wrong with them?” but “Where am I susceptible to the same sin?” The seed of every sin is in every human heart. We should be accountable, …and hold our pastors accountable I asked Paul Tripp, pastor to pastors, why this keeps happening. He gave me on two reasons why pastors fall: Lack of peer community. Exacerbates 2nd problem… The forget the power of indwelling sin! As Paul said to me these pastors keep believing the first half of 1 Timothy 1:15, but the stop believing the second: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners … of whom I am the worst.” Things that grow in a secret garden always grow mutant. The shepherd is still a sheep. Trend of pastors not being close to anyone: Better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away (Proverbs 27:10) Your “brother” may be your closest friend, the guy you can share anything with. He gives incredible counsel and always looks out for you. But if he’s 100 miles away, he’s actually not as valuable as a guy you met six months ago in your small group. Isolation is the problem.  

Pastor J.D. shares helpful tips to structure quiet time with God and reminds listeners that It’s more important to find a rhythm that works for them than to do it “the right way.” A glimpse inside this episode: Pastor J.D.’s Personal Method: 15-15-15 15 minutes of Bible reading 15 minutes of prayer 15 minutes of devotional, Scripture memorization, etc. ACTS method of praying Adoration Confession Thanksgiving Supplication Prayer helps Paul Miller’s A Praying Life Notecards, journaling, going for walks, etc. Gospel Prayer from Gospel In you, there is nothing I could do to make you love me more; nothing I have done that makes you love me less. You are all I need today for everlasting joy. As you have been to me, so I will be to others. As I pray, I’ll measure your compassion by the cross and your power by the resurrection. Start where you are! Don’t get overwhelmed. If you aren’t doing anything at all, start with 5 or 10 minutes. Don’t let what others are doing intimidate you from just starting. It’s more important that you find a rhythm that works for you than to do it “the right way.” To paraphrase a friend of mine, “I like my way of meeting with God better than your way of not meeting with him.”  

Pastor J.D. discusses four core myths about Christians and politics while encouraging listeners to exercise both empathy and charity in their daily lives, especially when talking about politics. A glimpse inside this episode: This is always tough for me. On one side, I feel guilty for having said too little … on the other, for having said too much. It’s important to remember that politics is just one way we impact society. Luke 12 Four myths about Christians and politics: (1) Secondary political ideals are matters of first importance. We might be wrong about them. Politics doesn’t have the same weight as the gospel. (Matthew the tax collector and Simon the zealot) (2) Christian truth doesn’t apply to politics. MLK was able to oppose racism because of his Christianity. (3) There is never a time to take a controversial political stand. We should be vocal of people saying, “If you aren’t vocal about this issue, you aren’t being faithful.” But there does come a time when we need to connect the dots. Bonhoeffer went from “Discrimination is wrong” to “We must oppose the Nazi party.” (4) We see everything clearly. Great Christians can be wrong. Support of slavery, of Jim Crow… For us specifically today, two words—empathy and charity Empathy – If you voted for Trump, you should be listened to those who are dismayed, and your voice should be the loudest in opposing xenophobia, misogyny, or racial stereotypes. Show that you care for the poor and disenfranchised. Charity – Assume the best about those who voted differently than you. Not every Trump voter was a villain. Give the benefit of the doubt and choose to believe a better narrative than our society tells about politics. Additional Resources from Pastor J.D.: Four Myths Christians Believe About Politics (Video) Challenges to Racial Integration: Politics When Should the Church Make Political Statements? Empathy and Charity: How Christians Can Respond to the 2016 Election

Pastor J.D. explains that neither celebrating nor opposing Halloween is right or wrong. However, the holiday does present a unique opportunity for fellowship among neighbors. A glimpse inside this episode: This is a topic that demands we respect each other’s perspective; both sides need to extend charity to the other. Functionally, Halloween isn’t good or bad. Paul, similar topic, in Romans 14: Whatever is not of faith is sin. Some people will choose to refrain because of the historic connections with the occult. Many, though, will recognize that cultural symbols shift. “Trick or treating,” for most, has nothing to do with the occult. For those who do celebrate: I encourage people to see trick-or-treating as an opportunity for outreach. As my friend Ed Stetzer says, on what other day of the year are your neighbors out in the neighborhood and willing to engage in conversation? Why would we not use this open door? Halloween at the Greear household. Recommended resource: The Gospel Comes with a House Key by Rosaria Butterfield

Pastor J.D. answers one of his most asked questions and talks about the non-negotiables of the Christian faith in contrast to some particulars where it’s okay to disagree. A glimpse inside this episode: Theologians have argued about this for 2000 years. “Calvinism is not an issue to me until it becomes one to you. But when it becomes one to you, it becomes one to me, and I’ll probably take whatever side you are not.” -Pastor J.D. What someone believes about the finer points of Calvinism is not usually the issue; it’s how they believe it. We may have trouble achieving absolute clarity together on every one of the “five points,” but we can be absolutely clear on the fact that the Bible condemns a divisive and uncharitable spirit over something about which gospel-loving Christians have historically had trouble finding complete agreement. John Calvin’s favorite verse: Deuteronomy 29:29. God chose to keep some things hidden from us. Type A people like me hate that. But it’s for our good. We must never go farther in our theology than Scripture allows. Elevating your doctrinal system too highly makes you a fundamentalist. You start to believe that God’s graces are only found in your narrow little camp. Calvinists seem especially prone to this. Anti-Calvinism can be just as bad. (Remember: Luther, Spurgeon, Whitefield, Judson, and Carey were all Calvinist! Calvinism doesn’t kill evangelism!) Christians should “cross-pollinate.” I’m not saying I’m a doctrinal relativist. Some things are non-negotiable (bodily resurrection, salvation in Christ alone, etc.) Reading broadly takes humility. Isn’t that a good thing? Eat the fish, spit out the bones. The gospel—not the 5 points of Calvinism—is the center of our faith. If you believe in the loftiness of God’s glory, that salvation belongs only to God, and that God is sovereign over the world, and that he that has begun a good work in you will see it through, then you and I can stand in alignment, even if we parse some of the particulars differently.

Pastor J.D. shares his vision for Ask Me Anything and discusses why it’s important to ask candid, tough questions in pursuit of biblical wisdom.