For the Church Podcast

It's another Mailbag! It doesn't matter what color it is. It only matters how stuffed with quality questions it is. On this episode, Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz discuss helping people scared of baptism, ministry focus for lay elders, "hearing from God," humor in the Bible, and more.

"If Christ is not raised, we of all people should be pitied the most." In this annual holiday episode, Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz talk about the truth and transforming power of the resurrection of Jesus.

The Film Club is back. In this installment, Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz discuss the late, great Robert Duvall showpiece, 1997's "The Apostle."

Maybe no subject in church life is more polarizing than the prospect of small kids in the church service. Are they a delight? Or a distraction? The guys sort it out on this episode of the FTC Podcast.

In an age of increasing church consumerism and church division, Christians sometimes leave churches for less than honorable reasons. But what are the honorable ones? In this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz talk about the why's and how's of leaving a local church.

Most Christians know what it is. Most Christians don't practice it. What is a biblical fast, and what's the point of it? On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz discuss the spiritual discipline of fasting.

It's a helpful principle for sorting out unity and debate. But how exactly does theological triage work? In this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz discuss the relative importance of first order, second order, and third order doctrines, and how the application of theological triage can help us with Christian charity and kindness.

Mailbag time! Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz answer listener-submitted questions and discuss listener-submitted topics. In this installment, the guys cover advice for first-time pastors, when associate pastors disagree with senior pastors' vision, dealing with criticism, how Baptist churches hold pastors accountable, how a new Christian can bear witness to the gospel among unbelieving friends and family, and what color is the FTC Mailbag anyway? As always, if you have questions or topics you'd like the guys to cover on a future Mailbag episode, you can email us at any time via [email protected]

In this special Valentine's week episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz talk about love. We all want it. We all sometimes struggle to give it. But what is it? And how can we know we have it at all times?

It's a sad consequence of the fall and the brokenness of the world: suffering. In this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz reflect on the problem -- and the promise -- of suffering in the Christian life.

It's the return of the Grab Bag! Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz come with surprise questions for each other. You never know what you'll hear when the guys are put on the spot.

Another cold take on a literally hot topic. Kirk Cameron recently announced he was moving away from the doctrine of eternal conscious torment and toward conditionalism or annihilationism. On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz discuss what's at stake in this doctrinal shift, the relevant passages that should inform our views, and why ETC is an important doctrine for gospel fidelity.

On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz discuss the challenge AI poses to the church. What are some beneficial uses of artificial intelligence? What are some uses Christians should avoid? And what is the spiritual impact of this encroaching technology on Christian culture?

It's a Mailbag episode! In this installment, Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz answer listener-submitted questions and topics, including: renewed interest by young men in the church, managing busy schedules, pastoral teams without a lead pastor, cultivating humility, holiday preaching, and favorite fiction reads of 2025. As always, if you have a question or topic to suggest for the Mailbag please email us at [email protected]

On this special New Year's episode, Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz discuss the teenage Jonathan Edwards's challenging resolutions. Why does he repeat himself so much? Was young Jonathan suffering from scrupulosity? What can we learn about the gospel and our own resolutions from his commitment to focus on Christ's glory?

Recurring special guest Ronnie Martin is back for his annual visit to the FTC Podcast Christmas episode! In this year's installment, the friends discuss the ironies and paradoxes in the Christmas story and the Christian's experience of it.

The guys introduce a new feature for the podcast today -- FTC Film Club! In each installment, Jared and Ronni will discuss a movie with significant spiritual themes and artistic quality. In this first entry in the Film Club conversation, they talk about Terrence Malick's A Hidden Life.

By popular demand, Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz discuss the church office of deacon. What is it? Who should be one? And how should they operate in a local church?

It's another installment in our occasional Bible book feature. This time around, Jared Wilson visits again with the Dean of Spurgeon College Dr. Sam Bierig about the book of Proverbs. Why is it deceptively complex? How do we end up reading the book wrongly? How should we read it, and how should pastors preach it? And where do we see Jesus in it?

Jared welcomes his wife Becky to the podcast for this special Thanksgiving week episode. They talk about family traditions, tips and reminders for being a gracious host, and how to remain thankful even in the midst of anxious or uncomfortable Thanksgivings.

What makes a theology biblical theology? Shouldn't all theology be a biblical theology? On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson welcomes guest Sam Bierig, Dean of Spurgeon College, to talk about the special category of biblical theology, how the average Christian can engage in it, and resources available to help us engage in it well.

Originally aired on July 21, 2021 On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz break down the implications of gospel-centrality beyond the buzzword.

Originally aired on February 3, 2021 The tongue is indeed a fire. In this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz discuss the danger of church gossip.

Our first mailbag installment with returning co-host Ronni Kurtz! On this installment of the FTC Mailbag, the guys discuss responsible introversion, membership covenants, preaching the gospel from the Sermon on the Mount, and fiction recommendations for ministry leaders. As always, if you have a question or topic you'd like to hear on a future installment of the FTC Mailbag, email us at [email protected]

To be in fellowship is to open yourself up to disappointments. But how do we deal with it when someone we trusted or respected disappoints us deeply? How can we avoid "spiritualizing" our disappointments or holding grudges? On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz discuss ways to give grace to others even -- especially -- when they don't deserve it.

Brother and Friend. Master and Teacher. Lord and God. The glory of Jesus is inexhaustible. On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared and Ronni talk about the wonder of Jesus and the wonder of knowing him.

Our new podcast cohost is actually an old podcast cohost! Dr. Ronni Kurtz returns to the pod after a few years away. On this episode, we introduce him to new listeners and catch up on his life and ministry since his last time at Midwestern Seminary.

It's another installment in our occasional Bible book feature. This time around, Jared Wilson talks with Dr. Andrew King, Assoc. Prof. of Biblical Studies and Assistant Dean of Spurgeon College, about Hosea. Who was this prophet? What does his story have to do with the story of Jesus? And how can this book impact a local church?

Why in the Bible do we find so many prayers composed as poetry? How can poetic prayers help us in our own devotional life? FTC guest all-star Dr. Ronnie Martin joins Jared Wilson on the podcast this week to talk about poetry, prayer, and his new book In the Morning You Hear My Voice, which aims to help Christians in their daily walk with God through all the seasons of life.

It's time to say goodbye to our Assistant Director of Ministry Policeman. Raise a bottle of Irn Bru in the air to toast our irrascible, Christian movie-loving co-host, Ross Ferguson, as he shares more about his new ministry assignment, offers some words of wisdom on life and ministry in reflection, and the guys walk down a bit of the podcast memory lane, sharing some favorite famous (and infamous) moments from their 125 episodes together.

This week's episode of the FTC Podcast begins an occasional feature where we talk to an expert on different books of the Bible. In this first Bible book episode, Jared Wilson talks with Dr. Patrick Schreiner, Assoc. Prof. of New Testament and Biblical Theology at Midwestern Seminary, about the book of Acts, Luke's chronicle of the early church after Christ's resurrection. What are the major themes? What do we make of some tricky texts? And what is the importance of this book for the average local church?

Pastor Appreciation Month is coming soon, and Jared and Ross want to get you in the right mindset to make a difference in your pastors' hearts and minds. Why do pastors need so much encouragement anyway? And where should we start? The guys discuss the "double honor" ways of encouraging our churches' shepherds.

From two guys who grew up with only brothers comes a podcast on being daddies to only girls. On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ross Ferguson discuss the different seasons, challenges, and blessings of raising daughters.

Why should more churches take leadership development seriously? Why is raising up leaders "in house" so important? And how would you go about doing it? On this episode of the podcast, Jared Wilson and Ross Ferguson discuss the ins and outs of raising up the next generation of church leaders in your local ministry.

It's Ross' last mailbag feature on the podcast! Tune in as he and Jared tackle listener-submitted questions and topics. On this week's episode, the guys discuss: whether a call to ministry is permanent, when husbands and wives disagree on a church, men serving in children's ministry, neglected doctrines, dealing with complaints in the church, and more.

They don't make headlines. They don't sell books. They're not killing it on Insta or TikTok. But they're probably way better than we deserve. They're boring pastors. In this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared and Ross talk about why we're tempted to underestimate pastors we find "less than dynamic" (but why we shouldn't) and try to encourage ordinary pastors in their boring-ness to trust God in the normalcy of everdyay ministry.

Does obeying the fifth commandment mean never bugging your unbelieving parents about their spiritual state? How might other passages of Scripture provide some guidance on evangelizing our lost mom or dad? It's common for Christians to think about winning prodigal children, but in this episode of hte FTC Podcast, Jared and Ross discuss how to handle having "prodigal parents."

It's now come to be expected in evangelical headlines -- the fallen pastor. Whether by sexual immorality or greed or abusive patterns of leadership, ministers big and small, famous and relatively unknown, seem to be dropping like flies. How does it happen? And, perhaps more intriguingly, can they be restored? In this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared and Ross talk about fallen pastors and the possibility of restoration to ministry? Also: stick around til the end of the ep for a REALLY BIG announcement. Links mentioned in this episode include "How to Fall in Ministry": https://ftc.co/resource-library/blog-entries/how-to-fall-in-ministry-and-what-to-do-when-you-do/ and "Can We Restore Pastors After Sexual Sin?": https://www.9marks.org/article/can-we-restore-pastors-after-sexual-sin-a-longer-answer/

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

Our debate over the quality of Christian movies is now notorious and a running gag on the podcast, but this is only the second time ever we've done an official "movie swap." Ross assigns Jared a Christian movie to watch. Jared assigns Ross a "Christian-"eque movie to watch. Then they sit and down and compare notes. On this week's episode of the podcast, the guys discuss 2006's "Facing the Giants" and 1998's "Simon Birch."

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

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

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

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

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