For the Church Podcast

Different size churches experience different cultural and communal dynamics. Different size churches need different kinds of leadership, as well. On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ross Ferguson talk about how church size affects church experience and church ministry.

We are currently experiencing the largest and fastest religious shift in US history. It is greater than the First and Second Great Awakening and every revival in our country combined...but in the opposite direction. On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson chats with Jim Davis and Michael Graham, co-authors of the new book The Great Dechurching: Who’s Leaving, Why Are They Going, and What Will It Take to Bring Them Back?, about the eye-opening and challenging findings of the first-ever large-scale sociological research study of the American de-churching phenomenon. Maybe your assumptions about why people are leaving the church in massive numbers will be subverted, as well. Davis and Graham provide key insights to the challenge and applicational takeaways for evangelicals and church leaders in rising to the challenge. Find out more info at dechurching.com

On this special Thanksgiving week episode of the For The Church Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ross Ferguson talk about cultivating a spirit of thanksgiving in the Christian life year-round.

On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ross Ferguson discuss the peculiar tragedy of those who evidently "fall away." Are there warning signs before apostasy? What should we look out for and how can we address the red flags in biblical and gracious ways?

What's the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation? Why is it so hard to forgive? Do we have to forgive everybody? On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared and Ross tackle these difficult questions and discuss why we have such trouble with forgiveness, repentance, and reconciliation.

In this Mailbag installment of the FTC Podcast, Jared and Ross answer your questions. This week's episode features discussions of devotional resources, whether pastors' parsonages are a good idea, reasonable vacational policies for pastors, the influence of global evangelicalism, ministering to older saints, unique cautions for churches pursuing gospel-centrality, and more.

How can church members foster a greater sense of community with each other? What does it mean to "do life together," and is it even possible in our Western culture? Jared and Ross talk about the possibilities and the pitfalls of experiencing community with other believers.

Find it difficult to pray? Struggle with sluggishness or a wandering mind in your quiet times? You're not alone. On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared and Ross talk about ways to reinvigorate our approach to prayer.

On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared and Ross discuss the biblical portrait of spiritual warfare and what it means for the everyday Christian life. Plus: a BIG announcement!

Everybody's favorite feature is back! On this FTC Mailbag episode, Jared and Ross respond to listener-submitted questions and topics like pastoring without seminary, terms for elders, restoring disqualified pastors, what happens to the soul when someone dies, whether SBC churches should bring into membership those baptized as infants, and more.

On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ross Ferguson discuss the authors who have most influenced them and edified them in their Christian walk.

On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ross Ferguson return to the popular "pet peeves" series and turn the tables! Instead of focusing on peeves about leaders, we look at some annoying habits in congregations, with warmth and affection, of course, and an eye toward how to better love our churches and their leaders.

On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ross Ferguson discuss the vital ministry of the church's care for the poor and marginalized. Why is it important? What does the Bible say about it? And how can our churches better facilitate this ministry corporately and individually?

It's another Mailbag installment of the FTC Podcast. This time Jared and Ross discuss listener-submitted questions on patriotic worship services, difficult books of the Bible, communicating to a church a pastor's transition, discipleship with and for the disabled, how to know when one is ready to take a lead pastorate, and more.

Reunited and it feels so goooood! On this episode of the FTC Podcast, former co-host Ronni Kurtz returns as a guest to talk with Jared about Jared's new book Friendship with the Friend of Sinners and the remarkable possibility of closeness with Jesus.

Has your Bible reading time grown stagnant? Feel like you're in a rut or stalled out in some way? In this episode, Jared and Ross talk about some ways to reinvigorate your Bible study time, including a few ways they've personally experienced refreshing in their time in God's word.

On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared and Ross talk about how and why church business/member meetings sometimes go off the rails and how both leaders and laity can pursue greater unity and more peace in these important events in a church’s community life.

On this episode of the FTC Podcast, the guys discuss the different "annoying" types one finds in Christian social media spheres and then offer some brief words of advice on how to enhance one's use of the platforms.

In this Mailbag installment of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ross Ferguson answer listener-submtted questions on life and ministry. This episode includes topics like the challenge of AI to ministry, how bivo pastors can manage preaching load, what to do with those “unteachable” members, how you shouldn’t discipline your church Eeyores, and more.

On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ross Ferguson look at the biblical qualifications for pastors and how both the culture’s and oftentimes the church’s expectations differ.

On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ross Ferguson discuss their most embarrassing moments in the pulpit.

On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ross Ferguson discuss the happenings at Asbury College and dig into the historical apprasial of genuine revival as our measurements for true revival today.

It’s another Mailbag installment of the FTC Podcast, with Jared Wilson and Ross Ferguson answering listener-submitted questions and topics, including counseling baptism for children, pastoral recovery from pandemic burnout, and more. Due to technical difficulties, this episode’s recording was cut shorter than usual Mailbag episodes. We will make up for it in the next installment!

On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ross Ferguson return to a listener favorite segment — “peeves” — and share some ways small group leaders, Sunday School teachers, and other Bible study teachers can improve.

On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson visits with ministry leader and author Ben Connelly about the ways churches sometimes train believers to read their Bibles without Jesus at the center.

On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ross Ferguson share their favorite Christian musical acts, plus a few honorable mentions.

On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson talks with pastors Ronnie Martin and Donnie Griggs about their new book on pastoring small towns.

On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ross Ferguson discuss how Christians can leave a church wisely and charitably.

On this episode of the FTC Podcast, author and Moody Publishers editor Drew Dyck returns to talk about the ins and outs of Christian publishing, including plagiarism, ghostwriting, and more.

Get a pen and paper handy! You'll want to write these recommendations down. On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ross Ferguson discuss what ought to be included on every Christian family bookshelf.

On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson talks with scholar and author Jenny-Lyn de Klerk about what the lives of five Puritan women teach us about holy living and devotion to God.

On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ross Ferguson talk about how church members can support and encourage their pastors -- and why this work is so important and a benefit to the church!

On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson talks with author Aaron Armstrong about his new book of counsel for new believers and how we all might help our new brothers and sisters take their first steps in the pursuit of Christlikeness. But first, a conversation about comic book movies! (If you just want […]

On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ross Ferguson dip back into the mailbag to answer your questions on Christian life and ministry. This week we cover when to inform congregations of a pastor's theological shift, whether pastors should ever turn off their phone, whether husbands should confess their porn struggle with their wives, handing ministries off to a new generation, and more.

On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and his wife Becky talk about the heart and vision behind their first book together, Go Outside . . . and 19 Other Keys to Thriving in Your 20's, available this May from Moody Publishers.

On this special Easter week episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson interviews author and professor Daniel Darling about the message of Easter as seen through the various witnesses to Christ's resurrection.

On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ross Ferguson discuss the new Christian film "Jesus Revolution." Did Ross love it? Did Jared hate it? And what implications might it have for ministry and church life today?

On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson visits with pastor and author Jeremy Writebol about his new book *Pastor, Jesus is Enough* and the problem of ministerial burnout.

On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson talks with author and publisher Drew Dyck about the ins and outs of Christian publishing -- the good, the bad, and the ugly.

On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ross Ferguson talk about navigating worklife as a Christian in a secular world.

On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson talks with pastor and author Barnabas Piper about his new book "Belonging" and the beauty of gospel-centered unity and community in the local church.

On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ross Ferguson talk about the ins and outs of singleness within the church community.

On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ross Ferguson talk about some simple ways to approach evangelism without fear.

On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson visits with Dr. Jason Thacker, a prof at Boyce College and the chair of research in technology ethics at the ERLC, about his book Following Jesus in the Digital Age

Why are Christian movies so bad? On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ross Ferguson discuss the state of Christian media and how it can be improved.

On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson talks with pastor and author Erik Raymond about his book He is Not Ashamed and the amazing grace of Jesus for hurting, broken, sinful people.

On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ross Ferguson dig back into the ol' mailbag and answer listener-submitted questions related to handling the departure of a beloved pastor, what first-year pastors should prioritize, performance-driven worship, when to leave the secular workforce and pursue a ministry job, and more.

On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson talks with fellow Midwestern Seminary professor Dr. Patrick Schreiner about his new book on Christians bearing public witness in a politically crazy world.

On this episode of the FTC Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ross Ferguson offer some counsel on entering the new year with optimism and confidence.

Mr. Christmas himself -- pastor and author Ronnie Martin -- is back for our annual Christmas episode. This time he and host Jared Wilson discuss their favorite "redemptive" moments from various Christmas movies.