For our June episode on books, we, the CPT staff, have been reading:
JD Vance, Hillbilly Elegy (2016)
Rémi Brague, Kingdom of Man: Genesis and Failure of the Modern Project, (2018)
Elizabeth Goudge, The Dean's Watch, (2012)
Today on the podcast we are joined by Rev. Dr. Michael Niebauer as he shares about his recent book, Four Mountains: Encountering God in the Bible from Eden to Zion. How can Christians encounter Jesus on every page of the Bible? What can we learn from how the earliest Christians read Scripture, and connect seemingly disparate stories in the text? What is distinct about this style of reading as opposed, for example, to 6-week Bible studies or academic study? This and more on today's episode!
Jason Meyer, lead pastor of Urban Refuge Church in Minneapolis, MN, joins the podcast today to tell us about his journey towards becoming a pastor theologian. After serving eight years as a pastor at Bethlehem Baptist, Jason shares what he learned about his own calling, and the identity of a "pastor." This and more on today's episode!
CPT board member Doug Sweeney joins the podcast today. He previews his topic for the 2025 CPT Conference, Good Shepherds: Pastoral Identity and the Future of the Church. What are good Christian pastors supposed to be like? On the other hand, what malformative models of pastoral identity are common in our culture today? Doug also tells us about his 2024 book, Substance of Our Faith: Foundations for the History of Christian Doctrine. Check it out on today's episode!
Casey Hough joins us to talk about his recent book,When Poets Were Warriors: Retrieving a Biblical Vision of Masculinity (B&H Publishing, 2025). “Masculinity” is an increasingly popular subject for public discourse. Drawing on his experiences as a pastor and father, Hough argues that Christians ought to return to the complex and challenging example of Jesus, instead of relying on cultural stereotypes, to form our vision of masculinity. If we consider Jesus Christ to be a model for masculinity, how do we then think about femininity, and any differences or similarities between the two? What should pastors consider as they shape their discipleship ministries? This and more on today’s episode!
What does Jesus' ascension mean and why does it matter? What is the theological significance of the human Messiah's return to heaven? To mark Ascension Thursday this week, we are featuring a conversation on these questions as well as a sermon from CPT fellow Donnie Berry.
How can pastors be attuned to the mental health needs of their congregants? What responsibility does the pastor have to be aware of contemporary psychological research and brain science? What theological resources do we have as Christians for understanding and addressing mental health? We discuss these questions and more in our conversation with CPT fellow Ryan Davidson.
We are joined on the podcast by CPT fellow Stephen Witmer, who serves as the Lead Pastor of Pepperell Christian Fellowship in Pepperell, MA. In this episode we discuss Stephen's life story, his call to ministry, and education. We also hear about Stephen's recent book, A Big Gospel in Small Places: Why Ministry in Forgotten Communities Matters.
What is God doing in/with/through this global crisis? In this episode we are joined by CPT fellow Jim Samra, Senior Pastor of Calvary Church in Grand Rapids, MI. We explore difficult and complex questions related to how Christians should think and speak of the activity of God in moments of crisis and suffering. How do we prepare God’s people for suffering and uncertainty? Once the a season of suffering has arrived, what is the pastor’s role in encouraging, supporting, and shepherding the sufferer?
In this episode we are joined by CPT fellow Jarrod Longbons, Senior Minister of Peachtree Christian Church in Atlanta, GA. Jarrod discusses the history of the Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement in the United States. He also explores how he and his congregation are ministering to the people in their church and in their community through connection and ministries of mercy during a national shutdown.
CPT fellow Jon English Lee, Pastor of Discipleship at Morningview Baptist Church in Montgomery, AL. Jon English discusses his life of faith, his ministry training, and his doctoral research. How does the biblical Sabbath mandate relate to creation? How does it relate to the coming of Christ? How can those who no longer work or who are unable to work in their present circumstances participate in the rest that God commands?
Our culture shelters us from death. But the reality of our own fragility and mortality has been placed at the forefront of our attention during a global pandemic. CPT fellows Chris Ganski and Benj Petroelje discuss how pastors can lead and prepare their people to come face to face with death in their own lives and in society. How can Christians acknowledge the reality of death and hold it in tension with the hope that we have in Christ?
The COVID-19 crisis has quickly and urgently raised many theological questions for pastors and congregations. Should find ways to celebrate the Lord's Supper while the church can only gather via livestream? What should worship look like under these circumstances? CPT fellows Chris Ganski and Benj Petroelje join the podcast for a conversation on worship and sacrament in unique circumstances.
Listen to part 2 of our conversation with CPT fellow Nathan Barczi. Nathan tells the story of his move from New York to Boston and from economics to pastoral ministry. We discuss studying part-time for a degree in theology, as well as Nathan's studies for his first career as a professional economist. Nathan concludes by discussing the unique function of theological education in the local church in the Boston area––including his involvement in our local and student fellowships here at the CPT.
“Everything in our scriptures prepares us to anticipate that bad things happen to good people. God does not prevent all [suffering], but he is also not absent from it.”
This week’s episode features part of our interview with CPT fellow Nathan Barczi, Associate Pastor at Christ the King Presbyterian Church in Cambridge, MA. Nathan tells his story of growing up and coming to faith and his study of economics at Stanford. He also tells the story of living and working in Manhattan during the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001. What was life like in New York in the weeks after the attacks? How did Christians respond? What questions were people asking? Listen to the first half of Nathan’s fascinating story of becoming a pastor theologian.
ARTICLE: “The Gospel Terrifies Me”
COLEMAN FORD
PODCAST: Encountering God in the Bible
MICHAEL NIEBAUER
ARTICLE: The “This Is That” Character of Pentecostal Preaching
AARON FRIESEN
NEWS: Announcing Two New Learning Cohorts
CPT NEWS UPDATE
