Is Your Preaching Pain-Full? Adopting Paul’s Theology of Homiletical Weakness | Matthew Kim

Is Your Preaching Pain-Full? Adopting Paul’s Theology of Homiletical Weakness | Matthew Kim

In this plenary message from the 2023 CPT Conference, Power and the Pulpit, Matthew Kim asks us to consider whether our preaching embodies a contemporary pursuit of power or a Pauline theology of weakness. Reflecting on the examples of Jesus, Paul, and his own on personal history, Matthew Kim challenges preachers to lead the church from a posture of humble weakness that depends on the power of Christ.

Theologizing as a Pastor | Gerald Hiestand

Theologizing as a Pastor | Gerald Hiestand

CPT co-founder and board chair Gerald Hiestand joins the podcast to discuss some of the recent history of the CPT and how his transition from an associate pastor to senior pastor role affected his research and theological reflection. What are the challenges and advantages of doing theology from a pastoral post? Is it possible to live out the historic vision of the pastor theologian in today's cultural and church climate? How does the pastoral vocation tend towards simplicity but not "dumbing it down" in theological reflection?

What Is an M.A. in Ecclesial Theology? | Marc Cortez

What Is an M.A. in Ecclesial Theology? | Marc Cortez

Beginning in Fall 2021, the CPT will partner with the Wheaton College Graduate School in offering an M.A. in Theology with a concentration in Ecclesial Theology. This program is designed for students interested in studying theology with a specific orientation toward ministry in the local church. On this episode, CPT staff are joined by Marc Cortez, a Professor of Theology at Wheaton, to discuss this new program, its unique value for students, and how you can find out more and apply.

Power and the Pulpit | Jennifer Powell McNutt

Power and the Pulpit | Jennifer Powell McNutt

Jennifer Powell McNutt joins the podcast to discuss the role of preaching in the church, how the practice of lectio continua shaped preaching during the Reformation, and how churches today can benefit (and potentially abuse) this practice. Along the way, Jennifer shares some of the story of her call to ministry and her personal formation as well as offering an encouragement to listeners to join the upcoming CPT conference. Listen now to gain a better historical perspective on the centrality of the preached word in the life of the body.

Becoming a Pastor Theologian | Daryl Ellis

Becoming a Pastor Theologian | Daryl Ellis

Daryl Ellis, executive pastor at Church of the Master and a member of the CPT St. Augustine Fellowship, joins the podcast to share his story about faith, his shift away from an Evangelical Free Church background, education, and how theology informs his administrative-oriented role. Along the way he discusses his adoption of an Augustinian and Thomistic approach to theology from a more Barthian understanding. Listen now for a great conversation that addresses natural theology, the retrieval of a Thomistic theology of the body for evangelicalism, the guiding hand of God, and much more.

Preaching and the Atonement | Jeremy Treat

Preaching and the Atonement | Jeremy Treat

Jeremy Treat, pastor of Reality LA and a CPT Fellow, joins the podcast to discuss his most recent book The Atonement: An Introduction as well as his role in the upcoming CPT Conference on preaching. He discusses his contribution to atonement theology, which focuses on how the cross fits into the story of the kingdom and how the notion of theories of the atonement can detract from the multi-dimensional nature of Christ's work on the cross. He also explains how a rich theology of the atonement fuels the weekly work of shepherding through proclamation. Listen now for answers to such questions as: Who has been most influential in his understanding of the atonement? How does atonement theology transform preaching? What is the role of preaching in the church? How can one preach effectively in diverse settings? Where does atonement fit in the gospel? And much more!

Cuckoos in Our Nest | Iain Provan

Cuckoos in Our Nest | Iain Provan

Author and speaker Iain Provan joins the podcast to discuss his recent book, Cuckoos in Our Nest: Truth and Lies about Being Human. Contemporary Western culture offers up various visions of what it means to be human, visions that many within the church have unknowingly adopted yet which contrast sharply with biblical revelation. Like the murderous offspring of the cuckoo bird, once these ideas take root, they drive out biblical assumptions of anthropology, even while masquerading as Christian. In this episode, Iain highlights three of these “cuckoos” and explains their effects on Christian thinking, addressing such questions as: What is the relationship between science and faith? What are the origins of current ideas about the self? Which sources should Christians consider authoritative? How does culture catechize the church? How can the church identify and dethrone the cuckoos that have already taken hold?

Jesus' Upside Down Kingdom | Chris Castaldo

Jesus' Upside Down Kingdom | Chris Castaldo

CPT fellow Chris Castaldo joins the podcast to discuss his recent book, The Upside Down Kingdom: Wisdom for Life from the Beatitudes. Jesus didn't offer the beatitudes as an unattainable moral example. They are his description of what disciples ought to look like in his kingdom, a kingdom that rejects the mechanisms of the world and advances instead through the meek, firm witness of its subjects. Chris encourages pastors to take up the beatitudes as their roadmap for discipleship, addressing such questions along the way as: How do the beatitudes form shepherds? How might we apply them to liturgical questions concerning preaching and worship? What do they have to say about pursuing justice? How have Christians in history applied them in the face of persecution? How do they liberate believers from the anxiety and outrage that characterize so much contemporary discourse?