Brian From congratulates the Milwaukee Brewers on their first World Series title after years of playoff heartbreak, and draws a lesson about how we respond to disappointment. He gets a laugh out of a Boston protest against the Liberty Mutual mascot, then turns serious as the midterms approach, replaying Ernie Johnson’s reminder that no matter who wins, Christians know who is on the throne. He walks through Sarah Zylstra’s Gospel Coalition article on best practices for evangelistically effective churches: it starts with pastors who share their faith, then equips congregations through prayer, training, and storytelling. Brian shares favorite quotes from his church book club’s study of Tim Keller’s The Reason for God, and an essay by Michael Jensen on how beauty in nature and art can open conversations that lead to Jesus. He closes with former NBA star Paul Pierce’s claim that he is “drowning financially” despite earning nearly $200 million, as a warning against making money an idol and a call to budget wisely.

Brian From congratulates the Milwaukee Brewers on their first World Series title after years of playoff heartbreak, and draws a lesson about how we respond to disappointment. He gets a laugh out of a Boston protest against the Liberty Mutual mascot, then turns serious as the midterms approach, replaying Ernie Johnson&rsquo;s reminder that no matter who wins, Christians know who is on the throne. He walks through Sarah Zylstra&rsquo;s Gospel Coalition article on best practices for evangelistically effective churches: it starts with pastors who share their faith, then equips congregations through prayer, training, and storytelling. Brian shares favorite quotes from his church book club&rsquo;s study of Tim Keller&rsquo;s The Reason for God, and an essay by Michael Jensen on how beauty in nature and art can open conversations that lead to Jesus. He closes with former NBA star Paul Pierce&rsquo;s claim that he is &ldquo;drowning financially&rdquo; despite earning nearly $200 million, as a warning against making money an idol and a call to budget wisely.

The idea of “the common good” has a rich history within the Christian church. It’s the notion that, as we pursue Jesus in our lives and in the lives of others, we are fulfilling God’s purposes for His creation. This pursuit can be messy. It means rolling up our sleeves and creating space for hard conversations about real issues that impact our lives. Things like parenting, marriage, finances, politics, art, and culture. On The Common Good, Brian From creates space to have these conversations, to sit with the big questions that we all have, to sometimes disagree, but to always look for the chance to create common good, by following after Jesus. Brian welcome listeners to join them in these conversations, to bring their own questions, hopes, and struggles, and to ultimately share in a journey to see God’s design for all of us fulfilled.

The idea of &ldquo;the common good&rdquo; has a rich history within the Christian church. It&rsquo;s the notion that, as we pursue Jesus in our lives and in the lives of others, we are fulfilling God&rsquo;s purposes for His creation. This pursuit can be messy. It means rolling up our sleeves and creating space for hard conversations about real issues that impact our lives. Things like parenting, marriage, finances, politics, art, and culture. On The Common Good, Brian From creates space to have these conversations, to sit with the big questions that we all have, to sometimes disagree, but to always look for the chance to create common good, by following after Jesus. Brian welcome listeners to join them in these conversations, to bring their own questions, hopes, and struggles, and to ultimately share in a journey to see God&rsquo;s design for all of us fulfilled.

The Common Good Podcast

The Common Good

Evangelistically Effective Churches Start with Leaders Who Share Their Faith

Brian From starts the weekend hoarse after his daughter’s volleyball team came back from seven match points down to win a regional title, a reminder to persevere because of Christ’s victory. On Halloween weekend, he shares Jim Denison’s observation that a death-avoidant culture reveals its fascination with mortality this time of year, and encourages listeners to use the holiday to get to know their neighbors. He celebrates Cheerios finally adding resealable bags, then shares a moving Gospel Coalition story of two Christians imprisoned in Iran who asked for prayer that they wouldn’t be released until they finished discipling fellow inmates, ahead of the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Brian notes that Pope Leo cast a mail-in ballot in Illinois’s midterms, walks through a Christianity Today interview with conservative pastor Demetrius Minor on why he opposes the death penalty, and reads the Assemblies of God’s 1984 guidelines for Christian voters, which he finds strikingly relevant today. He closes with a Desiring God reflection on autumn, mortality, and how Jesus has conquered death.

Brian From starts the weekend hoarse after his daughter&rsquo;s volleyball team came back from seven match points down to win a regional title, a reminder to persevere because of Christ&rsquo;s victory. On Halloween weekend, he shares Jim Denison&rsquo;s observation that a death-avoidant culture reveals its fascination with mortality this time of year, and encourages listeners to use the holiday to get to know their neighbors. He celebrates Cheerios finally adding resealable bags, then shares a moving Gospel Coalition story of two Christians imprisoned in Iran who asked for prayer that they wouldn&rsquo;t be released until they finished discipling fellow inmates, ahead of the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Brian notes that Pope Leo cast a mail-in ballot in Illinois&rsquo;s midterms, walks through a Christianity Today interview with conservative pastor Demetrius Minor on why he opposes the death penalty, and reads the Assemblies of God&rsquo;s 1984 guidelines for Christian voters, which he finds strikingly relevant today. He closes with a Desiring God reflection on autumn, mortality, and how Jesus has conquered death.

Halloween Reveals Our Culture’s Fascination with Death, but Christ Has Conquered It

Brian From and Adam Holz of Plugged In turn from movies to video games this week, looking ahead to the release of Grand Theft Auto 6. Adam puts the franchise’s scale in perspective: the previous installment sold 230 million copies and earned $10 billion, far more than the biggest albums and movies of all time. He explains the M-rated series’ violent and sexual content, and the buzz that the new game will let players develop intimate relationships with characters, raising questions about digital infidelity that parallel growing concerns about AI companionship. Adam encourages parents of teenagers to steer clear. For young adults, he suggests asking thoughtful questions about how the game affects them rather than simply condemning it. For Halloween weekend, he recommends Joshua Live, a filmed version of Sight & Sound Theatres’ biblical stage musical, now in theaters.

Brian From and Adam Holz of Plugged In turn from movies to video games this week, looking ahead to the release of Grand Theft Auto 6. Adam puts the franchise&rsquo;s scale in perspective: the previous installment sold 230 million copies and earned $10 billion, far more than the biggest albums and movies of all time. He explains the M-rated series&rsquo; violent and sexual content, and the buzz that the new game will let players develop intimate relationships with characters, raising questions about digital infidelity that parallel growing concerns about AI companionship. Adam encourages parents of teenagers to steer clear. For young adults, he suggests asking thoughtful questions about how the game affects them rather than simply condemning it. For Halloween weekend, he recommends Joshua Live, a filmed version of Sight &amp; Sound Theatres&rsquo; biblical stage musical, now in theaters.

Grand Theft Auto 6 Is About to Become a Cultural Phenomenon, and Plugged In’s Adam Holz Says Parents Should Be Ready

With the midterm elections days away, Brian From talks with Zach Mettler, issues and policy analyst and writer for Focus on the Family’s Daily Citizen, about why Christians should vote. Zach points to Barna research estimating that 32 million churchgoing Christians didn’t plan to vote in 2024, while recent presidential elections were decided by tens of thousands of votes in a handful of states. He walks through what’s on the ballot: all 435 House seats, 35 Senate seats, and state ballot measures on abortion, marriage, transgender medical procedures for minors, girls’ sports, and locker room privacy in states including Virginia, Missouri, Colorado, and Arizona. He encourages listeners to research their ballots at Ballotpedia and register at vote.gov. For pastors balancing urgency and perspective, Zach affirms that Christians’ ultimate hope is in Christ’s return, while urging believers to let Scripture shape their consciences on moral issues and carry that into the voting booth.

With the midterm elections days away, Brian From talks with Zach Mettler, issues and policy analyst and writer for Focus on the Family&rsquo;s Daily Citizen, about why Christians should vote. Zach points to Barna research estimating that 32 million churchgoing Christians didn&rsquo;t plan to vote in 2024, while recent presidential elections were decided by tens of thousands of votes in a handful of states. He walks through what&rsquo;s on the ballot: all 435 House seats, 35 Senate seats, and state ballot measures on abortion, marriage, transgender medical procedures for minors, girls&rsquo; sports, and locker room privacy in states including Virginia, Missouri, Colorado, and Arizona. He encourages listeners to research their ballots at Ballotpedia and register at vote.gov. For pastors balancing urgency and perspective, Zach affirms that Christians&rsquo; ultimate hope is in Christ&rsquo;s return, while urging believers to let Scripture shape their consciences on moral issues and carry that into the voting booth.

Evangelistically Effective Churches Start with Leaders Who Share Their Faith

The Common Good Podcast

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