Benjamin Vrbicek, Lead Teaching Pastor at Community Evangelical Free Church, Managing Editor for Gospel-Centered Discipleship, and Coauthor of “Blogging for God’s Glory in a Clickbait World,” joined Brian and Aubrey to talk about his new book, “Shepherd & Sheep: Essays on Loving & Leading in a Local Church.” 

Learn more about Benjamin and his books at his blog, fanandflame.com and connect with him on Twitter at @BenjaminVrbicek 

Benjamin Vrbicek, Lead Teaching Pastor at <a href="https://www.communityfreechurch.org/">Community Evangelical Free Church</a>, Managing Editor for <a href="https://gcdiscipleship.com/">Gospel-Centered Discipleship</a>, and Coauthor of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Blogging-Gods-Glory-Clickbait-World/dp/1734849428">&ldquo;Blogging for God&rsquo;s Glory in a Clickbait World,&rdquo;</a> joined Brian and Aubrey to talk about his new book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Shepherd-Sheep-Essays-Loving-Leading/dp/1734849487">&ldquo;Shepherd &amp; Sheep: Essays on Loving &amp; Leading in a Local Church.&rdquo;</a>&nbsp;
Learn more about Benjamin and his books at his blog, <a href="https://benjaminvrbicek.com/">fanandflame.com</a> and connect with him on Twitter at <a href="https://twitter.com/benjaminvrbicek?lang=en">@BenjaminVrbicek</a>&nbsp;

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

Guest: Benjamin Vrbicek, Lead Teaching Pastor at Community Evangelical Free Church and Managing Editor for Gospel-Centered Discipleship - Discussion on his new book, “Shepherd & Sheep: Essays on Loving & Leading in a Local Church” - October 26, 2021

Brian From kicks off the weekend reflecting on what fall’s changing seasons reveal about a God who never changes. He vents about increasingly reckless, distracted drivers, and walks through Russell Moore’s Christianity Today column explaining why recent events, including Christa Pike’s failed execution in Tennessee and plans to livestream the execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan, have moved him away from supporting capital punishment. Brian revisits the Operation Varsity Blues college admissions scandal as a warning about money, helicopter parenting, and the message we send kids when we don’t believe in them. He shares Tim Challies’s case that every part of a worship service matters, not just the sermon, and urges listeners to get to church on time. In the second hour, Brian encourages patience in planting spiritual seeds, discusses a survey showing financial anxiety affects people at every income level, and shares a Gospel Coalition piece on living in the moment with eternity in mind. He closes with OpenAI data showing ChatGPT receives more than 70 million religion-related questions a week, a sign that people are hungry for answers.

Brian From kicks off the weekend reflecting on what fall&rsquo;s changing seasons reveal about a God who never changes. He vents about increasingly reckless, distracted drivers, and walks through Russell Moore&rsquo;s Christianity Today column explaining why recent events, including Christa Pike&rsquo;s failed execution in Tennessee and plans to livestream the execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan, have moved him away from supporting capital punishment. Brian revisits the Operation Varsity Blues college admissions scandal as a warning about money, helicopter parenting, and the message we send kids when we don&rsquo;t believe in them. He shares Tim Challies&rsquo;s case that every part of a worship service matters, not just the sermon, and urges listeners to get to church on time. In the second hour, Brian encourages patience in planting spiritual seeds, discusses a survey showing financial anxiety affects people at every income level, and shares a Gospel Coalition piece on living in the moment with eternity in mind. He closes with OpenAI data showing ChatGPT receives more than 70 million religion-related questions a week, a sign that people are hungry for answers.

The Changing Seasons Point to an Unchanging God, and Every Part of Sunday Worship Matters

Brian From opens with another cautionary youth sports story: a former MLB player and his wife charged with diverting about $60,000 from a youth baseball program. He then turns to a Christianity Today profile of a Portland Trail Blazers ball boy who sees his part-time job as a mission field, handing LeBron James a card with Isaiah 41:10 and telling him Jesus loves him. Brian shares research linking reading for pleasure to better mental health and lower dementia risk, and condemns an Ohio campaign ad that features a gubernatorial candidate’s estranged mother, despite the abuse in her past. He responds to an article warning pastors they will get hurt by asking why churches accept cruelty from their own members. He discusses a New York Times report on turmoil and layoffs at Christianity Today, and warns against describing any politician as “working for God” with God “on his side.” He closes with reflections on cultivating a “secret place” with God in a publicity-driven age, and on being an everyday missionary in ordinary places.

Brian From opens with another cautionary youth sports story: a former MLB player and his wife charged with diverting about $60,000 from a youth baseball program. He then turns to a Christianity Today profile of a Portland Trail Blazers ball boy who sees his part-time job as a mission field, handing LeBron James a card with Isaiah 41:10 and telling him Jesus loves him. Brian shares research linking reading for pleasure to better mental health and lower dementia risk, and condemns an Ohio campaign ad that features a gubernatorial candidate&rsquo;s estranged mother, despite the abuse in her past. He responds to an article warning pastors they will get hurt by asking why churches accept cruelty from their own members. He discusses a New York Times report on turmoil and layoffs at Christianity Today, and warns against describing any politician as &ldquo;working for God&rdquo; with God &ldquo;on his side.&rdquo; He closes with reflections on cultivating a &ldquo;secret place&rdquo; with God in a publicity-driven age, and on being an everyday missionary in ordinary places.

An NBA Ball Boy Shows What Everyday Evangelism Looks Like, While Campaign Politics Sink Lower

Brian From spends the afternoon again with Susana Sharp of Impact Latin America, which now counts more than 17,000 people who have come to faith since 2019. Susana explains how the ministry partners with more than 30 denominations in about 20 nations to equip lay leaders through a three-year training program, so they can start “Houses of Peace” outside church walls for people who would never walk into a church. She shares stories of transformation: a former cartel member in Monterrey, Mexico, now leading a gathering for ex-gang members; a house church born inside a Puerto Rican prison; a woman in her 70s whose House of Peace in a Colombian slum grew to offer free tailoring classes for mothers; and a Venezuelan widow who opened her home after losing her husband and now oversees 700 Houses of Peace. Susana describes rising secularism across Latin America and its link to violence, addiction, and family breakdown, along with the quiet persecution of church leaders by gangs. Brian invites listeners to give at 1160Hope.com, where $10 provides discipleship and Bible resources for one new believer.

Brian From spends the afternoon again with Susana Sharp of Impact Latin America, which now counts more than 17,000 people who have come to faith since 2019. Susana explains how the ministry partners with more than 30 denominations in about 20 nations to equip lay leaders through a three-year training program, so they can start &ldquo;Houses of Peace&rdquo; outside church walls for people who would never walk into a church. She shares stories of transformation: a former cartel member in Monterrey, Mexico, now leading a gathering for ex-gang members; a house church born inside a Puerto Rican prison; a woman in her 70s whose House of Peace in a Colombian slum grew to offer free tailoring classes for mothers; and a Venezuelan widow who opened her home after losing her husband and now oversees 700 Houses of Peace. Susana describes rising secularism across Latin America and its link to violence, addiction, and family breakdown, along with the quiet persecution of church leaders by gangs. Brian invites listeners to give at 1160Hope.com, where $10 provides discipleship and Bible resources for one new believer.

Guest: Benjamin Vrbicek, Lead Teaching Pastor at Community Evangelical Free Church and Managing Editor for Gospel-Centered Discipleship - Discussion on his new book, “Shepherd & Sheep: Essays on Loving & Leading in a Local Church” - October 26, 2021

The Common Good

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