Dr. Jim Denison, Co-founder and Chief Vision Officer of the Denison Forum, joined Brian to chat about celebrity Christian culture and his article, “Who was St. Patrick? What does the Bible say about luck and divine providence?”

Learn more about Jim and the Denison Forum at denisonforum.org

Dr. Jim Denison, Co-founder and Chief Vision Officer of the <a href="https://www.denisonforum.org/">Denison Forum</a>, joined Brian to chat about celebrity Christian culture and his article, <a href="https://www.denisonforum.org/resources/who-was-st-patrick-what-does-the-bible-say-about-luck-and-divine-providence/">&ldquo;Who was St. Patrick? What does the Bible say about luck and divine providence?&rdquo;</a>
Learn more about Jim and the Denison Forum at <a href="https://www.denisonforum.org/">denisonforum.org</a>

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 - Dr. Jim Denison, Co-founder and Chief Vision Officer of the Denison Forum - Article Discussion, "Who was St. Patrick? What does the Bible say about luck and divine providence?” - March 2, 2021

Tornadoes hit southern Illinois and Wisconsin, flooding threatened the South and East Coast, and Brian From uses the chaos to name something most of us don't admit: control is one of the great idols of our day, and weather has a way of stripping it bare. From there, a candid look at a Relevant Magazine piece showing the gap between Black and white American Christians isn't closing — it's widening, both politically and in church attendance patterns — and why Jesus's prayer for unity in John 17 makes this an issue the church cannot shrug off as just "politics." A new study on what married couples actually have in common reveals it's narrower than people think — mostly shared values and moral foundations, not personality — and why that's exactly what makes marriage both fun and hard. JD Vance gets pressed on The View about what Christians are willing to excuse in their politicians, and Brian argues the question deserves an honest answer regardless of which side it's aimed at. The Knicks' championship parade becomes a meditation on celebration as a core posture of the church. McDonald's brings back fried apple pie for America's 250th birthday. And a closing reflection on prayer — not just praying ourselves, but modeling and teaching others how to pray, because the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Tornadoes hit southern Illinois and Wisconsin, flooding threatened the South and East Coast, and Brian From uses the chaos to name something most of us don't admit: control is one of the great idols of our day, and weather has a way of stripping it bare. From there, a candid look at a Relevant Magazine piece showing the gap between Black and white American Christians isn't closing &mdash; it's widening, both politically and in church attendance patterns &mdash; and why Jesus's prayer for unity in John 17 makes this an issue the church cannot shrug off as just "politics." A new study on what married couples actually have in common reveals it's narrower than people think &mdash; mostly shared values and moral foundations, not personality &mdash; and why that's exactly what makes marriage both fun and hard. JD Vance gets pressed on The View about what Christians are willing to excuse in their politicians, and Brian argues the question deserves an honest answer regardless of which side it's aimed at. The Knicks' championship parade becomes a meditation on celebration as a core posture of the church. McDonald's brings back fried apple pie for America's 250th birthday. And a closing reflection on prayer &mdash; not just praying ourselves, but modeling and teaching others how to pray, because the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Storms, the Widening Racial Divide & Teaching Others to Pray

"I'm bored" — two words every parent hears within days of summer break starting. Jesse Florea, editor-in-chief of Focus on the Family's magazines, joins Brian From to talk about why kids today struggle with boredom more than previous generations (hint: it's largely about how screens train the brain to crave constant stimulation), and what parents can actually do about it. Jesse shares Focus on the Family's summer challenge encouraging kids to serve others — five acts of service, memorizing scripture, donating outgrown clothes and toys, writing encouragement cards — and makes the case that some boredom is healthy, even necessary, for kids to develop problem-solving skills. He and Brian also dig into why neighborhood free play has all but disappeared, the role of technology in isolating families even when they're together, and why VBS, sports camps, and structured social time matter more now that "go outside and play" doesn't really work the way it used to. Jesse closes with a simple, practical tip: be like Jesus, and ask your bored kid good questions instead of just handing them a screen. Learn more about Clubhouse, Clubhouse Junior, Brio, and Focus on the Family magazine at focusonthefamily.com.

"I'm bored" &mdash; two words every parent hears within days of summer break starting. Jesse Florea, editor-in-chief of Focus on the Family's magazines, joins Brian From to talk about why kids today struggle with boredom more than previous generations (hint: it's largely about how screens train the brain to crave constant stimulation), and what parents can actually do about it. Jesse shares Focus on the Family's summer challenge encouraging kids to serve others &mdash; five acts of service, memorizing scripture, donating outgrown clothes and toys, writing encouragement cards &mdash; and makes the case that some boredom is healthy, even necessary, for kids to develop problem-solving skills. He and Brian also dig into why neighborhood free play has all but disappeared, the role of technology in isolating families even when they're together, and why VBS, sports camps, and structured social time matter more now that "go outside and play" doesn't really work the way it used to. Jesse closes with a simple, practical tip: be like Jesus, and ask your bored kid good questions instead of just handing them a screen. Learn more about Clubhouse, Clubhouse Junior, Brio, and Focus on the Family magazine at focusonthefamily.com.

Screens, Service & Raising Kids Well with Jesse Florea

It's been 32 years since the OJ Simpson car chase captivated the nation, and Brian From takes a trip down memory lane while reflecting on how the moment became a cultural touchpoint for an entire generation. Then: a fascinating NPR piece on the more than half of parents who now track their 18-to-25-year-olds on their phones — is it healthy connection or a new kind of surveillance? A candid, personal segment on two sins Brian says don't get talked about enough: envy and bitterness, including his own recent struggle holding onto bitterness after being hurt by people he trusted. The Supreme Court halts the execution of a death row inmate who became a Christian ministry leader during 26 years of incarceration, raising hard questions about transformation, redemption, and the death penalty. A new flip phone blocks social media and browsers at the system level — and people are buying it. A study finds one in three young adults are heavy smartphone users driven by FOMO and low self-control. And Tim Challies offers a simple but convicting filter for everything you consume online: does this content exist to bless you, or does it exist to serve the one who made it?

It's been 32 years since the OJ Simpson car chase captivated the nation, and Brian From takes a trip down memory lane while reflecting on how the moment became a cultural touchpoint for an entire generation. Then: a fascinating NPR piece on the more than half of parents who now track their 18-to-25-year-olds on their phones &mdash; is it healthy connection or a new kind of surveillance? A candid, personal segment on two sins Brian says don't get talked about enough: envy and bitterness, including his own recent struggle holding onto bitterness after being hurt by people he trusted. The Supreme Court halts the execution of a death row inmate who became a Christian ministry leader during 26 years of incarceration, raising hard questions about transformation, redemption, and the death penalty. A new flip phone blocks social media and browsers at the system level &mdash; and people are buying it. A study finds one in three young adults are heavy smartphone users driven by FOMO and low self-control. And Tim Challies offers a simple but convicting filter for everything you consume online: does this content exist to bless you, or does it exist to serve the one who made it?

Guest - Dr. Jim Denison, Co-founder and Chief Vision Officer of the Denison Forum - Article Discussion, "Who was St. Patrick? What does the Bible say about luck and divine providence?” - March 2, 2021

The Common Good

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