Greg Coles, Speaker, Worship Leader, and Author of Single, Gay, Christian: A Personal Journey of Faith and Sexual Identity, joined Brian to chat about his new book, No Longer Strangers: Finding Belonging in a World of Alienation. 

Learn more about Greg and his books at gregorycoles.com

Greg Coles, Speaker, Worship Leader, and Author of <a href="https://www.ivpress.com/single-gay-christian">Single, Gay, Christian: A Personal Journey of Faith and Sexual Identity</a>, joined Brian to chat about his new book, <a href="https://www.ivpress.com/no-longer-strangers">No Longer Strangers: Finding Belonging in a World of Alienation</a>.&nbsp;
Learn more about Greg and his books at <a href="https://www.gregorycoles.com/">gregorycoles.com</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: Greg Coles, Speaker, Worship Leader, and Author of "No Longer Strangers: Finding Belonging in a World of Alienation" - March 1, 2021

"Judge not, lest ye be judged" might be the most misapplied verse in scripture. Brian From walks through Rachel Gilson's piece at the Gospel Coalition unpacking what Jesus actually meant in Matthew 7 — it's not a prohibition on moral discernment, but a call to humble self-examination before correcting others, with love as the motive, not arrogance. Then a sobering reflection on the consequences of sin, prompted by reports that a sports journalist lost an $800,000 job after an affair with a married NFL coach came to light — a reminder that sin entangles even when it's never publicly exposed. Four years after the Dobbs decision overturned Roe v. Wade, Brian clarifies a common misunderstanding: abortion wasn't eliminated, it was returned to the states, and the pro-life cause remains fundamentally grassroots. A genuinely helpful piece from Relevant Magazine on feeling spiritually stuck even when you're doing everything "right" — and why dryness isn't a sign of failure but often where real growth quietly happens. A new study links anxiety and depression in young people to difficulty recalling positive memories, with real implications for parents about prioritizing shared experiences. And a closing reflection from Randy Alcorn on choosing daily to trust God's sovereignty — even when life is genuinely hard.

"Judge not, lest ye be judged" might be the most misapplied verse in scripture. Brian From walks through Rachel Gilson's piece at the Gospel Coalition unpacking what Jesus actually meant in Matthew 7 &mdash; it's not a prohibition on moral discernment, but a call to humble self-examination before correcting others, with love as the motive, not arrogance. Then a sobering reflection on the consequences of sin, prompted by reports that a sports journalist lost an $800,000 job after an affair with a married NFL coach came to light &mdash; a reminder that sin entangles even when it's never publicly exposed. Four years after the Dobbs decision overturned Roe v. Wade, Brian clarifies a common misunderstanding: abortion wasn't eliminated, it was returned to the states, and the pro-life cause remains fundamentally grassroots. A genuinely helpful piece from Relevant Magazine on feeling spiritually stuck even when you're doing everything "right" &mdash; and why dryness isn't a sign of failure but often where real growth quietly happens. A new study links anxiety and depression in young people to difficulty recalling positive memories, with real implications for parents about prioritizing shared experiences. And a closing reflection from Randy Alcorn on choosing daily to trust God's sovereignty &mdash; even when life is genuinely hard.

Sin's Consequences & Trusting God When Life Is Hard

What does it actually mean to worship? Brian From makes the case from Romans 11 and 12 that worship is far bigger than singing or a Sunday gathering — it's offering your entire body and life as a living sacrifice, every day, in every decision. From there, a genuinely fun detour into Relevant Magazine's piece on the "gospel according to Pixar," tracing surprisingly biblical themes through Toy Story, The Incredibles, WALL-E, and Inside Out — including the case that real leadership looks less like a throne and more like a foot washing. Then Randy Alcorn tackles one of the hardest questions in the Christian life: why does God permit evil and suffering, and why do so many churches fail to prepare people for it before it hits? A viral story about a lawn-mowing YouTuber whose followers raised $685,000 for a grieving widow becomes a picture of internet generosity done right. A frustrating New York Times piece on rising "gray divorce" rates among couples married 25+ years gets a pointed response: marriages don't have to drift into apathy, but it takes ongoing work at every stage. Christian ministries are using the World Cup's massive audience as an unprecedented evangelism opportunity, prompting the question of what opportunities exist in your own life. And a closing reflection on play as a spiritual discipline — and why a Christian's inability to play might reveal a view of God that's too small.

What does it actually mean to worship? Brian From makes the case from Romans 11 and 12 that worship is far bigger than singing or a Sunday gathering &mdash; it's offering your entire body and life as a living sacrifice, every day, in every decision. From there, a genuinely fun detour into Relevant Magazine's piece on the "gospel according to Pixar," tracing surprisingly biblical themes through Toy Story, The Incredibles, WALL-E, and Inside Out &mdash; including the case that real leadership looks less like a throne and more like a foot washing. Then Randy Alcorn tackles one of the hardest questions in the Christian life: why does God permit evil and suffering, and why do so many churches fail to prepare people for it before it hits? A viral story about a lawn-mowing YouTuber whose followers raised $685,000 for a grieving widow becomes a picture of internet generosity done right. A frustrating New York Times piece on rising "gray divorce" rates among couples married 25+ years gets a pointed response: marriages don't have to drift into apathy, but it takes ongoing work at every stage. Christian ministries are using the World Cup's massive audience as an unprecedented evangelism opportunity, prompting the question of what opportunities exist in your own life. And a closing reflection on play as a spiritual discipline &mdash; and why a Christian's inability to play might reveal a view of God that's too small.

Pixar Parables, the World Cup & Why God Allows Suffering

Two Father's Day moments from the US Open stick with Brian From — a 17-year-old amateur inviting his dad to caddy the final hole, and Wyndham Clark's father surprising him with a red-eye flight after the win. From there, a beautiful walk through John 21 and the restoration of Peter: how Jesus doesn't just forgive Peter's three denials but fully reinstates him with the same calling, three times — and how the church Peter goes on to lead in Acts doesn't happen without that moment on the beach. A genuinely practical conversation about raising resilient kids in an age of helicopter and snowplow parenting, built around the idea that struggle, not comfort, is what makes children strong — and a hopeful Gospel Coalition report showing that parents, not churches or youth groups, remain the single biggest predictor of whether kids keep the faith into adulthood. Reflections on reading through 2 Samuel and the life of David, and why the Bible's major figures almost never had it easy — a corrective to the idea that faithfulness should produce ease. Trust in the federal government hits an all-time low, and Brian asks the uncomfortable parallel question about trust in pastors and the church. Plus the true story behind the movie The Roof Man, and a closing devotion on doing everything — work, parenting, service — as unto the Lord.

Two Father's Day moments from the US Open stick with Brian From &mdash; a 17-year-old amateur inviting his dad to caddy the final hole, and Wyndham Clark's father surprising him with a red-eye flight after the win. From there, a beautiful walk through John 21 and the restoration of Peter: how Jesus doesn't just forgive Peter's three denials but fully reinstates him with the same calling, three times &mdash; and how the church Peter goes on to lead in Acts doesn't happen without that moment on the beach. A genuinely practical conversation about raising resilient kids in an age of helicopter and snowplow parenting, built around the idea that struggle, not comfort, is what makes children strong &mdash; and a hopeful Gospel Coalition report showing that parents, not churches or youth groups, remain the single biggest predictor of whether kids keep the faith into adulthood. Reflections on reading through 2 Samuel and the life of David, and why the Bible's major figures almost never had it easy &mdash; a corrective to the idea that faithfulness should produce ease. Trust in the federal government hits an all-time low, and Brian asks the uncomfortable parallel question about trust in pastors and the church. Plus the true story behind the movie The Roof Man, and a closing devotion on doing everything &mdash; work, parenting, service &mdash; as unto the Lord.

Guest: Greg Coles, Speaker, Worship Leader, and Author of "No Longer Strangers: Finding Belonging in a World of Alienation" - March 1, 2021

The Common Good

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