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

Marc Alan Schelske talks about his latest book, "Walking Otherward: Forty Meditations on Following Jesus’ Path of Other-Centered Co-Suffering Love"

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.

Impact Latin America’s Houses of Peace Are Reaching Gang Members, Widows, and Whole Neighborhoods

Brian From starts with a press pitch about Amelia Earhart’s missing plane and asks why unsolved mysteries fascinate us. He suggests we crave closure, and he encourages listeners facing the unexplainable in their own lives to turn toward God rather than away. He responds to a clip of President Trump claiming “the Christian vote” and saying he’ll lead Christianity into a new era, warning that there is no single Christian voting bloc and no politician is the church’s hope. Brian shares Tim Challies’s working definition of a conspiracy theory and urges Christians, as people of truth, to weigh claims carefully. He draws on Olivia Wilde’s account of her marriage ending to argue that losing curiosity about a spouse helps drive “gray divorce.” In the second hour, he shares Jim Denison’s biblical framework for voting in the midterms and Brett McCracken’s call to resist voyeuristic media. He discusses a Virginia mother placed on a neglect registry for letting her 5-year-old collect goose feathers near home, and a poll finding four in five parents say having a baby is too expensive. He closes with Michael Kruger’s three steps for handling doubt.

Brian From starts with a press pitch about Amelia Earhart&rsquo;s missing plane and asks why unsolved mysteries fascinate us. He suggests we crave closure, and he encourages listeners facing the unexplainable in their own lives to turn toward God rather than away. He responds to a clip of President Trump claiming &ldquo;the Christian vote&rdquo; and saying he&rsquo;ll lead Christianity into a new era, warning that there is no single Christian voting bloc and no politician is the church&rsquo;s hope. Brian shares Tim Challies&rsquo;s working definition of a conspiracy theory and urges Christians, as people of truth, to weigh claims carefully. He draws on Olivia Wilde&rsquo;s account of her marriage ending to argue that losing curiosity about a spouse helps drive &ldquo;gray divorce.&rdquo; In the second hour, he shares Jim Denison&rsquo;s biblical framework for voting in the midterms and Brett McCracken&rsquo;s call to resist voyeuristic media. He discusses a Virginia mother placed on a neglect registry for letting her 5-year-old collect goose feathers near home, and a poll finding four in five parents say having a baby is too expensive. He closes with Michael Kruger&rsquo;s three steps for handling doubt.

Marc Alan Schelske talks about his latest book, "Walking Otherward: Forty Meditations on Following Jesus’ Path of Other-Centered Co-Suffering Love"

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