The Common Good
The Common Good Podcast
Playlist by The Common GoodThe 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…Follow the podcast:
2,293 clip(s) in playlist
From Gang Member to Pastor, and God's Call to Bold Enjoyment
Brian defends a well-known pastor criticized for using AI as a research tool in sermon preparation, arguing it's no different than consulting commentaries as long as it stays in its proper place in the process. He shares a powerful Christianity Today testimony from David Washington, a former Chicag…
1:09:25
Learning to Notice God's Subtle Movements with Jeremy Sims
Brian talks with Jeremy Sims, professor of spiritual formation and author of The Way of the Spirit: Recognizing and Responding to God's Subtle Movements. Jeremy explains "attentiveness to the Spirit" — the practice of recognizing the Holy Spirit's quiet, often unspectacular work drawing us toward J…
14:25
Performative Politics, Worship Without Feelings, and Bending the Knee to Jesus
Brian opens frustrated by what he sees as performative culture at every level — from politicians renaming Lake Ontario "Lake America" to grandstanding pastors — contrasting it with Jesus's call for authentic inner transformation over outward appearance. He shares a study linking over 150 minutes of…
47:55
Coyote vs. Acme and a Petra-Fueled Christian Throwback with Paul Asay
Filling in for Adam Holz once again, Plugged In's Paul Asay joins Brian for a fun Friday lineup. They dig into Coyote vs. Acme, the long-shelved live-action/animated hybrid where Wile E. Coyote finally sues Acme Corporation (run by Foghorn Leghorn) for decades of exploding gadgets, now getting a th…
09:08
Focus on the Family Begins Search for Its Next President
Brian talks with Gary Schneeberger, assistant to the president for media relations at Focus on the Family, about the ministry's search for a new president as Jim Daly, nearing 65, begins a planned transition after 20 years of leadership. Gary explains the search process — conducted with the help of…
09:14
Processing Tragedy in Nepal, the Backlash Over Dolly Parton, and the Case for Christian Joy
Brian opens with a heavy reflection on catastrophic glacial flooding in Nepal, using the tragedy to talk about the fragility of life and living with urgency and eternal perspective. He calls out a Christian social media user who publicly declared Dolly Parton "likely in hell" within hours of her de…
1:03:05
The Case of the Missing Youth Pastors with Sarah Zylstra
Brian, a former youth pastor himself, talks with Sarah Zylstra of The Gospel Coalition about her article investigating why so many church youth pastor positions sit unfilled. Sarah traces youth ministry's evolution from the evangelistic, games-and-pizza model of the 80s and 90s through the seeker-s…
09:44
Rediscovering Agape Love with Dr. Winfred Neely
Brian talks with Dr. Winfred Neely, professor and author of A Love to Live By: Rediscovering Agape Love in Scripture. Winfred unpacks why he chose the term "agape" rather than "Christian love" — because the church hasn't always lived up to that name — and explains how the New Testament's vision of …
10:22
Remembering Dolly Parton, and Wrestling with Suffering, Pleasure, and Contentment
Brian pays tribute to the passing of Dolly Parton at 80, reflecting on her decades-long marriage, her genuine kindness, and closing the hour with nine of her most striking public statements about prayer, faith, and heaven. He shares a bizarre and troubling story of four Georgia pastors publicly apo…
51:05
An Alabama Team's Miracle Win, the Cost of Youth Sports, and Learning to Listen Well
Brian shares an inspiring underdog story of an Alabama high school football team snapping a 101-game losing streak with a dramatic comeback win. He digs into a New York Magazine feature on the "pay-to-play childhood" of expensive, all-consuming travel youth sports, encouraging parents to weigh thei…
1:05:15