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

Rachel Scott, author of Taking the Five Leaps

Brian reflects candidly on the small signs of getting older as he approaches 50, and pivots to processing his disappointment over New York Giants quarterback Jackson Dart's season-ending knee injury as a window into how we handle life's bigger disappointments — encouraging listeners to run toward God rather than away from Him in moments of hurt. He shares an uplifting story of a Melbourne landlord who gifted his longtime tenant her home before his death, contrasting it with the real financial pressure many listeners feel amid rising prices, and makes the case for contentment and generosity as the antidote to discontentment. Brian digs into a Gospel Coalition piece on how Jesus reads the book of Jonah as a type pointing to His own death and resurrection, and the call to be ambassadors of reconciliation rather than reluctant, self-protective messengers. He shares troubling survey data on rising stress and heavy drinking among adults ages 50-64, discusses practical missionary-style tips for workplace evangelism from Sam Chan, and closes with Max Lucado's six steps toward forgiveness, reflecting honestly on his own ongoing struggle to forgive after being let go from the church he planted.

Brian reflects candidly on the small signs of getting older as he approaches 50, and pivots to processing his disappointment over New York Giants quarterback Jackson Dart's season-ending knee injury as a window into how we handle life's bigger disappointments &mdash; encouraging listeners to run toward God rather than away from Him in moments of hurt. He shares an uplifting story of a Melbourne landlord who gifted his longtime tenant her home before his death, contrasting it with the real financial pressure many listeners feel amid rising prices, and makes the case for contentment and generosity as the antidote to discontentment. Brian digs into a Gospel Coalition piece on how Jesus reads the book of Jonah as a type pointing to His own death and resurrection, and the call to be ambassadors of reconciliation rather than reluctant, self-protective messengers. He shares troubling survey data on rising stress and heavy drinking among adults ages 50-64, discusses practical missionary-style tips for workplace evangelism from Sam Chan, and closes with Max Lucado's six steps toward forgiveness, reflecting honestly on his own ongoing struggle to forgive after being let go from the church he planted.

Getting Older, Living with Financial Stress, and Learning to Forgive

Brian shares a comically frustrating weekend story — a single leaf clogging his garage drain and flooding his basement despite recent drainage work — and draws out the spiritual lesson that we're never as in control as we think, and the small "leaves" in our lives can throw everything off course. He pushes back on President Trump barring CNN, MS Now, and Politico reporters from the White House, arguing the move threatens press freedom regardless of one's opinion of those outlets. Brian shares Kathy Keller's reflections on how her late husband Tim Keller conducted funerals by pointing people to Jesus rather than eulogizing the deceased, and discusses a Christianity Today roundtable on rethinking retirement not as maximum leisure but as a continued season of Christian purpose and "becoming." He shares a study finding that group discussion, not solo reflection, is what actually helps people spot fake news — tying it to the power of Christian community and discipleship — and closes with Tim Challies's case for the underrated "ministry of presence," simply showing up faithfully to church.

Brian shares a comically frustrating weekend story &mdash; a single leaf clogging his garage drain and flooding his basement despite recent drainage work &mdash; and draws out the spiritual lesson that we're never as in control as we think, and the small "leaves" in our lives can throw everything off course. He pushes back on President Trump barring CNN, MS Now, and Politico reporters from the White House, arguing the move threatens press freedom regardless of one's opinion of those outlets. Brian shares Kathy Keller's reflections on how her late husband Tim Keller conducted funerals by pointing people to Jesus rather than eulogizing the deceased, and discusses a Christianity Today roundtable on rethinking retirement not as maximum leisure but as a continued season of Christian purpose and "becoming." He shares a study finding that group discussion, not solo reflection, is what actually helps people spot fake news &mdash; tying it to the power of Christian community and discipleship &mdash; and closes with Tim Challies's case for the underrated "ministry of presence," simply showing up faithfully to church.

A Rogue Leaf Floods the Basement, and the Ministry of Presence

Brian opens with a rich theological reflection on living coram Deo — before the face of God — arguing that God's presence isn't confined to two hours of Sunday worship but fills the other 166 hours of ordinary work and life. He calls out the cruelty he witnessed in Christian social media responses to a seminary student's video about pursuing a Master of Divinity, arguing online meanness reveals true character rather than excusing it. Brian reacts to reports the Trump administration is considering federal subsidies for stay-at-home parents, questioning the shift toward government handouts regardless of party. He shares a Christianity Today piece distinguishing "niceness" from biblical kindness, arguing Christians are called to speak hard truths without reveling in others' humiliation. Brian discusses a striking shift in global missions — the West now receiving as many missionaries as it sends — and plays a clip of JD Greer wrestling with the ethics of sports gambling ahead of football season. He closes with Greer's essay explaining why he rejects Christian nationalism, and a reflection on C.S. Lewis's Till We Have Faces and its answer to the problem of evil and divine silence.

Brian opens with a rich theological reflection on living coram Deo &mdash; before the face of God &mdash; arguing that God's presence isn't confined to two hours of Sunday worship but fills the other 166 hours of ordinary work and life. He calls out the cruelty he witnessed in Christian social media responses to a seminary student's video about pursuing a Master of Divinity, arguing online meanness reveals true character rather than excusing it. Brian reacts to reports the Trump administration is considering federal subsidies for stay-at-home parents, questioning the shift toward government handouts regardless of party. He shares a Christianity Today piece distinguishing "niceness" from biblical kindness, arguing Christians are called to speak hard truths without reveling in others' humiliation. Brian discusses a striking shift in global missions &mdash; the West now receiving as many missionaries as it sends &mdash; and plays a clip of JD Greer wrestling with the ethics of sports gambling ahead of football season. He closes with Greer's essay explaining why he rejects Christian nationalism, and a reflection on C.S. Lewis's Till We Have Faces and its answer to the problem of evil and divine silence.

Rachel Scott, author of Taking the Five Leaps

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