Brian covers a lot of topics in this episode, moving from a solo reflection on God making broken things new, to interviews on generosity, suffering, biblical interpretation, mental health, midlife restlessness, and foster care. The throughline is clear: God meets people in practical, painful, and ordinary places and calls them toward faithfulness, integrity, and hope.

Brian covers a lot of topics in this episode, moving from a solo reflection on God making broken things new, to interviews on generosity, suffering, biblical interpretation, mental health, midlife restlessness, and foster care. The throughline is clear: God meets people in practical, painful, and ordinary places and calls them toward faithfulness, integrity, and hope.

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

The Bible Has More to Say About Trauma and Loneliness Than You Think

In this episode of The Common Good, Brian From reflects on the tension between outward reputation and inward reality, beginning with JD Greer’s sobering warning from Revelation 3 about the church in Sardis: “You have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.” Brian unpacks the danger of spiritual hypocrisy, hidden compromise, and the gap between what people see and what Jesus sees.

He also shares a deeply personal and emotional story about dropping his daughter off for a Fulbright scholarship in Tunisia, reflecting on the mix of pride, joy, grief, and love that comes with parenting adult children. That moment leads into a broader conversation about how two things can be true at once: we can be excited for someone’s calling while also feeling the loss of their absence.

Later in the episode, Brian responds to a controversial report that MercyMe received millions of dollars through child sponsorship promotions over several years. He wrestles with questions of transparency, Christian celebrity, money, and whether a good cause is enough if the financial arrangement feels unclear or “icky.” The conversation raises larger concerns about the business side of Christian music and ministry.

Brian turns to a reflection on Wendell Berry and heaven, exploring the connection between creation, community, body and soul, and the hope of a restored world where heaven and earth meet. It’s a thoughtful, challenging, and personal episode that moves from conviction to family to faith to the beauty of God’s creation.

In this episode of The Common Good, Brian From reflects on the tension between outward reputation and inward reality, beginning with JD Greer&rsquo;s sobering warning from Revelation 3 about the church in Sardis: &ldquo;You have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.&rdquo; Brian unpacks the danger of spiritual hypocrisy, hidden compromise, and the gap between what people see and what Jesus sees.
He also shares a deeply personal and emotional story about dropping his daughter off for a Fulbright scholarship in Tunisia, reflecting on the mix of pride, joy, grief, and love that comes with parenting adult children. That moment leads into a broader conversation about how two things can be true at once: we can be excited for someone&rsquo;s calling while also feeling the loss of their absence.
Later in the episode, Brian responds to a controversial report that MercyMe received millions of dollars through child sponsorship promotions over several years. He wrestles with questions of transparency, Christian celebrity, money, and whether a good cause is enough if the financial arrangement feels unclear or &ldquo;icky.&rdquo; The conversation raises larger concerns about the business side of Christian music and ministry.
Brian turns to a reflection on Wendell Berry and heaven, exploring the connection between creation, community, body and soul, and the hope of a restored world where heaven and earth meet. It&rsquo;s a thoughtful, challenging, and personal episode that moves from conviction to family to faith to the beauty of God&rsquo;s creation.

When a Good Reputation Isn’t Enough

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Brian reflects on a season of family transitions, then moves through a series of short devotional and cultural topics: Wendell Berry’s legacy, a take on old fashioned baby names, a critique of Anne Hathaway’s abortion comments, and a look at JD Vance’s candid comments about doubt.

The episode also includes a sermon style reading of the Samaritan woman at the well and a meditation on Philippians 2 and the biblical view of the body.

Brian reflects on a season of family transitions, then moves through a series of short devotional and cultural topics: Wendell Berry&rsquo;s legacy, a take on old fashioned baby names, a critique of Anne Hathaway&rsquo;s abortion comments, and a look at JD Vance&rsquo;s candid comments about doubt.
The episode also includes a sermon style reading of the Samaritan woman at the well and a meditation on Philippians 2 and the biblical view of the body.

 When You Realize Parenting Is One Long Goodbye

Brian talks with Steve Van Noort and Scott Wyatt, lead and assistant pastors of Sojourn Church, a new PCA church plant in Sterling Heights, Michigan started through the Detroit Project. Steve explains their mission to specifically reach the unchurched and lost rather than draw people from other congregations, and describes the church's DNA of gospel-centered worship, community, and mission — including weekly communion, expository preaching, and members going out to community colleges and local parks to have spiritual conversations. Scott, who came from two decades in campus ministry with Cru, shares an encouraging observation: young adults and teenagers today are showing surprising openness to the gospel after growing up largely without church exposure. Steve explains the church's name, drawn from 1 Peter's language of believers as "sojourners and strangers" journeying together toward their true home in Christ, and the two cast a vision for changed lives five years down the road.

Brian talks with Steve Van Noort and Scott Wyatt, lead and assistant pastors of Sojourn Church, a new PCA church plant in Sterling Heights, Michigan started through the Detroit Project. Steve explains their mission to specifically reach the unchurched and lost rather than draw people from other congregations, and describes the church's DNA of gospel-centered worship, community, and mission &mdash; including weekly communion, expository preaching, and members going out to community colleges and local parks to have spiritual conversations. Scott, who came from two decades in campus ministry with Cru, shares an encouraging observation: young adults and teenagers today are showing surprising openness to the gospel after growing up largely without church exposure. Steve explains the church's name, drawn from 1 Peter's language of believers as "sojourners and strangers" journeying together toward their true home in Christ, and the two cast a vision for changed lives five years down the road.

The Bible Has More to Say About Trauma and Loneliness Than You Think

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