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-sensitive movement, and explains why today's culture — phones, AI-mediated friendships, isolation, kids not driving, and packed extracurricular schedules — has made the job significantly harder, even as many youth pastors say the last five years have been the most rewarding of their careers. They discuss the shifting perception of youth ministry as "unserious," why some churches are restructuring the role into broader family-discipleship positions, and practical encouragement for pastors and churches trying to keep student ministry moving forward, including smaller group settings and empowering parent volunteers.

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-sensitive movement, and explains why today's culture &mdash; phones, AI-mediated friendships, isolation, kids not driving, and packed extracurricular schedules &mdash; has made the job significantly harder, even as many youth pastors say the last five years have been the most rewarding of their careers. They discuss the shifting perception of youth ministry as "unserious," why some churches are restructuring the role into broader family-discipleship positions, and practical encouragement for pastors and churches trying to keep student ministry moving forward, including smaller group settings and empowering parent volunteers.

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 Case of the Missing Youth Pastors with Sarah Zylstra

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 Chicago gang member who found faith after a Baptist church moved into his violent neighborhood, and who now pastors a church in that same community. Brian digs into Gavin Ortlund's Gospel Coalition piece on Old Testament messianic prophecy as an underappreciated argument for the truth of Christianity, and shares a feel-good story of a Wyoming pizzeria turning a costly prank order into a donation for hospital emergency room staff. He warns against trusting algorithm-curated news as much as professional editors, encourages listeners to read across the political spectrum, and shares a Relevant Magazine piece reassuring anyone who feels "behind in life" that comparison-driven timelines are largely a myth. Drawing from Nehemiah's heartbreak-fueled calling, Brian challenges listeners to identify both what breaks their heart and where they have unique access to do something about it, and closes with Ray Ortlund's case from Ecclesiastes for "bold enjoyment" as a legitimate, even wise, Christian way of life.

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 Chicago gang member who found faith after a Baptist church moved into his violent neighborhood, and who now pastors a church in that same community. Brian digs into Gavin Ortlund's Gospel Coalition piece on Old Testament messianic prophecy as an underappreciated argument for the truth of Christianity, and shares a feel-good story of a Wyoming pizzeria turning a costly prank order into a donation for hospital emergency room staff. He warns against trusting algorithm-curated news as much as professional editors, encourages listeners to read across the political spectrum, and shares a Relevant Magazine piece reassuring anyone who feels "behind in life" that comparison-driven timelines are largely a myth. Drawing from Nehemiah's heartbreak-fueled calling, Brian challenges listeners to identify both what breaks their heart and where they have unique access to do something about it, and closes with Ray Ortlund's case from Ecclesiastes for "bold enjoyment" as a legitimate, even wise, Christian way of life.

From Gang Member to Pastor, and God's Call to Bold Enjoyment

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 Jesus — and why the noise and distraction of modern life make that so difficult. He shares practical habits from his own life, including a disciplined morning routine and fifteen years of ongoing spiritual direction, and unpacks the book's framework of seven "waypoints," or seasons of life that open us to particular movements of the Spirit. Jeremy walks through the first waypoint, transition or "liminality," using Mary, the mother of Jesus, as an exemplar of "holy acquiescence" — releasing our own plans to embrace God's larger, unseen work in our lives.

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" &mdash; the practice of recognizing the Holy Spirit's quiet, often unspectacular work drawing us toward Jesus &mdash; and why the noise and distraction of modern life make that so difficult. He shares practical habits from his own life, including a disciplined morning routine and fifteen years of ongoing spiritual direction, and unpacks the book's framework of seven "waypoints," or seasons of life that open us to particular movements of the Spirit. Jeremy walks through the first waypoint, transition or "liminality," using Mary, the mother of Jesus, as an exemplar of "holy acquiescence" &mdash; releasing our own plans to embrace God's larger, unseen work in our lives.

Learning to Notice God's Subtle Movements with Jeremy Sims

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 daily social media use to rising rates of self-reported depression, and digs into a Christianity Today piece arguing that worship isn't meant to be primarily about how it makes us feel, but about giving God the glory He's due regardless of our emotions. Brian plays a clip from pastor Eric Reed making the case that saving faith isn't mere mental belief in Jesus but genuine submission to Him as Lord and King. He also shares a Relevant Magazine piece on shifting from a transactional relationship with God to a relational one, a wild follow-up story about a former Chick-fil-A employee's $80,000 mac-and-cheese fraud scheme, and closes with sobering research on the poor mental health of worship leaders and a broader reflection on the need for greater character and integrity among church leaders.

Brian opens frustrated by what he sees as performative culture at every level &mdash; from politicians renaming Lake Ontario "Lake America" to grandstanding pastors &mdash; contrasting it with Jesus's call for authentic inner transformation over outward appearance. He shares a study linking over 150 minutes of daily social media use to rising rates of self-reported depression, and digs into a Christianity Today piece arguing that worship isn't meant to be primarily about how it makes us feel, but about giving God the glory He's due regardless of our emotions. Brian plays a clip from pastor Eric Reed making the case that saving faith isn't mere mental belief in Jesus but genuine submission to Him as Lord and King. He also shares a Relevant Magazine piece on shifting from a transactional relationship with God to a relational one, a wild follow-up story about a former Chick-fil-A employee's $80,000 mac-and-cheese fraud scheme, and closes with sobering research on the poor mental health of worship leaders and a broader reflection on the need for greater character and integrity among church leaders.

The Case of the Missing Youth Pastors with Sarah Zylstra

The Common Good Podcast

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