Ministry Minded

Bradley Gray

A podcast that seeks to marvel at the mercy of God that meets us in our messy ministries. www.graceupongrace.net

  1. Aug 7

    Israel, the Church, and the Hourglass Shape of Scripture with Chad Bird

    Mentioning the word “Israel” nowadays is a surefire way to stir political, theological, or eschatological pots. But Scripture gives us the grammar to make sense of it all through the lenses of fulfillment and expansion. Listen along as Chad Bird and I trace the story God’s telling of the people he’s forming and calling to himself, from Adam to Moses to today, and how every promise God has made is Yes and Amen in Jesus. Chad and his wife Stacy live in Tyler, Texas, where he works as a Scholar-in-Residence for 1517. Along with writing, speaking, and teaching, you can also listen to him on the “40 Minutes in the Old Testament” podcast, which he co-hosts with Dan Price. Be sure to connect with him on Instagram and Facebook. Resources: Hitchhiking with Prophets: A Ride Through the Salvation Story of the Old Testament, Chad Bird The Christ Key: Unlocking the Centrality of Christ in the Old Testament, Chad Bird Limping with God: Jacob & the Old Testament Guide to Messy Discipleship, Chad Bird From Adam and Israel to the Church: A Biblical Theology of the People of God, Benjamin L. Gladd A New Testament Biblical Theology: The Unfolding of the Old Testament in the New, G. K. Beale Revelation: A Shorter Commentary, G. K. Beale Finding God in the Darkness: Hopeful Reflections from the Pits of Depression, Despair, and Disappointment, Bradley Gray Sponsor: You can support Ministry Minded by buying some coffee from Fresh Roasted Coffee, a locally owned and operated coffee house in the heart of Central Pennsylvania that produces the freshest coffee and delivers it at peak drinkability. Use the offer code “GRACE10” at checkout to get a discount on your next order. Buy some coffee today! Credits: Intro music: It Just Makes Me Happy Composer: DJ Quads, soundcloud.com/aka-dj-quads License: Creative Commons (BY-NC 3.0), creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ Music powered by BreakingCopyright: breakingcopyright.com Get full access to Grace Upon Grace at www.graceupongrace.net/subscribe

  2. Jul 24

    Wounded Shepherds Identifying with the Wounded Messiah with Raphael Mnkandhla

    In this episode, I’m joined once again by Raphael Mnkandhla for part two of a two-part mini-series reflecting on and reviewing the book The Clay Pot Conspiracy by Dave Harvey. Contrary to what many suppose, God often chooses to build his church through weak leaders, not polished ones. Those who shepherd the church best are those who know what it’s like to be wounded, knowing that theirs is a wounded Savior. Raphael pastors City Church in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, where he lives and serves with his wife Heidi and their six children. You can follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and Substack. Resources: The Clay Pot Conspiracy: God’s Plan to Use Weakness in Leaders, Dave Harvey Weakness Is the Way: Life with Christ Our Strength, J. I. Packer The Pastor’s Justification: Applying the Work of Christ in Your Life and Ministry, Jared C. Wilson Finding God in the Darkness: Hopeful Reflections from the Pits of Depression, Despair, and Disappointment, Bradley Gray Sponsor: You can support Ministry Minded by buying some coffee from Fresh Roasted Coffee, a locally owned and operated coffee house in the heart of Central Pennsylvania that produces the freshest coffee and delivers it at peak drinkability. Use the offer code “GRACE10” at checkout to get a discount on your next order. Buy some coffee today! Credits: Intro music: It Just Makes Me Happy Composer: DJ Quads, soundcloud.com/aka-dj-quads License: Creative Commons (BY-NC 3.0), creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ Music powered by BreakingCopyright: breakingcopyright.com Get full access to Grace Upon Grace at www.graceupongrace.net/subscribe

  3. Jul 10

    Writing and Preaching and Throwing Spaghetti at the Wall with Dave Zahl

    In this episode, I’m delighted to share a conversation with my friend and brother in ministry, Dave Zahl, as we reflect on the strange yet holy overlap between writing and preaching. With the pressure to build platforms, establish brands, chase readership, and fine-tune every syllable for maximum virality, it’s easy to forget what moves us or drives us in the first place. But the gospel is a reliving word that reminds us that we’re in the showing-up business, and God’s in the results business. David Zahl is the founder and director of Mockingbird Ministries and a cohost of The Mockingcast. He and his family live in Charlottesville, Virginia, where he also serves at Christ Episcopal Church. You can connect with him on Facebook, Substack, and Instagram. Resources: “The Most Failed Writer of All Time,” David Zahl “The Death of the Author and the Preacher,” article by yours truly Law & Gospel: A Theology for Sinners (And Saints), 10th Anniversary Edition, William McDavid, Ethan Richardson, and David Zahl The Big Relief: The Urgency of Grace for a Worn-Out World, David Zahl Low Anthropology: The Unlikely Key to a Gracious View of Others (and Yourself), David Zahl Seculosity: How Career, Parenting, Technology, Food, Politics, and Romance Became Our New Religion and What to Do about It, David Zahl A Mess of Help: From the Crucified Soul of Rock N’ Roll, David Zahl Finding God in the Darkness: Hopeful Reflections from the Pits of Depression, Despair, and Disappointment, Bradley Gray Sponsor: You can support Ministry Minded by buying some coffee from Fresh Roasted Coffee, a locally owned and operated coffee house in the heart of Central Pennsylvania that produces the freshest coffee and delivers it at peak drinkability. Use the offer code “GRACE10” at checkout to get a discount on your next order. Buy some coffee today! Credits: Intro music: It Just Makes Me Happy Composer: DJ Quads, soundcloud.com/aka-dj-quads License: Creative Commons (BY-NC 3.0), creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ Music powered by BreakingCopyright: breakingcopyright.com Get full access to Grace Upon Grace at www.graceupongrace.net/subscribe

    Writing and Preaching and Throwing Spaghetti at the Wall with Dave Zahl
  4. Jun 26

    Cracked Pots, Hidden Treasure, and What Nobody Tells You About Pastoral Ministry with Raphael Mnkandhla

    In this episode, I’m thrilled to share part one of a two-part mini-series with my friend and brother in ministry, Raphael Mnkandhla, as we reflect on the book The Clay Pot Conspiracy by Dave Harvey. With so many voices telling you so many different things about what makes for good, capable leaders, God’s Word tells us something that’s surprising and endlessly compelling. Far from disqualifying you from leadership, your weaknesses are the very things God uses. Raphael pastors City Church in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, where he lives and serves with his wife Heidi and their six children. You can follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and Substack. Resources: The Clay Pot Conspiracy: God’s Plan to Use Weakness in Leaders, Dave Harvey Dying to Preach: Embracing the Cross in the Pulpit, Steven W. Smith Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers, Dane Ortlund Finding God in the Darkness: Hopeful Reflections from the Pits of Depression, Despair, and Disappointment, Bradley Gray Sponsor: You can support Ministry Minded by buying some coffee from Fresh Roasted Coffee, a locally owned and operated coffee house in the heart of Central Pennsylvania that produces the freshest coffee and delivers it at peak drinkability. Use the offer code “GRACE10” at checkout to get a discount on your next order. Buy some coffee today! Credits: Intro music: It Just Makes Me Happy Composer: DJ Quads, soundcloud.com/aka-dj-quads License: Creative Commons (BY-NC 3.0), creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ Music powered by BreakingCopyright: breakingcopyright.com Get full access to Grace Upon Grace at www.graceupongrace.net/subscribe

    Cracked Pots, Hidden Treasure, and What Nobody Tells You About Pastoral Ministry with Raphael Mnkandhla
  5. Jun 12

    Preaching Christ in Season and Out with Tony Phelps

    In this episode, I’m joined by pastor and theologian Tony Phelps to talk about why it’s so important for preachers to preach God’s law and God’s gospel. Together, we trace this necessary distinction from Sinai’s altars to Luther’s breakthrough, and relish in the heartbeat of gospel preaching, which tells sinners not what they must do but what Christ has done. Tony serves as the teaching elder of Christ Our Hope Presbyterian Church in Carolina, Rhode Island, where he lives with his wife, Donna. He’s a frequent contributor to The Heidelblog. You can also follow him on Facebook and YouTube. Resources: “Not Man’s Gospel: An Exposition of Galatians 1:11–24 (Part 2),” Tony Phelps “A Letter to Recovering Pharisees: An Exposition of Galatians (Part 2),” Tony Phelps Commentary on Saint Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians (1535), Martin Luther Finding God in the Darkness: Hopeful Reflections from the Pits of Depression, Despair, and Disappointment, Bradley Gray Sponsor: You can support Ministry Minded by buying some coffee from Fresh Roasted Coffee, a locally owned and operated coffee house in the heart of Central Pennsylvania that produces the freshest coffee and delivers it at peak drinkability. Use the offer code “GRACE10” at checkout to get a discount on your next order. Buy some coffee today! Credits: Intro music: It Just Makes Me Happy Composer: DJ Quads, soundcloud.com/aka-dj-quads License: Creative Commons (BY-NC 3.0), creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ Music powered by BreakingCopyright: breakingcopyright.com Get full access to Grace Upon Grace at www.graceupongrace.net/subscribe

    Preaching Christ in Season and Out with Tony Phelps
  6. May 29

    Christ Alone and the Homiletical Moment with Bob Hiller

    In this episode, I’m joined by Bob Hiller to talk about the craft of preaching, how to navigate the pressures of pastoral ministry in 2026, and what belongs in the homiletical moment. We also discuss the danger of being a ministerial lone-wolf, why sermons aren’t TED talks, and why the preacher’s job is the same as it’s always been: deliver Christ, and get out of the way. Bob Hiller serves as the senior pastor of Community Lutheran Church in Escondido, California, where he lives with his wife and three kids. He also serves as the content editor for The Craft of Preaching, along with co-hosting the White Horse Inn. You can follow him on Facebook and Instagram. Resources: “Have No Fear, Little Flock,” Bob Hiller “The Craft of Preaching with Bob Hiller,” Outside Ourselves Finding Christ in the Straw: A Forty-Day Devotion on the Epistle of James, Bob Hiller Preaching, Fred B. Craddock Finding God in the Darkness: Hopeful Reflections from the Pits of Depression, Despair, and Disappointment, Bradley Gray Sponsor: You can support Ministry Minded by buying some coffee from Fresh Roasted Coffee, a locally owned and operated coffee house in the heart of Central Pennsylvania that produces the freshest coffee and delivers it at peak drinkability. Use the offer code “GRACE10” at checkout to get a discount on your next order. Buy some coffee today! Credits: Intro music: It Just Makes Me Happy Composer: DJ Quads, soundcloud.com/aka-dj-quads License: Creative Commons (BY-NC 3.0), creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ Music powered by BreakingCopyright: breakingcopyright.com Get full access to Grace Upon Grace at www.graceupongrace.net/subscribe

    Christ Alone and the Homiletical Moment with Bob Hiller
  7. May 15

    Church History, Revivalism, and the Myth of the Golden Age with Obbie Todd

    In this episode, I’m joined once again by Obbie Tyler Todd to talk about life, pastoral ministry, and the challenges of preaching in post-Christian contexts. We also spent some time discussing the church’s role during times of cultural upheaval, the myth of America as a “Christian nation,” and why the church’s mission has never changed, no matter what the present crisis looks like. Obbie is the pastor of teaching at Cross Community Church in Beaufort, South Carolina, where he lives with his wife, Kelly, and their two children, Roman and Ruby. He holds a Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and serves as an Adjunct Professor of Theology at Luther Rice College & Seminary. He’s the author of several books, and his writing has been featured in The Gospel Coalition, Christianity Today, Themelios, Desiring God, WORLD, and The Baptist Courier, among others. You can also follow him on Facebook and Instagram. Resources: The Beechers: America’s Most Influential Family, Obbie Tyler Todd The Moral Governmental Theory of Atonement: Re-envisioning Penal Substitution, Obbie Tyler Todd A Baptist at the Crossroads: The Atonement in the Writings of Richard Furman (1755-1825), Obbie Tyler Todd “When were the ‘golden years’ in America?,” Obbie Tyler Todd Finding God in the Darkness: Hopeful Reflections from the Pits of Depression, Despair, and Disappointment, Bradley Gray Sponsor: You can support Ministry Minded by buying some coffee from Fresh Roasted Coffee, a locally owned and operated coffee house in the heart of Central Pennsylvania that produces the freshest coffee and delivers it at peak drinkability. Use the offer code “GRACE10” at checkout to get a discount on your next order. Buy some coffee today! Credits: Intro music: It Just Makes Me Happy Composer: DJ Quads, soundcloud.com/aka-dj-quads License: Creative Commons (BY-NC 3.0), creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ Music powered by BreakingCopyright: breakingcopyright.com Get full access to Grace Upon Grace at www.graceupongrace.net/subscribe

    Church History, Revivalism, and the Myth of the Golden Age with Obbie Todd
  8. May 1

    Lost Boys and Living Hope with Marc Sims

    In this episode, I sit down with Marc Sims to have an honest conversation about the current crises facing young men, the reality of living with depression in the Christian life, and how the gospel of Christ is the word of hope that speaks into all of that. In our darkest moments — personally, collectively, spiritually — God in Christ finds us and frees us from sin, suffering, and the grave. Marc serves as the teaching elder of Quinault Baptist Church in Kennewick, Washington, where he lives with his wife, Hillary, and their three sons. He has published essays in outlets such as The Gospel Coalition, Mere Orthodoxy, and 9Marks, and is currently writing a book on sex, masculinity, and virtue, soon to be published by Baker Books. You can follow him on Facebook and Substack. Resources: “The Depressed Christian,” Marc Sims “On Death Threats and Book Deals,” Marc Sims “Be A Man, Not Andrew Tate,” Marc Sims “Caring Enough to Stay: What Pastors Can Learn from the Good Shepherd,” Marc Sims Finding God in the Darkness: Hopeful Reflections from the Pits of Depression, Despair, and Disappointment, Bradley Gray Sponsor: You can support Ministry Minded by buying some coffee from Fresh Roasted Coffee, a locally owned and operated coffee house in the heart of Central Pennsylvania that produces the freshest coffee and delivers it at peak drinkability. Use the offer code “GRACE10” at checkout to get a discount on your next order. Buy some coffee today! Credits: Intro music: It Just Makes Me Happy Composer: DJ Quads, soundcloud.com/aka-dj-quads License: Creative Commons (BY-NC 3.0), creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ Music powered by BreakingCopyright: breakingcopyright.com Get full access to Grace Upon Grace at www.graceupongrace.net/subscribe

    Lost Boys and Living Hope with Marc Sims

Ratings & Reviews

4.6
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

A podcast that seeks to marvel at the mercy of God that meets us in our messy ministries. www.graceupongrace.net