Pastoral Theology with Joseph Lear Podcast

Joseph Lear
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Theology in the local church, and the local church in theology. As it should be. pastoraltheology.josephmlear.com

  1. Jun 15

    Racism, Dysentery, Colonialism, and Relief: The Missionary Life with Joseph Lear (Sr.)

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit pastoraltheology.josephmlear.com The Sahel of West Africa is one of the harshest places on earth to live: desertification, food and water scarcity, malaria and dysentery, and political upheaval. That’s where my parents became missionaries in the early 90s. And it’s where I grew up running the streets, slingshotting lizards, and playing soccer until I dropped from dehydration. Thanks for …

    18 min

  2. May 18

    Matt Erickson talks Pastor as Gardener (Discount still available!)

    Hello everyone, my name is Joseph Lear, and this is Pastoral Theology. I’m a pastor, theologian, and professor bringing theology into the local church and the local church into theology because they belong together. In today’s episode I host Matthew Erickson, author of The Pastor as Gardener. Matt is pastor at Eastbrook Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His book is all about how the pastoral life needs to be reframed as gardening. Pastors should believe that we plant, we water, we hope, but God causes the growth. Matt provides a vision not only for the pastor, but also the church. He touches on theology, culture, philosophy, and above all else, the biblical basis for his vision. Give it a listen, give it a share. 👉 Here is the FULL review I wrote a couple weeks ago 👇 And here's the discount code: 🚨 Exclusive to Pastoral Theology with Joseph Lear: Readers get a limited time 40% discount on Erickson’s book at the Eerdman’s website. Discount code is valid through May 31, 2026. Discount code is GARDENER40 Thanks for reading Pastoral Theology! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit pastoraltheology.josephmlear.com/subscribe

    39 min
  3. Evangelicals corrupted Bible reading by trying to defend it

    May 6

    Evangelicals corrupted Bible reading by trying to defend it

    What if the way evangelicals learned to defend the Bible actually corrupted the way we read it? That’s not a hostile question from a skeptic on the outside. That’s the argument my friend, Tyler Bream, makes from inside the tradition — carefully, historically, and, dare I say, convincingly. He wrote about this at Regent University tracing how evangelical hermeneutics developed, and his conclusion is a little uncomfortable: that in borrowing the tools of the Enlightenment to defeat the Enlightenment, evangelicals accidentally absorbed its assumptions too. And those assumptions have been quietly distorting the way we interpret Scripture ever since. It’s a historical argument, but it’s not just an academic one. Because if he’s right, it has real implications for how the church reads Scripture today — and what a healthier path forward might actually look like. I think you’re really going to enjoy this one. Note: please forgive the bad video quality. Substack studio gave no indication there were network issues, so I’m not sure what happened. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit pastoraltheology.josephmlear.com/subscribe

    53 min

  4. Mar 3

    Tongues of Fire with Dr. Josh Brahinsky: How Charismatic Prayer Transforms Evangelical Brains and Inspires Spirit-Filled Activism

    I had the incredible privilege of interviewing Dr. Josh Brahinsky about his forthcoming book, Tongues of Fire: How Charismatic Prayer Changes Evangelical Brains and Inspires Spirit-Filled Activism. Josh is in the department of Religious Studies at Stanford University and the department of Transcultural Psychiatry at McGill University and Sir Mortimer B Davis Jewish General Hospital—Which makes him a distinguished researcher in the fields of neuro-anthropology and religious studies. His unique perspective combines academic inquiry with a deep appreciation for the spiritual experiences of Pentecostals and charismatics. Join us for a thrill ride about how speaking in tongues has changed the 🌍, how it can change your brain 🧠, and why we talk about psychedelics (😵‍💫) and tongues in the same podcast! Share 🤲 this with someone who’s been skeptical about speaking in tongues: Dr. Brahinsky says no one is faking it. Give it a listen, give it a watch. And be sure to let me know what you think about all of it in the comments 👇 Here is Josh’s book. We recorded this on February 26, but his book is officially out TODAY. So go get your copy. * Click here to order from Bookshop.org * Click here to order from Amazon This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit pastoraltheology.josephmlear.com/subscribe

    43 min
  5. Why Apologetics Suck and Doing Something Better with Preaching

    Feb 23

    Why Apologetics Suck and Doing Something Better with Preaching

    I’m not a fan of trying to argue people into the kingdom of God. But neither do I think becoming a Christian is a leap into the irrational abyss of faith. So what the alternative? Peter’s Pentecost sermon is a great place to start. In this vid, I talk a little about my creative process, and then try to do what Peter did by preaching Mark 2. Give it a watch, give it a listen, and let me know what you think. ✌️✌️✌️ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit josephlear.substack.com/subscribe

    8 min
  6. Book Update 4: The Contrast of Heaven

    Feb 7

    Book Update 4: The Contrast of Heaven

    I’m writing a book about Pentecostal proclamation in the 21st century, and I’m sharing the process with you. The working title is Tongue On Fire: Pentecostal Proclamation in the 21st Century. It’s coming out with Logion soon-ish 😅. In my last post about the book (which is somewhat embarrasingly from October) I sermonized about seeing Jesus without seeing him. This video follows on that, but with a new direction into apocalyptic sight 🤩. The chapter title is “Don’t Forget to Prophesy,” which comes from a thing I used to say to a teenager every Sunday when I’d see her in the sanctuary. I’m all about reminding women and men, and even kids (!), that the Spirit of God is always the Spirit of prophecy. The homily in the video is about a prophet from 1 Kings 22 named Micaiah the son of Imlah. I think the church needs to prophesy like he did. Give it a watch. Give it a listen. Give it a share. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit pastoraltheology.josephmlear.com/subscribe

    12 min

  7. 11/04/2025

    Surprised by God :: Sorprendido por Dios by Chris EW Green has hit the press

    I’ve been heading up a project to get Chris EW Green’s Surprised by God: How and Why What We Think About the Divine Matters translated into Spanish. Both the English and Spanish versions are 50% off with free media mail right now with the code CONFSHIP on the Wipf and Stock website. Theology en Español This is all in service of Evangel’s brand spankin’ new Spanish theology initiative. We’ve got a Spanish credentialing certificate for meeting the educational requirements for ordination in the Assemblies of God at a price and quality you. won’t. believe. →Next up: We’re doing a FULL Spanish undergraduate theology degree, so get excited← THANK YOU THANK YOU // GRACIAS GRACIAS * Thank you Chris and Wipf and Stock for making this happen. * Gracias Stephen DiTrolio for you hecka good translation skillzzz * Gracias Brian Roden for your exacting editing * Thank you North Little Rock First and Randy Jumper for your support * Thank you Joy Qualls for your support * Thank you Brenton Fessler for your support * annnnnnnndddddd GRACIAS Sergio Navarette for everything!!! If you want to talk more about Evangel’s credentialing certificate en Español or in English reach out. If you want to talk about partnerships reach out! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit pastoraltheology.josephmlear.com/subscribe

    5 min
  8. Seeing Jesus Without Seeing Him

    10/24/2025

    Seeing Jesus Without Seeing Him

    Here’s another bit about my forthcoming book on Pentecostal preaching 🤓 In the first part, I talk for 2-3 mins about mechanical and stylistic matters—like how I’ve manuscripted most of my sermons over the last 10 years, and how I always try to preach for the ear 👂. In the second part, I preach a short sermon on Jesus—specifically, how we see him when we can’t see him. The chapter draft I just finished is all about how every sermon must be Christological through and through. Hopefully that’s an obvious claim to make. 😇 And hopefully I talk about it in a fresh and inspiring way. If you want to skip ahead to the homily, go to 4:50. Finally, I welcome your comments and thoughts about preaching generally and how you all think Jesus should make his appearance in the homiletical art. STAY BLESSED EVERYONE and I’d of course appreciate a share 🤝 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit pastoraltheology.josephmlear.com/subscribe

    13 min
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Theology in the local church, and the local church in theology. As it should be. pastoraltheology.josephmlear.com

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