The Ordinary Christian Podcast Craig Thompson

Life is better with friends. In this episode of the podcast, I have a conversation with Angela (my wife) and with our friends Luke and Patty Tolbert about the nature of our long friendship. We talk about what friendship is, how to find friends, and the joy found in a shared life together. Along the way we address the ways friendship can be inconvenient and some of the necessary personal sacrifices that go along with being a friend.

We discuss two books in the podcast:


Made for People
Life Together

I hope you enjoy our conversation. The purpose of this conversation is to highlight the great value of friendship and to give practical tips on how you can find great friends for the long haul.

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I began the Ordinary Christian Podcast in 2020 just before the world shut down from a worldwide pandemic. In the four years since then, the podcast has continued in starts and stops. For the 100th episode, I decided to revisit some lessons we all learned during COVID shutdowns, but which we are on the verge of forgetting.

In this episode I encourage you to:


Prioritize people over possessions.
Live where you live.
Don’t sleep on rest.
Go for a walk.
Practice hospitality.
Slow down.

What COVID lessons do you remember? Which ones have you already forgotten to practice?

Thank you for being part of the Ordinary Christian Podcast for the last 100 episodes. I look forward to the next 1oo! Please let me know how this podcast has blessed you or how it could bless you in the future. 



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In this episode, I share tips on how to stay awake and engaged during sermons. I emphasize the importance of going to bed early on Saturday nights, preparing ahead by reading the passage of Scripture, arriving early to find a comfortable seat, and actively participating in worship through singing. It also helps if listeners to expect to be challenged and changed, take notes, plan to discuss the sermon later, sit near the front, bring a physical Bible, and avoid distractions. By following these tips, you can get the most out of sermons and have a deeper encounter with God’s Word.

Takeaways


Go to bed at a decent time on Saturday nights to ensure you are well-rested for Sunday morning worship.
Prepare ahead by reading the passage of Scripture and praying for understanding.
Arrive early to find a comfortable seat and engage in the entire worship service.
Actively participate in worship through singing, awakening your senses and mind.
Expect to be challenged and changed by the Word of God.
Take notes during the sermon to enhance your understanding and create a reference for later reflection.
Plan to discuss the sermon later, either in a life group or with family and friends.
Sit near the front to better focus and engage with the sermon.
Bring a physical Bible to minimize distractions from mobile devices.
Avoid distractions and be mindful of creating a distraction-free environment during the sermon.

Dr. Chris Rappazini, a professor of leadership, discusses his new book Moving Forward After Messing Up and the importance of second chances. He shares a personal story about his relationship with his brother and how it inspired him to write the book. The conversation explores the challenges of recognizing and accepting our mistakes, the role of empathy in ministry, and the practical implications of God’s grace. The episode highlights the need for vulnerability and authenticity in building strong relationships and offers a fresh perspective on the prodigal son story. 

In this conversation, Dr. Rappazini and I discuss the importance of preaching to the people that God has called pastors to, rather than preaching to an idealized church. We also explore the concept of forgiveness and humility in the context of dealing with prodigals and those going through deconstruction. Chris shares his personal experiences with his brother’s addiction and the role of community in the recovery process. The conversation concludes with a discussion on how Chris’s book, Moving Forward After Messing Up, can be used as a tool for group discussions and support.

Takeaways


Recognizing and accepting our mistakes is the first step towards moving forward after messing up.
Empathy and vulnerability are essential in building strong relationships and connecting with others who have experienced similar struggles.
God is a God of second chances and is willing to forgive and redeem us, no matter how far we’ve strayed.
The prodigal son story takes on a new meaning when we realize that we are all prodigals in need of God’s grace.
Theology should not be limited to academic study but should help us better understand and love God. Preaching should be tailored to the specific needs of the congregation and focused on helping them apply biblical principles to their lives.
The best preachers are often found in small churches, where they intimately know their congregation and can speak into their lives.
When dealing with prodigals or those going through deconstruction, it is important to approach them with love, humility, and a willingness to listen.
Forgiveness and humility are crucial for both the person going through a difficult time and those supporting them.
Community and support groups play a vital role in the recovery process, providing a safe space for sharing and healing.
Chris’s book, ‘Second Chances: From Tragedy to Triumph,’ can be used as a resource for group discussions and as a conversation starter for those struggling with addiction or other challenges.

Sound Bites


“Snow, rain, all in the same day, all in the same spot.”
“The God of Second Chances”
“God’s been in that place on your behalf.”
“That’s good. That’s that’s strong.”
“Preach to the people that God’s called you to pastor.”
“The best preachers are the ones that you’ve never heard of.”

Chapters

00:00Introduction and Background

03:37Discussing the Book ‘Moving Forward After Messing Up’

11:09The Impact of Personal Struggles on Ministry

14:20The Prodigal Son Story: A New Perspective

20:05The Challenge of Denial

22:34The Practical Implications of God’s Grace

25:08Preaching to the People God Has Called You to

27:03The Best Preachers Are the Ones You’ve Never Heard Of

30:27The Role of Community in Recovery and Healing

39:45Using ‘Second Chances: From Tragedy to Triumph’ as a Tool for Group Discussions



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On this episode, Dr. Kevin Gushiken and I discuss his upcoming book A Theology of Play and the importance of incorporating play into the Christian life. He explores the reasons why Christians often don’t prioritize play and suggests that grounding play in theology and scripture can give us permission to enjoy life. He emphasizes the need for a playful attitude and spontaneous moments of play, as well as scheduled play. 

Dr. Gushiken also highlights the benefits of play in relationships, workplaces, and discipleship. In this conversation, Kevin Gushiken and Craig Thompson discuss the importance of play in our lives, especially in the midst of pain and struggle. They explore the idea that play brings joy, freedom, and perspective, and helps us connect with others and with God. They also discuss the impact of technology on play and the need to prioritize play in our lives. The conversation concludes with a discussion on favorite ways to play and a reminder to step into play and make it a part of our daily lives.

Takeaways


Grounding play in theology and scripture can give Christians permission to enjoy life.
Playfulness and spontaneous moments of play should be incorporated into all aspects of life, not just scheduled play.
Play can deepen relationships, build trust, and increase productivity in workplaces.
Play can be a valuable tool for discipleship and spiritual growth.
The Bible affirms the importance of play and enjoyment of life. Play brings joy, freedom, and perspective to our lives.
Play helps us connect with others and with God.
Technology can hinder our ability to play and disconnect from the busyness of life.
We need to prioritize play and make it a part of our daily lives.
Play can be a source of strength and resilience in the midst of pain and struggle.

Sound Bites


“Why is it that Christians, and I think this applies to people who are non-Christians as well, why is it that we don’t play?”
“Have you played this week?”
“We’re not doing an excellent job at discipling young men… We’ve created discipleship methods and models that are very driven towards… readers… but just aren’t interested in reading a 300-page book on theology or a 250-page book on spiritual disciplines.”
“We have an Abba father. Why would it be any different for our Abba father when he gave us this good creation? I think he gets great pleasure when we enjoy the relationships, the gifts, the creation, the ability to play, to connect with people.”
“How connected are we to our phone, our email? And so we almost become sterilized in life, right? Because we’re so connected to technology that we don’t disconnect to enjoy.”
“The best antidote to mental health is let’s go play a little bit.”

Chapters

00:00Introduction: A Theology of Play

08:54Play as a Discipleship Method

23:15Play in the Workplace: Increasing Productivity

30:59Disconnecting from Technology and Prioritizing Play

40:29Rediscovering Play as Empty Nesters

53:12Stepping into Play: Making it a Habit and Routine



Preorder A Theology of Play here.

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Dr. Greg Quiggle discusses his new book on D.L. Moody, titled Bread and Bibles: D. L. Moody's Evangelism and Social Action, which explores Moody's evangelism and social action. Moody was a prominent English-speaking evangelist in the 19th century and had a significant impact on Protestant Christianity. He was known for his ability to connect with the common person and his earnestness. 

Moody established various institutions, including Moody Bible Institute and Moody Church, and played a key role in the development of Christian publishing. He believed in the three Rs: ruined by sin, redeemed by Christ, and regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Moody's theology was practical and focused on the essentials of the Christian faith. He was a pre-millennialist and believed in the imminent return of Christ to establish his rule on earth for a thousand years. Moody's influence extended beyond his lifetime and continues to impact evangelicalism today. DL Moody's ministry was characterized by his focus on evangelism and his love for people. He was driven by the love of God and had a deep understanding of the struggles of the poor and marginalized. Moody's ministry was marked by humility and a focus on Jesus, not himself. He believed in preaching the gospel and also in practical acts of service and social engagement.

Takeaways


D.L. Moody was a prominent English-speaking evangelist in the 19th century and had a significant impact on Protestant Christianity.
Moody established various institutions, including Moody Bible Institute and Moody Church, which continue to have a lasting impact today.
His theology was practical and focused on the essentials of the Christian faith, emphasizing the three Rs: ruined by sin, redeemed by Christ, and regenerated by the Holy Spirit.
Moody was a pre-millennialist and believed in the imminent return of Christ to establish his rule on earth for a thousand years.
His influence extended beyond his lifetime and continues to impact evangelicalism today. Moody's ministry was characterized by his focus on evangelism and his love for people.
He had liberal theological friends and was not vociferously anti-Catholic.
Moody's theology was caught, not taught, and he learned by listening and asking questions.
He was driven by the love of God and had a deep understanding of the struggles of the poor and marginalized.
Moody's ministry was marked by humility and a focus on Jesus, not himself.
He believed in preaching the gospel and also in practical acts of service and social engagement.

Sound Bites


"Dwight Moody, unfortunately, has largely dropped out of memory for a lot of people."
"Moody's genius was he had the ability to catch the conscience and the imagination of the common person."
"By the time he leaves, there's about two million people that have attended his services in London alone."
"He was not vociferously anti-Catholic, and he got slaughtered for that a lot."
"Ultimately he's an evangelist, right? His goal is to preach the gospel and get people to the counseling room."
"Moody's theology is caught, not taught. He learned by listening and asking questions."

Chapters

00:00Introduction and Background of Dr. Greg Quiggle and D.L. Moody

02:08Discussion of Dr. Quiggle's Book: Bread and Bibles

10:06D.L. Moody's Early Life and Conversion

14:02Moody's Impact in England and Worldwide

23:43Moody's Humility and Legacy

28:48Moody's Theology and Controversies

29:17DL Moody's Relationship with the Catholic Church

30:09Moody's Focus on Evangelism

31:31Moody's Theology: Caught, Not Taught

35:38The Love of God and the Love for the Marginalized

38:44Moody's Humility and Focus on Jesus

40:14Preaching the Gospel and Practicing Social Engagement