Before You Quit

We live in a broken world, and that can often leave us broken. Trauma is often the result of specific events in our lives that leave a lasting mark, often leading to a profound deep deep-seated sense of isolation and pain that can also lead us to make bad choices. A child is molested at a young age, and this event leaves a lasting mark as they grow older, finding it difficult to enjoy life, function well at work, or live in healthy relationships. A soldier sees things in war, comes home, and never talks about it with his family and friends. This is trauma. Even pastors face traumatic events. When people tell me they have been traumatized by a church, I will jokingly say, “Try pastoring for over thirty years, and I will talk to you about trauma.” In this podcast, John Kerr and I talk about how the pastor, or any Christian for that matter, can learn the skills on how to help people going through trauma. We also desire to help you if you have experienced trauma. We also talk about how there is hope in the gospel. Jesus, by dying on the cross, experienced more trauma than we ever will. And he understands us, provides comfort and healing in the gospel, and puts the right people in our lives to help us through our painful events. You can be set free from trauma. In Hebrews 4:15, we are given this wonderful promise: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” John Kerr is a licensed counselor and graduated from Brown University. He lives in Toccoa Ga and currently working in addiction counseling. The post Podcast 156: The Pastor and Trauma Counseling (John Kerr) appeared first on Before You Quit.

Choosing godly elders is essential to the health of the church. Pastor Charles Swindoll writes, Every church is the lengthening shadow of those who lead it. Therefore, no issue is more important in any church than having the most-qualified people who model true spirituality serving in leadership as elders. This explains why the lists of qualifications in 1 Timothy 3:1–7 and Titus 1:5–9 are so strict and demanding. Unfortunately, in most churches of America, the method of appointing and selecting those who lead is skewed. In those churches, leaders are chosen by majority vote, having been selected because the candidates are good businessmen or popular among the congregation or wealthy or long-time members or well-known, impressive individuals in the community. Nice and important as those factors may be, they have nothing to do with whether a person is qualified to be a servant leader and to be able to guide the flock of God in a way that honors the Lord Jesus Christ. In this podcast, I interview Pastor Hobie Wood of Christ Presbyterian Church in Clarksville, GA, on his 14 years of experience choosing the right elders for your church. Hobie is married to Hannah, and they have 3 children. He is a native of Tiger, Ga., a graduate of Clemson University (B.S.) and Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC (MDiv.). Prior to seminary and being called to be the pastor at Christ Presbyterian, Hobie and Hannah were on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ (Cru) at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. He’s a rabid Clemson fan, a cyclist, and a (very) novice fly-fisherman. The post Podcast 155: Choosing Elders (Rev. Hobie Wood) appeared first on Before You Quit.

Those who grew up during World War 2 are gradually leaving us. Most who are alive are in their 90s or older. It’s important we keep their memories alive. Both my father and mother grew up in Europe and experienced the trauma of growing up under Nazi Occupation. In this podcast, I interview my 93-year-old mother about her story. Three years ago, my father passed away at the age of 93. My mother lives near us, and while diagnosed with stage three cancer, she remains independent and relatively healthy. For an interview I did with my father, you can click here.   The post Podcast 154: Growing Up Under Nazi Occupation (Janine Schultz) appeared first on Before You Quit.

Charles Spurgeon said of the Bible, “To me the Bible is not God, but it is God’s voice, and I do not hear it without awe.” I did a quick review on Amazon of the number of books titled “Hearing God’s Voice.” I was amazed at the dozens of books written on that title. For example, Priscilla Shirer in her book, He Speaks to Me, writes, “God desires to speak to you through His Word and His Holy Spirit. By learning to listen to God’s voice and committing to obey Him, you will draw closer to God with a deeper desire to serve Him faithfully.” Did you see her distinction, “through His Word AND His Holy Spirit.”? Is hearing God’s voice something separate from reading scripture? Henry Blackabee, in his book Hearing God’s Voice, writes, “This book is about hearing God’s voice, and by reading it, Christians need to learn to hear God’s voice.” He argues that just as those in scripture learned to hear God’s voice, so can you. Dr. Dan Samms and I ask, “How do we hear God’s Voice?” Our answer is, through his Word, through scripture. Dan is in love with his wife, Christy.  They have three kids, a few chickens, and an awesome dog named “Sam.”  Dan drinks good coffee, enjoys fine woodworking, and writes theology curriculum.  Christy is a licensed counselor. She owns Hope Counseling and Consultation Services, LLC, and is an incredible mother who has a variety of hobbies.  Together, they raise their kids, lead the church, and enjoy God’s blessings.  Dan wrote a book, Follow: A Handbook for Making Disciples of Jesus Christ.  It’s a handy tool for guiding people through initial steps in following Jesus.  You can purchase it on Amazon.com, and it is inexpensive enough that you can easily buy a copy for a friend and read it together.  Dan’s primary role at Restoration is equipping the saints to make disciples.   Email: dan@restorationamherst.org   Instagram: @roaringshepherd Website: www.undergroundseminary.net The post Podcast 153: Hearing God’s Voice (Dr. Dan Samms) appeared first on Before You Quit.

To understand transgenderism, we must understand our fallen nature. God created us in his image, and this is distorted by sin. The pressure from society to accept that you are born in the wrong body only leads to fatalism and despair. The gospel, however, brings hope and points to the restoration of our God created design through the God-man, Christ Jesus. In this podcast, my cohost and I discuss the origins of transgenderism, societal pressures, and how the church can better address the issue. Here is a sermon Pastor Dan Stegeman preached on the subject: Click the link here. Below is the lecture Pastor Dan Stegeman gave on the subject: Click the link here. For the Focus On the Family article on how to address transgenderism with your family, click the link here.   The post Podcast 152: Transgenderism and the Gospel appeared first on Before You Quit.

John Owen wrote, “A minister may fill his pews, his communion roll, the mouths of the public, but what that minister is on his knees in secret before God Almighty, that he is and no more.” Most pastors that I know are committed to a prayer life. However, it is something that is easily neglected. The weight of the sermon and the burdens for his people will cause the pastor to look for help, and the best help comes from the Lord Jesus. King David wrote in Psalm 34:6, “This poor man called out, and the LORD heard him; He saved him from all his troubles.” In this podcast, Pastor John Fogal discussed together the challenges for a praying pastor, the importance of prayer for the sermon, and the critical need to prayer for those he shepherds. John W. Fogal lives in Ft. Wayne, IN. He pastored for twenty years and served as a district superintendent with the Christian and Missionary Alliance for 18 years. He has also served as a coach for pastors and churches. John is also the author of Living the Beatitudes. Click on the book cover to order John’s book. The post Podcast 151: The Pastor and His Prayer Life (Pastor John Fogal) appeared first on Before You Quit.

What is good, Gospel preaching. We believe it must center on preaching both the law and the gospel. According to Eric Beach from 9 Marks, Scripture contains both commands to obey (law) and promises to believe for salvation (gospel). These are not antithetical to each other. Instead, they play indispensable yet different roles in the lives of Christians. A “gospel-centered” hermeneutic which unintentionally downplays or sidelines the commands of God for Christians will often result in significant problems over the long-term. The solution is not to downplay the gospel with a soft moralism or sideline the law with a soft antinomianism. Rather, teachers should proclaim both the law and the gospel. Pastor, preach the gospel of Christ the glorious savior in every sermon. But also preach the whole counsel of the word of God. Give your sheep God’s instructions and his commands for holy living. (See link here) Pastor Dan Samms and I discuss the importance of preaching LAW AND GOSPEL and how to frame the sermon so it does here in this podcast. Dan is in love with his wife, Christy.  They have three kids, a few chickens, and an awesome dog named “Sam.”  Dan drinks good coffee, enjoys fine woodworking, and writes theology curriculum.  Christy is a licensed counselor. She owns Hope Counseling and Consultation Services, LLC, and is an incredible mother who has a variety of hobbies.  Together, they raise their kids, lead the church, and enjoy God’s blessings.  Dan wrote a book, Follow: A Handbook for Making Disciples of Jesus Christ.  It’s a handy tool for guiding people through initial steps in following Jesus.  You can purchase it on Amazon.com, and it is inexpensive enough that you can easily buy a copy for a friend and read it together.  Dan’s primary role at Restoration is equipping the saints to make disciples.   Email: dan@restorationamherst.org   Instagram: @roaringshepherd Website: www.undergroundseminary.net   The post Podcast 150: Preaching Law and Gospel (Pastor Dan Samms) appeared first on Before You Quit.

I interviewed Pastor Matt Cohen on the discipline of expository preaching. Below is a summary of what expository preaching is from Qot Questions. See the link here. Expository preaching involves the exposition, or comprehensive explanation, of the Scripture; that is, expository preaching presents the meaning and intent of a biblical text, providing commentary and examples to make the passage clear and understandable. The word exposition is related to the word expose—the expository preacher’s goal is simply to expose the meaning of the Bible, verse by verse. To prepare an expository sermon, the preacher starts with a passage of Scripture and then studies the grammar, the context, and the historical setting of that passage in order to understand the author’s intent. In other words, the expositor is also an exegete—one who analyzes the text carefully and objectively. (See our article “What is the difference between exegesis and eisegesis?”) Once the preacher understands the meaning of the passage, he then crafts a sermon to explain and apply it. The result is expository preaching. G. Campbell Morgan, pastor of London’s Westminster Chapel and known as “the prince of expositors,” taught that a sermon is limited by the text it is covering. Every word from the pulpit should amplify, elaborate on, or illustrate the text at hand, with a view towards clarity. He wrote, “The sermon is the text repeated more fully.” A sermon’s primary function is to present the text. Matt Cohen is the lead pastor of Citylight Church in Philadelphia, PA, where he has served since planting the church in 2011-2012. Matt is also the Dean of the Center for Christ-centered Preaching and professor of preaching at Grimke Seminary. Matt has been married to Andrea since 2007 and they have two children, Soren and Sage. To hear a recent sermon from Pastor Matt, go here. To hear Matt share about how to become a preacher, listen to this interview here. The post Podcast 149: The Pastor and Expository Preaching (Pastor Matt Cohen) appeared first on Before You Quit.

Increasingly, parents are carrying a burden for prodigal adult children. Some months ago, out of my own burden, I purchased and read Pastor James Banks’ book called Prayer for Prodigals. I used the book as part of my devotional time and found great courage and comfort from the way James uses scripture to shape his prayers for his own two children. In this podcast, we discuss not only his book but also the humble journey of living and trusting a sovereign God to answer the deep cries of the heart for our burden for adult children who are not following Jesus. Dr. James Banks’ bestselling writing on prayer and faith, translated into multiple languages, has encouraged and inspired millions around the world. James is a devotional writer for Our Daily Bread and has been a pastor and church planter for 30 years. James is also a popular speaker at churches, conferences and retreats (to learn more visit his website). He is a graduate of Westmont College and holds advanced degrees from Princeton and Gordon Conwell Theological Seminaries. He and wife Cari have been married 35 years and make their home in Durham, NC. They have two adult children and one grandchild. For more information visit JamesBanks.org, PrayersForProdigals.org and James’ Facebook Author Page. Order Pastor Jame’s books below by clicking on the image: The post Podcast 148: Praying For Your Prodigal (Pastor James Banks) appeared first on Before You Quit.

We don’t often consider the impact of the pastor’s burnout on the pastor’s wife! I sit down with Tom and Karen Friedrichs to discuss their own journey with burnout, recovery, and how God used it to prepare them to help others in ministry. Often the wife is affected differently than her husband from his burnout. If not addressed, she can withdraw from others and even from her husband. We also discuss how the church could be safer place for pastors if the leadership were protecting him better particuarly from antagonists in the church. Tom and Karen have faithfully served together in ministry for over 30 years. Throughout their journey, Tom has pastored three churches and led a parachurch ministry, while Karen has supported him as a pastor’s wife and embraced numerous ministry roles, all while working as a registered nurse. Together, they have navigated the highs and lows of ministry life — and have a deep and personal understanding of the difficulties ministry leaders face, and the weight pastors and Christian leaders carry. When faced with Tom’s own time of burnout, his sabbatical experience brought about the soul rest that he needed, developing new healthy rhythms for a fruitful next season. Because of this journey, they are passionate about walking alongside Christian leaders to foster health, sustainability, and effectiveness for the long haul. Tom is a certified counselor and an ICF-certified life and leadership coach, with special training in “Life Younique” to help others discover their true calling and purpose. He also offers Sabbatical Coaching to help those in ministry plan for a meaningful sabbatical, stay on course during it, and have successful reentry to ministry. Karen’s heart for hospitality and support for pastor’s wives shines through in her work as both a retreat host and certified Christian life coach. Together, they are committed to creating an environment where you can rest, grow and thrive. Check out their ministry Broom Tree Landing here. The post Podcast 147: Pastor Burnout and His Marriage (Tom & Karen Friedrichs) appeared first on Before You Quit.

One Sunday after preaching, I found myself gravitating to a man I knew would compliment me for another great sermon. I found that I did this every Sunday. I bypassed others and went straight for my backslapping, always sermon-affirming, never-to-disappoint friend. The day I caught myself doing this was the day I realized this was unhealthy. So, I ignored that friend and stood in the lobby, eager to talk to anyone, even those who didn’t like my sermon and were honest about it.  Why are pastors like that? According to my interview with Dr. Andreas Kostenberger, it comes down to our self-image. The Bible does talk about it, but it has to be a discussion around how Jesus views us. We both agreed that God will sometimes make us insecure so that we, in time, find our security in him. Dr. Andreas Kostenberger writes this on his blog on this subject:  The role of pastors in fostering a healthy self-image is vital. People may think the concern for mental health and a proper self-image is a fairly recent phenomenon, but it is not. In the pages of the Bible, we see the apostle Paul display a consistent concern for the mental health of his associates and people in the churches. We see this most poignantly by the recurrence of the Greek word group, sōphro-, typically translated into English as “self-control,” though a more accurate translation would be “sound or healthy mind.” In his letters to Timothy and Titus, Paul urges that a sound mind be pursued by church leaders (1 Tim 3:2; 2 Tim 1:7; Titus 1:8), older and younger men (Titus 2:2, 6), older and younger women (Titus 2:5; cf. 1 Tim 2:9, 15), and by every believer (Titus 2:12). Drs. Andreas and Marny Kostenberger have four adult children, have decades of experience equipping leaders for ministry, and are devoted servants of God in our local church. Andreas is a Bible teacher and prolific author with a heart for coaching men in the ministry. Marny enjoys hospitality and coaching ministry wives and other Christian women leaders. Together, Marny and Andreas have written books on marriage and family, and each has written on topics of their expertise. Andreas is well known for his love of Biblical Theology and the Gospel of John. Both of us are also certified Christian leadership coaches (CCLC). Whether you are a pastor planning a sabbatical, a missionary starting home assignment, or any Christian leader looking for refreshment, encouragement, and support, we look forward to hosting you soon at our quaint cottage home! Whether you are a pastor planning a sabbatical, a missionary starting home assignment, or any Christian leader looking for refreshment, encouragement, and support, we look forward to hosting you soon at our quaint cottage home! Check out: www.oaktreecottage.org www.biblicalfoundations.org   The post Podcast 146: The Pastor and His Identity (Dr. Andreas Köstenberger) appeared first on Before You Quit.

The Pastor taking a sabbatical has theological backing. God commanded the Old Testament doctrine of the Sabbath or rest to remember him as our creator and provider. Those who don’t rest tend to forget that. By resting, we join Him and his rest from creation, but it is also our way of preparing us for the final rest that awaits us. “Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it.” (Hebrews 4:1) The church and the pastor need to understand the importance of the pastor’s sabbatical. It is more than taking a break from burnout and stress. Sabbaticals done intentionally will help reset the pastor’s calling, bring rest to his soul, and prepare him for longevity. In this podcast, Pastor Dan Stegeman and I discuss the biblical basis for a sabbatical, how to plan it, and how to benefit from it. Here are some helpful resources. Why Sabbaticals are Good for Your Church by Sean Nemecek The Sabbatical Planning Tool Kit by Sean Nemecek  6 Reasons Pastors Should Consider a Sabbatical By Pastor Dan Stegeman Sabbatical Planning by Mitch A. Schultz    The post Podcast 145: The Pastor and His Sabbatical appeared first on Before You Quit.

Pastors struggle to develop meaningful friendships. Imagine struggling, striving, and working for the good of others. But then, when you have a need, there is no one with whom you can be honest and share your heart. Many pastors are going through this. Almost all go through it eventually. In this podcast, Pastor Ken Cluck and I discuss why friendships are difficult for pastors but why they are still critical to his personal health and effective ministry. Pastor Ken has been in pastoral ministry since 1995. His ministry has included two Indian reservations (Northern Cheyenne and Nez Perce), refugee ministry, Korean churches, and urban and rural settings. Pastor Ken holds advanced degrees in ministry and theology, including two master’s degrees and a doctorate. In addition to pastoral ministry, Ken teaches graduate and undergrad classes through Crown College and is an evaluator for Alliance Leadership Development. In both roles, he trains future pastors. He also serves as a member of the Rules and Bylaws Committee for the Christian & Missionary Alliance.Pastor Ken has been married to Yong since 1987. They have been together through thick and thin, through good times and bad. Neither is perfect, but both seek to exemplify a godly marriage and provide a loving family for their children and grandchildren. For Pastor Ken’s blog titled: With Whom Does the Pastor Talk? Click here.   The post Podcast 144: Pastors and Friendships (Pastor Ken Cluck) appeared first on Before You Quit.

Do you know what is worse than a salvation without assurance? It is an assurance without a salvation. According to Jesus that is what is going to be worse for many. This book has been written to give you the opportunity to assess your own story of salvation and the way Jesus has come to you, as well as your response to him. God saves each of us individually so each of our stories are uniquely different. At the same time, God’s work in saving us is consistent. He works in the same way so there is something consistent that will be going on in all of our lives. In this podcast, I interview Pastor Joel Van Hoogen on his book Saving Evangelicals: When Many Say, Lord! Lord! Order the book by clicking on the cover! Rev. Joel Van Hoogen is the Executive Director of Church Partnership Evangelism (CPE), an international ministry devoted to equipping and engaging the members of Christ’s Body in personal evangelism, discipleship, and church planting. Ordained in the Christian and Missionary Alliance, he pastors a small fellowship in Boise Idaho. He and His wife have 5 children and 14 grandchildren.  Other related resources – Church Partnership Evangelisms website does not have any bio information, but it does have important connections to this ministry. www.traincpe.org There is a website dedicated to this book, which is embedded on CPE’s website. www.testyourtestimony.com    The post Podcast 143: Saving Evangelicals – When Many Say, Lord! Lord! (Pastor Joel Van Hoogen) appeared first on Before You Quit.

When I heard the news of Steve Lawson’s sexual sin, I threw up my hands and said, “I give up! Is there anyone we can look up to anymore? Who is next?” If you need to find out who Steve Lawson is, he was right up there with giants like RC Sproul and John MacArthur. Lawson was a board member and teaching fellow of R. C. Sproul’s Ligonier Ministries. Lawson also served as the dean of the Doctor of Ministry program at The Master’s Seminary, founded by John MacArthur. Dan and I discuss what happened, how it could happen, and, more importantly, what lessons we can learn from it. One of our takeaways is how much more we should look up to our small-town local pastor than to famous pastors who we don’t know well and do not know us. We want to remind you that if you are looking for ways to direct your end-of-the-year giving, Fruitful Vine Ministry needs your help. You can go to our support page here and follow the directions. For helpful resources on the Steve Lawson story, check out these resources. https://truthscript.com/church/the-fall-of-a-leader-lessons-from-steve-lawsons-removal/ https://banneroftruth.org/us/resources/announcements/2024/when-a-christian-leader-falls/?srsltid=AfmBOorfFqnoeZ6Iw-nElkQp00WrUGQXN_kqCdr8xU-Br-BfYczO4mnd https://www.equip.org/articles/a-christians-response-to-pastor-lawsons-moral-failure/ https://pastoral-theology.com/2021/02/22/a-response-to-the-fall-of-ravi-zacharias/  The post PODCAST 142: The Story of Steve Lawson (Dan and Mitch) appeared first on Before You Quit.

The nation of India has over 1.4 billion people. There are 2,289–2,554 groups that are considered unreached, meaning that less than 2% of the people in those groups follow Jesus. In this podcast, I interview Dan (last name withheld) to discuss his ministry of training pastors in India. Dan and the ministry he serves travel to India regularly and holds online training sessions for thousands of pastors across India. Many of these pastors have no biblical education. It’s a vital ministry. Dan and I also talk about how the church can see itself as missionally involved in the world without having to go. Training and equipping are becoming a large part of our missional commitment.  As part of my prayer discipline, I pray each morning for the persecuted church across the globe. India is one of those nations where the freedom to worship Jesus is severely limited. According to Voices of the Martyr, “Christians in India are facing increased opposition from Hindu nationalists who seek to eradicate their witness for Christ and establish a “pure” Hindu nation. Despite beatings, arrests and even the murder of loved ones, persecuted Christians in India continue to faithfully advance God’s Kingdom.” Despite the persecution, the church is rapidly growing in India thanks to pastors like Dan and his ministry.   The post Podcast Ep.141 The Church in India (Daniel) appeared first on Before You Quit.

Many of us get stuck when we see contradictions in the Bible. Pastor John Fogal argues that exceptions in the Bible are never contradictions. This podcast interview will open a window to worship an amazing God who made the greatest exception ever when he extended to us redemption. John W. Fogal lives in Ft. Wayne, IN. He pastored for twenty years and served as a district superintendent with the Christian and Missionary Alliance for 18 years. He has also served as a coach for pastors and churches. John is also the author of Living The Beatitudes. EXCEPTIONS and CONTRADICTIONS The God who is revealed in Scripture is so great that He can make exceptions but never so small that He is guilty of contradictions. He can make exceptions without contradicting the foundational truths. We need spiritual discernment to know the difference. We need faith to see that God is always all His Word claims Him to be. And we need strong discipline to never turn one of God’s exceptions into an official human policy that ultimately contradicts and invalidates God’s foundational rule. He is God. We are not. The more I see of God’s exceptions the more I see the greatness of His sovereign authority and the grandeur of His radiant glory. God  made it clear from the start that when a human being sins, he/she will die. Read the genealogies in Genesis 5 and you will see the number of years that each man lived, “and he died.” Except for verse 24 which reads, “And Enoch walked with God; and was not, for God took him.” Before the 10 commandments were given to Moses everyone (including Cain) instinctively knew that it was wrong to kill another human being. Yet God told Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac on the alter. When Abraham passed the test, God provided a ram, so Isaac did not die prematurely. (However, when it came time for God the Father to sacrifice His only begotten Son, “He spared not His own Son but freely gave Him up for us all.”) God told Hosea to marry a harlot (an exception) to teach him and Israel and us about His love for all of us who are “harlots” in His sight. True miracles are, by definition, exceptions that do not conform to the general rule. They transcend the general laws of nature and accomplish exceptional and unusual and rare events. The iron ax head floated on the water. The sun stood still. The bush burned but was not consumed. The Red Sea parted. Jonah was swallowed by a great fish. The three Hebrew children miraculously came out of the fiery furnace. God shut the lions’ mouths. Extraordinary miracles happened throughout the Old and New Testaments. The Virgin birth of Jesus was a miracle. So was His resurrection. None of these exceptions negated the overriding, foundational laws of God. We must remember that God’s ways and thoughts are higher and better than ours and are beyond our finding out (Isaiah 55:8-9).  From our human perspective, the best of God’s “exceptions” is our great salvation. Every human being is “already condemned” and deserves the wrath of God. In His loving sovereign will He chooses us. The Bible calls it “election.” He draws us to His Son; brings us to a place of godly sorrow that leads to repentance; declares us to be justified in His sight; forgives and cleanses us when we confess our sins; makes us new creatures in Christ; calls us to be His children; and Christ is coming soon to take us to be with Him! That makes the “few” exceptional! PRAISE THE LORD! Universalists want to make this exception into a rule and conclude that, in the end, everyone will be saved and go to heaven. That is not what the Bible teaches. “But when He saved my soul, cleansed and made me whole, it took a miracle of love and grace.” THREE APPLICATIONS God’s Word makes it clear that He instituted marriage and unites a man and a woman in “one flesh” and that union is to last “until death us do part.” When the Pharisees asked Jesus about divorce He said, “a man shall leave father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” They said to him, “Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce?” He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.” (Matthew 19:4-8) He then gave clear teaching for the restrictions on the exception called divorce. Add to the large number of marriages that end in divorce all the people who co-habit without being married and it almost seems like the exception has become the rule and the rule has become the exception..  What we call a “miscarriage” is one of God’s exceptions. There may even be times when a husband and wife and doctor need to prayerfully decide (with godly, biblical counsel) to end the pregnancy as the only way to save the mother’s life. But that is not the motivation for more than 99% of the millions of abortions. When the sperm and egg are fertilized, a new life, with its own special, individual, unique DNA is formed, and God knits that new body together in the mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13-16 NLT) until the baby is born and the umbilical cord is cut. We are “fearfully and wonderfully made” “in the image of God.” God gives the mother the supreme privilege of providing life for that new life throughout the gestation period, but that new life is distinct from the mother’s body. Abortion is clearly the terminating of the work of God. Shouldn’t we think twice before committing such a crime? God made us “male and female.” He made us equal but different because He has designed different functions for us to fill. When it comes to the leadership roles in the home and church, it seems to me that God gave us a foundational principle in 1 Corinthians 11:2, “I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.” There are further details found in verses such as Ephesian 5:22-33, 1 Timothy 2:9-15, and I Corinthians 14:33-35. We need to think foundationally, based on God’s Word, not man’s word. So what about the story of Deborah as a judge in the book of Judges (and all the other places where you may think there are exceptions to the rule.) Remember, they are exceptions, not the rule. Think about all the rest of the judges, and priests, and kings, and prophets, and apostles, and elders, and pastors, and bishops. I believe there can still be exceptions today. But we must know that it is God’s exception and not a man-made human policy. We cannot blur these gender distinctive in leadership without “unintended consequences” such as ultimately negating God’s foundational law, causing confusion, and displeasing and offending the God who created us male and female. He is God. We are not. The post Podcast 140: Contradictions in the Bible (John Fogal) appeared first on Before You Quit.

In the five previous podcasts we reviewed Dr. Rob Reimer’s Soul Care Ministry and teachings. It is appropriate that we follow those up with a discussion of spiritual abuse in the church. I had the honor of interviewing Dawn Hill for this podcast on this subject. Dawn Hill is a Christian blogger known as The Lovesick Scribe, and the host of The Lovesick Scribe Podcast. She is passionate about sharing the truth and pointing others back to Jesus Christ through the written Word as the standard of authority for Christian living and instruction while being led by the Holy Spirit into maturity. She is the author of NonProphet Woke: The Reformation of a Modern-Day Disciple. She writes articles for Christianity.com, Servants of Grace, and her blog posts have been shared by individuals such as Tim Challies. She will be featured in the upcoming docuseries, American Gospel: Spirit and Fire. She co-leads a women’s support group with Emily Massey called Snatched from the Flames, where they minister to women who have come out of the hypercharismatic and New Apostolic Reformation movement. She is a wife to Nicholas and a mother to Anabel and Ephraim. You can follow her on The Lovesick Scribe and Instagram. The post Podcast 139: Spiritual Abuse in the Church (Dawn Hill) appeared first on Before You Quit.

In this final podcast reviewing Dr. Rob Reimer’s Soul Care Ministry, Rev. Mark Barnard of Blessing Point Ministry joins the conversation with Dan Stegeman and me. We discuss Dr. Reimer’s teachings that Christians can be indwelt by demons and we offer a biblical response. To listen to the first podcast on Soul Care, click here. To listen to the second podcast on Soul Care, click here. To listen to the third podcast on Soul Care, click here. For a full written review I wrote on Dr. Reimer’s Soul Care teaching, click here.For Mark Barnard’s paper on Reimer’s teaching on demon occupation, click here.For Testimonies from those who left Soul Care teaching, click here.  For Jonathan and Brooke Gangi’s testimony of attending a Soul Care conference click here.    The post Podcast 138: Christians and Demons (Dr. Rob Reimer’s Soul Care Ministry) appeared first on Before You Quit.

For the past few weeks, we have been doing an in depth critique of Rob Reimer’s Soul Care ministry. We have attempted to show why this ministry is unbiblical and even dangerous.  In this podcast, we want to continue our review with a first hand account of an individual who attended a Soul Care Conference and had a traumatic experience. In this powerful testimony, Dan interviews Brooke and Jonathan Gangi. Jonathan and Brooke Gangi have been married for 17 years and are proud parents of four girls. Jonathan is a professor at Penn State University and Brooke is a homemaker and homeschooling mom. They are members of Oakwood Presbyterian Church (PCA) in State College, PA To listen to the first podcast on Soul Care, click here. To listen to the second podcast on Soul Care, click here. To listen to the third podcast on Soul Care, click here. For a full written review I wrote on Dr. Reimer’s Soul Care teaching, click here.For Mark Barnard’s paper on Reimer’s teaching on demon occupation, click here.For Testimonies from those who left Soul Care teaching, click here.  The post Podcast 137: Attending a Soul Care Conference (The story of Brooke and Jonathan Gangi) appeared first on Before You Quit.