The Central Seminary Podcast

Do you struggle to make connections or build relationships? Are you wondering how you can turn acquaintances into gospel connections? In today's episode, missionary Seth Grotzke talks about how he builds relationships in the country of Spain and uses connections with new people as bridges over which to carry the good news about Jesus. You will not want to miss this episode as Seth encourages you how to make new connections and build fruitful relationships!

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Are you looking for a unique but rewarding type of ministry? In this episode, we dive into the fascinating world of military chaplaincy with special guest Bob Freiberg. Bob, a retired military chaplain, and Central Seminary graduate, shares his insights and experiences from his years of service. Join us as we explore the role of chaplains in the military and some of the difficulties they face in providing spiritual support in a challenging environment. Whether you have a personal interest in military chaplaincy or simply want to gain a deeper understanding, this episode offers a helpful overview of the chaplaincy ministry.

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Gender confusion is all around us today. On a regular basis, we are forced to wrestle with terms like identity and fluidity. We must learn to hold to Biblical truth amidst a culture that is increasingly opposed to the teaching of the Bible. How can we understand what is going on in our world today? In this episode, we wrap up our discussion with Brett Williams as he gives some final thoughts on the history of gender issues. Brett then helps us to put it all together by addressing difficult scenarios we may encounter in the real world. If you have ever struggled with how to handle certain real-life scenarios relating to gender dysphoria, Brett shares some of the practical insights he has gleaned over the course of his study of this topic.

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Gender confusion is all around us today. On a regular basis, we are forced to wrestle with terms like identity and fluidity. We must learn to hold to Biblical truth amidst a culture that is increasingly opposed to the teaching of the Bible. How can we understand what is going on in our world today? In this second episode, we continue our discussion with Dr. Brett Williams about the topic of gender dysphoria. In this episode, Brett takes us deeper into the philosophical backdrop of gender confusion in our world today. We discuss how the concept of gender has been separated from biology, and how to understand the correlation between "ontology" and "biology." We conclude with practical advice on how to hold to the truth while showing the love of Christ. Tune in to today's episode as we unpack this important topic!

Email: info@centralseminary.edu

Gender confusion is all around us today. On a regular basis, we are forced to wrestle with terms like identity and fluidity. We must learn to hold to Biblical truth amidst a culture that is increasingly opposed to the teaching of the Bible. How can we understand what is going on in our world today? In this episode, we talk with Dr. Brett Williams, provost of Central Seminary, about the topic of gender dysphoria. Brett helps us to understand the philosophical backdrop of gender issues and how fundamental shifts in terminology shaped their development in our world today. Tune in to today's episode as we unpack this important topic!

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Join us for another episode of The Central Seminary Podcast! Today we talk with Dr. Josh Stephens, lead pastor of Cape Bible Chapel and visiting professor of Biblical Counseling at Central Seminary. In this episode, Josh shares with us his vision for a Biblically-based shepherding ministry, what might distract pastors from shepherding, and what is at stake when we fail in our ministry of shepherding. Listen to the entire episode as Josh shares his heart for how a shepherding might look when pastors and lay leaders give themselves to this type of ministry!   

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Join us for today’s episode with Dr. Matt Shrader! In this episode, we talk about the development of Northern Baptist seminary education in the nineteenth century. This episode is a recap of our MacDonald lecture series, where Dr. Shrader discussed major events and the major theology taught during this time and what we might be able to learn from them. Look below to watch the entire lecture series: 

https://centralseminary.edu/about-central/macdonald-lecture-series/

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Today we finish with our fifth and final episode on Trinitarian Theology. In this episode, we evaluate the position know as Eternal Functional Subordination, or EFS. Join Kevin Bauder, Brett Williams, and Matt Shrader as we consider EFS, its recent development, and how we ought to think about the relationship between God the Father and God the Son.

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Today we continue with our fourth discussion on Trinitarian Theology. In this episode, we talk about the relationship between the Father, Son and Spirit as we move towards and understanding of how each Person functions within the Trinity. Join Kevin Bauder, Brett Williams, and Matt Shrader as we continue our discussion on the doctrine of the Trinity.

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Today we continue with our third discussion on Trinitarian Theology. In this episode, we look at specific Scripture passages that address the relationship between the Father and the Son and try to fit these together for a better understanding of the Trinity. Join Kevin Bauder, Brett Williams, and Matt Shrader as we continue our discussion on the Persons of the Trinity.

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Today we continue our discussion on Trinitarian Theology. Join Kevin Bauder, Brett Williams, and Matt Shrader as they further guide our discussion, focusing on the relationship between the Persons of the Trinity.

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The doctrine of the Trinity is one of the more difficult and confusing doctrines to understand. How can God be three Persons but one united Essence? If you have ever struggled with understanding the Trinity, this episode is for you! Join us as we talk with Kevin Bauder, Brett Williams, and Matt Shrader as they provide an introduction to Trinitarian theology.

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Have you ever thought about getting certified in Biblical Counseling? What does certification entail and how is it helpful? In this episode, we talk with Nicolas Ellen and Jeremy Stephens about the benefits of Biblical Counseling certification. Dr. Ellen serves as a fellow with the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors and supervises phase 3 of Jeremy's ACBC certification.  Together, they talk about the benefits of certification and give insight into the supervision stage of counseling certification.

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Pastors are tasked with the important responsibility of shepherding the flock of God. Theology plays a vital role in the direction a pastor shepherds and leads a congregation. But pastors can often face resistance as they attempt to lead a church based on theological principles. In episode 21 of The Central Seminary Podcast, we talk with Kevin Bauder and Craig Muri about leading a church theologically. We discuss what it means to lead a church theologically, how pastors can teach church members to think theologically, and what to do as a church member if you do not quite agree on the direction your pastor is leading. Join us for today’s episode!

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Grief and loss are difficulties we all experience. Death is a reality of life that every single human must face at one time or another. Oftentimes, we face death unprepared. Whether dealing with loss in our own lives or helping someone else to navigate through their own grief, many times we are unprepared and ill-equipped. How do we navigate the difficulties of loss we may experience, and how can we help lead others through their own grief? Join us today as we talk with Dr. Venessa Ellen as she unpacks for us how we can glorify God through our grief and how we can guide others to do the same!

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Today we continue our talk with Pastor Joel Tetreau, pastor of Southeast Valley Bible Church in Gilbert, AZ, and part of the team at the Institute for Biblical Leadership.  Over the course of these two episodes, we talk with Joel about his experiences working with IBL to help encourage and equip pastors in conflict resolution and leadership skills. Joel is full of insight and wisdom in the areas of conflict and leadership development, and he offers invaluable insight to those who are navigating the deep waters of ministry. Check out this second episode today!

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Ministry is full of conflict!  When conflict arises, leadership is tested. How can church leaders navigate the difficult times of conflict in the church? How do leaders take advantage of the smooth times in ministry without turning them into rough times? When should leaders seek help in dealing with relational conflict in the church? Today we talk with Pastor Joel Tetreau, pastor of Southeast Valley Bible Church in Gilbert, AZ, and part of the team at the Institute for Biblical Leadership.  Over the course of two episodes, we talk with Joel about his experiences working with IBL to help encourage and equip pastors in conflict resolution and leadership skills. Joel is full of insight and wisdom in the areas of conflict and leadership development, and he offers invaluable insight to those who are navigating the deep waters of ministry. Check out our episode today!   

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Have you ever wondered about church associations? Perhaps your church is a part of an association, and you fail to see the benefit. Maybe, your church is not connected with an association, but you are interested in hearing more. Join us for today's episode as we talk with two local church pastors about the benefit of being a part of a church association.

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Biblical Counseling has become a sort of buzzword in ministry today. But how does Biblical Counseling fit within the ministry of a local church? Are discipleship and counseling the same thing, related concepts, or totally distinct altogether? What is at stake if local churches do not take “one-another care” seriously in the life of the body? Join us for episode 16 as we talk about why the local church is the most effective atmosphere for counseling and discipleship. Today we talk with Dr. Josh Stephens, CBTS grad, pastor, and co-director of our Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling program. Dr. Stephens helps us to understand what it looks like to create a culture of soul care in a church and how leaders can strategically move towards this type of emphasis in their churches.

This past spring Dr. Ryan Martin gave a series of lectures at Central Seminary entitled “The Sources and Context of ‘Gracious Affections’ in Jonathan Edwards.” Following this lecture series, we sat down with Dr. Martin to talk about Jonathan Edwards and his ministry. This episode serves as an introduction to the life and teachings of Edwards based on the lectures given by Dr. Ryan Martin. To listen to the entire lecture series, click below:

https://vimeo.com/channels/cbtsmacdonald2022

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Perhaps one of the most difficult counseling sessions is the first one. Oftentimes, counselors walk into a first session knowing very minimal details about the counselee’s spiritual life or what he or she hopes to accomplish through counseling. How should counselors think about the first counseling session with an individual? Can they prepare ahead of time without knowing details of why they have been brought in, or do they walk in blind and hope to have some answers? If you have ever struggled with the first counseling session and how to get information from a counselee while at the same time giving them hope, you will enjoy this discussion! In this episode, we talk with Pastor Jeremy Stephens, Pastor of Outreach and Discipleship at Fourth Baptist Church in Plymouth, MN. Jeremy draws from his years of counseling experience to help us think through and prepare for walking into a counseling room for the first session with a new counselee. Listen and share this episode, and if it was helpful to you, we would love for you to let us know!

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Pastors have been exiting or transitioning ministry in record numbers. The mass exodus or reshuffling in pastoral ministry today has been referred to as "the great resignation." Today we talk about the striking reality that a good pastor is in high demand. Statistics have shown that for every one pastor searching for ministry there are at least 5-10 churches without a pastor. Further complicating these matters is the estimation that the average tenure of pastors at a church is 18 months. How can we navigate such transitional times? What can you do as a church or church member if you want to support and encourage God's man amidst such tumultuous times? How do you keep a pastor you love? Join us today as we talk with the president of Central Seminary, Dr. Matt Morrell, on the topic of the great resignation and how to keep a pastor whom you love!    

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Have you ever wondered how God can command the destruction of entire people groups? Why did Israel have to destroy those in the Land of Canaan, and why was Israel punished for not following God's command? Is God merely harsh and unloving in this matter or did He have reason to destroy the Canaanites? How is Israel's conquest of Canaan different from Islamic Jihad? In episode 13 we answer some difficult questions related to God's command for the total annihilation of the Land of Canaan. Dr. Roy Beacham talks with us about the Old Testament concept of devoted to destruction (herem), what this meant for God's people Israel, and what this tells us about God. Listen, like, and share today's episode!    

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Sexual abuse in the church has become a hot topic today. How ought churches approach this topic? What precautions should churches and church leaders take to prevent sexual abuse in the church? What should church leaders do if an incident is reported to them? In today's episode, we discuss the heavy topic of sexual abuse in the church. We consider the impact of sexual abuse upon the church as well as necessary precautions that every church should take to protect the ministry from those who might do harm. Join us for the discussion as we learn from the practical experience and insight of two men in ministry!     

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Have you ever wondered what makes Central Seminary unique? Join us for today's episode as we talk with our CBTS president and provost about what makes Central distinct and why you might consider an education at Central Seminary! 

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You have a text of scripture picked out to study-where do you go from there?  How do you begin unpacking a text, whether it be for a sermon, Sunday school lesson, or personal Bible study?  In this episode of The Central Seminary Podcast, we talk with Dr. Don Odens about starting with a text of Scripture.  Dr. Odens shares his thoughts about how to begin with sermon prep and how pastors can use the languages to their advantage, but also give practical suggestions for those who do not know Greek or Hebrew.  Whether you are a pastor in a church preparing sermons or a lay church member teaching a Sunday school class you will find value in the insights Dr. Odens provides!     

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Have you ever wondered what is the place of church history? Maybe you had a church history class or two in Bible college or seminary but it never really "clicked." Alternatively, perhaps you want to know more about church history, but you do not know where to begin. If you have ever wrestled with understanding the role or benefit of church history, then this episode is for you! Today we talk with Central Seminary's church history professor Dr. Matt Shrader about the topic of church history. We discuss what makes good church history, how church history is unavoidable, and how to get involved in learning more about church history. Whether you are a "history buff" or struggle to enjoy church history, you will find this episode useful and instructive!

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Getting connected in a new church can be a difficult endeavor.  Even while participating regularly in worship, new attendees can easily feel isolated while within a community of believers.  How can new people get connected with their local church?  How can church leadership and church members connect new people to the church body?  Join us for this episode as we talk with Dr. Preston Mayes about how to get connected in a local church!  Dr. Mayes talks about his experience of changing ministry positions, moving from Wisconsin to Minnesota, and trying to navigate connecting with a new church all on the tail end of the COVID-19 pandemic.  From his practical experience, church members and new attendees alike will learn how they can integrate together and build strong relationships around their common bond to help strengthen and grow the ministry of their local church!      

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Have you ever wondered how seminary helps those in ministry?  Perhaps you are interested in taking a class or enrolling in a program and wonder how seminary can help you.  Maybe your church is looking for a pastor and you wonder if seminary should be something you look for on a resume.  Join us today as we talk with Dr. Brett Williams and missionary Nate Wright about their experiences in the pulpit and on the mission field and how Central Seminary helped to prepare them for ministry.  In this episode, we share practical ways in which seminary helps to prepare students for ministry as well as explore some of the limitations of seminary education.  Listen in on the discussion as we share some of the benefits of seminary!    

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Has anger ever gotten control of you? Have you ever been irritated or upset and do not know how you got there? Do you have trouble understanding the difference between righteous indignation and sinful anger? If you have ever been controlled by your anger, this episode is for you! In this episode, we talk with Dr. Nicolas Ellen, CBTS visiting professor of Biblical counseling, about the topic of anger. Together, we look at common misconceptions of anger, the biblical definition of anger, factors that might lead us into anger, and how we can learn biblical contentment. Listen to the episode to learn more! 

Listen to a quick teaser of our fourth episode of The Central Seminary Podcast. In this episode, we talk with Dr. Nicolas Ellen about anger. Look for this episode to be released on Wednesday, March 23rd, at 12:00 PM CST!

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Do you have conflict in your life?  Have you struggled with broken relationships that were never restored?  Join us today on our third episode of The Central Seminary Podcast as we unpack conflict in the church.  In this episode, we talk with Dr. Kevin Bauder and Dr. Don Odens about the nature of conflict, how to resolve it, and how to respond with biblical forgiveness.  Remember to subscribe as you listen to today's episode on navigating conflict!   

Have you ever wanted to have a greater sense of community with people in your church? Do you find it difficult to take the first step of reaching out to others and inviting them into your life? Perhaps you want to take a step into the life of someone else but do not know how to do so. This episode of The Central Seminary Podcast is designed to help you understand hospitality in the Scriptures and show how we can practice hospitality in our own lives. Today we talk with Central Seminary’s VP of Academics and professor of New Testament, Dr. Jon Pratt, and a friend of the seminary, Mrs. Pam Deckert, to explore the Biblical mandate for hospitality and discuss practical ways in which pastors and church members can become more hospitable. Join us for the conversation and remember to subscribe to our podcast!

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Have you ever wondered about sacrifices in the Old Testament?  Do you want to know more about how they worked in the lives of God's people Israel?  In this first full-length podcast, we talk with Dr. Roy Beacham about the sacrificial system in the Old Testament.  Dr. Beacham has served as a professor of Old Testament at Central Seminary since 1976!  Listen to our discussion and remember to subscribe!      

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Listen to another quick teaser of our third episode of The Central Seminary Podcast. In this episode, we talk with Dr. Kevin Bauder and Dr. Don Odens about the nature of conflict, how to resolve it, and how to respond with biblical forgiveness. This episode will be released on Wednesday, March 9th, at 2:00 PM CST!

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Listen to this quick teaser of our second episode of The Central Seminary Podcast. In this episode, we talk with Dr. Jon Pratt and Mrs. Pam Deckert about the Christian virtue of hospitality. This episode will be released on Wednesday, March 9th, at 1:00 PM CST!

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Listen to this quick teaser of our first episode of The Central Seminary Podcast. In this episode, we talk with Dr. Roy Beacham about the nature and purpose of sacrifices in the Old Testament. Our first episode will be released on Wednesday, March 9th, at 12:00 PM CST!  

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Every believer needs to be grounded in the truths of God's Word in order to navigate life in our world.  In this introductory episode, we discuss the purpose of our podcast to help pastors, students, and church members understand key Biblical and theological issues related to life and ministry.  If you are interested in The Central Seminary Podcast or want to learn more, join us for our first episode as we launch The Central Seminary Podcast and highlight what you can expect from our future episodes.  

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