Dr. Owen Strachan as a Christian intellectual has committed his life to bring theology into collision with culture.About Our GuestDr. Owen Strachan is a prolific author and speaker, hosts The City of God podcast, and also directs The Residency PhD program of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri. He’s been married to his wife Bethany since 2006, and the Lord has blessed them with three children. What You Will LearnWhy the late sexual revolution is continued evidence of Satan’s rebellion against GodHow Dr. Strachan came to faith as a child in New EnglandHow an early pursuit of politics fostered a desire for debate and cultural engagementHow Christian intellectuals encouraged Dr. Strachan to engage culture with theologyHow reading a biography of Jonathan Edwards awoke in Dr. Strachan a passion for God-centered theologyHow Dr. Strachan determined to tackle despised doctrines in the church and the worldHow Dr. Strachan protects his writing timeHow a Reformational mindset keeps Christians contending for the faithHow a rich theology sustains Christians in the face of worldly opposition How to Follow Dr. StrachanTwitter: @ostrachanFacebook: OwenDStrachanInstagram: @profstrachanCenter for Public TheologyThought Life blog on PatheosThe City of God podcastSupport the show (https://diligentpastors.com/donate/)

Christians often believe a half-gospel that leaves them hopeless. But the whole gospel gives us hope and power to live as God intends.About Our GuestEric Wallace serves as founder and president of the Institute for Uniting Church and Home through which he has ministered to thousands of church leaders and families through conferences and seminars as well as private conversation. He has been married to his wife Leslee since 1995 and the Lord has blessed them with eight children.Featured ResourceSermon Audio: Share your sermons online with Sermon Audio. Join a library of over 1.7 million sermons from theologically conservative churches and other ministries from around the world. Embed your audio on your site, submit your sermons to podcast directories like Apple Podcasts, and list your church on the Local Church Finder.What You Will LearnHow growing up in a Christian home did not guarantee joy and peace in ChristHow Christians can walk by grace in Christ every dayThe importance of the church to provide relationships that lead to personal growthHow the gospel justifies and sanctifies believersHow reading the Scriptures in the home leads to transformationWhy Christians resort to a legalistic or programmatic approach to lifeHow church leaders can encourage the congregation with grace and hopeAdditional ResourcesThe Institute for Uniting Church and HomeEric’s latest book: Real Hope for Your Home: How Finding Joy Changes Us and Our RelationshipsYour Identity in Christ from A–Z (Free PDF Download)Support the show (https://diligentpastors.com/donate/)

Many blessings accompany a long ministry with the same people. James Frank shepherded a flock for 40 years and challenges those who aspire to pastoral ministry. About Our Guest James Frank serves as pastor emeritus for Galilee Baptist Church in Saranac, Michigan, a church he had pastored for over 40 years. He graduated from Bob Jones University and Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary. He has been married to his wife Beth since 1960 and the Lord has blessed them with two children, three grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. Featured Resource Association of Certified Biblical Counselors: Increase your skill in bringing God’s Word to people in need of help and hope. What You Will Learn “The seminary is so wonderful to remember, but ... being in the ministry itself really sharpens everything. It becomes more valuable than the seminary itself.” Welcoming veteran missionaries into the home encourages obedient faith. His call to the ministry of preaching and teaching came by working with chain gang prisoners in Rock Hill, South Carolina in the 1950s. “I came to Galilee [in 1964] for $40 a week and it seemed like a million because I was able to preach.” How the church went from no godly, capable men to an abundance of them. What to do when hypocrites are in the church. How AWANA has been useful as a tremendous community influence. How area churches can work together and why this is important. God brings growth to the church through the faithful preaching of His Word. “I felt that rather than have a beautiful building, it was important for us to have a cathedral of truth, that we would not have anything to say except what was in the text and that the truth would be there and be evident in the text.” How to retire from pastoral ministry and what to do next. How a return to the church after retiring could look like. “I think we do not need more ministers. We need more ministers that are called of God.” “If you aspire to the ministry, you need to learn to study. You need to pay attention to books. You also need to pay attention to speech.” Listen to the interview with Andy Mooren, who succeeded Jim as pastor for Galilee Baptist Church.Support the show (https://diligentpastors.com/donate/)

The church needs qualified men to teach the Word of God. Seminaries and local churches should work together to prepare these godly shepherds.About Our GuestDr. Richard Mayhue has labored at The Master’s Seminary in various capacities since 1989 and currently serves as research professor of theology emeritus. He has served in pastoral ministry in several churches and has authored, contributed to, or edited over 30 books including The MacArthur Study Bible. He has been married to his wife B since 1966 and the Lord has blessed them with two married children, two grandsons, and a great-granddaughter.This is the second of two episodes with Dr. Mayhue. Listen to the first episode.Featured ResourceAccordance Bible Software: Study the Bible in the original languages and more on your laptop, smartphone, and mobile device.What You Will LearnWhy does The Master’s Seminary focus so intently on training men for pastoral ministry?Where do graduates of The Master’s Seminary go to serve in ministry?Why are these expository preachers so important to Christ’s church?How did the Word of God change your life?How should a seminary and a local church work together and why is this important?How should we respond to the statement, “they didn’t teach that to me in seminary”?What should prospective students look for in a seminary?What can a man do to best prepare for and thrive in seminary?What is the importance of having a good grasp of systematic theology for preaching?What projects are you working on now?Mentioned in the EpisodeDr. Mayhue’s personal website: richardmayhue.netEmail Dr. MayhueThe Master’s Seminary, Sun Valley, CaliforniaGrace Community Church, Sun Valley, CaliforniaBooks and JournalsBiblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible TruthThe Master’s Seminary JournalSupport the show (https://diligentpastors.com/donate/)

The ministry of Dr. Richard Mayhue includes the church pulpit, the seminary lectern, and the writer’s desk. Hear how the Lord directed Dr. Mayhue through various venues to serve the church worldwide. About Our Guest Dr. Richard Mayhue has labored at The Master’s Seminary in various capacities since 1989 and currently serves as research professor of theology emeritus. He has served in pastoral ministry in several churches and has authored, contributed to, or edited over 30 books including The MacArthur Study Bible. He has been married to his wife B since 1966 and the Lord has blessed them with two married children, two grandsons, and a great-granddaughter. Featured Resource The Master’s Seminary: Get equipped for pastoral and academic service beginning with a Master of Divinity through to a Doctor of Philosophy. On-site and distance-learning programs can provide you the flexibility you need to become the best you can be in the service of our Lord Jesus Christ. What You Will Learn How did God bring Dr. Mayhue to saving faith in Jesus Christ? (Longer version) How did the Word of God transform their marriage and change the trajectory of their lives? How did Dr. Mayhue’s experience in the US Navy prepare him for Christian ministry? How an invitation to teach at a seminary resulted in Dr. Mayhue’s first experience in pastoral ministry? How did Dr. Mayhue first meet Dr. John MacArthur and how did they begin to work together? Did God intend Dr. Mayhue to be a pastor or a seminary professor? How did Dr. Mayhue and his wife discern the Lord’s will, and how did these moves affect their children? How did the burden to write come into Dr. Mayhue’s ministry? How did Dr. Mayhue’s teaching and preaching ministry feed his desire and ability to write? Mentioned in the Episode Dr. Mayhue’s personal website: richardmayhue.net Email Dr. Mayhue The Master’s Seminary, Sun Valley, California Grace Community Church, Sun Valley, California Shepherds’ Conference Books and Journals Pastoral Ministry: How to Shepherd Biblically Preaching: How to Preach Biblically The MacArthur Study Bible Think Biblically Support the show (https://diligentpastors.com/donate/)

Serving the Lord takes many forms as we steward the resources He has entrusted to us. Hear how the Lord directed Andy Mooren into several venues of ministry. About Our Guest Andy Mooren is a graduate of Northwest Baptist Seminary in Tacoma, Washington. He currently serves as pastor for Galilee Baptist Church in Saranac, Michigan, where he has served since 2005. He has been married to his wife Kathi since 1987, and the Lord has blessed them with three daughters, one son-in-law, and a grandson to be born summer 2020. Featured Resource Sermon Audio: Share your sermons online with Sermon Audio. Join a library of 1.8 million sermons from theologically conservative churches and other ministries from around the world. Embed your audio on your site, submit your sermons to podcast directories like iTunes, and list your church on the Local Church Finder. Mentioned in the Episode Walsh Baptist Church, Walsh, ColoradoSupport the show (https://diligentpastors.com/donate/)

Seminary education ought to inspire students to know God better, to study the Bible, to seek God's will, and submit to the Lordship of Jesus in every area. About Our Guest John Mark McDonnel is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary and currently serves as director of the biblical studies program at Kiev Theological Seminary in Ukraine where he has served since 1998. He has been married to his wife Donna since 1989, and the Lord has blessed them with four children and a son-in-law. Featured Resource Accordance Bible Software: Study the Bible in the original languages and more on your laptop, smartphone, and mobile device. Other Resources Mentioned Howard G. Hendricks and William D. Hendricks. Living by the Book: The Art and Science of Reading the Bible. Mark and his family have partnered with WorldVenture since 1996. Mark blogs occasionally at mcdonnel.wordpress.com.Support the show (https://diligentpastors.com/donate/)

Pastoral ministry is meant to be work shared among faithful men. Learn how Rob Zietlow serves alongside several other elders to shepherd the church. About Our Guest Rob Zietlow serves as senior associate pastor for Austin Bluffs Evangelical Free Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He is a graduate of The Master’s University and The Master’s Seminary. Rob has been married to his wife Sharon since 1994, and the Lord has blessed them with three children and one son-in-law. Featured Resource Association of Certified Biblical Counselors: Increase your skill in bringing God’s Word to people in need of help and hope.  Support the show (https://diligentpastors.com/donate/)

  About Answers for Pastors Answers in Genesis held its annual Answers for Pastors conference October 8–10, 2019. The sessions took place in the new Answers Center at the Ark Encounter. The conference theme was “One Race, One Blood—Biblical and Scientific Answers.” Ten keynote sessions featured answers from a variety of speakers, including staff members of Answers in Genesis and friends of the ministry. Ken Ham, founder and CEO of Answers in Genesis, wrote in the conference materials, “Evolution is an inherently racist philosophy. Some of the statements Darwin wrote in his book The Descent of Man make that very clear! It offers no good answer to the question of ‘race.’ Over time, most evolutionists have finally come to the realization that genetically and biologically, there’s only one race—something the Bible teaches.” Next year’s conference is titled, “The Bible and Sexuality: Practical Answers for Today’s World.” Learn more at AnswersForPastors.org. Featured Resource SermonAudio.com: Post your sermon audio on the largest online library of sermons from conservative churches and other ministries. Your sermons will appear in the popular SermonAudio directory and you have many other methods of distributing your sermons across the world. Musicians Feautured at the Conference Singer and songwriter Michael O’Brien led several sessions of musical worship each day of the conference. Learn more about Michael’s work at MichaelO.org. Preeminent modern hymn writers Keith and Kristyn Getty provided a mini concert as part of the conference as well as a full evening concert with their band. Learn more at GettyMusic.com. Keynote Sessions Ken Ham: “Genesis, Foundations, and Races—Part 1” (Watch on YouTube) Bodie Hodge: “Where Did the People Groups Come From?” (Watch on YouTube) Joe Owen: “The Gospel to All Nations: ‘Re-hitching’ Missions to Genesis” (Watch on YouTube) Terry Mortenson: “Ape-Men, Adam, and the Gospel” Georgia Purdom: “Are Humans and Chimps Related?” Voddie Baucham: “Alienated by the Fall” (Watch on YouTube) Voddie Baucham: “Reconciled in Christ” Charles WareSupport the show (https://diligentpastors.com/donate/)

  About Our Guest Phil Johnson serves as executive director of Grace to You, the media ministry which features John MacArthur’s teaching. He is an elder for Grace Community Church in Los Angeles, California, and helps shepherd the GraceLife fellowship group. He and his wife Darlene have been married since 1978, and they have three married sons and seven grandchildren. Featured Resource SermonAudio.com: Post your sermon audio on the largest online library of sermons from conservative churches and other ministries. Your sermons will appear in the popular SermonAudio directory and you have many other methods of distributing your sermons across the world. Ways to Connect with Phil Personal Website: Romans45.org Twitter: @Phil_Johnson_ Sermons from The GraceLife Pulpit PyroManiacs blog Additional Presentations of Phil’s Salvation Testimony A Fool for Christ’s Sake A Word of Personal Testimony How I Became a Christian (video, 18:30) Saved by Biblical Truth (audio, 16:40) Other Notes Phil graduated with a bachelor’s degree in theology from Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. The first message Phil heard from John MacArthur was turned into a booklet, Found: God’s Will. Phil donated his Spurgeon Archive to Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary for their further development. Listen to Phil’s six-part sermon series on some of the major heresies from history that still afflict the church today. Phil’s Preaching Events in March 2020 March 4–6, at the annual Shepherds’ Conference, sponsored by Grace Church in Los Angeles, California. March 27–28, at the annual Answers for Women conference, sponsored by Answers in Genesis. March 29, to Liberty Bible Church in Williamstown, Kentucky.Support the show (https://diligentpastors.com/donate/)