This week on Ask the Pastor, Pastor J.D. answers a question submitted by Tristan who asked, “As Christians, how can we be honest about an individual’s poor performance (in my case, scoring a poor performer based on their work quality) with grace and love?”

A glimpse inside this episode:

Honest criticism can be done in a loving and graceful manner. It’s so vital to balance feedback with grace, as well as address poor performance. Humility and relational context will play a huge factor in graceful feedback. Ultimately, there is a huge need for specific feedback because that fosters growth and development.

• The goal of salvation is a new kind of righteousness.
• Understanding sin requires both head knowledge and heart transformation.
• Living by faith means choosing what is right despite feelings.
• Growth in grace involves recognizing our ongoing need for grace.
• Sowing seeds of righteousness leads to spiritual growth.
• Habits shape our desires and affections.
• Choosing against fleshly desires is a step of faith.
• Reckoning ourselves dead to sin empowers us to resist temptation.
• Prayer and belief in the gospel are essential for spiritual life.
• Continuous reliance on God’s grace is crucial in the Christian walk.

This week on Ask the Pastor, Pastor J.D. answers a question submitted by Tyler who asked, ““I know in my head that my sin is sinful, but I can’t seem to ‘metabolize’ it and get that truth into my heart. How can I do that?”

A glimpse inside this episode:

• The goal of salvation is a new kind of righteousness.
• Understanding sin requires both head knowledge and heart transformation.
• Living by faith means choosing what is right despite feelings.
• Growth in grace involves recognizing our ongoing need for grace.
• Sowing seeds of righteousness leads to spiritual growth.
• Habits shape our desires and affections.
• Choosing against fleshly desires is a step of faith.
• Reckoning ourselves dead to sin empowers us to resist temptation.
• Prayer and belief in the gospel are essential for spiritual life.
• Continuous reliance on God’s grace is crucial in the Christian walk.

This week on Ask the Pastor, Pastor J.D. answers a question submitted by Andrew who asked, “Could you attempt to provide some clarity on whether an earthly marriage between Christians means that husband/wife relationship carries into eternity?”

Thank you Andrew for your question!

A glimpse inside this episode:

• Jesus teaches that there is no marriage in heaven.
• Marriage was created to address loneliness on earth.
• In heaven, companionship will be fulfilled in a better way.
• Our joys in heaven will be heightened and transformed.
• C.S. Lewis compares earthly pleasures to heavenly joys.
• Marriage is a temporary picture of our relationship with Christ.
• Single people are full-fledged family members in Christ.
• The episode encourages listeners to submit their questions.

This week on Ask the Pastor features a conversation between Pastor J.D. Greear and Joseph Backholm. Joseph is a Senior Fellow for Biblical Worldview and Strategic Engagement at Family Research Council. He combines extensive legal, political, and policy experience with a love for the way biblical truth cultivates human flourishing.

A glimpse inside this episode:

• Politics is the process through which we make decisions.
• Christians should engage in politics as a blessing.
• Avoiding difficult conversations can hinder important discussions.
• Evaluate political choices based on biblical principles.
• Political parties should not overshadow our allegiance to Christ.
• Parents should teach children about the complexities of human nature.
• Election seasons provide unique opportunities for disciple-making.
• Sober-mindedness is crucial in political discourse.
• Confirmation bias can lead to being misled in politics.
• Good politics reflects a love for our neighbors.

This week on Ask the Pastor features a conversation between Pastor J.D. Greear and Neil Shenvi where they discuss the complexities of critical theory, its implications for society, and how it intersects with Christian beliefs. Neil is another member of the Summit Church with a Ph.D. from Berkeley in Theoretical Chemistry. 

A glimpse inside this episode:

• Race is a social construct, which aligns with a Christian worldview.
• Privilege is context-dependent and cannot be viewed in absolutes.
• Intersectionality complicates discussions of race and gender for Christians.
• Critical theory can lead to false assumptions about disparities in society.
• Christians should advocate for justice based on biblical principles.
• The church’s mission should focus on the gospel above all.
• Addressing systemic injustice requires evidence and context.
• Equity should not be equated with equality of outcome.
• The family unit is crucial for addressing social issues like poverty.

This week on Ask the Pastor features a conversation between Pastor J.D. Greear and Brooke Medina. Brooke is a member of the Summit Church and serves as Vice President of Communications for the John Locke Foundation. She’s been published in numerous outlets including The Hill, Entrepreneur, Washington Examiner, WORLD, Daily Signal, FEE, and others.

A glimpse inside this episode:

• Economics is fundamentally about human action and dignity.
• Understanding economics through a Christian lens is crucial.
• Private property ownership is essential for a well-ordered society.
• Disagreement among Christians on economic issues is natural and necessary.
• Welfare programs need to be structured to encourage economic mobility.
• Ideas have consequences; bad ideas can harm individuals.
• Christians should engage in political discourse with charity.
• Free speech in the digital age presents new challenges for Christians.
• The church should encourage members to enter all spheres of influence.
• We must be witnesses of truth and grace in the public square.

This week on Ask the Pastor features a conversation between Pastor J.D. Greear and Katie McCoy. Dr. McCoy serves as the director of Women’s Ministry for the Baptist General Convention of Texas. She holds a Ph.D. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. She is the author of To Be A Woman: The Confusion Over Female Identity and How Christians Can Respond.

A glimpse inside this episode:

• The cultural moment we are in is a result of decades of ideological shifts.
• Teen girls are particularly vulnerable to social contagion regarding gender identity.
• Gender identity is both a biological and a theological reality.
• The rise of identity politics has led to a reorientation of moral systems.
• Language is viewed as creating reality rather than reflecting it in today’s society.
• Christians are called to navigate these issues with grace and conviction.
• The indoctrination of children through media is a significant concern.
• There is a strong correlation between gender confusion and past trauma or abuse.
• Resources are available for Christians to better understand and respond to gender issues.

This week on Ask the Pastor features a conversation between Pastor J.D. Greear and Dr. Jason Thacker. Dr. Thacker serves as an assistant professor of philosophy and ethics at Boyce College and Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He also is a senior fellow in bioethics and director of the research institute at The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. He is the author of several books including Following Jesus in the Digital Age and The Age of AI: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity.

A glimpse inside this episode:

• AI is transforming every aspect of society, including faith and identity.
• The concept of human dignity is central to understanding our value in the age of AI.
• AI should not be viewed as a neutral tool; it shapes and forms us.
• The image of God is crucial in discussions about technology and ethics.
• We must slow down and ask the right questions about technology’s impact.
• Humanity’s uniqueness lies in being created in the image of God.
• AI raises important questions about what it means to be human.
• Wisdom in technology use is more important than convenience.
• Parents should engage with their children in understanding technology.
• Government regulation of AI should prioritize human dignity.

This week on Ask the Pastor features a conversation between Pastor J.D. Greear and Ben Watson. Watson is a former NFL tight end as well as a writer, speaker, and activist. He is a college football studio analyst with the SEC Network, and he serves as VP of Strategic Relationships with the Human Coalition, one of the largest pro-life and pro-women’s organizations in the country.

A glimpse inside this episode:

• The pro-life movement is fundamentally about justice.
• Children have inherent value from the moment of conception.
• Roe v. Wade’s overturn is a step, but not the end of the fight.
• Compassion is crucial in discussing pro-life issues.
• Voting is just one aspect of activism.
• Both political sides lack a complete solution for human flourishing.
• Church unity is essential despite political differences.
• Engagement in the pro-life movement can take many forms.
• Believers should seek to understand each other’s perspectives.
• Faith should guide political identity over party affiliation.

Ask the Pastor is continuing our Gospel & Politics series. This week features a conversation between Pastor J.D. Greear and Dr. Ed Stetzer. Stetzer is a leading thinker in his field and has planted, revitalized, and pastored churches; trained pastors and church planters on six continents; earned two master’s degrees and two doctorates.

A glimpse inside this episode:

• The cultural moment feels different than prior cultural moments.
• Christians must engage politically without compromising their faith.
• Character in leadership is crucial for effective governance.
• Clarity in beliefs is essential for kindness in discourse.
• Diverse perspectives exist within the Christian community regarding political issues.
• The church’s mission should not pause due to political tensions.
• Engaging as winsome ambassadors is vital in today’s culture.Christians should be cautious of being influenced by media narratives.
• Political engagement should be informed by biblical teachings.
• The importance of unity in essentials and liberty in non-essentials.

This week’s Ask the Pastor episode kicks off our brand new series, Gospel & Politics. This series will feature Pastor J.D. with other respected leaders talking about how we can integrate both the gospel and politics into our lives this election season. 

A glimpse inside this episode:

• Secular beliefs often have Christian foundations, and Christians should recognize the influence of their faith in shaping moral values.
• The witness of the church is not about being good people, but about recognizing our need for Jesus and sharing the gospel with others.
• The decline in church attendance presents an evangelistic opportunity, as many people are searching for meaning and purpose.
• Christians should engage in politics and vote according to their Christian values, while also recognizing the limitations of legislation in enforcing personal beliefs.
• Christian engagement in politics can have a significant impact, and Christians should strive for a holistic understanding of scripture in shaping political discourse.