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In this episode, we explore powerful insights from Reimagining Church as Family by Dr. Shelly Melia, focusing on a group often overlooked in church life: single parents. Too often, churches approach single-parent families as recipients of ministry rather than vital contributors to the body of Christ. This conversation challenges that mindset and invites churches to move beyond simply serving single parents to fully including them—empowering them to lead, serve, and belong. We discuss how many churches struggle to engage non-traditional families, especially those who arrive through seasons of pain, loss, or unexpected life changes. Instead of knowing how to respond, churches may unintentionally sideline these families. But the call of the Gospel is to function as a true family—one where every member is seen, valued, and equipped. Drawing from her personal journey and professional expertise, Dr. Shelly Melia offers a compelling vision for transformation. As Program Director for the Master of Arts in Children’s Ministry and Family Ministry at Dallas Baptist University, and a Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in grief and resilience, Dr. Melia brings both theological depth and real-world compassion to this conversation. With over 25 years of ministry experience and a heart shaped by her own experience as a single parent, she speaks with authenticity and hope. Her book, released in January 2026, calls churches to rethink their identity—not as institutions that provide programs, but as families that cultivate belonging. In her chapter, “Engaging and Equipping Single Parents,” she offers practical and spiritual guidance to help churches better understand and embrace the unique challenges and strengths of single-parent families. This episode is a call to action: for churches to recognize singles and single parents not as outsiders or projects, but as essential members of the family of God—moving from consumers to contributors, and from overlooked to fully embraced. The post Podcast 162: The Church Making Room for Single Parents (Dr. Shelly Melia) appeared first on Before You Quit.

In this episode, we explore a powerful vision from Reimagining Church as Family: the church’s role in fostering and adoption. While not everyone is called to adopt or foster, every church is called to be a family—a place where children and parents can truly belong. As believers adopted into the household of Christ, we have a unique opportunity to reflect that same love and welcome to others. I sit down with Dr. Rich Griffith to hear his personal journey as a single dad who adopted three boys, the challenges he faced—especially in pastoral ministry—and how the church became a true community of support and family. This conversation is both honest and hopeful, showing how the gospel is put on display through fostering, adoption, and the life of the church. ABOUT RICH Rich serves as professor of Youth Ministry at Toccoa Falls College. Rich Griffith is the single dad of three (adopted) sons, Aaron and Dylan and Jamie. After some time in the U. S. Army, he has spent 29 years in Youth Ministry exclusively while working in a variety of Church and Para-Church settings including Young Life (helping to pioneer Young Life’s ministry to early adolescents called “Wyld Life”), Ministry Architects and Military Community Youth Ministries. He has been a Lead Pastor while also still serving in a variety of Youth Ministry capacities. Obviously, he is passionate about youth, families, and the Church. He is a published Author and Contributor to “The Teen Devotional Bible” as well as other Youth and Ministry related publications. To order the book, click on the book cover The post Podcast 161: The Church; Adopting and Fostering (Dr. Rich Griffith) appeared first on Before You Quit.

Second intervew on the book, Reimagining Church as Family! In this episode, we explore the powerful and often overlooked role of grandparents in God’s design for family discipleship, drawing from the vision behind Reimagining Church as Family and the work of Legacy Coalition. Larry Fowler shares his personal journey—including his move to Southern California to be closer to his family—and reflects on the spiritual legacy passed down grandparents to the future generation.  Together, we discuss why grandparents rank second only to parents as a spiritual influence, why that role is so often neglected by churches, and how grandparents can step into their biblical calling—even when their adult children are not leading spiritually. From practical strategies for long-distance impact to biblical examples and a redefinition of what it truly means to be a “good” grandparent, this conversation challenges both families and churches to rethink discipleship across generations and unlock the immense national potential sitting quietly in the grandparent generation. Deuteronomy 4:9 Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children— About Larry Fowler – Larry Fowler is the founder of Legacy Coalition, a national ministry focused on equipping Christian grandparents to fulfill their biblical role of impacting grandchildren. His over 50 years of involvement in children’s ministry include experience as youth pastor, missionary, international trainer of children’s workers, He is the author of Rock Solid Kids, one of the best-selling children’s ministry books ever, as well as several other books on children’s ministry, parenting, and grandparenting. Larry and his wife Diane have two grown children, seven grandchildren, and live in Riverside, California.   The post Podcast 160: The Church, The Gospel and Grandparents (Pastor Larry Fowler) appeared first on Before You Quit.

What does “family” really mean—and what if the church was meant to be more than just a place we attend? In this powerful conversation, I sit down with JJ Jones to discuss his contribution to the book Reimagining Church as Family and the deeper, biblical vision of what it means to belong. When many of us hear the word “family,” we picture something like a perfect Norman Rockwell scene—but reality is often far more complex. From single parents and adoptive families to empty nesters and spiritual orphans, today’s world is filled with people searching for connection, purpose, and belonging. JJ challenges us to rethink the role of the church—not just as a support system for families, but as family itself. Together, we explore: What Scripture really says about family and belonging How the church can become a true spiritual home The meaning of being adopted into God’s family (John 1:12; Ephesians 2:19–22) Ministering to spiritual orphans, grandparents raising children, and those in transitional seasons Why every believer has a role in generational discipleship This conversation will challenge and encourage you to see the church the way God designed it—a place where everyone belongs, grows, and is called into purpose. If you’ve ever felt disconnected, overlooked, or unsure of your place in the church, this episode is for you. About JJ Jones JJ Jones, D.Min., M.Div., serves as pastor of groups at Fellowship Bible Church in Brentwood, Tennessee, and an adjunct professor at Toccoa Falls College. He has nearly 40 years in ministry and co-authored the book Reimagining Church as Family. He is passionate about equipping others to cultivate legacies of faith. He and his wife Anna live in Franklin, Tennessee, and have two children and two grandchildren. Order the book here. The post Podcast 159: How to Really Belong in Church (JJ Jones) appeared first on Before You Quit.

Church conflict doesn’t just hurt people—it clouds God’s glory and weakens the church’s witness to the world. While there are many causes, one often overlooked issue is that many church members haven’t been taught how to think well about pastoral authority or how to follow in a healthy, biblical way. In the wider world, “followership” is being studied more seriously, but the church has largely neglected it—or worse, confused it. Because of real concerns about abuse, many avoid talking about authority altogether. But ignoring it leaves the church vulnerable, especially in difficult seasons. This Podcast aims to help believers become wise, healthy followers who support godly leadership and contribute to a thriving church—one that ultimately brings glory to God. Order Scott’s book here! ABOUT SCOTT MASON: “Scott Mason spent half a career in the business world before being called to pastoral ministry. He spent 15 years serving as an associate pastor and a senior pastor at several churches of varying sizes. Some of these were established churches, and some were church plants. He has graduate degrees from the Elliot School of International Affairs at George Washington University and from Liberty Theological Seminary, as well as a Doctor of Ministry from Bethel Seminary.” The post Podcast 158: Respecting Pastoral Authority (Scott Mason) appeared first on Before You Quit.

Several months ago, former actor and apologist Kirk Cameron stepped squarely on an evangelical hornet’s nest—and didn’t flinch. On a podcast with his son, he planted his apologetical feet firmly on one of the most controversial views of hell: annihilationism, also known as conditional immortality. The backlash was swift—but so was something else: renewed interest in a doctrine many have quietly avoided. What is hell, really? What does the Bible actually say? And how do we square it with a just and holy God? Now, I don’t agree with Cameron’s position—in fact, I think it’s dangerous. But I’ll say this: I’m glad we’re talking about it. Because the full gospel isn’t just comforting—it’s confronting. It tells a story of grace and glory, but also of judgment. And we can’t afford to edit that out. In this episode, I sit down with my go-to theology guy, Pastor Dan Samms, to dig into the biblical doctrine of hell, how it should be preached, and how we handle the tough, emotional questions that come with it. Pastor Dan is deeply committed to doctrine who believes if the pastor is going to be passionate about anything, it needs to be about what he believes concerning the truths of God’s Word. Dan’s primary role is equipping the saints to make disciples.  He pastors Restoration Church.  He also teaches theology for Liberty University and for Underground Seminary.  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 and they do all that in Amherst, Oh.  The post Podcast 157: WHAT ABOUT HELL! (Pastor Dan Samms) appeared first on 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: [email protected]   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: [email protected]   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.