Podcast
Local Theologians
Hosted by MBTS Global Campus · EN
A podcast for everyday Christians and ministry leaders from Midwestern Seminary's Global Campus, hosted by Travis Montgomery.
The Global Campus offers fully online, highly contextualized, biblically sound degrees in theology, ministry, philosophy, business, communications, and more from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Spurgeon College.
Learn more at mbts.edu/global.
17episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
A Theology of the Mundane | A Study Story with Andrew Cole
5d ago00:32:04Tap to summarizeTheological education is not only for teaching or leadership but for seeing God’s work in all things. In this episode of Local Theologians, Dr. Travis Montgomery speaks with Andrew Cole about the theological value of ordinary, everyday life. Andrew reflects on how theological study—particularly in the area of vocation and providence—reshaped his understanding of ministry and Christian living. Instead of chasing constant excitement or visible results, he learned to see the goodness of God in the mundane rhythms of life. Together, they explore how Scripture presents ordinary life as the primary arena of sanctification, how this perspective fosters contentment and patience, and why embracing the ‘mundane’ actually leads to deeper faithfulness in both personal life and pastoral ministry.About the PodcastLocal Theologians is a podcast for everyday Christians and ministry leaders from Midwestern Seminary's Global Campus. Learn more about online theological education at mbts.edu/global.Keywordsordinary life, vocation, providence, theology of work, contentment, ministry, discipleship, Christian life, radicalTakeaways• Most of the Christian life is ordinary, and God intentionally works through the mundane, not just the spectacular.• A theology of vocation reframes everyday tasks as meaningful participation in God’s providential work.• Expecting constant excitement in ministry can lead to frustration and dissatisfaction.• Faithfulness is often formed slowly through steady, imperceptible growth rather than dramatic moments.• Healthy ministry focuses on presence with people rather than constant programmatic activity or visible results.• Deep relationships are built through consistent, ordinary time—not just occasional meaningful experiences.• Recognizing God’s sovereignty in daily life fosters contentment, patience, and gratitude.• The ‘radical’ Christian life is often expressed through long-term faithfulness in ordinary responsibilities.
Transcribe →Spiritual Disciplines: Right Motives, Many Methods | A Forum with Don Whitney
2w ago00:53:11Tap to summarizeIn this Global Campus Forum episode, Dr. Travis Montgomery speaks with Dr. Don Whitney about the nature, purpose, and practice of the biblical spiritual disciplines. Dr. Whitney defines spiritual disciplines as practices found in Scripture that help believers grow in Christlikeness and experience God. The conversation explores the tension between legalism and neglect, the importance of distinguishing biblical disciplines from general Christian obedience, and how varied methods can faithfully serve the same biblical commands. With practical wisdom drawn from decades of teaching and ministry, Dr. Whitney emphasizes the central role of Scripture intake, meditation, and prayer—calling believers to pursue these disciplines with both right motives and flexible, biblically faithful methods.About the PodcastLocal Theologians is a podcast for everyday Christians and ministry leaders from Midwestern Seminary's Global Campus. Learn more about online theological education at mbts.edu/global.Keywordsspiritual disciplines, Don Whitney, prayer, Bible reading, meditation, fasting, discipleship, biblical spirituality, Christian growthTakeaways• Spiritual disciplines are biblical practices that serve as means to the end of godliness and Christlikeness.• Christians must avoid both legalism (earning favor with God through disciplines) and neglect (ignoring them altogether).• Not all Christian obedience is a spiritual discipline—disciplines are measurable practices rooted in Scripture.• There is freedom in method; Scripture prescribes the disciplines but often allows flexibility in how they are practiced.• Bible reading without meditation often leads to little retention or transformation—absorption, not just exposure, is needed.• Prayer becomes repetitive and dull when detached from Scripture; praying the Bible brings freshness and depth.• Fasting should be practiced for clear biblical purposes, often connected to prayer and spiritual focus.• Pastors and disciple-makers must both teach and model spiritual disciplines for others to learn them well.• Family worship and simple habits in the home are powerful ways to introduce children to spiritual disciplines.• In a distracted digital age, meditation on Scripture is especially crucial for cultivating focus on God.
Transcribe →Pharaoh's Name Doesn't Matter: The Bible as Inspired History | A Study Story with Tyler Sykora
3w ago00:27:28Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Local Theologians, Dr. Travis Montgomery sits down with Dr. Tyler Sykora to discuss one of the most important questions in biblical interpretation: Are we more interested in the background details of Scripture than what God Himself gives us in the text? Tyler shares how his study of hermeneutics reshaped the way he reads Scripture, helping him see the Bible as inspired history that includes and excludes details based on what God intends to emphasize. Together, they explore how misunderstanding the relationship between text and event can lead to misreading Scripture, and why faithful Christian interpretation must pay attention to both what the biblical authors wrote and what God was doing in redemptive history.About the PodcastLocal Theologians is a podcast for everyday Christians and ministry leaders from Midwestern Seminary's Global Campus. Learn more about online theological education at mbts.edu/global.Keywordshermeneutics, biblical interpretation, text and event, redemptive history, Scripture reading, theological education, preaching, Bible study, Jon SailhamerTakeaways• The Bible records real historical events interpreted through inspired texts, not abstract ideas detached from history.• Faithful interpretation pays attention to both what happened in redemptive history and how Scripture presents those events.• Separating text from event can lead to moralism or proof-texting rather than gospel-centered reading.• Reading Scripture as a unified story helps Christians understand difficult passages within God’s larger purposes.• Hermeneutics is not merely academic; it directly shapes preaching, teaching, and discipleship.• The goal of interpretation is not mastery of techniques but deeper trust in and obedience to God’s Word.
Transcribe →One Church, One Service? | The Beauty of Multigenerational Worship
4w ago00:24:05Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Local Theologians, Dr. Travis Montgomery talks with Dr. Michael Nelson—pastor of First Baptist Church Grandview and assistant professor at Midwestern Seminary—about how the study of ecclesiology profoundly shaped his ministry. Michael shares how wrestling with questions of church health, unity, and dysfunction led him to study the biblical theology of the church’s gathering. Drawing from Scripture and years of pastoral experience, the conversation explores why physically gathering as one people matters, how intergenerational worship forms disciples, and why biblical principles—not pragmatics—must guide church practices. Together they reflect on unity, charity amid disagreement, and how serious theological study bears real fruit in the life of the local church.About the PodcastLocal Theologians is a podcast for everyday Christians and ministry leaders from Midwestern Seminary's Global Campus. Learn more about online theological education at mbts.edu/global.Keywordsecclesiology, church gathering, corporate worship, intergenerational church, unity, discipleship, biblical theology, church health, pastoral ministryTakeaways• The gathered church is central to God’s redemptive plan throughout Scripture, not a peripheral ministry decision.• Ecclesiology shapes not just what churches believe but how they structure worship and community.• Intergenerational worship forms believers by allowing faith to be witnessed across life stages.• Physical gathering reinforces unity that cannot be achieved through segmented or preference-driven services alone.• Biblical principles must guide church practice before considerations of pragmatics or efficiency.• Age-graded ministries serve important roles, but they cannot replace the church’s primary gathering.• The church’s visible unity provides a powerful witness to unbelievers.• Theological study equips pastors to lead with clarity, patience, and charity amid disagreement.
Transcribe →Creating a Great Awakening Culture | A Study Story with John Inman
Apr 2000:26:41Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Local Theologians, Dr. Travis Montgomery talks with Dr. John Inman—Instructional Designer and Adjunct Professor of Church History at Midwestern Seminary’s Global Campus—about the formative role of culture and community in the first Great Awakening and subsequent revivals. Drawing from Scripture and church history, John reflects on how revival is rarely the product of ‘heroes’ alone and more often emerges within ordinary communities shaped by God’s Word, prayer, and earnest faith. Through examples from the Great Awakening, Jonathan Edwards’s ministry among Native Americans, and lesser‑known testimonies from revival history, the conversation explores how churches today can cultivate environments where spiritual renewal is possible.About the PodcastLocal Theologians is a podcast for everyday Christians and ministry leaders from Midwestern Seminary's Global Campus. Learn more about online theological education at mbts.edu/global.Keywordsrevival, Great Awakening, church history, Jonathan Edwards, spiritual awakening, Christian culture, discipleship, community, biblical literacy, Bible studyTakeaways• Spiritual awakenings are often rooted in cultures shaped by Scripture, prayer, and communal expectation—not just individual leaders.• Church history reveals the importance of ordinary believers and local communities in revival movements.• Jonathan Edwards’s ministry to Native Americans demonstrates how gospel truths can be faithfully communicated across cultures and levels of biblical literacy.• Earnest desire for God’s Word often flourishes where teaching, worship, and everyday life are deeply interconnected.• Healthy churches intentionally pursue cultures of discipleship that carry believers along at different stages of growth.• Effective ministry requires sensitivity to audience, context, and spiritual maturity without compromising biblical truth.• Primary sources from church history help modern Christians see how God has worked through faithful communities in every era.
Transcribe →Formal Study vs. Spiritual Formation? | A Study Story with Russ Meek
Apr 1300:26:34Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Dr. Travis Montgomery chats with Dr. Russ Meek—Adjunct Professor of Old Testament and Hermeneutics at Midwestern Seminary’s Global Campus and Senior Academic Editor at Kregel Publications—to explore a common tension: formal theological study versus spiritual formation. Russ shares how, contrary to common warnings, serious academic engagement with Scripture has deepened rather than diminished his love for Christ and the church. Together they discuss integrating scholarly study and devotional life, resisting false dichotomies between heart and mind, and approaching academic work itself as an act of worship. The conversation offers encouragement to students, pastors, and teachers seeking to love God with both intellect and affection.About the PodcastLocal Theologians is a podcast for everyday Christians and ministry leaders from Midwestern Seminary's Global Campus. Learn more about online theological education at mbts.edu/global.Keywordstheological education, spiritual formation, seminary, devotional life, loving God with the mind, Old Testament studies, academic theology, Christian vocationTakeaways• Formal theological study and spiritual formation are not rivals but should be mutually reinforcing.• Academic engagement with Scripture can function as an act of worship when approached with the right heart posture.• Maintaining a distinct devotional life helps prevent academic study from becoming performative or pride-driven.• Time constraints and ministry pressures can actually sharpen focus and deepen dependence on God’s Word.• Integrating coursework with real ministry contexts helps students see the relevance of what they study.• Faithful scholars and pastors from earlier generations can continue to disciple us through their writings.• Whole-person discipleship includes loving God with the heart, soul, strength, and mind.
Transcribe →Beyond Quiet Times and Lectures: Pursuing Bible Literacy | A Forum with Jen Wilkin
Apr 600:56:20Tap to summarizeIn this Global Campus Forum, Dr. Travis Montgomery hosts Jen Wilkin—author, Bible teacher, and co‑host of the Knowing Faith podcast—for an in‑depth conversation about Bible literacy and what it truly means to know Scripture well. Jen distinguishes between Bible literacy and Bible fluency, challenges devotional and quiet‑time paradigms that prioritize feelings over understanding, and calls Christians to become learners who can interpret, apply, and teach the Scriptures faithfully. Together they explore literacy trends in both church and society, the limits of sermon‑only discipleship, and how thoughtful instructional design can cultivate deep, durable engagement with God’s Word.About the PodcastLocal Theologians is a podcast for everyday Christians and ministry leaders from Midwestern Seminary's Global Campus. Learn more about online theological education at mbts.edu/global.KeywordsBible literacy, Bible fluency, discipleship, theological education, Jen Wilkin, active learning, Bible study methods, Christian formation, discipleship, Knowing Faith, Deep DiscipleshipTakeaways• Bible literacy involves firsthand knowledge of Scripture, not merely knowledge about it.• The goal of Bible literacy is Bible fluency—learning to inhabit the worldview and language of Scripture.• Quiet‑time culture often prioritizes instant emotional payoff over long‑term formation.• Scripture should first be read to understand who God is before applying it to the self.• Deep learning requires faithful, repeated engagement—like deposits in a long‑term savings account.• Effective discipleship requires scope and sequence, not only content or preferences.• Active learning environments help believers move from dependence on teachers to confident participation.• Theological growth occurs best when personal study, discussion, and teaching work together.• Raising expectations does not discourage real learners; predictability and trust sustain commitment.• Bible literacy fuels worship, clarity, confidence, and faithfulness to the Great Commission.
Transcribe →The Universal Church and Your Church | A Study Story with Mason Ballard
Mar 3000:26:16Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Dr. Travis Montgomery talks with Dr. Mason Ballard—Lead Pastor of Resurrection Church in Charleston, WV—about the doctrine of catholicity (little‑c) and how recovering a sense of the church’s universality across time and space has transformed his ministry. Mason explains how Baptist convictions harmonize with the historic Christian confession of ‘one holy, catholic, and apostolic church,’ why ‘catholic’ doesn’t mean ‘Roman Catholic,’ and how embracing the wholeness of the global and historic church shapes worship, partnership, posture, and humility. They discuss practical expressions of catholicity in church planting, liturgy, ecumenical charity, and ministry context as well as cautions for those rediscovering ancient practices for the first time.About the PodcastLocal Theologians is a podcast for everyday Christians and ministry leaders from Midwestern Seminary's Global Campus. Learn more about online theological education at mbts.edu/global.Keywordscatholicity, universal church, Baptist identity, retrieval, liturgy, worship, church history, unity, ecumenism, Mason Ballard, Resurrection ChurchTakeaways• Catholicity means ‘universal’—a doctrine about the wholeness of Christ’s church across time and space.• Affirming catholicity does not mean affirming Roman Catholicism; Baptists can joyfully confess the church’s universality.• Catholicity shapes posture: awareness of the broader church, humility, charity, and discernment in cooperation.• The doctrine calls pastors and churches to listen to voices from church history and global Christianity.• Catholicity brings unity and diversity together—local expressions vary without abandoning shared essentials.• Worship liturgy can be shaped by historic Christian practices while remaining contextual and convictional.• Beware ‘cage‑stage’ retrieval—learn from tradition without constantly shifting traditions or despising one’s roots.• Ecumenism is guided by convictions: partner where you can but remain rooted in Scripture and confessional clarity.
Transcribe →Should Church Be a Seminary? | A Forum with JT English
Mar 2300:44:50Tap to summarizeIn this Global Campus Forum, Dr. Travis Montgomery interviews Dr. JT English—Lead Pastor of Storyline Church, co-founder of Training the Church, co-host of the Knowing Faith podcast, and author of *Deep Discipleship*—about the growing movement of church-based theological education. JT shares his story of coming to faith, discovering theological formation in seminary rather than the local church, and why he has devoted his life to bringing robust discipleship back into the heart of congregational life. Their conversation covers the value of theological education, why churches are reclaiming discipleship, how seminaries and churches partner well, and how ordinary believers can discern next steps toward deeper training and ministry involvement.About the PodcastLocal Theologians is a podcast for everyday Christians and ministry leaders from Midwestern Seminary's Global Campus. Learn more about online theological education at mbts.edu/global.Keywordschurch-based theological education, discipleship, seminary partnership, deep discipleship, JT English, Training the Church, Knowing Faith podcast, ministry preparation, local church leadershipTakeaways• Every Christian is called to deep discipleship—not just pastors or academics.• Theological education was historically centered in the local church and is returning there today.• Seminaries provide expertise, structure, and formation that local churches cannot fully replicate.• Church-based training keeps developing leaders embedded in their congregations while they grow.• The rise in online learning and delivery platforms has opened new hybrid models of formation.• Pastors should invite hungry members into deeper study and help them discern calling.• Churches can begin by asking key questions: What is a disciple? How do disciples grow? How will we send them?• Programs like Deep Discipleship and local institutes help churches start without building everything from scratch.• Preaching and classroom-style teaching complement one another—neither replaces the other.• All Christians need theological formation, even if they do not pursue formal academic degrees.
Transcribe →The Blessing of Being Humbled | A Study Story with Jared Kathcart
Mar 1600:39:01Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Dr. Travis Montgomery talks with Dr. Jared Kathcart—Assistant Professor of Christian Education at Midwestern Seminary—about the surprising and sanctifying role humility has played in his theological formation and ministry. Jared shares how early confidence gave way to deeply humbling moments in youth ministry, how the Dunning–Kruger effect reveals our spiritual blind spots, and why humility is essential for healthy study, discipleship, and leadership. Their discussion explores how pride distorts learning, how humility opens us to true growth, and why Christians must learn to think of themselves less in order to love God and others well.About the PodcastLocal Theologians is a podcast for everyday Christians and ministry leaders from Midwestern Seminary's Global Campus. Learn more about online theological education at mbts.edu/global.Keywordshumility, sanctification, theological education, Christian leadership, pride, ministry formation, Dunning–Kruger effect, discipleship, spiritual growthTakeaways• Humility is foundational for Christian life, ministry, and theological study.• The Dunning–Kruger effect explains why new learners often feel overconfident—and why growth requires recognizing our limitations.• Pride can distort ministry motivation, while humility enables genuine service to others.• Humility allows Christians to learn from Scripture, professors, mentors, and life experiences.• Formal and informal theological education flourish when motivated by love for God and neighbor, not self-promotion.• Recognizing what we do not know—and what no mere human can ultimately know—keeps us grounded and worshipful.• True growth occurs where humility meets opportunity, whether in a classroom, a pulpit, or a youth room.Sound Bites• “Humility wasn’t on my list—but it’s become the most important part of my formation.”• “The more I learned, the more I realized how much I didn’t know.”• “Education serves the kingdom best when it’s not about me.”• “Some of God’s greatest lessons come disguised as moments of embarrassment.”• “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.”
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