Podcast
The Pastor Theologians Podcast
Hosted by The Center for Pastor Theologians · EN
A theology podcast for the church. The pastor theologians podcast consists of conversations and teaching resources at the intersection of theological scholarship and life and ministry in the local church. The vision for this show is to help equip pastors to be theologians for today’s complex world.
34episodes
Episodes
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A PhD in Preaching | Todd Still (Preaching and the Pastor Theologian Episode 9)
Jan 1600:53:07Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Joel Lawrence and Matt Kim welcome Todd Still, Delancey Dean and Professor of Christian Scriptures at Truett Seminary, for a rich conversation on theological education and the formation of preachers. Drawing on his own journey as a pastor, scholar, and dean, Still articulates a layered theological vision for preaching—rooted in the grand narrative of Scripture, shaped by evangelical and Baptist convictions, and deeply informed by Pauline theology. Together, the hosts and guest explore the vocation of the pastor theologian, the necessity of rigorous theological study for faithful proclamation, and the dangers of thin, topic-driven preaching detached from Scripture. The conversation also addresses the role seminaries play in forming preachers, the importance of uniting substance and style, and the need for preaching that aims at discipleship and Christlike formation. The episode concludes with an extended discussion of Truett Seminary’s PhD in Preaching, highlighting its commitment to forming scholar-pastors who can serve both the church and the academy for the long haul.
Transcribe →Social Media, Attention, and AI | Dan Brendsel (Preaching and the Pastor Theologian Episode 8)
Dec 1500:47:39Tap to summarizeJoel Lawrence and Matt Kim speak with CPT Fellow Dan Brendsel about preaching in an age shaped by social media, attention economics, and artificial intelligence, exploring how technology subtly reinforces idolatry and the illusion of control. Brendsel argues that preaching should resist catering to diminished attention spans and instead cultivate prayerful attentiveness to God, framing preaching as God’s address to a listening community rather than a performance or content delivery optimized by technique or AI. Drawing on thinkers like Neil Postman, C. S. Lewis, and Oliver O’Donovan, he emphasizes improvisation, dependence on the Spirit, and the irreplaceable “occasion” of preaching—something no algorithm can anticipate. The conversation challenges pastors to examine how technology forms both preachers and congregations, calling them back to trust in the Word, embodied listening, and a posture of humble submission rather than technological mastery.
Transcribe →Becoming a Pastor Theologian | Gavin Ortlund
Oct 14, 2019Tap to summarizeGavin Ortlund, Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church Of Ojai, CA joins the podcast. Gavin is a CPT fellow and a member of the St. Anselm Fellowship. Gavin discusses his life growing up as the son of a prominent pastor and seminary professor, as well as discerning his own call to ministry, training, and PhD studies.
Transcribe →Theological Retrieval for Evangelicals | Gavin Ortlund
Oct 14, 2019Tap to summarizePart two of our conversation with Gavin Ortlund, a CPT fellow and Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church Of Ojai, CA. Gavin discusses the concept and methodology of theological retrieval and how the theological questions that animated past generations of the Christians can grant fresh insights for Christians today. Gavin's book on theological retrieval releases October 29, 2019.
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