The Way Home with Dan Darling

How can and should the church address the manhood crisis in their communities? How is leadership changing in this digital age? What is the secret to pastoral faithfulness? These are the questions I posed to my friend Johnny Hunt, the longtime pastor at First Baptist Church of Woodstock. Johnny is a former president of the Southern Baptist Convention. For more than 25 years he has hosted the Johnny Hunt Men’s Conferences and Timothy-Barnabas pastors retreats. He’s the author of several books, including his latest: Demolishing Strongholds.  Show Notes * Twitter: @johnnymhunt * Website: johnnyhunt.com * Book: Demolishing Strongholds: Finding Victory Over the Struggles That Hold You Back

How can Christian parents encourage their kids to read books? I’m joined by Jamie C. Martin, author of a great new book, Give Your Child the World: Raising Globally Minded Kids One Book at a Time. Jamie is a homeschooling mother and a writer. She and her husband have three children, including two adopted from overseas. Show Notes * Twitter: @jamie_cmartin * Website: steadymom.com * Book: Give Your Child the World: Raising Globally Minded Kids One Book at a Time

Why should evangelicals study the Reformation? How do the five solas of the Reformation affect our engagement with today’s culture? Brandon Smith, author of a brand-new study, Echoes of the Reformation, joins me to discuss the Reformation, theology, and a brand-new Bible translation from B&H Publishing. Brandon works with Bibles and Reference at Lifeway Christian Resources and is the host of the Word Matters podcast. He is an adjunct teacher at California Baptist University. Show Notes * Twitter: @brandonsmith85 and @wordmatterspod * Blog at Patheos * Book: Echoes of the Reformation

What is it like for a Christian to work in the White House? And should Christians be engaged in politics at the highest levels? Today I’m joined by my good friend, Michael Wear. Michael was also one of the youngest White House staffers in modern American history: He served in the White House faith-based initiative during President Obama’s first term, where he led evangelical outreach and helped manage engagement on religious and values issues, including adoption and anti-human trafficking efforts. He joins me today to talk about his new book, Reclaiming Hope in which he shares his insights on working in the White House and what Christians can learn from his experience and why, despite the cynicism and failure, Christians should continue to be engaged on politics. Show Notes * Twitter: @MichaelRWear * Website: michaelwear.com * Book: Reclaiming Hope: Lessons Learned in the Obama White House About the Future of Faith in America

How should Christians approach movies? What does our art tell us about the world? Erik and Catherine Parks join me to discuss their favorite movies of 2016, what moves them, and how to evaluate cinema as a Christian. Catherine Parks is a writer who contributes to Christianity Today, Gospel Coalition, and other places. Erik is a well-regarded filmaker and writer. Show Notes * Twitter: @Erik_Parks1 and @CathParks * Website: cathparks.com and awalkintheparksmovieblog.blogspot.com * Book: A Christ-Centered Wedding: Rejoicing in the Gospel on Your Big Day

How do our habits form our desires? The author of You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit joins us to discuss the role of routines and rhythms, even those cultural liturgies we may not recognize. James K. A. Smith is a professor of philosophy at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and the widely respected author of several books, including his popular Cultural Liturgies series. He’s also the editor of Comment magazine and a frequent speaker at conferences around the country. Show Notes * Twitter: @james_ka_smith * Website: jameskasmith.com * Book: You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit

What do good fathers give to their children and why is marriage a picture of the gospel? Ray Ortlund joins us to talk about his childhood, what he learned from his father’s example, and why he has, recently, been speaking out on racial justice. Ray Ortlund is a the Senior Pastor of Immanuel Church in Nashville, Tenn. He is a council member with the Gospel Coalition, and the author of several books, including his latest, Marriage and the Mystery of the Gospel. He blogs regularly here and speaks at conferences around the country. Show Notes * Twitter: @rayortlund * Website: ortlund.net * Book: Marriage and the Mystery of the Gospel

What do you say to a grieving friend? Nancy Guthrie, Bible study teacher and author, shares from her own seasons of grief to help others both find comfort and to comfort. Nancy and her husband, David, have a twenty-something son, Matt, and have had two children, a daughter, Hope, and a son, Gabriel, who were born with a rare genetic disorder called Zellweger Syndrome and each lived six months. She is a Bible teacher, host of Help Me Teach the Bible, and author of several books, including her latest, What Grieving People Wish You Knew about What Really Helps (and What Really Hurts).  You will be richly blessed by this conversation with Nancy as she opens up about grief, grace, and the gospel. Show Notes * Twitter: @saysNancyGuth3 * Website: nancyguthrie.com * Book: What Grieving People Wish You Knew about What Really Helps (and What Really Hurts) * Bible Studies * The Gospel Coalition podcasts and articles

Is it possible to listen and learn from people with whom we disagree? In an age of connectedness, why are we so lonely? I invited my good friend Scott Sauls back to the podcast to talk about his important new book, Befriend. Scott is the senior minister at Christ Presbyterian Church in the Nashville area. He’s a well-regarded author, speaker, and leader. Show Notes * Twitter: @scottsauls * Website: scottsauls.com * Book: Befriend: Create Belonging in an Age of Judgment, Isolation, and Fear

How is the idea of grace worked out in the life of a church? Bryan Chapell joins me to discuss his new book, Unlimited Grace. Chapell is the senior pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church in Peoria, Ill. For many years he served in leadership at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, the last 20 as its president. I’ve been greatly influenced by Chapell’s work, particularly his books, Christ-Centered Preaching and Christ-Centered Worship. We will talk to him about his transition from seminary leadership to local church ministry and what advice he has for young pastors today. Show Notes * Website: gracepres.org * Book: Unlimited Grace: The Heart Chemistry That Frees from Sin and Fuels the Christian Life

Many of the narratives in the gospels center around water. Leslie Leyland Fields shares with us why that is important. Leslie is an author and editor. She and her family live in Kodak Island, Alaska where their commercial fishing business helps them better relate to the Jesus who both walked on and calmed the water. Leslie talks to me about why water matters to the gospel story, about her own journey with forgiveness, and why parenting is not what we think it is. Show Notes * Twitter: @leslielfields * Website: leslieleylandfields.com * Book: Crossing the Waters: Following Jesus through the Storms, the Fish, the Doubt, and the Seas

What is it like to cover a presidential election? What is it like to work in journalism as an evangelical? Why should Christians care about good reporting and storytelling? Jon Ward joins the podcast to talk faith, politics, and his journey into journalism. Jon Ward is one of the most respected journalists in Washington D.C. Jon is a journalist for Yahoo News. He previously worked for Huffington Post and Washington Times. Show Notes * Twitter: @jonward11 * Website: yahoo.com/author/jon-ward

What is it like to work, behind the scenes, at ESPN? Jason Romano shares about his love of sports and his Christian faith on today’s Way Home Podcast. Jason is a social media strategist at ESPN, specifically working with the Mike and Mike morning radio show. Show Notes * Twitter: @JasonRomano * Website: jasonromano22.com

What shaped Charles Spurgeon’s early ministry? Christian George joins me to talk about a recently discovered trove of Spurgon sermons. George, curator of the Spurgeon Library at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, is the world’s foremost Charles Spurgeon scholar. On this episode we discuss Spurgeon’s preaching style, his prolific output, and what he would say to young pastors today. Show Notes * Twitter: @_ChristanGeorge * Website: center.spurgeon.org

What does spiritual leadership look like? We ask Eric Geiger, the vice-president of church resources at LifeWay Christian Resources. He is also the senior pastor of Clearview Baptist Church in the Nashville area. Eric is the author of a brand new book, Designed to Lead: The Church and Leadership Development coauthored with Kevin Peck, from Austin Stone Church. Eric and me discuss the difference between leadership and shepherding, why the church should be the locus for leadership, and what is on his reading list.   Show Notes * Twitter: @EricGeiger * Website: ericgeiger.com * Book: Designed to Lead: The Church and Leadership Development