46. The Peasants’ Revolt

Since this post is being released on July 4, I have the Beatles floating around in my head:“You say you want a revolution – we all want to change the world.” I want to give some thought to that. We do want to change the world. But if we are honest, we realize...

45. All We Have Is Time

This name “Greatheart’s Table” and the associated logo captures something important about ministry. The pulpit is important, but so is the table. I believe in preaching, but I also think we underestimate the ministry possibilities available to us...

44. Neurotics for the Kingdom of God

Welcome to Greatheart’s Table. I’m honored you would join me here. I remember reading about British pastor David Martyn Lloyd-Jones reading something like the complete works of John Owen while he was “on holiday” as they say. I certainly don’t spend my vacation time...

43. Playing the Game of Thrones

Recent days have been hard and have driven much conversation and introspection. Many are asking, as I do in this post, what is wrong, particularly what is wrong with the church. In my experience such considerations fail to take seriously Paul’s caution in 1...

42. The Inefficiency of God

I mentioned in an earlier episode that I’m no great theologian. In fact, even though my only published book is a book of theology, I would reserve the title ‘theologian’ for others with greater credentials and stature. However, in this post I’d like to posit an...

41. On Lying Fallow

A man once told me that the parish to which he was being called was a good place for someone who wanted to be lazy. I have a hard time processing that. I suppose I don’t know enough lazy pastors. Most of those I know work very hard and besides the damage to their...

40. On Breathing

Hi! Welcome to May around Greatheart’s Table. I suppose the question I want to raise in this episode and the next is something like this: “If Christ is risen, why do I feel so dead?” Perhaps you have not framed it quite that way, but if you are like most pastors I...

39. Six Things I Hate about You

Welcome to Greatheart’s Table, a podcast for pastors and those who love them. As you know I have a particular affinity for the smaller church, not because a small church is necessarily better, but because it and its pastors are often unnecessarily maligned. That said,...

38. The Lost Letter of Timothy

Some of you may be new listeners wondering why the name “Greatheart’s Table.” Our namesake is Mr. Greatheart, a guide for pilgrims in part two of Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress. He is Bunyan’s image of a pastor. Greatheart’s Table is thus to be a place for like-minded...

37. Preaching the Gospel to Yourself

I have had several conversations over the past couple of days regarding pastoral loneliness, the isolation of a pastor’s heart, and the matters that pastors find it hard to confess. Pastors are isolated, and are pressured to be perfect. We are to have no cracks, no...