Free Daily Podcast Summary
by J.D. Greear
Every sermon starts with more than can fit into a message. For years, Pastor J.D. Greear has filled his sermon notes with extra illustrations, questions, insights, and rabbit trails that never made it into the final sermon. He calls that section of his notes “the bullpen.” Now, those ideas are coming out of the bullpen. In each episode, J.D. sits down with a few others to unpack a recent message, go deeper into Scripture, wrestle with difficult questions, and explore implications there wasn’t time to address from the pulpit. Along the way, they’ll also tackle important issues and questions happening in the world through the lens of biblical wisdom. No scripts. No polished talking points. Just honest, free-flowing conversations about Scripture, the gospel, and how they apply to real life. The Bullpen is a resource from J.D. Greear Ministries designed to help you go deeper in your understanding and love of the gospel.
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Is the tithe just an Old Testament law? Should you still give when you’re drowning in debt? How do you raise kids who aren’t ruled by money? In this episode of The Bullpen, J.D., Matt, and Curtis are joined by Molly Vidovich, a longtime Summit worship leader and the voice of Summit Life, to talk about how to tell when being responsible with money has turned into loving it. They also get honest about comparison, from the neighbors’ lifestyle to the first-class cabin. Molly tells how a spare bedroom changed the way her family thinks about generosity with time, talent, and treasure. And with the midterm elections just behind us, the group asks how Christians should process the results and whether politics belongs in small group. Scripture: Matt. 6:19-24 Watch the full sermon HERE. Get the sermon transcript HERE. 00:00 Intro 03:45 Sermon Recap: The Greatest Sermon on Generosity Ever Given 05:30 When Being Responsible Becomes the Love of Money 09:39 When Tithing Feels Impossible 11:19 Comparison and the First-Class Cabin 15:24 How Molly Loosened Money’s Grip 18:41 Is the Tithe Just Old Testament Law? 20:36 Gross vs. Net and Giving While in Debt 23:16 Generosity When You’re Very Wealthy 27:04 Time, Talent, and Treasure 30:25 Opening Your Home for Ministry 33:54 Serving Beyond Church Programs 37:52 Raising Kids Who Aren’t Ruled by Money 45:27 How Christians Should Respond to the Midterms 51:50 Talking Politics in Christian Community Text BULLPEN to 97000 to stay in the loop on The Bullpen.
Why didn’t J.D. tell the church who to vote for? Is it wrong to want a church that meets your needs? And how do you talk about Jesus without being weird? In this episode of The Bullpen, J.D. and Matt are joined by J.D.’s wife, Veronica Greear, and John Muller, campus pastor at the Summit’s Capital Hills campus. Together they unpack J.D.’s sermon on the church in Antioch in Acts 11… and by the way, why didn’t J.D. tell the church who to vote for? They also discuss how to evangelize without being weird. Finally, they explore social media influencers who mix Christian faith with crystals, grounding, and moon water. Scripture: Acts 11:19-30; 13:1-3 Watch the full sermon: https://summitchurch.com/GetFile.ashx?Guid=a25ee27f-f28b-41f3-b811-7f53c9673a2e 00:00 Intro 04:01 Veronica’s Summary of the Antioch Sermon 13:00 Is It Wrong to Want a Felt-Needs Church? 19:34 When Should You Stay or Leave a Church? 25:05 Sharing Your Faith Without Being Weird 32:11 Practical Tools for Sharing the Gospel 38:32 Why J.D. Doesn’t Tell the Church Who to Vote For 41:27 Signs Politics Has Become Your Identity 48:08 The Lesser of Two Evils Is Still Evil 50:35 Christian Influencers, Crystals, and Syncretism 57:42 Knowing the Word for Yourself 1:01:00 Shirt Critiques and How to Subscribe Text BULLPEN to 97000 to stay in the loop on The Bullpen.
Can you find real community in a megachurch? Why would a growing church send away its best leaders? And how do you know if God might be calling you into ministry? In this bonus episode of The Bullpen, J.D. and Matt are joined by Kyle Mercer of Two Cities Church and Andrew Hopper of Mercy Hill Church. Fresh off the Collaborative Conference, these three pastors share the joys and challenges of leading growing churches—and why their vision extends far beyond filling their own seats. 00:00Why attendance and serving matter for feeling connected 01:33The Collaborative’s vision and shared values 03:20Mercy Hill’s move from planting a church to planting a network 05:28Why Kyle Mercer joined the movement 09:15What pastors find most rewarding about church growth 12:22The personal impact of sending leaders 15:42How large churches address connection and care 20:15Community groups, DNA groups, and serving as next steps 22:29Identifying and developing future ministry leaders 24:33Holding everyday vocation and ministry callings together 30:21Chosen, Open Bible, Open Life, and episode resources — Text BULLPEN to 97000 to stay in the loop on The Bullpen.
Is temptation itself a sin? Why do Christians follow some Old Testament laws but not others? And can you be pro-life while supporting the death penalty? This week on The Bullpen, J.D., Matt, and Curtis welcome a special guest: J.D.’s wife, Veronica Greear! After Veronica grades J.D.’s sermon (and his fashion choices), the conversation turns to what it means that Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament law—and why Christians still follow some commands but not others. They also tackle some difficult questions about capital punishment, biblical justice, and the relationship between being pro-life and supporting the death penalty. Finally, they explore the difference between temptation and sin, why changing our behavior isn’t the same as changing our hearts, how obedience and accountability help us grow, and why baptism is a starting point rather than something we have to earn. Scripture: Matt. 5:17-22 Watch the full sermon HERE. Get the sermon transcript HERE. Stay Connected! Text BULLPEN to 97000 for updates about the podcast. Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode of The Bullpen!
Can God lead you into a decision that fails? J.D., Matt, and Curtis close out Ecclesiastes by talking about the small compromises that can eventually take someone out, the difference between faith and recklessness, how to discern God’s will, and why peace isn’t necessarily proof that a decision will succeed. Then they turn to Christian nationalism—religious liberty, who gets to define what counts as Christian, the viral University of Texas student-section photo, race and national identity, immigration and enculturation, and the difference between Christian influence in government and government authority over Christianity. Read Pastor J.D.’s article, “Why I’m Not a Christian Nationalist,” at The Gospel Coalition: HERE Scripture: Ecclesiastes 10-12 Watch the full sermon HERE. Get the sermon transcript HERE. Stay Connected! Text BULLPEN to 97000 for updates about the podcast. Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode of The Bullpen!
Are you building a life that looks successful—or one that will actually matter when it’s over? In this episode of The Bullpen, J.D. Greear sits down with Matt Love, Curtis Andrusko, and special guest Julius Tennal to go deeper into Ecclesiastes 7 and the surprising wisdom that can come from hardship, loss, and even thinking about death. They talk about the difference between résumé virtues and eulogy virtues, what we tend to sacrifice in the pursuit of success, why we need people in our lives who are willing to tell us the truth, and how obedience can quietly become an attempt to control God. Julius also shares what it means to “live sent,” why Christians shouldn’t always wait for a dramatic calling before taking a step of obedience, and his family’s journey toward planting a church in South Africa. Plus, with football season back, we tackle the explosion of sports betting and ask whether “Is it a sin?” is even the right question. Scripture: Ecclesiastes 7 Watch the full sermon HERE. Get the sermon transcript HERE. Stay Connected! Text BULLPEN to 97000 for updates about the podcast. Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode of The Bullpen!
Why do bad things happen to good people—or are we asking the wrong question? In this episode of The Bullpen, J.D. Greear sits down with Matt Love and Curtis Andrusko to go deeper into Ecclesiastes 3 and what it means to trust God in seasons we don’t understand. They talk about why “God has a plan” can be true and still be difficult to hear when you’re hurting, how Christians can respond to suffering without minimizing someone’s pain, and why J.D. says the Bible actually reframes one of our biggest questions about God and evil. They also talk about learning to enjoy the season you’re in instead of constantly waiting for the next one, whether our pets will be in heaven, and how Christians can hold together grace and truth as questions about gender and sexuality continue to play out in culture. Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-14 Watch the full sermon HERE. Get the sermon transcript. Stay Connected! Text BULLPEN to 97000 for updates about the podcast. Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode of The Bullpen!
Why is it that getting what we want so often leaves us wanting something more? In the first episode of The Bullpen, J.D. Greear sits down with Matt Love and Curtis Andrusko to go deeper into his first sermon in the book of Ecclesiastes and the search for a meaningful, satisfying life. They talk about why success and pleasure can’t carry the weight we put on them, how Christians can genuinely enjoy God’s gifts without turning them into idols, and what Ecclesiastes has to say to a culture constantly looking for the next thing. They also discuss social media, our endless appetite for more, and what it looks like to build your life around the things that actually last. Scripture: Ecclesiastes 1:1-11 Watch the full sermon HERE Get the sermon transcript. Stay Connected! Text BULLPEN to 97000 for updates about the podcast. Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode of The Bullpen!
Every sermon starts with more than can fit into a message. For years, Pastor J.D. Greear has filled his sermon notes with extra illustrations, questions, insights, and rabbit trails that never made it into the final sermon. He calls that section of his notes “the bullpen.” Now, those ideas are coming out of the bullpen. In each episode, J.D. sits down with a few others to unpack a recent message, go deeper into Scripture, wrestle with difficult questions, and explore implications there wasn’t time to address from the pulpit. Along the way, they’ll also tackle important issues and questions happening in the world through the lens of biblical wisdom. No scripts. No polished talking points. Just honest, free-flowing conversations about Scripture, the gospel, and how they apply to real life. The Bullpen is a resource from J.D. Greear Ministries designed to help you go deeper in your understanding and love of the gospel.
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