The Common Good Podcast

Brian From talks with Stacey Baxter of Come and See, the nonprofit behind The Chosen, about the upcoming sixth season. Stacey explains that Season 6 focuses on the crucifixion, told through the eyes of those who loved Jesus and those who condemned Him, and that Season 7 will cover the resurrection. She says the season will capture the disciples’ confusion as events unfolded against their expectations, and warns it will be hard to watch because viewers have grown so close to the characters. She describes the global effort around the release: more than 140,000 churches and parishes screening the first episode, more than 86,000 supporters in 150 countries funding Season 7, and translation of Season 1 into 175 languages so far, with a goal of 600 per season. She shares how the show has drawn seekers, skeptics, and those who had left the faith to see Jesus with fresh eyes. Season 6 premieres November 15 on Prime Video, and earlier seasons are free on The Chosen app.

As cold, dark November weather sets in, Brian From admits his least favorite part of every election: the flood of social media gloating and lamenting afterward, which has him logging off for the week. He turns to a more serious result, the abortion measures on several state ballots, where pro-choice measures largely won in Virginia, Nevada, and Missouri, and repeats that protecting life is ultimately a heart and church issue, not just a policy fight. Drawing on ESPN’s Nick Saban documentary, in which the legendary coach asked “Is this all there is?” after winning a national title, Brian connects that emptiness to Ecclesiastes and our need for the eternal. As his youngest daughter visits colleges, he reflects on trusting God through seasons of uncertainty. He walks through Luke 15’s parables of the lost sheep, lost coin, and lost son, highlighting a Father full of grace toward both sons. He closes with a Charles Stanley devotional on the peace with God that is found not in the absence of conflict, but in God’s presence.

With seven new movies hitting theaters, Adam Holz of Plugged In joins Brian From for a rapid-fire guide. He starts with Drummer Boy, an Angel Studios Civil War drama starring Joel Smallbone of for KING & COUNTRY, about two brothers fighting on opposite sides, with themes of faith, forgiveness, and family. For families, there’s a new animated The Cat in the Hat, though Adam warns that its monster may be too scary for very young children. For grown-ups, I Play Rocky tells the underdog story of Sylvester Stallone fighting to make his iconic film, and a new Jimmy Stewart biopic explores the actor’s World War II service and his comeback with It’s a Wonderful Life. Adam also describes Godzilla Minus Zero, the franchise’s first R-rated entry and possibly its best, but also its most violent, and explains the original film’s roots as an allegory for the nuclear devastation of Japan.

Brian From talks with author David Housholder about his new devotional, 365 Greek Words Every Christian Should Know. David, who spent seven years as a research assistant to Frederick Danker on the standard New Testament Greek lexicon (BDAG), explains why he wanted to give everyday believers access to the original language. Each daily entry offers a Greek word, an easy pronunciation, a Bible verse, historical background, a devotional, and a prayer, with no experience needed. Using basileia, “kingdom,” as an example, he shows how Greek enriches our understanding of God’s reign breaking into everyday life, not just a place we go after death. David explains the difference between Koine and modern Greek, encourages listeners that this is the “golden age of Bible study” for ordinary people, and describes his “what and so what” approach: understand what the original author meant, then apply it faithfully. He also offers encouragement to Brian’s son, who is taking Greek 101 in college.

Brian From reflects on the cultural shifts following Tuesday’s election, including a viral video of young women cheering that “abortion is so back” at a Georgia election night party, and West Hollywood allowing multi-partner relationships to register as domestic partners. Rather than despairing, he calls the church to roll up its sleeves, support pregnancy centers, and speak hope through the gospel. He shares Russell Moore’s essay on why he’s still a Christian, and two heartwarming stories: a 97-year-old who passed away at his birthday party after dancing to “Stayin’ Alive,” and a Texas school custodian who wept when her district named a new elementary school after her. Brian celebrates Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell’s encouraging recovery update and his testimony that his faith has never been stronger. In the second hour, he shares a message on finding our identity in Christ rather than our accomplishments, discusses a Gallup poll showing a sharp drop in well-being among adults under 30, and shares a Gospel Coalition piece on why the gospel changes the heart rather than grading our performance. He closes with David Platt’s call to remember and pray for persecuted believers in North Korea.

The morning after a midterm election that brought sweeping Democratic gains, Brian From pushes back on social media posts treating the results as either God’s defeat or a triumph. He reminds listeners that Jesus wasn’t on the ballot, that evangelicalism is a movement rather than a voting bloc, and that Christians should pray for every leader, whether they voted for them or not. He suggests that voters’ frustrations over gas and grocery prices likely drove the results. Brian finds “AI resurrections” of deceased loved ones unsettling, and shares Jen Wilkin’s response to Lifeway Research data showing many churchgoers lack basic Bible knowledge. He walks through 12 theses on what it means to be human and explains the Reformation principle of sola scriptura. In the second hour, he relates to a Wall Street Journal report on 40-somethings resisting reading glasses, reflects on the end of his daughter’s high school volleyball career, and highlights a Florida church plant that meets at a shooting range. He imagines a conversation with James, the brother of Jesus, shares advice on avoiding the twin pitfalls of debt and hoarding, and closes with Randy Alcorn on good works that flow from God’s grace.

On Election Day, Brian From reminds listeners that the midterms matter, but our hope doesn’t rise or fall with the results, because our citizenship is in heaven. He marvels at Karl Bushby completing a 28-year, 31,000-mile walk around the world, then turns to a wave of large church capital campaigns and urges churches to talk about money transparently and wisely in a season of financial strain. He shares a Christianity Today “manifesto for phone-free church,” admitting he’s guilty himself, and discusses YouVersion data showing Psalm 91 was the Bible app’s most searched term this year. In the second hour, Brian reacts to a restaurant worker fired for emptying a Halloween candy bowl, highlights “poll chaplains” who pray and de-escalate tension at voting sites, and shares a Gospel Coalition piece on Martyn Lloyd-Jones’s refusal to trade the gospel for politics during the London Blitz. He reflects on the “church militant” fighting a battle already won, shares Pastor Tara Beth Leach’s hope that the church will confuse both political camps by looking like Christ, and closes in Philippians 1.

On the eve of the midterm elections, Brian From reminds listeners that Philippians 3 places our citizenship in heaven, so Christians can care about the results without losing their peace. He asks for prayer for Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell after a frightening neck injury, and plays Mike Leach’s famous rant about Halloween candy. Marking Reformation Day, he shares Mark Dever’s explanation of why the Reformation’s recovery of assurance of salvation set Europe on fire. He chuckles at a lawsuit claiming the McRib misleads customers, and shares a Gospel Coalition piece on praying Psalm 79 for the persecuted church with humility and hope. In the second hour, Brian plays a sermon clip on God as our strength, weighs a dietitian’s advice to let kids eat as much Halloween candy as they want, and reacts to a survey finding three in four European pilots admit to falling asleep in the cockpit. He addresses fears about a possible escalation of the war with Iran, shares Tim Challies’s tips for resolving conflict in marriage, and closes with five Latin phrases that capture Martin Luther’s life and theology.

Brian From welcomes fellow Chicago radio host and pastor Karl Clauson, co-host of Karl and Crew on Moody Radio and lead pastor of 180 Chicago Church, to discuss his new book, The Unstoppable Gospel: From Powerless Belief to a True Faith That Changes Everything. Karl describes a crisis inside the church: many people who have walked an aisle or prayed a prayer carry what he calls a “hallucination of salvation” without real repentance or surrender to Christ. He traces “decisionism” back to the well-intentioned altar calls of the Great Awakenings and contrasts it with the multiplying fruit of a truly changed life. Karl shares his own story of growing up in church before surrendering to Jesus at 23, and urges pastors to recover Jesus’ call to “repent and believe,” noting that many church leaders estimate a large share of their congregations may not personally know Christ. Brian also shares his own high school moment of realizing he knew a lot about God without truly knowing Him.

Brian From talks with Dr. Peter Larson, senior director of WinShape Marriage, about his Christian Post article on keeping marriages connected amid busy schedules, constant phone checking, and the new pull of AI. Drawing on 31 years of marriage, Peter offers four simple habits. First, greet each other like you mean it, to avoid the “roommate drift.” Second, say good things out loud, with phrases like “you’re my person” and “I’m on your team” that build up a couple’s relational bank account. Third, stay curious about who your spouse is becoming, since life’s joys and losses change us all. Fourth, protect time together through small, consistent rituals like a walk after dinner. For couples who feel they’re failing, he encourages starting with just one small step today. He also invites listeners to learn about WinShape’s Christ-centered marriage retreats at winshapemarriage.org.

Brian From starts the weekend hoarse after his daughter’s volleyball team came back from seven match points down to win a regional title, a reminder to persevere because of Christ’s victory. On Halloween weekend, he shares Jim Denison’s observation that a death-avoidant culture reveals its fascination with mortality this time of year, and encourages listeners to use the holiday to get to know their neighbors. He celebrates Cheerios finally adding resealable bags, then shares a moving Gospel Coalition story of two Christians imprisoned in Iran who asked for prayer that they wouldn’t be released until they finished discipling fellow inmates, ahead of the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Brian notes that Pope Leo cast a mail-in ballot in Illinois’s midterms, walks through a Christianity Today interview with conservative pastor Demetrius Minor on why he opposes the death penalty, and reads the Assemblies of God’s 1984 guidelines for Christian voters, which he finds strikingly relevant today. He closes with a Desiring God reflection on autumn, mortality, and how Jesus has conquered death.

Brian From and Adam Holz of Plugged In turn from movies to video games this week, looking ahead to the release of Grand Theft Auto 6. Adam puts the franchise’s scale in perspective: the previous installment sold 230 million copies and earned $10 billion, far more than the biggest albums and movies of all time. He explains the M-rated series’ violent and sexual content, and the buzz that the new game will let players develop intimate relationships with characters, raising questions about digital infidelity that parallel growing concerns about AI companionship. Adam encourages parents of teenagers to steer clear. For young adults, he suggests asking thoughtful questions about how the game affects them rather than simply condemning it. For Halloween weekend, he recommends Joshua Live, a filmed version of Sight & Sound Theatres’ biblical stage musical, now in theaters.

With the midterm elections days away, Brian From talks with Zach Mettler, issues and policy analyst and writer for Focus on the Family’s Daily Citizen, about why Christians should vote. Zach points to Barna research estimating that 32 million churchgoing Christians didn’t plan to vote in 2024, while recent presidential elections were decided by tens of thousands of votes in a handful of states. He walks through what’s on the ballot: all 435 House seats, 35 Senate seats, and state ballot measures on abortion, marriage, transgender medical procedures for minors, girls’ sports, and locker room privacy in states including Virginia, Missouri, Colorado, and Arizona. He encourages listeners to research their ballots at Ballotpedia and register at vote.gov. For pastors balancing urgency and perspective, Zach affirms that Christians’ ultimate hope is in Christ’s return, while urging believers to let Scripture shape their consciences on moral issues and carry that into the voting booth.

Brian From talks with author Brenda Knight about her memoir Faith Runner. Brenda, who was diagnosed with a visual impairment at age 12 and grew up with iron deficiency anemia, explains how God used those weaknesses to bring 2 Corinthians 12:9 to life: “My strength is made perfect in weakness.” After breaking her foot on a run years earlier, she felt God stirring her to run again after moving to Tulsa, and she describes training for and running marathons as a step of faith, including a fall she believes an angel kept her from. Drawing on Moses’ excuses in Exodus 4, she encourages listeners not to let their limitations become reasons to miss what God is calling them to do. She also shares how an older woman in her Baptist church once told her to listen when she prays, and why learning to hear God’s voice matters. She hopes readers will trust God with their weaknesses rather than be ashamed of them.

Brian From congratulates the Milwaukee Brewers on their first World Series title after years of playoff heartbreak, and draws a lesson about how we respond to disappointment. He gets a laugh out of a Boston protest against the Liberty Mutual mascot, then turns serious as the midterms approach, replaying Ernie Johnson’s reminder that no matter who wins, Christians know who is on the throne. He walks through Sarah Zylstra’s Gospel Coalition article on best practices for evangelistically effective churches: it starts with pastors who share their faith, then equips congregations through prayer, training, and storytelling. Brian shares favorite quotes from his church book club’s study of Tim Keller’s The Reason for God, and an essay by Michael Jensen on how beauty in nature and art can open conversations that lead to Jesus. He closes with former NBA star Paul Pierce’s claim that he is “drowning financially” despite earning nearly $200 million, as a warning against making money an idol and a call to budget wisely.

Brian From talks with Dr. Tanya Calendo, principal of Emmanuel Lutheran School in Palatine, who was recently named administrator of the year after a nomination from her own faculty and staff. Tanya traces the school’s roots to 1870, a year after its church was founded, reflecting the Lutheran conviction that churches should come alongside families to root children in the faith. She describes a play-based, technology-free early childhood program starting at age two and a half, new free programs for toddlers and their caregivers, and a middle school with subject-specialist teachers and small cohorts. She argues that the middle school years are just as formative as high school. Drawing on her experience as a mother of three grown sons, Tanya explains the value of Christian education: building identity in Christ, love of neighbor, and a community of families who share life together, including a new care ministry that supports families through births, illnesses, and loss.

Brian From talks with Matt Blair, CEO and co-founder of The Well Resource Center, a Chicago nonprofit he and his wife started nearly nine years ago to support the mental health of first responders and their families. Matt explains how listening to neighbors on the city’s Northwest Side, where about 30 percent of Chicago’s protective services employees live, revealed a crisis: in 2018, the Chicago Police Department reported a suicide rate 60 percent higher than any other law enforcement agency in the country. He describes how first responders often keep the trauma they see bottled up to protect the people they love, and how isolation, long shifts, and missed holidays strain families. The Well offers free counseling funded entirely by private donors, alongside basketball, yoga, roll call visits, and couples retreats, all designed to build trust with a community that doesn’t give it easily. Matt invites listeners to the organization’s eighth annual gala on November 5 at Joe’s Live in Rosemont, and to learn more at thewellrc.org.

Brian From talks with author Nicole Jacobsmeyer about her new book, Something Good Will Grow: Finding God’s Heart in the Soil of Suffering. Nicole shares how the book took root after her family moved to a North Carolina farm while she faced a possible recurrence of thyroid cancer. Walking the land, she realized that what she needed most wasn’t joy but hope that God was with her whatever the outcome. Having also walked through miscarriage, trauma, and loss, she speaks honestly about the fear of the “next shoe dropping,” and explains how returning to Scripture and the simple truth of the gospel helped her see that suffering produces patience, forgiveness, and trust. She describes the importance of an eternal perspective and of surrounding yourself with people who speak truth in hard seasons. She closes with Psalm 118:6, reminding listeners that trusting God means trusting Him with whatever happens, not only with the outcome we want.

Brian From opens with an Ohio pastor who called monogamy “unbiblical” while introducing his second wife to a cheering congregation. He then shares a Gospel Coalition argument that parachurch ministries aren’t a sign the church has failed but grow naturally out of God’s commands to serve. He has fun with a list of America’s most mispronounced words, and discusses a Christianity Today report on churches trading warehouse-style buildings for stained glass and traditional architecture, which he sees as a hunger for awe and reverence. He shakes his head at police being called to a youth soccer game over a 3-year-old who was “too good.” He shares Randy Alcorn’s case that the surest path to happiness is serving others. In the second hour, Brian covers a dispute over a Texas Roadhouse steak, a survey finding half of Americans are skipping meals because of grocery prices, and research showing most of Gen Z finds adulthood lonelier than expected. He closes by revisiting Billy Crystal’s loss of trust in God, sharing Franklin Graham’s response, and encouraging listeners in hard seasons that God is real, trustworthy, and loving.

With the midterms a week away, Brian From responds to a Christianity Today report on Republican candidates courting evangelical voters, arguing that evangelicals are a movement of Christ followers, not a voting bloc. He reacts to Dictionary.com naming “maxing” its word of the year, and pushes back on a viral post claiming it’s fine for Christians to “disagree with Paul,” urging a high view of Scripture. He questions a pastor’s claim to be one of the most gifted storytellers God ever made, and shares Tim Challies’s warning that we become like the people who influence us. Brian admits to falling for a misleading headline about George W. Bush and the Texas Senate race, and discusses Highland Park United Methodist Church’s vote to leave its denomination. In the second hour, he looks at people using apps to make friends, Mark Cuban’s regret over missing time with his kids, and a 93-year-old Japanese woman who helped police catch a scammer. He also covers Relevant’s advice to “define enough” before building wealth and a New Jersey bill that could ban gum over microplastics, then closes with a Gospel Coalition call to attempt small, faithful things for God.