The Slow Church Podcast

Plodding through life putting theology into practice.

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10: God's Mercy, Jonah's Anger: Jonah 4:1-11

25:01

Joshua and Jeremiah wrap up their series on Jonah by discussing chapter 4, where Jonah is angry that God shows mercy to Nineveh. They contrast Jonah’s anger with God’s patience and compassion, and reflect on how we can struggle to rejoice when others receive mercy. The hosts close by pointing to Jesus as the better Jonah and to God’s grace for sinners. Key topics and takeaways God is the hero of Jonah. The book’s central message is not Jonah’s faithfulness, but God’s rich mercy. Jonah resents mercy for his enemies. His anger challenges listeners to consider whether they want others to receive the same grace they need themselves. Repentance is ongoing. The hosts discuss the continuing struggle with sin and the believer’s preservation through faith in Christ. Rejoice when others receive mercy. God’s kindness toward others can be difficult to celebrate, especially when we’re hurting or longing for something they have. God’s mercy doesn’t excuse sin. The conversation holds together God’s compassion and justice, and encourages forgiveness and patience within the church. Jesus is the better Jonah. The hosts connect Jonah’s story to Christ, who lived, died and rose for sinners. Notable moments 0:45 — Jeremiah frames Jonah 4 around Jonah’s anger and God’s mercy. 2:42 — Jonah is angry after Nineveh repents. 4:48 — The plant, the worm and God’s question about compassion for Nineveh. 7:28 — Joshua reflects on refusing to want mercy for people we resent. 10:50 — The challenge of rejoicing with others when they receive God’s mercy. 15:38 — Joshua reads from the confession on believers’ repentance and preservation through faith in Christ. 18:07 — The hosts reflect on moving from being like Nineveh to struggling like Jonah. 20:54 — Joshua discusses the “happy fault” and the hope of having Christ as our representative. 22:09 — The fish and Jonah’s three days point toward the cross. 24:08 — The episode closes with the reminder: “we have a better Jonah.”

Show notes

9: God Shows Mercy to Sinners: Jonah 3:1-10

24:36

In this week's episode, Joshua and Jeremiah discuss Jonah’s preaching in Nineveh and the city’s repentance. They highlight the scale of the response as a remarkable work of God, and return to the central theme of Jonah: salvation belongs to the Lord. The conversation also considers Jonah’s reluctant obedience, the relationship between actions and the heart, and how God’s mercy toward sinners, including ourselves, should shape our response to others. Key topics and takeaways Nineveh’s repentance: Jonah’s message is brief in the text, yet the people believe God and turn from their ways. The miracle of salvation: The hosts focus not only on Jonah and the great fish, but on God bringing people from spiritual death to life. Obedience and the heart: Believers can obey before their motives are fully right, while continuing to seek growth in both action and attitude. God’s mercy and justice: God’s mercy is vast, but it does not make sin trivial or erase his justice. Grace doesn’t excuse sin: The gospel offers forgiveness and assurance while also encouraging believers to resist sin and keep following Christ. Rejoicing in mercy: Jonah’s story challenges listeners to welcome God’s mercy not only for themselves, but also for others—even their enemies. Notable moments 0:39 — Jeremiah outlines Jonah 3: Jonah preaches, Nineveh repents, and God shows mercy. 2:20 — The hosts discuss Nineveh’s response as a greater miracle than the great fish. 4:01 — Joshua reflects on salvation as God changing hearts and bringing people to new life. 9:23 — Jeremiah considers Jonah’s obedience despite his apparent reluctance. 12:14 — The conversation turns to acting in obedience while seeking heart change. 15:14 — Jeremiah reframes the idea of a God of “second chances,” emphasizing mercy and restoration. 18:20 — Joshua discusses God’s unending mercy alongside his justice. 20:18 — The hosts clarify that grace does not promote sin. 23:05 — They encourage a desire for reconciliation and mercy toward others. 23:35 — Jeremiah discusses the challenge of rejoicing when others receive mercy.

Show notes

8: Salvation Belongs to the Lord: Jonah 1:17-2:10

30:09

In this episode, Joshua and Jeremiah look at Jonah in the belly of the great fish. They follow how God pursues a prophet who is running from him. They read the passage on three levels: the story itself, what it teaches about repentance, and how it points to Christ. Their main point is that salvation belongs to the Lord, and that Jonah is ultimately about Jesus, the "better Jonah." Key topics and takeaways God pursues his people. Jonah flees, and the Lord sends the storm and the fish. Both the rescue and the repentance are God's work. Three levels of reading. The story is Jonah's physical rescue. The lesson is repentance and God's pursuit. Christ is the fulfillment, as Jesus draws the "three days and three nights" parallel himself. Actions versus the heart. Jonah corrects what he does but never his heart. The hosts connect this to the Sermon on the Mount and to our need for a new heart, not just a second chance. We are like Jonah. Even our obedience is reluctant and tainted by sin. In Christ, believers are credited with the "better Jonah's" righteousness. All of salvation is of the Lord. Justification, sanctification and glorification are all God's work. That gives believers assurance and rest even when circumstances are hard. The Christian life on repeat. Look to Christ in faith, then to your neighbor in love. Notable moments 0:41: Jeremiah's recap of Jonah 1–2 and the sermon. 4:29: Joshua introduces the story, the repentance lesson and the Christ connection. 7:07: Jesus' "three days and three nights" words and reading Scripture as the apostles did. 9:10: "Jonah is about Jesus," and the idea of a better Jonah. 12:05: Jonah changes his actions but not his heart. 17:44: The heart of man compared with the heart of God, and the old man versus the new. 24:08: Quote from Justin Perdue on weakness, grace and comfort for sinners who grieve their sin. 26:11: Jonah can't rejoice with those who rejoice. 29:16: Closing thought: faith is in the Son of God who loved you, not in your own faithfulness.

Show notes

7: Christians Should be a Repenting People: Jonah 1:1-17

28:05

In this episode, Joshua Pangborn and Jeremiah Hurt discuss the opening sermon in their Jonah series and use it to press into a bigger question: what does Jonah reveal about our own hearts? They focus on how Jonah’s flight exposes human stubbornness, how God pursues his people in mercy, and why healthy self-examination should lead believers to repentance, not despair. We discuss a pastoral framing of Jonah 1, the danger of reading Jonah as “the other guy,” and how the story pushes the church toward honesty, forgiveness, and a more realistic view of sin and grace. The conversation is especially aimed at church members learning how to live with one another in patience, truth, and hope. Takeaways Embrace God's pursuit of us Cultivate a culture of grace Be a repenting people Chapters 00:00 The Call of Jonah: A Reluctant Prophet 05:41 Understanding Jonah's Flight and God's Pursuit 10:15 Self-Examination and the Nature of Sin 15:00 The Importance of Repentance in the Christian Life 20:54 Building a Culture of Grace and Forgiveness

Show notes

6: Be Who You Are: Colossians 3:1-17

29:28

In this episode of the Slow Church podcast, Joshua Pangborn and Jeremiah Hurt discuss the sermon on Colossians 3:1-17, emphasizing the importance of understanding one's identity in Christ and the implications for Christian living, particularly in relation to sin and forgiveness. They explore how believers are called to live out their faith by putting off their old selves and embracing their new identity, while also addressing common misconceptions about forgiveness within the Christian community. Key topics In this episode, Joshua summarizes Colossians 1-3, emphasizing that Christ is sufficient for salvation and that Colossians 3 begins with a call to live from that reality. Jeremiah highlights the major pattern in Paul’s writing: the Christian life starts with what God has done, then moves to commands grounded in that identity. They discuss the tension between indicatives and imperatives, stressing that believers are not saved by effort and do not grow by self-salvation. Jeremiah explains why Christians often forget the gospel more easily than the law, and why gospel reminders are what actually motivate obedience. Joshua walks through the “put off” and “put on” language in Colossians 3, connecting it to the old self, the new self, and the fruit of the Spirit. A major focus is forgiveness: Joshua argues that believers are called to forgive one another without requiring prior repentance from the other person. They connect that view to broader biblical themes like love not keeping a record of wrongs, confessing sin, and Christ’s own free forgiveness. Jeremiah adds that Christian-to-Christian forgiveness should be shaped by humility, patience, and the reality that all believers still struggle with sin. They distinguish forgiveness from restoration and from formal confrontation, noting that boundaries and direct conversations may still be appropriate in some situations. The episode closes with Romans 8 and the confidence that nothing can separate believers from the love of Christ, so Christians can pursue obedience freely and joyfully. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Slow Church Podcast 00:27 Exploring Colossians 3:1-17 02:12 The Imperative of Identity in Christ 10:09 Understanding Sin and Forgiveness 13:26 The Nature of Forgiveness in Relationships 24:21 The Role of Grace in Christian Living

Show notes

5: Christ is Our Sign of God's Goodness: Psalm 86

27:44

Joshua Pangborn and Jeremiah Hurt walk through a recent sermon from Psalm 86 and use it to press into a slow, faithful view of the Christian life. They focus on bringing real problems to God, remembering who He is, and resisting any shortcut version of sanctification, church growth, or suffering.In this episode, they connect Psalm 86 to the gathered church, the ordinary means of grace, and the theology of the cross. The conversation keeps returning to one central claim: God’s goodness is ultimately shown in Christ, and that is what anchors prayer, worship, and endurance. Takeaways Trust God's timing Embrace spiritual growth God is good and faithful Christ is God's sign to us of his goodness. Chapters 00:00 The Slow Church Philosophy 00:28 Exploring Psalm 86 06:11 Understanding Our Problems 10:28 The Nature of God 12:48 Living a Life of Faith 18:03 The Role of Worship 20:23 The Assurance of God's Love 27:05 Future Glory Surpasses Life's Challenges

Show notes

4: You're Not Saved by Your Performance: Psalm 85

32:48

The conversation delves into the themes of salvation, assurance, guilt, despair, and the gospel-centered motivation for good works. It emphasizes the distinction between law and gospel, the role of the Holy Spirit, and the freedom found in Christ. The conversation delves into the theological and practical implications of Psalm 85:8, exploring the concepts of covenant, grace, and the believer's relationship with sin. It also addresses the prevalence of pietism and the need for a gospel-centered approach to Christian living. Takeaways Salvation is of the Lord Guilt should lead to godly sorrow and repentance, not despair The gospel-centered motivation for good works The distinction between law and gospel The role of the Holy Spirit in empowering believers Covenant theology and the believer's relationship with sin The prevalence of pietism and the need for a gospel-centered approach Chapters 00:00 Law, Gospel, and the Holy Spirit 18:28 Theology of Covenant and Sin 27:23 Pietism and Gospel-Centered Living

Show notes

3: Longing for the Lord: Psalm 84

29:42

Joshua Pangborn and Jeremiah Hurt discuss their sermon on Psalm 84 and how its language of happiness, longing, and dwelling with God is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. They connect the psalm to Psalm 1, the temple, the church, and the believer's future hope in the new heavens and new earth.This episode is a theological reflection on objective blessedness in Christ and the subjective longing Christians still feel in a fallen world. It also makes a strong case for the gathered church as a real taste of the Lord's presence, where discipleship, worship, and encouragement happen together. • Jeremiah centers Psalm 84 around three declarations of blessing: happy are those who reside in God's house, whose strength is in God, and who trust in God • Both hosts argue that Psalm 1 points to Jesus as the truly blessed man, and that believers are blessed in him by union with Christ • Joshua explains the historical setting of Psalm 84 in the old covenant, when Israel had the temple in Jerusalem and longed for fuller peace, security, and messianic fulfillment • The conversation emphasizes that the psalm is not only about past temple worship but about the deeper reality that the temple pointed to Jesus himself • They trace how Jesus is the true temple, believers are individually temples of the Holy Spirit, and the church together is God's dwelling place in a unique way • The hosts highlight the already and not yet tension: Christians have righteousness, forgiveness, adoption, and eternal life now, but still long for the end of sin, suffering, fear, and death • Jeremiah connects that longing to the gathered church, arguing that the Lord is present in a special way when his people assemble on the Lord's Day • Joshua expands on why church gathering matters more than isolated private spirituality, describing the church as one body, one bride, and one organism in Christ • They stress that discipleship, evangelism, sanctification, prayer, singing, baptism, and the Lord's Supper are all deeply communal realities • The episode closes with encouragement to trust God's word even when feelings lag behind, and to recognize growth through the lives of other believers as a source of joy and assurance Takeaways Happiness in Christ Longing for the fulfillment of promises Chapters 00:00 Exploring Psalm 84 02:54 The Happiness in Christ 08:01 Longing for Fulfillment 17:20 Gathering and Encouragement 30:47 The Results of Transformation

Show notes

2: Remember God's Wondrous Works: Psalm 78

29:00

Consider the importance of connecting the gospel to real life, remembering the wondrous works of God. The Gospel is the power of God for salvation. Understand the danger of forgetting the gospel, and the focus on the gospel. Takeaways Connecting the gospel to real life The danger of forgetting the gospel Chapters 00:00 Connecting the Gospel to Real Life 03:01 Remembering the Wondrous Works of God 06:15 The Root of Unbelief 09:21 The Importance of Remembering the Gospel 18:50 The Gospel as the Power of God 22:57 The Danger of Forgetting the Gospel 29:31 The Focus on the Gospel

Show notes

1: Remembering Redemption: Psalm 77

25:57

The Slow Church podcast, hosted by Joshua Pangborn and Jeremiah Hurt, focuses on ministering to the saints of Reforming Truth Church and delving into topics of Reformed theology and Christian doctrine. In their first episode, they provide a deep dive into Psalm 77, highlighting the themes of despair, remembering God's wondrous works, and the importance of the gospel in times of suffering. Takeaways Despair and suffering are typical in a fallen world, and it is important for believers to be honest and open about their struggles. Remembering the gospel and the works of God is essential in times of despair and suffering, providing hope and comfort in the midst of hardship. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Slow Church Podcast 01:28 Deep Dive into Psalm 77: Despair and Suffering 06:30 The Normalcy of Despair and the Importance of Honesty 10:35 The Role of Redemption in Times of Suffering 19:45 The Importance of Gathering with Believers in Times of Despair 27:00 The Reality of Suffering and the Both/And Nature of Life

Show notes