Summary In this episode of the Stoked Up Podcast, hosts Alan Stoddard and Kenneth Priest engage with Karl Vaters, a seasoned pastor and advocate for small churches. The conversation explores the unique challenges and opportunities faced by small church pastors, including misconceptions about growth, the importance of discipleship, and the need for …

Dr. Alastair Roberts (PhD, Durham University) joins Mike Neglia to discuss the value of incorporating diverse forms of Christian teaching beyond traditional sermons. Alastair, a Teaching Fellow at The Theopolis Institute and a lecturer for Davenant Hall, emphasizes the importance of shorter sermons to allow time for other instructional methods like…

Uganda training event update - Mike speaks about some of the highlights of the Kampala trip and speaks about the future of Expositors Collective. To donate to Expositors Collective follow this link: https://cgn.churchcenter.com/giving/to/expositors-collective For advertising - get in touch expositors@calvarychapel.com Super blessings🙌🏽🙌🏽to you Expo…

John Whittaker speaks about the need to hone our homiletical skills so that we can connect with our congregations as complicated individuals, rather than a block of abstract "listeners." Homiletics is the study of how to effectively communicate the message of the Christian faith through preaching and teaching. It involves understanding the biblical…

Summary In this episode, Alan Stoddard and Kenneth Priest discuss the importance of discovering, developing, and deploying spiritual gifts in the church. They highlight the key points made by Ken Hemphill in his book 'You Are Gifted' and emphasize the need for a comprehensive church-wide strategy to help individuals identify and utilize their spiri…

In this episode, Mike Neglia dives into the art of preaching with clarity and authority. Explore how to communicate biblical truths effectively by being your authentic self, using your natural strengths, and minimizing distractions. Learn how to balance humility and boldness in your delivery, craft compelling sermons rooted in Scripture, and ensure…

Simon grew up in a Christian home and attended church from an early age but it wasn't until the age of 20 when he became a follower of Jesus. Since that time he has been involved in preaching & teaching the Bible in universities and colleges across the country as well serving as the Lead Pastor at Calvary Southampton, a church he founded 21 years a…

In this insightful episode we bring you a dynamic panel discussion on the vital role of mentorship in ministry, featuring seasoned leaders Danny Ramos, Brenda Leavenworth, Bryan Stupar, and Alan Stoddard. With decades of combined experience, these ministry veterans share their journeys, exploring how they've gained knowledge and wisdom over the yea…

Summary Dr. Ken Hemphill discusses spiritual gifts and their importance for the local church community. He defines spiritual gifts as gifts and abilities given by God, emphasizing that they are good gifts and should be received with interest. He also highlights the importance of surrendering to God and utilizing these gifts for the edification of t…

Recorded live at our August 2023 training event in Temecula, California, this episode of the Expositors Collective podcast features Bryan Stupar, who explores the crucial role of a preacher's character. Drawing from his personal experiences and deep scriptural insights, Bryan highlights that while preaching skills are essential, the character of th…

Mike chats with Dan Hamlin, Youth Pastor at Calvary Chapel Santa Maria, CA, about fresh and exciting ways to teach the Bible to teenagers. They tackle the challenge of overcoming negative stereotypes about Gen Z and share secrets on making Bible stories interactive and engaging. Plus, they discuss the do's and don'ts of storytelling, ensuring the m…

Summary The conversation explores the topic of forced terminations in non-denominational and Calvary Chapel churches. It discusses the lack of oversight in Calvary Chapel churches and the role of the senior pastor in affiliation. The conversation also touches on the process of termination and the importance of accountability and prevention. It addr…

Brian Brodersen, Kike Tores, Richard Cimino, Manolo Matos speak with Mike Neglia about the intricacies of pastoral ministry, beyond the obvious and public preaching responsibilties. These wise men highlight the roles and needs of pastors in nurturing and developing mature followers of Jesus. It addresses the challenges pastors face, the importance …

In this episode, Dr. Alan Stoddard shares the valuable lessons he learned from the influential mentors who shaped his journey, highlighting the importance of mentorship in spiritual leadership. Reflecting on his experiences, Dr. Stoddard encourages contemporary pastors and Christian leaders to invest in the next generation of preachers and leaders.…

Podcast Introduction The conversation delves into the topic of pastoral terminations within the context of the Southern Baptist Convention and non-denominational church fellowships. It explores the reasons, impact, and emotional aftermath of forced pastoral terminations, as well as the biblical perspective on the grounds for terminating a pastor. T…

Mike Neglia welcomes Dr. Steve Mathewson to the Expositors Collective show and Steve shares his deep insights into sermon preparation and delivery. The discussion covers the strategic use of illustrations to enhance sermon relatability, techniques for crafting engaging introductions, and continuous improvement in communicating God's Word. Dr. Mathe…

Preaching about money can be hard, preaching with a speech impediment can be harder. In this conversation with Mike, Will Basset from Ridgeway Community Church speaks about how the power of God and trusting in His Word is the key to each of these situations. Will shares his first preaching experience, which was challenging due to his stammer, and h…

In this episode of Expositors Collective, recorded at the "Pizza and Preaching" night in Santa Maria, California, Mike Neglia gave an interactive talk about the essential practice of studying a Bible passage and crafting an effective sermon outline. Our discussion covers: Hermeneutics: Understanding the science and art of Biblical interpretation. S…

Summary The conversation explores the topic of spiritual formation and soul care, particularly in the context of the black church. Dr. Wayne Cooper shares insights from his dissertation and discusses the challenges and opportunities for implementing spiritual formation in the church. The conversation also touches on the need for pastors to be equip…

In the 335th episode of Expositors Collective, Mike sits down with Pastor Craig Babcock to discuss the unique challenges and opportunities of preaching through the book of Proverbs in an expositional manner. Both seasoned and novice preachers often find Proverbs challenging to preach (and Mike is no exception!) However, Craig, drawing from his PhD …

Sam McCabe, a singer-songwriter and worship leader from Houston, Texas, speaks with Mike about quarterly preaching, and the pitfalls and opportunities that are available to those who preach messages and then wait three months until the next time! He speaks about the dangers of being over-prepared, and the opportunities to meditatively think through…

Summary In this conversation, Alan Stoddard and Kenneth Priest discuss the lack of discipleship for new believers in churches. They highlight the need for a strategy and intentionality in discipling new believers, as well as the importance of relationship and experiential learning. Alan shares his journey of realizing the need for a strategy and de…

3/5 of the Expositors Collective leadership team take a break from filming their video course to chat about teaching through the Gospel of Matthew. Nick and Mike are teaching it at their churches and John is recording audio commentary for the Listeners Bible Commentary The Listener’s Commentary provides clear, accessible teaching through each book …

Dr Philip Nation's work has included roles as a Bible publisher, revitalizing established churches as a pastor, working with non-profit organizations, curriculum publishing, and serving as a university professor. His personal publishing experience includes writing, co-authoring, and editing over 20 published works. Over the years, he has trained le…

Summary The conversation explores the state of small group life in churches, the decline in commitment to small groups, the impact of COVID-19 on small group engagement, and the importance of intentional spiritual formation. It also delves into the ideal structure of Sunday school classes, the significance of discussion in small groups, and the rol…

Brian Bell joins us on today's podcast as a distinguished guest, bringing with him a wealth of experience and passion. As the senior pastor of Calvary Murrieta, Brian wears many hats, serving as the main teaching pastor, Chairman of the Church Board and School Board, and the shepherd of the Calvary Murrieta community. He speaks about the importance…

Trevor O’Keefe and Mike Neglia speak about Cillian Murphy’s recent Academy Award and other momentous moments in Irish history. Trevor also shares the wildest story about a debut sermon ever on the history of the podcast! (He nearly killed someone) Trevor was a youth ministry for more than 17 years in Maranatha Chapel before transitioning in to the …

Dr Sigurd Grindheim speaks with Mike about how to preach the book of Hebrews, lessons learned about preaching from the book of Hebrews, and who he thinks is the author of that anonymous book. He also speaks about lessons learned about fatherhood, and the difference between expository and topical preaching. You can read some of his articles, and fin…

Spiritual Formation Begins in the Pulpit CGN Media - media that points to Christ. CGN International Pastors and Leaders Conference Summary In this conversation, Alan Stoddard and Kenneth Priest discuss the role of preaching in spiritual formation. They explore the idea that disciple-making begins in the pulpit and emphasize the importance of preach…

Patrick Schreiner speaks with Mike about the transfiguration of Jesus, progress within the Christian life and the value of manuscripted sermons. Patrick Schreiner is the Director of the Residency PhD program, Associate Professor of New Testament and Biblical Theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Gene and Jo Downing Endowed Chair …

The Pros and Cons of a Devotional Life Welcome to the STOKE IT UP podcast. A podcast encouraging you on your journey with God. The stoke it up podcast is part of CGN Media, a podcast network that points to people to Christ. Check out cgnmedia.org for more great shows and ways to support the ministry. The Cultivate Church Planting Website: https://c…

Jim Wilson, Ted Leavenworth, Wesley Towne, Randall Tonini and Brian Bell offer wise insight, heartfelt advice and light-hearted humor in this panel discussion, recorded in Temecula, California at one of our Training Weekends. They answer questions concerning when it is appropriate to pause an expository teaching series, topical sermons, how many cr…

Dr. Kenneth Priest joins the Stoke It Up Podcast as a co-host. Kenneth has a undergraduate degree in Theology and an Master of Religious Education (MARE) from Southwestern Seminary. He earned a D.EdMin from Midwestern Seminary in church revitalization. Today, we start to focus the podcast on spiritual formation. We want to encourage you in your jou…

From his early ministry experience in 1973 until this very day Tim Brown has worked hard to make the magnificent and lofty truths of scripture accessible to anyone and everyone who is listening. He tries to embody what Haddon Robinson quipped, "The art of preaching is getting people to see with their ears." In this conversation Tim and Mike speak a…

In a creative journey through the steps of evaporation, condensation and precipitation Pastor Tim Brown will take us on a journey through Psalm 29 and highlight the parallels between the forming of a Mediterranean stormcloud and the dumping of water and the steps that faithful preachers go through in studying, meditating and preaching. Tim Brown ha…

What is a Vision Statement and why does it matter? Is there a point in having a "Vision Sunday" at the beginning of the year, or is the congregation better served by "dripping vision" throughout the 52 Sundays of the calendar year? Is having a church vision even Biblical? Mike asks these questions and more to the more-than-capable Luke Simmons in a…

Heath Hardesty from Valley Community Church in Pleasanton, California explores the concept of "symphonic preaching" with Mike, and the value of emphasizing connections between the Old and New Testaments and their relevance today to all of life. Heath sees the wonder of the world around us, and the beauty and treasure of the Bible's story. Heath als…

Wesley Towne speaks about the 4 steps that he takes in his sermon preparation process to go from the passage to his own heart and then to people of his particular context and culture. Wesley lives in Davis, CA with his wife and chihuahua Lucy. He has planted two churches, both in university cities, and is thankful for the opportunity to pastor and …

Are the Psalms individual isolated poems that have no connection to one another, or are they a unified, edited story that we are supposed to notice? Wyatt Graham answers these questions and more in this conversation about how to think deeply about the Psalms, and what sort of connections should we expect to see from one chapter to the next. Current…

How to create a Bible culture in the church Use a physical Bible. Use the Bible.com QR code on screen as you begin to preach. Turn up the lights in the room. Push physical with digital Bible use. Use sermon-based small groups. Announce the version of the Bible, you’re going to use in the pulpit and get everyone to get that version. Offer a “how to …

John Whittaker teaches a workshop in Temecula California on how the inductive Bible Study method helps to discover the divine and human author's meaning of a text. John Whittaker is a preacher, teacher and pastor. He holds theology and ministry degrees from Boise Bible College, Cincinnati Bible Seminary, and a doctorate in preaching from Gordon-Con…

In this podcast with Aleise Elsenboss and Renea Kren, we talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly of The Chosen. We give a review of season four. What were our favorite scenes and what are the challenges? We also talk about some of the hard things like flags on set and problems with the Latter-Day Saints (LDS/Mormons). We delve into Christian mov…

David Guzik, the author of the Enduring Word commentary and YouTube Channel, engages in an insightful and friendly dialogue with Mike Neglia. They explore the intricate process of utilizing commentaries effectively in sermon preparation, emphasizing the importance of discernment in approach. Guzik passionately underscores the necessity of internali…

In this episode, I walk pastors and leaders through possibilities for sharing the gospel and extending a response opportunity for Easter 2024.

Many people consider Jesus to be a great teacher and preacher, but few actually realise just how incredible and multilayered His teachings actually were. In this episode of Expositors Collective, Mike speaks with Dr. Peter J. Williams, the principal of Tyndale House in Cambridge, and the chair of the International Greek New Testament Project. He is…

The Stoke It Up! podcast is a part of the CGN media family. Check us out on our social media handles. I give you 4 things that can help you get ready for Easter. Take a listen. Share in social media. Give me your feedback. What will your takeaway be?

Gospel sanity in a world gone mad - this is what Ray Ortlund Jr is trying to offer to the next generation of pastors and leaders. In this conversation with Mike he talks about the value of remembering his own mortality, gathering and gospelling young men, and how Christ Himself is preaching through us as we exposit the Word. He speaks about some of…

What is next? I have been in a busy dry season in some ways. How do we negotiate those seasons of life and move forward? The secret sauce is that we have inside help. God lives in us. Faith in Christ (Gal. 2:20) ignites the fire of God in us. Check this episode out. Check out the CGN media page. Check out the Calvary Global Network! Join us!…

The Leadership Team of Expositors Collective (minus Alan Stoddard) talk about some pet peeves they have about preaching. Brian, Nick, John and Mike speak about habits and choices that preachers make that make it hard to listen to them. The second half of the conversation takes a more positive spin as John talks about discipleship pathways and what …