The gang over at Mortification of Spin keeps churning out valuable content for ordinary pastors.

Their podcast is full of witty banter and sober analysis on the current evangelical landscape. You won’t always agree with their conclusions, but at least you’ll never have to doubt which side of the pastoral/theological fence they love to live.

You’ve got the Housewife Theologian, the cranky English historian, and a Presbyterian who recently converted from being a Baptist. Sounds quite fun, doesn’t it? My wife even loves listening to the MOS episodes, but I don’t yet know if it’s because of Amy’s presence or merely because Trueman has “a cool accent.”

If you haven’t tuned in before here’s your golden opportunity. Westminster Theological Seminary recently invited the venerable Kent Hughes on campus for the 2014 Institute on Biblical Preaching. The MOS team led the panel discussion with Dr. Hughes and my, my, what wise fun ensued.

Watch how this quartet of theological know-how takes on questions like: “How can I get in the pulpit when I am so sinful?” and, “Now that you’ve reached the pinnacle of evangelical celebrity, what’s the view like from the top?” and a Spin favorite: “Where would you draw the line of being vulnerable from the pulpit in sharing your own personal sin?”

Questions

– What is the secret of staying fresh after preaching to the same congregation after so many years? (4:08)
– How do you preach to a congregation with eight-year-old and eighty-year-old? (7:26)
– How do you preach through pain and sorrow? (11:10)
– Does pain, sorrow, and heartbreak make a pastor a better preacher? (14:46)
– How does friendship function in pastoral ministry? (16:07)
– Do we, as pastors, tell our wives everything in ministry? (18:56)
– How do you cultivate humility? (24:09)
– How do you strike the balance between powerful rhetoric and the power of the cross in preaching? (27:10)
– Do I always have to preach Christ in a sermon? Even from Proverbs? (31:00)
– Outside of ministerial positions where are Christians, training in theology, needed most? (32:55)
– Would you each discuss how you do family worship in your home? (36:06)
– Are can pastors cultivate a love for the church in their children? (38:42)
– Now that you – MOS team – have reached the pinnacle of celebrity evangelicalism, what’s the view like from the top? Will you sign my Bible? (41:49)
– How can I get in the pulpit when I am so sinful? (43:48)
– Should a pastor share his personal struggles and sins from the pulpit? (49:10)
– Do you think a layman can preach? (51:22)
– Should churches only serve grape juice for the Lord’s Supper? (56:17)
– Should a catechism be preached every Lord’s Day? (59:49)
– If we don’t take the time to pray and meditate on the passage we’ll preach, can we say the Holy Spirit accompanies our preaching? (1:03:32)
– How do Luther and Calvin differ in their preaching? (105:30)
– How should we think about unction in preaching? (1:10:08)
– What’s the most difficult text you’ve had to preach through Dr. Hughes? (1:13:56)
– What’s the role for women on the mission field who have M.Div. degrees? (1:15:09)