Podcast Archives - Expositor's Library

5 Minutes In Church History (8.2)

IntroductoryGeneral readersStrong recommendation

Publisher: Spotify

Theological Perspective: Reformed

Resource Type: Podcast

Summary

We value 5Minutes In Church History because it offers brief, digestible introductions to figures and moments that have shaped the church. The format is short, but the aim is serious, to help Christians remember they belong to a long story. For pastors, that is a quiet gift. Church history is often neglected, and yet it regularly strengthens doctrine, courage, and perspective.

The episodes are suited to small slices of time, and that makes the series easy to recommend. It can fit into a commute or a short walk. It can also be used as a simple way to start conversations about the Reformation, missionary history, doctrinal controversies, and the lives of faithful Christians in different eras.

We should receive it as an introduction rather than a full course. It offers windows, not exhaustive studies. But windows can change how we see the present, and that is part of its pastoral value.

Why Should I Listen to This Series?

We listen because pastors need historical perspective. Many ministry challenges feel unprecedented, but they are rarely new in essence. The church has faced false teaching, cultural pressure, internal conflict, and seasons of renewal before. Even a short episode can remind us of that, and that reminder can steady our hearts.

We also listen because it can serve teaching and discipleship. Pastors can draw illustrations, historical examples, and doctrinal clarifications from church history. The series can help us identify figures worth reading, and it can motivate church members to explore beyond the present moment. Used in small groups or leadership training, it can gently expand horizons.

A strength is accessibility. A limitation is depth. Five minutes is not long, so the series necessarily simplifies. That is not a flaw, but it means we should encourage listeners to treat episodes as invitations to further reading. When we recommend it, we can pair it with a short book biography or with a church history introduction so that curiosity becomes learning.

If we want a quick, trustworthy nudge toward historical awareness, this series is excellent. If we need detailed historical argumentation, we should move to longer resources, but we may still keep this series as a steady spark for interest and perspective.

Closing Recommendation

We can recommend 5Minutes In Church History as an accessible entry point into the church’s past. It is especially useful for busy pastors, trainees, and church members who want to grow in historical awareness without being overwhelmed.

We should use it as a beginning, not an endpoint, allowing brief episodes to prompt deeper reading and richer gratitude for God’s faithfulness through the centuries.

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Ask Pastor John (8.4)

IntroductoryPastors-in-trainingStrong recommendation

Author: John Piper

Series: Ask Pastor John

Publisher: Apple Podcasts

Theological Perspective: Reformed

Resource Type: Podcast

Summary

We come to AskPastor John for short, direct pastoral wisdom shaped by Scripture. The format is simple, questions and answers, but the impact can be substantial. When the answers are at their best, they are Bible soaked, Christ honouring, and spiritually searching. The listener is not flattered. We are gently pressed to repent, to believe, and to obey.

The series has a distinctive pastoral edge. It aims to address the heart, not just the head. That makes it useful in everyday ministry, because many of our pastoral conversations are not tidy theological debates. They are mixtures of fear, doubt, sin, confusion, and pain. The episodes often speak into that reality with a seriousness that feels like ministry rather than content.

The best way to receive the series is as a supplement. It offers compressed counsel, not extended biblical exposition. That means it can spark reflection, supply helpful language, and prompt prayer, but it should sit alongside sustained engagement with Scripture in context.

Why Should I Listen to This Series?

We listen because it models pastoral application. Many resources can explain doctrine, but fewer can apply it to the complexities of spiritual life without becoming vague. This series frequently names the question beneath the question. It helps us see what we are really asking when we ask about guidance, anxiety, assurance, relationships, or suffering.

For pastors, that is a significant gift. The episodes can sharpen our instincts for how biblical truth lands on real people. They can also remind us of the importance of tone. Firm counsel delivered with tenderness is often what sheep need, and the series often demonstrates that mixture. We can learn how to speak with conviction while still sounding like we want the listener’s good.

A strength is its theological seriousness. The answers are often anchored in big truths, the sovereignty of God, the sufficiency of Christ, the authority of Scripture, and the necessity of new birth. A limitation is the compressed format. In a short answer, nuance can be harder to maintain, and listeners can miss the context that would come in a longer teaching setting. That is not a fatal flaw, but it means we should be careful when recommending it to those who might over apply a single answer to a complex situation.

If we want a resource that gives quick pastoral prompts and biblical categories, this is worth listening to. If we need detailed exegesis or careful book by book teaching, we should look elsewhere and treat this as a wise supplement.

Closing Recommendation

We can recommend AskPastor John as a concise pastoral series that often applies Scripture to life with seriousness and warmth. It is especially helpful for pastors and trainees who want to see how doctrine becomes counsel.

We should listen actively, Bible open, and we should use the series as a prompt toward deeper study and prayer rather than as a replacement for either.

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White Horse Inn (8.5)

AdvancedAdvanced students / scholarsTop choice

Author: Michael S. Horton

Series: White Horse Inn

Publisher: Apple Podcasts

Theological Perspective: Reformed

Resource Type: Podcast

Summary

We listen to White Horse Inn because it aims to recover the weight and shape of historic Protestant theology for ordinary Christians. The tone is thoughtful and confessional. The conversation is often wide ranging, but the centre of gravity remains the gospel, the means of grace, and the church’s doctrinal inheritance. In an age that prizes novelty, the series tries to make old truths feel necessary again.

The hosting is shared, and the range of voices helps. It creates a sense of theological conversation rather than a single personality platform. At its best, the series gives listeners categories, not just opinions. We are helped to see why certain issues matter, how they connect to justification, assurance, sanctification, the church, and the Christian life.

It is not a quick listen. The series tends to reward attentive engagement. That makes it valuable for pastors and trainees who want their thinking sharpened, and for lay listeners who are ready to take doctrine seriously.

Why Should I Listen to This Series?

We listen because the series insists that the gospel is not merely the doorway into Christianity, but the centre of the Christian life. That emphasis is pastorally powerful. It protects us from moralism on the one hand and vague spirituality on the other. When the series is firing, it keeps pressing us back to Christ’s finished work, and then shows how that work shapes the church’s worship and witness.

For preachers, it can refresh our instincts for what people most need. Many sermons collapse into advice. This series frequently helps us recover proclamation. It pushes us to preach Christ, to proclaim grace, and to treat the means of grace as God’s appointed instruments for sustaining faith. That can strengthen our ministry over time.

A strength is theological coherence. The series is comfortable with doctrinal precision and historical awareness, and it often resists the shallow categories of popular debate. A limitation is that it can assume a baseline familiarity with theological vocabulary. Some listeners may need help with terms and frameworks, and we may want to introduce it gradually. We should also note that not every episode will feel equally accessible for those newer to Reformed theology.

When we need a resource that keeps pulling us toward confessional clarity and gospel centred ecclesiology, this series is a strong option. When we need accessible entry level teaching, we may pair it with simpler introductions.

Closing Recommendation

We can strongly recommend White Horse Inn as a confessional, gospel centred series that strengthens theological thinking and supports healthy preaching instincts. It is especially valuable for pastors, trainees, and serious listeners who want historic Protestant theology applied to modern questions.

We should listen patiently and thoughtfully. The reward is not entertainment, but renewed confidence in the riches of the gospel and the steadiness of the church’s received doctrine.

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A Passion For Life (8.0)

IntroductoryBusy pastorsStrong recommendation

Author: Craig Dyer

Series: A Passion For Life

Publisher: Apple Podcasts

Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical

Resource Type: Podcast

Summary

We approach A Passion For Life as a ministry shaped series with an evangelistic and church renewing concern. The tone is earnest. The aim is not to entertain, but to stir faithfulness, clarity, and courage in gospel proclamation. That makes the series particularly relevant for pastors and churches who want to strengthen evangelistic conviction without sliding into gimmicks.

The series tends to speak from within the world of local church ministry. That is a strength. It keeps the conversation grounded in ordinary congregational realities, and it often highlights the spiritual dynamics that sit beneath evangelistic fruitfulness, prayer, clarity, and a heart for the lost.

We should receive it as a ministry resource rather than a technical Bible teaching series. It can support our evangelistic culture, strengthen our motivation, and refresh our sense of what the gospel is and why it matters.

Why Should I Listen to This Series?

We listen because evangelism often becomes either a method or a guilt burden. A series like this can help recover a healthier frame, the gospel is good news, Christ is worthy, and God is pleased to use ordinary means. That kind of perspective is strengthening for pastors who feel the weight of spiritual responsibility and the discouragement of slow growth.

We also listen because it can help congregations. Many church members want to witness but feel ill equipped or afraid. Episodes that address motivation, clarity, and confidence can serve as discipleship tools. We can recommend selected episodes to small group leaders, to members involved in outreach, or to those praying about personal evangelism.

A strength is its ministry realism. It speaks into discouragement, pressure, and the temptation to chase visible results. A limitation is that, depending on the episode, the content may be more exhortational than exegetical. That is appropriate for a ministry podcast, but it means we should ensure our church’s main diet remains Scripture opened in context. When we pair this with steady Bible teaching, the series can sharpen our application and strengthen our evangelistic culture without becoming shallow.

If we want a resource that rekindles gospel confidence and encourages prayerful evangelism, this series is a good fit. If we want detailed Bible exposition, we should look elsewhere and use this as a ministry supplement.

Closing Recommendation

We can recommend A Passion For Life as a ministry shaped series that encourages evangelistic faithfulness and gospel confidence. It is especially valuable for pastors and churches seeking renewal in proclamation and prayer.

We should use it alongside steady Scripture intake, allowing exhortation to be fuelled by the Word and directed toward patient, prayerful obedience.

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Theology In the Raw (7.5)

Mid-levelAdvanced students / scholarsUseful supplement

Author: Preston Sprinkle

Series: Theology In the Raw

Publisher: Apple Podcasts

Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical

Resource Type: Podcast

Summary

We approach Theology In the Raw as a conversational theology podcast that often explores contested questions within contemporary evangelicalism. The series is wide ranging, with interviews and long form discussion. That format can be genuinely helpful, because it allows space for nuance, but it also means the series is not consistently anchored to sustained biblical exposition.

When the conversations are careful and Scripture engaged, they can help listeners think slowly rather than react quickly. That is valuable in areas where many Christians have more heat than light. The tone is often open and exploratory, which can lower defences and invite engagement. For pastors, that openness can be both strength and risk, depending on the listener’s maturity.

The series is best received as a window into current debates and as a prompt toward deeper study, rather than as a settled guide for doctrinal formation.

Why Should I Listen to This Series?

We listen because we need to understand the questions people are asking. Pastoral ministry regularly involves issues that are being discussed online in complex, emotionally charged ways. A long form interview format can help us hear the arguments, the assumptions, and the pastoral pressures that shape those discussions. That can aid discernment and equip us to respond with both truth and patience.

We also listen because the series can model slower thinking. In an age of quick takes, a willingness to explore details, ask follow up questions, and acknowledge complexity can be refreshing. It can also help listeners avoid caricature. For pastors, that can be useful as we seek to shepherd people away from tribalism and toward wisdom.

A strength is its openness to conversation and its willingness to engage a range of views. A limitation is theological steadiness. Not every episode will reflect confessional clarity, and some listeners may find themselves unsettled rather than strengthened. That does not mean the series has no place. It means we should treat it as a selective tool, recommended to mature listeners who can evaluate claims by Scripture and who understand the difference between exploration and instruction.

If we want a resource for tracking debates and hearing long form discussions, it can be useful. If we need a stable diet of doctrinal teaching and text driven exposition, we should look elsewhere and use this as an occasional supplement.

Closing Recommendation

We can recommend Theology In the Raw as a selective listening option for pastors and thoughtful Christians who want to understand contemporary evangelical debates. It can serve discernment when used carefully and when Scripture remains the final authority.

We should be cautious about recommending it widely, especially to newer believers, and we should encourage listeners to test every claim by the Word of God and by historic Christian orthodoxy.

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The Heidelcast (8.2)

AdvancedPastors-in-trainingStrong recommendation

Author: R. Scott Clark

Series: The Heidelcast

Publisher: Spotify

Theological Perspective: Reformed

Resource Type: Podcast

Summary

We listen to The Heidelcast because it is unapologetically confessional and aims to bring classic Reformed theology to bear on contemporary questions. The tone is direct, sometimes pointed, but the driving aim is theological clarity. For pastors and trainees, the series can provide strong categories for understanding the Reformed tradition and for navigating debates within evangelicalism.

The episodes are often driven by doctrine, history, and confessional commitments. That means the series will appeal most to listeners who want depth and are willing to follow an argument. It is not designed as a gentle introduction. It assumes that theology matters, and it calls listeners to think carefully about what the church confesses and why.

For those shaped by Reformed convictions, it can be a bracing resource that keeps returning to the confessions and to the importance of careful definitions. That can strengthen discernment and protect churches from drifting into theological vagueness.

Why Should I Listen to This Series?

We listen because pastors regularly face confusion about what Reformed theology is, and what it is not. The Heidelcast often helps clarify those boundaries. It can be especially helpful when people have absorbed a mixture of influences and need a more coherent account of covenant theology, justification, and the doctrine of the church.

We also listen because it models a concern for confessional integrity. That matters for preaching and pastoral ministry. When our theology is clear, our preaching is steadier, our counselling is wiser, and our church leadership is less reactive. The series can therefore serve as a sharpening tool, helping us to keep the gospel clear and the categories clean.

A strength is doctrinal precision joined to historical awareness. A limitation is tone. Some episodes may feel combative to sensitive listeners, and not every church member will benefit from that style. We should be careful about who we recommend it to. For pastors and trainees who can listen critically and charitably, it can be a useful supplement. For others, it may be better to start with calmer introductions and then return to this series later.

Used wisely, it helps the church think clearly. Used unwisely, it can tempt us toward suspicion rather than charity. The answer is not to avoid it, but to listen with humility, Scripture open, and love for the church kept in view.

Closing Recommendation

We can recommend The Heidelcast as a serious confessional Reformed resource that strengthens doctrinal clarity and historical awareness. It is best for pastors, trainees, and listeners who want to understand and defend classic Reformed convictions.

We should listen with discernment regarding tone, and we should ensure that theological clarity serves the peace, health, and maturity of the local church.

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The Briefing (7.7)

IntroductoryBusy pastorsUseful supplement

Author: R. Albert Mohler

Series: The Briefing

Publisher: Apple Podcasts

Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical

Resource Type: Podcast

Summary

We listen to The Briefing as a daily style commentary resource that aims to interpret news and culture through a Christian lens. It is not an expository Bible teaching series. The core offering is analysis, framing, and moral reasoning. That means the series can be useful, but it also means we must be clear about what it can and cannot do for the church.

At its best, the series models seriousness about truth and moral clarity. It encourages Christians to think, not merely to react. It often reminds listeners that ideas have consequences, and that cultural shifts are rarely neutral. For pastors, that awareness can be helpful as we lead congregations through confusion and pressure.

Because it is a news commentary format, the shelf life of individual episodes can be short. The enduring value is the habit of Christian reasoning and the willingness to bring conviction to public questions.

Why Should I Listen to This Series?

We listen because pastors are asked, sometimes weekly, how Christians should think about what is happening around them. We cannot address every headline from the pulpit, but we do need to help people develop discernment. A series like this can serve as an input, helping us understand how issues are being framed and what ethical pressure points are emerging.

We also listen because it can prevent naïveté. The church can drift into isolation, speaking only its own internal language. This series can help us remain aware of the world our people inhabit every day. Used well, that awareness can strengthen preaching, application, and pastoral care, because we learn what anxieties and confusions are likely to be present in the pew.

A strength is the clarity of conviction. A limitation is the distance from sustained biblical exposition. The series may reference Scripture, but it is not primarily doing the slow work of interpreting texts in context. That means we should not treat it as a replacement for Bible teaching. We also need to remember that political and cultural commentary can harden hearts if it becomes a steady diet. We must keep Christ, the gospel, and the life of the church at the centre.

If we use The Briefing as an occasional tool for awareness and discernment, it can help. If we consume it constantly and treat it as spiritual formation, we may be shaped more by cultural conflict than by the Word of God.

Closing Recommendation

We can recommend The Briefing as a selective listening resource for pastors and Christians who want help thinking clearly about culture and public life. It is best used occasionally, and best held under the authority of Scripture and the priorities of the local church.

We should keep our ears open and our hearts guarded, using the series to inform discernment while ensuring our primary diet remains Scripture, prayer, and the means of grace.

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The Gospel Coalition Podcast (7.7)

IntroductoryGeneral readersUseful supplement

Author: Various

Series: The Gospel Coalition Podcast

Publisher: Spotify

Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical

Resource Type: Podcast

Summary

We approach The Gospel Coalition Podcast as a broad evangelical platform rather than a single teacher’s series. That matters for how we listen. The strengths are variety, access to a wide range of topics, and an attempt to keep gospel priorities in view. The limitations are also tied to variety, theological accents can shift from episode to episode, and not every theme receives the same biblical weight.

When the episodes are focused and Scripture directed, the series can be genuinely strengthening. It often aims to connect doctrine to life and ministry, and it frequently tries to encourage pastors and church members toward faithful living. We should appreciate that instinct, particularly in a media environment that easily becomes cynical or combative.

Because it is a platform podcast, it works best as a selective resource. We pick episodes that match needs, we listen with discernment, and we keep our Bible open.

Why Should I Listen to This Series?

We listen because it can help us stay alert to conversations shaping evangelical churches. Pastors are often asked about topics that are being discussed online long before they are addressed from the pulpit. A platform podcast can help us understand what people are hearing and what questions they are carrying. That awareness can support wise pastoral leadership.

We also listen because some episodes provide practical encouragement for ministry. When the discussion is tethered to Scripture and shaped by the priorities of the gospel, it can sharpen our instincts for discipleship, evangelism, leadership, and church life. It can also provide a helpful entry point for listeners who are newer to theological study and need accessible conversations.

A strength is breadth. A limitation is consistency. We cannot assume every episode will carry the same theological reliability or the same depth of biblical engagement. That does not mean we dismiss it. It means we curate. We listen carefully, we assess how Scripture is handled, and we recommend only episodes that are clearly aligned with orthodox, Christ centred teaching.

In practice, the best use case is pastoral triage. We can use selected episodes to help people think about specific issues, but we should not treat the series as a primary channel for doctrinal formation.

Closing Recommendation

We can recommend The Gospel Coalition Podcast as a broad evangelical platform that can offer timely and occasionally very helpful conversations. It is best used selectively, with discernment, and alongside steady local church teaching.

We should prioritise episodes that handle Scripture carefully and keep Christ central, and we should be cautious with episodes that drift into vagueness or assume contested frameworks without biblical grounding.

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Renewing Your Mind (8.9)

Mid-levelBusy pastorsTop choice

Author: Nathan W. Bingham

Series: Renewing Your Mind

Publisher: Apple Podcasts

Theological Perspective: Reformed

Resource Type: Podcast

Summary

We listen to Renewing Your Mind for one main reason, it consistently aims to teach Christian doctrine with clarity and reverence, and it expects the listener to grow. The series is shaped by classic Reformed instincts, Scripture has a voice, theology is not treated as hobby, and Christian maturity is the aim. For pastors, that combination is deeply attractive.

The episodes tend to carry a teaching focus rather than a chatty feel. Even when the tone is warm, the content pushes toward understanding. That means the series has a long shelf life. We can return to it when we need doctrinal refreshment, when we want to recommend something reliable to a church member, or when we are training leaders who need clear categories, not spiritual noise.

We also appreciate how the series often keeps the gospel at the centre of the Christian life. In a world of techniques and trends, it insists that truth, worship, and obedience flow from who God is and what Christ has done. That makes the content spiritually strengthening as well as intellectually steady.

Why Should I Listen to This Series?

We should listen because it helps build theological muscle. Many Christians have good instincts but thin foundations. This series patiently fills out the basics, the character of God, the authority of Scripture, the person and work of Christ, justification, sanctification, and the shape of the Christian life. The tone is serious, but it is not joyless. The point is doxology, not mere information.

For preachers, the value is twofold. First, it can deepen our own grasp of doctrine so that our exposition has weight rather than slogans. Second, it gives us a safe recommendation pathway. When someone asks for help on a doctrinal question, we can often point them to an episode without worrying that they will be pushed into speculative teaching or uncertain theology.

A strength is the consistent theological reliability. Even when topics are complex, the series tends to keep its argument tethered to Scripture and to historic Christian orthodoxy. A limitation is that the series is not primarily an expository walk through specific biblical books. It will sharpen doctrine, but it will not replace the discipline of line by line Bible study. In practice, that is simple to solve, we pair it with steady reading of Scripture and with a good expository resource when preparing sermons.

If we are training leaders or equipping congregations, this series can serve as a dependable theological backbone. If we need a resource for working through a passage in detail, we should look elsewhere, but we will still find our preaching enriched by the doctrinal clarity this series supplies.

Closing Recommendation

We can strongly recommend Renewing Your Mind as a theologically weighty, pastorally aware teaching resource. It is especially valuable for pastors, trainees, and serious listeners who want doctrine to shape worship and discipleship.

We should not treat it as a shortcut around hard study, but as a steady tool that helps us think clearly, speak faithfully, and keep the gospel central in life and ministry.

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The Prodigal Daughter (7.8)

IntroductoryLay readers / small groupsStrong recommendation

Author: Chloe Anderson

Series: The Prodigal Daughter

Publisher: Spotify

Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical

Resource Type: Podcast

Summary

We come to this series expecting something personal and story shaped, and we are not disappointed. The Prodigal Daughter takes a recognisably evangelical approach to Christian experience, but it keeps bringing the listener back to Scripture rather than letting experience lead. That instinct matters. A podcast can feel warm and relatable while quietly training people to read their lives more than their Bibles, and this series generally resists that drift.

Across episodes, we find a steady concern for the heart, for repentance, and for the freedom of the gospel. The tone is conversational, but not flippant. The pace gives space for reflection, and the series aims to address real life pressures without turning the Bible into a bag of slogans. We are helped most when the discussion slows down and asks what the passage is actually doing, who it was written to, and how it lands on Christ.

As an audio resource, it sits closer to pastoral encouragement than technical instruction. That is not a criticism. It means we should receive it as an aid for discipleship and spiritual formation, not as a substitute for careful study. Used like that, it can serve pastors who want a trustworthy, accessible companion resource to recommend to church members who need help thinking biblically about guilt, shame, estrangement, and return.

Why Should I Listen to This Series?

We listen because it models a kind of honesty that does not turn inward. There is a willingness to name sin as sin, but also to name grace as grace. That balance is rare. Many resources are either therapeutic in tone, or severe in tone, and both can miss the tenderness and firmness of the Lord Jesus. This series often holds the two together, which makes it pastorally useful.

We also listen because it can give language to the spiritual dynamics we meet in ministry. Pastors regularly meet those who have wandered, those who are weary, and those who are confused about whether God receives them. When the series handles biblical texts carefully, it becomes a gentle bridge, helping people move from vague religious feeling to concrete gospel truth. It is not a sermon, but it can help people arrive at Sunday with clearer categories.

For preachers, the value is indirect but real. The episodes can surface the pastoral questions sitting behind familiar passages, and they can remind us how listeners actually hear our words. That can sharpen our application. A limitation is that the level of explicit exegesis varies. When Scripture is used more as a theme than as an argument, we need to be cautious. In those moments, we should pair this series with a more text driven resource and keep our own Bible open.

If we want a broadly evangelical discipleship series with a gospel accent, this is worth our time. If we need a resource that consistently works through passages with careful structure and sustained biblical reasoning, we should treat this as a supplement rather than a primary tool.

Closing Recommendation

We can recommend The Prodigal Daughter as a warm, accessible series that often encourages faith and repentance with an honest pastoral tone. It is best used as a discipleship companion and as a recommendation for listeners who need help reconnecting their story to the gospel story.

We should listen with discernment, keeping Scripture open and holding application to the shape of the text. Where it stays close to the Bible and keeps Christ central, it serves the church well and will repay attention.

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