In this Global Campus Forum, Dr. Travis Montgomery interviews Dr. JT English—Lead Pastor of Storyline Church, co-founder of Training the Church, co-host of the Knowing Faith podcast, and author of *Deep Discipleship*—about the growing movement of church-based theological education. JT shares his story of coming to faith, discovering theological formation in seminary rather than the local church, and why he has devoted his life to bringing robust discipleship back into the heart of congregational life. Their conversation covers the value of theological education, why churches are reclaiming discipleship, how seminaries and churches partner well, and how ordinary believers can discern next steps toward deeper training and ministry involvement.

About the Podcast

Local Theologians is a podcast for everyday Christians and ministry leaders from Midwestern Seminary's Global Campus. Learn more about online theological education at mbts.edu/global.

Keywords

church-based theological education, discipleship, seminary partnership, deep discipleship, JT English, Training the Church, Knowing Faith podcast, ministry preparation, local church leadership

Takeaways

• Every Christian is called to deep discipleship—not just pastors or academics.

• Theological education was historically centered in the local church and is returning there today.

• Seminaries provide expertise, structure, and formation that local churches cannot fully replicate.

• Church-based training keeps developing leaders embedded in their congregations while they grow.

• The rise in online learning and delivery platforms has opened new hybrid models of formation.

• Pastors should invite hungry members into deeper study and help them discern calling.

• Churches can begin by asking key questions: What is a disciple? How do disciples grow? How will we send them?

• Programs like Deep Discipleship and local institutes help churches start without building everything from scratch.

• Preaching and classroom-style teaching complement one another—neither replaces the other.

• All Christians need theological formation, even if they do not pursue formal academic degrees.

In this episode, Dr. Travis Montgomery talks with Dr. Jared Kathcart—Assistant Professor of Christian Education at Midwestern Seminary—about the surprising and sanctifying role humility has played in his theological formation and ministry. Jared shares how early confidence gave way to deeply humbling moments in youth ministry, how the Dunning–Kruger effect reveals our spiritual blind spots, and why humility is essential for healthy study, discipleship, and leadership. Their discussion explores how pride distorts learning, how humility opens us to true growth, and why Christians must learn to think of themselves less in order to love God and others well.

About the Podcast

Local Theologians is a podcast for everyday Christians and ministry leaders from Midwestern Seminary's Global Campus. Learn more about online theological education at mbts.edu/global.

Keywords

humility, sanctification, theological education, Christian leadership, pride, ministry formation, Dunning–Kruger effect, discipleship, spiritual growth

Takeaways

• Humility is foundational for Christian life, ministry, and theological study.

• The Dunning–Kruger effect explains why new learners often feel overconfident—and why growth requires recognizing our limitations.

• Pride can distort ministry motivation, while humility enables genuine service to others.

• Humility allows Christians to learn from Scripture, professors, mentors, and life experiences.

• Formal and informal theological education flourish when motivated by love for God and neighbor, not self-promotion.

• Recognizing what we do not know—and what no mere human can ultimately know—keeps us grounded and worshipful.

• True growth occurs where humility meets opportunity, whether in a classroom, a pulpit, or a youth room.

Sound Bites

• “Humility wasn’t on my list—but it’s become the most important part of my formation.”

• “The more I learned, the more I realized how much I didn’t know.”

• “Education serves the kingdom best when it’s not about me.”

• “Some of God’s greatest lessons come disguised as moments of embarrassment.”

• “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.”

In this Global Campus Forum, Dr. Travis Montgomery sits down with Dr. Thor Madsen—Dean of Doctoral Studies, longtime professor of philosophy, ethics, and New Testament at Midwestern Seminary—to explore why Christians should study philosophy and apologetics. Dr. Madsen traces his own academic journey, explains the tools these disciplines give to believers, and shows how philosophical precision and apologetic awareness strengthen evangelism, preaching, counseling, and everyday discipleship. The conversation also addresses AI, worldviews, understanding unbelievers, and cultivating critical thinking in the church.

About the Podcast

Local Theologians is a podcast for everyday Christians and ministry leaders from Midwestern Seminary's Global Campus. Learn more about online theological education at mbts.edu/global.

Keywords

philosophy, apologetics, worldview, critical thinking, evangelism, Alvin Plantinga, Thomas Aquinas, AI and ethics, theological formation, pastoral ministry

Takeaways

• Philosophy equips Christians with critical thinking skills essential for ministry and everyday life.

• Apologetics helps believers understand unbelievers' assumptions and respond charitably and persuasively.

• Christians already use philosophical categories—learning them intentionally clarifies theology and communication.

• Studying worldview helps Christians discern cultural influences and counsel others more effectively.

• Philosophy deepens comprehension of Scripture by uncovering arguments within biblical texts.

• Understanding intellectual history helps theologians avoid uncritically adopting false assumptions.

• Apologetics complements evangelism by removing unnecessary barriers to belief.

• AI raises important questions about human nature, consciousness, and the image of God.

• Pastors can equip their people by teaching worldview basics and asking the right questions.

Sound Bites

• “Philosophy trains you to ask the right questions—and that’s invaluable in ministry.”

• “Everyone has a worldview, even if they don’t know they have one.”

• “The Bible doesn’t just inform; it argues—and philosophy helps you see the argument.”

• “Apologetics is understanding people well enough to love them wisely.”

• “Sometimes atheists don’t even understand their own worldview until you explain it to them.”

In this episode, Dr. Travis Montgomery talks with Zach Salsbury—Assistant Professor of Christian Studies and Dean of Students at Midwestern Seminary—about the dignity of ‘ordinary work.’ Zach shares his own story of wrestling with calling, early pressure to pursue foreign missions, and the liberating theological insight that God’s kingdom encompasses all of life. Together they discuss vocation, motives, discernment, and how every believer can serve the Lord faithfully in ordinary work, family, and church life without assuming a formal ministry role.

About the Podcast

Local Theologians is a show for everyday Christians and ministry leaders learning to think theologically about their local contexts through Midwestern Seminary’s Global Campus. Learn more about online theological education at mbts.edu/global.

Keywords

calling, vocation, missions, kingdom of God, discernment, theological formation, work and faith, Christian life, Francis Schaeffer, spiritual motives

Takeaways

• You don’t have to become a foreign missionary to be faithful to God’s calling.

• The kingdom of God encompasses all of life—not just formal ministry roles.

• Motives matter; Christians must learn to exegete their desires and examine why they pursue certain paths.

• Local churches and mentors play a crucial role in helping believers discern calling.

• Ordinary work (design, business, parenting, maintenance, etc.) is meaningful kingdom work when done unto Christ.

• Students often need help expanding their view of calling beyond ‘ministry vs. everything else.’

• Faithful discernment requires introspection, prayer, Scripture, and community guidance.

Sound Bites

• “You don’t need to go die on the mission field to serve the Lord and His kingdom.”

• “Christ has authority over the far reaches of the earth—and also right here where I am.”

• “Work is not redeemed by evangelism; ordinary work has intrinsic kingdom value.”

• “Exegete your motives. Ask why—then ask why again.”

• “We are kingdom citizens in every task, from dishes to discipling.”

In this episode, Dr. Travis Montgomery interviews Dr. Thomas Kidd—research professor of church history at Midwestern Seminary and leading historian of early America—on the perennial question: Was America founded as a Christian nation? Drawing on decades of scholarship, Dr. Kidd explains how Christian ideas shaped the founding, why the legal structure of the United States avoids a national church, and how evangelicals (especially Baptists) influenced key developments such as religious liberty. The conversation explores the First Great Awakening, the mixed personal beliefs of the founders, the relevance of church history to pastoral ministry, and how Christians today should think about political theology in light of America’s past. Students from around the world can study with Dr. Kidd through Midwestern Seminary’s Global Campus: mbts.edu/global.

About the Podcast

Local Theologians is a show for everyday Christians preparing for ministry and leadership through Midwestern Seminary’s Global Campus. Learn more at mbts.edu/global.

Keywords

American founding, Christian nation, religious liberty, First Great Awakening, Thomas Jefferson, deism, church history, Baptist political theology, America and Christianity

Takeaways

• Christian ideas deeply influenced the American founding, especially views of human nature, political power, and equality.

• The Constitution intentionally avoided establishing a national church, emphasizing free exercise of religion instead.

• Many evangelicals—especially Baptists—celebrated disestablishment because they had been persecuted under state churches.

• Not all founding fathers were Christians; several, including Jefferson and Franklin, rejected core doctrines like the Trinity and the deity of Christ.

• Studying church history helps pastors answer real questions their congregations ask about America’s identity.

• Advocating Christian morality is appropriate, but Christians should not desire a state church.

• Religious liberty helped fuel the Second Great Awakening and the greatest era of church growth in American history.

Sound Bites

• “Christian ideas are everywhere in the founding—but that doesn’t make the nation a Christian nation legally.”

• “Baptists didn’t want state support. They wanted to be left alone to preach the gospel.”

• “Calling Jefferson a Christian requires redefining Christianity—and we must not do that.”

• “Religious freedom works. It helped spark the greatest revival era in American history.”

In this Global Campus Forum, Dr. Travis Montgomery interviews Dr. Jason DeRouchie—Research Professor of Old Testament and Biblical Theology at Midwestern Seminary—on why the Old Testament is Christian Scripture and how believers today can understand and enjoy it. Drawing from decades of scholarship and pastoral ministry, Dr. DeRouchie explains why many Christians struggle with the Old Testament, how he came to cherish it, and why Jesus, Paul, and the apostles treated it as foundational for Christian faith. The conversation explores biblical-theological method, the role of covenants, genealogies, how to see Christ faithfully in Old Testament texts, and practical steps for reading, teaching, and preaching Jesus’s Bible as Christians today.

About the Podcast

Local Theologians is a podcast for everyday Christians and ministry leaders from Midwestern Seminary’s Global Campus. Learn more at mbts.edu/global.

Keywords

Old Testament, biblical theology, New Testament use of the Old Testament, covenants, genealogies, Christ in the Old Testament, Christian Scripture, exegesis, preaching, Jason DeRouchie

Takeaways

• The Old Testament is Christian Scripture—Jesus, Paul, and all the apostles treated it as their Bible.

• The Old Testament authors wrote with the new-covenant church in mind.

• Many Christians struggle with the Old Testament because they have not seen it modeled as Christian Scripture or preached in depth.

• Reading the Old Testament with Jesus at the center removes the veil and opens spiritual understanding.

• The Old Testament tells one unified story of God’s redemptive plan culminating in Christ.

• Slow reading, attention to cross-references, and tracing biblical-theological patterns enrich understanding.

• Genealogies and laws reveal God’s character and point to the need for—and fulfillment in—Jesus.

• Faithful interpretation avoids forcing Christ into the text but instead follows patterns warranted in Scripture.

Sound Bites

• The Old Testament was Jesus’s Bible—and it’s ours too.”

• The prophets knew they were writing for a future, restored people—us.”

• Paul never read his Old Testament the same after meeting Jesus.

• If we keep Jesus at the center, the veil is removed.

• Every genealogy is going somewhere—either toward the Messiah or the mission field.

In this episode, Dr. Travis Montgomery talks with Dr. Taylor DiRoberto—Pastor of Preaching and Leadership at Northside Fellowship and Assistant Professor of Christian Studies at Spurgeon College—about how studying ecclesiology (the doctrine of the church) has shaped his life, convictions, and ministry. Taylor shares how a single week in a systematic theology class opened the door to a lifelong passion for understanding church authority, leadership, and congregational responsibility. They discuss the difference between pragmatism and prudence, the biblical basis for plurality of elders, congregational decision-making, and how doctrine forms real ministry practices in church planting, pastoral care, and discipleship.

About the Podcast

Local Theologians is a podcast for everyday Christians and ministry leaders from Midwestern Seminary's Global Campus. Learn more about online theological education at mbts.edu/global.

Keywords

ecclesiology, church leadership, plurality of elders, congregationalism, prudence, pragmatism, church planting, theology of the church, Baptist polity, pastoral ministry

Takeaways

• Ecclesiology is the doctrine of the church—what it is, how it's led, and how authority functions.

• Studying the church helps ordinary Christians grow in love, wonder, and commitment to Christ’s people.

• Scripture gives principled patterns for church governance, even if not every detail is prescribed.

• Plurality of elders is a normative New Testament pattern that protects pastors and strengthens churches.

• Prudence—not mere pragmatism—applies biblical principles to complex, real-life ministry situations.

• Congregations have God-given authority in matters of doctrine and membership.

• Studying ecclesiology helps pastors partner humbly with their people and avoid isolation in ministry.

Sound Bites

• “God has something to say about how His church is structured and led.”

• “Plurality wasn’t a strategy—it was a conviction from Scripture.”

• “The curriculum gives you boxes the algorithm never will.”

• “Prudence applies doctrine; pragmatism ignores it.”

In this Serve Story episode, Dr. Travis Montgomery talks with Dr. Jeff Medders—Director of Theology and Content for Send Network (NAMB), Visiting Professor of Christian Studies at Midwestern Seminary, and General Editor and Fellow of the Spurgeon Center. Together they discuss why church planters need robust theology, how Send Network prepares and assesses planters, and the importance of faithful, effective ministry. Jeff shares insights from his church planting experience, his work building theological resources, and the new masterclass and courses designed to equip planters for long-term, healthy ministry. Learn more about Send Network resources at www.newchurches.com.

About the Podcast

Local Theologians is a podcast for everyday Christians and ministry leaders from Midwestern Seminary's Global Campus. Learn more about online theological education at mbts.edu/global.

Keywords

church planting, Send Network, NAMB, theology, ecclesiology, assessment, pastoral ministry, missiology, ministry training, discipleship

Takeaways

• Church planters need both faithfulness to Scripture and effectiveness in leadership.

• Send Network provides training, assessments, and resources to prepare planters for the challenges of ministry.

• Theological depth protects planters from error and equips them to shepherd their people well.

• The assessment process helps ensure that planters are called, qualified, and ready for the rigor of planting.

• Spiritual formation, not just strategy, is essential for long-term health in ministry.

• Robust theological resources—including seminary, masterclasses, books, and podcasts—help multiply healthy churches.

• Good theology helps planters triage issues, avoid unnecessary division, and focus on gospel essentials.

Sound Bites

• We want planters who are faithful and effective—because one without the other won’t last.

• Church planters are local theologians; they must tell the truth about God.

• Fog machines won’t help you if you don’t know your doctrine.

• Anybody can gather a crowd, but only the gospel raises people from the dead.

• Good theology helps us care about what matters—and stop caring about what doesn’t.