Hosts Paul Brandes and Bill Gorman sit down with the ever-insightful Tom Nelson, to explore an inspiring question: What does hope look like on Easter Monday, when the celebrations fade and we step back into our everyday routines?

Nelson shares candid reflections about his new season in life, including his transition from Lead Senior Pastor to Lead Pastor Coach and his ongoing work with Made to Flourish. The discussion dives into Made to Flourish’s incredible impact over the past decade—connecting thousands of pastors and helping churches bridge the gap between faith, work, and everyday life.

There is exciting news about a new global podcast from Tom Nelson in partnership with Premier Plus, designed to bring “Weekly Wisdom for Your Workplace” right to your Monday morning commute. He offers a behind-the-scenes look at what inspired this project, the heart behind it, and how listeners can stay connected to this work.

3 Main Takeaways:

1. Tom’s New Season and Transition:
   Tom Nelson reflected on his transition from lead senior pastor at Christ Community to his current role as Lead Pastoral Coach, where he is focusing on coaching, support, and being a cheerleader for the team. He spoke about feeling lighter, more buoyant, and grateful for the team and the opportunity to support without bearing the weight of primary leadership.
2. Growth and Impact of Made to Flourish:
   The conversation highlighted the national influence and growth of Made to Flourish, a sister organization to Christ Community. Tom Nelson shared impressive updates about their mission to empower pastors and integrate faith, work, and economic wisdom for community flourishing, all springing from Christ Community’s DNA.
3. Global Launch of the “God’s Work” Podcast:
   Nelson now has a partnership with Premier Plus in the UK, launching a new podcast called "God’s Work: Weekly Wisdom for Your Workplace." This podcast aims to help congregants connect Sunday faith to Monday work, releasing short, weekly episodes starting on Easter Monday. It’s geared for both UK and US audiences, and represents a dynamic new way Tom Nelson is sharing wisdom, story, and encouragement about integrating faith and the rhythms of everyday work.

Resources:

• Made to Flourish: https://www.madetoflourish.org/
• Common Good Magazine: https://commongoodmag.com/
• God's Work: Weekly Wisdom for Your Workplace (Podcast): https://www.premier.plus/podcasts

Timestamps:

00:00 "Tom Nelson's New Season"

05:16 "Empowering Pastors for Community Flourishing"

07:49 "Giving Through the Local Church"

10:03 "Partnership Established with Made to Flourish"

13:37 "Family, Friendship, and Quiet Joy"

Campus pastors Jacob Nannie and Bill Gorman are joined by Darrell Bock, a New Testament scholar and Senior Research Professor at Dallas Theological Seminary. The interaction centers on the historicity of the resurrection, exploring why it's not just a symbolic or spiritual event, but a pivotal moment in history that underpins the Christian faith.

Some of the toughest objections to the gospel accounts are tackled during this conversation, considering whether the writers are simply too biased, or if the resurrection is just a legend or myth that developed over time. Bock focuses on the reliability of the gospel narratives, surprising details that make them stand out from other ancient texts, and the unexpected role of women. Also addressed are alternative explanations for the disciples’ transformation, from wish fulfillment to hallucinations.

The discussion concludes that the reality of the resurrection isn't just ancient history—it radically shapes how we live, infusing hope, courage, and purpose into the Christian life. If you're wrestling with doubts or seeking a deeper understanding of why the resurrection matters, this episode brings both scholarly insight and practical application to one of Christianity’s central claims.

3 Main Takeaways:

1. 
   The Resurrection as a Historical Event
   The episode emphasizes that the resurrection of Jesus is a real, historical event. Dr. Darrell Bock explains why treating the resurrection as history is crucial to the Christian faith: grounded in eyewitness testimony that led to rapid changes in belief among Jesus' followers.
2. Transformation of the Disciples and Early Witnesses
   A radical transformation was experienced by the disciples and other early witnesses who were not predisposed to believe in the resurrection. Rather, they were skeptical, in mourning, and afraid. The episode addresses alternative explanations and considers the best explanation.
3. The Importance and Impact of Resurrection Today
   The resurrection is described as a "game changer" for personal faith and daily life, shaping hope, perseverance, work, and confidence for Christians today, anchoring the meaning and purpose of life and work.

Timestamps:

1. 00:00:00 — Dr. Darrell Bock describes the resurrection as a "game changer on steroids," setting the tone for the episode's significance.

   00:03:21 — Dr. Darrell Bock explains the profound transformation of the disciples from despair to conviction, emphasizing the historical impact of the resurrection.

   00:04:05 — Dr. Darrell Bock addresses the issue of bias in the Gospel accounts, focusing on how the witnesses were not inclined to believe in the resurrection initially.

   00:07:10 — Dr. Darrell Bock clarifies the genre of the Gospels as ancient biography (bios), distinguishing it from myth and highlighting its historical reliability.

   00:08:17 — Dr. Darrell Bock discusses how the first witnesses of the resurrection were women, a detail culturally unexpected and compelling for the historicity argument.

   00:10:23 — Dr. Darrell Bock recounts how the leaders dismissed the women's report of the resurrection as a fable, revealing the skepticism among early believers.

   00:12:01 — Dr. Darrell Bock wishes he had a recording of Jesus revealing the Scriptures to the disciples on the road to Emmaus, showing the deep impact of that encounter.

   00:14:03 — Jacob Nanney highlights transformation as a unifying theme in the resurrection accounts, from fear to bold witness.

   00:16:42 — Dr. Darrell Bock explains the "mutation" in Jewish belief regarding the timing of resurrection, emphasizing the historical anomaly and its implications.

   00:21:14 — Dr. Darrell Bock shares how the resurrection gives hope beyond suffering and endurance in life, touching on its personal and transformative significance.

In this episode, Jesse and Leah Roberts, the creative duo behind Poor Bishop Hooper, share with Pastor Paul Brandes their journey as artists, songwriters, and founders of a nonprofit ministry dedicated to Scripture-based music. They candidly discuss their calling, how their ministry evolved step-by-step, and give insights into their projects like Golgotha and Every Psalm.

3 Main Takeaways:

1. 
   Faithfulness in Small Steps Leads to Impactful Ministry:

Jesse and Leah emphasize that their journey as musicians and ministry leaders was not the result of a grand, predetermined plan, but rather a series of faithful steps. By being obedient to God’s leading one step at a time, their work grew organically—from local church worship to founding a nonprofit, creating widely-used resources like Golgotha, and serving diverse communities, including prisons.

1. 
   Truth and Beauty Powerfully Transcend Contexts:

The experience of bringing the Golgotha project into prisons was transformative, both for the artists and the inmates. Leah shared how presenting something rooted in both truth and beauty had a profound gospel impact in places marked by pain and deprivation, proving that spiritual art remains powerful regardless of environment—whether in a cathedral or a maximum security prison.

1. 
   Christ Meets Us in Our Suffering and Darkness:

Drawing from their time immersed in the story of Christ’s suffering (through Golgotha) and their own personal hardships, Jesse and Leah encourage listeners that Jesus deeply understands our darkest, “Holy Saturday” seasons. The incarnation and crucifixion mean that Christ has entered into human suffering, providing comfort and solidarity for anyone experiencing pain, uncertainty, or waiting.

Resources:

Poor Bishop Hooper (Band/Ministry): https://www.poorbishophooper.com

Golgotha Project: https://www.poorbishophooper.com/golgotha

Every Psalm Project: https://www.poorbishophooper.com/everypsalm

Author William Quayle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Alfred_Quayle

Timestamps:

00:18 – Bill Gorman introduces the theme of following God in seasons of darkness and grief, previewing the depth of the episode.

02:49 – Paul Brandes asks Leah and Jesse to share how their calling as artists and creators developed, setting the stage for their story.

03:32 – Leah describes seeking God’s guidance after college, revealing her sense of vocation and trust in God’s provision.

06:13 – The origin story of Golgotha: how a pastor’s request and a 3-day retreat turned into writing all 14 songs for a Stations of the Cross musical experience.

08:18 – Jesse describes how Golgotha began spreading to different churches and communities, moving beyond its initial setting.

11:04 – Leah shares the pivotal moment when they decided to formalize their ministry as a nonprofit, focusing on underserved and unreached communities.

14:01 – Discussion about the heavy, contemplative nature of Golgotha and its focus on the “minor key” of Jesus’s suffering during Holy Week.

18:00 – The first time Golgotha was brought into a maximum-security prison, describing a powerful and unexpected response from inmates.

22:06 – Leah recounts how inmates donated to their ministry, powerfully illustrating the unity and generosity within the body of Christ.

27:26 – The hosts discuss being with God in “Holy Saturday” moments—suffering, waiting, and not yet seeing resurrection—and Leah shares a personal journey through family suffering and the presence of Christ in it.