Good Baggage for the Holidays with Ike Miller

Good Baggage for the Holidays with Ike Miller

Author: Steve Carter December 12, 2023 Duration: 55:07
How much does your upbringing influence your life now? The answer for all of us is ... more than we realize. In today’s episode, Ike Miller一who pastors Bright City Church alongside his wife Sharon一shares about his new book called Good Baggage: How Your Difficult Childhood Prepared You for Healthy Relationships. Growing up in a dysfunctional family impacted by alcoholism and divorce, Ike shares firsthand wisdom about: Cultivating a regular rhythm of counseling. Why saying no is necessary to stay healthy. How to stop editing our identity to please others. How to prioritize rest and resist the idol of success. How to build a healthy church and home culture. During the holidays一a season laden with complex family dynamics and packed schedules一let this episode remind you that God is with you, loves you, and is working through your story. EPISODE LINKS Ike’s book: Good Baggage Website: https://ikemiller.com Church: Bright City Church @ikefmiller @steveryancarter @craft_character

Steve Carter hosts Craft & Character, a space where the art of preaching meets the inward journey of the preacher. This isn't about quick tips or isolated techniques; it's a deep, thoughtful exploration of how who you are fundamentally shapes what you say from the pulpit. Each episode rests on a central, challenging question: are you merely transferring religious information, or are you speaking from a place that has been genuinely and personally transformed? The conversations in this podcast argue that authentic, impactful communication of faith cannot happen without the messenger's own life being shaped by the very truths they proclaim. You'll hear Steve engage with a variety of voices on the intricate blend of skill development and spiritual formation. The discussions are grounded in practical wisdom for the craft of sermon preparation and delivery, while always circling back to the essential priority of character, integrity, and a vibrant personal walk. Designed for those in ministry, from seasoned pastors to those just starting out, this podcast offers a rare and refreshing honesty about the pressures and privileges of the role. It’s for anyone who believes that teaching well requires living well first, making Craft & Character a vital resource for personal growth and professional development within the realms of faith and leadership.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Craft & Character
Podcast Episodes
When the World Breaks with Jason Miller [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:47
The world is broken. When we see and feel that brokenness, it sometimes feels impossible一even illogical一to cling to faith. In this episode, Jason Miller, lead pastor of South Bend City Church in Indiana, describes his ow…
How to Reach Urban Youth with Tommy Nixon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:38
Steve Carter chops it up with his best friend Tommy Nixon一CEO of the Urban Youth Workers Institute一about how to reach the next generation for Christ. Tommy unpacks 20+ years of urban ministry, including: What to do about…
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Duration: 56:20
Every communicator must decide: Am I going to be the person pretending I don’t have flaws, or am I going to be someone with something to say? For Michele Cushatt一author, speaker, and communication coach一three bouts with…
Master the Art of Storytelling with Nick Benoit and Paul Johnson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:20
If you’ve ever felt creatively fatigued from the demand to preach week after week, meet Bravingbird: a go-to resource to help you communicate the gospel story with more clarity, beauty, and authenticity. In this episode,…
Find Healthier Ways to Preach on Sex with Sheila Wray Gregoire [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:17
Sex is designed by God to be a gift, but tragically, it’s horribly misused to objectify women一not only in the world at-large一but also in the church. In this episode, Sheila Wray Gregoire, author of The Great Sex Rescue,…
Finding Streams in the Wasteland with Andrew Arndt [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:11
Andrew Arndt had an airtight plan for his life: keep preaching at the same church as lead pastor until his final breath. But when God led him out of his small, artsy community into a megachurch, while grateful for his ne…
Preaching the Centrality of Christ with James Forsyth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:14
Every time James Forsyth preaches, his goal is to set hearts ablaze一like Jesus in Luke 24, when he opened the scriptures with his disciples and their “hearts burned within them.” As the senior pastor at Cedar Springs Pre…
Having Words with God with Addison Bevere [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:26
Prayer is the one thing we know we’re supposed to do, but often the thing we don’t know how to do一or if we’re 100% honest一the thing we don’t always want to do. In this episode, Steve Carter talks with Addison Bevere, who…
Preaching Theology for Everyone with Joel Muddamalle [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:58
Knowledge often produces hubris, not humility, which is why Joel Muddamalle is such a refreshing theological voice. As the Director of Theology and Research for Proverbs 31 Ministries, and a preaching pastor at Transform…
Becoming Strong Like Water with Aundi Kolber [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:57
Back by popular demand, author and therapist Aundi Kolber shares about her forthcoming book, Strong Like Water. This book debunks stoic, soul-depleting platitudes like “No pain, no gain,” instead showing that healing fro…