The Best of You with Alison Cook

The Best of You with Alison Cook

Author: Steve Carter August 30, 2022 Duration: 48:21
In Christian circles, thinking about yourself is often labeled selfish. Psychologist and theologian Dr. Alison Cook pushes back on this assumption, explaining why caring for yourself is actually the best way to care for others. It’s the oxygen mask principle you always see in airplane safety videos: Put on your own mask so you can assist those around you. With jolting clarity, Dr. Cook debunks the narratives we use to justify self-neglect: We tell ourselves it’s all about them, but actually we just want to be needed. We tell ourselves we’re being sacrificial, but actually we lack healthy boundaries. We tell ourselves they are the problem, but actually we’ve trained them to be codependent. We tell ourselves we must solve every issue, but sometimes it’s ok to walk away. Many of us want to care for ourselves, but years of bad habits have atrophied our self-awareness and self-care. Dr. Cook offers a simple, yet profound model called “the MEPS,” which involves taking a regular inventory of your mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual condition. This episode is a must-listen for every preacher, spouse, parent, friend一every human! EPISODE LINKS Dr. Cook’s new book: The Best Of You Other books: Boundaries For Your Soul Dr. Cook’s website. @dralisoncook @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
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…
A More Accessible Theology with Ricky Jenkins [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:02
UPDATE: Audio has been updated from the previous version. So, if you were only able to listen to the first 7 minutes, now you can hear the entire episode. For Ricky Jenkins, lead pastor at Southwest Church in Indian Well…
4 Commitments of Preachers with Jared E. Alcántara [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:11
Some people transport us beyond our blind spots and comfort zones一introducing us to a chorus of diverse voices echoing across God’s kingdom, from both church history and our own age. Jared Alcantara is one of those guide…
Developing a Preacher's Hermeneutic with Joe Grana [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:08
In this special episode, Steve Carter talks to one of his mentors, Dr. Joe Grana, a longtime professor and dean at Hope International University, and currently a teaching pastor at The Refinery Christian Church in Arizon…
Preaching with No Regrets with Steve Sonderman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:58
“Ministry to men is on their time, their turf, and their agenda.” Steve Sonderman first heard those words from a mentor, and after pastoring at Elmbrook Church in Wisconsin for 34 years, serving as a chaplain for the Mil…
Preaching on Mission with Jordan Gustafson + Andrew Richards [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:26
What topic is on every page of the Bible? The answer is MISSION: God’s heart to seek and save those who are not yet a part of his family. This mission is not just something we read about in Scripture一it’s happening right…
The Preaching Funnel with Jarrett Stevens [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:49
Most communicators know the agony of staring at scattered notes, wondering how to shape them into a compelling message. Enter Jarrett Stevens, lead pastor Soul City Church in Chicago, who has spent 25 years honing his wr…
How to Preach Advent Like Never Before with Vanessa Stricker [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:21
For a lot of people, the holidays are physically frenetic, emotionally overwhelming, and spiritually distracting. Few slow down long enough to ponder what’s happening in their own souls, or to give more than a passing th…
Preaching to a Divided Nation with Paul A. Hoffman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:17
The 2022 midterm elections, like most political events in our age, will undoubtedly spark new fires of division in our country一not only in the nation at large, but sadly, within the church. Enter Paul A. Hoffman, the lea…
How Every Preacher Must Fan the Flame with Jim Cymbala [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:01
In his new book, Fan the Flame: Let Jesus Renew Your Calling and Revive Your Church, Jim Cymbala distills the Spirit-fueled, Bible-saturated ethos of his 50+ years in ministry. As Steve Carter affectionately quips, "Jim…