Alex Harris: How to Do Hard Things

Alex Harris: How to Do Hard Things

Author: The Gospel Coalition May 6, 2021 Duration: 33:11

It’s fair to say we’re coming out of a hard year. Everything we’ve done for the past 12 months has taken more effort and resulted in less productivity. Perhaps we would’ve been better prepared if we’d all read a book Alex Harris wrote with his brother Brett a dozen years ago called Do Hard Things. In it, Alex and Brett proposed that doing hard things prepares you to do even harder things. You should get up early, they said. Step out of your comfort zone. Do more than what’s required. Find a cause. Be better than your culture expects.

So how did this teenage message prepare Alex for this last year as an adult carrying weighty responsibilities? In this special bonus episode of The Gospel Coalition Podcast, TGC senior writer Sarah Zylstra asked Alex about his experience clerking for two U.S. Supreme Court justices and editing Harvard Law Review, his brother Josh's high-profile deconstruction of his faith, whether evangelicals invest too much import in presidential politics, and much more. You can hear more from Alex in Zylstra's new book, Gospelbound: Living with Resolute Hope in an Anxious Age.

This episode of The Gospel Coalition Podcast is sponsored by Lifeway, publisher of Jen Wilkin’s newest Bible study, God of Deliverance: A Study of Exodus 1–18.  Learn more at lifeway.com/deliverance.

 


Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.


Drawing from the archives of live events, the TGC Podcast from The Gospel Coalition offers a front-row seat to thoughtful discussions that sit at the intersection of faith and everyday life. This collection presents keynote addresses and breakout sessions recorded at their various conferences, capturing moments of teaching and dialogue meant to deepen understanding. The conversations you'll hear are grounded in a Christian worldview, exploring how timeless truths engage with contemporary issues in culture, philosophy, and society. It’s a resource for anyone curious about how spiritual conviction informs our approach to art, work, community, and leadership. By sharing these talks, the aim is to provide practical theology and thoughtful commentary that helps listeners navigate the complexities of modern life with wisdom and grace. Each episode serves as a standalone session, whether it's a deep dive into a biblical text, an analysis of cultural trends, or reflections on pastoral ministry. Tuning into this podcast means accessing a wealth of perspectives dedicated to forming resilient faith. The content is crafted not just for pastors and church leaders, but for any believer seeking to connect their Sunday faith to their Monday reality. You will encounter a range of voices from within The Gospel Coalition network, all united by a commitment to the centrality of the gospel. The hope is that these recordings equip and challenge you to think more deeply about your own spiritual journey and your role in the world.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 438

TGC Podcast
Podcast Episodes
How Biblical Theology Changes Everything [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:37
In her message at TGCW21, Nancy Guthrie defines biblical theology and how it can transform Bible study as we gain a greater understanding of the Bible through it.Guthrie says biblical theology is a way of seeing the Bibl…
Live Joyfully in Christ's Finished Work [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:02
Teaching on Romans 5 at TGCW21, Kathleen Nielson highlights the truth that God’s grace is always abounding. She explains grace in relation to the past, present, and future—that we have been reconciled with God through Ch…
Good Faith Debates #4: How Should the Church Address Racial Injustice? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:51
In spring 2022, TGC released a five-part video debate series featuring prominent Christian thinkers discussing some of the most divisive issues facing the church today. On today’s episode, we’re featuring the fourth deba…
Good Faith Debates #1: How Should Christians Think About Gun Control? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:01
In spring 2022, TGC released a five-part video debate series featuring prominent Christian thinkers discussing some of the most divisive issues facing the church today. On today’s episode, we’re featuring the first debat…
Pastor, Keep Running Your Race [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:56
John Yates leads a pastoral panel with Matt Carter, Vermon Pierre, and Afshin Ziafat in a discussion on how hard ministry can be and what it takes to not lose heart. They discuss their personal experience of carrying the…
Bonus: Escape from Kabul [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:08
On today’s bonus episode of TGC Podcast, we’re featuring a selection from TGC’s narrative podcast, Recorded. In "Escape from Kabul", TGC senior writer Sarah Zylstra tells the story of God's dramatic work through the unde…
When It's Hard to Keep Fighting the Good Fight [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:39
At TGC21, Darryl Williamson explains how Hebrews 12 uncovers the purpose of opposition in the Christian life. Spiritual conflict has been our defining reality since the fall of man, and God has used the church—people—to…