Where to Find a Champion

Where to Find a Champion

Author: The Gospel Coalition March 10, 2023 Duration: 45:28

“When current fear comes and it is looming large in your life, then what we need to do is . . . remember what God has done, remember his past faithfulness. . . . Let his past faithfulness cultivate current faith in us in the present.” –– Courtney Doctor

In her keynote message at TGCW22, Courtney Doctor teaches from 1 Samuel 17 about the true champion in the story of David and Goliath.

Doctor says the battle between David and Goliath is actually about the King who has won the battle for us—King Jesus, in whom is our salvation and victory over sin and death. She teaches on three things about David that helped him win the battle and, if applied to our own lives, will help us in our own battle against sin:

1. Realize God’s greatness. David realized that coming in the name of the living God was more powerful than all the armor or weapons Goliath had.

2. Remember God’s faithfulness. Recalling all the times God saved him from danger in the past gave David faith in the present.

3. Represent God’s people. Those who were in David’s army won because he won. The same is true if we're in Christ—because he has won, we also receive the victory even though we didn't earn it.

Doctor closes with this reminder: “We are running after our Champion [Jesus] into a battle that has already been decided, so fix your eyes on the King of Glory, realize his greatness, remember his faithfulness, and keep running after him.”


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
Race in a Broken World [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:29
Danté Upshaw led a workshop with the Bay Area Chapter of The Gospel Coalition called “Race in the New Community.” Speaking of the new community created by God through Christ—his church—and sharing from his own experience…
Why Prayer Is Necessary for Revival [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:13
“True revival is not preached up. It's prayed down."From the prayer recorded in Acts 4:23-31, H. B. Charles examined the manner through which the church experiences spiritual breakthrough and revival—when believers pray…
Tim Keller on Being Born Again [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:41
"The new birth is the power that God is going to use to regenerate the world." – Tim KellerAt The Gospel Coalition’s 2019 National Conference in Indianapolis, Tim Keller delivered a message titled “You Must Be Born Again…
Don Carson on What We Can Learn from Lazarus [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:21
"One of the things that is most striking about the gospel is that at its heart, it is a gospel of surprises."Don Carson delivered a message titled “Lazarus” at The Gospel Coalition’s 2019 National Conference in Indianapo…
Navigating Ministry and Marriage as a Pastor’s Wife [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:58
During The Gospel Coalition’s 2018 Women’s Conference, Noël Piper, Latoya McCutcheon, Lauren Hansen, and Megan Hill participated in a panel discussion titled “Co-Laboring in the Gospel: A Conversation for Pastors’ and El…
How to Pursue Faithfulness in an Anxious Age (Re-Release) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:04
Trevin Wax gave a message at TGC's 2017 National Conference, encouraging us to pursue faithfulness and remember the gospel, even in the midst of a culturally anxious and troubled age. Though many things have changed sinc…
Agents of Healing for Racial Division [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:56
“As long as God is continuing to reconcile men to himself, he's going to be continuing to reconcile men and women to one another.” — Kristie AnyabwileDuring The Gospel Coalition’s 2018 Women’s Conference, Kristie Anyabwi…
Spoken-Word Hope for Weary Women [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:39
During The Gospel Coalition’s 2018 Women’s Conference, Elicia Horton, Quina Aragon, and Janette…Ikz delivered separate spoken word pieces in a workshop titled “True and Beautiful Words for Weak and Weary Pilgrims.” The t…
Building a Gospel-Driven Church Is Hard [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:07
Disclaimer: This breakout session was recorded before the 2019 global pandemic. Please follow your church body's guidelines when gathering in person for church services. Jared Wilson delivered a message in a breakout at…
David Wells: Voice in the Evangelical Wilderness [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:07
David Wells is one of the most influential theologians you’ve never heard of, helping to spark the Reformed resurgence 30 years ago. But if you’d met him as a child—a nonChristian growing up in Africa during the days of…