By Charlie Goss
Podcasts are relatively new in the history of mass media, yet they bring great potential for Christians as we grow spiritually. Christian podcasts are lengthy sessions of opinion, stories, wisdom, and instruction from qualified individuals or experts. Not interested? Proverbs 19:20 says, “Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end.” Sounds like podcasts might be a good way to apply this verse!
The Power of Christian Podcasts
People like to listen to podcasts in the quiet, uneventful moments of the day—on the commute to work, on a lunch break, or in the evening before bed. We can fill these moments with all kinds of media. But podcasts should be a contender for our attention. Jesus taught the original disciples daily for years, and they talked together in the little moments. Likewise, podcasts fill in the recesses of our minds with life-giving content and truth. The quiet, banal times serve as chances to reinforce good spiritual practice which will help shape our minds and desires toward Christ over time.
Moreover, hearing from the same person every day means we’re participating in a long-term journey through the days, weeks, and months of ordinary life. It’s like a new part of the Christian calendar with the length of the Advent or Lent seasons. Spiritual formation is a long-term project, after all. We have to train ourselves in godliness and go back over and over to the spiritual gym. Podcasts are most like the ellipticals: designed for steady, extended use and endurance training.
Information in Your Earbuds
Additionally, the beauty of podcasts is that they cover a host of topics. Some podcasts cover specific areas like technology or law. Some have a broader focus, such as the news from a Christian worldview (e.g. Al Mohler’s The Daily Briefing podcast). Podcasts inform, encourage, inspire, and entertain listeners. These days there are podcasts on nearly anything imaginable. In the past, such content would have required a closer mentorship or enrollment in a university. Today, much of it is easily accessible. Christians can learn how to be better leaders through the John Maxwell Leadership Podcast. Or they can glean valuable lessons from godly women through the Proverbs 31 Ministry Podcast.
As well, at the risk of sounding obvious, podcasts require listening. In our individualistic age, we need to hear from others and really listen to what they have to say. More than the actual content, listening to how they’re saying it, why they’re saying it, and what it’s revealing about them as a person is important. Although we can’t talk back to the podcast, listening is always a helpful component in a spiritual formation game plan—just like how we listen to God speak to us through his Word.
We should consider adding Christian podcasts or two into our routines to help us grow in spiritual formation.
Starting Listening Today
Discussion questions. Comment below or on social media.
- What are your favorite Christian podcasts?
- When do you most listen to podcasts?
- What type of Christian podcasts do you wish existed?
NOTE FROM THEOPHANY MEDIA: We produce a cool, spiritually formative podcast called The Bible…but Funnier. While it’s filled with humor that is kid-appropriate and entertaining to all, every episode ends with a short lesson based on the story. Since it’s just 15 minutes a day, it’s an easy way to engage in Scripture, entertain yourself, and grow spiritually.
Charlie Goss is a writer, analyst, worshipper of God, and evangelical storyteller residing in scenic Lynchburg, VA. He is the author of Secular to Sacred: A Contemporary Novel and holds a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Liberty University School of Divinity. He enjoys writing about Christian living, singleness, perspective, and culture. His website is www.charliegosswriter.com.