Holy Joys Podcast

Alex Fry joins Johnathan Arnold to discuss the need for deeper reflection about AI from a Christian perspective.Support the show

Jon Earls joins Johnathan Arnold to discuss the importance of reading in the life of pastors and all Christians.Support the show

Joey Ratcliff joins Johnathan Arnold to discuss restoration (restorative church discipline), why churches avoid it, and why it's so important to recover restoration as a basic duty of the church and of pastors.Support the show

David Fry and Johnathan Arnold continue discussing the complementarian-egalitarian debate and outline the traditional view of a female-only pastorate. The next episode will focus on the egalitarian arguments for ordaining women as pastors/elders.Support the show

In this episode, Johnathan Arnold provides some foundational teaching on what it means to be "male and female." Topics include:Chromosomal differencesPrimary & secondary sex characteristicsSex chromosome abnormalitiesMen in women's sportsSexismMale and female tendanciesGender stereotypesGender roles and expectations"Masculine" and "feminine" virtuesGender identity, dysphoria, and transgenderismNames, pronouns, and gender-inclusive languageGender in Bible translationGod's being and genderSupport the show

David Fry and Johnathan Arnold discuss the debate over gender as it relates to leadership in the home and church.Support the show

David Fry and Johnathan Arnold discuss engaging the whole person in worship (e.g., through postures, lighting, color, decorations, art, symbolism, and intentional use of the human voice).Support the show

Travis Johnson joins Johnathan Arnold to discuss key lessons that he has learned from 30 years of pastoral ministry. Topics include:PreachingCharacter and integrityFamily as a priorityRest, Sabbath, and SabbaticalsBeing a lifelong learner and student of serious theologyGod's faithfulnessSupport the show

Johnathan Arnold and David Fry discuss the terms "high church" and "low church," their historical origins, and how they are used today.Support the show

David Fry and Johnathan Arnold discuss patriotism in Christian worship and the church's identity as a holy nation.Support the show

David Fry and Johnathan Arnold discuss how the Church Calendar provides gospel-centered direction and rhythm for Christian worship.Support the show

Johnathan Arnold talks through his article "Does Baptism Save?" explaining four key points:Baptism saves.Baptism does not save automatically.Baptism does not guarantee final salvation.Baptism is not the only thing that saves.Support the show

David Fry and Johnathan Arnold discuss music in Christian worship.Support the show

Joey Ratcliff joins Johnathan Arnold to discuss church mission statements.Support the show

Johnathan Arnold teaches through Chapter 1 of The Whole Counsel of God catechism.Support the show

David Fry and Johnathan Arnold discuss the Sunday Service, continuing with the Service of the Lord's Supper. This episode focuses on the concluding rites: the Doxology, Benediction, and Sending, as well as announcements (when necessary).Support the show

David Fry and Johnathan Arnold discuss the Sunday Service, continuing with the Service of the Lord's Supper. This episode focuses on the Ministration (distribution of communion) and the Prayer After Communion. Topics include who should serve, why the Ministers receive first, why the people come forward to receive, the use of communion chants or distribution songs, postures of receiving, reception in both kinds, leavened vs. unleavened bread, one cup vs. intinction vs. many cups, words of distribution, and hymns after communion.Support the show

David Fry and Johnathan Arnold discuss the Sunday Service, continuing with the Service of the Lord's Supper. This episode focuses on the parts of the service after the Prayer of Consecration, leading into the ministration (distribution of communion): the Lord's Prayer, the Prayer of Humble Access, the Agnus Dei, the words often associated with the fraction ("Christ our Passover"), and the invitational words ("The gifts of God for the people of God").Support the show

This mini-episode is a short excerpt from "The Sunday Service, Part 9: The Prayer of Consecration."Support the show

David Fry and Johnathan Arnold discuss the Sunday Service, continuing with the Service of the Lord's Supper. This episode focuses on the Prayer of Consecration, which includes an anamnesis (remembrance), an epiclesis (calling down), the institution narrative/words of institution, and the mystery of faith/memorial acclamation.Support the show

David Fry, David Hartkopf, and Johnathan Arnold discuss the Sunday Service, continuing with the Service of the Lord's Supper. This episode focuses on the Comforting Words and Peace (after the Confession of Sin), the Offertory, and the Sursum Corda and Sanctus.Support the show

David Fry and Johnathan Arnold discuss the Sunday Service, continuing with the Service of the Lord's Supper. This episode focuses on the General Confession and Absolution (the prayer of confession of sin and the prayer for forgiveness).Support the show

David Fry and Johnathan Arnold discuss the Sunday Service, continuing with the Service of the Lord's Supper. This episode focuses on the Invitation to the Lord's Supper, how to transition from the Service of the Word to the Service of the Lord's Supper, and how communion relates to baptism.Support the show

Dr. James R. Hart, former President of the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies, joins David Fry, David Hartkopf, and Johnathan Arnold to discuss Lent and its core spiritual disciplines.Support the show

David Fry and Johnathan Arnold discuss Thomas Oden's Classic Christianity, Book Two, Chapter 11: "In Our Place," pages 401–405. Topics include the meaning of atonement, the key theme of reconciliation, the centrality of the cross in Christian faith and worship, and the way that the atonement reflects God's holy and loving nature.Support the show

Dan Sharp, Professor at The Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies, joins David Fry, David Hartkopf, and Johnathan Arnold to discuss the Christian year (the liturgical calendar) and how it can deepen our worship of God. Dr. Sharp is the author of Advent to Ashes: Scripture, Commentary, Music, and Prayer Devotional For Each Day of the Christian Year (Covenant Books, 2025). Support the show

David Fry and Johnathan Arnold continue discussing Thomas Oden's Classic Christianity, Book Two, Chapter 10: "The Death of Christ." The second half of this chapter focuses on the crucifixion, death, and burial of Christ.Support the show

This episode of the Holy Joys Podcast provides an example of how to use the simplified Daily Office that is included in the Holy Joys catechism book, The Whole Counsel of God. Follow along on page 238 (Confession of Sin) and page 242 (Daily Morning Prayer) of the book. Scripture readings are taken from the Bible reading plan on page 278.Support the show

David Fry and Johnathan Arnold begin discussing Thomas Oden's Classic Christianity, Book Two, Chapter 10: "The Death of Christ." The first half of this chapter focuses on the suffering of Christ which led up to his death.Support the show

David Fry, David Hartkopf, and Johnathan Arnold discuss the Sunday Service, beginning with the Service of the Word. This episode focuses on the Prayers of the People, also called "Congregational Prayer," the "Universal Prayer," and the "Prayer of the Faithful."Support the show

David Fry, David Hartkopf, and Johnathan Arnold discuss the Sunday Service, beginning with the Service of the Word. This episode focuses on the weekly confession of the Creed (Nicene, Apostles', or Athanasian).Support the show

David Fry, David Hartkopf, and Johnathan Arnold discuss the Sunday Service, beginning with the Service of the Word.Support the show

David Fry, David Hartkopf, and Johnathan Arnold continue their discussion of the Sunday Service, beginning with the Service of the Word.Support the show

David Fry and Johnathan Arnold discuss their favorite advent hymns. Visit holyjoys.org/advent-songs for a list of Advent hymns, songs, and metrical Psalms, and check out the Holy Joys Advent Playlist on Spotify or at holyjoys.org/advent-playlist.Support the show

David Fry and Johnathan Arnold discuss Thomas Oden's Classic Christianity, Book Two, Chapter 9: "The Work He Came to Do." This chapter looks at the threefold office of Christ (munus triplex), and begins to explore Christ's ministry as Prophet and Priest.Support the show

David Fry, David Hartkopf, and Johnathan Arnold discuss the Sunday Service, beginning with the Service of the Word. This episode covers The Processional, Acclamation, Call to Worship, Opening Prayer (e.g., Collect for Purity), Summary of the Law, Kyrie and Trisagion, Gloria Patri, and Hymn of Praise (e.g., Gloria in Excelsis).Support the show

A discussion between David Hartkopf, David Fry, and Johnathan Arnold on the public reading of Scripture and how to use a lectionary.Support the show

A discussion between David Hartkopf, David Fry, and Johnathan Arnold on the nature of Christian worship and its essential parts.Support the show

Travis Johnson joins Johnathan Arnold and David Fry to discuss Matthew 27:46, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"Why does Jesus quote Psalm 22:1 from the cross?Is there a break or separation between the Father and the Son on the cross?Does Jesus bear the wrath of God on the cross?Why is important for pastors to address the myth that the Father utterly forsook the Son?Support the show

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In this episode of the Holy Joys Podcast, Dr. David Fry and Johnathan Arnold discuss several views on Israel and the church, addressing the common accusation that those who recognize continuity between Israel and the church are proponents of replacement theology and somehow “anti-Israel.”Support the show

David Fry and Johnathan Arnold discuss approaches to evangelism, the evangelistic duty of the pastor-theologian, and the priority of missions in the life of the church.Support the show

Johnathan Arnold and David Fry discuss David's recent article, "What Does Healthy Church Growth Look Like?"Support the show

In this special episode of the Holy Joys Podcast, Johnathan Arnold talks through his article "How Often Should We Receive the Lord's Supper?"Support the show

David Fry and Johnathan Arnold discuss the Sunday Service and how they prepare for weekly worship.Support the show

Johnathan and David discuss some of their favorite online resources.Johnathan’s list:ccel.org — a wealth of free Christian books; allows you to make an account so that you can save notes and highlightsnewadvent.org — especially newadvent.org/fathers, which has the full text of many patristic worksstepbible.org — Step Bible by Tyndale House, my favorite online Biblewesley.nnu.edu — Wesley Center Online with the full text of Wesley’s sermons, Notes on the Bible, etc.bestcommentaries.com — commentary recommendations on each book of the Biblethevcs.org — Christian art in conversation with Scripturebibleproject.com — a wealth of free Bible study resources (e.g., animated video overviews of each book of the Bible)bcponline.org — the Book of Common Prayer onlinelectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu — the Revised Common Lectionary with readings and other liturgical resourcesbiblehub.com — some free commentaries (e.g., Calvin’s Commentary) in an easy-to-read formatDavid's list:1. The Wesley Center Online (free)A database of Wesleyan and holiness materials created by Northwest Nazarene University.I like it because it has some hard-to-get resources.2. Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL.org)SearchableIncludes Schaff’s 38-volume Church Father’s seriesCalvin’s CommentariesWorks of Arminius (3 Vol. Nichols ed.)No page numbers3. NewAdvent.org (free)Similar to CCELMore readable in my opinion4. The Revised Common Lectionary (lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu)5. Papalencyclicals.net (free)Every important document ever put out by the Roman Catholic ChurchThe search feature is difficult to use because titles are often only in Latin.6. Perlego.com ($18/month)This would be in my top two or three if it still had the daily subscription option.Tons of contemporary books.7. Wesley Scholar (wesleyscholar.com) (free)An independent collection of Wesleyan-Methodist and early Christian works. Contains articles as well as original works.8. Open Access Digital Theological Library (libguides.thedtl.org) Contains some free materialContains PhD dissertations9. Books.Google.com Used to be able to download as PDFs.Gives all the information about a book including the nearest library or where to get it online.10. Gutenberg.org (free)Over 70,000 of free ebooksChristian and secular booksSeveral different formats including actual facsimiles of pagesEverything is public domainSearchableHonorable Mentions:JSTOR.org (fee)Usually accessible through a student library accountNot really affordable for individuals.Academia.edu (fee and free)Up-to-date scholarshipPay by subscription or by itemSupport the show

David Fry and Johnathan Arnold discuss their experience at the recent Holy Joys Healthy Church Conference in Frankfort, IN. Visit holyjoys.org/conference for more info about the conference and next year's dates.Support the show

Joey Ratcliff joins Johnathan Arnold and David Fry to discuss restoration assessment—what to do if someone's sin comes to light in the local church.Since this podcast was recorded, Joey Ratcliff is now Lead Pastor at The Way Community Church in Muncie, IN. He is a graduate of Wesley Biblical Seminary (MDiv, 2023) and God's Bible School (B.A. MinEd, 2008).Support the show

Visit holyjoys.org/books-pastor-library to see David and Johnathan's lists.Support the show

In this episode, Johnathan Arnold and David Fry discuss the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers and its practical implications for the life of the church, especially keeping and restoring one another from sin.Quotes from Fry:Our authority as pastors is a derived authority. We are acting on behalf of Christ and his church.In our leadership-focused, hierarchical society, when you talk about rulership or dominion, immediately images of domination come to mind, instead of servant-leadership or service.Taking someone away from the local church and having a baptism is problematic. This is something that is to be taking place within the local body.Quotes from Arnold:Christians are united with Christ and so share in his anointing as priests to God.When it comes to something as basic as dealing with sin in our lives, the priesthood of all believers does not mean that I just go to my prayer closet and sort out all of my sin issues with Jesus. I also need to go to others in the congregation and we need to serve one another as priests. I need to say, "I'm not okay, I need help, will you pray with me?"It's not about "every one of us is a priest," it's about "we are all priests to one another."Support the show