Preaching with Wisdom: Balancing Scripture and Statistics | The Church Resource Podcast

Welcome back to The Church Resource, the podcast where we help pastors, church leaders, and everyday believers discover the best tools, ideas, and insights for faithful ministry in today’s world. Hosted by Pastor Lucas Pinckard (the self-proclaimed “World’s Okayest Pastor”) and joined by the ever-insightful Dr. Chris Respass, this week’s episode digs deep into one of the most practical and important questions facing church communicators: How do we use secular or contemporary resources responsibly in preaching and teaching—without losing focus on Scripture?

In our last episode, we explored the value of historical resources like Josephus, Herodotus, or ancient philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle—tools that help give context to biblical events while reminding us that the Bible is always the best commentary on itself.

This week, we turn our attention to contemporary secular resources—modern books, statistics, and cultural studies—and discuss how pastors can use them wisely to understand and engage the culture they minister in. Dr. Chris Respass explains how he often uses statistics or articles from sources like Psychology Today or Pew Research as introductions or transitions in sermons, helping listeners connect biblical truth to real-world issues like mental health or anxiety.

But as both Lucas and Chris remind us, there’s a fine line between using data to illustrate the truth and letting data replace the truth. Statistics, research, and cultural commentary are helpful tools—but God’s Word must always remain the primary authority. Pastor Lucas shares candidly about his own struggle with leaning too heavily on stats to make a sermon point, only to feel the Spirit remind him: “My Word is sufficient.”

The two also discuss the danger of misinformation and how easily false “facts” spread online. A simple viral graphic can lead millions astray if not checked against reliable sources. As pastors and teachers, it’s vital to vet every source before sharing it from the pulpit.

Later in the episode, the conversation turns practical and philosophical—how do pastors know when it’s time to address cultural issues directly, and when to simply preach the Word and trust the Spirit to make the connection? Dr. Chris Respass offers wisdom about knowing the “off-ramp” — the moment when a secular resource should point back to Scripture rather than dominate the sermon.

They also explore examples like Jonathan Haidt’s book The Anxious Generation—a secular work that inadvertently affirms biblical principles about peace, spiritual practices, and anxiety. Using such resources can illuminate truth for our congregations, but only if we keep the gospel at the center.

In the end, the takeaway is clear: use resources to engage culture, but never replace the Word with the world. Whether you’re a new preacher or a seasoned pastor, this episode is packed with wisdom to help you stay grounded, biblical, and effective in today’s information-driven age.

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