To bear with one another in love includes respecting others’ sensitivities and reservations, even when we disagree with their conclusions.

In this episode of You’re Not Crazy, Ray Ortlund and Sam Allberry help to reframe this difficult task by challenging us to consider our brother or sister’s sincerity to the Lord, noting the beauty of a conscientious Christian and the power of disagreements to bring about our sanctification.

They warn pastors of the danger in leading congregants to violate their consciences and commend dependence on the Lord as we navigate challenging relationships within the church.

• Recommended resource: Everyday Gospel: A Daily Devotional Connecting Scripture to All of Life by Paul Tripp (Crossway)

The book of Romans expounds as much on how we bear with one another in love as it does on the doctrine of justification. In this episode of You’re Not Crazy, Ray Ortlund and Sam Allberry delve into this important section of Paul’s letter, considering matters of conscience, how to love the weaker brother, and what it means to be convinced in our own minds. They also celebrate the beautiful diversity of Christ’s church and the important call to delight in our differences.

• Recommended resource: One with My Lord: The Life-Changing Reality of Being in Christ by Sam Allberry (Crossway)

The law defines our flourishing life as Christians, but often we are prone to see God’s commands as restrictive and burdensome.

In this episode of You’re Not Crazy, Ray Ortlund and Sam Allberry highlight love as the fulfillment of the law. They point to God as not only the authority but also the expert in love, showing how each of his commandments overflows with implications for how we might love our neighbor. And they celebrate God’s kindness to transform our desires as we put on Christ, being evermore transformed into his likeness.

Recommended resource:

• Proclaiming the Word: Principles and Practices for Expository Preaching by David Jackman

The apostle Paul tells Christians to submit to their governing authorities — but are there exceptions? And what does that submission look like? In this episode of You’re Not Crazy, Ray Ortlund and Sam Allberry dig into these questions and more, considering God’s providence, the function of the government, what characterizes Christian dissent, and how we can prepare our hearts for election season.

Recommended resources:

• You're Not Crazy: Gospel Sanity for Weary Churches by Ray Ortlund and Sam Allberry (Crossway)

When the apostle Paul warns Christians not to be overcome by evil (Rom. 12:21), he knows it will be difficult. Nonetheless, he challenges us to believe that God is at work in redemptive reversals. In this episode of You’re Not Crazy, Sam Allberry and Ray Ortlund unpack the difficulty of death to self and consider how it looks to entrust ourselves to the Lord even as we face evil and wrongdoing. And they once again commend the beauty of gospel culture, where pastors and church communities “give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all” (Rom. 12:17).

Recommended resource:

• The Heart of Jesus: How He Really Feels about You by Dane Ortlund (Crossway)

In this episode, Ray and Sam dig into Romans 12:1–8 and how to live as recipients of God’s mercies. They model sober judgment as they reflect on the ways we tend to overestimate our own capacities, considering instead how we might acknowledge that we’re part of a greater whole. Recognizing we belong to one another, they encourage pastors to view themselves as members of Christ’s body, reveling in the beauty of relationships within the church.

Recommended resource:

• ESV Systematic Theology Study Bible (Crossway)

What marks genuine Christian love? The apostle Paul lays out an extensive list in Romans 12:9–21. In this episode of You’re Not Crazy, Ray Ortlund and Sam Allberry examine how Paul’s commands are meant to hold together as part of an integrated ecosystem that makes up the Christian life. They consider the humility and vulnerability required to give and receive genuine affection, and they challenge pastors and congregants to cultivate countercultural communities marked by gospel hope.

Recommended resource:

• Saved: Experiencing the Promise of the Book of Acts by Nancy Guthrie (Crossway)

Join Ray Ortlund and Sam Allberry for this final season of the You're Not Crazy podcast, as they delve into the transformative passages of Romans 12-15 and equip you with fresh perspectives for leading and nurturing gospel-centered communities. This season, you can look forward to more in-depth discussions and practical insights that will further prepare and rejuvenate you for the work of pastoral ministry.