Life, Leadership, and Lament: A Conversation with Mark Vroegop

The Russell Moore Show

Christianity Today, Russell Moore

Religion & Spirituality, Christianity

4.8 • 914 Ratings

🗓️ 26 March 2025

⏱️ 55 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

“ It may not be until the new heavens and the new earth, but we’re eventually going to know that God had goodness that was behind the dark clouds of our lives.” So says Mark Vroegop, newly appointed president of The Gospel Coalition (TGC) and author of Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy, during his conversation with Russell Moore. Moore and Vroegop talk about the ways TGC has evolved since its founding through leaders such as Tim Keller and Don Carson. They talk about the nature of belief, how trust in Jesus alters our understanding of who we are, and navigating seasons of doubt. Their conversation covers ministry partnerships, vocational decision making, and the importance of deep friendships. Moore and Vroegop consider what the Psalms have to say about seasons of doubt and grief, the relationship between character and gifting, and trust in the goodness of God. Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest include: Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament by Mark Vroegop Waiting Isn’t a Waste: The Surprising Comfort of Trusting God in the Uncertainties of Life by Mark Vroegop The Gospel Coalition Made for Friendship: The Relationship That Halves Our Sorrows and Doubles Our Joys by Drew Hunter The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion Special offer for listeners of The Russell Moore Show: Click here for 25% off a subscription to CT magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	This paid message is from Thomas Nelson Publishing. Do you notice that when your body isn't moving,
0:05.9	your mind is still racing? Anxiety, to-do list, and the spiral of negative thought patterns
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0:17.8	Jennifer Tucker shares a guide to the practice of biblical meditation
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1:03.0	your free sample today at wcc products.com lamentations ends with I mean essentially you're not going to be angry with us forever are you God it just kind of ends with, I mean, essentially, you're not getting me angry with us forever, are you, God?
1:12.8	It just kind of ends with, oh, man, which is one of the reasons I love lamentations, because it doesn't end with, they lived happily ever after.
1:20.2	And so I think that's a understandable question for people to wrestle with, because when you're in a long-term experience of pain or a really deep
1:27.6	tragedy, you wrestle with, how does God's goodness in this moment, how do those go together?
1:49.8	Hello, this is Russell Moore, and you're listening to The Russell Moore Show brought to you by Christianity today.
2:04.2	Every week, we explore here conversations and questions from a Christian perspective to help you sort out how to live as a follower of Jesus in confusing times. This week, we have a conversation to seek to do just that.
2:16.3	I've really been looking forward to today's conversation with Mark Vrogop, who is the new president of the Gospel Coalition.
2:24.0	He's been the lead pastor of College Park Church in Indianapolis since 2008.
2:30.5	And before that, he was pastor in Holland, Michigan. He has a daughter, two grandkids, three married sons. He and his wife, Sarah, do. And he's written several books. He's written Dark Cloud's Deep Mercy, Discovering the Grace of Lament and Weep With Me, How Lament Openens a Door for Racial Reconciliation.
	...

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