The Deep Dish

Recognizing Our Own Marks of Righteousness

podcasts@thegospelcoalition.org (Courtney Doctor, Melissa Kruger) — Thu, 2 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Courtney and Melissa talk about how to recognize and repent of the ways we may be relying on self-righteousness rather than the righteousness of Christ. They talk about tribalism, what happens when debatable issues are treated as primary, and how, paradoxically, the areas where we feel despair may point to areas of pride or self-righteousness in our lives.

Related Resources:

Finding the Right Hills to Die On by Gavin Ortlund
The Sticky Sin of Always Being Right
Self-Righteousness Wears Many Disguises

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. What are some things that come to mind (such as good practices or habits) that can quietly become a source of pride?

2. In what ways do you notice self-righteousness creep into Christian community in subtle or socially acceptable ways?

3. Are there particular areas of obedience or conviction where you feel tempted to compare yourself with others? What might that reveal about your heart?

4. In Philippians 3:4–10, Paul calls his impressive spiritual résumé “rubbish” compared with knowing Christ. What does this passage teach us about the difference between our righteousness and Christ’s righteousness?

5. Why do you think it can be so easy to trust in our own efforts rather than resting in Christ’s righteousness?

6. What are some red flags in your thoughts, attitudes, or conversations that might signal self-righteousness creeping in?

7. How can Christian communities encourage holiness and obedience without creating an atmosphere of pride, comparison, or tribalism?

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Why We Can Trust the Resurrection

podcasts@thegospelcoalition.org (Mike Kruger, Melissa Kruger, Courtney Doctor) — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Courtney and Melissa talk with New Testament scholar (and Melissa’s husband) Mike Kruger about the excellent evidence that Jesus physically rose from the dead and the difference that makes for our lives.

Dr. Kruger points out that because Jesus predicted his own resurrection, it validates his claims to be the Son of God and the Messiah. Dr. Kruger highlights the resurrection's transformative effects on early Christians, including their willingness to be martyred for their faith.

Related Resources:

Did the Resurrection Really Happen? (TGC Hard Questions) by Timothy Paul Jones
3 Reasons to Believe in the Resurrection
Why Is the Resurrection Good News?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Why do you think the resurrection continues to be questioned or dismissed in our culture?

2. Why is the resurrection not just one doctrine among many but central to the Christian faith? What would Christianity lose if the resurrection weren't true?

3. What evidence of Christ’s resurrection is particularly compelling to you?

4. Read 1 Corinthians 15 together. Paul says that if Christ hasn't been raised, our faith is futile—but if he has been raised, everything changes. As a result, what should change in

our view of suffering?
our courage in evangelism?
our fight against sin?
our hope in death?

5. How does the knowledge that Christ is alive and reigning without rival make a difference in your life right now?

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A Deep Dish Birthday Party (with Special Guests)!

podcasts@thegospelcoalition.org (The Gospel Coalition) — Thu, 5 Mar 2026 06:00:00 +0000

To celebrate the first birthday of The Deep Dish, Courtney and Melissa welcome special surprise guests to answer tough questions sent in by listeners. They talk about the difference between shame and the Spirit's conviction, how to seek advice about a conflict without gossiping, how to sit with the tension of a biblical text, how to keep the Sabbath, and more.

Resources Mentioned:

Related Resources:

Sabbath Rest (Disciplines of Devotion series) by Megan Hill
Women of the Word by Jen Wilkin
Gospel Parenting During the Little Years

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Kickstart Your Prayer Life

podcasts@thegospelcoalition.org (The Gospel Coalition) — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 06:00:00 +0000

Courtney and Melissa discuss helpful practices they’ve used in their prayer lives, including developing regular rhythms, alternating prayer with Scripture reading, and incorporating confession of sin as a part of personal prayer. They talk about how to be faithful to a promise to pray for someone else and how to make prayer part of a friendship.

Rather than speaking from a place of prescriptive legalism, Melissa and Courtney speak with infectious enthusiasm about the possibilities of a rich and growing prayer life.

Resources Mentioned:

The Deep Dish: Conversations with God
Lord, Teach Me to Pray in 28 Days by Kay Arthur
5 Things to Pray for Your Kids by Melissa Kruger
5 Things to Pray for Your Spouse by Melissa Kruger
The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian
Parenting with Hope by Melissa Kruger
I’m Praying for You: 40 Days of Praying the Bible for Someone Who Is Suffering by Nancy Guthrie
Piercing Heaven: Prayers of the Puritans edited by Robert Elmer
Every Moment Holy series

Related Resources

Prayer (Disciplines of Devotion series) by Courtney Reissig
In Prayer, Structure Serves Spontaneity
7 Ways to Fight Distraction in Prayer

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Do you have a routine for prayer? When and where do you usually pray?

2. What strategies do you use to organize your prayer time and guard against distractions?

3. How has God used prayer to rightly orient you toward seeking his will above your own?

4. When have you struggled to persevere in prayer or to accept an answer to prayer?

5. What benefits have you experienced as a result of praying with others (family, friends, or ministry partners)?

6. What next step will you take in your practice of prayer? What do you want to start, stop, or continue doing?

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Fighting Materialism in a Materialistic World

podcasts@thegospelcoalition.org (The Gospel Coalition) — Thu, 5 Feb 2026 06:00:00 +0000

Melissa and Courtney talk with Jen Oshman about the lie that our worth is measured by what we possess. They discuss why we try to fill a God-shaped hole with earthly things and how to recognize materialism in our lives.

They talk about strategies to combat materialism, including inviting trusted friends into your financial decisions, seeking to be as generous to others as possible, and setting your heart on heavenly possessions rather than earthly ones.

Resources Mentioned:

Heaven by Randy Alcorn
The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn

Related Resources:

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. In what ways do you see materialism connected to deeper desires in your heart? How might you be settling for lesser gifts instead of storing up treasure in heaven?

2. What types of things most often capture your attention or stir up desire (e.g., clothes, home decor, technology, experiences)?

3. What rhythms or practices (daily, weekly, or monthly) could help you become more mindful of how you consume, spend, and steward what God has given you?

4. Share a time when you experienced God’s abundant provision. How does remembering his care grow your desire to trust him and reflect his generosity?

5. What Scriptures or truths about God’s character help reorient your heart when you feel the pull toward “more”?

6. How could other believers help you with accountability or input in the areas of spending, consumption, and giving?

7. What’s one next step you would like to take based on what you’ve heard and discussed today?

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Remembering Death Teaches Us to Live

podcasts@thegospelcoalition.org (Colleen Chao, Courtney Doctor) — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 06:00:00 +0000

Courtney Doctor talks with Colleen Chao about how her faith has grown and flourished through living with a terminal cancer diagnosis. They discuss the difficulty of knowing she may not live to see her son grow up, what keeps her clinging to Jesus, and what excites her about the life to come. Colleen expounds a rich theology of suffering accompanied by contagious joy in the Lord.

Resources Mentioned:

She Laughs at the Days to Come (Colleen’s story)

Related Resources:

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. How do you practice “setting your mind on things above” amid ordinary life or in seasons of suffering?

2. What circumstances or experiences have made you more aware of your limitations?

3. How have you experienced the closeness of your Shepherd in dark or fearful seasons? In what specific ways has his nearness been your good?

4. What does it mean to think of suffering as something you’re “entrusted with”? How does that perspective shape the way you steward hard experiences?

5. As you think about eternity with God, what excites or comforts you most about the life to come?

6. What does it look like to entrust those we love most to God when the future feels uncertain?

7. What truths from God’s Word have most strengthened or steadied you in seasons of suffering?

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How to Make Friends in Real Life

podcasts@thegospelcoalition.org (The Gospel Coalition) — Thu, 8 Jan 2026 06:00:00 +0000

Courtney and Melissa talk with Christine Hoover about why we need friends and how to make them. They discuss how to get over the awkwardness of walking into a room where you don’t know anyone, why our friendships may shift in different life stages, how our friends shape us, and how an idealized view of friendship (where your friends never disappoint you) runs counter to the gospel.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

The Hard Work of Lifelong Friendships

RELATED RESOURCES:

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. How has your experience of making friends changed in different seasons of your life? Which seasons have been most challenging, and why?

2. In what ways are your current friendships gospel-centered? Where do you sense room for growth?

3. Where has God placed you—at church, at work, at home, or in your community—to notice and include those who may feel overlooked or alone?

4. What qualities of a faithful, Christlike friend are you asking God to grow in you right now?

5. How does the gospel speak to the fears or expectations that hinder our friendships?

6. How are you intentionally prioritizing fellowship with Christ? How does your relationship with him shape what you offer in your friendships?

7. What next step is God calling you to take in your pursuit of gospel-centered friendship?

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Siblings, Young and Old

podcasts@thegospelcoalition.org (The Gospel Coalition) — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 06:00:00 +0000

Courtney and Melissa talk with Jen Wilkin about how they each related to their siblings while growing up, how those relationships have changed over the years, and how to foster a healthy relationship with adult siblings.

In this laughter-filled conversation, they talk about how they dealt with conflict among their own children, words of wisdom they wished they’d heard sooner, and how to encourage kindness and love between siblings throughout their lives.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

I Am the Light of the World (Jen’s message at TGCW24)
Being Mortal by Atul Gawande

RELATED RESOURCES:

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. What was your relationship with your siblings like as you were growing up? How has it developed over the years?

2. What patterns of dealing with conflict do you see in your family (past or present)?

3. What has God taught you about conflict resolution through your sibling relationships?

4. How do you see your children (or children you’re close to) developing friendships in their sibling relationships? What’s challenging about this? How would you like to encourage this more?

5. As you interact with your adult siblings, in what ways might you be reverting to childhood roles? How can you guard against this?

6. How are your siblings navigating (or planning to navigate) care for aging parents? What advice from this episode was helpful as you consider how to do this well?

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The Bible Is for You

Thu, 4 Dec 2025 06:00:00 +0000

Melissa and Courtney talk with Raechel Myers and Amanda Bible Williams about how they learned to love the Bible. They discuss both the challenges and rewards of studying Scripture, memorizing it, and learning to interpret it in community. They explain the difference in thinking the Bible is written to you and understanding that it was written for you.

Resources Mentioned:

She Reads Truth
The Bible Is for You: A Devotional Journey Through Every Book of the Bible Edited by Raechel Myers and Amanda Bible Williams
Daily Light

Related Content:

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. In a few words, describe your current attitude toward and practice of engaging with God’s Word.

2. How has your approach to reading and studying Scripture changed over time? What habits or rhythms are helping you prioritize it in your current season?

3. How did this conversation deepen your understanding of the unique nature and power of God’s Word?

4. How has your understanding of God grown as you’ve spent time in his Word?

5. How has Scripture ministered to you in difficult circumstances? How is his Word ministering to you currently?

6. In what ways has studying the Bible alongside others encouraged or shaped you?

7. What’s one thing you want to start, stop, or change in your practice of engaging with Scripture?

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Bonus: Preparing for a Holiday That Will Disappoint

podcasts@thegospelcoalition.org (Courtney Doctor, Melissa Kruger) — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 06:00:00 +0000

Courtney and Melissa talk about the gap between our high expectations for the holidays and the disappointment we often feel in others or in ourselves. They discuss how to be pro-active in preparing our hearts to hope in the Lord rather than in perfection, how to bear the fruit of the Spirit while also meeting the practical needs of those around us, and how inviting nonfamily into family holidays can bring great blessing. Whether you are excited about Thanksgiving and Christmas or tired just thinking about them, listen to this conversation and be encouraged!

Resources Mentioned:

6 Ways to Prepare for a Holiday That Will Disappoint (printable pdf) https://media.thegospelcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/10111351/6-Ways-to-Prepare-for-a-Holiday-That-Will-Disappoint-Printable.pdf
The Gift of All Gifts by Melissa Kruger
Unto Us: 25 Advent Devotions about the Messiah
The Weary World Rejoices: Daily Devotions for Advent

Related Content:

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. How have your expectations for the holidays changed over time?

2. In what ways can unrealistic expectations set us up for disappointment? What helps you hold your expectations in a healthy way?

3. What’s one thing you’re especially looking forward to and one thing you anticipate may be challenging this holiday season?

4. What rhythms or practices help you cultivate gratitude—both during the holidays and throughout the rest of the year?

5. What conversations or interactions do you want to intentionally prioritize this holiday season, and what might that look like in practice?

6. How can your church, small group, or family support those who are experiencing grief, loneliness, or unmet expectations this season?

7. Which fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22–23) do you most want God to grow in you this holiday season, and why?

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When You Want to Change Your Husband

podcasts@thegospelcoalition.org (Ann Wilson, Melissa Kruger) — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 06:00:00 +0000

Melissa talks with Ann Wilson about the power of words in marriage and the importance of speaking life to one's spouse.

Ann recounts a memorable turning point in her 45-year marriage when she realized her many attempts to help or “tweak” her husband were having the opposite effect than intended. They talk about recognizing that every marriage has peaks and valleys and give practical advice for getting through the hard seasons.

Recommended Resources:

How to Speak Life to Your Husband: When All You Want to Do Is Yell at Him by Ann Wilson
The Meaning of Marriage by Timothy Keller

Related Content:

Discussion Questions:

1. Share a bit of your story—if you’re married, how did you and your husband meet? If you’re single, what relationships or experiences have shaped your view of marriage?

2. How have you seen yourself and your husband grow or change over the years?

3. How has God used marriage (or relationships) as a tool to shape your character and deepen your walk with Christ?

4. In what ways would you like to use your words more wisely, especially in prayer and in communication with your husband (or with others in your life)?

5. How do you discern when to extend grace and overlook an offense versus when to gently address it? How can you communicate truth in love in those moments?

6. What are some intentional ways you can encourage your husband, honor him, or “fill his tank” (or the “tanks” of others in your life) this week?

7. How can your discussion partners pray for you and your marriage?

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Conversational Bridges to Evangelism

podcasts@thegospelcoalition.org (Melissa Kruger, Becky Pippert, Courtney Doctor) — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Melissa and Courtney talk with Becky Pippert about how to develop godly confidence to engage in evangelistic conversations with love. Becky tells stories about sharing her faith with her own parents and talks about how to go from a natural conversation to a spiritual one. She emphasizes the need to pray for opportunities, to rely on the Holy Spirit, and to be a good listener.

Recommended Resources:

Behold and Believe
Stay Salt
Seeker Bible studies: Uncovering the Life of Jesus and Discovering the Real Jesus

Related Content:

Discussion Questions:

1. How comfortable do you feel talking about your faith with others? How has your comfort (or discomfort) changed over time?

2. What fears, hesitations, or uncertainties hold you back from sharing your faith with others?

3. What examples of blessing others, participating in sustainable outreach, or engaging in evangelism can you think of? Which of these comes most naturally to you?

4. What opportunities do you have to connect with people outside Christian circles? What would it look like to engage with people on “their turf” instead of making them come to yours?

5. What common ground have you found with people who don’t yet know Jesus? How might your shared interests or experiences become a bridge to spiritual conversations?

6. What role does prayer play in our evangelism? How could prayer become a more intentional part of sharing your faith?

7. What next step would you like to take in sharing your faith with others? How can your discussion partners pray for you?

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Going to Church When It Hurts

podcasts@thegospelcoalition.org (Megan Hill, Courtney Doctor, Melissa Kruger) — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Melissa and Courtney talk with Megan Hill about how God’s Word helps us understand the deep hurts that can come from God’s own people. They discuss why church hurt is so painful as well as why we shouldn’t run from church when we’ve been hurt. They talk about how to know when it might be right to leave a church and how to find comfort in God’s word. Listen to this episode if you’ve ever experienced church hurt or want to care for those who have.

Recommended Resources:

Sighing on Sunday: 40 Meditations for When Church Hurts by Megan Hill

Related Content:

Discussion Questions:

1. When you hear the phrase “church hurt,” what comes to mind? How would you define it in your own words?

2. What makes church hurt different from conflicts in other areas of life, such as work or friendships?

3. How did the biblical examples of church hurt that were shared encourage or convict you?

4. How can you come alongside those in your church who are healing from past hurt? In what specific ways can you pray for them?

5. How would you discern whether it’s time to leave a church community? Who could you turn to for wise, godly counsel in that process?

6. How does understanding God’s perfect justice equip you to encourage and reassure those struggling in the wake of church hurt?

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Covetousness: The Sin Behind the Sin

Thu, 2 Oct 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Melissa and Courtney talk with Jackie Hill Perry about the sin of covetousness and why it’s so hard to recognize and admit. They discuss signposts that tip them off that they are coveting, the relationship between covetousness and other sins, and why we desire for others to covet what we have. Listen in if you want to get serious about putting to death the sin of covetousness in your own life.

Recommended Resources:

The Envy of Eve by Melissa Kruger
How to Deal With Dark Times by Tim Keller on Psalm 88

Related Content:

Discussion Questions:

1. Where in your life are you most tempted to feel discontentment?

2. Describe a time when something you pursued or received left you unsatisfied? What did you learn from that experience?

3. How did this discussion help you better understand the connection between covetousness and idolatry?

4. What warning signs alert you that idolatry or discontentment may be creeping into your heart?

5. In what ways have you seen God set “boundary lines in pleasant places” (Ps. 16:6) in your own life? What does this reveal about His sovereignty and love?

6. What daily practices or rhythms could help you cultivate a deeper sense of gratitude and contentment in Christ?

7. How can your discussion partners pray for God to reshape your heart and desires as you grow in contentment?

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Becoming Good Stewards of Our Bodies

podcasts@thegospelcoalition.org (Lisa Whittle, Melissa Kruger, Courtney Doctor) — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Melissa and Courtney talk with Lisa Whittle about how a whole body theology can keep us from obsessing or neglecting our bodies. They discuss the need for a foundational view of our bodies drawn from the whole of Scripture rather than isolated verses. Whether we struggle with accepting imperfections in the way we look or we get frustrated because our bodies don’t function the way we wish they did, recognizing that our bodies exist for the glory of God can lift the weight of worrying about what others think of us.

Recommended Resources:

Body and Soul: A 6-Session Study of the Whole Person God Created You to Be by Lisa Whittle

Related Content:

Discussion Questions:

1. In what ways are you tempted to measure your worth (or the worth of others) by physical appearance or ability?

2. Describe one way you would like to have a healthier relationship with your body? What might need to change for that to happen?

3. Share a time when you felt physically limited. How can experiences of frailty or weakness give us opportunities to glorify God?

4. In what ways does Jesus’ own experience of physical weakness (hunger, fatigue, suffering, death) comfort or challenge you in your view of the body?

5. How do you discern whether pursuing improved form and function is healthy or problematic?

6. What would it look like for you to pursue health and strength with a “glory mentality” rather than a self-focused one?

7. How does the reality of spending eternity in a glorified version of your body influence the way you view and care for your body now?

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The Dish on Gossip

podcasts@thegospelcoalition.org (Courtney Doctor, Melissa Kruger) — Thu, 4 Sep 2025 04:00:00 +0000

When we treat gossip as an “excusable sin,” we ignore the corrosive power it has in our lives and relationships. In this conversation, Melissa Kruger and Courtney Doctor talk about why we’re so drawn to gossip, how to avoid it, and how to repent of it when you fail. They discuss some telltale phrases that are red flags for gossip, how to turn the conversation to something else, and when and how it’s right to confess gossip. Listen in as Courtney and Melissa spill the tea on gossip.

Related Content:

Discussion Questions:

1. How did the verses shared expand your understanding of what gossip is and how it’s harmful?

2. How have you experienced the repercussions or damage of gossip?

3. What recent opportunities have you had to use healing, life-giving words? When have there been opportunities for your words to be potentially damaging?

4. In what situations are you most prone to engage in gossip? What motivations might be driving this desire?

5. What redirection strategies would be helpful for you to have in mind as you try to guard your conversations against gossip?

6. What things unite your current friendships? How do they affect the quality of those relationships?

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Making Decisions with Our Limits in Mind

podcasts@thegospelcoalition.org (Melissa Kruger, Courtney Doctor, Jen Wilkin) — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Melissa Kruger and Courtney Doctor talk with Jen Wilkin about how to make decisions regarding good opportunities in light of our finiteness. They talk about why quitting is sometimes wise, how to think about decisions that will affect your family, and why it’s better to think of God's will as a field rather than a maze.

Recommended Resources

Leadership on the Line by Ronald A. Heifetz and Martin Linsky
Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices by Thomas Brooks

Waiting for God in the Gaps

podcasts@thegospelcoalition.org (Courtney Doctor, Mark Vroegop, Melissa Kruger) — Thu, 7 Aug 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Melissa and Courtney talk with Mark Vroegop about the gap moments of our lives when we have to wait. They discuss why waiting is so frustrating, what it means to wait on the Lord, what the Bible says about waiting, and how to recognize the sinful patterns we should avoid in times of waiting. No one likes to wait, but waiting is where we learn to walk by faith and where God does some of his best work in our lives!

Discussion Questions:

1. How are you currently experiencing waiting?

2. What expectations are you bringing to that situation, and how might those be shaping your thoughts and actions?

3. How has God used past seasons of waiting as “fertilizer” to strengthen your faith?

4. How does knowing that God both commends and commands waiting change your perspective as you wait?

5. Of the 3 A’s mentioned (anger, anxiety, apathy), which are you most prone to feel in your “gap times”?

6. Which attributes of God are most comforting or helpful for you to be reminded of in your “gap times”?

7. Which biblical example of waiting was most meaningful to you? What other encouraging examples come to mind?

Resources Mentioned:

Waiting Isn’t a Waste by Mark Vroegop

Related Resources:

How God Uses Our Waiting
Hope for Waiting Hearts
God’s People Are a Waiting People
Seasons of Waiting: Walking by Faith When Dreams Are Delayed by Betsy Childs Howard

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Live: Bible Study in the Local Church Matters

podcasts@thegospelcoalition.org (Courtney Doctor, Melissa Kruger) — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Recommended Resources

Chosen Together (TGC25 keynote by John Piper on Ephesians 1:3–14)
In View of God’s Mercies by Courtney Doctor (Bible study book)

Related Content

Rubric Questions for Choosing a Group Bible Study:

Does this study require me to have my Bible open?
Are the questions rooted in the text?
Does this study account for various learning styles?
Is it accessible to the women I'm leading?
Does it speak to a current need in our church?

Five Levels of Communication:

1. Small Talk

2. Facts

3. Opinions and Ideas

4. Feelings

5. Deep Emotion

Discussion Questions

1. Which book of the Bible could you study over and over without ever getting tired of it?

2. What unique aspects of doing Bible study within the local church have you experienced?

3. When have you been part of studies that were aligned with what was happening in other areas of the church? What benefits did you experience from that alignment? What opportunities exist for future alignment?

4. What locations do you usually study in (home or church)? What benefits could come from hosting your group in different settings?

5. How prone is your study group to using “Christianese”? How can you be more intentional about using language that would make unbelieving friends comfortable joining your discussion?

6. How has prioritizing time in God’s Word and in prayer helped you love others better?

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Social Media: Wisdom and Warnings

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Melissa Kruger talks with her friends Hunter Beless and Laura Wifler about the role social media has played in their lives, both positive and negative. They talk about temptations that can arise from social media—from neglecting other good pursuits to inspiring covetousness. They discuss why it can be helpful to take breaks and what red flags they look for in their own lives that show social media is doing them more harm than good.

Recommended Resources:

Related Content:

Discussion Questions:

1. What one word would best describe your current relationship with social media?

2. What benefits or positive experiences have you had from engaging with social media?

3. In what ways does your social media consumption feed comparison or discontentment in your life?

4. What would it look like to engage with social media in ways that glorify God and allow you to love others well? What would you start and stop doing?

5. What practices or boundaries could you put in place to be a wise consumer of online content?

6. Have you ever taken a break (or considered taking a break) from social media? What was the experience like?

7. How can your discussion partners pray for you as you consider how to engage with social media in healthy, God-honoring ways?

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Why Can We Trust the Bible?

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Melissa Kruger and Courtney Doctor talk with Vanessa Hawkins about the Bible’s trustworthiness. They discuss why things like apparent inconsistencies and many different authors can actually point to the truth of the Christian Scriptures.They recommend resources to help listeners become familiar with biblical genre and the overarching narrative of the Bible to better understand how Scripture fits together.

Recommended Resources:

How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart
Surviving Religion 101 by Michael Kruger
Canon Fodder
The Whole Story of the Bible in 16 Verses by Chris Bruno
From Garden to Glory by Courtney Doctor
From Beginning to Forever by Elizabeth Woodson
Nancy Guthrie

Related Content:

Discussion Questions:

What questions or doubts about the Bible’s reliability have you encountered from others or wrestled with yourself?
What has been challenging about addressing those questions or concerns?
How is the nature of eyewitness testimony helpful in increasing our confidence in the Bible’s accuracy?
What consistencies within the Bible amaze you and grow your trust in God and his Word? Where do you see the beauty, harmony, and power of his Word displayed?
How does being familiar with the Bible’s overarching narrative help us read and understand it better? What steps can you take to increase your understanding of this narrative or to help others become more familiar with it?
What other details in this episode were surprising or served as helpful reminders of why we can trust God’s Word?

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Summer Reading with Melissa and Collin (from TGC's Gospelbound Podcast)

podcasts@thegospelcoalition.org (Melissa Kruger, Collin Hansen) — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 04:00:00 +0000

We’re sharing this episode of our Gospelbound podcast as a bonus episode for Deep Dish listeners because we know you love to read! In it, Melissa Kruger and Collin Hansen talk about what’s on their own summer reading list and share recommendations of other books they believe our listeners will enjoy. We hope this conversation will lead you to books that are edifying and enjoyable. Happy reading!

Collin's Summer Reading List

Godric by Frederick Buechner
The Fate of the Day by Rick Atkinson
The Space Trilogy by C. S. Lewis

Melissa's Summer Reading List

Homecoming by Kate Morton
The Lord's Work in the Lord's Way and No Little People by Francis A. Schaeffer
The Expulsive Power of a New Affection by Thomas Chalmers

For the full list of book recommendations mentioned in this episode, visit our website.

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Grief, Loss, and Gratitude in the Christian Life

podcasts@thegospelcoalition.org (Whitney Pipkin, Courtney Doctor, Wendy Alsup) — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Courtney Doctor talks with Whitney Pipkin and Wendy Alsup, two of her friends who have known deep grief. They talk about why grief can be so surprising, why God allows it, and how to talk to a friend who is grieving (hint: it’s better to listen). Whitney talks about why we shouldn’t rush through grief; it’s appropriate to rage against death! Wendy says that we can see our grief as our resistance to the effects of the Fall. Listen to this episode and be comforted that even if grief feels strange and disorienting, you are not alone.

Recommended Resources:

We Shall All Be Changed by Whitney Pipkin
Companions in Suffering: Comfort for Times of Loss and Loneliness by Wendy Alsup

Related Content:

What I Misunderstood About Grief
Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy by Mark Vroegop
Grief Is Not an Enemy of Faith

Discussion Questions:

What personal experiences with loss have you (or those close to you) had? Or in what ways do you relate to feeling “immune” from loss?
How has experiencing suffering or loss changed you or your outlook on life?
How can believers grieve in ways that acknowledge the need to lament as well as maintain hope?
In what ways did this episode challenge you to be a better companion to someone walking through a season of suffering?
What Scriptures have comforted or ministered to you in hard seasons?
How did this conversation help you consider gratitude alongside grief and loss?

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Season 1: Your Questions, Our Answers

podcasts@thegospelcoalition.org (Courtney Doctor, Melissa Kruger) — Thu, 29 May 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Melissa Kruger and Courtney Doctor respond to questions submitted by listeners such as what advice they have for newlyweds, how women can thoughtfully have relationships with their pastors and elders, their go-to verses for lonely times, and last but not least, their favorite pizza toppings!

New episodes of The Deep Dish will now be released every other Thursday. Sign up for exclusive content for women and updates on The Deep Dish podcast here.

Recommended Resources:

Related Content:

Questions Discussed:

What’s a good way to get constructive criticism on Bible teaching without falling into people pleasing?
What are some practical ways to teach a teen to read and study the Word without her feeling forced?
How did you know it was time to go to seminary? What advice would you give women considering seminary?
How do you grow relationships with pastors and elders as a female church member?
What practical tips can you give on asking questions that get conversations going and reach the heart?
I’m getting married this fall to a wonderfully godly man. Do you have advice or encouragement for newlyweds?
What has helped you grow in affection for the Lord?
What are your go-to verses for lonely seasons of life?
What are your favorite pizza toppings?

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Kitchen Table Counseling Within Your Local Church

podcasts@thegospelcoalition.org (Courtney Doctor, Melissa Kruger) — Thu, 22 May 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Melissa Kruger and Courtney Doctor talk about how to seek out the counsel of wise friends and how to respond well when friends seek your counsel. They discuss how to ask good questions, how to deliver a gentle rebuke when necessary, how to follow up on requests for accountability, and how to point someone to Scripture without treating it like a Bible Band-Aid. Listen prayerfully to prepare yourself for opportunities that arise to bear one another’s burdens.

Recommended Resources:

I’m Praying for You by Nancy Guthrie
Count It All Joy by Helen Roseveare

Related Content:

Discussion Questions:

1. Considering examples of people who have supported you in difficult seasons, what qualities do you appreciate most in them?

2. In what ways have you struggled to balance extending both grace and truth in your own “kitchen-table counseling”?

3. How can we ensure any necessary rebukes we deliver are given with gentleness?

4. What helps you determine whether someone is “safe” to confess a burden or sin to?

5. In what ways could you make yourself a more approachable and available source of counsel for those who need your support?

6. How can your discussion partners pray for you as you point others to God in difficult situations?

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Romans 8 Deserves a Deep Dive

Thu, 15 May 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Melissa Kruger and Courtney Doctor talk with Trillia Newbell about the depth and richness of Romans 8. They explain how to understand Romans 8 in the context of the previous chapters, why there’s no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, how to let that truth make a difference in your life, and how to respond to the question “If there’s no condemnation for me, why am I suffering?” We hope you will open your Bibles and dive in!

Recommended Resources:

If God Is For Us by Trillia Newbell
In View of God’s Mercies by Courtney Doctor
Celebrating Around the Table by Trillia Newbell

Related Content:

Discussion Questions:

Romans 8:1 says there is no condemnation for those in Christ. How does this verse reshape your thinking about areas of guilt or shame in your life?
What’s one area of your life where you need to intentionally walk in the Spirit rather than the flesh? What’s one step you can take this week to move in that direction?
How does the truth of Romans 8:18 (“the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us”) bring hope to seasons of waiting or hardship? How have you personally experienced this hope?
How did this conversation help you understand what “good” means in the context of Romans 8:28 ("all things work together for good")? How can this shift our expectations when life doesn’t go as planned?
Reflecting on Romans 8:35–39, which truths are most meaningful to you in combating the lie that God doesn’t love you?
How would you encourage another woman who is struggling to believe she is more than a conqueror through Christ (Romans 8:37)?

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Your Church Needs You to Show Up

Thu, 8 May 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Melissa Kruger and Courtney Doctor talk with Vanessa Hawkins about the vital and beautiful role church should have in the life of every Christian. They discuss what keeps people from regular church attendance and how to move beyond church hurt. They talk about why your church attendance and involvement is not only necessary for your own spiritual growth, but for the other members of the body of Christ.

Recommended Resources:

Related Content:

Discussion Questions:

In what ways are you currently “showing up” (or not showing up) in your church community?
What is most likely to keep you from showing up at church, either literally or figuratively?
How have you experienced being known, loved, and cared for by the church?
What has your participation in your church community taught you about God and what he values? What liturgies or traditions in your church are most meaningful to you?
What encouragement would you offer someone who has been hurt by people within the church? If this is you, what has helped you persevere in seeing the church's beauty?
What change or next step would you like to take regarding your engagement in your church? How can your discussion partners pray for you?

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Sacrificial Yeses and Necessary Nos: Discern the Difference

podcasts@thegospelcoalition.org (Courtney Doctor, Melissa Kruger) — Thu, 1 May 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Courtney Doctor and Melissa Kruger discuss how to make decisions about using your time. They they talk about how to think of yourself with sober judgment, the wrong reasons to say “yes” and “no,” and how to recognize which callings in your life must be prioritized. Although there is no formula for determining when to say yes or no, there is always wisdom available from God when we ask for it!

Recommended Resources:

2 Timothy 4:6–18
The Envy of Eve by Melissa Kruger
Work Well with All Types of People (The Deep Dish - Episode 7)

Related Content:

Discussion Questions:

What’s a situation in which you struggled to give a yes or no? What made that decision difficult?
Do you tend to say yes or no more often? What usually motivates your yes or no?
What might pursuing time with the Lord in order to have a “transformed mind” look like in your life right now? What might need to change in order for you to prioritize this?
What situations has God used in your life to reveal your unique giftings?
In what ways do you experience tension between pursuing self-care/rest and sacrificial service? How can self-care and comfort become idols that influence our decision-making?
How has God provided rest for you during seasons of sacrificial yeses? What sabbath practices help you find rest in the Lord?

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Married for Good

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Courtney Doctor, Melissa Kruger, Vanessa Hawkins, and Jen Wilkin have each been married for more than 25 years.

In this conversation, they talk about how marriage was different from what they expected, what practices have strengthened their marriage through life's ebbs and flows, and they debunk some of the worst marriage advice they’ve heard.

Recommended Resources:

Single, Dating, Engaged, Married by Ben Stuart
Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas

Related Content:

Discussion Questions:

What does spending quality time together look like in this season of your lives?
What is the best (or worst) piece of relationship advice you have received? What made it helpful or harmful?
What strengths do you see in yourself and your spouse? How have those strengths balanced out areas of weakness in different seasons of your lives?
Can you think of a way you would like to rearrange your priorities in order to strengthen your marriage (or your future marriage)?
What “one another” commands come the easiest to you? Which are most difficult, and how might you seek to live those out increasingly?
In what ways has God used your marriage to sanctify you?
What do you want to pray for your spouse, marriage, or yourself based on what you have heard and discussed?

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Work Well with All Types of People

podcasts@thegospelcoalition.org (Ann Westrate, Courtney Doctor, Melissa Kruger) — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Melissa Kruger and Courtney Doctor talk with their colleague Ann Westrate about how understanding each others’ gifts has enhanced their work as a team. They talk about how much the Working Genius assessment helped them understand why what might be easy for one of them is hard for someone else. Understanding what different gifts are represented in a team can enhance morale and strengthen relationships. We all have gifts, but none of us have all the gifts.

Recommended Resources:

Growing Together by Melissa Kruger
Working Genius assessment
Ann’s Recipe for Steak Soup

Related Content:

Discussion Questions:

What gifts or abilities have others recognized or affirmed in you? How has God given you opportunities to use and develop those?
While this episode focused on the Working Genius, there are many assessments available to help you understand the way you work and interact with others. If you have taken any, how have your results been helpful to you?
In what ways have you struggled with envy of other peoples’ giftedness?
How do you see your own strengths as an essential part of the body’s functioning? Where do you feel called to invest your talents in new ways (or to continue using them)?
If you are a parent, how do you see your giftedness impact the way you serve your family in this season of life?
Who in your work, church, or family needs to have their giftedness recognized and affirmed? How is God calling you to encourage that person or those people?

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Choosing Contentment

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Courtney Doctor talks with Melissa Kruger, and Elizabeth Woodson about the true meaning of contentment and how to find it. They discuss how discontentment springs from the attitude of our hearts rather than our circumstances and will only be overcome by trusting God’s goodness. They talk about the enemies of contentment as well as how the psalms of lament show us that grieving is compatible with contentment. We can confess that God has withheld no good thing while also asking, “How long, O Lord?”

Recommended Resources:

Embrace Your Life by Elizabeth Woodson
The Envy of Eve by Melissa Kruger

Related Content:

Discussion Questions:

In what areas of life do you struggle with comparison? How have you experienced comparison feeding feelings of discontentment?
What regular practices help you continually remind yourself to find contentment in the “past certainty and future hope” God provides instead of your current circumstances? In what ways is this challenging for you as well?
Can you think of an example in your life where God has made the “boundary lines” fall in pleasant places (Psalm 16:6 even if you didn’t immediately recognize it)? What past circumstance has taught you that what he has given (or withheld) is enough?
What would it look like to “delight yourself in the Lord” in your current season of life?
In what ways have you experienced God transforming your desires into what he desires?
What current circumstance is God using as a “schoolroom” to teach you how to trust him more deeply?

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What Your Teenagers Need from You

podcasts@thegospelcoalition.org (Sandi Taylor, Melissa Kruger, Ruth Chou Simons) — Thu, 3 Apr 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Melissa Kruger talks with Sandi Taylor and Ruth Chou Simon about parenting teenagers. They reflect on the principles of their parenting that have stayed the same even though their practices have changed as their children age. They discuss how to pick the right battles, why you shouldn’t look shocked when your teen tells you something shocking, and why teens need both firmness and warmth from their parents.

Mentioned Resources:

Parenting with Hope by Melissa Kruger

Related Resources:

Discussion Questions:

In what ways do you want to “go first” in modeling for your kids what a life following Jesus looks like?
How and why does rule-making give us a false sense of security as parents? What areas do you feel most prone to create rules for your kids that go past what God has said?
What idols has God revealed to you in your parenting? How will you combat the influence of those idols?
How can you prioritize creating space and opportunities for conversations with your teen (or how will you plan to prioritize this in the future)?
How does reflecting on the ways that God parents you help inform the way you want to parent your children?
How can your discussion partners pray for you and your family in this season?

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Aging Is a Discipleship Issue

podcasts@thegospelcoalition.org (Melissa Kruger, Jen Wilkin, Courtney Doctor) — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Melissa Kruger and Courtney Doctor talk with Jen Wilkin about how to embrace a more beautiful and biblical view on bodies, aging, beauty, and youth. They discuss why we should see aging as a gift rather than a disease, and how we can prepare our spirits for the decline of our bodies. This conversation will not tell you where to “draw the line” when it comes to pursuing a more youthful appearance through beauty treatments, but it will renew your perspective so that that question will seem less important.

Mentioned Resource:

On Getting Out of Bed by Alan Noble

Related Resources:

Discussion Questions:

What is your favorite thing about being in the decade of life you are currently in?
In what ways have you experienced cultural pressure to value and preserve youthfulness? How has this impacted you?
What role does social media play in shaping your perceptions of aging?
Can you think of examples of people in your life who are aging gracefully? What have you learned through their example?
What wisdom have you gained as you have grown older? How does this help you see aging as a gift, rather than a disease?
What does pursuing “imperishable beauty” in your life look like right now? How would you like to do this increasingly?

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Making Sense of God’s Sovereignty

podcasts@thegospelcoalition.org (Melissa Kruger, Courtney Doctor) — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Melissa Kruger and Courtney Doctor talk about the mysterious tension between the doctrine of God’s sovereignty and human responsibility. They discuss what implications God’s sovereignty has for our prayer lives and why it shouldn’t cool our passion for evangelism. Although it may be hard to understand how God could be sovereign when we are suffering, what is initially a troubling doctrine can become our deepest comfort.

RESOURCES MENTIONED

None Like Him by Jen Wilkin
In His Image by Jen Wilkin
Chosen by God by R. C. Sproul
Count It All Joy by Helen Roseveare
Knowing God by J. I. Packer
Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by J. I. Packer
Piercing Heaven: The Prayers of the Puritans

RELATED RESOURCES

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Have you ever experienced an interruption or inconvenience that turned into a “divine appointment?” How did God use that situation?
How has learning about God’s sovereignty challenged or comforted you personally?
How does remembering God’s sovereignty affect your prayer life?
In what ways have you struggled to hold the truths of God’s sovereignty and human responsibility in tension? What questions has this tension raised for you?
How have seasons of suffering or hardship grown your trust in God and helped you experience his presence in distinct ways?
In what current situation do you most need to “lay your head on the pillow of God’s sovereignty”? How can your discussion partner(s) pray for you?

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Conversations with God

podcasts@thegospelcoalition.org (Nancy Guthrie, Melissa Kruger, Courtney Doctor) — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Courtney and Melissa talk with Nancy Guthrie about their prayer lives. They talk about why it makes sense to pray, even when we believe God has already determined what is going to happen, and why it makes sense to let God’s Word shape our prayers. Listen to this deep and honest conversation if you want to leave more eager to pray!

Mentioned in This Episode:

Related Resources:

Discussion Questions:

How would you describe your prayer life in your current season? What keeps you from prayer?
What daily needs are you most likely to pray for? Which do you tend to overlook?
When has God answered a prayer for you in a unique way? Or how has he helped you persevere in prayer as you wait on his timing?
How has God used prayer to align your heart and desires with his own?
How often do you incorporate confession into your prayers? How has God blessed this practice? Or what do you think prevents you from engaging with God in this way?
How have you been inspired to pray for others in new ways based on what you heard?
What change would you like to make in your prayer life as a result of what you’ve heard and discussed together?

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Mentoring in Real Life

Thu, 6 Mar 2025 05:00:00 +0000

Courtney Doctor, Melissa Kruger, Vanessa Hawkins, and Jen Wilkin share their experiences of mentoring and being mentored. They discuss the biblical impetus for life-on-life discipleship and how to overcome the intimidation factor when someone asks you to mentor her. They give practical advice on how to make a mentoring relationship work in real life.

Recommended Resources:

Growing Together by Melissa Kruger
The Knowledge of the Holy by A. W. Tozer

Related Content:

Discussion Questions:

1. What has mentoring or discipleship looked like in your life to this point? Who is one person that has played a significant role in helping your faith grow?

2. In what ways have you experienced other believers “bearing witness” to God’s faithfulness? How did this encourage you?

3. Who has powerfully spoken into your life and “loaned courage” to increase your confidence to serve God?

4. Do you tend to prioritize time alone with God or time in community? Why is it necessary to pursue both, and how might you need to adjust your focus?

5. What are the primary ways you’re being mentored and discipled right now? Who is mentoring you “from a distance?” and who is walking alongside you, allowing you to see the messiness of her own faith as she pursues God imperfectly?

6. What next step do you want to take to pursue mentoring or discipleship, and how can others pray for you?

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Introducing The Deep Dish

podcasts@thegospelcoalition.org (Courtney Doctor, Melissa Kruger) — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 16:53:09 +0000

Courtney Doctor and Melissa Kruger introduce The Gospel Coalition’s new podcast for women. They talk about why women need to have deep conversations and what might stand in the way. Listen to find out about the guests and topics this first season will cover, and join them for deep conversations about deep truth!

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The Deep Dish: A New Podcast for Women

podcasts@thegospelcoalition.org (Courtney Doctor, Melissa Kruger) — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 15:30:00 +0000

The Deep Dish is a new podcast from TGC hosted by Melissa Kruger and Courtney Doctor that invites women into deep conversations about the deep truths of God. These discussions (which are always better served up with a slice of deep-dish pizza!) will equip women to engage in richer discipleship relationships in their local contexts. Tune in for warm conversations among friends—including special guests along the way—to dig deeper into God’s Word and explore how it applies to every area of our lives.

Click here for more information about Women's Initiatives at The Gospel Coalition!

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