Trillia shares her early experiences of teaching, how she’s grown in confidence, and the ways that Tim Keller’s The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness helped her shift her focus from herself to serving others with joy. She and Mike also explore friendship in ministry, discussing whether pastors can have friends within their congregation, how to navigate pastoral loneliness, and why accountability and support outside the pulpit are essential.
Additionally, Trillia shares insights from her children’s book, Jesus and the Gift of Friendship, explaining why she believes that friendship is a foundational part of the Christian life—one that kids (and adults) need to learn about from a gospel perspective.
This episode is packed with wisdom and encouragement for pastors, Bible teachers, and anyone seeking to grow in their personal faith, relationships, and confidence in teaching God’s Word.
📖 Resources & Books Mentioned in This Episode:
📚 The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness by Tim Keller – https://store.thegospelcoalition.org/product/9781906173418/the-freedom-of-self-forgetfulness-paperback
📚 Jesus and the Gift of Friendship by Trillia Newbell – https://www.crossway.org/books/jesus-and-the-gift-of-friendship-case/
🌍 Bible to Life (Moody Publishers' online Bible resource) – https://bibletolife.com/
📖 The Moody Bible Commentary – https://www.moodypublishers.com/the-moody-bible-commentary/
Friendship and Church Planting featuring Mike Neglia and Clay Worrell : https://cgnmedia.org/podcast/cultivate-church-planting/episode/the-importance-of-friendship-mike-neglia-and-clay-worrell
Dr Wayne Baxter on Guest Speaking: https://cgnmedia.org/podcast/expositors-collective/episode/from-the-page-to-the-pulpit-wayne-baxter
Philip Nation on Guest Speaking: https://cgnmedia.org/podcast/expositors-collective/episode/how-to-be-a-good-guest-speaker-how-much-you-should-tell-your-kids-about-church-drama-and-so-much-more-1ltc
📝 Topics Covered in This Episode:
✔️ Trillia’s first time teaching the Bible—and how she’s grown since then
✔️ Gaining confidence as a Bible teacher and learning to serve rather than stress
✔️ How Tim Keller’s The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness changed Trillia’s approach to ministry
✔️ Can pastors have close friends within their congregation?
✔️ Why ministry can be lonely—and how pastors can cultivate real friendships
✔️ The inspiration behind Jesus and the Gift of Friendship and how to teach kids about biblical friendship
✔️ Practical advice for pastors and Bible teachers seeking to grow in faith and ministry
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White Fields Community Church
https://expositorscollective.regfox.com/expositors-colorado-2025
The Expositors Collective podcast is part of the CGNMedia, Working together to proclaim the Gospel, make disciples, and plant churches. For more content like this, visit https://cgnmedia.org/
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