BP2 S2E7 – VandeLinde: Thicker Skin, Softer Heart, Tighter Lips

In this episode, Dr. Frank Weller welcomes back Chris VandeLinde, lead pastor of Cornerstone Christian Church in Shiloh, Illinois, for a conversation about persevering in ministry and sharpening the craft of preaching. Chris shares how covenant groups have kept him from being “the gazelle behind the pack” for 27 years, and why every preacher needs people who care more about who they are than the name of their church. He then unpacks his four P’s of preaching—personal, practical, passionate, and punctual—explaining why preachers must wrestle personally with the text, make theology practical, communicate with genuine passion, and say it succinctly enough that people want more. The episode closes with the three rules God gave Chris for 2026: thicker skin, softer heart, and tighter lips. Better preaching makes a bigger impact.