He Preached the Gospel in the Ruins of Babylon – Here’s Why It Matters Today (Guest: Rev. David Gilleran)

Square podcast graphic for “The Great Commission Today” titled “He Preached the Gospel in the Ruins of Babylon,” featuring guest Rev. David Gilleran and sponsored by Five More Talents.
The Great Commission Today
He Preached the Gospel in the Ruins of Babylon - Here’s Why It Matters Today (Guest: Rev. David Gilleran)
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In this historically rich, and pastorally sober conversation, Rev. David Gilleran—Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of the Blue Ridge (PCA), longtime pastor, and former U.S. Army National Guard chaplain—joins The Great Commission Today to reflect on Christ’s command to make disciples in a fractured, isolated, and spiritually hungry age.

Drawing from more than five decades of ministry, military chaplaincy in Iraq and Kuwait, presbytery leadership, and deep engagement with Scripture and church history, David offers a robust, church-centered vision of the Great Commission. He emphasizes Christ’s authority and presence as the foundation of mission, the necessity of both proclamation and discipleship, and the irreplaceable role of embodied, face-to-face Christian community.

From teaching soldiers in the ruins of Babylon, to shepherding churches across rural Virginia, to diagnosing the modern “going problem” facing the church, David speaks candidly about cultural isolation, post-Christian ambivalence, generational loneliness, and declining pastoral pipelines—while holding fast to the promise that Christ is still building His Church. This episode will encourage pastors, elders, and faithful believers to labor deliberately, trust Christ’s promises, and take heart in the global work God is accomplishing through ordinary means of grace.

Key Moments

0:02 — Introduction: Welcome to The Great Commission Today and the mission of the podcast.
0:35 — Meet Rev. David Gilleran: Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of the Blue Ridge (PCA).
1:20 — Early Life: Growing up in Stockton, California, and family background.
1:51 — Loss & Providence: The death of his father and a life-altering move to Alabama.
2:18 — Conversion: Coming to faith through Campus Crusade for Christ in 1971.
2:45 — Pilgrim’s Progress Imagery: Burden removed and assurance in Christ.
3:05 — Family Life: Forty years of marriage, one son, and a legacy of faith.
3:28 — Military Chaplaincy: Deployment to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
4:04 — Ministry in Babylon: Teaching Scripture among the ruins of the ancient empire.
4:36 — Daniel, Exile, and Encouragement: Scripture applied in a war zone.
4:48 — Second Deployment: Command chaplaincy across the Middle East.
5:40 — Pastoral Ministry: Hope Presbyterian Church (Martinsville, VA).
6:22 — Presbytery Leadership: Serving as stated clerk since 2011.
6:43 — Geographic Scope: Shepherding churches across a wide and diverse region.
7:23 — Biblical Babylon: Old Testament, Revelation, and exile imagery.
9:36 — Psalm 137 in Context: Longing, exile, and spiritual reflection.
10:30 — “Always a Chaplain”: Lifelong pastoral presence among soldiers.
11:21 — Discipleship & the Great Commission: Evangelism and ongoing formation.
12:15 — Early Disciplers: Bob Cargo, John Musselman, and faithful mentors.
13:38 — Iron Sharpens Iron: Lifelong friendships forged through discipleship.
14:44 — Patterns of Multiplication: David’s mighty men and Christ’s inner circle.
15:47 — The Church’s Purpose: Gathering and perfecting the saints (BCO).
16:38 — Gospel-Centered Churches: Christ’s person and work proclaimed.
18:09 — Campus Ministry & Outreach: Faithful witness in higher education.
19:19 — Word and Deed: Mercy ministries alongside gospel proclamation.
20:40 — Reading the Great Commission: Matthew 28:16–20.
21:44 — Bookended Promises: Christ’s authority and abiding presence.
22:04 — Ambassadors for Christ: Speaking Christ’s words, not our own.
23:15 — Going and Proclaiming: Preaching as the necessary first step.
24:31 — Beyond Conversion: The danger of truncating discipleship.
25:06 — Baptism and Visible Belonging to Christ’s Church.
26:36 — Teaching to Obey: Lifelong discipleship within the gathered church.
27:32 — Never Outgrowing the Commission.
28:28 — Ambassadorship Explained: Authority, message, and stewardship.
31:50 — Cultural Parallels: Ancient Rome and modern secular society.
33:22 — Idolatry Across the Ages: From Baal to modern self-rule.
35:49 — The Idol Factory of the Human Heart.
38:12 — Culture’s Deepening Darkness and the Need for Regeneration.
40:56 — Modern Obstacles: Isolation, technology, and post-COVID disconnection.
42:16 — Face-to-Face Ministry: God’s design for embodied community.
44:44 — Gen Z Loneliness: Hunger for relationships and belonging.
45:26 — Hospitality & Transparency: The gospel with a house key.
47:10 — Adoption into God’s Family: A neglected but vital doctrine.
49:21 — Lingering Effects of the Pandemic.
51:14 — Road to Emmaus: Hearts burning through relational discipleship.
52:08 — A Legacy of Discipleship: Faith passed through generations.
56:29 — Sowing Seeds Across Decades: God gives the increase.
57:42 — Individual & Corporate Responsibility in the Great Commission.
59:39 — “Come and See”: Invitation as evangelism.
1:01:07 — Open-Air Preaching: Courage and historic precedent.
1:03:36 — Digital Tools as Modern Tracts.
1:06:05 — Ordinary Witness: Gospel “gossip” among believers.
1:08:00 — Isolation and the Shrinking Circle of Influence.
1:11:43 — Being Known by God and Known by Others.
1:15:17 — Online Resources for Discipleship.
1:17:01 — The “Going” Problem: Declining pastoral and missionary pipelines.
1:19:12 — The Fields Are White for Harvest.
1:22:23 — Treasure in Jars of Clay.
1:23:09 — Challenging the Next Generation to Go.
1:25:09 — “Don’t Waste Your Life.”
1:27:26 — Shepherding the Shepherds: Leadership multiplication.
1:29:17 — A Fresh Stirring of the Spirit.
1:32:09 — Following Christ’s Pattern: Starting in Jerusalem.
1:34:03 — Family Discipleship and Sermon Reinforcement.
1:36:18 — Reading Scripture Together as a Church.
1:37:54 — The Importance of Public Worship.
1:39:31 — Catching the Little Foxes.
1:41:37 — Final Exhortation: Trust Christ’s promises and labor faithfully.
1:43:18 — Encouragement from the Global Church.
1:45:28 — Rejoicing in God’s Work Worldwide.

Organizations & Resources Mentioned in This Episode

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