Common Life

What should Christians do with their money? How much should we give? Is the biblical tithe of 10% still relevant for Christians today? And why does Jesus talk so much about money in the first place?

In this episode of Common Life, Cort Gatliff sits down with longtime pastor Sandy Willson for a practical conversation about money, generosity, and Christian discipleship. They talk about why pastors shouldn’t shy away from preaching about money, why our possessions so easily become idols, the biblical case for tithing, giving to the local church versus other organizations, and what sacrificial generosity actually does to us spiritually.

Sandy also reflects on his own practice of giving and what he has learned from decades of pastoring people about the relationship between generosity and spiritual maturity.

Death is one of the few realities every human being must face—and one of the realities our culture is least comfortable talking about.

In this episode of Common Life, Revs. Cort and Abby Gatliff talk about what it means to approach death as Christians. They explore why human beings live with the knowledge of our own mortality, how our culture tends to deny, defy, or befriend death, and why Christianity offers a different way.

The conversation moves from philosophers Martin Heidegger and Ernest Becker to Scripture’s description of death as our “last enemy,” and ultimately to the Christian hope of resurrection. Cort and Abby also discuss some of the practical ways the church can help us learn to die well: talking honestly about death, preparing wills and funeral plans, and gathering around Word and Sacrament.

October is stewardship season at South Highland, and this year’s theme is Faithful & Fruitful. 

In this episode of Common Life, Cort Gatliff sits down with Stewardship Co-Chairs Garland and Anne Stansell for a conversation about God’s faithfulness through more than four decades of marriage, work, family, and ministry—and what financial stewardship has looked like through changing seasons of life.

What does it mean to be human—and why do we have such a hard time accepting our limits?

On this episode of Common Life, Cort Gatliff sits down with theologian and author Kelly Kapic to talk about the goodness of being a creature. They discuss why we often confuse human limitation with sin, what suffering taught Kelly about dependence and humility, and how our limits are meant to draw us toward God and one another.

This Sunday, we're beginning a new summer sermon series through the Psalms of Ascent, a collection of ancient songs that God's people sang as they made their way up to the temple in Jerusalem.

These psalms trace the lifelong journey of faith, giving voice to our fears, hopes, struggles, and joys along the way.

In this episode of Common Life, Pastors Cort and Abby sat down to explore what the Psalms of Ascent are and why they continue to resonate with Christians today. They also discuss the biblical theme of pilgrimage, the importance of singing together as God's people, and what it means to follow Jesus as travelers whose true home lies beyond this world.

In this episode of Common Life, Rev. Cort Gatliff sits down with Isaac Adams, lead pastor of Iron City Church, for a conversation about ministry in Birmingham and Iron City’s upcoming move to begin worshiping in SHPC’s sanctuary on Sunday afternoons. This conversation explores what it means to welcome another congregation for a season and how different churches can serve the same gospel mission in our city.

In this episode of Common Life, Cort talks with former South Highland Associate Pastor Rev. Dr/ Jim Truesdell about faithfully navigating major transitions in both life and ministry. In addition to serving at South Highland, Jim’s ministry has taken him to Mississippi, South Asia, and Pakistan. Now, he is transitioning roles once again to serve as the senior pastor of a Presbyterian church in Athens, Alabama.

In this episode, Cort chats with Sean Dietrich, also known as Sean of the South, about his recent journey walking the Camino de Santiago. Sean shares stories from the trail as well as the spiritual insights that have continued to transform him and his prayer life. They also talk about Sean’s new novel, Over Yonder, which comes out October 7, 2025, and is available for preorder on Amazon or wherever books are sold.