Lipscomb's College of Bible & Ministry Podcast: Dr. Kris Miller

July 8, 2025

In this insightful episode of the Lipscomb University College of Bible and Ministry podcast (Apple Podcasts & Spotify), we welcome Dr. Kris Miller, the Director of the Institute for Christian Spirituality, who shares his journey and approach to integrating Christian theology and spirituality. Dr. Miller talks about his varied background, from his beginnings in Kentucky to extensive work in pastoral care, spiritual direction, and teaching. All of these ventures have taken him from Texas to Indiana, and even to England. With years of experience at institutions like Fuller Seminary, Dr. Miller has dedicated his life to exploring the wholeness that emerges when theology and spirituality intersect, bringing together mind, heart, and soul.
 

Dr. Miller’s philosophy centers on what he calls a “hidden wholeness,” a concept he credits to Parker Palmer. This perspective emphasizes that humans are inherently whole beings—not simply “brains on a stick” as Dr. Miller playfully notes. Rather, each is a whole person called to live out their faith in every aspect of life. He speaks passionately about how historical shifts, such as the separation of the university from the monastery, have distanced theology from spiritual practice. For Dr. Miller, true discipleship involves returning to a model in which learning and living are deeply connected.
 

In discussing his own spiritual practices, Dr. Miller emphasizes the importance of gratitude, contemplative prayer, and relational engagement. He shares how practices like meditative prayer remind us that we are “more than our thoughts and feelings” and bring us back to a centered awareness of God’s presence in daily life. Two of his favorite passages in Scripture, John 15:9 and Ephesians 3:14-21, reinforce his belief in the power of abiding in God’s love and the ever-deepening relationship between humanity and the divine.
 

Dr. Miller also discusses his unique ministry to leaders, including pastors, through spiritual direction and multidisciplinary care. As director of the Institute for Christian Spirituality, he aims to expand resources for ministers, students, and the broader community, addressing everything from burnout to holistic well-being. One of his key areas of research pertains to how trials shape spiritual growth. While challenges are universally formative, he addresses how they are often overlooked as essential components of our spiritual journey. He is developing programs to help others process and grow through life’s trials, offering both academic support and personal enrichment.

Keep an eye out for more episodes every other Thursday, and feel free to explore the depths of Christian spirituality through Lipscomb's Institute for Christian Spirituality, led by Dr. Miller. From spiritual direction training to formational programs and research initiatives, the Institute is dedicated to nurturing the discipleship of Christ followers by cultivating a deeper awareness of and participation in the Holy Spirit’s redemptive activity among us, within us, and through us in the world.

---

Bible and Ministry Blog

---