Agape Baptist Church | Scottsboro, Alabama

Do animals go to heaven? And will we ever see the pets we've loved again? In this episode of Curious Faith, we explore what the Bible says about animals, creation, and the promise of restoration. While Scripture doesn't answer every question directly, it does reveal a God who cares deeply for His creation and promises to make all things new. Join us as we consider what hope, eternity, and redemption might mean for the animals we love.Have a question or comment you'd like us to address in a future episode? Email us at questions@curiousfaithpodcast.com. To learn more about Agape Baptist Church and the ministries of Community Care Village, visit agapebaptist.com.

In a world filled with uncertainty, what can you actually be certain of? In this message from 1 Peter, we explore Peter's powerful encouragement to believers facing suffering, pressure, and an uncertain future. Discover why suffering is not a detour from the Christian life, why vindication belongs to those who trust Christ, and how the Gospel gives unshakable hope when everything around you shifts.

If you had the chance to go back to the Garden of Eden, would you stop Adam and Eve from sinning? It sounds like an easy answer—but what if the implications are deeper than we realize? In this episode of Curious Faith, we explore the Fall, God's sovereignty, and how the story of redemption shapes our understanding of what's truly at stake. What would we lose if sin never entered the world? And what does this question reveal about God's plan and purpose?Have a question or comment you'd like us to address in a future episode? Email us at questions@curiousfaithpodcast.com. To learn more about Agape Baptist Church and the ministries of Community Care Village, visit agapebaptist.com.

In Paul's final and most personal letter, 2 Timothy calls believers to endure faithfully in a confused and shifting culture. This message explores generational faithfulness, biblical motherhood, intentional discipleship, the power of God's Word, and the unshakable faithfulness of Christ in our darkest moments.

In this episode of Curious Faith: Questions Answered, we revisit a powerful moment from our 2025 Resurrection Celebration, where live questions shaped the conversation in real time. Join us as we explore one honest question through the lens of Scripture and discover how faith grows when we bring our questions to the right place.

In this message, Director of MemberCare and New Connections, Gary Mohney, shows us two examples in Scripture of a square peg in a round hole (and how not to become one).

What happens when someone who once trusted Christ begins to lose their memory—and even their ability to remember Him? And what about unborn children or those too young to fully understand the Gospel? In this deeply personal episode of Curious Faith: Questions Answered, we explore how salvation relates to memory, understanding, and the condition of the human mind. Looking to Scripture, we'll consider the security of those who belong to Christ, the nature of saving faith, and the character of a God who is both just and deeply compassionate. This conversation is meant to bring clarity—and comfort—to those carrying these questions in their hearts.Have a question or comment you'd like us to address in a future episode? Email us at questions@curiousfaithpodcast.com. To learn more about Agape Baptist Church and the ministries of Community Care Village, visit agapebaptist.com.

In this message from 1st Timothy, we uncover a powerful truth: you don't drift into godliness—you fight for it. But not by trying harder, but by standing on the Gospel.

What does it really mean to be a “lukewarm” Christian—and how do you avoid becoming one? In this episode of Curious Faith: Questions Answered, we look at Jesus' warning in Revelation 3 and unpack what lukewarm faith actually looks like. Is it apathy, self-sufficiency, or something more subtle? We'll explore how spiritual drift happens, the difference between struggling and settling, and how to cultivate a faith that is alive, growing, and fully engaged with Christ.Have a question or comment you'd like us to address in a future episode? Email us at questions@curiousfaithpodcast.com. To learn more about Agape Baptist Church and the ministries of Community Care Village, visit agapebaptist.com.

What if joy isn't found in better circumstances—but in faithful obedience? In this message from Philippians, we discover that when we step into what God calls us to—even when it's hard—His sufficiency meets us there. Learn how Gospel partnership, humble service, and surrendered trust lead to a joy that circumstances can't take away.

Romans 9 raises one of the most difficult questions in Scripture: does God choose some people for salvation—and others for judgment? In this episode of Curious Faith: Questions Answered, we walk through Romans 9:21–29 and explore what Paul means by “vessels of mercy” and “vessels of wrath.” How do we understand God's sovereignty without misrepresenting His character? And how do we hold together divine justice and human responsibility? This episode aims to bring clarity to a challenging passage while keeping our focus on the goodness, justice, and mercy of God.Have a question or comment you'd like us to address in a future episode? Email us at questions@curiousfaithpodcast.com. To learn more about Agape Baptist Church and the ministries of Community Care Village, visit agapebaptist.com.

What if spiritual growth isn't just about learning more—but living more? In this message from Philemon 1:4–6, we explore how God deepens our faith not by keeping us comfortable, but by calling us into obedience. As we step out in faith, our need for Him increases—and so does our experience of His sufficiency. Because Jesus is alive, hope is alive, and that hope is discovered as we follow Him.

How do you evaluate yourself honestly without drifting into pride or insecurity? In this episode of Curious Faith: Questions Answered, we explore what Paul means in Romans 12:3 about thinking with “sober judgment” and how to measure ourselves by the faith God has given. Learn how the Gospel helps us see ourselves clearly—neither inflated nor diminished.Send your questions or comments to questions@curiousfaithpodcast.com.For more information about Agape Baptist Church or the Community Care Village, visit agapebaptist.com.

Everyone is searching for hope. Easter answers why. In this message from 1 Peter 1:3, see how the resurrection of Jesus doesn't just inspire hope—it creates a living hope that changes your past, present, and future.

In John 20:22–23, Jesus tells His disciples, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them.” But doesn't Scripture teach that only God can forgive sins? In this episode of Curious Faith: Questions Answered, we explore what Jesus actually meant in this surprising passage. We'll look at the context of Christ's commission to His disciples, how the original language clarifies the meaning, and why the church has the authority to declare forgiveness through the Gospel—not create it. This episode helps us understand the difference between divine forgiveness and the church's responsibility to proclaim it.

You can be close to Jesus—and still miss Him. On Palm Sunday, the crowd praised a King they didn't fully understand. In Colossians, Paul shows us who Jesus really is: supreme, sufficient, and worthy of everything. This message explores what happens when Christ is truly preeminent in your life—and challenges you to answer the question Jesus still asks today: Who do you say that I am?

If the New Testament book of Jude quotes the Book of Enoch, why isn't Enoch included in the Bible? In this episode of Curious Faith: Questions Answered, we explore how the biblical canon was recognized, why quoting a source does not make it Scripture, and how ancient Jewish and Christian communities evaluated religious writings. We'll also look at what scholars mean by “pseudepigrapha” and why the Book of Enoch—though historically interesting—was never considered authoritative by the Hebrew Scriptures recognized in the time of Jesus.

What does real unity look like in a diverse church—and why is it so hard to maintain? In this message from Ephesians, we explore how Christ has already accomplished unity through the cross and how we are called to protect, practice, and live it out. From relationships in the home to spiritual battles we often overlook, this message reveals that unity is not something we create—but something we trust God to sustain.

If someone professes faith in Christ but openly lives in a way Scripture calls sin, what does that say about their relationship with God? In this episode of Curious Faith: Questions Answered, we tackle a difficult but important question about salvation, repentance, and the transforming power of the Gospel. Rather than focusing on one particular sin, we step back and ask a deeper question: How does the Bible describe a believer's relationship to sin? Looking at passages like 2 Corinthians 5, Ezekiel 36, and 1 Corinthians 6, we explore the difference between struggling with sin and settling into it—and what genuine faith in Christ produces in a person's life.

In this message, we step back and look at the sweeping message of the book of Romans and Paul's declaration that the Gospel is the power of God for salvation. This message invites us not only to understand the Gospel more clearly, but to experience its power as it transforms how we live.

James 1:2 tells us to “count it all joy” when we face trials — but what does that really mean? Is biblical joy a deep confidence in God's work, or does it sometimes become a spiritual mask we wear to avoid admitting pain? In this episode of Curious Faith: Questions Answered, we explore the difference between genuine, gospel-rooted joy and pretending everything is okay. We'll look at how sorrow and joy can coexist — and why real faith doesn't require emotional denial.

The world celebrates strength, success, and influence—but the Gospel tells a different story. In this message from 2 Corinthians, discover how God's power is revealed through weakness and how the very places we feel most fragile can become the places where Christ's grace shines the brightest.

Is it possible to take wise precautions and still fully trust God — or do those compete with each other? In this episode of the Curious Faith podcast, we explore the difference between prudence and fear, human responsibility and divine sovereignty. Does trusting God mean rejecting practical protection, or does God often work through those very means? We'll look at what Scripture says about wisdom, preparation, and where our ultimate confidence should rest.

Jordan walks us through his life of growing up in North Alabama in the Holiness Church. He also shares his struggles in young adulthood, and what eventually led him to coming into a true relationship with Christ and the digital ministries he now leads.

In this message from our HIStory series, we walk through 1 Corinthians and discover how the Cross redefines everything — our allegiances, our purity, our freedom, and our future.

Did the cross remove all judgment — or is there still something ahead for believers? In this episode, we unpack what it means that Christ bore our punishment and what Scripture teaches about the judgment seat of Christ. Clear answers. Gospel assurance. No fear-driven confusion.

What happens when faith grows — but so do the questions?In 2 Thessalonians, Paul writes to a church under pressure. Persecution was intensifying. Rumors about Christ's return were spreading. Some believers were fearful. Others had grown idle. In this powerful letter, Paul steadies their hearts by reminding them that God's judgment is righteous, Christ's return will be unmistakable, and Christian waiting is never passive.

Why build a podcast entirely around questions? In this first episode of Curious Faith: Questions Answered, we unpack the heart behind the show — why questions are not threats to faith but invitations to deeper understanding. We'll talk about the goal of this podcast, the role of the Curious Companion, where these questions have come from in the past, and how you can help shape future episodes. If you've ever wrestled with something you were afraid to ask out loud, this podcast is for you.

What does faithful waiting look like? In 1 Thessalonians, Paul shows us that the return of Christ is not about timelines and charts—it's about endurance, holiness, and encouragement. This message calls us to be a people shaped by the Gospel, strengthened in community, marked by holiness, and sustained by hope.

In this message, we welcome Gary Pate of Pate Ministries, serving faithfully in Ecuador, as he shares a powerful testimony of God's work on the mission field.

In this message on Jude, we examine Jude's urgent warning about false teachers—how rebellion against God's authority leads to judgment, how distorted grace produces moral compromise, and how deception spreads to those who follow it. At the same time, we're called to resist isolated, internet-shaped faith and instead grow through truth, discernment, and embodied church community, anchored in the hope that God Himself is able to keep His people from stumbling and present them with joy.

What if the trials you're facing are not setbacks, but sacred tools in God's hands? This message from James invites us to see suffering as formative—where God produces endurance, restores what is broken, and shapes a wiser, more resilient faith.

In this message, Mark Johnson challenges us to examine whether our faith is actually moving forward—or quietly stalled on a spiritual cul-de-sac.

What happens when the gospel gets edited? In Galatians, Paul opens his letter with urgency, reminding the church that the gospel comes from God—not people—and cannot be hybridized. This message calls us back to grace alone through Christ alone.

The book of Acts reveals the Holy Spirit not as a distant force, but as God's power dwelling within believers—applying redemption, shaping sanctification, and empowering obedience.In this message, we follow the Spirit's movement from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. We are invited to ask an honest question: Am I living under the leadership of the Holy Spirit—or under the leadership of the flesh, self, or culture?

John's Gospel presents Jesus not just as the newborn King, but as the eternal Word who has come for the world. This Christmas message explores how John's portrait of Christ confronts us with a response and calls us into deeper discipleship in the year ahead.

Luke's Gospel shows us a Savior who seeks the margins and invites the outcast to the center of God's story. Discover how Jesus redefines belonging and offers hope to those who feel unseen, unworthy, or far from God.

The symbols of Christianity are surprisingly simple—a manger and a cross. In this message from the Gospel of Mark, we reflect on how these quiet, unassuming images reveal the humility, obedience, and glory of Jesus. As the light of Christmas shines, we are invited to examine the idols that glitter but do not give life and to follow the Savior who came low and stayed faithful.

Matthew tells the story of a Messiah who didn't shout His love from heaven but came down in flesh and blood. In this message, we explore Jesus' perfect timing in history, His role as the true and better Moses, and His identity as Immanuel—God with us. Christmas is the celebration of the King who stepped into our world to forgive, restore, and remain with His people forever. Let this message draw your heart toward the One who has come all the way to you.

In this message, Pastor Ryan shows how every major figure in the Old Testament points to Christ and how the long silence before His birth heightens the drama of His arrival. The message reminds us: the Bible isn't just His story—our story is meant to become His story as well.

In this Thanksgiving message, Pastor Ryan explores how the ‘Mandela Effect' illustrates our tendency to misremember the past—and how the book of Chronicles retells Israel's history to heal, restore, and reorient God's people. Discover why biblical remembering is the cure for bitterness, how gratitude rewires the heart, and how Thanksgiving becomes a spiritual practice that frees us from the past.

The book of Malachi doesn't whisper—it confronts. This message explores the hard questions God asks His people about worship, obedience, faithfulness, and spiritual drift. Instead of giving God our leftovers, Malachi invites us back to wholehearted devotion. A call to return, remember, and renew our worship.

Ezra and Nehemiah tell the story of God's people rebuilding what was broken—temple, walls, and community. But even after the work was complete, something was still missing. In this message, Pastor Ryan shows that while human leaders can inspire, organize, and rebuild, they cannot heal the human heart. True rebuilding happens when God's Spirit unites His people under the leadership of Jesus—the greater Rebuilder who finishes what we cannot.

In the book of Zechariah, God gave a series of visions to a weary people rebuilding from ruins—visions meant to renew their hope and remind them that His promises never fail. This message explores how God encourages us to keep building when the work feels slow and the future uncertain.

When God's people returned from exile, their enthusiasm for rebuilding the Temple quickly gave way to distraction and discouragement. Through the prophet Haggai, God reminded them that He hadn't just called them to rebuild walls and roofs—He was rebuilding hearts.

Even when His name is never mentioned, His hand is everywhere. In this message from the book of Esther, Pastor Ryan Johnson explores how God works through ordinary people and everyday circumstances to accomplish His extraordinary purposes. When life feels uncertain and God seems distant, Esther reminds us that His providence is never absent—just unseen.

Ezekiel's visions open with the breathtaking sight of God's glory—not in Jerusalem's temple, but among the exiles by the river in Babylon. Through dramatic imagery, symbolic acts, and divine messages, Ezekiel reveals a God who is holy, sovereign, and present even in judgment. Though the people's rebellion led to ruin, God promises restoration, a new heart, and a future where His Spirit dwells among them once more. The book of Ezekiel reminds us that even when all seems lost, God's glory has not departed—it is moving to redeem and renew His people.

God's judgment isn't the opposite of His love—it's the proof of it. In Joel, He sends locusts to consume what distracts us, so He can restore what truly matters.

The book of Daniel is a manual for faith under pressure. When culture demands compromise, Daniel's life shows that conviction, courage, and communion with God can turn exile into mission.