Behind the Message

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Weekly conversations with great preachers.

Ben Fleming & Evan Earwicker


    • Apr 19, 2021 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 30m AVG DURATION
    • 72 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Behind the Message

    From 1 Lead Pastor to 3 Senior Pastors: How we are Changing to a Shared Leadership Model

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2021 20:36


    This week, Behind the Message returns to discuss Westside's new approach to leadership, as Pastor Steve Mickel announces the addition of 2 senior pastors. Our panel discusses.

    301 - Walking in the Dark with Steve Mickel

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2019 31:19


    On this first episode of season 3, Pastor Steve Mickel announces the release of his book, Walking in the Dark: Trusting God when Life Happens. "I hope what I believe is right, like when Jesus said, 'I go to prepare a place for you where you can be with me.' I hope he was telling me the truth, not just for me but for [my son] Chase... The sun’s going to rise again. Not just on that day when Jesus comes back and we all get to experience His presence, but it’s going to rise on this day... There could still be a best day ever for me, without Chase. Why not? That’s who God is. He does want to produce beauty out of ashes." - Steve Mickel

    On Vulnerability : How much is too much? With Steve Mickel

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2019 31:15


    Steve Mickel joins the live podcast to discuss being known for vulnerability and when it can cross over into over sharing.

    steve mickel
    On the New Creation - A Conversation with Pastor Seth Waters

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2019 24:14


    Westside's new church plant will be pastored by Seth Waters. Seth joins the podcast to discuss his message on our new identity in Christ.

    The Unhurried Soul : Don't Run on Empty

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2019 24:21


    We look at ways to connect ourselves to the relationships and activities that fuel the soul. When we allow our souls to run on empty, we have little to offer those around us.

    The Unhurried Soul : Soul health starts from a place of Rest with Steve Mickel

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2019 29:02


    In his book, Soul Keeping, John Ortberg says that the key to a healthy soul is first to "ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life". We sit down with Pastor Steve Mickel to discuss the hectic rhythms of life and how we can find a place of rest for our souls.

    Behind the Message Live - The Weeds and The Seeds with Bo Stern

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 25, 2018 36:01


    In a special 4 part live series, we look back on some of the most memorable messages of 2018 and discuss on stage at Westside Church.

    Behind the Message Live - Christian Ethics with Steve Mickel

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2018 39:40


    In a special 4 part live series, we look back on some of the most memorable messages of 2018 and discuss on stage at Westside Church.

    Behind the Message Live: A New Way with Steve Mickel

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2018 39:09


    In a special 4 part live series, we look back on some of the most memorable messages of 2018 and discuss on stage at Westside Church.

    Behind the Message Live: Love Doesn't Envy with Bo Stern

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2018 40:06


    In a special 4 part live series, we look back on some of the most memorable messages of 2018 and discuss on stage at Westside Church.

    Love Doesn't Strut: Moving away from Religious Superiority

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2018 33:31


    In a cultural moment when civility is rare and passionate opinions are everywhere, how do we communicate our views and beliefs without rudeness and arrogance?

    The Church in the age of #metoo : should the church speak up for women?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2018 25:05


    The #metoo movement has changed the conversation around corporate culture, the entertainment industry and politics. Does the church need to speak out? Should Christian men in leadership be taking a stand, or the back seat? Pastor Bo Stern joins Ben and Evan to discuss these hot-button issues and what to make of it all in the context of church life.

    Is "Loving Everybody" Meaningless? with Pastor Steve Mickel

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2018 31:11


    Pastor Steve Mickel joins to discuss his teaching on 1 Corinthians 13 (the love chapter), and why it's those closest to us that usually require the most effort in our attempts to love like Jesus.

    The Parnell Brothers are Quitting: Here's Why

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2018 44:01


    We're back after a few weeks off with Casey Parnell to discuss the exit of the Parnell brothers from the staff of Westside Church.

    A Conversation with Mental Health Professional Bill Mahnke

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2018 28:11


    The founder of Watercup counseling, Bill Mahnke, joins the podcast to discuss the intersection of faith and mental health with Evan and Pastor Steve Mickel.

    What Steve is Smoking and other Controversial Topics from Sunday

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2018 31:55


    Pastor Steve Mickel and Pastor Mike Alexander join Evan to discuss Steve's controversial message on Christian ethics.

    "Don't Worry", and Why that's Subversive with Bo Stern and Spencer Schaber

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2018 31:10


    Bo Stern and Spencer Schaber join the podcast to discuss their message on worry and how Jesus introduced a whole new way to live: anxiety free.

    The Subversive Teachings of Jesus Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2018 22:04


    Pastor Steve Mickel and Pastor Mike Alexander join to discuss the purpose Jesus had in teaching on things that were unclear, difficult and confusing.

    The Subversive Life Of Jesus with Steve Mickel and Casey Parnell

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2018 28:24


    Evan hosts Steve Mickel and Casey Parnell to discuss the subversive, challenging nature of Jesus' life and teachings and if it is ever appropriate for Christians to be judgmental.

    Conversations that Matter & Appealing to Normal, Non-Church People

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2018 31:55


    Randall Knight served on staff at Westside Church for many years. No longer working in the church world, Randall brings a different perspective to the conversation and discusses his critique of our "in-the-weeds" topics in previous Behind the Message episodes and his ideas of how to make the church more appealing to the uninitiated.

    God's Ideal vs. our Real in Human Relationships with Steve Mickel

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2018 27:34


    Pastor Steve Mickel joins the podcast to discuss how we handle the difficult teachings of Jesus and how God allows us to flourish even when we fall short of the ideal in our relationships.

    Women who Teach and Racial Diversity in Ministry : A Live Panel Discussion

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2018 33:18


    We're back for season 2 of Behind the Message, and begin this season with a live podcast recording with a panel of pastors discussing minorities and women in ministry. With Pastors Keith Jenkins, Steve Mickel and Bo Stern.

    What we've learned from the Way of Jesus with Bo Stern

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2018 36:00


    Bo Stern joins for the last episode of season 1 to discuss what we've learned through the parables of Jesus. We also discuss techniques to get the attention of distracted crowds.

    Live at Westside Church : Dealing with Depression and Anxiety with Lindsay Parnell

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2018 44:26


    Westside's associate worship pastor Lindsay Parnell joins for a special live recording to discuss ways to overcome anxiety and depression and help those who are struggling.

    The Way of Jesus Should Mess You Up

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2018 26:39


    Pastor Steve Mickel joins to discuss how Jesus uses individuals, not political parties to establish his way, and how his teachings and life should challenge us in how we think and live.

    Leave the Bad Ones Alone (and don't draw too many points from Jesus' teaching) with Bo Stern

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2018 27:01


    Bo Stern joins the podcast to discuss Jesus' parable of the weeds, and why it was important to her not to over explain or draw too much out of what Jesus was teaching the crowds.

    The Way of Jesus with Steve Mickel

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2018 29:34


    Steve Mickel is back to discuss the way of Jesus as taught through His parables. Also discussed: multisite churches, measuring health by counting people, and the pressure pastors feel on Easter Sunday.

    Should we preach deeper messages or preach to 'the crowd'?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2018 31:45


    Pastor Steve Mickel joins to discuss his vision message for 2018, and how he models his teaching after the format of Jesus.

    Should we be talking about the devil?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2018 27:19


    Pastor Steve Mickel joins to discuss his message on fighting through suffering and why we can't give into fear in times of trouble and grief.

    Expanding the Neighborhood with Keith Jenkins : On Race and Religion

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2018 24:39


    Pastor Keith Jenkins joins us to discuss Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan, and the implications for the American church on race relations and politics.

    Influencing the Next Generation

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2018 33:14


    The Westside Student Ministries team discusses the influence adults can have on youth and children, and the importance of mentorship and 'just showing up' in kids lives.

    The Way Of Jesus: Is the Old Testament Obsolete?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2018 31:01


    Pastor Steve Mickel joins to discuss the function of the old covenant in light of the new, and what the book of Hebrews teaches on Moses and the Law.

    Top 10 Church Things to Never do Again in 2018

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2017 33:15


    Corey Parnell joins us for another top 10, this time on the top things we do in church that should never happen again. Happy 2018!

    Singleness, Dating and Marriage with Bo Stern (Recorded Live)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2017 35:26


    Bo Stern joins us live at Westside Church in the final episode of our 4 part series to discuss her popular message on singleness and marriage in the church.

    Live at Westside Church - Overcoming Shame with Bo Stern

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2017 30:27


    In the third part of our 4 part live series, Bo Stern discusses the power of shame and how to come out from underneath it.

    The Emotionally Healthy Life - Live at Westside Church

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2017 30:18


    In part 2 of our live 4 part series, we look back at one of the most popular messages of 2017 at Westside Church, the Emotionally Healthy Life. With Pastor Steve Mickel.

    Walking in the Dark: Live at Westside Church with Steve Mickel

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2017 30:54


    For the first time, Behind the Message is recorded live during a Sunday service at Westside Church. This week we are looking back at some of the most talked about messages of the year. To begin, we discuss Pastor Steve's series from January 2017, Walking in the Dark.

    The end of the Lord's Prayer and how we deal with Discrepancies in the Bible with Bo Stern

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2017 25:11


    Pastor Bo Stern joins the podcast to discuss the end of the Lord's prayer , explaining how the earliest manuscripts don't include it. What do we teach about the inerrency of scripture? Does God tempt us or not? Bo dives into these topics and more in this week's podcast.

    Forgive us as we Forgive

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2017 27:29


    The prayer 'forgive us as we forgive' is not an easy or small prayer to pray. Steve Mickel joins the podcast to discuss the nature of being forgiven and extending that to those who hurt us.

    steve mickel
    Asking God for what we need in Prayer

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2017 28:03


    Steve Mickel joins the podcast to discuss petitions in prayer as we discuss the question, "Do we need to even ask if God already knows what we need?"

    god steve mickel
    Finding Contentment through Prayer

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2017 34:54


    Casey, Ben and Evan discuss prayer and how we can find contentment in prayer as we submit to God. A discussion on the Lord's Prayer, "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."

    The Purpose of Prayer with Steve Mickel

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2017 31:00


    Pastor Steve Mickel discusses his message on The Lord's Prayer, and how getting our priorities in place when we approach God is a must in order for our prayers to be effective.

    How To Lead In An Environment Of Trust

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2017 57:32


    This week, we took the podcast live to a workshop at the Foursquare North Pacific District Conference in Beaverton Oregon. Pastor Steve Mickel joined Ben and Evan to discuss the relationship between lead pastors and next generation ministries, how to lead in an environment of trust, and how to release young leaders. With a live Q&A.

    How the Church Should Look And Act

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2017 27:39


    Pastor Steve Mickel joins the podcast for a fascinating discussion on how the church should look and act in culture, and the difference between a politically powerful religious subculture and the way of Jesus.

    Is Christianity Relevant Anymore?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2017 34:46


    Pastor Steve Mickel is back to discuss the move that Church has made from the center of community life to the fringe. What can be done to bring the message of the Gospel into culture in a way that matters?

    Steve Mickel On Confession, Transparency as a Preacher and Mentoring

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2017 35:12


    Pastor Steve Mickel discusses the role of confession in his life and how transparency as a preacher is critical when leading the church.

    Bo Stern on Women in Ministry, Wholehearted Living and Juggling in Private

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2017 31:31


    Pastor and Author Bo Stern stops by to discuss her experience as a preacher and pastor (a traditionally male role), what it means to live wholeheartedly, and why the gospel needs to work in and out of the church.

    Doxology and Glory with Ben Fleming

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2017 37:34


    Ben Fleming is the co host and preacher this week, as he discusses his message on Doxology. Pastor Spencer Schaber joins.

    Who or What qualifies as an Enemy? With Mike Alexander

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2017 29:31


    Immigration. Racism. Politics. With the nation polarized, what is the church's role? Should we make a stand on hot button issues, or stay out of the fray? Pastor Mike discusses his message on enemies in the Psalms as we dive into the question of adversaries, conflict, and political division inside the church.

    Community with Spencer Schaber

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2017 36:18


    Community is a pretty complicated thing. We all want to be a part of a community that feels like our tribe or extended family, but how do we get there? How do we lead a healthy community? How do we continue to grow a healthy community? All that plus how close Spencer and Ben should should be while dancing on this episode of Behind the Message.

    How Repentance Works with Evan Earwicker

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2017 28:17


    Ben and Casey discuss Evan's message on Repentance in the Psalms and the parable of the prodigal son in this week's Behind the Message podcast.

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