Change the Conversation

In today's conversation, we're going to pick up where we left off last year in our Thru the Bible series with the 3rd king of Israel—the wisest man to ever live (until Jesus, of course), the son of David and the one who finally built the temple—Solomon. We'll see how the feeling of inadequacy at the onset of a new calling tends to result in a beautiful humility and holy understanding of our need for God—and that when we need wisdom, all we have to do is ask for it. We'll see the gracious, loving, abundant heart of our Father God, who delights to not only meet our needs, but also to give us abundantly more than we can ask or imagine. We'll look in awe at how the presence of God showed up at the dedication of the temple, and we'll marvel at the reality that we now get to experience that same presence living within us—and that our truest identity is found in that presence. So, pull up a chair at our table, and let's dive into the conversation.

Last episode, we reintroduced ourselves personally and as an organization.  In today's conversation, we're sharing more about the origins of this podcast and another ministry under the APM umbrella: the Hezekiah Project, which is a Leadership and Discipleship Academy for students. The way God has brought about both of these ministries is pretty incredible, and we hope you feel inspired to walk out whatever He's placed in your heart after listening! For more info about APM and The Hezekiah Project, visit us at www.annieperkinsministries.org/HezekiahProject***One of our team members has been faced with an unexpected family emergency, so we've pushed pause on releasing new episodes! We will be back ASAP with the next episode, where we'll be diving back into our Thru the Bible series!

In today's conversation, we're going to do something a little bit different. We'll get back to our Thru the Bible series in a few episodes, but today we're going tell our story. We are so excited because our whole exec team is here today, which is very rare because we all live in different places, and we felt the Lord leading us to share how he wove our stories together, how he has led us to do the things he's calling us to do, and what we feel him speaking for this year. Our prayer is that this episode inspires you to movement if you've been feeling stuck or afraid, encourages you if you're walking through a season of aloneness, and impassions you to stay in the game—or get in the game—because God is on the move (as always) and is up to awesome things. So, pull up a chair at our table, and let's dive into the conversation.

In today's conversation, we're going to wrap up the story of David, but we'll go backwards before we move forward in order to understand the desire David had to build the temple—a desire which he did not get to fulfill, or see fulfilled in his lifetime. However, we'll see that although David did not get to accomplish this desire himself, he did have a role to play in its accomplishment. David was called to make the preparations for the next generation to build the temple, and we'll talk about the importance of viewing our own lives through a broader, multi-generational lens. We'll observe from David's last words how the basis of life in God's story still boils down to good vs. evil, and we'll see that every one of our gifts matter in that story—the seemingly lesser ones having just as much value as the seemingly greater ones. And, we'll see the beginning of the lineage which God ordained before the foundation of the earth to usher in our Savior. So, pull up a chair at our table, and let's dive into the conversation.

In today's conversation, we're going to take a bit of a sharp turn, as we fast-forward to a rather unexpected story in the life of David—the story of David and Bathsheba. We'll face the reality that if we're not careful, comfortability can breed complacency—and unchecked complacency can be a dangerous enemy. We'll discuss why it is sometimes much easier for us to spot the sin in others than to see the plank of sin stuck in our own eye; and we'll wonder, once again, at the faithfulness of God to chase us down in order to draw us back to Himself. We'll ponder the necessity of heartfelt repentance, and we'll be filled with overwhelming gratitude that God sent Jesus to pay the penalty for us—the One whose righteous blood fully covers our multitude of sins to wash us white as snow. So, pull up a chair at our table, and let's dive into the conversation.

In today's conversation, we're going to watch David wait patiently for God to be the one to elevate him, and we'll be inspired by David's determination not to take the throne by his own means, but to wait on God to move him into position His way and in His timing. We'll analyze how the end of David's season of waiting likely included both joy and pain, and we'll be moved to gratitude as we ponder the truth that within our own seasons of waiting, there are always cherishable moments which sprinkle blessing into our trials. We'll be convicted by David's commitment to honor the one who went before him—not only in action, but also in speech—and we'll confront our own tendency to justify dishonor and slander in the name of discernment or righteousness. We'll see the readiness of God to lead clearly when He's opened a door—and we'll understand the simple, yet profound necessity of simply asking Him what to do next. So, pull up a chair at our table, and let's dive into the conversation.

In today's conversation, we're going to follow David into his time of hiding and see how he maintained his purity of heart—and strength of mind—during this time in his life. We're going to take a deep dive into the heart of David, as we compare his story to his psalms. God Himself called David “a man after my own heart,” and we are able to get a unique perspective into the heart of David because he authored so many of the psalms. We'll discover the intrinsic connection between our heart and our mind; and we'll get a visual of how the formula for peace prescribed by Paul in Philippians 4 is exemplified in real life through the psalms of David. So, pull up a chair at our table, and let's dive into the conversation.

In today's conversation, we're going to follow David through the events which took him from the battlefield and the palace to the wilderness and the cave—from being the man favored by King Saul to being the man hunted by King Saul. We'll discuss the extraordinary blessing of divine friendship as we watch God weave David and Jonathan's hearts together, and we'll marvel at the biblical characteristics this friendship displays. We'll see the accelerated downward spiral of King Saul as his jealousy supersedes his judgment, and we'll discover some ways to identify red flags in our own hearts as we compare the heart of this crazed king to the heart of his selfless son. So, pull up a chair at our table, and let's dive into the conversation.

In today's conversation, we're going to pick up where we left off in our last episode in the middle of the famous story of David and Goliath. Last time we recognized the divine timing of our sovereign God, and we talked about the multiple points of opposition David faced in this story before he even reached the giant. Today we'll discover the importance of seeing our lives through spiritual lenses if we do want to face our giants; and, just as in our last episode, we'll find peace in the fact that our success doesn't depend on our own ability, but on the power of God—that our stone only has power to take down the giant because it passes through the hand of God. So, pull up a chair at our table, and let's dive into the conversation.

In today's conversation, we're going to bring a grown-up perspective to one of the most well-known stories of the entire Bible—David and Goliath. We'll marvel, once again, at how it's the hand of God that gets us to our destiny, and we'll begin to understand that there are no coincidences in God's story, but rather the unfolding of His divinely timed plans. We'll discover that Goliath was not the only opposition David faced on this battlefield, and we'll realize the ways in which the enemy often tries to take us out long before we ever reach the giant. We'll discover the importance of seeing our lives through spiritual lenses if we do want to face our giants; and, just as in our last episode, we'll find peace in the fact that our success doesn't depend on our own ability, but on the power of God—that our stone only has power to take down the giant because it passes through the hand of God. So, pull up a chair at our table, and let's dive into the conversation.

In today's conversation, we'll be arriving at the backstory of the second king of Israel, David—one of the greatest heroes of the Old Testament, the man who God Himself referred to as “a man after my own heart,” the man whose lineage eventually birthed the Son of God. We'll wonder at the watchful eye of our attentive, sovereign God who sees all people, knows all people, and chooses who He uses according to the heart rather than ability, appearance, or position. We'll observe how God prepares us (unbeknownst to us) in the most unsuspected ways and places for what He has for us, and we'll see how it's the hand of God that opens the doors to our callings, not our own strategizing or planning. And, we'll find relief in the fact that no matter how much God equips and prepares us, the success of every calling ultimately depends upon that hand of God. So, pull up a chair at our table, and let's dive into the conversation.

In today's conversation, we'll set out on the roller coaster ride that is the life of King Saul, and we'll wonder at yet another story of what could have been. We'll see the growing pride in Saul's heart emerge through his actions—and eventually lead to his rejection as king. We'll watch as the tendency of unrepentance leads to excuses and blame—and even trying to cover up sin with spiritual-sounding language—and we'll feel the grief over a soul that fails to open his spiritual eyes when so many opportunities were given to him. So, pull up a chair at our table, and let's dive into the conversation.

In today's conversation, we'll see the nation of Israel—the nation over whom God has ruled as a faithful King for centuries—reject God and demand an earthly king, all out of a desire to be like everyone else. We'll watch the sovereignty of God play out once again, as God orchestrates events, connects people, and gives the nation what they want. We'll marvel at the potential which awaited King Saul—as God transformed him into the anointed leader of his people—and we'll ponder the truth that it's ultimately God's Spirit which qualifies the unqualified. So, pull up a chair at our table, and let's dive into the conversation.

In today's conversation, we'll be making our way out of the Judges Era of the Bible and into the Kingdom Era with the birth story of a great man of God, Samuel, and his amazing mother, Hannah. We'll see how the choices we make when we face adversity make or break our character, and we'll see how a determination toward righteousness is always worth it. We'll discover a new title for God, depicting the complete sovereignty of our all-knowing, all-seeing God, and we'll discuss the mystery of his unspoken prompts which move us to action. We'll marvel at the faithfulness of God to abundantly bless our sacrificial obedience, to meet us where we are to make himself known to us, and to always be working toward his plan of righteous redemption. So, pull up a chair at our table, and let's dive into the conversation.

In today's conversation, we'll close the pages of a difficult chapter in Israel's history with a deep dive into the refreshing oasis of the book of Ruth—a story which serves as a beautiful bridge between the era of the judges and the era of the kings. We'll walk with Ruth's mother-in-law, Naomi, through her journey from bitter wanderings to homecoming to joyful redemption. We'll watch the bold and loyal Ruth break cultural norms to take her place in the kingdom of God, and we'll see the awesome response of God to eagerly wrap his arms around her and give her a renowned place in that kingdom—and in his family. And we'll see the kinsman redeemer, Boaz, provide a beautiful foreshadowing of the ultimate Redeemer—Jesus Christ. We'll come to greatly appreciate that Ruth's story is a beacon of hope in a dark moment in biblical history, a glorious tale of love and redemption at the hand of a sovereign, merciful God whose steadfast loving-kindness never fails. So, pull up a chair at our table, and let's dive into the conversation.

In today's conversation we're going to conclude our short walk through the book of Judges with the outlandish story of the final and probably most well-known judge—Samson. For the sake of our conversation, we're going to break Samson's story into three parts—his call, his character, and his consequences. We'll see his life play out as a sort of symbolic embodiment of the cycle the Israelites keep perpetuating—a cycle which goes from strength to disobedience to failure to disaster—and we'll discover within that cycle yet another story which points to the merciful and redemptive nature of our God. So, pull up a chair at our table, and let's dive into the conversation.

In today's conversation we'll journey further into the Judges era of the Bible, as the people of Israel begin the cycle which they perpetuate throughout the entirety of the Old Testament—disobedience & idolatry, punishment & oppression, crying out to God, and God's merciful deliverance. We'll come alongside one of the widely-known judges God called to deliver his people—Gideon—and we'll continue to discover God's tendency to use small things and small people in big ways. We'll observe Gideon's progression from fear to faith—likening it to our own—and we'll find comfort in the thread of God's grace and mercy we see woven all throughout his story. So, pull up a chair at our table, and let's dive into the conversation.

In today's conversation we will culminate our study of Joshua and the Conquest era of the Bible as Joshua and the people of Israel divide the land into the boundaries God had set forth for them, and we'll discuss the necessary—although sometimes frustrating—God-given boundaries in our own lives and why they exist. Then, we'll go with the Israelites from the era of conquest into the era of the Judges, digging deep into the baffling juxtaposition of the book of Joshua closing with the people committing to serve the Lord and the book of Judges opening with an entire generation who did not know the Lord and who abandoned the Lord to serve other gods. And, once again, we will see the propensity of mankind's fallen nature to lead us into sin and disobedience, underscoring our undeniable need for the saving and transformative power of Jesus Christ. So, pull up a chair at our table, and let's dive into the conversation.

In today's conversation we'll be back in the Conquest era of the Bible as Joshua and the Israelites take their first steps into the promised land. We'll see that there were two giant obstacles—a raging river and an impenetrable wall—between the Israelites and the first place God called them to go; and we'll wonder at the truth that God often calls us to confront impossible obstacles along the path toward his will. We'll study the miracles of the river and the wall and see how God calls the Israelites to take faith-filled steps of obedience before he performs the miracle—a pattern we'll undoubtedly experience in our own lives as well. We'll address the anomaly that God's ways often seem foolish in the eyes of the world; and, once again, we'll discover the undeniable faithfulness of the God we serve—to his promises, to his people, and to his redeemed. So, pull up a chair at our table, and let's dive into the conversation.

In today's conversation we're going to walk head-on into a question which plagues many modern Bible readers—the ethicality of the conquest of Canaan. Yes, we're going to go there, and we're going to discuss why God would not only condone, but actually commission the conquest of the land of Canaan. We'll reason and examine our way through the biblical narrative, while also acknowledging that this relationship we have with our omniscient, sovereign God will always require us to trust His character. We'll surrender our questions to the pen of the divine Author who is writing His story, and we'll marvel (as I'm sure Rahab did) at the scarlet thread of grace and mercy which is woven so lovingly throughout the entirety of that story, culminating with the blood of Jesus. So, pull up a chair at our table, and let's dive into the conversation.

We are so excited to be back for our next season of Change the Conversation after taking a break for the holidays. Today we are picking back up where we left off last year in our Thru the Bible series as we begin our journey into the book of Joshua and, with that, into the next era of the Bible—the Conquest Era. But before we get too far down that road, we're going to back up a bit and look at the events which positioned and qualified Joshua to become God's chosen vessel to lead His people into the promised land. We'll see that with most good leaders, there's a whole backstory of repeated faithfulness—and lessons learned—which trained and propelled them to that place of leadership, and we'll discuss how our own faithfulness and lessons learned train and propel us forward as well. So, pull up a chair at our table, and let's dive into the conversation.

In today's conversation, the LAST of this season until we return in the new year, we'll conclude our study of the Exodus Era of the Bible with our final look at this generation of Israelites as they stand at the edge of the promised land. We'll identify the process which took them so off-course of God's best plan for their lives, and then we'll take that lens of scrutiny and flip it around to take a good look at ourselves. We'll discover that the choice to advance into what God has for us is just that—a choice—and we'll face the sobering reality of what we forfeit when we allow fear to direct that choice. So, pull up a chair at our table, and let's dive into the conversation. 

In today's conversation, we'll begin wrapping up our study of the Exodus Era of the Bible with the infamous story of the golden calf as we rejoin the Israelites at the foot of Mount Sinai. We'll continue to discover why biblical authors, for centuries, referred to this generation of Israelites as stubborn, rebellious, and hard-hearted, and why God himself described them as “stiff-necked.” We'll be inspired by the heart and leadership of Moses in this story, and we'll be challenged to become the kind of servant-hearted leader God has called us all to be. So, pull up a chair at our table, and let's dive into the conversation.

Today's episode is a continuation of our last one, where we are taking a magnifying glass to the Ten Commandments in order to demystify and clarify them for the eyes of our modern understanding. Last time we got through #7, so today we are picking back up with Commandment #8 and wrapping up all ten! We'll realize that the moral requirements for the people of God did not change between the Testaments and that they are still just as relevant today as they were then. So, pull up a chair at our table, and let's dive into the conversation.

Today's episode is a continuation of our last one, where we are taking a magnifying glass to the Ten Commandments in order to demystify and clarify them for the eyes of our modern understanding. Last time we got through the first four, so today we are picking back up with Commandment #6. We'll realize that the moral requirements for the people of God did not change between the Testaments and that they are still just as relevant today as they were then. So, pull up a chair at our table, and let's dive into the conversation.

In today's conversation, we're going to pick back up with Moses and the Israelites as they hear from God at Mount Sinai. We'll take a magnifying glass to the Ten Commandments in order to demystify and clarify them for the eyes of our modern understanding. We'll be forced to take a good look at our own hearts and actions, and we'll come to realize that these moral standards of living can only be perfected through a relationship with Jesus Christ and the power of sanctification which comes through knowing Him. So, pull up a chair at our table, and let's dive into the conversation.

In today's conversation, we're going to set out once again with Moses and the Israelites as they continue their journey through the wilderness and arrive at Mount Sinai, the Mountain of God. We'll notice that the wilderness is always a place where God speaks to his people, and we'll stand in awe, with the Israelites, as God reveals himself on that mountain. We'll discuss the necessity of consecration—then and now—and we'll realize that the moral requirements for the people of God did not change between the Testaments. So, pull up a chair at our table, and let's dive into the conversation.

In today's conversation, we're going to rejoin the Israelites as they leave the Red Sea and begin their journey into the wilderness. We're going to start to understand why they are eventually described by God as a “stiff-necked people,” and we'll discover our own tendencies toward the sin that mirrors theirs. We'll see how God tests our trust—again and again and again if he has to. And we'll continue to see the thread of grace woven throughout the entirety of God's story, ultimately fulfilled through Jesus. So, pull up a chair at our table, and let's dive into the conversation.

In today's conversation, we'll continue on with our journey through the Exodus era of the Bible as we follow Moses and the Israelites out of Egypt and through the Red Sea. We'll discuss the importance of trusting what we know about the character of God when we read things in the Bible that are difficult to understand. We'll talk about the intentionality of God to take us on the route He knows we're ready for—and the route which keeps us moving forward. We'll be challenged to confront our responses to fear, and we'll concede that sometimes we just have to be quiet and let God fight for us. We'll watch God part the famous waters of the Sea, and we'll continue to see how God's plan unfolds throughout every era of this amazing Book, all of them working together and pointing to our blessed Deliverer and Redeemer—the spotless Lamb of God—Jesus. So, pull up a chair at our table, and let's dive into the conversation.

In today's conversation, we'll continue on with our exploration through the 3rd Era of the Bible—the Exodus. We'll pick back up with the story of Moses and the Israelites as God brings their time in slavery to an end, and we'll discover that sometimes things get more difficult before they get better. We'll discuss how God often shares the promise without sharing the process and how those times can cause us to become more deeply aware of our spiritual deficiencies and our reliance upon Him. We'll confront some spiritual realities that often go overlooked and untalked about, and which might be a bit uncomfortable for many of us. So, pull up a chair at our table, and let's dive into the conversation.

In today's conversation, we're going to begin the trek into the third era of the Bible, the Exodus, as we follow the story of the man of God, the first deliverer of God's people—Moses. Again, we'll watch God be the ultimate Orchestrator of events, and we'll be inspired by the courage and holy defiance of those behind the scenes in Moses' early life. We'll see how God places passions within us to compel us toward his will, often long before He plans to utilize those passions. And we'll talk about the toe-stepping truth that arrogance and insecurity are two sides of the same coin of self-centeredness—or pride. So, pull up a chair at our table, and let's dive into the conversation.

In today's conversation, we're going to come to the end of our journey through the Patriarchal Era of the Bible as we wrap up with the second half of the story of Joseph. We'll find relief in the fulfilled promise that God vindicates his beloved children in his sovereign timing and that the hardship we endure in the waiting will be the very thing he uses to discipline and train us to run the rest of our race. We'll face the perplexing truth that God is the ultimate Orchestrator AND Redeemer of events—and that while we'll never be able to wrap our human minds around his sovereign ways, we CAN know that he will always be with us, he'll always be working for our good, and he'll always be working for his purposes. So, pull up a chair at our table, and let's dive into the conversation.

In today's conversation, we're going to begin finishing up our journey through the Patriarchal Era of the Bible with the widely-known story of Joseph—the favored 11th son of Jacob, the one who was gifted that infamous colorful coat. While we aren't going to be focusing on his coat of many colors today, we will discuss the concept of favoritism and how it translates to our culture today. We're going to talk about some rather ego-pricking and sometimes painful topics we see play out in the story of Joseph like pride, jealousy, regret, hurt, disappointment, and waiting on God to be our vindicator. We'll watch God pour out favor in the midst of unfavorable circumstances; and we'll discuss the tension of living with hope for a better tomorrow, while still “blooming where we're planted” today. So, pull up a chair at our table, and let's dive into the conversation.

In today's conversation, we're going to keep on journeying through the Patriarchal Era of the Bible as we continue the story with Abraham's grandson, Jacob—the man who wrestled with God and whose name God changed to Israel. We're going to watch his internal wrestling for control culminate in an external wrestling match with God, as he learns to surrender to the God who can be trusted to accomplish his promises without our help. We'll watch as God continues to be so kind and so faithful in spite of man's shortcomings, and we'll discover the redemptive and restorative nature of the God we serve. So, pull up a chair at our table, and let's dive into the conversation.

In today's conversation, we're going to keep on journeying through the Patriarchal Era of the Bible as we pick up the story with Abraham's grandson, Jacob—the man who wrestled with God and whose name God changed to Israel. We're going to watch his internal wrestling for control culminate in an external wrestling match with God, as he learns to surrender to the God who can be trusted to accomplish his promises without our help. We'll watch as God continues to be so kind and so faithful in spite of man's shortcomings, and we'll discover the redemptive and restorative nature of the God we serve. So, pull up a chair at our table, and let's dive into the conversation.

In today's conversation, we're going to continue our journey through the Patriarchal Era of the Bible as we stay camped out with the first patriarch and his wife—Abraham and Sarah. We're going to get real in talking about the pain of unfulfilled desires and how difficult it is to wait for God's promises to unfold in our lives. We're going to see the importance of going to God with our questions and how gracious God is to respond when we do. We'll look at one of the most inspirational stories of testing in the Bible and how the faithfulness of God is displayed within it. And we'll be introduced to a new name of God—the God who sees and provides. So, pull up a chair at our table, and let's dive into the conversation.

In today's conversation, we're going to start our journey through the Patriarchal Era of the Bible as we walk alongside the first patriarch—the father of many nations, the man who was called a friend of God—Abraham. We're going to explore the reality that God still calls his people to step out before we know where we're going and that it can sometimes be more difficult to finish than it is to start. We'll see how God always gets us where he wants us when we're walking in obedience and how he continually shows up to remind us of his presence and his promises. We'll watch as God initiates his plan to call forth and set apart a people in preparation for his Son—to save the world from sin and crush the head of that serpent. So, pull up a chair at our table, and let's dive into the conversation.

In today's conversation, we're going to jump head first into the deep end as we wade through the story of Job. We're going to discuss the perplexing and often-overlooked truth that our story is interwoven into a much bigger one—a heavenly one, which we can't fully understand any more than we can fully see. We're going to confront the tension we often feel when we try to reconcile what we believe about God's sovereignty and character with what we observe and endure in regard to suffering. And we're going to talk about what we should and should not do (and say!) in response to the suffering of others. So, pull up a chair at our table, and let's dive into the conversation.

In today's conversation, we're going to explore the widely-known, yet often trivialized, story of Noah and the Ark. We'll shine the light of adult perspective onto this childhood Bible hero to illuminate some challenging and encouraging truths within his story. We'll discuss what it looks like to obey God when we don't understand, to partner with God in tasks that are beyond our ability, and to trust God's timing and control when we feel stuck and out of control. We'll explore the heart of God in this story, and we'll discover the first unconditional covenant made between God and man—a covenant signified by the breathtaking visual promise of the rainbow. So, pull up a chair at our table, and let's dive into the conversation!

This is the first episode of our Change The Conversation: Thru-The-Bible Series. Join us as we walk through the Bible chronologically, exploring the whole story (God's story) piece by piece. In this episode we dig into the story of Adam and Eve, the Serpent, and the Fall. Come sit at the table and join in our conversation!

In this episode, the APM team discusses how God is sovereign in all circumstances. Going slowly through the story of Paul's shipwreck in Acts, the team talks about how God does indeed work all things together for good—and how there is always destiny within the "detour."

When God takes us into new things, they often come after hardship—but they always take us deeper and further into the calling God has on our life.

Join us for episode 5: It's Not About Me.

Join us for this month's episode as we talk about leaning into weakness.

Join all seven of the APM team as we discuss the topic of praying FIRST!

Join all seven of the APM team as we discuss the secret of contentment! You can follow along on the blog for the written version of Annie's lesson as well.

Join us for our very first episode as we discuss the power of the spoken word! Words are a big deal to God - why? - because, as cliché as it sounds, they literally hold the power of life and death (Prov. 18:21).Follow along on the blog for the written version of Annie's lesson on the spoken word as well!