The Drive to School Podcast

Follow The Drive to School Podcast
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

Join Higher Things as we tackle issues facing our youth at school, and how their faith applies to the world around them. This podcast is geared towards those dealing with these issues every day, in Junior High and above. Available every morning during th

Higher Things, Inc.


    • Apr 15, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekdays NEW EPISODES
    • 13m AVG DURATION
    • 348 EPISODES


    Search for episodes from The Drive to School Podcast with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from The Drive to School Podcast

    If I'm Bored in Church, Am I Saved?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2025 19:36


    Ever felt bored in church and wondered, "Is this even working? Does this mean I'm not really saved?" You're not alone.Here's the truth: Boredom doesn't determine your salvation. The power of God's Word works regardless of how you feel about it. American Christianity often measures faith by emotions, but that's not the true measure of faith.What to remember when you're bored:✅ Your salvation isn't dependent on perfect attention or emotional experiences. ✅ It's based on what Jesus has done for you. ✅ The Word does what God promises, whether you feel it or not.Practical tips:✅ Keep showing up, even when it's boring✅ When your mind wanders, gently bring it back✅ Take notes during the sermon✅ Write down distracting thoughts so you can let them goChurch might seem boring sometimes, but that repetition serves you when life is anything but boring — in hospitals, during stressful times, or when it feels like everything is falling apart. Recognize this struggle as one more area where you need Jesus. Even your inability to pay attention is covered by His grace.Remember: God loves you and meets you exactly where you are — fidgety, distracted, bored and all. Your feelings don't determine His faithfulness.Contributor Chris Brademeyer is Pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church in Oakes, ND.Contributor Rev. Harrison Goodman is the Higher Things Executive Director of Missions and Theology.#higherthings #lcms #lutheran #church

    Serpents & Doves

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2025 17:26


    In Matthew 10, Jesus sends his disciples "as sheep among wolves" and tells them to be "wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” But what does this actually mean?Being "wise as serpents" means:✓ Having "street smarts" and understanding how the world really works✓ Recognizing the cruelty and dangers of a broken world✓ Knowing when to speak up and when to remain silent✓ Being prepared for persecution when you stand for your faithBut Jesus balances this with "innocent as doves," which means:☑️ Maintaining your integrity even in difficult situations☑️ Acting with kindness, gentleness, and vulnerability☑️ Remembering your identity in Christ first and foremost☑️ Not becoming the very thing you're fighting againstThis isn't permission to lie or manipulate others "for a good cause." Instead, it's wisdom to navigate a fallen world while holding onto who you truly are in Christ.In practice, this might mean:→ Speaking truth with kindness rather than harshness→ Waiting for the right moment to address difficult situations→ Putting the best construction on others' words and actions (8th Commandment)→ Being self-aware of both your surroundings and your own sinful tendenciesRemember: The world can be harsh and unfair, but you don't have to play by its rules. In Christ, we have the wisdom to see clearly and the grace to remain gentle in a world that often rewards neither.Your baptismal identity is stronger than the world's games of power, money, and status.  You're forgiven. You're in Christ. You have the truth.Contributor Matt Richard is Pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Minot, ND.Contributor Rev. Harrison Goodman is the Higher Things Executive Director of Missions and Theology.#higherthings #lcms #lutheran #newtestament

    How God Answers Abram's Doubt

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2025 13:55


    Life issues in Genesis 15When Genesis 15 opens, Abram faces a moment of deep uncertainty. God promised him descendants, land, and a savior — yet none have materialized. Sarah remains unable to conceive, and Abram's inheritance seems destined for his servant Eleazar. His heart cries out: "God, what are you doing? You've given me no offspring!"But notice something beautiful here — Abram's doubt doesn't reflect weak faith, but rather a faith strong enough to wrestle honestly with God. Doubt isn't the absence of faith; it's being "double-minded" — believing God's promise while simultaneously seeing a reality that doesn't match.We can feel like this, too — when illness lingers, when brokenness remains — we believe God's promises, yet our pain speaks a different story.God meets Abram's doubt not with rebuke but with a profound act of grace and reassurance. He takes him outside to look at the stars, promising descendants too numerous to count. But God does more—He provides something tangible. Through an ancient covenant ceremony, where normally both parties would walk between cut up animals, only God passes through as a smoking fire pot and flaming torch. God essentially says: "These promises rest entirely on My shoulders. I will carry this or this is what will happen to me."God still uses tangible means to bring his promises to us — through His Word joined to physical elements in the sacraments — at the communion rail and in the waters of baptism. Like Abram, we can trust that God is working, your story can only end one way—the way He promised.Contributor Michelle Bauman is the Director of Y4Life.Contributor Rev. Harrison Goodman is the Higher Things Executive Director of Missions and Theology.#higherthings #lcms #lutheran #genesis

    Abram, Lot & Melchizedek: Finding Life Issues in Surprising Places

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2025 18:53


    What Did Jesus REALLY Mean by ‘Abundant Life'?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2025 7:34


    In John 10:10, Jesus says, "I have come that you may have life and have it abundantly." ✨ But what does that actually mean?

    As Christians, How Do We Overcome Self-Hatred?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2025 14:47


    What Does It Mean to Forgive?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2025 7:26


    Should You Be Dating? A Conversation for Christian Teens

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2025 20:34


    Someone Already Paid the Highest Price For You

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2025 8:28


    How the Old and New Testaments Are Actually One Book

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2025 12:13


    What's the Difference Between Justification and Sanctification?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2025 10:18


    What is the difference between justification and sanctification?

    What Is Repentance and Why Is It Important?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2025 8:37


    Does Christianity Make You Intolerant?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2025 19:04


    Why Do We Default to the Law?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2025 17:39


    ✝️ We know that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, so why do we default to the law?❤️ You probably feel this inner drive to earn God's approval — that's normal. It's like we're all programmed with this instinct to follow rules and try to be "good enough."

    How Do You Know If You Can Trust Your Pastor?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2025 23:33


    What Does Jesus Say About Individuality in the Church?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2025 11:31


    Abram: The Sinner and Saint in Genesis 12

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2025 18:09


    Church: What's Behind Our Desire For An Impressive Church Experience?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2025 16:50


    How Babel Shows God's Saving Plan for a Fallen World

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2025 18:20


    Ever wonder how the Tower of Babel fits into God's bigger plan?

    What Does It Mean That Jesus Christ Is the Messiah? And Why Is This Important?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2025 5:46


    What is the Physical Evidence for the Existence of God?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2024 10:38


    ❓What evidence is there for the existence of God in our physical universe?The idea of evidence is that it can be used to convince someone of something or defend what you already believe. ⚔️☑️ Keep this (from the Small Catechism) in mind when talking to others about the faith: “ I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel.”That means that no amount of evidence ❌ is ever actually going to convince somebody of God's existence apart from the preaching of the gospel and the work of the Holy Spirit.If you want to look for evidence of God, don't start with creation.

    Genesis 10: The Two Paths of Noah's Sons

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2024 17:04


    ✨ Genesis 10: Noah's Sons and the Two Paths ✨Noah's sons — Shem, Ham, and Japheth — each received incredible gifts: land, language, and culture. But their stories took different turns.

    Born of a Virgin: Why the Virgin Birth It Matters

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2024 6:43


    ✨ What does the virgin birth of Jesus Christ mean? Why is this important? ✨

    As Lutherans, How Should We Evangelize?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2024 17:51


    One thing that needs to die when we talk about missions and evangelizing is putting the burden on ourselves. ❌As Lutherans, we say that it is the Holy Spirit who calls, gathers, enlightens, sanctifies, and keeps us in the true faith. ✨We believe it is not by our own reason or strength that we believe in Jesus. So, if you can't choose to believe in Jesus, why is evangelism your job to make other people believe?

    Who Moved the First Mover? Exploring Arguments for God's Existence

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2024 8:07


    ❓Question: Christians often argue for God's existence by suggesting the universe needs an initial cause, but what caused God?

    Polyester, Shellfish, and Marriage: Do OT Laws Still Apply Today?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2024 15:07


    ❓ The OT says dont't wear polyester clothing or eat shellfish. If I do those things, how can I still believe that marriage is between a man and a woman? There are 3️⃣ types of laws in the OT:1️⃣ Moral: God's instructions about right and wrong. 2️⃣ Ceremonial: Rules for how and when to perform sacrifices, what the priest has to wear, etc. 3️⃣ Civic: These make Israel distinct — such as don't wear blended fabric, etc.How Jesus fulfilled the law… ✝️➡️ Israel no longer needs to be distinct because Jesus fulfilled God's promises.➡️ The purpose of the ceremonial laws was to atone for sin. Jesus came as the perfect sacrifice, so we don't need the goats and bulls to atone for our sins anymore. ➡️ The moral law no longer condemns you anymore.❓ If Jesus fulfilled all types of laws, does that mean a distinct Christian identity doesn't matter? There is a Christian identity, but it's not defined by culture. (Christianity looks different in different cultures, i.e., Evangelical Christian culture vs. African Christian culture.)The identity of Christianity is in Jesus and his forgiveness.

    When an Apology Is Needed – and When It Isn't

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2024 14:15


    ❓Do you over-apologize?➡️ It's appropriate to apologize for genuine wrongs (such as breaking the Ten Commandments).However, if someone is simply showing us love or care  – this can actually diminish the gift they're trying to give.

    What is the Meaning of the Sovereignty of God? Why is This Important?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2024 8:00


    Can I Go to My Friend's (Non-Lutheran) Youth Group?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2024 14:32


    How Do We Know If God Is Telling Us to Do Something?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2024 14:53


    The Immutability of God and Why It Matters

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2024 6:46


    ✨ What does it mean that God is immutable? ✨

    If I'm Forgiven in Baptism, Why Do I Need the Lord's Supper?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2024 14:04


    Jesus Says Don't Be Anxious, But How Do I Stop?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2024 12:07


    ❓Question: I know Jesus says not to be anxious, but I'm still anxious by the end of church. What am I supposed to do?

    Why Closed Communion?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2024 21:37


    As Lutherans, Why Do We Practice Closed Communion? ✝️

    What Does Jesus Say About a Hostile Culture?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2024 9:19


    As Christians in a hostile world, it's easy to feel like we're caught between offense and defense. ⚔️

    What Does It Mean That God is Omnipresent? Why is That Important?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2024 9:20


    What do we get wrong when we talk about God's omnipresence?

    The God Who Doesn't Forget

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2024 19:54


    It feels like the world's longest road trip.

    Claim The Drive to School Podcast

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel