The Sharpening Character Podcast

How do you summarize 5 incredible years of what God has been doing through a crazy idea? In the only way possible: celebrate it! This week on the podcast, join Andrew and Ben in a final farewell episode, as we look back on what God has done through Sharpening Character these last 5 years. We'll share some of our top favorite episodes, a peek behind the scenes, and celebrate the good times together. That's all this week, on the final episode of the Sharpening Character Podcast! We'd like to say a special thank you to you, our listeners, for being along on this journey with us. It means a lot that you gave us the privilege of your time over the years. Our prayer is that the journey will continue in a sense, as you seek to grow deeper in your relationship with God and others each day.

As difficult as 2020 has been, it's time to start looking forward...to Christmas! But...isn't that technically looking backwards too, into the prophecy of old, that amazing night with with the shepherds, and the greatest story ever told? This week on the podcast, Join Andrew for a look at some thoughts about Christmas, and how "the greatest Gift" is more than just what we give (or expect to be given) every year. That's all this week, on the Sharpening Character Podcast!

This week has been one of counting...a *lot* of counting. But there's another counting we should be doing too, according to a fascinating passage in God's Word... This week on the podcast, join Andrew for a look at the “add to” passage in 2 Peter! We'll be digging into the definitions, and see what it all has to do with...excellence? That's all this week, on the Sharpening Character Podcast!

When we think about the “big stories” of 2020, two things likely come to mind: the pandemic, and the elections. The former continues to play out…and the latter? This week! What is the Biblical way to approach changes in politics though? This week on the podcast, Join Andrew as he looks at the election this week through the lens of God's Word, and specifically, on where we should be grounding our hope. This is an episode you certainly won't want to miss! That's all this week, on the Sharpening Character Podcast!

When we think about “the parable of the talents,” what comes to mind? Using our gifts and talents for God's glory? That's a good start...but there's much more to this parable than simply using a musical, physical, or other ability. This week on the podcast, join Andrew for a look at this familiar passage of scripture, as well as a fresh perspective on how it applies to our lives. That's all this week, as we continue our “sprint to the finish” on the Sharpening Character Podcast!

With the prevalence of wildfires this years, fighting them and the response to so many hurting has likely been on many of our minds. But what does a fire have to do with relationships...and a “controlled burn” with love? This week on the podcast, join Andrew for a look at a fascinating (and convicting!) passage from the book of James...and at some analogies we can apply to our own lives. That's all this week on the Sharpening Character Podcast!

Hearing, and understanding. They may both end in -ing, but the don't mean the same thing. How can we make sure we truly *understand* what we hear? This week on the podcast, join Andrew for a look at the parable of the sower...and some of the implications this well-known passage has for us today. That's all this week on the Sharpening Character Podcast

When we look around at the world we live in, it's sometimes frustrating when we can't seem to make anything change. But perhaps that's because we're focusing on the wrong thing... This week on the podcast, join Andrew as he looks at this very timely topic, focusing on the true “heart of the matter,” including “specks and beams,” and where our starting point should be. That's all this week, on the Sharpening Character Podcast!

Like a mountain road, sometimes life gives us a “bend in the road.” When God leads us in a different direction, what should our response be? This week on the podcast, join Andrew for a look at Abram (better known as Abraham) and how God called him to a totally new direction in life. We'll also share a very big announcement regarding the future of the podcast. That's all this week on the Sharpening Character Podcast!

The Sermon on the Mount, and more specifically the Beatitudes, are among some of the most beloved passages in all of God's Word. They're Jesus' teachings on living everyday life...and something we need to be reminded of again and again... This week on the podcast, join Andrew as we finish off our journey through the Beatitudes with “Salt and Light.” We'll examine these two amazing analogies, and some implications you might not have thought about before. We'll also sum up everything we've discussed the past few weeks...and is that an announcement coming next week? That's all on this episode of the Sharpening Character Podcast!

The Sermon on the Mount, and more specifically the Beatitudes, are among some of the most beloved passages in all of God's Word. They're Jesus' teachings on living everyday life...and something we need to be reminded of again and again... This week on the podcast, join Andrew we approach the end of our journey through the Beatitudes with “Persecuted.” We'll look at Jesus as “the Word,” and what that means for truth, persecution, and more. We'll also look at "the persecution from within," and how judgement can cause us to persecute our fellow believers. That's all on this episode of the Sharpening Character Podcast!

The Sermon on the Mount, and more specifically the Beatitudes, are among some of the most beloved passages in all of God's Word. They're Jesus' teachings on living everyday life...and something we need to be reminded of again and again... This week on the podcast, join Andrew he further continues our journey through the Beatitudes with “Peacemakers.” We'll look at where we can find true peace (especially in the crazy world we're in now), some serious conviction, and how once again this verse takes us back to the Gospel. That's all on this episode of the Sharpening Character Podcast!

This week on the podcast, we've got our review episode for the month of August! Join Andrew as he looks back at the month, including a summary of what we've looked at in the Beatitudes, as well as some thoughts on the “Pandemic of Fear,” including a special guest! That's all on this episode of the Sharpening Character Podcast!

The Sermon on the Mount, and more specifically the Beatitudes, are among some of the most beloved passages in all of God's Word. They're Jesus' teachings on living everyday life…and something we need to be reminded of again and again…This week on the podcast, join Andrew and a special guest as they continue our journey ... Read more

The Sermon on the Mount, and more specifically the Beatitudes, are among some of the most beloved passages in all of God's Word. They're Jesus' teachings on living everyday life...and something we need to be reminded of again and again... This week on the podcast, join Andrew as he continues our journey through the Beatitudes with “Merciful.” We'll look at this short, yet incredibly powerful verse...and at how it ties back to a passage from the Minor Prophets! That's all on this episode of the Sharpening Character Podcast!

The Sermon on the Mount, and more specifically the Beatitudes, are among some of the most beloved passages in all of God's Word. They're Jesus' teachings on living everyday life...and something we need to be reminded of again and again...This week on the podcast, join Andrew as he continues our journey through the Beatitudes with “Hungering and Thirsting.” We'll look, as always, into definitions of this fascinating verse, and how the Beatitudes tie together! That's all on this episode of the Sharpening Character Podcast!

The Sermon on the Mount, and more specifically the Beatitudes, are among some of the most beloved passages in all of God's Word. They're Jesus' teachings on living everyday life...and something we need to be reminded of again and again... This week on the podcast, join Andrew as he continues our journey through the Beatitudes with “Meek.” We'll look again into definitions of this sometimes hard to understand verse, and how convicting it's concepts can be! That's all on this episode of the Sharpening Character Podcast!

Join Andrew this week as he reviews the month of July (“the month of Joy”), as well as the beginning of our Beatitudes Series, and more. We'll look at some lessons learned, and tie it all together with something we're all likely familiar with, but might be forgetting right now: the first and second greatest ... Read more

The Sermon on the Mount, and more specifically the Beatitudes, are among some of the most beloved passages in all of God's Word. They're Jesus' teachings on living everyday life...and something we need to be reminded of again and again... This week on the podcast, join Andrew as he continues our journey through the Beatitudes with “Mourn.” We'll look again into definitions of this very interesting verse, as well as what it has to do with...joy? That's all on this episode of the Sharpening Character Podcast!

The Sermon on the Mount, and more specifically the Beatitudes, are among some of the most beloved passages in all of God's Word. They're Jesus' teachings on living everyday life...and something we need to be reminded of again and again... This week on the podcast, join Andrew as he begins our journey into the Beatitudes with “The Poor in Spirit.” We'll look at what the "core of the matter," and what this passage has to do with...vitamin deficiencies? That's all on this episode of the Sharpening Character Podcast!

The Sermon on the Mount, and more specifically the Beatitudes, are among some of the most beloved passages in all of God's Word. They're Jesus' teachings on living everyday life...and something we need to be reminded of again and again... This week on the podcast, join Andrew as he looks at an introduction to the Beatitudes, getting a “running start” as we begin our series over the coming weeks. We'll look at some backdrop of the beginning of Jesus ministry, the calling of some of the disciples—and more importantly, how Jesus calling everyday people impacts our lives now. That's all on this episode of the Sharpening Character Podcast!

This week we've got our review episode for the month of June! Join Andrew this week as he looks back at the month, rounding off the first half of 2020 with a look at the conclusion of our “Facing Impossible Odds” series, “Guided by Love”, the "Covenant of the Day and Night," and our next theme coming for July, as well as a special series coming up. That's all in this episode of the Sharpening Character Podcast!

n a world that seems to be coming apart at the seams, with divisions and rifts on issues from pandemics to politics to protests...where do we turn on this “windswept sea” were navigating? Join Andrew this week as he shares something from God's Word that provides us with a beacon of hope in this dark world—something that's easy to forget, yet crucial to remember: love. That's all this week on the Sharpening Character podcast!

In a world that feels as if everyone is up against “impossible odds,” where can we turn? The obvious answer is to the hope we have in the Lord, but is there some way to solidify that confidence? Some way to see what God has done before? Join Andrew this week on the podcast for the final installment of our “Facing Impossible Odds” series, looking at stories from the Old Testament of God's faithfulness, and the lessons we can learn from “HIStory.” This week, we'll examine the familiar (and amazing!) story of Esther, and how a young woman in the right place “for such a time as this” saved an entire nation of people. That's all this week on the Sharpening Character Podcast!

In a world that feels as if everyone is up against “impossible odds,” where can we turn? The obvious answer is to the hope we have in the Lord, but is there some way to solidify that confidence? Some way to see what God has done before? Join Andrew this week on the podcast for ... Read more

In a world that feels as if everyone is up against “impossible odds,” where can we turn? The obvious answer is to the hope we have in the Lord, but is there some way to solidify that confidence? Some way to see what God has done before? Join Andrew this week on the podcast for the next installment of our “Facing Impossible Odds” series, looking at stories from the Old Testament of God's faithfulness, and the lessons we can learn from “HIStory.” This week, we'll turn to another one of the "most famous stories of the Bible", of “Dreams, Kings and Schemes”—Looking at Daniel, his captivity, and thriving amongst some truly impossible odds. That's all this week on the Sharpening Character Podcast!

In a season where it seems like all hope is gone, where can we turn? The past can provide us a glimmer of it...but what about the future? Join Andrew this week for our review episode for May, looking back at the month, some lessons learned, and our next theme for June. We'll look again at the stories of Moses, Gideon, and David, as well as what God as the Creator has to do with having hope (confidence) in the future and His promises. That's all on this week's episode of the Sharpening Character Podcast!

In a world that feels as if everyone is up against “impossible odds,” where can we turn? The obvious answer is to the hope we have in the Lord, but is there some way to solidify that confidence? Some way to see what God has done before? Join Andrew this week on the podcast for the next installment of our “Facing Impossible Odds” series, looking at stories from the Old Testament of God's faithfulness, and the lessons we can learn from “HIStory.” This week, we'll turn to perhaps one of the most famous stories of the whole Bible, of “The Shepherd, The Slingshot, and Selfless Love”—Looking at David's facing Goliath, and a situation that threatened to tear a friendship apart. That's all this week on the Sharpening Character Podcast!

In a world that feels as if everyone is up against “impossible odds,” where can we turn? The obvious answer is to the hope we have in the Lord, but is there some way to solidify that confidence? Some way to see what God has done before? Join Andrew this week on the podcast for the next installment of our “Facing Impossible Odds” series, looking at stories from the Old Testament of God's faithfulness, and the lessons we can learn from “HIStory.” This week, we'll be looking at a man who turned "From Fear to Faith with a Fleece:" the Life of Gideon--and how God used a man who had fears, doubts, and little hope, and brought him up in courage to rescue his entire country from an innumerable army. That's all this week on the Sharpening Character Podcast!

In a world that feels as if everyone is up against “impossible odds,” where can we turn? The obvious answer is to the hope we have in the Lord, but is there some way to solidify that confidence? Some way to see what God has done before? Join Andrew this week on the podcast for the next installment of our “Facing Impossible Odds” series, looking at stories from the Old Testament of God's faithfulness, and the lessons we can learn from “HIStory.” This week, we'll be looking at "a basket case": the Life of Moses—and how God saved Moses from death as a baby, and despite him taking matters into his own hands, raised him up to lead the Israelites out of bondage. That's all this week on the Sharpening Character Podcast!

There's times where we just need to be still...and rest. And if there ever was a time for that, it's now! Join Andrew this week for our review episode for April, looking back at the month, some lessons learned, and our next theme for May. We'll look again at Priorities, "Selah," the story of Joseph, and a fascinating passage from Psalm 4. That's all on this week's episode of the Sharpening Character Podcast!

In a world that feels as if everyone is up against “impossible odds,” where can we turn? The obvious answer is to the hope we have in the Lord, but is there some way to solidify that confidence? Some way to see what God has done before? Join Andrew this week on the podcast for ... Read more

In a world that seemed all too busy before there was even a crisis, is there something we might be missing in all this? Not something else to do, but perhaps something that involves NOT doing some things? Join Andrew this week on the podcast for a look at a rather common word in the ... Read more

As the entire world seems to press “pause” amidst the crisis at hand, we have an opportunity to take a look at what we're doing and why. What are our priorities…and have those been lining up with what God calls us to do? Join Andrew this week on the podcast for a look at identifying ... Read more

If there was ever a time where looking back at what's happened and seeking to learn was important, it's now. When the entire world has turned upside down, and in a matter of just a few weeks everything planned isn't planned any longer, where can we turn? Or rather, Who should we turn to? This ... Read more

In a world rocked by stress, tension, and fear, how do we respond…and where do we find our identity? In the situation and crisis…or somewhere else? This week on the podcast, join Andrew as he looks at “definitions,” and making sure we have a firm footing in this time of turmoil. All that and more, ... Read more

In a world where there is so much uncertainty, and fear is spreading with a contagion greater than any virus, where can we turn for peace…and hope? This week on the podcast, Join Andrew as he shares some thoughts on dealing with fear, and where we can find peace and calm in the midst of ... Read more

While we probably all know that we “should” read God's Word, have we ever thought about how *important* it really is to make sure we're reading to be convicted and spurred on to grow? Could that be as important as…eating? Join Andrew this week on the podcast as he looks at a fascinating passage from ... Read more

Have you ever heard the term “seize the day?” It's a saying we often use to describe living life to the fullest, and taking advantage of every opportunity we can. Did you know though that that's actually a very Biblical concept? This week on the podcast, Join Andrew as he examines some admonitions from the ... Read more

This week on the podcast, we'll be reviewing our theme for the month of Applying God’s Word. Join us as we look back at what we've been learning, discuss some key points from the month, and reveal our next challenge! That's all on this episode of the Sharpening Character Podcast! References in this episode: Episode ... Read more

When the “storms of life” are raging around us, where should we turn? While the answer is of course Jesus, what about those times where even when we turn to Him things still don't get better? This week on the podcast, join Andrew for a look at two fascinating “storm stories” in the Gospels—and how ... Read more

We've probably all heard the story of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness. But in addition to the 3 temptations we're familiar with in that story, there's a fourth one as well…one that missing in our own lives can have disastrous consequences! Join Andrew as he shares about this familiar story, and looks at how we ... Read more

Have you ever wondered who your neighbor is? It doesn't just mean the person next door or down the street… This week on the podcast we'll be examining the story of the Good Samaritan—with a twist! Join Andrew as he looks at this amazing parable and how it applies to our lives. That's all on ... Read more

This week on the podcast, we'll be reviewing our theme for the month of Reading God's Word. Join us as we look back at what we've been learning, discuss some key points from the month, and reveal our next challenge! That's all on this episode of the Sharpening Character Podcast! References in this episode: Episode ... Read more

What do a telescope and a microscope have to do with reading God's Word? Perhaps a little more than you might think! This week on the podcast, we'll continuing building on our challenge of building a habit of reading God's Word daily as we look this week at some ideas of "methods" for reading God's Word, as well as a caution to "remember the reason why." That's all on this episode of the Sharpening Character Podcast!

When we think about reading and studying God's Word, there's an additional component we don't often consider: "where the rubber meets the road," or application. How do we go from knowing, to learning, to applying? This week on the podcast, we'll continuing building on our challenge of building a habit of reading God's Word daily as we look this week at what Biblical Meditation. Join Andrew as he takes a look at how we should be doing more than "just" reading, "just" studying, and instead *learning* and *applying* the truths in God's Word. That's all on this episode of the Sharpening Character Podcast!

Have you ever thought about what it really means to study something (like God's Word for instance)? It takes more than just reading! This week on the podcast, we'll be building on our challenge of building a habit of reading God's Word daily as we look at what studying really means. Join Andrew as he takes a look at defining studying, some examples and ideas on how to study God's Word, and a very interesting encouragement and caution from 2nd Timothy. That's all on this episode of the Sharpening Character Podcast!

It's hard to believe it, but a new year is upon us! And its time to take it on! As we now enter a new decade, coming up with New Year's Resolutions and the like, there's a value in getting "back to the basics." Join us this week on the podcast as we discuss some of the changes we'll be making for 2020, and our new theme for January! That's all on this episode of the Sharpening Character Podcast!

This week on the podcast, we'd like to present a very special Christmas episode! As the sights and sounds of the season are all around us, the air grows cold and hearts grow warm, we'd like you to join us as we look back at the story of the Greatest Gift: the Gift of God's Love, wrapped in swaddling clothes so many years ago. But it's not just the story of a Baby, a stable, some shepherds and wise men. This is the story of the Son of God: One who would became the Sacrifice for all, and the Savior of the World.

As the year (and decade!) comes to a close, it's easy sometimes to get "lost" in the setbacks, shortfalls, and failures of the "chapter" we're in right now. What do we do when, like for the sticks without leaves in the dead of winter, it seems like that new day is never going to come? This week on the podcast, we'll be discussing "looking onward to the next chapter," as we wrap up 2019, and start thinking about the new year, looking on with hope to a "new season of life"—whether that starts on January 1st, or months after that. That's all on this episode of the Sharpening Character Podcast!

The Christmas Season is full of traditions, most of which ultimately have their roots in celebrating the love of God. But, is Christmas the only time we can celebrate that love, and share it? What does "sharing God's love" actually look like? This week on the podcast, we're going to take a look at an interesting passage from the book of 1st Peter, about having compassion, turning from evil, and having an answer ready for the hope that we have. We'll talk about embracing our testimony, and learning from the experiences we've had, dealing with persecution, and more. That's all on this episode of the Sharpening Character Podcast!