Podcast appearances and mentions of christian discipleship

In this episode, Carmen Imes joins me to explore her new book Becoming God's Family: Why Church Still Matters. We look at why the church, despite its failures, divisions, and imperfections, remains central to the way of Jesus. Carmen traces the story of God's people from Abraham and Sinai to the early church, revealing how God has always chosen to work through community. She offers a compelling vision of what it means to belong to one another, to wait together on God, and to become a family formed by grace. This conversation is a reminder that church isn't a perfect institution, it's a gathering of people who need God and one another. In a world of disconnection and individualism, this is an invitation to rediscover the beauty of life together.Dr. Carmen Joy Imes is associate professor of Old Testament at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, in Southern California. She is the author of Bearing God's Name: Why Sinai Still Matters, Being God's Image: Why Creation Still Matters, and Becoming God's Family: Why the Church Still Matters. Her primary areas of expertise are Exodus and the Psalms. Carmen has a YouTube channel where she releases weekly Torah Tuesday videos and you can find her writing on various websites, including Christianity Today, Substack, The Well, and The Politics of Scripture blog. Carmen has appeared on over 150 podcasts and radio outlets. She enjoys traveling to speak at churches, schools, conferences, and retreats. Carmen is passionate about equipping the church to engage the Old Testament well and to see its relevance for the Christian life.Carmen's Book:Becoming God's FamilyCarmen's Recommendations:All Creatures Great and SmallSingle Ever AfterConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@shiftingculturepodcast.comGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, Bluesky or YouTubeConsider Giving to the podcast and to the ministry that my wife and I do around the world. Just click on the support the show link below Contact me to advertise: jjohnson@shiftingculturepodcast.com Support the show

In this compelling sermon, Pastor Karl dives into Matthew Chapter 2, exploring the journey of the wise men and the early life of Jesus. He unpacks the historical and political context of Herod's tyrannical rule and the profound obedience of Mary, Joseph, and the magi in the face of uncertainty. Pastor Karl emphasizes that faith grows not in comfort but through obedience, even when it feels like exile or leads to unexpected places like Nazareth. Highlighting the transformative power of worship and sacrifice, he challenges listeners to prioritize Jesus' story over their own, trust God's providence in difficult seasons, and remain faithful wherever God places them. Join us for an inspiring message that encourages steadfast faith and submission to God's plan. Watch all our sermons on our youtube channel "Flipside Christian Church"Join us in person 9:00am & 10:30am every Sunday morning.37193 Ave 12 #3h, Madera, CA 93636For more visit us at flipside.churchFor more podcasts visit flipsidepodcasts.transistor.fm

Year C – Reformation Sunday – October 26, 2025               John 8:31-36 Grace and peace to you from God, our Creator, and from our Savior, Jesus Christ, who sets us free. Amen. *** “…the truth will make you free.” On the surface, this seems like a simple thing to say. It's really inspirational, yes? The truth will make you free… I've seen this verse printed on coffee mugs and tote bags, and I've heard it quoted in shows and movies. The truth will make you free… My truth is that when I hear this, I hear it stated by Marilla Cuthbert from Anne of Green Gables… not the Netflix remake, but the old 1985 version with Megan Follows that I watched on repeat until the VHS tape wore out. For some reason, when she said it, it felt very important. The truth will make you free… This statement seems straightforward, and yet, for me, there are these nagging questions that follow… Like what is truth? And what… is freedom? The more I consider these questions, the more abstract the concepts become… truth and freedom. Since these are Jesus' words, we can infer he is speaking to something beyond our human, earthly experience… but that insight doesn't make it clearer. Full understanding feels just beyond my grasp… and you know, that's okay. Jesus isn't known for giving clear answers. Asking questions, yes, but not so much on giving answers. Jesus wants us to sit with his words… to roll them around in our minds. He said, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” Jesus' words are an invitation. His words are an invitation to a group of people who are there… because they believe in him. Like us here today, they believe Jesus has something worth teaching. But rather than giving up a clear answer, Jesus calls them… like he calls us, to a journey of discovery. Belief is only the first step. There is so much more to discover. There is a destination on this journey, but this destination isn't a place… it's a person… it is the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, if you continue in my word… it's important to note here that the word translated as “continue” is the Greek word meno… it means to abide… and it shows up 41 times in the Gospel of John… that's a lot… It gets translated into many different words like continue, stay, dwell, remain… but the word is always meno… abide… and its meaning is so much deeper than any of those English words. To abide is more like… occupying the same physical space. It is to give our whole identity and person over to the identity and person of Jesus Christ… so much so… that we are entirely different from what we were before. “…if you abide in my word…” And abiding with Jesus Christ isn't necessarily the final destination either… abiding with Jesus Christ isn't the promised reward that is only available to us after we die. Jesus is calling us to abide with him now, to dwell with him today, to continue in his word from this moment on… and when we accept his invitation to abide… to dwell… to let our very self… become one with the person of Christ, THEN we will become his disciples. “…and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” Becoming a disciple means accepting Jesus' invitation to journey toward understanding truth and freedom. Jesus' invitation is to journey toward the understanding that Jesus IS truth, the truth that makes known the eternal God… because Jesus IS the eternal God. Becoming a disciple means embracing the journey toward a truth… that sets us free… It is a truth that sets all people free, the freedom to recognize that Jesus is God, here with us, offering love, provision, and protection. This truth… and this freedom… they take a lifetime and beyond to understand because God is not restricted by our human perceptions… and our limited interpretations. And this truth that sets us free is for all people because God so loves the whole world. Jesus is truth, and this truth is freedom, but fully understanding it is just beyond our grasp, imploring us to keep learning and keep growing. Jesus said, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” Jesus is inviting us to dwell with him, to abide in his words. What Jesus calls us to is a serious commitment of continual growth and learning …of being changed by this mutually abiding relationship. Jesus calls us to allow ourselves to be formed and RE-formed by his Word… to embrace a continual state of being made new. *** Now… I want to pause here a moment… because we follow the lectionary… the three-year cycle of scripture readings… which means we have been on a steady march through the Gospel of Luke… traveling with Jesus toward Jerusalem… and the cross. Like all authors, Luke has his own literary style and his own agenda for his Gospel. For Luke, and specifically for the passages we have been dwelling in these last couple of months, it is… a travel narrative… drawing together a pluralistic community under the name of Jesus… and emphasizing that the promises of salvation and the kingdom of God are open to all peoples, but most especially… the marginalized, the poor, the disabled, women, and Gentiles… anyone whom society pushes out. Luke's gospel stresses the importance of community, and how we live together and share our resources… as part of our mission and call as disciples. Through his way of telling the story, Luke emphasizes that our God is not a conquering war hero… but a humble Savior… who turns expectations upside down… and saves people in unexpected ways… through healing, forgiveness, wholeness, and restoration. But now for Reformation Sunday, we interrupt our march through Luke… to hear from the gospel of John. For John, his primary theological claim is that Jesus IS God who offers us salvation through a relationship with him… and to prove God's faithfulness to us, Jesus goes willingly to the cross to lay down his life for us. We are continually invited into a relationship with God through Jesus… and it is through this relationship that we receive grace and salvation. And like any relationship… it requires daily nourishment… it requires investment in who we are becoming as we journey with Jesus as disciples… as we abide in his Word. I wanted to point this out for you… because for me… it actually feels a bit jarring to dig as deeply into the Luke narrative as we have been and to lean into Luke's way of understanding Christ… only to then jump into a different perspective without at least acknowledging the shift. And yet… both Gospels are true…and both offer us the Good News of Jesus Christ, our Savior who takes away the sin of the world. But when we take notice their differences in perspective… instead of blending them together into one harmonized gospel… I think it gives us a richer understanding of God, through Jesus, in whom we abide. *** And so… on this Reformation Sunday… I think it is quite perfect that we look to John, who so strongly emphasizes our relationship with Jesus… that on this day of celebrating that we are continually Re-forming… continually growing and changing because of our relationship with God through Jesus… who better to hear from… than John… John… who understands that when Jesus calls us to abide, it is an ongoing process… It's not a once-and-done salvation experience, but a lifelong relationship. And that when Jesus calls us to abide as his disciples… that we are being called into a communal relationship… we are being called into community. Something that Luke certainly supports! This journey of discipleship… of abiding in God's word… we do this together… we abide in Jesus' Word as a community of believers… supporting each other through joy and sorrow… through strong faith and doubt. We abide in Jesus' Word together… because we share the same goal of being formed and re-formed by God's Word. We abide in Jesus' Word together so that over time, our understanding of God, and of God's gifts of grace and salvation will grow… Receiving this grace brings freedom… Freedom to dedicate your life to reflecting God's love onto your neighbors rather than chasing salvation for yourself. Receiving God's grace is to know the truth that this grace is God's gift to us, given through Jesus, who invites us to spend our lives with him. Our lives here and now, in this place. Today. “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” These are, indeed, important words. Believing in Jesus is only the beginning, but knowing the truth that is Jesus, who is God, and the freedom that truth brings… is a lifelong journey that will continually change us in the most beautiful ways. This is the invitation Jesus offers you… to choose this life and this journey with Christ to discover how abiding in Jesus as a lifelong disciple will reveal God's glorious truth and God's most beautiful freedom. Amen. ***

Psalm 23 is more than poetry—it's a lifeline. In this powerful Conquer Workshop, David Rains draws from the shepherd's life to reveal how intimately the Lord leads, restores, and protects His own. Discover the comfort, courage, and confidence that come from knowing the Good Shepherd personally.This is the fourth sermon in a special series that will contain all of the sermons and workshops delivered at the 2025 Thee Generation Youth Summit at Falls Baptist Church in Menomonee Falls, WI this past October 8–10, 2025.Don't forget to make plans to join hundreds of other young people next October 14–16, 2026 for our annual meeting in Menomonee Falls, WI. For more information, please visit theegeneration.org/tgys. If you've been encouraged by this podcast, please take the time to give us a five-star rating and write a brief review. That would help tremendously in getting the word out and raising the visibility of the Thee Generation for others. For more faith inspiring resources and information about joining Thee Generation, please visit theegeneration.org.

hey homegirlsss. God started reminded me that His love for me is so much bigger than my love for Him. that sounds simple, but it's something that changed the way i see everything.so many of us have grown up in church believing we have to prove our love for God through effort. through serving, striving, and trying to do everything “right.” but what if the gospel was never about how much you love God, and instead about how deeply He loves you?

What does it mean to live face to face - with God, with others, and with our truest selves? In this episode of Theologically Fashioned, Aimee Bird discusses her newest book, Saving Face.  Through poetic reflection and theological honesty, Aimee invites us to explore what happens when our spiritual masks begin to crack - and how Christ meets us not in perfection, but in the vulnerable unveiling of who we really are. Together, Monica and Aimee talk about disillusionment in the church, the courage it takes to be seen, and how beauty and wonder can become pathways to healing.  Whether you've wrestled with faith, felt unseen in your community, or longed for a more authentic encounter with God, this conversation will hlelp you rediscover the face of grace.  Topics include:  The meaning behind the title Saving Face Navigating spiritual disillusionment and church hurt Learning to live unmasked before God and others Beauty, vulnerability, and the art of being truly known Find Aimee Byrd  AimeeByrd | Inside the Word, Outside the Box Instagram | @AimeeByrdLife

Most Christians don't miss their harvest because they don't love God — they miss it because they stop too soon. They lose steam when the results don't show up fast enough. In this convicting and timely teaching, Pastor Ken exposes the gap between good intentions and consistent obedience — and why the blessing of God is always found on the other side of endurance. Through Galatians 6:9 and examples like Noah and Daniel, we learn that: Prayer is not a religious task — it is the relationship that fuels your consistency God's Word is the tool that forms your character and anchors your decisions Small acts of daily obedience create tomorrow's breakthrough Your feelings do not determine your faithfulness — your decisions do God's favor follows those who keep showing up even when nothing seems to change If you've been tempted to quit, if you feel weary in well-doing, or if you've been waiting for God to move but haven't stayed consistent — this message will call you higher. Listen in, receive strength, and recommit to the disciplines that build unshakeable believers. Share this episode with someone who is on the edge of giving up. Your encouragement may be the reason they stay in the fight.

As followers of Jesus, how do we engage with popular celebrations like Halloween? Do we have the freedom to read stories like Harry Potter and what about Yoga? In this episode, we talk about the importance of discernment - asking the deeper questions behind what we read, watch, and participate in. Rather than responding in fear or blind acceptance, we explore how Christian can cultivate wisdom, pay attention to conscience, and live with integrity in a culture full of gray areas. This conversation invites you to think critically, listen to the Spirits leading, and seek to glorify God as you love him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. 

We live in what Heath Hardesty calls the age of disintegration - a world marked by fragmentation, distraction, and disconnection. I feel that deeply. So many of us are trying to hold our lives together in a culture that constantly pulls us apart. In this conversation, Heath joins me to talk about how apprenticeship to Jesus offers another way - a way toward coherence, union, and wholeness. Heath is a pastor in the Bay Area and the author of All Things Together: How Apprenticeship to Jesus Is the Way of Flourishing in a Fragmented World. We talk about what it means to move beyond simply knowing about Jesus to actually living with Him - to abide, obey, and become people who image His love in a fractured world. We explore practices like unhurried presence and compassionate gentleness, and how they reveal a kind of power that's rooted not in control, but in love. If you've felt scattered, weary, or disoriented in your faith, this episode is an invitation to slow down, breathe, and remember that in Christ, all things hold together.Heath Hardesty is the author of All Things Together: How Apprenticeship to Jesus is the Way of Flourishing in a Fragmented World (WaterBrook; on sale 10/14/25) and he serves as the lead pastor of Valley Community Church and is the founder of Inklings Coffee & Tea in the heart of downtown Pleasanton, California. Heath grew up in a blue-collar home and was a plumber's apprentice in Colorado before becoming a pastor on the edge of Silicon Valley where he, his wife, and four kids now reside. He holds degrees in literature, leadership, biblical studies, and theology from the University of Colorado Boulder and Western Seminary in Portland. Visit him on IG@heathhardestyHeath's Book:All Things TogetherHeath's Recommendations:God is On Your SideThe Poems of Seamus HeaneyGerard Manley HopkinsSubscribe to Our Substack: Shifting CultureConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@shiftingculturepodcast.comGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, Bluesky or YouTubeConsider Giving to the podcast and to the ministry that my wife and I do around the world. Just click on the support the show link below Contact me to advertise: jjohnson@shiftingculturepodcast.com Support the show

Year C – 18th Sunday after Pentecost; Lectionary 28 – October 12, 2025 Pastor Megan Floyd 2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c Psalm 111 Luke 17:11-19 Grace and peace to you from God and the Holy Spirit, and from Jesus Christ, to whom we give thanks and praise for all our Creator has done for us. Amen. *** Some days ago, while going through the motions of the morning… I felt overcome by such a profound sense of sadness. Sadness for the world… for our country… for our siblings in Chicago who are under attack… for our transgender siblings who are being vilified… and for our children who don't know that this isn't normal. I felt sadness… mixed with pain and anger, and maybe even dipping a toe into despair. That's not an emotional place I generally go… but… it's been hard. I have shaped my life around Christ… my values… my dreams… they are shaped around how Jesus Christ calls us to be and live… how Jesus calls us to love… and what I see in this world right now… the hate and fear of immigrants… driving people to carry out violence against their neighbors… whom they are called to love… hate and fear carried out in the name of Jesus... I know… that this is not what Christ wants for us. God has shown us that we are made for community… that we need community… and we know that we are better and stronger when we… not just include, but fully embrace… the full diversity of God's people. We know we are stronger and closer to God's vision for our world when we do as Christ did… and go to our neighbors who have been pushed to the margins, and witness to their worth and value. We know we are following God's will when we go to our neighbors on the edges of our community and witness to their belovedness… when we call them our siblings, and mean it… …and when we help them find their place back in the center of our communal life together. We know this is God's will for us because Jesus demonstrated this action… over and over again… Jesus showed us how to welcome those who have been rejected… and Jesus showed us how to love. And yet… so much in our country today is pushing us all away from each other. It is costing lives… so you can understand my sadness… and my anger. So, on that morning… I was deep in my own thoughts… until at some point, I wasn't thinking so much as I was listening… and I had a moment of clarity. One of those moments where the Spirit reaches out and drapes you in peace… the kind of peace that we long for… the kind of peace that we pray for. I had a moment of clarity when I remembered… that gratitude is medicine. Gratitude is medicine…  and thankfulness to Jesus Christ is resistance… and praise to our Creator for all that God continues to do for us… and through us… in these crazy times we are living in… That praise… is joy! And in that moment of gratitude and joy, blanketed by God's peace… I found myself again… I remembered who I was… and whose I was… and I felt whole again. I felt my joy return… the joy that comes from feeling true gratitude to my God! And… I wonder… I wonder if that was a little bit how Naaman felt… after being made clean and returning to Elisha to give praise to God. I wonder… if this was how the psalmist felt… the pure joy of giving praise and thanksgiving to the Lord with their whole heart… Declaring… that the works of the Lord's hands are faithfulness and justice; and that all the Lord's precepts stand forever and ever because they are done in truth… and equity. I wonder… if this was… just a little bit… how the Samaritan felt… when he turned back to give praise and thanksgiving to God, because through Jesus… he was restored. Through Jesus, he was healed of the disease that forced him to the edges… healed of the disease that prevented him from taking part in communal life. Jesus healed him of the disease that made him untouchable… Jesus healed all ten of the men… of the disease that made them untouchable. And I am sure… that the other nine who were also healed… I'm sure they were glad for their healing… I am sure they were thrilled to rejoin their community. Of course they would be… it was a miracle. But it was only… the outcast among outcasts… who turned back to offer praise and thanksgiving… it was only the foreigner… who turned back to give praise… only the Samaritan… connected his miraculous healing to God's doing, through Jesus. Only the one who would still be an outcast in that society, even when healed of this disease… only him… gave praise and thanksgiving for all to hear. Now… recall that the Samaritans and Jews shared the same ancestry, but when Assyria invaded the northern kingdom, they exiled many of the Jews. Those who remained intermarried with the Assyrians and built new lives. But when those who were exiled were allowed to return, they considered the Samaritans to be religiously and ethnically impure. They were considered permanently unclean and were rejected… banned from Jerusalem… and from worshipping at the Temple… So, the Samaritans built their own Temple on Mount Gerizim. And the larger religious question of… Where is God? …hung as a backdrop behind all their interactions. Is God only in the Temple in Jerusalem… or is God on a mountain… or is God found wherever God's people are found? So, I wonder… when it was only the Samaritan who came back to give praise and offer thanksgiving… I wonder… if it was because he was better situated to recognizing God out in the wild, than his pure-Jewish brothers.  I wonder… as I consider his openness to God's presence… I wonder how the disciples felt about learning about faith in Jesus… from this foreigner… and I wonder… how do we feel about it… at this time, when foreigners are being so violently persecuted. Jesus told this Samaritan man… after he was healed of his disease… he told him his faith had made him well… his faith… his trust that God was there with him… had made him whole. His response to what God did for him… brought him back to his Creator… and it made him remember who he was… and whose he was. His response of praise and thanksgiving gave him the opportunity to dwell in the presence of God, even just for a moment… and when we dwell in the presence of God, we are slowly transformed… and re-formed by God's love. That was God's promise to that Samaritan man… God's promise through Jesus… and it's God's promise to us, as well. God's promise… that when we turn back to God with grateful hearts, we are turning back to dwell in God's presence… and be comforted by God's peace. So… we may be walking through some dark valleys these days… but God's faithful and enduring promise to us is that God is with us… And God is continuing to move and act in this world… continuing the holy work of creation… through us and through our neighbors who are fighting for justice and peace… and love. And so, our gratitude… our thankful response to God's faithfulness and God's justice… reconnects our spirit to God's Spirit… Our response of praise brings us back to the source of life… and makes us whole. Reconnecting with God through gratitude… renews us… and it strengthens us. Therefore, it is with true joy in my heart… that I give thanks and praise to my God for this life… and this calling… for my family… and for you. I give thanks and praise for your witness and your courage… for the ways that you show up for your neighbors… and the ways that you stand with those who struggle on the margins. I give thanks and praise to God for the wider community of faith to which we belong… a great cloud of witnesses, committed to shaping their lives and communities around the gospel… And I give thanks and praise to God for the transformation in my own heart that other morning, when the world just felt too heavy. God's Holy Spirit scooped me back up and set me on my feet… and turned my attention back to all the good things God was still doing through so many incredible people. So I give thanks to my Lord and my God… for meeting me in my storm… allowing me to dwell in my Creator's presence, and for making me whole again. And I give thanks to God for the invitation to all of us, to revisit the source of life, every day… to receive healing and renewal… So, what more can I say, but Hallelujah!! …and Amen.

In this episode of More Than Conquerors, Dr. Terry and Renee Mize share how the words you speak determine your victory or defeat. Every believer has been given spiritual authority — and the tongue is the key to using it. Through personal stories and biblical truth, they show how faith-filled words activate heaven, while careless words can stop God's promises from manifesting.Discover how to decree God's Word with power, overcome obstacles through confession, and live as the conqueror you're called to be.“Where the word of a king is, there is power.” — Ecclesiastes 8:4

What can the medieval church teach us about living whole andholy lives today? In this episode, Dr. Grace Hamman - author, scholar, and hold of Old Books with Grace - talks about her new book, Ask of Old Paths; Medieval Virtues and Vices for a Whole and Holy Life. Together, we explore how medieval thinkers approach formation, desire, and the moral life, and how their insights still speak into our modern struggles with distraction, pride, and restlessness. Dr. Hamman offers a fresh invitation to recover ancient rhythms of grace, humility, and joy - showing that the "old paths" might just lead us home.    Ask Of Old Paths: Medieval Virtues and Vices for a Whole and Holy Life Find Grace Website: GraceHamman.com IG: Oldbookswithgrace

 In this episode of Soul02, we explore the biblical call to humility and gentleness, drawing from 1 Peter 5 and timeless Christian wisdom. We'll discuss why humility matters, how it transforms relationships, and how to develop a Christlike spirit in an often harsh world  Connect with us: YouTube: YouTube.com/@soul02-oxygen Facebook: @LP.Oxygen https://www.facebook.com/LP.Oxygen Instagram: LP.Oxygen Twitter: @Soul025 Buzzsprout: Soul02-Buzzsprout Spotify: Soul02 - Spotify Apple: Soul02-Itunes Stitcher: Soul02-Stitcher

"Episode 74: Autumn's Invitation to Release: Learning to Let Go and Trust God's Rhythms" Welcome to October!

James Series  Message: 10 Episode: 3 of 3 Broadcast: September 30, 2025 Key Verses: James 3:13-18 In this episode of Walk in Truth, Pastor Michael Lantz continues his teaching through the book of James with a message from James 3:13-18 called “Who Among You is Wise?” These verses remind us that true wisdom doesn't come from pride or selfish ambition, but from living a life shaped by humility, purity, and peace. Pastor Michael unpacks the difference between earthly wisdom and the wisdom that comes from above, showing how God's truth equips believers to face everyday challenges with grace and discernment. If you're looking to grow in your walk with Christ and learn how to apply biblical wisdom to real-life situations, this teaching will encourage and strengthen you. Welcome to Walk in Truth! These are the Bible teachings of Pastor Michael Lantz. Equipping you to reach out with God's truth to all people. And how to apply that truth to today's issues, trends, and culture.  Leave your question or comment contact@walkintruth.com

Living Truth Christian Fellowship Podcast

James Series  Message: 10 Episode: 2 of 3 Broadcast: September 29, 2025 Key Verses: James 3:13-18 In this episode of Walk in Truth, Pastor Michael Lantz continues his teaching through the book of James with a message from James 3:13-18 called “Who Among You is Wise?” These verses remind us that true wisdom doesn't come from pride or selfish ambition, but from living a life shaped by humility, purity, and peace. Pastor Michael unpacks the difference between earthly wisdom and the wisdom that comes from above, showing how God's truth equips believers to face everyday challenges with grace and discernment. If you're looking to grow in your walk with Christ and learn how to apply biblical wisdom to real-life situations, this teaching will encourage and strengthen you. Welcome to Walk in Truth! These are the Bible teachings of Pastor Michael Lantz. Equipping you to reach out with God's truth to all people. And how to apply that truth to today's issues, trends, and culture.  Leave your question or comment contact@walkintruth.com

Living Truth Christian Fellowship Podcast

Year C – 16th Sunday after Pentecost; Lectionary 26 – September 28, 2025 Pastor Megan Floyd Luke 16:19-31   Grace and peace to you from God and the Holy Spirit, and from Jesus Christ, who, together with Moses and the prophets, has given us the way to the Kingdom of Heaven. Amen. *** My friend Sara has a wild yard. And I do mean… wild. She moved into her quiet, suburban neighborhood some years ago, and to her neighbor's dismay… she didn't mow the lawn. It's the kind of yard you might expect to see out in the country… way out… around an abandoned house… but certainly not in her manicured neighborhood… And oh my goodness, did it cause an uproar! The neighbors couldn't understand why she kept such an untidy lawn, and they glared out their living room windows, casting judgment on her… and filed complaints with the city. She had to petition for the right to let the grass and dandelions grow… and for the leaves to fall where the wind blew… and let them stay there. She asked her neighbors… to trust the process… And she won! …well, sort of… I believe they struck a deal that if she kept the area around the front clear, she could do what she wished with the rest, which was fine… because her backyard is massive. The first year, it was just a mess… chaos everywhere! Even the grass was confused. But then… after about a year or so had gone by… after the neighbors had mostly made their peace with my friend Sara's “process…” They noticed something they hadn't seen in years… one warm summer evening… they saw… Fireflies! …Lightning Bugs! Little glowing lights, twinkling, and blinking, and flying around… and the neighbors marveled! ...One of Sara's neighbors told her that she hadn't seen fireflies since she was a child! How extraordinary and delightful! …and once they noticed the fireflies, well then… then they started noticing other little things. They noticed all the butterflies that would stop and visit Sara's wild yard. Beautiful and colorful, graceful butterflies… floating all around. They noticed that a fox had moved into the grove of trees in her backyard, and it was safe and secure enough for it to have little fox pups. And the trees! Even the trees seemed fuller… brighter… like they could finally breathe. And the grass… the grass that was so confused…well, it was no longer just plain grass… but a blanket of all different shades of green, full, tall, and strong, and filled with wildflowers. …and of course, happy, buzzy bees, gathering pollen. My friend Sara's wild yard… was no longer a yard… it was a garden, in the most natural sense of the word. It still required some tending… a bit of care here and there, but her care was directed toward increasing the garden's habitability for the diversity of plants and creatures that now lived there, including …herself. And she tends this garden because the fireflies, and the butterflies, and the bees, and the family of foxes… need this space… They are all important… all the little creatures that might go unnoticed by some and considered a nuisance by others… all connected to each other, and connected to Sara and her family… in the great web of God's Creation. Sara's garden is the resource she has available to share with her neighbors, both human and otherwise, and in doing so, she is helping to heal the small sliver of God's beautiful kingdom, right where she stands. And… her wild and full garden brings her joy! Now… you may be asking… why am I talking about natural gardens in suburban neighborhoods… after hearing a gospel text that is clearly about money? Well! I'm so glad you asked! And you're right… this text today is about money… but ultimately… ultimately, it's about relationships… and connection. Remember our text from last week about the rich man and his shrewd manager? Jesus ends that parable with the mic-drop statement… “You cannot serve both God and wealth… or rather… Mammon.” And the Pharisees are indignant… they like their wealth and comfort, and they scoff at Jesus and ridicule him for challenging them in this way. And so Jesus doubles down… and tells the Pharisees this next parable that we heard today. Today's text is part of the larger conversation that we've been in now for three weeks. And yes… Jesus is talking about money again… Jesus talks about money a lot, actually… and what our responsibility is when we have an abundance of resources. But, I feel like I hit that point really hard last week, so this week, I wanted to dig into the why… why is it so important… that we take Jesus at his word? So, this parable we have today… it's a fable, really… Jesus is not suddenly giving us a description of heaven and hell… but he is telling a cautionary tale and drawing from the imagery of Greek mythology to do so. And in this tale, the rich man was so caught up in his own perceived earthly importance… that he never really noticed poor Lazarus, who lay at his gate, covered in sores. He saw him, of course, but the shock of his need was no longer… shocking. The rich man even knew his name was Lazarus… and yet, day after day, while the rich man feasted sumptuously, poor Lazarus lay there starving. The chasm between them… the chasm that becomes a real barrier in the place of the dead… was self-imposed by the rich man during his life. And then… of course… they both die… and the rich man, in his agony, asks Abraham to send Lazarus to serve him… and to serve his brothers. Even in death, the rich man thinks he deserves something better on account of his wealth. Even in death, the rich man cannot recognize that they are both children of Abraham… they are connected… they are brothers through the great web of God's Creation. As long as the rich man is unable to see poor Lazarus as a brother, who is worthy of life and love and care, and connected to him through God… as long as the rich man is unable to see this… he will remain in the place of the dead. Jesus is, once again, flipping everything upside down. Jesus is challenging the idea that if you have money, you must be more valuable and loved by God. This terrible idea is one that is still prevalent today… the idea that those who have earthly treasure are more blessed… more favored and loved by God… …and that those who are poor must have done something to deserve their lot in life. And while it is true, that our individual choices in life do have some bearing on what we experience… This way of thinking conveniently absolves us of any responsibility toward those who have not fared as well as we have… And it is directly contrary… to what God has been trying to get us to understand since the time of Moses. We have free will, yes, but we are all… also part of larger systems beyond our individual control. Like the butterflies and bees who find their food sources and habitats either covered in chemicals or gone… or the fireflies whose eggs get swept away in the fall clean-up… some things are beyond our control. We don't know why Lazarus was forced to beg at the rich man's gate… but we know that the chasm between them was very real… as real as it is in our world today. And yet… we know… that Jesus came to bring good news to the poor and to liberate the oppressed. Over and over, Jesus preaches that his ministry was not to engage in personal relationships with individuals as their Lord and savior… but to show us that we are connected! …that our true flourishing is caught up with our neighbors! Jesus came to show us that we belong to each other, and we have a responsibility to each other… each according to what we have been given. Jesus came to show us that his ministry of breaking the chains of oppression means to break the systems that perpetuate that oppression. Jesus' ministry requires us, as followers, to engage and embrace this work that God is doing through us. We belong to each other, and Jesus desires to give us the kingdom… to show us the way to the kingdom of heaven. And God's kingdom… well, it looks like a beloved community of neighborly care and love, in both abstract and concrete ways. It comes from shared respect and dignity… it comes from equality in both word and deed. It comes from the intentionality of really seeing our neighbors who are in need, instead of passing them by and wondering why they don't just get a job. And Jesus… he was doubling down on the teachings of Moses and the prophets, because through them, God had already shown us the way to this beautiful kingdom… This beautiful kingdom of God… is at hand… heaven is being formed here! Being formed, more and more, as we conform our lives to the way of Christ! The kingdom of God… is not a reward for checking all the boxes during your life… It's not a cookie you get for being a good kid. The kingdom of God is a garden… it's a garden that needs tending… a garden that needs the space and freedom to grow and support the full diversity of life… The kingdom of God is a garden that honors all life as sacred. Friends, we are here now, in this garden… and Jesus longs for us to recognize that we have a responsibility to tend this garden, and that when we do… we will flourish together. Is it perfect?  NO!… not by a long shot. But let's trust the process… let's keep showing up for our neighbors, and… let our neighbors show up for us… Let's look into the eyes of those who are passed by, those who are poor and begging… those who society would like to forget… and recognize them as our kin, and honor God's Spirit within them… Let's recognize that all people are our siblings and celebrate their value and worth… and delight in all the ways we are privileged to participate in God's great web of creation. For I know this… God has given us the instruction and the tools we need to tend this garden… to deconstruct the chasm that isolates and sterilizes our world. And I trust God's process… and I trust God's promise… that we are being called into God's life-changing and transformative ministry. I'll be honest… I don't think that we will see it fully bloom in our lifetimes, but I know… that when I live according to God's word… and I pay attention, I see fireflies dancing all around in this garden, and that gives me hope. Amen.

James Series  Message: 10 Episode: 1 of 3 Broadcast: September 26, 2025 Key Verses: James 3:13-18 In this episode of Walk in Truth, Pastor Michael Lantz continues his teaching through the book of James with a message from James 3:13-18 called “Who Among You is Wise?” These verses remind us that true wisdom doesn't come from pride or selfish ambition, but from living a life shaped by humility, purity, and peace. Pastor Michael unpacks the difference between earthly wisdom and the wisdom that comes from above, showing how God's truth equips believers to face everyday challenges with grace and discernment. If you're looking to grow in your walk with Christ and learn how to apply biblical wisdom to real-life situations, this teaching will encourage and strengthen you. Welcome to Walk in Truth! These are the Bible teachings of Pastor Michael Lantz. Equipping you to reach out with God's truth to all people. And how to apply that truth to today's issues, trends, and culture.  Leave your question or comment contact@walkintruth.com

Living Truth Christian Fellowship Podcast

Author, speaker, pastor, and former frontman of the band Showbread, Josh Porter, once again joins the P&I podcast, this time to talk about his new book, How to Die: Chaos, Mortality, and the Scandal of Christian Discipleship.Josh's wisdom, depth, and insight present fresh perspectives on timeless subjects - this is an episode you can't miss!Find out more about Josh Porter HERECheck out Josh's new book HERE----------------------Ben has completely revised and updated his powerful book, Jesus in the Secular World: Reaching a Culture in Crisis—a must-read guide for anyone longing to reach those who may never step foot in a church. Packed with real-world insights and practical strategies, this book could be the breakthrough you've been searching for.Don't wait—get your copy today!Click HERE to check it out on Amazon.For more information, go to: jesusinthesecularworld.com------------------------Questions, comments, or feedback? We'd love to hear what you think! Send them to provokeandinspire@steiger.org, or send us a message on Instagram.Click HERE to receive news, thought-provoking articles, and stories directly in your inbox from Ben, David, Luke, and Chad!Click below to follow the regulars on Instagram!Ben PierceDavid PierceChad JohnsonLuke GreenwoodSend us a text

Episode Description:Journey through 800 years of educational history as host Rachel Chen interviews Harvard-trained church historian Bishop Andy Lewter about the surprising connections between ancient Greek teaching methods and early Christian discipleship.Discover how Socrates' questioning approach, Plato's Academy, Aristotle's walking lectures, and the intensive communities of Pythagoras and Epicurus laid the groundwork for Jesus's revolutionary teaching style and the early church's transformative discipleship model.From the streets of Athens to first-century Palestine to the great Christian schools of Alexandria, explore how the mentor-disciple relationship became the foundation of Western education and Christian formation. Learn why these ancient insights about learning through relationship and community remain surprisingly relevant for educators, leaders, and anyone interested in personal growth today.Perfect for: History buffs, educators, church leaders, philosophy enthusiasts, and anyone curious about how ancient wisdom shapes our modern world.Keywords: Ancient philosophy, Christian history, discipleship, education, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Jesus, early church, teaching methods, mentorship

 What does it mean to walk out the character of the calling you have received? In this episode of Soul02, I unpack Ephesians 4:1–6, where the Apostle Paul reveals the five defining traits of a life shaped by Christ: humility, gentleness, patience, love, and unity. These aren't just ideals—they are the character markers of the called. Discover why humility is the jewel of all virtues, how gentleness is strength under God's control, why patience is both endurance and restraint, how love seeks the highest good of others, and why unity in the Spirit is essential for the Church today.  Connect with us: YouTube: YouTube.com/@soul02-oxygen Facebook: @LP.Oxygen https://www.facebook.com/LP.Oxygen Instagram: LP.Oxygen Twitter: @Soul025 Buzzsprout: Soul02-Buzzsprout Spotify: Soul02 - Spotify Apple: Soul02-Itunes Stitcher: Soul02-Stitcher

What kind of shepherd is Jesus, and how does that shape us? Psalm 23 reveals Christ as our rest, provider, and healer. As He fills and restores us, our cup runs over to others. Feeding His sheep means leading them to Him.This four-part series draws us deep into the heart of our Shepherd, Jesus Christ, who calls us not only to follow Him, but to love Him above all else—and in that love, to feed His sheep. From Peter's restoration on the Galilean shore to our daily walk in homes, churches, and workplaces, we are invited to dine with Christ so that we may nourish others. Rooted in His Word and led by His Spirit, our lives become streams of comfort, truth, and encouragement to a world of wandering sheep. Join Gabe and Nate as they explore Christ's Command to, “Feed my sheep.”Want to go deeper in studying this command of Christ? Download a free study guide at https://homediscipleship.comStudy guide includes: Scriptures referenced in podcastReview of Old Testament contextGuide for Scripture meditationQuestions for application and prayerFor more information, visit us at https://homediscipleship.comFind us on Facebook and Instagram @homediscipleshiphttps://www.facebook.com/homediscipleshipnetworkhttps://instagram.com/commandsofchristpodcast

On this episode of Significant Women, I had the privilege of talking with Dr. Juli Slattery about one of the most vulnerable areas of our lives—sexuality. Juli shares how our culture has distorted God's design for sex, and how women can find healing and freedom by anchoring their identity in Christ. This conversation is filled with grace, wisdom, and hope for every woman who longs to honor God with her whole heart, body, and soul.Key Points:How God's design for sex reflects His covenant love.Why our culture's view of sexuality leaves women feeling empty and confused.Practical ways to move from shame and brokenness to wholeness in Christ.The importance of discipleship and safe spaces for women to ask hard questions.Order ‘Surrendered Sexuality: How Knowing Jesus Changes...Everything' by Dr. Juli Slattery at https://www.authenticintimacy.com/surrendered-sexuality/ Have a prayer request or feedback?Email Carol at: carol@carolmcleodministries.comShe and her team would love to pray for you. Stay Connected:Subscribe to the Significant Women Podcast and share this episode with a friend who needs to be reminded of her worth today.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carolmcleodministriesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolmcleodministriesYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@CarolMcLeodMinistries The Significant Women Podcast with Carol McLeod is edited and produced by WileyCraft Productions. Visit https://wileycraftproductions.com/ to learn more.

When a family breaks under pressure, where do they turn? More often than not, it's you—the counselor, the pastor, the leader—who steps into that gap. In this episode, we'll walk through how God designed the family as the first place of discipleship, recognize when idolatry and misplaced priorities threaten their households, and how to redirect them toward Christ-centered living. If you're called to lead, this conversation will sharpen your heart and strengthen your hands for the counseling ministry God has entrusted to you. Learn how to take your equipping further and become a Certified Biblical Counselor at https://www.counselorcertification.com

 The good fight of faith is difficult because, you need more than belief—you need the mindset of a warrior. Today, we'll delve into you the five traits every believer must carry to fight the fight of faith and win.”  Connect with us: YouTube: YouTube.com/@soul02-oxygen Facebook: @LP.Oxygen https://www.facebook.com/LP.Oxygen Instagram: LP.Oxygen Twitter: @Soul025 Buzzsprout: Soul02-Buzzsprout Spotify: Soul02 - Spotify Apple: Soul02-Itunes Stitcher: Soul02-Stitcher

How do we feed Christ's sheep practically? We minister from overflow. Through prayer, Scripture, example, and love, we point others to the true Shepherd. Ministry begins at home and flows outward with humility.This four-part series draws us deep into the heart of our Shepherd, Jesus Christ, who calls us not only to follow Him, but to love Him above all else—and in that love, to feed His sheep. From Peter's restoration on the Galilean shore to our daily walk in homes, churches, and workplaces, we are invited to dine with Christ so that we may nourish others. Rooted in His Word and led by His Spirit, our lives become streams of comfort, truth, and encouragement to a world of wandering sheep. Join Gabe and Nate as they explore Christ's Command to, “Feed my sheep.”Want to go deeper in studying this command of Christ? Download a free study guide at https://homediscipleship.comStudy guide includes: Scriptures referenced in podcastReview of Old Testament contextGuide for Scripture meditationQuestions for application and prayerFor more information, visit us at https://homediscipleship.comFind us on Facebook and Instagram @homediscipleshiphttps://www.facebook.com/homediscipleshipnetworkhttps://instagram.com/commandsofchristpodcast

James Series  Message: 06 Episode: 3 of 3 Key Verses: James 1:22-27 On this episode of Walk in Truth, Pastor Michael Lantz continues his teaching in the book of James with a message called “Mirror, Mirror…” from James 1:22-27. These verses remind us that it's not enough to simply hear God's Word—we are called to live it out. Just like a mirror shows us our true reflection, Scripture reveals who we really are and where we need to grow. Pastor Michael will help you see how God's truth can equip you to walk faithfully as a Christian, not just in theory but in practice, so that your faith makes a real difference in everyday life. Welcome to Walk in Truth! These are the Bible teachings of Pastor Michael Lantz. Equipping you to reach out with God's truth to all people. And how to apply that truth to today's issues, trends, and culture.  Leave your question or comment contact@walkintruth.com

Living Truth Christian Fellowship Podcast

James Series  Message: 06 Episode: 2 of 3 Key Verses: James 1:22-27 On this episode of Walk in Truth, Pastor Michael Lantz continues his teaching in the book of James with a message called “Mirror, Mirror…” from James 1:22-27. These verses remind us that it's not enough to simply hear God's Word—we are called to live it out. Just like a mirror shows us our true reflection, Scripture reveals who we really are and where we need to grow. Pastor Michael will help you see how God's truth can equip you to walk faithfully as a Christian, not just in theory but in practice, so that your faith makes a real difference in everyday life. Welcome to Walk in Truth! These are the Bible teachings of Pastor Michael Lantz. Equipping you to reach out with God's truth to all people. And how to apply that truth to today's issues, trends, and culture.  Leave your question or comment contact@walkintruth.com

Living Truth Christian Fellowship Podcast

  James Series  Message: 06 Episode: 1 of 3 Key Verses: James 1:22-27 On this episode of Walk in Truth, Pastor Michael Lantz continues his teaching in the book of James with a message called “Mirror, Mirror…” from James 1:22-27. These verses remind us that it's not enough to simply hear God's Word—we are called to live it out. Just like a mirror shows us our true reflection, Scripture reveals who we really are and where we need to grow. Pastor Michael will help you see how God's truth can equip you to walk faithfully as a Christian, not just in theory but in practice, so that your faith makes a real difference in everyday life. Welcome to Walk in Truth! These are the Bible teachings of Pastor Michael Lantz. Equipping you to reach out with God's truth to all people. And how to apply that truth to today's issues, trends, and culture.  Leave your question or comment contact@walkintruth.com

Living Truth Christian Fellowship Podcast

What does it mean to be both a sheep and a shepherd? We're first sheep—dependent and in need of care. As we receive from Christ, we're called to give. Feeding others starts by feasting on God's Word ourselves.This four-part series draws us deep into the heart of our Shepherd, Jesus Christ, who calls us not only to follow Him, but to love Him above all else—and in that love, to feed His sheep. From Peter's restoration on the Galilean shore to our daily walk in homes, churches, and workplaces, we are invited to dine with Christ so that we may nourish others. Rooted in His Word and led by His Spirit, our lives become streams of comfort, truth, and encouragement to a world of wandering sheep. Join Gabe and Nate as they explore Christ's Command to, “Feed my sheep.”Want to go deeper in studying this command of Christ? Download a free study guide at https://homediscipleship.comStudy guide includes: Scriptures referenced in podcastReview of Old Testament contextGuide for Scripture meditationQuestions for application and prayerFor more information, visit us at https://homediscipleship.comFind us on Facebook and Instagram @homediscipleshiphttps://www.facebook.com/homediscipleshipnetworkhttps://instagram.com/commandsofchristpodcast

In Part 6 of Walking in Command, Pastor Anthony teaches from John 14:15 and the Sermon on the Mount, showing how obedience to Jesus is the path to true freedom. From hearing His word to living it out, this message reveals the power of walking in command.

James Series  Message: 04 Episode: 3 of 3 Key Verses: James 1:16-18 In this episode of Walk in Truth, Pastor Michael Lantz continues his teaching through the book of James with a message called “Unchanging” from James 1:16-18. These verses remind us that every good and perfect gift comes from above, from our Father who does not change like shifting shadows. In a world that is constantly moving and uncertain, God's truth and character remain steady, giving us the foundation we need to stand firm in our faith. Pastor Michael unpacks how God's unchanging nature equips believers to face life's challenges, walk with confidence as Christians, and apply His unshakable truth in everyday living. Welcome to Walk in Truth! These are the Bible teachings of Pastor Michael Lantz. Equipping you to reach out with God's truth to all people. And how to apply that truth to today's issues, trends, and culture.  Leave your question or comment contact@walkintruth.com

Living Truth Christian Fellowship Podcast

James Series  Message: 04 Episode: 2 of 3 Key Verses: James 1:16-18 In this episode of Walk in Truth, Pastor Michael Lantz continues his teaching through the book of James with a message called “Unchanging” from James 1:16-18. These verses remind us that every good and perfect gift comes from above, from our Father who does not change like shifting shadows. In a world that is constantly moving and uncertain, God's truth and character remain steady, giving us the foundation we need to stand firm in our faith. Pastor Michael unpacks how God's unchanging nature equips believers to face life's challenges, walk with confidence as Christians, and apply His unshakable truth in everyday living. Welcome to Walk in Truth! These are the Bible teachings of Pastor Michael Lantz. Equipping you to reach out with God's truth to all people. And how to apply that truth to today's issues, trends, and culture.  Leave your question or comment contact@walkintruth.com

Living Truth Christian Fellowship Podcast

This sermon explores how obedience to God goes beyond mere rule-following to reveal the true posture of our hearts. Beginning with Adam and Eve's disobedience in Eden, it traces how pride leads us to believe we know better than God. Through examples like King Saul, we learn that outward religious performance without heart obedience is meaningless. Jesus changed everything through His perfect obedience, offering grace freely to all. True obedience isn't legalistic or performative, but rather faith and love in action, leading to Christlikeness and genuine freedom. Our motivation should come from gratitude, love, hope, and response to salvation.True obedience is not about legalism or behavior modification but about the heart's posture toward God.Through Adam's disobedience, sin and death entered the world, but through Jesus's obedience, grace and righteousness are available to all.Obedience is faith in action, love in action, Christlikeness, and ultimately leads to freedom rather than bondage.We obey God out of gratitude for His mercy, love for Him, and as our response to salvation.When we love God genuinely, His commands are not burdensome but become a joy to follow.Support the show

James Series  Message: 04 Episode: 1 of 3 Key Verses: James 1:16-18 In this episode of Walk in Truth, Pastor Michael Lantz continues his teaching through the book of James with a message called “Unchanging” from James 1:16-18. These verses remind us that every good and perfect gift comes from above, from our Father who does not change like shifting shadows. In a world that is constantly moving and uncertain, God's truth and character remain steady, giving us the foundation we need to stand firm in our faith. Pastor Michael unpacks how God's unchanging nature equips believers to face life's challenges, walk with confidence as Christians, and apply His unshakable truth in everyday living. Welcome to Walk in Truth! These are the Bible teachings of Pastor Michael Lantz. Equipping you to reach out with God's truth to all people. And how to apply that truth to today's issues, trends, and culture.  Leave your question or comment contact@walkintruth.com

Living Truth Christian Fellowship Podcast

Do we love Jesus more than anything else? Jesus' call to Peter—“Feed my sheep”—flows from a heart of love. As we return to Him from self-reliance, He restores us and invites us to dine with Him. Ministry begins with intimacy.This four-part series draws us deep into the heart of our Shepherd, Jesus Christ, who calls us not only to follow Him, but to love Him above all else—and in that love, to feed His sheep. From Peter's restoration on the Galilean shore to our daily walk in homes, churches, and workplaces, we are invited to dine with Christ so that we may nourish others. Rooted in His Word and led by His Spirit, our lives become streams of comfort, truth, and encouragement to a world of wandering sheep. Join Gabe and Nate as they explore Christ's Command to, “Feed my sheep.”Want to go deeper in studying this command of Christ? Download a free study guide at https://homediscipleship.comStudy guide includes: Scriptures referenced in podcastReview of Old Testament contextGuide for Scripture meditationQuestions for application and prayerFor more information, visit us at https://homediscipleship.comFind us on Facebook and Instagram @homediscipleshiphttps://www.facebook.com/homediscipleshipnetworkhttps://instagram.com/commandsofchristpodcast

Joshua S. Porter is a writer, pastor, and former frontman of the art-punk band Showbread. After years of loud music and louder questions, he now teaches and writes about radical discipleship, faith after deconstruction, and the subversive way of Jesus. He is the author of Death to Deconstruction and How to Die: Chaos, Mortality, and the Scandal of Christian Discipleship. Josh pastors at Van City Church in Vancouver, Washington. Find him at joshuasporter.com. Join the Theology in the Raw community to listen to our "extra innings" conversation about Josh's behind the scenes peak into the Chrisitan rock music industry. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On todays show James and the Giant Preacher Gang talk about Christian Discipleship and what Christians can to to speak the word of Jesus.

The Scandal of Christian Discipleship, part 3: The Gift of Brokenness

The Scandal of Christian Discipleship, part 2: On Cathedrals and Chaos (Extended)

In this GoMission episode, Mark Gilmore sits down with BCM senior Ben Stoeckmann to reflect on his seven-week internship in Grenada. From curvy mountain roads to palm-lined beaches, Ben's journey was filled with gospel opportunities—three Cola Clash–style youth outreaches, preaching in multiple communities, and connecting with local believers. Yet, the greatest lesson came not from the events themselves, but from what followed: the urgent need to pray for and invest in disciples, not just decisions. Through firsthand experiences and the example of national pastor Jeremy Scott, Ben shares how intentional, life-on-life ministry can break strongholds and multiply lasting fruit.Topics DiscussedLocation, culture, and spiritual climate of GrenadaInternship under national pastor Jeremy ScottThree Cola Clash–style youth outreaches in Victoria, Chantimelle, and Mount RichOvercoming challenges of rainy season and cultural differencesSpiritual strongholds: works-based religion, drinking, immorality, and subtle animismMiraculous connections with young men hungry for God's WordThe importance of praying for disciples as fervently as for salvation decisionsPastor Scott's “life-on-life” discipleship modelApplying disciplemaking principles both overseas and in the U.S.Ben's personal call to missions and growing burden for the Hispanic worldKey TakeawaysSalvation decisions are only the starting point; true Great Commission work requires making disciples.Prayer for discipleship should be just as urgent and intentional as prayer for conversions.Life-on-life investment—sharing ministry and everyday moments—is essential for spiritual growth.Cultural openness to the gospel does not eliminate the need to address deep-rooted spiritual strongholds.The principles of effective disciplemaking overseas are just as vital to practice at home.If you have your own unique story of gospel advance or if you sense God leading you toward a particular people group, we'd love to hear about it. Even if it's just a sentence or two, share what God is doing in an email to gomission@theegeneration.org.GoMission, hosted by Mark Gillmore, is a monthly, missions-focused program designed to expose young people to the people, stories, and opportunities happening across the globe in the world's harvest fields. If you've been encouraged by this podcast, please take the time to give us a five-star rating and write a brief review. That would help tremendously in getting the word out and raising the visibility of the Thee Generation for others. For more faith inspiring resources and information about joining Thee Generation, please visit theegeneration.org.