Podcasts about christlike

A sermon preached by Rev. Ginger E. Gaines-Cirelli with Foundry UMC, June 7, 2026, Second Sunday after Pentecost. “We Know Who We Are”series. Texts: Romans 12:1-2, 9-13; Acts 2:41-47   Last week we reflected on grace. We remembered that God's grace comes before we ever think about God, before we ever do anything right, before we ever earn anything. Grace comes first. Grace comes last. Grace is always the ground beneath our feet. This week the question is: If grace comes first, how does grace actually change us?   I grew up before car seats were common. Heck—I regularly rode in the back of my dad's or grandpa's pickup truck to get ice cream or drive out to the lake. Looking back, it feels like I was raised in the Wild West!?  As a teenager, I'd been driving a year or so when a new law was passed that required seatbelts. We started hearing about studies showing how seatbelts saved lives. There were those crash-test dummy commercials—remember those? But putting on a seatbelt wasn't something I thought about.  And so every time I got into the car, I had to remind myself: Put on your seatbelt. Sometimes I'd forget. Sometimes I'd remember halfway down the road. But I kept doing it. And then one day I noticed something. I was driving somewhere and realized I already had my seatbelt on. I hadn't thought about it. I hadn't reminded myself. I had just done it. What had once felt awkward and inconvenient had become a habit. It had become instinct. I had practiced and learned a new thing.   Most of us understand this when it comes to driving. Or learning an instrument. Or speaking a language. Or playing a sport. Or exercising.   A friend once told me, “Nobody likes running when they first start. You have to just do it. After a while you'll reap the benefits.” I never forgot the wisdom. You may not start out loving the practice. But you practice because of what the practice is shaping you to become.   And I've been thinking this week that much of the Christian life works the same way. Many of us want to become more loving, more patient, more generous, more courageous. We want to respond to conflict with grace. We want to be less fearful and more trusting. We want our lives to reflect the love of Christ. But how does that happen?   John Wesley believed that the goal of the Christian life was what he called “Christian perfection.” Unfortunately, that phrase has caused confusion for generations. Wesley wasn't talking about becoming flawless. He wasn't talking about never making mistakes. He wasn't talking about acting like we've got it all together. He was talking about becoming so filled with the love of God that God's love begins to overflow from our lives.   I often picture it like a pitcher being filled with water. As we open ourselves to receive God's love and mercy—God's grace!—we are filled. And just as a pitcher overflows once it becomes full, so God's love begins to overflow in our lives. Love spills over. Mercy spills over. Compassion spills over. Generosity spills over. Wesley believed that this could happen. In fact, he believed it was the goal of those who would follow Christ.   Or as the hymn puts it: “Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of thy love.” I love that phrase. The impulse of thy love. Because it suggests a life in which love becomes our first instinct. A life in which generosity and mercy become as natural as breathing. A life in which our hands move at the impulse of God's love. Wouldn't that be something?   The question is: How do we become those people? And Wesley's answer was surprisingly practical. We practice. We train. We place ourselves again and again in the flow of God's grace. Wesley called these practices “means of grace.” Prayer. Scripture. Worship. Holy Communion. Christian conversation and accountability. Small groups. Acts of mercy and service.   And this week, I want to invite you to choose one. Not all of them. Just one. Spend a few minutes each day reading scripture. Or pray each morning before you reach for your phone. Or read a daily devotion. Or intentionally perform one act of kindness or service each day. Choose one way to place yourself in the flow of God's grace and practice it every day this week.   These are means of grace not because they are things that earn God's love or make God love us more. They are not means of grace because checking enough religious boxes gets us into heaven. But because these practices place us where God's transforming grace can reach us. God's grace is always present—whether we're practicing the means of grace or not. But these practices have been shown over the centuries to place us in the flow of God's grace in a very concentrated way.   There is a distinction between trying and training. Anyone can try to run a marathon. But only someone who trains will actually finish one. The same is true of the Christian life. Anybody can try to be more loving. Anybody can try to be more patient. Anybody can try to forgive. But becoming Christlike requires more than trying. It requires training in grace.   This is why Methodists became Methodists. John Wesley was nothing if not methodical. The early Methodists became known for their methods—the practices and habits that helped them grow in love of God and neighbor. And that brings us to Romans 12.   After eleven chapters proclaiming the mercy and grace of God, Paul writes: “I appeal to you therefore...on the basis of God's mercy...” Paul doesn't begin with an appeal based on obligation or guilt or fear, but rather an appeal on the basis of God's mercy. Grace comes first. Then Paul says, “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice.” Notice that he doesn't say, “Present your beliefs.” He says, “Present your bodies.” The Christian life isn't simply a set of ideas we agree with. It is a way of life. It is embodied. It is practiced.   Then Paul says: “Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds.” This is such a perennial call—true in every age! It is easy to become conformed to the things of this world. All of us are being formed by something. The news forms us. Social media forms us. Fear forms us. Our families, culture, and education form us. The question is not whether we are being formed. The question is: By what?   Paul doesn't tell us to transform ourselves. He says, “Be transformed.” God is the one doing the transforming. Our work is to place ourselves where God's grace can do its work. And then Paul immediately shows us what a transformed life looks like: Let love be genuine. Love one another. Rejoice in hope. Be patient in suffering. Persevere in prayer. Practice hospitality.   These things are not feelings. They are practices. They are things we do again and again until they begin to shape who we are. Nobody wakes up one day naturally hospitable. Nobody wakes up instinctively patient. Nobody wakes up automatically generous. These things are formed through grace and practice.   And then our reading from Acts shows us what that formation looks like in community. The Spirit comes at Pentecost. Thousands are baptized. A movement is born. And what do they do next?   Luke says: “They devoted themselves.” That may be the most important phrase in the whole passage. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. They devoted themselves. Not occasionally or when it was convenient or when they felt inspired. They devoted themselves. They showed up again and again. They listened to the story of Jesus. They prayed together. They shared meals. They worshiped together. They cared for one another. And over time something happened. They became a different kind of people.   Their possessions became less important than their neighbors' needs. Their tables became larger. Their hearts became more generous. Their lives became more joyful. Their witness became more compelling. The Pentecost miracle of Acts 2 is not only that the Spirit came in a wondrous way and moved previously fearful disciples to do wondrous things. The miracle is also that people kept showing up. They devoted themselves to practices that opened them to God's grace. And God's grace formed them into a community that looked different from the world around them. They were not conformed to their age, but were transformed by the saving grace and love of God in Christ Jesus.   Friends, this is part of who we are as United Methodists. We have practices. We have rhythms. We have a path: prayer, presence, gifts, service, and witness, and all the means of grace handed down through generations. They're not handed down because God needs them, but because we do. Not because they earn us salvation, but because they help open us to receive the grace that is already being offered.   And over time, through worship and prayer, through scripture and communion, through service and generosity, God does what only God can do. God transforms us. God fills us. And little by little, sometimes so gradually we hardly notice, our lives begin to move at a different impulse. The impulse of love. The impulse of mercy. The impulse of grace.   “Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of thy love.” That is the goal. It's not about perfectionism. The goal is perfect love—lives so shaped by God's grace that one day we discover we are no longer merely trying to love. By the grace of God, we have begun to move at the impulse of God's love. This week, choose one way to place yourself in the flow of God's grace. Not because God needs it. Because you do.  

visit: https://www.ysguys.comY's Guys made history with its first-ever remote broadcast, live from the Redmond Farm Store in Orem for Redmond Night with Y's Guys. Dave McCann and Blaine Fowler welcomed a packed lineup of BYU athletes, coaches, and special guests, including Kevin Young, Bruce Branch III, Robert Wright III, Richie Saunders, Bear Bachmeier, Tiger Bachmeier, Todd Miller, Ben Barton, Spencer Steiner, and Michael Johanson.The show opened with Kevin Young and Bruce Branch III discussing Bruce's arrival at BYU, his experience playing for USA Basketball, and the role his mother, Constance, has played in shaping his defensive mindset and team-first approach. Kevin talked about recruiting high-character players, building a family-centered culture, and what makes Bruce different from past BYU stars like Egor Demin and AJ Dybantsa. Robert Wright III also joined briefly, with both Bruce and Robert expressing excitement about playing together this season.Richie Saunders stopped by to talk about his recovery, the NBA Draft, and his hope to return to the court this fall. Richie said the draft process has been exciting and emotional, and he expressed deep gratitude for his wife, Rachel, and Cougar Nation's support during his rehab.Bear Bachmeier and Tiger Bachmeier joined the show together to talk about summer workouts, team bonding, the upcoming season, Notre Dame coming to LaVell Edwards Stadium, the Arizona game, and their first Bear and Tiger Football Camp. Bear emphasized BYU's mission of Christlike service and giving back to kids, while Tiger shared his excitement about playing alongside his brother and potentially catching a touchdown from him this fall.Ben Barton was named the Redmond Re-Lyte Athlete of the Week after winning the NCAA decathlon national championship in Eugene, Oregon. Ben became BYU's first decathlon national champion since Tito Steiner in 1981, scoring a personal-best 8,169 points. Later in the show, Ben joined in person to describe the emotional finish, his wife Clara's sacrifices after the birth of their son William, and what it means to represent BYU and the Church as a national champion.New BYU men's golf head coach Todd Miller joined the show to discuss taking over for Bruce Brockbank, the legacy of BYU golf, and the future of the program. Todd talked about Kihei Akina's historic freshman season, the depth of the team, his father Johnny Miller's influence, and his excitement about building on BYU golf's recent success.The show also included campus notes on BYU track and field, football preseason honors, the Brendan Sorsby eligibility situation at Texas Tech, Michael Rucker's call-up with the Seattle Mariners, and BYU women's volleyball's upcoming schedule. Spencer Steiner from Redmond gave a “Hydration 101” lesson about electrolytes, salt, and why athletes need more than water to stay properly hydrated. Michael Johanson from the BYU Alumni Association closed the guest lineup with thoughts on BYU's Cougs Care service efforts and the growing connection between athletics, alumni, and service.Timestamps (approximate):00:00 — Redmond Night with Y's Guys begins in Orem01:32 — Bruce Branch III and Robert Wright III join the show04:38 — Kevin Young talks BYU basketball culture and Bruce Branch15:19 — Five Questions with Kevin Young and Bruce Branch19:59 — Ben Barton named Redmond Re-Lyte Athlete of the Week22:34 — Richie Saunders discusses the NBA Draft and his recovery28:49 — Bear and Tiger Bachmeier join the show32:43 — Brendan Sorsby, Texas Tech, and Big 12 football talk38:53 — Bear and Tiger preview their football camp53:20 — BYU football, track and field, baseball, and volleyball notes1:02:18 — Todd Miller talks BYU golf and Kihei Akina1:24:55 — Ben Barton joins after winning the NCAA decathlon title1:41:35 — Spencer Steiner explains Redmond hydration and electrolytes1:48:56 — Michael Johanson on BYU Alumni service efforts1:54:19 — On This Day, Mike Holmgren quote, and show wrap-up Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anger doesn't always explode. Sometimes it lingers beneath the surface, quietly growing into resentment, bitterness, and broken relationships. In this episode of Take Heart, Cory Wing examines what Scripture teaches about anger, bitterness, forgiveness, and healing. Drawing from Ephesians, Proverbs, James, Hebrews, and the teachings of Christ, he explains the difference between righteous anger and sinful anger, why bitterness is so dangerous, and how the gospel provides lasting freedom. Whether you're struggling with unresolved conflict, resentment toward someone who has hurt you, or simply want to grow in Christlike forgiveness, this episode offers practical biblical wisdom and encouragement.

Today, on Karl and Crew, we kicked off our weekly theme, “Chivalry.” Dr. Fazale Rana, also known as Dr. Fuz, joined us to discuss how biochemistry points to God’s design, explaining that discoveries in DNA and the unique human capacities for altruism, empathy, and chivalry reflect what it means to be made in the image of God. Dr. Fuz is the President, CEO, and Senior Scholar at Reasons to Believe, a non-profit that focuses on revealing God in science. Next, Seth Troutt joined us to talk about authentic masculinity, explaining how men can reject counterfeits such as passivity and toxic masculinity by pursuing godly character, Christlike responsibility, and biblical chivalry. Seth is the Teaching Pastor at Ironwood Church in the Phoenix metro area and author of “Authentic Masculinity: Leaving Behind the Counterfeits for God’s Design.” We then had Hutz Hertzberg join us to talk about the growing hunger for Christ-centered education, explaining why parents are rethinking their children’s schooling and how classical Christian education offers an alternative rooted in biblical truth. Hutz is the chairman at Hope in Truth and currently the Chief Education Officer of Turning Point USA’s education arm, Turning Point Education. You can hear the highlights of today’s program on the Karl and Crew Showcast. If you're looking to hear a particular segment from the show, look at the following time stamps:Dr. Fuz Rana [ 20:17 ]Seth Troutt [ 33:57 ]Hutz Hetzberg [ 11:49 ]Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anger doesn't always explode. Sometimes it lingers beneath the surface, quietly growing into resentment, bitterness, and broken relationships. In this episode of Take Heart, Cory Wing examines what Scripture teaches about anger, bitterness, forgiveness, and healing. Drawing from Ephesians, Proverbs, James, Hebrews, and the teachings of Christ, he explains the difference between righteous anger and sinful anger, why bitterness is so dangerous, and how the gospel provides lasting freedom. Whether you're struggling with unresolved conflict, resentment toward someone who has hurt you, or simply want to grow in Christlike forgiveness, this episode offers practical biblical wisdom and encouragement.Watch all of our videos and subscribe to our channel for the latest content >HereHere

In this episode, Shiree explores a powerful framework inspired by Bryce Dunford that can transform the way we navigate relationships, especially with loved ones who have left the faith.What if "telestial," "terrestrial," and "celestial" describe more than where we end up someday? What if they also describe how we respond to people right now?A telestial response focuses on self-protection. A terrestrial response focuses on fairness. A celestial response focuses on love and asks, "What would Christ do?"Through practical examples and real-life family situations, you'll learn how to recognize your own responses, give yourself grace for where you are, and take the next step toward thinking more celestial.If you're struggling with hurt, conflict, or faith differences in your family, this episode offers a hopeful path forward—one rooted in Christlike love rather than guilt, fear, or retaliation.You'll learn:• The difference between telestial, terrestrial, and celestial responses• How these patterns show up in family relationships• What it means to "think celestial" in difficult situations• How to move forward with greater peace, grace, and loveLink to Bryce Dunford's Talking Scripture episode.Connect with Shiree at ⁠shireebest.com⁠ Join the⁠ "Just Love Them" Facebook group⁠Email Shiree at imlivinginjoy@gmail.com to join the Just Love Them Support Group.

Southeast Baptist Podcast features the preaching and teaching of Pastor John Ray, the senior pastor of Southeast Baptist Tabernacle in Indianapolis, IN. His preaching is biblical, conversational, and encouraging as you pursue a Christlike walk.

Southeast Baptist Podcast features the preaching and teaching of Pastor John Ray, the senior pastor of Southeast Baptist Tabernacle in Indianapolis, IN. His preaching is biblical, conversational, and encouraging as you pursue a Christlike walk.

Southeast Baptist Podcast features the preaching and teaching of Pastor John Ray, the senior pastor of Southeast Baptist Tabernacle in Indianapolis, IN. His preaching is biblical, conversational, and encouraging as you pursue a Christlike walk.

Southeast Baptist Podcast features the preaching and teaching of Pastor John Ray, the senior pastor of Southeast Baptist Tabernacle in Indianapolis, IN. His preaching is biblical, conversational, and encouraging as you pursue a Christlike walk.

Southeast Baptist Podcast features the preaching and teaching of Pastor John Ray, the senior pastor of Southeast Baptist Tabernacle in Indianapolis, IN. His preaching is biblical, conversational, and encouraging as you pursue a Christlike walk.

Southeast Baptist Podcast features the preaching and teaching of Pastor John Ray, the senior pastor of Southeast Baptist Tabernacle in Indianapolis, IN. His preaching is biblical, conversational, and encouraging as you pursue a Christlike walk.

Southeast Baptist Podcast features the preaching and teaching of Pastor John Ray, the senior pastor of Southeast Baptist Tabernacle in Indianapolis, IN. His preaching is biblical, conversational, and encouraging as you pursue a Christlike walk.

Light of Hope Helpline https://www.ucg.org/light-of-hope 888 241-6211   Society is experiencing profound changes in how it views sexuality, marriage, gender identity, and personal relationships. These developments have created confusion for many Christians seeking to remain faithful to biblical teachings while responding with compassion to those facing difficult personal struggles. In this episode of The Kubik Report, Victor Kubik speaks with Dr. Roy Fouch, a licensed professional clinical counselor, psychologist, and Director of Mental Health at the Hamilton County Justice Center in Ohio. Drawing from decades of counseling experience, Dr. Fouch examines the cultural shifts often described as the "new sexual revolution" and discusses their impact on individuals, families, and communities. Topics include pornography addiction, same-sex attraction, homosexuality, transgender identity, the influence of modern culture, and the importance of understanding God's purpose for human sexuality. Dr. Fouch explains the difference between temptation and behavior, discusses factors that can contribute to identity struggles, and offers practical guidance for those seeking help. A major focus of the conversation is hope. No matter how deeply a person may struggle, God's grace, forgiveness, and transforming power remain available. Dr. Fouch emphasizes the need for Christians to uphold biblical truth while extending Christlike love, compassion, and understanding to everyone. The discussion also highlights Light of Hope, a confidential counseling and referral service sponsored by the United Church of God that helps individuals and families facing emotional, mental health, addiction, and relationship challenges. This thoughtful conversation provides biblical insight, professional perspective, and encouragement for anyone seeking to navigate these important issues in today's rapidly changing world.

In this message from Ephesians 4, Michael Easley unpacks what it means to "walk in a manner worthy" of the calling believers have received in Christ. Paul's instruction is not about earning God's favor but living in a way that reflects the identity and privilege of belonging to God's family. A worthy walk is marked by five essential attitudes: humility, gentleness, patience, bearing with one another, and love. Easley explains that these qualities are not produced through willpower alone but through the work of the Holy Spirit as believers cooperate with Him. Love serves as the crown of these virtues, calling Christians to sacrificially place others before themselves, just as Christ loved the church. These attitudes produce a powerful result: unity. Paul emphasizes the church's unity through the repeated use of the word “one”—one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father. This unity is rooted in the work of the Trinity and the salvation believers share in Christ. Ultimately, Christians represent a far greater King than any earthly ruler. As adopted sons and daughters of God, believers are called to live with purpose, humility, and devotion, reflecting the character of the King they serve in every area of life. Takeaways Living worthy of our calling begins with humility, gentleness, patience, and bearing with others in love. The Holy Spirit produces Christlike character as believers willingly cooperate with His work. Love is the crowning virtue that gives meaning and purpose to every other Christian characteristic. Unity in the church is rooted in the shared salvation believers have through the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Christians represent Christ everywhere they go and should reflect His character in their words and actions. As adopted children of the King, believers are called to live in a manner that honors their eternal identity. To read the Psalms, click here. Click here for other Michael Easley Sermons.

Anger doesn't always explode. Sometimes it lingers beneath the surface, quietly growing into resentment, bitterness, and broken relationships. In this episode of Take Heart, Cory Wing examines what Scripture teaches about anger, bitterness, forgiveness, and healing. Drawing from Ephesians, Proverbs, James, Hebrews, and the teachings of Christ, he explains the difference between righteous anger and sinful anger, why bitterness is so dangerous, and how the gospel provides lasting freedom. Whether you're struggling with unresolved conflict, resentment toward someone who has hurt you, or simply want to grow in Christlike forgiveness, this episode offers practical biblical wisdom and encouragement.

Today, on Karl and Crew, we kicked off our weekly theme, “Chivalry.” Dr. Fazale Rana, also known as Dr. Fuz, joined us to discuss how biochemistry points to God’s design, explaining that discoveries in DNA and the unique human capacities for altruism, empathy, and chivalry reflect what it means to be made in the image of God. Dr. Fuz is the President, CEO, and Senior Scholar at Reasons to Believe, a non-profit that focuses on revealing God in science. Next, Seth Troutt joined us to talk about authentic masculinity, explaining how men can reject counterfeits such as passivity and toxic masculinity by pursuing godly character, Christlike responsibility, and biblical chivalry. Seth is the Teaching Pastor at Ironwood Church in the Phoenix metro area and author of “Authentic Masculinity: Leaving Behind the Counterfeits for God’s Design.” We then had Hutz Hertzberg join us to talk about the growing hunger for Christ-centered education, explaining why parents are rethinking their children’s schooling and how classical Christian education offers an alternative rooted in biblical truth. Hutz is the chairman at Hope in Truth and currently the Chief Education Officer of Turning Point USA’s education arm, Turning Point Education. You can hear the highlights of today’s program on the Karl and Crew Showcast. If you're looking to hear a particular segment from the show, look at the following time stamps:Dr. Fuz Rana [ 20:17 ]Seth Troutt [ 33:57 ]Hutz Hetzberg [ 11:49 ]Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vintage City Church | Healthy Fear in the Nature of Christ pt.3 • 1 Peter 1:14-17 • Greg Sanders 1 Peter 1 teaches that suffering is an essential part of spiritual transformation. By following Jesus' example of surrender and trust, God uses our hardest moments to form Christlike character within us.

Lets talk about a part in John 5, where Jesus says He does only what He sees the Father doing and seeks not His own will but the Father's. I think many of us wonder why we feel stuck spiritually, yet rarely stop to examine what is actually shaping our decisions. So in this episode, we're reflecting on three questions:• What is driving your decision-making on a daily basis: God's leading, fear, obligation, ambition, or something else?• Has the way you've structured your life over the last six weeks or six months led you toward Christlike character or away from it?• What practical steps can you take to become more aware of God's presence and seek His will in your everyday life?Connect with me on:

In this message from our Relationships in a Broken World series, Pastor Josh teaches from Philippians 2 on the remedy for fractured relationships. In a culture marked by loneliness, distraction, self-protection, and radical individualism, relationships do not usually explode all at once, they erode slowly over time. The deeper question is not just how to fix a relationship, but who we are becoming in the process. This message identifies several forces quietly damaging our relationships: we stop showing up, we stop opening up, we stop understanding, we stop celebrating, and we put ourselves at the center. But Philippians 2 points us back to Christ, who moved toward us with humility, empathy, vulnerability, and sacrificial love. His example is not just inspiration, it is the pattern for how believers are called to live with one another. Pastor Josh calls the church to shared grace, Christlike humility, and relational healing by putting Christ back at the center. Isolation is healed by Christlike presence, self-protection by Christlike vulnerability, empathy collapse by Christlike incarnation, honor erosion by Christlike humility, and radical individualism by Christlike sacrifice. 

Join us as we study through the Epistle to the Galatians in our sermon series, "The Gospel at Work."In today's podcast, we will be focusing on Galatians 5:2-6.If you have any questions or would like to leave a comment, please feel free to email us at info@ravenswoodbaptist.org

The sermon centers on the transformative reality of Christian life rooted in union with Christ's death and resurrection, calling believers to live with eternal perspective by setting their minds on heavenly realities rather than earthly desires. Drawing from Colossians 3:1–17, it emphasizes that the believer's past is defined by spiritual death and resurrection with Christ, their present involves actively putting off sinful behaviors—such as immorality, greed, anger, and slander—and putting on Christlike virtues like compassion, humility, patience, and forgiveness. The ultimate motivation is the future hope of Christ's return, when believers will appear with Him in glory, which demands a present life marked by gratitude, the internal renewal of the Holy Spirit, and intentional dependence on God's Word. The message calls for a radical reorientation of identity, priorities, and relationships, grounded not in self-effort but in the grace of Christ, and challenges the congregation to live as God's chosen, holy, and beloved people by embracing a lifestyle of thankfulness, service, and love that reflects the character of Jesus.

Jesus never separated obedience from love, and neither does John. In this passage, we're reminded that genuine faith is seen not only in what we believe, but in how we treat the people God has placed around us.As the light of Christ shines in us, it exposes bitterness and calls us to something better: sacrificial, visible, Christlike love. The question isn't simply whether we know the command to love, but whether that love is becoming increasingly evident in our lives.

God Gives Us What We Ask For by Autumn Dickson In the last post, we talked a bit about how the people implored Samuel for a monarchy. They were insistent, and Samuel saw their folly. He tried warning them; he understood what they were really asking for even if they didn't. Here is a modern rendition of that conversation. Israelites-We want a king! Give us a king like other nations! Samuel-Do you even understand what you're asking? Kings take your sons for war and your daughters to be servants. They take the best of your property. They serve themselves. Why do you want a king? Israelites-Give us a king! Samuel knew Who they were rejecting, and he knew they were trying to replace the ultimate Defender with a mortal. The Israelites already had a King, but they wanted a different one. They insisted on it. And interestingly enough, the Lord tells Samuel to go ahead. Samuel 8:22 And the Lord said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city. The Lord tells Samuel to give them a king, and then He guides Samuel through the process of selecting and anointing kings. He gives the people what they want. The Lord literally just gives it to them. He didn't directly condemn them. He literally just gave them the curse they asked for. What I want to share today is my own interpretation of Judgment Day. I do not know exactly how Judgment Day or the eternities will look, but this is what I have come to believe thus far as I've studied the words of prophets and scripture. I'm sure it will evolve as I grow older, but this is my working theory. Part (and I emphasize part because I'm sure there are exceptions to this) of Judgment Day is the Lord saying, “Give them what they want.” I think we often picture the Lord condemning and cursing and exiling people, but I think we've got it a bit wrong. I think people choose where they're going more often than not. Let me give some examples of what I mean. Woman-I refuse to be a baby factory. I won't be oppressed like this. Heavenly Father-Okay. I won't force you. I'm not trying to make you a baby factory, I'm trying to make you a mother. I'm trying to save you from eternal emptiness, but I will give you what you want. Woman-You can't fool me! You're just trying to control me! The woman separates herself from what she perceives is a controlling, power-hungry god. She separates herself because she doesn't know the true God, because she doesn't understand what He's trying to offer her. It drives me nuts when people mischaracterize the Lord. Eternity is going to be painfully empty without posterity. PAINFUL. What do you even live for? Do you really think being single and childless is going to fulfill you for eternity? Sure, you'll be fine for a while, but there will come a day when you realize that you have no purpose because there is no progression or struggle. Eternity will be hell, and you will have put yourself there. Someday you're going to wake up and realize that God was trying to bless you, and you cursed yourself instead. It often blows my mind how people get things so wrong, but this has been prophesied. In the latter-days, people will call good evil and evil good. As a mother, I've been experimenting with how much agency to give my kids. And when I say “experiment,” I mean I get so tired of giving them instructions and being labelled a bad guy that I hide out in my room and let them go Lord of the Flies on each other. It usually gives me a small reprieve in exchange for hours of fixing the problems that cropped up while I was hiding. If I were to let them choose exactly what they wanted, they would refuse any kind of schooling, sports, self-development, and anything else that is essential for healthy adjustment to adult life. The irony is that for a long time, they would likely think they were happy, but I can see the misery that would come from never learning to read or work with a team. I can see the misery that would stem from watching their friends move on without them, watching the whole world move on without them. And if I allowed them to completely sink into TV and iPads, they would live there and be miserable and not even know it. If I let them take full control of their tiny-human-inclinations, they would scream at each other and kick each other, and they would turn into mean, miserable little gremlins who no one wants to be around. I get it, Heavenly Father. It's exhausting. It's so frustrating to give your loved ones everything they need to be truly happy and live a worthwhile life only to be labelled bossy and mean. Now that's a pretty bleak assessment of my parenting right there, and it's not always like that. Sometimes they appreciate me coaching them into better people. Sometimes I wake up and they're making bagels for their baby sisters without me. Sometimes I watch them play games with each other for hours. I watch them control their anger or forgive each other or do any number of wonderful, mature, Christlike things. So we're not complete failures over here, but I've definitely learned important lessons after becoming a mom. I have learned that humans often love making themselves miserable. Heavenly Father doesn't even have to curse us or send us to hell. We walk there willingly. We choose oppressive kings and empty saviors to fight our battles. We choose hell. How much of Judgment Day will be arrogant people cursing His name because they supposedly know better? How much of Judgment Day will be people walking away from the Lord because they have Him all wrong? How long will it take for them to wake up and realize the path they took is a curse and He was trying to save them? I testify of a Lord who is not a tyrant. He doesn't force our hand. He is the one who gave us our agency and protects it. Despite all that it costs Him, He preserves our agency while Satan would try to destroy it and enslave us. Despite the fact that He had to pay for it with the blood of His Son, despite the fact that He is spit upon by His enemies because He allows them to, despite the fact that He gets labelled as an oppressive tyrant (ironic when you consider the fact that He is allowing them to call Him a tyrant), He protects our agency. He will let us walk away and choose those difficult lessons. Don't choose the difficult lessons. I testify that He knows what He's doing. Follow Him! Let Him be your King. Autumn Dickson was born and raised in a small town in Texas. She served a mission in the Indianapolis Indiana mission. She studied elementary education but has found a particular passion in teaching the gospel. Her desire for her content is to inspire people to feel confident, peaceful, and joyful about their relationship with Jesus Christ and to allow that relationship to touch every aspect of their lives. Autumn was the recipient of FAIR's 2024 John Taylor Defender of the Faith Award. The post Come, Follow Me with FAIR – 1 Samuel 8–10; 13; 15–16 – Part 2 – Autumn Dickson appeared first on FAIR.

Welcome back to another episode of the unSeminary podcast. Today we're joined by John Plake, Chief Innovation Officer and Editor-in-Chief of the State of the Bible research at the American Bible Society. With decades of experience as a pastor, missionary, professor, and researcher, John brings a unique perspective on how people are actually engaging with Scripture and what we should do about it. The “movable middle” is growing. // One of the most significant insights from recent research is the rise of what John calls the “movable middle”—millions of people who are open to the Bible but not yet engaged with it. This group has grown by approximately nine million people in recent years. They are curious, interested, and even positive toward Scripture, but they lack the tools, confidence, or guidance to engage it meaningfully. This represents a massive opportunity for churches willing to step in and help. People want a guide. // Through focus groups and research, John discovered that many people in the movable middle feel intimidated by the Bible. They struggle with language, context, and navigation. But perhaps most striking is they want help. Contrary to what some leaders might assume, they are not rejecting the church as a guide. In fact, many say, “If we can't trust the church to help us understand the Bible, what good is it?” This creates a clear invitation for churches to step into a more relational, guiding role in discipleship. A surprising discipleship gap. // One of the most sobering findings is that nearly half of weekly church attenders are not regularly engaging Scripture on their own. While churches invest heavily in preaching and programming, many people are not developing personal habits of Bible engagement. John suggests that churches often focus on delivering content rather than equipping people to engage Scripture themselves. The result is a gap between what happens on Sunday and what happens in everyday life. From teaching to equipping. // If churches want to close that gap, they must shift from being primarily content providers to equipping environments. This means helping people develop the skills, habits, and confidence to read and apply Scripture on their own. It also requires understanding the real barriers people face, like time constraints, confusion, or lack of community support, and addressing those barriers with practical solutions. A new tool for churches. // To help leaders take action, the American Bible Society has developed the “Next Step for Church” assessment. This free tool allows churches to measure spiritual health, Bible engagement, and key leadership behaviors within their congregation. Within a few weeks, leaders receive a detailed, data-driven report highlighting strengths, challenges, and suggested next steps. Data that leads to discipleship. // John emphasizes that data is not an end in itself; it's a tool for better shepherding. By listening to their congregation at scale, leaders can identify patterns, confirm instincts, and prioritize what matters most. The assessment surfaces both what's working and where growth is needed, giving churches a clear path forward. It also connects individuals to personalized Scripture engagement resources, helping them take their next step spiritually. Why Scripture engagement matters most. // Nothing has a greater impact on spiritual growth than a person's relationship with the Bible. In fact, Scripture engagement accounts for a significant portion of overall spiritual health. When people consistently engage with God's Word, transformation follows—affecting beliefs, behaviors, and relationships. Signs of hope for the future. // Despite broader cultural challenges, John sees encouraging trends, especially among younger generations. Millennials and Gen Z show increasing openness to Scripture, even if they are still exploring. While overall trends may appear flat, meaningful change is happening beneath the surface. For churches willing to engage this moment, there is real opportunity for impact. To explore the research further or access the free church assessment, visit church.nextstep.bible and begin discovering how your church can better equip people to engage Scripture every day. Thank You for Tuning In! There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, but you chose unSeminary, and I'm grateful for that. If you enjoyed today's show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the left hand side of this page. Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, they're extremely helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and you can bet that I read every single one of them personally! Lastly, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live! Thank You to This Episode’s Sponsor: Risepointe Do you feel like your church’s or school's facility could be preventing growth? Are you frustrated or possibly overwhelmed at the thought of a complicated or costly building project? Are the limitations of your building becoming obstacles in the path of expanding your ministry? Have you ever felt that you could reach more people if only the facility was better suited to the community’s needs? Well, the team over at Risepointe can help! As former ministry staff and church leaders, they understand how to prioritize and help lead you to a place where the building is a ministry multiplier. Your mission should not be held back by your building. Their team of architects, interior designers and project managers have the professional experience to incorporate creative design solutions to help move YOUR mission forward. Check them out at risepointe.com and while you’re there, schedule a FREE call to explore possibilities for your needs, vision and future…Risepointe believes that God still uses spaces…and they're here to help. Episode Transcript Rich Birch — Hey friends, welcome to the unSeminary podcast. I am so glad that you have decided to tune in today. This is one of those episodes that there’s a great resource in it that going to want to make sure you engage with. There’s super helpful content. Plus it’s about an area that I know so many of us are thinking about, we’re wondering about, we’re asking questions about. Rich Birch — So super excited to have John Plake with us today. He is the chief innovator ah innovation officer and editor-in-chief of the State of the Bible Research Series, which comes from the American Bible Society. And they’re on a mission to make the Bible available to every person in a language and format each can understand and afford so that all may experience its life-changing message. ABS has really a whole bunch of different tools and approaches, and we’re excited kind of expose a little bit more about that today. John has been in ministry over 30 years. We’ll just call it over 30 years. And it served as a pastor, missionary, professor, researcher. John, welcome to the show. So glad you’re here.John Plake — Thanks so much for having me today. It’s great to be with you.Rich Birch — Why don’t you fill in the picture a little bit? Tell us a little bit about your background. You know, what brings you to your current work?John Plake — Yeah. Closer to 40 years now. Rich Birch — Nice. Yeah, yeah. That’s great.John Plake — It’s a little uncomfortable to talk about that.Rich Birch — That’s great.John Plake — Yeah. You know, I start out like a lot of people in ministry. I grew up in a home that ministry was central. Actually, both my grandfathers were ministers. My father was a minister. Ministry is kind of the family business in a way, but I really did sense a direction from God when I was about 15 years old to to pursue full-time ministry.John Plake — There was some detail around that. Ended up going to Bible college and and then started what turned out to be about nine years of full-time pastoral service. And I hadn’t been in that for very long before I realized that everything I learned in Bible College was preparing me to serve a generation that no longer existed in a culture that was gone. John Plake — And I thought, my goodness, I know God’s word pretty well. And mean, I’m a lifelong learner of God’s word. I love the Bible. And yet, didn’t really know culture very well. And I didn’t develop those tools until just years and years of practice, some missionary service, wonderful teachers at at Wheaton College and graduate school and and just a lifelong journey of learning.John Plake — So at American Bible Society, when I got here, the State of the Bible, program or this research project was already underway. And we’d been helped out by the Barna Group, which does some wonderful foundational work. And eventually it just kind of grew up and it got to a place where we had an internal team that was running it ourselves, now in collaboration with the National Opinion Research Council or NORC at the University of Chicago. We just do, I think, what is the largest ongoing study of Americans’ relationship with the Bible and faith and the church. And we get to talk about it all the time. Rich Birch — Yeah, I love it.John Plake — So, I mean, this is the best job in the world.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s so good. It’s it’s great research, something that I think should be on the kind of list of things that we need to be paying attention to. It’s been a gift to the church for so long and something that we should continue to to pay attention through. Now, let’s talk about you specifically. You spent three plus decades. I didn’t want to say almost 40. You know, I’m not saying that. I’m not saying that. I could say that, you know, a couple years ago, I clicked across one of those numbers with a zero on the end as my birthday. And ever since then, I’m a little sensitive about the the age thing. Rich Birch — So anyways, As a ministry, missionary professor, researcher, you’ve done a lot. How does wearing all of those hats, what do you what does that bring to you as you come to the data? How does that impact you as you think about really the state of the Bible research?John Plake — Yeah, you know, I think research can be dull. You know, it can sound like it’s all about writing questions or it’s all statistics and numbers. But for me, the research is all about the people. Rich Birch — So true.John Plake — It’s all about the people in our communities and in our churches that we’re trying to understand better so we can serve them well with the gospel. I, for years, I’ve used the analogy that that being in gospel ministry is like being a human bridge across a river. I grew up not very far from the Mississippi River in the St. Louis area, and there was a big 100-year flood when I was early on in ministry. And I mean, none of the bridges worked anymore. You couldn’t get from one side to the other.John Plake — And I thought, you know, that’s a tragedy that I encountered sometimes in ministry where maybe I was deeply rooted in one bank of the river, the text, but I wasn’t necessarily deeply rooted in the other bank of the river, which was the context.John Plake — And it’s this lived experience of the people that I was I was serving. And that I wanted to serve in my community, but I needed to understand them better. So I wasn’t just spouting you know Aristotelian logic to them. Or I wasn’t just coming at them with the pat answers that I’d learned. Like I’d never heard anybody in my life walk into my office and say, Pastor John, you got to tell me, what can you describe hamartiology to me from. You know like I had to learn that in school, but that’s not what people struggle with. Rich Birch — That’s so true. Yeah. John Plake — They had totally different questions and I needed to love them and honor them enough to understand their questions and answer them responsibly and reliably from the pages of scripture.Rich Birch — Yeah, love it. Okay, well, we’re going to dig into a little bit of just a couple of the findings just to kind of, we’re trying to whet your appetite, friends, to take steps towards this. So the 2025 data showed, and we’ve seen this, a real bump in Bible engagement, particularly among millennials and men. If I’m reading it correctly, though, we saw 2026, a shift happen, maybe back down. And so what’s going on? Actually, I heard another sociologist in a kind of a related field that was about church attendance talked about the dead cat bounce, that it was like, you know, which I thought, oh, that’s a, but there’s a similarity going on here. Pull this, this finding apart. Help us understand this.John Plake — Yeah, apologies to cat lovers out there.Rich Birch — Yes, exactly.John Plake — We were we were hoping, you know, I think we were really hoping. We looked at 2025. We saw that men in particular were leaning into the Bible in ways we hadn’t seen recently. Millennials doing the same thing. There there were some interesting numbers in 2025. And so when the 2026 numbers came to my desk in late January, I thought, I hope we’re extending I hope it’s going to be a trend. But it wasn’t. It was a blip.John Plake — And there’s more to it, though, than just the fact that scripture engagement didn’t go up. It also didn’t go down. And the level of people in America who are Bible disengaged, meaning they never pick up the Bible on purpose at all, that actually didn’t go up either. What grew was this kind of curious explorer group in the middle that we call the movable middle. And over the last two years, it’s grown by 9 million American adults. Rich Birch — Wow.John Plake — And so what we do see is there’s there’s openness to the Bible. There’s experimentation with the Bible. But people are jumping in and they’re trying it and they’re not being able to get hold of it. And I think that’s largely because of us.John Plake — Because Bible people who are around them aren’t saying, please come do this with me. Let me help you. Let me honor you enough to to respect your questions, to ask what you’re dealing with, and help you explore those issues through the pages of Scripture.Rich Birch — I love that movable middle, man, that feels like the kind of group we want to connect with and reach out to in our community. Any other, when you, when you’ve been thinking about this movable middle, what are some other kind of characteristics of those people or other things that, you know, are kind of telltale signs of this group as we’re thinking about them as it, as it pertains to Bible engagement?John Plake — Yeah, they’re an amazing group, and we’re going talking more about them all year, but they are probably my favorite subject in America. There are 74 million American adults that are in the movable middle.Rich Birch — Wow.John Plake — 74 million of our neighbors who are like…Rich Birch — Wow.John Plake — …and here’s what they tend to say: They love the Bible. They think it’s a great idea. But if you handed them a Bible, they don’t know how to find what they’re looking for. They don’t know how to navigate it. They get confused by the language in in Scripture.John Plake — I remember doing a a focus group with a bunch of people in the movable middle. I was in Chicago. it was an area I was really familiar with. I used to pastor in that area. And we got them talking about their experience with the Bible. And we said, hey, does anything ever stop you or kind of you know make you check out because you’re struggling with what’s going on? John Plake — And one young lady at the table said, yeah, you know the language of the Bible is really really hard for me to understand. It’s it’s a really old book. It uses expressions I don’t understand. And a gentleman sitting across the table from her just kind of chuckled and said, yeah, what the hell’s a mustard seed? And everybody laughed.John Plake — I was behind the glass and I just about fell out of my chair because they didn’t teach me to talk like that in a Assemblies of God seminary.Rich Birch — Yes.John Plake —Things like that, you know, that’s just not the way we roll.Rich Birch — Yeah, yeah. Yes.John Plake — But it was so authentic and he wasn’t being mean.Rich Birch — No.John Plake — He was just saying, boy, I don’t I don’t get it. And then they said, you know, we really want a guide. Rich Birch — That’s good.John Plake — And so we pushed on that a little bit. At the time, there were some clergy abuse scandals that actually there were billboards up in Chicago about clergy abuse scandals that all of us lamented. And so we’re like, OK, listen, do you trust the church to be your guide? Because ee saw these billboards, you know, and it’s your city. And so what what do you think?John Plake — And they said, well, of course we do. I mean, it’s terrible when people in the church abuse their position and abuse others. And that’s not what they’re supposed to do. But if we can’t trust the church to help us understand the Bible, what good are they, really? And so, yes, we’re looking to you, church, to help us connect more deeply with the Bible, understand what it meant to the original hearers and readers and how we apply it to our lives today.Rich Birch — Okay, that’s yeah, that’s really cool. I look forward to hearing more about the movable middle in this coming year. Another thing that jumped out to me, which I feel like, man, I’ve seen this in my church. This is like you you named a group that I see, but it’s surprising, at least it’s surprising on its face. So nearly half of weekly church attenders, weekly church attenders, which is, that’s like really engaged, you know, are not regularly engaging, engaging scripture on their own.Rich Birch — Man, what, so what should we do about that? That’s an interesting, how does, how should that impact our discipleship strategy? What are you encouraging us to be thinking about? And these people that are with us all the time, but they’re not engaged with scripture.John Plake — Well, I think the first thing to do is to just recognize it. Rich Birch — Right.John Plake — You know, a lot of pastors that I’ve talked to, when we talk about scripture engagement, they tell me things like this: Everything we do is scripture engagement. I spend my whole week preparing a scriptural message. I’m, you know, we’re preparing small group curriculum and Sunday school curriculum and all of this stuff. It’s all about the, everything we do is about the Bible. John Plake — Well, okay. But I had a I had a young youth pastor come to me not that long ago and he said, John, look, you were me once a few years ago. If you knew then what you know now, what would you do differently?John Plake — And the answer is I would do everything differently, than the way I ought to do it. Because what, in my tradition, there was a lot of emphasis on the preaching event, and I put a lot of effort into those communication events, but what I didn’t put as much effort into is empowering people in my church to do what I was doing, which was dig into scripture, understand it for themselves, giving them the tools to do that.John Plake — And then in May, we’re going to be releasing a chapter, just in a few few days now, we’re going to be releasing a chapter all about parents. And one of the startling things is the time pressure that moms are under. I mean, it’s incredible. And so we need to understand where they’re coming from and where they have barriers, but also have some compassion on them and help to support them when they’re really facing struggles. Like they don’t have enough time. They don’t have the resources or the community coming around them to help them to engage God’s word ah more fulsomely, more transformatively.John Plake — We know how to do this stuff, but we’re not connecting the dots to everybody that’s coming to hear us talk every…Rich Birch — That’s good. That’s good. I know I’ve in my seat as an XP, um you know, I’ve overseen a lot of what we do on the programming side and what we do on the weekends. And I’ve, you know, it’s like, that i don’t think I’ve ever said this publicly. It’s like the kind of behind the scenes conversation. I’ve sometimes wondered, I’ve said, you know, like, what we do on the weekend to try to make the Bible understandable is so completely different than Tuesday morning in someone’s life. Rich Birch — Like, we pull out all the stops to make it interesting. We get like world class communicators, incredible graphics, you know, emotional music, all of this to try to… But then the question is, okay, so now on Tuesday morning when you’re tired and you haven’t had your coffee yet and you’re just about to go read scripture, man, like that feels like a long ways away. There’s like a gap there that I sometimes wonder maybe we’re making it worse. You know. Maybe we’re making it harder. I said that. You didn’t say that. Rich Birch — So maybe there’s pastors that are listening here and they read this kind of report. They read this kind of finding and they’re like, hey, that’s interesting. But like, how what do I do in my church specifically? So you know we want we don’t want to just leave people with a tough stat.Rich Birch — I think we see that in our church. There’s people in our church that are here all the time. They’re not that engaged. But you’ve actually developed a new tool or ABS has developed a new tool to help us think through that. Why don’t you walk us through it? Tell us a little bit about it. How’s it work? Talk us how it can help us.John Plake — Yeah, so recently we developed two tools that kind of work together. One of them you can find on the internet at nextstep.bible. And it’s just for anybody who’s like, hey, I’m on a spiritual journey. I’m kind of stuck. I don’t really know what to do next. Maybe you’re just getting started exploring what it means to be a Christian. Maybe you’re Jesus’ little brother or sister. Wherever you are in that journey, there’s always a next step for us.John Plake — And so what we’ve done is analyzed along about a million spiritual life surveys. Rich Birch — Wow.John Plake — And from this huge quantity of data, we’ve learned that people are at different places in that journey. They’re at different points on the map. And we want to make sure that they’re equipped to have the right thing at the right time. I think currently there are 21,000 scripture engagement resources available there.Rich Birch — Wow.John Plake — They’re absolutely free. They’re in English, Spanish, and French. So go check it out, nextstep.bible.John Plake — But if you’re a pastor or you’re a church leader, you’re probably wondering, well, what’s going on in my church, right? So I see all the national data, but I think our tendency is to say, well, we’re the exception, right?Rich Birch — So true. Well, that’s not our people. John Plake — I know I know everybody else is struggling, but we’re doing okay.Rich Birch — Yes.John Plake — And and so it’s good to check our assumptions a little bit. They used to say a really sad statistic that 10 o’clock on Sunday morning was the most segregated hour in America, which makes me sad. What makes me sad also is that 12 o’clock noon in America is the most dishonest hour in America. That’s the hour when pastors tend to start greeting their people after the church service closes and they hear all these comments: oh, Pastor, that was the best sermon I’ve ever heard. And it wasn’t. It just wasn’t. All right, let’s face it.John Plake — There’s somebody out there who preaches better than you do and better than I do. They’re available on YouTube. People don’t need you to be the best Bible teacher in the world. They need you to be the best pastor for them. Rich Birch — That’s good.John Plake — And the tools that are all about focusing on their relationship with the Bible, their holistic spiritual formation, and our leadership behaviors. And so for that, we built the Next Step for Church Assessment.John Plake — It’s actually standing on the foundation or built on the engine block, if you want a different metaphor, of the old reveal research that the Willow Creek Association had come out with. It’s no longer available. And we were able to acquire all of their historical learnings, but also add in things like human flourishing and e-pastoral leadership behaviors that lead to churches really being missionally effective and strong. Excellent stuff on Bible engagement and spiritual formation. John Plake — So the the big challenge we had, I was talking with Dr. Ed Stetzer about this because he was at LifeWay Research when the Transformational Church Assessment was being built. And it was always hard because analyzing this kind of data required a lot of human intervention. It’s very expensive to do. It’s very complicated to deliver. And even a small cost can be a barrier for churches that have strained budgets. It doesn’t matter if you’re a church of, you know, 2,500 25,000 or 250. There’s always more places to put your money than there are dollars that are available to do it.John Plake — And so at American Bible Society, we said, you know what, as a gift to the church, because we love the church, we need to make it completely free. And so you can go to church.nextstep.bible and you could sign up today. Literally, we’re recording this on a on a Thursday. You could go there today and by Sunday, you could be launching your survey. Two weeks later, you’d automatically have results in your own online dashboard. You’d get key highlights emailed to you. There’s a place for custom questions. There’s just all kinds of really, really rich information.Rich Birch — So good.John Plake — And it it doesn’t take the place of the kind of learning that you have as a pastor. You learn deeply in relationship with others. You’re observing what’s going on. You have a team that’s around you. But what it does is it provides this valid, reliable sift and sort function. It’s based on well, I don’t know even know how many, well over 3000 churches, well over half a million survey responses went into building this and making it a tool that that is a good benchmark for you to say, you know what, if we want to move from where we are today to where God is calling us, here are the things we need to focus on.Rich Birch — It’s so good. And friends, I want to encourage you to to go there. Just church.nextstep.bible. I know many of us have a heart for saying, listen, we want to measure more than just nickels and noses. The number of people that show up and revenue that comes in. And this a great way to kind of inject at something that’s at the core of what we’re supposed to be doing as a church. So why don’t we just give a little bit more detail?Rich Birch — What is it? You know, what’s it actually measuring? How is it? You know, how could it be helpful? How how could it kind of dovetail with some of the things we’re already tracking? Maybe give us, you know, what kind of insights are we going to gain from this if we if we put our people through this?John Plake — Yeah, maybe it’s worthwhile to just back up and say it’s based on a congregational assessment. So really this kind of work is all about just listening to your congregation at scale. So if you have 25 people coming to church, you can probably have this conversation with them if you know how to ask the right questions. Rich Birch — Right.John Plake — You can go to the website. You’re like, what’s in the survey? There’s a button you can click. You can read the whole survey. It’s fine. We’re not going to try and surprise you with anything. But really simple stuff. How’s your relationship with Jesus? How often are you interacting with Scripture? What difference is that making in your life? We ask the standard Harvard human flourishing questions. We ask about um how the pastoral team or the senior pastor, him or herself, is doing at actually modeling Christlike leadership for you. Rich Birch — It’s so good.John Plake — And all of that reporting then gets brought into a database. It’s all anonymous. So individuals don’t, they don’t have to tell you who they are. They can’t tell you who they are other than by characteristics. And you’re going to get this really good, robust picture of what’s going on at the church. John Plake — Now, what does it take for somebody to do that? It takes about 20 minutes of their time, and time is expensive, right? People always have too much to do. So in return for that investment, at the end of their survey experience, they will have already told us everything we need to know to match them to great resources at nextstep.bible.John Plake — And with their permission, not without it, they can click a button, pass that data over to the individual nextstep.bible platform. They can create an account and right away, they’re going to be finding things like YouVersion Bible reading plans that are just for them.John Plake — If you’ve got people in your church and they’re outliers, they’re they’re way more spiritually advanced than everybody else, or they’re just getting started and everybody else is way ahead of them, these kinds of tools create bespoke pathways for them so they know what to do next. All the while, the church leadership can sit back and say, okay, here’s our results. And as a team, now what do we need to do to serve the whole congregation well?Rich Birch — I love this. You know, this is what incredible tool that you’ve put together here for our churches to wrestle through and to, you know, not only help us as a church as we’re thinking about these issues, but then help individuals in our church. What what would be some of the ways that churches might use the data that’s generated to impact what we’re doing in our programming? How how could we use this to improve what we’re doing?John Plake — Sure. There are really three things we want everybody to do. First, just discover what’s going on. Just just check your assumptions at the door and and say, okay, what do the data tell us about what’s going on in our church life and in our people’s lives? That’s the first thing.John Plake — Second thing is it’s going to surface for you the top three things that you’re doing great. And it’s going to give them to you in the report. And you need to throw a party. Like there are people who make these things happen for you. No pastor is doing this all by themselves. And so plan a party, celebrate what’s going well.John Plake — The third thing it’s going to do is it’s going to give you suggestions about, okay, here’s where your congregation is today. It won’t surprise you, but it might inform you. I’ve never seen a pastor look at the report and go, ah you guys got it wrong. Rich Birch — Sure, right.John Plake — Usually they they see the report and they go, yeah, okay, yeah, you got me.Rich Birch — Yeah. Confirmed some hunches I’ve had. Yeah. Yeah.John Plake — Right? But we don’t we don’t have time. We don’t have the resources. We don’t have the expertise to be able to sit down and and kind of scientifically walk through this process. So we do that for you. We deliver the report. And then we’re going to give you two key action items that we think churches like yours in a similar place have done that have helped move them toward spiritual health and missional effectiveness.John Plake — And that’s really what it’s all about. We want your congregation to be spiritually healthy. We want your your church as a whole to be missionally effective. And when that happens, often there’s numerical growth. Often there’s financial growth. But there’s certainly more missional impact that’s coming through your congregation and its work.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s cool. So if I’m like a church of a thousand people, let’s say, and just round number to picking out of the sky, how how what kind of percentage of my congregation would I need to take this to give me a reasonable, you know, statistical, you know, feeling good about the data for it? What what kind of number um should I be thinking about?John Plake — Well, the first thing is we’ve built in a tool that will tell you how to get to a margin of error of plus or minus 3%. Rich Birch — Love it.John Plake — And that does vary depending on the adult attendance that you have. So let’s say you’ve a thousand adults. And by adults, I mean anybody in high school or older can probably take this survey. Rich Birch — Yep.John Plake — And you can cut the data like by gender or by age. All of that live filtering is in the online platform. Rich Birch — Oh, that’s so good.John Plake — So if you’re the you’re the youth pastor and you’re like, well, wait, tell me about the young people that took the survey. You can just look right at them and compare them to the rest of the congregation, which I bet will be enlightening. But nevertheless, how many do you need if you’re a church of 1,000, it’s about 275.Rich Birch — Okay.John Plake — If it’s a smaller church than that, then you’re still going to need a pretty significant percentage. So if I roll that all the way down to a church of 100, you need 80.Rich Birch — Okay.John Plake — And if you roll that up to a church of 5,000, well, you don’t need that many more than 275.Rich Birch — Interesting.John Plake — So you’re going to report that out to you. It’s very, very doable. And, you know, I’ve pastored at large churches and I pastored a small church. And I’ll tell you, when I pastored a church of under 100, I could have gotten a census of the people, like everybody, to do a survey like this. They would have been glad to tell me these things. Rich Birch — Right.John Plake — And it’s not that I couldn’t have had a conversation one-on-one with most of the adults in the congregation. It was something different in that case. I actually didn’t know what to ask. I used to run into this when I was a campus pastor at a Christian university. And I would have young people walk into my office and I was like, I know I should be able to help them, but the challenge they’re facing is different than anything I’m familiar with. I don’t have any analog for this in my personal experience. And so this sort of takes the mystery away. We don’t ask fluffy questions. We ask research proven questions that are going to give you the information you really need so you can take action.Rich Birch — That’s amazing. That’s think this is such a great tool for people. I can see how, you know, it’d be so helpful for folks that are listening in to, you know, might be be able to plug in grab this experience for their people, help their church, help the folks that are attending. That’s, that’s incredible.Rich Birch — So, you know, you’ve picked an interesting vocation to be connected with the American Bible Society. And because, you know, this is such a critical and important part of developing people’s relationship, obviously, with Jesus; its core to all of it. And we have seen a long historical downward trend, and you’re pushing against that, which is amazing. But what gives you hope in the middle of all of that? What would it when you look at the church around you know, the country, where do you see flashes of just good things going on that are like, you know, when it comes to the relationship with scripture that even, you know, even when we see maybe the overall numbers are not as great as we want them to be, what are some kind of flashes of hope we should, that we could encourage folks with today?John Plake — Well, I’d like to maybe point to just three things that leap to mind. Rich Birch — Yep.John Plake — The first of them is I never talk to anybody in the church who says the Bible is a bad idea. Rich Birch — Sure.John Plake — Everybody likes the Bible. We’re all trying to figure out how to communicate its message better, to understand it more deeply. It’s transforming our lives, and we want to be able to share it with others. John Plake — And that’s great because, number two, there’s nothing that makes a bigger difference in somebody’s spiritual life than their relationship with the Bible. I mean, absolutely nothing. And I’m saying this as a researcher. I’ve tested it. I can’t find anything that makes a bigger difference. John Plake — In fact, when we looked at Christian college and university students, 60% of their overall spiritual health across lots of domains—beliefs, practice, putting faith into action, loving God, loving others, all these things, 60% of the variance in their spiritual health is solely accounted for by their relationship with the Bible.John Plake — So if we can help people have a dynamic relationship with scripture, we win. That’s all there is to it. It’s just that simple. And so that is really encouraging.John Plake — And then the third thing, ah the third thing is how I say this nicely? I'm I’m from Gen X and so to my Baby Boomer friends, I’m sorry, but you guys don’t have the influence that you once did.Rich Birch — Yeah, it’s true.John Plake — And that’s a good thing because there’s new openness among Millennials, and Gen Z and even younger Gen X um that we just don’t see among Baby Boomers. It’s like Baby Boomers made up their minds in the 60s and early 70s and said, this is what I believe and I’m not changing. And they haven’t. John Plake — That’s not to say that someone who’s a Baby Boomer can’t have a a spiritual experience and transformational experience. It does happen. But on the population level, like when we looked at the Bay Area of San Francisco, if you look at the scripture engagement, church engagement, love God, love others data in the Bay Area, it looks like what you’d expect, until you strip out the Baby Boomers. And then suddenly it looks better than every place else in America.John Plake — You’re like, what’s going on? Well, looks like all the unreconstructed hippies that moved to the Bay Area are actually holding a lid on the population numbers. And when you remove that and you go, oh, wait a minute, let me look under the headline and say what’s happening. There’s more going on than is easy to see. And I think this happens in big national trends.John Plake — Oh, is Scripture engagement up or down? Is you know church attendance up or down? Whats what’s going… big national trends. Yeah, okay, those are helpful, and we want those to change. But what’s changing first is below the fold. Things in Gen Z, things among Millennials, things in young men, those things are starting to change, and I think those are the first glimmerings that God is at work in a new way in America, and I can’t wait to see it.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s that’s a great word. And that lines up with what we’re seeing, even just experientially talking to churches across the country. You know we’re so we’re seeing there is something going on with younger generations, which is great to see. I was I was born in 1974, the lowest birth rate year of the 20th century. I am classic Gen X. Like you know I am like statistic I’m the statistical average Gen X and has spent a lot of my time trying to hand stuff from the Boomers to the Millennials. And, yeah, there’s lots of encouraging news there, particularly with the younger generations. Rich Birch — I also want to speak to on the the work I’ve done in the church growth stuff that I’ve done and coaching I’ve done with churches, one of the things that’s just undeniable is churches that have a high view of scripture, that is, they’re trying to get people engaged with scripture. They they talk about it like it’s actually true. How do we say don’t know what’s the best way to talk about that? Those are the churches that are prevailing, and that actually works out statistically. You see that time and again. Talk to us about that dynamic, which is kind of co-related to the things we’re talking about today. From your perspective in the stats and all that, how how have you seen that work out as you’ve looked at churches across the country?John Plake — Yeah, I think you’re exactly right. The churches that are the healthiest in America, that are growing, that where where people are spiritually healthy, have a really dynamic relationship with Scripture. And it kind of it cuts across tradition. Rich Birch — Yep.John Plake — There are some traditional things going on. I was listening to Justin Brierley and his surprising Rebirth of Belief in God podcast, and it was from last season, and he he had someone on, he was interviewing, and what she was saying was there are the parts of the church that seem to be thriving are kind of the, the the older, the ancientness traditions, whether it’s Catholic or Orthodox, that what she called somewhat irreverently, the smells and bells side of of the church.Rich Birch — Sure, sure.John Plake — And on the other side, kind of my end of the swimming pool, I’m, from the Assemblies of God, so the Pentecostal and Charismatic side. And she said, what’s going on is that both ends of that spectrum are totalizing. John Plake — They’re saying, you know what, the the Bible places certain expectations and demands on people. Christ places certain expectations and demands on people. And these parts of the church aren’t sort of shy about talking about that from a biblical perspective. She said, what’s what’s dying is that part in the middle where we’ve reduced church to a PowerPoint and you know an Excel spreadsheet. And she said, that part of the church seems to be dying and no one’s coming to the funeral. Rich Birch — That’s good. John Plake — And I thought, you know okay, right?Rich Birch — Yeah. Yeah, that’s good.John Plake — So if we revitalize our relationship with God through scripture, there’s a next step for every church. It doesn’t matter what, you know whether you’re mainline or evangelical or, you know, Pentecostal or Orthodox or whatever it is, but but reviving our relationship with God through Scripture is really where it’s at.Rich Birch — That’s so good. i Yeah, I call that middle group the just because it rhymes doesn’t mean it’s true group. You know, like the, you know, were just like, it’s all my thoughts. No one wants to come and find us. They want to find God ultimately. Well, I don’t want to pick any fights with anybody that’s listening in, but I really appreciate today’s conversation, John. This has been great. So we want to send people to church.nextstep.bible.Rich Birch — The the promise of in two weeks, your church could have a comprehensive report on spiritual health, on where your church is, spiritual health is at, that’s a huge promise. And so again, this is go to church.nextstep.bible. Any kind of final words as we wrap up today’s episode?John Plake — You know, you might be familiar with Cally Parkinson. Cally was the co-author of all of the Reveal books, every single one of them. She was head of communications for the Willow Creek Association when they were running this. She’s probably had more conversations with pastors and church leaders about survey results like this than anybody I know, maybe than anybody alive. And Cally likes this so much. She said, John, I want to have a personal consultation with the first hundred churches that go through this.John Plake — And so if you want to be in that group, she’s going to offer to spend an hour with you and just walk through your results and help explain it. There are videos throughout the platform that will explain it as well. And you can’t beat talking to Cally. She loves pastors. She says you’re the salt of the earth. And she just really wants to serve you because the work that you do to save people is just so valuable to her. So anyway, just wanted to offer that. And I know you’d probably love to meet Cally.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s fantastic. Well, appreciate you being here today. Thanks for the great work you do at the American Bible Society. John, appreciate you being on today. Thank you.John Plake — Thank you.

This powerful message invites us into a transformative understanding of conflict resolution through the lens of Colossians 3:12-15. We're challenged to see conflict not as something to avoid or dominate, but as an opportunity to reflect Christ's character in our relationships. The teaching presents three essential perspectives we must adopt: viewing others with compassion and kindness, seeing ourselves through humility and meekness, and approaching our offenses with patience and forgiveness. What makes this message particularly compelling is its honest acknowledgment that we naturally gravitate toward being either 'brawlers' who fight or 'peace fakers' who avoid—yet neither reflects biblical peace. True peace isn't the absence of conflict but the presence of Christ in the midst of it. The distinction between perceived offenses, unintentional offenses, and intentional offenses helps us navigate our emotional responses with wisdom. We're reminded that growing Christians don't get offended over trivial matters, and that biblical forgiveness isn't just saying 'I'm sorry' but genuinely asking 'Will you forgive me?' This framework transforms our homes, workplaces, and church communities from battlegrounds into places where Christ's love binds us together in perfect harmony.

This episode explores how real transformation comes from renewing your mind, not willpower. Casey and Caleb unpack identity and the subconscious “presets” formed by upbringing and belief, then get practical with guardrails, environments, and relationships that either trap you in old cycles or support long-term, Christlike growth and genuine freedom. The post 08 Taking Mountains | A Christian Faith Podcast | Biblical Steps To Renew Your Mind appeared first on Christian Faith.

Brother Mike Madsen traces the downfall of King Saul through 1 Samuel 20-26, contrasting his pride and jealousy with Jonathan's loyalty and Abigail' s Christlike intercessions, and the hard, personal work of forgiving and laying down a vengeful heart.FREE PDF DOWNLOADS OF followHIM QUOTE BOOKSNew Testament: https://tinyurl.com/PodcastNTBookOld Testament: https://tinyurl.com/PodcastOTBookBook of Mormon: https://tinyurl.com/PodcastBMBook WEEKLY NEWSLETTERhttps://tinyurl.com/followHIMnewsletter SOCIAL MEDIAInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/followHIMpodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/followhimpodcastTIMECODE0:00 - Part 2 - Brother Michael Madsen1:37 Alma 29 and the abundance vs scarcity mentality3:16 Saul consumed by “I” disease4:57 David at Nob5;42 David flees to Gath, then to caves6:33 Doeg the Edomite and the slaughter of 85 priests8:04 D&C 121–power, the priesthood, and unrighteous dominion9:01 “What makes you think you're not in a similar spot now?”10:39 Tending your own small kingdom13:19 Why do you want to be with the Savior?14:59 Two kings, three temptations, and one prevailed15:24 Looking for Christ in everything and 1 Sam. 2316:33 Abiathar, the ephod, David spares Saul20:52 Samuel dies and Nabal's request22:44 David's weakness and marching to take revenge23:57 Abigail intercedes26:52 Sister Yee: ‘Abigail as type of Jesus Christ”28:53 Nabal's death29:13 Sister Yee's “Beauty for Ashes”32:28 Was David traumatized and receiving counsel35:52 The boy caught in the cog37:22 “Take all you'd like,” and the heart that changed in a cornfield38:11 President Oaks held at gunpoint43:00 President Nelson: “He is coming, get the youth ready”46:53 End of Part 2 - Brother Mike MadsenThanks to the followHIM team:Steve & Shannon Sorensen: Cofounder, Executive Producer, SponsorDavid & Verla Sorensen: SponsorsDr. Hank Smith: Co-hostJohn Bytheway: Co-hostDavid Perry: ProducerKyle Nelson: Marketing, SponsorLisa Spice: Client Relations, Editor, Show NotesWill Stoughton: Video EditorKrystal Roberts: Translation Team, English & French Transcripts, WebsiteAriel Cuadra: Spanish TranscriptsAmelia Kabwika: Portuguese TranscriptsHeather Barlow: Communications DirectorSydney Smith: Social Media, Graphic Design "Let Zion in Her Beauty Rise" by Marshall McDonaldhttps://www.marshallmcdonaldmusic.com

AI tools can perform incredible feats of computation. They can also displace human relationships, outsource learning, distort reality, and pretend to have wisdom. Christian families have a responsibility not to conform to the patterns of this world (Rom 12:2) but to test everything, hold on to what is good, and reject what is evil (1 Thes. 5:21). In this episode, Kelly provides a four-pillar biblical framework for evaluating AI tools and whether they are appropriate or beneficial for children. The four pillars are (1) Imago Dei, (2) Attributes of God, (3) Truth, and (4) Formation. Each pillar offers a preventative or protective measure and a practical application question parents can use to disciple children in the age of AI. Articles referenced: Here’s why graduates are booing commencement graduation speakers this year There is Already a Word for the Deep Moral Failures of AI Scripture referenced: Psalm 8:4-5 Isaiah 40:25-28 Proverbs 9:10 James 1:2-4 Romans 5:3-4 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 Resources referenced: Foundation Worldview Webinar: AI, ChatGPT, and Your Kids: A Biblical Framework for New Technology Foundation Worldview Attributes of God Curriculum Upcoming Events: Great Homeschool Convention – Round Rock, Texas July 9-11 Kelly & Ryan will both be leading workshops and Brave Parenting will have an exhibitor booth JUST RELEASED: The Managing Media Creating Character STUDENT Study Guide! An 8-week biblical study examining how character is impacted by media and technology. The study can be done individually, in a small group, or even as homeschool curriculum! Great for middle school, high school, and young college students to develop Christlike character, which can then guide their use of media and technology. Get your copy of the STUDENT Study Guide today! Need a kids-safe phone? Pinwheel is our favorite! Book a Speaking Event!! Buy the UPDATED book: Managing Media Creating Character (2024 Revised & Updated). Also available on Audible. Get Kelly’s new Study Guide & Workbook, with video teachings for small groups. Check out our brand new Brave Parenting Merch Sign up for the Brave Bullet Points newsletter! This helps us communicate what’s happening without social media – a win for everyone!  

Dr. Lenny Luchetti serves God as a local church pastor, preaching professor at two seminaries, guest speaker, author, preaching coach, and church consultant. Lenny is a popular speaker at camps, colleges, conferences, and churches. He has written four books and numerous articles to serve the church. His passion is to make Jesus famous and empower people to live the God-saturated life.

Send us a message!We walk through Stephen's trial in Acts 7 and listen as he traces God's faithfulness from Abraham to Moses to the temple. We sit with Stephen's death, the appearance of Saul, and Jesus' promise that the Holy Spirit gives us words when fear hits. • Stephen accused with false witnesses and yet marked by the Spirit's calm • A fast, coherent overview of the Old Testament storyline through Abraham, Joseph, and Moses • Israel's repeated pattern of resisting God's messengers and drifting into idolatry • God's presence not contained by buildings, with the temple put in its proper place • Stephen's bold confrontation of the council and the cost of telling the truth • Stephen's vision of Jesus and his Christlike words of forgiveness at death • Luke 12:11–12 as comfort for believers who fear saying the wrong thing • Preparing our hearts through prayer so the Spirit can speak through us  At outloudbible.com, you can find free resources to help you study the Bible. And while you're there, send us a message to say hi, or start a conversation about having us at your church or event. If Outloud Bible has been a valuable part of your understanding of the Bible, please consider supporting the ministry by visiting outloudbible.com.Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

Raising Expectations with Pastor Joe Schofield, Stefanie and Dr Craig Thayer, Dr Paul Hall, and Ron Greer Fatherhood, Identity, and the Healing Power of Godly Mentorship Guest Teri Werner, Author of Train Wreck to Triumph Friends, Join us for a heartfelt discussion with Teri Werner, 'Raising Expectations' family member, as she shares her expertise in helping people overcome trauma and life's challenges, offering a message of hope and transformation. Special insights on what a Father is and means to us all! Teri, a renowned coach, author, and speaker, will inspire and uplift us with her gift of encouragement, alongside her husband Dave, a special witness for Jesus Christ. Pastor Joe Schofield Opens Raising Expectations In this episode of Raising Expectations, host Pastor Joe Schofield welcomes listeners and introduces the program's faith-centered mission of raising expectations through Christ, family, freedom, finances, and encouragement. He notes that Stefanie Thayer and Dr. Craig Thayer are not present for this episode, while Dr. Paul Hall, Ron Greer, and Melba Schofield join the conversation. Pastor Joe also welcomes returning guest Teri Werner, describing her as part of the Raising Expectations family and highlighting her work as a transformative coach and author of Train Wreck to Triumph. Teri Werner Reflects on Father's Day and God's Loving Kindness Teri opens the main discussion by reflecting on the approaching Father's Day season and the spiritual importance of fatherhood. She shares how deeply her own father shaped her understanding of God's loving kindness, describing the biblical idea of loving kindness as covenant loyalty, mercy, forgiveness, grace, unconditional love, and steadfast affection. Teri explains that many women told her that getting to know her father helped them better understand the Heavenly Father, because he gave them a visible example of godly love, strength, and care. Fathers, Daughters, and the Formation of Identity A central theme of the episode is the powerful influence fathers have on daughters. Teri says daughters often see themselves, the world, and future relationships through the lens their fathers give them. If a father shows love, respect, attention, and honor, a daughter is more likely to expect those things from others. If he withholds them, she may become comfortable with neglect, disrespect, or emotional distance. Teri also discusses how girls who do not know their importance to their father by adolescence may later search for validation through overachievement, overproduction, or unhealthy relationships. Ron Greer on Fatherlessness and Social Breakdown Ron Greer responds by drawing on his years of ministry and research, including work with prison ministry and men's discipleship. He says the absence of a biological father in the home is strongly connected to many social problems, including incarceration, gang involvement, school dropout rates, suicide risk, sexual assault, and cycles of family breakdown. Ron emphasizes that the damage of fatherlessness can continue across generations, affecting children, grandchildren, marriages, and spiritual identity. He argues that nothing is more important than a biological or godly father figure who reflects the character of the Heavenly Father. The Struggle to Understand God as Father The group also discusses how painful father experiences can make it difficult for people to understand God as a loving Father. Ron explains that when he trained people for prison ministry, he warned them to be careful using phrases like “loving Father,” because many inmates had no positive concept of fatherhood. To them, “father” could mean abandonment, hurt, harsh discipline, or distrust. Teri adds that hopelessness can enter when a person cannot trust an earthly father and then struggles to trust God. The conversation frames healing as a process of separating God's true character from wounded earthly examples. Gender Identity, Masculinity, and the Family Dr. Paul Hall raises the question of gender identity and how it may connect to father absence, family confusion, and cultural instability. Ron responds that many identity struggles are tied to the lack of strong father figures and the destruction of biblical masculinity. He argues that Satan's attack on manhood, marriage, and family begins in Genesis and continues today. The discussion also touches on feminism, the cultural shifts of the 1970s, abortion, the Ahab and Jezebel spirits, and the ways both men and women can abandon or distort their God-given roles. Teri stresses that these issues are not simply about blaming one gender, but about recognizing spiritual patterns that damage families. Mentorship, Spiritual Fathers, and Restoring Young Men and Women The conversation then turns toward solutions. Ron describes resources from Man in the Mirror, including tools for spiritual fathers, mentoring, and discipleship, designed to help older men pour wisdom into younger men. He says men do not need to be trained theologians to mentor; they simply need life experience, scars, humility, and willingness to be transparent. Teri asks how similar mentoring could be created for women, suggesting that women also need trusted guides who can help them grow in identity, faith, and emotional health. The group agrees that mentoring must be built on trust, transparency, and real engagement rather than lectures or shallow church activity. Churches, Leadership, and the Need for Relevance The hosts and guest also discuss the need for churches and denominations to become more engaged with real-life struggles rather than relying on old formats, dark stages, loud worship, institutional meetings, or surface-level programming. Teri argues that leadership is a skill requiring intentional study, engagement, and the ability to connect with people where they are. Ron adds that many pastors themselves grew up in an era affected by fatherlessness and may not have been trained in biblical manhood or discipleship. The group says churches need to return to making disciples, not merely drawing people into buildings, and must provide meaningful guidance for young men and women searching for significance. Transparency, Brokenness, and the Cross Near the end, Dr. Paul Hall points to brokenness and the necessity of the cross, saying people must understand that they were bought with a price and fiercely loved by Christ. Teri adds that real connection comes through emotional intimacy, trust, and transparency. She says people are changed when leaders are willing to be honest, vulnerable, and Christlike, not when they simply perform or try to be popular. Pastor Joe closes by emphasizing that painful experiences can become sources of strength, peace, and purpose when brought under Christ's healing. He thanks Teri, Ron, Paul, and Melba, previews next week's guest Brad Stine, and encourages listeners to lift their expectations to the Lord and trust Him for a cure rather than a temporary bandage.

The Enhanced Games took place over Memorial Day weekend in Las Vegas, Nevada. The founders boasted they were making history and redefining what the human body is capable of. What was the evidence for this? Performance-enhancing drugs and bio-hacking in the name of becoming ‘superhuman.’ In this briefing, Kelly explains why stories like this matter and are valuable opportunities to talk to kids about what it means to be human. Kids are bombarded with messages to ‘enhance themselves’ with everything from skin care rituals to looksmaxxing. It is critical for parents to start this conversation. Articles referenced: Enhanced Games claim ‘we changed the world' but only one record broken and three clean athletes win Welcome to sport's ultimate taboo where athletes risk it all for millions in Las Vegas Scripture referenced: 1 Corinthians 6:19 Genesis 2:18 Psalm 139 2 Corinthians 12 Genesis 3:4 Romans 1:25   JUST RELEASED: The Managing Media Creating Character STUDENT Study Guide! An 8-week biblical study examining how character is impacted by media and technology. The study can be done individually, in a small group, or even as homeschool curriculum! Great for middle school, high school, and young college students to develop Christlike character, which can then guide their use of media and technology. Get your copy of the STUDENT Study Guide today! Need a kids-safe phone? Pinwheel is our favorite! Book a Speaking Event!! Buy the UPDATED book: Managing Media Creating Character (2024 Revised & Updated). Also available on Audible. Get Kelly’s new Study Guide & Workbook, with video teachings for small groups. Check out our brand new Brave Parenting Merch Sign up for the Brave Bullet Points newsletter! This helps us communicate what’s happening without social media – a win for everyone!

Is 1 Timothy 3 a list of "manly" traits, or a calling for the entire Body of Christ?

How can the global church speak about sexuality with both biblical conviction and the compassion of Christ? Summary In this episode of the Lausanne Movement Podcast, Jason Watson speaks with Vaughan Roberts about why sexuality has become one of the most pressing mission conversations facing the global church. Drawing on Scripture, pastoral experience, and his own personal story, Vaughan helps listeners reflect on identity in Christ, the goodness of God's design, the false promises of the sexual revolution, and the need for churches to speak with both grace and truth. Guest Bio Vaughan Roberts is Rector of St Ebbe's Church in Oxford and President of The Proclamation Trust. He is a pastor, speaker, and author of Full of Grace and Truth: The Gospel and Sexuality in the Global Church, a short book based on his Lausanne presentation that offers a biblical and pastoral vision for engaging questions of sexuality with compassion and faithfulness. Main Points Sexuality is now relevant in the global mission conversation. Vaughan explains how the sexual revolution has become a major barrier for many people engaging with Christianity, and how the internet is discipling younger generations around the world. Identity in Christ is deeper than sexual desire. Vaughan shares from his own story, distinguishing between same-sex attraction as part of his reality and Christ as his true identity. The Bible begins with a positive vision of sexuality. Vaughan frames biblical sexuality around four truths: God is for sex, sex is for marriage, marriage is for life, and life is for Christ. Marriage points beyond itself to Christ and the church. Human marriage is not the ultimate answer to our deepest longings; it points to the greater union between Christ and his people. Shame and isolation make discipleship harder. Vaughan urges leaders to remember that when they speak about sexuality, they are speaking to real people in the room who need both truth and grace. The church must be full of grace and truth. Leaders must resist both compromise and condemnation, offering courageous biblical teaching alongside the open hands of Christ. Call to Action If this episode encouraged you, subscribe to the Lausanne Movement Podcast and share it with a pastor, ministry leader, parent, or young adult who is seeking to engage questions of sexuality with biblical conviction and Christlike compassion. We'd also love for you to join the conversation in the Lausanne Movement Podcast space on the Lausanne Action Hub, where you can share your thoughts and engage with our podcast community—and if this episode encouraged you, please consider leaving a rating or review so others can discover it too. Lausanne Movement Podcast Archive Redeeming Human Identity: Exploring the Intersection of Scripture, AI, Biotechnology, Gender and Human Sexuality with Dr Carmen Imes & Dr Matthew Niermann Restoring Biblical Sexuality — Lausanne Movement — Vaughan's Fourth Lausanne Congress presentation on sexuality through the lens of creation, fall, and redemption. Links & Resources Full of Grace and Truth: The Gospel and Sexuality in the Global Church — Vaughan Roberts' short book on the gospel and sexuality in the global church. Living Out — Resources for Christians, churches, and leaders seeking to think biblically and pastorally about sexuality, identity, singleness, marriage, and same-sex attraction. Restoring Biblical Sexuality – Worldwide | Living Out — A Living Out post sharing Vaughan's Lausanne talk as a model for speaking biblically and graciously about sexuality. St Ebbe's Church, Oxford — The church where Vaughan serves as Rector. Genesis 2:24, Ephesians 5, Revelation 21 — Key passages Vaughan references in his biblical overview of sex, marriage, Christ, and the church.

What happens when following Jesus puts a target on your back?In this sermon from Pastor Matt Shackelford, we continue our Growing Pains series through Acts and examine the life of Stephen, one of the most courageous believers in the New Testament. As pressure, opposition, and persecution close in around him, Stephen responds with remarkable faith, wisdom, and peace.Whether you're facing challenges at work, in your family, or in your faith, Stephen's example shows us how to remain Christlike when life gets difficult. Discover what it means to be filled with the Spirit, faithful under pressure, and fearless in the face of opposition.

Jesus washes His disciples' feet, revealing that true greatness is found in humble service. Discover how grace transforms pride into Christlike love.

In Romans 5:1–5 we learn that justification is God's gracious act of declaring sinners forgiven and righteous through faith in Jesus Christ alone, not by works or obedience to the law. This foundational truth must be rehearsed often because it shapes daily Christian living, giving believers peace with God, continual standing in God's favor, and joyful hope in the glory to come. The sermon also highlights that justification changes how Christians view suffering: trials are not meaningless, but are used by God to produce endurance, Christlike character, and deeper hope through the work of the Holy Spirit. Ultimately, because Christ died for sinners and reconciled them to God, believers have every reason to live with confidence, joy, and hope rather than despair.

This sermon teaches that becoming a Christlike disciple requires more than desire—it requires the power of the Holy Spirit working within us. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to dwell in believers, purify their hearts, empower them to overcome sin, and give them boldness to witness for Christ. Through the Spirit's presence, we receive both the desire and the power to live holy, victorious lives that reflect Jesus.The Gathering Church is located in Midland, Texas.You can watch our live worship experience online at mygathering.liveVisit our website at https://www.mygathering.churchConnect with us on Social Mediahttps://facebook.com/mgatheringhttps://Instagram.com/mygatheringhttps://Twitter.com/mygatheringGOD | COMMUNITY | PURPOSE

Send us Fan Mail  In today's episode, we begin a study of the Sermon on the Mount. This Sermon is for all believers, including the Beatitudes which are spiritual traits that can only be produced by God. We discuss humility, mourning over sin, meekness, mercy, righteousness, purity, peacemaking, and enduring persecution. Jesus called believers salt and light, and we are meant to influence the world through Christlike character. The sermon details what true Christian living should look like, and  it also contrasts believers with the world. We invite you to come study God's Word with us today!

When it comes to a kid having their own smartphone, trust is a much more complex issue than Peter Gray alludes to. Allowing a smartphone requires a parent to trust the child, their own parenting, Big Tech, the attention economy, and the whole of sinful mankind with access to the internet. In today’s episode – Part 10 of 10 – Kelly counters the benefit of “being trusted” as a benefit to smartphone ownership. In reality, trust can be given and earned in many ways that do not involve persuasive and personalized design features. Scripture gives so much wisdom on how and who we are to trust. Articles referenced: Helping Kids (and Ourselves) Use Smartphones Safely On Being a Trustful, Autonomy-Supportive Parent How Much Work Are You Doing for Your Kids’ Happiness? (Dopamine Kids Book Review) Books referenced: Dopamine Kids: A Science-Based Plan to Rewire Your Child’s Brain Extremely Online Scripture referenced: Romans 11:35 Proverbs 27:12 Proverbs 1:16 Jeremiah 17:7-8 Proverbs 3:5 Matthew 6:25-27 Psalm 20:6-7 Ephesians 6:4 Proverbs 22:15 Ephesians 6:1 John 17:14-18 Romans 12:2   JUST RELEASED: The Managing Media Creating Character STUDENT Study Guide! An 8-week biblical study examining how character is impacted by media and technology. The study can be done individually, in a small group, or even as homeschool curriculum! Great for middle school, high school, and young college students to develop Christlike character, which can then guide their use of media and technology. Get your copy of the STUDENT Study Guide today! Need a kids-safe phone? Pinwheel is our favorite! Book a Speaking Event!! Buy the NEWLY UPDATED book: Managing Media Creating Character (2024 Revised & Updated) Get Kelly’s new Study Guide & Workbook, with video teachings for small groups. Check out our brand new Brave Parenting Merch Sign up for the Brave Bullet Points newsletter! This helps us communicate what’s happening without social media – a win for everyone!  

After surviving the whirlwind known as Maycember—the month packed with award ceremonies, recitals, tournaments, graduations, field days, banquets, and enough calendar notifications to make your head spin—summer has finally arrived. The pace is slowing, the schedules are opening up, and families have a unique opportunity to be intentional with the time ahead.In this episode of the Empowered Homes Podcast, Bobby and Meghan talk about how to move from the chaos of May into a summer filled with purpose, connection, and spiritual growth. Instead of simply filling the calendar with activities, what if your family used this season to grow deeper in faith together?They introduce Camping Out in Colossians, a six-week family discipleship journey designed to help families gather around God's Word through simple daily readings, meaningful conversations, prayer, journaling, and fun hands-on activities. Together, you'll discover what it means to put Jesus first, grow deep roots in Christ, develop Christlike character, serve others, and build faith habits that last long after summer ends.Whether you're traveling, staying home, or somewhere in between, this episode will help you take advantage of one of the best opportunities of the year to strengthen your family's faith and relationships.Download the free Camping Out in Colossians Summer Guide and start your family's summer adventure today. Click Here.CSB Bible Study Journal Bibles About Empowered Homes Empowered Homes exists to help families win at home by equipping parents, grandparents, and ministry leaders to live out gospel truths in the everyday rhythms of life. Through free, gospel-centered, and practical resources, along with in-person training, coaching, and equipping experiences, Empowered Homes helps families disciple the next generation with confidence and hope. Explore free resources, training opportunities, and more at empoweredhomes.org. Empowered Homes Podcast Show us some Love! Do you appreciate The Empowered Homes Podcast? Like, subscribe, comment, share. Every bit of your engagement helps us be open-handed in sharing resources to grow strong families, leaders and ministries. Thanks for your help in Empowering Homes for the gospel! FB : https://www.facebook.com/EmpoweredHomesResources Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empoweredhomesresources/ Youtube: www.youtube.com/@empoweredhomes9809Questions? Ideas for the Podcast? Contact us at podcast@empoweredhomes.org. Bobby@empoweredhomes.org Meghan@empoweredhomes.orgFind Free Resources empoweredhomes.org

Southeast Baptist Podcast features the preaching and teaching of Pastor John Ray, the senior pastor of Southeast Baptist Tabernacle in Indianapolis, IN. His preaching is biblical, conversational, and encouraging as you pursue a Christlike walk.

Southeast Baptist Podcast features the preaching and teaching of Pastor John Ray, the senior pastor of Southeast Baptist Tabernacle in Indianapolis, IN. His preaching is biblical, conversational, and encouraging as you pursue a Christlike walk.

When things don't go the way you've planned, it is so good to have someone filled with Christlike love and redemption.  Meet Boaz!

This Devotional address with Elder Mark A. Bragg was delivered on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at 11:30 AM MST in the BYU-Idaho I-Center. Elder Mark A. Bragg was sustained as a General Authority Seventy on April 2, 2016. At the time of his call, he was serving as an Area Seventy in the North America West Area. He has served in the South America South Area Presidency and as President of the North America West Area. He currently serves as Executive Director of the Family History Department and Chairman of FamilySearch International. Elder Bragg additionally has served as a full-time missionary in the México Monterrey Mission, ward mission leader, high councilor, bishop, stake president, and Area Seventy. Elder Bragg majored in marketing and Spanish at the University of Utah and began his career as vice president of Great Western Bank in Los Angeles. Most recently, he worked as a senior vice president at Bank of America. Mark Allyn Bragg was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. He married Yvonne King in 1984 in the Los Angeles Temple. They are the parents of four children and five grandchildren. Elder Bragg enjoys all sports, particularly basketball and pickleball.

When Conflict Feels Unsafe: How to Stay Open-Hearted Without Abandoning Yourself Have you ever known the “right” way to communicate, but in the heat of conflict, those tools seem to disappear? In this episode of Relationship Truth: Unfiltered, Leslie sits down with psychologist, speaker, and author Dr. Kelly Flanagan to talk about what really happens inside of us when we get triggered—and how one small, sacred moment of choice can shift us from reactivity toward connection. Together, Leslie and Kelly explore why communication often breaks down within us before it breaks down between us, how to recognize when our hearts are closing, and why open-heartedness never means becoming a doormat. This conversation is especially meaningful for women navigating destructive, painful, or confusing relationships who want to grow in wisdom, courage, and Christlike strength without abandoning themselves.   Key Takeaways Communication Breaks Down Inside Us First Dr. Flanagan explains that many people already have communication skills, but when they feel threatened, hurt, or misunderstood, they “close the toolbox” right when they need it most. The real work is not just learning better words—it is learning to notice what is happening inside our bodies, hearts, and nervous systems when we become triggered. That moment of awareness creates a pause. And in that pause, we begin to recover our God-given agency to choose a different response. You Can Notice When Your Heart Starts to Close Kelly describes a triggered moment as a process: the nervous system activates, the heart begins to shift into protection mode, and then we make a quick, often unconscious choice about whether to close down or stay open. Leslie connects this with the biblical wisdom of Proverbs: “Above all else, guard your heart.” Guarding your heart does not mean hardening it. It means learning when to pause, when to regulate, and when to make wise choices about what you allow in and what you release. Open-Heartedness Does Not Mean Weak Boundaries One of the most powerful parts of this conversation is the distinction between an open heart and a lack of boundaries. Dr. Flanagan reminds listeners that the condition of your heart is an inner posture, while boundaries are outer actions. An open heart does not make your boundaries weaker—it makes them wiser. For women in destructive or emotionally unsafe relationships, this is crucial. Christlike love does not require self-abandonment, enabling, or pretending harm is not happening. Calm Yourself Before You Try to Connect Conflict escalates when we try to calm ourselves by controlling someone else's behavior. Kelly uses the illustration of a furnace: when the “control board” inside us is malfunctioning, we often try to change the weather outside instead of tending to what is happening inside. Before we can connect well, we must first regulate. That may mean taking a break, breathing, praying, going to another room, or simply saying, “I'm triggered right now, and I need a little time before I can respond well.” Your Growth Is Never Wasted Leslie and Kelly offer hope for the woman who has tried everything to get her husband to communicate better, become safer, or look at himself honestly. While you cannot control another person's choices, you can still do your own work. Even if the relationship does not heal the way you hoped, God does not waste your growth. As you become more whole, wise, and grounded, you are better equipped to make faithful, courageous decisions about what comes next. Dr. Kelly Flanagan is offering listeners a free video tutorial that walks through the nine-step process from his book, The Road Less Triggered, helping you begin moving from reactivity toward connection. To receive the resource, email: drkellybonus@gmail.com You will also be temporarily subscribed to his online community, The Less Triggered Tribe, with the option to unsubscribe at any time.   Friend, being triggered does not mean you are failing. It means something inside of you is asking for care, attention, and wisdom. You do not have to stay stuck in reactivity, fear, silence, or blame. With God's help, you can learn to pause, regulate, speak truth, set wise boundaries, and grow into a more whole version of yourself. You are not alone, and even in painful relationships, your healing and growth still matter.