Podcasts about reading scripture

How can preachers help people hear Scripture rather than merely collect information about it?In this conversation, Mike speaks with New Testament scholar David B. Capes about conversational preaching, the public reading of Scripture, recovering the Old Testament and its language of lament, and recognising the scriptural world that shaped the New Testament writers.David also explains how Matthew Through Old Testament Eyes helps readers notice Matthew's use of Israel's Scriptures. Along the way, he reflects on Christ-centred preaching, faithful listening, friendship across religious differences, and the work of the Lanier Theological Library.IN THIS EPISODEDavid's first sermon at twelve years old and his early sense of callingWhy effective preaching should sound like a meaningful conversationThe difference between saying something and helping people learn itRecovering the public reading of Scripture in the churchWhy Christians need the Old Testament's language of lamentHow the New Testament writers read and reused Israel's ScripturesReading Matthew with greater sensitivity to its first-century Jewish settingChrist-centred preaching without forcing Jesus artificially into every isolated verseLearning to listen carefully to people with whom we disagreeThe libraries, lectures, podcasts and study opportunities offered by the Lanier Theological LibraryRESOURCES MENTIONEDMatthew Through Old Testament Eyes by David B. Capes (Kregel Academic)https://www.kregel.com/bible-commentaries/matthew-through-old-testament-eyes/Devote Yourself to the Public Reading of Scripture by Jeffrey D. Arthurs (Kregel Academic)https://www.kregel.com/jeffrey-d-arthurs/devote-yourself-to-the-public-reading-of-scripture/Paul's Use of the Old Testament by E. Earle Ellis (Wipf and Stock)https://wipfandstock.com/9781592441945/pauls-use-of-the-old-testament/TED Talks: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking by Chris Anderson(This is the public-speaking book Mike recalled, although its title was not stated during the interview.)https://www.ted.com/read/ted-talks-the-official-ted-guide-to-public-speaking/OTHER BOOKS BY DAVID B. CAPESThe Divine Christ: Paul, the Lord Jesus, and the Scriptures of Israel (Baker Academic)https://bakerpublishinggroup.com/products/9780801097867_the-divine-christOld Testament Yahweh Texts in Paul's Christology (Baylor University Press)https://www.baylorpress.com/9781481307918/old-testament-yahweh-texts-in-pauls-christology/Rediscovering Paul: An Introduction to His World, Letters and Theology, second edition (IVP Academic)https://ivpress.com/rediscovering-paulSlow to Judge: Sometimes It's OK to Listen (Thomas Nelson)https://www.thomasnelson.com/author/4083/david-capes/ADDITIONAL WORKS REFERENCEDBooks by Rabbi Stuart FederowFederow's writing was discussed, but no individual title was named during the interview.https://hebrewjumpstart.com/booksLISTEN AND EXPLORELanier Theological Library and Learning Center — Houston, USAhttps://lanierlibraryandlearningcenter.org/Lanier Theological Library — Yarnton Manor, Oxford, UKhttps://yarntonmanor.org/theological-library/Lanier sabbatical opportunities in Houstonhttps://lanierlibraryandlearningcenter.org/sabbaticals-2/Research and writing visits at Yarnton Manorhttps://yarntonmanor.org/apply-to-visit/research-writing/The Stone Chapel Podcasthttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-stone-chapel-podcast/id1537425950Exegetically Speaking — Wheaton Collegehttps://www.wheaton.edu/listen/exegetically-speaking-podcastA Show of Faithhttps://ashowoffaith.org/David B. Capes's websitehttps://davidbcapes.com/Calvary Chapel Cooperativehttps://calvarychapelcooperative.com/CONNECT WITH DAVIDEmail: david.capes@lanierlibrary.orgFor information about our upcoming training events visit ExpositorsCollective.com Join our private Facebook group to continue the conversation: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ExpositorsCollective

“Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.” (Psalm 1:1–3 NLT) Many years ago, a young man named Billy Sunday placed his faith in Jesus Christ. An older believer then gave Billy some advice that he never forgot. The man said, “Billy, there are three simple rules I wish you would practice in life as a Christian. If you do, no one will ever write the word backslider after your name. Billy, take fifteen minutes each day to let God talk to you. Take fifteen minutes a day to talk to Him. And then spend fifteen minutes a day telling others about the Savior.” Billy Sunday followed this advice and became one of the most powerful evangelists in the history of the church. Billy Sunday recognized the value of moving forward. That’s the central message of Psalm 1: Move forward. “Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do” (verses 1–3 NLT). You’ll notice that the people described in these first few verses aren’t passive or stationary. They understand that making a difference for the Lord involves more than not doing bad things. It also involves moving forward in the right things. That’s why “they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night” (verse 2 NLT). They don’t simply “do their duty” when it comes to God’s Word. They don’t opt for the “hunt and peck” method of reading a little here and a little there with no genuine concern for context. They don’t return to it sporadically and then wonder why it’s not having much of an impact on them. Instead, they delight in Scripture. They meditate on it. They find joy, meaning, purpose, and direction in it. They recognize its wisdom and actively look for ways to apply it to their lives. They ask key questions about the passages they read, questions such as “Is there any sin here for me to avoid?” “Is there any promise for me to claim?” “Is there any victory to gain?” “Is there any blessing to enjoy?” Reading Scripture in this way creates a real sense of anticipation. Instead of treating Bible study like a classroom assignment, we approach it like the treasure hunt that it is. We embrace the awe-inspiring reality that we have access to the words of God Himself—and that those words have the power to change our lives. Reflection question: What would delighting in and meditating on God’s Word look like in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Host Andrew Camp welcomes back psychologist and author Richard Beck to discuss Beck's recent book on reading the Bible through a hermeneutic of love amid conservative and progressive polarization. Beck describes his journey from a Churches of Christ fundamentalist background through deconstruction and reconstruction, arguing both left and right need better strategies that resist confirmation bias. He frames love as a tension between particular obligations (family, place, patriotism) and universal duties (hospitality to strangers), noting social media intensifies a “digital universal” that can distract from local needs. Beck draws on attachment theory, contending “you can't read the Bible scared” and that secure attachment requires confidence that God is unconditionally for us and distinct from harm done by church or family. He emphasizes moral self-criticism via the prophets, defines love Christologically as sacrificial, transgressive kindness, and grounds hope in God and eschatology, ending with a prison story of an inmate praying for his victim as a model of bringing moral blind spots into view.Richard Beck is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Abilene Christian University and is the Senior Fellow of the Saunders Center for Joy and Human Flourishing. Richard also teaches in the Doctor of Ministry programs at Fuller Theological Seminary and Abilene Christian University. He is the author of a number of books, most recently The Book of Love, and The Shape of Joy. Richard serves as a prison chaplain at the maximum-security French Robertson unit and has written and spoken extensively about his experiences working among the incarcerated.Follow Richard Beck on Substack: @richardbeckListen to my previous conversation with Richard Beck on The Biggest TableFollow Andrew CampFacebook: andrew.camp.9Instagram: @andrewcamp80Substack: @thebiggesttableThis episode of the Biggest Table is brought to you in part by Wild Goose Coffee. Since 2008, Wild Goose has sought to build better communities through coffee. For our listeners, Wild Goose is offering a special promotion of 20% off a one time order using the code TABLE at checkout. To learn more and to order coffee, please visit wildgoosecoffee.com.  (00:00) - Reading Scripture as Love (06:45) - Particular vs Universal Love (13:35) - Secure Attachment and Grace (33:13) - Loving the Awkward Enemy (36:28) - Charitable Listening Across Politics (48:05) - Hope and the Narrow Way

Discipline of Reading Scripture - the role of the Holy Spirit

“God, what should I do?” That's the question most of us ask–maybe you’re asking it right now.. Put another way, “what is your will, God?” These aren’t bad questions–they’re good. But they can also be incomplete. Kind of like missing the forest because of the trees. Sometimes the better question is not, “God what should I do?” but “God what are you doing?” In this episode, I want to encourage you to see your circumstances (yes, the ones you are in right now) from a different perspective. Instead of only asking God what decision you should make, what if you also asked what He's doing in you? We'll talk about how God uses trials, relationships, and His Word to shape us into the image of Christ. My prayer is that you'll walk away with renewed hope, greater confidence in God's plan, and the peace that comes from knowing He's faithfully finishing the work He started in you. And, if you’re thinking, That’s great, but I still need to know God’s will. Today’s episode is the beginning point to that dilemma and next week my guest will answer the question, “How can I discern God’s will?” You won’t want to miss it! And remember, I'd love to connect more on Instagram, where you'll find me at @donnaajones. And don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss a single episode! Xo, Donna Key Takeaways: 0:00:12 - Rethinking God’s Will: Transformation Over Direction 0:02:40 - Life as a Dress Fitting: Conformed to Christ’s Image 0:09:09 - Trials as Refining Tools: Let Mind Lead, Not Emotions 0:13:29 - People and Scripture as Catalysts for Maturity 0:17:49 - From All Things to Radiant Bride: God Finishes What He Starts What We Talk About Why we often ask the wrong question about God's will God's greater purpose of transforming us into Christ's image Philippians 1:6 and God's promise to finish what He starts How wedding dress alterations illustrate spiritual growth Why God uses trials to mature our faith Learning to lead with truth instead of emotions The importance of spiritually healthy relationships Reading Scripture to know both God's character and His heart Seeing difficult circumstances through God's eternal perspective Instead of Asking... Rather than only asking: "God, what should I do?" Also ask: "God, what are You doing in me?" God shapes us through three primary tools: Trials – Building endurance and revealing areas for growth. People – Using authentic relationships to encourage and sharpen us. His Word – Revealing who God is and teaching us how to live. When reading Scripture, ask two simple questions: Who are You, Lord? In light of who You are, how do You want me to live? Donna’s Resources: Order a copy of my latest book - Healthy Conflict, Peaceful Life: A Biblical Guide to Communicating Thoughts, Feelings, and Opinions with Grace, Truth, and Zero Regret. It is available anywhere books are sold– here is the link on Amazon. If you need a helpful resource for someone exploring faith and Christianity or simply want to strengthen your own knowledge, you’ll want a copy of my book, Seek: A Woman’s Guide to Meeting God. It’s a must for seekers, new believers, and those who want to deepen their faith. Let’s Connect: Instagram: @donnaajones Website: www.donnajones.org Donna’s speaking schedule: https://donnajones.org/events/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Discipline of Reading Scripture - a discussion

What happens when the dream you've chased your entire life suddenly disappears?David Pollack knows.From becoming a three-time All-American at Georgia to playing in the NFL, working on ESPN's College GameDay, suffering a career-ending neck injury, losing his broadcasting job, and walking alongside his wife during her battle with brain cancer, David has learned that our identity cannot rest in what we do—it must rest in who God says we are.In this honest conversation, David shares what resilience really looks like, why broken seasons often become God's greatest classrooms, how daily disciplines shape lasting character, and why legacy isn't what you leave behind—it's what you leave in others.If you've ever struggled with disappointment, unexpected change, fear, or wondering what's next, this conversation will encourage you to trust that God is still writing your story.

Discipline of Reading Scripture

In this special Fourth of July episode of the Journey of Hope Podcast, host Elio Constantine sits down with Heart for Lebanon Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board, Tom Atema, for a thoughtful conversation about the meaning of freedom and the responsibility that comes with it as followers of Jesus Christ.As Americans celebrate Independence Day and 250 years of the nation's history, Tom reflects on the biblical foundations of freedom, emphasizing that true liberty is found not in doing whatever we desire, but in living as God intended. Drawing from Scripture and personal experience, he shares how freedom begins with recognizing that every person is created in the image of God and called to live in relationship with Him.Throughout the conversation, Elio and Tom compare the realities of religious freedom in the United States and Lebanon, exploring how believers in different parts of the world experience the privilege—and sometimes the cost—of following Christ. They discuss the challenges faced by Christians who come to faith in difficult environments and the importance of protecting the freedoms that allow the Gospel to flourish.Listeners will also hear a biblical perspective on freedom through passages such as John 8:36 and Romans 8, reminding us that Christ alone sets us free from the bondage of sin and death. The episode encourages believers to cultivate daily disciplines of prayer and Scripture, live with humility and respect toward others, and shine as lights in a world that desperately needs the hope of Christ.The conversation concludes with a call for Christians to steward their freedoms faithfully, engage in respectful dialogue, and remain rooted in God's Word as they navigate an increasingly complex culture.Show NotesWhat Does Freedom Mean?· Every person is created equally in the image of God· Freedom is both a gift and a responsibility· True freedom is found in following Christ· Liberty does not mean living without boundaries or accountability· Gratitude for the freedoms we enjoy as believersFreedom in America and Lebanon· Religious freedom in different cultural contexts· The realities of persecution and social pressure· The importance of protecting the right to worship openly· Understanding freedom from both individual and communal perspectives· Supporting believers who faithfully follow Christ in difficult circumstancesThe Biblical Foundation of Freedom· John 8:36: "If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed"· Romans 8 and freedom from the law of sin and death· Freedom begins with surrender to Jesus Christ· Christ removes the burden and shame of our sin· Living in dependence on God's grace rather than our own effortsThe Responsibility of Christians in a Free Society· Spending daily time in God's Word· Seeking God's wisdom before engaging with the world· Respecting those with whom we disagree· Living as ambassadors of Christ with humility and love· Protecting freedom through faithfulness and biblical convictionBeing a Light in a Dark World· Reflecting Christ's love in everyday life· Remaining steadfast as culture changes around us· Sharing the Gospel within our spheres of influence· Trusting God's mercy, which is new every morning· Celebrating both earthly blessings and eternal hopeEncouragement for Believers· Freedom in Christ removes the chains of sin and shame· God calls His people to live with both courage and compassion· Reading Scripture is a privilege that many believers around the world do not enjoy· The Christian life is marked by surrender, trust, and joyful obedience· Our ultimate freedom is secured through Jesus Christ aloneKey TakeawayTrue freedom is not the absence of limits, but the presence of Christ. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus sets us free from sin and calls us to live with purpose, humility, and love. As we celebrate earthly freedoms, may we never forget that our greatest liberty is found in Him alone.Connect & Pray With Us

Welcome back to another episode of the unSeminary podcast. Today we're joined by Eric Holmstrom, Lead Pastor of Purpose Church in Pomona, California. Founded more than 150 years ago, Purpose Church has a rich legacy of ministry and is currently experiencing significant growth following a healthy leadership transition. In this conversation, Eric shares lessons from succeeding a beloved long-tenured pastor, building on an existing culture, and leading a historic church into a new season of impact. Are you preparing for a succession transition—or wondering how to lead after a highly respected predecessor? Eric offers practical wisdom on navigating change with humility, honoring the past, and creating momentum for the future. Following a beloved predecessor. // Succeeding a pastor who led for 31 years can feel intimidating, and Eric is refreshingly honest about the insecurities he faced. During the transition process, he wrestled with feelings of inadequacy and wondered whether he was the right person for the role. Yet he found confidence not in his abilities, but in God's calling. A defining moment came on the morning of the congregational vote when he reflected on Isaiah 41:13: “I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you.” That promise became an anchor throughout the transition. The gift of a healthy handoff. // Eric credits much of the success of the transition to the generosity and wisdom of former lead pastor Glenn Gunderson. During the public handoff, Glenn introduced Eric to the congregation as “your new lead pastor” and then added, “and my new lead pastor.” That simple statement communicated trust, unity, and support. Glenn also intentionally stepped back for several months to allow Eric to build relationships with the congregation before gradually returning to participate in ministry. The result was a transition marked by health rather than division. Focus on what only you can do. // One of Eric's biggest adjustments was determining how to spend his time as lead pastor. He quickly realized he could be involved in almost anything, but shouldn't be. Instead, he narrowed his focus to vision, spiritual direction, staff development, and culture. While pastoral care remains important, he sees his primary role through the lens of Ephesians 4: equipping leaders who then shepherd and disciple others throughout the church. You are not the exception—you are the example. // One of the most significant initiatives Eric introduced was an employee spiritual commitment for church staff. He noticed a tendency among ministry leaders to unintentionally exempt themselves from practices they encourage others to embrace. Reading Scripture, serving, giving, participating in groups, and pursuing spiritual growth are not just expectations for church members—they are expectations for staff as well. After months of discussion, clarification, and prayer, the entire staff committed to a shared set of spiritual standards designed to strengthen culture and integrity across the organization. Building an intentional invite culture. // Purpose Church has also seen momentum through strategic “Sunday Funday” invite events. Rather than creating dramatically different experiences, these Sundays closely resemble a normal weekend service while adding elements that make inviting easier. Eric intentionally tells the congregation exactly what will be taught and who the message is designed for, helping members identify specific people to invite. This approach has contributed to increased attendance, more baptisms, and a growing number of people taking first steps toward faith. Shepherd people where they are. // Looking back, one of Eric's biggest lessons is the importance of meeting people where they are emotionally during a transition. Some church members were grieving the departure of a beloved pastor, while others were brand new and excited about the future. Rather than forcing everyone into the same experience, Eric sought to pastor each person according to their unique journey. This posture of empathy helped create trust during a potentially difficult season. To learn more about Purpose Church, visit purposechurch.com or follow their ministry online for resources, messages, and updates. 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. So glad you’ve decided to tune in and you’re going to be rewarded for that today. We’re having a conversation that I know there’s a whole bunch of leaders that are on the front end of this decision. And today you’re going to get a chance to kind of peek up over the horizon and see potentially where your church is going to be in a few years. You’re going to want to stick around for this entire conversation. We’ve got Eric Holmstrom with us. He is the lead pastor of Purpose Church, which is in Pomona, California. Rich Birch — It originally started as Spadra, if I’m pronouncing correct, Baptist Church 150 years ago. It’s one of the fastest growing churches in the country. It’s diverse, multi-generational of every age and stage. And Eric has been the lead pastor since 2024. Welcome to the podcast. So glad you’re here.Eric Holmstrom — Well, thank you so much, Rich, for having me. I am a huge fan of you and what you’re doing. I love how you’re supporting and helping church leaders and ministry leaders. So thanks for letting me join you today.Rich Birch — Oh, come on. That’s super kind. Glad you’re here and really looking forward to learning from you today. Why don’t you kind of give us a bit of your story and tell us a little bit about Purpose and kind of set the context for us.Eric Holmstrom — Yeah, well, Rich, that’s really cool too that you knew the name of our original church. It was Spadra Baptist, I think, was back in the day.Rich Birch — Spadra.Eric Holmstrom — And it’s actually, our church is 156 years old. So our church was started three years before the city of Pomona even became a city. And so a group of people came into this area and felt God calling them to plant a church here. And for 156 years, we’ve been in different parts of the city, but always here in Pomona, feeling called by God here. And so I am lead pastor number 19. Rich Birch — Wow.Eric Holmstrom — And so I’m just a blip on the radar here. And unless Jesus returns, Lord willing, there will be lead pastor 21, 20, or 20, 21, 22, 23. And they won’t even remember me. They won’t even know anything about me and God will continue to do a great work through this church. Eric Holmstrom — So I came here, my wife Sarah and I came here. We had one kid at the time, Charlie, and we came here 13 years ago. And you know felt like, this is a great, healthy church. The lead pastor, our our former lead pastor, Glenn Gunderson, just an amazing man of God. Him and his wife, Kimberly, and their family, they led here for 31 years as our lead pastor and just such a legacy leader.Eric Holmstrom — So when we got here, I started as the high school pastor and, I you know, wasn’t sure how long we’d be here. Loved the ministry, loved that ah there is a multi-generational, very diverse congregation here in terms of even diverse socioeconomically.Eric Holmstrom — So I love the opportunity to get to do youth ministry. That’s what I was passionate about and excited about and just wanted to faithfully follow God. I mean, that’s where my story of faith really began was going into my freshman year of high school. That’s when I got saved. That’s when I gave my life to Christ. I was at a camp, summer camp, went there looking for a girl and I found God. And my life was forever changed because of that, because of this camp and the local church that discipled me.Eric Holmstrom — And so got into youth ministry, came here, ah was a high school pastor for 10 years here, did a total of 18 years in youth ministry, and then began to sense that God was calling me and my family to step into this new season. And our lead pastor was encouraging of that. He really saw that in me. Eric Holmstrom — But then in our church polity, in our structure here, there had to be a church vote. And so I interviewed, got grilled by, search committee…Rich Birch — Yes.Eric Holmstrom — …had an amazing, you know experience, a challenging. And at the end of it, uh, you know, we went before the congregation and there was a vote and I got enough votes to become the next lead pastor. Rich Birch — Love it. Eric Holmstrom — And the baton was passed and it was such a healthy transition. Our, our former lead pastor, pastor Glenn, I’ll never forget on that that ah Sunday when he passed the baton to me, he said to our whole church, he said, this is Eric, your new lead pastor, and this is Eric, my new lead pastor.Rich Birch — Oh, wow. What a gift.Eric Holmstrom — And so he just got it. It was a powerful statement and very humbled. And and yeah, and then he him and his family kind of for six months ah gave a little space for me to bond with the congregation.Eric Holmstrom — And then their, you know, they’re back in the rotation now. We see them about once a month and then they’re with their grandkids and doing other things. But ah but he preaches here still. Pastor Glenn preaches here about three or four times a year still. Rich Birch — Love it. Eric Holmstrom — And so it’s been a beautiful, healthy transition.Rich Birch — That’s so cool. I love the fact that you’re, you know, you know, there’s 19 pastors been there over those 150 years. I love that context of you setting yourself in like, hey, ah you’re in one in a line.Rich Birch — A couple of years ago, I was in London, England, and was at a church and was talking to the vicar. And he was, we were just walking around their building… Eric Holmstrom — Wow. Rich Birch — …and he said, yeah, this wall over here is a thousand years old. Eric Holmstrom — Yeah. Rich Birch — And, and then he had similar, they have ah really literally written on the wall, all the pastors through the years.Eric Holmstrom — Yeah.Rich Birch — And he pointed at some guy and said, that guy is written in a play by Shakespeare. Like he’s literally a character in Shakespeare.Eric Holmstrom — No way.Rich Birch — Yeah. So I was like, man, that’s just a, you know, thinking about legacy this is a very different way to think about it.Eric Holmstrom — Oh, oh, oh.Rich Birch — Right. And I’ve been around forever. Well, let’s go back to those early…Eric Holmstrom — And Rich, I, I…Rich Birch — Oh, sorry. Go ahead. Yeah, go ahead.Eric Holmstrom — Oh, was just gonna I wish you could come and see our church because we have this like heritage wall of like, you know, our church, different seasons, doing different things, buildings, groups, whatever. And there’s a wall of all of us like lead pastors. And you should see that wall. These lead pastors are like the most distinguished, like, you know, FB then their last name, Reverend, Doctor. And they’ve got the suits and the glorious beards and they look amazing. And then there’s me, this buffoon, who is this guy? Like who how did if he make this cut?Rich Birch — One of these things doesn’t belong.Eric Holmstrom — I don’t fit in, but I’m just humbled and honored that God would choose me. D.L. Moody has that line, or his son, Paul Moody. D.L. Moody is one of my mentors, and ah you know historical mentors. But his son, Paul, said that ah about his dad, he said, D.L. Moody never got over that God would use him, despite all of his handicaps. And that ah his wife, the love of his life would choose to love him.Eric Holmstrom — And I just feel like I’m that I'm that man. I'm just I’m so amazed and honored that I get to be a part of this legacy church and that my wife and my family love me. And that, you know, I’m just, I feel very grateful and humbled.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s so cool. Well, let’s go back to those early days of the transition. You know, what’s going through your head when you’re following in the footsteps of someone who’s been there for 31 years? That’s a significant time to step in on. What were what were you aware of, you know, in those early days? What was kind of thing that was bubbling around in your head?Eric Holmstrom — Oh, oh my gosh. Okay. The thing bubbling around my head is, am I an idiot? Like why? This is like following Rick Warren. This is like following Billy Graham. Like why? I mean, Pastor Glenn Gunderson is one, just he’s nationally known, internationally. He’s he’s just such an incredible, amazing pastor and leader, and 31 years here at our church, just faithfully leading.Eric Holmstrom — And so why would I want to follow him? Like that, it just, ah you know, so there was a lot of insecurity and just fear around that. I’m thinking through the whole process for anyone that’s gone through a similar process, just feeling very vulnerable, honestly. Eric Holmstrom — I mean, lots of people in our church and different groups were having conversations about me and whether they saw me in this role and, ah you know, that that just felt very exposing and and made me feel very vulnerable.Eric Holmstrom — And at the same time, like really excited, like really the going, wow, like this, this would be a dream. You know, I think for me, I went through kind of a life planning, my wife and I went through a life planning process with an executive pastor of another church and and and a life coach. It was amazing experience. And basically what surfaced for me is, you know, I feel like my calling is to lead every generation to leverage everything they have to advance God’s kingdom.Eric Holmstrom — And so I really kind of grew through my ministry years of going, I really am passionate about leading every generation. And leading every generation to make a mark, to to leave a legacy, to do something great with their lives.Eric Holmstrom — When I gave my life to Christ going into my freshman year of high school, I remember praying, Lord, ah I’ll follow you. I’ll become a Christian, but you’ve got to make it an adventure. Because to me, I felt like, well, maybe being a Christian would be a boring thing. And I felt like God was laughing going, you have no idea what adventure is. Adventure is being a Jesus follower. And and so I just want people to wake up to the adventure of following Christ. Eric Holmstrom — And so I had those mixture of emotions of insecurity, fear. I remember the morning of the congregational vote where, you know, we had done this like six months of work and interviews.Eric Holmstrom — And it all came down to how many people were going to gather in the room, how many people were going to vote.Eric Holmstrom — There there had to be at least in our polity structure, at least two thirds of the people had to vote in favor of me being the next lead pastor. And I’m getting calls and texts from buddies who are like, Eric, we’re cheering you on. Can’t make it tonight. Sorry, man, have this pizza dinner. And I’m like, I’m like, bro, I need you there. Like I need you in the room.Eric Holmstrom — But but anyway, that morning, I was on a run and just feeling so insecure, feeling, you know, Satan was just bringing to mind all my sin, all my shortcomings. And man, the Lord met me. I feel like I got this vision and this picture of Jesus holding my right hand. And I was going, wow. Like it was just powerful. But then I’m like, okay, where is that in the Bible? And then the Lord led me to Isaiah 41:13, “for I am the Lord, your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear. I will help you.”Eric Holmstrom — And was going, okay, if, if, if we’re going to step into this next season and Lord willing, you know, we, we’d love to be here 20, 30 years, however long the Lord would have us here. I believe Jesus is holding my right hand and he is leading me and helping me through our amazing staff and our board and our congregation and our volunteers and everyone involved.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s so good. And, you know, for context, a part of the reason why we’re talking to you is because your church has been flagged as one of the fastest growing churches. Eric Holmstrom — Yeah.Rich Birch — So listeners, like, let’s put this in context here. This transition happened and the church continued to accelerate and reach more people…Eric Holmstrom — Yeah.Rich Birch — …which I think can be a fear on the on the side of maybe the departing leaders. They’re like, hey, what’s going to happen? Is this thing going to go sideways? Well, it hasn’t. It’s actually continued to accelerate. So, and I even have seen this even as we’ve you know kind of interacted today. Eric Holmstrom — Yeah.Rich Birch — How do you think about honoring what’s happened, so honoring the past…Eric Holmstrom — Yeah.Rich Birch — …honoring the leadership and what’s happened there, but still really continuing to lead god lead the church into what God has for the church, into something new. How has that tension, I’ve seen you model it already in this conversation…Eric Holmstrom — Yeah, yeah. Rich Birch — …but how does that work out you know in your leadership?Eric Holmstrom — Oh, that’s such a great question. And what’s awesome is like, we don’t have to fake it here at Purpose Church because our lead pastor, our former lead pastor, Glenn Gunderson, did such an amazing job creating a church culture here where, you know, he used to always say, ah this church is is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints.Eric Holmstrom — He would always talk about, um we’re a church that goes after the one.Eric Holmstrom — And we have ah a… a high celebrate recovery culture here, model here of people come as they are. And and really it’s it’s it’s a beautiful church to be a part of in terms of, you know, we’ve had people on our staff who were homeless sleeping on our church campus and then we offered them a job. They went through recovery. Now they’re leading different ministry areas. Eric Holmstrom — We’ve got people on our staff who were very high up in, in, industries that ah are just really dark and broken. And God has redeemed them and we brought them on our church staff and now they’re working for God’s kingdom and doing great things.Eric Holmstrom — And so, our church culture has always been one of, especially under Pastor Glenn’s leadership, of we want to reach people that are far from God. Our vision is everyone everywhere following Jesus.Eric Holmstrom — We literally mean everyone, wherever they’re at, following Jesus, which means there’s a starting point for their relationship with God. And they continue, that we continue being discipled, continue growing in our relationship So what I’m trying to do is, especially as I started in this role, is honor what’s been, because we’ve got this amazing momentum moving forward because of their hard work.Eric Holmstrom — And because of this church culture that has been created. So we’re trying to honor the past, trying to thank God for the ways that he has led our church and then continue to move into the future and and start new ways of reaching people through some invite Sundays that we’ve done through different sermon series, through reaching out to our neighborhood and our community more.Eric Holmstrom — And so, it’s been an awesome progression and you’re right. We have seen a lot of growth ah while Pastor Glenn was our lead pastor and by God’s grace, he’s continued to grow this church over the last almost two years that I’ve been the lead pastor.Rich Birch — Yes, that’s great. So let’s again, we’re thinking about these early days, you’re in this chair. How did you get clarity on where you should be spending your time? It’s an interesting shift, right?Eric Holmstrom — Yes.Rich Birch — You go from being the person on the team to now you’re responsible for the team, ultimate flexibility, you can make up your own day.Eric Holmstrom — Yes. Yes.Rich Birch — How did you figure that out?Eric Holmstrom — Yes. Yes. And that’s the word, that’s the hardest part for me is in this role as lead pastor, I could get involved in anything I wanted to, right? I could schedule a meeting with anyone. And and so I had to quickly discern, okay, what does the church need most from me? And what is it that only I can do and only I should be doing? Eric Holmstrom — And so what kind of quickly surfaced for me is I need to be giving my best energy towards what’s the vision and direction of our church.Eric Holmstrom — What’s the spiritual direction of our church? Now, I’m not just casting vision by myself. I’ve got an amazing executive pastor, Pastor Greg, who he he’s he’s a rock star. I mean, he hired me here at this church. And then through this process, I became his boss. Rich Birch — Oh wow.Eric Holmstrom — And he is just, he is such an amazing, humble, incredible executive pastor.Eric Holmstrom — He’s been a lead pastor before and has no desire to be a lead pastor again. So he is just been, he was such a champion carrying our church through that season of transition and now being an amazing executive pastor.Eric Holmstrom — So, you know, we’re developing vision through time with my executive pastor and our strategic team, our pastors. But at the end of the day, I’m seeking the Lord going, okay, God, taking in all of this inside and time away with you. What’s the vision and direction you’re leading our church in? What’s the spiritual direction? And then for me, a core role that I have here is developing and discipling and training up our staff, our pastors and our leaders. And then, of course, as a pastor, I love doing congregational care and and there is time built into my schedule for that. But honestly, if I’m doing my job best, according to Ephesians 4:12, I’m equipping the saints for ministry. Rich Birch — Yeah.Eric Holmstrom — And so really what I need to be doing is pouring into our staff here, who are then caring for and ministering to our congregation, many of whom I only interact with, you know, many of our, much of our congregation, I only interact with on Sunday morning when I see them or, um you know, if they happen to come forward or we send an email, it’s really our church staff and then our high capacity volunteers who are discipling, mentoring, coaching, walking with the rest of our church. So that’s where I’ve been focusing a lot of my attention.Eric Holmstrom — Also on culture. That’s become a really important one. You know I’m constantly thinking through, okay, what do I need to be focusing on externally for our church?Eric Holmstrom — But then what about internally? How do we be the healthiest we can be as an organization and as a church? And so we did something this last year, we basically took a year and said, we are going to develop ah what we ended up calling an employee spiritual commitment, where we are making some decisions as a staff and a team This is who we are going to be. This is going to be our culture. Eric Holmstrom — Because Rich, I have discovered that the longer you become, longer you’ve been a Christian and and and once you get on staff or become a high capacity volunteer or whatever, Satan likes to trick us into thinking that we become the exception. Eric Holmstrom — And so what I’m telling our staff all the time is you are not the exception. You are the example. Rich Birch — good.Eric Holmstrom — As soon as you join a staff, you start thinking, you know what? I don’t need to tithe here or give, that’s what other people do. I don’t need to serve because I work here at the church. I don’t need to read my Bible for my own intimacy and time with the Lord. I just read my Bible to prepare sermons. I don’t need to be in a life group. That would be hard for me as a church staff member. That’s for ever…. So I’m gonna tell everybody else, you need to be reading your Bible, you need to be tithing, you need to be serving, you to be in a life group, but those things don’t apply for me because I’m the exception.Eric Holmstrom — Wrong. Peter talks about it in 1 Peter 5. Be an example. Be an example the flock.Rich Birch — Love that.Eric Holmstrom — So we made some commitments and we worked on them. We prayed through them. We talked about them with our staff and we shared them and then gave people four months to say, hey, if you’re not about this, that’s okay.Eric Holmstrom — You’re still Christian. You just can’t work here, right? And like try to be as gracious and kind as we as we could be say, hey, we’re not saying you’re not a Christian.Rich Birch — Wow. Yes.Eric Holmstrom — We’re not saying you don’t love Jesus. We’re just saying. These are going to be the commitments we are going to keep as the staff and the leaders of Purpose Church so that we can look at our congregation and say, we want to be an example to you, not an exception to you.Eric Holmstrom — So I’ve been really wrestling with that culture of our staff, culture of our church, and then also kind of vision direction, spiritual direction of of where we’re going and developing.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s so good. I’d love to talk a little bit more on the rollout of the commitments. I think that’s that’s amazing. Eric Holmstrom — Yeah.Rich Birch — And um you know you know you brought it up there. Hey, we’re going to give the four months for you to wrestle through this and think about it. Maybe just double click on that because I think it’s great that you’re calling your team to that.Eric Holmstrom — Okay.Rich Birch — But just give me a little more about well how that went. What would you do different if you’d done it again? What went well? What didn’t go well?Eric Holmstrom — Totally.Rich Birch — What would you advise the clients if they called and said, hey, we’re thinking about doing something like that?Eric Holmstrom — Yeah, so it really started with me and our executive pastor and our chief of operations here. We were in a meeting and we were like, look, we just think it’s important that our whole staff embody these values. And then we asked each other, hey, would we be willing to lose amazing people who are doing amazing work, but don’t necessarily fit with our culture? Like, would we be willing to lose them? And we all looked at each other and said, you know what? It’s worth it. It’s worth it. It feels like the right thing to do. It feels like the step that honors God.Eric Holmstrom — And so it started with that commitment and that that, you know, recognition, like we may lose people in the process. And then, you know, we started to work on it with our pastors and our staff, roll it out. But before we did that too, we we sent it to our lawyer and we sent it to our trustees.Eric Holmstrom — They looked through it. We sent it to our lawyer because they’re like, are we doing anything illegal here? And ah our lawyer wrote back the most beautiful, you know, I guess maybe this is one of the ways you know, like, you’re you’re a lead pastor is like when when when you get an email from your lawyer that’s like really affirming, you start crying.Eric Holmstrom — And so I’m just like, she she she sent me an email, she sent us an email and she said, I stand by all of these commitments. And if I lived in your area, because she’s, think she’s in Alabama. She said, if I lived in your area, I would go to your church because I would want to be led by a staff like this. Rich Birch — That’s so good.Eric Holmstrom — And so it was very, very affirming. So it was important to run it, you know, to collaborate with our pastors, run it through our lawyer, ah run it through our trustees, getting all the input, all those things. And then we shared it with our staff.Eric Holmstrom — I wrote kind of like a cover letter for, hey, here’s my heart behind it. It’s because I want you to be a healthy leader.Rich Birch — That’s good.Eric Holmstrom — It’s because I want you to be an example. It’s because I want your work in ministry to be meaningful. And I care about you as a leader. And I care about the health of our church. And then we shared it with the staff and said, hey, you’ve got, I think it was three three months to pray on this. And then we need you to sign this and commit to this as we go into the new year together.Eric Holmstrom — And and and thankfully, everybody committed to it. We had, but but that three to four months also gave opportunity for conversations. And we invited those. You said, hey, there’s anything unclear in this for your situation or your season of life, like, let’s talk about this.Eric Holmstrom — And it was really, really great. It gave us a lot of opportunities to have conversation, clarifying conversations, and to help people not misunderstand things, but to understand the heart and and how it might apply to them.Eric Holmstrom — And it’s been really cool to see our staff… Rich Birch — that’s cool. Eric Holmstrom — …invested more in groups, invested more in setting that example for our church.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s great. I love that. And, you know, what even a great kind of alignment thing to go through as you’re starting to lead, you know, to say, hey, let’s try to define what is going to be really important for us. Rich Birch — So going in a totally different direction. You mentioned it as we kind of flew through there and love invite culture stuff. And so you mentioned invite Sundays. And so that caught my eye. Tell me about those. How have they function? How does that look different than from what you’ve done before? Yeah, just kind of unpack that a little bit for us.Eric Holmstrom — Yeah. Yeah. Well, Rich, I’ve heard on your podcast, which by the way, I’m a big fan of unSeminary. I think your podcast is awesome. And I’m a big fan of seminary. I went to seminary. I went to two different seminaries.Rich Birch — Yes.Eric Holmstrom — I love seminary, but I think we can learn so much from each other. And so to everyone listening, I’m just so grateful you’re joining us today. And I’m always getting on our staff here as they’re joining, as they’re, you know, becoming a seminary student, as they’re going to graduate school to, hey, continue to serve in a local church.Eric Holmstrom — When I went to seminary, there were several students, colleagues who were only doing seminary. They were disconnected from the local church. And I’m like, what are you doing? You’re missing out on applying what you’re learning. Rich Birch — It’s so true.Eric Holmstrom — But there’s so much that seminary can’t teach you or doesn’t teach you. And so podcasts like yours, Rich, like the one you have here is absolutely amazing. Eric Holmstrom — One the things you’ve talked about on your podcast is how most people are invited to church by somebody else. So so we do you know promotions on social media and on our website and you know all that stuff. But we wanted to prioritize equipping our church and giving our church family an excuse for to invite their friends and their family to church.Eric Holmstrom — And so we have four or five of these invite Sundays every year where we try to keep them very similar to what somebody would experience on a Sunday morning, just heightened a little bit. So we’ll get bounce houses. We’ll we’ll bring a food truck in. We’ve even kind of experimented with like launching into a series. So we did a spiritual warfare series in the fall called “The War You’re In.”Eric Holmstrom — And it launched on our invite Sunday. And the the the idea was, let’s give these new people who are coming chapter one of this story of this book and see if it piques their interest. But weeks leading up to that, we’re telling our church family, we call them Sunday Funday. how we kind of brand them, but we tell our church family, hey, Sunday Funday is coming up. Don’t come to church alone. Invite your neighbor, invite your friends. Who’s your one more that doesn’t know Jesus? This is a great opportunity to invite them. And and every Sunday here at Purpose Church is a great Sunday to bring somebody. Rich Birch — Right.Eric Holmstrom — I do a salvation message about once a month or so. We’ve seen a lot of people surrender their lives to Christ this year. We’ve had more baptisms this year than we had in the last 10 years. It’s just been incredible. So we’re seeing people take those first steps, but we’re trying to equip our church family. We’re telling them, hey, here’s what we’re talking about.Rich Birch — That’s good.Eric Holmstrom — Leading into Easter. I mean, Easter is an invite Sunday for us. It’s a big outreach Sunday for us. So multiple weeks leading up to Easter, I’m telling our church family, this is what I’m talking about. You know, this this Easter, last Easter, our theme was a second chance. So I’m telling our church family, hey, if you’ve got somebody in your life who needs a second chance, this is their Easter. This is the service for them. Eric Holmstrom — So I’m trying to, we’re trying to help our congregation get excited about what’s happening here, equipping them with flyers, talking about what we’ll be talking about, making it an environment through ah worship, greeting the message through the atmosphere and the environment. I mean, I think one of our secret sauces here at Purpose Church is we don’t have the biggest budget, but we’ve got big hearts. Rich Birch — That’s right.Eric Holmstrom — The people of Purpose Church have big hearts. They love people well. They make people feel at home and welcomed here. And so we want to leverage that. We want to see new people coming on our campus and and giving all of us an opportunity to welcome them, love them. And and and we’re seeing people stick around, which has been exciting.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s so cool. Love that. Just to call out friends, ah there’s a lot there that you should rip off if you’re listening in. There’s so good. I love that. But one of the things that many churches miss on trying to build invite culture is we we think that like if we kind of surprise our people, that they’ll like that. It’s like, oh, there’s some big thing happening on that day. You’re going to want to invite your friends to be here.Rich Birch — That’s actually not how people think. You need, they need to be very predictable. The fact that you’re saying, this is exactly what we’re going to be teaching on. Do you know someone who asks questions like this, this, and this? You need to get them to be here that day. That is a great best practice there for sure. I love I love that.Eric Holmstrom — Oh, thanks Rich.Rich Birch — As opposed to like, oh, hey, it’s going to be great, um you know which just doesn’t mean anything to people.Eric Holmstrom — Yep. And and we used to do like Easter services at a different location, you know, with more seating.Rich Birch — Right.Eric Holmstrom — But we’ve just gone, man, we want the experience to feel as similar as possible on a Sunday morning. So our church family’s equipped to know what are we going to be talking about? What’s going to be happening? But then for that new person who comes, we want them to feel the familiarity of the parking experience, of dropping off their kids, of where they’re sitting.Eric Holmstrom — And so that as they’re making that decision, “Am I going to come back again?”, they’ll know what that experience is going to be like. And then of course, we have an amazing next steps team that’s following up with these people. That is, we’re getting information. We’re inviting them to scan a QR code to connect with us. We have a gift for them. And then our team is doing a great job of following up with them and helping them take the next steps that they want to take.Rich Birch — Yeah, it’s so good. Well, let’s think about the succession question again, you know, going back to that conversation. So for a pastor who might be listening in today, who is, they are the person that is going to be, you know, taking the baton. Eric Holmstrom — Yeah.Rich Birch — Maybe they’re before the actual transition, but they’re thinking about their first 90 days, 100 days.Eric Holmstrom — Yes. Yes.Rich Birch — What would what advice would you give to them? How how would you help them think about their their their initial days as they’re launching off?Eric Holmstrom — Oh, that’s so great. Okay. So the first thing I tried to do was to make a commitment that I’m going to shepherd people and pastor people right where they are. And what I mean by that is there were people in our church who were grieving that our former lead pastor was leaving. And what they didn’t need from me was vision, vision, vision. What they needed from me is, Hey, I get it. I’m I’m sad too. Like I’m going to miss him.Eric Holmstrom — And and so our job was to shepherd and pastor them. And by the way, I told this to all of our staff and our pastors. I said, don’t feel like you have to you know hype me up or or if people are sad that things are changing, that you have to try to convince them. Like there’s that whole change curve. It’s going to take people time and people are on different places. And so shepherding and pastoring people who were really struggling and and having a difficult time with the change, meeting them where they’re at.Eric Holmstrom — There were also people who had recently come to our church. I just met ah a guy last Sunday who’s been coming for like a couple months now and he’s brand new to our church. And he’s like, man, I love it here. Love you, Pastor Eric. And and there was a guy who preached like a couple of weeks ago. I think he like led the church for like 30 years or something. He was great. He was amazing. Eric Holmstrom — I’m like, Oh my goodness. You don’t know pastor Glenn Gunderson at all. You don’t know him.Rich Birch — Yes.Eric Holmstrom — And and so what he needs is vision for where we’re going.Rich Birch — Yes.Eric Holmstrom — So pastoring and shepherding people right where they are, instead of trying to force everybody into one category.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good.Eric Holmstrom — Second thing that I just felt the Lord leading me to do that I’ve just continued to do is I start every single sermon the exact same way. I tell our church every single Sunday, I greet the new people and it’s it’s a for everybody, whether you’re new or you’ve been a part of our church forever.Eric Holmstrom — I greet them the same way. I say, I love you. And most importantly, God loves you. And that sort of came out of me asking this question, what do I wanna be remembered for? Like, what’s the thing that at the end of the day, these people are not gonna remember all my sermons, all my points, but if they if they remembered one thing about me as their pastor, what would it be? And it’s that I would want them to know I love them and that God loved them.Rich Birch — That’s so good.Eric Holmstrom — And 1 Thessalonians 2:8 really like has been my ministry motto. Paul says, because we loved you so much, we cared for you, we shared the gospel and we shared our lives as well. Rich Birch — That’s good.Eric Holmstrom — So Paul’s talking about this this ministry that’s born out of a deep love for the people that you’re pastoring. And so I I’m always praying right before I preach. I pray the same thing. God, would you put your message in me like a fire in my bones? And would you help me to see these people the way you see them and to feel about them the way you feel about them?Rich Birch — That’s so good.Eric Holmstrom — And I’ve had moments when I’ve been preaching where it’s like, I just feel like the Spirit of God deposits into my heart his incredible love for them. And I start tearing up over something.Eric Holmstrom — But but I tell them every Sunday, I love you. And most importantly, God loves you. So that when I give them a convicting word, a challenging word, something where I’m calling them to a higher standard, they know it’s coming from a pastor that doesn’t want to beat them up or that doesn’t care about them or is trying to build some platform.Eric Holmstrom — It comes from a pastor who loves them and who is deeply, deeply convinced that God loves them. So I’m sharing that with them um each Sunday. And I’ve heard from a lot of people that that that really resonates and and feels significant for them.Rich Birch — Yeah it’s good. Eric Holmstrom — Yeah. Rich Birch — I think that’s great. I think the the thing to point out there that I think is, I just think is amazing is good is I think oftentimes we when we think about that kind of transition we can go to the like immediate the tactics or the whatever you know like oh make sure you meet with all these people or whatever. And what I’ve seen in churches that this transition has gone well is there’s a humility with both leaders, which both of you, which you have described him in these conversations today, like that, you know, when Glenn passed it to you, there was ah that humble moment. And he obviously continues to, you know, he gave some space, but has continued to handle himself in a humble way.Eric Holmstrom — Yeah.Rich Birch — You’re handling yourself with humility as well. And, you know, the, I like that you’re pushing on really ah a deeper issue, which is like, do you love these people at the end of the day? You know you’re not taking over some organization this is a family that you’re called to lead. And so I mean I think that’s just so good. That’s fantastic. Eric Holmstrom — Yeah. And then, Rich, I would just want to say too, in addition to that is then starting to cast some vision and direction for, okay, where is God taking this church? So one of the things we did is we started to a new rhythm of Vision Sunday once a year. So we actually, it’s coming up in a couple Sundays. We try to do it right before summer. We do it actually, it aligns with our fiscal budget year. So one of the things that we tried to make a a commitment around is, hey, we’re gonna be a vision-driven church. We’re gonna have vision-driven budgeting. So it’s not just, hey, can I get $1,000 more than last year or whatever? It’s it’s what’s the vision that God has given you for your ministry, for your department, and we’re budgeting around that. Eric Holmstrom — But that starts with me as I’m with my team, I’m a collaborative visionary. And as I’m hearing from the Lord, what’s the vision and direction for our church? And so ah first Sunday of June, we do a big vision Sunday where we celebrate what God has been doing. And where we cast vision for the next year. And so that’s part of what I’m doing too.Rich Birch — That’s good.Eric Holmstrom — And what I did early on and continue to do is to keep vision in front of our church of where are we going? What things are we starting? What are we praying and hoping to see the Lord do? And what’s their part in that?Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s so good. Well, this has been a fantastic conversation. Any final words just as we wrap up today’s discussion?Eric Holmstrom — Yeah, absolutely. Well, I would just say that the last thing I would want to say is I think as as a lead pastor or, and if preaching is a high priority for you, recognizing that we do so much leadership through our preaching. Rich Birch — That’s the truth.Eric Holmstrom — And so that that became a really important thing for me in terms of figuring out, okay, how do I go about writing the sermon? How do I edit the sermon? How do I prepare and practice the sermon and then ultimately get some evaluation on the sermon?Eric Holmstrom — And so that’s been a journey for me of of learning how to do that well. And I think some of the things I’ve I’ve learned along the way is there’s parts of it you don’t love and that are more challenging. For me, it’s the editing. Eric Holmstrom — And I think a lot of preachers and pastors are probably like that. You know, on Mondays, I’ll start going, man, I think I only have a 15 minute sermon here. By Thursday, I’m like, I’ve got an 80 minute sermon here. And so the the I think the difference between good sermons and great sermons is great sermons are are are ones where we cut out the good stuff. It’s all good stuff, but we cut out the good stuff to make enough room for the great stuff. Eric Holmstrom — And then getting people’s feedback, you know? So after i write the sermon, I edit it, I still practice my sermons even before delivering them I have a rhythm of, they gotta be done by Thursdays because I wanna enjoy some of my weekend. And so I’m practicing my sermons, but then, after preaching my sermons, I have kind of an evaluation form that I give different people in our church to give me direct feedback because there’s things I’m not seeing.Eric Holmstrom — And especially leading up into Easter and some of these invite Sundays, I’ll actually deliver my sermon to several people on our staff. They’ll give me direct feedback. And sometimes it’s not what I want to hear. Sometimes the story I’m so excited about, they’re going, hey, you know what? I don’t think it fits here. Or and my sermons have always been better because of their feedback.Eric Holmstrom — And so that’s something I’m really passionate about is helping. Rich Birch — That’s good. Eric Holmstrom — We started a preacher’s club. That’s part of the, one of the things that I’m trying to do in terms of developing our ministry leaders. And so we started a preacher’s club where we meet once a month and, everyone gives, you know, or one or two people will give a 10 minute sermon and we give each other feedback. I share with them some tips and tricks, things I’m learning, and we watch other sermons and evaluate them. Eric Holmstrom — And so ah that that’s been an important aspect, I think, for me is really is realizing that that for for our church, 90% of our community interacts with me on a Sunday morning through my sermon. And so I want to be really intentional to shepherd and pastor and care for them and to give them the very best that I can. And so that’s been some of the process for me. Rich Birch — So good. That’s, that’s fantastic. That’s like a little preaching clinic you just gave us there. That’s so good. So many good things to unpack there. This has been a fantastic conversation, Eric. I really appreciate your time today. If, where do we want to send people online? If they want to track with you or with the church, where do we want to send them?Eric Holmstrom — Oh man, well, you could go to our church webpage, purposechurch.com. We’re on Instagram, Purpose Pomona. You could follow me on Instagram, eric.h.holmstrom. Good luck spelling that. But I would love to you know I would love to interact with you on Instagram. That’s kind of the only place that I’m at. But yeah, thank you. And Rich, this has been a really rich conversation rich rich conversation I appreciate you, man.Rich Birch — Nice.Eric Holmstrom — And I’m I'm grateful for your ministry.Rich Birch — Thanks so much for being here today.

Why do so many Christians today struggle to recognize false teaching?The answer may be simpler and more uncomfortable than we think: biblical illiteracy.In a world saturated with podcasts, sermons, social media clips, influencers, and now AI-generated answers, Christians are constantly exposed to thousands of interpretations of Scripture. Some are helpful. Many are not. And if you don't know what the Bible actually says, it becomes almost impossible to separate truth from error.In this video we explore:Why biblical literacy has always matteredWhy the internet and modern media have made discernment harderHow AI adds another layer of confusionWhy knowing Scripture yourself is essential for spiritual maturityPractical ways to become biblically literateIf we want to follow Jesus faithfully in a confusing world, we must become people of the Book.Practical steps discussed in this video:• Reading Scripture consistently• Reading both quickly and slowly• Memorizing key passages• Studying the Bible in community• Asking the Holy Spirit for discernmentBiblical literacy is not about becoming a scholar. It's about building a foundation that allows you to recognize truth.Subscribe for more content on:Disciple makingMissional livingBiblical worldviewSpiritual formationLiving on mission as a follower of Jesus-------------------Take the Personal Evangelism Crash Course Here:https://www.twelvechurch.net/evangelism-crash-courseDiscover the Missional Living Map: https://missionalmap.comLearn more about 12Church: https://12church.netGet access to any tools and resources mentioned in this video here:https://www.12church.net/toolsThe 8 Essential Traits of a Disciple: https://www.twelvechurch.net/dnahttps://12church.net is about structuring your life around the call to be a disciple of Jesus Christ who makes disciples. It's about learning HOW to make disciples in this time and place.Learn more at 12Church.netLearn more at 12Church.net Take the Personal Evangelism Crash Course Here:https://www.twelvechurch.net/evangelism-crash-courseDiscover the Missional Living Map: https://missionalmap.comLearn more about 12Church: https://12church.netGet access to any tools and resources mentioned in this video here:https://www.12church.net/toolsThe 8 Essential Traits of a Disciple: https://www.twelvechurch.net/dnahttps://12church.net is about structuring your life around the call to be a disciple of Jesus Christ who makes disciples. It's about learning HOW to make disciples in this time and place.

Sunday, 21 June 2026   They said to Him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.” Matthew 20:33   “They say to Him, ‘Lord, that they might be opened the ‘eyes, ours'.'” (CG)   In the previous verse, it said that Jesus stood and called the blind, asking what He could do for them. Matthew next records, “They say to Him, ‘Lord, that they might be opened the ‘eyes, ours'.'”   They use the same wording, open, as Isaiah concerning the blind. It was as if their eyes were doors that had been shut and were incapable of opening to the light. They are asking for that to be rectified. What Isaiah had said would have been known and anticipated by the people of Israel concerning the promises of the messianic era to come –   “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 6 Then the lame shall leap like a deer, And the tongue of the dumb sing.” Isaiah 35:5, 6   As noted in previous commentaries, Mark and Luke focus on one person. Matthew focuses on two. Did both come forward as seems to be the case from Matthew, or did one speak on behalf of the other? The text leaves us guessing, but there is no reason to dismiss Matthew's account.   It is generally assumed that Mark was written first. As such, he may have specifically written about Bartimaeus, having personally come to know him, or because he became known among the people. Later, however, Matthew, remembering the fuller aspect of the account, would have presented the event, acknowledging that there were two blind men.   Whatever the case is with these subtle differences, the request has been placed before Jesus.   Life application: Reading Scripture and comparing what Jesus did to what was promised concerning what the Messiah would do, it makes one wonder how Israel missed the significance of Jesus' coming. It seems so obvious when the patterns, parallels, and prophecies are laid side by side to see how He fulfilled everything necessary to prove He is the Messiah.   And yet, they missed Him. To this day, they continue to do so. Why is this the case? The reason is the same as how many people treat Scripture, their relationship with God, and their interactions with the world around them.   If we look at the contents of the Bible from a me-centric focus, we will have pity parties when things don't go well or when we think things are unfair about how our lives are in comparison to what is recorded in the word. If we look at God as the Giver of this word and think we should have been dealt a better hand, we will naturally find fault in God.   And when our interactions with others don't put us ahead of everything and everyone else, then those around us will never meet our own misdirected expectations. But the world is not about us. The Bible, though including God's redeemed in the overall plan, is not about us. And our interactions with God are no more difficult or unbearable than those presented in Scripture.   And more, seeing what God was willing to do to bring us back to Himself through the life and torturous death of Jesus, we should realize that God does love us despite whatever we are going through.   Understanding this, why did Israel miss the coming of their Messiah? It is because they have, and they continue to think that Scripture is about them. Their attitude is a culturally me-centric view of how things should be. When things don't go well for them, they simply stop believing in God, pushing Him out of their mind, as innumerable Jews live today.   Whether it is Israel as a nation or humanity as individuals, in order to receive the full understanding and blessing of what Scripture is telling us, we need to remember that it is first and foremost about God, the infinitely good and gracious Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer.   The fact that we have been included in what God has done should humble us and redirect our focus away from ourselves to Him. By doing this, we will have a fuller appreciation of Scripture, and we will have a much more directed focus on how to conduct our personal relationships with those around us.   “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrew 12:1, 2   Lord God, thank You for having loved us enough to send Jesus despite our sin and turning from You. May we have the right attitude concerning our position before You, accepting what You have done in our lives, even if it is difficult, painful, or tedious. This is a temporary walk. You have given us sure promises that the best is yet to come. May we patiently endure this present walk with our eyes focused on You. Amen.

Why does reading the Bible feel so overwhelming, and how do you actually start?In this MasterClass, David Hannah walks through the spiritual discipline of reading God's Word in a world full of information, distraction, and confusion.We have access to more knowledge than ever before, but without a foundation of truth, it can leave us feeling anxious and directionless. Scripture is not just another source of information; it is the living, breathing Word of God that anchors us, equips us, and shapes how we live.Start small. Stay consistent. Let God's Word shape your life.

What happens when you consistently read Scripture? In this episode of the Sermon Notes Podcast, Brian Ball and Evan Kunz explore 2 Timothy 3 and the truth that God's Word is living, active, and able to transform your life. They unpack how Scripture, combined with the work of the Holy Spirit, shapes your desires, corrects your thinking, and equips you to live faithfully in a distracted world. If you've ever struggled to stay consistent or wondered if reading the Bible really makes a difference, this conversation will challenge and encourage you to engage God's Word in a deeper way.

In this episode, we apply the Five Layers of Reading Scripture to Proverbs 30:5–6—one of the Bible's clearest statements about the purity of God's Word and the danger of adding to it.

In this episode, we apply the Five Layers of Reading Scripture to Proverbs 30:5–6—one of the Bible's clearest statements about the purity of God's Word and the danger of adding to it.

Brian Russell teaches on Reading Scripture for Truth and Deep Transformation. He takes us on a deep dive into the Wesleyan quadrilateral properly understand, 2 Timothy 3:16–17, and Psalm 19. This podcast is a reaffirmation of what reading Scripture as God's Word means for us personally and corporately as disciple making disciples of Jesus. The goal of interpretation is always our ongoing conversion so that we can live holy missional lives for the sake of the World. Questions or comments: Brian@brianrussellphd.com  Brian's Newsletter: www.brianrussellphd.com/newsletter   Brian's books:  Centering Prayer: Sitting Quietly in God's Presence Can Change Your Life (Paraclete, 2021): https://amzn.to/47Dwdpk   Astonished by the Word: Reading Scripture for Deep Transformation https://amzn.to/3uuWCoQ    (Re)Aligning with God: Reading Scripture for Church and World (Cascade Books) https://amzn.to/30tP4S9     Invitation: A Bible Study to Begin With (Seedbed) https://my.seedbed.com/product/onebook-invitation-by-brian-russell/    Work with Brian: Brian is available for personal coaching in the areas of spiritual growth, missional leadership and biblical/theological training.  Brian is also available for virtual or in person speaking/teaching. He offers workshops and stand alone talks on contemplative spirituality as well as on a variety of books and topics relating to engaging Scripture for a life of mission, community and holiness.  Amazon links are affiliate links. Without affecting the cost on your end, Amazon shares a small royalty with me if you purchase any product after following these links to Amazon. In other words, if you shop regularly on Amazon, you can support my work by clicking on any of the books I linked and then searching for whatever you want to purchase. Thanks for your support.

On this "Short Take," I respond to Franklin Graham and Pete Hegseth's usage of Scripture to justify Donald Trump's war with Iran. The New Testament writers read Israel's Scripture through the person and work of Jesus, which reinterprets the violence of Israel's history.

In this conversation, Jason Ballard sits down with N.T. Wright, New Testament scholar, Anglican minister, and longtime teacher, to talk about the grand story of Scripture, the vocation of the scholar-pastor, and the unique hope that sustains weary leaders.Tom reflects on his early sense of call, his lifelong commitment to holding together pastoral ministry and academic theology, and the deep joy of returning to Scripture over decades without losing wonder. He speaks candidly about the disorientation that can come through serious theological study, and offers wise, pastoral insight for those walking alongside students and pastors in seasons of theological questioning.Jason and Tom also explore the central burden behind Tom's recent book God's Homecoming. They discuss why the biblical story is not ultimately about leaving earth for heaven, but about God coming to dwell with His people and renew all things. From Romans 8 to the Psalms, from the Sermon on the Mount to the road to Emmaus, Tom helps reframe the Christian hope as resurrection, new creation, and the healing of the world under the reign of the risen Christ.Jason and Tom discuss:Tom's early sense of call and the path that led him into both parish ministry and academic theology,Why the work of pastor and scholar belong together,How deep study of Scripture can lead not to cynicism, but to renewed wonder,How pastors can lovingly walk with people through seasons of theological disorientation,Why learning to preach the whole story of Scripture matters so deeply,The central vision behind God's Homecoming and the Bible's theme of God dwelling with His people,The Psalms as a lifelong school of prayer,Why Eastertide should be marked by joy, celebration, and embodied hope,and a final word of encouragement for discouraged pastors.This is a rich conversation for pastors, preachers, seminary students, and anyone longing to love Scripture more deeply, live more faithfully in the story of God, and find inspiration in the midst of ministry's daily rhythms. Links & ResourcesN.T. Wright OnlineGod's HomecomingSurprised by HopePartnersSpecial thanks to the Canadian Bible Society for making this episode possible. We invite you to explore their ⁠Bible Course⁠ to help your church grow in Scripture engagement.We couldn't do the work we do at The Pastorate without your generous support. We invite you to pray, share, and ⁠give⁠ towards seeding a hope-filled future for the Canadian church.

What are the different gifts we get from being immersed in God's Word? How do we develop a hunger for Scripture? And why do we so often see reading Scripture as a burden rather than a blessing. We'll tackle these questions and more with our guest, our Talbot colleague in theology, Dr. Uche Anizor around his new book, The Goodness of God in the Gift of Scripture. Dr. Uche Anizor is Professor and Chair of the Undergraduate Theology at Talbot. He is the author of eight books, including the award winning book, Overcoming Apathy: Gospel Hope for Those Who Struggle to Care, and How to Read Theology. ==========Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, which offers degrees both online and on campus in Southern California.   Find all episodes of Think Biblically at: https://www.biola.edu/think-biblically.   To submit comments, ask questions, or make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.  

In this episode, Dudley and Nathan Worden continue their conversation as they explore how to read the Bible in a way that leads to real transformation. Many believers feel overwhelmed when approaching Scripture, but learning a simple, faithful approach can unlock deeper understanding and lasting spiritual growth. Whether you're just starting out or looking for practical Bible study for beginners, this conversation offers wisdom for engaging God's Word with clarity and purpose.Along the way, Dudley reflects on how God uses discipline, family, and relationships to shape our lives. From parenting lessons to practical Christian marriage advice, the discussion reveals how God's design for life and relationships continually brings us back to our need for His grace.This episode reminds us that the Bible is more than information—it is an invitation to encounter Jesus and live in the freedom and wisdom of God's Word.Get Dudley's Weekly Word delivered right to your inbox every Friday! Click here to get access ➡️ https://dudleysweeklyword.com/opt-inFor more information and resources, visit https://kerygmaventures.com/podcast/ Follow and subscribe:Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/41N9SAP Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3LEIxeo YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kerygmaventures Watch our "Conversations At The Ranch" series: https://bit.ly/conversations-at-the-ranch Watch our “Dudley's Monthly Message” series: https://bit.ly/dudleys-monthly-message 

Erin & Landon look at what it means to love God with our minds and approach scripture with curiosity.

You've heard “What does this verse mean to you?” and felt uneasy, or watched Scripture twisted in ways that hurt. Busy life buries Bible study; guilt piles up over adult kids who've walked away. If you're intimidated by “correct” interpretation or weary of shallow approaches, this episode delivers clarity. YouTube "Bible Nerd" Faith Womack equips everyday believers to read contextually, reframe misused verses, and anchor identity and family in God's unchanging Word — not performance or outcomes. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/84/29?v=20251111

This is part 2 (or 3) of Meditating and Reading Scripture. This week's ending to the message will focus on meditating on Philippians 4 and the lead up will focus on Luke 24, the disciples walking on the road to Emmaus and Jesus reading them the scriptures.

Walking The Ancient Paths: Reading Scripture by Gospel Centered Mission Focused

In this foundational episode, we introduce a simple, practical method for reading any biblical text carefully and faithfully. By learning the Five Layers—context, speaker, observation, theology, and application—you'll avoid common interpretive mistakes and stop forcing Scripture to say what it never meant.

In this foundational episode, we introduce a simple, practical method for reading any biblical text carefully and faithfully. By learning the Five Layers—context, speaker, observation, theology, and application—you'll avoid common interpretive mistakes and stop forcing Scripture to say what it never meant.

In this episode we welcome church historian Stephen Presley to explore the life, theology, and enduring relevance of Irenaeus of Lyons. Writing in the latter half of the second century, Irenaeus emerges not merely as a polemicist against Gnosticism but as a deeply pastoral theologian—one whose doctrine, biblical interpretation, and ecclesial commitments were inseparably bound to the life of the church. Presley highlights Irenaeus's vision of Scripture as a unified, Christ-centered story, summed up in his doctrine of recapitulation: all things find their meaning, coherence, and redemption in Christ, the true head of humanity. Against both ancient Gnosticism and modern disembodied spiritualities, Irenaeus affirms the goodness of creation, the integrity of the human person, and the necessity of catechesis rooted in the rule of faith. For today's church—navigating doctrinal confusion, cultural fragmentation, and questions of discipleship—Irenaeus offers a compelling model of theological method that is biblical, confessional, pastoral, and profoundly Christ-centered. Dr. Stephen O. Presley is Director of Education and Engagement and Senior Fellow for Religion and Public Life at the Center for Religion, Culture and Democracy and Associate Professor of Church History at Southern Seminary. Watch on YouTube Chapters 00:07 Introduction 01:47 The Center for Religion, Culture, and Democracy 04:48 How to Pronounce Irenaeus 08:48 The Early Church 13:31 Irenaeus as a Church Theologian 16:00 The Rule of Faith 20:36 Reading Scripture 26:11 Recapitulation 30:18 Against Gnosticism 33:38 Christ as the New Adam 44:07 Surprises While Writing the Book 46:39 Conclusion

In this episode we welcome church historian Stephen O. Presley to explore the life, theology, and enduring relevance of Irenaeus of Lyons. Writing in the latter half of the second century, Irenaeus emerges not merely as a polemicist against Gnosticism but as a deeply pastoral theologian—one whose doctrine, biblical interpretation, and ecclesial commitments were inseparably bound to the life of the church. Presley highlights Irenaeus's vision of Scripture as a unified, Christ-centered story, summed up in his doctrine of recapitulation: All things find their meaning, coherence, and redemption in Christ, the true head of humanity. Against both ancient Gnosticism and modern disembodied spiritualities, Irenaeus affirms the goodness of creation, the integrity of the human person, and the necessity of catechesis rooted in the rule of faith. For today's church—navigating doctrinal confusion, cultural fragmentation, and questions of discipleship—Irenaeus offers a compelling model of theological method that is biblical, confessional, pastoral, and profoundly Christ-centered. Dr. Stephen O. Presley is Director of Education and Engagement and Senior Fellow for Religion and Public Life at the Center for Religion, Culture and Democracy and Associate Professor of Church History at Southern Seminary. He is the author of Irenaeus of Lyons: His Impact and Life (Christian Focus) and Cultural Sanctification: Engaging the World like the Early Church (Eerdmans). Watch on YouTube Chapters 00:07 Introduction 01:47 The Center for Religion, Culture, and Democracy 04:48 How to Pronounce Irenaeus 08:48 The Early Church 13:31 Irenaeus as a Church Theologian 16:00 The Rule of Faith 20:36 Reading Scripture 26:11 Recapitulation 30:18 Against Gnosticism 33:38 Christ as the New Adam 44:07 Surprises While Writing the Book 46:39 Conclusion Participants: Camden Bucey, Stephen Presley

You're listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for January 27, 2026. 0:30 CNN reports new details in the fatal ICE shooting of Alex Pretti in Minnesota — but the real story may be what didn’t happen before his death. We break down how Pretti had already interfered with a federal ICE operation, suffered a broken rib during a prior confrontation, and was treated and released without apparent prosecution. We question why federal law enforcement didn’t arrest or detain him for obstructing officers. The lack of consequences emboldened him to return — this time armed. The discussion connects political rhetoric, anti-ICE messaging from elected officials, and the refusal to fully enforce the rule of law, warning that labeling federal agents as “fascists” or an “occupying force” doesn’t just inflame tensions — it authorizes defiance. A tragic death but not an unforeseeable one — and a stark example of how unchecked interference with law enforcement can turn deadly. 9:30 Plus, we cover the Top 3 Things You Need to Know. The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals overruled a lower court ruling that attempted to stop ICE from being able to operate when facing violent political opposition. President Trump has issued a new executive order designed to speed up the rebuilding process in California. A Texas woman has been arrested and charged with attempting to burn down a Republican Party Headquarters. 12:30 Get TrimROX from Victory Nutrition International for 20% off. Go to vni.life/agr and use the promo code AGR20. 13:00 Trump’s proposed Board of Peace is sending shockwaves through the global diplomatic class — and that may be the point. We break down reports that dozens of countries are being asked to commit $1 billion each to join a Trump-led international coalition, bypassing the United Nations and traditional diplomatic institutions altogether. We explore what the money could fund, why many participating nations are Middle Eastern and Muslim countries with a direct stake in post-Hamas Gaza governance, and how the plan intersects with NATO, U.S. leverage, and even Trump’s surprising Greenland framework. The Board of Peace is a direct challenge to entrenched global bureaucracy — no UN committees, no lifetime ambassadors, no blank checks. Is Trump effectively dismantling the UN Security Council and replacing it with a results-driven alternative? 16:00 Should Don Lemon be in jail? The American Mamas don’t mince words. Teri Netterville and Kimberly Burelson react to video showing Don Lemon embedded with Black Lives Matter and anti-ICE activists as they disrupted a Christian church service in Minnesota. The discussion lays out why critics say Lemon wasn’t just “reporting,” but actively participating — from offering coffee and donuts beforehand to openly coordinating with BLM activist Nkeema Armstrong. As indictments are announced for protest ringleaders, we argue that interrupting a worship service violates the First Amendment, crosses into criminal obstruction, and terrorized families already on edge after recent church violence. We also question why conservative churches are targeted while mosques, synagogues, and black churches are left alone — and whether Lemon’s attempt to walk it back as journalism will hold up under the law. 23:00 A viral video featuring a registered nurse has ignited outrage and raised serious ethical questions about the medical profession. We react to a nurse who publicly wished medical harm on pregnant White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, invoking graphic childbirth trauma while claiming professional credibility. The discussion centers on the Nightingale Pledge, nursing ethics, and the duty of care that demands compassion over politics. This moment exposes how political rhetoric on the left has crossed from disagreement into dehumanization—where conservatives are no longer debated, but despised. As faith, morality, and professional standards collide, we warn this is not progress, but a dangerous moral regression with real-world consequences. 25:30 New 2025 crime data is turning the narrative on its head. According to the Council on Criminal Justice, violent crime is down across the board—with homicides dropping a stunning 21 percent nationwide, potentially marking the lowest murder rate in U.S. history. Gun assaults, robberies, and carjackings have all fallen by double digits, reversing the post-COVID crime surge and bringing rates back below 2019 levels. We Dig Deep into why crime is falling, rejecting claims that poverty drives violence and arguing instead that enforcement, certainty of punishment, tougher policing, National Guard deployments, and the deportation of violent gang members are making the difference. We give credit to a renewed focus on law and order under President Trump and warn the progress will only last if leaders continue to back police, prosecutors, and the rule of law. 32:00 Get Prodovite Plus from Victory Nutrition International for 20% off. Go to vni.life/agr and use the promo code AGR20. 32:30 A special guest joins us today, actor and faith advocate Kevin Sorbo, who’s launching a “Footsteps of Paul” Bible cruise through Greece and the Middle East. Sorbo explains how actually visiting places like Athens, Ephesus, Crete, and Mykonos brings the New Testament to life in a way no book or movie ever could. Reading Scripture in the very locations where the Apostle Paul preached, he says, changes everything. The discussion also gets real about modern culture: would Paul be celebrated today — or canceled? Sorbo doesn’t hesitate, arguing that faith, free speech, and basic morality are under attack, pointing to church disruptions, political extremism, and growing public apathy. It’s part travel, part Bible study, and part cultural wake-up call — a conversation that blends Christian faith, Western values, cancel culture, and spiritual revival. 9:30 Republicans just blocked a last-minute Democratic push to limit Donald Trump’s military authority in Venezuela, and the vote couldn’t have been closer. With a 215–215 tie in the House and a tie-breaking vote from J.D. Vance in the Senate, Trump’s ability to act without new congressional approval remains intact. It wasn’t really about constitutional checks and balances, but about Democrats trying to weaken Trump politically — even after what they call a successful operation against Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro with zero U.S. casualties. And we finish off with a story about how Barron Trump likely saved a friend's life. Articles: US President Donald Trump, world leaders sign Gaza Board of Peace's official charter Anti-ICE radical who took credit for the invasion of Minnesota church ARRESTED by feds Dem judge rules only GOP district in NYC is 'unconstitutional' because it cuts out minority voters US Murder Rate Plunges To Lowest Level In Over 100 Years, Report Shows Crime Trends in U.S. Cities: Year-End 2025 Update U.S. murder rate hits lowest level since 1900, report says Murders plummeted more than 20% in U.S. in 2025, study shows Hero Barron Trump ‘saved’ a woman’s life after learning she was being beaten by jealous man, court hears Follow us: americangroundradio.com Facebook: facebook.com / AmericanGroundRadio Instagram: instagram.com/americangroundradio See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You're listening to American Ground Radio with Stephen Parr and Louis R. Avallone. This is the full show for January 22, 2026. 0:30 Democrats just lost another seat — and once again, they didn’t take it to the voters. They took it to the courts. We break down how a New York judge ruled the city’s only Republican congressional district “unconstitutional,” triggering a forced redraw before the 2026 election. The target? Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis and New York’s 11th District. But here’s the twist: the district isn’t some bizarre salamander-shaped gerrymander. It’s Staten Island and a slice of Brooklyn — one of the most compact districts in the country. So why is it suddenly illegal? Racial gerrymandering, selective enforcement of the Voting Rights Act, and courts acting as political weapons. 9:30 Plus, we cover the Top 3 Things You Need to Know. The United States has founded the Board of Peace, an international organization created by President Trump. The Department of Justice has begun arresting anti-ICE agitators who stormed a church service in Minnesota over the weekend. A Judge in New York has ruled that the state's 11th Congressional district is unconstitutional under the state's constitution because there are too many white voters in the district. 12:30 Get Performlyte from Victory Nutrition International for 20% off. Go to vni.life/agr and use the promo code AGR20. 13:00 Is President Trump quietly building a new world order — without the United Nations? We break down Trump’s jaw-dropping new “Board of Peace,” a global coalition where more than 30 countries are each putting up $1 billion to buy into Trump’s vision of international security. From the Middle East to Europe, this isn’t symbolic diplomacy — it’s real money, real power, and real influence. We explore whether this massive fund is reshaping NATO, stabilizing Gaza, sidelining the UN Security Council, and even laying the groundwork for Trump’s bold moves on Greenland and Arctic security. 16:00 Should Don Lemon be in jail? That’s the question we ask American Mamas, Teri Netterville and Kimberly Burleson, after shocking video shows Lemon joining a BLM and anti-ICE activist group to disrupt a church service in Minnesota. What was framed as “journalism” now looks a lot more like activism, as footage reveals Lemon offering coffee and donuts, coordinating with known Black Lives Matter organizer Nakeema Armstrong, and knowingly participating in religious intimidation and political protest inside a place of worship. We dig into the legal and constitutional stakes — from First Amendment rights and religious freedom to whether disrupting a church could qualify as domestic terrorism under federal law. With indictments already handed down to protest leaders, the question remains: was Don Lemon reporting… or was he part of the operation? If you'd like to ask our American Mamas a question, go to our website, AmericanGroundRadio.com/mamas and click on the Ask the Mamas button. 23:00 A viral video featuring a registered nurse wishing graphic medical harm on White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt — who is currently pregnant — has sparked outrage and a serious ethical reckoning. We break down how the Nightingale Pledge, the foundational oath of the nursing profession, is supposed to represent compassion, medical ethics, and basic human decency — and how this nurse’s comments represent the exact opposite. What began as a political disagreement has now crossed into dehumanization, cruelty, and open celebration of suffering. 25:30 New national crime data is turning heads — and rewriting the narrative. According to the Council on Criminal Justice, violent crime in the U.S. dropped sharply in 2025, with homicides down a staggering 21%, gun assaults down 22%, robberies down 23%, and carjackings plummeting by 43%. We Dig Deep into what could be the lowest murder rate in American history, with crime levels now falling below even pre-COVID numbers. So what changed? Is it tougher policing, National Guard deployments, aggressive prosecution, or mass deportations of violent gang members like MS-13 and Tren de Aragua? Crime doesn’t fall because of “economic opportunity” — it falls when laws are enforced, police are backed, criminals are jailed, and punishment is certain. America is once again operating as a nation of laws, not excuses, and Donald Trump’s return to tough-on-crime policies is a major factor behind the historic decline. 32:00 Get Prodovite Plus from Victory Nutrition International for 20% off. Go to vni.life/agr and use the promo code AGR20. 32:30 A special guest joins us today, actor and faith advocate Kevin Sorbo, who’s launching a “Footsteps of Paul” Bible cruise through Greece and the Middle East. Sorbo explains how actually visiting places like Athens, Ephesus, Crete, and Mykonos brings the New Testament to life in a way no book or movie ever could. Reading Scripture in the very locations where the Apostle Paul preached, he says, changes everything. The discussion also gets real about modern culture: would Paul be celebrated today — or canceled? Sorbo doesn’t hesitate, arguing that faith, free speech, and basic morality are under attack, pointing to church disruptions, political extremism, and growing public apathy. It’s part travel, part Bible study, and part cultural wake-up call — a conversation that blends Christian faith, Western values, cancel culture, and spiritual revival. 39:30 Republicans just blocked a last-minute Democratic push to limit Donald Trump’s military authority in Venezuela, and the vote couldn’t have been closer. With a 215–215 tie in the House and a tie-breaking vote from J.D. Vance in the Senate, Trump’s ability to act without new congressional approval remains intact. It wasn’t really about constitutional checks and balances, but about Democrats trying to weaken Trump politically — even after what they call a successful operation against Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro with zero U.S. casualties. And we finish off with a story about how Barron Trump likely saved a friend's life. Articles: US President Donald Trump, world leaders sign Gaza Board of Peace's official charter Anti-ICE radical who took credit for the invasion of Minnesota church ARRESTED by feds Dem judge rules only GOP district in NYC is 'unconstitutional' because it cuts out minority voters US Murder Rate Plunges To Lowest Level In Over 100 Years, Report Shows Crime Trends in U.S. Cities: Year-End 2025 Update U.S. murder rate hits lowest level since 1900, report says Murders plummeted more than 20% in U.S. in 2025, study shows Hero Barron Trump ‘saved’ a woman’s life after learning she was being beaten by jealous man, court hears Follow us: americangroundradio.com Facebook: facebook.com / AmericanGroundRadio Instagram: instagram.com/americangroundradioSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/012126.cfmMany people struggle with the Bible because they sense a tension between the Old Testament and the New. The God of the Old Testament is sometimes portrayed as harsh, violent, even distant, while the New Testament reveals mercy, healing, and love. Father Chris Alar, MIC addresses this confusion directly by reminding us of the question Christ Himself poses: “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” (Mk 3:4; NABRE).Without Christ, humanity's vision is limited. In the Old Testament, death, war, and violence reflect a world still waiting for the full revelation of divine life. The Catechism teaches that God gradually prepared His people to receive the Gospel through salvation history, leading them step by step toward Christ (Catechism of the Catholic Church §122). The New Testament does not contradict the Old; it fulfills it.This contrast becomes striking when we consider Saint Agnes, whose feast the Church celebrates. Her very name echoes the Latin agnus, meaning lamb. Young, pure, and wholly given to Christ, she chose life in the fullest sense, even when it led to martyrdom. Her witness stands between death and life, between the violence of the world and the light of Christ. As Scripture proclaims, “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly” (Jn 10:10; NABRE).The culture of death persists whenever Christ is rejected, whether in ancient persecution or modern disregard for human dignity. Yet Christ remains the Light of the world, drawing us from darkness into truth, from death into life. In Him alone do we find the way, the truth, and the life. ★ Support this podcast ★

Feeling lost when you open your Bible? Learn how structured study methods—observe, interpret, apply—can transform confusion into confidence. Discover practical steps, topical studies, and community strategies that move you from surface reading to genuine understanding and daily application. BibleStudyCourses.com City: Memphis Address: 1169 Woodridge Lane Website: https://biblestudycourses.com

Many Christians believe the Bible matters, yet struggle to make it a consistent part of daily life. In this episode, we explore the quiet, reasonable resistance that keeps Scripture from becoming a habit and why missing a day does not mean it is time to quit.

How should Christians read Scripture today? And can we really encounter God in the biblical text?In this episode of the ProveText Podcast, Dr. T. Michael W. Halcomb sits down with Rev. Dr. Michael Niebauer to explore ancient Christian exegesis, typology, imagination, and the question of whether Christ is present throughout the Old Testament.We discuss:- What exegesis really is (and how it differs from eisegesis)- How early Christians read Scripture symbolically and Christologically- Whether it's possible—or dangerous—to “find Christ under every rock”- The role of imagination, genre, and church doctrine in interpretation- How this approach can form faith, not just argumentsDr. Niebauer also shares insights from his book Four Mountains: Encountering God in the Bible from Eden to Zion, along with his work training churches to bring worship and Scripture into nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

"Delighting in God's Word"Psalm 19Three Rewards of Reading Scripture:1. The Bible gives life2. The Bible gives wisdom3. The Bible gives joyThree Responses to Better Value Scripture:1. Prioritize the Bible2. Ponder the Bible3. Pray the Bible

In this powerful episode of Made for Impact, Petia welcomes her longtime friend Nadia — a woman whose life was radically changed by Jesus after years in the New Age movement, sobriety recovery culture, and searching for meaning.   The two originally met in a Las Vegas nail salon over a decade ago — not knowing God would one day write them into the same story. Years later, both found themselves saved by Christ, walking away from the New Age, and stepping into a new identity.   This episode dives into: - Leaving New Age beliefs - Sobriety and surrender - Healing resentment and anger - Reading Scripture for the first time - Dating as a Christian woman in Hollywood - Experiencing the Holy Spirit - Understanding God's timing - Learning peace over pressure - Faith in uncertainty   Whether you're new to faith, curious about Christianity, or untangling spiritual confusion — this testimony will speak to your heart.   Connect with Nadia: Instagram: @nadiavlada   Join Petia's Bible Study: https://bit.ly/DeeplyDevotedBIBLEstudy   If today's episode moved you, encouraged you, or brought clarity — take a moment to share it, review it, or send Petia a message on Instagram.

We are shaking things up in 2026--Make sure to JOIN US for ALL the content coming - https://join.unrefinedpodcast.comThis conversation pulls you straight into the wild, wonderful, and deeply supernatural world woven into the pages of Scripture. We explore ancient bloodlines, cosmic rebellions, hybrid beings, and the strange clues most Christians skip right over because they were never taught how to look for them. Adam walks us through his “warehouse manager” method of reading the Bible — tracking patterns, identifying anomalies, and letting the text define its own boundaries. From Ezekiel's “wicked conception rituals” to the kings and princes ruling unseen nations, the conversation raises big, honest questions about what the biblical authors actually believed. We also dive into good vs. evil Nephilim, hybrid bloodlines in Judges, angelic kings, and why context matters more than commentary. And somehow we still ended up talking about lion-men, giants in Virginia, and alien abductions. It's a ride — and it's gloriously unrefined.https://eadamfarris.substack.com/https://www.youtube.com/@eadamfarrisFive Stones book link--https://amzn.to/47Z5RPzhttps://unrefinedpodcast.comYoung adult/children's Book series Brandon mentioned:https://amzn.to/4rlhgkg

Leave a voice message for me here: https://www.speakpipe.com/timschmoyerI recently had the opportunity to speak about the “father, elder, ruler” progression at a men's breakfast. Afterwards, with tears in his eyes, an older man told me this:“I used to be a leader in my career and in my home, but now that I'm retired and my kids are grown up, all I do is sit at home and care for the dog.”Something in my heart broke for this man. I didn't say it to him, but something in me wanted to say, “No! This is a tragedy! You've spent your life acquiring wisdom and your city desperately needs it. They don't even know how much they need it. That's why they're not asking for it. And you have grandkids who desperately need your attention instead of a random day care employee.”This is a great lie we've sold to Christian men: that the elder years are for withdrawal. For finally putting your feet up after decades of labor. For letting younger men take over while you fade into comfortable irrelevance.The tears in this man's eyes told me he longed for something different. He wanted a sense of meaning, purpose, and fulfillment in his latter years, but didn't have a vision for what it could look like or, even if he did, how to change societal norms to get there. Cities don't have gates for elders anymore.As a 45-year-old father, I realize I'm speaking about something I have not yet experienced, but it seems to me that the grandfather years are essential to the health of a family and a city.Here's the modern vision I see for the elder years vs. what I think the Bible portrays.Modern Vision: The Tragedy of Voluntary ExileWhen a man reaches his sixties or seventies, he's finally arrived at something our culture has trained him to abandon: the culmination of decades spent acquiring wisdom, navigating crises, building things, leading people, and failing enough times to recognize patterns that younger men can't see yet. He's paid for his education in the currency of mistakes, setbacks, victories, and long nights wrestling with problems that don't have easy answers.And then we tell him to go home and care for a dog while his aging body becomes a burden to the family.The man who talked to me after that men's breakfast had actually said something profound, though he didn't mean it this way: he had become a leader in his career and home. Past tense. As if leadership was something you graduated from, like college or braces. As if wisdom had an expiration date.But here's what's actually happening: his grandchildren are forming their understanding of manhood, marriage, work, and faith right now. His city is being shaped by whatever values its influential families have, without his influence. The next generation of men in his church are trying to navigate fatherhood and business and marriage without access to the forty years of pattern recognition sitting unused in his living room.His retirement isn't rest. It's desertion. And it's not his fault. This is what society expects.Subscribe to join me and other Christian men in pursuing the noble task of eldership (1 Tim 3:1).Biblical Vision: The Elder Years Are Not for SpectatingScripture doesn't describe a stage of life where faithful men become spectators. The progression isn't father to retiree. It's father in the home, elder in the city, ruler in the Kingdom. And that third stage doesn't begin when you die. It begins when you've proven faithful with the first two.Remember Proverbs 31:23:“Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land.”This isn't describing a young father. This is a man who has already led his household well, who now sits in the place of governance and wisdom. The gates were where disputes were settled, where guidance was sought, where the direction of the city was determined.These weren't honorary positions for guys who wanted to feel important. These were men whose families and businesses proved they could govern well—and their cities needed that capacity.Or look at Titus 1, where Paul describes elder qualifications. These aren't requirements for young men trying to prove themselves. They're descriptions of men who have already managed their households well, whose children are believers, who have demonstrated self-control and wisdom over decades. The elder years aren't the retirement party after fruitful governance — they're the deployment of everything that fruitful governance built.When a man becomes a grandfather, he hasn't graduated from leadership. He's (hopefully) finally qualified for its highest form.In fact, the Jewish community holds the belief that if a word isn't found in the Bible, then it's a man-made word and isn't a concept from God. Since the word nor the concept for “retirement” is found in scripture, many Torah-observing Jews have the idea that, until they die, they will always be generating value for their family and their community.Personally, this makes sense to me. It doesn't mean I'll always be generating financial value or doing a young man's work, but I'll always be generating value for my family and city until I no longer can. In his book, “Thou Shall Prosper,” (affiliate) Rabbi Daniel Lapin describes it like a golf swing. A good swing doesn't slow down when it reaches its goal of making contact with the ball (i.e., retirement). Instead, it follows through and keeps swinging even after the ball is on its way.Now, I'm not saying every grandfather should pursue formal church eldership. That's a specific office with specific responsibilities. But the qualifications for that office describe something broader: the kind of man whose life earns him natural authority. Whether you're ever appointed as an elder or not, if you've managed your household faithfully, your family and community need the wisdom and influence that faithfulness has produced.The challenge, of course, is that our cities don't have literal gates anymore. There's no cultural script for this today. You won't receive a formal invitation to govern, which means the elder years require the humility to initiate where you're not expected and the wisdom to discern which family is “fruitful soil” and is worth sowing into.What Your Family Actually NeedsYour adult children need you.* They still need to watch you work on something difficult and not quit.* They still need to be reminded why integrity matters when no one is watching.* They still need to see you pray and actually mean it.* They still need to watch you love their mother well after fifty years when love isn't always feelings anymore, it's covenant.And your grandchildren don't need another daycare worker or another hour of screen time. They need access to you, too. They need you to teach them things:* How to use tools* How to think through problems* How to speak with respect* How to handle money* How to read Scripture like it actually matters.Not because you're trying to relive your glory days through them, but because formation happens through proximity to someone further down the road.Your son or daughter is trying to raise these kids while navigating careers and mortgages and marriage. They're drinking from a firehose every day. But you have time now. You have perspective. You have the leisure to invest in formation that their parents don't always have bandwidth for.And here's what's actually at stake: your grandchildren will either inherit your presence or your absence. They'll either grow up with access to a man who shows them what biblical masculinity looks like across decades, or, if their father follows your lead and is also absent, they'll piece together their understanding of manhood from YouTube, their peers, and whatever messages the culture happens to be selling that week.The question isn't whether they'll be formed. The question is by whom.Now, I realize there's complexity in this. If your adult children have created distance, if they're not eager for your involvement, that's data worth listening to. The first work of eldership might be examining why that gap exists and whether you need to earn back trust before you can govern well. But don't mistake complexity for impossibility. Strained relationships can be rebuilt, even if it takes years of effort (and even professional therapy) to get there.Subscribe to join me and other Christian men in pursuing the noble task of eldership (1 Tim 3:1).Your City Doesn't Know It Needs YouPart of governing your city means influencing its families, one family at a time, and right now families in your city are making big decisions:* Public school vs. Homeschool* Opening another credit card vs. Paying down the one they have* Staying in the same industry vs. Changing careers* Giving up on their marriage vs. sticking with itMost of those families don't have people consistently speaking into their lives. Sometimes it's because they don't have the maturity to open up and receive it, but other times it's just because everyone else is “too busy” or “too humble” to help.But you're not too busy anymore.And whether you realize it or not, you have something these families don't: you've spent decades watching decisions play out over time. You've seen leadership fail and succeed. You've watched marriages come and go. You've managed people, budgets, conflicts, crises. You've acquired pattern recognition that takes a lifetime to build.The families in your city need that.Not because you're smarter than everyone else, but because wisdom isn't information—it's the ability to see how things connect over time. The young finance guy sees the projected tax revenue from that new building development. You see what happened the last three times your city approved something similar. The activist pushing the new policy sees the immediate problem it solves. You see the future consequences they haven't considered.This is what elders do. They don't just show up in people's lives to feel important. They show up because their presence governs—it shapes what the future of the city looks like, one family at a time.Ruling Starts Before the Kingdom ComesJesus told a parable in Luke 19 about a nobleman who gave his servants resources to manage while he was away. When he returned, he rewarded the faithful ones with authority:“Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in very little, take charge over ten cities.”The servants who managed the little well were given cities to rule. Not as a retirement bonus—as the natural deployment of proven capacity.This is the trajectory Scripture describes for faithful men: current stewardship determines future authority. The man who governs his household well is qualified to govern the city. The man who governs the city well is being prepared to rule in the Kingdom.Your grand-parenting years aren't the end of this progression. They're where it culminates.The Work That Brings MeaningSo what does this actually look like?It looks like blocking out regular time with each grandchild, not as babysitting favors to their parents, but as intentional formation. Teaching them to pray. Reading Scripture with them. Taking them on errands and narrating how you think through decisions. Inviting them into projects where they can learn skills and see work ethic modeled.It looks like mentoring younger men in your church who are trying to navigate the same challenges you faced twenty years ago. The young father drowning in toddler chaos who needs to hear from someone who survived it. The entrepreneur making mistakes you already made. The couple considering divorce who needs perspective from someone whose marriage outlasted feelings.It looks like using your time and resources to serve needs you can finally see because you're not consumed by career climbing. The widow who needs help with her house. The single mom whose car keeps breaking down. The community project that needs someone with project management experience.This isn't about becoming a workaholic in your seventies. It's about recognizing that the elder years are when you finally have the wisdom, time, and position to govern most effectively, and that your family and city desperately need you to do exactly that.The Choice In Front of YouI think about the man who talked to me at the men's breakfast. He didn't realize he was describing a tragedy. He thought he was describing a normal retirement, but his tears told me he knew something was broken.Our culture celebrates this kind of withdrawal. We call it “enjoying retirement” and “finally relaxing after years of hard work.” But biblical eldership doesn't retire. It deploys.So start small. Call one of your adult children this week, not to advise, just to build the relationship and catch up. Find one younger family in your church who seems hungry for input and invite them to dinner. Show up to one thing where younger fathers gather and make yourself available.You won't rebuild the gates overnight. But you can start sitting in them tomorrow.And your dog, as much as he loves you, will never miss you the way your grandchildren will. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit read.timschmoyer.com

How Daily Habits Transformed His 36-Year Marriage: Harvey's Story Marriage is holy work. Maybe you're reading this today because you're hoping your marriage will change. Maybe you're reading this because you've prayed, "Lord, please help my marriage," when really you mean "Lord, please help my spouse!" I hope this blog and episode will make you feel both comforted and inspired — that you'll be reminded your marriage can change, not by grand gestures or perfect communication, but by small, faithful, daily habits of love. This is what Harvey discovered as well. That it wasn't grand gestures or big sweeping shifts that changed his marriage, but small, daily, consistent habits that brought it God's love, peace, and patience into his marriage. Changing Your Priorities: When Hard Work is Leading to Disconnect Harvey and his wife have been married nearly 37 years. Together, they raised four kids and built a life on their dairy farm. For decades, he worked two full-time jobs—teaching high school by day and farming by night. He says, "Every day was between 12 to 16 hours. My wife was incredibly supportive, but I just wasn't there emotionally." Maybe you can relate. Life's responsibilities pile up, and before you know it, years have passed. You're functioning—but not really connecting. Despite his faith and commitment, Harvey admits that emotional and spiritual intimacy were missing. He wanted closeness, but didn't know how to get there. A Different Kind of Prayer—and a Different Kind of Growth After retiring from teaching, Harvey finally had space to seek help. He'd been listening to our podcast for years and decided it was time to join Masculinity Reclaimed, our men's program. The first surprise? It wasn't about changing his wife! It was about learning to love her the way Christ loves the Church. He started with one habit: daily time with God. Reading Scripture. Praying. Reflecting. And eventually, he began praying with his wife in the mornings—a completely new rhythm in their 36 years together. That quiet time, over coffee and prayer, became a beautiful and cherished time for emotional connection. The Turning Point: Accepting Your Wife as She Is Halfway through the program, Harvey realized that for years, he had been looking at his wife through the lens of what she wasn't. She wasn't this, she wasn't that... But when he stopped trying to change her and started accepting her for who she is, the woman he fell in love with, the woman she had always been, rather than who he hoped she might someday become–everything began to shift. That acceptance made her feel safe. Seen. Loved. And when a woman feels safe, her heart opens. His wife began to blossom before his very eyes and the connection Harvey had longed for finally began to grow. The Habits That Build a Marriage Here's the truth: marriage is a system of habits. Paul says, if you're married, you will have trouble. (1 Corinthians 7:28) You'll have to think about how to please your spouse. (1 Corinthians 7:34) Are you in the habit of thinking about your spouse? Are you in the habit of considering them and putting them first? Are you in the habit of encouraging, loving, praying, and serving them? It's not always easy work — but it is good work. Every word, every look, every morning prayer can help build connection. That's why transformation doesn't happen overnight. It happens in the daily choices. Final Thoughts Friends, you don't have to wait to start changing your marriage. Harvey shared with us, "I wish I had learned these things earlier in my marriage." We want that for you as well!  You don't have to wait to retire or for your kids to be out of the house. You don't have to wait to be a certain age or have been married a certain number of years. You can start investing in your marriage now, today, to say that the next 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 years of marriage were incredible. That is what we want for you. And we know, that no matter where your marriage is at right now, it can change. Just ask Harvey. We are rooting for you and we know that we serve a God who makes all things new– and that includes marriages.   God bless you!   With love, The Delight Your Marriage Team   PS - If you're ready to take the next step and get into a community that knows what it's like and are doing the hard work themselves– we'd love to chat with you. Click here to schedule a free Clarity Call with one of our Clarity Call Advisors and take the next step in healing your marriage. PPS - Are you a fan of this work and wish more people knew about it? We are launching an In-Person Training program this January and we would love to come to your church, workplace, community group, or wherever you gather! For more information, visit our In-Person Training page. PPPS - Here is what another recent grad had to say about our program: "I've become more contented and patient and focused on [my wife's] needs and a better listener I think. She says our home has less tension since I've been doing the program. I take that as a win!"

Love Does No Harm: Abortion and the First Reading: Scripture Reflection for Nov. 5, 2025 by Priests for Life

Summary In this episode, Dr. Michael Easley sits down with Dr. Keith Bodner—Old Testament scholar, author, and professor—to explore the beauty, depth, and divine design of Scripture. Together, they examine how literary artistry and theological truth intertwine throughout the Old Testament, showing that these ancient texts are far more than historical accounts—they're masterfully constructed narratives revealing God's character and redemptive plan. Dr. Bodner unpacks the importance of reading Scripture as both literature and revelation, pointing out how patterns, irony, and structure illuminate meaning. He and Dr. Easley discuss what it means to approach the Bible with reverence, curiosity, and literary attentiveness, and why doing so deepens our understanding of God's Word. Whether you've studied the Bible for years or are just beginning to appreciate its complexity, this conversation will renew your awe for the divine craftsmanship behind Scripture—and encourage you to see the Old Testament not as a collection of disconnected stories, but as a coherent narrative revealing the wisdom and sovereignty of God. Takeaways The Old Testament isn't just a collection of ancient stories—it's a divine masterpiece, crafted to reveal God's character and His redemptive plan. Every narrative, from Genesis to the prophets, carries intentional design and theological weight, pointing us back to the faithfulness of God. When we recognize the literary patterns, irony, and structure within Scripture, we begin to see the brilliance of God's authorship behind every word. Studying the Bible with both literary attentiveness and spiritual humility allows us to appreciate its artistry without losing sight of its authority. The coherence and consistency of the Old Testament remind us that Scripture is not man's invention but God's revelation—woven together by His sovereign hand. Reading Scripture this way renews our awe for God's Word and deepens our confidence that every story serves His eternal purpose. LINKS MENTIONED: Exploring The Financial Parables of Jesus by Dr. Keith Bodner Watch the highlights and full version of this interview on our Youtube channel. For more inContext interviews, click here.

Many of us first heard Bible stories as children—David and Goliath, Noah's Ark, the Good Samaritan. But St. Paul reminds us that the Scriptures we knew from infancy are meant to keep forming us throughout life. In this homily, Fr. Edward Looney reflects on how to approach God's Word with adult faith and deeper understanding. Using St. Paul's words—“All Scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, refutation, correction, and training in righteousness”—Fr. Looney invites us to rediscover the power of Scripture through three simple questions: 1️⃣ What does the text say? 2️⃣ How does it speak to me personally? 3️⃣ How is it calling me to live differently? Whether you've drifted from Bible reading or want to go deeper, this homily will help you encounter Scripture not just as a story from your childhood, but as a living Word meant to transform your adult life.

In this thought-provoking episode, Walton explains his “cultural rivers” metaphor—how each culture swims in its own current of values, assumptions, and logic. We can't read the Bible through modern, Western eyes without missing what mattered most to ancient audiences. Genesis, for example, isn't about material origins but about God bringing order to a disordered world. From Genesis 1–11, which Walton calls a unified pursuit-of-order narrative, to covenant as God's chosen method of establishing order in Israel, this episode reshapes how we think about law, sin, impurity, and even concepts like raʿ (evil). Walton shows how words like shalom, menucha, and tov are all part of a spectrum of order—not morality. He also addresses how Jesus and Paul recontextualize the Torah, why Exodus opens with a surprising parade of female heroes, and how poetry preserves communal memory in songs like Exodus 15. Whether you're new to Walton's “Lost World” series or a longtime reader, this episode offers fresh insight into how Scripture's deepest themes emerge from its ancient context. We are listener supported. Give to the cause here: https://hebraicthought.org/give For more articles: https://thebiblicalmind.org/ Social Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HebraicThought Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hebraicthought Threads: https://www.threads.net/hebraicthought X: https://www.twitter.com/HebraicThought Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hebraicthought.org Chapters: 00:00 Exploring Methodological Approaches to Texts 02:02 Cultural Rivers: Understanding Context in Ancient Texts 05:19 Genesis 1-11: The Pursuit of Order 08:04 The Role of Women in Exodus: A Unique Perspective 11:04 Intertextuality: Connections Between Genesis and Judges 14:12 The Concept of Order in the Torah 17:10 Jesus and Paul: Recontextualizing the Torah 20:16 The Significance of Women in the Exodus Narrative 23:20 Joseph and Daniel: Conceptual Connections 26:07 Final Thoughts and Future Discussions 32:50 Poetry And Prose Intermixed

YouVersion Notes: https://www.bible.com/events/49502876

SummaryIn this episode of the Gird Up Podcast, host Charlie Ungemach interviews Dr. Johnston, a professor and parish pastor, discussing his journey in ministry, the balance between academic life and parish duties, and the importance of curiosity in pastoral care. They explore the challenges faced by modern Christianity, the identity of the Lutheran Church, and the need for accessible resources on Reformation history. The conversation emphasizes the significance of knowledge and tradition in the church, as well as the joys and responsibilities of parish ministry. In this conversation, Charlie Ungemach and Bill Kahle explore the complexities of faith, worship, and ministry in the modern world. They discuss the sacrifices made for relevance, the historical significance of symbols like the surplus, and the importance of aesthetics in worship. The dialogue emphasizes the need for a deep understanding of history to navigate contemporary challenges in ministry, the balance of law and gospel, and the vital role of community in faith. The conversation concludes with encouragement for pastors facing the unique struggles of modern ministry.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Gird Up Podcast and Support06:09 The Joy of Parish Ministry11:43 The Importance of Receiving the Gospel17:12 The Role of Curiosity in Ministry21:00 The Role of Law and Catechisms in Lutheranism21:46 Exploring the Life and Work of Matthias Flacius23:11 Expectations of Lay Knowledge in Reformation History25:04 The Importance of Church History in Christian Formation26:39 Reading Scripture in Community28:39 The Need for Accessible Theology30:00 The Substance of Lutheranism vs. Generic Protestantism32:12 The Identity of the Lutheran Church33:47 Continuity with Church History and the Fathers35:54 Lutheranism's Rich Intellectual Heritage37:44 The Challenge of Modern Church Identity39:25 Understanding the Mass and Its Significance43:03 The Cost of Relevance45:49 The Surplus and Its Significance48:41 Aesthetics and the Search for Authenticity52:22 The Role of History in Faith56:02 Rootedness in Tradition58:44 The Structure of Worship and Its Evolution01:07:08 Revisiting Sola Scriptura and Apostolic Worship01:08:35 Expectations for Laity and Clergy Dynamics01:09:49 Isolation and Connection in Clergy Life01:11:47 The Role of Community in Ministry01:13:42 The Challenge of Boredom in Ministry01:16:28 Encouragement for Frustrated Pastors01:18:17 Understanding the Nature of the Parish01:20:00 Navigating Church Discipline and Catechesis01:22:27 Finding Freedom in Ministry01:24:19 The Messiness of Ministry and God's GraceWade's Links:Let the Bird Fly Podcast: http://letthebirdfly.com/Resurrection Lutheran Church MKE: http://rlcmilwaukee.org/Wisconsin Lutheran College: http://wlc.edu/Flacius Book: https://www.cph.org/life-under-the-cross-a-biography-of-the-reformer-matthias-flacius-illyricus?srsltid=AfmBOoqX5EC1kRkvb1anhL1sgC7SFh_Rn4ox410osHAVobKYk0JAAy3LThe Devil Behind the Surplice Book: https://www.amazon.com/Devil-behind-Surplice-Matthias-Adiaphora/dp/1532617720/ref=sr_1_1?crid=22GTG6TVBDE3B&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.-ka4pg9CwjOsjNrYU9ujaMS_MVSwJGPu-1FWzzRcvKo.4-pEn1CAju2dxtROKWq-HIHmoeBRwMn_eViG4YoT1aU&dib_tag=se&keywords=devil+behind+the+surplice&qid=1752543927&sprefix=devil+behind+the+surplic%2Caps%2C107&sr=8-1Gird Up Links:https://youtube.com/@girdupministries4911?si=tbCa0SOiluVl8UFxhttps://www.instagram.com/girdup_be_a_man/https://www.girdupministries.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today's Bible Answer Man broadcast (06/12/25), Hank explains how reading Scripture “literally” means to read Scripture as literature, as opposed to being read in a wooden literal fashion.Hank also answers the following questions:In one of his books, Bob Fraley says that the beast is not a person, but a superpower, namely the United States. Does this undermine the partial preterist perspective on the beast? Dale - Kansas City, MO (3:49)If dragons were not real but mythological, why does the KJV Bible mention dragons 58 times, and why does Leviathan breathe fire? Ryan - Wichita, KS (15:12)Do you believe the KJV Bible is correct on the creation being 6,000 years old? Ryan - Wichita, KS (16:53)Can you explain what you mean by “true Israel”? Are you referring to the church? Anne - Memphis, TN (23:53)

Kirsti shares her powerful journey from viewing God as distant to discovering His intimate love and presence within her. Her transformation reveals how understanding our identity in Christ brings freedom from both our own sins and the sins committed against us.• Growing up with divorced parents in an unconventional household filled with exotic animals• Feeling different from peers as the only Adventist in town• Experiencing distant father figures that shaped her perception of God• Losing her father suddenly during her freshman year of college• Tragically losing her sister to suicide while in college• Struggling in personal relationships due to seeking approval and worth• Finding healing through intentional forgiveness toward her stepfather• Discovering that Christ actually lives within believers• Learning that God's love isn't earned through performance• Experiencing transformation in parenting, relationships, and spiritual life• Reading Scripture with new eyes and understanding• Moving from religious obligation to genuine desire for GodIf you want to experience this freedom too, join our Bible studies at lovereality.org where you can learn about your identity in Christ and discover how His love transforms everything.

Dr. Reed Lessing of Concordia University – St. Paul, MN The Concordia Commentary on Lamentations The Concordia Commentary on Zechariah The Concordia Commentary on Isaiah 40-55 The Concordia Commentary on Isaiah 56-66 The Concordia Commentary on Jonah The post Reading Scripture with Sacramental Sensitivity – Dr. Reed Lessing, 5/20/25 (1402) first appeared on Issues, Etc..