Podcasts

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks! Don't panic. We got this. In fact, Christians were born for this. At least, we were born again for this. When the world is turned upside down, Christians see Jesus standing upright. We are the people who use times of fear to show courage. We use times of uncertainly to stand on solid ground. Today we will read a portion of an essay from 1948 to help with some needed perspective. And then, at the end, I want to give you 6 basic, daily tips, to keep growing, even in this troubling time. - Why are people so scared of this pa

Website Open

Podcast Mar 23, 2020

LOCKDOWN: The spread of evil. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Virus rebels. Not Alone.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you! I’ve been preaching … about the spread of evil, and why holiness doesn’t spread as easily. But wouldn’t it be wonderful if it did? It’s worth a try, at least. I’ve been reading … The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis. Children amid the worst horror imaginable find escape, freedom and glory. Yes, it can happen to you. I’ve been hearing … about virus rebels. Many young adults are fighting cabin fever by just pretending Coronavirus doesn’t exist or that it won’t touch them. They’re idiots. I’ve been playing … Not Alone. If

Website Open

Podcast Mar 19, 2020

Episode 55 - "Itty Bitty Living Space"

Have you ever wondered what the gospel is really all about? This week we’re lifting another Heavy Word — gospel — to see what it means and what it does. As we go looking for Jesus in the readings for week 11 of the Into the Book reading plan, Bryan explains how the Scriptures are like a Magic Eye picture and Ryan explains how Jesus is like the ark of the covenant’s lid. Plus, in the Scripture du Jour, we talk about hypocrisy and Aladdin’s lamp. The Big Idea: The gospel is meant to do something to us — changing us by bringing us into submission to Christ through faith. Weekly Challenge: Share w

Audio Open

Podcast Mar 17, 2020

CORONAVIRUS: The Sin Virus. Soap and Water. Lockdowns. Pandemic.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you! I’ve been preaching … about the sin virus. It invades, it spreads, and it kills. And we’ve all got it. Thankfully, there is a cure — and best of all, it’s free. I’ve been reading … how regular soap and water is the best preventative. So I’ll wash my hands — not because I’m scared, but because I care about other people. I’ve been hearing … the NBA is in lockdown after Rudy Gobert mocked the precautionary measures in place and then tested positive himself. Don’t mock what you don’t understand. I’ve been playing … Pandemic. To millions, i

Website Open

Podcast Mar 16, 2020

Empowering The Individual

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks! Let's explore how to get other people moving. I know, the purpose of these episodes is for you to work on yourself. And sometimes just doing that has the power to influence others. But every once in a while you actually need to get another person moving. How do you empower the individual to get going in their work? Maybe in your family or in the church? Maybe at school or in the community? How do you get them engaged? Governments and churches have gotten this wrong for years. To get people engaged, overseers organize prog

Website Open

Podcast Mar 12, 2020

Replay — "Hormonal Thunderstorm"

Programming Note: This week, we're replaying one of our favorite episodes from the past. We'll be back next week with a brand new episode. This week we continue our series for “young folks” with advice to our younger selves about “matters of the heart.” What kind of decisions can guide a Christian’s dating life towards a great, godly marriage? How do we protect ourselves (and our dates!) from decisions we’ll regret? What Jesus Said about plucking out your eye in Matthew 5:27-30 leads to what Job said about making a covenant with his eyes, and we can’t help but notice how uncomplicated these is

Audio Open

Podcast Mar 10, 2020

IDOLATRY: Why idolatry. Hawaii. American Idol. Bora Bora.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you! I’ve been preaching … about the appeal of idols. As strange as it may seem to me, clearly people have always been drawn toward idol-worship. Let’s talk about why. I’ve been reading … Hawaii, by James Michener. Celebrating our culture is fine. But cultures are rarely found in complete harmony with God’s will. At some point, we have to make a choice. I’ve been hearing … “American Idol” is still on the air. We quit watching it years ago, mostly because the show celebrates everything that’s wrong with our society. I’ve been playing … Bora

Website Open

Podcast Mar 9, 2020

Prepared By God

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks! No one enjoys trials. If you are struggling with something in your life right now, you have no doubt prayed for relief. But as Christians, we have also signed on to be molded and trained by God. We wanted to be prepared to be a sanctuary, tried and true, and to do His work. After all, we have been saved to do His good works, and shine for Him. Do we have the right attitude about this? So many people want a life without trial, pain, temptation and sorrow. However, these things make us who God needs us to be. Joseph is a tr

Website Open

Podcast Mar 5, 2020

Episode 54 - "Not Till Midnight"

Like Bible Geek grenades, we’re lobbing questions at each other in a new segment called “ Do you understand?,” as we try to better understand a topic. This week our questions focus on the early church’s assembly and leadership. Week 9 of the Into the Book reading plan takes us through Paul’s journeys, where we — surprisingly — find some red letter words of Christ. How does Paul’s trial parallel the Lord’s? What do you want on your epitaph? And what can a dead man in the middle of services teach us about paying attention? The Big Idea: Godly lives — past and present — illuminate the path of lov

Audio Open

Podcast Mar 3, 2020

DANIEL (2): Jealousy. The Daniel Dilemma. The Hanging Gardens. 7 Wonders.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you! I’ve been preaching … about how jealousy landed Daniel in the lion’s den. Have you ever been jealous enough to kill someone? And don’t be too quick to answer. I’ve been reading … more from The Daniel Dilemma. Satan wants us to adopt the name of his choosing instead of the name God gives us. It is critical that we just say no! I’ve been hearing … different theories about the Hanging Gardens. It’s amazing how the so-called wonders of the world come and go, but the word of the Lord endures forever. I’ve been playing … 7 Wonders, in which

Website Open

Podcast Mar 2, 2020

One Bucket Item

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks! The term "kick the bucket" has been around for well over 200 years. But just in the last 15 years, we have started talking about "bucket lists." This represents things we would like to accomplish before the end of life. For the most part, people list places they would like to see or accomplishments they are striving for. And I'm not a big fan of exhaustive lists like this. If you just seize the day, and have a great attitude, a growing faith, and spiritual determination, most of that stuff will work itself out. However, w

Website Open

Podcast Feb 27, 2020

Episode 53 - "Blue 42!"

With all the fighting and division in Christianity today, have you ever wondered how early Christians worked out disagreements? Today’s Scriptures du Jour look to two examples of brethren disagreeing in Acts 15. Then, we try to get past our disclaimers for some real talk on fasting. When did churches fast in the New Testament, and what should we take from their example? The Big Idea: Unity is possible when we reason together with no agenda but God’s will and no authority but God’s Word. Weekly Challenge: Fast or give up something for one day this week. Show Notes Into the Book - Week 8 Into th

Audio Open

Podcast Feb 25, 2020

DANIEL: Prophecies. The Daniel Dilemma. End-time. Dixit.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you! I’ve been preaching … about the jealousy of Daniel’s subordinates, and how it landed him in the lion’s den. Have you ever been jealous enough to kill someone? And don’t be too quick to answer. I’ve been reading … The Daniel Dilemma, by Chris Hodges. One of the most powerful things Satan can do to defeat us is to adopt the name of his choosing instead of the name God gives us. Just say no! I’ve been hearing … different theories about the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. It’s amazing how the so-called wonders of the world come and go, but the

Website Open

Podcast Feb 24, 2020

Consumed or Remembered

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks! When it comes to free time, discretionary time, we all wish we had more. Life is busy. And obligations of our time exist in every single day of life. From work to school to family to worship to rest, the calendar is full. But we all have moments around those events where we get to choose what to do! Some say they do not, but that's not true. There are precious moments in every day where you get to decide what to watch, read, think, or do. If we aren't careful, we will waste those precious moments. We will do things we imm

Website Open

Podcast Feb 20, 2020

Episode 52 - "Some Good Gila Monster"

This week, we look at two Heavy Words: repentance and discipleship. Bryan explains why a Christian can never be like Darth Vader and Ryan explains why we’re like Gila monsters. We talk about the hardest thing in the Bible to do and why it’s so hard to believe someone can actually change. And we go looking for Jesus in week 7 of our reading plan (Acts 7-11), including our favorite verses from today’s readings. The Big Idea: As disciples, we will never be the master, but Jesus our master shows us the Ultimate Disciple. Weekly Challenge: Connect with someone who might be seeking the Lord this wee

Audio Open

Podcast Feb 18, 2020

DESTINY: Predestination. Atlantis Rising. Jeremiah 29:11. Medici.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you! I’ve been preaching … about predestination. It’s not a question of whether it is true; it’s a question of what it means and what it doesn’t mean. I’ve been reading … Atlantis Rising, by Clive Cussler. Some people just think they are better than everyone else. I wish they were all in novels, but they’re not. I’ve been hearing … Jeremiah 29:11 quoted out of context all my life. If you think God’s plan for your life is marrying the prom queen or getting through dental school, you are aiming way too low. I’ve been playing … Medici, a game

Website Open

Podcast Feb 17, 2020

Be The Change

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks! "Be the change you wish to see in the world." Do you know who said that? Most attribute it to Mahatma Gandhi. Well, he didn't actually say that, but what he did say is amazing, and is summed up well in this popular phrase. He created incredible change in the world by focusing on growing individually and letting that have a peaceful affect on then world. In that way, he is an incredible example. Did you know the best way to change an environment is to change yourself? The best way to help others become better is to become

Website Open

Podcast Feb 13, 2020

Episode 51 - "One-Trick Pony?"

This week we’re talking about the Holy Spirit — his work and presence in the early church and the church today. What is the baptism of the Holy Spirit? How is it different from the gift of the Spirit Christians receive at baptism? And what does it really mean to be “filled with the Spirit”? And as this week’s “Into the Book” readings lead us into Acts, we look for the apostle’s “hobby horse” sermon topic and find that trembling before our awesome God is just as important in the New Testament as the Old Testament. The Big Idea: The Lord continues to live and work in his people today. Weekly Cha

Audio Open

Podcast Feb 11, 2020

STATE OF THE UNION: Unity and Division. What Americans Really Want ... Really. Impeachment. Coup.

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you! I’ve been preaching … about unity and division. Jesus provides a way for all humans to come together in peace and harmony. But we have to do it His way. Not ours. I’ve been reading … What Americans Really want … Really, by Frank Luntz. Honesty is the best policy, especially being honest with ourselves about our real values. I’ve been hearing … the impeachment process is really over, and Donald Trump is still our president. We don’t always like the reality that exists, but we would do well to accept it. I’ve been playing … Coup. Amass i

Website Open

Podcast Feb 10, 2020

Stop Starting Over

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks! Quitting can be a great idea. If there are things in your life that do not resonate with who you want to become: quit them. If there are things that don't matter to God or your family, stop doing them. If there are things that you know you will not ever return to, say goodby. This is actually a great way to create more time and energy for things that matter. However, when it comes to things that do matter to you: stop starting over. When it comes things you quit, but eventually find yourself returning to, stop starting ov

Website Open

Podcast Feb 6, 2020

Episode 50 - "Stay Classy"

How did Jesus stay calm, composed, and classy in crisis? What did Jesus do to set people’s hearts on fire? Why did Jesus tell his disciples to touch him? And how is hurrying like a Mexican Buffet? This week we take on these and other exciting questions, as we finish Luke. The Scriptures du Jour come from Luke 24 and we finish up with some Deeep Thoughts about keeping it together. The Big Idea: We can find Christlike composure by entrusting ourselves to God. Weekly Challenge: Respond to difficulty with grace this week. Show Notes Into the Book - Week 5 Into the Book Preview - “Luke 21-24; Acts

Audio Open

Podcast Feb 4, 2020

SUPER BOWL: Finishing. Halftime. Female Participation. Pizza Box Football

Register your feedback here. Always good to hear from you! I’ve been preaching … about finishing. How you finish something is far more important than how you start. Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are great examples. I’ve been reading … two different reactions to the halftime show featuring Shakira and Jennifer Lopez. Which one is yours will depend on whether you value carnal things or spiritual things. I’ve been hearing … about female participation, in sports and in every other walk of life. If women want to assume traditionally male roles, fine. But if I were a woman, I would rese

Website Open

Podcast Feb 3, 2020

Let's Talk Money

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks! Christians seek first spiritual goals and the kingdom of God. But let's not have our head in the sand: money still matters. We need it to provide for our family. And honestly, we need it to do a whole lot of extra great things for God and His people and the world. In centuries past, there were few opportunities to have money and save money and be rich. But we live in an amazing time for spiritual and physical blessings. And if our hearts are right, and we make wise plans, we can honor Him every single step of the way. It

Website Open

Podcast Jan 30, 2020

Episode 49 - "I Shall Not Be Moved?"