Dating, Marriage, and Parenting with the Vander Ploegs | Season 3 Episode 11
Release Date: 05/17/2025
Stop Chasing Vision — Start Responding to God’s Calling
The Disciple Standard Podcast
This episode began as a private Patreon conversation—but it was too important to keep behind a paywall. We explore why replacing the word vision with calling can radically change how pastors, leaders, parents, and everyday Christians understand identity, purpose, and faithfulness. Through stories from youth ministry, leadership development, and Scripture, we unpack how responding to God’s calling brings freedom, humility, and lasting fruit—without the pressure to perform or be remembered.
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What’s Missing in Church Today (and How PROS Responds)
The Disciple Standard Podcast
What if the “shallow church” problem isn’t fixed by better lights, tighter sets, or even more silence—but by deeper relationships and active participation? In this episode, we react to a clip on authenticity in church, talk about why modern services can feel like events, and unpack a simple path forward: Scripture, prayer, community, and shared responsibility.
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Why We Sing in Church (And Why Music Shapes Your Theology)
The Disciple Standard Podcast
Why do Christians sing? In this episode, we dig into the “worship wars”—hymns, Psalms, and contemporary worship—and why music reaches deeper than words alone. We talk about how songs shape theology over time, why the Psalms were meant to be sung (not just referenced), and what it looks like to recover “the soundtrack of faith” in the life of the church—especially as we prepare to launch the PROS worship service.
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The 2026 Plan: Read the Bible Twice + Plant a Church in 45 Days
The Disciple Standard Podcast
What would happen if Scripture became the center again—not just a verse, but the long-form Word of God read out loud in community? In this episode, Pastor Scott shares his 2026 vision: taking in hours of Scripture each week, praying the Psalms daily, and launching a Public Reading of Scripture church plant in Fort Pierce—with the whole journey being documented in the 45 Days series. We talk about: - How much Bible is “enough,” and whether you can actually get burned out - Why public reading + community meals are a church planting strategy - The bold hope behind it all: what God can do...
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Rethinking How Christians Celebrate Christmas
The Disciple Standard Podcast
In this Christmas episode, the guys unpack traditions, Santa, family rhythms, church practices, communion debates, and how Christians can keep Christ at the center of the season. From childhood memories to cultural pressures to navigating holiday exhaustion, this is a fun, honest, and meaningful conversation about what Christmas should look like in a Christian home and in the church today.
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Gospel, Mission, and the CRC: Defining Our Identity
The Disciple Standard Podcast
What does it actually mean to be CRC? Is it our theology? Our history? Our worship style? Our mission? And if the Christian Reformed Church is going to reverse decline and rediscover its calling, where does our true identity begin? In this week’s episode, Aaron sits down with Pastor Scott and Pastor Jary for a candid, funny, and surprisingly deep conversation about the core identity of the CRC.
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Why the Future of the Church Won’t Drop from the Sky
The Disciple Standard Podcast
The Multiply Conference is over… now what? In this episode of the Disciple Standard Podcast, Aaron sits down with Zach Olson and Scott Vander Ploeg to unpack what actually needs to happen next if we’re serious about multiplying disciples, leaders, and churches in the CRC. They talk candidly about why this movement can’t just be a top-down plan from denominational offices, why real change has to be owned at the classis and local church level, and what it will take for every region to develop its own grassroots strategy. Along the way, they unpack the simple but powerful MDLC framework...
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How Movements Start: Conversations, Classes, and Calling - Multiply Conference Day 1
The Disciple Standard Podcast
Day 1 of the Multiply Conference was less “talking heads,” more movement building. Scott sits down with Paul Vander Klay (Sacramento, CA) and Moisés “Mo” Pacheco (Chicago, IL) to unpack the day: why classes-level action beats top-down plans, what disciple-making must look like in a post-Christian moment, and why real multiplication starts with raising leaders (not just planting churches). Highlights: - Why grassroots/classis collaboration is the engine for church planting - The transmission crisis: discipling in a post-Christian, mobile, media-soaked culture - Parents discipling their...
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Pre-Conference Recap: Scripture, Psalms, and a Movement of Multiplication
The Disciple Standard Podcast
The Multiply Conference is here, and before the main sessions even kicked off, we gathered pastors and leaders to do something simple and powerful: hear Scripture publicly, pray and sing the Psalms together, and dream about multiplying disciples, leaders, and churches. In this short recap, Scott sits down with Tim and Brad (Resonate Global Mission) to unpack: - Why we began with the Public Reading of Scripture (PROS) and praying/singing the Psalms - How these ancient practices form modern disciple-makers - A candid look at biblical literacy (and why it matters for renewal) - Simple,...
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Prayer, Psalms, and the Plan: Raising Leaders Now | Season 3 Episode 35
The Disciple Standard Podcast
Leaders don’t wait for permission—they take responsibility. This week we tackle the “elephants in the room”: grassroots church movements vs. denominational centers, fears about factions, and what it really takes to multiply 2,000 leaders and plant 1,000 churches. Then we go deeper: a practical framework for gospel identity that moves you from the drama cycle (blame/avoid/complain) to the dream cycle (own the problem → plan → do → check → adjust). We talk prayer (especially the Psalms), honoring past generations, and why local churches can’t outsource discipleship or church...
info_outlineIn Episode 11 of The Disciple Standard Podcast, Pastor Aaron, Pastor Scott, and Andrea dive deep into faith, family, parenting, and marriage from a biblical perspective.
They tackle real questions like:
- How spiritually ready should someone be before marriage?
- What’s the most impactful thing parents can do to pass on their faith to their kids?
- What’s the most challenging season of motherhood—and how can faith make a difference?
- What does Scripture say about marriage, divorce, and raising a godly household?
Whether you’re a young adult thinking about marriage, a parent in the thick of it, or someone looking to build a faith-filled home, this episode offers honest insights, biblical wisdom, and practical encouragement. 🎉
This episode is sponsored by The Crafter Party by Cherie Youngblood — where creativity meets celebration. Visit her on social to book your next unforgettable event!
🎧 New episodes of The Disciple Standard Podcast drop every Thursday on YouTube.
- https://disciplestandard.com/
- Support the Podcast - https://www.patreon.com/c/DiscipleStandardPodcast
- Visit our church - https://sunlightchurch.com/
- Connect with us - https://multiply222.com
Timestamps:
00:01 - Faith and Relationships
00:18 - Spiritual Disciplines in Marriage
00:58 - Introductions: The Podcast Panel
02:56 - Topic Setup: Marriage and Mother’s Day
03:18 - How They Met: The Andrea & Scott Story
10:33 - When Faith Becomes the Foundation
11:02 - Why We Chose Each Other
12:36 - A Relationship Rooted in the Bible
14:16 - What Drew Scott to Andrea
15:06 - The Commitment to Read the Bible Together
16:25 - Faith Compatibility and Dating
19:12 - Faith Level in Relationships
20:15 - Compatibility in Relationships
20:58 - Faith, Finances, and Core Values
22:00 - Dating Advice: Start with Faith
24:21 - Emotional and Spiritual Balance in Marriage
25:00 - Supporting Each Other Through Struggles
25:41 - 28 Years of Marriage
26:04 - Spiritual Disciplines for Couples
26:25 - Raising Kids with Active Faith
28:24 - Passive vs Active Faith Leadership at Home
28:59 - Benefits of Growing Up in Church
33:40 - Church is People, Not Just a Building
34:06 - Community as a Spiritual Discipline
36:05 - Faith and Community as Core Family Values
39:20 - Conflicting Schedules and Church Disconnect
39:44 - Re-centering the Family on Faith
40:25 - Shifting to Motherhood Challenges
43:06 - Trusting God's Plan for Your Kids
43:32 - Ministry Life and Its Demands on Marriage
47:00 - Wisdom and Discernment in Marriage
47:44 - Trusting a Husband’s Convictions
50:34 - The Unseen Sacrifices of Moms
52:01 - Single Mothers and Their Strength
53:26 - Sacrifice as a Form of Worship
56:37 - The CrafterParty Sponsor
57:22 - Introducing the Candace Owens Video
1:00:00 - Realizing My Own Selfishness in Marriage
1:01:52 - Why the Gospel Is Essential for Selflessness
1:02:21 - Culture’s Shifting View on Marriage
1:02:41 - Introducing a Video: "Marriage Is an L"
1:03:53 - Dating with Core Values in Mind
1:04:33 - Cultural Resistance to Commitment
1:05:17 - Marriage Is a Sacred Covenant, Not a Contract
1:05:45 - Love Is Always a Risk
1:06:30 - Marriage Exposes Deep Vulnerability
1:07:13 - Sticking Through Hardship with Covenant Love
1:08:06 - Love Requires Trust in the Covenant
1:08:29 - Abuse Is a Clear Exception
1:08:54 - Abuse Requires Boundaries and Help
1:09:17 - The Risk of Unequally Yoked Marriages
1:09:47 - Advice for Unequally Yoked Marriages
1:10:15 - Don’t Ignore Foundational Incompatibilities
1:10:35 - When One Spouse Converts in Marriage
1:11:23 - Living as a Christian Witness in Marriage
1:12:12 - Common but Challenging: Mixed-Faith Marriages
1:12:38 - Encouragement for the Faithful Spouse
1:13:12 - Seek Wisdom, Pray, and Persevere
1:13:57 - Why We Were Hesitant About This Episode
1:14:21 - Comparison and the Danger of Idealizing Others
1:15:07 - Social Media’s Skewed View of Marriage
1:15:50 - Embracing Your Unique Relationship Journey
1:16:08 - Psalm 16: Finding Peace in Your Own “Land”
1:16:35 - Choosing Thankfulness Over Comparison
1:17:12 - God’s Unique Plan for Each of Us
1:17:38 - Trusting God's Plan Through All Seasons
1:18:10 - Gratitude for the Life God Gave Me
1:18:32 - Trusting God Over Discontentment
1:19:00 - Finding Joy and Contentment Now
1:19:24 - God’s Intimate Involvement and Gratefulness
1:19:50 - Marriage Challenges and Life’s Seasons
1:20:22 - Moving to Florida: A Major Challenge
1:20:44 - Struggling with Family Distance and Jealousy
1:21:09 - Trusting God Through the Transition
1:21:46 - Overcoming Bitterness and Finding Home
1:22:10 - Mindset Shift and Contentment
1:22:31 - Loneliness and Comparison in Port St. Lucie
1:22:49 - The Danger of Social Media Comparisons
1:23:22 - Reminder of Our Delightful Inheritance
1:23:38 - Closing Remarks and Thanks
1:24:03 - Outro and Upcoming Topics