Conversations with Pastors
Every Friday, we release a new conversation with one of the pastors at Grace Immanuel Bible Church in Jupiter, Florida. We cover issues facing Christians, from parenting to sanctification to biblical counseling topics.
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Episode 31 - Prosperity and Success with Gonz Herrera
01/09/2026
Episode 31 - Prosperity and Success with Gonz Herrera
What does true success look like through God's eyes? This week, Gonz Herrera shows us that Joshua 1:8 challenges everything we've been taught about achievement and prosperity. We discover that God's definition of success isn't found in our bank accounts, our children's salvation, or our perfectly structured lives—it's found in our obedience to His Word. The passage reveals three transformative practices: keeping God's Word on our lips, treasuring it in our hearts through memorization, and meditating on it day and night. This isn't about adding another item to our spiritual to-do list; it's about allowing Scripture to so saturate our hearts that it naturally flows out in every circumstance. When we're facing unpaid bills, wayward children, or uncertain futures, our natural instinct is to panic and strategize. But God calls us to something counterintuitive—to be strong and courageous through obedience to His truth. The promise isn't that our external circumstances will always align with our expectations, but that we'll experience spiritual prosperity and peace with God. This is the success that endures beyond our temporary struggles and transforms how we walk through every trial.
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Episode 30 - Biblical Counseling: Emotions with Todd Murray
01/09/2026
Episode 30 - Biblical Counseling: Emotions with Todd Murray
In our hyper-emotionalized culture, we face this challenge: learning to distinguish between emotions as gifts and emotions as authorities. This conversation unpacks a critical truth that many of us struggle with daily—our feelings, while real and God-given, were never meant to serve as the ultimate guide for our lives. Scripture alone holds that authority. We discover that emotions aren't neutral or flawless; they're shaped by what we believe, often revealing deep-seated thoughts we've held so long they've become white noise in our souls. The transformative insight here is that if we want to change our feelings, we must first change our belief system. This means rigorous engagement with Scripture—not swimming in passages until we feel something, but studying to show ourselves approved, allowing God's truth to confirm or correct our emotional experiences. Whether we're the type to wear emotions on our sleeves or keep them carefully guarded, we all face the same temptation: to let our subjective experiences validate what's real rather than anchoring ourselves in the unchanging reality of God's Word. Our standing before God isn't confirmed by how we feel on any given day, but by the grace in which we stand through Jesus Christ—a truth that liberates us from the exhausting rollercoaster of emotional validation.
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Episode 29 - Growing in Submission
01/09/2026
Episode 29 - Growing in Submission
What if the very limitations we're fighting against are actually God's loving design for our spiritual growth? This week Dave Temple challenges us to examine this distinction: the difference between being resigned to our circumstances and being submitted to God's sovereignty. Drawing from Jeremiah 29 and the story of Israel's exile in Babylon, we discover four essential 'handholds' for climbing the wall of submission. First, we must genuinely believe that our present situation—no matter how difficult—is from God's hand, not a cosmic mistake. Second, we're called to thrive within our limitations, not merely survive them. Third, we must guard our hearts against the 'if only' fantasies that undermine our faith and paint God as insufficient. Finally, we find rest in remembering God's faithfulness and His purposeful plan for our lives. The Israelites weren't told to passively endure captivity; they were commanded to build houses, plant gardens, raise families, and even pray for their captors. This wasn't resignation—it was active, vigorous submission that brought their full strength to bear in an unwanted situation. Paul's thorn in the flesh becomes our template: when God says 'no' to our prayers for relief, He's often saying 'yes' to something far greater—our transformation into Christ's image. The grumbling that characterizes so much of our inner dialogue reveals we're worshiping at the altar of self rather than submitting to the King of the universe.
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Episode 28 - Prizing Public Worship with Dan Kreider
01/09/2026
Episode 28 - Prizing Public Worship with Dan Kreider
This week Dan Kreider challenges us to reconsider the supremacy of corporate worship over our private devotional lives. Drawing from David Clarkson's Puritan classic 'Prizing Public Worship,' we're confronted with a radical premise: God is more glorified, more present, and more powerfully at work when His people gather together. This isn't to diminish private prayer or personal Bible reading, but to elevate our understanding of what happens when the body of Christ assembles. The angels and saints in heaven worship corporately for eternity, and our Sunday gatherings are rehearsals for that eternal reality. But here's the convicting question: do we treat corporate worship as optional, easily displaced by minor inconveniences like bad weather or busy schedules? Are we settling for the leaves and flourishes of emotional experience rather than seeking the deep fruit of humility, spiritual hunger, and tender hearts? This exploration invites us to examine whether we're truly prepared—heart, mind, conscience, and body—to meet with God when we gather, or if we're merely going through the motions with only our physical presence engaged.
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Episode 27 - Biblical Counseling: Self-Esteem with Lance Quinn
01/09/2026
Episode 27 - Biblical Counseling: Self-Esteem with Lance Quinn
The biblical concept of total depravity isn't meant to leave us hopeless; rather, it's the starting point for understanding the magnificence of grace. When we acknowledge our sinfulness without the corresponding truth of Christ's redemptive love, we remain locked in despair. Conversely, when we deny our sinfulness and focus only on self-affirmation, we miss our desperate need for a Savior. The gospel provides the only balanced perspective: we are deeply flawed sinners whom Christ loved enough to die for. This isn't about finding middle ground between self-hatred and self-love—it's about transferring our focus entirely from ourselves to Christ. True Christian self-understanding means seeing ourselves through the lens of the cross, where our depravity and God's love intersect. This transforms our self-esteem into Christ-esteem, freeing us from the exhausting cycle of measuring our worth by our performance or others' opinions.
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Episode 26 - Fighting Complacency with James Jeong
01/07/2026
Episode 26 - Fighting Complacency with James Jeong
We often find ourselves walking a tightrope between comfortable familiarity and dangerous complacency. This week, James Jeong takes us to Titus 2:6 and challenges us to examine whether our Christian walk has become merely routine rather than revolutionary. The call for young men to be 'sensible' or 'sober-minded' extends far beyond a single demographic—it speaks to all of us who risk losing our spiritual urgency in the midst of prosperous, comfortable lives. We're reminded that familiarity with church rhythms and biblical truths becomes harmful when it's not matched with active faith. The antidote? Three transformative principles: self-control that sacrifices personal desires for God's will, sober-mindedness that thinks deeply before speaking quickly, and self-restraint that considers how our choices impact those around us. In a culture offering endless comfort and ease, we're called to spiritual responsibility, to be people whose inner lives match our outer witness, and to pay the costly price of following Christ even when it's inconvenient, lonely, or demands we mortify what our flesh craves.
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Episode 25 - Abiding in Christ and Bearing Fruit with Kempiz Hernandez
01/07/2026
Episode 25 - Abiding in Christ and Bearing Fruit with Kempiz Hernandez
This week, Kempiz Hernandez takes us to John 15 to teach us about spiritual fruitfulness and authentic discipleship. We discover that abiding isn't passive—it's an active, ongoing pursuit of remaining connected to Jesus, our true vine. The scary language of branches being cut off and thrown into the fire isn't meant to terrify us, but to clarify what genuine faith looks like. Real believers may struggle with seasons of weakness, but they won't be completely fruitless. As we abide, something miraculous happens: our relationship with the world changes, our hatred for sin grows, and our love for others deepens. The fruit isn't just about doing more Christian activities—it's about transformation in every dimension of our lives. We learn to pray differently, asking for things aligned with God's will rather than our comfort. We gain that deep-seated assurance that we truly belong to Christ. And remarkably, even in suffering, we find ourselves asking for hard things because we trust God's purposes more than our temporary relief. This is the abundant life Jesus promised—not freedom from trials, but joy that surpasses comprehension because we know our Savior is able to complete the work in us.
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Episode 24 - Error and Heresy - Jerry Wragg
01/07/2026
Episode 24 - Error and Heresy - Jerry Wragg
It's inevitable that we'll encounter believers who hold different convictions than we do. This week, Jerry Wragg challenges us to think carefully about the crucial distinction between error and heresy, and how we should respond with both truth and love. We discover that not every disagreement is a gospel-threatening issue—some matters are essential to salvation itself, touching on the nature of Christ, the character of God, the authority of Scripture, and the doctrine of salvation. These are the immovable foundations we cannot compromise. Yet there exists a broader category of secondary issues where genuine believers may disagree while still maintaining fellowship in Christ. We're reminded that speaking truth doesn't mean abandoning love—rather, true love compels us to share truth with patience, gentleness, and humility. As we navigate disagreements with family, friends, and fellow believers, we're called to ground our convictions firmly in Scripture's clarity while extending grace where we have liberty, always remembering that we too are learners under the authority of God's Word.
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Episode 23 - Unity in the Church with Brian Arnold
01/07/2026
Episode 23 - Unity in the Church with Brian Arnold
This week Brian Arnold confronts a reality many of us face: the temptation to distance ourselves from the church. Perhaps we've witnessed hypocrisy, experienced hurt from fellow believers, or become confused by conflicting teachings. Yet this discussion reveals a profound truth—our participation in the body of Christ isn't optional, it's essential to living worthy of the gospel. Drawing from Hebrews 10's clear command to not forsake gathering together and Ephesians 4's vision of the church as our place of equipping, protection, and growth, we're reminded that isolation robs us of God's design for our sanctification. The question isn't whether church involvement is worth the difficulty; it's recognizing that God has already answered that question definitively. Our calling is to find a biblically faithful church and commit ourselves fully, trusting that God's supernatural power working through His Word can accomplish what seems humanly impossible: genuine unity among diverse believers.
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Episode 22 - Glorification with Don Mitchell
01/02/2026
Episode 22 - Glorification with Don Mitchell
What if everything we experience in life—every trial, every joy, every challenge—is part of a seamless divine plan that stretches from before time began into eternity? This week Don Mitchell takes us to Romans 8:28-30, often called the 'golden chain of redemption,' revealing that when Scripture says 'all things work together for good,' it's not promising us comfortable lives or material prosperity. Instead, it's describing God's magnificent redemptive plan that begins with His foreknowledge before creation and culminates in our glorification. We discover that salvation isn't just a moment of decision, but a continuous journey through calling, justification, sanctification, and ultimately glorification. This understanding transforms how we view our daily struggles: they're not random hardships but purposeful preparation, chasing us toward heaven and growing us in holiness.
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Episode 21 - Everyday Idolatry with Whitney Oxford
01/02/2026
Episode 21 - Everyday Idolatry with Whitney Oxford
We often think of idolatry as an ancient problem—something involving stone statues and pagan temples that has little relevance to our modern lives. But this conversation with Whitney Oxford reveals a startling truth: idolatry is as pervasive in our hearts today as it ever was in biblical times. The difference isn't in the nature of the sin, but in its expression. While ancient cultures practiced polytheism—worshiping multiple gods sanctioned by their communities—we live in an age of what might be called 'idiotheism,' where each person crafts their own gods from imagination rather than revelation. Drawing from 1 Corinthians 6, which warns that idolaters will not inherit the kingdom of God, Whitney challenges us to examine what we've elevated in our hearts apart from Scripture. The discussion identifies eight categories of modern idolatry: possessions, pleasure, praise, power, position, protection, peace, and purpose. These progress from obvious to subtle, mirroring how people move through life seeking fulfillment in created things rather than the Creator. The antidote? Worship in spirit and truth. When we pour ourselves into authentic worship of God, loving Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, we find protection from the futility of self-defined glory. Our minds must be renewed by Scripture, recognizing that idolatry isn't just another sin—it's the paradigmatic sin from which others flow, a profound anti-correspondence to God's character that blasphemes His name while damning souls.
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Episode 20 - Embracing Correction with Brandon Taylor
01/02/2026
Episode 20 - Embracing Correction with Brandon Taylor
The path to spiritual maturity begins with a humble admission: we need correction. Drawing from the book of James, Brandon Taylor explains the uncomfortable truth that our natural response to being corrected by God's Word reveals the condition of our hearts. When Scripture exposes areas where we fall short, our immediate self-protection instinct can become the very barrier preventing our growth. Are we quick to hear and slow to speak, or do we rush to protect our reputation? This isn't just about accepting rebuke—it's about recognizing that God's exposure of our sin is actually His grace at work, providing us the opportunity to face what we've been hiding and to access the divine resources He's already given us for transformation. When we understand that correction is God's loving discipline designed for our redemption, we can face it with courage rather than fear.
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Episode 19 - Joy and Comfort through Trials with Gonz Herrera
01/02/2026
Episode 19 - Joy and Comfort through Trials with Gonz Herrera
What happens when we anchor our faith not in our circumstances, but in God's sovereign plan? This week, Gonz Herrera takes us to 1 Thessalonians 3, where Paul's overwhelming relief at hearing about the Thessalonian church's perseverance becomes a profound lesson for us all. Despite being separated from his spiritual children and enduring his own severe trials, Paul found his greatest comfort in one thing: their unwavering faith. This teaches us something about the nature of the Christian community—our spiritual stability doesn't just benefit ourselves, it actually revives and encourages others who are watching. Being immersed in others' spiritual lives—genuinely concerned for their faith and perseverance—lifts us above our own struggles and reflects the heart of Christ himself.
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Episode 18 - Wisdom for Men with Jay Pitts
01/02/2026
Episode 18 - Wisdom for Men with Jay Pitts
This week Jay Pitts helps us see the connection between biblical wisdom and moral integrity in our daily decision-making. Drawing heavily from Proverbs 8 and 9, we discover that true wisdom isn't merely practical knowledge—it's thinking God's thoughts after Him. The discussion reveals how wisdom from above is inherently moral, calling us to ask not 'What protects my reputation?' but 'What honors Christ?' This perspective transforms how we approach everything from business dealings to family relationships. We're reminded that our children watch us closely, discerning the authenticity of our faith through our willingness to admit fault and choose truth over convenience. The most striking insight is that sensual desires and love of the world cloud our spiritual vision, quenching the Spirit and dulling our ability to discern God's will. When we pursue holiness and practice spiritual disciplines, we position ourselves within God's will—not as a mystical location to find, but as a way of living that produces joy and contentment even amid trials.
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Episode 17 - Parenting Through the Seasons with Brian Arnold
12/19/2025
Episode 17 - Parenting Through the Seasons with Brian Arnold
Parenting is a journey through ever-changing seasons, each demanding wisdom, patience, and a willingness to adapt. This week Brian Arnold reminds us that there's no one-size-fits-all approach to raising children—what works in the toddler years won't necessarily serve us well when our kids become teenagers. The foundation of biblical parenting rests on two critical pillars: understanding what God is doing in our children's hearts and honestly examining what's happening in our own. During the toddler years, we're establishing authority with patience and perseverance, laying groundwork through consistent discipline while building relational connection. As our children grow into their teenage years, the challenges intensify—they face expanding worlds, growing peer influences, and the universal struggle with authority that comes hardwired into every human heart. Fear becomes our greatest enemy as parents during these turbulent years, tempting us toward control and manipulation rather than shepherding. Drawing from Proverbs 3, we learn to combat two types of fear: the fears we can see require faithful responses and biblical wisdom, while the 'what if' fears demand trust in God's sovereignty and sufficiency. The key insight is this: we must parent according to the need of the moment, continually asking ourselves what season our family is in and how to apply timeless biblical principles in age-appropriate ways. When we focus on loving service toward our children while shepherding our own hearts toward godliness, we position ourselves to navigate every parenting season with grace. Listen to the Legacy of Grace series here: https://gibcjupiter.org/media/sermon-details?sermonId=15588&type=audio&search=
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Episode 16 - Preparing for Camp with Dave Temple
12/19/2025
Episode 16 - Preparing for Camp with Dave Temple
This week Dave Temple invites us to spiritual preparation that extends far beyond the context of summer camp. At its heart lies a fundamental question we all face daily: who or what are we worshiping? The discussion centers on cultivating the fear of the Lord as the foundation for every decision we make, from the moment we wake up to how we navigate relationships and disappointments. We're challenged to examine our expectations—those often unspoken hopes and desires that can either set us up for bitterness or position us to receive what God truly wants to accomplish in our lives. Drawing from James 4's diagnosis of human conflict and James 1's promise that trials mature our faith, we're reminded that unmet expectations aren't obstacles to God's work but often the very means by which He refines us. The call to keep short accounts, pursue reconciliation, and avoid the slavery of self-protection resonates deeply for anyone who has found themselves avoiding eye contact with someone at church or withdrawing from difficult relationships. This isn't just about behavioral modification—it's about recognizing that when we worship ourselves, we cut ourselves off from the vine, isolating ourselves from the body life dynamics God designed for our growth. The invitation is clear: approach every season with prayerful expectation, knowing that God is forward-driving in His work to glorify Christ and conform us to His image.
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Episode 15 - Decision-Making and the Conscience with Mike Kotecki
12/19/2025
Episode 15 - Decision-Making and the Conscience with Mike Kotecki
This week, Mike Kotecki helps us explore Christian freedom and the conscience—a topic that touches the very heart of how we navigate daily decisions as believers. At its core, we discover that Scripture provides us with clear guardrails: the explicit commands and prohibitions that define moral boundaries. But between these guardrails lies what's called the 'wisdom zone'—where we're called to exercise discernment rather than follow rigid rules. The challenge many of us face is an 'overbaked conscience' that narrows this highway unnecessarily, turning personal preferences into divine mandates. Drawing heavily from Romans 14, we're reminded that judging our brothers and sisters over matters of conscience violates God's clear command to love one another. The passage challenges us to ask: Are we placing our own standards on others and calling it biblical obedience? Are we confusing our applications of truth with truth itself? The beautiful wisdom here is that spiritual maturity actually broadens our understanding of freedom in Christ, not narrows it. As Hebrews 5 teaches, through practice in God's Word, our senses become trained to discern good from evil, wisdom from foolishness. This isn't about lowering standards—it's about elevating our understanding to align with God's actual commands rather than our cultural or personal additions to them. The call is clear: grow in wisdom, seek counsel, remain humble, and above all, refuse to judge others in areas where Scripture grants freedom.
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Episode 14 - The Necessity of Reading with Lance Quinn
12/19/2025
Episode 14 - The Necessity of Reading with Lance Quinn
In an age of endless distractions and information overload, we're reminded of a timeless truth: spiritual growth and biblical literacy go hand in hand. Our conversation with Lance Quinn challenges us to reconsider our relationship with reading, not as an optional hobby but as an essential discipline for knowing God deeply. The foundation, of course, is Scripture itself—whether we're reading with our eyes or listening with our ears, we must be people of the Word. But beyond that, we're invited into a rich heritage of wisdom through books written by faithful Christians who have spent lifetimes distilling biblical truth. Think of classics like J.I. Packer's 'Knowing God' or A.W. Pink's works on God's attributes—these aren't just books, they're mentors from previous generations discipling us through the printed page. The systematic categories of theology—God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, salvation, the church, and last things—provide a roadmap for our reading journey. What's particularly encouraging is the practical approach suggested: even five pages before bed can transform our understanding over time. We don't need to be intimidated by our lack of reading habit or our wandering minds. The key is to start somewhere, seek guidance from mature believers, and recognize that these books aren't replacing Scripture but helping us understand it more deeply. When we read with discernment and intentionality, we're not just accumulating knowledge—we're being shaped into disciples who can then disciple others.
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Episode 13 - Battling Worldliness with Bob Whitney
12/19/2025
Episode 13 - Battling Worldliness with Bob Whitney
Drawing from James 4, Bob Whitney challenges our natural inclinations—that the source of our spiritual conflicts isn't found in our circumstances, our relationships, or our environment, but within ourselves. James asks a piercing question: what is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? The answer is uncomfortable yet liberating: it's our own pleasures that wage war within us. This isn't about avoiding the good gifts God has given us to enjoy, but about recognizing when our hearts become enslaved to them. Worldliness, as defined through Scripture, is yielding to self-seeking and self-indulgence without regard for God. The symptoms reveal themselves in quarrels, envy, prayerlessness, and discontent. Understanding this anthropology, this truth about human nature, is the first step toward freedom. We must recognize that all our problems stem from inside ourselves, while the solution—Christ's righteousness—comes from outside ourselves. This clarity empowers us to fight the right battle in the right place: our hearts.
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Episode 12 - Faith Under Pressure with James Jeong
12/19/2025
Episode 12 - Faith Under Pressure with James Jeong
This week, James Jeong turns to Hebrews 11 and challenges us to reconsider faith not as an emotion we conjure up, but as a deliberate act of yielding to God's authority over our own perceptions. We discover that faith is fundamentally about agreement—choosing to align ourselves with God's truth even when our feelings, our culture, and our circumstances tell us otherwise. The discussion walks us through the lives of Noah and Sarah, showing us that genuine faith often means swimming upstream against popular opinion and even our own doubts. Noah built an ark when rain seemed impossible; Sarah conceived when biology said no. Both chose to believe God's promises over their observable reality. What's particularly refreshing is the acknowledgment that faith isn't always heroic victory—sometimes it's messy, involving failure and repentance, yet still precious to God. We learn that even our repentance is an act of faith, as is our acceptance of forgiveness when we don't feel forgiven. The message lands with particular force in our current cultural moment where we're told to 'live our truth.' Instead, we're called to live God's truth, finding our assurance not in subjective feelings but in the objective, authoritative revelation of Scripture. This isn't about working up enough faith; it's about knowing God's Word deeply enough that when pressure comes, we have something solid to stand on.
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Episode 11 - Faithfulness in Affliction with Todd Murray
12/19/2025
Episode 11 - Faithfulness in Affliction with Todd Murray
When we find ourselves walking through seasons of profound darkness—when prayers seem unanswered, circumstances remain unchanged, and God's purposes feel hidden—we face a critical choice. Isaiah 50 presents us with a striking reality: sometimes God-fearing, Christ-following believers are called to walk in darkness without light. This isn't a sign of spiritual failure or divine abandonment; rather, it's an invitation to a deeper trust. The passage warns us against our natural tendency to "kindle our own fires"—to manufacture our own relief through worldly comforts, premature solutions, or self-protective strategies. Whether we turn to pleasure-seeking, hard-heartedness toward God, debilitating fear, or desperate attempts to control outcomes, these self-illuminated paths lead only to torment. The prescription is beautifully simple yet profoundly challenging: trust in the name of the Lord and rely on Him. This means clinging to God's character and reputation even when the circumstances that once reassured us have been removed. We're reminded through Psalm 56 that God is never indifferent—He counts our wanderings, collects our tears, and records every moment in His book. The darkness we experience isn't evidence of God's distance but rather an expression of His faithfulness, designed to draw us closer to the only true source of comfort and light.
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Episode 10 - Devotional Hymnology with Dan Kreider
12/19/2025
Episode 10 - Devotional Hymnology with Dan Kreider
What if the songs we sing aren't just pleasant additions to our worship, but essential expressions of our faith? This week, Dan Kreider challenges us to reconsider music's role in our spiritual lives, moving beyond mere preference to biblical mandate. Drawing from Psalm 40, he reminds us that God has put a new song in our mouths—a song of praise that isn't meant to be kept private but shared so that many will see, fear, and trust in the Lord. The discussion traces the rich history of church music, from the exclusive psalm-singing of the Anglican church to the rise of hymns and gospel songs, helping us understand that the tensions we face today aren't new. Our ancestors wrestled with similar questions about what we should sing and why. The key insight is profound yet simple: just as we pray to God in our own words, we may also sing to Him in our own words. This democratizes music, removing it from the realm of professionals and placing it firmly in the hands of every believer. We're challenged to overcome our insecurities about our singing abilities and recognize that the Lord doesn't care about pitch or tone—He cares about the heart behind the sacrifice of praise. The Psalms themselves show us that music should be a regular part of our lives, both corporately and individually, helping us express the full range of human experience before our God.
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Episode 9 - Death and the Believer with Matt Waymeyer
12/19/2025
Episode 9 - Death and the Believer with Matt Waymeyer
This conversation with Matt Waymeyer invites us into one of life's most sobering yet essential considerations: how we as believers prepare for death. At the heart of this discussion lies Paul's powerful declaration in Philippians 1:21—'For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.' We're challenged to examine whether this perspective truly shapes our daily existence or remains merely an aspirational verse we've memorized. The conversation reveals that both living and dying can feel daunting when we're in the trenches of suffering, pain, or uncertainty. Yet Paul's framework offers us profound freedom: if we live, it means fruitful labor for Christ; if we die, we depart to be with Him, which is far better. This isn't about denying the reality of grief or minimizing suffering—Scripture shows us that even Job tore his robe and mourned. Rather, it's about maintaining altitude and perspective when our world grows smaller. The real obstacle we often face isn't the trial itself, but what our response reveals: an idolatrous desire for comfort over fruitfulness for Christ. When we find ourselves despairing over life's accumulated disappointments, we're exposed as valuing ease more than spiritual maturity. This message calls us to remember that we're not our own, that our lives exist to fulfill His purposes regardless of the quality or quantity of days we're given. Whether we're facing terminal illness or simply the daily wear of broken appliances and mounting frustrations, the question remains the same: what captivates our hearts? The antidote to worldliness and fear is fixing our eyes on Christ—living for His glory and trusting that to depart and be with Him is the ultimate gain.
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Episode 8 - The Turmoil of Change with Kempiz Hernandez
12/19/2025
Episode 8 - The Turmoil of Change with Kempiz Hernandez
When life throws us a curveball—whether it's an unexpected job loss, a sudden health crisis, or any major disruption—our first instinct is often to grumble, complain, or retreat into fear. But Kempiz Hernandez helps us see something profound about those reactions: they expose what we truly believe about God. Do we really trust that He is sovereign over every detail of our lives? The discussion draws from Philippians, where Paul sits in prison yet refuses to complain, instead reminding us that God causes all things to work together for good for those who love Him. The pitfall many of us fall into during transitions isn't just anxiety—it's pride. When we grumble, we're essentially saying, 'I deserve better than this.' But Romans 8:28 and 1 Peter 5:7 call us to humble ourselves under God's mighty hand by casting our anxieties upon Him, because He genuinely cares for us. The pathway through unexpected change isn't found in our own strength or circumstances, but in returning to Scripture, honestly examining our view of God, and running toward—not away from—our church community. When we're isolated, we become vulnerable to distorted thinking about who God is. But when we're transparent with fellow believers and our shepherds, we find the support and biblical truth needed to navigate life's storms with faith rather than fear.
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Episode 7 - Church Planting with Brandon Taylor
12/19/2025
Episode 7 - Church Planting with Brandon Taylor
This week Brandon Taylor joins us to talk about the new church plant in Port Saint Lucie. When thinking about how to reach a new community, Brandon explains that he came out of a worldly background—whether enslaved to immorality, drugs, or the shallow waters of superficial Christianity—and how those things create a burden for those still trapped in darkness. The discussion centers on Psalm 16, where David models how to maintain faith during trials by declaring God as our ultimate refuge and portion. When difficulty strikes at 3 AM and our minds race with catastrophic thoughts, we learn that the Holy Spirit uses Scripture to instruct our hearts, reminding us that God is our inheritance, our cup, our everything. The central challenge presented is this: when suffering comes, will we chase after false comforts that multiply our sorrows, or will we turn to the Lord Himself as our good? This isn't just theoretical theology—it's the practical reality that God's people need answers from God's Word, especially when we're in the trenches of prolonged trials and can barely see beyond the next day. We need help getting altitude on our circumstances to see God's goodness and His grander purposes at work.
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Episode 6 - Sharing Your Testimony with Whitney Oxford
12/11/2025
Episode 6 - Sharing Your Testimony with Whitney Oxford
This week, we talk to Whitney Oxford. He helps us understand that there's a difference between sharing a life story and sharing a testimony. Your testimony isn't about hitting rock bottom or dramatic circumstances. It's about the unchanging gospel colliding with your life. Every true Christian testimony contains the same elements: God's holiness, your sin, Christ's substitutionary death, and the Spirit's work of conviction and regeneration. These are the objective truths that matter, not how emotional or dramatic your story sounds. The gospel is the power of God for salvation. When you share your testimony, you're declaring where the power lies. Not in your cleverness, not in your technique, but in the simple message of a crucified and risen Messiah. Four questions to frame your testimony: • What was your spiritual condition before salvation? • How were you found by God? • How has your life changed as a new creature in Christ? • How is the Lord still working in your life? Before Christ, you loved yourself. After Christ, you love God, love people, and love Scripture. That's the testimony of God's love poured into your heart. "Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory because of your loving kindness, because of your truth." Psalm 115:1 Your testimony is about the wondrous workings of God rescuing you by His mercy. Share it faithfully.
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Episode 5 - Pursuing Wisdom with Dave Temple
12/11/2025
Episode 5 - Pursuing Wisdom with Dave Temple
This week, Dave Temple joins Rob Jorgensen and takes us to Proverbs 23:22-23. There, we're confronted by the powerful command to 'buy truth' and acquire wisdom, instruction, and understanding. But what currency do we use in this transaction? The answer is both simple and challenging—we must lay down our own will. This is especially poignant for young people navigating the intense passions of adolescence, where every decision feels monumental and emotions run high. The 'but I love him' moment becomes a crossroads where faith must override feeling. What makes this exchange so difficult is that wisdom doesn't offer instant gratification; her dividends are paid over time. Yet the cost of refusing this transaction is far greater—a life built on self-deception, stunted spiritual growth, and the compound interest of foolish choices. First Peter 2:1-2 reinforces this principle by showing us that spiritual appetite cannot coexist with cherished sins like deceit and hypocrisy. We cannot simultaneously entertain sin and expect to hunger for God's Word. This message challenges us to examine whether we're truly engaging in the transaction of wisdom or merely presenting a veneer of spiritual interest while holding tight to our pet desires.
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Episode 4 - Free Will with Scott Christensen
12/10/2025
Episode 4 - Free Will with Scott Christensen
What does it really mean to have free will when God is sovereign over everything? This week Rob Jorgensen talks to Scott Christiansen to discuss his book Defeating Evil. Scott tackles one of the most misunderstood concepts in evangelical Christianity: the relationship between divine sovereignty and human responsibility. We discover that the popular notion of libertarian free will—the idea that we must have equal ability to choose or reject God for our love to be real—actually contradicts what Scripture teaches about our nature and God's grace. The Bible is clear: we are dead in our trespasses and sins, unable to seek God on our own. Yet this doesn't make our choices meaningless or reduce us to robots. Instead, Scripture reveals a beautiful truth: God's sovereignty doesn't diminish our responsibility but establishes it within His perfect plan. When we properly understand who God is (fully sovereign), who we are (creatures dependent on our Creator), what sin is (enslaving and deceptive), and what salvation is (entirely of grace, both necessary and sufficient), everything falls into place. This isn't about logic or emotion—it's about submitting to Scripture's definitions. The regenerating work of the Holy Spirit transforms our will, freeing us from sin's bondage and enabling us to believe. Grace doesn't just make salvation possible; it makes it actual. This God-centered worldview changes everything, moving us from seeing ourselves as the sun around which everything revolves to recognizing that we orbit around God's glory, where we were always meant to be.
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Episode 3 - Biblical Evaluation with Jerry Wragg
12/10/2025
Episode 3 - Biblical Evaluation with Jerry Wragg
Pastor Jerry Wragg offers a challenging truth from 1 Corinthians 4: even our own self-examination means nothing compared to God's evaluation of our lives. This isn't about abandoning self-reflection, but rather ensuring we're measuring ourselves against the right standard—Scripture, not our own reasoning or cultural norms. The Corinthian church fell into division and compromise because they evaluated life through human wisdom rather than God's Word. Their problem wasn't just theological; it manifested in every area: tolerating immorality, bringing lawsuits against each other, confusion about marriage and family, and misusing spiritual gifts for personal prominence. We face the same temptations today. When we leave evaluations to our own minds apart from Scripture's clear teaching, we become more deceivable, more biased in our own favor, and more vulnerable to Satan's subtle deceptions. The discussion brings this home practically: a father who works 12-hour days might think his sacrifice at work exempts him from sacrificial leadership at home, but God doesn't pit biblical responsibilities against each other. He calls us to faithfulness in all areas—work, marriage, parenting, church involvement, and evangelism. True biblical reasoning means we can't cherry-pick which commands to follow based on our comfort or exhaustion. Instead, we rely on God's Spirit to energize us for every responsibility He's given us, measuring our faithfulness not by our own feelings but by His Word.
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Episode 2 - Repentance with Aaron Wragg
12/10/2025
Episode 2 - Repentance with Aaron Wragg
This conversation invites us into a profound exploration of genuine repentance through the lens of Psalm 51, David's heartfelt confession after his adultery with Bathsheba and murder of Uriah. We're challenged to examine whether our own repentance mirrors David's broken humility or merely consists of shallow apologies designed to escape consequences. The discussion presents repentance as a staircase descending from pride to humility, where each step requires us to acknowledge our need for mercy, use indicting language about our sin, recognize the impact on others, and genuinely request forgiveness. This isn't about quickly saying 'I'm sorry' to return to normalcy—it's about dwelling in brokenness before God. The principle that 'your repentance should be as notorious as your sin was' reminds us that David made his confession public precisely because his sin was public. For those of us raising children or discipling others, we're encouraged to model this kind of transparent repentance regularly, making it echo through our homes and relationships. When repentance becomes a practiced muscle rather than a rare event, we position ourselves near the bottom step of humility, making it easier to descend that final distance when needed. Psalm 51 serves simultaneously as our gauge, compass, and treatment plan—measuring our heart's condition, directing us back to God, and healing the disease of sin that infects us all.
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