RUF Alabama Podcast

Weekly messages from Davis Sweatt, Minister for RUF at the University of Alabama.

Relationships: Relating to Dating 02/27/2026

Relationships: Relating to Dating What is this thing we call dating? Why do we do it? Who should we be dating? What wisdom does the Bible have for figuring out when and how to date? These are the questions campus minister, Davis Sweatt, tackles this week. Scriptures for this week ... What is dating? Who do we date? ; Why do we date? ; When should we or shouldn't we date? ; How do we date? ; /episode/index/show/rufbama/id/40257675

Relationships: "Relating to Sex" 02/20/2026

Relationships: "Relating to Sex" The world seems to view sex as either nothing or everything, but what does the Bible have to say? This week Davis explores that question to try and provide deeper understanding of this part of our created design. This week's scripture is . /episode/index/show/rufbama/id/40199600

Relationships: Manhood 02/13/2026

Relationships: Manhood What does it mean to be a man? What are the characteristics of a Godly man? How can I grow into the man I am called to be? Davis tackles those questions in this week's talk on manhood. This week's scripture is & . Resource for talk: Brian Sorgenfrei /episode/index/show/rufbama/id/40099025

Grace and Peace 02/06/2026

Grace and Peace What do biblical grace and peace look like and how do they call us into greater reliance on Christ? Special guest, Rev. Benjie Slaton, speaks on the deeper meaning of grace and peace. This week's scripture is . /episode/index/show/rufbama/id/40099095

Relationships: Womanhood 01/30/2026

Relationships: Womanhood The book of Proverbs famously ends with a passage about the woman who fears the Lord. It is easy to read this passage as a list of achievements to check off before you are ready for marriage, but what if God is trying to show us something different? What if God is pointing us to what true beauty really looks like? What if true beauty is found not in accomplishments or validation from others, but in the fear of the Lord? This week Daniel explores these questions. This week's scripture is . /episode/index/show/rufbama/id/39936990

Relationships: Learning to Love - "Friendship" 01/23/2026

Relationships: Learning to Love - "Friendship" We all know the feeling of loneliness. The feeling you get when you walk into a place and you do not know anyone and no one knows you. It is a truly terrifying and anxiety inducing reality to be alone. So what is the solution? This week RUF Fellow, Cole, unpacks what the Bible teaches us about friendship. This week's scripture is . /episode/index/show/rufbama/id/39850370

Relationships: Learning to Love - "Relating to God's Will" 01/17/2026

Relationships: Learning to Love - "Relating to God's Will" What does God's will really look like? How do I know what He wants me to do? What if I make the wrong decision? Davis addresses these anxieties with a thoughtful look at the reality of God's will. This week's text , , , , . Source material: Matt Howell’s “Relating to God's Will”; Kevin DeYoung “Just Do Something” /episode/index/show/rufbama/id/39765985

Relationships: Learning to Love - "Relating to Relationships" 01/14/2026

Relationships: Learning to Love - "Relating to Relationships" The week's text is Genesis , . /episode/index/show/rufbama/id/39724400

The Parables: "A Parable About Partying" 11/21/2025

The Parables: "A Parable About Partying" What does the life God calls us to look like? Why do we make excuses and run from it? What would it look like to surrender to God and live into His Kingdom? In our last episode of the semester Davis looks at the Parable of the Great Banquet to answer these questions. This weeks scripture is . /episode/index/show/rufbama/id/39125305

The Parables: "A Parable About God's Generosity" 11/14/2025

The Parables: "A Parable About God's Generosity" In our talk this week we look into the realities of grace and what happens when our pride collides with God's grace. This weeks scripture is . Sources: Brian Sorgenfrei, Matt Howell, & Tim Keller /episode/index/show/rufbama/id/39045250

The Parables: "A Parable About Waiting" 11/05/2025

The Parables: "A Parable About Waiting" What does it mean to live in the already and the not yet? How to we wait for the Lord? What are our marching orders? This week Daniel speaks to these questions as he looks at the parable of the ten minas. This weeks scripture is . /episode/index/show/rufbama/id/38952100

The Parables: "A Parable About Relating to Others" 10/24/2025

The Parables: "A Parable About Relating to Others" What does it mean when Jesus calls us to love our neighbors? What does a neighbor look like? Where do we find our neighbors? What motivates us to be a neighbor to others? In this weeks talk Davis explores these questions in detail as we look at the parable of the good samaritan. This week's scripture is . /episode/index/show/rufbama/id/38769415

The Parables: "A Parable About Self Worth" 10/17/2025

The Parables: "A Parable About Self Worth" How does God see me? How does he react to me in my sin? What does his love look like? In this weeks passage Davis explores the misconceptions we have surrounding the love of God. This week's scripture is . /episode/index/show/rufbama/id/38619640

Healing: Far as the Curse is Found 10/10/2025

Healing: Far as the Curse is Found What does the story of the centurion tell us about Jesus? What does Jesus's redemption look like? What life is Jesus inviting us to? These are the questions that RUF International Pastor, Fraser Perrett, explores in this weeks sermon. The scripture this week is . /episode/index/show/rufbama/id/38541755

The Parables: "A Parable About Forgiveness" 10/03/2025

The Parables: "A Parable About Forgiveness" What does forgiveness really look like and how can you and I embrace and share the grace and forgiveness God shows us? These are the questions we look in to this week. Associate campus minister, Daniel Tortorici looks at the difficulty of forgiveness in this weeks message. The scripture this week is . /episode/index/show/rufbama/id/38454715

The Parables: "A Parable About Lostness" 09/26/2025

The Parables: "A Parable About Lostness" When we think of the parable of the prodigal son, we often assume it is primarily a critique of the prodigal son. We believe that the paraple is teaching us how much God loves us, and that we should be less judgemental of others. But what if the main character is actually the older son, the son who stayed at home and did everything his father asked? How does that change the message? This week Davis dives back in to the Parable of the Prodigal Son to find out. This weeks scripture is Luke . /episode/index/show/rufbama/id/38366910

The Parables: "A Parable About Being Homesick" 09/19/2025

The Parables: "A Parable About Being Homesick" The parable of the prodigal son presents us with two archetypes in the two sons we see. This week Davis explores the reality behind the actions of the first son, the "prodigal son." What would it have meant to take your inheritance early in his day? Why would he do that? How does he try to fix his mistakes? How does the father's love confound his son? This week's scripture is , . /episode/index/show/rufbama/id/38280325

The Parables: "A Parable About Being Justified" 09/12/2025

The Parables: "A Parable About Being Justified" What does it look like to live in the kingdom of God? Who are the people we should model ourselves after? How can we ever live up to the standard that God sets? Davis dives into these questions this week as we explore the parable of "The Pharisee and the Tax Collector". This weeks scripture is . Sources for this talk: Matt Howell, Sammy Rhodes, Tim Keller. /episode/index/show/rufbama/id/38181555

The Parables: "A Parable About Expectations" 09/05/2025

The Parables: "A Parable About Expectations" What does the kingdom of God look like? Why doesn't it feel like I thought it would? How can a kingdom be powerful without using military force? This week Davis tackles all this and more as he dives into the parable of the mustard seed. This weeks scripture is . /episode/index/show/rufbama/id/38106590

The Parables: "A Parable About Parables" 08/29/2025

The Parables: "A Parable About Parables" This week we begin our series on the parables. Davis investigates the "Parable of the Sower" to answer the questions, "What is God's Kingdom like," and "How can we experience Him?" This week's scripture is . /episode/index/show/rufbama/id/38019915

What is RUF? 08/25/2025

What is RUF? Campus Minister, Davis Sweatt, welcomes students at the first large group of the fall by asking the question "What is RUF?" Why does RUF exist? What does it look like? How can you be a part of it? These are the questions Davis explores. This weeks scripture is . /episode/index/show/rufbama/id/37946305

7 Ways to Approach Your Bible 07/22/2025

7 Ways to Approach Your Bible RUF Staff discusses the main ways people approach the Bible and the posutres to take when reading if you want to get the most out of it. /episode/index/show/rufbama/id/37503630

Before You Open Your Bible 07/22/2025

Before You Open Your Bible RUF Staff talks about the few things you need to know before you open your Bible. Can you trust it? Is it the one we have the same as the ancient book? What's it's purpose? /episode/index/show/rufbama/id/37503615

Routines Are Your Friend 07/22/2025

Routines Are Your Friend RUF Staff discusses how good rhythms and routines lead to deeper life with God. A good kickstart to look ahead and actually plan to build a good relationship with God. /episode/index/show/rufbama/id/37503605

Building Solid Friendships as Men at Alabama 05/11/2025

Building Solid Friendships as Men at Alabama Three Bama alumni (and RUF) , Cole Jones (19'), Griffin Walker (20'), and Andrew Dunlap (21') discuss how sometimes finding solid friends is harder than expected in college, but what makes it worth it, and some practical ways to find it while also building a life centered on God. /episode/index/show/rufbama/id/36439360

Senior Night 2025 04/30/2025

Senior Night 2025 For the last large group of the semseter our senoirs share the work the Lord has done in their lives at the University of Alabama. It is a great night to see and hear how the Lord has worked on campus. The seniors that shared are: -Somerset Acosta -Rebekah Leventhal -Aiden Holt -AC Chapman -Brittany Grigorian -Jake McDonald -Johnny Foster -Lila Robertson -Fuller Weston -Ashley Stahl -Hamilton Chapman /episode/index/show/rufbama/id/36252620

Stew's Last Sermon: Closing Words 04/11/2025

Stew's Last Sermon: Closing Words This week Stewart rounds out our series on the ten commandments and his time with RUF Bama. His talk is a reminder of the mission of the Christian life, a mission he has exemplified in his time here at the University of Alabama. This weeks passage is . /episode/index/show/rufbama/id/36093300

10 in 10: "Christianity Has More To Offer Than The Culture War!" 04/08/2025

10 in 10: "Christianity Has More To Offer Than The Culture War!" Campus Minister Stewart Swain reflects on 10 themes he has seen over his 10 years as the RUF Campus Minister at The University of Alabama. Special guest Rev. John Bourgeois join him to discuss the theme "Christianity Has More To Offer Than The Culture War!". /episode/index/show/rufbama/id/36055965

10 in 10: "Theological Literacy Means Everything!!!" 04/07/2025

10 in 10: "Theological Literacy Means Everything!!!" Campus Minister Stewart Swain reflects on 10 themes he has seen over his 10 years as the RUF Campus Minister at The University of Alabama. Special guests Rev. Britton Wood and Rev. John Stone join him to discuss the theme "Theological Literacy Means Everything!!!". /episode/index/show/rufbama/id/36044850

The Ten Commandments: "The Tenth Commandment" 04/04/2025

The Ten Commandments: "The Tenth Commandment" What does it mean to envy? Why does God command against it? How does following this command set us free? Ministry Fellow, Cole Jones, answers these and other questions in this week's talk on the tenth commandment. The scripture this week is , . Resources: “The Spirit of the Disciplines” by Richard Foster “Rumours of a Better Country” by Marsh Moyle /episode/index/show/rufbama/id/36004020

RUF Alabama Podcast

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