What Matters Most: Recent Episodes

Faith Community

In this limited series, we’ll be taking a look at what matters most in our lives. In each episode, you’ll hear an authentic conversation between some of our leaders and special guests that will encourage you, remind you that you’re not alone, and challenge you to take your next step toward growth.

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This episode wraps up our Easter series as we explore what it looks like to live life in light of the resurrection. Pastor Josh and his friend Pastor Bob Poley from Grace Union sit down to talk about the powerful transformation we experience when we encounter Christ and what it looks like to walk out our salvation in everyday life no matter where we’re at on the journey.

If you would like prayer, please send us an email to prayer@faithcommunity.co.

What Matters Most is a podcast from Faith Community Church.
Connect on socials:FacebookInstagramYouTube channel

***No matter where you're at on your journey, you are welcome here.

Faith Community Church
info@faithcommunity.co
636.671.4190***

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Throughout life, there are seasons of grief and loss as we experience the death of a loved one, a dream, a job, or an expectation. In this episode, Pastor Josh and Lauren sit down to talk about Jesus as a dying Savior and how we walk through a variety of losses in our own lives. They discuss the difference between death and dormancy and how God walks with us every step of the way as we allow Him to lead this powerful process of growth.

00:00 Welcome & Introductions
03:40 Jesus had to die to resurrect us
07:00 What does it mean to "die to yourself"?
09:30 The difference between death and dormant
15:45 The winter season is vital
18:00 How God works through the process
22:15 The other side of the pain
29:00 Allowing people to process their pain
31:30 Grieving expectations
35:50 Someday you'll see purpose in it
43:30 God works through people in the process
44:45 Let people in to help
49:50 If you're in the middle of it, God will lead you on the way through

Watch the Savior series on our YouTube channel here.

What Matters Most is a podcast from Faith Community Church.
Connect on socials:FacebookInstagramYouTube channel

***No matter where you're at on your journey, you are welcome here.

Faith Community Church
info@faithcommunity.co
636.671.4190***

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As we learn to follow Christ, we experience many seasons of life, including those marked by difficulty and pain. So how do we find Jesus here? What if He could relate? In today's episode, Pastor Josh sits down with his friend, Daniel Taylor, from Elevation Church STL to discuss what it means for Jesus to be angry. They talk about their experience with anger, suffering, and the unexplainable working power of Christ.

00:00 Welcome & Introductions

01:00 Siri's Interruption

06:30 Can Jesus really be an Angry Savior?

14:30 The issue with self-reliance

18:28 Why is it difficult to think of Jesus being angry?

20:00 Wrath is a temporary action, not an attribute of God.

28:20 Anger at the Tomb

35:00 What's the difference between an action & attribute of God?

37:50 Righteous Anger

39:08 The evil & unnaturalness of death

44:45 Experiencing resurrection power today

51:29 Suffering can be for our formation

55:48 In prayer we can praise what we don't prefer

What Matters Most is a podcast from Faith Community Church.
Connect on socials:FacebookInstagramYouTube channel

***No matter where you're at on your journey, you are welcome here.

Faith Community Church
info@faithcommunity.co
636.671.4190***

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As we learn to follow Christ, we experience many seasons of life, including those marked by difficulty and pain. So how do we find Jesus here? What if He could relate? In this episode, Pastor Josh Earls is joined by his friend, Harvey Mitchell, as they discuss the shortest verse in the English Bible - Jesus Wept (John 11:35). They talk about what the text is telling us and they also share their personal experience with painful seasons and what they learned about the Lord through them.

As a church, we're currently in a Sunday message series called, "Savior: An Explanation of the Resurrected Christ." During the series, we're exploring four observations of Christ found in John 11 as He encounters Lazurus' tomb.

Watch the Sunday messages on our YouTube channel here.
Need prayer? Send us an email to Prayer@faithcommunity.co

What Matters Most is a podcast from Faith Community Church.
Connect on socials:FacebookInstagramYouTube channel

***No matter where you're at on your journey, you are welcome here.

Faith Community Church
info@faithcommunity.co
636.671.4190***

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Welcome to the final episode of What Matters Most for 2023! Fawn Ellerbrook sat down with Chris Rowton, Tabitha Caplinger, and a friend new to the pod, Kelsee Partney, to talk all things Christmas. We talked about the wonder and awe of the season and how we can take time to focus on Christ as we wrap up this year. There may also be a few rabbit trails about fruit cake and all our favorite Christmas things!

Whether you find yourself joyful and excited for Christmas or maybe you feel sad or walking through loss, our goal for this next hour we have together is that you hear the incredible hope that is yours because Jesus came for you and me. So sit back, grab a cup of cocoa, and enjoy this holiday episode of What Matters Most.

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For Advent Resources, download our free app at Faithcommunity.co/app or click the link at FaithCommunity.co.

00:00 Welcome & introductions
02:33 Chris' Ode to Fruitcake
05:36 Our Favorite Christmas Movies
12:55 Our Favorite Holiday Traditions
20:44 Why do traditions matter to us?
25:22 What is Advent?
32:30 What was happening during the 400 years between the Old & New Testament?
43:35 Emmanuel God with Us
54:30 How we stay connected with God during Christmas and other busy seasons
1:03:49 What to do when the holidays are hard
1:09:30 What we're looking forward to this year
1:14:10 A prayer for the holidays

What Matters Most is a podcast from Faith Community Church.
Connect on socials:FacebookInstagramYouTube channel

***No matter where you're at on your journey, you are welcome here.

Faith Community Church
info@faithcommunity.co
636.671.4190***

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As humans, it can be difficult to choose the route of obedience, especially when it tests our own comfort or desire. In this episode, Tabitha Caplinger chats with Lauren Earls and Ricky & Nikki Farney about the importance of self-control and how this fruit partners with the others we've been learning about through the series! They each share great insight into how the Holy Spirit helps lead & guide us to what is best for us, even when it's difficult to follow. But, when we trust God, we'll experience the goodness He has promised us!

Ricky & Nikki help lead Celebrate Recovery, a group that helps anyone dealing with hurts, habits, or hangups. To learn more about Celebrate Recovery at Faith Community, visit FaithCommunity.co/groups.

00:00 Welcome & Introductions

02:00 Series Recap

03:25 What is self-control?

7:40 How the fruit works together as a whole

10:45 Self-Control outside of faith

18:18 How Celebrate Recovery helps people find freedom & connect with Jesus

21:00 Identifying the obstacles

24:45 How does self-control lead to freedom?

28:35 Choosing obedience over instant gratification

41:20 How do we know what to say no to?

48:50 God is in the pause

49:45 Self-control as a part of consecration

53:28 Believing God is good

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Watch the Fruit of the Spirit Series here

Let us know what you've been learning! Send an email to Fawn Ellerbrook at fellerbrook@faithcommunity.co

What Matters Most is a podcast from Faith Community Church.
Connect on socials:FacebookInstagramYouTube channel

***No matter where you're at on your journey, you are welcome here.

Faith Community Church
info@faithcommunity.co
636.671.4190***

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What do you think of when you hear someone described as gentle? So often we view gentleness as a weaker characteristic, but Scripture paints a different story. In this episode, Tabitha Caplinger sits down with Josh Earls and Fawn Ellerbrook to Gentleness & meekness as we continue our study on the Fruit of the Spirit.

00:00 Introductions

02:00 What is Scriptural gentleness?

05:50 What does gentleness look like in culture & our lives?

12:00 Recognizing when we're misusing power or influence

13:00 What love has to do with it all

15:30 The posture & motivation of the heart matters

20:00 Gentleness as strength

22:25 The importance of seeing the humanity in each other

29:10 Truth and the power of a narrative

31:32 How much do you trust God?

34:55 Sometimes gentleness looks passive

43:35 The partnership of grace & wisdom

45:00 What "Beauty & The Beast" can teach us

48:27 Remind yourself of God's love & grace toward yourself

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Watch the Fruit of the Spirit Series here

Let us know what you've been learning! Send an email to Fawn Ellerbrook at fellerbrook@faithcommunity.co

What Matters Most is a podcast from Faith Community Church.
Connect on socials:FacebookInstagramYouTube channel

***No matter where you're at on your journey, you are welcome here.

Faith Community Church
info@faithcommunity.co
636.671.4190***

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The Church is part of God's incredible plan to bring hope & healing to the world. But, the Church is also made up of people and we have a tendency to be messy and broken.

In this episode, we continue our discussion about when church hurts focusing more on what to do after we've been hurt and how to walk through conflict in a Godly way. We also talk about what it's like to find a new faith community and the process of grief & forgiveness that can come with that.

Guests: Radonda Rowton, Chris Rowton, Josh Earls, and Fawn Ellerbrook

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00:00 Welcome & Introductions

03:55 A liturgy for church hurt

05:00 A reminder of what spiritual abuse is

06:00 We should be able to ask questions & agree to disagree

10:50 What leads to pastors & leaders being unhealthy

16:20 The Matthew 18 guide to conflict

21:00 How does church hurt impact people

25:56 How chronic anxiety leads to toxic environments

30:07 Find a trusted person to process with

34:28 You don't have to stay to honor God

40:37 How do you find a new community?

49:35 Leaders need to learn to listen to feedback

53:50 How do we point people to Jesus when He's tangled up in the pain?

58:00 Forgiveness is key for our own health, not to

01:03:10 How do I start the healing process?

01:07:35 Why do we believe in the Church?

01:15:11 Loving people like Jesus in the midst of their pain

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What Matters Most is a podcast from Faith Community Church.
Connect on socials:FacebookInstagramYouTube channel

***No matter where you're at on your journey, you are welcome here.

Faith Community Church
info@faithcommunity.co
636.671.4190***

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Everyone has their own story & unique experience with God - and the same goes for our experiences with communities of faith. With the publication of podcasts, articles, TV shows, and documentaries focused on cases of spiritual abuse and trauma, we - as people of faith - have an opportunity to learn from culture and the commentary surrounding this topic.

In this episode, we’ll discuss what “church hurt” is and how we can tell the difference between a grievance and spiritual abuse. We’ll also talk about what we think the Church - leaders, the organization, and Christ followers - have gotten wrong and how we can do better moving forward.

Guests: Radonda Rowton, Chris Rowton, Josh Earls, and Fawn Ellerbrook

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00:00 Welcome & Introductions

03:50 Our favorite church memories

13:00 How did we get here?

21:25 How do we tell the difference between a grievance and spiritual abuse?

25:54 How do leaders get to an unhealthy point?

27:30 We need to be self-aware & vulnerable

30:00 Listening to trusted voices of accountability

34:00 Is narcissism more like a seed?

36:37 Putting people on pedestals

28:00 How do we recognize a spiritually abusive or toxic situation?

46:19 We have to know the Word of God for ourselves

48:40 The issue with fearing leaders

01:00:45 We cannot be one another's savior

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What Matters Most is a podcast from Faith Community Church.
Connect on socials:FacebookInstagramYouTube channel

***No matter where you're at on your journey, you are welcome here.

Faith Community Church
info@faithcommunity.co
636.671.4190***

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This is a good one, y'all. Continuing our discussion on the Fruit of the Spirit, Tabitha Caplinger sits down with Kathy Cox and Chris Rowton to talk about Faithfulness. Throughout the conversation, they each share their own stories of struggle and how God has been faithful through every season. When we experience such goodness from God, how can we not be faithful to Him?

For further study on the Fruit of the Spirit, listen to the series at Faith Community here.

00:00 Welcome & Introductions

02:00 Fruit of the Spirit Recap

03:00 Who is the Holy Spirit?

04:30 Describing faithfulness

07:30 What we believe about God matters

12:15 Chris' Story of God's faithfulness in mental health struggles

16:38 God loves us in all things

21:15 Kathy's Story of God's faithfulness through cancer
22:40 Getting our emotions in check

26:30 The power of the "look back"

32:00 God redeems storms

33:20 Tabitha's Story of God's faithfulness through miscarriage

36:48 Navigating faithfulness with God

41:00 Faithfulness & obedience

44:57 Sometimes we get in the way

53:30 Remembering God's faithfulness builds trust

55:50 What our faithfulness speaks

What Matters Most is a podcast from Faith Community Church.
Connect on socials:FacebookInstagramYouTube channel

***No matter where you're at on your journey, you are welcome here.

Faith Community Church
info@faithcommunity.co
636.671.4190***

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In this episode, we continue our series on the Fruit of the Spirit focusing on goodness (Galatians 5:22-23). Kindal Bartleson and Charles Partney join Tabitha Caplinger to talk about what goodness really is and how we can partner with the Holy Spirit to cultivate it in our own lives. They chat about our motives and how messing up can actually bring us closer to God as we experience true grace in the face of our flaws. Listen in as we continue to discover what matters most!

Table of Contents:

00:00 Welcome & Introductions

01:27 Defining Goodness

08:10 God is loving & present

11:35 Trust plays a huge role

12:42 How we see God impacts how we engage with others

15:08 Can we be good on our own?

18:47 What does goodness look like in our lives?

20:43 Motives matter

25:47 Wrestling with goodness in ourselves

29:29 Understanding God's goodness when we mess up

34:10 God's goodness takes the pressure off of us

39:49 What does the process look like?

41:44 God works within us first

44:00 How do we partner with the Holy Spirit to cultivate goodness in our lives?

What Matters Most is a podcast from Faith Community Church.
Connect on socials:FacebookInstagramYouTube channel

***No matter where you're at on your journey, you are welcome here.

Faith Community Church
info@faithcommunity.co
636.671.4190***

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In this episode, we continue our series discussing the Fruit of the Spirit focusing on kindness (Galatians 5:22-23). Tabitha Caplinger is joined by recent high school grad, Brooklynne Hudson, and Brian Caplinger for a chat about what biblical kindness looks like. They talk about the difference between being nice & being kind, and how true kindness will cost you something.

Show Notes:

• The Greek word for "kindness" in this context is chréstotés.

Table of Contents:00:00 Welcome & Introductions

01:31 Series Recap & This Episode Topic: Kindness

03:25 The difference between being nice & being kind

06:15 True kindness costs us something

09:30 Learning to be kind is part of our walk with Christ

17:24 Living in the Fruit of the Spirit is not contingent on other people's actions

22:40 We can be kind without knowing the results of our kindness

28:43 How we've experienced kindness

35:55 Kindness in leadership

37:55 Practical ways to grow in kindness

41:39 What we believe about God matters

45:15 We all need Jesus

48:28 There are benefits to being kind!

What Matters Most is a podcast from Faith Community Church.
Connect on socials:FacebookInstagramYouTube channel

***No matter where you're at on your journey, you are welcome here.

Faith Community Church
info@faithcommunity.co
636.671.4190***

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Our host Tabitha Caplinger is joined by a couple of our friends - Misty Moore and Grant Reeves - and they each bring such a great perspective to this important topic. It’s one that challenges each of us from time to time and it’s really a key component to sharing the love of Jesus with others. Who wants to hear about God from someone who can’t wait 2 minutes for a chicken sandwich? That seems random but you’ll get it when you listen to the episode! At the end of the day, it's all connected and it's all about Jesus.

Table of Contents

00:00 Welcome

01:22 Guest Introductions

03:15 Where we've been in the series

04:26 Patience in Scripture

06:00 Our struggles with patience

12:01 What's the root?

15:00 Our impatience shows when we pause conversation with God

17:00 The Fruit is all connected

20:00 Trust don't rush

23:00 Stay active in the waiting

28:00 Timing matters

29:40 Our patience can reveal the nature of God to others

31:27 Patience when others hurt you

33:38 Pause and assess your emotions

35:00 Tab's story about patience in the drive-thru

38:43 Patience = respect

39:00 What to do when you get it wrong

43:27 Our relationship with Jesus matters

45:00 We should have a supernatural level of patience because of Jesus

46:30 What to do if I struggle with patience

52:20 The Fruit of the Spirit is a tool we can choose to use

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Watch the Acts series & subscribe to our channel at YouTube.com/faithcommunity.

What Matters Most is a podcast from Faith Community Church.
Connect on socials:FacebookInstagramYouTube channel

***No matter where you're at on your journey, you are welcome here.

Faith Community Church
info@faithcommunity.co
636.671.4190***

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Welcome to the final episode of What Matters Most for 2022 - it's a special one! Tabitha and Brian Caplinger sat down over zoom with our new friend, Matt Mikalatos. Matt is an author and full-time TV and film writer who lives in Portland, Oregon. His books include "Journey to Love," "My Imaginary Jesus," and the young adult fantasy, "The Crescent Stone." If you are a part of Faith Community, you may remember a message Brian spoke a few months ago based around the ideas of his book, "My Imaginary Jesus."

This conversation is full of those little golden nuggets you’re going to want to write down or take some serious mental notes. They talk about the dynamics of our relationship with Jesus and how that intersects with the Bible, history, community and church. They also explore how we can be wrong about who Jesus is and what He said. Then, how we can grow & change as we continue to walk out our relationship with Him.

We’re just a couple of days away from Christmas so whether you’re traveling, preparing your favorite holiday dish or wrapping gifts as you listen, I hope you are reminded of the nearness of Christ and the wonder that’s found as we pursue Him. He is good and He is trustworthy.

So sit back, and enjoy this conversation with Matt Mikalatos on What Matters Most.
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Visit Matt Mikalatos' website at mikalatos.com to find out where you can get a copy of one of his books or connect with him on socials!

Email: Matt@mikalatos.com

Facebook: @matthew.mikalatos

Instagram: @mattmikalatos
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Watch Brian's message based on the concepts found in "My Imaginary Jesus" here.

Thanks for listening! Stay tuned for new episodes in 2023 as we continue to discover What Matters Most.

Table of Contents00:00 Episode Overview
01:42 Introductions
04:11 Guest Introduction: Matt Mikalatos
07:10 The Inspiration behind "My Imaginary Jesus"
14:00 The temptation to put Jesus in a box
17:50 Suffering & Jesus
19:00 Destructive Imaginary Jesuses
21:42 Fixating on what fits our narrative
25:00 How do you uncover an Imaginary Jesus?
31:30 The journey to spiritual maturity
34:38 It's good to ask questions
43:20 Be intentional about relationships with different generations
44:30 What helps Matt connect with God
47:50 How different cultural perspectives help us discover God in fresh ways
51:20 The Jesus we believe in is the Jesus we reveal
52:29 It's a journey
53:29 How do we partner with Jesus to expose our own Imaginary Jesus?
56:15 Where to connect with Matt

What Matters Most is a podcast from Faith Community Church.
Connect on socials:FacebookInstagramYouTube channel

***No matter where you're at on your journey, you are welcome here.

Faith Community Church
info@faithcommunity.co
636.671.4190***

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In this episode of "What Matters Most," we continue our study of the Fruit of the Spirit focusing on Peace. Tabitha Caplinger is joined by Fawn Ellerbrook, and special guest, Stephen Murphy of the Nook Podcast.

This particular Fruit, like joy, has some common misconceptions about how we actually experience it. Throughout the episode we talk about the Biblical perspective of peace as well as the practical side in our own experiences and how we can be a people of peace as we navigate the world around us.

Thanks so much for tuning in as we continue to discover what matters most.

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Connect with Steven Murphy on The Nook Podcast on your favorite podcast platform.

Table of Contents

00:00 Episode Overview
01:00 Introductions
03:10 Biblical peace
06:50 Separating feelings & truth
13:40 God's peace can be found in calamity
16:31 You can live in God's peace & still struggle with anxiety
18:30 What does it look like to choose peace
22:45 It's a long-game
26:19 The power of dropping it
34:50 Being peacemakers
41:22 Go & make disciples no matter what
45:30 The connection between wisdom & peace
49:05 The difference between a follower & a fan
52:15 Peace is a posture I choose
54:00 It's ok to be human & need reminding
55:30 Doing the work to be like Jesus
56:23 A reminder about Shalom

What Matters Most is a podcast from Faith Community Church.
Connect on socials:FacebookInstagramYouTube channel

***No matter where you're at on your journey, you are welcome here.

Faith Community Church
info@faithcommunity.co
636.671.4190***

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In this episode, Fawn Ellerbrook sits down with Time Moore and Josh Earls to talk about friendly discourse, humility and the ability to change our minds.

How do you feel when faced with an opinion that’s different than yours? Even more so, when you’re faced with a person passionately advocating for an idea that you passionately think is wrong with a capital W? The truth is, people who think differently than us - even on the things that matter most to us - They’re not the enemy. So, How do we practice friendly discourse and keep open minds without abandoning our core beliefs? How do we cultivate the ability to challenge our own perspectives in a way that strengthens us and our community in the end?

If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love for you to follow or subscribe wherever you're listening.

Table of Contents00:00 Welcome & Episode Overview

01:55 Are we really that divided?

06:50 The Sacred & Secular

09:30 The importance of relationships

11:30 People are not enemies

14:20 Friendly Discourse & Technology

21:12 We're going to figure this out

22:55 Be respectful of authority

25:53 How do you allow yourself to change over the years?

28:00 Is success seasonal?

29:25 The power of admitting you're wrong

33:30 Seeing the humanity in one another

37:00 Why it's hard to believe the best about people we don't have a relationship with

40:00 We all have triggers

42:40 Our personal experiences with anxiety and depression

51:00 Anxiety, trust, & our relationship with God

1:00:10 Thinking critically & core convictions

1:03:12 Jesus is Truth

What Matters Most is a podcast from Faith Community Church.
Connect on socials:FacebookInstagramYouTube channel

***No matter where you're at on your journey, you are welcome here.

Faith Community Church
info@faithcommunity.co
636.671.4190***

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In this episode of "What Matters Most," Tabitha Caplinger continues our study of the Fruit of the Spirit with two Faith Community friends, Lauren Earls and Brian Caplinger. They sat down to chat about JOY.

They talk about the difference between joy and happiness and how real joy doesn’t depend on the world around us. It’s a great conversation to listen to as we head into the holidays and the fun, busyness - and maybe even difficulty - that can come with that. So, whether you’re driving to work, at the gym or cooking dinner, listen in as we continue our conversation on the Fruit of the Spirit.

Table of Contents

00:00 Episode Overview

01:03 Introductions

03:00 Overview of joy

04:27 Biblical & cultural joy

06:45 Joy is a choice

08:40 The difference between happiness & joy

15:27 Jesus is the source

18:00 Suffering teaches us to appreciate joy

21:38 A theology of suffering & lament

24:35 It's ok to embrace where you're at

26:10 The hard things don't last

28:35 If we see joy as materialistic, we'll miss out

30:25 If Jesus is our source of joy, we have to be filled by the real thing

32:45 Ultimate joy is found in obedience to Christ

34:50 Sometimes we need to step back to advance

36:25 Joy is already in us

36:45 How do you know if you are joyful or simply happy

41:30 How do we cultivate joy

47:20 The power of practicing gratitude

51:47 Find accountability

54:15 How to find joy in grief

59:00 Healing can come through Jesus and a therapist

59:50 Closing thoughts

What Matters Most is a podcast from Faith Community Church.
Connect on socials:FacebookInstagramYouTube channel

***No matter where you're at on your journey, you are welcome here.

Faith Community Church
info@faithcommunity.co
636.671.4190***

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What is love and why does living it out matter? In this episode of "What Matters Most," Tabitha Caplinger continues our study of the Fruit of the Spirit with two Faith Community friends, Chris Rowton and Katie Geary. They're talking all about love: What is it? How do we experience it? What does it look like to walk in it? Really, just all the things.

Part of this conversation also talks about some of their experiences of not being loved well or moments where they didn’t love well themselves, even in christian community. They have helpful insight into how we can grow as followers of Christ when it comes to showing the generous love we’ve received!

00:00 Welcome & Introductions

03:20 The Fruit of Love

04:20 Types of Love

05:38 Why does the definition of love matter?

11:30 Love sums it all up. It's not cheap or an emotion.

14:50 Love is not easy. But it's worth it!

16:10 It comes from abiding in Christ

19:52 Examples of agape love

24:23 Loving through the lens of grace and humility

29:25 What do we do when we don't feel the love of Christ in Christian community?

32:58 Leading with love and recognizing we are not the Holy Spirit

41:25 What would you say to someone who doesn't feel the love of God?

47:43 How do we love people we find unloveable? This does not include abusive situations

56:22 Your homework this month: Get intentional about abiding in Christ

57:37 Closing Thoughts

What Matters Most is a podcast from Faith Community Church.
Connect on socials:FacebookInstagramYouTube channel

No matter where you're at on your journey, you are welcome here....

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Today we're kicking off our study of the Fruit of the Spirit! We'll be basing this conversation in Scripture found in the book of Galatians in Chapter 5. Throughout this series, we are going to be talking about how we can live more like Jesus by abiding in Him and His ways. Today’s episode is an overview and will provide some context about what the Fruit of the Spirit is and what it means for our everyday lives.

No matter how you’re joining in today - whether you believe in Jesus or not - you’re welcome here.

If you do not have a Bible, you can access a digital version for free at Bible.com. You can also learn more about the Bible and find a variety of resources to help you learn more about Scripture (like how to read the Bible) at BibleProject.com.

00:00 Introductions
03:30 Vision behind this series
04:50 Overview of the Fruit of the Spirit
08:20 Why does the Fruit matter?
14:30 We should have more fruit
16:00 Does my life reflect Jesus?
18:40 Why don't we always see the Fruit in ourselves or others?
20:52 People of the Way
24:10 We need community
32:37 Experiencing the Fruit
35:23 Good & bad fruit
39:34 What it looks like to give Jesus our lives daily
42:18 Identity first, behavior second
48:30 Understanding our purpose as Christ followers
50:05 Abiding in Christ
53:40 Jesus is in everything
57:13 Choose where you abide
1:00:12 Stop comparing your light
1:02:35 Don't live as a dented apple
1:04:30 Perfection isn't required, just try!
1:05:55 The early Church & living out your values
1:09:10 Where do I start?
1:12:05 Closing thoughts

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We're back for season two! In this episode, Fawn Ellerbrook sits down with a few of our pastors to chat about what we’ve been learning since our last episode in 2021. Each of these men are incredible leaders and they share some great encouragement for challenging yourself to take steps of growth and to chase after your goals & dreams.

To learn more about Faith Community, visit FaithCommunity.co or connect on Instagram, Facebook or YouTube @faithcommunity.

Show Notes:

  • In this episode, Pastor Josh mentions a book called "Failure of Nerve" by Edwin H. Friedman.

00:00 Welcome & Introductions
04:30 What we're learning
18:30 What we're seeing in culture
21:30 How do we lead & follow Christ in the midst of change?
25:40 Finding yourself in Scripture
27:06 Hot wings & the desire for instant gratification
32:50 The need for boundaries with technology
26:51 Reconnecting with our identity and the narrative of the Gospel
41:45 Looking to the future & processing change
52:00 Discovering new things to learn
55:45 How to make a move on your goals
1:04:15 How do you measure success?

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Season two of "What Matters Most with Faith Community" is coming your way soon! It's been a while, and we're so excited to meet you here again for another season of authentic conversations and encouraging content that will equip you to connect, grow and lead wherever you find yourself in life. Be on the lookout for the first episode airing September 8.

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For this last episode of the season, we wanted to have a relaxed conversation about what it means to head into the new year with curiosity and a more thoughtful approach.

Fawn Ellerbrook sat down with Josh Earls and Tim Moore to chat about what a worldview is, how we can learn from one another even when we don’t see things the same way and how there is such a richness to be found when we get more comfortable with asking questions and less cemented in our own ways and ideas. We also start off by discussing the very serious topic of The Office & Seinfeld as well as other tv series we find interesting. Enjoy this candid chat!

00:00 Welcome
01:06 Talking Sitcoms
06:37 Looking back on the podcast process
09:43 Where we're at in society
13:30 Examining certainty
15:30 Why it's hard to see other perspectives
20:57 Story can lead to empathy & villains
24:05 Facts, feelings & critical thinking
28:20 A discussion on world views
45:10 The importance of cutting out the noise
57:40 Ask more questions
1:01:42 Pay attention to how you're wired
1:06:07 Engaging with other people who are different than you
1:07:53 Be intentional about personal growth

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In this episode, Fawn Ellerbrook talks with two people who work in the mental health field about what it’s like to be mentally and emotionally healthy and how we can get help when things are off-balance. 

This can be a tough subject and everyone’s journey is unique. This conversation isn’t meant to provide solutions but to simply show that this is a topic worth talking about. We’re all human and there’s hope for us as we face the challenges of life. So listen in and be encouraged as we chat with counselors Donna Tilley and Mark Joiner about mental health.

00:00 Welcome & Introductions
03:37 What do mental and emotional health mean?
06:40 What it looks like to reach out for help
08:00 What does a counseling session look like?
10:15 What led Mark & Donna to the mental health field
15:45 Walking through grief
20:15 Emotions are not the enemy!
25:00 Normalizing mental healthcare
32:36 What does change look like?
33:45 Different types of mental healthcare
36:30 Seeing people grow & find freedom
37:13 Learning to be flexible
40:10 Common struggles & coping mechanisms
45:54 Tools to work through common struggles
49:25 Holding joy & sorrow at the same time
52:28 Naming what you're feeling
53:15 Saying "no" & setting boundaries
57:48 How to keep breaking the stigma of mental health

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In this episode, our Kids Director, Misty Moore, sat down with two amazing parents to learn from their wisdom and years of experience raising a family. Bryant & Becky Wright have a really wide range of perspectives to share as they’ve both been teachers for many years and have two awesome adult children.

Whether you're parenting with your spouse or you're are a single parent or guardian, we hope this conversation reminds you that you are not alone in the challenges and wonderful messiness of raising kids. 

00:00 Welcome & introductions
03:50 Raising a family from children to adults
05:23 Developing your own style of parenting
10:29 It's all about being intentional
11:30 Teaching the difference between right & wrong
16:47 Model the characteristics you want to see in your kids
18:05 How to handle discipline with unique personalities 
19:30 Set clear guidelines & expectations
22:50 Building trust with your kids
24:27 Showing your kids you believe in them
27:17 Be the same person wherever you go
31:09 Talking with your kids about serious topics
26:50 Favorite seasons of parenting
41:29 Caring for yourself & your relationships
45:21 Encouragement for single parents 
47:31 Growing up with a single mom 
50:34 Advice for your younger self

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Relationships are a big part of our lives, yet they can be one of the most complicated parts of it! In this episode, Tabitha Caplinger sits down with Brian Caplinger and our friend Antwain Jackson to talk about the importance of cultivating health in our friendships, family relationships, and marriages. They even talk about the value of loneliness and how it can make us better friends if we allow those seasons to help us grow.

Connect with Antwain on all social platforms @antwainjackson or at antwainjackson.org. You can also purchase his book, "The Creative Leader," on Amazon here.

Connect with Tabitha:IG: @tabitha_caplinger
FB: @authortabithacaplinger
Twitter: @tabitha_caplinger

Connect with Brian:IG: @brian.caplinger
FB: @briancaplinger
Twitter: @bcaplinger21

00:00 Welcome
01:08 Introverts & extroverts - to people or not to people
09:00 Introductions
15:00 Why are relationships important?
20:32 What makes a relationship healthy?
24:09 The opposite of belonging is fitting in.
26:22 Expectations and relationships
32:16 We can't read each other's minds.
35:05 Talk about what you need even if it's uncomfortable.
38:31 Everyone has boundaries whether we express them out loud or not.
40:03 What do we do when we've been hurt?
42.09 Learning to not see the world through the lens of our pain
43:10 Find your voice and learn to walk in the freedom of forgiveness.
45:27 We can't fill each other's voids.
50:45 Loneliness can be leveraged for growth.
56:26 Practical steps to build health in your relationships.

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Finances are often a taboo subject, but it's a topic that impacts every single one of us. In this episode of "What Matters Most," Tim Moore chats with Norm & Glynis Wohlschlaeger about their story and how making some tough decisions early on made a huge impact on their future. Building healthy financial habits is possible no matter where you're at on the journey!

Get a free budget tool here.
There is both a free and paid version of this resource.
Learn more about Financial Peace University here.
We offer this class during our Community Nights at Faith Community.

Learn about the Debt Snowball & Debt Avalanche methods here.

The Best of Cheapskate Monthly by Mary HuntDebt-Proof Living Resources
00:00 Welcome
01:00 Introductions
03:35 Their personal story
07:17 Money struggles
16:10 Making changes & starting the journey to freedom
20:28 The importance of working together & having a vision
25:58 How long the process took & how they kept going
29:35 What life looks like today
33:24 Money is a tool to use
35:13 There's no magic solution. You just have to do the work.
38:07 What keeps people from taking control of their finances. Spoiler alert: you can do it!
40:45 Paying attention to what you spend
44:12 Advice for our younger friends - start saving now & get a vision!
46:44 Recognize your skills and talents, then leverage them - especially when you're young!
50:15 Don't be afraid to talk about money and ask for help when you need it. You're not alone.
53:18 Tools you can use & helpful practices
57:51 Heart attack, surgery, and the benefit of being prepared
1:01:19 Final thoughts & encouragement to take your next step toward financial health. You can do it!

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Did you know your life has purpose and value? In this episode, Fawn Ellerbrook sits down with Steve Stratos over zoom to discuss how we can build a meaningful life by discovering our unique wiring and determining the values that drive us personally.

Steve is a trusted friend of Faith Community that has walked through a leadership coaching process with several of our staff members. Get ready to be encouraged and challenged as you listen to this episode of What Matters Most.

Resources:
Learn more about the DISC assessment here.

Learn more about the Enneagram & take a free test here.

Learn more about the Myers & Briggs personality type indicator here & take a free test here.

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In this episode, Fawn Ellerbrook sits down with Pastor Josh and Lauren Earls to discuss the vision behind this podcast series and where they’re each at on their own journey of discovering what matters most.