The B4 Podcast: Recent Episodes
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Our staff, congregation, and guests tackle the real-life tensions of following Jesus’ way in a culture that often does not. Laced with grace, these Gospel-centered conversations will fill your soul and challenge your thinking.
You were dead, but God made you alive. That simple, shocking truth is the hub on which this week’s passage turns. The “you” is plural. It includes all who read that original letter. It also has something to say about our lives.We are dead apart from God, our Creator. We possess a relatively brief physical life, but it ends. From the moment we reach full adult maturity, we inevitably march to a certain grave. However, Colossians teaches that both Jesus’ triumph on the Cross and his Resurrection mean the grave does not have the final say. Christ does, and he makes us alive.
Jesus said that those who seek to keep their lives will lose them, while those who are willing to lose them, or give them away, for his sake will keep them. This is perhaps one of the most counter intuitive truths of the the historically orthodox Christian faith: that the way which leads us to the most lively, meaningful, and fulfilling life is one of sacrifice. However, it is less surprising when we consider the path that Jesus walked on his way to the Cross.
“I get knocked down, but I get up again” is the refrain of a popular song from the late 90s that celebrates resilience. It could also be a summary of the main theme from Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, specifically in chapter four. Within this installment of the Follow series, Pastor Bo follows Paul’s lead and unpacks what it looks like for a Jesus Follower to be resilient, why there’s good reason to cultivate this quality of the soul, and how to do so.
This week, our series focuses on interdependence, what the Bible often refers to as unity, and why it is so important. God created humanity to work together to reflect his image and to do His work in the world. However, the reality of sin has marred his image, twisted the work, and caused all kinds of brokenness in human relationships. So, this message will examine why God wants to restore interdependence among us, what healthy expressions of that really look like, and how to cultivate it in our relationships.
This week, Pastor Bo Stern-Brady continues our Follow series that examines practices designed to help us follow Jesus along ancient paths in life-giving ways. This week, she focuses on the way of truth. We know that our minds can convince us to react or behave in ways that don’t line up with the truth. The Bible tells us that Jesus has given us weapons that can help us take every thought captive and walk in truth. Pastor Bo shows us the need for these weapons and how we might use them.
This week, we continue our series on what it truly looks like to follow Jesus by examining the practice of rest. In a nonstop, frenetic society like the one we live in, Jesus calls us to a different way. Because we know that our value and the outcomes of our lives ultimately depend on God and not on ourselves, we can accept God’s gracious gift of rest. God designed humans to embrace rhythms of rest. In this message, Pastor Brad shares why this is so important and how we can embrace the gift in practice.
In our current sermon series, we are looking at ancient practices of the church that connect us to God in a deeper, richer way. This week, Pastor Brad examines the role that beauty plays in our lives. The Bible is full of examples of when and how God has used nature, beauty, and awe to display his wonder and get the attention of his people. Though our busy, efficient world often overlooks the importance of beauty and wonder, it is an essential element in connecting with God deeply.
This is the first message in our new series, Follow: Finding New Life on Ancient Paths, where Pastor Brad talks about what it means to follow Jesus and what truly is the "way of Jesus." He walks us through what it looks like to be a person who lives listening to Jesus, and what practices we can do to be in friendship with Jesus.-In this message, Pastor Brad references the practice of Lectio Divina. On Sunday, January 8, we will have a bookmark for you that walks you through this spiritual formation practice. We also have journals and Lectio Divina books available for you at the B4 Shop (located by the Info Center).
During this third week of our Illuminate series, we focus on what it means for us to be People of Light. Jesus tells us in the book of Matthew that, together, we are the light of the world. We don’t have to work to become that, he has made his people to be a light. However, we can hide the light in a variety of ways. Despite this, being light is as simple as recognizing the innate worth of those around us and sharing the love that we have found in Christ.
At times, life seems dominated by darkness, chaos, and brokenness. And we appear bound to walk in it. But Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12) Following him, Paul claims that we’re all feeling our way toward God in darkness (Acts 17). This installment of the Illuminate series explores how we perceive and follow God’s light, revealed in Jesus, from out of darkness.
People feel more secure and active in the light. Darkness lessens our energy and activity. Moreover, things that “go bump in the night” always seem scarier. It seems like this kind of rhythm is baked into us, which is what we might expect if we take Genesis 1 seriously. The ancient world associated light with life and order while darkness represented chaos and evil. We long for light. We welcome it, still.
So it’s not surprising that the Bible’s story of God’s promise coming in the Person of Jesus weaves its way metaphorically through a tapestry from dark to light.
Ordinary people matter to God. They did when Paul wrote Romans — in fact, the apostle mentions dozens of them in chapter 16 — and ordinary people matter to God now as well. He knows their names and their stories. He works in and through them to invite others into his Kingdom. And, he expects […]
Echoing Jesus’ teaching, the Apostle Paul instructs us to go beyond bearing with one another’s weaknesses and actively seek to build one another up. Pastor Alex offers us some practical advice throughout this encouraging message, beginning with: be formed by the Scriptures even as Jesus was. In the course of our spiritual formation, we lean […]
This week, our series continues with a deep dive into a crucial five-verse passage that is dense and challenging. We look at how one can be strong in faith. There are practical considerations for how Christians of strong, and weaker, faith are supposed to live with their brothers and sisters in ways consistent with God’s […]
This week, we continue our series in the first half of Romans 14. This passage contains some hard truths about what should happen when Christians disagree. Paul acknowledges that there are many actions and behaviors that are not inherently sinful or wrong, but might be sinful or wrong for some people in certain circumstances. He […]
Chapter 13 contains some hard truths about submitting to authority, our attitudes towards those who rule us (especially those we may not agree with), and the attitude we are to have towards all people. The chapter also counsels us to keep short accounts and meet our civic and financial obligations – good advice, but hardly […]
During the last two weeks of this series, we’ve looked at the first two sections of Romans 12. This week, we look at the last section and some very practical instructions that Paul gives to the Roman church. Even though thousands of years separate us from the people in the church at Rome, Paul’s instructions […]
Paul specifies how Christians should live within a vibrant faith community. His main areas of focus? Faith, unity, and a clear sense of self. Paul is adamant that we all are part of an organic whole, which he describes as Christ’s body. That body has one head, the Lord Jesus, but many members — all […]
Pastor Brad, unpacks the implications of Romans 12:1-2 in this stirring message, beginning with a question: What does it really mean to be a Christian? If Jesus is who the Gospels depict him to be, then that’s a really important question. Paul thought so, and he spends 11 chapters of his letter to the Romans […]
In Matthew 16, Jesus takes his disciples on a trip to Caesarea Philippi. There he questions them, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” Pressing further, he asks, “Who do you say I am?” Peter replies with his now famous confession of faith, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” […]
As Pastor Alex points out, Romans chapter eight ends with a crescendo celebrating the loving faithfulness of God. It seems like a mic-drop moment, after which no more needs to be said. However, Paul is conscious that his teaching poses a serious question. If Jesus is both Israel’s Messiah and the savior of the world; […]
In the second half of chapter eight, Paul reminds us that God has adopted us into his family as his heirs. Our identity is not based on anything that we have done, but rather on what God has done and who he says we are in Him. Embracing this gift of grace means that we […]
We all have the desire to be truly free. However, as Paul has written in Romans thus far, we aren’t really free if we are living according to our sinful nature. If we want real freedom, then, as Christians, we pay attention to the Spirit who lives in us. We listen and let him lead. […]
In Romans chapter 7, Paul expands upon the failure of the Old Testament Law to produce righteousness in us, and our sinful natures. The Law helps us recognize sin and name it. Sadly, despite the Law’s inherent goodness, there is no human way to escape sin’s influence. However, Paul uses an example from marriage to […]
Paul uses the word slavery 15 times through 23 verses of chapter six, and most often he’s referring to sin. When he tells his readers that they are free from sin, the word he uses means “not a slave.” Literally. It seems like he’s trying to tell us all something: living in freedom is an […]
This message spotlights a problem that we all have in common. We sense it. Things just aren’t right, not everything anyway. And though we seem to enjoy small celebrations of goodness at times, most of us also suspect that those are the exceptions rather than the rule. We hold elections. We spend money. We change […]
Within the first couple of verse in chapter five, Paul outlines chapters 5-8. However, in verse three he turns quickly to the question of suffering. Human suffering presents us with one of life’s greatest challenges. Why does a good, loving, and all-powerful God allow suffering? Rather than offer an apology, Paul asserts that we should […]
Addressing a mixed community of Gentile and Jewish believers, Paul seeks to offer them clarity. Some of the churches in Rome leaned towards a Gospel of good works: be good and God will bless you. Others, leaned into tradition and religious ritual as a means to remain in right relationship with God. The Apostle offers […]
We all judge other people. It’s a very human thing to do but it’s not a Jesus thing. Why? Because judging others makes us a hypocrite. When we judge others, we also judge ourselves. We agree that there are standards they fail to meet, and when we make that assessment, we unconsciously include ourselves. If […]
Romans chapter one, verses 18-32, painted a bleak picture of a hopelessly broken and sinful humanity. Chapter 2 takes this even further, pointing out that even those religious people who have tried to “do the right thing” fall short of God’s standards. God demands absolute perfection, meaning that no one is in right standing before […]
As we continue our series, we discover that Paul has some hard words for humanity. In Romans 1:18-32 Paul describes the reality of the situation between God and the people he created. While God reveals himself to all, but many people have rejected him. They have exchanged the goodness of God for what seemed good […]
Having greeted them, identifying himself, Paul offers his readers a formal introduction in the manner typical of an Ancient Classical letter. These ten verses are densely packed, addressing Paul’s gratitude for the faithfulness of the Roman churches and his deep desire to be with them, sharing mutually encouraging ministry, The Apostle also shares his life’s […]
The Apostle Paul is a towering figure in the history of Western Civilization. Few would argue with his importance as a philosopher, theologian, and socio-political reformer. Almost single-handedly, Paul established the importance of Jesus the Messiah’s birth, death, and resurrection for the non-Jewish world. He was unique within the history of his own people as […]
Unity is a rare commodity. In fact, almost everything in our culture is designed to celebrate expressively individuality or provoke an us-versus-them animosity. However, as people of the Kingdom, we are designed to be unified. We are supposed to exhibit a contrasting view of human community where unity is the norm. But it’s hard, isn’t […]
Joy is a fruit of the Spirit, a distinct marker of the Christian life, and an important theme that presents itself repeatedly within the Scriptures. A biblical understanding of joy challenges our contemporary notions since our culture tends to confuse joy with circumstantial happiness. For Christians, joy is a deeper, more abiding quality of the […]
We live in confusing times. Never have we had more access to more information, but with more information comes more confusion. If we Google “will coffee help my eyesight?” We will get hundreds of results that say it will. But if we Google “does coffee make me go blind?” We would also get hundreds of […]
The Bible says that, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” (Gal. 5;1) Pastor Jamie shares how we embrace that freedom as she teaches from Matthew 16:24-25, where Jesus offers us a paradox: that we must lose our lives to gain them. How can losing your life yield freedom? Is there another […]
We continue our People of the Kingdom series this week by looking at the topic of justice. In a world where the word “justice” is used in many settings with many different meanings, Pastor Brad examines Isaiah 58 (along with Is. 62 quoted in Luke 4) to help us come to a better understanding of […]
Empowered by God, Daniel interprets the King of Babylon’s dream, a prophetic vision of the world’s kingdoms. Each great empire is less powerful than its predecessor, with all of them represented by a giant statue constructed of man-made materials. In the end, a great rock, “not made with human hands,” crashes into the statue demolishing […]
Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called children of God.” Isaiah calls Jesus the “Prince of Peace.” And when Christ was born, the angel announced that this poor baby from Nazareth who would be God’s King signified, “Peace on earth and goodwill to all people.” Why then is peace so elusive? […]
We know love when we see it in action. We know when we feel it, but still, love is notoriously difficult to define precisely. That difficulty is compounded when we consider the love of God. How can a good and all-powerful God, who supposedly loves us and the world we live in (John 3:16), allow […]
In this first message of the series, we look at an idea that dominated Jesus’ preaching: the Kingdom of Heaven has come! Upon hearing that, we might ask, “What kingdom, and what does it mean to be a people of that Kingdom?” As we dig deeper, we see that Jesus taught about his Kingdom as […]
In John 14, Jesus tells us that he will make a home where a godly people can live with their just and loving God. However, there’s a problem: sin and the injustice it breeds. We cannot live in a just and loving space with God while sin persists. The story of Easter is about addressing […]
While the story of Palm Sunday may be familiar to some, and a regular part of the Christian calendar, it offers some really confusing details. When we embrace these unsettling elements of the story, we can learn new things about who Jesus is and who we are called to be in His Kingdom. As Jesus […]
How do we lose the sense of wonder and awe that the world is a beautiful place for of good potential? Is it as simple as “maturing?” Do we simply grow weary, ground down by the cares of life? Or, is it possible to retain the joy, trust, vulnerability, hope, love, and dependence of a […]
Jesus told his people to love and bless everyone, even their enemies. Literally. Everyone. For most of us, that’s a practical impossibility, because don’t know everyone. However, as this message points out: our ability to love everyone is dependent upon our willingness to love anyone. More to the point, if Jesus teaches us to love […]
Why should Jesus’ people be welcomed as a transforming presence into a community that holds a low opinion of Christians? Popular media makes it tough when it portrays Christians as hypocritical and ignorant. Admittedly, sometimes we live up to that press. But, how do these descriptions align with what Jesus demonstrates in the story of […]
Jesus described the Kingdom of God two ways: close to us and available. He also characterized it as priceless and desirable, so much so that someone would sell all they had just to have it. How do those descriptions resonate today? We live in a culture where almost anything we want can be shipped, streamed, […]
Is doubt the opposite of faith? Or, is our struggle to believe more like indifference versus faith? As we’ll see in this message, developing a solid and resilient faith will require us to dialog with doubt. Why else would John record Thomas’ resistance and Jesus’ response? Reasonable people don’t readily accept the idea that a […]
The Apostle Paul wrote, “For freedom Christ has set us free…” Without any further context, his statement begs the question: free from what? St. Paul answers us within the same verse (Gal. 5:1): “…stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” In this message, we see how Jesus offers us […]
This message unpacks an unusually intimate conversation, where Jesus offers his closest followers a high definition look at the coming Holy Spirit and his work. John captured the conversation that took place on the night of Jesus’ arrest, his trial, and coming execution. He did so in order to introduce us to the Person of […]
Jesus wasn’t like any other teacher. In this message, we see that his audience agrees. They understood that he taught with an authority which superseded any of Israel’s Scribes. In Matthew 7:13-29, Jesus makes two key points as he teaches: everyone is on a road to somewhere and everyone is building their life on something. […]
Have you ever lost something really precious? Maybe it was your phone, a treasured family heirloom, or even a loving relationship. We all have known the pain of loss, and the anxious desire to recover that which we have set our hearts on. What may surprise you is that Jesus shares this common, human experience […]
Do we see God as he truly is? Or, have layers of tradition, skewed values, or religious bondage distorted our sight? Jesus came so we could see exactly what God looked like when he was among us. And, in John chapter nine, he show us something at the Pool of Siloam that had never been […]
Friends of a paralytic man break through the roof of a home where Jesus is teaching. The house is so crowded that they could think of no other way to get the man in front of Jesus, so they lowered him through a hole in the roof. They want their friend healed and they believe […]
Today on the podcast, Alex and Ashleigh share some news about the podcast for 2022 and talk about the concept of “pancakes” (which you may be familiar with if you read Pastor Brad’s Year in Review Letter for 2021). Resources to dig deeper: – To find out how you can connect with others […]
This week’s message comes from one of the most well-known stories in the Bible: a woman known to be a sinner washes Jesus’ feet with her tears and anoints him at a dinner held in his honor, much to the shock of the host. As the message points out, both the woman and the host […]
This week Seth Barnes, head of food service on our Experience Team here at B4, will be reading from Psalm 57. Jon Jones sings Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.
In Luke chapter eight, Jesus closest disciples ask, “Who is this…?” (v25) They had heard his singular teaching and seen his miraculous power. They had observed an ever-growing crowd that followed their rabbi, and yet he continued to baffle them. Jesus welcomed their questions and responded with one of his own, “Who do the crowds […]
– Matthew 2:12-23 https://bit.ly/3qiAhoT – Revelation 21-22:5 https://bit.ly/3m7s85f – More information on Epiphany https://bit.ly/3ysL0kd – You can download this year’s Advent Devo here: https://www.b4church.org/advent/ -For questions go to alessler@b4church.org or arich@b4church.org – **** If you read this, email Alex (alessler@b4church.org), you have won a prize! -If you are looking to subscribe to our podcast, you […]
Jesus entered his public ministry with a special affirmation from God. It all began when the Lord traveled to a particular place, the Jordan, sought a specific person, John, for an express purpose, water baptism. After Jesus came up out of the water to begin his ministry, a voice from heaven said, “This is my […]
This podcast was originally to be released December 28, 2021 – Luke 20: https://bit.ly/30xPzNA – Hebrews 11:1-12:3: https://bit.ly/3Fc9i4c – The background of Christmastide: https://bit.ly/3ITi0Xy -You can download this year’s Advent Devo here: https://www.b4church.org/advent/ -For questions go to alessler@b4church.org or arich@b4church.org -If you are looking to subscribe to our podcast, you can do so on iTunes […]
Today, we continue our Humankind series, looking at the interactions and conversations that Jesus had with the humanity around him. Our hope and desires are that we would be really clear on who Jesus is and that our trust and faith in him would increase. This week we are looking specifically at the book of […]
Christmas focuses on the birth of Jesus, and rightly so. However, the story has been told so often that it’s easy to lose the humanity of what happened: a young couple brought a baby into the world under difficult circumstance amidst remarkable promises from God. They had to be wondering what it all meant. Meantime, […]
This week Bethany French, one of the worship leaders at B4, will be reading from Luke 1:26-38. Bethany French sings Promises Never Fail.
This podcast was originally to be released December 21, 2021 -Both Mary and Elizabeth’s relationship and Mary’s Song can be found in Luke 1 https://bit.ly/3pYdsXa – The origin of the teach a man to fish proverb: https://bit.ly/3yvoiHV – Looking toward the end of your life, check out Falling Upward by Richard Rohr https://amzn.to/3yuY2h0 and The […]
In this series, we have been looking at encounters that various people had with Jesus. This week, Pastor Brad examines an interesting conversation between Jesus and a religious leader named Nicodemus. Jesus’ Temple visit (ch. 2) made an impression on the rulers and chief priests, so much so that one of them sought out the […]
This week Ashleigh Rich, B4’s Course + Content Lead, will be reading from 1 Samuel 1:1-20. B4 Creative Director, Casey Parnell, sings Available.
On this special edition of the B4 Podcast, we hear post-baptism interviews from several kids and adults who were baptized the weekend of November 11th-14th. Thank you to the following people for participating in our baptism interviews: Samantha McManama, Andee Schader, Barron Schader, Scarlet Lessler, Paisley Hires, Ellie Joy Stillwell, Tyler Murfin, Jeremy Murfin, […]
This week on the podcast, Alex and Ashleigh continue their conversation around the passages in B4’s Advent Devotional. This week, they focus in on the story of Hannah and Jeremiah 29. Resources for Digging Deeper: -The Scripture for Monday of Week 3 I Sam 1:1-20 https://bit.ly/32SD67Z -Ashleigh mentioned the story of Lot’s daughters, you […]
This week, we continue our Humankind series, looking at encounters that Jesus had with different individuals while he was on earth. This week, Pastor Brad examines a story about Jesus’ interaction with a leper. After a busy season of healing and ministry in Capernaum, Jesus decides to move on to another town. It’s there that […]
This week Nick Derosa, a drummer on the worship team, will be reading from Exodus 3. Our Creative Director, Casey Parnell, sings Fresh Wind.
For Advent week 2, Alex and Ashleigh look at the Advent readings in week 2 of the B4 Devotional. They share the stories that stood out to them in this week’s readings and why. Resources to dig deeper: You can download this year’s Advent journal at: https://www.b4church.org/advent/ The passage Alex discusses is Numbers 11 […]
In Luke chapter 7, we see two encounters that Jesus has with two individuals who, in some ways, could not be more different. The first story is about a centurion, a person with great power, authority, and means. The second is about a poor widow who was at the bottom of society’s ladder. Despite their […]
Today Johnny Po, a volunteer on the Creative Team, will be reading from Genesis 1 and 2. Our Creative Director, Casey Parnell, sings Hungry.
This week on the podcast, Alex and Ashleigh begin a series of conversations on the B4 Advent devotional. They share some behind the scenes stories of how the devotional came together and talk about what stories from this week’s readings stand out to them. Resources to dig deeper: You can download this year’s Advent […]
Our culture presents a false dichotomy: someone must be either religious (that’s bad) or they are spiritual (that’s good). The only alternative seems to be avoiding the question altogether. In the first message in this series, we see a third way. Jesus invites his first followers to “come and see.” He is okay with them […]
Today Steve Mitchell, Director at Large at B4 Church, will be reading from Colossians 3. Our Creative Director, Casey Parnell, sings Reign Above It All.
This week on the podcast, Pastor Brad joins Alex and Ashleigh to talk about the season of Advent. They talk about some of Pastor Brad’s favorite holiday memories and traditions and what people can expect at B4 for the Christmas season this year. Resources to dig deeper: To check out what B4 has going on […]
In this final week of the Ecclesiastes series, we get to see how the author of this book concludes his message. He implores his readers to remember their creator while they are still young, to take advantage of the time they have been given here on earth, and see it as a gift. They’re to […]
Today Fabi Colmenarez, our Missions Pastor at B4 Church, will be reading from Psalm 54 in both Spanish and English. Our Creative Director, Casey Parnell, sings Hungry.
This week on the podcast, Alex and Ashleigh talk a little bit about inter-generational relationships and what those can look like. They present three possible types of relationships: mentorship, partnership, and sponsorship and what each of these look like. Resources to Dig Deeper: Here are a few of our past episodes that deal more generally […]
Throughout this series on the book of Ecclesiastes, we have seen the writer wrestle with two tensions. On the one hand, the author reminds us that everything in our lives is ultimately futile and temporary, like vapor. On the other hand, he also tells us that the best thing we can do is simply enjoy […]
Today Nick Miller, a Resident in the Adult Ministries Department at B4 Church, will be reading from Psalm 56. Our Worship Leader, Jamie Robison, sings As the Deer.
This week, Alex and Ashleigh continue their conversation with Joel Buchanan, B4’s ministry partner in Alaska. They learn more about the culture of Alaska, why it’s important for history and story to impact missions, and totem poles. Resources to Dig Deeper: Get an idea of where Joel and Trish are: https://bit.ly/3vgLqbF Tlingit and Haida information: […]
This week’s message looks at our relationship with God and the circumstances within which we experience him. Ecclesiastes chapter 5 recommends a humble posture before God, where we listen more than speak. That requires stillness within and silence without. However, we are to trust His Word and obey once we hear from him. It’s the […]
Today Camille Watson, a Resident in the Communications Department at B4 Church, will be reading from Psalm 55. Bethany French sings O Come to the Altar.
This week on the podcast, Alex and Ashleigh talk with Joel Buchanan, B4’s ministry partner in Alaska. They learn a lot about Alaska, the native people who live there, and how Joel came to serve in the way he does. Resources to Dig Deeper: Get an idea of where Joel and Trish are: https://bit.ly/3vgLqbF Tlingit […]
This week’s message looks at chapter 4. This chapter generally focuses on some of the frustrations and attitudes around work. Verses 5-6 include three interesting references to hand postures. A person can either fold their hands in laziness, use their hands to grasp everything they can, or simply have their hands open to receive what […]
Today Erin Perkins, a member of B4 Church, will be reading from Psalm 53. Jonathan Jones sings Nothing Else.
This week Alex and Ashleigh continue their conversation with Dr. Kara Powell. They dig in more to the 3 questions that change every teenager and also talk about what it practically looks like for our church and the individuals in it can support young people. Check out Kara on her website: https://karapowell.com/. You will […]
In Ecclesiastes 3, we see “the Teacher” reflect about time. He contemplates two categories, time and eternity, examining their impact on human life. Within the realm of time, change is a constant. If things are good, something bad, or unpleasant, will eventually come our way. If our circumstances are bad, we can take heart because […]
Today Pat Warren, a member of B4 Church, will be reading from Psalm 52. Bethany French sings Promises Never Fail.
This week, Alex and Ashleigh welcome Dr. Kara Powell to the podcast. They talk about the big questions teens ask, how Kara’s process of question asking can be helpful beyond parents of teens, and much more. Resources to Dig Deeper: Check out Kara on her website: https://karapowell.com/. You will find links to her books, […]
This week is our first study in the book of Ecclesiastes. It’s wisdom literature, but it’s unlike any other wisdom literature in the Bible like Proverbs, for example. Most wisdom literature offers instructions for right living that typically yield good results, with foolish living leading to bad outcomes. However, in Ecclesiastes, the author is speaking […]
Today Lupe Meneses Luna, a member of our sister church, Centro Victoria, and volunteer at B4’s soccer camp, will be reading from Psalm 51. Our Worship Leader, Jamie Robison, sings As the Deer.
This week on the podcast, Ashleigh and Alex share some concepts about communication that they learned on their recent staff retreat. They talk about avoiding drama triangles and how different personalities handle and communicate about change. Resources to Dig Deeper -For a visual and explanation of the Drama Triangle: https://bit.ly/3kS8ZUE -Thinking Fast and Slow […]
This message concludes our series A People in a Place with a look at two meaningful features from 2 Corinthians 2, verse 14: the triumph that is ours because of Christ’s victory on the Cross, and the “fragrance” we Christians offer others as we live a transformed life among our neighbors. Both qualities are an […]
Today Sharon Kim, a member of B4 Church and a Life Group leader, will be reading from Psalm 50. Our Creative Director, Casey Parnell, sings Be Thou My Vision.
Today on the podcast, Alex and Ashleigh interview new B4 Staff member, Noel Wood, who serves as our Experience Lead. They discuss Noel’s past jobs and church experiences, her walk with Jesus, and some of her favorite hobbies and activities. Resources to dig deeper: Amy Grant’s song Baby Baby https://youtu.be/vMXuuYnoRdI Footage of the World Champion […]
This week’s message begins with 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. In these verses, the Apostle Paul is expressing the core tenets of the Gospel, and reminding his readers of its foundation in the resurrection of Jesus. Paul was writing this letter to people who had asked important questions about the resurrection of Jesus, as they were struggling […]
Today Julie Chu, a member of B4 Culture and the Chinese Fellowship, will be reading from Psalm 49. Our Creative Director, Casey Parnell, sings Hungry.
This week on the podcast, Alex and Ashleigh discuss the importance of having purpose in your life. While all Christians have the same overall purpose (knowing God and helping others know him), we all each have individual manifestations of that purpose. This episode will give some examples and ideas of how you can find your […]
This week, we continue our study in the book of Corinthians. We looks at several passages that have a counterintuitive message. Paul points out to the church in Corinth that Jesus’ crucifixion, a moment of scandal and extreme weakness in the eyes of the world, is our greatest strength and the core of the Gospel. […]
Today Natalie Wang, a member of B4 Church and a neuroscience student at Johns Hopkins University, will be reading from Psalm 46. Our Creative Director Casey Parnell sings My Jesus I Love Thee.
We live in an information saturated world. How can we flourish in a world that seems to be constantly getting more bad news? This week on the podcast, Alex and Ashleigh talk about how to cope with today’s overwhelming news cycle and how to maintain mental, emotional, and spiritual health in the midst of it […]
In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul is speaking to a group of people who worshipped idols before becoming Christians. In contrast to their old, mute idols, Paul dwells on the Holy Spirit who interacts with us. To set the scene, we hear about how Jesus taught His disciples not to be afraid and to anticipate the […]
Today Bob Barkema, a volunteer with the adult ministry team, will be reading from Psalm 48. Jonathan Jones sings Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.
Resources to Dig Deeper: We have lots of books on the spiritual disciplines in the B4 Digital library: https://b4church.overdrive.com/. Ones you can check out are Sacred Rhythms, The Spirit of the Disciplines, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, Get Your Life Back, The Next Right Thing, Try Softer, Unashamed. Pete Scazzero is a great teacher on Emotional Health. […]
We see rhythms of shalom set forth in a letter from Jeremiah to the Israelites living in exile in Babylon. To the average Israelite, Babylon was considered to be the nexus of evil, completely counter to their moral and religious code. However, God gave them a new blueprint for how to “do life” in the […]
Today Annette Barkema, a volunteer with the Adult Ministry Team, will be reading from Psalm 47. Our Creative Director, Casey Parnell, sings Reign Above it All.
Sit in on a conversation as we look back on the last year and we celebrate the 100th episode of the B4 Podcast. Resources to Dig deeper: You can find all of our episodes at: https://www.b4church.org/theb4podcast/ Keith episodes: Part 1 – https://bit.ly/3mVurts Part 2 – https://bit.ly/3yCeme8 AJ Episode: Part 1 – https://bit.ly/38uNQJj Part 2 […]
In the passage for this message, Paul constructs an argument from the Corinthians lived experience that shows how what we call communion points to everything else. He confronts them, explaining that the way the go about sharing the Lord’s Table is doing more harm than good. He then goes on to cite examples from their […]
In this special episode of the podcast, we hear stories from youth and volunteers who participated in B4 Youth’s Youth for the City Event. Resources to Dig Deeper You can watch the recap videos from Youth for the City on YouTube, both for High School (https://bit.ly/3BaVZia) and Jr. High (https://bit.ly/2WnSIxs) If you would […]
This week on the podcast, Ashleigh is joined by Fabi Colmenarez, B4’s Missions Pastor. Fabi shares a little of her story. She also talks about the various missions and outreach partners we have at B4, both locally and globally, and ways that our congregation can get involved. Resources to Dig Deeper: You can find […]
In 1 Corinthians 8 and Romans 15 Paul addresses a problem that can easily seem obscure to us today: whether or not people should eat meat that was sacrificed to idols. Though this exact situation may not be something that we face today, Pastor Brad shows how this passage can teach us a lot about […]
Today our Executive Pastor, Missy Barnes, will be reading Psalm 44. While Creative Director, Casey Parnell, sings Available.
This week on the podcast, Ashleigh is joined by Pastor Brad Williams and B4’s Communication Director, Tiffany Pugh to talk about B4’s partnership with WorldVision and the Chosen child sponsorship program. Resources to Dig Deeper: You can sign up to be a part of Chosen by going to worldvision.org/B4online Brad mentioned The Hole in the […]
Dani Cole, Senior Church Advisor for World Vision in the Pacific Northwest, shared with us how a family crisis brought a dramatic change in her life. She met Jesus in the midst of the trial, and deeply identified with the story of the Samaritan Woman at the Well in John 4. Dani also shared with […]
Today our Finance Advisor, Krisnee Pipatanangkura, will be reading Psalms 42 & 43. While Worship Leader, Jamie Robison, sings As the Deer
This week on the podcast, Ashleigh interviews Al Schmitt and Lisa Mentasana, the Directors of the Beaverton Resource Center (BRC). Al and Lisa share about what the center does, important needs in the community of Beaverton, and how members of B4 can be “for the city” by partnering with the BRC. Resources to Dig Deeper: […]
The people of Corinth loved litigation loved taking one another to court over almost anything. So did the Corinthian Christians, a fact that caught Paul’s attention. He argued that they should be a different kind of people with a Kingdom perspective. He believed they could and should resolve their differences among themselves, and the fact […]
Today our B4 Kids Volunteer, Katie Bentley, will be reading Psalm 41. While Worship Resident, Jonathan Jones, sings Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.
This week on the podcast, Ashleigh is joined by Pastor Brad Williams and Communications Director Tiffany Pugh to talk about what it means for B4 to be a church “for the city.” Resources to dig deeper: Missio Dei – Latin for the mission of God. https://bit.ly/3xfqwsO Jeremiah 29 – https://bit.ly/2UTb2xI – insight behind the […]
Something terrible was happening within the Corinthian church. There was some sort of sexual misconduct happening that even those outside the church would have seen as immoral. However, the Corinthians were tolerating this behavior, much to Paul’s chagrin. As we examine this passage, we learn that the issue is less the sin of the individual […]
Today our Experience Coordinator, Noel Wood, will be reading Psalm 40. While Creative Director, Casey Parnell, sings Reign Above it All.
This week, Ashleigh, Lane, and Tiffany continue their conversation on Biblical Sexuality. They also talk about the challenges of singleness and how we as individuals and the church can support those who are single. Resources to dig deeper: If you want to read more on the topic of sexuality, here are a bunch of books […]
Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth, written mid-first century AD while he was in Ephesus, addresses growing cultural disunity that had begun to creep into the church. Paul sought to restore unity by directing believers to focus solely on Jesus and him crucified. The Way of the Cross, shown by Christ, was marked […]
Today our Foursquare Chaplain, Rick Schermerhorn, will be reading Psalm 39. While our worship leader, sings Nothing Else.
This week on the podcast, Ashleigh is joined by Pastor Lane Greenleaf-Perez (Director of Youth and Young Adults) and Tiffany Pugh (Communications Director). Together, they discuss biblical sexuality, why it’s important, and ways that the church has promoted it well and not so well. Resources to dig deeper: If you want to read more […]
During this week’s message, Pastor Lane asks: “Who do you listen to? Who is the most influential in your life?” Those questions relate directly to 1 Corinthians 10:10-17 where Paul writes to the people in the church in that city who were struggling to be remain unified. Some of them preferred one leader, others wanted […]
Today our Director, Steve Mitchell, will be reading Psalm 36. While Creative Director, Casey Parnell, sings My Jesus I Love Thee .
Resources to Dig Deeper: Psalm 1 https://bit.ly/3vT0b2W and Psalm 29:11 https://bit.ly/3da76hN Practicing the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence https://bit.ly/2UB7Vdj Asena talked about some of the books she’s enjoyed: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins https://amzn.to/3j7FptR, Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer https://amzn.to/3vS2R0P, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Martian https://amzn.to/3wVpT8k and Artemis https://amzn.to/3d7X0ht by Andy […]
This message begins a series on Paul’s letters to the Corinthians. Corinth was much like many contemporary cities: a mix of highly-educated movers-and-shakers sharing a place with solid blue-collar folks. Corinth was lively, prosperous, and an important imperial city known for its boastful public inscriptions. Paul founded this church (Acts 18). He loved this church […]
Today our B4 Elder, Ushirika, will be reading Psalm 37. While Creative Director, Casey Parnell, sings Hungry.
This week, Casey and Ashleigh continue their conversation with Pastor Bo Stern-Brady. They talk about SoulSpace (a Christian Meditation app), how to walk through difficult seasons (or support others who are facing hard times), and the evil of recorders in schools. Resources to Dig Deeper: Download the Soulspace app at https://soulspace.co/, itunes or […]
This week wraps up our series on Hearing God in the Wilderness by posing a key question, “How do I hear God’s voice?” At the core of the message is the assurance that we can hear God’s voice through scripture and even through the trans-rational (beyond our understanding) movement of the Holy Spirit, as we […]
This week on the podcast, Casey Parnell (Worship Director) and Ashleigh interview Pastor Bo Stern-Brady. They talk about how Bo’s ministry journey, the importance (and difficulties) of including women in ministry, and church in a Post-Covid world. Resources to Dig Deeper: If you are ever in Bend check out Bo’s church: https://westsidechurch.org/ Wondering who Mrs. […]
When Hagar, an enslaved Egyptian serving Saria (Sarah), is given as a surrogate to Abram (Abraham) by the childless Saria, she becomes pregnant. Afterwards, Saria mistreats her and Hagar flees to the wilderness. God pursues the runaway slave into the wilderness, and two significant things happen: the Angel of the Lord shows her that she’s […]
Today our Podcast Producer, Ashleigh Rich, will be reading Psalm 35. While Worship Leader, Bethany French, sings O Come to the Altar.
Resources to dig deeper: If you want to check out what is going on with Keith at East Hill: https://www.easthill.org/ Hope Brooklyn: https://hopebrooklyn.org/ To get plugged to a group at B4, go to b4church.org/groups If you have a question you would like answered on the podcast or have feedback for us, please email podcasts@b4church.org
Today our Creative Director, Casey Parnell, will be reading Psalm 34. While Worship Leader, Bethany French, sings Promises Never Fail
Resources to dig deeper: If you want to check out what is going on with Keith at East Hill: https://www.easthill.org/ TD Jakes – Misery leads to Ministry: https://wapo.st/341xS70 and https://bit.ly/2QApR64 Keith mentioned cancel culture, for more on that the B4 Podcast talks about it here: https://spoti.fi/3yrOdQi Immunity to Change by Robert Keegan: https://amzn.to/3hDv08s “You can […]
Today Accountant, Marilyn Rider, will be reading Psalm 33. While Worship Leader, Bethany French, sings Promises Never Fail
This week on the podcast, Alex and Ashleigh talk about click bait and trigger words. They define what these two things are, give some examples of both, and talk about what it looks like to respond to both with grace. Resources to Dig Deeper: Genesis 1 https://bit.ly/3z9V2GM and John 1 https://bit.ly/3ghseU7 both talk about how […]
Today our Worship Pastor, Jamie Robison, will be reading Psalm 32. While Worship Leader, Bethany French, sings Promises Never Fail
This week on the podcast, Ashleigh and Alex talk about the difficulty of balancing effort, perfection, and grace in all areas of life. They share pieces of their personal stories and Scripture to demonstrate how God’s grace impacts how we see ourselves and how we should live. Resources to Dig Deeper: What is So […]
Today our Pastor, Brent Mills, will be reading Psalm 31. While Worship leader, Bethany French, sings O Come to the Altar.
This week Alex and Ashleigh continue their interview with Dr. AJ Swoboda. They discuss how people of all ages are dealing with deconstruction, the role politics has played in doubt and faith, and how we can prepare our kids to have their faith tested in the real world. Resources to dig deeper: We have After […]
Today our Administrator and service coordinator for B4 Creative, Desiree Medari, will be reading Psalm 30.
Today on the podcast, Alex and Ashleigh interview Dr. AJ Swoboda, author of the book After Doubt. They talk about the difference between doubt and deconstruction and how the church can support those that are struggling with doubt. Resources to dig deeper: We have After Doubt in our digital library or you can purchase a […]
This week, David Beavis, B4’s Middle School Pastor joins Alex and Ashleigh to discuss the uniqueness of Gen Z and what it looks like to walk with them in grace and truth. — Resources — James 2:17 Faith without works is dead The Sin of Certainty by Peter Enns this book looks at the concept […]
Today our Graphic Designer, Yzmari Fredrickson, will be reading Psalm 29. While Creative Director, Casey Parnell, sings Hungry.
This week, Pastor Brad, Alex, and Ashleigh continue their conversation on grace and truth. Specifically, they talk about what it looks like to show grace to both those within the church and those who don’t yet know Jesus. — Resources — The Grace Awakening by Charles Swindoll is another classic book on grace that you […]
Today our 4th + 5th Grade Pastor, Todd Crist, will be reading Psalm 27. While Worship Resident, Jonathan Jones, sings Nothing Else.
This week Pastor Brad Williams returns to the podcast to talk with Alex and Ashleigh about grace and truth. Pastor Brad shares some of his own personal journey in embracing grace and gives some advice on how to humbly hold to the truth. This is the first of a two-part conversation, with the second part […]
Today our Communications Director, Tiffany Pugh, will be reading Psalm 26. While Creative Director, Casey Parnell, sings Available.
This week Resource Coordinator CarolAnne Tsai joins Ashleigh and Alex to discuss the importance of grace and listening when we come up against opposing views, whether in books, media, or the people around us. – Resources – Love Does and Everybody Always by Bob Goff – Both of these books stress leading with love as […]
Today Kris Hines who serves on the B4Kids team will be reading Psalm 25. While Casey Parnell sings Hungry.
As they continue their conversation on grace, Alex and Ashleigh talk more about what it looks like to hold grace and truth in tension. They examine some current cultural examples and give some practical advice for what it looks like to respond to people instead of reacting in unhealthy ways. — Resources to Dig Deeper […]
Today our B4Kids Director, Laura Beavis, will be reading Psalm 24. While Casey Parnell sings Fresh Wind.
This week on the podcast, Alex and Ashleigh kick off a series of conversations about how grace impacts the Christian life. They begin this conversation by looking at cancel culture and compare it to how God displays his grace and asks us to display grace to others. — Resources to Dig Deeper — I Think […]
Today our Babies through Preschool Pastor, Carrie Koster, will be reading Psalm 23. While Jamie Robison sings As the Deer.
Happy Easter, everyone! Today Lane Greenleaf-Perez, our Youth and Young Adults Director, welcomes you to a special Easter edition of the Weekly Liturgy podcast. Today’s reading will actually be two scripture passages: Matthew 28:1-10 and Revelation 7:1-7.
Today our Youth and Young Adults Coordinator, Jessica DeBolt, will be reading John 19:38-42, while Casey Parnell sings Above it All. Traditionally, the week before Easter is called Holy Week. We are celebrating Holy Week on this podcast with some special episodes. The readings from these episodes are from the Lent devotional we have been […]
Today our Middle School Pastor, David Beavis, will be reading Psalm 22, while Casey Parnell sings Be Thou My Vision. Traditionally, the week before Easter is called Holy Week. We will be celebrating Holy Week on this podcast with some special episodes. Today, on the podcast, we honor Good Friday, the day that Jesus died. […]
Today our High School Pastor, Cassandra Dieterich, will be reading Matthew 26:36-46, while Casey Parnell sings Fresh Wind. Traditionally, the week before Easter is called Holy Week. We will be celebrating Holy Week on this podcast with some special episodes. Today, on the podcast, we celebrate Maundy Thursday. We will have additional episodes dropping on […]
This week on the podcast Morgan Clements, worship resident, joins Alex and Ashleigh. Together, they discuss the various days of Holy Week, what they commemorate, and how they impact our lives today. Resources to Dig Deeper Want to know more about each of the days of Holy Week? Check out: https://bit.ly/39dEn9I Christians at the Cross […]
This week our Resident Advisor and Executive Assistant, Maddy Salz, reads Psalm 19 while Creative Director, Casey Parnell, sings Reign Above it All.
This week, Alex and Ashleigh talk with Pastor Mark Nicklas who oversees missions and outreach at B4. Mark shares about his journey with Jesus, how he got involved in missions, and the way B4 does missions globally. He also shares some cool stories about things that have happened this past year locally and gives ideas […]
This week our Youth Worship Coordinator, Weber Salz, reads Psalm 20. Casey Parnell sings Falling on Your Knees.
This week, Israel Talamantes joins Alex and Ashleigh to talk about Centro Victoria, the Spanish Speaking church that meets on B4’s campus. They talk about Israel’s early life in Mexico and early ministry experience, how he came to the US, his call to be a pastor, and the uniqueness of the relationship between B4 and […]
This week B4Kids resident, Maddy Williams, reads Psalm 18:20-36. As worship resident, Jonathan Jones sings Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.
As we continue chatting with the Pastors of our B4 Network of Churches, we speak to Pastor Dan Gill. Dan has been on staff with B4 for 7 years, but is currently transitioning to pastor Bridgeport Church in Tualatin. Dan shares about the various transitions he’s been through in his career, how he’s heard God’s […]
This week, Youth Resident Manny George reads Psalm 17. While Worship Resident, Johnathan Jones, sings Nothing Else.
Today on the podcast, Alex and Ashleigh chat with Joe Gruber, pastor of All City Church. All City is part of the new B4 Network of Churches. Joe shares about his journey to become a pastor, how he ended up becoming a church planter in the Portland area, and some of the exciting things that […]
This week on the Weekly Liturgy, worship resident Morgan Clements reads Psalm 16 and Creative Director Casey Parnell sings Be thou my vision.
On this week’s episode of the podcast, Alex and Ashleigh ask Pastor Brad about his heart for church planting and how B4 is partnering with other churches in our city to spread the gospel. — Resources to Dig Deeper — Radical (https://t.ly/lSZs), Follow Me (https://amzn.to/3shPCVL), and Counter Culture (https://t.ly/dR2N) by David Platt and Multiply (https://t.ly/qm49) […]
This week our Creative Resident, Byron Wong, reads Psalm 15; and Bethany French sings O Come to the Altar.
This week, Alex and Ashleigh host B4’s new Creative Director, Casey Parnell. Casey shares about his journey with Jesus, his passion for music, and his adventures in the last year. — Resources to Dig Deeper — If you want to listen to more of Casey’s music: https://www.caseyparnellmusic.com, His music is available at iTunes, Spotify, and […]
This week our Missions Resident, Bethany Woodard, reads Psalm 14. While Promises never fail is sung by Bethany French.
This week on the podcast, Alex, Ashleigh, and CarolAnne Tsai (MSSW) talk about mental health. They share pieces of their own journeys and offer encouragement to those who may currently be struggling (and those who are walking with them). — Resources to Dig Deeper — Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Pete Scazzero. https://amzn.to/3juaiHb Pete also has […]
This week, Alex, Ashleigh, and Josiah Johnson (current resident on the B4 Adult Ministries Team) discuss the season of Lent, which begins later this month. They talk about the origins of the season as well as how the season helps to give us hope and joy even as we long for the restoration of a […]
Alex Lessler, Ashleigh Rich, and Kimberly Pasley finish their conversation on preparing for 20201. They share their plans for the new year and lessons they’ve learned in the last year that they want to hold onto. — Recommended Reading to Dig Deeper — Thai Bloom. https://bit.ly/3pesTZI Brene Brown Podcast: Unlocking Us was the one we […]
Pastor Brad Williams joins Alex and Ashleigh as he gives his “year in review”. Brad shares some lessons he’s learned in the last year and things that he is looking forward to in 2021. — Recommended Reading to Dig Deeper — The Last Dance: A 10 part documentary on the Chicago Bulls 1997 season. There […]
This week Josiah Johnson reads Psalm 10:1-6, 12-18 and Alex DiMare sings 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord).
This week Alex Lessler, Ashleigh Rich, and Kimberly Pasley talk about how to balance hope and expectation in the midst of a tenuous new year when no one knows what to expect. They draw from real-life examples and give practical tips from their own experiences. — Recommended Reading to Dig Deeper — Rhythms of Renewal […]
This week Launa Jeffery reads Psalm 9:1-2, 7-18 while Alex DiMare sings Graves to Gardens.
As we begin season 2 of the B4 Podcast, Alex Lessler, Ashleigh Rich, and Kimberly Pasley discuss the church holiday of Epiphany. This holiday celebrates the coming of the Magi to the child Jesus and his parents. This unexpected and anti-climatic event provides some lessons for us in our current world. — Recommended Reading to […]
This week Jim Pope reads Isaiah 11:1-10 and Jamie Robison sings This is the Air I Breathe.
Happy Thanksgiving! This week Pastor Lane reads Matthew 6:25-34 and Alex DiMare sings What a Beautiful Name.
This week, Pastor Mark Nicklas reads Jeremiah 29:4-9 and Alex DiMare sings Christ Be Magnified.
At B4 Church we are looking at the vision and values of our church in our series called All Things New. Each week in the series, we will look at one of the 4 words, the 4 B’s, that describes who we want to be as a church. This week, Pastor Alex and Ashleigh (MDiv) […]
This week Executive Pastor Dan Gill reads 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 and Bethany French sings Promises Never Fail.
At B4 Church we are looking at the vision and values of our church in our series called All Things New. Each week in the series, we will look at one of the 4 words, the 4 B’s, that describes who we want to be as a church. This week, Pastors Steve and Alex, and […]
This week, Missy Barnes reads Ephesians 4:1-6, and Bethany French sings O Come to the Alter.
For the next four weeks at B4 Church, we will be looking at the vision and values of our church in our series called All Things New. Each week in the series, we will look at 4 words, the 4 B’s, that describe who we want to be as a church. This week, Pastors Brad […]
Steve Mitchell reads 1 Kings 19:11-13, while Ron Artis sings Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.
For the next four weeks at B4 Church, we will be looking at the vision and values of our church in our series called All Things New. Each week in the series, we will look at 4 words, the 4 B’s, that describe who we want to be as a church. This week, Pastors Brad […]
Today’s Reader: CarolAnne Tsai Today’s Verse: Psalm 7 Today’s Song: Graves Into Gardens by Alex DiMare
Summary: Today on the podcast, Pastors Brad and Alex talk about social media and its impact on our lives. We tweet, we like, we comment, we share. For most of us, it’s become a normal part of our lives. But what are the consequences of our increased dependence on social media? Using the Netflix documentary […]
Today’s Reader: Christina Chen Today’s Verse: Psalm 6 Today’s Song: I Will Exalt – By Jamie Robison
This week Pastors Brad and Alex focus on divine listening: how we can make space in our lives to hear God’s voice. They talk about the importance of this practice, the challenges of getting into a consistent rhythm, the freedom we have in connecting to God, and some practical tips on what this could look […]
Today’s Reader: Joe Gruber Today’s Verse: Psalm 5 Today’s Song: See a Victory – By Alex Dimare and Jamie Robison
We all know that relationships can be difficult. Whether it’s a friendship, marriage, work relationship, or a parent/child connection, there’s a lot of space for mess and misunderstanding. In this episode, Pastors Brad and Alex talk about a concept called “The Magic Ratio” and how it can help you to bring more balance and health […]
Today’s Reader: Kayla Miller • Today’s Verse: Psalm 4 • Today’s Song: Greatness of God – By Jamie Robison
In their second discussion of suffering, Pastors Brad and Alex talk about how Christians can suffer well. Both Brad and Alex share personal examples of how they have dealt with suffering in their own lives. They give practical advice on helpful things to do if you’re suffering or if you’re walking with someone who is. […]
Today’s Reader: Larry White • Today’s Verse: Psalm 3 • Today’s Song: I am a child of God – By Alex DiMare and Jamie Robison
This week on the podcast, Pastors Brad and Alex talk about how Christians should view suffering. The biblical view of the world (creation, fall, redemption, and creation) gives us a better way of looking at the hard things that happen in life. This allows us to be hopeful, even as we walk through difficult circumstances. […]
Today’s Reader: Ashleigh Rich • Today’s Verse: Psalm 2 • Today’s Song: O Come to the Alter – By Alex DiMare
Pastors Brad and Alex continue their conversation on “minding the gap” between our expectations and reality. This week, they look at three ways to build trust so that you can fill the gap well: vulnerability, relationship, and developing history. Additionally, they talk about practical ways we can grow in our ability to trust and manage […]
Today’s Reader: Alex Lessler • Today’s Verse: Psalm 1 • Today’s Song: O Praise the Name – By Alex DiMare
This week Pastor Brad and Pastor Alex Lessler talk about ways that we can “mind the gap” between our expectations and reality in relationships. Often our expectations do not match up with reality. Brad and Alex talk about how we can fill that gap with trust instead of suspicion, leading us to be healthier, happier […]
Every Tuesday, we will host a dialog with different guests on a topic that can help you dig into what it means to follow Jesus in your own life. Every Thursday, we will host a midweek “liturgy.” This episode will feature a Scripture reading, some guided prayer, and worship.