Faith Forward Podcast - CFC Ashburn: Recent Episodes
CFCWired
A "life application" podcast that supplements each Sunday's message at Christian Fellowship Church. Helping us move from the "what" and "why" to the "how-to" in our growing relationship with God.
In this final episode of We Over Me, Brian and Jon close out the series — and the season — by returning to the resurrection and asking the question that has driven every conversation: how do we pursue this life with God together?
One of the great obstacles on this journey isn't "them" — it's the culture closest to you. Comfort, efficiency, and busyness are the most ignored yet most persistent rivals to the reality of the gospel in your life. A resurrection-centered life asks a different question: not what feels right to me, but what is God up to? That reorientation calls us from self-focused to others-focused, from present circumstances to larger reality — and it grows through endurance, connection, and staying rooted in the One who rewrote the story in the first place.
Friends, this is a long journey. Find people who want to take it with you.
You might have all the right gifts, all the right theology, and all the right convictions — and still be in the way of the Way. Paul's famous love chapter isn't a wedding reading; it's a warning and an invitation tucked inside the middle of a letter about church unity.
In this episode of We Over Me, Brian and Jon dig into 1 Corinthians 13 and the both/and of love and truth — because truth without love is brutality, and love without truth is hypocrisy. More than a standard to meet, love here is a portrait of God Himself.
And here's the deeper invitation: you are not an independent contractor trying to manufacture love on your own. You are a conduit. You can only give what you've first received.
Most of us have been told, explicitly or not, that some people are called and some aren't. That some gifts matter more than others. That the spiritual life is for a certain kind of person. 1 Corinthians 12 dismantles all of that.
In this next edition of We Over Me, Lee and Jon explore how God gives gifts not as rewards or rankings, but as a way of weaving us together into something none of us could become alone. Your gift encourages someone else to trust theirs. And the places where you lack are precisely where you get to receive from someone around you.
God doesn't need you to save the day...He's inviting you into the deeper discovery of who you are and who He is, together.
We all have defaults — patterns, preferences, and routines we return to without much thought. But dedication to a shared mission requires something more: the willingness to ask not what makes me comfortable, but what does this person actually need?
In this episode of We Over Me, Brian and Jon explore what it looks like to stay genuinely Spirit-directed — not as an occasional resource, but as the source from which we engage every part of life. That kind of flexibility doesn't come naturally. It requires becoming a student of our own tendencies, surrendering our routines to God's invitation, and learning to tell the difference between His detours and our own distractions.
What you can do isn't always what you should do. As the We Over Me series continues, Brian and Jon explore one of the most practically challenging aspects of life together: navigating personal preferences, convictions, and freedom with objective Biblical truth in a way that genuinely serves others.
Drawing from 1 Corinthians 8, we introduce a helpful framework — guardrails and compass — for distinguishing firm biblical boundaries from guiding principles that require wisdom and context. This isn't just about taking my own journey with God, it's also learning what's helpful and what's a hindrance to those I'm walking beside.
Spiritual maturity means becoming more willing to examine my beliefs and preferences, explore my prejudices and fears, and focus less on what I'm allowed to do and more on what I'm willing to set aside.
Some falsehoods are harder to spot — especially when everyone around us believes them. In this episode of We Over Me, Brian and Jon turn to 1 Corinthians 3 and challenge one of the most common assumptions in the church: that spiritual maturity is simply a matter of time.
It isn't. Spiritual growth isn't automatic — it's the result of actively and consciously submitting more of our heart, mind, and will to God. It's not more learning, more serving, or more self-effort. It's choosing to grow up, not just grow older.
This conversation invites both personal and corporate reflection: where might God be calling us to mature? And what does it look like to build our lives — and our church — on Jesus alone?
The resurrection rewrites our story — but how do we live that story together? In this opening episode of We Over Me, Brian and Jon turn to 1 Corinthians 1 and explore what it means to be a church genuinely united — not by ignoring our differences, but by learning to distinguish personal preference from truth.
Drawing from Paul's language of shared mind and conviction, this conversation challenges us to broaden our lens: to intentionally seek out expressions of faith that stretch us rather than simply reinforce our comfort. Real unity isn't indifference or false agreement — it's the result of people actively receiving what God is saying, together.
When another agenda takes the place of God's, division follows. When we pursue knowing and being known in community, love becomes possible.
As we continue the Resurrection Rewrites Our Story series, Brian and Jon explore how the resurrection reshapes not just our identity and hope, but our source of power. The invitation of the empty tomb isn’t to try harder—it’s to surrender.
Many of us begin with dependence on God but slowly drift back into relying on our own strength, attempting to manage life on our own terms. But the resurrection offers a different way: a life empowered by the Spirit, available not just someday, but now.
Surrender doesn’t mean doing nothing—it means releasing control and learning to respond to God’s presence in real time. As we learn to trust, listen, and obey, we discover that transformation doesn’t come from our effort, but from yielding to the power already at work within us.
As we continue the Resurrection Rewrites Our Story series, Lee and Jon explore how the resurrection reshapes one of our deepest needs: hope. Not all hope is the same—and when we place ultimate hope in temporary things, disappointment can easily lead to despair.
So let’s examine the kinds of hope we carry and how misplaced hope can make the heart sick. The resurrection offers something different: a living hope that doesn’t ignore loss, but sustains us through it. Rather than avoiding emotion or being ruled by it, we’re invited to bring what we feel before God and allow Him to restore our faith.
As we learn to remember God’s faithfulness and recognize His presence, our hope is no longer fragile—it’s anchored in what is true.
As we begin a new series leading toward Easter, let's explore a powerful idea: the resurrection doesn’t just inform our story—it rewrites it. From the very beginning in Genesis 3, humanity has been trying to manage shame by hiding, comparing, and sewing our own “fig leaves.” But the invitation of Jesus is not self-repair—it’s transformation.
In this conversation, Brian and Jon look at how shame distorts our identity and how confession, honesty, and the presence of God begin restoring what shame tries to rewrite. Instead of fighting shame through distraction or self-effort, we’re invited to bring it into the light and allow Jesus to speak truth over our lives.
The resurrection story ultimately becomes personal when we let God reshape who we believe we are.
As the Illuminated series concludes, Brian and Jon turn to John’s final emphasis: confidence. Not the kind that comes from having everything figured out, but the kind that grows from knowing who we really are and what He's really like.
John reminds believers that faith in Jesus anchors our identity as children of God—and that identity reshapes how we pray, how we discern truth from deception, and how we respond to the pull of competing loyalties.
Rather than living in uncertainty or spiritual insecurity, we’re invited to live with quiet confidence in God’s work within us. Walking in the light means trusting that the life God has given us with Christ is real and active. And in a world full of substitutes and distractions, John’s final encouragement is simple: keep yourselves from idols.
As the Illuminated series draws to a close, Mike and Jon explore how the lens we see through shapes the way we love. It turns out the issue isn’t usually effort—it’s sight. When we love from our own strength, love easily becomes transactional, conditional, or self-protective. But when we receive God’s love first, it reshapes how we love others.
Many of us carry hidden lenses: believing life with Jesus should be easy, that we must prove ourselves to be loved, or that God thinks exactly as we do. These distortions actually oppose our transformation. When we do the right things through the wrong lens, the result is less than God’s best.
Walking in the light means allowing God to correct our vision so we can love from what we’ve truly received.
As the Illuminated series continues, we turn to one of the clearest markers of walking in the light: love. Specifically, how our love—or lack of it—reveals whether we’ve truly been illuminated by the truth and passed from death to life.
Brian and Jon examine the power of judgments and inner agreements—how repeated judgments quietly shape our hearts and can become strongholds that limit our ability to love well. God invites us to ask Him to expose both obvious and subtle forms of resistance to love, including indifference—when we choose to look away rather than engage.
Loving like Jesus requires action rooted in genuine affection, but it also requires receiving God’s love for ourselves. Walking in the light means letting love move us—toward others and toward healing within.
This week, John’s words invite us to consider what it truly means to live in the light: building our lives in Christ by not just believing in Him, but abiding—remaining and dwelling—in Him. Salvation is not something we earn; it is something that inevitably reshapes how we live from the inside out.
So join Lee and Jon as we explore the reality that many of our struggles with sin are not merely behavior problems, but heart and identity issues. When we live from a place of spiritual orphanhood—believing we must provide for ourselves—we grasp for substitutes that promise security or control. Living as sons and daughters, however, means trusting a Father who already loves us and is actively shaping us.
Rather than white-knuckling external change, we’re invited to grow curious about our hearts, allowing God to heal us from the inside out as we grow into who we truly are.
As we continue the Illuminated series, we address a difficult but necessary theme: deception. John warns that deception rarely looks like obvious falsehood; more often, it closely resembles the truth, borrowing Jesus’ language and values while quietly reshaping the story.
Join Brian and Jon as we explore how our desire for comfort, control, safety, or certainty can make us vulnerable to subtle distortions of faith—versions of Christianity that promise ease, reward, or power rather than transformation.
Following Jesus doesn’t rewrite the call to surrender; it deepens it. True faith doesn’t simply benefit us—it reshapes us and blesses others. Living in the light means remaining rooted in what Jesus actually said, even when it challenges us to think differently.
In this episode, Brian and Jon reflect on 1 John 2:12–17 and invites us to consider a challenging question: What are we building? John writes to believers who already know God, yet still feel the pull of the short-term — comfort, captivation, and validation that promise satisfaction apart from Him.
Using the image of this world as a temporary rental, the conversation contrasts living like renters versus owners. Renting centers on personal comfort and immediacy; ownership is marked by stewardship, cultivation, growth, and legacy. John isn’t calling us to reject delight or disengage from the world, but to reorder our priorities around God’s long-term purposes.
The invitation is clear: live with intention, invest wisely, and participate in God’s Kingdom coming on earth as it is in heaven.
How can we know if we’re truly “walking in the light” as 1 John describes? In the third week of the Illuminated series, Lee and Jon invite us to examine how we know God, how we obey God, and—most importantly—how we learn to love like God while being loved by Him.
John’s invitation to love like God calls us to confront the places where hatred has quietly taken root: resentment born from past wounds, judgment shaped by assumptions, and rivalry fueled by comparison. Left unaddressed, these patterns keep us from fully experiencing God’s love and reflecting it to others.
The way forward isn’t striving harder but encountering Jesus as He truly is—and allowing those encounters to bring genuine, lasting transformation.
In this episode of Faith Forward, Brian & Jon explore John’s invitation to walk honestly in the light of Jesus rather than hiding behind closed doors. Drawing from 1 John 1:5–2:2, the conversation reframes sin not simply as bad behavior, but as separation — moments where we quietly close parts of our lives off from God’s presence and care.
Using the image of a house with locked rooms, we’re invited to consider not just where we’re closing doors to God, but why. Often the visible struggle isn’t the root; beneath it are deeper needs for comfort, security, or belonging. Confession, then, becomes more than admitting what’s wrong — it’s naming what we truly need from God and allowing Him to meet us there.
The invitation is simple and freeing: step into the light and walk with Jesus, together.
Join Brian and Jon as we explore the opening focus of 1 John — to illuminate the truth of who Jesus really is and to ground believers in reality, not opinion, outcomes, or labels.
And since it’s Faith Forward, we’ll remind ourselves of the core rhythms that help us stay anchored in that truth: daily devotion, prayer, sacrificial generosity and service, freedom from strongholds, sharing our story, and celebration and worship. Not as checklists or quotas, but as relational practices that make it harder—though not impossible—to be misled in a confusing and noisy world.
As John reminds us, knowing the truth isn’t just about information; it’s about relationship. And when truth is lived, not just learned, it brings freedom.
If God is speaking, how do we know what His voice sounds like? In this final conversation of the Encounter series, Brooke and Jon explore the heart behind the voice — the Father who longs for connection, gives direction through relationship, and brings correction that restores rather than shames.
Scripture paints a consistent picture of a Father who adopts with delight, forgives with compassion, and removes our sins with a fullness that is almost unfathomable. Yet many of us struggle to hear God clearly because we’ve learned the Father wrongly — through wounded experiences, distorted teaching, or our own stories of fear, striving, or abandonment.
Jesus’ story of the father with two sons becomes the central lens: a Father who runs toward the rebellious, pleads with the resentful, and invites both into relationship. Whether we’ve wandered, worked to earn what’s already ours, or held disappointment in our hearts, the invitation is the same: risk coming home.
This episode closes the series by calling us to learn how to live as sons and daughters — not employees, not orphans — and to let the Father’s true heart redefine how we hear His voice.
If God really communicates with us, how do we recognize His voice? In this conversation, Brian and Jon walk through why hearing God matters — for direction, correction, and most importantly, connection. Scripture paints a picture of a God who speaks, guides, reveals, and leads His people into truth.
We explore the many ways God communicates — visually, auditorily, kinesthetically — and how each of us can grow in our capacity to hear. But hearing God also requires discernment: His voice always aligns with Scripture, reflects His character, produces spiritual fruit, and is confirmed in community.
Finally, the episode addresses the barriers that make hearing difficult: hurry, self-sufficiency, pride, sin, unforgiveness, and fear. Learning to listen, obey, and rest becomes a way of life that opens us to deeper relationship with God and growing spiritual maturity.
If we live in a world at war, why don’t we feel it? In this episode, Brian and Jon uncover where the real conflict is happening — in the realm of words, thoughts, and truth. Scripture describes a spiritual battle not fought with physical weapons, but with ideas, voices, and agreements.
God’s words create life; the enemy’s words distort reality. We see this tension from Eden to the life of Peter to the everyday choices we make. Every voice we listen to shapes the life we live.
This episode explores how to recognize the competing voices at work in our thoughts, how lies take root, and how the “rhema” word of God becomes both shield and sword in spiritual warfare. Ultimately, we become the servants of whatever voice we obey. Learning to discern — and choose — God’s voice is central to living in victory.
Before we can understand who Jesus is, we need to understand the story He stepped into. In this episode, we explore the larger backdrop of Scripture — a world created in love, invaded by an enemy, and desperately in need of rescue. Genesis 3 reveals what humanity lost: connection with God, life in the Spirit, and the authority we were meant to exercise.
But it also reveals why Jesus had to come — not to make bad people good, but to bring dead people back to life. Brian and Jon walk through how Jesus restores what was lost: reconciling us to the Father, restoring the presence of the Spirit within us, and reawakening our original calling to partner with God in a world at war.
This episode sets the stage for our entire journey with God: understanding the story we’re in, the enemy we face, and the salvation Jesus offers.
In this final conversation of the Thankfulness series, Brian and Jon explore how gratitude becomes more than a moment or a holiday — it becomes a steady rhythm of life with God.
Thankfulness begins by naming what is good and who is good, grounding gratitude in God’s character rather than our circumstances. It grows as we taste and see for ourselves, noticing how gratitude heightens our awareness of God’s presence. And it deepens into submission and surrender, where obedience flows naturally from a thankful heart.
Ultimately, thankfulness becomes transformative when it remains honest, non-transactional, and attentive — bringing both what’s good and what’s not yet good to God, and learning to listen for His response.
In this Faith Forward conversation, Brian and Jon explore how thankfulness becomes more than a feeling — it becomes a way of living with God. Psalm 100 reveals that gratitude isn’t passive; it’s a rhythm that reshapes the heart.
True thankfulness begins with honesty — naming what is good, what is hard, and what is not yet good. Gratitude invites us to bring both praise and pain into God’s presence without pretending or minimizing.
From honesty, thankfulness moves us into connection. We enter God’s presence with joy and discover that serving others becomes a lived expression of gratitude, not just a sentiment.
Ultimately, gratitude grows into submission. A thankful heart learns to trust God’s character enough to obey Him with confidence and delight, choosing life with Him rather than simply life for Him.
At every stage, thankfulness anchors us deeper in who God is — shaping a life that is honest, connected, surrendered, and grounded in His goodness.
It’s easy to give thanks when life feels good — but what about when it doesn’t? Gratitude that only thrives in comfort isn’t gratitude at all; it’s relief.
In this Faith Forward conversation, Brian and Jon explore what it means to give thanks because of who God is and what He has done, is doing, and will do — even while acknowledging pain and disappointment.
True thankfulness isn’t denial; it’s defiant trust.
It grows from a heart grounded in God’s character, not in outcomes or circumstances. Gratitude, then, becomes both a declaration of trust and an act of resistance — a way of refusing to let fear or loss rewrite our understanding of God’s goodness.
You don’t accidentally become more like Jesus. Spiritual formation isn’t automatic—it’s rhythmic. God built celebration and worship into the rhythm of life not just as events, but as anchors that reorient our hearts toward Him.
In this episode, we explore Celebration and Worship as direction, rest, connection, and defiance—a rhythm that trains the soul to trust God daily, both individually and in community.
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Direction: Worship aligns our focus on God alone—confessing and celebrating who He is and what He has done.
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Rest: Celebration becomes an act of surrender in the face of busyness and striving.
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Connection: True worship draws us into friendship and intimacy with God, not performance or ritual.
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Defiance: Both celebration and worship stand as acts of spiritual rebellion against fear, loss, and despair.
We don’t worship because everything is great—we worship because God is good, and because it’s going to be good, even when it’s not yet right.
Sharing your story isn’t about efficiency or outcomes—it’s about connection and transformation. When we share what Jesus has done in our lives, we invite others to discover the same source of life and relationship that changed us.
In this episode, Mike and Jon explore how sharing your story helps others encounter the transforming power of a shared life with God and with each other. What does it mean to share with authenticity, vulnerability, and transparency—revealing where we’ve been wrong before talking about what’s right.
Your story matters—not because it’s perfect, but because it reveals a perfect God who is still writing it with you.
Serving isn’t just about meeting needs—it’s about revealing the heart of God to the people around us. When we care for others, we reflect His nature and extend His presence into everyday spaces.
In this episode, Brian and Jon unpack what it means to live out the call to serve while intentionally asking God who, how, when, and where to serve. They explore the difference between fixing problems and loving people, between doing and being, and between serving from our own strength versus from the grace we’ve received.
True service doesn’t start with effort—it starts with connection. As we learn to both give and receive grace, we begin to serve others the way Jesus serves us: personally, purposefully, and powerfully.
We all carry patterns, lies, or habits that keep us from living in the freedom Jesus offers. The Bible calls these strongholds—ways of thinking and living that weigh us down and hold us back from transformation.
In this episode, Brian and Jon talk about how to identify strongholds in your own life and how God wants to bring healing and freedom. Breaking free isn’t just about trying harder—it’s about learning to trust God’s truth over the lies we’ve believed. As we surrender to Him, He renews our minds and leads us into the abundant life He promises.
Sacrificial generosity is about more than money—but it’s not about less than money. At its core, generosity isn’t God’s way of solving a resource problem—it’s His way of reshaping our hearts, renewing our trust, and reminding us who we are in Him. So come join Brian and Jon as we explore why generosity matters more than we think. It’s not about what we have, but about who we are: sons and daughters who already belong to a generous Father. When we give sacrificially—our time, resources, forgiveness, and mercy—we confront the lies of self-sufficiency and learn to live in the freedom of trust and grace.
What if prayer is less about getting God to do what we want—and more about becoming who He’s shaping us to be? What if it’s less about persuasion and more about real connection with our Father—the place where our hearts are transformed as we learn to both speak and listen? Join Brian & Jon as they dive into the fundamentals of prayer and explore how this rhythm can touch every part of life—bringing connection, understanding, guidance, and joy.
Want to grow closer to Jesus day by day? Daily devotion isn’t about checking off a reading plan—it’s about cultivating an ongoing conversation with God that shapes who you are becoming. Join Brian and Jon as they explore what it looks like to engage Scripture, reflect, and respond in ways that lead to real transformation—not just more information.
Ready to get back to the fundamentals of life with God? Spiritual growth requires intentional training -- not just trying. The goal is to become like Jesus -- not just learn about Him. And that transformation can only come through interactive connection with Him -- not just checklists for Him. We all need to go back to the fundamentals on a regular basis, so come join Brian and Jon for the kick-off of an 8-week journey that takes us back to the basics of living our life with God.
There’s something in every one of us that longs to hear God’s voice… but how do we actually learn to listen? How can we know if it’s really Him—and grow in discernment so this becomes our everyday experience with God? Join Brian and Jon as the Faith Forward podcast returns from summer break and invites you into a lifestyle of “ask God.”
This media was produced by
Christian Fellowship Church
44505 Atwater Drive
Ashburn, VA 20147
1.703.729.3900
cfc@cfcwired.org
In our last episode before a summer pause, we wrap up Ecclesiastes with 2 final question -- How am I still trying to make life work on my own terms? And what does that reveal about my view God? Those can be uncomfortable questions to sit with, but if we never do nothing ever changes. So come join Brian and Jon as together we all take practical steps to learn to love God more deeply and trust Him more fully in the midst of the "hevel" of this life.
If life is "hevel," are we just supposed to muddle through a joyless existence as best we can? Or is real joy possible -- and not just the kind of joy we try to arrange for ourselves? What does it look like to have true joy in a life that doesn't always make sense? Come join Brian and Jon for a practical and encouraging conversation on finding joy with God in the midst of hevel.
How many times have you said, "If I could just _____, then everything would be okay."? This week, our series on Ecclesiastes reminds us that there are no guarantees in this life. The fast and the strong don't always win; the wise and the talented don't always prosper. So, what can we rely on if there are no guarantees? Join Brian and Jon for a helpful and practical look at how to live on God's guarantees and promises when life is "hevel."
How does God feel about money, resources, and wealth? More importantly, what can they do for us - and what can they NOT do - in our life with God? As we continue this series on Ecclesiastes, join Brian and Jon for a practical and thoughtful conversation on the reality of "hevel" in our pursuit of resources, contentment, and deep relationship with Jesus.
How does God feel about pleasure? In short, our attempts to grasp at pleasure cannot ultimately satisfy us -- AND -- God has designed you for pleasure, delight, and joy. So how do we live in that tension? Join Brian and Jon for a thoroughly practical and helpfully disruptive conversation on experiencing pleasure in this life with God.
How do you want to be remembered? More specifically, how do you want to live in light of the reality that there is nothing new under the sun and that everyone will eventually be forgotten by the generations that come after? YIKES! And yet, what if there is actually an incredible feeling of hope and a clear sense of direction that emerges from this seemingly hopeless reality? Intrigued? Come join Brian and Jon for a practical, helpful, and sobering conversation on how to live a meaningful life when life is "hevel."
The book of Ecclesiastes may look discouraging and hopeless on the surface -- "Life is meaningless!" -- but it also offers incredible guidance, hope, and encouragement for those that look beneath the surface. Most of all, it helps us to navigate the challenge of living this life when this life doesn't make sense, feels unfair, or brings incredible pain. So come join Brian and Jon as they offer practical insights from this beautiful and challenging section of the Scriptures.
As we come to the topic of Good Friday, we're forced to confront a final set of expectations that must be redefined - namely that we can avoid death and still have new life. This is one of the most difficult truths to embrace in the life of a follower of Jesus, and we invite you to join Lee and Jon as they discuss how to practically and helpfully experience life to the full by taking up our cross.
One of Jesus' last prayers was that we would be one -- with each other and with Him. In other words, He was reminding us that we need "WE"...and not just sometimes. We need Him all the time! And we need to be in union with others all the time! To do that, however, we need to redefine our expectations around what "WE" is supposed to look like. So, pull up a chair and join Brian and Jon for a practical conversation on how to become more comfortable living a life of "WE".
"We often don't realize we have wrong expectations until they are unmet." This is especially true in our relationship with Jesus. There are the things we know about God and then there are the things we believe in our heart about God. And when there is unresolved tension between those two, we will often miss out on the life to the full and the life of connection that Jesus wants for us. So come join Brian and Jon as we kick off this new series on "Redefining Expectations" and see what Jesus wants to talk about with you!
Every so often an age-old question gets a new, helpful answer. This week, Faith Forward is tackling "how to reach the next generation" -- and while the answer is probably not what you expect, it has the potential to profoundly shift the way you engage with the younger people around you. So, pull up a chair and join Mike and Jon as they share some incredibly practical suggestions for seeing and equipping the next generation.
It's the final episode of the series, and we're wrestling with the reality that the WAY we do something and WHY we do it matters more than WHAT we do. Being devoted to prayer is critical. Being wise in how we live among others is vital. Speaking graciously and attractively is essential. Yet, WHY we do those things and the WAY we do them matters even more. So pull up a chair with Lee and Jon as we share practical ways to truly show that Jesus is greater.
There are many challenging sections of Scripture, and Colossians 3:18-25 is certainly one of them. How do we love Jesus more than ourselves when it comes to living as wives and husbands or children and parents? And how do we need to see both the context of that culture and the larger context of Scripture as a whole so as not to misuse Paul's words today? Join Brian and Jon for a deep dive into all of those topics in the hope of learning to live practically and powerfully from the place of Jesus truly being greater.
We agreed last week that the challenge is not so much "do I love Jesus?" but rather "do I love Jesus more than I love myself?". Paul says that, because of the work of Jesus, we are a new creation -- a new creation that needs to set aside some things and put on some others. This week, join Brian and Jon for a helpful and revealing conversation on what it looks like to learn to "put on" compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. It may not be easy, but it will be transformative.
The problem isn't so much "loving Jesus" as it is "loving Jesus more than we love ourselves." Often, the greatest barrier to experiencing the life to the full that Jesus died and rose to give us -- is us. But not in a performative way, and not in a way that focuses on shame or guilt or lack of effort. It's about compatibility. Jesus transformed you, and the new you doesn't work like the old you. Curious? Join Brian and Jon for a practical and reorienting conversation on what it truly means to be alive in Christ!
If Jesus is greater than everything else, then nothing else could possibly be needed in order to have a deeply satisfying life with God. Yet, throughout history and even today, we've often tried to supplement Jesus with things that seem offer more of what we want. Join Brian and Jon as they walk through the perceived allure of some classic "Jesus supplements" and provide practical steps to truly experience Jesus as the center of our whole life.
You live in the midst of an epic story, and knowing your place in that story is more important than you may realize. It's important to know WHO the hero and the villain are in your story, but it's even more important to know HOW to interact with them. Join Lee and Jon for a helpful and practical discussion on experiencing Jesus as the center of your story in your day to day.
If Jesus is going to be the center of my life, I have to truly let Him be who He is. This week, Brian and Jon clarify what it means to let Jesus be the hero of my story -- not just one time for all time, but each and every day of my life.
This media was produced by
Christian Fellowship Church
44505 Atwater Drive
Ashburn, VA 20147
1.703.729.3900
cfc@cfcwired.org
If Jesus is going to be the absolute center of my life, it's important that I know the reason WHY He deserves to be there. Knowing the reason why, however, is only part of the process. The second part is ACCEPTING Him as the center of my life -- greater than anything else. Join Brian and Jon for a helpful and reflective conversation on the WHY of Jesus' greatness in our lives.
Jesus is at the center of everything and is meant to be at the center of everything. But if we're being honest, is that truly the position He holds in my life? Is He at the center, or is one of several competing interests? Do I go to Him only when I need Him, or do I live a holistic life with Him? Join Brian and Jon for a practical and honest conversation about how to truly live a fully integrated life with Jesus at the center.
The start of a new year is a wonderful time for reflection on the past and goal-setting for the days ahead. It's also an important time to remember and renew our commitment to the most important things. When it comes to the life of a Christian, the most important thing is this -- His presence. Nothing else comes close. As you start your new year, join Brian and Jon as they offer practical suggestions on keeping the main thing the main thing in 2025.
How do we not just practice the ritual of Advent, but experience the fullness of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love during this Christmas season? Join Brian, Lee, and Jon for the first-ever Faith Forward episode recorded with live audience interaction.
As we approach the holiday season - and Thanksgiving in particular - Pastor Lee invites us to think differently about the power of thankfulness. Not only that, but we also need to think differently about both the depth of our neediness and our resistance to having our needs met by God. However familiar you are with the topic of thanksgiving, this episode has something for you. So join Lee and Jon as they help us discover new depths of connection with God through thankfulness.
In this final Off-brand Jesus episode, we look at what Jesus was focused on above all else -- the reconciliation of God's sons and daughters with Himself. More specifically, we're looking at HOW to live as shrewdly AND innocently as Jesus did while pursuing that ultimate goal. How do we go as sheep sent among wolves? Join Brian and Jon for the final installment in this series as they wrestle with the inescapable call to go and live shrewdly AND innocently in the midst of hard times.
The off-brand of "tribalism" has been particularly noteworthy in the 21st century, but it's been wreaking havoc in the lives of believers since Jesus walked the earth. It seems to offer comfort, connection, and rightness, but it actually stunts our spiritual growth and leaves us living an immature faith. Intrigued? Join Brian and Jon for an honest look at the pitfalls and solutions to tribalism in our life with Jesus.
This week's Off-brand topic is a recurring challenge for followers of Jesus - how to represent both grace AND truth. Whether situationally or in general, finding the balance of grace and truth has confounded all of us at one time or another. But what if balance isn't the goal -- what if it's being FULL of grace and truth? Intrigued? Join Brian and Jon for a (hopefully) helpful and honest conversation about how God engages us and how we are called to engage others
This week's "off-brand" is one of the more obvious at first glance, but also one of the most insidious and unrecognized in our daily life. Materialism is not just the desire for money or "stuff" -- it's the insistence on providing for comfort, security, and safety on my own turns. It's the belief that I can arrange for the abundant life. So, whether this sounds familiar or not, come join Brian and Jon as they pull back the curtain on the battle with materialism in their own lives and share how each of us can truly find the authentic abundant life with Jesus.
This week's off-brand may be a new one for some people -- the off-brand of Universalism. It's hard enough to wrestle with the tension between God's desire for His children's salvation and the consequences for those who reject His invitation. But we can easily slip into an off-brand when we misunderstand the role God calls us to play in this process. So join Brian and Jon as they share stories and suggestions on avoiding the trap of universalism.
The trap of self-sufficiency is an easy way to succumb to an off-brand version of life with God. Self-sufficiency can feel mature, considerate, efficient, and even somewhat noble -- but it's a trap nonetheless. it traps us into believing that we don't need God or can work around Him. It can also convince us that we're supposed to do things FOR God rather than live WITH Him. Sound confusing? Sound familiar? Join Brian and Jon as they share honest insights and helpful suggestions on overcoming the off-brand of self-sufficiency.
Legalism is one of the most attractive and insidious off-brand versions of Jesus. Attractive because it seems to offer control over and safety from the unpredictability of God and other people. But it's insidious at its core because it attempts to recreate God as we would prefer Him and encourages us to view ourselves and others as we would like them to be. Come join Brian and Jon for a challenging and helpful look at the off-brand trap that Legalism presents to us.
There are many ways to end up with an "off-brand" life with Jesus -- accepting less than life to the full in order to be more comfortable and less challenged. In this week's episode, Lee and Jon tackle one of the sneakiest and most common causes of the off-brand life: selfishness. How do we overcome our deep-seated desire to make our life -- and God -- work on our terms? Pull up a chair and listen as Lee and Jon share some honest confessions and helpful suggestions on overcoming selfishness and embracing the delight of surrender.
We've accepted an "off-brand Jesus" when we accept less than life to the full in order to be more comfortable and less challenged. What does that look like when it comes to judging and judgementalism? Join Brian and Jon for a deeper look at why we often leap to critique or else avoid speaking truth at all. More importantly, listen in as we talk about embracing the ultimate purpose of judging rightly -- transformation!
Off-brand products have the appearance of the real thing but lack the true quality or benefit of the original. Similarly, we have often settled for less than the true quality and benefit of Jesus because the alternative promised to cost us less or be close enough. How do we discover the places in our life where we've accepted an off-brand substitute for the real thing? Join Brian and Jon for a practical look at our off-brand choices and how we recover the authentic Jesus.
Jesus taught about "forgiveness" on several occasions, and almost every time the teaching was accompanied by a story. As we've mentioned over several weeks, Jesus uses parables to help us understand that we don't understand as well as we think we do -- and this is especially true when it comes to forgiveness! Join Brian and Jon for the last episode of this season as they share their own stories and experiences of re-learning what it means to forgive from the heart.
If the parable of the four soils can be applied to sanctification as well as salvation, how do we become good soil? How do we cultivate a heart that listens and understands and receives truth in a way that produces a harvest of 30x, 60x, or even 100x? Join Brian and Jon for a practical and honest conversation about both cultivating our own hearts and being better equipped to seed truth into the lives of others.
Why did Jesus tell so many stories? What was the point of using parables that often left His audience more confused than before? What does Jesus want us to learn from these stories about Himself, about us, and about the Kingdom of God? Join Brian and Jon for an encouraging, humbling, and helpful conversation on the parables of Jesus.
We finish this series on the names of God with one of the more hopeful and more confusing of His identities -- Healer. Jehovah Rapha can and will restore us from sickness, injury, mental and emotional calamity, and even death...and yet not always when or how we want Him to. How can we know God as Healer in a way that cultivates connection and hope rather than transaction and disappointment? Join Brian and Jon for an honest and encouraging conversation on experiencing the reality of God as Healer.
"The good shepherd" may be one of the most well-known names for God, but despite its familiarity we don't always know how to engage with Him in that capacity. What does it really mean for me to be a sheep and Him to be my shepherd? Join Brian and Jon for a rich, surprising, and deeply practical conversation on learning how to truly BE sheep.
Saying that God is our "helper" just doesn't quite capture the significance of knowing Him as "Ezer." Jehovah Ezer is the one who rescues, who saves, who is strong and comes through when no one and nothing else can. Do you know Him that way? And how does knowing God as "ezer" change the way we interact with Him? Join Brian and Jon for a helpful and reflective conversation on how to draw closer to the God who helps our heart as well as our circumstances.
Peace may be one of the things we ask for most often from God...both for ourselves and for those around us in pain or distress. And in most cases, when we ask God for peace, we ask Him to remove or resolve difficult circumstances. But what if God means something more when He offers us peace? Come join Brooke & Jon Ackerman as they offer some practical steps we can all take to better understand and experience the God who is Peace.
God wants us to know Him as provider. He IS the provider! And at the same time, there are moments in life when we question the way that God provides. We'd like Him to just give us what we want when we want, but thankfully, our God is always after more than we could ask for or imagine. So how can we learn to walk with God when He's not providing as we'd like? Join Brian and Jon for a helpful conversation on learning to see Jehovah Jireh as He is instead of how we'd like Him to be.
This might be the most difficult and the most culturally loaded of the names of God that we'll discuss in these 9 weeks. Jehovah Shaphet. God is Judge. The judgement (or the judgementalism) of God is one of the most polarizing aspects of faith in our world both in and outside of the church. Each one of us has a different internal reaction to the concept of God as judge, and the invitation this week is to move towards those preconceptions rather than away. To discover more of what God meant about Himself and more of how He meant that name to inform our relationship with Him. So join Jon and Pastor Lee for a heartfelt and helpful conversation on how we can come closer to our loving Father by knowing Him as judge.
When God introduces Himself with a name, it's an invitation to know Him more personally. But what do we do with the name "Kanna," the name that means God is jealous? What is God jealous of? Better stated, what is God jealous FOR? Once again, we find ourselves in a place of needing to unlearn things about God so that we can connect with Him as He truly is. So come join Brian and Jon for an incredibly helpful and somewhat uncomfortable conversation around God's jealousy, our idols, and the life with God we were always meant to have.
The names of God are powerful, not only because they show us what He's capable of but also because they show us who He is. When God introduces Himself with a name, it's an invitation to know Him more personally. But sometimes that means we need to do some unlearning first. So join Brian and Jon as we look at the Scottish poet, George MacDonald's, timeless question -- is it possible that we have learned God wrong?
When God answers prayers, it sometimes creates more worry than excitement. It only took the Israelites 6 weeks to start thinking that slavery in Egypt was preferable to freedom in the wilderness. They suddenly found themselves face to face with a much bigger and more real God than they had ever personally experienced. What happens when God starts answering our prayers in ways that are immeasurably more than we had asked for or imagined? We get worried. Come join Brian and Jon for an honest and practical conversation on how to navigate worry when God starts answering our prayers.
Reaching the next generation is entirely dependent upon how we see the next generation. We need a clear understanding of what they need and - just as important - what they already have to offer. When Jesus said to make disciples, that includes kids. And God's desire to work through people includes working through kids. It's a "both-and" conversation, and so we brought in both Brooke Jones and Mike Haynes to talk about how we can all more effectively partner with the next generation in the work of the Kingdom.
To commemorate the 100th episode of the Faith Forward podcast, we asked you to share the stories of what God has been doing in your life. THANK YOU to those who sent in video, audio, or email in celebration of God's faithfulness. And THANK YOU for your commitment to growing closer to Him day by day! We hope you enjoy these stories!
In this final episode on developing "transformational community," we're looking at how to grow it...and be grown in it. It can only happen over time, and only as each member commits to growing from the inside-out - becoming more vulnerable and transparent. It's challenging and disruptive, but the rewards are beyond imagining.
In this second episode on developing "transformational community," we're tackling the potential traps that arise as we engage others in deeper levels of relationship. Whether it's fearing to risk, struggling with authenticity, lacking discernment, or not trusting God's heart, there are a variety of ways the enemy can foster disruption and division in our circles. So join Brian and Jon for a helpful and honest conversation on practical ways we can avoid these traps and truly experience transformational community.
The Biblical call to be "in community" is not a geographic or demographic statement. Rather, it's a life of being deeply known by others - and knowing them. It's sacrificially engaging in the lives of others - and letting them sacrifice for you. It's hard to find that kind of community and harder still to maintain it, but it's essential to our spiritual survival and growth. Join Brian and Jon as they discuss practical choices we can all make to discover and sustain the kind of connections that result in true transformation.
One of the primary - and most powerful - ways we will ever know God, love others, and experience the Kingdom is through the discovery, development, and deployment of our spiritual giftings. So how do we do that? Join Lee and Jon for a passionate and practical discussion on uncovering the gifts God has placed in us and beginning to practice them in a way that brings life to us and those around us.
When it comes to the challenge of loving others, the challenge often has less to do with our knowledge and more to do with our preferences, our authenticity, and our willingness to obey. The good news is there's hope! And some practical suggestions to get at the heart behind the struggles. So join Brian and Jon as they share practical ways to invite God into the struggles of loving others well.
We need to live like EVERYONE is worthy of serving and loving. But what does that actually mean in our day-to-day? And what gets in our way...sometimes without even realizing it? As we kick off 2024, join Brian and Jon as they share stories and suggestions for loving others that can bring real transformation in the world around us.
Sustaining a life with God is...hard. Sustaining growth, connection, closeness is hard. It requires intentionality. It requires a plan. And a successful plan will involve more than just more activity. As we conclude this series on Something Greater, join Brian and Jon for some helpful steps in cultivating a life with God that helps us to experience the abundant life.
There's a difference between living life for God and following God God's way. What would it look like to allow God to reorder our life - to put Himself at the center - to be the sole object of our focus - to be the recipient of our first and best - to lead us willingly into divine appointments? Join Lee Towns and Jon Ackerman as they offer practical steps to discover a reordered life!
What's your internal reaction to "confession" or "repentance"? Does it feel like a beautiful invitation to come closer to God? Or does some combination of fear, shame, condemnation, and reluctance feel closer to the mark? What if our definition of those words is preventing us from experiencing something wonderful with the God who created those words? Intrigued? Join Brian and Jon as they share the incredible things these words unlock in our relationship with God.
"There is always a fresh start with God." Forgiveness and restoration are at the heart of God's desire for His people. And the path to experiencing forgiveness and restoration invariably leads through conviction and repentance. And while those words may feel intimidating, they don't need to be a source of fear or indifference. So, join Brian and Jon as they share helpful suggestions on how to grow deeper with God -- or even start fresh!
Does it ever seem like you've done the thing you were "supposed" to do, and then life gets harder rather than easier? Does it seem like the attacks and the doubt pile on when you're worn out rather than when you're fresh? If so, you're not alone! Join Brian and Jon for a helpful look at how to resist the schemes of the enemy...especially when we're at our lowest and most vulnerable.
If we're truly going to be part of "Something Greater," there will come a time when our selfishness must be confronted. More accurately, we'll need to have our eyes opened to areas of selfishness we've never noticed...and come to terms with the effect that selfishness has had on the people around us. So come join Brian and Jon as they share stories and practical suggestions on how to submit to the process of crucifying our selfishness.
To experience something greater in the world around us, we first need to experience it within us...at a heart level. The enemy's mockery attempts to undermine the work we've engaged in with God, but the enemy's ultimate target for sabotage is not the work itself, but the heart of the workers. How do you handle the enemy's attacks? Listen in as Jon and Mike Haynes share helpful suggestions on recognizing, resisting, and recovering from the mockery of the enemy -- and how to do that in community rather than going it alone.
There is more to a life with God than any single one of us has yet experienced. And that is a wildly exciting -- and often terrifying -- prospect. Terrifying because of what it may require of us to release. Wildly exciting because of how much more God is offering than we realize. So pull up a chair and join Jon and Pastor Lee as they share stories and realizations of just how much more God is offering.
God is inviting you to participate in something greater...something that can only be accomplished if you partner with Him AND a group of like-hearted allies. Along the way, however, there will be distractions and detours -- and we need to learn to recognize them, as well as what God is up to in the midst of them. How do we do that? Join Brian and Jon for some helpful suggestions and stories on how we live out "Something Greater."
If we want to participate in "something greater" in God's Kingdom, it's going to require a greater life of prayer and a greater willingness to risk. And neither of those things may look like what we imagine. Join Brian and Jon for an open and honest conversation on the ways that God invites us to be part of the "more" than we could ask for or imagine.
What ignites your heart? What ache for the Kingdom has God placed in you? And what is He inviting you into that you CANNOT accomplish alone? As we begin a new series on the book of Nehemiah, join Brian and Jon as they share honest stories and practical steps on how to discover the desires God has placed in you...and how to avoid some traps along the way.
"Love each other as I have loved you," (John 15:12). What if Jesus is offering us a far greater gift than we've realized or experienced? We often conclude that "community" is a convenience, not a necessity. That loving others is more about acts of service than "knowing and being fully known." What if there's more? Join Brian and Jon for a sincere, heartfelt conversation about one of our greatest needs.
No longer slaves, but now sons and daughters of a good Father. And not just sons and daughters, but heirs -- with full access to an incredible inheritance. Knowing that truth is important. But LIVING in that reality is where true transformation takes place. Where do you find yourself today? And what would it look like to experience more of who God says you already are? Sit down with Jon and Pastor Lee as they share stories and suggestions from their own journeys on this path -- one that each of us is invited to take with God!
You are called to be a "give-away" person. But what does that mean? And more importantly, what gets in the way? Join Brian and Jon as they offer some transparent and helpful insights on how to allow Jesus to "re-tune" our hearts in this essential part of Kingdom life.
We're back with another season on the Faith Forward podcast, and we're going back to basics. What is it that God asks of us? What is He truly after? And what gets in the way? Join Pastor Brian and Jon as they share practical suggestions and personal stories on how to walk even more closely with God.
It's our last episode before summer break, and as we wrap up the Heartbeat series, we return to everyone's favorite topic - pain and suffering. But this time, the question is how to see the hardships of life in a redemptive and eternal way. That does NOT mean minimizing or ignoring or comparing to others. It DOES mean learning to ask God to show us how He sees our circumstances, AND how He's asking us to respond to those challenges. Join Brian and Jon for a helpful and hopeful conversation on walking with God through hardship.
In this combo episode, we look at the practical ways we can share a message of grace and repentance with others -- while also making sure we're truly experiencing that same freedom ourselves. Sound like a lot to cover in one episode? You bet! So join Brian and Jon as they share from the heart about God's heartbeat for you and your neighbors.
You can live in your Father's house and still not know His heart. Last week we looked at the younger son; this week we examine the heart of the older son. They both have lived with their father and both have been blind to who He truly is and what He truly wants from them. Join Brian and Jon as we examine the ways in which our heart mirrors the heart of the older son...and how we can see more of the Father's heart.
You can live in your Father's house and still not know His heart. Jesus tells a story of a father with two sons -- two sons who have lived with their father but have been blind to who He is. Join Brian and Jon for a practical and honest look at how each of us has more in common with the "prodigal" than we realize...and how we can see more of the Father's heart.
When it comes to using your giftings and stepping into your purpose, are you more comfortable doing things "for God" or "with God"? Just as important, are you willing to do things "with God" in both your areas of strength AND weakness? Unsure? Listen in as Mike Haynes and Jon share stories and helpful suggestions on how to make this life-changing shift as we live out of our purpose.
Do you feel like you have an answer to the age-old question, "What's my purpose?" God's miraculous act of redemption gives you a "why" for your life -- a "why" that not only shapes you but also affects others. And that "why" can often feel difficult to uncover, and harder still to live out. So pull up a chair and join Brian and Jon for a conversation around purpose, gifting, and passion. You'll be glad you did.
God wants everyone to be redeemed - AND - God wants everyone to live from the reality of their redemption. Whether you decided to say "yes" to Jesus today or you've been walking with Him for decades, God still has more to show you about what it means to be His...to be Loved...and to be Accepted. Join Brian and Jon for a helpful conversation on discovering the "more" that God has for all of us.
On Palm Sunday, we celebrate Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Every person cheering that day for Jesus had expectations for what His entrance would mean: perhaps as conqueror or prophet or healer. But Jesus was something greater still. He was King. What if we, too, have misunderstood what Jesus' entry into our life really means? Join Brian and Jon for an honest, practical self-reflection on submitting to Jesus as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
You have an enemy. Do you live like it? God commands us to resist our enemy and to be aware of his schemes, but if we're being honest, we don't always feel like we know HOW to do those things. So, join Brian and Jon for a practical, how-to conversation on the reality our spiritual enemy and the tools that help us to stand firm against him.
The call to holy living requires the pursuit of something so painful and so wonderful that it's a wonder we survive its cultivation...and ever survived its lack. Humility. The invitation - and the command - to a life of humility is inescapable across the breadth of the Scriptures, and yet it's one of the most misunderstood spiritual traits. So come join Brian and Jon for a very practical deep dive into HOW to become humble.
Part of "alien living" is developing a deep love for those around us. Not just an intellectual assent to the command to love, but a genuinely deep love...a cheerful sharing of yourself and all that you have with those around you. But how do we do that at a heart level? Join Mike Haynes and Jon Ackerman for a practical discussion on the disruptive and uncomfortable process of loving from the heart.
How do you handle suffering when it comes out of nowhere? And how do you prepare for the suffering you know is coming? Join Brian and Jon for a helpful conversation on cultivating your ability to suffer well...because suffering is a guarantee for all those that choose to follow Jesus. Do you feel prepared?
Part of the call to holy living is to not repay evil for evil. But what exactly does that mean...and when may we be doing it without even realizing? Join Brian and Jon for a practical conversation on forgiveness, blessing, and the incredible challenges in doing so with those who have hurt us.
Holy living is challenging. Very challenging. There are so many aspects of life, both within us and around us, that are fundamentally opposed to the holy life God invites us to...and one of those is our understanding of freedom. So where do we start? How can we be both holy and free? Join Brian and Jon as they discuss some of the major roadblocks to holiness and some of the practical steps we can take to think differently and live differently.
We are called to be holy and live holy lives, but our definition of holiness and our understanding of how to be holy may actually be keeping us from the very thing we seek. So come join Pastor Lee Towns and Jon Ackerman for a practical conversation on one of the most challenging topics to implement in our life with God.
Living holy lives...living as aliens and strangers...without being alienating and strange. If there was ever a need for helpful suggestions and practical next steps, this is it! So, join Brian and Jon as we begin 2023 with a conversation on living differently, thinking differently, and seeing ourselves, God, and the world around us differently than we ever have before.
It's the most wonderful time of the year! And we're taking one episode to summarize 4 weeks of Sunday teaching on "how to have a wonderful life." Where do we find it? What gets in the way? Why can't I seem to make it happen? Join Brian and Jon as we wrap up 2022 with some practical suggestions and a message of hope.
Our pain, and the pain of others, insists on answers. Why is this happening? Why me? Why them? Why now? What did I do...or what didn't I do? Most of all, though, is the question: God, what are You doing? If you've ever found yourself asking those questions, join Brian and Jon for part 2 of a series on Physical Healing as we expand the kind of conversation we have with Jesus during times of suffering.
Is God still in the business of healing? Yes! Then why didn't He heal me (or the person I prayed for) when I asked? The topic of physical healing is incredibly sensitive for us, in part because it combines the pain of physical suffering with the pain of confusion and disappointment. And in the face of that much hurt it often seems easier to not ask...not pray...not hope. But what if God's up to more than we realize? Join Brian and Jon for the first in a two-part series on the availability of physical healing and the frustration of "not yet" answers.
For the third week on Prayer, we're shifting the focus back to our side of the conversational relationship with God. How do we move from transactional prayers to a transformational conversation? Sincerity and submission is a good place to start. Wondering what that looks like in a practical way? Join Brian and Jon for a helpful look at the journey we all must take.
In Week 1 of this series on Prayer, we talked about the reality of two-way communication with God. He WANTS to talk to us, and we are wired to hear from Him. This week, join Brian and Jon as they tackle the obvious follow-up issue -- how do I KNOW when it's God? This episode is full of practical suggestions for those that are just learning and those that have been walking with God for quite a while. Join the conversation!
How do you honestly feel about prayer? And what has your life experience taught you about prayer...and through those experiences, about God? If we're going to grow in the rhythm of prayer, we have to become aware of what we believe - at a heart level - about this way of connecting with our God. So whether you've felt frustrated by prayer, confused, or excited to grow further in this rhythm, you'll want to check out this episode. Join Brian and Jon as they talk about their own internal discoveries and share some helpful suggestions for the journey ahead.
We're doing something a little different on today's Faith Forward podcast. The topic of "strongholds" is one of the least understood and least engaged in rhythms of modern Christianity. What might happen if we saw our spiritual reality more clearly? How might we think and live and engage with God differently as a result? Ready for an adventure? Join Jon and Brian as we embark on the Road to Freedom.
Welcome back to Part 2 of the "Road to Freedom." As we said in the previous episode, the topic of "strongholds" is one of the least understood and least engaged in rhythms of modern Christianity. Awareness of our condition and our need is an important first step in finding the abundant life Jesus promised. So Join Brian and Jon as we conclude this two-part series on the "Road to Freedom."
Are you familiar with the concept of a "stronghold"? It might sound a little intimidating, or perhaps overly spiritual. But strongholds are a very really hindrance in the life of EVERY Christian, and in many cases we're not even aware of their powerful influence in our day to day. So sit down with Brian and Jon as we clarify how strongholds are formed, and - more importantly - how we find freedom.
There are some critical questions to address as we close the discussion on loving God and loving your neighbor as yourself. What's your honest, heart-level "why" for doing so? What's your motivation in difficult conversations? And most of all, what on earth does it mean to "walk in the power of the Cross?" Join Brian and Jon for a heartfelt finale in the What Really Matters series.
Much like Joshua at Jericho, God has a unique strategy for loving your neighbors and yourself. And just like Joshua at Ai, we often feel like we know how to handle things on our own after tasting a success. So sit down with Brian and Jon as we share some practical lessons that will radically transform your ability to love your neighbor and yourself in unexpected and powerful ways.
Jesus was pretty clear on the "what" - Love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself. But we often struggle with the how...and that struggle often originates in our difficulty with being loved and loving ourselves. Join Brian and Jon for an intensely honest and wide-ranging conversation on how we can truly learn to love our neighbor as God wants us to love ourselves.
We're back! After breaking for the summer, we've returned to the studio just in time to recap all three messages on the rhythm of Daily Devotion. So join us for part 1 of a 2-part series as Brian, Lee, and Jon as share stories and offer practical steps to help all of us engage more deeply, personally, and transformationally with God on a daily basis.
In part 2 of this two-part podcast, Brian, Lee, and Jon get very practical on perhaps the most important part of Daily Devotion -- actually connecting with God and experiencing closeness with Him. Sound like something you want...or want more of? Then pull up a chair and listen to stories and suggestions that just might help you take the next step in your journey.
Part of the challenge in learning to Sabbath is learning what to do with our time. Perhaps an even larger challenge in learning to Sabbath is discovering the internal resistance we have to receiving this incredible gift from God. How do you respond to the invitation to Sabbath? Join Brian and Jon as they share their challenges and discoveries of learning to Sabbath well.
Happy Father's Day! As we pause for a "check-up" today on our spiritual health, one of the diagnostics that need to be run is the existence (and effect) of IDOLS in our life. Because you have them. I have them. And they can never do for us what the God of the Universe can...but we sure have a hard time letting go. So pull up a chair and join Brian and Jon as we invite God to show us our idols and then show us how to go about tearing them down. It'll change your life!
What does it really mean to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy? Practically, how do I "sabbath" in a way that's not just legalistic? More importantly, how do we sabbath so that we actually experience all the richness and delight that God intended when He set that day apart? Whether sabbath is a new category for you or you're looking to deepen your experience, you won't want to miss this episode as Brian and Jon share their struggles and victories in this area of profound transformation.
We probably talk less about Celebration than any of the other spiritual rhythms. Yet our growth in this rhythm makes space for God to transform us in ways that no other rhythm can reach. So how do you do with celebration? With remembrance and delight and extravagant celebration? And have you experienced what God can do in you and through you as you celebrate with Him? Join Brian and Jon for an introduction to the essential rhythm of Celebration and see what God has in store for you.
There is something in you that is desperately needed in the world around you. You've been given a gift - more than one, in fact - and you will be profoundly transformed if you allow God to reveal, expand, and mature it within you. And as you do, you will be stunned to witness the effect on those around you...the effect of one who has come fully alive and is pointing others in the same direction. Are you ready to take the next step?
We're wrapping up this series on Serving with some pretty uncomfortable questions...and by that I mean that Brian and Jon are squirming in their seats as they reflect on places God has really challenged their heart towards serving others...and being served. If you're serious about growing closer to God in this spiritual rhythm, you'll definitely want to catch this episode of the Faith Forward podcast.
God doesn't NEED us to do anything for Him -- AND -- He's created a world where He prefers to work THROUGH us. So let's talk a little more about serving, about being available, and about the transformation WE experience when God moves through us to reach others. Pull up a chair with Jon Ackerman and special guest, Mike Haynes, for a practical, heart-felt conversation on the transformational power of serving.
As we walk with God, serving others is an essential part of the journey. But the goal and the outcome of serving may be far bigger, more beautiful, and more beneficial to us than we ever realized. Join Brian and Jon as they offer practical stories of choosing humility over humiliation, transformation over transaction, and expansion of categories over checking boxes. You'll be glad you did.
In this final week on "Sacrifice," we're talking about sacrificing your "way"...you know, the way you like to do things, interact with others, and generally make life happen. What it would look like to sacrifice at the level of your temperament in order to uplift and engage others in ways they best receive? For one thing, it might look like the most difficult thing you've ever done! But it might also have the greatest effect! Join Brian and Jon for some personal and practical ways to unearth your "way" and begin sacrificing for others in ways that will change them...and YOU!
Can you believe we're still talking about Sacrifice?! In this week's episode, though, we're going to change the way we look at and think about sacrifice. In particular, examining the reality that God often intends the greatest recipient of our sacrifice to be...ourselves! Join Brian and Jon for a thought-provoking (yet still practical) look at the rhythm of Sacrifice.
We wouldn't blame you at all if you skipped right past this episode. Who really wants to talk about "sacrifice?" But very few other things offer the same tangible opportunities for real transformation. So join Brian and Jon for a kind, honest, and practical conversation on truly embracing a lifestyle of sacrificial living. You'll be glad you did!
Despite our best efforts, we often approach prayer as a transaction instead of a connection. Even when we try to pray relationally, we still often feel that prayer is a puzzle to solve. How can we break that cycle and truly connect with God in prayer as Jesus did? Join Jon Ackerman and Lee Towns (Director of Story & Digital Ministry) as they share their personal journeys of understanding and experiencing prayer in new ways.
In our life with God, transformation does not come out of self-effort but it does require intentionality. So how can be intentional without falling into striving on the one side or apathy on the other? Join Brian and Jon as they wrap up the final week on the prophet Haggai's invitation to "consider our ways."
When God invites us to do something with Him, we often (and often unknowingly) develop some expectations of the outcome. And when it seems like God's instructions didn't result in our plan we get confused, frustrated, and hurt. Ever been there? If so, join Brian and Jon as they share practical suggestions to not only invite God into that space of pain but also recover the joy of God's invitation to do something WITH Him.
How do you see your story? How do you see yourself? Sharing your story is a critical part of a life with God, and inviting others into your story is equally critical. But are you aware of the lenses through which you see your own story? More importantly, do you know what God says about your story? Join Brian and Jon as hey talk about the concept of the "false self" - where we see it in Scripture and in our own life - and what it might look like to have God tell us the truth of who we are.
The Bible assumes that close community is essential for spiritual transformation. And...there are MASSIVE challenges to being in the kind of close community that brings real transformation. So if I don't have it, how do I find close community? And if I have close community, how can I find an even deeper level of connection and growth? Join Brian and Jon as they share the questions that have helped them do just that.
The Great Commission - "go and make disciples" - is a life-changing invitation extended to every single follower of Jesus. For many, it also feels as if it comes with a heavy expectation of performance, self-effort, expertise, and measurable results. What could it look like to move from sharing our story for God to sharing our story WITH God? Join Brian and Jon as they share stories of learning to share their story in a way that brings transformation.
If there are 7 spiritual rhythms that help us to find true transformation, these last two are possibly the most misunderstood and the least utilized. We'll be dedicating several upcoming episodes to both Celebration and Breaking Strongholds, but join Brian and Jon now as they offer some initial suggestions and stories on how to begin incorporating these elements today.
We're briefly touching on the spiritual rhythms of prayer and daily devotion in this episode. We'll cover each of them (and the other rhythms) extensively in the coming months, but for now we want to offer some helpful suggestions on growing spiritually through small adjustments. Most of us prefer speed and efficiency, but a life with God - most of the time - is built through "a long obedience in the same direction." Join Brian and Jon as they share suggestions and stories of slow change that becomes powerful transformation.
Friends, we get to have joy! But...what is joy? And how on earth am I supposed to have joy in the midst of the difficulties, challenges, and heartache? Join Brian and Jon for a deeper look at the reality of joy and its genuine availability - even in the midst of our darkest moments.
Jesus loves you. That simple statement is one of the first truths learned in Sunday school. It's the absolute foundation of the Gospel. And yet we often struggle to feel it. What would it be like to FEEL God's love for us in the depth of our very being? And to feel it so strongly that it fundamentally altered the way we love others? Take the time to listen to this 2-part conversation on the transformational power of God's love in our life and see what He does in you and through you.
If we truly know and truly experience God's love for us, it will truly change the way we love others...beginning with the way we love ourselves. Join Brian and Jon for Part 2 of this "Restore: Love" conversation as they share lessons learned about self-love and the transformational change it creates in our ability to love others.
Peace - true, lasting, deeply-settled peace - is available. Right now in this moment. That's something we all need, and Jesus is offering it. Interested? Join Brian and Jon as they describe the kind of peace that restores and transforms us from the inside out.
Though the teaching series on Ruth has ended, we're back for one last episode on "waiting." Why, you ask? Because we wanted to bring in a special guest -- Brooke Ackerman, co-Director of Middle/High School ministry -- who has some fantastic insights born out of her own extensive waiting with God. In particular, how do we love those who are in the midst of their own waiting?
After 3 weeks of sharing helpful ways to stay close to God during intense times of waiting, we thought it might be helpful to offer a few stories of our own. So come join us (Brian and Jon) as we share a few of the most challenging times of waiting, and what we learned about our connection to God in the midst of those moments.
Here's an odd question - what do we do when the waiting is over and God has come through? The answer might seem obvious, but if we're not careful we might just return to normalcy instead of embracing a new normal. If we have learned to not waste the waiting, how do we continue to stay connected as we see Him answer our prayers?
Difficult things are hard...AND God is working even when we can’t see it...so what can we do in the midst? We can acknowledge the difficulty of the situation, choose to wait actively, cultivate our relationship with God in the moment, and avoid the traps of false-comparison and minimization. Not sure how to do some (or any) of that? Join Brian and Jon as they talk about their own moments of painful waiting and the lessons God has helped them to learn in the midst.
We're invited to be transformed by the Spirit of God in us, but how do we do that? How do we know what the Spirit is asking us to do...and is that even the most helpful question to ask? Join Brian and Jon as they talk about why it's important to follow the Spirit, what often gets in the way, and how to gain confidence in our ability to "hear."
How do I engage with the Scriptures on a regular basis in a way that brings understanding and transformation? Can I do this on my own? Do I need an expert? What do I do?! Join Brian and Jon as they discuss the rhythm of Daily Devotion and share suggestions and stories on how to engage the Scriptures in helpful and powerful ways.
The core elements of spiritual growth are the scriptures and prayer. And -- there's more! Join Brian and Jon as we talk through the 7 Rhythms of Spiritual Growth and some helpful next-steps for each that can help to truly transform our faith!
Imagine Jesus invited you on an all-expenses paid trip to Hawaii and you decided to just hang out in the airport. Crazy, right? Turns out that the story in John 8 of an angry crowd and a woman caught in adultery illustrates three major ways that we all settle for something less than the life Jesus is inviting us to live. Want to experience that life to the full? Join Brian and Jon as they discuss practical ways to rid ourselves of these hindrances and learn to embrace the abundant life with Jesus. It’ll change your life!
If we’re honest, we probably spend less time with God when life is good and more time when things are in crisis. And other than our doctor, that’s probably the only relationship in our life like that. When things are good we don’t ask many questions at all, and in the moments of crisis we often ask “why is this happening to me?!” How can we get better at getting closer to God in both the good moments and the moments of crisis? Join Brian and Jon for a very practical conversation that reveals some deep truths about how we see God and how we can connect more personally with Him.
Ask God. It’s the most common piece of advice we give on the Faith Forward podcasts, yet learning to “hear” God’s responses to our questions can be an exercise in frustration, confusion, and hopelessness for many. How do we know when God’s “speaking” to us and how can we get better at hearing Him? Join Brian and Jon for one of the most practical episodes yet – how do I learn to hear from God more clearly and more regularly?
Where do I truly place my hope? In the practical day-to-day, what am I hoping will bring me life, joy, comfort, and security? And if I’m being honest, why does saying “Jesus” in answer to that question sometimes feel…insufficient…compared to more seemingly tangible things like jobs, relationships, money, or power. More importantly, how could I start living in a way that feels like “life, and that abundantly?” Join Brian and Jon for an honest, authentic, and practical conversation on allowing Jesus to show us how to live the abundant life.
Does it ever feel like you're trying to get closer to God but there's a velvet rope and a bouncer with a clipboard that's holding you back? That you're just not good enough, not important enough, haven't checked the right boxes to be let in? Join Brian and Jon as they share practical ways to live out the truth of Jesus' invitation..."Come to me ALL who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest."
Ask the average person what they dream of, and fame and recognition are most likely going to be part of their response. Ask the average Christian what Jesus wants them to do, and sacrificial love and service will top the list. But does Jesus also call us to greatness? Join Brian Bales and Jon Ackerman as they discuss how to have a healthy attitude toward service and then answer the question, "Is Jesus okay with my desire to be great?"
We’ve heard “good” can be the enemy of “great”, but can “good” also be the enemy of God? Join Brian Bales and Jon Ackerman as they discuss how “good” religious practices can sometimes serve as distractions or even barriers to what God actually wants to do in us and through us. Additionally, they’ll offer practical tools and resources that they’ve found helpful in keeping the focus on God rather than “good.”
God cannot be forced or manipulated, but there is power and assurance when we repeat the promises of Scripture in prayer. How do we know which Scriptures to pray? What does it sound like to actually “pray Scripture?” Live demonstrations of praying the promises of God in Ephesians.
Episode 4: Waiting on God/Leveraging Silence
Does it ever feel like God’s not there, not listening, or refusing to act? Scripture tells us that’s never true, but challenging circumstances can make it hard to believe. How can we turn to prayer, scripture, intercession, and fasting to navigate those moments in life?
What do we do when it feels like God’s not answering? Spiritually maturing through disappointment and hardship. Stories of trying to maintain faith in difficult times.
- What does it look like to seek God in very practical terms? Brooke, Mike, Chris, and Jon share what they do in their day-to-day to establish a close relationship with God.
- Spiritual Habits: Intercession, Worship, Listening Prayer, Studying Scripture, Reflecting on God’s Word, Fasting
- Where do we each feel more comfortable? How did we get comfortable?
- Where do we struggle with these habits? How do we work through our challenges in these areas?
- How do we develop a new habit vs. maintaining an existing habit?
- How we view God affects how we interact with God. How do you view God? Someone who likes you? Someone who loves you? Someone who wants to spend time with you? Someone who’s just waiting for you to screw up so he can punish you?
-What does it look like to seek God, not just ask Him for something? -God’s not too busy for us. We’re not bothering Him. -Seeking God involves a level of intimacy that goes well beyond asking to receive, be protected, or healed. -Contemporary American Evangelicalism has a done a good job of highlighting morality, doctrine, mission, and generosity…and all of that is good, but it is incomplete.