Everyday Disciples: Recent Episodes
St Matthew, Grand Rapids
Being a disciple isn't just for an hour a week on Sundays - it's something we do every day! Join the team from St Matthew in Grand Rapids as we talk about being an everyday disciple, following Jesus wherever we are!
For our last episode of season 3, we're sharing what we're thankful for! We sat down with the staff from St Matthew and asked them what they're thankful for and what they've learned about gratitude. Have a great Thanksgiving and we'll be back with season 4 in the new year!
If you have a suggestion for a topic or a question you'd like us to talk about, drop us an email at media@stmatthewgr.com.
This week, we look at how to use the book of Psalms in your prayers and devotions. It's a book of prayers and songs from Israel's worship life and it's quite different than a lot of other books from the Bible. We'll talk about how we use the Psalms and how you can too!
If you have a topic or question that you'd like to hear about, send us an email at media@stmatthewgr.com.
As we approach Thanksgiving, it's a time when we often reflect on the blessings that we have and how God has provided. And then we follow it with Christmas where we make our lists and buy all the things! As everyday disciples, how do we cultivate a life of contentment all year round and focus on what we have instead of what we don't?
Then in part two, we talk about a worship song that goes right with this topic: Elias Dummer's "Enough" (Listen to the song here.) It's a song that challenges our world's perception of success and points to Jesus as the one who is enough for us. "With nothing, I still have everything - Jesus you are enough for me."
If you have a topic or question you'd like to hear us discuss, drop us an email at media@stmatthewgr.com.
Today on Everyday Disciples, we talk about what it means to parent with grace. Rather than being helicopter parents (who hover around and make sure everything goes right) or snowplow parents (who bulldoze every obstacle out of the way), how can we be parents who help their kids through difficult times rather than trying to eliminate those times altogether? Then in the second half, we talk about what to do when we experience failure in our lives. We're all going to mess up in one way or another (i.e., sin) so what do we do in those moments? How do we own it and grow from it? If you have an idea or a question that you'd like to hear about, send us an email at media@stmatthewgr.com.
Today on Everyday Disciples, we talk first about the New Age Spirituality -- which isn't all that new anymore but pops up again and again in our world today. Then in part two, we talk about Spiritual Warfare. What is it and how should Christians think about it? We'll dive into that and more! Have a topic or question you'd like to hear about? Drop us an email at media@stmatthewgr.com.
In today's episode, we talk about getting to work! How should Christians think about their work and their faith? Is work the only way that we can serve God? We'll dive into the idea of "vocation" and see how freeing it can be! Then, in the second part, we talk about what it means to be obedient and submissive as Christians. Those aren't values that our culture prizes but so much of the Bible's story is about submitting to God's plans and design. If you have questions or ideas for things you'd like to hear about, drop us an email at media@stmatthewgr.com.
This week on Everyday Disciples, we talk about building real, authentic community. We're in a world that's all about the artificial and crafting an image for yourself but deep down we crave real connections with people. We'll talk about some ways we can build that community. Then, we look at Christian relationships with those outside the faith. We don't want to view our non-Christian friends as "projects" as if we're only friends so that we can get them into the church. But we also have good news that we want to share with them! We'll talk about that tension in part two. Have a topic or a question you'd like to hear about? Drop us a line at media@stmatthewgr.com.
Today on Everyday Disciples, we take a look at another worldview that's common in our world today: secular humanism. What happens when we remove God from the equation and try to make sense of the world around us without Him? You end up with secular humanism! In the second part, we continue our walk through the Sermon on the Mount as we talk about some values of the Kingdom of God that Jesus lays out for us. Have a topic or question you'd like to hear about? Drop us an email at media@stmatthewgr.com.
This week on Everyday Disciples, we take a look at a practice that doesn't get a lot of attention these days: fasting. Jesus talked about fasting as a way of trusting in God and it's a practice that many followers of Jesus have found to be beneficial to their walk. We'll explore the practice and talk about Jesus' teaching about it. Then, we're looking at a religion you may never have heard of but one that you've undoubtedly been influenced by: Gnosticism. It's an old belief that was growing around the time Christianity was getting started and it's influenced it in many ways! We'll point out how it has influenced us even today and what God's Word says instead. If you have a question or topic you'd like to hear about, drop us an email at media@stmatthewgr.com.
We're back for season three of Everyday Disciples and starting off with a difficult and timely topic: Responding to Roe vs. Wade. It's been a few weeks since the US Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade and we've all had some time to think about what that means. Sit down with Pastor Matthew, Lori, Stephanie, and Aidan as we talk about how Christians can respond and care for those who are facing unexpected pregnancies. It's a challenging topic but we hope you'll join us in the conversation. As always, if you have a question or topic you'd like to hear about, let us know with an email at media@stmatthewgr.com.
It's the last episode of Season 2! Thanks for being with us through these seasons! We're working on plans for the summer and the fall, so watch for more updates about that down the road. In today's episode, we talk with Aidan and Matthew about how to listen when you pray. Most of the time, we probably think of prayer as one-way communication but God invites us into a conversation with Him in prayer. We'll explore some ways to do that when we pray. Then in part two, we talk with Matthew, Rob, and Adam in our walk through the Sermon on the Mount as we look at the Lord's Prayer and how Jesus instructed His followers to pray. If you have questions or something you'd like to hear us talk about, let us know with an email to media@stmatthewgr.com.
This week, we have a special guest! Retired pastor Rod Otto joins Lori and Matthew to talk about reaching the outcast. In part two, Rob and Matthew talk about why it's still important to be a member of a church in a day when church membership seems like an old-fashioned idea. If you have a question or topic you'd like to hear about, let us know with an email to media@stmatthewgr.com.
First up on today’s episode, we talk with Pastor Rob and Pastor Matthew about how to read the Bible. It can be a daunting book but it’s also where we hear God’s voice. We’ll talk about how to approach the Bible and make it part of your walk as a disciple. Then, Pastor Rob, Pastor Matthew, and Adam continue our walk through the Sermon on the Mount and Jesus’ teaching on loving your enemy and giving to the needy. If you have a question or a topic you'd like to hear about, send us an email at media@stmatthewgr.com.
It's almost Easter and we're looking at a weird Bible story associated with Jesus' death and resurrection: the temple curtain tearing in two and the tombs of saints opening up with their inhabitants leaving the cemetery. It's a strange little scene but it's packed with meaning! Then in part two, Pastor Matthew and Adam take a look at some songs of the Easter season that we'll be singing and look at how the message of Jesus' resurrection has been set to music over the years. Have a topic you'd like to hear about or a question for us? Drop us an email at media@stmatthewgr.com.
First up in today’s episode, we tackle the topic of Singleness. Often, without realizing it, the church can become very marriage and family-centered – to the point where singles in our midst can feel like they’re somehow less than what they should be. Aidan, CJ, and Pastor Matthew talk about how we can be mindful of singles – and that doesn’t mean setting them up! In the second segment, Pastor Rob and Pastor Matthew look at some “misused” Bible verses – verses that get taken out of context or quoted as though they say one thing when they actually might say something different than we think. If you have a question or a suggestion for something you'd like to hear us talk about, let us know with an email to media@stmatthewgr.com.
This week on Everyday Disciples, we look at a question that gets asked surprisingly often - should Christians be cremated? What does the Bible have to say - if anything - about how we handle our loved ones' remains when they die? Pastor Rob mentioned an article that might be helpful - it's on page 5 of our https://www.stmatthewgr.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Funeral-Planning.pdf (Funeral Planning guide). Then in part two, we look at the Sermon on the Mount and Jesus' teaching on some touchy topics like divorce, oaths, and retaliation.
When you hear the word "Sabbath," what comes to mind? For many people, they might think about going to church or not doing any work. They might even think that it's an 'Old Testament" thing that doesn't matter to us today. But we need a Sabbath today! We'll explore with Aidan, CJ, and Pastor Matthew just how important taking a Sabbath is for us today! Then in part 2, we talk with Pastors Matthew and Rob about something you were probably never taught: how to listen to a sermon. Lots of work goes into writing and delivering a sermon, but the work doesn't end there! We'll talk about how you can get the most out of the sermon time when you worship. If you have questions or a suggestion for something you'd like to hear us talk about, let us know with an email to media@stmatthewgr.com.
Mental health is a pressing concern in our world today, and it's not just because of the pandemic! For years our culture has been wearing us out mentally and we haven't been equipped to take care of ourselves. Add to that the idea that some people have that faith is all you need to fix anything and it's a recipe for frustration! In our first segment, we talk with Aidan, CJ, and Pastor Matthew about Christians and mental health and see that God wants us to take care of our whole self - body, mind, and soul! In our second segment, we tackle the difficult situation of being hurt by the church. Whenever people come together, it creates not only community but the potential to get hurt by someone - even the church itself. It is made up of sinners, after all! Pastor Matthew and Lori dig into this topic and explore what we can do when we find ourselves feeling slighted by our Christian brothers and sisters. If you have questions or topics you'd like to hear about, let us know! Drop us an email at media@stmatthewgr.com.
Often when we face a big decision in life, we ask what God would want us to do. How do we find God's will for our lives? Does He even have one? And just how detailed is it? We'll explore that in our first segment. Then in the second segment, we'll talk about the related idea of "Free Will." That phrase gets thrown around a lot in certain circles within the church but what does it really mean? Pastors Rob and Matthew dig into that idea. If you have a topic you'd like to hear about, let us know! Email us at media@stmatthewgr.com.
We're back! Our break ended up being a little longer than we planned (thanks to Covid, a major renovation project, and a pastoral search process that took priority) but we're back with another season of Everyday Disciples! In our first segment, we talk about colorful language - Christians and cussing. It seems like everyone does it. Does that make it okay? We'll sit down with Lori Wieneke and explore what our language says about us. Then, we sit down with Pastor Rob to talk about a question that was brought up by our senior high youth group: can Christians get tattoos? Cultural opinions go back and forth over them but what does God's Word say? As always, if you have a question or a topic you'd like to hear us talk about, reach out at media@stmatthewgr.com.
We've reached the end of season one! Thanks to all of our subscribers for joining us on this everyday journey of discipleship. In today's episode, we look at Christmas! In the first segment, Pastor Matthew and Adam VanderStelt compare the story of Christmas that we know from kids' Christmas programs and Christmas cards and the real story from Scripture to see how different they can be. In the second segment, Pastor Matthew, Aidan Hunt, and CJ Geluso talk about surviving the holiday. It can be a challenging time for some people for a variety of reasons and we look at some ways to get through it despite the difficulties it can cause. We'll be back in January with a new season of episodes. Until then, keep following Jesus everyday and if there's a topic or question you'd like to hear us talk about, let us know at media@stmatthewgr.com. Merry Christmas!
This is our second-to-last episode of the season before we break for Christmas, but don't worry - we'll be back in January! We're in the season of Advent when the church looks back to Jesus' first coming at Christmas and ahead to His second coming. In the first segment, Pastor Matthew and Pastor Rob talk about that second coming by looking at some of the different ideas about the end of time. In the second segment, Pastor Matthew, Pastor Rob, and Adam continue walking through the Sermon on the Mount and Jesus' teaching on murder and adultery. In the final segment, Matthew and Adam talk about a song that we sing during this Advent season that looks ahead to Jesus' return: Lo, He Comes With Clouds Descending. Have feedback or a topic that you'd like to hear about? Let us know: media@stmatthewgr.com
It's Thanksgiving week and while we're all gearing up to eat tons of turkey and stuffing, we're looking at the holiday through the lens of everyday disciples. In our first segment, Pastor Matthew, Aidan, and CJ talk about what gratitude is all about and how to be grateful today. In the second segment, we talk about that crazy family that you're about to spend the holiday with. We're called to love everyone, even our family that can be a bit difficult to love. And finally, we end with something fun - some great conversation starters for your family gathering that are guaranteed to get people talking about topics that aren't so divisive. (not a guarantee!) Happy Thanksgiving!
This week on Everyday Disciples, Pastor Rob, Pastor Matthew, and Adam sit down for another installment of Bibles Only Bible Study, reading through the Sermon on the Mount. In part two, Matthew, Aidan Hunt, and CJ Geluso talk about practicing forgiveness. Even for seasoned Christians, it can be really difficult to practice forgiveness but it's an important skill to learn. And Finally, Aidan and Matthew take a quick look at another strange Bible story, this time from the Gospel of Matthew when a fish shows up with a coin for Peter. If you have feedback or a topic you'd like to hear about, let us know! Email us at media@stmatthewgr.com.
Busyness has been a big deal for a long time, but even in the midst of a pandemic when things were shut down, many people were eager to get busy again. Today, we sit down with Pastor Matthew, Aidan Hunt, and Stephanie Sherman to talk about the impact that chronic busyness has on our life and our faith. In the second part, we look beyond being busy to some practices and tools that can help us, even in the midst of our busyness. It may not be going away anytime soon and we might be in a season of life where busyness is just how it has to be, but we can still find ways to grow in our faith as we follow Jesus as everyday disciples. As always, if there's a topic you'd like to hear us talk about or a question you have, reach out to us at media@stmatthewgr.com.
In our first segment, Pastor Mattthew, Pastor Rob Appold and Adam Vanderstelt chat about Communion in a bit of a deep dive. We do it every week at our church and we don't always get to talk about what it's all about. Next, Adam and Matthew take a look at why we sing what we sing, looking at a song that we often use during communion at our contemporary service – O Come to the Altar. In the final segment, we introduce a new recurring Bible study segment where we’re going to look at the Sermon on the Mount with just our Bibles and reflect on Jesus’ teaching. If you have a suggestion for a topic or a question you'd like us to address, let us know! Reach out to us at media@stmatthewgr.com.
Halloween and Reformation are coming up and we're tackling a few related topics! In our first segment, Adam Vanderstelt and Pastor Matthew Starner talk about celebrating Halloween as Christians. A lot of Christians get hung up on whether or not it's okay to celebrate a holiday that seems to be about so much dark stuff. But the origins of Halloween are more Christian than we realize! (We also hear about their very different tastes in Halloween candy!) In the second segment, Pastor Rob and Matthew talk about ghost stories and the Bible. Believe it or not, they've been asked about that topic many times and it's helpful to remember what God's Word says. And they look at a ghost story in the Bible that many aren't familiar with from 1 Samuel 28. In the final segment, Pastor Matthew and Adam take a look at a song that's going to be sung in many churches around the world this coming Reformation day: A Mighty Fortress. Have a question or a topic you'd like to hear from us about? Let us know at media@stmatthewgr.com.
In our first segment, we talk with Aidan Hunt, Matthew Starner, and CJ Geluso about a "How to" for everyday disciples - how to pray in public without passing out. Speaking in public can be scary enough for most people but praying in public can be downright terrifying! We talk about some ways to approach praying out loud with your family or small group that can make it seem less scary. In the second segment, Pastors Rob and Matthew continue their conversation from a previous episode about suffering - this time asking how we can walk alongside someone who is struggling and bring hope and comfort. In the final segment, That's in the Bible?!, Aidan and Matthew talk about one of those strange stories in the Bible that we don't hear about in Sunday School or sermons much - Elisha and the bears. Do you have something you'd like to hear us talk about or address? Let us know! Send us a message at media@stmatthewgr.com.
In this episode, we sit down with Lori Wieneke, Spiritual Formation Director at St Matthew, and talk about how to handle disagreements as Christians. We're in a world that's more polarized than ever and sometimes we Christians don't always handle those disagreements in a Christ-like way. Lori also recommended a resource that helped her: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0062883755/ (Love Your Enemies) by Arthur C. Brooks. In the second segment, we talk with Aiden Hunt and CJ Geluso about how faith and culture come together on Social Media as we seek to be followers of Jesus on those platforms. And lastly, we have a quick tool to share for your Bible reading: https://www.stmatthewgr.com/7-arrows-of-bible-reading-bookmark/ (The 7 Arrows of Bible Reading). We'd love to hear from you! If you have a topic you'd like us to discuss, let us know at media@stmatthewgr.com.
In our first segment, we sit down with our Spiritual Formation Team to talk about reading the Bible at home with your family - a great thing to do but also a big challenge! Where do you start? What if you don't know what it means? Lori, Aidan, Stephanie give us some great advice from their own experience! In part two, pastors Rob and Matthew talk about the difficult topic of struggles or suffering. With all the events of the last year and a half, that's something many people are asking about and we turn to God's Word for some help.