Send us a text

When courage gets confused with noise and muscle, we step back and ask what strength really looks like. We follow a fresh reading of Ephesians 6—often reduced to battle talk—and uncover a protective way of living that lets love stand its ground without turning hard. Our guiding vision is simple but demanding: love boldly, serve joyfully, lead courageously. To make that real, we reach for images that breathe—civil rights sit-ins as living armor, campus crowds navigating faith in public, and yes, Superman admitting that his greatest power is being human.

We unpack the armor of God as a set of practices rather than weapons: a belt of truth that holds our lives together when spin is cheap, a breastplate of righteousness that guards motives, shoes made for the gospel of peace that move us toward people we’d rather avoid, a shield of faith that absorbs the darts of cynicism, a helmet of salvation that protects our minds from despair, and a Spirit-shaped word that cuts through noise without cutting down people. Along the way, we hold up a mirror to our polarized culture—where a Jesus sign can read as welcome to some and a warning to others—and ask how public faith can be both clear and kind, courageous and gentle, grounded and generous.

The conversation turns cinematic as we contrast Lex Luthor’s sanctified envy with Superman’s humble confession: strength is choosing love and action even when you’re afraid. That lens reframes leadership in the church and the public square. Courage isn’t swagger; it’s the daily decision to defend dignity, resist apathy, and build trust across difference. If you’re hungry for a faith that protects the vulnerable, engages pluralism with grace, and trades outrage for resilient hope, this one’s for you. If it resonates, share it with a friend, subscribe for more, and leave a review with the “armor” you plan to wear this week.

Support the show

Send us a text

Have you ever wondered about the real meaning behind Jesus's parable of the sheep and goats? This exploration of Matthew 25 takes us beyond simple interpretations into the heart of what it means to serve others.

The journey begins with a humorous confession about a teaching mishap involving teenagers and a misquoted Bible verse, setting the stage for a fresh look at familiar scripture. As we dig deeper into the text, profound questions emerge: What happens to grace in a story where people seem judged solely on their actions? Who exactly are "the least of these who are members of my family" that Jesus mentions? Does this refer only to fellow Christians or to all of humanity?

When paired with Jesus's Good Samaritan parable, we discover a revolutionary understanding of service that transcends tribal, religious, and cultural boundaries. This message resonates deeply because we all recognize moments in our lives when we have been "the least of these" – perhaps not lacking food or water, but experiencing vulnerability in other ways.

Through vivid stories of youth mission trips – from building wheelchair ramps on Native American reservations to constructing homes in Mexico amid challenging conditions – we witness the paradoxical truth Christians have discovered through centuries of faithful service: joy isn't just something we bring to service; it's what we discover through service. Standing just yards from the border fence between Mexico and the United States provides a powerful metaphor for the arbitrary divisions we create in a world where all are meant to be served.

Ready to discover the secret Christians know about service? Listen now to uncover how becoming a blessing to others might be the surest path to experiencing blessing yourself.

Support the show

Send us a text

What does it mean to "love boldly" in a society fractured by political division and violence? At a pivotal moment in American culture, this exploration of Jesus's greatest commandment couldn't be more timely or necessary.

The United Methodist Church has embraced a powerful new guiding vision centered on loving boldly, serving joyfully, and leading courageously. This sermon unpacks the first principle by examining Jesus's famous conversation with the Pharisees about the greatest commandment. His answer—love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself—has been recognized as the cornerstone of faith by Jewish and Christian thinkers for two millennia. Yet we struggle tremendously to put this teaching into practice.

When current events force us to confront painful questions about who counts as our "neighbor" and what our love should look like in practice, we often retreat to safer, more comfortable alternatives. Rather than letting love lead, we defer to power, money, division, fear, or anger. But these approaches have consistently failed to bring justice, peace, or harmony to our communities.

Perhaps Jesus wasn't offering a naive platitude but the only practical solution for human beings to live together despite our differences. The challenge for people of faith today is whether we're ready to truly believe Jesus—to trust that his commandment to love God and neighbor is the viable path forward. This requires holding ourselves accountable first, ensuring our words and actions honor the humanity of all people, even those with whom we deeply disagree.

Join us as we wrestle with what it means to love boldly in today's world. How might our communities transform if we had the courage to place love at the center of our interactions with others? What would change if we truly believed what Jesus taught about love?

Support the show