In this episode, Jamie and Raz talk about what it means to enroll in “The School of the Father”—where the Teacher is God Himself.

Throughout the Scriptures, we find a stunning promise: God wants to personally teach His children. From the prophets of the Old Testament to the words of Jesus and the Apostle Paul, we see a thread of divine instruction—the Father leading, guiding, and forming us by His Spirit.

Even the psalmist understood this reality:
“I have more understanding than all my teachers . . . for You have taught me.”
Psalm 119:99–102
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+119%3A99-102&version=ESV

Jamie and Raz unpack passages like Isaiah 30, Jeremiah 31, and 1 Thessalonians 4, showing that walking with Him means learning from Him.
Isaiah 30: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+30%3A18-21&version=ESV

Jeremiah 31: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+31%3A33-34&version=ESV

1 Thessalonians 4: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Thessalonians+4%3A9&version=ESV

They also offer practical steps for getting into this “school”:

1. Enroll yourself – Believe that God, the Father, wants to be your teacher.
2. Open your textbook – Read the Bible with expectation that He’ll speak.
3. Listen to the lecture – Slow down and let the Spirit highlight truth.
4. Take notes – Write down what you hear so you don’t forget.
5. Ask questions – Dialogue with the Father; learning happens in relationship.

Scriptures to explore (Read these and ask the Father to teach you!):

Isaiah 30:18–21
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+30%3A18-21&version=ESV

Jeremiah 31:33–34
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+31%3A33-34&version=ESV

Isaiah 54:13 (cf. John 6:45)
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+54%3A13&version=ESV

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+6%3A45&version=ESV

1 Thessalonians 4:9
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Thessalonians+4%3A9&version=ESV

Psalm 119:97–104
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+119%3A97-104&version=ESV

Let the Father teach you—He’s the best Teacher you’ll ever have, and you might just learn more than your favorite Bible teacher.

To join the "YOUR STORY" reading plan, sign up here:
https://mariemontchurch.churchcenter.com/groups/unique/your-story-encountering-the-father-in-his-word

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https://www.mariemontchurch.org/with-hi

In this episode, Jamie and Raz share what they’re learning through the Your Story chronological Bible reading journey—and invite listeners to jump in and read along with the church family.

They reflect on the lives of the patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—and how remarkable it is that God the Father continually appears, speaks, guides, blesses, and keeps covenant with these men (and women), even though their lives are full of sin and dysfunction. Manipulation, deception, control, favoritism, polygamy, and violence are all part of their stories—yet God never stops pursuing relationship with them.

Together, Jamie and Raz marvel that the Father seems far more interested in their covenant loyalty than their sinless perfection. His desire has always been to be with His people.

They trace this theme forward to the New Testament, celebrating the stunning reality that we now get to experience God’s presence within us through the Holy Spirit. As believers, we have become mobile temples—His dwelling place—because of the finished work of Jesus’ death and resurrection, not because of our own performance.

Using Jacob’s dream of the stairway to heaven as an example—where he awoke and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it!”—they challenge listeners to recognize the same truth in our own lives. God is with us all the time, even when we’re unaware.

The episode ends with practical ways to practice His presence: learning to turn prayer into a two-way conversation of talking and listening to God, rather than simply reciting requests.

To join the "YOUR STORY" reading plan, sign up here:
https://mariemontchurch.churchcenter.com/groups/unique/your-story-encountering-the-father-in-his-word

Subscribe to the "With Him" Podcast email list
Get new episodes, bonus content, and more:
https://mailchi.mp/mariemontchurch/sub-to-with-him-podcast

Explore past episodes and resources
https://www.mariemontchurch.org/with-him-podcast

Resources & Contact Info

Email Raz & Jamie: razwithhim@gmail.com

Their church: Mariemont Church (Cincinnati, OH)
https://www.mariemontchurch.org

Jamie’s website & writing:
https://www.jamiemoore.org

Jamie’s book, Friendship with God
Available on Amazon

In this episode, Jamie and Raz explore how to read the Bible more effectively by focusing on the main character—God the Father.
Too often, we read Scripture through the lens of the human characters, trying to imitate their actions or apply their experiences to our own lives. But when we do that, we can miss what the story is truly revealing about God Himself.

Jamie and Raz explain that the frame you use shapes what you see—and if we focus on the wrong character, we can draw the wrong lessons. For example, looking to Job’s friends for how to comfort someone in suffering completely misses the point—because God condemns their response!

Instead, this conversation invites you to slow down, look for what the passage reveals about God’s nature, heart, and actions, and then ask how that truth about who He is applies to your life.

Using the story of Hagar in Genesis 16, they show that Abraham’s behavior is far from exemplary—but the Father’s is extraordinary. God meets Hagar, a mistreated and forgotten woman, hears her cry, and reveals Himself as El Roi—“the God who sees.”

This episode reminds us that reading the Bible with Him means looking for the Father in every story—the One who sees, hears, and draws near to the brokenhearted.

To join the "YOUR STORY" reading plan, sign up here:
👉 https://mariemontchurch.churchcenter.com/groups/unique/your-story-encountering-the-father-in-his-word

Subscribe to the "With Him" Podcast email list
Get new episodes, bonus content, and more:
👉 https://mailchi.mp/mariemontchurch/sub-to-with-him-podcast

Explore past episodes and resources
👉 https://www.mariemontchurch.org/with-him-podcast

Resources & Contact Info

Email Raz & Jamie: razwithhim@gmail.com
Their church: Mariemont Church (Cincinnati, OH)
👉 https://www.mariemontchurch.org
Jamie’s website & writing:
👉 https://www.jamiemoore.org
Jamie’s book, Friendship with God
👉 Available on Amazon

In this episode, Jamie and Raz sit down with Samantha Treas to talk about matters of the heart—learning to see God as a loving Father who’s after relationship, not perfection.

Sam shares about growing up Catholic and how Jesus began visiting her in dreams as a child, telling her, “I’m your friend.” Even during her college years of intentional wandering, she later realized He was gently wooing her heart back the whole time.

In this deep conversation, they explore what it means to keep a soft heart toward God, to repent relationally instead of religiously, and to understand that the Father cares far more about your heart than your behavior. This episode is an invitation to rediscover the Father’s heart—the One who loves how He uniquely made you, delights to speak to you, and never stops pursuing your heart.

Subscribe to the "With Him" Podcast email list
Get new episodes, bonus content, and more:
👉 https://mailchi.mp/mariemontchurch/sub-to-with-him-podcast

Explore past episodes and resources
🎧 https://www.mariemontchurch.org/with-him-podcast

Resources & Contact Info

📩 Email Raz & Jamie: razwithhim@gmail.com

🏠 Their church: Mariemont Church (Cincinnati, OH)

✍️ Jamie’s website & writing: www.jamiemoore.org

📖 Jamie’s book, Friendship with God
Available on Amazon

In this episode, Jamie and Raz explore one of Jesus’ most radical and freeing teachings: “Take up your cross and follow Me”
. What does it really mean to die to self—and why is it essential for truly gaining Jesus and living in the Kingdom?

They reflect on the dangers of leadership that hasn’t gone through the cross—when a person hasn’t died to self, they often lead out of insecurity, control, or self-promotion, which can harm others. The conversation also turns toward the subtle poison of unforgiveness
and how it keeps us from walking in freedom.

Jamie and Raz offer some practical steps for cultivating a secure identity in Christ:

• Guard your heart from pride
  , comparison, and bitterness
• Spend daily time in the Word
  to renew your mind
• Ask the Holy Spirit
  to reveal unsubmitted areas and invite His transformation

This is a raw, honest, and hopeful episode—reminding us that when we die to self, we actually come alive with Jesus.

Subscribe to the "With Him" Podcast email list

Get new episodes, bonus content, and more:
https://mailchi.mp/mariemontchurch/sub-to-with-him-podcast

Explore past episodes and resources

https://www.mariemontchurch.org/with-him-podcast

Resources & Contact Info

Email Raz & Jamie: razwithhim@gmail.com

Their church: Mariemont Church (Cincinnati, OH)

Jamie’s website & writing: www.jamiemoore.org

Jamie’s book, Friendship with God: Available on Amazon

In this third episode with Spencer Robinette, Raz and Jamie explore what it means to be a minister with Jesus—not just inside the walls of a church, but out in the world where most people live and work. Ministry isn’t just for vocational pastors—it’s for every follower of Jesus, wherever they are.

Rooted in Ephesians 4:11–12
, the conversation highlights God’s design for church leaders to equip the saints for the work of ministry. That means pastors aren’t called to do all the ministry for people, but to train and release God’s people to live as ministers in their workplaces, families, and communities.

Spencer shares stories from his time as a barista—where his pastor’s heart came alive behind a coffee bar—and how he continues to live out his ministry calling now as a sales rep at Windows Plus
.

He shares 3 core values for doing marketplace ministry:

• Work as Worship – Everything we do is an offering to God.
• Work as Service – Serving people matters more than closing a deal.
• Work with Integrity – Honoring people with honesty, not manipulation.

The guys also talk about how to practically bring Jesus into your everyday work life—like praying before meetings, listening for the Spirit’s guidance, and remembering what Jesus said: “My Father is always at work
.” That means your work matters, and you never do it alone. In fact, the Father has already prepared good works for you to walk in today (Ephesians 2:10
). He’s intentional, and He invites you to partner with Him—right where you are.

Resources Mentioned:

Dangerous and Beautiful by Revivaltown Music (Spencer Robinette)

• Amazon Music
• Spotify
• iTunes / Apple Music

Rooted Discipleship Classes (including "Faith at Work")

Windows Plus Cincinnati

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Get new episodes, bonus content, and more:
https://mailchi.mp/mariemontchurch/sub-to-with-him-podcast

Explore past episodes and resources

https://www.mariemontchurch.org/with-him-podcast

Resources & Contact Info

Email Raz & Jamie: razwithhim@gmail.com

Their church: Mariemont Church (Cincinnati, OH)

Jamie’s website & writing: www.jamiemoore.org

Jamie’s book, Friendship with God: Available on Amazon

In this powerful follow-up conversation, Raz and Jamie sit down again with Spencer Robinette to go deeper into his journey in ministry and grief. Spencer shares about serving in full-time vocational ministry—leading youth and worship, planting a church, and eventually merging that young plant with his dad’s older, more traditional congregation. He describes the joy and privilege of serving in ministry alongside his father… and the heartbreak of losing him just a few years later.

Spencer opens up about what he learned—and what he regrets—during the grieving process. Feeling responsible for the congregation’s healing, he neglected his own grief. That is, until a raw and powerful encounter with Jesus in his car on one of his darkest, angriest days. Jesus simply said, “Let it out.” What followed was 30 minutes of honest lament—anger, pain, questions—and the healing presence of Jesus who responded, “I hear you. I love you.”

This episode is a tender and courageous look at grief, lament, and the God who meets us in both. Spencer encourages listeners not to stuff their pain and pretend everything is okay, but to bring it honestly to Jesus—who welcomes our cries and begins the work of healing.

Resources Mentioned

Dangerous and Beautiful by Revivaltown Music (Spencer Robinette)
Available on:

• Amazon Music
• Spotify
• iTunes / Apple Music
  
  

A Grief Observed by C. S. Lewis
Available on Amazon

Subscribe to the "With Him" Podcast

Get new episodes, bonus content, and more:
Subscribe here

Explore Past Episodes and Resources

With Him Podcast Archive

Resources & Contact Info

• Email Raz & Jamie: razwithhim@gmail.com
• Their church: Mariemont Church (Cincinnati, OH)
• Jamie’s website & writing: www.jamiemoore.org
• Jamie’s book, Friendship with God: Available on Amazon

In this episode, Jamie and Raz talk about the difference between reading the Bible academically versus relationally. Too often we treat Scripture as information to master, rather than an invitation to engage with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

They share four practical ways to begin reading the Bible relationally:
Prayer — Talk with God as you read. Picture Jesus with you and engage Him in conversation about the Scriptures.
Story — See the Bible as your family story. God is Father, we’ve been grafted into His people Israel, and we get to learn how our royal family lives and loves.
Theology — Study God Himself as a person—what He loves, hates, desires, and plans. Reading the Bible this way helps us know His heart and encounter Him.
Obedience — Be doers of the Word. Obeying what we learn is deeply relational because we do it, partnering with Jesus and the Spirit.

Finally, Jamie and Raz invite listeners to join the upcoming church-wide Bible reading journey starting soon.

👉 Click here to join the YOUR STORY group journey!

Subscribe to the "With Him" Podcast email list
Get new episodes, bonus content, and more:
https://mailchi.mp/mariemontchurch/sub-to-with-him-podcast

Explore past episodes and resources
https://www.mariemontchurch.org/with-him-podcast

Resources & Contact Info

Email Raz & Jamie: razwithhim@gmail.com
Their church: Mariemont Church (Cincinnati, OH)
Jamie’s website & writing: www.jamiemoore.org
Jamie’s book, Friendship with God
Available on Amazon