The Tongue We would use God’s wisdom to govern the words spoken from the tongue. BIBLE FORD KISS THE Luke 6:45 // For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. Proverbs 4:23 // Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Matthew 15:11 (NLT) // “It’s not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the …

How can the people of God inhabit our cities - in workplaces, commutes & classrooms in a way that’s coloured by the hope of God’s kingdom breaking in? This week Tyler Staton and Pete Hughes join us on the podcast in a conversation that was originally a part of one of our Emerging Leaders Lab cohort sessions. Tyler and Pete share about: Finding Rhyt…

“I’m kind of a genius.” James 1:19-22 // My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word plante…

Grow the church. Grow you. Who is the author? James Camel Knees Who is the audience? Jewish Christians What is the purpose? Encouragement What is the central message? Faith in Action Truths of Trouble Trouble comes to everyone Trouble can be unpredictable Trouble hurts Rejoice in Trouble James 1:1-2 // James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus …

Philippians 2:15-16 // …Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. Joy is the gigantic secret of the Christian. G.K. Chesterton Joy vs Happiness Joy makes a follower of Jesus uncommon. How do I Live With Uncommon Joy? Joy’s Importance Psalm 51:12-13 // “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And u…

38 years into ministry, Helen Burns speaks of the Church with love in her voice and delight in the work God is doing among His people today. Joining us on the podcast for a second time, Helen is a voice of encouragement as she reflects on what she has learned along the way. From planting Relate Church with her husband John in 1986, to the process o…

Uncommon Worship What do I do with my worry? 2 Chronicles 1:1-4, 15 // After that, the Moabites, Ammonites and some Meunites went to war against Jehoshaphat. 2 Some people came and told him, “A huge army is coming from Edom to fight against you. They have come across the Dead Sea. They are already in Hazezon Tamar.” Hazezon Tamar is also called En …

Philippians 2:15, 16 (NIV) // So that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”[c] Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. John 13:35 (NIV) // By…

Letting Jesus shepherd us into renewed courage and contentment when our vision for success has been broken is a wrestle many of us are familiar with. It's a path that our guest this week, Evan Allnutt, has walked at different moments in his vocational journey. Through changing careers from teaching to ministry, taking on a Lead Pastor role at a new…

Philippians 2:15-16 // Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. How do I live with uncommon generosity? For not From God is GENEROUS. Generosity is the heart of God. John 3:16 // For God so loved the world that He GAVE… Romans 8:32 // Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us …

John Mark Comer joins us again for a conversation on why people in our congregations are gravitating towards spiritual formation right now, and how we can pastor people beyond conversion into deeper healing and sanctification in their walk with Christ. Jason and John Mark talk through what it’s like to pastor today, and how the cultural hostility p…

Genesis 37:5 // Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. Genesis 37:17b-20 // So Joseph went after his brothers and found them near Dothan. But they saw him in the distance, and before he reached them, they plotted to kill him. “Here comes that dreamer!” they said to each other. “Come now, let’s kill him…

We are a Spirit-Empowered church Acts 1:4-5, 8 // On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 8 But you will receive powe…

Heaven Up there, down here Until Lakeland Looks Like Heaven Matthew 6:10 // Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. KINGDOM: A country, state, or territory ruled by a king or queen Matthew 6:10 (KJV) // Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. KINGDOM: Wherever the will of a king is carried out Mar…

DTR Wedding ring of Christianity Joshua 24:15 // But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Revelation 3:15-1…

Mark Buchanan sits down with us again to explore everything from how storytelling forms us to our addiction to control. He articulates how narratives help us navigate the truths of life and our identity, emphasizing the significance of weaving hope-filled, gospel-rooted stories into the fabric of our cultural imagination. Throughout our conversatio…

Luke 5:12-16 // While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." 13 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him. 14…

How do we contextualize our churches to the neighbourhoods God has called us to? And how do you keep your heart healthy when people leave your church? In today’s episode with Tammy Giffen, lead pastor of Groundswell Church in Truro, Nova Scotia, we explore these questions and more from her journey in ministry. Tammy became a Christian through Alpha…

Matthew 8:1 // Large crowds followed Jesus as he came down the mountainside. Jesus was led by the Spirit, not the crowds. Mark 4:36 // Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. Are you following Jesus? Salvation happens when we put our faith in Jesus. Real life change happens w…

In this episode, Jason sits down with the pioneer of the Alpha Course and former Vicar of Holy Trinity Brompton in London, Nicky Gumbel. Nicky shares about his journey of transitioning leadership at HTB after nearly two decades in the senior role, emphasizing the importance of healthy succession and not taking changes made by new leaders personally…

You Us Future Us Proverbs 29:18 (KJV) // Where there is no vision, the people perish. Hebrew: châzôwn (khaw-zone’): A dream, revelation or vision for life Psalm 126:1-2 // When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Acts 2:17 // “In the last days, …

In this episode, Jason had a conversation with Jerry L. Sittser, a retired professor of theology from Whitworth University, renowned for his expertise in Christian spirituality and history. In this conversation, Jerry shares the relevance of early Christian practices in today's world and highlights the importance of the church embracing a new catec…

Luke 10:25-37 (NIV) // On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘L…

Marriage is the safest relationship on the earth when God’s laws for love are honored. Genesis 2:20-25 // So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. 21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man…

Love 1. Put everything in its proper season Song of Solomon 8:4 // Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires. 2. Become the person you’re looking for is looking for 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 // Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easi…

Change and the process of pruning are essential yet challenging aspects of personal growth and church life. Jonathan Smith understands this reality deeply, having navigated 30 years of church ministry and leadership. In this engaging conversation with Jason, Jonathan candidly shares his transformative journey, from the bold endeavor of planting a c…

“Isolation is the modern day leprosy.” - Mother Teresa Hebrews 10:25 (NLT) // And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. 1 Samuel 14:1-15 // One day Jonathan son of Saul said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the Philistine ou…

Nehemiah 1:3-4 // “They said to me, ‘Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.’ When I heard these things I sat down and wept… Nehemiah 6:15-16 // “So the wall was completed … in fifty-two days … with the help of our Go…

Discipleship lies at the heart of the Christian journey, yet it often becomes compartmentalized within separate ministries or aspects of the Christian faith. Jeff Vanderstelt, with years of experience leading others in the way of Jesus and equipping the broader church through his writings, is now dedicated to mentoring pastors and leaders in gospel…

"Prayer is how we write history before it happens." - Mark Batterson How many of us believe in the power of prayer? Do we actually pray like it? James 5:16 // The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Hebrews 4:16 (NLT) // So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find gr…

Acts 9:10-18 // Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. 12 And in a vision he has se…

How do I hear the voice of God? We serve a speaking God. John 10:3-5 // “The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a strang…

Psalms 116:12-13 // How can I repay the Lord for all the good he has done for me? I will take the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. Luke 14:25-33 // Large crowds were traveling with Jesus and turning to them he said: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their …

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 // Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NLT) // Never stop praying. “To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.” ― Martin Luther King Jr “I never pray more than 20 minutes. But I …

In this episode, Jason had the privilege of sitting down and having a conversation with his very first pastors—Angel and Durwin Gray, who played a crucial role in shaping his pastoral imagination during his formative years. Angel and Durwin have been serving as pastors at Hillside Church for 25 years, and they generously shared with us the joys, ch…

2024 can be your best year, if it’s your best year spiritually! Genesis 1:1 // In the beginning God… Prayer should be our first response, not our last resort. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 // Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 // When I shut up the heave…

This past year we gathered for a one day conference with pastors and leaders from across North America, collaborating with our friends at Practicing The Way. Together, we engaged in meaningful discussions on spiritual formation within the context of the local church. This full day gathering consisted of teaching and dialogue from John Mark Comer, K…

Luke 2:10 // But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” All the people 2 Corinthians 5:15 // He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ Colossians 1:15-18 (MSG) // We look at this Son and s…