Neue Thing Podcast

What does it look like to walk wisely in a world of folly? In this episode of Neue Thing, we dig into Ephesians 5:15-21, where Paul calls a small, new church in the middle of a godless city to stay alert and live faithfully. Sound familiar? Our times may feel unparalleled, but the challenge is the same. Paul’s answer is simple and surprising: everyone is filled with something, whether the pleasure...

In this episode, Cherie dives into Ephesians 5:6-14, addressing the false teaching that pressed in on the early Ephesian church, both empty deception and legalistic rule-keeping that distorted the truth of the Gospel. She unpacks Paul's urgent warning not to be deceived and not to partner with those who twist God's Word, reminding listeners that we can (and should) test every teaching ag...

In this episode of the Neue Thing Podcast, we dig into Ephesians 5:1-5 and the call to imitate God. This isn't a vague "what would Jesus do." It's grounded in what Jesus actually did. We’re challenging one of the most repeated lies of our culture: that you have to love yourself before you can love anyone else. Christ's love for us is already enough to fuel how we love othe...

Our study of Ephesians continues in chapter four as we explore verses 25-32 and unpack Paul’s call to live like we’ve truly been saved. This isn't a message of shame or a list of impossible obligations; it’s an invitation to a higher standard. We discuss what it means to take off the old self, putting away deception, falsehood, and corrupting talk, and actively put on the new self. In this ep...

In this episode of the Neue Thing Podcast, host Cherie Wagner invites us to dig into Ephesians 4:17-24 and what it means to live as a new creation in Christ. We unpack Paul's warning against false teaching and ungodly living, remembering that Scripture should be a mirror for our own lives before it's a microscope for others'. We're challenged to let go of the "follow your...

In this episode of Neue Thing Podcast, we dig into Ephesians 4:13, picking up mid-thought from Paul's teaching on the gifts God has given the church. These gifts aren't for show — they're meant to build up the body of Christ and move us toward maturity. We talk about what it looks like to lead in a way that builds the church up instead of tearing it down, and why staying rooted in G...

We’re in Ephesians 4:7-12 to explore God’s design for spiritual gifts and the grace that fuels them. Paul reminds us that our spiritual gifts aren’t given just for our own benefit. We are graced so that we can reflect that grace to others and build up the body of Christ. Walking through verses 8-10, we examine Christ’s triumph on the cross over darkness, His incarnation, and His ascension, which p...

Our study of Ephesians moves into chapter four as we explore verses 1–6 and discover what it truly means to walk worthy of your calling. Even while writing as a prisoner of Rome, Paul refuses to identify with his captors. Instead, he anchors his identity completely in Jesus Christ. In this episode, we talk about how understanding how deeply loved you are by God changes the way you live and interac...

This week, not only are we covering one of my favorite passages in Ephesians (Eph. 3:14-21), but we also have the privilege of welcoming Charity Gurtler as a special guest for today’s podcast! In today’s passage, Paul falls to his knees to ask God for inner strength, a deeply rooted understanding of Christ’s love, and spiritual fullness. Charity encourages us with reminders about God’s ability to...

Our study of Ephesians picks up today in chapter three. Diving into verses 10–13, we uncover two profound truths about God’s design for the church and our personal relationship with Him. From the beauty of diverse unity to the staggering reality of direct access to the Creator, this episode challenges us to rethink how we show up in the world and how we approach the throne of grace. WHAT IS NEUE T...

In this episode, we reflect on Ephesians 3:7–9 and the beauty of God’s grace—a free and undeserved gift made possible through the complete and sufficient sacrifice of Jesus. Paul points all glory to Christ, the true Grace-Giver, while also remembering how deeply his own life was transformed by grace. His words remind us that none of us can earn God’s favor through striving or good works; grace is...

In this episode, we explore Ephesians 3:1–6 and the powerful example of Paul, who, even as a prisoner, continued to faithfully proclaim the gospel to the very people he was once trained to despise. Rather than allowing suffering or difficult circumstances to silence his purpose, Paul remained committed to revealing the mystery of the gospel—that through Christ, Gentiles are fellow heirs and fully...

In this episode, we close out Ephesians chapter 2 by reflecting on the incredible truth of our identity in Christ. Through Jesus, we are no longer strangers and aliens, but fellow citizens in God’s kingdom and members of His household. We have full access to the Father, and nothing can separate us from His presence. Yet so often, we live striving to earn what has already been freely given through...

In this episode, Ephesians 2:14–17 reminds us that Christ is our reconciler. In a time when Jews and Gentiles were deeply divided, Jesus tore down the walls of hostility and brought them together as one. That same truth challenges us today. If we are in Christ, we are called to be defined not by our preferences, backgrounds, or differences, but by God’s love. Jesus didn’t just preach reconciliatio...

Paul highlights the deep cultural divide between Jewish and Gentile believers In Ephesians 2:11-13, yet celebrates how Christ unites all through the gospel of grace. He reminds us who we were before Christ—separated, excluded, strangers to God’s promises, and without hope. This reflection isn’t meant to shame us, but to magnify God’s mercy. When we remember how far we’ve been brought, His grace be...

In Ephesians 2:4–10, Paul brings us to the centerpiece of the gospel. Just before this passage he described the reality of life apart from Christ—spiritually dead and unable to rescue ourselves. Into that hopeless condition come two of the most beautiful words in Scripture: “But God.” God interjects Himself into the brokenness of our “before Christ” lives. Out of His rich mercy, He does for us wha...

In this episode of the Neue Thing Podcast, we open Ephesians 2:1–3 and sit with words calling us to remember our B.C. days. Paul reminds believers what marked every one of us before Christ: spiritually dead, shaped by the patterns of this world, and unable to rescue ourselves. He writes not to shame them, but to fuel a deeper gratitude for grace. Because there was a real moment in time when everyt...

In this episode of the Neue Thing Podcast, we walk through Ephesians 1:15–23 and a recorded prayer for the believers in Ephesus. Their faith and love deeply encouraged him, and it moved him to pray boldly for them. Instead of praying for surface-level needs, Paul prayed for something deeper: that God would give them a spirit of wisdom and revelation, that the eyes of their hearts would be enlighte...

In Ephesians 1:9–14, Paul invites us to anchor our identity in the character and nature of God. These verses reveal the spiritual blessings we already have access to in Christ and remind us that God is sovereign. His will is never thwarted, and His purposes will be accomplished. Even in a fallen world marked by suffering and sin, nothing can take away the hope of glory we carry. As God’s will unfo...

In this episode of the Neue Thing Podcast, we walk through Ephesians 1:3–8 and reflect on what it truly means to find our identity in Christ. Paul reminds us that every defining mark of who we are flows from Jesus—not from our circumstances, performance, or shame. In Christ, we are chosen, holy and blameless, predestined, adopted, blessed, redeemed, and forgiven. These are not meager portions but...

Today, Cherie gives an overview of what to expect as you engage with this year’s study. Tune in for insights into the first verses of this prison Epistle. There is so much to glean in the opening verses that we tend to gloss over. Welcome to season five of the Neue Thing Podcast! EPISODE LINKS Awake O Sleeper Workbook Awake O Sleeper Video Teaching Ep. 26 | Intro to Paul Ep. 27 | Intro to Ephesian...

Proverbs 31 is often misunderstood. It’s either admired from a distance or dismissed as unattainable. In this episode of the Neue Thing Podcast, we reframe this familiar passage, not as a checklist for wives, but as a portrait of a person marked by wisdom. Proverbs 31 reveals the difference between knowledge and wisdom: wisdom is truth lived out in how we speak, serve, and love. This chapter is an...

Today, we explore Proverbs 28 and its compelling contrast between the profile of a wise leader and the profile of a foolish one. As we unpack these qualities, we’re invited to consider what kind of disciple we are becoming. Are the marks of wisdom taking shape in us, or are there quiet lingerings of folly we’ve allowed to stay? WHAT IS NEUE THING? Neue Thing is a non-profit ministry, founded by Ch...

In this episode, we explore Proverbs 26:1–12 as a cautionary tale that exposes the downward spiral of folly and the danger of letting our values drift from Scripture. Solomon paints a vivid picture of the fool, calling out the ways we applaud folly when our morals become culturally shaped rather than biblically grounded. We talk about the importance of “knowing the soil,” applying wisdom with disc...

In this episode of the Neue Thing Podcast, we explore The 30 Sayings of the Wise found in Proverbs 22:17–24:22. Solomon reminds us that true wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord, a continual awareness of His presence, deep reverence for Him, and sincere commitment to obey Him. Each saying becomes a practical guide for daily living, covering friendship, money, discipline, envy, and character. Fr...