Placed For A Purpose

In this special farewell episode, we share some heartfelt "new news" as we officially bring the Placed for a Purpose podcast to a close after two and a half years of fun and insightful conversations on neighboring. Reflecting on over 100 episodes, we celebrate the journey, from memorable interviews and book discussions to practical insights on hospitality, evangelism, and everyday friendship. We a...

In this bonus episode, we sit down with Dave Ferguson, author of Bless: 5 Everyday Ways to Love Your Neighbor and Change the World, to explore a practical and relational framework for neighboring based on the life of Jesus. Dave shares how each part of the BLESS acronym, Begin with Prayer, Listen, Eat, Serve, and Share Your Story, offers simple yet impactful steps to build genuine friendships with...

In this final episode of our “Neighboring Through the Parables” series, we reflect on how Jesus’ parables have shaped our understanding of neighboring, from letting go of grudges to celebrating the overlooked, being generous with our resources, and trusting that even the smallest acts can grow into something meaningful. We revisit key lessons from parables like the unforgiving servant, the mustard...

In this episode, we explore Jesus’ parable of the unforgiving servant, highlighting the vast contrast between the immeasurable debt God forgives us and the much smaller offenses we often withhold forgiveness for. Through Peter’s question about limits on forgiveness and the real-life example of Corrie ten Boom, who forgave a former Nazi guard by faith, we see that forgiveness isn't about forgetting...

In this episode of our Neighboring Through the Parables series, we explore how Jesus uses everyday stories to reframe the way we approach prayer. Drawing from three parables, the friend at midnight, the persistent widow, and the Pharisee and the tax collector, we see a picture of prayer that is raw, relentless, and radically relational. These parables show us that prayer isn’t about polished words...

In this midpoint episode of our Neighboring Through the Parables series, we explore how Jesus’ story of the rich fool in Luke 12 challenges our assumptions about money, security, and abundance. Parables, by nature, are subversive and indirect, they stick with us and quietly reshape how we see the world, and this one pushes us to ask whether we have our possessions or our possessions have us. We wr...

In this episode, we unpack the parable of the Good Samaritan, a viral story that has endured for over 2,000 years, and explore how Jesus redefines what it means to be a neighbor. When a religious scholar tries to draw boundaries around who qualifies for love, Jesus flips the script with a provocative story that places a despised outsider, a Samaritan, at the center of compassion and mercy. We dive...

In this episode, we explore the parables of the mustard seed and the leaven, two small, humble images Jesus uses to describe the surprising and unstoppable nature of the kingdom of God. Unlike flashy displays of power, these stories remind us that God often works in quiet, unseen ways, through small acts of faith, kind words, and unnoticed love. We reflect on how these parables connect deeply with...

In this episode, we continue our parable series by exploring the lost sheep and the lost coin in Luke 15, two short but powerful stories that reveal God’s heart for seeking the lost and the joy that comes when they're found. We reflect on how Jesus uses ordinary experiences to invite us into kingdom truths, challenging us to take initiative with our neighbors, especially those on the margins. Thro...

This week, we explore one of Jesus’ most well-known, and deeply layered, parables: the Prodigal Son. But this isn’t just a story about rebellion and return. It's a profound look into the heart of the Father, the resentment of the older brother, and the radical joy that comes with restoration. We discuss how this parable answers the Pharisees’ grumbling over Jesus’ relationships with sinners and as...

We’re back! After a refreshing summer break, we’re kicking off a brand new series on the parables of Jesus and how they shape us to be better neighbors. We will learn that parables are short, compelling stories that turn our expectations upside down and reveal the heart of the kingdom of God. In this episode, we reflect on the summer and the surprising ways God is putting neighbors in front of us....

We made it—100 episodes! In this special milestone episode, we look back at where we started, what we’ve learned, and the conversations that have shaped us. From awkward beginnings and favorite interviews to creative breakthroughs and unexpected lessons, we reflect on how this podcast has helped keep neighboring on our minds. We also share why we’re pressing pause for the summer, how we’re refueli...

What if the biggest barrier to loving our neighbors isn’t them, it’s us? In this episode, we dive into Brant Hansen’s book Unoffendable and explore how choosing humility over outrage can transform the way we live and love in our neighborhoods. From the temptation of “righteous anger” to the gift of meekness, we unpack four powerful themes from the book that challenge our assumptions and invite us...

In a culture where Christianity is often dismissed as harmful or outdated, how can we respond with confidence, humility, and truth? In this thought-provoking episode, we’re joined by Dr. Sharon James—author, historian, and social policy analyst—to explore the incredible legacy of Christianity’s impact on the world. From human dignity to women’s rights, from education to healthcare, Sharon helps us...

How can we love our LGBTQ+ neighbors well—especially in a culture where conversations about sexuality and identity can feel so personal, emotional, and polarizing? In this powerful and thoughtful episode, we’re joined by Greg Koukl, founder of Stand to Reason and author of Tactics, to help us navigate this sensitive topic with clarity, grace, and humility. Greg unpacks how to move from confrontati...

In today’s episode, we have an honest and practical conversation about how to love our neighbors who are walking through seasons of pain, suffering, or difficulty. Whether it's strained marriages, financial struggles, anxiety, grief, or even something as simple as exhaustion, we explore how God invites us to enter into the hard places with compassion and presence. Drawing from personal experiences...

In this episode, we’re joined by Wayne Rice — veteran youth pastor, author, and co-founder of Youth Specialties — as he shares wisdom on how we can love and serve the elderly neighbors around us. Wayne currently serves with the Legacy Coalition, a ministry dedicated to equipping grandparents for spiritual influence in their families, and brings decades of ministry experience to this meaningful con...

Today we’re joined by Mark and Molly Parsons from Truth in Love Ministry to talk about how we can better love and understand our Mormon neighbors. With years of experience in outreach and personal relationships in LDS communities, Mark and Molly offer insight into the beliefs and culture of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and how Christians can engage with kindness, clarity, and t...

Today we’re joined by Jon Noyes, a former atheist turned Christian apologist with Stand to Reason, who shares his powerful story of moving from skepticism to belief. Jon reflects on what it was like to be a self-proclaimed "evangelical atheist," how Christians in his life made space for hard questions without defensiveness, and the key role that honest, consistent relationships played in his journ...

In this episode, we dive into what it looks like to love our neighbors who are immigrants, internationals, and refugees. Donna Kushner joins us to share insights from her decades of cross-cultural ministry, including time serving overseas and her current work walking alongside refugee families in the U.S. We explore what makes the refugee experience uniquely difficult—from language and housing bar...

In this episode, we dive into what it looks like to love our littlest neighbors—kids! Whether they live under your roof, next door, or pop by for snacks and sidewalk chalk, we explore how our view of children shapes the way we engage them. Kristin Jeffries, mom of four and the creative arts co-director for Crossing Kids, joins us in-studio to help us push back against some of the negative cultural...

In this episode of our Loving Your [Fill-in-the-Blank] Neighbor series, we’re diving into something many of us face daily but rarely talk about—how to love your neighbor with a different parenting style. From sleep training battles to snack-time politics, from screen-time boundaries to trampoline supervision, this episode is for anyone trying to raise kids in community while navigating differing v...

In this continuation of our Loving Your [Fill-in-the-Blank] Neighbor series, we sit down with pastor and author Caleb Campbell to talk about what it means to love our Christian nationalist neighbors. Caleb’s book, Disarming Leviathan: Loving Your Christian Nationalist Neighbor, invites us to move beyond fear and frustration and instead adopt the posture rooted in empathy, curiosity, and the way of...

In this kickoff episode of our Loving Your [Fill-in-the-Blank] Neighbor series, we’re joined by Christina Martin to explore what it looks like to love our Muslim neighbors with grace, curiosity, and genuine friendship. With over 20 years of ministry experience—including time spent living and serving in the Middle East and Singapore—Christina shares what she’s learned about building gospel-centered...

Ever found yourself stumbling in a conversation about your faith? Or unsure how to respond when a neighbor asks a tough question about Christianity? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Mark Farnham, author of Every Believer Confident: Apologetics for the Ordinary Christian, to help lay a solid foundation for engaging neighbors of all backgrounds—whether they’re atheist, Muslim, Mormon, or simply...