The Downline Podcast: Gospel Driven Discipleship

Recorded live at the Downline Summit, Grammy-winning hip-hop artist Lecrae joins Jamie to tell stories you haven't heard before; from prophetic dreams that led him to Christ, to bombing at his eighth-grade talent show, to Snoop Dogg kicking him out of Jamie Foxx's house (for his own good). Lecrae opens up about battling depression, navigating brutal public criticism, and why he writes from...

Dr. Steve Winstead joins Jamie to share the story of leaving a thriving ministry in Memphis to pastor a 1,500-member, 60-nation church in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Steve opens up about the family challenges of uprooting four boys, navigating his son's painful transition overseas, and learning to trust God's clear leading at every crossroads. Now preparing to move to Germany, Steve reflects on...

Jamie talks with Old Testament scholar Dr. Iain Provan about the wisdom of Ecclesiastes. Dr. Provan challenges the translation of "vanity" as "meaningless," showing how the book teaches us to embrace life as fleeting and beyond our control; not worthless. This conversation explores how Ecclesiastes calls us to receive life as a gift rather than something to grasp, find joy within o...

Jamie talks with Brett McCracken from The Gospel Coalition about navigating movies as a Christian. Brett shares his framework for deciding what to watch: does this move me toward loving God and neighbor, or away from it? They discuss why secular art often wrestles with deeply theological questions about meaning, suffering, and what it means to be human; even when filmmakers don't realize it. F...

What should we be certain about, and where can we disagree? Dr. Cole Huffman guides listeners through the landscape of theological tensions, distinguishing between essential gospel truths, denominational distinctives, secondary matters, and issues of Christian liberty. Avoid the extremes of fighting over everything or caring about nothing. Resources Mentioned: Finding the Right Hills to Die On  by...

Jamie talks with Dr. Todd Korpi, author of "AI Goes to Church," about navigating AI as Christians. Beyond questions like whether pastors should use ChatGPT for sermons, they discuss what it means to be human when AI shapes our world. They explore how to find biblical wisdom for questions Scripture doesn't directly address, the tension between efficiency and genuine human connection, an...

Ever feel like Revelation is written in a different language? Jen Wilkin thinks the problem isn't the book; it's that we've lost our Old Testament literacy. The early church heard it once and got it. We've got charts, timelines, and still can't agree on what it means. Jen unpacks why our confusion reveals more about our Bible literacy than we'd like to admit, and how readin...

How do you hold grace and truth together when algorithms are designed to make you outraged and culture demands you pick a political tribe? J.D. Greear and Jamie tackle the false choice between compromise and combat, exploring why Jesus was so truthful they wanted to kill him yet so graceful that sinners loved being around him. They discuss why faithfulness is less about which lever you pull every...

The rules around sex were never meant to be a list of don'ts; they're a roadmap to something far more beautiful. But an entire generation has been discipled by pornography, and the church is playing catch-up. In this episode, Dr. Juli Slattery (clinical psychologist and founder of Authentic Intimacy) joins Jamie to explore what's really happening beneath the surface. Here's what mo...

We're taking a two-week break, but while we're away, enjoy a few of our top-rated episodes. We'll be back with brand new content in the New Year! The culture war narrative says faith is dying. The data says something completely different. In this episode, Jamie and Justin Brierley reveal the spiritual comeback that's rewriting the rules of belief in America. Hear the stories behind...

We're taking a two-week break, but while we're away, enjoy a few of our top-rated episodes. We'll be back with brand new content in the New Year! Join Jamie as he sits down with renowned Bible teacher and author Jen Wilkin to explore the book of First John. In this conversation, Jen breaks down the three crucial tests John gives believers: the test of truth (doctrine), the test of love...

Parenting often swings between sacred and chaotic, but Justin Earley believes those everyday moments are shaping us far more than we realize. In this episode, Jamie and Justin explore how the unnoticed rhythms of a household—bedtime routines, rushed mornings, shared meals, even the way we handle phones—form the spiritual life of both parents and children. Purchase Downline's Core Curriculum he...

Is the 10% tithe ( the practice of giving 10% of one's income ) a biblical command today? Dr. Tom Schreiner makes the case that it's not; and shares his understanding of what the New Testament teaches about giving. Tom also tackles tough practical questions: Should you give to parachurch organizations over your local church? What if you don't trust how your church uses money? Can you f...

What if Christians could predict cultural shifts before they happen; and prepare the church to meet them with the gospel? Jamie sits down with Collin Hansen from the Gospel Coalition to explore "cultural climatology"; the art of reading cultural trends and anticipating what's coming next. From the collapse of Christendom to the rise of AI-driven relationships, Collin unpacks how massiv...

Anger feels justified. Natural. Even holy. But what if it's stealing more from you than you realize? Jamie and Brant Hansen tackle this controversial question, dismantling common assumptions about an emotion we've all felt but rarely understand. They explore what happens when we stop justifying our anger and start experiencing the transformative power of grace and forgiveness; in our relat...

What can wildflowers teach us about faith? Author and artist Ruth Chou Simons joins Jamie Trussell to explore how these resilient blooms model trust, rest, and unhurried living. Through personal stories and biblical wisdom, Ruth reveals how embracing dormancy, dependency, and God's timing can transform the way we live. Tune in to The Downline Podcast now to hear more! Subscribe to never miss a...

New Testament professor Dr. Jonathan Pennington reveals why the Sermon on the Mount isn't impossible standards but Jesus' philosophy for the good life. He shows how Jesus dialogues with Greek philosophy while offering a different path to human flourishing through relationship with God. Discover how biblical flourishing differs from secular philosophy and why Jesus appeals to self-interest...

Dr. Greg Smalley from Focus on the Family continues dismantling marriage myths, tackling why "all you need is love" creates manipulation instead of intimacy. He explains the crucial difference between needs and desires in marriage and why making only your spouse responsible for meeting your needs sets them up for failure. Learn how Jesus modeled self-care after pouring out to others, why y...

We welcome Dr. Greg Smalley from Focus on the Family to discuss what creates healthy, lasting marriages. Greg addresses common misconceptions about marriage and explains why viewing it as a journey of growth rather than a destination changes everything. Learn why individual wholeness is essential before building a strong partnership and how both spouses need to be healthy to give meaningfully to e...

Jamie and Dr. Sam Storms tackle spiritual warfare head-on. They explore the authority believers have in Christ, address common misconceptions, and expose where pop culture gets spiritual battles wrong. Tune in to The Downline Podcast now to hear more! Subscribe to never miss an episode, leave a review, and visit  downlineministries.com  to learn more about our mission of discipleship. To support t...

Author, and speaker Trillia Newbell has spent years encouraging families through her writing and speaking ministry. But she never imagined she'd be writing children's books; until she discovered the magic of translating life's biggest truths for the smallest hearts. In this conversation Trillia shares how genuine curiosity transformed her family dinners, why asking the right questions...

The culture war narrative says faith is dying. The data says something completely different. In this episode, Jamie and Justin Brierley reveal the spiritual comeback that's rewriting the rules of belief in America. Hear the stories behind the statistics and find out why even hardened atheists are starting to ask bigger questions about God. Tune in to The Downline Podcast now to hear more! Subs...

Join Jamie as he sits down with renowned Bible teacher and author Jen Wilkin to explore the book of First John. In this conversation, Jen breaks down the three crucial tests John gives believers: the test of truth (doctrine), the test of love, and the test of obedience. Find Jen's resources at jenwilkin.net , including her study "Abide" covering First, Second, and Third John. Purchase...

Former CBS Sports golf writer and founder of Normal Sport, Kyle Porter joins the Downline podcast ahead of the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black to discuss his journey from corporate insurance to covering professional golf's biggest moments. Porter reveals how personal tragedy shaped his public faith and career decisions, plus insider insights on Team USA's chances against Europe. Tune in t...

Pastor Tim Johnson of The Avenue Church, explores Samuel's story of faithful leadership when everything falls apart. Samuel anointed kings while his own sons failed, interceded for people who rejected him, and remained faithful through Israel's darkest transition. Here we learn why trusting God matters more than understanding His plans. Tune in to The Downline Podcast now to hear more! Sub...