Discipling By Jesus

What does it mean to trust God with your whole heart when you do not know how to love the people closest to you? Ernest Prabhakar and Robby Butler approach the closing chapters of Turtle Island through that question, reflecting on a separate conversation with author Erik Fish and on the unfinished work of discipleship in their own homes. Robby wonders whether resting in God can become passivity. H...

What if the fruit of discipleship depends on our willingness to release the very things we have worked to grow? Chapters 14–16 of Erik Fish’s Turtle Island bring Ernest Prabhakar and Robby Butler back to the questions left open in chapter 13—with a banana plant, a bitter cup, and an unexpected coffee metaphor along the way. Robby begins with a conversation with a neighborhood salesperson that beca...

When a living-room gathering grows into a church with a stage and a professional pastor, what has been gained—and what has been lost? Chapter 13 of Turtle Island prompts Ernest Prabhakar and Robby Butler to pause the chapter-by-chapter pace and sit with that question. Ernest admires the relational discipleship in Erik Fish’s stories, but finds himself troubled by the transition from inspiring test...

When a new follower of Jesus asks what to do about peyote ceremonies, Erik Fish declines to become his moral arbiter. He tells him to ask Jesus—and trusts that Jesus will answer. That story from chapters 9–12 of Turtle Island opens Ernest Prabhakar and Robby Butler’s conversation about spiritual authority, self-deception, and discernment. If leaders refuse to act as the Holy Spirit for others, wha...

What changes when Christians stop asking people to come where the church is comfortable and begin meeting them where they already are? Discussing chapters 5–8 of Erik Fish’s Turtle Island , Ernest Prabhakar and Robby Butler trace the organic emergence of house gatherings, a vision-quest class, and simple practices that ordinary people could carry into their own relationships. Stories of timely obe...

In the opening session of the Turtle Island book club, Ernest Prabhakar and Robby Butler discuss chapters 1–4 of Erik Fish’s account of following Jesus among Native communities in North America. Robby sees a beautiful case study in culturally attentive, movement-minded ministry. Ernest feels the beauty too—but alongside heartbreak over colonization, violence carried in the name of Christianity, an...

Introduction by Ranjan Samuel   Luke 22:31–32 Simon, Simon, behold, **Satan demanded to have you**, that he might **sift you like wheat**,   but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail.   And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.   ---   Job 1:6–12 One day the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and **Satan also came among them.**   The Lord said to S...

In this short but soulful episode, we drop in on a reflective moment between friends—early mornings, honest updates, and a surprising insight from a 5:00 AM call. Drawing from Fight Club, the punchline hits home: “ The first rule of Christ Club is—you can’t explain Christ Club .” What happens when the most meaningful truths can’t be put into words? How do we share an experience of Christ that defi...

In this raw and deeply human conversation, Ernie and Robby confront the silent saboteurs beneath the surface of their relationship—unspoken wounds, unmet needs, and subconscious patterns that distort connection. What unfolds is a journey of confession, grace, and healing at the cross. Together, they wrestle with what it means to stop hiding behind false identities and instead pursue truth, safety,...

** A Raw Conversation About True Discipleship ** What happens when two friends dive deep into the uncomfortable truth that our very efforts to protect ourselves—and even to love others well—might be the very things keeping us from the abundant life Jesus promises? In this unfiltered conversation, our hosts explore the tension between self-preservation and self-denial, unpacking why rehearsing what...

What happens when two friends try to bridge the gap between cosmic hope and personal hurt—without losing either? In this deeply introspective follow-up to Composting Kingdom Soul , Robby and Ernie return to explore the fragile terrain between understanding and being understood. As Robby unpacks his passion for regenerative creation care and the revelation of the “ sons of God ” from Romans 8:18–21...

What if the key to spiritual renewal lies not in striving, but in composting? In their usual raw and winding dialogue, Robby Butler and Ernest Prabhakar meander through standing desks, soil microbes, regenerative agriculture, Gethsemane, and K-pop Demon Hunters — only to find themselves circling back to a single question: > What does it really mean to be a son of God? This episode is less an ar...

What if God’s love for you feels both deeply comforting and unbearably demanding?  In this raw, unscripted spiritual dialogue, Ernie and Robby wrestle with the paradoxes of grace, obedience, and intimacy. From Africa to Gethsemane, marriage to mentorship, they explore how to move from a scarcity mindset to an abundance worldview—where God is not distant and demanding but present and empowering. Th...

1.  Attention Is All HE Needs (Christ as Transformer Architecture) 2.  The Epistle of San Francisco (On Burnout) Are you feeling the burnout of Christian "hustle"? Tired of trying to measure up with spiritual KPIs and performance metrics? What if the spiritual life wasn't about complexity and heroic effort, but something radically simpler? In this episode, we explore a profound truth being redisco...

What if the thing you fear most isn’t disobeying God—but losing your current relationship with Him? In this raw and reflective conversation, Ernie and Robby dive deep into the paradox of obedience that disrupts rather than reinforces our spiritual comfort zones. From marriage tension to spiritual calling, they wrestle with what it means to follow God into places that don’t feel safe—but may lead t...

In this episode, we dive deep into the tension between seeking knowledge and seeking connection with Jesus . Robby Butler shares his journey of once hearing God’s voice clearly, then slowly drifting into a culture that emphasized scripture over relationship. We explore how Christian tradition, Bible memorization, and even well-intentioned teaching can sometimes obscure the living voice of God. Thi...

In this episode, we explore a fresh way of dealing with tension—both the kind we wrestle with internally and the kind that shows up in our relationships. Instead of trying to fix others or push our beliefs, we talk about the power of recognizing our own false identities and inviting healing from the inside out. Rooted in the way of Jesus, this approach calls us to lead with compassion, not control...

“What if the key to deeper faith isn’t more clarity, but more connection?” In this intimate, spirit-led conversation, Ernie and Robby reconnect after a season apart to reflect on the quiet work of God in their lives. Wrestling with relational tensions, spiritual growth, and cultural dislocation, they gently explore how Christ invites us into a new way of being—one that prioritizes connection over...

Tune in for an episode exploring a powerful new concept drawn from the heart of divine reality! We'll delve into Diaphoris: The Ecstatic Agony of Divine Glory . While classic theology speaks of perichoresis – the beautiful, ancient word for the mutual indwelling and interpenetration of the Trinity – we'll unpack something more dynamic, more painful, and more creative. Starting with Jesus' prayer i...

Did Christ Die to  Cause  or  Transmit  Forgiveness? Are we misunderstanding the Cross? Many preach that the Father had to be persuaded to forgive us, requiring Christ's death as appeasement for divine wrath. But what if this reverses the gospel ? This episode explores the perspective of Athanasius of Alexandria , who argued that God's forgiveness was already inherent . He viewed the Incarnation a...

This piece, "Christ the Only True Heresy: Rejecting Unbiblical Separation," presents a radical theological argument that challenges traditional Christian concepts of orthodoxy and heresy. The author argues that the biblical meaning of "heresy" refers to division and separation , not incorrect doctrine, as later established by human institutions. Through a metaphorical "Revelation" and a historical...

NotebookLM Prompt: Target youth pastors working in traditional churches. Focus on the future of identity formation as reflected in poetry, and how they can help kids express an identity rooted in the eternal Word of Christ.   Based on Younger Self Café: Did Romantic Poets Invent “Youth?” and follow-ons   —- Here’s a detailed briefing document summarizing the key themes and ideas from the provided...

What spiritual disciplines may help us break our destructive relational patterns faster? Written Covenants Submission (not necessarily to our wives) Journaling Two Bonus disciplines (not mentioned on the podcast). Solitude (" three days ") Courts of Heaven ( 12-Step Worksheet )

Is "relational connection" more important than "operational effectiveness"? Is our real challenge NOT that we prioritize God over people, but work over love? Can we demonstrate love without relying on either words or works?

How has our left-brained thinking damaged our marriages? What can Jesus do about it?