Down Not Out

Christians are people who follow the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus himself promised that God would dwell with His people through His Spirit. So, what does it mean to live as God's people with His Holy Spirit dwelling in us? In this episode Gartho and Hicksey discuss what it means for Christians to have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them and leading them to be more like Jesus. Down Not Out is two Aus...

After he died Jesus ascended into heaven but what has he been doing for the last 2000 years? Is he sitting around waiting to come again or is he actively doing something else? In this episode the guys delve into the issue of Christ's ongoing work in the world and the life of the believer. He is not merely sitting on his hands in an idle state. He is doing much more than that. Down Not Out is...

Hell. It can be a troubling subject for some of us, especially when we think of loved ones experiencing hell. Do you realise that Jesus experienced hell for you? Does that trouble you just as much? In this episode Gartho and Hicksey continue in their series on the Apostle's creed discussing the nature of hell and what Christ has saved us from by experiencing hell himself. Down Not Out is two...

Christians throughout history have believed that Jesus is more than a man. That he was actually God come down and born of a virgin woman. Such truths seem ridiculous to the modern person. How can we be sure it actually happened and what are the implications of such a belief? In this episode Gartho and Hicksey continue their series on the Apostles' creed focussing on the incarnation - particul...

Many people believe Jesus was a real person, some people believe he was the risen Son of God from the dead but what does it mean to say Jesus is "our Lord"? In this instalment on the Apostle's Creed, Gartho and Hicksey discuss what it means to follow Jesus as Lord of your life. Hopefully you find it both encouraging and challenging. Down Not Out is two Aussie mates having a crack at...

For whatever reason many people today struggle with the concept of the Fatherhood of God. It is one of the first statements of the Apostle's Creed but it's one that shouldn't be considered lightly. What does it mean that we believe in God the Almighty Father? In this episode Gartho and Hicksey unpack what the Fatherhood of God means to them and how we can all draw comfort from this...

After a refreshing break the boys are back for another season of Down Not Out focusing this time on what Christians believe. While holding to the Bible as the primary authoritative source of belief, Gartho and Hicksey have found the Apostle's Creed to be a helpful ancient guide for the church. In this episode Gartho and Hicksey give a general introduction to the important role creeds and conf...

Is God's word, as revealed in the Bible, reliable? Can it be trusted? Such doubts are triggered in our minds by all sorts of things. It may be the whole debate over the origin of the world or some of the miraculous stories in the Scriptures or even the process of how the Bible was formed. God's word has been subject to vigorous scrutiny over time but has also endured the test, which poin...

Sometimes we struggle in our faith with questions. Sometimes these centre on God and what He is doing but at other times we have doubts about ourselves. Am I really a Christian? Am I really saved? These doubts can be really crippling and discouraging in our walk with Jesus. To tackle these doubts Gartho and Hicksey run it through their 5-step process trying to really get at the heart of the matter...

Life can be very messy at times. Sometimes we wonder if it is out of control - not only our control but God's. Such thoughts can lead us to doubt God's plans and purposes for this world. In this episode Gartho and Hicksey apply their 5-step strategy to dealing with doubts seeking to understand what is at the heart of this troubling issue. Our hearts can sometimes be deceived by what the...

Do you ever wonder about your relationship with God? Sometimes it can seem to be too good to be true. We either think to ourselves I'm not really a Christian or Christianity itself is not real. These doubts and many more can plague us in our Christian life and rob us of our zeal and faithfulness. In a way it's unfortunate that Christians often hide their doubts away and struggle in silen...

We all have certain beliefs that we hold as core: who we are, how the world began and what happens when we die. These beliefs we develop as a child and carry throughout our lives. But what happens when our worldview falls apart? When our belief system is seriously challenged and we struggle to hold onto the truths we were taught. In this episode Gartho and Hicksey unpack this theme. Down Not Out i...

We all suffer in life. Some in much bigger ways than others. When we experience or see pain and suffering, we often ask why. In this episode Gartho and Hicksey delve into the topic of suffering and how only the gospel helps us to truly grasp why we suffer. Down Not Out is two Aussie mates having a crack at encouraging their Christian brothers and sisters who for whatever reason no longer attend a...

Mental illnesses seem to be more prevalent than ever before. If you're not directly affected by one than there is a good chance you know someone else who is. In this episode Gartho and Hicksey discuss ways Christians can encourage fellow believers struggling with mental illness. Down Not Out is two Aussie mates having a crack at encouraging their Christian brothers and sisters who for whateve...

Sometimes we feel like we've stuffed up and let Jesus down. Such feelings can weigh heavily on our souls and stop us moving on in life. So how do we move past these impediments and live without regrets? Garth and Hicksey tackle this topic along with some past events that have haunted them. Down Not Out is two Aussie mates having a crack at encouraging their Christian brothers and sisters who...

It's a sentiment that's become common place in today's society: "you don't need to go to church to be a Christian." But is this sentiment actually consistent with Christianity? Is it helpful? In this episode Hicksey and Gartho seek to walk beside those who have assumed this mindset and encourage them to see things a little differently. Down Not Out is two Aussie mates...

It's something that many Christians go through but not something that is spoken much about; feeling distant from God or experiencing a winter of the soul. In this podcast Hicksey and Gartho unpack what it's like traversing one of these winters and seek to encourage others who feel distant from God at times. Down Not Out is two Aussie mates having a crack at encouraging their Christian br...

Divorces are difficult especially for Christians. Where do you go for comfort and support when you feel distant and isolated from all around you. In this episode Hicksey and Gartho delve into some of the issues facing divorce and seek to bring encouragement and hope through the gospel. Down Not Out is two Aussie mates having a crack at encouraging their Christian brothers and sisters who for whate...

In today's society we are more connected than ever before yet there appears to be a growing loneliness among people. We often feel we want to connect with people in a church community but sometimes have trouble doing so. In this episode Hicksey and Gartho seek to discover the secret sauce of friendship and how this can be applied in a church setting where sometimes we can struggle to make fri...

We've all been hurt by people in church, some of us in small ways, others in more significant ways. In this episode Hicksey and Gartho try to encourage believers who have been hurt in church situations to re-engage with the church and seek reconciliation with their estranged brothers and sisters.  Down Not Out is two Aussie mates having a crack at encouraging their Christian brothers and sist...

For some, it's not the preached message of the church that turns them away but the perceived hypocrisy of its leaders and members. In this episode Gartho and Hicksey explore what hypocrisy is and how we can make a Christian response to it when we encounter it: within the church but also within ourselves. Down Not Out is two Aussie mates having a crack at encouraging their Christian brothers a...

Do you ever find yourself in church wondering, "when is this ever going to end?" Do such experiences keep you from attending a local church? This episode Gartho and Hicksey tackle the issue of how to engage in church in meaningful ways.  They move from their own experiences of unengaging services toward understanding how the gospel changes our understanding of church and our own particip...

In this episode of the Down Not Out podcast, Hicksey and Gartho seek to encourage those struggling with anxiety. Covering such aspects as, what is anxiety, what can help when we experience anxiety, how does the gospel encourage us and what can we do to encourage others who are too anxious to go to church. Down Not Out is two Aussie mates having a crack at encouraging their Christian brothers and s...