Wisdom for the Wilderness

In this episode of Wisdom for the Wilderness, Pastors Zack and Josh dive deep into why the family remains the most foundational institution in society—designed by God from creation, not invented by humans. Drawing from Genesis, they unpack God's blueprint for marriage as a lifelong covenant between one man and one woman, the call to be fruitful and multiply, and how male-female complementarity ref...

*Note: This episode was recorded prior to the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti on January 24, 2026, in Minneapolis. That event is not covered in the discussion.* In this episode, Pastors Josh and Zack discuss a recent disruption at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota—a fellow Southern Baptist congregation in the SEND Network—where anti-ICE protesters interrupted a worship service to protest a lay pa...

Welcome to Wisdom for the Wilderness , the weekly podcast from the pastors of Overland Church, where Zack and Josh dive into the Bible, theology, and real-life wisdom for everyday believers. In this episode, we tackle two dangerous extremes that every Christian faces daily:  legalism  (adding man-made rules to earn God's favor, like the Pharisees—or even Eve adding "don't touch" to God's command)...

Kick off 2026 with Pastors Zack and Josh on  Wisdom for the Wilderness  as they reflect on standout episodes from 2025 (and a couple from 2024) and share  six essential pieces of wisdom  to equip you for the year ahead. In this special year-end review, they revisit critical topics every Christian family needs: Protecting kids from the dangers of smartphones and social media: https://youtu.be/rOtYw...

Kick off 2026 with Pastors Zack and Josh on  Wisdom for the Wilderness  as they tackle a timely question: Is ambition a good thing for Christians? In this New Year's episode, the pastors explore the dangers of worldly ambition—rooted in pride, vanity, fame, or materialism—while making a strong case that the opposite extreme (laziness or aimlessness) is not the biblical answer. Instead, they call l...

As 2025 wraps up and 2026 approaches, Pastors Zack and Josh encourage listeners to evaluate and renew their commitment to Bible reading in this final episode of the year. They discuss the value of New Year's resolutions for spiritual habits, the dangers of neglecting God's Word (drawing from Nehemiah's "bring back the book"), and why spending time in Scripture is the most profitable use of your ti...

In this episode of  Wisdom for the Wilderness , Pastors Zack and Josh tackle a listener question that many Christian parents wrestle with: How should we think about letting our kids play video games? Drawing from Scripture and personal experience, they explore a biblical framework for discipleship in a digital age—examining issues like stewardship of time, the shaping of affections and imagination...

In this heartfelt episode of  Wisdom for the Wilderness , Pastors Zack and Josh tackle the often-thorny reality of spending holidays with extended family. Drawing from personal stories—like Thanksgiving mishaps, in-law dynamics, and encounters with "that" opinionated relative—they explore why many family conflicts stem from our own expectations and fragility rather than outright toxicity. With hum...

In this timely episode of  Wisdom for the Wilderness , Pastors Zack and Josh tackle the explosive rise of artificial intelligence from a distinctly Christian perspective. They celebrate the real ways AI is already helping ministry (faster Bible translation, podcast editing, live sermon translation, and more), while sounding the alarm on its deepest dangers: intellectual laziness, plagiarism, the e...

In this episode of Wisdom for the Wilderness, the hosts discuss the intriguing topic of angels and demons, particularly in the context of the Advent season. They explore the nature of angels, their roles as messengers, and the reality of spiritual warfare involving demons. The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding the spiritual realm, the authority of believers, and practical way...

In this episode of  Wisdom for the Wilderness , Pastors Josh and [Co-host Name, if known] tackle the crucial question of how to  discern modern Christian trends —from new theological movements to popular personalities—to determine if they are truly led by the Holy Spirit or merely products of culture and novelty. They discuss the essential role of the  Bible  as the sole and final authority for tr...

In this episode of Wisdom for the Wilderness, the hosts celebrate one year of the podcast while discussing the importance of multiplication in the church. They emphasize the need for church planting, particularly in North Fort Collins, and explore the biblical basis for multiplication through the Great Commission. The conversation highlights the significance of discipleship as a lifestyle, the nec...

In this episode, Pastors Zack and Josh introduce special guest Mitch Chase, and delve into the importance of biblical theology. They reflect on their childhood experiences with the Old Testament, emphasizing the need to understand the Bible as a unified story centered on Christ. The conversation highlights the discipline of reading the Bible, the significance of wisdom throughout scripture, and pr...

In this episode of  Wisdom for the Wilderness , Pastors Zack and Josh dive into Overland Church's week of prayer and fasting, timed strategically with their seasonal missions focus and offering. They reflect on how a leadership exercise revealed the church's "prayerless" culture years ago, prompting four annual intentional weeks to seek God's heart, align with His mission, and depend on His power—...

In this timely episode of  Wisdom for the Wilderness , Pastors Zack and Josh tackle a listener's question: Should Christians celebrate Halloween? With Halloween approaching, the pastors dive into the holiday’s complex history, from its Celtic pagan roots in the festival of Samhain to its partial Christianization through All Saints’ Day. They explore the tension between Halloween’s secular, commerc...

In this raw, heartfelt dive into Nehemiah's "Weep, Pray, Obey" series, Pastors Zack and Josh unpack the lost art of grief. From personal losses—like shattered dreams, broken relationships, and perpetual pain as special needs parents—to the church's call to "weep with those who weep" (Romans 12:15), they expose America's sanitized avoidance of sorrow. Drawing from real stories—Zack's battles with a...

**SCHEDULING NOTE: THIS EPISODE WAS RECORDED BEFORE THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF A PEACE DEAL.** In this episode, recorded on the two-year anniversary of the terrorist attack on Israel, the pastors tackle a listener's question about how Christians should view modern-day Israel. They explore theological perspectives like dispensationalism, covenant theology, and progressive covenantalism, unpacking their im...

This podcast episode from  Wisdom for the Wilderness , hosted by Pastors Zack and Josh of Overland Church, explores the concept of "pathways to hope" through compassion ministries. The pastors discuss the biblical foundation for compassion ministry, distinguishing it from the historical social gospel movement and liberation theology, which they critique for redefining sin, salvation, and the churc...

In this poignant episode of Wisdom for the Wilderness, Pastors Zack and Josh tackle the shocking assassination of Charlie Kirk whose death on September 10 at Utah Valley University has sent ripples through the nation. Recorded three weeks after the tragedy, the pastors explore why this event continues to resonate, particularly among younger generations, and how it exposes the deep spiritual and po...

In this episode of  Wisdom for the Wilderness , the pastors of Overland Church explore the foundational doctrine of revelation. They distinguish between general revelation—God's self-disclosure through creation, accessible to all people at all times, as seen in Psalm 19 and Romans 1—and special revelation, which is specific, covenantal communication through prophets, apostles, and ultimately Jesus...

In this episode of  Wisdom for the Wilderness , the pastors of Overland Church dive into a critical theological discussion about the prosperity gospel, a pervasive and misleading doctrine both in America and globally. They contrast the true gospel—centered on Christ's death, burial, and resurrection for salvation—with the distorted teachings of the prosperity gospel, which falsely promises health,...

In this episode of  Wisdom for the Wilderness , Pastors Zack and Josh tackle a question that’s rarely asked but often faced: How do you know when it’s time to leave a church? With insight from their pastoral experience, they explore legitimate reasons to depart—such as a church’s drift from biblical truth or unhealthy leadership—while cautioning against superficial reasons like music preferences o...

In this compelling episode of  Wisdom for the Wilderness , the pastors of Overland Church tackle the explosive growth of sports gambling in today’s culture, with the industry projected to reach $180–$200 billion in 2025. From college football to the NFL, betting ads are everywhere, but what are the real costs? Exploring the history of gambling scandals like the Black Sox and Pete Rose, the pastors...

In this episode of  Wisdom for the Wilderness , Pastors Zack and Josh dive into the importance of including children in worship services as part of fostering a multi-generational church. They explore the theological, philosophical, and practical reasons for having kids join corporate worship, sharing personal stories, biblical insights, and actionable tips for parents. From disciplining young chil...

In this episode of  Wisdom for the Wilderness , Pastors Zack and Josh explore the vital importance of a multi-generational church. They discuss why a healthy church thrives when it includes people of all ages and stages—from young believers to seasoned saints. Drawing from biblical principles and real-life stories, they highlight the value of cross-generational discipleship, the pitfalls of homoge...