17:17 Podcast

What happens in the tragic event that an unborn child dies?  What about a young child who doesn't have an understanding of the world?  Do we have any assurance of salvation for them? On this episode, we address the question, "Do babies go to heaven?"   This question is a tough one for many because our gut wants to say yes, but what does the Bible actually say about it?  We know that...

A devotional with over 38 million copies sold to date...It's gotta be great, right?  In today’s episode, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie talk through a listener question about the popular devotional titled "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young. We look at her unique writing style and a few issues with the content within the devotional. Our hope is that as you listen, you can have a mind tha...

With modern medicine comes controversial questions. Today we're talking about sperm donation and artificial insemination. Is it wrong for Christians to do? Is there sexual sin involved? Are there any differences between these options and IVF? In today’s episode, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie talk through a listener question around the nature of sperm donation and artificial insemination to g...

A practice brought up a ton in Scripture and hotly debated today...what do we do with circumcision? Does the Bible prescribe it still? What are the medical ramifications? In today’s episode, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie talk through a listener question around circumcision and how Christians should think about it today. We look at the origin of circumcision in the Bible, how Christians dealt with...

What does it mean to make a "graven image" of something? Does that include pictures on my walls...even of Jesus? Are you breaking the 2nd commandment by having these items in your home? In today’s episode, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie talk through a listener question regarding the true meaning of the 2nd commandment. We wrestle through what it looks like to obey this commandment, as we...

Election...a triggering term for some, but then again, God must have predetermined them to feel that way about it. Why do people reject this doctrine? In today’s episode, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie talk through a listener question regarding the doctrine of election. We look at Scriptures that show that election is a biblical concept that God references often, but also dig into different theolo...

If God created tobacco and marijuana, shouldn't we be free to consume it? How do we know what is okay and what isn't when God has created it all? In today’s episode, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie talk through a listener question regarding the use of tobacco in various forms and how to discern when we should use/consume things that God has created and when we should avoid them. We hope t...

With the recent passing of Pope Francis, we wanted to look at the origin of the Pope in Catholicism. Was it Peter? Why do Catholics believe that? In today’s episode, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie talk through the main Scriptures associated with the start of the papacy and talk through the context to figure out what Jesus really meant when He said He would build the church on Peter. We hope that a...

Many know of David's infamous mighty men, but who were they? What made them so mighty? Were there actually 30 of them? In today’s episode, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie talk through a listener question regarding the background of David's mighty men. We look through all of the awesome, but rather challenging to pronounce names of David's strongest men and dig into the stories of wha...

Most Christians are aware of the Trinity, but how would you explain it? Is being 3 in 1 really a possibility? Whats the best illustration out there to understand it? In today’s episode, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie talk through a listener question about how to explain the Trinity. Whether you're new to the faith or have been around the block a few times, explaining the Trinity is a challeng...

With Easter just passing, its worth asking: Is Easter even legit? Is there merit to celebrating it? Was Jesus actually dead in the first place? In today’s episode, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie talk through some of the common arguments against the whole basis of Easter. We talk through arguments around whether Jesus was ever really dead in the first place and if he was dead, how do we make light...

Tough Love  is a phrase many are familiar with, but does it work? And more importantly, is it biblical?  In today’s episode, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie answer a listener question around whether or not showing "tough love" is a proper thing for Christians to do when it comes to parenting, dealing with a loved one living in sin/addiction, or even just with another brother or sister in...

We all know the story of Adam and Eve eating the fruit, but what were the real consequences of that? How did this decision impact creation, man, and woman? In today’s episode, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie answer a listener question around the true consequences of the fall of mankind. We dig through the narrative of Genesis 3 to see how all of the world was impacted by this sin and how it still i...

"My husband doesn't follow Jesus but I do...what do I do?" Marriages sometimes end up with one spouse faithfully pursuing the Lord while the other is not. What is a spouse to do? More specifically for women, how are you supposed to biblically to submit to a husband who isn't living a godly lifestyle? In today’s episode, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie answer a sensitive listener...

All Christians know they are supposed to pray, but where do we see evidence of prayers being answered in the Bible?  In today’s episode, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie answer a listener question about the power of prayer in the Bible. We know prayer matters, so we dig into plenty of Scripture to see examples of God powerfully answering prayer. We hope that this episode serves as an encouragement a...

Blind faith is a term that gets thrown around...but does God expect us to have blind faith? In today’s episode, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie answer a listener question regarding the need to have faith and how to answer skeptics who don't believe there is enough evidence for God. We dive through Scriptures about how to defend your faith and the real reason many people deny the evidence of Go...

Ash Wednesday kicked off Lent again this year and many may be wondering: What is Lent and are we supposed to do it? In today’s episode, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie look into the history of Lent to see how it started and what the purpose of it is. Additionally, we look into the motives of Lent and whether or not it's something that Christians should be participating in. Finally, we look at...

Whats the best way to read the Bible? Is it cheating to listen rather than physically read? What role does listening to sermons and podcasts play into time spent in the Bible? In today’s episode, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie answer a listener question about how we should prioritize time in the Bible. It may shock some, but most of human history involving listening and hearing the Word spoken due...

Herbal remedies, vaccines, and heart transplants...should Christians use modern medicine? If so, to what extent? Does using medicine display a lack of faith in God's ability to heal? In today’s episode, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie talk through a question about how Christians ought to approach modern medicine. We dig through Scriptures about God being the Great Healer, as well as verses tha...

We all know the feeling of disappointing a parent or family member, but does God feel the same way with us when we sin against Him? Is God ever disappointed in us? In today’s episode, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie talk through a question about how God reacts when we sin and fall short. Is he disappointed in us? Mad? Sad? How does God feel when we sin and what does it tell us about our relationshi...

What is God’s actual name? We know it in English, but is it appropriate to use God’s real name? In today’s episode, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie talk through a listener question about the name(s) of God throughout the Bible, the conversation around whether or not we should use the name YHWH, and what it means for our lives and relationship with God today. Our hope is that this episode would enco...

Fortune telling devices have raged on through modern history, including tarot cards and psychics as well. Are these legitimate? And if so, are they dangerous for Christians? In today’s episode, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie talk through ouija boards, 8 balls, and fortune telling and look at what God has to say about these sorts of objects. We look at how Satan can use these and that they may be m...

Menopause, puberty, pregnancy, testosterone loss...hormone changes affect everyone at some point or another, but how should we navigate through them?  In today’s episode, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie talk through a listener question about how couples should work through hormonal changes together. We look at the normalcy of hormone changes and how we should respond to feelings we can't contr...

In almost every nativity scene out there, we see three wise men in robes holding gifts for Jesus...but who are they? Were they really there the night Jesus was born? Where did they come from? In today’s episode, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie talk through the history of the magi, where we see them mentioned in Scripture, where they came from, and how they knew to come and see the Messiah. We look...

In vitro fertilization is a fairly common procedure done to treat infertility and produce children...but should Christians consider it? Are there ethical issues with creating children in a Petri dish? In today’s episode, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie talk through a controversial topic in IVF to look at God's view of fertility, the role of medicine in Scripture, and the implications of creati...