17:17 Podcast

Over 60% of Americans identify as Christians, but is that accurate? How can we really know if someone is saved? Does an Instagram bio with John 3:16 in it qualify? In today’s episode, Pastor Jackie and Pastor Derek talk about some biblical standards by which we can evaluate the difference between genuine faith and one that isn’t. Our hope is that as you listen, you first and foremost look at your...

Gay Pride Month is coming up and everyone has an opinion about it. Why is pride a big deal and what does God have to say about it? Should we be proud of who we are? In today’s episode, Pastor Jackie and Pastor Derek talk about the impact that pride has on the lives of every human being out there. Pride is mentioned plenty in the Bible, so we attempt to tackle the topic and how Christians ought to...

What the heck is conversion therapy and why does it matter? With a recent bill passed in the state of Minnesota (and other states as well), this is a topic that needs to be addressed because of the implications it holds for Christian counselors and pastors. In today’s episode, Pastor Jackie and Pastor Derek talk through the recent bill being passed banning conversion therapy in the state of Minnes...

Prayer is an essential part of the Christian life, but something that seems to fluctuate in a lot of Christian’s lives. Prayer can be frustrating when we feel like God isn’t even there and other times just feels ritualistic. How can we possibly develop a prayer life that aligns with the likes of David and Daniel in Scripture? In today’s episode, Pastor Jackie and Pastor Derek talk through how to d...

Forgiveness is something we know we should do, but what does that actually look like? If I’m still hurting, does that mean I haven’t truly forgiven someone? In today’s episode, Pastor Jackie and Pastor Derek talk through how to forgive others who have wronged us. The Bible has much to say about forgiveness and we’re thankful for it, since it is such a tough thing to do in many cases. Our hope is t...

Probably the biggest struggle for the average Christian today…sharing the Gospel. What makes this so tough when it has such life changing power? In today’s episode, Pastor Jackie and Pastor Derek talk through how to share the Gospel. We first define exactly what the Gospel is and the essential pieces that need to be explained. From there, we talk through the importance of living a life that valida...

Sunday morning church has been a staple of America since it’s foundation, but has become routine and almost meaningless for some. It’s easy to get too caught up on service order and forget the purpose of Sunday morning worship. In today’s episode, Pastor Jackie and Pastor Derek talk through how people can get the most out of their Sunday morning worship and fellowship. We talk through ways to keep...

Temptation…something we all face, and often feel like gets the best of us. So how do we overcome it? Is there an easy step by step guide?! In today’s episode, Pastor Jackie and Pastor Derek talk through how Christians can overcome temptation and build a habit of doing so. We look into the difference between temptation and sin as well as how your thought life can have a profound impact on how you d...

Is it necessary for Christians to have a “quiet time” with the Lord? What exactly should that look like? Should I have one even if my heart isn’t in it? In today’s episode, Pastor Jackie and Pastor Derek talk through what a meaningful quiet time looks like in the life of the average Christian, some examples of it in Scripture, and some very practical tips for how to kickstart your quiet time or ad...

Debt. Ugh, just reading it brings disappointment. Debt is one of those things that most people have, but people are often ashamed of and don’t want to talk about. Is there a reason to be ashamed? Is debt ever good? In today’s episode, Pastor Jackie and Pastor Derek talk through some statistics on debt in America, then dive into what the Bible has to say about principles and wisdom regarding taking...

Many people today call themselves “apostle.” Is it the same as a pastor, elder, or deacon? What is the difference? Should people today hold the title of apostle? In today’s episode, Pastor Jackie and Pastor Derek answer a listener question regarding apostles and start off by defining the difference between disciples and apostles, laying out the qualifications of an apostle, and then deciphering wh...

The Chosen is a crowd funded streaming series about Jesus and the lives of His followers. It is has been very successful according to film and media critics. However, although it is based on the Gospels and has a lot of biblical content, a good bit of it is historically “plausible” narratives and dialogue designed for TV entertainment purposes. As a result, some Christians are critical of the show...

We know all sins lead to spiritual death, but why then does John tell us of a specific sin that leads to death? Is this alluding to the unforgivable sin, or a sin that leads to physical death? Is there more than one? On today’s podcast, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie talk about the sins that lead to death and those that don’t mentioned in 1 John. This has been a controversial question for Christia...

It’s generally accepted that any sin is forgivable…except one! But which sin is that? Can a Christian commit it? What happens if we do commit that sin?! On today’s podcast, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie talk about the unforgivable sin mentioned in the Gospels and the context around the infamous statement from Jesus. Additionally, we talk through whether it is the same for us today and if Christia...

Christians can agree that black lives (and all lives) matter, but should Christians support BLM the organization? What do they really stand for, and does it align with the Bible? On today’s podcast, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie talk through the background of BLM, including the political history of the founders of the movement, as well as a few of the core tenants that they have built their organ...

Every little girl in America seems to be enamored with unicorns. Dragons have long been viewed as the scariest of creatures and are seen throughout our culture, but did they ever actually exist? On today’s podcast, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie talk through the history of unicorns and dragons to see where they came from and how various cultures view them. From there, we look at what the Bible has...

Unlimited submission or civil disobedience? We are entering a season where government mandates may again be upon us. Potential business closings, mask mandates, and even potential for a mandatory vaccine. What do we do with these mandates? Are Christians to always obey the government or are there times to defy orders? What does the  Bible say? On today’s podcast, Pastor Derek and Pastor Jackie tal...

Spanking? Grounding? Time outs? Which way is the best way to discipline your children?  On this episode, we address the question, "How should I discipline my children?" And that's a BIG question. Much of the ills in our culture today can be traced back to a lack of discipline in the home. The Bible isn't silent on this topic. In fact, God the Father is the perfect example for u...

Churches are adopting CRT...should they?  Can it be used as an analytical tool for the Gospel? On this episode, we address the question, "Should Christians be critical of Critical Race Theory?"   Critical Race Theory, or CRT, is finding it's way into evangelical circles at a rapid rate and has been adopted in American culture.  In fact, it's an issue that is starting to divide...

What does it actually mean to be "drunk?" There was no .08 in the Bible, so what do we do with alcohol?! On this episode, we address the question, "How Should Christians Approach Alcohol?"  We start by looking at the original meanings/definitions of "wine" and "strong drink" in the Bible.  Then we dive into what it means to be "drunk" and when drin...

Do I lose my ticket to heaven if I sin too much?  Was my salvation real in the first place?  Do I need to pray the prayer again? On this episode, we address the question, "Can You Lose Your Salvation?"  We start by looking at some tough Scriptures and using the rest of the Bible as a commentary to understand some passages in Hebrews.  We look at how God defines salvation and work through...

Fifty percent of marriages end in divorce, but does God condone that?  What about adultery or abuse? Are these exceptions? On this episode, we address the question, "Is divorce ever permissible for a Christian?"  We start by looking through Scriptures regarding marriage and divorce and establishing God's view on divorce through Scriptures in the Old and New Testament.  We understand...

How should you view gender?  Can you change your gender?  Should you?  Why is there such a recent push for the transgender community?  How can we love others who see this different? On this episode, we address the question, "How Should Christians Respond to Transgenderism?"  We sift through how God defines gender and the implications that has for how we respond to changes in how our soci...

"My body, my choice"...is it though?  What is the value of human life?  Is it ever acceptable to terminate that life, or is it just a clump of cells? On this episode, we pose the question, "Is Abortion Always Wrong?"  We spend time looking at Scripture speaking to human life and when it begins and how we ought to treat one another.  Abortion is one of the hottest topics out the...

If we're called to help the poor and needy, isn't socialism the answer?  Would Jesus be voting for this worldview today? On this episode, we pose the question, "Was Jesus a socialist?"  We spend time defining socialism, a little history of the impact of socialism, and a breadth of Scripture to address whether or not this worldview is biblical.  There have been debates all over...