Faith Forward Podcast - CFC Ashburn

In this Faith Forward conversation, Brian and Jon explore how thankfulness becomes more than a feeling — it becomes a way of living with God. Psalm 100 reveals that gratitude isn’t passive; it’s a rhythm that reshapes the heart. True thankfulness begins with honesty — naming what is good, what is hard, and what is not yet good. Gratitude invites us to bring both praise and pain into God’s presence...

It’s easy to give thanks when life feels good — but what about when it doesn’t? Gratitude that only thrives in comfort isn’t gratitude at all; it’s relief. In this Faith Forward conversation, Brian and Jon explore what it means to give thanks because of who God is and what He has done, is doing, and will do — even while acknowledging pain and disappointment. True thankfulness isn’t denial; it’s de...

You don’t accidentally become more like Jesus. Spiritual formation isn’t automatic—it’s rhythmic. God built celebration and worship into the rhythm of life not just as events, but as anchors that reorient our hearts toward Him. In this episode, we explore Celebration and Worship as direction, rest, connection, and defiance—a rhythm that trains the soul to trust God daily, both individually and in...

Sharing your story isn’t about efficiency or outcomes—it’s about connection and transformation. When we share what Jesus has done in our lives, we invite others to discover the same source of life and relationship that changed us. In this episode, Mike and Jon explore how sharing your story helps others encounter the transforming power of a shared life with God and with each other. What does it me...

Serving isn’t just about meeting needs—it’s about revealing the heart of God to the people around us. When we care for others, we reflect His nature and extend His presence into everyday spaces. In this episode, Brian and Jon unpack what it means to live out the call to serve while intentionally asking God who, how, when, and where to serve. They explore the difference between fixing problems and...

We all carry patterns, lies, or habits that keep us from living in the freedom Jesus offers. The Bible calls these strongholds—ways of thinking and living that weigh us down and hold us back from transformation. In this episode, Brian and Jon talk about how to identify strongholds in your own life and how God wants to bring healing and freedom. Breaking free isn’t just about trying harder—it’s abo...

Sacrificial generosity is about more than money—but it’s not about less than money. At its core, generosity isn’t God’s way of solving a resource problem—it’s His way of reshaping our hearts, renewing our trust, and reminding us who we are in Him. So come join Brian and Jon as we explore why generosity matters more than we think. It’s not about what we have, but about who we are: sons and daughter...

What if prayer is less about getting God to do what we want—and more about becoming who He’s shaping us to be? What if it’s less about persuasion and more about real connection with our Father—the place where our hearts are transformed as we learn to both speak and listen? Join Brian & Jon as they dive into the fundamentals of prayer and explore how this rhythm can touch every part of life—bringin...

Want to grow closer to Jesus day by day? Daily devotion isn’t about checking off a reading plan—it’s about cultivating an ongoing conversation with God that shapes who you are becoming. Join Brian and Jon as they explore what it looks like to engage Scripture, reflect, and respond in ways that lead to real transformation—not just more information.

Ready to get back to the fundamentals of life with God? Spiritual growth requires intentional training -- not just trying. The goal is to become like Jesus -- not just learn about Him. And that transformation can only come through interactive connection with Him -- not just checklists for Him. We all need to go back to the fundamentals on a regular basis, so come join Brian and Jon for the kick-of...

There’s something in every one of us that longs to hear God’s voice… but how do we actually learn to listen? How can we know if it’s really Him—and grow in discernment so this becomes our everyday experience with God? Join Brian and Jon as the Faith Forward podcast returns from summer break and invites you into a lifestyle of “ask God.” This media was produced by Christian Fellowship Church 44505...

In our last episode before a summer pause, we wrap up Ecclesiastes with 2 final question -- How am I still trying to make life work on my own terms? And what does that reveal about my view God? Those can be uncomfortable questions to sit with, but if we never do nothing ever changes. So come join Brian and Jon as together we all take practical steps to learn to love God more deeply and trust Him m...

If life is "hevel," are we just supposed to muddle through a joyless existence as best we can? Or is real joy possible -- and not just the kind of joy we try to arrange for ourselves? What does it look like to have true joy in a life that doesn't always make sense? Come join Brian and Jon for a practical and encouraging conversation on finding joy with God in the midst of hevel.

How many times have you said, "If I could just _____, then everything would be okay."? This week, our series on Ecclesiastes reminds us that there are no guarantees in this life. The fast and the strong don't always win; the wise and the talented don't always prosper. So, what can we rely on if there are no guarantees? Join Brian and Jon for a helpful and practical look at how to live on God's gua...

How does God feel about money, resources, and wealth? More importantly, what can they do for us - and what can they NOT do - in our life with God? As we continue this series on Ecclesiastes, join Brian and Jon for a practical and thoughtful conversation on the reality of "hevel" in our pursuit of resources, contentment, and deep relationship with Jesus.

How does God feel about pleasure? In short, our attempts to grasp at pleasure cannot ultimately satisfy us -- AND -- God has designed you for pleasure, delight, and joy. So how do we live in that tension? Join Brian and Jon for a thoroughly practical and helpfully disruptive conversation on experiencing pleasure in this life with God.

How do you want to be remembered? More specifically, how do you want to live in light of the reality that there is nothing new under the sun and that everyone will eventually be forgotten by the generations that come after? YIKES! And yet, what if there is actually an incredible feeling of hope and a clear sense of direction that emerges from this seemingly hopeless reality? Intrigued? Come join B...

The book of Ecclesiastes may look discouraging and hopeless on the surface -- "Life is meaningless!" -- but it also offers incredible guidance, hope, and encouragement for those that look beneath the surface. Most of all, it helps us to navigate the challenge of living this life when this life doesn't make sense, feels unfair, or brings incredible pain. So come join Brian and Jon as they offer pra...

As we come to the topic of Good Friday, we're forced to confront a final set of expectations that must be redefined - namely that we can avoid death and still have new life. This is one of the most difficult truths to embrace in the life of a follower of Jesus, and we invite you to join Lee and Jon as they discuss how to practically and helpfully experience life to the full by taking up our cross.

One of Jesus' last prayers was that we would be one -- with each other and with Him. In other words, He was reminding us that we need "WE"...and not just sometimes. We need Him all the time! And we need to be in union with others all the time! To do that, however, we need to redefine our expectations around what "WE" is supposed to look like. So, pull up a chair and join Brian and Jon for a practi...

"We often don't realize we have wrong expectations until they are unmet." This is especially true in our relationship with Jesus. There are the things we know about God and then there are the things we believe in our heart about God. And when there is unresolved tension between those two, we will often miss out on the life to the full and the life of connection that Jesus wants for us. So come joi...

Every so often an age-old question gets a new, helpful answer. This week, Faith Forward is tackling "how to reach the next generation" -- and while the answer is probably not what you expect, it has the potential to profoundly shift the way you engage with the younger people around you. So, pull up a chair and join Mike and Jon as they share some incredibly practical suggestions for seeing and equ...

It's the final episode of the series, and we're wrestling with the reality that the WAY we do something and WHY we do it matters more than WHAT we do. Being devoted to prayer is critical. Being wise in how we live among others is vital. Speaking graciously and attractively is essential. Yet, WHY we do those things and the WAY we do them matters even more. So pull up a chair with Lee and Jon as we...

There are many challenging sections of Scripture, and Colossians 3:18-25 is certainly one of them. How do we love Jesus more than ourselves when it comes to living as wives and husbands or children and parents? And how do we need to see both the context of that culture and the larger context of Scripture as a whole so as not to misuse Paul's words today? Join Brian and Jon for a deep dive into all...

We agreed last week that the challenge is not so much "do I love Jesus?" but rather "do I love Jesus more than I love myself?". Paul says that, because of the work of Jesus, we are a new creation -- a new creation that needs to set aside some things and put on some others. This week, join Brian and Jon for a helpful and revealing conversation on what it looks like to learn to "put on" compassion,...