Further

On this week’s episode of Further, Brenton Grimm sits down with Clay Baker to talk about what biblical joy really is and how it’s different from simple happiness. They unpack how joy can coexist with sorrow and suffering, looking at passages like Nehemiah, Philippians 4, Habakkuk 3, and John 16 to show that our joy is rooted in Christ’s person, work, and presence, not in our circumstances. Clay sh...

On this week’s episode of Further, Brenton and Chris dig into John 16 and the often-misunderstood “unforgivable sin,” clarifying it as a persistent refusal to believe the Holy Spirit’s witness about Jesus. They talk through the difference between conviction and condemnation, showing how God uses guilt and shame not to crush us, but to draw us back to Himself in grace. Chris unpacks how unbelief si...

On this week’s episode of Furthe r , Brenton Grimm sits down with Nathan Williams to unpack John 15 and what it really means to count the cost of following Jesus today. They talk through modern forms of persecution—from lost jobs to lost friendships—and how to avoid confusing bold faith with just being combative. Nathan explains what it looks like to “speak the truth in love,” aiming to reach peop...

In this week’s episode, Brenton and Chris talk about a quick life update—moving locally and celebrating 14 years at Harmony—before diving back into John 14. We unpack why the relationship between love and obedience is both a theological and practical struggle, tracing debates from Romans, Galatians, and James to today’s churches. Chris contrasts the ditches of legalism and progressive “anything go...

In this week’s Further , Brenton and Chris dive deep into Jesus’ promise of the Holy Spirit in John 14 and why it was actually to the disciples’ advantage that He go away. They unpack how the Spirit continues Jesus’ ministry today as our advocate, comforter, counselor, and friend, and why so many believers either overlook or misunderstand His work. Chris explains how our cultural views, busyness,...

In this episode of Further , Brenton Grimm sits down with pastors Clay Baker and Matt Mitchell to talk about why prayer can feel difficult and how we can grow in it. They unpack common struggles like self-reliance, distraction, and routine prayers that feel empty, and share practical ways to experience real intimacy with God. The conversation also clarifies Jesus’ promise that believers will do “g...

In this episode of Further , Brenton and Chris dive into John 14 and talk about why faith isn’t just a blind “leap” but a confident trust rooted in evidence and God’s character. They explore how belief goes beyond intellectual agreement and is really about a personal relationship of love and trust with Christ. The conversation also clears up common misconceptions about heaven—reminding us that it’...

In this episode of Further , Brenton and Chris trace how the early church grew from a few thousand believers into the most influential movement of its time. They look at Acts 2:42 and discuss how faithful teaching, persecution, adoption, generosity, and unity fueled the spread of the gospel. Chris unpacks the balance between God’s holiness and His love, pointing to the cross as the perfect display...

After a heavy week in the life of the church, Brenton and Chris reflect on why some conversations are best saved for later and clarify Chris’s call to “listen to your pastors more”—not to exclude outside voices, but to prioritize the shepherds who know and oversee you. From John 13 and Mark 10, they unpack Jesus’ model of servant leadership: authority restrained for the good of others. They probe...

On this weeks episode, Brenton and Chris dive into John 13—why Jesus washed feet, why we don’t treat it as an ongoing ordinance, and what that means for serving one another today. They push back on the notion of a stoic Jesus, showing from Scripture that His full humanity includes real, expressed emotion—especially in the hours before the cross. Chris unpacks why Jesus sometimes speaks cryptically...

In week two of our All In mini-series, Brenton and Chris unpack spiritual gifts—are they natural skills, Spirit-given abilities, or both—and land on this: the Spirit himself empowers whatever builds up the body (1 Cor. 12:7). They walk through ability, affinity, and affirmation as a helpful grid, noting how character and community confirmation shape our callings. The guys also tackle receiving hel...

In this episode, Brenton sits down with Chris Carr to continue the All In conversation and explore the topic of spiritual gifts. Chris shares updates on recent campus projects while reminding us that the campaign is more about transformation than facilities. The two discuss how every believer is gifted by the Spirit, not necessarily with new abilities, but with Spirit-empowered natural talents mea...

This week on Further , Brenton Grimm sits down with Clay Baker and Matt Mitchell to unpack John 12 and its themes of light, mercy, and judgment. Clay focused on the oneness of the Trinity, while Matt highlighted four reasons Jesus came—so that we might see the Father, walk in the light, experience mercy, and gain life. Together they addressed the tension in Jesus’ words, “I did not come to judge,”...

This week on Further , Brenton Grimm is joined by regular guest Nathan Williams along with first-time guest Coleman Reed and Kyle Knoll, who recently preached at Harmony Bible Church’s Fort Madison and Burlington campuses. The group dives into John 12, exploring themes like the hardness of heart, God’s glory, and the meaning of Jesus drawing “all people” to Himself. They discuss the tension betwee...

This week on Further , Brenton and Chris dive into the Old Testament’s role in pointing to Jesus, discussing how its prophecies—roughly 60 major ones—connect directly to His life and ministry. Chris addresses common objections from skeptics, showing why Jesus couldn’t have merely staged His fulfillment of prophecy. They also push back on modern tendencies to “unhitch” from the Old Testament, stres...

In this episode, Brenton and Chris discuss John 12 and the tension between worshiping Jesus for who He is versus what He can give us. They examine Judas’s self-serving motives and contrast them with Mary’s extravagant act of worship, raising the question: is Jesus our end or merely a means to one? The conversation also explores how a God-centered theology helps us endure persecution and avoid a tr...

This week on Further , Brenton sits down with Paul Fischbach and Matt Mitchell to reflect on John 11 and the tension between God’s sovereignty and human sin. They discuss how Caiaphas’s pragmatic decisions serve as a warning against self-serving compromises, especially in leadership and personal life. The conversation dives into the comforting yet challenging truth that God works through even sinf...

In this episode of Further , Brenton sits down with Clay to talk through his recent sermon on anger from John 11. Clay shares how his own personal struggles with anger helped shape his message and how Jesus’ response to grief and brokenness reveals a purposeful, righteous anger. They discuss the difference between stuffing or venting anger and what it means to bring our emotions to Jesus with hone...

This week on Further , Brenton is joined by Nate Todd and Tony Esslinger for a deep dive into John 11. They reflect on the story of Lazarus and how Jesus redirects Martha’s hope from an event to Himself. The conversation highlights the importance of slowing down when reading familiar passages, paying attention to what the people in the story were really experiencing. They also explore how real tru...

Andrew joins Brenton this week to give an update on global missions at Harmony, highlighting several student and adult trips happening over the summer. He shares stories of impactful missionary biographies, including Adoniram Judson, Amy Carmichael, and Jim Elliott, emphasizing their perseverance through suffering. The conversation then shifts to John 11 and the topic of suffering, with Andrew off...

In this episode of Further , Brenton and Chris dive into the issue of church hurt, exploring why it happens and how believers can respond in healthy, biblical ways. They discuss the importance of honest confrontation, following Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 18, and how both real mistreatment and misinterpreted correction can cause pain. The conversation highlights the need for church cultures where p...

In this episode of Further , Brenton and Chris dive into John 10 and explore what Jesus meant when He said, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” They unpack the dangers of prosperity gospel interpretations, particularly how such teachings distort the gospel and harm vulnerable communities. Drawing connections between John 10, Psalm 23, and Ezekiel 34, they highlight the biblica...

In this episode of Further , Brenton Grimm is joined by Nathan Williams and Matt Mitchell to reflect on their recent sermons covering John 9. They discuss how Jesus’ reference to himself as the “Son of Man” ties directly to Daniel 7, signaling his divine identity—a point that would’ve been clear to the religious leaders of the time. The conversation then moves to a nuanced discussion of suffering,...

Brenton and Chris kick off the episode catching up on summer plans and family get-togethers. The conversation then shifts into a deep dive on John 8, focusing on Jesus’ statement about Abraham rejoicing to see his day. Chris explains the biblical and theological background behind this, drawing connections between Abraham’s faith and Jesus’ identity. They also explore how Jesus' calm response...

Brenton Grimm and Chris Carr explore the tension between biblical authority and personal interpretation in this episode of Further . They discuss the dangers of reading the Bible only through affirming or familiar lenses, emphasizing the need for humility and the willingness to be challenged. Chris explains why disagreement among scholars doesn't negate the clarity of essential gospel truths....