Hey Friend

It’s Christmas week! In this episode Ben and Lucas discuss why Jesus came to earth (the reason might not be what you assume).

Are you looking for a community of friends that are so close to each other it feels like family? In this interview episode, Ben and Nathan, a new member of the Hey Friend team, discuss finding your spiritual family, vulnerability, and what it takes to have real community.

Real friends give gifts during Christmas, but not just the kind of gifts you can wrap. In this episode Ben and Lucas give you some creative ideas of what you can give your friends to show them you care for them.

What does real friendship look like? Hear several real-life stories of real friendship in action, recorded at our recent Hey Friend Live event.

Recorded at the Hey Friend Live event in Fargo, ND, in this special episode Ben and Lucas answer several questions from live audience members and address things like: - Navigating friendship during the changing seasons of life - Should guys and girls be friends - and more

In this episode Ben and Lucas continue the conversation about boundaries, tackling the practicalities of how to set healthy boundaries with friends. Here's the key takeaway: Setting healthy boundaries involves knowing God and yourself, communicating your boundaries clearly, and then guarding them graciously. Simple, but not easy.

Boundaries are essential for healthy relationships. You were created in the image of God, created to be a unique person with an identity grounded in Jesus and free from unhealthy dependencies. In this episode we ask whether boundaries are actually biblical, define what boundaries are (and aren’t!) and give some specifical examples of relationships that lack healthy boundaries.

We’ve spent 30+ weeks talking about friendship. In this episode we go back to the beginning and ask the big question - does friendship even matter? Hint: it definitely does. Want to go deeper? Sign up for Hey Friend’s new weekly email and receive links to new episodes, Scripture, and “going deeper” resources for each episode. Sign up at https://heyfriendpodcast.com/

Is there ever a legitimate reason to cut someone out of your life, especially if they’ve been a long-time friend? In this episode we examine what the Bible says about when it’s appropriate to step back from a relationship with a friend and provide two essential paradigms for ensuring that you’re doing it with the right motives.

Ever had to forgive someone for something significant? Hear a story of difficult forgiveness from Lucas, learn biblical foundations for forgiving others when they hurt you, and a simple (but not easy) process for following Jesus’ command to forgive in this episode of Hey Friend.

You’re a Christian. Should you drink alcohol with your friends? Throughout church history this question has been answered in a variety of ways, and in this episode we discuss the bigger “up-stream” questions that need to be answered about what God’s purpose for those who are followers of Jesus are, how the Bible functions, and more before being able to accurately, biblically answer how Christians...

You can’t have true friendship without the Gospel as the foundation. The Lutheran theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, stated that without Christ we cannot know God or our brother. In this episode we break down how the Gospel reshapes friendship, making it possible for us to acknowledge our brokenness, discover restoration, go deeper in relationships, and honors each person's uniqueness. — Want to...

We’ve spent 30+ weeks talking about friendship. In this episode we go back to the beginning and ask the big question - does friendship even matter? Hint: it definitely does. Want to go deeper? Sign up for Hey Friend’s new weekly email and receive links to new episodes, Scripture, and “going deeper” resources for each episode. Sign up at https://heyfriendpodcast.com/

Preparing to switch jobs and cities? Just moved for college? If so, this episode is for you. We walk through several simple, practical tips to help you start meeting people and making friends in that new location. — Want to go deeper? Sign up for Hey Friend’s new weekly email and receive links to new episodes, Scripture, and “going deeper” resources for each episode. Sign up at https://heyfriendpo...

What should you do if you’re feeling like your friends are leaving you out? In this episode we provide some guidance for navigating the challenge of not feeling included by another friend or group of friends, touching on foundational practices like evaluating the root cause of why you’re feeling that way to simple tips like cutting back on social media scrolling to help you stay present.

Did you know that your pastor probably struggles with loneliness? In this episode we interview Randy Hahne, pastor of Harvest Valley Church and talk about what he’s observed as he’s worked on their denomination’s executive board, the needs of every pastor and ministry leader to slow down and make real friends, and how you as a part of a church can be one of those real friends.

You’ve probably heard the phrase, “All you need is Jesus.” But what if that idea is actually unbiblical? In this episode, we challenge the notion that spiritual maturity means you can go through life with just Jesus and no one else. We dig into: • The misconception that true believers don’t need friends or community. • How the Bible shows us that God never intended for us to be alone. • Why even J...

Whether you realize it or not, Jesus is the best friend you could ever have. Our goal is to give you a taste of just how good of a friend He is. What We Cover: • Many Christians live like they’re working hard to be good with God’s help, but forget that Jesus already proved His commitment by dying for us. • Jesus knows us better than anyone else and still hasn’t ditched us. • He longs to be with us...

Statistics show that college students are more alone than ever. Bryce, one of my good friends who loves the Lord and serves in college ministry with Chi Alpha, shares his story and experiences. We discuss: • How we were never created to be alone, as God says. • The importance of taking the first step in friendship. • Our posture in relationships and why it matters. • How the ultimate friendship is...

Let’s be real – making new friends can be tough. If you’re frustrated about how hard it is to connect with new people, this episode is for you. We dive into the common ways you might be self-sabotaging and offer practical solutions to help you build genuine friendships. This episode is for you if: • You’re annoyed by how difficult it is to make new friends. • You leave parties, work gatherings, or...

Let’s be real – sometimes we don’t hang out because we’re not prioritizing our friendships. In this episode, we get honest about why it’s so hard to connect with friends and what we can do to change that. What We Cover: • The Struggle is Real: Ever had to plan a month in advance just to meet a friend? Yeah, we’ve been there. • Scripture That Hits Home: Hebrews 10:23-25 reminds us that meeting up a...

• The Importance of Prayer : Recognizing our dependence on God and the essential role of intercession in our spiritual lives. • Quote from Andrew Murray: “True love to souls will become in us the spirit of intercession….True love must pray.” • Scriptural and Scientific Foundations : Why Scripture prioritizes praying for others. • Key Verses: James 5:16, 1 Timothy 2:1-2, Ephesians 6:18, Romans 8:34...

Tired of the fake stuff? So are we. In this raw and real episode, we talk about how pretending might feel safe, but it’s not where God wants us. We share our own struggles and how Christ calls us out of the comfort of pretending and into the freedom of being real. No more masks, no more playing it safe. We’re not slaves to sin or our old ways. We’re new creations in Christ. Tune in as we unpack wh...