Life Over Coffee

Let’s talk about love—not the kind that looks like an empty love cup but the kind that reflects God’s character by giving and serving in a way that glorifies Him. Love is a communicable attribute, a gift that God has communicated (given) to us. Thus, we can love well, but due to our fallenness, loving well can turn inward, self-focused, and distorted. Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.co...

Learning to overcome our all-time and number one problem and the cultural myth of self-reliance is vital for a robust Christian life. Self-sufficiency is a synonym for unbelief, choosing to rely on ourselves instead of the Lord. The truth is that no one can live completely independent of God—not even Jesus lived that way. Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/day-27-teen-devotion-self-su...

Shows Main Idea – I often get asked about our next speaking engagement—as if speaking from a stage is central to our ministry. It’s not. In this episode, I want to walk you through our philosophy of public speaking and why we don’t model our approach after the typical speaker circuit. For me, speaking is not a performance or platform-building opportunity—it’s about long-term discipleship and real...

Overcoming the fear of others disapproval is a universal struggle for those who base their identity on what others think of them. When we act like this, we give others power over us. We’re nothing more than puppets on a string, always managed by the fickle approval of others. The Bible calls this the fear of man, but you might recognize it better as peer pressure, codependency, or insecurity. Read...

Today’s focus is a sensitive but vital topic: sex before marriage. God’s design for physical intimacy is within the context of marriage, and stepping outside that design can lead to long-lasting consequences in your spiritual, emotional, and relational life (Hebrews 13:4). Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/day-25-teen-devotion-sex-marriage/ Will you help us to continue providing free...

Many people struggle with decision-making. The most crucial question you can ask yourself when making a decision is this: Am I in faith to do this? In other words, do you believe that what you’re considering is the right thing to do? Are you sure? Is this God’s will? Is your faith greater than your doubts? Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/day-24-teen-devotion-make-decision-2/ Will y...

An essential first step in discipleship is how you view others. If your disappointment in people is greater than your desire to help them, your ability to disciple effectively will run into many hindrances. Jesus had some strong language for those who made the log/speck mistake. Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/day-23-teen-devotion-first-step-start/ Will you help us to continue prov...

Today’s focus is on a challenging but vital responsibility: discipling your parents. As a believer, you are called to disciple and evangelize those in your sphere of influence—and that includes your family. Being an adult means acting like an adult, which expects you to come alongside other adults, helping them in their relationship with God. To love God and love others as you love yourself implie...

One of the most influential aspects of your life is your friendships. The relationships you keep play a significant role in shaping who you are and how you grow in your relationship with God. Though you can do many things alone, sanctification is not one of those things. If you want to mature in Christ, you need mature friends who have the grace and courage to spur you on to love and good deeds (H...

Your conscience that God gave you acts as an internal moral thermostat. It’s your inner voice that sounds off when you have done well or poorly. Your conscience can be a powerful tool for aligning your life with God’s Word, but it can also become distorted if not biblically trained. The conscience is malleable. Let’s talk about how to care for and train your conscience so it reflects God’s truth—t...

Today’s topic touches on a question many struggle with: “Will God forgive me?” Thinking that the good Lord will not forgive us typically comes from an inward-focused, insecure person who needs a gospel recalibration: Who the Son has set free is free indeed (John 8:36). The gospel liberates us from all of our past sins, no matter how hideous or overwhelming they seem. Jesus has already completed th...

What makes someone good? Before you answer the question about yourself or a friend, I want you to consider this perspective. On the surface, it might seem easy to label someone as good or bad based on their behavior—an external examination, but God calls us to look deeper than outward appearances. Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/day-18-teen-devotion-good-teen/ Will you help us to c...

Five common traps many young adults face can hinder their growth and keep them from living the life God has for them. The good news is that recognizing these traps is the first step to avoiding them and finding freedom in Christ. I will share them with you in no particular order, though it would serve you well to order them according to how they apply to your life. Read, Watch, Listen: https://lif...

One of the most essential places for your spiritual growth is the local church. Outside of your home, the local church is the dearest place on earth for a believer because it’s where God’s people gather to worship, grow, and serve together. The church is not a building but a body of believers, whether it’s two gathered for fellowship or two thousand in an auditorium. Read, Watch, Listen: https://l...

Do you ever sense your life as a young adult is in a holding pattern—a time when you’re just waiting for life to begin? If so, you’re not alone. Some people act as though these early years are like an extended time out. It is a mindset that can lead to wasting valuable time. While you’re waiting to get your shot, here are eight things you can do to steward your time well and glorify God today. The...

Let’s reflect on God’s grace and its power to guide you through life’s challenges. Here is how I want to frame God’s grace for this devotion: No matter what you’re facing, God’s grace is sufficient, offering answers to your questions and untangling the messiest problems. The question then becomes: Where will you go from here—wherever you may be at this juncture in your journey with the Lord? Read,...

Today’s truth may not be easy to hear, but it’s crucial to understand: life is hard and doesn’t apologize. Fallenness is no respecter of persons, not even caring if you are a Christian. Everyone faces struggles, but what sets people apart is how they respond to their life challenges, which begs the question. Will you choose to complain and remain stuck in your trouble, or will you flip the script...

RISE Radio recently interviewed Rick Thomas of Life Over Coffee about his Substack article addressing the influence of Jordan Peterson. Peterson, though not a Christian, has garnered an unusually strong following within Christian circles—largely due to his moral clarity and psychological insights, many of which are shaped by Jungian philosophy rather than a biblical worldview. This curious devotio...

Let’s tackle a common cultural myth: the idea that being “cool” is the way to succeed. The truth is that chasing coolness is rarely fruitful. Instead, it often leads to dysfunctional relationships and a self-focused, enslaving way of life that demands that others notice, admire, and desire to be you. Perhaps it would serve all of us if we redefine what it means to be “cool” from a biblical perspec...

Let’s explore a topic that affects us all: the shaping influences in our lives—those things external to us that impact how we love God and others as we love ourselves. Specifically, how social media and other technologies shape the way we think, feel, and live. Read, Watch, Listen: https://lifeovercoffee.com/day-11-teen-devotion-social-media-is-not-real-life/ Will you help us to continue providing...

Today’s topic may sound harsh, but it’s an essential truth to embrace: life has winners and losers. I know that you know this, but I want to make it personal to you during this season of practical reflection. Participation trophies and grade inflation may soften the blow during childhood, but adulthood operates by a different set of rules. The self-esteem movement works hard to keep kids’ egos inf...

Ep. 551 Daniel Berger, Discipling a Fool's Heart by Rick Thomas

Shows Main Idea – Godly parents and educators ponder how they can practically help their child turn from being a foolish youth to becoming a wise lover of Christ (Proverbs 1:22-23). Though no parent can transform a child’s spiritual heart, all believing parents are called to discipline their children in wisdom so that God can convert them to be wise (Proverbs 1:8; 13:1). In this interview with Dr....

Your parents weren’t always boring. Believe it or not, they had lives, interests, and a lot more freedom before you came along. Here’s the truth: your parents’ lives changed dramatically the moment you entered the picture. It’s not that you’re a problem; I’m not saying that at all, but raising a child comes with enormous responsibility. Paying bills, doing laundry, and keeping up with your needs l...

Today’s lesson is tough but essential: when you mess up, it’s no one’s fault but your own. It’s natural to want to blame others for our mistakes. Perhaps others are part of our mistakes or have influenced them. However, we cannot ignore our responsibility. We must not permit people’s problems to manage us. Adults struggle with owning their mistakes, so you’re not alone. But if your first instinct...