Provoke & Inspire Podcast

In this episode Ben is joined by Oxford professor of mathematics John Lennox to help us better understand how to biblically respond to everything that's going on in Ukraine, as well as how to suffer alongside those who suffer - as we are biblically instructed to do. To learn more about John Lennox, visit: https://www.johnlennox.org/ Follow Ben Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nzbenpierce...

How do we respond to the suffering of others that we are not directly or immediately sharing in? What did Jesus do, and how would he have us respond in these types of situations? The regulars react to these questions and more as they wrestle with the hardship of our friends in Ukraine, and what we should do as followers of Jesus during times like this. Follow Ben Instagram: https://www.instagram.c...

In this episode the guys are joined by Brian 'Head' Welch - guitarist of the band Korn who talks about his story of how God saved him from sin and drug addiction. Brian talks about how he stays strong in his faith, and his thoughts on the current war in Ukraine. To learn more about Brian 'Head' Welch, click here: https://www.brianheadwelch.net Follow Ben Instagram: https://www....

The first question that needs to be asked when speaking of perseverance is, "what am I persevering toward?" Is it toward God, and all that he has for me, or is it toward my own ambitions and ideals? In this final part of the mini-series, Ben talks with Luke and Chad about perseverance in the life of a Christian; the need to 'repeat' the application of the principles in this ser...

The regulars hear from Valerii, and special guest Bogdan Ferens for an on the ground update on the war in Ukraine. Sign up now to pray for Ukraine: https://tinyurl.com/4v8pzsjs Give to the Steiger Ukraine Relief Fund: https://steiger.org/ukrainerelief Follow Ben Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nzbenpierce Twitter: https://twitter.com/benalanpierce Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nzbenpierc...

In this special edition of Provoke & Inspire we hear for a second time from one of our leaders on the ground in Ukraine, outside of Kiev. Sign up now to pray for Ukraine: https://tinyurl.com/4v8pzsjs Give to the Steiger Ukraine Relief Fund: https://steiger.org/ukrainerelief Follow Ben Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nzbenpierce Twitter: https://twitter.com/benalanpierce Facebook: https://...

In this special edition of Provoke & Inspire, Ben and David are joined by Steiger leader Valerii Riabokonenko, for an on the ground update of what is happening in Ukraine. Sign up now to pray for Ukraine: https://tinyurl.com/4v8pzsjs Give to the Steiger Ukraine Relief Fund: https://steiger.org/ukrainerelief Follow Ben Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nzbenpierce Twitter: https://twitter.co...

Do we really believe in the gospel  if we never take risks and act on it? Is there a possibility that a lack of spiritual risk in our lives is pointing to a false sense of faith - or at least a lack of it?   In this episode Ben and the regulars discuss the factors around spiritual risk. What it says about us, and what it does to us if we continue to play it safe. Follow Ben Instagram: https://www....

Growth is absolutely necessary in our spiritual lives. In 1st Corinthians 3, the apostle Paul speaks of the need to move from "milk to meat" as we grow in our faith - it's not enough to simply stay where we are when the current of the world pulls us in the opposite direction. In this episode the regulars (minus Luke, who is embarked on a journey) discuss and dissect the idea of grow...

Author and pastor A.W. Tozer famously said, "what comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us." In part two of our mini-series we continue discussing how we can have a faith that's on fire and how are view of God as a whole is often not where it should be, as is evidenced by the strange, irreverent way of talking about God often found in our chr...

How do we know if our faith is authentic, or simply the synergistic result of those around us in a Christian culture? What happens when we assess our convictions, and realize that what we've been holding onto is not what we thought it was - that we're really "just riding the wave", so to speak. This is the first of a multi-part series where the regulars discuss how we can have...

We often approach the problem with pornography in the church from an angle of either sin management, or shame management. Both seem to be ineffective in their results, and so it begs the question: is there a third way this issue can be addressed?  In this episode Ben and Luke talk to therapist, author, and speaker Jay Stringer about his book "Unwanted: How Sexual Brokenness Reveals Our Way to...

What can we do when people, by and large, seem to be leaving and choosing churches for ideological, rather than theological reasons? The regulars are joined by author, speaker and pastor Matt Chandler of the Village Church. They talk about how we should approach a growing generation of people who are skeptical toward Christianity, and would likely never walk into a church. To learn more about Stei...

Do you want 2022 to be your BEST year yet??? We have the secret: know God better!  It is BY FAR the most productive thing you will ever do! There is NOTHING that will bring you more joy, peace and satisfaction than deepening your relationship with God.  We want to help you get there!   We just launched the No Ordinary Life podcast. Every week we read the Bible to pursue the extraordinary as God de...

2022 is here, and so are all of our resolutions. Many of them revolve around being productive, and so naturally the question is, what's the most productive thing you can ever do? The guys discuss this topic as well as the larger ideas of why we strive so much to try and produce, busy ourselves, and remain on this endless treadmill of tasks. To learn more about Steiger International visit: www...

If we lived like our days were numbered, if we lived like we were fragile, impermanent people - how would we live differently?  The truth is that we are, as James says, a mist - and we need to live in light of that reality. God wants us to live out our days fruitfully, with no regrets - but how do we go about doing so? In this episode David and Ben react to these ideas,  and share their insights o...

Deconstruction seems to be in vogue, especially in the last decade, and ranks as one of the leading "causes of death" for the faiths of many evangelical believers. What is deconstruction, and how do we both understand, and approach it? Can it serve as a helpful element of someone's faith journey, or is it entirely destructive? To learn more about Steiger International visit: www.ste...

How did God reach into the life of a young man from Liverpool, England, radically save him, and send him back into the scene he came out of? In this episode David and Ben interview skateboarder, author, Christian pastor and traveling evangelist Brian Sumner.  They discuss having conversations with people outside of the church, the mindset of the global youth culture, and how we can work to fulfill...

What does it mean to be grateful, and how does it change you? What would small behavior adjustments - saying thank you to one person every day mean for your life, years down the road? In this episode Ben and David get together in the festive thanksgiving season to discuss gratefulness and its place in, and impact on, the life of a follower of Jesus. To learn more about Steiger International visit:...

One of the biggest misconceptions about young people today is that they are not open to spiritual ideas: conversations about the supernatural, God and the afterlife. This could not be further from the truth, and in this episode Ben is joined by David and Aaron to talk about their personal experiences in dialoguing with young adults through focus groups, ministry events, and everyday life. To learn...

Merriam-Webster dictionary defines Courage as "the ability to do something that you know is difficult or dangerous", but Hollywood often portrays it as a quality of fearlessness in the face of adversity. Is this really the truth? In this episode the regulars cover the last of the Steiger values,  and ask, "What role does Courage play in the Christian faith?" To learn more about...

Is community something we actually need? Or is it something we've moved past - a social construct that no longer serves its purpose? The regulars discuss the newest of the Steiger values, which is this: We are Family. As a mission we are called to reach the Global Youth Culture for Jesus, but we can not do it as individuals. On our own, we lack the needed gifts, insights, and abilities to see...

Is holiness simply following the rules of a dead, empty tradition and achieving a state where you're better than others?  This is how it can seem to the secular world, and often to believers as well - even if it's on more of a subtle level. The regulars discuss this Steiger core value, and show that instead of a dry, rigid lifestyle, holiness helps us to draw closer to God, and to be use...

Are miracles within Christianity actually real, or are they all parlor tricks? Methods used by televangelists to try and get money from gullible Christians? Ben and Chad are joined by filmmaker Elijah Stephens to talk about his new documentary, 'Send Proof' that seeks to bridge the gap between miracles and science. Elijah tells the story of his traumatic upbringing, which led to him an i...

One of the biggest concerns of young people today is that of the environment; our relationship to it, and our responsibility for it.  This is something that's often overlooked or pushed to the side by the evangelical church, and something we need to be more aware of in terms of how we relate to, and are perceived by, secular culture. Author, YouTube apologist, and former member of the band ZO...