Resident Strangers

Welcome to Part 3 of the Predestination series! Before you listen, make sure you are caught up with the rest of the episodes! Last week, Steve and Rich dove into the context of verses commonly used in the discussion of predestination. Today, they discuss what election is, analyzing Romans 9 to provide us with context. The traditional Calvinist view holds that God elects Jacob, not Esau, for salvat...

This week, the long-anticipated series on predestination continues as Steve and Rich take a deep dive into some of the most debated passages surrounding this complex topic. If you missed last week’s episode, we highly recommend going back to listen or watch as it lays essential groundwork for what’s to come. Rich emphasizes how deeply our presuppositions can shape the way we interpret scripture, a...

Welcome back listeners! Join Sarah, Steve, and Rich in this long-awaited series covering the topic of predestination! Predestination is the idea that God preordained for people to be saved. Although predestination is a secondary issue in Christianity that our salvation doesn’t hinge on, it is a very controversial topic amongst many Christians. While Christians do not all agree on this issue, that...

Steve, Rich, and Sarah are back this week to tackle a deeply personal and often controversial topic: IVF. What is IVF? IVF, short for in vitro fertilization, is a process of fertilization where eggs and sperm are combined in a lab to create an embryo, which is then placed in the uterus in hopes of beginning a pregnancy. Technology and science has become so advanced that people can now “artificiall...

HAPPY RESURRECTION SUNDAY! Resurrection Sunday is the most important day of the year! In fact, when you really think about it, every day since the original resurrection has been a kind of resurrection day—because those who follow Jesus live in the light of that defining moment. Today’s final Passion Week Devotional on the Resident Strangers podcast centers on John 20:1–9 (NASB). Verse 8 stands out...

Today’s episode of the Resident Strangers podcast reflects on Silent Saturday—the day between Good Friday and Easter. It’s a day that often goes unnoticed, but it’s one filled with deep significance. Have you ever paused to consider what that day must have felt like for Jesus’ followers? We have the privilege of knowing how the story ends—but they didn’t. They were left in the silence, wrestling w...

Today’s episode of the Resident Strangers podcast focuses on the profound events of Good Friday. Steve takes us through a timeline of that day, beginning in the early hours of the morning and leading us through the weight of each moment. The episode closes with a powerful reading of John 20:30–31, a reminder that John recorded these events so that we might believe that Jesus truly is the Messiah....

Today’s episode of the Resident Strangers podcast reflects on John 13:1–14 (NIV), as Rich offers some context around what many know as Maundy Thursday—the night Jesus shared a final meal with His disciples before the cross. One of the most powerful moments from this evening is when Jesus, fully aware of what was to come, took the posture of a servant and washed His disciples’ feet. His love for th...

Today’s episode of the Resident Strangers podcast centers on Luke 21:1–13 (NIV). It’s Wednesday of Passion Week. In just over 24 hours, Jesus will be betrayed. In less than 48, He will be on the cross. Yet even in these final moments, we see His deep compassion as He highlights the quiet faith of a poor widow. In God’s eyes, nothing done in faith is ever small. As Jesus also speaks of His second c...

Here’s the big picture: Resurrection Sunday is the most important day of the year! In fact, when you really think about it, every day since the original resurrection has been a kind of resurrection day—because those who follow Jesus live in the light of that defining moment. With Easter Sunday coming up, Steve and Rich wanted to take a few minutes to highlight the significance of the resurrection....

Today’s episode of the Resident Strangers podcast explores Matthew 22:15–40 (NIV). In this passage, religious leaders attempt to trap Jesus with tricky questions—but He responds with unmatched wisdom and grace. His answers not only silenced His critics then, but continue to speak truth and challenge us today. This section of Scripture has come up often on Resident Strangers, and for good reason—Je...

Today’s episode of the Resident Strangers podcast centers on Mark 11:11–17 (NIV). In this passage, we see a lack of the spiritual fruit that should have come from embracing Jesus as the Messiah. As He approached the cross, Jesus offered final, urgent calls to repentance—warning Israel of the consequences of hardened hearts and misplaced priorities. It’s a powerful reminder for us today: nothing in...

Happy Palm Sunday! Today’s episode of the Resident Strangers podcast reflects on Matthew 21:1–9 (NIV)—the moment Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a humble donkey, fully aware that ahead of Him lay a path of suffering and a humiliating death. It’s sobering to realize that the same crowds who joyfully shouted “Hosanna!” on this day would, just five days later, cry out “Crucify Him.” If you haven’t...

As Passion Week approaches, Steve and Rich are excited to once again share a series of special devotionals on the Resident Strangers podcast to help prepare our hearts for Easter weekend. Beginning today, we’ll release short daily episodes—each just 5 to 10 minutes long—leading up to Sunday, April 20th. These reflections are designed to help you focus on scripture and cultivate gratitude for Jesus...

Steve, Rich, and Sarah kick off this episode by once again giving a big shoutout to the Media Team for their incredible work on the new studio. If you’re listening and haven’t checked out the podcast on YouTube yet—go take a look! This week, the conversation picks up where last week’s left off, diving deeper into the topic of deconstruction. Rich raises a compelling point: many people who say they...

Welcome back to Resident Strangers! Whether you’re listening or watching, we’re so glad you’re here. If you’re a Christ follower, you may have heard the term deconstruction—but what does it really mean? Interestingly, even within Christian circles, this word carries different interpretations. As the conversation around deconstruction grows, Steve and Rich are dedicating the next two weeks to unpac...

Allow us to reintroduce ourselves! Resident Strangers has been a podcast for the past year and a half, but now Sarah, Steve, and Rich are thrilled to share that the podcast is not only available on audio platforms — it’s also on YouTube! This long-awaited expansion has the whole crew excited to bring you content in a brand-new way. A huge shoutout to Brandon Petry for his incredible work in buildi...

As you listen to this episode, you might catch the faint sounds of the Desert Springs youth band playing in the background. This sparks a moment of nostalgia for Sarah, Steve, and Rich as they reflect on their early years in ministry. Let the music serve as a reminder that the next generation is actively worshiping God together!  After reminiscing, Steve and Rich dive into today’s topic: replaceme...

Big things are on the horizon for Resident Strangers! While Sarah is keeping the details under wraps for now, exciting changes are coming soon—so stay tuned! Steve and Rich are just as eager for what’s ahead. In today’s discussion, the focus shifts to the eternal state. Right away, Rich challenges the common idea that a believer’s future is simply about dying and going to heaven. Instead, the stor...

Today’s episode of Resident Strangers tackles a challenging but essential topic: the Lake of Fire—commonly known as hell. Steve and Rich dive into Revelation 20, a key passage that sheds light on this sobering reality. Rich emphasizes that the existence of hell underscores the urgency of salvation—there is truly something to be saved from. In fact, Jesus spoke more about hell than He did about hea...

At the very start of the conversation, Steve extends an invitation to a trip he is leading to Israel this November (details provided below). He then introduces the topic of the day: the kingdom that Jesus establishes at His second coming. A key aspect of this 1,000-year period is that Satan is bound. Some interpret this millennium literally, while others see it as figurative. Rich also emphasizes...

This week, Steve and Rich take another deep dive into a previously covered topic: the Judgment Seat of Christ—an area many believers still wrestle with. Right from the start, Steve clarifies an important truth: believers will not stand before Christ to give an account for their sin, but rather for how they lived their lives. One key aspect of this judgment is the opportunity for believers to recei...

Today’s episode kicks off with some exciting updates about what’s ahead for Resident Strangers—big things are coming, and you’ll literally see them soon! Sarah and Rich also take a moment to celebrate a huge milestone: Steve’s 30 years of ministry at Desert Springs. Considering the average tenure of a pastor at a single church is less than five years, this is truly remarkable. Steve and his wife,...

“Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and keep what is written in it, for the time is near.” — Revelation 1:3 Welcome back to another deep dive on Resident Strangers! The tribulation is a period of judgment on the earth, preparing the way for the coming kingdom of Jesus. How one understands this event largely depends on how the book of Revel...

Steve, Rich, and Sarah are back this week with another in-depth discussion on the rapture. After a brief catch-up on life, Steve revisits the three major perspectives on when the rapture will occur—post-tribulation, mid-tribulation, and pre-tribulation (explained below). He emphasizes that while the view one holds is important, it does not necessarily rank among the most critical theological issue...