Soil and Roots

What does the kingdom of God on earth look like? In this final episode of Season 4, Brian and Doc close the Forgotten Kingdom by reflecting on the season’s major themes: the Kingdom, the four relationships, creation and culture, beauty, truth, goodness, and the “re-words” of restoration. Drawing from the Lord’s Prayer and Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s image of earth being “crammed with heaven,” thi...

What does “Thy Kingdom come” mean? In this second-to-last episode of Season 4, Brian begins wrapping up the Forgotten Kingdom by returning to the Lord’s Prayer. When Jesus teaches us to pray, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven,” what exactly are we asking God to do? After reviewing the Soil & Roots journey through the Great Omission, the Discipleship Dilemma, the...

What is heaven like according to the Bible? In this Greenhouse discussion, Brian, Handsome Kyle, and Doc continue the conversation from Episode 92 by exploring our assumptions about heaven, the afterlife, the New Heaven and New Earth, and the Kingdom of God. They reflect on the images many Christians absorbed growing up: clouds, harps, pearly gates, disembodied spirits, and an eternal worship serv...

What is the New Heaven and New Earth, and why does it matter for deep discipleship now? In this episode, Brian continues Season 4’s exploration of the Forgotten Kingdom by asking whether our ideas about heaven match the biblical story. Many Christians imagine eternity as a disembodied spiritual realm far removed from earth, bodies, work, culture, nations, creation, and ordinary life. But the Bible...

Why does the cultural context of the Bible matter? In this Greenhouse discussion, Brian Fisher and Kyle Moody continue the conversation from Episode 90 by exploring Jesus as the great transformer of hidden assumptions. Kyle asks what it means that people from Moses to John were “breathing different air” than we are today. Together, they consider how Ideas in the Air shape culture, how Ideas in the...

How did Jesus change the world? In this episode, Brian Fisher concludes the Kingdom Dwellers mini-series by exploring one final hidden quality of deep disciples: they learn to recognize and transform the ideas that shape people, churches, and cultures. Jesus did not merely teach better behavior. He challenged the unspoken assumptions beneath behavior—the ideas in the air of His culture and the ide...

What happens when we suffer alone? In this Greenhouse discussion, Brian Fisher, Kyle Moody, and Dr. Tim Boswell continue the conversation from Episode 88 by exploring suffering, authenticity, community, and the slow work of becoming more like Jesus. Each of them reflects on recent seasons of pain, including physical illness, family struggles, financial pressure, uncertainty, and concern for childr...

How do we suffer well when life brings pain, sorrow, anxiety, depression, or loss? In this episode, Brian Fisher continues the Kingdom Dwellers mini-series by exploring another hidden quality of deep discipleship: learning how to suffer well. Suffering is not good in itself, and followers of Jesus are not invited to pretend pain is easy, noble, or simple. Yet suffering often becomes part of the lo...

How does culture change? In this Greenhouse discussion, Brian Fisher and Dr. Tim Boswell continue the conversation from Episode 86 by exploring how cultures, systems, and institutions are shaped by the ideas and people within them. Together they discuss churches, healthcare, politics, denominations, families, and the ways systems can either honor or diminish the individual. The conversation return...

How do we change culture from the inside out? In this episode, Brian Fisher continues the Kingdom Dwellers mini-series by exploring another hidden quality of deep discipleship: understanding that real transformation begins in the heart and moves outward. A deep disciple recognizes that families, churches, workplaces, institutions, and cultures are shaped by ideas—some rooted in darkness and some r...

How do we wrestle with God in suffering without losing faith? In this Greenhouse discussion, Brian Fisher and Kyle Moody continue the conversation from Episode 84 by exploring what it means to become restful in the middle of spiritual tension. Together they discuss hard Bible passages, unanswered questions, suffering, Christian clichés, Job, Jacob, and the danger of rushing too quickly to phrases...

How do we find rest when following Jesus creates real tension? In this episode, Brian Fisher resumes the Kingdom Dwellers mini-series by exploring another hidden quality of deep discipleship: becoming restful in the tension. Many Christians hold sincere beliefs about God’s goodness, faithfulness, and trustworthiness, yet our deeper ideas and desires do not always align with those beliefs. When suf...

Can Christian deconstruction be healthy? In this Greenhouse discussion, Brian Fisher, Kyle Moody, and Dr. Tim Boswell continue the conversation from Episode 82 by exploring deconstruction, the Wall, control, and spiritual formation. Drawing from The Critical Journey and Eustace Scrubb in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader , they discuss how Jesus may use painful seasons to peel away false identities,...

Can Christian deconstruction become part of deep discipleship? In this episode, Brian Fisher takes a brief pause from the Kingdom Dwellers mini-series to reflect on church, career, family, disappointment, and the difficult journey of spiritual formation. Drawing from The Critical Journey , Brian explores why many Christians eventually hit the Wall—where the familiar rhythms of church, service, ser...

Why do Christians still struggle with anxiety and control? In this Greenhouse discussion, Brian Fisher and Kyle Moody continue the conversation from Episode 80 by exploring the relationship between anxiety, control, suffering, lament, and trust in God. Together they ask why many Christians and churches struggle to talk honestly about mental illness, depression, and anxiety, even though these strug...

Why is letting go of control to God so difficult? In this episode, Brian Fisher continues the Kingdom Dwellers mini-series by exploring one of the most challenging qualities of deep discipleship: releasing control. Many of us attempt to control situations, conversations, relationships, reputations, finances, emotions, and even God Himself. But beneath that need for control may be unresolved sorrow...

What does it mean to be truly known in Christian community? In this Greenhouse discussion, Brian Fisher, Kyle Moody, and Dr. Tim Boswell continue the conversation from Episode 78 by exploring particularity: the practice of intentionally noticing and pursuing someone as a unique person. Together they reflect on why being seen, known, and loved is essential to deep discipleship. The conversation exp...

Why does being known matter so much in Christian community? In this episode, Brian Fisher continues the Kingdom Dwellers mini-series by exploring the idea of particularity: the practice of noticing, pursuing, and knowing someone as a unique person. Drawing from stories about a doctor’s office, a vacuum salesman, Zacchaeus, the woman with the issue of blood, and the words of Curt Thompson, Dallas W...

Why does curiosity matter so much in discipleship? In this Greenhouse discussion, Brian Fisher and Kyle Moody continue the conversation from Episode 76 by exploring courageous curiosity as a key characteristic of deep discipleship. Together they discuss why many modern churches struggle to cultivate depth, how fear and busyness keep us near the surface, and why real spiritual formation requires ti...

Why does curiosity matter in discipleship? In this episode, Brian Fisher begins a new Kingdom Dwellers mini-series by exploring an often-overlooked quality of spiritual maturity: courageous curiosity. While many Christians associate discipleship with knowledge, certainty, or obedience, Scripture presents a different picture. God consistently asks questions, and Jesus asked more than 300 questions...

Do we really want the Kingdom of God to come? In this Greenhouse discussion, Brian Fisher and Kyle Moody continue exploring the challenging question raised in Episode 74. While most Christians embrace the blessings of God's Kingdom—peace, reconciliation, healing, justice, and renewal—few stop to consider the personal cost of living under the reign of King Jesus. Together they discuss Dallas Wi...

Do we really want the Kingdom of God to come? In this episode, Brian Fisher continues exploring the Forgotten Kingdom by examining one of the most uncomfortable questions in spiritual formation. While most Christians celebrate the benefits of God's Kingdom—peace, reconciliation, justice, restoration, and renewal—far fewer stop to consider the cost. Beginning with a fresh look at what the Kingd...

Why does your story matter in discipleship? In this Greenhouse discussion, Brian Fisher and Kyle Moody reflect on the major themes from Episode 72 and revisit the Soil & Roots journey into deep discipleship. Together they explore the hidden ideas beneath our beliefs, the importance of understanding our stories, and the long-forgotten Christian practice of "double knowledge"—growing i...

What does deep discipleship actually look like? In this bonus episode, Brian Fisher steps back to review the major themes explored throughout the Soil & Roots journey so far. From Dallas Willard's Great Omission to the Critical Journey, the Discipleship Dilemma, the Formation Gap, and the Forgotten Kingdom, Brian traces the ideas that have shaped the first four seasons of the podcast. Alon...

What is the Christian's purpose in the Kingdom of God? In this final Greenhouse discussion of the End Times and Formation mini-series, Brian Fisher, Kyle Moody, and Dr. Tim Boswell explore how our expectations about the future shape our understanding of discipleship, mission, and purpose. Together they discuss Church-Age Optimism and Pessimism, the role of the Holy Spirit, the significance of...