Starting Place with Elizabeth Woodson

In this episode, we explore how legalism and an abuse of grace can hinder our faithfulness to God. The gospel is not just for salvation—it shapes our daily lives. Learn how to recognize and overcome these tendencies. Main Takeaways: Legalism turns faith into a performance checklist, making us believe God’s favor depends on our actions. Abusing grace leads to complacency, excusing sin instead of gr...

Welcome back to Starting Place! Today, we’re kicking off a mini-series on why you still need the gospel—even if you've been a Christian for years. It’s easy to become overly familiar with Christianity, knowing all the right things to say but forgetting the basics. The gospel isn’t just the starting point of our faith—it’s the foundation we always need. Main Topics Covered : ✔️ What the gospel real...

We’re kicking off a new season of Starting Place! In this episode, I’m sharing life updates, including my new book coming in 2026, my upcoming Bible study on Galatians (Live Free), and starting a new doctoral program. I’m also reflecting on the year ahead—big goals, little goals, and what holds us back. Fear, self-sufficiency, and sin can sabotage our faithfulness to God, but prayer realigns our h...

Elizabeth Woodson reviews the Old Testament story and jumps into the New Testament, seeing how the story of Jesus' birth brings us hope that God can use and even redeem the messy areas of our lives. Questions Covered in This Episode: What is the story of the Old Testament? What happens between the Old Testament and the New Testament? How does the book of Matthew begin? What are the three main sect...

Elizabeth Woodson is joined by Kat Armstrong to finish up the journey through the Old Testament by talking about The Intertestamental Period and the themes of waiting on God.  Questions Covered in This Episode: What happens during The Intertestamental Period? Why is this a significant time in the life of Israel? What makes waiting difficult for us? What does The Intertestamental Period teach us ab...

Elizabeth Woodson is joined by Mason King to have a conversation about how the prophets called Israel back to repentance but they did not listen, so God eventually responds by enacting judgment upon them by sending them into exile. Questions Covered in This Episode: What is exile and why is this event significant in the life of Israel? What hope does God give Israel while they are in exile? What i...

Elizabeth Woodson is joined by Jen Wilkin to talk about The Law. The Law shows us who God is and what he loves, freeing us to live in our divine design as image-bearers. Questions Covered in This Episode: How is The Law designed not to simply restrict Israel, but to form them as the people of God? Why do you think God begins this discussion by reminding Israel of how he delivered them out of Egypt...

Episode Summary: In this final episode of the season, we reflect on the transformative habits we’ve explored over the past weeks. Discipleship is never neutral—we are always being shaped by our choices, habits, and surroundings. Join us as we close the season with a thoughtful challenge: to evaluate how we’ve grown this year and intentionally align our lives with the way of Jesus. Key Takeaways: D...

In this episode of Starting Place, we dive into the spiritual practice of disciplemaking and why it’s central to living as followers of Jesus. Drawing from Matthew 28:19-20, we explore the “discipleship crisis” in today’s Church, discuss key challenges like biblical illiteracy and disembodied discipleship, and offer practical steps for becoming a disciple who makes disciples. Key Takeaways: Discip...

In today’s episode, we explore why Christians are called to serve and what that looks like in a divided, individualistic culture. We discuss service as an essential discipline that not only glorifies God but seeks the flourishing of humanity. This episode sheds light on how service shapes us, draws us closer to Christ, and reflects God’s love to the world around us Key Definition: The spiritual pr...

In today’s episode of Starting Place, we’re exploring the spiritual practice of rest and Sabbath. We dive into why so many of us struggle to rest, the pressure to stay busy, and how the Bible redefines true rest. Join us as we discuss how living in God’s strength helps us embrace rhythms of rest in today’s fast-paced world. Main Takeaways: Rest is a rhythm meant to help us depend on God, not escap...

In today’s episode, we dive into the transformative habit of biblical self-examination. We'll explore how examining our hearts regularly and honestly through the gospel lens helps us live more intentionally as disciples of Jesus. Self-examination is vital in aligning our outward actions with our inner lives, allowing us to be authentic, loving witnesses in our relationships and communities. Main T...

In this episode, we explore the practice of contending for the faith (Jude 1:3) and how to defend the gospel against cultural narratives that pull us away from Jesus. I’m joined by Dr. Sarita Lyons, whose book, Church Girl, focuses on the false narratives in the culture and the church that pull us away from the gospel, especially for Black women. We discuss how to identify these narratives and cri...

In this episode, Elizabeth explores the spiritual practices of prayer and fasting. She will discuss how prayer is about more than just asking God for things—it's about communion and alignment with His heart. We also delve into fasting as an act of self-denial that awakens our spiritual hunger and dependence on God. Main Takeaways: Prayer: It's about listening, abiding in God's presence, and aligni...

Episode Summary : In this episode, we’re diving into a spiritual habit that often goes overlooked—celebration. We usually focus on habits like Bible study, prayer, or fasting, but celebration is a powerful and biblical practice that draws us closer to God. Key Scriptures : Psalm 16:9-11, Psalm 32:11, Psalm 118:24,Nehemiah 8:10 Main Takeaways :  Celebration is a biblical command that helps us remem...

In today’s episode, Elizabeth talks about the practice of reconciliation. She will discuss how the gospel calls us to pursue unity, even when it's hard.  Main Topics Covered Why Do We Pursue Reconciliation Two Characteristics We Need To Embody as Reconcilers Practical Tips for Reconciliation Reflection Question: Think of one person you need to reconcile with and take a practical step toward that t...

In today’s episode, Elizabeth talks about the practice of worship. She will discuss how worship is more than just the songs we sing and how his habit transforms our relationship with God. Main Topics Covered : What is Worship? The Four Things That Should Characterize Our Worship An Interview about Worship with Ashley Irons Key Definition : Worship is the expression of reverence and adoration of Go...

In today’s episode, we talk about the practice of gathering together as believers. We will discuss the historical and scriptural support for this practice, three key elements of the gathering and practical tips for finding a church home. Main Topics Covered: Historical and Scriptural Support  Three Reasons Why We Gather Together Practical Tips for Finding a Church Home Key Phrase: To be a disciple...

In today’s episode, we dive into one of the most foundational spiritual habits: studying the Bible. Instead of focusing on the "what" or "how" of Bible study, today we’ll explore the "why"—the core reasons behind why we should immerse ourselves in God’s Word. Main Topics Covered: The Bible as a Guide For Life A Framework for Understanding The Story Practical Tips for Studying the Bible Reflection...

In this episode, we dive deep into the concept of discipleship and how our daily habits play a crucial role in shaping our spiritual journey. We'll explore what it truly means to be a disciple of Jesus, the biblical foundations of discipleship, and why it's more than just a label—it's a transformative way of life. Whether you’ve been walking with Jesus for years or are just beginning your journey,...

Season 4 of Starting place begins on August 28! In this episode, Elizabeth Woodson gives you a preview of what is to come in Season 4 as she covers the Life of a Disciple!  Questions Covered in This Episode: What is Season 4 going to cover? What is the goal of this podcast Follow Us: Instagram | TikTok Elizabeth's Recommended Resources *Affiliate links are used where appropriate. Thank you for sup...

Elizabeth Woodson is joined by Natalie Abbott to have a conversation about how we can put remember and put into practice what we learned about the character of God. Questions Covered in This Episode: Why did you start Dwell Differently?  Do you have a favorite verse you've memorized over the years? In our current culture, what are things that are consuming our minds? What would you say to encourag...

Elizabeth Woodson is joined by Jen Wilkin to wrap up this season spent studying and reflecting on the Character of God. Questions Covered in This Episode: What motivated you to want to write on the character of God? What attribute has impacted you most during your walk with the Lord? How do you think writing these two books has changed you, both as an author/bible teacher and a believer? What is h...

Elizabeth Woodson is joined by Yana Conner to discuss the holiness of God and how we are called to pursue holiness. Questions Covered in This Episode: When you think about the holiness of God, what comes to mind for you? Where in Scripture do we see this part of his character displayed? How should this aspect of God’s character impact the way we view and interact with Him? Can you share a story ab...

Elizabeth Woodson is joined by Nate Elgin to discuss what it means that God is good. Questions Covered in This Episode: When you think about the goodness of God, what comes to mind for you? Where in Scripture do we see this part of his character displayed? How has contentment shaped your journey with the Lord over the years? What does it look like for us as image-bearers to embody goodness? How do...