The 2nd Mile Podcast

We are all wired differently when it comes to emotions. We all interpret situations uniquely and respond differently when challenges arise. Do you receive the stress of this life with joy or anxiety? It’s time to go the second mile in having a delightful disposition. Proverbs 17:22 - A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Gloom affects your relationship with God,...

Even if you don’t go looking for sensual content, it’s looking for you. And in every sphere of life, we are exposed to material intended to entice us to voyeurism and addiction. Apathy will not secure victory. It’s time to go the second mile in surmounting sensuality. Proverbs 6:25 - Do not desire her beauty in your heart, and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes; Protect the Heart Protec...

We live in a culture of comparison. Everywhere we turn, we are reminded of people who have more chiseled bodies, more attractive features, luxurious homes, expensive vehicles, and exquisite toys. Jealousy can ruin us. It’s time to go the second mile in exchanging envy. Proverbs 14:30 - A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot. Proverbs 27:4 - Wrath is cruel, anger is...

You don’t mean to let your temper take control. You never wanted to lash out the way you did, but you did it anyway. And you did it again. Maybe you feel like you are stuck in a cycle of regretting temperamental outbursts. It’s time to go the second mile in taming your temper. Proverbs 14:29 - Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly. How to Tame...

Two things that are guarantees in this life is that we will sin, and that we will be sinned against. While we typically want grace for our mistakes, we want payback for others. How can a Christian filter through these scenarios? It’s time to go the second mile in overlooking offenses. Proverbs 19:11 - Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense. The Bible doesn’t...

We typically believe that we can spot hatred when we see it. In our minds, it is reserved for those unreasonably angry people causing conflicts with no desire for subtlety. In reality, quiet hatred can damage just as much as when it is blunt and loud. It’s time to go the second mile in harnessing hatred.

When we were kids, we were scared of the unknown things that went bump in the night. The older we get, our fears just transition rather than disappear. We can easily find ourselves paralyzed to live the life God has called us to live due to uneasiness. It’s time to go the second mile in fighting our fears.

Each of us will either lead our emotions or be led by our emotions. When certain feelings creep in and begin to alter the way you think, speak, and act, how are you supposed to respond? Ignoring them will not make them go away. It’s time to go the second mile in engaging our emotions. Proverbs 29:11 - A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back. Distinguish the Dange...

One of the greatest blessings is when a small group begins to feel like a family, but that is also one of the greatest dangers as well if it prohibits others from experiencing the same thing. Are we willing to sacrifice for the sake of others? It's time to go the second mile in having a multiplying mindset.

Christians should know better than anybody that no one is too far gone. We serve a God who has done the impossible time and time again. So when people come to church in dire situations, do you still believe that there is hope? It's time to go the second mile in providing hopeful hospitality at church.

The church should be the most friendly, outgoing, warm, hospitable group of people in all the world, but that has not been all of our experiences. The longer we belong, the more difficult it is to remember what it was like before we did. It's time to go the second mile in addressing closed cliques at church.

We all want those people in our lives who will ensure we never walk through dark days alone, but are we that kind of friends to others? Do we provide what we actually expect? To grow deeper relationships takes time and effort. It's time to go the second mile in intentional availability.

You are committed to a church. That's great, but how do you navigate the complexities of life when most of the challenging moments happen outside of your church gatherings? We need each other more than once a week. It's time to go the second mile in persevering through presence.

As the people of God, we need relationships with one another, but we often settle for names on a role instead of relationships for life. Impactful relationships always start with intentionality. We have to commit to being together. It's time to go the second mile in rejecting shallow relationships.

As followers of Jesus, we are called to help one another follow Him ever more so closely. But how exactly are we supposed to do that? It starts by being intentional with one another regarding our personal commitments to Jesus. It's time to go the second mile in creating careful accountability.

As your small group gathers, your lesson plan can include robust theology, interactive questions, thought-provoking activities, and memorable illustrations, but if it doesn't translate to application, you are missing out. It's time go the second mile in experiencing intentional accountability.

You can listen to the greatest sermons, hear the greatest teachers, read the greatest books, and subscribe to all the greatest posts, but you aren't actually destined to grow in Christ. Studying the Bible isn't enough. It's time to go the second mile in working toward biblical application over information.

We need each other. As Christians, we know that life is difficult and that it is unwise to attempt it alone. But how do we develop authentic relationships that maintain needed trust? Having a safe place to share life is vital. It's time to go the second mile in having authentic and safe groups.

Getting a small group to talk is a challenge, but getting that overly excited conversationalist to talk less is even more challenging. We have all had that person who limits the opportunity for others to talk. How do you handle it? It's time to go the second mile in handling the conversation monopolizer.

You know people in your church, but do you really know them? Do they really know you? Our suspicion of people grows by the year, and we will only experience minimal growth if we limit ourselves to reserved relationships. It's time to go the second mile in letting down relational defenses.

Your church is as healthy as the groups assembled. Your groups are as healthy as the leaders available. Like it or not, the maturity of any group of people rises and falls on the pace that the leaders set. The leadership in your church is critical. It's time to go the second mile with game-changing group leaders.

We've all had heroes in our lives. They are the people who inspire us to do better, to do more, and to make our lives count for something valuable. Your church needs the type of leaders that set the bar for others to follow in their example. It's time to go the second mile with leaders worth imitating.

Within the church, we understand that we can't have perfect leaders, but somewhere along the way, we've grown to accept pathetic leaders. What happens when we water down the requirements for leaders? The whole church drowns. It's time to go the second mile with demanding for more than burdensome leaders.

We live in a time when the world is biblically illiterate. Why has this happened? It might be because the church has diminished its confidence in the knowledge and application of God's Word. We need more than spiritual intentions, we need biblical truth. It's time to go the second mile with your small group.

If you grow up going to church, you know that the most typical Bible study scenario is one where the teacher reads a verse and then asks the group, "What does that mean to you?" More than what it means to you, we need to know what it means to God. It's time to go the second mile in discerning subjective truth.