The District Life Podcast

DAY 4 - MADE ALIVE BY GRACE  Ephesians 2:4-5 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”  Reflection  When we were spiritually dead, God didn’t wait for us to change—He moved toward us. Because of His great love and rich mercy, He made us alive in Christ. Salvation is not so...

DAY 3 - FRUIT THAT LASTS  John 15:5 “‘I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.’”  Reflection  Jesus makes it clear: fruitfulness flows from abiding, not striving. Disciples aren’t formed through activity alone but through lives deeply connected to Christ. When we remain in Him, God produces growth that we cou...

Day 2 of District Church's 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting for 2026 Acts 1:8 “‘But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’”  Reflection  Jesus promises power before He gives a mission. The work of God is never fueled by human effort alone—it depends on the presence of the H...

Day 1 of The District Church's 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting for 2026. Exodus 33:18-19 “Then Moses said, ‘Now show me your glory.’ And the LORD said, ‘I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.’”  Reflection  Moses doesn’t a...

A thoughtful question can be a tremendous gift! This weeks gift came courtesy of our friend Hannah Harden! She asked, What about Christmas or the Christmas Story hits you different as an adult than as a child? Enjoy the conversation, hopefully it will stir some thought and maybe give you some question ideas for your holiday gatherings!

For our final episode of season 3, Travis and Eli sit down and discuss some closing concepts for this eight marks of spiritual formation series. We discuss the vital role of simply focusing our attention has in considering our formation day by day. When we realize that this life is in fact temporary, and that we've been called to be Ambassadors for Christ because of the salvation work of Jesus...

This episode of the District Life Podcast features Brady Roberts and Steve Carter. We sit down and chat about our final mark in this series through the Eight Marks of Spiritual Formation, Missional Living. This can feel like such an intimidating pursuit because of the perceived difficulty of sharing faith with others, but missional living is integral to our living out the mission of Jesus in the w...

Every church talks about community — but what does it really take to build it? In this episode, Travis pulls back the curtain on how leaders actually think about community: the slow work, the unseen challenges, and the sacred moments that make it all worth it. Community isn’t a program or a marketing line — it’s people holding each other’s arms up when life gets heavy. It’s not about perfect depth...

In this episode, Travis sits down with  David Phillips , founder of  Brand 316 , to talk about the powerful and often challenging journey of helping men re-integrate into life after incarceration. David shares stories of redemption, purpose, and second chances — and how his ministry is helping men rebuild their lives, reconnect with faith, and find meaningful work in our city.

In this episode, Travis sits down with Eli to talk about the sixth mark in our  8 Marks of Spiritual Formation  —  Holiness + Character . Together they explore how God shapes who we’re becoming, what it means to let the Spirit hold the chisel, and how everyday choices form the person we’re being carved into. They’ll discuss the difference between behavior modification and true transformation, why...

In this episode, Travis sits down with Paul to discuss our 5th mark of spiritual formation: Apologetics - a rational defense of the Christian faith. What does it look like to defend our faith? Why is it important? And, where do I get started? Enjoy this convo!

In this episode of  The District Life Podcast , Travis sits down with Eli Bayless to talk about one of Jesus’ most practical and challenging teachings —  stewardship . We dive into what it really means to manage your  time, talent, and treasure  as a follower of Jesus. Why does it matter how we use what God’s given us? What’s the difference between  owning  and  stewarding  your life? And how does...

In this episode of the  District Life Podcast , Eli Bayless sits down with Josh Gores from Riverlawn Christian Church to unpack the third mark in our  8 Marks of Spiritual Formation  —  Rooted in Love . Together they explore why love is more than just a feeling, how it serves as the defining characteristic of maturity in Christ, and what it looks like to live out a faith that is grounded in the lo...

In this episode of the  District Life Podcast , Travis sits down with Eli to talk about  spiritual life habits —what they are, why they matter, and how they shape who we’re becoming. Together they share practical examples of habits like Scripture before screen, prayer rhythms, Sabbath rest, and fasting, while unpacking how these practices help us resist cultural drift and live more fully in the wa...

In this episode of the District Life Podcast, Travis sits down with Kavin Kramer to talk about what it really means to build a Biblical foundation for life and faith. Together they explore how we got the Bible, why it can be trusted, and the major themes that run through its pages. Kavin also shares practical tips on how to read, understand, and apply Scripture in everyday life. Whether you’re new...

In this bonus episode of the  District Life Podcast, Travis sits down with Lissa, Missy, and Vanessa from Agape Care Cradle—a ministry walking alongside women through miscarriage and stillbirth. Together they share personal stories, profound spiritual insights, and how God’s presence brings strength and hope even in life’s darkest valleys. For info & to connect: https://www.agapecarecradle.org...

Welcome to  District Life ! This week Eli, Travis, and Brady introduce the  8 Marks of Spiritual Formation —a framework for growing as followers of Jesus at the District Church. Together they unpack the biblical idea of  teleios  (maturity, completeness) from Ephesians 4, exploring why spiritual maturity changes how we face life’s challenges and how we live out our faith in Delano and beyond.

In this episode, Travis explains plans for future conversations on the podcast. After a brief break over the next few weeks, the podcast will pick back up on September 8th with conversations that coincide with the 8 Marks of Spiritual Formation series for the Fall. And as always, if you have ideas for conversations that would help you in your relationship with Jesus, please send them to travis@the...

In this episode, Eli sits down with Hannah Harden and Aaron Pew to discuss why our participation and presence in worship matters when we gather together as the church. Whether you are musical, or you can’t hold a tune in a bucket, there is something amazing that happens when we focus our hearts and minds onto God in that way. We discuss some of the natural hurdles of participating in worship throu...

In this episode of The District Church Podcast, Travis, Eli, and Paul dive into Jesus’ powerful words in John 8:31–59. What does it mean to  abide  in truth? How does real freedom begin with surrender? And why does true belonging come not from bloodlines or background, but from embracing Jesus as Lord? Join the conversation as we explore the deep connections between truth, freedom, and identity—an...

First-time guest Kavin Kramer joins Eli Bayless and Travis Roberts for a raw and honest conversation about his journey through deconstruction. From questioning long-held beliefs to wrestling with doubt, Kavin shares how God's presence — and a faithful community — led him to a deeper, more grounded faith. Along the way, the team reflects on the balance between truth and experience, and how real...

In this special episode, high schoolers from The District Church share honest, powerful reflections from summer camp 2025 at Hidden Haven. From powerful worship to quiet moments with God, hear how students encountered Jesus in personal ways—some for the first time, others in fresh and deeper ways. They open up about what they learned about faith, friendships, and following Jesus back home. You’ll...

This week Eli sits down with his wife Amelia to chat about their mutual love of stories! They discuss movies, books, a little bit of Dungeons & Dragons and about how stories and imagination can help us learn empathy! As followers of Jesus and disciples it can be easy to make our journey with Jesus a purely intellectual one and we can all too easily overlook the stories of the people around us...

As headlines swirl and tensions escalate following the American attack on Iran, how should followers of Jesus respond? In this episode, we strive for clarity, compassion, and conviction — not to take sides politically, but to anchor our perspective in the way of Christ. We explore how Scripture shapes our response to war, violence, and national allegiance, asking hard but necessary questions, like...

Jesus' declaration 'I am the bread of life' was a profound claim about his identity that caused many followers to turn away. This challenging statement wasn't merely metaphorical but asserted his divine nature and exclusive role in salvation. The passage in John 6 emphasizes our union with Christ as the core of Christian identity—being represented by him before God and united with...