The Uncommon Truth

Jesus spent a lot of time in the Gospels warning about the pitfalls of money and teaching about the proper way to see it. So why is it that most Christians today seem so preoccupied with making, spending and saving money, even at the expense of Jesus’ teachings? The truth is, how we approach our finances says a lot about how much we trust God, how well we love those around us, and how eternally mi...

Following Jesus definitely comes with its share of blessings. Are these blessings what we should be seeking out, or merely byproducts of a life lived serving Jesus? The truth is, most of us Christians in the Western world live as if Christianity is simply an elaborate “bless me,” club. We love to talk about what we receive from our relationship with Jesus, but we sometimes fail to tell new believe...

The topic of holiness is something Jesus spent a lot of time talking about during His time teaching here on earth. So why is it that this issue is so uncommon in modern Christianity? What is Jesus’ standard for those of us trying to follow Him? What does a holy, set apart life look like today? Where should our motivation come from, and what are the stakes?  Connect with Max: Email  maxehrman@chang...

Christianity is all about relationships. It’s not about what you know, but who you know. When it comes to relating to God as our Heavenly Father, however, a lot of us have a hard time. We all have different experiences with fathering––some are good, some are not so good. Yet Jesus made it clear that we are to act as if we have a real Father in Heaven. We are expected to look to Him for protection...

For most Christians, the topic of evangelism is a difficult one to discuss. A lot of us feel insecure about sharing our faith, and we feel guilty, unmotivated and ill equipped.  Why do we need to tell others? Isn’t there someone better qualified? Where do I start? Steve and Vicki Orsillo make the stakes of evangelism clear and give you a few practical starting points for sharing your faith. Connec...

The recent close calls with yet another Northern California wildfire have brought to mind the topic of trials and suffering. As Christians, how should we view these troubles? When we are confronted with challenges, are we supposed to conclude that Jesus is not with us? When we read the New Testament, we witness countless instances of suffering, from the life Jesus to those who followed him. What d...

Each of us have ways of seeing things that shape how we interpret the world around us. These can take the form of experiences, tradition or where and how we were raised. So when it comes to Christianity, could these filters be holding us back from seeing and experiencing what Jesus has for us? In this week’s episode, Steve & Vicki Orsillo talk about how a culture of unbelief, even among Christians...

This week Steve & Vicki Orsillo answer more listener questions. What does the baptism of the Holy Spirit look like in a person’s life? If Jesus calls us to leave our family for Him, will my spouse leave me to follow Jesus? How can I be a light for Jesus, even in a Christian environment? Steve also tells the hilarious story of how a stranger’s misdialed phone number scared him into following Jesus...

By definition, our beliefs about salvation tend to form the very foundation of our Christian faith. For the most part, the way we understand salvation usually impacts how we live out our faith.  Yet a lot of our commonly held views on salvation are inconsistent with what the New Testament teaches. How can that be? What are the ramifications if it is true? More importantly, what does the Bible actu...

When it comes to following others in Christianity, the idea seems to make most people cringe. Faith is something that is deeply personal for each one of us, and our culture has elevated individualism to the point where the idea of following another person is actually controversial. Yet when we read the New Testament, we see a different picture. Are we missing something in 21st Century Christianity...

As Christians, most of us are probably familiar and comfortable with the idea of God’s unconditional love for us. It’s something many of us have been taught since childhood. However, most of us are probably less knowledgable about the conditions Jesus’ own words lay out in the New Testament.  The Gospels are full of these types of conditions for those who would follow Jesus. So why is it so rare t...

The problem of anxiety and depression is running rampant in our society today. What is the cause, what are the effects, and what can we do about it?   Until recently, these afflictions did not seem to be widespread within Christianity. That is not the case today, and it seems like more Christians than ever are struggling. How can hopelessness and fear be so prevalent among those who claim to know...

We cover a lot of ground on the Uncommon Truth. So this week, Steve and Vicki are taking some time to answer your questions on the wide range of topics we discuss. We’re asking everything, from stories about their son Mark and Steve’s least favorite foods, to how to read the bible and stay motivated as a Christian.   To submit your own question for Steve and Vicki, email Max at maxehrman@changeoro...

If you’re a Christian, chances are you’ve lost sleep over the question, “What is God’s will for my life?” We seem to wrestle with this question on an almost daily basis. When it comes down to big decisions, or even the general direction of our lives, are we actually looking to God for the answers? After all, everyone wants to know they are headed the right way, but most people don’t like asking fo...

How would you define Christianity? How does that definition affect the way you live as a Christian? If you struggle to answer these questions with confidence, you’re not alone. The Bible tells us that God doesn’t change. However, as we read it, we realize that his interactions with people do involve different agreements, called covenants. The bible is full of them, and Jesus came to initiate the f...

What do we mean when we talk about the concept of revival? What is revival, and what purpose does it serve? Where did we get the idea in the first place, and is there a biblical precedent?   Depending on your background and the stream of Christianity you find yourself in, these answers can be quite different. Is it like regularly scheduled spiritual maintenance to bring our focus back to God? Is i...

The idea of change is at the forefront of our minds these days. With everything that has taken place so far just in 2020––COVID-19 lockdowns, protests over police brutality, increasing political polarization––it is natural to think about enacting change. Yet how do we, as Christians, approach changing the world around us? Are we pointing out problems in our world without first examining our own li...

Steve and Vicki Orsillo are away this week, so we are presenting a message Steve preached in April. It follows a theme that we have been discussing a lot on recent podcasts: the need to live and be different, transformed, uncommon.  In the gospel of John, Jesus performed his first miracle, or sign, at a wedding feast. He took something common (water) and changed it into something uncommon (wine)....

Studies show that, in various important categories, Christian relationships are not that distinguishable from the rest of the culture. From divorce rates and pornography use to views on premarital sex and cohabitation; the numbers are almost identical to those of our neighbors.  If our lives as Christians need to reflect Jesus, then shouldn't our romantic relationships represent Jesus too? If Jesu...

COVID-19, protests, rioting and economic collapse; with everything going on so far in 2020, does the Church have a voice and a message that the world needs right now? In Matthew 23, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees with several "woes." His main criticism of the religious leaders of the day was that they were in danger of missing out on the Kingdom of God. Not only that, Jesus said, but they were active...

When it comes to how we see ourselves, Christians know all the right answers; we are created in God's image, fearfully and wonderfully made and worth enough for Jesus to die for. However, when it comes to actually believing this, many of us struggle to walk it out. What does this look like, and where does it come from? More importantly, how can we overcome self-doubt and self-hate to be able to sh...

Jesus asks his followers to be the "Salt of the earth" and the "Light of the world." What does that mean? Are we supposed to blend in with our neighbors so that we can influence them? Or should we look and act completely different? More to the point, is this type of lifestyle optional for us as Christians? What are the consequences––for ourselves and for the world––if we fail to act? Visit  www.un...

The topic of forgiveness is not a very popular one, even within Christianity. Most of us are eager to accept forgiveness, but we rarely focus on those whom we need to forgive. So what does Jesus have to say about it? In Western Christianity, forgiving others can sometimes be seen as optional. Even when forgiving is a focus, the question of how it is done is a challenge. Is forgiveness just a state...

Talking about living like Jesus and obeying his teachings can bring up tension. Should our faith be based on what we do or upon intimacy with Jesus? Is it religion or relationship? Is that even the right question to ask? As the title of our podcast suggests, Steve & Vicki Orsillo take an uncommon view of intimacy with Jesus. They discuss what an intimate relationship with Jesus looks like and how...

The biblical passages about sacrifice are not very popular, but they are hard to ignore. Stories and admonitions about sacrifice are riddled throughout the New Testament for those with the courage to read and apply them. What happens when we decide not to skip over these challenges and instead embrace them? Steve and Vicki Orsillo founded the Father's House Church in Oroville, California in 1997....