Theology on Purpose

In this episode of Theology on Purpose, Sarah talks with pastor and author Doug Basler about how fiction can become a powerful spiritual practice. Drawing from his book All Swirling and Weaving, Doug shares how stories can awaken our hearts, deepen our faith, and reshape how we see God and the world. In this episode, you'll learn: What the "Christian imagination" is and why it matters How fiction...

We all live by stories—about who we are, who God is, and what it means to live a faithful life. But what if some of those stories aren't actually true? In this episode, we explore the subtle narratives that shape our identity and faith, how they can fail us, and what it looks like to realign our lives with what is actually true.

What if time with God felt less like a task to complete and more like a place of rest? In this conversation, Cara Ray invites us into the practice of "holy leisure"—a way of relating to God marked by delight, attentiveness, and peace rather than pressure and performance. Drawing on the themes of truth, goodness, and beauty, she shares how shifting our mindset can transform our spiritual rhythms an...

In this solo episode of Theology on Purpose , I share how an unexpected interruption became an invitation to slow down and rediscover joy. In a season marked by full schedules and creeping productivity, I began to notice how difficult it had become to truly rest—and even harder to remember how to play. This episode explores the connection between spiritual formation and delight, and how practices...

In this tender conversation, Lara D'Entremont, author of A Mother Held: Essays on Anxiety and Motherhood , shares her journey through postpartum anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and OCD, and how motherhood brought both deep love and deep vulnerability. We explore how anxiety can challenge our understanding of God's goodness and sovereignty, and what it looks like to rebuild trust in God when fear feel...

What begins as an ordinary evening at a writers conference becomes a meaningful moment of reflection. In this solo episode, I share how encountering my younger self in memory revealed a deeper truth about spiritual growth: that the life of faith isn't a straight line, but a slow circling toward the heart of God. This is a story about anxiety, belonging, and the quiet, persistent grace that forms u...

In this episode of Theology on Purpose, Sarah talks with Elizabeth Berget, author of Love Like a Mother, about how the sacred, everyday work of motherhood can reveal the heart of God. Together, they explore how Scripture holds both paternal and maternal imagery for God—inviting us into a richer, more expansive understanding of who He is and how He meets us in our daily lives. Elizabeth shares how...

Sometimes the plans we build so carefully unravel in an instant, leaving us holding disappointment we didn't see coming. In this episode, I share a personal story of unexpected change and reflect on Mark 2, where Jesus responds in a way no one anticipated. Tune in as we consider what it looks like to trust God in the middle of unmet expectations and to believe He is at work in ways that are deeper...

Kate Boyd joins Theology on Purpose to talk about her book An Untidy Faith and the real-life experiences that reshaped how she understands God, church, and discipleship. Drawing from her global travels and seasons of questioning, Kate shares how faith can be stretched without being lost—and how disentangling what we've been taught can lead to a deeper, more integrated life with God. In this episod...

Easter Sunday changes everything, but what does that actually look like on an ordinary Monday? In this solo episode, I'm talking about what it means to live as "resurrection people" in the tension between hope and brokenness. Tune in, and let's reflect on how God's presence and power are at work in our everyday lives, inviting us to carry the light of the resurrection into everything we do.

In this episode of Theology on Purpose, Sarah talks with author and teacher Cally Logan about moving from the margins to meaningful impact in God's kingdom. They explore how traits like being "quiet" or "shy" aren't weaknesses to overcome, but invitations to discover how God uniquely designed us to live with purpose. Cally shares personal stories and practical wisdom on finding confidence in Chris...

Why do we feel such a strong reaction when something unfair happens, even something small? That instinct for justice may actually point us to the heart of God. In this solo episode of Theology on Purpose , I explore what the Bible really means by justice. Looking at passages from Amos, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and John, we'll discover that God's justice isn't only about punishment—it's about restoration,...

In this episode, Sarah sits down with pastor and author Brian Zahnd for a thoughtful conversation about doubt, discipleship, and the meaning of the cross. In this episode, we discuss: The difference between demolishing faith and renovating it Why honest doubt can lead to deeper, more resilient faith Why Jesus—not the Bible—is the perfect revelation of God How we think about the meaning of the cros...

In this solo episode, I share three fresh and practical ways to deepen your intimacy with God, especially if your spiritual life has started to feel dry or routine. From leaning into what makes you come alive, to cultivating awareness of God's constant presence, to embracing the gift of community, this episode will encourage you to rediscover that basic doesn't have to mean boring. Take the Connec...

In this episode, I'm joined by author and pastor Meredith Ann Miller to talk about raising kids with a faith that can bend without breaking. Drawing from her books Woven and Wonder, Meredith invites us to move beyond rigid, behavior-focused Christianity and instead cultivate a resilient trust in a good and near God. In this conversation, we explore how curiosity, storytelling, and "wondering quest...

We say we want to grow closer to God. We long for deeper faith, greater intimacy, real transformation. But what happens when getting closer to God actually costs us something? In this solo episode of Theology on Purpose , I'm talking about the power of desire—why wanting isn't always enough, what keeps us from acting on our deepest spiritual longings, and how God gently invites us to reorder our l...

Reverend Courtney Ellis joins Theology on Purpose to talk about navigating life's toughest transitions with honesty, gentleness, and hope. Drawing from her book Weathering Change, Courtney explores how God meets us in seasons of uncertainty through small, sustaining practices, deep self-awareness, and even the wisdom of the natural world. Tune in to be inspired by this grace-filled vision for fait...

Faith doesn't always look like courage. Sometimes it looks like choosing, again and again, where to fix our gaze. In this solo episode of Theology on Purpose , I reflect on a moment of fear on a snowy hill, the wisdom of Scripture—from Hebrews to the crossing of the Red Sea—and what it means to look honestly at darkness without letting it determine our direction. Get the free download : https://sa...

In this episode of Theology on Purpose, food scholar and theologian Kendall Vanderslice joins Sarah for a conversation about food as a site of spiritual formation. Kendall shares her journey into food and theology and explores what the practice of baking bread can teach us about faith. They reflect on how spiritual growth happens not through control or performance, but through learning to trust Go...

Every day begins with a blank canvas, and every decision we make becomes a brushstroke. But what happens when life doesn't turn out the way we imagined, or when our plans are interrupted by limits, and the unexpected? In this solo episode, we explore how our daily choices shape our lives, how to honor our God-given limits and capacity, and how to trust God when we're not in control. Through a fait...

In this episode of Theology on Purpose, Sarah is joined by Kara Stout, author of An Untroubled Heart, for a meaningful conversation about faith, anxiety, grief, and God's sustaining peace. In this episode, you'll hear about: Kara's journey through infertility, adoption, and motherhood Losing both parents to cancer and how grief shaped her faith The difference between anxious thoughts and the Holy...

Seasons of waiting don't need to feel like wasted time, but instead they can be part of our spiritual formation! In this solo episode, I reflect on a missed speaking opportunity, biblical stories of long seasons of waiting, and what our unmet desires reveal about our deeper longing for God. Tune in to discover how waiting can become an active spiritual practice that reshapes our faith, priorities,...

In this episode of Theology on Purpose, Sarah talks with Phoebe Miles, co-founder of the Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention, about faith, creativity, and the long work of living out your calling. Phoebe shares the story behind her father's invention of Gatorade, including the personal cost that followed, and how learning to see that story through God's lens transformed her understanding of h...

In this solo episode, I reflect on what it means to trust a good God when the way forward feels uncertain. Drawing on Ruth Haley Barton's insights on discernment, I explore how learning to release our preferred outcomes, listen for love, and trust the Holy Spirit can help us make faithful decisions even when there is no single "right" path. This episode is an invitation to practice discernment as...

In this Advent reflection, Sarah shares an unexpected story about her family dog that became a surprising teacher of hope. From a child's innocent question to a tearful moment in a vet's office, this episode explores why Advent hope still matters in a world full of uncertainty. Through Scripture, longing, and the everyday decisions that stretch our hearts, Sarah invites listeners to rediscover the...