The Locker Room

In Acts 9, Saul’s encounter with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus marks one of the most dramatic transformations in all of Scripture — but it’s more than a story of conversion; it’s a story of being undone and remade. We explore how true conversion always begins with a personal encounter with God that shatters pride, exposes sin, and births new life. We’ll trace Saul’s journey from zealous...

In this episode, we explore what it means to pursue healing — body, mind, and spirit. Like physical therapy for the soul, spiritual growth often requires intentional work, patience, and the courage to face what’s been broken. Brett Cain, a Doctor of Physical Therapy, joins us to share how the body’s journey of recovery mirrors our spiritual walk with God. Just as muscles rebuild through resistance...

Why was the witness of Stephen in the face of the power brokers in Jerusalem so inspiring, and what does it mean for us today? Preacher: Rod VanSolkema Passage: Acts 6-7 Sermon Link:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ CLICK HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Gamaliel’s words in Acts 5 cut to the heart of every generation:  “If their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail; but if it is from God, you will not be able to stop it.”  This episode unpacks that dividing line—how human-driven religion leads to jealousy, fear, and burnout, while Spirit-born faith produces courage, joy, and resilience even through suffering. Preacher: Tryg Veker P...

In Acts 5, the early church witnesses both explosive growth and a sobering act of divine judgment. Ananias and Sapphira’s deception isn’t just a story of greed—it’s a warning about hypocrisy and the holiness of God’s presence among His people. In this episode, we explore why God dealt so seriously with their sin, what it reveals about His desire to keep His church pure, and how grace calls us to i...

We sit down with Nate English and Shannon Popkin to explore the radical vision of community found at the end of Acts 2 and 4—a people formed by the Spirit and devoted to the apostles’ teaching, to prayer, to fellowship, and to the breaking of bread. This wasn’t just a new social club; it was the birth of a people bound together by the gospel and empowered by the Spirit to embody heaven on earth. P...

Acts 4 marks a turning point in the story of the early church—the moment when the honeymoon ends and reality sets in. As Peter and John stand before the power brokers of their day, we see two ordinary men, once fearful and unsure, now proclaiming with unshakable boldness that salvation is found in Jesus alone. We unpack why opposition comes, what true power looks like, and how boldness is born not...

Kurt Suidinski was respected, successful, and deeply embedded in the Grand Rapids community. To everyone else, he was living the American Dream — a suburban life of achievement, influence, and security. But underneath it all, he was living a double life. And in West Michigan, that’s not as uncommon as it seems. In this episode, we uncover the story of a man who had it all — except peace. When a re...

In Acts 3, Peter and John encounter a man lame from birth, sitting at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. With a word and the name of Jesus, Peter commands him to walk—and he leaps up, walking, praising God, and entering the temple for the first time. This powerful miracle wasn’t just a display of apostolic power; it was a living sign of the deeper healing Jesus offers: the forgiveness of sins and t...

We sit down to unpack the relevance of Acts 2 and Pentecost. We dig into how the Holy Spirit moves with power — convicting hearts of sin, awakening repentance, and opening the way for people to receive God’s grace. We discuss how Pentecost isn’t just an event in history but a revelation of God’s deepest desire: to dwell personally with His people and we trace this theme through Scripture, and refl...

In this opening episode of our series  A Church That Changed the World , we set the stage for the book of Acts and the explosive growth of the early church—from 120 believers in Jerusalem to over 35 million within the Roman Empire by the 4th century. We explore the historical and cultural backdrop of the Roman world, Jesus’ ascension from the Mount of Olives, and the angelic promise of His return....

Sports can be a powerful tool for shaping character, not just chasing trophies. In this episode, we sit down with Mark and Steph TeSlaa to explore how Christian parents can think more deeply about their kids' participation in sports—not just what happens on the field, but who our kids are becoming because of it. We wrestle with big questions like: • What kind of humans are we trying to raise t...

This week we sit down with Ben, an area coordinator with FCA, to talk about what it means to see spiritually in a world clouded by fear and distraction. Looking at Elisha’s prayer in 2 Kings 6—“Open his eyes, Lord”—we explore how God moves us from blindness to sight, from anxiety to trust. Together we reflect on how faith opens our eyes to God’s greater reality, giving courage and clarity in every...

We sit down with Shannon Popkin again as we dive into the story of Naaman from 2 Kings 5—a powerful commander whose greatness couldn’t hide his deeper sickness of pride. Though Naaman wore the garments of success, his leprosy exposed his weakness and need. Redemption came not through his strength, but through the faith of a powerless slave girl and God’s simple call to humility. Behind it all, God...

We sit down with Ryan and Bri Conners as we journey through the story of the Shunammite woman in 2 Kings 4 — a story that moves from the heartbreak of hope, to the distress of death, to the relentless fight for life. We sat down with Ryan and Bri to talk about the wrestle of their faith through Ryan’s brain cancer journey, and how their story echoes the defiant hope we see in Scripture. Along the...

In this episode, we sit down with  Isaac Teslaa , the newest addition to the Detroit Lions wide receiver room. Born and raised in Grand Rapid's Michigan, Isaac’s journey from local standout to NFL athlete is one marked by faith, family, and relentless perseverance. He shares about growing up in a Christ-centered home to being shaped by the community at Crossroads Bible Church, where his parents ha...

2 Kings 2:1–15 invites us into a powerful handoff moment. Elijah’s mantle—the symbol of prophetic authority—doesn’t just fall randomly; it falls on Elisha, who has counted the cost, surrendered comfort, and asked for a  double portion  of responsibility, not privilege. What does that mean for us today? Through places like Bethel, Jericho, and the Jordan, we uncover deeper layers of spiritual inher...

We sit down with former Crossroads Pastor and church planter Gabe Hartfield (Visible Church) to discuss this Sunday's sermon. Is it possible that God's voice more often leads us into mystery than into safety? In this episode, we unpack Elisha’s radical response to God’s call—leaving behind wealth, family, and stability in a dramatic act of irreversible obedience. We reflect on Elijah’s fear in 1 K...

This episode unpacks how God meets people in seasons of burnout, anxiety, and global crisis with compassion, rest, and purpose. Centered on the story of Elijah and real-world ministry among Middle Eastern communities, it explores Christian hospitality, spiritual formation, and resilience through suffering. Listeners will gain insight into how the gospel continues to spread in regions like Jordan,...

Alton Hardy is an ordained teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church of America and the founding pastor of Urban Hope Community Church in Fairfield, Alabama. He also co-founded Urban Hope Development and launched the Urban Hope Leadership Initiative (UHLI), a discipleship and leadership program for African American college graduates preparing to serve in urban ministry. Through Alton’s leadership,...

We sit down with Beth Guckenberger to discuss her book Throw the First Punch: Defeating the Enemy Hell-Bent on Your Destruction. In this modern-day collection of our enemy’s activities, learn to anticipate how Satan will attack and discern powerful techniques to preemptively fight against him.   Through biblical examples and engaging stories from Beth Guckenberger’s own life experiences, become eq...

We sit down with our Young Adults Administrative Partner, Chloe Damron, to explore 1 Kings 17:17–24—a l story of desperation, death, and divine intervention. As drought and famine ravage Israel, a widow finds herself at the end of her resources. What does this account say to us today when we find ourselves emotionally, financially, relationally, or spiritually"running out?" Together we wrestle wit...

We sit down and chat about the Elijah's journey to meet an unlikely character. What do you do when you’ve reached the end—emotionally, spiritually, or even financially? In this episode, we look at the story of a desperate widow in 1 Kings 17:8–16, who had nothing left but a handful of flour and a drop of oil. Then God sends a prophet… and asks for  everything . Preacher: Jason Botbyl Passage: 1 Ki...

In this episode, we step into one of the darkest moments in Israel’s history and meet Elijah—a rugged nobody from Gilead who confronts the most powerful king in the land with nothing but a word from God. As Baal and Asherah worship spreads like wildfire under Ahab and Jezebel, Elijah steps onto the scene and declares a drought in the name of Yahweh. But before he becomes the fiery prophet of Mount...

We sit down with Community Life Pastor Brent Becker as we explore Joel 2:28–32, a powerful prophetic vision of God's Spirit being poured out on all people—sons and daughters, young and old, servants and leaders. We unpack how this ancient promise found fulfillment at Pentecost in Acts 2, signaling the dawn of a new era where God's presence is no longer reserved for the few, but available t...