Jesus-Centric Life

Many people wonder if God has one perfect plan for their life—or if they might somehow miss it. In this episode of Jesus Centric Life, Pastor Josh and Donna explore what Scripture actually says about God’s will, our choices, and how faith guides us through life’s decisions.

Spiritual growth rarely happens in dramatic moments. More often, God shapes us slowly through ordinary days, small decisions, and quiet movements of His Spirit. What are the subtle ways God transforms our hearts over time? Join Pastor Josh and Donna in a conversation about patience, trust, and learning to recognize the quiet work of God in our lives.

Waiting is one of the hardest parts of faith. We live in a world that values speed and immediate answers, yet throughout Scripture, God often works through seasons of waiting. In this episode of Jesus Centric Life, Pastor Josh and Donna explore why waiting can be a powerful spiritual discipline and how God uses these seasons to shape our faith, trust, and dependence on Him.

Online conversations can quickly turn harsh, divisive, and unkind. In this episode, we discuss what it means to reflect Christ in a digital world. How do we speak truth, show grace, and represent Jesus well in the middle of heated online conversations? This discussion challenges us to think about how our words—both in person and online—can reflect the heart of Christ.

Christians are often told to “just be nice,” but is niceness really the same as Christlikeness? In this episode of Jesus Centric Life, we explore the difference between being respectful and living in truth and love the way Jesus did. Together, we will unpack how following Christ sometimes calls us beyond comfort, beyond approval, and into a faith that is both gracious and courageous.

There are seasons when prayer feels difficult—when the words are hard to find, the emotions feel distant, and God seems quiet. In this episode of Jesus Centric Life, Pastor Josh and Donna talk honestly about how to pray when your heart feels numb. Through Scripture and real-life experience, they explore how God meets us even in spiritual dryness and remind us that even numb prayers are heard.

Prayer is one of the most important parts of the Christian life, yet it’s often the least understood and least practiced. In this episode of Jesus Centric Life, join us as we take a deep dive into what prayer really is, why it matters, and how it shapes our relationship with God. From when to pray and how to pray, to why prayer is a discipline that strengthens faith, this conversation invites list...

In this episode, Pastor Josh gets real and honest about the hard truth that leaders will disappoint—and even Jesus did. Drawing from the Gospel of Mark 1:31–38, this conversation explores why disappointing others is often part of faithful leadership and how leaders can resist tying their worth to approval. Instead, we’re invited to ground our identity, confidence, and value in Christ—not in whethe...

In this episode, Pastor Josh and Donna have an honest conversation about the pluses and minuses of being part of a synod, focusing on the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. They explore the value of shared theology, accountability, and mission—while also naming the real struggles that come with structure and synodical life. It’s a thoughtful, grace-filled discussion for anyone wrestling with what it...

In this episode of Jesus Centric Life, Pastor Josh and Donna explore what integrity looks like when faith moves beyond words and into obedience. Together, they wrestle with the quiet, unseen choices that shape our walk with Jesus, the cost of doing the right thing when no one is watching, and how integrity is ultimately formed through trust, surrender, and grace. This conversation invites leaders...

In this episode of Jesus Centric Life, Pastor Josh and Donna wrestle with the honest, aching question many believers carry but rarely say out loud: Will God show up for me? When it feels like God is moving powerfully in everyone else’s story but yours, doubt, disappointment, and comparison can creep in. Together, they explore the truth of who God is, what His presence really looks like, and how fa...

Jesus rarely gave straight answers. Instead, He asked questions—questions that challenged assumptions, exposed hearts, and invited transformation. In this episode, we explore how Jesus used questions to shape people more deeply than explanations ever could, and what that means for how we grow in faith, disciple others, and lead with wisdom today.

Jesus healed many—but not all. This episode wrestles honestly with the uncomfortable reality that some experienced healing while others walked away still suffering. We’ll explore what Scripture reveals about God’s purposes, how to hold faith and disappointment together, and how to trust Jesus when healing doesn’t come the way we hoped or prayed for.

Not every season of faith feels fresh or exciting—and that’s okay. In this episode, we talk about the gift of routine and how God often works powerfully through consistency rather than intensity. We’ll explore why steady faith matters, how ordinary rhythms shape discipleship over time, and why faith that feels familiar may actually be forming deeper trust and lasting transformation.

Many people follow Jesus expecting clarity, blessing, ease, or visible outcomes—and feel shaken when He delivers something different. In this episode, we explore moments in Scripture where Jesus didn’t meet expectations and why those moments weren’t failures of faith, but invitations into deeper trust. Through Biblical accounts of confused disciples and unmet hopes, we’ll consider how disappointme...

In this episode of Jesus Centric Life, we welcome special guest Emma Turnbull to help us explore “the benches” in our lives — those moments of joy, pain, waiting, or growth that shape who we are. It’s about learning to sit with others in their hard places instead of trying to fix or rush them. From a child’s fear to a friend’s disappointment, love often looks like presence, not solutions. Discover...

In this episode of Jesus Centric Life, Pastor Josh and Donna wrestle with the question many are asking today: Does the church still matter? At its heart, the church isn’t a building or a program—it’s people in relationship with one another and with God. We’ll talk about why relationships are central to the life of the church and how the proclamation of the Gospel keeps the church alive and relevan...

Have you ever asked yourself the question: Am I leading, or just doing? Many in the church don’t see themselves as leaders, but God calls each of us to influence others right where we are. We’ll talk about the danger of staying passive, what it means to run to Jesus for guidance, and how leadership isn’t about a title—it’s about faithfully pointing people to Him in everyday life.

Merry Christmas! On this special Christmas episode of Jesus Centric Life, Pastor Josh and Donna open Scripture to reflect on the miraculous birth of Jesus. We’ll see how the story of that holy night—angels announcing good news, shepherds running to the manger, and a Savior born in humility—still shapes our lives today. What happened over two thousand years ago continues to bring hope, peace, and j...

Was Jesus a real historical figure or just a fabrication? Looking through the lens of apologetics, we’ll examine historical evidence, biblical accounts, and non-Christian sources that point to the reality of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. We’ll also unpack why it matters—because if Jesus really lived, His claims demand a response.

The world is sometimes a loud and busy place. Join us as we look at how to pursue spiritual formation in a world of noise and distraction. While the enemy uses busyness to pull us away, Scripture calls us to “fix our eyes on Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2). Together we’ll explore what it means to slow down, focus, and be transformed by God’s presence.12:2). Together we’ll explore what it means to slow down,...

Join us today as we take a deep dive into Matthew 4 and Luke 4, where Jesus faced temptation in the wilderness. Satan’s lies attacked His identity and purpose, but Jesus countered every one with God’s Word. Together, we’ll ask: What lies are you believing in your own life? We’ll explore how memorizing Scripture helps us recognize deception, replace it with truth, and stand firm in our identity in...

Forgiveness doesn’t erase pain overnight. Scars often remain, but in Christ, those scars can become powerful testimonies of His healing and redemption. In this episode, we explore what life looks like after forgiveness — the freedom it brings, the transformation God works in us, and the daily choice to forgive again when old wounds resurface.

What do you do when forgiveness feels impossible? In this episode, we explore how Scripture calls us to forgive even when others aren’t sorry, keep causing pain, or can’t make things right. Anchored in Jesus’ words from the cross, this conversation points to the freedom and healing only Christ can bring.

In Part 2 of Jesus-Centric Life, Pastor Josh and Donna continue their conversation with Harold Beneke on Dr. Heather Holleman’s book, The Six Conversations. This episode offers a deeper examination of the six pathways—social, emotional, physical, cognitive, volitional, and spiritual—and how they guide us beyond surface-level dialogue into meaningful connections in life. Harold shares further insig...