In today’s episode, I’m honored to sit down with David Bowden, spoken word poet and founder of the nonprofit, Spoken Gospel, as we talk about his newest book, Learning to Be Loved. David has spent over 15 years traveling the world, speaking to thousands, performing spoken word poetry, and sharing the gospel. Despite the outward success—millions of views on YouTube, performing in front of 200,000 people a year—David opens up about how he still felt a deep sense of disobedience and longing for God’s love in his own life.

David’s journey to truly understanding the love of God started during a church retreat in Colorado, where he heard the gospel as if for the first time. He shares the powerful moment when a former drug dealer friend recognized the change in him before David even spoke a word. This episode is a deep dive into the journey of healing and intimacy with God—how scripture transforms us, how to find God in both suffering and joy, and the ways God pursues us, even when we’re not aware.

We unpack scriptures like Romans 3 and Romans 8, and David shares how his life has been anchored by 2 Corinthians 3:18—that as we behold the face of Jesus, we are transformed into His likeness. David also shares insights from his study of “thin places,” those moments where the boundary between heaven and earth feels thin, and we encounter God in powerful ways.

If you’ve ever wondered how to position yourself to experience more of God’s love, this conversation will challenge you to start with the places of your deepest wounds and fears. David’s message is a reminder that God is already pursuing us, and when we allow ourselves to meet Him in our suffering, we can learn to meet Him in the joyful places as well. Don’t miss this episode if you’re seeking a deeper understanding of God’s love and how to find Him in both the broken and beautiful moments of life.

Bio:

David Bowden is the co-founder and Executive Director of Spoken Gospel, a nonprofit dedicated to creating free resources that help people encounter Jesus in all of Scripture. He is a spoken word poet and the author of When God Isn’t There, Rewire Your Heart and his newest book, Learning to be Loved. David lives in Oklahoma City, where he and his wife, Meagan, are raising two boys, Ezra and Eli.

Anchor Verse:

2 Corinthians 3:18

Pray This Verse:

Ephesians 3

Connect with David:

Website: SpokenGospel.com

Facebook: facebook.com/SpokenGospel

IG: instagram.com/SpokenGospel

YouTube: youtube.com/SpokenGospel

X: x.com/HeySpokenGospel

TikTok: tiktok.com/@SpokenGospelOfficial

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