Let’s be honest… going to church doesn’t always mean you’re growing in your faith. In this episode, we’re asking hard questions like: “Is church actually helping your faith or holding it back?” A lot of Christians are quietly admitting that church isn’t helping them grow, and they’re tired of pretending everything’s fine. If you’re one of them, this is the conversation for you.

We dig into why so many people are struggling with church community, why surface-level church relationships are leaving people dry, and what to do when you’re feeling disconnected at church, even while showing up every week. We also talk about how we can start building real Christian community again. Real growth comes from connection, not just attendance. From Christian accountability in church to serving, vulnerability, and shared life, we explore what church community and spiritual growth were meant to look like. If you’ve been asking yourself questions like, ‘Does church community really matter if I don’t feel seen?’ or ‘Is it just another routine? Do I need community to grow in faith, or can I grow alone?’ Then this episode is for you. Let’s stop playing church and start becoming the church.

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
4:00 Poll Results

Why Don’t Many Christians Grow in Their Church Communities?
8:27 Too Many Surface-Level Conversations in Church
13:30 Busy Lives and Distractions in life
27:33 Not involved in church community because of no money
30:59 Lack of Opportunities for Deep Connections
32:40 Some churches are too big to build close relationships
36:07 Do Our Possessions Belong to Us or the people of God?

What Can Help Christians Grow More in Their Church Communities?
40:00 Intentional Relationship Building
45:18 Accountability and Mentorship helps growth in church communities
49:06 Creating a Culture of Vulnerability helps growth in church communities
1:05:47 Serving and doing ministry together helps growth in church communities

Growing in Church Community Takes Effort
1:09:12 Church Community Growth Takes Personal Effort

Church Structure Influences Growth
1:16:28 The Church Structure can Influence Community Growth
1:21:36 Outro

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Why does God use the unqualified? In this episode, we dive into 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, where Paul explains how God often chooses the weak to confound the wise. We start with the classic David and Goliath lesson, where a young shepherd boy defeats a giant with nothing but faith and a sling. Then, we talk about Moses' leadership story, where a man who felt unqualified became God’s chosen leader to free the Israelites from Egypt. We also discuss Gideon's 300 soldiers, showing how God used a small army to defeat the Midianites, reminding us that victory comes from Him, not our own strength. We also talk about how Jesus chose weak disciples, ordinary fishermen and tax collectors to start His church, proving that God doesn’t need the best qualifications, just willing hearts.

We also touch on the Dead Sea Scrolls discovery, where a shepherd boy found some of the oldest biblical manuscripts, showing how God works through the most unlikely people in unexpected ways. Through all these examples of God's wisdom, we see that God often works through what the world sees as weak, foolish, or unqualified. This episode is a reminder that God’s strength in weakness is where His power shines the brightest, and unlikely biblical heroes show us that we’re never too weak for God to use us. Divine strength in human weakness is exactly how God reveals His glory.

Quick clarification: When we say “original manuscripts,” we don’t mean the very first copies, which no longer exist. What we have are some of the oldest surviving copies, like the Septuagint and the Masoretic Text (earlier manuscripts before the Dead Sea Scrolls). We used the term "original" to make it easier to understand. Just wanted to clear that up! ❤️

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
3:39 Core Scripture for This Episode (1 Corinthians 1:26-29)
4:58 Story of David & Goliath | God uses the weak
8:38 Story of Moses | God uses the weak
11:47 Story of Gideon | God uses the weak
15:00 Story of the disciples of Jesus | God uses the weak
17:22 Story of Jesus | God uses the weak
18:32 God uses foolish things to shame the wise
26:10 Story of the Dead Sea Scrolls | God uses the weak
37:58 God uses foolish things
39:07 God can still use you even if you know a lot

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Should a man have a large amount saved before marriage? Many men feel pressured to reach a financial milestone before getting married, but is that truly necessary? Meanwhile, some women prefer to date men who are already financially stable—but why? Is financial security a valid concern, or could it cause people to miss out on great relationships?
In this episode, we’ll explore saving money before marriage from a Christian perspective, looking at both biblical wisdom and practical realities. Should financial stability come before saying “I do,” or is there a better way to approach marriage preparation?

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
2:35 Why is this conversation important?
4:12 Why men feel they need a certain amount saved before marriage
6:10 Do Christian women expect men to have a certain amount saved before marriage?
9:44 How a man's age impacts the expectation of having savings before marriage
12:42 Some women prefer a man to have a certain amount saved before marriage
14:22 Some women prefer a man to have savings before marriage for financial security
17:29 If you have a vision, you have to put in the work to make it a reality. Don’t be Lazy
20:18 If a man's vision or business isn’t taking off, he needs to get a job to provide for his family
25:46 Chris' story: Changing his view on savings before marriage
28:14 Some men save before marriage, not for security, but for the wedding day
33:00 Invest into your marriage, not just the wedding day
37:36 Some women don't want to build with a man; they want the finished product
40:17 Point 1 Men: Be diligent with finances, but don’t let fear or worldly standards delay a God-honoring marriage. Trust God’s provision
43:36 Point 2 Men: Marriage is about spiritual leadership and sacrificial love—make Christ the center, not money
44:54 Point 3 Men: Marriage is a partnership to grow together in all areas
49:06 Point 4 Men: Have a plan and be a wise steward
51:57 Point 1 Women: Value character and faith over a man's financial status
57:33 Point 2 Women: Financial security is important, but so is faith in God’s provision
59:45 Point 3 Women: Be willing to build with a man. A humble beginning with faith can lead to a strong foundation
1:06:38 Outro

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