This week on The Journey, we returned from our staff retreat with a wide-ranging discussion that touched on something we all face daily: how do we discern what content is worth our time and attention? What started as a conversation about A.W. Tozer’s book turned into a deeper exploration of creativity, storytelling, and the importance of being careful about what we allow to shape our thinking.

Takeaways:

* Content matters more than the author’s reputation. While we may be drawn to books or podcasts by certain names, what ultimately matters is whether the content itself is true, good, and beautiful. Even respected authors from the past might not withstand today’s scrutiny, so we must evaluate everything through a biblical lens.

* Creativity is part of our calling, not separate from it. Jesus told parables—creative stories that transformed hearts. We’ve surrendered too much of the cultural storytelling space, and we need Christians who can tell compelling, truthful stories that point people to the gospel without compromising truth for entertainment.

* Guard what shapes your mind and heart. Whether it’s books, podcasts, TV shows, or personality assessments like the Enneagram, we must be discerning. Only God should define us, and we need to have “a check in our spirit” when something doesn’t align with biblical truth, even if it comes from Christian sources.

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