2 Pastors and a Mic

In this episode of Two Pastors and a Mic, we wrap up our deconstruction/reconstruction mini-series with a question a lot of people ask: Which one is harder—deconstruction or reconstruction?

We start with a little Nashville recap, then we get honest about what this journey actually feels like in real life. One of the biggest takeaways: the “harder vs. easier” question might not even be the right lens. The better questions are: What am I building now? What am I a part of? And is it beautiful?

We talk about why reconstruction can feel heavier—because there’s no blueprint, growth becomes less visible, freedom requires discernment, and you’re often doing deep internal work that nobody can see. But we also talk about the hope on the other side: steadiness, less fear, more humility, more peace, and a clearer vision of a Jesus who gets bigger and brighter as you go.

If you’re in the middle space—unsure, rebuilding, or feeling alone—you’re not crazy. You’re not losing faith. You’re being formed.

In this episode:
Deconstruction vs. reconstruction (and why it’s not a simple comparison)
Why reconstruction feels slower, heavier, and more internal
The “no blueprint” reality—and the challenge of freedom
The question that filters everything: Is it beautiful?
What this season is forming in you (righteousness, peace, joy)
Why safe people matter when you’re rebuilding

00:58 - Red Wings vs Predators jersey drama
03:14 - Why Cory came in hot + wrapping the 26 Life mini-series
04:49 - Big question: Which is harder—deconstruction or reconstruction?
05:43 - Deconstruction as demolition (and the tension of “throw it all out”)
06:33 - Deconstruction felt powerless, stuck, uncertain
07:52 - Clarifying “powerful”: disruption vs the fallout of “now what?”
08:12 - Cottage renovation analogy: nostalgia, attachment, and letting things go
10:21 - Aha moments, permission, and finding language in deconstruction
12:41 - Why reconstruction can feel heavier: nuance, layers, reconciliation
14:30 - David & Goliath example: living without forced answers
16:40 - Moving from “what’s wrong?” to “what am I building now?”
17:29 - The filter question: Is it beautiful? (making Jesus look beautiful)
18:12 - Why reconstruction is hard: no blueprint—only freedom
19:31 - Freedom requires vulnerability, discernment, and rethinking practices
20:50 - Growth becomes less visible: internal change, slower reactions, steadiness
22:56 - Reconstruction as deeper work: character, posture, openness to God
24:53 - The importance of safe people to process with (and time gaps in growth)
25:57 - Plot twist: “harder” is the wrong question—what is this season forming in you?
27:14 - Kingdom markers: righteousness, peace, joy as the real measuring stick
27:41 - Next week teaser: Christianese as trauma responses (5-part framework)
29:05 - Closing: “You’re loved and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

In this episode of Two Pastors and a Mic, Cory and Channock tackle one of the hardest parts of growth: what happens when you change…but the people around you don’t. If you’ve gone through deconstruction, started holding your beliefs more loosely, or found yourself living with more nuance, you’ve probably felt the tension at the dinner table—Do I speak up? Stay quiet? Change the subject? Because the truth is, most of the time the tension isn’t even theological… it’s relational.

They talk honestly about why your growth can feel threatening to others (even when you’re not trying to change anyone), the unspoken agreements relationships can be built on, and the three common temptations that show up in this season: shrinking, proving, or withdrawing. From there, they give five practical tools to help you stay connected without losing yourself—how to lead with curiosity, stop managing other people’s reactions, and build safe spaces where you don’t have to translate your entire journey just to be understood.

If you’ve felt misunderstood, exhausted, or tempted to pull back from the people you love, this one is for you.

In this episode:
Why the tension isn’t theological—it’s relational
The 3 temptations: shrink, prove, withdraw
5 practical tools for staying connected while you grow
When distance is wisdom (boundaries, not punishment)
Staying grounded in who you’re becoming

00:00 - Welcome Back + Quick Banter
00:45 - Share the Episode + 26 Life Theme (1 John 2:6)
01:34 - Recap: Deconstruction, Stuck Seasons, Staying Tender
02:20 - Recap: Rebuilding Trust (Brené Brown’s BRAVING)
02:50 - Recap: Living Without Certainty (The Sin of Certainty)
03:22 - Today’s Topic: When You Change but Others Don’t
04:08 - The Real Tension: Family, Friends, and Staying Connected
05:08 - When People Speak in Absolutes + You Feel Misunderstood
06:17 - Dinner Table Moment: Speak Up, Stay Quiet, or Shift Topics?
07:30 - It’s Not Theological—It’s Relational Risk
09:20 - When Your Shift Feels Threatening to Others
10:16 - Unspoken Agreements: “We’ve Always Believed This”
11:34 - 3 Temptations: Shrink, Prove, or Withdraw
12:15 - Temptation 1: Shrinking to Keep the Room Calm
13:16 - Temptation 2: Proving It (Over-explaining, Articles, Debates)
14:01 - Temptation 3: Withdrawing Fully (Exhaustion + New Language)
16:06 - 5 Practical Tools for Connection (Overview)
17:23 - Tool 1: Decide What’s Worth Discussing (Hill vs Habit)
19:42 - Tool 2: Lead With Curiosity, Not Correction
20:36 - Tool 3: Let Go of Being Understood Immediately
21:45 - Tool 4: Stop Managing Their Reaction
22:20 - Tool 5: Build New Safe Spaces (Relational Oxygen)
23:27 - When Distance Is Wise (Boundaries, Not Punishment)
24:42 - Stay Grounded in Who You’re Becoming
27:11 - Next Week: Reconstruction vs Deconstruction (Which Is Harder?)
27:44 - Hockey Sidebar: Team USA Beats Canada + “Won It for Johnny”
28:37 - Closing: You’re Loved (Nothing You Can Do About It)

In this episode of Two Pastors And A Mic, we tackle one of the hardest (and most freeing) parts of the faith journey: what it looks like to follow Jesus without needing to be certain about everything.

A lot of us were formed in environments where certainty = faith… where having the “right answer” felt like safety, belonging, and control. But when deconstruction (or just honest questions) starts pulling at those threads, it can feel like you’re losing your footing—even when you’re actually gaining clarity.

So we talk about the sin of certainty, why black-and-white theology feels stabilizing, and why learning to live in the “gray” isn’t weakness—it might actually be the strongest version of faith.

We unpack:
Why uncertainty often feels like “stuckness” (Stuck 2.0)
How seminary trained many of us to respond instead of think
A real-time example of cognitive dissonance (who actually killed Goliath?)
The difference between certainty and trust
3 practical ways to live a faith that stays present, relational, and curious
Why questions don’t mean you’re losing faith—they might mean you’re growing

If you’ve ever thought, “If I’m not sure… am I still a Christian?” — this one’s for you.

👇 Drop a comment: What’s one area where you’re learning to hold faith without needing certainty?

00:00 - Welcome Back + Like/Subscribe
01:19 - Quick Recap: The “26 Life” + Deconstruction Series
03:16 - Today’s Topic: Faith Without Certainty
03:48 - “The Sin of Certainty” + Learning/Unlearning/Relearning
04:55 - Uncertainty = Stuck 2.0 (Why It Feels So Hard)
05:48 - Seminary Training: Answers Over Nuance
07:18 - “How to Respond” vs “How to Think”
08:25 - Why Black-and-White Feels Safer Than Gray
09:35 - Who Killed Goliath? A Real-Time Certainty Test
11:20 - Apologetics Reframed: Defending Your Life, Not Arguments
12:56 - Why Dogmatism (Even About Grace) Is a Trap
13:15 - Losing Certainty Feels Like Losing Footing
14:30 - Certainty Impacts Emotional Security + Belonging
15:32 - Certainty as Control + Fear of Uncertainty
17:46 - Cognitive Dissonance: Why We Double Down
20:06 - Uncertainty: Losing Control, Gaining Freedom
20:55 - Certainty vs Trust (Answers vs Relationship)
22:07 - Faith Without Certainty: 3 Practices
22:12 - Stay Present Instead of Forcing Conclusions
23:01 - Let Relationship Lead Before Explanation
23:47 - Choose Curiosity Over Defensiveness
25:02 - Identity Attachment: Why Disagreement Feels Personal
26:06 - Signs You’re Growing: Calm, Curious, “I Don’t Know”
27:57 - Presence Over Proof + Belonging Over Being Right
28:30 - When Beliefs Shift, Relationships Strain
29:32 - You’re Not Losing Faith—You’re Carrying It Differently
30:12 - Next Week Tease: Navigating Relationships When You Change
30:35 - Closing: You’re Loved (Nothing You Can Do About It)

In today’s conversation, we’re talking about something almost everyone has to rebuild at some point—trust.

If you’ve been dismissed, disappointed, shunned, or wounded by church culture, you know how quickly trust can fracture… not just with people, but with yourself and even with God. So we break it down like a three-legged stool:
✅ rebuilding trust with others
✅ rebuilding trust with yourself
✅ rebuilding trust with God

And then we get super practical by unpacking Brené Brown’s “BRAVING” framework—a simple but powerful way to name exactly what was broken, so you can actually rebuild it with clarity (instead of vague “I just don’t trust you anymore” statements).

Drop a comment: Which part of trust is hardest for you to rebuild—trusting others, trusting yourself, or trusting God?

00:00 - Welcome + quick housekeeping (reviews, sharing)
02:57 - The “2:6 Life” theme for 2026 (1 John 2:6)
03:35 - Recap: deconstruction, stuckness, and staying tender
04:18 - Today’s focus: rebuilding trust (self, others, God)
05:24 - The “three-legged stool” of trust (how each affects the others)
06:02 - Why trust matters: you weren’t meant to live isolated
07:01 - Trust in church spaces: “You don’t have to trust us” + earning trust
08:05 - Trust is rebuilt through experience, not explanation
09:28 - What betrayal/broken trust actually breaks (and why wording matters)
13:15 - Nuance: disagreement vs dishonor vs relationship removal
15:27 - Layer 1: rebuilding trust with leaders/communities
16:24 - Layer 2: rebuilding trust with yourself (discernment + red flags)
17:29 - Layer 3: rebuilding trust with God (prayer, numbness, expectations)
18:57 - What trust is (and what trust is NOT)
20:13 - Introducing Brené Brown’s “BRAVING” framework
21:34 - B — Boundaries (doors with hinges, not walls)
22:54 - R — Reliability (do what you say you’ll do)
23:50 - A — Accountability (own it, apologize, make amends)
24:44 - V — Vault (confidentiality + why it matters)
29:34 - I — Integrity (values in action, courage over comfort)
29:59 - N — Non-judgment (ask for what you need without shame)
30:29 - G — Generosity (most generous interpretation / benefit of the doubt)
31:39 - BRAVING recap + why specificity helps rebuild trust
32:02 - Next week teaser: living faith without certainty (“the sin of certainty”)
32:21 - Closing encouragement + “you’re loved” outro

In this episode of Two Pastors and a Mic, we keep walking out what we’re calling the 2:6 Life - Anyone who claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did” (1 John 2:6). And today we go straight into a tension a lot of us feel after deconstruction, church hurt, or betrayal:

How do you protect your heart…without closing it off completely?

Because for many of us, cynicism starts to feel like wisdom. It promises we won’t be surprised again, disappointed again, or fooled again. But over time, cynicism doesn’t just guard the wound—it can quietly starve the heart: connection, wonder, curiosity, hope.

So we talk about the difference between:
Discernment vs. distancing
Wise boundaries vs. emotional retreat
Self-protection vs. staying tender

And we get super practical with real-life examples—how cynicism shows up in relationships, leadership, church spaces, and even the way we interpret “good” stories. We also give a few ways to stay tender without being naive—because tenderness isn’t fragility… it’s availability (with boundaries).

If you’ve ever felt yourself growing colder, pulling back, or assuming the worst just to stay safe… this one’s for you.

00:00 - Welcome to Two Pastors and a Mic (Episode 264)
00:46 - The 2:6 Life Theme: Living Like Jesus (1 John 2:6)
01:33 - Quick Recap: Deconstruction + Feeling Stuck
02:09 - Today’s Topic: Protect Your Heart Without Closing It
03:10 - Cynicism vs Tenderness: The Heart Posture Tension
04:37 - Why Cynicism Creeps In After Church Hurt
05:50 - Discernment or Cynicism? Processing the Difference
07:19 - What Cynicism Promises: No Surprise, No Disappointment, No Fooling
08:21 - Real-Life Example: “What’s the Catch?” When Good Things Happen
10:33 - Discernment vs Distancing: Staying Present vs Staying Safe
11:46 - How Hearts Harden: Disappointment Fatigue
13:50 - Polished Answers + Emotional Retreat (Not Strength)
14:13 - Why Tenderness Feels Dangerous After Betrayal
15:53 - Tenderness Isn’t Fragility: It’s Availability + Boundaries
16:31 - Real-Life Example: Naming Hurt Calmly Instead of Disappearing
17:42 - Tenderness Heals: Cynicism Shrinks, Tenderness Expands
19:35 - Practical Steps: Stay Curious Longer Than Certain
21:01 - Let Disappointment Teach You, Not Define You
21:37 - Speak Honestly Without Rehearsing Your Exit
22:28 - Counseling Story: One Foot In, One Foot Out
24:05 - The Invitation: Stay Reachable to Goodness Again
24:52 - Tenderness + Boundaries: Wise Without Being Cold
25:40 - Next Week Tease: Trusting God and Trusting Yourself Again
25:54 - Wrap-Up: Cynicism Robs Connection

What do you do when you feel stuck?

You’ve awakened to union. You’ve deconstructed beliefs that used to shape your life. You have clarity of thought… but not clarity of direction. And the weird part is: you don’t want to go back — you just don’t know how to move forward.

In this episode, we unpack 5 common reasons people get stuck after deconstruction (and why it’s not failure), plus real-life examples of what “stuckness” can look like when your beliefs have changed faster than your life knows how to hold it.

We also talk about:
Why being stuck isn’t laziness — it might be wisdom
The difference between deconstruction and formation
How losing a framework can feel like losing belonging
Why Sundays can feel “empty” (and how to reframe what Sundays are for)
Hypervigilance, certainty addiction, and scanning for what’s wrong
How stuckness often ends… when striving ends

And we close with a reframe that might change everything:
Maybe the question isn’t “How do I get unstuck?”
Maybe it’s “What is this season teaching me to release?”

00:00 - Welcome + Like/Subscribe
00:38 - IU Football Wins the National Championship
01:31 - Leadership Lessons From IU’s Turnaround
02:22 - 2026 Life + Union After Deconstruction
02:57 - Today’s Topic: What to Do When You Feel Stuck
03:45 - Stuckness Isn’t More Learning—It’s Living Differently
05:12 - Common “Stuck” Thoughts People Carry
06:15 - Reason #1: Awareness Grew Faster Than Wisdom
10:26 - Reason #2: Lost the Old Framework Before Building a New One
13:56 - Reason #3: Deconstruction Isn’t the Same as Formation
15:41 - Reason #4: Lost External Permission Before Internal Trust
17:14 - Reason #5: Afraid to Rebuild Anything That Resembles the Old Life
20:46 - Reassurance: Feeling Stuck Isn’t Failure
21:51 - “The Meantime Is a Time” + Unlearning the Rush
22:34 - Example #1: Not Arguing Anymore—Just Quieter
23:50 - Example #2: Less Reactive… But Feeling Less Passionate
24:46 - Example #3: Stopped Fixing People—Now What’s My Role?
25:47 - Example #4: Want Community Without the Old Rules
27:16 - Example #5: Waiting Isn’t Laziness—It’s Wisdom
28:48 - Better Question: What Is This Season Teaching Me?
30:16 - When Striving Ends, Stuckness Often Ends
30:43 - Map vs. Compass: Learning to Walk Without Certainty
31:12 - Grace, Patience, and Staying Open to the Spirit
32:02 - Next Episode: Staying Tender Without Becoming Cynical
32:50 - Closing: You’re Loved (Nothing You Can Do About It)

Deconstruction can feel like freedom… until the relief wears off.

In this episode of Two Pastors and a Mic, Cory and Channock talk honestly about what really changes after deconstruction — and what often doesn’t. Because many of us have shifted our beliefs about God, the Bible, hell, the devil, and faith… but still find ourselves stuck in the same emotional patterns we learned in the system we left.

You might think differently now… but still feel anxious, responsible, pressured, or lonely.

In this conversation, you’ll hear:
🧩 Why deconstruction is healthy — and why it’s often necessary
❤️ The real question: do you love better after deconstruction?
🔄 What does change: your opinions, language, and questions
🧠 What often doesn’t change: nervous system patterns, attachment styles, shame responses
😰 The four common “stuck” places after deconstruction:

If you’ve ever wondered, “Why do I still feel the same even though I believe something different now?” — this episode will help you name what’s happening and remind you: you’re not broken, you’re not behind, and you didn’t do deconstruction wrong.

👉 Like / Subscribe / Share
💬 Comment below: What changed for you after deconstruction — and what still feels hard?

00:00 - Welcome + Like/Share/Subscribe
00:34 - Why Sharing Creates Better Conversations
01:44 - Today’s Topic: Deconstruction—What Changed and What Didn’t
02:04 - IU vs Miami National Championship Predictions
03:41 - Revisiting the “2:6 Life” + Galatians 5:6
04:53 - Why Deconstruction Matters: Does It Make You More Loving?
06:35 - After the Relief: Why Deconstruction Can Still Feel “Off”
07:44 - New Beliefs, Same Patterns: Emotional Systems & Survival Habits
08:42 - The Goal: Living With What You Know Now
09:20 - What Changed (1): Opinions Shift (Curiosity, Nuance, Less Certainty)
10:50 - What Changed (2): Language Shifts (“The Bible clearly says…,” “God told me…”)
12:37 - What Changed (3): Better Questions (Truth, Identity, Love)
13:30 - What Didn’t Change: Nervous System Patterns & Attachment Responses
14:28 - Didn’t Change (1): Feeling Responsible for Others’ Feelings
16:06 - Didn’t Change (2): Pressure to Get It Right (Certainty as Safety)
18:15 - Didn’t Change (3): Worth Tied to Usefulness (Overfunctioning, Guilt in Rest)
20:37 - Didn’t Change (4): Loneliness Even With Better Beliefs
24:50 - The Hard Part: Being Isolated After Belief Shifts
25:04 - You’re Not Broken: This Is the Next Layer (Notice, Don’t Fix)
26:56 - Next Episode Tease: Why We Feel Stuck After Waking Up
27:53 - Closing: You’re Loved

Welcome back to Two Pastors and a Mic — and welcome to 2026.

In this first episode of the new year, Cory and Channock kick off what we’re calling “The 2:6 Life” (1 John 2:6): “If anyone claims to live in Him, they must live as Jesus lived.” But instead of turning that verse into pressure, performance, or behavior modification… we talk about what it looks like to live from union — and to actually integrate what you already know.

Because a lot of us don’t need more information… we need transformation that shows up in our relationships, our pace, our nervous system, and the way we carry ourselves in the world.

In this episode, we unpack Jesus’ inner posture through the “Four UNs”:
UNOFFENDED (not reactive, not self-protective)
UNHUSTLED (moving at the speed of trust)
UNAFRAID OF SCARCITY (no striving, no lack mindset)
UNMANAGED BY PEOPLE’S REACTIONS (not controlled by praise or criticism)

And we set up where we’re headed next: learning how to live with what you already know, and unlearning versions of “godliness” that were really just survival.

If you’ve ever felt exhausted by spiritual pressure… or you’re hungry to follow Jesus in a way that feels grounded, free, and real — this one’s for you.

Like, share, and subscribe — and if you know someone who needs a fresh start to the year, send this episode to them.

00:08 - Welcome + Where You’re Watching From
00:25 - Like/Share/Subscribe + Help Spread the Podcast
00:56 - Why We Started: A Resource Off the Stage
01:13 - Cory’s Sick + First Episode of 2026
01:33 - The “2:6 Life” as the 2026 Theme
01:46 - Shift for 2026: Integration, Not Just More Theology
02:08 - “Apply What You Already Know” (Bible + Union)
02:51 - Knowledge Puffs Up, Love Builds Up
03:37 - 1 John 2:6: “Live as Jesus Did”
04:10 - Inspired vs. Exhausted: Two Ways People Hear It
04:48 - Why It Feels Exhausting: Behavior Modification & Performance
05:13 - WWJD Bracelets + Honesty About Shame-Based Religion
05:55 - Union Changes Everything: Obedience From Intimacy
07:10 - Love First: 1 John 4:16–17 + “We Is Risen” Callback
08:10 - Not Copying Jesus—Sharing His Life
08:22 - Why Jesus Was So Attractive: Inner Posture
09:31 - Trust in the Father + Nervous System Question
10:02 - Does Trust Feel Like Peace or Pressure?
11:06 - The Body Keeps the Score + Religious Trauma
11:47 - The Four “UNs” of Jesus’ Inner Posture
12:21 - UNOFFENDED: Not Driven by Insults or Self-Protection
14:30 - UNHUSTLED: The Speed of Trust (No Hurry)
16:33 - Hustle Isn’t Faithfulness: Demand Doesn’t Direct Jesus
17:02 - UNAFRAID OF SCARCITY: No Striving, No Lack Mentality
19:00 - UNMANAGED by People’s Reactions: Praise & Criticism
20:24 - Recap: The Four UNs + Living the 2:6 Life
20:51 - Walking Like Jesus = Trusting His Source
21:47 - What’s Next: Living With What You Know + Unlearning Survival “Godliness”
22:18 - Upcoming Topics: Trauma Responses, Mourning Loss, Unforced Rhythms of Grace
22:35 - Closing: You’re Loved + Music Outro

Happy New Year!

In this special recap episode, Cory and Channock kick off 2026 by looking back on a wild, emotional, growth-filled 2025. We celebrate wins, share honest behind-the-scenes moments, talk about what we’re carrying into the new year, and name what we’re wrestling with as leaders, husbands, dads, and pastors.

From podcast milestones (downloads, top episodes, consistency) to personal wins (books, ministry moments, RELife homes, and the launch of Zoay Intensive), this episode is a reminder that showing up matters — and that hope is still on the table.

✅ Like / Subscribe / Share (especially to start the year)
⭐ Leave a review if the podcast has helped you
💬 Comment below: What’s one win from your 2025 — and what are you hoping for in 2026?

00:08 - Welcome Back + Happy New Year (2026)
00:32 - Matching Sweatshirts + Shoutout to Lakata
00:59 - Why This Yearly Recap Is Happening Now
01:32 - Thank You to Listeners + Start of Year Six
01:54 - Share the Episode to Kick Off the Year
02:19 - Cory’s “Verse for the Year” + The 26 Life (1 John 2:6)
04:19 - Laugh/Cry/Celebrate: The Heart of the Recap Episode
05:01 - Biggest Win: Consistency (Showing Up Every Week)
06:18 - The “Sustaining” Season of Life
06:49 - Podcast Wins: Downloads, Growth, and 100K Milestone
08:07 - Most-Listened Series: “Let’s Talk About Hell” + Shane Willard
08:52 - Cory’s 2025 Personal Wins (Books, eBooks, Sacred Undoing, Zoay Intensive)
10:55 - Channock’s 2025 Wins (20 Years, Book Release, RELife Progress)
14:01 - Family & Life Wins (Kids, Relationships, Soccer Success)
15:41 - Supporting RELife: Housing Initiative for Single Moms
16:36 - Favorite Podcast Episode of 2025 (Channock)
17:13 - Cory’s Favorite Episode: “The Avocado Miracle”
18:25 - Favorite Hill City Sermon/Series of 2025
20:48 - Big Question: What Are You Wrestling With Entering 2026?
21:09 - Channock: Leadership Growth, Uncertainty, and Rest
23:24 - Cory: Taking Time Before Goals + Releasing “Quit” Language
24:00 - Cory Opens Up: The Hardest Three Months + Choosing Joy
26:50 - Closing: Share, Review, and You’re Loved (Outro Music)

What if real strength isn’t found in winning arguments—but in knowing when to lay down your rights?

In this New Year’s Eve episode of Two Pastors and a Mic, Cory and Channock close out 2025 by unpacking one of Jesus’ most misunderstood teachings: meekness. Drawing from Cory’s final eBook, How to Sheath Your Sword in a Violent Loving Culture, they explore why meekness is not weakness, but strength under control—and why it may be the posture Christians need most in a polarized world.

You’ll hear:
⚔️ Why “Blessed are the meek” was a radical, counter-cultural statement
🗡️ What Jesus was really teaching when He told His disciples to bring swords
❤️ How defending Jesus often does more harm than good
🌍 The difference between seizing power and inheriting it
🤝 Why love—not force—is the way of Christ in a culture addicted to domination

This conversation invites you to reflect on how you show up in relationships, online spaces, and cultural tension—and what it might look like to enter 2026 with humility, restraint, and courage shaped by love.

📘 Download Cory’s FREE eBooks (all 12) → saintsnotsinners.com
🎧 Explore past episodes & resources → hillcity.tv
💬 Join the conversation: Like, share, subscribe, and leave a review

00:00 - Welcome + New Year’s Eve intro
00:41 - Five years in: favorite parts of the podcast
01:15 - Why archived episodes/resources matter
02:03 - Most-listened series: “Who Is the Devil?” + “Let’s Talk About Hell”
03:18 - Final eBook episode: How to Sheathe Your Sword in a Violent Loving Culture
03:58 - Meekness: a misunderstood Beatitude (and Cory’s tattoo)
04:42 - The cost of modern war: drones, missiles, and “the tension”
06:11 - “Our Christian identity must trump our American identity”
07:29 - Why meekness challenged Cory’s American-Christian framework
08:15 - “A Christmas Sheath” series + definition: strength under control
09:52 - Meekness ≠ weakness: power submitted to love
10:35 - “Sell your cloak and buy a sword”: what Jesus meant
11:08 - Two swords, eleven disciples, Roman soldiers… and “That’s enough”
12:06 - Peter cuts the ear: Jesus heals (the last miracle before the cross)
13:29 - Defending Jesus online: social media as modern sword-swinging
14:08 - Why Jesus rebukes Peter: learning strength under control
14:27 - “Jesus taught them how not to use swords”
14:29 - Tertullian quote: “Christ disarmed all Christians for all time”
14:55 - “Swinging the sword is easy; sheathing it takes strength”
15:12 - Inherit vs seize: Caesar’s way vs Christ’s way
15:51 - Donkey vs warhorse: Palm Sunday symbolism + “Hosanna”
16:43 - Once you see meekness, you can’t unsee it
17:00 - Go download the eBook (meekness in real life)
17:49 - Reflection questions: where you’re tempted to “draw the sword”
18:24 - Closing encouragement for 2026: strength that shows love
19:16 - Resources for listeners + Zoay Intensive mention
19:52 - Sign-off: “You’re loved—and there’s nothing you can do about it”