Against the Grain

Graduation season is here! Whether you're the proud parent of a high school senior, a mentor, educator, or the graduate yourself, this episode is for YOU.

The leap after graduation is real. While it's a season of excitement, it's also wrapped in confusion, unexpected pressure, and a level of independence most students have never navigated before. New city. New community. New identity. Where do you even begin?

In this episode, we break down practical, faith-centered guidance for launching well into the next chapter of life. We talk about how to navigate the uncertainty of "what's next," how to build meaningful community from scratch, and how this season is one of the greatest opportunities of your life to own your personal relationship with Christ in a way that's truly yours.

This isn't just a graduation pep talk. It's a roadmap.

You'll walk away with:

• Practical steps for making a confident, grounded transition after high school or college
• Encouragement for parents and mentors on how to support the grad in your life
• A fresh perspective on faith and independence, and why this season is a gift, not just a gap

Whether you're stepping into college, a career, the military, or something in between, this episode meets you right where you are.

Topics covered: graduation 2025 | high school graduation advice | Christian graduation episode | faith after graduation | life after high school | college transition tips | Christian podcast for students | launching into adulthood | parenting a senior |youth ministry podcast | faith and independence | Christian student podcast | new beginnings faith

"There are already churches everywhere, why would we need to start more?" If you've ever heard that question (or asked it yourself), this episode is for you.

Church planting is one of the most powerful (and most misunderstood) aspects of Christianity. In this episode, Eric, Kevin and Tim break down exactly what church planting is, why it matters more than ever in a rapidly changing world, and why the assumption that "we already have enough churches" couldn't be further from the truth.

But starting a church from scratch isn't easy. This episode gets honest about the real challenges, like financial pressure, leadership development, community resistance, and the sheer weight of building something from nothing. And more importantly, it shares what's being done right now to lower those barriers and empower the next generation of church planters.

In this episode:

• What church planting actually means and what it doesn't
• Why growing communities still desperately need new churches
• The biggest obstacles facing church planters today
• Practical solutions and support systems making a difference
• How you can be part of the movement — even if you're not a pastor

Topics covered: Church planting | How to start a church | Christian mission | Church growth | Church leadership | New churches | Evangelism

From Hindu Priest to Christ Follower: A Story of Transformation Across Cultures

What separates a religion from a relationship? And why does it matter for how you talk to your neighbors, coworkers, and friends? In this episode, Kevin sits down with Kamal, a former Hindu priest whose remarkable journey to faith in Christ offers a masterclass in cross-cultural connection.

They unpack the foundational difference between transactional religion and genuine spiritual transformation, and why that distinction changes everything about how we engage people across cultural and religious divides. Kamal shares his experience moving from Hinduism to Christianity.

Whether you're in a multicultural neighborhood, navigating a blended family, or just want to love people better across difference, this conversation will equip and inspire you.

Stop trying to win debates. Start building bridges.

You'll walk away with:

• Practical tools for building real relationships with Hindu friends, family, and neighbors
• A fresh understanding of why the finished work of the cross is the foundation of authentic witness
• A mindset shift from debate-mode to curiosity-mode that makes hard conversations feel natural

Show notes:

Gotquestions.org

Topics covered: Hindu to Christian conversion, cross-cultural evangelism, relational ministry, interfaith conversations, patient discipleship, the gospel across cultures, spiritual transformation

Welcome back to part 2 of the conversation!

AI is an undeniable part of our culture today. But how should Christians think about AI? Is it a tool to embrace, a threat to fear, or something in between?

In this episode, Eric and Justin explore how believers can engage with artificial intelligence thoughtfully, without either blindly accepting it or shutting it down out of fear. This episode discusses how parents can lead their kids well in engaging with AI, how educators and students can approach it well in their pursuits and how we as individuals can check ourselves in our own use.

Whether you're an AI skeptic, an enthusiastic early adopter, or just trying to figure out what ChatGPT even is, this episode will help you think biblically about one of the biggest cultural shifts of our time.

Topics covered: AI and faith | Christians and technology | artificial intelligence ethics | biblical worldview | technology and culture | ChatGPT | AI tools for ministry | parenting | education

AI is an undeniable part of our culture today. But how should Christians think about AI? Is it a tool to embrace, a threat to fear, or something in between?

In this episode, Eric and Justin explore how believers can engage with artificial intelligence thoughtfully, without either blindly accepting it or shutting it down out of fear. What does it mean to use AI wisely? Where does Scripture speak into emerging technology? And how do we stay fully human in an increasingly automated world?

Whether you're an AI skeptic, an enthusiastic early adopter, or just trying to figure out what ChatGPT even is, this episode will help you think biblically about one of the biggest cultural shifts of our time.

Topics covered: AI and faith | Christians and technology | artificial intelligence ethics | biblical worldview | technology and culture | ChatGPT | AI tools for ministry

Belief in the resurrection of Jesus is central to our faith. 

And as we look back at what is recorded in scripture we see solid evidence that the events described that day really happened. The best part is that you don’t have to be a scholar or have a degree to understand it! The resurrection is a story of ultimate hope. We know how the story ends, but how did it happen? Why was it necessary? What is the life-changing power of the cross? In this episode, Rick, Brian and Eric dive into the rich evidence of the resurrection of Christ and what that means for us today. Understanding these facts helps equip us to enter hard conversations about our faith with knowledge and love.

Show notes

1 Corinthians 15:3-5, 17-19

1 John 5:13

Books:

⁠Can We still Believe the Bible ⁠by Craig Blomberg

⁠Unshakable Truth⁠ by Josh McDowell & Sean McDowell

⁠The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus⁠ by Gary Habermas & Michael Licona

⁠Evidence That Demands a Verdict⁠ by Josh McDowell

⁠Person of Interest⁠ by J. Warner Wallace

⁠Evidence for the Resurrection⁠ by Sean McDowell & Josh McDowell

Videos: 

⁠Cold Case Christianity⁠ - The Resurrection

⁠Is the Resurrection Real?⁠

⁠4 Proofs of the Resurrection⁠ by Lee Strobel 

Podcasts:

⁠Is the Resurrection a Reasonable Inference⁠

⁠The Resurrected Jesus⁠ (an interview with David Limbaugh)

⁠Was the Resurrection Real ⁠(an interview with Sean McDowel)

Articles:

⁠The Resurrection Was a Real Event in History⁠

⁠The Resurrection is the Tiebreaker by Tim Barnett⁠

⁠Where Did These Minimal Facts About the Resurrection Come From?

There are billions of people who don’t have the Bible in their language. How can they know God, when they think He doesn’t even speak their language? But God is doing amazing things to get the Bible in their language. In this episode, Eric and Scottye dive deeper into this challenge as they discuss the work of the Seed Company and the amazing things that are happening to make the Bible available to all people. The most exciting thing is how things are speeding up, as the Seed Company is using technology and locals to bring God’s word to more and more people. 

Show notes:

About the Seed Company

As followers of Jesus, we are all sent. The only question is where. One of the ways we step into this is through short-term mission trips. In this episode, Eric, Becky and Glen discuss the value of these trips, why we should go, answering objections, and seeing God work in incredible ways. 

Show notes:

121 Mission Trips

In this episode, Eric and Derek Bennet, Director of Global Projects at Pioneers, talk about finding purpose and using our gifts to live out that God-given purpose, sharing stories of how God has moved in Derek's life to utilize gifts and setbacks  to live with greater purpose and to be part of something huge!

Show notes:

About Pioneers

Jesus promised to send a Helper who would give His followers power: the Holy Spirit. But who is the Holy Spirit, and what does that power actually look like?

In this episode, Eric, Vince, and Laura explore the role of the Holy Spirit, what He does in the life of believers, and how we can learn to recognize and engage with His presence. Discover why pressing into the Holy Spirit is essential to living a life that truly goes against the grain.