I was afraid that asking the hardest questions about Christianity might destroy the faith I had built my life on. Instead, pursuing the truth made it stronger.

This is what happened when rejection, doubt, and pain forced me to investigate the Bible, the resurrection, morality, suffering, science, history, and the evidence for Christianity.

Someone I loved began questioning Christianity, walked away from God, and eventually left our family. Their questions exposed gaps in my own understanding—and I was terrified that investigating them might collapse the foundation of my life.

But after the relationship broke, I made a decision: if Christianity was true, it could withstand scrutiny. If it wasn’t, I needed to know.

The deeper I investigated, the stronger my faith became.

In this episode of the Applied Faith Podcast, we examine what Romans 8:28 actually promises. It does not say that everything that happens is good. It says God is powerful enough to work through even the things that are painful, unjust, and seemingly impossible to redeem.

We also discuss Joseph’s declaration in Genesis 50:20, the crucifixion of Jesus, Christian deconstruction, church hurt, compassion toward doubters, and the danger of becoming prideful when defending the faith.

You’ll leave with five practical lessons:

1. Tell the truth about your pain.
2. Ask what God is forming in you.
3. Refuse to let pain define you.
4. Use what you learn to serve others.
5. Trust God with what you cannot yet see.

If you’ve ever been afraid to question your faith, this episode is for you.

Subscribe to Applied Faith for biblical, practical conversations about following Jesus in the real world.

00:00 When Faith Gets Shaken

01:12 Choosing to Investigate

02:19 What Romans 8:28 Really Means

03:53 Experiencing Deconstruction Up Close

06:24 The Fear of Asking Hard Questions

07:44 Why Truth Can Handle Scrutiny

08:54 Investigating the Evidence

10:32 How God Redeems Pain

13:03 What the Research Taught Me

15:18 Christians Must Have Compassion for Doubters

17:26 The Danger of Spiritual Pride

18:41 Five Lessons We Can Learn From Pain

21:30 Closing Hope and Prayer

Stop trying to become a better version of yourself. The goal of the Christian life is not simply self-improvement—it is becoming more like Christ.

I recently changed one major thing in my life. Instead of asking, “How can I become 1% better today?” I started asking, “How can I become 1% more like Christ today?”

That question is changing how I define growth, success, discipline, obedience, relationships, and spiritual maturity.

In this episode of Applied Faith, we examine the biblical difference between improving yourself and being transformed into the image of Jesus. I also share five practical habits you can begin using every day:

1. Surrender your day before trying to control it.
2. Study Jesus before studying everyone else.
3. Choose a Christlike response when pressure hits.
4. Remove what is forming you away from Christ.
5. Love someone in a costly and unseen way.

This is not about earning salvation through better behavior. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. This is about sanctification—allowing the Holy Spirit to transform how we think, speak, serve, forgive, respond, and live.

Join me in taking the 30-day challenge:

Stop asking only, “How can I become better?”

Start asking, “How can I become more like Christ today?”

CHAPTERS

00:00 A Better Version of Yourself Isn’t the Goal

01:33 The Question That Changed My Life

04:15 Self-Improvement vs. Christlikeness

07:18 1. Surrender Your Day

11:28 2. Study Jesus

15:30 3. Choose a Christlike Response

19:55 4. Remove What Forms You Away

24:20 5. Love in a Costly and Unseen Way

28:35 The Five Daily Practices

30:05 The 30-Day Challenge

32:20 Less of Me, More of Christ

SCRIPTURE DISCUSSED

Luke 9:23

Romans 8:29

2 Corinthians 3:18

John 3:30

John 6:38

Philippians 2:3–5

Romans 12:2

John 13:34–35

Galatians 2:20

All Scripture quotations are from the ESV.

Comment “I’M IN” if you are joining the 30-day challenge.

Subscribe to Applied Faith for biblical teaching that moves beyond knowing the truth and into actually living it.

#AppliedFaith #ChristianLiving #FollowJesus

Many Christians have never had more access to biblical information than they do today.

Sermons. Podcasts. Bible apps. Christian influencers. Daily devotionals.

Yet anxiety remains. Discipline is lacking. Obedience is inconsistent.

Why?

Because information alone does not transform people.

In Acts 2, the disciples already knew Jesus. They had heard His teaching. They witnessed His miracles. They even saw the resurrection.

But Pentecost changed everything.

In this episode, Tyler Yaw explores why the coming of the Holy Spirit transformed fearful followers into bold witnesses, why Peter's story matters today, and why many Christians are consuming more content while experiencing less transformation.

If you've ever wondered why spiritual growth feels stagnant despite knowing more than ever, this conversation is for you.

Pentecost, Acts 2, Holy Spirit, Christian podcast, Bible study, Christian growth, spiritual growth, discipleship, faith in action, Holy Spirit power, Christian motivation, biblical teaching, Peter in Acts, modern Christianity, Christian living, church culture, consumer Christianity, Tyler Yaw, Applied Faith, Christian worldview

Barna and Gloo’s 2026 research found that nearly 1 in 3 U.S. adults say spiritual advice from AI is as trustworthy as advice from a pastor. Among practicing Christians, that number rises to 34%, and among Gen Z and millennials, it approaches 40%.

In this episode of Applied Faith, Tyler Yaw breaks down what this means for Christians in the age of chatbots. AI can help with Bible study, organization, summaries, and reflection — but it cannot replace Scripture, the Holy Spirit, wise counsel, pastoral care, or embodied Christian community.

The question is not “Can Christians use AI?”

The better question is: What authority are we giving it?

Christianity isn’t losing influence by accident.

It’s losing it by imitation.

In this episode of the Applied Faith Podcast, Tyler confronts a hard truth:

the more the church tries to look like culture, the less impact it actually has.

Jesus said it clearly in Matthew 5:13:

If the salt loses its saltiness, it’s thrown out.

And today, much of the church:

• Prioritizes relevance over truth
• Trades theology for life hacks
• Mirrors political outrage instead of modeling Christ
• Repackages the gospel into self-help instead of self-denial

This isn’t influence.

It’s dilution.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why mimicking culture makes the church invisible
• How “moralistic therapeutic deism” replaced real discipleship
• Why servant leadership (not power) defined Jesus’ model
• What made the early church impossible to ignore
• Why being different, not relevant, is the mission

The goal was never to blend in.

It was to stand out.

Replace one cultural reaction with a Kingdom response:

• Forgiveness instead of outrage
• Generosity instead of self-protection
• Service instead of status

Because salt only works when it’s different.

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📌 Share this with someone who needs clarity

📌 Comment: Where have you seen the church lose its “salt”?

From Passive ‘Follows’ to Real Discipleship: Building a Kingdom Mindset Tyler argues that “following” has become a cheap, passive digital act and warns against treating Jesus like an influencer by merely attending church, sharing verses, and consuming sermons. He explains that in the first century disciples followed a rabbi to become like him—“covered in the dust of your rabbi”—and that following Jesus means imitating his habits and responses in everyday life, including discipline, prayer, fasting, and serving the marginalized, not just Sunday attendance. Tyler contrasts a “gladiator mindset” (fighting for victory by willpower) with a “kingdom mindset” (fighting from Christ’s victory), distinguishing striving for salvation from training for godliness. He introduces a 40-day “Kingdom Challenge” built on eight daily disciplines to create consistent alignment, and cautions listeners not to idolize pastors or podcasters but to be led to Jesus.

00:00 Following Is Too Easy

00:31 Podcast Purpose Not Me

02:08 Jesus Not Influencer

03:03 Dust Of Rabbi

04:52 Monday To Saturday

05:29 Discipline And Habits

06:38 Gladiator To Kingdom

08:10 Striving Versus Training

09:15 Kingdom Challenge Program

10:09 Consistency And Restarting

11:12 Audit Your Discipleship

12:11 Warning Against Idols

12:47 Lantern To The Door

13:10 Final Call To Action

If Paul Wrote a Letter to the Church in America: Kingdom Mindset Over Comfort, Consumerism, and Outrage

Tyler opens The Applied Faith Podcast by imagining what a modern New Testament-style letter from Paul to the church in the United States might say, praising American Christians for generosity, missions, and caring for the vulnerable while warning they are forgetting the kingdom they belong to. The letter challenges fear, political allegiance, and treating Christ as a mascot for ideology, urging believers to remember heaven’s throne is not empty and to resist serving two masters. It confronts consumerism, comfort-seeking, individualism, and online outrage, calling the church to unity, discipleship, and spiritual fruit. Tyler reflects on how culture shapes habits and argues change requires intentional training, introducing his 40 Day Kingdom Challenge with daily habits (plus an act of kindness) to rewire mornings toward Scripture, prayer, nature, and sustainable rhythms, and invites feedback, participation, and subscribing.

00:00 Kingdom Mindset Setup

01:16 A Letter Like Paul

02:17 Praise Then Warning

03:21 Politics And Allegiance

04:24 Throne Is Not Empty

06:49 Consumerism And Outrage

08:17 Host Commentary Break

11:00 Kingdom Practices Today

12:31 Holy Sting Reflection

14:34 Train With 40 Day Challenge

16:27 Call To Action And Invite

18:07 Closing Thanks And Blessing

Lent as the Original 40-Day Grit Challenge: Leaving the Arena for the Throne

Tyler opens the Applied Faith Podcast by noting that Ash Wednesday marked the start of Lent and challenges listeners not to treat Lent as a watered-down inconvenience or failed resolution. He frames Lent as a 40-day training ground meant to step out of cultural noise, “kill the flesh,” and create space for the spirit, describing fasting as an intentional rebellion against consumerism and instant gratification (endless scrolling, on-demand entertainment, and convenience).

He introduces the “arena and the throne” concept: the gladiator mindset seeks applause in the cultural arena, while the kingdom mindset lives before God as the only true spectator, aligning with Jesus’ teaching to fast in secret. Tyler encourages listeners to use the next 40 days for quiet, disciplined formation and presents his 40-day Kingdom Challenge, built around eight daily disciplines designed to break reliance on the world and anchor participants to the kingdom. He invites listeners to join him, follow along with the daily podcast episodes, subscribe on YouTube, and participate in the community as they pursue resilience and faith leading up to Easter.

00:00 Ash Wednesday Kickoff: Why Lent Matters Again

01:00 Lent as the Original 40-Day Grit Challenge (Not a Diet)

01:44 Fasting as Rebellion Against Consumerism & Instant Gratification

02:41 Arena vs. Throne: Gladiator Mindset vs. Kingdom Mindset

04:00 Fasting in Secret: Leaving the Applause Behind

04:45 A Practical Framework: The 40-Day Kingdom Challenge

05:49 Use the Next 40 Days to Shift Your Trajectory (Join the Challenge)

06:51 Community + Subscribe: Building Applied Faith Together

07:31 Wrap-Up: Daily Episodes, Accountability, and Eyes on the Throne

In this episode of the Applied Faith Podcast, Tyler marks the significant milestone of day 40 in the 40-day challenge. He reflects on the transformation participants have undergone, emphasizing that day 40 is not an end but a launch into a new phase of life. Drawing parallels to biblical stories, Tyler urges listeners to celebrate their achievements but remain committed to their evolved selves, resisting old habits and vices. The episode encourages participants to make a covenant with God, committing to their newfound strength and purpose. Tyler also reassures that the podcast will continue to provide guidance and support in applying faith biweekly.

00:00 The Journey of Transformation Begins

00:24 Day 40: A Milestone, Not the End

00:50 Reflecting on the 40-Day Challenge

01:33 The Significance of the Number 40

02:26 Embracing the New You

03:44 The Oath of No Return

04:32 Continuing the Mission Beyond Day 40

Day 39 of the Kingdom Challenge: Leading by Example

In this episode, Tyler emphasizes the importance of leading by example, highlighting how our actions influence those who look up to us, whether it be our children, employees, or friends. Reflecting on the Apostle Paul's words, Tyler challenges listeners to live in a way that others can emulate, stressing that our daily habits form our legacy. He encourages everyone to identify someone in their shadow and intentionally uplift them, sharing the fire of their faith. This episode serves as a penultimate step in the 40-day Kingdom Challenge, focusing on selflessness and setting a godly standard for others.

00:00 The Influence of Your Actions

00:48 Welcome to Day 39 of the Kingdom Challenge

01:05 The Importance of Setting a Standard

01:49 Paul's Example of Leadership

02:31 Living a Life Worth Following

03:29 The Biography Test

04:18 Encouraging Others in Your Shadow

04:55 Final Thoughts and Encouragement