In this conversation we talk through the importance of youth ministry in the church. Should youth have a separate gathering than the larger church gatherings? Who is responsible for discipling our children? How does American culture prolong adolescence in setting up our next generation for failure?

Join us as we share perspective of 12 years in youth ministry that hopefully inspires us to produce Good Fruit.

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0:00 - Intro

1:41 - Tree of Life Update

7:38 - Game: Real Slang or Cap!

15:10 - Is Youth Ministry Biblical?

19:23 - Shadow Side to Youth Ministry

21:34 - Jesus' Disciples were Youth Students!

24:22 - Importance of Dignifying Our Youth with Responsibilities

26:19 - Should we "Outsource" Discipleship?

29:24 - What's the Bible Say about Importance of Teaching Youth?

32:56 - Kid's Can Handle More

39:50 - The World Will Speak if the Church is Silent

41:19 - Camp Awaken 2026

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Go and Bear Good Fruit!

Thanks for listening and if you want to learn more about our new ministry, check out

Tree-of-Life.Church

In our longest episode yet (sorry about that), we unpack some of the beauty and significance of treasure. It's a great time to reflect on what we truly treasure in our hearts and what we'd be willing to give up for it.We hope this conversation sparks an inventory of our priorities and values so that we can focus more on eternally significant things. Truly to help us Bear Good Fruit.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------0:00 - Intro1:36 - Game - What's it worth?13:11 - Confession: Temptation to Judge the Wealthy14:26 - Tree of Life Update (including Awaken Camp details)20:28 - What does treasure mean?25:08 - The value of redemption28:57 - Childlike Treasures30:20 - Matthew 6:19-2131:47 - What are "heavenly treasures"?35:31 - Fruitful Metaphors to help children store up heavenly treasures37:51 - What does it mean that the ideal treasure = Jesus?41:13 - How do we determine what our current treasure is?43:30 - What do we mean by "bringing people to Jesus"? 44:30 - Redeeming our earthly treasure into heavenly treasure46:55 - Matthew 13:44-46 (differing perspectives)51:23 - Fruit of Believing Jesus seeing Humanity as Treasure ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Go and Bear Good Fruit!Thanks for listening and if you want to learn more about our new ministry, check outTree-of-Life.Church

Today we brainstorm the origins of rivalries and how counter productive they can be to God's Kingdom movement. Hope you have grace as our dogs decided to get in on the action this time, but as Julie said, this podcast will be one to help us with resisting our distractions.Is competition good? Are rivalries necessary? How can we navigate these fruitfully and in ways that bring life to us and our communities?------------------------------------------------------------------------------------0:00 - Intro1:26 - Olympics & Our Competitive Past4:00 - Game - First Word7:57 - What the game teaches us about personality9:41 - Overview of Rivalries13:17 - Are rivalries sometimes one-sided?15:18 - How narratives form rivalries?18:05 - FSU vs UF rivalry 20:00 - How community shapes your rivalries23:52 - What Jesus says in Luke 928:18 - Wisdom of 10 Commandments to prevent rivalries29:56 - Rivalries created in the Church33:26 - What's the Christ-follower default setting?34:25 - Is competition ok?40:12 - Remember who the battle is truly against...Love your rival------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Go and Bear Good Fruit!Thanks for listening and if you want to learn more about our new ministry, check outTree-of-Life.Church

With Valentines Day drawing near, we discuss the importance and meanings behind the word "Love". We look at examples (both good and bad) to help shape and mold our understanding of love.

We also spend time discussing the importance of planting a church, partnering with other churches, and the phases of preparation to help further God's Kingdom all on the basis of love. Feel free to reach out and continue this conversation about how we can read our own "check engine lights" and discern whether we're loving or not.

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0:00 - Intro plus "Snowfest" Recap

4:00 - Valentines Side-Bar

5:48 - Gametime: Valentines Trivia

12:28 - Tree of Life Update - Phase 1 of preparation & our posture

17:24 - The personal benefit of being shaped by church plant dynamics

20:45 - Practical reasons to plant a church

23:36 - Topic: Love Overview

28:58 - Love drives to action

33:14 - Passage to use as our "check engine light" of love (or unloving)

41:27 - Difficulty of Valentines Day - Offer into counseling

43:38 - Pro-tips on navigating conflict

45:11 - Wrap up

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Go and Bear Good Fruit!

Thanks for listening and if you want to learn more about our new ministry, check out

Tree-of-Life.Church

We are back and excited for what's to come in 2026!

Our first conversation we hope brings life is one around doubt.

The pro to doubt is it creates space to foster deeper, more resilient faith through open conversation, validating tough questions, and connecting people to God & supportive community rather than leading to spiritual silence.

The con to doubt is without taking on the required quest of seeking knowledge, understanding, & wisdom, it can lead to an easy escape from accountability toward apathy yet leaves an eternal void if never addressed.

Link to Shayne Smith interview mentioned at the end: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uh-Zqb0RAow

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0:00 - Intro

1:30- Tree of Life Update

9:13 - Game: Julie's Doubtful Bible-Story Knowledge

14:12 - Spiritual Muscle Confusion = Doubt

16:24 - Top 7 Googled questions about faith & Christianity

18:28 - Can we relate to these doubts?

22:00 - Do doubts come from our childhood personality or experience?

24:27 - Doubting Thomas Pushback

26:34 - Origins of Doubt

27:53 - How do we handle other's questions?

32:39 - Opposite of faith isn't doubt but apathy

34:42 - Importance of Fruit no matter where you land

36:44- Why care about other people's questions when I don't have any?

38:30 - Scriptural Doubters

39:46 - Shayne Smith testimony

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Go and Bear Good Fruit!Thanks for listening and if you want to learn more about our new ministry, check out

Tree-of-Life.Church

Since we talked about doubt, why not engage with some difficult questions that help form our worldviews. Like, what exactly caused Adam & Eve to be exiled from Eden?

In chewing on that question, we use sanctified imagination to lean into the theology of Willy Wonka and more!

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0:00 - Intro

2:11 - Game: Guess the chocolate

7:19 - Topic for Today

7:58 - What is "The Fall"?

9:10 - Author of book vs Screen writer for movie

11:40 - Every worldview is made up of these 4 things...

14:31 - Jewish worldview overview and knowledge of good & evil

18:29 - Most cultures have age of choice

20:20 - Willy Wonka setting & representation

24:11 - God's invitation for humanity's partnership

28:30 - ha satan (Slugworth)

30:34 - Does God test us?

35:00 - Temptations in Wonka's Factory

38:38 - Final Office Scene Representation

42:00 - What if Adam & Eve responded like Charlie?

46:58 - Tree of Life Updates

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Go and Bear Good Fruit!Thanks for listening and if you want to learn more about our new ministry, check out

Tree-of-Life.Church

**DISCLAIMER**

PARENTS WHO LISTEN WITH CHILDREN, DISCRETION IS ADVISED AS OUR CONVERSATION MAY AFFECT CHRISTMAS DYNAMICS

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We rank the best Santas in movies, discuss the origins of Santa, and share our Christmas traditions. Plus we share Tree of Life's Root Group series about the Apologetics of Advent and the upcoming "Preview Service" on 12/21/25.

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0:00 - Intro

1:52 - Game: Top 5 Movie Santas

12:12 - Invites to Join Tree of Life Activities

14:54 - Migdal Eder Plug

16:13 - Santa Disclaimer for Parents Listening with Kids

16:49 - Traditions of Our Childhood

22:54 - Can someone be "festive" on Christmas without Santa?

24:00 - Christmas & Santa Origin Stories

32:59 - Does Santa Take Anything Away from Jesus?

34:42 - Practical Approaches to Help Prevent a Child from Mixing Jesus & Santa

38:26 - How Santa Evolved

40:53 - How to Keep Jesus the Center

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Go and Bear Good Fruit!Thanks for listening and if you want to learn more about our new ministry, check outTree-of-Life.Church

Why wait to "do" church? What does it take to plant a church? How do we feel about the reality of strategizing as we plant a church?

As we continue to document our journey in planting a church, we give a little glimpse in what pastors are trained for and the world that is church planting. We're by no means trailblazers at all as there's a 2,000 year rich history of church communities being planted so we'd be fools not to listen to those who've gone before us.

What wisdom has been shared with us and how will it impact the timeline of Tree of Life Church?

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0:00 - Intro

2:22 - Game: Christmas Trivia

7:45 - How competitive are we?

9:38 - Tree of Life Updates

14:37 - What's the deal with a preview service and church planting lingo?

16:33 - Being "sent" as a disciple

19:30 - Two sides of a church planter brain

21:15 - Developing a "Launch Team" in 2026

25:19 - Creating a solid culture

26:50 - Why we're not gathering regularly on Sundays...yet

27:50 - Tortoise vs the hare approach in building something to last

28:40 - Some church planting numbers/metrics for you stat nerds

33:03 - How many disciples and ambassadors do we need and why?

35:00 - The only numbers we care about

35:46 - How can you support?

We'd be honored if you joined in this Kingdom effort with us!

https://www.tree-of-life.church/give

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Go and Bear Good Fruit!

Thanks for listening and if you want to learn more about our new ministry, check out

Tree-of-Life.Church

So much to say in this one about our "Why" here at Tree of Life...

We hope this conversation continues laying the groundwork of our culture, vision, and direction as part of the Church. Lot's of theological geekery as well as practical examples of what to expect when you worship with us at Tree of Life.

Last reminder, to register below to be part of our Interest Party on 11/23/25!

https://www.tree-of-life.church/events

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0:00 - Intro

1:22 - Game: Discerning Deception (a version of D&D)

6:15 - Interest Party THIS SUNDAY (11/23/25)

10:09 - Questions about what Tree of Life is going to look like

10:45 - Why does you "why" matter?

11:21 - Expectations from the start working toward robust ministries

14:06 - Theology of our core values

15:04 - Why Jesus?

16:27 - Gospel in 4 words - Creation, Fall, Redemption, New Creation

20:09 - Most Recent False Messiah

21:00 - New Creation Vision

22:48 - Faith AND works

25:49 - What will Tree of Life look like on Sundays?

30:15 - Heartfelt worship as offerings

32:00 - "Sprouts" (Kid's Ministry) & Invite for folks to step up

38:20 - Bullet Points of Tree of Life Worship

41:18 - Quick overview of Baptism4

5:09 - Sign off

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Go and Bear Good Fruit!

Thanks for listening and if you want to learn more about our new ministry, check out Tree-of-Life.Church

Witness is sharing Jesus in word & deed.

It's not pressured, but given from the overflow of love.

Witness is inviting others into God's story.

Tim Mackie once said, "Sharing faith comes from God's generous nature within a believer, not just a religious duty. This is part of who believers are as disciples of Jesus, not simply a volunteer activity."

In this episode, Ben & Julie reflect on their perspective of witnessing and how it can literally and spiritually save lives.

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0:00 - Intro

0:35 - Color Callout Game

3:14 - Interest Party / Tree of Life Update

4:21 - Practicing the Way Wrap-up

5:00 - What does "witness" mean?

6:49 - Responsibility of a witness

9:30 - Importance of credibility of a witness

10:20 - Importance of Christian practice of witness

11:29 - Should we "share testimony" or "bear witness"

15:56 - Bible Story: Matthew 28

20:50 - Who have we witnessed being a good witness?

22:55 - Julie's take on Acts 1:8

24:07 - What does the bible mean with "bearing false witness"?

26:45 - Honesty of witnessing through difficult experiences

30:40 - Julie's approach to witnessing in tough seasons

32:30 - When witnessing saves lives

34:31 - Ben's witness to Julie's journey

38:14 - Rethinking miracles

39:55 - Conclusions

43:21 - Julie's Micdrop

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Register below to be part of our Interest Party on 11/23/25!

https://www.tree-of-life.church/events

Thanks for listening and if you want to learn more about our new ministry, check out Tree-of-Life.Church