Theme: How salvation shapes Christian maturity, the role of the Holy Spirit, assurance of salvation, and what happens when believers die.

This conversation explores how doctrine is not abstract, but deeply formative. Billy shares how a more biblical understanding of salvation — particularly God’s sovereignty — led to a major personal and church transition for his family. The discussion moves into what it practically means to “become like Jesus,” emphasizing growth in doctrine (head), affection (heart), and obedience (hands). They warn against emotional substitutes for spiritual maturity and explain what it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit biblically, as opposed to the feeling-driven mysticism of the culture.

The episode also covers assurance of salvation — why believers cannot lose it, and why Christians still wrestle with doubt. They reflect on spiritual growth as a long, grace-driven process, not merely outward vocational change or religious performance. The episode concludes with what happens after death and the believer’s hope in the intermediate state and final resurrection.

Doctrine Changes Lives

“Doctrine matters and preaching matters, teaching matters… seeing the consequences of a lack of emphasis on the sovereignty of God in salvation in particular.”

Spiritual Maturity

“As we repeat it, we understand more of what we believe about God and who he is.”

Real Growth Isn’t Just Activity

“We can become distorted pictures of growth… a T-Rex — really big head of doctrine… tiny hands of service.”

Examining Yourself

“Is it good to examine yourself?… Yes, you should be examining, you should be checking your vitals.”

Assurance Deepens Over Time

“When you genuinely grow in Christian maturity, there is a blessing of assurance that actually grows in depth.”

The Hope Beyond Death

“When we die, we’re with the Lord… and yet in this intermediate state, it’s not our eternal state.”

This session (led by Pastor Josh with elder Billy Schick) explores the doctrine of salvation through Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology and his 40 doctrinal questions. It emphasizes how clarity on salvation transforms personal faith, ministry practice, and leadership in the church.