Between Sundays

Over the past few podcasts, Pastors John and Joel have shared helpful insights about discipleship groups and how they function in the life of our church. In this episode, they take a closer look at the distinctions and similarities between small groups and discipleship groups—clarifying how each one uniquely serves our congregation. Both play an important role, meeting different yet complementary needs as we grow together in Christ.

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In this episode of Between Sundays, Jim Kistner and Jonathan Freed explore the foundation of true discipleship. They begin by clarifying that spiritual growth starts with salvation through Jesus Christ—because without the transforming work of the Holy Spirit, spiritual disciplines are just empty habits. The conversation highlights how faith, repentance, and the indwelling Spirit create a genuine desire to know God. From there, they discuss practical tools for growth, especially the importance of an intentional, set-apart “quiet time” centered on God’s Word and prayer as a means of becoming more like Christ.

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In this episode of Between Sundays, Pastor Joel and Pastor John unpack the core pillars of their Discipleship Group—journaling through Scripture, memorizing God’s Word, and committed daily prayer. They share how slowing down in the Word, hiding Scripture in your heart, and faithfully praying for one another leads to deeper transformation, stronger accountability, and lasting spiritual fruit. If you’re looking to grow in your walk with Christ and disciple others more intentionally, this conversation will challenge and encourage you to get started.

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In this episode of Between Sundays, we dive into what true discipleship really means and unpack the Great Commission in Matthew 28. Who is it for? How did Jesus model it? And what does it look like for our church today? Join us as we explore how following Jesus is more than a program—it’s a lifelong call to make disciples and faithfully live out His mission together.

In this episode, Pastor Jeff and Brianna McMillan sit down to talk about parent commissioning—what it is, why it matters, and how it shapes the vision of our children’s ministry. They share how the church intentionally partners with caregivers to support and equip them in discipling their children, and clarify that parent commissioning is for families of all stages, seasons, and backgrounds as they seek to raise the next generation to know and follow Jesus.

Why do we return to passages we think we already know? In this episode, Pastors John and Joel discuss the value of teaching familiar texts—like the Sermon on the Mount—and how God continues to shape His people through Scripture we’ve heard before. They explore why repetition and expository teaching matter, how fresh insight emerges from Jesus’ familiar words, and why His teaching still has the power to form us today.

In this festive episode, Carson Kistner and Vicky Snyder share creative, meaningful, and joy-filled ways to celebrate the Christmas and Advent season—both personally and with your family. From simple daily practices that draw your heart toward Christ, to fun traditions that bring your home to life, this conversation is full of practical ideas to help you slow down, stay intentional, and savor the season.

Whether you’re looking to start new traditions, deepen your time of reflection, or engage your kids in the story of Jesus’ birth, this episode will inspire you to make the most of this Advent journey.

Grab some cocoa, settle in, and let’s prepare our hearts for Christmas—together, Between Sundays.

Resources for you:

• Ebook: https://truthinthetinsel.com/

• Unwrapping the Greatest Gift: A Family Celebration of Christmas by Ann Voskamp
• Advent Devotions and Christmas Crafts for Families by Victoria Duerstock

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In this episode, Heather Farmer traces a beautiful thread from God’s grace to everyday gratitude. She opens up about the moments—big and small—where the Lord has taught her to slow down, pay attention, and notice the glimmers of goodness woven throughout her day. Heather also shares practical tools that have helped her cultivate a grateful heart and keep her focus centered on the Lord.

Helpful Resources:

• The Gratitude Project by Family Life, A CRU ministry https://www.familylife.com/content-offers/gratitude-project/
• Ann Voskamp’s Joy Dare Collection https://annvoskamp.com/joy-dares/These are the daily prompts of thankfulness.
• One Thousand Gifts book by Ann Voskamp
• Maree Dee’s blog post, “How to Embrace Gratitude in the Midst of the Unexpected,” is a beautiful reminder to find thankfulness even in life’s challenges. It includes a downloadable journal titled Embracing: 30 Days of Gratitude—A Grateful Heart Pause. The journal is easy to use and gently guides readers to focus on God each day. (Heather also have the pdf that I can forward to people since the journal costs a few dollars now. ) https://www.embracingtheunexpected.com/embrace-gratitude-midst-unexpected/
• Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation’s Podcast: A Cultivating Gratitude A Christian’s perspective https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ccef-podcast-where-life-scripture-meet/id1196426810?i=1000718281733
• Dwell Differently : Transform Your Heart and Mind by Memorizing God’s Word by Natalie Abbott and Vera Schmitz

A Study on Philippians 4:4-9

Dwell On These Things – Dwell Differently®

• Music. Heather makes playlists of worship songs. Her current favorite is: “Bless the Lord” by Mack Brock and Katie Torwalt https://youtu.be/Q6HNR5NPVFs?si=zBN9ZxWM1JvyFJlj
• The ACTS acronym—Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication—is a simple yet powerful way to structure personal prayer time. It helps focus the heart and mind, moving prayer beyond a list of requests to a deeper conversation with God.

1. Adoration begins by centering on who God is. In this first step, the goal is to worship and praise God for His character—His love, power, mercy, holiness, and faithfulness. Adoration turns attention away from daily worries and lifts the heart in awe and reverence.
2. Confession follows, creating space for honesty before God. Here, we acknowledge sins, shortcomings, and attitudes that have distanced us from Him. Confession restores fellowship and reminds us of God’s grace and forgiveness through Christ.
3. Next comes Thanksgiving, where we express gratitude for God’s blessings—both big and small. Taking time to thank God for answered prayers, relationships, provision, and spiritual growth nurtures contentment and strengthens trust in His goodness.
4. Finally, Supplication is bringing our requests before God. This includes personal needs, intercession for others, and guidance for future decisions. Supplication is not just asking but also yielding—trusting God’s wisdom and timing in His response.

Using the ACTS model keeps prayer balanced and heartfelt, guiding believers to adore, repent, give thanks, and depend on God with a spirit of humility and faith.

• Spiritual First Aid Gratitude Worksheets https://s3.amazonaws.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/sites/2147564954/themes/2163570100/downloads/a0134b6-efe-5b85-a56c-876321ced3be_10_Gratitude_Worksheets_1_.pdf

Life’s seasons bring both joy and hardship, yet through every moment, Jesus proves Himself faithful. In this episode, we sit down with Sonja Crowder, who shares openly about walking through loss and learning to embrace thankfulness in the midst of it. With grace and humor, Sonja reminds us that she’s “not packing her bags for heaven just yet,” because she knows Jesus isn’t finished getting glory from her story.

#joyinsorrow #thankfulness

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In this episode of Between Sundays, we sit down with Renee Holdren as she shares her journey through the loss of her beloved husband, Calvin. Renee opens up about the strength and thankfulness God has placed in her heart as she continues to walk forward in His grace. She offers heartfelt encouragement for anyone walking through sorrow, reminding us to hold fast to Jesus and to find gratitude even in the hardest seasons.

#thankfulness #joyinsorrow

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