Send in your questions about the Family series for Trey and Matt to answer in their upcoming Q&A episode! Ask about marriage, singleness, parenting, grief in family, or any related topic we have not yet discussed. Email us at [email protected] or comment wherever you listen to podcasts.

Is it possible to make real friends at church? Could we move past shallow or awkward moments with people in the pews to develop genuine relationships with trustworthy friends? In today’s episode recorded during this past summer’s series on the book of Proverbs, Pastor Trey Hildebrant and Matt McGee discuss the importance of cultivating a wise community so you can be encouraged and equipped by the people around you. 

Episode Chapters

Sponsored by Orlando Christian University (0:00 – 0:36)

1. Can I Grow Spiritually Without a Church Community? (0:37 – 11:43)

2. Loneliness and Purposelessness Reveals Our Need for the Church (11:44 – 15:42)

City on a Hill Book Release (15:43 – 16:38)

3. There Is No Following Jesus without Following Jesus (16:39 – 21:12)

4. When Christians Wound You (21:13 – 26:03)

5. Our Christian Friends Refresh Us with the Gospel (26:04 – 31:34)

6. Love in the Church Should Reflect God’s Love (31:35 – 34:00)

7. Lost People Hunger for Godly Community (34:01 – 39:57)

8. ASK PASTOR TREY (39:58 – 42:33)

Featured on the Firstword Podcast Network (42:34 – 42:55)

Show Credits

Today’s episode was sponsored and produced by Orlando Christian University on the FirstWord Podcast Network. Video production by Stephen Whitaker, producer, and audio production by Alex Dombach. Show notes by Tucker Kemp, assistant producer. Design by Gissel Valois and project support by Patrick Barrett. Thank you to Dr. Steve Whitaker, OCU President and FirstWord CEO, for his vision and leadership over this podcast. Matt McGee is our host, and our featured co-host is Trey Hildebrant, lead teaching pastor of First Orlando. Powered and distributed by Spotify for Creators.

Jesus is Lord! As Christians, we have good news that our Savior has conquered death so that sinners can be forgiven and join God’s family. But many of our neighbors do not know that there is hope in Christ for them to be rescued and redeemed. Whether you are terrified to evangelize for the first time or discouraged by a lack of fruit from years of faithful evangelism, you know that proclaiming the gospel is hard. But God calls us to participate with Him as he advances His Kingdom in our daily lives and to trust Him with the results. As we boldly love our unbelieving neighbors by becoming their friends and patiently scattering gospel seeds, we join God in His work of saving them from death. Join Pastor Trey Hildebrant and Matt McGee to be equipped and encouraged as you courageously share the gospel with one more person at a time. 

Send in your questions about the family for Trey and Matt to answer in their upcoming Q&A episode! Email [email protected] or comment wherever you listen to podcasts.

Episode Chapters

Sponsored by Orlando Christian University (0:00 – 0:32)

Upcoming Q&A on the Family–Send Us Your Questions! (0:33 – 1:27)

1. Good and Bad Experiences of Evangelism (1:28 – 7:43)

2. Participating with Jesus in His Kingdom (7:44 – 10:43)

3. Where You are on Map, You are on Mission (10:44 – 22:22)

4. Sometimes the Method or the Timing Isn’t Right (22:23 – 25:36)

5. Sowing Gospel Seeds, Seeing Zero Fruit (25:37 – 28:44)

6. Afraid of Awkwardness: “What Do I Say?” (28:45 – 40:51)

7. Our Part vs. God’s Part (40:52 – 44:16)

8. Friendship Resets Stereotypes (44:17 – 49:25)

9. The Life-and-Death Gravity of Rescuing People (49:26 – 57:11)

10. The Great Commission is Personal (57:12 – 1:01:30)

Featured on the Firstword Podcast Network (1:01:30 – 1:01:56)

Reflection Questions

1. What has been your experience with evangelism? What is the most helpful way people represent God to you? What is the least helpful?

2. How does the authority of Jesus as the victorious King shape the way you think about announcing the gospel to your neighbors?

3. Who is an unbeliever who God has placed in your life to reach with the gospel? Where are there lost people in your community who God is giving you opportunities to witness to?

4. What Scriptures can encourage you if you are paralyzed by anxiety, apathy, or exhaustion from evangelizing? What is your role in God’s plan to save your neighbor?

5. If you haven’t already, choose one person in your life who is far from God. Pray for this person every day for a week. Then begin praying that God would prepare you for opportunities to lead this person to Jesus. Begin practicing bold hospitality, asking insightful questions, and giving compassion generously to this person. And when the opportunity arises for you to share the good news, do it. Just tell them about who Jesus is, what He has done to set the world right, and how we can trust Him to find true life.

Helpful Scriptures

Matthew 28:18-20 

Acts 3:11-26 

1 Corinthians 3:5-14

Luke 8:1-15 

Isaiah 55:8-13 

Acts 9:1-31 

Colossians 4:2-6 

Show Credits

Today’s episode was sponsored and produced by Orlando Christian University on the FirstWord Podcast Network. Video production by Stephen Whitaker, producer, and audio production by Alex Dombach. Show notes by Tucker Kemp, assistant producer. Design by Gissel Valois and project support by Patrick Barrett. Thank you to Dr. Steve Whitaker, OCU President and FirstWord CEO, for his vision and leadership over this podcast. Matt McGee is our host, and our featured co-host is Trey Hildebrant, lead teaching pastor of First Orlando. Powered and distributed by Spotify for Creators.

Our families see the best and worst of us. Every family is broken by sin and suffering–including the family of Jesus. We inflict great pain on the people closest to us, and many of us have experienced great pain from those we trusted most. But while family is the place where our messiness is manifest, it can also be the place where the gospel is most magnified. Pastor Trey Hildebrant and Matt McGee are joined by Jarian Felton today as they equip and encourage you to trust the Lord to redeem your family’s brokenness as you repent, obey, and hope in Jesus. 

Episode Chapters

Sponsored by Orlando Christian University (0:00 – 0:44)

1. Upcoming Q&A on the Family–Send Us Your Questions! (0:45 – 2:37)

2. Recognizing Dysfunction in My Family (2:38 – 10:12)

3. Recognizing Dysfunction in Jesus’s Family (10:13– 15:21)

4. When to Repent, When to Separate, When to Persevere (15:22 – 31:59)

5. Trusting the Lord When the Wait is Long (32:00 – 41:47)

6. Small Steps are Not a Dead End (41:48 – 47:29)

7. We Never Get Over the Gospel (47:30 – 55:45)

Featured on the Firstword Podcast Network (55:46 – 56:47)

Reflection Questions

1. What glaring dysfunctions do you see in your family? What subtle sins do you see?

2. Which stories of Jesus’s family offer you hope for God’s redemption despite the brokenness in your family?

3. Who in your life can you trust to support you, challenge you, pray for you, and help you discern how to respond to dysfunction in your family?

4. What Scriptures have encouraged you as you persevere in loving your family?

5. How does the heart of God revealed on the cross move you to trust Him today? What hope do you have for forgiveness, healing, and restoration because of what Jesus has given for us?

Helpful Scriptures

Genesis 3 - Adam & Eve

Matthew 1 - Family Tree of Jesus, Mary & Joseph

Joshua 2 - Rahab

Ruth 4 - Ruth & Boaz

2 Samuel 11 - David & Bathsheba

Genesis 27 - Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, & Esau

Proverbs 29:18 and 4:20-27 

Psalms 139, 25, 13, 3, and 51 

Romans 8:18-39 

Philippians 1:3-6 

Psalm 145 

Exodus 34:6-7

2 Corinthians 4 and 5

Hebrews 12:1-3 

James 4:2 

Hosea 1 and 3 

Helpful Resources

"A Long Obedience in the Same Direction" by Eugene Peterson

"His Needs, Her Needs" by Willard F. Harley Jr. 

Interested in an affordable, personalized, and biblically-trustworthy education? Go to orlandochristianuniversity.org to learn more about how Orlando Christian University might be the right place for you!

Visit the FirstWord Podcast Network at orlandochristianuniversity.org/podcasts to find more episodes of “Between the Lines with Trey Hildebrant” or to discover the “FirstWord” and “Purpose Driven Leaders” podcasts. 

If you want to grow in wisdom, godly community, and faith in our trustworthy God, come visit First Orlando on a Sunday morning or watch a service livestreamed to your home. Visit firstorlando.com for more information. We’d love to see you there!

Show Credits

Today’s episode was sponsored and produced by Orlando Christian University on the FirstWord Podcast Network. Video production by Stephen Whitaker, producer, and audio production by Alex Dombach. Show notes by Tucker Kemp, assistant producer. Design by Gissel Valois and project support by Patrick Barrett. Thank you to Dr. Steve Whitaker, OCU President and FirstWord CEO, for his vision and leadership over this podcast. Matt McGee is our host, and our featured co-host is Trey Hildebrant, lead teaching pastor of First Orlando. Thank you to Jarian Felton, Worship Pastor at First Orlando for appearing on today's episode. Powered and distributed by Spotify for Creators.

Today’s Christian culture sometimes excludes people who are unmarried, widowed, or divorced. But God designed the church to be the hub of our community with a special place of honor for those who are single. Just like Jesus and Paul, believers without biological families of their own have a glorious role to play in cultivating the church family–single Christians have greater freedom to share their time, energy, and resources. No matter if one is single for life or single for a season, God designed singleness to be a blessing to everyone in the church. Join Pastor Trey Hildebrant and Matt McGee to be equipped and encouraged as you learn how to participate in your church family and honor singleness as a gift from God. 

Episode Chapters

Sponsored by Orlando Christian University (0:00 – 0:43)

1. Follow Us on Socials and Podcast Platforms (0:44 – 3:02)

2. Consumerism vs. Community in Our Churches (3:03 – 16:43)

3. How to Participate in the Church Family (16:44 – 26:39)

4. Honoring God’s Gift of Singleness (26:40 – 34:27)

5. Discerning Lifelong Vocational Singleness (34:28 – 38:07)

6. Pastor’s Note: Addressing Unwanted Singleness (38:08 – 46:32)

7. Pastor’s Note: Addressing Same-Sex Attractions (46:33 – 54:14)

Featured on the Firstword Podcast Network (54:15 – 55:08)

Reflection Questions

1. What obstacles prevent you from investing in your church like a family? What one step could you take to begin developing deeper friendships with the people you worship and serve with?

2. If you are single, who is a married couple you could welcome into your life to love and be loved by? If you are married, who is a single person you could welcome into your life to love and be loved by? 

3. Do you know anyone who has lived a life of vocational singleness? How have they uniquely impacted the world for God’s Kingdom?

4. Read Song of Songs 2:7. What value can you see for single people who desire marriage to wait patiently for love? Does this remind you of any part of the gospel?

5. When you look at the life of a Christian who experiences same-sex attractions but chooses to follow Jesus instead of following his or her heart, what does that teach you about the gospel?

Helpful Scriptures

Galatians 6:1-10 

Titus 2:1-15 

Mark 10:28-31 

Matthew 19:3-12 

1 Corinthians 7:1-40

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 

Helpful Resources

"Beauty in Both Singleness and Marriage" by David Platt 

"The Bondage of Singleness" by John Piper 

Annie F. Downs 

Nancy Lee DeMoss Wolgemuth 

"Holy Sexuality and the Gospel" by Christopher Yuan 

”The Gospel Comes with a House Key" by Rosaria Butterfield 

“Gay Girl, Good God" by Jackie Hill Perry

Interested in an affordable, personalized, and biblically-trustworthy education? Go to orlandochristianuniversity.org to learn more about how Orlando Christian University might be the right place for you!

Visit the FirstWord Podcast Network at orlandochristianuniversity.org/podcasts to find more episodes of “Between the Lines with Trey Hildebrant” or to discover the “FirstWord” and “Purpose Driven Leaders” podcasts. 

If you want to grow in wisdom, godly community, and faith in our trustworthy God, come visit First Orlando on a Sunday morning or watch a service livestreamed to your home. Visit firstorlando.com for more information. We’d love to see you there!

Show Credits

Today’s episode was sponsored and produced by Orlando Christian University on the FirstWord Podcast Network. Video production by Stephen Whitaker, producer, and audio production by Alex Dombach. Show notes by Tucker Kemp, assistant producer. Design by Gissel Valois and project support by Patrick Barrett. Thank you to Dr. Steve Whitaker, OCU President and FirstWord CEO, for his vision and leadership over this podcast. Matt McGee is our host, and our featured co-host is Trey Hildebrant, lead teaching pastor of First Orlando. Powered and distributed by Spotify for Creators.

What does it mean to be a godly parent? Whether you have kids of your own nor not, this question is central to understanding God’s design for family. The Bible uses the image of fathers, mothers, and children to describe God’s relationship with his people. Since we have the chance to reflect God’s paternal love in how we raise the children God has entrusted to us, we must cultivate the lives of our kids to help them grow in faith, hope, and love. Mom, Dad, Grandparent, Guardian–who are the biggest influences on your kids’ hearts and minds? Join Pastor Trey Hildebrant and Matt McGee to be equipped and encouraged as you cultivate godly influences for your children that will shape their discernment, wisdom, and trust in the Lord. 

Episode Chapters

Sponsored by Orlando Christian University (0:00 – 0:46)

1. Cultivating Healthy Media Influences for Your Kids’ Hearts (0:47 – 14:07)

2. Cultivating Holy Discernment in Your Kids’ Minds (14:08 – 22:55)

3. Cultivating Real-World Wisdom for Yourself and Your Kids (22:56 – 31:08)

4. Cultivating Gospel-Centered Repentance in Your Family (31:09 – 37:24)

Pastor’s Note for Parents of Estranged Kids: Pray & Invite Them Home (37:25 – 45:21)

Pastor’s Note for Single Parents: Lean on God & the Church to Provide (45:22 – 54:11)

Featured on the Firstword Podcast Network (54:12 – 55:03)

Reflection Questions

1. What resources have you found valuable for keeping your kids safe and strengthening them as they grow in discernment? Who could you recommend these resources to?
2. What practical wisdom from this episode challenges how you love and disciple your kids? 
3. How can you lead your family by example in wise choices, worship, and willingness to repent from your sins?
4. What stories from Scripture can you remember where God as a Father waits and welcomes His lost children
5. Read Genesis 16 and 21:8-21. How did God care for Hagar when she was raising her son as a single mother?

Scripture References

Deuteronomy 6:1-25 

Philippians 4:8 

Hebrews 10:25 

Proverbs 22:6 

Isaiah 55:11 

Luke 15:11-32 

Referenced Resources

"Birds and Bees" by Patricia Weerakoon 

Circle of Moms | First Orlando 

Parenting Resources | First Orlando 

"Family Discipleship: Leading Your Home through Time, Moments, and Milestones" by Matt Chandler 

Interested in an affordable, personalized, and biblically-trustworthy education? Go to orlandochristianuniversity.org to learn more about how Orlando Christian University might be the right place for you!

Visit the FirstWord Podcast Network at orlandochristianuniversity.org/podcasts to find more episodes of “Between the Lines with Trey Hildebrant” or to discover the “FirstWord” and “Purpose Driven Leaders” podcasts releasing Fall 2026. 

If you want to grow in wisdom, godly community, and faith in our trustworthy God, come visit First Orlando on a Sunday morning or watch a service livestreamed to your home. Visit firstorlando.com for more information. We’d love to see you there!

Show Credits

Today’s episode was sponsored and produced by Orlando Christian University on the FirstWord Podcast Network. Video production by Stephen Whitaker, producer, and audio production by Alex Dombach. Show notes by Tucker Kemp, assistant producer. Design by Gissel Valois and project support by Patrick Barrett. Thank you to Dr. Steve Whitaker, OCU President and FirstWord CEO, for his vision and leadership over this podcast. Matt McGee is our host, and our featured co-host is Trey Hildebrant, lead teaching pastor of First Orlando. Powered and distributed by Spotify for Creators.

Why is marriage such a big deal in the Bible? God designed marriage to reflect the wonder of his gospel and to be the foundation for building flourishing families in his image. A godly marriage is like a garden: it displays unique, refreshing beauty, but hard work is required to keep it healthy and growing. Because of the Fall, marriages today are overgrown with distractions, sexual sins, and selfishness that threaten to destroy this good gift from our Father. The Scriptures use language of adultery and marriage to describe our relationship with God, so our ultimate hope lies in the true Bridegroom whom we will join at the Wedding Supper of the Lamb.  Whether married or not, we must all fight to treat the marriage bed with honor as the incarnational reflection of Jesus’s love for his people.  Join Pastor Trey Hildebrant and Matt McGee to be equipped and encouraged as you tend, protect, and keep the garden of marriage holy.

Episode Chapters

Sponsored by Orlando Christian University (0:00 - 0:45)

1. The Elevated Beauty of Biblical Marriage from Creation to Gospel Redemption (0:46 – 7:45)

2. Tending the Garden of Marriage by Cultivating Time, Fun, and Prayer (7:46 – 20:45)

3. Protecting the Garden of Marriage by Uprooting Sin through Repentant Confession (20:46 – 37:06)

4. Keeping the Garden of Marriage Together, Surrounded by Wise Friends (37:07 – 44:14)

Pastor’s Note: When the Garden is Desecrated by Abuse, Abandonment, or Adultery (44:15 – 46:25)

Featured on the Firstword Podcast Network (46:26 - 47:24)

Reflection Questions

1. Does biblical marriage only bless those who are currently married? 
2. What practical wisdom from this episode challenges how you love your partner? 
3. Who are trustworthy friends that will come alongside your marriage to fight for you and your spouse as you face sin, repentance, and forgiveness?
4. What role is there for single, divorced, widowed, etc. people to play in keeping the garden of marriage?
5. How does Jesus as our Bridegroom transform our hope while we grieve the pain of broken marriages? 

Scripture References

Genesis 1:26-31 

Genesis 2:18-20  

Genesis 2:21-25  

Song of Songs 2:1-17 

Song of Songs 8:6-7 

Ephesians 5:21-33 

Hebrews 13:4

Revelation 19:6-16

Revelation 21:1-27 

Referenced Resources

The Princess Bride, directed by Rob Reiner

Bill Curl & Lucy Pat Curl - "Pastor offers 'nothing but forgiveness' for man who murdered his wife," Florida Baptist Convention

His Needs, Her Needs, by Willard F. Harley, Jr. 

The Meaning of Marriage, by Tim Keller 

Momentary Marriage, by John Piper 

Reengage | Watermark Church 

First Orlando Marriage Workshop & Prep for Marriage  

Interested in an affordable, personalized, and biblically-trustworthy education? Go to orlandochristianuniversity.org to learn more about how Orlando Christian University might be the right place for you!

Visit the FirstWord Podcast Network at orlandochristianuniversity.org/podcasts to find more episodes of “Between the Lines with Trey Hildebrant” or to discover the “FirstWord” and “Purpose Driven Leaders” podcasts releasing Fall 2026. 

If you want to grow in wisdom, godly community, and faith in our trustworthy God, come visit First Orlando on a Sunday morning or watch a service livestreamed to your home. Visit firstorlando.com for more information. We’d love to see you there!

Show Credits

Today’s episode was sponsored and produced by Orlando Christian University on the FirstWord Podcast Network. Video production by Stephen Whitaker, producer, and audio production by Alex Dombach. Show notes by Tucker Kemp, assistant producer. Design by Gissel Valois and project support by Patrick Barrett. Thank you to Dr. Steve Whitaker, OCU President and FirstWord CEO, for his vision and leadership over this podcast. Matt McGee is our host, and our featured co-host is Trey Hildebrant, lead teaching pastor of First Orlando. Powered and distributed by Spotify for Creators.

What does it look like to love your family in today’s world? God’s good design for families hasn’t changed since he created humanity in his image (Genesis 1-2). God made us to be fruitful and multiply, to make flourishing families and societies, and to be in healthy relationships with those around us. But because of sin, our families are deeply broken. Today, we are surrounded by distractions and dangers that threaten our children. Even more dangerous than the external obstacles to healthy and holy families is the sin inside our own hearts and stories. No matter how you or your family have been wounded by this broken world, there is hope for forgiveness and healing through Jesus Christ. Join Pastor Trey Hildebrant and Matt McGee to be equipped and encouraged as you prayerfully and practically fight for your family to be holy.

Episode Chapters

Sponsored by Orlando Christian University (0:00 - 1:11)

1. God’s Created Design for Family & Our Broken World (1:12 – 8:32)

2. External Obstacles to Healthy and Holy Families (8:33 – 27:06)

3. Internal Obstacles to Healthy and Holy Families (27:07 – 33:19)

4. Our Broken World & God’s Redemptive Design for Family (33:20 – 37:07)

Epilogue: Prayer as Hopeful Obedience (37:08 – 47:07)

Featured on the FirstWord Podcast Network (47:07 - 48:08)

Show Notes

Reflection Questions

1. How has the family you grew up in shaped your view of God, of yourself, and of others? What or who were the most influential forces in your childhood? Were they good influences or bad influences?
2. When you look honestly at your words and actions towards your family members, what does that reveal about your heart? In what ways have you sinned against your family? In what ways have other sins done against you damaged how you engage with your family? How can you turn to Christ for forgiveness and healing?
3. Read about the family line of Jesus in Matthew 1:1-16. Why do you think Jesus was born into a family marked by such pain and brokenness? What hope do we have in Christ for the healing and holiness of our families? 
4. How do you pray for your family members? What do your prayers reflect about your own heart? How can you entrust your family to the Lord by practicing hope in Jesus?

Scripture References

Genesis 1:26-31 

Genesis 2:4-25 

Genesis 4:1-26 

Genesis 12:1-3

Matthew 1:1-25 

Ephesians 5:21-33 

Revelation 19:6-16 

Revelation 21:1-27 

Referenced Resources

“The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place” by Andy Crouch 

“Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms” by Justin Whitmel Earley 

“Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools: An Invitation to the Wonder and Mystery of Prayer” by Tyler Staton 

Interested in an affordable, personalized, and biblically-trustworthy education? Go to orlandochristianuniversity.org to learn more about how Orlando Christian University might be the right place for you!

Visit the FirstWord Podcast Network at orlandochristianuniversity.org/podcasts to find more episodes of “Between the Lines with Trey Hildebrant” or to discover the “FirstWord” and “Purpose Driven Leaders” podcasts releasing Fall 2026. 

If you want to grow in wisdom, godly community, and faith in our trustworthy God, come visit First Orlando on a Sunday morning or watch a service livestreamed to your home. Visit firstorlando.com for more information. We’d love to see you there!

Show Credits

Today’s episode was sponsored and produced by Orlando Christian University on the FirstWord Podcast Network. Video production by Stephen Whitaker, producer, and audio production by Alex Dombach. Show notes by Tucker Kemp, assistant producer. Design by Gissel Valois and project support by Patrick Barrett. Thank you to Dr. Steve Whitaker, OCU President and FirstWord CEO, for his vision and leadership over this podcast. Matt McGee is our host, and our featured co-host is Trey Hildebrant, lead teaching pastor of First Orlando. Powered and distributed by Spotify for Creators.

First episode releases Friday, August 14!