Beyond Sunday

Every summer across the world there are kids heading to summer camp. For many, those camps are geared towards spiritual formation of youth and adults. This week, Pastor David sits down with Josiah Canto to talk about life, camp, ministry, and how the church can put its best foot forward in reaching the next generation.

This week we're taking a look back to dive into two of the biggest faith and culture stories making headlines while we were on hiatus.

First, we turn to the Southern Baptist Convention's recent vote regarding women in ministry. Why did they need to make a new vote when... nothing seemed to change and why we disagree with their theology on this one?

Then we unpack Texas' new Bible initiatives in public schools. What was actually passed? Will students be studying the Bible, reading Bible stories, or taking religion classes? We'll separate the headlines from the facts and discuss why Christians and non-Christians alike have strong opinions about these changes.

Join us as we seek to think biblically, engage graciously, and look beyond the headlines to understand what these developments mean for the Church and our culture.

Why would Jesus seem to praise a dishonest manager?

In one of the most puzzling parables in the Gospels, Jesus tells the story of a shrewd manager who appears to be rewarded for his questionable actions. Is Jesus encouraging dishonesty, or is there something deeper going on?

In this episode of Hard Things in the Bible, we unpack Luke 16:1–13, explore several of the leading Christian interpretations of this confusing passage, and try to discover what Jesus is really teaching about money, wisdom, or is it something else entirely. Join us as we wrestle with one of Scripture's most challenging parables and uncover why this strange story still has so much to say to us today.

This week we're tackling one of the hardest stories in the entire Bible: Abraham and Isaac. Why would God ask Abraham to sacrifice his son? What was the purpose of this test? And what are Christians supposed to do with a story that still makes many readers uncomfortable today?

We'll explore the historical context, different Christian perspectives, and how this strange and powerful story points us toward bigger questions about faith, trust, and God's ultimate provision.

Sports betting is everywhere—but what happens when the “casinofication” of culture starts shaping the church too? This week we dive into a thought-provoking article from Christianity Today and ask whether churches are losing community, identity, and formation in a world built around algorithms, individualism, and constant dopamine hits. We talk sports, gambling, discipleship, and what it means to keep the gospel as the game itself instead of just another tool.

On this episode, we dive into a fascinating Christianity Today article exploring how Gen Z is reframing one of Christianity’s oldest questions. Instead of asking, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” many young adults today are asking, “Why don’t bad people ever seem to face justice?” We unpack the rise of cynicism, social media-fueled outrage, the longing for judgment, and how the way of Jesus challenges both despair and revenge in a world that often feels deeply unfair.

What if aliens are real—and two U.S. presidents have already hinted at it? More importantly… would it actually change anything about Christian faith?

In this episode, we dive into a fascinating Christianity Today article exploring how believers might respond to the reality of extraterrestrial life. Would aliens need salvation? Does the gospel extend beyond Earth? And why does this idea feel less shocking than it probably should?

With a mix of humor, curiosity, and thoughtful theology, we explore what first contact might mean—not just for science fiction, but for how we understand God, creation, and the scope of redemption.

Because the real question isn’t are aliens out there?

God commands destruction in one part of the Bible… and tells us to love our enemies in another. So what’s going on? In this episode, we explore the tension between Old Testament violence and the teachings of Jesus, taking an honest look at difficult passages and what they might mean for how we understand God today.

Maybe you’ve been in this scenario: you’re going through a particularly hard time, your emotions are all over the place, you don’t feel like yourself, you’re worried something is wrong. You reach out to a trusted friend or pastor and what’s their advice: “Sounds like a spiritual battle that you should pray about.” Are they right? Is it always that? Is every crisis we face a manifestation of the spiritual realm?

This week, Pastor David and Elise challenge the way we talk about “spiritual battles” and think about the dangers and benefits of facing the spiritual world. Along the way, we’ll explore some strange (and maybe disturbing?) religious practices throughout the ages.

Find the article we used for this episode here:

https://relevantmagazine.com/faith/the-problem-with-calling-everything-a-spiritual-battle/

This week, we unpack Relevant Magazine’s “Everybody Has a Version of Jesus — Only One Holds Up,” and talk about how culture—and politics—can reshape Jesus into something more convenient.

We also discuss the recent AI image of Jesus shared by Donald Trump, and what it reveals about how easily faith can be distorted.

At the center of it all is a simple but challenging question: Are we following the real Jesus—or just a version we’ve created?