By Design Podcast

In this special episode, we pause to mark one full year of recording the podcast. What started as a simple idea has grown into meaningful conversations, incredible guests, and a faithful community of listeners. We want to express our deep gratitude to everyone who has supported, shared, prayed, and participated along the way.

Also an important update. We will be taking a short break until May 4th as we restructure the heart and direction of the show. Moving forward, our focus will be more intentional and explicitly centered on Christ. Along with refining the theme and content, we are redesigning the set to reflect that renewed vision.

This is not an ending, but a reset. Thank you for being part of the first year! We are excited for what is ahead!

Have questions or want to connect? You can reach out to us at:  [email protected]

In this episode, we continue the Sabbath narrative as Jesus enters the synagogue and heals the man with the withered hand. We wrestle with the audacity of that moment, not just the miracle itself, but the confrontation it created. What does it reveal about hardened hearts, misplaced priorities, and the authority of Christ?

From there, we dive deeper into what it truly means that Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath. If He is Lord over it, then He defines its purpose. We talk about the Sabbath as a gift rather than a burden, how rest is rooted in trust, and what faithful Sabbath practice looks like today. We also discuss how Sabbath rhythms may look different for ministers and those who serve in the church, and why intentional rest may need to fall on a different day during the week.

We close with a practical conversation about worship through tithe, not only financially, but through time, service, and surrender. This episode invites you to examine your rhythms, your rest, and your response to the authority and compassion of Christ.

Have questions or want to connect? You can reach out to us at:  [email protected]

In this episode, we sit down with Chris Morgan, Campus Director for the University of Louisville athletic department and a longtime leader with Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Born and raised in Louisville, Chris has served with FCA since 1998, pouring into athletes and coaches at every level of competition. Through the years, he has spoken to college and professional teams including Duke, Kentucky, Indiana, the Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, Texas Rangers, Oakland Athletics, and many more.

More than a gifted communicator, Chris carries a deep conviction about calling. As he says, “FCA is not something I do, it is who I am.” In this conversation, we talk about faith in the locker room, discipling competitors, leading on campus, and what it means to see sports as a mission field. It is a powerful look at identity, longevity in ministry, and impacting champions beyond the scoreboard.

Have questions or want to connect? You can reach out to us at:  [email protected]

In this episode, we walk through Mark 2:23 to 28 and unpack Jesus’ interaction with the Pharisees over the Sabbath. We explore the deeper context behind His reference to David eating the consecrated bread and what that moment reveals about mercy, authority, and the true purpose of the law. Rather than diminishing the Sabbath, Jesus reframes it around human need and divine compassion, declaring Himself Lord even over it.

We close the conversation with a personal and searching question: In what areas of your life do you need the powerful and compassionate touch of Christ today? This episode invites you to move beyond rule keeping into relationship, and to see the heart of a Savior who meets both our hunger and our hardness with grace and authority.

Have questions or want to connect? You can reach out to us at:  [email protected]

In this episode, we sit down with Max Bergmann, former Savannah Bananas pitcher and University of Cincinnati baseball alum, to talk about his journey through the game. Max shares his baseball story from high school to college to Banana Ball, along with honest insight into player development, mental and physical health, and what it really takes to stay ready on and off the field. A grounded conversation about growth, longevity, and loving the game beyond the stats.

Have questions or want to connect? You can reach out to us at:  [email protected]

This week is a rather short and powerful episode. In Mark 2:18–22, Jesus responds to questions about fasting by revealing something deeper than religious practice. He speaks of new wine and old wineskins, teaching that what He is doing cannot be contained within old systems, expectations, or identities. And how fasting is directly linked to ushering in the presence of God. 

Have questions or want to connect? You can reach out to us at:  [email protected]

In this powerful conversation, Matthew shares his journey from the battlefield to recovery, and how God was walking with him long before he recognized it. What began as a fight not to let the enemy claim victory slowly became a calling to inspire others through resilience, faith, and purpose. This episode is a testimony of perseverance, identity, and the quiet but relentless presence of God in the darkest seasons of life. 

Have questions or want to connect? You can reach out to us at:  [email protected]

In this episode, we walk through Mark 2:1–17, where Jesus heals the paralytic, forgives sins, calls Levi, and completely upends the expectations of the religious elite. From a crowded house to a dinner table full of tax collectors and sinners, we see the authority of Christ on full display and the heart of God for those who know they need Him. 

Have questions or want to connect? You can reach out to us at:  [email protected]

In this episode, we walk through Mark 1:21 to 45 and witness the early authority of Jesus put on full display. From teaching in the synagogue to casting out unclean spirits, healing the sick, and touching the untouchable, Mark shows us a Savior whose power is unmatched and whose compassion is unmistakable. This passage forces us to wrestle with a crucial question. Do we merely admire Jesus, or do we truly submit to His authority.

As we move through these scenes, we explore what it means that Jesus teaches with authority, why demons recognize Him when people struggle to, and how His mercy toward a leper reveals the heart of God for the broken and outcast. This is not just a study of miracles but a call to respond rightly to the King who has come near.

Whether you are new to the Gospel of Mark or returning to it with fresh eyes, this episode invites you to see Jesus clearly, trust Him fully, and follow Him faithfully.

Have questions or want to connect? You can reach out to us at:  [email protected]

In this episode, we walk through Mark 1:16 to 20 and witness the powerful simplicity of Jesus calling His first disciples. As Jesus passes by the Sea of Galilee, ordinary fishermen are invited into an extraordinary life with a simple command Follow Me. We explore what it means that they immediately left their nets, their livelihood, and even their family to follow Christ. This passage challenges our understanding of obedience, surrender, and trust, reminding us that discipleship is not about comfort or qualification but about responding to the authority and grace of Jesus. Join us as we unpack how this call still confronts us today and what it looks like to leave our nets behind and follow Him fully. 

Have questions or want to connect? You can reach out to us at:  [email protected]