CLF Conversations

S2E29: Not Ashamed
The Fear of Man and Sharing Your Faith

When the cashier asks about your weekend, why does "brunch" always win over "church"? Perry Sorensen and Pastor Dave York talk honestly about the fear of man: the quiet pressure that keeps many Christians from talking about Jesus, even with people they love.

Picking up from Romans 1 and Pastor Dave's Musing "The Gospel of God," they look at why the gospel's power doesn't depend on us. They talk about why sharing faith feels harder in today's culture, drawing on Carl Trueman's The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self, and how a bigger view of God shrinks our fear of people. Pastor Dave shares his own struggle with the fear of man. They also discuss how to be bold and gentle at the same time, and simple steps anyone can take this week.

In this episode:

• What the fear of man is, and where it shows up
• Paul's own request for boldness
• "The gospel of God": it begins with Him and belongs to Him
• Why sharing faith feels harder in today's culture
• Fearing God more than people
• Boldness as a gift, not a personality type
• Being bold and gentle at the same time
• Opening spiritual conversations naturally
• Memorizing Scripture to build courage

Scripture (ESV):
Proverbs 29:25; Ephesians 6:19–20; Romans 1:16–17; 1 Peter 3:15; Matthew 10:28; 2 Timothy 1:7–8; Colossians 4:5–6; Romans 10:14

Resources mentioned:
The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self by Carl Trueman

Questions to consider:

• Where does the fear of man show up most in my life?
• Whose approval am I most afraid of losing?
• Do I believe the gospel's power depends on me, or on God?
• Who is one person I could pray for by name this week?
• How can I be both bold and gentle when I share my faith?

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes." Romans 1:16

Worship. Fellowship. Grow. Serve.
CLF Conversations, where we grow in Christ, one conversation at a time.

🎙️ Stay Connected

Thanks for listening to CLF Conversations, the podcast of Covenant Life Fellowship in Roseburg, Oregon.

For sermons, articles, event information, and more resources to help you follow Christ, visit:

Covenant Life Fellowship

As always—

Worship. Fellowship. Grow. & Serve.

We'll see you next time on CLF Conversations—where we grow in Christ one conversation at a time. 🎙️

When you need help at Home Depot, you look for somebody in a vest. At church, we often do the same thing: when someone is hurting, new, or has questions about God, we look for the pastor or church staff. But what if God never meant ministry to be limited to the people with name tags?

Perry Sorensen and Pastor Dave York welcome Dane Tornell, director of Youth for Christ, to talk about every person ministry. That's the conviction that ministry belongs to every follower of Jesus, not just pastors and church leaders. Starting from Ephesians 4, they look at the pastor's role as one who equips, how churches slide into a consumer mindset, and what changes when ordinary members believe God has called them to care for others.

The conversation covers the barriers that hold people back, like fear, busyness and feeling unqualified. It looks at the power of ordinary acts such as a shared meal, a prayer or a word of encouragement. The guys also talk about the biblical "one anothers" and hospitality, and about what ministry looks like on Sunday morning and through the rest of the week. Dane offers a word to church leaders on equipping people without adding more programs or guilt, along with simple ways listeners can start ministering to someone this week.

Key Topics

What "every person ministry" means
Ephesians 4 and pastors as equippers
Consumers vs. participants in the church
Ordinary acts God uses in extraordinary ways
Overcoming fear, busyness and feeling inadequate
The "one anothers" and hospitality
Ministry at church, work, school and home
Noticing the lonely, new and overlooked
Evangelism and the Great Commission

Scripture: Ephesians 4:11–12, 16; 1 Peter 4:10; Romans 12:10, 13; 2 Corinthians 3:5; Hebrews 10:24–25; Matthew 28:19–20; 1 Corinthians 12:7

🎙️ Stay Connected

Thanks for listening to CLF Conversations, the podcast of Covenant Life Fellowship in Roseburg, Oregon.

For sermons, articles, event information, and more resources to help you follow Christ, visit:

Covenant Life Fellowship

As always—

Worship. Fellowship. Grow. & Serve.

We'll see you next time on CLF Conversations—where we grow in Christ one conversation at a time. 🎙️

In Roseburg, everybody has advice, whether it's for your truck, your marriage or your bad week. But when life gets hard, where do people find real help? Perry Sorensen talks with Dr. Andrew Rogers, Executive Director of Biblical Counseling Ministries Worldwide and a Fellow and Board Member of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC). Dr. Rogers has more than 30 years of experience in pastoral ministry, education and missions.

Together they explore what biblical counseling is, how it differs from simply giving good advice, and why it belongs in the everyday discipleship of every believer. They discuss the struggles many people in Roseburg and Douglas County face, such as isolation, addiction, family conflict, grief and hopelessness. They also describe what it would look like for local churches to become known as places where hurting people find compassionate care.

The conversation looks at building a church-wide culture of care, equipping ordinary Christians to counsel one another, and knowing when someone needs additional medical or specialized help. It also covers reaching people outside the church and how churches across Roseburg could work together to train counselors and support pastors. Dr. Rogers shares a five-year vision for biblical counseling in Roseburg and practical next steps for anyone who wants to get involved or needs help but is hesitant to ask.

Key Topics

What biblical counseling is and how it connects to discipleship
Common misconceptions about counseling
The needs of Roseburg and Douglas County
Creating a church culture where people can admit they're struggling
Equipping ordinary believers to care for one another
Counseling as a bridge to the gospel
Churches partnering across Roseburg
A five-year vision and first steps for listeners

Scripture: Colossians 3:16; Galatians 6:2; Romans 15:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Matthew 5:16; 1 Corinthians 12:26; 2 Timothy 2:2; James 1:22

🎙️ Stay Connected

Thanks for listening to CLF Conversations, the podcast of Covenant Life Fellowship in Roseburg, Oregon.

For sermons, articles, event information, and more resources to help you follow Christ, visit:

Covenant Life Fellowship

As always—

Worship. Fellowship. Grow. & Serve.

We'll see you next time on CLF Conversations—where we grow in Christ one conversation at a time. 🎙️

Episode Summary
Perry and Pastor Dave welcome CLF member Cindy Landy for a conversation about her life, coming to know Jesus, and loving people who carry wounds we may never see.
The conversation centers on questions about how difficult early experiences shape a person’s view of themselves, others, and God; what changes when someone becomes a Christian; and why patient relationships matter as people grow in faith.
Together, they explore how Christians can listen more carefully, avoid easy assumptions, and offer meaningful welcome to people who feel ashamed, lonely, or overlooked. What does it look like to make room for someone whose story is different from ours—and to keep walking with them over time?

Key Topics Covered
• Cindy’s story and coming to faith in Christ
• Difficult beginnings and learning to trust
• Identity, shame, and belonging
• New life in Christ and ongoing growth
• Listening to people who are hurting
• Unhelpful assumptions and well-intentioned words
• Compassion for overlooked people
• Hospitality, practical care, and lasting friendship

Discussion Highlights
• A person’s story includes much more than the hardest things they have experienced.
• Trust takes time, especially when trust has been broken.
• Faith in Christ and honest struggle can exist together.
• Listen before deciding what someone needs.
• People do not owe us painful details in exchange for friendship.
• Welcoming people includes respecting boundaries and taking harm seriously.
• Compassion becomes tangible when we follow through.
• Church members can offer friendship and receive it from people whose lives look different from their own.

Scripture References
• Psalm 139:1–3; Psalm 34:18
• Romans 8:15–16; Ephesians 2:8–9
• 2 Corinthians 5:17; Philippians 1:6
• 1 Thessalonians 5:14
• Romans 12:15; James 1:19
• 2 Corinthians 1:3–4; Luke 14:12–14
• James 2:1–5; Romans 15:7
• Luke 10:33–37; Galatians 6:2
• Colossians 3:12–14

Takeaway Questions
• Who do I tend to overlook when I walk into church?
• Do I listen to understand, or am I already preparing an answer?
• What assumptions do I make about people whose lives are different from mine?
• Have I ever made someone feel rushed to get over something painful?
• Can someone be honest with me without becoming a subject of conversation with others?
• Am I willing to build a friendship without expecting someone to tell me their whole story?
• How do I respond when someone’s growth takes longer than I expected?
• What practical help can I realistically offer and follow through on?
• Is there someone I could invite to sit with me or share a meal this week?
• What would patient, faithful love look like for our church right now?

🎙️ Stay Connected

Thanks for listening to CLF Conversations, the podcast of Covenant Life Fellowship in Roseburg, Oregon.

For sermons, articles, event information, and more resources to help you follow Christ, visit:

Covenant Life Fellowship

As always—

Worship. Fellowship. Grow. & Serve.

We'll see you next time on CLF Conversations—where we grow in Christ one conversation at a time. 🎙️

🌍 Key Topics Covered
• Matthew 6:1–15
• Religious performance
• Human approval
• Prayer
• The Lord's Prayer
• God's fatherhood
• Forgiveness
• Motives
• Hypocrisy
• Intimacy with God

💬 Discussion Highlights
Christians can do good things for bad reasons.
Prayer is relationship, not performance.
God sees what others cannot see.
The Lord's Prayer reshapes our priorities.
Forgiven people become forgiving people.
God's approval is better than human applause.

📖 Scripture References
Matthew 6:1–15
Galatians 1:10
Matthew 23:5
Matthew 6:6
Matthew 6:8
Matthew 6:10
Matthew 6:14–15

📌 Takeaway Questions
Who am I ultimately trying to impress?
Do I seek God's approval more than man's approval?
What motivates my service, giving, and prayer?
Do I truly view God as my Father?
How would my prayer life change if I believed God delights in me as His child?
Am I harboring unforgiveness toward anyone?
Would I still obey Christ if nobody ever noticed?

🎙️ Stay Connected

Thanks for listening to CLF Conversations, the podcast of Covenant Life Fellowship in Roseburg, Oregon.

For sermons, articles, event information, and more resources to help you follow Christ, visit:

Covenant Life Fellowship

As always—

Worship. Fellowship. Grow. & Serve.

We'll see you next time on CLF Conversations—where we grow in Christ one conversation at a time. 🎙️

🌍 Key Topics Covered
Business and faith
Success
Christian ambition
Identity in Christ
Achievement
Work and the gospel
Money
Contentment
Idolatry
Entrepreneurship
Leadership
Family and work
Stewardship
Faithfulness
Work-life balance
Gospel-centered success

💬 Discussion Highlights
Success is not inherently sinful.
Good ambitions can become bad masters.
Achievement makes a terrible identity.
The gospel frees Christians from having to prove their worth.
Healthy ambition asks, "How can I faithfully steward this?"
Idolatrous ambition asks, "What does this say about me?"
Christians can pursue excellence without worshiping achievement.
Failure doesn't determine the believer's identity.
Success should never come at the expense of the people God has called us to love.
Biblical success is ultimately measured by faithfulness to Christ.
Identity in Christ doesn't necessarily remove drive—it changes the reason behind it.
The Christian works from acceptance, not for acceptance.

📖 Scripture References
1 Corinthians 15:10
Matthew 6:21
Colossians 3:23
Psalm 139:23
1 Corinthians 4:2
Colossians 3:17
Philippians 2:3
Matthew 6:24
1 Timothy 6:10
Philippians 4:11
Romans 8:1

📌 Takeaway Questions
What does success mean to me right now?
What achievement am I tempted to believe will finally make me feel secure?
Can I rest without feeling guilty?
Can I celebrate someone else's success without comparing myself to them?
How do I respond when I fail?
If my career disappeared tomorrow, would I still know who I am?
Do the people closest to me experience my ambition as a blessing or a burden?
Is my work serving my family, or is my family increasingly serving my work?
Do I view my career as an identity or as a stewardship?
Am I trying to prove something through what I accomplish?
What would it look like to pursue excellence for the glory of God instead of the glory of myself?
Am I building something for my name or faithfully stewarding something for Christ's name?

🎙️ Stay Connected

Thanks for listening to CLF Conversations, the podcast of Covenant Life Fellowship in Roseburg, Oregon.

For sermons, articles, event information, and more resources to help you follow Christ, visit:

Covenant Life Fellowship

As always—

Worship. Fellowship. Grow. & Serve.

We'll see you next time on CLF Conversations—where we grow in Christ one conversation at a time. 🎙️

🎙️ Stay Connected

Thanks for listening to CLF Conversations, the podcast of Covenant Life Fellowship in Roseburg, Oregon.

For sermons, articles, event information, and more resources to help you follow Christ, visit:

Covenant Life Fellowship

As always—

Worship. Fellowship. Grow. & Serve.

We'll see you next time on CLF Conversations—where we grow in Christ one conversation at a time. 🎙️

🌍 Key Topics Covered

💬 Discussion Highlights

📖 Scripture References

📌 Takeaway Questions

🎙️ Stay Connected

Thanks for listening to CLF Conversations, the podcast of Covenant Life Fellowship in Roseburg, Oregon.

For sermons, articles, event information, and more resources to help you follow Christ, visit:

Covenant Life Fellowship

As always—

Worship. Fellowship. Grow. & Serve.

We'll see you next time on CLF Conversations—where we grow in Christ one conversation at a time. 🎙️

🎙️ Stay Connected

Thanks for listening to CLF Conversations, the podcast of Covenant Life Fellowship in Roseburg, Oregon.

For sermons, articles, event information, and more resources to help you follow Christ, visit:

Covenant Life Fellowship

As always—

Worship. Fellowship. Grow. & Serve.

We'll see you next time on CLF Conversations—where we grow in Christ one conversation at a time. 🎙️

🌍 Key Topics Covered

💬 Discussion Highlights

📖 Scripture References

📌 Takeaway Questions

🎙️ Stay Connected

Thanks for listening to CLF Conversations, the podcast of Covenant Life Fellowship in Roseburg, Oregon.

For sermons, articles, event information, and more resources to help you follow Christ, visit:

Covenant Life Fellowship

As always—

Worship. Fellowship. Grow. & Serve.

We'll see you next time on CLF Conversations—where we grow in Christ one conversation at a time. 🎙️