Come On! Truth in the Trenches

Episode 53 gets real.

Sawyer Smith sits down with Brandon Clarke for one of the most honest conversations we’ve had yet... mental health, anxiety, depression, isolation, burnout, and the stigma surrounding it in Christian culture.

Why do so many believers suffer silently?

Why do men feel like they have to “deal with it” alone?

And why did God tell Elijah to rest instead of simply “having more faith”?

This episode dives deep into:

• Mental health in the Bible

• Anxiety, depression, and faith

• Isolation and community

• Rest as a gift from God

• Why asking for help takes courage

• The importance of renewing your mind

• Breaking the stigma around counseling and vulnerability

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, burned out, anxious, isolated, or spiritually exhausted... this conversation is for you.

You are not weak.

You are not alone.

And you are not less of a Christian for struggling.

In this episode, we walk through Acts Chapter 13, the start of Paul and Barnabas’ first missionary journey and one of the most powerful chapters in Acts.

We talk about spiritual opposition, rejection, church hurt, calling, fasting, waking up early to spend time with God, and Paul’s sermon explaining how Jesus fulfills the entire story of Scripture.

This conversation also dives into:

Why following Jesus often brings resistance

The difference between religion and relationship

How God uses imperfect people

Paul and Barnabas facing criticism and conflict

Acts 13:48 and the deeper questions around salvation and belief

One quote that stuck with us:

“You’re not trying to get in the Bible… you’re trying to get the Bible in you.”

We hope this episode encourages you to stay faithful, keep seeking God daily, and continue sharing the Gospel boldly, even when it’s uncomfortable.

Scripture Focus: Acts 13

Acts 12 presents a difficult question. Peter is rescued from prison while James is killed.

This episode looks at:

• Why outcomes can differ even with strong faith
• How prayer fits into God’s plan
• What to do during hard seasons
• Trusting God without full understanding

This is a grounded conversation about faith, suffering, and perspective.

What if the biggest thing limiting your faith is your circle?

In Episode 50, Zach Bennett and Sawyer Smith walk through Acts 11 where Peter is questioned for stepping outside what was normal. Then it becomes clear:

God moved.

The Spirit fell.

And it wasn’t who they expected.

This episode starts real with everyday life, then turns into a deeper challenge. Are we following God or just protecting what’s familiar?

“If God is doing this, who are we to stand in His way?”

You can build a crowd around a personality.

You can grow a following around a message.

But you cannot turn people to the Lord without the hand of the Lord.

Is your circle smaller than the Gospel?

Come on and step outside of it.

What if honor isn’t just respect but what you truly value?

Sawyer Smith, Bryan Stansbury, and Logan Welch unpack a raw and honest conversation on honor, from faith and family to leadership and everyday life. They explore why honor must be chosen, how it shapes influence, and why you can only receive from what you recognize.

Because in the end, what you place the most weight on will define how you live.

God does not fit into the limits we create.

In this episode, Zach Bennett and Sawyer Smith walk through Acts 10 and the story of Peter and Cornelius. A moment where God challenges assumptions, breaks traditions, and calls for obedience.

Peter is forced out of everything he has known. Through a vision and real life encounter, he learns that God’s grace is not limited to a specific group of people.

This episode explores:

• Obedience even when it does not make sense

• Wrestling with God and learning to trust Him

• Breaking out of religious routines and mindsets

• Loving people outside your comfort zone

It is not just Cornelius who is transformed. Peter is too.

A real and honest conversation that will challenge the way you see God, people, and obedience.

Read Acts 10 and dive in with us.

Come on.

In this episode of Come On! Truth in the Trenches, Zach and Sawyer hit record at 6AM, tired, unfiltered, and ready to just have a real conversation.

What starts off light with barbecue debates, a missing cat, and ChatGPT quickly turns into something deeper after a comment challenges their faith: how can anyone actually believe the Bible?

Instead of arguing, they lean in.

This episode dives into:

• Why belief in the Bible can sound crazy from the outside
• The tension between faith, evidence, and personal experience
• Real and honest doubt, even as believers
• The impact of transformation and why testimony matters
• Comparing religions and asking hard questions
• How to respond to skepticism with empathy, not anger
• Why following God is not always easy, but still worth it

Zach and Sawyer are not scholars. They are learning in real time, having raw conversations, and sharing what they are discovering along the way.

This is not about winning debates. It is about seeking truth, staying humble, and loving people even when you disagree.

Because at the end of the day, the question is not just “Is the Bible real?”

It is what it means for your life if it is.

In this episode, we break down one of the most powerful moments in Scripture, Saul’s encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus.

From persecuting Christians to preaching Christ, Saul’s transformation reminds us that no one is too far gone. We talk about radical vs gradual salvation, the importance of obedience through Ananias, and how God uses even the most unlikely people for His purpose.

We also dive into:

• Faith of a mustard seed
• Spiritual warfare and the battle of the mind
• Taking ownership and growth after salvation
• Why your testimony matters

No matter where you are in your walk, this episode is a reminder that God meets you right there.

Scripture Reference: Acts Chapter 9

Persecution hits the early church, but instead of stopping the movement, it spreads it.

In this episode, we unpack Acts 8: from Saul’s attack on believers, to Simon’s struggle with true faith, to the power of your personal testimony.

• We also dive into the Holy Spirit, emotional highs vs real relationship, and one of the wildest moments in Scripture.

Real talk. Real questions. Real faith.

Come on.

How do you know if you are making the right decision?

In this episode, Sawyer Smith and Bryan Stansbury talk about one of the most common struggles Christians face. Discerning God’s will.

Many people treat the will of God like a hidden mystery they might accidentally miss. But the Bible actually gives us clear principles for making wise, godly decisions.

They share a practical framework rooted in Scripture, including:

• Starting with surrender instead of preference

• Letting God’s Word guide your choices

• Praying for wisdom instead of just outcomes

• Checking your motives

• Seeking wise counsel

• Evaluating the fruit your decisions produce

Christian decision-making is not about chasing signs. It is about developing a Kingdom-first mindset and choosing what honors Christ.

Listen now and learn how to make decisions with clarity, wisdom, and faith.