Many Christians—and critics—wrestle with this difficult question: does the Bible support slavery?  Chris Hilkin discusses the  most misunderstood and controversial aspects of the Old Testament. He confronts the assumption that God condones slavery by unpacking what the Bible actually says about servitude, justice, and human dignity. Through historical context, Hebrew language insights, and careful biblical interpretation, Chris explains how God’s law placed boundaries on power, offered protections to the vulnerable, and called His people to reflect His justice and mercy—even in broken systems.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why the Hebrew Bible doesn’t have a category for race-based slavery
• How biblical servitude functioned like voluntary indentured labor
• What protections the Mosaic law gave to servants—including freedom, fair treatment, and legal rights
• How the New Testament condemns slave trading as sinful 

📖 Scriptures References:

1. Exodus 21:16 
2. Deuteronomy 23:15–16 
3. Leviticus, Deuteronomy, Exodus – Laws protecting servants
4. 1 Timothy 1:10 – All are one in Christ; serve others in love
5. Isaiah 61 

Invite Jerrad to speak: https://www.jerradlopes.com
Read The Dad Tired Book: https://amzn.to/3YTz4GB

Many christians  feel unequipped to handle the hard questions—especially when it comes to the Old Testament. Why does God seem so angry? Did He really command entire crowds  to be destroyed? In this episode, Chris Hilkin opens a new teaching series by offering simple, powerful tools for reading Scripture faithfully. He walks through how to understand difficult passages, avoid common interpretation mistakes, and confidently answering the kinds of questions people might ask about God’s character in the Bible.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why we must use clear Scripture to interpret confusing passages
• How to distinguish between biblical description and prescription
• Why not every story in the Bible teaches a moral or doctrine
• How context, authorship, and genre shape proper understanding
• Common interpretation errors that lead to misunderstanding God’s character
• Why Jesus must be the hero of every biblical narrative

📖 Scripture References:

1. Psalm 82 vs. Isaiah 44 & Deuteronomy 6 
2. Exodus, Deuteronomy, Leviticus – laws about slavery, justice, and culture
3. 1 Samuel 15, Job 1:21, Romans 13 
4. John 3:16, Ephesians 2:8–9
5. Deuteronomy 6:4–6 – The Shema
6. Galatians 3, Philippians 2, Isaiah 61 

Resources & Links :

• Podcast sponsor-Range Leather 
• Use code DADTIRED at rangeleather.com/dadtired for 15% off custom hats
• Email for Notes: [email protected] 

Future Topics in the Series
Ep 453- Chris Hilken- Morality of God in the Old Testament- Part 2| 453
Ep 455- Chris Hilken- Morality of God in the Old Testament- Part 3| 455
Invite Jerrad to speak: https://www.jerradlopes.com
Read The Dad Tired Book: https://amzn.to/3YTz4GB

How do you lead your family with faith and conviction in a culture that no longer shares your values? In this conversation, Patrick Miller discusses the message of his new book Joyful Outsiders. Joyful Outsiders —a guide for Christian men learning to follow Jesus in a world that feels disorienting, even hostile. He explains why being an outsider isn’t something to avoid, but a biblical identity to embrace.
 Raising kids, discipling others, or navigating your own tension with culture, this episode offers practical wisdom for how to live faithfully, lead intentionally, and stay rooted in joy—even when the world pushes back.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why Christians have always been cultural outsiders
• The difference between conforming, combating, cloistering—and joyfully engaging
• Six biblical archetypes for cultural engagement (e.g. Advisor, Protestor, Artist)
• How to parent kids through complex questions about faith, identity, and culture
• Why spiritual influence requires wisdom, not one-size-fits-all responses
• How calling, personality, and gifts shape your impact in the world

📖  Scripture References 
Hebrews 13
1 Peter 1
Ephesians 2, Philippians 2, Galatians 3
Daniel 2

Episode Resources

Book: Joyful Outsiders: Six Ways to Live Like Jesus in a Disorienting Culture by Patrick Miller and Keith Simon
Available from major booksellers or at joyfuloutsiders.com
Free Assessment: Take the “Outsider Archetype” quiz to discover your primary role in cultural engagement- joyfuloutsiders.com
Invite Jerrad to speak: https://www.jerradlopes.com
Read The Dad Tired Book: https://amzn.to/3YTz4GB

A new year often brings the desire to reset—not just with goals and routines, but in how we lead, parent, and connect with God. In this episode, Kaleb Allen reflects on the emotional and spiritual weight many men carry coming out of the holidays: feeling off-rhythm, spiritually dry, or unsure how to re-engage. In reference to James 5:17 and Elijah’s prayer life, he calls Christian husbands, fathers, and leaders back to the foundation—fervent, honest, consistent prayer. He urges you to show up before God with your whole heart and trust Him to work through your  weakness.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why James 5:17 matters for men struggling to pray
• How early church history describes James as a man of  consistent prayer
• What it means to pray like Elijah—with faith, urgency, and expectation
• Why prayer is hard—and how to reengage your heart when you feel numb
• The role of fervency, persistence, and spiritual travail in breakthrough
• Why your emotions can’t be trusted to lead your prayer life
• How real prayer engages your whole being, not just your words

📖 Scriptures References:
James 5:17–18
1 Kings 18
Daniel 7
Matthew 28, John 13, Luke 24
Romans 8
1 Thessalonians 5
Luke 18

Sponsor: Dwell Bible App
Listen to the Bible on your schedule with flexible plans here: dwellbible.com/dadtired
Invite Jerrad to speak: https://www.jerradlopes.com
Read The Dad Tired Book: https://amzn.to/3YTz4GB

What do you do when life falls apart—and you're still expected to lead, provide, and hold it all together? In this episode, Pastor John Onwuchekwa shares his story of unexpected loss, spiritual exhaustion, and the slow, grace-filled process of healing. Through raw moments of grief, relational strain, and a sabbatical that reshaped him, John shows why grief isn’t something to get over—but something we have to learn to carry.

Together, John and Kaleb explore how Scripture, friendship, and deep honesty help Christian men navigate sorrow without losing hope. If you’re in a season of loss—or walking with someone who is—this conversation offers comfort, language, and direction.

 What You’ll Learn:

• Why grief isn't linear—and why it doesn't mean you're doing it wrong
• The difference between honesty and hopelessness
• How grief affects marriage, friendships, and spiritual rhythms
• Why isolation is more dangerous than tragedy
• How Ecclesiastes and the resurrection became anchors for John’s healing
• What to do (and not do) when walking with someone who's grieving

Scriptures References:
Ecclesiastes – Finding hope in hard truths
1 Thessalonians 4; 1 Corinthians 15
Acts 1
Isaiah 53
John 11

Episode Resources:
1. Book: We Go On by John Onwuchekwa – Available at major booksellers and wegoontour.com
2. National Tour: We Go On Tour — A live evening of music, film, comedy, and teaching on grief and hope-wegoontour.com
3. Sponsor: Dwell Bible App -dwellbible.com/dadtired
Invite Jerrad to speak: https://www.jerradlopes.com
Read The Dad Tired Book: https://amzn.to/3YTz4GB

 In this episode, Peter Ostapko shares how God called him out of banking and into a creative, countercultural ministry: Kinsman Journal. Built around the themes of faith, fatherhood, and work, the journal combines original photography, timeless essays, and deep storytelling to speak to the heart of Christian men.

Peter also explains how Kinsman has grown beyond print into live gatherings like Kinsman Table, where excellence, hospitality, and intentionality create space for men to connect and grow- through presence.
Listen in to hear more about  deeper brotherhood, renewed purpose, or a new way to engage with the men in your life.

 What You’ll Learn:

• How a vision for “faith, fatherhood, and work” sparked a national movement
• Why the Kinsman Journal focuses on everyday men’s stories, not celebrity voices
• How beauty and excellence open doors for discipleship
• Why men need more than sermons—they need community and challenge
• The difference between programming and presence in men’s ministry
• How local gatherings and generosity can reshape modern masculinity

Episode Resources:
1. Kinsman Journal – A premium print journal with original stories, photos, and essays on faith, fatherhood, and work
 Order or bulk-gift at: https://www.kinsman.org
2. Kinsman Table – Invite-only gatherings for men (3x/year), built around hospitality, reflection, and curated conversation
3.Kinsman Nights & Kinsman Forum – Public and discipleship-focused events happening monthly and in select cities
4.Kinsman Podcast – Audio version of the journal available for free on podcast platforms
5.Bonhoeffer’s Life Together .
6.Book: The Revenge of Analog .
7.Book: The Alternative to Futility by Elton Trueblood.

Invite Jerrad to speak: https://www.jerradlopes.com
Read The Dad Tired Book: https://amzn.to/3YTz4GB

Most Christian men want to be more consistent—more prayerful, more disciplined, more engaged. But what if the struggle isn’t really about discipline at all? In this episode, Kaleb Allen looks at the life of Daniel to show that lasting spiritual habits flow from conviction, not willpower. It’s not about trying harder—it’s about believing deeper. If you’re tired of starting strong and fading out, this message will help you reframe discipline as a response to what you believe about God, not just a task to check off.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why discipline without conviction eventually fails
• How Daniel’s life shows the power of consistent devotion over decades
• The difference between spiritual guilt and genuine desire
• Why you may not have a “prayer problem”—you may have a belief problem
• How to write spiritual resolutions that actually shape your life
• Why the lion’s den was safer for Daniel than 30 days without prayer

📖 Scriptures References:

1. Daniel 6 
2. 1 Kings 18
3. Romans 8, Revelation, John 13–17 

Episode Resources:

1. Jonathan Edwards’ Resolutions – 70 life commitments Edwards wrote at age 18
2. Challenge to  List  Your Own 10 Spiritual Resolutions 
3. Robert Murray McCheyne Bible Plan
4. Sponsor- Range Leather - rangeleather.com/dadtired | Use code DADTIRED for 15% off

Invite Jerrad to speak: https://www.jerradlopes.com
Read The Dad Tired Book: https://amzn.to/3YTz4GB

What happens when one man devotes his whole life to prayer? In this  episode, Kaleb Allen shares the  story of John Hyde—known as “Praying Hyde”—a missionary to India whose hidden life with God shook nations. Hyde’s devotion wasn’t loud or public, but it was deep, consistent, and marked by sacrificial love.

Kaleb weaves Hyde’s story with Scripture, church history, and a connection to Joseph of Arimathea’s tenderness at the cross, inviting Christian men to step into a quiet, faithful life shaped by love, not performance.
If your spiritual life feels tired or distracted, this episode calls you back to where true power begins: in the presence of God.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why devotion is about consistency, not perfection
• How prayer shapes legacy—even across generations
• Why real intercession is born from brokenness, not pressure
• The story of John Hyde’s increasing burden for souls
• How sacrifice, fasting, and prayer brought revival in India
• What Joseph of Arimathea’s act of love teaches us about the cross

📖 Scriptures References:

1. Matthew 9:37–38 
2. Psalm 51:17
3. John 11, Isaiah 53
4. Mark 15 

Episode Resources:
Sponsor: Back Gate Prayers
→ Personalized prayer card sets for families- backgateprayers.com | Use code DADTIRED for 10% off
Invite Jerrad to speak: https://www.jerradlopes.com
Read The Dad Tired Book: https://amzn.to/3YTz4GB

What does it really look like to seek God in the secret place as a way of life? Bob Sorge shares how decades of vocal injury and physical suffering drew him deeper into intimacy with Jesus. Rather than walking away from his calling, Bob chose to lean in—learning to meet God in silence.
 Bob and Kaleb explore how the secret place forms men into spiritual leaders, how a father’s hunger for God can shape the atmosphere of a home, and why devotion rooted in desire—not duty—is what sustains us through every season.
If you’re a husband, father, or ministry leader longing for something more than surface-level faith, this episode offers a  personal call back to the presence of God.

 What You’ll Learn:

• The difference between duty-driven prayer and desire-fueled devotion
• How suffering can press us into God's presence—not away from it
• What it looks like to seek God in seasons of confusion, silence, or pain
• Why secret place discipline flows best from personal hunger
• How to teach your kids to build their own relationship with Jesus
• Why scheduled time with God is worth fighting for

📖 Scriptures References:
Matthew 6:6
Song of Solomon 1:2
1 Peter 2:21
Galatians 6:8, Revelation 3, Hebrews 12, Psalm 51:17, Isaiah 53, Matthew 5:14–15

Episode Resources:

1.  Book: Secrets of the Secret Place by Bob Sorge
2. Book: The Cross by Bob Sorge
3.  Book: Reset – A Personal Revival Guide (and companion site)→ Learn more: prayerreset.com 
4. Sponsor: Range Leather - rangeleather.com/dadtired | Use code DADTIRED for 15% off

Invite Jerrad to speak: https://www.jerradlopes.com
Read The Dad Tired Book: https://amzn.to/3YTz4GB

In this episode, Jerrad Lopes shares that he is stepping away from ministry. He talks honestly about hidden sin, personal pain, and the need to heal. He talks  about choosing to face what has been ignored.
Jerrad explains what led to this point and why rest, confession, and care are necessary. He speaks as a husband, father, and follower of Christ who wants to be whole. If you are carrying quiet struggles of your own, this is an invitation to stop hiding and start healing.
What You’ll Learn:

• Why hidden sin exhausts your soul
• The danger of building influence without healing
• How confession, counseling, and community are shaping Jerrad’s path forward
• What it looks like to step away from ministry for the sake of your family
• Why God cares more about your soul than your platform
• How Dad Tired will continue during Jerrad’s absence

📖 Scriptures References:
Psalm 23 – “Your rod and your staff, they comfort me”

Psalm 139 – God searches the heart and brings hidden things to light

Episode Resources:

1. Dad Tired Online Community -connect.dadtired.com
2. Family Leadership Program – dadtired.com/family-leadership-program
3. Invite Jerrad to speak: https://www.jerradlopes.com
4. Read The Dad Tired Book: https://amzn.to/3YTz4GB