Galatians 1: Gospel Clarity, Conditional Love, and Personal Theology

In this episode of the Exploring More Podcast, Michael Thompson and SJ Jennings continue their series through the book of Galatians, focusing on Paul’s bold defense of his apostleship and the uncompromising unity of the gospel. Writing with passion and urgency, Paul confronts distortions introduced by the Judaizers—reminding the Galatians that his commission comes not from man, but from Jesus Christ Himself.

The conversation moves from historical context to personal reflection, as Michael and SJ examine how cultural expectations, church upbringing, and performance-based faith can cloud our understanding of grace. They explore how many believers, knowingly or not, come to believe that love must be earned—when in fact, the gospel declares it’s freely given.

This episode also introduces Zoweh’s Base Camp, a new online resource hub offering devotionals, podcasts, and discussion guides to support deeper connection with God and others. Whether you're exploring Galatians in a group or on your own, this resource is a companion for your healing and restoration journey.

Listeners are encouraged to reflect on their own personal theology and motivations: What’s driving your faith—grace or performance? What version of love did your story teach you to believe?

We hope you enjoy this episode and invite you to connect with us!

📧 Email us: [email protected] 🌐 Learn more: https://www.zoweh.org/events https://www.zoweh.org/podcast

🧭 Base Camp: https://www.zoweh.org/basecamp

Galatians, Grace, and Gospel: Paul’s Passion and Our Freedom

In this episode of the Exploring More Podcast, Michael Thompson and SJ Jennings open a brand-new journey through the book of Galatians. With passion and insight, they explore Paul’s missionary travels, his dramatic transformation from Pharisee to apostle, and the cultural tension between Jewish and Gentile believers in the early church.

This episode lays the foundation for the Galatians series—a deep dive into one of Paul’s most emotional and urgent letters. Michael and SJ unpack themes of identity, freedom, grace, and spiritual warfare, and examine how Paul’s personal encounters with the resurrected Christ shaped his bold message of salvation by grace, not by works.

Alongside historical and theological context, the conversation gets personal: What are we adding to the gospel? Where are we still performing for acceptance? Through honest reflection and practical application, the hosts invite listeners to confront performance-based faith and embrace grace as the empowering presence of God.

Whether you’re listening alone or with a small group, this series invites you into the heart of the gospel—a life of freedom, identity, and unshakable belonging in Christ.

We hope you enjoy this episode and invite you to connect with us!

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Kings Row with John Eldredge: Experiencing Jesus in Daily Life

In this special episode of Exploring More, Michael Thompson welcomes bestselling author John Eldredge to launch the new series Kings Row. Together, they explore deeper spiritual experiences—not through religious striving, but through daily relational union and communion with Jesus.

John shares his heart behind Experiencing Jesus, a guide to recovering ancient practices and creating space to connect with God. Drawing from Psalm 91, neuroscience, and his own journey, he introduces the “ordinary mystic”—believers who walk intimately with God in everyday life.

The conversation explores the challenge of a culture driven by speed and distraction. John names the toll of technology and invites listeners to unplug and return to practices that foster healing and peace. From angelic encounters to Star Trek, the episode offers wisdom and wonder in how God meets us.

Michael and John also highlight the role of spiritual fathering, mentors, and tools like the Pause app—resources to reorient the soul and experience God in real time.

This episode invites you to linger in God’s presence, embrace the unseen realm, and rediscover the joy of walking with Jesus daily.

We hope you enjoy this episode and invite you to connect with us!

📧 Email us: [email protected] 🌐 Learn more: https://www.zoweh.org/events https://www.zoweh.org/podcast 🕊️ Pause App & Experiencing Jesus Module: https://www.pauseapp.com

Healing the Father’s Heart: Questions, Connection, and the Power of Apology

In this episode of the Exploring More Podcast, Michael Thompson and SJ Jennings dive into the deep waters of fatherhood and healing. They explore how a father’s spiritual health and emotional presence can shape not only his own heart but also the hearts of his children. The invitation is clear: walk with God, get your heart back, and reconnect with your children—no matter what season of parenting you're in.

Through personal stories, including bread baking requests, football games, Star Trek marathons, and the hard lessons of missed moments, Michael and SJ unpack practical ways for fathers to stay engaged and grow in empathy. From asking better questions to reading books and watching shows alongside their kids, they share everyday strategies that create opportunities for meaningful connection.

A major theme of the episode is the healing power of sincere apologies. The hosts offer guidance on how to make amends—not from a place of shame, but from a place of humility and love. They emphasize that even past mistakes, when owned and addressed, can become sacred moments of restoration.

The conversation also highlights the spiritual dimension of fatherhood: praying for and with children, standing in spiritual authority, and staying attentive to God’s voice in the parenting journey. Resources like Zoweh’s Daily Prayer and the book King Me are recommended as tools for this sacred calling.

Whether you're in a season of reconnection or just beginning to examine your own story, this episode offers hope, honesty, and help for the road ahead.

We hope you enjoy this episode and invite you to connect with us!

📧 Email us: [email protected] 🌐 Learn more: https://www.zoweh.org/events https://www.zoweh.org/podcast

Training Up a Child: Discovering Gifts, Asking Questions, and Fathering with Intentionality

In this episode of the Exploring More Podcast, Michael Thompson, SJ Jennings, and Josh Overton invite listeners into a candid and heartfelt conversation about the ongoing journey of fatherhood. Drawing from Proverbs 22:6 and their own lived experiences, they explore the sacred responsibility of training up children—not in a rigid mold, but in alignment with each child’s unique personality, giftings, and “bent.”

Fatherhood, they reflect, is not about mastery—it’s about discovery. Whether it’s planning one-on-one adventures, reading books their kids love, or simply asking the right questions at the right time, Michael, SJ, and Josh share how intentional moments of connection become anchors for a child’s identity. The episode emphasizes the value of listening deeply, affirming consistently, and staying curious—especially as children grow into their own.

The conversation also highlights how a father’s story—his wounds, growth, and transformation—inevitably shapes the map he offers his children. From stories of moving day emotions to navigating different personality types, the episode offers both encouragement and practical wisdom for dads walking through every stage of parenting.

Ultimately, Michael, SJ, and Josh point to the deeper reality that to father well, a man must be fathered by God. Healing the false self, becoming more self-aware, and leaning into community are all part of the ongoing work of fatherhood. This episode is a reminder that while parenting is hard, no man is meant to do it alone.

We hope you enjoy this episode and invite you to connect with us!

📧 Email us: [email protected] 🌐 Learn more: https://www.zoweh.org/events https://www.zoweh.org/podcast

Fatherhood and the Healing Journey: Reconciliation, Empathy, and Presence

In this heartfelt episode of the Exploring More Podcast, Michael Thompson, Josh Overton, and SJ Jennings take listeners into the complex and sacred terrain of fatherhood. Through honest conversation and personal stories, they explore how generational wounds, busy lives, and missed moments can shape our parenting—and how empathy and reconciliation can transform it.

As Josh shares his experience coaching his son Judah and revisiting conversations with his son Steven, the episode paints a vivid picture of the power of a father’s presence—not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually. Michael and SJ reflect on the ways a father's understanding of his own story, including that of his parents and grandparents, plays a vital role in the healing process.

The conversation moves between themes of masculine identity, parenting sons vs. daughters, and the shift from dictating to listening. With warmth and humility, the hosts highlight the importance of addressing past wounds—even the ones we don’t remember—and choosing empathy over control. Through their stories, they invite every father to consider the lifelong invitation to be a safe place for his children.

Reconciliation isn’t about fixing the past—it’s about offering new love in the present. Whether it's through a conversation, a moment of shared laughter, or simply showing up differently, the journey of fatherhood becomes a path of growth for both parent and child.

We hope you enjoy this episode and invite you to connect with us!

📧 Email us: [email protected] 🌐 Learn more: https://www.zoweh.org/events https://www.zoweh.org/podcast

Fathering Through the Stages: Presence, Healing, and the Power of a Dad's Yes

In this episode of the Exploring More Podcast, Michael Thompson and SJ Jennings step into the sacred and strategic role of fatherhood—unpacking what it means to guide children through the stages of growth with intention, love, and grace.

From boyhood to beloved son, explorer to warrior, and eventually king and elder sage, each stage of a child’s journey asks a father different questions: Do you see me? Do you love what you see? Will you walk with me? Michael and SJ explore how a father’s response—through presence, time, and affirming words—can either fuel a child’s identity or deepen their wounds.

The conversation highlights the power of modeling a real, intimate relationship with God. Drawing from personal experiences, parenting wins and do-overs, and biblical truths like Proverbs 22:6, the hosts remind us that good fathering is less about perfection and more about orientation. When a dad is oriented—anchored in God’s love and aware of his influence—he can lead his children with clarity and strength.

Listeners will hear practical strategies for parenting: from playing games and navigating emotions to recognizing when wounds have been left unaddressed—and going back to make things right. Michael and SJ also use helpful metaphors, like building the right "boats and charts" for the uncharted waters of parenting, urging dads to be intentional rather than reactive.

This episode is an invitation to every father to show up, make course corrections, and step more deeply into the role God has entrusted to them—not out of pressure, but out of love.

We hope you enjoy this episode and invite you to connect with us!

📧 Email us: [email protected] 🌐 Learn more: https://www.zoweh.org/events https://www.zoweh.org/podcast

The Heart of a Father: Leading with Presence, Healing, and Grace

In this episode of the Exploring More Podcast, Michael Thompson and SJ Jennings step into the sacred space of fatherhood—a role both powerful and profoundly influential. With studies showing that 92% of family behavior follows the father’s lead, the stakes are high. Michael and SJ unpack how a father’s presence—or absence—shapes the heart of a home.

The conversation explores the vital link between a man’s personal healing and his ability to father well. They reflect on the wounds many men carry into parenthood and how those unaddressed hurts can manifest in reactivity, addiction, or disengagement. Rather than shame, this episode offers hope: that healing is possible, and authenticity is more powerful than perfection.

Listeners are introduced to the Dad Series, a companion podcast aimed at equipping fathers to lead with courage, humility, and love. Through stories, insights, and spiritual reflection, Michael and SJ encourage men to shift from reaction to response, from self-protection to wholehearted presence.

Fatherhood isn’t a calling for the perfect—it’s a journey for the willing. And this episode is a compelling invitation to every dad to recover his heart, reengage his role, and rediscover the joy of leading with love.

We hope you enjoy this episode and invite you to connect with us!

📧 Email us: [email protected]

🌐 Learn more:

https://www.zoweh.org/events 

https://www.zoweh.org/podcast

The Fuel of Fear: How God's Love Disarms the False Self

In this episode of the Exploring More Podcast, Michael Thompson and SJ Jennings return to the powerful themes of hiding, proving, and fearing—three intertwined patterns that shape a man’s internal world. They examine how fear fuels a “false self” and keeps men from living in the freedom and love God offers.

Through personal stories, biblical insight, and years of spiritual formation experience, Michael and SJ unpack the metaphor of a heart running on empty—pushing through the desert until it reaches the “filling station” of God’s love. This image frames a larger conversation about identity, healing, and the invitation to live with nothing to hide, prove, or fear.

Listeners will discover how fear-driven behaviors often trace back to wounds, and how perfect love—real, experienced, and relational—can cast out that fear. The episode emphasizes the power of grace, honest self-reflection, and community in helping men step into the life of an oriented man: grounded in truth, formed by love, and surrounded by support.

We hope you enjoy this episode and invite you to connect with us!

📧 Email us: [email protected]

🌐 Learn more:

https://www.zoweh.org/events 

https://www.zoweh.org/podcast

The Weight of Proving: Finding Worth in God's Love

This episode of the Exploring More Podcast delves into the concept of "something to prove" within the broader journey of masculinity and spiritual identity. Hosts Michael Thompson and SJ Jennings examine how men often develop a false self rooted in hiding, proving, and fearing—patterns shaped by both societal pressures and personal experiences. Through honest storytelling, including anecdotes from childhood sports and relational struggles, they explore how these themes manifest in daily life and how deeply they affect a man's sense of worth and belonging.

The hosts emphasize the need for a shift from performance-based identity to a heart grounded in the love of God. They discuss how personal theology—shaped by real-life experience—often speaks louder than biblical theology unless men actively encounter God's unconditional love. This love, they argue, must be more than a concept; it needs to be an experienced reality that reshapes how a man sees himself and others.

Throughout the conversation, Michael and SJ also unpack how fear often drives the compulsion to prove worth and hide vulnerabilities. Cultural references like John Hughes films and stories of athletic and emotional challenges help illustrate how deeply embedded these dynamics can become. They stress the importance of grace, not merely as unmerited favor, but as the empowering presence of God that enables transformation.

The episode also looks at the role of affirmation, validation, and community in either reinforcing or healing the false self. The journey to becoming an "oriented man" is not one of perfection, but one of authenticity, spiritual formation, and deepening connection with God and others. The conversation ultimately invites listeners to reframe their personal theology in a way that aligns with biblical truth and reflects the freeing reality of being fully loved.

We hope you enjoy this episode and invite you to connect with us!

📧 Email us: [email protected]

🌐 Learn more:

https://www.zoweh.org/events 

https://www.zoweh.org/podcast