Flatirons Community Church Podcast

From Cowards to Courageous Leaders, the story of the early church in Acts shows how ordinary people found courage, boldness, and true freedom in Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit.This message wraps up the 35-Day Challenge and sets the tone for Be Free, Flatirons' next bold step of faith. Jim gets real about leadership, unity, and what’s coming next for the church. Drawing from Acts, he shows how the early church exploded with courage and power—not because they were perfect, but because they were filled. Filled with the Spirit. Filled with boldness. Filled with a mission. The same Spirit that transformed Peter and Paul is calling us, right now, to something bigger.If you’ve ever felt disqualified, disillusioned, or afraid, this is for you. This isn’t just a history lesson; it’s a calling. Jesus didn’t build His church with polished professionals; He used screw-ups, cowards, and skeptics who got filled and went first. And that’s the plan for Flatirons moving forward. It’s time to decide: Are you in? Fully in? Because the next move of God might come through your story, your scars, and your obedience.

Leadership Isn’t Being Perfect. It’s Owning the Mess.In one of the most raw and repentant moments of his ministry, Pastor Jim Burgen confronts his own leadership failure and the silence that followed a week of national tragedy and personal loss. What follows is part confession, part challenge, and part rally cry—not just to Flatirons Church, but to every man wondering how to lead in a world on fire. Jim doesn’t pull punches: from owning his mistakes to declaring truth in a chaotic culture, this is the moment where courage meets clarity.This isn’t about politics. It’s about obedience. Jim speaks candidly on the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the school shooting in Evergreen, calling the Church to wake up—not with rage, but with righteousness. This is about standing firm on the Word of God, even when the world calls you crazy. You’ll hear what it means to lead with conviction, love people enough to tell the truth, and follow Jesus even when it costs everything.

What if the risky sacrifice you're avoiding is the very thing that could save your most important relationships?Ben returns to Flatirons with a raw message about drifting in faith, hitting 40, and feeling stuck in a life that looks successful on the outside but is crumbling underneath. Through the story of Zacchaeus, a man hated, wealthy, and desperate, we’re challenged to consider: what’s keeping us from going out on a limb? The 35-Day Challenge isn’t about self-help or behavior management. It’s about choosing bold, relational sacrifices that lead to healing and freedom.Zacchaeus didn’t play it safe, and neither did Jesus.Ben reminds us that conviction is a gift, shame is a weapon, and grace is a choice. Jesus went out on a limb for us—literally. Now the invitation is ours: Will we risk reputation, comfort, or pride to restore what’s broken? This week, it’s not about giving up coffee or Instagram. It’s about making the calls, owning the secrets, showing up for the people who matter, and trusting Jesus to meet us out on that limb.

Why do we keep falling back into the same broken patterns—even after meeting Jesus?Most of us want Jesus to take away the bad stuff, our addictions, our shame, our past. And sometimes, He does. But what happens next? If we don’t intentionally fill the empty space with something better, something holy, something of the Spirit—then the darkness just moves back in, stronger than before. In Part 2 of the 35-Day Challenge, Jim Burgen digs deep into the roots of sin, the spiritual realm we pretend doesn’t exist, and what Jesus really came to defeat. This is not your Sunday School version of the Bible. This is war, and it’s personal.Jesus didn’t just come to forgive you, He came to fill you.Through ancient texts, spiritual warfare, and real talk about depravity, Jim shows how Jesus tackles not one, but three curses that still haunt us today. The Cross wiped your slate clean, but the Holy Spirit is how you write a new story. If your life feels stuck in neutral—or worse, going backwards—it might be because you’ve only accepted half of what Jesus offers. The Spirit is your only hope. And the Church? It's not a building, it's a battle plan.

What are you building your life on—and will it survive the next storm?When life hits hard—and it will—what foundation are you standing on? In this raw and real message, Aaron unpacks why so many of us settle for “fine” lives built on sand, instead of the rock-solid truth of Jesus. He talks about anxiety, identity, the lies we believe, and the ways we try to numb the pain—chasing success, comparison, pleasure, and performance—but none of it holds when life falls apart.The 35-Day Challenge isn’t about earning God’s love. It’s about training your heart to trust Jesus before the storm hits. Because when your marriage cracks, when your kids walk away, when the anxiety is so loud you can’t breathe—you don’t need more information. You need transformation. And that starts when Jesus moves from your head to your heart. Build your life on Him… and when the flood comes, you won’t fall.

Ever feel stuck in your faith? This week, Karl and Jesse kicked off the 35 Day Challenge with a call to get all the way in. Don't settle for shallow. God’s calling you deeper into real freedom.5 habits. 5 weeks. One step at a time:Sacrifice. Pray. Move. Bible. Serve.

Download the challenge app here: https://qrco.de/bgFb79

What if fear isn’t the problem, but staying stuck is?This isn’t just about a horse. It’s about every one of us who’s been stuck, scared, running in circles trying to feel safe. At Horse Weekend, Todd Pierce shows us what happens when trust replaces fear, and love rewrites the story. Through the gentle, unscripted dance between a man and a horse, you’ll see the gospel in real-time—no sermons, just surrender. This is a raw, powerful look at what happens when God moves and freedom begins.When fear says run, love says stay.This horse walked in guarded, unsure, and tense—just like many of us. But over the course of one hour, through gentle leadership and love, he softened, listened, and surrendered. Todd’s interaction becomes a mirror for our souls, showing how God doesn’t force us into obedience—He invites us into trust. This is what healing looks like when the gospel gets real and fear loses its grip.

What kind of legacy will you leave? One that spirals upward toward strength and faith, or downward toward destruction?The 5 Chairs series calls out men to step into the Driver’s Seat and Captain’s Chair of their lives, not just for themselves, but for the generations that follow. From the early “me for me” years to leading a family from a “me for them” mindset, Pastor Jim Burgen lays out the hard truth: character drives your life, and the way you lead will shape your family’s future for better or worse.Through raw honesty, biblical truth, and practical action steps, Jim challenges men to reject the lies of unworthiness, armor up for spiritual battle, and surround themselves with brothers who will fight alongside them. This is a call to reverse destructive patterns, protect your family, and build a legacy rooted in courage, faith, and sacrificial love.

What happens when we never grow out of the high chair?

This week, Pastor Jim pulls no punches as he digs into how we accidentally raise weak men when we bubble-wrap our boys, give in to tantrums, and never teach first-time obedience. Using raw stories and biblical truth, Jim shows why parents must prepare their kids for a future where mom and dad won’t always be there. This message isn’t just for parents—it’s for every man wondering why life feels out of control.

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Faith isn’t built in comfort—it’s forged through trials. Jim shows how Jesus calls men to leave childish ways behind, face pain, and grow into strong, loving leaders who can stand when life gets hard.

From childhood to legacy, each one shapes who you are and who you’re becoming. Skip one, and it will come back to haunt your marriage, parenting, and purpose.What if the man your son becomes, or the man your daughter dates, depends on what you do next?From emotional toddler to wise mentor, each chair shapes your soul, mind, strength, and heart. Jim reminds us that spiritual maturity isn’t accidental—it’s intentional. Fathers, husbands, leaders: it’s time to stop making excuses and start owning your role. Growth requires leaving behind childish thinking and choosing a life built on love, discipline, and strength. It’s not about guilt. It’s about grace, conviction, and stepping into the life Jesus died to make possible—for you, your family, and everyone counting on you.