Followed By Mercy

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Have you ever felt far from God, like you’ve wandered too far to find your way back? In this episode, we step into David’s story in Psalm 23 and discover something beautiful: God hasn’t been waiting for us to return. He’s been chasing us all along with His goodness and mercy.

We’ll explore how David moved from spiritual drought to the deep confidence that he would dwell in God’s house forever. The Hebrew text reveals a breathtaking truth: when Scripture says, “goodness and mercy shall follow me,” it isn’t a casual trailing behind; it’s an aggressive pursuit. God’s love doesn’t wait at a distance. It runs after us.

Like the father who ran to embrace his prodigal son, God welcomes us home without conditions, without probation, without second-class status. We don’t live as visitors in His house, but as children who belong.

When we understand this, everything changes. We stop striving to live for God and begin resting in the truth that God lives in us. Fear loses its grip when we know our eternal home is secure. Gratitude rises naturally when we realize His mercy has been chasing us our entire lives.

If you’re weary, wandering, or just longing for deeper connection with Him, this message will remind you of the heart of the gospel: You don’t have to run anymore. Your Shepherd has been pursuing you with relentless love. It’s time to come home.

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Have you ever considered that much of our approach to evangelism might be missing the point? In this episode, Austin Gardner and Robert Canfield explore a life-giving perspective on missions that reshapes how and why we share the gospel.

At the center is a simple but powerful truth: we are not rescuing people from an angry God. God, who has already reconciled the world to Himself through Christ. As Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5, “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself.” That means evangelism is not an obligation we carry, but a privilege of being God’s ambassadors, inviting others into the good news He has already accomplished.

Through Scripture, personal stories, and mission field experiences, the hosts show how this changes everything. They tell the story of Rosita, a woman freed from a religious cult by discovering God’s grace, and share moments from around the world where lives were transformed not by clever strategies, but by the simple truth of God’s love.

This conversation will encourage anyone who yearns to gain a deeper understanding of God’s heart for the world. Whether you go, give, or pray, you have a role in the ministry of reconciliation. And as you discover, sharing the gospel is not about condemnation; it is about announcing the joy of a God who delights to bring people home.

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Our eyes reveal the condition of our hearts. When we measure ourselves against others, searching for someone “worse” to feel better about ourselves, we slip into what Jesus called an “evil eye.” This perspective is fueled by pride and fear, pride that elevates us above others and fear that, without comparison, we may not measure up.

In this conversation, Austin Gardner and Robert Canfield look at Jesus’ vivid illustration in Matthew 7:3-5 about removing a speck from someone else’s eye while ignoring the beam in our own. His exaggerated picture drives home a powerful truth: we are quick to judge others while remaining blind to our own need for grace. But the answer is not becoming sharper critics, it is turning our eyes toward Christ.

Christianity was never meant to be built on fear and performance. It is not mainly “anti-sin” but “pro-Savior.” When we fixate on the failures of others, we lose sight of the One who already bore our sins and declared us loved. True freedom comes when we stop comparing, stop competing, and start resting in Christ’s finished work.

As the hosts remind us, fear and insecurity often fuel our critical spirit, but perfect love casts out fear. Jesus Himself modeled this love as He prayed for His executioners, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” If He could extend such grace, how much more should we extend compassion to our brothers and sisters in Christ?

This episode calls us to set our eyes on things above, to run our own race without distraction, and to let love be the guiding principle in every relationship. If you are weary of judgment, comparison, or division, listen in and rediscover the healing power of love that restores our vision and unites us in Christ.

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What shapes the way you see the world around you? In this conversation, Austin Gardner and Robert Canfield unpack the profound truth that what fills your heart determines what you notice and how you interpret life. Just like buying a Tesla suddenly makes you see them everywhere, your spiritual focus shapes your perception of reality.

Many believers struggle with a distorted view of God. Instead of seeing Him as the generous and loving Father He reveals Himself to be, they see Him as harsh, demanding, and quick to punish. That lie began in Eden when Satan suggested that God withholds good things. It continues today, keeping countless Christians from resting in their Father’s kindness.

From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible tells the story of a God who delights in His people. He created paradise in the beginning and promises its restoration at the end. Jesus came to give abundant life, yet so often Christianity gets twisted into striving, earning, and fear rather than joy and trust. Even Sabbath principles were meant as an invitation to lean on God’s provision, not a burden to carry.

When our eyes are fixed on Jesus, the promised seed who crushed the serpent’s head, we stop comparing ourselves to others and striving for validation. Instead, we rest in God’s declaration of our righteousness through Christ. As Psalm 35:27 says, “The Lord takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.”

If you are ready to see the world through new eyes, this episode will help you rediscover the generous heart of your Father who delights in your well-being. Share it with someone who needs encouragement to trust God’s goodness today.

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Jesus’ words about the eye being “the lamp of the body” in Matthew 6 have left many people puzzled. In this heartfelt conversation, Austin Gardner and Robert Canfield dive into one of Christ’s most often misunderstood teachings and show how it speaks directly to our spiritual priorities.

Jesus was not changing subjects when He spoke about eyes and light. He was deepening His call to treasure God above all else. The hosts explain how Jewish listeners would have understood the “evil eye” as greed, envy, and spiritual darkness. In contrast, the “single eye” pointed to generosity, simplicity, and undivided devotion to God.

Through Scripture and real-life stories, Gardner and Canfield show how our focus shapes who we are. Austin recalls a powerful encounter with a Chinese pastor who endured twenty years in prison camps. His warning still echoes: “Persecution strengthens faith. Prosperity weakens it.” His words challenge us to think honestly about how wealth and comfort affect our walk with Christ.

From Matthew 6 to Psalm 23, from Colossians 3 to the parable of the sower, the conversation paints a clear picture: whatever we fix our eyes on will shape our desires and ultimately our lives. As Robert puts it, “The master who promises worldly riches always leaves us empty. But Christ gives us Himself, and He is enough.”

This episode invites you to stop and ask: Where are your eyes fixed today? And what does that say about the condition of your heart?

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When Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd,” He gave those words a depth that has changed lives for centuries. In this episode, we explore the beauty behind that declaration and why it still matters today.

We’ll see how the original language shows that Jesus isn’t just “morally good,” but noble, beautiful, and interesting, the Shepherd who draws us not out of duty, but out of delight. Rome did not murder him, nor did religious leaders, nor even our sins. He laid His life down willingly.

We’ll connect David’s beloved words, “The Lord is my shepherd,” with Jesus’ claim, showing how God Himself fulfills the promise to lead, protect, and care for His people personally. Unlike hired hands who run when danger comes, Jesus stays. He knows His sheep by name, even numbering the hairs on your head. The Good Shepherd doesn’t leave when the night gets dark. He walks with you through it.

This episode brings hope if false shepherds abandoned you or if leaders who only loved you conditionally wounded you. The Good Shepherd doesn’t make you His because you’re good. He makes you His because He is good. When you were lost, broken, and weary, He found you and came for you.

Wherever you are, whatever weighs heavily on your heart, the Good Shepherd sees it, knows it, and carries you through it. He is enough. He is faithful. And He is with you.

Share this message with someone who feels forgotten or unloved. Let them know there is a Shepherd who never leaves, never abandons, and never stops loving.

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Have you ever wondered what matters most in life? In this episode, we walk through Mark 12:28-34 and discover the freeing truth behind the greatest commandment. Jesus doesn’t give us another burden to carry. He shows us what naturally happens when His love fills our hearts.

The law says, “You must.” The gospel says, “This is what happens when Christ lives in you.”

We’ll discuss forgiveness as the ultimate test of love and how it becomes possible, not by trying harder, but by trusting more deeply. You’ll hear how bitterness begins to break when we finally believe God loves us with the same love He has for His Son.

The real question isn’t “Am I loving enough?” but “Am I letting myself be loved?” When you know you are carried by mercy, held by grace, and loved without condition, love overflows to God and to every neighbor He puts in your path.

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How do you move from the pit of depression to the pinnacle of blessing? From self-pity to divine joy? In this message from Shady Grove Baptist Church in Marietta, Georgia, I open Psalm 23 and walk through David’s remarkable journey. Hunted, hiding in a cave, overwhelmed by sorrow, yet he discovers that what is really pursuing him is not danger but God’s relentless goodness and mercy.

This message calls us out of performance-based religion and into the security of God’s love. We don’t chase Him down. He chases us. His goodness isn’t quietly trailing behind us; it is actively pursuing us. David could rest in this not because he was good, but because God is good. And today, through Christ, we experience an even greater reality: the Shepherd not only leads us and follows us, He lives within us.

When we grasp this, everything changes. Pity gives way to praise. Complaint gives way to gratitude. A rescued sheep doesn’t sing because it found the shepherd; it sings because the shepherd found it.

If you don’t know Jesus as your Savior, today can be the day you say yes to His free gift. Simply pray, “Thank You for dying for me. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for being buried. Thank You for rising again.”

Come discover the joy of a life pursued by God’s relentless love.

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Have you ever been so wronged that your heart burned for revenge? That desire feels like justice, but it’s not the same thing at all.

In this podcast, we explore the life-giving truth behind God’s words, “Vengeance is Mine.” Far from limiting us, this promise frees us from the exhausting burden of trying to make things right on our own. Through honest stories of hurt, grace, and healing, we examine how vengeance binds us to the past while God’s justice brings genuine restoration.

Forgiveness doesn’t say the wrong was okay. It simply refuses to let it control your life any longer. We talk about how the cross changes everything, how Jesus has already paid for every wrong, even the ones committed against you. And the real battle is not with people, but with demons of Hell that seek to divide us.

You’ll hear why:

• Vengeance is personal, emotional, and destructive
• Justice belongs to God and is rooted in His perfect knowledge and goodness
• Forgiveness is not weakness. It’s freedom
• Loving our enemies reflects the very heart of Christ

Whether you’re nursing a fresh wound or carrying years of resentment, this episode offers practical wisdom and real hope for letting go of vengeance and walking in the freedom of forgiveness.

Share this with someone who’s struggling to forgive and watch what happens when mercy wins.

Chris Gardner, David Gardner, and Robert Canfield join me.

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What if following Jesus wasn’t about proving yourself, but simply learning from Him? In this heartfelt living room conversation with friends Chris, David, and Robert, we explore Jesus’ invitation to “come learn of me” and discover how it changes everything.

So many of us live under the exhausting pressure to earn God’s approval. But Jesus offers a radically different way—one where transformation flows from proximity, not performance. As David shares, “The longer we’re close to Jesus, the more we become like Him, meeker, more gentle, humble, accessible, kind, and loving.”

Chris reminds us that gentleness is not weakness, it’s strength under perfect control. That’s the kind of meekness Jesus models, and it radically shapes how we respond to the broken, the struggling, and even those who hurt us.

We unpack the truth that Jesus’ yoke is “not a weight, but a way.” When we walk with Him, He sets the pace, carries the load, and leads us into the life He designed—one marked by peace and joy, even in hardship.

If you’ve been worn out by religious performance or burdened by guilt, this conversation will breathe fresh hope into your walk with God. Discover how His grace changes the heart in ways rules never can.

In this episode:

 • Why gentleness is strength under control

 • How closeness to Jesus naturally shapes our character

 • The freedom of “come learn” versus “come earn”

 • How Jesus’ yoke sets our direction and carries our load

 • Why grace transforms where guilt only manipulates

 • Responding with meekness in threatening situations

 • Living with peace and joy no matter the circumstances

Join us as we discover together what it means to truly learn from the One who is meek and lowly in heart.

Chris Gardner, David Gardner, and Robert Canfield are discussing all this with me.

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