Formed by Jesus Podcast

When Paul planted the church in Corinth, his method was simple — preach Christ and Him crucified. Paul was able to clearly and courageously call people to repent and align themselves with the true King, Jesus, and the church in Corinth was born. Our job as witnesses today is the same — preach Christ and Him crucified with courage and clarity.

And while courage comes with time, clarity takes effort. Most of us have an incomplete gospel story. We tend to emphasize one part over another, and often miss out on the depth and complexity of what salvation really is. To become effective witnesses who clearly and courageously preach the gospel, we must learn the full gospel story: Jesus has come to rule and reign over the world through His death and resurrection, and anyone can live in the Kingdom here on earth and into eternity if they repent from their sins and align themselves with Him.

Recapping Week One

As we begin our last practice together, the practice of Witness, we look to Paul’s teaching in 2 Corinthians. Writing to a church in the middle of a diverse and pagan culture, Paul encourages the church there to live their lives in such a way that their alignment with King Jesus is evident. Much like a strong aroma will either draw others in or push them away, Christians should remain so close to God, each other, and the lost that their lives draw those who are willing closer to God.

Like the church in Corinth, our Witness practice must start with our with-ness. We must remain so close to God that others find our lives appealing. We must remain so close to each other that we’re able to rely on each other for support. And we must remain so close to the lost that we actually have opportunities to draw them into communion with the God who created them.

As we begin our last practice together, the practice of Witness, we look to Paul’s teaching in 2 Corinthians. Writing to a church in the middle of a diverse and pagan culture, Paul encourages the church there to live their lives in such a way that their alignment with King Jesus is evident. Much like a strong aroma will either draw others in or push them away, Christians should remain so close to God, each other, and the lost that their lives draw those who are willing closer to God.

Like the church in Corinth, our Witness practice must start with our with-ness. We must remain so close to God that others find our lives appealing. We must remain so close to each other that we’re able to rely on each other for support. And we must remain so close to the lost that we actually have opportunities to draw them into communion with the God who created them.

This episode of the Formed by Jesus Podcast features Michelle Rediger, a deeply rooted woman of prayer and a pillar of hospitality at Passion Creek Church. Michelle shares her journey from postpartum depression to a vibrant prayer life, how she learned to hear God’s voice, and what it looks like to minister from a place of intimacy with Jesus. She talks about spiritual warfare, the power of journaling, learning to prophesy, and why God sometimes doesn’t remove our weaknesses.

Whether you’re in a dry spiritual season or longing to deepen your intimacy with God, Michelle’s story will stir your heart and inspire your prayer life.

Dana shares what it was like growing up as a third-generation pastor’s kid, how prayer was woven into her daily rhythm from a young age, and how she’s learned to trust God not only for the little things—like lost keys—but also for miracles—like being healed after eight years of chronic back pain.

We also dive into the ancient practice of the Prayer of Examen, what it means to talk to God like a Father and a King, and how faith can grow even in seasons of spiritual silence.

✨ Whether you're just beginning your prayer journey or longing to experience more of God’s presence, Dana’s testimony will inspire you to keep showing up… even when you don’t feel it.

In this deeply moving episode of the Formed by Jesus Podcast, Pastor Trey sits down with Jonathon, a faithful member of Passion Creek Church, to share a raw and powerful story of heartbreak, discernment, and trust. Jonathon opens up about his daughter Cadence’s cancer diagnosis, the unexpected ways God has led their family, and the spiritual cost of both listening and not listening to God’s voice.

Through laughter, tears, and moments of deep theological reflection, this conversation explores the hard edges of prayer, the wilderness of suffering, and the surprising places God's whisper can lead us. If you've ever wrestled with disappointment, doubt, or the pain of unanswered prayers—this is the episode for you.

Join our church as we pursue the way of Jesus through 9 practices. To learn more, go to: https://formedbyjesus.com

Join our church as we pursue the way of Jesus through the practice of prayer. To learn more, go to: https://formedbyjesus.com/prayer

Prayer is so important because it allows us to delight in God’s presence, discern His heart, and depend on His power. But prayer is so powerful because it actually directs God’s hand. When we pray, prayer moves our heart and will to align with God’s heart and will. But it also moves God’s hand to directly interfere into the affairs of humanity. And yet few of us actually believe this. Some of us fall into the trap of fatalism, falsely believing God has already set the future and our prayers won’t actually change anything. Others of us fall into the trap of naturalism, falsely believing that prayer is less important than action. But throughout the scriptures, God does change his mind in response to his peoples’ prayers. In Exodus 32, after receiving the 10 Commandments, Moses prays on behalf of the Israelites and God relents. In 2 Kings 6, Elisha prays for the eyes of his servant to be opened to the reality of God’s power through prayer. If you track the theme of prayer throughout the biblical story, one thing becomes abundantly clear: prayer moves the hand of God to action. It’s our prayers, usually on behalf of others, by which God advances His Kingdom to push back the darkness in the world around us. Put simply, God responds when we pray. By praying bold prayers that just might move God’s hand to action, we practice turning our inward-focused minds, hearts, and bodies into outward-acting agents of God’s kingdom.

You've made it! Welcome to Week 4 of our family prayer practice—and this one may be the most transformational yet. This week, we’re focusing on praying for others, using Matthew 6:13 and the life of Jesus as our guide. He didn’t just pray for friends—He prayed for His enemies, for His disciples, and for people who didn’t yet know Him. What a powerful model for our children to follow.

Juli shares simple but meaningful ways to help your kids intercede for others—from whiteboard prayer lists to breath prayers to scripture-based intercession. Whether you're praying as a family or helping older kids develop their own rhythms, this practice will help build empathy, compassion, and a Christlike mindset.

📖 Verse Focus: “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

📚 Story Focus: Jesus praying for His disciples and His enemies (John 17, Luke 23:34)

✨ This week includes:

Tips for helping kids pray for friends, teachers, and even enemies

A breath prayer toolkit for emotional regulation and spiritual focus

Recommended resources for parents and kids to go deeper

Continued Scripture prayer practice for older kids

💬 Comment below: Who did your family pray for this week? What surprised you?

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Download the full Family Guide at https://formedbyjesus.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Formed-By-Prayer-Family-Guide-2025.pdf

📚 Resources mentioned: Raising Prayerful Kids, Any Time, Any Place, Any Prayer, and Praying the Scriptures for Your Children

In the middle of teaching on prayer, Jesus tells us to ask, “Give us today our daily bread,” “forgive our sins,” and “deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:11–13). These requests span a spectrum: from the mundane, to the messy, to the monumental.

Daily bread reflects ordinary needs we often overlook—food for the day, a safe commute, help with our to-do list. “Forgive our sins” gets messy, confronting our failures and the challenge of forgiving others. “Deliver us” points to overwhelming needs—healing from deep wounds, restored relationships, freedom from bondage. Yet Jesus makes no distinction. Bread, forgiveness, deliverance—all are gifts from a generous Father.

If God truly is our Father, He wants us to ask—for small things and big things. Because asking reveals humility. It takes honesty and vulnerability to admit we need help, that we rely on His power. Prayer expresses this dependence. When we bring God the mundane, the messy, and the monumental, He responds. Not always how or when we expect. But Jesus reminds us: “Who among you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him” (Matthew 7:9–11).