Join Jordan, Moriah, and Rachel as they kick off their new series, 'What in the World?' by diving into church culture. They discuss the importance of a solid scriptural foundation, share personal experiences with church communities, and explore the marks of a true Christian fellowship. Along the way, they also engage in light-hearted banter about the best and worst brands of bottled water.

00:00 Welcome to Gather to Scatter

00:24 Introducing the New Series: What in the World?

00:34 Church Culture: The Good and the Bad

01:12 Fun and Laughter with Bottled Water

06:30 Diving into Church Culture

06:52 The Reality of Church and Sin

07:55 Finding the Right Church

08:17 Living a Christ-Centered Life

12:33 The Importance of Scripture

15:24 The Essence of a Gospel-Centered Church

16:22 Personal Reflections on Church Community

18:17 The Importance of Biblical Preaching

20:11 Questions to Evaluate Your Church

21:33 Creating a Godly Church Culture

26:00 The Role of Church Leadership

28:55 Personal Testimonies and Reflections

40:26 Welcoming and Loving Church Environment

45:40 Conclusion and Upcoming Topics

Navigating Workplace Relationships as Christians

Join Jordan, Moriah, and Rachel as they wrap up their relationship series discussing workplace dynamics. They share personal experiences, tackle common challenges such as gossip, respect for authority, and balancing professional and personal spheres while emphasizing the importance of reflecting Christ in daily interactions. Scriptures referenced include Colossians 3:23-24, Matthew 5:13, and Romans 12:2, among others. Learn how to navigate difficult coworker relationships with grace, humility, and an eternal perspective.

00:00 Welcome Back! Meet the Hosts

00:22 Wrapping Up the Relationship Series

01:58 Dream Jobs and Aspirations

05:58 Workplace Relationships: The Math Behind It

11:54 Different Work Environments

14:47 Navigating a Male-Dominated Tech Environment

15:41 Balancing Personal and Professional Life

17:01 Challenges of Gossip in the Workplace

19:13 Loving Difficult Coworkers

21:11 Practical Tips for Workplace Harmony

30:04 Respecting Authority and Workplace Culture

39:30 The Power of Prayer in the Workplace

41:13 Conclusion and Upcoming Series

Biblical Perspectives on Romantic Relationships and Marriage: Featuring Thomas and Heather Nelson

In this episode of Gather and Scatter, hosts Jordan, Moriah, and Rachel are joined by special guests Thomas and Heather Nelson to discuss biblical marriage and romantic relationships. The conversation navigates the complexities of dating, engagement, and marriage, with a light-hearted look at what animals might be the funniest if they could talk. Key topics include the importance of building a foundation on scripture, dealing with relational challenges, and maintaining purity. The episode features insightful anecdotes and practical advice for both singles and married couples, grounded in Christian faith and scripture.

00:00 Welcome Back to Gather and Scatter

00:43 Introducing Special Guests: Thomas and Heather Nelson

00:59 Fun Icebreaker: If Animals Could Talk

08:49 Heather and Thomas: A Love Story

15:24 Thomas' Perspective on Relationships and Faith

20:30 The Proposal Story

25:05 Engagement and Early Marriage

28:51 What is CRU?

29:49 Diving into the Discussion

30:20 Youth Pastor Reflections

30:39 Nostalgia and Memories

31:57 Marriage and Biblical Insights

38:29 Preparing for Marriage

41:15 Challenges in Modern Relationships

52:51 The Importance of Sexual Purity

58:30 Rapid Fire Questions

01:10:57 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Navigating Christian Dating and Relationships

Join Jordan, Moriah, and Rachel as they delve into the complexities of dating within the church. Through personal anecdotes, humor, and grounded biblical principles, they explore the idea of dating with the intent to marry, the importance of maintaining boundaries, and how to navigate relationships in a way that honors God. They discuss the significance of community, communication, and prayer in fostering healthy and godly relationships, while also acknowledging the challenges and realities of dating as Christians.

00:00 Welcome to Gather to Scatter

00:53 Icebreaker: Gladiator Weapons

03:32 Dating as Christians: Biblical Foundations

04:52 The Purpose of Dating: Marriage

07:28 The Importance of Being Equally Yoked

12:13 Dating in the Church Community

24:05 Communication and Expectations in Dating

28:03 Dating and Marriage Insights from Our Pastor

28:37 Expectations in Dating

29:34 Navigating Early Conversations About Marriage

32:01 Defining Dating and Relationships

32:51 The Importance of Communication

38:32 Biblical Guidance on Dating

39:31 Emotional and Physical Boundaries

42:06 Sexual Immorality and Repentance

49:31 The Power of Prayer in Dating

53:21 Conclusion and Upcoming Guests

Navigating Singleness: Faith, Community, and Trusting God's Plan

Jordan, Moriah, and Rachel candidly discuss the topic of singleness from a Christian perspective. They explore how to approach singleness with faith, community support, and trust in God's timing and plan. Drawing from biblical scriptures including Isaiah 49, Psalm 16, Psalm 84, and 1 Corinthians 7, they emphasize the importance of finding one's identity in Christ and serving others while being single. They also address the common challenges and misconceptions about singleness in church culture and the broader society, encouraging single individuals to embrace their season and seek contentment in their relationship with God.

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview

00:24 Discussing Singleness

02:22 Fun and Games: Eyebrows vs. Eyelashes

05:22 The Reality of Singleness

08:50 Historical Context and Modern Challenges

13:51 Faith and Singleness

27:50 Biblical Promises and Encouragement

31:47 Eternal Mindset in Singleness

32:43 Struggles and Honest Conversations

34:36 Serving in Singleness

35:53 Biblical Perspective on Singleness

39:14 Trusting God with Our Desires

50:01 Examples of Faithful Women

01:01:34 Encouragement and Final Thoughts

Gather to Scatter: The Biblical Foundations of Friendship

In this episode of 'Gather to Scatter,' hosts Jordan, Moriah, and Rachel delve into the importance of friendships within a Christian context. The discussion touches on the divine foundation of relationships, examining Scripture and reflecting on how human connections mirror our relationship with God. They draw from multiple biblical examples, including the profound friendship between David and Jonathan (1 Samuel 18, 19, 20; 2 Samuel 1), emphasizing the importance of selfless love and active participation in friendships. The episode also explores topical issues like the possibility of aliens, the impact of technology and cultural shifts on relationships, and the nuances of maintaining different types of friendships (Proverbs 17:17, Ephesians 4:15, Mark 10:45, Matthew 18). Through personal anecdotes, practical advice, and deep theological insights, the hosts encourage listeners to foster genuine, God-centered friendships and navigate the challenges that come with them.

00:00 Welcome to Gather to Scatter

00:43 Question of the Week: Do We Believe in Aliens?

02:42 Exploring Alien Encounters and Spiritual Beings

06:56 Transitioning to Friendship Discussions

07:25 Biblical Friendship: David and Jonathan

15:14 The Importance of Choosing Your Inner Circle

17:07 Friendship in the Eyes of Jesus

18:44 Navigating Changing Friendships

24:21 The Necessity of Friendship for Thriving

31:44 C.S. Lewis on Friendship and Loss

35:17 Navigating Exclusion in Friendships

35:45 Assuming the Best in Friends

36:50 The Importance of Vulnerability in Friendships

38:51 Sacrificial Friendships and Accountability

41:16 The Role of Honesty in Friendships

58:06 Balancing Friendships with Opposite Sex

01:05:53 The Value of Devotion and Vulnerability

01:07:30 Conclusion and Next Week's Topic

In this episode of Gather to Scatter, hosts Jordan, Moriah, and Rachel delve into the dynamics of family relationships through the lens of their Christian faith. They discuss the importance of nurturing family bonds, handling family conflicts, and supporting one another with biblical wisdom. Through laughter and deep conversations, they reflect on their personal experiences and offer insights to help listeners navigate their own family relationships grounded in scripture. Key verses discussed include Ephesians 6:1-4, Proverbs 29:17, and Philippians 2:1-11. The episode emphasizes the value of loving, serving, and honoring family members while recognizing the complexities and challenges that come with it. Key verses/resources mentioned: Ephesians 6:1-4, Proverbs 29:17, Philippians 2:1-11, Mark 3:31-35, Psalms 103:17-18, Joshua 24:15, 1 Timothy 5:8 and 5:1-16.

00:00 Welcome to Gather to Scatter

00:24 Introduction to Family Relationships

01:08 The Question Segment

03:41 Thinking in Monologues or Pictures

06:39 The Importance of Family in Scripture

11:44 Different Family Structures

21:03 Counting Blessings and Family Relationships

22:28 Biblical Teachings on Family and Discipline

26:14 Honoring Parents and Family Dynamics

30:04 Kingdom Family and Spiritual Bonds

37:16 Creating and Choosing Your Family

44:36 Living with Humility and Love

48:33 Concluding Thoughts and Next Episode Preview

God is our protector, leader, and Father. While the best place to start is asking what our relationship to God is, I think it’s important to recognize that many times we do not ask this question and instead we get distracted by the world around us, which tells us all of these different stories and encourages us to buy into the narratives it spins about who we are. BUT. In order to know who we are, we have to know who HE is. Our right response to God is to worship Him. He created us in His image, so we are naturally community oriented. He has invited us into a personal relationship with Him.

Scripture reference:

• Genesis 1:27, 31
• Luke 12:7
• Psalm 139:14
• Ephesians 2:10
• 1 John 3:1
• Romans 5:8
• Luke 12:22-34

Resources:

• Call Her Holy podcast
• “Top 10 Relational Needs” - David Ferguson
• https://www.greatcommandment.net/relationalneeds
• “In His Image” - Jen Wilkinson

In these next few episodes we are going to talk about relationships! All of them. This week, we will start with our relationship with God.

Resources:

• Desiring God Article:
  • https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/five-ways-god-relates-to-you
• Call Her Holy - Laura and Nicoletta
• Westminster Shorter Catechism
  • https://prts.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Shorter_Catechism.pdf
• The Nicene Creed
  • https://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe
• The Apostles Creed
  • https://www.crcna.org/welcome/beliefs/creeds/apostles-creed

In this series we are going Back to Basics as we consider the Gospel, the Context of Scripture, Prayer, and more. Today we are talking about Community!

Scripture Reference:

• Gen 1:26-28
• Hebrews 10:24-25
• 1 Corinthians 15:32-34
• Romans 12:4-8
• 1 Thessalonians 5:12-25
• Romans 15:5-7
• Acts 20:35