HOTLCAST

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Episode description

What does it look like to be a church that doesn’t just talk about Jesus, but lives like Him? In this episode of the HOTLCast, Cyle, Cody, and Mark explore how genuine community grows through everyday relationships, shared experiences, and serving others. From hosting a Christmas movie production at the Huddle House to gathering around dinner tables and board games, they share how ordinary moments can become meaningful ministry. Along the way, they discuss why churches can worship the same Jesus without doing everything the same way, why technology can’t replace authentic friendships, and how to find your fit at church through a “God group” and a “God job”—people to grow with and a meaningful way to serve.

Main points covered

• Living like Jesus, not just talking about Him: Putting faith into practice through relationships, hospitality, and service.
• Ministry beyond Sunday mornings: How the Huddle House supports small groups, counseling, visiting musicians, and a Christmas movie production.
• Embracing the church’s unique identity: Worshiping the same Jesus doesn’t mean every church has to do things the same way.
• The importance of genuine community: Why real friendships and doing life together remain essential in a technology-driven world.
• Finding your “God group”: Building relationships with people you can grow alongside and turn to for support.
• Finding your “God job”: Discovering a meaningful role through serving in the church.
• Caring about what others care about: Connecting through shared interests, trying new things, and stepping outside your comfort zone.
• Making everyday moments meaningful: Using meals, games, outings, and simple invitations to build deeper connections.

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Summary

You can attend church every Sunday and still miss out on being part of it. In week two of Find Your Fit, Pastor Cyle at Heart o’ the Lakes Church explores what it means to find your place in the church—not simply as someone in a seat, but as an essential part of the body of Christ. Walking through 1 Corinthians 12, he explains that God gives each believer different gifts for the common good, and that every role matters, including the ones nobody sees. Through practical examples and the picture of individual LEGO bricks coming together to build a mosaic, Pastor Cyle challenges everyone to find a “God group” where they can grow in community and a “God job” where they can serve others. Don’t just find a seat—find your fit in what God is building.

Main Ideas

• Attending isn’t the same as belonging. Being part of a church means building relationships, sharing life, and serving—not just showing up.
• Your gifts come from God, not your status. Wealth, age, personality, or visibility do not determine your value in the body of Christ.
• Different gifts serve the same purpose. God equips people differently so they can work together for the common good.
• Comparison can keep you from your calling. You don’t need someone else’s abilities to fulfill the role God has given you.
• Behind-the-scenes service is indispensable. Unnoticed acts of care and practical help matter just as much as visible ministry.
• Find your “God group.” Connect with people who know more than your name—people who help you grow, share your struggles, and celebrate with you.
• Find your “God job.” Use what God has given you to serve others; you don’t need a title to have a purpose.
• Live your faith beyond Sunday. Finding your fit in the church begins with following Jesus at home and continues through loving and serving others.

Scripture References

Passages read or referenced in the message; summaries below are paraphrases.

• 1 Corinthians 12:1–11 — Spiritual gifts come from the same Spirit and are given to each person for the common good.
• 1 Corinthians 12:12–20 — The church is one body with many different members, each placed by God and each belonging.
• 1 Corinthians 12:21–26 — Every part is needed, including those that seem weaker or receive less attention; believers are called to care, suffer, and rejoice together.
• 1 Corinthians 12:27–31 — Each believer is a member of Christ’s body, with different roles and gifts; Paul points toward a more excellent way.
• Acts 2:42–47 — The early church devoted itself to teaching, fellowship, shared meals, prayer, generosity, and daily life together.
• 1 Peter 4:10 — Use the gift you have received to serve others as a faithful steward of God’s grace.
• 1 Peter 4:9 (referenced) — Offer hospitality without grumbling.

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In this episode of the HOTLCast, hosts Cyle, Ryan, Cody, and Mark gather on Election Day to talk about finding your fit — not just in the church, but at home and in the world. The conversation kicks off with Cody's unopposed run for school board and a thoughtful discussion on the Christian civic duty to vote, then transitions into the church's ongoing "Find Your Fit" series. The team digs into what it means to live with integrity as a follower of Jesus: being the same authentic person at home, at church, and in your community. They challenge listeners to drop the "Sunday mask," be honest about their struggles, and let real faith start in the most personal spaces before carrying it outward into the world.

Main Points Covered:

• Christian civic duty — Why voting matters and how "give to Caesar what is Caesar's" applies to engaging in the democratic process
• Cody's school board run — The team jokes about Cody running unopposed and the importance of community involvement
• "Find Your Fit" series — Exploring where you fit in the body of Christ based on your unique strengths and weaknesses
• Lego mosaic project — Church members signing Lego bricks to build a mosaic displaying the Heart of the Lakes (HOTL) logo
• Integrity starts at home — You can't truly find your fit at church if your faith isn't real at home first
• Authenticity over appearances — The danger of "playing church" on Sunday while living differently the rest of the week
• Impact on family — How inauthentic faith hurts the people closest to you, especially your kids
• The real Jesus — Faith isn't behavioral conditioning; it's a soul overhaul from dead to alive
• Humility and honesty — Being open about your struggles is the path to genuine growth
• Home → Church → World — The progression of living for Jesus starting at home, then church community, then out into the world

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In this kickoff message to the "Find Your Fit" series, Pastor Cyle uses the metaphor of LEGO bricks to illustrate how every person has a unique place in God's design—beginning at home, then in the church, and ultimately in the world. Drawing from Joshua's farewell address at Shechem, he recounts God's faithfulness across generations—from Abraham through the Exodus and into the Promised Land—before challenging each person to make their own decision about who they will serve. The message confronts the hypocrisy of Sunday-only Christianity and calls believers to live out their faith seven days a week, starting with the people closest to them. Rooted in Joshua 24 and Deuteronomy 6, Pastor Cyle urges the congregation to show up for their families in a real, present, and tangible way—not perfectly, but consistently—so that the people in their home see the Jesus they talk about on Sundays lived out every other day of the week.

Main Takeaways

• Finding your fit starts at home. You can't find your place in the church or the world until you're living out your faith in your own household first.
• Every generation must choose for itself. Joshua couldn't decide for the people—he could only declare his own loyalty. You can't control anyone else's faith, but you can choose to serve the Lord.
• God has been faithful—remember it. Before God calls us to be faithful, He reminds us of His track record: from Abraham, to the Red Sea, to the Promised Land, He has always provided for His people.
• "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" is a lifestyle, not a wall decoration. The famous verse from Joshua 24:15 is often quoted but rarely lived. Real faith is a seven-day-a-week commitment, not a Sunday performance.
• Your family doesn't need a perfect you—they need a present you. Showing up, being available, and being willing to say "I'm sorry, please forgive me" matters more than trying to get everything right.
• Faith is lived at home, not just taught at home. Deuteronomy 6 calls us to talk about God when we sit, walk, lie down, and rise—making every ordinary moment of family life an opportunity to serve Him.
• The people closest to you should get your best, not what's left. If the people in your home don't see Jesus in how you live Monday through Saturday, your Sunday faith is incomplete.
• Do one thing different this week. Pick one person in your family and show up for them differently—serve them, love them, and watch what God does.

Bible Passages Used

• Joshua 24:1-28 — Joshua's farewell address at Shechem, reminding Israel of God's faithfulness and challenging them to choose whom they will serve
• Deuteronomy 6:4-9 — The Shema: "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one," and the command to love God with all your heart, soul, and strength, and to teach His words to your children at home
• Joshua 8:30-35 (referenced) — The earlier event at Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal where Joshua carried out the blessings and curses ceremony

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Is Celebrating Halloween a Sin?

In this episode of HOTL's Got Questions, we tackle one of the most debated topics in the church: Should Christians celebrate Halloween? We dig into what the Bible actually says about occult practices, where Halloween falls on the spectrum of Christian essentials vs. non-essentials, and how the historic church principle — "In the essentials, unity; in the non-essentials, liberty; in all else, charity" — applies to this conversation. We also discuss how Heart of the Lakes uses "HOTLoween" as a community outreach, why participating in cultural traditions doesn't equal worshiping the devil, and how Christians can hold different convictions while still standing united in Christ. Whether you're team trunk-or-treat or team stay-home, this episode will give you a framework for thinking biblically — and charitably — about Halloween.

Key points:

• The Bible is clear about avoiding occult practices, but Halloween as a modern American cultural tradition isn't the same as participating in the occult
• Halloween falls under "non-essentials" — Christians have liberty to celebrate or abstain based on personal conviction
• Just because a holiday has pagan origins doesn't make it sinful; Paul's teaching in 1 Corinthians 10 (food sacrificed to idols) applies here
• HOTLoween is Heart of the Lakes' community-focused fall event designed to love people and meet them where they are — and it's the #1 way newcomers find the church
• Christians can disagree on Halloween and still be unified in Christ; the essentials of faith are what matter most
• Live a life worthy of the gospel (Philippians 1:27) in whatever you do — whether trick-or-treating or staying home
• Disagreement should lead to understanding and unity, not division and discord

Follow & Share: If this episode challenged or encouraged you, follow HOTL's Got Questions wherever you listen to podcasts and share it with a friend who's wrestling with this question too. New episodes drop regularly — you won't want to miss what we're tackling next!

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In this episode of the HOTLCast, Cyle, Ryan, and Mark dive into a fascinating conversation about the intersection of faith and technology before unpacking a powerful message from Revelation 12. First, Cyle shares his wild experiment running a "Bite-Sized Bible Study" with 48 AI bots on Grok — each programmed with a different Midwestern personality, background, and spiritual gifting — and the surprisingly deep theological questions they asked about John 1:1. The guys discuss the potential and the limits of using AI as a Bible study tool, the rapid pace of technological change, and humanity's long history of resisting new innovations before eventually embracing them.

Then the conversation shifts to the real focus: the dragon of Revelation 12. The team unpacks the devil's singular, relentless mission since the Garden of Eden — to deceive us away from trusting God, get us to sin, and then accuse us before the Lord. Drawing parallels to middle school drama and the tactics of a master magician, the discussion reveals how the enemy uses sleight of hand to make what's sour look sweet, all while knowing he's already lost. The episode closes with a powerful reminder that Jesus has already secured the victory through the cross and resurrection, and our call is simply to trust God's word and not fall for the illusion.

Main Points

• AI Bible Study Experiment: Cyle ran a Bible study on John 1:1 using 48 AI bots with distinct Midwestern personalities, spiritual giftings, and love languages — and the bots asked deep, thought-provoking questions, though it burned 30% of his weekly Grok usage in one sitting.
• AI as a Study Tool, Not a Theological Foundation: The hosts agreed that AI can help you go deeper into Scripture by asking great questions, but it should never be the basis for your theology — that's true for bots and TikTok alike.
• The Inevitability of Technological Change: From Blu-ray vs. HDD drives to drums in church to auto-tune, society always resists new technology before eventually adopting it. The hosts encourage listeners to engage with change proactively rather than being caught behind the curve.
• The Dragon of Revelation 12: The sermon focus unpacks the devil as a literal dragon — the serpent whose one job since Genesis 3 has been to deceive humanity away from trusting that God is the best option.
• Deceive, Sin, Accuse — The Devil's Playbook: The enemy tempts you into sin and then rats you out before God, trying to shame you — "literally a middle schooler," as Cyle puts it.
• Sleight of Hand, Not Obvious Evil: The devil rarely shows up looking bad. He makes what's sour look sweet, questioning God's word with lines like, "Did God really say that?"
• The Victory Is Already Won: Jesus triumphed over Satan through the cross and resurrection. His return isn't to win the battle — it's to restore creation and cast out the deceiver for good.
• Trust Over Questioning: The encouragement is to stop constantly questioning what God said and instead trust His word, follow Him, and recognize the devil's deception for the illusion it is.

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Love this episode? Make sure to follow the HOTLCast so you never miss a new drop. If this conversation sparked something for you, share it with a friend — whether they're navigating faith and technology, wrestling with Revelation, or just need the reminder that the victory's already been won. Rate and review us wherever you listen, and let's keep the conversation going. Catch you on the next episode of the HOTLCast!

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In the final installment of the "Dungeons & Dragons" series, Pastor Cyle explores the dragon imagery found in the book of Revelation, connecting it back to the serpent in the Garden of Eden. The sermon establishes that the dragon—Satan—is real and uses two primary weapons: intimidation and deception. However, the central message is one of hope and victory: Jesus, the Lamb who was slain, has already defeated the dragon. The sermon challenges listeners to resist being discipled by culture and social media, to reject cultural Christianity, and to live as though a defeated enemy does not have the final word.

Main Points

1. The dragon is real and uses intimidation as a weapon. The great red dragon of Revelation 12, with seven heads and ten horns, is terrifying by design. Just as a wrestler tries to intimidate an opponent before a match, the enemy uses fear to gain an advantage over believers.
2. The dragon's greatest weapon is deception, not strength. From Genesis 3 to Revelation 12, Satan's strategy has always been to deceive—questioning God's Word, twisting truth, and causing confusion. His goal is to get you to believe things that are not true so he can steal territory in your life.
3. You can sit in church and still be discipled by the world. Phones, social media (TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat), and news outlets are "discipleship devices" that shape what we believe. The dragon doesn't need to keep you out of church if he can keep truth out of your life.
4. The dragon deceives you about God, then accuses you before God. Satan acts as both deceiver and accuser—enticing you to sin and then reporting your failure to God, much like a middle-school friend who eggs you on and then rats you out.
5. The dragon has already been defeated by the blood of the Lamb. Jesus' death on the cross—echoing the Passover lamb from the Old Testament—is the victory. The enemy is simply fighting for scraps and territory in a war he knows he has already lost.
6. The dragon's fury is great because his time is short. Like a frantic player in a countdown board game, the devil is desperately trying to win as much ground as possible before time runs out, knowing his defeat is certain.
7. The dragon makes war on believers because he cannot defeat Christ. Unable to overcome Jesus, Satan targets His followers—including children. Believers are called to stand firm, be faithful through suffering, and receive the crown of life.
8. Stop living as though a defeated enemy has the final word. The dragon may be part of your story, but the Lamb has already won the war. Listeners are called to get serious about their faith, reject cultural Christianity, and choose Jesus fully.

Relevant Scripture Passages and Their Connections:

Revelation 1:9 | Sets the context—John writes from Patmos during persecution, encouraging suffering Christians to endure. Pastor Cyle emphasizes Revelation was written to give hope, not fear.
Revelation 12 (various verses) | The centerpiece passage. The great red dragon with seven heads and ten horns is introduced as Satan, thrown down from heaven, waging war against believers.
Genesis 3:1 | Connects the New Testament dragon to the Old Testament serpent. The same deceiver who questioned God's Word in Eden ("Did God actually say…?") attacks the same way today—targeting trust in God's Word.
Revelation 12:10–11 | The accuser is thrown down; believers conquer him "by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony." This is the turning point—Jesus' sacrifice is the victory.
Revelation 12:12 | The devil's wrath is great "because his time is short." Pastor Cyle uses the "Five-Minute Marvel" board game as an analogy for the enemy's frantic, desperate fight.
Revelation 12:17 | The dragon makes war on "the rest of her offspring"—those who keep God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus. This establishes that believers are in an active battle.
Revelation 2:10 | "Do not fear what you are about to suffer… Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life." Faithfulness doesn't guarantee an easy life, but it promises an eternal crown.
Revelation 20:10 | The devil is thrown into the lake of fire—his defeat is final and certain. The sermon's conclusion: the enemy knows he will lose, yet still fights for territory.
Ephesians (referenced) | Paul writes that Christ has already triumphed over the enemy, reinforcing that the victory is accomplished.
Barna Group survey (Gen Z statistics) | Not a scripture passage, but a key data point: only 1% of churchgoing Gen Z adults hold a biblical worldview, and only 53% believe Jesus is the only way to heaven—illustrating the dragon's success through cultural deception.

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Series Context: This episode continues HOTLCast's "Dungeons and Dragons" sermon series, which moves from an Old Testament dungeon story, to a dragon story, and now returns to a dungeon — this time from the New Testament.

Main Topic: John the Baptist in Prison (Matthew 11)

The conversation centers on John the Baptist's imprisonment under Herod. After publicly calling out Herod's illicit marriage to Herodias, John is thrown into a dungeon where he will ultimately be beheaded. From prison, John sends messengers to Jesus with a haunting question: Are you really the one? Despite having spent his ministry preparing the way for Jesus and calling him the Lamb of God, John experiences doubt in his darkest moment.

Key Themes Discussed:

• Faith in the Dungeon — The hosts explore how faithfulness to God doesn't guarantee ease. Life's "dungeons" come in many forms: health crises, relationship breakdowns, financial hardship, grief, and loss. The question isn't whether we'll find ourselves in a dungeon, but whether we can still trust God when we do.
• Jesus' Response to Doubt — Rather than answering John's question directly, Jesus points to the evidence: the blind see, the lame walk, the dead are raised. The hosts discuss how Jesus honors John even after his doubt, calling him the greatest person ever born — showing that questioning doesn't disqualify you.
• Debunking "Coffee Cup Theology" — The group pushes back on popular but unbiblical phrases like "God won't give you more than you can handle" and "God saves his toughest battles for his strongest warriors," explaining how these sayings create false expectations and can lead to misplaced blame toward God.
• The "Stuff That Doesn't Make Sense" Pile — A memorable analogy about placing life's unanswerable questions in Jesus' hands rather than white-knuckling through them alone, trusting that God reveals what we need when we need it.
• White-Knuckling with Jesus — Using a story of driving 140 mph on a Las Vegas racetrack, the hosts illustrate how having an expert beside you changes everything. Jesus in the passenger seat doesn't remove the danger — but his presence brings peace.
• Practical Takeaways — For anyone feeling stuck in a dungeon: pray more, get into the Bible more, surround yourself with wise biblical counsel from people who have been through their own dungeons, and trust that God is still moving even when you can't see it.

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In week 3 of our "Dungeons & Dragons" series at Heart o' the Lakes Church, Pastor Cyle explores a lesser-known New Testament story: John the Baptist imprisoned in the dungeon of Machaerus. After faithfully preparing the way for Jesus and declaring Him the Lamb of God, John finds himself locked in a fortress dungeon — and begins to doubt.

Pastor Cyle opens with a relatable story about the card game Riftbound, where it seemed like everyone around him was pulling rare "chase cards" while he got nothing — a lighthearted entry point into a much deeper question we all face: Why does it feel like everyone else is getting ahead while I'm getting kicked while I'm down?

He shares the painful personal story of losing his daughter Peace, who was born lifeless on her due date, and the season of questioning that followed. Through that grief and through John the Baptist's imprisonment, we see that it's possible to know who Jesus is and still question what He's doing.

Jesus didn't give John an explanation for his suffering — He gave him evidence of His power. And Jesus didn't dismiss John's doubts. Instead, He called him the greatest born of women. John never left the dungeon alive, yet his story reveals a profound truth: God's faithfulness is not measured by whether He gives you the outcome you wanted.

Key Takeaways

• Doubt doesn't erase faithfulness. Your moment of doubt doesn't wipe out your lifetime of faithfulness. Questions and doubts are allowed — even faithful people like John the Baptist and King David asked hard questions.
• God may give evidence instead of explanations. When John asked if Jesus was the Messiah, Jesus responded by pointing to what God was doing — the blind seeing, the lame walking, the dead raised — rather than explaining why John was in prison.
• Don't let what God hasn't done blind you to what God is doing. When we fixate on our "dungeon," we miss the broader picture of God's goodness and work in and around our lives.
• Deliverance is not the only evidence of God's faithfulness. God's faithfulness is seen in how He cares for you, not just in whether He rescues you from your current situation.
• Take your questions to Jesus. It's okay to pray honestly, asking God "why?" — Jesus didn't scold John for his questions.
• Move forward through prayer, scripture, and community. Pray honestly, return to scripture, seek wise Christian counsel, and remain faithful even without immediate answers.
• Real faith trusts God when the door stays closed. We all want the breakthrough, but true faithfulness is trusting God even when the dungeon door doesn't open.

Scripture References

• Matthew 11:2-6 — John sends disciples to Jesus from prison; Jesus responds with evidence of His works
• Matthew 14 — John the Baptist is beheaded in prison
• John 1:29 — John declares Jesus the Lamb of God
• Psalms — David's prayers of lament and questions
• Lamentations — A book of the Bible dedicated to expressing grief and lament

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Cyle returns from a trip to Rome with an unforgettable story — and it's not the good kind. After being robbed of all his luggage hours before flying home (by "brigands," a word he insists on using for his own enjoyment), the crew uses the incident as a springboard into the book of Job.

This episode continues HOTLCast's October "Dungeons & Dragons" series, where the team explores the stranger, lesser-talked-about corners of Scripture. This week, they tackle Job's encounter with the Leviathan — a sea dragon God uses to remind Job (and us) of a simple but hard truth: God is God, and we are not.

The conversation covers a lot of ground:

• Why God doesn't erase suffering — Job's story doesn't end with everything reset to zero. The pain still happened. The scars remained. But God brought something new and good into his life, not as a replacement, but as a next chapter.
• The "new normal" of faith — How do you live faithfully when loss is permanent? The hosts get honest about their own scars and how trusting God doesn't mean pretending everything is fine.
• A God unlike the ancient gods — In a world where people believed the gods were capricious and cruel, just waiting to toy with humanity, Yahweh stood in stark contrast: faithful, loving, and present through the pain.
• The unsatisfying answer Job actually got — God never explains why. He responds with "I'm God. Trust me." And somehow, that's enough.

Whether you're in the middle of your own Leviathan moment or just trying to stay faithful in the small stuff, this episode is a reminder that we all have a little Job in us — and we're all fighting dragons.