LifeAudio

Episode Summary:

Community is a gift from God that reflects His nature and intention for us. Through meaningful relationships, we experience support, growth, and a deeper connection with Him. While cultivating community takes effort and intentionality, the blessings far outweigh the challenges. By leaning on biblical principles, embracing vulnerability, and taking actionable steps, we can foster relationships that uplift and transform us. Let’s take God’s invitation to heart and pursue community as a way to share His love, grace, and hope with others.

Today, we’re diving into a topic that touches the heart of our daily lives: the importance of community. God created us for relationship, not just with Him, but with each other. In a world that often feels isolated and disconnected, it’s vital to rediscover the power of authentic, Christ-centered community. Together, we’ll unpack what the Bible says about community, why it’s essential for our spiritual, emotional, and mental well-being, and practical steps we can take to intentionally cultivate meaningful connections. My son, Bryce, joins me on the podcast to talk about The Power of Togetherness: Why Community Matters in Faith and Life.

Quotables from the episode:

• Christ-centered community is, in all reality, exactly what it sounds like. It is a community striving together to edify and encourage one another to grow in their relationship to Christ individually. And it is that community that pushes each other to go towards Christ in the center.
• I think that community is very important in today's culture because we have grown very disconnected. Part of that free reign of access is the advent of social media, and it is very helpful to be able to connect with people one -on -one and being able to see people's life updates. But I think everyone is fully aware of the social media fact of you're only seeing the best.
• Community is very important because there is that lack and that prevalence of comparison that is leading people to feel isolated and like they aren't living up to what the dream is. I would say isolated and discontent because of that tendency towards comparison.
• And yet isn't it interesting that in a day and an age where things are supposedly more social, we see that loneliness is a huge epidemic. So, it's kind of ironic, if you will, that in this day of social media, people are feeling lonelier than ever.
• What role does the Bible place on the value of relationships within the Church and beyond? Oh, the Bible places an incredible amount of importance on relationships. You can just go throughout all of scripture and every single book there is an example. There is David and Jonathan. There's Ruth and Naomi. There is John and Jesus. Paul and Timothy. You can go on and on and on and give examples of all of these wonderful pairs of relationships and these groups. Jesus having the twelve disciples and David's mighty men. there is so much importance in the Bible on relationships because when God formed Adam in the garden, he made Adam in his own image and looked at it and looked at Adam and said "This isn't good for you to be alone." Even though you were made in my image, the best good that you could have out of all of creation, it wasn't good for him to be alone.
• When we have a heart that's focused on the fact that God wants us to have community. He wants us to share his love with other people. I think we have to get past worrying what other people are going to think.
• Self -consciousness often stems from some type of fear, fear of rejection, fear of not being understood, fear of being misconstrued with what you say.
• The importance of vulnerability is really saying, you're not alone in whatever this thing is. 
• Being able to be vulnerable and say, I've been down this road, or even if I've not been down this road, bu

In this special backstage episode of The Built Different Podcast, recorded at the AACC 2025 United World Conference, Dr. Zach Clinton sits down with a dear friend, Lysa TerKeurst — bestselling author, speaker, and Founder & President of Proverbs 31 Ministries. With over 7,000 Christian counselors, coaches, clinicians, pastors, and ministry leaders gathered in Nashville from around the world, this year’s conference has been a powerful time of worship, equipping, and encouragement. In this deeply personal conversation, Lysa opens up about one of the most difficult chapters of her life: walking through an unwanted divorce.

As her newest book, Surviving an Unwanted Divorce, prepares to release on November 11th, Lysa shares with honesty and biblical clarity how God met her in the middle of heartbreak. Together, Dr. Zach and Lysa talk through: the journey of trusting God in seasons you never expected, what it looked like for Lysa to lead Proverbs 31 Ministries while navigating private pain, how Scripture speaks to and protects women in the context of divorce, common phrases that can unintentionally hurt, and how to truly support someone walking through divorce, God’s heart for those in unwanted divorce, and the hope available for the next step forward.

This conversation is both biblically rich and emotionally honest, offering practical guidance, spiritual truth, and hope for anyone walking through — or walking with someone through — the pain of unwanted divorce.

Websites:

• Visit Lysa’s Website: https://lysaterkeurst.com/ 
• Pre-Order Lysa’s New Book, Surviving an Unwanted Divorce: https://www.p31bookstore.com/collections/lysa-terkeurst-books-and-bible-studies/products/surviving-an-unwanted-divorce 
• Proverbs 31 Ministries: https://proverbs31.org/ 
• Other Books by Lysa TerKeurst: https://www.p31bookstore.com/collections/lysa-terkeurst-books-and-bible-studies 
• Receive Christ-Centered Care through Christian Care Connect: https://christiancareconnect.com/  

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Paul joins to discuss his work on The Chosen Adventures, sharing insights on storytelling, faith, and how the series brings Jesus’ message to families in an engaging way. Discover why this animated spin-off resonates with kids and parents alike and inspires meaningful conversations about God.

✨ Episode Highlights:

• Why Paul was drawn to The Chosen Adventures: excellence in storytelling and thoughtful entertainment

• The balance of intellect, humor, and spiritual depth in the series

• How public figures, from athletes to actors, are approaching faith differently today

• Why The Chosen resonates globally: humanizing Jesus and blending redemptive characters with engaging narrative

• Key lessons for kids and parents: asking questions, talking to God freely, and staying connected to faith

• Encouragement for audiences to be unafraid to explore their faith and engage in spiritual conversations

About the Guest:
Paul is a storyteller and contributor to The Chosen Adventures, an animated series that expands on the world of The Chosen. With a focus on faith, curiosity, and spiritual engagement, Paul helps create content that both entertains and inspires meaningful conversations about Jesus.

Resources & Links:

• Explore The Chosen Adventures: 

• Discover more faith-centered podcasts on LifeAudio.com

If you enjoyed today’s conversation, subscribe and share with a friend! Dive into more faith-centered stories and inspiring content on LifeAudio, where dozens of podcasts connect audiences with God’s Word and real-life stories.

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Today’s Bible Verse:
"The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple." — Psalm 19:7

When life leaves you drained or confused, Scripture revives what the world wears down. Psalm 19:7 reminds us that God’s Word doesn’t just instruct—it restores. His truth brings clarity, peace, and direction to weary hearts.

Meet Today’s Host: Reverend Jessica Van Roekel

️ Listen to more daily devotionals with Jessica at Your Daily Bible Verse on LifeAudio

Rev. Jessica Van Roekel is a passionate Christian speaker, author, and worship pastor who shares how God brings beauty from brokenness. Her message centers on God’s power to rescue, restore, and renew, even after seasons of rejection or loss.

She is the author of Reframing Rejection: How Looking Through a Different Lens Changes Everything, a guide to seeing God’s purpose in life’s disappointments.

Jessica and her husband are raising a vibrant family, with two adult daughters, a college-aged son, and a high school daughter. You can explore her teachings, devotionals, and resources at WelcomeGrace.com.

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Connect with God — on Abide, a Christian meditation app that provides a biblically grounded place to experience peace and progress in your relationship with Christ. Use this biblical meditation, narrated by Tyler Boss, to center yourself on the truth in God's word. How good is your imagination? Meditate on Ephesians 3:20. Allow the music & nature sounds, deep breathing, prayer, and scripture help you connect with God in a new way. 

For a 30 day free trial of our premium ad-free content, your trusted friend for meditation is right here: https://abide.com/peace

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Sleep better and Stress Less— with Abide, a Christian meditation app that provides a biblically grounded place to experience peace and progress in your relationship with Christ. We hope this biblical sleep meditation, narrated by Rachel Vega, helps your body relax and your mind rest on the truth found in scripture.  “Autumn Calls” is about the beauty of the fall season. With autumn comes change, letting go, harvest, and celebration. You will hear those themes throughout the short story, “Elizabeth’s Harvest,” as well as in beautiful imagery and seasonal blessings.

For a 30 day free trial of our premium ad-free content, your trusted friend for better sleep is right here: https://abide.com/peace

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A Prayer to Not Hit the Panic Button

What does it really mean to bring everything—big or small—to God in prayer?

In today's episode by Nicolet Bell we look at Philippians 4:6 and we are reminded that Paul, who had every reason to be anxious, encourages us to pray in every situation with thanksgiving. Prayer is not our last resort—it’s our first and best response. As John Wesley once wrote, “Prayer is our grand means of drawing nearer to God.”

Reference: Philippians 4:6

Prayer: Father, help me to seek you in prayer daily as my first and best response. Please help me not to hit the panic button until I speak to you. I trust that you will meet me when I come to you in prayer, helping me release my anxieties and exchanging them for thankfulness. Show me how to make praying for my family a priority. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

LINKS:

How to Pray God's Word For Your Children Guide

Follow Everyday Prayers @MillionPrayingMoms

Get today's devotion and prayer in written form to keep for future use! 

Support the ministry with your $5 monthly gift through Patreon.

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Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This week, beloved Bible teacher and speaker Lisa Harper shares her perspective on how she traded theological study for a personal God experience and began seeing the Bible as a love story. She stresses showing up to God just as you are—imperfections and all—illustrated by a story of shared heartache.

Then, we’ll hear from Richard Gamble, the founder of the Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer in the United Kingdom, which is set to open in the fall of 2027. Richard shares the vision behind the largest Christian landmark in Britain, which will contain one million bricks, each one containing a scannable QR code which will reveal someone’s answered prayer. 

Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned:

Jesus Calling Podcast

Jesus Calling

Jesus Always

Jesus Listens

Past interview: Josh Baldwin

Upcoming interview: Christian Dearman

Jesus Listens: Prayers for Every Season

Lisa Harper 

Malachi 3:6 NIV

www.lisaharper.org

A Jesus-Shaped Life

Richard Gamble

Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer 

Royal Institute of British Architects

www.eternalwall.org.uk

Interview Quotes:

“If we compartmentalize our relationship with Jesus to only when we’re reading the Bible, to only when we’re attending church or in a Bible study, then it can become segmented in our lives. Theology at its core is relational. It’s less about accruing data about who God is and it’s more about developing an intimate relationship with Jesus.” - Lisa Harper

“When you think of the Bible as a rule book, or that it’s primarily about biblical ethics, then it becomes punitive—it’s something I have to get right. When you see it as primarily a love story,  then everything changes.” - Lisa Harper

“If you look at all of Scripture, including the Old Testament, through a socio-historical context, you’ll see this ongoing theme of a good God who’s always in the process of redeeming our inherent dignity as His children.” - Lisa Harper

“All of us experience exquisite loneliness, but that also shows we are hardwired for relationship.” - Lisa Harper

“Jesus Christ, the Son of God, He chose to be accessible to us, to be near to us when our lives feel crushed, to get the residue of our heartache on His personhood. He doesn’t just love me because it’s His duty. He delights in me.” - Lisa Harper  

“How kind is our God. It’s His mercy that leads us to repentance.” - Lisa Harper 

“Whatever you do, don’t believe the lie that you have to clean yoursel

In What Does the Lord Require of Us?, Megan J. Conner reminds us that amid the noise of modern life, God’s call to His people has always been simple: love Him and love others. Reflecting on Micah 6:8 and Matthew 22:36–39, this devotional breaks down what it truly means to live justly, practice kindness, and walk humbly with God in a world that often prioritizes self over service.

Highlights

• The Lord’s requirements are clear: act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him.

• Jesus summarized the Ten Commandments into two essentials—love God and love others.

• True love is more than emotion; it’s a daily practice of justice, compassion, and humility.

• Kindness requires intentional effort, especially when distractions or pride take center stage.

• Walking humbly keeps our hearts aligned with God’s grace and reminds us that all are equal before Him.

Join the Conversation

What does it look like for you to live out Micah 6:8 today? Share how you’re practicing justice, kindness, and humility in your faith walk. Tag @LifeAudioNetwork and use #WalkHumbly #LoveMercy #FaithInAction to join the conversation.

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Check out other Crosswalk Podcasts: Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews

Full Transcript Below:

What Does the Lord Require of Us?
By Megan J. Conner

Bible Reading:
“He has told you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you
Except to be just, and to love [and to diligently practice] kindness (compassion),
And to walk humbly with your God [setting aside any overblown sense of importance or self-righteousness]?” - Micah 6:8 (AMP)

What is the Lord really requiring of us as followers of Christ? Both secular and faith-based cultures flood our feeds, our inboxes, and our minds with directives on how to live our best lives, make the most of our time here on earth, and achieve our dreams. All of which only causes confusion and clutters our already overstimulated brains with more to do. None of us needs more tasks to add to our to-do lists, nor is it helpful for anyone to feel overwhelmed and lost trying to simply walk out our days. Yet that is the noisy chaos in which most of us reside, making it difficult to discern what truly matters.

While this may seem like a modern dilemma, the truth is God’s people have always struggled with priorities. In the Old Testament, the Israelites were given the Ten Commandments as a framework for their faith. These same guidelines are summarized in the New Testament by Jesus in Matthew chapter 22. 

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Please visit https://www.biblestudyheadquarters.com/ for more tools and resources to help you grow in faith.

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