Bigger is better, says the world. But God often takes groups from large to little. Why is that? On this episode of the Live Like It's True podcast, Rachael Adams and I are discussing the interesting story of when God thinned out Gideon's army by about 99%, then sent him to war.

We'll explore what God was after, and how it turned out.

Rachael Adams is a wife and mom, author and speaker, and host of The Love Offering Podcast. Check out her new devotional, "A Little Goes a Long Way."

Guest: Rachael Adams

Bible Passage: Gideon Defeats the Midianites - Judges 7

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Mentioned Resources

• A Little Goes a Long Way by Rachael Adams
• The Love Offering Podcast
• Shannon's appearance on The Love Offering
• Teach Equip (Formerly called 'Women Teaching Women')

Rachael Adams

Writer and podcaster, Rachael Adams, started her ministry to help women realize their God-given purpose and significance. She is host of The Love Offering Podcast that features real stories of women who are living out their faith. Rachel and her husband, Bryan, run a family business and farm in Kentucky with their two children, Will and Kate, and their two doodle dogs.

A Little Goes a Long Way

In her book, A Little Goes a Long Way: 52 Days to a Significant Life, Rachael offers biblical truths about God's ability to unlock eternal influence when we consistently pursue and obey Him. Her desire is that other women find fulfillment, satisfaction, and purpose—not based on their circumstances but based on God's promises. Some of the reflective truths she offers include the following:

• a little work
• a little conversation
• a little effort
• a little gratitude
• a little forgiveness

Connect with Rachael:

Website: RachaelKAdams.com

Podcast: The Love Offering

Facebook: @rachaeladamsauthor

Instagram: @rachaeladamsauthor

More from the Judgy Series on Live Like It's True. 

Get the FREE Judgy Heart Check and check out Shannon's new book Kinda Judgy. 

Are you kinda judgy? Take the QUIZ. 

Check out Shannon's new book, Kinda Judgy. 

Learn more at ShannonPopkin.com.

What would happen if you looked for Jesus on all the pages of your Bible? Would you read it differently? Would it satisfy your hunger more? On this episode of the Live Like It's True podcast, Kristen Wetherell and I are exploring the story of the two disciples on the Road To Emmaus, who didn't realize they're talking to Jesus—and what He opens their eyes to.

Kristen is a pastor's wife, mom, author and speaker from the Chicagoland area. Check out her new book, "Help for the Hungry Soul."

Bible Passage: On the Road to Emmaus - Luke 24:13–35

Get your Freebie: The Live Like It's True Workbook

Mentioned Resources

• Help for the Hungry Soul by Kristen Wetherell
• The One Year Book of Discovering Jesus in the Old Testament by Nancy Guthrie
• Reading the Bible Supernaturally by John Piper
• Purposefooled by Kelly Needham

Kristen is a pastor’s wife, a mother of three, a writer, and a speaker. She's authored several books including:

• Help for the Hungry Soul: Eight Encouragements to Grow Your Appetite for God’s Word
• Humble Moms: How the Work of Christ Sustains the Work of Motherhood
• Fight Your Fears: Trusting God’s Character and Promises When You Are Afraid
• For the Bible Tells Me So (board book series)
• Hope When It Hurts: Biblical Reflections to Help You Grasp God’s Purpose in Your Suffering
• 12 Faithful Women: Portraits of Steadfast Endurance (general editor)

Her mission is to help others love Jesus, learn his word, and live in light of his gospel. She very much enjoys teaching God’s word to women of local churches and would love to serve you in that way. (Get her speaking info here.) She and her husband, Brad, live in Chicagoland, and are members of The Orchard.

Connect with Kristen:

Website: kristenwetherell.com

Instagram: instagram.com/kristen_wetherell

More from the Judgy Series on Live Like It's True. 

Get the FREE Judgy Heart Check and check out Shannon's new book Kinda Judgy. 

Are you kinda judgy? Take the QUIZ. 

Check out Shannon's new book, Kinda Judgy. 

Learn more at ShannonPopkin.com.

Have you experienced chronic illness or longtime suffering? Or maybe you know someone who has experienced the isolation and hopelessness of having no where else to turn. It can feel like God has forgotten you, or his back is turned to you. But in this story, we're going to watch a breakthrough moment, where a woman finds out what has been actually true all along.

Guests: Hope Blanton and Christine Gordon

Bible Passage: Luke 8:42-48 ESV

Get your Freebie: The Live Like It's True Workbook

Mentioned Resources

• At His Feet Studies
• Luke, Part I: A Study of Luke 1-8 (At His Feet Studies)
• Encounters with Jesus by Gary Burge (tampon story, page 39)

At His Feet Studies

Each lesson in an At His Feet Study consists of four steps: reading the Scripture passage, answering observation questions, reading commentary about the passage, and answering application questions helping you apply the text to your life. Also included is a “focus verse” for memorization. Below are all of the studies available from At His Feet.

Connect with Hope and Christine

Website: At His Feet Studies

Instagram: @athisfeetstudies

Facebook: @athisfeetstudies

More from the Judgy Series on Live Like It's True. 

Get the FREE Judgy Heart Check and check out Shannon's new book Kinda Judgy. 

Are you kinda judgy? Take the QUIZ. 

Check out Shannon's new book, Kinda Judgy. 

Learn more at ShannonPopkin.com.

Is God even real? If he is, does he care how I live? How could God make my life better? This story has all the answers to these questions and more.

It's not an easy story to take in, but it's an important story and—unlike the people going about their business in Noah's day—we'd better know this story and live like it's true.

Guest: Rebecca George

Bible Passage: Genesis 6-7

Get your Freebie: The Live Like It's True Workbook

Mentioned Resources

• Do the Thing by Rebecca George
• Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund

More from the Judgy Series on Live Like It's True. 

Get the FREE Judgy Heart Check and check out Shannon's new book Kinda Judgy. 

Are you kinda judgy? Take the QUIZ. 

Check out Shannon's new book, Kinda Judgy. 

Learn more at ShannonPopkin.com.

What does it mean to leave and cleave in today's world? What happens when we don't?

 Whether you're about to be married, you've been married for years, or you have adult children who have said, "I do," God's command to leave and cleave is meant to help the marriages you care about thrive.

My guests, Bruce and Sue Osterink have mentored nearly one hundred couples, and offer timeless wisdom for the beautiful (yet sometimes painfully challenging) process of two becoming one in marriage—which can't happen without first leaving the family you came from. 

 Guests: Bruce and Sue Osterink

Bible Passage: Genesis 2:25

Get your Freebie: The Live Like It's True Workbook

Mentioned Resources: 

• When to Walk Away
• Generous Giving

More from the Judgy Series on Live Like It's True. 

Get the FREE Judgy Heart Check and check out Shannon's new book Kinda Judgy. 

Are you kinda judgy? Take the QUIZ. 

Check out Shannon's new book, Kinda Judgy. 

Learn more at ShannonPopkin.com.

 What does it look like to be brave and tell the truth, when so many are saying, "Maybe I'm not a girl..."? And what is the truth about a person's gender? 

Also, why is masturbation wrong if it's not hurting anyone? And how can we respond like God does, when someone opens up about sexual sin?

Kristen and I talk through these questions and more, offering advice found in our Origin Story, from Genesis 1-3. God doesn't leave us to wonder about our gender and sexuality. Will you live like this Story is true?

Guest: Kristen Clark

Bible Passage: Genesis 1-3

Get your Freebie: The Live Like It's True Workbook

Mentioned Resources: 

• Sex, Purity and Longings of a Girl's Heart
• In His Image movie
• Episode with Mary Kassian
• Episode with Kim Cash Tate
• Shannon's book Comparison Girl
• Kristen's Girl Defined episode on Masturbation

Recommended Resources: (Scroll down)

Music: Cade Popkin Music 

Kristen Clark

Kristen Clark is married to her best friend, Zack, and is the newly adoptive mom to two precious boys from Ukraine. She is co-founder of Girl Defined Ministries, author of several books, including Not Part of the Plan: Trusting God with the Twists and Turns of Your Story, and is passionate about promoting the message of God-defined womanhood through blogging, speaking, mentoring young women, and hosting Bible studies in her living room. In the end, she’s just a fun-lovin’ Texas girl who adores all things outdoors and is an unashamed dog-lover who snuggles with her little maltipoo whenever she can.

• Sex, Purity, and the Longings of a Girl's Heart
• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook

More from the Judgy Series on Live Like It's True. 

Get the FREE Judgy Heart Check and check out Shannon's new book Kinda Judgy. 

Are you kinda judgy? Take the QUIZ. 

Check out Shannon's new book, Kinda Judgy. 

Learn more at ShannonPopkin.com.

As a thirteen-year-old, Jessica innocently stumbled upon the world of pornography. Before long, it took over and threatened to destroy her whole life.

In this episode, Jessica and I are walking through her story, and comparing it to the truths from Genesis 1-3, which we've been looking at in season 4 of Live Like It's True. Learn how Jessica broke free from the power of sin and shame, and how can you can, too.

Guest: Jessica Harris

Bible Passage: Genesis 1-2

Get your Freebie: The Live Like It's True Workbook

Mentioned Resources: 

• Quenched
• Begger's Daughter
• Episode with Nicole Furno
• Episode with Portia Collins
• Episode with Courtney Doctor

Full Shownotes: Here

Music: Cade Popkin Music 

Learn more at ShannonPopkin.com.

Are there any women trying to control things at your church? And are there any shepherding men, who are ignoring the women at your church?

If you've ever rolled up your sleeves in church ministry, you know that there are often pitfalls and frustrations, when we—as men and women—try to blend our gifts in the church. In this episode, we're going to talk about how to cultivate a fruitful complementarianism in the local church—one where brothers and sisters realize they are better together, by God's design.

In this conversation, we're talking again about Complementarianism. Last time, Brian Robinson and I talked about what complementarianism is, and what it's rooted in. But this time, I have my friend Cheyenne Werner with me, talking about women's ministry in the church, and what we learn about it in Genesis 1-3.

To help me with this conversation, I've invited my friend Cheyenne Werner, who is a women's ministry coordinator at Peace Church, here in West Michigan, where I live.

Guest: Cheyenne Werner

Bible Passage: Genesis 1-2

Get your Freebie: The Live Like It's True Workbook

Mentioned Resources: 

• Path Back to the Tree of Life Painting
• Episode with Mary Kassian which mentioned the parallel between marriage and babies, and Pentecost and the church being born.
• Knowing Faith Episode on Complementarianism

Full Shownotes

Music: Cade Popkin Music 

Learn more at ShannonPopkin.com.

What are role distinctions based on? Is it God's idea for husbands to lead? What if a husband is wrong? Should a wife still submit? Doesn't complementarianism put women at risk? And where does it say women can't preach?

I'm grateful to have Brian Robinson with me to discuss the topic of "complementarianism", or the idea that God created men and women equal in value, but gave them distinct roles in marriage and in the church. We're looking back to Genesis 1-3, and all we learned in our True Story of the Beginning series, plus we're looking to other New Testament passages which point back to Genesis, for guidance on this difficult topic.

Guest: Brian Robinson

Bible Passage: Genesis 1-3, I Timothy 2:11-14, I Peter 2:23-24, I Peter 3:1-2, I Corinthians 14:33-35

Get your Freebie: The Live Like It's True Workbook

Mentioned Resources: 

• • Episode with Kelly Needham about Male and Female
  • G. K. Chesterton Fence Story
  • Shannon's story about the shoes

Full Shownotes

Music: Cade Popkin Music 

Learn more at ShannonPopkin.com.

 What can Christian do about her same-sex attraction? How is an LGBT Christian to respond to the Bible's blueprint for marriage, in Genesis? What impact does a Christian's disgust over sexual brokenness have on those around her, who are suffering?

I'm sitting down with my friend, Laurie Krieg, to talk about the story of Genesis 1-3 and what it shows us about God's design for marriage—especially for the LGBT+ Christian. Laurie shares how she found the determination to work through her mixed-orientation marriage suffering, by digging into the juicy steak of theology, served up in the Genesis narrative and what it points to.   
 
 Laurie is a coach/consultant, speaker, author, and podcast host whose mission is to equip Jesus-followers with a gospel-centered approach to sexuality.

More: Full Length Shownotes

Guest: Laurie Krieg

Bible Passage: Genesis 1-3,

Get your Freebie: The Live Like It's True Workbook

Mentioned Resources: 

• Laurie's Book:  An Impossible Marriage: What Our Mixed-Orientation Marriage Has Taught Us About Love and the Gospel
• Focus on the Family episode, highlighting Laurie's family: The Joys of Raising a Large Family - Part 2 with Guests Randy & Marcia Hekman
• Ada Bible - Laurie Intervied by Aaron Buer: The Questionable Life | Aaron Buer 9am
• Down Gillian Lane, where Laurie played "Brooke" Keys for Kids Ministries > Programming > Down Gilead Lane > Read & Listen
• Live LIke It's True Episode with Mary Kassian, talking about marriage metaphor, and the imagery of Christ's side split open and the church being born:E33 Adam and Eve: Man and Wife {Mary Kassian - Genesis 2}
• Live Like It's True Episode with Portia Collins - the first mention of the gospel: E36 The Seed of the Woman {Portia Collins - Genesis 3}

Laurie's Story

For as long as Laurie can remember, she has loved Jesus, and she has been same sex attracted. In this episode Laurie shares her story with us:

• Growing up in a strong Christian activist family
• Her crisis of faith as a college-aged Christian in a same-sex relationship
• God's call for her (a happy-to-be-single adult) to get married
• Her crisis, as a young mom, when a memory of abuse unexpectedly surfaced
• Her full-blown temptation to leave her impossible marriage 
• Her fight back to intimacy in her marriage
• How she's currently living like this story from Genesis 1-2 is true!

LGBT+ Christian Marriage Questions

• What should an LGBT+ person do about pain from the church, and homophobic attitudes? 
• How does Genesis 1-2 provide a roadmap for how marriage is supposed to look?
• How does the Bible's metaphor of marriage,  provide a "juicy steak" of a reason to stay in a difficult marriage?
• How is marriage between a man and a woman not the ultimate picture God is offering us? And what is that ultimate picture? 
• What sho

Learn more at ShannonPopkin.com.