Miked Up

In this episode kicking off the 2025 season, Coby sits down with Dr. Mike to explore practical ways to grow in your spiritual life. They discuss the importance of regularly engaging with God’s Word, offering tips for getting into the Bible for the first time, and using devotionals and Bible apps. The conversation also dives into deepening your prayer life, prioritizing church attendance, and understanding what it truly means to take a Sabbath. Whether you’re just starting or looking to grow further, this episode provides helpful advice for making these practices part of your daily routine.

In this episode, we dive into a thought-provoking question: Does our culture's emphasis on family during Christmas enhance or hinder our worship of God? Join us as we explore differing perspectives on how to approach the season. Our senior pastor highlights the importance of spending Christmas with family, while I advocate for prioritizing time with our church family, with whom we share our spiritual journey. Together, we wrestle with what it means to keep Christ at the center of the celebration.

In this special episode of the Miked Up podcast, Dr. Mike and Coby tackle the complex topic of Halloween and its place in Christian life. Is it an evil pagan holiday, or just a cultural tradition? Should Christian parents let their kids trick-or-treat, is a fall fest at church a good idea? Beyond Halloween, they explore how Christians should approach other worldly activities that may conflict with faith. From holidays to everyday practices, they offer insights on maintaining a biblical perspective in a secular world. Tune in as they break down the balance between faith and cultural engagement.

In Episode 11 of Miked Up, the guys shift away from politics and dive into key questions about church life and discipleship. Can a church become too large to disciple its members effectively? They explore the definition of a megachurch, discuss the role of small groups, and question whether today’s church culture has become too consumeristic. Is the approach to church growth more pragmatic than biblical?

The conversation tackles what meaningful discipleship looks like, how even small churches can miss the mark, and the importance of being a faithful church member. They also talk about vision casting, challenges with getting people engaged in discipleship, and why we should seek to help improve our church rather than criticize it. If you’re wondering what to look for in a church home or how biblical preaching fits into this discussion, this episode has you covered.

In this episode of Miked Up we dive into the evolving landscape of evangelical Christianity. What does it mean to be an evangelical Christian today? We explore the potential pitfalls of letting political affiliations become a roadblock for sharing the gospel. Is it wrong to support a candidate? How can the gospel itself be a stumbling block? We also discuss how some political platforms align with or contradict Christian values, and what we should do with the increasingly charged term “evangelical Christianity.” Tune in for a thoughtful conversation on these critical issues.

Join Dr. Mike and Coby as they explore:

•Respecting People vs. Beliefs: Can we respect others without agreeing with their beliefs?

•Disagreeing Without Enmity: Does disagreement mean we’re enemies?

•Criticism and Conspiracies: Insights on the attempted assassination of Donald Trump and its impact on Christians.

•Grace in Speech: How to stand firm in truth without sounding disrespectful.

•Smart Posting: Is what you’re about to post true, kind, and necessary?

Don’t miss this thought-provoking episode of Miked Up.

On this episode of Miked Up, Dr. Mike Miller and Coby Duren dive into deep, controversial, and often avoided topics among Christians. They explore questions like: Did Jesus make any political statements? Was Jesus trying to impact the political environment of 1st century Israel?

Coby sparks a discussion on C.S. Lewis and his five points on patriotism, which become the main focus of this episode. They examine how some people’s patriotism is based on a love for their home and what is good for them, questioning whether political views are driven by selfish desires. Is it about “what’s right and what’s wrong,” or “how will this affect me?”

They also discuss whether the system is flawed or if the people are, who is affected by a superiority complex, and what “healthy patriotism” looks like.

Welcome to another episode of Miked Up! This episode tackles a controversial topic: the presidential election and whether Jesus would support a candidate that endorses abortion.

We explore God’s sovereignty, His will of command and decree, and discuss biblical examples like King Saul, who was chosen by God despite being a disastrous king. We consider what kind of support Jesus might lend to leaders today and how God’s will operates in the rise of rulers.

The episode also covers IVF, questioning if a frozen embryo has a soul, and reflects on whether Baptists ever supported abortion. Dr. Mike explains why he doesn’t endorse candidates and discusses whether Christians should support candidates who have conflicting policies.

We also touch on how immigration and environmental issues relate to being pro-life, highlighting that you don’t have to be a Christian to hold pro-life values.

Join us for a thought-provoking discussion that connects faith and modern political issues.

🎙️ **Episode 6: Would Jesus Be a Political Socialist?**

As the presidential election draws near, the conversation around politics in the pulpit intensifies. Join Dr. Mike and Coby Duren as they explore the contentious topic of politics and religion. Should pastors speak on politics? What stance would Jesus have taken in today's political landscape? They confront the division seeping into churches across the country and share candid insights, including a lesson Dr. Mike learned from his early days as a pastor about discussing politics from the pulpit. Would Jesus vote? The duo dissects the perception of Jesus and the early church as socialist by some millennials. They also tackle the relationship between wealth and Christianity, pondering if being wealthy and Christian are compatible. Finally, they dissect the difference between equality of opportunity and equality of outcome, leaving listeners with much to ponder in this thought-provoking episode.

Tune in to "Miked Up" as Dr. Mike and Coby Duren navigate the intersection of faith and politics with honesty and insight.

In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Mike and Coby explore the complexities of spiritual warfare, diving into topics such as whether demons can implant thoughts into the minds of Christians, the reality of demon possession, and the nature of temptation. They examine the relationship between the mind and the brain, emphasizing the importance of navigating thoughts and grounding oneself in truth. Drawing from biblical examples, they discuss Jesus's confrontation with Satan during temptation and the tactics the enemy employs to distract believers from their faith. From subtle influences like consumerism and materialism to overt attacks such as dabbling in horoscopes, the duo confronts the question: Is sin solely our responsibility, or does Satan bear some blame? Tune in for an enlightening discussion on traversing the battlefield of the mind and standing firm against spiritual adversaries.