ON SOLID GROUND

In this episode, Kenny Barnwell and Shannon Thompson have an honest conversation about death, grief, heaven, eternal life, and the hope Christians have in Jesus.

The conversation begins with Kenny sharing about visiting his dad in Georgia while his father is on hospice and nearing the end of his life.

From there, Kenny and Shannon talk about one of the heaviest but most important topics in the Christian faith:

What happens when this life ends?

Kenny shares the peace he has knowing his dad is a believer and that death is not the end for those who are in Christ.

Shannon shares about losing his own father, the pain of grief, and the hope that comes from believing that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.

The conversation also explores eternity, heaven, salvation, the body as a temporary vessel, the soul returning to God, and why the Christian view of death is different from the world’s view of death.

Questions like:

• How do Christians face death?

• What does the Bible say about heaven?

• Do believers go immediately to be with Christ?

• How do we grieve with hope?

• What does it mean that this body is only temporary?

• How do we talk about salvation, hell, and eternity with people who do not believe?

• What comfort does Jesus give when someone we love is near the end?

And more...

We do not pretend to have all the answers. This is a real conversation between two Christians processing grief, faith, eternity, and the hope of seeing loved ones again in Christ.

Scriptures Referenced in Conversation

• Ecclesiastes 12:7

• 2 Corinthians 5:8-9

• Philippians 1:23-24

• Matthew 28:19-20

• Luke 23:39-43

• Ecclesiastes 9:4-12

• Psalm 90:12-17

• 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14

• Ephesians 4:9-10

• 1 Peter 3:17-22

• Revelation 21:1-8

• Romans 3:23

• Romans 6:23

• Matthew 7:7-8

• John 14:6

• Matthew 18:20

  
  

As Mentioned in the Episode...

We launched The Rock, our community for people who want to grow deeper in their faith, build strong foundations, and do life alongside other believers. The Rock is a free Facebook group.

If you would like to join the conversation beyond the podcast, you can join us here: JOIN THE ROCK!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/onsolidgroundcommunity

THEME SONG BY: Joe Wolfe

In this episode, Kenny Barnwell and Shannon Thompson have an honest conversation about dreams, discernment, spiritual warnings, and the different ways God speaks to us.

The conversation begins with Kenny sharing an update about a new season of clarity, momentum, and courage around a major business vision he believes God has placed in front of him.

From there, the conversation turns toward dreams.

Kenny shares how reading the book of Daniel has stirred up thoughts about the way God speaks through dreams, visions, symbols, and interpretation.

Shannon shares a dream he once had about Kenny, and how, after prayer, he believed the dream connected to church hurt, anger, and the peace of Christ stopping Kenny in his tracks.

Kenny also shares two powerful dreams of his own, including one where he felt God revealed Himself through fire, smoke, and a roar, and another involving a small snake that grew until it filled a bathtub.

That leads into a deeper conversation about sin, spiritual vigilance, warnings from God, the enemy’s subtle attacks, and the danger of ignoring something small until it becomes something much harder to deal with.

Questions like:

• Does God still speak through dreams?

• How do we know if a dream means something?

• Should Christians seek dream interpretation?

• What can we learn from Daniel?

• Can God use dreams to warn us about sin?

• How do small compromises grow into bigger problems?

• How do we stay focused on Jesus when life feels full of requirements, pressure, and responsibility?

And more...

We do not pretend to have all the answers. This is a real conversation between two Christians trying to listen for God, stay close to Him, and walk with wisdom.

This episode is a reminder that God can speak in many ways.

Through His Word.

Through prayer.

Through music.

Through people.

Through dreams.

And through the quiet conviction of the Holy Spirit.

But no matter how He speaks, the foundation remains the same.

Keep your eyes on Jesus.

Stay close to Him.

And do not ignore the small things God is asking you to deal with.

Scriptures Referenced in Conversation

• James 1:17

• Psalm 119:105

• Daniel 1-6

• Daniel 12

• Genesis 37-41

• Matthew 17:20

• Matthew 24:12-13

• Joel 2:28

• Acts 2:17

• John 10:10

• John 4:14

• 1 Peter 5:8

• 2 Corinthians 12:7

• Luke 10:38-42

• Matthew 6:33

• John 13:35

  
  

As Mentioned in the Episode...

We launched The Rock, our community for people who want to grow deeper in their faith, build strong foundations, and do life alongside other believers. The Rock is a free Facebook group.

If you would like to join the conversation beyond the podcast, you can join us here: JOIN THE ROCK!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/onsolidgroundcommunity

THEME SONG BY: Joe Wolfe

In this episode, Kenny Barnwell and Shannon Thompson have an honest conversation about choosing a church, financial transparency, tithing, debt, and what it means to give cheerfully as followers of Jesus.

The conversation begins after Kenny and Shannon decide to hit record on a real conversation they were already having about church, stewardship, and the tension many Christians feel when trying to find a church community they can trust.

Kenny shares about visiting church again after a busy season and wrestling with some of the financial messaging he heard during the service.

That leads into a bigger conversation about how churches talk about giving, how churches handle debt, and why financial transparency matters when people are being asked to tithe, give, or support the mission.

Shannon shares his own journey with tithing, debt, giving from the heart, and learning to trust God with money even when finances are tight.

Together, they talk about the importance of churches not only teaching about generosity, but also teaching about debt, stewardship, wisdom, and financial responsibility.

Questions like:

• How do you choose a church?

• Should church finances be more transparent?

• How does church debt affect the way giving messages are received?

• Can you give cheerfully if you do not trust how the money is being stewarded?

• What does the Bible say about giving with the right heart?

• Should churches talk about debt as much as they talk about tithing?

• How do we give with faith without giving just to get something back?

And more...

We do not pretend to have all the answers. This is a real conversation between two Christians working through faith, stewardship, trust, and what it means to support a church community with wisdom and discernment.

This episode is a reminder that giving is not just about money.

It is about heart posture.

It is about stewardship.

It is about trust.

And it is about asking God for wisdom as we build our lives, our families, our churches, and our communities on solid ground.

Scriptures Referenced:

• 2 Kings 13:14-19

• Proverbs 22:7

• Deuteronomy 28:12-13

• 2 Corinthians 9:6-7

• John 10:10

• Matthew 8:5-13

• John 6:1-14

• Luke 12:13-21

• Mark 12:41-44

• Proverbs 22:7

  
  

As Mentioned in the Episode...

We launched The Rock, our community for people who want to grow deeper in their faith, build strong foundations, and do life alongside other believers. The Rock is a free Facebook group.

If you would like to join the conversation beyond the podcast, you can join us here: JOIN THE ROCK!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/onsolidgroundcommunity

THEME SONG BY: Joe Wolfe

In this episode, Kenny Barnwell and Shannon Thompson have an honest conversation about sharing your testimony, sharing the gospel, and being ready when God opens the door for a faith conversation.

Kenny shares a recent experience from working a concert where a simple conversation about a butterfly tattoo turned into an opportunity to tell the story of what happened on the mountain in Mexico.

That conversation opened the door for a deeper question:

Why Jesus?

Kenny talks about sharing his testimony with someone who did not believe the same way, how the story of Follow the Butterfly helped plant a seed, and how the conversation moved into faith, surrender, evolution, spirituality, Christianity, and what it means to follow Christ.

The conversation also explores the importance of being prepared to share what you believe without feeling like you have to know everything.

Shannon reminds us that sharing faith is not about winning an argument or having every answer.

It is about listening.

It is about asking better questions.

It is about being gentle, respectful, and sensitive to the Holy Spirit.

Questions like:

• How do we share our testimony with someone who does not believe?

• What should we say when someone asks, “Why Jesus?”

• Do Christians need to have every answer before sharing their faith?

• How can we talk about hard questions without becoming argumentative?

• What role does the Holy Spirit play in changing hearts?

• How do we live as a testimony before we ever say a word?

And more...

We do not pretend to have all the answers. This is a real conversation between two Christians learning how to share the gospel with wisdom, humility, and conviction.

This episode is a reminder that your testimony matters.

Your story can plant a seed.

Your life can point people to Jesus.

And when God opens the door, we are called to be ready to share the hope we have with gentleness, respect, and love.

Scriptures Referenced in Conversation

• 1 Peter 3:15

• 2 Timothy 4:2

• Colossians 4:5-6

• Matthew 19:26

• Isaiah 55:8-9

• Matthew 7:13-14

• Matthew 11:28-30

• Matthew 16:24

• 1 Corinthians 15:3-8

• John 13:35

• Matthew 28:19-20

  
  

As Mentioned in the Episode...

We launched The Rock, our community for people who want to grow deeper in their faith, build strong foundations, and do life alongside other believers. The Rock is a free Facebook group.

If you would like to join the conversation beyond the podcast, you can join us here: JOIN THE ROCK!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/onsolidgroundcommunity

THEME SONG BY: Joe Wolfe

In this episode, Kenny Barnwell and Shannon Thompson have an honest conversation about faith, discernment, uncertainty, and trusting God when the next step is not fully clear.

Kenny shares how easy it can be to wake up and immediately give attention to work, messages, responsibilities, and the demands of the world before giving attention to God.

Then, the conversation turns toward a deeper question Kenny has been wrestling with in this season:

How do you know you are stepping in the right direction?

Kenny opens up about being in a season of transition, trying to discern the right path in business, work, calling, and purpose. He talks about wanting clarity from God, not because he is unwilling to struggle, but because he wants to know he is fighting the right giant and moving in the direction God wants him to go.

Shannon shares wisdom about surrender, certainty, faith, and the difference between trying to control our lives and trusting God to guide us.

The conversation also touches on the story of Peter walking on water, the woman who reached for Jesus’ garment, the centurion who believed Jesus could heal with just a word, David facing Goliath, Paul’s certainty in his calling, and the encouragement that even mustard seed faith can move mountains.

Questions like:

• How do we keep God first when life gets busy?
• What does it mean to ask God for discernment?
• How do we trust God when the next step is unclear?
• Can we be faithful even when we do not know the vehicle God will use?
• What is the difference between control and surrender?
• How do we strengthen belief while walking by faith?

And more...

We do not pretend to have all the answers. This is a real conversation between two Christians trying to follow Jesus, seek direction, and keep faith strong in seasons of uncertainty.

This episode is a reminder that God does not always show us the whole road.

Sometimes He gives us the next step.

Sometimes He carries us.

Sometimes He asks us to keep walking.

And sometimes the faith we need is not a mountain of faith.

It is a mustard seed.

Scriptures Referenced in Conversation

• Matthew 6:33

• Psalm 119:105

• Matthew 14:22-33

• Mark 5:25-34

• Matthew 8:5-13

• 1 Samuel 17

• Acts 9:1-19

• Matthew 17:20

• 2 Corinthians 5:7

• John 15:5

  
  

As Mentioned in the Episode...

We launched The Rock, our community for people who want to grow deeper in their faith, build strong foundations, and do life alongside other believers. The Rock is a free Facebook group.

If you would like to join the conversation beyond the podcast, you can join us here: JOIN THE ROCK!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/onsolidgroundcommunity

THEME SONG BY: Joe Wolfe

In this episode, Kenny Barnwell and Shannon Thompson have an honest conversation about faith, religion, denominations, discernment, and the desire to go deeper in the search for truth.

The conversation begins with Kenny sharing about a major life transition after stepping away from a job he once felt was divinely connected. He opens up about being back in a season of uncertainty, building, freelancing, pursuing speaking, and trying to discern what God is doing next.

From there, the conversation turns toward something that has been weighing on Kenny’s mind: the difference between relationship with Christ and the religious structures that often form around Christianity.

Kenny and Shannon talk about different Christian traditions, early Christianity, Catholicism, Orthodoxy, Coptic Christianity, Protestantism, personal development, and the challenge of knowing where to seek wisdom without losing sight of Jesus.

Questions like:

• How deep should Christians go in studying church history?
• Is it wrong to learn from other Christian traditions?
• How do we know when we are seeking truth versus just chasing more information?
• Can learning about other religions or worldviews strengthen our faith?
• How do we keep Jesus as the center when the world is full of noise, opinions, and distractions?
• What does it mean to seek God deeply without replacing Him with systems, teachers, or self-improvement?

And more...

This episode is a reminder that asking questions does not have to weaken your faith. It can deepen it.

But through all the studying, searching, learning, and wrestling, the foundation must remain the same.

Jesus is the truth.

Jesus is the way.

Jesus is enough.

Scriptures Referenced:

• John 14:6

• Hebrews 11:6

• Matthew 7:7-8

• Matthew 7:13-14

• Matthew 5:15

• Isaiah 55:8-9

• John 10:10

• Matthew 6:33

• Hebrews 10:25

• Psalm 42:7

• Revelation 2:4

• Revelation 22:18-19

• John 18:38

• John 16:13

• John 10:28

  
  

As Mentioned in the Episode...

We launched The Rock, our community for people who want to grow deeper in their faith, build strong foundations, and do life alongside other believers. The Rock is a free Facebook group.

If you would like to join the conversation beyond the podcast, you can join us here: JOIN THE ROCK!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/onsolidgroundcommunity\

THEME SONG BY: Joe Wolfe

In this episode, Kenny Barnwell and Shannon Thompson have an honest conversation about fasting, prayer, spiritual discipline, and what it means to deny the flesh in order to draw closer to God.

Kenny opens up about fasting and shares that while he has fasted before for health reasons, he has not yet done a true spiritual fast.

That leads into a deeper conversation about what biblical fasting is, why Christians fast, and how fasting is not about trying to twist God's arm or prove how spiritual we are.

We talk about the difference between health fasting and spiritual fasting, the importance of fasting in secret, the power of prayer during a fast, and how fasting can reveal what has been ruling our appetite, attention, and desires.

Questions like:

• What does the Bible say about fasting?
• Why did Jesus talk about fasting in secret?
• What is the difference between a complete fast and a Daniel fast?
• How does fasting help us deny the flesh and strengthen the spirit?
• Can fasting help us seek clarity, guidance, and discernment from God?
• What should someone do if they feel called to fast but have never done it before?

We do not pretend to have all the answers. This is a real conversation between two Christians talking honestly about spiritual discipline, dependence on God, and the desire to grow closer to Him.

This episode is a reminder that fasting is not about looking spiritual. It is about drawing near to God. It is about surrendering the appetites of the world. And it is about making space for the Holy Spirit to strengthen what the flesh often tries to control.

Scriptures Referenced in Conversation

• Matthew 6:16-18

• Matthew 4:4

• Isaiah 58:6-7

• Philippians 4:6-7

• Ezra 8:23

• Esther 4:16

• 2 Samuel 12:16-23

• Daniel 1:12-16

• Daniel 10:2-3

• Exodus 34:28

• 1 Kings 19:8

• Matthew 4:1-2

• Mark 9:29

  
  

As Mentioned in the Episode...

We launched The Rock, our community for people who want to grow deeper in their faith, build strong foundations, and do life alongside other believers. The Rock is a free Facebook group.

If you would like to join the conversation beyond the podcast, you can join us here: JOIN THE ROCK!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/onsolidgroundcommunity

THEME SONG BY: Joe Wolfe

In this episode, Kenny Barnwell and Shannon Thompson have an honest conversation about women preaching, women in church leadership, and how Christians should approach difficult Bible passages with humility and discernment.

They bring up a topic that many Christians have wrestled with: what does the Bible actually say about women teaching, preaching, and holding authority in the church?

Kenny reads from 1 Timothy 2 and shares why this topic has been something he has thought about since coming back to Christ.

We talk about the difference between faith in Jesus and the religious debates that often divide denominations.

Questions like:

• Can women preach?
• What did Paul mean when he wrote that he did not permit a woman to teach or assume authority over a man?
• Was Paul addressing a specific church issue in a specific cultural moment?
• What is the difference between teaching, preaching, leadership, and authority?
• How do we think about women like Deborah, Priscilla, Phoebe, Mary Magdalene, and the woman at the well?
• How do we handle Bible passages that are difficult to understand?

And more...

We do not pretend to have all the answers. This is a real conversation between two Christians trying to understand Scripture, honor God, and keep the main thing the main thing.

This episode is a reminder that hard questions do not have to shake our foundation. They can push us deeper into Scripture. They can lead us to prayer. And they can remind us that our salvation rests in Jesus Christ, not in having every secondary issue perfectly figured out.

Scriptures Referenced:

• 1 Timothy 2:1-15

• 1 Timothy 2:12

• Galatians 3:28

• Judges 4-5

• Acts 18:24-26

• Romans 16:1-3

• John 4:1-42

• John 20:11-18

• Daniel 3

• Daniel 6

• John 21:15-17

• Matthew 18:6

• Matthew 18:20

• Philippians 4:7

  
  

As Mentioned in the Episode...

We launched The Rock, our community for people who want to grow deeper in their faith, build strong foundations, and do life alongside other believers. The Rock is a free Facebook group.

If you would like to join the conversation beyond the podcast, you can join us here: JOIN THE ROCK!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/onsolidgroundcommunity

THEME SONG BY: Joe Wolfe

In this episode, Kenny Barnwell and Shannon Thompson have an honest conversation about worship music, Christian music, discernment, and what it means to keep Christ at the center of what we listen to.

We talk about the difference between songs that tell a personal testimony and songs that are truly centered on worshiping God.

Kenny shares how worship music became a powerful part of his recovery and faith journey after the mountain in Mexico. He talks about hearing God through music, being drawn back toward Jesus, and experiencing certain songs differently once Christ began working in his heart.

The conversation also explores the tension in modern Christian music, especially when Christian artists collaborate across genres, gain mainstream attention, or become part of celebrity culture.

We do not name names here in the summary, but the episode does discuss real examples of well-known artists, worship leaders, and musicians who have raised questions about faith, testimony, platform, lifestyle, and public witness.

Questions like:

What makes a song worship?

Can a testimony song still point people to God?

When does Christian music become more about the artist than Jesus?

How do we discern between performance and praise?

Can God use imperfect people and imperfect platforms?

How do we guard what we allow into our ears, minds, and hearts?

And more...

We do not pretend to have all the answers. This is a real conversation between two Christians who love music, work around music, and are still learning how to approach worship with wisdom, humility, and discernment.

This episode is a reminder that worship is not just about sound, style, or genre. It is about heart posture. It is about honoring God. And it is about making sure the songs we sing and the voices we follow are leading us closer to Christ.

Scriptures Referenced in Conversation

• Psalm 150

• 1 Corinthians 14:15

• Luke 11:34-36

• John 13:35

• Matthew 7:16-20

• Galatians 5:22-23

• Habakkuk

As Mentioned in the Episode...

We launched The Rock, our community for people who want to grow deeper in their faith, build strong foundations, and do life alongside other believers. The Rock is a free Facebook group.

If you would like to join the conversation beyond the podcast, you can join us here: JOIN THE ROCK!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/onsolidgroundcommunity

THEME SONG BY: Joe Wolfe

In this episode, Kenny Barnwell and Shannon Thompson have an honest conversation about tithing, church finances, giving, and what it means to steward money as followers of Jesus.

Kenny opens up about a topic that has been heavy on his heart: the difference between the institution of the church and the body of Christ.

We talk about tithing, the Old Covenant, the New Covenant, church buildings, production costs, staff salaries, church debt, transparency, and whether modern churches are using money in a way that truly reflects the heart of Jesus.

This is not a conversation against church.

It is a conversation about asking better questions.

Questions like:

• Is tithing required under the New Covenant?
• Did Jesus teach Christians to tithe?
• What does it mean to give cheerfully?
• Where does church money actually go?
• How much should churches be doing for the poor and hurting in their own communities?
• Are we supporting ministry, or are we supporting an institution?

And more...

We do not pretend to have every answer. This is a real conversation between two Christians wrestling honestly with Scripture, stewardship, generosity, and the role of the modern church.

This episode is a reminder that the church is not ultimately a building, a brand, or a production. The church is the body of Christ.

And as followers of Jesus, we are called to give generously, ask wisely, serve faithfully, and build God’s kingdom with humility and discernment.

Scriptures Referenced in Conversation

• Malachi 3:10

• Hebrews 9:15

• 1 Corinthians 9:14-18

• 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

• Luke 14:12-14

• Genesis 4

• John 6:1-14

• Matthew 19:16-22

• Proverbs

• Hebrews 10:25

• Proverbs 27:17

• 1 Kings 3

As Mentioned in the Episode...

We launched The Rock, our community for people who want to grow deeper in their faith, build strong foundations, and do life alongside other believers. The Rock is a free Facebook group.

If you would like to join the conversation beyond the podcast, you can join us here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/onsolidgroundcommunity

THEME SONG BY: Joe Wolfe