Open Door

Kevin quotes a verse in Ephesians and a verse in Matthew.

Karen references Genesis 1:28, Ezra 10, Judges 2, and 1 Corinthians 7:17.

Katie brings up Colossians 3.

Find more about Kevin Huggins here.

Find more about Karen Moore here or find her on social media.

Find more about Matt Scheuneman here or find him on social media.

Find more about Katie Neely here or find her on social media.  

Blair brings up 2 Timothy 1:7.

For more information on parenting an adolescent, check out this article or this article from The Gospel Coalition.

Find more about Kevin Huggins here.

Find more about Blair Benefield here or find him on social media.

Find more about Matt Scheuneman here or find him on social media.

Find more about Katie Neely here or find her on social media.  

Kristi references 1 Corinthians 13.

Katie mentions a sermon series and book by Andy Stanley called Choosing To Cheat. She also mentions the importance of counseling.

Find more about Kevin Huggins here.

Find more about Kristi Landis here or find her on social media.

Find more about Matt Scheuneman here or find him on social media.

Find more about Katie Neely here or find her on social media.  

Katie and Matt are joined once again by Stacie Johnson and Clark Stevens. Matt and Katie both take a few minutes to set up the topic of sexuality before Clark discusses how we as humans are made in God's image, and that He gave us our sexuality as a gift and a way to glorify Himself when sex is kept pure in a marriage.

Stacie breaks down what it looked like for her as a single woman to embrace the wholeness of who she was in Christ, and to honor Him with His gift of sexuality.

Clark discusses how our culture distorts sexuality and sexualizes objects, making them idols to be worshipped. Matt agrees, and brings up the issue and struggle so many Christians have with pornography, for both men and women.

Stacie mentions Fellowship's 2016 Worldview Conference where they talked about sexuality, and encourages listeners to watch some of the videos from this conference.

Clark references the fruits of the Spirit, and how those play out in our sexuality as well; we as Christians have to seek to serve others, not receive self gratification.

Stacie brings up several Biblical characters - like Boaz and Abigail - to show how their sexuality plays out in their stories. She then moves into giving examples of ways men and women can encourage and raise each other up without using sex.

In their final thoughts, Clark emphasizes that no one is beyond the love and grace of God, no matter what they've done.

For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org

Katie and Matt are joined once again by Stacie Johnson and Clark Stevens. The group jump right into their discussion of emotionally healthy marriages, with Clark setting up the conversation by explaining how marriage is designed to showcase God's glory and love. He references a study done by Annette Mahoney, as well as the importance of safety within a marriage and the knowledge that we can't have a healthy marriage without the strength of the Lord.

Katie emphasizes that we'll never be perfect in our marriage, so it's important to have a marriage based in humility and forgiveness for when we mess up. Clark agrees and brings up a study by Frank Fincham about forgiveness.

With that idea of forgiveness in mind, Matt asserts that we will never be the perfect husband or wife, but we can use our mistakes to highlight God's mercy and grace. Clark adds that realizing you'll never be perfect takes away a lot of negative expectations in a marriage, and sets both partners up with a need for Jesus.

Clark brings up studies done by Scott Stanley and articles by John Gottman to help listeners see unhealthy patterns or reactions in a marriage. He also mentions Fellowship Church's Marriage Innovators class.

The group transition to talking about the importance of friendship within a marriage. Clark discloses that having a friendship in marriage helps a couple stick together and preserve their marriage, just like a UCLA study found. He also reveals a technique to help with listening to the other person in a marriage.

Katie expresses how important it is in a marriage to turn towards each other and be curious about where the other person's at, both spiritually and emotionally.

Stacie takes time to offer advice to listeners who either have an emotionally unhealthy spouse, or are walking through an unhealthy marriage with a friend. The whole group is quick to point out that there's a difference between an emotionally unhealthy spouse or marriage and a marriage that isn't safe physically or mentally; they encourage anyone who is in an unsafe marriage to seek help.

For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org

Katie and Matt are joined once again by Stacie Johnson and Clark Stevens as they discuss singleness.

Clark first brings up what the Scriptures tell us about marriage and singleness. He mentions having a fulfilling life as a single man until his late 30's, but how this concept was puzzling to the world around him. Stacie chimes in, disclosing that only Jesus can complete you, not a marriage. You can and should be content and fulfilled in your life with Christ, she adds, regardless of your marital status.

Matt expresses that it can be easy to think God is punishing you for something by making you single, but in fact it could just be in your best interest and His plan for your life for you to remain single.

Stacie transitions to talking about ways to live as an emotionally healthy single person, things like making decisions based on going to the Lord, not going to your flesh. She references a book by Sam Allberry. Clark asserts how important it is to see men and women in your community as brothers and sisters in Christ instead of how the flesh wants us to see them.

Matt moves into discussing how to speak in love to friends who are struggling with singleness. Clark reiterates that no matter if you're single or married, you have so much value to God and growing His Kingdom.

For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org

Matt is joined by Katie Neely, Stacie Johnson, and Clark Stevens. After a brief introduction of everyone, Stacie starts the conversation about what it looks like to have a healthy relationship with someone, referencing David and Jonathan in the Old Testament, and Mary and Martha in the New Testament.

Clark suggests that there is a difference between a healthy relationship and an emotionally healthy relationship; he states that the emotionally healthy relationship has to start at the individual level so that we can then have empathy and sympathy towards others, as well as humility.

Katie shifts the conversation to talking about unhealthy relationships, and how those are self-serving. Instead, she reiterates, we need to look to Christ to fill our needs, not our friends. On this subject, Clark brings up James 4 and the idea of being perfect in a relationship to gain the other person's trust.

Stacie references Psalm 139 as a tool to help listeners who want to have healthy relationships but don't. Katie adds that reminding ourselves of who God says we are in Him is a great way to seek significance from God instead of others. Clark also suggests using Colossians 3 as a helpful tool.

Clark transitions to speaking into traumatic relationships, and how important it is to learn that God is our refuge and will never abandon us. Stacie conveys that it's necessary to admit when we've been hurt in a relationship, but to go to God with that pain because healing starts with Him.

For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org

After an introduction of Katie Neely, Tara Havely, and Kevin Huggins by Matt Scheuneman, the four jump into talking about relationships with others around the holidays.

Kevin expresses that conflict in a family is not necessarily bad, it's just part of the relationship. He goes so far to say that conflict can show you're doing something right, not something wrong; it shows that the relationship matters to you, or you wouldn't speak up. He brings up James 4.

Tara responds to Kevin's words by sharing some tools to help you deal with conflict leading up to it, and questions to ask yourself before engaging. Katie jumps in and says that it's important to know yourself and know if you tend to avoid conflict or what your conflict style is. Kevin gives a great example of asking himself "What's my goal?" before starting the conflict with someone, and Katie gives an example of a time where she stepped away for 20 minutes during a conflict so she could come back in the right frame of mind.

Katie starts the conversation about righteous conflict and when that is appropriate. She references a verse in Romans that tells us to live peaceably with each other, but also says that sometimes the most loving thing we can do for someone is to start a conversation that might lead to conflict, if we make the conversation about caring about their wellbeing. She makes the distinction of fighting with someone and fighting for someone.

In their final thoughts, Tara reiterates that conflict can be a great opportunity if we let it, Katie encourages listeners to be courageous and speak in grace and truth, and Kevin reminds us to use the example of Jesus.

For more information on this podcast, visit podcast.fellowshipknox.org