Parkway Podcast

Parkway Podcast Intern Edition: Conversations the Church Avoids

Episode 1: The Apathy of the American Church

With Aylah Graves and Pastor Jason Smotherman

What causes us to lose our passion for God, even when we’re surrounded by opportunities to grow in our faith? In this episode, the conversation explores spiritual apathy in the American church, the distractions and disappointments that can pull us away from God, and the difference between doing things for Jesus and truly abiding in His presence. Listen in as we take an honest look at what may be holding us back and discover how we can challenge complacency, rekindle our passion for Jesus, and live out our faith with greater purpose.

What happens when disappointment, distraction, exhaustion, or simply getting comfortable causes your passion for God to fade? In this message, Pastor Jay explores how apathy can keep us from walking in the promises of God and challenges us to trade complacency for a renewed hunger for His presence. Discover how to stay faithful in the grind, find strength in God's presence, and live with a faith that doesn't just survive the everyday but brings life to the people around you.

What does it really mean to defend your faith—and do you have to know all the answers? In this episode, we explore Christian apologetics and how to share the reasons for your faith with confidence, humility, and gentleness. See "Christian Apologetics" for links to videos and sermon notes. https://parkwaycc.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/00_Christian_Apologetics_Modern_AG_Edition_with_Videos.pdf

In this message from The Five series, Pastor Jay explores Joshua 22 and the story of how God's people nearly went to war with one another over a misunderstanding. He reminds us that biblical unity doesn't mean compromising the truth or insisting on our own way, but humbly pursuing God's truth together through honest conversations, courageous love, and a willingness to grow. What would change if we stopped defending our own perspectives and started seeking Jesus and His truth together?

What does it look like to live a life that is driven by the presence of God—not just on Sunday, but in our homes, workplaces, relationships, and everyday struggles? Pastor Frank Montgomery challenges us to move beyond going through the motions of faith and pursue a genuine relationship with Jesus, one marked by worship, surrender, and an awareness of His presence in every season. Whether you feel broken, distracted, or simply hungry for more of God, discover how seeking His presence can bring transformation to your heart and overflow into the lives of those around you.

What if the setting sun isn’t a sign that it’s time to stop, but an invitation to believe God for what still remains? In “Give Me More Daylight,” Pastor Jay uses Joshua’s audacious prayer in Joshua 10 to challenge us to stop settling for partial victories, step out of unbelief, and trust God for the promises that are still ahead. Faith doesn’t ask God to do what He has already called us to do—it asks Him for the grace, strength, and opportunity to keep moving forward in obedience.

What if the season that taught you how to survive was never meant to be the season that defined you? In “Then a Shout,” Pastor Jay walks through Joshua and the Battle of Jericho, reminding us that our responsibility is obedience while God is responsible for bringing the walls down. If you’re ready to stop letting your past, your pain, or your present circumstances define what God can do through your life, this message will challenge you to get ready for the shout.

What if some of the things keeping you from moving forward aren't outside of you, but inside of you? Pastor Jay opens the book of Joshua by challenging us to confront hidden sin, complaining, anger, and unbelief so we can walk fully under the Lordship of Jesus. If you have promises you've been waiting to see fulfilled, this message will challenge you to keep believing, keep contending, and keep walking with God.

When Faith Meets the Healer

Miracles are not about getting God to do something for us—they're about bringing our lives fully under the Lordship of Jesus. In Miracle Sunday, Pastor Jay unpacks James 5:13-18 and challenges us to shift our focus from our problems to the God who is greater than anything we face. Through powerful teaching and an incredible testimony of healing by Rhonda and Chad, we're reminded that God still heals, faith still matters, and our miracles can become a testimony that points others to Jesus.

Pastor Jay challenges us to live in the tension between contentment and contending—knowing that we are already enough because we belong to God, while still believing there is more He wants to do in and through our lives. We don't have to compare our seed to someone else's; God has already placed something in our hands, and He is asking us to release it, trust Him, and let Him multiply it. As we look toward all God wants to do through Parkway and throughout our region, the invitation is simple: don't settle for the familiar when God has promised more, and don't let the size of what you have keep you from sowing it.