In this episode of Peaceable and Kind, Derek Vreeland explores gratitude not as a fleeting emotion or polite social gesture, but as a way of being in the world that opens us to the presence and goodness of God.

As Thanksgiving approaches, Derek invites listeners to move beyond a once-a-year holiday mindset and cultivate an ongoing “attitude of gratitude.” Drawing from Scripture, church history, and his own life, including a story about running his first half marathon, he shows how gratitude changes not our circumstances, but changes how we see God in the midst of our circumstances.

Derek reflects on the wisdom of writers like Ann Voskamp, Henri Nouwen, and Brother Lawrence, alongside the biblical stories of the ten lepers in Luke 17 and Paul’s exhortation to “give thanks in all circumstances.” Through these voices, he reveals how gratitude shifts our focus from scarcity to abundance, from anxiety to trust, and from performance to presence.

At the heart of Christian worship is thanksgiving, the rhythm of receiving grace, giving thanks, and sharing the gift. We see this in the practice of holy communion.

Key Takeaways

Gratitude is more than good manners. It’s a spiritual posture that shapes how we see the world.

We give thanks in all circumstances, not for all circumstances.

Gratitude is the surest way to spiritual life, grounding us in the present moment where God is always at work.

Holy Communion (or Eucharist) reminds us that thanksgiving stands at the center of Christian worship.

Practicing gratitude transforms complaint into wonder and scarcity into abundance.

Four Simple Ways to Practice Gratitude

Look for small gifts: Notice the simple, daily graces: breath, light, presence.

Begin your prayers with thanksgiving: Gratitude opens your heart before you ask for anything.

Express gratitude aloud: Tell someone, “I’m thankful for you.” Spoken gratitude multiplies joy.

End your day with reflection: Ask, “Where did I experience God’s grace today?” Let thanksgiving close your day.

Scriptures mentioned in this episode:
Luke 17:11–19
Colossians 4:2 (MSG)
1 Thessalonians 5:18

Books mentioned in this episode:One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence

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In this episode of Peaceable and Kind, Derek Vreeland reflects on one of the most beloved phrases from The Message by Eugene Peterson: “Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.”

Derek shares how Eugene Peterson, whom he affectionately calls “Eugene the Wise,” has profoundly shaped his identity as both pastor and writer. Drawing from Answering God: The Psalms as Tools for Prayer and The Message translation of Matthew 11:28–30, Derek explores how Eugene captured not only the meaning of Jesus’ words but their texture—their emotional and spiritual feel.

Through stories from his own life including running track in high school, finding rhythm on the dance floor, and learning to live less from his head and more from his heart, Derek unpacks what it means to live in sync with the grace of God.

This episode invites listeners to slow down, notice the presence of God in the ordinary, and rediscover the gentle, freeing pace of life with Jesus. Grace, like rhythm, cannot be forced. It must be felt, received, and lived.

Key Takeaways

Grace has a rhythm that can’t be forced; it must be received.

The “unforced rhythms of grace” describe life lived in sync with Jesus, free, light, and unhurried.

Faith isn’t a performance of religion but an invitation to relationship.

The spiritual life is less about control and more about alignment, moving at the pace of Jesus.

The incarnation means grace is already near, woven into the grit and glory of ordinary life.

Questions for Reflection

Are you aware of God’s presence with you?

Have you been burned out by religion or striving?

What would it look like to walk freely and lightly with Jesus this week?

Scriptures mentioned in this episode:
Matthew 11:28–30 (The Message)
John 1:14

Books mentioned in this episode:Answering God: The Psalms as Tools for Prayer by Eugene Peterson
Incarnation: 8 Lessons on How God Meets Us by Derek Vreeland

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In this powerful and sobering episode of Peaceable and Kind, Derek Vreeland reflects on the tragic assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and explores how the ideologies of Christian nationalism and the prosperity gospel distort the way of Jesus.

While rejecting all forms of political violence, Derek uses this moment to examine the growing fusion of political power and religious language within American Christianity. He argues that Christian nationalism—like the prosperity gospel—offers a counterfeit version of the gospel that trades discipleship for dominance, humility for triumphalism, and the cross for control.

Derek outlines how Christian nationalism seeks to advance the kingdom of God through governmental action, while the prosperity gospel attempts to advance it through material success. Both, he contends, miss the heart of the gospel of King Jesus.

Conversation Themes

Lament and Clarity: Responding to political violence with grief, prayer, and a renewed commitment to peace.

What Is Christian Nationalism? Exploring definitions and distinctions between patriotism and nationalism.

The Turning Point USA Connection: How religious rhetoric and political activism blur the lines between church and state.

Five Shared Misconceptions: How Christian nationalism and the prosperity gospel both misunderstand the nature of God’s kingdom.

Following Jesus in a Culture of Power: What it means to reject triumphalism and embrace cruciform discipleship.

Key Takeaways

Christian nationalism and the prosperity gospel both mistake American values for Christian virtues—one exalting power, the other wealth.

Both misunderstand the purpose of the church, seeing it as a tool for influence rather than a community of witness.

Both redirect faith away from the triune God toward national or personal interests.

Both promise what Jesus never promised—national dominance or financial success.

Both trade discipleship for triumphalism, denying the weakness and humility of the cross.4

Books/articles mentioned in this episode:

What Is Christian Nationalism, Actually? by Glenn Packiam (Substack, October 9)

Taking America Back for God: Christian Nationalism in the United States by Andrew Whitehead and Samuel Perry

Jesus and the Powers by N.T. Wright and Michael F. Bird

Jesus Changes Everything by Stanley Hauerwas

Read a written form of this episode here: https://www.missioalliance.org/how-christian-nationalism-and-the-prosperity-gospel-distort-the-way-of-jesus/

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What if the gospel is both more strange and more gracious than we’ve dared to imagine?

In this episode of Peaceable and Kind, Derek Vreeland sits down with pastor and author Andrew Arndt to talk about his latest book, A Strange and Gracious Light: How the Story of Jesus Changes the Way We See Everything. From the poetry of R.S. Thomas to the wisdom of Athanasius, Eugene Peterson, and Pope John Paul II, Andrew explores how the gospel disrupts our assumptions and invites us into a richer way of life.

Key Takeaways

Why the gospel is both gracious and strange—and why holding the tension matters.

How the church calendar helps us live inside the story of Jesus year-round.

What it means to be people of the incarnation—finding God’s presence in ordinary life.

Why the church is called to propose the way of Jesus, not impose it.

A fresh vision of the Holy Spirit’s work—in both extraordinary miracles and the quiet, ordinary moments of life.

Scriptures mentioned in this episode:

Romans 5:8

John 1:14

Matthew 27:54

Mark 15:39

Books mentioned in this podcast:

A Strange and Gracious Light: How the Story of Jesus Changes the Way We See Everything, Andrew Arndt

Streams in the Wasteland, Andrew Arndt

All Flame, Andrew Arndt

The Chapel, R.S. Thomas

On the Incarnation, St. Athanasius

Spiritual Theology and Liturgical Theology, Simon Chan

Order Derek's new book, Incarnation: 8 Lessons on How God Meets Us here: https://amzn.to/42jSZAs

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In this episode of Peaceable & Kind, Derek Vreeland reflects on the prophetic vision of Isaiah 2:1–5 and what it means for Christians to “play war no more.” Through scripture, personal reflection, and current events, Derek explores the way of Jesus as a call to nonviolence, patience, and peacemaking in a world marked by conflict and division.
Key Takeaways

War is impatience. Fighting often stems from restless, hurried lives that resist waiting on God.

Jesus is the answer. He embodies God’s covenant faithfulness and calls us to love our enemies.

Nonviolence is a habit. Like fighting, it can shape us—this time into the image of Christ.

We can start now. The vision of peace in Isaiah is not only for the future; it begins with us today.

Scriptures mentioned in this episode:

Books mentioned in this podcast:

Order Derek's new book, Incarnation: 8 Lessons on How God Meets Us, here: https://amzn.to/42jSZAs

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What does it really mean that the Word became flesh? In this episode of Peaceable and Kind, Derek Vreeland takes us on a deep dive into one of the greatest mysteries of the Christian faith: the incarnation.

From the opening words of John’s Gospel to the insights of ancient Greek philosophers and church fathers like Athanasius, Derek explores how Jesus is not just a historical figure but the very Word of God—the Logos—who “moved into the neighborhood” for our salvation.

Why John begins his Gospel with the profound phrase “In the beginning was the Word.”

How the Greek concept of Logos points us to Jesus as the unifying principle of all creation.

The paradox of the infinite God taking on finite flesh.

Why the incarnation isn’t just theology to understand, but a mystery to pause, reflect, and dwell in.

Athanasius’ timeless reminder that God came down to renew His image in us, because we could not do it ourselves.

How the incarnation opens a “wardrobe door” (à la C.S. Lewis) into the life of God, inviting us into intimate relationship with Him.

Scriptures mentioned in this episode:

John 1:1–5, 14

Genesis 1:1

Ephesians 3:5–6

John 17:3

Books mentioned in this podcast:

Incarnation: 8 Lessons on How God Meets Us, Derek Vreeland

On the Incarnation, Athanasius

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis

Order Derek's new book, Incarnation: 8 Lessons on How God Meets Us, here: https://amzn.to/42jSZAs

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The Christmas story is more than a manger scene—it’s the beginning of the gospel itself. In this special episode, host Derek Vreeland shares the heart behind his brand-new Bible study, Incarnation: Eight Lessons on How God Meets Us, the first in his God in the Neighborhood series.

What You'll Hear in This Episode:

The behind-the-scenes journey of how this book came to life—two years in the making!

Why John 1:14 (“The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood”) sparked an entire Bible study series.

How the incarnation shows us God’s neighboring presence—God with us, not far away.

A walk through the eight lessons, from Old Testament promises to Jesus’ birth, to learning “the unforced rhythms of grace” (Matthew 11).

Why incarnation matters today: before Jesus died for us, He came to us.

Key Takeaways

God’s desire to be with His people from Genesis to Jesus.

The Advent promise of peace, justice, and hope fulfilled in Christ.

What it means for Jesus to be both Messiah and Master.

Living out the incarnation in our own neighborhoods.

Scriptures mentioned in this episode:

Psalm 97

Isaiah 2 & 5

Isaiah 7

Luke 2

John 1:14

Matthew 11:29–30

Books mentioned in this podcast:
Incarnation: 8 Lessons on How God Meets Us

NOW AVAILABLE! Order Derek's new book, Incarnation: 8 Lessons on How God Meets Us here: https://amzn.to/42jSZAs

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What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

In this rich and eye-opening episode of Peaceable and Kind, host Derek Vreeland sits down with Marty Solomon—president of Impact Campus Ministries, host of the BEMA Discipleship podcast, and author of Asking Better Questions of the Bible. Together, they explore how reading Scripture through its original Jewish context can transform our understanding of Jesus, justice, and the story of redemption.

Marty shares his own journey—from a fundamentalist evangelical upbringing, through seasons of doubt and “deconstruction,” to a renewed faith rooted in the historical and cultural world of the Bible. You’ll hear why becoming “people of the text” means more than knowing Bible facts—it’s about letting Scripture shape our lives, imaginations, and relationships.

The conversation dives into how the Jewish background of the New Testament illuminates the ministry of Jesus, why historical context must come before theology, and how biblical justice (mishpat) and righteousness (zedekah) work together to restore shalom—wholeness, peace, and flourishing—in a broken world.

Whether you’ve been wrestling with faith, longing for a deeper way to read the Bible, or curious about how Jewish roots change our perspective on the Gospel, this episode offers wisdom, challenge, and hope.

Key Takeaways
✔️ Why historical context changes how we read the Bible
✔️ The difference between Greek and Hebrew ideas of justice
✔️ How righteousness and justice create biblical shalom
✔️ Why curiosity—not certainty—should guide Bible study
✔️ How Jesus’ Jewish world shapes His teaching and ministry

🎧 Listen now and rediscover the Bible as a living, transforming story that points us to Jesus.

Scriptures Mentioned in This Episode:Isaiah 55

Psalm 97

Books Mentioned in this Episode:

Asking Better Questions of the Bible by Marty Solomon

Jesus the Jewish Theologian by Brad Young 

Listen to Marty's conversation with Lecrae on The Deep End podcast: https://youtu.be/RN4vJFAJeDI?si=pFNamuQFY4LnWFma

Learn more about Marty Solomon at martysolomon.com. 

Preorder Derek's new book, Incarnation: 8 Lessons on How God Meets Us here: https://amzn.to/42jSZAs

Did you find this episode helpful on your spiritual journey? Consider helping us out!

➡️ Leave a review

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➡️ Give us a 5-Star rating on your podcast app of choice

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Episode Website

In this episode of Peaceable and Kind, host Derek Vreeland invites you into the practice of reading the Old Testament with fresh eyes—looking for Jesus in every passage.

Derek shares his personal journey of nearly a decade of daily Old Testament reading, rooted in the daily office lectionary, and how it has transformed from duty to delight. Drawing from Scripture, church history, and personal stories, he demonstrates how Christians can uncover the presence of Jesus in the Hebrew Scriptures.
Key Takeaways

Why the Old Testament is essential reading for Christians today.

How Jesus Himself taught us to read Scripture with Him at the center (John 5:39; Luke 24).

The difference between reading the Bible in its historical context and reading it devotionally with Christ in view.

Insights from Charles Spurgeon and Augustine on finding Christ in every passage.

How allegory and prayerful reflection reveal Christ in unexpected places.

A practical example from Psalm 89 of seeing King Jesus in the Psalms.

Why some verses may not immediately point to Christ—and how to wrestle with that tension.

Scriptures mentioned in this episode:
Luke 24:27
Luke 24:44-45
1 Corinthians 10:1-4
Psalm 89:19
Psalm 89:24-27
Books mentioned in this episode:
Jesus-Centered Bible by Group Publishing
Seven Things I Wish Christians Knew about the Bible by Michael Bird

Preorder Derek's new book, Incarnation: 8 Lessons on How God Meets Us here: https://amzn.to/42jSZAs

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How do we make sense of the violent passages in the Old Testament while following the peace teachings of Jesus? In this episode of Peaceable and Kind, Derek Vreeland takes on one of the most common and challenging questions he receives as a pastor and author: Why does God seem so violent in the Old Testament compared to Jesus in the New Testament?

Derek walks us through:

Why Joshua and 1 Samuel 15 are such difficult passages for modern readers.

Four historical Christian approaches to interpreting divine violence: acceptance, accommodation, misunderstanding, and allegory.

The importance of foundational Christian beliefs—God’s oneness, immutability, pure love, and Jesus as the perfect revelation of God.

Why wrestling with Scripture is not a weakness, but part of a faithful Christian journey.

How we can faithfully read the Old Testament while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

This is a thoughtful, theologically rich conversation for anyone who has struggled with the tension between the God of the Old Testament and the God revealed in Christ.
Key Takeaways

The God of the Old Testament is the same as the God of the New Testament.

God’s nature is unchanging, pure love—even if the stories in Scripture sometimes leave us unsettled.

Christians throughout history have used multiple ways to interpret violent passages—we don’t have to resolve the tension to remain faithful.

Jesus is the final word, the clearest picture of God, and our ultimate guide.

Scriptures mentioned in this episode:

I Samuel 15:31 Samuel 15:33
John 1:18

Preorder Derek's new book, Incarnation: 8 Lessons on How God Meets Us here: https://amzn.to/42jSZAs

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