Relish: a Christian podcast

What does the Bible teach about baptism, clergy celibacy, and choosing a church? Don Patterson and guest Grant Bender, associate pastor at Kalona Mennonite Church, examine three questions that reveal how Christian traditions interpret Scripture differently.

First, they discuss why Catholic priests traditionally remain unmarried and why many Protestant churches allow married clergy. Next, they examine water baptism and the baptism of the Holy Spirit through accounts in Acts, considering what baptism signifies and how the Spirit's work is recognized. Finally, they consider how Christians can discern whether their congregation is faithful to Scripture and serving its community well.

The discussion offers biblical context, pastoral perspectives, and questions worth considering—even if you disagree with their conclusions.

Chapters

Question for listeners: When Christian traditions disagree, how should we decide which interpretation is right? Consider the biblical evidence and share your perspective.

RELISH explores biblical clarity, theology, apologetics, and the questions that shape Christian belief and practice.

Is God’s grace enough to transform us, or does the Christian life require something more?

In this episode of RELISH, associate pastor Grant Bender joins the discussion to examine grace, sanctification, habitual sin, and assurance of salvation. The conversation explores the tension between being saved by grace and the biblical call to grow in holiness.

We consider how Christians can respond to recurring struggles with anger, lust, gossip, and other patterns of sin; why confession, prayer, and trusted Christian community matter; and how healing prayer and trained counselors may help address deeper issues.

We also examine Hebrews 6 and the debate over “once saved, always saved.” What does this passage teach about genuine faith, perseverance, and the evidence of spiritual fruit? How should Christians think about assurance when their lives still show areas of weakness?

This is a substantive discussion about what grace accomplishes, what spiritual growth looks like, and how believers can pursue freedom from sin without hiding in shame.

Topics covered

Grace, justification, and sanctification

Habitual sin and practical accountability

Healing prayer and spiritual strongholds

Confession, community, and Christian support

Hebrews 6 and assurance of salvation

The relationship between genuine faith and spiritual fruit

Chapters

Listen with your Bible open and consider the central question: What does Scripture actually teach about the relationship between grace, ongoing sin, and assurance of salvation?

Should Christians celebrate Halloween? What began as a discussion of holiday history raises a more difficult question: can Christians participate in a cultural tradition when some of its history, symbols, and imagery conflict with their beliefs?

In this episode of RELISH, Alex Zimmerman and Don Patterson examine the origins of Halloween, All Hallows' Eve, and All Saints' Day, tracing how older customs, medieval beliefs about spirits, and modern commercial culture shaped the holiday we recognize today.

The discussion moves beyond history to the question of Christian discernment. Does a tradition's origin determine whether participating in it is wrong? Can ordinary activities such as trick-or-treating, costumes, and neighborhood celebrations be separated from darker imagery? What does Scripture teach about spiritual warfare, compromise, and giving evil a foothold?

Alex and Don consider differing Christian perspectives, including family traditions, costume choices, candy, safety, church-hosted trunk-or-treat events, and alternatives connected with All Saints' Day.

The goal isn't to dismiss sincere concerns or declare every family must make the same decision. It's to examine the reasoning behind those decisions and consider how Christians can apply biblical principles while treating one another with respect.

Discussion question: Should Christians avoid Halloween, participate selectively, or treat it as an ordinary cultural celebration? What biblical principles should guide that decision?

Chapters

RELISH explores theology, biblical interpretation, apologetics, and real-world questions through thoughtful Christian conversation.

Can anyone really be neutral about what they believe?

Alex Zimmerman and Pastor Don Patterson examine how our beliefs shape far more than our private opinions. They influence the way we treat people, understand morality, evaluate laws, participate in public life, and decide what kind of society we want to create.

The conversation begins with a simple observation: everyone has convictions. Even when we claim to be neutral, our assumptions about truth, human nature, morality, and what is good still influence our decisions.

Alex and Don look at some of the forces that shape those assumptions—including family, education, media, advertising, algorithms, incentives, and laws.

But the conversation doesn't stop at politics or culture. They ask an important Christian question: How should Christians engage people who strongly disagree with them?

The answer isn't to avoid difficult conversations, nor is it to treat disagreement as evidence of bad character. Christians are called to speak honestly while remembering that they are not morally superior to the people they disagree with.

The discussion also considers Christianity's central claim about human need, grace, sin, reconciliation, and the transformation Jesus brings.

This episode is ultimately about truth, conviction, humility, and how we disagree without turning other people into enemies.

Chapters

Who really killed Jesus?

At first, the answer seems straightforward: Roman soldiers carried out the crucifixion. But the biblical account involves far more people—Judas betrayed Jesus, Jewish leaders handed Him over, the crowd demanded Barabbas, and Pontius Pilate authorized the execution.

So who was actually responsible?

Alex Zimmerman and Pastor Don Patterson examine the historical and biblical evidence surrounding Jesus' death and then move to the deeper theological question: How can Jesus be genuinely killed by human agents while also willingly laying down His own life?

The discussion looks at Judas, Caiaphas, the Sanhedrin, the crowd, Pilate, Roman authority, and the prophetic passages that anticipated Christ's suffering. Psalm 22, Isaiah 53, John 10, and Hebrews 9–10 help explain why the cross cannot be understood simply as a political execution that went wrong.

The conversation ultimately becomes personal. The Bible connects Jesus' death to human sin, which raises an uncomfortable question: What does it mean to say, “I killed Christ”?

The answer isn't that every person physically participated in the crucifixion. It is that the sin Christ came to deal with is our sin. Understanding that changes how we think about repentance, humility, sacrifice, and the gospel.

What did Jesus mean when He said, “I AM”?

In John's Gospel, Jesus makes several remarkable “I AM” statements. He calls Himself the bread of life, the light of the world, the good shepherd, and the true vine. But one statement stands out:

“Before Abraham was, I am.”

Why would Jesus speak this way? And why did His opponents react so strongly?

In this episode of Relish, Alex and Don examine Jesus' “I AM” statements and their connection to God's revelation of Himself in the Old Testament.

The discussion then moves from theology to application.

Knowing God's name is one thing. Knowing God personally is another.

The hosts explore what reconciliation through Christ means, how the Holy Spirit gives believers a new identity, and what it means to live as a child and heir of God.

The conversation also addresses shame, addiction, testimony, prayer, Christian community, baptism, communion, self-examination, and the struggle to allow God to lead rather than simply giving Him a place in our religious life.

At the center of it all is one question:

When Jesus said “I AM,” was He claiming to be God?

00:00:57 — “I AM” and Identity

Who is God, and how has He revealed Himself through Scripture?

In this episode of Relish, Alex Zimmerman and Pastor Don Patterson examine the biblical names of God, including Yahweh, Jehovah, Elohim, Adonai, El Shaddai, Jehovah Jireh, and Emmanuel.

The conversation begins with the meaning and history of God's names before exploring Moses' encounter with God at the burning bush. What does “I AM WHO I AM” reveal about God's eternal and self-existent nature?

The hosts also discuss:

Through biblical teaching, personal stories, and pastoral reflection, this episode invites listeners to consider whether they truly understand the God they claim to worship.

Names are more than labels in the Bible. They often communicate identity, family history, circumstances, and sometimes God's purpose.

In this episode of Relish, Alex Zimmerman and Don Patterson begin by drafting some of the most difficult—and perhaps least advisable—names to give a child from the Bible. From Ichabod and Judas to Dorcas and Mahar-shalal-hash-baz, the conversation starts with humor.

But then it moves to a much bigger question.

Why did names matter so much in Scripture?

Why did Jacob become Israel? What did Jesus mean when He called Simon “Peter”? Why is Joseph remembered as Barnabas? And what do these examples teach us about identity and redemption?

The conversation also addresses an important misconception: receiving a new identity does not mean becoming instantly perfect.

If God makes someone new, why do old struggles remain?

This episode explores what the Bible actually says about names, identity, transformation, and the relationship between who you were and who God calls you to become.

00:00:29 Why Names Matter: Identity and Redemption

00:01:58 Drafting the Worst Bible Names

00:06:34 Bible Names We'd Actually Bring Back

00:07:29 What Do Names Mean in the Bible?

00:10:32 Why God Changed People's Names

00:17:37 Did Peter and Paul Really Get New Names?

00:21:43 Jacob Becomes Israel: A New Identity

00:25:03 New Identity Doesn't Mean Instant Perfection

What does the Bible actually say about Israel—and what does that mean for Christians today?

In Part 2 of Relish, Alex Zerman and Pastor Don Patterson continue their discussion about Jesus, Judaism, the early church, Paul, Israel, and biblical prophecy.

The conversation begins with the Jewish roots of Christianity and the events surrounding Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. From there, they examine Acts 2, the persecution of the early church, Stephen's martyrdom, and Saul's dramatic conversion into Paul.

The discussion then turns to Romans 11 and Paul's metaphor of the olive tree. What does it mean for Gentile Christians to be "grafted in"? Has God rejected Israel? How should Christians understand the relationship between Israel, the Jewish people, and the Church?

Those questions lead directly into the modern state of Israel and biblical prophecy. Does modern Israel have a unique role in God's plan? How should Christians think about Revelation and the end times? And how do we distinguish biblical covenant promises from the political actions of a modern nation?

Throughout the conversation, Alex and Don return to the same principle: Scripture must be the standard for Christian belief.

The goal isn't to settle every debate about Israel or prophecy in one conversation. It is to encourage careful biblical thinking, reject conspiratorial shortcuts, distinguish political questions from theological ones, and keep Jesus at the center.

00:00:29 — Jewish Roots, Jesus, and the Cross

Listen with your Bible open, especially Romans 9–11. The important question isn't simply what Christians have traditionally said about Israel. It's what Paul actually wrote.

Who exactly does the Bible mean when it talks about Jews, Israelites, Hebrews, and Israel?

In this episode of Relish, Alex Zimmerman and Pastor Don Patterson examine how these terms developed throughout Scripture and why Christians should be careful about treating them as interchangeable.

The conversation moves from Abraham and the calling of Israel, through the kingdom and diaspora, to the New Testament and Revelation's 144,000. Along the way, we discuss the difference between ethnicity, religion, politics, biblical Israel, and the modern nation-state of Israel.

The episode also begins with a practical discipleship question: If you sell an animal knowing it will be used in another religion's ritual, where does personal responsibility begin?

Ultimately, the discussion comes back to a larger biblical question: Why did God's chosen people repeatedly rebel against Him, and what should Christians learn from that?

The answer challenges both simplistic views of Israel and simplistic views of ourselves.

00:00:44 — Selling Goats for Religious Sacrifice: Where Is the Line?

00:03:12 — When Does Religious Participation Become Our Responsibility?

00:05:17 — Who Are the Jews? Israel, Israelites, and Hebrews Explained

00:09:54 — The 144,000 in Revelation: Who Are They?

00:14:57 — Why Were the Jews Scattered? Understanding the Diaspora

00:18:46 — God Chose Israel to Bless the Nations—So Why Did They Rebel?

00:23:01 — The Sanhedrin, Pharisees, and Sadducees: Who Were They?