What’s the point of the Christian life? In this episode of Heart of a Shepherd, Rob explores the foundational question that shapes everything—from how we read the Bible to how we worship. Drawing from John 5–8, Rob unpacks three common but incomplete answers: right belief, personal holiness, and spiritual experience. Then he reveals the biblical heartbeat of Christianity: relationship. Discover how this relational foundation transforms Bible reading, prayer, church, and spiritual disciplines. Whether you’re new to faith or have followed Jesus for years, this episode will help you reframe your walk with Christ around love, communion, and fellowship.

📖 Featured Scripture: John 5–8, Romans 5:5, John 3:16

Topics covered: Christian life purpose, spiritual formation, relationship with God, John 5-8 Bible study, spiritual disciplines vs relational rhythms, union with Christ, fellowship with God, how God transforms us, spiritual heartbeat, loving God authentically.

Discover two unexpected gifts that failure can reveal in your life through the powerful story of Peter's denial and restoration in John 21. In this message originally preached at a Cambridge University chapel, Rob explores how failure acts as a mirror to our souls, distracting us from our distractions and illuminating what we truly love. Learn how Peter's greatest failure led to Jesus's most profound question: "Do you love me?" This episode examines Biblical wisdom on overcoming failure, Pascal's insights on diversions, and Augustine's timeless truth about our restless hearts. Whether you're facing academic pressure, career setbacks, or personal disappointment, this message offers hope and perspective on failure's role in spiritual growth. Perfect for anyone wrestling with failure, seeking deeper purpose, or studying the Gospel of John.

Topics covered: John 21, Peter's denial, overcoming failure, life's biggest questions, spiritual diversions, God's love and grace, Biblical restoration, Pascal and Augustine quotes

Scripture: John 21, Gospel of John series

#Failure #John21 #BibleStudy #PetersDenial #ChristianPodcast #SpiritualGrowth #CambridgeUniversity #OvercomingFailure #GodsLove #HeartOfAShepherd

Are you stuck? You're exerting all your energy, but your spiritual growth or personal development is going nowhere, like a car spinning its wheels in the mud. Whether it's discipline, temper, finances, or a persistent sin struggle, we all have that "one thing" we wish we could change.

Rob dives deep into the Biblical theory of change, challenging the two most common mistakes Christians make: relying solely on right behavior/information (Pharisees) or chasing a fleeting spiritual experience (The Crowds).

Learn why discipline and new habits are "second-level stuff" and discover the true battlefield of the heart—a war of competing loves. Rob explores the key verses in John 5 and the sobering warning to the Church in Ephesus (Revelation 2) to remember, repent, and renew your first love.

If you want lasting transformation and a way to break free from being stuck, this episode is a must-listen. Subscribe for more biblical wisdom on the Christian life.

Keywords: Biblical change, Christian transformation, spiritual discipline, theory of change, war of loves, heart of the person, Christian growth, First Love, Revelation 2, Pharisees, Lasting change.

Are you seeking Jesus for who He is, or just for what He gives you? In this powerful teaching from John 6, we explore the second biggest mistake Christians make: confusing spiritual experiences with genuine relationship with Jesus.

Discover why Jesus rebuked the crowds who followed Him for free food and miraculous signs, and what His shocking command to "eat my flesh and drink my blood" really means for your faith today. This message challenges both intellectual, behavior-driven Christianity AND experience-driven Christianity that lacks depth.

Topics covered:

• The difference between experience and relationship with God

• Why Jesus turned away a crowd of 5,000+ followers

• What it means to truly "feast on Jesus"

• How to avoid using God to get what you want

• The danger of content-light, experience-driven faith

• Understanding John 6:26, 53-58 in context

Whether you lean toward intellectual Christianity or experiential Christianity, this teaching will help you discover what real, relational faith looks like. Perfect for Bible study groups, small groups, and anyone wanting to deepen their walk with God.

Bible passages discussed: John 6:1-58, with references to the nature of worship, prayer, and Scripture reading in the Christian life.

#John6 #ChristianFaith #BiblicalTeaching #SpiritualGrowth #RelationshipWithJesus #ChristianLiving #BibleStudy #Discipleship

Are you experiencing the full life and love Jesus promises? After 20 years as a pastor, missionary, and seminary professor, Rob identifies the biggest mistake Christians make.

In this convicting episode, discover why some Christians seem to "ooze God's love" while others miss His presence entirely. Through a deep dive into John 5:38-42, learn how religious leaders who memorized Scripture still missedJesus standing right in front of them—and how we risk doing the same today.

Topics covered:

Why knowing Scripture doesn't guarantee you won't miss Jesus

The difference between loving being right vs. loving people

How to read the Bible as a telescope to see Jesus, not just gaininformation

9 "You Might Be a Pharisee If..." diagnostic questions

Moving from slave/employee mentality to friend/child of God relationship

Perfect for pastors, ministry leaders, and any Christian who wants to dramatically increase the quantity and quality of God's love flowing through them. This is part 1 of a 2-part series on the biggest mistakes Christians make.

Keywords: Christian Pharisees, modern Pharisee, religious hypocrisy, Gospel of John, loving God, Christian love, Bible study mistakes, spiritual maturity, pastor teaching, ministry mistakes

In this episode of The Heart of a Shepherd Podcast, Rob Trenckmann explores a powerful and often overlooked truth about the gospel: Jesus doesn’t always believe in our belief. Drawing from John 2 and 3, Rob unpacks the difference between real and false faith, the meaning of being born again, and why the gospel is more than just a legal transaction—it’s a relational invitation into the love of God. Whether you're exploring faith for the first time or have followed Jesus for years, this episode will challenge and deepen your understanding of the gospel.

🔥 Topics Covered:

• Why Jesus was skeptical of belief

• What it means to be born again

• The gospel as a war of loves

• The difference between believing that and believing in

• How John 3:16 reveals the heart of God

📖 Scripture Focus:

John 2:23–3:21

💬 Subscribe, share, and join the conversation as we rediscover the beauty and depth of the gospel.

What would Jesus be like if he walked the earth in 2025? What would make him angry? The debate is fierce, with many arguing about which cultural sins—from gender ideology and abortion to greed and treatment of immigrants—would anger Jesus most. In this episode of Heart of a Shepherd, Rob Trenckmann explores one of the most pressing questions of our cultural moment: How would Jesus act today? Drawing from John 2, Rob contrasts Jesus’ surprising gentleness at a party with his fierce anger in the temple. What does this tell us the character of Christ?Whether you're wrestling with cultural debates, personal faith, or the tension between truth and grace, this episode invites you to reimagine your picture of Jesus—and to ask whether your life reflects his heart.

In this episode of Heart of a Shepherd podcast, Rob Trenckmann explores one of the most profound questions in Christianity: which cost God more - Christmas or Easter? The incarnation or the crucifixion?Drawing from John 1:14-18, he challenges the dangerous tendency many Christians have to "graduate" from Jesus to supposedly deeper spiritual truths. Rob unpacks why Jesus didn't just come to save us, but to show us exactly whatGod is like - full of both grace and truth. If you've ever felt like your relationship with God feels distant or abstract, this episode will remind you why Jesus is the perfect revelation of the Father's heart. We serve a God who gets down on the floor with us, who understands our pain because He experienced it Himself.

Are you feeling "under the waterline" – that place where life doesn't quite feel right, where darkness seems to be stalking you, and you feel barely alive? In this episode of Heart of a Shepherd, Pastor Rob Trenckmann opens up about his own recent struggle with emotional darkness and shares insights from John 1:4-13 about finding real life and light in Jesus.Rob explores the concept of "ghost horses" – those false identities and inadequate sources we turn to for meaning, security, and comfort that ultimately disappear when we need them most. Drawing from personal vulnerability and biblical truth, he addresses why we often live with "a foot in each world," never fully experiencing the abundant life Jesus offers.Through the story of a predicament with an electric fence and Jesus' own wrestling in Gethsemane, Rob illustrates why partial surrender leaves us stuck and hurting, while full surrender to Christ opens the door to genuine transformation.This episode is for anyone who has ever felt the "soul-killing drudgery" of barely living, wondered why they can't connect with themselves, or questioned where to find light when shadows cross their soul. Rob offers both theological depth and practical wisdom for moving from darkness to the abundant life Christ promises.Series Context: Part of the "Encounters with Jesus in the Gospel of John" series, exploring why people – especially religious people – often miss Jesus.

Why I Used to AVOID the Trinity--and Now I LOVE It | Heart of a Shepherd Podcast Season 2 Episode 1 Welcome back to the Heart of a Shepherd Podcast for season two! Rob Trenckmann shares why he used to avoid the doctrine of the Trinity and now it's one of his favorite, heart-warming realities. We dive deep into John 1:1-3. This episode explores why religious individuals often miss Jesus despite their familiarity with religious texts and practices. John’s Gospel, known for its unique and poetic introduction of Jesus, sets the stage for a profound exploration of real faith, the nature of God as a Trinity, and the importance of knowing Jesus through His stories. Tune in to understand the mystery of the Word made flesh and how to truly connect with God's love.

00:00 Welcome Back to Season Two

00:35 A Life-Changing Move

03:09 Introducing the New Series: John's Gospel

06:44 The Mystery of the Trinity

17:46 The Communicating God 2

2:05 Invitation to Know Jesus

24:39 Conclusion and Next Steps