This week’s episode continues last week’s conversation by asking how a God who shows wrath can also show such deep grace between the Old and New Testament. Steve challenges the idea that the Old and New Testaments present different versions of God, noting that both wrath and grace are found in each. One key difference is focus. The New Testament centers on individuals and how they are called to live like Christ, while the Old Testament often addresses nations as a whole. Comparing the two isn’t always fair, since God may call nations and individuals to very different things.

Rich points out that God’s people once formed a literal nation, while today the Kingdom of God is made up of believers spread across the world. Steve adds important context to some of the larger Old Testament conquests that can be difficult to understand. As discussed last week, Jesus bridges the gap between the Old and New Testaments, continuing the same story rather than starting a new one. When Jesus says, “If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father,” that includes the God of the Old Testament. Ultimately, the message remains the same: today is the day of salvation, and we still need God’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness.

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It’s Tuesday again, which means a new episode of Resident Strangers is here! This week is exciting as the crew begins digging into listener-submitted questions and suggestions. Over the next two episodes, we’re diving into a big one: Is the God of the Old Testament different from the God of the New Testament? Some see stark differences between the two, while others believe God has always been the same.

Steve points out that this question isn’t new as it goes back centuries. Rich helps unpack the historical context, showing how these early debates emerged not long after Jesus walked the earth and even influenced how the Bible was formed and which writings were included. Much of the tension centers on the wrath we see throughout the Old Testament. Steve offers a thoughtful counterpoint, highlighting the abundance of grace found there as well and how the New Testament continues to reveal the same God. Jesus’ own teachings affirm this truth. After all, grace and mercy only make sense when justice exists too. This conversation offers a fresh and challenging perspective and it’s only part one! Be sure to come back next week as the discussion continues.

Resident Strangers Episode 88 on Deconstruction

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Happy New Year and welcome back to Resident Strangers!

A new year naturally invites reflection and a longing for something new. Steve opens the conversation by emphasizing the importance of spiritual self-examination, reminding us how easy it is to let life simply happen to us rather than living with intention. He points to 1 Kings 19, where God asks Elijah, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” This is a question that can still challenge us today.

Rich agrees, sharing how vital it is to be intentional as life unfolds. He even reflects on how, before recording this episode, he asked God to help clear away distractions as he steps into the new year. Together, they talk about the importance of recognizing changing seasons, being mindful of what God has already done and attentive to what He may be preparing to do next. Perhaps the focus shouldn’t be so much on the end goal, but on faithfully taking the steps along the way.

This conversation is full of thoughtful insight as we begin a new year. Be sure to join us next week as we dive into the discussion of the God of the Old and New Testament.

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Merry Christmas from Resident Strangers! This is our final episode of 2025, but don’t worry, Steve, Rich, and Sarah are already working on and planning great conversations for January and the start of 2026.

The crew kicks things off with Christmas excitement (and, of course, a little friendly teasing of Rich, longtime listeners know why! 🎄). In the middle of the laughter, Steve offers some timely pastoral wisdom: don’t miss the season you’re in. It’s easy to get lost in nostalgia or jump ahead to future holidays and completely overlook what God is doing right now.

Rich reflects on what it must have been like for God’s people waiting for the Messiah. expecting political upheaval yet receiving a baby in a manger. It’s a reminder that God still works in surprising ways, often in places we least expect. It’s an encouraging conversation to close out the year!

Resident Strangers will be on break until January 6, 2026. In the meantime, catch up on any episodes you missed and don’t forget you can watch on YouTube! Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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With Thanksgiving just days away, the Resident Strangers crew sat down to reflect on the themes of gratitude and thankfulness. After swapping their own Thanksgiving plans, the conversation shifted toward what it truly means to live with a thankful heart.

Rich shared that growing and maturing in Christ is deeply tied to learning contentment, that gratitude is, in many ways, the opposite of selfishness. Sometimes all it takes is stepping back and gaining a fresh perspective to rekindle a spirit of thankfulness.

Steve pointed to Psalm 50:23 and Psalm 100 as reminders that thanksgiving and worship go hand in hand. The New Testament echoes this as well when Paul famously calls believers to be thankful in all circumstances in Philippians. There’s something powerful about refusing to let our circumstances define our gratitude.

Rich also admitted that the more he intentionally focuses on what he can be grateful for, the less miserable he becomes. Gratitude really does matter whether it’s for something as simple as a warm cup of coffee or as meaningful as the love of family. Every bit of thankfulness counts, touches God’s heart, and ultimately shapes our own.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Resident Strangers team!

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What does it actually mean to grow as a Christian? In today’s episode, Steve, Rich, and Sarah dig into the idea of spiritual maturity. After a fun conversation comparing the TV shows they each grew up with they shift to what really matters: growing in Christ.

Steve kicks things off in 1 Peter 2, where spiritual growth is pictured through the human life cycle. Just like a baby slowly learns to eat and move, even an adult who becomes a Christian starts out spiritually “new.” But the goal isn’t to stay there; growth is essential. Rich highlights this from 2 Peter 1, emphasizing the diligence and intentionality required, and then points to 1 Corinthians 13, another passage that uses growth imagery to describe maturing in our faith.

Sarah brings in the importance of understanding how that growth actually happens, especially when life gets messy. Trials and challenges often become the very place where spiritual maturity is formed. Steve ties it all together by reminding us that one of the clearest signs of maturity is recognizing that life isn’t ultimately about us; it’s about Jesus. Rich also opens up about his own recent steps toward spiritual maturity, offering a real-life picture of what growing in Christ can look like day to day. We hope this conversation challenges and encourages you as we head into a new year!

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Does the Bible actually teach the sinner’s prayer as the way to receive salvation? It’s Tuesday, which means a new episode of Resident Strangers is here!

This week, Steve and Rich are revisiting a topic from earlier this summer during the predestination series and bringing some clarification to a big question: What does it truly mean to believe?

They unpack what it means to genuinely place your faith in Jesus and what Scripture means when it talks about salvation, a word that can also mean deliverance. So what does salvation include? Is it simply forgiveness and the promise of heaven, or is there more to the life Jesus offers?

Rich also explores the question of how we can know someone is saved, while Sarah brings in the role of spiritual fruit and how it shows up in a believer’s life. Ultimately, only God and the individual can truly know the heart but one thing is clear: trusting Jesus changes everything. There’s a lot in this episode so listen in and take notes if needed!

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Steve is back in the studio with Rich and Sarah for another great conversation! This episode marks the third and final installment in our unofficial mini-series on prayer. Steve dives right in with one of the most beautiful prayers in Scripture which is Elijah’s prayer in 1 Kings 18. He reminds us that prayer doesn’t have to be complicated; it’s simply talking with God, expressing what’s already in your heart. When we do that, it transforms us more than anything else can.

Rich brings another layer to the conversation by exploring what prayer is not. He unpacks the cultural idea of “manifesting” and how even some Christians have adopted the belief that our words can create worlds. But true prayer isn’t about shaping reality through ritual, it’s about engaging with the living God. Together, Steve and Rich challenge us to consider what it really means to take God at His word and trust Him completely. We hope you’ve enjoyed this three-part journey as we’ve explored what it means to commune deeply with God through prayer!

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Happy Lies by Melissa Dougherty

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Larissa joins Sarah and Rich once again as they continue their conversation on prayer. Many believers would agree that some of the most powerful moments of prayer and closeness with God often come during seasons of difficulty. Scripture is full of prayers born out of hardship, many of them being expressions of lament.

In this episode, Rich highlights Psalm 13 as a model of lament: it begins with a raw complaint, moves into a heartfelt petition, and concludes with a declaration of trust in who God is, even in the midst of pain. He reminds us that this is not only something believers can do, but something we should do. Bringing our grief, confusion, and sorrow honestly before God is both deeply biblical and deeply healing.

Rich and Larissa open up about their own experiences of lament, past and present, and how God has met them in those moments. While lament is not a step we can skip on the path to healing, it is often one of the most transformative parts of the journey. This real and vulnerable conversation offers encouragement and practical insight for wherever you are in life and in your own prayer journey.

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Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy by Mark Vroegop

Larissa Holland's testimony on The Stories Collective, Episode 82

Aaron Holland's (Rich & Larissa's son!) testimony on The Stories Collective, Episode 138

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If you’ve enjoyed today’s episode, we’d be so grateful if you’d subscribe and leave a review as it really helps us reach more people with this message. We’d also love it if you’d share the podcast with your friends, on social media, or anywhere you connect with others. Join us next Tuesday as we continue the discussion on how to think like a Christian in this foreign world. 

Sarah and Rich are joined by a very special guest — Larissa Holland! Larissa is Rich’s wife, and we’re so glad she could be part of this meaningful conversation.

While Steve will be back soon, the crew wanted to begin a new series of discussions around prayer, starting with Jesus’ model of prayer from Matthew 6. In this passage, Jesus clearly answers the question, “How should we pray?”

Together, they unpack what it means to be mindful of how we pray, especially when praying in front of others. Larissa shares candidly about how this can be a real struggle and how her prayer life has grown over the years. One major shift for her has been becoming more intentional, even asking God daily to reveal sin and draw her closer to Him. Sarah opens up about what prayer looks like in this current season of motherhood, and Rich reminds us that no matter what season we’re in, God always hears our prayers.

The crew highlights three key takeaways from Jesus’ example:

• Begin with praise and adoration.
• Invite God into your present moment.
• Humbly ask for conviction before bringing your requests.

This heartfelt conversation is full of encouragement, no matter where you are in your prayer journey.

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Larissa Holland's testimony on The Stories Collective, Episode 82

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If you’ve enjoyed today’s episode, we’d be so grateful if you’d subscribe and leave a review as it really helps us reach more people with this message. We’d also love it if you’d share the podcast with your friends, on social media, or anywhere you connect with others. Join us next Tuesday as we continue the discussion on how to think like a Christian in this foreign world.