What does it mean to be a strong man? In this first message of the Stronger series, Pastor Andy Wood goes back to the beginning, where God gave Adam two assignments before sin ever entered the world: to work the garden and to guard it (Genesis 2:15). When temptation came, Adam stood by in silence and then shifted the blame, and Pastor Andy traces much of today's confusion about manhood back to that moment. Drawing from Paul's charge to Timothy, he describes four identities God calls men to reclaim: a leader who initiates and serves like a disciplined athlete, a lover who is secure as a beloved son, a protector who stands in the gap like a soldier, and a provider who works with the diligence of a farmer (2 Timothy 2:1–7). For every man, real strength starts with knowing whose son you are. Where is God calling you to step up?

What does it mean to be a strong man? In this first message of the Stronger series, Pastor Andy Wood goes back to the beginning, where God gave Adam two assignments before sin ever entered the world: to work the garden and to guard it (Genesis 2:15). When temptation came, Adam stood by in silence and then shifted the blame, and Pastor Andy traces much of today's confusion about manhood back to that moment. Drawing from Paul's charge to Timothy, he describes four identities God calls men to reclaim: a leader who initiates and serves like a disciplined athlete, a lover who is secure as a beloved son, a protector who stands in the gap like a soldier, and a provider who works with the diligence of a farmer (2 Timothy 2:1–7). For every man, real strength starts with knowing whose son you are. Where is God calling you to step up?

Stronger Men

What if the hardest moment is the ripest one? In this message, guest speaker Andy Byrd points to a generation hungry for God, to movements stirring in Sweden and Norway, and to what he believes is the edge of an awakening the world has not yet seen. In Matthew 9:35–38, Jesus looks out at crowds that are harassed and helpless and calls the harvest plentiful. What was lacking was not the harvest but the workers. Byrd argues the same perspective shift is needed now: a difficult moment is not evidence God has stopped moving, and often it is the sign a harvest is ready. The workers Jesus sends are ordinary people, fishermen and tax collectors and teenagers, not specialists. Most of us wait for someone better qualified to answer God's longing to awaken his church. You are that someone. Pray for new eyes, then move.

What if the hardest moment is the ripest one? In this message, guest speaker Andy Byrd points to a generation hungry for God, to movements stirring in Sweden and Norway, and to what he believes is the edge of an awakening the world has not yet seen. In Matthew 9:35–38, Jesus looks out at crowds that are harassed and helpless and calls the harvest plentiful. What was lacking was not the harvest but the workers. Byrd argues the same perspective shift is needed now: a difficult moment is not evidence God has stopped moving, and often it is the sign a harvest is ready. The workers Jesus sends are ordinary people, fishermen and tax collectors and teenagers, not specialists. Most of us wait for someone better qualified to answer God's longing to awaken his church. You are that someone. Pray for new eyes, then move.

The Harvest is Ripe

When you decide to live sent by God, you step into spiritual battle. This fight isn't won with earthly weapons—it's won on your knees. In this message from the Live Sent series, Pastor Andy reveals how to engage in spiritual warfare through prayer. Learn to pray first by making God your priority (Colossians 4:2), pray practically by bringing your real needs before Him (Colossians 4:3), and pray powerfully by aligning your prayers with God's will and promises (1 John 5:14–15). Discover how to keep asking, seeking, and knocking (Luke 11:9–10), praying the promises of God that find their "yes" in Christ. When we devote ourselves to persistent prayer, we partner with God's heart for the lost and participate in spiritual transformation. God called you to make a difference. The battle is won when you surrender to His throne. Who is "your one"—the person you'll pray for today?

When you decide to live sent by God, you step into spiritual battle. This fight isn't won with earthly weapons—it's won on your knees. In this message from the Live Sent series, Pastor Andy reveals how to engage in spiritual warfare through prayer. Learn to pray first by making God your priority (Colossians 4:2), pray practically by bringing your real needs before Him (Colossians 4:3), and pray powerfully by aligning your prayers with God's will and promises (1 John 5:14–15). Discover how to keep asking, seeking, and knocking (Luke 11:9–10), praying the promises of God that find their "yes" in Christ. When we devote ourselves to persistent prayer, we partner with God's heart for the lost and participate in spiritual transformation. God called you to make a difference. The battle is won when you surrender to His throne. Who is "your one"—the person you'll pray for today?

Battle In Prayer

What happens when we try to do life alone? In this message from the Live Sent series, Pastor Kurt Johnston returns to the garden, where God looked at a man in perfect fellowship with him and still declared that it was not good for him to be alone (Genesis 2:18). We bear the image of a God who has eternally existed in relationship as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, so we are wired for one another. Johnston unpacks three reasons small groups are a big deal: in a small group we are seen, because the body of Christ is made of members who suffer and rejoice together (1 Corinthians 12:26); we are strengthened, because a cord of three strands is not easily broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9–12) and a friend sharpens us the way iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17); and we are sent, because Jesus prayed that we would go into the world just as the Father sent him (John 17:18). We gather so that we can go.

What happens when we try to do life alone? In this message from the Live Sent series, Pastor Kurt Johnston returns to the garden, where God looked at a man in perfect fellowship with him and still declared that it was not good for him to be alone (Genesis 2:18). We bear the image of a God who has eternally existed in relationship as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, so we are wired for one another. Johnston unpacks three reasons small groups are a big deal: in a small group we are seen, because the body of Christ is made of members who suffer and rejoice together (1 Corinthians 12:26); we are strengthened, because a cord of three strands is not easily broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9–12) and a friend sharpens us the way iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17); and we are sent, because Jesus prayed that we would go into the world just as the Father sent him (John 17:18). We gather so that we can go.

Together

What makes your story worth telling? In this final message from the Live Sent series, Pastor Andy Wood turns to the man born blind in John 9, whose condition was no verdict on anyone's sin but an occasion for God's work to be displayed. When religious experts pressed him to denounce the one who healed him, he had no theology to offer them, only what had happened to him: he was blind, and now he sees. A personal story cannot be argued away. Pastor Andy draws four principles from the account: make it personal, make it specific about what Jesus has done and when he did it, make Jesus the hero rather than yourself, and make the Good News digestible, offering a small taste so others can see for themselves that God is good (Psalm 34:8). You don't need a dramatic past or perfect answers, only what God has actually done in your life. Who needs to hear it?

What makes your story worth telling? In this final message from the Live Sent series, Pastor Andy Wood turns to the man born blind in John 9, whose condition was no verdict on anyone's sin but an occasion for God's work to be displayed. When religious experts pressed him to denounce the one who healed him, he had no theology to offer them, only what had happened to him: he was blind, and now he sees. A personal story cannot be argued away. Pastor Andy draws four principles from the account: make it personal, make it specific about what Jesus has done and when he did it, make Jesus the hero rather than yourself, and make the Good News digestible, offering a small taste so others can see for themselves that God is good (Psalm 34:8). You don't need a dramatic past or perfect answers, only what God has actually done in your life. Who needs to hear it?

Share Your Story

Pastor Andy and our campus pastors teach a message about how God loves his children.

Pastor Andy and our campus pastors teach a message about how God loves his children.

You Are Loved

Pastor Andy begins our new series, Identity Crisis, with a message about what it means to be chosen to be in God’s family.

Pastor Andy begins our new series, Identity Crisis, with a message about what it means to be chosen to be in God’s family.

You Are Chosen

Pastors Andy and Stacie close our Road to Freedom series with an important message about marriage.

Pastors Andy and Stacie close our Road to Freedom series with an important message about marriage.

Pastors Andy and Stacie close our Road to Freedom series with an important message about marriage.&nbsp;

Debunking Marriage Myths That Lead to Misery

Pastors Andy and Johnny teach us about what  total freedom means and how we can stay free for our whole lives.

Pastors Andy and Johnny teach us about what total freedom means and how we can stay free for our whole lives.

Pastors Andy and Johnny teach us about what&nbsp; total freedom means and how we can stay free for our whole lives.&nbsp;

How To Stay On Track

Pastor Andy teaches an important lesson from the life of King David that gives us clear, practical tools to recognize choices that shape our future and avoid those that lead to regret.

Pastor Andy teaches an important lesson from the life of King David that gives us clear, practical tools to recognize choices that shape our future and avoid those that lead to regret.

How to Not Shipwreck Your Life

Pastor Andy continues our Road to Freedom series with a message about how to discover the real source of your struggles.

Pastor Andy continues our Road to Freedom series with a message about how to discover the real source of your struggles.

Getting to the Source

Pastor Stacie gives a special message about how we can support and help the next generation of the church to find freedom.

Pastor Stacie gives a special message about how we can support and help the next generation of the church to find freedom.

Pastor Stacie gives a special message about how we can support and help the next generation of the church to find freedom.&nbsp;

A Generation Worth Fighting For

Pastor Andy opens our new series, The Road to Freedom, with a message about how to take your first step toward freedom.

Pastor Andy opens our new series, The Road to Freedom, with a message about how to take your first step toward freedom.

Stepping Into Lasting Freedom

Why Good Friday Is Good For You

The Most Important Question You'll Ever Have To Answer

Welcome to the weekly podcast of Saddleback Church led by Pastor Andy Wood. To learn more, visit saddleback.com or download the Saddleback App.

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