In the Season 6 finale of Soil & Roots, Brian takes us on a sweeping journey through the core themes we’ve explored over the past three years—The Great Omission, the tension between the head and the heart, the hidden power of ideas, and the path toward becoming a deep person shaped by divine love.

If you’re new to the podcast, this may be the single best place to start; if you’ve been with us from the beginning, this episode connects and clarifies everything we’ve wrestled with so far.

Together we revisit the three primary problems of story, community, and purpose, confront the Formation Gap, and rediscover the invitation to a life rooted in the love that transforms from the inside out. A perfect setup for Season 7.

In this special bonus episode, Brian invites his two young adult sons, Caleb and Zachary, on to the show to discuss spiritual formation in different generations.

Caleb and Zach grew up in the church and are now involved with a church plant in their area.

Both share some of their stories of apprenticing with Jesus, what they find fascinating about Him, and their perspective on discipleship and institutional churches.

We hope you enjoy this fun, intimate look at three men who are all following Jesus in their own ways, and seeking the Kingdom as they continue to be wrestle with what it means to become more like Jesus in our age.

If you watch this on video, be advised Zach's camera was having hissy fits! You will hear him perfectly, but his video alternatives between clear and blurry.

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Brian, Doc, and Handsome Kyle engage in a lively, honest conversation about what it means to live a relaxed life, just like Jesus.

Instead of the performance-driven, always-busy version of Christianity so many of us grew up with, they reflect on Jesus’ calm, centered presence—rooted in His secure attachment to the Father.

From raccoons clinging to shiny distractions (yes, just like our anxieties) to the distinction between intellectual belief and heart-level trust, the three unpack how transformation flows from receiving God’s love first, then surrender, and then obedience—not the other way around.

The crew also digs into where this kind of relaxed life really takes root: in small, intentional communities. Doc, Kyle, and Brian highlight how these spaces help us notice God in the ordinary—through conversations, creation, and the most mundane parts of life.

The invitation is simple but profound: let go of the shiny substitutes, receive the love that makes sin less appealing and obedience more natural, and discover that being relaxed like Jesus isn’t passivity—it’s the steady freedom of knowing you’re deeply loved.

Join us online! 

Web: ⁠⁠soilandroots.org⁠⁠ 

Substack: ⁠⁠https://substack.com/@soilandroots⁠⁠ 

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Brian explores one of Jesus’ most surprising traits—how deeply relaxed He is—and why that matters for deep discipleship.

Building on this season’s portrait of Jesus (emotionally secure, living as the Beloved, relationally shrewd, just, and gentle), Brian shows how Jesus moves calmly through storms, conflict, and pressure without losing agency or love.

The invitation? If we’re becoming like Jesus, we’ll grow in that same inner ease—rested, present, and at peace.

Instead of rewriting the past or controlling the future, we practice living in the present, so our hearts loosen their grip and rest in God. It’s not emotionless; it’s anchored. As we receive our identity as the Beloved, we learn to relax from the inside out—even when life isn’t.

Most of us would never talk to a friend the way we talk to ourselves. Yet our inner “talk tracks” run all day—and they quietly shape how we relate to God, others, creation, and even our own souls.

In this episode, Brian and Doc take a fresh look at self-gentleness—what it is, why it’s missing from most church conversations, and how it deepens real discipleship. (Kyle’s out this week at a very important men’s hair and beard convention—we expect him back looking sharper than ever.)

We begin with the four relationships we’re made for and why “self” belongs there. Then we dive into metacognition—thinking about what we think about. What do you say to yourself when you mess up? Would Jesus say that to you?

We also tackle why so many Christians struggle here: a “reductionist gospel” that emphasizes sin management and leaves little room for God’s delight in us. Along the way, we contrast Sinclair Ferguson’s “God accepts us despite who we are” with Dallas Willard’s “Jesus wants to be with the you-that-is.”

Gentleness is power restrained. It’s how Jesus treats us—and how he invites us to treat ourselves.

Join us online! 

Web: ⁠⁠soilandroots.org⁠⁠ 

Substack: ⁠⁠https://substack.com/@soilandroots⁠⁠ 

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What does it really mean to be gentle? Is it weakness, meekness, or something far stronger? In this episode, Brian explores the biblical virtue of gentleness through surprising stories—from Andre the Giant in The Princess Bride to the quiet strength of Jesus on the cross.

We’ll look at how gentleness is often misunderstood in Western Christianity, especially around masculinity, and why true gentleness is actually power restrained, strength refined, and love expressed with precision. Along the way, we’ll consider how gentleness shapes our four core relationships—with God, with others, with ourselves, and with creation and culture.

Discover why gentleness isn’t just “being nice” but a crucial marker of deep discipleship and Christlike formation.

Join us online! 

Web: ⁠⁠soilandroots.org⁠⁠ 

Substack: ⁠⁠https://substack.com/@soilandroots⁠⁠ 

YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@soilandroots⁠ 

Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/SoilAndRootsPodcast/⁠⁠ 

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Greenhouse time!  Handsome Kyle, Doc, and Brian review Ep 126, which was all about Jesus as judge.  

We all make judgments every day, about people, information, events, and conversations.  Yet we live in an age where we are repeatedly told not to judge one another. We should just “live and let live.”

Let’s take a look at what Jesus said about judging, and how He did or did not judge.  Since we are to become more like Him over time, how should we judge or refrain from judging?

Today’s Greenhouse features the normal depth, humor, and sarcasm found in most of our conversations…Enjoy!

Join us online! 

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We all judge—and we all get judged. But what does it mean to judge like Jesus?

In this episode, we explore one of Christ’s lesser-discussed traits: his role as judge. We unpack the tension between “Do not judge” and “judge with righteous judgment,” examining why judgment is inescapable, how it reveals the hidden ideas and desires in our hearts, and what it looks like to remove the logs from our own eyes before helping others.

With insights from Dallas Willard, the Bible Project, and personal stories, we learn that discerning, humble judgment can become a powerful act of love—if rooted in Kingdom ideas.

Join us online! 

Web: ⁠⁠soilandroots.org⁠⁠ 

Substack: ⁠⁠https://substack.com/@soilandroots⁠⁠ 

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In this episode, Doc, Reverend Pastor Handsome Kyle, and Brian explore the relational discernment of Jesus and its significance for deep discipleship. 

Jesus engaged people not as categories, but as individuals—offering personal attention, deep listening, and an unhurried presence. This stands in contrast to modern Christian culture’s tendency to prioritize systems, sermons, and superficial connections over the slower, riskier work of authentic relationships. 

We wrestle with how discipleship is more about being than doing—an ongoing formation in Christlikeness that embraces complexity, welcomes grace, and prioritizes love over perfection. As Western Christianity often sidesteps the moral gray areas of real life, let’s try a Spirit-led approach rooted in empathy, discernment, and community. 

Join us online! 

Web: ⁠⁠soilandroots.org⁠⁠ 

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What does it mean to reflect the relational wisdom of Jesus in a complex world?

In Episode 124, we explore the striking balance Jesus models between innocence and shrewdness—what He called being "wise as serpents and innocent as doves."

Jesus didn’t relate to everyone the same way. Sometimes cryptic, sometimes candid, He always saw to the heart. He navigated human motives with remarkable discernment, adapting His approach with stunning nuance.

Drawing from the stories of Sherlock Holmes, the Hebrew midwives, and the parable of the shrewd manager, we unpack what it means to engage others with holy perception. We also revisit the practice of Heart Listening—attuning ourselves to the deeper signals beneath words, behaviors, and emotions.

If Jesus is our model for love, wisdom, and relationship, we must learn to listen like Him, discern like Him, and respond like Him. This episode invites you to pursue spiritual maturity that’s not just innocent—but also perceptive, courageous, and creatively compassionate.

Join us online! 

Web: ⁠⁠soilandroots.org⁠⁠ 

Substack: ⁠⁠https://substack.com/@soilandroots⁠⁠ 

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