Spiritually Fit Today

Spiritually Fit Today

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Spiritually Fit Today episodes

  • The Dangerous Lie Christians Believe About Growth - Spiritually Fit Today

    Why doesn’t knowing better always lead to doing better? In this episode of Spiritually Fit Today, Arnie Cole and Bruce explore why information alone rarely transforms us. Drawing from James 1:22, they discuss the gap between knowledge and action, the importance of habits, and practical steps to move from insight to real change in your spiritual life.


    4 R Action Steps
    - Read: Read James 1:22 slowly and the surrounding verses. Note one command or conviction you already know.
    - Reflect: Ask where you hear truth but fail to act. What belief breaks down under pressure or pain?
    - Respond: Pick one thing you already know you should do (forgive, apologize, reach out, or take a concrete step) and do it today.
    - Reveal: Share what you did with someone, invite accountability, or model the change by telling a friend and asking them to watch your growth.


    Keywords: James 1:22, doers of the word, faith and works, Christian discipleship, apply Scripture, spiritual growth, habits of grace, Arnie Cole, Bruce, Spiritually Fit Today

    Subscribe to get each episode delivered to your Inbox daily at: https://bttb.org/subscribe2sft

    8 min
  • The One Thing You Should Do This Week - Spiritually Fit Today

    Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole and guest Paul Abbott. In this episode we tackle living faith (not dead faith) through James 2:14-17 and practical next steps you can start this week. Paul challenges ordinary Christians to leave comfort behind, notice the opportunities Jesus places on your block, and begin serving through simple, sustainable actions like volunteering or internships.


    4 R Action Plan
    - Read: Read James 2:14-17 slowly. Note phrases about faith, deeds, and physical needs.
    - Reflect: List 3–4 nudgings or opportunities you’ve felt recently. Ask: Who near me needs practical help? Where could I be the hands and feet of Jesus?
    - Respond: Pick one item from your list. This weekend, Google local volunteer or internship options, then commit to one first step (call, sign up, or show up) by Monday. Pray: “Lord, help my faith show itself in action.”
    - Reveal: Tell one friend or neighbor about your plan and invite them to join or observe. Let your small, consistent acts demonstrate faith to others.

    Contact
    For notes or questions: [email protected]

    Share this episode with someone who needs practical encouragement to move from belief to action. Celebrate the steps you take—spiritual fitness is about showing up. Join us Monday for another Spiritually Fit Today workout.

    Keywords: living faith, James 2:14-17, faith and works, practical Christian service, volunteering, internships, local outreach, homeless ministry, spiritual fitness, Arnie Cole, Paul Abbott, discipleship, everyday discipleship

    Subscribe to get each episode delivered to your Inbox daily at: https://bttb.org/subscribe2sft

    16 min
  • The Risk Most Christians Won’t Take - Spiritually Fit Today

    Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole and his guest this week Paul Abbott. In this episode Arnie and Paul wrestle with Acts 2 as a practical model for serving the poor: shared life, table fellowship, prayer, and mutual accountability. Paul describes the real work of Nehemiah’s Road Home and how a discipleship community — not programs or fundraisers — can actually change lives and address chronic homelessness. Expect specific, doable next steps for individuals and churches who want to move from good intentions to faithful presence.


    4 R Action Steps
    Read: Read Acts 2:42 and 44–47 aloud and slowly. Let the phrases “devoted themselves,” “broke bread in their homes,” and “had everything in common” settle in.
    Reflect: Ask: Where in my life could I invite someone to share a meal, a rhythm, or regular friendship? Who around me is lonely, overlooked, or living on the margins?
    Respond: Pray for one opportunity this week and then take one concrete step: invite a neighbor to coffee or a meal, host a short weekly home gathering, or start a three-person accountability rhythm.
    Reveal: Demonstrate this passage by modeling hospitality and consistent presence. Share your story of small, sacrificial hospitality with a friend or your church, invite someone into your home, or start a pilot discipleship household to show what Acts 2 looks like today.

    Resources & Contact
    For help launching a small hospitality rhythm or joining a discipleship community, contact Arnie at [email protected].

    Keywords: Acts 2, discipleship, hospitality, breaking bread, mutual accountability, Paul Abbott, Arnie Cole, Nehemiah's Road Home, homelessness, Christian community, faith in action, Bible study, Spiritually Fit Today

    Subscribe to get each episode delivered to your Inbox daily at: https://bttb.org/subscribe2sft

    18 min
  • What Homeless People Need More Than Money - Spiritually Fit Today

    Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole and Paul Abbott. In this episode Arnie and Paul explore dignity in serving people experiencing homelessness—starting with something as simple and powerful as eye contact—and ground the conversation in Galatians 6:2: "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." Paul shares on-the-ground experience from serving in Reading through Good News Rescue Mission and even living on the streets, highlighting how to avoid paternalism, build mutual accountability, and help others move toward flourishing.


    4 R Action Steps
    Read — Read Galatians 6:2 slowly. Let the phrase "carry each other's burdens" shape how you see people in need.
    Reflect — Ask: Where do I filter or judge others' burdens? How can I honor dignity in everyday encounters (eye contact, listening, respect)?
    Respond — Pray and act: make a list of 2–3 people who could hold you accountable and whom you can support; commit to one dignity-focused practice (e.g., sustained eye contact, active listening, connecting someone to local resources).
    Reveal — Demonstrate this passage by inviting a friend to serve with you, modeling respectful care in outreach, or sharing this episode and Galatians 6:2 with someone as a step toward mutual accountability.


    Keywords: homelessness, dignity, Galatians 6:2, carry each other's burdens, Christian service, discipleship, mutual accountability, poverty, homeless ministry, Good News Rescue Mission, Paul Abbott, Arnie Cole, Spiritually Fit Today

    Subscribe to get each episode delivered to your Inbox daily at: https://bttb.org/subscribe2sft

    16 min
  • How to Help Without Hurting - Spiritually Fit Today
    Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole and guest Paul Abbott. In this episode they unpack the common trap of paternalism in Christian service — when well-meaning help ends up stripping dignity and creating dependence — and point to Proverbs 19:17 as the corrective: kind, respectful help that seeks to make disciple-makers, not dependent recipients. Paul shares practical wisdom about listening, empowering local ownership, and shifting from performative giving to relational, dignity-preserving service.

    4 R Actions to practice:
    Read — Read Proverbs 19:17 and other passages on mercy and stewardship; meditate on what "lending to the Lord" means for your giving.
    Reflect — When you encounter someone in need, note your emotions (fear, pity, guilt, indifference). Journal or pray about what those responses reveal.
    Respond — Shift how you give: prioritize empowering relationships, support local leadership and sustainable solutions, ask how your help builds capacity rather than dependency.
    Reveal — Model dignity in action: listen first, invite others into ownership, share what you’re learning, and recruit friends to join context-led, respectful ministry.


    Keywords: paternalism, serving the poor, Christian service, discipleship, Proverbs 19:17, dignified ministry, empowering giving, poverty ministry, how to help effectively, faith-based charity, Christian generosity

    Subscribe to get each episode delivered to your Inbox daily at: https://bttb.org/subscribe2sft
    13 min
  • Most Christians Skip This Command of Jesus - Spiritually Fit Today

    Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole and guest Paul Abbott. In this episode Arnie and Paul unpack Matthew 25:35–40—Jesus’ call to care for the hungry, stranger, and prisoner—and wrestle with why that command so often gets sidelined in Christian life. Paul shares stories from decades serving the poor across Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and now among the chronically homeless in Redding, California.


    Action steps using the 4 R’s:
    Read — Read Matthew 25:35–40 today.
    Reflect — Picture one person you’ve passed recently. Ask: How have I treated people like this? What comforts am I protecting?
    Respond — Pray a one-sentence prayer (for example: “Father, you see them; help me see them too”), then take one concrete step this week (listen for 15 minutes, bring a meal, give a gift card, volunteer locally, or donate to a trusted ministry).
    Reveal — Demonstrate this truth by inviting someone to serve with you, sharing your story of one small step, or offering practical hospitality to someone in need.

    Connect with Arnie: [email protected]

    Keywords: Matthew 25, homelessness, poverty, Christian discipleship, faith in action, serving the poor, Spiritually Fit Today, Arnie Cole, Paul Abbott, homelessness outreach, Christian podcast, social justice, gospel compassion

    Subscribe to get each episode delivered to your Inbox daily at: https://bttb.org/subscribe2sft

    17 min
  • How to Get Spiritually Fit in Just Minutes a Day - Spiritually Fit Today

    Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole and Braden Pedersen. This episode invites you into a free daily spiritual workout (5–10 minutes) built around the Four R’s and powered by an AI companion at bttb.ai. Try for seven days, and let small daily rhythms multiply your faith. Scripture to absorb today: Psalm 119:11 — "I have stored up your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."


    Four R actions to do now:
    - Read: Read Psalm 119:11 slowly and aloud.
    - Reflect: Ask: What word or image stands out? Where could this truth help me resist temptation today? Spend 1–2 minutes listening.
    - Respond: Internalize by writing one sentence: “Today I will…” or memorize the verse and set a simple if-then plan (e.g., “If I feel discouraged, I will repeat this verse”).
    - Reveal: Share the verse and your one-sentence application with one person—text, call, or invite them to join the 7‑day workout.

    Get started: visit bttb.ai, enter your email, and begin your first workout in under a minute. Questions or feedback? Email Arnie: [email protected].

    Keywords: spiritual fitness, daily devotional, Bible workout, Psalm 119:11, AI spiritual companion, daily scripture, faith habit, spiritual growth, Bible reading plan, devotional, Christian podcast, Arnie Cole, Braden Pedersen

    Subscribe to get each episode delivered to your Inbox daily at: https://bttb.org/subscribe2sft

    7 min
  • Should Christians Trust AI for Spiritual Guidance? - Spiritually Fit Today
    Welcome to the podcast Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole and Braden Pedersen. In this episode we explore how AI can be redirected to point people back to Scripture instead of away from it. Learn about BTTB.AI — a closed, vetted library of biblical content that delivers personalized spiritual workouts guided by the four R’s: Read, Reflect, Respond, Reveal. This AI companion is designed to supplement discipleship (not replace pastors or real community) and to help you apply Scripture to everyday struggles like anger, criticism, or doubt.

    Check out the librarian: bttb.ai

    How to practice the four R’s today
    - Read: Open Psalm 119:105 — “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Let this verse be your starting point.
    - Reflect: Ask: Where is my path dark right now? What truth in this verse speaks to that struggle?
    - Respond: Use the AI librarian to pull biblical teaching, a short scripture list, and daily practical steps (breath/prayer prompts, memory verse, simple behavioral next steps) tailored to your situation. Then do one small action today based on those steps.
    - Reveal: Take what the AI pointed you to in God’s Word and bring it to a person — a friend, mentor, or small group. Share what you learned and ask for prayer and accountability.



    Keywords: AI and Bible, Christian AI, BTTBAI, spiritual workouts, Psalm 119:105, discipleship, personalized discipleship, spiritual fitness, Bible study, digital discipleship, Arnie Cole, Braden Pedersen

    Subscribe to get each episode delivered to your Inbox daily at: https://bttb.org/subscribe2sft
    8 min
  • The Shocking Place Young Christians Go for Spiritual Advice - Spiritually Fit Today
    Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole and guest Braden Pedersen. In this episode we explore new research showing many men in their 20s and 30s are turning to AI for spiritual questions. Braden explains why anonymity and perceived safety make AI appealing, and Arnie and Braden warn about the danger of trusting confident-sounding answers over Scripture. Our scripture for reflection: Proverbs 18:1 — "Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment."

    4 R Action Steps
    Read — Read Proverbs 18:1 aloud and note any phrase that sticks out to you.
    Reflect — Ask: What am I hiding? Where do I turn for answers first — a person, a phone, or prayer?
    Respond — Name the one question you've been carrying alone. Tell one real person you can trust that question out loud and notice how isolation changes.
    Reveal — Share this passage and your takeaway with someone you trust; invite them to pray with you or hold you accountable.

    Contact Arnie: [email protected]

    Keywords: AI and faith, Christian men, Proverbs 18:1, spiritual questions, faith and technology, discernment, Bible study, men's ministry, prayer, Braden Pedersen, Arnie Cole

    Subscribe to get each episode delivered to your Inbox daily at: https://bttb.org/subscribe2sft
    9 min
  • The Dangerous Gap Between Faith and Action - Spiritually Fit Today
    Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today with Arnie Cole and Braden Pedersen. In this episode we tackle the common gap between believing and doing. We center on James 1:22: "Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." Arnie and Braden explore why conviction often doesn’t translate to action and how scripture absorption (quality over quantity) helps close that gap.

    4R action guide
    - Read: Start with James 1:22 and a few surrounding verses. Make it a short, focused daily habit.
    - Reflect: Ask, “What is God calling me to do today?” and “Where am I only hearing and not doing?”
    - Respond: Choose one concrete action before the day ends — text someone, forgive the person who comes to mind, or make a call you’ve been avoiding. Treat reading as input and action as the output.
    - Reveal: Share what you learned or demonstrate it in a tangible way (forgiveness, a helpful conversation, or sharing the verse with someone).

    Contact Arnie: [email protected]

    Keywords: James 1:22, Bible reading, scripture absorption, daily devotion, Christian living, faith into action, evangelism, discipleship, spiritual growth, Arnie Cole, Braden Pedersen, Spiritually Fit Today, BTTB

    Subscribe to get each episode delivered to your Inbox daily at: https://bttb.org/subscribe2sft
    9 min

About Spiritually Fit Today

From the publisher's feed

Welcome to Spiritually Fit Today, where every day is a workout for your soul—one step, one choice, one spiritual rep at a time. Join Arnie Cole and guests as we talk about how to improve how we behave as a Christ followers. Because how we act tomorrow depends on getting spiritually fit today.