Spring Hills Podcast

Your attitude is one of the few things no one can take from you, and Scripture tells you to make it look like Jesus’s. On the morning they leave on a mission trip to the Netherlands and Bulgaria, Dr. Tom Pound and young adult ministry intern Griffin Richards dig into 1 Peter 4:1–6. They look at what an attitude actually is: your thoughts, then your feelings, then your actions. And they talk about how an attitude can change. Tom tells how he went from “I hate math” to teaching his college statistics class, Griffin talks about letting go of pressure-driven golf, and they look at Viktor Frankl’s “last of human freedom.” Tom gives three steps for taking on Christ’s attitude toward suffering: pause your automatic thoughts, consider the benefit of thinking like Jesus, and pick a specific phrase to live by. Then the episode turns to one of the hardest verses in the New Testament, 1 Peter 4:6, and lays out both historic readings, including the Apostles’ Creed line “He descended into hell.” Listen now.

Discussion Questions

1. Icebreaker: Tom’s word was “math.” What subject, task or situation brings up an instant negative reaction in you, and where do you think that attitude came from?
2. Tom describes an attitude as a train: thoughts are the engine, feelings follow, and behavior comes last. Think of a recent time your attitude went sideways. Which “car” did you notice first, and what thought was really driving it?
3. Read Philippians 2:5 and 1 Peter 4:1–2. Tom says Christ’s attitude toward suffering was to embrace it, to “do the hard right thing.” What is your honest attitude toward suffering, and how is it different from Jesus’s?
4. Tom says “every dream I have is on the other side of suffering,” and Griffin quotes “everything I’ve learned in life, I’ve learned through suffering.” Where in your life has hardship taught you something worth passing on? Using Frankl’s question, how could you “teach” from a struggle you’re in right now?
5. Application: Use Tom’s three steps on one specific situation you’ll face this week. What automatic thought will you pause on? What is the benefit of taking on Christ’s attitude there? What short phrase (like “embrace suffering” or “do the hard thing”) will you use to arm yourself?

Why do followers of Jesus still suffer? Pastor Tevis Austin and Laura King, Spring Hills’ connections and community groups coordinator, dig deeper into this week’s sermon on 1 Peter 3:18–22. They talk about the difference between avoidable and unavoidable suffering, and about the hard question of who the “spirits in prison” are. They also explain how Spring Hills holds unity on the essentials and liberty on the rest. Laura and Tevis share their own stories of loss and give practical ways to show up for someone who is hurting. Through all of it they keep coming back to Peter’s main point: Christ suffered once for all to bring us safely home to God, and he reigns over every authority and power.

Discussion Questions:

1. Laura said we’re raised on a reward system: do good, get good. How has that way of thinking shaped what you expected from God when you started following Jesus? How has suffering challenged it?
2. Tevis described two kinds of suffering: avoidable (our own choices, or not resisting the enemy) and unavoidable (loss, illness, things we can’t explain). Think of a hard season in your life. Which kind was it? Did you blame God, yourself, or someone else?
3. 1 Peter 3:18–22 is hard to interpret, and even Martin Luther admitted he wasn’t sure what Peter meant. Why do you think Peter keeps steering his readers back to Jesus’s suffering, resurrection and reign? How can we discuss difficult passages without letting them divide us?
4. Before a conversation about faith, Tevis suggested asking yourself: “Is this helping people love Jesus and one another, or am I just trying to win?” Where do you need to ask that question this week, whether in your family, your friendships or your group?
5. Who in your life is suffering right now, and what is one concrete way you could show up for them?

Clear conscience matters more than personal comfort—so this episode dives into how Peter’s letter equips believers to respond with gentleness, respect, and a clear inner witness. Dr. Tom Pound and Pastor Joshua Meyer take you verse-by-verse through First Peter 3:8-16, decoding key phrases like “be like-minded,” “repay evil with blessing,” and “always be prepared to give an answer.” They also explain Paul’s language about conscience and offer practical checks—legal, familial, and Scriptural—to evaluate choices. Through real-life examples , Tom and Josh show how disciplined habits form character and protect your conscience from cultural drift. This is a pastor-to-pastor, friend-to-friend conversation that will help you trade shame for godly conviction and sleep well at night knowing you’re living with integrity. Tune in now and be encouraged to pursue a conscience that reflects Christ.

Discussion Questions:

1. What does Peter mean when he urges believers to “repay evil with blessing” and how might that look in everyday life?
2. The podcast described a conscience continuum (weak, good, defiled/seared). Where do you sense your conscience currently sits and why?
3. Pastor Tom suggested three checks for teenagers—legal, family, and Jesus. How could you apply a similar three-part check to a current decision in your life?
4. How does distinguishing between guilt and shame change the way we respond when we’re convicted by sin?

Can a gentle and quiet spirit be courageous? First Peter 3:1-7 guides this honest conversation about faith-filled submission and what it looks like in real families. Laura, Debbie, and Brandi explore how focusing on inner beauty—spending time in Scripture, joining a women's Bible study, and investing in marriage intentionally—changes relational dynamics at home. They wrestle with cultural questions, give concrete habits that helped them (RightNow Media studies, annual marriage conferences, asking for God's wisdom), and celebrate the ways husbands can honor wives through protection, presence, and simple gestures. The guests also reflect on biblical examples like Sarah and emphasize that true submission is rooted in fearlessness and hope in God, not passivity. This conversation is practical—perfect for small groups or quiet reflection. Join the discussion and listen now.

1. What stood out to you in the hosts' reading of First Peter 3:1-7? Which phrase speaks to you most and why?
2. The episode emphasizes "inner beauty" over outward adornment—what practices have helped you grow that inner life?
3. Laura described a time she followed her husband's unexpected decision and later saw God’s protection. When have you been asked to step back and trust your spouse’s leadership? How did you respond?
4. Practical: What are one or two concrete steps you can take this week to prioritize spiritual growth in your marriage?

Abstaining from sinful desires is the central, practical focus of this episode of You Matter. Pastor Tom reads 1 Peter 2:11 and then walks us through four actionable practices for resisting the things that wage war on our souls: examine and reframe your perspective (God wants your flourishing, not your boredom), create distance from temptation, recruit a friend or trusted person in the moment of temptation, and pray for God's power. Using honest pastoral stories—about addictions that began as a “just one” choice—and a clear metaphor of life as a boxing ring (you’re the boxer; the pastor is in your corner), Tom gives listeners the posture and the playbook to stop replaying the same failures. This episode is for anyone wrestling with recurring sin, secret habits, or confusing desires and wants straightforward, gospel-centered help. Listen now to get practical next steps and spiritual encouragement for the fight.

Discussion Questions:

1. Pastor Tom says to 'examine your perspective' about temptation. How do you currently view God’s commands-do they feel like joy or restriction?
2. Have you ever created physical boundaries (e.g., removing snacks, moving a laptop) to avoid temptation? What worked or didn’t work?
3. Tom urges listeners to 'phone a friend' at the first stirring of desire. Who would you realistically call in a moment of temptation, and what would that conversation look like?
4. Reflect on a season of unjust suffering in your life. Which of Tom’s three responses (accept, remember what you’ve done, remember Jesus) would have helped you most in that season?
5. How does remembering Jesus reshape your attitude toward ongoing or chronic suffering? Share a specific Bible passage or devotional practice that helps you ‘fix your eyes on Jesus.’

1 Peter 2:1-10 anchors this conversation about desire, discipline, and identity. In this episode Pastor Tom leads a close reading of the passage and then shifts to actionable coaching: take care of the basics (pray, sleep, prepare), shape your environment (habit stacking and pre-packed bags), and change how you celebrate (reward the small wins). Laura and Griffin bring real-life examples—how a short nightly prayer sparked a craving for Scripture, and how repeated effort turned fitness into delight-and the conversation lands squarely on spiritual practices you can implement this week. The hosts also unpack the cornerstone metaphor and the stunning claim that followers of Jesus are God’s treasured possession, offering pastoral hope for anyone feeling defined by past mistakes. If you want a sermon-plus-workshop that helps you actually crave God more, tune in for practical tools and warm encouragement. Listen now.

Discussion Questions:

1. When have you experienced a season of spiritual hunger? What sparked or sustained it?
2. Which of the three practical steps discussed (basics, shape environment, celebrate small wins) could you try this week? Be specific about what you will change.
3. How does hearing “you are God’s special possession” challenge or comfort you? What shame or pride does it surface?
4. Who is one person you can tell about a spiritual goal this week to help you stay accountable or celebrate small wins?
5. The episode mentions two views on predestination related to the phrase “which is also what they were destined for.” How does your understanding of God’s sovereignty and human choice affect how you share the gospel?

Want a faith rhythm that actually changes your life? 1 Peter is the spotlight of this episode as Tom, Laura, and Griffin walk through how Scripture, community, and spiritual practices shape a love that’s sincere and all-out. In this episode we introduce and model the Four Pillars-daily devotions, weekend sermon, small-group discussion, and a follow-up podcast-as a repeatable system to anchor your week in a single passage. Using 1 Peter 1:22–25 the hosts explain the Greek terms behind ‘brotherly love’ (philadelphia), ‘unhypocritical’ love, and ekteno-an intense, straining love that pushes outside comfort zones. You’ll hear real stories (a young adult’s heart surgery, a caseworker’s adoption moments) that show what sacrificial, persistent love looks like in life. The group also names practical obstacles-exhaustion, selfishness, and offers rhythms to receive God’s love so you can give it away. Whether you lead a group, coach, parent, or want to grow in spiritual consistency, this episode gives theology and next steps. Listen now.

Discussion Questions:

1. What new hobby or habit have you picked up recently (like pickleball) and how did it change your routine?
2. In your own words, what are the Four Pillars Tom describes and how do they connect together?
3. Tom describes ‘philadelphia’—brotherly love—as love without a mask. When have you felt safe enough to take your mask off in a Christian community?
4. Peter calls us to love ‘ekteno’—to strain or stretch in love. What is one relationship in your life that needs that kind of all-out effort right now?
5. The hosts name exhaustion and selfishness as obstacles to radical love. Which of those (or another obstacle) shows up most in your life, and what practical step can you take this week to address it?

Training vs trying is the central theme of this conversation as Dr. Tom Pound and Joshua Meyer explore how spiritual transformation happens by disciplined practices rather than intermittent effort. Starting from John Ortberg’s distinction and moving into the practical four-pillar plan used at Spring Hills (daily devotions, weekend sermons, small-group discussion, and follow-up podcasts), the episode models a training loop you can join. The hosts unpack 1 Peter 1:10–17 with special attention to verse 17 and its tension: God as approachable Father and impartial Judge, and the invitation to live as temporary residents with holy carefulness. You’ll hear pastoral stories, counseling applications, and cultural perspectives that help the passage speak into parenting, marriage mentoring, battling consumerist prosperity teachings, and honoring elders. If you want spiritual habits that last, this episode gives both theology and actionable next steps for groups and individuals. Listen now.

1. Tell about a time you trained for something (a race, instrument, or skill). What did consistent practice change?
2. In your own words, what is the tension in 1 Peter 1:17 between God as Father and God as Judge?
3. Do you tend to relate to God more as a loving Father or an impartial Judge? Why?
4. What one spiritual discipline could you commit to for the next 30 days to move from 'trying' to 'training'?
5. How could your small group use the four-pillar plan (devotion → sermon → discussion → podcast) to deepen spiritual formation?

1 Peter 1:3-9 is a life-changing promise - are you listening as a co-host? In this episode Pastor Tom Pound goes solo and makes the listener the co-host, leading a candid conversation around 1 Peter 1:3-9 that blends pastoral stories, practical mental-health research, and spiritual formation. You’ll hear a funeral anecdote that lands a surprising reminder about ministry’s power, a Gallup-backed case for how faithful church patterns protect mental health, and a simple but powerful adult-learning frame (power-load margin) to evaluate whether your life requires more energy than you have. Pastor Tom then unpacks verse 5’s promise that believers are “shielded by God’s power” and draws out three practical protections faith provides - assurance of our eternal inheritance, emotional stability and purpose, and healthier relationships shaped by humility. Finally, he wrestles with verse 9’s tense - how salvation is past, present, and future - and reads C.S. Lewis to invite you into the ongoing work of being made like Jesus. This episode is for anyone ready to take inventory and step into a new season of spiritual growth. Listen now.

Discussion Questions:

1. Pastor Tom asks, “Does your life require more energy than you have?” Where would you place yourself on that question today, and why?
2. Read 1 Peter 1:3-9 together. Which phrase stands out most to you and why?
3. Pastor Tom describes the power-load margin theory (load vs. personal energy). What are two practical ways you could either increase your energy or lighten your load this season?
4. The episode cites research that consistent church attenders were more resilient during COVID. How has your faith community helped you during hard seasons, and where might you need more connection?
5. Pastor Tom unpacks verse 5’s promise that believers are “shielded by God’s power.” What does that protection look like in everyday life - what are we protected from and what are we still vulnerable to?

First Peter sermon series — Start your week anchored in identity: In this episode Pastor Tom Pound and young-adult leader Griffin Richards introduce a 13-week walk through First Peter designed to move you from hearing the Bible to living it. Griffin shares a raw testimony of encountering the Holy Spirit on the operating table at 18 and how that moment led him into church, seminary, and leading a purposeful young-adult ministry. Pastor Tom explains the four pillars of the series—daily devotionals, a weekly sermon, small-group discussions, and this Going Deeper podcast—and why adult learning theory matters for spiritual growth. You’ll hear practical tools for mastering your morning through Scripture, prayer prompts, and journaling, plus pastoral teaching on the twin truths that God chooses us and we live as “chosen foreigners” in culture. Whether you’re new to faith, returning, or leading a small group, this episode gives conversation starters, mission clarity, and spiritual practices you can try tomorrow. Listen now to join the study and start the week with purpose.

Discussion Questions:

1. Share a moment you felt unexpectedly supported or at peace in a high-stress situation. How did that experience shape you?
2. Griffin described sensing God’s presence before his surgery. How do you respond when someone shares a miraculous or unusual faith experience?
3. Read 1 Peter 1:1-2. What strikes you about the phrase “chosen foreigners”? How does that idea land in your life right now?
4. Pastor Tom said, “God knew you, loved you, and chose you before the creation of the world.” How does that truth affect your identity and daily choices?
5. The series recommends a scripture-for-the-week rhythm (daily reading, sermon, discussion). Which of these three (deliberation, hearing, discussion) is hardest for you and why? What small step could you take this week?