Tearing Down High Places

By Tearing Down High Places

Tearing Down High Places episodes

September 05 Rod Martin: Trump’s Wins, Midterm Reality & Why the Church Must Lead | EP 135
In Episode 135 of Tearing Down High Places, Average Joe and Pastor Seth Brickley welcome back Rod D. Martin — investor, PayPal alum, CEO of Martin Capital, and author of the forthcoming Trump’s New World Re-Order. https://a.co/d/085yhOYe
With the 2026 midterms about two months away, Rod argues Republicans are not losing because Washington is fumbling. They are losing because their own people are not telling the story.
He walks through what he says is already on the board in Trump’s second term: a 99.9% drop in illegal border crossings, roughly three million deportations (many via a self-deportation program), taxes eliminated on tips, overtime, and Social Security for most seniors, wage growth outrunning inflation, $18 trillion in announced U.S. investment, a nuclear restart after four decades of nothing, energy shifting from the Persian Gulf to the “Gulf of America,” and a deregulation ratio of 129 repealed rules for every new one. He also maps Senate and House math, the Canada trade fight, the Iran blockade strategy, men out of women’s sports, the death of DEI/ESG pressure, and why Tucker/Candace-style sabotage plus pastoral pietism leave Christians unprepared to vote or lead.
The charge is not “wait for Trump to knock on your neighbor’s door.” It is: stop being sheep, take responsibility for five or ten people, preach the whole counsel of God, and get them to the polls. Rod plugs daily analysis at rodmartin.org and his election-timed book.
55 min
August 08 Church Leaders Stay Silent on Fauci’s Autopen Pardon and the Deaths He Caused | EP 131
In Episode 131 of Tearing Down High Places, Pastor Jeff & Average Joe are joined by Pastors Seth Brickley, and Pastor Eric Anderson for a hard look at Dr. Anthony Fauci’s recent Senate appearance and the deeper failure it exposes. While Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment over 100 times and continues to hide behind a controversial autopen pardon issued in the final hours of the Biden administration, the conversation turns to a more troubling silence: the near-total lack of repentance and public accountability from many Christian leaders.
The pastors reflect on how large portions of the church responded during COVID — closing doors for extended periods, binding consciences on masks, substituting live streams for gathered worship, and spiritualizing compliance with the vaccine. They contrast this with those who stayed open, resisted government overreach, and formed new alliances with others willing to fear God rather than man.
Years later, with clearer evidence of lab origin, gain-of-function research, and the human cost of the policies, most institutional Christian leaders have still offered no public reckoning. The episode presses the question of why so many remain silent about both the autopen protection shielding Fauci and the devastating consequences of the decisions he and others advanced. It calls the church back to courage, honesty, and the fear of God over the fear of man.
35 min
July 25 Theonomy Takes on Creepy Bikini Guy | EP 129
Summary In Episode 129 of Tearing Down High Places, Average Joe leads Pastors Tim Robinson and Jeff Kliewer through three interlocking topics—theonomy (God’s law), slavery, and evangelism— while discussing a by a recent incident at a Collingswood, NJ community pool. A man identifying as a woman appeared in a bikini; parents confronted him, and he appealed to an “inclusivity policy” while accusing them of transphobia.
The hosts use the event to press the central question: “By what standard?” They define theonomy as the application of God’s law (theos + nomos), affirm its goodness (Romans 7:12; Psalm 19), and distinguish biblical servitude from man-stealing/chattel slavery (which the law condemns with the death penalty).
Average Joe contrasts Mosaic justice—restitution, corporal punishment, banishment, and capital sanctions for murder, certain sexual sins, and other grave crimes—with the modern American prison system (1.5 million incarcerated). God’s approach is victim-centered and deterrent; contemporary incarceration is costly, ineffective at rehabilitation, and often arbitrary.
They address personal responsibility versus claims of mental illness, reject psychology’s shifting standards, and urge nouthetic (admonishing) counseling rooted in Scripture. The practical evangelistic payoff is clear: many people already feel the injustice of the courts and prisons. Christians can start on that common ground, demonstrate the goodness and consistency of God’s law, and point to Christ who fulfilled the law and offers mercy to sinners. Heart change must precede cultural and legal change. The episode closes with a call to study the whole counsel of God and to bring light into dark places such as Collingswood.
30 min
July 25 Gay Pride Bully Backfires: Sparks Youth Evangelists | Ep 128
In Episode 128, Pastor Jeff joins Average Joe to recount a powerful evening of street preaching at a Pride festival in Freedom Park, Medford. What began as outreach amid rising hostility—especially from an aggressive activist using a bullhorn—became a profound display of gospel boldness. The team proclaimed Christ crucified and risen, refuted claims of “hate,” witnessed the Spirit stir young believers to preach for the first time, and highlighted the loving urgency of calling sinners to repentance. The conversation explores twisted modern notions of tolerance and pride, the true meaning of love, effective gospel engagement with those in sexual sin, and how opposition often multiplies bold witnesses for Christ. A timely call to courageous, compassionate evangelism in a culture celebrating what Scripture calls sin.
40 min
July 11Territorial Spirits, Spiritual Warfare & Claiming Ground for Christ | Ep 127
Tearing Down High PlacesEpisode Summary In Episode 127 of Tearing Down High Places, Pastor Jeff Kliewer explores territorial spirits—high-ranking demonic forces influencing regions and nations—drawing primarily from Daniel 10. The discussion connects biblical spiritual warfare to current events like the World Cup (e.g., the Egyptian coach’s reaction to an Israeli flag), historical revivals (Guatemala, Argentina, Iran), and the spiritual battle behind global conflicts.
The conversation emphasizes how prayer and fasting serve as powerful instruments under God’s sovereignty, enabling breakthroughs in the heavenlies (as with Daniel’s 21-day fast). This ties directly to Cornerstone Church’s opportunity to expand into Collingswood, NJ: open doors, receptive people, and evangelistic fruit already seen on the streets. Pastors Jeff and Tim share stories of gospel conversations, urging the church to advance rather than drift, with a corporate call to Sunday fasting and prayer leading up to the building vote. The episode ends with a motivational challenge to take spiritual ground through ordinary means of grace.
Digestible Breakdown for Show Notes (skimmable sections)
00:00 – Intro & World Cup Context Soccer as a window into spiritual realities. Nations carry distinct spiritual influences (e.g., South vs. North Korea).
03:52 – What Are Territorial Spirits? Biblical foundation in Daniel 10: Daniel’s fasting/prayer → angelic conflict with the Prince of Persia. Michael assists. Behind idols and national strongholds are demonic forces.
07:43 – Historical & Modern Examples Guatemala’s defeat of Maximon worship (1994). Argentina’s evangelical growth vs. Egypt/Iran’s Islamic strongholds. The Prince of Persia link to modern Iran’s underground revival (up to ~1M Christians, polls showing sharp decline in Muslim identification).
13:33 – America & Local Territory Native spiritual darkness overcome by Christianity. Ongoing warfare: Northeast/San Francisco vs. other regions. Demons seek to re-establish strongholds.
15:46 – Collingswood Opportunity Multiple evangelistic trips show unusually receptive soil (better than Mount Laurel). Stories: Hour-long gospel talk with Norm & family; restaurant owner and staff reading Gospels; people on bikes engaging openly.
18:48 – Prayer, Fasting & Discernment Church members praying on-site in Collingswood receive confirming signs. Corporate Sunday fast (post-worship until evening prayer meeting) called for unity and power ahead of the vote.
23:51 – Vision & Motivation Plant a lighthouse in Collingswood while keeping Mount Laurel. Advance the gospel or drift (Philippians 1, Hebrews 2). No neutral ground. “We can do this” — greater is He in us.
28:13 – Closing Charge Prayer and fasting matter. Tear down strongholds. Advance the kingdom.
35 min
July 04 America 250: The Christian Nation We’re Burning Down | EP 126
In this special Liberty Edition of *Tearing Down High Places*, special guest host Pastor Seth Brickley joins Pastor Tim Robinson, Pastor Jeff Kliewer and Average Joe Gormley to reflect on America’s 250th anniversary. They trace the nation’s Christian roots from Jamestown (1607) and Plymouth (1620) through the Declaration of Independence, the Great Awakening, and George Whitefield’s preaching. The conversation celebrates America’s blessings and prosperity while offering a candid critique of moral and spiritual decline, the importance of religious freedom, family, church influence, and strong biblical support for Israel. The episode calls the church to repent, lead the culture, and reclaim its role as the conscience of the nation.
33 min
June 27Spiritual Disciplines That Transform: Bible, Evangelism, Prayer & Fellowship | EP 125
Episode Summary
In Episode 125 of Tearing Down High Places, Pastor Tim Robinson leads a discussion with Pastor Jeff and Average Joe on the vital spiritual disciplines every Christian needs: the Word of God, Evangelism, Prayer, and Fellowship (PFEW — PRAYER – FELLOWSHIP – EVANGELISM – WORD). Drawing from recent evangelism at Cooper River Park, personal stories, and Scripture, they emphasize that these disciplines build strong believers, combat sin, equip us to share the gospel boldly, and foster joy and unity in the church. They address common barriers like fear and lack of equipping, encourage personal responsibility over excuses, and remind listeners that consistent obedience leads to transformation and heavenly reward.
Digestible Breakdown for Show Notes (Skimmable Sections)
1. Evangelism at Cooper River Park
The team had powerful conversations, especially with young people. One arrogant skeptic shifted dramatically after an hour, planned to read the Gospel of John, and took Pastor Tim’s number.
Evangelism is motivated by love, not aggression. Expect pushback when addressing sin as lawlessness but stay bold — the gospel is a fragrance of life to some and death to others.
2. The Word of God (Bible Reading & Study)
Only ~13% of professing Christians have read the entire Bible cover-to-cover (Lifeway).
Key verses: Psalm 119, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.”
Practical: 12 minutes/day = full Bible in a year. One professor reads it ~5 times per year.
First read-through may not yield deep understanding — pair reading with study, prayer for illumination, and application. Memorization equips daily living.
3. Prayer
Not treating God as a genie, but relationship: adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication (ACTS).
God interprets even unspoken groans. Discipline yourself in prayer or the Lord will discipline you.
Keep a heaven mindset — praise, trust His will (yes/no answers), and fight anxiety/depression by fixing eyes on Christ.
4. Fellowship
Don’t be a lone wolf. The church needs you, and you need the church.
Avoid “church hurt” excuses — gather to build one another up, not tear down.
Best fellowship happens among believers grounded in the Word, prayer, and evangelism (not just sports/politics talk).
5. Overcoming Barriers & Practical Encouragement
Fear and lack of equipping are the top reasons Christians avoid evangelism.
Solutions: Watch Ray Comfort/Living Waters, shadow experienced evangelists, practice, and go in pairs/groups for boldness.
Use presuppositional apologetics — test claims for inconsistency/arbitrariness against Scripture (law of contradiction).
Overall: These four disciplines form the “table legs” of a stable Christian life. Missing too many leaves you unstable.
Closing Charge: Christianity is full contact. Discipline yourself in the basics, lift up brothers, tear down high places, and live for God’s glory.
44 min
June 27 Cornerstone Church Eyes Historic Collingswood Campus | EP 124
Overall Episode Summary In Episode 124 of Tearing Down High Places, host Average Joe sits down with Pastors Jeff and Tim Robinson to discuss an exciting new opportunity: Cornerstone Church is considering the purchase of a large, historic multi-acre campus in Collingswood, New Jersey. The property, once associated with Carl McIntyre and Francis Schaeffer, includes a 1,300-seat sanctuary, basketball gym, classrooms, fellowship hall, and more. The pastors share their vision for expanded evangelism, sports ministry, discipleship, and Christian education in a spiritually needy area. They highlight faithful stewardship, contingency plans, and the importance of church unity ahead of the congregational vote on July 12.
59 min
June 13America’s Christian Roots vs. Islam, Trump, & Technocracy | EP 123
Episode Summary
In Episode 123 of Tearing Down High Places, Pastor Jeff Kliewer and Average Joe explore America’s explicit Christian founding through 10 powerful historical quotes (from Columbus to the 1892 Supreme Court), contrasting it with modern challenges from Islamic immigration and Sharia law. They evaluate President Trump’s border closures, Abraham Accords, and ambitious Gaza rebuilding plans involving stablecoins, tokens, and technocratic oversight. The conversation balances praise for short-term strategic wins against long-term concerns about technocracy, while urging Christians to evangelize, plant churches, procreate, and reclaim cultural ground to preserve a Christian nation.
Overall Themes: Christian nationalism (properly understood), religious liberty with boundaries, geopolitical strategy, and cultural/spiritual vigilance.
Digestible Breakdown for Show Notes / Timestamps
0:00 – 2:00 Intro & Banter Light-hearted opening with Jeff’s shaved beard and “Global Senior Pastor” jokes.
2:00 – 24:00 America’s Christian Founding: 10 Historical Quotes
Columbus, Virginia Charter, Mayflower Compact, Connecticut, Declaration of Independence, Delaware Oath, Constitution, Pennsylvania Court Case (1824), and the landmark 1892 Supreme Court Church of the Holy Trinity v. United States ruling declaring America “a Christian nation.”
Discussion on sphere sovereignty, blasphemy laws, and why the Founders built the republic on a Christian moral framework.
24:00 – 29:00 Trump’s Border Victory & Muslim Immigration Trump’s early border shutdown praised as one of the greatest moves in U.S. history. Warnings about Sharia incompatibility, European demographic shifts, and U.S. enclaves (Minneapolis, Dearborn, Paterson).
29:00 – 44:00 Geopolitics, Abraham Accords, & Gaza Rebuilding Trump’s economic “Art of the Deal” approach: lifting sanctions, stablecoins/tokens for Mediterranean development, Starlink, Palantir surveillance. Praise for neutralizing Iranian threats + concerns about technocracy and mark-of-the-beast parallels.
44:00 – End Christian Response & Call to Action
Technology as a tool (not to be feared Amish-style).
Evangelism, discipleship (Matthew 28), church planting, and higher birth rates among Christians.
Ideological battle: Exposing Islam’s foundations (e.g., Aisha) and high apostasy rates in the West.
Closing challenge: Don’t surrender ground—reclaim cities and culture or lose the nation.
1 hr 2 min
June 06 Home Church: Faithful or Flawed | EP 122
In Episode 122 of Tearing Down High Places, hosts Pastor Jeff, Pastor Tim Average Joe Special Guest Host, Pastor Seth, respond to a popular video promoting the home church movement. They examine the speaker’s 10 reasons for preferring house churches (biblical precedent, efficiency, intimacy, local mission, persecution-proofing, flexibility, organic growth, child integration, prayer/testimony, and priesthood of all believers) and test them against Scripture.
The pastors affirm that small groups and Bible studies in homes are valuable and often serve as entry points or supplements to church life. However, they argue that the home church model as a replacement for the gathered, ordered, elder-led local church falls short biblically. Key concerns include lack of qualified preaching/eldership, insufficient church discipline, flattening of biblical leadership structures, and a pietistic reaction against “programs” and buildings that ignores New Testament patterns (e.g., Paul renting a lecture hall in Acts 19, commands to support pastors financially in 1 Timothy 5 and 1 Corinthians 9, calls for order in 1 Corinthians 14).
The episode emphasizes that while many traditional churches have real problems (coldness, poor shepherding, worldly excess), the solution is reformation and faithfulness to Scripture—not abandoning the assembled church. Strong churches function as lights in their communities, support qualified leaders, disciple the next generation, and maintain order while still fostering intimacy and relationships through small groups and daily fellowship.
Digestible Breakdown for Show Notes (Skimmable Sections)
Opening & Video Setup
– Introduction to the home church trend, especially post-COVID.
– Review of the video’s claim that house churches are “absolutely biblical” with references to Acts 2.
Pastors’ Biblical Response
– Early church met in homes due to persecution and small size, but also used other venues (Acts 19:9 – Paul rents Tyrannus lecture hall).
– Buildings and larger gatherings are wise stewardship as churches grow.
– Examples: Billy Graham crusades, local churches serving communities visibly.
Efficiency & Stewardship Critique
– Many active churches use buildings daily (not empty 90% of the time).
– Biblical support for compensating pastors who labor in preaching/teaching (1 Tim 5:17-18, 1 Cor 9:14).
– Warning against extremes like private jets while affirming faithful support for full-time ministry.
Intimacy, Relationships & Local Mission
– True intimacy and confession happen in smaller settings (small groups, living rooms) regardless of Sunday venue.
– Traditional churches can (and should) foster deep relationships and neighborhood outreach.
– Counter: Inviting neighbors to a home can feel “cultish” to outsiders; public buildings often feel safer/neutral.
Persecution Proofing, Flexibility & Organic Life
– House churches make sense in hostile environments (e.g., China), but in free nations like America, Christians should use the freedoms secured by prior generations.
– Flexibility praised, but warned against becoming an excuse for poor preparation and lack of order (1 Cor 14 – God is not a God of confusion).
– Programs/ministries are not inherently bad when they meet real needs and are well-led.
Children, Prayer, Testimony & Priesthood of Believers
– Critique of age-segregated youth ministries that disconnect kids from the broader body.
– Affirm multi-generational worship where possible.
– Prayer and testimony should occur in church services when appropriate, but not at the expense of structured preaching.
– Priesthood of all believers does not eliminate qualified elder leadership, preaching, or gender roles in teaching (1 Tim 2-3, Titus 1, James 3:1).
Closing Charge
– Home church as described often functions more like an ongoing Bible study than a biblical church (lacking qualified elders, preaching, discipline).
– Call to repentance and commitment to the local church as Christ designed it.
– Encouragement: Fix broken churches rather than abandon the institution Christ loves and died for.
____________________________________________
Podcast Title (78 characters)
Home Churches vs. Biblical Church: Why the Movement Falls Short | TDHP 122
Hashtags (SEO + GEO Optimized)
#HomeChurch, #BiblicalChurch, #HouseChurchDebate, #TDHP, #TearingDownHighPlaces, #ChurchReformation, #ElderLedChurch, #PriesthoodOfBelievers, #SoundDoctrine, #ChristianPodcast, #IdahoChurch, #SandpointID, #CornerstoneChurch, #EurekaBaptist, #FamilyIntegratedChurch, #ExpositoryPreaching, #SphereSovereignty, #Theonomy, #PostCovidChurch, #FaithfulShepherding
Additional Recommendations to Boost Views & Listens
1. Thumbnail Ideas (use GIMP or HeyGen):
   – Split image: Cozy living room Bible study on one side vs. vibrant church congregation on the other, with a large red “X” or question mark over the home church side. Bold text overlay: “Why Home Church Isn’t Enough”. Include pastors’ faces if space allows. High contrast, warm/cool color split.
2. YouTube/Rumble Description Template (first 100-150 chars critical for SEO):
   Start with: “Is the home church movement biblical or a reaction against flawed institutions? Pastors Jeff, Seth & Tim test 10 popular claims against Scripture. Strong encouragement for the gathered local church. ”
   Full description: Include full summary + timestamps + key Bible references + links to previous episodes + call-to-action (subscribe, comment your church experience, share with someone considering home church).
3. Timestamps for Video (great for retention & SEO):
   – 00:00 Intro
   – 01:56 Video: 10 Reasons for Home Church
   – [Add more based on final edit]
4. Promotion Tactics (leverage your GHL/SEM Rush strengths):
   – Post clips (60-90 sec) on YouTube Shorts, Rumble, and X/Twitter/Facebook: “Home Church vs Real Church – What Does the Bible Actually Say?”
   – Use GBP for local search in Sandpoint/Coeur d’Alene area (“Christian podcast Idaho”, “biblical church Sandpoint”).
   – Email/SMS funnel via GHL to your list with show notes link.
   – Cross-promote on Lake Pend Oreille Neighbors residual networks or savingfatherhood.org.
   – Encourage listeners to leave reviews on Apple/Spotify and comments on YouTube (“What’s your experience with home church?”).
   – Create a simple lead magnet: “10 Biblical Tests for Any Church Model” PDF download behind email.
5. Blubrry/Audio Optimization:
   – Use episode title + detailed show notes in description.
   – Add chapters in the audio file if possible.
   – Share audio clips on social with link to full video on YouTube/Rumble.
This content positions the episode as thoughtful, biblical, and pastoral—appealing to discerning Christians concerned about modern church trends while staying true to the podcast’s mission. Let me know if you want a full show notes document, social media captions, or thumbnail prompt refinements!
50 min

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Tearing Down the High Places confronts cultural compromise threatening Christian values. We dive into pressing issues like politics, theology, and history, exposing modern “high places” that lead…

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Tearing Down High Places

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