The Boundless Show

Finding quiet time strategies that work for you, plus a Q&A session on how to share your faith, and when your crush is out of reach. 

Featured musical artist: Stu Garrard

Roundtable: Study the Bible in a Way That Works for You

Have you tried being more disciplined to read your Bible and pray, but still struggle to do it every day? You see people who seem so spiritual and into it, and you feel intimidated. In a world that keeps us busy and distracted, how can we effectively and joyfully make time for God? Our guests share their struggles of developing the habit, plus unique methods and personalized tips that ultimately brought success, not shame.

Culture: Evangelism Q&A

Sharing your faith in today’s world is tricky. Every situation and person is different, so how do you winsomely tell others about God? Our summer interns asked Dr. Mike Bechtle the practical questions around witnessing to others — and loving them in the process.  

Inbox: Phantom Crush

She only met him once, and fell hard. She got her hopes up, he went away, and now she heard he’s in a relationship. It’s the crush that never had a chance. Heartbroken, how can she move on? Lisa Anderson weighs in.

The pros and cons of having a roommate or living by yourself, plus using your personality to share your faith, and feeling invisible at church.

Featured musical artist: Hollyn

Roundtable: Having Roommates Vs. Living Alone

It’s an important question: Should I find someone to help pay the rent, or embrace having my own space? Anyone who’s had a bad roommate experience will tell you that who you live with can make or break your housing situation. Living alone can be great, but there are huge benefits to doing life with others, too. Our guests tell their stories of having a roommate versus going solo, and how you can determine the living arrangement that’s best for you right now.  

Culture: Evangelism and Your Personality 

As an introvert, Dr. Mike Bechtle felt stuck in how to share his faith. Methods like walking up to complete strangers to introduce the gospel felt awkward and forced. But over time, Mike realized God gave him his unique personality on purpose, and being introverted still affords great opportunities to represent Christ. He learned evangelism is more about getting to know and love people, then having honest conversations. When we know how God wired us, sharing about Jesus comes more naturally. 

Inbox: Feeling Forgotten at Church

She’s been at her church for three years, and has even served on ministry teams. Yet she hasn’t made any close friends and wonders if people there know she exists. Even after a car accident, nobody from the congregation came to visit her. Is it time to find a new church, or should she continue trying to fit in? Lisa Anderson gives ideas for moving forward.

More on how Christians should approach the 2020 election, plus getting rid of toxic thoughts, and feeling trapped into marrying someone.

Featured musical artist: Je’kob

Roundtable: 2020 Voting Angst (Part 2)

Election Day 2020 is approaching, and many American voters are uneasy, if not downright upset. In the midst of so much unrest and uncertainty, it’s easy for Christians to ask: “How should I vote? Should I even vote at all?” Our guests continue last week’s conversation regarding the tension they feel in anticipation of November, how they’re evaluating the candidates and issues, and how we can keep our eyes on Christ and our sanity intact despite the craziness.

Culture: Mind Control

Author Jennie Allen knows firsthand what it’s like to endure the darkness of toxic thoughts and overwhelming fear. After an incident at a speaking engagement a few years ago, she battled 18 months of intense anxiety. But in walking through that season, she learned that we’re not doomed to be a victim of our own minds. Instead, with God’s help, we can replace toxic thoughts with the truths of God’s Word, and with grace, move into spiritual and emotional wholeness.

Inbox: Trapped in an Engagement

He’s engaged, but there’s one problem — he’s feeling forced to marry the woman. He admittedly doesn’t find her attractive, but feels pressured by his parents to go through with it since she has many great qualities. Should he back out before it’s too late? One of our counselors will bring some perspective to this sticky situation.

How Christians should approach the 2020 election, plus rejecting the lies of self-love, and is disagreement on pandemic mandates a relationship dealbreaker?

Featured musical artist: Darlene Zschech

Roundtable: 2020 Voting Angst (Part 1)

Election Day 2020 is approaching, and many American voters are uneasy, if not downright upset. In the midst of so much unrest and uncertainty, it’s easy for Christians to ask: “How should I vote? Should I even vote at all?” Our guests openly discuss the tension they feel in anticipation of November, how they’re evaluating the candidates and issues, and how we can keep our eyes on Christ and our sanity intact despite the craziness.

Culture: OK, So You’re Not OK

Our culture tells us that we are strong enough to solve our own problems. That we’re fine just the way we are. That we’re enough. But this culture of self-love hasn’t delivered on its promises. Author and podcast host Allie Beth Stuckey believed the empowerment lies until she went through a difficult breakup that left her feeling worthless. Through that season and beyond, she learned that only God is big enough to solve our problems, offer fulfillment, and provide true purpose and acceptance.

Inbox: Pandemic Mandates and Dating Friction

Mask or no mask? Churches open or closed? Government protection or overreach? She and her boyfriend disagree on some of the pandemic mandates and how they should be applied and enforced. Could this be a relationship dealbreaker? One of our counselors will bring balance to this tricky topic.

Facing fear in uncertain times, plus hospitality for average people, and feeling the weight of past failures.

Featured musical artist: Jeremy Rosado

Roundtable: Overcoming Fear in Uncertain Times

Many are afraid these days. With the amount of unrest in our world, it’s easy to let the headlines run your life. How do you find peace? Our guests share their stories of wrestling with fear and how they’ve learned to trust God in seasons of uncertainty. Whether your fears are around world events, job stuff, relationships — even the fear of not knowing what’s next — you’ll be encouraged to put your hope in God’s promises no matter how dark the world gets.

Culture: Practicing Hospitality Wherever You Are

When author Ashley Hales moved to Southern California, she was way outside her comfort zone. Making the move from an urban to suburban setting had her questioning whether she’d ever make true friends and be able to live out the gospel authentically. She quickly discovered the suburbs have their own unique challenges, but there’s a way to break through and show hospitality even in the intensely private environment of a picket-fence, garage-door world. Wherever you live, the joys of practicing hospitality are in studying the people around you, then opening your front door.

Inbox: I Don’t Deserve Marriage

A listener has been a Christian for years, but he’s feeling the gravity of past sin. Because of failures in past relationships, he struggles with shame and is wondering if he’s disqualified from marriage. One of our counselors will provide some hope and encouragement for our listener’s struggle.

Big questions about calling, plus taking small opportunities to make a difference, and what to do when a roommate won’t move out.

Featured musical artist: Daniel Bashta

Roundtable: Finding Your Calling in Life

All of us seem obsessed with “finding our calling,” but what does that phrase even mean? Is it my job? My ministry? My relationships? All of the above? Our guests tackle the questions around discovering and living out a calling. Most importantly, they remind us that we can take a deep breath and chill; calling is found in many pursuits, many seasons, and many different ways.

Culture: It All Started With a Truck

Convoy of Hope CEO Hal Donaldson joins us this week to talk about how childhood tragedy and an encounter with Mother Teresa shaped his life mission. He was a journalist until 1994 when he loaded up a truck with supplies to deliver to a few needy people nearby. Convoy of Hope was born, and in the past 25 years the ministry has delivered over $1 billion worth of food and other necessities to people around the world. But it all started with a small truck. Hal reminds us that God wants us to start serving in small ways, beginning with the person in front of us.

Inbox: Evicting a Roommate

A listener is getting married soon and has asked his roommate to move out. But the guy just won’t go, and a struggle with depression is leaving him unmotivated to search for a new place or even talk about the situation with our listener. One of our counselors offers solutions for how to handle this situation.

What to look for in a small group, plus being a man of integrity, and sharing the gospel with your family.

Featured musical artist: Kerrie Roberts

Roundtable: Finding a Great Small Group

With so many options, how do you go about choosing the right small group for you? And does finding the right fit really matter that much? Our guests discuss different types of small groups, as well as their experiences in finding and sticking with one (or more). They offer advice on things to look for and things to avoid, and talk about what small groups have meant to them personally.

Culture: Get Real, Guys

For many men, it’s tough to open up and be honest about their feelings, hopes and struggles. Pastor Johnny Hunt has counseled men for decades, and knows the importance of men having a safe space for accountability and growth. In this week’s conversation, he talks through the process of finding these relationships, and outlines qualities to look for in friends and mentors that will lead to integrity and maturity for everyone involved.

Inbox: Sharing Your Faith With Your Family

A listener is the only Christian in her family, including her extended family. She is looking for advice on how to effectively share her faith with those closest to her and make the most of the time she spends with them. Lisa Anderson weighs in.

Being a Christian in a “cancel” culture, plus overcoming challenges you don’t see coming, and hiding depression in online dating.

Featured musical artist: David Dunn

Roundtable: You’ve Been Canceled

Cancel culture is a thing these days, especially on social media. You voice an unpopular opinion and it may get you shut out of everything from news feeds to networking opportunities to friend circles. What are the effects of cancel culture, and how should Christians approach it? Is it ever OK to cancel someone...or be canceled? Our guests share their experiences and discuss the importance of standing firm in truth while exhibiting accountability and grace.

Culture: Facing Common Life Challenges

Pastor and leadership guru Carey Nieuwhof sits down to talk about his career path and the challenges that threatened to ruin his success. He outlines some of these challenges, including cynicism, compromise and burnout, in his book “Didn’t See It Coming,” and offers advice to young adults who are beginning to run into some of these obstacles.

Inbox: Smiling Through Depression While Dating

A listener is struggling with depression but feels like she can’t be honest about it in her online dating interactions. In order to seem likeable and dateable, she feels pressured to present an energetic version of herself. Counselor Wendy Brown offers words of wisdom.

Being honest with yourself, plus actor Michael Jr. on living out his faith in the entertainment industry, and taking on your husband’s last name.

Featured musical artist: Nathan Tasker

Roundtable: Being Honest With Yourself

What does it mean to be honest with yourself? Today’s guests talk about what honesty with yourself looks like, and how to maintain it, especially in relationships.

Culture: Living Out Our Faith Today

You may recognize him from War Room, or his latest movie, Selfie Dad; actor Michael Jr. is here to talk about living out his faith in the entertainment industry. Drawing from his experience as an actor and comedian, he shares about effectively engaging the culture without compromising our values or becoming obsessed with fame.

Inbox: Taking His Last Name?

What’s the deal with taking the husband’s last name in marriage? A listener is wondering whether there is a biblical standard on this issue or not, and how to approach that conversation with his future spouse when it comes up. Boundless contributor Joshua Rogers weighs in.

Taking care of your emotional health, plus more with Joshua and Raquel Rogers on marriage, and what to do about lifestyle incompatibility.

Featured musical artist: Aaron Shust

Roundtable: Mind Your Emotions

What do you do when your emotional health starts to plummet? Our guests, all licensed professional counselors, share their personal and expert experiences related to burnout, boundaries and emotional trauma. They uncover important warning signs, give steps for prioritizing emotional wholeness, and offer words of hope for those who feel stuck in a difficult season.

Culture: Messy and Miraculous Marriage (Part 2)

Joshua and Raquel Rogers are back this week with more lessons learned in marriage. They talk about some of the struggles they experienced early on, covering everything from honoring your in-laws to sexual struggles to navigating health crises and more.

Inbox: Compatibility Qualms

She tends toward a minimalistic and quiet lifestyle, but her new fiancé is a big spender and spontaneous. Because of this, she is starting to doubt their compatibility. Will this lead to large issues in their marriage? Joshua Rogers weighs in.