In this bonus episode of the District Life Podcast, Travis sits down with Lissa, Missy, and Vanessa from Agape Care Cradle—a ministry walking alongside women through miscarriage and stillbirth. Together they share personal stories, profound spiritual insights, and how God’s presence brings strength and hope even in life’s darkest valleys.

For info & to connect:

https://www.agapecarecradle.org

Register for "Shoot Some Clay, Do Some Good" here:

https://www.agapecarecradle.org/event/shoot-some-clay-do-some-good/

Welcome to District Life! This week Eli, Travis, and Brady introduce the 8 Marks of Spiritual Formation—a framework for growing as followers of Jesus at the District Church. Together they unpack the biblical idea of teleios (maturity, completeness) from Ephesians 4, exploring why spiritual maturity changes how we face life’s challenges and how we live out our faith in Delano and beyond.

In this episode, Travis explains plans for future conversations on the podcast. After a brief break over the next few weeks, the podcast will pick back up on September 8th with conversations that coincide with the 8 Marks of Spiritual Formation series for the Fall.

And as always, if you have ideas for conversations that would help you in your relationship with Jesus, please send them to [email protected]

In this episode, Eli sits down with Hannah Harden and Aaron Pew to discuss why our participation and presence in worship matters when we gather together as the church. Whether you are musical, or you can’t hold a tune in a bucket, there is something amazing that happens when we focus our hearts and minds onto God in that way. We discuss some of the natural hurdles of participating in worship through song, and also some advice for those who may struggle in seeing the point of it all.

In this episode of The District Church Podcast, Travis, Eli, and Paul dive into Jesus’ powerful words in John 8:31–59. What does it mean to abide in truth? How does real freedom begin with surrender? And why does true belonging come not from bloodlines or background, but from embracing Jesus as Lord? Join the conversation as we explore the deep connections between truth, freedom, and identity—and how they challenge our modern assumptions about what it means to really live.

First-time guest Kavin Kramer joins Eli Bayless and Travis Roberts for a raw and honest conversation about his journey through deconstruction. From questioning long-held beliefs to wrestling with doubt, Kavin shares how God's presence — and a faithful community — led him to a deeper, more grounded faith. Along the way, the team reflects on the balance between truth and experience, and how real faith is often born in seasons of honest struggle.

This episode is for anyone who’s ever wondered if faith can survive honest questions — and even come out stronger.

In this special episode, high schoolers from The District Church share honest, powerful reflections from summer camp 2025 at Hidden Haven. From powerful worship to quiet moments with God, hear how students encountered Jesus in personal ways—some for the first time, others in fresh and deeper ways. They open up about what they learned about faith, friendships, and following Jesus back home. You’ll laugh, be challenged, and maybe even tear up as they talk about how camp didn’t just change a week—it changed their walk.

P.S. Say these words to Mady when you see her: "Made for more."

This week Eli sits down with his wife Amelia to chat about their mutual love of stories! They discuss movies, books, a little bit of Dungeons & Dragons and about how stories and imagination can help us learn empathy!

As followers of Jesus and disciples it can be easy to make our journey with Jesus a purely intellectual one and we can all too easily overlook the stories of the people around us who God has called us to witness to and be in community with. Amelia & Eli muse about how great stories remind us of Jesus and can help us step into the shoes of others.

Eli's Recommendations:

Movie: Christopher Robin

Music: Joy Oladokun - In Defense of My Own Happiness

Book: Project Hail Mary - Andy Weir

Amelia's Recommendations:

Movie: Marcel the Shell with Shoes on & Josee, The Tiger, and The Fish

Music: Noah Kahn

Book: Shark Heart - Emily Habeck

As headlines swirl and tensions escalate following the American attack on Iran, how should followers of Jesus respond? In this episode, we strive for clarity, compassion, and conviction — not to take sides politically, but to anchor our perspective in the way of Christ.

We explore how Scripture shapes our response to war, violence, and national allegiance, asking hard but necessary questions, like: How do we live as people of hope and truth in a world of fear and confusion?

This isn’t about reacting. It’s about becoming — a people of peace, rooted in a kingdom not of this world.

Jesus' declaration 'I am the bread of life' was a profound claim about his identity that caused many followers to turn away. This challenging statement wasn't merely metaphorical but asserted his divine nature and exclusive role in salvation. The passage in John 6 emphasizes our union with Christ as the core of Christian identity—being represented by him before God and united with him in death and resurrection. Jesus challenges our culture's metaphysical pluralism with his exclusive claims, calling us not to orbit around him like Judas did, but to fully surrender to him as Lord in every area of life.