The Harder Way Podcast

Join Scott and Mattie in this compelling episode of the Harder Way Podcast, as they share their experiences and challenges faced while embarking on a critical mission to deliver Bibles to persecuted Christians in communist nations. Discover the physical and spiritual hurdles the team encounters, from severe power outages to the constant need for prayer and protection.

Here’s how you can specifically stand with us in prayer:

Thank you for joining our missionary work through prayer.

In this episode of the Harder Way Podcast, Scott and Mattie explore the challenges of living a faith-filled life in a world that often demands certainty and control. Using the powerful phrase "I do not know, but God knows," they explore biblical examples like Job, Abraham, and Joseph, who trusted in God's plan despite not having all the answers.

The hosts discuss the significance of surrendering control, embracing uncertainty, and finding peace in God's character and promises. With real-life applications and insights from Scripture, they encourage listeners to step out in faith, confident that God holds the whole picture, even when we see only a piece.

Join them as they uncover how to navigate life's uncertainties by relying on a sovereign and faithful God, letting go of fear, and embracing the freedom that comes with trust.

Welcome to the Harder Way Podcast, where hosts Scott and Mattie explore the challenges of living faithfully in a world of uncertainty and change. This week, they share personal experiences of unexpected health scares and discuss the paradox of holding onto life's temporary nature while embracing the eternal promises of faith.

Through the lens of Christian perseverance, Scott and Mattie emphasize the importance of prioritizing spiritual life over fleeting material pursuits. They examine the call to live each day purposefully, focusing on actions that reflect eternal values rather than transient successes.

Join them as they reflect on how faith guides believers to live boldly in the face of life's brevity, encouraging listeners to anchor themselves in the timeless word of God while building for a future that transcends the present.

Welcome to the Harder Way podcast, where hosts Mattie and Scott explore the challenges Believers face when pressured to compromise their faith in today's culture. This episode explores the inspiring stories of Christians who have demonstrated unwavering faith, including acts of courage by actor Neil McDonough and the founder of Voice of the Martyrs, Richard Wurmbrand. Additionally, biblical examples such as Daniel and the apostles highlight the power of faith over fear.

Discover how small daily decisions shape our ability to stand firm in larger tests of faith. Mattie and Scott emphasize the significance of declaring, "I don't know, but the Lord knows," to navigate uncertainties while trusting God's providence. The episode challenges listeners to evaluate their own faith responses to life's pressures, encouraging a steadfast journey on the narrow path with Christ.

Episode 101 (New 5-ish Minute Format) 

In this episode of The Harder Way Podcast, Scott and Mattie explore the transformative power of viewing the Bible as a field manual for everyday life. They challenge listeners to see themselves as missionaries in their own communities, emphasizing the importance of active participation in God's mission. By drawing from the experiences of persecuted Christians, our hosts encourage Believers to approach their faith with a mission-driven mindset, where the church is about equipping and sending rather than just personal enrichment. Discover how this shift in perspective can activate a more profound commitment to living out your faith in today's world.

Show Notes:

Using the Bible as a field manual in your own life means approaching it not just as a collection of teachings or theological ideas but as a practical guide for everyday living. Here’s how you might do that:

Using the Bible as a field manual means making it a practical tool that equips you to live out God’s will daily in ordinary and extraordinary circumstances. It’s not just about knowing the Scriptures but about actively living them out as a missionary in your own life, wherever God has placed you.

Join missionary Don Roberts as he shares his profound experiences from over 33 years of serving in restricted countries like China, Cuba, and Vietnam. In this episode, Don explores the importance of living by faith in the face of persecution and the lessons learned from Christians who endure such hardships daily.

Discover the seven keys to understanding and preparing for religious restriction and how these lessons apply to Christians in the West today. Don challenges listeners to confront their fears and insecurities, urging them to embrace faith over comfort.

This episode is a call to action for believers to evaluate their commitment and live out their faith courageously, even in the face of increasing persecution. It's a powerful reminder of the only true security in life - Jesus Christ.

NOTE: Mattie and I are working on our new formatting, which will be revealed at the end of January. We will still be coming to you every week but will change up the content a bit. This week and next, we want to encourage our old listeners to engage with Don Roberts' two seminal messages about the persecuted church and living on the Harder Way. I try to listen to these two messages once per year and invite you all to do the same. - Scott

Summary: In this profound sermon, Christian missionary Don Roberts passionately explores the role of persecution in the life of devout Christians. Drawing from his vast experiences serving in restricted countries like China, Vietnam, Cuba, and North Korea, Roberts discusses the Scriptures on persecution, particularly Matthew 5:11 and 2 Timothy 3.12. He shares inspiring stories of Christians globally who live out their faith in the face of adversity, highlighting the relationship between persecution and spiritual growth.

Roberts addresses the unfortunate imbalance in the United States due to ungodly attempts to restrict Christian lifestyles. He emphasizes that understanding and preparing for persecution is fundamental for believers, irrespective of their roles within the church. The sermon concludes with an encouraging note, reminding believers that enduring persecution with joy leads to longer-lasting rewards.

By extracting lessons from the trials and tribulations of early Christians, the speaker encourages the audience to reignite their youthful zeal and dedication to the Lord. Using impactful stories, such as that of Pastor Lam's 21-year endurance in a hostile prison camp, he teaches that embracing persecution can strengthen our relationship with God and make significant impacts on the lives of others.

Finally, this episode encourages Christians to foster a relationship with Jesus and uphold key values such as humility, love, faith, and endurance. It also emphasizes the role of personal tests and trials in shaping our spiritual journey. It concludes by instilling hope and confidence in Christians worldwide, reminding them of the more significant rewards that come from faith, perseverance, and divine condition.

Welcome to a special episode of The Harder Way Podcast as our hosts, Scott and Mattie, celebrate their milestone of reaching 100 episodes. This reflective episode revisits the themes and values that have shaped their journey, exploring the core message of faith over fear. As they review their past discussions on restriction versus persecution and the importance of choosing faith over fear, Scott and Mattie also look towards the future, sharing their plans for more in-depth content and exciting new formats.

Join our hosts as they reflect on the lessons learned and the unique insights gained from engaging with the Persecuted Church and continue bridging the gap between the free and restricted churches. As they embark on the next chapter, Scott and Mattie invite listeners to be part of this evolving journey and to continue embracing the Harder Way – a path of complete dependence on faith in Jesus.

Mattie is back! This week, we discuss the Cuban people's acts of resistance, the unsettling stories of imprisonment for simple acts of protest, and the parallel scenes in countries like England. Against a backdrop of global unrest, we reflect on the urgency of holding firm to faith in Jesus Christ.

Drawing parallels between current events and past revolutionary downfalls, we underscore the perennial temptation to seek saviors outside of Christ and encourage listeners to build a resilient spiritual foundation.

From the sweep of historical reflections to a hopeful look toward a  Third Great Awakening, this episode will leave you pondering where your foundation lies during life's storms. Cling to the rock, embrace the Lord, and walk in faith rather than fear.

Welcome to another episode of The Harder Way Podcast. In this installment, Scott leads the conversation solo, as Mattie takes a break to rest her voice after performing in numerous Christmas services. Scott takes the opportunity to dive deep into pressing issues facing the people of Cuba as they struggle with dire economic challenges and looming fears of societal deconstruction.

Scott shares a heart-wrenching story of families in Cuba grappling with food shortages and the impending discontinuation of ration books amidst government and infrastructural struggles. The hardships are not just economic but spiritual, as he implores listeners to pray for a profound movement of God on the island, bringing about hope and change.

The episode also delves into a theological debate surrounding a well-known Bible passage about a camel going through the eye of a needle, providing insights into historical and contextual misunderstandings. Scott explains the proper understanding of wealth in Biblical times. He emphasizes the need for humility and reliance on God's sovereignty, highlighting how salvation is a gift of grace beyond human efforts.

As Scott ties these themes back to personal resilience and faith, listeners are encouraged to reflect on their own societal status and spiritual journey, drawing parallels and seeking ways to contribute positively to both the Cuban and American churches in the new year.