In this Advent episode, we sit down with pastor and author A.J. Sherrill to explore his reflections on Zechariah from Rediscovering Christmas. Together we talk about how Zechariah’s long season of waiting, disappointment, and unexpected silence reveals the often hidden ways God forms us. A.J. shares why God’s delays aren’t denials, how silence can become a gift rather than a punishment, and what it means to rediscover hope when prayers seem unanswered. Many of us have lived in the tension between faith and frustration, and this conversation will invite you to slow down, listen deeply, and receive Advent as a season of quiet transformation.

Preacher: AJ Sherrill

Text: Luke 1

Sermon Link: HERE

God created us with desires—good and life-giving longings meant to draw us closer to Him and to one another. But when those desires are mishandled in marriage, they can quietly turn into demands that lead to disappointment and disconnection.

In this episode, Matt and Renee explore how our desires can become a place where God does His refining work. They share how to bring those longings to Him first, communicate them with humility, invite His perspective when disappointment surfaces, and allow God’s grace to transform both our hearts and our marriage.

This is a conversation about surrendering control, rediscovering gratitude, and letting God reshape our hearts so that our desires lead to connection, not division—drawing us closer to Him and to each other.

Discussion Questions:

1. When you hear the words desires and demands, what comes to mind in the context of your marriage?
2. What are some desires you brought into marriage that have changed or deepened over time?
3. What do you notice about yourself when a desire starts to become a demand?
4. In your relationship, which expectations tend to cause the most friction or misunderstanding?
5. What helps you reorient your heart toward gratitude and grace instead of resentment or entitlement?
6. Where might God be inviting you to release control and trust Him with a longing that hasn’t been fulfilled yet?

In this episode, we sit down with a local Calvin College football coach Lamar Bell whose journey—from discipling athletes on campus to serving kids at Crossroads —embodies the very heart of ongoing conversion. Using Acts 10 as our backdrop, we explore how true conversion is more than moral improvement or theological precision; it is spiritual rebirth where God’s kingdom breaks into everyday life. Through the stories of Saul, Cornelius, and Peter, we see how God transforms the religious, the powerful, and even seasoned leaders with lingering blind spots. Our conversation with the coach shows how this same transforming work continues today—in locker rooms, in children’s ministry, and across diverse communities.

Preacher: Rod VanSolekma

Text: Acts 10-11

Sermon Link: HERE

Grief touches every part of life — our hearts, our relationships, and the way we show up to one another. In this episode, Gary and Kathy Stowie share the story of a profound loss and how it shaped them individually and as a family. We’re also joined by Nancy Kingma, a counselor who walks with individuals and families through grief and trauma, offering insight into how couples can remain connected with compassion, patience, and grace. This tender conversation invites us to slow down, honor the weight of loss, and remember that the Lord is near to the brokenhearted.

Discussion Questions:

1. What stood out to you from Gary and Kathy’s story or from Nancy’s insights?
2. How has grief touched your life or the life of those close to you?
3. When you are hurting, how do you feel most cared for?
4. What might it look like to simply be with someone in their grief rather than trying to fix it?How can we become more comfortable creating space for grief—in our marriages, friendships, and church family?
5. Who in your life might be carrying grief quietly?
6. For those currently experiencing grief, what has been challenging and what has helped? Where have you sensed God meeting you?

In Acts 9, Saul’s encounter with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus marks one of the most dramatic transformations in all of Scripture — but it’s more than a story of conversion; it’s a story of being undone and remade. We explore how true conversion always begins with a personal encounter with God that shatters pride, exposes sin, and births new life.

We’ll trace Saul’s journey from zealous persecutor to humbled apostle, unpacking how his blindness became a symbol of spiritual death and resurrection, and how God’s grace pursued him even in rebellion. This conversation invites you to reflect on your own story of transformation — to ask where God may be confronting, humbling, or restoring you.

Preacher: Rod VanSolkema

Passage: Acts 9

Sermon Link:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

They were doing all the right things—raising kids, building careers, keeping busy. But somewhere along the way, Greg and Kris Zimmer’s marriage started running on empty. What began as busyness turned into distance, and before they knew it, the divorce papers were on the table. In this episode, they share how God stepped in, woke them up, and began rebuilding a love that was nearly lost.

Discussion Questions:

1. What does busyness look like in your current season of marriage? How is it affecting your ability to connect?

2. In what ways has “doing good things” (career, kids, church, commitments) ever distracted you from “being present” in your marriage?

3. How do pride, avoidance, or exhaustion make it harder to admit when your relationship is in trouble?

4. What are some healthy ways you and your spouse can check in on your connection before disconnection takes root?

5. What does repentance or humility look like in marriage when one or both spouses realize things need to change?

6. Do we need to make any changes in our marriage or family to prioritize a healthier marriage?

In this episode, we explore what it means to pursue healing — body, mind, and spirit. Like physical therapy for the soul, spiritual growth often requires intentional work, patience, and the courage to face what’s been broken.

Brett Cain, a Doctor of Physical Therapy, joins us to share how the body’s journey of recovery mirrors our spiritual walk with God. Just as muscles rebuild through resistance and consistent care, so our souls grow stronger through surrender, discipline, and grace.

We talk about how empathy opens the door to deeper relationships, how behavioral patterns can either hold us back or propel us toward transformation, and why sometimes the best thing you can do for your soul is retreat — to step out of the white noise of daily life and let God realign your story with His.

For more information about Men's Retreats, click HERE

Letting go is not easy, especially when your child gets married and the responsibility you once carried shifts to their spouse and to God. In this episode, Stephanie TeSlaa talks with Bruce and Sue Osterink about what it looks like for parents to support that transition with grace. Through honest stories, practical wisdom, and even a roll of “holy duct tape,” they share how to stay loving and present without overstepping, helping your child’s marriage thrive.

Discussion Questions:

DQ1: How does seeing the importance of marital unity change the way you interact with your adult child(ren)?

DQ2: How can you change your approach to family expectations—such as holiday, etc.—that may cause tension in your relationship with them or create stress in their marriage?

DQ3: What does it look like to support your adult children's decisions when you do not agree with them?

DQ4: In what ways can you shift your role from being your child’s first stop for support to encouraging them to go to their spouse first?

DQ5: How do you and your spouse navigate tension in your own marriage that arises from the process of letting go?

DQ6: If you realize you’ve unintentionally created a wedge in your child’s marriage, even years later, what steps can you take together to repair and support their relationship?

Why was the witness of Stephen in the face of the power brokers in Jerusalem so inspiring, and what does it mean for us today?

Preacher: Rod VanSolkema

Passage: Acts 6-7

Sermon Link:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

What does it really look like to leave your family and cleave to your spouse? In this episode of The Marriage Huddle, Dave and Jaclyn open up about the struggles and breakthroughs of prioritizing their marriage over old patterns and expectations. From navigating parents’ involvement to creating a cocoon for their relationship, they share the moments that tested their commitment—and the steps that brought resurrection to a marriage on the brink.

DQ1: In what ways might your family of origin’s expectations or traditions be unintentionally shaping your marriage? How can you identify where “leaving and cleaving” might cause division or conflict?

DQ2: Reflect on a time when external influences—parents, friends, or others—interfered with your marriage decisions. How could you have handled it differently?

DQ3: What are some practical ways you and your spouse can create intentional “cocoon” time to focus on your relationship without outside distractions? How could that be beneficial?

DQ4: How do you currently navigate loyalty between your spouse and your extended families? How does your spouse feel in relation to the loyalty you may hold for your own family?

DQ5: Are there any recurring patterns of conflict in your marriage that could be tied to old family dynamics?

DQ6: How could prioritizing your spouse above all others (except God) help develop unity, respect, and mutual submission?

DQ7: If one or both of you have felt secondary in your marriage, what steps can you take to rebuild trust, closeness, or security?

DQ8: As a couple, what is one actionable way you can “leave and cleave” this week—whether in conversation, decision-making, or boundary-setting?