The Locker Room

In our first “Our Marriage, Our Mission” conversation, Stephanie TeSlaa sits down with Mike & Jamie Bartlett to talk about their journey with foster care and adoption. After planting Redemption City Church in Grand Rapids, the Bartletts—parents of four boys—felt called to open their home to teenage girls through foster care. In this episode, they share their story, the lessons they’ve learned, and how God has used their marriage as both a source of strength and provision for one another.

DQ1: If you’re in a season of discouragement, what might God be calling you to release? (For Mike it was control; for Jamie it was her timeline.)

DQ2: How does remembering that God is in control of every story—and that no one is beyond His redemption—challenge your current way of thinking?

DQ3: What “rough edges” has God smoothed in your marriage through different seasons?

DQ4: In what ways is your marriage already on mission together? How else might God be calling you to live missionally in your marriage?

If you are a foster and adoption family, here are some additional discussion questions. 

DQ5: Where have you seen God’s faithfulness in your own journey with foster care or adoption?

DQ6: How does Mike & Jamie’s story encourage you? What questions does it raise for you?

DQ7: How might trying respite care help you discern God’s calling in foster care and discover what works best for your family?

Acts 4 marks a turning point in the story of the early church—the moment when the honeymoon ends and reality sets in. As Peter and John stand before the power brokers of their day, we see two ordinary men, once fearful and unsure, now proclaiming with unshakable boldness that salvation is found in Jesus alone.

We unpack why opposition comes, what true power looks like, and how boldness is born not from personality or credentials but from being with Jesus. We’ll explore how the gospel both offends and transforms, why conviction outweighs credentials, and why the Spirit still calls ordinary people to extraordinary courage today.

Preacher: Tryg Veker

Passage: Acts 4:1-22

Sermon Link:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Kurt Suidinski was respected, successful, and deeply embedded in the Grand Rapids community. To everyone else, he was living the American Dream — a suburban life of achievement, influence, and security. But underneath it all, he was living a double life. And in West Michigan, that’s not as uncommon as it seems.

In this episode, we uncover the story of a man who had it all — except peace. When a reluctant trip to a retreat in the mountains of North Carolina disrupted everything, God met him in a way he never expected. This is a story of exposure, surrender, and the kind of freedom only found when the masks come off.

Kurt now supports the community in which he lives and most specifically Hudsonville athletics.  His proudest contribution is to serve on the board of Grace Adventures, volunteer with Eastern Ottawa Young Life, and participate in and serve on The Road Ministry and Warriors Set Free.

From pornography and isolation to redemption and togetherness, Tony and Jen Schmid share how God rewrote the playbook of their marriage. In conversation with Stephanie TeSlaa, they unpack the burden of addiction, the gift of authentic community, and the miraculous healing that comes through confession.

DQ1: Where might God be inviting you to pursue wholeness and restoration in your vertical relationship with Him? How could that impact your horizontal relationship with your spouse?

DQ2: In what ways are you looking to your spouse as a functional savior—for security or safety? How might you release that expectation and instead hold on to Christ, the one true Savior?

DQ3: What things in your life give you a sense of identity outside of Christ (titles, roles, appearance, accomplishments, etc.)? Share them with your spouse.

DQ4: How might God be using a current struggle to bring you to the end of yourself, so He can bring light and redemption?

DQ5: Confession is hard, but its benefits far outweigh the risks of exposure. What is one thing—big or small—that may need to be confessed in your marriage?

DQ6: Who do you walk with? If you were in a crisis, who would you call? If no one comes to mind, how might fear of vulnerability be holding you back?

In Acts 3, Peter and John encounter a man lame from birth, sitting at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. With a word and the name of Jesus, Peter commands him to walk—and he leaps up, walking, praising God, and entering the temple for the first time. This powerful miracle wasn’t just a display of apostolic power; it was a living sign of the deeper healing Jesus offers: the forgiveness of sins and the restoration of God’s people to His presence.

In this episode of The Marriage Huddle, Stephanie TeSlaa is joined by counselors Matt Kenney and Aaron Goodrich for the first installment of “Counselors in the Huddle.” Together, they take an honest look at both the encouragements and the challenges they see in marriages across West Michigan today. From navigating the pull of busyness to rebuilding healthy rhythms and finding deeper emotional intimacy, Matt and Aaron share practical insights and gospel-centered wisdom for couples longing to strengthen their connection.

DQ1: How have you seen busyness–or a frantic pace–negatively affect your marriage? What would it look like to begin practicing the “pace of creation”?

DQ2: Which area of your marriage—relational, emotional, physical, or spiritual—needs a better rhythm? What is one new rhythm you could begin practicing weekly?

DQ3: Self reflect on the concept of ‘differentiation’–emotional diminishment (too far from emotions), or emotional domination (too close and dominating). Which “ditch” do you think you typically fall into? What about your spouse?

DQ4: How might your differences actually serve as a provision or gift in your marriage?

DQ5: Studies show prayer together is one of the strongest predictors of lasting marriages. What holds you back from praying with your spouse weekly? What is one commitment you can make to begin?

DQ6: Kurt Thompson writes that in major conflict, 80% comes from the past and only 20% from the present. How does this change the way you see conflict in your marriage?

We sit down to unpack the relevance of Acts 2 and Pentecost. We dig into how the Holy Spirit moves with power — convicting hearts of sin, awakening repentance, and opening the way for people to receive God’s grace. We discuss how Pentecost isn’t just an event in history but a revelation of God’s deepest desire: to dwell personally with His people and we trace this theme through Scripture, and reflect on what it means for our lives today.

Preacher: Rod VanSolkema

Passage: Acts 2

Sermon Link:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

When Bruce and Sue first met, they carried the weight of second marriages—but 38 years later, their marriage tells a different story. In this episode of The Marriage Huddle, Stephanie sits down with the Osterinks to share how God reshaped their marriage through the pursuit of unity. Together, they talk about breaking free from old patterns of control and codependency, learning to seek God first, and discovering how their differences became gifts that deepen their life together.

DQ1: How does choosing unity over compromise change the way you approach your marriage?

DQ2: When are you tempted to take “the narrow road” and push for your way instead of seeking to understand your spouse’s perspective?

DQ3: How does seeing your spouse’s differences as God’s provision and protection shape the way you value them?

DQ4: If a husband’s role is not about authority but about leading the way in unity, how could that shift impact your marriage?

DQ5: Praying together can result in softer hearts, better listening, and safe spaces. What is one way you can begin incorporating prayer into your marriage this week?

DQ6: What “automatic” or “default” responses might be causing disunity in your marriage, and how can you begin to shift them?

DQ7: What current decision or situation in your marriage is creating pressure because of timetables or deadlines, and how could you bring the mindset of unity into that decision instead?

In this opening episode of our series A Church That Changed the World, we set the stage for the book of Acts and the explosive growth of the early church—from 120 believers in Jerusalem to over 35 million within the Roman Empire by the 4th century. We explore the historical and cultural backdrop of the Roman world, Jesus’ ascension from the Mount of Olives, and the angelic promise of His return. Acts 1 reminds us that the Kingdom of Heaven is not a distant escape but God’s reign breaking into our world through His people. As Christ commissions His followers to witness “to the ends of the earth,” we face the same challenge today: Will we submit to Jesus as King and live in the power of His Spirit?

Preacher: Rod VanSolkema

Passage: Acts 1

Sermon Link:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Where did Crossroad’s Marriage Ministry begin—and how did God use some of the hardest seasons in marriage to build it? In this first episode of ‘The Marriage Huddle’, Stephanie and Mark sit down with Rod and Libby to share the story behind Crossroads’ marriage ministry. Together, they talk about how God redeemed each of their marriages, how their struggle shaped His call on their lives, and what it looks like to live on mission together as teammates.

Questions for Reflection: Intended for couples or small groups to dive deeper into today’s episode.

1. In what ways has a personal struggle made you more qualified to God’s call on your life?
2. What expectations about marriage might God be calling you to surrender?
3. How do you see your marriage currently living 'on mission'? Where do you sense God inviting you to be 'on mission' together?
4. When are you most tempted to view your spouse as your enemy as opposed to your teammate? Are there specific circumstances, environments, or topics?
5. In times of emotional conflict, what do you tend to turn to instead of the Lord? How does that impact your marriage?
6. How do you and your spouse keep fun and enjoyment a regular part of your relationship?

Oneness Guidebook Link: HERE