The Pioneer Assembly

By Bethany Barr Phillips

You’re invited to assemble with Bethany Barr Phillips and her friends as they do their best to pioneer faith conversations with honesty, encouragement, and sometimes, no resolve. With two types of epi... more

Download on the App Store

Download on the App Store

Get it on Google Play

FAQs about The Pioneer Assembly:

How many episodes does The Pioneer Assembly have?

The podcast currently has 44 episodes available.

The Pioneer Assembly episodes:

August 21, 202510 Things You Need to Know About the Holy Spirit
What if there were 10 things you needed to know about the Holy Spirit? While there are certainly more, in this episode of the Pioneer Assembly, Bethany Barr Phillips explores ten essential things to know about the Holy Spirit. This is the episode to save, review, bookmark, whatever you have to do to have a place to look back and brush up when you need it.
We’d give the 10 to you in this description to give you a sneak peak, but then you might not get all of the explanation as to why we cover a few attributes we haven’t discussed in the Summer in the Spirit series. Did you catch that? There are a few twists.
We’ll give it to you like this: The discussion covers the importance of understanding the Holy Spirit's nature, His guidance in our lives, and the empowerment He provides for believers.
Let this episode serve as a comprehensive overview for those seeking to deepen their relationship with the Holy Spirit and understand His significance in their faith journey.

Takeaways
“Never think of the Holy Spirit, as an it, an attitude, or an influence. He is a person and has very definite ways.” - RT Kendall
Just because something is hard, doesn’t mean you misheard the Holy Spirit.
When someone claims that they are speaking by the Holy Spirit, but what they are speaking, does not line up with the word of God, disregard it.
Don’t discount that the Holy Spirit reveals the reality of Jesus.
The guidance of the Holy Spirit in your life will reveal so much more to you than your own search ever could.
When we display the fruits of the spirit in our life, we can be sure that the gifts of the spirit are operating where and how they’re supposed to be.
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction to the Holy Spirit Series
04:14 - Ten Key Insights About the Holy Spirit
17:06 - The Role of the Holy Spirit in Our Lives
30:55 - Conclusion and Reflection on the Holy Spirit

Links
Pioneer Assembly Substack (for extra resources on the Holy Spirit)
Pioneer Assembly Book Club
Pioneer Assembly Instagram
R.T. Kendall’s book Holy Fire
...more
26min
August 14, 2025How are you “filled” with the Holy Spirit? Like, for real
Can you really be “filled” or “receive” the Holy Spirit, or is it just a one time deal? In this episode, Bethany Barr Phillips explores receiving and being filled with the Holy Spirit. She emphasizes that this experience is not merely a one-time event but a continuous journey of prayer, pursuit, and obedience. The conversation delves into the nature of the Holy Spirit, the importance of understanding indwelling, and practical steps to cultivate a Spirit-filled life. Bethany encourages listeners to embrace the fullness of the Holy Spirit in their daily lives and to trust in God's faithfulness.

Takeaways
Indwelling of the Holy Spirit occurs at salvation.
Sanctification leads to greater empowerment by the Holy Spirit.
Obedience is crucial for being filled with the Holy Spirit.
Prayer is the foundation for a relationship with God.
Pursuing God helps us understand the Holy Spirit's guidance.

Chapters
00:00 - Introduction to the Holy Spirit
04:46 - Understanding the Indwelling of the Holy Spirit
06:32 - Two Camps of Thought on Receiving the Holy Spirit
09:41 - Personal Experiences with the Holy Spirit
16:03 - Practical Steps to Receive the Holy Spirit
19:47 - The Importance of Obedience and Pursuit
22:04 - Conclusion and Encouragement

Pioneer Assembly Substack
Pioneer Assembly Book Club
Pioneer Assembly Instagram
...more
21min
August 07, 2025Spiritual Gifts 101: What You May Not Know About Spiritual Gifts
Have you ever felt too intimidated to ask questions for fear that everyone will already know the answer? In this episode of Pioneer Assembly, Bethany Barr Phillips explores the foundational concepts of spiritual gifts, emphasizing their importance in the life of a believer. She discusses how to identify one's spiritual gifts, the purpose they serve within the church, and the significance of love in utilizing these gifts effectively. The conversation addresses common misconceptions and encourages listeners to seek guidance from the Holy Spirit and trusted friends in their faith journey.
Asking the Holy Spirit for guidance is crucial in discovering gifts.
Spiritual gifts are meant to serve the church and community.
Public gifts are not more valuable than behind-the-scenes gifts.
Love is essential in the exercise of spiritual gifts.
Spiritual gifts are given for a purpose, not for personal gain.
Knowing your spiritual gifts won’t simply make you a better Christian. It will make you a more fruitful Christian.
“Some people have a warped idea of living the Christian life. Seeing talented, successful Christians, they attempt to imitate them. For them, the grass on the other side of the fence is always greener. But when they discover that their own gifts are different or their contributions are more modest (or even invisible), they collapse in discouragement and overlook genuine opportunities that are open to them. They have forgotten that they are here to serve Christ, not themselves.” - Billy Graham
Pioneer Assembly Substack
Pioneer Assembly Book Club
Instagram

Spiritual Gifts Assessment
Spiritual Gifts List

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Spiritual Gifts
01:38 Understanding Spiritual Gifts
05:20 Defining Spiritual Gifts
09:18 Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts
15:42 The Importance of Spiritual Gifts
19:34 Misconceptions About Spiritual Gifts
24:05 Conclusion and Resources
...more
20min
July 24, 2025Can you grieve or quench the Holy Spirit?
Can you grieve or quench the Holy Spirit? Is it as trivial as the elderly lady in your home church telling you to hush or the Spirit “is quenched?” In this episode, Bethany Barr Phillips explores the realities of grieving and quenching the Holy Spirit, emphasizing the importance of knowing the Holy Spirit personally. She breaks down what each means and how they effect the daily lives of believers.
The conversation is part of the 'Summer in the Spirit' series, aimed at helping believers understand the role of the Holy Spirit in their lives.
Book mentioned: Sensitivity to the Spirit - R.T. Kendall
Takeaways
if our choice is to simply know about him and not grow in him, we will find ourselves grieving him because we’re not living for him.
“When we discover what grieves the HS, we learn more deeply what sin is.” - R.T. Kendall
If grieving is continuing to live with or in sin, to cause sorrow, then quenching is putting water on the fire that is offered by the Spirit.
“The fire of the Spirit is suppressed when he is rejected, when his convicting power, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8–11) are ignored. We douse the Spirit’s influence in our life through doubt, we drench him with anger, we drown his power with immorality.” - Knute Larson
Choosing sin can limit the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
To live without grieving or quenching the Spirit, we must adjust our lives to align with Him.
Chapters
00:00 - Understanding the Holy Spirit
03:47 - Summer in the Spirit Series
06:57 - Grieving the Holy Spirit
12:17 - Quenching the Holy Spirit
20:12 - Living in Alignment with the Spirit

Pioneer Assembly Substack
Pioneer Assembly Book Club
Pioneer Assembly Instagram
Contact Bethany
...more
21min
July 17, 2025Omnipresence vs Invitation: If the Holy Spirit is everywhere, why do we "invite" Him?
If the Holy Spirit is everywhere, then why do we "invite" Him? In this episode of the Pioneer Assembly, host Bethany Barr Phillips delves into the concepts of the omnipresence and invitation of the Holy Spirit. As part of the "Summer in the Spirit" series, Bethany explores how understanding these aspects can transform our spiritual journey.
Through personal stories and insightful discussions, listeners are encouraged to invite the Holy Spirit into their lives, recognizing His constant presence and the power of His manifest presence. Whether you're familiar with these ideas or exploring them for the first time, this episode offers a thoughtful examination of faith and the Holy Spirit's role in our daily lives. Join us as we embark on a journey of spiritual growth and discovery.

Takeaways
People often avoid discussing the Holy Spirit due to uncertainty.
When we invite the Holy Spirit into our lives, we are inviting Him to do what He does… not what we can do.
Weakness and dependence are crucial pieces to the manfiest presence of God.
You can’t expect the manifest presence of the Holy Spirit in your attempts to do things on your own.
Invitation points to a relationship with the Holy Spirit.
Pioneer Assembly Substack
Pioneer Assembly Book Club
Pioneer Assembly Instagram
Bethany's Website
...more
24min
July 10, 2025How Do You Know the Holy Spirit's Voice?
How many times have you prayed that God would give you an audible or visual sign that He wanted you to do something? If we're honest, we often want God to speak but aren't very quick to listen.
In this episode, Bethany Barr Phillips dives into how to know the Holy Spirit's voice. Is it some mystical moment? (Quick answer... no) It’s more about relationship than a neat and tidy formula. She gives practical ways to hear the Holy Spirit like being a willing vessel, and sobering truths such as: “The Holy Spirit doesn’t need you to agree with everything He wants to do in your life.” Don’t miss this episode if you’re longing to hear the Spirit’s voice and wiling to adjust accordingly.

Takeaways
The Holy Spirit's voice aligns with the Word of God.
Familiarity with God's voice comes from spending time with Him.
The Holy Spirit will never lead you to error.
Hearing God’s voice is not about a formula. It’s a relationship.
Distractions and unresolved conflicts can hinder our ability to hear God.
"We often miss hearing God's voice simply because we aren't paying attention." - Rick Warren
Chapters
00:00 - The Quest for God's Voice
02:08 - Understanding the Holy Spirit's Guidance
03:53 - The Role of Scripture in Hearing God
06:30 - The Process of Being Shaped by the Holy Spirit
08:59 - Trusting the Leading of the Holy Spirit
11:37 - Finding Peace in God's Direction
14:03 - Practical Steps to Hear God's Voice

Pioneer Assembly Instagram
Pioneer Assembly Substack
Pioneer Assembly Book Club
Learn more about Bethany
...more
18min
June 26, 2025What does the Holy Spirit do?
What does the Holy Spirit actually do? We often relegate Him to only gifts or a moment, but He’s so much more… right?
In this episode, Bethany Barr Phillips explores the multifaceted role of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers. It’s important to understand the Holy Spirit not just as a theological concept but as an active presence that guides, strengthens, and connects individuals to God. Through a four quadrant approach, Bethany breaks down the various roles of the Holy Spirit highlighting that ultimately each role works together in tandem with the Father.

Quotes:
“1.The Spirit awakens a person’s heart. 2. The Spirit teaches a person’s mind. 3. The Spirit leads to the Word. 4. The Spirit convinces of sin. 5. The Spirit draws to Christ. 6. The Spirit sanctifies. 7. The Spirit makes a person spiritually minded. 8. The Spirit produces inward conflict. 9. The Spirit makes a person love the brethren. 10. The Spirit teaches a person to pray. These are the great marks of the Holy Spirit’s presence. Put the question to your conscience and ask: Has the Spirit done anything of this kind for your soul? “ — JC Ryle

“The HS never enters a man and let’s him live by the world.” AW Tozer

Takeaways
He is not just a concept but an active presence in our lives.
The holy spirit converts what’s in your mind into your heart.
What we know about God will only stay as knowledge unless we know the Holy Spirit and allow him to turn it into experience.
The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth and points us to Jesus.
Believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit upon faith in Jesus.
The Holy Spirit is not a prescription but the power and presence of God.

Chapters
00:00 - Introduction to the Holy Spirit
01:15 - Introduction to the Holy Spirit's Role
01:29 - Understanding the Role of the Holy Spirit
03:46 - The Holy Spirit as a Helper and Guide
06:28 - The Active Presence of the Holy Spirit
09:10 - The Strengthening Power of the Holy Spirit
11:33 - The Gifts and Access Provided by the Holy Spirit
16:08 - Invitation to be a apart of the Pioneer Assembly

Connect with Bethany
Pioneer Assembly Substack
Pioneer Assembly Book Club
Pioneer Assembly Instagram
...more
19min
June 19, 2025Misconceptions About the Holy Spirit
Misconceptions about the Holy Spirit aren’t anything new, but they are definitely something to look out for. Why? Because at some point in your faith, having a misconception about the Holy Spirit will cause faulty thinking and frustrated living.
In this episode of the Pioneer Assembly, host Bethany Barr Phillips discusses common misconceptions about the Holy Spirit, emphasizing the importance of understanding His true nature as a person rather than a force or mere feeling. She shares personal experiences that shaped her understanding and encourages listeners to engage with the Holy Spirit, highlighting that He is available to all believers. The conversation aims to clear up misunderstandings and foster a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit.

Takeaways
Misconceptions about the Holy Spirit can weaken faith.
The Holy Spirit is a person, not a force.
If the enemy can’t convince you the Holy Spirit is real, then he’ll try to convince you the Holy Spirit is something he isn’t.
The Holy Spirit is available to all believers, not just a select few.
Comfort in misconceptions will hinder spiritual development.

Chapters
00:00 - Introduction to Summer in the Spirit
01:42 - Misconceptions About the Holy Spirit
06:16 - The Holy Spirit: A Person, Not a Force
11:53 - The Holy Spirit: More Than Just a Feeling
16:48 - The Holy Spirit is for Everyone
19:03 - Conclusion and Call to Action

Bethany's website
...more
20min
June 12, 2025Holy Spirit 101: Who is the Holy Spirit?
SMany have often described the Holy Spirit as an “it” or a “thing,” when actually, He’s the third person of the Trinity. He’s the One Jesus knew was coming after Him. He’s… well, that’s that we’re talking about on this first episode of the series entitled “Summer in the Spirit.”
In this Episode, host Bethany Barr Phillips, introduces the series focusing on the Holy Spirit she emphasizes the importance of understanding the Holy Spirit both theologically and personally. Through sharing personal experiences and insights, Bethany explores the role of the Holy Spirit in everyday life, the misconceptions surrounding Him, and the empowerment He offers to believers.

Takeaways
“I don’t want the world to define God for me, I want the Holy Spirit to reveal God to me.” A.W. Tozer
We often limit the Holy Spirit by trying to neatly define Him.
Have you described the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is a person of God, not a force.
Understanding the Holy Spirit is crucial for spiritual growth.
The Holy Spirit’s presence and power is not restricted to the pages of the Scriptures.

Chapters
00:00 - Introduction to Summer in the Spirit
08:09 - Personal Experiences with the Holy Spirit
18:33 - Theological Insights on the Holy Spirit
24:23 - Conclusion and Call to Action

Bethany's Website. - Where you can find out more about how to follow, the substack, the Pioneer Assembly Book Club and more.
...more
22min
May 29, 2025Seven Decisions You Won't Regret
Regret is REAL. And knowing it’s coming is sometimes worse than knowing you may have to live with it. While you may not always like a possible outcome, you don’t have to regret the reality from a decision you made.
In this third and final episode in the series on decisions, Bethany Barr Phillips discusses the complexities of decision-making and dissects regret, offering seven decisions you won’t regret. These seven key decisions can lead to a life with less regret, encouraging listeners to trust in God's guidance over worldly desires.

Takeaways
Seven Key Decisions:
Prayer over Pettiness: Are you making a decision for or with God?
Trust over impulsiveness: Are your trusting His timing or creating your own?
Forgiveness over faking it: Are you truly forgiving or are you faking it and keeping score?
Right thing over the easy thing: Are you more concerned with comfort rather than call?
Obedience over independence: Are you willing to submit rather than lead your own life?
Resting over striving: Are you able to rest or do you feel like striving is significance?
Worshiping over worrying: Are you willing to worship instead of worry?

Chapters
00:00- Introduction to Decision-Making and Regret
01:48 - Seven Decisions You Won't Regret
05:49 - Prayer Over Pettiness
06:41 - Trust Over Impulsiveness
07:44 - Forgiveness Over Faking It
08:55 - The Right Thing Over The Easy Thing
09:59 - Obedience Over Independence
11:32 - Resting Over Striving
12:29 - Worshiping Over Worrying
13:40 - Conclusion: Living Without Regret

Links
Ryan McDermott's Book titled: He is Here
Pioneer Assembly Substack
Pioneer Assembly Book Club
Pioneer Assembly Instagram
Contact Bethany
...more
16min

FAQs about The Pioneer Assembly:

How many episodes does The Pioneer Assembly have?

The podcast currently has 44 episodes available.