The Prodigal Journey

What does emotional maturity actually look like?

As men, we can be good at describing everything happening around us—our work, responsibilities, problems, and what needs to get done—while struggling to recognize and describe what is happening inside of us.

But what if emotional maturity isn’t about becoming a man who feels less? What if it’s about becoming a man who knows what to do with what he feels?

In this episode of The Prodigal Journey, we look at the life of Jesus as the ultimate example of what it means to be fully human and fully surrendered to God. Jesus experienced grief, compassion, anger, exhaustion, fear, and anguish. He never allowed His emotions to become His master, but He also never treated them as irrelevant.

From Jesus weeping with those who were grieving to His anger in Mark 3, His need for rest, and His anguish in Gethsemane, we see a different picture of strength and maturity.

Jesus shows us that emotional maturity isn’t emotional denial, emotional suppression, or being ruled by our feelings. It’s learning to notice what is happening inside us, bring it honestly before God, and allow surrender to shape how we respond.

For men especially, this challenges the idea that strength means keeping everything together, never showing emotion, working harder, and carrying more. Becoming more like Jesus may actually mean becoming more whole.

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In this episode, we explore:

• Why feelings aren’t facts—but they are information
• What Jesus teaches us through His compassion, grief, anger, and exhaustion
• What Gethsemane teaches us about emotions, suffering, and obedience
• Why feeling the weight of obedience doesn’t mean your faith is weak
• How to bring your inner life honestly before God
• Why men often confuse strength with emotional distance
• What it means to become fully human and fully surrendered
• How Jesus models a life where emotion and faithfulness belong together

The goal isn’t to become someone who never feels. It’s to become someone who can feel deeply, tell the truth about what they’re experiencing, bring it before God, and still choose faithfulness.

Awareness isn’t the destination. Awareness is the doorway to surrender.

This is part of our series on formation and what it means to be formed into the likeness of Christ.

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Chapters:

00:00 — What Does Emotional Maturity Look Like?

03:40 — Where Do Our Emotions Belong?

08:25 — Jesus Was Fully Human and Emotionally Present

13:17 — Jesus, Rest, and the Limits of Being Human

15:21 — Gethsemane: When Obedience Is Costly

20:52 — What Emotional Maturity Actually Looks Like

22:44 — Why Men Confuse Strength With Emotional Distance

29:48 — Becoming More Like Jesus

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Next Episode:

We will look at The Fruit You Can’t Fake.

If Christ is truly forming us from the inside out, eventually that formation becomes visible. In the next episode, we’ll ok at what grows out of the life being formed in us - and why the fruit of our lives reveals more than we may realize.

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This podcast episode delves into the critical yet often neglected realm of men's inner worlds, emphasizing the necessity of self-examination and emotional awareness. We, as men, frequently articulate our external responsibilities with precision while neglecting to address the condition of our hearts. This episode serves as a poignant reminder that without acknowledging our internal struggles, we cannot genuinely surrender them to God. We explore the implications of this neglect, pondering how societal norms have conditioned us to prioritize productivity over introspection. Ultimately, we aim to facilitate a deeper understanding of our emotional states, leading to a transformative relationship with our inner selves and, consequently, with God.

A significant theme emerges in this episode of the Prodigal Journey, where we eloquently address the often-ignored inner world of men. This exploration seeks to illuminate the emotional landscapes that many men neglect, focusing on the disconnect between external responsibilities and internal feelings. We reflect on the societal norms that have conditioned men to prioritize functionality over introspection, leading to an inability to articulate our emotional states. While men may easily describe their duties and tasks, we frequently resort to the superficial response of ‘I’m fine’ when confronted with inquiries about our emotional well-being.

This episode is not merely a critique but serves as an invitation for men to delve deeper into the condition of their hearts, a crucial aspect of personal growth and spiritual maturity. Drawing from personal anecdotes, I candidly share my journey of recognizing the importance of understanding one’s emotions before sharing them with others. I illustrate how offloading unprocessed feelings onto loved ones can inadvertently burden them, highlighting the necessity of first bringing those emotions before God.

This discussion is enriched through scriptural references that emphasize the need for men to engage authentically with their inner lives. True strength manifests not in emotional suppression but in the courage to confront and express vulnerabilities, thereby fostering healthier relationships and a more profound connection with God.

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Takeaways:

• The inner world of men is frequently neglected, leading to a disconnection from their true emotions.
• Men often articulate their responsibilities well but struggle to describe their emotional states accurately.
• It is crucial for men to recognize and process their inner emotions before communicating them to others.
• Surrendering to God necessitates an acknowledgment of our inner struggles and feelings.
• Biblical maturity involves bringing forth every emotion before God, not suppressing them.
• The goal of awareness is to facilitate a deeper surrender to God, allowing for transformative growth.

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Chapters:

00:00 - Show intro and recap

00:32 - Introduction to the Formation Series

00:49 - Understanding Our Inner World as Men

11:14 - The Strength in Vulnerability

14:10 - Awareness and Surrender: The Journey Within

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Next Episode:

We will look at Jesus’ life as the ultimate model for emotional honesty and engagement. By studying how Jesus navigated His own emotions, we can be encouraged to embrace our own emotional journeys with the same openness.

This episode ultimately serves as a clarion call for men to reclaim their inner worlds, advocating for a transformative process of self-examination that leads to a richer, more authentic existence.

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Thank you for supporting conversations about Faith. Struggle. Becoming.

If this conversation encouraged you, you can support the podcast here:

theprodigaljourney.com/donate

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I host my podcast with Captivate, the world's only growth-oriented podcast host™ - you can too, and get your first 7-days on me! Use my affiliate link below to get your free trial and it helps the podcast.

Free trial for Captivate

SHOW NOTES:

In this first episode of a new series on formation, I explore a question that has been shaping my own life: Who or what is forming you?

I reflect on experiences in church, men’s ministry, and discipleship, and explain why conversations about leadership, purity, marriage, and responsibility—while important—don’t always answer the deeper question of who we are becoming. Drawing from the life of Jesus, this episode examines how our habits, relationships, communities, and daily practices quietly shape our character over time.

Rather than offering a checklist for becoming a “better man,” this conversation invites listeners to consider what true spiritual formation looks like and how discipleship is ultimately about becoming more like Christ, not simply accumulating knowledge.

Whether you’re navigating church hurt, reevaluating your spiritual life, or simply longing to grow in maturity, this episode offers a thoughtful invitation to examine the influences that are shaping your heart.

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TAKEAWAYS:

• Formation is happening whether we recognize it or not.
• Our habits shape our character long before our actions reveal it.
• Discipleship is about becoming like Jesus, not merely learning about Him.
• Spiritual maturity is revealed during seasons of pressure and difficulty.
• Knowledge without transformation can produce pride instead of Christlikeness.
• The people and voices we consistently listen to are shaping us.
• Healthy community is essential for lasting spiritual formation.

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CHAPTERS:

00:00 - Introduction & New Series

02:00 - What Sparked This Conversation

08:30 - The Question That Changed Everything

15:45 - Following Jesus vs Following Ideas

22:40 - We Are Always Being Formed

31:00 - Questions for Reflection

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Thank you for supporting conversations about Faith. Struggle. Becoming.

If this conversation encouraged you, you can support the podcast here:

theprodigaljourney.com/donate

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Affiliate Links:

I host my podcast with Captivate, the world's only growth-oriented podcast host™ - you can too, and get your first 7-days on me! Use my affiliate link below to get your free trial and it helps the podcast.

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SUMMARY/INTRO:

Toxic environments are patterns that slowly erode your clarity, dignity, and health — we frame it as eroding versus refining so you can actually tell whether staying is making you stronger or just wearing you down. We lay out the difference between hard seasons and genuinely toxic patterns, and walk through examples like control- and fear-based leadership, inconsistency, favoritism cloaked as “grace,” and neglect of basic needs. I get personal about a job that drained me, how speaking up made me look “toxic,” and why I started documenting everything and setting internal boundaries to protect my sanity.

We give practical, gritty advice — document conversations, set and defend basic boundaries (yes, even bathroom breaks), get outside counsel, and be honest about whether you’re called to stay as a mission field or simply stuck. We also call out leaders: culture is what you create and what you allow, so learn to receive feedback, model accountability, and stop mistaking growth for health. We keep it real, we laugh at ourselves, and we want you to know it’s okay to wrestle with this and to seek clarity, because forgiving doesn’t mean you have to stay.

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SHOW NOTES:

How do you know whether a difficult environment is helping you grow or slowly eroding you?

In this episode of The Prodigal Journey, Ben and Dawn have an honest conversation about toxic environments, unhealthy leadership, workplace dysfunction, boundaries, faith, and the difficult question of when to stay and when to leave.

The conversation grew out of Ben’s experience navigating a toxic work environment and the months it took to process what happened. Rather than focusing on one particular person or situation, they intentionally look at patterns that can help people recognize unhealthy environments for themselves.

One of the central ideas of the episode is the difference between something being hard and something being harmful. Not every difficult situation is toxic, and not every season of pressure is something we should escape. But an environment can become toxic when patterns begin to slowly erode a person’s clarity, dignity, health, identity, and ability to thrive.

Ben and Dawn walk through several patterns that can signal a toxic environment, including control-based leadership, fear, inconsistent expectations, neglect of basic needs, manipulation, favoritism, lack of transparency, lack of accountability, retaliation, and leadership that refuses honest feedback.

They also discuss why toxic environments can be so difficult to recognize. Dysfunction can become normal over time, especially when someone is operating in survival mode. Looking for isolated incidents isn’t always enough; sometimes you need to step back and identify the larger pattern.

The conversation then moves into one of the most difficult questions: Why do people stay?

Financial pressure, fear of the unknown, loyalty, identity, hope that things will change, and even faith can make leaving complicated. Ben and Dawn challenge the idea that staying in a harmful environment is automatically an act of faithfulness, while also acknowledging that not everyone has the financial ability to leave immediately.

They also explore how Christian language can sometimes be used to pressure people into remaining in unhealthy situations. In particular, they discuss the difference between faithfully enduring a genuinely hard season and using Jesus’ suffering as a reason someone must remain in a harmful environment.

Finally, the episode offers practical wisdom for people who are currently stuck in an unhealthy environment: seek outside perspective, document what is happening, establish appropriate boundaries, separate your identity from your job or organization, create healthy feedback channels, and remember that leaving an unhealthy environment is not necessarily failure.

At its heart, this is a conversation about discernment, growth, faith, leadership, and learning to recognize the difference between something that is refining you and something that is eroding you.

TAKEAWAYS:

• A difficult environment isn’t automatically a toxic environment.
• Hard seasons can produce growth, but harmful patterns can slowly erode a person’s health and well-being.
• Toxicity is better identified through patterns of behavior than isolated incidents.
• Dysfunction can become normalized when someone has been in an unhealthy environment for a long time.
• Toxic environments can involve control, fear, inconsistent expectations, neglect of basic needs, manipulation, favoritism, and lack of accountability.
• A healthy environment allows concerns to be raised and addressed rather than punished, ignored, or redirected.
• Healthy leaders should be willing to receive difficult feedback from people around them.
• Surrounding yourself with people who always agree with you can prevent growth and create unhealthy leadership.
• Retaliation or punishment for raising legitimate concerns can be a significant warning sign.
• Growth in an organization does not necessarily mean the organization is healthy.
• Financial success and numerical growth are not the same thing as healthy growth.
• People may remain in toxic environments because of financial pressure, fear, loyalty, identity, hope, or faith-based convictions.
• Faithfulness should not automatically be equated with remaining in a harmful environment.
• Jesus’ faithful suffering on the cross was a specific and purposeful calling, not a universal command to remain in every harmful situation.
• A person may need outside, objective support to evaluate what is happening.
• Documenting patterns can help people maintain clarity when an environment causes them to question their own experience.
• Healthy boundaries are appropriate, and how an environment responds to those boundaries can reveal a great deal.
• Your identity does not have to be tied to your job, organization, church, or position.
• Leaving an unhealthy environment is not necessarily failure; sometimes it can be an act of obedience and faith.
• Leaders have a responsibility to examine what behaviors they create, allow, model, and tolerate.
• Healthy leadership requires humility, accountability, feedback, and a willingness to change.
• Ultimately, the question is not simply “Should I stay or should I go?” but “Is this environment eroding me or refining me?”

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION:

• What type of response do you receive when bringing up a concern (avoidance, aggression, silence, humor, withdrawal, etc.)?
• What phrases do people commonly use to excuse unhealthy behavior (e.g., “That’s just how they are,” “We’ve always done it this way”)?
• What makes it difficult for people to speak up when they notice unhealthy patterns?
• Do you want to become like the leaders you are following?

CHALLENGE TO MANAGERS/SUPERVISORS:

• What behaviors are you allowing and modeling?
• Are good employees leaving and bad employees staying?
• Can you receive feedback?
• Are you in denial?

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CHAPTERS:

00:00 — Why This Conversation Took Months to Process

08:03 — What Makes an Environment Toxic?

18:38 — Recognizing Toxic Leadership & Dysfunction

25:14 — Eroding vs. Refining

34:00 — The Importance of Healthy Leadership & Feedback

40:01 — How Do You Know When an Environment Is Unhealthy?

51:11 — Why We Stay in Toxic Environments

58:23 — When Faithfulness Becomes Feeling Stuck

01:06:43 — Staying, Leaving & Trusting God

01:19:38 — When Leaving Isn't Failure

01:34:14 — Boundaries, Identity & Forgiveness

01:46:19 — What Healthy Leadership Looks Like

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Thank you for supporting conversations about Faith. Struggle. Becoming.

If this conversation encouraged you, you can support the podcast here:

theprodigaljourney.com/donate

——————————

Affiliate Links:

I host my podcast with Captivate, the world's only growth-oriented podcast host™ - you can too, and get your first 7-days on me! Use my affiliate link below to get your free trial and it helps the podcast.

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Podcast Merch:

theprodigaljourney.com/merch

You can check out all the podcast videos on the podcast website:

Video Channel

SUMMARY/INTRO:

Pastor Will wanted to plant a church for the poverty‑impacted—on purpose—and that’s the heartbeat of what he shares here. He talks how he met Jesus at 14 (yes, after throwing away burned rap CDs and actually reading a pocket New Testament), how he accidentally started Bible studies, and how a call to missions took them from seminary hopes to teaching English in northwest China with a four‑month‑old and four suitcases. We talk incarnational ministry—living in the neighborhood, being neighbors, and why planting a church is more like being a primary care physician than a one‑off nonprofit specialist. Pastor Will lays out the hard realities the church has faced (transiency, the tyranny of the urgent, language and logistical nightmares in China) and the unexpected blessings—people discovering their gifts, baptisms, and a growing discipleship family. Ben and Will also wrestle with how churches and para-church organizations can actually partner well, and we close the conversation the way we try to live it: honestly, neighborly, and with prayer.

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SHOW NOTES:

What does it look like to intentionally pastor and plant a church among people impacted by poverty?

In this episode of The Prodigal Journey, Ben sits down with Pastor Will of Reconcile Community Church to hear his story—from coming to faith as a teenager in Greenville, South Carolina, to discovering a calling to share the gospel, pursuing missions, and eventually serving among poverty-impacted communities.

Will shares how his desire to reach unreached people groups led him toward international missions and eventually to Northwest China, where he and his family lived for a year, taught English, and served within a different culture. That experience eventually helped him recognize that there are cultural and gospel barriers within the United States as well.

The conversation then turns toward the intentional decision to plant Reconcile Community Church in a low-income area of Greenville County. Will explains why he didn’t want people experiencing poverty to become a church’s “side project,” but instead wanted to pursue them as neighbors and fellow members of the community.

Ben and Will discuss the importance of incarnational ministry—living among the people you hope to reach—and why ministry becomes different when a church sees the struggles of its neighbors as shared struggles rather than someone else’s problems.

They also explore the relationship between local churches and nonprofits, using a medical-system analogy to explain how specialized organizations can meet specific needs while the local church provides an ongoing context for relationship, community, and discipleship.

Finally, Will talks honestly about some of the challenges of ministry in a poverty-impacted community, including housing instability, transience, urgent needs, and the difficulty of building long-term relationships. He also shares some of the greatest blessings: seeing people discover their God-given gifts, grow in confidence, become disciples, and make disciples of others.

This is a conversation about missions, poverty, church planting, discipleship, community, and what it means for the church to genuinely live among and love the people it is trying to reach.

TAKEAWAYS:

• Will’s journey to faith began with an overwhelming realization that God wanted not only to forgive him but to have a relationship with him.
• His desire to share the gospel with others began almost immediately after coming to faith.
• Reading Acts helped shape his understanding of evangelism, prayer, and ministry.
• His early interest in missions eventually led him to pursue ministry among unreached people groups.
• Will and his wife spent a year in Northwest China teaching English and seeking to minister cross-culturally.
• His experience overseas helped him recognize that cultural barriers to the gospel also exist within American communities.
• Church planting in a poverty-impacted community requires more than simply putting a church building or program in the neighborhood.
• Incarnational ministry means living among the people you hope to reach and sharing in their community and struggles.
• Will wanted Reconcile to intentionally pursue people experiencing poverty rather than treating them as a side project.
• The local church and specialized nonprofits can serve different but complementary roles in a community.
• Specialized organizations can address specific needs, while the local church provides an ongoing context for relationship and discipleship.
• Ministry becomes relational when people are viewed as brothers and sisters rather than projects or customers.
• Transience and the “tyranny of the urgent” can make long-term discipleship relationships difficult in poverty-impacted communities.
• One of the greatest blessings of ministry is watching people discover their God-given gifts, grow in confidence, and make disciples of others.

CONNECT WITH RECONCILE:

Reconcile Community Church - Website

Reconcile Stories Podcast - YouTube

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CHAPTERS:

00:00 — Why Pastor Will Wanted to Reach the Poverty-Impacted

02:00 — Will’s Story: Coming to Faith as a Teenager

06:23 — From Evangelism to a Calling to Ministry

10:54 — Discovering a Heart for Unreached People Groups

13:30 — Missions, Business as Mission & Northwest China

19:19 — Moving to China With No Plan to Return

22:25 — Learning Cultural Barriers Exist Close to Home

25:14 — Returning Home & Wrestling With Failure

27:33 — Planting a Church in a Low-Income Community

30:49 — Why Reconcile Was Planted “On Purpose”

35:08 — Incarnational Ministry: Living Among the People

40:57 — The Local Church & Parachurch Organizations

42:45 — Church, Nonprofits & the “Primary Care” Analogy

48:53 — The Challenges of Poverty-Impacted Communities

52:39 — The Blessing of Discipleship & Discovering Gifts

55:43 — What Reconcile Has Taught Us About Ministry

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Thank you for supporting conversations about Faith. Struggle. Becoming.

If this conversation encouraged you, you can support the podcast here:

theprodigaljourney.com/donate

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Affiliate Links:

I host my podcast with Captivate, the world's only growth-oriented podcast host™ - you can too, and get your first 7-days on me! Use my affiliate link below to get your free trial and it helps the podcast.

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SUMMARY/INTRO:

We’re starting Reconcile Stories because we believe the public square today is the Internet, and the best way to get the gospel there is by sharing real, messy stories of God’s grace through podcasts and video. I’m Will, pastor at Reconcile Community Church, and with Ben—our podcast guy—we want to amplify testimonies from our congregation and ministry partners so people can hear how Jesus actually shows up in everyday lives. You’ll hear people from wildly different backgrounds, and our hope is that someone listening will either go, “I resonate with that,” or “Man, God did something crazy”—both are wins. We also talk honestly about church hurt and how empathy, listening, and the kind of community Jesus modeled can be a place of real healing instead of just more side eye. So come hang with us, hear the stories, and yeah—pray for us as we try to do this well and keep it about Christ and his work in people.

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SHOW NOTES:

What happens when we make space for people to tell the stories of what God is doing in their lives?

In this introductory episode of Reconcile Stories, Will, pastor of Reconcile Community Church, sits down with Ben to talk about the vision behind this new church podcast and why sharing stories of God’s grace matters.

Will explains how his experience as a pastor has allowed him to hear countless stories of God’s faithfulness, transformation, struggle, and redemption. He wants Reconcile Stories to create a space where members of the church, ministry partners, friends, and others can share what God is doing in their lives—and hopefully encourage someone else who is listening.

Ben and Will also discuss how the internet has become a modern public square where people exchange ideas and stories through podcasts, YouTube, and social media. Rather than seeing those spaces only as entertainment, they explore how Christians can use them to communicate the gospel and highlight the ways God is working in real people’s lives.

A major theme of the conversation is the diversity of stories within the church. People come from different cultural, economic, and personal backgrounds, carrying different experiences of trauma, brokenness, faith, and transformation. Hearing those stories can help break down the assumptions people have about Christians and remind us that Jesus saves all kinds of people.

The conversation eventually turns toward church hurt and what it can look like to find healing through Christian community. Will and Ben talk about the temptation to isolate after being hurt by the church, the importance of empathy and listening, and the example of Jesus sitting with people in their pain before trying to fix anything.

They also talk about the tension between being honest about the church’s failures while still believing in the value of Christian community, using Paul’s experience of being welcomed by Barnabas as an example of how compassion can help bring people back into community.

Ultimately, Reconcile Stories is about creating space for people to hear how God’s grace is being worked out in real lives—and perhaps helping someone listening realize that their own story matters too.

TAKEAWAYS:

• Sharing stories of God’s grace can encourage people who are walking through difficult seasons.
• The internet has become a major place where people exchange ideas, stories, and experiences.
• Christians can use podcasts and other digital spaces to communicate the gospel through real stories.
• The church contains an incredibly diverse collection of backgrounds, experiences, and testimonies.
• Hearing stories that are different from our own can expand our understanding of God’s grace.
• People who have experienced church hurt may naturally want to isolate from the church.
• Christian community can also become part of the healing process after church hurt.
• Empathy and listening should often come before trying to fix someone’s pain.
• Jesus provides an example of acknowledging people’s suffering and showing compassion.
• Christians should be careful not to “side eye” people because of their past or assume they cannot be transformed.
• Paul’s experience with the early church shows the importance of people like Barnabas who are willing to extend compassion and welcome.
• Christians can hold the tension between recognizing the church’s failures and still valuing Christian community.
• The goal of Reconcile Stories is ultimately to glorify Christ and encourage people through stories of His grace.

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CHAPTERS:

00:00 — Why Reconcile Stories Exists

04:37 — Ben’s Journey Into Podcasting

07:02 — Why Diverse Stories Matter

09:49 — Ben’s Story & the Gospel’s Reach

14:59 — Church Hurt, Community & Healing

24:35 — Paul, Barnabas & Welcoming the Broken

32:05 — The Purpose Behind Reconcile Stories

36:42 — Praying for Those Experiencing Church Hurt

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Thank you for supporting conversations about Faith. Struggle. Becoming.

If this conversation encouraged you, you can support the podcast here:

theprodigaljourney.com/donate

——————————

Affiliate Links:

I host my podcast with Captivate, the world's only growth-oriented podcast host™ - you can too, and get your first 7-days on me! Use my affiliate link below to get your free trial and it helps the podcast.

https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=nte5ndk

SUMMARY/INTRO:

We wrestle with imposter syndrome—doubting the identity God gives us after he rescues us—and that’s the main thing I want to tackle here. I’m keeping this episode short and encouraging: I point out how people take verses like Jeremiah 17:9 or 1 Timothy 1:15 out of context and live defeated, when Scripture also makes plain that in Christ we are adopted, justified, and made new. We need a balanced view: yes, the Bible teaches sin, but it also teaches our original goodness and that God has made us his workmanship (Eph. 2). I ask you to consider whether your thoughts are oriented toward victory or defeat, to practice remembering who you are in Christ (maybe with verse cards or memorization), and to look outside yourself—help others hold to their identity too. My hope is that we leave guilt and shame behind long enough to live into the freedom of being God’s children, and I hope this gives you a little rest for the week as you walk with Jesus.

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SHOW NOTES:

Do you ever feel like you’re not good enough for God?

In this episode of The Prodigal Journey, Ben explores what he calls “imposter syndrome”—the struggle to believe what God says about who we are after becoming followers of Christ.

It can be easy to focus so heavily on our sin, guilt, and shame that we forget what God has already done. Ben examines passages including Jeremiah 17:9, Romans 3, 1 Timothy 1, and Ephesians 2 and challenges listeners to look at the full biblical picture rather than allowing isolated verses to define their identity.

Yes, Scripture speaks honestly about sin. But it also tells us that those who follow Christ are forgiven, justified, adopted, made new, and created in God’s image. We are God’s workmanship, created to reflect His goodness in the world.

This short episode is an encouragement to stop defining yourself solely by your failures and begin believing what God says about you.

As you go through your week, consider whether your thoughts are oriented toward defeat or victory, how you can live in a way that reflects being made in God’s image, and what practical steps can help you fight feelings of guilt and shame.

TAKEAWAYS:

• Imposter syndrome can cause us to doubt what God says about our identity.
• Focusing only on our sin can cause guilt and shame to become the foundation of our identity.
• Scripture must be understood in context rather than by isolating individual verses.
• The Bible speaks honestly about sin while also declaring God’s grace and what He has done for those who follow Christ.
• Believers are described as God’s children, adopted, justified, and made new in Christ.
• We are created in God’s image and described as God’s workmanship.
• Our identity should be shaped by what God has done and is doing, not simply by what we think we need to do.
• Living in victory doesn’t mean ignoring sin; it means holding sin, repentance, grace, and our identity in Christ together.
• God’s love and correction are not contradictory.
• Fighting guilt and shame can include intentionally reminding ourselves of what God says about our identity and encouraging others who struggle with the same.

REFLECTION & APPLICATION:

• Is your thought process oriented more toward victory or defeat?
• When you feel unworthy, how can you change your thinking and actions to reflect that you are made in the image of God?
• What practical steps can you take to fight feelings of guilt and shame?

Consider writing down or memorizing Scripture that reminds you of what God says about your identity, and look for opportunities to encourage someone else who is struggling with their identity.

SCRIPTURES MENTIONED:

• Jeremiah 17:9
• Romans 1:3
• Romans 3:22–24
• 1 Timothy 1:15–16
• Ephesians 2:4–10
• Genesis 1

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CHAPTERS:

00:00 - Show & Topic Intro

01:31 — Imposter Syndrome & Our Identity in Christ

02:43 — Sin, Shame & Taking Scripture in Context

08:09 — Reflection & Application

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Thank you for supporting conversations about Faith. Struggle. Becoming.

If this conversation encouraged you, you can support the podcast here:

theprodigaljourney.com/donate

——————————

Affiliate Links:

I host my podcast with Captivate, the world's only growth-oriented podcast host™ - you can too, and get your first 7-days on me! Use my affiliate link below to get your free trial and it helps the podcast.

https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=nte5ndk

SUMMARY/INTRO:

JP3 talks about how men’s ministry showed him that our identity isn't in what we do or what people can do for us, but in Christ — and that real manhood is forged in intrusive, relational community where we learn to cast our care upon Jesus. He shares his story of growing up hyper-churched, walking through family pain and poor choices, and how getting plugged into God’s Mighty Men finally gave him a safe, biblical space to discover my spiritual gifts and stop burning all my energy trying to perform. Out of that journey he started Men on Purpose during the lockdown — Manhood Monday became our weekly lifeline, full of honest teaching, small-group accountability, and even straight-up conversations about sexual purity and fidelity. We talk about the tension between natural gifts and spiritual dependence (yeah, sometimes your charisma takes you farther than your character can keep you), why vulnerability among guys is not weakness but healing, and how diversity and getting out of comfort zones stretch us into stronger servant-leaders. He tells the awkward Kawhi Leonard story to remind us to stop taking ourselves so seriously and be emotionally present in our marriages and families. If you’re weary of surface-level church stuff and want a practical, Christ-centered way to grow as a man on purpose, we invite you to pull up a seat and get into the mix.

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SHOW NOTES:

What does biblical manhood actually look like?

In this episode of The Prodigal Journey, Ben sits down with John Price III (JP3), founding president of Men on Purpose, for a wide-ranging conversation about Christian masculinity, male friendship, vulnerability, servant leadership, spiritual growth, and what it means to become a man who lives on purpose.

John shares parts of his own story, including growing up in a highly churched environment, experiencing family brokenness, and eventually discovering how his identity as a man could not be built around performance, achievement, or what other people expected from him. He explains how Christian community and men’s ministry helped him understand that his identity is ultimately found in Christ.

The conversation also challenges some common assumptions about men. Are men really less relational by nature, or have we simply been taught that vulnerability and emotional connection are weaknesses? Ben and John explore the example of Jesus and John the disciple, the importance of safe relationships between men, confession, accountability, and creating spaces where men can be honest about their struggles.

They also discuss the difference between natural ability and spiritual gifting, why charisma can take someone farther than their character can sustain, and why biblical manhood is ultimately about living under the lordship of Christ rather than trying to fit a cultural definition of masculinity.

John explains how Men on Purpose began during the isolation of 2020 and developed into an intentional community focused on helping men grow spiritually, lead their families well, build healthy marriages, and make Kingdom impact in their churches and communities.

The conversation also explores cultural and racial differences within the church, learning from people outside our normal comfort zones, rejecting passivity, taking the next small step, and trusting God through seasons when we don’t yet understand what He is doing.

If you’ve ever wondered what biblical manhood looks like, struggled with passivity or isolation, or wanted deeper relationships with other Christian men, this conversation offers a challenging and encouraging perspective on becoming a man who follows Christ with purpose.

TAKEAWAYS:

• Biblical manhood is ultimately shaped by God and lived under the lordship of Christ.
• A man’s identity is not found primarily in what he accomplishes or what other people can do for him.
• Christian men are created for meaningful relationships, friendship, accountability, and community.
• Vulnerability and confession are not signs of weakness; they can be part of the path toward healing and spiritual growth.
• Jesus’ relationship with His disciples provides a picture of meaningful intimacy and relationship between men.
• Healthy men’s ministry should go beyond occasional events and create intentional, ongoing community.
• Natural charisma and gifting cannot substitute for character.
• Biblical leadership is fundamentally about servant leadership and giving yourself for others.
• Men can learn and grow by intentionally stepping outside of their cultural and personal comfort zones.
• Diversity within the body of Christ can help believers learn from experiences different from their own.
• Rejecting passivity often means taking one small step rather than waiting until everything is figured out.
• Fear of failure, reputation, or losing control can contribute to passivity.
• God can use difficult and confusing seasons to shape us even when we don’t immediately understand why we’re going through them.
• Christian men need safe communities where they can be honest about temptation, weakness, struggles, and spiritual growth.
• The goal of Christian manhood is not simply personal success but Kingdom impact in families, churches, communities, and the world.

MEN ON PURPOSE LINKS:

Website

YouTube

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CHAPTERS:

00:00 — Identity, Faith & Becoming a Man

05:00 — Growing Up Churched & Finding Christ

10:00 — Why Men Need Relational Community

15:00 — Vulnerability, Friendship & the Example of Jesus

23:00 — Learning Through Cultural Differences

28:00 — Discomfort, Leadership & Personal Growth

33:00 — Character, Charisma & Spiritual Gifts

39:00 — What Does Biblical Manhood Look Like?

42:40 — How Men on Purpose Began

51:45 — Rejecting Passivity & Taking the Next Step

01:00:48 — Fear, Reputation & Trusting God

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Thank you for supporting conversations about Faith. Struggle. Becoming.

If this conversation encouraged you, you can support the podcast here:

theprodigaljourney.com/donate

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Intro/Outro music used with permission under a standard music license, purchased from @wavebeatsmusic. License certificate on file.

Credits:

Track Title: 'Motivational Power' Music by WavebeatsMusic Promo Video: https://youtu.be/5hTaTrJowJk

Track Info:

WBM T73: 'Motivational Power"

Artist: WavebeatsMusic

Composer: Henrique Tavares Dib

PRO: APRA/AMCOS, IPI:00611600895 Publisher:

Songtrust ST Music ANZ PTY LTD, IPI: 825751036

SUMMARY/INTRO:

Accountability software can be helpful, but I want to be clear up front: it should be a short‑term tool—guardrails to help us while we learn to grow in holiness—not a long‑term replacement for a biblical, Spirit‑led life. I walk you through what accountability software actually does, the common pitfalls (it can become a crutch, create hypervigilance, and even distort our identity in Christ), and a long‑term view grounded in Galatians 5 and Romans 6 that calls us into freedom and fruit of the Spirit.

I’ll be honest—I’m an affiliate partner with Covenant Eyes, but I’m not getting paid to make this episode; I’m sharing what I’ve wrestled with personally and with other men. I use the crutch analogy to show why relying on software forever can atrophy our spiritual muscles, and I pull us back to the hard but joyful work of choosing Christ, nailing the passions of the flesh to his cross. If you’ve ever found yourself “white‑knuckling” not to sin or wondering why others see victory you don’t, we talk through practical questions to change our thinking from mere avoidance to loving obedience. Listen with me as we move from fear and barriers into the freedom Christ died to give, and consider what small steps you can take today to grow in love for him.

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SHOW NOTES:

Is accountability software actually helping us overcome sin—or can it become a crutch?

In this episode of The Prodigal Journey, Ben takes a closer look at accountability software and how Christians should think about its role in the fight against sin. While tools that monitor online activity and report it to an accountability partner can provide helpful boundaries and guardrails, Ben argues that they were never meant to replace genuine spiritual growth.

Drawing from Galatians 5 and Romans 6, Ben explores the difference between simply trying not to sin and learning to live in the freedom Christ has given us. He compares accountability software to a crutch: something that can be useful while we’re healing, but potentially harmful if we become dependent on it indefinitely.

Ben also shares from his own experience of struggling with habitual sin and wanting God to simply take the temptation away rather than having to choose to give it up. He explains how his understanding of God, holiness, sacrifice, and spiritual growth began to change.

Ultimately, the goal isn’t to build enough barriers around ourselves to prevent sin. It’s to grow in holiness, love Christ more, live by the Spirit, and increasingly desire the things of God.

If you’ve used accountability software, struggled with habitual sin, or found yourself “white-knuckling” your way through temptation, this episode offers a different way to think about Christian freedom and spiritual growth.

TAKEAWAYS:

• Accountability software can be a helpful short-term tool for establishing healthy guardrails.
• Accountability software shouldn’t become a long-term substitute for spiritual growth and a biblical understanding of holiness.
• External boundaries cannot give us the power to obey; genuine change involves the work of the Holy Spirit and our willingness to grow.
• The Christian life isn’t ultimately about building more barriers to keep ourselves from sinning.
• We can become so focused on not sinning that sin remains the primary focus of our attention.
• Spiritual growth involves learning to put off sinful desires and put on the fruit of the Spirit.
• Ben shares how he had to recognize that he wanted God to remove his temptation rather than choosing to surrender it.
• Christian freedom means moving from fear and “white-knuckling” toward love for Christ and a desire for holiness.
• Our obedience should increasingly be motivated by love for Christ rather than fear or shame.
• Small changes in how we think can help us move toward long-term spiritual growth.

REFLECTION & APPLICATION:

• Am I viewing my struggle with sin through the freedom God wants for me, or am I “white-knuckling” my way through it?
• Is my obedience motivated more by love for Christ or by fear and shame?
• What is one small step I can take today to change the way I think about this struggle?

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CHAPTERS:

00:00 — What Is Accountability Software?

01:48 — What Accountability Software Can and Can’t Do

04:30 — Why Accountability Tools Shouldn’t Become a Crutch

06:08 — From “Not Sinning” to Growing in Holiness

07:48 — Choosing Freedom, Love & Spiritual Growth

10:50 — Boundaries, Obedience & Love for Christ

11:59 — Questions for Moving Forward

——————————

Thank you for supporting conversations about Faith. Struggle. Becoming.

If this conversation encouraged you, you can support the podcast here:

theprodigaljourney.com/donate

——————————

Affiliate Links:

I host my podcast with Captivate, the world's only growth-oriented podcast host™ - you can too, and get your first 7-days on me! Use my affiliate link below to get your free trial and it helps the podcast.

https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=nte5ndk

Welcome to The Prodigal Journey! This is a community and a safe place to be vulnerable and share stories of life change, and every journey matters. We want to love people like Christ does. We aren’t afraid to ask questions that help us grow in our faith, wrestle through raw and honest conversations, and celebrate who we are in Christ, giving Him the ultimate glory!

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Intro/Outro music used with permission under a standard music license, purchased from @wavebeatsmusic. License certificate on file.

Credits:

Track Title: 'Motivational Power'

Music by WavebeatsMusic

Promo Video: https://youtu.be/5hTaTrJowJk

Track Info:

WBM T73: 'Motivational Power"

Artist: WavebeatsMusic

Composer: Henrique Tavares Dib

PRO: APRA/AMCOS, IPI:00611600895

Publisher: Songtrust ST Music ANZ PTY LTD, IPI: 825751036