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A quiet country church. A knock on the side door. And a question that won’t leave us alone: what if Jesus is outside, patiently waiting to be invited in? 

In this episode I share something a bit different; a guest sermon I gave at our church a few weeks ago to help fill in for our pastor. After a brief farm and family update, we will listen to my sermon on Revelation 3:14–22, the letter to Laodicea, to explore the uneasy distance between liking Jesus and actually following him.

We unpack why Scripture calls lukewarm faith nauseating and why hot and cold are both images of usefulness—healing warmth and refreshing cool—while room temperature blends into its surroundings. With Laodicea’s banking, textiles, and eye salve as backdrop, we trace Jesus’ piercing diagnosis of self-satisfied religion and his generous prescription: gold refined by fire, white garments of righteousness, and salve for true sight. Along the way, we talk about real-life patterns that pull us toward comfort—people-pleasing, hurry, and performative faith—and simple, costly habits that reverse the drift: unhurried Scripture, honest prayer, confession, reconciling conversations, generous service, and witness that changes the room.

The heart of the message is not shame but invitation. Those Jesus loves, he disciplines. He stands at the door and knocks, not with a battering ram, but with patient mercy, promising table fellowship to any who open, even if the whole room isn’t ready. We offer practical next steps to move from thermometer to thermostat, including one action this week that costs something and proves what we value. If you’ve felt “fine” yet fruitless, this conversation will help you trade comfort for a living, useful faith that leaves a holy mark on your family, church, and community.

If this resonates, subscribe, share with a friend, and tell us: what door will you open to Jesus this week? Your story might encourage someone else to turn the knob.

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What if the most “successful” version of your life is the one that brings your faith and family back to the center? We sit down with author and homesteader Rory Groves to rethink success through the lens of calling, freedom, and the family economy. Rory shares how moving from a tech career to a 10-acre homestead reshaped his metrics—from income and scale to presence, purpose, and work his kids can inherit. We unpack insights from Durable Trades, the research behind family-centered vocations that have endured for centuries, and why chasing scale can quietly cost the very life we set out to build.

The heart of the conversation is culture-making at home. We talk about forming a clear family vision, choosing vocations that fit that vision, and placing wise boundaries around technologies that promise convenience but often tax relationships. That sets the stage for Rory’s new season: launching a publishing house under Gather and Grow Ministries to get more accessible, story-driven resources into the world. First up is a revival of Henry and the Great Society, a short novel that follows a mid-century farming family as “progress” unravels their community. It’s a moving, practical tool—complete with an updated afterword and discussion guide—to help families and churches ask hard questions, draw lines with conviction, and take first steps toward a resilient, home-centered life.

If you’ve wondered how to prepare your teens for meaningful work without debt, how to resist fragile, consumption-driven living, or how to bring your household into shared labor that forms character, this conversation is your map and motivation. Support the all-or-nothing Kickstarter for Henry and the Great Society (ends November 6), start a group discussion, and share this episode with a friend who needs a hopeful reset. If this resonates, follow, rate, and leave a review to help more families find their footing—and tell us: what does success look like for your home?

Henry and The Great Society by Gather & Grow — Kickstarter

Video Version of the Podcast

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What happens when biblical stewardship principles meet challenging southern clay soil? Amanda Nelson's journey from reluctant teenage gardener to community trainer offers a compelling answer.

Amanda's path began with a simple question: how would her family survive if grocery stores became unavailable? This prompted her first gardening attempts, which quickly led to frustration as north Georgia's notoriously difficult soil—clay mixed with nearly impenetrable chert rock—seemed determined to resist her efforts. Just when she was ready to quit, an unexpected introduction to mulch gardening and later, Foundations for Farming principles, transformed not only her agricultural practices but her understanding of creation care as ministry.

The transformation wasn't immediate. For two years, Amanda battled erosion as southern downpours washed away her carefully applied mulch and compost. Yet through faithful application of stewardship principles, she witnessed her once-eroding plots begin to absorb torrential rainfall faster than it could run off. Her initial devastating aphid problems disappeared entirely, and thriving crops emerged from soil others had deemed hopeless.

What makes Amanda's story particularly powerful is her transition from learner to teacher. Despite initial fears about public speaking, she recognized that hoarding her knowledge would represent unfaithful stewardship. Beginning with tiny classes (sometimes just her sister and a neighbor), she gradually expanded her training efforts, discovering that inviting people to physically see her garden created the most powerful discipleship opportunities. The visible beauty of straight rows, healthy plants, and abundant harvests sparked conversations that pamphlets or lectures never could.

Her experiences offer valuable wisdom for southern gardeners battling continuous growing seasons and potential burnout. Start small. Maintain excellence in limited spaces rather than mediocrity across too much area. Recognize different life seasons may require pruning certain activities to focus on others. Most importantly, approach cultivation with prayer, asking God to reveal ways you can serve family and community through the humble work of tending soil.

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What happens when churches embrace agriculture as ministry? Frank Sindler, Executive Director of Equipping Farmers International, reveals how biblical farming principles are transforming both landscapes and lives across the Global South.

The numbers tell a striking story: approximately 70-80% of Christians in developing nations are farmers, yet for decades, mission efforts have overlooked this crucial aspect of discipleship. While churches planted throughout Africa, Asia, and Latin America continue growing rapidly, many struggle with chronic food insecurity and dependence on Western funding. This disconnect between faith and farming has limited the church's ability to demonstrate Christ's redemptive power in tangible ways.

Frank shares remarkable stories of transformation from multiple countries where EFI works. Farmers implementing conservation agriculture principles consistently see four to five-fold yield increases in their very first growing season—without expensive inputs. These dramatic improvements enable families to pay for education and healthcare while empowering local churches to fund their own ministry initiatives. In Liberia, one church network is already on track to replace half its outside funding with local agricultural revenue.

Perhaps most surprising is the evangelistic impact. Without explicit proselytizing, these farming programs consistently lead to conversions among Muslims, Hindus, and adherents of traditional religions. As Frank explains, "Creation is like a doorway into God's heart." When people witness barren soil transformed into abundance through principles that honor the Creator's design, they naturally encounter the God behind those principles. Even an 85-year-old lifelong Christian described the training as "life-changing."

The implications for global mission strategy are profound. As tens of millions come to faith in previously unreached regions, agricultural discipleship offers a sustainable pathway forward, unlocking local resources that far exceed what external support could provide. It challenges our compartmentalized thinking that separates "sacred" from "secular" activities, demonstrating that Christ's redemption extends to our relationship with creation itself.

Ready to get involved? Visit www.efi-intl.org to learn about training opportunities, internships, and how your financial support can equip farmers to feed both bodies and souls.

https://www.efi-intl.org/giving/

https://www.efi-intl.org/get-involved/

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Step into the rich soil of discipleship as we explore the profound connections between farming and the Great Commission with Curtis Sergeant, a discipleship multiplication expert whose methods have catalyzed movements resulting in millions of believers and churches worldwide.

Curtis shares his remarkable journey from an unreached island in China to establishing a training center that has equipped disciple-makers in 174 countries. The key? A simple, reproducible approach that mirrors agricultural principles—where multiplication is the natural outcome of healthy growth.

For those called to agriculture, this conversation reveals that your vocation isn't separate from discipleship but divinely designed for it. Genesis shows us that tending the earth was God's original intention for humanity before the Fall. Every agricultural principle—sowing and reaping, pruning for growth, patience in waiting for harvest, dependence on God for rain—parallels spiritual truths that make the gospel tangible and visible.

The "three-thirds process" Curtis teaches focuses on obedience rather than mere knowledge, equipping believers to spiritually self-feed, foster authentic community, and pass these skills to others through a training cycle of modeling, assisting, watching, and leaving. This approach has proven effective across cultures and contexts.

Whether you're a professional farmer, homesteader, or backyard gardener, your agricultural calling provides unique opportunities to demonstrate the gospel holistically by addressing our broken relationships with God, self, others, and creation. As you steward the land, you're positioned to steward souls as well, participating in both temporal and eternal harvests.

Ready to see your farm or garden become fertile ground for discipleship? Discover practical tools and approaches that will help you integrate the Great Commission into your agricultural calling. The fields truly are white for harvest—in more ways than one.

Key Take-aways:

• Discipleship means teaching obedience to Christ's commands, not just sharing information
• The "three-thirds process" focuses on accountability, hearing from God, and application
• Agriculture is a divine calling established before the Fall, not just a profession
• Farming provides natural illustrations of spiritual principles like sowing, reaping, and patience
• Effective disciple-making requires multiplication, just as seeds produce abundant harvests
• Sharing the gospel with farmers can begin with the Garden of Eden narrative
• Agricultural stewardship helps restore our broken relationship with creation
• Simple tools like Zume training and The Only One book can equip anyone to make disciples

Check out Curtis's resources at TheOnlyOneBook.com, Zume.training, and ObeyGC2.com to learn more about multiplying discipleship in your context.

To access the after-show join Redeeming the Dirt Academy! www.redeemingthedirtacademy.com 

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Embrace a radical shift in your gardening approach as we dive deep into the concept of no-till gardening! This episode illuminates how you can cultivate a flourishing garden without the use of a tiller. Listeners will meet Johann, a seasoned farmer with extensive experience from Malawi, who shares invaluable insights on the significance of soil life and encouraging sustainable practices that honor God's creation.

Explore the challenges and rewards of preparing your garden plot with minimal disturbance to the earth. We discuss the importance of understanding the delicate ecosystems beneath our feet, focusing on the myriad living organisms God created to contribute to a thriving environment. By incorporating mulching and organic matter into our gardening practices, we can foster healthier soil that yields bounteous crops.

Join us as we debunk common misconceptions about tilling and redefine what it means to cultivate the earth with respect and care. This conversation not only highlights practical gardening techniques but also frames them within a biblical worldview of stewardship and responsibility. 

Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting, this episode offers pearls of wisdom that can change how you approach your plot. Don't miss the opportunity to learn how to work with God's creation as a steward, rather than suffer the consequences of abusing it. Tune in and discover how to keep redeeming the dirt! Be sure to check out the links and resources in the show notes below for further learning and inspiration.

Click here to download my free no-till gardening checklist! 

Here are some videos by Johann:

Beautiful Crop

Foundations for Farming Story

Further Resources for Planting a Garden without a Tiller:

• Redeeming the Dirt Academy
• The Well-Watered Garden Handbook
  • Free PDF Download
  • On Amazon

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In this episode of the Redeeming the Dirt Podcast, we explore the important connection between agriculture and a Christian worldview, discussing how biblical principles can inform and transform farming practices. You will hear insights from Micah Humphreys, a professor at the College of the Ozarks, emphasizing stewardship and the role of faith in nurturing God's creation while encouraging listeners to engage in agriculture with hearts of humility and obedience to God.

In our conversation we cover topics like:

• Understanding the necessity of a Christian worldview in agriculture
• The role of stewardship in reflecting our faith in farming practices
• Insights from Micah Humphreys on education in agricultural perspectives
• The relationship between daily farming tasks and worshipful living
• Encouraging biblical thinking about different farming methods
• The importance of storytelling in shaping our agricultural worldview
• Navigating the tension of farming in a post-fall world with hope and humility
• Practical ways to integrate faith into agriculture and decision-making
• The significance of prayer and seeking God's guidance in farming practices

A powerful reminder from this episode is the importance of storytelling in shaping our worldview. Just as the world narrates its version of history, we, as Christians, have a narrative of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration—one that is distinctly crafted by the gospel. This overarching story provides context and purpose to our lives, fostering a deeper appreciation for the land that we cultivate.

Links:

College of the Ozarks
https://www.cofo.edu/

Affiliate Book Links:
Born-Again Dirt, Farming to the Glory of God by Noah Sanders
Well-Watered Garden Handbook by Noah Sanders
Pollution and the Death of Man by Francis Schaeffer
Where Garden Meets Wilderness by Calvin Beisner

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What if faith in Jesus could transform your everyday routines and responsibilities? This episode of the Redeeming the Dirt podcast challenges you to rethink how your Christian beliefs can permeate all aspects of life, especially in agriculture. Join me, Noah Sanders, as we unpack the concept of missional stewardship—where faith meets practical living. Discover how the biblical call to stewardship and discipleship can not only redeem our relationship with Creation but also reflect a life of surrender and purpose that glorifies God.

Explore how living as a missional steward isn't just about rule-following; it's an invitation to embody faith in daily actions. From the Apostle Paul's example of a quiet, productive life to practical initiatives like Foundations for Farming, Farming God's Way, and Equipping Farmers International, we illustrate how faithfulness in the ordinary things of life can lead to extraordinary impacts. Learn how these approaches empower individuals to reduce poverty and dependency while showcasing a heart grounded in God's wisdom rather than man's.

We'll also discuss the power of integrating faith with farming, creating missional opportunities for discipleship in community development. Resources like the Well-Watered Garden Handbook and Redeeming the Dirt Academy offer practical guidance for those eager to engage in faith-based outreach. Whether you're cultivating a garden or a relationship, this episode encourages you to embrace your role in spreading God's kingdom, using your gifts purposefully to make a lasting impact.

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Food and farming matters to God because they are part of his design and creation and impact the life and health of every person on earth. But Satan also cares, because the control of food and farming brings opportunities and power for his agenda of death, theft, and slavery. As we seek to be faithful to steward the land and serve others, it is important that we understand the battle we live in so we can accurately walk in truth and live effective lives. In this episode I talk with filmmaker and speaker Curtis Bowers about the dangers we face in this day and age,  the joy of walking in radical obedience to God, and the opportunities we have as Christian land stewards.

I highly recommend that you check out Curtis' resources and consider subscribing to his weekly newsletter.
https://agendaweekly.com/

If you would like to support the show please visit: https://redeemingthedirt.com/support/ 

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As we seek to follow God, even in stewarding the land, we must be motivated by faith in his wisdom and guidance. Many people are feeling called to build 'ark' homesteads as a protection against times of judgement and difficulty. Sometimes it can be discouraging and be easy to second guess what we are doing, but we must always return to acting in faith, even when it seems foolish. The roles people are called to may be different, and not everyone is called to 'build an ark', but we must persevere in faith and faithfulness in whatever part God has given us in building his Kingdom. In this podcast episode I share some of my recent thoughts and encouragements that I hope will be a blessing. 

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