What happens when culture begins discipling Christians more than the church does?

Pastor and author Aaron Graham joins me to talk about his book Unshakable Faith: How to Stand Firm in a Culture of Lies and the subtle ways secular ideas can creep into our faith without us even realizing it.

Aaron pastors The District Church in Washington, D.C., a multiethnic congregation representing people from around the world. After watching friends, ministry leaders, and fellow Christians slowly drift from historic Christian faith, Aaron began asking a difficult question: What is shaping us?

In this conversation, we talk about cultural drift, “secularized Christianity,” and seven lies Christians are increasingly tempted to believe.

We especially dig into two of them:

• “It’s all about me.” How consumer culture can turn God, church, prayer, and even worship into something centered around our comfort and preferences.

• “Faith should be private.” Why following Jesus is personal, but was never intended to remain hidden.

Aaron also shares seven historic Christian practices that help form an unshakable faith: true worship, deep community, bold storytelling, Bible engagement, biblical justice, Spirit-filled living, and radical forgiveness.

One of the biggest reminders from this conversation is simple:

If we don’t intentionally allow Jesus to disciple us, the world will gladly do it instead.

We don’t need a watered-down Christianity that simply adds Jesus to the life we already want. Jesus invites us to surrender, reorient our lives around Him, and discover that true flourishing is found not through grasping—but through letting go.

If you feel like your faith has been drifting, or you’re trying to help the next generation follow Jesus in an increasingly post-Christian culture, this conversation is for you.

To connect with Pastor Aaron:
- Check out the website: https://www.aarongrahamdc.com/
- Get the book: https://a.co/d/00ODXskA

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WANT TO GO DEEPER?
If you're a man who wants to go beyond just listening and start growing alongside other Christian men, check out The Rev Rx Collective.

For just $5/month (or choose the annual plan to get 2 months free), you'll get access to private Rev Rx Online Bible Studies, exclusive conversations and Q&A's, early access select episodes, practical resources, and a community of men who want to grow in their faith.

Come grow with us inside The Rev Rx Collective!
Check it out here: https://revrx.circle.so/revrxcollectivehome

What happens when the thing you built your identity around is suddenly taken away?

David Pollack was one of the most dominant defensive players in college football, a first-round NFL draft pick, and later a familiar face on ESPN’s College GameDay. Then, in the second game of his second NFL season, a devastating neck injury changed everything.

But David says losing football ultimately gave him something far more valuable.

In this conversation, David joins Chad to talk about the injury that ended his NFL career, discovering that football had become his identity, and learning to be still enough to actually hear from God.

David also opens up about another battle his family never expected: his wife Lindsay’s brain cancer diagnosis. He shares what it looks like to surrender something you cannot control, why Lindsay’s faith has been bigger than her fear, and how their family continues to trust God through scans, uncertainty, and unanswered questions.

They also talk about marriage, fatherhood, raising kids who follow Jesus, why men need to lead their families intentionally, developing a daily relationship with God, reading Scripture for transformation instead of information, sharing your faith, and making every day count.

David’s message is simple: You may not control what happens to you—but you can decide where you turn when it does.

In this episode:
• Why David says football became his identity—and a terrible god
• The neck injury that abruptly ended his NFL career
• What God taught him when everything finally became still
• A "too-close" battle with brain cancer
• Choosing faith over fear when you cannot fix the situation
• Why “faith has feet”
• David’s non-negotiable morning time with God
• Raising kids who know what really matters
• How to start where you are, use what you have, and do what you can
• Making every day count

To connect with David:
- Check out his new website: https://davidpollack.com
- Get his new book 'Every Day Counts': https://a.co/d/0acB943h

----------------------------------

WANT TO GO DEEPER?
If you're a man who wants to go beyond just listening and start growing alongside other Christian men, check out The Rev Rx Collective.

For just $5/month (or choose the annual plan to get 2 months free), you'll get access to private Rev Rx Online Bible Studies, exclusive conversations and Q&A's, early access select episodes, practical resources, and a community of men who want to grow in their faith.

Come grow with us inside The Rev Rx Collective!
Check it out here: https://revrx.circle.so/revrxcollectivehome

What happens when you've already reached the top?

At just 19 years old, Shannon Miller had become one of the most decorated American gymnasts of all time. She was a member of the legendary 'Magnificent Seven' that won team gold at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, and also captured individual gold on the balance beam.

But some of Shannon's greatest lessons came after the medals.

In this conversation, Shannon takes us behind the scenes of her Olympic journey - including the fall on vault that preceded one of the greatest moments of her career - and shares the simple question her mother asked her before her final Olympic performance: "Did you do the work?"

We talk about controlling what you can control, why failure is part of the process, and how to keep moving forward when life doesn't go according to plan.

Shannon also opens up about the difficult transition from elite athlete to everyday life, becoming a mother, and the routine doctor's appointment (which she almost cancelled) that ultimately led to an ovarian cancer diagnosis.

Her cancer journey completely changed the way she thinks about health, priorities, goals, and asking for help - and we unpack it all in this incredible conversation.

Whatever season you're walking through today, keep taking the next step forward. Failure isn't the end of the story, it's just one chapter.

Learn more about Shannon Miller and her work, including Salto Health, through the links below:

https://saltohealth.com

https://shannonmiller.com

A SPECIAL NOTE: OVARIAN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Shannon's story is an important reminder to listen to your body, keep your appointments, and advocate for your health. She nearly cancelled the appointment that led to her ovarian cancer diagnosis.

Learn more about ovarian cancer, its signs and symptoms, and available resources through the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) by visiting https://ovarian.org

----------------------------------

WANT TO GO DEEPER?
If you're a man who wants to go beyond just listening and start growing alongside other Christian men, check out The Rev Rx Collective.

For just $5/month (or choose the annual plan to get 2 months free), you'll get access to private Rev Rx Online Bible Studies, exclusive conversations and Q&A's, early access select episodes, practical resources, and a community of men who want to grow in their faith.

Come grow with us inside The Rev Rx Collective!
Check it out here: https://revrx.circle.so/revrxcollectivehome

Have you ever opened your Bible genuinely wanting to understand it, only to feel confused by unfamiliar places, customs, names, history, or language?

You're not alone.

In this episode of The Rev Rx Podcast, host Chad Potts sits down with Brad Gray and Brad Nelson from Walking The Text to explore one of the biggest keys to understanding Scripture: context.

This conversation unpacks why the Bible can feel difficult for modern readers, and how our 21st-century Western perspective can cause us to miss important details. We walk through 6 important lenses for understanding the Bible (history, geography, culture, language, literary design, and visual setting) - giving vivid examples from Scripture.

We also discuss The Lord's Prayer as a prime example of words most Christians can recite, but may not fully understand the meaning behind them.

If you've ever thought, 'I want to read my Bible, but I just don't understand it' - this conversation will give you practical tools to help Scripture come alive.

Brad Gray & Brad Nelson are part of Walking The Text, an organization dedicated to helping people understand the Bible in its ancient context so they can live it out faithfully today.

Their work includes:

-The Lord's Prayer documentary film, now showing on Angel Studios

-The Sacred Thread, a multimedia project further exploring The Lord's Prayer

-Teaching Series online videos / podcast episodes to tackle difficult texts

-Fully immersive website dedicated to Biblical context

Learn more:
walkingthetext.com

thesacredthread.com - get FREE access today (limited time offer)

Follow The Rev Rx Podcast for conversations that help everyday people understand their faith, live it out, and think more deeply about the things that matter most.

---------------

WANT TO GO DEEPER?
If you're a man who wants to go beyond just listening and start growing alongside other Christian men, check out The Rev Rx Collective.

For just $5/month (or choose the annual plan to get 2 months free), you'll get access to private Rev Rx Online Bible Studies, exclusive conversations and Q&A's, early access select episodes, practical resources, and a community of men who want to grow in their faith.

Come grow with us inside The Rev Rx Collective!
Check it out here: https://revrx.circle.so/revrxcollectivehome

Why do we sometimes react in ways we immediately regret - even when we know better?

Maybe you get defensive when your spouse makes a simple comment. Maybe anger takes over before you have time to think. Or maybe you shut down, withdraw, or say something you wish you could take back.

In this episode, host Chad Potts sits down with clinical psychologist and author Dr. Kelly Flanagan to unpack what actually happens when we get triggered - and how we can learn to respond better.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• what it actually means to be emotionally triggered
• the difference between a reaction and a response
• how your nervous system affects conflict and communication
• how fear and shame influence relationship patterns
• why 'that's just the way I am' may not be a good excuse
• practical steps for becoming less triggered and more intentional

Dr. Kelly Flanagan is a clinical psychologist and the author of 'The Road Less Triggered'. His work helps people understand their emotional patterns, navigate conflict, build better and healthier relationships, and move from triggers towards connection.

If you've ever wondered 'why do I react like this?' - this episode is for you!

Connect with Dr. Kelly Flanagan:
https://drkellyflanagan.com/books/

Follow the Rev Rx Podcast for conversations that help you think more deeply about faith, family, health, relationships, and the things that matter most.

What do you do when the Bible doesn't specifically address the question you're facing?

There are some things Scripture makes incredibly clear.

But what about things like gambling? war? abortion? cohabitation? transgenderism? divorce and remarriage? and even use of AI?

There are countless everyday decisions where we can't simply point to a chapter and verse and say 'there's my answer'?

That's where Biblical wisdom comes in.

On this episode, I sit down with author, pastor, and Christian thought leader Daniel Darling to discuss these topics and more, including material from his book 'Biblical Wisdom for Everyday Life: Ethical Answers for Cultural Questions'.

Daniel argues that when considering these questions, our heart posture matters.

Instead of thinking 'What can I get away with?'

Maybe the better question is:

'How can I best honor God?'

Together, we explore how Christians today can apply the whole of Scripture to modern questions - even when it doesn't specifically name the issue we're facing.

We also tackle the tension between rules and relationship when it comes to Christianity. God's commands aren't simply arbitrary restrictions, but guardrails given to us by a loving Father who created us and knows what leads to our fluorishing.

The goal isn't to figure out exactly where the line is so we can get as close to it as possible.

It's to ask genuinely: 'How can I live a life that honors God in all I say an do."

If you're seeking that kind of life, this episode is for you!

And if this conversation helps you, please send it to someone else to help them in their journey towards Christlikeness. And be sure to follow The Rev Rx Podcast for more conversations about the things that matter most.

Connect with Daniel:

https://danieldarling.com

https://danieldarling.substack.com

Order 'Biblical Wisdom for Everyday Life':
https://danieldarling.com/books/biblicalwisdom

What if Jesus really is who He claimed to be?

Our culture is comfortable describing Jesus as a wise teacher, a moral example, a life coach, or an affirming spiritual guide. But those versions of Jesus leave out something essential: Jesus claimed to be far more than a good man with helpful advice.

In this episode of The Rev Rx Podcast, Chad talks with author, attorney, professor, and apologist Lindsey Medenwaldt about her new book, What If Jesus Is Right? Examining Jesus’ Claims About Himself in a World of Falsehoods, coauthored with Douglas Groothuis.

Together, they explore the false versions of Jesus promoted by modern culture, why calling Him “just a good teacher” does not adequately account for His claims, and what Jesus said about His own identity. Lindsey also addresses the growing temptation to create an AI-generated or personalized Jesus who simply tells us what we want to hear.

They also discuss why every Christian testimony matters, how biblical illiteracy makes us vulnerable to false ideas, and why knowing the real Jesus should lead to more than intellectual agreement—it should transform the way we live.

Because if Jesus is right, He cannot simply be added to the life we have already chosen. He must become Lord of it.

In this conversation:

• Why a quiet testimony is still a powerful story of God’s grace
• The danger of reducing Jesus to a moral teacher
• Why “AI Jesus” can become Jesus created in our own image
• What Jesus’ “I am” statements reveal about His identity
• Why Christians need to know Scripture for themselves
• The difference between knowing about Jesus and surrendering to Him
• How belief in the real Jesus should change our love, hope, humility, and daily lives

Connect with Lindsey and preorder What If Jesus Is Right? through the link here: https://lindseymedenwaldt.com/

The Rev Rx Podcast: Conversations about what matters most.

Check out Episode 93 with Lindsey's husband Jay Medenwaldt here:

https://www.manalivecoaching.com/podcast/episode/e991e92e/episode-93-faith-isnt-blind-why-believing-in-god-makes-sense-with-dr-jay-medenwaldt

Can we actually trust the Bible?

What about the contradictions critics point out? Were the Gospels written too late? Did the Gospel writers disagree with each other? And does any of that affect our faith?

In this episode of the RevRx Podcast, Chad sits down with renowned New Testament scholar and Christian apologist Dr. Mike Licona to tackle one of Christianity’s biggest questions.

Drawing from decades of historical research, doctoral work, and debates with leading skeptics—including Bart Ehrman—Dr. Licona explains why thoughtful investigation has actually strengthened his confidence in Scripture.

Rather than avoiding difficult questions, this conversation demonstrates why Christians don’t have to fear them.

• Why doubt isn’t the enemy of faith
• Can we really trust the Gospels?
• What “God-breathed” Scripture actually means
• How historians evaluate ancient documents
• Why Gospel differences don’t automatically equal contradictions
• How ancient biography helps explain the Gospel accounts
• Why the resurrection remains the foundation of Christianity
• Practical reasons you can have confidence in your Bible

Whether you’ve wrestled with questions yourself or want to better answer your children’s questions someday, this conversation will equip and encourage you.

• Website - https://www.risenjesus.com/
• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@MikeLiconaOfficial/videos
• Books: - https://www.risenjesus.com/books
  • Jesus, Contradicted
  • Why Are There Differences in the Gospels?Listen & Subscribe

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What happens when a culture that preaches tolerance decides someone is no longer worthy of being heard, respected, or restored?

In this episode of The RevRx Podcast, Chad sits down with Christian apologist Alycia Wood to examine cancel culture through the lens of the gospel.

Cancel culture does more than confront wrongdoing. It often labels people by the worst thing they have ever done and leaves little room for repentance, forgiveness, growth, or redemption.

But Jesus offers a radically different way.

He never ignored sin—but He also never discarded people.

Chad and Alycia discuss why we are often quick to demand justice for others while wanting grace for ourselves, how pride causes us to magnify someone else’s failures while minimizing our own, and why comparing ourselves to Jesus changes the way we see both our sin and the sins of others.

Alycia also shares the powerful illustration of kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with precious metals. Where others might see something shattered and worthless, the artist sees something that can still be restored and made beautiful.

That is the hope of the gospel.

Our brokenness does not have to be the end of our story. In Christ, we are not permanently defined by our failures. We can repent, receive forgiveness, and become new.

In this conversation:

• What cancel culture is and how it developed
• Why public shaming can feel satisfying
• The difference between accountability and cancellation
• Why Christians want grace for themselves but justice for others
• How Jesus responded to sinful and broken people
• Why forgiveness does not eliminate consequences
• How social media encourages people to pile on
• The biblical stories of David, Peter, and Paul
• Why your worst decision does not have to become your identity
• How Christians can model a better way in the digital world
• The beauty of redemption and transformation through Christ

Alycia Wood is a Christian apologist with Apologetics, Inc. She has spent more than a decade in full-time apologetics ministry, speaking on Christianity, culture, identity, and difficult questions of faith. She is also the host of the Hey Alycia! podcast, where she responds to questions and objections about Christianity.

Learn more about Alycia and Apologetics, Inc.:
https://apologetics.org/alycia-wood/

Listen to Hey Alycia!:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hey-alycia/id1788963907

Parenting can bring out parts of us we didn’t even know were there.

One minute, everything seems fine. The next, the kids are arguing, nobody is listening, you’re running late—and you hear yourself yelling again.

Then comes the guilt: “This isn’t the parent I want to be.”

In this episode of The Rev Rx Podcast, Chad sits down with Kirk Martin, founder of Celebrate Calm and host of the Calm Parenting Podcast, for a practical and honest conversation about moving from reactive parenting to calm, connected leadership.

Kirk’s work grew out of his experience raising a strong-willed son. After trying the fear-and-intimidation approach he had learned growing up, Kirk realized something important: the only person he could truly control was himself.

That realization changed his family—and eventually led him to work with 1,500 strong-willed and neurodivergent children in his own home.

Kirk explains why a parent’s anxiety is often the greatest source of tension in the home and how changing your posture, tone, and response can completely shift a difficult moment. He also shares a surprisingly simple strategy: instead of marching into the room and taking control, sit down, observe, and become curious about what is really happening.

Chad and Kirk also explore the connection between our view of God as Father and the way we parent. They discuss patience and self-control as fruit of the Spirit, the danger of sacrificing long-term relationships for short-term compliance, and why our mistakes can become some of our most powerful teaching moments.

In this episode:

• Why trying to control your child often backfires
• How parental anxiety escalates conflict
• The difference between reacting and responding
• Why strong-willed and neurodivergent children often respond differently to traditional discipline
• How your posture and tone can deescalate a tense situation
• Why discipline should teach rather than simply punish
• How to address the root of a child’s behavior
• Choosing long-term relationship over short-term compliance
• What Jesus can teach us about compassion, correction, and connection
• How apologizing to your children models humility
• A practical strategy parents can begin using today

Kirk’s challenge is simple: the next time you enter a tense situation, sit down. Don’t immediately lecture, threaten, or try to fix everything. Observe, become curious, and ask what your child may need to learn in that moment.

You don’t have to become a perfect parent overnight. With humility, grace, and the help of the Holy Spirit, you can begin becoming the parent you want to be.

Learn more from Kirk Martin:

Celebrate Calm: https://celebratecalm.com
Calm Parenting Podcast: https://celebratecalm.com/podcasts/