The Standard

The Standard

By devinkschafferReligion & SpiritualityChristianity
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The Standard episodes

  • Episode 14: Discerning God’s Will: Moving From Panic to Purpose in Hard Seasons

    This episode equips believers navigating unexpected life trials, hospital visits, or major career decisions with practical tools to discern God's direction without panicking.

    What You’ll Learn:

    • How to renew your mind (Romans 12:2) and quiet the anxiety of the flesh when faced with sudden personal crisis or uncertainty.
    • The three crucial diagnostic questions for major decisions: Scriptural Alignment, Wise Counsel (Proverbs 15:22), and Wholehearted Trust.
    • Why God often leads us through "circles of trust" rather than immediate "lightning bolts," requiring us to stay faithful in daily responsibilities.

      • Next Step: Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and let us know how you are waiting on the Lord and trusting His plan this week.

      23 min
    • Episode 13: Pledging Allegiance to Christ: Overcoming the Culture of the Air

      This episode helps young men and leaders discern the spiritual atmosphere of modern culture and choose a victorious covenant with Christ over worldly validation.

      What You’ll Learn:

      • How the "prince of the power of the air" (Ephesians 2:1-2) subtly markets destructive habits and street culture under the guise of freedom, status, and belonging.
      • The contrast between dying for a neighborhood or money versus dying daily to self in Christ to find genuine peace and lasting purpose.
      • How the "But God" promise (Ephesians 2:4) keeps believers secure, protected, and undefeated against hostile world systems.

        • Next Step: Follow The Standard on your favorite podcast app and share this conversation with a young man who needs to anchor his identity in Christ.

        24 min
      • Episode 12: Emotionally Healthy Spirituality

        This episode is for faith-driven believers and leaders looking to bridge the gap between spiritual maturity and emotional health by learning to be still and address internal pain.

         

        What You’ll Learn:

        • Why it is impossible to be truly spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature or ignoring personal trauma.
        • How we often use "religious busyness" or ministry activity as a distraction to hide from deep-seated fear, anger, and grief.
        • The true Hebrew meaning of "Be still" (Psalm 46:10)—releasing control, loosening your grip, and surrendering your personal agenda to God.

          • Next Step: Subscribe to The Standard and share this episode with a friend or leader who needs permission to rest and address their emotional health today.

          24 min
        • Episode 11: Dignity Over Imitation: Reclaiming True Empowerment in Christ

          This episode is for faith-driven men and women who want to break free from modern cultural traps and reclaim the inherent, God-given dignity they already possess.

          • What You’ll Learn:
            • Why "getting the bag" or behaving badly isn't true empowerment, but rather a deceptive permission to imitate the very systems and lifestyles that have historically caused our communities harm.
            • A raw, transparent critique of modern cultural tropes—from the "dope boy" persona to the hyper-sexualization of female rap—and how these deceptions drain our families of generational wealth and spiritual authority.
            • How to apply the timeless blueprint of Micah 6:8 to prioritize our children's spiritual legacy over the world's false metrics of success, because having everything in the Lord beats going to Harvard without Him.
            • Next Step: Subscribe to The Standard and share this powerful, transparent episode with someone in your circle who needs to walk in their true identity today.
              • 24 min
            • Episode 10: Yielding the Wheel: Moving From Self-Made to God-Made

              This episode helps faith-driven professionals and leaders recognize when they are clutching the wheel of their lives too tightly and teaches them how to transition from exhausting self-reliance to true spiritual surrender.

              • What You’ll Learn:
                • How to identify the warning signs that your will is out of alignment with God—including chronic irritability, micromanagement, anxiety over results, and an inability to rest.
                • The crucial difference between Savior and Lord, and why many believers settle for being saved while still trying to "run their own play" instead of God's.
                • Why surrender is not weak resignation but an active, powerful alignment that requires far more internal strength than pushing forward on brute ego.
                • Next Step: Subscribe to The Standard on your favorite podcast platform and share this episode with a leader who needs to lay down their heavy burdens today
                  • 24 min
                • Episode 9: The Three Ps: From Pretend and Predict to Powerful Prayer

                  This episode helps faith-driven professionals strip away the pressure of "pretending" and "predicting" so they can experience the life-changing power of true, surrendered prayer.

                  • What You’ll Learn:
                    • The danger of "pretending" by putting on a strong face to get through the workweek while hiding personal and spiritual exhaustion underneath the surface.
                    • Why checking religious boxes or relying solely on "rational" Western logic acts as a barrier to a genuine, direct relationship with God.
                    • How the Lord’s Prayer serves as a practical map for daily surrender—highlighting why we must release unforgiveness and submit our plans before asking for provision (the lessons of the daily Manna and the fiery furnace of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego).
                    • Next Step: Subscribe to The Standard on your favorite podcast app and share this episode with a brother who needs to exchange their heavy burdens for God's peace today.
                      • 25 min
                    • Episode 3: Navigating the Tension: Relationship vs. Religion with Dr. Warren McMillan
                      • This conversation with special guest Dr. Warren McMillan is for believers looking to navigate the seemingly contradictory "tensions" of scripture by leaning on the Holy Spirit rather than rigid religious rules.

                        • What You’ll Learn:

                          • How to understand scriptures that seem to contradict each other (like Proverbs 26:4-5) by seeking the contextual guidance of the Holy Spirit.
                          • The critical difference between falling in love with the "church system" (religion) versus building a genuine, obedient relationship with the Father.
                          • Why auditing your friend group and having a trusted community is essential for identifying the "blind spots" in your own spiritual walk.

                            • Next Step: Follow The Standard on your favorite podcast platform and connect with our community to find your own trusted sounding board.

                            27 min
                          • Episode 4: Making Your Calling Sure: Why You Don't Need Human Validation

                            This episode encourages believers who feel called by the Holy Spirit to step into their assignments without waiting for validation from traditional institutions or human systems.

                            • What You’ll Learn:
                              • How the Apostle Paul’s conversion on the Road to Damascus proves that God's calling doesn't always require traditional institutional approval or seminary training.
                              • The difference between possessing a genuine, Holy Spirit-led calling and simply seeking the spotlight or a title.
                              • How to act as a "clean window pane" for God's light, bringing your authentic personality to your calling without obscuring the message.
                              • Next Step: Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and let us know how you are stepping into your unique calling this week.
                                • 26 min
                              • Episode 5: Navigating Spiritual Warfare and the Wilderness Season

                                This episode helps faith-driven professionals understand that the "wilderness" is not a punishment, but a necessary preparation for your true purpose.

                                What You’ll Learn:

                                  • Why the enemy often attacks your identity right before you step into your God-given calling and purpose.
                                  • The difference between finding solutions through the guidance of the Holy Spirit versus relying solely on humanism and modern counseling.
                                  • How to recognize the "turn signals" of spiritual warfare and why the wilderness is designed for development rather than delay.

                                    • Next Step: Subscribe to The Standard and share this episode with a friend who needs encouragement in their wilderness season today.

                                    28 min
                                  • Episode 6: Hardpressed But Not Crushed: Navigating Systemic Pressure and Grief

                                    This conversation is designed for African-American men and leaders looking for biblical resilience when facing cultural expectations, burnout, and profound grief.

                                    • What You’ll Learn:
                                      • How to apply 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 to modern challenges like systemic oppression, corporate exhaustion, and daily family responsibilities.
                                      • The importance of biblical lament and giving yourself permission to process grief and sadness honestly without toxic positivity.
                                      • Why relying on true community and shared faith is critical when you feel culturally pressured to just "put your head down and keep grinding".
                                      • Next Step: Follow The Standard on your favorite podcast app and visit our website for more resources on faith, leadership, and emotional health.
                                        • 27 min

                                      About The Standard

                                      From the publisher's feed

                                      The Standard is a weekly conversation between co-hosts Gary Jones and Devin Schaffer, dialoguing on Scripture, theology, and the practical realities of living out faith today. Each episode…