The Washington Defender Podcast

FPIW ACTION interviews Michael Kelly - Pastor Brian has a 20-minute conversation to meet Candidate Michael Kelly - nothing in this video is an endorsement of the candidate nor the candidate's endorsement of FPIW ACTION

A Devotion for your drive into work: 

God doesn't want more religious routines—He wants a heart so changed that actions, words, and civic engagement reflect His justice, love, and public witness every day

Tracing circumcision from Abraham (Genesis 17) through Moses (Deuteronomy) and Paul (Romans 2), the message teaches that God's real requirement is a transformed heart—one that submits to His commands, loves justice, cares for the vulnerable, and avoids hypocrisy in public and private spheres. Circumcision originated as a covenant sign but is only meaningful when it leads to genuine obedience and practical service. The closing prayer asks God to cut away everything that distracts from praise, witness, and public integrity—reminding listeners that God's glory is best shown through changed lives, not rituals alone.This devotional emphasizes that true circumcision is a change of heart, not just an outward ritual—God wants humility, obedience, and public integrity that brings Him glory, rather than religious routine or hypocritical behavior.

We are transforming our hearts so we can shape the public square. If you're interested in starting a public square ministry, check out these free resources - https://fpiw.org/public-square-ministry

Donate Today - https://fpiw.bndlr.co/

A Devotion for your drive into work: 

Will faith in public life be remembered for authentic love and justice or for the hypocrisy that leads others to reject the truth?

Based on Romans 2 and Jeremiah 9, the devotional confronts the dangers of hypocrisy in civic engagement, leadership, and daily relationships. Christians are called to accurate, humble truth-telling about God and to avoid boastful, self-centered living. God delights not in outward reputation, but in loving kindness, justice, and righteousness worked out in daily life. The prayer and application emphasize letting God “circumcise the heart” so public actions and private worship match, inviting the world to see a credible, hope-filled faith rooted in Christ’s truth, mercy, and humility.

We are transforming our hearts so we can shape the public square. If you're interested in starting a public square ministry, check out these free resources - https://fpiw.org/public-square-ministry

Donate Today - https://fpiw.bndlr.co/

A Devotion for your drive into work: 

Would others honor God because of observable kindness, patience, and excellence in daily life—or does conduct only glorify self in difficult moments?

Drawing from Romans 2, Matthew 5:16, and 1 Peter 2:12, the message calls believers to let their good deeds point others to Christ—to let humility, patience, and integrity be the hallmarks that cause observers to “glorify the Father.” When hearts are truly changed, conduct aligns with confession, and God’s character is honored both in easy circumstances and during conflict. Practical applications include extending kindness, listening well, pursuing excellence, and holding firm to honest, godly responses regardless of others’ behavior. The closing exhortation urges asking the Holy Spirit to renew the mind and will so that all life—private and public—brings genuine glory to God today

 We are transforming our hearts so we can shape the public square. If you're interested in starting a public square ministry, check out these free resources - https://fpiw.org/public-square-ministry

Donate Today - https://fpiw.bndlr.co/

Pastor to Pastor

Can prayer meetings and Spirit-led services really change an entire region—turning a “least religious” state into a place of revival, bold leadership, and public biblical witness?

Is the key to revival—and societal transformation—a return to the church as media hub, educator, advocate, refuge, and source of public truth, as in America’s founding era?

Pastors Brian and Matt discuss the urgent need for pastors to provide biblical clarity on public issues, equip the church to influence government, education, and the media, and stand as unashamed voices for the gospel amid widespread social confusion. They point to America’s Christian foundations, the danger of church disengagement, and the historic roles of pastors as culture-shapers. The conversation covers practical steps (school co-ops, media outreach, civic prayer, benevolence), warnings against secular and socialist ideologies, and the call for heart transformation—personally and in government—through bold leadership, truth, and Christlike love

We are transforming our hearts so we can shape the public square. If you're interested in starting a public square ministry, check out these free resources - https://fpiw.org/public-square-ministry

Donate Today - https://fpiw.bndlr.co/

A Devotion for your drive into work: 

Are hearts hardened by cultural rot and compromise, or are believers marked by tears and sorrow for what wounds God—ready to pray, fast, and intercede for a community in need of true revival?

Do the public sins and personal struggles in church, city, or nation stir up anger and frustration—or do they produce humble grief, compassionate advocacy, and a longing for God to heal and restore?

Echoing God’s marking of the faithful in Ezekiel, this message urges Christians to let sorrow over sin lead to action, not apathy—bearing the seal of authenticity and Holy Spirit compassion in every sphere. The devotional calls for self-examination, genuine lament, and bold public witness: sharing God’s grief, declaring truth with love, and choosing repentance rather than resignation. The closing prayer asks, “Lord, break our hearts for what breaks yours,” inspiring listeners to honor God, intercede for others, and work for transformation in family, church, and society.

We are transforming our hearts so we can shape the public square. If you're interested in starting a public square ministry, check out these free resources - https://fpiw.org/public-square-ministry

Donate Today - https://fpiw.bndlr.co/

A Devotion for your drive into work: 

Is hypocrisy blinding your genuine witness—does your heart secretly contradict God’s creed, and what would change if you walked in truth, deed, and love, not just words?

Are there areas where hidden pride, lack of compassion, or unloving actions undermine public witness, even as biblical standards are taught verbally in church, workplace, or community?

Starting in Deuteronomy 10 and Romans 2, the message exposes Israel’s struggle to balance God’s law and authentic faith—the danger of “stiff necks” and uncircumcised hearts, and the temptation to teach truth but privately break it. The devotional challenges listeners to fear God, pursue justice and compassion, guard against hypocrisy, and love neighbors not just in words but in meaningful deeds. 1 John’s call to “love in deed and truth” offers practical guidance: pray for God to reveal hidden inconsistencies and replace them with authentic love, reverence, and public integrity. The closing prayer asks for the Spirit to root out hypocrisy, comfort self-doubt, and empower tangible obedience and bold biblical witness in every sphere of life

We are transforming our hearts so we can shape the public square. If you're interested in starting a public square ministry, check out these free resources - https://fpiw.org/public-square-ministry

Donate Today - https://fpiw.bndlr.co/

A Devotion for your drive into work: 

 Is “learning” just accumulating information, or does it produce visible change, obedience, and courage in the public square when hard choices must be made?

Does regular exposure to biblical teaching result in deeper love for God and neighbor, or does it sometimes create complacency or hypocrisy if not lived out?

Pulling from Romans 2:17–21 and 2 Timothy 3, the message warns against being always learning but never coming to the knowledge of the truth—loving pleasure, self, or comfort more than God. Learners must apply, not just retain, truth, letting scripture shape conduct, relationships, and priorities in both public and private life. The challenge: teach only what is being personally practiced, love God above all else, and let each lesson be a catalyst for humility, courage, and biblical witness in a confused world.

We are transforming our hearts so we can shape the public square. If you're interested in starting a public square ministry, check out these free resources - https://fpiw.org/public-square-ministry

Donate Today - https://fpiw.bndlr.co/

A Devotion for your drive into work: 

What if correcting foolishness in others starts with a prayer—“Lord, circumcise my heart”—so that every word is shaped by humility, self-reflection, and grace, not pride or frustration?

Does correction flow from a spirit of superiority, or from a broken and surrendered heart that seeks God's glory above personal vindication or being right?​

Drawing from Romans 2 and Isaiah 57, this teaching urges believers to look inward before attempting to correct others—seeking a "circumcised" (transformed) heart and lowly spirit that God can use powerfully in the public square. The devotional warns against arrogance, idolatry, and the temptation to place anything above God, promising that God’s peace, healing, and effective witness are reserved for the contrite and humble. When hearts are first surrendered, correction and guidance become instruments of restoration and blessing, not control or contention.

We are transforming our hearts so we can shape the public square. If you're interested in starting a public square ministry, check out these free resources - https://fpiw.org/public-square-ministry

Donate Today - https://fpiw.bndlr.co/

A Devotion for your drive into work: 

Light shines brightest in darkness when the guide is first cleansed and renewed by God, not just armed with information or religious habit.

Do personal repentance and renewal precede moments of spiritual influence and evangelism, or does self-reliance rob your witness of power and authenticity in the public square?

Referencing Romans 2 and Psalm 51, the message emphasizes that a “circumcised heart”—one regularly cleansed and surrendered—enables believers to lead others into truth and light. The process starts with honest prayer for forgiveness, joy, and a steadfast spirit, so that public witness flows from genuine transformation rather than religious duty. This “heart surgery” equips guides to declare God’s praise, model compassion, and share the joy of salvation, thereby advancing biblical values wherever they serve or speak.

We are transforming our hearts so we can shape the public square. If you're interested in starting a public square ministry, check out these free resources - https://fpiw.org/public-square-ministry

Donate Today - https://fpiw.bndlr.co/