In this episode of Theology on Purpose, food scholar and theologian Kendall Vanderslice joins Sarah for a conversation about food as a site of spiritual formation. Kendall shares her journey into food and theology and explores what the practice of baking bread can teach us about faith. They reflect on how spiritual growth happens not through control or performance, but through learning to trust God with the work of transformation.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What bread-making reveals about spiritual growth and trust

• Why rest is not a reward, but an act of faith

• How curiosity and joy shape a healthier life with God

• Faith as embodied, sensory, and communal

• Food, control, and fear-based cultural narratives (especially in the Trad Wife movement!)

• The table as a place of healing, resistance, and connection

Connect with Kendall here: https://kendallvanderslice.com/

Get the show notes here: https://sarahkbutterfield.substack.com/s/podcast

Every day begins with a blank canvas, and every decision we make becomes a brushstroke. But what happens when life doesn't turn out the way we imagined, or when our plans are interrupted by limits, and the unexpected? In this solo episode, we explore how our daily choices shape our lives, how to honor our God-given limits and capacity, and how to trust God when we're not in control. Through a faith-filled lens, you'll be encouraged to live with intention, clarity, and surrender as you invite God into the bigger picture of your life.

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In this episode of Theology on Purpose, Sarah is joined by Kara Stout, author of An Untroubled Heart, for a meaningful conversation about faith, anxiety, grief, and God's sustaining peace.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

• Kara's journey through infertility, adoption, and motherhood

• Losing both parents to cancer and how grief shaped her faith

• The difference between anxious thoughts and the Holy Spirit's leading

• Why we shouldn't "spiritually bypass" our emotions

• How daily rhythms of prayer and Scripture cultivate peace

• When and why seeking professional counseling can be a faithful choice

For anyone navigating anxiety, loss, or spiritual dryness, this episode offers much-needed encouragement, everyday wisdom, and hope rooted in God's compassion.

Take the Connect with God Quiz here: https://connectwithgodquiz.com/

Get the show notes here: https://sarahkbutterfield.substack.com/s/podcast

Seasons of waiting don't need to feel like wasted time, but instead they can be part of our spiritual formation! In this solo episode, I reflect on a missed speaking opportunity, biblical stories of long seasons of waiting, and what our unmet desires reveal about our deeper longing for God. Tune in to discover how waiting can become an active spiritual practice that reshapes our faith, priorities, and trust in God's goodness.

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In this episode of Theology on Purpose, Sarah talks with Phoebe Miles, co-founder of the Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention, about faith, creativity, and the long work of living out your calling. Phoebe shares the story behind her father's invention of Gatorade, including the personal cost that followed, and how learning to see that story through God's lens transformed her understanding of humility, healing, and vocation. Phoebe discusses how our work—whether visible or hidden, paid or unpaid—can become a faithful presence that serves the flourishing of others.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why embracing both the painful and beautiful parts of your story matters for spiritual formation

• How creativity and innovation reflect our identity as image-bearers of God

• What it means to live as a faithful presence in your everyday work and community

• How different seasons of calling shape women's work and ministry over a lifetime

• Why Sabbath and fasting are essential practices for long-term faithfulness

Get the show notes here: https://sarahkbutterfield.substack.com/s/podcast

More on the Faithful Presence Initiative here: https://faithfulpresence.com/

Take the Connect with God quiz here: https://connectwithgodquiz.com/

In this solo episode, I reflect on what it means to trust a good God when the way forward feels uncertain. Drawing on Ruth Haley Barton's insights on discernment, I explore how learning to release our preferred outcomes, listen for love, and trust the Holy Spirit can help us make faithful decisions even when there is no single "right" path. This episode is an invitation to practice discernment as a way of life, especially as we step into seasons marked by change and unknowing.

Take the Connect with God quiz here: https://connectwithgodquiz.com/

In this Advent reflection, Sarah shares an unexpected story about her family dog that became a surprising teacher of hope. From a child's innocent question to a tearful moment in a vet's office, this episode explores why Advent hope still matters in a world full of uncertainty. Through Scripture, longing, and the everyday decisions that stretch our hearts, Sarah invites listeners to rediscover the Light that meets us in the dark and leads us toward what could be.

Take the Connect with God quiz here: https://connectwithgodquiz.com/

Subscribe to get the latest updates here: https://sarahkbutterfield.substack.com/subscribe

Tune into this rich conversation with author and lay theologian Chelsea Kim Long! We chat about faith, embodiment, and how our journey of following Jesus evolves over time. Chelsea shares how motherhood and doubt reshaped her spiritual life and led her toward a more embodied, and compassionate faith. She reflects on finding healing in intentional Christian community, expanding her theology of womanhood, and discovering how our bodies help us encounter God in daily life.

This episode is a balm for anyone rethinking their faith, longing for belonging, or curious about how God meets us in our real, lived experiences.

Take the Connect with God quiz here: https://connectwithgodquiz.com/

Get the show notes here: https://sarahkbutterfield.substack.com/s/podcast

Have you ever found yourself surrounded by all the Christmas decorations, music, and activity—yet somehow missing the wonder of it all? In this solo episode, Sarah reflects on a quiet moment that made her realize how easy it is to grow too familiar with the nativity story. She shares four practical and heartfelt ways to recapture awe this Advent season.

If your heart feels a little weary or uninspired this Christmas, this episode will help you slow down, look closer, and rediscover the miracle that the baby was God!

Can painful experiences become the birthplace of blessings? Author Hadassah Treu joins Sarah to share her powerful story of loss, faith, and redemption from her book Draw Near: How Painful Experiences Become the Birthplace of Blessings. She reflects on how grief led her to deeper intimacy with God, what disillusionment can teach us, and the simple practices that sustained her through seasons of sorrow.

In this episode, you'll discover how to find hope when faith feels fragile, reframe pain as an invitation to draw closer to God, and cultivate spiritual practices—like gratitude, journaling, and prayer—that bring healing and renewal. It's an honest and hope-filled conversation for anyone walking through suffering and longing to see God's goodness in the midst of it.

Take the Connect with God quiz here: https://connectwithgodquiz.com/

Get the show notes here: https://sarahkbutterfield.substack.com/s/podcast