A Netflix documentary can tell a story so cleanly that it feels like the whole truth, and that’s what makes Death of the Pastor’s Wife so challenging for the church. When Christianity gets presented as a system where men hold power and women carry blame, it gives people one more reason to say, “See, this is why I avoid church.” We want to offer a different narrative, one that actually sounds like Jesus.

I'm joined by my longtime friend Allison Conrad to talk about how purity culture shaped many of us through modesty rules, silence, and the subtle message that women are responsible for men’s temptation. From there we open the Bible and slow down in Ephesians 5, especially the often-missed hinge of Ephesians 5:21: “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” We also explain why verse 22 depends on verse 21 in the Greek, and how Paul’s focus lands hardest on the person with cultural authority: husbands called to sacrificial, Christlike love.

We then turn to 1 Corinthians 7 to talk about biblical sexuality and the inherent power of sex, why it can’t be treated as either everything or nothing, and how quickly it becomes a weapon in abusive dynamics. Finally, we talk about what the church must become: a safe place for confession and healing, and a brave place that confronts abuse, removes unsafe leaders, and protects the weak without sliding into judgment or denial. If this conversation helps you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find a healthier, Scripture-shaped vision of faith and relationships.

Last episode Pastors Scott Hawkins and Michael Stoops discussed what happens to us when we die. In this episode, our intrepid pastors open up that other can of worms; what do the the end times look like, how do we know they are here?  Let's dive into Revelation together.

Listen as Pastors Scott Hawkins and Michael Stoops discuss eschatology. Many answers to mankind's curious big question 'what happens when you die' are found in the scriptures. What is not found is an exact date. Let's go ahead and get that out of the way now! Come on, jump in. Let's talk about this together.

God gives us the opportunity to respond to His love with a life of worship and love. Listen to Pastor Scott and Stoops discuss this topic and others. 

Listen as Pastors Scott Hawkins and Michael Stoops discuss prayer. The posture of prayer takes many forms and viewing prayer as a service to others and the body should be one of those.

Listen as Pastors Scott Hawkins and Michael Stoops take you on a journey to understanding the gift of hope. This hope is not the verb form as we use in the common vernacular. No, Christian hope is a noun.

Loneliness is a major cause of physical illness in our society. Jesus tells us to do unto others what we want them to do to us. Therefore, reach out to someone you know who lacks social connections and invite them to church! 

For some, worship is a habit or a tradition that we participate it, but it's much more than that. It is what we are made for. 
 
Listen as Pastors Scott Hawkins and Michael Stoops take you on a journey to understanding how worship shapes us, molds us and brings us closer to our original design and purpose. 

Discipleship is a crucial part of a relational Christian life. Often though it's a term that gives people pause. Why? It can be confusing and somewhat daunting, especially if one feels they are new or a immature in their faith.

Patsors Scott Hawkins and Michael Stoops help us work through the idea of discipleship and shine  the light on ways to practically live it out in our daily lives.

One of those ways, allow yourself to be discipled to. Who in your life is pouring into you? Discipleship is not a one way street. It is not merely telling people about Christ. It is much more than that.

In this episode of Things of Faith, Pastors Scott Hawkins and Michael Stoops discuss the sacraments in the Protestant church. Prior to the Reformation the Catholic church held seven things as sacraments. 

Protestant reformers set aside baptism and communion as the sacraments of the church by looking at spiritual elements through these three lenses.

1. A means of grace
2. Tied to a physical element
3. Instituted by Jesus