TRENDING

As we begin to wrap up 2024, this week on Trending, Matt and Pastor Joe reflect on some of the year’s biggest news stories and personal highlights. While nostalgia and fond memories are natural this time of year, it’s just as important to look ahead with hope for the future.

Pastor Joe draws on scripture and culture to explore the wisdom of holding the past, present, and future in balance—being grateful for the past, mindful of the present, and hopeful for what’s to come. We hope these reminders encourage you as you reflect on the year and dream about the possibilities ahead!

This week on Trending, Matt and Pastor Joe explore the cultural fascination with true crime and its ethical dilemmas. Inspired by Anna Kendrick’s new film, Woman of the Hour, they discuss the fine line between storytelling and profiting from tragedy. Kendrick’s decision to donate her profits from the film sparks a deeper conversation about how Christians should earn, spend, and give their money.

Why are we drawn to stories of darkness? Is it possible to grapple with evil without glorifying it? And as we enter a season of giving, how can we better reflect God’s generosity in our lives? Matt and Joe tackle these questions with practical insights and encouragement, reminding us that generosity isn’t just a duty—it’s an honor.

This week on Trending, Matt and Pastor Joe dig into what it takes to make a great team by looking at examples from sports, politics, and (of course) the Bible.

From the mutual respect and teamwork of NBA stars Steph Curry and Klay Thompson to the intense dynamics of political circles, they explore how qualities like humility, flexibility, and forgiveness are essential. Joe draws a unique parallel with Jesus’ disciples, showing how even vastly different personalities can come together with purpose and grace.

Wherever we work, worship, or play, a good team isn’t just about talent—it’s about character. Join us as we reflect on how we can bring unity and strength to our own teams, and take away practical tips for building healthy relationships that last.

Malcolm Gladwell, known for his bestselling book "The Tipping Point," recently made headlines by revisiting and challenging his own previous work. This week on Trending, Matt and Pastor Joe explore why this kind of intellectual humility is so rare and valuable in today's world.

Through examining Gladwell's willingness to rethink his ideas, they draw parallels to the Christian journey. From the disciples' constant learning to the importance of remaining curious, they remind us that growth often requires the courage to change our minds.

There's something uniquely fun and inspiring about fans who stick with their favorite sports teams through thick and thin. This week, the NBA chose to induct Jack Nicholson, Spike Lee, and Billy Crystal into the official Hall of Fame as "superfans" to recognize their dedication and support of the NBA.

This is a unique move, but it also highlights and elevates the role of a fan. This week on Trending, Matt and Pastor Joe look at the Apostle Paul and others in Scripture who also took the role of "superfan." We all need encouragement, and the reliable support of faithful friends can be such a blessing. Enjoy this week's episode, and be on the lookout for who you can cheer on today!

As hurricanes and tornadoes and crazy storms continue to hit the U.S., we're confronted with more and more heavy headlines of people facing tragedy and uncertainty. And along with that, wars continue to rage overseas, and we're only days away from a political election that will almost certainly be contentious.

Today happens to be World Mental Health Day, so in a world so heavy and complex, how can we stay anchored and live with joy and hope and levity? What Bible characters can we learn from, and how can we lean on each other on hard days? Pastor Joe has helpful insight for us to consider in this week's episode of Trending.

This week marked the deaths of two sports icons, Pete Rose and Dikembe Mutombo. Both of them achieved incredible accomplishments and accolades as athletes, but they also have drastically different things they'll be remembered for. Despite his amazing baseball career, Rose will mostly be remembered for unfairly gambling on baseball games, while Mutombo is being praised for his humanitarian work.

Legacies are tricky. We all do good and bad things, so what "sticks," and who decides how we're remembered? The Bible is full of characters who get branded either "good" or "bad" based on one or two events, and they're not always fair labels.

So what can we learn? How should we live with legacy in mind, and how should we view and label others? Pastor Joe has helpful insight in this week's episode of Trending.

This week on Trending: The White Sox are setting records in baseball... for all the wrong reasons. Their team is historically bad, but their social media team is taking advantage of the opportunity and injecting some levity, humility, and fun to an otherwise embarrassing situation.

What can we learn from this, and are there any biblical parallels? Humility and fun are attractive to everyone, and many biblical writers probably had more sarcasm and whimsy than we give them credit for. Pastor Joe pulls in some examples from Zacchaeus, Jesus, Paul, and others in this week's episode.

Last week star NFL quarterback Tua Tagovailoa got knocked out of a game after a scary injury. Now that he has experienced multiple concussions, some experts are encouraging him to retire from the game of football for the good of his health.

Tua is a young superstar, so a career cut short due to injury was not part of his plan. The Bible is full of characters in a similar predicament, so today Pastor Joe highlights the stories of Jonah and Barnabas. When life threw them for a loop, how did they respond, and what can we learn? Where do we find our value, and what is truly most important?

Check out this week's episode of Trending with more thoughts from Matt and Pastor Joe!

The Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) recently released a new study with 2023 data about trends in American religious life. The religious and denominational demographics have shifted fairly significantly since 2006, which includes an overall decline in Christian affiliation (particularly among younger Americans), and an increase in the religiously "unaffiliated."

So, what does this mean for the church today? Were some of the evangelical strategies of the past less effective today? People seem to still be spiritually curious, so how can we share the love of Jesus within these cultural realities?

Unsurprisingly, there are no easy answers, but there are things we can learn from these trends, so check out this episode of Trending as Pastor Joe highlights important considerations for today's church leaders.