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The Didache reads like a first-century field manual for Christians who actually expected to live what they believed. In part two, we talk Eucharist as communal fuel for mission, confession as freedom (not groveling), and why early church leadership looks a lot more “traveling + local” than modern church folks assume. We also land on the Didache’s blunt end-times tone, and the unsettling line about sheep turning into wolves when power and religiosity mix.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Didache
https://join.unrefinedpodcast.com

Timestamps:
00:00:01 Didache as early church cheat codes and why it still matters
00:02:27 What the earliest believers lived by before a finalized canon
00:04:45 Eucharist thanksgiving vine of David and forward-looking hope
00:07:08 Didache as a church manual catechesis and discipleship pipeline
00:09:04 Liturgical but not ritualistic critique of performance church
00:11:30 Scripture tradition and recovering ancient categories
00:13:55 Eucharist as embodied union and mission fuel
00:16:12 Progressive revelation recovery and the need for an anchor
00:18:27 Prima scriptura obedience without merit mentality
00:20:51 Communion at table fellowship vs individualistic ritual

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Most believers know they’re forgiven… but still live like they’re on probation. In this conversation, we unpack what changes when holiness flows out of who you already are in Christ instead of who you’re trying to become. We get practical about the “striving trap,” mixed-covenant theology, abiding without making it another performance, and why the heart is the real battleground where belief becomes fruit. Plus, a closing prayer and a timely word for Brandon about finishing what God put in his hands.

https://Forward.church
https://clintbyars.com

Timestamps:
00:00:48 Holiness flowing from identity not striving
00:03:05 Identity as the starting point for behavior
00:05:29 New creation reality and “who you are in spirit”
00:09:57 Ontological shift what kind of being are you now
00:14:45 Mind renewal living within what you already have
00:17:07 Abiding as response to Him abiding in us
00:21:43 Why negative self-beliefs feel “humble” in church culture
00:24:02 Mixed covenant confusion and reframing Jesus’ teachings
00:33:03 No dusty corners seated with Him as true humility
00:37:59 Heart in Scripture why it matters so much
00:40:23 Parable of the sower heart soil Word seed Kingdom fruit
00:45:09 Quantum imagery observation faith and manifestation
00:52:08 Practical rest and business goals identity shapes decisions
00:59:27 Intention dominion and the dangers of going “law of attraction”
01:08:48 Recommended practice using 52 Things Jesus Did for You
01:13:27 Repentance as mind change not groveling confession
01:15:38 Closing prayer to yield and trust
01:17:54 Prophetic encouragement to finish the book

https://partner.unrefinedpodcast.com/1

In Part 1 of this conversation, Brandon and returning guest Tim Holloway explore the Didache (an early Christian teaching document rediscovered in the 1800s) and what it reveals about the earliest church’s worldview: two ways—life and death, love and chaos, true source vs false sources.

They unpack why identity matters before you read obedience-heavy texts, how shame drives “self-soothing” behaviors, why attachment to God changes everything, and how the early church viewed baptism as an initiation marked by seriousness, fasting, and formation. They also tease what’s coming next: Eucharist, unity, and early church order that challenges modern assumptions.

Timestamps:
00:00:50 Brandon welcomes Tim back and sets up the Didache conversation
00:03:18 Rediscovery era why the Didache matters “for a time such as this”
00:05:39 Augustine and early church pivot points
00:07:48 Ground-floor Christianity loosely held practices surprises ahead
00:10:17 The two ways worldview life vs death and modern spiritual “both-and” thinking
00:12:40 Narrow way thoughts identity before reading obedience texts
00:14:41 Sermon on the Mount echoes loving God neighbor enemy
00:17:01 Heart condition legalism vs grace shame enters the convo

https://partner.unrefinedpodcast.com/1

Sometimes growth in our faith feels less like a ladder and more like getting lost on a trail you thought you already mapped. In this conversation, Brandon is joined in-studio by Jen Parks and Lindsy Waters, and they bring back Dr. Robin Braun to talk about why believers get stuck, why online “metabrawls” keep brawling, and what actually changes when God matures us beyond rule-keeping into relationship.

Robin breaks down a stages-of-faith framework (drawing from James Fowler and a Christian translation of it) and connects it to what she sees in inner healing work: people who say they trust God, but carry subconscious beliefs that God is angry, punitive, or performance-based. The crew digs into deconstruction, limiting beliefs, church hurt, and why many walk away when their faith was built more on systems than on a living relationship.

It gets personal too. Robin shares parts of her own story, the cost of hard seasons, and how “nothing is wasted” becomes real on the other side. The thread running through the whole episode is simple but not shallow: when love becomes the aim, the room changes.

https://drrobinbraun.com
https://integratedlifestrategies.com
click for link to book-Living Like a Son Book -https://amzn.to/4pZMLyZ
click for link to book - Thrive -https://amzn.to/4aGDYNN

Missions Robin mentioned- https://www.thriveholistichealingministries.com/get-involved

Timestamps:
00:00:51 Topic stages of maturity and introduce Dr. Robin Braun
00:03:14 Brandon frames the “maturity crisis” as more than doctrine
00:05:37 Robin connects stages of faith to deprogramming beliefs and father wounds
00:07:56 Robin’s background and early foundation God as a loving Father
00:10:13 Early supernatural encounters and pursuing theology from intimacy
00:12:35 Realizing theological ambiguity and why it forces relationship
00:14:56 Why some deconstruct and don’t come back relationship vs rule system
00:17:14 Jen asks for a clear framework of the stages
00:19:25 Stages two and three described tribe shifts and conflict
00:21:37 Stage four deconstruction and moving toward love
00:24:01 Holding beliefs loosely and dignity to disagree
00:26:20 Can people shift stages across seasons and areas of life
00:28:46 Practical wisdom don’t respond online in heightened emotion
00:30:50 Brandon shares his own rock bottom deconstruction story
00:32:50 Jen’s puzzle piece analogy for faith and fringe experiences
00:35:11 Limiting beliefs ant and spider circle illustration
00:37:28 Robin’s four stages of healing framework
00:39:39 Brandon on both and not either or and navigating gray
00:42:04 Rewriting history theology shifts and removal of miracle accounts
00:44:31 Rick Warren example and fallout of doctrinal dogmatism
00:46:52 Bill Gothard and patriarchy damage performance culture
00:49:08 What changes when disagreements don’t transform anyone
00:51:33 How hyper performance creates self hatred and fear
00:53:48 Robin shares marriage story boundaries release and recompense
00:56:12 Nothing is wasted redemption and compassion formed through suffering
00:58:32 Brandon on mystery sacramental worldview and trust
01:00:43 Heart mind alignment trust vs belief and inner wiring
01:03:03 Porto illustration and carrying beliefs into the heart
01:05:28 Encouragement for listeners faith shifting as growth not loss
01:07:51 Practical next steps find guides get healing rebuild relationship
01:10:15 Robin shares websites training and nonprofit support work
01:12:29 Where to start drrobinbraun.com vs integratedlifestrategies.com
01:14:48 Taking back tools mislabeling everything as new age
01:17:10 Robin prays over listeners and the church

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Brandon and Lindsy sit down with returning guest Anthony Delgado to talk about prayer that actually forms you instead of turning into a spiritual transaction. They unpack why so many believers say “I prayed and it didn’t work,” and how that often reveals we were aiming prayer at the wrong target. Anthony frames the Lord’s Prayer as more than a model or a script it’s a theology of prayer shaped by God, rooted in the Fatherhood of God, and meant to draw us into communion that reshapes desire, identity, and daily life.

The episode also gets honest about performance-oriented prayer culture, the difference between fervency as trust vs fervency as manipulation, and why starting with adoration changes everything. Along the way they hit liturgy, sacramental imagination, memorialism vs real presence, and practical on-ramps for people who feel distant from God or feel stuck praying only for outcomes.

The book: God-Shaped Prayer

https://www.palmdale.church/

https://www.anthonydelgado.net/

Podcast: Biblical Re-Enchantment

https://www.youtube.com/@AnthonyDelgadoBR

Timestamps:
00:00:50 Welcome back Anthony Delgado and why this book matters
00:02:54 Why Anthony wrote God-Shaped Prayer and the church context
00:05:05 What makes this Lord’s Prayer book different
00:07:09 Biblical theology angle tracing motifs through Scripture
00:09:34 Prayer as communion with the Father not fear of praying wrong
00:12:01 Why “Our Father” hits different for the original audience
00:14:22 What God-shaped prayer means shaped by God not our rules
00:16:45 Neo-spiritual “asking the universe” vs Christian prayer
00:19:07 Starting with nearness our Father before awe and holiness
00:23:50 Writing a “useful book” something to chew on every page
00:26:09 The real goal of prayer and the fervency confusion
00:28:31 Identity first not performance and the father’s lap picture
00:30:09 What Anthony prayed like before and the ACTS framework
00:32:30 Why adoration and confession come first then thanksgiving
00:37:19 Sacramental imagination word and table and worship as formation
00:42:01 Memorialism vs real presence and obedience as receiving blessing
00:46:35 Prayer and Eucharistic life as fleeing the giants of the world
00:58:30 Where to start if you feel distant from God rule of prayer
01:03:14 Posture and the body in prayer and neural pathways
01:05:38 Where to find Anthony online and his podcast work
01:07:59 Workbook announcement and how it’s structured
01:10:03 Anthony prays the Lord’s Prayer themes over listeners

https://partner.unrefinedpodcast.com/1

Some conversations begin with a whisper… and before you know it, you’re knee-deep in the strange world of fringe theories, spiritual puzzles, and the awkward silence that follows when you bring them up at dinner. In this episode, we lean into the art of talking about the unseen without losing your spouse, your friends, or your social standing. Cohost Jen Parks joins us to break down how to communicate the blurry stuff with wisdom, patience, humor, and a whole lot of relational finesse. We get into cognitive dissonance, defensiveness, spiritual warfare, and why you can’t fire-hose your way into someone’s worldview. From coffee-pot analogies to puzzle-piece theology, this conversation is packed with practical tools for anyone trying to introduce fringe topics to the people they love. It’s part communication workshop, part spiritual formation, and part, “Please don’t think I’m crazy.”

OHH- and there's a "new guy" (cohost) you get to meet in this one!

Timestamps:
00:00:51 Setting up today’s topic: fringe talk without scaring people
00:02:10 Jen shares what inspired this episode
00:03:15 Persuasion, winsome speech, and Proverbs 25:11
00:04:50 Fear, pride, and defensiveness in conversations
00:05:36 Cognitive dissonance explained
00:07:20 Intent behind questions and how Jesus handled it
00:09:45 Asking the Holy Spirit for the right words
00:10:22 Evangelism through questions
00:11:45 You’re the coffee pot principle
00:12:43 Trajectory and small shifts over time
00:13:50 Insider language and jargon problems
00:15:05 Relationship before explanation
00:17:16 Percolator analogy and slow spiritual conversations
00:18:50 Bigfoot, breadcrumbs, and worldview expansion
00:19:38 Why fringe topics matter to spiritual formation
00:22:00 Friendship before being “right”
00:24:18 Women's approach: you can influence, not control
00:26:45 Husbands as protectors and guardrails
00:28:55 Band of Brothers: “salute the rank, not the man”
00:31:33 Asking questions and listening well
00:33:47 Fire-hosing vs slow growth
00:36:07 Early experiences listening to fringe podcasts
00:38:25 The “all knowledge” paper and circle analogy
00:40:41 Using secondhand listening at home
00:42:52 Growth, discernment, and humility
00:45:17 Requesting reciprocal respect
00:47:42 Don’t make it hard for someone to change their mind
00:49:36 Conspiracy pitfalls and being honest about “I don’t know”
00:52:03 Collecting puzzle pieces and lifelong learning
00:54:28 The glory of kings to search a matter out
00:55:43 Closing encouragement and future episode topics

https://partner.unrefinedpodcast.com/1

Every December, it feels like the internet dusts off the same “Christmas is pagan” memes and lobs them into everyone’s feeds, and honestly… I’m over it. In this conversation, I sit down with Lindsy and our guest co-navigator Jennifer to ask where these claims actually came from and whether they hold up to real history. We talk about early church evidence for celebrating Jesus’ birth in December, why conception dates mattered in the ancient world, and how sacred time belongs to God—not Saturn, Mithras, or Yuletide spirits. We also unravel Alexander Hislop’s The Two Babylons, Nimrod conspiracies, green man imagery, and the fear that you might be “accidentally” worshiping other gods by putting up a tree. Along the way, we hit on mission, sacred space, and why intent matters more than internet paranoia. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re allowed to enjoy Christmas without guilt, this one’s for you with Dr. Judd Burton.

https://www.burtonbeyond.net/
https://drjuddburton.com/

https://join.unrefinedpodcast.com

Timestamps:
00:03:16 Is Christmas actually pagan?
00:05:39 Why celebrating Jesus’ birth matters
00:07:56 Birth vs conception and sacred timing
00:10:20 Shepherds, winter flocks, and December
00:12:42 Saturnalia and Sol Invictus explained
00:15:08 Constantine myths and Jesus image
00:17:24 Yuletide, grottos, and reclaiming sites
00:19:20 St Nicholas, Nicaea, and legend
00:21:45 Enter Alexander Hislop and Two Babylons
00:23:59 Nimrod, Apkalū, and pareidolia
00:26:17 Fear, deception, and trusting God vs the devil
00:28:33 Magi, astrology, and God using pagan culture
00:31:00 Christmas trees, Asherah poles, and intent
00:33:08 Law, grace, and going back under Torah
00:35:31 Demonic counterfeits and mythic archetypes
00:37:52 Generational attacks, giants, and cosmic war
00:40:14 Real danger of anti-Christmas teaching
00:42:35 Judd’s projects, classes, and Christmas studies

https://partner.unrefinedpodcast.com/1

Some conversations feel like stepping into a warm room full of light, and this one definitely did. In this episode, we drift into that holiday crossroads where Scripture, history, memes, and misguided internet theology all collide. We talk about why Christmas is far more ancient, sacred, and deeply biblical than most people ever imagine, and why the “pagan origins” claims collapse under even a little sunlight. The conversation moves from the fall, to Abraham, to the prophets, to the early church, and then out into global Christian traditions that celebrate the incarnation in wildly different cultural ways. We explore unity vs. uniformity, Christian liberty, spiritual warfare, evangelism, and the beauty of Advent. And best of all — we unpack how the theology of Christmas leads us straight into worship, mission, and joy. Welcome back Dr. Rob Solberg.

Grab the book-->https://amzn.to/44sQJrb
Rob's website- https://thebiblicalroots.org/

Rob's spotify for Advent
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6v6t220W4qka9krXy2OZ93?si=rXj1Si8GQWa0G0oN1UWD6Q&pi=oIQEmAzkREO5_

https://join.unrefinedpodcast.com

Timestamps:
00:56:00 Entering the “holiday zone”
01:05:00 Theology of Christmas book discussion
01:20:00 Why write a defense of Christmas
01:45:00 Offense and defense in ministry
03:18:00 Dealing with fringe teachings
05:43:00 The deeper story behind Christmas
08:09:00 Old Testament promises and patterns
10:32:00 Incarnation as the second most important event
12:52:00 Joy, celebration, and biblical precedent
15:00:00 Birth narratives in ancient biography
17:16:00 The liminal era of the early church
19:30:00 How Christmas emerged historically
21:52:00 Arbitrary dates and Christian liberty
24:11:00 Celtic incarnational influence
26:29:00 Evangelism opportunities at Christmas
28:51:00 Cultures, unity, and contextualization
31:03:00 Spiritual warfare and distraction
33:24:00 Why the book is so convincing
35:46:00 Hanukkah, Purim, and man-made festivals
38:10:00 Christian liberty and non-essentials
40:34:00 Kindness, humility, and internet debate
42:59:00 Uniformity vs. unity in church history
45:23:00 What Christians should bring back to Christmas
47:45:00 Rich theology in old Christmas hymns
50:08:00 How the Advent study guide works
52:29:00 Rob’s dissertation on Jews and Gentiles
54:47:00 Roots of Gentile-majority church
57:11:00 False teachers and humility

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This conversation pulls you straight into the wild, wonderful, and deeply supernatural world woven into the pages of Scripture. We explore ancient bloodlines, cosmic rebellions, hybrid beings, and the strange clues most Christians skip right over because they were never taught how to look for them. Adam walks us through his “warehouse manager” method of reading the Bible — tracking patterns, identifying anomalies, and letting the text define its own boundaries. From Ezekiel’s “wicked conception rituals” to the kings and princes ruling unseen nations, the conversation raises big, honest questions about what the biblical authors actually believed. We also dive into good vs. evil Nephilim, hybrid bloodlines in Judges, angelic kings, and why context matters more than commentary. And somehow we still ended up talking about lion-men, giants in Virginia, and alien abductions. It’s a ride — and it’s gloriously unrefined.

https://eadamfarris.substack.com/
https://www.youtube.com/@eadamfarris
Five Stones book link--https://amzn.to/47Z5RPz

https://unrefinedpodcast.com

Young adult/children's Book series Brandon mentioned:https://amzn.to/4rlhgkg

Timestamps:
00:00:07 Hybridization and giants
00:00:27 Welcome intro and setup
00:01:05 Adam Ferris reintroduced
00:01:40 Fringe reading of Scripture
00:02:32 Discernment and truth
00:02:50 Clown-Nephilim story
00:03:40 Introducing good Nephilim
00:04:40 Adam’s journey into supernatural reading
00:05:30 Warehouse-manager Bible method
00:06:30 The Bible as survival story
00:07:35 Firmament and rakia
00:08:40 Hebrew descriptive language
00:09:20 Ethiopian Bible note
00:10:30 Human/giant co-existence
00:11:57 Lion-men and design
00:12:40 Suspending unbelief
00:12:56 Ezekiel and conception rituals
00:14:50 70 ancient ones
00:15:14 Sons of scribes and corruption
00:16:20 Tower of Babel reconsidered
00:17:14 Nimrod and first kings
00:18:20 Princes, kings, and domains
00:19:37 Angelic princes in Daniel
00:20:40 Cherub forms and ox imagery
00:22:03 Egyptian gods and animal forms
00:23:40 Corrupted creation
00:24:19 Perverting all flesh
00:25:14 Occult symbolism
00:26:24 1900s shift
00:27:20 Hybridization and Babel again
00:28:50 Psalm 76 and rulers
00:29:40 Kings as spiritual beings
00:30:40 Melchizedek discussion begins
00:31:16 Melchizedek as spiritual king
00:32:30 Priesthood without lineage
00:33:40 Heavenly hierarchy on earth
00:34:20 Second incursion question
00:35:20 Ham and Canaan connection
00:36:01 New Testament angel warnings
00:36:40 DNA dilution arguments
00:37:14 Alien abductions discussion
00:38:22 Giants in early Virginia
00:39:10 Government deception theory
00:40:41 Evolution of good Nephilim
00:41:22 Judges and hybrid heroes
00:42:30 Distinguishing gibbor language
00:43:10 Mighty men patterns
00:45:11 Evidence vs certainty
00:46:20 Prayer and discernment
00:47:32 Organic reading of Scripture
00:48:30 God using giant judges
00:49:54 Spiritual identities of Nephilim
00:50:40 Demon origins debate
00:51:20 Legion and the pigs
00:52:15 Final thoughts
00:52:56 Where to find Adam

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This discussion explores why some visions carry weight, how to separate hallucinations from objective phenomena, and why believers shouldn’t jump to theological conclusions from every paranormal moment. We compare modern apparition research to the biblical resurrection accounts and find powerful similarities and key differences. Ultimately, this conversation asks a bold question: what exactly does it mean to “see” the Messiah — and how do we discern truth in a world overflowing with spiritual noise?
Featuring Dr. Jonathan Kendall and Matthew McGuire.

https://x.com/JKendallMD
Get Jonathan's book-on Amazon--https://amzn.to/4oBl8eZ
https://wipfandstock.com/9798385248995/seeing-the-messiah/
Use code CONFSHIP until Nov 30th to save on wipfandstock.com

https://themattmcguire.substack.com/p/what-hath-apparitions-to-do-with

Timestamps:
00:00:54 Setting up today’s topic on visions and the risen Christ
 00:01:53 Defining terms and simplifying concepts
 00:03:20 Jonathan’s background & fascination with the paranormal
 00:05:12 Apparitions and how Allison’s work sparked research
 00:06:25 Criteria for verifying visions
 00:08:00 Modern apparition research explained
 00:10:31 Differentiating hallucinations from objective encounters
 00:12:01 Intentional apparition projection experiments
 00:13:37 Bi-location and projecting consciousness
 00:15:40 Altered states and apparition experiences
 00:16:25 Emotional vs relaxed mental states in encounters
 00:18:10 Large-scale religious apparitions (Fatima, Medjugorje, Zytoon)
 00:19:39 Cultural flavor in apparition experiences
 00:21:38 Subjective interpretation meeting objective events
 00:23:10 Cultural biases around Eastern vs Western experiences
 00:24:12 Comparing biblical resurrection accounts to modern reports
 00:26:42 Tangibility of apparitions (touching, eating, physicality)
 00:28:31 Apparitions of the living vs the dead
 00:29:40 Dopplegangers and apparition folklore
 00:30:19 Iceland’s phylgia phenomenon
 00:31:24 Government interest in psychic projection
 00:32:20 Differences between Jesus’ appearances and modern apparitions
 00:33:26 “Apparitional greatest hits” theory
 00:36:03 The Mary-at-the-grave encounter
 00:37:28 Touch, physicality, and post-resurrection behavior
 00:38:15 Comparing Jonathan & Matthew’s approaches
 00:40:26 Denominational views on visions
 00:41:20 Personal rose-scent encounter
 00:42:22 Olfactory apparitions
 00:44:35 Why apparitions require energy
 00:46:20 Why some apparitions are subtle, not dramatic
 00:47:43 Contrasting Jonathan’s views with Dale Allison’s
 00:49:36 Reliability of Gospel accounts
 00:50:34 The Lubavitcher Rebbe resurrection claims
 00:52:05 Apparitions within the Chabad movement
 00:53:57 How the church can recover biblical imagination
 00:56:21 Staying grounded while exploring the supernatural
 00:58:18 Why paranormal data can create metaphysical tension
 01:00:39 How believers can discern authentic spiritual experiences
 01:02:19 Avoiding “Satan of the gaps” thinking
 01:03:57 Key takeaway for skeptical listeners
 01:04:30 Scientific materialism is dead
 01:05:44 UFO encounter seen by family member
 01:06:42 Upcoming book announcement
 01:08:35 Personal paranormal story about Milo the cat
 01:11:07 UFO sighting above the tree line