Alcohol is one of those subjects Christians have argued about for generations.

Some Christians abstain completely. Others enjoy a beer or glass of wine without a second thought. Some have seen alcohol destroy lives and families. Others point out that Scripture itself speaks positively about wine in some places... while giving incredibly strong warnings about it in others.

So what does the Bible actually say?

In this episode of Word & Flesh, we continue our series on matters of conscience by talking about alcohol, drunkenness, Christian freedom, wisdom, and what it means to love a brother or sister whose conscience may be different from your own.

Is drinking alcohol a sin? Where does Christian liberty end? What does it actually mean to cause a brother to stumble? And how should Christians think about something God permits... but also repeatedly warns can be dangerous?

The goal isn't to find the line so we can get as close to sin as possible.

It's to ask a better question:

Whether we eat or drink, how do we do it all to the glory of God?

Word & Flesh is a podcast from the elders of Riverview Baptist Church in Osage Beach, Missouri. We created it primarily to encourage and equip our congregation, but we're grateful you've joined us. We'd love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected] with questions, episode ideas, or if you'd like to learn more about Riverview.

Is it okay to watch sexually explicit movies or shows like Game of Thrones? Is it good to watch them?

Is TikTok sinful? What about violent video games? Social media? College football all Saturday? Where does Christian freedom end... and worldliness begin?

We think Christians often ask those questions the wrong way.

Instead of asking, "How close can I get to the line?"  Scripture teaches us to ask a better question: "How can I glorify God with my freedom?"

In this first episode of our new Matters of Conscience series, we explore how Christians should think about... all sorts of things!

We're talking social media, entertainment, technology, and the countless decisions the Bible doesn't address with a simple "thou shalt" or "thou shalt not."

We discuss how our entertainment shapes us, why our attention belongs to God before anyone else, and how to build a biblical framework for navigating gray areas with wisdom, conviction, and a clear conscience.

Too busy to rest? You need to stop.

When God created the earth, He rested on the seventh day... but most American Christians seem to have forgotten how to follow His example. We have lost something God built into the fabric of creation itself. We work hard, but who's got time to rest?

But what if work isn't good if it's not punctuated by rest?

In this episode, we discuss biblical rest, the Sabbath, and why intentionally slowing down is one of the greatest acts of faith a Christian can practice.

We examine whether Christians are still commanded to keep the Sabbath and how families can build rhythms of worship, delight, and genuine rest in a culture addicted to constant productivity.

Because sometimes trusting God looks less like doing more...

...and more like putting your phone down, gathering your family, and remembering that He's the King on the throne.

Do spiritual disciplines matter? Or should the Christian life just be a whimsical, "do what you feel and hope for the best" kind of thing?

In this episode, we discuss the purpose of spiritual disciplines and why practices like Bible reading, Scripture memory, prayer, fasting, confession, generosity, and Sabbath rest aren't attempts to earn God's favor. They're gifts God uses to transform His people.

Along the way, we tackle one of the biggest misconceptions in modern Christianity: the difference between spiritual discipline and spiritual legalism.

A recent vote by Southern Baptists exploded headlines (and lots of heads) across the country.

The vote? To clarify that the office as well as the functions of a pastor/elder are reserved exclusively for men.

Critics called the move backward, oppressive, and harmful to women.

But what actually happened?

And more importantly, what does the Bible actually teach?

In this episode of Word & Flesh, we discuss the recent Southern Baptist Convention controversy (and how it was more the closing of a loophole than the changing of a position), the role of pastors in the church, and God's design for men and women.

We discuss:

What the SBC actually voted on

Why the issue became national news

1 Timothy 2 and 1 Corinthians 14

The office of pastor and biblical authority

Whether women can teach and serve in ministry

Why role and value are not the same thing

The vital importance of women in the life of the church

Why Christians should trust God's design even when it conflicts with modern culture

Most importantly, we address a question at the center of this debate:

Does a difference in role mean a difference in value?

*Checks Bible...* NO!

Men and women are created in the image of God, are of equal value before Him, and yet are uniquely called to different responsibilities within the home and the church.

That's controversial these days. But it doesn't make it any less true.

Somebody is going to disciple our children. Who will it be?

Questions about sex, identity, relationships, and God's design are arriving earlier than ever, and Christian parents cannot afford to remain passive.

In this episode, the elders of Riverview Baptist Church discuss how to talk to children about sexuality in an age of confusion and competing worldviews. Rather than relying on one awkward conversation, we argue for hundreds of small conversations that build a strong, positive vision of God's design, over time.

Topics include:

God's design for humanity is good, beautiful, and life-giving. Parents have the privilege and responsibility of helping their children see that before the culture teaches them otherwise.

Submission.

For many people, it's one of the most uncomfortable words in the Bible.

Our culture has spent decades teaching women that submission is weakness, oppression, or the loss of personal freedom. Scripture paints a very different picture.

In this episode of Word & Flesh, we continue our series on biblical womanhood by exploring one of the most misunderstood topics in the Christian life: submission as an act of faith.

We discuss:

We also tackle practical questions that many Christians are afraid to ask:

But beneath all of those questions lies a much bigger one:

What if God's design is actually glorious?

In Titus 2, women are called to be self-controlled, pure, kind, and submissive to their own husbands "that the word of God may not be reviled."

That's a breathtaking calling.

The goal isn't merely a better marriage. The stakes are bigger than that.

A woman's faithfulness can adorn the gospel, strengthen the church, bless her family, and display the beauty of God's wisdom to a watching world.

What causes men to shrink back?

In this episode of *Word and Flesh*, we continue the conversation on biblical masculinity by turning to one of the central struggles of men: passivity, fear, and abdication.

From Adam in the Garden to Peter denying Christ, Scripture repeatedly shows men failing to step into the responsibilities God has given them. Facts: modern men struggle with the same thing.

Riverview Elders Nathan Bechtold, Michael Beene, and Ryan Anderson talk about:

* why men avoid leadership
* the difference between taking initiative and taking control
* how insecurity fuels both passivity and domination
* why “happy wife, happy life” is a terrible vision for marriage
* what it looks like to shepherd your wife spiritually
* how men can begin leading their homes in family worship
* and why shrinking back is so spiritually dangerous

We also discuss practical realities many Christian men face:
fear of conflict, fear of failure, feeling spiritually inadequate, emotional disengagement, and the temptation to substitute career success or hobbies for real kingdom responsibility.

At the center of the conversation is this call:
Do not shrink back.

Christ has already won the victory. Men are called to press in, bear burdens, lead courageously, and take initiative for the good of others and the glory of God.

Look to the King!

What does it actually mean to be a man?

In this episode, we explore a biblical vision of masculinity that goes far deeper than cultural stereotypes. Instead of passivity on one side or domination on the other, Scripture calls men to something better.

We define a virtuous man as one who takes initiative to lead, provide, and protect others with humble, self-sacrificing love under God’s authority.

From there, we walk through what that looks like in real life—at home, at work, and in the church.

We also address:

This episode is about recovering a vision of manhood that is strong, purposeful, and ultimately shaped by Christ.

Music Credit

Intro/Outro:

Old Neptune, He's Roaring

by Brian Sauvé, used with permission

What is a woman?

It’s a question our culture struggles to answer—yet Scripture speaks to it clearly, beautifully, and with purpose.

In this episode of Word and Flesh, we begin a two-part conversation on virtous womanhood, not shaped by culture, but grounded in God’s design.

We explore a biblical definition of a virtuous woman:
A woman who nurtures and cultivates others with gentle strength, wisdom, and joyful partnership under God’s authority.

From there, we begin to unpack what that actually means.

In this episode, we cover:

We also begin to address the tension many feel when approaching this topic—especially in light of cultural messaging and personal experiences.

This is about recovering a vision of womanhood that is strong, dignified, and deeply rooted in truth. And that's a beautiful thing.