During trials, our tendency is to ask God to change what’s going on around us. But God is more interested in transforming what’s going on in us.

The easy path is tempting, but God often does his greatest work on the hard road—where faith, obedience, and courage grow.

We can have so many things going on in our lives. Many parts can be good. How do we enjoy the good things without letting them becoming god things?

The problem isn’t what we love, it’s the order in which we love. Disordered love leads to disordered desires—and ultimately a disordered life.

It’s almost Mother’s Day.  And although we all get to witness motherhood, we have so much to still learn. I invited, who I believe is one of the greatest mothers on the planet—my wife, Julie, and our dear friend, Amanda Redinger, to tell us more about their motherhood experience. They tell us more about ways they’ve felt supported and encouraged, what they wish they could tell their younger selves, and what the most surprising part of motherhood has been.

We all worship something, but is what we worship worthy of it?

What was impossible from the limited vantage point of the world was inevitable from the vantage point of Heaven. The resurrection is where divine power and love collide with human impossibility, and Jesus wins.

Today is Good Friday—a day we focus on and honor Jesus’s death on the cross. But why is it called good, exactly? Why did Jesus have to die on a cross? And what did his death accomplish? I invited our college pastor, Jake Williams, back for another special edition podcast to explore these questions and more.

Death had the last word because death was the consequence of sin—but not anymore. Jesus, God’s final King, crushed both sin and death and invites us to reign in life through him.

As followers of Jesus, we have all wrestled with the same tension at some point: we all want to be saved, but we don't always want to submit. In this message, we talk about the difference between "Jesus the Savior" and "Jesus the King" and why it's the most important thing.

You were created on purpose, for a purpose. Without clear vision, you’ll drift into coasting, and coasting always takes you downhill.

Before inviting Peter to follow him, Jesus asked Peter to “put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” After a night of fishing with no success and despite his reservations, Peter agreed: “But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” At some point, every Jesus follower will face their own “because you say so” moment. Like Peter, we won’t know what hangs in the balance or our decision. It’s better to find out than miss out. Ready to engage in Deeper/Wider? We in invite you to make a commitment at DeeperWider.com/commit.

We know not to put our trust in riches, but in Him who richly provides. So what is your biggest obstacle?

Everyone has a generosity plan, but most people prioritize spending first and leave giving as an afterthought. Jesus flipped the script on that approach with “Seek ye first” living. Embracing this financial template is a tangible expression of submission to our King.

What is Ash Wednesday about, exactly? Why does it matter? And is there a specific way to observe it? I invited our college pastor, Jake Williams, to join me for this special edition podcast where we answer all these questions and more.

Jesus redefined generosity—not as spontaneous or sparing, but as intentional and prioritized. His approach ensures we don’t put our trust in riches but in God who richly provides. Choosing to follow his definition of generosity results in greater impact, less worry, more joy, and more peace.

Biblical generosity is informed and fueled by the acknowledgment that God owns it all. We are simply managers. When we adopt that posture, we view everything we “own” as a potential tool to further the agenda of our King. We will give first and adjust our lifestyle accordingly. Christians who adopt this perspective as the organizing principle for their personal finances find it easier to surrender the other components of their life as well. As Jesus made clear, the number one competitor for our devotion to God is our devotion to more. More money and more things. 

Jesus’s kingdom is not advanced by force, but over time through transformed lives. We are invited to participate in its expansion.

The fight of faith is about becoming more like Jesus, not about defeating enemies.

To participate in the kingdom of God is to surrender our hearts to the rule and reign of God.

The term "Christ" was originally a royal title meaning "Anointed One" or “King,” not a name. And the message of the Gospel is not just about personal salvation, but about aligning with the reign of Jesus as King.

If we re-center our faith around the arrival of a King rather than a ticket to heaven, we will discover why his arrival and his kingdom is good news for all people.

Just as the apostle Paul wrote to the Jesus followers in Ephesus, you were made for something more than yourself. You are God’s workmanship, and you’ve got something to offer God’s Kingdom.

There is a direct relationship between following in the way of Jesus and unleashing our potential for good.

Since the very beginning, God has been illuminating the darkness. And with the birth of Jesus, God was proclaiming to the world, “Let there be light.”

The lineage of Jesus is full of people with stories that would make anyone blush, including the likes of King David and Lot’s daughters. But in spite of jaw-dropping choices people made, God’s purposes marched forward. 

Rahab is one of a few people in the lineage of Jesus that wasn’t Jewish — she was a Canaanite. Not to mention, she was a prostitute. But neither of those things kept her from being used by God in an incredible way.

The story of Judah and Tamar is probably not one we would have mentioned if we were the ones telling the back story of Jesus’s ancestors. However, many times God’s story highlights the unlikely and the undeserving.

No one likes unsolicited advice, but at times it feels like God gives a lot of it. This Sunday we’ll hear about the power of saying yes to direction, regardless of whether we asked for it.

Finding the best audio settings requires some fine tuning. Some people like a lot of bass. Some people prefer crisper treble tones. Finding the best settings for the way you approach life requires just as much (if not more) tuning. Which dials should you turn up, and which dials should you turn down to be the best you can be?

Life’s challenges are inevitable, but choosing to trust God during those tough times can be transformative. It’s when we are faced with struggle that our faith is exposed and can be strengthened.

While we can't predict when miracles happen, there is a posture we can take that increases the chances of God doing a supernatural work within us.

Our circumstances don’t define how God feels about us. So how do we navigate those circumstances when we don’t get the miracle?

Miracles are at God’s discretion to further God’s purposes. 

The miracle of the universe is the foundation of our faith in God, but a different miracle is the foundation of our faith in Jesus.

Serving people with different lived experiences is one of the primary things God uses to fine-tune our worldview.

We are all uniquely gifted to play a part in the story of God. And every part is indispensable.

The intention and desire of Jesus for his church is that we would be a difference and make an impact.

There is a direct relationship between following in the way of Jesus and unleashing our potential for good.

Since 2007, our Be Rich campaign has been making the world an even better place. After all, devotion to God is best demonstrated and authenticated through love for others.

We must take responsibility for the me nobody can see.

Our choices today will leave our loved ones with one of two things in the future: a burden or a blessing.

Sometimes we have to go back to move forward.

Your irresponsibility will eventually become somebody else's responsibility.

We are far more likely to develop meaningful faith when people of faith surround us.

We have a natural tendency to be critical toward others because we want others to change for our benefit. So how does Jesus actually address this idea of being critical and judging others? Is it ever healthy? How do you want to be judged?

A game that requires a loser is a game nobody wins. When we play the comparison game and allow envy to motivate our actions, it can cost us more than we expect.

When it comes to relationships, the blame game is a game that no one wins.

A game that requires a loser is a game nobody wins.