Walking & Talking Tue, 15 Sep 2026 06:00:06 -0400 https://walkingandtalking.buzzsprout.com en-us © 2026 Walking & Talking yes fa16e89a-56db-5ef2-aa78-9e3f6a7b3e68 joshbethay@gmail.com Emmaus Bible Church episodic false Welcome to Walking & Talking, a resource from Emmaus Bible Church walking together and talking about Jesus from all of the Bible for all of life. 


Each episode addresses one of four categories: (1) personal life, (2) family life, (3) church life, and (4) interviews. 

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Christianity, Reformed, Calvinist, Confessional, Christian life, Christian living, Theology, Church, Doctrine, Jesus, Christian worldview, faith Emmaus Bible Church joshbethay@gmail.com https://storage.buzzsprout.com/nfqpyi8wxs1fuf7nfh8b9w167bke?.jpg Walking & Talking https://walkingandtalking.buzzsprout.com Josh Bethay Luke Gorsett Ron Martina Zachary Hall Parenting Toddlers, Part II: The Rod + Q/A Parenting Toddlers, Part II: The Rod + Q/A We keep walking through toddler discipline by tackling the most disputed question head-on: what the Bible means by “the rod” and how correction stays loving instead of angry. We share practical steps, real parenting failures, and a framework for discipline that aims at repentance, reconciliation, and long-term joy in the home. 

• why the rod is commanded and how it differs from abuse 
• disciplining with purpose rather than venting anger 
• what to do when a child hits a parent 
• explaining the offense to restrain both parent and child 
• why certainty matters more than severity 
• wisdom of using an instrument instead of a hand 
• starting early with simple commands and catechizing with the Ten Commandments 
• how law and gospel fit together in parenting 
• layering consequences beyond spanking when needed 
• real stories of inconsistency, embarrassment, and visible fruit over time 

Send us an encouragement, question, or critique.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with a friend or member from church and discuss it with them!

]]> We keep walking through toddler discipline by tackling the most disputed question head-on: what the Bible means by “the rod” and how correction stays loving instead of angry. We share practical steps, real parenting failures, and a framework for discipline that aims at repentance, reconciliation, and long-term joy in the home. 

• why the rod is commanded and how it differs from abuse 
• disciplining with purpose rather than venting anger 
• what to do when a child hits a parent 
• explaining the offense to restrain both parent and child 
• why certainty matters more than severity 
• wisdom of using an instrument instead of a hand 
• starting early with simple commands and catechizing with the Ten Commandments 
• how law and gospel fit together in parenting 
• layering consequences beyond spanking when needed 
• real stories of inconsistency, embarrassment, and visible fruit over time 

Send us an encouragement, question, or critique.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with a friend or member from church and discuss it with them!

]]> Emmaus Bible Church Buzzsprout-19703811 Tue, 15 Sep 2026 05:00:00 -0500 3152 full false Parenting Toddlers, Part I: Help and Hope Parenting Toddlers, Part I: Help and Hope We talk about how parents are made complete for the work of parenting by the hope and help offered by the Scriptures. 
• trusting Scripture as the foundation for parenting wisdom 
• distinguishing formative training from corrective discipline 
• building Deuteronomy 6 habits through daily instruction 
• practicing obedience in calm moments to prepare for hard moments 
• modeling what we teach so our actions match our words 
• managing expectations about toddler foolishness to stay calm 
• treating parenting as a full-time vocation not a side gig 
• rejecting a culture that treats children as an inconvenience 
• remembering long-term fruit comes from thousands of hours 
• calling fathers to lead at home without dominating 
• pursuing consistency and first-time obedience to reduce anger 
• inviting feedback from spouse and church to spot blind spots 

Send us an encouragement, question, or critique.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with a friend or member from church and discuss it with them!

]]> We talk about how parents are made complete for the work of parenting by the hope and help offered by the Scriptures. 
• trusting Scripture as the foundation for parenting wisdom 
• distinguishing formative training from corrective discipline 
• building Deuteronomy 6 habits through daily instruction 
• practicing obedience in calm moments to prepare for hard moments 
• modeling what we teach so our actions match our words 
• managing expectations about toddler foolishness to stay calm 
• treating parenting as a full-time vocation not a side gig 
• rejecting a culture that treats children as an inconvenience 
• remembering long-term fruit comes from thousands of hours 
• calling fathers to lead at home without dominating 
• pursuing consistency and first-time obedience to reduce anger 
• inviting feedback from spouse and church to spot blind spots 

Send us an encouragement, question, or critique.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with a friend or member from church and discuss it with them!

]]> Emmaus Bible Church Buzzsprout-19703740 Tue, 08 Sep 2026 05:00:00 -0500 2815 full false Interview with Matt Fudge, Part II: Commitment, Discipleship, and Some Laughs Interview with Matt Fudge, Part II: Commitment, Discipleship, and Some Laughs We talk through staying committed to a local church in the midst of turbulence; Matt shares how discipleship clicked for him when doctrine moved from the bookshelf to the heart through beholding Christ, not chasing penance. 

• long-haul church membership as a deliberate choice, not inertia 
• loyalty and responsibility when you are leading through change 
• simplifying the church calendar to fight burnout and free up real fellowship 
• pushing discipleship back into the home with parents, not programs 
• resisting church consumerism and clarifying what we should expect from a church 
• balancing orthodoxy with love for people and honest heart work 
• learning to fight sin by loving God more than the sin 
• escaping the “do better, try harder” self-atonement lane 
• encouragement from seeing kids stay close to parents and keep the faith 

Send us an encouragement, question, or critique.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with a friend or member from church and discuss it with them!

]]> We talk through staying committed to a local church in the midst of turbulence; Matt shares how discipleship clicked for him when doctrine moved from the bookshelf to the heart through beholding Christ, not chasing penance. 

• long-haul church membership as a deliberate choice, not inertia 
• loyalty and responsibility when you are leading through change 
• simplifying the church calendar to fight burnout and free up real fellowship 
• pushing discipleship back into the home with parents, not programs 
• resisting church consumerism and clarifying what we should expect from a church 
• balancing orthodoxy with love for people and honest heart work 
• learning to fight sin by loving God more than the sin 
• escaping the “do better, try harder” self-atonement lane 
• encouragement from seeing kids stay close to parents and keep the faith 

Send us an encouragement, question, or critique.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with a friend or member from church and discuss it with them!

]]> Emmaus Bible Church Buzzsprout-19683064 Tue, 01 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0500 2018 full false Interview with Matt Fudge, Part I: On Life Interview with Matt Fudge, Part I: On Life We walk through Pastor Matt Fudge’s story from Sitka, Alaska to Bakersfield to Nebraska, and how a simple church invitation helped move him from cultural Christianity to genuine faith. We also talk about marriage, parenting, work in the operating room, and what it looks like to grow into church leadership with humility. 

• growing up across the West Coast and feeling the pull to leave 
• being nominally Christian while missing the gospel 
• a friend’s straightforward invite to church and why asking works 
• wild restaurant work stories that reveal immaturity and hindsight 
• meeting Amy, getting challenged on basic Christian beliefs, hearing Romans 
• early marriage tension, learning headship without control, Amy’s conversion 
• how kids expose selfishness and push daily sanctification 
• leaving the psychology path, finding sales work, landing in Medtronic spine implants 
• what it’s like supporting surgeons in the operating room 
• moving from serving to leadership, stepping down as deacon, training toward elder 
• church planting turnover, conflict over vision, and lessons in shepherding 

Send us an encouragement, question, or critique.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with a friend or member from church and discuss it with them!

]]> We walk through Pastor Matt Fudge’s story from Sitka, Alaska to Bakersfield to Nebraska, and how a simple church invitation helped move him from cultural Christianity to genuine faith. We also talk about marriage, parenting, work in the operating room, and what it looks like to grow into church leadership with humility. 

• growing up across the West Coast and feeling the pull to leave 
• being nominally Christian while missing the gospel 
• a friend’s straightforward invite to church and why asking works 
• wild restaurant work stories that reveal immaturity and hindsight 
• meeting Amy, getting challenged on basic Christian beliefs, hearing Romans 
• early marriage tension, learning headship without control, Amy’s conversion 
• how kids expose selfishness and push daily sanctification 
• leaving the psychology path, finding sales work, landing in Medtronic spine implants 
• what it’s like supporting surgeons in the operating room 
• moving from serving to leadership, stepping down as deacon, training toward elder 
• church planting turnover, conflict over vision, and lessons in shepherding 

Send us an encouragement, question, or critique.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with a friend or member from church and discuss it with them!

]]> Emmaus Bible Church Buzzsprout-19683059 Tue, 01 Sep 2026 05:00:00 -0500 3124 full false On Gospel Communities with Pastor Steve On Gospel Communities with Pastor Steve We talk through what a gospel community is, why we do it at Emmaus, and the fruit of being in a GC. We also name the real costs and the lasting joys so you can step into the year with clear eyes and real hope. 

• defining gospel community as believers in a home listening, opening Scripture, and praying 
• clarifying what GC is not, not a substitute for Sunday church or the Lord’s Supper 
• why love for one another needs a weekly context to be practiced 
• how GC serves busy seasons by helping us serve and be served 
• fruit from reading the Bible together, asking better questions, and growing in sanctification 
• fruit from interceding in prayer and watching God answer prayer over time 
• how kids are formed by seeing a spiritual family live the faith in ordinary homes 
• costs of time, money, tiredness, listening well, and relational friction that exposes pride 
• joy of deep relationships, honest exhortation, and singing together through trials 

Send us an encouragement, question, or critique.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with a friend or member from church and discuss it with them!

]]> We talk through what a gospel community is, why we do it at Emmaus, and the fruit of being in a GC. We also name the real costs and the lasting joys so you can step into the year with clear eyes and real hope. 

• defining gospel community as believers in a home listening, opening Scripture, and praying 
• clarifying what GC is not, not a substitute for Sunday church or the Lord’s Supper 
• why love for one another needs a weekly context to be practiced 
• how GC serves busy seasons by helping us serve and be served 
• fruit from reading the Bible together, asking better questions, and growing in sanctification 
• fruit from interceding in prayer and watching God answer prayer over time 
• how kids are formed by seeing a spiritual family live the faith in ordinary homes 
• costs of time, money, tiredness, listening well, and relational friction that exposes pride 
• joy of deep relationships, honest exhortation, and singing together through trials 

Send us an encouragement, question, or critique.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with a friend or member from church and discuss it with them!

]]> Emmaus Bible Church Buzzsprout-19700197 Thu, 27 Aug 2026 05:00:00 -0500 2356 full false 10 Experiences that Have Formed Us 10 Experiences that Have Formed Us We trade stories about the moments that shape a life, from marriage and children to leadership transitions, grief, and mission work. We also step back to talk about how reflecting on God’s providence helps us make sense of our past and walk forward with hope. 

• marriage as a major tool God uses to shape character 
• waiting, dating, and the surprising kindness of matchmaking friends 
• the joy of children and grandchildren and the perspective that comes with time 
• miscarriage, grief, and facing death in a personal way 
• the quiet shame many women feel and the need for tender, biblical care 
• moving away from home as a refining season for marriage and calling 
• becoming a senior pastor through uncertainty, trust, and congregational affirmation 
• sermons that convict, humble, and comfort in seasons of sin and weakness 
• living closely with another family and learning a model of parenting and discipline 
• missions as the mission of the church and the conflict missionaries often face 

Send us an encouragement, question, or critique.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with a friend or member from church and discuss it with them!

]]> We trade stories about the moments that shape a life, from marriage and children to leadership transitions, grief, and mission work. We also step back to talk about how reflecting on God’s providence helps us make sense of our past and walk forward with hope. 

• marriage as a major tool God uses to shape character 
• waiting, dating, and the surprising kindness of matchmaking friends 
• the joy of children and grandchildren and the perspective that comes with time 
• miscarriage, grief, and facing death in a personal way 
• the quiet shame many women feel and the need for tender, biblical care 
• moving away from home as a refining season for marriage and calling 
• becoming a senior pastor through uncertainty, trust, and congregational affirmation 
• sermons that convict, humble, and comfort in seasons of sin and weakness 
• living closely with another family and learning a model of parenting and discipline 
• missions as the mission of the church and the conflict missionaries often face 

Send us an encouragement, question, or critique.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with a friend or member from church and discuss it with them!

]]> Emmaus Bible Church Buzzsprout-19667407 Tue, 25 Aug 2026 05:00:00 -0500 1599 full false 10(ish) Books That Have Shaped Us 10(ish) Books That Have Shaped Us We share the books that most shaped our faith, our ministry, and our growth in holiness, from Puritans to modern writers. We also explain why older Christian books are uniquely helpful and how reading together can strengthen the culture of a church. 

• Puritan life and practice through Worldly Saints 
• Seeing Christ’s majesty and fighting sin through John Owen 
• A theology of preaching shaped by Martyn Lloyd-Jones 
• Learning boldness and endurance through Spurgeon biographies 
• Confessing sin and pursuing purity with Finally Free 
• Fighting anxiety and walking faithfully with Follow The Lamb 
• Pastoral grace and wisdom through The Letters Of John Newton 
• Building theological clarity with Berkhof’s systematic theology 
• Understanding early church history as Protestants with Nick Needham 
• Strengthening the home with worship, work, and wisdom from The Family Economy 

Send us an encouragement, question, or critique.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with a friend or member from church and discuss it with them!

]]> We share the books that most shaped our faith, our ministry, and our growth in holiness, from Puritans to modern writers. We also explain why older Christian books are uniquely helpful and how reading together can strengthen the culture of a church. 

• Puritan life and practice through Worldly Saints 
• Seeing Christ’s majesty and fighting sin through John Owen 
• A theology of preaching shaped by Martyn Lloyd-Jones 
• Learning boldness and endurance through Spurgeon biographies 
• Confessing sin and pursuing purity with Finally Free 
• Fighting anxiety and walking faithfully with Follow The Lamb 
• Pastoral grace and wisdom through The Letters Of John Newton 
• Building theological clarity with Berkhof’s systematic theology 
• Understanding early church history as Protestants with Nick Needham 
• Strengthening the home with worship, work, and wisdom from The Family Economy 

Send us an encouragement, question, or critique.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with a friend or member from church and discuss it with them!

]]> Emmaus Bible Church Buzzsprout-19667403 Wed, 19 Aug 2026 05:00:00 -0500 1421 full false How Do I Grow in Prayer? How Do I Grow in Prayer? We talk about prayer as a garden: the weeds that choke it, the water that grows it, and the tools that help the work. We look to Jesus’ example and teaching to move from self-sufficiency toward steady dependence, gospel confidence, and communion with God. 

• Jesus’ pattern of prayer in the Gospels as our model 
• John 17 and the Lord’s Prayer as God-centered guides 
• Moving from “I have to pray” to “I get to pray” 
• Practical obstacles like time, place, interruptions, and phones 
• Heart-level obstacles like self-sufficiency, pride, and disordered affections 
• Using ACTS to widen and steady our prayers 
• Repentance and bringing sin into the light to renew desire 
• Scripture and prayer as linked means of grace, including praying the Psalms 
• “Pray Until You Pray” and building warm, honest momentum 
• Tools and resources, plus “boots-on” and “boots-off” prayer habits 
• Remembering answered prayers and thanking God to fuel faith 

Send us an encouragement, question, or critique.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with a friend or member from church and discuss it with them!

]]> We talk about prayer as a garden: the weeds that choke it, the water that grows it, and the tools that help the work. We look to Jesus’ example and teaching to move from self-sufficiency toward steady dependence, gospel confidence, and communion with God. 

• Jesus’ pattern of prayer in the Gospels as our model 
• John 17 and the Lord’s Prayer as God-centered guides 
• Moving from “I have to pray” to “I get to pray” 
• Practical obstacles like time, place, interruptions, and phones 
• Heart-level obstacles like self-sufficiency, pride, and disordered affections 
• Using ACTS to widen and steady our prayers 
• Repentance and bringing sin into the light to renew desire 
• Scripture and prayer as linked means of grace, including praying the Psalms 
• “Pray Until You Pray” and building warm, honest momentum 
• Tools and resources, plus “boots-on” and “boots-off” prayer habits 
• Remembering answered prayers and thanking God to fuel faith 

Send us an encouragement, question, or critique.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with a friend or member from church and discuss it with them!

]]> Emmaus Bible Church Buzzsprout-19633455 Wed, 12 Aug 2026 05:00:00 -0500 2620 full false How Do I Navigate and Remedy Marriage Conflict? How Do I Navigate and Remedy Marriage Conflict? We talk about why couples keep getting stuck in the same marriage conflicts and how “peace” can be a cover for avoidance, manipulation, or attack. We lay out a biblical path toward real peacemaking, with practical questions, specific repentance, and hope rooted in the gospel and the sufficiency of Scripture.
• Common wrong fixes like distraction, rug-sweeping, denial, and “happy spouse happy house” thinking
• The Slippery Slope framework: peacebreaking attacks, peacemaking responses, peacefaking flight responses
• Wisdom on when avoiding a topic is maturity and when it is sinful avoidance
• Key texts for biblical conflict resolution: Philippians 2 humility, Ephesians 5 marriage purpose, Matthew 18 forgiveness
• Handling conflict around children, including when to step away and when to repent to them
• Disarming a conflict through questions, refusing to assume motives, and self-examining first
• Specific confession that owns sin without excuses, leading toward real forgiveness
• Long-game habits: time stewardship, idols, pursuing your spouse, and why “divorce is not an option”
• Realistic expectations for sanctification, revisiting issues, and getting help when needed

Send us an encouragement, question, or critique.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with a friend or member from church and discuss it with them!

]]> We talk about why couples keep getting stuck in the same marriage conflicts and how “peace” can be a cover for avoidance, manipulation, or attack. We lay out a biblical path toward real peacemaking, with practical questions, specific repentance, and hope rooted in the gospel and the sufficiency of Scripture.
• Common wrong fixes like distraction, rug-sweeping, denial, and “happy spouse happy house” thinking
• The Slippery Slope framework: peacebreaking attacks, peacemaking responses, peacefaking flight responses
• Wisdom on when avoiding a topic is maturity and when it is sinful avoidance
• Key texts for biblical conflict resolution: Philippians 2 humility, Ephesians 5 marriage purpose, Matthew 18 forgiveness
• Handling conflict around children, including when to step away and when to repent to them
• Disarming a conflict through questions, refusing to assume motives, and self-examining first
• Specific confession that owns sin without excuses, leading toward real forgiveness
• Long-game habits: time stewardship, idols, pursuing your spouse, and why “divorce is not an option”
• Realistic expectations for sanctification, revisiting issues, and getting help when needed

Send us an encouragement, question, or critique.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with a friend or member from church and discuss it with them!

]]> Emmaus Bible Church Buzzsprout-19600717 Wed, 05 Aug 2026 06:00:00 -0500 2381 full false Why Does Marriage Conflict Happen? Why Does Marriage Conflict Happen? We open the Bible to explain why marriage conflict is normal and what its real causes are. We trace the root to sinful desires and blame shifting, then point toward humble accountability, the leadership needed from men, and real hope through the gospel. 
• Conflict entering marriage through the fall in Genesis 3 
• James 4 and passions at war within the heart 
• The world’s false roadmaps like blame shifting and “blame it on the brain” 
• Why misdiagnosing conflict removes hope for change 
• Godly sorrow versus worldly sorrow in apologies 
• Unmet expectations and why they fuel recurring fights 
• Husbands leading in peacemaking without peace faking 
• 1 Peter 3 and the warning about hindered prayers 
• Encouragement for couples to use the means of grace and seek wise help 

Send us an encouragement, question, or critique.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with a friend or member from church and discuss it with them!

]]> We open the Bible to explain why marriage conflict is normal and what its real causes are. We trace the root to sinful desires and blame shifting, then point toward humble accountability, the leadership needed from men, and real hope through the gospel. 
• Conflict entering marriage through the fall in Genesis 3 
• James 4 and passions at war within the heart 
• The world’s false roadmaps like blame shifting and “blame it on the brain” 
• Why misdiagnosing conflict removes hope for change 
• Godly sorrow versus worldly sorrow in apologies 
• Unmet expectations and why they fuel recurring fights 
• Husbands leading in peacemaking without peace faking 
• 1 Peter 3 and the warning about hindered prayers 
• Encouragement for couples to use the means of grace and seek wise help 

Send us an encouragement, question, or critique.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with a friend or member from church and discuss it with them!

]]> Emmaus Bible Church Buzzsprout-19600715 Wed, 05 Aug 2026 05:00:00 -0500 1759 full false Family Worship Q/A and Encouragement Family Worship Q/A and Encouragement We open Deuteronomy 6 and answer 12 questions and objections to family worship. We then set expectations so you don’t burn out.

 
• What if I don’t think I know enough?
• Are my kids too young for family worship? 
• Training wiggly kids with patience and long-term thinking.
• Guidance on length and frequency without making a new law.
• Choosing a time of day that supports consistency.
• Keeping the Bible central while using catechisms and helps 
• What moms can do when dads are deployed or absent.
• Whether children who are not professing faith should pray.
• Responding to the fear of forcing religion on kids.
• Defining success as ordinary faithfulness over time.
• Recommended resources and simple frameworks for leading 

Resources for family worship:

Joel Beeke, Family Worship Guide (Insights and devotional questions for every chapter of the Bible): https://a.co/d/0f80sFR5

Donald Whitney, Family Worship: https://a.co/d/0i39pZ8q

Jonathan Gibson, Be Thou My Vision: A Liturgy for Daily Worship: https://a.co/d/09GFN2jS

Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening: https://a.co/d/01QDTE8o

Send us an encouragement, question, or critique.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with a friend or member from church and discuss it with them!

]]> We open Deuteronomy 6 and answer 12 questions and objections to family worship. We then set expectations so you don’t burn out.

 
• What if I don’t think I know enough?
• Are my kids too young for family worship? 
• Training wiggly kids with patience and long-term thinking.
• Guidance on length and frequency without making a new law.
• Choosing a time of day that supports consistency.
• Keeping the Bible central while using catechisms and helps 
• What moms can do when dads are deployed or absent.
• Whether children who are not professing faith should pray.
• Responding to the fear of forcing religion on kids.
• Defining success as ordinary faithfulness over time.
• Recommended resources and simple frameworks for leading 

Resources for family worship:

Joel Beeke, Family Worship Guide (Insights and devotional questions for every chapter of the Bible): https://a.co/d/0f80sFR5

Donald Whitney, Family Worship: https://a.co/d/0i39pZ8q

Jonathan Gibson, Be Thou My Vision: A Liturgy for Daily Worship: https://a.co/d/09GFN2jS

Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening: https://a.co/d/01QDTE8o

Send us an encouragement, question, or critique.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with a friend or member from church and discuss it with them!

]]> Emmaus Bible Church Buzzsprout-19495107 Thu, 23 Jul 2026 05:00:00 -0500 3257 full false Building a Healthy Family Through Family Worship Building a Healthy Family Through Family Worship The framers of the 1689 believed that the decay of religion in their day was caused by the lack of worship within the family unit. So we talk through what family worship is and why a short, consistent rhythm of Scripture, prayer, and singing can shape a Christian home for decades. We also tackle common misconceptions, share practical tools that lower the pressure on parents, and offer real testimonies of slow growth and real fruit. 


• Defining family worship as Bible reading with explanation, prayer, and singing 
• Clarifying what family worship is not, including a substitute for church or personal devotion 
• Keeping it doable with a short format and simple questions 
• Using catechisms, creeds, and Scripture memory as helpful tools 
• Grounding the practice in Deuteronomy 6, Psalm 78, and Ephesians 6:4 
• Framing fathers as spiritual shepherds who lead with grace 
• Explaining why spiritual formation goes beyond behavior correction 
• Learning from testimonies about patience, consistency, and long-term fruit 

Send us an encouragement, question, or critique.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with a friend or member from church and discuss it with them!

]]> The framers of the 1689 believed that the decay of religion in their day was caused by the lack of worship within the family unit. So we talk through what family worship is and why a short, consistent rhythm of Scripture, prayer, and singing can shape a Christian home for decades. We also tackle common misconceptions, share practical tools that lower the pressure on parents, and offer real testimonies of slow growth and real fruit. 


• Defining family worship as Bible reading with explanation, prayer, and singing 
• Clarifying what family worship is not, including a substitute for church or personal devotion 
• Keeping it doable with a short format and simple questions 
• Using catechisms, creeds, and Scripture memory as helpful tools 
• Grounding the practice in Deuteronomy 6, Psalm 78, and Ephesians 6:4 
• Framing fathers as spiritual shepherds who lead with grace 
• Explaining why spiritual formation goes beyond behavior correction 
• Learning from testimonies about patience, consistency, and long-term fruit 

Send us an encouragement, question, or critique.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with a friend or member from church and discuss it with them!

]]> Emmaus Bible Church Buzzsprout-19461214 Tue, 21 Jul 2026 05:00:00 -0500 1823 full false Interview with Steve Volz, Part II: The Art Of Being Curious Interview with Steve Volz, Part II: The Art Of Being Curious We talk through what makes someone genuinely curious and why good questions feel like care instead of an interrogation. We connect reading, listening, and spiritual friendship to the simple work of loving God and loving people well. 


• Curiosity as a way to love your neighbor 
• Books as windows into worldview and thought life 
• Moving from self-centered talk to a true back-and-forth conversation 
• Asking for advice as a natural on-ramp to deeper dialogue 
• Using disagreement to understand rather than to win 
• A diner story where defining the gospel changes the tone 
• Practical ways introverts can “pull threads” and invite stories 
• Asking spiritual-life questions with specificity and warmth 
• Why reflection and quiet time spill into better conversations 
• Rapid-fire questions that reveal personality and priorities


Send us an encouragement, question, or critique.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with a friend or member from church and discuss it with them!

]]> We talk through what makes someone genuinely curious and why good questions feel like care instead of an interrogation. We connect reading, listening, and spiritual friendship to the simple work of loving God and loving people well. 


• Curiosity as a way to love your neighbor 
• Books as windows into worldview and thought life 
• Moving from self-centered talk to a true back-and-forth conversation 
• Asking for advice as a natural on-ramp to deeper dialogue 
• Using disagreement to understand rather than to win 
• A diner story where defining the gospel changes the tone 
• Practical ways introverts can “pull threads” and invite stories 
• Asking spiritual-life questions with specificity and warmth 
• Why reflection and quiet time spill into better conversations 
• Rapid-fire questions that reveal personality and priorities


Send us an encouragement, question, or critique.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with a friend or member from church and discuss it with them!

]]> Emmaus Bible Church Buzzsprout-19465813 Thu, 16 Jul 2026 06:00:00 -0500 1854 full false Interview with Steve Volz, Part I: On Life Interview with Steve Volz, Part I: On Life We walk through Pastor Steve’s life story and trace how constant moving, a hunger for friends, and a gift for curiosity shape the way he loves people today. Along the way, we talk about coming to faith, building a marriage and family, and learning to lead with humility at home and at church. 


• Growing up in a military family and moving often 
• Learning to appreciate any place instead of chasing a “better” one 
• A mother’s example of hospitality and open-door generosity 
• Regret about sibling relationships and the work of rebuilding trust 
• Using sports as a shortcut to friendship and belonging 
• The gap between the idea of community and the reality of it 
• A winding path to Christ through church relationships and the book of James 
• Meeting Becca and building a family with four kids 
• Parenting through repentance and showing kids what grace looks like 
• Becoming an elder and learning to serve rather than critique 
• The “so what” test for theology and teaching 
• Receiving correction as a gift and asking questions without intimidation 


Send us an encouragement, question, or critique.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with a friend or member from church and discuss it with them!

]]> We walk through Pastor Steve’s life story and trace how constant moving, a hunger for friends, and a gift for curiosity shape the way he loves people today. Along the way, we talk about coming to faith, building a marriage and family, and learning to lead with humility at home and at church. 


• Growing up in a military family and moving often 
• Learning to appreciate any place instead of chasing a “better” one 
• A mother’s example of hospitality and open-door generosity 
• Regret about sibling relationships and the work of rebuilding trust 
• Using sports as a shortcut to friendship and belonging 
• The gap between the idea of community and the reality of it 
• A winding path to Christ through church relationships and the book of James 
• Meeting Becca and building a family with four kids 
• Parenting through repentance and showing kids what grace looks like 
• Becoming an elder and learning to serve rather than critique 
• The “so what” test for theology and teaching 
• Receiving correction as a gift and asking questions without intimidation 


Send us an encouragement, question, or critique.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with a friend or member from church and discuss it with them!

]]> Emmaus Bible Church Buzzsprout-19465809 Thu, 16 Jul 2026 05:00:00 -0500 2397 full false Interview with Isaac Erickson: Slowly & Steadily Strengthening the Saints Interview with Isaac Erickson: Slowly & Steadily Strengthening the Saints We talk with Isaac Erickson about stepping into pastoral leadership at First Baptist Church in Council Bluffs and what it looks like to strengthen a 170-year-old church through change, uncertainty, and conflict. We leave with practical wisdom on moving slow, leading without fear of man, and finding real joy through baptisms, preaching, and steady growth. 


• Isaac’s background, family, and call to ministry 
• The path from residency to pastoral leadership in Council Bluffs 
• First Baptist Church history and why legacy shapes expectations 
• Early expectations versus reality when timelines and dynamics shift 
• How conflict escalates when change moves too fast 
• Lessons learned: slow and steady, prayer, Bible confidence, support systems 
• Practical leadership counsel: get key decisions in writing 
• Joys of pastoring: baptisms, preaching growth, people maturing in Christ 
• Advice for church members joining a strengthening work: reject consumer instincts, stick it out 
• Specific ways to pray: financial stability, unified vision, solid and teachable people 

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]]> We talk with Isaac Erickson about stepping into pastoral leadership at First Baptist Church in Council Bluffs and what it looks like to strengthen a 170-year-old church through change, uncertainty, and conflict. We leave with practical wisdom on moving slow, leading without fear of man, and finding real joy through baptisms, preaching, and steady growth. 


• Isaac’s background, family, and call to ministry 
• The path from residency to pastoral leadership in Council Bluffs 
• First Baptist Church history and why legacy shapes expectations 
• Early expectations versus reality when timelines and dynamics shift 
• How conflict escalates when change moves too fast 
• Lessons learned: slow and steady, prayer, Bible confidence, support systems 
• Practical leadership counsel: get key decisions in writing 
• Joys of pastoring: baptisms, preaching growth, people maturing in Christ 
• Advice for church members joining a strengthening work: reject consumer instincts, stick it out 
• Specific ways to pray: financial stability, unified vision, solid and teachable people 

Send us an encouragement, question, or critique.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with a friend or member from church and discuss it with them!

]]> Emmaus Bible Church Buzzsprout-19465987 Tue, 14 Jul 2026 05:00:00 -0500 2322 full false Interview with Dr. William Schleifer: On Life, Ministry, and Medicine Interview with Dr. William Schleifer: On Life, Ministry, and Medicine We sit down with Pastor William Schleifer to trace the winding path from a Georgia poultry farm to Mayo Clinic cardiology fellowships and, eventually, lay eldership at Emmaus. Along the way, we talk providence, church life, and how medicine exposes both the brilliance of God’s design and the limits of human control. 

• Growing up in Georgia and learning hard work on a poultry farm 
• Being homeschooled and pursuing both biology and piano performance 
• The training road through medical school, residency, cardiology, and electrophysiology 
• How a Nebraska job lead and one phone call helped redirect long-term plans 
• Learning church life through a Phoenix church plant and Nine Marks ecclesiology 
• Coming to faith early through family worship and steady local church involvement 
• What shaped him at Bob Jones University and why strong academics mattered 
• Meeting Mary through New Testament Greek and seeing God’s quiet providence 
• Frequent moves, learning to evaluate churches, and planting roots at Emmaus 
• Studying the Bible on plurality of elders and the value of shared accountability 
• How medicine shows the curse, forces humility, and opens doors for gospel conversations 

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]]> We sit down with Pastor William Schleifer to trace the winding path from a Georgia poultry farm to Mayo Clinic cardiology fellowships and, eventually, lay eldership at Emmaus. Along the way, we talk providence, church life, and how medicine exposes both the brilliance of God’s design and the limits of human control. 

• Growing up in Georgia and learning hard work on a poultry farm 
• Being homeschooled and pursuing both biology and piano performance 
• The training road through medical school, residency, cardiology, and electrophysiology 
• How a Nebraska job lead and one phone call helped redirect long-term plans 
• Learning church life through a Phoenix church plant and Nine Marks ecclesiology 
• Coming to faith early through family worship and steady local church involvement 
• What shaped him at Bob Jones University and why strong academics mattered 
• Meeting Mary through New Testament Greek and seeing God’s quiet providence 
• Frequent moves, learning to evaluate churches, and planting roots at Emmaus 
• Studying the Bible on plurality of elders and the value of shared accountability 
• How medicine shows the curse, forces humility, and opens doors for gospel conversations 

Send us an encouragement, question, or critique.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with a friend or member from church and discuss it with them!

]]> Emmaus Bible Church Buzzsprout-19460664 Thu, 09 Jul 2026 05:00:00 -0500 3916 full false How to Read the Bible Like Jesus and the Apostles How to Read the Bible Like Jesus and the Apostles We walk through three tools that help us read Scripture the way Jesus and the apostles do, starting with the Bible as God speaking and ending with a practical study framework anyone can use. We navigate self-centered readings, show why the Old Testament points to Christ, and offer steady encouragement for long-haul Bible reading with helpful resources. 


• Treating Scripture as inspired, sufficient, and final authority 
• Learning from how Jesus quotes and submits to the Old Testament 
• Rejecting the idea that apostolic interpretation is only descriptive 
• Reading the whole Bible as one story fulfilled in Christ 
• Avoiding “be the hero” readings while still applying ethical lessons 
• Connecting types and themes like Passover and exodus to Jesus 
• Using Psalm 102 and Hebrews as a model for Christ-centered reading 
• Practicing the COMA method: context, observation, meaning, application 
• Refusing shortcut applications that skip context and observation 
• Reading in community through study Bibles and trusted teachers 

Send us an encouragement, question, or critique.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with a friend or member from church and discuss it with them!

]]> We walk through three tools that help us read Scripture the way Jesus and the apostles do, starting with the Bible as God speaking and ending with a practical study framework anyone can use. We navigate self-centered readings, show why the Old Testament points to Christ, and offer steady encouragement for long-haul Bible reading with helpful resources. 


• Treating Scripture as inspired, sufficient, and final authority 
• Learning from how Jesus quotes and submits to the Old Testament 
• Rejecting the idea that apostolic interpretation is only descriptive 
• Reading the whole Bible as one story fulfilled in Christ 
• Avoiding “be the hero” readings while still applying ethical lessons 
• Connecting types and themes like Passover and exodus to Jesus 
• Using Psalm 102 and Hebrews as a model for Christ-centered reading 
• Practicing the COMA method: context, observation, meaning, application 
• Refusing shortcut applications that skip context and observation 
• Reading in community through study Bibles and trusted teachers 

Send us an encouragement, question, or critique.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with a friend or member from church and discuss it with them!

]]> Emmaus Bible Church Buzzsprout-19431903 Tue, 07 Jul 2026 05:00:00 -0500 2301 full false How Do the Old and New Testament Fit Together? How Do the Old and New Testament Fit Together? We challenge the idea that the Old Testament and New Testament reveal different gods or different ways of salvation, and we lay out a clear path for reading the Bible as one unified story. We offer four tools for putting Scripture together so you can read any passage with Christ in view and avoid both legalism and lawlessness. 


• Marcion’s split between Old Testament and New Testament and why it fails 
• Common misconceptions about salvation, ethics, and “Jewish-only” readings 
• One ultimate Author in the Holy Spirit and one unified storyline 
• Covenants as the Bible’s major framework and turning points 
• Law and gospel distinction and the “grammar of the gospel” 
• Why Christ is the interpretive key to all Scripture 
• The Three Ts for connecting to Jesus: text, type, theme 

Send us an encouragement, question, or critique.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with a friend or member from church and discuss it with them!

]]> We challenge the idea that the Old Testament and New Testament reveal different gods or different ways of salvation, and we lay out a clear path for reading the Bible as one unified story. We offer four tools for putting Scripture together so you can read any passage with Christ in view and avoid both legalism and lawlessness. 


• Marcion’s split between Old Testament and New Testament and why it fails 
• Common misconceptions about salvation, ethics, and “Jewish-only” readings 
• One ultimate Author in the Holy Spirit and one unified storyline 
• Covenants as the Bible’s major framework and turning points 
• Law and gospel distinction and the “grammar of the gospel” 
• Why Christ is the interpretive key to all Scripture 
• The Three Ts for connecting to Jesus: text, type, theme 

Send us an encouragement, question, or critique.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with a friend or member from church and discuss it with them!

]]> Emmaus Bible Church Buzzsprout-19426932 Tue, 30 Jun 2026 15:00:00 -0500 1917 full false Interview with Luke Gorsett, Part II: Building a Godly, Close-Knit Family Interview with Luke Gorsett, Part II: Building a Godly, Close-Knit Family We talk through the convictions and habits that help build a close-knit, godly family over the long haul, with family worship and shared time at the center. We also get practical about church community, parenting as a vocation, and why patient training and clear authority can restore peace and joy at home. 


• discovering family worship through hospitality and learning simple, repeatable rhythms of Scripture, prayer, and singing 
• saying no to packed schedules so our home keeps time together as the main resource 
• cultivating siblings as friends by doing life together instead of splitting into individual tracks 
• treating the local church as extended family through presence, service, prayer meetings, and staying after 
• thinking long-term about family unity and building something together beyond age 18 
• embracing parenting as a primary vocation and finding joy in the weight of the calling 
• offering hope for parents who feel behind and outlining formative training toward obedience and respect 
• explaining why law and discipline, joined with the gospel, protect kids from chaos and harm 

Send us an encouragement, question, or critique.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with a friend or member from church and discuss it with them!

]]> We talk through the convictions and habits that help build a close-knit, godly family over the long haul, with family worship and shared time at the center. We also get practical about church community, parenting as a vocation, and why patient training and clear authority can restore peace and joy at home. 


• discovering family worship through hospitality and learning simple, repeatable rhythms of Scripture, prayer, and singing 
• saying no to packed schedules so our home keeps time together as the main resource 
• cultivating siblings as friends by doing life together instead of splitting into individual tracks 
• treating the local church as extended family through presence, service, prayer meetings, and staying after 
• thinking long-term about family unity and building something together beyond age 18 
• embracing parenting as a primary vocation and finding joy in the weight of the calling 
• offering hope for parents who feel behind and outlining formative training toward obedience and respect 
• explaining why law and discipline, joined with the gospel, protect kids from chaos and harm 

Send us an encouragement, question, or critique.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with a friend or member from church and discuss it with them!

]]> Emmaus Bible Church Buzzsprout-19426518 Tue, 30 Jun 2026 15:00:00 -0500 1903 full false Interview with Luke Gorsett, Part I: On Life Interview with Luke Gorsett, Part I: On Life We talk with Pastor Luke about how the local church adds depth to preaching because our shepherds know our lives, and we know theirs. Luke traces God’s work from Denver childhood memories and a serious music background to baseball ambition, conversion, and the slow path into pastoral ministry. 


• why preaching from pastors who know you carries unique weight 
• growing up in Denver with steady family life and formative friendships 
• learning discipline through cello, quartet performances, and orchestras 
• chasing baseball as an idol, getting humbled by reputation and injury 
• searching for truth, getting tangled in prosperity teaching, then finding gospel clarity 
• meeting Heather, getting married young, and starting a big family 
• joys of fatherhood, giving wise “sermonettes,” and building a culture of presence 
• challenges of parenting, kids mirroring our weaknesses, and modeling repentance 
• how discipleship in a healthy church shaped the move into pastoral ministry 

Send us an encouragement, question, or critique.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with a friend or member from church and discuss it with them!

]]> We talk with Pastor Luke about how the local church adds depth to preaching because our shepherds know our lives, and we know theirs. Luke traces God’s work from Denver childhood memories and a serious music background to baseball ambition, conversion, and the slow path into pastoral ministry. 


• why preaching from pastors who know you carries unique weight 
• growing up in Denver with steady family life and formative friendships 
• learning discipline through cello, quartet performances, and orchestras 
• chasing baseball as an idol, getting humbled by reputation and injury 
• searching for truth, getting tangled in prosperity teaching, then finding gospel clarity 
• meeting Heather, getting married young, and starting a big family 
• joys of fatherhood, giving wise “sermonettes,” and building a culture of presence 
• challenges of parenting, kids mirroring our weaknesses, and modeling repentance 
• how discipleship in a healthy church shaped the move into pastoral ministry 

Send us an encouragement, question, or critique.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with a friend or member from church and discuss it with them!

]]> Emmaus Bible Church Buzzsprout-19426504 Tue, 30 Jun 2026 14:00:00 -0500 1957 full false Interview with Zach Hall: On Life & The Call to Ministry Interview with Zach Hall: On Life & The Call to Ministry 1:06 — Biographical Sketch of Zach’s life.

39:41 — Advice for Navigating a Call to Ministry

1:03:01 — Rapid Fire Questions

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]]> 1:06 — Biographical Sketch of Zach’s life.

39:41 — Advice for Navigating a Call to Ministry

1:03:01 — Rapid Fire Questions

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If this episode was helpful, please share it with a friend or member from church and discuss it with them!

]]> Emmaus Bible Church Buzzsprout-19393274 Tue, 23 Jun 2026 17:00:00 -0500 4241 full false Debriefing the Events of the 2026 SBC Meeting Debriefing the Events of the 2026 SBC Meeting In this episode we discuss Pastor Ron’s time in Orlando for the 2026 SBC Annual Meeting, the decisions and resolutions that were made there, and how we perceive the current state and future of the Southern Baptist Convention.

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]]> In this episode we discuss Pastor Ron’s time in Orlando for the 2026 SBC Annual Meeting, the decisions and resolutions that were made there, and how we perceive the current state and future of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Send us an encouragement, question, or critique.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with a friend or member from church and discuss it with them!

]]> Emmaus Bible Church Buzzsprout-19393267 Tue, 23 Jun 2026 17:00:00 -0500 3078 full false