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After years of conversations about biblical manhood, leadership, marriage, parenting, discipleship, and following Jesus, Scott shares an important update about the future of the Locker Room Podcast. In this episode, Scott explains why the podcast is being paused, reflects on what God has done through this ministry over the past eight years, and shares exciting opportunities that lie ahead for Southland's men's ministry. While this chapter is coming to a close, the mission remains the same: to equip men to become the husbands, fathers, leaders, and disciples God has called them to be. Whether you've been listening since the beginning or just discovered Locker Room, thank you for being part of this journey. Every previous episode will remain available on podcast plaforms and YouTube, giving you access to a library of conversations designed to encourage, challenge, and strengthen your walk with Christ. Scott mentioned two new areas of focus: foster care / adoption support, as well as prison ministries. If either of these resonate with you, send an email to [email protected] to get in on the ground level as we discern how to best serve these groups. Scott referenced the Built 4 More podcast hosted by Joby Martin at Church of Eleven22 in Jacksonville, FL as a good continuing resource moving forward. You can find it at https://built4morepod.com Thank you for listening, sharing, leading, and growing with us. Subscribe to stay connected with future content from Southland Christian Church. If this podcast has impacted your life, we'd love to hear your story. Reach out to Scott at [email protected]

Big things are coming this fall for the men of Southland! In this episode of the Locker Room Podcast, Scott Hatfield shares several ways to connect, grow and lead—including Fight Club at the Richmond Campus, new Fight Club resources for leading your own group and an upcoming Marriage Workshop. Scott also honors the life of his friend Rob Preston, whose courageous faith throughout his battle with ALS offers a powerful reminder to live intentionally, share the hope of Jesus and finish well. Upcoming events: • Fight Club at the Richmond Campus Begins August 31 | Mondays from 7–9 p.m. Register: https://southland.church/groups • Fight Club Leader Interest Meeting August 10 | 7–8 p.m. Nicholasville Campus, Building B • Fight Club Table Leader Training August 17 | 7–8:30 p.m. Richmond Campus • Marriage Workshop November 6–7 Register: https://southland.church/marriage Interested in leading a Fight Club group or learning more? Email [email protected]. Please join us in praying for Rob's family and for his Celebration of Life service on August 21. "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." — 2 Timothy 4:7 Locker Room, let's fight the good fight, finish the race and keep the faith. What we do, how we invest, how we model and what we say matters. Let's build something that lasts beyond us.

Our guest this week is James Dickey, a long time servant leader at Southland. James' mentality in life is "This is all about you Jesus, what do you want me to do? What do you want me to give?—the answer is yes." James has gotten to be a part of some really amazing God moments because he's stacked up a bunch of yes's, and trusted God to lead him into new opportunities. There's nothing better than a man who stays available to Jesus. Our greatest ability is our availability. This episode wraps up this season of the podcast. Keep fighting and looking for ways to be available this summer to the opportunities God puts in your path to serve and love on others. Have a great summer and we'll catch you back here in August for Season 17 of Locker Room. --- Opening Questions Where are you winning this week? Discussion Questions: James has stayed faithful serving at the same church through a lot of different seasons and leadership changes.  What do you think helps a man stay grounded and committed instead of constantly chasing something new?   Hearing James talk about serving on the Prayer Team was powerful because he's walked with people through some really heavy moments.  Why do you think so many men avoid stepping into hard or emotional conversations?   One of the biggest themes from this episode was just being available to God.  What tends to compete for or crowd out your availability to the Lord?   James kept faithfully showing up for Jeep year after year before he ever saw life change happen.  Have you ever gotten frustrated, spiritually gave up somebody or stop engaging with someone because they didn't seem interested in Jesus?   How does James 26-27 years of just showing up at the prison to keep loving "Jeep" remind us about the power of God to move in someone's life?  Who do you need to do to re-engage with that God's not given up on?    Read Luke 4:18-19.  How do these verses challenge the way we think about serving and loving people around us?  What is one practical way you can live this out this week?   James saying "yes" to God eventually led to him giving away one of his kidneys — something he probably never could've imagined when he first started following Jesus. How does his story challenge the way we think about obedience, sacrifice, and trusting God with whatever He asks of us?   James and Kathy walked through a lot of health struggles together.  What stood out to you most about the way they approached marriage and hardship?  What can you apply to your own marriage or future relationships?   "Things you can change, change. Things you can't change, let go and let God." This quote is hard, but there is a lot of truth to it.  Why is surrender so difficult for most men?  Have you walked through a situation where you had to fully trust God with something you couldn't control? What is one thing that you need to surrender today?   Toward the end, Scott challenged men to make their default answer to God "yes."  What is one area of your life where saying "yes" to God feels difficult right now?   After listening to this episode, what's one thing we haven't touched on that stuck out to you?  How can you apply that takeaway to your life this week?   Wrap Up: If this podcast has encouraged you—we'd love to hear from you.  If you're wrestling with Christianity, interested in getting baptized or need help figuring out your next step…shoot us an email at [email protected].   As always…if this podcast has encouraged you—share it with a friend.  You never know how an episode like this can help those in your life that you care about. Thanks for listening.  Get after it!  We'll catch you next time on Locker Room.

"When a good thing becomes an ultimate thing, it becomes a destructive thing!" It's so easy for us as men to pursue identity in external things. The enemy loves to deceive men to put our identity in anything and everything other than resting and being anchored in our God-given identity in Christ. We'll chase anything or anybody who will tell us that we're loved, valued and important. It doesn't matter what it is—our appearance, achievements, job titles,  our successes, or our bank account. But it's critical for us to find our true identity in who God says we are, instead of trying to find it in what we do or what we have. Our guest this week is Jason Dunn. Jason is a homegrown Kentucky boy who grew up on a farm, went to Harrodsburg High School, and  received a scholarship to play tight end at Eastern Kentucky University. After an amazing college career, Jason earned a spot on EKU's Hall of Fame and was drafted as the 54th pick in the NFL draft to the Philadelphia Eagles. Jason played twelve years in the NFL with the Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs. His story is filled with a lot of mountains and valleys. In our conversation today, we'll talk about football and life after football. Jason is a husband and dad. He and his wife Susan are foster care parents, and their family is a part of our church. --- Opening Questions  Where are you winning this week What's your favorite NFL team? What were some fun stuff he shared about his NFL career?   Discussion Questions Jason went through a long season of running from the Lord & chasing the world. Jason talked about having a hard conversation with his mom. How do you typically handle tension… Do you move towards it, avoid it, or blow it up? What's a difficult conversation you've been avoiding lately? What's holding you back? Think of a past hard conversation with your parents or family. What went well, and what would you do differently now?   Jason talked about losing football and realizing his identity was tied to it. Where do you tend to find your identity right now (job, success, reputation, family, etc.)? Have you ever had something you relied on get taken away or shaken? How did it affect you? What does it actually look like for a man to build his identity on Christ instead of performance?   Jason said he wants people to feel the love of Jesus when they meet him. When people interact with you, what do you think they experience most? Where is it hardest for you to reflect Jesus (work, home, stress, certain people)? What's one practical way you can intentionally show Christ's love to someone this week?   Worldly vs. Godly Definitions of Manhood According to culture, what defines a "successful man"? How is that different from how Jesus defines a man? Why is it so important to be vulnerable & transparent with other trusted men?  Where do you need to grow in this area?   Jason talks about the importance of stepping up specifically for foster children.  Where do you see a need around you that you've been ignoring or overlooking? What's one step, big or small, you could take to be more intentional in caring for others (foster kids, people struggling around us or even against family members/friends)?   Is there anything from this episode that we didn't touch on that sticks out to you? What is one tangible thing that you can do this week in response?   Wrap Up: If this podcast has encouraged you—we'd love to hear from you.  If you're wrestling with Christianity, interested in getting baptized or need help figuring out your next step…shoot us an email at [email protected].   As always…if this podcast has encouraged you—share it with a friend.  You never know how an episode like this can help those in your life that you care about. Thanks for listening.  Get after it!  We'll catch you next time on Locker Room.

Our guest today on the podcast is Matthew Bradford. Matthew is a decorated Marine veteran with many awards, a husband, and father. He has gotten to tell his story on 60-Minutes, the Jocko Podcast, literally all over the world. His story is unique. Matthew is a hero, but Jesus is the hero in his story! You may be a veteran. You may have veterans in your friend group or family. Regardless, this episode is going to inspire you, challenge you and equip through to navigate through the hard stuff that you're in the middle of or that will come your way! -- Opening Questions  Where are you winning this week? Last week we left with a challenge: "Do the drastic thing." What was the drastic thing for you? Did you follow through? What happened? Discussion Questions  Matthew's life changed instantly on January 18th. Have you ever had a moment where your life took an unexpected turn? How did you respond in that moment?   After his injury, Matthew battled guilt, identity, and hopelessness. When life hits hard, where does your mind naturally go—toward truth or toward negative thoughts? What helps you fight back against that? Matthew described being at a crossroads: self-pity and purpose. Where do you feel like you're at a crossroads right now? What's pulling you toward the wrong path? "Life is 10% what happens and 90% how we respond."  What's a situation in your life right now where you need to change your response instead of trying to change the situation? Matthew talked about God giving him a new mission. Do you believe God can use hard seasons in your life for something meaningful? Why or why not? What's one thing from this episode that stuck with you the most? What's one way you can actually apply it this week?   Wrap Up: If this podcast has encouraged you—we'd love to hear from you.  If you're wrestling with Christianity, interested in getting baptized or need help figuring out your next step…shoot us an email at [email protected].   As always…if this podcast has encouraged you—share it with a friend.  You never know how an episode like this can help those in your life that you care about. Thanks for listening.  Get after it!  We'll catch you next time on Locker Room.

Your story doesn't have to end in betrayal. It doesn't have to end in addiction. It doesn't have to end in shame. In Christ, there is a path forward—one courageous step of honesty, one humble act of repentance, one powerful moment of grace at a time. What feels like the end may actually be the beginning. All you have to do is take the step. Join us today as Scott sits down with our guest Jonathan Fisher for a raw, real discussion on pornography addiction, infidelity, its impact on a marriage and God's power to redeem, restore and rebuild. -- Opening Questions  Where are you winning this week? When you hear a story about failure, confession, and restoration, which part do you tend to focus on most and why?   Discussion Quesitons  Jonathan's struggle started in his teenage years and stayed hidden for a long time. Why do you think sexual sin (or sin in general) thrives in secrecy? Have you ever believed the lie that a future change (marriage, a new season, more discipline) would fix something going on inside of you? What happened? The episode says: "Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay."—Billy Graham.  Where have you seen that play out in your own life or in someone close to you? Do you know of men and marriages that have been impacted by pornography, sexual sin or infidelity?  Describe the pain and carnage that it brought on?     Bible:  Psalm 32:1-8 As you read those 8 verses, pay attention to the critical postures of concealing sin and finally acknowledging our sin.   What are God's responses towards us in both of these postures? Why should our hearts be broken over the sin our lives?    Not every story ends the same way some marriages are restored, some aren't. Why is it important to pursue honesty and repentance even when the outcome isn't guaranteed? Jonathan and Jill had to rebuild their marriage with accountability, counseling, and community. Which of those (accountability, counseling, community) do men resist the most—and why? The episode emphasizes: "Trust is rebuilt through consistency, not words." What are some practical ways trust is rebuilt over time? Jesus raises the standard by addressing lust, not just actions. What are some everyday situations where men tend to let their guard down (phones, work, travel, etc.)? How can we set better boundaries?   Bible:  Matthew 5:27-30.   What does Jesus say about adultery and lust?   Why does He use such drastic language?  What's the warning?   Scott shared a list of drastic measures.  Which of those spoke to you?  What are some drastic measures that you need to take?   Challenge: Do the drastic thing! What is the drastic thing that comes to mind for you and how will you act on it? What else in the episode challenged you?  How did the Holy Spirit speak to you?   Resources: Every Man's Battle:  Winning the War on Sexual Temptation, by Stephen Arterburn & Fred Stoeker Healing Your Marriage When Trust is Broken, by Cindy Beall Finding Forgiveness and Restoration, by Cindy Beall Forgiving What You Can't Forget, by Lysa TerKeurst It's Not Supposed to Be This Way, by Lysa TerKeurst   Good Boundaries & Goodbyes, by Lysa TerKeurst Winning the Battle Within, by Neil T. Anderson The Game Plan: The Men's 30-Day Strategy for Attaining Sexual Integrity  by Joe Dallas Out of the Dog House:  A Step-by-Step Relationship Guide for Men who Cheat, by Dr.  Robert Weiss Locker Room Episode:  Stop Porn, May 10th, 2024 Locker Room Episode:  The Power of Healthy Boundaries, October 7th, 2024. Locker Room Series:  Giants…where we talk about lies men believe, guilt & shame, resentment & bitterness (October & November 2024).  Those are three episodes that might really beneficial in your marriage. One more…In the Fire:  Purity with Connor Hall.  September 26th, 2025.  Great episode.   Wrap Up: If this podcast has encouraged you—We'd love to hear from you.  If you're wrestling with Christianity, interested in getting baptized or need help figuring out your next step, if you'd like to connect with Jonathan or Jill…shoot us an email at [email protected].   As always…if this podcast has encouraged you—share it with a friend.  You never know how an episode like this can help those in your life that you care about. Thanks for listening.  Get after it!  We'll catch you next time on Locker Room.

Marriage is hard. Parenting is harder, and the only thing harder is parenting in a blended family. This week on the podcast we are wrapping up our series on parenting. If you missed any of the other 3-weeks, feel free to go into the podcast feed and grab those. If you have a blended family—the other three weeks will be really helpful but we want to aim our focus on this specific topic today. You may be listening to this podcast and you're not a blended family... This episode will still be helpful because it will give you greater understanding about the people in your life that are in a blended family , and it may provide greater clarity on how you can love, serve and support them. Join us as we sit down with Edgar and Michelle to talk about the challenges and beauty of a blended family and how it is so often written into God's story. -- Opening Questions Where are you winning this week? Last week we challenged you to take something practically and apply it to the way you parent. What did you try? How did it go? When you think of "Blended families" what comes to mind? Discussion Questions The podcast describes blended families as complex and challenging. Where have you personally seen or experienced that kind of complexity in family, either your own or someone close to you? How does it change your perspective to realize how many blended or complicated families show up in the Bible? The idea was shared that divorce creates real loss—not just for spouses, but for kids too. Where have you seen unprocessed loss show up in someone's life—or even your own? Where do you think parents (maybe even you) underestimate how much kids are affected by family tension or change? Blended families are described as being "born out of loss and into ambiguity." Where do you see confusion around roles, expectations, or identity showing up in family dynamics? From the challenges discussed (loyalty tension, different parenting styles, unclear roles, etc.) Which challenge stood out to you the most—and where do you see that playing out in real life? The conversation highlighted the importance of compassion. Think about a difficult relationship… what would it actually look like for you to lead with compassion instead of frustration? Instead of focusing on what others aren't doing, the question was asked: "What is one thing you can bring to the situation that benefits the child?" How would you answer that personally? The phrase "always moving toward unity" came up. What does that practically look like in real relationships, especially when it's hard or not reciprocated? The podcast ends with the idea that love is a decision, not just a feeling. Where in your life do you need to choose love right now instead of waiting to feel it? Final challenging questions for this episode: Is there anything that the Holy Spirit has brought to the surface in your current family situation?   Is there anything that you need to let go of?  Anything that you need to own?     Resources  Grief Share is a Group: Southland.church/groups and look for Groups Share.   Building Love Together in Blended Families: The 5 Love Languages of Becoming Step Family Smart, Gary Chapman The Smart Stepfamily: 7 steps to a healthy family,  Ron L. Deal Blended and Redeemed: The Go-To Field Guide for the Modern Stepfamily, Scott & Vanessa Martindale.   As always, we have Christian Counselors that we partner with that could be a great resource for you or your kids, if that's something you're looking for.  No shame in that game.  To learn more, go to Southland.church/help, scroll down and you'll find Christian Counseling there. I'd love to see Blended Families pray about stepping up and leading Blended Family Groups at all 5 of our campuses.  That would bring a lot of support, encouragement and wisdom.  If you're a blended family, I'd love for you to reach out to me [email protected].  I'd love to talk with you about what that could look like.    Wrap Up If this podcast has encouraged you—We'd love to hear from you.  If you're wrestling with Christianity, interested in getting baptized or need help figuring out your next step, if you'd like to connect with Edgar & Michelle…shoot us an email at [email protected].   As always…if this podcast has encouraged you—share it with a friend.  You never know how an episode like this can help those in your life that you care about. Thanks for listening.  Get after it!  We'll catch you next time on Locker Room.

"Prepare your child for the path, not the path for the child." — Tim Elmore. Our job as parents is not to remove all the obstacles in the road, on the path. We can try and spend too much time trying to clear all the obstacles on the path, but in reality our role is to prepare our kids for the path. It's up to us to teach, train, invest and equip our kids to navigate the path in front of them. This is discipleship. Discipleship is our job as parents. Helping our kids love God, develop a Biblical Worldview where God's Word is the filter by which they discern what's right, good and beneficial for them. Today's episode is all about their identity in Christ, God's design for love, relationships and holiness. It's our job. We have to do our jobs and prepare our kids for the path. -- Opening Questions  Where are you winning this week? Last week we talked about having intentional conversations with your kids—did you get a chance to do that? If so how did it go If not, what got in the way? What's a funny or awkward dating story from your past?   Discussion Questions  Scott says, "Prepare your child for the path not the path for your child." Where have you seen parents try to prepare the path for their child?  Where have you seen parents try to "clear the path" for their kids? What are the long-term effects of that on a child's character, faith, or resilience? Which side do you naturally drift toward as a parent?    Did your parents talk with you about dating, sex, or relationships growing up? What did they do well that you want to take and use?   If your parents didn't engage in these conversations, how did that impact you?  Where did you go to learn about love, sex and dating? What are some things that you want to do differently?   Connor mentions kids are hearing messages about sex and gender as early as 4th grade. Does that surprise you? Why or why not? If you're not the first voice speaking into your child's understanding of these topics, who is? What makes these conversations difficult to start and how can you overcome that?   Scott says, "Just because something is normal doesn't mean it's good." What are some "normal" views of dating and relationships in today's culture? Where do those clash with what you believe is healthy or biblical? How can you intentionally teach your kids a better vision?   Where have you seen this idea of a practice dating relationship? How can these be dangerous?  Scott uses teaching our kids to learn how to swim as an illustration of what it should look like to teach them how to date. What do you think holds parents back from looking at the two the same way?  Why is it important for a father to be involved in who his daughter dates? What fears, discomforts, or barriers keep men from stepping into that role? What does healthy, godly involvement actually look like?   How can you help your kids handle breakups in a healthy, God-honoring way? What mistakes do parents often make in those moments? How can a breakup become a moment of growth instead of just pain?   What is one takeaway from this episode that you want to apply to how you parent? How can you do it practically?  Resource: Single, Dating, Engage, Married:  Navigating Life and Love in the Modern Age –Ben Stuart.   Wrap Up: If this podcast has encouraged you—we'd love to hear from you.  If you're wrestling with Christianity, interested in getting baptized or need help figuring out your next step…shoot us an email at [email protected].   As always…if this podcast has encouraged you—share it with a friend.  You never know how an episode like this can help those in your life that you care about. Thanks for listening.  Get after it!  We'll catch you next time on Locker Room.

"In the Kingdom of God, it may not be what you did, what you achieved, or where you lived…but who you raised!" The Bible commands us as parents to teach and train our kids to grow up knowing Jesus and to walk in His way. It's important work. If you have them—it's a critical part of the mission that God has called you to.  Join us this week on the podcast as Scott sits down with Jason Byerly to discuss practical tools we can all use as parents to help our kids have roots planted in the fertile soil of a strong faith. -- Opening Questions  Summer or Winter Olympics—what event are you watching every time it's on? Where are you winning this week? Last week we asked about being more intentional as a Christ-centered parent—what did you actually try, and what happened because of it?   Discussion Questions  Read 1 Corinthians 3:1-9.  Where do you feel pressure to "produce results" in your kids instead of trusting God to grow them? What does it practically look like to plant and water well in your home right now?   Jason asked what might be taking time away from your kids—what's one thing you know is stealing your attention right now? What's one specific, realistic change you could make this week to be more present? When it comes to your faith, where do you tend to give your kids answers without explanations? Why is it dangerous if our kids only know what we believe but not why? What's one conversation you need to have with your kid(s) to help them understand the "why" behind your faith?   Two Key Questions for our Locker Room community:   What are key things that you are currently doing to invest in your kids? What's an area that we just talked about that you need to move towards with a lot of intentionality to plant good seeds? Scott addresses this lie that we are entitled to comfort.  How have you seen this entitlement creep up in your life?  Your kids?  How have you seen it in your kids' life? How can you better model this idea that we are not entitled to comfort?   Two Weeding Questions to wrap up this point: Which weeds show up most consistently in each of my kids? What weeds in me are my child imitating?     Challenge:    This week, regardless of how old your kids are.  We want to challenge you to reach out have a shepherding, loving, affirming conversation with each your kids (including adult children).  Tell them how much you love them. Remind them of how much God loves them.  Share with them what you see in them.  Let them know how they bring you joy.   Encourage them in whatever way you need to.   Pour out your heart to your kids.   Helpful Book: Keeping Your Kids on God's Side: 40 Conversations to Help Them Build a Lasting Faith Natasha Crain Wrap Up: If this podcast has encouraged you—We'd love to hear from you.  If you're wrestling with Christianity, interested in getting baptized or need help figuring out your next step…shoot us an email at [email protected].   As always…if this podcast has encouraged you—share it with a friend.  You never know how an episode like this can help those in your life that you care about. Thanks for listening.  Get after it!  We'll catch you next time on Locker Room.

Welcome back! This week on Locker Room we are kicking off a four week series on parenting. We've got some solid guests lined up each week to tackle a different aspect of parenting. FIrst up this week, Scott sits down with our guest Tim Aulick to talk about how to raise our children from a Christ-centered perspective. We'll also talk about some of the faulty parenting methods we can easily fall into, and how we can get back on the right track. -- Opening Questions  Where are you winning this week? Last week we asked you, "What is one specific thing you could do this week to intentionally strengthen your marriage?" How were you able to do that this week?  What's something your kids have made fun of you for lately?   Discussion Questions Four different pitfalls parents slip into… Identity-bearing parents Worshiping our kids  Controlling or vicarious parents  Legalistic parenting Which of these do you see yourself drifting toward the most right now? What are some things that bring that out? Why is it so important to lead from your own walk with Jesus? What are some practical ways you are (or could be) reminding your kids of their identity in Christ?   "A parent's example is either a stepping stone towards Jesus or a stumbling block away from Him." In what ways are you currently being a stepping stone? Where might you unintentionally be a stumbling block?   Tim talks about the mistake of reacting too quickly.  When are you most likely to react quickly instead of respond thoughtfully? What would it look like to pause and handle those moments differently?   "God isn't after rule followers. He is after transformed hearts." Where do you find yourself focusing more on behavior than heart in your parenting? How can you shift that this week?   What does it practically look like to raise kids who love God, love people, and are prepared to leave home well? Which of those three is hardest for you right now?   Our values should dictate culture. What values do you hold in your household and how has that impacted the culture of your home?  Are those values intentional or just happening by default?   What is one specific step you can take this week to be more intentional as a Christ-centered parent?   Wrap Up If this podcast has encouraged you—We'd love to hear from you.  If you're wrestling with Christianity, interested in getting baptized or need help figuring out your next step…shoot us an email at [email protected].   As always…if this podcast has encouraged you—share it with a friend.

This week on the podcast, we have a very special guest. Scott sits down this week with his wife, Sarah Hatfield. It's a special episode. Our topic of discussion this week is how we all need to build resilience and grit into our marriages. When we talk about resilient grit in marriage, we're talking about a relationship bond with the capacity to withstand all the hard things that are going to come our way in life together.. It's the ability to weather all the intense storms that come, through the power of God, and the power of our marriage covenant together. -- Opening Questions: Where are you winning this week? Last week we asked, "What is one major takeaway from this episode that you want to apply to your marriage? When you think of the phrase, "Resilient Grit" what comes to mind?   Discussion Questions: Scott and Sarah grew up in very different families. How has your family background shaped what you think is "normal" in marriage?  Have you ever realized your wife sees something very differently because of how she grew up?  "It's about choosing in the midst of extreme pain and circumstances to choose to move towards one another instead of away from one another." Why is this so important to choose? What makes that hard? When you look back at your marriage, what is one hard season that actually made your relationship stronger? Why do you think many couples quit or drift apart during hard seasons instead of growing closer? The podcast challenges the phrase "God won't give you more than you can handle." Have you heard that before? How has that idea shaped the way you think about hardship?  The episode says marriage vows are built on "even if," not "if."   What's the difference between those two mindsets in a marriage? Which part of traditional marriage vows is hardest to live out?  When hard seasons hit your life, what do you tend to do first and why do you think you lean more towards that response? Withdraw Try to fix everything yourself Talk to someone Pray  Why do you think laughter is important in marriage?  What helps you and your wife keep joy in your relationship during stressful seasons?  If your wife were answering honestly, which of these areas would she say you need to grow in most? Living out your vows daily Anchoring your life in God's Word Worship and prayer Laughter and joy in marriage Building a stronger support system Trusting God's grace in weakness  What is one specific thing you could do this week to intentionally strengthen your marriage?  How can this group pray for you and your marriage this week?  Wrap Up If this podcast has encouraged you—we'd love to hear from you.  If you're wrestling with Christianity, interested in getting baptized or need help figuring out your next step…shoot us an email at [email protected].   As always…if this podcast has encouraged you—share it with a friend.  You never know how an episode like this can help those in your life that you care about. Thanks for listening.  Get after it!  We'll catch you next time on Locker Room.

Our topic this week is incredibly important—healthy communication. It's important in a dating relationship, and It's important in a marriage.  If there's a skill every relationship should be working on, it's learning how to better communicate with each other. Join us this week as we sit down with our guests Nate and Stefany Head to talk about how we can work together to build healthy communication into the bedrock of our relationships. -- Opening Questions  Where are you winning this week? Last week we talked about finances. What step did you take this past week to be better financially in your marriage? DISCUSSION: Nate talks about wanting to "win" arguments and mentions having an inner lawyer that wants to prove his point. Why do you think many of us approach disagreements like something we need to win? How can focusing on understanding instead of winning change the way we communicate with our spouse?   Stef talks about being on the opposite side of the spectrum in how she communicates. How do different communication styles show up in your marriage? How can differences in personality actually strengthen a marriage instead of hurting it?   Scott talks about the idea that things naturally move toward disorder unless intentional effort is applied. Where do you see this happening most easily in marriage? What are some intentional habits you are working on to keep your marriage healthy and connected?   Nate talks about how couples must fight for time together.  What are some ways your schedule currently makes connection difficult?  What is one practical change you could make this week to protect time with your spouse?   Scott says that no one is naturally a great listener—it's a skill that must be developed. What makes listening difficult during conflict or emotional conversations? What are some practices that have helped you become a better listener?   Stef talks about never speaking negatively about your spouse to other people, even jokingly. Why can "joking complaints" about our spouse be harmful to our marriage? How can we intentionally build a habit of honoring our spouse with our words, even when they aren't around?   Nate talks about the importance of resolving conflict instead of ignoring it. Why do people often avoid difficult conversations in marriage? What are healthy ways to address conflict before resentment builds?   "Little and consistent deposits are better than big and inconsistent ones." How can you be more consistent with the small things?  What is one major takeaway from this episode that you want to apply to your marriage?   Wrap Up: If this podcast has encouraged you, we'd love to hear from you.  If you're wrestling with Christianity, interested in getting baptized or need help figuring out your next step…shoot us an email at [email protected].   As always…if this podcast has encouraged you—share it with a friend.  You never know how an episode like this can help those in your life that you care about. Thanks for listening.  Get after it!  We'll catch you next time on Locker Room.

This week on the podcast, we are talking about how to be financially wise in marriage. This topic is super important for married couples. A lot of us grew up in homes where finances were never talked about. We weren't taught how to spend wisely, or how to budget. Many of us grew up in homes that were upside down in all kinds of debt. Then we stand up on a stage in front of friends and family, say some vows and suddenly begin our new life together without the financial tools to navigate. This can put us behind the 8-ball from the very beginning. Paul tells us Christ-followers to live different than the world. We're called to a different standard. He spells it out plainly in Romans 12:2 (NIV): "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." This week on the podcast, our guests are Kurt and Lori Braun. Kurt recently retired from 20+ years at Southland, managing our church's finances and has helped guide us to a very healthy place. In this conversation we'll dive into how to apply the same methods and wisdom to financial health in our marriages. -- DISCUSSION: Opening Questions Where are you winning this week? Last week we ended with the question, "What is one practical step you will take this week to love and serve your spouse (or future spouse) better?"  What is the step you took this week and how did that play out? When you think "Financially wise marriage" what comes to mind? Discussion Questions Romans 12:2 says, "do not conform to the pattern of this world." What are some ways that the world manages finances and how does that differ from how we should? What money habits did you learn growing up? Which ones still help you today and which ones do you need to unlearn? Scott emphasizes the importance of our first fruits. What makes giving "first" hard for most of us? What would it look like for you personally to put God first financially? Life is unexpected. Why is it important to have a savings or emergency fund? We know how important communication is in marriages, but sometimes that doesn't carry over to how we spend our money. How can the lack of communication specifically around money be so dangerous to our marriages? If you have kids, how are you teaching them about money? If not, how do you hope to model financial wisdom in the future? Have you tried the 10 10 80 rule Kurt talks about? Was it helpful? Kurt closes by saying we have to confront the brutal facts and be honest about where you are. What is one conversation, habit, or change you will commit to this week to improve how you and your spouse handle money? Bottom line: What's your next steps?  Implement the right plan.  Develop the right rhythms.  Dig out of debt, live within your means, trust God and steward money and set an example by what you're learning and through how you impart financial wisdom to them.  This matters. Make it a priority!   Resources: Crown Financial Ministries has a ton of great resources… crown.org    Dave Ramsey resources:  7 Baby Steps to Financial Freedom, EveryDollar App, Debt Snowball Calculator, and many more are found on Ramseysolutions.com    Southland provides something called Wills & Estates (Financial Planning Ministry).  No fee to Southland people.  Dates for 2026:  April 13th & October 12th.   Book by Randy Alcorn: The Treasure Principle   Wrap Up: If this podcast has encouraged you—We'd love to hear from you.  If you're wrestling with Christianity, interested in getting baptized or need help figuring out your next step…shoot us an email at [email protected]    As always…if this podcast has encouraged you—share it with a friend.  You never know how an episode like this can help those in your life that you care about. Thanks for listening.  Get after it!  We'll catch you next time on Locker Room.

The path God has laid out for us in marriage is straightforward: You walk with Jesus and allow Him to transform you into the person another person is looking for. You pray for your future spouse. You date with Godly intentions; you date on purpose. You seek to keep Jesus in the middle and at some point, you take the step—and it's a daunting step—into marriage. You can do your due diligence, but at the end of the day, it's a risk…you are trusting that your spouse will go all-in and stay all-in. You're trusting that they'll partner with you to chase God's purposes and cultivate deep intimacy as you seek to live on-mission. In this episode of the podcast we sit down with our guests, Mike and Debbie Breaux, to learn more about how to live out a Christ-centered marriage.   DISCUSSION QUESTIONS Opening: Where are you winning this week? Last week we asked: "What is one specific way you can stand for Jesus at home, work, or with friends?" How did you live that out this week? When you think of a Christ-centered marriage, is there a couple that comes to mind? What stands out about their relationship? Discussion: Mike talks about the danger of living "multiple lives." Why is integrity—being the same person everywhere—so important in marriage and leadership? Debbie mentions Soul mate vs Soil mate. What are you currently doing to create healthy soil for spiritual and relational growth? Mike mentions that Fruit grows with humility and gratitude. Why do pride and entitlement hurt relationships so quickly? "Death to self is the pulse that keeps love alive." What does this look like practically in everyday marriage and relationships? What patterns from your upbringing have shaped how you love, communicate, or handle conflict? What's the difference between "if" love and "even if" love? How does that change the way you approach commitment? What is one practical step you will take this week to love and serve your spouse (or future spouse) better? "Breakfast Questions" God first:  What's God been teaching us? Marriage:  Where are we winning?  How are we doing?  What do we need to work on? Kids:  How are they doing?  What do we need to do to invest in them right now? You'd look at your calendars.  Stay on the same page.   Last question:  You'd ask, "How can I pray for you?" Wrap Up: If this podcast has encouraged you—we'd love to hear from you.  If you're wrestling with Christianity, interested in getting baptized or need help figuring out your next step…shoot us an email at [email protected].   As always…if this podcast has encouraged you—share it with a friend.  You never know how an episode like this can help those in your life that you care about. Thanks for listening.  Get after it!  We'll catch you next time on Locker Room.

There's something really powerful going on right now in our nation, on college campuses and in healthy, bible-based, mission-driven churches. We're seeing lots of people coming to church for the first time, people coming back to church and people investigating faith and then being baptized into Jesus. Why is this happening? One of the big reasons we've seen this significant movement of God is because the church has been under attack. It's always been under attack but over the last 5+ years we've seen a dramatic shift that's been aggressively challenging the church. The old quote has become popular again: "Comfortable times create weak men, weak men create hard times, hard times create strong men, and strong men create good times." Hard times produce great students, great men and women, great marriages, great families and great churches. Our big word for today is persecution.   DISCUSSION QUESTIONS Opening Question Where are you winning this week? Last week we talked about habits that keep us from God's best. How did you work on that this week?   Discussion: Scott says persecution is one of the biggest reasons churches are growing right now. Does that surprise you? Why or why not? "Comfortable times create weak men, hard times create strong men." Where has comfort made you spiritually soft? What hard season has actually strengthened your faith? Read Matthew 5:44 and Luke 6:27-28. Who is hard to love or pray for right now because of how they've treated your faith? What would it look like to "do good" to them this week? The apostles refused to recant their faith even facing death. Where are you most tempted to compromise your beliefs right now? Scott mentions we are "playing an away game." Where do you feel the most resistance to your faith right now? (work, family, school, social media, friend groups) Why is it important for men to be anchored, resilient, and willing to persevere in hard seasons? "The way that you respond might open a door to a relationship with Jesus." Have you seen this happen in your life? Does this change the way you think about the way you respond to persecution? What fear most keeps you from being bold about your faith? "My prayer is that when I die, all of Hell will rejoice that I am out of the fight." What would it look like for you to live with that kind of faith right now? What is one specific way you can stand for Jesus this week—at home, work, or with friends? Wrap Up: If this podcast has encouraged you—we'd love to hear from you.  If you're wrestling with Christianity, interested in getting baptized or need help figuring out your next step…shoot us an email at [email protected].   As always…if this podcast has encouraged you—share it with a friend.  You never know how an episode like this can help those in your life that you care about. Thanks for listening.  Get after it!  We'll catch you next time on Locker Room.