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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.      

In our walk following Jesus, we have enemies. But our enemy is not only Satan and demons. We have another enemy that is even closer. If you want to know the other big enemy standing in the way of what God wants to do in your life…take your finger and touch your chest. It's you. It's our flesh. We all have an inclination to buck against authority and rebel against God. We see it rooted in Adam and Eve's disobedience. It manifests itself as selfish desires, inclinations toward evil, and an inability to perfectly follow God's will. We're locked in an internal struggle between doing what we want and doing what is right, requiring spiritual rebirth through Christ for transformation. For the Godly man, it's an internal struggle between doing what we want and what is right, requiring spiritual rebirth through Christ for transformation. Our guest this week, Matt Robison has a powerful story from the trenches, fighting the battle of drug and alcohol addiction. Matt shares how choices and circumstances led him to the bottom, and how by trusting in God and the Holy Spirit for each step—even after relapses—he has retaken ground in both his own life and that of his family. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS Opening: Where are you winning this week? Discussion: Matt talks about the difference of recovery being between abstinence and healing. Why is it so important to distinguish between the two? Matt talks about doing good things out of a faulty performance mindset. What's the danger in doing good things out of a performance mindset? Read 2 Corinthians 12:6-10. What sticks out to you about how God responds to Paul's weakness? Matt touches on the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of healing addiction. Why is it so important to address all three instead of just one? Matt mentions a common belief especially amongst men: "I have to perform to be valuable." When have you felt this way? Where does that belief come from? "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. It's really hard when your heart is broke, your mind is sick, and your soul is covered with shame." What part of you feels most broken right now, and how is that affecting your relationship with God? "Jesus is more interested in the wounds behind the sin than he is in the behaviors." We often focus on stopping sinful behaviors while ignoring the deeper wounds underneath. What would it look like to bring those wounds from the past to Jesus, instead of just trying harder to change? What's a habit in your life that keeps you from God's best? What's a sin that the enemy is using to blanket you in shame with? What is your next step of obedience?  Resources  AA…AA's are everywhere.  We have AA's that meet at three of our campuses—NIC, LEX & GEO.  Please reach out and we'll help you get connected to them if you're interested.  There's also a Christian Recovery Program at a lot of churches all over our city, all over the country called Celebrate Recovery. That's a great Christian program that's making a huge impact.   We also have a long list of guys that are in our church that have battled alcohol addiction and they're sober and would be honored to walk beside you, share their story and help you in any way that they can.  Book by John Ortberg, called Steps (A guide to transforming your life when willpower isn't enough).    If you're interested in another podcast on addiction, I had one of the men in our church named Mike Mueller on.  Locker Room episode, Southland Men:  Mike Mueller (The View From Rock Bottom)—March 28th, 2025.    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, want to get in touch with Matt Robison…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.        

Today on the podcast we are talking about discipleship. This word is really important! It's important to Jesus, and it's plastered throughout the pages of the Bible. It's important to our church, and it should be important to us. Discipleship is the lifelong process of following Jesus, learning his ways, becoming more like him (Christ-like), and helping others do the same, involving deep commitment, spiritual growth, and active obedience to his teachings and mission.   DISCUSSION QUESTIONS Opening Questions What's something you would go back and tell your 18 year old self? Where are you winning this week? Discussion Questions "Jesus didn't climb on a cross to make us simple casual church goers." When did you realize following Jesus was more than attending church, and what actually changed in your life? What does 'dying to yourself' actually look like in everyday life, not just in theory? When have you ever realized you were calling the shots instead of Jesus? What exposed that and how did you respond? How does the image of a snare change the way you think about the seriousness of sin? Tim talks about how kids will either look at the Bible through the lens of the world, or they will look at the world through the lens of the Bible. He also mentions this is something we have to wrestle with as well. What helps you recognize when you're viewing life through the world's lens, instead of Scripture? And why does that matter? 7 Discipleship Markers Lordship of Christ Bible Engagement  Consistent Prayer Serving others Sharing your faith Transformational Community What has being in a Locker Room group revealed about your faith that you wouldn't have seen on your own? Trusted Obedience  What are you doing well?  Where are you winning in these 7 areas? What needs some work?  What steps is the Holy Spirit challenging you to take?  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.

God tells us from the very beginning that he is holy and he calls us to be holy. He also tells us sin leads to death. Here's the predicament our sin puts us in with God: He loves us. He's told us of the consequences of our sin. We've sinned. God loves us so much yet sin has to be paid for. God could simply punish us and He would be right if He did. God could turn and go back on what He said because he loves us, but then he wouldn't be just. God's attributes of love and justice seem to be at odds when it comes to our condition before Him. So God figures out a way to continue to be both loving and just. The answer is found in God sending his son to put on flesh, live a perfect life and then die in our place for our sin. The cross is where God's love and justice collide. Welcome back to Locker Room. This season we're going to tackle four important series. The four series are called Big Words, Marriage, Parenting and Southland Men. This week, Scott is joined by our guests Ian Schweitzer and Gordon Walls to open up a discussion about God's gift of grace, given to us all.   DISCUSSION GUIDE Opening Questions If you have been in a Locker Room Group before, share something that you've grown in since joining.  If this is your first time in a Locker Room Group, tell us what you're hoping to grow in through this group.  Tell the story of getting your driver's license or your first car. What did that freedom actually change for you? Discussion Questions  Most of us are wired to earn respect, success, and approval. How has that mindset shaped the way you think about God and salvation? What's hard about believing grace can't be earned? "Sometimes this idea of grace can seem too good to be true." Have you ever felt this way? In our parenting: the place our kids need to run to when they do something wrong is us. We have to help them understand over and over again that we're the right place, the safe place to run regardless of what they've done.  It's all dependant of their view of us as father.  How can we help our kids understand this? The same is true for us–it depends on our view of God the Father.  When you mess up–what your natural action–to run to God or run away from Him? Read Ephesians 2:8-10. Talk about the phrase, "Not your own doing." Everything in this world is conditional. What does it mean to you to know this grace He offers us is unconditional? Read Romans 6:1-4. How does this challenge the idea that grace gives us a free pass? The enemy lies and says, "You are not worthy. Don't share what you've done with anyone."  When have you seen this in your life and what does Jesus say in response? How does Gordon's story about the Auburn linebacker reinforce the importance of sharing the gospel with people? Who might God be asking you to show up for, even if you never see the impact? "The grace of God is dangerous. It's lavish, excessive, outrageous, and scandalous. God's grace is ridiculously inclusive. Apparently, God doesn't care who He loves. He is not very careful about the people He calls His friends or the people He calls His Church." -Mike Yaconelli, Messy Spirituality.   What blows you away about this quote? Is there anything else that spoke to you from this episode?  Where did the Holy Spirit challenge you? Additional Resources What's so Amazing about Grace by Philip Yancey Messy Spirituality by Mike Yaconelli  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 Scott sits down with Jon to reflect on topics from  this past season and talk about favorite moments from their many years of ministry. Circle up with us as we close out the season! 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]. Locker Room will be back in mid-January for season 16.

Every man listening has been invited by Jesus to follow Him, and be in relationship with Him. Jesus wants to be our Lord, Savior and Friend. This week on the podcast we will look at four characteristics we should have in our walk: We'll look at what it means to be fully devoted, responsible, intentional and resilient. Ross Barnette is our guest this week. Ross has been involved in leadership at Southland for many years and is currently one of our Elders.   DISCUSSION GUIDE Opening Question: Who is your favorite college basketball player of all time and why?  Where are you winning this week?  Ross (in talking about the people that impacted his life) said, "All had grace in common. They didn't treat me the way I deserve." What does it mean to treat someone in a way that they do not deserve?  Ross spoke about his story and how God was chasing him throughout his whole life. Look back in your own life. Is there anything you went through that was hard in the moment, but now--looking back--you can see how God was at work in that hard time?  Ross talked about the importance of structured times of prayer. Why is this important and what can you do to develop structured times of prayer in your life?  Scott and Ross talked about some practical ways a single man, a husband, and a dad can apply responsibility in their lives. Focus on the group you are in and talk about some takeaways you had.  Read Luke 14:25-35. How does this passage speak to the importance of being intentional about our walk with Jesus? What area of your life needs more intentionality? Your spiritual walk, marriage, kids, work, friendships, or health? What helps you stay resilient? What helps you stay in the fight when life gets hard instead of tapping out or checking out? Which Scripture from the episode (Phil 1:6, Gal 6:9, James 1:12, Hebrews 12, etc.) encourages you the most right now? Closing questions: Scott & Ross highlighted 4 characteristics of a man of God. Fully-devoted Responsible Intentional  Resilient Share with your LR Group men in your life that are great examples of these areas? How do you Jesus model these in the gospels and toward us? Of the four, which of these are you stronger at? Which of these 4 areas are you needing to grow? What are some ways/next steps that you can take to do grow? Was there anything else in the episode you resonated with? Are you feeling any prompting from the Holy Spirit? Key Scripture Philippians 1:6 (NIV) 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Romans 5:3-4 (NIV) 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. Galatians 6:9 (NIV) 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. James 1:12 (NIV) 12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Hebrews 10:36 (NIV) 36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. Hebrews 12:1 (NIV) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 2 Timothy 4:7 (NIV) 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Wrap Up:  Need help or need to connect…shoot us an email at [email protected].   Who needs you to share this episode with them?