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Church discipline may be one of the least discussed and most misunderstood practices in the life of the church. For many, the phrase itself sounds harsh or unloving, but what if it's actually one of the clearest expressions of Christian love? In this episode, Sam is joined by Matt, Matthew, and Jake to continue the conversation begun in our episode on church membership. If membership answers the question "Who is the church?", church discipline answers "How do we lovingly care for those who wander from Christ?" Together they define what church discipline is (and isn't), walk through the process Jesus lays out in Matthew 18, and address common objections and misuses. Along the way, they discuss the twin goals of restoration and protecting the flock, the difference between struggling with sin and refusing to repent of it, why the order of the process matters, and how a healthy culture of loving accountability is a gift for the whole congregation—one that puts the gospel on beautiful display.

Is church attendance just an inherited tradition, a matter of convenience, or something far more significant? In this episode, Sam, Jake, Danny, and Matthew unpack a theology of the Lord's Day—why Christians gather on the first day of the week, and what that gathering is actually meant to accomplish in our lives. We trace the Lord's Day from its roots in the creation Sabbath through its fulfillment in the resurrection of Christ, exploring how the early church came to gather on the first day as a weekly celebration of the risen King. Along the way, the guys wrestle with some honest tensions: How do we honor the Lord's Day without slipping into legalism? What's the difference between physical rest and true soul rest? And what do we make of the growing cultural drift that treats Sunday as optional—something we'll get to "when we can"? They also get practical. What do we actually do when we gather—the preaching of the Word, corporate worship, giving, the ordinances, prayer, and fellowship as means of grace? How should believers in demanding vocations like nursing, medicine, or emergency response think about guarding this day? And how does someone move from viewing church as an event to attend toward delighting in it as the family of God gathered to worship? Whether the Lord's Day has become routine for you, or you're rediscovering its beauty, this conversation is an invitation to see Sunday for what it is: not a burden or a box to check, but a weekly act of resistance and reorientation—a foretaste of the gathering to come. Recommended Resources: From Sabbath to Lord's Day - D.A. Carson

What does it look like to faithfully disciple and equip the next generation? In this episode Jake sits down with Ian and Danny to talk about the vision and strategy behind Veritas Church’s kids, youth, and college ministries. They discuss why next generation ministry is more than creating fun programs, the importance of teaching Scripture and theology, equipping students to live as everyday missionaries, and why the local church, not a youth or college ministry, is at the center of discipleship. They also talk about reaching a generation with little biblical background, the temptation to rely on entertainment and gimmicks, and how the church can prioritize truth, relationships, and genuine love for Christ. As the new ministry year begins, this conversation offers both encouragement and practical ways for the whole church to pray, serve, invest, and help the next generation follow Jesus faithfully.

Church membership is often misunderstood. Some see it as a man-made tradition, while others wonder if it's even necessary. In this episode, Jake, Matt, Michael, and Sam explore what Scripture teaches about belonging to a local church and why meaningful church membership is far more than having your name on a roster. Together they discuss the biblical foundations for membership, the role of covenant commitment, the responsibility of elders and members, the importance of accountability and discipleship, and how the local church displays the gospel to the world. Whether you're skeptical of church membership, considering becoming a member, or simply want to better understand God's design for the local church, this conversation will encourage you to see membership not as an obligation, but as a joyful commitment to God's people and His mission. Additional Resources The One-Anothers of the New Testament What Does Church Membership Mean Meaningful Membership Equipping Podcast Vision Sunday, August 2024 - Strengthening the Core Why Membership? Rediscover Church Why Should I Join A Church - 9Marks Booklet What Is the Relationship Between Church Membership, Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper? - 9Marks Article Why Baptism Must Precede Membership and the Table - 9Marks Article

Who actually leads the Church and why does it matter more than we think? In this episode of the Veritas Equipping Podcast, Jake, Matthew, Matt, and Sam tackle a foundational question: what does the Bible really say about church leadership? From the authority of Christ as the Chief Shepherd to the role of elders as under-shepherds, this conversation unpacks why Veritas is committed to an elder-led structure, not as a power play but as a biblical calling to care for souls. With Scripture as the guide, we explore the weight, responsibility, and beauty of shepherding God’s people, addressing common objections, and inviting listeners into a deeper trust in God’s design. If you’ve ever wrestled with authority, leadership, or the purpose of the Church, this episode will challenge and ground you in what it means to be led and to flourish under Christ.

Part two of our conversation on complementarianism moves from theology to everyday life. Jake and Matt are joined by their wives, Marcy and Emily, to discuss what actually happens when we embrace God's good design for men and women in marriage, the home, and the church. Together they share personal stories, practical wisdom, and honest reflections on the joys and challenges of living out biblical manhood and womanhood. Whether you're wrestling with these doctrines or simply seeking to follow Christ more faithfully, our prayer is that this conversation helps you see God's design not merely as something to believe, but as something that leads to joy, flourishing, and worship.  Sacred Gender Sermon Series Book Recommendations: The Accidental Feminist 50 Crucial Questions: An Overview of Central Concerns about Manhood and Womanhood What's the Difference? (Paperback) Men and Women In The Church God's Good Design Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood Let Me Be a Woman Let The Men Be Men Let The Women Be Women Wisdom on Her Tongue Thoughts for Young Men

What does it mean to embrace biblical manhood and womanhood in a culture full of confusion about identity, roles, and authority? In this episode, Jake, Matt, Michael, and Sam discuss complementarianism and God’s good design for men and women. Together, they explore what Scripture teaches about gender, marriage, church leadership, and human flourishing, while addressing cultural confusion and common objections with both conviction and compassion. Our prayer is that this episode challenges us to see God’s design not as restrictive but as good, beautiful, and ultimately for His glory and our flourishing. Sacred Gender Sermon Series Book Recommendations: The Accidental Feminist 50 Crucial Questions: An Overview of Central Concerns about Manhood and Womanhood What's the Difference? (Paperback) Men and Women In The Church God's Good Design Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood Let Me Be a Woman Let The Men Be Men Let The Women Be Women Wisdom on Her Tongue Thoughts for Young Men

What if your salvation had more to do with God’s grace than your own effort? In this episode of the Veritas Equipping Podcast, Jake, Matthew, Garrett, and Sam tackle one of Christianity’s most debated questions: How does God save people? Through an honest conversation on Calvinism, free will, and God’s sovereignty, they unpack why salvation is ultimately a work of God’s grace from beginning to end and why that truth should lead not to pride, but to deeper humility, worship, and boldness in mission.  Recommended Resources:  Five Points: Towards a Deeper Experience of God’s Grace  Salvation  Chosen by God  Finally Alive  Does God Desire All to Be Saved  Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God Comment

What does it really mean to belong to the church? In this episode of the Veritas Equipping Podcast, Jake, Matthew, Garrett, and Sam discuss why Veritas Church is a Baptist Church, exploring believer’s baptism, church membership, and what it means to follow Jesus in community. The conversation highlights how Scripture shapes the church’s convictions, practices, and commitment to living under the Lordship of Christ together.  Recommended Resources:  The Baptism of Disciples Alone  The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Comment

What does it actually mean to be Protestant and why does it still matter today? In this episode of the Veritas Equipping Podcast, Jake, Matthew, Garrett, and Sam explore how the Reformation wasn’t about starting something new but recovering the true gospel and how this is still true today. We unpack the core convictions of Protestant faith and why returning to Scripture as our final authority shapes how we understand salvation and live as followers of Jesus today. Join us for a live conversation on 'What It Means To Be Protestant' on Sunday, July 12 — Register Today Recommended Resources: What Does it Mean to Be Protestant - Gavin Ortlund The Internet, Protestantism, and the State of Christianity (With Wes Huff) - Truth Unites Podcast hosted by Gavin Ortlund The Question of the Canon - Wes Huff The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions The True Story of the Whole World God the Prize God in the Wasteland Rescuing the Gospel The Institutes of Christian Religion What Is Reformed Theology? Sola Media White Horse Inn Podcast Ligioner - Reformation

What if God isn’t here to make your life better, but you’re here for His glory and He’s not just part of your life, but the point of it? In this episode of the Veritas Equipping Podcast, we dive into the sovereignty of God and what it really means for our everyday lives. The following recording is a teaching from a Discipleship Night in February 2026. This teaching challenges us to move from a man-centered view of Christianity to a God-centered one, where His glory and control shape everything. Whether this stretches you, comforts you, or raises questions, our hope is that it leads you to trust a bigger God.

In this episode of the Equipping Podcast, Jake, Michael, and Sam reflect on Grow 2026, a powerful week of prayer, fasting, and worship that calls believers to pursue “all of Jesus for all of life.” Through stories, encouragement, and honest reflection, the team highlights a growing hunger for God and a deeper dependence on Him that carries into everyday life. As Holy Week unfolds, this episode invites you to fix your eyes on Christ, remember the weight of the cross, and celebrate the life-changing reality of the resurrection. If you missed any of the main sessions or want to rewatch one, you can find those here.

Crystals, astrology, manifesting, and mindfulness are everywhere in our culture, but what’s really behind these practices and why do they seem so appealing? In this episode of the Veritas Equipping Podcast, Sam, Matthew, Garrett, and Matt unpack the growing influence of New Age spirituality and explain why many of these ideas subtly shift trust away from Christ and toward the self. The conversation calls believers to deeper biblical discernment and reminds us that true peace, healing, and spiritual life are found only in Christ and the truth of God’s Word.

Therapy language is everywhere, but what does the Bible actually say about suffering, identity, and change? In this episode of the Veritas Equipping Podcast, Sam, Matthew, Garrett, and Matt unpack therapy culture, the sufficiency of Scripture, and why the church, not the therapeutic industry, has been entrusted with the care of souls.

What if the greatest threat to your faith is not open rebellion but quiet absorption? On this episode of the Veritas Equipping Podcast, Doug, Ian, Jake, and Sam tackle a hard question from 1 John 2:15-17: Are we fighting worldliness or slowly absorbing it? What does it actually mean to not love the world? Is it retreating from culture or resisting a system that makes sin look normal and holiness look strange? This conversation exposes the subtle ways misplaced love, fear of rejection, and craving approval can creep into our hearts and even into the church while calling us back to abiding in Christ as the only way to weaken the world’s pull. If the world is passing away, what are you building your life on?