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This discussion features: Judah Thomas, Ben Cossette, Johnny V., Mike McHugh, and James Gowell. Edited by: Tim Nicholson. In Week 18 of Thriving in the Word, we enter our fifth month of studying Hebrews and currently focus on chapters 10 through 13. If you’re seeking, a new believer, or a long-time follower of Jesus and want to hear from folks who keep it real, marinate on the Word and dig deeper, this episode is for you. In this Bible study episode of our Christian podcast, we dig into Hebrews 10–13 and talk about real-life discipleship—faith that holds up when life is loud, busy, and distracting. James kicks us off sharing how difficult it can be to find alone time and quiet time with God—not always because of “bad” things, but because everyday life (work, family, responsibilities, noise, phones) constantly pulls at our attention. Then we hit a classic “Ben Moment,” get some laughs, and Mike brings the steady reminder: distractions will always be there, so we’ve got to learn how to stay faithful in the middle of them. Johnny jumps in on the importance of studying God’s Word and “showing yourself approved,” and we unpack what the fear of the Lord really means—not being afraid, but living with deep awe, reverence, and respect for God. Judah connects it to Chronicles of Narnia (“Is He safe?”) and reminds us: God isn’t safe… but He’s good, He's holy—and the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Johnny shares a story from being raised around guns—why he still triple-checks the chamber even if someone tells him it’s clear (“No cartridge in the pipe”). It becomes a picture of spiritual vigilance: we don’t live on assumptions; we stay alert. We talk about celebrating God’s loyal love, remembering God isn’t one-dimensional—He’s three-dimensional—and we get honest about what Scripture calls detestable: pride, arrogance, lying, stirring conflict in the Body of Christ, and more. We also lean into the goodness of God’s discipline—because Hebrews says discipline isn’t enjoyable in the moment, but it’s proof of God’s love for His people. Judah drops the line, “You’re not going to hear this on K-Love” (not a jab—just a reminder that following Jesus includes the challenging parts). We close by confronting the modern temptation to write our own gospel instead of submitting to the real Jesus of Scripture. Topics include: Bible study, Hebrews 10, Hebrews 11, Hebrews 12, Hebrews 13, Christian podcast, Christianity, discipleship, quiet time with God, spiritual disciplines, fear of the Lord, wisdom, reverence, holiness, God’s discipline, loyal love, Scripture study, faith in hard times. This faith-based podcast episode is for anyone asking hard questions about the Bible, Christian faith, God, and the reason believers trust in what they cannot see. If you’re searching for a Christian podcast about faith, evidence, apologetics, truth, and Jesus, this conversation will encourage and challenge you. Help us spread the word about Thriving in the Word—and thanks for being part of the family. Have a blessed day. More info: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thrive.church⁠⁠⁠⁠ Give: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thrive.church/give/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Need prayer? ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ This is a presentation of Thrive.Church. © All Rights Reserved.

This discussion features: Judah Thomas, David LaManna, Lenny Selgado, Johnny V., Mike McHugh, and James Gowell. Edited by: Tim Nicholson. In Week 17 of Thriving in the Word, we walk through Hebrews 12 and talk about endurance, repentance, and what it means to fix your eyes on Jesus when life gets heavy. We connect Hebrews 12 with the wisdom of Proverbs: a righteous person falls seven times and rises again. Real faith isn’t never falling—it’s getting back up because Jesus is faithful. And we ask a question that can change everything: “Jesus did that… for me?”  We remember the cross and talk about why so many people walked out of The Passion of the Christ in tears—because the gospel isn’t theory, it’s personal. This episode also gives you practical heart-check questions for everyday discipleship: Is Jesus your Pilot… or just your Copilot?Have you settled for “side-dish Jesus”—adding Him to your life instead of yielding your life to Him?What keeps you awake at night? What does that reveal about your anxiety, your control, and your trust?Where is your treasure? What do your time, money, and attention show you value most?Hebrews 12Don’t grow wearyFix your eyes on JesusChristian encouragementEndurance in faithJesus Pilot or CopilotSurrender to GodGospel reminderWhere your treasure isAnxiety and trust in GodGod will finish what He started (Philippians 1:6)Plus, we use a classic Charlie Brown illustration: shooting arrows into a fence and painting bullseyes around them. It’s funny—until you realize how often we do that with our choices and excuses. Hebrews 12 calls us back to a better way: surrender, endurance, and steady obedience. We end with hope: He who began a good work in you will carry it to completion. If you’re weary, don’t quit. Get up. Yield to Jesus. Let Him lead. This faith-based podcast episode is for anyone asking hard questions about the Bible, Christian faith, God, and the reason believers trust in what they cannot see. If you’re searching for a Christian podcast about faith, evidence, apologetics, truth, and Jesus, this conversation will encourage and challenge you. Help us spread the word about Thriving in the Word—and thanks for being part of the family. Have a blessed day. More info: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.thrive.church⁠⁠⁠ Give: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.thrive.church/give/⁠⁠⁠ Need prayer? ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ This is a presentation of Thrive.Church. © All Rights Reserved.

This discussion features: Judah Thomas, David LaManna, Lenny Selgado, Ben Cossette, Mike McHugh, and James Gowell. Edited by: Tim Nicholson. In Week 16 of Thriving in the Word, we dive into Hebrews 12 and the call to strip off every weight and the sin that keeps tripping us up. Some things in life aren’t always evil, but they are still heavy — and if they slow your obedience, drain your focus, or keep you from running after Jesus, they need to go. We talk about everlasting endurance, living a more minimalistic life, the walls we hide behind, and why suffering can become training ground for deeper faith. If you’ve been asking, What’s weighing me down? this conversation will help you name it, confront it, and run lighter. This faith-based podcast episode is for anyone asking hard questions about the Bible, Christian faith, God, and the reason believers trust in what they cannot see. If you’re searching for a Christian podcast about faith, evidence, apologetics, truth, and Jesus, this conversation will encourage and challenge you. Help us spread the word about Thriving in the Word—and thanks for being part of the family. Have a blessed day. More info: ⁠⁠https://www.thrive.church⁠⁠ Give: ⁠⁠https://www.thrive.church/give/⁠⁠ Need prayer? ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ This is a presentation of Thrive.Church. © All Rights Reserved.

This discussion features: Judah Thomas, David LaManna, Lenny Selgado, Johnny V., Ben Cossette, Mike McHugh, and James Gowell. Edited by: Tim Nicholson. In Week 15 of Thriving in the Word, we begin exploring Hebrews 11 and the biblical meaning of faith as the evidence of things not seen. We talk about real questions, the search for truth, and why the evidence in creation, reality, and Scripture points to Jesus Christ. This faith-based podcast episode is for anyone asking hard questions about the Bible, Christian faith, God, and the reason believers trust in what they cannot see. If you’re searching for a Christian podcast about faith, evidence, apologetics, truth, and Jesus, this conversation will encourage and challenge you. Help us spread the word about Thriving in the Word—and thanks for being part of the family. Have a blessed day. More info: ⁠https://www.thrive.church⁠ Give: ⁠https://www.thrive.church/give/⁠ Need prayer? ⁠[email protected]⁠ This is a presentation of Thrive.Church. © All Rights Reserved.

This discussion features: Judah Thomas, David LaManna, Lenny Selgado, Johnny V., Mike McHugh, James Gowell, and special guest Steve Carr. Edited by: Tim Nicholson. In Week 14, we wrap up our discussion on Hebrews chapters 7–9 with one big truth front and center: Jesus doesn’t just make you look clean—He cleanses you from the inside out. He is the Supreme High Priest. He is the perfect sacrifice, and without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sin. It was really hard to come up with a title for this episode, so i'll share just a few of the ideas before landing on "Inside Out Cleansing"...so here they are: Supreme High PriestThe Perfect SacrificeWithout the Shedding of BloodThe Wages of Sin is....?Out Damned Spot! Out I Say!IOU SacrificeI Can Walk ConfidentlyI Don't Deserve it, You're Right!Who Am I?You are ForgivenThe AccuserNo CondemnationYou Don't Have to be Set Free at ChurchChurch is Not a PlaceWelcome Thrive Church (not to)Jesus Did Not Care About a BuildingFalling in Love with GodWho Told You...You Were NakedAnecdotal FaithSecrets of the UniverseDon't Listen to Thriving in the Word.In this episode we discuss: This is the gospel: You don’t deserve it. You’re right. And that’s exactly why grace is, so shocking! If you’ve been carrying shame, guilt, fear, or the weight of never feeling good enough, this conversation is for you. Jesus didn’t come to polish the outside. He came to make you new. Help us spread the word about Thriving in the Word—and thanks for being part of the family. Have a blessed day. More info: https://www.thrive.church Give: https://www.thrive.church/give/ Need prayer? [email protected] This is a presentation of Thrive.Church. © All Rights Reserved.

This discussion features: Judah Thomas, David LaManna, Lenny Selgado, Mike McHugh, and James Gowell. Edited by: Tim Nicholson In Week 13 We continue our discussion on Hebrews chapter 7 through 9. What if the sign on the door to God’s presence really did read: Authorized Personnel Only? In Hebrews 7–9, the writer walks us through a “diagram” of holiness and access...why the old system kept people at a distance, why even the best human priest couldn’t get you all the way in, and why Jesus is better than every substitute we’ve ever trusted.In this episode, we talk about: Why “good people”  still need a Jesus (yes… even the pope sinned)What it means that if Jesus were on earth, He wouldn’t even qualify as a priestStanding in the gap and why death must be paidA quick tour of the tabernacle: Keep out. Authorized personnel only.The veil, the blood, and the moment everything changed: the veil is torn—now we have accessCovering sin vs. removing sin: what true forgiveness actually meansThe New Covenant as a last will and testament—and why it goes into effect through His bloodIf you’ve ever felt unworthy, far away, or locked out, this is the good news: in Jesus, the door isn’t just cracked open. Access is granted!! Come close!! Help us spread the word about Thriving in the Word—and thanks for being part of the family. Have a blessed day. More info: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thrive.church⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Give: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thrive.church/give/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Need prayer? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This is a presentation of Thrive.Church © All Rights Reserved

This discussion features: Judah Thomas, Lenny Selgado, Mike McHugh, and James Gowell. Edited by: Tim Nicholson In Week 12 of Thriving in the Word, we continue our discussion on Hebrews 7–9 and talk about covenants, what they are, what the mean/meant and how the old law evolved into bending rules. We unpack the difference between the old covenant (old contract) and the new covenant (new heart), and why God’s plan was never just “try harder and do it all right.” From types and shadows to the real thing, we trace how the Old Testament system pointed forward to Jesus—our spotless Lamb, our better Priest, and the One whose blood speaks a better word. Along the way, we get practical (and a little humorous): What does it mean for God to write His law on our hearts? Why do we have an innate sense of right and wrong, and why doesn’t that save us? How does hardness of heart keep people stuck in performance mode? We chat about Simon who carried the Cross for Jesus and what it must've felt like to actually have Jesus “blood on you”? Why the first mile is obligation, but the second mile is where we share our faith. If you’ve ever felt crushed by the idea that you have to be perfect to be close to God, this episode is for you.  Jesus doesn’t upgrade your effort, He has a new contract. Help us spread the word about Thriving in the Word—and thanks for being part of the family. Have a blessed day. More info: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thrive.church⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Give: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thrive.church/give/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Need prayer? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This is a presentation of Thrive.Church © All Rights Reserved

This discussion features: Judah Thomas, David LaManna, Lenny Selgado, Ben Cossette, Mike McHugh, and James Gowell. Edited by: Tim Nicholson In Week 11, we kick off our study of chapters 7 through 9 in the Book of Hebrews. In this episode, we circle back to Melchizedek, King of Peace, and why his “out of nowhere” appearance in Scripture matters more than most people realize. We talk about Abram getting the call from God, taking Lot, splitting their herds and Lot setting up facing Sodom. We talk about the battle of the four kings and the appearance of Melchizedek to bless Abram. Judah shares a takeaway about Abraham as the father of many nations (plural), and how God’s plan was always bigger than one family tree. Then we get brutally honest about the limits of the Law: it never made anyone perfect. It could point, warn, and reveal, but it couldn’t transform. That’s why the old system was full of types and shadows, real, meaningful signposts…but still not the destination. We also tackle modern religious habits, like confession as a “barrier of entry”—and ask the hard question: are we trying to manage forgiveness, or receive it from the One who supplies it? (And yes… we use a weird illustration: why eat the cow when you can just eat the grass?) Ben also takes on a journey of when he used to shave and how to avoided the middle man and went direct to the supplier. The headline of Hebrews 7–9 is simple and explosive: Jesus did it once and for all. No repeat sacrifices. No spiritual paywalls. No endless striving. It is finished. If you’ve ever felt like you had to “earn your way in,” this episode is for you, because Jesus didn’t just open the door…He broke down the barriers. Help us spread the word about Thriving in the Word—and thanks for being part of the family. Have a blessed day. More info: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thrive.church⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Give: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thrive.church/give/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Need prayer? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This is a presentation of Thrive.Church © All Rights Reserved

This discussion features: Judah Thomas, Lenny Selgado, Johnny V., Mike McHugh, and James Gowell. Edited by: Tim Nicholson In Week 10 we continue our study on Hebrews 4 through 6 and we encourage you to read along with us. This episode is called “God's Not Done Carving.” We talk about the kind of faith that doesn’t just start, it stays. Hebrews confronts our obsession with instant results and exposes the quiet drift that happens when we want maturity without process, peace without practice, and a “gold medal” life with zero training. We riff on the temptation to put spiritual growth on a credit card, aka pay later, skip the work now and why God won’t let us shortcut when He’s forming in us. Like a sculptor who keeps carving long after the first shape appears, God is not finished with you. The waiting isn’t wasted. The slow start isn’t the story. And the pressure isn’t punishment, it’s precision. If you’ve been stuck, sleepy, discouraged, or craving a deeper walk with God, this is your nudge to move forward toward maturity. We’ll unpack the why behind the what, talk honestly about discipline and endurance, and remind you that you can’t trust a God you don’t know, but there’s also no way to keep showing up and not fall in love with Him. Listen in, let the Word redirect your thoughts, and take your next step, steady, rooted, and growing. Help us spread the word about Thriving in the Word—and thanks for being part of the family. Have a blessed day. More info: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thrive.church⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Give: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thrive.church/give/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Need prayer? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This is a presentation of Thrive.Church © All Rights Reserved

This discussion features: Judah Thomas, David LaManna, Johnny V., Ben Cossette, Mike McHugh, and James Gowell. Edited by: Tim Nicholson In Week 9 we continue our study on Hebrews 4 through 6 and we encourage you to read along with us. This episode is called “Tasted It and Walked Away.” Hebrews 4–6 doesn’t let us stay casual with God: it invites us into His rest, then warns us what it looks like to get close to the fire—taste it, feel it, even be moved by it—and still turn away. We dig into the “once saved always saved” debate, deconstructing faith, and why Scripture draws a hard line between honest wrestling and willful rejection. We also zoom out to the bigger story—Jesus’ spiritual lineage and the mysterious figure of Melchizedek—and what it means when Jesus is greater than the ancestors we revere. Along the way, Johnny shares a wild moment of almost falling out of a roller coaster, and we use it as a picture of what Hebrews is pleading with us to do: hold on, don’t drift, and don’t “lean on your own understanding” when God is calling you deeper. If you’ve been curious, cynical, burned, or just spiritually stuck, this is your invitation to open yourself up to the wonders of Scripture, move past milk to maturity, and take a real step toward growing closer to God—with reverence, confidence, and a faith that actually endures. Help us spread the word about Thriving in the Word—and thanks for being part of the family. Have a blessed day. More info: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thrive.church⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Give: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thrive.church/give/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Need prayer? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This is a presentation of Thrive.Church © All Rights Reserved

This discussion features: Judah Thomas, David LaManna, Mike McHugh, James Gowell, and Tim Nicholson. Edited by: Tim Nicholson In Week 8 we continue our study on Hebrews 4 through 6 and we encourage you to read along with us. In this episode, we talk through Hebrews storyline of forgiveness: the Old Testament sacrificial system, what sacrifices could (and couldn’t) do, and why the Red Heifer matters in the conversation about cleansing. We also tackle the idea of purgatory, and how Hebrews reframes the conversation around sin, conscience, and access to God. And yes, we go there: the veil being torn, what it actually signaled, and why the Ark of the Covenant still captures our imagination (Indiana Jones included). Then we zoom out and go straight at a hard question: why are so many grown believers still spiritually malnourished? If you’re “hungry” but living on milk, it’s not because God isn’t feeding or you're only going to church one hour a week...you might just be refusing to chew. We talk about stunted spiritual growth, the milk vs. meat tension in Hebrews, and the uncomfortable picture of a 40-year-old still drinking out of a baby bottle. The point isn’t trivia, it’s transformation: Jesus didn’t come to keep you on spiritual baby food. He came to bring you into maturity, confidence, and a faith that can actually carry weight. Help us spread the word about Thriving in the Word—and thanks for being part of the family. Have a blessed day. More info: ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thrive.church⁠⁠⁠⁠ Give: ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.thrive.church/give/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Need prayer? ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ This is a presentation of Thrive.Church © All Rights Reserved

This discussion features: Judah Thomas, David LaManna, Ben Cossette, Johnny V., James Gowell, and Tim Nicholson. Edited by: Tim Nicholson In Week 7 we continue our study on Hebrews 4 through 6 and we encourage you to read along with us. Hebrews says God’s Word isn’t a butter knife—it’s living, active, and sharp, and we talk about what it looks like to stop using the Bible for comfort-only Christianity and start letting it form us into people who actually rest in Christ, not in control. Then we zoom in on the good news: Jesus isn’t a vague spiritual concept, He is the actual High Priest. He sympathizes with our weakness, invites us to come boldly for mercy and help, and leads us into maturity. Help us spread the word about Thriving in the Word—and thanks for being part of the family. Have a blessed day. More info: ⁠⁠⁠www.thrive.church⁠⁠⁠ Give: ⁠⁠⁠www.thrive.church/give/⁠⁠⁠ Need prayer? ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ This is a presentation of Thrive.Church © All Rights Reserved

This discussion features: David LaManna, Lenny Salgado, Johnny V., Mike McHugh, and James Gowell. Edited by: Tim Nicholson In Week 6 we kick off our first week of studying Hebrews Chapters 4 through 6. James kicks us off by sharing Hebrews sharing about entering God's rest and compares this to talking about a chair, we can talk about it all day, but until we actually sit in the chair, we are carrying our weight. Johnny then jumps (yes, he's back, praise God!!) and shares his takeaways from Hebrews, learning obedience through suffering, that Good News is for EVERYBODY (including, you, the listener) and we go all over the place from there. This is an epic episode: thought provoking conversation, great detours, real issues, many laughs and lots to think about. Please come along for the ride. Read along with us as we move onto: Hebrews 4–6 Help us spread the word about Thriving in the Word—and thanks for being part of the family. Have a blessed day.More info: ⁠⁠www.thrive.church⁠⁠ Give: ⁠⁠www.thrive.church/give/⁠⁠ Need prayer? ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ This is a presentation of Thrive.Church © All Rights Reserved

This discussion features: Judah Thomas, David LaManna, Lenny Salgado, Ben Cossette, and James Gowell. Edited by: Tim Nicholson In Week 5 we wrap up Hebrews chapters 1 through 3, and prompt you with the following questions before listening: What are you tolerating today that you would’ve walked out on five years ago? If you’re “fine as you are,” Hebrews has a loving but sharp question for you. Ben’s VIP night out turned into a spiritual gut-check in about 30 seconds. Quick question: have you ever brought Jesus with you or left Him in the car?Lenny kicks us off by talking about the slow drift that hardens a heart over time, how constant resistance from the world can quietly corrode our spiritual sensitivity until we find ourselves putting God on the shelf. Ben shares a personal story from a VIP showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show and the moment he knew he needed to leave before the night pulled him somewhere he didn’t want to go. That story sparks a real conversation about conviction, wisdom, and boundaries: we’re called to be in the world, but not of the world and the fact that the Holy Spirit always provides a way out. Judah, David, Lenny, Ben and James also dig into why reading the Bible daily transforms your life, keeps your heart soft, why convictions are meant to shape us (not fuel judgment of others), and what it looks like to live a Spirit-led life in dark places while still walking in wisdom. Lenny closes with the takeaway that names the episode: don’t leave Jesus in the car. Jesus isn’t limited to “business hours”—He’s King of 365 / 24-7. Bring Him with you, and He’ll make your path straight. This is an epic episode: thought provoking conversation, great detours, real issues, many laughs and lots to think about. Please come along for the ride. Read along with us as we move onto: Hebrews 4–6 Help us spread the word about Thriving in the Word—and thanks for being part of the family. Have a blessed day.More info: ⁠www.thrive.church⁠ Give: ⁠www.thrive.church/give/⁠ Need prayer? ⁠[email protected]⁠ This is a presentation of Thrive.Church © All Rights Reserved

This discussion features: Judah Thomas, Lenny Salgado, Ben Cossette, Mike McHugh, James Gowell, and Tim Nicholson. Edited by: Tim Nicholson In Week 4 of Hebrews 1–3, we ask a simple question with huge implications: Prophet, Guru, or This Jesus? Mike opens with how Hebrews warns God’s people about false idols—and why that warning still matters today. James then dives into Hebrews 3 across translations, NASB1995 “consider Jesus", LEB "consider Jesus", NLT “this Jesus”, what the Greek carries for the word "consider", and why we’re called to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and pursue the truth. Judah walks through major world religions and how many acknowledge Jesus as a real historical person—yet redefine Him as a prophet, teacher, guru, or divine messenger. But Hebrews confronts us with this Jesus—and with Jesus’ own claim: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) From there, we go “trust but verify” with the Dead Sea Scrolls and some seriously fun history rabbit trails—while continuing to marinate on the same three chapters for the fourth week in a row. This is an epic episode: strong conversation, great detours, and lots to think about. Come along for the ride. Read along with us: Hebrews 1–3 Help us spread the word about Thriving in the Word—and thanks for being part of the family. Have a blessed day.More info: www.thrive.church Give: www.thrive.church/give/ Need prayer? [email protected] This is a presentation of Thrive.Church © All Rights Reserved