Advertise on podcast: Witnessing Christ

In this episode of the Witnessing Christ Podcast, Mike and Molly are joined by Truth in Love Ministry's seminary evangelist interns Charlie, Calvin, and Aaron to discuss Torn, a book by Latter-day Saint author Jeff Strong that examines why so many members are leaving the LDS Church and what their experiences reveal about its culture, teachings, and expectations. After three of his five children left the LDS Church, Strong began asking difficult questions about faith, family, and the pressures facing Latter-day Saints. Drawing on research and personal experiences, he explores the challenges that lead people to distance themselves from the church, including spiritual exhaustion, questions about church history, social issues, and a lack of spiritual nourishment. The team discusses Strong's findings with empathy for the families and individuals experiencing these struggles. They also explore an important question: If the expectations of a religious community are leaving people spiritually exhausted, where can they find genuine rest? In this episode, you'll hear: Why Jeff Strong wrote Torn and what motivated him to investigate why Latter-day Saints leave the church.What Strong's research suggests about religious disaffiliation and the pressures facing LDS members.Why spiritual burnout, perfectionism, and expectations of obedience can create feelings of guilt and inadequacy.How Strong distinguishes between LDS doctrine and church culture—and why that distinction raises important theological questions.What differing reactions to Torn reveal about conversations happening within the LDS community.Why the relationship between prophetic authority, institutional loyalty, and following Jesus deserves careful consideration.How Christians can respond compassionately when LDS friends and family members express doubts or struggles.Why changing religious expectations cannot ultimately provide the rest that sinners need.How the biblical gospel offers something different from continual spiritual progression and self-improvement.Why Christ's perfect obedience and completed sacrifice provide certainty that our own efforts never could.Practical ways to use Torn to begin meaningful, gospel-centered conversations with Latter-day Saints.One of the most striking observations from the book is the feeling that “rest feels like failure.” For many Latter-day Saints, the pressure to continually improve, fulfill responsibilities, and meet religious expectations can become exhausting. Strong recognizes these struggles and encourages a more compassionate and welcoming church culture. But the conversation raises a deeper question: What if the solution to spiritual exhaustion isn't becoming better at meeting expectations, but discovering that Jesus has already met God's expectations for us? The biblical gospel offers a kind of rest that human effort cannot provide. Jesus did not come merely to help us become worthy of God's acceptance. He lived the perfect life we could never live, suffered the punishment our sins deserved, and rose again in victory. Through faith in him, we receive the forgiveness and righteousness that he has already won for us. Our confidence before God does not rest on how much we have improved, how faithfully we have served, or how successfully we have followed religious expectations. It rests entirely on Jesus Christ. For Christians witnessing to Latter-day Saints, Torn provides an opportunity to listen carefully and love people who may be carrying burdens we don't fully understand. Ask your LDS friends what they think about the book. Listen to their experiences. Give them space to express questions or struggles without immediately trying to correct them. And when the opportunity comes, share the beautiful promise of the gospel: Jesus has already done everything necessary for our salvation. Ultimately, the goal of witnessing isn't simply to convince someone to leave the LDS Church. It's to introduce them to the Savior who gives sinners forgiveness, peace, and eternal life as a free gift. We don't need to become worthy enough for Jesus. Jesus has made us worthy through his finished work. Music used in this episode under license. License code: BSIPX0EWJ87RCGZL  Share this podcast with your Christian friends and subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to our YouTube channels!

In this episode of the Witnessing Christ Podcast, Mike shares a sermon based on Isaiah 52:12–53:12, focusing on the complete sufficiency of Jesus Christ's sacrifice for sinners. During a recent weekend of ministry, Mike was invited to lead a training seminar equipping Christians to engage their Latter-day Saint friends, family members, and loved ones with wisdom and love. As part of that visit, he was also given the opportunity to preach during the congregation's worship service. For this sermon, Mike wanted to communicate a central truth of the biblical gospel: Jesus has done everything necessary for our forgiveness and salvation. Rather than relying on complicated theological terminology, Mike sought to explain Christ's saving work using the clear and powerful language of Scripture. His goal was not only to encourage Christians with the gospel but also to demonstrate how we can communicate these truths in ways that are understandable and meaningful to our LDS friends. In this episode, you'll hear: Why Isaiah 52–53 is such a powerful passage for understanding Jesus' saving work.How Isaiah describes the suffering Servant who bears the sins of others.Why Jesus' sacrifice is completely sufficient for our forgiveness.How Christians can explain the gospel without relying on complicated theological vocabulary.Why the message of Christ's finished work brings comfort and assurance to sinners.How the language of Scripture can help us communicate biblical truths clearly.Why Isaiah 53 provides a valuable starting point for conversations with Latter-day Saints about forgiveness and salvation.How Christians can grow in their confidence to share what Jesus has accomplished.Isaiah 53 gives us one of the clearest pictures of the gospel in the Old Testament. The suffering Servant is pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities, and punished so that we might have peace. Jesus suffered in our place. He carried our sins. He accomplished what we could never accomplish for ourselves. This is the comfort of the biblical gospel. Our forgiveness does not depend on our ability to become worthy, make enough progress, or complete what Jesus began. It rests on the Savior who gave himself for us. As you listen, we encourage you to open your Bible to Isaiah 52:12 and read through chapter 53. Consider not only the comfort these words bring to you personally, but also how you might use them in conversations with your LDS friends and loved ones. You don't need complicated language to share the gospel. You can simply point to Jesus and explain what he has already done. Jesus is enough. His sacrifice is sufficient. And through him, sinners have peace with God. Music used in this episode under license. License code: BSIPX0EWJ87RCGZL  Share this podcast with your Christian friends and subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to our YouTube channels!

In this episode of the Witnessing Christ Podcast, Mike and Molly are joined by Truth in Love Ministry's seminary evangelist interns Charlie, Calvin, and Aaron to discuss some of the major themes and conversations coming out of the latest Latter-day Saint General Conference. After watching and reading several conference talks, the team reflects on what Latter-day Saints are hearing from their leaders and how Christians can use those teachings to begin meaningful, gospel-centered conversations with their LDS friends, family members, and missionaries. From the controversy surrounding gambling to teachings about tithing, grace, and suffering, this episode explores important differences between biblical Christianity and LDS theology. But the goal isn't simply to identify disagreements or win theological arguments. It's to better understand what Latter-day Saints believe, ask thoughtful questions, and share the comfort and certainty found in Jesus Christ. In this episode, you'll hear: Why a General Conference talk condemning gambling generated so much discussion among Latter-day Saints.How differing reactions to the gambling talk raise questions about prophetic authority and the teachings of living and past LDS leaders.How Christians can use these conversations to point to the unchanging authority of Scripture.What recent conference talks taught about tithing and the blessings associated with financial giving.How biblical Christian offerings differ from required tithing and why Christians give out of thankfulness rather than obligation.Why the word grace can mean something very different in LDS theology than it does in biblical Christianity.How LDS teachings about grace as an enabling power differ from the Bible's message of God's undeserved favor.Why understanding the definitions behind familiar religious words is essential when witnessing.How General Conference speakers discussed suffering as part of God's plan for human growth and progression.Why the biblical account of suffering points us to a Savior who entered our broken world to rescue us.Practical questions Christians can ask to begin loving conversations about authority, grace, forgiveness, and suffering.One of the most important lessons from this episode is that using the same words doesn't always mean we're proclaiming the same gospel. Christians and Latter-day Saints both talk about grace, salvation, obedience, and blessings. But what do those words actually mean? When biblical Christians speak about grace, we are talking about God's completely undeserved love for sinners. As Ephesians 2 reminds us, we were dead in our transgressions, but God made us alive with Christ. Our salvation doesn't depend on how much progress we make or how successfully we obey God's commandments. It rests entirely on what Jesus has already accomplished for us. That difference becomes especially important when we face suffering. When tragedy strikes, Christians don't have to explain every hardship as a necessary step toward spiritual progression. We can acknowledge that sin and death have broken God's good creation. We can grieve alongside those who are hurting and point them to Jesus, who entered our suffering, bore our sins on the cross, and rose again to give us the certain hope of eternal life. Our comfort isn't found in understanding why every hardship happens. Our comfort is found in knowing what Jesus has done about it. As you talk with your LDS friends about General Conference, begin with genuine curiosity. Ask what stood out to them. Listen to their reactions. Find out what these teachings mean to them personally. And when the opportunity comes, open God's Word together and share the wonderful news that forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life are not rewards we must earn. They are gifts Jesus has already won for us. The goal isn't to win an argument about General Conference. The goal is to point people to Christ and the gospel that never changes. Music used in this episode under license. License code: BSIPX0EWJ87RCGZL  Share this podcast with your Christian friends and subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to our YouTube channels!

In this episode of the Witnessing Christ Podcast, Mike and Molly are joined by Dr. Mark Paustian, professor at Martin Luther College, for a conversation about one of the most important—and often overlooked—aspects of witnessing: listening. With decades of experience in pastoral ministry, teaching, and Christian apologetics, Mark shares how learning to listen transformed his approach to evangelism. What began as an intimidating challenge for an introverted young pastor became a lifelong appreciation for genuine curiosity, meaningful questions, and the incredible opportunities that come from simply taking the time to understand another person. The conversation explores how Christians can approach their Latter-day Saint friends, family members, and missionaries with genuine love rather than an agenda to win arguments. Instead of focusing entirely on what we want to say, what happens when we begin by asking what another person believes, why they believe it, and what their beliefs mean to them personally? In this episode, you'll hear: How an unexpected conversation with an atheist helped shape Mark's approach to witnessing.Why listening can be more valuable than having the perfect argument.How introverts can use their natural strengths to share the gospel.What makes a question genuinely thoughtful, loving, and productive.Why curiosity should come from a desire to understand rather than a hidden agenda.How vulnerability and honesty about our own struggles can help build trust.Why sharing the certainty of forgiveness in Christ can open meaningful conversations with Latter-day Saints.How Christians can use LDS Come, Follow Me readings to begin respectful, Scripture-centered discussions.What to do when conversations with missionaries become uncomfortable or tense.How hospitality, friendship, and genuine compassion can communicate the love of Christ.Why spending time in God's Word prepares our hearts to share his love with others.Four essential qualities for meaningful conversations: curiosity, high regard, mutual openness, and carrying one another's burdens.One of the central lessons of this conversation is that we don't need to prove someone wrong before we can show them Jesus. Too often, witnessing becomes a contest of arguments. We prepare answers, study theological differences, and search for the perfect question that will finally convince someone to agree with us. But in doing so, we can forget the person sitting across from us. Mark encourages Christians to approach witnessing differently. Be genuinely curious. Ask questions you actually want answered. Listen without immediately preparing your response. And when the opportunity comes, share what Jesus means to you and the incredible peace that comes from knowing your sins are forgiven. For Christians witnessing to Latter-day Saints, this creates opportunities to discuss questions that go beyond theological definitions. How do you know God loves you? What does forgiveness mean to you? How can you be certain that God accepts you? These questions allow us to move beyond arguments and point to the beautiful promises of Scripture. And that is where our confidence ultimately rests. We don't have to manufacture the perfect witnessing experience. We have a Savior who has already accomplished everything necessary for our salvation. Through his death and resurrection, Jesus has secured our forgiveness and given us peace with God. The more we listen to Jesus in his Word, the more his love, mercy, and promises fill our hearts. And when our hearts are full of Christ, we have something wonderful to share with the people around us. Listen to Jesus. Then listen like Jesus. Music used in this episode under license. License code: BSIPX0EWJ87RCGZL  Share this podcast with your Christian friends and subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to our YouTube channels!

In this episode of the Witnessing Christ Podcast, Mike sits down with returning Truth in Love Ministry interns Charlie and Calvin after their year serving as vicars in local congregations. After a year of preaching, teaching, meeting new people, and having countless conversations about faith, they reflect on how practical ministry changed the way they think about witnessing. Although they served in very different places—Calvin in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, and Charlie near Greenville, South Carolina—both discovered something similar: effective witnessing is less about finding the perfect argument and more about listening, loving the person in front of you, sharing Jesus, and trusting God's Word to work. Calvin shares the story of a man who unexpectedly walked into his church after beginning discussions with Latter-day Saint missionaries. For several months, Calvin walked alongside him as he simultaneously studied with the missionaries and worked through a Christian Bible information course. Their conversations continually returned to the simple message of what Jesus had already done for him. Charlie reflects on how his previous work with Truth in Love prepared him to minister to people from many different religious backgrounds. Instead of immediately attacking beliefs he knew were false, he learned to slow down, listen, ask questions, and recognize how deeply personal someone's faith can be. In this episode, you'll hear: How a year of practical ministry shaped Charlie and Calvin as future pastors.How Calvin unexpectedly used his TILM training while working with someone studying with LDS missionaries.Why the biblical teaching of direct access to God through Christ stood out in those conversations.How listening can transform conversations with people from different religious backgrounds.Why attacking someone's beliefs often closes doors rather than opening them.What it means to let God's Word work instead of searching for the perfect “silver bullet.”Why Christians don't have to say everything in a single witnessing conversation.How face-to-face ministry taught them to become more comfortable thinking on their feet.Why witnessing often means planting and watering seeds whose growth you may never see.How simply being present in a community creates natural opportunities to talk about Jesus.Why Christians can take risks in witnessing without making the outcome depend on themselves.One of the biggest lessons from their year of ministry was learning to abandon the “silver bullet” mentality—the idea that if we could just find the perfect verse, argument, or question, everything would suddenly fall into place. Usually, witnessing doesn't work that way. Sometimes you're simply planting a seed. Sometimes you're watering one somebody else planted years ago. And sometimes you may never see what God eventually does through a conversation. Especially when witnessing to Latter-day Saints, spiritual change can take years. Our responsibility isn't to manufacture that change. We share God's Word and trust Him to work through it. That truth also takes enormous pressure off the witness. You aren't the most important person in someone's story—God is. You don't have to know everything, speak perfectly, or win every argument. You get the privilege of sharing the Savior who has already done everything necessary for sinners. So listen. Ask questions. Be willing to stay in someone's life for the long haul. Share Jesus. Plant the seed. And then trust God with the growth. As Charlie puts it, witnessing can feel risky—but sometimes the best thing you can do is simply go try something risky and see how the Lord uses it. Music used in this episode under license. License code: BSIPX0EWJ87RCGZL Share this podcast with your Christian friends and subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to our YouTube channels!

In this episode of the Witnessing Christ Podcast, Mike and Molly are joined by Pastor Pete Myers of Manchester Lutheran Church for a conversation about contextualizing the gospel—communicating the unchanging good news of Jesus in ways that people can actually hear and understand. Through his ministry in Manchester, England, Pete began having conversations with people experiencing homelessness, addiction, poverty, and shame. As he listened, he discovered that simply saying, “God loves you” didn't always communicate what he intended. Many people assumed their circumstances were evidence that God was angry or frustrated with them. That led Pete to a simple way of expressing the gospel: “God is in a good mood with you, and you see that when you look at Jesus.” The conversation explores what Christians can learn from that approach when witnessing to Latter-day Saints. Rather than beginning with assumptions about what another person believes, Christians can listen, ask questions, identify where someone is placing their trust, and then bring the objective good news of Christ directly into that person's situation. In this episode, you’ll hear: What it means to contextualize the gospel without changing its message.Why listening is one of the most important skills in witnessing.How to approach someone as a human being rather than an evangelism project.Why Christians shouldn't assume they already know what another person believes.How law and gospel help us understand what someone needs to hear.Why theological debates can sometimes distract us from actually sharing Jesus.How to respond when someone comes into a conversation with prepared arguments.Why you don't need to have every theological answer before witnessing.How failure and awkward conversations can actually help us grow as witnesses.Why Christians themselves continually need to hear forgiveness and the gospel.How Christian community can encourage and strengthen us in our witness.Why the best preparation for witnessing isn't mastering every argument—it's returning to Jesus and what He has already done.Throughout the conversation, Pete reminds Christians that the power of witnessing does not depend on our ability to craft the perfect argument. We are weak people carrying an incredibly powerful message. That gives us the freedom to say, “I don't know,” to ask genuine questions, to listen, and even to make mistakes. For Christians witnessing to Latter-day Saints, that means we don't have to enter every conversation determined to correct every false belief. Instead, we can begin by listening. Ask questions such as, “How does God feel about you?” or “Why do you believe God will reward you?” Then listen carefully enough to understand where that person is placing their confidence. And when the opportunity comes, give them what the world cannot give them: the gospel. Jesus has already acted for sinners. Our forgiveness doesn't rest on how well we witness, how much theology we know, or how effectively we defend our beliefs. Christ died for us, and our sins have been dealt with completely in Him. That same gospel gives Christians the freedom and confidence to witness. We don't go because we've finally become qualified enough. We go because we have peace with God through Jesus. Jesus is Lord. Not our strategies. Not our arguments. Not social media algorithms. Not our ability to say everything perfectly. Jesus is Lord—and He continues to work through His Word. Music used in this episode under license. License code: BSIPX0EWJ87RCGZL  Share this podcast with your Christian friends and subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to our YouTube channels!

In this episode of the Witnessing Christ Podcast, Mike and Molly continue their conversation with Professor Ken Cherney of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary about the book of Isaiah. This time, the focus shifts specifically toward witnessing: How can Christians use Isaiah to have meaningful, gospel-centered conversations with their Latter-day Saint friends and family? Isaiah repeatedly emphasizes something fundamental about the biblical God: there is no one like Him. Against the idols and gods of the surrounding nations, Isaiah presents the Lord as utterly unique. He is not simply a greater or more advanced being. He alone is God, and there is no Savior apart from Him. That biblical picture creates opportunities for important conversations with Latter-day Saints about the nature of God, suffering, and why God does not always fit neatly within our human understanding. But these conversations ultimately lead somewhere even more important—to Jesus Christ and His finished work for sinners. In this episode, you’ll hear:  Why Isaiah emphasizes the absolute uniqueness and incomparability of God.  How Isaiah’s descriptions of idolatry help us understand the difference between God and humanity.  How different understandings of God affect the way Christians and Latter-day Saints approach suffering.  Why we should be cautious of a God who always makes perfect sense according to human reason.  How Isaiah 55 combines God's incomprehensible greatness with His incredible promise of forgiveness.  What it means to receive God's gifts “without money” and without payment.  Why Isaiah 52–53 gives such a powerful picture of Christ’s substitutionary suffering.  How Christ’s complete work challenges the idea that we must contribute something toward our forgiveness.  Why Christians should bring witnessing conversations back to Jesus and the cross.  Practical passages from Isaiah that you can use in conversations with your LDS friends and family. One of Isaiah’s clearest messages is that God's ways are higher than ours—and nowhere is that more wonderful than in the way He saves sinners. Isaiah 55 pictures God giving His blessings without payment, while Isaiah 53 shows exactly what that gift cost: the Servant was pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities, and punished so that we could have peace. Someone did pay. Jesus did. That means the gospel isn't an invitation to finish what Jesus started. It is the announcement that Christ stood in the sinner's place and accomplished salvation completely. Rather than beginning with an argument, Christians can simply open Isaiah with their LDS friends, read these remarkable passages together, ask questions, and let God's Word show them the gift Christ has already won. Ultimately, that is the goal of witnessing with Isaiah: get to Jesus. Get to the cross. Get to His substitutionary atonement. From there, everything else can be seen in the light of the free and complete forgiveness God gives through Christ. Music used in this episode under license. License code: BSIPX0EWJ87RCGZL Share this podcast with your Christian friends and subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to our YouTube channels!

In this episode of the Witnessing Christ Podcast, Mike and Molly are joined by Professor Ken Cherney of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary for the first part of a special series on the book of Isaiah. As Latter-day Saints prepare to study Isaiah in their Come, Follow Me readings, this conversation helps Christians better understand Isaiah for themselves and equips them to use this remarkable book to point their LDS friends, family members, and coworkers to Jesus.  Isaiah can be challenging, but it is also one of the most important books for understanding the message of the New Testament. Professor Cherney walks through Isaiah’s historical setting, explains some of the principles that help us interpret biblical prophecy, and shows why recognizing poetry, metaphor, and context matters when reading the book.  The conversation also explores how Christians and Latter-day Saints can approach the same passages with very different assumptions. From Isaiah’s picture of the Lord’s temple to his remarkable prophecies about the Servant of the Lord, the episode demonstrates how careful reading continually brings us back to Jesus and His finished work.  In this episode, you’ll hear:   Why Isaiah is foundational for understanding the New Testament.  How Isaiah’s historical setting helps us understand his message.  What exegesis and hermeneutics are—and why they matter when reading Scripture.  How recognizing poetry and metaphor can prevent us from misreading biblical prophecy.  What Isaiah 2 teaches about the mountain of the Lord and the worldwide spread of God's Word.  How Isaiah 40 proclaims comfort and complete forgiveness to God's people.  Why Isaiah's Servant Songs point so clearly to Jesus Christ.  How Isaiah 53 describes Christ suffering in the place of sinners.  How Isaiah 61 presents the gospel as good news, freedom, release, and comfort.  Practical ways to use Isaiah to begin Christ-centered conversations with Latter-day Saints.  Throughout the conversation, one truth stands out: Isaiah is filled with Jesus. The suffering Servant is pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities. The promised Messiah brings good news to the poor, freedom to captives, and comfort to those who mourn. The gospel Isaiah proclaims is not another set of requirements we must fulfill—it is the announcement of what God gives freely through Christ. As you read Isaiah alongside your LDS friends, you don't need to turn every passage into a debate. Ask questions, examine the text together, and let God's Word speak. Again and again, Isaiah directs sinners away from themselves and toward the Savior who suffers in their place and brings them peace. Music used in this episode under license. License code: BSIPX0EWJ87RCGZL Share this podcast with your Christian friends and subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to our YouTube channels!

In this episode of the Witnessing Christ Podcast, Molly sits down with Pastors Mike Cherney and Wayne Uhlhorn to talk about witnessing to Latter-day Saints, what they’ve learned through Truth in Love Ministry, and why Christians are more prepared to share the gospel than they might think. Mike introduces himself as Truth in Love Ministry’s new Director of Ministry Development and shares some of the experiences that led him into ministry to Latter-day Saints. One encounter in particular left a lasting impression: after Mike assured an elderly Christian woman of eternal life because of Christ’s finished work, her LDS nurse responded, “I wish I could have that kind of confidence.” That conversation helped Mike see the incredible blessing Christians have in the certainty of forgiveness and eternal life through Jesus.  Mike and Wayne also reflect on their recent mission trip to Idaho Falls, what they learned from conversations with Latter-day Saints, and why successful witnessing doesn’t always mean seeing immediate results. Sometimes sharing one clear gospel truth and planting a seed is exactly what God has called us to do. In this episode, you’ll hear:  Mike’s background and what brought him to Truth in Love Ministry.  How conversations with Latter-day Saints shaped Mike and Wayne’s approach to witnessing.  Why Christians don’t need to be experts in Mormonism to share Jesus.  What makes certain LDS teachings appealing to people.  Why curiosity and good questions are often more effective than arguments and debates.  What Mike and Wayne learned from witnessing door-to-door in Idaho Falls.  Why planting a gospel seed can be a successful witnessing conversation.  How witnessing to others can strengthen and challenge your own faith.  Why every Christian who knows their sin and knows their Savior is more prepared to witness than they might realize. This episode is an encouragement for Christians who want to share their faith but feel nervous, inexperienced, or afraid of saying the wrong thing. You don’t need to know everything about Mormonism before you begin. Listen. Ask questions. Care about the person in front of you. And when God gives you the opportunity, share the simple and beautiful truth you already know: we are sinners, Christ has paid for our sins, and eternal life is His free gift. Not every conversation will end with someone agreeing with you or coming to church. Sometimes you simply plant a seed and trust God to make it grow. As Mike encourages listeners, count every conversation as a win and keep learning along the way. Music used in this episode under license. License code: BSIPX0EWJ87RCGZL  Share this podcast with your Christian friends and subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to our YouTube channels!

In this episode of the Witnessing Christ Podcast, Caleb continues the Christ in the Old Testament series by exploring the book of Esther. As Latter-day Saints study this book in their Come, Follow Me readings, this episode equips Christians to engage the same passages while clearly pointing to the biblical gospel.  Esther is a story of hidden identity, palace intrigue, deadly danger, and an incredible reversal. Although God's name is never mentioned, His providence is evident on every page as He preserves His covenant people through seemingly ordinary events. From Esther's rise to queen, to Mordecai's faithfulness, to Haman's downfall, every detail unfolds according to God's sovereign plan to preserve the people through whom the promised Messiah would come.  The episode focuses on a familiar lesson often drawn from Esther: having the courage to do what is right. While Scripture certainly commends Esther's courage, the conversation looks beyond her example to the deeper reality that she, like every believer, was weak, fearful, and in need of God's grace. Ultimately, Esther points us not to finding hidden courage within ourselves, but to the perfect faithfulness of Jesus Christ.  In this episode, you'll hear:   How God's providence quietly directs every event in the book of Esther.  Why Esther's hesitation reveals the same fears and struggles found in every sinner.  The difference between using Esther as a moral example and seeing how she points to Christ.  Why God's acceptance is never based on personal courage, obedience, or worthiness.  How Jesus identified Himself with condemned sinners far more completely than Esther ever could.  What Hebrews 4 teaches about confidently approaching God's throne through Christ alone.  The difference between biblical assurance and confidence rooted in personal worthiness.  A practical witnessing question to help guide gospel conversations with LDS friends and family.  The episode also highlights the contrast between Esther's uncertain approach to King Xerxes and the believer's confident access to God through Jesus Christ. Esther entered the king's presence not knowing whether she would live or die. Christians, however, approach God's throne with confidence because Jesus has already borne their judgment, fulfilled God's law, and secured full acceptance through His perfect righteousness.   This episode reminds listeners that the greatest comfort found in Esther is not that we can become courageous enough for God to use us. It is that God remains faithful even when His people are weak. Because Christ is worthy, forgiven sinners can rest in His finished work, confidently proclaim the gospel, and trust that God delights to work through imperfect people for His glory.   Share this podcast with your Christian friends and subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to our YouTube channels!

In this episode of the Witnessing Christ Podcast, Caleb continues the Christ in the Old Testament series by exploring the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. As Latter-day Saints study these chapters in their Come, Follow Me readings, this episode equips Christians to engage those same passages while clearly pointing to the biblical gospel.  After decades of exile, God moves the heart of King Cyrus to send His people home. The temple is rebuilt, Jerusalem's walls are restored, and God's Word is publicly proclaimed once again. Yet behind every human accomplishment stands a greater reality: God is faithfully keeping His promises and preserving the people through whom the promised Savior would come.  The episode focuses on a common theme in LDS teaching materials: "The house of the Lord is a place of joy." While affirming the joy surrounding the rebuilding of the temple, the conversation explores what the Old Testament temple was ultimately designed to teach—and how it points beyond itself to Jesus Christ.  In this episode, you'll hear:   Why the rebuilding of the temple was ultimately about God's faithfulness to His promises.  What the Old Testament temple revealed about God's holiness and humanity's sinfulness.  How the sacrifices and priesthood pointed forward to Christ's once-for-all sacrifice.  The difference between biblical confidence before God and confidence based on personal worthiness or covenant keeping.  Why Jesus is the true Temple, the perfect High Priest, and the final sacrifice for sin.  How Hebrews 10 explains believers' confidence to enter God's presence through Christ alone.  Why good works flow from God's grace rather than earning His acceptance.  A practical witnessing question to help guide gospel conversations with LDS friends and family.  The episode also highlights Nehemiah 8, where the people weep as God's law exposes their sin. Rather than leaving them in despair, Scripture points them to God's mercy and ultimately to the greater work Jesus would accomplish. Through His life, death, and resurrection, Christ did not simply make it possible for sinners to become worthy someday—He accomplished everything necessary to bring them confidently into God's presence.   This episode reminds listeners that the restored temple was never the final destination. It was a shadow pointing to Jesus Christ, the true Temple and perfect Savior. Because of His finished work, believers do not place their confidence in ceremonies, covenants, or personal progress, but in the completed redemption won through Christ's blood. Share this podcast with your Christian friends and subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to our YouTube channels!

In this episode of the Witnessing Christ Podcast, Caleb continues the Christ in the Old Testament series by exploring 2 Chronicles 14–20, 26, and 30. As Latter-day Saints study these chapters in their Come, Follow Me readings, this episode equips Christians to engage those same passages while clearly pointing to the biblical gospel.  These chapters follow the reigns of Asa, Jehoshaphat, Uzziah, and Hezekiah, highlighting both faithful reforms and tragic failures. Time and again, the kings experience God's blessing when they seek Him, yet they also reveal how quickly human hearts turn to pride, self-reliance, and misplaced trust. Even the godliest kings prove unable to trust the Lord perfectly.  The episode focuses on a common theme in LDS teaching materials: "Trusting in God will bring me peace." While Christians wholeheartedly affirm that truth, the conversation asks a deeper question: What does it really mean to trust God—and where can lasting peace actually be found?  In this episode, you'll hear:   How Asa's life demonstrates both faithful dependence on God and the danger of trusting human wisdom.  Why even the best kings of Judah failed to trust the Lord perfectly.  The difference between biblical peace and confidence rooted in personal performance.  How fear, anxiety, and self-reliance expose our struggle to trust God's promises.  Why true peace cannot be found in our obedience or worthiness.  How Romans 5 and Romans 8 proclaim peace with God through Jesus Christ.  The difference between trusting Christ's finished work and trusting our own spiritual progress.  A practical witnessing question to help guide gospel conversations with LDS friends and family.  The episode also emphasizes that while Christians often struggle with fear, doubt, and anxiety, their ultimate peace does not rest on the strength of their faith but on the object of their faith. Jesus Christ has already reconciled sinners to God through His life, death, and resurrection, giving believers complete confidence that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Him.   This episode reminds listeners that lasting peace is not found by becoming worthy enough for God. It is found in trusting the Savior who has already accomplished everything necessary for our salvation. Because Christ has reconciled us to the Father, Christians can face every uncertainty—including death itself—with confidence in His finished work rather than their own. Share this podcast with your Christian friends and subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to our YouTube channels!

In this episode of the Witnessing Christ Podcast, Caleb continues the Christ in the Old Testament series by exploring 2 Kings 2–7. As Latter-day Saints study these chapters in their Come, Follow Me readings, this episode equips Christians to engage those same passages while clearly pointing to the biblical gospel. These chapters record the transition from Elijah’s ministry to Elisha’s, highlighting God's continued faithfulness through miraculous works. Elisha parts the Jordan River, purifies poisoned water, raises the dead, heals Naaman of leprosy, and repeatedly demonstrates that the Lord alone is the source of life, healing, and salvation. The episode focuses on the account of Naaman, Elisha, and Gehazi, asking an important question: Why did Elisha refuse Naaman’s payment? While LDS teaching materials often emphasize humility and obedience through Naaman’s healing, this conversation points to a deeper truth—that God’s greatest gifts cannot be earned or purchased but are freely given by His grace. In this episode, you’ll hear:  Why Naaman’s healing was ultimately an act of God's grace rather than a reward for obedience.  The difference between biblical grace and the idea that salvation must be earned or progressed toward.  How Gehazi’s response reveals the natural tendency to believe God's gifts should be paid for.  Why salvation is received through faith in Christ rather than through human worthiness.  How Naaman’s cleansing points forward to the complete forgiveness found in Jesus Christ.  What Romans 3 teaches about justification by grace through faith.  A practical witnessing question to help guide gospel conversations with LDS friends and family. The episode also highlights the beautiful picture of the gospel found in Naaman’s story. Just as Naaman could not purchase his cleansing from leprosy, sinners cannot purchase forgiveness or righteousness before God. Christ has already paid the full price through His life, death, and resurrection, offering complete forgiveness as a free gift to all who trust in Him. This episode reminds listeners that the Christian life is not about earning God's favor but receiving His undeserved mercy. Through Jesus Christ, we are washed clean—not because we deserved it or paid for it, but because our Savior accomplished everything necessary for our salvation and freely gives His righteousness to all who believe. Share this podcast with your Christian friends and subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to our YouTube channels!

In this episode of the Witnessing Christ Podcast, Caleb continues the Christ in the Old Testament series by exploring 1 Kings 12–13 and 17–22. As Latter-day Saints study these chapters in their Come, Follow Me readings, this episode equips Christians to engage those same passages while clearly pointing to the biblical gospel. These chapters reveal the tragic consequences of Israel’s divided kingdom. Following Solomon’s reign, the nation fractures under Rehoboam and Jeroboam. Idolatry spreads, wicked rulers rise to power, and figures like Ahab and Jezebel lead God’s people further from the truth. Yet in the midst of rebellion and spiritual darkness, God faithfully sends His prophet Elijah to proclaim His Word and call people back to Himself. The episode focuses on a theme often highlighted in LDS teaching materials: “The Lord often speaks in quiet, simple ways.” While Christians agree that God speaks through humble means, the conversation explores an important question: Where has God promised to speak to us today? In this episode, you’ll hear:  Why the divided kingdom reveals humanity’s ongoing rebellion against God.  How Elijah’s ministry demonstrates God’s faithfulness in times of widespread unbelief.  The difference between biblical confidence in God’s Word and seeking personal revelation through feelings and impressions.  Why Scripture presents the Bible as God’s primary means of speaking to His people today.  How the prophets of Baal illustrate the futility of trying to earn divine attention.  What Elijah’s experience teaches about trusting God’s promises rather than subjective experiences.  How Jesus pointed His followers to Moses and the Prophets as the foundation for faith.  Practical questions to help guide gospel conversations with LDS friends and family. The episode also highlights Jesus’ encounter with the disciples on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24. Rather than immediately revealing Himself, Jesus opened the Scriptures and showed how the entire Old Testament pointed to Him. In the same way, Christians find confidence not in changing emotions or private impressions, but in the unchanging Word of God that proclaims Christ. This episode reminds listeners that God has not left His people guessing. Through the simple and powerful words of Scripture, God reveals His character, exposes our sin, strengthens our faith, and points us to Jesus Christ—the Savior promised throughout the Old Testament and proclaimed throughout the Bible. Share this podcast with your Christian friends and subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to our YouTube channels!

In this episode of the Witnessing Christ Podcast, Caleb continues the Christ in the Old Testament series by exploring 2 Samuel 11–12 and selections from 1 Kings 3, 6–9, and 11. As Latter-day Saints study these chapters in their Come, Follow Me readings, this episode equips Christians to engage those same passages while clearly pointing to the biblical gospel.  These chapters contain some of the most sobering accounts in the Old Testament. David, the king described as a man after God’s own heart, falls into adultery, deception, and murder. Solomon begins his reign with wisdom, humility, and devotion to the Lord, but later turns away through idolatry and divided loyalties. Together, these stories reveal both the greatness of God’s gifts and the devastating reality of human sin.  The episode focuses especially on David’s confrontation with the prophet Nathan and the powerful words, “You are the man.” Through God’s law, David is exposed as guilty before the Lord. Yet in the midst of judgment comes an astonishing declaration of grace: “The Lord has taken away your sin.”  In this episode, you’ll hear:   Why the account of David and Bathsheba is ultimately a story about sin, guilt, and grace.  How Nathan’s confrontation reveals the purpose of God’s law.  Why all people stand guilty before God’s perfect standard.  What Psalm 51 teaches about true repentance and dependence on God’s mercy.  How Solomon’s rise and fall reveal the danger of divided devotion.  The difference between biblical faith and LDS understandings of faith and worthiness.  How Romans 3 explains justification, redemption, and forgiveness through Christ.  A practical witnessing question to help guide gospel conversations with LDS friends and family.  The episode also highlights a crucial question: How could a just God take away David’s sins? David deserved judgment. He could not undo what he had done, nor could he offer a sacrifice sufficient to remove his guilt. His only hope was God’s mercy—and that mercy ultimately points forward to Jesus Christ, who would bear the punishment for sinners and provide the righteousness they could never earn.   This episode reminds listeners that the Bible is not a collection of moral success stories. Even David and Solomon failed. The good news is not that God saves worthy people, but that He justifies sinners through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Because Christ paid the price for sin, God can declare guilty people forgiven, righteous, and free. Share this podcast with your Christian friends and subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe to our YouTube channels!