Advertise on podcast: The Overflow

In a world full of competing voices, should pastors avoid controversial issues and “stay in their lane”? And who gets to decide what that lane is? We dive into why the Church cannot remain silent on the issues affecting our culture. Beyond any political party or group, our loyalty belongs to the Word of God, and we are unapologetic in our pursuit of truth. From politics and sexuality to marriage and family, our prayer is simple: “God, help us love You and love our neighbors as ourselves.” QUESTIONS Who or what is shaping your beliefs about controversial issues: God’s Word, political affiliations, or the culture around you?Why is it important for the Church to address difficult cultural issues rather than remain silent?How can you stand firm on biblical truth while genuinely loving people who disagree with you? READ MORE ABOUT Preaching the whole counsel of God in Acts 20:27Teaching, correcting, and training through Scripture in 2 Timothy 3:16–17People turning away from sound teaching in 2 Timothy 4:2–4Exchanging the truth of God for a lie in Romans 1:18–25Our struggle not being against flesh and blood in Ephesians 6:10–12Loving God and loving our neighbors in Matthew 22:37–39Asking God for wisdom in James 1:5

We examine the rise of Islam and why Christians need biblical discernment to understand what is happening in the world around us. We talk about the origins and beliefs of Islam, persecution of Christians, and the importance of distinguishing between loving Muslim people and affirming a religion that rejects Jesus as Savior. This is not a call to fear or hostility, but to wake up, know God’s Word, pray for the persecuted Church, love our Muslim neighbors, and boldly share the good news of Jesus. QUESTIONS Where might you need greater biblical discernment about the beliefs and ideas shaping the culture around you?How can you hold strong convictions about truth while genuinely loving people who believe differently?What would it look like for you to “wake up” and live more intentionally on mission with the people God has placed around you?READ MORE ABOUT ·      Jesus as the only way to the Father in John 14:6 ·      Testing false prophets and their fruit in Matthew 7:15–20 ·      The father of lies in John 8:44 ·      Loving and praying for our enemies in Matthew 5:43–48 ·      Exchanging the truth of God for a lie in Romans 1:18–25 ·      Making disciples of all nations in Matthew 28:18–20

We answer listener questions about choosing a career, feeling exhausted by family, and responding when a church celebrates what Scripture calls sin. We talk about seeking God’s will with a Kingdom mindset, paying attention to your gifts, working hard, and learning to recognize both open and closed doors. We also explore healthy rhythms in family relationships, the difference between normal exhaustion and deeper dysfunction, and why believers are called to love people deeply without compromising biblical truth. QUESTIONS How can you tell the difference between a good opportunity and a God-led opportunity?What might be at the root of your exhaustion with the people closest to you, and what healthy rhythm or heart change could help?How can you respond with both conviction and compassion when something grieves you because it conflicts with God’s Word?READ MORE ABOUT ·      Seeking first the Kingdom of God in Matthew 6:33 ·      Presenting yourself to God and discerning His will in Romans 12:1–2 ·      Seeking wisdom and counsel in Proverbs 11:14 and James 1:5 ·      Jesus withdrawing to pray and be with the Father in Luke 5:16 ·      Putting away bitterness, anger, harsh words, and slander in Ephesians 4:30–32 ·      Speaking the truth in love in Ephesians 4:15

We answer a painful question about rebuilding a marriage after years of betrayal and unfaithfulness. We talk about confronting sin honestly, removing influences that keep sexual sin and fantasy alive, surrounding your marriage with godly community, and getting biblical help when the hurt runs deep. Healing does not come from “falling back in love” but from choosing love, forgiveness, repentance, and obedience to God’s design. Even when a marriage feels dead, God can breathe life into what looks beyond repair. QUESTIONS What needs to be confessed, removed, or changed in order for healing to begin in your marriage?How does defining love as a choice rather than a feeling change the way you respond to hurt, disappointment, or betrayal?What would it look like to surround your marriage with the church, wise counsel, and other supports instead of trying to heal alone?READ MORE ABOUT The enemy seeking to steal, kill, and destroy in John 10:10Confessing sin and receiving God’s forgiveness and cleansing in 1 John 1:9Love as patient, kind, selfless, forgiving, hopeful, and enduring in 1 Corinthians 13:4–7Guarding against adultery and sexual sin in Proverbs 5–7Forgiving others as God has forgiven us in Ephesians 4:31–32 and Colossians 3:13The importance of gathering with and being strengthened by the Church in Hebrews 10:24–25

We talk about the reality of spiritual darkness and why Christians cannot afford to ignore the spiritual battle happening around us. Mental illness, trauma, and human brokenness are real, but Scripture also teaches that evil, demonic oppression, temptation, and spiritual strongholds are real. We explore how unrepentant sin can give the enemy a foothold, why believers must avoid both obsessing over darkness and pretending it does not exist, and how God equips us to fight through His Word, prayer, repentance, and the power of the Holy Spirit. Darkness is real, but Jesus is stronger. QUESTIONS:- Where might you be dismissing a spiritual battle as purely physical, emotional, or circumstantial?- Is there any unconfessed sin, bitterness, anger, or other area of your life that could be giving the enemy a foothold?- What would it look like for you to “armor up” and actively fight darkness with the tools God has given you? READ MORE:- The strong man and the One who is stronger in Luke 11:21–22- The devil prowling like a roaring lion in 1 Peter 5:8–9- Putting on the full armor of God in Ephesians 6:10–18- Not giving the devil a foothold in Ephesians 4:26–27- Taking every thought captive and tearing down strongholds in 2 Corinthians 10:3–5- Jesus confronting demonic oppression and healing in Luke 13:10–16

We answer listener questions about friendship transitions, parenting strong-willed boys, healing from patterns you do not want to release, and building prayer into family life. From examining your own heart in changing relationships to disciplining children with purpose, renewing your mind through Scripture, and making prayer a natural rhythm at home, we look at how God’s Word brings clarity to the questions we carry. Peace is not the absence of questions, it is learning to walk through them with God. QUESTIONS How can you navigate a changing friendship with gratitude, wisdom, and a willingness to examine your own heart? What habit, desire, or pattern do you know needs to change even though part of you does not want to let it go?What could you do to make prayer and biblical truth more natural rhythms in your family life?READ MORE ABOUT Examining the log in your own eye before the speck in someone else’s in Matthew 7:3–5Iron sharpening iron in Proverbs 27:17Disciplining and instructing your children in Ephesians 6:4 and Hebrews 12:5–11Presenting your body as a living sacrifice and renewing your mind in Romans 12:1–2Hiding God’s Word in your heart in Psalm 119:11 Teaching God’s truth throughout everyday family life in Deuteronomy 6:4–9

We reflect on a week marked by two heavy anniversaries: 25 years since the September 11 terrorist attacks and one year since the assassination of Charlie Kirk. We talk about remembering evil honestly, viewing current events through a biblical lens, and recognizing the spiritual battle beneath what we see around us. From Charlie Kirk’s public faith and the response to his death to the lasting impact of 9/11, we challenge believers to stand firm in truth, reject fear and accusation, and remain faithful even when following Christ comes with a cost. QUESTIONS When tragedy or evil dominates the news, what shapes your response first: culture, emotion, or Scripture?Where might God be asking you to stand firm in truth even when it comes with a cost?How can you recognize evil clearly without partnering with hatred, fear, or accusation?What does it look like for you to “never forget” and keep moving forward on mission with God?READ MORE ABOUT Our struggle not being against flesh and blood in Ephesians 6:10–12Recognizing people by their fruit in Matthew 7:15–20The accuser of the brethren in Revelation 12:10–11Not giving the devil a foothold in Ephesians 4:26–27Forgiving others because God forgave us in Ephesians 4:32 and Colossians 3:13Shepherds guarding and leading the flock in Acts 20:28–31 and 1 Peter 5:1–4The Word of God as living and sharper than a two-edged sword in Hebrews 4:12Counting the cost of following Christ in 2 Timothy 3:12 and John 15:18–20

We talk about relational patterns that turn disagreements into permanent divisions, including unrealistic expectations, avoidance, passive-aggressive communication, gossip, pride, and unresolved offense. Through the conflicts of the apostle Paul with Peter, Barnabas, and Mark, we see that it is possible to confront wrongdoing, disagree strongly, and even go separate ways without destroying the relationship. Humility, honest communication, personal responsibility, and a commitment to peace can preserve trust and leave the door open for future reconciliation.  QUESTIONS How do you typically respond when conflict or disappointment enters a relationship? Where do you need to own your part in a conflict, even if the other person never does? How can you speak with honor about someone even when the relationship has changed?  READ MORE ABOUT Working for peace in Matthew 5:9 Confronting conflict with truth and humility in Galatians 2:11–14 Receiving honest correction from a faithful friend in Proverbs 27:6 Handling sharp disagreement without dishonor in Acts 15:36–40 Speaking well of people after conflict in 1 Corinthians 9:6 and 2 Timothy 4:11 Living at peace as much as it depends on you in Romans 12:18

As we prepare to become empty nesters, we process our thoughts and feelings about grief, changing roles, and the different ways we walk through transition. We share how to make room for the sadness without allowing it to determine your direction, fill the silence with God’s presence, and intentionally invest in your marriage and purpose. No matter what you are being asked to release, the way you let go will shape what comes next.  QUESTIONS How are you responding to the natural changes taking place in this season of your life? How can you make room for grief without allowing it to determine your direction? What are the new quiet spaces revealing about your relationship with God, your spouse, or others? READ MORE ABOUT Letting go of one season to follow God into the next in Matthew 16:24–26 Grieving with others and honoring their emotions in Romans 12:15 Husbands living with understanding toward their wives in 1 Peter 3:7 Filling quiet seasons with God’s presence and wisdom in Psalm 46:10 and James 1:5 Keeping your marriage intentionally strong in Genesis 2:18 and Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 Releasing what you cannot keep to receive what God has next in John 12:24–26

Is tithing still biblical for Christians today, or was it only an Old Testament practice?  We look at the pattern of giving throughout Scripture, from the Garden of Eden and Abraham to Malachi, the teachings of Jesus, and the early church. We discuss why tithing is ultimately not just a money issue but a matter of trust, worship, and the position of our hearts. We also share what it means to give God our first and best, support the local church, and experience the freedom and blessing that come from following His design for our finances. QUESTIONS 1.     What does your approach to money reveal about where you place your trust? 2.     Are you giving God your first and best or only what feels comfortable or manageable? 3.     Where is God asking you to trust Him more fully with your finances? READ MORE ABOUT ·    Abraham giving a tenth to Melchizedek in Genesis 14:18–20 ·    Jacob’s commitment to give God a tenth in Genesis 28:20–22 ·    Bringing the full tithe into God’s storehouse in Malachi 3:8–12 ·    Choosing between serving God and money in Matthew 6:19–24 ·    Jesus affirming tithing while emphasizing the heart in Matthew 23:23 ·    Giving regularly through the local church in 1 Corinthians 16:1–2 and 2 Corinthians 9:6–8

We expand on Sunday’s message and ask a challenging question: What are we bowing down to without even realizing it? Small compromises can grow into powerful idols that shape our hearts, our homes, and even future generations. From relationships and success to sports, politics, and cultural influences, we examine the modern idols competing for our worship—and what it looks like to tear them down and put God back on the throne of our hearts. QUESTIONS 1.     What is quietly competing with God for first place in your heart? 2.     Where have you allowed a small compromise to grow into something more powerful? 3.     What practical step can you take this week to tear down an idol and put God back at the center? READ MORE ABOUT ·    Gideon tearing down his family’s idols in Judges 6:25–32 ·    Putting no other gods before the Lord in Exodus 20:1–6 ·    The danger of idolatry and spiritual compromise in 1 Corinthians 10:14–22 ·    Guarding your heart from misplaced worship in Proverbs 4:23 ·    The trap of fearing and elevating people in Proverbs 29:25 ·    Finding true satisfaction in God alone in Psalm 37:4; James 1:17

We discuss the power of honor in a culture trained for dishonor. From marriage and parenting to every other relationship, honor changes the way we see and treat people made in the image of God. We must learn to reject sarcasm, accusation, gossip, and contempt and begin building relationships marked by truth, grace, humility, and respect. Dishonor blocks the work of God in our lives, but honor creates an environment where He can move. QUESTIONS Where are you most tempted to treat someone lightly instead of seeing them with the weight and dignity God gives them?How can you speak truth in love without slipping into accusation, gossip, flattery, or blind loyalty?What would it look like to build a culture of honor in your home, church, workplace, or friendships?READ MORE ABOUT Jesus being dishonored in His hometown in Mark 6:1–6Outdoing one another in showing honor in Romans 12:9–10Speaking the truth in love in Ephesians 4:15Honoring God with your body as the temple of the Holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians 6:19–20Honoring parents and spiritual leaders in Exodus 20:12 and Hebrews 13:17Covering others with love and grace in 1 Peter 4:8

When Elle and Tyler (our daughter and son-in-law) received a heartbreaking infertility diagnosis, they were told there was zero chance of becoming pregnant naturally. We share how our family learned to hold both grief and faith and kept praying for miracles in the lives of others while waiting for God’s answer in our own. Miracles are not the endgame of the Christian life, they are signposts pointing us to Jesus, glimpses of Heaven touching earth, and reminders that God is still able, still kind, and still worthy of our trust. QUESTIONS What heart-cry do you need to bring before God in this season?What does it look like to remain faithful while waiting for His answer?How can you let God shape your heart in the waiting, not just change your circumstances?READ MORE ABOUT Jesus healing as a sign of the Kingdom in Matthew 4:23–24The now-and-not-yet in Romans 8:18–25Asking God with faith and humility in Mark 9:23–24Hannah praying for a child at Shiloh in 1 Samuel 1:9–20Prayer, faith, and healing in James 5:13–16God doing immeasurably more than we ask or imagine in Ephesians 3:20

SUMMARY God expanded our understanding of the Holy Spirit from something cautious and confusing into something biblical, beautiful, and deeply personal. With gratitude for our spiritual roots and honor for those who hold different views, we explore the questions, Scriptures, and encounters that shaped us along the way.  QUESTIONS What messages did you receive about the Holy Spirit growing up, and how have they shaped your openness to Him today?What does Scripture teach about the Holy Spirit’s role in the believer’s life, and how should that shape the way you follow Jesus?What would it look like to pray with humility and openness, “God, if there’s more of You for me to experience, I’m open”?READ MORE ABOUT Jesus promising the Holy Spirit as Helper in John 14:16–17, 23–26The Holy Spirit empowering believers in Acts 1:8God pouring out His Spirit on all flesh in Acts 2:17–18Believers drinking of one Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12:13Being continually filled with the Spirit in Ephesians 5:18Biblical order and love in the use of spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12–14

SUMMARY As parents of four incredible kids, we had a lot to learn! We talk honestly about the moments we wish we had handled differently and the ways God helped us grow in patience, discipline, and even fun. The goal is not perfection—no parent gets it right every time. We all need the Holy Spirit to help us own our mistakes, ask for forgiveness, and lead our children toward Jesus. QUESTIONS What patterns from your own upbringing do you want to repeat, and what new patterns do you want to develop? In what area(s) do you most need the Holy Spirit’s help right now: patience, discipline, fear, fun, or connection?How can confession, repentance, and forgiveness strengthen your relationships?READ MORE ABOUT Being quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger in James 1:19Bringing children up in the training and instruction of the Lord in Ephesians 6:4The Lord disciplining those He loves in Hebrews 12:5–11Confessing sin and finding healing in James 5:16Love covering a multitude of sins in 1 Peter 4:8God’s compassion for His children in Psalm 103:13–14