Is your faith fueled by love, or by unresolved anger?If you're exhausted from trying to hold it all together while the world around you burns, you're not alone. Kicking off a new study in the Book of John, Jim Burgen gets brutally honest about the anger simmering under the surface of his own faith—and how Jesus’s love began to wash it away. Before we dive into the words John wrote, we have to look at the man himself: an angry young disciple transformed by the love of Jesus. This isn’t a Bible study for the polished. It’s for the burned out, bitter, and barely hanging on.John didn’t start out as the “apostle of love.” He was fiery, prideful, and ready to call down fire from heaven on his enemies. But after years of walking with Jesus, experiencing grace firsthand, and allowing himself to be served by Christ’s love, John changed—and it showed in every word he wrote. His anger didn’t disappear by willpower, but by letting Jesus kneel down, wash his feet, and touch the places he tried to hide. That same invitation is open to us today. Jesus doesn’t want to crush you—He wants to clean you, heal you, and love you back to life.
Ever feel like God has left you to figure life out on your own?We often imagine the Christmas story as peaceful, sweet, and wrapped in lights—but the real story was messy, dangerous, and filled with fear. This message flips our Christmas expectations by revealing what Mary and Joseph were really walking through: shame, stress, and silence from the people around them. What if the most sacred story in history actually mirrors your real life more than you ever imagined?Mary and Joseph didn't survive because life got easier—they made it because they believed God was with them. Emmanuel wasn’t just a name—it was the truth they clung to in the dark. And that same God who entered their brokenness is with you now. Not because you earned it, but because he wants to be. If you’ve ever felt abandoned, this truth might be the only thing holding you together: God is still with you.Subscribe for more: https://www.youtube.com/@Flatirons
What if the real Christmas story wasn’t peaceful at all—but full of fear, shame, and chaos? This week, we tear down the postcard version of Christmas and step into what really happened to Mary and Joseph. They were rejected, misunderstood, constantly on the move, and raising a child the world wasn’t ready for. Maybe that sounds familiar. If you’re walking through a season of anxiety, rejection, or just wondering where God is in all of it, this story is for you. Because Jesus didn’t just come into perfection. He came into the mess. And He’s still with us today. Mary and Joseph didn’t make it through those long, lonely years because life was easy. They made it because they believed God was with them. That’s what the name Immanuel means. And it’s not just past tense. It’s present. Whether you’re battling fear, depression, shame, or just trying to make it through the holidays without falling apart, this story reminds us of something powerful. God doesn’t run from the mess. He enters it. He stays. He saves. Subscribe for more: https://www.youtube.com/@Flatirons
What do you do when God tells you something you don’t want to hear? Most of us want a Jesus who fixes our problems, not one who confronts our sin. But what if real peace, purpose, and power are only found when we stop editing the Bible and start trusting it? In this message, we look at Joseph, the man God trusted to raise His Son. Joseph obeyed God's Word even when it cost him his comfort, his reputation, and his future. This talk challenges all of us to stop living over God's Word and start living under it. Because obedience, even when it’s hard, always leads to freedom. When you submit to God’s Word, you don’t just find rules. You find peace, strength, identity, and promises that hold up even when everything else falls apart. You may not understand it. You may not agree with it. But you can trust the God who gave it. Subscribe for more: https://www.youtube.com/@Flatirons Topics Covered:Trusting God when life doesn’t make senseStanding under the authority of ScriptureObedience over understandingSacrificial love and quiet faithHow culture and science are catching up to God's truthLiving a life shaped by the Bible, not personal preference
What if the interruption you're fighting is actually God's invitation? Your life didn’t go as planned—now what? In this raw and real Christmas message, we step into the story of Joseph, a man whose world falls apart right before the arrival of Jesus. Through heartbreak, betrayal, and confusion, Joseph teaches us what it looks like to obey God when nothing makes sense. This message isn’t for perfect people. It’s for the tired, the lost, the disappointed, and the ones wondering, “God, is this really what You had planned?” When life breaks your plans, God is still working His. He uses the chipped, cracked, and discarded parts of our lives to write stories of redemption. And just like Joseph, we get to choose—judgment or mercy, control or trust, bitterness or grace. This isn’t about religious performance. It’s about being real. Being vulnerable. And letting Jesus meet us right where we are. Subscribe for more: https://www.youtube.com/@Flatirons
Think you’re the one holding it all together? What if the pressure you're feeling is coming from forgetting who really is?This message digs into the brutal truth behind why so many of us—especially men—are overwhelmed, burned out, and secretly afraid of dropping the ball. When we forget what God’s done, we start living like everything depends on us. But God knew we’d forget, so He built reminders into the rhythm of life. This talk will challenge you to stop pretending you’re fine and start building habits that help you remember His faithfulness. Because when you do, the weight gets lighter, the lies lose power, and you start living free.Subscribe for more: https://www.youtube.com/@Flatirons
What if freedom isn’t a destination, but a road you walk every day? Life rarely plays out the way we imagined. One minute you’re chasing a dream, the next you’re wondering how it all fell apart. This message is for the guy stuck in the middle of the mess, who’s tired of pretending everything’s fine. Whether it's a delay, a detour, or a disappointment, this is your reminder that God still walks with people who feel lost. The road to freedom is not about perfection. It’s about motion. One honest step at a time. This message unpacks three simple but powerful keys: Recognize His Presence, Remember His Promises, and Rely on His People. Jesus isn’t just waiting at the finish line. He’s walking right beside you, even when you don’t recognize Him. The good news is, you don’t have to get it all right. You just have to keep going. Subscribe for more: https://www.youtube.com/@Flatirons
What if your faith could spark something bigger than you? In this final episode of the Be Free podcast, the Flatirons leadership team opens up about what really happened behind the scenes. From wrinkled tablecloths to holy moments in the balcony, this is a story about grit, obedience, and stepping into something way bigger than ourselves. It’s not about hype. It’s about people choosing faith, even when the math doesn’t add up. God showed up. And so did our church. This isn’t the end. It’s the spark that sets the next chapter in motion. Over a year of planning, prayer, and sacrifice led to this. What started as a vision became a unified movement. Jim led through physical pain. Staff carried more weight than ever. Volunteers owned their part. People gave with open hands and open hearts. This is the kind of church Jesus builds. And we're just getting started.
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What would change if you truly believed your sacrifice could set someone else free?
This is the story of a church that started in a living room and became a movement of messy people chasing real freedom. In this message, Jim Burgen shares a raw and honest vision about what happens when men and women lay their lives on the altar—wallets, fears, futures and all. It’s not about money or buildings. It’s about the people still trapped in addiction, despair, and darkness. Everything changes when we say yes to stepping off the sidelines and joining Jesus in the fight.
This moment is personal. Whether you're scared, skeptical, or ready, this is your invitation to go all in. Through powerful stories, scripture, and straight-up challenges, Jim calls us to trust God with more than just our words. It’s time to fight for marriages, kids, our communities, and the freedom of people who don’t even know help is on the way. The altar isn’t just about sacrifice. It’s about transformation.
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What happens when a church decides to go to war against evil, no matter the cost?In this no-holds-barred conversation, Pastor Jim Burgen, Amanda Brown, and Jesse DeYoung talk openly about Flatirons Church’s fight against human trafficking. From international partnerships to dark realities here in Denver, they expose the spiritual, emotional, and cultural weight of this battle. Amanda shares how this work has impacted her deeply, and the team calls the church to rise up, get uncomfortable, and take action. This isn’t for show. This is about saving lives and pushing back real darkness. This is what happens when the church gets off the sidelines and into the fight.The Be Free initiative is more than a campaign. It’s a spiritual assault on the systems that enslave kids and destroy families. Flatirons is bringing together law enforcement, nonprofits, local leaders, and prayer warriors to rescue and restore the broken. Thousands are stepping up to give, serve, and fight because Jesus calls us to do more than watch. He calls us to go. And now is the time.
What if your faith was the only thing standing between a child and a life of pain? This message isn’t just a sermon, it’s a call to move. Week 5 of Be Free is about stepping into the real fight happening all around us. Jim Burgen lays it out clearly: our kids, our families, our faith, they’re all being targeted, and the church can’t afford to sit back. Jesus didn’t just save us from something, He saved us for something. And that something is freedom, for us and for the people still trapped. This is where belief gets put into action. Through Rescue to Restore, Flatirons is stepping into the fight against injustice, against the systems and situations hurting the most vulnerable. This is spiritual warfare, boots on the ground, armed with the truth, grace, and love of Jesus. It’s not political. It’s not about taking sides. It’s about living our faith in the real world and saying, “we’re here to help.” This is your moment. Let’s go.
What if the voice of God is clearer than you think—but you've just stopped listening?This episode of Be Free hits deep. Jim Burgen shares a story straight from Man Camp where 4,000 men gathered under one massive tent—and God showed up. A near-death moment, a wake-up call, and a clear challenge: listen to the Spirit and obey. Plus, hear how Ross went from engineering in Austin to pastoring in Loveland because he said “yes” to a nudge from God. Real faith isn’t clean or easy—but it’s worth everything.Transformation happens when obedience meets risk.Ross’s story proves God still calls people from ordinary paths to extraordinary impact. From the moment someone asked, “Have you thought about ministry?”—to him now leading Flatirons Loveland—this is a story of saying “yes” when everything in you screams “no.” It's about trusting God with your future, your finances, your fears. And watching Him show up.Subscribe for more: https://www.youtube.com/@Flatirons
What if your next step of faith isn’t about more belief but more risk? This week, Jim takes us deeper into the tension between our flesh and the Spirit and what it really means to live free. It’s not about trying harder, being better, or obeying a list of rules. It’s about being led by the Spirit and choosing to walk in step with Him even when everything in you screams not to. As Flatirons moves toward a bold, Spirit-led future, this message invites you to go beyond belief and into obedient action. Faith isn’t a feeling. It’s a decision to trust and give when it costs something. Through Galatians 5, we’re reminded: freedom comes from Jesus, but living free means stepping into the fight between Spirit and flesh every single day. The Spirit leads us into love, joy, generosity, and radical obedience not just for us, but for the mission Jesus gave us: to set others free. As Flatirons moves toward launching new campuses, fighting human trafficking, and equipping disciples across Colorado, Jim asks one question: Will you listen to the Spirit and walk?
Are we really free, or just too comfortable to notice we’re not? What if the life you think is “free” is actually just comfortable and unchallenged? In this episode of the Be Free podcast, Jesse, Karl, and Paul unpack what real spiritual freedom looks like, and how often we confuse it with ease. Through stories about a runaway gecko, quiet moments of boredom, and the example of Harriet Tubman, the conversation gets real about purpose, responsibility, and why so many of us feel stuck, even when life looks good from the outside.Jesse explains how stepping outside of God’s design can feel like freedom at first… but over time, it leaves us empty. The guys reflect on how boredom, disconnection, and comfort slowly shape our faith and how compassion, purpose, and a clear calling can bring it back to life. Whether you’re leading a family, working a job that feels ordinary, or wondering how politics and faith fit together, this is for you.
Are you free… or just comfortable?This message asks a hard question: what are you doing with your freedom? Jesse brings the story of Harriet Tubman, the Apostle Paul, and modern-day faith into one sharp point—freedom isn’t just for us. It’s meant to be passed on. Through real-life examples, tough truths, and raw honesty, we’re reminded that true freedom in Christ isn’t found in playing it safe. It’s found in service, generosity, and compassion—living on mission, not in comfort. Because when we forget the mission, we feed the flesh—and the enemy is always watching.Freedom in Jesus isn’t just about being saved—it’s a call to get in the trenches and help free others. Jesse unpacks Galatians 5 to show us what free people do: they serve, they give, and they love. He challenges us to open our hands, break our chains, and stop consuming faith like entertainment. Because if Jesus set us free, then we’ve got a responsibility to go back and help someone else get free too.
What if you stopped waiting for the right moment—and just got real with God right now?
This episode of Be Free is as raw as it gets. Jim Burgen, Jesse DeYoung, and Karen Berge talk about the weight people carry, even church staff, and how retreating into “thin spaces” with God opens up places we didn’t want to go… but needed to. It’s honest talk on leadership, brokenness, parenting adult kids, false grace, and the lies culture tells us about freedom. This isn’t about being saved, it’s about living free. And it starts with choosing truth over comfort.
From carrying secret pain to stepping into calling, this is what freedom looks like in real life.
Jim unpacks what happened at the Flatirons staff retreat, tears, confession, silence, healing, and how that led to a bigger realization: freedom isn't one-and-done. It’s truth, then grace, over and over. Forgiveness doesn’t always feel good, but it’s the way forward. The Be Free journey isn’t about behavior, it’s about your heart. And this conversation might be the push you didn’t know you needed.
Why do we keep going back to the same chains Jesus already broke?This message is a gut check for anyone who’s ever tasted freedom in Christ but still finds themselves living like they’re not. Jim unpacks Galatians 5:1 and challenges us to stop rebuilding the same prison Jesus tore down. Be Free isn’t just a slogan, it’s a mission, a strategy, and a spiritual war cry for anyone who’s done being a slave to lies, sin, and fear. It’s time to drop the chains, plant your feet, and live like you’ve actually been set free.Jesus didn’t die just to forgive you; He died to free you. And free people don’t go back. This is our moment to get honest about the chains we keep picking back up and finally put them down. This isn't about being perfect, it's about standing firm in truth and grace, knowing we’re just former slaves showing others where to find freedom. Before revival happens out there, it has to happen in us.
What if the thing you thought was holding you together is actually keeping you stuck?
For two years, the Flatirons team prayed, wrestled, and dreamed about one thing—freedom. Not the feel-good kind. The real kind that changes families, saves lives, and tears chains off people stuck in shame, fear, and hidden brokenness. In this raw, unfiltered first episode of Be Free, Jim Burgen and the team talk about what led to launching this movement, the battles behind the scenes, and the burden to build outposts of hope for a world gasping for something real.Be Free isn’t a church campaign. It’s a war cry.It’s about setting spiritual ground in a culture drowning in noise, and giving men and women a place to heal, rise, and fight back. Whether you’re battling isolation, addiction, anger, or regret, this episode reminds us that Jesus doesn’t just offer heaven later—He offers freedom now. And when a church moves in unity with that mission, freedom follows.
What if your story of freedom was meant to set someone else free?Week one of Be Free isn’t just a new series; it’s a call to arms. Jim Burgen kicks off a six-week journey that’s really the start of a movement: a church stepping out of comfort, out of safety, and into the front lines of spiritual battle. This message is a fire-starter, reminding us that our freedom in Christ isn't a finish line. It’s a launchpad. It's about turning pain into purpose, and choosing to fight for those still enslaved by guilt, shame, addiction, fear, or abuse.This isn’t a metaphor, it’s a mission. From Jim’s personal story of rescue to the biblical call from Galatians 5, this is an unapologetic, boots-on-the-ground invitation to stop playing defense and go to war for the hearts and futures of others. Be Free is about building spiritual outposts for the broken, the addicted, the trafficked, and the hopeless. We don’t hide in a fortress; we carry freedom into enemy territory.
From Cowards to Courageous Leaders, the story of the early church in Acts shows how ordinary people found courage, boldness, and true freedom in Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit.This message wraps up the 35-Day Challenge and sets the tone for Be Free, Flatirons' next bold step of faith. Jim gets real about leadership, unity, and what’s coming next for the church. Drawing from Acts, he shows how the early church exploded with courage and power—not because they were perfect, but because they were filled. Filled with the Spirit. Filled with boldness. Filled with a mission. The same Spirit that transformed Peter and Paul is calling us, right now, to something bigger.If you’ve ever felt disqualified, disillusioned, or afraid, this is for you. This isn’t just a history lesson; it’s a calling. Jesus didn’t build His church with polished professionals; He used screw-ups, cowards, and skeptics who got filled and went first. And that’s the plan for Flatirons moving forward. It’s time to decide: Are you in? Fully in? Because the next move of God might come through your story, your scars, and your obedience.