Many of us know John 3:16 by heart yet quietly assume we are the exception. In this Advent episode, Scott Sauls speaks to the hidden ache of feeling unworthy of love and buried in regret and shame. Walking through John 3:16–18 and the story of Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, he shows how God’s love comes toward people who feel disqualified, not away from them. Discover how the incarnation and the cross prove that in Christ, “not condemned” can be spoken over you.

Life doesn’t slow down just because we’re exhausted. Many people live tired, telling themselves rest will come later, but it never does. In this episode, Scott Sauls reflects on Mark 6, where Jesus invites His weary disciples to come away and rest, even as real demands remain. Drawing from Eugene Peterson and Marva Dawn, Scott explores how Christian rest is not laziness or escape, but an act of trust in Christ. Discover how Sabbath, reordered loves, and receiving from Jesus can renew your soul in the middle of a full life.

Joy is one of the most familiar words of the Christmas season, yet many of us enter Advent feeling anything but joyful. In this episode, Scott Sauls explores why joy can seem out of reach and how the Bible offers a deeper, Christ centered joy that can live alongside grief, anxiety, and disappointment. Drawing from Luke 2, John 15, Habakkuk, and the story of blind hymn writer Fanny Crosby, we consider how Jesus meets us in our lowest places and plants a resilient joy that circumstances cannot uproot.

Many of us live with a constant habit of imagining the worst about the future. We rehearse disasters that may never happen and exhaust ourselves with “what if” anxiety. In this episode, Scott Sauls looks at how Scripture and the gospel speak to our fear of the unknown. Instead of leaving your future to random chance, God anchors it in the crucified and risen Christ who already reigns over tomorrow. Learn how to move from chronic worry to a settled trust in the One who will never abandon you and will one day make all things new.

Peace is one of the most printed words at Christmas, yet for many of us it feels like the one thing we do not actually have. In this Advent episode, Scott Sauls opens John 14 and Philippians 4 to show how Scripture speaks of shalom as more than a mood - it is the steady, guarding peace of Christ in the middle of real chaos. Drawing on voices like Elie Wiesel and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Scott explores how God steps into a fearful, noisy world not with quick fixes but with his own presence. If anxiety, stress, and overwhelm are wearing you down, this conversation will help you seek peace in Christ that circumstances cannot take away.

Regret has a way of settling into the soul, sometimes quietly and sometimes with relentless intensity. As a new year begins, many people feel the weight of unfinished goals, relational wounds, and the long list of “should-haves.” Instead of energy and hope, the season can begin with heaviness. In this RESET episode, Scott Sauls reflects on Romans 7 and 8, showing how the apostle Paul names human inconsistency with striking honesty while refusing to let failure have the last word. Drawing from Brennan Manning’s lifelong journey with grace and Brené Brown’s distinction between guilt and shame, Scott explores how the gospel frees us from condemnation and rewrites our story with mercy, belonging, and hope. Keywords: Christian regret, Romans 7, Romans 8 no condemnation, overcoming shame, Brennan Manning, Brene Brown, Scott Sauls, letting go of failure, gospel healing, Christian emotional health

Spiritual apathy rarely arrives all at once. It drifts in quietly until prayer feels routine, Scripture grows sporadic, and worship becomes familiar instead of nourishing. As a new year approaches, many Christians find themselves wondering whether their desire for God can return in a meaningful way. In this RESET episode, Scott Sauls looks at Revelation 2:1-7 and explores why outward faithfulness is not the same as inward affection. Through biblical insight, Christian marriage imagery, the story of Hosea and Gomer, and a rich reflection from C. S. Lewis, Scott offers a hopeful, gospel-centered path back from spiritual apathy. Learn how remembering, repenting, and returning can renew intimacy with Christ and reawaken love that has grown cold. Keywords: spiritual apathy, renewing desire for God, Revelation 2 teaching, returning to first love, Scott Sauls, gospel encouragement, Hosea and Gomer, spiritual reset, Christian emotional health, Christian burnout

When life feels unstable, hope can feel out of reach. In this Advent episode, Scott Sauls explores what Christian hope really is and why Scripture insists it grows strongest in seasons of uncertainty. Drawing from Isaiah 40, Romans 8, Vaclav Havel, and Fleming Rutledge, Scott shows how hope takes root not in optimism or outcomes, but in the character and presence of God. This episode helps you name your discouragement honestly, remember what God has already done, and entrust your future to the God who holds it. If you’re tired, anxious, or unsure about the road ahead, this conversation offers a grounded, gospel-centered way to rediscover hope. Keywords: Christian hope, Advent, Isaiah 40, Romans 8, spiritual discouragement, emotional health, suffering and faith, gospel encouragement, Scott Sauls, hope in uncertainty

Is gratitude really that life-changing—or just a nice idea for Thanksgiving Day? In this episode of That’s a Great Question, we explore how a consistent posture of giving thanks—especially when life is hard—can reorient our perspective, renew our relationships, and deepen our joy. Drawing from Scripture and real-life insight, we uncover why gratitude is one of God’s most transformative gifts.

Can you really thank God for the worst parts of your story? In this episode of That’s a Great Question, we reflect on the harrowing yet hope-filled experience of Corrie and Betsie Ten Boom in a concentration camp—and what it teaches us about gratitude, suffering, and the deep, often hidden work of God. If you've ever asked why God allows certain pains to remain and even to escalate, this conversation offers a redemptive and healing perspective.

Does gentleness even work anymore? In a culture driven by noise, division, and outrage, we’re told to shout louder to be heard. But in this episode of That’s a Great Question, we reflect on why gentleness might be the most underestimated force for change in the world today. Drawing from Scripture, the life of Jesus, and powerful modern examples, we unpack why strength under control speaks louder than rage ever could.

Grace sounds beautiful until it lands where we don’t expect it—on someone we think doesn’t deserve it. In this episode of That’s a Great Question, we explore the real nature of grace: how it offends our sense of fairness, embraces the "wrong" people, and transforms even the most broken among us. Through Scripture, stories, and honest reflection, we uncover why grace is not just amazing—it’s astonishing.

Whether you’re a longtime admirer of Keller or Joni, or you’re simply exploring what authentic Christian greatness looks like, this conversation is for anyone seeking a faith that’s thoughtful, steady, and shaped by the long obedience of following Jesus. In this episode, we explore:• What Tim Keller modeled about humility, wisdom, and gospel-centered leadership• How Joni Eareckson Tada’s suffering became the soil for joy, courage, and spiritual depth• The shared foundation that shaped both of their lives• Why Christian greatness is never about spotlight, platform, or fame• What these two leaders can teach us about our own discipleship, influence, and calling My hope is that their example encourages you toward a deeper confidence in Christ and a renewed desire to live faithfully, quietly, and well. If this episode resonates, feel free to share it with someone who loved Tim Keller, admires Joni Eareckson Tada, or is searching for a more grounded, thoughtful Christian faith.

When the faith you once trusted begins to unravel, does that mean you're losing your way—or finding it? In this episode of “That’s a Great Question,” we explore how deconstruction, when guided by the Spirit, can lead to a deeper, more honest, and reconstructed Jesus-centered faith. If your belief system feels like it's collapsing, this conversation will show you that what feels like the end may actually be your true beginning.

Is Jesus enough without the church? In this episode of “That’s a Great Question,” we explore one of the most common spiritual inquiries of our time: can I follow Jesus without being part of a church? Through stories, scripture, and honest reflection, you'll hear why community is not optional in the life of faith—even when it’s hard. If you’ve been burned by religion or tempted to walk with Christ alone, this conversation offers clarity, empathy, and a deeper invitation into something better.

Is the church a life-giving family or a flawed institution? In this episode of “That’s a Great Question,” pastor and author Scott Sauls explores why Jesus didn't abandon what some call "organized religion," but instead built the church - His church - as a vessel for grace, healing, and mission. You'll discover why boundaries can bless, how faith flourishes in form, and why the church, for all its failures, remains at the heart of God’s plan. If you've wrestled with the tension between loving Jesus and struggling with organized religion, this conversation is for you.

If you’ve ever felt like walking away from faith, this episode is for you. In That’s a Great Question, pastor and author Scott Sauls unpacks how the love of God and the pain of life meet at the cross. Drawing from the stories of Joseph, Job, and Jesus, he shows how Christianity uniquely reveals a God who is not distant, but who suffers with and for us. When life hurts and faith feels fragile, this conversation will help you see that God’s silence is not His absence—and His heart breaks right alongside yours.

Is doubt a sign that your faith is failing—or that it’s growing stronger? In this episode of That’s a Great Question, pastor and author Scott Sauls explores how Scripture reveals God’s surprising tenderness toward those who wrestle with uncertainty. Drawing from the stories of Thomas, John the Baptist, Elijah, and others, Scott shows why honest doubt can become the very path to deeper trust. If you’ve ever feared that your questions put you on the outside of faith, this conversation will remind you that God moves toward doubters, not away from them.

Many wrestle with God's seeming silence - especially in seasons of crisis. In this episode, pastor and author Scott Sauls explores the biblical reasons why God often seems hidden and how His "absence" can become an invitation into deeper, not lesser, faith. We’ll consider the story of Job, the words of Jesus, and the lived experiences of believers like C.S. Lewis and Mother Teresa who have, paradoxically, found God most present when He felt most absent.

What if the real reason we hide, pretend, and perform is that we’re not yet convinced God actually likes us and is quite fond of us? In this episode, pastor and author Scott Sauls helps us explore how the cross of Jesus speaks not only to our guilt, but also to our shame. With insights from the likes of Tim Keller, Steve Brown, and Jack Miller, you’ll hear how lingering at the cross can transform your identity from "tolerated" to "treasured." Discover four signs you're starting to live as one who is both forgiven and loved.