Held Together When The Church Falls Apart

What Seminary Taught Me About Following Jesus

This episode kicks off a short summer series where I'll be sharing some of the most impactful truths, tools, and perspectives I gained during my seminary education—and how they can help you know God more deeply and engage His Word more faithfully. STAY CONNECTED: 📖 Read Along on Substack Weekly writings that accompany each episode: 👉 https://substack.com/@carrephillips [https://substack.com/@carrephillips] 📱 Follow on Instagram Teaching clips, Scripture reflections, and episode highlights: 👉 https://www.instagram.com/kingdom_co_/ [https://www.instagram.com/kingdom_co_/] 🎙️ Subscribe to Kingdom Come New episodes released every Monday. IN THIS EPISODE, WE'LL EXAMINE: * Why I decided to pursue seminary and what I hoped to gain from the experience * Common misconceptions Christians have about seminary education * The difference between knowing information about God and truly knowing God * How seminary challenged, strengthened, and deepened my faith * Why theology matters for every believer—not just pastors and scholars * The purpose behind this summer series and what you can expect in the weeks ahead * How studying Scripture more deeply can lead to greater worship, confidence, and spiritual formation SUMMER SERIES PREVIEW: Over the coming weeks, we'll explore some of the most important lessons I learned in seminary, including: * How to study the Bible with greater confidence * Which theological issues are worth dividing over—and which aren't * How to navigate differences between denominations * The relationship between Scripture, theology, and spiritual formation * Common mistakes Christians make when interpreting the Bible * Why biblical literacy matters more than ever today If you've ever wondered whether seminary-level learning has anything to offer the average Christian, this series is for you.

What Happens When We Die?

What happens when we die?Do believers immediately go to heaven?What happens to our bodies?And if we’re already with Jesus after death, then why does Scripture place so much emphasis on resurrection?In this final episode of the Holy Spirit series, we explore the Christian hope of life after death and the role of the Holy Spirit in our future glorification. Scripture paints a picture that is both immediate and unfinished: immediate comfort and presence with Christ after death, while also pointing us toward the future resurrection and restoration of all things.Together, we examine what theologians call the “intermediate state,” why heaven is not the final destination for believers, and how the Holy Spirit—described in Scripture as the “Spirit of Glory”—serves as both God’s present indwelling presence and the guarantee of our future resurrection.This episode ultimately reminds us that the Christian hope is not simply escaping death or going to heaven someday. The Christian hope is resurrection, restoration, and the renewal of all creation through Jesus Christ.MORE INFORMATION ON HEAVEN:https://amzn.to/4fGPZ8k [https://amzn.to/4fGPZ8k] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52gLAY-7k7c [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52gLAY-7k7c]STAY CONNECTED:📖 Weekly writings on Substack:https://substack.com/@carrephillips📱 Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/kingdom_co_/IN THIS EPISODE, WE’LL EXAMINE:* What Scripture teaches about what happens immediately after death* Why believers are immediately in the presence of Christ after death* What theologians mean by the “intermediate state”* Why heaven is not the final destination in the biblical story* The future resurrection and glorification of believers* The role of the Holy Spirit as the “Spirit of Glory”* How the Holy Spirit guarantees our future inheritance and resurrection* Why the Christian hope is ultimately the restoration of all things* What the promise of resurrection means for how we live todaySCRIPTURE DISCUSSED:* 2 Corinthians 5:8* Philippians 1:23* Luke 23:43* 1 Peter 4:14* Philippians 3:20–21* 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18* Ephesians 1:13–14

The Freedom Beyond Self-Improvement

From the very beginning, humanity has wrestled with the desire to live under its own rule. We want autonomy. We want to decide what’s good for us. We want to build our own kingdoms. But in Galatians 5, Paul reminds us that self-rule never truly leads to freedom. It leads to striving, dissatisfaction, comparison, and bondage.In this episode of Kingdom Come, we explore what Paul really means by the “fruit of the Spirit” and why spiritual transformation is not about managing your behavior or following a list of rules. The fruit of the Spirit is not self-improvement—it is the result of walking closely with God and being transformed by His presence over time.STAY CONNECTED:📖 Read along on SubstackWeekly writings that accompany each episode:👉https://substack.com/@carrephillips [https://substack.com/@carrephillips]📱 Follow on InstagramTeaching clips, Scripture reflections, and episode highlights:👉https://www.instagram.com/kingdom_co_/ [https://www.instagram.com/kingdom_co_/]IN THIS EPISODE, WE’LL EXAMINE:* Why humanity has always struggled with self-rule and autonomy* The context behind Galatians 5 and the early church in Galatia* What Paul means when he says, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free”* Why self-made kingdoms never satisfy us* The contrast between the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit* How spiritual fruit is cultivated over time through intimacy with God* Why the Christian life is not about earning God’s approval* What it practically looks like to walk in step with the Holy SpiritSCRIPTURE DISCUSSED:* Genesis 1–3* Galatians 5:1* Galatians 5:13* Galatians 5:16–26

What Does It Mean to Be Filled with the Spirit?

What if being “filled with the Spirit” wasn’t meant to describe a rare emotional moment… but a continual way of living with God’s presence? In Ephesians 5, Paul paints a picture of a life so saturated by God’s Spirit that it overflows into worship, gratitude, humility, and the way we love one another. STAY CONNECTED: 📖 Read along on Substack Weekly writings that accompany each episode:👉 https://substack.com/@carrephillips [https://substack.com/@carrephillips?r=2funfk&utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page] 📱 Follow on Instagram Teaching clips, Scripture reflections, and episode highlights:👉 https://www.instagram.com/kingdom_co_/ [https://www.instagram.com/kingdom_co_/] ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/be-filled-with-the-spirit [https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/be-filled-with-the-spirit] https://www.samstorms.org/all-articles/post/article-10-things-you-should-know-about-being-filled-with-the-holy-spirit [https://www.samstorms.org/all-articles/post/article-10-things-you-should-know-about-being-filled-with-the-holy-spirit] WHAT WE EXAMINE: * What it practically means to “be filled with the Spirit" * God's will for you life * How to discern walking in the light * A personal glimpse into my own journey of learning what it means to walk in the light and not walk in the darkness * How every believer has access to be filled with God's presence for all time, continually filled by him SCRIPTURE DISCUSSED: * Ephesians 5:8 * Ephesians 5:15-21

Walking with the Spirit in a World of Striving

What if intimacy with God was never something you had to manufacture—only something you were invited to receive? In this episode, we’re talking about what it really means to walk with the Spirit. Through Galatians 5:16–25, we uncover the internal battle every believer faces and the freeing truth that the life you’re longing for isn’t produced by striving, but by staying in step with the Spirit. STAY CONNECTED: 📖 Read along on SubstackWeekly writings that accompany each episode:👉 ⁠https://carrecoyphillips.substack.com/⁠ [https://carrecoyphillips.substack.com/] 📱 Follow on InstagramTeaching clips, Scripture reflections, and episode highlights:👉 ⁠  / kingdom_co_  ⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbUthbVRUS0F6MDgycmpQenNwdVJCM3VZQjQ5Z3xBQ3Jtc0trTXlQTWdESmNEeGthbWhENFBTR0lFVURLT1htQnFORjNDRWdaWVB5Um9rYXVxTmRhRl80MU9NLUluZG1nbF9ka2hGWGpQZ0RLMkNaVWV6TjJQSHVnWUVPTkhfaHZJeWFQTmFma2Y2S21XbENkQVdvQQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fkingdom_co_&v=9Vi7vAEpMW0] WHAT WE EXAMINE: What it practically means to “walk by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16) The internal tension between the flesh and the Spirit—and why it’s a normal part of the Christian life How striving for behavior modification often keeps us from true intimacy with God A personal glimpse into my own journey of learning what intimacy with the Lord really looks like How every believer has access to a real, ongoing relationship with the Holy Spirit What it looks like to keep in step with the Spirit in everyday life SCRIPTURE DISCUSSED: Galatians 5:16–25 Romans 7 John 15:4–5