75 | My Shield and Great Reward with Special Guest: Mike Gunter

75 | My Shield and Great Reward with Special Guest: Mike Gunter

Episode 75 is a special one - not only because it marks another milestone in the Sermons on the Side journey, but because it features an incredibly encouraging conversation with Mike Gunter.  Mike, his wife Amber, and their three children call the Columbus, Georgia area home. He is the owner of Energy Savers in Columbus, GA, and has faithfully attended and served as a Sunday School teacher at North Highland Church for decades.  From the outside, Mike appeared to be living the American dream. But everything changed when he received a life-altering diagnosis of IgA nephropathy.  What followed was a journey through anxiety, declining kidney function, dialysis, the transplant waiting list, kidney transplant surgery, and even post-surgical complications. Throughout it all, Mike was continually faced with the choice that every believer eventually encounters: Would he run from God into fear, insecurity, and anxiety - or run to God, his hiding place, his Shield, and his Great Reward?  In this powerful episode, Mike shares his story with honesty, humility, and unwavering faith. One of the most moving moments comes as he reflects on Genesis 15 that describes God as our "shield and exceedingly great reward." That truth became an anchor for his soul and provides a perspective that every follower of Christ needs to hear.  Whether you or someone you love has been diagnosed with IgA nephropathy, chronic kidney disease, is navigating dialysis or a transplant, or is simply walking through an unexpected season of suffering, this conversation offers hope, biblical encouragement, and a reminder that Christ is enough. As a special encouragement, Mike extends a heartfelt invitation to anyone facing kidney disease or a similar medical journey: You're not alone. If connecting with someone who's been there would be an encouragement, he would love to hear from you. Mikegunter@energysaversair.com This is one of those conversations that will stay with you long after it ends! Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2372827/fan_mail/new] Sermons on the Side Bible Readings [https://gmail.us17.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=274c7054c3468fdeba876877a&id=2d41226b65] Connect with us on our FACEBOOK [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573067220837] page Connect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcast Check out our website HERE [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2372827] Love the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong! Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsontheside Thank you for being part of the journey with us!

74 | The Barge

A quiet afternoon on a park bench overlooking the Hudson River became an unforgettable lesson about the power of our choices.  In this episode, Richard takes us back to his days in Poughkeepsie, New York, where he watched one of the largest barges he'd ever seen make its way down the Hudson River. Within minutes, it had disappeared around the bend and out of sight. But the story wasn't over.  Long after the barge was gone, the shoreline began to change. Small ripples became rolling waves. Calm water became restless. The greatest impact came after the vessel could no longer be seen.  It's a powerful picture of our own lives. Every decision we make - whether rooted in faith or selfishness, obedience or compromise - creates a wake that extends far beyond what we can see. Our actions influence our families, our friendships, our churches, and generations to come, often in ways we'll never fully realize this side of eternity.  Together, Brad and Richard explore the lasting consequences of everyday choices, the invitation to faithfully obey God regardless of immediate results, and the challenge found in Revelation 3:2 to "strengthen what remains." Whether you're walking through a season of discouragement, wondering if your faithfulness matters, or reflecting on the legacy you're leaving behind, this conversation is a reminder that God is at work - even in the wakes we cannot see. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2372827/fan_mail/new] Sermons on the Side Bible Readings [https://gmail.us17.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=274c7054c3468fdeba876877a&id=2d41226b65] Connect with us on our FACEBOOK [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573067220837] page Connect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcast Check out our website HERE [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2372827] Love the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong! Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsontheside Thank you for being part of the journey with us!

73 | Once...But Now

The gospel is a story of transformation.  Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly reminds His people of who they once were compared to who they have now become because of His grace. Once dead... but now alive. Once slaves... but now free. Once far away... but now brought near. Once in darkness... but now in the Light in the Lord.  In this episode of Sermons on the Side, Richard and Brad explore one of the Bible's most beautiful recurring themes: the "once... but now" passages that reveal the transforming power of Christ. Walking through passages like Ephesians 2, Romans 6 and 7, Galatians 4, and Ephesians 5, they unpack how our identity has fundamentally changed - not because of our effort, but because of God's redeeming work.  The conversation culminates in the powerful imagery of Ezekiel 36, where God promises to restore what was once desolate until people can only marvel at what He has done. It's a fitting picture of every believer's testimony.  No matter your past, your failures, or your present struggles, the gospel declares that God is still in the business of writing "once... but now" stories. Scripture Referenced: * Ephesians 2:19 * Romans 6:13 * Romans 6:17-18 * Romans 7:5-6 * Galatians 4:7 * Ephesians 5:8 * Ezekiel 36:33-35 Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2372827/fan_mail/new] Sermons on the Side Bible Readings [https://gmail.us17.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=274c7054c3468fdeba876877a&id=2d41226b65] Connect with us on our FACEBOOK [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573067220837] page Connect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcast Check out our website HERE [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2372827] Love the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong! Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsontheside Thank you for being part of the journey with us!

72 | The Road to Lynchburg

Sometimes God leads us down roads we've never traveled before. Other times, He takes us back down roads we know by heart.  In this episode, Richard reflects on a recent trip to Lynchburg, Virginia - a journey that unexpectedly began with a detour through Birmingham, Alabama. While the route from Columbus to Lynchburg has become familiar over the last thirteen years, the road from Birmingham to Lynchburg was one he hadn't traveled in a very long time.  As the miles passed, so did memories.  The familiar highways became a backdrop for reflecting on a pivotal season of life - one filled with both incredible highs and painful lows. Along the way, Richard found himself considering just how much God has done: in his relationship with the Lord, in his relationship with his children, and in the countless ways God's faithfulness has been evident through the years. Sometimes God intentionally brings us back to places we've been before - not to relive the past, but to help us see how far He has brought us.  Maybe there's a road (our route) in your life that you've traveled before. A season, a memory, a place. What if God is inviting you to look back, not with regret, but with gratitude?  Join us as we reflect on the roads behind us, the grace that carried us through them, and the faithfulness that continues to lead us forward. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2372827/fan_mail/new] Sermons on the Side Bible Readings [https://gmail.us17.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=274c7054c3468fdeba876877a&id=2d41226b65] Connect with us on our FACEBOOK [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573067220837] page Connect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcast Check out our website HERE [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2372827] Love the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong! Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsontheside Thank you for being part of the journey with us!

71 | Stewarding Your Scars with Special Guests: Tray & Shelley Lovvorn | Part 2

In Part Two of our conversation with Tray and Shelley Lovvorn, the spotlight turns to Shelley's remarkable story of faith, perseverance, and learning to steward life's deepest wounds.  As a wife, mother of six, health coach, and follower of Christ, Shelley shares candidly about grief, loss, relationships, family, and the challenges that inevitably shape every life. Rather than allowing pain to define her, she offers a powerful perspective on how God can redeem our scars and use them to bring healing, wisdom, and hope to others.  What makes this conversation especially meaningful is that, between the time this interview was recorded earlier this year and its release, Shelley was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer. With the blessing of both Tray and Shelley, we are releasing these episodes exactly as planned. Listening now, her words carry an added weight and beauty, reminding us that the truths she shares are not merely theoretical - they are being lived out in real time.  This episode is a moving reminder that faith is not the absence of suffering, but the willingness to trust God through it. Whether you're walking through loss, uncertainty, disappointment, or a season of waiting, Shelley's story points us back to the hope and faithfulness of Christ.  We are grateful to Tray and Shelley for their honesty, courage, and willingness to share their journey with us. You can follow Shelley's (@love_is777) health journey on CareBridge here [https://www.caringbridge.org/site/4b5fb66f-5496-11f1-9d1b-fd0442674ac9] Also to connect with Tray Lovvorn you can visit his website www.traylovvorn.com [https://traylovvorn.com/] Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2372827/fan_mail/new] Sermons on the Side Bible Readings [https://gmail.us17.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=274c7054c3468fdeba876877a&id=2d41226b65] Connect with us on our FACEBOOK [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573067220837] page Connect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcast Check out our website HERE [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2372827] Love the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong! Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsontheside Thank you for being part of the journey with us!