149 | What Does The Bible Say About: Toxic Masculinity & Femininity

149 | What Does The Bible Say About: Toxic Masculinity & Femininity

The word toxic has become a cultural buzzword, especially when conversations turn to masculinity and increasingly, femininity as well. This week on Resident Strangers, the discussion continues as Steve, Rich, and Sarah explore what the Bible says about masculinity and femininity. Rich points out that even some of the men and women we encounter in Scripture aren't always intended to be models for us to follow. Understanding the difference between passages that are descriptive and those that are prescriptive is essential. When the topic of "toxic" gender roles comes up, Steve suggests a more helpful phrase: destructive exaggeration. He unpacks what biblical headship actually means, challenging the misconception that it's about control or unchecked authority. Together, the team explores the dynamics between men and women and what true, God-honoring partnership looks like. Sarah reflects on how these tensions play out in today's culture, where both men and women can be tempted to elevate themselves over one another. Ultimately, the conversation returns to the root issue: sin has distorted God's good design. The episode also revisits the story of Adam and Eve, with Steve highlighting that blame often falls solely on Eve while Adam's failure to protect and lead faithfully is overlooked. This is a thoughtful, balanced conversation that wrestles honestly with a complex topic. Give it a listen and let us know what you think! Next week's topic: Christian Nationalism. Steve's sermon on this topic from January 2026 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTPWlbzxPw0] Watch Resident Strangers on YouTube [ https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5zN34EnMKLqzHCct_ijPFQbhlrQApKgO&si=m9ZhmlkBru0vO7iy] 🎥 Sign up for the Resident Strangers email list [http://eepurl.com/iwv3Ug]  Questions or comments? Email residentstrangers@dscchurch.com  If you’ve enjoyed today’s episode, we’d be so grateful if you’d subscribe and leave a review as it really helps us reach more people with this message. We’d also love it if you’d share the podcast with your friends, on social media, or anywhere you connect with others. Join us again next Tuesday as we continue the discussion on how to think like a Christian in this foreign world.

148 | What Does The Bible Say About: Masculinity & Femininity

The summer series What Does the Bible Say About ______? continues this week as the crew dives into the topic of masculinity and femininity. When Desert Springs chose this topic for a sermon series in January, Steve admitted he was unsure what people specifically wanted to know. There was just a strong sense that it needed to be discussed. The conversation begins in Genesis 1 and 2, where God created humanity. Male and female were both made in God’s image, uniquely designed to reflect Him. Rich explains that while God is not biological, our maleness and femaleness are part of His intentional design and carry purpose. The crew also talks about how culture can sometimes twist these distinctions, either viewing them as unequal or denying differences altogether. But the reality is that men and women are distinct, and those differences are good! Sarah encourages listeners to take a higher view of these distinctions without getting caught up in rigid expectations of what men and women “should” do day to day. This is a lighter conversation about God’s design for men and women, but stay tuned as next week Steve, Rich, and Sarah will tackle some of the more difficult and “toxic” issues surrounding this topic. Watch Resident Strangers on YouTube [https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5zN34EnMKLqzHCct_ijPFQbhlrQApKgO&si=m9ZhmlkBru0vO7iy] 🎥 Sign up for the Resident Strangers email list [http://eepurl.com/iwv3Ug] Questions or comments? Email residentstrangers@dscchurch.com  If you’ve enjoyed today’s episode, we’d be so grateful if you’d subscribe and leave a review as it really helps us reach more people with this message. We’d also love it if you’d share the podcast with your friends, on social media, or anywhere you connect with others. Join us again next Tuesday as we continue the discussion on how to think like a Christian in this foreign world.

147 | What Does The Bible Say About: Christians who commit suicide

This week, Steve, Rich, and Sarah continue last week’s conversation on what the Bible says about suicide. Early in the discussion, they address a difficult and often-asked question: If a Christian dies by suicide, do they still go to heaven? To explore this, Steve references several accounts in Scripture involving suicide and briefly touches on some Catholic perspectives that have historically viewed suicide as a mortal sin. Ultimately, though, he brings the conversation back to the central question of how someone enters heaven in the first place. As Rich reminds listeners, eternity is not determined by individual sins alone but by faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only way. At the same time, the discussion acknowledges the deep and unique grief that surrounds the loss of someone who takes their own life, recognizing that God is the ultimate giver of life. Every person experiences suffering and brokenness in this fallen world. While some endure darker and more overwhelming levels of pain, that suffering does not mean there is something inherently wrong with them, but rather reflects the reality of sin and brokenness in the world around us. Steve also speaks to the role of counseling and medication in the life of a Christian facing mental health struggles. Rich adds an important reminder that people are not merely “biochemical machines,” and that wisdom and discernment are needed even as we recognize the value and help that medical and therapeutic resources can provide. Above all, the conversation points back to God as our ultimate source of comfort and hope. This world cannot provide what only He can. "So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Text or call 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Check out Resident Strangers Episodes 63 & 64 on suffering (audio only) Ryan Risselman's testimony on The Stories Collective podcast, Episode 53 [ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-stories-collective/id1610771503?i=1000602233505] *available wherever you listen to podcasts Care & Support ministries at Desert Springs [https://www.dscchurch.com/care-support] (local counselor referrals at the bottom of the page) Watch Resident Strangers on YouTube [https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5zN34EnMKLqzHCct_ijPFQbhlrQApKgO&si=m9ZhmlkBru0vO7iy] 🎥 Sign up for the Resident Strangers email list [ http://eepurl.com/iwv3Ug] Questions or comments? Email residentstrangers@dscchurch.com  If you’ve enjoyed today’s episode, we’d be so grateful if you’d subscribe and leave a review as it really helps us reach more people with this message. We’d also love it if you’d share the podcast with your friends, on social media, or anywhere you connect with others. Join us again next Tuesday as we continue the discussion on how to think like a Christian in this foreign world.

146 | What Does The Bible Say About: Suicide

This week, a new mini-series begins on Resident Strangers. Over the next eight weeks, Steve, Rich, and Sarah will explore some of the most searched and challenging topics people are asking about online, approaching each one through the lens of Scripture. Each topic will be covered over two weeks, and our hope is that this series will both encourage and challenge us as we head into the summer. To begin, the team tackles a difficult and deeply sensitive subject: suicide. Steve, Rich, and Sarah approach this conversation with great care, recognizing the weight and complexity surrounding it. In recent years, suicide rates and struggles with despair have become an increasing concern for many. Steve shares thoughts and statistics while reflecting on the lingering sense of hopelessness some have experienced since 2020. Rich also shares a deeply personal story about losing a friend from his church community to suicide in the 1990s. His emotion is evident as the pain of that loss remains very real, and together the team acknowledges the unique and layered grief that accompanies death by suicide. The conversation also turns toward spiritual realities, as Steve speaks about the reality of spiritual warfare and the importance of taking every thought captive, especially in seasons of struggle. Throughout the discussion, one message remains clear: leaning on the Lord, grounding ourselves in His Word, and staying connected to His people is vital. We invite you to join us again next week as the conversation continues, and Scripture is examined more closely in relation to this important topic. Text or call 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Ryan Risselman's testimony on The Stories Collective podcast, Episode 53 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-stories-collective/id1610771503?i=1000602233505] *available wherever you listen to podcasts Care & Support ministries at Desert Springs (local counselor referrals at the bottom of the page) [https://www.dscchurch.com/care-support] Watch Resident Strangers on YouTube [ https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5zN34EnMKLqzHCct_ijPFQbhlrQApKgO&si=m9ZhmlkBru0vO7iy] 🎥 Sign up for the Resident Strangers email list [ http://eepurl.com/iwv3Ug] Questions or comments? Email residentstrangers@dscchurch.com  If you’ve enjoyed today’s episode, we’d be so grateful if you’d subscribe and leave a review as it really helps us reach more people with this message. We’d also love it if you’d share the podcast with your friends, on social media, or anywhere you connect with others. Join us again next Tuesday as we continue the discussion on how to think like a Christian in this foreign world.

145 | If it's weird, it's probably important: Christians studying the supernatural with Trevor Schalow

To kick off this week’s conversation, Sarah asks returning guest Trevor Schalow what first sparked his interest in studying topics like the Nephilim. Trevor shares how experiences his older brother had growing up in Show Low, Arizona revealed to him that many Christians don’t know how to process paranormal or supernatural experiences. Because these topics can feel unsettling or strange, believers often avoid engaging with them altogether or overlook the supernatural depth woven throughout Scripture. As the conversation continues, Steve reflects on his experience as a pastor and how hesitant many people are to wrestle with certain spiritual realities, even those found in the Gospel accounts. Trevor revisits last week’s discussion on the Nephilim and points to additional biblical passages worth exploring, including the historical Jewish belief that the spirits of the Nephilim became what we know as demons in Jesus’ day. The group also discusses the Joshua Campaign in the Old Testament and whether certain events may point to deeper connections to the demonic realm. Throughout the episode, Trevor argues that if something in Scripture seems weird, it’s probably important. Steve emphasizes the importance of keeping our eyes fixed on Christ while exploring difficult topics, a perspective Sarah and Trevor wholeheartedly agree with. The conversation closes by discussing how spiritual oppression often carries a deviant or sexual component. There’s a lot packed into this 30-minute episode, so you may want to listen twice! Angels Elect & Evil by C. Fred Dickason [https://www.amazon.com/Angels-Elect-Evil-Fred-Dickason/dp/080240734X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1L0FPTBG9TBSJ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.us4MxsURA4frzCk-IILYoasnEeKcEH6ywMEjTscSwOaXWI6oqHRHu8lrpF9HyVD5AVbqMYNHigJr8kJOTqdPEy-zz0qlwRFTP8bDY6Bjb4CulRmkwDqgUlT18vOg1Y4VvHq9eoLcKfk1K0kdz8qjXw.FHdU2IbQRSCiPdcHtIaSLKEaf1kOy1UNQV4LoiAcTeo&dib_tag=se&keywords=angels+elect+and+evil+c.+fred+dickason&qid=1778533863&sprefix=angels+elect+a%2Caps%2C267&sr=8-1] The Bondage Breaker by Neil T. Anderson [https://www.amazon.com/Bondage-Breaker%C2%AE-Overcoming-Negative-Irrational/dp/0736975918] Michael Heiser's YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@DRMSH]  Interested in the classes Trevor teaches at Desert Springs? Send him an email at trevor@dscchurch.com Watch Resident Strangers on YouTube [https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5zN34EnMKLqzHCct_ijPFQbhlrQApKgO&si=m9ZhmlkBru0vO7iy] 🎥 Sign up for the Resident Strangers email list [http://eepurl.com/iwv3Ug] Questions or comments? Email residentstrangers@dscchurch.com  If you’ve enjoyed today’s episode, we’d be so grateful if you’d subscribe and leave a review as it really helps us reach more people with this message. We’d also love it if you’d share the podcast with your friends, on social media, or anywhere you connect with others. Join us again next Tuesday as we continue the discussion on how to think like a Christian in this foreign world.