When “I Can’t” Is Really “I Won’t” | The God Made Podcast Ep. 2

The Real Reason Smart People Keep Making Dumb Decisions | God Made Podcast Ep 7

Why do smart people keep making dumb decisions? The problem is not always a lack of information. Sometimes being smart simply makes us better at justifying what our hearts already want. In this solo episode of the God Made Podcast, Greg unpacks James 3:13–18 and the difference between intelligence and biblical wisdom. James warns us that not everything that sounds reasonable is actually wise. Some decisions may look logical on the surface while being driven by jealousy, selfish ambition, pride, or fear. So how can you tell whether a decision is truly wise? The answer is not found only in the argument you can make. It is found in the fruit your decision produces. In this episode: Why intelligence and wisdom are not the same thing How we rationalize choices we already want to make The warning signs that your heart may be misleading you The difference between earthly wisdom and wisdom from above Why defensiveness may reveal more than you realize Three questions to ask before making an important decision How to seek biblical wisdom in everyday life Before you make your next major decision, ask yourself: What do I want badly enough that I may be rationalizing it? What kind of fruit is this decision already producing? Am I genuinely willing to yield if God shows me that I am wrong? A bad decision does not become wise just because you can explain it well. Do not judge wisdom by the explanation. Judge it by the harvest. 📖 Scripture: James 3:13–18 🎙️ The God Made Podcast helps Christians move faith from Sunday into everyday life. Subscribe for weekly conversations about Christian living, relationships, spiritual growth, and following Jesus in the real world. #BiblicalWisdom #ChristianLiving #BibleStudy

Why Your Words Are Doing More Damage Than You Realize | God Made Podcast Ep. 6

Words don't just hurt — they break. And most of us have made the promise to change. We meant it every single time. So why do we keep failing? Greg and Kristi sit down for a raw, honest conversation about what it actually looks like to live with the weight of your words — inside a marriage, a family, and a real life. They talk about sarcasm that became a weapon, promises made and broken, and why no amount of trying harder ever touches the root of this problem. This isn't a sermon recap. It's the conversation that happens after the sermon — when you go home and have to actually live it. Based on James 3:1–12. Where the sermon meets the struggle.

The Most Dangerous Kind of Faith | The God Made Podcast Ep. 5

What if the most dangerous kind of faith isn’t unbelief — but belief without surrender? In this episode, we explore the sobering reality that someone can follow Jesus closely and still miss Him. Using the example of Judas and the teaching from James 2, we unpack the difference between dead faith, demonic faith, and dynamic faith. We discuss: *  What “dead faith” really means  *  The difference between knowing truth and submitting to it  *  How cultural Christianity can drift into spiritual complacency  *  The tension between belief and obedience  *  Practical ways surrender shows up in everyday life  This episode is an invitation to honest self-examination — not condemnation. Faith isn’t just agreement. It’s allegiance. If you’ve ever wondered whether your faith is active, real, and surrendered — this conversation is for you.

Who Doesn’t Belong in Your Church? | The God Made Podcast Ep 4

What does James 2 really mean when it talks about favoritism? In this episode, we discuss what it looks like to live out the principles of James 2 in everyday church life — especially when it comes to who we welcome, who we overlook, and who makes us uncomfortable. It’s easy to say “everyone belongs.” But do we actually move toward the people Jesus moved toward? We talk honestly about: Subtle favoritism in church culture Why we’re drawn to influence and “shine” The connection between mercy received and mercy extended What it means that mercy triumphs over judgment Whether you’ve been in church your whole life or you’re still figuring out where you fit, this episode is an invitation to examine our hearts and reflect the mercy we’ve been shown. He made room for you. Make room for them.

Are You Fooling Yourself? | The God Made Podcast Ep. 3

Are you showing up, hearing all the right things, and still  walking out unchanged? James has a word for that. In Episode 3 of The God Made Podcast, Greg and Kristi Rains  have an honest conversation about the gap between what we  believe and how we actually live — and why the book of James  calls that gap exactly what it is: self-deception. This isn't a lecture. It's a real conversation between two  people who are still figuring this out too. Whether you've  been in church your whole life or you're just asking honest  questions, this one's for you. Because Sunday doesn't fix everything. —— WHAT WE TALK ABOUT IN THIS EPISODE: → The uncomfortable question James opens with — and why    most of us already know the answer → Why showing up isn't the same as showing out → Quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger — what that    actually looks like when life is hard → The two dogs story — and which one you've been feeding → What God actually thinks when He thinks about you → What genuine, transformed faith looks like on a    Monday morning in real life —— SCRIPTURE REFERENCED: James 1:19–27 (NLT)