Conforming to Christ, Not Culture | Finding Freedom from Comparison, Comfort, and Control

Conforming to Christ, Not Culture | Finding Freedom from Comparison, Comfort, and Control

This episode is both an important podcast update and an invitation to grow deeper in your walk with Jesus. After posting a new episode every Wednesday for almost a year, we're making a change. To create a healthier balance between ministry, family, and everyday life, the In Jesus' Name Podcast will now release 2–3 new episodes each month instead of weekly. Don't worry—we're not going anywhere! Be sure to follow us on social media so you'll always know when a new episode drops and stay connected with everything happening in our community. In this episode, we dive into three powerful words that have the ability to reshape our faith: Coveting. Conforming. Consecrating. Why do we spend so much time comparing our lives to everyone else's? Why do we hold so tightly to our own plans, expectations, and desires? And what does it truly mean to be set apart for Christ? Using the image of Russian nesting dolls, we explore how every influence in our lives is shaping us into something. The question is: What are we allowing to shape us? Rooted in Romans 12:2 and Ephesians 6:11, we unpack how the enemy's schemes are often subtle. The word conform comes from a Latin root connected to the idea of a pattern or scheme. The enemy doesn't always tempt us with obvious sin—he often convinces us that chasing comfort, comparison, control, or the approval of others is normal. But God calls us to something entirely different. In this episode, you'll discover: * How comparison quietly steals your joy and contentment * Why coveting someone else's life keeps you from embracing God's purpose for your own * What it means to conform to Christ instead of conforming to culture * How unforgiveness, anger, fear, and the pursuit of comfort can keep us spiritually stuck * Why consecration means being set apart for God's purposes, even when it feels uncomfortable * How obedience leads to freedom, peace, joy, and the most authentic version of who God created you to be The Christian life isn't about asking God to fit into our plans. It's about allowing our lives to fit into His. When we surrender our expectations, release our grip on comparison, and allow God to transform us from the inside out, we discover the abundant life Jesus promised—not because life becomes easier, but because our hearts become aligned with the One who created us. If you've been feeling stuck, striving, comparing yourself to others, or wondering why your faith feels stagnant, this episode will encourage you to stop conforming to the patterns of the world and begin living as someone who has been set apart by Christ. 🎧 Subscribe to the In Jesus' Name Podcast and follow us on social media so you'll never miss a new episode as we continue helping women renew their minds, grow in their faith, and walk more closely with Jesus.

Mended Gold: Rebuilding a Marriage Through Addiction and Recovery | Couch Stories

From Broken to Beautiful: One Couple's Journey Through Addiction and Restoration What does it look like when a marriage survives the unimaginable and comes out stronger on the other side? Kim and Jon King, married thirty-five years, openly share their harrowing story of opioid addiction, fractured trust, and miraculous restoration. After Jon's battle with OxyContin dependency following back surgery, everything came to a crisis point on Christmas 2015. He entered an eighteen-month recovery program in February 2016, and slowly, painstakingly, their marriage began to heal. The Japanese art of kintsugi, where broken pottery is repaired with gold, becomes the perfect picture of what God did in their relationship. Because when Kim simultaneously faced their daughter's cancer diagnosis while John was in treatment, leaning on faith wasn't optional. It was survival. Could your marriage, or someone else's, use this kind of hope right now? Honestly, their story is remarkable and genuinely encouraging in ways that are hard to put into words. They discuss Celebrate Recovery programs in the Frederick and Baltimore areas, practical marriage counseling insights, and why forgiveness and trust are actually two separate things (a distinction that matters enormously). Listen to this episode. You won't regret it. #addiction #christianpodcast #marriage #transformation #recovery

How to Build a Strong Relationship With Your Kids | Christian Parenting (Table Talks Part 2)

How do you build a relationship with your kids that lasts long after they leave home? In Part 2 of our Table Talks on Parenting, we continue one of the most requested conversations on the In Jesus' Name Podcast. The discussion was so meaningful that we turned it into a two-part series. Whether you're raising toddlers, teenagers, or adult children, every parent eventually faces the same question: How do I lead my children toward Jesus while keeping their hearts connected to mine? In this episode, four Christian parents have an honest conversation about the challenges of raising children in today's culture and why the greatest influence we have isn't found in having all the right answers—it's found in building relationships rooted in love, trust, and truth. Together we discuss: • Why quality time and quantity time both matter in parenting • How to have difficult conversations your kids actually want to hear • Why leading with love creates opportunities for lasting influence • Helping your children discover their identity in Christ • Building trust that keeps communication open through every stage of life • Practical, biblical parenting for today's families Our prayer is that this conversation encourages you to parent with grace instead of fear, connection instead of control, and truth wrapped in love. Because when children know they are deeply loved, they become more open to hearing the One who loves them most. If you're a Christian mom or dad looking for practical, biblical encouragement, this episode is for you. 🎧 Subscribe to the In Jesus' Name Podcast so you never miss a new episode of Table Talks, Couch Stories, or our weekly conversations about Christian parenting, marriage, spiritual growth, and walking closely with Jesus. ⭐ If this podcast has encouraged you, would you take a moment to leave a 5-star review? Your reviews help more families discover these conversations and grow in their faith.

Table Talks | How to Raise Kids Who Love Jesus | Christian Parenting in Today's Culture

How do you raise children who know who they are in Christ in a world constantly telling them who they should be? In this episode of Table Talks, four Christian parents sit down for an honest conversation about biblical parenting, raising children in today's culture, and helping the next generation develop a faith that lasts. As parents, we all want our children to grow into confident, resilient followers of Jesus. But today's world is filled with competing voices, social media, anxiety, comparison, confusion, and shifting definitions of truth. So how do we help our kids recognize God's voice above all the noise? In this conversation, we discuss: * How to raise children with a strong identity in Christ * Christian parenting in today's culture * Helping kids navigate social media and cultural pressures * Teaching biblical truth with both grace and conviction * Why parents must be spiritually anchored before leading their families * Practical ways to disciple your children every day One of the biggest takeaways from this episode is that our children don't just need better answers—they need parents who are deeply rooted in Jesus. When we anchor ourselves in God's Word, we're able to lead our families with confidence, wisdom, and hope. This conversation became so rich that we couldn't fit it into one episode! 🎙️ Part 2 drops tomorrow, where we continue discussing the challenges of parenting, building strong families, and following Jesus in an ever-changing culture. 👉 Subscribe to the In Jesus' Name Podcast so you never miss a Table Talks episode, Couch Stories interview, or practical biblical teaching designed to help you walk more closely with Jesus. #ChristianParenting #RaiseGodlyKids #ParentingAdvice #BiblicalParenting #ChristianMoms #ChristianFamilies #IdentityInChrist #TableTalks #FaithAndFamily #InJesusNamePodcast

Table Talks | What Every Marriage Needs | Respect and Love | How to show and feel loved

Marriage isn't about finding the perfect spouse—it's about allowing God to transform two imperfect people into one Christ-centered team. In this episode of Table Talks, we have an honest conversation about what it takes to build a healthy, God-honoring marriage. Together, we explore how mutual respect, grace, and biblical love create a foundation that not only strengthens marriages but also shapes the next generation. As we reflect on Father's Day, we also invite the men around the table to share a husband's and father's perspective. What does respect look like from a man's point of view? What encourages him? What makes him feel trusted, valued, and supported? Their honest answers offer women a unique glimpse into the heart of a godly husband and father. Together we discuss: * Why respect and love work together to create a thriving marriage * How unresolved hurts affect communication and intimacy * What husbands and wives often misunderstand about one another * Why the healthiest marriages begin with hearts surrendered to Jesus Rooted in Ephesians 5:22–33, this conversation reminds us that marriage isn't about keeping score or changing our spouse—it's about becoming more like Christ every day. Whether you've been married for decades, are newly married, engaged, single, or simply hoping to build healthier relationships, this episode offers biblical wisdom and practical encouragement for every season. Because when Jesus transforms our hearts, He transforms our homes. 🎧 Subscribe to the In Jesus' Name Podcast and join us each week for Table Talks, Couch Stories or a personal message from Shanan. IJN is where we have real conversations that make biblical truth practical, understandable, and applicable to everyday life.