How Spiritual Gifts Build Up the Church

How Spiritual Gifts Build Up the Church

This Week On the In Hope podcast, hosts Brandon and Nathaniel discuss unity in the body of Christ by examining Ephesians 4:7–13 and Paul’s list of gifts—apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors/shepherds, and teachers (APEST)—given to equip believers for service, build up the church, and grow maturity and unity in faith. They explain each gifting in accessible terms (apostles as pioneers, prophets as those who hear from God and call people back to Scripture, evangelists as connectors focused on reaching non-Christians, shepherds as caregivers, and teachers as guardians of biblical truth), emphasizing that no gift is superior, each has strengths and weaknesses, and God intends dependence on one another. They warn against misusing gifts, stress humility, testing prophetic words by Scripture and fruit, encourage teamwork and balanced leadership, and close with prayer and an invitation to share feedback and join their support team. 00:00 Welcome To The InHope Podcast 00:25 Spiritual Gifts Overview 01:48 Ephesians 4  04:17 Why Gifts Matter 07:42 Apostle Explained 10:44 Unity Needs Everyone 13:39 Prophet Explained 18:05 Testing Prophecy Wisely 30:33 Evangelist Explained 33:31 Shepherd Preview 34:18 Called Into New Seasons 34:55 Pioneering New Ministries 36:01 Shepherd Gift Explained 37:51 Teacher Gift And Guardians 41:44 Read Scripture For Yourself 44:32 Build Balanced Teams 47:38 APEs Versus Shepherd Teachers 51:22 Jesus The Perfect Balance 56:15 Modern Language For APEST 57:33 Prayer And Closing Invite

Aliens Don’t Change Who God Is

In this episode of the InHope Podcast, hosts Brandon and Preach talk through the fear, theology, and confusion surrounding UFOs, extraterrestrial life, conspiracy theories, and what Christians should actually focus on in an age of disinformation. They discuss whether alien life would challenge Christianity, how believers should respond to fear, why discernment matters more than speculation, and how distractions can pull the church away from its mission. Brandon and Preach also explore biblical warnings about false teaching, deception, anxiety, and the need to keep our eyes fixed on Christ instead of getting lost in every new headline, theory, or viral clip. 00:00 Welcome to InHope 06:32 Age of Disinformation 09:19 Fear Safety and Faith 15:53 Grace Over Control 21:54 Aliens and Theology 29:05 False Prophets Warning 32:52 Faith Is Uphill 36:07 Unity Over Arguments 41:17 Discernment Not Fear 46:09 Final Thoughts and Prayer

Faith Under Pressure In Modern Culture

Hosts Brandon and Preach respond to a recent controversy involving an NBA player speaking about his Christian faith, Pride Month, and the pressure believers can face when their convictions conflict with culture. They unpack the difference between biblical rebuke and hate, why silence can become dangerous, and how Christians should navigate hard conversations with courage, grace, and humility. This conversation explores what it means to follow Jesus when it may cost you relationships, opportunities, reputation, or comfort. Brandon and Preach also discuss the importance of knowing Scripture, walking in community, sharpening one another as believers, and remembering that every Christian is still in need of God’s grace. 00:00 Welcome to InHope 01:15 Disclaimer 07:51 Truth Love and Rebuke 12:34 Discipline and Warning Analogies 18:26 How to Communicate Correction 30:31 Faith Systems and Standing Firm 33:09 Supporting Believers Amid Disagreement 39:33 Humility Over Hypocrisy 42:07 Watchman Warning Ezekiel 49:30 Grace Not Condemnation 01:07:23 Prayer and Sendoff

From Resurrection Sunday to Pentecost: The Power That Built the Early Church

Hosts Brandon and Preach continue their conversation on what happened after Resurrection Sunday, leading into Pentecost, the Holy Spirit, the Great Commission, and the early church’s mission. They explore how Jesus appeared to hundreds of eyewitnesses after the resurrection, how skeptics like James and Paul became powerful leaders in the church, and why the gospel spread through ordinary believers who were filled with the Holy Spirit. In this episode of the In Hope Podcast, Brandon and Preach discuss the importance of prayer, persistence, unity in the body of Christ, and staying connected to Jesus as the true vine. They unpack the Day of Pentecost, the pouring out of the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues, and how believers today can pursue God’s presence without creating division over different experiences of the Spirit. They also reflect on the Christian life as a pilgrimage, reminding believers that this world is not our permanent home. From seasons of waiting and transition to spiritual resilience, trials, and trusting God through difficult battles, this conversation encourages Christians to remain faithful, abide in Christ, and carry the kingdom of God into the world. 00:00 Welcome To InHope 02:07 Eyewitness Resurrection 11:09 Beyond the Twelve 21:06 Persistence and Abiding 31:08 Pentecost Explained 41:16 Scripture as the Standard 49:56 Seeking the Spirit Through Service 58:11 Sukkot and Living as Sojourners 01:10:04 Trials Build Resilience 01:14:53 Closing and Next Episode Teaser

How JEMfriends Is Helping Foster Youth Find Hope Once Foster Care Ends

In this episode of the InHope Podcast, Brandon and Preach sit down with Alexis Flores from JEMfriends to talk about foster care, at-risk youth, Christian mentorship, homelessness prevention, and how the church can support young adults aging out of the system. Alexis shares her own faith journey, how Christian community shaped her life, and how JEMfriends is helping young people find stability, purpose, and a real support system when they need it most. From stories of young adults overcoming unstable housing to the need for more resident advisors, mentors, volunteers, churches, and financial support, this episode is a reminder that unity in the body of Christ is not just something we talk about—it is something we live out. Learn more about JEMfriends: https://jemfriends.org [https://jemfriends.org] Donate through the link below to help support JEMfriends this month. 00:00 Welcome To InHope 00:22 Meet Alexis Flores 10:14 What Is JEMfriends 21:10 Encouraging Big Dreams 26:49 Organic And Intentional Unity 29:57 Life Change Testimony 33:45 Aging Out at 18 36:49 Beyond Foster Care 41:43 Serving the Overlooked 51:40 Final Reflections