Behind the Sermon: How Campus Pastors Prep for Sermons

When God Feels Silent

In this episode of the More and Better Disciples Podcast, the conversation starts with a light “Better Call Saul” reference that quickly turns into a deeper reflection on what it feels like when God seems silent in your life. From Paul’s hidden years in Tarsus to the unexpected growth of the church in Antioch, the discussion explores how God is often doing His most important work in seasons that do not look like much from the outside. We talk about leadership not as position or platform but as influence formed in obscurity. What does it mean when you know you have a calling but nothing around you seems to confirm it yet? And how do you stay faithful in those in between seasons? The conversation also turns to Antioch, a church that embraced diversity, sent people out instead of building inward comfort, and became a launching point for the expansion of the gospel. Whether you feel unseen, stuck, or simply unsure of what God is doing, this episode is a reminder that silence is not absence and formation often happens long before clarity arrives. To submit questions: podcast@gracefellowship.com [podcast@gracefellowship.com] Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/gracefellowshipny [https://www.youtube.com/gracefellowshipny] To glorify God by making more and better disciples. This is the vision of Grace Fellowship, led by Pastor Rex Keener and based in New York’s Capital Region. —— Stay Connected Website: https://gracefellowship.com [https://gracefellowship.com] Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gracefellowshipny [http://www.facebook.com/gracefellowshipny] Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/gracefellowshipny [http://www.instagram.com/gracefellowshipny]

Behind the Sermon: How Campus Pastors Prep for Sermons

What happens before a sermon is ever preached? In a more “behind-the-scenes” episode of the More and Better Disciples podcast, Tim, Jesse, Isaac, and Mat sit down to talk candidly about the sermon preparation process, the pressure of preaching, and the ways God often works on the preacher before the message ever reaches the congregation. From the overlooked book of Obadiah to Psalm 34 and Exodus 34, the conversation explores pride, assumptions about God, loving your enemies, seeking the Lord, and learning to bless God even in difficult seasons. The team also discusses the challenge of narrowing down big biblical themes, the reality of rewriting sermons late in the process, and how pastors sharpen one another through feedback and collaboration before Sunday arrives. Along the way, there are stories, movie references, sports analogies, and honest moments about faith, justice, discipleship, and what it really looks like to prepare a message week after week. Whether you’ve preached before or have never thought about what goes into a sermon, this episode offers a candid look behind the curtain at the work, prayer, and process involved in teaching God’s Word. Submit your questions to podcast@gracefellowship.com [podcast@gracefellowship.com] Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/gracefellowshipny [https://www.youtube.com/gracefellowshipny] To give online: https://gracefellowship.com/give/ [https://gracefellowship.com/give/] To glorify God by making more and better disciples. This is the vision of Grace Fellowship, led by Pastor Rex Keener and based in New York’s Capital Region. —— Stay Connected Website: https://gracefellowship.com [https://gracefellowship.com] Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gracefellowshipny [http://www.facebook.com/gracefellowshipny] Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/gracefellowshipny [http://www.instagram.com/gracefellowshipny]

Do Soulmates Exist?

Are soulmates actually biblical? Is there really “one person” out there for you or do Christians have more freedom than we think? In this episode, the conversation dives deep into dating, singleness, marriage, and the pressure many people feel to “find the one.” The team unpacks the modern soulmate idea, what Scripture actually says about relationships, and how Christians can navigate dating in a culture shaped by apps, hookup culture, and unrealistic expectations. They also tackle practical questions about discerning God’s will, handling uncertainty, pursuing marriage without obsession, and learning to trust God even when life doesn’t unfold the way we hoped. Whether you’re single, dating, divorced, widowed, married, or just trying to understand healthy Christian relationships, this episode offers honest conversation, biblical perspective, and encouragement to follow God faithfully in whatever season you’re in. Submit your questions to podcast@gracefellowship.com [podcast@gracefellowship.com] Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/gracefellowshipny [https://www.youtube.com/gracefellowshipny] To give online: https://gracefellowship.com/give/ [https://gracefellowship.com/give/] To glorify God by making more and better disciples. This is the vision of Grace Fellowship, led by Pastor Rex Keener and based in New York’s Capital Region. —— Stay Connected Website: https://gracefellowship.com [https://gracefellowship.com] Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gracefellowshipny [http://www.facebook.com/gracefellowshipny] Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/gracefellowshipny [http://www.instagram.com/gracefellowshipny]

Rethinking Marriage and Singleness

In this episode, we step into a deeper conversation about marriage and singleness through the lens of Scripture, history, and real-life tension. Looking at figures like John Wesley and George Whitefield, we wrestle with honest questions about whether marriage always leads to fulfillment, how we understand God’s calling in different seasons of life, and what it means to live with undivided devotion to Christ. We also explore how the church has often emphasized marriage while unintentionally undervaluing singleness, and why both are meant to be lived with purpose under the lordship of Jesus. Whether married, single, or somewhere in between, this conversation challenges us to rethink what it means to follow Christ first—and let everything else flow from that. Submit your questions to podcast@gracefellowship.com [podcast@gracefellowship.com] Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/gracefellowshipny [https://www.youtube.com/gracefellowshipny] To give online: https://gracefellowship.com/give/ [https://gracefellowship.com/give/] To glorify God by making more and better disciples. This is the vision of Grace Fellowship, led by Pastor Rex Keener and based in New York’s Capital Region. —— Stay Connected Website: https://gracefellowship.com [https://gracefellowship.com] Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gracefellowshipny [http://www.facebook.com/gracefellowshipny] Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/gracefellowshipny [http://www.instagram.com/gracefellowshipny]

Hard Questions About Marriage

Marriage sounds simple until you’re actually in it. In this episode, we get into the real stuff like what happens when two people who love Jesus don’t see things the same way, when faith becomes a point of tension instead of unity, and when love feels more like a decision than a feeling. We talk about theological differences in marriage, what it looks like to stay committed when emotions aren’t there, and how to actually move toward each other instead of drifting apart. We also tackle a tough but common question: what if you’re married to someone who doesn’t believe? What does the Bible really mean when it talks about being “sanctified” in that kind of relationship and what responsibility (or pressure) does that put on you? Along the way, we get into communication, unmet expectations, why your spouse can’t be everything for you, and how to figure out what your marriage actually needs instead of trying to fit into someone else’s framework. Grace, honesty, and a lot of real talk: this one's for every married person, every hurting person, and anyone who wants to understand what a God-honoring marriage can look like. Submit your questions to podcast@gracefellowship.com [podcast@gracefellowship.com] Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/gracefellowshipny [https://www.youtube.com/gracefellowshipny] To give online: https://gracefellowship.com/give/ [https://gracefellowship.com/give/] To glorify God by making more and better disciples. This is the vision of Grace Fellowship, led by Pastor Rex Keener and based in New York’s Capital Region. —— Stay Connected Website: https://gracefellowship.com [https://gracefellowship.com] Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gracefellowshipny [http://www.facebook.com/gracefellowshipny] Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/gracefellowshipny [http://www.instagram.com/gracefellowshipny]