Everybody is Wrestling for Something | Bystander to Builder Ep. 6

BUILT - Ep. 3 - Built Through the Word

Send us your questions and reflections! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2446577/fan_mail/new] In Episode 3 of our BUILT series, we explore how God's Word forms a strong foundation for the Christian life. Using Psalm 1 as our guide, we discover that spiritual growth is often more like growing deep roots than achieving instant results. Just as a tree planted by streams of water can endure seasons of drought, followers of Jesus develop strength and stability when they are rooted in Scripture. But the goal of reading the Bible is not simply gaining information. Jesus reminds us in John 5 that the Scriptures ultimately point to Him. The purpose of God's Word is to help us know Christ, hear His voice, and become more like Him. In this episode, Pastor Evan Ryder discusses why Scripture is essential for spiritual formation, how God's Word shapes our character over time, and practical ways to develop a consistent habit of engaging with the Bible. If storms reveal our foundation, then God's Word is one of the primary ways God strengthens that foundation before the storm arrives. Scriptures:  • Psalm 1:1-3  • John 5:39  • Matthew 7:24-27 Topics:  • Knowing Jesus Through Scripture  • Christian discipleship  • Spiritual growth  • Bible reading and Bible study  • Psalm 1  • Spiritual formation  • Christian living  • Building a strong faith  • Hearing and obeying Jesus  • Rediscovering Faith Podcast Discover how deep roots in God's Word can help you stand firm through every season of life.

BUILT - Ep. 2 - BUILT Through Prayer

Send us your questions and reflections! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2446577/fan_mail/new] In Episode 2 of our BUILT series, we explore one of the most important foundations of the Christian life: prayer. In Luke 11, the disciples make a surprising request of Jesus: "Lord, teach us to pray." They had witnessed His miracles, heard His teaching, and watched His ministry, yet they recognized that everything Jesus did flowed from His relationship with the Father. Many of us treat prayer as an emergency response when life falls apart. Jesus treated prayer as a foundation that prepared Him before the storm arrived. In this episode, we discover how prayer develops dependence on God, strengthens our faith, aligns our hearts with God's will, and helps us become people who hear and obey the teachings of Jesus. If storms reveal our foundation, then prayer is one of the ways God builds that foundation in us. Join Pastor Evan Ryder as we continue the BUILT series and learn how a consistent prayer life can help us stand firm through life's challenges. Scripture: Luke 11:1-13 Topics: • Prayer and spiritual growth • The Lord's Prayer • Christian discipleship • Building a strong faith • Spiritual disciplines • Trusting God in difficult times • Hearing and obeying Jesus • Foundations for the Christian life #ChristianPodcast #Prayer #Luke11 #Faith #Discipleship #SpiritualGrowth #PrayerLife #Jesus #ChristianLiving #BuiltSeries #RediscoveringFaith

BUILT - Ep. 1 - Hearing and Doing

Send us your questions and reflections! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2446577/fan_mail/new] What is the difference between the wise builder and the foolish builder in Matthew 7? Surprisingly, it isn't what they heard—it's what they did. In this first episode of our Built series, we explore Jesus' famous parable of the two builders and discover why spiritual maturity is measured by obedience, not merely information. Storms reveal our foundation, and a life built on Christ is formed when we put His words into practice. Scripture: Matthew 7:24-27 Key Takeaway: A strong foundation is built through obedience, not merely knowledge. #RediscoveringFaith #BuiltSeries #Matthew7 #WiseBuilder #ChristianPodcast #FaithInAction #SpiritualGrowth #SermonOnTheMount #FollowingJesus #BiblicalDiscipleship

Surrounded By Witnesses | Bystander to Builder Ep. 20

Send us your questions and reflections! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2446577/fan_mail/new] What if your faith is part of a much bigger story? In this episode of Rediscovering Faith, we conclude our series on how the Gospel moves from person to person by exploring Hebrews 12:1–3 and the powerful image of the “great cloud of witnesses.” For generations, ordinary believers have carried the Gospel through suffering, endurance, faithfulness, and grace. The Church exists today because faithful people kept following Jesus and passing the story forward. This episode explores: * The meaning of the “great cloud of witnesses” * Why Christianity is deeply communal * The importance of spiritual endurance * What it means to fix our eyes on Jesus * How ordinary faithfulness shapes future generations The Gospel has continued across centuries because grace kept strengthening ordinary disciples—and now we are part of that same story. #RediscoveringFaith #Hebrews12 #ChristianPodcast #Faith #ChurchHistory #Discipleship #ChristianLiving #Jesus #SpiritualFormation #GreatCloudOfWitnesses

The Gospel Crosses Boundaries | Bystander to Builder Ep. 19

Send us your questions and reflections! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2446577/fan_mail/new] What happens when the Gospel moves beyond familiar boundaries? In this episode of Rediscovering Faith, we explore Acts 8:26–40 and the remarkable story of Philip and the Ethiopian official. This powerful encounter reminds us that the Gospel is always moving outward—crossing cultural, geographic, spiritual, and social barriers through ordinary people willing to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. Long before Christianity became institutional, the Gospel spread relationally through conversations, questions, invitations, and Spirit-led encounters. This episode explores: * Relational evangelism in the early Church * How the Holy Spirit guides Gospel conversations * Why listening matters in discipleship * The inclusive and boundary-crossing nature of the Gospel * How God uses ordinary believers to carry the Good News The Gospel continues to move from person to person—and God may already be at work in the lives of people around you. #RediscoveringFaith #Acts8 #ChristianPodcast #Evangelism #HolySpirit #Discipleship #PhilipAndTheEthiopian #Church #ChristianLiving #FaithJourney