The Echo Collective

S2E24: The Parables of the Mustard and the Yeast: We Can't Control This Messy Kingdom

Most of us have been taught that the parables of the mustard seed and the yeast are about small things becoming big things. That's true but that isn't the whole story. In this episode, we explore why Jesus doesn't compare God's Kingdom to a glorious cedar or a mighty oak tree, but to a plant that spreads like it has never heard of boundaries and yeast that quietly and almost sneakily transforms everything it touches. The Kingdom of God is far more disruptive and far more hopeful than we can even begin to imagine.

S2E23: A Conversation about THEOLOGY with Dr. Chris Whyte

When most people hear the word theology, they might think of books, doctrines, debates. They might even think of a theologian in a sweater vest, smoking a pipe while pondering deep questions. But what if theology is ultimately about learning to see, speak, and live in the world the way God does? What if theology is also a child wanting to pray when something hard happens? In this conversation, Dr. Chris Whyte and I explore the relationship between knowledge and wisdom, sharing stories and reflections on what it means to move beyond information and toward transformation.

Bonus Episode: Remember, Remember, Remember the Signs!

In The Silver Chair (Book 6 of Narnia), Aslan warns Jill to remember the signs because once she returns to Narnia, distraction and confusion will make remembering really hard. This short reflection discusses why forgetfulness is one of the central struggles of the human experience and how practices of remembering help us stay rooted when life gets crazy.

S2E21: The Parable of the Persistent Widow: This One Isn't About Being Annoying

In Luke 18, Jesus tells a weird story about a corrupt judge, a pesky widow, and a persistence that refuses to go down without a fight. In this episode, we explore why the parable is not about annoying God into answering our prayers, but about trusting the just and compassionate character of God while continuing to pursue mercy, justice, and hope in a weary world.

S2E20: Spiritual Formation (Part 1?) with Benji Horning

In this episode of Echo Collective, I sit down with Benji Horning for a thoughtful conversation about spiritual formation, not as a cultural buzzword, but as an ancient way of life. Together, we explore humility, the voice of the Spirit, the wisdom of the early church (among other things), and the ways we are all being formed by the world around us. At the center of it all is the invitation to become more deeply rooted in Christ and, mysteriously, more fully ourselves. Don't miss it.