What Is Prayer? The What, Why, and How (with the Lord’s Prayer)

What Is Prayer? The What, Why, and How (with the Lord’s Prayer)

In this episode Preach and Brandon open the InHope Podcast with prayer and discuss prayer by defining it as conversation with the Creator and an act of worship, emphasizing reverence, humility, and intimacy with God as Father. Using Luke 18’s parable of the Pharisee and tax collector, they contrast prideful prayer with humble repentance, and they use the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9–13) as a model for posture, submission, daily dependence, forgiveness, and trust. Highlighting prayer’s purpose as relationship rather than works, reference abiding in the vine, and share how prayer combats anxiety and builds reliance on God. They encourage persistence, praying Scripture, journaling, worship, listening, prioritizing prayer time, and using resources like Psalms and prayer apps. 00:00 Welcome To The InHope Podcast 01:53 What Why How Framework 03:57 Prayer As Conversation 07:52 Prayer As Worship 10:30 Humility Over Pride 15:07 Lord's Prayer Blueprint 24:02 Why Prayer Matters 27:36 Trust And Provision Story 30:09 Hearing God Like Jesus 33:17 Consistency Not Legalism 37:04 Jesus Models Prayer 37:46 Prayer After Miracles 38:12 Honest Emotions With God 39:27 Jesus Understands Loss 41:13 When Prayer Feels Dark 43:14 Healing Fatherhood Picture 47:09 How To Pray Practically 50:31 Persistence And Timing 57:07 Praying For Eternal Things 59:32 Pray Scripture Like Solomon 01:05:58 Tools And Prayer Habits 01:13:52 Closing Prayer And Blessing

The Holy Spirit: From Skepticism to Empowered Witness

Preach and Brandon discuss the Holy Spirit’s role in equipping young leaders to shepherd the church toward unity, addressing skepticism and misconceptions about what it means to be “filled.” Preach shares that he spent eight years as a Christian doubting the Spirit’s real-time activity until a domestic disaster-relief mission trip led to an overwhelming worship experience at Brooklyn Tabernacle that produced boldness to speak into others’ lives. They read Acts 2 on Pentecost and connect the Spirit’s filling to empowerment for witness and edifying the church, noting churches fall on a spectrum from deistic distance to requiring tongues as proof. They emphasize abiding in Christ (John 15), relying on the Spirit rather than personal ability, pursuing God rather than gifts, and seeking focused time through retreats, missions, worship, prayer, repentance, and surrender. 00:00 Welcome To The InHope Podcast 01:14 Opening Prayer 02:22 Skepticism and Doubt 03:47 Santa Claus Trust Analogy 06:08 Spectrum of Beliefs 08:15 Mission Trip Breakthrough 11:10 Brooklyn Tabernacle Encounter 13:50 Acts 2 Pentecost Explained 19:06 Empowered to Witness 20:42 Spirit Filled Leadership 21:40 Not Always Tongues 25:41 Vine and Branches 27:36 Obedience Shows Love 29:32 Quick Repentance Restores 30:19 Abide in the Vine 31:26 What Fruit Really Means 34:49 Retreats That Refocus 38:01 Filled to Edify Others 41:34 Trust the Spirit Not Self 46:30 Surrender What God Uses 48:36 Speak by the Spirit 51:19 Pursue the Giver 57:54 Closing

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