The More and Better Disciples Podcast

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]

Hope, Doubt, and the Resurrection

Easter is over but how do we continue feeling hopeful? In this episode, we go deeper into the rich and mysterious account of Jesus and the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24), unpacking the questions the Sunday message didn't have time to answer: Who were these disciples? Why couldn't they recognize Jesus? What did that three-and-a-half hour Bible study actually look like? But the conversation doesn't stay in the first century. What do you do when you believe in Jesus but still feel completely hopeless about your life? When the circumstances haven't changed, the sadness is real, and Easter Sunday came and went without moving the needle? This episode speaks honestly to that experience, including a personal story of a faith crisis that nearly didn't resolve, and the three things that can bring someone back from the edge of walking away entirely. Whether you're full of doubt, going through the motions, or just curious about some of the stranger details in the Easter story, this conversation is worth your time! Watch the Easter sermon: https://youtu.be/FNbu05wtGUk [https://youtu.be/FNbu05wtGUk] ───────── 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]