Episodes
When we look at churches and ministries today, we often don’t see Jesus.
Instead, we see scandal. Abuse. Toxicity.
What do we do with this?
How do we change and prevent it?
Scot McKnight and Laura Barringer have an answer: tov.
Tov is the Hebrew word for “good,” and it’s who God is and who He calls us to be.
As Scot says it, tov is “the redemptive dimension of churches that can prevent them from toxicity.” We need more of this.
Let’s listen in.
// Highlights:
“This [book] was really a work of faith for me, realizing that God is in the wounded. That He’s with the wounded, He’s with the resis...
Oh, you guys. This conversation…
It’s not often Matt and I (Laurie) are surprised by our guests, but we were surprised in the best way today.
Podcaster, author, and boss-mom, Jamie Ivey, and pastor, author, and tender-hearted dad, Aaron Ivey, got real—like really real.
Matt and I were going along, simply enjoying the conversation with these incredibly humble and kind people, and then Therapist Matt asks a question about how childhood wounding relates to marriage pain. (Way to go, counselor!) We suddenly took a left turn, and found ourselves talking about Aaron’s recent clinical depression d...
This is another conversation we cannot engage too frequently: Friendship.
How in the world can we do it well?
Real-life friends, authors, and founders of The Ruth Experience, Julie Fisk and Kendra Roehl, wisely and winsomely engaged Laurie’s latest habit of tossing quite challenging questions at guests.
Together, the group explored:
How do we confront our friends?
What about friend-shame? (If I feel that I have too few friends or not enough time for the ones I have?)
Should we wait for friends to come to us or do we go to them?
How do you know if you are asking too much of your friendships...
Why engage only one challenging topic concerning women when you can engage more?
Such as…
What is biblical feminism (and should we call ourselves biblical feminists if we are pro-woman)?
What does it mean to be feminine?
Is there a right and wrong when it comes to marriage: complementarian or egalitarian?
Bible teacher and author, Phylicia Masonheimer, handles all of these questions and more with aplomb. (Yes, aplomb.)
Pull up an earbud, friends, and join this really enjoyable conversation.
// Highlights:
“What I found in Scripture was that the heart of the person and their desire to wa...
We are not sure there is a bigger, more delicate, more divisive, or more misunderstood conversation in Christendom right now than how to approach the trans* conversation.
So, we’re bringing in the best expert on the conversation right now: our dear friend of the podcast (and in real life!), Dr. Preston Sprinkle.
Together, we explore:
If we hold to a historically Christian view of marriage (believing it is between one man and one woman) how does that affect our beliefs on gender? Does it?
Should Christians transition?
Is this whole thing just a big trend?
How can we love beloved, trans* imag...
When you think of the word “rejection,” what comes to mind?
When you were a kid and were the last one chosen for kickball?
Junior high lunch room not knowing where to sit?
Maybe you think of last week when that person didn’t text you back?
No matter what comes to mind, most of us wouldn’t put rejection in the “gift” file of our minds.
However, author and dating coach, Kait Warman, has a different view:
After processing the deep pain of rejection with Jesus, she has learned to be grateful for it.
How, Kait? Seriously, how do you do that?!
Let’s go, friends.
// Highlights:
“In the wake ...
We’re asking the question again: How do we engage racial divides well?
The topic of race has faded from the trends the last few months—but for Christ-followers, the work is just beginning. We have a lot of ground to cover and many questions along the way. Never fear, though; our Savior is walking with us!
Pastor Daniel Hill is here to walk with us as well, taking us with him on his own journey.
Friends? Will you join us as we explore this topic even more deeply than before?
// Highlights:
“For me, the most important aspect of repentance is this acknowledgment that Jesus Christ has a persp...
Goodness, we loved this conversation.
Two-time author and one of our favorite friends of the podcast, Greg Coles, is back to mentor us.
On what?
Well, our friendships.
Questions we explore include:
How did you know you were called to singleness + celibacy (and not marriage)?
What does belonging mean if we are feeling lonely?
Can we have a social life with Jesus?
What does it mean to say (and believe) "God is enough"?
How can married + single people build each other up?
How should the Church interact with our social lives?
We'd love for you to join us.
// Highlights:
“It’s actually in the ...
In 2019, between 6-11% of US adults had symptoms of an anxiety or depressive disorder (CDC).
By the end of 2020? Between 39 and 42% of US adults experienced anxiety or depression (Journal of Public Health).
We need help, and psychology professor and author Dr. Peace Amadi is here to offer it.
When should we call a therapist?
Why should we?
How can we walk with each other through this (if the therapist’s waiting list is 6-months long)?
Let’s go, friends.
No shame, no judgment, let’s just care for each other like Jesus cares for us.
// Highlights:
“The absolute first step is just to pause...
If you are a parent or discipler of students, have you ever gone to bed kicking yourself for all of the ways you missed your child or student's heart?
"Why didn't I say this? Why did I say that? How can I do better next time?"
If so, we can relate, and so can bestselling author Crystal Paine.
Crystal never thought she would write a parenting book, and when her child was getting kicked out of school for poor choices, she especially couldn't picture it.
But sometimes it takes hitting rock bottom of something to really experience God's grace in it. That is what happened to Crystal, and now s...
Anyone else out there struggle to experience Jesus sometimes?
We feel you.
Personal, intimate experiences with Christ are hard to find in our chaotic world.
Today, Carolyn Schroeder (Laurie’s real life mentor!!!) is here to invite us into Jesus’ presence and teach us how to have those experiences wherever we are!
Join us as we dive into deeper relationship with our Savior and Healer today.
// Highlights:
“God had to get me to the place of being powerless and desperate for Him so that I could be a receiver.” -Carolyn Schroeder
“My sins cannot condemn me, because there’s a solution to sin. ...
Okay, friends, let’s play “would you rather”...
Would you rather have an all-expenses paid, two week vacation in a tropical oasis—but there is one catch: You have to be discontent every second of the trip.
Or, would you rather be locked up in jail, and you are cold, hungry, have few clothes, but you know God called you there, and so all you want to do is joyfully, contentedly worship God—so you do.
Likely, most of us would pick the second option.
But what does that choice tell us?
We think it says contentment is critical and our circumstances don’t matter as much as we might think they do.
...
How do we cultivate our minds?
Today, we'll tackle this question with the always-joyful Dr. Kathy Koch, a child development expert and long-time minister.
We'll especially be taking a look at "the eight smarts," which are:
Word-smart: They think in words. When they're excited, they usually talk or write. They often thrive in school.
Logic-smart: They think with questions. They ask more questions when they're excited. Usually, they like math and science, and they love things to make sense.
Picture-smart: They think with their eyes, in pictures. Pay attention to color, design, where things ar...
Anyone else feeling a bit down about your physical self these days?
Why don't we have Sarah Young offer her thoughts?
Sarah is a marriage and sex therapist who has wrestled with her body image.
Together, we cover:
What should single people do with their sexuality?
How do we stop hating ourselves into liking ourselves?
What if we never talk about sex in our marriage?
What is the ultimate form of intimacy--for real?
How can the Church help?
We'd love for you to join the conversation.
// Highlights:
"[H]ow do I care for my heart and validate the struggle in the midst of the noise? How do I ...
It's time to bring even more color and clarity to the Oneness Mountain in this second part of our introduction to the Gardens Series!
Today, Matt and Laurie bring examples and Core Needs so we can better see that life is more than a timeline. It is more like a group of gardens to cultivate with each other and Gardener God.
After you listen, will you let us know the answer to the question: "How is your church community doing at cultivating oneness (unity, intimacy) right now? What's one way they/you are doing it well?"
Let us know so we can encourage each other with practical care! (Email: p...
We at HIMH often about how “marriage and singleness are equally valuable modes we fulfill the mission to make disciples.”
But how can we to-our-core believe this if we view life only as a timeline? … You are born, you go to school, you get married, you make Christian babies, you tithe, and you die.
“Single people?” Married people say with this timeline in mind. “Uh, yeah, you’re valuable. You don’t fit the script, but you’re great!!!!!!”
We married folk are well-meaning, but a tad insincere.
However, if we do not view life simply as a timeline, rather a group of gardens to cultivate with Ga...
Author and speaker Hannah Brencher talks real life:
She's wrestled with life-threatening depression, has been a viral TED speaker, and is here today to help us to get some soul stability if our mental health has taken a hit.
Together, we explore:
How can we put practices in place without feeling like legalists?
How can we face the inner critic if he/she doesn't stop berating us?
If we show up and fail, how can we recover?
2021 requires real life conversations, and Hannah's the right one for the job.
//: Highlights
“I knew in my soul, ‘You’re not gonna hide. You’re gonna show up anyway. You...
This is a needed conversation, and author and apologist Sean McDowell is the right one to have it.
As parents and ministry leaders, we don't always know how to answer Gen Z's toughest questions. Praise the Lord that Sean does, and that he's willing to help us to unpack ones like:
“Why would God keep me from loving whomever I want to love?"
“Why do you call your attractions to the same sex brokenness? You are not broken.”
“I just need to be free. Why are you stopping me from freedom?”
“If I am attracted to the same sex, why would God call me to loneliness (ie. singleness)?”
“Who cares about ...
Buckle your seatbelts, friends. This episode gets a bit bumpy.
Maybe your family—like ours—has people with different political beliefs in it. When I (Laurie) chose to co-host this episode with my dad, I didn’t realize a major theme would be loving each other through differing political beliefs.
The major gift of this surprise theme was that by the end, we were all nodding in agreement with each other—unified in the gospel.
And oh yeah… the matchless Os Guinness may have been our guest, but he acted like a brilliant mediator guiding my dad and I (and our divided world?) toward grace for each...
The world feels like it’s on fire, and if we are honest? Many of us have started or increased unhealthy habits to cope.
Some have turned to porn, the use of which increased globally by 11% at the start of the pandemic.
But wait! If this is you or a friend? Before you turn away in shame or self-hatred, we pray and believe that this conversation with John Michael Cusick, licensed professional counselor, teacher, and author of Surfing for God will truly encourage you.
Discover the heart behind porn addiction and how you can overcome it—yes, even now while the world is on fire—on today’s episod...
What’s your word for the year?
On this episode, Matt, Laurie, and Steve talk about what God has taught them in 2020 (yes—even in 2020!). Leaps of faith, major life changes, and—how could we forget?—Rona! Through it all, God has been faithful.
Heading into 2021, then, the crew also addresses what God is pointing to for the future—thus, our words.
With that—Happy New Year, and happy listening!
//: Highlights
“He is holding onto me when I’m not grabbing onto Him, when I grab for other things.” -Steve O’Dell
“[Transactional interaction] is not the Father’s heart. He gives generously ‘cause He i...
These days, it's so easy to fall into a "what-have-you-done-for-me-lately" mindset.
We like following that person, we enjoy that podcast, we appreciate that channel--but serve them? Partner with them? Nah.
Unless we do. We are so grateful for listeners who have stepped up to support and volunteer with our ministry--including the two we are highlighting today: Jon Leach and Amanda Mclaurin.
These two were more than hearers of the Word, they were doers...and we are forever grateful. Hear their story, their "why" for saying yes to the Spirit's prompting, and how we can lean in where God is cal...
Purity culture—yep, we’re going there.
Ladies and gents—if you’ve ever felt that your worth, dignity, or purity were wrapped up in your sexuality, this is for you.
On this episode, Rachel Joy Welcher, author of new book *Talking Back to Purity Culture*, helps us debunk the myths of sexuality that have come from purity culture.
Join us as we celebrate the gospel and all the gifts Christ gives—even in our sexuality.
//: Highlights
“You can’t stop your spouse from sinning if they want to sin—but you can sure love them!” -Rachel Joy Welcher
“You don’t fight sexual sin with sex. You fight sexual...
2020 has been a year of uncertainty and suffering for all of us.
Joy might be the farthest thing from our minds as we look back on this season of loss and chaos.
But guys? Joy is still God’s heart for us.
Today, we hear from Shaunti Feldhahn about how we can cultivate a habit of joy—even in the midst of the deepest loss and confusion. Join us as we hear from her on this delightful gift that God has given and called us to.
//: Highlights
“[Joy] is something that you actually have to pursue, because it is there. It’s like the Kingdom—You know, Jesus talked so much about “My kingdom” being her...
Do you remember even two or four years ago when you could remind stirred-up Christians, "Hey, guys? We got to love our enemies!" and they would often say, "Oh, yeah!"
Nowadays, when you say the same thing, it would not be unusual to hear something like, "Nah. I'm good."
Pastor and author Scott Sauls is here to wake us up with how to address our enemies in this sometimes-hostile 2020 world.
This is another conversation we will not soon forget.
//: Highlights
“Righteous anger attacks problems; raging anger attacks people….We’re supposed to love our enemies, not put them in their place.” -Scot...
It’s Thanksgiving in the States!
Today, from our respective shelter-in-place spots (again!), we are sharing what we are grateful for and hearing from you. Not only that, however, but we are sharing what we have learned in this very hard year, and how we can take that good, suffering-produced fruit into 2021. We are thankful for YOU guys, today!
//: Highlights
"I’m thankful for how much it’s had to scrape away false identities that I didn’t even know that I was holding onto. Because I am so ambitious and I have so much drive, that it could kill me—and us [Matt and Laurie]. I’m not saying I’m...
We have been on pins and needles waiting to release this episode to you all! It is one of those episodes we can't stop thinking about...
Author and pastor, John Mark Comer, brings it. He helps us to think deeply about questions like, "What is success?" "What defines failure?" "What do we do when we are overwhelmed with the calling God has on our lives?" "How do we understand our identity in the midst of the culture we live in?"
Pop in those earbuds and go on that walk, do those dishes, make that Thanksgiving meal, but you may find you need to pause and take notes because this brother has so...
Walking alongside people who wrestle with their gender identity is such a unique journey.
Because it is so unique and often very complex, it's wise to hear from the experts, don't you think? Dr. Mark Yarhouse is one of the preeminent gender + psychology + Christianity experts, and we brought him on to share about his new book, Emerging Gender Identities, and help us to learn how to walk better alongside our friends who experience some level of gender + body dissonance.
//: Highlights:
“If you’re just a natural object, like a chemical compound…chemical compounds don’t interact with their cla...
Have you ever struggled to find quiet? In the world, in your life, in yourself?
We’re here with singer/songwriter and now AUTHOR Jamie Grace to talk about what it looks like to find peace and center ourselves on the Lord in this crazy world we’re living in!
Join us as we hear from her about artistry, anxiety, mental health, comparison, social media, and so much more!
//: Highlights:
“We have this misconstrued concept of what success is, and…we become so anxious as a culture and as a society and as a generation that we can’t find peace until we get the most, or the biggest, or the highest. A...
It’s the Hole in My Heart Podcast LIVE!
True story: This was about Plan D of our celebratory-book-launch-party-worship fest (thanks, Rona!), but God was in it all the same.
Today, Matt, Laurie, Steve, and some special guests celebrate the work of the gospel through Matt and Laurie’s story and through you all.
There are testimonies, prizes, jokes, and GOOFBALL ISLAND is back for one night only. Thanks for being a part of this adventure, fam!
//: Highlights:
“You’ve wanted to write a book—*A* book—for a long time. But the fact that it’s this book reminds me that it’s the gospel that’s impossi...