Between Sundays with The Chandlers
- Episodes
- 70
- Released
- every two weeks
- Latest episode
- Nov 10, 2026
About the podcast
Between Sundays with the Chandlers is a candid podcast hosted by Matt and Lauren Chandler that invites listeners into the everyday conversations that happen between church services and busy weeks. Between Sundays offers thoughtful reflections rooted in Scripture and lived experience. Matt and Lauren share openly about the challenges and blessings of walking with Jesus in the middle of work, family life, and personal growth, creating space for listeners to feel seen, encouraged, and grounded.
Episodes 70
Chuck Swindoll on Marriage, Regret, Suffering, and Finishing Well
Chuck Swindoll joins Matt and Lauren for a conversation about the things that matter most after a lifetime of following Jesus.Chuck shares stories from his childhood, 71 years of marriage to Cynthia, parenting …
Show notes
Chuck Swindoll joins Matt and Lauren for a conversation about the things that matter most after a lifetime of following Jesus.
Chuck shares stories from his childhood, 71 years of marriage to Cynthia, parenting, ministry, friendship, suffering, aging, and learning to receive help after a lifetime of giving it.
ORDER MY LATEST BOOK
Becoming Like Jesus is a book about “progressive sanctification” that takes it beyond church words into the honest conversation so many Christians have navigated. Rooted in the Beatitudes, this book unpacks the lifelong series of highs and lows that the Holy Spirit uses to shape us into a person who looks like Jesus.
FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE:
Follow Lauren | Follow Matt | Youtube | Website | Newsletter
If you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You!
Thank you to our Sponsors
Global Christian Relief
GCR comes alongside persecuted Christians with prayer, Bibles, and real help so the church can endure and shine as a light for the Gospel. Stand with the persecuted Church and be a lifeline of prayer and support. — visit https://bit.ly/GCRMatt to learn more.
Human Coalition
For just $26, Human Coalition can help reach a woman before the abortion industry does and offer her real, compassionate support. Right now, there’s an opportunity to do even more. A generous donor has provided a $100,000 matching gift, so every gift made through December 31 can go even further.
So don’t wait. Give $26 today at humancoalition.org/chandler and help show the next mom that she is not alone.
Christian Marriage Cruises
Ready to invest in your marriage, rest, and reconnect? Join licensed marriage therapists Caleb and Verlynda for a faith-based marriage retreat at sea—visit christianmarriagecruise.com/sundays to reserve your spot today.
The Unimaginable
Some questions only suffering can teach us to ask, and only God can meet us in.If you or someone you love is walking through devastating loss, The Unimaginable is a faithful companion for the journey...reminding you that while grief may never fully disappear, you never have to carry it alone.
Available at MoodyPublishers.com or wherever books are sold.
–
Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.
For sponsorship inquiries, email [email protected]
What to Do When You Don’t Feel Hungry for God
What do you do when you know you should want God more—but you just don’t?Matt and Lauren talk about spiritual hunger, the things that quietly fill us up on lesser things, and the rhythms that help turn our …
Show notes
What do you do when you know you should want God more—but you just don’t?
Matt and Lauren talk about spiritual hunger, the things that quietly fill us up on lesser things, and the rhythms that help turn our attention back toward God.
They also share what this looks like in their own lives, from Scripture and prayer to walks, community, silence, and solitude.
ORDER MY LATEST BOOK
Becoming Like Jesus is a book about “progressive sanctification” that takes it beyond church words into the honest conversation so many Christians have navigated. Rooted in the Beatitudes, this book unpacks the lifelong series of highs and lows that the Holy Spirit uses to shape us into a person who looks like Jesus.
FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE:
Follow Lauren | Follow Matt | Youtube | Website | Newsletter
If you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You!
Thank you to our Sponsors:
Global Christian Relief
GCR comes alongside persecuted Christians with prayer, Bibles, and real help so the church can endure and shine as a light for the Gospel. Stand with the persecuted Church and be a lifeline of prayer and support. — visit https://bit.ly/GCRMatt to learn more.
Human Coalition
For just $26, Human Coalition can help reach a woman before the abortion industry does and offer her real, compassionate support. Right now, there’s an opportunity to do even more. A generous donor has provided a $100,000 matching gift, so every gift made through December 31 can go even further.
So don’t wait. Give $26 today at humancoalition.org/chandler and help show the next mom that she is not alone.
Christian Marriage Cruises
Ready to invest in your marriage, rest, and reconnect? Join licensed marriage therapists Caleb and Verlynda for a faith-based marriage retreat at sea—visit christianmarriagecruise.com/sundays to reserve your spot today.
The Unimaginable
Some questions only suffering can teach us to ask, and only God can meet us in.If you or someone you love is walking through devastating loss, The Unimaginable is a faithful companion for the journey...reminding you that while grief may never fully disappear, you never have to carry it alone.
Available at MoodyPublishers.com or wherever books are sold.
–
Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.
For sponsorship inquiries, email [email protected]
How to Follow Jesus in a Culture That Doesn’t with Jon Thompson
Jon Thompson joins Matt and Lauren to talk about what faithful Christian witness looks like in a complicated cultural moment.They get into revival, why Christians are tempted to retreat from people who think …
Show notes
Jon Thompson joins Matt and Lauren to talk about what faithful Christian witness looks like in a complicated cultural moment.
They get into revival, why Christians are tempted to retreat from people who think differently, the importance of actually loving our neighbors, and Jon’s framework of love, word, and power.
Jon’s new book, Presence: Resilient Witness in Times of Retreat and Revival, is available now.
Plus, Matt tries a dad joke. It does not go particularly well.
ORDER MY LATEST BOOK
Becoming Like Jesus is a book about “progressive sanctification” that takes it beyond church words into the honest conversation so many Christians have navigated. Rooted in the Beatitudes, this book unpacks the lifelong series of highs and lows that the Holy Spirit uses to shape us into a person who looks like Jesus.
FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE:
Follow Lauren | Follow Matt | Youtube | Website | Newsletter
If you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You!
Thank you to our Sponsors
Global Christian Relief
GCR comes alongside persecuted Christians with prayer, Bibles, and real help so the church can endure and shine as a light for the Gospel. Stand with the persecuted Church and be a lifeline of prayer and support. — visit https://bit.ly/GCRMatt to learn more.
Human Coalition
For just $26, Human Coalition can help reach a woman before the abortion industry does and offer her real, compassionate support. Right now, there’s an opportunity to do even more. A generous donor has provided a $100,000 matching gift, so every gift made through December 31 can go even further.
So don’t wait. Give $26 today at humancoalition.org/chandler and help show the next mom that she is not alone.
Christian Marriage Cruises
Ready to invest in your marriage, rest, and reconnect? Join licensed marriage therapists Caleb and Verlynda for a faith-based marriage retreat at sea—visit christianmarriagecruise.com/sundays to reserve your spot today.
The Unimaginable
Some questions only suffering can teach us to ask, and only God can meet us in.If you or someone you love is walking through devastating loss, The Unimaginable is a faithful companion for the journey...reminding you that while grief may never fully disappear, you never have to carry it alone.
Available at MoodyPublishers.com or wherever books are sold.
–
Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.
For sponsorship inquiries, email [email protected]
When Your Child Walks Away From Jesus
What do you do when your child walks away from Jesus?Matt and Lauren talk honestly about the years their daughter Audrey was far from the Lord, the things they tried to control, the disappointment they carried …
Show notes
What do you do when your child walks away from Jesus?
Matt and Lauren talk honestly about the years their daughter Audrey was far from the Lord, the things they tried to control, the disappointment they carried, and what it looked like to keep praying when nothing seemed to be changing.
For anyone still praying for someone they love: don’t lose heart.
ORDER MY LATEST BOOK
Becoming Like Jesus is a book about “progressive sanctification” that takes it beyond church words into the honest conversation so many Christians have navigated. Rooted in the Beatitudes, this book unpacks the lifelong series of highs and lows that the Holy Spirit uses to shape us into a person who looks like Jesus.
FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE:
Follow Lauren | Follow Matt | Youtube | Website | Newsletter
If you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You!
Thank you to our Sponsors
Global Christian Relief
GCR comes alongside persecuted Christians with prayer, Bibles, and real help so the church can endure and shine as a light for the Gospel. Stand with the persecuted Church and be a lifeline of prayer and support. — visit https://bit.ly/GCRMatt to learn more.
Human Coalition
For just $26, Human Coalition can help reach a woman before the abortion industry does and offer her real, compassionate support. Right now, there’s an opportunity to do even more. A generous donor has provided a $100,000 matching gift, so every gift made through December 31 can go even further.
So don’t wait. Give $26 today at humancoalition.org/chandler and help show the next mom that she is not alone.
Christian Marriage Cruises
Ready to invest in your marriage, rest, and reconnect? Join licensed marriage therapists Caleb and Verlynda for a faith-based marriage retreat at sea—visit christianmarriagecruise.com/sundays to reserve your spot today.
The Unimaginable
Some questions only suffering can teach us to ask, and only God can meet us in.If you or someone you love is walking through devastating loss, The Unimaginable is a faithful companion for the journey...reminding you that while grief may never fully disappear, you never have to carry it alone.
Available at MoodyPublishers.com or wherever books are sold.
–
Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.
For sponsorship inquiries, email [email protected]
Finding Your Voice: Creativity, Calling & Using the Gifts God Gave You
Because we’re made in the image of a creative God, creativity isn’t reserved for artists, musicians, writers, or preachers. It can show up in a sermon, a song, a beautiful room, a meal, or even a really good …
Show notes
Because we’re made in the image of a creative God, creativity isn’t reserved for artists, musicians, writers, or preachers. It can show up in a sermon, a song, a beautiful room, a meal, or even a really good spreadsheet. We all reflect something of God’s order, beauty, and goodness in the things we make and the ways we serve.
In this episode, we talk about our own creative processes. Matt shares how he approaches sermon writing, why he needs time to steep with the Lord in a text, and what he’s learned from the seasons when he tried to preach like someone else. Lauren talks about songwriting, writing books and Bible studies, design, comparison, and the way creativity often begins for her with a sense that the Lord is stirring something that eventually needs to be brought to life.
Our hope is that this conversation gives you permission to be curious about how God has made you. You don’t have to create like somebody else. Pay attention to the gifts He’s given you, keep growing in them, and then make something and share it for the good of others and the glory of Jesus.
ORDER MY LATEST BOOK
Becoming Like Jesus is a book about “progressive sanctification” that takes it beyond church words into the honest conversation so many Christians have navigated. Rooted in the Beatitudes, this book unpacks the lifelong series of highs and lows that the Holy Spirit uses to shape us into a person who looks like Jesus.
FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE:
Follow Lauren | Follow Matt | Youtube | Website | Newsletter
If you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You!
Thank you to our Sponsors
Global Christian Relief
GCR comes alongside persecuted Christians with prayer, Bibles, and real help so the church can endure and shine as a light for the Gospel. Stand with the persecuted Church and be a lifeline of prayer and support. — visit https://bit.ly/GCRMatt to learn more.
Human Coalition
For just $26, Human Coalition can help reach a woman before the abortion industry does and offer her real, compassionate support. Right now, there’s an opportunity to do even more. A generous donor has provided a $100,000 matching gift, so every gift made through December 31 can go even further.
So don’t wait. Give $26 today at humancoalition.org/chandler and help show the next mom that she is not alone.
Christian Marriage Cruises
Ready to invest in your marriage, rest, and reconnect? Join licensed marriage therapists Caleb and Verlynda for a faith-based marriage retreat at sea—visit christianmarriagecruise.com/sundays to reserve your spot today.
The Unimaginable
Some questions only suffering can teach us to ask, and only God can meet us in.If you or someone you love is walking through devastating loss, The Unimaginable is a faithful companion for the journey...reminding you that while grief may never fully disappear, you never have to carry it alone.
Available at MoodyPublishers.com or wherever books are sold.
–
Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.
For sponsorship inquiries, email [email protected]
Chadd Wright: What Fatherhood Is Teaching a Navy SEAL About Surrender
We had the pleasure of sitting down with Chad Wright—former Navy SEAL, ultrarunner, founder of 3 of 7 Project, husband to Brooke, and brand-new dad—to talk less about the accomplishments people know him for and …
Show notes
We had the pleasure of sitting down with Chad Wright—former Navy SEAL, ultrarunner, founder of 3 of 7 Project, husband to Brooke, and brand-new dad—to talk less about the accomplishments people know him for and more about what following Jesus looks like in the ordinary places of life.
Chad shares what the SEAL teams taught him about patience, endurance, and staying in the fight when things get hard—and what he’s had to unlearn about pride and self-sufficiency. We talk about the ways marriage and fatherhood expose our illusion of control, why weakness can actually be a gift, and the difference between asking God to give us strength and asking Him to be our strength.
We also get into sanctification and why becoming like Jesus is fundamentally different from another self-improvement project. Chad opens up about the dangers of building a platform, the temptation to protect an image, and the importance of repentance when we get it wrong. And as new parents, Chad and Brooke are learning in real time how to remain husband and wife while becoming mom and dad—a conversation that takes us back into some of the hardest years of our own marriage.
This conversation is a reminder that sometimes the Lord’s deepest work doesn’t happen through extraordinary achievement. Sometimes it happens in weakness, interrupted plans, sleepless nights, repentance, and the slow work of being conformed into the image of Christ.
Mentioned Resources
ORDER MY LATEST BOOK
Becoming Like Jesus is a book about “progressive sanctification” that takes it beyond church words into the honest conversation so many Christians have navigated. Rooted in the Beatitudes, this book unpacks the lifelong series of highs and lows that the Holy Spirit uses to shape us into a person who looks like Jesus.
FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE:
Follow Lauren | Follow Matt | Youtube | Website | Newsletter
If you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You!
Thank you to our Sponsors
GCR comes alongside persecuted Christians with prayer, Bibles, and real help so the church can endure and shine as a light for the Gospel. Stand with the persecuted Church and be a lifeline of prayer and support. — visit https://bit.ly/GCRMatt to learn more.
The Unimaginable
Some questions only suffering can teach us to ask, and only God can meet us in.If you or someone you love is walking through devastating loss, The Unimaginable is a faithful companion for the journey...reminding you that while grief may never fully disappear, you never have to carry it alone.
Available at MoodyPublishers.com or wherever books are sold.
Cozy Earth
Head to cozyearth.com and use our code BETWEEN for an exclusive 20% off. That’s code Between for an exclusive 20% off. And if you see a post-purchase survey, mention that you heard about Cozy Earth right here!
–
Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.
For sponsorship inquiries, email [email protected]
A Dream, a Neighbor & a Jar of Salsa
In this episode, we’re telling the story of Storied Provisions—an idea that sat in Lauren’s heart for years before the Lord brought the right people, place, and timing together.What started as a desire to …
Show notes
In this episode, we’re telling the story of Storied Provisions—an idea that sat in Lauren’s heart for years before the Lord brought the right people, place, and timing together.
What started as a desire to create something beautiful, hospitable, and rooted in community eventually became Storied Provisions, a coffee shop, bakery, mercantile, and gathering space. But the story is really about more than opening a business. Lauren and our friend and co-founder Sara Keene share how two separate dreams began to converge, how the Lord provided people with complementary gifts, and what it looked like to keep saying yes when neither of them had the whole picture.
We talk about discerning a dream from God without trying to force it, doing something with the Lord instead of simply for Him, and learning to trust Him through closed doors, changing plans, financial pressure, and plenty of moments where we felt in over our heads. We also get into the beauty—and difficulty—of building something with other people: knowing your strengths, being honest about your weaknesses, navigating old wounds and insecurities, and choosing vulnerability before tension has a chance to turn toxic.
One of the sweetest parts of this story has been seeing that the Lord dreamed a better dream than we could have dreamed for ourselves. Storied has become a place where truth, beauty, goodness, hospitality, meaningful work, and community all meet—and where the Lord continues to shape the people building it just as much as the thing being built.
Our hope is that if the Lord has put something on your heart, you’ll be encouraged to hold it with open hands, invite others into it, and trust Him with what it becomes.
Mentioned Resources
ORDER MY LATEST BOOK
Becoming Like Jesus is a book about “progressive sanctification” that takes it beyond church words into the honest conversation so many Christians have navigated. Rooted in the Beatitudes, this book unpacks the lifelong series of highs and lows that the Holy Spirit uses to shape us into a person who looks like Jesus.
FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE:
Follow Lauren | Follow Matt | Youtube | Website | Newsletter
If you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You!
Thank you to our Sponsors
GCR comes alongside persecuted Christians with prayer, Bibles, and real help so the church can endure and shine as a light for the Gospel. Stand with the persecuted Church and be a lifeline of prayer and support. — visit GlobalChristianRelief.org to learn more.
The Unimaginable
Some questions only suffering can teach us to ask, and only God can meet us in.If you or someone you love is walking through devastating loss, The Unimaginable is a faithful companion for the journey...reminding you that while grief may never fully disappear, you never have to carry it alone.
Available at MoodyPublishers.com or wherever books are sold.
Cozy Earth
Head to cozyearth.com and use our code BETWEEN for an exclusive 20% off. That’s code Between for an exclusive 20% off. And if you see a post-purchase survey, mention that you heard about Cozy Earth right here!
–
Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.
For sponsorship inquiries, email [email protected]
The Friendship We Were Made For
Brooke Ledbetter joins us to talk about a journey that many people quietly walk through—depression, anxiety, loneliness, and the surprising gift of friendship. Brooke shares how a painful college breakup opened …
Show notes
Brooke Ledbetter joins us to talk about a journey that many people quietly walk through—depression, anxiety, loneliness, and the surprising gift of friendship. Brooke shares how a painful college breakup opened the door to a season of depression, how anxiety and social fear followed, and how God met her through His Word, wise counseling, medication, and, perhaps most powerfully, the faithful presence of Christian friends.
We talk about the role of community in healing, what it looks like to let people carry your burdens when you can’t carry them yourself, and the moment God used a simple prayer gathering to bring a dramatic turning point in Brooke’s story. Along the way, we discuss friendship with Jesus, why deep relationships require vulnerability and conflict, and how isolation can quietly keep us from the healing God intends.
Whether you’re longing for deeper friendships, struggling with depression or anxiety, or simply wondering how to cultivate meaningful relationships in a disconnected world, we hope this conversation encourages you to keep moving toward Jesus and His people.
Mentioned Resources
- Closer Than a Brother — Brooke’s book on friendship and belonging.
ORDER MY LATEST BOOK
Becoming Like Jesus is a book about “progressive sanctification” that takes it beyond church words into the honest conversation so many Christians have navigated. Rooted in the Beatitudes, this book unpacks the lifelong series of highs and lows that the Holy Spirit uses to shape us into a person who looks like Jesus.
FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE:
Follow Lauren | Follow Matt | Youtube | Website | Newsletter
If you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You!
Thank you to our Sponsors
GCR comes alongside persecuted Christians with prayer, Bibles, and real help so the church can endure and shine as a light for the Gospel. Stand with the persecuted Church and be a lifeline of prayer and support. — visit https://bit.ly/GCRMatt to learn more.
Psalms of Trust
In Psalms of Trust, H. B. Charles walks through ten Psalms, including Psalm 27, Psalm 42, Psalm 73, and Psalm 91, helping readers discover fresh confidence in God's character and care.
You can find it at MoodyPublishers.com or wherever you get good books.
Authentic Masculinity
If you want clarity around the topic of masculinity, or you want to help the men in your life find it, pick up Authentic Masculinity.
You can find it at MoodyPublishers.com or wherever you get good books.
–
Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.
For sponsorship inquiries, email [email protected]
Caring for the Body as Worship
We sat down with our friend Mike McCalley, whose story both challenged and encouraged us. Mike shares how a simple conversation with his son exposed a deeper spiritual and physical drift that had quietly …
Show notes
We sat down with our friend Mike McCalley, whose story both challenged and encouraged us. Mike shares how a simple conversation with his son exposed a deeper spiritual and physical drift that had quietly settled into his life. What began as an inability to run a quarter mile became a journey of repentance, renewed stewardship, and ultimately completing the Leadville 100—a grueling 100-mile mountain race.
Along the way, we talk about the connection between physical discipline and spiritual vitality, the dangers of settling for “good enough,” and how God often uses small acts of obedience to awaken us to bigger things. Mike also shares powerful lessons about failure, perseverance, community, marriage, and the importance of telling ourselves the truth without getting trapped in shame.
More than a story about fitness, this is a conversation about stewardship, sanctification, and what it looks like to pursue all that God has for us—one faithful step at a time.
Mentioned Resources
- The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer
- Leadville Trail 100 Run
ORDER MY LATEST BOOK
Becoming Like Jesus is a book about “progressive sanctification” that takes it beyond church words into the honest conversation so many Christians have navigated. Rooted in the Beatitudes, this book unpacks the lifelong series of highs and lows that the Holy Spirit uses to shape us into a person who looks like Jesus.
FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE:
Follow Lauren | Follow Matt | Youtube | Website | Newsletter
If you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You!
Thank you to our Sponsors
GCR comes alongside persecuted Christians with prayer, Bibles, and real help so the church can endure and shine as a light for the Gospel. Stand with the persecuted Church and be a lifeline of prayer and support. — visit https://bit.ly/GCRMatt to learn more.
Psalms of Trust
In Psalms of Trust, H. B. Charles walks through ten Psalms, including Psalm 27, Psalm 42, Psalm 73, and Psalm 91, helping readers discover fresh confidence in God's character and care.
You can find it at MoodyPublishers.com or wherever you get good books.
Authentic Masculinity
If you want clarity around the topic of masculinity, or you want to help the men in your life find it, pick up Authentic Masculinity.
You can find it at MoodyPublishers.com or wherever you get good books.
–
Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.
For sponsorship inquiries, email [email protected]
Answering Your Questions on Parenting
In this episode, we answer listener-submitted parenting questions covering everything from discipline and consequences to neurodivergence, school choices, overprotection, family devotions, and having ongoing …
Show notes
In this episode, we answer listener-submitted parenting questions covering everything from discipline and consequences to neurodivergence, school choices, overprotection, family devotions, and having ongoing conversations with our kids about sex and growing up. The questions are thoughtful, tender, and honest — which honestly reflects how parenting feels most days.
More than anything, we wanted this Q&A to feel freeing. Parenting can carry so much pressure, especially in a culture where everyone seems to be processing childhood wounds and trying not to repeat mistakes. We’ve definitely gotten things wrong, and we’re still parenting in real time with kids who are all wildly different from one another. But over and over again, we’ve found that the kindness of Jesus meets us there.
We talk about learning to love the kid you actually have instead of the one you imagined, how discipline and grace aren’t enemies, why curiosity matters more than control, and how apologizing to our kids has probably preached the gospel louder than any formal family devotional.
Our hope is simple: that this episode would take some pressure off, remind you there are no perfect parents, and encourage you to keep walking closely with Jesus as you parent the children He’s entrusted to you.
In This Episode
[02:00] There Are No Perfect Parents
[05:00] Loving the Kid You Have, Not the One You Want
[08:00] Discipline, Grace & Consequences
[13:00] Public School, Homeschool & Protecting Kids Without Overprotecting Them
[22:00] Parenting Neurodivergence, Anxiety & ADHD
[29:00] Talking to Kids About Sex, Dating & Growing Up
[33:00] Getting to the Heart Instead of Surface Behavior
[38:00] Keeping the Gospel Central in Your Home
[47:00] Family Devotions, Discipleship Rhythms & Letting Go of Guilt
Mentioned Resources
- ID Retreat (The Village Church parenting resource) - email: [email protected]
- Family Discipleship by Matt Chandler & Adam Griffin
- The Explicit Gospel by Matt Chandler
- Heart Engaged EQ Cards
ORDER MY LATEST BOOK
Becoming Like Jesus is a book about “progressive sanctification” that takes it beyond church words into the honest conversation so many Christians have navigated. Rooted in the Beatitudes, this book unpacks the lifelong series of highs and lows that the Holy Spirit uses to shape us into a person who looks like Jesus.
FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE:
Follow Lauren | Follow Matt | Youtube | Website | Newsletter
If you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You!
Thank you to our Sponsors
GCR comes alongside persecuted Christians with prayer, Bibles, and real help so the church can endure and shine as a light for the Gospel. Stand with the persecuted Church and be a lifeline of prayer and support. — visit https://bit.ly/GCRMatt to learn more.
Let this Mother’s Day be a reminder that she deserves care, too — discover how Cozy Earth turns everyday routines into moments of softness and ease. Head to cozyearth.com and use code BETWEEN for an exclusive 20% off.
Authentic Masculinity
If you want clarity around the topic of masculinity, or you want to help the men in your life find it, pick up Authentic Masculinity.
You can find it at MoodyPublishers.com or wherever you get good books.
–
Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.
For sponsorship inquiries, email [email protected]
Blessed Are Those Who Mourn
In this special bonus episode, we share a full chapter from Matt’s upcoming book, Becoming Like Jesus — the chapter readers asked for most: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”In it, Matt …
Show notes
In this special bonus episode, we share a full chapter from Matt’s upcoming book, Becoming Like Jesus — the chapter readers asked for most: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
In it, Matt talks about what it means to grieve honestly before God in a world that constantly pushes us toward distraction, comfort, and numbness. This chapter explores how mourning shapes us into people who are tender toward both our own sin and the brokenness around us.
We’ll reflect on the old Puritan prayer for “the gift of tears,” the way sin deforms and distorts the human soul, and how easy it is in our internet-saturated age to become overwhelmed, cynical, or emotionally shut down. But Jesus doesn’t call us to harden ourselves. He invites us into deeper communion with Him through repentance, compassion, and presence with hurting people.
More than anything, we hope this episode reminds you that comfort is not found in avoiding sorrow but in meeting Jesus there. His presence, His promises, and His redemption are enough for every kind of mourning.
ORDER MY LATEST BOOK
Becoming Like Jesus is a book about “progressive sanctification” that takes it beyond church words into the honest conversation so many Christians have navigated. Rooted in the Beatitudes, this book unpacks the lifelong series of highs and lows that the Holy Spirit uses to shape us into a person who looks like Jesus.
FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE:
Follow Lauren | Follow Matt | Youtube | Website | Newsletter
If you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You!
Thank you to our Sponsors
GCR comes alongside persecuted Christians with prayer, Bibles, and real help so the church can endure and shine as a light for the Gospel. Stand with the persecuted Church and be a lifeline of prayer and support. — visit https://bit.ly/GCRMatt to learn more.
Let this Mother’s Day be a reminder that she deserves care, too — discover how Cozy Earth turns everyday routines into moments of softness and ease. Head to cozyearth.com and use code BETWEEN for an exclusive 20% off.
Authentic Maculenity
If you want clarity around the topic of masculinity, or you want to help the men in your life find it, pick up Authentic Masculinity.
You can find it at MoodyPublishers.com or wherever you get good books.
–
Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.
For sponsorship inquiries, email [email protected]
Why the Christian Life Isn’t “Up and to the Right”
In this episode, we’re diving into Matt’s new book Becoming Like Jesus: The Everyday Journey to Living a Life of Holiness. We talk about what it actually looks like to follow Jesus over the long haul—not the …
Show notes
In this episode, we’re diving into Matt’s new book Becoming Like Jesus: The Everyday Journey to Living a Life of Holiness. We talk about what it actually looks like to follow Jesus over the long haul—not the polished, “up and to the right” version, but the real story of highs, lows, doubt, growth, and grace.
We unpack how sanctification isn’t a moment or a light switch—it’s a lifelong process. We share why so many of us get discouraged when suffering or struggle shows up, and how that might actually be part of God’s good work in us. We also talk through the Beatitudes as a framework for understanding what Jesus is forming in us over time.
More than anything, we hope this conversation reminds you that you’re not behind, you’re not disqualified, and you’re not alone. If you don’t quit—if you keep bringing your whole self to Jesus—you’re actually right in the middle of the journey He’s using to make you more like Him.
ORDER MY LATEST BOOK
Becoming Like Jesus is a book about “progressive sanctification” that takes it beyond church words into the honest conversation so many Christians have navigated. Rooted in the Beatitudes, this book unpacks the lifelong series of highs and lows that the Holy Spirit uses to shape us into a person who looks like Jesus.
If you Pre-Order the book now, you will get access to some bonus content, including access to a 2 hour long conversation we got to have with our friends, Ali Parsons, Philip Anthony Mitchell, Joel Muddamalle, and Jonathan Pokluda. You can Pre-Order here.
FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE:
Follow Lauren | Follow Matt | Youtube | Website | Newsletter
If you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You!
Thank you to our Sponsors
GCR comes alongside persecuted Christians with prayer, Bibles, and real help so the church can endure and shine as a light for the Gospel. Stand with the persecuted Church and be a lifeline of prayer and support. — visit https://bit.ly/GCRMatt to learn more.
Let this Mother’s Day be a reminder that she deserves care, too — discover how Cozy Earth turns everyday routines into moments of softness and ease. Head to cozyearth.com and use code BETWEEN for an exclusive 20% off.
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Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.
For sponsorship inquiries, email [email protected]
How to Walk Through Seasons of Suffering
In this episode, we talk about suffering—not just as a hard part of life, but as a real part of life in a fallen world. We share some of our earliest memories of suffering, the seasons that disoriented us, and …
Show notes
In this episode, we talk about suffering—not just as a hard part of life, but as a real part of life in a fallen world. We share some of our earliest memories of suffering, the seasons that disoriented us, and the ways God has met us in both sudden storms and long stretches of pain. From grief and betrayal to illness, relational heartache, and unanswered prayers, we try to talk honestly about what it looks like to suffer without pretending.
We also spend time in Psalm 107 and the different kinds of suffering it describes—wandering, oppression, folly, and storms—and how those categories help us make sense of our own lives. Along the way, we talk about lament, community, sustaining grace, and the kindness of bringing our real hearts before the Lord instead of a polished version of ourselves.
Our hope is simple: if you’re in a season of suffering right now, you’d feel encouraged to keep crying out to God, keep looping in the saints, and keep trusting that even here, He is at work.
ORDER MY LATEST BOOK
Becoming Like Jesus is a book about “progressive sanctification” that takes it beyond church words into the honest conversation so many Christians have navigated. Rooted in the Beatitudes, this book unpacks the lifelong series of highs and lows that the Holy Spirit uses to shape us into a person who looks like Jesus.
If you Pre-Order the book now, you will get access to some bonus content, including access to a 2 hour long conversation we got to have with our friends, Ali Parsons, Philip Anthony Mitchell, Joel Muddamalle, and Jonathan Pokluda. You can Pre-Order here.
FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE:
Follow Lauren | Follow Matt | Youtube | Website | Newsletter
If you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You!
Thank you to our Sponsors
GCR comes alongside persecuted Christians with prayer, Bibles, and real help so the church can endure and shine as a light for the Gospel. Stand with the persecuted Church and be a lifeline of prayer and support. — visit https://bit.ly/GCRMatt to learn more.
This Mother's Day, give the gift that shows up every single night. Head to cozyearth.com and use my code BETWEENBOGO for an exclusive Buy One, Give One offer running from April 12th to April 18th on sheet sets and if you get
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Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.
For sponsorship inquiries, email [email protected]
What God Is Doing In Our Day
In this episode, we’re talking about what we’re seeing and sensing right now—both in the Church and out in the world. It really does feel like something is happening. From college campuses to local churches …
Show notes
In this episode, we’re talking about what we’re seeing and sensing right now—both in the Church and out in the world. It really does feel like something is happening. From college campuses to local churches, there’s a growing hunger for God that we haven’t seen in a long time.
We’re watching people—especially Gen Z—wake up to the reality that what the world promised isn’t enough. There’s a search for something real, something transcendent. And by God’s grace, many are finding that in Jesus.
At the same time, we’re also seeing the Church reawaken to its need for the power of God. Not just good sermons or great worship, but genuine dependence on the Holy Spirit through prayer, fasting, and repentance. We’ve felt that in our own lives too—this deeper awareness that we can’t manufacture what only God can do.
So this episode is really an invitation: pay attention to where God is moving, draw near to it, and ask Him to do it in you. We don’t want to sit on the sidelines and watch—we want to be part of it.
ORDER MY LATEST BOOK
Becoming Like Jesus is a book about “progressive sanctification” that takes it beyond church words into the honest conversation so many Christians have navigated. Rooted in the Beatitudes, this book unpacks the lifelong series of highs and lows that the Holy Spirit uses to shape us into a person who looks like Jesus.
If you Pre-Order the book now, you will get access to some bonus content, including access to a 2 hour long conversation we got to have with our friends, Ali Parsons, Philip Anthony Mitchell, Joel Muddamalle, and Jonathan Pokluda. You can Pre-Order here.
FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE:
Follow Lauren | Follow Matt | Youtube | Website | Newsletter
If you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You!
Thank you to our Sponsors
GCR comes alongside persecuted Christians with prayer, Bibles, and real help so the church can endure and shine as a light for the Gospel. Stand with the persecuted Church and be a lifeline of prayer and support. — visit https://bit.ly/GCRMatt to learn more.
Let this Mother’s Day be a reminder that she deserves care, too — discover how Cozy Earth turns everyday routines into moments of softness and ease. Head to cozyearth.com and use code BETWEEN for an exclusive 20% off.
–
Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.
For sponsorship inquiries, email [email protected]
The Perfectionism Trap
In this episode, we talk honestly about perfectionism—what it looks like when your identity is built on performance, and how exhausting that kind of striving can become. Lauren shares how, from childhood, she …
Show notes
In this episode, we talk honestly about perfectionism—what it looks like when your identity is built on performance, and how exhausting that kind of striving can become. Lauren shares how, from childhood, she felt driven to succeed: getting the best grades, being first chair in band, doing everything “right,” and eventually trying to be the perfect Christian, worship leader, and mom.
But underneath all that achievement was a deeper desire for glory—her own glory. And that pursuit can quietly shape the way we see ourselves, our failures, and even the people around us.
We discuss how God began to expose that in Lauren’s life through music, ministry, and eventually Celebrate Recovery. What looked like success on the outside was actually fueled by fear, shame, and the pressure to prove she was enough. The turning point came through rediscovering the gospel—not just that Jesus died for our sins, but that He also lived the perfect life we couldn’t live and gives us His righteousness.
That realization changes everything. It frees us to admit weakness, ask forgiveness, and stop striving to prove ourselves. We talk about Martin Luther’s idea of the “theology of glory” versus the “theology of the cross,” and how learning to embrace weakness has actually opened the door to deeper joy, healthier relationships, and more freedom in parenting, ministry, and everyday life.
ORDER MY LATEST BOOK
Becoming Like Jesus is a book about “progressive sanctification” that takes it beyond church words into the honest conversation so many Christians have navigated. Rooted in the Beatitudes, this book unpacks the lifelong series of highs and lows that the Holy Spirit uses to shape us into a person who looks like Jesus.
If you Pre-Order the book now, you will get access to some bonus content, including access to a 2 hour long conversation we got to have with our friends, Ali Parsons, Philip Anthony Mitchell, Joel Muddamalle, and Jonathan Pokluda. You can Pre-Order here.
FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE:
Follow Lauren | Follow Matt | Youtube | Website | Newsletter
If you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You!
Thank you to our Sponsors
GCR comes alongside persecuted Christians with prayer, Bibles, and real help so the church can endure and shine as a light for the Gospel. Stand with the persecuted Church and be a lifeline of prayer and support. — visit https://bit.ly/GCRMatt to learn more.
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Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.
For sponsorship inquiries, email [email protected]
What We’re Learning About the Holy Spirit
In this episode, we talk about our journey with the Holy Spirit. We both grew up in church contexts where He wasn’t ignored—but He wasn’t really known either. Over time, through Scripture, ministry, and seasons …
Show notes
In this episode, we talk about our journey with the Holy Spirit. We both grew up in church contexts where He wasn’t ignored—but He wasn’t really known either. Over time, through Scripture, ministry, and seasons of stretching, we’ve learned that the Spirit isn’t just a doctrine to understand or gifts to experience. He is God with us.
We share what it looks like for us to walk with Him between Sundays—asking Him to illuminate the Word, guide our steps, soften our hearts, and provide power where our strength runs out. More than anything, we’ve learned that the Holy Spirit loves to make much of Jesus, and life with Him is marked not just by power, but by tenderness.
Our hope is simple: that you’d open your Bible, ask the Spirit to speak, and begin growing in friendship with Him.
ORDER MY LATEST BOOK
Becoming Like Jesus is a book about “progressive sanctification” that takes it beyond church words into the honest conversation so many Christians have navigated. Rooted in the Beatitudes, this book unpacks the lifelong series of highs and lows that the Holy Spirit uses to shape us into a person who looks like Jesus.
If you Pre-Order the book now, you will get access to some bonus content, including access to a 2 hour long conversation we got to have with our friends, Ali Parsons, Philip Anthony Mitchell, Joel Muddamalle, and Jonathan Pokluda. You can Pre-Order here.
FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE:
Follow Lauren | Follow Matt | Youtube | Website | Newsletter
If you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You!
Thank you to our Sponsors
GCR comes alongside persecuted Christians with prayer, Bibles, and real help so the church can endure and shine as a light for the Gospel. Stand with the persecuted Church and be a lifeline of prayer and support. — visit https://bit.ly/GCRMatt to learn more.
–
Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.
For sponsorship inquiries, email [email protected]
Building Rhythms That Keep You From Burning Out
In this episode, we walk through what it looks like to do a “drain audit.” What drains us emotionally? Physically? Spiritually? Relationally? We talk honestly about how tragedy, busyness, sickness, loud rooms …
Show notes
In this episode, we walk through what it looks like to do a “drain audit.” What drains us emotionally? Physically? Spiritually? Relationally? We talk honestly about how tragedy, busyness, sickness, loud rooms, traffic, and even good ministry can leave us thin.
We also talk about rhythms—daily, weekly, and seasonal—that help us build a replenishment cycle. Not as indulgence. Not as an escape. But as obedience. Because running empty isn’t holy. And exhaustion isn’t a mystery—it’s a pattern.
If you’ve been chasing rest but still feel weary, we hope this conversation encourages you & helps you build your own rhythms of replenishment.
In This Episode
- [01:00] Lauren’s Ice Cream Jackpot & Cricked Neck
- [04:00] Rest vs. Replenishment – What’s the Difference?
- [06:00] The Drain Audit: What Empties Your Cup?
- [10:00] Emotional Drain: Tragedy, Busyness & Feeling “Thin”
- [16:00] Physical Drain: Sickness, Sleep & Human Limits
- [18:00] Spiritual Drain: When We Can’t Hear the Lord
- [21:30] Longing, Ecclesiastes & Living Life Backwards
- [23:30] Stop Treating Exhaustion Like a Mystery
- [25:00] Check Engine Lights
- [27:00] What Actually Replenishes Us
- [32:00] Building Daily, Weekly & Seasonal Rhythms
- [38:00] Replenishment Is Not Indulgence — It’s Obedience
- [41:00] Seasons Change the Strategy
- [45:00] Doing the Replenishment Audit Together
Resources and Mentions
- Living Life Backwards by David Gibson
ORDER MY LATEST BOOK
Becoming Like Jesus is a book about “progressive sanctification” that takes it beyond church words into the honest conversation so many Christians have navigated. Rooted in the Beatitudes, this book unpacks the lifelong series of highs and lows that the Holy Spirit uses to shape us into a person who looks like Jesus.
If you Pre-Order the book now, you will get access to some bonus content, including access to a 2 hour long conversation we got to have with our friends, Ali Parsons, Philip Anthony Mitchell, Joel Muddamalle, and Jonathan Pokluda. You can Pre-Order here.
FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE:
Follow Lauren | Follow Matt | Youtube | Website | Newsletter
If you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You!
Thank you to our Sponsors
GCR comes alongside persecuted Christians with prayer, Bibles, and real help so the church can endure and shine as a light for the Gospel. Stand with the persecuted Church and be a lifeline of prayer and support. — visit https://bit.ly/GCRMatt to learn more.
–
Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.
For sponsorship inquiries, email [email protected]
How to Find (and Keep) Deep Friendships
In this episode of Between Sundays, Lauren and I talk about something that’s foundational to life in Christ but often overlooked: friendship. God made us for connection. You and I were not designed to walk this …
Show notes
In this episode of Between Sundays, Lauren and I talk about something that’s foundational to life in Christ but often overlooked: friendship. God made us for connection. You and I were not designed to walk this life alone, and yet so many of us are doing just that. We unpack the epidemic of loneliness, how real transformation happens in community, how to pursue meaningful friendships, and how to discern who is safe to be vulnerable with. It’s not easy. It takes time. It takes risk. But it is also worth it. Our hope is that this conversation gives you vision and practical tools to form the kind of deep, gospel-centered friendships we all need.
In This Episode
- [00:00] Lauren’s Dad Joke
- [02:00] The "At the Table" Series and the Loneliness Epidemic
- [04:49] Transformation Happens in Community
- [06:00] What Real Friendship Looks Like (and Why It’s Hard to Find)
- [09:02] Risk, Vulnerability, and the Role of Wisdom
- [10:00] How to Spot a Fool (and Why You Shouldn’t Be Friends with One)
- [13:10] Wise vs. Simple vs. Foolish: Who Can You Trust?
- [15:00] Belonging Deficits and Misreading Social Cues
- [18:00] Hurt, Healing, and How We Grow in Relationships
- [21:00] You Are Becoming Like Your Closest Friends
- [23:00] Inside Lauren’s Closest Friendships: A 20-Year Story
- [31:00] Evaluating Your Current Friendships
- [34:00] Inviting Friends Into the Journey (Without Breaking Up With Them)
Resources and Mentions
- Proverbs 13:20, Proverbs 22:24–25 – On choosing friends wisely
- U.S. Surgeon General’s 2023 report on loneliness as an epidemic
- The Overcomers: The King's Table episode - On Male Friendships
- Becoming Like Jesus - Matt’s Forthcoming Book
FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE:
Follow Lauren | Follow Matt | Youtube | Website | Newsletter
If you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You!
Thank you to our Sponsors
GCR comes alongside persecuted Christians with prayer, Bibles, and real help so the church can endure and shine as a light for the Gospel. Stand with the persecuted Church and be a lifeline of prayer and support. — visit Globalchristianrelief.org to learn more.
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Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.
For sponsorship inquiries, email [email protected]
How to Build a Marriage That Lasts
Hey friends—Matt Chandler here. If you’ve followed The Overcomers, you know I’ve spent years telling stories of God’s grace amidst unimaginable pain. But we’re starting a new chapter doing something Lauren and …
Show notes
Hey friends—Matt Chandler here. If you’ve followed The Overcomers, you know I’ve spent years telling stories of God’s grace amidst unimaginable pain. But we’re starting a new chapter doing something Lauren and I have desired to do for awhile now. We are pulling up two chairs and inviting you into the kinds of conversations we’ve had over two decades of marriage—some tender, some funny, all rooted in grace and truth.
In this first episode, we walk through our first seven years of marriage. We talk about unmet expectations, brokenness, and the power of covenant love. We dig into how God met us—not with quick fixes, but with the slow, steady work of transformation. If you’re married, want to be, or walking with someone who is, our prayer is this gives you some practical steps for building a strong marriage and reminds you we are all in need of God’s work in our lives.
FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE:
Follow Lauren | Follow Matt | Youtube | Website | Newsletter
If you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You!
Thank you to our Sponsors
GCR comes alongside persecuted Christians with prayer, Bibles, and real help so the church can endure and shine as a light for the Gospel. Stand with the persecuted Church and be a lifeline of prayer and support. — visit Globalchristianrelief.org to learn more.
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Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.
For sponsorship inquiries, email [email protected]
Introducing: Between Sundays with the Chandlers
Between Sundays with the Chandlers is a candid podcast hosted by Matt and Lauren Chandler that invites listeners into the everyday conversations that happen between church services and busy weeks. With warmth …
Show notes
Between Sundays with the Chandlers is a candid podcast hosted by Matt and Lauren Chandler that invites listeners into the everyday conversations that happen between church services and busy weeks. With warmth, honesty, and humor, the Chandlers talk about real life, marriage, parenting, faith, leadership, suffering, joy, and the ordinary moments that shape who we’re becoming.
Rather than polished answers or Sunday morning soundbites, Between Sundays offers thoughtful reflections rooted in Scripture and lived experience. Matt and Lauren share openly about the challenges and blessings of walking with Jesus in the middle of work, family life, and personal growth, creating space for listeners to feel seen, encouraged, and grounded.
This podcast is for anyone who wants faith to connect to real life, not just on Sundays, but in the in-between moments where discipleship is actually lived.
FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE:
Matt | Lauren | Youtube | Website | Newsletter
If you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You!
Thank you to our Sponsors!Global Christian Relief: We’re grateful for partners like Global Christian Relief. They are on the front lines supporting our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world — delivering food, shelter, Bibles, and hope where it’s needed most, and calling the Church to pray boldly and stand faithfully with them.Visit GlobalChristianRelief.org to learn how you can pray, give, and stand with believers who are a light for Jesus in the darkest places. Global Christian Relief is helping faithful believers stand firm for the Gospel.
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Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.
For sponsorship inquiries, email [email protected]
Trusting Christ in Trauma
I got to sit down with Olga Reed, a longtime member of The Village Church and someone I deeply admire. Olga walks us through her story—from battling depression and loneliness as a first-generation college …
Show notes
I got to sit down with Olga Reed, a longtime member of The Village Church and someone I deeply admire. Olga walks us through her story—from battling depression and loneliness as a first-generation college student, to coming to faith in Christ, and then surviving one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history at Virginia Tech.
Her testimony is a resounding declaration that the darkness did not win and Christ was at work even in the darkest places. Through pain, trauma, and even survivor's guilt, Olga clung to the Word of God, discovered healing in community, and found that Jesus is better than life.
In This Episode
- Meet Olga Reed: First-Gen Faith and Virginia Tech
- Depression, Isolation, and Searching for Belonging
- Surrender to Jesus: "Fine"
- Finding Cru and Her First Bible Study
- April 15: The Suicide Attempt
- April 16, 2007: Waking to Sirens
- After the Shooting: Fear, Grief, and Loneliness
- Hope in Romans 8 and the Power of Scripture
- Triggers, Therapy, and Talking About It
- Evil Exists, But So Does Resurrection
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Instagram | Youtube | Website | Newsletter
If you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You!
Thank you to our Sponsors
Qava.tvQAVA is a Christian streaming platform that helps you understand the Bible and live out your faith with confidence. Think of it as digital discipleship in your pocket. Visit qava.tv/theovercomers and use code OVERCOME50 for 50% off your first 6 months. That’s only $4.99 a month!
Overcoming the Darkness by Nate PickowiczThis book offers biblical wisdom and the stories of faithful saints to help you see God’s faithfulness in the darkest seasons. Grab Overcoming the Darkness today at MoodyPublishers.com or wherever good books are sold.
On Our Way Home by Colleen ChaoThrough Scripture and her own journey of suffering, Colleen Chao reminds us that all our longings point to the joy of our true Home with Christ. Get your copy of On Our Way Home at MoodyPublishers.com or wherever good books are sold.
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Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.
For sponsorship inquiries, email [email protected]
Freedom from Performance
In this episode, I sit down with my lovely wife Lauren to explore her story. She shares about growing up as a “good girl,” always chasing approval, achievement, and the A+. But beneath that pursuit was a deeper …
Show notes
In this episode, I sit down with my lovely wife Lauren to explore her story. She shares about growing up as a “good girl,” always chasing approval, achievement, and the A+. But beneath that pursuit was a deeper struggle: the fear of being weak, broken, or not enough. We talk about how that mindset shaped our marriage, her ministry, and her identity—and the powerful moment when she finally laid it all down at Recovery. This conversation is filled with the kind of grace that sets people free. If you’ve ever struggled with perfectionism, people-pleasing, or performance-driven faith, I believe this episode will offer truth and healing to where you are.
In This Episode- Childhood roots of perfectionism and people-pleasing
- How "being good" can become a way to avoid needing God
- Marriage as the first wake-up call to grace
- Hitting the idol of achievement in music ministry
- The surrender chip moment: Letting go of control
- Embracing powerlessness and understanding grace
- How fixed mindset stifled creativity and risk-taking
- Moving toward a growth mindset in songwriting
- Learning to say “no” and disappoint people with peace
- Parenting and people-pleasing under the spotlight
- Shame, criticism, and trusting God with your reputation
- Remaining vigilant: How perfectionism tries to sneak back in
- Final encouragement for those stuck in performance
Resources- Beth Moore's Bible Study: Believing God
- TVC Recovery Ministry
- Follow Lauren
FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE:
Instagram | Youtube | Website | Newsletter
If you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You!
Thank you to our Sponsors
Qava.tvQAVA is a Christian streaming platform that helps you understand the Bible and live out your faith with confidence. Think of it as digital discipleship in your pocket. Visit qava.tv/theovercomers and use code OVERCOME50 for 50% off your first 6 months. That’s only $4.99 a month!
Overcoming the Darkness by Nate PickowiczThis book offers biblical wisdom and the stories of faithful saints to help you see God’s faithfulness in the darkest seasons. Grab Overcoming the Darkness today at MoodyPublishers.com or wherever good books are sold.
On Our Way Home by Colleen ChaoThrough Scripture and her own journey of suffering, Colleen Chao reminds us that all our longings point to the joy of our true Home with Christ. Get your copy of On Our Way Home at MoodyPublishers.com or wherever good books are sold.
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Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.
For sponsorship inquiries, email [email protected]
On Suffering and Sonship
In this episode, I sit down with my friend Josh Turner—pastor, leader, and now author of Into the Storm. Josh’s story is one of unexpected suffering and surprising strength. We talk about his daughter Riley …
Show notes
In this episode, I sit down with my friend Josh Turner—pastor, leader, and now author of Into the Storm. Josh’s story is one of unexpected suffering and surprising strength. We talk about his daughter Riley, born with a rare condition, undiagnosed for 12 years, and now living life with courage and clarity most adults don’t have. Josh shares what it was like walking through that pain while pastoring, wrestling with God’s sovereignty, and being forced to reexamine what he actually believed about suffering.
That experience, by the grace of God, moved Josh from being just a servant of God to living like a son. We also dive into the ministry he now leads, 10Ten Project, which helps pastors get healthy before they burn out or blow up. This episode isn’t just for church leaders—it’s for anyone walking through pain, anyone looking for hope, and anyone needing to be reminded: God is doing more than you think He is.
In This Episode
- Suffering as a young pastor and preparing the church for it
- Josh’s early ministry influences and meeting Matt
- The story of Riley’s birth and undiagnosed condition
- Wrestling theologically with suffering and God’s sovereignty
- Transition from servant to son – a pastor’s identity crisis
- Why 10Ten exists: helping pastors finish well
- How many pastors are emotionally unaware
- Real stories from intensives and ministry breakdowns
- A theology of suffering is essential for everyone
- Encouragement to those in suffering or leadership burnout
Guest Resources
FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE:
Instagram | Youtube | Website | Newsletter
If you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You!
Thank you to our Sponsors
Overcoming the Darkness by Nate PickowiczThis book offers biblical wisdom and the stories of faithful saints to help you see God’s faithfulness in the darkest seasons. Grab Overcoming the Darkness today at MoodyPublishers.com or wherever good books are sold.
On Our Way Home by Colleen ChaoThrough Scripture and her own journey of suffering, Colleen Chao reminds us that all our longings point to the joy of our true Home with Christ. Get your copy of On Our Way Home at MoodyPublishers.com or wherever good books are sold.
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Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.
For sponsorship inquiries, email [email protected]
Embodied Faith and the Death of Platitudes
I sat down with artist, writer and friend Josh Nadeau to explore his path from theological precocity to personal crisis and ultimately, redemptive beauty. Josh shares how growing up steeped in Reformed theology …
Show notes
I sat down with artist, writer and friend Josh Nadeau to explore his path from theological precocity to personal crisis and ultimately, redemptive beauty. Josh shares how growing up steeped in Reformed theology didn’t insulate him from a slow descent into apathy, addiction, spiritual numbness, and walking through life “as a ghost”. It was beauty—raw, embodied, soul-stirring beauty—that woke him up. We talk about deconstruction, embodiment, addiction, the love of God, and why aesthetics — embodied faith — might be what Saints are made from. If you’re barely hanging on or wondering what a holy life could look like beyond checklists, I commend his book Room For Good Things to Run Wild to you.
In This Episode- Growing up “super Christian” and deeply catechized
- University: the intellectual wrestling match of faith
- Burnout, apathy, and alcohol: five years of slow unraveling
- Rock bottom: bourbon at 5am and the call of hidden music
- Churchy clichés and the need for something that can bear the weight
- The boxing gym: embodied weakness and discipleship
- Gnosticism, disembodied faith, and hunger for incarnation
- Theology of the Body & rediscovering the sacred in flesh
- Becoming a saint: not instant, not easy, but beautiful
- God’s love beyond usefulness, the danger of returning to slavery
- Why Josh wrote Room for Good Things to Run Wild
- Beauty as the apologetic for a disenchanted age
- Speaking to the silent middle: the “4 out of 10” Christian life
Guest Resources
FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE:Instagram | Youtube | Website | Newsletter
If you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You!
Thank you to our SponsorsOvercoming the Darkness by Nate Pickowicz
This book offers biblical wisdom and the stories of faithful saints to help you see God’s faithfulness in the darkest seasons. Grab Overcoming the Darkness today at MoodyPublishers.com or wherever good books are sold.
On Our Way Home by Colleen Chao
Through Scripture and her own journey of suffering, Colleen Chao reminds us that all our longings point to the joy of our true Home with Christ. Get your copy of On Our Way Home at MoodyPublishers.com or wherever good books are sold.
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Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.
For sponsorship inquiries, email [email protected]
When One Drink Isn't Enough
In this episode, I sit down with JP and Ashley Graves—longtime friends and members of our church—with a story that’s both difficult and deeply hopeful. We talk about alcohol—not just as a drink, but as an idol …
Show notes
In this episode, I sit down with JP and Ashley Graves—longtime friends and members of our church—with a story that’s both difficult and deeply hopeful. We talk about alcohol—not just as a drink, but as an idol that slowly took the throne in JP’s life and nearly destroyed their marriage. What started as casual drinking turned into dependence, deceit, and despair. Ashley shares what it was like to live with a man she barely recognized, and JP walks us through the moment of surrender that led to healing. This isn’t just about sobriety—it’s about learning to recognize the lies you may be believing and the power of Jesus to meet us in our mess, pull us out, and redeem what feels too far gone. If you’re feeling stuck, ashamed, or maybe you aren’t sure if your drinking is a problem—this episode is for you.
In This Episode
- A Fun Marriage with a Hidden Struggle: JP and Ashley share their early faith journeys, how they met, and the beginnings of alcohol use in their marriage.
- Numbing with Alcohol Becomes Normal: COVID, cultural norms, and unprocessed pain escalate drinking into full dependency—especially for JP.
- Deception, Distance, and Despair: JP begins hiding alcohol, Ashley senses the loss of connection, and both begin living separate lives under one roof.
- A Daughter’s Baptism and a Drunken Confession: JP breaks down the night before he’s supposed to baptize their daughter, leading to a confession that changes everything.
- Recovery, Rebuilding, and Radical Forgiveness: JP enters counseling and AA. Ashley processes her pain and begins to hope again as God starts to restore.
- For the One Who Feels Hopeless: JP and Ashley speak directly to listeners—those stuck in addiction and those silently suffering beside them.
Resources
If you are struggling with alcohol, I want to encourage you to find help. Find a Recovery program at a local church or if you are local to Dallas, Check out Recovery at The Village Church.
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Thank you to our Sponsors
Covenant Eyes
Victory by Covenant Eyes is a powerful tool that helps Christians who are serious and want to quit porn for good or never start. Victory combines industry-leading technology with decades of experience and leadership in recovery content, accountability, and behavior change.
The Victory app, with powerful accountability features built in and the optional blocking technology, makes it an unparalleled tool in the fight to live a porn-free life.
Anyone can get started on their path to recovery for free by visiting: Covenanteyes.com/overcomers for 30 days free.
Acts 29
This episode of The Overcomers is sponsored by Acts 29, with an invitation to the Acts 29 Conference this coming October in Dallas. To learn more and register, visit acts29.com/conference. Overcomers listeners will receive a special discount of $20 off registration prices using the code OVERCOMERS in all caps anytime before October 1.
–
Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.
For sponsorship inquiries, email [email protected]
Purpose, Identity and Calling
I sat down with Luke Lezon and Will Chung to explore how Gen Z and Millennials are wrestling with identity, dignity, and discipleship in a rapidly shifting culture. These young pastors are preaching into cities …
Show notes
I sat down with Luke Lezon and Will Chung to explore how Gen Z and Millennials are wrestling with identity, dignity, and discipleship in a rapidly shifting culture. These young pastors are preaching into cities like Orlando and LA—transient places that offer gospel-sending opportunities—and we unpacked the dangers of comfort culture and over-therapeutic narratives. We talked about how the call to follow Christ includes self-denial, repentance, and mission. Each of us shared stories of wilderness seasons, pastoral burnout, and the deep healing required to lead from wholeness. This is a deep dive into the joys and costs of courageous ministry today. I pray it encourages you — whatever context you’re in.
In This Episode
- [02:00] Identity vs. Dignity: Will’s Pastoral Lens
- [05:30] Cultural Pressures and Fragile Worth
- [06:30] Luke on the “Identity Fair” and a Better Story
- [07:45] Gospel Ministry in a Collapsing Secularism
- [08:45] Ministering in Transient Cities: Orlando & LA
- [10:00] Mission Field Mindsets and “Sending Capacity”
- [12:00] Five-Year Discipleship Windows
- [14:00] Lies This Generation Believes About God
- [17:30] The Overcorrection of Self-Care & Gospel Rest
- [21:00] Rest vs. Replenishment: Jefferson Bethke’s Shift
- [23:00] Gen Z’s Pain Tolerance & Hunger for Mission
- [24:00] Will’s 2020 Breakdown: Performing to Be Enough
- [29:00] Depression and Identity
- [31:00] Luke’s Story: Betrayal, Leadership, and God’s Timing
- [35:00] “Cut Robes, Don’t Kill Kings”: Leading Through Hurt
- [38:00] Repentance + Healing = Transformation
- [41:00] Therapy, Trauma, and the Gospel of Repentance
- [45:00] What Christian Therapy Is—and What It’s Not
- [47:00] Courage in the Pulpit: What It Looks Like Now
- [50:00] Don’t Be Lazy with the Word: Clarity Over Comfort
- [52:00] Hermeneutical Bubbles and Pastoral Cowardice
- [54:00] What the Church Needs to Repent Of (Apathy)
- [56:00] The Radical Disciple and the Lost Mission
- [58:00] Stop Selling Out for Ministry Success
- [01:01:00] Hearing from God, Not Social Media
- [01:04:00] Final Words + A Call to Spiritual Fathers
Guest Resources
FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE:
Instagram | Youtube | Website | Newsletter
If you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You!
Thank you to our Sponsors
Covenant Eyes
Victory by Covenant Eyes is a powerful tool that helps Christians who are serious and want to quit porn for good or never start. Victory combines industry-leading technology with decades of experience and leadership in recovery content, accountability, and behavior change.
The Victory app, with powerful accountability features built in and the optional blocking technology, makes it an unparalleled tool in the fight to live a porn-free life.
Anyone can get started on their path to recovery for free by visiting: Covenanteyes.com/overcomers for 30 days free.
Acts 29
This episode of The Overcomers is sponsored by Acts 29, with an invitation to the Acts 29 Conference this coming October in Dallas. To learn more and register, visit acts29.com/conference. Overcomers listeners will receive a special discount of $20 off registration prices using the code OVERCOMERS in all caps anytime before October 1.
–
Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.
For sponsorship inquiries, email [email protected]
Faith in the Workplace
In this episode, I sit down with entrepreneur and restaurateur Marty Bryan—founder of Marty B’s Restaurant—and Eric Loper, a former tech executive turned faith-driven consultant. Together, we dive into what it …
Show notes
In this episode, I sit down with entrepreneur and restaurateur Marty Bryan—founder of Marty B’s Restaurant—and Eric Loper, a former tech executive turned faith-driven consultant. Together, we dive into what it really looks like to integrate your faith into your business—whether you’re the CEO or just starting out.
Marty shares the story behind Marty B’s, a now nine-restaurant enterprise built on Christian values and radical hospitality. Eric opens up about leaving a high-powered tech role to launch companies that give 100% of their profits to ministry. We talk ambition, humility, leadership, and why bold faith in the workplace might cost you—but is worth it every time.
Whether you're an entrepreneur, a manager in a Fortune 500 company, or just trying to live out your faith at work, this conversation is for you.
In This Episode
- Why Faith and Business Don’t Need to Be Separate
- Marty’s Journey: From Learning the Industry to Owning 9 Restaurants
- Eric’s Story: Leaving Big Tech to Build Kingdom-Focused Ventures
- Integrating Faith in a Hospitality Business
- Men’s and Women’s Bible Breakfasts at Marty B’s
- Starting Worship Nights and Staying Bold
- Ambition, Ego, and Kingdom Impact
- Building Team and Culture Through Hospitality
- Handling Pushback, Staying Faithful
- Being Salt and Light in Secular Workplaces
- Prayer as a Witness in the Workplace
- Culture Building: Alignment and Drift
- Systems, Structure, and Knowing Your Strengths
- Truth Telling as a Cultural Foundation
Resources Mentioned
- First Liberty Institute – Legal help for religious freedom cases
- Marty B’s Restaurants
FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE:
Instagram | Youtube | Website | Newsletter
If you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You!
Thank you to our Sponsors
Covenant Eyes
Victory by Covenant Eyes is a powerful tool that helps Christians who are serious and want to quit porn for good or never start. Victory combines industry-leading technology with decades of experience and leadership in recovery content, accountability, and behavior change.
The Victory app, with powerful accountability features built in and the optional blocking technology, makes it an unparalleled tool in the fight to live a porn-free life.
Anyone can get started on their path to recovery for free by visiting: Covenanteyes.com/overcomers for 30 days free.
Moody Publishers
Find Grace Beyond Salvation and I Choose Joy wherever you get your books or at Moodypublishers.com
Acts 29
This episode of The Overcomers is sponsored by Acts 29, with an invitation to the Acts 29 Conference this coming October in Dallas. To learn more and register, visit acts29.com/conference. Overcomers listeners will receive a special discount of $20 off registration prices using the code OVERCOMERS in all caps anytime before October 1.
–
Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.
For sponsorship inquiries, email [email protected]
Caring Well for Others
This is a sobering yet hope-filled episode. I sit down with Summer Vinson Berger and Adam Paa to discuss the pain, complexity, and redemptive potential of shepherding care in the local church. From owning …
Show notes
This is a sobering yet hope-filled episode. I sit down with Summer Vinson Berger and Adam Paa to discuss the pain, complexity, and redemptive potential of shepherding care in the local church. From owning massive failures in 2015 to building a robust, gospel-centered care framework at The Village Church, we discuss stories, strategies, and heartfelt convictions about what real, redemptive care looks like when the church chooses humility over image.
Whether you’re walking through trauma, burnout, addiction, or just longing for your church to care better—you’ll find wisdom and honesty here. This episode is a call to take the mess seriously, to listen better, and to believe that Jesus still heals through His body.
In This Episode
- The Weight of Shepherding
- 2015: Owning the Failures of Care
- Introducing Summer Berger and Adam Paa
- Building a Comprehensive Care Ministry
- What Is Redemptive Care?
- Why Recovery Must Stay Messy
- The Three Buckets of Recovery
- Ministry through Recovery: A Front Door to the Church
- Integrating Gospel and Therapy
- Psychology Catching Up to Scripture
- Gratitude, Paul, and Neuroscience
- Common Grace and Counseling
- When Churches Resist Therapeutic Tools
- Why Shepherding Is So Complex
- Trust, Time, and Trauma Recovery
- The Risk of Mislabeling Problems
- The Weight and Cost of Church Hurt
- Training Churches to Respond Better
- A Call to Action for Pastors and the Broken
FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE:
Instagram | Youtube | Website | Newsletter
If you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You!
Thank you to our Sponsors
Covenant Eyes
Victory by Covenant Eyes is a powerful tool that helps Christians who are serious and want to quit porn for good or never start. Victory combines industry-leading technology with decades of experience and leadership in recovery content, accountability, and behavior change.
The Victory app, with powerful accountability features built in and the optional blocking technology, makes it an unparalleled tool in the fight to live a porn-free life.
Anyone can get started on their path to recovery for free by visiting: Covenanteyes.com/overcomers for 30 days free.
Moody Publishers
Find Grace Beyond Salvation and I Choose Joy wherever you get your books or at Moodypublishers.com
Acts 29
This episode of The Overcomers is sponsored by Acts 29, with an invitation to the Acts 29 Conference this coming October in Dallas. To learn more and register, visit acts29.com/conference. Overcomers listeners will receive a special discount of $20 off registration prices using the code OVERCOMERS in all caps anytime before October 1.
–
Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.
For sponsorship inquiries, email [email protected]
A Word for Tired Church Planters
Today I unpack the gritty, grace-filled realities of planting churches with three faithful men—Ronnie, Travis, and Spencer—who are living it right now. We talk about the surprising slowness of fruit, the wounds …
Show notes
Today I unpack the gritty, grace-filled realities of planting churches with three faithful men—Ronnie, Travis, and Spencer—who are living it right now. We talk about the surprising slowness of fruit, the wounds of unmet expectations, and the refining power of suffering. We also celebrate the deep friendships, family sacrifices, and the sacred calling of building from scratch. Whether you’re dreaming of planting, deep in the trenches, or a church member wondering how to help—this one will stir your heart and steady your hands.
In This Episode
- Why Church Planting Still Matters
- First-Year Surprises: Slow Growth, Big Work
- Vision Matters More Than You Think
- Heart Maintenance in the Hustle
- Questioning the Call: When Doubt Creeps In
- Family and Friendship on the Frontlines
- When Kids Feel the Cost
- Paper Cuts and Perseverance
- God's Provision in Scarcity
- The Power of Sending Churches
- Preaching and Leading from the Trenches
- A Word for the Weary Planter
- A Call to the Comfortable: Join the Work
Resources Mentioned
Book: Planting Missional Churches by Ed Stetzer - https://a.co/d/dij4kT2
Organizations & Networks:
- NAMB (North American Mission Board) – namb.net
- Send Network – sendnetwork.com
- Acts 29 Church Planting Network – acts29.com
FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE:
Instagram | Youtube | Website | Newsletter
–
Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.
For sponsorship inquiries, email [email protected]
Finishing Well with Ray Ortlund and Crawford Loritts
This episode is special to me. I sit down with two of my heroes in the faith—Ray Ortlund and Crawford Loritts. These men have been anchors for me in moments of doubt and discouragement, and I wanted to ask them …
Show notes
This episode is special to me. I sit down with two of my heroes in the faith—Ray Ortlund and Crawford Loritts. These men have been anchors for me in moments of doubt and discouragement, and I wanted to ask them the questions that most pastors eventually ask themselves: How do you stay faithful for the long haul? How do you finish well when so many don't? We talk about the rhythms that sustained them over decades, the call of ministry that’s far more than a career, and what it looks like to fight pride and pursue humility every single day. We also dive deep into marriage, legacy, and the sacredness of being a pastor. If you're in the trenches—especially in your 20s to 40s—this one's for you. I want to finish well, and I know you do too.
In This Episode
- [02:00] Rhythms That Sustain the Soul
- [05:00] The Call of God vs. a Career in Ministry
- [08:00] Shepherding, Not Hiring: A Vision for Pastoral Ministry
- [13:00] The Crisis of Calling in a Careerist Culture
- [16:00] The Tragedy of Falling Away
- [20:00] Discerning the Dangers in Different Seasons
- [25:00] Kill the Lion: Confronting Sin Early
- [30:00] The Deception of Success
- [33:00] The Call to Vulnerability and Brotherhood
- [36:00] Marriage, Legacy, and Intimacy
- [40:00] Cultivating Lifelong Love with Your Spouse
- [45:00] Final Encouragement: Stay Low, Stay Faithful
Resources
- Finishing Strong by Steve Farrar
- Dangerous Calling by Paul David Tripp
FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE:
Instagram | Youtube | Website | Newsletter
If you’ve enjoyed this episode, one of the best ways to support the show and make sure others find it, is to subscribe and leave a review. Thank You!
Thank you to our Sponsors
Covenant Eyes
Victory by Covenant Eyes is a powerful tool that helps Christians who are serious and want to quit porn for good or never start. Victory combines industry-leading technology with decades of experience and leadership in recovery content, accountability, and behavior change.
The Victory app, with powerful accountability features built in and the optional blocking technology, makes it an unparalleled tool in the fight to live a porn-free life.
Anyone can get started on their path to recovery for free by visiting: Covenanteyes.com/overcomers for 30 days free.
–
Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co.
For sponsorship inquiries, email [email protected]
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