These essays are slow reflections for real life—written from the conviction that faith is not about having all the answers, but about learning to trust God in the middle of ordinary days, honest doubts, and unfinished stories. You’ll find Scripture, personal experience, and gentle theological reflection woven together in a voice that’s more neighborly than preachy.
If you’re curious, weary, hopeful, or somewhere in between, pull up a chair. There’s no pressure to arrive—just an invitation to think, pray, and keep going.
To listen to full unabridged audio listen here: Revelation 5 - Horses and the Multitude
We are moving into the “tricky stuff” today as we pick up in Revelation chapter 6. Up to this point, we’ve witnessed the glorious worship of the heavenly throne room. We’ve seen Jesus identified as the only one worthy to open the scroll—the representation of God’s will and His plan for the world. Now, we get to see that plan begin to unfurl.
For the full unabridged message listen here: God’s Kingdom Come - The Joy of the Kingdom
Last year, two hikers in Czechia were walking through the woods when they spotted something metallic sticking out of the dirt. At first, they figured it was just trash—the kind of random debris you find in the wilderness. But when they pulled it out and opened it, they found pounds of gold.
In an instant, their lives were transformed. They weren’t looking for treasure; they just stumbled upon it.
We live in an age of distraction. Our attention is constantly being captured, pulled, and shaped—often without us realizing it.
In this episode, we explore a simple but powerful truth: what you repeatedly give your attention to quietly forms you.
Spiritual formation doesn’t begin with intensity or effort. It begins with attention. The question isn’t whether you’re being formed—it’s by what.
Rooted in Jesus’ words about the attention and focus (Matthew 6:19–24), this conversation looks at how our daily focus trains our fears, our loves, and our hopes—and how small, grace-filled shifts in attention can reshape us over time.
No heroic practices. No spiritual hustle. Just learning to notice what’s shaping us.
New here? Start with Season 0, a short two-episode introduction to the heart of The Pastor Next Door. It sets the tone—grace-first, honest about doubt, and committed to the slow work of formation.
To listen to the whole unabridged teaching, listen here: A Glimpse into the Throne Room
As we move from the letters to the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3 into the vision of the heavenly throne room in chapters 4 and 5, things are about to get “weird.” We are moving from the clear to the less clear—into the realm of deep imagery and symbolism.
To listen to the full unabridged audio listen here: The Scandalous Guest List
Today is Super Bowl Sunday—a day synonymous with gatherings, snacks, and “sportsball.” Whether you’re there for the game or just the commercials, it’s one of those rare nights where everyone chills out and has a good time.
But in the first century, parties were a different story. They weren’t “democratic” like ours today; they were highly structured, intentional, and governed by strict social rules. This context makes the story of Jesus at a dinner party in Luke 14:1-14 all the more shocking.
A new season of The Pastor Next Door is live.
Season 1 begins with a simple question: What do we mean when we talk about “spiritual fitness”?
Not hustle. Not self-improvement. Not another thing to fail at.
Just a conversation about forming the capacity to trust, love, and stay rooted in grace over time.
If faith has felt tiring or complicated lately, you’re not behind—you’re paying attention.
🎧 Episode 1: What Is Spiritual Fitness? (And What It Is Not)
#podcast #faith #spiritualformation
To listen to the full unabridged audio listen here: The Last Four Churches
We are picking up right where we left off in Revelation chapter 2. Last time, we covered the first three churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, and Pergamum. Today, we turn our attention to the final four.
In light of recent events in Minnesota and elsewhere regarding the work of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), I have seen many people cite Romans 13:1–7. It is often used as a “trump card” to end any argument. Too often, I think those citing the passage haven’t thought deeply about it or considered its original context. So, I revisited the text to consider again what Paul is actually arguing in the opening verses of chapter 13 in his magisterial letter to the Romans.
To listen to the unbridged message: God’s Kingdom Come - The Kingdom That Grows Small
There is a famous story about a little boy walking along a beach scattered with starfish that have washed ashore. As he walks, he bends down, picks up a starfish, and throws it back into the ocean. Over and over again, he does the same thing.
A grizzled old man approaches him and says, “You know you’re making no difference, right? There are far too many starfish. You can’t possibly save them all. What does it matter?”
The boy bends down, picks up another starfish, and replies, “It matters to this one.” And he throws it back into the sea.
It’s a story most of us have heard before, but it remains a powerful reminder of how easily we fall into all-or-nothing thinking. If we can’t fix everything, why do anything at all? If we can’t make a big dent, why bother with the small effort?
You can listen to the unabridged message here: God’s Kingdom Reorders Our Lives
Matthew chapter 5 opens what we often call the Sermon on the Mount. If you’ve ever read this section in a red-letter Bible, you know the feeling: suddenly the page looks packed, your eyes start swimming, and it can feel a little overwhelming.
This morning we’re focusing our attention on the opening 11 verses—the Beatitudes—as we continue our Epiphany series, God’s Kingdom Come. Each week we pray the Lord’s Prayer, asking:
“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
During this season we’re wrestling with a simple but challenging question: What are we actually praying for when we pray for God’s kingdom to come?
What if the cracking of your faith isn’t a failure—but an invitation?
Many of us were given a version of faith that worked right up until life applied pressure. Built on certainty, rules, and platitudes, it held together for a while. But grief, doubt, disappointment, and silence from God have a way of exposing how brittle that kind of faith really is.
In this episode of The Pastor Next Door, we explore the difference between brittle faith and enduring faith—and why the breaking apart of faith may actually be the beginning of something deeper and more honest.
Drawing from Scripture, personal story, and the words of a desperate father who prayed, “I believe; help my unbelief,” this episode makes space for wrestling, grief, and unfinished faith—without shame.
If your faith feels fragile right now, you’re not behind.
You might actually be paying attention.
This episode also sets the stage for what’s coming next on the podcast:
No quick fixes.
No pressure to arrive.
Just an honest, grace-filled space to keep going.
Take your time.
Grace and peace, friends.
May you love well.
For the full unabridged audio check it out here: Revelation 2 - The First Three Churches
In this session of Beyond Sunday School, we turn our attention to Revelation chapters 2 and 3 and begin working our way through the letters to the seven churches. We won’t get through all seven at once, but we’ll start with the first three: Ephesus, Smyrna, and Pergamum.
Before looking at each church individually, there are a couple of important reminders that shape how we read these chapters.
If you would like to listen to the whole unabridged version it is available here: The Kingdom Received
It was the middle of July in 2001. A couple of weeks earlier, Amy and I had been sitting in her doctor’s office for a routine appointment—ultrasound, measurements, all the usual things. At the end of the visit, the doctor looked at us and said, “I think it’s time for this baby to be born.” The baby was getting a little too big and needed to make an appearance.
This was our first child. We didn’t know the gender—we were doing the surprise thing—and suddenly we were nervous. But the doctor reassured us: “Don’t worry. We’ll schedule a time. You come in on this day, at this time, and we’ll get things started.”
Welcome to The Pastor Next Door.
This is Season 0, Episode 1—the beginning of a small, slow, grace-centered project built around one core conviction: grace is the environment where growth happens.
In this opening episode, I introduce the heart behind the podcast and the idea of spiritual fitness—not as striving, productivity, or self-optimization, but as a growing capacity to live from our union with Christ. This is not a podcast about rules, recipes, or becoming impressive. It’s about becoming available.
What follows is an abbreviated transcript of the live recording. To listen to an unabridged version you can listen here: Revelation 1 - Seeing the Voice of the Risen Christ
Revelation chapter 1 functions as the doorway into the entire book. It sets the tone, establishes the purpose, and introduces us to the Christ we will encounter throughout the vision. The chapter unfolds in three movements: a prologue, an opening greeting, and a breathtaking vision of the risen Jesus.
