Among Friends - The Podcast

Don't you wish you could get everyone else to think and believe like you do? Do you struggle to love people right where they are? Special Guest Savanna Rodriguez joins Amber Curry and Laura Brandenburg to share how intimately knowing God and His attributes helps us to release people back to Him. Savanna invites us to know the freedom that comes from letting God be God--and not us!

Do you feel like you have a lot of plates spinning? Are you under pressure to perform or excel? Special Guest Lori Johnson joins Amber Curry and Laura Brandenburg to talk about the attributes of God that are reshaping her life. Lori's powerful testimony reminds us of the importance of knowing God's character and grace as we steward the blessings he's given us with open hands.

What attributes of God are His alone? And what are the attributes He wants us to grow in? Amber Curry and Laura Brandenburg kick off the summer podcast series featuring Jen Wilkin's book None Like Him. Focusing on three of God's attributes, Amber and Laura share with vulnerability and truth the timely lessons they are learning about God's inherent nature.

What are the many ways Jesus can and has healed us? And how does Jesus show up in the midst of our storms ever today? Special Guest Jerika Longoria joins Amber Curry and Laura Brandenburg to share how she's experienced God's healing power in her own life and in the life of her family. Jerika also invites us to see Jesus in the middle of our storm, even if he hasn't calmed it or taken us out of it. With a special word of encouragement at the end for the women in our church, this is a podcast you don't want to miss!

What can we learn from the healing ministry of Jesus? How do faith and healing intersect? Laura Brandenburg walks us through several healings by Jesus in Matthew chapters 8 and 9 to highlight the significance of Jesus's healing ministry and to help us understand the role of faith in healing. If you've ever asked the question, "is my faith not big enough," this podcast is for you!

How have we experienced Jesus's supernatural healing? And how do we respond when we haven't received the healing we prayed for? Amber Curry and Laura Brandenburg share their personal testimonies of healing and of suffering to help us understand how we can keep a right view of God's goodness and his promises through any circumstance. In looking at the ministry of Jesus, they'll also help us see how Jesus was preparing the way for us, as Gentiles, to be grafted in and the purpose this gives all of us, as Believers, to be laborers for Jesus every day.

We continue our series exploring how Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount demonstrates what a follower of Christ looks like. Special Guest Lauran Lancaster joins Amber Curry and Laura Brandenburg to share her personal testimony. With vulnerability and hard-earned wisdom, Lauran demonstrates how God can meet us where we are and set us free for so much more.

Ever heard of the Golden Rule? Why does Jesus say it’s the Law and Prophets? Laura Brandenburg offers fresh insight into this well-known rule. With her own practical application and honesty, Laura helps us see how insecurity can be detrimental to following this command.

How does Jesus reveal God’s goodness through our asking, seeking, and finding? What does Jesus say about judging good fruit from bad fruit? What does it mean to build on a firm foundation? Amber Curry and Laura Brandenburg wrap up their discussion of the Sermon on the Mount by sharing their responses to key passages in Matthew 7.

We continue our series exploring how Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount demonstrates what a follower of Christ looks like. Special Guest Kerri Harper joins Amber Curry and Laura Brandenburg to share her personal testimony. With practical wisdom and compassion, Kerri models for us what a deep trust in God looks like and how prayer is at the center of it all.

Do you ever get distracted when you pray? Do you struggle to pray for more than a few minutes? Laura Brandenburg breaks down the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6 to show us how Jesus models a robust prayer strategy. She also shares other practical examples for growing your prayer life.

Have you ever wondered why we should pray if God knows what we need? Or have you ever wondered what to do when God isn’t answering your prayers? Amber Curry and Laura Brandenburg tackle these questions that we all ask. By pointing us to the truth of Scripture and who God is, they’ll help us see how powerful prayer can be—even as the antidote to worry!

We continue our series exploring how Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount demonstrates what a follower of Christ looks like. Special Guest Anneke DeVos joins Amber Curry and Laura Brandenburg to share her personal testimony. Drawing on her gift of service, Anneke helps us see how we can give as Jesus wants, with our hearts rightly aligned with His.

Last week’s episode considered how Jesus transforms us from the inside, but how do our internal motivations and external behaviors work together? Laura Brandenburg tackles some verses in Matthew 5 and 6 that may cause confusion at first glance. However when we see the deeper meaning behind some of Jesus’s words, we find the road map for both governing our heart and being His light for others to see.

Why does Jesus begin with the internal before the external? How do we take care of and protect our hearts? Amber Curry and Laura Brandenburg wrap up Matthew 5 by looking at what Jesus means when he emphasizes our internal behavior over our external one. They’ll help us see how God views our heart under the New Covenant and how the right internal motivations allow us to influence others as salt and light.

How can we be sure of our salvation? Pastor Anthony and Amber close out the series by addressing questions about the assurance of our salvation, the role of baptism in salvation, and the mystery of Jesus’ time between His death and resurrection and how it gives us hope for a future spent with Him.

Pastor Anthony and Amber continue answering questions about the Bible from our church family. This episode explores why God chose Mary, whether Mary had other children, what Scripture really means by God’s favor, and whether the disciples were given the authority to forgive sins.

What do we do with the questions that don’t have easy answers? Pastor Anthony Longoria and Amber Curry respond to challenging theological questions submitted by our church family. In this first episode, they unpack the tension between God’s sovereignty and the free will of man, the purpose of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, if God actually hardened Pharaoh's heart, and how believers can recognize God's voice.

What does it mean to be a follower of Christ? And how is our story a reflection of God's goodness and mercy? Special Guest Carolyn Curry joins Amber Curry and Laura Brandenburg to share her personal testimony. Carolyn's long walk with Jesus reminds us that God is in every detail of our story. She has a wealth of wisdom you don't want to miss!

What does it mean to be pure or clean in our hearts? And how are we both already clean and in need of cleansing? Laura Brandenburg looks at Matthew 5:8 to unpack what it means to be pure, and then she takes us to Psalm 51, where we see David model for us a prayer to have clean hearts. She reminds us that as followers of Christ, Jesus has already called us clean or pure, and she helps us consider what it looks like to walk in the truth of our purity.

What is the blessing in each Beatitude? And how do we apply these to our life today? Amber Curry and Laura Brandenburg reflect on what they've learned about the Beatitudes during our sermon series. In thinking about how these concepts connect and build on each other, they help us see how applying them distinguishes us as followers of Christ.

How do you see your past through the lens of God’s goodness? Why does suffering still happen after we become followers of Jesus? Janie Keller joins Amber Curry and Laura Brandenburg to share her powerful testimony as a Christ follower. She addresses the tough questions like why we still go through hard trials and trauma, but her testimony points to the goodness of God at each step of her journey.

Episode 52: Dreams in Matthew 1 and 2 Why does Matthew include so many references to dreams in the first two chapters of his gospel? What is the significance of dreams in the Bible? Laura Brandenburg takes a deep dive into Biblical dreams and their purpose, and invites us to consider how God wants to use dreams today to minister to us and encourage us.

Episode 51: Christ with Us What does it mean for Jesus to be Immanuel? And why is God’s presence and pleasure toward us a gift? Amber Curry and Laura Brandenburg unpack this important truth as they talk about our identity as daughters and what it means to walk out the truth that God is with us and pleased with us.

Episode 50: Redeemed Women: Special Guest Connie Dipprey How does God redeem parts of our testimony for his glory? Special Guest Connie Dipprey joins Amber Curry and Laura Brandenburg to share what she's learned from some of the women in the lineage of Christ. Connie offers hope to anyone who has felt guilt, condemnation, or discouragement from their past. Working Mamas, Connie has a special encouragement for you!

Episode 48: Unnamed Women in the Lineage of Christ What do we know about the unnamed women in the lineage of Christ? Why are there so few women named at all? Laura Brandenburg offers some background on Jewish genealogies and helps us appreciate the value of the women who are mentioned. She also looks at some of the unnamed women to explore what they can teach us about God's nature and ours.

Episode 48: Named Women in the Lineage of Christ Who are the women in the lineage of Christ? What can we glean from their stories? Amber Curry and Laura Brandenburg discuss each woman's story to show us how our past does not disqualify us from God's favor and plan. Drawing on their own personal testimonies, they also share how God has redeemed parts of their stories for his good.

Episode 47: Testimony Tuesday: Special Guest Brenda Martinez This week in our testimony series, Brenda Martinez joins Amber Curry and Laura Brandenburg to share how God was faithful to her even when she didn’t feel faithful to Him. Brenda’s testimony reminds us that we don’t have to perform for God’s love or favor. His kindness and grace lead us to repentance.

Episode 46: Testimony Tuesday: Special Guest Kori Covington This week in our testimony series, Kori Covington joins Amber Curry and Laura Brandenburg to share her story of God’s faithfulness through her experiences of loss and grief. Kori’s testimony reminds us that God meets us in unexpected ways, even when we are at our lowest point.

Episode 45: Testimony Tuesday: The Power of Our Testimony The Bible says we overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony. To kick off our month of Testimony Tuesdays, Amber Curry and Laura Brandenburg share stories of God’s faithfulness, provision, and mercy in their lives.

Episode 44: What does it look like to walk in generational blessing? And how is honor tied to that blessing? Special guest Torrie Gilliland joins Amber Curry and Laura Brandenburg to offer incredible insight and wisdom into the last six commands, the "horizontal" commands. With a long lineage of Christ followers in her family, including four generations at Harvest, Torrie's insight into keeping these commands, including honoring our parents, will surely have us all taking notes.

Responding to the Commandments: Two Kinds of Fear Do you fear God or are you afraid of him? How do we know the difference? Laura Brandenburg helps us unpack these two questions by comparing the Israelites' response and Moses's response to God after He gives the commandments from Mount Sinai. We'll also take a quick dive in 1 John 4 to see how we continue to walk in the holy fear of God.

How do the last six commands affect our relationships with others? Why is it important to honor our parents or to avoid gossip? Amber Curry and Laura Brandenburg share what each of these commands mean for us today. Drawing on their own experiences, they help us see why keeping these commands is so crucial for our relationships with others to thrive.

How does God want us to relate to him? And how do we tear down idols in our lives? Special Guest Sandra Villa joins Amber Curry and Laura Brandenburg to share how we as women can prioritize our lives to put God first while still loving our families and doing the things God has called us to do. With wisdom and grace, Sandra helps us see the commandments as more than rules but as invitations for relationship.

Why does God call himself Jealous? And how should we respond? Laura Brandenburg takes a deep dive into the second commandment to explore what it means for God to be a jealous God. Unpacking this word, Laura helps us see why God's jealousy is both righteous and good for us.

Why did God give us the ten commandments? Are they still relevant for us today? Amber Curry and Laura Brandenburg walk us through the first four of God's commandments to help us see how they apply to our lives today. With practical wisdom and application, they show us how a relational God wants us to relate to him.

Do you want to help your kids develop a sincere and deep devotion for Jesus? Do you struggle with knowing how to incorporate these conversations into your everyday life? Special Guest Brooke Kellum joins Amber Curry and Laura Brandenburg to give us a glimpse into her family's Easter traditions, including preparing the hearts of her children for Resurrection Sunday. With transparency and honesty, Brooke shares what Jesus's final words, "It is finished," mean to her and how she is instilling this truth in her children as well.

Why does Jesus wash his disciples feet? And what does he mean when he tells his disciples to follow this example? Laura Brandenburg shows us why Jesus's humble actions with his disciples were so radical. Working through the layered metaphors, Laura challenges us to see Jesus's example as more than the physical act of washing feet.

Why does Jesus say, "It is finished," and what do these words mean for us? How do we wrestle through tensions in Scripture where it feels like our circumstances don't line up with God's promises? Amber Curry and Laura Brandenburg remind us of the powerful truth behind Jesus's final words on the cross and help us see how we can cling to this truth regardless of our circumstances.

Do your circumstances feel hopeless right now? How can you have hope to believe when life doesn't look like you thought it would? Laura Brandenburg unpacks Romans 15:13 to see how God is at work to bring us hope. Drawing on her own experiences, Laura shares how God can change our hopeless feelings to confident assurance and security found in the truth of God's character and his Word.

Do you ever wonder how your story fits into a larger narrative? Do you want to live at peace with other people in this story-but sometimes that's hard? Amber Curry and Laura Brandenburg invite us to see how we can receive hope when we know God through his Word, the Bible, which places us in the larger narrative of God's story. Through their personal experiences, they'll also share how we can live in unity and harmony with those around us, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Do you wonder what your spiritual gift is? How can you authentically love those around you by using the gifts God's given you? Special guest Bambi Lutrick joins Amber Curry and Laura Brandenburg to walk us through the second half of Romans 12, where we see spiritual gifts working through us to genuinely love those around us. Using her gifts for shepherding, service, and encouragement, Bambi offers practical wisdom that all of us can use to grow in our love for others. If you are unsure about your spiritual gift, considering taking a spiritual gifts test: https:// spiritualgiftstest.com/

Have you ever wondered what is God's will for your life? Have you felt stuck in indecision because you don't want to be outside His will? Laura Brandenburg helps us understand the will of God from Romans 12:2 to see how we can live from a place of peace in our decisions, big and small. If you feel paralyzed with indecision or fearful of making the wrong decisions, this is an episode for you!

What does it mean to be a living sacrifice? How is this an act of worship? And what does a transformed mind have to do with it? Amber Curry and Laura Brandenburg unpack Romans 12:1-2 to consider how and why we can worship God in response to all he has done for us. Drawing on their own testimonies, they offer some practical ways that we can be living sacrifices, transformed by a renewed mind.

How does hearing the word of Christ build our faith? And what does it mean to hear God's voice? In this teaching from Romans 10:17, Laura Brandenburg helps us practically understand our birthright as God's children to hear his voice by answering common questions like "How do I hear God's voice?" "How do I know what I hear IS God's voice?", and "What if I don't hear a specific word from God?"

What does it mean to be the beautiful feet who spread the message of salvation for all? Have you wanted to share the gospel, but you're not sure how? Special Guest SuNell Pyeatt joins Amber Curry and Laura Brandenburg to talk about her heart for a local ministry for women in unexpected pregnancy situations. By demonstrating what it means to practically be the hands and feet of Jesus, SuNell helps us see what Romans 10:13-15 looks like and how we, too, can be messengers of the gospel everywhere we go. Compassionate Care Pregnancy Center Website: https:// compassionatecarepregnancycenter.org/

What does it mean to be saved? And what are we saved to and saved from? Amber Curry and Laura Brandenburg unpack Romans 10:9-13 to discuss why salvation came for all and what it means to be saved. Drawing from their own personal testimonies of how God continues to save them, they also share what it means to spread the salvation of God with those around us. Phylicia Masonheimer blog: https://phyliciamasonheimer.com/our-kids-wont-ask-jesus-into-their-hearts-and-heres-why/ Ginger Hubbard blog series: Pt 1 https://www.gingerhubbard.com/blogs/gingers-blog/how-to-lead-your-child-to-christ-part-1 Ginger Hubbard blog series: Pt 2 https://www.gingerhubbard.com/blogs/gingers-blog/how-to-lead-your-child-to-christ-part-2

Is it possible to overcome years of addiction? What does it mean to walk in freedom from our past sins? Special Guest Randi Cason joins Amber Curry and Laura Brandenburg to share her personal testimony of overcoming addiction. She encourages all of us to bring our own sin into the light so that we can fellowship with one another and walk in righteousness.

What sin feels small but is actually a big deal to God? And how do we identify the root of it? Laura Brandenburg unpacks Paul's words to the Corinthians and helps us see how we're not unlike our Israelite brothers and sisters. With a right view of God and ourselves, we can dismantle this sin that tries to entangle us.

How do you know if there is an idol in your life? What can we do to defeat sin patterns and strongholds in our life? Amber Curry and Laura Brandenburg talk about what it means to overcome sin by sharing some of their own personal struggles. With a proper understanding of sin, we can all overcome temptation and walk in freedom.