invertedyouth Podcast

Fear is a common experience for all of us. The truth is, life is scary. We wrestle with internal feelings like anxiety or depression and external dangers that can harm our physical bodies. We want to be honest with students about fear and encourage them to let the words of theScripture shape their perspective. Three hundred sixty-five times, we are told not to fear. God knew this would be a challenge for us. We find the solution for fear in His presence.

Chill Out: Having an Un-Offendable SpiritIn a world where everyone seems ready to take offense, Jesus calls us to something different. This week, we talk about what it means to develop an un-offendable spirit—not ignoring hurt, but responding with grace, wisdom, and maturity. Discover how to handle conflict the Jesus way, why direct conversations beat group chats and social media drama, and how your words have the power to heal or hurt. Learn practical ways to build a culture of encouragement and become the kind of person who refuses to let offense control their life.

“Hey, Big Mouth! : Don’t Call Me Out Like That” dives into the difference between biblical accountability and simply calling people out. In a culture that celebrates sarcasm, public embarrassment, and “keeping it real,” Jesus calls us to something different: speaking truth in love. This message explores how correction should restore people, not shame them, and why gentleness, humility, and grace matter when helping others grow in Christ.

Your words carry more power than you think. In this teaching, we dive into Proverbs 18:21, James 3, and Ephesians 4 to uncover how our words can either bring life or start destruction. From jokes and group chats to encouragement and healing, we’ll challenge students to recognize that what comes out of their mouth reveals what’s happening in their heart. Your words have superpowers — so what are you creating with them?

In the trial before Pilate, two men stand before the crowd: one guilty and one innocent. The crowd chooses to release Barabbas, a murderer and rebel, while Jesus—the sinless Son of God—is condemned to the cross. In this message, we explore how this moment reveals the heart of the gospel: substitution. The guilty walks free while the innocent takes his place. Through the story of Barabbas, we see prophecy fulfilled, the meaning of Christ’s sacrifice, and the life-changing reality of the great exchange—our sin placed on Christ and His righteousness given to us.

In a culture that rewards compromise and mocks self-control, obedience to God is a quiet act of defiance. This week, we reframe “strait-laced” not as uptight or joyless—but as unbought, unpressured, and unashamed. Through the lives of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Joseph, and ultimately Jesus, we explore how true rebellion often looks like staying faithful when everyone else bends. This conversation challenges listeners to see holiness not as isolation, but as resistance—and to choose faithfulness even when it costs labels, comfort, or applause.

Youth Pastor of Thrive Church in Greenville, SC, DeeJay Macyke, takes us through Hebrews 3 and encourages to have a tender heart, a sensitive spirit, and open ears to God.

This week, we will focused on experiencing God through creation and solitude. We examined Jesus’ example in the scriptures and admire how he regularly connected with the Father.

There is a misconception that we only experience God’s presence in the confines of thechurch building or worship. Many seek Jesus in moments of excitement and hype yet overlook the profound truth that He is present with us in the simplicity of our everyday lives.

In a world that’s always shouting “do more, be more, prove yourself,” Jesus whispers, “be still.” This week, we talked about true peace that isn’t found in performing for people’s approval — it’s found in resting in who God says we are. Based on 1 Thessalonians 4:11, this message challenges us to lead a quiet life, mind our business, and be faithful in the ordinary. Because performance wants applause — but peace wants purpose.

When someone’s hurting, they don’t need a sermon—they need someone to listen. This episode dives into Job 6:26 and James 1:19 to show why true compassion asks questions instead of shouting answers. Jesus did it, and so should we. Sometimes the most powerful ministry isn’t what you say—it’s how well you listen.

This week we sit down and study The Whole Armor of God in Ephesians 6:10-18

Every follower of Jesus is called to be an influence—but that influence starts in the unseen moments before it’s ever visible to others. In Called To Influence, special guest Billy Diabari shares how both our private devotion and public witness shape the impact we have for the gospel, especially in a world driven by social media. This message challenges us to live intentionally, speak wisely, and let our lives point others to Christ.

In this message, we dig into what it really means to trade a sin-enslaved identity for a Spirit-led one. Our identity shapes how we act, react, and see ourselves — but too often, we let pain, labels, and pressure define us instead of God’s truth. Through four powerful shifts — slave, child, friend, and lover — we discover how real freedom begins with surrender, how belonging replaces shame, and how intimacy with Jesus transforms everything. If the cage is open, why stay inside? It’s time to trash the old and walk in your new identity.

Spiritual growth doesn’t come from scrolling — it comes from devouring the Bread of Life.In this AUDEVO, we dig into what it means to feed on God’s Word as our daily source of strength and satisfaction. Discover how Scripture fills what the world can’t, fuels your faith, and forms the kind of hunger that only God can satisfy.

In this message, Zander walks us through Romans 12 and see what it means to be a living sacrifice for Christ. After Paul spends 11 chapters explaining sin, salvation, and God’s mercy, he shifts to the practical call: how do we actually live this out? Together we’ll unpack what it means to present our bodies as holy to God, to resist conformity to the world, and to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. From genuine love to serving with zeal, from blessing those who persecute us to overcoming evil with good — Romans 12 lays out the marks of a true Christian life.

Wearing the “Christian” label isn’t the same as following Jesus. In More Than a Label, we look at what real faith really means—moving beyond casual Christianity, counting the cost, and letting Jesus transform every part of our lives. If Jesus really rose from the dead, nothing else matters more than living fully for Him.

This week we unpacked what it means to move beyond surface-level faith and live out God’s heart for justice, mercy, and humility. Drawing from Micah 6:8 and Isaiah 1, this teaching challenges us to reject empty rituals and embrace a faith that defends the vulnerable, loves deeply, and walks daily with God. It’s a call to let Him shape our lives into something real, powerful, and transformative.

This is the first part of a three week series on what happens when our hearts break for the same things that break God’s heart. This week, we talked about what biblical compassion is.

Are you the kind of friend who shows up with kindness—or do you dry up when people need you? And are the friends you choose pointing you closer to God, or leaving you empty?

In this episode, we dive into Galatians 1:6–12 and explore why the true gospel of Jesus doesn’t need upgrades, shortcuts, or add-ons. Paul warns the Galatians—and us—about the dangers of fake gospels and challenges us to live for God’s approval instead of chasing likes and applause. Join us as we unpack how to spot spiritual counterfeits and stay anchored in the Good News that never changes.

We had the privilege of having Eddie Taylor as a guest speaker. Listen in as Eddie teaches simple and practical methods of studying Scripture and getting the most out of it.

In this verse-by-verse message, Zander walks us through Isaiah’s life-changing vision of God in Isaiah 6. At a time of national crisis and personal loss—the death of King Uzziah—Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up. What he experienced next reveals a timeless truth: before God sends us, He first ruins our pride, rescues us with His grace, and makes us ready for His call.We dive deep into the holiness of God, the danger of idols, and the transforming power of His presence. You’ll learn what it means to truly encounter God, be cleansed by Him, and be sent out with purpose—no matter how dark the culture around you may seem.Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, distracted, or distant from God, this message will remind you that He’s still on the throne, still calling, and still worthy of everything.

Far too often, we have incredible encounters with God at camps and we soon lose passion within weeks back into our reality. Why is that? This is what we talked about.

This week, we explore the uncomfortable but life-giving truth that God’s power is revealed not in our strength, but in our brokenness. Drawing Paul’s letter in 2 Corinthians, we reflect on why true surrender begins when we finally admit we can’t fix ourselves.

Is there a difference between being friendly and being a friend?

Access to information is everywhere. The ability to learn new things is limitless. The problem is we don’t have access to a lot of wisdom. We need wisdom to help make good decisions. Let’s dive in as we understand how the Bible is an incredible source of wisdom for our lives.

We believe money will solve our problems. The truth is, money is a tool that exposes who we areand what we love. As quickly as you get it, you can lose it. We need to be aware of the pitfalls of chasing money. We must chase Jesus, not money.

Cody & Ashley wrap up 'The Gospel According To Mental Health' series by talking about trauma. What does the pain and suffering we feel internally tell us about eternity? https://www.neuroblooms.com/st-louis

As we wrap up the topic of depression in The Gospel According To Mental Health series, we give final thoughts on depression and come to understand the single best way to cope with it.

The Bible is not relevant to today’s issues, right? Wrong. Many people in our world experience depression, but God cares about how we feel and sees us in our moments of darkness. The Bible is full of moments where its writers poured their hearts out to God in despair, and He heard them. God wants you to trust Him the same way these writers did.

Depression is often described as a dark cloud that follows a person everywhere or the feeling of drowning in sadness and numbness.When the body spends too much time in hyperarousal (anxiety), it crashes into hypoarousal (depression).We want students to understand that God cares about them as they experience depression.There is room for them to talk about depression and find encouragement and healing in the Christian community. The Scriptures are full of stories of people experiencing depression. God sees them and loves them.

Mental health is a growing issue in our world, particularly among Gen Z. The increased isolation that COVID brought, along with our inability to understand what social media is doing to the mind of young people, is a concoction we are yet to understand. We must engage students when it comes to mental health. They need to see how the Gospel speaks to their health, mentally and emotionally. God sees them for all that they are and still loves them. The surety of this truth can bring peace that nothing else can.

It’s been said that living in bitterness and unforgiveness is like drinking poison, hoping it will kill the person we’re mad at. The reality is — it only does damage to us.

Many of us know what it means to receive God’s forgiveness for our sins theologically and even how to practically forgive others. One of the hardest challenges is learning to forgive ourselves and see ourselves as God sees us. We talked about that.

Have you ever tried hiding a mistake you made? This is typically how we handle our sins. We try to hide from God instead of confessing because the shame we feel tells us we’re going to get in trouble. But Scripture tells us that God handles things differently. Let’s dive in and find out!

The label "friend" is thrown around really loosely. But who are your true friends really? Join in and learn about what a real friend looks like.

Do you feel like you are just surviving life? What if God’s plan for you was not to survive, but thrive? Join in and learn what it looks like to flourish and walk in the authority that Jesus has given us.

Have you ever “spoken up” for God in your life? It’s easy to stand up for a friend or family member, but it can be scary to take a stand for what is Godly. Take a listen as Caleb turns to Scripture to encourage boldness in standing up for what is right.

How do we avoid temptation? How do we even know when we’re being tempted? Can we avoid temptation? Let’s dive in and find out what the Bible says about it.

Have you ever felt unqualified? Has anybody ever made you feel like a young, dumb teenager? In the first week of our YOUNG SAINTS series we talk about feeling unqualified, what God says about it, and how offering a heart of obedience is the best decision we could make.NOTE FROM CODY: I want to clear up a brain fart. I made the mistake of saying that Samuel was the father of the sons in 1 Samuel 16. It is Jesse who is the father of the sons (including David). Samuel was the one God sent to anoint the new king.

Why does Jesus pay close attention to walls, windows, and doors when he is building the “house” of our heart? Let’s dive in and find out why!

What is God’s holiness like for real? Listen in as Caleb explains.

When life circumstances put the pressure on you, people are going to get a taste of Jesus from you. But is the taste sour or sweet? Listen in as Cody talks about being pressed.

Life with Jesus isn’t easy. When God cuts things from our life, it may be painful, but the fruit that eventually comes from it is so worth it. Listen in as Cody talks about what it looks like to “be pruned.”

When God drops seed of faith through His Word and His presence, is the soil of your heart soft enough to let those seeds take root? Join in and listen as Cody talks about Matthew 13!

What is prophetic worship art? Ashley dives into prophetic worship art, explaining the many different forms of worship art and how God can use it to make Himself known.

If we’re not careful, intrusive thoughts that tell us who we are not can direct us in how we act, talk, and live. In the message, we learn about capturing thoughts before they capture us.

Jesus said that His sheep know his voice. Is the advice you’re listening to rooted in Scripture? Do you have people in your life that continually point you to Jesus and His ways?

What kind of greatness are you pursuing? Is it a form of greatness that is valuable in the world, or is it valuable in the Kingdom? This week, Cody talks about what real greatness looks like in the eyes of God.