Sermons on the Side

What happens when the story doesn’t get easier - but God is still just as present? In Part 2 of this powerful conversation, Elliott and Emily Yancey share the rest of their adoption journey with Jojo - walking through the tension, the unknowns, and the moments that tested everything they thought they could handle. But through it all, one truth remained: their calling wasn’t to control the outcome… it was to live out the gospel right in front of them. And what a story it was, and continues to be! We also step into another deeply impactful chapter - the closing of First Baptist Church Forest Park in Atlanta. What could have been a story marked by loss instead became a testimony of faith, obedience, and trusting God when the path forward isn’t clear. This episode is a reminder that God’s faithfulness isn’t dependent on our circumstances. Whether you’re facing uncertainty, walking through a difficult season, or simply trying to follow Jesus in the everyday moments - this conversation will encourage you to keep going.If Part 1 resonated with you, this is the conclusion you’ve been waiting for.Thank you Elliott & Emily!Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

What does it look like to follow God… when you don’t know how the story ends? In this powerful first part of a two-part conversation, we sit down with one of Richard’s dearest friends, Elliott, and his wife, Emily, as they share their journey into the world of fostering and adoption - a path filled with uncertainty, surrender, and deep trust in God. This isn’t just a conversation about outcomes. It’s about obedience. It’s about choosing to keep the gospel at the center, even when the road ahead feels unclear. And it’s about treating people with the kind of selfless love that Jesus calls us to - regardless of how the story unfolds.Elliott has been a mega-supporter of Sermons on the Side from the early days (firmly on the Mount Rushmore of fans), and this conversation is one you won’t want to miss!Part 2 drops next week - make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss the rest of this incredible story.Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

What if the way you describe your life… isn’t actually yours to define? This week on Sermons on the Side, Richard shares a simple but profound moment with a friend named Jamal. When asked how his day was going, Jamal responded, “It’s not for me to call.”  That phrase sparks a deeper conversation about who truly has the authority to name our circumstances - and ultimately, our identity. We journey back to Genesis, where tragedy and truth collide. As Rachel gives birth to her son in her final moments, she names him Ben-Oni - “son of my sorrow.” But in the very next breath of Scripture, Jacob steps in and renames him Benjamin - “son of my right hand.” In that culture, the father held the right to name the child.So what does that mean for us? If God is our Father, then He alone has the authority to name who we are - not our pain, not our past, not our circumstances. We don’t get the final word… He does.And why does He have that right?Because He paid for it. Just like Truist Park bears its name because of a financial transaction, our lives carry God’s name because of a far greater price. Scripture reminds us: we were bought with a price. Our identity isn’t self-assigned - it’s divinely given.This episode is an invitation to release the labels you’ve been carrying… and receive the name your Father speaks over you!Song Credit: This episode includes a brief acoustic portion of "Before the Throne of God Above" performed by Shane & Shane. Used here for devotional and illustrative purposes. Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

What happens when a simple trip to the store turns into a moment you never forget? In this episode, Brad shares the now-legendary Bed, Bath & Beyond story - from a wedding with hundreds of people, to stacks of gift cards, to a checkout moment that didn’t make sense on paper… but made perfect sense in real life. What started as a routine shopping trip with a plan quickly became something much deeper and picture of something much greater: the beauty of community and the overwhelming nature of grace. When people show up - really show up - it changes things. It lifts burdens. It fills gaps. It reminds us that we were never meant to do life alone. This conversation leans into the truth that biblical community has the amazing opportunity to show the very grace of God to people - and when we do, it has a way of leaving us speechless. If you’ve ever experienced a moment where provision, generosity, or your very own five-loaves-and-two-fish experience… this one’s for you!Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

What do you hold onto when the weight feels unbearable? In this episode, Richard takes us back to the early days of his recovery journey - when everything felt raw, heavy, and uncertain. During that time, he was encouraged to come up with a mantra… but something about that language never quite fit. Instead, through a perfectly timed Sunday morning and a single, powerful verse, he discovered something deeper. A watchword. An old English term, a watchword isn’t just a phrase you repeat - it’s a truth you anchor yourself to. Historically used as a password, rallying cry, or guiding principle, a watchword was something spoken with conviction… something that carried weight, identity, and direction. Not just words - but the word you return to when everything else feels shaky. This episode is about finding that kind of truth.The kind that cuts through shame.The kind that steadies you.The kind that reminds you who you are - and whose you are.So we’ll ask the question:What is your watchword?Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

As Holy Week comes to a close, we arrive at Good Friday. There’s no new concept here. No fresh perspective to uncover. Just the reality at the center of our faith - A perfect Savior stepped into an imperfect world.The only sinless One took on the sin of all.Jesus willingly became the sacrifice.In this episode, we don’t rush past the cross. We sit in it. We reflect on the weight, the cost, and the depth of love displayed through His suffering.This is the day where everything changes.Where grace is written in blood.Where mercy is extended to all.And as we transition into the quiet of Silent Saturday, our prayer is that we would allow the sorrow, the sacrifice, and the solitude to center our hearts and focus our minds.Because while today is Friday…Sunday is coming!There may be pain in the night - but joy comes in the morning.Thank you for walking through Holy Week with us! We pray a special blessing over you, your family, and your local church this weekend. Song Credit: This episode includes a brief acoustic portion of “Jesus Messiah”  written by Chris Tomlin, Daniel Carson, Ed Cash, and Jesse Reeves. Used here for devotional and illustrative purposes.Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

As Holy Week continues, we arrive at Maundy Thursday - the night of the Last Supper. The word Maundy comes from the Latin mandatum, meaning “mandate.” And in this sacred moment around the table, Jesus gives exactly that - new commands for His followers. From loving one another, to remembering Him through the breaking of bread and the sharing of the cup. What begins as a meal becomes something so much more. In this episode, we slow down and sit at the table with Jesus and His disciples - taking in the weight of His words, the depth of His love, and the reality of what was about to unfold. This is the moment where the tone of Holy Week begins to shift…where celebration gives way to sacrifice.Because the bread would soon be His body - broken.And the cup would soon be His blood - poured out. We reflect on the significance of communion, the beauty of Jesus’ command to love, and the sobering truth that the cross was no longer distant - it was imminent. As we continue this journey, may we not rush past this table - but truly sit, remember, and receive.Let’s keep walking.Song Credit: This episode includes a brief acoustic portion of “Love Ran Red”  written and performed by Chris Tomlin. Used here for devotional and illustrative purposes.Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

As Holy Week continues, we step into one of the heaviest and most sobering moments in the story - Judas’ betrayal of Jesus. For thirty pieces of silver, Judas trades relationship for control. Disappointed that Jesus didn’t meet his expectations of what the Messiah should be, he turns away - choosing his own path over trust. It’s easy to judge. Easy to distance ourselves from the story. But if we’re honest…there’s a little bit of Judas in all of us. Moments where God doesn’t move how we want.Moments where we grow frustrated, disconnected, or discontent.Moments where we start reaching for control - one small compromise at a time…our own “pieces of silver.” In this episode, we take a hard but honest look inward. Not to sit in shame - but to recognize the subtle ways our hearts can drift. And yet - even here - grace is still present. Because even after the betrayal is set in motion, Jesus still invites Judas to the table.The same invitation stands for us today. No matter how far we’ve wandered, we are not beyond the reach of the Father's love for the prodigal. As we continue this Holy Week journey, may this moment lead us not to despair - but to surrender. Keep walking towards the cross.Song Credit: This episode includes a brief acoustic portion of the hymn “I Surrender All.”  Used here for devotional and illustrative purposes.Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

As Holy Week continues, we step into one of the most intimate and powerful acts of worship found in the Gospels - Mary anointing the feet of Jesus. With a jar of perfume worth nearly a year’s wages, Mary pours out everything she has in a moment of deep gratitude, humility, and love. It’s extravagant. It’s costly. And to some, it doesn’t make sense. But when we remember what Jesus had just done - raising her brother Lazarus from the dead - we begin to understand. When we truly see Jesus for who He is and reflect on what He has done for us, worship becomes less about obligation and more about overflow. In this episode, we reflect on what it looks like to respond to Jesus with that same kind of unfiltered, unconditional praise! A posture that may not always be understood by others - but is always seen and received by Him. As we continue walking through Holy Week, our prayer is that this moment would challenge and invite you to pour out your own offering of gratitude - whatever that may look like.Let’s keep journeying together!Song Credit: This episode includes a brief acoustic portion of “Gratitude”  written and performed by Brandon Lake. Used here for devotional and illustrative purposes.Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

As Holy Week begins, we step into one of the most powerful and paradoxical moments in all of Scripture - the Triumphant Entry. Jesus rides into Jerusalem not on a warhorse, but on a humble donkey. The crowds gather, laying down cloaks and palm branches, shouting “Hosanna!” - praise, celebration, expectation. It feels like a coronation… but it’s leading to a cross. In this episode, we slow down and enter into that moment. We reflect on the beauty of praise, the tension of expectation, and what it looks like for us to prepare our hearts for the week ahead. Though Palm Sunday has passed, we intentionally begin here - fixing our eyes on Jesus and joining the crowd in worship as we journey toward the cross and the empty tomb. Our hope is that this episode helps posture your heart - whether you’re driving to work, sitting in stillness, or preparing to gather with your local church later this week. Let’s begin Holy Week together!Song Credit: This episode includes a brief acoustic portion of “Hosanna”  written by Brooke Ligertwood and published by Hillsong Music Publishing. Used here for devotional and illustrative purposes.Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

What does it really mean to surrender? In this episode of Sermons on the Side, a simple but powerful moment sets the stage - Richard wakes up from a dream singing the timeless hymn “Have Thine Own Way.”  From that moment, a deeper conversation unfolds around surrender, trust, and what it looks like to truly place our lives in God’s hands. We also share a story from our recent conversation with missionary Jacques Van Bommel - one that didn’t make last week’s episode but felt too meaningful not to revisit. It’s a powerful reminder that surrender isn’t just a portion of our life... it's ALL of our life. If you’ve ever wrestled with control, uncertainty, or letting go of your own plans, this episode will meet you right where you are.Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

In this powerful and inspiring episode of Sermons on the Side, Brad and Richard sit down with missionary and ministry leader Jacques Van Bommel, founder and CEO of Reaching a Generation. What started as a vision in South Africa has grown into a global movement - impacting more than 28 million children over the past 16+ years through public school outreach, AIDS prevention education, and strategic partnerships with local churches to ensure the gospel takes deep root. Jacques shares his personal story of faith - how he first came to know the Lord, the calling that led him into missions, and the goodness and faithfulness God demonstrated in those first few months of building a ministry that is now transforming communities around the world. We also dive into what God is doing today through Reaching a Generation, including exciting new initiatives like church planting and the development of a community family center. Jacques, along with his wife Lizzie and their family, embody what it looks like to say “yes” to God’s calling and follow Him wholeheartedly. This conversation is filled with encouragement, faith, and a reminder that God can use ordinary obedience to accomplish extraordinary things. You don’t want to miss this one!Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

On construction sites, there’s a simple safety rule: always maintain three points of contact. Whether climbing a ladder or stepping onto heavy equipment, the idea is straightforward - stay anchored in three places so you remain stable and secure. Recently, while serving as chaplain on a construction job site, Richard sat in on a safety briefing led by a friend responsible for the well-being of hundreds of workers. During the talk, the director of safety emphasized the importance of this rule, and it sparked a meaningful conversation between Richard and Brad about how the same principle might apply to our spiritual lives. In this episode, we explore three important points of contact for a healthy life of faith: our connection with the Lord, our connection with community, and our connection with ourselves. When those anchors are strong, we’re far more stable - no matter what life throws our way. Sometimes the most meaningful spiritual lessons show up in the most unexpected places… even in a construction site safety talk.Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

After spending a weekend in Birmingham with his father, who is currently battling dementia, Richard had the opportunity to sit down for a simple Saturday morning breakfast with his dad and his cousin - someone they’ve always just called Uncle Damar. Around that table came story after story. Some were ones Richard had heard many times before. Others he hadn’t heard in years, and a few may have even been new. But in that moment, it was a beautiful reminder of just how powerful stories really are - how they carry memories, identity, and meaning across generations. That conversation led us to one of the more poignant moments in Scripture. After John the Baptist is arrested and imprisoned, he sends two of his disciples to ask Jesus a question that feels almost unthinkable: “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” It’s a difficult passage to sit with, because John has spent his entire life proclaiming that Jesus is the Messiah. Yet when circumstances become confusing and painful, even the most faithful among us can find doubt creeping in. Jesus’ response is simple but profound: “Go back and report to John what you have seen and what you have heard.” In other words, tell the story. Tell the truth of what God is doing. In this episode, we reflect on the power of stories - both the ones passed down around a breakfast table and the ones God is still writing in our lives today. Because the story of Christ’s redemptive work in us may be one of the most powerful testimonies we ever share!Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

We’re back to our regularly scheduled programming after an unforgettable birthday week - and first of all, thank you! The ratings, reviews, messages, coffee support, shares, encouragement… it meant more than we can possibly say. You all showed up in such a generous way, and we are deeply grateful.Now onto to YEAR 2! Richard recently had a dream where he was the main character in a full-blown Mission Impossible–style action movie. You know the type: the clock is ticking, the stakes are impossibly high, the best friend might secretly be the villain, and the critical weapon or intel always seems to “fall into the wrong hands.” But right before he woke up, something shifted. Instead of the chaos, instead of the betrayal, instead of the fear that everything was spiraling out of control, there was this overwhelming sense that God was speaking love and reassurance over him - a reminder that he was never in danger of falling into the enemy’s hands in the first place. He was - and always has been - in God’s hands. In this episode, we talk about how sometimes it feels like we’re one misstep away from disaster, one failure away from being lost, one bad decision away from falling beyond redemption. But the truth of the Gospel tells a very different story. We are held. We are known. We are secure — not because of our grip on God, but because of His grip on us. It’s a simple reminder. A sweet one. But sometimes those are the ones our hearts need most.Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

This is Part 5 of a special 5-part bonus series celebrating one year of Sermons on the Side. In the final moments of John chapter 21, after Peter has been restored and recommissioned, something subtle - but familiar - happens. Peter looks over at John and begins to compare his story to someone else’s. Even after a mountaintop encounter with Jesus, the comparison game creeps in - and just like that, the joy of the moment starts to unravel. Jesus’ response is both gentle and freeing: follow Me. It’s a reminder that each of us has a sacred story being written by God - one that doesn’t need comparison, competition, or qualification. Just faithfulness. That truth brings us to our final birthday invitation. Friday’s challenge: give us your story. Not your rating. Not your money. Your story! Whether you’ve been listening since episode one or you just found the podcast this week, we would love to hear how God has met you in the everyday. Send us a DM, an email, or a message through the text feature. We want to sit around a charcoal fire with you and celebrate what God is doing in your life. This podcast started as two friends sharing stories about finding meaning in ordinary moments - and the more stories we hear, the more we’re reminded that none of us are alone. That’s worth celebrating. Thank you for an incredible first year. We can’t wait to hear your story!Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

This is Part 4 of a special 5-part bonus series celebrating one year of Sermons on the Side. In John chapter 21, Peter finds himself in what could have been one of the most painful conversations of his life. Face to face with Jesus, carrying the weight of past failure and deep shame, he’s asked a simple question - three different times: “Do you love me?” There’s no shaming. No condemnation. Only love. With each response, Jesus doesn’t just forgive Peter - He restores him, reaffirming his calling and inviting him back into the work of the Kingdom: feed my sheep. It’s a powerful reminder that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, and that redemption doesn’t disqualify us - it recommissions us. That’s the moment we reflect on today. And since it’s our birthday week, we also want to say this: Thursday’s challenge: if you’ve ever wanted to support the show financially, you can do so by heading to our Buy Me a Coffee page and literally buying the birthday boys a coffee. There’s no pressure and no expectation - just a simple way to help cover hosting costs, equipment, and support the future of this podcast as we continue to dream about what’s next. Every dollar given goes directly toward Sermons on the Side. (link below)Thank you for listening, for supporting, and for being part of this community. Part 5 drops tomorrow.Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

This is Part 3 of a special 5-part bonus series celebrating one year of Sermons on the Side. In John chapter 21, Jesus invites the disciples to come ashore - and before a word is spoken, before anything is explained, breakfast is already waiting for them. There’s a fire. There’s food. And there’s something deeply intentional about that moment that can’t be rushed or overlooked. It’s one of the most tender, redemptive scenes in all of Scripture - and to fully understand why, you’ll have to lean in and listen. That’s the moment we sit with today. And since it’s our birthday week, we’ve got another way to celebrate. Wednesday’s challenge: blow out the algorithm candles. Scroll back into the archive and revisit an older episode - the one that made you pull over in a parking lot, set your coffee down, or grab your Bible. Download it. Re-listen to it. Share it. Leave a comment if your platform allows. Every time someone interacts with an older episode, it tells the algorithm world, “This still has life.” And that’s been the heartbeat of this podcast from the beginning - believing that ordinary moments can still carry meaning, hope, and redemption. Thanks for celebrating with us, for revisiting the story, and for helping breathe fresh life into the journey. Part 4 drops tomorrow.Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

This is Part 2 of a special 5-part bonus series celebrating one year of Sermons on the Side. In John chapter 21, Jesus meets the disciples right where they are - out on the water, tired, frustrated, and coming up empty. He offers simple advice: try the other side of the boat. It’s a moment that echoes Peter’s very first encounter with Jesus years earlier, a reminder that the Lord is still pursuing him, still present, and still inviting him forward. Even after failure. Even after denial. The offer still stands. That’s the story we continue unpacking today. And since it’s our birthday week, we’ve got another simple way to celebrate together. Tuesday’s challenge: bring a friend to the party. This week, text one episode link to one person - any episode, to anyone - and simply say, “Hey, this made me think of you.” That’s how this podcast grows. We don’t run ads or billboards. It’s real people sharing real stories of real encouragement. So if you’ve ever thought, “So-and-so would love this,” consider this your sign.Thanks for listening, for sharing, and for being part of this community. Part 3 drops tomorrow.Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

This is Part 1 of a special 5-part bonus series celebrating one year of Sermons on the Side. In John chapter 21, we find Peter and the disciples in a moment of uncertainty. Jesus has risen. They’ve encountered Him before - but time has passed, direction feels unclear, and Peter defaults to what he knows best: “I’m going fishing.” Instead of trusting what’s next, he returns to what’s familiar. That’s the story we begin unpacking today. But since it’s our birthday week, we’re also inviting you to celebrate with us!Monday’s challenge: write us a birthday card - by leaving a five-star rating and a short review wherever you listen to podcasts (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere else). It can be one sentence. It can be simple. It can even be honest. Those reviews matter more than you might realize - they help new listeners find the show, trust the show, and decide to press play. It’s our way of knowing this podcast matters - and that you’re part of the story. Thanks for the incredible first year, for listening, and for walking this journey with us. Part 2 drops tomorrow.Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

In this episode of Sermons on the Side, Richard and Brad revisit the 1998 animated classic The Prince of Egypt and reflect on why it continues to stand the test of time. From its stunning animation to its powerful retelling of the story of Moses and the Exodus, the film remains one of the most meaningful faith-based movies of our generation. We also look back at the cultural impact of its award-winning song, When You Believe, famously performed by Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey - a duet that became a global phenomenon and still gives listeners chills. But this conversation goes deeper than nostalgia. We explore the difference between a wow moment and a whoa moment. A wow moment impresses us -  incredible vocals, powerful production, emotional crescendos. A whoa moment reorients us - lifting our eyes from what’s horizontal to what’s eternal. When you hear the song within the context of the film, you’re not focused on the performance; you’re drawn into the truth behind the lyrics and the faith they point toward. This episode is an invitation to examine what holds your gaze. Are we simply moved by moments, or are we allowing them to move us toward Christ? In our everyday lives - in parenting, work, leadership, waiting, and wrestling - miracles don’t always look like parted seas. Sometimes they look like quiet obedience, steady trust, and hope when nothing around us has changed. Join us as we talk about faith, perspective, and fixing our eyes on Jesus - because there really can be miracles when you believe.Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

In 2017, Evan Hinson suffered a sudden cardiac event that left doctors, friends, and family facing a very real and sobering possibility - we might lose him. For weeks, the outlook was bleak. And yet, through what can only be described as a miraculous physical recovery, Evan survived and eventually made a full return to health. But as Evan shares in this powerful conversation, the true miracle didn’t end in the hospital. In the years that followed, Evan felt called into the medical field - returning to school, earning his nursing degree, and now serving in some of the very emergency rooms, ICUs, and cardiac units where he once lay fighting for his life. What began as a conversation centered on a dramatic miracle slowly revealed something even deeper. Evan beautifully reflects on how, over time, God shifted his heart - teaching him that the greatest miracle isn’t always found in the extraordinary moments, but in the daily, ordinary pursuit of a relationship with Him. If we’re always chasing the next mountaintop experience with God, we risk missing the everyday miracle unfolding right in front of us. This is a story of survival, calling, faith, and learning to find God - not just in the big moments - but in the quiet, faithful ones that shape a life. Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

What started as a fun family trip to Great Wolf Lodge quickly turned into a terrifying moment when somebody got stuck on a giant waterslide… and fear took over. Tears. Panic. Trauma. And a vow to never ride that slide again. But the story didn’t end there. In this episode, we talk about what it looks like to face fear for a second time - not because the situation changed, but because love, encouragement, truth, and community did. From screams of panic to declarations of “I can do this!”, this conversation explores how courage is often built when we’re surrounded by the right voices, the right people, and the presence of a loving Father. If you’ve ever been hurt, hesitant to try again, or stuck between fear and faith… this one’s for you.Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

What do you do when the season starts with loss, uncertainty, and a backup plan you never expected to need? In 1999, the St. Louis Rams lost their starting quarterback before the season even began. A grocery-store-stockroom-turned-NFL-unknown named Kurt Warner stepped in. Alongside a roster of overlooked players, the Rams weren’t supposed to be anything special. Instead, they became The Greatest Show on Turf. But the real moment came in the playoffs. Down by three at halftime, their coach looked at the team and said, “We took their best shot - and they didn’t knock us out. Now go be who we really are.” That line became the spark. In this episode, we connect that moment to our own lives = those seasons where it feels like the enemy is winning, the momentum is gone, and hope feels thin. And yet, the truth remains: if you’re in Christ, you are not defeated. You are a beloved son. A redeemed daughter. Chosen. Covered. Still standing.Sometimes you’re down three at halftime. That doesn’t mean the story is over.Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

This week’s episode comes from a story Richard shared about an unexpected message from his seventh-grade son, Bryce. A simple school assignment, from a substitute teacher no less, required Bryce to reach out to someone and ask for a few paragraphs on why they matter. What began as a last-minute request before a late-night shift turned into a heartfelt, intentional message of encouragement from a father to his son. Years later, Richard was brought to those same words - and had the opportunity to read them aloud again at Bryce’s wedding. This episode is a reminder that what feels small, inconvenient, or easily forgettable in the moment can become deeply meaningful over time. Our words carry weight. Our encouragement lasts longer than we think. This week’s challenge: Send the text. Make the call. Speak the life-giving words. You never know the impact they may have.Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

During a late-night binge over Christmas break, an unexpected Sermon on the Side moment emerged from an unlikely place: Stranger Things. In a quiet but powerful exchange, Eleven wrestles with the belief that she’s a monster - haunted by her past and the things she’s done. Her father challenges her to do something difficult but necessary: to remember all of it - the good and the bad - because wholeness doesn’t come from denial, but from honesty. That is a powerful concept! In this episode, Brad brings a story that opens the door to a deeper gospel conversation about surrender, identity, and what it means to be truly known by God. We explore how healing and restoration don’t come from filtering our lives down to only the “acceptable” parts, but from laying everything before the Lord - our victories, our failures, our shame, and our hope. Anchored in the truth of Psalm 139, we’re reminded that God is the Creator, the One who formed us intentionally and lovingly. And if God created us - fully and completely - then nothing about us is accidental, wasted, or beyond redemption. Wholeness doesn’t come from rewriting our story.It comes from surrendering it.Listen in as we reflect on what it looks like to stop hiding, stop labeling ourselves by our worst moments, and instead allow God to search us, know us, and lead us into life.Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

We made it to Episode 50 — and we’re welcoming the New Year together. In this special New Year’s Day episode of Sermons on the Side, Richard and Brad pause to celebrate 50 episodes of conversation, reflection, laughter, and grace. But in true Sermons on the Side fashion, the celebration gives way to a quieter, deeper story. The Sermon on the Side comes from a New Year’s Eve in 2009, when Richard found himself in a difficult and uncertain season of life. Instead of noise, resolutions, or big declarations, he was challenged to let the old year pass in silence — and to welcome the new year the same way. What followed was not instant clarity, but a posture of surrender that shaped what came next. As we step into a new year ourselves, this episode invites us to consider what it looks like to release what’s behind us, resist the urge to fill every moment with answers, and trust God in the quiet. Thank you for walking with us through 50 episodes. Here’s to the next chapter — and to the grace found in surrendered silence.Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

Merry Christmas! This week, we’re keeping things short and sweet so you can get back to what matters most - celebrating Christmas with family and loved ones. In true Sermons on the Side fashion, we take a brief look back at some of our favorite moments from the past year, highlighting what we’re calling “Christmas sightings.” These are episodes that - whether we realized it at the time or not - carried themes of hope, waiting, grace, redemption, and light breaking into ordinary life. We revisit five of our favorite episodes from the year and reflect on how the story of Christmas has been quietly present all along. No long sermon. No heavy lifting. Just a simple reminder that God often shows up in the everyday moments. Thanks for listening, for being part of this community, and for walking alongside us this year. Merry Christmas from our families to yours. 🎄✨Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

With just one week to go until Christmas, Richard and Brad kick off this holiday-themed episode of Sermons on the Side with playful banter about the countdown to Christmas, the excitement building in their homes, and the different Christmas Eve and Christmas Day traditions their families are looking forward to this year. But as is often the case, a Sermon on the Side comes from an unexpected place. While battling a major head cold, Richard shares a rather gross - but relatable - story involving sinus treatments, neti pots, and the realization that this is not how his nose is supposed to work. What began as a joking comment to his wife, Rhonda, sparked a deeper reflection that carried him straight to the nativity story. At some point in Mary and Joseph’s journey - despite angelic visits, divine promises, and deep faith - they had to look at their circumstances and think, it's not supposed posed to be this way. A pregnant virgin, a long journey, no room at the inn, and a Savior born in a manger - none of it fit the picture they likely imagined. In this episode, Richard and Brad reflect on how so much of life feels like it shouldn’t be this way - especially during the holidays. Yet the heart of Christmas is this: God enters the mess. Like baby Jesus stepping into our broken world, God inserts Himself into our “it's not supposed to be this way” moments and completely changes everything. As we move through the final seven days of Advent, this episode serves as an invitation to stop resisting the tension, accept the reality of our circumstances, and allow Jesus to come into our world - right where we are. Because Christmas reminds us that even when things aren’t supposed to be this way…God still comes to us.Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

In Episode 47, Brad and Richard share a simple Advent moment that has stayed with Richard for years. At a monthly gathering of local pastors just a couple weeks before Christmas many years ago, Father Bill stood to pray before the meal and offered a line that quietly reshaped the room - and Richard’s understanding of Advent: “Help us to remember what Christmas teaches us, that You will always come to us.” Fast forward to 2025, that short prayer sparked a deeper conversation between Brad and Richard about how easily we can get swept up in the season - the decorations, the nostalgia, even the biblical narrative of Jesus’ birth - while missing the personal meaning behind it all. Christmas isn’t just the story of Jesus coming into the world… it’s the story of Jesus coming to us. Using Matthew 4:16 - “on them a great light has dawned" - we reflect on how the coming of Christ is always personal, always purposeful, and always for people who need hope. Advent reminds us that God doesn’t wait for us to climb our way up to Him; He steps into our world, our mess, our darkness, and comes near. It’s a gentle, meaningful episode for anyone needing a reminder in this busy season: Jesus doesn’t just come - He comes to you.Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

Coming off a week of Thanksgiving festivities - with crowded tables, family stories, and full hearts - we shift right into the Christmas season with the first of several holiday-themed episodes. This week’s conversation centers on a very real, very recent story from Richard’s trip to Boston to visit his son, daughter-in-law, and new grandbaby. What should’ve been a simple car-rental experience turned into an unexpected headache: double charges, endless holds, and the dreaded words no one wants to hear… “10–14 business days.” After weeks of waiting (and believing the refund might never come), Richard called once more to run it up the corporate flagpole - and to his surprise, everything was resolved. But here’s the kicker: the refund landed exactly on the 14th day. Not early. Not late. Not rushed. Not forgotten. Right on time. That moment brought Richard back to one of his favorite verses in Galatians 4 - Paul’s reminder that Christ came “in the fullness of time.” We unpack what that phrase meant historically, spiritually, and practically:Why Jesus’ arrival over 2,000 years ago happened in the most perfect physical, cultural, and economic moment in human historyHow God’s timing - though rarely our timing - always carries intention, purpose, and precisionAnd how we can learn to trust Him with our own waiting: our hopes, confusions, delays, desires, prayers, and messy in-between seasons.As we kick off this Christmas series, we look at that ancient truth lived out in a modern customer-service phone call: God is not late. He is not early. He is perfectly on time. Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

Episode 45 took a wild turn after Brad accidentally deleted the original episode we recorded weeks in advance (yep… it finally happened). What was supposed to be a calm, prepped holiday episode turned into a real-time scramble and a surprisingly beautiful pivot. In this special Thanksgiving edition, Brad and Richard walk you through the chaos of the week and invite you into an impromptu night of calling friends, family members, and even past podcast guests to hear - live and unfiltered - what they’re thankful for right now. The responses were heartfelt, hilarious, and unexpectedly moving. As we wrap up the year, we’re overwhelmed with gratitude: • Thankful for these first 45 episodes • Thankful for the conversations and stories that shaped us • Thankful for YOU—our listeners • And above all, thankful to God for His faithfulness We love this community, and we can’t wait for what’s ahead as we step into the next season of life, ministry, and conversations - one episode, one story, one sermon on the side at a time.Happy Thanksgiving, friends. 🧡🦃Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

In this Thanksgiving-themed episode of Sermons on the Side, Richard takes us back to a beloved family tradition from when his kids were young: gathering around the TV to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. But for the Moore household, the parade wasn’t just fun entertainment - it marked the official start of Christmas. Once that final float appeared, carrying Santa himself, and the announcer declared, “Let us be the first to wish you a Merry Christmas,”  the Moore home shifted instantly into Christmas mode. Music on. Candy out. Decorations everywhere. All while still feasting on Thanksgiving dinner. But woven into this tradition was a funny phrase Richard’s kids repeated whenever they expected Santa… but another marching band rolled through instead: “Oh no, it’s another band.” Over time it became more than a joke - it became a silly picture of impatience, anticipation, and the ache of waiting for something good. In this episode, Brad and Richard reflect on how that simple family phrase mirrors our spiritual lives. Whether we’re waiting on a breakthrough, a healing, a relationship, a job opportunity, restored family, or clarity about what’s next - God is present in the waiting. He doesn’t just meet us once “Santa” arrives. He ministers to us through every “another band” moment. Join us for a heartfelt Thanksgiving conversation on hope, patience, and learning to trust God when life takes longer than we expected.Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

In this week’s episode of Sermons on the Side, Richard reaches back into his early parenthood days to share a powerful story about his two sons, Bryce and Derrick… and a throwback classic: the Bionicle Lego toy. When Derrick secretly takes Bryce’s prized Bionicle to school and loses it, he returns home overwhelmed with guilt and fear of what his brother will say. After a heartfelt father-son conversation about honesty, courage, and doing what’s right, Derrick breaks down - not because he doesn’t know what to do, but because he doesn’t want to face it alone. That’s when Richard offers the words that changed everything: “You have to have the conversation… but you don’t have to do it alone.” In that moment, Richard realized those words weren’t just for his son - they were a reminder from God for all of us. No matter how difficult the conversation, how heavy the truth, or how uncertain the next step… we don’t walk into it by ourselves. God promises His presence, His guidance, and His strength. We connect this to the powerful truth of Exodus 33:14–15, where Moses tells God, “If Your presence does not go with us, we don’t even want to go.” It’s a fresh reminder that courage isn’t the absence of fear — it’s the confidence that God goes with us into every hard moment. If you’re walking through something heavy, or if God’s asking you to do something you’d rather avoid, this episode will remind you: you don’t have to do it alone.Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

In this episode of Sermons on the Side, Brad and Richard take inspiration from the incredible precision and purpose of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels. After watching a powerful behind-the-scenes documentary, Richard shares how one simple phrase from the pilots -“Glad to be here” - sparked a deeper reflection on faith, gratitude, and contentment. Every time the Blue Angels meet, they pound the table, bump fists, and declare, “Glad to be here." It’s more than a motto - it’s a mindset. It means being thankful for where you are and who you’re with, no matter what season you’re flying through. Join us as we talk about what it means to live that way spiritually - to wake up each day with a heart of gratitude, recognizing that God has placed us right where we need to be and surrounded us with people we’re meant to love, serve, and grow alongside. If you’ve been struggling to find joy in your current season or to trust that God is working in the middle of it, this conversation will lift your spirits.Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

In this week’s episode of Sermons on the Side, Richard shares a surprising “aha” moment that hit him while watching Doctor Strange for the very first time. In the Marvel film, there’s a line that stirred something deep in him - when a man says, “I just took my miracle and went home.”' It’s a simple phrase, but it hit like a sermon. How often do we do the same thing? God heals, forgives, redeems, and restores us - and then we quietly return to “normal life.” But what if God’s intention for our miracle isn’t that we’d just go home? Brad and Richard dive into this idea through the lens of pop culture and Scripture - exploring how believers can move beyond personal comfort and step into the larger, selfless, heroic story God is writing through us. Whether you’re a Marvel fan, a Jesus follower, or both, this conversation will leave you thinking about what you’ve done with your miracle - and where you’ll take it next.Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

In our fourth Roundtable discussion, we’re joined by someone very special - Kyndal Nipper, Richard’s stepdaughter and a long time friend of Brad’s. From the earliest days of Sermons on the Side, Kyndal has been one of our biggest encouragers - a faithful listener, idea-sharer, and cheerleader behind the scenes. Today, she steps to the mic to share a deeply personal story — a journey through loss, grief, and ultimately, hope. Kyndal opens up about the heartbreak of losing her second child in a late-term miscarriage and how her faith, her daughter Blakeley, and a community of grace helped her walk through one of life’s hardest valleys. It’s an honest and moving conversation about how God meets us in our pain, how His presence remains even in silence, and how - as Elisabeth Elliot once said - “God’s story never ends in ashes.” Whether you’re walking through grief yourself or standing beside someone who is, this episode will remind you that redemption is still possible and that God’s not done yet.Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

In this week’s episode of Sermons on the Side, we start with the spooky story of the Headless Horseman - and a man named Ichabod Crane - but end up somewhere far deeper. The name Ichabod appears long before Washington Irving ever wrote about Sleepy Hollow. In 1 Samuel, it’s the heartbreaking name given to a child born in tragedy - a name meaning “the glory has departed.”  Yet, through Samuel’s faithfulness, God restores His people and leads them to a new place of remembrance called Ebenezer - “the stone of help.” Join Brad and Richard as they talk about moving from seasons where God feels distant to moments when His presence becomes unmistakably real. Whether you’re feeling spiritually dry, lost, or just trying to find light in a dark season, this episode reminds us that no matter how far we drift, God still brings us back home.Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

In episode 38 of Sermons on the Side, we trace a surprising thread between history, memory, and our own tendency to retreat into hiding places. Inspired by Candace Millard’s account of Winston Churchill’s daring escape during the Boer War, we reflect on a striking moment when Churchill, though technically free, still felt trapped by fear and uncertainty. She powerfully writes, "He could not remain where he was.…Yet neither could he run." That picture of hiding even in freedom sparked a meaningful conversation about the places we withdraw to in our own lives - whether out of fear, shame, busyness, or comfort. Richard also shares a personal story of being greeted by a trusted friend with staggering words, “Hey man, where you been hiding?” - a phrase that can hit closer to home than we often realize. Join us as we wrestle with what it means to step out of hiding, to be known, and to live into the freedom God has already given us.Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

What do you do when life backs you into a corner and the odds are stacked against you? In this episode, Richard shares a powerful conversation he had with a pastor friend whose church was facing a make-or-break moment. The situation reminded him of one of the wildest plays in college football history - Arkansas vs. Ole Miss in 2015 - when, on fourth and twenty-five in overtime, a desperate heave, a wild lateral, and a broken play somehow turned into a first down that kept hope alive. That “4th & 25” moment became a picture of what desperate prayer looks like - the kind of prayer Hannah prayed in the temple when she poured out her soul before God. Sometimes, it takes hitting the point of desperation before we truly cry out with everything we’ve got. This week’s Sermon on the Side is both a challenge and an invitation:Where do you need that kind of 4th & prayer in your own life?Where are you willing to get desperate before God?And if you’re there right now - staring at an impossible situation - Richard and Brad extend an open invitation: reach out. Let us pick up the ball with you, pray with you, and run together for the first down.Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

In this week’s episode, we pause from our usual rhythm and spend time reflecting on the events of the past couple of weeks following the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk. Together, we share how this moment has shaped us personally and spiritually, and why Dr. Ben Carson’s words at Charlie’s memorial - reminding us that a seed must die in order to grow - continue to resonate deeply. From there, we talk honestly about the challenges Christians face when division, cynicism, and negativity take root. Brad recalls a phrase spoken years ago by a friend regarding division within the body of Christ: when people stop believing the best about each other, things always start to break down. As followers of Christ, now more than ever, we’re called to encourage one another, to see the good in each other, and to tend to the plank in our own eyes before pointing out the speck in our brother’s. This is a conversation about unity, hope, and the choice to build each other up in a time when the world desperately needs it.Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

This week we sit down with Michael Warden - author, coach, free spirit, and founder of the men’s recovery ministry Braveheart Men. Richard first met Michael four years ago during a Braveheart Men’s Intensive, and since then Michael has continued to impact the lives of hundreds of men through his work. Michael joins us to share about the release of the final two books in his four-part mystic Christian fantasy series, The Pearlsong Refounding. With the first two volumes already out, the concluding books officially launch on December 2nd. It’s a powerful, imaginative story that we can’t wait for you to discover.Beyond writing, Michael lives as a “sojourner,” traveling the country in his van - affectionately named Van-Gogh - and sharing his journey through poetry, creative reflections, and updates on his Substack.In this conversation, we talk about:What it means to live freely and courageously as a “sojourner.”The heart behind Braveheart Men and what recovery ministry looks like.Michael’s creative passion in writing The Pearlsong Refounding. We’ll include links to Braveheart Men, Michael’s Substack, and his book series in the show notes below so you can connect further with his story and work! -The novel Website: https://www.thepearlsongrefounding.com/-Braveheart Men’s Community: https://www.thebraveheartmen.com/-The Sojournist Writings: https://michaeldwarden.substack.com/-Michael Coaching Website: https://www.michaelwarden.com/Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

Have you ever noticed how quickly our priorities can shift? One day we’re frustrated about a football game, a job, or the little inconveniences of life, and the next day something happens that reminds us of what truly matters. In this week’s episode of Sermons on the Side, Richard shares a personal story from his years living in New York that started with a Monday Night Football game and ended with a comment from a friend that has stuck with Richard for years. This story sets the stage for a larger reflection: how easily we allow sports, culture, and the everyday noise of life to capture our attention, only to realize later that those things fade in importance compared to faith, family, and eternity. We dig into Colossians 3, where Paul challenges us to “set your minds on things above, not on things of earth.” If you’ve ever wrestled with keeping your heart fixed on God in a world full of distractions (whether it’s sports, news, or just the pace of daily life) this episode will encourage you! Join us as we talk about shifting perspective, finding hope in Scripture, and remembering what lasts when everything else fades.Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

What happens when your mind gives up before your body ever does? This 4th of July, Brad took on the grueling CrossFit workout “1776” - 1,776 reps in honor of America’s independence. About halfway through, he caught himself saying, “This is impossible.”  That moment of negativity could have sunk the whole workout… until a friend reminded him, “You’re already choosing defeat. Learn to live - and speak - positively over yourself.” In this episode of Sermons on the Side, we talk about the surprising power of self-talk, how shifting from defeat to faith can change the outcome, and what it looks like to speak God’s truth over your own life. Whether you’re facing a physical challenge, a spiritual battle, or just the grind of everyday life, this story is a reminder that the words you choose matter - and they can shape not only your workout, but your walk with Christ.Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

In this episode, Richard shares how a simple quote from historian and biographer Candice Millard sparked a deeper reflection. Millard is known for uncovering hidden stories behind famous historical figures, reshaping the way we remember them. In an interview, she was asked why she chases these obscure angles, and her response was: “It fascinates me what we remember and what we forget.” That line opened the door for Richard to think about the same truth in our spiritual lives. Some of the sweetest moments with the Lord come when we invite Him to remind us - of how far He’s carried us, how He’s shown up in our weakness, and how His faithfulness has woven through our story. This episode is a reflection on memory, grace, and the God who never forgets His people.Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

After some much-needed catch-up from summer vacations (highs, lows, and all the laughs in between), Brad and Richard dive into a powerful Sermon on the Side moment from Richard’s past. While driving home from church years ago, Richard found himself weighed down by the false names and labels the enemy had spoken over his life - names rooted in shame, failure, and sin.But in that very moment, God broke through. A friend, sitting in church hundreds of miles away in Colorado, sent him a timely text with Isaiah 62. It was the exact reminder he needed: you are not who the enemy says you are - you are who God says you are. In this episode, we talk about how easy it is to let lies define us and why it’s so important to turn down the volume on those false names. Instead, we’re called to turn up the truth of God’s Word and embrace our real identity in Him. ✨ Join us for encouragement, scripture, and real talk about living into the name God has spoken over your life.Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

We’re celebrating a big one - Episode 30 of Sermons on the Side! It’s our 3rd roundtable discussion and our 2nd remote interview, this time with a longtime friend and pastor from New York, Jay Cookingham. Jay has been a friend of Richard’s for decades, and his life and ministry have been marked by a deep passion for seeing men embrace God as their true Father and step fully into their sonship in Him. In this conversation, Jay shares about his years of involvement in men’s ministry, the heart behind helping men live out their true identity in Christ, and the transformative power that comes when we truly believe God delights in us as His children. We also open the door to an honest and vulnerable conversation about grief; Jay lost his wife of 37 years nearly six years ago, and he’s been walking that journey with the comfort and guidance of the Father’s heart ever since. It’s a rich mix of encouragement, real-life wisdom, and faith-filled perspective. Whether you’re navigating your own season of loss or simply want to deepen your understanding of God as Father, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.Want to learn more about Jay’s ministry? Check out the links below to explore his work and resources. 1 > https://jaycookingham.com/2 > https://strategicfathering.net/Grab a cup of coffee, join the table, and let’s celebrate Episode 30 together.Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

🚨 Spoiler Alert: If you’ve never seen the movie 'Saving Private Ryan' and plan to, you may want to hit pause and come back later. 🚨This week, we reflect on one of the most gut-punching, unforgettable scenes in movie history - from the final act of Saving Private Ryan. Captain John Miller's last words to Private Ryan, “Earn this...earn it,” echo into the life of the man he saved... and maybe into our own.But what happens when those words slip into our theology? What if we start to believe we have to earn what’s been freely given?In this Sermon on the Side, we unpack the tension between living a life worthy of the calling we've received and resting in the truth of grace - that salvation isn’t something we achieve, but a gift of sheer grace we simply receive.Join us as we wrestle with the pull of performance, the beauty of unmerited grace, and what it really means to run the race with purpose - not to earn salvation, but because of it.Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

Radical generosity. Sacrificial love. A toddler’s lesson at Chick-fil-A.In this heartfelt episode of Sermons on the Side, Brad shares a tender moment from a recent family outing - five seats, two parents, three kids, and one single waffle fry left in the tray. What happened next between two-year-old Shep and four-year-old Bekah caught him completely off guard… and led us into a deep reflection on what radical generosity really looks like.This week’s conversation is less about what we do and more about who we are becoming. As we reflect on the kind of generosity that not only costs us something but changes us in the process, we’re asking: Where might God be prompting you to give freely, sacrificially, maybe even inconveniently?We believe this episode will encourage your walk of faith, challenge your habits of giving, and invite you into a new season of grace-fueled generosity - one that ripples through relationships and reverberates into eternity. AMEN!As we say goodbye to July and look ahead to what's next, we hope this Sermon on the Side nudges you toward the kind of generosity that looks a lot like Jesus - the kind that might just start with a single waffle fry.Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!

Is it possible that what’s falling apart is more alive than what once stood strong?In this week’s episode of Sermons on the Side, we dive into an unexpected treasure: an ancient poem called The Ruin, discovered through an article sent to Richard by his daughter Carly. Written from the perspective of a translator of old poetry, The Ruin explores the haunting beauty of broken things and of once-mighty structures now crumbled by time.But this isn’t just about history or poetry. It’s about us.We ask: Could the ruins in our own lives - the broken dreams, lost relationships, or unexpected detours - actually hold more purpose, life, and sacred meaning than the "perfect" plans we once clung to?Join us for a reflective, heart-stirring conversation about God's mysterious work through weakness, the beauty in the breakdown, and how Plan A might not look anything like we expected… but might be exactly what God intended all along.Send us Fan MailSermons on the Side Bible ReadingsConnect with us on our FACEBOOK pageConnect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcastCheck out our website HERELove the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong!Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsonthesideThank you for being part of the journey with us!