TextLab

David and Todd examine the story in which Jesus uses the withered fig tree to teach about genuine faith, authentic worship, and a prayer life aligned with God’s will. Look beyond the appearance of faith and pursue a genuine relationship with Jesus, asking God to deepen your faith, align your desires with His will, and give you eyes to recognize the ways He is moving around you.

David and Todd examine Matthew 21:12–17, where Jesus confronts the corruption of the temple while welcoming the desperate, healing the hurting, and receiving the sincere worship of children. Get off the throne of your heart and come to Jesus with a humble, dependent faith, asking Him to keep your worship centered on who He truly is rather than on yourself.

David and Todd look at Matthew 21:1–11, where Jesus enters Jerusalem as the promised Son of David, revealing a King whose kingdom is marked by humility, peace, and complete authority over His mission. Release your need to control your circumstances and look to Jesus as your true King, trusting His authority and joyfully participating in the kingdom He is establishing. 

David and Todd examine Matthew 20:29–34, where two blind men recognize Jesus as the Son of David and cry out for mercy while the crowds remain spiritually blind to the King standing before them. Ask Jesus to open your eyes to see Him more clearly, trusting His compassion and mercy as you follow Him with the same dependence and persistence as the two men who received their sight. 

David and Tim trace Matthew 20:17–28, where Jesus contrasts the disciples’ pursuit of greatness with His own willingness to suffer, serve, and give His life as a ransom for many. Lay down the pursuit of prestige and recognition, and let the joy and grace of Jesus free you to serve others—not to earn God’s approval, but because you have already received His love. 

David and Tim examine Matthew 20:1–16, where Jesus uses the vineyard workers to reveal the radically generous grace of God and the upside-down values of His kingdom. Receive God’s grace as the gift it is, letting go of comparison and entitlement so that you can delight in His generosity toward you and others.

David and Todd examine Matthew 19:13–30, contrasting the childlike faith that welcomes God's kingdom with the rich young ruler's struggle to surrender what he treasured most. Hold loosely to the things of this world and treasure Christ above all else, trusting that what He offers is far greater than anything you could ever leave behind.

David and Paul examine Matthew 19:1–12, where Jesus responds to questions about divorce by pointing back to God's original design for marriage as a covenant that reflects His character and kingdom. Pursue Christ above all else in your relationships, allowing His love to shape your marriage, your singleness, and every season of life with an undivided heart for His kingdom.

Tim and Todd consider Matthew 18:21–35, where Jesus uses the parable of the unforgiving servant to reveal the immeasurable mercy God has shown us and why forgiven people are called to forgive others. Release the hurt you've been carrying into God's hands, remembering the forgiveness you've received in Christ and extending that same grace to those who have wronged you. 

In this one-off episode, David and Tim discuss Ephesians 4:1–16, showing how the gospel transforms not only our relationship with God but also the way we live, serve, and grow together as the body of Christ. Walk in a manner worthy of your calling by pursuing unity, using your God-given gifts to build up the church, and growing into the maturity Christ desires for His people. 

David and Tim discuss Matthew 18:15–20, exploring Jesus’ design for handling conflict within the church and His heart for reconciliation among His people. Take the first step toward restoring broken relationships with humility and grace, pursuing reconciliation with others as you reflect the forgiveness Christ has first shown you. 

David and Tim explore Matthew 18:10–14, highlighting God’s deep love for His children and the heart of the Good Shepherd who pursues those who wander from the flock. Look around for those God has placed in your life who need encouragement, and draw near to the Father yourself, trusting His grace to welcome you back and His love to lead others home. 

Tim and Todd unpack Matthew 18:7–9, where Jesus warns about the seriousness of sin, the reality of temptation, and the danger of causing others to stumble in their faith. Turn from the lesser joys that sin promises and fix your eyes on Jesus, trusting Him as the only source of lasting joy, transformation, and the strength to fight sin faithfully.

David and Todd unpack Matthew 18:1–6, where Jesus answers the disciples’ pursuit of greatness by pointing to the humility and dependence of a child. Turn your eyes away from status, comparison, and self-promotion, and find your security in the greatness of God, allowing His love to shape a life of humility and genuine care for others.

David and Todd explore the story in Matthew where Jesus uses a conversation about the temple tax to reveal His identity as the Son of God and the true owner of the temple. Lay down your insistence on personal rights and follow the example of Christ, who humbly used His freedom to serve others and remove obstacles that might keep people from seeing Him clearly.

David and Todd explore the healing of a demon-possessed boy and the disciples’ inability to cast out the demon apart from full dependence on Jesus. Turn from self-reliance and place your confidence fully in Jesus, the only true source of power, mercy, and transformation.

David and Todd explore the Transfiguration and how Jesus’ glory is revealed through the witness of Moses, Elijah, and ultimately God the Father Himself. Like Peter, we are called to behold the greatness of Christ with renewed awe and trust both His sovereign power and His gentle invitation to follow Him through the way of the cross.

David and Todd explore Peter’s resistance to Jesus’ path to the cross and why Christ’s death and resurrection are essential to understanding the true Messiah. We are called to reject watered-down discipleship, deny ourselves daily, and follow Jesus in the way of the cross rather than the comforts and values of the world.

David and Todd unpack Matthew 16:13–20, centering on Peter’s declaration that Jesus is the Christ and why rightly understanding Jesus is the foundation of true faith and the church itself. This truth is revealed by God, entrusted to believers, and calls each person to actively participate in Christ’s mission with confidence in His authority. 

David and Todd walk through Matthew 16:1-12, contrasting the hardened skepticism of the Pharisees with the confused yet teachable hearts of the disciples. Jesus' call to us is to pursue a clear and growing understanding of Him, guarding against distorted beliefs and trusting the truth of who He is as revealed in Scripture.

Todd and David explore Matthew 15:32–39 and the feeding of the 4,000, which shows Jesus’ compassion for the crowd and His power to provide abundantly even in a desolate place. This miracle in a Gentile region reveals the expanding reach of God’s kingdom and challenges us to trust Jesus’ provision rather than forget His past faithfulness. 

David and Todd examine Matthew 15:21–31 and the remarkable faith of the Canaanite woman who persistently cries out to Jesus for mercy. Her desperate dependence and unwavering trust become a powerful picture of true faith; a powerful reminder that anyone who comes to Jesus in humility will find His mercy. 

David and Todd explore Matthew 15:10–20, where Jesus challenges the Pharisees’ focus on external purity and reveals that true defilement comes from the human heart. Instead of managing outward behavior, pursue a deeper love for Christ, the only source of real transformation and lasting joy. 

In this episode, David and Todd talk about Matthew 15:1–10, where Jesus confronts the Pharisees for elevating human traditions above the commands of God. Consider where tradition or routine may have replaced genuine devotion, and return to a faith rooted in Scripture and a heart that truly loves and worships God.

David and Todd discuss Matthew 14:22–33, where Jesus walks on water and Peter steps out of the boat in faith. Following Jesus often requires leaving places of safety, learning to trust His presence in the storm, and fixing our eyes on Him rather than our fear.

Will and Todd explore the feeding of the five thousand and what it reveals about Jesus’ compassion and kingdom provision. They highlight how the miracle invites disciples to bring their limited resources to Christ, trusting that in His hands scarcity becomes abundance for the sake of others. 

David and Todd reflect on the death of John the Baptist and what his faithfulness reveals about the cost of Kingdom courage in a hostile world. Allegiance to God’s kingdom often brings opposition, yet John’s life and death point beyond earthly power to the unshakable purposes of God.

David and Todd turn to Matthew 13:53-58, examining Jesus’ return to Nazareth and the unexpected rejection He faces from those who knew Him best. They discuss the way that familiarity, preconceived notions, and offense taken can cause people to miss Jesus entirely. Examine whether proximity to faith has replaced genuine trust and surrender in your life.

In this episode, David and Todd wrap up Matthew 13 with verses 44–52, exploring Jesus’ parables of the hidden treasure, the pearl, and the net to show the incomparable value and ultimate cost of God’s kingdom. True discipleship flows from joy in Jesus and carries eternal weight as believers are sent out as stewards of the kingdom’s truth. 

In this episode, David and Todd explore Matthew 13:31–35, where Jesus describes the kingdom of heaven through the parables of the mustard seed and the leaven. They reflect on how God’s kingdom begins in hidden, ordinary ways, yet steadily grows in depth and influence—inviting faithfulness, patience, and trust in God’s transforming work.

In this episode, David and Todd unpack Matthew 13:24–30 and 36–43, exploring the Parable of the Weeds and Jesus’ teaching on the coexistence of good and evil in the present age. They reflect on the reality of spiritual warfare, the certainty of future judgment, and how the hope of God’s coming kingdom calls believers to stay awake, faithful, and encouraged in their mission.

In this episode, David and Todd walk through Matthew 13:1-9, focusing on the Parable of the Sower and what it reveals about the hidden, often discouraging nature of God’s kingdom work. They discuss the importance of faithful seed-sowing over visible results and explore how different responses to Jesus expose both the condition of the heart and our dependence on God for growth.

In this episode, David and Todd explore Matthew 13:10–17, where Jesus explains why He teaches in parables and reveals the hidden nature of God’s kingdom. Seeing and hearing the kingdom is both a gift of God’s grace and a call to responsibility—so steward what you’ve been given and live it out on mission.

In this episode, David and Todd explore Matthew 12:46–50, where Jesus redefines the true family of God as those who follow Him and do the Father’s will. They unpack how this reshapes our understanding of church as a spiritual family marked by sacrificial love, shared identity, and committed discipleship. 

In this episode, guest Paul Spangler joins to discuss Matthew 12:38–45 and Jesus’ confrontation with the Pharisees’ hardened hearts. Together they explore how true transformation begins with repentance, humility, and recognizing that Jesus—greater than Jonah or Solomon—is enough. 

In this episode, David and Todd dive into Matthew 12:33–37, where Jesus reveals that our words and actions flow from the heart. They discuss how real transformation begins with choosing Jesus and being rooted in Him, rather than trying to change through outward effort or moral performance. 

In this episode, David and Todd explore Matthew 12:22–32, unpacking Jesus’ authority over demons and the accusations of the Pharisees. They discuss how the passage reveals the arrival of God’s kingdom, the identity of Jesus as the anointed Son of David, and the danger of resisting the Spirit’s conviction.

In this episode, Todd and David explore Matthew 12:15–21, where Jesus reveals the quiet strength of God’s servant—one who brings justice not through power or noise, but through gentleness, compassion, and unwavering hope.

Todd and David discuss both the justice and gentleness of Jesus who invites us to come and rest in him.

Todd & David deep dive into Matthew 11:1-19 wrestling with doubt, John the Baptist, and Jesus' invitation to trust and live with confidence that He is the Messiah.

This week on the TextLab Todd and David break down Matthew 10:34-42 and what it means to trust and treasure Christ above all else, especially in the midst of obstacles and persecution that may come as we spread the Gospel message.

Todd and David dig into Matthew 10:26-33 and unpack what it means to live out of a heathy fear of God that drives a Kingdom boldness to live SENT and spread the good news of the Gospel.

Todd & David kick off a new season of the podcast by digging into Matthew 10:16-24. Jesus sends out the 12 disciples and prepares them for the persecution they will face as they spread the good news of the Gospel and the arrival of Christ's Kingdom.

As Jesus sends the apostles to do incredible things in Matthew 10:1-15, Kyle and David break down what applies specifically to the apostles in their town and what applies to us today in our town.

Kyle and David explore how Jesus calls an unexpected group of people to accomplish His extraordinary mission.

 Kyle and David examine how Jesus’ compassion fuels his ministry.

David and Kyle talk about the danger of filtering out Biblical ideas that don't fit nicely in our western worldview, and think about what it looks like to let the Bible shape our perception of reality.

Kyle and David explore how Jesus uses his power to reverse the curse. He comes to oppose the enemies of God‘s creation— sin, Satan, and death.

Kyle and David explore how Jesus and His Kingdom disrupt old patterns and ways of living.