PODCAST · religion
The Disciple Standard Podcast
by Scott Vander Ploeg
Welcome to the Disciple Standard Podcast!Where we discuss the multiply method of discipleshipwe believe it is time to upgrade the operating system of the church returning to a decentralized system which promotes exponential growth through the multiplication of disciples.
Episodes
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How Do You Raise Kids Who Love Church?
How do you raise kids who love church? Scott, Aaron, and Seron discuss helping children build a lasting faith through family life, serving, and belonging to a church community. Later, they share stories from Sunlight's partnerships in Nigeria, including congregations whose buildings were…
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Do We Really Have Free Will if God Knows Everything?
If God knows everything, do we really have free will? This week, Aaron and Seron wrestle with God's sovereignty, the origin of sin, and what Scripture teaches about human responsibility. Plus, conversations about church planting, marriage, spiritual leadership, and life at Sunlight.
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We've Been Reading the Psalms Wrong
Have we forgotten how to read the Psalms? This week, we explore how the Psalms point us to Jesus, teach us how to pray, and reveal a way of reading Scripture that much of the modern church may have lost.
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What Does the Bible Actually Say About Hell?
What does the Bible actually say about hell? This week, we dig into Scripture, challenge some common assumptions, and wrestle with how Christians should understand judgment, eternity, and the character of God.
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Is the World Actually Getting Worse?
Is the world actually getting worse—or are we simply more aware of everything that's wrong? In this episode of The Disciple Standard Podcast, we look across generations at some of the events that shaped America's collective memory—from Ruby Bridges and the Civil Rights era to Rodney King, 9/11,...
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What Happens to Us When AI Does Everything?
What happens to human purpose when AI can do our jobs better than we can? In Episode 66 of The Disciple Standard Podcast, we wrestle with the rapidly changing world of artificial intelligence and what it could mean for work, education, relationships, and the church. If technology can teach us...
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What Makes a Sermon Actually Good?
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Is Christian Nationalism Distracting the Church?
Christian nationalism, political division, abortion, prayer in schools—how involved should the church actually be in politics? In this episode of The Disciple Standard Podcast, we wrestle with where Christians should engage politically, where the institutional church should draw the line, and...
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You Can Preach the Bible... and Still Miss Jesus
Can you preach straight from the Bible and still miss the heart of the gospel? In this episode of The Disciple Standard Podcast, we break down Seron's recent sermon and use it as a springboard into a much bigger conversation about preaching.
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Why Christians Disagree About Christian Nationalism
What does the Bible actually say about patriotism, politics, and where a Christian's ultimate allegiance belongs? In this episode, we unpack Christian nationalism, faith, government, military service, and why our highest loyalty must always be to Christ.
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The Celebrity Pastor Model Is Broken...Here's What We're Building Instead
Pastor Scott is turning 50. His dream? That one day, nobody remembers he was here. This week we get into why he went from preaching 50 Sundays a year to 17, what the celebrity pastor model is costing the church, and what it actually looks like to build something that outlasts you. We can't make…
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Red Hot Gospel Passion: Why Synod 2026 Might Be a Turning Point for the CRC
Synod 2026 just wrapped. And for the first time in a long time, something felt different. Scott was on the floor. He chaired an advisory committee, gave a speech, and watched the CRC adopt a 3-year action plan for church planting. This week he breaks down what happened, what it meant, and what…
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The CRC Is Finally Doing Something: 150 Churches in 10 Years
The CRC's annual Synod just made what might be its biggest call to action in years — 150 new churches in 10 years. We watched it live and reacted in real time. In this episode of the Disciple Standard Podcast (our first ever livestream!), we break down: → What Zach King actually said on the floor...
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Live Reactions to Catholic Mass, What Matters in Church, and What Makes a Great Sermon
What does a pastor in a giant sleeping bag vest, Catholic incense, and a guy eating a torn Bible page have in common? They all sparked one of our most honest conversations about what actually matters in church. In this episode of the Disciple Standard Podcast, we react to some viral ministry…
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How Churches Should Handle Discipline
What is church discipline—and why do so many churches avoid talking about it? In this episode of The Disciple Standard Podcast, Aaron, Zach, and Seron tackle one of the most uncomfortable topics in Christianity: accountability inside the church. Is church discipline biblical? How should churches...
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The Early Church Had No Buildings - Should We?
Would Paul, Peter, or the early disciples even recognize what we call "church" today? We dive deep into: The true biblical definition of church vs. our modern building-centered model Why the early church met in homes, underground cities, and public spaces • The Pros Worship Service experiment...
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Should You Leave Your Church? Church Membership & True Commitment
In this raw and honest episode of the Disciple Standard Podcast, we dive deep into what it really means to be part of a local church family. From caring for your body as the temple of the Holy Spirit (including a candid weight loss journey and cycling stories), to tattoos, resilience, and the big...
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Do You Need to Know Everything to Disciple Someone?
What qualifies someone to disciple another person? Do you need years of Bible knowledge before you can teach? What happens when Christians disagree on baptism, communion, theology, or even what the "fundamentals" of Christianity are? In this episode of the Disciple Standard Podcast, the...
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Why Grace Is So Hard to Believe
What shapes your sense of self? In this deeply personal episode of the Disciple Standard Podcast, the guys talk about parenting, church hurt, grace, shame, identity, divorce, hypocrisy, and the hidden ways people develop their understanding of themselves. After a heartbreaking conversation with…
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You've Probably Been Taught Baptism Wrong
Baptism is one of the most debated topics in the church—and for good reason. In this episode of the Disciple Standard Podcast, we tackle the questions people are actually asking: Why do some churches baptize babies? Does baptism save you? Should you ever get baptized more than once? And what's…
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There's More to Communion Than You Think
What are we actually doing when we take communion? In this episode of the Disciple Standard Podcast, we dive into one of the most overlooked—and misunderstood—parts of the Christian life: the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper. We wrestle with real questions like: - Should communion…
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Are We Preaching the Gospel Wrong? Pastors Need to Hear This
What should a sermon actually be about? In this episode of the Disciple Standard Podcast, we tackle a question that gets surprisingly controversial: Should every sermon be gospel-centered? We dive into: Why many churches may be missing the gospel entirely The difference between true, textual,...
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Do You Really Belong to a Church?
What started as a normal conversation… turned into one of the most unexpected and honest discussions we've ever had. In this episode, we wrestle with questions that hit close to home: What is the real purpose of church? Does tithing have to go to one church? What does church membership actually...
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Is The Pastoral Pipeline Is Breaking?
Why are so many pastors leaving ministry, and why are so few stepping in to replace them? In this episode, Scott, Jary, and Zach react to the growing pastoral shortage, talk through the collapse of the traditional pastoral pipeline, and wrestle with what seminaries, churches, and local leaders…
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What If We Raised the Bar Again?
Aaron's out on new-baby duty, so Scott and Seron take the wheel—talking baby names (and meanings), Easter plans, gospel choir dreams, and how PROS is growing in Fort Pierce. Along the way they unpack hard Psalm lines, debate dramatized Scripture reading, revisit the Heidelberg Catechism, and...
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Psalms, Playlists, and the Problem With 'Feel-Good' Worship
Why did the church lose track of its own prayer book? In this episode, we talk about bringing the Psalms back through worship — and why singing them might be the simplest path to memorization, discipleship, and deeper spiritual formation. We also get into modern music trends, "second-screen"...
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How Did the Church Lose the Psalms?
Have the Psalms quietly disappeared from the modern church? In this episode, we explore why the church may have lost its own prayer book — and what happens when we bring it back. From Psalm 131 and anxious parents finding rest, to Psalm 149 set to modern dance music, we talk about public reading…
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Stop Chasing Vision — Start Responding to God's Calling
This episode began as a private Patreon conversation—but it was too important to keep behind a paywall. We explore why replacing the word vision with calling can radically change how pastors, leaders, parents, and everyday Christians understand identity, purpose, and faithfulness. Through stories...
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What's Missing in Church Today (and How PROS Responds)
What if the "shallow church" problem isn't fixed by better lights, tighter sets, or even more silence—but by deeper relationships and active participation? In this episode, we react to a clip on authenticity in church, talk about why modern services can feel like events, and unpack a simple path...
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Why We Sing in Church (And Why Music Shapes Your Theology)
Why do Christians sing? In this episode, we dig into the "worship wars"—hymns, Psalms, and contemporary worship—and why music reaches deeper than words alone. We talk about how songs shape theology over time, why the Psalms were meant to be sung (not just referenced), and what it looks like to...
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The 2026 Plan: Read the Bible Twice + Plant a Church in 45 Days
What would happen if Scripture became the center again—not just a verse, but the long-form Word of God read out loud in community? In this episode, Pastor Scott shares his 2026 vision: taking in hours of Scripture each week, praying the Psalms daily, and launching a Public Reading of Scripture...
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Rethinking How Christians Celebrate Christmas
In this Christmas episode, the guys unpack traditions, Santa, family rhythms, church practices, communion debates, and how Christians can keep Christ at the center of the season. From childhood memories to cultural pressures to navigating holiday exhaustion, this is a fun, honest, and meaningful...
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Gospel, Mission, and the CRC: Defining Our Identity
What does it actually mean to be CRC? Is it our theology? Our history? Our worship style? Our mission? And if the Christian Reformed Church is going to reverse decline and rediscover its calling, where does our true identity begin? In this week's episode, Aaron sits down with Pastor Scott and...
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Why the Future of the Church Won't Drop from the Sky
The Multiply Conference is over… now what? In this episode of the Disciple Standard Podcast, Aaron sits down with Zach Olson and Scott Vander Ploeg to unpack what actually needs to happen next if we're serious about multiplying disciples, leaders, and churches in the CRC. They talk candidly about...
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How Movements Start: Conversations, Classes, and Calling - Multiply Conference Day 1
Day 1 of the Multiply Conference was less "talking heads," more movement building. Scott sits down with Paul Vander Klay (Sacramento, CA) and Moisés "Mo" Pacheco (Chicago, IL) to unpack the day: why classes-level action beats top-down plans, what disciple-making must look like in a post-Christian...
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Pre-Conference Recap: Scripture, Psalms, and a Movement of Multiplication
The Multiply Conference is here, and before the main sessions even kicked off, we gathered pastors and leaders to do something simple and powerful: hear Scripture publicly, pray and sing the Psalms together, and dream about multiplying disciples, leaders, and churches. In this short recap, Scott...
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Prayer, Psalms, and the Plan: Raising Leaders Now | Season 3 Episode 35
Leaders don't wait for permission—they take responsibility. This week we tackle the "elephants in the room": grassroots church movements vs. denominational centers, fears about factions, and what it really takes to multiply 2,000 leaders and plant 1,000 churches. Then we go deeper: a practical...
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Are We Too Comfortable to Be Courageous? | Season 3 Episode 33
In this episode, Aaron, Seron, and Zach tackle one of the most challenging questions facing the modern church: Are Christians too comfortable to live courageously? From AI and spiritual laziness to local evangelism and church culture, the team gets real about what courage looks like in everyday...
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Risk Is Right: Why Christians Must Stop Playing It Safe | Season 3 Episode 34
Comfort is killing the church. For many believers today, safety has become a silent idol — but what if real Christianity has always required risk? In this episode, Scott returns from Nigeria with a powerful challenge: If Jesus is who He says He is, then risk is right. Aaron, Seron, and Scott...
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20 Sentences the CRC Needs to Start Talking About… | Season 3 Episode 32
An old monk had 95 theses—today we bring 20. In this episode, Pastor Scott lays out a bold, practical roadmap for renewal in the Christian Reformed Church: a gospel-first identity, every believer a multiplier, leadership pipelines that start in local churches, and church planting as the ordinary...
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Friends on Mission: Renewing the CRC Through Church Planting | Season 3 Episode 31
What's the future of church planting in the Christian Reformed Church? In this episode of the Disciple Standard Podcast, Scott sits down with Tim Sheridan (Director of Church Planting for the CRC) and Vivi Cassis (Operations Manager, Resonate Global Mission & leader at The Source Church) to talk...
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The New Vision for CRC Churches in Florida | Season 3 Episode 30
Church attendance may be declining across the U.S., but in this episode of the Disciple Standard Podcast, Pastors Aaron, Kris, and Scott share a bold new vision for the future of churches in Florida—and the Christian Reformed Church at large. From celebrating past wins to unveiling the goal of...
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Plant Where It Grows: The Data, the Gospel, and a New Vision for Church Planting | Season 3 Episode 28
What actually makes a church plant take root—strategy, location… or discipleship? Scott sits down with David Snapper (church planter/researcher) to unpack 40+ years of lessons: why many "parachute drops" stall, how clusters (the 20-mile/2,000 rule) change outcomes, and how to build a synthetic...
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Charlie Kirk, Demonic Powers, and the Church's Response | Season 3 Episode 29
When tragedy shakes a nation, like the shocking assassination of Charlie Kirk, people flood back into churches looking for answers. In this powerful episode of the Disciple Standard Podcast, Aaron, Scott, and Kris wrestle with big questions: - Why do moments of national crisis awaken spiritual...
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How 1:1 Discipleship Reversed a Decades-Long Decline | Season 3 Episode 27
What if a classis in long-term decline could reverse the trend—by discipling people one-to-one, raising new preachers, and planting churches again? In this roundtable, Aaron sits down with Pastor Chris (The Source Church), Pastor Felix (South Kendall Community Church), and Pastor Scott to unpack...
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From Grief to Legacy: When Churches Face the End | Season 3 Episode 26
In this week's episode of the DSP, Pastors Scott, Zach ("the Wise One"), and Aaron dive into one of the most difficult but necessary conversations: what happens when a church faces decline and must confront its future. We react to Pastor Paul VanderKlay's candid video about his church's…
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A Life Full of Meaning from Proverbs | Season 3 Episode 25
In this episode of the Disciple Standard Podcast, the guys dive into Proverbs, wisdom, foolishness, and the stages of life. From midlife crises and career thinking to deep theological reflections on Christ as the true wisdom of God, this conversation blends humor, vulnerability, and rich biblical...
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The Whole Gospel: Why Good News Needs the Bad News | Season 3 Episode 24
When you hear the word gospel, what comes to mind — music? A churchy phrase? Or the life-changing announcement of God's rescue plan? In this episode of the Disciple Standard Podcast, we unpack what the whole gospel really is, why it matters for every sermon, and how it transforms lives and...
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Why We Need to Raise Leaders—and Then Let Them Lead | Season 3 Episode 23
How do you raise up the next generation of church leaders—and then get out of the way? In this episode, Aaron sits down with Jary Reed and Scott Vander Ploeg to unpack how discipleship really works, why leadership starts young, and how churches can unlock the 90% of leadership potential sitting...
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Budget Cuts, Coaching Gaps, and the Future of Church Plants | Season 3 Episode 22
What's the future of church planting in the CRC? We talk with Marco Ávila, East Coast Regional Leader for Resonate Global Mission, about raising up church planters, coaching leaders, and navigating the recent funding changes coming in 2026. From the essentials every church plant needs, to the...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Welcome to the Disciple Standard Podcast!Where we discuss the multiply method of discipleshipwe believe it is time to upgrade the operating system of the church returning to a decentralized system which promotes exponential growth through the multiplication of disciples.
HOSTED BY
Scott Vander Ploeg
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Disciple Standard Podcast have?
The Disciple Standard Podcast currently has 50 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Disciple Standard Podcast about?
Welcome to the Disciple Standard Podcast!Where we discuss the multiply method of discipleshipwe believe it is time to upgrade the operating system of the church returning to a decentralized system which promotes exponential growth through the multiplication of disciples.
How often does The Disciple Standard Podcast release new episodes?
The Disciple Standard Podcast has 50 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to The Disciple Standard Podcast?
You can listen to The Disciple Standard Podcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Disciple Standard Podcast?
The Disciple Standard Podcast is created and hosted by Scott Vander Ploeg.
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