The Echo Collective

Most of us have been taught that the parables of the mustard seed and the yeast are about small things becoming big things. That's true but that isn't the whole story. In this episode, we explore why Jesus doesn't compare God's Kingdom to a glorious cedar or a mighty oak tree, but to a plant that spreads like it has never heard of boundaries and yeast that quietly and almost sneakily transforms everything it touches. The Kingdom of God is far more disruptive and far more hopeful than we can even begin to imagine.

When most people hear the word theology, they might think of books, doctrines, debates. They might even think of a theologian in a sweater vest, smoking a pipe while pondering deep questions. But what if theology is ultimately about learning to see, speak, and live in the world the way God does? What if theology is also a child wanting to pray when something hard happens? In this conversation, Dr. Chris Whyte and I explore the relationship between knowledge and wisdom, sharing stories and reflections on what it means to move beyond information and toward transformation. 

In The Silver Chair (Book 6 of Narnia), Aslan warns Jill to remember the signs because once she returns to Narnia, distraction and confusion will make remembering really hard. This short reflection discusses why forgetfulness is one of the central struggles of the human experience and how practices of remembering help us stay rooted when life gets crazy.

In Luke 18, Jesus tells a weird story about a corrupt judge, a pesky widow, and a persistence that refuses to go down without a fight. In this episode, we explore why the parable is not about annoying God into answering our prayers, but about trusting the just and compassionate character of God while continuing to pursue mercy, justice, and hope in a weary world.

In this episode of Echo Collective, I sit down with Benji Horning for a thoughtful conversation about spiritual formation, not as a cultural buzzword, but as an ancient way of life. Together, we explore humility, the voice of the Spirit, the wisdom of the early church (among other things), and the ways we are all being formed by the world around us. At the center of it all is the invitation to become more deeply rooted in Christ and, mysteriously, more fully ourselves. Don't miss it.

This episode is quite simply a brief meditation from a book that I have been re-reading: The Silver Chair by C.S.Lewis. I thought it would make a great mini-episode. Thanks for tuning in.

Jesus tells a haunting story about a rich man who insulates himself from the suffering outside of his privileged life. In this episode of Echo Collective, we explore the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, the danger of separation, and what happens when wealth, comfort, and convenience keep us from truly seeing the suffering of people right next to us.

In this episode, Jesus tells a story about a dishonest manager who gets praised by his master and it feels completely wrong. This parable, in my humble opinion is the most difficult parable to understand. But, when we have a good seat and the right prescription in our lenses, we can see the beauty that is revealed in this story; God is merciful beyond our comfortability. It is not a surprise that this story comes right after the prodigal son story because they are deeply connected.

Matthew 25 gives us the Parable of the Talents. We’ve been given an idea that this parable is about using our gifts for God but what if it’s really about something way more risky? In a world that is pretty unsure about the Master (Jesus), I think this story is asking a very direct question: are you willing to risk by association? Enjoy!

In this episode, Jesus tells a story where the hero is a hated outsider. The parable of the Good Samaritan forces us to confront our own boundaries and is most certainly calling us to the kind of life that crosses them even when it costs us something.

In this episode, I sit down with my friend and pastor Dr. Mark Foreman to talk about prayer and what it looks like to move beyond a transactional faith experience. Through our conversation, we explore the beautiful invitation into something deeper, a relationship with God that actually looks like friendship.

In this episode, we sit with one of Jesus’ most unsettling parables: a story where radical forgiveness and grace is met with cruelty and violence. This episode will ask us to consider what it means to truly receive grace and why it's meant to move through us, not just stop with us. This is the Parablw of the Unforgiving Servant in Matthew 18.

Easter is not just about what happens after we die; it’s about what God does in places that already feel dead. This short reflection explores resurrection as both a future hope and a present reality, reminding us that because Christ is risen, everything is gonna be okay.

Why do Christians call the darkest day in the story “good”? This Good Friday episode explores the meaning of Good Friday, the significance of Holy Week, and the mystery of the Christ, who entered fully into human violence and refused to perpetuate the cycle.

In this episode, Jesus tells a short story about two men who go pray, but only one of them leaves right with God. In this episode, we explore tax-collectors and pharisees as categories, thew disease of self-righteousness, the necessity of humility, and the reality that desperation gets us closer to God than spiritual performance ever will.

Matthew 20 gives us the the parable of the workers in the vineyard where Jesus tells a story that completely obliterates our sense of fairness. God's generosity doesn't fit inside our paradigms of fairness...and that's a good thing.

The story doesn't end when the younger son comes home... Jesus isn’t finished yet. In the second half of the parable, we meet the older brother. He's loyal, faithful, responsible, and downright crusty. He's absolutely furious that grace has been given so freely. This part of the story is aimed at those of us who think we’ve been doing everything right all along. Watch out. These parables will get ya!

Sometimes stories from the Bible become so familiar that they start to lose their impact. In Luke 15, Jesus tells three stories about things that are lost. The third one is about two sons who are both, in their own ways, lost. We may think we know this story well, but maybe its familiarity has dulled its power. Let’s see if we can rediscover the grandeur of God’s grace.

In Matthew 21, Jesus tells a story about two sons. One son says the right thing but never does what is asked, and the other son says 'No' but eventually changes his mind and does it. This parable reminds us that in God's economy, transformation matters more than appearances and empty words. This is the parable of the 2 sons.

In this episode, I sit down with Willie Register, a longtime pastor and trusted friend, to talk honestly about the way we’ve emphasized decisions over formation. Together, we explore what it means to follow Jesus over a lifetime...it's the Long Game with Willie Register

Jesus describes the kingdom as a feast where the invitation is generous and the refusals are insulting. The prophet Isaiah dreamed of a day when God would host a banquet, swallow up death, and wipe away every tear. Now, Jesus says that feast is hot and ready. The question is not whether the table is set, but why so many still choose not to come.

Today we explore Jesus’ parables of the hidden treasure and the merchant looking for fine pearls. These are two stories about a kingdom that is so quietly present that most people miss it, yet it's so valuable that those who truly see it will gladly reorder their entire lives to possess it.

The rich fool thought he had finally arrived; He was secure, satisfied, and at ease. That fool thought he was living his best life. In this episode, we sit with an unsettling parable and consider how a life built around false security can quietly shrink until there’s no room left for anyone else.

Welcome to season 2! Before moving forward, it matters to say what we’re doing here. This episode sets the tone for season 2 by naming the vision, and the posture, and the kind of faith we’re trying to practice together. Thanks for joining us on the journey. Let's get into it.

On Christmas Day, we celebrate the new thing God is doing! Hope is made flesh in the birth of Jesus. This final Advent reflection says, "Finally! He is breaking into our weary world!" It's time to party!

It's Christmas Eve. We pause in wonder as God’s Spirit brings newness beyond our control, reminding us that salvation comes in ways that we never saw coming.

Advent’s revolution starts within us, reshaping our hearts so that we can be a part of God’s healing work in the world.

Light is rising in the darkness. Advent invites us to wait with hope and notice that Light dawning into our lives.

Advent begins with a daring vision that God can break cycles of fear and violence, opening the possibility of a different kind of world; a world where weapons are turned into tools that cultivate goodness and beauty.

Waiting is sacred and it can also be the worst. Episode 22 sits with the concept of weariness during advent and listens for the strength God gives to those who have run out of steam.

“The Waiting Is the Hardest Part” invites us to step back from the noise of December and notice how God shows up in the tension, longing, and stillness of Advent. This episode helps us see waiting not as wasted time, but as sacred space where light begins to break in.

Episode 20 celebrates twenty weeks of The Echo Collective, and this milestone episode explores the deepest word of all; Love. Listen in as we trace the hebrew word hesed and the greek word agape through Scriptures and discover how God’s self-giving love reshapes and reorients our lives.

In this Episode (that is late...sorry! And happy Thanksgiving! 🦃 ), we explore what is meant by the word 'hope.' Hope in the Bible is not wishful thinking, but a deep confidence rooted in God Himself. We will look at the Hebrew word qavah and discuss the beautiful hope that was contained in Julian of Norwich.

Episode 18 explores the surprising depth behind the biblical words for “faith.' It isn't just belief. It's a steady and firm trust that shapes how we move through the world. In this episode we discover how faith becomes less about certainty and more about clinging to the God who is always faithful.

In this episode of The Echo Collective, we explore what worship really means and how it's beyond the songs we sing on Sundays. Together, we’ll discover that true worship is about what (and who) we give ultimate value to, shaping not just our words, but the way we live, love, and serve.

In this episode, we explore what it really means to be made in the Image of God; not as distant statues of some far-off deity, but as living reflections of God’s character in the world. We’ll look at how understanding this identity reshapes how we see ourselves, how we treat others, and how we participate in God’s work of renewal around us.

In this episode, we explore what the Bible really means when it talks about heaven, not as a faraway place we escape to, but as God’s reality breaking into our world right now. Together, we’ll reflect on how we participate in that reality, living as citizens of heaven in the everyday moments of life.

Repentance isn’t about guilt or fear; it’s about grace and waking up. In this episode, we explore what it really means to repent and return to the God who keeps inviting us home.

In this episode, we unpack the word salvation. It's not just escaping judgment, but it's the healing, restoration, and renewal of all creation. From the Hebrew Yeshua, to the Greek soteria, to the Latin salvatio, to Paul’s letters, we explore how Jesus’ saving work invites us into God’s ongoing rescue mission to make all things new.

In this episode, we explore the word grace . From the Hebrew word khen to the Greek word charis , we will trace how God’s favor flows through Scripture and takes on flesh in Jesus. Grace isn’t about earning or deserving; it’s about God bending toward us in love, meeting us in our weakness, and transforming how we live.

In this episode, we dig into the word “sin." From the very first time it shows up in Genesis to Paul using the Greek word hamartia. Instead of seeing sin as something that only brings shame, we’ll talk about how God can use our 'missed shots' to draw us into deeper freedom and life with Him.

What does it really mean to be a Christian? In this episode, we explore Jesus’ call to discipleship in Matthew 16, the true meaning of soul, and why following Jesus is about more than a label; it’s about embodying His way of life.

In this episode, we explore what Jesus means when He says, “I am the true vine." He is inviting us to stay connected to Him as the source of life and growth, but He is also making a bold claim that is rooted in Old Testament echoes.

When Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” He wasn’t laying down an entrance exam for heaven; He was comforting His disciples who were afraid of being left behind. In this episode, we delve into what those words truly mean: Jesus as the path that leads us forward, the truth we can trust, and the life that brings hope even in the face of death.

In this episode, we walk with Jesus into the grief and hope of John 11, where He weeps at the tomb of His friend Lazarus and then calls him back to life. We’ll explore what it means that Jesus is both present with us in suffering and powerful over death itself. The resurrection isn’t just a future promise; it’s a reality that reshapes how we live, hope, and love today.

Jesus says, “I am the light of the world.” Light guides, reveals, and gives life, and Jesus claims to do the same for our souls. In this episode, we’ll reflect on what it means to walk in His light in a world full of darkness, and how His presence brings clarity, hope, and direction for our everyday lives.

After feeding thousands, Jesus tells the crowd, “I am the Bread of Life.” In this episode, we explore what He meant — from manna in the wilderness to the things we chase that never satisfy — and what it looks like to find daily sustenance that doesn’t spoil.

In this episode, we explore Jesus’ words in John 10:14–18, where He calls Himself the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep. We’ll reflect on what it means to be fully known and still loved, and how the Shepherd’s sacrifice changes the way we live.

In John 10:10, Jesus draws a sharp contrast between the thief who comes to steal, kill, and destroy, and the Shepherd who gives life to the full. In this episode, we explore what it means to recognize the voice of the thief in our own lives—and how the Shepherd leads us into a joy and abundance the world can’t counterfeit. Through story, scripture, and reflection, we’ll consider the ways the Good Shepherd protects, provides, and invites us into a life that’s truly full.

When Jesus says, “I am the gate,” He’s not putting up a barrier — He’s opening a way. In this episode, we unpack the ancient shepherding image behind His words and explore how Jesus offers safety, belonging, and a path into real, abundant life. With echoes from Psalm 23 and Ezekiel 34, we consider what it means to be welcomed, protected, and led by the Good Shepherd.