The Harder Way Podcast

The Church That Cannot Be Eliminated — How Community Survives Persecution This episode explores how the Cuban church's deep community, mutual care, and stewardship enable faith to endure under pressure. It urges the American church to build relationships now—so members and leaders are known, supported, and able to carry one another before crisis arrives. Remember to help us share these podcasts: Like, Share, and Comment! Send Bibles to persecuted churches ($20 provides a needed Bible from the store to a persecuted saint). Receive the Courier Update Support this podcast!

Called, Not Promoted: When God Sends You Where You'd Rather Not Go This episode examines what it means to be called by God rather than defined by a title or position. Using stories from Cuban pastors who left comfortable livelihoods to serve their communities, the host contrasts preference with calling, explains how calling is tested and confirmed, and highlights the costs and commitments involved. Listeners receive practical questions to name and assess their assignment, encouragement to obey faithfully, and a reminder that obedience often means doing the next good thing until the Caller releases you. Remember to help us share these podcasts: Like, Share, and Comment! Send Bibles to persecuted churches ($20 provides a needed Bible from the store to a persecuted saint). Receive the Courier Update Support this podcast!

When Scripture Rules: Rediscovering the Bible's Authority Scott explores the centrality of the Bible, telling stories from persecuted believers and urging Christians to stop treating Scripture as a decoration or tool and to let it govern their lives. He emphasizes memorizing Scripture, submitting to its authority, and keeping the Word as the foundation when suffering or culture pressures us. Listeners are invited to examine how Scripture has changed them, identify passages they avoid, and consider how much of the Bible would remain in their hearts if physical access were lost. Remember to help us share these podcasts: Like, Share, and Comment! Send Bibles to persecuted churches ($20 provides a needed Bible from the store to a persecuted saint). Receive the Courier Update Support this podcast!

When Fear Leads the Church: Fight, Flee, Compromise Episode 3 examines how fear—rather than faith—shapes many responses in the American church, driving fight, flee, and compromise. Drawing on lessons from Cuban pastors and biblical examples, Scott urges listeners to identify what their fear is teaching them and to reorder their hearts under the fear of God. Practical questions and vivid stories (including Peter’s failures and restoration) challenge believers to choose God’s approval over man’s and prepare for costly faithfulness. Remember to help us share these podcasts: Like, Share, and Comment! Send Bibles to persecuted churches ($20 provides a needed Bible from the store to a persecuted saint). Receive the Courier Update Support this podcast!

Before the Pressure: How Prosperity Steals Courage This episode examines how comfort and prosperity can quietly dull a Christian's obedience and offers a practical response drawn from resilient pastors who faced sustained pressure. Scott outlines three practices—name the fear, exercise the faith, and return ownership to God—and urges listeners to practice faithfulness now so they are prepared when real pressure comes. Remember to help us share these podcasts: Like, Share, and Comment! Send Bibles to persecuted churches ($20 provides a needed Bible from the store to a persecuted saint). Receive the Courier Update Support this podcast!

When Comfort Becomes the Master Scott explores how prosperity can quietly own believers, using stories from the Cuban and Eastern European churches to show how scarcity built resilience and dependence on God. He warns that comfort can erode genuine faith by making obedience optional and offers three reflective questions to test what would separate you from Christ.   Remember to help us share these podcasts: Like, Share, and Comment! Send Bibles to persecuted churches ($20 provides a needed Bible from the store to a persecuted saint). Receive the Courier Update Support this podcast!

Before the Pressure Comes: Lessons from the Cuban Church This episode introduces a nine-part series drawing on the experiences of Cuban and other persecuted pastors to show how faith matures under pressure. It explains the series structure and previews themes—prosperity, fear, Scripture, calling, community, spiritual life, suffering, and providence—that shaped resilient Christian leaders. Listeners are invited to examine whether comfort or control governs their faith and to prepare now so their Christianity will remain faithful when conditions change. Remember to help us share these podcasts: Like, Share, and Comment! Send Bibles to persecuted churches ($20 provides a needed Bible from the store to a persecuted saint). Receive the Courier Update Support this podcast!

When Faith Meets Fear: Stories from Nigeria, Cuba, and Canada Scott explores real stories of Christians in Nigeria, Cuba, and Canada to show how Scripture shapes courage, endurance, and faithful witness under pressure. The episode contrasts violent persecution, severe hardship, and growing cultural hostility, and argues that the Bible prepares Believers to stand firm when obedience becomes costly. Listen for a call to build lives on the Word of God, pray for persecuted brothers and sisters, and embrace the Harder Way of faith over comfort. Remember to help us share these podcasts: Like, Share, and Comment! Send Bibles to persecuted churches ($20 provides a needed Bible from the store to a persecuted saint). Receive the Courier Update Support this podcast!

Where Are Your Two Copper Coins? A Call to All‑In Faith Scott invites listeners to reflect on what it means to be fully committed to Jesus. Using the devotion to the Sacred Heart, Mark 12’s widow, and James 2, the episode contrasts pride and public religion with humble, costly obedience. The hosts emphasize the example of persecuted believers who live out their faith at great cost, and they challenge listeners to examine where they may be holding back from surrendering everything to Christ. Also included: a July Bible Courier update about early missions in Cuba and instructions to sign up at atlasbible.org/bci. Remember to help us share these podcasts: Like, Share, and Comment! Send Bibles to persecuted churches ($20 provides a needed Bible from the store to a persecuted saint). Receive the Courier Update Support this podcast!

The Harder Way: Pain, Prayer, and a Growing Miracle Scott shares a personal testimony that connects the persecuted church's struggles with their own season of pain, surprise blessings, and answered prayer. They reflect on Bible courier work, global persecution, and how the Harder Way shapes faithful living. Through medical diagnosis, a hit-and-run, and a worrying prenatal report turned healthy, the host models practical faith: prayer, trust in God’s goodness, and solidarity with believers under pressure. The episode closes with specific prayer requests for persecuted and restricted churches and for the hosts’ family. Remember to help us share these podcasts: Like, Share, and Comment! Send Bibles to persecuted churches ($20 provides a needed Bible from the store to a persecuted saint). Receive the Courier Update Support this podcast!

Tribulation Explained: Faith, Fear, and the End Times Scott continues his walk through Revelation, unpacking different views of tribulation — pre‑trib, mid‑trib, pre‑wrath, and post‑trib — and the larger dispensational and covenantal frameworks that shape them. They emphasize the essentials every Christian must hold while explaining how sincere believers can disagree about timing and sequence. The episode stresses humility, endurance, and hope, drawing lessons from the persecuted church: keep Christ at the center, hold to the core truths of resurrection and final judgment, and practice charity toward fellow Christians who read end‑times texts differently. Remember to help us share these podcasts: Like, Share, and Comment! Send Bibles to persecuted churches ($20 provides a needed Bible from the store to a persecuted saint). Receive the Courier Update Support this podcast!

End Times Without the Fight: Guardrails, Grace, and the Four Views Scott continues the Harder Way Podcast series with a careful tour through end-times interpretation. This episode outlines the key frameworks—covenant and dispensational theology—and explains four main views of the millennium (historic premillennialism, dispensational premillennialism, amillennialism, and postmillennialism). Scott emphasizes the importance of staying within the essentials of the faith, showing grace toward differing secondary views, and offers a personal, motivating lens for living out Christian hope. Remember to help us share these podcasts: Like, Share, and Comment! Send Bibles to persecuted churches ($20 provides a needed Bible from the store to a persecuted saint). Receive the Courier Update Support this podcast!

Hope & Judgment: The Essentials of the End Times Scott lays out the core Christian hopes about the end times: Christ's visible return, the resurrection of the dead, final judgment, the defeat of evil, and the renewal of creation—truths that unite believers across traditions. He encourages watchful faith, humility on disputed details, and faithful endurance, especially for persecuted Christians, emphasizing hope over speculation. Remember to help us share these podcasts: Like, Share, and Comment! Send Bibles to persecuted churches ($20 provides a needed Bible from the store to a persecuted saint). Receive the Courier Update Support this podcast!

Join Scott as he concludes the Bible read-through in Revelation. This episode unpacks Revelation’s core message: Jesus is revealed as the Lamb who wins, calling the church to worship, to endure, and to bear holy witness amid persecution and compromise. Hear how Revelation brings hope through judgment, the fall of Babylon, and the promise of a renewed creation where God dwells with his people forever. Remember to help us share these podcasts: Like, Share, and Comment! Send Bibles to persecuted churches ($20 provides a needed Bible from the store to a persecuted saint). Receive the Courier Update Support this podcast!

The Harder Way: Finished Work & Faith That Endures (Hebrews–Jude) We are near the conclusion of our nine-month Bible journey. This week, we are covering Hebrews 9 through Jude. This episode explores the finished work of Christ, enduring faith under pressure, Christian discipline, and how truth and love must work together in the face of suffering and false teaching. Listeners are encouraged to hold fast, gather with the church, and contend for the faith with humility and mercy as they live faith over fear. Remember to help us share these podcasts: Like, Share, and Comment! Send Bibles to persecuted churches ($20 provides a needed Bible from the store to a persecuted saint). Receive the Courier Update Support this podcast!

Hold Fast: Faith Under Fire — From Thessalonians to Hebrews Join Scott on the Harder Way Podcast as he moves from 1 Thessalonians through Hebrews 8, exploring how believers hold fast to Christ under real pressure—social, cultural, relational, and physical. Paul’s letters call the church to stand firm, live out sound doctrine, preach the word, and let the gospel reshape relationships, while Hebrews points to a better covenant with Christ as high priest. Scott shares personal testimony of suffering and hope, encouraging listeners to persist in prayer, embrace costly obedience, and choose faith over fear. Remember to help us share these podcasts: Like, Share, and Comment! Send Bibles to persecuted churches ($20 provides a needed Bible from the store to a persecuted saint). Receive the Courier Update Support this podcast!

Christ Alone: Four Letters That Guard the Gospel Scott surveys Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians, showing how these letters defend the purity of the gospel, call the church to unity, and teach humility, joy in suffering, and practical holiness. Key takeaway: Christ is enough—His sufficiency and supremacy reshape identity, community, and daily life.   Remember to help us share these podcasts: Like, Share, and Comment! Send Bibles to persecuted churches ($20 provides a needed Bible from the store to a persecuted saint). Receive the Courier Update Support this podcast!

Corinth in Our Streets: Paul’s Wake-Up Call to the Modern Church Scott unpacks 1 & 2 Corinthians, showing how Paul’s letters address division, moral compromise, spiritual gifts, suffering, and generosity in a culture much like our own. Through themes of the cross, sacrificial love, holiness, weakness, and the resurrection, this episode connects Scripture to the struggles of the restricted and modern church, offering practical encouragement for faithful endurance. Remember to help us share these podcasts: Like, Share, and Comment! Send Bibles to persecuted churches ($20 provides a needed Bible from the store to a persecuted saint). Receive the Courier Update Support this podcast!

Romans: The Gospel That Stands Under Pressure Welcome to the Harder Way Podcast with Scott and Mattie. This episode walks through the Book of Romans, highlighting its diagnosis of sin, the gospel’s power to justify by faith, the role of suffering in forming hope, and life transformed by the Spirit. Paul’s message—unashamed, anchored, and faithful—encourages believers under pressure and calls Christians to live differently because of what Christ has done. Remember to help us share these podcasts: Like, Share, and Comment! Send Bibles to persecuted churches ($20 provides a needed Bible from the store to a persecuted saint). Receive the Courier Update Support this podcast!

Grace Over Law: The Jerusalem Council That Changed Everything On this episode of the Harder Way Podcast, Scott walks through Acts 15 to the end, tracing the early church’s growth amid conflict, courage, and suffering. Key moments covered include the Jerusalem Council on Gentile salvation by grace, the sharp but redemptive split between Paul and Barnabas, Paul’s missionary journeys and trials, dramatic conversions, prison worship, a shipwreck, and Paul’s final witness in Rome. The episode highlights enduring themes: doctrine and unity; the role of the Spirit and Scripture; disagreement among faithful believers; and how God's mission advances through endurance rather than comfort. Remember to help us share these podcasts: Like, Share, and Comment! Send Bibles to persecuted churches ($20 provides a needed Bible from the store to a persecuted saint). Receive the Courier Update Support this podcast!

When Power Meets Pressure: Acts 1–15 and the Rise of the Church Scott walks through Acts 1–15, showing how the early church depended on the Holy Spirit, preached boldly, faced opposition, and expanded the gospel through suffering and obedience.   Remember to help us share these podcasts: Like, Share, and Comment! Send Bibles to persecuted churches ($20 provides a needed Bible from the store to a persecuted saint). Receive the Courier Update Support this podcast!

John Unveiled: 7 Signs, 7 'I Am'—God Revealed Scott walks through the entire Gospel of John, highlighting its seven miraculous signs and seven "I am" declarations that reveal Jesus as the eternal Word, the Bread of Life, the Light, the Good Shepherd, the Resurrection, the Way, and the True Vine. The episode ties these themes to faith under persecution, includes updates from Bible couriers, and calls listeners to trust Jesus in a life-changing relationship that endures through hardship.

The Harder Way: Counting the Cost — Luke 14 to the Resurrection Scott walks through Luke 14–24, unpacking Jesus’ call to count the cost of discipleship, the parables of the lost, teachings on wealth and endurance, the Last Supper, crucifixion, and the resurrection. He also gives a timely update on growing crises in Cuba, asks for prayer for teams and believers facing hardship, and highlights the church’s challenges and opportunities after political change. Overall, the episode urges listeners to choose the harder way of humble, enduring faith that follows Christ through surrender to victory.

The Harder Way — Luke 1–14: When God Breaks In Join Scott on the Harder Way podcast as he walks through Luke chapters 1–14, tracing God's divine intervention from Jesus birth to the beginning of his journey toward the cross. This episode highlights the upside-down kingdom: humility lifted, pride scattered, authority through obedience, the Spirit's power, mercy without compromise, and the sober call to follow Jesus even when it costs everything. ebook: The Nicene Creed: A Confessional Call to Christian Unity (Kindle)  Remember to help us share these podcasts: Like, Share, and Comment! Send Bibles to persecuted churches ($20 provides a needed Bible from the store to a persecuted saint). Receive the Courier Update Support this podcast! Next Week's Reading: Luke 13- Luke 24

On the Road to the Cross: Why Mark Moves In this episode of the Harder Way Podcast, Scott dives into the Gospel of Mark, exploring its urgency, authority, and focus on discipleship under pressure. He highlights key themes: identity before mission, testing before authority, the cost of following Jesus, and endurance in the face of persecution, using Mark as a guide for faith over fear. Scott also shares personal stories, his current writing projects (including a Nicene Creed book), and practical spiritual rhythms, such as observing Lent, all tied to the episode’s call to courage, self-denial, and faithful perseverance. ebook: The Nicene Creed: A Confessional Call to Christian Unity (Kindle)  Remember to help us share these podcasts: Like, Share, and Comment! Send Bibles to persecuted churches ($20 provides a needed Bible from the store to a persecuted saint). Receive the Courier Update Support this podcast! Next Week's Reading: Luke 1- Luke 12

When Expectations Meet Jesus: Grace, the Cross, and the Harder Way Scott walks through Matthew 20 through Luke 4 (I covered too much! Don't worry, I'll get Mark 5 - 16 next week!), showing how Jesus repeatedly surprises expectations — teaching grace over merit, predicting and embracing suffering, and modeling obedience to Scripture under pressure. The episode challenges listeners to choose the Harder Way: faith over fear, endurance in hardship, and a life shaped by Scripture and the presence of Christ rather than comfort or acclaim. Remember to help us share these podcasts: Like, Share, and Comment! Send Bibles to persecuted churches ($20 provides a needed Bible from the store to a persecuted saint). Receive the Courier Update Support this podcast! Next Week's Reading: Mark 5 - Mark 16

Matthew's King: The Harder Way of Discipleship (Matthew 1–19) Scott walks through Matthew 1–19, introducing Jesus as a king rooted in Israel's history and fulfilling Scripture. They highlight the Sermon on the Mount, parables, miracles, and the theme of the kingdom being both present and to come. The episode explores the costly call of discipleship, the ethics of the kingdom, and how these teachings encourage and challenge believers—especially those facing persecution—on the harder way of following Jesus. Remember to help us share these podcasts: Like, Share, and Comment! Send Bibles to persecuted churches ($20 provides a needed Bible from the store to a persecuted saint). Receive the Courier Update Support this podcast! Next Week's Reading: Matthew 20 - Mark 4

From Joel to Malachi: Minor Prophets, Major Lessons Scott walks through the final Old Testament books from Joel to Malachi, highlighting themes for believers under pressure: repentance, God’s justice, and surprising mercy. The episode explains the difference between literary and non‑literary prophets and shows how these short books call God’s people back to wholehearted covenant faith. Listeners will hear practical applications—what faithful worship looks like, warnings against hollow religion and pride, the promise of the Spirit, and the hope of restoration—encouraging endurance and humble obedience in difficult times. Remember to help us share these podcasts: Like, Share, and Comment! Send Bibles to persecuted churches ($20 provides a needed Bible from the store to a persecuted saint). Receive the Courier Update Support this podcast! Next Week's Reading: Matthew 1-19

When Empires Rage, God Reigns This episode walks through Ezekiel 38–48, Daniel, and Hosea, asking what faithfulness looks like when God’s people are weak, scattered, and under pressure. Scott explains God’s sovereignty over nations, the call to trust without full certainty, and the painful but persistent covenant love that restores those who return—encouragement for believers in comfort and in suffering. Remember to help us share these podcasts: Like, Share, and Comment! Send Bibles to persecuted churches ($20 sends a needed Bible from the store to a persecuted saint.) Receive the Courier Update Support this podcast! Next Week's Reading: Joel 1 - Malachi 4  

When God Leaves the Building: Ezekiel, Exile, and the Persecuted Church Scott walks through Ezekiel (chapters 4–37), showing how faith looks when everything familiar collapses: God's glory departs, false prophets promise comfort, and obedience often appears foolish. He ties these themes to the persecuted church, offers an update and prayer call for Iran, and points to Ezekiel 37’s vision of resurrection and renewed life. Remember to help us share these podcasts: Like, Share, and Comment! Send Bibles to persecuted churches ($15 sends a needed Bible from the store to a persecuted saint.) Receive the Courier Update Support this podcast! Next Week's Reading: Ezekiel 38 - Hosea 14

When God Isn’t in a Hurry: Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Harder Way Scott walks through Jeremiah 29 and Ezekiel 1–3, reflecting on exile, endurance, and what faithfulness looks like when God doesn’t rush to fix circumstances. The episode connects current events—Protests in Persia, suffering in Cuba, change in Venezuela, and resistance in Nicaragua—and warns against well-intended but harmful Western solutions, urging humble support for the persecuted church. Key themes: settle in during hardship, speak truth even when ignored, consume God’s word, and choose long obedience over quick fixes. Send Bibles to persecuted churches ($15 sends a needed Bible from the store to a persecuted saint.) Receive the Courier Update Support this podcast! Next Week's Reading: Ezekiel 4 - Ezekiel 37

Faith Over Fear: Isaiah’s Promises and Jeremiah’s Hard Truths Scott flies solo as he walks through Isaiah 54–66 and Jeremiah 18–28, unpacking the tension between comfort and confrontation, promise and warning. He highlights promises to the wounded, God’s restoration on His terms, Jeremiah’s painful calling, and the danger of false prophets and false hope. This episode urges listeners to choose faithfulness over popularity, trust God’s timing, and live faith over fear. Send Bibles to persecuted churches ($15 sends a needed Bible from the store to a persecuted saint.) Receive the Courier Update Support this podcast! Next Week's Reading: Jeremiah 29 - Ezekiel 3

The King Who Comes the Hard Way: Isaiah 5–53 Join Scott as he walks through Isaiah 5–53, exploring how God’s salvation comes through obedience, suffering, and faithfulness rather than power or praise. In the shadow of Christmas, Scott highlights the servant songs and Isaiah 53 to show how the Messiah’s incarnation and suffering reveal God’s presence and redemptive plan for the persecuted church. Send Bibles to persecuted churches ($15 sends a needed Bible from the store to a persecuted saint.) Receive the Courier Update Support this podcast! Next Week's Reading: Isaiah 54 - Jeremiah 28

Faith Over Fear: Psalm 141 to Isaiah 4 — The Harder Way Scott explores Psalm 141 through Isaiah 4, tracing how honest prayer, guarded speech, and covenantal obedience form faith under pressure. He links the Psalms' seasoned laments and Isaiah's prophetic warnings to the realities of the persecuted church and the call to trust God rather than fear. Listeners are invited to embrace the harder way: restraint, repentance, and dependence on God, with the promise of cleansing, the presence of God, and renewal. Send Bibles to persecuted churches ($15 sends a needed Bible from the store to a persecuted saint.) Receive the Courier Update Support this podcast! Next Week's Reading: Isaiah 5 - 53

Psalms in the Fire: Prayers for Persecution and Hope (Psalms 47–140) Scott walks through Psalms 47–140, exploring how these poems teach honest prayer, praise, lament, and trust. He highlights key passages such as Psalm 51 and Psalm 119, encourages using the Psalms as a prayer book and hymnal, and explains how they shape the faith of the persecuted church. The episode also includes a global update on rising pressures against believers in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, a request to pray for the persecuted and for co-host Maddie as she serves others, and a call to choose the harder way of faithful trust. Send Bibles to the persecuted church ($15 gets a needed Bible from the store to a persecuted saint.) Receive the Courier Update Support this podcast! Next Week: Psalm 141- Isaiah 4

When Words Are Under Fire: Faith, Freedom, and the Persecuted Church Scott reflects on recent global cases of religious restriction — from Ireland and Canada to South Korea — and explores how words and speech are central to both persecution and Christian witness. He prays for believers under pressure and highlights the power of testimony, the sword of the Spirit, and the role of suffering in spiritual formation. The episode also guides listeners through Scripture readings from Job and Psalms (Job 9-Psalm 46), drawing lessons on trust, refinement, and finding refuge in God while choosing faith over fear. This is the Link to Don's Message: Standing Firm: Preparing for More Religious Restriction in America Send Bibles to the persecuted church ($15 gets a needed Bible from the store to a persecuted saint.) Receive the Courier Update Support this podcast! Next Week: Psalm 47-140

Scott walks listeners through 2 Chronicles 36 to Job 8, tracing a path from national collapse and exile to return, rebuilding, hidden providence, and deep personal suffering. The episode highlights Ezra’s call to holiness, Nehemiah’s determined leadership, Esther’s quiet providence, and Job’s faithful endurance, connecting these stories to the experience of the persecuted church and the call to choose faith over fear.   Send Bibles to the persecuted church ($15 gets a needed Bible from the store to a persecuted saint.) Receive the Courier Update Support this podcast!

In this message, “A Tale of Two Kings,” Scott opens 2 Chronicles 14–16 and traces the life of King Asa, a leader who begins with courage and conviction but ultimately succumbs to pride and self-reliance. Asa tears down idols, leads Judah back to true worship, and cries out to God when a vast army threatens to wipe his nation out. God answers, scatters the enemy, and gives the land rest. But years later, when pressure comes again, Asa turns to human schemes and political deals instead of prayer. Confronted by a prophet, he hardens his heart, refuses to repent, and finishes his life leaning on physicians while refusing to seek the Lord. From there, Scott points to the second King in this tale. Out of Asa’s broken line comes Jesus, the better King who never drifts, never compromises, and never fails. Where Asa’s diseased feet could no longer carry him, Jesus’ pierced feet carry the weight of our sin and win a victory that brings peace not just for a season but for eternity. Along the way, Scott presses into five honest invitations: to believe that God is real and active, to see delay as God’s waiting room rather than His rejection, to confess sin quickly, to trust the relentless promise of grace, and to order our lives around obedience. The sermon ends with a simple but searching question: not “Which king is better?” but “Which King truly rules your heart?”   Send Bibles to the persecuted church ($15 gets a needed Bible from the store to a persecuted saint.) Receive the Courier Update Support this podcast!  

Scott and Mattie continue their Bible-in-a-year journey, covering 1 Chronicles 28 through 2 Chronicles 35. They explore the themes of leadership, pride, revival, and repentance as they trace the rise and fall of Judah’s kings—from David and Solomon to Hezekiah, Manasseh, and Josiah. The episode highlights how obedience builds while pride destroys, the possibility of renewal after spiritual decline, and how the persecuted church’s perspective helps us read and apply these stories today. Send Bibles to the persecuted church ($15 gets a needed Bible from the store to a persecuted saint.) Receive the Courier Update Support this podcast!

Join Scott and Mattie on The Harder Way Podcast as they continue a nine-month journey through the Bible, moving from the end of 2 Kings into 1 Chronicles. This episode examines Judah’s fall, the Babylonian exile, the hope that remains in God’s covenant, and David’s preparations for the temple, all through the lens of faith over fear and the wisdom of the persecuted church. They highlight themes of spiritual warfare, leadership and repentance, the power of testimony and genealogy, and call listeners to prayer and unity as they apply these stories to life and ministry today.   Send Bibles to the persecuted church ($15 gets a needed Bible from the store to a persecuted saint.) Receive the Courier Update Support this podcast!

Week 10 of the Harder Way Podcast explores 1 Kings 10–2 Kings 15, tracing Solomon’s spiritual decline, the division of Israel and Judah, and the rise of bold prophets such as Elijah and Elisha. Hosts Scott and Mattie explore how idolatry, fear, and poor stewardship led to national collapse while the faithful remnant preserved God’s light. The episode ties these Old Testament stories to the theme of faith over fear, urging listeners to confront idols in their own lives and to pray for persecuted Christians worldwide. It highlights the prophetic mercy and judgment, as well as the foreshadowing of Christ, in the ministries of Elijah and Elisha. Send Bibles to the persecuted church ($15 gets a needed Bible from the store to a persecuted saint.) Receive the Courier Update Support this podcast!

Scott and Mattie continue their Bible read-through, covering 2 Samuel 4 through 1 Kings 9–10. They trace David’s rise, the Ark’s arrival in Jerusalem, his grievous sin with Bathsheba, and his powerful repentance in Psalm 51, as well as Solomon’s humble request for wisdom and the building of the temple. Along the way, our hosts reflect on leadership, repentance, and choosing faith over fear, offer practical ways to support the podcast, and remind listeners to pray for persecuted Christians, including those suffering in Mozambique. Sign up for Weekly Email Send Bibles to the persecuted church ($15 gets a needed Bible from the store to a persecuted saint.) Receive the Courier Update Support this podcast!

Scott and Mttdie walk through the book of 1 Samuel (with a brief look at 2 Samuel), highlighting key stories from Hannah and Samuel to Saul and David, and the Ark of the Covenant. They explore how God’s sovereignty and timing shape leaders and nations. The episode connects these biblical accounts to the podcast’s theme of "faith over fear," discusses responses to persecution and compromise, and offers practical application about trusting God's promises, choosing noncompliance when required by conscience, and embracing the harder, God-honoring way. Sign up for Weekly Email Send Bibles to the persecuted church ($15 gets a needed Bible from the store to a persecuted saint.) Receive the Courier Update Support this podcast!

Scott and Mattie walk through Joshua 22–24, the book of Judges, and Ruth, tracing covenant renewal, the recurring cycle of sin and deliverance, and the hope of the kinsman‑redeemer. They connect these stories to Christ’s work and to the faithfulness of believers living under persecution. The episode highlights practical takeaways for modern Christians—reminding listeners to renew covenant faithfulness, recognize patterns of spiritual drift, and find encouragement in God’s steadfast love (hesed) as modeled in Ruth and Boaz. Sign up for Weekly Email Week 8 Reading: 1 Samuel 7 - 2 Samuel 5 Monday 1 Samuel 7–12 Tuesday 1 Samuel 13–16 Wednesday 1 Samuel 17–20 Thursday 1 Samuel 21–24 Friday 1 Samuel 25–30 Saturday 1 Samuel 31; 2 Samuel 1–5 Send Bibles to the persecuted church ($15 gets a needed Bible from the store to a persecuted saint.) Receive the Courier Update Support this podcast!

Join Scott and Mattie as they cover Deuteronomy 20 through Joshua 21, exploring themes of holiness, covenant renewal, and choosing faith over fear. Hear stories of the restricted church and Bible courier ministry, plus key moments like the fall of Jericho, Rahab’s faith, Joshua’s commissioning, and the cities of refuge — all pointing to God’s faithfulness and the work of Christ. Sign up for Weekly Email Week 7 Reading: Joshua 22 - 1 Samuel 6 Monday       Joshua 22–24; Judges 1 Tuesday       Judges 2–6 Wednesday Judges 7–10 Thursday     Judges 11–15 Friday          Judges 16–19 Saturday     Judges 20–21; Ruth 1–4 Sunday       1 Samuel 1–6 Send Bibles to the persecuted church ($15 gets a needed Bible from the store to a persecuted saint.) Receive the Courier Update Support this podcast!  

Scott and Mattie walk through Numbers 22–Deuteronomy 19, unpacking stories such as Balaam and his speaking donkey, Israel's fall into idolatry, the Shema, and the cities of refuge (a type of Christ!), while highlighting God's sovereignty and providential care. This episode urges listeners to choose faith over fear, embrace holiness the "God way," and learn from the persecuted church to live faithfully on the Harder Way. Sign up for Weekly Email Week 6 Reading: Deuteronomy 20 - Joshua 21 Monday          Deuteronomy 20–24 Tuesday          Deuteronomy 25–28 Wednesday    Deuteronomy 29–33 Thursday        Deuteronomy 34; Joshua 1–5 Friday            Joshua 6–9 Deuteronomy 4–8 Saturday        Joshua 10–15 Sunday          Joshua 16–21 Send Bibles to the persecuted church ($15 gets a needed Bible from the store to a persecuted saint.) Receive the Courier Update Support this podcast!  

Scott and Mattie guide listeners through Leviticus 19–27 and Numbers 1–21, unpacking holiness codes, laws, and the practical challenges of faith over fear. They highlight key stories, the manna and quail, the twelve spies, Korah's rebellion, Moses striking the rock, and the bronze serpent, and draw connections to Jesus, leadership, and the persecuted church. The episode encourages readers to trust God’s timing and providence, learn from Israel’s failures, and embrace the "Harder Way" of faithful obedience even under pressure, accompanied by pastoral reflections on accountability and resilience. Sign up for Weekly Email Week 5 Reading: Numbers 22-Deuteronomy 19 Monday          Numbers 22–26 Tuesday          Numbers 27–31 Wednesday    Numbers 32–35 Thursday        Numbers 36; Deuteronomy 1–3 Friday             Deuteronomy 4–8 Saturday        Deuteronomy 9–13 Sunday          Deuteronomy 14–19 Send Bibles to the persecuted church ($15 gets a needed Bible from the store to a persecuted saint.) Receive the Courier Update Support this podcast!  

Scott and Mattie walk through Exodus 27–Leviticus 18, exploring God’s specific design for worship, the tabernacle, and the call to holiness. They trace Israel’s pattern of rebellion, renewal, and idolatry, and explain how the priestly laws and Day of Atonement point to Jesus. The hosts connect these Old Testament themes to the persecuted church and modern Christian life, urging listeners to choose the harder way of faith over fear and to let inward transformation shape outward actions. Sign up for Weekly Email Week 4 Reading: Leviticus 19-Numbers 21 Monday     - Leviticus 19–23 Tuesday     - Leviticus 24–27 Wednesday- Numbers 1–3 Thursday    - Numbers 4–7 Friday         - Numbers 8–12 Saturday    - Numbers 13–16 Sunday       - Numbers 17–21 Send Bibles to the persecuted church ($15 gets a single Bible from the store to a persecuted saint.) Receive the Courier Update Support this podcast!  

In this episode, Scott and Mattie recap Genesis 40–50 and Exodus 1–26, tracing Joseph’s rise from slavery to second‑in‑command, his forgiveness of his brothers, and the theme of God turning evil intent into a good outcome. They then cover Exodus: Moses’ calling, the ten plagues and Passover, the parting of the Red Sea, the giving of the Ten Commandments, and the tabernacle instructions. Throughout the conversation, they highlight Harder Way themes—God’s sovereignty, the refining effect of persecution, the call to holiness, and care for the vulnerable—and invite listeners to join the nine‑month Bible reading plan. Sign up for Weekly Email Receive our monthly Courier Update. Courier Update Send Bibles to the persecuted. Send Bibles ($15 will provide one Bible to restricted nations where Bibles are not welcome.) Bible Reading for Week 3: Exodus 27 - Leviticus 18 Monday - Exodus 27–30 Tuesday - Exodus 31–35 Wednesday - Exodus 36–40 Thursday - Leviticus 1–5 Friday - Leviticus 6–10 Saturday - Leviticus 11–14 Sunday - Leviticus 15–18  

Season 2 of the Harder Way Podcast begins with a concise walkthrough of Genesis 1–39 — creation, the fall, Noah’s flood, Babel, and the stories of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph — highlighting the recurring choice of faith over fear and the roots of God’s covenant people. Hosts Scott and Mattie invite listeners to join a nine-month Bible reading plan, reflect on persecution and living the God-way, and follow along via show notes or their email signup for weekly readings and short reflections. Sign up for Weekly Email Bible Reading for Week 2: Genesis 40 - Exodus 26 Monday - Genesis 40–44 Tuesday - Genesis 45–49 Wednesday - Genesis 50; Exodus 1–5 Thursday - Exodus 6–10 Friday - Exodus 11–15 Saturday - Exodus 16–21 Sunday - Exodus 22–26 Receive our monthly Courier Update. Courier Update Send Bibles to the persecuted. Send Bibles ($15 will provide one Bible to restricted nations where Bibles are not welcome.)