Soil and Roots

What if the most important thing about us is not what we say we believe about God, but the hidden ideas of God that actually govern our inner lives?In this episode, Brian returns to one of Soil & Roots' founding questions: What do we really believe God is like? Drawing from A.W. Tozer’s claim that our actual ideas of God may be buried beneath “conventional religious notions,” this episode explores why deep discipleship requires more than correct doctrine or Bible knowledge. It requires the uncovering of our hidden, often unconscious, ideas about God.Brian walks through several common distorted ideas of God, including God as the Great Taskmaster, God as the cause of suffering, God as a performance-based Father, and God as an angry judge. These ideas may not match our creedal statements, but they can quietly shape our emotions, behaviors, relationships, and spiritual lives.This episode also challenges the common Christian response of “just read your Bible,” reminding us that even our ideas about Scripture itself must be uncovered and discipled. The Bible is deeply formative, but the goal of discipleship is not to become more like the Bible. It is to become more like the One to whom the Bible points.This episode begins an important and intimate mini-series on uncovering our true ideas of God so we can become people of greater depth, honesty, freedom, and love.Join us online! Web: ⁠⁠soilandroots.org⁠⁠ Substack: ⁠⁠https://substack.com/@soilandroots⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@soilandroots⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/SoilAndRootsPodcast/⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/soilandrootspodcast⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0kStr423THe8lYQoLwf3J3?si=c79a43c83fa84a4e⁠⁠ #SoilAndRoots #DeepDiscipleship #DiscipleshipPodcast #SpiritualFormation

Dr. Tim comes loaded with insightful questions about the vital role ideas play in our spiritual formation and our quest to become deep disciples. Continuing their discussion from Episode 138, the guys tackle the importance of "the Wall," and how doubt, discouragement, and some deconstruction are a normal and good stage in our discipleship. We've often stressed the importance of "discipling the unconscious self," and Doc pulls research from philosophy and economics that shows we do, in fact, operate from forces we're rarely conscious of. We call them ideas, but they're also known as paradigms or unconscious frameworks. Since any genuine discipleship must start with the Gospel of the Kingdom, they spend some time unpacking various contrary ideas in modern Christianity that actually contradict the Kingdom. Let's dig in!Join us online! Web: ⁠⁠soilandroots.org⁠⁠ Substack: ⁠⁠https://substack.com/@soilandroots⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@soilandroots⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/SoilAndRootsPodcast/⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/soilandrootspodcast⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0kStr423THe8lYQoLwf3J3?si=c79a43c83fa84a4e⁠⁠ #SoilAndRoots #DeepDiscipleship #DiscipleshipPodcast #SpiritualFormation

You might believe all the right things about God… and still not trust Him.In Episode 138, we dig into a surprising truth: our lives are not shaped primarily by what we say we believe, but by the ideas our hearts actually assume.These hidden ideas—formed through experience, culture, and even church—can quietly block us from the very life Jesus offers: a secure, intimate, with-God life.So how do we uncover what we really believe about God?And what if your anxiety, your relationships, and even your body are already telling you?

Doc, Handsome Kyle, and Brian sit back down in the Greenhouse to further explore the previous episode, which details the Good Life and common obstacles to living it. We’ve discovered that most people who claim to follow Jesus don’t enjoy the type of inner life He promised!  The Good Life, characterized by abiding peace, relational security, and a deep, intimate, two-way conversational life with God, has become elusive in the modern age. Instead, many experience regular fear, anxiety, and a sense of disconnection from the One who invites us to “know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge.” Because the concept of the Good Life is so rare, the guys spend the first half of today’s episode exploring and explaining it.  Then, using parts of their own stories, they gently touch on four of the obstacles we face that make the Good Life seem distant and unreachable.  Let’s dig in!Join us online! Web: ⁠⁠soilandroots.org⁠⁠ Substack: ⁠⁠https://substack.com/@soilandroots⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@soilandroots⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/SoilAndRootsPodcast/⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/soilandrootspodcast⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0kStr423THe8lYQoLwf3J3?si=c79a43c83fa84a4e⁠⁠ #SoilAndRoots #DeepDiscipleship #DiscipleshipPodcast #SpiritualFormation

What if the abundant, with-God life Jesus describes is real… but rarely experienced?In this episode, we explore one of the most famous parables ever told — the Prodigal Son — through a different lens. What if the younger son’s transformation wasn’t primarily about repentance, but about vulnerability? What if he became what we might call a “Christian mystic” — someone formed by experiential union with the Father?Drawing on research, the Soil & Roots framework, and the six Core Ideas that shape our unconscious lives, we examine four hidden obstacles that keep us from receiving God’s love:Our need for controlOur avoidance of painOur shame and sense of unworthinessOur mistrust of God’s characterOnly 2–5% of Christians report living with a consistent awareness of God’s presence. Why?Maybe the barrier isn’t information. Maybe it’s vulnerability.If “deep calls to deep,” this episode is an invitation to surrender the unconscious ideas that keep us guarded — and to step into the Good Life Jesus offers.Join us online! Web: ⁠⁠soilandroots.org⁠⁠ Substack: ⁠⁠https://substack.com/@soilandroots⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@soilandroots⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/SoilAndRootsPodcast/⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/soilandrootspodcast⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0kStr423THe8lYQoLwf3J3?si=c79a43c83fa84a4e⁠⁠ #SoilAndRoots #DeepDiscipleship #DiscipleshipPodcast #SpiritualFormation

Handsome Kyle and Doc are back!In the first Greenhouse episode of Season 7, we continue the conversation from Episode 134, Rediscovering the Good Life, and slow things down to explore what this vision means for our actual formation.Jesus speaks of a “life to the full,” yet many sincere followers experience anxiety, exhaustion, and spiritual dissonance instead of peace and freedom. Why is that? And what does the Good Life actually look like when it is lived from the inside out?Is a life of abundance, mature peace, deep attunement, and a two-way conversational, intimate life with God real? This episode is especially for those who believe the promises of Scripture but struggle to experience them in daily life.Join us online! Web: ⁠⁠soilandroots.org⁠⁠ Substack: ⁠⁠https://substack.com/@soilandroots⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@soilandroots⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/SoilAndRootsPodcast/⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/soilandrootspodcast⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0kStr423THe8lYQoLwf3J3?si=c79a43c83fa84a4e⁠⁠ #SoilAndRoots #DeepDiscipleship #DiscipleshipPodcast #SpiritualFormation

Episode 134 kicks off Season 7 of the Soil & Roots podcast, Deep Calls to Deep, with a simple but unsettling question: What kind of life did Jesus actually invite us into?In this episode, Brian Fisher explores what Scripture and Christian tradition call the Good Life—what Dallas Willard famously named the with-God life. It’s a life marked by deep relational security, inner freedom, and a two-way, conversational intimacy with God. And yet, for many Christians, this life feels distant, unrealistic, or reserved for “spiritual elites.”Drawing on Scripture, Christian mystics, and everyday experience, Brian suggests that the Good Life looks surprisingly like the inner world of a healthy child—secure, present, free to love—and asks why so many of us quietly assume that kind of life isn’t actually for us. This episode sets the stage for the entire season by reframing discipleship not as more effort or better techniques, but as the risky, transformative work of receiving God’s love.If you’ve ever wondered why the New Testament promises feel richer than your lived experience, this season—and this episode—is your invitation to leave the shallows and begin the journey into depth.Web: ⁠⁠soilandroots.org⁠⁠ Substack: ⁠⁠https://substack.com/@soilandroots⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@soilandroots⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/SoilAndRootsPodcast/⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/soilandrootspodcast⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0kStr423THe8lYQoLwf3J3?si=c79a43c83fa84a4e⁠⁠ #SoilAndRoots #DeepDiscipleship #DiscipleshipPodcast #SpiritualFormation

In the Season 6 finale of Soil & Roots, Brian takes us on a sweeping journey through the core themes we’ve explored over the past three years—The Great Omission, the tension between the head and the heart, the hidden power of ideas, and the path toward becoming a deep person shaped by divine love. If you’re new to the podcast, this may be the single best place to start; if you’ve been with us from the beginning, this episode connects and clarifies everything we’ve wrestled with so far. Together we revisit the three primary problems of story, community, and purpose, confront the Formation Gap, and rediscover the invitation to a life rooted in the love that transforms from the inside out. A perfect setup for Season 7.

In this special bonus episode, Brian invites his two young adult sons, Caleb and Zachary, on to the show to discuss spiritual formation in different generations. Caleb and Zach grew up in the church and are now involved with a church plant in their area. Both share some of their stories of apprenticing with Jesus, what they find fascinating about Him, and their perspective on discipleship and institutional churches. We hope you enjoy this fun, intimate look at three men who are all following Jesus in their own ways, and seeking the Kingdom as they continue to be wrestle with what it means to become more like Jesus in our age. If you watch this on video, be advised Zach's camera was having hissy fits! You will hear him perfectly, but his video alternatives between clear and blurry. Join us online! Web: ⁠⁠soilandroots.org⁠⁠ Substack: ⁠⁠https://substack.com/@soilandroots⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@soilandroots⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/SoilAndRootsPodcast/⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/soilandrootspodcast⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0kStr423THe8lYQoLwf3J3?si=c79a43c83fa84a4e⁠⁠ #SoilAndRoots #DeepDiscipleship #DiscipleshipPodcast #SpiritualFormation

Brian, Doc, and Handsome Kyle engage in a lively, honest conversation about what it means to live a relaxed life, just like Jesus. Instead of the performance-driven, always-busy version of Christianity so many of us grew up with, they reflect on Jesus’ calm, centered presence—rooted in His secure attachment to the Father. From raccoons clinging to shiny distractions (yes, just like our anxieties) to the distinction between intellectual belief and heart-level trust, the three unpack how transformation flows from receiving God’s love first, then surrender, and then obedience—not the other way around.The crew also digs into where this kind of relaxed life really takes root: in small, intentional communities. Doc, Kyle, and Brian highlight how these spaces help us notice God in the ordinary—through conversations, creation, and the most mundane parts of life. The invitation is simple but profound: let go of the shiny substitutes, receive the love that makes sin less appealing and obedience more natural, and discover that being relaxed like Jesus isn’t passivity—it’s the steady freedom of knowing you’re deeply loved.Join us online! Web: ⁠⁠soilandroots.org⁠⁠ Substack: ⁠⁠https://substack.com/@soilandroots⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@soilandroots⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/SoilAndRootsPodcast/⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/soilandrootspodcast⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0kStr423THe8lYQoLwf3J3?si=c79a43c83fa84a4e⁠⁠ #SoilAndRoots #DeepDiscipleship #DiscipleshipPodcast #SpiritualFormation

Brian explores one of Jesus’ most surprising traits—how deeply relaxed He is—and why that matters for deep discipleship. Building on this season’s portrait of Jesus (emotionally secure, living as the Beloved, relationally shrewd, just, and gentle), Brian shows how Jesus moves calmly through storms, conflict, and pressure without losing agency or love. The invitation? If we’re becoming like Jesus, we’ll grow in that same inner ease—rested, present, and at peace.Instead of rewriting the past or controlling the future, we practice living in the present, so our hearts loosen their grip and rest in God. It’s not emotionless; it’s anchored. As we receive our identity as the Beloved, we learn to relax from the inside out—even when life isn’t.

Most of us would never talk to a friend the way we talk to ourselves. Yet our inner “talk tracks” run all day—and they quietly shape how we relate to God, others, creation, and even our own souls.In this episode, Brian and Doc take a fresh look at self-gentleness—what it is, why it’s missing from most church conversations, and how it deepens real discipleship. (Kyle’s out this week at a very important men’s hair and beard convention—we expect him back looking sharper than ever.)We begin with the four relationships we’re made for and why “self” belongs there. Then we dive into metacognition—thinking about what we think about. What do you say to yourself when you mess up? Would Jesus say that to you?We also tackle why so many Christians struggle here: a “reductionist gospel” that emphasizes sin management and leaves little room for God’s delight in us. Along the way, we contrast Sinclair Ferguson’s “God accepts us despite who we are” with Dallas Willard’s “Jesus wants to be with the you-that-is.”Gentleness is power restrained. It’s how Jesus treats us—and how he invites us to treat ourselves.Join us online! Web: ⁠⁠soilandroots.org⁠⁠ Substack: ⁠⁠https://substack.com/@soilandroots⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@soilandroots⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/SoilAndRootsPodcast/⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/soilandrootspodcast⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0kStr423THe8lYQoLwf3J3?si=c79a43c83fa84a4e⁠⁠ #SoilAndRoots #DeepDiscipleship #DiscipleshipPodcast #SpiritualFormation

What does it really mean to be gentle? Is it weakness, meekness, or something far stronger? In this episode, Brian explores the biblical virtue of gentleness through surprising stories—from Andre the Giant in The Princess Bride to the quiet strength of Jesus on the cross.We’ll look at how gentleness is often misunderstood in Western Christianity, especially around masculinity, and why true gentleness is actually power restrained, strength refined, and love expressed with precision. Along the way, we’ll consider how gentleness shapes our four core relationships—with God, with others, with ourselves, and with creation and culture.Discover why gentleness isn’t just “being nice” but a crucial marker of deep discipleship and Christlike formation.Join us online! Web: ⁠⁠soilandroots.org⁠⁠ Substack: ⁠⁠https://substack.com/@soilandroots⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@soilandroots⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/SoilAndRootsPodcast/⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/soilandrootspodcast⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0kStr423THe8lYQoLwf3J3?si=c79a43c83fa84a4e⁠⁠ #SoilAndRoots #DeepDiscipleship #DiscipleshipPodcast #SpiritualFormation

Greenhouse time!  Handsome Kyle, Doc, and Brian review Ep 126, which was all about Jesus as judge.  We all make judgments every day, about people, information, events, and conversations.  Yet we live in an age where we are repeatedly told not to judge one another. We should just “live and let live.”Let’s take a look at what Jesus said about judging, and how He did or did not judge.  Since we are to become more like Him over time, how should we judge or refrain from judging?Today’s Greenhouse features the normal depth, humor, and sarcasm found in most of our conversations…Enjoy!Join us online! Web: ⁠⁠soilandroots.org⁠⁠ Substack: ⁠⁠https://substack.com/@soilandroots⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@soilandroots⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/SoilAndRootsPodcast/⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/soilandrootspodcast⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0kStr423THe8lYQoLwf3J3?si=c79a43c83fa84a4e⁠⁠ #SoilAndRoots #DeepDiscipleship #DiscipleshipPodcast #SpiritualFormation

We all judge—and we all get judged. But what does it mean to judge like Jesus? In this episode, we explore one of Christ’s lesser-discussed traits: his role as judge. We unpack the tension between “Do not judge” and “judge with righteous judgment,” examining why judgment is inescapable, how it reveals the hidden ideas and desires in our hearts, and what it looks like to remove the logs from our own eyes before helping others. With insights from Dallas Willard, the Bible Project, and personal stories, we learn that discerning, humble judgment can become a powerful act of love—if rooted in Kingdom ideas.Join us online! Web: ⁠⁠soilandroots.org⁠⁠ Substack: ⁠⁠https://substack.com/@soilandroots⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@soilandroots⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/SoilAndRootsPodcast/⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/soilandrootspodcast⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0kStr423THe8lYQoLwf3J3?si=c79a43c83fa84a4e⁠⁠ #SoilAndRoots #DeepDiscipleship #DiscipleshipPodcast #SpiritualFormation

In this episode, Doc, Reverend Pastor Handsome Kyle, and Brian explore the relational discernment of Jesus and its significance for deep discipleship. Jesus engaged people not as categories, but as individuals—offering personal attention, deep listening, and an unhurried presence. This stands in contrast to modern Christian culture’s tendency to prioritize systems, sermons, and superficial connections over the slower, riskier work of authentic relationships. We wrestle with how discipleship is more about being than doing—an ongoing formation in Christlikeness that embraces complexity, welcomes grace, and prioritizes love over perfection. As Western Christianity often sidesteps the moral gray areas of real life, let’s try a Spirit-led approach rooted in empathy, discernment, and community. Join us online! Web: ⁠⁠soilandroots.org⁠⁠ Substack: ⁠⁠https://substack.com/@soilandroots⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@soilandroots⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/SoilAndRootsPodcast/⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/soilandrootspodcast⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0kStr423THe8lYQoLwf3J3?si=c79a43c83fa84a4e⁠⁠ #SoilAndRoots #DeepDiscipleship #DiscipleshipPodcast #SpiritualFormation

What does it mean to reflect the relational wisdom of Jesus in a complex world? In Episode 124, we explore the striking balance Jesus models between innocence and shrewdness—what He called being "wise as serpents and innocent as doves." Jesus didn’t relate to everyone the same way. Sometimes cryptic, sometimes candid, He always saw to the heart. He navigated human motives with remarkable discernment, adapting His approach with stunning nuance.Drawing from the stories of Sherlock Holmes, the Hebrew midwives, and the parable of the shrewd manager, we unpack what it means to engage others with holy perception. We also revisit the practice of Heart Listening—attuning ourselves to the deeper signals beneath words, behaviors, and emotions.If Jesus is our model for love, wisdom, and relationship, we must learn to listen like Him, discern like Him, and respond like Him. This episode invites you to pursue spiritual maturity that’s not just innocent—but also perceptive, courageous, and creatively compassionate.Join us online! Web: ⁠⁠soilandroots.org⁠⁠ Substack: ⁠⁠https://substack.com/@soilandroots⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@soilandroots⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/SoilAndRootsPodcast/⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/soilandrootspodcast⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0kStr423THe8lYQoLwf3J3?si=c79a43c83fa84a4e⁠⁠ #SoilAndRoots #DeepDiscipleship #DiscipleshipPodcast #SpiritualFormation

In this funny yet thought-provoking episode, Brian, Doc, and Handsome Kyle take on one of Jesus's intriguing characteristics—his enigmatic style.  Jesus was sometimes puzzling, confusing, and vexing.  So, if we are to become more like Him, should we expect to be more enigmatic?  What would that even look like?Once the guys finally settle into the topic, they debate whether this aspect of Jesus is for Him alone, or whether we may sometimes confuse people in our quest to become more loving. One thing is for sure - Jesus is tough to pin down. Join us online! Web: ⁠⁠soilandroots.org⁠⁠ Substack: ⁠⁠https://substack.com/@soilandroots⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@soilandroots⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/SoilAndRootsPodcast/⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/soilandrootspodcast⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0kStr423THe8lYQoLwf3J3?si=c79a43c83fa84a4e⁠⁠ #SoilAndRoots #DeepDiscipleship #DiscipleshipPodcast #SpiritualFormation

Jesus often confused people—and it seems He did so on purpose. While this isn’t a characteristic we typically highlight in Sunday school, a quick look through the Gospels shows that our King didn’t always speak plainly, explain Himself, or behave in the ways people expected.In short, Jesus was often enigmatic. He could be mysterious. Even puzzling.So, if the goal of discipleship is to become more like Jesus, should we expect to carry a bit of that mystery as well? And if so, why?Let’s begin a two-part exploration of one of Jesus’s most intriguing traits.Join us online! Web: ⁠⁠soilandroots.org⁠⁠ Substack: ⁠⁠https://substack.com/@soilandroots⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@soilandroots⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/SoilAndRootsPodcast/⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/soilandrootspodcast⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0kStr423THe8lYQoLwf3J3?si=c79a43c83fa84a4e⁠⁠ #SoilAndRoots #DeepDiscipleship #DiscipleshipPodcast #SpiritualFormation

The guys head back into the Greenhouse to explore what it means to live like the beloved. Along the way, they wrestle with the difference between an intellectual agreement and a heart experience and how we need both for a “complete belief.” This leads to some vulnerable and transparent story-telling, as well as what it means to experience God’s love when life doesn’t go our way. Come alongside for this very personal episode!Join us online! Web: ⁠⁠soilandroots.org⁠⁠ Substack: ⁠⁠https://substack.com/@soilandroots⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@soilandroots⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/SoilAndRootsPodcast/⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/soilandrootspodcast⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0kStr423THe8lYQoLwf3J3?si=c79a43c83fa84a4e⁠⁠ #SoilAndRoots #DeepDiscipleship #DiscipleshipPodcast #SpiritualFormation

We continue to explore what it means to increasingly think, act, relate, and love more like Jesus. Jesus is the most relationally secure person in history. His love flows from a deep, abiding attachment to his Father, so he is not swayed by people's opinions or manipulations. How might we become more like that?Today, we focus on experiencing what it means to be "the beloved." Our identity and security are ultimately wrapped up in experiencing and living in the reality of being beloved by God. This is not simply an intellectual statement - it is a way of experiencing God in the depths of our souls.Let's jump in!Join us online! Web: ⁠⁠soilandroots.org⁠⁠ Substack: ⁠⁠https://substack.com/@soilandroots⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@soilandroots⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/SoilAndRootsPodcast/⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/soilandrootspodcast⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0kStr423THe8lYQoLwf3J3?si=c79a43c83fa84a4e⁠⁠ #SoilAndRoots #DeepDiscipleship #DiscipleshipPodcast #SpiritualFormationSpotify: ⁠https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/soilandroots/episodes/Ep-119-GH-A-Voice-from-the-Clouds-e2vq7eb⁠YouTube:  ⁠https://youtu.be/bGhHowZJRc0⁠

What does it mean that Jesus is the most relationally and emotionally secure human being in history?  The guys jump back into the Greenhouse to dissect the idea that, based on Jesus's life, we can become more relationally secure, attuned, and restful in our relationships with God, others, and ourselves. Though this is not normally explored in modern-day discipleship, it is directly related to the biblical concept of “abiding.” They also explore ways that relationally insecurity finds its way into our faith today - and some of those explorations are surprising. Come on in and enjoy another deep, perhaps out-of-the-box Greenhouse discussion.  Join us online! Web: ⁠soilandroots.org⁠ Substack: ⁠https://substack.com/@soilandroots⁠ YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@soilandroots Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/SoilAndRootsPodcast/⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/soilandrootspodcast⁠ Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0kStr423THe8lYQoLwf3J3?si=c79a43c83fa84a4e⁠ #SoilAndRoots #DeepDiscipleship #DiscipleshipPodcast #SpiritualFormation

As we continue to explore Jesus, the object of our formation, we marvel at one of His most compelling characteristics: his relational and emotional security. He isn't anxious, rattled, confused, or manipulated by other people's perspectives and opinions. He operates from a rock-solid sense of identity. If we are to become more like Him, is this type of groundedness also for us? Join us online! Web: ⁠soilandroots.org⁠ Substack: ⁠https://substack.com/@soilandroots⁠ YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@soilandroots Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/SoilAndRootsPodcast/⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/soilandrootspodcast⁠ Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0kStr423THe8lYQoLwf3J3?si=c79a43c83fa84a4e⁠ #SoilAndRoots #DeepDiscipleship #DiscipleshipPodcast #SpiritualFormation

What does the Bible mean by "good" in reference to the creation story? Is creation still good today? Are human beings "good"? How do we reconcile some sort of inherent goodness with the pervasiveness of harmful behaviors? Doc, Brian, and Handsome Kyle delve into these and other challenging questions raised in the previous episode. As our hearts continue to be formed, we seek to love more like Jesus loves. If we define love as "seeking goodness according to God's ideas," how do we define love and goodness in a world that can't agree on any such definitions? Join us online! Web: ⁠soilandroots.org⁠ Substack: ⁠https://substack.com/@soilandroots⁠ YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@soilandroots Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/SoilAndRootsPodcast/⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/soilandrootspodcast⁠ Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0kStr423THe8lYQoLwf3J3?si=c79a43c83fa84a4e⁠ #SoilAndRoots #DeepDiscipleship #DiscipleshipPodcast #SpiritualFormation

We've turned our attention to exploring what it means to think, act, relate, and love like Jesus, and the answers aren't necessarily straightforward. At the same time, coming to an agreement on definitions of key words such as "love" and "goodness" can be challenging in our modern culture. How can we love someone if we disagree on what love is? What does it mean to "seek goodness" if we can't agree on what's good? So, let's dig in and wrestle with what it means to love God, ourselves, others, and creation. Join us online! Web: soilandroots.org Substack: https://substack.com/@soilandroots YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@soilandroots Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoilAndRootsPodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soilandrootspodcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0kStr423THe8lYQoLwf3J3?si=c79a43c83fa84a4e #SoilAndRoots #DeepDiscipleship #DiscipleshipPodcast #SpiritualFormation

As we launch further into Season 6, Doc and Handsome Kyle rejoin Brian for the first Greenhouse episode of the season. We are spending this season exploring what it means to think, act, relate, and love like Jesus. The guys briefly review the path we've taken to get here so far, and then wrestle with two key points leading into the rest of the season: -What is the difference between being like Jesus and simply doing the things He said to do? -Just how complex and mysterious is Jesus, the object of our formation? Thanks for being with us! Join us online! Web: soilandroots.org Substack: https://substack.com/@soilandroots YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@soilandroots Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoilAndRootsPodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soilandrootspodcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0kStr423THe8lYQoLwf3J3?si=c79a43c83fa84a4e #SoilAndRoots #DeepDiscipleship #DiscipleshipPodcast #SpiritualFormation

Welcome to Season 6! We've mentioned numerous times that the primary purpose of following Jesus is to become more like Him. We intend to think, act, relate, and love like Him more. It's now time to explore what that really means—and it's not as simple as we might think. As usual when we start a new season, today we'll review the key points from Seasons 1-5. Then, we'll look forward and sketch the idea-transforming route we'll take in this new season. Thanks for coming along as we venture into exploring the object of our spiritual formation! Follow us online! Web: soilandroots.org Facebook: /soilandrootspodcast Instagram: / soilandrootspodcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0kStr42... YouTube: / @soilandroots

Doc, Handsome Kyle, and Brian reconnect in the Greenhouse to wrestle with our bedrock desire for deep, intentionally formative communities in a culture that often promotes the opposite.  If many modern church institutions only help us with the first few stages of our discipleship, where do we go after that? Perhaps the “Dones” are not so much guilty of a lack of church attendance as they are signaling a need to which the church should respond.  As usual, Doc poses insightful and difficult questions and delights in watching Kyle and Brian struggle to provide helpful, articulate responses.  He invites us to explore genuine definitions of “deep” and “community,” and then presses into what the church should do if it agrees that we are not providing small, vulnerable groups in which we grow to become more like Jesus. 

For almost five seasons, we’ve explored the world’s desperate need for deep people and how those people are formed.  We’ve concluded that we best become more like Jesus in small, organic communities that often look and function differently from some modern church experiences. While we love and support our local and national institutions, what do we do if we conclude that we are missing these types of intimate, deeply formative communities?

Handsome Kyle and Brian jump into the Greenhouse to further explore Richard Foster’s comment, that what the world needs most is deep people. If a deep disciple is someone increasingly attuned to the heart of God, others, and themselves, what does that mean, exactly?  And why is a consistent awareness of our own thought patterns, behaviors, inner desires, and assumptions so essential to our walk with God? Join us online!   Web: soilandroots.org Substack: https://substack.com/@soilandroots YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@soilandroots Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoilAndRootsPodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soilandrootspodcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0kStr423THe8lYQoLwf3J3?si=c79a43c83fa84a4e   #SoilAndRoots #DeepDiscipleship #DiscipleshipPodcast #SpiritualFormation

If what the world desperately needs is “deep people,” what do we mean by that? In this Season 5 bonus episode, Brian provides one of his occasional reviews, pulling back out to 30K feet and giving us a flyover of The Great Omission and how we come together to solve it.  He also dives into the definition of a deep person. Thoughtful luminaries such as Dallas Willard and Richard Foster agree that the most pressing need in the entire world is genuine apprentices of Jesus – men and women of great spiritual, emotional, and relational depth.  However, as Brian explores, the characteristics of a genuinely deep person are not what we might expect. Come along for a short overview of the Soil & Roots journey and what it means to be awake or attuned to God and the world around us.      Follow us online! Web: soilandroots.org Substack: https://substack.com/@soilandroots YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@soilandroots Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoilAndRootsPodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soilandrootspodcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0kStr423THe8lYQoLwf3J3?si=c79a43c83fa84a4e   #SoilAndRoots #DeepDiscipleship #DiscipleshipPodcast #SpiritualFormation

How do our views of the End Times impact our understanding of the Kingdom of God?  And how does that impact our journey to become more like Jesus?   The guys meet in the Greenhouse to wrestle with Brian’s previous conversation with Dr. Darrell Bock.  Dr. Tim raises some challenging questions about the role of Israel, the church, how we anticipate the future, and why it all matters as we seek to be spiritually formed more like our King.     Discussions and debates about different theological views can be confusing and frustrating, so the guys take a page from Dr. Bock’s playbook and focus on how we love and engage people with whom we might disagree.  Follow us online!   Web: soilandroots.org Substack: https://substack.com/@soilandroots YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@soilandroots Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoilAndRootsPodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soilandrootspodcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0kStr423THe8lYQoLwf3J3?si=c79a43c83fa84a4e   #SoilAndRoots #DeepDiscipleship #DiscipleshipPodcast #SpiritualFormation

In Season 4, we spent a few episodes exploring how our views of the End Times impact our journey to become more like Jesus today. We briefly examined the four major modern perspectives: pre-millennialism, dispensationalism, amillennialism, and postmillennialism.    Today, we dive back into that discussion with Dr. Darrell Bock, Senior Research Professor of New Testament Studies and Executive Director for Cultural Engagement at Dallas Theological Seminary. Dr. Bock is a progressive dispensationalist, which means he doesn’t quite fit into the “boxes” we outlined earlier this year!    Dr. Bock shares some of the foundational aspects of progressive dispensationalism, including how they read and interpret the Bible, the role of Israel, and the nature and purpose of the Kingdom.  Though we talk through some of the primary differences between his views and others, we quickly hear Dr. Bock’s heart for unity in the church, serving those with whom we disagree, and how we should live in and testify to the Kingdom of God, regardless of how we think the world is winding up.    Follow us online! Web: soilandroots.org Substack: https://substack.com/@soilandroots YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@soilandroots Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoilAndRootsPodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soilandrootspodcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0kStr423THe8lYQoLwf3J3?si=c79a43c83fa84a4e   #SoilAndRoots #DeepDiscipleship #DiscipleshipPodcast #SpiritualFormation

Sometimes our institutional churches provide comfort, care, instruction, and community. And sometimes not.  Much like the human person, our Christian communities are beautiful messes.  The guys jump back into the Greenhouse to expand on Brian’s conversation with ex-mega church pastor Matt Davis and our exploration of The Formation Gap.  Dr. Tim guides the conversation through some challenging questions: What is the role of the modern pastor today, and does it reflect a biblical shepherd? Are mega-churches helpful for spiritual formation? Are they necessary and good? We hear news of near-constant scandals and abuses of power in Christian institutions.  How do deep disciples evaluate and process these power structures in light of Christ as a suffering servant?  Join us for this thoughtful and thought-provoking dialogue regarding our journey to become more like Jesus in modern Christian institutions.  Follow us online! Web: soilandroots.org Substack: https://substack.com/@soilandroots YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@soilandroots Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoilAndRootsPodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soilandrootspodcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0kStr423THe8lYQoLwf3J3?si=c79a43c83fa84a4e   #SoilAndRoots #DeepDiscipleship #DiscipleshipPodcast #SpiritualFormation

Brian is joined by Matt Davis, former megachurch pastor and now head of an organization committed to helping leaders and laypeople heal and find purpose after church hurt.  In a wide-ranging conversation, they discuss and debate several key questions about the modern church: Do the power structures that so often characterize our churches help or hurt? Is the assumed role of the modern pastor what the Bible envisions for a pastor?   How often is the institution valued over and above the needs of the individual? If we go to a church where we remain lost in the crowd, can that even be considered discipleship? Listen in to their raw, unfiltered conversation as they wrestle with modern Christianity in modern churches. You can reach Matt at www.pastoraltransitions.com and check out his fabulous podcast (which he cohosts with his wife, Marilee) called Life After Ministry.   Follow us online! Web: soilandroots.org Substack: https://substack.com/@soilandroots YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@soilandroots Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoilAndRootsPodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soilandrootspodcast #SoilAndRoots #DeepDiscipleship #DiscipleshipPodcast #SpiritualFormation

Doc, Kyle, and Brian further the last episode's interview with Emily Riffe, in which she and Brian explore character development in children. Are children "empty vessels" waiting to be filled, or are they independent, unique persons waiting to be inspired? What light and dark ideas are at work in school systems, churches, and families in the hearts of our kids? And how can parents relate to their children in ways that best help form their hearts? Follow us online! Web: soilandroots.orgSubstack: https://substack.com/@soilandrootsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@soilandrootsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoilAndRootsPodcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soilandrootspodcastSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0kStr423THe8lYQoLwf3J3?si=c79a43c83fa84a4e #SoilAndRoots #DeepDiscipleship #DiscipleshipPodcast #SpiritualFormation

Over the years, we’ve mentioned how the most supple, malleable time in a person’s life is childhood. The heart is the most impressionable and formable when it’s new. So why do we hear so little about spiritual formation in children? Why does so much of the modern discipleship/spiritual formation movement focus on adults? Author and innovator Emily Riffe joins the podcast today to explore these and other questions. She draws heavily on the work and thinking of British educational reformer Charlotte Mason, who held to a very high view of the personhood of the child and the potential of human beings as image-bearers of God. What role do the home, nature, creation, culture, and self-knowledge play in the spiritual formation of our children? It’s a fascinating, wide-ranging, and at times surprisingly discussion about how the West often misses key elements in child formation, and how the Church can lead the way to restoring a holistic, loving approach. And check out Emily’s book, Raising Wildflowers, which is all about educating kids with character as the primary focus. Just search for it on Amazon. Follow us online! Web: soilandroots.org Substack: https://substack.com/@soilandroots YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@soilandroots Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoilAndRootsPodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soilandrootspodcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0kStr423THe8lYQoLwf3J3?si=c79a43c83fa84a4e #SoilAndRoots #DeepDiscipleship #DiscipleshipPodcast #SpiritualFormation

What part does story play in modern Christianity? If it is vital to our spiritual formation, where do we find people and places to explore God’s story and how ours fits into His? The guys are back in the Greenhouse to further explore Brian’s conversation with Zach Leighton (Episode 102). Dr. Boswell brings his usual zinger questions, researched quotes, and heartwarming stories to help us mine the depths of how narrative weaves its way into the life of a Christian, and how repeating and exploring our stories are often pathways to healing, hope, and a deeper experience in the Kingdom. Follow us online! Web: soilandroots.org Substack: https://substack.com/@soilandroots YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@soilandroots Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoilAndRootsPodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soilandrootspodcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0kStr423THe8lYQoLwf3J3?si=c79a43c83fa84a4e #SoilAndRoots #DeepDiscipleship #DiscipleshipPodcast #SpiritualFormation

Storytelling is essential to Jesus, makes up a large portion of the Bible, and is fundamental in our spiritual formation journey. However, according to our guest, less than 1% of all church communication worldwide involves story.  What does this say about modern Christianity and our quest to become deep disciples? Brian welcomes innovator and entrepreneur Zach Leighton to the podcast.  Zach is a leading thinker in the realm of storytelling, its role in the Bible, and its impact on the church and culture around the globe.  He and Brian discuss what happens when the church fails to tell stories, why that habit is missing today, and how we recapture this essential piece of our journey to become more like Jesus.   Follow us online! Web: ⁠soilandroots.org⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/SoilAndRootsPodcast/⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/soilandrootspodcast⁠ Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0kStr423THe8lYQoLwf3J3?si=c79a43c83fa84a4e⁠ YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@soilandroots⁠ Substack: ⁠https://soilandroots.substack.com/⁠

Doc, Kyle, and Brian pull apart some key points from Episode 100, where Brian begins to answer the question, "So What?" Why does it matter if we live in an era of The Great Omission (a lack of genuine disciple-making)? If we are "saved" and have our ticket to Heaven, does a lack of deeply formed people really impact anything? Doc guides a transparent dialogue on how this lack of depth impacts individuals and the culture. They wrestle with the often misunderstood passage, "be in the world but not of the world," what happens to the human heart when we aren't aware of the ideas that govern us, and how a return to deep discipleship fosters hope, love, and human flourishing. Follow us online! Web: soilandroots.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoilAndRootsPodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soilandrootspodcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0kStr423THe8lYQoLwf3J3?si=c79a43c83fa84a4e YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@soilandroots Substack: https://soilandroots.substack.com/

Today we celebrate 100 episodes of the podcast with you! Thanks for being a part of the Soil & Roots community.  Brian carefully walks through key highlights from the last four seasons, tying together The Great Omission, the vital importance of "ideas," and how we come together to restore New Testament discipleship.  Then he asks a key question: So what? What is the cost of not making deep disciples on the individual and civilization? What is the benefit to society when we do become people of spiritual depth?  Let's celebrate 100 episodes with this special bonus!  Follow us online!  Web: soilandroots.org  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoilAndRootsPodcast/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soilandrootspodcast  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0kStr423THe8lYQoLwf3J3?si=c79a43c83fa84a4e  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@soilandroots  Substack:https://soilandroots.substack.com/  #SoilAndRoots #DeepDiscipleship #DiscipleshipPodcast #SpiritualFormation

Kyle, Doc, and Brian sit down to unpack Brian’s recent conversation with Dr. Jim Reiter regarding The Critical Journey, one way of describing our spiritual adventure. It’s a passionate and animated dialogue, and it covers three main questions: 1. If modern church institutions help us prepare and walk through the first three stages of our discipleship but don’t help or guide us into the last three, what is the impact of that void on individuals, church, and culture? How does it impact The Great Omission? 2. There have been several recent high-profile celebrity pastor scandals in the U.S. These men preached the Gospel and claimed biblical accuracy for decades. What does that say about “being right” compared to “being formed?” 3. Jim brought up the spiritual discipline of "cinema divina" (and Kyle happily jumped out of his seat). What does it mean to look for Jesus’ speaking to the world through means many consider "secular” or “bad?” Lots of good material to discuss, debate, and argue with your friends! Follow us online! Web: soilandroots.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoilAndRootsPodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soilandrootspodcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0kStr423THe8lYQoLwf3J3?si=c79a43c83fa84a4e YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@soilandroots Substack: https://soilandroots.substack.com/ #SoilAndRoots #DeepDiscipleship #DiscipleshipPodcast #SpiritualFormation

Dr. Jim Reiter joins Brian to discuss The Critical Journey, a book we’ve discussed a few times on the podcast. It theorizes there are six phases in our walk to become more like Jesus, though modern Christianity focuses almost exclusively on the first three. Our lack of education on and guidance through Stages 4, 5, and 6 is one of the key drivers of The Great Omission - the condition we are all here to explore and help overcome. Jim and Brian explore the ups and downs of the modern church, our deep desire for connection and spiritual formation, and the impact of The Great Omission on our souls and communities. Jim spent many years in pastoral ministry and Christian leadership before he and his wife launched an effort to help people wade into the deep end of spiritual formation on a more personal, individual level. He is a keen cultural observer, critical thinker, and wonderful communicator. Connect with Dr. Reiter at https://zoe-life.net/. #SoilAndRoots #DeepDiscipleship #DiscipleshipPodcast #SpiritualFormation

Episode 97 finds the guys back in the Greenhouse to dig into Brian’s interview with Adam Ormord (Episode 96) regarding spiritual formation and “soul care.”   What is a helpful definition of spiritual formation?  And what does it mean that we are being formed more like Jesus for the “sake of the world?” How might our expectations of God be off-center, and how does that affect our daily lives and the care of our souls? Lastly, Adam mentioned some of us function from the idea that the trinity is the Father, Son, and Bible.  What did he mean by that??

Welcome to Season 5! We kick off this new season (called Conversations) with Brian's short introduction to the new material. Then he has a fascinating conversation with pastor, thinker, spiritual director, and innovator Adam Ormord. As we continue to wrestle with all we’ve explored in the first four seasons, Adam helps us step back and contemplate what “spiritual formation” truly is. Is it the same thing as discipleship? How does the modern church play a role in our formation? And what does this odd term “soul care” mean? What role might it play in our discipleship journey? Jump on into this fascinating, challenging, provocative conversation with one of the leaders of the modern spiritual formation effort. You can connect with Adam at https://www.lifepointresources.org/.

What do we mean when we pray for the Kingdom to come? Dr. Tim Boswell returns to the Greenhouse for a vulnerable and in-depth conversation about our modern ideas about the Kingdom, and how they may or may not align with what Jesus meant when He instructed us to pray for it to arrive.   Is the Kingdom spiritual, or is it also physical?  Is the Kingdom right now or just in the future?  Does the Kingdom refer to Heaven, or does it include some form of Heaven on Earth? Of our four relationships (with God, others, self, and creation), which are included in the Kingdom? Join us for the last episode of Season 4, as we finish our months-long exploration of the Forgotten Kingdom!  

As we review and wrap up Season 4 (The Forgotten Kingdom), Brian explores a challenging question: what exactly are we praying for when we ask, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done?" The Lord's Prayer has been uttered countless times, though has it become such a rote habit that we haven't truly considered what we're requesting when we pray it? Let's look at the very first petition Jesus taught us to pray in light of our deep dive into the Kingdom of God. What does it mean for the kingdom to come in each of our four relationships (God, others, self, creation)?

The guys head into the Greenhouse to explore modern ideas about Heaven versus the biblical concept of the New Heaven and the New Earth.  They share how their personal stories impacted their view of the afterlife, how those ideas have adapted and changed in recent years, and how they affect their journey to become more like Jesus. Then they wrestle with how and why Splitters and Joiners disagree on the impact of the Kingdom on creation and culture today, and what that means for the everyday follower of Jesus in everyday life.  

How does the story of the Kingdom of Light wrap up? Do our "ideas" about Heaven match up with what the Bible teaches about the final consummation of the Kingdom? Will we spend eternity playing harps on clouds, or do the New Heaven and New Earth have more in common with our life right now than we assume? Let's explore our ideas of Heaven, and discuss when and how it's coming to Earth.

Kyle and Brian "Greenhouse" Episode 90, which explores how Jesus is the ultimate "Idea Revolutionary," challenging and transforming Ideas in the Air (those in culture) and Ideas in the Soil (those in our hearts). We look at a few cultural ideas, including our assumptions about the Bible. Was the Bible written to us? Or for us? Understanding the difference impacts how we read it and how it forms us. Then Kyle invites us into his story and heart, and he explains how Jesus is slowly transforming some of his dark ideas into life-giving, joyful truths.