In today’s episode, Bethany talks with Katie Faris about her book He Will Be Enough: How God Takes You By the Hand Through Your Hardest Days. Listen in to this conversation as Bethany and Katie discuss the Faris’s story of running to the Lord as they faced a difficult diagnosis in their children and how the Lord has met them and been trustworthy in the mist of pain and trials. Support the show...
Author Christina Fox joins Bethany in today's episode to discuss her newest book "Like Our Father" and chat about how we can look to our Father in Heaven's example to shape our parenting. Support the show
In this devotional episode, Bethany discusses how God's comfort for us is sufficient because His word and promises are sufficient. In the midst of any and all suffering, we can know that not only does Christ share his comfort with us (2 Corinthians 1:3-11), we serve the God who resurrects! Support the show
By God's grace, we're back with another season to share with you! Today's episode is a conversation with author and blogger Tim Challies on "The Means of Grace". God initiates and establishes a relationship with His people but how does he maintain the relationship and nourish it? And what ought our responses and responsibilities be in view of God’s initiation and care for this relationship? What are some different views of the means of grace and some common misunderstandings about this topic? Be...
In this episode, Abigail Dodds joins Bethany to talk about the importance of good theology for Christian women. Abigail and Bethany discuss differences between complementarian and egalitarian theology as it relates to our understanding of who God is, what it means to be a Titus 2 woman, and so much more. Support the show
Writer and Bible teacher Nana Dolce joins Bethany on the podcast to talk about what it means to be good theologians and how important it is to be conscious of our theology as mothers. As Christian women, our mothering does not begin and end with us. It begins with knowing and believing the one true God, loving him, and parenting out of the overflow of what he has done in our hearts. We're praying this episode encourages you to consider the impact of your theology on your mothering. Please note: ...
Joanna Kimbrel and Stephanie Boyle of the Daily Grace Co. Podcast join Bethany to talk about how we should be readers and students of the word of God. They discuss how our theology informs our Bible reading and whether we read scripture in a God-centered or a self-centered way. Joanna and Stephanie also share some tips for both new and seasoned readers for becoming more faithful readers of the Word. Support the show
Ruth Chou Simons joins Bethany to talk about how our beliefs about God impact the way we love our neighbor. She and Bethany discuss the biblical definition of love, the importance of engaging in Christian fellowship, and how we should practice repentance and forgiveness in our relationships. Support the show
Pastor Mark Jones, author of "Living for God," joins Bethany on the podcast to kick off our series on the importance of good theology in every area of our lives. This conversation centers on what Christians mean when we talk about doctrine and theology, and how what we believe about God shapes the way we live. Support the show
Laura Klassen, founder of Choice 42, joins the show to talk with Bethany about her work sharing the hard truth with women about abortion. Our prayer is that this conversation with Laura will encourage you to be fearless as you love others well by speaking God’s truth, and as you speak up on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves. Support the show
We're wrapping up our Matters of the Heart series with this conversation with Lindsey Tollefson . She shares her own story of how the Lord has taught her patience and worked in her life while she has waited for him. She also helps us to correct common misconceptions about patience and talks about some specific Scriptures that encourage our hearts to cling to God's character while we wait for Him. Lindsey also answers specific questions from some listeners about patience and she offers all of us ...
Chelsea Stanley joins Bethany for a conversation about why we can be sure God is trustworthy, and how being sure of God's faithfulness also enables us to trust other people. Chelsea also offers insight into how a relationship can be rebuilt after trust has been broken. Support the show
Katie Westenberg joins the show to talk about her book I Choose Brave and what it truly means to fear God and embrace holy courage. She and Bethany also discuss why it’s so dangerous for us to adopt a worldly definition of courage and why Christian women are often pulled toward wanting to fit in and be acceptable to the world. Support the show
Alisa Childers joins Bethany for a conversation on doubt and unbelief. Alisa shares about her book Another Gospel, which tells the story of her encounter with progressive Christianity, and how that led to the deconstruction and eventual reconstruction of her faith. She and Bethany discuss the difference between doubt and unbelief, as well as how progressive Christianity falls short of the true gospel. Alisa’s message offers encouragement and hope for every Christian, but will especially minister...
Lauren Washer joins Bethany for a conversation about keeping our hearts diligently. They discuss what this looks like in the Christian’s daily life and how Christ has modeled diligence for us in the way he lived. Lauren shares encouragement from the Scriptures for the woman who is questioning whether her work is pleasing to God, and for the one who feels too busy and overwhelmed to be diligent. Support the show...
Bethany is joined by Courtney Reissig for a conversation about the Psalms. Courtney gives us an overview of the structure of the book of Psalms and the types of different Psalms, as well how they offer us encouragement and hope for every season of life. Courtney shares from her own experience how God has used the Psalms to uphold her during trials. She and Bethany discuss what the Psalms teach us about our emotions. Support the show...
In this episode, Allie Beth Stuckey joins the show to talk about self love and her book You're Not Enough (And That's Okay). Allie shares why it's a liberating truth that we're not enough, and how to face our feelings biblically and determine whether they're valid. She shares vulnerably from her own story of trying to live in her own sufficiency and ultimately receiving the truth of God's grace and sufficiency for her. Support the show...
In this episode of our Matters of the Heart series, Abbey Wedgeworth joins Bethany today to talk about grief and loss and the importance of processing both through Scripture and understanding God's character. Abbey is the author of Held: 31 Biblical Reflections on God's Comfort and Care in the Sorrow of Miscarriage. This excellent resource walks you through Psalm 139 and helps you to center your heart on the truth of who God is and how he cares for you, helping you grieve with hope. Support the ...
We're kicking off this new season and our "Matters of the Heart" series with this conversation with Christine Hoover , talking about idolatry and allegiance to Christ. Christine shares about how idolatry is a heart issue and explains the wholehearted allegiance Jesus calls us to. Listen to hear her explain what it means to live for the kingdom of God versus the kingdom of self. Support the show...
Today, author Betsy Childs Howard joins Bethany to talk about the value of forming our moral imagination through literature. Betsy explains what moral formation is and she has some wonderful insight that will help you consider your family's book and media choices (as well as your own). She also some encouragement to help you develop conversations with your children about what they're reading and how it's shaping them. Support the show...
In this episode, Katie and Bethany finish up their "Asking for a Friend" conversation, discussing a couple of listeners' questions about the Enneagram and any concerns they have with this tool. They also answer a question from a listener about how to answer the issue of transgenderism from Scripture. Support the show
Awhile back, we invited listeners to participate in our "ask us anything" episode, which we’ve affectionately titled Asking for a Friend. We’ve decided to break up this episode into two shorter parts because one episode would have been too long. This week, Katie Morin and Bethany are sitting down to chat about the first few questions related to what we’ve done during COVID and how the Lord has blessed us during this time. We also answer a listener’s request for Christian advice on how to navigat...
In this episode, Haley Williams joins Bethany to talk about discerning between truth and lies in online voices and understanding the messaging of progressive Christianity. Haley shares a bit about what progressive Christianity is and the false teachings associated with it. She and Bethany discuss how we can be rooted firmly in Scripture, and share some practical ways to discern what is true and godly. Support the show
Christine Chappell, author of Help! My Teen is Depressed , joins Bethany for a conversation about how to give our kids true, biblical comfort when they’re hurting. This isn’t about empty platitudes or band-aid fixes, but rather acknowledging our children’s suffering while pointing them to the trustworthy and eternal promises of God. Christine and Bethany discuss how we should respond to our children in these situations, and take a look at the comfort God’s word offers. Support the show...
Bethany is joined on the podcast this week by Lee Nienhuis , author of Countercultural Parenting: Building Character in a World of Compromise . Lee candidly recounts some of her own difficult experiences as a parent, and shares the wisdom she’s learned about raising children to walk in obedience to Christ. She and Bethany discuss the importance of modeling godliness to our children, how to respond when they fall into sin, and how we can support other parents. Support the show...
In this episode, Melissa Kruger comes on the podcast to share about her newest book, Growing Together: Taking Mentoring Beyond Small Talk and Prayer Requests . Melissa talks about the importance of mentoring, practical steps for getting started in a mentoring relationship, and some common pitfalls to guard against. She and Bethany discuss mentoring with an ultimate purpose in mind— the edification of the church and the glory of God. Support the show...
In this episode, Bethany is joined by Glenna Marshall , author of Everyday Faithfulness: The Beauty of Ordinary Perseverance in a Demanding World (Crossway, 2020). Glenna shares about what faithfulness looks like in our normal, daily lives, and how we can grow in spiritual maturity. She and Bethany discuss the importance of spiritual discipline, faithfulness in difficult times, and what some common barriers are to living a faithful life. Support the show...
In this episode, Bethany is joined by author Tilly Dillehay to talk about food and what the Christian’s attitude towards it should be. Tilly shares biblical truth that teaches us how we can bring glory to God in what we eat. She and Bethany discuss dealing with guilt and shame, glorifying God in what we eat, and how hospitality can build the kingdom of God. Tilly's book Broken Bread: How to Stop Using Food and Fear to Fill Spiritual Hunger is available for pre-order now (it will be released June...
This week's episode is a powerful and moving testimony of God's unfailing goodness in the midst of an incredible trial. Bethany is joined by writer and speaker Kelly Streiff to talk about trusting in God’s goodness when life is hard. Kelly shares about how after the unexpected loss of her first child, she learned what it meant to trust God for who He is, rather than just what He can do for us. She and Bethany discuss having faith in the midst of trials, understanding the character of God, and ho...
Megan Hill, author and editor for TGC, joins Bethany to talk about her book A Place to Belong: Learning to Love the Local Church . Megan shares the importance of growing as a believer in Jesus in the context of His church and how our identity is uniquely connected to the body of Christ. This episode is brought to you by Hope*Writers, an online community of working writers dedicated to the success and creativity of each member. Find out more at hopewriters.com/womenencouraged . Support the show...
