As we approach the one-year mark of the war in Ukraine, the regulars connect with Valera, who has been on the ground since the war began. Valera shares about the work of the Ukrainian teams, their heroic efforts in bringing food and supplies to the frontlines, evacuating people from war zones, and seeing over 20K+ people receive Jesus in this year of unspeakable tragedy. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Questions, comments, or feedback? We'd love...
Feb 08, 2023•38 min
The Bible can be complicated, especially for someone who has no context for it. So, what is a bible study for the non-religious? How do we lead one? What are the practical steps we can take to start one? The regulars, Ben, David, Chad, and Luke, come together to talk about studying the bible, discipleship relationships, the questions above, and more! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Questions, comments, or feedback? We'd love to hear what you thi...
Jan 31, 2023•49 min
It's no question that as followers of Jesus, the Bible becomes familiar to us; it's the very thing that gives us language to communicate the truth of who Jesus is. But we need to ask ourselves, what role does the Bible have in sharing the gospel? Do I quote the Bible outside of the church? Join the regulars, Ben, David, Chad, and Luke, as they come together to discuss this question and more. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Questions, comme...
Jan 24, 2023•43 min
Ben, Chad and David come together this week to discuss a conversation that famous YouTubers and podcasters Logan Paul and George Janko had about the question of faith and religion. How can we have good answers to the hard questions that people have about Christianity? What are the ways we can understand the culture of the people God has called us to and know their questions? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Questions, comments, or feedback?...
Jan 17, 2023•43 min
What does it say about the human heart that this event was met with prayer across national TV and media outlets? How can we use this topic as a way to engage with people about our fragility and eternity? Ben, Luke, Chad, and David are all back together again! In this episode, the guys talk about NFL player Damar Hamlin's sudden cardiac arrest and what we can learn from this tragedy, which turned into a miraculous recovery. -------------------------------------------------------------------------...
Jan 10, 2023•44 min
For the first episode of the year, we're picking up where we left off! Ben and David continue their discussion from a hotel room in Colombia on how and why God uses us, this time discussing the inverse topic of why God will not use us, or what could cause him to stop doing so. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Questions, comments, or feedback? We'd love to hear what you think! Send them to provokeandinspire@steiger.org, or send us a message ...
Jan 03, 2023•31 min
There's no Chad, there's no David, and no, not even Luke... Thank you for listening to and supporting the Provoke & Inspire podcast in 2022! We are so excited for 2023 and what's in store! In the meantime enjoy your eggnog, jum and scrumpets, and listen back to some of this year's best episodes including: Episode 419: Why We're Losing the Battle against Porn W/ Jay Stringer Episode 427: Professor John Lennox on, 'How Should We Respond to Suffering'? Episode 430: Talking Politics and Jesus W/...
Dec 27, 2022•2 min
What parts do faithfulness and gratefulness play in allowing God to use us for his kingdom? Do our actions and attitudes determine how much God is willing to work through us? Ben and David discuss these questions and more from a hotel room on the road during NLM's evangelistic tour in Colombia. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Questions, comments, or feedback? We'd love to hear what you think! Send them to provokeandinspire@steiger.org, or ...
Dec 20, 2022•37 min
Balenciaga, a famous high-end fashion company, recently shared an ad campaign where children posed with teddy bears dressed in bondage outfits. Many people were outraged by the campaign, Balenciaga gave an apology, and the backlash continued to grow as #cancelbalenciaga went viral. What does it say about our culture that an ad with children dressed this way was published? Why are secular people outraged by this? How does a follower of Jesus appeal to and utilize this topic in a healthy way to st...
Dec 13, 2022•42 min
What should a follower of Jesus do when coming face to face with problems of evil that are too overwhelming to do anything about? How do we respond to the reality that in some ways we are all complicit in injustice? After some controversy about the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the guys come together to discuss how we can respond to this as followers of Jesus. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Questions, comments, or feedback? We'd love to hear w...
Dec 06, 2022•47 min
What does it mean to be grateful? Can we be genuinely grateful without attaching it to God? How can we use the topic of gratefulness as a way to engage in a spiritual conversation? In this week's episode, Ben, David, Chad, and Luke reflect on Thanksgiving and the attitude of gratitude, while wrestling with its true meaning and how we can remain grateful everyday. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Questions, comments, or feedback? We'd love t...
Nov 29, 2022•49 min
Does social media foster or degrade our intimacy with each other? Can we be authentic and real while using a medium that allows us to filter everything? If yes, what does that look like? As followers of Jesus, how do we view social media? This week, Ben, Luke, David, and Chad come and discuss these questions together through the lens of the new social media app "BeReal". ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Questions, comments, or feedback? We'...
Nov 22, 2022•56 min
Have you heard of a “situationship”? What should we make of this growing trend? What is this leading to, and how do followers of Jesus respond? In this week’s episode, Ben, David, and Luke discuss the latest dating trend that’s growing and the consequences that come with it. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We want to partner with you in the ways that God is calling you to reach the culture of today! Sign up through the link bel...
Nov 15, 2022•41 min
How can we approach someone who is in a deconstruction process? Can deconstruction ever be healthy? Is it just a fad or will we still be talking about deconstruction in five years? Author, pastor, and former punk-rocker Josh Porter joins Ben and Chad to talk about the things that are killing our faith, and his new book “Death to Deconstruction: Faithfulness as an Act of Rebellion”. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We want to par...
Nov 08, 2022•1 hr 4 min
Is it possible to discern between the failure that comes from trial and error, and the failure that comes from failing to ever become effective? David and Ben explore this topic, and give a road report from Guadalajara, Mexico on the current NLM tour. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We want to partner with you in the ways that God is calling you to reach the culture of today! Sign up through the link below for the Steiger Inten...
Nov 01, 2022•30 min
Why are we so fascinated by violence/horror? What are the subtle, unapologetic ways that we consume content that magnifies violence and evil? Most followers of Jesus actively avoid watching porn, and yet why does it seem that so many of us are okay watching entertainment that highlights violence? In this week’s episode, Ben, David, Luke, and Chad talk about the new Netflix series “Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” and explore these crucial questions. -----------------------------------...
Oct 25, 2022•49 min
How does the secular world reconcile its views on tolerance and freedom of expression while feeling rage on injustice in situations like these? How can we walk with people and connect what they’re passionate about with a worldview that supports it? Ben, David, Luke, and Chad talk through these questions and share their response to the uprising in Iran. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We want to partner with you in the ways that God is calling you ...
Oct 18, 2022•46 min
Is our culture really is concerned about the end of the world, or is it just for fun? What is the proper way for followers of Jesus to view the end times? How can it be used to start a spiritual conversation with non-religious people? In this week's episode, Ben, David, and Luke are together in person to discuss these important questions. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We want to partner with you in the ways that God is calling you to reach the c...
Oct 11, 2022•44 min
What does God say about our bodies? Why is our understanding of the body so relevant for followers of Jesus? Author, pastor, and apologist Sam Allberry joins Ben and David to talk about the practical response Christians can make when engaging people in the areas of sexual brokenness. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We want to partner with you in the ways that God is calling you to reach the culture of today! Sign up through the...
Oct 04, 2022•45 min
How do we celebrate an incremental understanding of the Gospel without avoiding the difficult aspects of sharing our faith? What counts as the 'full' Gospel? Do we need to share everything all at once, and how do we decide that? This week, the guys react to a conversation where YouTuber Ryan Trahan shares Jesus with Anthony Padilla. Was this a good example of a spiritual conversation, or a missed opportunity? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------...
Sep 27, 2022•46 min
When past internet sins (e.g., we say/post something hurtful, inappropriate, or dishonoring) are exposed in our lives or the lives of others, how do we react? Show grace? Cancel them? Or is it all just overreaction and Wokeism? Were Relient K the latest victims of cancel culture? But moreover, is every part of this movement wrong? The guys react to the viral TikTok video that led to an apology from Christian pop-punk band Relient K for their 2003 song, 'Mood Rings'. -----------------------------...
Sep 20, 2022•1 hr
The guys dive into the current events at The Village Church regarding pastor Matt Chandler and his decision to step down indefinitely as teaching pastor. What can we learn, and what steps of caution should we be careful to exercise in light of this situation? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We want to help! Sign up for the Steiger Intensive Training from November 18-19! http://steiger.org/intensive Follow Ben Instagram: https:/...
Sep 13, 2022•1 hr
With the US government seeming to be affirming the reality of aliens, or at least UAP's (UFO's), what does this mean for Christianity? Is this a huge problem we need to address, or does it have no implications on our faith whatsoever? Could it be an opportunity for the Gospel? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Are there people in your life who have walked away from Jesus? Do you want to reach them but you’re unsure how? Most of u...
Sep 06, 2022•52 min
In this episode replay, Ben, Aaron, and Chad are joined by author, teacher, and speaker Preston Sprinkle (Theology In The Raw). Preston and the regulars discuss today's sexually broken culture in light of the perfect love of Christ, and the church's historically negative track record in regard to it. To Learn More About Preston Visit: www.prestonsprinkle.com Follow Ben Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benalanpierce Twitter: https://twitter.com/benalanpierce Facebook: https://www.facebook.com...
Aug 30, 2022•55 min
What can we do when people, by and large, seem to be leaving and choosing churches for ideological, rather than theological reasons? In this episode replay, the regulars are joined by author, speaker and pastor Matt Chandler of the Village Church. They talk about how we should approach a growing generation of people who are skeptical toward Christianity, and would likely never walk into a church. To learn more about Steiger International visit: www.steiger.org Questions, comments or feedback? We...
Aug 23, 2022•39 min
In this episode replay, Ben and Luke talk to therapist, author, and speaker Jay Stringer about his book "Unwanted: How Sexual Brokenness Reveals Our Way to Healing." Jay speaks about how unwanted sexual behaviors can actually serve as a roadmap, and as keys to finding restoration and breakthrough from habits and addictions in this area. To learn more about Jay Stringer, click here: https://jay-stringer.com/ To learn more about Steiger International visit: www.steiger.org Questions, comments or f...
Aug 16, 2022•53 min
In this classic episode Ben and the regulars sit down with Dallas Jenkins, creator of the multi-season series on the life of Jesus, "The Chosen". Dallas shares the hardships that brought him to create the series, as well as the reliance on God to do "impossible math" that keeps it going every day. Check out The Chosen here: https://watch.angelstudios.com/thechosen To learn more about Steiger International visit: www.steiger.org Questions, comments or feedback? We'd love to hear what you think! S...
Aug 09, 2022•55 min
Why are our world's anxiety levels spinning out of control? Is there an underlying reason that this is happening? In this episode Ben and Aaron bring on cultural commentator, author and speaker Mark Sayers to discuss this issue, and his new book "A Non-Anxious Presence'. Get 'A Non-Anxious Presence' here: https://amzn.to/3vp5r16 For more information about Mark , check out: www.marksayers.co Follow Ben Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benalanpierce Twitter: https://twitter.com/benalanpierce F...
Aug 02, 2022•51 min
Are we as Christians living the lives that God has for us, or are we fearfully refusing to go where God has called us to? Are we any different than the Israelites who refused to go into the promised land? Follow Ben Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nzbenpierce Twitter: https://twitter.com/benalanpierce Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nzbenpierce Follow David Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_rockpriest/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/david.j.pierce.5 Follow Chad Instagram: http...
Jul 26, 2022•48 min
Does following Jesus in today's culture guarantee that you will in some way be canceled? How can we have genuine relationships with people in secular culture without being off-putting, or having them feel tricked by our 'relevance' when we finally do share the gospel with them? The regulars attempt to answer these questions, and David continues to question why Luke always gets to go first... Follow Ben Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nzbenpierce Twitter: https://twitter.com/benalanpierce Fa...
Jul 12, 2022•45 min
