In this final episode of the Church Mother series, Elizabeth and Yana explore the story of Dorcas from Acts 9, emphasizing her impact on her community through acts of service and faithfulness. The conversation highlights the journey of transformation that occurs in both the disciple and the one being discipled, and the joy found in serving others. They end by encouraging listeners to take the first step in discipleship and to remember that God will be with them along the way. Main Topics: Dorcas...
Jun 18, 2025•40 min
Elizabeth talks with Susan Seay about the real challenges of motherhood today—from social media pressure to unrealistic expectations. Susan shares wisdom from raising seven kids, reminding moms to depend on God daily, pursue authentic community, and embrace grace over perfection. She also introduces her new devotional designed to help moms connect with God in the middle of a busy life. Main Topics: Faithfulness in motherhood requires community/a support system Let go of perfection and live depen...
Jun 11, 2025•45 min
What does it look like to live wisely when you’re surrounded by foolishness, anger, or drama you didn’t create? In this episode, we turn to Abigail—a woman whose wisdom calmed a crisis and redirected the futures of two powerful men. Her story in 1 Samuel 25 shows us how godly wisdom protects, preserves, and points us back to the Lord. Main Topics: Wisdom acts with discernment in moments of tension Godly wisdom helps seek the best interests of others. Wisdom is bold and peaceable—not passive or r...
Jun 04, 2025•25 min
In this episode, Melody Fabien shares her powerful love story and the spiritual journey that led her and her husband CD into marriage ministry. She offers wisdom on what makes marriages last—emphasizing communication, vulnerability, and the reality of spiritual warfare. Melody also speaks to dating couples about red flags, non-negotiables, and the importance of personal growth, accountability, and community. Whether you’re single, dating, or married, this episode will help you reflect on how God...
May 28, 2025•46 min
In this episode, Missie Branch joins Elizabeth to share about her journey from working in a flower shop to serving as assistant dean of students for women at a seminary. They explore what true leadership looks like, highlighting the role of mentorship, community, and faithfulness in small things. They also discuss the challenges leaders face, the importance of trusting God, and how every experience shapes us to serve and empower others. Main Takeaways: God weaves every part of our story—big and ...
May 21, 2025•39 min
In this episode, I talk with Cheryl Luke about what it looks like to walk with God through seasons of deep pain. Cheryl opens up about her journey during 2020—a year that tested her faith and relationships—and how she stayed anchored to truth. We talk about spiritual formation, navigating hurt in community, and learning how to stay with God when life gets hard. This conversation is rich, honest, and full of wisdom for anyone trying to hold on to their faith in the valley. Main Takeaways: In hard...
May 14, 2025•39 min
In this episode, Elizabeth talks with Jill Barlow about how intentionality builds meaningful relationships and how community shapes spiritual growth. Jill shares honest reflections on starting over, facing disappointment, and finding hope when connection feels hard—reminding us that community can be a place of deep transformation. Main Takeaways: Community requires intentionality, courage, and the willingness to initiate. Disappointment in relationships is common but can be a path to growth and ...
May 07, 2025•33 min
In this episode, Elizabeth talks with Bible teachers and ministry leaders Courtney Doctor and Hunter Beless about what long-term discipleship looks like in real life. From friendship and mentoring to challenges and biblical wisdom, this conversation is full of insight for anyone wanting to stay faithful in making disciples. Main Takeaways: How Courtney and Hunter’s friendship and mentoring relationship began The distinction between mentorship and discipleship Challenges and discouragement in dis...
Apr 30, 2025•46 min
In this episode, we continue our Church Mothers series by reflecting on the life of Hannah, a woman who teaches us how to wait well, stay rooted in prayer, and trust God in seasons of longing. Main Takeaways: Hannah didn’t run from her pain—she took it to the Lord. Every believer will face a season of waiting. The question is not if you will wait, but how well you will wait. Human solutions may offer temporary comfort, but only God provides lasting peace. Philippians 4:6-7 reminds us that when w...
Apr 16, 2025•28 min
In today’s episode, we continue our Church Mothers series by learning from a bold and often overlooked woman in Scripture: Huldah. Though her story is short, her courage, clarity, and closeness to God offer deep wisdom for anyone trying to walk in faith—especially when it’s costly. Main Takeaways: Faithfulness requires courage: Huldah didn’t hesitate to speak God’s truth, even when it wasn’t popular or safe. Intimacy with God brings clarity: Her authority came from her nearness to God and her ab...
Apr 09, 2025•29 min
In this episode of Starting Place, we’re kicking off a new series inspired by a conversation about the need for church mothers—women who intentionally invest in the next generation of believers. We explore what it means to leave a spiritual legacy, looking at the lives of Lois and Eunice, the mother and grandmother of Timothy, and how their sincere faith influenced his own. This conversation challenges us to consider how we are shaping those around us, not just through what we teach but through ...
Apr 02, 2025•19 min
In this episode, we’re exploring one of the most pervasive ways we forget the gospel. Specifically, we forget the cost, which is surrender. We often sing about surrender, but if we're honest, we tend to surrender some rather than all. But abundant life only comes through surrendering our lives fully to Jesus. Main Takeaways: We are being formed. The culture is shaping us to prioritize ease and comfort, being driven by what feels good rather than what God says is God. We all have a master. Whethe...
Mar 26, 2025•27 min
In this episode, we explore how insecurity and shame reveal our tendency to forget the gospel. Looking at the story of Mary Magdalene, we see how the power of Christ transforms our past, freeing us from shame and equipping us to walk boldly in our new identity. If you’ve ever struggled with feelings of unworthiness or fear that your past defines you, this episode will remind you of the truth: you are made new in Christ. Main Takeaways : Shame keeps us stuck, making us believe we don’t belong or ...
Mar 19, 2025•26 min
We explore how boredom in the mundane moments of life can lead to spiritual forgetfulness. When our daily routines feel repetitive, we may struggle to see their significance in God's greater plan. But what if every moment—no matter how ordinary—was an opportunity to dwell with God and live on mission? We’ll discuss how the gospel reframes our perspective, helping us embrace faithfulness in the small things. Main Takeaways: Boredom can deceive us into believing our work doesn’t have value, becaus...
Mar 12, 2025•30 min
In this episode, we are featuring an interview Elizabeth did on the Culture Matters podcast with Adam Hawkins and Tymarcus Ragland, sharing about the heart behind her new study, Live Free. Elizabeth discusses how Paul's message remains relevant today, addressing the timeless challenges of being right with God and experiencing true freedom from sin. Recommended Resources : Learn more about Elizabeth’s new Galatians study, Live Free, at Lifeway.com/LiveFree ! Join the Conversation : We’d love to h...
Mar 05, 2025•25 min
In this episode, we explore how gospel forgetfulness can show up in our faith. While we often say we live by faith and not by sight, in reality, we can struggle to trust God when we lack control or certainty. We discuss the common reasons we resist stepping out in faith—our desire for control, fear of failure, and the cost of obedience. Using biblical examples like Abraham and Peter, we see both the challenges of walking in faith and the grace available when we falter. Main Takeaways: Living by ...
Feb 26, 2025•28 min
In this episode, we explore how legalism and an abuse of grace can hinder our faithfulness to God. The gospel is not just for salvation—it shapes our daily lives. Learn how to recognize and overcome these tendencies. Main Takeaways: Legalism turns faith into a performance checklist, making us believe God’s favor depends on our actions. Abusing grace leads to complacency, excusing sin instead of growing in holiness. True faith balances obedience and grace, relying on Christ’s work rather than our...
Feb 19, 2025•28 min
Welcome back to Starting Place! Today, we’re kicking off a mini-series on why you still need the gospel—even if you've been a Christian for years. It’s easy to become overly familiar with Christianity, knowing all the right things to say but forgetting the basics. The gospel isn’t just the starting point of our faith—it’s the foundation we always need. Main Topics Covered : ✔️ What the gospel really is: not just about forgiveness, but fellowship with God ✔️ Why we slip into earning God’s favor i...
Feb 12, 2025•18 min
We’re kicking off a new season of Starting Place! In this episode, I’m sharing life updates, including my new book coming in 2026, my upcoming Bible study on Galatians (Live Free), and starting a new doctoral program. I’m also reflecting on the year ahead—big goals, little goals, and what holds us back. Fear, self-sufficiency, and sin can sabotage our faithfulness to God, but prayer realigns our hearts, reminds us of God’s power, and reconnects us to our purpose. Key Takeaways : 🔥 Fear makes us...
Feb 05, 2025•24 min
Elizabeth Woodson reviews the Old Testament story and jumps into the New Testament, seeing how the story of Jesus' birth brings us hope that God can use and even redeem the messy areas of our lives. Questions Covered in This Episode: What is the story of the Old Testament? What happens between the Old Testament and the New Testament? How does the book of Matthew begin? What are the three main sections of the New Testament? What are the gospels? What is one thing we can focus on and learn from th...
Dec 25, 2024•33 min•Season 4Ep. 17
Elizabeth Woodson is joined by Kat Armstrong to finish up the journey through the Old Testament by talking about The Intertestamental Period and the themes of waiting on God. Questions Covered in This Episode: What happens during The Intertestamental Period? Why is this a significant time in the life of Israel? What makes waiting difficult for us? What does The Intertestamental Period teach us about what it means to wait on God? What does it look like for you to wait on God in your own life? How...
Dec 18, 2024•31 min•Season 4Ep. 16
Elizabeth Woodson is joined by Mason King to have a conversation about how the prophets called Israel back to repentance but they did not listen, so God eventually responds by enacting judgment upon them by sending them into exile. Questions Covered in This Episode: What is exile and why is this event significant in the life of Israel? What hope does God give Israel while they are in exile? What is the significance of this hope being given during a season of suffering/judgment? We love talking a...
Dec 11, 2024•36 min•Season 4Ep. 15
Elizabeth Woodson is joined by Jen Wilkin to talk about The Law. The Law shows us who God is and what he loves, freeing us to live in our divine design as image-bearers. Questions Covered in This Episode: How is The Law designed not to simply restrict Israel, but to form them as the people of God? Why do you think God begins this discussion by reminding Israel of how he delivered them out of Egypt? Why do you think Christians say that Christianity is not about rules but about relationship? How s...
Dec 04, 2024•34 min•Season 4Ep. 14
Episode Summary: In this final episode of the season, we reflect on the transformative habits we’ve explored over the past weeks. Discipleship is never neutral—we are always being shaped by our choices, habits, and surroundings. Join us as we close the season with a thoughtful challenge: to evaluate how we’ve grown this year and intentionally align our lives with the way of Jesus. Key Takeaways: Discipleship requires intentionality—spiritual growth doesn’t happen by accident. Our habits and choi...
Nov 27, 2024•19 min•Season 4Ep. 13
In this episode of Starting Place, we dive into the spiritual practice of disciplemaking and why it’s central to living as followers of Jesus. Drawing from Matthew 28:19-20, we explore the “discipleship crisis” in today’s Church, discuss key challenges like biblical illiteracy and disembodied discipleship, and offer practical steps for becoming a disciple who makes disciples. Key Takeaways: Discipleship is meant to happen in the context of relationships, not just through consuming content. Disci...
Nov 20, 2024•33 min•Season 4Ep. 12
In today’s episode, we explore why Christians are called to serve and what that looks like in a divided, individualistic culture. We discuss service as an essential discipline that not only glorifies God but seeks the flourishing of humanity. This episode sheds light on how service shapes us, draws us closer to Christ, and reflects God’s love to the world around us Key Definition: The spiritual practice of service is a way of life that reflects the helping, caring, and sharing love of God in the...
Nov 13, 2024•22 min•Season 4Ep. 11
In today’s episode of Starting Place, we’re exploring the spiritual practice of rest and Sabbath. We dive into why so many of us struggle to rest, the pressure to stay busy, and how the Bible redefines true rest. Join us as we discuss how living in God’s strength helps us embrace rhythms of rest in today’s fast-paced world. Main Takeaways: Rest is a rhythm meant to help us depend on God, not escape life’s responsibilities. True rest involves trusting God’s presence and sovereignty rather than ov...
Nov 06, 2024•42 min•Season 4Ep. 10
In today’s episode, we dive into the transformative habit of biblical self-examination. We'll explore how examining our hearts regularly and honestly through the gospel lens helps us live more intentionally as disciples of Jesus. Self-examination is vital in aligning our outward actions with our inner lives, allowing us to be authentic, loving witnesses in our relationships and communities. Main Takeaways: Biblical self-examination helps us align our actions with our inner life, making us more a...
Oct 30, 2024•27 min•Season 4Ep. 9
In this episode, we explore the practice of contending for the faith (Jude 1:3) and how to defend the gospel against cultural narratives that pull us away from Jesus. I’m joined by Dr. Sarita Lyons, whose book, Church Girl, focuses on the false narratives in the culture and the church that pull us away from the gospel, especially for Black women. We discuss how to identify these narratives and critique them thoughtfully to strengthen our faith. Main Takeaways : Learn how the culture’s false gosp...
Oct 23, 2024•51 min
In this episode, Elizabeth explores the spiritual practices of prayer and fasting. She will discuss how prayer is about more than just asking God for things—it's about communion and alignment with His heart. We also delve into fasting as an act of self-denial that awakens our spiritual hunger and dependence on God. Main Takeaways: Prayer: It's about listening, abiding in God's presence, and aligning our desires with His. We discuss two types of prayer: listening prayer and intercessory prayer. F...
Oct 16, 2024•26 min
