MERRY CHRISTMAS to the UNPACKIN' it Community of sports fans! On our Christmas Special Podcast, Bryce Johnson and Trip Smith go through some of their favorite Christmas movies, quotes, and songs…and have fun comparing NFL Fantasy players to some of the greatest Christmas movies! Visit UNPACKIN' it in order to sign up for our weekly email devotionals. Click here to give a year-end donation to support UNPACKIN' it. Learn more about our sponsor, Upward Sports , to find out how you can reach people ...
Dec 21, 2024•53 min
Bryce Johnson unpacks how so many NFL teams are still hopeful about making the playoffs...and how we remain hopeful in life. Today's Questions: 1. What is the difference between hope and optimism? 2. How is it possible to have true hope even in the midst of difficult seasons of life? 3. What role do God's promises have in our experience of hope? Visit UNPACKIN' it in order to sign up for our weekly email devotionals. Click here to give a year-end donation to support UNPACKIN' it. Learn more abou...
Dec 17, 2024•35 min
Bryce Johnson and guest co-host Matt Vanderbilt unpack how fans are complaining and questioning the College Football Playoff committee…and how it parallels getting upset when things don’t go how we think they should. Today's Questions: 1. How can we learn to respond more trustingly when something unexpected happens in our lives? 2. Why and how should we turn to God when we feel frustrated about how things are going? 3. How can we get to a place where we embrace and love that we are not in contro...
Dec 10, 2024•38 min
Bryce Johnson and guest co-host Tucker Furr unpack what sports fans are full of...and what our lives are full of right now. Today's Questions: 1. In what ways do the things that we fill ourselves with end up shaping the person we become? 2. Why is one of the best ways to transform our lives simply by being still and enjoying our union with God? 3. Why is it essential that we empty ourselves first so that we can be filled? Tucker's Socials Personal - @tucker_furr6 Podcast - @formydawgs_utuga Lear...
Dec 03, 2024•40 min
Bryce Johnson unpacks the difference between teams that win with wisdom and those who lose because of foolish mistakes…and how we can live wisely. Today's Questions: 1. Where can we go to find true wisdom in our lives? 2. How does having a proper fear of the Lord help lead us to wisdom? 3. How is wisdom different from simply having knowledge? Learn more about our sponsor, Upward Sports , to find out how you can reach people for Jesus through sports. Click here to give a year-end donation to supp...
Nov 26, 2024•30 min
Bryce Johnson and guest co-host Charlie Hagley unpack how new coaches in college basketball build a winning culture…and how we can do the same as followers of Jesus. Today's Questions: 1. What values does Jesus prioritize in His kingdom, and how can we live those out in our lives? 2. In what ways does winning as a believer differ from the world's view on winning? 3. What type of impact can embracing Jesus' "winning culture" have on those around us? Learn more about our sponsor, Upward Sports , t...
Nov 19, 2024•49 min
Bryce Johnson unpacks the questions being asked about NFL teams…and what to do with the questions we have in our own lives. Today's Questions: 1. What should our mindset be when we come to God in prayer? 2. Can we truly be confident that God will always give us the wisdom we need during difficult or confusing times? 3. How does spending time in fellowship with God help to change the desires of our hearts? Purchase copies of "The Sports Devotional" to gift to your friends and loved ones this Chri...
Nov 12, 2024•36 min
Bryce Johnson unpacks how running backs have experienced a resurgence…and considers what needs to be valued and made prominent in our lives. Today's Questions: 1. What are some areas of our lives that we may have potentially devalued, causing us to need a resurgence? 2. How does a willingness to be corrected directly connect with our ability to make meaningful changes? 3. What things do we need to "hand off" to God in order for us to experience a true resurgence? Sign up to receive our weekly em...
Nov 05, 2024•34 min
Bryce Johnson and guest co-host Brian Saylor unpack what NFL teams revealed in week 8…and consider what our lives reveal. Today's Questions: 1. Why should we avoid the temptation to view the way that God feels about us through the lens of our experiences? 2. What are some of the best ways that we can assess what is truly going on in our hearts? 3. How should we respond when God reveals areas of sin in our lives? Check out UNPACKIN' it's newly-updated website to get more information about our min...
Oct 29, 2024•42 min
Bryce interviews current Wichita State men's basketball coach Paul Mills. They unpack Coach Mills' second season with the Shockers, handling pressure as a basketball coach, the state of college basketball, the importance of reading Scripture, and how to steward our calling. Mills spent 14 years as a Baylor assistant under Scott Drew, and then took his first head coaching job at Oral Roberts, turning the Golden Eagles from Summit League bottom-dwellers to undefeated champions over a six-year span...
Oct 22, 2024•39 min
In this special episode, Bryce Johnson interviews Coach Joe Kennedy, whose movie, Average Joe , was recently released and inspired by his real life. Coach Joe Kennedy, an eighteen-year Marine veteran, was an assistant coach for the Bremerton High School (BHS) varsity football team. Before he even coached his first game, the Marine-turned-football coach committed to God that he would give thanks after each game for what the players had accomplished and the opportunity to be part of their lives th...
Oct 19, 2024•39 min
Bryce Johnson and guest co-host Josh Livingston unpack yesterday's blowouts and lopsided defeats in the NFL...and discuss how we can be encouraged when we feel overwhelmed and outmatched in life. Today's Questions: 1. What biblical truths can help you find strength and encouragement in hardships? 2. How can self-reliance lead you to experience more feelings of defeat as you follow Jesus? 3. How can you overcome your sins and mistakes to walk forward in God's grace? To support UNPACKIN' it's upco...
Oct 15, 2024•33 min
Bryce Johnson and guest co-host Ed Uszynski unpack the rash of injuries across the NFL and consider why they are happening…and how the situation parallels our struggles with temptation and sin. Today's Questions: 1. What can we do to avoid specific life challenges and difficulties? 2. Why do we experience the trials and tribulations that we do? 3. Can we turn to Jesus for grace after we have sinned in a big way or for a long time? Click here for more information on Ed Uszyski and his published w...
Oct 08, 2024•38 min
Bryce Johnson and guest co-host Brian Goins unpack Troy Aikman's enduring competitiveness and how it relates to finding contentment as we follow Jesus. Today's Questions: 1. How can the traits that bring us success also be the same traits that lead us to a lack of contentment? 2. How do we balance giving our best in all things with being content no matter how things turn out? 3. What are some of the underlying roots that can lead us to discontentment? Learn more about Brian Goins and his podcast...
Oct 01, 2024•38 min
Bryce Johnson unpacks how six 0-2 teams got a spark to win their first game of the year…and how we can experience a spiritual spark when we need one. Today's Questions: 1. What practical steps can we take to get replenished in our faith life? 2. How could our need for a spiritual spark be caused by idolatry? 3. How is gratitude an essential component of experiencing a spiritual spark? Sign up to participate in Fantasy Football Fellowship to bring purpose and meaning to your fantasy league. Subsc...
Sep 24, 2024•33 min
Bryce Johnson unpacks how sports envy and jealousy affect sports fans…and how and why we must fight against envy in all areas of our lives. Today's Questions: 1. What is often at the root of the envy and jealousy that we experience? 2. What other sins do we often fall into when dealing with unresolved envy? 3. How do we practically eliminate the envy and jealousy we experience as we follow Jesus? Sign up to participate in Fantasy Football Fellowship to bring purpose and meaning to your fantasy l...
Sep 17, 2024•31 min
Bryce Johnson unpacks the patience needed for many of the teams that lost in the NFL…and how we must exercise patience in our lives. Today's Questions: 1. How could the impatience we experience be a result of unreasonable expectations? 2. Does being patient with others mean that we can never wisely distance ourselves from others? 3. How do we practically go about developing patience in our lives? Sign up to participate in Fantasy Football Fellowship to bring purpose and meaning to your fantasy l...
Sep 10, 2024•32 min
This week's special episode includes Bryce Johnson’ s recent sermon, “Let’s Go,” at The Pointe Church in Belmont, NC. Bryce unpacks why we serve others, what it means to be on a team, and how God has designed us with unique gifts. He gives a different perspective on the story of David and Goliath, shares a story about his first time on the radio, and uses the sports parallel of being in the tunnel before taking the field. Be sure to check out fantasyfootballfellowship.com and become a member for...
Sep 03, 2024•38 min
Bryce Johnson and guest co-host Bob Schindler unpack the Harbaugh brothers' approach to football…and how we must emphasize the fundamentals of the Gospel in our approach to a Christ-centered life. Today's Questions: 1. Why is it important for believers to regularly preach the gospel to themselves? 2. What benefits come from us taking time to meditate on how sinful we truly are? 3. How can embracing simplicity actually help us better live for Jesus? Check out Bob Schindler's ministry by visiting ...
Aug 27, 2024•42 min
Bryce Johnson and guest co-host Pastor Ray Hardee unpack who is heading into the NFL season on the hot seat…and how we relate to being on the hot seat in life. Today's Questions: 1. How do thankfulness and meditating on God's past faithfulness help us to better navigate difficult seasons of life? 2. Could our stress and anxiety actually be caused by the fact that we are depending on ourselves? 3. What is the ultimate security that we need as followers of Jesus? Chapters 0:00 Teaser 0:25 Intro 3:...
Aug 20, 2024•34 min
In this special interview, Bryce talks with actor and producer Cameron Arnett. He is one of the stars of the new movie The Forge , which hits theaters on August 23rd. He also starred in the No. 1 family movie of 2019, Overcomer . Earlier in his career, he appeared on Miami Vice , Star Trek: The Next Generation , and Doogie Howser, MD . He has won the Actor of the Year award from ICFF and other acting awards and nominations. Cameron founded "Christ Over Career," a global movement calling the chur...
Aug 17, 2024•35 min
Bryce Johnson has an update for all listeners regarding UNPACKIN' it and Fantasy Football Fellowship! Sign up to participate in Fantasy Football Fellowship to bring purpose and meaning to your fantasy league. Play in an UNPACKIN' it league today! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 16, 2024•2 min
Bryce Johnson and guest co-host Ridge Thomas unpack how Aaron Rodgers is pushing his teammates to get better…and how this relates to the mutual encouragement and building up of fellow followers of Jesus. Chapters 0:00 Teaser 0:31 Intro 3:43 Ridge Thomas 4:41 Why Ridge is a NY Jets Fan 5:30 Insight on the Jet’s Upcoming Season 5:49 Mike (Williams) From Upstairs 6:32 Jet’s WR Room 7:18 The Aaron Rodgers Injury Experience for Ridge 8:48 Rodgers is the Clear Leader of the Team 13:10 Teammates with t...
Aug 13, 2024•37 min
Bryce Johnson unpacks what Olympians do on their way to the gold medal…and how this parallels our lives when it comes to being set apart. Today's Questions: How do we balance living in the world while also making sure we are separate from the world? What are some specific ways we can distinguish ourselves as followers of Jesus? What biblical truths can serve as motivation for us as we seek to live lives that are set apart? Sign up to participate in Fantasy Football Fellowship to bring purpose an...
Aug 06, 2024•29 min
In the final podcast of our "Summer Movie Series," Bryce Johnson and guest co-host Matt Vanderbilt unpack how the players in Hoosiers choose to submit to their coach…and how this parallels our surrendering to Jesus and following His ways. Today's Questions: How does submission to God ultimately lead to us living our best life? Why is trust such an important component of submission? How should we view our motivation for obeying God's commandments? Chapters 0:00 Teaser 0:21 Intro 3:03 Matt Vanderb...
Jul 30, 2024•38 min
Bryce interviews former NFL linebacker Vincent Rey, who spent his entire career from 2010-2018 with the Cincinnati Bengals after going undrafted out of Duke. He is now the Bengals' team chaplain and on staff with Athletes in Action. He’s a husband and a father of four. In this conversation, Vincent discusses how he came to faith, finding identity outside of being a professional football player, the call to be a disciple and disciple-maker, and his journey to becoming an NFL chaplain. Chapters 0:...
Jul 27, 2024•40 min
Bryce Johnson and guest co-host, Harrison Zuckerberg, give you encouragement and advice to help you in your upcoming fantasy season. Topics discussed in this episode include: Our decision-making process when it comes to fantasy football and our faith life. What are the most important factors to consider when you are assembling your roster? Breaking down some of the top news from training camps across the league. Players who are poised to have a breakout season in 2024. Players who are currently ...
Jul 25, 2024•41 min
In the third podcast of our "Summer Movie Series," Bryce Johnson and guest co-host Brad Lowe unpack Kicking and Screaming, discussing how Will Ferrell's character lost his way during his son's soccer season...and how we have to be careful about getting caught up in the wrong things. Today's Questions: How do we respond when we get caught up in the wrong things as we are following the Lord? What are practical steps we can take to keep from getting off track in the first place? How do the people i...
Jul 23, 2024•41 min
Bryce Johnson and guest co-host, Harrison Zuckerberg, give you insight to set you up for fantasy success this season. Topics discussed in this episode include: Standing firm in our convictions about God and His Word. Fantasy players the guys are starting to waver on as the season approaches. How new quarterbacks will impact the fantasy value of their teammates. To bring purpose and meaning to your Fantasy league, sign up TODAY to participate in Fantasy Football Fellowship . Be sure to subscribe ...
Jul 19, 2024•51 min
Bryce Johnson and special guest, Andy Holloway of The Fantasy Footballers Podcast , unpack Fantasy, faith, and life. Topics discussed in this episode include: Navigating family life with children, and how sports can serve to connect a family together. Learning how to avoid idolatry while embracing living in the moment. How Fantasy Football has changed over the past decade. Players that Andy is excited about for the upcoming season. To bring purpose and meaning to your Fantasy league, sign up TOD...
Jul 18, 2024•44 min
