Dying to Live Podcast

Every Janu-WORRY (as some people refer to it) we’re told it’s time for a reset. New year, new goals, new habits, new us. But spiritually, many of us step into the new year carrying the same questions, the same struggles, the same disappointments—and the same old selves. We pray, we hope, we try again, yet sometimes nothing feels new at all. 

So what does God actually expect of us? Is the new year a spiritual performance review (KPA) —do better, try harder, fix yourself? Or is God at work in ways we don’t immediately feel or see? What if newness doesn’t always look like change on the outside, but faithfulness on the inside? What if God isn’t holding a big stick over our failures, but gently leading us forward, even when we feel stuck?

In this podcast, New Year, Old Me, we explore the tension between our desire for transformation and the reality of living with unresolved struggles. We’ll talk honestly about faith when nothing feels fresh, hope when progress feels slow, and the grace of a God who meets us not as a “new us,” but as we really are—right here, right now.

Dan Barnard and Brett Bevan, both elders leading congregations in JoshGen, share some humour around expectations made of us AND the challenges of finding God in a new year with old challenges and the old me.

What is discipleship, really? It’s not a program or a checklist—it’s a relationship. Discipleship is learning to follow Jesus and inviting others to walk with Him too. It happens through proximity, conversation, and modeling a life shaped by Christ.

Jesus didn’t just teach truth—He lived it in front of people. He invited others into His life, showed them what obedience looked like, and sent them out to do the same. That’s why discipleship can’t happen alone. Community matters. We grow best when we follow Jesus together.

There is a pattern, but not a formula—teaching and modeling, invitation and practice, walking with people over time. And while we play a role, we are not the Holy Spirit. We can’t transform hearts; we can only be faithful, point to Jesus, and trust God to do the work. That faithfulness starts close to home.

We are called to disciple our children by modeling faith in everyday life, not perfection. Discipleship is simple, but it’s not easy: following Jesus together—and living in a way that invites others to follow too.

Deliverance is a word that often brings confusion, curiosity, or even fear. For some, it’s associated with dramatic encounters and intense moments. For others, it raises honest questions they’ve never felt free to ask.

Today, we want to slow down and bring clarity. In this episode, we’re de-mystifying deliverance. What is deliverance? What are demons? Can a believer have a demon? And what’s the difference between demon possession and demonic oppression?

At its core, deliverance is about freedom—freedom from Satan and his demons, and freedom to walk fully in what Jesus has already accomplished. It’s not about hype or fear; it’s about truth, authority, and wholeness in Christ. And while some deliverance experiences are dramatic, many are gentle moments of freedom—where peace replaces torment and truth replaces lies.

Our goal today is simple: to explain, to equip, and to point back to Jesus, the One who sets captives free. Dave and Keena James, an eldership couple from JoshGen City Bowl, share their experiences with deliverance.

Children change everything—our schedules, our priorities, and often, our faith. As parents, we wrestle with big questions.

Should family life revolve around our children—their needs, their future, their success?
Are we meant to chase sport, achievement, and endless activities in the hope of giving them every advantage? But beneath that lies something deeper.

Where do our children fit in the Kingdom of God? What is their place in church life—not just in programs, but in worship, community, and belonging? Are our kids spectators of faith, or are they being formed as active participants in the people of God? What comes first—Jesus or our children?

And what if following Jesus means inviting our kids into a shared life of faith, where church is not an event we attend, but a community we belong to together? How do we pursue God wholeheartedly, raise children who truly belong, and still make space for marriage along the way? These questions shape our homes, our churches, and the faith our children grow into.

What does it really mean to live by faith? So often, especially in ministry circles, living by faith is reduced to finances—raising support, trusting God for provision, or serving without a salary. And while money can certainly be part of the story, it’s far from the whole picture.

Living by faith is bigger than a bank account. It’s about trusting God with every area of our lives—our decisions, our relationships, our calling, our future, and even our very existence. It’s waking up each day believing that God is who He says He is, and that He can be trusted with what we cannot see.

Living by faith doesn’t always feel safe. Sometimes it’s risky. Sometimes it requires us to step forward without clarity, to move before we feel ready, and to obey without guarantees. It’s not reckless—but it is careful courage, grounded in full reliance on God.

In this episode, we’ll explore what it truly means to live by faith—not just when it’s convenient, but when it costs us something. When trust replaces control. When obedience matters more than outcomes. And when our confidence rests not in ourselves, but in the faithfulness of God. This is a journey of learning to trust Him—fully, daily, and wholeheartedly.