Dying to Live Podcast

The church has always been called to care for the poor. From the Old Testament to the early church, Scripture makes it clear that compassion for those in need is not optional—it is part of faithful Christian living. We are called to show mercy, to give generously, and to help those who are suffering.

But the church also has a unique mission. It is not simply a social agency or a government program. The church exists to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ and to make disciples. That raises an important question for our time: How do we care for the poor without losing our focus on the gospel?

In recent years, the language of social justice has become more prominent in Christian circles. While the pursuit of justice and compassion is biblical, there is a danger when social action begins to replace gospel proclamation. The church must never forget that people’s greatest need is not only physical provision, but spiritual salvation.

So the challenge is to find the right balance. The church must meet real needs, show real love, and serve the poor faithfully—while keeping the gospel at the very center of its mission. 

In simple terms:

We care for the poor because of the gospel, and we proclaim the gospel because it is the greatest gift we can give to the poor.

In this episode Chantelle Searle and Kim Muller talk about real biblical hospitality. What is it? Where do we begin? And is it for everyone? When we read the Bible, hospitality is not an optional extra—it is part of normal Christian life.

In Romans 12, we are told to practice hospitality, and in 1 Peter 4, to offer hospitality without grumbling. Hospitality flows from the gospel, because Christ first welcomed us. But hospitality must come from the heart. Otherwise, it simply becomes entertainment—an event to impress rather than an expression of love.

Hospitality can be messy and difficult at times. It might be inviting someone for a meal, hosting people for a weekend conference, or even opening your home for a season. Yet the difficulty does not remove the calling.

So today we want to explore some practical ways to begin—even when hospitality feels daunting—because hospitality does not start with a perfect home, but with an open heart.

Today’s episode is a powerful and deeply moving story of transformation.

Our guest today is Zaib, a young woman who grew up in a very strict Muslim family. From an early age, her life was shaped by fear, rules, and the weight of religious expectations. But God had a different story written for her life.

In this episode, Zaib courageously shares her journey — a journey from fear to freedom. She tells the story of growing up in a tightly controlled environment, the questions that began to stir in her heart, and the remarkable way that Jesus revealed Himself to her.

Coming to Christ was not an easy decision. It came with real cost, deep struggle, and significant risk. Yet through it all, Zaib discovered something she had never known before: the grace, love, and freedom that are found in Jesus Christ. 

Her testimony is both challenging and encouraging. It reminds us that the gospel is powerful, that Christ is still drawing people to Himself from every background, and that no one is beyond the reach of God’s saving grace. So wherever you are listening from, I encourage you to listen carefully to this remarkable story.

Here is Zaib’s testimony — from fear to freedom.

This is Part Two of our series on leadership and biblical authority, where we turn our attention to how we follow.

In Part One, we explored biblical authority — leadership that is stewarded, not owned, and authority that builds people rather than controlling them.

But leadership is only half of the picture. Scripture also speaks about how believers respond to leadership, and what healthy, godly submission looks like.

Biblical submission was never meant to silence people or create fear. Instead, it creates order, trust, and shared responsibility within the body of Christ.

Healthy followership isn’t blind obedience or passive agreement. It’s a posture of humility that recognises God’s design for leadership while remaining anchored in truth.

In this episode, Morne van der Walt, Dylan Jones, and Mike D’Offay — elders in the life of JoshGen — explore what it means to follow well, when to submit, and how submission can exist without fear.

In this episode, we’re looking at biblical authority — what it is, how it’s meant to function, and how leaders can exercise it without slipping into control.

Scripture reminds us in Romans 13 that all authority ultimately comes from God. That means leadership authority is not something we own — it’s something we steward. It is delegated, and it is accountable. From the beginning, authority was tied to responsibility. 

In Genesis, humanity is given dominion not to dominate, but to cultivate and care. Biblical authority exists to protect, to guide, to correct, and to build up.The clearest model is Jesus Christ. He possessed all authority, yet led through service and sacrifice. He corrected without crushing. He commanded without manipulating. His authority created freedom, not fear.

A leader’s authority extends as far as their responsibility — no further. 

You are accountable for vision, values, and direction. You are not called to control every decision or outcome. When authority shifts from stewardship to self-protection, it becomes control. Control manages people. Authority develops them.

Control demands compliance. Authority cultivates conviction.The balance is stewardship — leading with clarity and courage, while remembering the authority you carry is entrusted, not owned.

Morne van der Walt, Dylan Jones and Mike D'Offay, elders in the life of JoshGen, explore what it means to lead with real authority — without control.