The PursueGOD Truth Podcast

In this episode we peel back the layers of the Genesis narrative to reveal a startling truth: Eden wasn't a retirement villa; it was a high-stakes job site. By examining the original Hebrew context, we discover that Adam and Eve were the world’s first priests, stationed in a "Garden-Temple" where the borders of heaven and earth met. We explore how their original mandate to "work and keep" the land was actually a sacred liturgical commission—the same one later given to the Levites in the Tabernacle. From the failure of the "first security guard" to the restoration found in the "Last Adam," this episode reframes your daily 9-to-5 not as a secular grind, but as a holy vocation. You aren't just earning a paycheck; you are an image-bearer called to bring God’s presence into every cubicle, classroom, and corner of the world.
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The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you’re looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday.
Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org.
Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.
Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.
Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected].
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How Did Adam and Eve Function Like Priests in Eden?

In this part one episode, Kevin and Jennifer Gordon share their remarkable journey through years of infertility, miscarriage, IVF, and adoption—and how, after decades of trusting God through disappointment and unexpected blessings, they now find themselves stepping into an unbelievable new chapter: a pregnancy at 52.
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The PursueGOD Family podcast helps you think biblically about marriage and parenting. Join Bryan and Tracy Dwyer on Wednesday mornings for new topics every week or two.
Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/family.
Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.
Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.
Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected].
Donate Now
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Kevin and Jennifer Gordon join Tracy and Bryan on the Family Podcast to share the shocking news that Jennifer is pregnant at 52 years old—and how that moment is the latest chapter in a decades-long journey of infertility, grief, faith, and surrender. They rewind to their early marriage dreams of having 2–3 kids, a heartbreaking miscarriage, and years of “nothing, nothing, nothing,” followed by difficult decisions about fertility treatments they didn’t fully understand and even feared might be “playing God.” Through prayer, unexpected open doors, and wise counsel from a godly mentor, they eventually pursued IVF—while God was also softening their hearts toward adoption.
Their story takes a dramatic turn as God redirects them to adopt their daughter from China, then later leads them back to their frozen embryos—resulting in the birth of their son Eli through IVF and another surprise: a natural pregnancy that brought their third child, Ethan. With three kids and years passing, they left remaining embryos frozen, assuming they’d “deal with it later,” even as a quiet conviction lingered. In recent years, new cultural conversations about embryos reignited the issue, and Jennifer sensed God stirring again. The episode ends at a powerful Good Friday service where she realizes she’s been holding a hidden “no” toward God—and she fully surrenders, open to whatever God asks next, even if it means something unimaginable in their 50s.

FAILURE TO LAUNCH
Big Idea: Spiritual maturity isn’t about age; it’s about the “launch.” It’s the moment you stop being a consumer of the church and start being a contributor to the mission.
In 2018, a bizarre story made national headlines. A 30-year-old man named Michael Rotondo was sued by his own parents because he refused to move out of their house. He didn’t pay rent. He didn’t help with chores. He ignored written eviction notices. Eventually, his parents had to take him to court just to get him to leave. The judge ruled that being a family member doesn’t entitle someone to stay indefinitely without contributing. He was ordered to launch.
We laugh at stories like that because they feel extreme. But the author of Hebrews delivers a similar rebuke—not to a lazy adult son, but to churchgoers who refused to grow up spiritually.
Hebrews 5:11–14 (NLT) says:
“There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen.You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food.For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right.Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.”The message is clear: spiritual maturity isn’t automatic. It doesn’t come with time served in church. It comes with intentional growth.
Today we see three marks of spiritual “grown-ups” straight from this text.
1. Spiritual grown-ups don’t just read — they study.
The author rebukes them for still needing “milk.” Milk isn’t bad. It’s essential for babies. But it’s tragic for adults. Milk is predigested. It requires no effort.
Spiritually speaking, “milk” is relying only on what others say about God. It’s surviving on a weekly sermon and never digging deeper. If your only spiritual intake is 30 minutes on Sunday, you’re on a liquid diet.
Reading the Bible is good. It’s like taking a scenic drive through beautiful country. Studying the Bible is getting out of the car and reading the historical markers. It means slowing down and asking questions.
That’s where inductive Bible study comes in:
Observation: What does the text say?
Interpretation: What did it mean to the original audience?
Application: How does it apply today?

The Bible was written to people in a specific time and culture, but it was written for us. Studying moves us from surface-level familiarity to life-shaping understanding.
And this leads naturally to the second mark of maturity.
2. Spiritual grown-ups don’t just study — they apply.
Hebrews 5:13 says an infant “doesn’t know how to do what is right.” Knowledge without obedience produces immaturity.
You can know Greek word studies. You can debate theology. You can listen to endless podcasts. But if you don’t obey, you’re spiritually stalled.
Verse 14 says mature believers are those who “through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.” The word “training” comes from the Greek word gymnazō — where we get “gymnasium.” Growth requires exercise.
Application is spiritual training. It’s forgiveness when it’s hard. It’s generosity when it’s costly. It’s integrity when no one is watching.
Information alone doesn’t transform. Obedience does.
If we only “taste” truth without walking in it, our hearts grow dull. Discernment comes from practiced obedience.
3. Spiritual grown-ups don’t just apply — they teach.
Hebrews 5:12 says, “You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others.”
This is the launch.
The goal of maturity isn’t self-improvement. It’s multiplication.
Ephesians 4:14 (NLT) says:
“Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching.”Teaching others stabilizes your own faith. When you pour out, you grow up.
There is a shift every believer must make—from consumer to contributor. From audience to ambassador. From “What am I getting?” to “Who am I helping?”
The cure for spiritual dullness isn’t more consumption. It’s contribution.
When Michael Rotondo was evicted, he didn’t thank his parents. He said he was outraged. He wanted to stay a child forever.
God loves us too much to let us stay spiritually rotund—full but unproductive. He calls us out of comfort and into mission.
Don’t fight the launch. Don’t settle for the bottle when God has a feast—and a purpose—waiting for you.
Spiritual maturity isn’t about how long you’ve believed. It’s about whether you’ve launched.

Welcome back, men! We’ve all heard the phrase, “Familiarity breeds contempt.” The more often we see something, the easier it is to take it for granted. The same can happen with Scripture.
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The PursueGOD Men's podcast helps guys apply God's Word to their lives to become full circle followers of Jesus. Join us for a new men's episode every other Thursday.
Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/men.
Learn more about "full circle" Christianity through our 12-week Pursuit series.
Click here to learn more about how to use these resources with men and boys at church.
Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected].
Donate Now
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The Good Shepherd: Rediscovering Psalm 23
If you grew up in church, you’ve probably heard Psalm 23 so many times that it almost feels automatic. You may even have it memorized. But God’s Word is alive and active. These aren’t sentimental words for funerals—they are life-giving truth for everyday valleys.
Psalm 23 invites us to see something stunning: the Almighty God of the universe is not distant or impersonal. He is our Shepherd.
The Lord Is My Shepherd
Psalm 23 opens with a deeply personal declaration: “The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.” Psalm 23:1 (NLT)
Notice “Lord” is in all capital letters. This is Yahweh—the covenant name of God. David isn’t talking about a vague higher power. He’s talking about the personal, promise-keeping God of Israel.
David knew what a shepherd was because he had been one. When the prophet Samuel came to anoint Israel’s future king, David wasn’t even invited to the ceremony. He was out in the fields tending sheep. He had risked his life to protect them.
1 Samuel 17:34–35 (NLT)
“But David persisted. ‘I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,’ he said. ‘When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth… I catch it by the jaw and club it to death.’”
David understood the fierce love of a shepherd. So when he called God his Shepherd, he meant protector, provider, and guide.
Centuries later, Jesus used the same imagery:
John 10:11 (NLT)
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.”
John 10:14–15 (NLT)
“I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me… So I sacrifice my life for the sheep.”
David risked his life for sheep. Jesus gave His life for us. That’s the difference between a good shepherd and the Good Shepherd.
Entering His Rest
“I have all that I need.” Psalm 23:1 (NLT)
We may not have all that we want, but in Christ we have everything we need. From an eternal perspective, what do we truly need? Forgiveness of sins. Righteousness before a holy God. Access to His kingdom. Jesus provides all of it.
“He lets me rest in green meadows.” Psalm 23:2 (NLT)
The image is nourishment and peace. Sheep only lie down when they feel safe. The Shepherd provides security so they can rest.
Hebrews 4:9–11 (NLT)
“So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God… For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors… So let us do our best to enter that rest.”
We rest in the finished work of Jesus. The Christian life is not passive—we work hard, we endure trials—but we no longer strive to earn God’s approval. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. The pressure to prove ourselves is replaced by peace.
“He leads me beside peaceful streams.” Psalm 23:2 (NLT)
Water is life in the desert. Jesus satisfies the deepest thirst of our souls.
Through the Darkest Valley
“Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.” Psalm 23:4 (NLT)
Notice David says “when,” not “if.” Suffering is part of the journey.
Jesus was honest about that.
John 16:33 (NLT)
“Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
If David was walking through the valley, it’s because the Shepherd led him there. A good shepherd doesn’t lose track of his sheep. Sometimes the route to green pastures goes through dark ravines. The Shepherd knows what lies on the other side.
Romans 8:18 (NLT)
“What we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.”
If you’re in a valley, it’s not an accident. God is not unaware. He is leading, even there.
Protective, Not Restrictive
“Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.” Psalm 23:4 (NLT)
The rod was used to defend against predators. The staff was used to guide wandering sheep. Both represent care.
God’s boundaries are not restrictive; they are protective. David understood this well:
Psalm 19:7–8 (NLT)
“The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul… The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart.”
God’s Word revives, warns, and rewards. His commands are sweeter than honey and more valuable than gold. The Shepherd’s discipline and direction are evidence of His love.
A Feast in the Valley
“You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.” Psalm 23:5 (NLT)
The enemies haven’t disappeared. The valley hasn’t vanished. Yet there is a banquet.
God doesn’t always remove the threat; sometimes He sustains us right in front of it. One day we will join the ultimate feast, when sin and death are gone forever. But even now, He provides abundantly.
“Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life.” Psalm 23:6 (NLT)
Like a shepherd chasing after wandering sheep, God pursues us with goodness and mercy. And the psalm ends with hope that stretches beyond this life:
“And I will live in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:6 (NLT)
Jesus said He is preparing a place for us in His Father’s house. Our Shepherd not only walks with us now—He secures our forever.
Psalm 23 is not sentimental poetry. It is a declaration of reality. The Lord is our Shepherd. In green pastures and dark valleys alike, He is enough.

In this episode Pastor Bryan challenges the popular but dangerous habit of "narcissistic" Bible reading—treating the Scriptures like a mirror to validate our own feelings rather than a window into the mind of God. By exploring the critical distinction between Eisegesis (reading our own meaning into the text) and Exegesis (drawing God’s meaning out of it), we uncover how misusing "inspiring" verses like Jeremiah 29:11 or Philippians 4:13 can actually silence the Holy Spirit's true intent. Listeners will walk away with a practical four-pillar framework for Hermeneutics, shifting from seeking "nuggets of personal approval" to encountering the transformative, Christ-centered reality of the Word.
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The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you’re looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday.
Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org.
Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.
Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.
Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected].
Donate Now
Keyword: Bible Study
What’s the Difference between Eisegesis and Exegesis?
What Is Biblical Hermeneutics?

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