The PursueGOD Truth Podcast

Have you ever wondered if you’re a two-part or a three-part being? While many Christians use the terms "soul" and "spirit" interchangeably, others argue they represent distinct layers of our spiritual anatomy. In this episode, we dive deep into the classic theological debate between Dichotomy (body and soul/spirit) and Trichotomy (body, soul, and spirit). By exploring the Hebrew concept of nephesh, the "parallelism" of Mary’s song, and the "piercing" metaphor in Hebrews 4:12, we uncover why this isn't just a technical word study—it’s a vital look at how God redeems the whole person. Whether you feel like your emotions are at war with your faith or you're trying to map out your "inner self," this conversation clarifies how we are a unified "unity of dust and breath."
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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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What Is The “Trichotomist” View Of Human Beings? - The trichotomist view is the theological perspective that human beings are composed of three distinct parts: body, soul, and spirit. While the “dichotomist” view—the idea that man is a unified being of material (body) and immaterial (soul/spirit)—has been the more dominant position throughout church history, trichotomy seeks to make a sharper distinction between our psychological life and our spiritual life. According to this framework, the soul and spirit are not just different words for the same thing, but separate components with unique functions.
What Is the “Dichotomist” View of Human Beings? - The dichotomist view is the biblical and theological belief that human beings consist of two distinct parts: the material (the physical body) and the immaterial (the soul or spirit). Unlike the trichotomist view, which argues for a three-part breakdown of body, soul, and spirit, dichotomy suggests that “soul” and “spirit” are simply two different names for the same non-physical essence that lives on after the body dies.
Is There a Difference Between Soul and Spirit? - The Bible uses the terms “soul” and “spirit” to describe the immaterial part of a human being, but most biblical scholars believe they refer to the same essence seen from different perspectives. While some argue for a three-part (trichotomist) view, the “dichotomist” view—that humans consist of two parts, a physical body and a unified spiritual soul—is the most consistent way to understand how Scripture describes our inner life.

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Key Discussion Points
The Vocabulary of Humanity: An introduction to "Theological Anthropology" and why science alone cannot explain the immaterial part of a human being.

In this episode, Tracy unpacks the pressure-filled world of youth sports and challenges parents to trade performance-driven parenting for Christ-centered encouragement that builds character instead of insecurity.
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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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Parenting Your Kids in Sports: Encouragement That Builds Character
Sports can be one of the best training grounds for kids—or one of the most stressful parts of family life. If the thought of your child’s next game already makes you anxious, you’re not alone. Many parents feel pressure (from coaches, culture, other parents, and even themselves) to treat childhood sports like a career path. And if you’ve ever found yourself internalizing your kid’s performance as a reflection of your value as a parent, this topic is for you.
Here’s the big reality check: the sports world has changed fast. Not that long ago, kids played multiple sports at their local school and it was mostly about fun, learning skills, and being with friends. But today, it often feels like you have to “choose one sport,” join a competitive club, train year-round, travel constantly, and chase a scholarship—starting in elementary school. That pressure can turn sports from something healthy into something consuming.
But before we even talk strategy, we have to talk about heart posture. Many of us are parenting out of baggage we’ve never named. Maybe you had a coach who humiliated you. Maybe your parents were overly intense—or totally checked out. Maybe you were the star athlete and it fed pride. Or maybe you always felt like you were on the outside trying to prove yourself. Whatever your story is, it shapes how you respond to your kid’s wins, losses, effort, attitude, and mistakes.
So here’s the question that changes everything: Why do I care so much about my kid’s performance?
What does it “say about me” if they play well—or if they don’t? If you can’t answer that honestly, you’ll struggle to parent this area in a healthy way. Because we can’t lead our kids somewhere we haven’t gone ourselves.
Next, let’s talk expectations. A lot of sports culture sells a dream: “We’re going to get your kid a D1 scholarship.” But the odds are small. For many sports, only around 1–3% of high school athletes will reach that level. Most kids won’t—and that’s okay. The point of sports isn’t to build a résumé. It’s to build a person.
So what should our emphasis be?
Instead of obsessing over points, minutes, wins, and rankings, use sports to teach what matters in real life:
How to be a good teammate
How to celebrate others’ success
How to handle disappointment
How to respect authority (even when it’s imperfect)

In this episode Bryan connects the dots between modern prophetic scandals and early Mormonism, exposing how unchecked authority and “new revelation” can lead to deception, cover-up culture, and spiritual harm. This episode warns all believers to test everything against the Word of God, even in the Christian church.
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The Unveiling Mormonism podcast pulls back the curtain on Mormon history, culture and doctrine. Join us for new episodes every Monday.
Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/mormonism.
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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Cover-Up Culture and the Modern Prophetic Movement
Imagine believing a leader hears directly from God—only to discover manipulation, deception, and hidden sin behind the scenes. Recent scandals in parts of the modern prophetic movement have exposed troubling patterns of spiritual abuse, cover-ups, and unchecked authority.
In this episode, we connect the dots between today’s prophetic controversies and similar patterns from church history—particularly early Mormonism. This isn’t about attacking charismatic Christians. It’s about recognizing red flags that can emerge whenever leaders claim special revelation and avoid accountability.
The goal? Spiritual discernment. Protecting your faith. Keeping your eyes on Jesus.
What We Cover in This Episode
1. What Is the Modern “Prophetic Movement”?
In some charismatic and Pentecostal circles, certain leaders claim to receive fresh, specific revelations from God. With social media and online platforms, these voices now have massive reach and influence.
Recent investigations have exposed:
Data mining disguised as prophecy
Manipulation through spiritual language
Allegations of moral failure and abuse
Institutional efforts to protect reputations over victims

These patterns aren’t new.
2. The Historical Parallel: Early Mormonism
In the 1800s, Joseph Smith claimed prophetic authority and new revelation. Over time, a culture developed that:
Shielded leadership from accountability
Suppressed inconvenient truths
Protected institutional reputation
Minimized or denied moral failures

The release of the Gospel Topics Essays in 2013 revealed how long some historical realities had been obscured.
The lesson? Cover-up culture thrives wherever leaders claim unquestionable authority.
The Core Issue: Authority and “New Revelation”
The connective tissue between past and present movements is this idea:
When someone claims direct revelation from God that overrides Scripture or bypasses accountability, danger follows.Scripture never elevates...

Greater Than the G.O.A.T.
Hebrews 3:1–6
Who’s the Greatest of All Time?
In football, fans argue over quarterbacks. In basketball, it’s Jordan or LeBron. In soccer, Messi or Ronaldo. Every generation debates its heroes. Today we’re asking that same question—but for the Bible.
If you had asked a first-century Jewish believer, the answer would have been simple: Moses. He wasn’t just a leader. He was the prophet, the lawgiver, the deliverer, the mediator. If you had Moses, you had everything.
But Hebrews chapter 3 makes a bold claim: Jesus is greater.
The Pressure to Go Back
The book of Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians under intense pressure. They were facing persecution and social rejection. Following Jesus wasn’t easy. Going back to Judaism—to Moses—looked safer.
Can you relate? Sometimes faith costs something. Maybe it’s awkward conversations at work. Maybe it’s tension in your family. In those moments, the “old life” can look comfortable.
That’s why the author writes:
Hebrews 3:1–6 (NLT)
“And so, dear brothers and sisters who belong to God… think carefully about this Jesus whom we declare to be God’s messenger and High Priest… Moses was certainly faithful in God’s house as a servant… But Christ, as the Son, is in charge of God’s entire house. And we are God’s house, if we keep our courage and remain confident in our hope in Christ.”
Moses was faithful. But Jesus is greater.
Why Moses? Because to understand how great Jesus is, you have to understand how great Moses was.
1. The Prophet: The Mouthpiece vs. The Message
Moses was the great prophet of Israel—Moshe Rabbenu, “Moses our Teacher.” When God spoke, Moses delivered the mail.
At the burning bush, God said:
Exodus 3:10 (NLT)
“Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.”
Moses went up the mountain and came down with God’s words. He was the mediator. The messenger.
But Hebrews tells us something bigger.
Hebrews 1:1–2 (NLT)
“Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son.”
Moses delivered a message. Jesus is the message.
Moses told us what God said. Jesus showed us who God is. The difference isn’t subtle—it’s seismic.
2. The Architect: The Snapshot vs. The Whole Picture
Moses didn’t just speak for God. He shaped a nation.
At Sinai, he brought down the Ten Commandments. In a world ruled by tyrants, this was revolutionary. Authority answered to a higher authority. Justice wasn’t based on mood; it was rooted in God’s character.
Even the Sabbath command was radical:
“Six days you shall labor… but the seventh day is a sabbath.”
In a world of slavery and subsistence farming, rest was unheard of. God declared that human worth wasn’t measured by productivity.
But even this was just a snapshot.
Fifteen hundred years later, Jesus revealed the whole picture:
Matthew 22:37–40 (NLT)
“‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’… ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
Moses gave structure. Jesus gave fulfillment.
The law was never the final word—it was the frame around a greater portrait. Jesus didn’t abolish the law; He completed it.
3. The Servant: The Old House vs. The New House
Hebrews 3:5 says:
“Moses was certainly faithful in God’s house as a servant. His work was an illustration of the truths God would reveal later.”
An illustration. A preview. A shadow.
For centuries, God worked primarily through Israel. Kings like David. Prophets like Elijah and...

Welcome back to the podcast! Join us this week for a special episode, highlighting the updates to our website in 2026!
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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
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