The PursueGOD Truth Podcast

Jonathan Roumie — the actor who plays Jesus in The Chosen — posted a video this week showing skull rings on every finger and calling it "memento mori." The Christian internet reacted with everything from enthusiasm to accusations of occultism. But the practice of deliberately reflecting on your mortality isn't Catholic, Stoic, or medieval — it runs straight through Moses, the Psalms, Ecclesiastes, and the letters of Paul. In this episode, Bryan unpacks what it means to number your days, why sitting with death actually makes you wiser, and how the resurrection changes what death even is for the person who follows Jesus.
Key Scripture References
Psalm 90:12 (NIV) — Moses's prayer for a heart shaped by the reality that life is finite
James 4:14 (NIV) — Life compared to a mist that appears briefly, then vanishes
Ecclesiastes 7:2 (NIV) — Why a house of mourning produces more wisdom than a house of feasting
1 Corinthians 15:55–57 (NIV) — Paul's declaration that death's sting has been stripped by Christ's resurrection
Philippians 1:21 (NIV) — "To live is Christ and to die is gain"

Episode Takeaways & Highlights
Number your days: Moses didn't pray for more time — he prayed for wisdom to use the days he had well
Let death be a clarifier: A funeral asks questions a party never does — don't wait for a terminal diagnosis to start living with clarity

The resurrection changes everything: The Christian meditates on death not as a wall but as a doorway — Jesus already walked through it ahead of you. Learn more here: How can I become a Christian?
Angels and Demons Series
Memento Mori: What the Bible Says About Death

In this final episode of the Pursuit series, Bryan walks through five biblical essentials for disciple-making drawn from Paul's letter to the Colossians. Starting from Colossians 1:28–29, Bryan shows that effective discipleship isn't about having the right curriculum or being spiritually polished — it's about real relationships, timely truth, faithful prayer, and keeping Jesus at the center. Whether you feel fully qualified or completely in over your head, this episode will give you both the theology and the practical framework to begin investing in someone else's faith.
Key Scripture References
Colossians 1:28–29 (NLT) — Paul's compact summary of disciple-making: proclaim Christ, teach with wisdom, and play the long game toward full maturity in everyone
John 15:12–13 (NLT) — Jesus commands love as the foundation of discipleship, modeled by laying down your life for your friends
1 Corinthians 2:14 (NLT) — Spiritual truth is discerned by the Spirit, so timing and receptivity matter as much as enthusiasm
1 Corinthians 3:6–7 (NLT) — Paul plants and Apollos waters, but God alone produces the growth — our role and God's role are distinct
Colossians 1:9 (NLT) — Paul's model of specific, unceasing prayer for people he has never even met

Episode Takeaways & Highlights
Commit to a Real Relationship: Discipleship happens in genuine connection, not content delivery — people can feel the difference between being cared for and being managed.
Share the Right Truth at the Right Time: Ask more than you answer, pray before you meet, and let the Holy Spirit lead the timing of what you share.
Do Your Part, Not God's: Your job is to show up, plant, and water — but only God can change a heart, so release the outcome.
Point Everything to Jesus: The goal isn't someone who follows you well; it's someone who can walk with Jesus even when you step out of the picture.
Pray for Them Specifically: Pray by name, about what they're actually carrying, between your meetings — and let them know you're doing it.

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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 podcast@pursueGOD.org.
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Jesus gave his followers one final assignment before he left the earth, and many Christians have quietly handed it off to pastors and missionaries. In this episode, we return to the mountain in Galilee in Matthew 28, where Jesus gave the Great Commission to eleven men—some worshiping, some still doubting—and sent them anyway. We unpack a small piece of Greek grammar that reveals the heart of the command, paint the picture of a full circle follower of Jesus, and walk through a simple three-step process for conversational discipleship: engage, establish, and empower. Along the way, we revisit the dropped batons of the 2008 Beijing Olympic relays and take on the honest objection that disciple-making is just recruiting with nicer branding. The big takeaway: if you can have a conversation, you can make a disciple.
Key Scripture References
Matthew 28:16–20 (NLT) — The Great Commission: Jesus claims all authority in heaven and on earth, sends his worshiping and doubting disciples to make disciples of all nations, and promises to be with them always.
1 Corinthians 2:14 (NLT) — Spiritual truth only makes sense through the work of God's Spirit, which frees us to be patient and pray as we engage others.
Matthew 10:19–20 (NLT) — God promises to give his people the right words at the right time.
2 Timothy 2:2 (NLT) — Paul's vision for four generations of disciples in a single verse.
1 Thessalonians 2:8 (NLT) — Paul shared not only the Good News but his own life, too.

Episode Takeaways & Highlights
Some Doubted, All Were Sent: Jesus commissioned his followers before their faith was airtight, so the thing you think disqualifies you probably doesn't.
One Main Command: In Greek, "make disciples" is the central verb. "Go" carries the force of a command, while baptizing and teaching describe how disciple-making happens.
The Full Circle Picture: A mature follower of Jesus trusts Jesus for salvation, honors God with their life choices, and makes disciples.
Engage: Start with what the other person cares about. Use the topics and built-in discussion questions at pursuegod.org to build a rhythm of real conversations.
Establish: When their questions turn spiritual, walk through the basics together using The Pursuit, PursueGOD's 12-part series.
Empower: Like a relay handoff, the goal is a disciple who makes disciples. Help them get connected to someone, then run alongside them for a few strides.
Not a Sales Funnel: Real discipleship gives people away instead of building a downline, and it keeps loving people even when they say no.
This Week's Challenge: Write down one name, pray for that person every day, and ask them what's going on in their life.

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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 podcast@pursueGOD.org.
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Most believers settle for a two-legged version of Christianity: receiving salvation and working on personal morality. While necessary, this framework leaves faith spiritually incomplete and keeps believers stuck on the sidelines. In this episode, we dive into the vital "third leg" of the Christian journey: disciple-making. By exploring the first-century Rabbinic context of Jesus' call, the biblically intended structure of leadership, and the power of relational proximity, we unpack why making disciples isn't just a job for paid pastors or hyper-extroverts. It is the universal calling for every follower of Christ and the primary engine for personal spiritual growth.
Key Scripture References
Matthew 28:18–19 (NLT) — The Great Commission: Jesus declares his absolute authority and commands his followers to go and make disciples of all nations.
Ephesians 4:11–12 (NLT) — The Role of Church Leaders: Pastors and teachers are called to equip believers to do the work of ministry, shifting the church model from spectator sport to active engagement.
Matthew 9:36–38 (NLT) — Compassion for the Harvest: Jesus looks at the crowds with gut-wrenching compassion and tells his disciples to pray for workers in an abundant harvest field.
Ephesians 4:14 (NLT) — The Result of Discipleship: True spiritual maturity and discernment are developed as believers step into ministry and active engagement.

Episode Takeaways & Highlights
The First-Century Rabbinic Context: Unlike traditional rabbis who only chose the academic elite, Jesus sought out ordinary, blue-collar workers and empowered them to complete the disciple cycle by reproducing his teachings in others.
Obeying over Accumulating: Discipleship is not about accumulating Bible trivia; it is a relational pathway built on intentional, transformative obedience to Christ’s commands.
The "Equipping" Model vs. Modern Passivity: Western church culture often expects pastors to perform all ministry work. Biblically, pastors are coaches on the sidelines, equipping church members—the players—to make disciples.
Maturity Comes Through Action: Spiritual growth doesn't happen before stepping into ministry; it happens as you make disciples. Engaging with others forces you into scripture, exposes hypocrisy, and deepens prayer.
Relational Proximity Matters: While sermons convey truth to crowds, life transformation happens through intentional, small-scale or one-on-one relationships.

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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 podcast@pursueGOD.org.
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In this episode we break down the vital distinction between legalistic performance and grace-fueled effort, laying out an actionable playbook for the five foundational spiritual disciplines every follower of Jesus must master to build an unshakeable inner life.
Key Takeaways
The Reality of Spiritual Decay: Physical strength doesn't happen by accident, and neither does spiritual maturity. Without intentional training, your default human nature will dictate your choices.
Effort vs. Legalism: Legalism is trying to earn God’s favor through performance; spiritual discipline is your response to the grace you’ve already received. As Dallas Willard noted, grace is opposed to earning, not effort.
Training over Passive Faith: The Greek word for training (gumnasia) depicts raw, disciplined, single-minded focus—stripping away distractions to do the heavy lifting required for spiritual growth.

Key Scriptures Cited
1 Timothy 4:8"Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come."John 5:39–40"You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life."Hebrews 10:25"And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near."Matthew 6:20–21"Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be."--
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 podcast@pursueGOD.org.
Donate Now
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Notes