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Faith Driven Purpose
Discover how the EKB–True Grace–MaximizeU alliance brings together faith, innovation, and personal development to empower individuals in mind, body, and spirit.
This partnership is dedicated to helping people grow spiritually while maximizing their God-given potential.
We Pray to Lord
With Deb Durnin
Episode 38
Night Prayer for Peaceful Sleep | Give Your Burdens to Jesus | Matthew 11:28 | Mission Moments Ep38
Episode 37
Powerful Prayer for God’s Will | Seek His Kingdom & Follow Jesus
Episode 36
Prayer of Gratitude & Hope | Be the Light of Jesus to Others | Mission Moments Ep#36
Down To Earth
Theology Matters Podcast
Episode 14
Does James Contradict the Apostle Paul?!
Does James really contradict Paul, or have we been reading James 2 the wrong way? Pastor Bryan Threlkeld and Dr. Jason Peters walk through this much-debated passage in context, showing how James confronts a faith that does nothing for struggling believers and why “dead faith” is about uselessness, not earning salvation by works.
Pastor Bryan
22 May 2026
Episode 11
Does God Ever Tempt You? James 1:12-18
Pastor Bryan Threlkeld, joined by recurring guest Dr. Jason Peters, walks through James 1:12-18 to show why believers must not blame God or the devil for their sin, how evil desires give birth to sin which can lead to death, and why the crown of life is a reward for faithful endurance rather than earned salvation.
Pastor Bryan
26 May 2026
Episode 8
Let's study the Book of James!
If you want to study James well, start with the text before you lean on outside voices. Pastor Bryan Threlkeld and Dr. Jason Peters show how to read the whole book, ask the right questions, use background tools wisely, and prepare for a faithful verse by verse study of James.
Pastor Bryan
08 May 2026
Episode 5
How to Study the Bible for Yourself: 7 Simple Reading Strategies
Bible study does not have to feel intimidating or reserved for scholars. In this episode of Down to Earth: Theology Matters, Pastor Bryan Threlkeld and Dr. Jason Peters share seven simple reading strategies that help ordinary believers read Scripture with clarity and confidence.
Pastor Bryan
08 May 2026
Episode 2
Reading the Bible Without Bias
Pastor Bryan Threlkeld and Dr. Jason Peters explain why nobody comes to the Bible as a neutral reader and why faithful Bible study begins by recognizing the assumptions we bring to Scripture. This episode helps viewers think more clearly about truth, interpretation, and how God’s Word reshapes us.
Pastor Bryan
27 Mar 2026
Episode 13
A Stern Warning to All Christians!
James 2:1-13 gives a serious warning about how Christians treat the poor. In this episode, Pastor Bryan Threlkeld, joined by recurring guest Dr. Jason Peters, walks through James’s warning against judging by appearance, showing favoritism to the wealthy, dishonoring poor believers, and forgetting that mercy must shape the way the church treats people.
Pastor Bryan
10 Jun 2026
Episode 10
The Easiest Way to Become Wise
In this episode of Down to Earth: Theology Matters, Pastor Bryan Threlkeld and Dr. Jason Peters walk through James 1:5-11 and show how believers are called to ask God for wisdom in the middle of trials. They explain God’s generous nature, why faith matters when we ask God for wisdom, and how doubt produces instability.
Pastor Bryan
22 May 2026
Episode 7
How to Study the Bible for Transformation, Not Just Information
If your Bible study ends with knowledge instead of obedience, it is not finished. In this episode of Down to Earth: Theology Matters, Pastor Bryan Threlkeld and Dr. Jason Peters walk through the crucial step of biblical application. They explain how the Holy Spirit takes God’s Word from the pages of Scripture and applies it to our everyday life through reflection, repentance, evaluation and accountability.
Pastor Bryan
01 May 2026
Episode 4
Why Genre Matters When Reading the Bible
If you fail to recognize the genre of literature you are reading, it is easy to misunderstand a Bible passage. In this episode of Down to Earth: Theology Matters, Pastor Bryan Threlkeld and Dr. Jason Peters explain why genre matters and how seeing the difference between Psalms, Proverbs, Gospel narratives, and letters helps you read Scripture with greater clarity, confidence, and faithfulness.
Pastor Bryan
08 May 2026
Episode 1
How to Study the Bible Wisely, with Dr. Jason Peters
Can ordinary Christians study the Bible well without going to seminary or learning Greek? In Episode 1 of Down to Earth: Theology Matters, Pastor Bryan Threlkeld sits down with Dr. Jason Peters to explore how everyday believers can read Scripture with clarity, humility, and confidence, while avoiding common mistakes that happen when verses are taken out of context.
Pastor Bryan
20 Mar 2026
Episode 12
The Word "Saved" Might Not Mean What You Think
In this episode of Down to Earth Theology Matters, Pastor Bryan Threlkeld and Dr. Jason Peters walk through James 1 and shows why the word "saved" must be read in context. Rather than assuming James is speaking about eternal salvation in this passage, they explain how James 1 points to practical Christian living and to God’s Word saving believers from temptation, sinful patterns, spiritual drift, and the painful consequences of ungodly living.
Pastor Bryan
05 Jun 2026
Episode 9
Surprise! The road to spiritual maturity is filled with speed bumps and potholes
James is a practical, coherent call to Christian maturity. In this episode, Pastor Bryan Threlkeld and Dr. Jason Peters give an overview of the book of James and begin unpacking James 1:1-4, showing how spiritual wisdom leads to spiritual maturity through trials, endurance, and steadfast faith.
Pastor Bryan
15 May 2026
Episode 6
6 Easy Questions to Keep Bible Verses in Context
In this episode of Down to Earth: Theology Matters, Pastor Bryan Threlkeld and Dr. Jason Peters share a simple way to study the Bible in context by paying attention to the paragraph, not just isolated verses. Using six observation questions - who, what, where, when, why, and how - they show how careful reading leads to clearer understanding. In this episode, they walk through Galatians 1:1-8 as a practical example.
Pastor Bryan
24 Apr 2026
Episode 3
Discovering the Author's Intent
In this episode of Down to Earth: Theology Matters, Pastor Bryan Threlkeld and Dr. Jason Peters remind us that the Biblical writers had a specific purpose for every word they wrote... and our job is to figure it out. By studying a passage in context, and learning the way language works, we will be able to read Scripture more faithfully, clearly, and confidently, without making Bible study feel technical or intimidating.
Pastor Bryan
3 Apr 2026
Introduction
Welcome to Down to Earth: Theology Matters
Down to Earth: Theology Matters is a Christian podcast designed to make deep theology clear, practical, and accessible for everyday believers. Through biblical teaching, meaningful dialogue, and engaging interviews, each episode helps listeners better understand God’s Word and apply it to real life.
Pastor Bryan
19 Mar 2026
Jeff's Dailies
a series of Daily Sermons
Where is God?
Have you ever asked this question, either internally or verbally out loud? Have you been in a situation, or situations, and you didn't know what God was doing? Those moments can feel as if we were abandoned, left to the circumstances and consequences currently
experienced.
After those moments, did you have the powerful perspective to reflect and say, "Oh, that's why God did that. I see His purpose and plan clearly as a result of this or that." That happening, occurrence, action, or situation won't be there for you, it will be for Him to be glorified!
You see, no matter what we feel and based on what we see, God is always working to us, in us, and through us to bring glory to Him, to praise His holy name, and to reveal Him and His perfect plans to those who don't see it. One may ask, "What if I myself don't see it?" Well, that's when the sweat equity of our relationship with Him kicks in based on the literally countless times He has been there for us since we first believed. He's saved each
soul from calamity, disaster, heartbreak, hurt, and disappointment so many times, we literally cannot count them all.
An unbelieving skeptic might say, "God's never saved me from anything ever!" Really? Well, did that unbelieving skeptic wake up today? Did they have food on the table? Do they have ways and means to survive? Children? Loved ones around them? How about a sunrise, sunset, rainstorm, wind, water, and everything they see whenever they open their eyes and at anytime of day or night? That's God at work. That's God's creation. That's
God’s sovereignty over all things and not just a few.
To see God's will and ways, God's power and majesty, God's eternal rule and sovereignty, and God's presence, we must read God's Word. We must pray through it for revelation that He is in control and will reveal what we need to see and when we need to see it, not a moment earlier and not a moment later. Trust Him when He says He is here,
Genesis 26:24, Jeremiah 22:23-24, 8:58, John 14:6, John 11:25, and so many others.
So, when you don't see God in a situation, or situations, and you don't know what God is doing, trust Him that He is there working within it to be glorified within it through you and your experience within it. He's there because His Word reveals He's there, everywhere and all the time. God is good and God is here! 🙏
For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.
Hebrews 3:4
“I have examined all religions, and the result is that the Bible is the best book in the
world.” John Adams, 2nd US President
Spiritual conversations
Early in my walk with Christ Jesus, shortly after accepting my sin-nature, confessing it all to Him, recognizing Him as my Lord and Savior, and accepting Him into my heart willingly, spiritual conversations seemed unreachable. These conversations appeared as though they could only come from and with the spiritual leaders of the church, theologians analyzing scripture, or something supernatural and not within this natural world. Boy, did I get that wrong.
From Ephesians 6:12, For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
There it is! It isn't the struggle for only the spiritual leaders of the church, theologians analyzing scripture, or something supernatural and not within this natural world. The struggle is "ours" and we, too, are struggling, laboring, plowing, sweating, and plodding, not against all the sin in this sinful world, we, too, must realize and with crystal clarity, we are also struggling, laboring, plowing, sweating, and plodding against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual force of wickedness in the heavenly places.
They are literally anywhere and everywhere we look. Thankfully, God is even more present than that because He's God, and we and the evil one are certainly not! So, whenever conversations are taking place that require an eternal godly perspective, which is just about every coversarion ever had, having, or will have, God, Christ Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are in it.
Virtually every conversation about where mankind is in direct position to God, how His Word is accurately playing out, and recognizing and calling out the evil seen today, these are spiritual conversations, and if we aren’t prepared through intentional Bible reading and study, deliberate prayer in solitude that builds our relationship with Him, being a member of a corporate worshipping church body, and even taking part in a small life group, we may very well miss the opportunities to engage in meaningful spiritual conversations.
God has never called us once to be like us. No, He calls us all to be like Him. Behave like Him. Know about Him. Spend time with Him. Talk to Him. When we do, He will draw us ever closer to Him and pretty much all our conversations and whenever we have conversations, they will be spiritual conversations because they will all be about Him, His will, His ways, and of His Word. 🙏
Foibles
This is a word many probably have never heard. Merriam Webster defines foible as the part of a sword or foil blade between the middle and point. Onemay say, "So what, what does that have to do with me?" Another definition is a minor flaw or shortcoming in character or behavior, moral weakness; a failing; a weak point; a frailty.
A word that can align with foibles is humilities. We can be humble about some things and prideful about others. We can stand strong on something we are familiar with, but weaker on the things we are not familiar with. Absorbing what God's Word reveals requires humility, which allows learning. We
listen more intently when we exercise humility. We also must receive with readiness and preparation to even listen to what His Word says because so many times, friends, we are wrong. We are frightfully wrong and are too stubborn, prideful, and sinful to take a moment to see that wrong.
"We all have the capacity to misread, misinterpret and misunderstand the Word of God especially when we’re sure that we have something completely figured out." - Jeremy Lallier
Foibles has to do with every soul who encounters God's Word. He and His Word are perfect. We most definitely are not and His Word educates and encourages us toward His perfection. Not that we achieve it, but that we continuously pursue it.
Therefore, we must approach God's Word from a perspective of weakness, flaw or shortcoming in character or behavior, moral weakness, a failing, a weak point, and a frailty. This is because we are but He can strengthen and restore because He is nothing of those things. God is the antithesis of foibles.
So approach His Word with readiness and preparation to receive it, humility to absorb it, and trust to believe and have faith in it. The result is becomingcloser to and more like Him, His qualities, His desires, and His behaviors. This powerfully limits our foibles as He transforms us more and more in his
likeness. 🙏
Take no account of man, whose breath of life is in his nostrils;
Isaiah 2:22,
Live or Die
A favorite James Bond movie by Ian Fleming's book by the same title is the 1973 movie, "Live and Let Die." The title song of the same name was written by Paul McCartney, a former member of the iconic band The Beatles. Paul had a tough time moving on from that band and suffered bouts of depression. "Live and Let Die" was his attempt to reflect a more positive outlook, suggesting that one should not worry excessively about difficulties.
Does that sound familiar? Do you worry excessively about the difficulties in your life? It is certainly more than understandable that we will have them. The question becomes how will we deal with them, get through them, and be victorious in them? This is impossible on our own and the sooner we understand that fact, the better we will do to approach difficulties. Approaching difficulty, all difficulties, is a matter of perspective. How do we see it versus how difficult they are.
Daniel 3:15-30 details the true life experience of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego when king Nebuchadnezzar ordered them to bow to a statue of him and they refused, even though the king had threatened Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego with burning them alive in a fiery furnace. If you don't know this story from Scripture, the Word of God, please read it and be amazed in the powerful and truthful confidence Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego possess simply because they know God, and they fully trust God. They were saying that just because we refuse to worship a representation of a false god like Nebuchadnezzar, they were each willing to face death. They knew that if Nebuchadnezzar jailed them, they would worship the Lord while in bondage. If Nebuchadnezzar exiled them, they would tell the world about the Lord, and if Nebuchadnezzar killed them, which is exactly what Nebuchadnezzar attempted, they would be with the Lord that much sooner.
The result is, not only were they protected in that fiery furnace, another was seen in that fiery furnace with them. That additional figure is believed to be Christ Jesus Himself! How amazing and powerful is that? In fact, afterward, Nebuchadnezzar decreed that anyone who speaks poorly of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would be torn limb from limb! Nebuchadnezzar then made Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego very prosperous.
So, not only was Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego faithful to God to the point of death, because they knew and loved God who knew and loved them, and protected them by being with them in that fiery furnace, Nebuchadnezzar was made to believe as well! How we live must always reflect who God designed us to be. No man can hurt us when we have faith that God will protect us, even in death, because God is more powerful, sovereign, and loving than any soul. Take that into every fiery furnace of difficulty, and see Him show up to protect you, while revealing Himself to others. 🙏
If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
Romans 14:8
Thankful Rule
When younger, were we ever thankful for the rule of our parents, or parent? Did we relish in not breaking or violating their rules? Even more, were we thankful at the time? It is most doubtful that in that moment we were in violation of some household rule we even thought of
thankfulness, let alone gratitude. No, we were probably overcome with a sense of victory, albeit very brief, while violating household rules.
That’s also how some behave as adults. They have been violating rules all their lives, and even though those rewards are fleeting, gone in seconds, they continue this fruitless pursuit thinking the next violation will bring even more satisfaction when elusively, it never ever does. That is the life of self. That’s the “me, myself, and I,” life. Why do so many adults continue this overwhelming temporary fruitless existence? They are being deceived!
Satan started this ridiculousness and continues to promote and promulgate it. Why? Because mankind is weak and focused on the shiny things versus the powerful light and rule of God. Picture Satan at a keyboard with your name on it. The keys are temporary and anti-Christ desires
that he pushes to temporarily entice you to pursue, while violating God’s Kingdom rule.
Remember that the only way this happens is because God Himself allows it which reveals again how powerful He is! Faithful believers of God, Christ Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are thankful for His rule, His dominion, and His eternal reign over all. We have gratitude for His Word, His
protection, His strength, His grace, His mercy, and most of all His immeasurable love for us which is why He requires our obedience to His rule. He is God. We are not. Although many rule breakers believe they are a god which is why they break His rules.
There is no better satisfaction than when we abide in rule and see the powerful fruits within that life. These are fruits God ensures result from our obedience. So be thankful for His rule. It is best for us and at all times, because He is best for us at all times.
Let the peace of Christ, to which you were indeed called in one body, rule in your hearts; and be
thankful.
Colossians 3:15
Tipping Sacred Cows
With Pastor Bryan Threlkeld
Episode 59
Evil, Suffering, And Why Faith Still Makes Sense
Pastor Bryan Threlkeld continues the “silence of God” discussion by facing the problem of evil and suffering. He points to a fallen world, human freedom, and Jesus sharing in our pain at the cross... then contrasts Christian hope with the bleak silence of a no-God story
Episode 56
When Doubt Breaks Trust
Pastor Bryan Threlkeld begins a new teaching on faith, doubt, and trust by showing how relationships depend on trust, and how doubt can turn destructive when it attacks God’s character. Using the Bible, especially Genesis 3 and the story of Doubting Thomas, he explores skepticism as one form of “doubt gone bad” and explains how Jesus meets honest questions with truth and grace.
Episode 58
Why Does God Often Seem Silent and Distant?
Pastor Bryan Threlkeld explores the “silence of God” and why God does not force belief through overwhelming displays. Using the Bible, including Luke 16 and Jeremiah 29, he explains how God calls people to seek Him with their whole heart and why faith is about trust and relationship, not just admitting God exists. He also begins addressing a second barrier to belief: why Christians can be such poor advertisements for Christianity.
Episode 55
Faith And Doubt: How Doubt Can Lead To Stronger Faith
Pastor Bryan Threlkeld teaches that doubt is not the opposite of faith but often the environment where faith grows. He explains why everyone lives by faith, why certainty is not required to follow Jesus, and how honest questions can lead to deeper trust and greater faithfulness.
Episode 57
When Doubt Goes Bad: Skepticism, Cynicism, And Unbelief
Pastor Bryan Threlkeld explains three destructive ways doubt can harden the heart: skepticism, cynicism, and unbelief. Using Scripture, he contrasts honest doubt with a refusal to trust, and calls listeners back to a life that leans on God instead of self-protection.
Episode 54
Faith And Doubt: Why Everyone Lives By Faith