Skip to content
Sign in
Artwork for 2 Pastors and a Mic
Religion & Spirituality

2 Pastors and a Mic

Hill City

Unfiltered, unedited, and uncommon thoughts from 2 pastors figuring it out as they go.

Play
Open in
  • 22 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 33 min
  • English

Episodes 22

NewestOldestLongest
All20Unplayed20In progress0Played0
Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.
  • Today · 23 min

    295. Why Do We Confuse Being Busy With Being Faithful?

    In Episode 295 of Two Pastors and a Mic, Cory and Channock talk about the difference between having a full life and living a hurried life—and whether busyness has become something we use to convince ourselves that what we’re doing matters. They talk about why resting can make us feel guilty, what might come to the surface when everything gets quiet, and whether some of our exhaustion comes from constantly consuming instead of simply doing too much. 00:00 - Welcome to Episode 295 02:27 - Why Do We Always Say We’re Busy? 03:18 - When Busyness Becomes a Sign of Success 04:01 - Does Hurry Describe Your Soul? 05:40 - Can You Have a Full Calendar and Still Be Present? 06:13 - When Did Busy Become Important? 07:56 - Learning to Always Be Busy 09:15 - Why Do We Feel Guilty for Resting? 11:45 - Exhaustion Is Not a Spiritual Gift 12:00 - Does Busyness Make Us Feel Important? 12:18 - What Are We Avoiding by Staying Busy? 13:29 - Why Is It So Hard to Be Still? 14:00 - What Shows Up When Everything Gets Quiet? 15:10 - Are We Tired Because We Never Stop Consuming? 16:18 - Jesus Was Never in a Hurry 16:44 - Interruptions or Invitations? 17:32 - How Jesus Handled Interruptions 18:39 - What Does Love Require Here? 19:35 - What Are You Rushing Through? 19:52 - What Will You Wish You Had Slowed Down For? 20:43 - Be Where Your Feet Are 21:13 - Three Ways to Slow Down 23:09 - The Challenge: Do Absolutely Nothing

  • September 16 · 25 min

    294. Why Do We Keep Trying To Fix People?

    In this episode of Two Pastors and a Mic, Cory and Channock talk about our tendency to fix people, give advice they never asked for, and become more invested in someone’s growth than they are. They also talk about the deeper things that can be hiding underneath our desire to help. What happens when being needed becomes part of our identity? Are we actually offering something to another person, or are we trying to produce an outcome for them? 00:00 - Welcome to the Podcast 02:18 - Why Do We Feel Responsible for Fixing People? 03:52 - Why Is It So Hard to Watch People Struggle? 06:23 - Learning to Have Fewer Opinions 07:41 - When You Want to Coach Everyone 08:52 - What Happens When People Ignore Your Advice? 09:47 - What Do You Need From Me? 12:05 - Are You More Invested in Their Growth Than They Are? 13:40 - You Can’t Do the Work for Someone Else 15:45 - The Addiction to Being Needed 17:21 - Jesus Didn’t Chase People 19:24 - Jesus Didn’t Need to Be Needed 20:54 - Three Questions Before You Try to Help 21:39 - Stop Giving Unsolicited Advice 24:40 - This Week’s Challenge: Don’t Give Advice 25:10 - You Are Loved

  • September 9 · 25 min

    293. Why Are We So Afraid Of Disappointing People?

    In this episode of Two Pastors and a Mic, Cory and Channock talk about where our fear of disappointing people comes from, why someone else’s disappointment can make us feel like we’ve done something wrong, and how much of our lives can be spent trying to manage other people’s reactions. They also talk about the pressure many Christians carry to keep God from being disappointed in them—and why they believe it’s impossible to disappoint a God who already knows us completely. 00:00 - Welcome to the Podcast 01:39 - Why Is Disappointment So Hard? 02:44 - Who Are You Most Afraid of Disappointing? 03:04 - Expectancy vs. Expectation 05:25 - The Fear of Disappointing Ourselves 09:55 - What Happens When Someone Is Disappointed in You? 10:57 - Our Knee-Jerk Reactions to Disappointment 11:59 - Why Does Disappointment Feel Like We Did Something Wrong? 12:41 - Can We Disappoint God? 13:34 - What Happens When We’re Trying Not to Disappoint God? 13:49 - Are You Managing Everyone Else’s Reactions? 14:49 - How Fear of Disappointment Shapes Our Decisions 15:23 - Have You Changed a Decision to Avoid Disappointing Someone? 20:32 - How Many People Did Jesus Disappoint? 22:11 - Emotional Health Sometimes Disappoints People 22:21 - When Love Requires a Boundary 23:22 - Whose Disappointment Are You Trying to Avoid? 23:31 - What Is It Costing You? 23:46 - Let People Be Disappointed 25:01 - God Is Never Disappointed in You

  • September 2 · 27 min

    292. Why Was Jesus So Hard To Offend?

    In this episode of Two Pastors and a Mic, we talk about the difference between being hurt and living offended, why certain criticisms affect us more than others, and the stories we often attach to someone else’s behavior. We also look at the life of Jesus—someone who was misunderstood, criticized, rejected, falsely accused, and abandoned, yet never seemed consumed with defending himself or repairing his reputation. What would change if you didn’t need everyone to understand you correctly in order to know who you are? 00:00 - Welcome to the Podcast 01:07 - Living the 2:6 Life 01:36 - Why Was Jesus So Hard to Offend? 03:44 - What Offends Us More Than It Should? 08:54 - What Criticism Gets Under Your Skin? 12:02 - Being Hurt vs. Being Offended 12:20 - The Stories We Tell Ourselves 13:00 - What Criticism Is Hardest to Hear? 15:13 - Disliked or Disrespected? 17:18 - Why Was Jesus So Hard to Offend? 19:18 - Offense Might Be More About Us 20:11 - Jesus Didn’t Defend His Reputation 22:32 - Jesus Let People Walk Away 23:50 - Being Hurt vs. Living Hurt 24:02 - Do You Need People to See You Correctly? 24:50 - A Practice for Handling Offense 26:27 - Final Thoughts: Knowing Who You Are

  • August 26 · 28 min

    291. Why Does Disagreement Feel So Personal?

    In Episode 291 of Two Pastors and a Mic, Cory and Channock continue the conversation around changing our minds, being wrong, and what happens when the people we love don’t change with us. They talk about why we often assume more people think like us than actually do, why certain people’s disagreement affects us more than others, and how our need for validation can hide underneath our need to convince someone that we’re right. They also explore the connection between agreement and belonging, why disagreement can feel like rejection, how political and theological differences can strain relationships, and what it looks like to stay connected without requiring someone else to see the world exactly the way we do. 00:00 - Welcome to Episode 291 02:13 - Why Do I Need You to Think I’m Right? 03:14 - The False Consensus Effect 04:31 - We Assume More People Think Like Us 06:41 - When Someone Close to You Disagrees 07:33 - Whose Disagreement Bothers You Most? 09:18 - When a Friend’s Disagreement Hits Different 10:50 - Learning to Live With Theological Tension 12:03 - Why One Person’s Disagreement Can Wreck Your Day 12:48 - Social Verification & the Need for Validation 15:03 - Why Disagreement Can Feel Like Rejection 15:59 - When Did Agreement Become Connected to Belonging? 17:12 - What’s Harder: Changing or Watching Others Stay the Same? 20:10 - Losing Friendships Over Politics 20:33 - Does Relationship Require Agreement? 21:40 - What Do We Actually Disagree About? 23:20 - Friendship Can Survive Disagreement 26:22 - Where Do You Need to Stop Needing Agreement? 26:31 - The Challenge: Let a Disagreement Stay Unresolved 27:18 - Choosing Relationship Over Agreement

  • August 19 · 32 min

    290. Why Do We Care So Much About Being Right?

    In Episode 290 of Two Pastors and a Mic, Cory and Channock continue their conversation from last week by exploring what’s underneath our need to be right. They talk about why admitting we’re wrong can feel so uncomfortable, how church culture can turn certainty into a measure of faithfulness, and why disagreement doesn’t have to lead to disrespect or disconnection. They also unpack research on intellectual humility and why people who are willing to consider that they could be wrong are often more curious, more open to opposing evidence, and more capable of maintaining relationships with people who see the world differently. The goal isn’t to stop having convictions. It’s learning to hold those convictions without needing everyone else to agree with us. 00:00 - Welcome to Episode 290 01:27 - Why Do We Care So Much About Being Right? 02:11 - What Are We Really Protecting? 04:54 - When You Can Feel Yourself Needing to Win 06:22 - Would You Change Your Mind If You Had To? 08:19 - What Does Being Right Give Us? 10:18 - What Does Being Wrong Make Us Feel? 11:18 - When Being Wrong Feels Threatening 14:35 - Letting People Believe Differently 17:11 - When Being Wrong Becomes a Spiritual Issue 19:51 - When Certainty Becomes Faithfulness 20:01 - Why Does Disagreement Become Disrespect? 20:52 - Can You Respect Someone You Think Is Wrong? 22:58 - What Research Says About Intellectual Humility 24:06 - The Problem With Staying in Our Own Camps 25:18 - Rapid-Fire Questions About Being Wrong 27:38 - Who Changed Your Mind Without Fighting You? 30:04 - Ask One More Question 31:59 - What’s That to You?

  • August 12 · 33 min

    289. Why Is It So Hard To Change Our Minds?

    Why is it so hard to change our minds? We like to think our beliefs are simply based on facts, evidence, and what makes the most sense. But changing our minds is rarely that simple. Our beliefs can become connected to our identity, our relationships, our sense of belonging, and even our need to feel safe. In this episode, Cory and Channock talk about what actually happens when we begin questioning something we’ve believed for years. They share some of the significant ways their own minds have changed—especially around theology—and why curiosity, safe relationships, and becoming comfortable with “I don’t know” have been so important along the way. 00:00 - We’re Back! 02:25 - Summer Updates 05:38 - Why Is It So Hard to Change Our Minds? 07:10 - The Power of Curiosity 10:11 - When Was the Last Time You Changed Your Mind? 12:02 - Why Our Brains Resist New Beliefs 13:21 - Changing Our Minds About Theology 14:31 - When Beliefs Become Part of Our Identity 15:12 - Confirmation Bias and Scripture 16:16 - Beliefs We Can’t Believe We Once Held 19:33 - What Are We Really Protecting? 21:41 - Our Need for Certainty 23:11 - What Makes Changing Your Mind Possible? 26:35 - Is Changing Your Mind a Sign of Maturity? 27:56 - Why Do We Shame Adults for Changing? 29:10 - What Belief Made Your Life More Beautiful? 30:14 - Stop Asking “Am I Right?” 31:42 - Finding Safe People for the Journey

  • August 5 · 39 min

    288. Reframe Part 5: Is God Really Angry?

    For generations, many of us have been taught that God's wrath is His anger directed toward sinful people. But what if we've misunderstood it? In this final message of the Reframe series, Cory explores one of the most misunderstood themes in Scripture and asks a simple but profound question: If Jesus is the perfect revelation of the Father, what does that mean for how we understand God's wrath? Looking through the lens of Jesus, this message challenges the idea of an angry, punitive God and presents a different picture—one where God's wrath is His relentless love confronting everything that distorts, enslaves, and dehumanizes us. Rather than destroying people, God's passion is aimed at destroying the lies that keep us from knowing who we've always been. Together, we explore: • What the Bible actually means by "wrath" • Why Romans 1 says God "gave them over" • How Jesus redefined God's character • Why the cross reveals reconciliation, not divine retaliation • The difference between fear-driven religion and love-driven transformation • How God's consuming fire purifies instead of punishes 00:00 - Introduction & Why We're Revisiting Reframe 02:35 - My Journey of Unlearning and Relearning 06:20 - Week 5: Reframing God's Wrath 09:28 - From Fear-Driven Thinking to Peace-Filled Living 12:25 - What If Wrath Isn't God's Anger? 15:35 - The Church's View of Wrath Changed 16:19 - God Is Love, God Is Light 17:52 - The Meaning of "Wrath" in Scripture 19:10 - Romans: Wrath as Natural Consequences 21:32 - Jerusalem, 70 AD & Rejecting Love 24:00 - God's Fire Purifies, Not Punishes 25:11 - Jesus Corrects the Old View of Wrath 29:01 - The Cross Reveals God's True Heart 32:04 - The Old Lens vs. The New Lens 33:29 - Living From Love Instead of Fear 38:09 - Closing Prayer & Final Encouragement

  • July 29 · 39 min

    287. Reframe Part 4: Original Sin Or Original Blessing?

    In this message from our Reframe series, we tackle one of the most foundational beliefs many Christians have never questioned: Were you actually born with a sinful nature? For many of us, the Christian story began in Genesis 3—with sin, shame, and separation. But what if the biblical story actually begins in Genesis 1—with blessing, identity, and belovedness? Together, we explore the history of the doctrine of original sin, the biblical case for original blessing, what the Greek word hamartia (sin) really means, and why your understanding of your identity shapes the way you experience God, yourself, and others. This conversation isn't about minimizing sin. It's about asking whether we've misunderstood its origin, its purpose, and ultimately the good news of the Gospel. In this episode we discuss: - Why the biblical story begins with blessing before brokenness - Original blessing vs. original sin - What hamartia actually means in the Greek - Did Adam pass down a sinful nature—or a distorted story? - Why Romans should be read as one complete argument - The difference between "flesh" and "sin nature" - How identity, not shame, becomes the starting point for transformation - Why Jesus came to reveal who you've always been 00:00 – Welcome & Introducing the Reframe Series 02:26 – You've Always Been in Union 04:29 – Why This Series Is Challenging 06:08 – Learning to Think, Not What to Think 08:31 – The Purpose of Reframe 10:35 – You Were Not Born Sinful 12:28 – Does the Bible Begin with Sin or Blessing? 14:06 – Original Blessing vs. Original Sin 16:35 – What Does "Sin" Actually Mean? 20:03 – Adam Didn't Pass Down a Sin Nature 22:28 – Understanding Romans Correctly 27:47 – Adam's Story vs. Jesus' Story 28:38 – What Does "Flesh" Really Mean? 30:03 – Scriptures Supporting Original Blessing 35:27 – Living from Blessing Instead of Shame 39:15 – Prayer & Final Encouragement 40:10 – The Ministry of Reconciliation 41:44 – Church Announcements & Closing

  • July 22 · 49 min

    286. Reframe Part 3: Is God Really Judging You?

    What if God's judgment has never been about condemning you—but restoring you? For many of us, the word judgment immediately triggers fear. We picture a courtroom, a guilty verdict, and a God waiting to punish our failures. But what if that's not the picture Jesus revealed? In this message from our Reframe series, Cory challenges one of the most deeply held assumptions in modern Christianity by exploring what Scripture actually says about God's judgment. Looking through the lens of Jesus, he asks whether judgment is primarily retributive or restorative, and how that answer changes everything about the way we relate to God. Along the way, you'll discover: - Why fear has become such a common motivator in Christianity. - How church history shaped our understanding of judgment. - The difference between a courtroom and a family room. - Why Henry's adoption story became a powerful picture of God's judgment. - A fresh look at passages like 2 Corinthians 5, John 3, John 5, and Revelation. - How Jesus reveals a God whose judgment restores identity instead of destroying people. 00:00 - Introduction & Reframe Series 05:03 - Why This Series Matters 07:31 - Reframing Judgment 09:26 - The Goal: From Fear to Freedom 10:50 - Review: The Battlefield, the Devil & Death 15:04 - God's Judgment Is Restorative 16:03 - Henry's Adoption Changed Everything 19:30 - The Gavel That Changed My Theology 21:00 - Three Church Splits That Shaped Christianity 24:30 - Courtroom or Family Room? 26:33 - Jesus Reveals God's Judgment 28:14 - What About the Great White Throne? 29:17 - Rethinking 2 Corinthians 5 32:22 - The Ministry of Reconciliation 34:27 - Stop Trying to Earn God's Favor 36:01 - Ambassadors, Not Soldiers 37:16 - Judgment Reveals Your True Identity 39:50 - The Sound of the Gavel 41:02 - You Are More Beloved Than You Think 43:15 - This Week's Challenge 45:25 - Closing Prayer 46:14 - Final Encouragement & Next Week's Preview

  • July 15 · 42 min

    285. Reframe Part 2: Defeating the Voice of Accusation

    For generations, many Christians have been taught to fear the devil, demons, and spiritual warfare. But what if we've been asking the wrong questions? What if many of the assumptions we've inherited deserve a fresh look through the lens of Jesus? In this episode of Two Pastors and a Mic, we continue our Reframe series by exploring one of the most misunderstood subjects in Christianity. Instead of approaching spiritual warfare through fear, we examine what Scripture actually says about Satan, the devil, demons, accusation, ego, and the finished work of Christ. Together we discuss: • Why so much of modern spiritual warfare teaching creates fear instead of freedom • What the words "Satan" and "devil" actually mean in Scripture • The difference between external evil and the internal voice of accusation • Why the battlefield is often our thinking, not our surroundings • How Jesus completely defeated the power of accusation through the cross • What it means to live from victory instead of constantly fighting for it 00:00 - Introduction & The Reframe Series 02:33 - Our God Reigns 04:20 - Why We Need to Reframe Spiritual Warfare 09:29 - The Battlefield Is the Mind 10:56 - Reframing the Devil 13:37 - Why This Conversation Matters 16:25 - What the Bible Really Says About Demons 20:18 - What Does "Satan" Actually Mean? 25:05 - How the Devil Operates Today 28:23 - Ego, Trauma & Law-Based Thinking 34:18 - Influence vs. Possession 36:44 - Christ Defeated Every Accusation 39:01 - Stand in the Finished Work of Jesus 40:16 - Living Free From Fear 42:19 - Closing Challenge & Final Encouragement

  • July 8 · 47 min

    284. Reframe Part 1: Is Spiritual Warfare What You Think It Is?

    In Part 1 of our summer sermon series highlight, Cory begins the Reframe series by asking one of the biggest questions many Christians have never considered: What if the spiritual battle we've been taught to fight isn't what the New Testament is actually describing? For generations, many believers have viewed the Christian life through the lens of spiritual warfare, fear, and unseen enemies. But what if Jesus accomplished more than we've realized? What if the New Testament is inviting us to live from victory instead of constantly fighting for it? In this first message, Cory walks through Scripture to challenge common assumptions about spiritual warfare, the Armor of God, strongholds, principalities and powers, and what Paul was actually communicating in Ephesians 6. Rather than encouraging believers to live in fear of an ongoing cosmic battle, he presents a Christ-centered perspective that emphasizes identity, peace, healing, and the finished work of Jesus. Whether you agree with every conclusion or not, this message is designed to provoke thoughtful conversation and encourage you to examine Scripture through the lens of Christ. 00:00 - Introduction & Summer Reframe Series 02:34 - Welcome to Hill City & Pastor Appreciation 04:36 - Christ in You & Hearing God's Voice 06:21 - Why This Series Will Challenge You 08:23 - The Purpose Behind Reframe 10:00 - From Fear-Driven Thinking to Peace-Filled Living 12:13 - Fix Your Eyes on Jesus 13:21 - Reframing the Battlefield 15:19 - The Problem with Spiritual Warfare Thinking 19:52 - Good & Evil or Functional & Dysfunctional? 21:31 - What Strongholds Really Are 22:01 - Understanding Ephesians 6 in Context 24:26 - The Armor of God Is About Identity 26:05 - Principalities, Powers & Human Systems 29:09 - What Does "Satan" Actually Mean? 31:55 - The Armor of God Revisited 35:22 - You're an Ambassador, Not a Soldier 36:19 - Fear-Based Living vs Faith-Based Living 37:42 - Christ Has Already Won the Victory 39:06 - The Law, Sin & Standing Firm 40:14 - Christ Disarmed Every Power 41:15 - Leaving Law Behind for Grace 43:19 - Living from Victory Instead of Warfare 45:35 - Preview: Reframing Demons & Final Encouragement

  • July 1 · 34 min

    283. Bill Vanderbush "The Sound Of Your Blood Part 4"

    What if the greatest authority you carry isn't found in what you say, but in the alignment of your heart? In this powerful message from the CIM Conference, Bill Vanderbush continues unpacking themes from his book The Sound of Your Blood. Through stories, Scripture, and profound insight, Bill explores the hidden years of Jesus, the illusion of separation, the authority of silence, and the transformative power of living in union with God. This conversation challenges many of the assumptions we've inherited about faith, authority, confession, and spiritual growth. Instead of striving to get God to act, what if the invitation is to align with what God has already accomplished? What if righteousness, peace, and joy are not distant goals, but present realities flowing from your union with Christ? 00:00 - Introduction & Bill Vanderbush Series 02:21 - Jesus Enjoyed Being Human 03:41 - The Hidden Years of Jesus 05:10 - Christ Lives Fully in You 06:22 - The Illusion of Separation 07:50 - Learning to Love One Another 08:49 - The Power of Words and Sound 09:11 - The Hurricane Story and True Faith 11:18 - The Sound of Your Spirit 11:48 - Adam, Eve, and the Transfer of Authority 13:32 - Jesus Reclaims All Authority 14:59 - Authority Through Alignment 16:31 - The Words That Make You Clean 17:48 - Isaiah’s Unclean Lips 19:25 - Purity, Grace, and the Finished Work 20:20 - Confession as Alignment 21:41 - What It Really Means to Believe 23:26 - Discovering Your True Identity 24:23 - Filled with the Fullness of Joy 27:38 - Speaking So You Won’t Stumble 28:19 - Grace, Consequences, and Wisdom 30:07 - Freedom Guided by Love 31:33 - Peace in the Midst of Trouble 32:27 - Equipped for Every Obstacle 33:09 - Righteousness, Peace, and Joy 33:42 - The Kingdom Frequency Within You

  • June 24 · 38 min

    282. Bill Vanderbush "The Sound Of Your Blood Part 3"

    In this special episode of Two Pastors and a Mic, we're continuing our series featuring highlights from Bill Vanderbush's message at the CIM Conference. What if healing isn't something you're trying to get from God, but something you're becoming aware of? What if spiritual authority looks more like confidence in Christ's victory than striving against darkness? And what if the greatest key to seeing God's power flow through your life is simply learning to let yourself be loved? In this message, Bill shares powerful stories of healing, explores the victory of Christ over fear and darkness, and unpacks a beautiful vision of union with God rooted in the early church fathers. Along the way, he challenges achievement-based spirituality and invites us into a life of rest, wholeness, and awareness of God's presence. 00:00 - Introduction to Bill Vanderbush 02:21 - Healing Begins with Wholeness 04:24 - St. Anthony and Spiritual Authority 08:13 - Stories of Extraordinary Healing 11:40 - The Healing Service That Needed No Sermon 15:48 - The Secret of Unhindered Power 17:45 - Nine Months Without a Miracle 19:40 - Get Your Eyes Off the Problem 21:36 - When They Forgot About the Sick 23:48 - The Sound and Frequency of God 25:37 - Why God Speaks 26:48 - Chasing the Wind and Finding Rest 27:25 - The Heartbeat of God 29:30 - Creator Becomes Creation 30:03 - Athanasius vs. Arius 33:27 - Grace vs. Achievement 34:17 - The Problem with Distance Theology 35:45 - Christ in You, Union Within 37:05 - Inviting God In vs. Living in Union 38:05 - Falling Into Grace

  • June 17 · 40 min

    281. Bill Vanderbush "The Sound Of Your Blood Part 2"

    What if your words carry more power than you realize? In Part 2 of this powerful message from the CIM Conference, Bill Vanderbush explores a fascinating theme that runs throughout Scripture: the "sound of your blood." Beginning with Abel's blood crying out from the ground and culminating with Jesus' blood speaking a better word, Bill unpacks how creation responds to the words, beliefs, and declarations of those made in the image of God. This conversation challenges us to rethink the power of our speech, the responsibility of stewarding our words, and the impact our perspective has on the world around us. Along the way, Bill explores Romans 8, the glory of God, our identity as the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, and the radical revelation that God is not distant but intimately present as Father. You'll hear inspiring stories, thought-provoking insights, and a fresh invitation to embrace the goodness of God, walk in your true identity, and release life rather than judgment into the world around you. 00:00 - Introduction & Bill Vanderbush Conference Series 02:20 - The Voice of Abel’s Blood 03:06 - Adam’s Authority Still Exists Today 04:06 - What Is the Sound of Your Blood? 06:18 - Romans 8 and Creation’s Response 08:23 - Why Human Beings Are So Powerful 10:07 - The Atmosphere We Create With Our Words 11:30 - Creation Awaits the Glory of God’s Children 12:20 - The Glory of God Is His Goodness on Display 13:26 - Challenging Religious Views of God’s Goodness 14:06 - You Are the Temple of the Holy Spirit 15:10 - Letting Go of Separation and Depravity 16:09 - If Paul Visited the Modern Church 17:36 - Jesus’ Blood Speaks a Better Word 18:35 - Abel, Judgment, and the Earth’s Response 22:34 - Learning to Speak What Heaven Is Saying 23:20 - Testimonies of Blessing the Land 26:32 - Deleting Negativity and Seeing Change 28:08 - A Child Raised From Death 30:06 - Jesus’ Better Word: “Father, Forgive Them” 32:20 - The Greatest Revelation: God as Father 35:28 - The Gospel Is About a Person, Not a Place 35:43 - A Good Father Wants His Children Home 37:01 - Religion’s Lie About the Father 38:19 - Remembering What We’ve Forgotten 39:18 - The New Commandment: Love Like Jesus 39:57 - Closing Prayer & Final Thoughts

  • June 10 · 46 min

    280. Bill Vanderbush "The Sound Of Your Blood Part 1"

    What if some of the things we've believed about ourselves were never true to begin with? In Part 1 of this special message from the CIM Conference, Bill Vanderbush explores identity, belonging, grace, and the Father's heart through the lens of Scripture and personal story. From the challenges of stigma and church culture to the beauty of God's original design for humanity, Bill reminds us that our deepest questions have never been about earning God's love—they've always been about discovering who we've been all along. This conversation dives into themes of identity, the voice we listen to, the power of our words, and the invitation to live from the reality of God's presence rather than from fear, shame, or lack. Along the way, Bill unpacks Genesis, the story of Cain and Abel, the nature of grace, and the radical truth that God has always known and loved you. Whether you're wrestling with questions about faith, deconstruction, identity, or simply wanting a deeper understanding of the Father's heart, this message offers encouragement, challenge, and hope. In this episode: • Walking through stigma and seasons of uncertainty • Why God's presence often feels strongest when idols fall • The Father's heart and the beauty of grace • Recovering forgotten truths from church history • Discovering your true identity • The power of words and human creativity • The lie of lack and the birth of religion • What Cain and Abel reveal about human nature • Living from God's presence instead of fear 00:00 - Introduction & Bill Vanderbush Series 02:22 - A Historically Significant Moment 03:38 - Finding God Beyond the Brand 06:31 - When Idols Come Down 08:02 - Grace, Heresy, and a Better Gospel 09:15 - AI, Church History, and Recovering Ancient Truth 12:03 - Becoming a Grandfather & Seeing the Father's Heart 13:29 - The Sound of Your Blood 15:06 - Transformation Through Renewed Thinking 17:13 - Carrying Divine Wholeness 18:26 - Following the Sound of His Voice 19:14 - Discovering Your True Identity 20:20 - Genesis and Humanity's Original Design 23:06 - How Others Shape Our Identity 25:03 - God's Creative Power Through Words 26:46 - Created in the Image of God 29:00 - Divine Breath and New Creation 30:30 - The Face of a Loving Father 32:39 - The Power to Assign Identity 34:29 - The Lie of Lack and the Birth of Religion 37:01 - Cain, Abel, and the Voice of Blood 38:18 - Rethinking Sin Nature 40:03 - Freedom, Responsibility, and Redemption 42:25 - Attention, Affection, and God's Presence 44:15 - A God Who Wants Friendship 45:08 - Cain, Abel, and the First Church Conflict 45:40 - The Voice of Your Brother's Blood

  • June 3 · 36 min

    279. Bill Vanderbush

    In this episode of Two Pastors and a Mic, we sit down with our friend Bill Vanderbush for one of the most honest, thought-provoking, and hope-filled conversations we’ve had on the podcast. We talk about union with Christ, the finished work of Jesus, the roots of ancient Christianity, and why so many people are rediscovering the goodness of God in a fresh way. Bill shares powerful insights from his newest books, opens up about the current state of the Church, and challenges fear-based theology with a Gospel centered on love, identity, and belonging. This conversation explores: • The ancient roots of union theology • Why the Gospel became more about what we do than what Jesus has done • The Council of Nicaea, church history, and modern Christianity • Fear, punishment, and the goodness of God • Why people are deconstructing unhealthy theology • Identity, sonship, and knowing God as Father • The difference between religion and authentic relationship with Jesus • Why “God is better than you think” changes everything Whether you’re deconstructing old beliefs, rediscovering your faith, or simply hungry for deeper conversations about Jesus, this episode is packed with wisdom, grace, and hope. 00:42 - Bill’s Influence on the Podcast 02:44 - Writing for Future Generations 03:41 - The Sound of Your Blood Explained 05:13 - Reaching Deconstructed & New Age Audiences 06:00 - Union Begins in Genesis 07:42 - Identity, Union & Knowing Who You Are 09:25 - Ancient Christianity & Church History 11:23 - How Christianity Became Complicated 13:25 - Salvation, Belief & the Finished Work 15:33 - Ancient Creeds vs Modern Theology 17:23 - Living From Union With Christ 18:29 - Simplifying the Gospel Like Jesus 19:46 - Are We Headed Toward Another Church Council? 21:06 - Returning to a Christ-Centered Gospel 22:30 - Fear-Based Theology & Punishment 24:11 - Honoring Past Generations While Growing 26:16 - The Problem With “Heresy Hunting” 27:22 - God Is Better Than You Think 28:12 - Asking Jesus Directly 29:54 - Rediscovering Wonder & Childlike Faith 32:40 - Healing Orphan Thinking & Family Wounds 33:41 - Where to Find Bill Vanderbush 34:35 - Final Thoughts on God’s Goodness 35:42 - “You’re Loved & There’s Nothing You Can Do About It”

  • May 27 · 26 min

    278. Dr. Shawn Smith

    In this episode of Two Pastors and a Mic, we sit down with Bishop Shawn from Cameroon, Africa for one of the most powerful and eye-opening conversations we’ve had on the podcast. We talk about: • Deconstructing fear-based theology • How colonialism distorted the image of God in Africa • Inclusion, identity, and the finished work of Christ • Recognizing royalty in every person • What it means to truly “see Jesus in others” • Entrepreneurship, ministry, and funding Kingdom work without manipulation • Writing the Gospel in a language the world can understand Bishop Shawn shares incredible wisdom about union with God, healing cultural wounds, and the Gospel as a message of restoration for individuals, families, and entire nations. 00:00 - Welcome & Introducing Bishop Shawn 01:16 - First Guest from Africa 02:44 - Bishop Shawn’s Journey Into Ministry 04:49 - Seeing Jesus Beyond Religion 06:02 - Deconstruction & Colonial Christianity in Africa 08:01 - Teaching Christ Through Culture 09:27 - Christianity & African Identity 11:20 - Recognizing Royalty in People 12:40 - The Guatemala Orphanage Story 13:58 - Identity, Royalty & the Family of God 15:31 - Affirmation Before Performance 16:12 - Ministry & Entrepreneurship 18:18 - Writing Books & Teaching the Gospel 20:00 - “I Think Myself Happy” Explained 21:50 - Why Historical Context Matters 22:27 - Where to Find Bishop Shawn’s Content 23:10 - “I See Jesus In You” Culture 24:06 - Freedom From Intimidation 25:24 - Seeing Jesus in Everyone 26:02 - Final Thoughts & Closing Blessing

  • May 20 · 21 min

    277. 4 Signs You're Moving In The Right Direction

    In this episode of Two Pastors and a Mic, we unpack 4 signs that you’re actually moving in the right direction spiritually, emotionally, and mentally. After weeks of conversations around “Godly Thought or Trauma Response,” we wanted to answer one of the biggest questions we’ve been getting: “How do I know I’m healing?” “How do I know I’m growing?” “How do I know I’m actually becoming free?” This conversation is deeply personal as we continue navigating grief, leadership, deconstruction, healing, and learning how to live from love instead of fear. In this episode, we discuss: • Why fear is no longer our motivation • Spiritual disciplines through love instead of pressure • Vulnerability vs transparency • Healing through safe connection • How to hold tension without panic • Deconstruction, curiosity, and learning to rethink theology • Letting go of the need for approval • Finding identity rooted in love instead of performance We also share some updates about upcoming podcast episodes, interviews with Bill Vanderbush and Dr. Shawn Smith, and what’s ahead this summer for the podcast. 00:00 - Intro & Processing Grief 02:15 - Four Signs You’re Moving in the Right Direction 03:34 - Sign #1: Less Motivated by Fear 04:22 - Spiritual Disciplines Without Fear 05:01 - Fear, Hell, and Financial Freedom 06:26 - Generosity Flowing From Love 07:21 - Love Removes Fear 09:00 - Fear May Whisper, But It Doesn’t Lead 09:47 - Sign #2: Honest About Your Humanity 10:16 - Transparency vs Vulnerability 10:49 - Healing Happens When You’re Heard 11:16 - “I’m Okay, But I’m Not Okay” 12:00 - Why “How Are You?” Matters Differently in Ukrainian Culture 13:53 - Sign #3: Holding Tension Without Panic 14:16 - Deconstruction, Uncertainty & Emotional Processing 15:28 - Letting People Process at Their Own Pace 16:14 - Curiosity, Teachability & Seeing God Better 17:02 - Ted Lasso, Curiosity & Less Judgment 17:24 - Sign #4: Rooted in Love, Not Approval 17:39 - Letting Go of Needing Everyone’s Approval 18:21 - Identity as Sons & Daughters of God 19:02 - Recap: Four Signs You’re Healing & Growing 19:19 - Upcoming Podcast Guests & Summer Series 21:26 - Final Encouragement & Closing Thoughts

  • May 13 · 22 min

    276. Grief Comes In Waves

    This episode is different. After five years of never missing a week, we suddenly disappeared for two weeks… Two weeks ago, we lost one of our best friends — Chris Crawford — unexpectedly at just 46 years old. In this episode, we sit down not with polished answers or a sermon outline, but simply as two grieving friends trying to process heartbreak in real time. We talk honestly about: What grief actually feels like How loss comes in waves The emotional weight of showing up when you don’t want to Why presence matters more than words The tension of holding hope and heartbreak at the same time Some of the unhelpful things people say to grieving people (even with good intentions) Why we felt it was important not to just “move on” too quickly This is a conversation about friendship, loss, pain, love, and learning how to sit with grief instead of trying to fix it. If you’re grieving right now… If someone you love is grieving… Or if you simply need permission to not be okay for a while… we hope this episode reminds you that you’re not alone. More than anything, this conversation reminded us: Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is simply show up. 00:00 - We’re Back After Tragedy 00:36 - Missing Our First Podcast Weeks in 5 Years 01:07 - Losing One of Our Best Friends 03:03 - How Grief Comes in Waves 04:36 - The Closest Loss We’ve Ever Experienced 05:19 - The Shock of Losing Chris at 46 07:11 - Writing Through Grief & Journaling 08:26 - Why Christians Struggle With Grief 08:58 - Preaching While Grieving 10:24 - Holding Hope and Heartbreak Together 11:54 - Grieving Without Easy Answers 13:14 - The Tension of Comforting People 15:13 - Presence Matters More Than Words 15:45 - A Message That Encouraged Us 18:33 - Grief, Vulnerability & Being Real 20:15 - Show Up for Someone This Week 20:50 - Never Underestimate Presence 21:43 - What’s Next for the Podcast 22:08 - Final Thoughts & Encouragement

Showing 1–20 of 22 episodes