Spiritual disciplines can be challenging in our instant-gratification culture, but they're essential for growing as Christians. The path to spiritual growth involves daily, incremental steps rather than dramatic overnight transformation.

• Spiritual disciplines extend far beyond Bible reading and prayer
• Inward disciplines include meditation, fasting, simplicity, and solitude
• Outward disciplines involve service and submission to God
• Corporate disciplines include confession, worship, and celebration
• Psalm 119:105 compares God's word to a lamp showing just enough for our next steps
• Daniel's faithfulness in daily prayer prepared him for the lions' den test
• Modern culture's desire for instant results makes spiritual disciplines challenging
• Faithfulness in small daily practices leads to growth over time
• Discipleship and spiritual growth work best in community
• Embrace where you are in your spiritual journey while pursuing growth

Join us in exploring how consistent, small acts of faith create lasting spiritual transformation. The journey itself—where God teaches and shapes us—is as valuable as the destination.

Churches are seeing an encouraging trend as younger generations attend in record numbers. This shift raises the question not of how to reach young people but whether churches are prepared for those already coming through their doors.

• Young people aren't seeking entertainment but truth and biblical teaching
• Creating multi-generational spaces builds a stronger community than age-segregated groups
• Prayer remains the most powerful yet underutilized strategy in reaching any generation
• Authentic relationships and discipleship produce lasting fruit, not just attendance numbers
• Setting an example in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity attracts people of all ages
• Young people are drawn to authentic examples who demonstrate godly marriages and lifestyles
• Multi-generational ministry enriches the church with both wisdom and energy

In moments of national tragedy, we explore how Christians can respond faithfully when faced with evil and suffering in our broken world.

• Evil and suffering are realities in our fallen world since Genesis 3
• Our connectivity to news makes us more aware of tragedies happening everywhere
• Romans 3 reminds us that "no one is righteous, not even one"
• Jesus warned his disciples: "In this world you will have tribulation"
• Christians are called to love even those they disagree with politically
• What Satan intends for evil, God can use for good
• While we cannot police hearts, Jesus can transform them
• Our battle isn't against political opponents but against evil itself
• We should be voices of healing rather than adding to division

If you're struggling with recent events happening in our world or need someone to talk to, please call our church office. This podcast is meant to start a dialogue, not end it.

We explore the importance of celebrating milestones and honoring those who've paved the way in our faith journeys. We dive into this topic as we celebrate Dr. Ed Peary, Georgetown Baptist Church's newly named Pastor Emeritus.

• Dr. Ed Peary honored as Pastor Emeritus after decades of faithful ministry service
• The biblical basis for ceremonies and remembrances in church life
• Why ordination, baptism, communion, and other church ceremonies matter
• How celebrating milestones strengthens our faith and provides perspective
• The importance of honoring those who've gone before us while preparing the next generation
• Practical ways to acknowledge and celebrate growth in our families and personal lives
• Taking time to recognize our own spiritual growth rather than always rushing to the next thing

Remember to pause and celebrate what God has done in your life and the lives of those around you. Life moves too quickly - don't miss the opportunity to mark important moments.

In this episode, we dive into how you can have faith without being conformed to the world.

• Understanding secularism biblically as "the course of this world" described in Ephesians 2
• Christians don't need to fix the world but should focus on not conforming to it (Romans 12:1-2)
• The hardest part of living faithfully was accomplished by Jesus on the cross
• Surrounding yourself with believers who sharpen you spiritually is essential
• Biblical examples like Daniel and Joseph show how to thrive spiritually while excelling in secular environments
• Simple acts of service open doors for a relationship without requiring elaborate evangelism
• Don't hide your light—let Jesus shine naturally through you in every setting
• Remember God's sovereignty—nothing is impossible with Him

Mike McDonald, Georgetown Baptist Church's finance administrator, shares his journey of faith. We explore how God has worked through the ups and downs of his 51 years of marriage and service to the church.

• Born into a family that only attended church on holidays, Mike felt something was missing.
• Found Christ through a college Bible study that changed his life direction at 18
• Met his wife Kathy (same last name, no relation) in a drama class he had to take due to a registration error
• Currently serves as GBC's "spreadsheet dude" handling finances and payroll
• Teaches a men's Bible study focused exclusively on Scripture
• Views Romans 1:16 ("I am not ashamed of the gospel") as his current favorite verse
• Shares his love of baseball
• Celebrates 51 years of marriage built on the foundation of Jesus Christ, and believes that "the Holy Spirit brought us together."

Maverick fills in for Jake to discuss the church's vision of moving beyond Sunday attendance to building deeper spiritual connections. He explores how we can transition from simply encouraging each other to actively building each other up in faith through increasingly deeper circles of engagement.

• Focus on Hebrews 10:24-25 as the foundation for church community
• Churches excel at meeting together and basic encouragement
• The vision includes progression through circles: worship service → groups → discipleship → mentoring
• The goal isn't just church membership but genuine spiritual growth
• Challenge to help build others up spiritually, not just focus on personal faith
• Raising the bar means becoming doers of the Word, not just hearers
• Living as active examples of Christ in our communities

The GBC Empower podcast returns from summer hiatus with hosts Maverick and Jake unpacking an expanded vision for Georgetown Baptist Church as a city on a hill set apart to revive, equip, and empower. They share how God is moving curtains to reveal more of His plan for the church community while maintaining the core values of discipleship, fellowship, and missions.

• Summer camps and VBS yielded significant spiritual fruit with seven children accepting Christ
• Falls Creek youth camp focused on James 4:10, generating decisions for salvation, baptism, and discipleship
• Church vision involves four concentric circles: worship services, group involvement, personal discipleship, and mentorship
• August 31st marks the launch of a major discipleship initiative with multiple pathways for spiritual growth
• New sermon series on Ephesians beginning mid-August will focus on "being a church the Ephesian way"
• Counter-cultural expectations and spiritual plans are essential for building one another up in Christ
• Church leadership is seeking faithfulness rather than perfection in pursuing God's vision

"Unless the Lord builds this house, we all work in vain. But that doesn't mean we're not called to work. It means we're called to work with the One who's building the house."