In this episode, I explore the dangerous trend of shallow, consumer Christianity that prioritizes comfort over conviction. Drawing from my fresh perspective as a new believer, I challenge you to embrace the full depth of Biblical faith rather than creating a customized version of God that fits worldly comfort.

What You Can Expect as a Listener

* Fresh perspective on faith from my journey as someone new to Christianity who's reading the Bible for the first time

* Biblical truth about the cost of authentic discipleship and why it's worth paying

* My insights on avoiding the trap of consumer Christianity that picks and chooses from Scripture

* Encouragement to develop genuine conviction rooted in the full counsel of God's Word

* My challenge to you to represent Christ authentically in a world that needs real examples of faith

Time-Stamped Contents

* 00:00 - Introduction: The Problem of Watered Down Faith

* 01:21 - Fresh Eyes: My New Believer Observations

* 03:22 - How We Change God to Fit Our Comfort

* 05:04 - The Danger of Legalism vs. Heart Transformation

* 07:15 - Fear of God's Intensity and Emotion

* 08:30 - Consumer Christianity: The Buffet Approach

* 10:14 - My Disappointment in Shallow Church Culture

* 11:44 - Scripture's Warnings About Following Humans

* 13:25 - The Bible's Life-Changing Power in My Life

* 14:31 - How Shallow Christians Harm the Faith

* 16:24 - The Importance of the Holy Trinity

* 18:36 - The True Cost of Following Jesus

* 20:41 - Glorifying God in All Things

* 22:37 - Finding Strength and Conviction in Christ

* 25:05 - My Closing Prayer and Community Building

Your Invitation to Action

Stop settling for shallow faith that leaves you empty.

This week, I challenge you to commit to reading one chapter of the Bible daily and ask God to reveal His true character to you—not the version you've created for comfort, but the powerful, loving, convicting God who transforms lives.

Let Him show you what authentic Christianity looks like in your daily walk.

3 Key Quotes That Will Challenge Your Heart

"The biggest challenge to faith in the modern world is shallow Christians."

"Following Jesus is gonna cost us things. We have to be ready to pay that price. He paid the ultimate price."

"We represent the body of Christ. We are the church. And so it's up to us as followers of him to demonstrate what that means."

Connect with Me

* Subscribe: Order Within

* Email: orderwithin@substack.com

* Written Reflection:

https://orderwithinpodcast.com/p/watered-down-christianity-wr

* Support Kingdom-Centered Living: Check out God-centered merchandise

Share This Message

Know someone struggling with shallow faith or seeking authentic Christianity?

Share this episode with them. Sometimes we need fresh eyes to see what we've been missing. Help me spread genuine faith that transforms lives and draws people closer to our Heavenly Father.

Episode Summary

In this episode, I explore the idea that while God is perfect and complete, He still yearns for a relationship with us. I make the case that God needs us—not from any lack within Himself, but from His divine love. I look at scripture that shows how we're called to be God's representatives in the world and why our consent to this relationship matters to our Creator.

What You'll Find in This Episode

* Why God desires relationship with His creation despite being perfect

* Biblical passages showing God's yearning for connection with us

* Our role as God's representatives in the world

* The importance of our free choice in our relationship with Him

* How ancient prophetic messages apply to our modern faith challenges

Episode Chapters

* [00:00:10] Introduction: The concept of God needing us

* [00:01:19] God's perfection and His desire for relationship

* [00:02:23] Biblical examples of God's jealousy and desire for relationship

* [00:05:39] The importance of not worshipping other gods

* [00:07:09] Modern idols: How we prioritize money, success, and careers over God

* [00:08:15] God wants genuine relationship, not forced obedience

* [00:10:02] The significance of choice and consent in our relationship with God

* [00:10:48] How we are God's hands and feet in the world

* [00:14:13] Our responsibility to advocate for God in a secular world

* [00:15:48] Christianity as a religion of service following Christ's example

* [00:17:24] The importance of heart, obedience, and surrender to God

* [00:18:26] Prayer as daily guidance: "Make me your instrument"

* [00:20:04] Closing prayer and invitation to connect

* [00:21:39] Final thoughts on finding purpose in serving God

* [00:22:50] Call to connect through Substack and contact information

Key Insights

"God is perfect, He's complete, He's whole. He is the beginning, the middle, the end. He is everything. He's unchanging, but He loves us so dearly."

"Who will represent God if it's not us? Who will speak on His behalf, who will advocate for Him and what He desires?"

"The heart is where this lives. The heart is where God lives. The heart is where Jesus is with us. This is where our Holy Spirit is."

Ways to Connect

* Join our community on Substack

* Email your thoughts and questions to orderwithin@substack.com

* Read the accompanying Written Reflection for this episode: God Needs Us | Written Reflection

* Browse God-centered merchandise at my wife's RedBubble store

Share the Message

Did this episode speak to you? I invite you to share it with someone who might be questioning their purpose or struggling with their relationship with God. Your share could bring someone closer to understanding God's love and purpose for them.

"Father, show me the way. Show me what you desire. How can I be your instrument? How can I serve you? Make me useful to you."

This episode is also available as a Written Reflection. If you prefer reading to listening, you can find the written version here: https://orderwithinpodcast.com/p/prophets-and-gods-servants-finding

In this episode, I dive deep into the rich tapestry of biblical characters beyond Jesus and what we can learn from God's prophets and servants. I share personal insights from my own faith journey and explain how the stories of imperfect people in Scripture can help us relate to our own struggles in following God.

What You'll Hear in This Episode:

I explore why the Bible is so much more than just the story of Jesus—it's filled with relatable characters who struggled just like we do. From Jeremiah's difficult mission to Moses' reluctance, these biblical figures show us what it means to serve God, especially when it's challenging.

I also open up about my personal transformation through faith, how my perspective on Jesus's sacrifice has evolved from fear to love, and why understanding the full context of Scripture has deepened my relationship with God.

Episode Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction and welcome

00:51 - The richness of the Bible beyond "Jesus only"

02:48 - How Jesus brought the law to life

04:50 - My daily Bible discussions with my wife

06:04 - Jeremiah's difficult task and rejection

07:27 - Obedience and trust in our self-reliant culture

09:06 - My personal journey back to faith

11:05 - How the Holy Trinity works together in our lives

13:04 - My changing perspective on Jesus's sacrifice

14:56 - Understanding God's anger in the Old Testament

17:17 - The suffering that comes with doing God's work

19:23 - Biblical characters who doubted their calling

21:10 - The Bible's unique journey through history

23:33 - Learning from flawed, relatable biblical characters

25:17 - Today's worship of materialism and secularism

26:31 - Closing prayer for listeners

My Invitation to You:

I'd love to hear your thoughts, questions, or topics you'd like me to cover in future episodes. What biblical characters do you find most relatable? How has your perspective on Scripture evolved over time?

Connect With Me:

* Join our growing community on Substack: Order Within

* Email me your questions and topic ideas: orderwithin@substack.com

* Comment on this episode to share your thoughts and start a conversation

* Check out my wife's Christian collection on RedBubble: https://rdbl.co/4gCqi5z

Thank you for joining me on this journey of faith. If this episode resonated with you, please consider sharing it with someone who might be blessed by it.

Welcome to another episode of Order Within. This one is deeply personal to me as I share insights that have been developing through my daily Bible readings and prayer time. What began as a structured podcast has evolved into something much more organic and Spirit-led, and I'm grateful for that transformation.

In this episode, I'm diving into something I've been wrestling with: how we reconcile the seemingly different portrayals of God throughout the Bible. Many Christians struggle with the God of the Old Testament versus Jesus in the New Testament, but through conversations with my wife and personal study, I've come to a powerful realization about God's perfect emotional responses and the true nature of Christ's sacrifice.

I believe this topic touches on the heart of authentic Christianity—moving beyond a self-serving faith that stops at salvation to truly picking up our cross and following Jesus. My prayer is that this reflection helps you deepen your own relationship with God and see the beautiful complexity of His nature with fresh eyes.

Table of Contents

[00:00:16] My evolving approach to faith and this podcast

[00:01:53] Why many Christians fear engaging deeply with Scripture

[00:03:07] The challenge of reconciling the Old Testament with Jesus

[00:05:33] Key insight: "God's responses are perfect, but He has emotion"

[00:06:54] Reframing the crucifixion as God's mercy, not bloodthirst

[00:08:37] How Jesus conquered sin through his perfect act of love

[00:11:52] Loving our enemies without watering down truth

[00:14:31] Following Jesus means picking up our cross and suffering

[00:16:04] Jesus as both lover and warrior - the complete picture

[00:18:13] Closing prayer and personal reflection

Key Quotes

* "God's responses are perfect, but He has emotion. He has anger, love, grief... But His responses are perfect in those moments."

* "Jesus was asking on our behalf for our Creator to forgive us. He was asking God to love us anyway, to let his life be that sacrifice."

* "The Bible teaches us we will suffer, be ridiculed, be mocked. Look at what happened to Jesus, the greatest to ever live."

* "Jesus was a lover who cared deeply for people, but he was also a warrior."

* "Don't let anyone stand between you and God, between you and Christ, between you and the Holy Spirit."

Related Resources

* Previous episode on the Limits of Tolerance

* Written Reflection for this episode

* Bible references: John 8:1-11 - The story of the woman caught in adultery

Connect With Me

* Subscribe to our Substack: Order Within

* Email: orderwithin@substack.com

50% of all earnings from this Substack are donated to charitable causes. Please consider supporting our ministry and outreach by becoming a paid subscriber.

This episode is also available as a Written Reflection. If you prefer reading to listening, you can find the written version here: https://orderwithinpodcast.com/p/god-never-leaves-us-wr

In this episode of Order Within, we explore the theme of God's unwavering presence in our lives despite the chaos and injustices of the world. Addressing the struggles many face with the existence of evil and suffering, we delve into religious teachings to elucidate why these challenges do not signify God's absence.

We discuss a reflection prompted by a video on LinkedIn, highlighting misconceptions about Satan and God's nature. Through the lens of biblical stories, particularly the fall of Eden, Brandon explains the significance of free will and the consequences of human choices.

We underscore the concept of redemption through Christ and emphasize the importance of forming a personal relationship with God. The episode concludes with a prayer for understanding, guidance, and spiritual awakening.

Table of Contents

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

00:18 The Chaos and Injustice of the World

01:11 Questioning God's Presence

01:53 A Story from LinkedIn

05:30 The Fall and Separation from God

07:54 God's Ever-Present Love

13:40 Redemption Through Christ

20:43 The Importance of Choice in Faith

24:30 Concluding Thoughts and Prayer

26:03 Final Announcements

Join my Substack: https://orderwithinpodcast.com/

Check out my wife's Christian collection on RedBubble: https://rdbl.co/4gCqi5z

Prefer to Read?

Here’s the link to the written post based on this episode: https://orderwithinpodcast.com/p/the-irrationality-of-god

In this episode of Order Within, I share what's been weighing on my heart - the seeming irrationality of following God in a world obsessed with logic and reason.

As I journey through Isaiah in my Bible reading, I'm struck by how God often calls us to actions that don't make rational sense on the surface, yet lead to profound blessings when we obey.

I explore how our modern culture idolizes self-reliance and independence, making obedience to God feel countercultural. Drawing from biblical examples like Noah, Abraham, and Moses, I reflect on my personal struggles with surrendering control and trusting God's heart-led guidance rather than my own reasoning.

The mind is meant to be a tool supporting the heart, as God communes with us through our hearts. When we allow Him to lead, we discover that obedience to God isn't slavery but true freedom and fulfillment - even when His path seems illogical by worldly standards.

Join me in this honest conversation about finding the courage to follow God's prompting, even when reason tells us otherwise, and discovering the joy that comes from faithful obedience.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 Welcome and introduction to this unplanned, heart-led episode00:20 Contrasting our rational world with God's seemingly irrational ways02:04 Biblical examples where God asked for seemingly illogical obedience03:22 Why trusting God's wisdom over our limited understanding matters04:39 How American culture's emphasis on independence challenges surrender to God06:56 Jesus as our ultimate example of heart-centered obedience07:56 My personal struggle with rationality versus faithful obedience09:36 Reflections on Eden and our continued rebellion through self-reliance12:07 The battlefield of the mind: how we reason ourselves out of God's prompting14:18 Finding true freedom and purpose through surrender22:16 Closing prayer for obedience and service23:15 Announcement about Written Reflections on Substack

Check out my wife's Christian collection on RedBubble: https://rdbl.co/4gCqi5z

Thanks for reading Order Within! This post is public so feel free to share it.

In this episode of Order Within, I explore the deeply personal nature of our relationship with God. I discuss the importance of genuine connection over performative actions and emphasizes the value of slowing down to find stillness with God.

Through scripture, including passages from Matthew, Isaiah, and Corinthians, the episode delves into the concept of loving God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and loving your neighbor as yourself.

I highlight the transformative power of a personal relationship with God, the dangers of relying solely on self, and the fulfillment that comes from surrendering to God's will.

The episode concludes with a prayer, seeking to open hearts and minds to God's presence and guidance.

Table of Contents:

00:00 Introduction and Updates

00:43 The Personal Nature of God

03:09 Doing vs. Being in Faith

08:11 Scriptural Insights on Love and Commandments

12:40 The Consequences of Separation from God

13:37 Isaiah's Teachings on Genuine Worship

17:23 Corinthians: Our Bodies as God's Temple

19:51 The Transformative Power of Faith

23:27 Closing Thoughts and Prayer

24:59 Final Remarks and Farewell

The link to the written post:

Join my Substack here: https://orderwithinpodcast.com/

Check out my wife's Christian collection on RedBubble: https://rdbl.co/4gCqi5z