Welcome back to The Broken and Redeemed Podcast! In this episode, Eric, Jenny, and Jessica sit down with Josh and Natasha for a heartfelt conversation about legalism in the church—what it is, how it shaped our faith, and the freedom Christ offers beyond rules and guilt. Through scripture, honest conversation, and encouragement, they explore the difference between legalism and grace, offering hope, freedom, and a deeper understanding of what it means to live in Christ. Whether you’ve wrestled with church expectations, battled guilt from man-made rules, or struggled to reconcile God’s love with legalistic teaching, this episode invites you into an honest dialogue about what it really means to live in Christ.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Personal stories of how legalism creates fear, pride, and spiritual burnout. Biblical insights on how Jesus and Paul confronted Pharisees, Judaizers, and false standards. The difference between God’s judgment and discipline—and why His love is never withheld. Practical encouragement for unlearning guilt, rebuilding faith on Christ alone, and finding spiritual freedom. How authentic Christian community and vulnerability help us walk in grace together.

Resources and links mentioned in this episode:

• Passages on legalism: Matthew 23, Galatians, Luke 18.
• Slave by John MacArthur
• Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers by Dane Ortlund
• The Confronting Christianity Podcast with Rebecca McLaughlin
• TGCW 24 - Hope and Help for the Doubting and Deconstructing
• TGCW 24 - Why People Are Leaving the Church [TGC Podcast - Ep. 349]
• The Gospel Coalition - Canada Edition
• The Gospel Coalition - U.S. Edition (TGCUS Conferences)

Get Involved:

• Subscribe and leave a review to help us reach more listeners.
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  • Instagram: @leroy_dartagnan
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More About The Broken and Redeemed Podcast:

Through The Broken & Redeemed Podcast, we aim to uplift and inspire listeners through heartfelt discussions and practical advice. Eric is an audio & video editor, and Jenny is a podcast manager and audio editor. Jessica is a writer working on two books, hoping to one day publish full-time. Together, they have deep, honest conversations about faith, doubts, and navigating life’s struggles.

Copyright Info:

The Broken and Redeemed Podcast © 2025 by Eric Ferguson, Jennifer Ferguson, Jessica Deveault is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

In This Episode, We Discuss:

What happens when you feel called to create—but fear you’re loving your gift more than God?

In this heartfelt conversation, Jessica opens up about the spiritual confusion and guilt she’s experienced as a Christian writer—wondering if her passion for storytelling might actually be idolatry. Alongside Eric and Jenny, the team unpacks how legalism, fear-based faith, and performance-driven church cultures can distort our view of God’s love and our creative calling. If you’ve ever felt torn between pursuing your gift and honoring your faith, this episode offers gospel-centered clarity, encouragement, and practical wisdom.

Resources and links mentioned in this episode:

• Adorning the Dark by Andrew Peterson
• Gettin’ Real Deep Blog by Jessica Deveault

Support the Podcast!

If you love what we’re doing and want to help us keep these conversations going, consider supporting us on Patreon!

Get Involved:

• Subscribe and leave a review to help us reach others who need these conversations.
• Follow us on social media for updates and future episodes.
• Know someone struggling with similar issues? Share this episode to provide insight and encouragement.

More About The Broken and Redeemed Podcast

Through the Broken & Redeemed Podcast, we aim to uplift and inspire listeners through heartfelt discussions and practical advice. Eric, an audio & video editor, and Jenny, a podcast manager, co-founded Better Together Podcast Solutions to help business owners save time so they can focus on creating content. Jessica is a writer working on two books, hoping to one day publish full-time. Together, they have deep, honest conversations about faith, doubts, and navigating life’s struggles.

Copyright Info:

The Broken and Redeemed Podcast © 2025 by Eric Ferguson, Jennifer Ferguson, Jessica Deveault is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• How to support a Christian friend with depression
• What the Bible says about bearing one another’s burdens
• How trauma-informed care can reflect Christ’s love
• Honest reflections on ADHD, therapy, and sinful responses to pain
• Why depression is not a faith failure—and how Jesus meets us in it

Resources Mentioned:

• You Know Better than I: https://youtu.be/3jJJcacnGVI?si=DktP2wSU9xmTWspd
• Through Heaven’s Eyes: https://youtu.be/oG0a9WFkgzU?si=-4UafHG0XRgIE44-
• His Peace: https://youtu.be/ckwpa7OeiFk?si=YIMwpVzRV7q20O-f
• I have a House in Heaven: https://youtu.be/CyRj9QW2ROM?si=16DbGpl2zcrkA2kW
• Day by Day: https://youtu.be/AzrhqjzQCi4?si=5Hjepg8RP5xx-scp
• Hymn of Heaven: https://youtu.be/eLo3KbXprgY?si=dHmCV8OGOArKeSU8
• Trauma-informed church training SpiritualFirstAid.org
• The Search for Significance by Robert McGee: https://a.co/d/diaamRV
• The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health: https://www.camh.ca/
• With the Perrys Podcast – Preston & Jackie Hill Perry: https://withtheperrys.com/
• Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund: https://a.co/d/iyfaTtK
• Counselling Talk podcast by 9Marks
• Depression in the Church - The Dangerous Lie We Need to Stop Telling: https://youtu.be/Bi5YgZoiRFE
• The Healing and Freedom Journey podcast by Mark DeJesus
• Steadfast Love by Grace Worship: https://youtu.be/cBOU3_K7oHM?si=f7YyIEwss9ycbu0E

Support the Podcast If this episode encouraged you, consider supporting us on Patreon and sharing it with a friend who needs to hear they’re not alone.

Copyright Info:

The Broken and Redeemed Podcast © 2025 by Eric & Jennifer Ferguson, Jessica Deveault is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/