Episodes

  • 20. Have we confused our preference with principles?

    20. Have we confused our preference with principles?
    Feb 24 2026
    A lot of us think we are living by principles when we are really just defending preferences. We already have a value system because we make decisions every day, but the question is whether those values are actually rooted in truth or just built on what we like, what we are used to, and what feels right to us. When the storm hits, that difference shows up fast.

    In this episode, we talk about what principles actually are, why preferences become so divisive, and how people end marriages, leave churches, break partnerships, and even fracture a country over things that were never meant to carry that much weight. We walk through the idea of limited goods versus unlimited goods, why Jesus compares your life to a foundation, and why fruit tells the truth about what someone is really living by.

    The goal is simple. Learn to draw lines where truth requires it, and learn to hold your preferences with open hands so you do not turn them into a false version of conviction. Because a strong life is not built on what you prefer. It is built on what is always right, always good, and always true.


    Follow Josh Craft on Instagram by clicking here

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    Get more information and get in touch at joshuacraft.com
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    38 mins
  • 19. Are you focused on the process or the outcome?

    19. Are you focused on the process or the outcome?
    Feb 18 2026
    Most of us were taught to live outcome-first. Set the goal. Picture the finish line. Execute the plan. But what happens when life doesn’t cooperate, when kids, closed doors, unexpected seasons, and circumstances outside your control blow up the timeline you were so sure about?

    In this episode of The Dialog, we wrestle with a deeper question: are you focused on the process or the outcome? We talk about why goals have value, but why obsession with results can quietly become a desire for control. From parenting and career shifts to faith and calling, we explore the tension between planning your way and trusting that the Lord directs your steps. There is a difference between pursuing excellence and trying to force a specific future.

    The real measure of success is not just what you achieved, but who you became while you were pursuing it. God’s primary concern is transformation. When you learn to value growth over guarantees, and character over outcomes, you leave room for Him to redirect you into something better than what you originally planned.


    Follow Josh Craft on Instagram by clicking here

    Follow Nick Surface on Instagram by clicking here

    Get more information and get in touch at joshuacraft.com
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    45 mins
  • 18. The true perspective of leadership

    18. The true perspective of leadership
    Feb 10 2026
    Leadership isn’t a title, it’s weight. In this episode of The Dialog, we talk about what most people miss as they chase influence, growth, and “more” the reality that every decision you make touches someone else’s soul. Tell us in the comments, what’s one leadership lesson you learned the hard way?

    We unpack Hebrews 13:17 and the scary line most people skip, leaders keep watch over your souls. That means leadership isn’t mainly about getting results, it’s about responsibility. We talk through why bad leadership is so common, how people confuse authority with control, and why “it works for me” is never the standard when you’re leading a family, a team, or a church.

    Then we get practical. Mission and morale. Vision and care. Principles and application. If you’re leading anything at all, the real question isn’t “where do I want to go,” it’s “where do they need to go” and are you willing to carry the cost of getting them there with joy.

    Follow Josh Craft on Instagram by clicking here

    Follow Nick Surface on Instagram by clicking here

    Get more information and get in touch at joshuacraft.com
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    38 mins
  • 17. What are you really certain of?

    17. What are you really certain of?
    Feb 3 2026
    In this episode of The Dialog, we wrestle with a question most people avoid because it’s uncomfortable: what are you actually certain of? In a world desperate for clarity, confidence, and easy answers, certainty often feels like strength. But the longer we live, the more we realize how little we truly know. This conversation starts with the tension between confidence and humility, and why the pursuit of certainty can quietly become a trap.

    We talk about how people form beliefs, why comparison and self talk shape our inner world, and how life is lived in constant tension between things that seem to be true at the same time. Free will and God’s sovereignty. Conviction and flexibility. Trusting experts while recognizing their limits. From science and psychology to leadership, faith, and culture, we explore how the human desire for certainty often oversimplifies a world that is far more nuanced than we’d like.

    Ultimately, this episode isn’t about having the right answers. It’s about becoming the kind of person who can live faithfully in uncertainty. Truth can handle questions. Principles endure testing. And faith is not certainty about outcomes, but trust in who God is. This is an invitation to examine what you believe, why you believe it, and whether your certainty is producing wisdom, humility, and fruit in your life.

    Follow Josh Craft on Instagram by clicking here

    Follow Nick Surface on Instagram by clicking here

    Get more information and get in touch at joshuacraft.com
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    54 mins
  • 16. What’s your standard?

    16. What’s your standard?
    Jan 27 2026
    In this episode of The Dialog, we ask a question most people never slow down enough to answer: what’s your standard for truth? In a world shaped by algorithms, influencers, and endless opinions, it’s easier than ever to believe something simply because it feels right or aligns with what we already think. But belief without examination has consequences.

    We explore how ancient thinkers like Socrates warned against persuasion without virtue, and how that same dynamic shows up today in modern media and church culture. We talk about how beliefs are formed through experience, pain, and preference, and why truth can’t be reduced to convenience. If every action flows from a belief, then unexamined beliefs quietly shape our lives, our families, and our faith.

    Ultimately, this conversation is about maturity. Truth exists, but it’s always applied by imperfect people. That means growth requires humility, community, and a willingness to question what we “know for sure.” Whether your standard is Scripture, experience, or something else entirely, this episode is an invitation to examine it honestly and ask a harder question: is it producing the kind of fruit you actually want?









    Follow Josh Craft on Instagram by clicking here

    Follow Nick Surface on Instagram by clicking here

    Get more information and get in touch at joshuacraft.com
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    50 mins
  • 15. The problem beneath the problem

    15. The problem beneath the problem
    Jan 20 2026
    In this episode of The Dialog, we step back from the noise and ask a deeper question: what’s actually beneath the problems we keep arguing about? From culture wars and politics to division, fear, and outrage, we explore why so many of our solutions fall flat and why fixing the surface rarely changes the future.

    We talk about virtue, character, and the quiet formation of the human heart. Instead of asking what “they” are doing wrong, the conversation turns inward. What kind of people are we becoming? How do comfort, convenience, and selfishness shape our decisions, our relationships, and even our faith? Real change doesn’t start with policies or platforms. It starts with formation.

    Ultimately, this episode is a call to personal responsibility and long-term thinking. The future is not shaped by arguments, outrage, or echo chambers, but by people who are willing to live truthfully, love sacrificially, and stay in the tension long enough for real fruit to grow. If we want a better world, we have to start by becoming better neighbors, better leaders, and better humans—one conversation, one choice, one life at a time.

    Follow Josh Craft on Instagram by clicking here

    Follow Nick Surface on Instagram by clicking here

    Get more information and get in touch at joshuacraft.com
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    35 mins
  • 14. Who is my neighbor?

    14. Who is my neighbor?
    Jan 13 2026
    In this episode of The Dialog, we talk about the modern Christian reflex to critique from a distance. We unpack how American church culture has trained us to form strong opinions about pastors, movements, and “the way it should be,” without ever getting close enough to actually see the fruit. The question underneath the criticism is simple and personal: are we judging people we don’t know, based on races we aren’t running?

    From there, we wrestle with discipleship, altar calls, and the tension between measurable moments and real transformation. A Christmas production sparks a deeper conversation about what counts as evidence of God at work, what we can and can’t control, and why the timeline for spiritual growth rarely fits our systems. The goal isn’t to argue tactics, but to recover humility and trust God with people while we keep doing our part.

    Finally, we take Jesus’ command seriously when He redefines “neighbor” and calls us to love in ways that confront our categories. We talk about enemies, fear, and the temptation to reduce people into labels instead of treating them like humans made in God’s image. If the Great Commandment and Great Commission are really the main thing, then this episode is an invitation to look in the mirror first, ask what love requires of you, and let your life produce the kind of fruit you hope to see in the world.


    Follow Josh Craft on Instagram by clicking here

    Follow Nick Surface on Instagram by clicking here

    Get more information and get in touch at joshuacraft.com
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    59 mins
  • 13. Judge the fruit

    13. Judge the fruit
    Jan 6 2026
    In this episode of The Dialog, we talk about Christian media and why so much of it has historically felt like a subculture that only Christians can tolerate. We compare what’s being made today to the broader world of film and music, and we give real credit where it’s due. From Angel Studios to artists like Forrest Frank, there’s a shift happening, and it’s exciting to see believers aiming higher, not just for a message, but for excellence.

    But the conversation doesn’t stop at “is it good or not.” We get into something deeper: the way Christians critique. Why are we so quick to assign motives, tear down people we don’t know, and use scripture like a weapon? We talk about how easy it is to sit on the sidelines and judge, and how dangerous it is when we confuse preferences with righteousness.

    At the end of the day, we come back to a simple filter Jesus gave us. Don’t obsess over assumptions about someone’s heart, look at the fruit of their life over time. Are they faithful in relationships, steady in character, and producing real outcomes that align with the kingdom? This isn’t about defending celebrities or building platforms. It’s about learning how to discern with humility, honor authority, and keep the main thing the main thing.


    Follow Josh Craft on Instagram by clicking here

    Follow Nick Surface on Instagram by clicking here

    Get more information and get in touch at joshuacraft.com
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    52 mins