A wave of questions about Israel has been hitting us in our church, conversations with friends, and the wider culture. In this episode, Brandon and Susan unpack the biblical, historical, and current-day reasons Christians wrestle with their views on Israel. They break down the Old Testament covenant, end-times perspectives, Paul’s teaching in Romans 9–11, the meaning of “chosen people,” whether it’s ever appropriate to criticize Israel, and how to think about war, genocide claims, and modern geopolitics as followers of Jesus.

QUESTIONS:
1. What does the Bible teach about God’s covenant with Israel, and how should that shape the way Christians think about modern Israel?
2. Brandon and Susan talked about loving Israel while still being able to critique its government. How do we apply this same “both/and” approach to nations, politics, or leaders today?
3. Romans 11 describes a remnant, grafting in, and God’s heart for Israel. What does this passage teach us about God’s character and about our responsibility toward both Jews and Gentiles today?

READ MORE:

• Genesis 12:1–3
• Genesis 22:17
• 2 Chronicles 33
• Psalm 122:6
• Matthew 1
• Romans 10:1–4, 9–13
• Romans 11:1–24
• Romans 11:25–32

We dive into what it means to bring our best to God as an act of worship in every part of life. Excellence is not about perfection but about honoring God with gratitude for His greatest gift, Jesus. We explore the “best-bandits” that keep us from wholehearted worship and how to live as image bearers who reflect God’s character.

QUESTIONS:

1. What are the “best-bandits” (like laziness, greed, or misplaced priorities) that most often steal your focus from giving God your best?
2. How does remembering that Jesus is God’s best change the way you approach your daily work and worship?
3. In what areas of your life—home, church, or career—do you sense God calling you to raise the standard of excellence?

READ MORE:

• Offering God pure sacrifices in Malachi 1:6–14
• “Do everything as unto the Lord” in Colossians 3:23
• Honoring the Lord with your firstfruits in Proverbs 3:9–10
• Jesus as the perfect sacrifice in Hebrews 10:10–14
• Living sacrifices and spiritual worship in Romans 12:1–2

We explore the power of communication in shaping family culture and discipling children. Drawing from the Shema in Deuteronomy 6, we emphasize speaking God’s truth intentionally and consistently in everyday life. When parents prioritize authentic faith and regular conversations, they set their children up to love God deeply and walk in His ways.

QUESTIONS:

1. How did the communication style in your family of origin shape the way you connect with others today?
2. What intentional practices could you adopt to saturate your home with God’s truth in everyday conversations?
3. How can you model authentic faith for your children without slipping into legalism?

READ MORE:

• The Shema in Deuteronomy 6:4–9
• “Train up a child in the way he should go” in Proverbs 22:6
• “Trust in the Lord with all your heart” in Proverbs 3:5–6
• Parents teaching God’s commands in Ephesians 6:4
• God working in us to will and to act in Philippians 2:13

What if one truth about money could change your life and your marriage? In this episode of The Overflow, Brandon and Susan open up about how learning God’s design for money transformed their family and deepened their faith. Together, they unpack the biblical principle of the tithe, the difference between obedience and sacrifice, and why generosity is far more than a financial act.

READ MORE:

• Malachi 3:8–12
• Malachi 1:6–8
• Luke 12:34
• Matthew 23:23
• 1 Corinthians 16:1–2
• Luke 16:10–13
• Acts 2:44–45
• Acts 4:36–37
• Acts 5:1–11
• Romans 12:1
• Matthew 5:17
• Genesis 3

We unpack about the difference between a Bible study and a church, emphasizing how the seven marks of a local body of Christ set it apart from small groups or friendships. When we minimize God’s plan for the church, we miss the life-changing work of His people gathered together.

QUESTIONS:

1. Which of the seven marks of a church do you see most clearly in your current church experience? What about least clearly?
2. How can you shift from a casual view of church attendance to making it a life-giving rhythm in your family?
3. In what ways does belonging to a local body of Christ strengthen your faith beyond what a friend group or Bible study can provide?

READ MORE:

• “I will build my church” in Matthew 16:18
• Jesus’ prayer for unity in John 17:20–23
• “Do not neglect meeting together” in Hebrews 10:24–25
• Spiritual authority and leadership in Hebrews 13:17
• The Great Commission in Matthew 28:19–20

We sit down with our friends Kevin and Sheila Gerald, pastors of Champion Center Church in the Pacific Northwest and leaders of TEAM Church. We talk about honor, marriage, and having a big, bold, biblical truth. This conversation reminded us that lasting love, spiritual authority, and truth-telling all start with the heart and a deep commitment to God's way.

QUESTIONS

1. Where in your life do you struggle to show honor—whether up, down, or all around—and what steps can you take to realign with God’s call?
2. Are you treating your marriage as a life-giving gift or as a duty? How would a mindset shift change how you show up in your relationship?
3. When it comes to standing for biblical truth in a culture that often disagrees, what does “truth in love” look like for you?

READ MORE

• Dishonor limits God’s work in your life in Mark 6:4–5
• Superficial vs. authentic honor in Isaiah 29:13
• Marriage and mutual honor in 1 Peter 3:7
• God’s design for gender and marriage in Genesis 1:27
• “The truth will set you free” in John 8:32

In this episode, we unpack how to recognize what’s good, what’s neutral, and what’s broken when it comes to what we're being fed by our culture. From music and movies to concerts and comedy, Christians often live between two extremes: mindlessly consuming or harshly withdrawing. But the Bible gives us a better way. God is the giver of joy, creativity, and beauty, yet He also calls us to wisdom, holiness, and discernment.

QUESTIONS:

1. Do you tend to mindlessly consume culture or harshly reject it?
2. Where have you seen common grace in music, movies, or art...even from non-believers?
3. What filters or boundaries could help you honor God while still enjoying creativity?

READ MORE:

• Discernment and transformation in Romans 12:1–2
• Common grace in Matthew 5:45
• Guarding your heart in Proverbs 4:23
• Spiritual maturity through solid food in Hebrews 5:14

We navigate suffering with faith, honesty, and the ministry of presence. Lament is not the enemy of faith—it’s a vital path to healing. We share stories from our life and leadership to help you hold onto joy, lean into God, and walk others through their pain with grace.

QUESTIONS:

1. How do you usually respond when you find yourself in a hard place?

2. Who has ministered to you in your hard seasons, and how can you do the same for

others?

3. What does it look like to “trust fall” into Jesus in the middle of pain?

READ MORE:

- “Go from strength to strength” in Psalm 84:5–7

- Expressing sorrow in Lamentations (entire book)

- “Prayer and petition” in Philippians 4:6–7

- God hears and comforts in Revelation 6:9

- “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you” in 1 Peter 5:7