3 Pillars Podcast

01/17/2025

In this week's episode of the 3 Pillars Podcast we will be introducing the Second Stage of the Hero's Journey, the Call to Adventure. What is it, what are it's characteristics and how can we apply our Christian faith and fitness to navigate our story?

01/17/2025

Learn From the Wise

Wisdom is gained when knowledge meets experience. That is why those who are older tend to also be wiser—they have more life experience to learn from.

It is necessary in life to learn from those who have more wisdom and experience, because they can help us see things that we don’t notice. Even though culture tells us that we should live our own truth and do whatever we think is best, it is this type of thinking that leads us into trouble.

Our capacity for wisdom is limited to our experiences. This is why Scripture tells us not to be wise in our own eyes.

True wisdom comes from fearing God. This means we should have a high regard for God’s Word and His instructions to us. He knows all things, including what is best for us.

We can also gain wisdom from other people. When we can learn from the mistakes and experiences of others, we’re better equipped to not make the same mistakes. However, if you think you’re the only one who knows best, you are bound to repeat the same errors.

Make a commitment today to listen to the wisdom and guidance of God in His Word each and every day before you listen to anything else. Then, commit to listening to the wisdom of trusted Christians in your life. Resolve not to go through life alone, but rather in community with others.

01/16/2025

Breaking Hard Ground

Imagine yourself as a farmer, and your life is a vast field. You sow seeds on soil sparingly, and these seeds represent your intentions, choices, and actions.
Hosea uses a similar analogy in Hosea 10:12 to describe God’s people. Israel had sown seeds of sin and unrighteousness, causing the soil of their hearts to become unreceptive to God's commands. And right as God's people were about to reap a harvest of God’s judgment, the prophet Hosea spoke with urgency:

"Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD until he comes and showers his righteousness on you."
Hosea 10:12

Just as a farmer reaps far more than they sow, our God promises that we, too, will reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7-9). But, this verse also shows us it’s not enough to sow righteousness. We must also break up the uncultivated ground (Hosea 10:12).

Our hearts become like idle ground when we allow it to grow hard and stubborn—resisting God's Word and work in our lives. But God wants His people to prepare the soil of their hearts to receive the seed of His Word by seeking Him. Seeking the Lord is like the early rain in farming season; it’s that essential ingredient that softens the soil and readies it for growth.

Don't wait. Seek Him eagerly and expectantly today. Meditate on Hosea 10:12; let it move you to examine your own life: Are you sowing seeds of righteousness and reaping the fruit of unfailing love?

It is never too late to seek the Lord—turn your heart to the One who promises to shower His abundant mercy and grace upon you.

01/15/2025

Loving Difficult People

Matthew 5-7 is often referred to as The Sermon on the Mount, which is a series of teachings that Jesus gives near the beginning of His ministry. Most of what Jesus talks about is not necessarily new teaching, but rather a reorientation of how the Jewish people  understood the Old Testament laws.

It’s easy to love people who are close to us. It’s also easy to love those who are similar to us, and even those who love us as well. But Jesus’ command isn’t just to love those who are easy to love. Jesus says we should also love our enemies.

He also says to pray for those who persecute us. This isn’t a prayer for them to stay away, but rather a prayer for their good. We should be praying for the salvation of those who intend us harm, asking that they would recognize their actions and turn to God.

This is how God treated us. When we were enemies of God, He still showed love to us. He gave us breath and life, and also sent Jesus to restore our relationship with Him.

Take a moment to consider some people in your life who are difficult to love. Begin by praying for them. Pray for their salvation if they’re not Christians, and pray for their wellbeing. Think of one or two ways you can show love to your enemies and share the hope of Jesus.

01/13/2025

This is not just a story about ambition but about creating something meaningful for ourselves and those around us.

This is not just a story about ambition but about creating something meaningful for ourselves and those around us.

01/12/2025

Learning to Fight Good Fights

When we became Christians and first believed in Jesus, we began a journey of faith. We committed to becoming a disciple of Jesus, who follows His commands, and trusts in Him.

The apostle Paul, in his instructions to Timothy, encourages him to fight the good fight of faith. This implies that the journey of faith will often be difficult. It will sometimes be messy, hard, and harrowing. Paul’s words serve as a reminder that sometimes—faith looks like a fight.

However, rather than a fight against people, this journey of faith is a fight for goodness, beauty, and faithfulness. We are fighting against our own broken natures, but also against God’s enemies within the spiritual realm.

Fighting often looks like making the right decision even if it’s not the easiest decision. It might mean being gentle when we want to be harsh. It might mean choosing love when it would be easier to be selfish.

Fighting well means remaining faithful to Jesus over the course of your life. You were called to a new life in Christ when you came to faith, and you are called to remain faithful over the course of your life.

So how do you remain faithful? One of the ways you can cultivate faithfulness is by reading God’s Word every day. When you regularly spend time with Him, you begin to love what God loves, and hate what He hates. 

But as you seek God in this way, it’s also important to have friendships with people who can encourage you. Having two or three people in life who can help keep you accountable is a necessary part of your faith journey. As you consider what next steps you need to take to fight well, remember that you do not fight alone. God is with you—and when you draw near to Him, He will empower you with the strength you need to finish your faith journey well.

01/10/2025

In this week’s episode of the 3 Pillars Podcast we will be introducing the First Stage of the Hero’s Journey, the Ordinary World. What is it, what are its characteristics and how can we apply our Christian faith and fitness to navigate our story?

01/09/2025

Victory in Christ

Jesus’ death and resurrection is at the core of the Christian faith. It is because of Jesus that we experience the free gift of salvation. Jesus’ death not only makes up for all of our wrong doing, but it also gives us the opportunity to have a relationship with God.

However, there are many other benefits that came through Jesus’ death and resurrection. One aspect that Paul focuses on in 1 Corinthians 15 is the victory that comes through Jesus.

Scripture says that Jesus’ death not only took care of our sin problem, but He also defeated the power of sin. That means we can experience abundant life by the power of the Holy Spirit living within us.

Jesus’ death and resurrection also defeated the consequence of our sin, which is death. We no longer need to fear death because Jesus has power over it. He came back from the dead, and now He gives eternal, abundant life to those who believe in Him.

This is why Paul encourages his readers to stand firm in their faith. Victory has already been won by Jesus, and as Christians we are partakers in that victory. There is nothing that can take away God’s love. Nothing can remove us from His plan of salvation.

Even so, Paul encourages us to continue to work for the Lord as the work of God will never be worthless. Because Jesus has already attained victory, all the work done in His name will produce victory as well.

So what is the work of the Lord? It is continuing to share the hope and love of Jesus with other people. It is loving God and loving others. All of us have areas of ministry, whether in our homes, neighborhoods, or workplaces. And because Jesus is victorious, we should be confident in pursuing the work God has given us.

So let’s be extravagant in how we love others in our life. Let’s not be ashamed to share His good news with other people.

01/07/2025

The Road to Scripture

Every time we open God’s Word, we hold a treasure in our hands.

Scripture has led many generations of God's people—uncountable lives, times, and cultures have been influenced and transformed by God’s Word throughout history. God’s Word is a treasure—a treasure we have at our fingertips.

Sometimes, all the richness of God’s Word may come with a challenge. How can we comprehend the nuances, the context, all the many stories and teachings within God’s Word?

“Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.” Acts 8:35

In Acts 8, Philip, a follower of Jesus, crossed paths with an important official from Ethiopia who was reading the book of Isaiah, but struggling to understand it. Philip kindly helped him understand that the passage he was reading (Isaiah 53:7-8) was referring to Jesus and the death He would die for the sins of all. Philip shared the Gospel with this man, showing him how the prophecies of the past pointed to the Messiah, Jesus, and all He would do to save and redeem humanity.

Philip showed him that from the books of the law to the prophets, every part of Scripture points to our Savior. The man didn’t understand what he was reading, and God used that as an opportunity to open his eyes to the Gospel.

When you read the Bible, ask yourself: do I understand what I am reading?

When this man opened himself to understanding Scripture, he encountered Jesus and His love. He believed in him with his whole heart, and his spirit was transformed forever.

The transformation he experienced can be yours as well. Remember that:

1. The Bible tells the story of redemption through ‌Jesus and each book of the Bible points to Him in a beautiful way.

2. Jesus is alive and faithful to reveal himself to an open heart.

3. You aren’t alone on your Bible journey. Just like God sent Philip to teach the man from Ethiopia, he often puts people around us who we can learn from.

Today, take a moment to intentionally dive into Scripture. As you do so, seek Jesus in the text. Ask God what it says about His character. And ask yourself: how can this be applied to my life? How can it transform me?

At the end of today’s verse, the Bible says that the man from Ethiopia went on his way rejoicing. How can we not, when we realize how great God’s love is upon us?

01/06/2025

A holistic approach to life means understanding that each role—whether as the head, the heart, or the hope—carries unique responsibilities and opportunities.

A holistic approach to life means understanding that each role—whether as the head, the heart, or the hope—carries unique responsibilities and opportunities. When these roles harmonize, they create…

01/06/2025

From Fear to Courage

Have you ever had questions or doubts that you felt you had to figure out on your own?

Sometimes, we’re embarrassed to ask our questions because we think we should already know the answers. But Jesus invites us to bring all of our doubts, fears, and questions to Him.

In John 3, we see Nicodemus, a respected, religious man of influence, come to Jesus privately one night to ask him some questions.

Many people think Nicodemus came to Jesus at night because he was afraid the other Pharisees, who were always looking for ways to get rid of Jesus, would see Nicodemus and judge him.

As a Pharisee, Nicodemus had spent his entire life studying Scripture. But he still didn’t have all of the answers. Instead of relying on his own abilities and knowledge, Nicodemus set aside his pride and status and went to Jesus.

While Nicodemus may have been afraid of the Pharisees’ judgment, Jesus didn’t judge him. He welcomed Nicodemus’ questions and answered him with the truth.

In Jesus’ response to Nicodemus, He says this: “But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.”

Jesus is saying that whoever lives by the truth and follows Him, lives in the light. Those who don’t live like Jesus, run away from the light and live in darkness.

Nicodemus approached Jesus at night out of fear of what others might think. But Jesus challenged him to live in the light and follow Him. This encounter with Jesus changed Nicodemus’ life. He no longer followed Jesus in the shadows. In John 7, he defended Jesus to the other Pharisees, and in John 19, he was there to bury Jesus’ body.

Just like Nicodemus, when we choose to walk with Jesus, we move from darkness to light and from fear to courage. And when we come to Jesus, He meets us where we are and guides us toward His truth.

01/04/2025

A Transformed Person

Have you ever felt like you needed to have a do-over? If so, you’re in good company. Peter did as well.

Peter was one of Jesus’ twelve disciples, invited by Jesus Himself to leave his life as a fisherman and join Him during His ministry on earth. On the night that Jesus was betrayed, Peter followed Him to the sham trial. The people in the area were openly and aggressively hostile to Jesus. Imagine what that must have felt like, to be surrounded by people who may choose to treat Peter the way they were treating Jesus at that very moment.

In Matthew 26 and Luke 22, we see that Peter chose to keep a low profile. He wanted to go unnoticed by the angry mob. That didn’t work for long, though—three different people recognized him as a follower of Jesus and asked him about it. Each of the three times, Peter denied ever knowing Jesus.

If we skip ahead in Scripture, though, we find Peter doing the exact opposite. In Acts 2, Peter is standing in front of a big crowd, filled with people who may persecute him. Rather than denying knowing Jesus, he proclaims the secret to life: repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and receive the Holy Spirit.

This is risky. What will people think? What if they turn on him the way that they did Jesus? Yet, he was bold anyway. He was a transformed person compared to who he had been earlier in the story.

How did Peter transform? He was restored by Jesus. He also received the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Two major things happened between these passages of scripture: Jesus visited Peter, and with grace, restored him. Secondly, the Holy Spirit came down from heaven for the followers of Jesus. With the Holy Spirit came power, empowering the believers to live bold, transformed lives (Acts 2).

Many of us face moments like this: moments where the right answer is boldness for Jesus, but the easy answer is to keep our heads down. What will people think? What will they do?

Here’s some great news: we’re never alone. We don’t have to be bold on our own. The Holy Spirit is with us every day, giving us the power to be bold and transformed. We can walk out our newness each day with His help.

You can start today. Boldness is now. The Holy Spirit is ready to walk with you.

01/02/2025

Transformation

Do you want to be new?

All around the world, humans long for change. We long to throw off old habits and ways of thinking if they aren’t serving us anymore. Thousands of self-help books, podcasts, articles, all kinds of media exist for this very reason. We want to change! And yet, it can feel impossible! Paul, one of Jesus’ disciples, shares this powerful truth in Romans 12:2 (NIV):

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Transformed by the renewing of our minds. What does this mean?

Transformation is a massive change. It’s thorough. Complete. A total difference. Like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly, transformation brings an end to the old and a beginning to the new.

Paul is showing us that transformation isn’t work we do from the outside in. Transformation happens from the inside out. It begins with our mind. And for our minds to change, we need Truth to grab hold of.

God’s Word is this Truth.

“All Scripture is breathed out by God…”
2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
Hebrews 4:12 NIV

“... Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
Matthew 4:4 NIV

God’s Word guides us when we are lost, strengthens us when we are weary, challenges us when we are compromising, and encourages us when we are overwhelmed. God’s Word changes everything.

And this very moment, you hold God’s Word in your hand. Transformation is in your grasp. Read the Bible closely, dig into its verses, wrestle with its teachings, and treasure what you discover about the love and grace of God.

The best place to bring your desire for newness is to God and His Word. God’s Word renews our minds. Transformation inside-out begins here.

01/01/2025

Father God, today I want to focus on You alone. Please show me what it means to delight in You and to do Your will. Deepen my love for You so that my desire to obey You grows stronger. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

12/30/2024

12/30/2024

The S.M.A.R.T. framework is more than a tool—it’s a philosophy for intentional living. As we approach 2025, use it to set meaningful goals, stay focused, and overcome obstacles.

The S.M.A.R.T. framework is more than a tool—it’s a philosophy for intentional living. As we approach 2025, use it to set meaningful goals, stay focused, and overcome obstacles.

12/29/2024

Look Up

It’s so normal to spend our time, energy, and attention focusing on the here and now. We’re busy, after all. Sometimes we’re preoccupied. And when we stop to really think about it, it’s difficult to perceive something beyond our five senses.

But in his letter to the Colossians, Paul encourages his fellow believers to look up:

“Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Think about that. The realities of heaven. As you think about Paul’s words, here are four things to consider:

1. Heaven isn’t some vague, dream-like state. It’s a real place, with real people, where God is the true King.

2. There will come a day when we will all meet God face to face. Everything we’ve hoped for will finally be revealed.

3. Our troubles and our heartbreaks (and even death itself) are temporary! Scripture tells us that a time is coming when God will do away with pain and death and sickness and suffering—forever.

4. God is still on His throne, with Jesus beside Him in the place of honor. No matter how crazy, senseless, or heartbreaking the world can seem, we can have confidence knowing that nothing is outside of God’s sovereign plan.

So when you’re tempted to look around at others or look inward at yourself, look up instead. Heaven is wherever God is, and that’s the truest reality of all.