Welcome back to Resident Strangers! In this week’s conversation, we welcome a new voice to the table—Hailey Keller—and say “see you later” to our amazing co-host Sarah as she begins maternity leave.

This episode dives deep into a powerful topic: the Sabbath – how we should navigate and honor it in our own context. In Exodus, God commands us to remember the Sabbath day, the seventh day of the week, and keep it holy. He set an example for us by also resting on the seventh day of creation. However, as believers, people often question whether we are still bound by the Old Testament law. What kind of work should we stop doing on the sabbath, especially with technology begging for our attention? Is practicing the sabbath simply going to church on Sunday? What about rest – what does it look like and how do we do it correctly? The team uncovers how to grapple with these questions and suggests practical ways to practice keeping the sabbath and resting with intention. As you begin to implement the sabbath and rest in your life, remember to have grace with yourself if you make a mistake or don’t do it perfectly. God created the sabbath as a gift to give us rest, joy, and peace, not to be a legalistic rule for us. Whether you’re new to the idea of Sabbath or looking to deepen your understanding, this episode offers both biblical insight and real-life application.

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Welcome back to Resident Strangers! In this episode, we dive into what it means to parent through a Christian lens. With so many voices telling our culture how parenting should be, we can look to God’s Word, like Ephesians 6 and Deuteronomy 6, to guide us. And we have the Holy Spirit working in us to become more like Christ. Part of being a godly parent is teaching your kids to obey authority, so that they will obey God as He is the ultimate authority. We know that following and obeying God leads to the best life has to offer, which is what parents desire for their kids. Steve, Sarah, and Rich dig into what it looks like for parents to provoke their kids, how to avoid that, and how to build kids up. All of this and more on today’s episode!

Last week’s episode on Fatherhood: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5UXFHPrazLu5NuO4gY368M?si=3fe6b9dfa3644622

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It’s almost Father’s Day, so we are here with a special episode about fatherhood! Steve and Rich share their experience as fathers as well as the importance of fathers. Father’s Day can be a difficult time for some, especially if you have a negative relationship with your dad. God is the perfect Father. He never fails and is always faithful. As, Christians, fathers should reflect God and model His character to their kids. The role of a father is truly powerful, and Steve and Rich offer advice on how to steward it well. Happy Father’s Day!

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Today is the last episode of our long-awaited predestination series — for now! To wrap up this topic, we cover works and faith. Is faith a work? If it is, how do you know if you’re truly saved? The Bible says that it is by grace we are saved, through faith, and it is not a result of works. What does that mean in terms of predestination? So many believers feel insecure about their salvation, but do they have grounds to feel that way? Steve and Rich give their final thoughts on predestination and salvation, and assure us that our salvation is secure!

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We are so excited to be back with you today on Resident Strangers! Steve, Sarah, and Rich are continuing the conversation about the Calvinist view of predestination, specifically the order of salvation. Have you ever thought about the process of how people are saved? Does God call us to respond to the gospel message and be made alive by the Holy Spirit first, because we cannot do it on our own? This idea is known as total depravity and regeneration, which the Calvinistic view says are crucial steps in the order of events in salvation. Our hosts go over what the Bible means to be dead in sins and being born again, along with the biblical order of salvation. At what point does faith occur in the order of salvation, and who initiates it—God or us? As you listen to this episode, we encourage you to think—which order of salvation best reflects the character of God as both just and merciful? Which one is best supported by the Bible?

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Welcome back to part 4 in our predestination series! Today, the team breaks down the meaning of the sovereignty of God and compares it to the determinist belief. As Christians, we often hear phrases like “God is sovereign” or “God is in control,” but how should we understand those statements in light of what Scripture teaches? Is God's sovereignty the same as determinism? Determinism is the idea that every single detail of our lives is already pre-planned by God, including our choices. From what we eat for breakfast to where we are right now, was it meticulously planned by God in advance?

Steve, Rich, and Sarah notice that this belief can have much larger-scale implications, like all our sins would be determined by God, and the mass destruction of people throughout history was caused by God. But that doesn’t sound like the loving God in the Bible. If determinism is true, it is impossible for us to choose between two things because God has already planned the choice that we would make. Even throughout the Bible, it shows us that we can choose between two alternatives and are free to do so. The biggest choice is to sin or to obey God. How can we make sense of these things? How can we grapple with the idea that a perfect and loving God can cause sin? Listen to this episode to find out!

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Links Mentioned:

64 | Does God Cause Suffering?

57 | The Sovereignty of God

58 | Further Discussion on Sovereignty

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Welcome to Part 3 of the Predestination series! Before you listen, make sure you are caught up with the rest of the episodes! Last week, Steve and Rich dove into the context of verses commonly used in the discussion of predestination. Today, they discuss what election is, analyzing Romans 9 to provide us with context. The traditional Calvinist view holds that God elects Jacob, not Esau, for salvation. But Steve and Rich bring up another perspective: the context of the passage does not imply election for salvation. ‘Election’ simply means to be chosen to do something. Whenever the Bible uses election, we must ask, “who is being chosen/elected for what?” When people are chosen or elected, it is not for salvation, but for service — to do a specific task that God calls them to. If you like this series, let us know! We’d love to hear your feedback! Email us at residentstrangers@dscchurch.com! Stay tuned for next week as we continue with this topic!

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This week, the long-anticipated series on predestination continues as Steve and Rich take a deep dive into some of the most debated passages surrounding this complex topic. If you missed last week’s episode, we highly recommend going back to listen or watch as it lays essential groundwork for what’s to come. Rich emphasizes how deeply our presuppositions can shape the way we interpret scripture, and predestination is a prime example. Unfortunately, many people approach this topic with definitions formed by sources outside of scripture, often before even opening the Bible. That’s why it’s crucial to recognize and set aside those preconceived ideas as we study. In this episode, Steve references passages like Acts 4:27-28 and 1 Corinthians 2:6-7 though these verses are not typically highlighted in discussions on predestination. Meanwhile, Rich explores in detail the more frequently cited texts such as Romans 8:29-30 and Ephesians 1:5 & 11. He thoughtfully breaks down each verse, encouraging listeners to ask a vital question: Who is being predestined, and to what? Rich also addresses the meaning of “adoption as sons” and how it relates to salvation. Both he and Steve make the case that Paul’s use of the phrase does not refer to salvation itself, and they spend time unpacking the context to support this view. This episode may feel more detailed than usual, but it’s worth the close attention. We encourage you to set aside any presuppositions, engage with the scripture honestly, and follow the discussion with an open heart. And don’t forget to tune in next week for part three of this compelling series!

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Would you please subscribe and leave us a review? This will help our podcast reach more people! We’d love it if you’d share this podcast with your friends on social media and beyond. Join us next Tuesday as we continue the discussion on how to think like a Christian in this foreign world.