Podcasts

Of the 10 years Josh Summers spent as a missionary in western China, the last few months were by far the hardest: Twice he was hauled into jail by Chinese police for interrogation, the second of which lasted 17 days. And as he sat alone in a cold, barren holding cell with nothing, not even his Bible, he tried to take inventory of what scripture he could remember by heart—and realized he didn’t have nearly as much of it down as he thought he did.

This week, The Redeemed founder Paul Amos and director Nate Dewberry offer thoughts on the topic of perseverance: How do we do it? Why do we do it? And how do our struggles make us stronger, better people?

Jordan Castille was a skinny kid who was good at gymnastics and a member of his high school’s cheerleading squad—something it wasn’t easy to be in Texas in the late ’90s. The bullying he experienced, combined with some flawed family relationships, drove him to fill the void with pornography. It was only in college that Jordan came to terms with the damage his addiction was causing and sought help from the Lord.

How do you know which of your friendships are real, and which are built on performance, convenience, or what you can do for one another?

His 30th birthday was just around the corner, and Nigel Darius was at a crossroads. He felt like he’d worked hard and done the right things in his twenties, but he didn’t have anything to show for it. He asked God for a new path and a new opportunity, but when God asked him, “Do you believe I can give them to you?” he realized the answer was “No.” Or perhaps more accurately, “Not yet.”

Let’s face it, obedience isn’t a fun topic for most of us. Between an American ethos that prizes individualism and innovation, a culture that pushes indulgence, and a natural human desire to be free from control, we don’t like to feel compelled to follow anyone else’s rules. So how do we break down that resistance and embrace obedience to God? And how can we build in ourselves a desire to heed God’s word, rather than just doing so out of grudging obligation?