Single, But Not Alone

About The Podcast

From Colorado to California to Texas, Ryan Wekenman has heard Christ’s message—and heeded His calling—in many different places, and in several different seasons of his life. Now the teaching pastor at Red Rocks Austin and a published author, Ryan sits down with Nate Dewberry this week to talk about his spiritual journey and how the support of honest, meaningful friends helped “accelerate” it. They also discuss ways to stay focused amidst the distractions of the modern world and delve deeply into the challenges—and opportunities—that single adults face as they try to find love while serving God’s kingdom.

Show Notes

Timestamps

Discussion

1. What is the longest friendship you’ve ever had? How did you first become friends, and what made that friendship last as long as it did? Are you still close with that person today? How often do you stay in touch with them, and what sorts of things do you talk about?
2. Of all the deep conversations you’ve had with your male friends, which one was the “riskiest” in the sense that you were making yourself most vulnerable or had the most to lose by revealing what you eventually revealed? What were the circumstances of your life at that time? What was it about that friend (or friends) that made you feel safe opening up to them about something so important?
3. Which stories or storytellers—in scripture, in popular culture, or even in your own circle of friends—have had the most influence on the person you’ve become? Which ones have had the most influence on your spiritual journey? Why do you think those people or stories have made such a big impact on you?
4. When you tell stories, what are they generally about—your own life, things you’ve seen/read/heard in the media, humorous stories you’ve picked up over the years? What are the characteristics of a story you’re likely to tell numerous times to different people?
5. Ryan breaks down a very brief but powerful Bible verse, specifically five simple words from Matthew 26:58: “Peter followed at a distance.” What are some times in your own life when you’ve followed Jesus at a distance? Looking back on each of those times, why did you decide to follow Jesus in the first place, and what made you shy away from following Him closely? What made you think you needed to put some distance between you, even as you followed Him? Matthew 26:58
6. When you consume any kind of media—from books and TV to podcasts and social media, as well as the Bible—are you actually paying attention, or is it just there for background noise? Or so you can tell people you’re familiar with it? Do you just sit there and hear it, or do you think deeply about the messages and lessons you might gain from it? Joshua 1:8
7. When did you first enter the dating world? What kind of person were you then? What is some advice you’ve learned in the years since that you wish you could go back and give that person you used to be?
8. If you’re a single person, what’s the thing you worry the most about in terms of relationships? If you’re married or in a committed relationship, what’s the one thing you “grieve” the most from your days as a single person?

Additional Resources:

Single Today (Ryan’s podcast)

Single Today: Conquer Yesterday’s Regrets, Ditch Tomorrow’s Worries, and Thrive Right Where You Are by Ryan Wekenman (book)

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: How I Learned to Live a Better Story by Donald Miller