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Pocket Theology

Pocket theology is a casual discussion podcast rooted in the pursuit of everyday encouragement for the Christian. We don’t take ourselves too seriously, we definitely have some fun, and ultimately try to leave our viewers with a deeper desire to seek after the heart of God, and be encouraged by the gospel of Jesus. Find this podcast everywhere you listen.

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Spiritual Disciplines Aren't About Striving. They're About Opening Up. • S4E12

Most people hear "spiritual disciplines" and either feel guilty they're not doing them or nervous they're going to become legalistic about them. Both reactions miss the point. Jason and Jadan walk through the full list — meditation, prayer, fasting, study, solitude, submission, service, confession, worship, and more — and make the case that these aren't boxes to check. They're the process of…

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You're Not Looking for Rest. You're Looking for Jesus. • S4E11

Everyone's chasing rest — and still waking up exhausted. Here's the problem: we're looking in the wrong place. Jason and Jadan wrap up their series on rest by getting into how your personality wiring shapes where you look for rest, why making rest about yourself is exactly the wrong move, and what Jesus actually means in Matthew 11 when he says his burden is light. Spoiler: the rest he's offering…

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Rest Was Never Just for You • S4E10

Everyone talks about rest like it's a personal thing — a quiet morning, a day off, time to recharge. But the Bible never designed it that way. Jason and Jadan pick up where they left off on rest and rhythm, getting into why "I connect with God in nature" isn't the whole picture, what liturgy actually means, and why the communities that still know how to rest together tend to be the ones with the…

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Stop Resting From Work. Start Working From Rest. • S4E9

Everybody's busy. Nobody's resting. And the advice to "find more balance" or "create more margin" isn't actually helping. Jason and Jadan get into why balance is an illusion, why margin is a trap we define for ourselves, and why rhythm is the word the Bible actually points to. They also get honest about why church is often the first thing people cut when life gets full — and what that's actually…

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You're Probably Not Outside God's Will • S4E8

Most people afraid of missing God's will are asking the wrong question — and it's keeping them paralyzed. Jason and Jadan get into why God's will is a lot bigger than most Christians think, what Jesus actually said it boils down to, and why "I don't have peace about it" doesn't always mean what we think it does. Plus — why wisdom and community matter more than waiting for a sign. Questions or…

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Your Calling Can Change. Your Purpose Can't. • S4E7

A lot of people are out here searching for their calling when what they actually want is their purpose. Those aren't the same thing — and mixing them up is where a lot of anxiety starts. Jason and Jadan break down the difference between purpose and calling, why your calling is seasonal but your purpose isn't, and what happens when people tie their identity so tightly to a calling that losing it…

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Knowing About God Is Not the Same as Knowing God • S4E6

You can know every Bible verse, win every theological argument, and still not actually know God. That's not a hot take — it's the whole point. Jason and Jadan dig into one of the most important distinctions in the Christian life: the difference between knowledge of God and knowing God. They get into why seminary can kill your love for Jesus, what it means to participate with scripture instead of…

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What the Gym Taught Me About Church • S4E5

What if the gym and the church have more in common than you think? Jason and Jadan sit down with Derek Salzo (Kirn Built Fitness) and Calvin Becker (Flow Institute Mason City) — two guys who love Jesus and have built communities around CrossFit and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. They get into their faith journeys, what it means to meet people where they are, why showing up consistently changes everything,…

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Everyone's in Process - Until They're Not • S4E4

"Bear with one another" sounds simple. It's not. Jason and Jadan dig into what Paul actually meant in Galatians 6 — and why "bearing with one another" gets misread as an excuse to tolerate anything and call it grace. They talk through where patience ends and enabling begins, why boundaries and love aren't opposites, and what it actually looks like to carry someone's burden without losing the…

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Should Christians Have No Regrets? • S4E3

"No regrets" sounds like a faith statement. Jason's not so sure it's a biblical one. Jason and Jadan dig into 2 Corinthians 7:10 and ask whether Christians are actually supposed to live regret-free, or whether regret can be a tool God uses to teach and transform. They get into the difference between godly sorrow and worldly sorrow, why shame and regret aren't the same thing, and how looking back…

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Does God Require a Marriage License? • S4E2

Do you need a marriage license to be married in God's eyes? It's a question Jason's been getting a lot lately — and the answer is more complicated than yes or no. Jason and Jadan get into what marriage actually is, what covenant means biblically, and why Jason thinks the real question isn't whether the state should be involved — it's why you don't want it to be. They also dig into arranged…

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Is AI Discipling You? • S4E1

AI can write your prayers, answer your theology questions, and generate your daily devotional. But who — or what — is actually forming you? Jason and Jadan get into whether Christians should use AI, what gets lost when something else does your spiritual wrestling, and why fear of new technology might be a faith problem. Romans 12 ties it together. Questions or feedback? Email us at…

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REPLAY: What the Church in Haiti Taught Me About Church in America • S3E11

What does the global church have to teach the American church? Probably more than we'd like to admit. In this episode, Jason sits down with Paul Parisian, director of Mission Haiti, for a conversation that starts with Paul's story — growing up in Haiti, losing family in the 2010 earthquake, finding his way back to faith — and opens up into something much bigger. They dig into the role of voodoo…

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REPLAY: You Don't Have to Reconcile to Forgive • S3E9

Forgiveness and reconciliation aren't the same thing. Most of us have been told they are, and it's caused a lot of damage. In this episode, the guys tackle one of the hardest questions in the Christian life: what does it actually look like to pursue reconciliation with someone who's unsafe, abusive, or just won't budge? Is ghosting them unchristlike? Are you failing God if you keep your distance?…

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When Worship Becomes a Business | Jeff Deyo • S3E14

What happens when worship stops being about God and starts being about the stage? Jason sits down with Jeff Deyo — Dove Award winner, Grammy nominee, and former frontman of Sonic Flood — for an honest conversation about the state of modern worship. They dig into the difference between performance and presence, how the secret place shapes everything (and what happens when leaders lose it), and why…

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PT feat Art of Growth • S3E13

Your Enneagram type is not who you are—it’s where you start." Today on Pocket Theology, we’re joined by Joel Hubbard and Jim Zartman of The Art of Growth to discuss why self-awareness is crucial for following Jesus. We tackle the tough questions: Why are many Christians resistant to personality tools? What is "spiritual bypassing," and how do we use religious language to avoid doing our inner…

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Discipled by social media • S3E12

Is the constant stream of global tragedy and social media comparison literally re-wiring our brains? Today on Pocket Theology, Jason, Jaden, and special guest Amanda Farmer tackle the "biocschosocial" phenomenon of modern stress. We’re diving into the heavy stuff—suicidal ideation among teens, the "body morphing" trends of digital identity, and the rise of AI as a tool for therapy and theology.…

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Special guest: Paul Perissien • S3E11

Support Mission-Haiti and visit mission-haiti.org To connect, email podcast@zionclearlake.org • ( zionclearlake.org/pockettheology )

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Art v Artist • S3E10

What happens when the people we look up to fail? Today on Pocket Theology, Jason and Jaden go "old school" to tackle the tough stuff: the fall of purity-culture icons, the controversy of celebrity pastors, and the messy reality of 1 Corinthians 5. We’re discussing how to balance justice with redemption and why character matters more than charisma. Come for the laughs about "bell boy" etiquette,…

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Reconciliation • S3E9

Is there a difference between forgiving someone and letting them back into your life? Today on Pocket Theology, we’re tackling a tough listener question: How do we reconcile with abusive or unsafe people? We dive into the theology of boundaries, the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation, and why your safety matters to God. Stick around for a much-needed laugh as we celebrate Jaden’s…

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I thought I knew grace • S3E8

From "worship leader fails" involving train whistles and broken strings to a deep dive into what real grace actually feels like. Today on Pocket Theology, we’re laughing through our most embarrassing ministry moments and exploring the difference between "experiencing" God and "encountering" Him. Join us for a fun, raw, and encouraging chat on seeking the heart of God together! To connect, email…

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How do we handle failure? • S3E7

Is failure a sign to stop, or just part of the process? Today on Pocket Theology, Jason dives into Acts 14-15 to look at how Paul and Barnabas handled rejection and "failure" on the mission field. We’re discussing how to overcome discouragement and distraction when things don’t go as planned. Join us for a fun, honest chat on finding the courage to keep seeking the heart of God! To connect, email…

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Changing Your Default Settings • S3E6

Growing in faith isn't about a to-do list; it’s about a new heart. Today on Pocket Theology, we’re exploring how Jesus changes our natural reactions to life's stress. Josh, Jason and special guest Megan share a fun, encouraging conversation on how to rest in the Gospel while pursuing a life that looks more like Jesus every day. To connect, email podcast@zionclearlake.org • (…

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The danger of misinterpretation • S3E5

In this high-energy episode of Pocket Theology, the team dives into the "Battlegrounds" of the mind, specifically focusing on the language of Ephesians 1. The conversation challenges the way we often "under-complicate" or "over-complicate" the Bible by bringing our own modern, individualized frameworks to ancient words. Pastor Jason and the team unpack heavily "charged" theological terms like…

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What if? • S3E4

In this episode of the Pocket Theology podcast, the team dives deep into the heart of biblical interpretation, the value of education, and the beautiful messiness of the early church. Pulling from the opening themes of the Philippians series, "Whatever is Beautiful," the conversation moves from the intimidation of the pulpit to the "secret" of finding joy in a diverse community. They challenge the…

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Getting it right and wrong • S3E3

Is the Bible a black-and-white rulebook, or is it a prism that only makes sense when held up to the light of Christ? In this episode of Pocket Theology, Pastor Jason and the team dive back into the letter to the Philippians to tackle some of the "messy" parts of faith. They discuss the tension between human logic and ancient Hebrew thought, the history of Biblical inerrancy, and why we often feel…

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Hospitality • S3E2

It started with back-pocket sardines and a debate over anchovy-flavored sweat, but the conversation quickly shifted to the real burning question: Why is true Christian hospitality so hard? In this episode, Jason, Kyle, and Jaden unpack the deep connection between food, fellowship, and faith. They discuss the proposed segment Hot Pocket Theology, the incarnational nature of the Christian life, and…

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Rhythms • S3E1

Welcome back for Season 3! Pastor Jason opens up about hitting a wall and taking an unexpected mini-sabbatical to find recovery and rest. This candid conversation explores the critical need for healthy spiritual rhythms in a culture that pushes us toward burnout and constant busy-ness. In this episode, we discuss: The difference between a frantic "vacation culture" and genuine, life-giving Sabbath…

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Teacher or Father? • S2E42

This week on Pocket Theology, we're hitting rewind to finish our discussion on 1 Corinthians and dive deep into what happens when the core of your faith and theological frameworks get challenged. It's jarring, but necessary! Jason and Kyle share raw stories of personal change and wrestle with Paul's call to be a Spiritual Father who reproduces Christ, not just a "pedagogue" who teaches doctrine.…

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Special Guest: Pastor Drew Shepp • S2E41

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Confidence & humility • S2E40

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Spiritual father pt 4 • S2E39

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Spiritual father pt 3 • S2E38

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Spiritual father pt 2 • S2E37

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Spiritual father pt 1 • S2E36

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Special guest Fr. Dan Shoemake • S2E35

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Spiritual Parents • S2E34

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What is the Bible • S2E33

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AI and discipleship • S2E32

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Can we know? • S2E31

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Biblical vocab...important? • S2E30

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Intro Kyle Fever • S2E29

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Fruit of the Spirit • S2E28

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Discussing the NAR • S2E27

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Scripture, tradition, reason, tradition • S2E24

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Apologetics continued • S2E23

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Generational apologetics • S2E22

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Be loved in crisis Q&R • S2E21

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The third category • S2E20

Watch Pastor Kaleb Hurley's message at https://zionlutheranchurch-iowa. subspla.sh/4fvcwmx To connect, email podcast@zionclearlake.org

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Our teacher • S2E19

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