What does genuine faith look like? Is it enough to hear God's word, agree with its teaching, and consider ourselves religious? In James 1:19–27, we find a sobering answer: hearing God's word is good, but hearing alone is not enough. Genuine faith humbly receives God's word and responds with obedient action.

Be Quick to Hear, Slow to Speak, and Slow to Anger
James begins with three practical commands: “Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger” (James 1:19). These words are often applied to interpersonal communication, and rightly so. We should listen carefully, speak thoughtfully, and resist the impulse to react in anger.

But James gives a deeper reason for these commands: “For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:20).

The issue is not merely good manners. James is teaching us to approach God's word with humility. People who are preoccupied with expressing their own opinions may struggle to listen to what God says. Those consumed with their own grievances may find it difficult to wait for God's justice rather than taking matters into their own hands.

Instead of filling every space with our words and anger, we must learn to be still, listen, and allow God's word to correct us. Genuine faith does not simply seek to establish its own righteousness. It humbly submits to the righteousness God desires.

Receive the Implanted Word
James continues, “Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21).

Notice the two actions: put away sin and receive God's word. We cannot expect God's word to shape our lives while stubbornly holding on to the very things it calls us to abandon. James describes God's word as an implanted seed. This image reminds us of Jesus' teaching about the seed and the soils in Matthew 13:1–23. God's word must be received if it is to bear fruit in our lives. Hearing requires humble attentiveness, and genuine reception produces a changed life.

The principle is straightforward: we reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7–8). When we humbly receive God's word and walk in obedient faith, we cultivate the kind of life God desires. When we resist his instruction through pride, anger, and self-will, we should not expect to reap the fruit of righteousness.

Hearing God's Word Is Not Enough
James then gives one of the clearest warnings in the New Testament about self-deception: “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22). How can hearing God's word become an occasion for self-deception? We deceive ourselves when we mistake exposure to truth for obedience to truth. We may attend Bible studies, listen to sermons, and understand Scripture while failing to practice what we learn.

James compares such a person to someone who looks at his face in a mirror and then walks away, immediately forgetting what he saw (James 1:23–24). A mirror reveals reality. Similarly, God's word exposes who we are and shows us what needs to change. The problem is not looking into the mirror; the problem is walking away without responding to what we have seen.

By contrast, the person who looks into “the perfect law, the law of liberty,” perseveres in it, and acts upon it will be blessed in his doing (James 1:25). Genuine faith looks, perseveres, and acts. It does not abandon God's instruction when the initial conviction fades.

What Does Pure Religion Look Like?
James concludes by giving concrete examples of genuine religion. A person who considers himself religious but does not bridle his tongue deceives his heart, and his religion is worthless (James 1:26). Pure and undefiled religion, by contrast, includes visiting orphans and widows in their affliction and keeping oneself unstained from the world (James 1:27). These examples demonstrate that genuine faith affects both how we treat people and how we live before God.

James challenges us to examine ourselves honestly. Do our words reflect the character of Christ? Do we care for people who are vulnerable or overlooked? Are we willing to abandon ungodly attitudes and desires, even when doing so is uncomfortable? These actions do not mean that we earn salvation through good works. Rather, they reveal whether we are genuinely receiving and obeying God's word.

Become a Doer of the Word
James 1:19–27 calls us to move beyond religious knowledge to obedient faith. We must listen humbly, receive God's word, persevere in its teaching, and put it into practice. The question is not simply whether we have heard the truth. The question is whether we allow the truth to change us. Do not settle for hearing God's word. Receive it, remember it, and do what it says.

What does it mean to leave a church you have loved for nearly two decades? How do you say goodbye to people who have become family, while also encouraging them to embrace what God may have in store for their next chapter? And how do you entrust a congregation you have helped lead for so many years back to the One to whom it always belonged?

In this special episode, Jonathan Edwards shares his final sermon as the evangelist at Valley Parkway Church of Christ. Drawing from Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:14–16, Jonathan reflects on the calling Valley Parkway has embraced since its beginning: to shine the light—a city on a hill, a lamp on a stand, and the light of the world whose good works point others toward God.

Remembering the Light
Valley Parkway began with a small group worshiping together in a living room in 2008. Over the years, that small beginning grew into a congregation with a shared identity, a commitment to serving others, and countless stories of people whose lives became intertwined through faith. But the light was never something one preacher could own. The church belongs to Christ, and the glory belongs to God. As Jonathan reflects on nearly two decades of ministry, he considers what it means for a congregation to continue shining when one chapter of the story comes to an end.

Carrying and Reflecting the Light
Jesus describes His followers as the light of the world, a city on a hill, and a lamp illuminating a house. What does that look like for a congregation? Jonathan explores the responsibility of carrying the light into the world, the community, and our homes—and the importance of allowing our faith to be seen by the people who know us best. But there is an important reminder at the center of it all: we are not the source of the light. We are the reflection. Christ is the light, and our calling is to reflect Him faithfully wherever He has placed us.

Entrusting the Light
This was more than a farewell sermon. It was a word of gratitude, hope, and entrustment to a congregation Jonathan loves. As one chapter closes, the calling remains: keep our eyes on Jesus, continue to shine, and let everything we do be for the glory of your Father in heaven.

What does Paul mean when he tells the Corinthians—and us—to take every thought captive? Is he talking about stopping negative thoughts? Overcoming temptation? Winning the battle in our minds? Or is there something deeper happening in this passage? Join special guest Marcus Mathis and Jonathan as they process and break down one of the most familiar—and often misunderstood—verses about the Christian life: 2 Corinthians 10:5. Paul writes about “taking every thought captive to obey Christ.” It sounds straightforward enough. But what does that actually look like on a Tuesday afternoon when your mind is racing, temptation is knocking, or you find yourself believing things about yourself that simply aren't true?

The Battle for Our Minds
We all know what it's like to struggle with our thoughts. Sometimes the battle is against sin. Sometimes it's anxiety, shame, anger, or the relentless voice of self-criticism. Sometimes it's the question of identity: Who am I, really? Am I defined by my failures? By what someone else has said about me? By the worst thing I've ever done?

And sometimes, if we're honest, we don't even know where to begin. Taking every thought captive is not about pretending that difficult thoughts don't exist. It's not about shaming ourselves for struggling, or simply telling someone to “think more positively.” The Christian life is not built on wishful thinking. So what does Paul mean? How does the gospel speak to the way we think, the way we understand ourselves, and the way we respond when our minds seem to work against us?

Marcus and Jonathan take a closer look at the biblical context of 2 Corinthians 10:5 and explore what it means to bring our thoughts into obedience to Christ. Along the way, they discuss practical steps believers can take when facing temptation, mental health struggles, and personal identity issues.

Faith That Meets Us in Real Life
One of the things I appreciate about studying Scripture is that the Bible doesn't leave us with abstract ideas. God's Word meets us in the middle of real life—with real struggles, real questions, and real people trying to follow Jesus. This conversation is about more than memorizing a verse. It's about learning to recognize the thoughts that shape our lives, examining what we believe, and discovering how our faith in Christ can reshape the way we think and live.Whether you're wrestling with sin, struggling with anxiety or shame, or simply trying to understand what it means to have a Christian identity, there's something here for you.

You don't want to miss this conversation with Marcus Mathis and Jonathan. Listen in as they unpack what it means to take every thought captive—and how this powerful Scripture can make a difference in the everyday lives of believers.

What does it look like to live a life that consistently points people toward Jesus? And what happens when that calling costs us something? John the Baptist had a godly purpose, a bold message, and a perspective that kept Jesus at the center. From the wilderness to the banks of the Jordan River, John’s mission was never about building his own name. He came to prepare the way for the Christ. And that calling would cost him.

John would lose his freedom, his popularity, and eventually his life. But how would John look at such a sacrifice? What kept him faithful when the crowds moved on, the opposition grew, and the cost of preaching the truth became personal? Join guest Jacob McKinney and host Jonathan Edwards as they explore the life and calling of John the Baptist through three godly P’s: purpose, preaching, and perspective.

A Purpose Bigger Than Ourselves
John knew he had a job to do. He was not the Christ, and he never pretended to be. His purpose was to prepare people for Jesus. That kind of calling can be easy to admire from a distance. But what does it look like in our own lives? Are we using our time, influence, and opportunities to point people toward Christ? Or do we sometimes find ourselves wanting the attention, recognition, or approval that belongs to someone else? John’s life challenges us to think about what it means to serve God faithfully without needing to be the center of the story.

Preaching That Points to Jesus
John was not afraid to preach a difficult message. He called people to repentance, confronted sin, and prepared hearts for the coming King. His preaching was not designed to make everyone comfortable. It was designed to make people ready for Jesus. That raises some important questions for believers today. What should faithful Christian preaching look like? How do we speak the truth with courage and humility? And are we willing to remain faithful when the message of Scripture is not the message people want to hear? John reminds us that preaching is not ultimately about the preacher. It is about the One we proclaim.

Perspective When Following Jesus Costs Us
Perhaps one of the most challenging things about John the Baptist is what happened when his faithfulness became costly. He would lose his freedom, his popularity, and eventually his life. Yet John's perspective was grounded in something bigger than his circumstances. He understood who Jesus was and who he was not. That perspective matters for us. Following Christ does not guarantee comfort, recognition, or an easy life. Sometimes faithfulness means giving up what we would rather keep. Sometimes it means standing alone. Sometimes it means trusting that our purpose is still worthwhile even when we don't get to see the results. So what can we learn from John the Baptist? How can his purpose, preaching, and perspective shape our own walk with Christ?

Join special guest Jacob McKinney and Jonathan for this thoughtful conversation about John the Baptist and the three godly P’s. If you're looking for encouragement, biblical insight, and a fresh look at what it means to live a life that elevates Jesus, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.

Do the gospel accounts contradict each other? What do we do when Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John tell the same story in a different order or include different details? What actually qualifies as a contradiction? These are important questions for anyone who wants to understand the Bible and trust the accounts of Jesus’ life. The Gospel writers sometimes present events differently, emphasize different details, or arrange their material in ways that can leave readers wondering how the accounts fit together. But are these differences contradictions? Or can they help us better understand the purpose and perspective of each Gospel writer?

Join special guest Bryce Whittaker and host Jonathan for a two-part series exploring alleged Gospel contradictions. Together, they examine these questions and more, working through difficult passages and considering how we can approach the Bible with honesty, care, and confidence.  Join us for a pure and simple look at alleged Gospel contradictions.

Why should we ask hard questions about the Bible? Or about the Church? Or about our faith? Because questions are one of the tools in our arsenal of knowledge and wisdom. They help us examine what we believe, uncover what we may have misunderstood, and grow in our understanding of God. But for some Christians, asking difficult questions can feel like a threat to faith rather than a part of it. What if asking questions isn't the problem? What if refusing to ask them is? When we look at the life of Jesus, we find someone who was not afraid of a good question. In fact, Jesus was The Great Questioner.

Jesus Asked Questions
Throughout the Gospel accounts, Jesus repeatedly used questions to teach, challenge, and expose the hearts of those around Him. He asked His disciples who they believed He was. He asked people why they were afraid. He asked religious leaders questions that challenged their assumptions and forced them to think more deeply about Scripture. Jesus didn't always respond to a question with a straightforward answer. Sometimes He answered with another question. Sometimes He told a story. Sometimes He allowed people to wrestle with the implications of what He had said. Why? Because a good question can do something that a simple answer cannot. It can help us see what we have been missing.

A Faith That Is Willing to Think
As Christians, we ought to be comfortable asking challenging questions: questions about the Bible, questions about the Church, questions about suffering, doubt, tradition, and what it means to follow Jesus.
That doesn't mean every question has an easy answer. It doesn't mean every conclusion we reach will be correct. And it certainly doesn't mean we should approach Scripture with an attitude of arrogance or suspicion. It means we trust that truth is worth pursuing. A healthy faith is not afraid of honest examination. We can ask difficult questions while maintaining humility. We can wrestle with Scripture without treating it casually. We can acknowledge what we don't know while continuing to seek wisdom. And perhaps most importantly, we can learn from Jesus Himself how to ask better questions.

Asking, Processing, and Answering
In this solo episode, Jonathan explores the role of questions in the Christian life and considers what we can learn from Jesus, The Great Questioner. How should we approach difficult questions about our faith? What can Jesus teach us about the way we think and process? And how can we become people who are willing not only to ask challenging questions, but also to pursue honest answers? The goal isn't to ask questions simply for the sake of asking them. It's to become wiser, more thoughtful, and more faithful followers of Christ. Join Jonathan for this pure and simple conversation about Jesus, questions, and the pursuit of wisdom.