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.

The Parable of the Shrewd Manager was told by Jesus in Luke 16:1-13. It is one of the most difficult parables to understand. Its meaning has been disputed by scholars. How could the unrighteous behavior of the main character serve as our example? What does it mean to be shrewd anyway? And what lessons can we learn from this shred manager? Join guest Shaun Wackerly and host Jonathan Edwards as they discuss the parable together.

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.

What is glory? What does it mean to "give God glory"? And how do we do it, anyway? Today's episode is a reflection on a Christian word that we use so frequently and yet sometimes do not stop to reflect upon the concept itself. Beyond the concept of glory, we want to spend time processing how our lives, with the good and the bad, give God glory.

.This week, two young men, Justin and Uriah, are joining Jonathan in studio. These guys are currently in school and also studying to become better congregational teachers. Together they discussed 1 Timothy 4:12 and the admonition to no let others "despise their youth." Listen along with us