What expectations and fears do young people bring to the dating scene? How can parents help them navigate it? After all, it's a whole new world out there for kids just starting to date the opposite sex. You don't jump straight into a relationship ... or do you? Or do you call it something else? And what about the internet? Pastor Matt and Rachel are here to untangle it for you, in this episode, actually recorded a couple years ago, but more relevant than ever ..read more

Has the church (and the culture at large) failed in its approach to modesty? Has it had an unfair expectation of girls and women? How do both men and women pursue real purity and modesty in a sinful world? Pastor Matt and Rachel continue to hash it out in this, Part 2 of 2.   Music:"Symbiosis" by Savfk (www.youtube.com/savfkmusic www.facebook.com/savfkmusic ..read more

You may have heard that Christian musician Matthew West made waves by releasing a song called "Modest is Hottest." But what is real, biblical modesty, and why is it so controversial in this day and age? What responsibility do women have in it, and what about men? Pastor Matt and Rachel are on the case in this episode, the first of two.  ..read more

There's a group of young people poised to inherit the world, and if we don't understand them, we won't be able to help them do it smartly, and in a godly way. And that's could be bad for everybody. Jackson Van Dyke, student minister at First Southern Baptist Church, is joining Matt for Part 2 of our discussion on Generation Z. Listen today ..read more

How can older people (yes, that includes you, Millennials!) understand Generation Z? What are the ideas, events, and entertainments that have shaped them? And why? How can parents (and everybody else) best help them live godly and productive lives? Pastor Matt hashes it out with Jackson Van Dyke, student minister at First Southern Baptist Church. If you have any contact whatsoever with anyone under the age of 25, this is the podcast for you.  ..read more

Why do so many people have trouble dealing with issues from their past? Why do former sins and hurts and shames continue to haunt us, even years or decades later? And how can we turn to God for true healing? On this episode of From This Day Forward, Pastor Matt is joined by Karen Hauer to explore these issues.  ..read more

As Christians, can we separate the art from the artist? Can we enjoy, say, a good book or movie made by a bad person? Is art good simply because it reflects Christian themes? Should we try to "cancel" bad Christians out in the world? How can Christians begin to work toward real social justice? You might not think all those questions belong in the same podcast but they do! Pastor Matt is joined once again by Pastor Jake Mentzel and Nathan Alberson of Church of the King to discuss the ramifications of cancel culture and enjoying art in a broken world.  ..read more

Cancel culture. Christians may find themselves on both sides of it--participating in it one day and becoming a target the next. But as much as we hear the term thrown around, the full nature (and extent) of it may surprise you. In this episode of From This Day Forward, Pastor Matt is joined by Pastor Jake Mentzel and Nathan Alberson of Church of the King, to discuss cancel culture, and how Christians can stand above it.  ..read more

Who is the devil? How powerful is he? Can people be demon possessed today? The answers to at least one of these questions may surprise you, as Pastor Matt is joined again by the Blands to discuss spiritual warfare, and how, by the power of Jesus, we fight to win.  ..read more

Spiritual warfare is misunderstood topic in Christian circles (hint: it's not cartoon angels and demons sitting on your shoulders), but that doesn't make it any less real. The form it takes, however, may surprise you. In this episode, Pastor Matt is joined by Rachel and Alec Bland to dig into the topic. There's plenty to think about, so give it a listen, and arm yourself for the fight.  ..read more