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 feels like losing everything. They also get into why overspiritalizing calling keeps people stuck — and why sometimes God's answer is just take a step.

Questions or feedback? Email us at podcast@zionclearlake.org

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TOP 5 TOPICS / KEYWORDS

1. difference between purpose and calling
2. how to find your calling
3. Christian purpose and fulfillment
4. what does God call us to do
5. identity and calling in the Bible

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 just read it, and why community isn't optional if you want to actually grow.

Honest, a little uncomfortable, and worth the listen.

Questions or feedback? Email us at podcast@zionclearlake.org

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TOP 5 TOPICS / KEYWORDS

1. knowing God vs knowing about God
2. how to grow closer to God
3. knowledge of God and spiritual formation
4. why Bible knowledge isn't enough
5. AW Tozer pursuit of God

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, and what the church could learn from the gym floor.

Turns out servant leadership, belonging, and making people feel seen look pretty much the same whether you're rolling on a mat or sitting in a pew.

Questions or feedback? Email us at podcast@zionclearlake.org

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TOP 5 TOPICS / KEYWORDS

1. faith and fitness
2. Christian community and belonging
3. what church can learn from the gym
4. servant leadership and discipleship
5. showing up consistency and spiritual growth

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 gospel in the process.

Patient doesn't mean passive. Loving doesn't mean permissive. Truthful doesn't mean harsh.

Questions or feedback? Email us at podcast@zionclearlake.org

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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 can actually move you forward instead of keeping you stuck.

Questions or feedback? Email us at podcast@zionclearlake.org

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https://goservglobal.org/

To connect, email podcast@zionclearlake.org

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 the difference between disagreement and openness when discussing theology.

We explore the concept of the church as a radical welcoming space for all, using Paul's letter to the Romans as a guide: Welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you (Romans 15:7). They wrestle with the importance of walking with people in suffering versus a hyper-focus on healing, and challenge the idea that the Gospel is a personal me story instead of a communal we story.

To connect, email podcast@zionclearlake.org (zionclearlake.org/pockettheology)

If you'd like a deeper look into this topic, check out the related sermon.

View related sermon at https://subsplash.com/zionlutheranchurch-iowa/recent-sermons/mi/+hqw58sq

To connect, email podcast@zionclearlake.org • (zionclearlake.org/pockettheology)

If you'd like a deeper look into this topic, check out the related sermon.

To connect, email podcast@zionclearlake.org • (zionclearlake.org/pockettheology)

The Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk, but of power (Dunamis). But what does that actually mean?

To connect, email podcast@zionclearlake.org

To connect, email podcast@zionclearlake.org • (zionclearlake.org/pockettheology)

View related sermon at https://subsplash.com/zionlutheranchurch-iowa/recent-sermons/mi/+wprfn98

To connect, email podcast@zionclearlake.org • (zionclearlake.org/pockettheology)

To connect, email podcast@zionclearlake.org

If you'd like a deeper look into this topic, check out the related sermons.

To connect, email podcast@zionclearlake.org • (zionclearlake.org/pockettheology)

Let's not shy away from these conversations. We're not going to always agree, and that's ok. We can agree on the gospel and Jesus.

If you are struggling with mental health issues, know that you aren't alone. Know that the people of the Bible aren't happy, shiny people - they struggled as well!

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 podcast@zionclearlake.org

Like us on socials!

Facebook • @pocketheology.zcl

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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 and syncretism in Haitian church culture, the gang violence that forced Mission Haiti to shut down operations and flee, and what it looks like to rebuild.

But the most convicting part of this conversation is the mirror Paul holds up to the American church. The obsession with time. The isolation. The vices we've made peace with. The way we give God an hour a week and call it enough.

Paul isn't pointing fingers. He's got a foot in both worlds — and a lot of love for both.

Questions or feedback? Email us at podcast@zionclearlake.org

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 marriages, cohabitation, prenups, and what Romans 13 has to say about all of it.

No hard rulebook here. Just an honest conversation worth having.

Questions or feedback? Email us at podcast@zionclearlake.org

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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 the celebrity pastor problem is a two-way street. Spoiler: the congregation wants the show too.

Jeff also shares how his journey from Baptist hymns to running around his house worshiping God in Nashville led to one of the most influential worship movements of the late 90s — and what he thinks the church got right, and wrong, with all of it.

This one's warm, funny, and quietly convicting.

Questions or feedback? Email us at podcast@zionclearlake.org

https://goservglobal.org/

To connect, email podcast@zionclearlake.org

Link to article referenced: https://churchleaders.com/pastors/pastor-articles/324662-are-you-using-your-calling-to-hide-narcissism.html/2?mibextid=Zxz2cZ

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 the need to be "relentlessly right" instead of "endlessly curious."

The heart of the conversation lands on Philippians 4:4-7. While many use the verse "do not be anxious" as a spiritual reprimand, the team reframes it through the lens of gentleness and Koinonia (fellowship).

In this episode, we discuss:

The Prism of Scripture: Why Jesus is the ultimate lens through which we must read the Bible.

The "Maraminate" of Anxiety: A look at the Greek roots of worry and why it feels like a whirlpool.

Gentleness to All: How to meet others (and ourselves) in our brokenness without shame.

The Road to Emmaus: Why Jesus gets "low" to meet us where we are, rather than demanding we have it all figured out.

Whether you’re a long-time believer or just starting to explore the story of Jesus, this episode is a reminder that you don't need a doctorate to be loved by God. It’s okay to say, "I don't know," and it's okay to still be growing.

Scripture Mentioned: Philippians 1, Philippians 4:1-11, Acts 16, Hebrews 4:12, 2 Timothy 3:16, Matthew 11:28.

To connect, email podcast@zionclearlake.org (zionclearlake.org/pockettheology)

To connect, email podcast@zionclearlake.org (zionclearlake.org/pockettheology)

In this episode, we discuss:

The difference between a frantic "vacation culture" and genuine, life-giving Sabbath rest.

Why the first thing Christians drop when life gets busy is often the "click track" (rhythm) of their faith community.

The danger of putting our confidence in self-sufficiency and the work of ministry, rather than living from a place of already being beloved by Christ.

What it looks like to strive to "enter God’s rest" (Hebrews 4) and live from it, even as a busy parent, student, or leader.

If you are exhausted by the constant pressure to be productive, this conversation is your permission to pause and find soul care in Christ.

To connect, email podcast@zionclearlake.org

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? And what does the Bible actually say — versus what the church has taught us to assume?

They dig into the difference between forgiveness (which you're called to) and reconciliation (which takes two), why boundaries aren't walls, what it means to be an ambassador of reconciliation without putting yourself in harm's way, and how the story of Jonah is really a story about exactly this.

This one's honest. One of the hosts shares his own 20-year struggle with unsafe family members. There are no tidy answers here — just real theology, hard questions, and a lot of grace.

Questions or feedback? Email us at podcast@zionclearlake.org

To connect, email podcast@zionclearlake.org • (zionclearlake.org/pockettheology)

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. But it’s not all doom and gloom. We discuss:

• The "Purist Movement": Why kids are returning to paper Bibles, highlighters, and analog spaces.

• Redeeming the Feed: How creators like Forest Frank and Bryce Crawford are using social media for the Gospel.

• Rhythms of Grace: Moving away from "subjective truth" and back toward the timeless traditions of the church.

Stay tuned for a hilarious debate on "Hot Pocket Theology" (think Hot Ones, but with scalding pizza snacks) and a look at why we need to be a "non-anxious presence" when the world feels like a crazy train.

To connect, email podcast@zionclearlake.org • zionclearlake.org/pockettheology

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 work? From Jason’s journey as a Type 7 to Leah’s experience as a Type 5, we explore how opening our eyes to our "default settings" allows us to encounter God’s grace in the places we usually try to hide.

Whether you're an Enneagram nerd or a skeptic, this conversation is an invitation to move from "propositional knowledge" about God to a "participatory relationship" with Him.

Highlights include:

• The Purity Mindset: Why we obsess over origins and miss the truth that belongs to God.

• Hunters, Farmers, & Teamers: A look at the instincts that nuance our personality.

• The Way of the Cross vs. The Sword: Why picking up your cross means releasing your need for superiority.

To connect, email podcast@zionclearlake.org • zionclearlake.org/pockettheology

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 Blessed, Chosen, Predestined, and Holy, stripping away the dust of religious debate to find a vision of the Church that is far more communal and powerful than we usually imagine.

In this episode, we explore:

• The Translation Trap: Why the word "Praise" in Ephesians 1 might be a poor translation and how a single word can shift our entire view of worship.

• The Individualism Problem: Why we instinctively read the word "you" as "me," and how reclaiming the "y'all" of the New Testament changes our security in Christ.

• Redefining Righteousness: Shifting from the "ghost sheet" view of imputed righteousness to a vision of God’s Covenantal Faithfulness.

• Predestination Reframed: A conversation that moves beyond the Calvinist/Arminian divide to see the Church as God's chosen "Plan A" for the world.

• Spiritual Dermatology: An honest look at the "maturity spots" and imperfections of the Church, and why we need the body to truly reflect the image of Jesus.

As the team prepares for a new year and new additions to the family, they offer a "prophetic imagination" for 2026—calling the church to stop settling for "warm feelings toward Jesus" and start living into the radical, unified identity of the Body of Christ.

Resources Mentioned

The Ways of Our God by Charles Scobie

Grasping God’s Word by J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays

How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Gordon Fee

The work of N.T. Wright and E.P. Sanders

To connect, email podcast@zionclearlake.org • (zionclearlake.org/pockettheology)

To connect, email podcast@zionclearlake.org • (zionclearlake.org/pockettheology)

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 modern tendency to seek "special revelations" and instead invite listeners to join the 2,000-year-old conversation of the global Church.

In this episode, we discuss:

Preaching and Pressure: An honest look at the "love-hate relationship" with the pulpit and the responsibility of having "something to say" rather than just "having to say something."

The "Bubble" of Isolation: Why reading only what we agree with limits our growth and the importance of expanding our "awareness" of the broader Christian narrative.

Biblical vs. Systematic Theology: Using the "Heuristic of the Puzzle," we explore how a narrative framework (Promise, Fulfillment, Consummation) helps make sense of the story of God without getting pigeonholed into rigid systems.

The Fellowship of the Gospel: Redefining "Koinonia" from a social "hang out" to a radical partnership of differing people united around the cross—much like the unlikely fellowship of the Ring.

The "Good Work" in Progress: Reclaiming Philippians 1:6—not just as a personal promise of growth, but as a collective guarantee that Jesus will never give up on His Church.

Whether you are a seasoned scholar or just "Bible-curious," this episode is an invitation to get low, stay humble, and let the Holy Spirit expand your vision of what it means to be the Church.

Resources Mentioned:

The Ways of Our God: An Approach to Biblical Theology by Charles Scobie

How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Gordon Fee

Streams of Living Water by Richard Foster

To connect, email podcast@zionclearlake.org • (zionclearlake.org/pockettheology)