Families for Life
131 episodes - English - Latest episode: 11 months ago -Families for Life is a podcast by Oakhill Baptist Church (Evansville, Indiana). Equipping and encouraging the families of the church to gospel centered discipleship
Homepage Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
The Discipleship Series: Part 2
May 22, 2023 09:00 - 31 minutes - 24.5 MBWhy is there so much confusion about discipleship? In the church we have turned discipleship into a program that must be led by the elite Christian teachers. Is that what Jesus envisioned for discipleship? Is there a different way? In this episode Pastor Bryan attempts to bring some clarity to the issue of discipleship and encourage all believers to become disciple makers. Families For Life is a podcast of Oakhill Baptist Church. You can stream all our episodes in your internet browser ...
The Discipleship Series: Part 1
May 15, 2023 09:00 - 36 minutes - 28.4 MBWhat is the deal with discipleship? Why has the church not been very effective at making disciples? In this new series Pastor Bryan dives into all things discipleship. Christians should be known as relational disciple makers. This was the plan that Jesus used in his ministry and what he commanded us to do as his followers (Matthew 28:18-20). Join us on this adventure through what it means to be a disciple and how we can become disciple making multipliers. Families For Life is a podcast...
Top 3: Favorite Movies
April 24, 2023 09:00 - 51 minutes - 40.3 MBSometimes you just need a lighthearted conversation about movies! In this episode Pastor Bryan and Pastor Evan break down a few of their favorite movies. Movies provide a window into another world. While we don’t want to find ourselves using movies to escape the pains of reality, they do provide a nice break from time to time. We hope you enjoy it. Tell us about your favorite movies at our email address below. Families For Life is a podcast of Oakhill Baptist Church. You can stream all ...
The Christians Calling to Hard Work
April 17, 2023 09:00 - 44 minutes - 35.1 MBShould Christians attempt to enjoy an easy life? How should we think about trials and suffering in our life? In this episode Pastor Bryan Gotcher discusses why Christians should seek to not only endure trials but to rejoice in them. If you have ever wondered, “Does God want me to do hard things for him?” then this episode will hopefully challenge and encourage you. Families For Life is a podcast of Oakhill Baptist Church. You can stream all our episodes in your internet browser on our we...
Prayer
April 10, 2023 09:00 - 43 minutes - 34.3 MBTheology professor Wayne Grudem defines prayer as “personal communication with God”. How can something so simple be so vital to the Christian walk? On this episode Pastor Bryan Gotcher discusses the importance of prayer. He shares the biblical theological framework for prayer as well as things he has learned about prayer from experience. Families For Life is a podcast of Oakhill Baptist Church. You can stream all our episodes in your internet browser on our website http://www.oakhillbc....
The Return of BVD
April 03, 2023 09:00 - 1 hour - 42.9 MBBrian Van Doren is back! On this episode we catch up with our former co-host Brian Van Doren who is a pastor in Angleton, Texas. Bryan & Brian discuss what God has been teaching them. They talk about what it takes to follow God’s call, to persevere in faith, lean into spiritual disciplines, and take sin seriously. They even include a lesson from a children’s rhyme (When God takes me somewhere new, He has good things for me to do!) and a quote from legendary NFL coach Chuck Noll (Champion...
Marriage Series Part 6: Marriage & Parenting
March 06, 2023 10:00 - 52 minutes - 41.8 MBAccording to a Focus on the Family article, “the drop in marital satisfaction after the first baby’s birth is a staggering 42% larger among the current generation of parents than their predecessors.” This combined with a statistic from a Marriage Dynamics article that says, “the divorce rate among couples aged 55-64 has more than double since 1990,” indicates that there are problems in marriages as couples begin to raise children and after they leave the home. Why are there so many marital...
Marriage Series Part 5: Intimacy
February 27, 2023 10:00 - 59 minutes - 47.3 MBIt seems like sex is everywhere! From television commercials to the internet, it can be hard to escape. The sad reality is that culture doesn’t understand the importance or value of sex. Only when we understand that God created sex for a purpose will we truly see its value. In this episode Bryan & Alan discuss the purpose of sex and how couples can find true intimacy in their marriage. Join us on this journey and discover how you and your spouse can have the more intimate and fulfilling ...
Marriage Series Part 4: Finances
February 20, 2023 10:00 - 48 minutes - 38.4 MBFinances are the number one issue that married couples fight about and the number two reason for divorce, behind infidelity. What does this tell us about the importance of finances in marriage? Couples must learn to work together, communicate, and discover how to use their resources for the glory of God. In this episode Bryan & Alan give a theological basis for how we need to understand our finances and some practical advice from the Bible on how couples can overcome financial difficultie...
Marriage Series Part 3: Roles & Responsibilities
February 13, 2023 10:00 - 43 minutes - 34.2 MBThere are no roleless marriages but are the right roles according to scripture. All husbands and wives have a core role and core response according to the Bible. Listen as Bryan and Alan break down these roles and response from scripture. Also, in this episode we cover the always hot button issues of headship and submission. We hope to correct a lot of misconceptions surrounding these issues. Families For Life is a podcast of Oakhill Baptist Church. You can stream all of our episodes in...
Marriage Series Part 2: Authentic Communication
February 06, 2023 10:00 - 57 minutes - 44.5 MBIt has been said that communication is to the relationship as blood is to the body. Communication nourishes and sustains a relationship. Take it away and you no longer have a relationship. Why is it so difficult to have authentic communication in a marriage? Why is it so difficult to resolve conflict in a biblical way. Find out in this episode as Bryan & Alan tackle what it takes to have authentic communication in your marriage. Families For Life is a podcast of Oakhill Baptist Church. ...
Marriage Series Part 1: Why is Marriage Special?
January 30, 2023 10:00 - 56 minutes - 45.2 MBIs there something special about marriage? Just from observing culture you would probably say “no”! But what does the Bible have to say about marriage. Over the next several weeks Pastor Bryan & Pastor Alan will dive into what a biblical marriage looks like. In this first episode we give a biblical basis for marriage and lay the foundation for the rest of the series. Families For Life is a podcast of Oakhill Baptist Church. You can stream all of our episodes in your internet browser on ...
Biblical Balance: Food
January 23, 2023 10:00 - 45 minutes - 42.1 MBFood seems to have two extremes in our lives. Either we don't think about it very much or we obsess over it. Where should Christians come down on this issue? Does God care about what we eat? Does the Bible have anything to say about food? In today's episode Bryan looks at the scriptures to discover the balance of food in our lives. Families For Life is a podcast of Oakhill Baptist Church. You can stream all of our episodes in your internet browser on our website http://www.oakhillbc.org/...
Pastors Perspective: Goals
January 16, 2023 10:00 - 25 minutes - 22.9 MBHappy New Year! Families for Life Podcast is back for 2023. Did you make a New Years Resolution? Have you already given up on it? On today’s episode Bryan discusses what it means to make goals and keep them. If you ever find yourself struggling with keeping a goal whether it is a spiritual goal or not, this episode is for you! Families For Life is a podcast of Oakhill Baptist Church. You can stream all of our episodes in your internet browser on our website http://www.oakhillbc.org/f4...
Pastors Perspective: Busyness
December 19, 2022 10:00 - 49 minutes - 90.4 MBAre you in the business of busy-ness? It’s an easy trap to fall into for a lot of us. Is there a healthy kind of busy in which we can engage? Would you be surprised if the answer is “yes?” Busyness is widespread these days, and as the culture becomes more segmented and the digital and tangible worlds become more enmeshed, we can busy ourselves with things that are really counter productive to our lives. Brian and Bryan springboard off of the ideas in Kevin DeYoung’s book Crazy Busy to discus...
Pastors Perspective: Discipleship
December 12, 2022 10:00 - 50 minutes - 93.3 MBThe Christian life is one of discipleship, but what does that mean? A disciple is a learner, and the Christian disciple is one who is learning to live a transformed life for Jesus Christ. Jesus called 12 men to himself in order to instruct them on what his kingdom would look like, how his people were to live in light of that kingdom, and the hope of life with the Lord for eternity. The initial group of men that Jesus called (minus Judas) were given the ability to understand all that Jesus t...
Special: Evan Gray Oakhill’s Worship Pastor
December 05, 2022 10:00 - 51 minutes - 94.6 MBThis week, Bryan and Brian are joined by Evan Gray for conversation. Evan is the newest member of Oakhill Baptist Church's leadership team, coming on board as the Pastor of Worship. Evan gives his testimony, history in service to the church, approach to worship, and a little about his interests. It is a great time of conversation that will encourage you in your own approach to worshipping the Lord. Thanks for listening! Families For Life is a podcast of Oakhill Baptist Church. You can strea...
Christmas Special: Advent
November 28, 2022 10:00 - 31 minutes - 57.3 MBIt seems like the "Christmas Season" begins earlier each year. It is exciting in one sense to think about the joy and the festive feeling of this time of year, but the tradeoff is that we can easily lose sight of the reason we're celebrating in the first place. Throughout the history of the Christian church, believers in Jesus have celebrated the advent as a way to prepare our hearts for worship of the coming of our Savior. It also serves as a reminder that one day he will come again, and w...
Special: Answering God’s Call
November 21, 2022 10:00 - 57 minutes - 106 MBIn the Gospel accounts we see several moments recorded where Jesus calls men to follow him. This is not just a New Testament experience. Think of God’s call to Moses, Gideon, and others in the Old Testament. This week’s Families For Life podcast is a special episode examining the call of God. Bryan and Brian discuss the call of God on our lives today and the themes that underly discerning a call. It’s not just for ministry, either. We have to be in relationship with God and be seeking his fa...
Doing Things God’s Way: Surrender
November 14, 2022 10:00 - 53 minutes - 98.9 MBWhen you think of the word surrender, you may imagine scenes from a battle where one side has given up the fight, and when we talk about the concept of surrender for the Christian we have to recognize that it is much more than that. Bryan and Brian sit down this week to discuss the idea of Christian surrender, how submitting ourselves to King Jesus brings true freedom, and what that looks like in our lives. Resources Total Surrender by Kevin Smith Table Talk Magazine 2/1/09 Ask Pastor John ...
Pastors Perspective: Dealing With Death
November 07, 2022 10:00 - 53 minutes - 98.7 MBIn his first letter to the Thessalonians, the apostle Paul offers comfort to believers in Jesus when he writes “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.” (1 Thes. 4:13) Death is an inevitable truth of our existence born out of the fall of man, but it is one that believers can face with confidence because of the promises of God that we find in the Bible. This week, Bryan and Brian offer encouraging te...
Top 3: Pet Peeves
October 31, 2022 09:00 - 34 minutes - 62.6 MBThis week, Bryan and Brian discuss the top 3 things that get under their skin. Each of them has their own list of pet peeves, along with some bonus irritations from their wives! Families For Life is a podcast of Oakhill Baptist Church. You can stream all of our episodes in your internet browser on our website http://www.oakhillbc.org/f4l/ or listen on your favorite podcast app! Make sure to rate and review the show. We would also welcome your feedback or future episode ideas in our email in...
Pastors Perspective: Evil
October 24, 2022 09:00 - 48 minutes - 88.9 MBCONTENT ADVISORY: This episode looks at the topic of evil and discusses current events that may not be suitable for everyone to hear about. Please exercise discretion or pre-screen for younger ears. Every honest person can look around at the world and plainly see the problem of evil. Why does evil exist? What can we do about evil? Are people basically good? In a special Pastors Perspective, Bryan and Brian examine these questions and more with Bibles open to provide a real explanation of ho...
Understanding God’s Word 8: How to Study the Bible
October 17, 2022 09:00 - 58 minutes - 107 MBBryan and Brian draw their Understanding God’s Word series to a close by pulling everything together to examine how to study the Bible. When we consider the list of tools and topics covered in this series, we should not be intimidated at the thought of Bible study. These episodes are designed to help make studying the Scriptures more accessible to everyone, and to help mature us in our faith through a better understanding of God’s Word. So, the men give some application to the material they’...
Understanding God’s Word 7: The Epistles
October 10, 2022 09:00 - 48 minutes - 88 MBThis week on Families For Life, Bryan and Brian continue their series about Understanding God’s Word with an examination of the last type of genres found within the Scriptures: the Epistles. The word epistle means “letter,” and the epistles of the Bible are considered the letters found in the New Testament. To paraphrase one pastor, it’s like reading someone else’s mail. These letters often gave counsel, addressed division or error within a body, or came as personal exhortations. Although th...
Understanding God’s Word 6: Prophecy and Revelation
October 03, 2022 09:00 - 55 minutes - 101 MBThis week, Bryan and Brian return to their examination of Scripture series Understanding God’s Word, and this is arguably one of the most difficult aspects to understand–prophecy and revelation. Prophecy uses a lot of metaphorical language, imagery, and symbolism which can lead to misinterpretation and confusion. Prophecy is not merely telling the future. It is the proclamation of God’s message. This may prompt a lot of questions, so we have listed a couple of great resources below and we en...
Parenting Profile: The Bilgers
September 26, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 121 MBWe are excited to return with another Parenting Profile on Families For Life! This week, Bryan and Brian are joined by Gary and Mallory Bilger to discuss their family history, dynamic, and approach to parenting. They have three children ages 13, 12, and 9 who enjoy participating in the ministries offered to their age groups. Gary is a member of the air national guard, so the family operates with him away at times, and has had to deal with deployment in the past. This, coupled with their deep...
Understanding God’s Word 5: Songs, Poetry, and Wisdom Literature
September 19, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 117 MBBryan and Brian continue their examination of the types of literature found in the Bible as we seek to Understand God’s Word. In part 5 of our series, the guys zero in on Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs (or Song of Solomon.) Although songs, poems, and proverbs are sprinkled throughout other places in Scripture, these books of the Bible are commonly considered “wisdom literature.” These sections of Scripture are often very personal, frequently written in light of the au...
Understanding God’s Word 4: Law and Covenants
September 12, 2022 09:00 - 56 minutes - 103 MBAs we seek to Understand God’s Word, we will learn that throughout the history of creation, God has worked through covenants. Bryan and Brian examine the covenants of Scripture, and discuss the laws that arose out of them. Brian Van Doren summed up this episode well when he said that it is like mining for gold. The work may seem tedious, but it reveals great treasure in the end. What are the parts of a covenant? How does the Law of God factor into the covenants that He has delivered througho...
Understanding God’s Word 3: Biblical Narrative and the Teachings of Jesus
September 05, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 135 MBStories can be true, and the story of the Bible is true! It is important to understand, though, that the Bible is both a collection of stories and one overarching story. These stories are presented in various literary forms including poetry, historical narrative, parables, and more. Bryan and Brian continue their series of episodes Understanding God’s Word with a rapid fire examination of the idea of narrative, what the overarching narrative of the Bible is, and the literary forms that are p...
Understanding God’s Word 2: Context and Language
August 29, 2022 09:00 - 49 minutes - 91.1 MB"Context is key!" What does this mean? In our last episode, Bryan and Brian framed the new series Understanding God's Word and discussed the idea of Hermeneutics so we can begin to develop a framework for meaning when we study the Scriptures. This week, the guys examine how looking into the background of a text to gain the context it was written in can go a long way in understanding because it can provide clues that include audience, language, and history. These components are important for...
Understanding God’s Word 1 - Hermeneutics, Rules, and Application
August 22, 2022 09:00 - 55 minutes - 102 MBBryan and Brian begin a new series that seeks to Understand God’s Word, beginning with a look at hermeneutics, rules, and application. The Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8 was asked by Philip if he understood the prophecy of Isaiah that the eunuch was reading. The response in Acts 8:31 was “How can I, except some man should guide me?” Philip’s guidance led to rejoicing by the Ethiopian once he understood the Gospel and was baptized. Looking at this in our current cultural context, one great chall...
Top 3: Resources
August 15, 2022 09:00 - 42 minutes - 77.7 MBBryan and Brian have a Top 3 on deck this week, examining their favorite resources for Christian living. While we never replace the Bible as the only sufficient authority for Christian faith and practice, there are solid resources that can help us to better understand the truths of scripture and how to apply them to our lives. With this in mind, the guys discuss their most impactful resources that they still return to in their Christian walk. We hope you find these lists encouraging! Here i...
Pastors Perspective: Life
August 08, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 113 MBBryan and Brian return from Summer break and dive into the deepest part of the current cultural pool as they examine the issue of life. What does it mean to be made in the image of God? When does life begin? Most importantly, what does the Bible have to say and have to do with these issues. The decision by the Supreme Court to overturn a monumental decision about “women’s reproductive rights” has a lot of folks talking about what happens next. This is a deeply sobering and culturally relevan...
Pastors Perspective: Freedom
July 04, 2022 09:00 - 52 minutes - 95.4 MBOn this Independence Day special of Families For Life Bryan and Brian discuss the topic of Freedom, comparing the freedom that some nations like the USA enjoy to the true freedom found in Christ. Mature Christians recognize that spiritual freedom and material freedom are two different things, and we can have freedoms and still be enslaved to sin. How should we view patriotism as followers of Jesus? These concepts and more are discussed in this episode. Families For Life is a podcast of Oakh...
Biblical Balance: Legalism vs Antinomianism
June 27, 2022 09:00 - 56 minutes - 104 MBBryan and Brian dig down into a new Biblical Balance discussing legalism and antinomianism. They have been called the twin heresies, and both have God’s law in view. Legalism places an emphasis on God’s law that expects more out of the believer than he can possibly bear. Antinomianism (literally “anti law” at its etymological root) downplays God’s law upon the life of the believer. How do we navigate the Christian road without steering into one or both of these ditches? What is the proper pe...
Top 3 Places We’ve Visited
June 20, 2022 09:00 - 56 minutes - 103 MBBrian and Bryan mix it up this week with an episode dedicated to discussing the top 3 places that each of them have visited. From mission trips to majestic vacations, the guys explain the favorite travel destinations they’ve experienced, and offer some insights from these trips. Families For Life is a podcast of Oakhill Baptist Church. You can stream all of our episodes in your internet browser on our website http://www.oakhillbc.org/f4l/ or listen on your favorite podcast app! Make sure to...
Hard Talks 6: The Future
June 13, 2022 09:00 - 55 minutes - 102 MBOur Hard Talks series wraps up by looking at the conversations that we have with children about the future. These hard talks are to be had over time, and they mature along with your children. So, these conversations look different at different ages, but the subjects are necessary and good. How do we talk to our children about growing up, about death, and about eternity? These are just a few of the facets that they will deal with in the future. Bryan and Brian discuss how we can approach the...
Hard Talks 5 (with guest Matt Higgins): Sex
June 06, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 156 MBContent Advisory: This episode deals with adult themes. . . This week on Families For Life, Bryan and Brian are joined by guest Matt Higgins. Matt is the Pastor of Worship and Communications at Northwoods church in Evansville, Indiana and he is a certified Biblical counselor. It’s long been one of the hardest of Hard Talks for parents to have, the “sex talk.” With culture pushing disordered sexual behaviors, the conversation may seem more difficult than ever. Take encouragement in the f...
Hard Talks 4: Friendship
May 30, 2022 09:00 - 55 minutes - 102 MBThe Hard Talks series returns! This week, Bryan and Brian are focusing in on the difficult conversations that parents have to have with their kids around the subject of friendship. What types of friends should we encourage our kids to have? How do we help them navigate friendships as they grow up? All of this and much more are presented in this episode. Families For Life is a podcast of Oakhill Baptist Church. You can stream all of our episodes in your internet browser on our website http:/...
Parenting Profiles: The Luttrells
May 23, 2022 09:00 - 55 minutes - 102 MBWe're debuting a new feature this week: Parenting Profiles! Bryan and Brian will begin periodically sitting down with folks to discuss their family dynamics, their parenting styles, and most importantly, the biblical principles that shape these aspects of their households. In this first edition, the guys are joined by John and Michelle Luttrell. The Luttrells are active in the life of Oakhill, and have been members of the church for nearly five years. They have two daughters, ages 7 and 4...
Hard Talks 3: Failure
May 16, 2022 09:00 - 52 minutes - 96.7 MBThe next installment of Hard Talks on the Families For Life podcast focuses on the topic of failure. Bryan and Brian look at the types of failure, some of the different effects that failure can have on our lives, and the lessons we can learn through failure from a Christian context. How can we have a right understanding of failure that we can then build into our children? Gain a better understanding this week. Families For Life is a podcast of Oakhill Baptist Church. You can stream all of o...
Hard Talks 2: Character
May 09, 2022 09:00 - 59 minutes - 109 MBThis week, Bryan and Brian examine the topic of another Hard Talk with the subject of character. Did you know that the dictionary definition of character is very simple and vague? It opens true character up to a variety of interpretations. As Christians, we want to define character according to the scriptures, so that we can possess a biblical character that impacts who we are and what we do in a way that honors Christ and blesses others. Listen for encouragement toward the building up of go...
Hard Talks 1: Obedience
May 02, 2022 09:00 - 54 minutes - 99.4 MBBryan and Brian begin a new series of episodes called ‘Hard Talks.’ This is a series of episodes geared toward helping parents to approach difficult conversations with their children on a variety of important topics. This first episode examines a biblical understanding of obedience. Why is it important to be obedient? How do parents train their kids in obedience? If you aren’t a parent, there’s still wisdom to be gained and we’d love for you to share this resource with others that you think ...
Pastors’ Perspective: Things I’ve Said A Million Times
April 25, 2022 09:00 - 45 minutes - 83.4 MBWith Brian out welcoming his new daughter, Bryan is joined by Pastor Alan Scott for a Pastor’s Perspective on this week’s Families For Life Podcast. Pastor Alan discusses “Things I’ve said a million times,” as he looks at ideas that have shaped his ministry and leadership over the years. It is an edifying and personal discussion about a few of the concepts that have helped Oakhill Baptist Church to follow God and serve our community so far, and will continue to guide us into the future. Fam...
Pastors’ Perspective: COVID (2 years later), Corporate Worship, and Church Shopping
April 18, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 120 MBBryan and Brian look back on our recent cultural watershed to reflect upon two years since the COVID virus changed the world. How have we moved forward from the days when society had very little information to go on? How do we continue to move forward now? For Christians, part of the answer is rediscovering the importance of coming back to corporate worship in the church building. As a result of these last couple of years, many folks are moving to different churches. Is this a healthy action...
Easter Special 2022
April 11, 2022 09:00 - 48 minutes - 89.6 MBBrian and Bryan are back with a special for Easter, examining the theology, history, and trends associated with this Christian holiday. In the midst of this season, how can we focus our hearts on the meaning for our celebration, and what types of things can families do to engage their young people to get excited about the resurrection of Jesus? Find out in this episode! Families For Life is a podcast of Oakhill Baptist Church. You can stream all of our episodes in your internet browser on...
Biblical Balance: Freedom In Christ vs Servant of Christ
April 04, 2022 09:00 - 45 minutes - 84 MBBryan and Brian check in on a new Biblical Balance topic on this week’s Families For Life. A Christian is referred to at times in scripture as truly free, a co-heir with Christ, and a member of a royal priesthood. In other parts of the Bible, followers of Jesus are called slaves or servants. How do we hold all of this in tension and strike a balance in this life between the liberty we have as Christians and our position as servants of the Lord? Families For Life is a podcast of Oakhill Bapt...
DTGW: Repentance
March 28, 2022 09:00 - 46 minutes - 85.2 MBOn this episode, Bryan and Bryan offer a new edition of Doing Things God’s Way dealing with the subject of repentance. What does it mean to repent and how can we better understand if we are truly repentant? What are some of the traps we can fall into in place of genuine repentance. These issues and more are discussed this week. Families For Life is a podcast of Oakhill Baptist Church. You can stream all of our episodes in your internet browser on our website http://www.oakhillbc.org/f4l/ or...
Finding Friendship Part 6: Friendship Deepening Cont.
March 21, 2022 09:00 - 39 minutes - 73 MBOn this episode of Families For Life, Brian and Bryan reach the end of their series on biblical friendship by examining the second part of their list of practical steps to find, build, and deepen faithful friendships in our lives. Are you ready to put the work in to ave the type of true friendships that last? Families For Life is a podcast of Oakhill Baptist Church. You can stream all of our episodes in your internet browser on our website http://www.oakhillbc.org/f4l/ or listen on your fav...