Greater Things

Matt Beckenham

5.0 (10)
CHRISTIANITY
UPDATED WEEKLY

A podcast about how faith fits with your everyday life. Matt interviews various speakers from around the globe and invites them to share their own experiences. For those who are asking big questions around faith, religion, church, and life. https://www.greaterthingsinternational.com

AUG 16

Community Wisdom: Discovering God's Unique Path for Each of Us

Send us a text What happens when you gather a diverse community to unpack a phrase we often say but rarely examine? In this unique experiment, Matt brings together members of the Greater Things community to explore what it means to "raise your kids in the ways of the Lord." The conversation unfolds like a beautiful tapestry as each person contributes their distinct understanding. Elaine, a beauty therapist from Scotland, speaks passionately about how God's ways are reflected in our unique creation, down to the cellular level. "Each person is completely uniquely created," she explains, connecting this revelation to how she approaches her clients with individualized care. For Claire, a mother of four girls, the ways of the Lord are tied to identity and experiencing God's love beyond just cognitive knowledge. She vulnerably shares her journey: "I think before I've had a head, cognitive 'yes I know God loves me' agreement, but there's been that massive gap between that knowledge and the experienced reality of it." The wisdom deepens as Merle and John, a married couple with decades of faith experience, offer their perspectives. Merle describes God's ways as "spacious and perfect," painting vivid images of open gates and wildflower meadows representing the freedom God provides. John, approaching his 70th birthday, draws from 1 Corinthians 13 to explain that God's ways are simply the ways He loves—patient, kind, and never insisting on His own way. What makes this episode remarkable is how the conversation itself demonstrates the kingdom of God in action—multiple voices contributing to a richer revelation than any single perspective could provide. When Claire honestly admits she currently feels on a narrow path rather than in a spacious place, it doesn't diminish Merle's insight but rather expands the group's collective understanding. Join this authentic community conversation and discover how different perspectives on God's ways might illuminate your own journey of faith and parenting. What might it mean for you to walk in or raise others in "the ways of the Lord"? Support the show www.greaterthingsinternational.com

46 min
JUL 16

Divine Romance: Unpacking the Song of Songs with Dr Brian Simmons

Send us a text Brian Simmons returns after facing significant health challenges to share his profound passion for the Song of Songs, revealing why this ancient text remains perhaps the most transformative book in Scripture for understanding God's heart toward us. After surviving heart failure with just 15% heart function, Brian brings renewed perspective on what truly matters - experiencing and sharing divine love. He offers a glimpse into the final stages of completing the Passion Translation, with only five books remaining before the entire Bible is finished in early 2027. The conversation shifts to explore why the Song of Songs was the favorite book of the early church fathers long before the New Testament canon was completed. Rather than viewing it as merely one of Solomon's romantic exploits, Brian unpacks how this poetic masterpiece reveals the divine romance between Christ and His bride. What makes this text exceptionally powerful is how it legitimizes our emotional connection with God. "How can we dare relate to God without our emotion?" Brian asks, challenging religious perspectives that prioritize intellect or behaviour over heart connection. The Song portrays a God who sees us as already beautiful and perfected, even while we still see our flaws - a "divine psychology" where loving affirmation becomes the catalyst for spiritual maturity. This perspective transforms how we view ourselves and others. Brian shares how God challenged him to "overestimate the value of people" - to see them not according to their current state but according to God's perspective. Through personal stories of morning communion rituals and blessing even those who have harmed him, he demonstrates how this "love theology" creates space for authentic relationship rather than religious performance. Curious about discovering your identity as the beloved of God? This conversation invites you to return to this ancient love poem with fresh eyes, allowing its divine romance to transform how you see yourself, others, and the One who pursues us until we surrender to love. https://www.thepassiontranslation.com/author/briansimmons/ Support the show www.greaterthingsinternational.com

43 min
JUN 18

Divine Rest: Finding Peace in Sacred Rhythms with Ben Armstrong

Send us a text That breakthrough you've been praying for might be waiting—not in your striving, but in your sleeping. Divine rest isn't a luxury or an afterthought; it's foundational to how God designed us to function in relationship with Him. Ben Armstrong brings profound wisdom to our conversation about sleep, dreams, and the prophetic. He highlights how in the creation narrative, each day began with evening—a divine rhythm suggesting we should live from rest toward activity, not desperately racing toward rest after depleting ourselves. When the Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost, Peter quoted Joel's prophecy that dreams and visions would be key languages of the Spirit. Yet many believers have lost touch with this vital spiritual channel. Through biblical examples like Jacob receiving identity and direction through a dream, Ben illustrates how God often speaks most clearly when we're at rest. Modern science confirms what Scripture teaches—our bodies undergo crucial restoration during sleep, and most growth in nature happens at night. High cortisol levels from stress inhibit rest, while practices like reducing screen time before bed improve both sleep quality and dream recall. Even nutrition plays a surprising role in our ability to rest well. Perhaps most challenging is Ben's observation that we often "spiritualise our dysfunction," pushing through exhaustion while framing unhealthy patterns in religious language. Jesus modelled something different—communion with Father first, followed by purposeful action with more than enough resources for the day. The conversation concludes with a practical challenge: identify one small daily habit that acknowledges rest as vital to your life. This simple act of stewardship invites God's grace and can transform your entire approach to living in His kingdom. What divine breakthrough might be waiting for you in the place of rest you've been avoiding? BEN ARMSTRONG The Overseer of Prophetic Ministry at Bethel Church, Redding, where he and his wife, Heather Armstrong, both serve as pastors. Through teaching and preaching, Ben equips people with the skills and tools they need to bring the kingdom of heaven to earth. He has a passion to see individuals fully equipped in living a prophetic lifestyle, as well as walking in the revelatory gifts. Ben has a passion for the pursuit of God’s presence, seeing worship reach new heavenly realms, dreams and interpretation, healing, and living a prophetic lifestyle. They have three amazing children; Conner, Kira, and Madison. Ben, Heather, and their children are passionate about living the kingdom and bringing the supernatural in their family life and equipping others to do the same. https://armstrongministries.com/ Support the show www.greaterthingsinternational.com

50 min
MAY 17

From Atheist to Storyteller: Reclaiming Childlike Creativity, with Chris Falson

Send us a text What happens when we strip away expectations and discover our authentic creative voice? Chris Folson's journey from atheist child to influential worship songwriter reveals powerful truths about creativity, faith, and finding your unique expression in a world that demands conformity. Growing up with entertainer parents, Chris absorbed creativity through osmosis while his grandfather's encouragement to question everything paradoxically led him toward faith. This fascinating background shaped Chris into a storyteller who views art as a vehicle for mystery rather than a platform for answers—much like the parables Jesus told that confused even his closest followers. Chris shares a startling NASA study revealing that while 98% of children aged 3-5 have creative genius potential, only 2% retain it by age 18. Through education and religious systems that value conformity over curiosity, we systematically unlearn our natural creative abilities. The revelation is both heartbreaking and hopeful: what if we could reclaim this lost creative innocence? The conversation takes a compelling turn when Chris describes discovering his authentic voice after years of professional musicianship. After being constantly instructed to "play like" famous guitarists, his role as a church music director ironically freed him to develop his own style. "In God's presence," he reflects, "I forgot who I was supposed to be and I became who I really was." This moment became a cornerstone of his artistic philosophy and coaching approach. For creators struggling with self-doubt, Chris offers this liberating perspective: "The world doesn't need another love song, but what the world needs is your love song." By embracing your unique viewpoint and releasing the need to be clever or successful, authentic expression emerges. Ready to rediscover your creative voice? This conversation might be the permission slip you've been waiting for. Support the show www.greaterthingsinternational.com

48 min
MAY 10

Authenticity, Friendship, and Finding God in Life's Raw Moments with Gavin Fuller

Send us a text What does it mean to truly be seen? To strip away the facades and connect with others in raw authenticity? Gavin Fuller, videographer, storyteller, father of five, and self-described "friend of Jesus," joins me for a conversation that will challenge how you think about identity and relationships. Gavin takes us into his imaginative prayer life, where he flips the famous Biblical question "Who do you say that I am?" back to Jesus, asking "Who do YOU say that I am?" The answer—"You're a friend"—becomes the foundation for how he approaches every relationship in his life. This identity as "friend" shapes his extraordinary capacity to care for others, remember faces, and maintain emotional connections across years and distances. We explore the concept of marriage as "a city on a hill" characterized by authority balanced with love, and how the Fuller family dinner table becomes a communion table—a sacred space where authentic conversations unfold. Gavin shares his approach to drawing people into deeper connection by noticing conversational threads and creating safe spaces for vulnerability. Perhaps most profound is our discussion of Eden—how we weren't designed for platforms and polished perfection, but for the beautiful mess of the garden. Gavin's refreshing honesty about family life, marriage struggles, and the joy found in everyday moments offers a compelling vision of what it means to experience paradise in our ordinary lives. For anyone feeling lonely, powerless, or hopeless about the future, this conversation offers a practical pathway forward through authenticity and connection. Learn how paying attention to the "open threads" in your conversations might create the very Eden you've been searching for. https://www.youtube.com/@GavinFuller Support the show www.greaterthingsinternational.com

39 min
MAY 1

When God Says "Pick Up Your Brush": The Journey of Artist Jessie DeCorsey

Send us a text Have you ever felt God calling you toward something that initially made you want to say "no thank you"? That's exactly what happened when artist Jessie DeCorsey felt the divine nudge to pick up her paintbrush again after years of creative trauma and disappointment. Despite being a lifelong artist with two decades of professional experience, Jessie had reached a point where painting was associated with so much hurt that she couldn't imagine returning to it. A professor's dismissive comment about her faith-inspired art having "no future," followed by years of struggle trying to market her work, had left deep wounds. Even when opportunities finally emerged—like becoming an artist-in-residence at Luther Seminary—a faith crisis left her creatively empty, unable to find inspiration or even desire to create. In this deeply personal conversation, Jessie reveals how God's simple invitation to "pick up your brush" transformed into a journey of profound healing and creative liberation. Without agenda or pressure to succeed, she found herself creating over 20 paintings in just three months, each one becoming a devotional conversation with God. The freedom she discovered came through releasing expectations about outcomes and simply asking each day: "What do you want to create with me today?" This episode explores how creativity flows naturally when we release the need for validation and commercial success, how comparison kills our unique expression, and how to identify what truly brings life to your spirit. Whether you're an artist, writer, musician, or someone who's never considered yourself "creative," Jessie's story offers a powerful invitation to reconsider what creativity might look like in your own life and to take that first small step toward what God is calling you to do—even when it feels uncomfortable. What creative expression might be waiting for you on the other side of hesitation? Listen in and be inspired to discover your own divine conversation through creativity. Support the show www.greaterthingsinternational.com

34 min
APR 23

Unmasking the Heart: Betty Bradshaw's Journey of Faith and Transformation

Send us a text What happens when we finally remove the masks we've worn for decades? Betty Bradshaw's transformational journey takes us from performance-driven perfectionism to authentic spiritual identity in this powerful conversation. Betty opens up about growing up in a chaotic home with a brother battling addiction, which led her to build strong protective walls and dedicate herself to "doing everything the right way." This pattern served her well through raising four children and running a business, but left her true self hidden behind carefully constructed barriers of achievement and competence. The empty nest phase brought a pivotal question: "What am I going to do now?" Though initially resistant, Betty found herself in a life-changing Bible study that transformed her relationship with the Holy Spirit. She shares the powerful moment in 2016 when prayer released her from the weights she hadn't realized she carried—fear, pride, judgment, and performance—setting her on a path toward her true calling. We explore how this spiritual awakening transformed her marriage as she learned to honor her husband differently, creating a new oneness between them that mirrors the vulnerability she discovered with God. This personal journey ultimately led to the birth of Fresh Wind Ministries, where Betty now creates safe spaces for others to encounter the Holy Spirit and discover their authentic identity. What makes this story particularly compelling is Betty's willingness to surrender control and follow God's leading one day at a time. Her perspective that "God works in seasons and isn't bound by time" offers hope to anyone feeling stuck in performance-based living or wondering if their past has purpose. Ready to discover who you truly are beneath the masks? Connect with Betty at betty@freshwindministries.org to learn more about Fresh Wind Ministries. Support the show www.greaterthingsinternational.com

39 min
APR 17

Connected Living: Finding Freedom in a Disconnected World with Lana Engelbrecht

Send us a text What happens when we learn to embrace connection in a world designed to keep us disconnected? South African-born Lana Enkelbrecht joins us to share her powerful insights on finding freedom through connected living. Drawing from her experiences across three countries and cultures, Lana reveals how disconnection from our true identity creates literal "dis-ease" in our bodies and relationships. With warmth and wisdom, she explores how our fast-paced, digitally-saturated world has eroded our capacity for genuine connection—with ourselves, with God, and with those around us. The conversation takes a fascinating turn as Lana unpacks the Hebrew concept of "shalom"—not just peace, but bringing order and beauty from chaos. She describes practical ways to remain grounded amid life's storms, including intentional moments of presence and curiosity. Rather than seeing challenges as attacks, Lana suggests they reveal heart positions we might otherwise ignore, creating opportunities for transformation. As someone preparing to write a book on connected living, Lana offers profound insights about nurturing connection in families, embracing our purpose, and creating environments where others experience the peace of heaven. Her perspective on approaching life with curiosity rather than judgment opens new pathways for authentic relationship and spiritual growth. Whether you're feeling isolated, overwhelmed, or simply seeking deeper connections, this conversation offers practical wisdom for experiencing the freedom that comes when we live as the connected beings we were designed to be. Listen now to discover how small shifts in awareness can transform your experience of everyday life. Support the show www.greaterthingsinternational.com

42 min

5

out of 5

10 Ratings

A podcast about how faith fits with your everyday life. Matt interviews various speakers from around the globe and invites them to share their own experiences. For those who are asking big questions around faith, religion, church, and life. https://www.greaterthingsinternational.com

Creator

Matt Beckenham
Years Active

2021 - 2025
Episodes

126
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© 2025 Greater Things
Show Website

Greater Things