Rediscovering Faith

Rev. Evan Ryder

Join us as we dive into Scripture and faith through a fresh lens, offering thought-provoking discussions and new perspectives on God’s Word. This podcast invites you to rethink, rediscover, and deepen your spiritual journey, with every episode designed to spark reflection and transformation.

  1. 14H AGO

    Pursue Peace

    Send us your questions and reflections! Conclude this week's journey of untangling from enmity with this action-oriented episode about actively pursuing peace. Based on Psalm 34:14, we learn that peace doesn't just happen—it is something we must actively pursue. After learning about shalom, overcoming evil with good, choosing compassion, and letting Christ be our peace, today we address the action required: you must pursue peace, not wait for it. What You'll Learn: Why peace requires active pursuit, not passive waitingWhat it means to "seek peace and pursue it"Why we fall into the passivity trap instead of pursuing peaceHow to handle the risk of pursuing peace when there's no guarantee of responseA practical untangle moment to move from passivity to active pursuitSeek Peace: David says "seek peace." Seeking means looking for it, prioritizing it, making it your goal. It's not accidental—you don't stumble into peace.  Pursue It: Then David says "pursue it." Pursue is even stronger than seek—it means to chase after something, to go after it with intention and effort.  The Passivity Trap: We're passive—we think "If I just wait long enough, this will resolve itself." But it won't. Unresolved conflict doesn't heal with time; it festers.  Peace Doesn't Just Happen: Peace doesn't just happen. You can't wait it out, can't avoid your way to peace, can't hope that time will fix it. Peace requires someone to move, to take the first step, to initiate the conversation, to extend the olive branch. And David is saying: let that someone be you.  The Risk of Pursuit: Pursuing peace is risky. You might be rejected. The other person might not respond the way you hope, might not be ready, might not care. But you're not responsible for their response—you're responsible for your pursuit.  Your Untangle Moment: Identify one relationship where you've been passive about conflict, then practice untangling by actively pursuing peace with one intentional step.  Perfect for anyone avoiding hard conversations, waiting for peace to happen on its own, or learning that peacemaking requires action, not passivity. Scripture Focus: Psalm 34:14 Series: Untangle Week Theme: Untangle from Enmity Learn to actively pursue peace instead of passively waiting for it to happen and take concrete steps toward reconciliation.

    12 min
  2. 1D AGO

    Christ is Our Peace

    Send us your questions and reflections! Discover what it means for Christ to be our peace within the body of believers in this challenging episode about unity. Based on Ephesians 2:14-16, we learn that Paul's statement is for people inside the family of faith—if we are at enmity with other believers, it is ONLY Jesus that brings peace between factions. Continuing to untangle from enmity, today we address how secondary issues create division where Christ has made peace. What You'll Learn: Why Christ himself is our peace, not our agreement on secondary issuesWhat the dividing wall between Jews and Gentiles teaches us about division todayHow Christ killed the hostility through the crossWhat dividing walls we build in the church todayWhy we let secondary issues create enmity between believersA practical untangle moment to anchor unity in Christ rather than differencesThe Dividing Wall in Paul's Day: In the first century, the biggest division in the church was between Jews and Gentiles. This wasn't a minor disagreement—this was a fundamental identity issue. Jews were God's chosen people with the law, covenant, and promises. Gentiles were outsiders—unclean, separated from God. There was literal hostility.  Christ Himself Is Our Peace: Notice what Paul says: "He himself is our peace." Not our shared values, not our cultural similarities, not our theological precision. Christ himself. The peace between Jewish and Gentile believers wasn't based on them finally agreeing on everything—it was based on both being reconciled to God through Christ.  What Unites Us Versus What Divides Us: Critical question: What unites us? If you and another believer both confess that Jesus is Lord, that He died for our sins and rose from the dead, that salvation is by grace through faith—you are united in Christ. That's the foundation. That's what makes you one.  Killing the Hostility: Paul says Christ reconciled both groups to God "in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility." The cross killed the hostility. Not theology, not agreement. The cross. When you remember what Christ did—that He died for both of you, that He reconciled both of you to God, that you both stand before God only by His grace—hostility becomes impossible to justify.  Your Untangle Moment: Identify one area of division or enmity with another believer or group of believers, then practice untangling by anchoring your unity in Christ rather than your differences.  Perfect for anyone divided from other believers over secondary issues, struggling with church conflict, or learning that Christ is our peace, not our agreement on everything. Scripture Focus: Ephesians 2:14-16 Series: Untangle Week Theme: Untangle from Enmity Learn to anchor your unity in Christ rather than agreement on secondary issues and let Him be your peace.

    13 min
  3. 2D AGO

    Let Peace Rule

    Send us your questions and reflections! Discover how compassion kills enmity and allows peace to rule in this transformative episode about seeing others with God's perspective. Based on Colossians 3:12-15, we learn that enmity toward someone else begins to die when we approach them with compassion. This will require us to "put ourselves in their shoes," but this humble act of trying to understand someone else is critically important to allowing the peace of Christ rule in our hearts. What You'll Learn: Why enmity begins to die when we approach others with compassionWhat it means to "put on" compassionate hearts as a deliberate choiceHow putting yourself in their shoes is an act of humilityWhat it means to let the peace of Christ "rule" in your heartsA practical untangle moment to practice seeing someone with compassionPut On Compassionate Hearts: Paul starts with "put on compassionate hearts." Compassion means you see someone else's suffering and you're moved by it. You don't just see what they did to you—you see their humanity, their struggles, their pain.  Putting Yourself in Their Shoes: Compassion requires "putting yourself in their shoes." This means asking: What might be happening from their perspective? What struggles are they facing that I don't see? What fears might be driving their behavior? What pain might they be carrying? This is humility because it requires you to admit you don't know everything, you don't have the full picture, there might be more to the story than what you experienced.  Let the Peace of Christ Rule: Paul says "let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts." The word "rule" means to act as an umpire or referee—it's the deciding factor. When there's conflict between compassion and enmity, between forgiveness and bitterness, peace should be the referee that makes the call.  The Connection Between Compassion and Peace: Enmity thrives on dehumanization. As long as you see someone as the enemy, as a villain, as irredeemably bad, enmity has a foothold. But compassion humanizes. When you see them as a person—struggling, broken, in need of grace just like you—enmity loses its power.  Your Untangle Moment: Identify one person you're holding enmity toward, then practice untangling by choosing compassion—putting yourself in their shoes and seeing their perspective.  Perfect for anyone dehumanizing someone they're in conflict with, struggling to see another perspective, or learning that compassion kills enmity and allows peace to rule. Scripture Focus: Colossians 3:12-15 Series: Untangle Week Theme: Untangle from Enmity Learn how choosing compassion over judgment allows the peace of Christ to rule in your heart instead of enmity.

    13 min
  4. 3D AGO

    Overcome Evil with Good

    Send us your questions and reflections! Discover the powerful two-step antidote to enmity in this challenging episode about trusting God and serving those who wronged you. Based on Romans 12:17-21, we learn that the antidote to enmity in our relationships is found in two steps: First, trusting God to be just. Second, serving those who we are in the midst of tense relationships with. Continuing to untangle from enmity, today we address how to break the cycle of evil instead of perpetuating it. What You'll Learn: The two-step antidote to enmity: trust God's justice and serve those who wronged youWhy releasing vengeance to God is essential for your freedomWhat it means that "vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord"Why we struggle to release the right to get evenA practical untangle moment to release vengeance and choose serviceStep One: Trust God to Be Just: Paul says "Never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.'" This is hard because when someone wrongs you, you want justice, want them to face consequences, want them to hurt the way they hurt you. But Paul says vengeance belongs to God, not you.  Why We Struggle to Release Vengeance: Releasing vengeance feels like letting them off the hook: "If I don't hold onto this, they'll get away with it." But that's not true—you're not letting them off the hook, you're putting them in God's hands, and God is a far better judge than you are.  Step Two: Serve Those Who Wronged You: Paul says "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink." This is radical. Not only are you supposed to not get even, you're supposed to actively do good to them.  Overcome Evil with Good: Paul's conclusion: "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." When someone wrongs you, you have a choice. You can be overcome by the evil—consumed by bitterness, controlled by anger, trapped in enmity. Or you can overcome the evil with good—trust God with justice and choose to serve anyway.  Your Untangle Moment: Identify one person you're in conflict with, then practice untangling by releasing vengeance to God and choosing one act of service toward them.  Perfect for anyone holding grudges, struggling to forgive, wanting revenge, or learning to trust God's justice while extending grace to those who wronged them. Scripture Focus: Romans 12:17-21 Series: Untangle Week Theme: Untangle from Enmity Learn to overcome evil with good by trusting God's justice and choosing to serve those who wronged you.

    11 min
  5. 4D AGO

    Blessed are the Peacemakers

    Send us your questions and reflections! Begin a new week of untangling from enmity with this foundational episode about what it truly means to be a peacemaker. Based on Matthew 5:9, we learn that God is a peacemaker who pursues shalom, and when we go out of our way to be peacemakers, we reflect God's heart. Discover the Hebrew concept of shalom—not just the absence of conflict, but wholeness, completeness, harmony, and unimpaired relationships. What You'll Learn: Why God is a peacemaker who pursues shalomThe Hebrew meaning of shalom: completeness, wholeness, harmony, unimpaired relationshipsThe critical difference between peacemaking and peacekeepingHow enmity includes both active hostility and passive avoidanceWhat it looks like to pursue shalom instead of just avoiding conflictA practical untangle moment to take one step toward wholenessUnderstanding Shalom: The Hebrew word shalom is often translated "peace," but means much more than just the absence of war or conflict. According to the Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, shalom "means much more than the mere absence of war. Rather, the root meaning of the verb 'shalem' better expresses the true concept of shalom. Completeness, wholeness, harmony, fulfillment, are closer to the meaning. Implicit in shalom is the idea of unimpaired relationships with others and fulfillment in one's undertakings." Shalom isn't just about stopping the fighting—it's about completeness, wholeness, harmony, unimpaired relationships. God the Peacemaker: The entire gospel is about God pursuing shalom with us. We were at enmity with God because of sin—the relationship was impaired, broken, no wholeness or harmony. God didn't just stop the hostility or call a truce—He pursued complete restoration, full reconciliation, unimpaired relationship.  Peacemaking Versus Peacekeeping: Peacekeeping is avoiding conflict, refusing to address tension, sweeping things under the rug, pretending everything's fine. But peacekeeping doesn't create shalom because shalom requires wholeness and unimpaired relationships. You can't have unimpaired relationships when there's unresolved tension festering underneath. Peacekeeping might stop the fighting, but it doesn't restore completeness or create harmony—it just maintains brokenness with a polite smile. Enmity: The Opposite of Shalom: Enmity is anything that prevents wholeness, completeness, and unimpaired relationships. Enmity isn't just demonstrated in lashing out—it can be expressed in passive ways by avoiding as well.  Your Untangle Moment: Identify one relationship with conflict or tension, then practice untangling by taking one step toward peace instead of avoiding or escalating.  Perfect for anyone carrying unresolved conflict, avoiding hard conversations, or learning that peace means wholeness not just absence of hostility. Scripture Focus: Matthew 5:9 Series: Untangle Week Theme: Untangle from Enmity Discover the Hebrew concept of shalom and learn to pursue wholeness in relationships instead of just avoiding conflict.

    13 min
  6. MAR 13

    Belonging in Christ

    Send us your questions and reflections! Conclude this week's journey of untangling from comparison with this powerful episode about unity in Christ. Based on Galatians 3:26-28, we learn that God breaks down dividing lines and erases labels—in Christ, we all belong equally. After addressing humility, service, performance, and gifts, today we tackle the ultimate result of comparison: division. What You'll Learn: Why God breaks down dividing lines and erases labelsWhat the categories in Paul's day reveal about divisionHow "all one in Christ Jesus" is radical and counterculturalWhat dividing lines we draw today and why they contradict the gospelA practical untangle moment to cross the lines you've drawn The Dividing Lines of Paul's Day: "Jew nor Greek" was ethnic and religious division—Jews saw themselves as God's chosen people, Greeks (Gentiles) were outsiders. Deep animosity, separation, superiority and resentment. "Slave nor free" was social and economic division—slaves had no rights, status, or value; free people had power, privilege, dignity. The gap was enormous. "Male and female" was gender division—women had limited rights and were often seen as lesser; men held power and authority. These weren't small differences—these were fundamental categories shaping everything about how society functioned. And Paul says: in Christ, those categories are erased. Not ignored, not minimized. Erased. All One in Christ: Paul says "you are all one in Christ Jesus." Not separate, not ranked, not divided. One. This is radical and countercultural, completely upending how the world works. The world creates hierarchies, ranks people based on demographics, status, achievements, backgrounds, says some people are more valuable than others. But the gospel says no. In Christ, we all stand on level ground—all equally sinners in need of grace, all equally loved by God, all equally part of the body. There's no room for superiority, no room for division, no room for "us versus them." The Dividing Lines We Draw Today: Politics—we divide along political lines and treat people on the other side as enemies, fools, less valuable. Theology—we divide over doctrinal differences and treat people who believe differently as less faithful, less devoted, less Christian. Socioeconomic status—we divide based on wealth, education, profession and treat people as more or less important. Lifestyle—we divide based on choices, struggles, sins and treat them as "other," as outside, as not like us. Race and ethnicity—we divide based on skin color, cultural background and carry prejudice, stereotype, and bias we don't even realize. All of these are dividing lines. All contradict Galatians 3:28. Your Untangle Moment: Identify one dividing line you've drawn between yourself and others, then practice untangling by choosing unity in Christ over division. Perfect for anyone struggling with division, judgment of others, creating "us versus them" mentality, or learning that unity in Christ transcends all human categories and hierarchies. Scripture Focus: Galatians 3:26-28 Series: Untangle Week Theme: Untangle from Comparison Discover how God breaks down dividing lines and learn to choose unity in Christ over the divisions comparison creates.

    12 min
  7. MAR 12

    One Body, Many Gifts

    Send us your questions and reflections! Discover how comparing gifts destroys community in this essential episode about belonging to one another. Based on Romans 12:3-5, we learn that because the grace of God has brought us into one body, we belong to one another—and comparison of gifts divides what grace has united. Continuing to untangle from comparison, today we address how jealousy and pride over abilities damage the body of Christ. What You'll Learn: Why the grace of God means we belong to one anotherWhat it means to not think of yourself more highly than you oughtHow the body metaphor reveals the absurdity of comparing giftsWhy comparing gifts damages the entire body of ChristWhat it looks like to celebrate different gifts instead of competingA practical untangle moment to move from comparison to celebrationDon't Think Too Highly: Paul warns: "Do not think of himself more highly than he ought to think." This is about pride. When you have a certain gift, it's easy to feel superior: "I can do this and they can't. That makes me more valuable." But that's not sober judgment—that's inflated thinking. Your gift doesn't make you better than someone else; it makes you responsible to use it for the body. Paul says think with "sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned." Your gift came from God, it's assigned, it's grace. You didn't earn it, so you can't boast about it. One Body, Many Members: Paul uses the body metaphor: "As in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function." A body has different parts—eyes, hands, feet, ears—each with different functions. None can say "I'm more important than you" or "I wish I were you instead of me." That would be absurd. The eye needs the hand, the hand needs the foot—they belong to one another. The same is true in the body of Christ. You have your gifts, someone else has theirs, and you need each other. When you envy someone's gift, you're saying "I don't want to be the part of the body I was designed to be." When you feel superior because of your gift, you're saying "I don't need the other parts." Both are wrong. Both destroy community. Members One of Another: Paul says "we are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another." Members one of another—not competitors, not rivals, not strangers. Members. You belong to the person sitting next to you. They belong to you. Their gifts build you up. Your gifts build them up. This is what the body of Christ should look like: not a competition, not a hierarchy, but a community where different gifts work together for the good of the whole. The Damage of Comparison: When you compare gifts, you damage the body. If you're jealous, you can't celebrate others—you resent their success, secretly want them to fail so you feel better. If you're proud, you can't honor others—you dismiss their contributions, minimize their value because they don't have your abilities. Either way, the body suffers because we're supposed to build each other up, not tear each other down through comparison. Your Untangle Moment: Identify one gift you've been comparing (either envying someone else's or feeling superior about your own), then practice untangling by celebrating how that gift builds up the body. Perfect for anyone struggling with jealousy of others' abilities, pride in their own gifts, or learning that the body of Christ is built on unity in diversity, not competition. Scripture Focus: Romans 12:3-5 Series: Untangle Week Theme: Untangle from Comparison Learn how to celebrate different gifts instead of comparing them and discover that we're completing one another, not competing

    9 min
  8. MAR 11

    Humility Not Performance

    Send us your questions and reflections! Discover what truly makes you acceptable to God in this convicting episode about spiritual comparison. Based on Luke 18:9-14—the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector—we learn that God responds to humility, not performance. Continuing to untangle from comparison, today we address spiritual comparison: the belief that we earn God's approval through our performance. What You'll Learn: Why God responds to humility, not performanceThe critical difference between the Pharisee's prayer and the tax collector's prayerA practical untangle moment to come to God with humility instead of accomplishments The Pharisee's Prayer: "God, I thank you that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector." Right from the start, he's comparing, measuring himself against others, coming out ahead: "I'm better than those people. I'm not as bad as them." Then he lists his accomplishments: "I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get." These are good things—fasting is good, tithing is good. The Pharisee is doing what he's supposed to do. But notice what he's doing with his goodness: using it as a reason God should accept him, presenting his spiritual résumé. "Look at what I've done, God. I'm performing well. I deserve Your approval." This is spiritual comparison, and it's just as toxic as any other kind. The Tax Collector's Prayer: He stands far off, won't even lift his eyes to heaven, beats his breast (a sign of grief and repentance). And he says just one thing: "God, be merciful to me, a sinner." That's it. No list of accomplishments, no comparison to others, no résumé. Just raw, honest humility: "I'm a sinner. I need mercy. That's all I have to offer." Jesus says this man went home justified—he had a right relationship with God. Not because of what he did, but because of his humility. Why We Compare Spiritually: We think God works like people do—that He's impressed by our performance, that we have to earn His favor. We're insecure—not sure we're acceptable to God, so we try to prove it by doing more, being better, performing at a higher level. We measure ourselves against others: "I'm not perfect, but I'm better than them, so I must be okay." We want to feel like we deserve God's love—grace is uncomfortable because it means we can't earn it, so we try to turn it into something we can control through our performance. But that's not grace. That's not the gospel. Performance Versus Humility: The Pharisee approached God with his performance: "Look at what I've done. Look at how good I am. Look at how I'm better than others." The tax collector approached God with his need: "I'm a sinner. I need mercy. I have nothing to offer but my desperation for Your grace." One was exalting himself. The other was humbling himself. And Jesus is clear: the one who humbles himself is the one God accepts. You can't earn grace. You can only receive it. And you receive it through humility, not performance. Your Untangle Moment: Identify one area where you're relying on your performance to earn God's approval, then practice untangling by coming to God with humility instead of accomplishments. Perfect for anyone struggling with spiritual performance, earning God's approval, comparing their spirituality to others, or learning to rest in grace instead of works. Scripture Focus: Luke 18:9-14 Series: Untangle Week Theme: Untangle from Comparison Discover how God responds to humility, not performance, and learn to approach Him with need instead of a spiritual résumé.

    11 min

About

Join us as we dive into Scripture and faith through a fresh lens, offering thought-provoking discussions and new perspectives on God’s Word. This podcast invites you to rethink, rediscover, and deepen your spiritual journey, with every episode designed to spark reflection and transformation.