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. 22H AGO

    Raised With Christ

    Send us your questions and reflections! Untangle - Week 7, Episode 4: "Raised With Christ" Discover how to live the resurrected life you've been given in this practical episode about where you set your mind. Based on Colossians 3:1-4, we learn that living a resurrected life is all about where our eyes are looking—is our mind set on things above or on things below? Continuing to untangle from the power of death, today we address the daily practice of setting our minds on eternal realities instead of temporary earthly concerns. If You Have Been Raised With Christ: Paul starts with a condition: "If then you have been raised with Christ." This isn't questioning whether you've been raised—it's saying: since you have been raised with Christ, here's what that means for how you live. You died with Christ. You were raised with Christ. That's your reality, your spiritual position, your identity. And because that's true, you need to live like it. Seek the Things That Are Above: Paul's first command: "Seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God." Seek—this is active, intentional, pursuing. You're not passively waiting for heavenly things to come to you; you're actively seeking them, pursuing them, making them your focus. What are the things above? The things where Christ is—the things of His kingdom, His priorities, His values, His purposes. Eternal things, not temporary things. Things that last, things that matter beyond this life. Set Your Minds on Things Above: Paul gives a second command: "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." Set your minds—this is about where your mental energy goes, what you think about, what occupies your thoughts. Not occasionally, not just during prayer or Bible reading. Set your minds. Make it your default, your orientation, your habitual focus. Things above, not things on earth. Not that earthly things don't matter at all, but they're not your primary focus, not what dominates your thinking. Your Life Is Hidden With Christ in God: Paul says something beautiful: "Your life is hidden with Christ in God." Your real life—your true identity, your eternal existence—isn't found in earthly success or failure. It's hidden with Christ in God. This means your life is secure, protected, safe, not dependent on earthly circumstances. When your life is hidden with Christ in God, earthly things lose their power to define you, to control you, to consume you. Your Untangle Moment: Make a list of things that are valuable to God. Take note of how you know that this particular thing is valuable to God. Then evaluate your life against those values. Scripture Focus: Colossians 3:1-4 Series: Untangle Week Theme: Untangle from the Power of Death Learn to live the resurrected life by setting your mind on things above instead of being consumed by temporary earthly concerns.

    11 min
  2. 1D AGO

    Death Defeated

    Send us your questions and reflections! Discover the life-changing hope of physical resurrection in this powerful episode about death's defeat. Based on 1 Corinthians 15:20-22 and 15:58, we learn that the physical resurrection of Jesus means that we too will receive a physical resurrection when Christ returns. This hope of resurrection means that we should live free from the fear of death, though it is a mystery to us, and invigorates us with motivation to do good works because they are not done in vain. Christ Has Been Raised: Paul starts with the fact: "But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead." Not "His spirit lives on," not "He's alive in our hearts." He has been raised from the dead—physically, bodily, actually.   The Firstfruits: Paul calls Christ "the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." Firstfruits is an agricultural term—the first portion of the harvest, the guarantee that more is coming. When you see the firstfruits, you know the full harvest is on its way. The firstfruits prove the harvest is real and coming. Christ is the firstfruits. His resurrection is the guarantee that our resurrection is coming. He's not the only one who will rise—He's the first. We're next. By a Man Came Death, By a Man Came Resurrection: Paul explains the symmetry: "For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead." Adam brought death into the world. Christ brought resurrection. Death entered through one man's sin. Resurrection entered through one man's obedience. This is the reversal: what Adam broke, Christ fixed. What death destroyed, resurrection restores. In Adam All Die, In Christ All Are Made Alive: Paul states the reality: "For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive." In Adam, all die—that's universal. Death comes to everyone. No exceptions. But in Christ, all shall be made alive. Not just spiritually, not just in heaven. Made alive. Resurrected. Physically. This is the promise: if you're in Christ, resurrection is coming. Not maybe, not hopefully. Shall be made alive. Guaranteed. We Forget the Physical Resurrection: We tend to forget resurrection is physical, not just spiritual. We believe our spirits go to be with Jesus when we die—and that's true. Paul says "to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord." But that's not the end of the story. That's the intermediate state. The final state is resurrection—body and spirit reunited, glorified, made new. Jesus didn't stay a disembodied spirit. He rose physically. And neither will we. The Hope of Resurrection: This hope of resurrection does two things for us. First, it frees us from the fear of death. Death is real, death is painful, but death is not the end. It's been defeated. Resurrection is coming. You don't have to fear death having the final word—it doesn't. Christ does. And His word is resurrection. Second, it gives us motivation for good works. After explaining resurrection, Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:58: "Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." Because resurrection is coming, your work matters. Your service isn't pointless. Your obedience isn't wasted. Nothing you do in the Lord is in vain. Perfect for anyone afraid of death, feeling like their work is pointless, or learning that physical resurrection is guaranteed and changes everything about how you live now. Scripture Focus: 1 Corinthians 15:20-22, 58 Series: Untangle Week Theme: Untangle from the Power of Death Discover how the guarantee of physical resurrection frees you from fear and fills you with purpose because your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

    11 min
  3. 2D AGO

    Alive in Christ

    Send us your questions and reflections! Discover the freedom you already have in Christ in this liberating episode about being set free from sin's dominion. Based on Romans 6:7-11, we learn that by faith in Christ, there is something fantastically good that has happened to us—we have been set free from sin and are no longer bound to sin in any form or fashion. Continuing to untangle from the power of death, today we address the power of sin and the freedom that's already ours in Christ. Died With Christ, Set Free From Sin: Paul starts: "For one who has died has been set free from sin." When you die, sin no longer has power over you. A dead person can't be enslaved, can't be controlled, can't be dominated. When you were united with Christ in His death, you died—not physically, but spiritually. The old you, enslaved to sin, died. And because you died with Christ, you've been set free from sin. Past tense. Done. Finished. Dead to Sin, Alive to God: Paul says "now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him." We died with Christ. We also live with Christ. Death and resurrection. Both realities. You're dead to sin and you're alive to God. Not one or the other—both. This is the gospel reality: the old you, dominated by sin, is dead. The new you, alive in Christ, is living. Death No Longer Has Dominion: Paul continues: "Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him." Death had dominion over Christ for three days. But when He rose, death lost its power. It can never dominate Him again. The same is true for sin in your life. Sin had dominion over you before Christ. But when you died with Christ and rose with Him, sin lost its dominating power. It can't enslave you again. This doesn't mean you'll never sin—it means sin no longer has dominion, ruling power, enslaving power over you. Once For All: Paul says "the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God." Once for all—not repeatedly, not progressively. Once for all. Christ died to sin once, and it was enough. Completely. Finally. Forever. And because you're united with Christ, His "once for all" death applies to you. You died to sin once for all. You don't have to keep dying. You don't have to keep trying to break free. You're already free. Consider Yourselves: Paul gives a command: "So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus." Consider—this is about how you think about yourself, how you see yourself, how you understand your identity. You must consider yourself dead to sin. Not "trying to die to sin," not "hoping to die to sin." Dead to sin. Past tense. And alive to God. Not "working toward life," not "someday alive." Alive. Now. Present tense. This is the shift: from seeing yourself as enslaved to seeing yourself as free, from living like you're bound to living like you're alive. Your Untangle Moment: Identify one area where you're living like you're still enslaved to sin, then practice untangling by considering yourself dead to sin and alive to God in that specific area. Perfect for anyone struggling with repeated sin, feeling enslaved to patterns they can't break, or learning that freedom in Christ is already yours—not something to strive for. Scripture Focus: Romans 6:7-11 Series: Untangle Week Theme: Untangle from the Power of Death Discover that you have been set free from sin's dominion and learn to live from freedom instead of striving for it.

    12 min
  4. 3D AGO

    God's Mercy Endures

    Send us your questions and reflections! Begin the final week of Untangle with this hope-filled episode about God's mercy in the midst of suffering. Based on Lamentations 3:31-33, we learn that God's mercy is deeper than suffering. Starting this week's journey of untangling from the power of death, today we discover that while suffering is real and painful, it's not the deepest reality—God's steadfast love and abundant compassion are. What You'll Learn: Why God's mercy is deeper than sufferingThe context of Lamentations and Jeremiah's devastating lossWhat it means that "the Lord will not cast off forever"Why God's compassion is "according to the abundance of his steadfast love"A practical untangle moment to anchor yourself in God's mercy when suffering feels finalThe Context of Lamentations: Lamentations is a funeral dirge, a song of mourning over the destruction of Jerusalem. The city is in ruins. The temple is destroyed. The people are scattered, exiled, suffering. This isn't theoretical suffering—this is catastrophic loss.  The Lord Will Not Cast Off Forever: Jeremiah starts: "The Lord will not cast off forever." Notice he doesn't deny that God has cast them off, doesn't minimize their suffering, doesn't pretend everything is fine. He acknowledges the reality—they've been cast off, they're experiencing God's judgment, the suffering is real. But—and this is critical—it's not forever.  He Will Have Compassion: Jeremiah says "though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love." God's compassion isn't small, reluctant, or scarce. It's abundant—according to the abundance of His steadfast love. He Does Not Afflict From His Heart: Jeremiah concludes "for he does not afflict from his heart or grieve the children of man." This is profound. God doesn't take pleasure in your suffering. He doesn't afflict you because He enjoys it. Your Untangle Moment: Identify one area where suffering or death feels like it has the final word, then practice untangling by anchoring yourself in the truth that God's mercy is deeper. Perfect for anyone in the midst of deep suffering, feeling like grief will never end, or learning that God's mercy is the deeper reality beneath all pain. Scripture Focus: Lamentations 3:31-33 Series: Untangle Week Theme: Untangle from the Power of Death Discover that while suffering is real and painful, God's mercy is deeper and His steadfast love outlasts every form of death and grief.

    10 min
  5. 6D AGO

    God's Acceptance

    Send us your questions and reflections! Conclude this week's journey of untangling from approval with this liberating episode about God's permanent acceptance. Based on Psalm 27:10, we learn that in Christ, we are forever accepted by God. After addressing fickle praise, serving two masters, overcoming fear, and faithfulness in rejection, today we discover the foundation that makes freedom from approval-seeking possible: God's unchanging acceptance of us in Christ. When Even Parents Forsake: David says "my father and my mother have forsaken me." This is the deepest kind of rejection—parents are supposed to be your most reliable source of acceptance, supposed to be there when everyone else leaves. But David is saying: even if they forsake me, even if the people who should accept me reject me, the Lord will take me in.  The Lord Will Take Me In: Here's David's confidence: "the Lord will take me in." When everyone else rejects you, God accepts you.  Acceptance in Christ: In Christ, God's acceptance of you isn't just possible—it's guaranteed, permanent, unchanging.  Living From Acceptance, Not For It: This is the shift: from living for acceptance to living from acceptance. Living for acceptance means you're constantly striving, performing, anxious, exhausted—trying to earn what you don't have. Living from acceptance means you're secure, free, obedient, at peace—resting in what you already have in Christ. One is slavery. The other is freedom. Your Untangle Moment: Read and meditate on Mark 14-15 as a way to focus on the cross of Christ for Good Friday. Perfect for anyone performing for approval, anxious about acceptance, or learning that God's acceptance in Christ is permanent and sets you free from approval-seeking. Scripture Focus: Psalm 27:10 Series: Untangle Week Theme: Untangle from Approval Discover the freedom of living from God's permanent acceptance instead of striving for human approval you can never fully earn.

    9 min
  6. APR 2

    Faithfulness in Rejection

    Send us your questions and reflections! Discover how to remain faithful when facing rejection in this powerful episode about Jesus' example. Based on Isaiah 50:6-7, we learn that in the midst of intense rejection from people, Jesus remained faithful. This faithfulness was rooted deeply in Jesus' recognition that the Father will help Him, even if others don't see it. Continuing to untangle from approval, today we address how to endure rejection without fighting back in anger or retreating in shame. What You'll Learn: How Jesus remained faithful in the midst of intense rejectionWhat Isaiah 50:6-7 reveals about extreme rejection and humiliationThe two temptations we face when experiencing rejectionWhy "the Lord God helps me" changes everythingWhat it means to "set your face like a flint”The Intensity of Rejection: Isaiah describes violent, personal rejection: "I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting." This is beating, beard-pulling (a sign of ultimate disrespect), spitting (public humiliation and disgrace). This isn't just disapproval—this is active, hostile rejection. And this is exactly what Jesus experienced. The Temptation in Rejection: When you experience rejection, there are two strong temptations. First: to fight back, defend yourself, prove them wrong, make them see that they're the problem, not you. Second: to internalize it, believe the rejection defines you, retreat in shame, give up. Both of these are self-protective responses rooted in needing human approval to feel secure. But Jesus did neither.  The Lord God Helps Me: Here's the key: "But the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced." Notice "therefore"—because the Lord helps me, I have not been disgraced. The rejection was real, the humiliation was real, but it didn't define Him, didn't disgrace Him. Why? Because God was helping Him. Set My Face Like Flint: Isaiah says "therefore I have set my face like a flint." Flint is hard, unyielding, unmovable. This isn't stubborn defiance—it's unwavering faithfulness. Jesus set His face toward the Father's will and didn't turn away, no matter how intense the rejection. Rooted in the Father's Help: Jesus' faithfulness in rejection was rooted in His relationship with the Father. He wasn't drawing strength from people's approval or sustained by their validation. He was sustained by the Father's help. That's why He could endure their rejection—because His security wasn't in them. It was in God. That's the shift we need to make. When your security is in God's help—not people's approval—you can remain faithful even when they reject you. Your Untangle Moment: Meditate on Isaiah 50:6-7 for at least 10 minutes today. Perfect for anyone experiencing rejection for their faith, tempted to compromise to avoid disapproval, or learning that God's help sustains you when people reject you. Scripture Focus: Isaiah 50:6-7 Series: Untangle Week Theme: Untangle from Approval Learn to remain faithful in the midst of rejection by trusting that God helps you, even when others don't see it.

    12 min
  7. APR 1

    Fear of Opinion

    Send us your questions and reflections! Discover what drives approval-seeking in this convicting episode about fear of people's opinions. Based on John 12:42-43, we learn that as is the case with many of the entanglements we have discussed over the last few weeks, fear pushes us into all kinds of tangles. In order for us to serve God wholeheartedly, we will eventually have to overcome fear. Continuing to untangle from approval, today we address the fear that keeps us silent, hiding, and compromising. What You'll Learn: Why fear is the engine driving approval-seekingWhat it means to believe without confessingThe cost of being "put out" and why it creates fearWhy loving human glory more than God's keeps us tangledA practical untangle moment to choose courage over fearBelief Without Confession: John says "many even of the authorities believed in him, but... they did not confess it." They believed, but they didn't confess. Belief is internal—what you hold in your heart. Confession is external—what you declare publicly. Fear kept them from moving from belief to confession. The Fear of Being Put Out: John specifies the fear: "for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue." Being put out of the synagogue was serious—social exclusion, religious isolation, loss of community, loss of standing. In that culture, the synagogue was central to everything: your identity, community, social network, business connections. To be put out was to lose everything.  Loving Human Glory More Than God's: John diagnoses the root: "They loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God." This is the heart of approval-seeking—you love human glory (human approval, applause, validation) more than God's. Not because you don't care about God or don't believe, but because human approval feels more immediate, more tangible, more necessary. Fear as the Engine of Approval-Seeking: You don't just want approval because it feels good—you want it because you're afraid of what will happen without it. You're afraid of rejection, exclusion, criticism, losing your place, your status, your security.  Your Untangle Moment: Identify one specific fear of people's opinions that's keeping you tangled, then practice untangling by taking one courageous step despite the fear. Perfect for anyone controlled by fear of others' opinions, silent when they should speak, or learning that overcoming fear is essential to serving God wholeheartedly. Scripture Focus: John 12:42-43 Series: Untangle Week Theme: Untangle from Approval Learn to overcome fear of people's opinions and choose to love God's glory more than human glory.

    10 min
  8. MAR 31

    Serving God Alone

    Send us your questions and reflections! Discover the incompatibility of serving God and seeking human approval in this convicting episode about choosing your master. Based on Galatians 1:10, we learn that we can't serve God and approval from people—it is incompatible. Paul is showing us in this passage another application of Jesus's teaching that we cannot serve two masters. Continuing to untangle from approval, today we address the reality that trying to please people disqualifies us from being servants of Christ. What You'll Learn: Why serving God and seeking human approval are incompatibleWhat Paul's diagnostic questions reveal about who you're servingWhat people-pleasing looks like in practical termsHow Jesus's two masters principle applies to approval-seekingWhy we try to serve both and why it doesn't workA practical untangle moment to choose obedience over approvalSeeking Approval or Seeking God: Paul asks two diagnostic questions: "Am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man?" These questions force a choice—it's one or the other, not both. When you're making a decision, whose approval are you seeking? When you're choosing how to live, who are you trying to please? If the answer is people, then you're not serving God. You might believe in God, might go to church, but you're not serving Him.  The Two Masters Principle: Jesus said in Matthew 6:24, "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other." This isn't about literal hatred—it's about priority. You can't give full devotion to both. One will always take priority.  Why We Try to Serve Both: We want to be faithful to God and liked by people. We want obedience and approval. We think we can have both. But when those two things conflict—and they will—we have to choose.  The Freedom of Serving One Master: When you stop trying to please everyone and just serve God, you're actually more free. When you're trying to serve two masters, you're constantly torn, anxious, second-guessing, exhausted from trying to keep everyone happy. But when you choose to serve God alone, the decision is clear: "What does God want? That's what I'll do. Even if people don't like it." You're not controlled by their opinions anymore. You're free to obey. Your Untangle Moment: Identify one specific decision or area where you're trying to please people instead of God, then practice untangling by choosing obedience to God even if it means losing approval. Perfect for anyone compromising obedience for approval, paralyzed by fear of what others think, or learning that you can't serve both God and human opinion. Scripture Focus: Galatians 1:10 Series: Untangle Week Theme: Untangle from Approval Learn to be a servant of Christ instead of a people-pleaser and discover the freedom of serving one master.

    13 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.