He Must Increase Podcast

Connor Shady

5.0 (1)
EDUCATION
UPDATED WEEKLY

A podcast by Three Thirty Ministry, dedicated to helping you see and savor the greatness of Jesus in all of Scripture and all of life. Each episode is designed to help you grow in a grace-based, Christ-centered understanding of the Christian faith and to encourage you toward deeper, gospel-shaped community—because He must increase, and we must decrease.

2D AGO

Forgiveness for the Unforgiveable

In this episode, we step into a conversation many people avoid. We like the idea of forgiveness until it becomes personal, complicated, and uncomfortable. Grace sounds beautiful in theory, but what happens when the story involves real failure, real darkness, and people we struggle to understand? The gospel forces us to face a question we often sidestep. Do we actually believe Christ came for sinners, or only for the kind we find easier to accept. Scripture does not hide the brokenness of its people. It tells the truth about betrayal, violence, idolatry, and rebellion, and then it boldly announces that Jesus moves toward the guilty, not away from them. Forgiveness in the Bible is not sentimental or shallow. It is costly, honest about sin, and rooted entirely in the work of Christ rather than human effort or respectability. In this conversation, we wrestle with the tension between holiness and mercy. Some minimize sin in the name of compassion. Others tighten their grip on truth until grace feels distant. The gospel calls us to something deeper, a posture that takes sin seriously while still proclaiming that redemption is real and available because of Jesus. Our aim is to slow down, open the Scriptures, and ask better questions. Who is grace really for? What does it mean to say no one is beyond redemption? And how should the forgiveness we have received reshape the way we see God, the church, and the people around us? Song Recommendation: Come Behold The Wondrous Mystery by Matt Papa, Matt Boswell, and Michael Bleecker https://open.spotify.com/track/2kyurwpq49H0egXp7m8peL?si=5f1854815d6546f6 Follow He Must Increase on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/hemustincreasepodcast/ Subscribe to He Must Increase on Youtube: ⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@HeMustIncreasePodcast Check Out Our Website: threethirtyministry.com #theology #reformed

44 min
FEB 12

Affirmation Is Not Love

In this episode, we dive into another hotly contested matter: what is biblical love? Many conversations start with the simple truth, “God is love,” and yet quickly become confusing when love is separated from who God truly is. God is not only love in the way we imagine. He is holy, just, righteous, sovereign, and infinitely beyond our understanding. From the very beginning, humanity has struggled with the same temptation: not to reject God, but to shape Him into someone we can control. A god who mirrors our preferences, validates our choices, and fits neatly into our assumptions. Scripture calls this not devotion, but idolatry. This struggle often appears when we try to defend or assert truth. On one side, we can bend or revise reality to make God more convenient. On the other, fear of compromise can harden our hearts, using truth as a weapon instead of submitting to it with humility. Both approaches miss God’s heart. Distorting Scripture does not happen only through cultural revision. It also happens through reactionary rigidity. Either way, we place ourselves at the center instead of God. Our goal in this episode is to slow the conversation down and refocus it where it belongs. Instead of defending positions out of fear, convenience, or pride, we want to ask a faithful question: what does God’s Word actually say, and how should it shape both our beliefs and the way we live as His followers? Song Recommendation: God is Love by Chris Renzema https://open.spotify.com/track/5WeJ2gDd1P4jjZYlzJkcXv?si=d97b3c5a72924c53 Follow He Must Increase on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/hemustincreasepodcast/ Subscribe to He Must Increase on Youtube: ⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@HeMustIncreasePodcast Check Out Our Website: threethirtyministry.com #theology #reformed

43 min
FEB 5

Let Her Cook (w/ Dr. Hannah Shady)

In this episode, we step into a conversation that is often louder and more confusing than it needs to be. Discussions about women in the church are frequently shaped by misinformed assumptions, strong reactions, and cultural pressure from every direction. On one side, culture insists the church must change or be left behind. On the other, fear of compromise can lead to restriction or silence where Scripture never intended it. What often results is overcorrection or undercorrection, driven more by reaction than by revelation. Our aim is to bring clarity and confidence by turning directly to Scripture. Rather than fighting a culture war or preserving patterns simply because they are familiar, we want to ask an honest and necessary question: what does the Bible actually say about women in the church, and how should that shape the life of the church today? We believe true clarity in a shifting culture does not come from volume, pressure, or trends, but from the Word of God forming both our convictions and our posture as we seek to be faithful to Christ and His church. Song and Book Recommendation: The Goodness of Jesus by CityAlight https://open.spotify.com/track/6iL4Am7n9div8eH9kxmDYS?si=de4d55054418489f Women's Ministry in the Local Church by Ligon Duncan and Susan Hunt https://a.co/d/057cIARy Follow He Must Increase on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/hemustincreasepodcast/ Subscribe to He Must Increase on Youtube: ⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@HeMustIncreasePodcast Check Out Our Website: threethirtyministry.com #theology #reformed

48 min
JAN 29

Borders, Ballots, and Bibles

In this episode, we tackle some of the most divisive topics in our cultural moment: politics, immigration, and questions surrounding Israel. These issues spark strong opinions and heated debates, and too often they lead Christians to speak and act in ways that don’t reflect the gospel. It’s easy to defend positions and miss the bigger picture. These conversations involve real people and real lives, which means how we think, speak, and act truly matters. Scripture calls us first to wisdom, humility, and love, yet it’s easy to get swept up in ideology, partisan loyalty, or fear. Rather than telling you what to think, this episode offers a biblical framework for thinking as a Christian. We explore where Scripture is clear, where it provides guiding principles, and where it leaves room for discernment and Christian liberty. As we continue our discussion on freedom, we focus especially on liberty of opinion in areas like government and policy. Our hope is that Scripture would shape not only our positions but our posture, so that our allegiance to Christ is clearer than any political alignment. Song and Book Recommendation: I Asked the Lord That I Might Grow by John Newton https://open.spotify.com/track/3XK7iXnIHYMaSvdSrqbdx3?si=d1b42e419ef3464d Why Government Can't Save You An Alternative To Political Activism by John MacArthur https://a.co/d/7ktOdmO Follow He Must Increase on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/hemustincreasepodcast/ Subscribe to He Must Increase on Youtube: ⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@HeMustIncreasePodcast Check Out Our Website: threethirtyministry.com #theology #reformed

46 min
JAN 22

Hollywood Jesus: Casting Christ

In this episode, we tackle one of the more challenging and timely topics in the church: how Jesus is portrayed in media. Even in a world that often resists the gospel, Christ remains the most well-known person in history, and His name and image are frequently used to support certain messages or agendas. From major sporting events to popular streaming platforms, Jesus continues to appear in ways that grab attention and spark strong reactions. Many believers feel a sense of uneasiness when encountering these portrayals, whether through campaigns like He Gets Us or shows like The Chosen. Are these depictions helpful, misleading, or even harmful? How should Christians respond when Christ is presented through modern media, and does depicting Jesus raise concerns related to the second commandment? We ask the questions that create the most discussion. Are these portrayals faithful to who Jesus truly is, or do they subtly reshape Him to fit cultural expectations? Does representing Christ on screen cross a biblical line, or can it serve a redemptive purpose? Our hope is to think carefully and biblically about how Christ is depicted, so that Scripture, not culture or marketing, shapes how we see and respond to Jesus. Link to He Gets Us ALTERNATIVE: https://youtu.be/rV3AnTUPiDY?si=UdINF_Bi2-cfOfxl Song and Book Recommendation: Only a Holy God by CityAlight https://open.spotify.com/track/6VtdWaBrPqG0NuxdjogzrM?si=1cc3989426774994 Deeper: Real Change for Real Sinners by Dane Ortlund https://a.co/d/34U1guY Follow He Must Increase on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/hemustincreasepodcast/ Check Out Our Website: threethirtyministry.com #theology #reformed

45 min
JAN 15

Wine, Weaker Brothers, and Wisdom

In this episode, we tackle one of the trickiest topics in the church: Christian liberty and alcohol. Few subjects cause more confusion, guilt, or quiet judgment than when believers add rules and restrictions that were never meant to be law. Choices meant to be guided by wisdom and love often become unspoken rules, measuring sticks for spiritual maturity, or sources of quiet condemnation. We often quote phrases like “the weaker brother” without stopping to ask what Paul actually meant or how his words were intended to protect community rather than control behavior. Today we take a closer look. We are exploring how believers can exercise freedom, follow their conscience, and care for others without letting fear, legalism, or personal preference take over. We ask the questions that spark the most debate. How can freedom be lived without selfishness? How can love guide our choices without becoming control? And the question everyone seems to wrestle with: is alcohol off-limits for Christians, or have we misunderstood the gospel-shaped freedom Christ actually gives? Our hope is to see how Christ, not rules, culture, or personal preference, defines what it means to live freely as His followers. Song and Book Recommendation: All My Boast Is In Jesus by Matt Papa and Matt Boswell https://open.spotify.com/track/33xKafBTSHmDRVCLPWaMQu?si=fcbad1ad53e84cda The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan https://a.co/d/bGq7SQ5 Follow He Must Increase on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/hemustincreasepodcast/ Subscribe to He Must Increase on Youtube: ⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@HeMustIncreasePodcast Check Out Our Website: threethirtyministry.com #theology #reformed

43 min
JAN 8

Finding the Right Hills to Die On

In this episode, we explore how Christians navigate conviction, disagreement, and freedom in Christ. Every believer has convictions, but not every conviction deserves a battlefield. In a world where disagreement is loud and charity is rare, we ask an important question: what actually matters most, and what hill is truly worth dying on? As we dive into questions of theological freedom and liberty, we consider how sinful people engage one another on matters of conscience and doctrine without losing sight of the Gospel. We reflect on the reality that disagreement is inevitable, even among sincere believers, and that disagreement itself is not the problem. The deeper issue is failing to discern what kind of disagreement we are having. Too often, secondary and tertiary issues are elevated to gospel essentials, while truths that truly matter are minimized. In this episode, we introduce helpful categories for thinking through disagreement, especially the distinction between primary doctrines and other theological differences. Our hope is to learn how to contend for truth with clarity, pursue unity with humility, and live out our freedom in Christ with wisdom, honesty, and charity. Link to Chart on our Website: https://threethirtyministry.com/he-must-become-greater-podcast/ Song and Book Recommendation: The Blood of Jesus Speaks For Me by Travis Cottrell https://open.spotify.com/track/56gq5wkXmNz7oW4W8MB3BJ?si=ff3b5aa214d0428c Finding the Right Hills to Die On: The Case for Theological Triage by Gavin Ortlund https://a.co/d/06tIu1g Follow He Must Increase on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/hemustincreasepodcast/ Subscribe to He Must Increase on Youtube: ⁠⁠www.youtube.com/@HeMustIncreasePodcast Check Out Our Website: threethirtyministry.com #theology #reformed

45 min
JAN 1

5 “Life Hacks” for Spiritual Freedom

In this episode, we explore what it really means to be free in Christ. In our culture, freedom is often seen as doing whatever we want, but Scripture tells a different story. True freedom is not independence; it is rescue. It is not self-rule, but belonging. It is being brought out of bondage and into relationship with God. Jesus says that if the Son sets us free, we are truly free. But what does that freedom look like in daily life? How does the Gospel transform us from people bound by sin into people living in the security of God’s love? In this episode, we reflect on how freedom in Christ is less about what we can do and more about who we now belong to. It’s about adoption, identity, and a new way of living that flows from what Jesus has already accomplished for us. Song and Book Recommendation: Yet Not I But Through Christ in Me by CityAlight https://open.spotify.com/track/11xb0daw7LtfcsJ9G5UTXZ?si=812eb97198b94868 Sinner Saint: A Surprising Primer for the Christian Life by Luke Kjolhaug https://a.co/d/bthDCod Follow He Must Increase on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/hemustincreasepodcast/ Check Out Our Website: threethirtyministry.com #theology #reformed

37 min

A podcast by Three Thirty Ministry, dedicated to helping you see and savor the greatness of Jesus in all of Scripture and all of life. Each episode is designed to help you grow in a grace-based, Christ-centered understanding of the Christian faith and to encourage you toward deeper, gospel-shaped community—because He must increase, and we must decrease.

Creator

Connor Shady
Years Active

2025 - 2026
Episodes

43
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Connor Shady
Show Website

He Must Increase Podcast