Growing Together

Organic Church
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

Step into a virtual garden of spiritual growth and community connection with the "Growing Together" podcast. This podcast is a nurturing space for individuals seeking to deepen their faith, cultivate relationships, and explore the boundless beauty of a shared spiritual journey. Each episode of "Growing Together" is a breath of fresh air, where Pastor Michael, Syd, Nic, Pastor Holly, and Pastor Roger try to navigate the twists and turns of life while staying rooted in faith. Their warm and inviting presence makes you feel like you're sitting in a cozy living room, engaged in a heartfelt conversation with old friends. Diving into topics ranging from personal growth and self-care to building resilient relationships and fostering a sense of community, the podcast aims to equip listeners with the tools to nurture their faith in all aspects of life. Through scripture readings, open discussions, and interviews with experts in various fields, "Growing Together" provides a holistic approach to spiritual development. Whether you're a lifelong believer, a seeker on the spiritual path, or simply someone curious about how faith can shape lives, "Growing Together" offers a welcoming haven for everyone. Tune in during your morning routine, while taking a leisurely stroll, or even during a quiet moment of reflection – the podcast fits seamlessly into your daily life. Join the "Growing Together" community and embark on a journey of discovery, growth, and genuine connection. In a world that can sometimes feel disconnected, this podcast reminds us that nurturing our faith and cultivating meaningful relationships can lead to a life that's deeply fulfilling and spiritually abundant. Subscribe now to start your journey of growing together in faith and fellowship.

  1. 1d ago

    If We Can Earn Heaven, Why Did He Die?

    Send us Fan Mail Like Diane Sawyer or Barbara Walters of old, here at the Growing Together Podcast we don't mind asking the hard questions.  This week, Nic & Dale examine a thought provoking question.  If we can earn heaven, why did Jesus die for us?   Growing up, we are all told by those in authority, those that love and care, that if we want it, we have to earn it.  Setting goals is a healthy exercise for the body and mind, so it would only seem reasonable to believe it must be the same way in regards to our entrance into heaven.  This is not so, and Nic & Dale are here to explain why.  Listen in as they discuss many topics along the way including worship and praise, funeral tributes, and the true meaning of tithing.  The story of Cain and Abel is a great example found in scripture that can shed light on why works alone can never define our place in God's kingdom.   This is one you will not want to miss, and if you find that this episode changed your heart posture, dig in and listen to some more.  We have four seasons worth of content to choose from, and we would love to have you as a regular listener.  If we are learning, then everyone who listens is learning, and that's okay by us.  This is why we do what we do, to understand His greatness and to share it with others, in the hope a listener will carry it forward and share it anew.  Thanks for listening!

  2. Jul 23

    True Rebellion In Our Modern World

    Send us Fan Mail Often times when we think of the word rebel, our minds immediately conjure up images of men on motorcycles in black leather jackets, smoking cigarettes, skulls and cross bones on their arms, the song "Born To be Wild" blaring through the speakers.  We might think of the actors James Dean, Marlon Brando and Elvis Presley.  Rock stars like Jim Morrison, Judas Priest, and George Thorogood defined what it meant to be defiant in the face of what is considered moral and decent, making parents everywhere just a bit more nervous about what their children were up to.  The typical stereotype is easily recognized.  One would never look at a young man dressed in his Sunday best with bible in hand as a threat to society.  Would you? On this week's episode of Growing Together, Nic & Dale have a really thought provoking discussion about the true rebellion in our modern world.  It is all inspired by another rock icon that fits the bill for shock value antics and rebellious ideas like "School's Out" and "Poison".  Alice Cooper is one of rock n roll's most identifiable acts.  Yet, few are aware that his relationship with Christ changed his life and is now at the center of his mission.  Cooper never holds back when it comes to speaking about the goodness of Christ and how it can change people's lives.  Cooper declares that his old life style was the trademark for rebellious living.  Drinking, destroying hotel rooms, and promoting darkness frightened parents to death, but in his opinion, that was a cakewalk compared to his walk with Christ.   In our modern world, Christians are the true rebels. Just as in the time of Jesus, speaking up for Christian faith can get you a lot of dirty looks and plenty of defiant sneers.  Our world has flipped the script back to biblical times.  In our grandparents and parents age, being a Christian meant you were most likely in the majority of those that believed the church was the place to be; you were an insider, not an outsider.  As Christ said, if the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.  Dale reminds us that those words are just as relevant today as they were the day he said it.  If you never thought, as a Christian, you had what it takes to be rebellious, think again!   This is an episode you will not want to skip over.  Don't be a rebel without a cause, give this episode a chance and find out what it really means to live dangerously.  Okay, this might be a little tongue in cheek, but you get what we are after here.  Our mission is to bring as many people to Christ as we can.  Don't be cruel.  Join us each and every week on the Growing Together Podcast!

  3. Jul 16

    Faith In The Squared Circle

    Send us Fan Mail Nic & Dale are back in the studio this week after taking a short breath.  The Growing Together Podcast has covered a lot of ground this year and we look forward to finishing the year strong.  If there are any topics you would like Nic & Dale to cover, send us fan mail or leave it in the comments!   On this weeks episode we will be taking a look inward, asking a simple question we all can relate to:  What are you wrestling with?  Everyone has something they wrestle with on the daily.  For many of us, there is that one opponent we square up with time and time again.  It can be addiction, jealousy, personal abuse, our tongue, unforgiveness, etc.  Self-pity and shame can be two daunting opponents, like two 500 pound wrestlers seething and chomping at the bit to keep you in the middle of the squared circle with no way of escape.  Many times, we think we can grapple with these opponents on our own, never looking to our own corner.  Jesus is always there with his hand stretched out, waiting for that tag, ready to relieve us of our burden and finish the enemy off with his signature move.   Christians know better than anyone that personal battles do not have to be fought alone.  Nic has a deep and personal empathy for those that are facing the prospect of suicide without the proper Christian guidance and support; without a true relationship with Christ to lean on.  The world is a scary place to be left alone and without Jesus it can be hard to find hope and assurance in life situations that can be overcome without giving in to fear and defeat.  Jesus is the only one who will not abandon us in the middle of the match, he is always steadfast in his desire to help us achieve victory.  We have to choose to be in relationship with him.  It really is that simple. Take a look at at your struggles.  Are you holding your own, or do you need something greater to hulk up and put your enemy on its back for the three count?  Ask yourself, am I achieving victory over my adversary or just waiting to be counted out so I can breathe again?  There is a very fine line between victory and defeat in this world, but there doesn't have to be.  Lock hands with the one that will walk down that aisle with you every time, no matter the dangers ahead.  Put that gold around your waist, raise that crown to your head,  but do it with Jesus at your side.  Diamonds are forever, and so is Jesus Christ!

  4. Jul 9

    ALL STAR BREAK EDITION: Our Top 5 Worship Songs/Hymnals

    Send us Fan Mail Hey everyone!  Life has its little bumps in the road and something extraordinary is always happening in God's world.  Dale is celebrating his wedding anniversary and Nic is getting ready to say goodbye to one home and move into another.  The last thing we want to do is leave our audience hanging, so here is a fond memory to tide you over until we return.  Consider this our All-Star break!  The following episode is our most popular, so we thought it was worth re-visiting for anyone who might have missed it.  See you soon! Meanwhile, we change lanes to untangle the web of worship music versus contemporary Christian tunes. What's the real difference, and does it matter if Montel Williams or Montel Jordan makes a surprise cameo in our memories? By dissecting songs like "Shake Heaven," we reflect on how music that stirs the spirit may not always suit a traditional Sunday service. Personal anecdotes and humorous mix-ups guide our exploration, all while we appreciate how platforms like Buzzsprout help us keep our podcast episodes neatly organized. As we journey through our favorite worship and gospel music, we savor the profound emotional connections forged by songs from "Oceans" to "Spirit in the Sky." A blend of nostalgia and humor paints our musical memories, celebrating artists like Elvis and Johnny Cash. The unexpected inclusion of "Good, Good Father" in a church service becomes a symbol of worship's spontaneous essence. Join us in this episode, where music's storytelling power brings shared cultural moments to life, and we share tips on remembering life's important dates with creative associations.

  5. Jul 2

    God Bless America 250

    Send us Fan Mail Happy 250th Birthday America!  This week, we pull out all the stops.  We roll out the big guns.  We unfurl the flags.  Pastor Michael and Syd return for this special edition of the Growing Together Podcast!  Pastor Michael and Syd show no signs of rust, their conversation with Nic & Dale is immediate and right to the point.  Well, that's not entirely true.  Loyal fans of the show are well aware of the good humor and tangents that abound when we get the band back together.  It's like old times here in the studio, therefore we can guarantee you will laugh out loud in the process of getting your fill of spiritual enlightenment. Nic is our history buff, and his excitement for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence guides the conversation this week.  Historian Timothy Snyder and Katie Couric support the idea that Christianity was not a founding principle of the United States.  Snyder claims that history is wrong, and there is nothing to support this misguided notion that the American people have relied on their Christian faith to grow and prosper as a nation.  Well, that will get Nic's dander up real quick.  Couric & Snyder find this idea alarming, but Nic is prepared to ring the bell (the Liberty Bell if you please) of truth to set the record straight. Pastor Michael proposes an interesting question.  At what point in America's history did we turn from being proud of our Christian values?  Was it the 1950's?  Was it the breakdown of the American family?  Has politics and social ideals become so divided over the issue that we feel like we have to leave God out of the equation in order to get along?  There are many symptoms, but the remedy seems illusive in our present world.  It's true, America was founded with the principle of freedom OF religion, but as Pastor Michael points out, people are becoming more concerned with the freedom FROM religion.    One final question puts it all in perspective.  Can American society survive without Christianity in place at the center of its guiding principles?  History perhaps provides the necessary answer.  If Abraham Lincoln fails to see the hand of God in the outcome of our great Civil War, does it last more than four years?  Does it ever come to an end?  Does slavery meet its rightful demise?  If FDR does not feel the conviction of God, that there is nothing to fear but fear itself, how much farther would Hitler's systematic means of world wide oppression and terror reach?  Might the outcome of the Cuban Missile Crisis been different had not President Kennedy considered God's council in making a decision that affected the fate of all humanity?  As a nation, could we have survived and found redemption in the wake of the terrorist attacks on 9/11? We here at the Growing Together Podcast wish you a Happy Fourth Of July.  Have fun, be safe, and stay cool.  God Bless America!

  6. Jun 25

    Surrender-In The Waiting

    Send us Fan Mail Episode 25 is here!  The Growing Together Podcast has covered a lot of ground this year, but we still have a long way to go in 2026.  Not to worry, Nic & Dale have your back, and will see to it that the rest of your year is filled with plenty of encouragement, guidance, and good laughs.  The America 250 celebrations are in full swing as we head into July, and we hope to have some exciting shows planned to put our own personal stamp on it.  Stay tuned, keep listening, and keep on sharing! This week, Nic & Dale discuss a topic that all of us can relate to.  If there is anything in life we can all agree on, it's that we do not like to be told we have to wait.  Whether it's on the phone with a sales representative, in line at the grocery store, or waiting for that raise you have been promised, waiting is not something we can find a lot of joy in doing.  Our society continues to grow on the very idea that everything we do must be done faster, information must be received the second it happens, and those that wait are way behind schedule.  We expect God to move when we say go, and like little children, we have a hard time accepting a different circumstance. To surrender to God's will, and be patient in the waiting, is a crucial part of our spiritual growth.  Surrender sounds like a bad word in our society, but when taken in the context of God's control in our lives, we can find strength and poise in giving it all up to Him.  There is inner peace when we allow God to work out the plan he has for our lives, which is a big deal, but also allowing him to tackle the small things gives us even more clarity to ensure we leave nothing untouched by his hand.  As Tom Petty once said, the waiting is the hardest part, but it doesn't have to be.  Learn to let it go, just this once, and you may be surprised just how much God can do if you get out of the way!

  7. Jun 20

    Submission (AKA The Noise)

    Send us Fan Mail Okay folks, it's time to get real.  Each and every week Nic & Dale hit the mics and pronounce to anyone who will listen that God is good.  They preach it and they believe it.  They take a personal responsibility to spread the gospel and help others in need, yet this time it's different.  This week, Nic is the one in need of a spiritual boost.  The noise in his head is overwhelming, making it difficult to hear God's voice in a very tumultuous time. Rather than give up for the day and say he has had enough, Nic is willing to push on through and come to the studio.  His is spiritual enough to realize that if he is struggling, it can be used as a springboard to help others.  Dale came prepared with a perfect topic in perfect timing.  Submission to God's will.  Giving it all up to God in the most trying circumstances is easier said than done, but it is absolutely essential to seeing God's purpose when we fail to see how the pieces of our lives fit into his plans.   His plans..Let's face it.  We all have personal ambitions and dreams.  We do our best to make our plans come true.  When our situation is going well, we see the different parts of our plan coming together and we can convince ourselves that it must be His plan because it has taken on the look of destiny.  But what happens when life turns on a dime and we are faced with the possibility of a different outcome that doesn't line up with what we convinced ourselves is God's will?  So, the question has to be asked.  Are we truly submitting to God's purpose, or does he have to shake things up in order to get us to move in His direction?  Nic & Dale's friendship shines through as they discuss the difficulties of answering these and other heavy questions concerning what submission truly means.   Now, do not despair.  As heavy as this topic is, there is still humor to be found in this friendly yet spiritual conversation.  If you had any doubt, Nic is still capable of throwing out pro wrestling comparisons to Dale's keen insight and advice.  Dale's laughter is the perfect tonic needed to get a smile back on Nic's face and give him renewed faith that the noise will dissipate and be replaced by clear and concise wisdom.  We hope it will do the same for you.  Another week has come and gone, and what better way to start the weekend could there be than listening to the latest episode of the Growing Together Podcast?

  8. Jun 11

    Love vs. Justice

    Send us Fan Mail We all know how easy it can be to accept accolades.  Compliments make us all feel good about ourselves, and love is divine.  We all want what we think we have coming to us, and many times we want it without overcoming hurdles or putting in the work.  Think back to when you were young.  If you experienced love from your parents, there was nothing that could make your day better, nothing to make your little world an amazing place.  But let's be honest, we all had to face justice from a parent's hand as well; and as much as we didn't like it, it was that justice that truly forged us into respectable human beings.  God carries that responsibility for each and everyone of us, and it is his perfect combination of love and justice that keeps us on the road to glory.   Dale brings this idea to the table on this week's episode of the Growing Together podcast.  It might not be a revelation, but it certainly is an inspired choice.  Many of us look to God as our Father, but sometimes we fail to realize just what that title carries with it when it comes to our relationship with him.  We crave his love, his blessings, and the miracles he can perform in our lives.  We always ask of him, plead with him, and have the expectation that he will be there for us when we fall.  We expect God to listen when we speak, to love us unconditionally.  He most certainly will do all of these things, because he loves us like no human being ever could.  However, just like when we were young, we are not always so willing to listen ourselves when it doesn't fit into our plans, when it might be painful to admit we have some growing left to do. Dale begs us to consider this crucial part of our relationship.  Owning up to mistakes and shortcomings with an attitude that promotes growth tells God that we are sincere about submitting to God's will and purposes.  Facing God's justice with truth and maturity will assure that we learn something from our shortcomings.  We will continue to give ourselves up to God and allow him to work in each and every one of us.  Honesty is the best policy.  He already knows what you are going to do, what you have done.  He is the only one that can provide the love and justice necessary to elevate us from our troubles and rebuild a broken relationship. The Growing Together podcast welcomes all.  New Christians, seasoned Christians.  Those that have been sitting on the fence, not sure if they are ready to begin their journey.  Those that may have said they will never give their life to Christ.  No matter what your situation is, we welcome you to give the podcast a listen.  Every episode is a free download.  No subscriptions, no fees, no regrets.  So what are you waiting for?  Listen to the latest episode or choose one from over a hundred episodes in our history.  it just may ignite that spark you've been missing.  Have a great week and we will see you soon!

See All (161)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Step into a virtual garden of spiritual growth and community connection with the "Growing Together" podcast. This podcast is a nurturing space for individuals seeking to deepen their faith, cultivate relationships, and explore the boundless beauty of a shared spiritual journey. Each episode of "Growing Together" is a breath of fresh air, where Pastor Michael, Syd, Nic, Pastor Holly, and Pastor Roger try to navigate the twists and turns of life while staying rooted in faith. Their warm and inviting presence makes you feel like you're sitting in a cozy living room, engaged in a heartfelt conversation with old friends. Diving into topics ranging from personal growth and self-care to building resilient relationships and fostering a sense of community, the podcast aims to equip listeners with the tools to nurture their faith in all aspects of life. Through scripture readings, open discussions, and interviews with experts in various fields, "Growing Together" provides a holistic approach to spiritual development. Whether you're a lifelong believer, a seeker on the spiritual path, or simply someone curious about how faith can shape lives, "Growing Together" offers a welcoming haven for everyone. Tune in during your morning routine, while taking a leisurely stroll, or even during a quiet moment of reflection – the podcast fits seamlessly into your daily life. Join the "Growing Together" community and embark on a journey of discovery, growth, and genuine connection. In a world that can sometimes feel disconnected, this podcast reminds us that nurturing our faith and cultivating meaningful relationships can lead to a life that's deeply fulfilling and spiritually abundant. Subscribe now to start your journey of growing together in faith and fellowship.

Information

  • Creator
    Organic Church
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    161
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Growing Together
  • Show Website
    Growing Together