The Pioneer Assembly

Bethany Barr Phillips
  • 5.0 (24)
  • Christianity

You’re invited to assemble with Bethany Barr Phillips and her friends as they do their best to pioneer faith conversations with honesty, encouragement, and sometimes, no resolve. With two types of episodes - traditional long form and short form (called Field Notes) - this podcast is for those longing to belong and maybe even longing to believe. It is not for the faint of heart or those easily offended by truth. It’s for those willing to assemble, not to rise up, but to go out. This is the Pioneer Assembly: A place to gather for those called to go.

  1. 3d ago

    When the Past Won't Let Go | Onward

    There comes a moment in every believer's journey when the greatest obstacle to moving forward isn't just what's ahead, but it's what keeps pulling us backward. Old wounds. Former identities. Past failures. Nostalgia for seasons God has already brought us through. In Episode 2 of the ONWARD series, Bethany explores the tension between God's call to move forward and our tendency to look back. Through the stories of Lot's wife in Genesis 19, Israel's longing for Egypt, and Jesus' words in Luke 9:62, we discover a powerful truth: You can remember the past without returning to it. God brought Israel out of Egypt in a single night, but getting Egypt out of Israel took forty years. Why? Because leaving is often easier than becoming. If you've ever struggled to let go of an old season, found yourself romanticizing the past, or felt stuck between where God delivered you from and where He's leading you next, this conversation is for you. It's time to stop living backward and start moving onward. Gather. Go. Onward. 📖 Scripture: Genesis 19:26 | Luke 9:62 00:00 Why We Keep Looking Back 03:05 Leaving Is Easier Than Becoming 05:40 Why Freedom Feels Uncomfortable 08:15 The Danger of Nostalgia 10:45 Lot's Wife: When Your Heart Lives Behind You 13:20 Jesus and the Plow 15:35 What Are You Still Looking Back At? 17:20 How to Stop Looking Back 20:40 Gather & Go Challenge 22:05 Closing Prayer & Encouragement 👍 Like if it encouraged you. 💬 Leave a comment. 🔔 Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss the next episode. 📤 Share this with someone who needs encouragement to keep going. Follow Pioneer Assembly.  Follow Bethany. Book Bethany.

    23 min

  2. Jun 12

    How to Keep Going When it Gets Hard | Onward

    Life is hard. Loss happens. Prayers go unanswered. Relationships fracture. Diagnoses appear. Questions linger. Sometimes faith feels vibrant, and sometimes it feels like you're merely putting one foot in front of the other. In the first episode of our series, ONWARD, we're talking about what it means to keep moving toward Jesus when following Him becomes more difficult than expected. Drawing from Philippians 3:12-14, we'll explore Paul's determination to "press on" even though he hadn't arrived, hadn't figured everything out, and hadn't seen every promise fulfilled. You'll be reminded that the mark of mature faith isn't perfection. It's persistence. It's learning to keep praying when you're tired... to keep trusting when you don't understand. to keep showing up when growth feels invisible. to keep pursuing Jesus when nobody is pushing you forward but Him. If you've been discouraged, exhausted, frustrated, or wondering if your slow progress even matters, this conversation is for you. The goal isn't perfection. The goal is pursuit.   00:00 When faith becomes more difficult than expected 02:43 Life Is Hard: Why shallow Christianity doesn't prepare us for real life 09:20 Philippians 3: Why mature faith isn't struggle-free 12:15 How to Keep Going When Faith Gets Hard 12:16 Stop Expecting Perfection 14:23 Remember Why You Started 15:39 Stop Living Backward 16:44 Keep Moving When Growth Feels Slow 19:26 Practical Ways to Keep Going 21:46 Encouragement for the Tired   Follow Pioneer Assembly.  Follow Bethany.  Book Bethany.

    24 min

  3. May 29

    How to Stop Fearing the Future | The Good Fight

    We say we trust God with eternity, but what about tomorrow? In this final installment of The Good Fight series, Bethany Barr Phillips tackles one of the most common struggles believers face: Fear of the future. The truth is, most of us aren't afraid of what's coming—we're afraid of not being in control of it. When life feels uncertain, we often chase clarity, overthink decisions, and delay obedience while waiting for guarantees God never promised. But Scripture shows a different path: Faith isn't built through certainty. It's built through trust. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why fear of the future is often a control issue • How faith and fear both look ahead but interpret uncertainty differently • Why God rarely gives full clarity before calling us to move • Five practical ways to walk into the future with confidence instead of anxiety • How to stop demanding answers and start trusting God's presence Whether you're facing a major transition, waiting on direction, or struggling with uncertainty, this episode will remind you that God is already in the future you're worried about. Key Scriptures: Joshua 1:9, Proverbs 3:5-6, Romans 10:17 "Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God." — Corrie Ten Boom The future isn't a threat. It's an invitation to trust God more deeply than ever before. Follow Pioneer Assembly on Instagram.  Follow Pioneer Assembly on Substack.  Follow Bethany.  Book Bethany.

    25 min

  4. May 22

    Counting the Cost: What Following Jesus Actually Requires, ft. Jason Cook | The Good Fight

    What does it actually cost to follow Jesus? In this episode of Pioneer Assembly, Bethany Barr Phillips sits down with pastor and longtime friend, Jason Cook, for an honest conversation about discipleship, suffering, surrender, disappointment, obedience, and the reality of counting the cost of the call. Together, they unpack the tension between calling and comfort, the dangers of shallow Christianity, why so many people become disillusioned in their faith, and how the modern church often underprepares believers for suffering. From the prosperity gospel to perseverance, from loneliness to long obedience, this conversation refuses easy answers and instead points listeners toward a deeper, more durable faith. They discuss: What Jesus really meant by “count the cost.” Why suffering & disappointment are part of discipleship. The difference between calling, comfort, & unnecessary striving. Why salvation is the starting line. The role of community in discerning God’s voice. How faithfulness is formed over time. Whether you’re wrestling with disappointment, questioning your calling, walking through hardship, or simply trying to stay faithful in the long obedience of following Jesus, this episode is a reminder that the cost is real… but so is the presence of God. “The decision to follow Jesus is a one-time decision for all time… that you make every single day.” Scripture References: Luke 14:27–33 Luke 9:23 2 Corinthians 12 About Jason: With over 20 years of public speaking, pastoral, and leadership experience, Jason Cook is truly a master of inspiring every room. He's been a leader in locker rooms, elder rooms, and boardrooms at a young age -- showcasing his wisdom, humility, and skill across multiple settings. Jason has been an entrepreneur, evangelist, itinerant preacher, church planter, team captain, business owner, and current Senior Pastor of Fellowship Bible Church in Roswell, GA. He holds an M.Div from Beeson Divinity School and serves on its Advisory Board. He and his wife, Courtney, have four children: Charlie, Cager, Boss, and Bishop. They live in the Atlanta area with their two dogs, Apollo and Minnie.  Follow on Instagram or Youtube Follow Substack Follow Bethany  Book Bethany

    38 min

  5. Apr 17

    Doing More for God Is Not Always Doing Your Best for God, Ft. Drew Worsham | The Good Fight

    You can be doing a lot for God… and still be running yourself into the ground. We’re continuing our Good Fight series on Pioneer Assembly—a place together for those called to go—and this conversation is one many people don’t realize they’re already in the middle of. In this episode, we sit down with Drew Worsham to talk about healthy rhythms, burnout, and how easy it is to become spiritually and emotionally unhealthy without even realizing it. We explore the subtle ways hustle can disguise itself as faithfulness—and why exhaustion is not a badge of honor in the Kingdom. You don’t have to be in vocational ministry to have questions like: Have I confused being busy for God with being faithful to God? How do I know when obedience turns into overextension? Why is it so hard for me to rest without guilt? We also look at 1 Kings 19, where Elijah—after a powerful spiritual victory—crashes emotionally and physically. And instead of pushing him forward, God meets him with rest, provision, and presence. This episode is for anyone who feels: tired but still pushing called but overwhelmed faithful on the outside… but empty on the inside If that’s you, this conversation is an invitation to slow down, realign, and rediscover a pace with God that is actually sustainable.  The goal isn’t just to start strong. It’s to finish well. Follow on Instagram or Youtube Follow Bethany  Book Bethany

    38 min

  6. Apr 10

    When You Can't Hear God's Voice | The Good Fight

    What do you do when you can’t hear God’s voice? If you’ve ever felt like God is silent, distant, or not speaking, this episode will help you understand why and show you how to hear Him again. In this episode of Pioneer Assembly, we continue our series, The Good Fight, by discussing one of the most common struggles in the Christian life: How to hear God’s voice in what may seem like a season of silence. Many believers wrestle with questions like: Why can’t I hear God? Is God still speaking today? How do I know if it’s God’s voice or my own thoughts? What does the Bible say about hearing God? We dive into biblical truth and practical steps to help you grow in spiritual discernment and reconnect with God’s voice. Rooted in Romans 10:17, this episode explores how faith grows through hearing God—and how to position yourself to listen again. You’ll also hear a powerful personal testimony from host Bethany Barr Phillips’s cancer journey, where the difference between assuming God’s voice and truly hearing Him became life-changing.   ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 – What to do when God feels silent 02:00 – The struggle: Why can’t I hear God? 05:30 – Silence does not mean absence 08:30 – Faith comes by hearing (Romans 10:17) 12:00 – Bethany’s cancer story: assuming vs hearing God 20:00 – Why we struggle to hear God’s voice 29:00 – Practical ways to hear God again 40:00 – The good fight: choosing to keep listening 42:00 – Encouragement for silent seasons 44:00 – Final thoughts: positioning yourself to hear God Follow on Instagram Check out the substack  Follow Bethany  Book Bethany

    25 min

  7. Apr 3

    Why the Cross Changes Everything (Even If You’re Doubting)

    You keep trying to fix your life—but what if the answer was never you… What if it was always the cross? Why does the cross actually matter? Why did Jesus have to die? And what does that have to do with your life right now? In this episode with Bethany Barr Phillips, we pause the Good Fight and go beyond the surface to step into the weight of what happened on the cross—and why it changes everything. Because the truth is… Most of us want closeness with God, but we don’t realize that the cross is the only way back. It's not just theology. This is personal. It’s about: the distance you feel but can’t explain the weight you’ve been carrying the question of whether you’re too far gone And the reality that Jesus already made a way. The cross isn’t just a symbol or an archaic story.  👉 It’s where your sin was paid for 👉 It’s where love was proven 👉 It’s where your way back to God began If you’re doubting, wandering, or not even sure of what you believe, this conversation is an invitation not to have it all figured out, but to come closer. 🎧 Press play, and don’t rush past this. If this speaks to you, share it with someone who needs hope today.   CHAPTERS:  00:00 — Why Does the Cross Matter? (Start Here) A raw question that most people never fully ask—but changes everything. 01:10 — What Really Happened the Day Jesus Died From praise to crucifixion—how everything shifted in days. 02:30 — Why This Isn’t Just History (It’s Personal) Why the cross isn’t just a story… and why it matters to you. 03:45 — The Real Problem: Separation from God Understanding sin, distance, and why we feel disconnected. 05:30 — Why You Can’t Fix This on Your Own The truth about self-effort, control, and trying to “be enough.” 07:15 — The Weight of Sin (And Who Carries It) Why sin has a cost—and why we couldn’t pay it. 09:00 — What Jesus Actually Did on the Cross The moment everything changed—past, present, and future. 11:00 — The Cross Is Proof of God’s Love Not just words—this is love demonstrated. 12:30 — Without the Cross, There Is No Hope Why everything hinges on this one moment. 14:00 — Why We Avoid the Cross (And Why We Shouldn’t) Facing the uncomfortable truth that leads to freedom. 15:30 — This Is Your Invitation Back to God Not pressure—an open door. 17:00 — Why This Matters for You Right Now Making it personal. Making it real.   Follow the Pioneer Assembly Instagram.  Follow the Pioneer Assembly Substack.  Follow Bethany.  Have Bethany come to your next gathering.

    14 min

  8. Mar 27

    Courage in Complex Conversations, Ft. Ryan McDermott | The Good Fight

    Not every fight is the good fight. In a world filled with cultural tension, complicated issues, and loud opinions, many Christians are left asking: When do I step into the conversation? When do I speak up? And how do I engage without losing the heart of Jesus? In this episode of the Pioneer Assembly Podcast, Bethany Barr Phillips sits down with Pastor Ryan McDermott to explore what it truly means to fight the good fight of faith—not by winning arguments, but by having the courage to stay in the conversation. Together, they unpack: • How to engage difficult and “gray area” issues with both truth and humility • Why the real battle is not what you think • How to hold strong convictions without becoming combative • Why relationships—and sometimes even tacos—matter in hard conversations • What it looks like to stay at the table when it would be easier to walk away With honesty, humor, and real-life stories, this conversation reminds us that the good fight isn’t about proving a point—it’s about loving people well while holding onto faith. 📖 Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:12 🎙 Guest: Ryan McDermott Ryan also has some incredible resources and bible studies he's authored that the Pioneer Assembly recommends! If you’ve ever struggled with how to navigate hard conversations in your faith, this episode will encourage you to lean in with courage, grace, and a pastoral heart. Because sometimes, the good fight simply looks like this: Staying at the table.    Follow along the journey: Pioneer Assembly Instagram For more in-depth content on this and more, check out: Pioneer Assembly Substack

    32 min
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About

You’re invited to assemble with Bethany Barr Phillips and her friends as they do their best to pioneer faith conversations with honesty, encouragement, and sometimes, no resolve. With two types of episodes - traditional long form and short form (called Field Notes) - this podcast is for those longing to belong and maybe even longing to believe. It is not for the faint of heart or those easily offended by truth. It’s for those willing to assemble, not to rise up, but to go out. This is the Pioneer Assembly: A place to gather for those called to go.

Information

  • Creator
    Bethany Barr Phillips
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    54
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Pioneer Assembly

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