The Sift: Sorting Through Life

Nathan Eldridge
  • 5.0 (13)
  • Christianity
  • Weekly

The Sift is a podcast where two Christian friends have honest conversations about real life from a biblical perspective. We sift through work, family, leadership, and the everyday pressures of life, seeking to apply what we believe to the world in which we live. If you want more than soundbites and are willing to think carefully about what matters most, pull up a seat. There’s room at the table. We’re glad you’re here.

  1. 6d ago

    Episode 42: Does God Care How We Worship? (2 Samuel 6)

    In 2 Samuel 6, David sets out to bring the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem. His desire is good, but the journey does not go as planned, and Uzzah’s death confronts David and Israel with the holiness of God. Nathan Eldridge and Jeff Holsclaw explore the ark’s place in Israel’s worship and the lesson David learns: good intentions do not replace careful obedience to God’s Word. The conversation also traces how the Old Testament sacrifices pointed beyond themselves to the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, through whom we draw near to God. The chapter raises questions for the church today, too: Why does gathered worship matter? And how should we respond when people close to us do not share our desire for the Lord and his ways? As David worships before God, we are reminded to seek the Lord’s approval above the approval of others. Subscribe to the Sift Podcast! Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/18Jlr9A1gyWsoglyBhF3rU?si=4511590f88924da6 Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sift-sorting-through-life/id1868521732 Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@thesiftlife Stay Connected with The Sift on Social Media You can find The Sift  on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582488430324and on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesiftlife/ Get Connected with a Local Church If you’re looking for a local church to connect with, we’d love for you to learn more about Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Decatur, Alabama:https://www.redeemerdecatur.org

  2. Oct 20

    Episode 41: What Does It Look Like When God Directs Our Steps? (2 Samuel 5)

    What does it look like when the Lord directs our steps? In 2 Samuel 5, David becomes king over all Israel after years of waiting. He does not seize the throne; he receives it in God’s time. When Jerusalem is captured and his kingdom established, David recognizes that the Lord has made him king. Yet success brings its own danger: David’s growing household reveals a failure to heed God’s instructions for Israel’s kings. Then, when the Philistines attack, David seeks the Lord before each battle… and receives different guidance each time.  2 Samuel 5 calls us to patience, humility, prayer, and dependence on God rather than self-reliance or yesterday’s victories. It also reminds us that David, with all his flaws, is not the Redeemer. Our righteousness cannot be stitched together by our own efforts; it is found in Jesus Christ, the true King who fulfills God’s promises. Subscribe to the Sift Podcast! Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/18Jlr9A1gyWsoglyBhF3rU?si=4511590f88924da6 Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sift-sorting-through-life/id1868521732 Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@thesiftlife Stay Connected with The Sift on Social Media You can find The Sift  on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582488430324and on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesiftlife/ Get Connected with a Local Church If you’re looking for a local church to connect with, we’d love for you to learn more about Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Decatur, Alabama:https://www.redeemerdecatur.org

  3. Oct 13

    Episode 40: Does The End Justify the Means? (2 Samuel 4)

    Can a good outcome excuse an evil act? In 2 Samuel 4, Saul’s house is weakening and Ish-bosheth is murdered by men who expect David to welcome their treachery. They even appeal to the Lord’s name, as if religious language could make their crime righteous. David refuses to gain the kingdom through bloodshed and answers the murder with justice.  As the house of Saul fades, David’s kingdom advances but the story leads us to ask whether God’s purposes depend on human schemes… and they do not. This episode considers the difference between trusting God’s providence and using it to excuse sin, and how David’s imperfect rule points beyond itself to Jesus, the righteous King whose kingdom is established in justice and grace. Subscribe to the Sift Podcast! Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/18Jlr9A1gyWsoglyBhF3rU?si=4511590f88924da6 Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sift-sorting-through-life/id1868521732 Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@thesiftlife Stay Connected with The Sift on Social Media You can find The Sift  on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582488430324and on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesiftlife/ Get Connected with a Local Church If you’re looking for a local church to connect with, we’d love for you to learn more about Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Decatur, Alabama:https://www.redeemerdecatur.org

  4. Oct 6

    Episode 39: Can God’s Plan Be Derailed? (2 Samuel 3)

    Can God’s promises be overturned by human ambition, wickedness, or weakness? In 2 Samuel 3, David’s house grows stronger while Saul’s house declines, but the path to a united kingdom is anything but peaceful. Abner acts out of selfish ambition, Ish-bosheth proves weak, and Joab takes vengeance into his own hands by murdering Abner. Yet none of them can overturn what God has promised. In this episode of The Sift, we consider how God’s sovereignty works even through the tangled motives and sinful actions of human beings. We also discuss the danger of obeying God only when it serves our interests, the difference between outward righteousness and genuine heart transformation, and why trusting God’s plan never means becoming passive. Human sin brings real pain and consequences, but it cannot derail the purposes of God. His promises stand, even when the people involved are deeply flawed. Subscribe to the Sift Podcast! Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/18Jlr9A1gyWsoglyBhF3rU?si=4511590f88924da6 Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sift-sorting-through-life/id1868521732 Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@thesiftlife Stay Connected with The Sift on Social MediaYou can find The Sift  on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582488430324and on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesiftlife/ Get Connected with a Local ChurchIf you’re looking for a local church to connect with, we’d love for you to learn more about Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Decatur, Alabama:https://www.redeemerdecatur.org

  5. Sep 29

    Episode 38: What Do You Do When Everything Starts to Go Your Way? (2 Samuel 2)

    After years of waiting, running, and suffering, David’s circumstances finally begin to change. Saul is dead, David is anointed king over Judah, and the throne God promised appears within reach. So what does David do when things start going his way? In this episode of The Sift, we explore how David continues to seek the Lord, waits patiently for God’s timing, and shows kindness to the men who honored Saul. His restraint stands in sharp contrast to Abner, who attempts to force his preferred outcome by making Ish-bosheth king over Israel. The resulting conflict reminds us that ambition, careless words, and relentless pursuit can produce devastating consequences. Through David, Abner, and Asahel, 2 Samuel 2 teaches us to seek God’s direction, resist forcing outcomes, listen to wise warnings, and know when it is time to stop. Subscribe to the Sift Podcast! Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/18Jlr9A1gyWsoglyBhF3rU?si=4511590f88924da6 Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sift-sorting-through-life/id1868521732 Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@thesiftlife Stay Connected with The Sift on Social MediaYou can find The Sift  on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582488430324and on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesiftlife/ Get Connected with a Local ChurchIf you’re looking for a local church to connect with, we’d love for you to learn more about Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Decatur, Alabama:https://www.redeemerdecatur.org

  6. Sep 22

    Episode 37: What Do You Do When Your Enemy Falls? (2 Samuel 1)

    What should you do when someone who has hurt you finally falls? In 2 Samuel 1, David receives news that Saul and Jonathan are dead. Although Saul had pursued David for years, David does not gloat over his enemy’s downfall. He mourns, fasts, and writes a lament honoring both Saul and his beloved friend Jonathan. In this episode of The Sift, Nathan and Jeff examine the lasting consequences of Saul’s partial obedience, the Amalekite’s fatal attempt to gain David’s favor through deception, and David’s remarkable freedom from bitterness. His response challenges us to consider how we react when an enemy suffers or someone who has wounded us is brought low. The chapter also teaches us how to grieve honestly while holding fast to Christian hope—the promise that, in Christ, death and sorrow will not have the final word. Subscribe to the Sift Podcast! Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/18Jlr9A1gyWsoglyBhF3rU?si=4511590f88924da6 Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sift-sorting-through-life/id1868521732 Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@thesiftlife Stay Connected with The Sift on Social MediaYou can find The Sift  on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582488430324and on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesiftlife/ Get Connected with a Local ChurchIf you’re looking for a local church to connect with, we’d love for you to learn more about Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Decatur, Alabama:https://www.redeemerdecatur.org

  7. Sep 15

    Episode 36: How Do You Make Sense of Tragedy? (1 Samuel 31)

    How do we make sense of tragedy—especially when it results from years of poor choices? In this episode of The Sift, Nathan and Jeff discuss the death of Saul and his sons in 1 Samuel 31. Saul’s downfall was not a sudden accident, but the tragic end of a long pattern of disobedience and unrepentant sin. Yet his story also reveals God’s remarkable patience and reminds us not to delay repentance. The discussion contrasts Saul with David, whose years of waiting and hardship prepared him to lead with greater humility and character. Nathan and Jeff also consider the danger of despair, the hope available in Christ, and the courage of the men of Jabesh-gilead, who refused to let Saul’s final failures erase every good thing that had come before. Subscribe to the Sift Podcast! Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/18Jlr9A1gyWsoglyBhF3rU?si=4511590f88924da6 Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sift-sorting-through-life/id1868521732 Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@thesiftlife Stay Connected with The Sift on Social MediaYou can find The Sift  on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582488430324and on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesiftlife/ Get Connected with a Local ChurchIf you’re looking for a local church to connect with, we’d love for you to learn more about Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Decatur, Alabama:https://www.redeemerdecatur.org

  8. Sep 8

    Episode 35: What to Do When Problems Stack Up (1 Samuel 30)

    What do you do when one problem follows another and life’s troubles begin to stack up? In this episode of The Sift, Nathan and Jeff turn to 1 Samuel 30, where David returns to Ziklag and finds the city burned and the families of his men taken captive. At one of the lowest moments of his life, David strengthens himself in the Lord, seeks God’s direction, and sets out in pursuit. The result is a remarkable rescue in which everything that had been taken is restored. The chapter also reveals something about the generous grace of God. David insists that the spoils be shared equally, even with those who could not continue into battle. In the same way, salvation is not earned by our strength or effort but given freely through Jesus Christ. When troubles pile up—or when you have wandered far—pause, pray, and turn again to the Lord. Subscribe to the Sift Podcast! Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/18Jlr9A1gyWsoglyBhF3rU?si=4511590f88924da6 Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sift-sorting-through-life/id1868521732 Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@thesiftlife Stay Connected with The Sift on Social Media You can find The Sift  on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61582488430324and on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesiftlife/ Get Connected with a Local Church If you’re looking for a local church to connect with, we’d love for you to learn more about Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Decatur, Alabama:https://www.redeemerdecatur.org

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5
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About

The Sift is a podcast where two Christian friends have honest conversations about real life from a biblical perspective. We sift through work, family, leadership, and the everyday pressures of life, seeking to apply what we believe to the world in which we live. If you want more than soundbites and are willing to think carefully about what matters most, pull up a seat. There’s room at the table. We’re glad you’re here.

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