Pleasing God Podcast

Jonathan Sole

A podcast focused on helping Christians think biblically, engage practically, and live faithfully for the glory of God. 

  1. 4D AGO

    Holding Convictions Without Becoming Harsh

    Send a text In today’s polarized cultural moment, many Christians feel caught in a tension:  If we speak clearly, we’re labeled as harsh. If we speak gently, we’re accused of compromise. So how do followers of Jesus hold firm convictions without losing Christlike character? In this episode of The Pleasing God Podcast, we explore what Scripture teaches about truth, gentleness, and courage, and why the Bible never separates conviction from love. Drawing on passages such as John 1:14, Ephesians 4:15, and Colossians 4:6, this episode looks to Jesus as the perfect model of grace and truth and challenges believers to reflect His posture in a reactive, divided world. This conversation is not about culture wars, tone policing, or avoiding hard conversations. Instead, it is about faithful Christian witness—speaking the truth clearly, lovingly, and wisely, while trusting God with the results. You’ll hear: Why conviction itself is not the problem, but how it is expressed often isHow Scripture holds truth and love together rather than pitting them against each otherWhy harshness is so tempting in our current cultural climateWhat it actually means for our speech to be “gracious and seasoned with salt”Practical, everyday wisdom for navigating difficult conversations with faithfulness and humilityThis episode also includes a practical “so what?” section, offering real-life guidance for how Christians can examine their hearts, slow down in a reactive world, discern when to engage or step back, and speak as people accountable to Christ. The goal is to be faithful. In a world marked by outrage and division, the church’s witness is strongest when believers hold convictions firmly, speak truth graciously, and sound more like Christ. Support the show Stock Music provided by wolfgangwoehrle, from Pond5 Subscribe to the weekly newsletter here: Jonathan’s Substack | Jonathan Sole | Substack

    18 min
  2. FEB 3

    Rooted: A Faith Built to Last

    Send us a text What kind of faith truly lasts? In a culture shaped by distraction, instability, and constant change, many Christians feel pressure to pursue visible growth, spiritual intensity, or quick transformation. Scripture, however, directs our attention deeper to the unseen roots that sustain a lasting Christian faith. In this episode of The Pleasing God Podcast, we explore what it means to be rooted in Christ and why enduring faith is formed not by hype or personality-driven spirituality, but by ongoing connection to Jesus. Drawing from biblical imagery of trees, foundations, and abiding, this episode clarifies the difference between faith that merely appears strong and faith that is built to endure. We examine why many believers experience spiritual drift not through open rebellion, but through subtle disconnection from Christ and His Word. False supports, shallow spiritual formation, and unexamined assumptions can weaken stability over time. Rather than offering quick fixes or moralistic pressure, this conversation points listeners back to Christ as the source of spiritual growth, nourishment, and perseverance. This episode also invites thoughtful reflection: What currently shapes your spiritual life? Where do you turn when pressure comes? Is your faith resilient or reactive? These questions are not meant to provoke fear, but to encourage renewal, discernment, and faithful endurance. Rooted: A Faith Built to Last offers biblical clarity and pastoral encouragement for Christians who desire consistent, enduring faith. The goal of the Christian life is not impressive faith, but faith that remains connected to Christ over time. Whether you feel strong or weary, this episode calls you to remain rooted in the place where true life is found. Support the show Stock Music provided by wolfgangwoehrle, from Pond5 Subscribe to the weekly newsletter here: Jonathan’s Substack | Jonathan Sole | Substack

    18 min
  3. 12/18/2025

    Behold the Christ: Seeing Jesus Clearly

    Send us a text We explore why clarity about Jesus in the Gospel of Mark is the key to steady discipleship and how a sermon-shaped book, Behold the Christ, can help believers behold him rather than blur him. We share the pastoral burden, structure, and practical ways churches and groups can use it well. • Why the question “Who do you say Jesus is?” matters most • Why sequential exposition through Mark sharpens the vision of Christ • how Mark 8’s two-stage healing mirrors discipleship growth • what “behold” means in a distracted age • the portrait of Jesus in Mark as servant, teacher, Son of Man, crucified King • how the book is structured from sermons with reflection prompts • use cases for church members, small groups, and pastors • why clarity about Christ produces stability in life and ministry • ordinary means of grace over novelty and trends • practical steps to read Mark with the book open beside your Bible You can search the books listed on Amazon. The title is Behold the Christ: Seeing Jesus Clearly in the Gospel of Mark. You can go to my website, pleasinggodministries.org, and find a link there to the book. I’ll list it in the show notes here. If you do read it, get your hands on it, and find it helpful, let me encourage you: share it with someone else. Consider leaving a review. It genuinely helps others to discover it as well. Buy the book here. Support the show Stock Music provided by wolfgangwoehrle, from Pond5 Subscribe to the weekly newsletter here: Jonathan’s Substack | Jonathan Sole | Substack

    19 min
  4. 12/09/2025

    Psalms For A Weary Soul

    Send us a text Feeling stretched thin and spiritually tired, we turned to the Psalms—not to skim, but to slow down. What we found is both practical and profound: these ancient songs give honest words to modern emotions and lead us straight to Jesus. From the cross to the empty tomb, Christ stands at the center of the Psalter, and reading with that lens changes how we pray, how we hope, and how we face the day. We start by asking why the Psalms matter for a weary soul and show how Jesus himself prayed and fulfilled them. Then we walk through a simple four-part rhythm—read, reflect, respond, rest—that turns a hurried quiet time into real communion. You’ll hear how Psalm 1 paints a rooted life beside living water, why Psalm 22 and Psalm 16 trace the arc from suffering to resurrection, and how Psalm 23 becomes a personal prayer when you slow down and speak it aloud. Along the way, we unpack categories that meet you where you are: lament for pain that needs honest words, praise to lift your gaze, thanksgiving to notice grace, and wisdom to guide daily choices. This is a gentle, Scripture-saturated invitation to let God’s Word form your heart, not just inform your head. Try the weeklong challenge: one psalm a day, read out loud, reflected in a single truth about God, prayed back in your own words, and rested in for a few quiet minutes. By week’s end, look for the subtle shifts—steadier peace, deeper joy, resilient hope. If this helped you breathe and re-center on Christ, subscribe, share it with a friend who’s overwhelmed, and leave a review so others can find the show. Then tell us: which Psalm are you praying this week? Support the show Stock Music provided by wolfgangwoehrle, from Pond5 Subscribe to the weekly newsletter here: Jonathan’s Substack | Jonathan Sole | Substack

    21 min

Ratings & Reviews

3.4
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

A podcast focused on helping Christians think biblically, engage practically, and live faithfully for the glory of God.