The Journey

Broxton Gannon, Chase Faulk, Lance Griffin, Auborn Shepard
  • 5.0 (12)
  • RELIGION & SPIRITUALITY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Journey is produced by Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Dothan, AL. Your life has a God given purpose but discovering that purpose is only the beginning of your journey. God is always trying to take you someplace new! thejourneypodcast.substack.com

  1. #054: What's Your Stress Level?

    FEB 5

    #054: What's Your Stress Level?

    This week on The Journey, our discussion centered on the tension between control and trust. Stress often reveals our lack of trust in God's sovereignty, and our natural response is to try to manage everything ourselves rather than surrender to His plan. But the truth is that God is protecting us by His power (1 Peter 1:5), even when circumstances feel chaotic and uncertain. Faithfulness and obedience—rather than perfect control—are what God calls us to, and sometimes our stress comes from trying to play God in our own lives instead of resting in His provision. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thejourneypodcast.substack.com

    1h 10m
  2. #053: Disc Golf Discipleship

    JAN 29

    #053: Disc Golf Discipleship

    This week on The Journey, we're once again joined by our very own Doug Faulk to recap his experience at the Eagle Wings Conference. Doug reminded us that our everyday activities and hobbies aren't just recreational—they're mission fields. The conference centered on Mark 2 and the story of the paralytic man lowered through the roof by his four friends. This challenged us to identify specific people in our lives who need to encounter Jesus, and to use the things we're passionate about as bridges to gospel conversations. Whether it's disc golf, trading cards, hunting, or any other hobby, these aren't just pastimes—they're opportunities to walk alongside people and introduce them to Christ.Takeaways:- Be intentional about naming your "mat" - Don't just think generally about evangelism. Write down specific names of people God has placed in your path. Doug shared how he immediately reached out to someone on his list after the conference, and that person committed to attending next year's event.- Your hobbies are ministry opportunities - We often separate our "church life" from our recreational life, but God can use disc golf courses, hunting trips, or any shared interest as natural contexts for spiritual conversations. The key is moving from being a spectator to being active in ministry, just like the four friends who carried the paralytic.- Community multiplies impact - Doug started a prayer text group with people from six different states to pray for each other's "mats." We don't have to minister alone. Having others pray for and encourage our evangelistic efforts makes us bolder and more faithful. WATCH ON YOUTUBE This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thejourneypodcast.substack.com

    1h 8m

  3. JAN 22

    #052: What Are You Even Getting Out Of This??

    This week on The Journey, we explored the deeply personal nature of engaging with Scripture and challenged some common assumptions about Bible reading. The key insight is that Scripture isn't a textbook to be mastered for a test, but rather a means of knowing God more deeply. Takeaways:- There's no one-size-fits-all approach to Scripture. Whether you're reading multiple chapters daily or meditating on a single verse, what matters is that you're engaging with God's Word in a way that works for your current season of life. - The goal is knowing God, not accumulating information. We often approach the Bible as if we need to extract practical applications or memorize facts, but the deeper purpose is relational—to know the character, heart, and ways of our Creator. - Repetition shapes us more than we realize. Even when you don't feel like you're "getting anything" from your reading, the consistent pattern of immersing yourself in Scripture is forming you spiritually in ways you won't fully recognize until years later. WATCH NOW ON YOUTUBE This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thejourneypodcast.substack.com

    1h 2m
  4. #051: The 30 Day SHRED

    JAN 14

    #051: The 30 Day SHRED

    We finally made it to video! What does it mean to truly journey through Scripture, and can we find fresh perspective in familiar passages? There’s no single ‘right’ way to encounter Scripture; rather, we’re called to discover what draws us closer to God in our current season. Whether we’re finishing our first read-through of the Bible or our fiftieth, the question remains the same: What does God want us to do next? How is He calling us to grow? The beautiful truth is that we never truly ‘finish’ with Scripture—there’s always more to discover, always deeper intimacy with God to pursue, and always new ways He wants to transform us through His Word. WATCH NOW ON YOUTUBE AND SUBSCRIBE This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thejourneypodcast.substack.com

    1h 8m
  5. #050: Episode 050 Is Here! (Still No Video)

    12/24/2025

    #050: Episode 050 Is Here! (Still No Video)

    This week on The Journey, we explored the transformative power of genuine conversation and liturgical practices in our spiritual formation. We discussed how podcasting and long-form conversations help us understand others more deeply, even when we disagree, and examined the profound symbolism of the candlelight service—a liturgical way of proclaiming that Christ, born at Christmas, is the light who enters and overcomes the world’s darkness. The conversation reminded us that whether through structured liturgy or personal spiritual disciplines, we are all creatures of habit seeking to encounter God through meaningful practices. Takeaways: * Conversations Build Understanding: Spending extended time listening to others—even those we disagree with—helps us see them as people created in God’s image rather than just opposing viewpoints. This doesn’t mean compromising truth, but it does mean approaching disagreements with humility and respect. * Liturgy and Routine Have Formative Power: The “motions” we practice—whether reciting creeds, lighting candles, or maintaining family worship routines—can shape us spiritually when done with intentional hearts. The key isn’t avoiding routine, but ensuring our routines point us toward deeper relationship with Christ rather than becoming empty religion. * The Light Overcomes Darkness: The candlelight service symbolizes a profound truth: Christ entered our dark world as the Light. As we light candles from a single flame representing Jesus, we physically enact the Christmas gospel—reminding ourselves that His light continues to spread through us into a world that desperately needs it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thejourneypodcast.substack.com

    1h 7m
  6. #049: The Ruthless Elimination of Context

    12/17/2025

    #049: The Ruthless Elimination of Context

    This week on The Journey, we explored the balance between two seemingly opposing ideas - the call to work diligently and pursue our God-given purposes versus the need to slow down and eliminate unhealthy hurry from our lives. The key insight is that both perspectives have merit depending on our season of life and context. The biblical pattern of working six days and resting one isn’t meant to be replaced by either constant busyness or perpetual rest. Rather, we’re called to work hard at what God has uniquely positioned us to do while also being wise about distractions and maintaining healthy rhythms. Takeaways: * Define your work biblically, not culturally. Ministry and many modern jobs look different from traditional manual labor, which can create guilt or confusion about productivity. Remember that important kingdom work isn’t always measured by a time clock - conversations, preparation, and responding to unexpected needs are all valuable, even when they disrupt our plans. * Eliminate distractions, not ambition. The goal isn’t to avoid all hurry or eliminate all ambition, but to ruthlessly cut out the things that drain our souls without adding value - particularly excessive social media consumption and constant digital noise. Consider what tools (like app blockers or scheduled “bricks”) might help you protect your focus for what matters most. * Match your season with appropriate expectations. Younger people building careers and families may need to embrace ambitious seasons of hard work, while those further along may need to pull back from unsustainable pace. Be honest about which season you’re in and extend yourself grace accordingly. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thejourneypodcast.substack.com

    1h 10m
  7. #048: Every Moment For Spiritual Growth

    12/11/2025

    #048: Every Moment For Spiritual Growth

    This week on The Journey, we explored how we often limit spiritual growth to traditional disciplines like morning quiet times and Bible study, when God actually uses every circumstance—especially marriage, parenting, and daily responsibilities—as vehicles for our sanctification. Drawing a little bit from Gary Thomas’s book Sacred Marriage, we examined how the messiness and sacrifice of everyday life can be just as spiritually formative as structured devotional time, challenging us to recognize God’s work in all contexts and seasons. Takeaways: * Spiritual growth happens in context, not just in quiet times. Whether you’re single, married, or parenting, God meets you where you are. The key is recognizing that rocking a baby at 3 AM or serving your family breakfast can be just as sanctifying as an hour of Bible reading. * Marriage and family are designed for holiness, not just happiness. These relationships force us to deny ourselves, confront our selfishness, and grow in ways that solitary spiritual disciplines cannot. The interruptions and demands aren’t obstacles to spiritual growth—they are the path. * Perspective matters more than perfection. Rather than feeling guilty about what we can’t do spiritually, we should prayerfully consider what level of sacrifice allows us to “live well in this season” while remaining open to God’s work in every moment of our day. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thejourneypodcast.substack.com

    1h 8m
  8. #047: Ridgecrest Legacies

    11/26/2025

    #047: Ridgecrest Legacies

    This week on The Journey, we took some time to explore the remarkable journey of Ridgecrest Baptist Church through the eyes of someone who has witnessed decades of faithful ministry. From the old sanctuary with its eight-foot ceilings and supporting poles to our current worship center, from traditional committee structures to our current staff-led model, we traced how God has been faithful through every season. More importantly, we discussed how authentic Christian community happens in both large gatherings and smaller, intentional groups—and how the role of servant leadership continues to shape our church’s health and vitality. Key Takeaways: * Legacy matters, but it must evolve. The faithfulness of previous generations laid the foundation we stand on today, but healthy churches adapt their structures and methods while maintaining their core mission. What worked for a church of 200 doesn’t always work for a church of 2,000, and that’s okay. * Servant leadership transforms community. The shift from deacons who made major decisions to deacons who serve, combined with staff who see themselves as shepherds rather than managers, has created an environment where ministry happens organically and people feel genuinely cared for. * Smaller groups create deeper connections. Whether it’s Man Church, Connection Groups, or other intentional gatherings, there’s something powerful that happens when we move beyond Sunday morning rows to face-to-face circles where people can share authentically and grow together. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thejourneypodcast.substack.com

    56 min
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5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

The Journey is produced by Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Dothan, AL. Your life has a God given purpose but discovering that purpose is only the beginning of your journey. God is always trying to take you someplace new! thejourneypodcast.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Broxton Gannon, Chase Faulk, Lance Griffin, Auborn Shepard
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    55
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Broxton Gannon
  • Show Website
    The Journey