The Journey

Broxton Gannon, Chase Faulk, Lance Griffin, Auborn Shepard

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. #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
  2. #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
  3. #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
  4. #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
  5. #046: Redemption & Responsibility

    11/19/2025

    #046: Redemption & Responsibility

    This week on The Journey, we welcome Mitch Lucky to the show to help us explore the reality of being a witness for Christ outside the church walls, particularly in secular workplaces where people knew us before our transformation in Christ. Mitch shared his compelling story of how God has used his past struggles and current faithfulness to open doors for ministry among coworkers who watched him change. There’s a tension between our desire to share Christ and our fear of being seen as hypocritical by those who knew us “before.” But ultimately, we were reminded that God calls us to faithful obedience, allowing the fruit of the Spirit to speak louder than our words, and trusting that He will bring people to us in His perfect timing. Takeaways: * Let the fruit speak for itself - Rather than constantly defending our past or trying to prove we’ve changed, we should focus on living faithfully and allowing others to witness the transformation Christ has made in our lives through our daily actions and responses. * Don’t give up, but trust God’s timing - While we should never stop loving and being available to those who need Christ, we must balance faithful witness with patient trust in the Holy Spirit’s work. Some seeds take years to grow, as evidenced by the grandmother who faithfully witnessed to her grandson for years before he finally came to faith. * Step out of your comfort zone - God often uses our willingness to say “yes” to uncomfortable opportunities as the catalyst for Kingdom impact. Whether it’s sharing your testimony, leading a small group, or simply having a difficult conversation, obedience in discomfort often leads to divine appointments. 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 25m
  6. #045: To Preach or Not to Preach

    11/12/2025

    #045: To Preach or Not to Preach

    This week on The Journey, we explored the tension between feeling called by God and feeling equipped for that calling. We encourage each other (sorta) to step out in faith, even when we’re uncertain, trusting that the Holy Spirit works through our obedience rather than our perfection. Takeaways: * Obedience over comfort: God often calls us to serve in ways that stretch us beyond our comfort zones. Our willingness to say “yes” matters more than our perceived readiness. * Community discipleship takes many forms: We don’t all have to teach from a stage to make an impact. Discipleship happens in conversations, small groups, and everyday moments when we share what God is teaching us. * Genuine authenticity matters: Whether we’re serving in preschool, leading a group, or sharing our faith with a friend, people can sense when we’re being genuine versus just going through the motions. Let your service flow from a sincere heart. We encourage you to prayerfully consider where God might be asking you to step out in faith—even if it feels uncomfortable at first. Let us know what you think! Write to us at thejourney@rbcdothan.org and don’t forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. 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

    45 min
  7. #044: What's Worth Your Time?

    11/07/2025

    #044: What's Worth Your Time?

    This week on The Journey, we returned from our staff retreat with a wide-ranging discussion that touched on something we all face daily: how do we discern what content is worth our time and attention? What started as a conversation about A.W. Tozer’s book turned into a deeper exploration of creativity, storytelling, and the importance of being careful about what we allow to shape our thinking. Takeaways: * Content matters more than the author’s reputation. While we may be drawn to books or podcasts by certain names, what ultimately matters is whether the content itself is true, good, and beautiful. Even respected authors from the past might not withstand today’s scrutiny, so we must evaluate everything through a biblical lens. * Creativity is part of our calling, not separate from it. Jesus told parables—creative stories that transformed hearts. We’ve surrendered too much of the cultural storytelling space, and we need Christians who can tell compelling, truthful stories that point people to the gospel without compromising truth for entertainment. * Guard what shapes your mind and heart. Whether it’s books, podcasts, TV shows, or personality assessments like the Enneagram, we must be discerning. Only God should define us, and we need to have “a check in our spirit” when something doesn’t align with biblical truth, even if it comes from Christian sources. 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

    49 min
  8. #043: Reclaiming Restoration: The Journey Can Be Messy

    10/24/2025

    #043: Reclaiming Restoration: The Journey Can Be Messy

    This week on The Journey, we explored the tension between extending grace to those struggling and enabling destructive patterns. We discussed how the church often falls into two camps—those who emphasize repentance without restoration, and those who walk alongside people through the messy journey of redemption. The discussion challenged us to consider: How long do we help someone before we’re simply enabling them? How do we balance Christ-like compassion with healthy boundaries? And why does vulnerability remain so difficult in many church circles, particularly in Southern Baptist culture? Key Takeaways: * Restoration is messy and requires long-term commitment. Real transformation rarely happens on our timeline. Some organizations succeed because they’re committed to the journey, not just a quick fix. We need to call people to something more while walking patiently alongside them through setbacks and failures. * The enemy uses deception to keep people stuck. Whether it’s convincing someone in addiction that they can’t change, or making them believe the church will only judge them, Satan works to prevent both the hurting and the helpers from experiencing God’s redemptive power. We must recognize these lies in ourselves and others. * Early Christians changed the world through radical, self-sacrificing love. During plagues in the third and fourth centuries, Christians walked directly into danger to care for the sick, viewing even death as a worthy sacrifice. Their lack of concern for self-preservation caused the church to explode in growth and forced even pagan emperors to take notice. We should ask ourselves: are we willing to love at that level? 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

    51 min
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5
out of 5
9 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 - 2025
  • Episodes
    51
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Broxton Gannon
  • Show Website
    The Journey