The Sift: Sorting Through Life

Nathan Eldridge
  • 5.0 (11)
  • CHRISTIANITY
  • UPDATED 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 19: How God Uses Imperfect People

    In this episode, we finish Genesis 49 and begin Genesis 50, exploring how God works through flawed people to accomplish His perfect purposes. As Jacob speaks his final words over his sons, he’s honest about their failures, and yet he knows God’s plan will move forward through them. And there is a thread of grace that runs through it all, pointing to Christ. We also talk about how God uses both the highs and lows of our lives, encouraging you to recognize the Lord’s hand in every season of life. When we get to Jacob’s burial request, we see his trust in God’s promises, while Joseph’s grief reminds us that sorrow is real and appropriate. We hope this conversation is a helpful reminder that God’s purposes are not hindered by imperfect people again but are accomplished through them. 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=61582488430324 and 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

    43 min

  2. MAY 12

    Episode 18: How Does a Person Die Well?

    In this episode, we walk through Genesis 48, which is near the end of the Joseph story, and we consider what it means to die well. As Jacob nears the end of his life, his focus is not on possessions but on the promises of God. He reflects on God’s faithful care, “the God who has been my shepherd all my life long,” and anchors his hope in what God promised to do. We explore how dying well starts long before the final moments of life. It involves consistently pointing our families to the Lord, passing down a living faith, and trusting God to work over the course of generations. Jacob adopts Joseph’s sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which gives us a picture of how God graciously brings us into His family and teaches us to call Him Father. We hope you’ll join us for this episode. There’s a seat at the table for you! 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=61582488430324 and 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

    48 min

  3. MAY 5

    Episode 17: How God Works in Unexpected Places

    In this episode of The Sift, Nathan Eldridge and Jeff Hollesclaw explore Genesis 47 and ask: how does God work in your life when He places you somewhere unexpected? As Jacob’s family settles in Egypt, we see God’s providence unfold through leadership, hardship, and surprising blessing. Joseph models wisdom and humility in crisis, while Jacob reminds us that this world is not our true home. Even in famine, God causes His people to flourish in Goshen.  This conversation highlights faith in difficult circumstances, contentment in every season, and trusting God’s purposes when life doesn’t go as planned. Wherever God has placed you, especially when it’s not where you expected, He is still at work, shaping your life and fulfilling His 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=61582488430324 and 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

    42 min

  4. APR 28

    Episode 16: What Do You Do When God’s Plan Doesn’t Make Sense?

    In this episode of The Sift, Nathan Eldridge and Jeff Hollesclaw explore Genesis 46 and ask: What do you do when God leads you somewhere that doesn’t make sense? As Jacob leaves the promised land for Egypt, we see a powerful picture of faith in uncertainty. God meets him at Beersheba with a reassuring promise: “I will be with you,” a theme echoed throughout Scripture and fulfilled in Christ.  We discuss trusting God in confusing seasons, the importance of God’s faithfulness across generations, and the hope of restoration seen in Jacob’s reunion with Joseph. Even the move to Goshen reveals God’s wise provision. When life takes you somewhere unexpected, can you trust that God is still leading—and still working for your good? 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

    43 min

  5. APR 21

    Episode 15: Forgiveness and Freedom: Letting Go of the Past

    In this episode of The Sift, Nathan Eldridge and Jeff Hollesclaw explore the powerful climax of Joseph’s story in Genesis 45 and ask a deeply personal question: What do you do when someone who has wronged you finally confesses? As Joseph reveals his identity to his brothers, we see a moving picture of forgiveness, reconciliation, and the sovereignty of God. This conversation highlights what makes a healthy, Christ-centered church and how the gospel shapes our relationships. Joseph’s ability to forgive flows from his confidence that God used even evil for good. We also connect this story to the hope of salvation in Jesus Christ, where sinners are not only forgiven but welcomed. When repentance is real, will we extend grace or hold on to the past? 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

    56 min

  6. APR 14

    Episode 14: When God Confronts You with Your Past

    In this episode of The Sift, Nathan Eldridge and Jeff Hollesclaw explore Genesis 44 and ask a sobering question: what do you do when God brings your sin into the light? Through Joseph’s final test - hiding the silver cup in Benjamin’s sack - the brothers are forced to face their past guilt. Though innocent of this charge, they are not innocent before God.  We discuss how God uses difficult circumstances to expose what’s in our hearts and call us to repentance. A key focus is Judah’s transformation, from selling his brother to offering himself as a substitute. This powerful moment points us to the gospel and the “great exchange” described in 2 Corinthians 5:21. When sin is exposed, will we make excuses, or own it and run to 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=61582488430324 and 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

    36 min

  7. APR 7

    Episode 13: What Do You Do When You’re Backed Into a Corner?

    In this episode of The Sift, we walk through Genesis 43 and ask a hard question: what do you do when you’re backed into a corner and forced to act? As famine tightens its grip, Jacob must send Benjamin to Egypt, revealing how God often works through pressure, not comfort. We explore the weight of difficult decisions, the danger of lingering guilt, and the freedom found in Christ’s finished work (see Romans 8:1).  The conversation also challenges fathers to embrace their role in spiritual leadership and highlights the surprising grace Joseph shows his brothers. Ultimately, this passage points beyond itself to Jesus, reminding us that God’s kindness leads us to repentance and His providence is always at work—even in the hardest moments. 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=61582488430324 and 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

    52 min

  8. MAR 31

    Episode 12: How God Uses the Pressures of Life

    In this episode of The Sift, we explore Genesis 42 and the story of Joseph and his brothers during a severe famine. As Jacob sends his sons to Egypt for grain, external pressures expose deeper internal realities—especially their buried guilt over Joseph. Standing before Joseph, now a ruler in Egypt, the brothers are tested, and their honest confession of sin begins to surface. This passage shows how God’s providence often works through pressure—not to crush us, but to lead us toward repentance, humility, and restoration. We also consider Jacob’s fearful response and contrast it with a growing trust in God’s sovereign plan. Whether you’re facing pressure from past mistakes, present trials, or uncertain circumstances, this conversation will help you see how God uses it all for His redemptive purposes through Jesus Christ. 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=61582488430324 and 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

    49 min
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5
out of 5
11 Ratings

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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