What Your Pastor Really Thinks

Drew Tarwater, Matt Wolf, Ryan McBride and Rob Blausey

Welcome to What Your Pastor Really Thinks, a unique podcast where pastors Drew Tarwater, Matt Wolf, and Ryan McBride, led by your host Rob Blausey, dive into thought-provoking topics that most sermons don’t cover. With humor, honesty, and a bit of salty wisdom, these pastors tackle real-life questions about faith, culture, theology, and even a few unexpected themes—like aliens and New Year's resolutions. Each episode brings insight from different perspectives, with Matt representing urban life, Drew from the suburbs, and Ryan as the rural mountain man. Together, they challenge cultural norms

  1. 06/16/2025

    Faith, Facts, and the Bible’s Trustworthiness

    In this episode of What Your Pastor Really Thinks, Pastors Drew Tarwater, Ryan McBride, and Matt Wolf dive into one of the most challenging and foundational questions in the Christian faith: Does the Bible prove God exists—or does it simply presume He does? Together, they explore the reliability of Scripture, the tension between faith and science, and how believers can respond to skepticism in a thoughtful, honest way. With references to historical evidence, textual preservation, and personal faith journeys, this conversation balances scholarly insight with real-world application. Whether you're a committed believer, an honest skeptic, or someone in between, this episode offers tools to better understand what you believe—and why it matters. Have questions? Stick around for a preview of an upcoming Q&A episode and learn how to join the conversation.  Welcome to What Your Pastor Really Thinks—a podcast where pastors Drew Tarwater, Matt Wolf, and Ryan McBride, led by host Rob Blausey, dive into the real questions most sermons skip. With honesty, humor, and a bit of salty wisdom, they tackle faith, culture, theology, and even unexpected topics like aliens and New Year’s resolutions. Each episode brings fresh perspective: Matt speaks from an urban church context, Drew from the suburbs, and Ryan from a rural mountain town. Together, they challenge cultural norms and explore how biblical truth applies in today’s world—helping listeners develop a faith-informed worldview. Meet the Pastors: Pastor Matt Wolf leads Arise Church in Denver, CO. A graduate of Denver Seminary, Matt is known for dynamic teaching and cultivating a Christ-centered, mission-driven community. He’s passionate about equipping believers to live out their faith and building strong relationships within the city. Pastor Drew Tarwater serves as Lead Pastor at Forefront Church in Denver’s Harvey Park. With a background in theology from Midwestern Seminary, Drew brings over a decade of ministry experience and a heart for discipleship, accessibility, and community impact. Pastor Ryan McBride leads Catalyst Church in Cañon City, CO. A Grand Canyon University grad, Ryan is recognized for his engaging teaching and focus on spiritual growth, relational connection, and community outreach. He blends biblical depth with down-to-earth leadership. Whether you're curious how pastors handle real-life issues or just want an honest look behind the pulpit, What Your Pastor Really Thinks invites you into the conversation—straight from the source.

    36 min
  2. 06/02/2025

    School’s Out, Church’s… Optional?

    In this episode of What Your Pastor Really Thinks, Pastors Ryan McBride, Matt Wolf, and Drew Tarwater tackle a surprisingly hot topic: Summer Church. Is church really "out for summer"? From dwindling attendance to camping weekends, they explore the rhythms, frustrations, and opportunities that arise when warm weather and worship collide—especially in Colorado, where the mountains beckon every Saturday morning. The pastors candidly share how their churches adapt through creative scheduling, outdoor services, online worship options, and community events like Whitewater Festival and Blossom Fest. They also discuss how habits around church attendance affect spiritual health—and why consistency matters for families and pastors alike. Whether you're a pastor preparing for the June slump or a churchgoer tempted to "take the summer off," this episode offers real talk, practical tips, and a few good-natured rants to keep your faith rhythm strong all summer long. Connect with us: Rob@Sympler.com Keywords: summer church, church attendance, Colorado churches, church habits, pastor podcast, faith and vacations, outdoor worship, spiritual routines, Catalyst Church, Arise Church Denver, Forefront Church, Sunday service decline, live stream church, keystone habits, faith-based summer, family church rhythms, church volunteering, community service church, whitewater festival church, blossom fest church, church in the park, online church summer, spiritual consistency

    32 min
  3. 05/27/2025

    If God Knows Everything, Why Do Bad Things Still Happen?

    In this thought-provoking episode of What Your Pastor Really Thinks, Pastors Matt Wolf, Ryan McBride, and Drew Tarwater tackle one of the most challenging theological questions: If God's foreknowledge is perfect—why does He allow suffering, tragedy, and evil in the world? From natural disasters like the Joplin tornado to personal loss and deep spiritual confusion, the pastors explore questions many believers wrestle with: Why pray if God already knows everything? Does free will limit divine intervention? How can we reconcile God’s goodness with our daily suffering? With scripture, real-life stories, and candid personal insights, this episode invites listeners into a conversation about trust, sovereignty, the nature of heaven, and why pain is never wasted in God’s hands. Welcome to What Your Pastor Really Thinks, a unique podcast where pastors Drew Tarwater, Matt Wolf, and Ryan McBride, led by your host Rob Blausey, dive into thought-provoking topics that most sermons don’t cover. With humor, honesty, and a bit of salty wisdom, these pastors tackle real-life questions about faith, culture, theology, and even a few unexpected themes—like aliens and New Year's resolutions. Each episode brings insight from different perspectives, with Matt representing urban life, Drew from the suburbs, and Ryan as the rural mountain man. Together, they challenge cultural norms and provide biblical perspectives on controversial and trending topics, aiming to help listeners develop their own worldview grounded in faith. Pastor Matt Wolf is the Lead Pastor of Arise Church in Denver, Colorado, where he is passionate about helping people encounter Jesus, grow in their faith, and live on mission for God’s Kingdom. With a heart for the city and a vision for a thriving, Christ-centered community, Pastor Matt has been instrumental in leading Arise Church to be a beacon of hope and love in the Denver area. With extensive pastoral experience, Matt emphasizes dynamic biblical teaching, intentional discipleship, and a commitment to outreach. He is deeply focused on equipping believers to live out their faith in their daily lives and empowering the church to be a force for good in the local community. Under his leadership, Arise Church has cultivated a culture of authentic relationships and spiritual growth. Pastor Drew Tarwater serves as the Lead Pastor of Forefront Church in Harvey Park, Denver, Colorado. Known for his passion for making the gospel accessible to everyone, Pastor Drew brings over a decade of ministry experience to the Denver community. With a heart for discipleship and church growth, he emphasizes biblical teaching, relational connection, and a commitment to serving the neighborhood. Pastor Drew’s ministry journey began with a calling to equip believers to grow in their faith and engage with their communities. A graduate of Midwestern Seminary, he blends deep theological insight with a practical, down-to-earth approach to ministry. Drew’s leadership at Forefront Church has been marked by his vision to see people transformed by the love of Christ and actively live out their faith in everyday life. Pastor Ryan McBride Pastor Ryan McBride is the Lead Pastor of Catalyst Church in Cañon City, Colorado, where he is dedicated to creating a vibrant, Christ-centered community. Known for his engaging teaching style and heart for discipleship, Pastor Ryan is passionate about helping people encounter God, grow in their faith, and discover their unique purpose in God’s Kingdom. With years of pastoral experience, Ryan combines a deep love for scripture with a practical approach to ministry. He is committed to equipping believers to live out their faith authentically and serve their neighbors with compassion and love. His leadership at Catalyst Church has been marked by a focus on relational connection, fostering spiritual growth, and reaching the community with the hope of the gospel.

    29 min
  4. 04/07/2025

    Taxes: Paying Thine Taxes

    What Your Pastor Really Thinks – Ep. Taxes: Paying Thine Taxes It's tax season, and we're diving headfirst into the topic that makes everyone sweat—yes, taxes. In this episode, Pastors Matt Wolf and Drew Tarwater join host Rob Blausey for a candid, thought-provoking, and at times hilarious conversation about what Scripture really says about paying taxes, the ethics of tax loopholes, and how Christians should navigate gray areas with integrity. We explore: Jesus’ famous “Give to Caesar” teaching Biblical foundations for civic responsibility Loopholes vs. law-breaking—what’s ethical? The tension between capitalism, socialism, and Christian generosity. How wealth, taxes, and government intersect with personal faith Whether you're frustrated about your tax bill or just curious how faith and finances intersect, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. Have questions or want help? Email Rob at rob@sympler.com Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more real, raw, and relevant conversations on faith, theology, and culture. Welcome to What Your Pastor Really Thinks, a unique podcast where pastors Drew Tarwater, Matt Wolf, and Ryan McBride, led by your host Rob Blausey, dive into thought-provoking topics that most sermons don’t cover. With humor, honesty, and a bit of salty wisdom, these pastors tackle real-life questions about faith, culture, theology, and even a few unexpected themes—like aliens and New Year's resolutions. Each episode brings insight from different perspectives, with Matt representing urban life, Drew from the suburbs, and Ryan as the rural mountain man. Together, they challenge cultural norms and provide biblical perspectives on controversial and trending topics, aiming to help listeners develop their own worldview grounded in faith.

    28 min

About

Welcome to What Your Pastor Really Thinks, a unique podcast where pastors Drew Tarwater, Matt Wolf, and Ryan McBride, led by your host Rob Blausey, dive into thought-provoking topics that most sermons don’t cover. With humor, honesty, and a bit of salty wisdom, these pastors tackle real-life questions about faith, culture, theology, and even a few unexpected themes—like aliens and New Year's resolutions. Each episode brings insight from different perspectives, with Matt representing urban life, Drew from the suburbs, and Ryan as the rural mountain man. Together, they challenge cultural norms