Riot Podcast

Watch RIOT Podcast Episode 313 on YouTube: Joseph’s Leadership Style | Genesis 47. Joseph’s Leadership Style Genesis 47 is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast. What Does a Good Leader Do When Every Decision Comes at a Cost? What makes someone a great leader when everything is falling apart? Is it intelligence, strategy, experience, or the ability to make difficult decisions? Or is there something deeper that separates good leadership from godly leadership? In RIOT Podcast Episode 313, we explore Genesis 47 and Joseph’s leadership style, examining how Joseph navigated a devastating famine, managed Egypt’s resources, provided for his family, and remained faithful to his responsibilities. In this episode, we discuss: 1. How Joseph’s reputation and relationships opened doors for his family 2. Why humility matters more than position or status 3. How Joseph managed Egypt’s resources during a national crisis 4 .The importance of stewardship, wisdom, and strategic planning 5. Why ethical leadership requires both intelligence and compassion 6. How to make difficult decisions while seeking God’s direction 7. What Jacob’s final request teaches about faith, family, and keeping our promises Joseph’s story reminds us that leadership isn’t simply about having authority or making successful decisions. It’s about using what God has entrusted to us to serve others, honor Him, and remain faithful even under pressure. Whether you’re leading a business, ministry, team, or family, Genesis 47 offers important lessons about responsibility, integrity, and trusting God’s guidance. RIOT Podcast Episode 313 Joseph’s Leadership Style | Genesis 47 Scriptures: Genesis 47, Acts 9:27, Philippians 2:3, Matthew 5:37. Join the conversation: What matters most in a leader: intelligence, integrity, compassion, or faith? Subscribe to RIOT Podcast for biblical conversations about real-life issues. Real Issues. One Truth. The post Joseph’s Leadership Style Genesis 47 | Riot Podcast appeared first on Riotpodcast.

Tithing & Giving: Does God Really Want 10% of Your Money? is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast. If Tithing Isn’t Commanded in the New Testament, Why Do So Many Churches Require It? Is tithing still required for Christians today, or does the Bible teach something deeper about giving? For many Christians, tithing has been presented as a simple rule: give God 10%, keep the remaining 90%, and you’ve fulfilled your obligation. But is that what Scripture actually teaches? In RIOT Podcast Episode 312, Pete Robertson, Bill Schoneman, and Bob Schoneman examine what the Bible says about tithing, offerings, generosity, and giving under the New Testament. In this episode, we discuss: What tithing meant in the Old Testament and why it involved giving a tenth Whether the New Testament commands Christians to tithe 10% The difference between tithes and offerings What Jesus taught through the widow’s offering Why God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7) The difference between generous giving and giving under pressure or guilt Why money can become a source of security and control How trusting God changes our relationship with money Why true generosity begins with surrender, not a percentage “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” — Matthew 6:21 The question isn’t simply, “How much money does God require?” Maybe it’s “Does God have access to everything He’s entrusted to me?” Because biblical giving isn’t about purchasing God’s blessing, proving we’re spiritual, or following a formula. It’s about trusting the Father who provides for us. RIOT Podcast Episode 312 Tithing & Giving: Does God Really Want 10% of Your Money? Scriptures: Deuteronomy 8:11–18, Leviticus 27:30, Malachi 3:8–10, Mark 12:41–44, 2 Corinthians 8:1–5, 2 Corinthians 9:6–8, Matthew 6:19–34 Join the conversation: Should Christians still tithe 10%, or is biblical giving about something deeper? Real Issues. One Truth. The post Tithing & Giving: Does God Really Want 10% of Your Money? | Riot Podcast appeared first on Riotpodcast.

How Do You Become Wise? Proverbs 1:1–3 is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast. Can You Know Everything About the Bible and Still Be Foolish? How do you become wise? Is wisdom about intelligence, experience, biblical knowledge, or something deeper? You can know Scripture, attend church, and understand theology yet still make foolish decisions. So what does the Bible actually teach about becoming wise? In RIOT Podcast Episode 311, Pete Robertson, Bill Schoneman, and Bob Schoneman introduce RIOT Focus, a new series of shorter, deeper Bible studies beginning with Proverbs 1:1–3. Rather than rushing through entire chapters, we’re slowing down to examine Scripture, understand its meaning, and discover how God’s wisdom transforms everyday life. In this episode, we explore: 1. Proverbs 1:1: What Solomon’s life teaches us about knowing wisdom versus living wisely. 2. Proverbs 1:2: The Hebrew words chokmah (wisdom) and musar (instruction, discipline, and correction). 3. Proverbs 1:3: Why biblical wisdom must produce righteousness, justice, and fairness in how we treat others. 4. Why intelligence and biblical knowledge don’t automatically make someone wise. 5. Why becoming wise requires humility and a teachable heart. 6. How God’s wisdom changes our relationships, decisions, leadership, finances, and character. 7. The difference between religious performance and a genuine relationship with Jesus. Wisdom isn’t simply knowing what God says. It’s allowing His truth to change how we live. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 7:24 that the wise person hears His words and puts them into practice. So perhaps the question isn’t just, “How much do I know about God?” It’s “Am I allowing God to change me?” Join us as we begin RIOT Focus and discover why becoming wise starts with being willing to learn, listen, and receive correction. RIOT Podcast Episode 311 | RIOT Focus Proverbs 1:1–3 Question for you: What’s the difference between knowing what’s right and actually living wisely? Subscribe for more honest biblical conversations about real issues. Real Issues. One Truth. The post How Do You Become Wise? Proverbs 1:1–3 | Riot Podcast appeared first on Riotpodcast.

Why Is It So Hard for Us to Slow Down Isaiah 58 is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast. What If Your Inability to Rest Reveals What You’re Really Trusting? We live in a world that constantly tells us to do more, achieve more, earn more, and stay busy. But what if our inability to stop reveals something deeper about where we place our trust? In RIOT Podcast Episode 310, Pete Robertson, Bill Schoneman, and Bob Schoneman explore Isaiah 58, the Sabbath, and what it truly means to rest in God. Is the Sabbath simply an Old Testament command? Is it about Saturday versus Sunday? Or was God teaching His people something essential about freedom, identity, and their relationship with Him? Isaiah 58 challenges us to look beyond religious activity and examine whether our faith is transforming our everyday lives. In this episode, we discuss: 1. Why God created the Sabbath and what it means for Christians today 2. Why slowing down can feel uncomfortable 3. The difference between religious performance and genuine relationship with God 4. How fasting, prayer, and worship should change how we treat others 5. Why God calls His people to care for the hurting and restore broken communities 6. How productivity, achievement, and control can become sources of identity 7. What it means to call the Sabbath a delight 8. How Jesus invites us into deeper rest through a relationship with Him “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” — Mark 2:27 Maybe the Sabbath isn’t primarily about doing nothing. Maybe it’s about stopping long enough to remember that God is still God when we’re not working. And perhaps the deeper question isn’t whether we can afford to slow down. It’s whether we trust God enough to stop. RIOT Podcast Episode 310 Why Is It So Hard for Us to Slow Down? | Isaiah 58 Scriptures: Isaiah 58, Genesis 2:2–3, Exodus 20:8–11, Mark 2:27, Matthew 15:8, James 1:27, Matthew 5:14, Hebrews 4. Join the conversation: Why do you think slowing down is so difficult for us today? The post Why Is It So Hard for Us to Slow Down Isaiah 58 | Riot Podcast appeared first on Riotpodcast.

Who Is Shaping the Person You’re Becoming? Micah 7 is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast. Every day, something is influencing how you think, what you believe, what you value, and how you treat others. Culture. Politics. Social media. Money. Relationships. Success. Fear. Even religious traditions. But have you ever stopped to ask: Who or what is actually discipling your heart? In RIOT Podcast Episode 309, Pastor Pete, Pastor Bill, and Bob conclude their journey through the Book of Micah with a powerful discussion of Micah chapter 7, exploring spiritual influence, cultural corruption, broken relationships, God’s discipline, restoration, forgiveness, and His unchanging faithfulness. Micah looked around and saw a society filled with dishonesty, corrupt leadership, injustice, and relationships falling apart. Sound familiar? Yet in the middle of everything going wrong, Micah made a personal declaration: “But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.” Micah 7:7 Micah couldn’t control the culture. He couldn’t control corrupt leaders. He couldn’t control the choices of the people around him. But he could decide where he would look. And that decision changed the direction of the entire chapter. In this episode, we discuss: * Who is shaping your heart? How culture, politics, social media, and religious systems can influence us without us realizing it. * What does your life produce? Why spiritual fruit matters more than simply identifying as a Christian. * How does corruption become normal? Why repeated exposure to wrong behavior can gradually change what society accepts. * Why are relationships breaking down? How spiritual drift affects marriages, families, friendships, and communities. * What does Micah 7:7 mean? How to keep your attention on God when everything around you seems to be falling apart. * Can God restore you after failure? Why falling, suffering, and experiencing darkness don’t have to define your future. * Does God’s discipline mean He has abandoned you? Understanding the relationship between consequences, correction, and restoration. * Why is God called our Shepherd? How His faithfulness remains constant even when His people wander. * What does Micah 7:18–19 teach about forgiveness? Why God delights in steadfast love and promises compassion. * What is the ultimate message of Micah? Why God’s faithfulness, not humanity’s failure, gets the final word. * When everything around you is falling apart We can spend hours consuming news, political arguments, social media controversies, and stories about everything wrong in the world. Without realizing it, anxiety, anger, frustration, and fear can begin shaping our hearts. But Micah reminds us that we don’t have to let the world determine who we’re becoming. “But as for me, I will look to the LORD.” And even when we fail, Scripture gives us hope: “When I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD will be a light to me.” Micah 7:8 Our confidence isn’t that we’ll never stumble. Our confidence is that God remains faithful when we do. The surprising ending of Micah After seven chapters confronting spiritual drift, injustice, corruption, false prophets, idolatry, and rebellion, Micah doesn’t end by celebrating how terrible Israel has become. He ends by celebrating how incredible God is. “Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression?” Micah 7:18 God confronts sin, but He also delights in steadfast love. He disciplines, but He also restores. He exposes our failures, but He remains faithful to His promises. And through Jesus Christ, He offers forgiveness and reconciliation with Himself. So as we conclude our study of Micah, one question remains: Who is shaping the person you’re becoming? Because the voices we listen to today influence the person we become tomorrow. And no one is more worthy of shaping our hearts than Jesus. Join the conversation What has the greatest influence on the person you’re becoming today: your relationship with Jesus, or the voices and values around you? The post Who Is Shaping the Person You’re Becoming? Micah 7 | Riot Podcast appeared first on Riotpodcast.

What Does God Really Want From You? Micah 6 is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast. Can You Do Everything “For God” and Still Not Walk With Him? What does God really want from you? More prayer? More church? More giving? More sacrifice? More Bible study? More religious activity? In Micah 6, Israel essentially asks God the same question. “What do You want from us?” Their solution is to offer God more. More sacrifices. Thousands of rams. Rivers of oil. Something increasingly impressive that might finally earn His approval. But God’s answer is surprisingly simple: “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” — Micah 6:8 In RIOT Podcast Episode 308, Pastor Pete Robertson, Pastor Bill Schoneman, and Bob Schoneman with special guest Pastor Jeremy unpack Micah 6 and one of the most important questions we can ask: What Does God Really Want From You? The chapter begins like a courtroom. God calls the mountains and ancient foundations of the earth as witnesses and challenges Israel: “O My people, what have I done to you? And how have I wearied you?” Then He reminds them of His faithfulness. He rescued them from Egypt. He gave them leadership. He protected them from Balak and Balaam. He brought them through the wilderness and into the Promised Land. In other words: Remember what I have done. Show Me where I failed you. But Israel still misses the point. They respond to God’s relational complaint with religious performance. “What do we need to do?” And that raises an uncomfortable question for us: Can we become so busy doing things for God that we stop actually walking with God? In this episode, we discuss: • What God really wants from us • The meaning of Micah 6:8 • What it means to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God • Why remembering God’s faithfulness matters when our hearts begin to drift • Balak, Balaam, Shittim, and Gilgal • Relationship with God vs. religious performance • Why more religious activity cannot replace intimacy with God • Why God cares about how we conduct business and handle money • The danger of separating Sunday worship from Monday life • Why having more can still leave us unsatisfied • How money, success, possessions, entertainment, and influence can promise what they cannot deliver • How old cultural and religious systems continue shaping us • Why Omri and Ahab still mattered generations after their deaths • How Jesus changes not only what we believe but how we actually live Micah refuses to let faith remain inside a religious gathering. God cares about how we conduct business. How we handle money. How we treat employees. How we speak to our families. Whether we keep our promises. How we treat people when nobody is watching. A real relationship with Jesus eventually changes Monday morning, not just Sunday morning. Micah also exposes another problem that feels incredibly modern: “You shall eat, but not be satisfied.” More money. More success. More followers. More experiences. More possessions. More entertainment. And somehow, the finish line keeps moving. Why? Because created things were never designed to satisfy a hunger meant for the Creator. So perhaps the question isn’t: “How much am I doing for God?” Maybe the better question is: “Am I actually walking with Him?” Micah 6:8 isn’t a formula for earning God’s favor. It’s a picture of a life increasingly shaped by relationship with Him. Do justice. Love mercy. Walk humbly with your God. Join the conversation: Is it possible to do a lot for God while slowly losing your relationship with God? Tell us what you think in the comments. The post What Does God Really Want From You? Micah 6 | RIOT Podcast appeared first on Riotpodcast.

How Do You Know If You’re with the Right Person? is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast. Are You Looking for Love, or Just Trying Not to Be Alone? How do you know if you’re with the right person? Is it chemistry? Attraction? Shared interests? Compatibility? Feeling understood? Or simply finding someone who says they’re a Christian? Whether you’re single, dating, divorced, considering remarriage, or already married, choosing who you build your life with is one of the biggest relationship decisions you’ll ever make. But maybe we’ve been asking the wrong question. In RIOT Podcast Episode 307, Pete Robertson, Bill Schoneman, and Bob Schoneman explore what the Bible teaches about relationships, dating, marriage, character, conflict, loneliness, and spiritual compatibility. Because sometimes the qualities that initially attract us to someone aren’t the qualities that can sustain a healthy relationship. Physical attraction can cause us to overlook character. Loneliness can make attention feel like love. Chemistry can make us ignore warning signs. And sometimes we fall in love not with who someone actually is, but with who we hope they’ll eventually become. So how do we discern wisely? Scripture gives us a much deeper framework than simply “follow your heart.” Proverbs 4:23 tells us: “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” Before asking whether someone is the right person, maybe we should ask: What has been shaping my heart and teaching me what to desire? In this episode, we discuss: • How to know if you’re with the right person • What Christians should look for in a relationship • Attraction vs. character • Why chemistry alone cannot sustain a relationship • How loneliness can affect relationship decisions • What it really means to be equally yoked • Why simply calling yourself a Christian isn’t the same as walking with Jesus • Red flags revealed through conflict • Why you shouldn’t date someone’s potential • The danger of believing you can change another person • Dating and relationships after divorce • Why waiting can sometimes be wiser than forcing a relationship • What to do when marriage becomes difficult • How pride, control, bitterness, and unforgiveness affect relationships • Why your spouse cannot become your source of identity or security • How abiding in Jesus changes the way we choose, love, forgive, and handle conflict One of the biggest relationship mistakes we can make is expecting another human being to give us what only Jesus can provide. “Make me happy.” “Make me feel secure.” “Make me feel valuable.” “Never disappoint me.” “Always understand me.” No person can carry that weight. When our identity and security come from Jesus, we can begin loving another person without requiring them to become our savior. So maybe the question isn’t only: “Am I with the right person?” Maybe we also need to ask: “Am I becoming the right kind of person?” And even deeper: “Who or what is discipling the way I think about relationships?” If you’re considering a relationship, look beyond chemistry. Look at the character. Look at fruit. Look at the direction of their life. And turn the mirror around. What is the direction? If you’re already married, ordinary conflict doesn’t automatically mean you married the wrong person. Instead of spending all your energy trying to change your spouse, perhaps another question is worth asking: “Jesus, who are You calling me to become in this marriage?” The goal isn’t finding a flawless person. There isn’t one. The goal is learning to walk closely with Jesus and allowing Him to transform the way we choose, love, forgive, handle conflict, and see the person in front of us. The post How Do You Know If You’re with the Right Person? | RIOT Podcast appeared first on Riotpodcast.

What Happens When God Removes What You Trust? Could the thing making you feel secure actually be pulling you away from God? Micah 5 asks an uncomfortable question. God tells His own people He will cut off their horses, destroy their chariots, and throw down their strongholds. Why would God remove the very things Israel believed were keeping them safe? Because those things had begun taking a place in their lives that belonged to God alone. We may not trust in horses and chariots today. But we have our own versions — money, careers, relationships, political leaders, influence, health, intelligence, technology, even ministry. None of these are automatically bad. Any good thing becomes dangerous when we ask it for the identity, security, power, or hope that should come from God. Sometimes the thing we are begging God to preserve is the very thing He knows we have begun trusting instead of Him. That is the conversation on this week’s RIOT Podcast — Real Issues. One Truth. — Episode 306: What Happens When God Removes What You Trust? Micah 5. Listen on YouTube or Rumble. Do not settle for a summary when the conversation is waiting for you. Bethlehem’s Shepherd-King This week we return to Micah with one of the most important Messianic chapters in the Old Testament. Micah 5 takes us to Bethlehem — where centuries before Jesus was born, Scripture points toward the coming Shepherd-King. The King who would become His people’s peace. The King no empire could control. The King who would confront false sources of security. And the King who is coming again. Pastor Pete, Pastor Bill, and Bob walk that line: false security then and now, why God dismantles idols dressed as safety, and what it means to trust the name of the Lord when the props fall away. What are you actually depending on? Maybe the question is not simply: “Do I believe in Jesus?” Maybe we need to ask: “What am I actually depending on to feel secure?” “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God” (Psalm 20:7). Trust is not a slogan. It is where your heart runs when the horses are gone. How to listen this week Open the live episode page: https://riotpodcast.co/what-happens-when-god-removes-what-you-trust-micah-5-riot-podcast/ Press play on YouTube or Rumble Share the episode with someone leaning on a false security Ask out loud: What am I actually depending on to feel secure? RIOT Podcast is hosted by Pastor Pete, Pastor Bill, and Bob. New episodes drop on Thursdays. Know Jesus. Love His people. Live it out. The post What Happens When God Removes What You Trust? Micah 5 | RIOT Podcast appeared first on Riotpodcast.

Are We Living in the End Times? is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast. What If the Biggest Sign of the End Times Isn’t the One Everyone Is Watching? Wars are raging. Israel remains at the center of global tension. Natural disasters dominate headlines. Artificial intelligence is advancing at extraordinary speed. Digital technology is transforming how the world communicates, governs, and conducts commerce. Then we open the Bible and read Jesus’ warning about wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes, deception, persecution, lawlessness, and the beginning of “birth pains.” So are we watching biblical prophecy unfold before our eyes? In RIOT Podcast Episode 305, Pete Robertson, Pastor Bill Schoneman, and Bob Schoneman tackle one of the biggest questions Christians are asking today: Are We Living in the End Times? Jesus told His followers to pay attention to what was happening around them, but He also gave an important warning: “See that you are not alarmed.” — Matthew 24:6 That changes the conversation. Biblical prophecy was never intended to make Christians panic over every headline, identify every new technology as the mark of the beast, or predict the exact date of Christ’s return. Jesus calls us to be watchful without becoming sensational, discerning without becoming fearful, and ready without becoming obsessed with speculation. In this episode, we explore: • What Jesus meant by the “birth pains” of Matthew 24 • Wars, global instability, and “rumors of wars” • Why Israel and Jerusalem continue to matter in biblical prophecy • How Christians should respond to earthquakes and natural disasters • AI, global connectivity, and the biblical pattern of Babel • Digital economies and Revelation 13 • Why technological possibility does NOT automatically equal prophetic fulfillment • The danger of false teachers and spiritual deception • Why Jesus warned that lawlessness would increase and love would grow cold • Why Christians should respond to uncertain times with faith instead of fear • What it actually means to be ready for the return of Jesus One of the greatest dangers of the end times may not be something happening in the Middle East, in technology, or in the global economy. It may be a deception. Jesus’ first warning in Matthew 24 was:“See that no one leads you astray.” We can attend church, know theology, study prophecy, and argue about the end times while still allowing money, politics, entertainment, fear, success, social media, or religion itself to disciple our hearts. That’s why the most important end-times question may not be: “Can I figure out when Jesus is returning?” It may be: “If Jesus returned today, would I be ready to meet Him?” Jesus didn’t give us prophecy so we would live terrified of tomorrow. He gave it so we would faithfully follow Him today. Know Him. Listen to Him. Walk with Him. Love people. Make disciples. Share the Gospel. Stay awake. Be ready. Because Christians aren’t ultimately waiting for the next war, earthquake, technological breakthrough, or world leader. We are waiting for Jesus. And while we wait, we don’t live afraid. We live ready. Join the conversation: Do you believe we are living in the end times? More importantly, what does being “ready” for Jesus look like in your life today? The post Are We Living in the End Times? | RIOT Podcast appeared first on Riotpodcast.

How Do You Trust God When Nothing Makes Sense? is the topic that will be discussed today on RIOT Podcast, a Christian Discipleship Podcast. What If You’re Judging God’s Plan Too Soon? In Micah 4:6–13, God gives His people an incredible promise of restoration but then tells them that suffering, exile, and Babylon are still ahead. The promise was real. The pain was real too. So what do you do when what God has promised seems completely different from what you’re experiencing? In Episode 304, we finish Micah chapter 4 and discover a powerful truth about trusting God in seasons we cannot understand. Micah tells us that God will gather the broken and the outcast. He will restore what appears beyond repair. He even names Babylon more than a century before Jerusalem would eventually fall and then makes an extraordinary promise: “There the LORD will redeem you.” The place Israel would have chosen to avoid became part of the story through which God would eventually bring redemption. Then Micah gives us another crucial reminder: “They do not know the thoughts of the LORD, nor do they understand His counsel.” Micah 4:12 Sometimes we look at what is happening around us and assume we understand the whole story. A prayer goes unanswered. A door unexpectedly closes. Something we believed God was leading us toward falls apart. The road becomes harder instead of easier. And we wonder: Where is God in this? Micah reminds us that we should never judge the entire story by the chapter we’re currently living in. Faith doesn’t mean we always understand what God is doing. It means we have come to know the One we’re trusting. The deeper question may not always be: “God, why is this happening?” It may be: “Jesus, will I continue walking with You even when I cannot see where You’re taking me?” The post How Do You Trust God When Nothing Makes Sense? | RIOT Podcast appeared first on Riotpodcast.