The Dialog

The Pharisees caught Jesus’ disciples eating with unwashed hands. That wasn’t a sin. It was a tradition. Jesus answered, “You cancel the word of God in order to hand down your own tradition.” (Mark 7:13)Most of what we believe about money works the same way. We didn’t get it from Scripture. We got it from our parents, our church, our culture, and every bad example we’ve watched. Then we see more evidence for what we believe than for what God actually said.This episode is about the gap between what God says and what we believe about what God says. I talk about Epictetus and the high school breakup that felt like the end of the world. I talk about why praying “God’s will” in a hospital room is often unbelief dressed up as something spiritual. And we look at Mark 6, when Jesus couldn’t do miracles in his own hometown.Jesus was amazed twice in the Gospels. Once at unbelief in Nazareth. Once at the faith of a Roman centurion. You get to decide which one He sees in you.So does God want you to be rich? Yes. The only question left is whether you believe it.Follow Joshua Craft on Instagram by clicking hereGet more information at jkc.is

If your household makes the median American income, you make more than 92% of the world. Do you feel rich? If not, where does your lack of sufficiency come from?A stranger walked up to me at the gym and asked if I was a pastor or something. I told him I was more of an "or something." Then he found out where our church was."Oh, you're one of those prosperity gospel churches."So I asked him what the prosperity gospel was. He couldn't tell me. So I asked him a few questions instead.Do you believe in God? Do you want to make more money? Do you want to win in life? Do you think God wants that for you?"It sounds like you believe in the prosperity gospel."Everybody uses words they can't define. Before we can answer whether God wants you to be rich, we have to agree on what rich means. Not the culture's definition. God's.In this episode, I go through the Hebrew and Greek words the Bible actually uses for prosperity, with the receipts so you can check my work. We look at Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David. I also talk about my two grandfathers, and why real inheritance is never money.We land on two simple definitions.Old Testament: The blessing of God to have and grow my assigned dominion for generations.New Testament: I have everything I need, and I have enough to meet other people's needs.Follow Joshua Craft on Instagram by clicking hereGet more information at jkc.is

WIP / Thoughts, conversations or works in progressThese are episodes from bible studies, calls, teachings or other kinds of unfinished ideas that don't quite have their place in a normal season. In Matthew 5:21–26, Jesus puts anger in the same sentence as murder. Then he tells people to walk away from the altar, the most sacred act of worship they knew, and fix relationships first. Not when they have something against someone else. When someone has something against them.People judge your actions. God judges your intentions. Most of us flip that. We excuse ourselves by what we meant and condemn everyone else by what they did. Jesus calls us to apologize first, settle quickly, and love people the way he loved us, with no exceptions.The hardest sacrifice you will ever make isn’t your money or your time. It’s your right to be right.“You can decide to be my enemy, but I’m never going to be your enemy.”Follow Joshua Craft on Instagram by clicking hereGet more information at jkc.is

In 2007, I was a sophomore at Oral Roberts University. One night they woke us up and sent us to the chapel to pray because "the school was under attack." By Christmas, the president had resigned, ORU was $50 million in debt, and none of us knew if there would be a spring semester. Then the Green family, the founders of Hobby Lobby, wrote a $62 million check that came with conditions.Prosperity nearly destroyed that school. Prosperity also saved it.How can the same thing do so much bad and so much good at the same time?That's the question for this season. Not what the prosperity gospel says. Not what its critics say. What the Bible actually says about money, wealth, and winning in life God's way.In this episode, I talk about where I've been and why I say no to so much. I also share the three priorities that run my life. And I give you the assumption I want you to start this season with: you're probably wrong. So am I. Let's find out where.Don't take my word for it. Search it for yourself.Follow Joshua Craft on Instagram by clicking hereGet more information at jkc.is

Season 1 finale. Socrates said the whole point of a dialog wasn't to talk to someone else. It was to get you into a conversation with yourself. I turned 39 this July, so I took some time to explain the 39 greatest lessons i've learned in 39 years.I also get into the book deal I didn't get this week, and we end our accidental hiatus and look forward to a new season. Follow Joshua Craft on Instagram by clicking hereGet more information at jkc.is

What does the Bible actually say about manifesting?Manifesting is everywhere—from social media to self-help books—but what if it's just a new version of an ancient human tendency?In this conversation, Josh and Nick explore why every person is wired to worship something and how our desire for control often turns our relationship with God into a transaction instead of a covenant. From the worship of Baal in the Old Testament to today's pursuit of success, purpose, money, and self-fulfillment, we uncover the timeless patterns that continue to shape our lives.If you've ever wondered what the Bible has to say about manifesting, idolatry, grace, and where true peace is found, we hope this conversation challenges and encourages you.Follow Joshua Craft on Instagram by clicking hereGet more information at jkc.is

The church has never struggled to create methods—it has struggled to remember its mission.In this episode of The Dialog, we explore the difference between biblical principles and human preferences, why Jesus gave the Church a mission instead of a blueprint, and how tradition can quietly become mistaken for truth.From governance models and house churches to worship, discipleship, sacrifice, and community, this conversation wrestles with one important question:What did Jesus actually intend the Church to be?Whether you've grown up in church, wrestled with disappointment, or are simply trying to understand its purpose, this episode offers a fresh perspective on why methodology should never replace mission.Follow Joshua Craft on Instagram by clicking hereGet more information at jkc.is

What happens when traditions become more important than truth?In this episode of The Dialog, we unpack one of Christianity's biggest questions: What is the Church actually supposed to be? From house churches to megachurches, traditions to biblical principles, we explore why every generation wrestles with church models—and why Jesus may have been after something much deeper than methods.Along the way, we discuss greatness, God's glory, legalism, the Pharisees, generational change, and why distinguishing preferences from principles could completely transform how we view the Church.If you've ever wondered whether we've confused tradition with truth, this conversation is for you.Follow Joshua Craft on Instagram by clicking hereGet more information at jkc.is

It's easy to blame what happened to you. It's much harder to ask what needs to change in you.In this episode, Josh and Nick explore how blame can quietly become one of the biggest obstacles to personal growth. After Josh receives unexpected feedback from his literary agent to shelve his first book, the conversation becomes much bigger than publishing. Together, they wrestle with what it means to receive criticism with humility, take ownership instead of making excuses, and communicate truth in a way that people can actually receive.From leadership and influence to faith and communication, Josh and Nick discuss why being right isn't always enough, how feedback reveals our blind spots, and why real growth begins when we stop looking for someone else to blame. If you've ever felt misunderstood, resisted correction, or found yourself stuck waiting for someone else to change, this episode will challenge you to embrace responsibility and discover the freedom that comes with it.Follow Joshua Craft on Instagram by clicking hereGet more information at jkc.is

Blame feels productive because it gives us an explanation. Responsibility feels harder because it demands action.In this episode of The Dialog, Josh and Nick explore why so many people search for someone to blame—God, their parents, society, their circumstances—and why that mindset quietly robs them of the power to change. They discuss the problem of evil, self-awareness, depression, responsibility, leadership, and why meaning is often found through serving others rather than focusing on ourselves.If you've ever wrestled with unfair circumstances, difficult emotions, or the tension between fault and responsibility, this conversation offers a different way to think about growth.Because the moment you stop asking, "Who's to blame?" you can finally start asking, "What can I do now?"Follow Joshua Craft on Instagram by clicking hereGet more information at jkc.is