How To Study the Bible (and ACTUALLY Grow Spiritually) | Live Free with Josh Howerton

How do you actually study the Bible—and how do you know whether a spiritual experience is really from God? In this episode of LIVE FREE, Pastors Josh Howerton, Carlos Erazo, and Paul Cunningham unpack 2 Timothy 2 and get practical about becoming people who know God’s Word and live it out. Carlos and Paul also share powerful reflections from their trip to Israel, including what Gethsemane and Galilee taught them about Jesus, His sacrifice, and the ministry happening right in front of us. Then the conversation gets practical: How do you avoid pointless Christian arguments without compromising truth? How much power do your words really have? What are the best ways to study Scripture? And when someone claims to have seen heaven or experienced a supernatural vision, how should Christians respond? In this episode: Why Jesus remains faithful even when we fail How to know which theological disagreements are worth fighting over Why your words can bring life or death into your relationships Four practical methods for studying the Bible How to use SOAP and inductive Bible study Why biblical knowledge requires time and intentionality How to test visions and near-death experiences against Scripture Why God’s Word—not personal experience—remains our authority Stand firm. Think biblically. Live free. 💬 This week’s giveaway: Comment HAT 🧢 Want a Live Free hat of your own? Visit LiveFree.shop 📲 Looking to grow deeper in your faith? Check out the Lakepointe App to access our Discipleship Guide, daily Bible reading plan, and more. Text APP to 20411 to download

What if some of the “lost” or “banned” gospels actually tell us more about the real Jesus than the Bible does? It’s a claim that continues to resurface—and a recent viral conversation on The Joe Rogan Experience brought it back into the spotlight. In this bonus episode of LIVE FREE, Pastors Carlos and Paul react to claims about the Gnostic Gospels and examine the historical evidence behind Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Were books about Jesus intentionally suppressed by the Church? Were the Gnostic Gospels actually written first? And can we trust the New Testament to give us an accurate picture of the historical Jesus? Along the way, they also discuss why Christians should pursue truth without becoming hostile toward people asking sincere questions—and why getting Jesus right matters. In this episode: What the Gnostic Gospels actually are Why they were rejected by the early Church When the biblical Gospels were written compared to the Gnostic texts The evidence supporting Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John Why the full character of Jesus matters How to respond when popular voices make questionable claims about Christianity Why the real Jesus continues to transform lives 2,000 years later If you’ve ever wondered whether books were removed from the Bible, whether the Church hid alternative accounts of Jesus, or how confident we can be in the Gospels, this conversation is for you. Stand firm. Think biblically. Live free. 🧢 Want a Live Free hat of your own? Visit LiveFree.shop 📲 Looking to grow deeper in your faith? Check out the Lakepointe App to access our Discipleship Guide, daily Bible reading plan, and more. Text APP to 20411 to download

Should Christian parents ever remove a child from their will? And is an inheritance something children are entitled to—or something parents are responsible to steward before God? In this episode of LIVE FREE, Pastor Josh reacts to a viral Dave Ramsey conversation with a Christian mother wrestling with whether to leave an inheritance to her adult children. From there, he tackles the deeper biblical questions behind the controversy: stewardship, generational resentment, school choices, socialism, and what parents should do when their children walk away from the values and faith they were raised to embrace. This isn't about creating a one-size-fits-all rule. It's about learning to think biblically about money, family, responsibility, grace, and the legacy we leave behind. In this episode, you'll learn: Whether children are biblically entitled to an inheritance How stewardship should shape the way Christians think about wealth Why Christian parents should think carefully about education and discipleship How Pastor Josh evaluates socialism from a biblical worldview Why inheritance decisions shouldn't be driven by anger or revenge How grace and generosity factor into decisions about a rebellious child How Josh and Jana are approaching inheritance in their own family Stand firm. Think biblically. Live free. 🧢 Want a Live Free hat of your own? Visit LiveFree.shop 📲 Looking to grow deeper in your faith? Check out the Lakepointe App to access our Discipleship Guide, daily Bible reading plan, and more. Text APP to 20411 to download

What happens when compassion begins to override truth and justice? And how should Christians respond when a tragic national story becomes a deeply emotional cultural debate? In this bonus episode of LIVE FREE, Pastor Josh examines the national conversation surrounding the Lindsey Clancy case and uses it as a starting point for a biblical discussion about justice, moral responsibility, feminism, toxic empathy, and the danger of allowing emotion or ideology to determine what is right and wrong. But this conversation doesn't end with judgment. Josh turns to the gospel and the radical truth that God's grace is available even to those guilty of the most devastating sins. Christians are called to hold justice and compassion together—refusing to compromise truth while never forgetting the forgiveness offered through Jesus. In this episode, you'll learn: How Christians can view cultural events through the lens of Scripture What the Bible teaches about justice and moral responsibility How ideology can cause people to choose sides instead of pursuing truth The difference between biblical compassion and toxic empathy Why emotion should never override truth or justice How Scripture addresses deception and cultural influence Why the gospel offers grace and forgiveness even in the face of horrific sin Stand firm. Think biblically. Live free. 🧢 Want a Live Free hat of your own? Visit LiveFree.shop 📲 Looking to grow deeper in your faith? Check out the Lakepointe App to access our Discipleship Guide, daily Bible reading plan, and more. Text APP to 20411 to download

Predestination. Election. Free will. Calvinism. Arminianism. Few theological conversations generate more questions—or stronger opinions. So what does the Bible actually say, and how should Christians respond when faithful believers reach different conclusions? Pastors Carlos and Paul begin in 2 Timothy 2 with a practical conversation about spiritual grit, discipline, and the difference between simply trying to follow Jesus and intentionally training to become more like Him. Then they dive into one of Christianity’s most debated subjects: how God’s sovereignty, election, human responsibility, salvation, and evangelism fit together. Rather than ignoring the difficult passages or pretending every mystery has an easy answer, they examine the tension Scripture itself presents and explain why Christians can hold strong convictions without allowing secondary theological disagreements to divide them. In this episode: • What the soldier, athlete, and farmer teach us about following Jesus  • Why spiritual growth requires rhythms and relationships  • What “election” and “predestination” actually mean  • The difference between Calvinism and Arminianism  • How God’s sovereignty and human responsibility fit together  • Whether predestination means God chooses people for hell  • Who Jesus died for and the debate over limited atonement  • Why belief in election should never weaken evangelism  • How Christians can disagree strongly without dividing  • Why difficult theology should ultimately produce humility, gratitude, and greater trust in God Stand firm. Think biblically. Live free. 💬 This week’s giveaway: Comment HAT 🧢 Want a Live Free hat of your own? Visit LiveFree.shop 📲 Looking to grow deeper in your faith? Check out the Lakepointe App to access our Discipleship Guide, daily Bible reading plan, and more. Text APP to 20411 to download

What should Christians do when a viral accusation against a pastor suddenly takes over the internet? Believe it? Share it? Defend the pastor? Or stay out of it entirely? In this bonus episode of the LIVE FREE Podcast, Pastors Josh, Carlos, and Paul unpack the viral criticism surrounding Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell and use it to address a much bigger issue: how Christians should respond to accusations, online mobs, and criticism of spiritual leaders. The conversation explores the biblical tension between holding pastors accountable and refusing to participate in gossip, slander, or unverified accusations. This isn't an argument that pastors are above accountability. Scripture takes the character of spiritual leaders seriously—but it also takes false accusations seriously. Pastors Josh, Carlos, and Paul examine biblical examples from Jesus, Paul, Stephen, Nehemiah, and the early church to help Christians discern what they're seeing online before joining the mob. In this episode, you'll learn: How Christians should respond to viral accusations against pastors Why Scripture requires evidence before entertaining an accusation against an elder The difference between biblical accountability and online slander How criticism can become a distraction from God's calling Why Christians must be careful about what they believe, repeat, and share How to support and pray for pastors facing public criticism Stand firm. Think biblically. Live free. 💬 This week’s giveaway: Comment HAT 🧢 Want a Live Free hat of your own? Visit LiveFree.shop 📲 Looking to grow deeper in your faith? Check out the Lakepointe App to access our Discipleship Guide, daily Bible reading plan, and more. Text APP to 20411 to download

In Episode 90 of the LIVE FREE Podcast, Pastors Josh Howerton, Carlos Erazo, and Paul Cunningham uncover surprising lessons hidden inside some of the Bible passages we usually skim—including the stories of Mark, Demas, Rufus, and Quartus. Their lives reveal powerful truths about failure, restoration, friendship, legacy, and lifelong faithfulness. The conversation also gets intensely practical: Who are the people carrying your mat when you're struggling? Is it biblical to pray for God's judgment on someone? And why does Scripture teach that Christians can approach God directly through Jesus? In this episode, you'll learn: Why seemingly insignificant names in Scripture actually matter What Mark and Demas teach us about failure and finishing well How to intentionally build a band of brothers or sisters Why Christian friendship requires encouragement and confrontation How Christians can pray for enemies while still asking God for justice Why Jesus alone is our mediator before God How to keep your eyes centered on Christ throughout your life Don't simply start the race—finish faithfully. Stand firm. Think biblically. Live free. 💬 This week’s giveaway: Name the Bear Skull in the Comments! 🧢 Want a Live Free hat of your own? Visit LiveFree.shop 📲 Looking to grow deeper in your faith? Check out the Lakepointe App to access our Discipleship Guide, daily Bible reading plan, and more. Text APP to 20411 to download

Pastors Josh, Carlos, and Paul unpack Paul’s words to Timothy in 2 Timothy 1 and trace his transformation from a fearful young leader into a faithful, courageous pastor. They also compare the major Christian views of baptism in the Holy Spirit, explain what changed between the old and new covenants, and discuss why every believer should continually seek the Spirit’s filling. In this episode, you’ll learn: How Christians should respond to wars, disasters, and uncertainty Why fear should never become the controlling force in your decisions How Scripture—not feelings—helps you discern God’s direction The differences between cessationist, Pentecostal, and charismatic views What the Bible teaches about receiving and being filled with the Holy Spirit How the Spirit empowers believers for holiness, courage, and ministry Stand firm. Think biblically. Live free. Don’t miss our most recent bonus episode, An ISLAMIC Takeover is Coming…Here’s what Christians Should Do. Watch now: https://youtu.be/RWY9GPDqor8 💬 This week’s giveaway: Comment HAT 🧢 Want a Live Free hat of your own? Visit LiveFree.shop 📲 Looking to grow deeper in your faith? Check out the Lakepointe App to access our Discipleship Guide, daily Bible reading plan, and more. Text APP to 20411 to download

Should Christians legally oppose a mosque being built in their city? The answer raises difficult questions about religious liberty, biblical conviction, civic responsibility, and the proper role of government. In this bonus episode, Pastors Josh, Carlos, and Paul examine the controversy surrounding a proposed mosque expansion in McKinney, Texas. They explore how Christians can engage local government lawfully and wisely while remaining committed to sharing the gospel with Muslim neighbors. In this episode, you’ll learn: How the First Amendment has shaped modern religious-liberty laws What Scripture teaches about false worship and civic leadership Whether Christians can legally challenge mosque construction Why local elections, zoning hearings, and city councils matter How to combine courageous civic engagement with genuine gospel outreach Stand firm. Think biblically. Live free. 🧢 Want a Live Free hat of your own? Visit LiveFree.shop 📲 Looking to grow deeper in your faith? Check out the Lakepointe App to access our Discipleship Guide, daily Bible reading plan, and more. Text APP to 20411 to download

Who is shaping your faith—and whose faith are you helping shape? Spiritual maturity requires more than consuming sermons and Christian content. It grows through relationships with faithful believers who can model, correct, encourage, and walk alongside us. Pastors Josh, Carlos, and Paul unpack the relationship between Paul and Timothy, explain how to find or become a spiritual parent, and examine whether apostles still exist in the church today. They also respond to cultural ideas about parental authority and show why Christians must use Scripture as the lens through which they understand the world. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why your heroes and influences shape your spiritual direction What Paul and Timothy teach us about spiritual fathers and sons How to find a mature Christian who can help you grow How to become a spiritual mother or father to someone else The difference between the original apostles and apostolic ministry today Why parents carry primary responsibility for discipling their children How to recognize cultural arguments that conflict with biblical truth Stand firm. Think biblically. Live free. 💬 This week’s giveaway: Comment HAT 🧢 Want a Live Free hat of your own? Visit LiveFree.shop 📲 Looking to grow deeper in your faith? Check out the Lakepointe App to access our Discipleship Guide, daily Bible reading plan, and more. Text APP to 20411 to download