The Lies We Believe About Joy // Sermon Conversations

This episode covers why joy is so often misunderstood and why the gospel announces joy in the middle of difficult, uncontrollable, and disappointing circumstances. Using the Christmas story and the context of the incarnation, we confront the false beliefs that joy depends on government, control, ease, timing, possessions, recognition, or certainty of outcomes. By looking closely at how joy entered the world at Christmas — not into comfort, but into hardship — this conversation reframes joy as something co-mingled with salvation itself, not something we earn when life improves.If the Christmas season has ever felt heavy, disappointing, or disconnected from joy, this episode invites you to rethink what Christmas actually promises and return to where true joy is found.Website: jasonshepperd.com Audio Devotionals: startwith7.com Have Conversations Toward Salvation: goodgodgospel.com Church Project Network: churchprojectnetwork.com Good City: goodcity.org“A Church of House Churches: An Articulated and Applied Ecclesiology”: https://a.co/d/0vgpSjV

This episode covers the process of preparing a sermon, from sitting with the text to standing before a room of people. The conversation focuses on how sermons are actually formed over time, why preparation is more than outlining points, and how pastors learn to move a message from the page to the heart. This episode explores developing a personal process, trusting the work of Scripture and the Spirit, and preparing in a way that serves real people rather than performance or pressure.Website: jasonshepperd.com Audio Devotionals: startwith7.com Have Conversations Toward Salvation: goodgodgospel.com Church Project Network: churchprojectnetwork.com Good City: goodcity.org“A Church of House Churches: An Articulated and Applied Ecclesiology”: https://a.co/d/0vgpSjV

This episode covers how the Christmas story reveals God’s larger plan colliding with ordinary human lives. We explore the incarnation as more than a holiday tradition how God enters real stories, carries the weight of the work Himself, and invites us to trust Him when His plans disrupt our own. Through Mary’s response, we examine favor, fear, surrender, and what it truly means to live inside God’s story instead of trying to build our own.Website: jasonshepperd.com Audio Devotionals: startwith7.com Have Conversations Toward Salvation: goodgodgospel.com Church Project Network: churchprojectnetwork.com Good City: goodcity.org“A Church of House Churches: An Articulated and Applied Ecclesiology”: https://a.co/d/0vgpSjV

This episode covers the foundational principles and perspectives on preaching, focusing on the journey from insecurity to confidence in delivering God's message. You’ll hear an honest conversation about the importance of expository preaching, the balance between exegetical, apologetic, and prophetic elements, and how to steward the gift of preaching with humility and authenticity. The discussion delves into the challenges of comparing oneself to other preachers, the significance of preaching to the people in front of you, and the unique dynamics of being a local church pastor versus an itinerant speaker.This episode also explores the necessity of loving the congregation, the role of body language in communication, and the importance of owning your calling in the moment. It highlights the value of consistency in ministry, the impact of knowing your audience, and the difference between preaching at home and on the road. Through these insights, the episode aims to equip both seasoned and aspiring preachers with the tools to faithfully deliver God's Word and connect deeply with their audience.Website: jasonshepperd.com Audio Devotionals: startwith7.com Have Conversations Toward Salvation: goodgodgospel.com Church Project Network: churchprojectnetwork.com Good City: goodcity.org“A Church of House Churches: An Articulated and Applied Ecclesiology”: https://a.co/d/0vgpSjV

This episode covers how the story of Zechariah reveals the deeper theology of Christmas, the subtle sovereignty of God in ordinary moments, and how faith can grow even when life feels confusing or disappointing. You’ll hear a conversation about trusting God when prayers seem unanswered, how to keep your heart soft, and why miracles are real but not regular. This episode also explores the difference between belief and unbelief, how God works through both natural and supernatural means, and what it looks like to stay faithful in seasons of waiting.Website: jasonshepperd.com Audio Devotionals: startwith7.com Have Conversations Toward Salvation: goodgodgospel.com Church Project Network: churchprojectnetwork.com Good City: goodcity.org“A Church of House Churches: An Articulated and Applied Ecclesiology”: https://a.co/d/0vgpSjV

This episode covers what it means to “lead with a limp” — the kind of humility, steadiness, and wisdom that only comes through real life pain and ministry wounds. You’ll hear an honest conversation about the difference between pre-limp and post-limp leadership, why humility matters more than talent, what younger leaders often miss, how seasoned leaders can carry the weight in tough seasons, and how to develop people without rescuing them from the very growth they need.This episode also explores the danger of a critical spirit, the value of mentors, the balance of experienced leaders and young leaders on a team, and why patience, accountability, and community shape healthier leadership over time.Website: jasonshepperd.com Audio Devotionals: startwith7.com Have Conversations Toward Salvation: goodgodgospel.com Church Project Network: churchprojectnetwork.com Good City: goodcity.org“A Church of House Churches: An Articulated and Applied Ecclesiology”: https://a.co/d/0vgpSjV

This episode includes a deep conversation on cultivating an enduring devotional life rooted in Psalm 1. It unpacks how God’s goodness shapes the blessed life, how the righteous walk in a distinct way defined by Scripture, and why delighting in God’s Word forms the foundation of spiritual consistency through every season. Through vivid biblical imagery—like trees planted by streams of water—the episode explores how rootedness in God produces strength, stability, and fruitfulness. Ultimately, it invites listeners to examine whether they are walking in God’s ways and living a life the Lord longs to watch over and bless.Website: jasonshepperd.com Audio Devotionals: startwith7.com Have Conversations Toward Salvation: goodgodgospel.com Church Project Network: churchprojectnetwork.com Good City: goodcity.org“A Church of House Churches: An Articulated and Applied Ecclesiology”: https://a.co/d/0vgpSjV

This episode covers how the gospel helps us see grief clearly. We look at Hebrews 11 to understand why suffering doesn’t mean God is absent, how faith carries us through seasons of loss, and why this world will never feel like home. If you’re hurting or walking with someone who is, this conversation offers clarity, hope, and a gospel lens for grief.Website: jasonshepperd.com Audio Devotionals: startwith7.com Have Conversations Toward Salvation: goodgodgospel.com Church Project Network: churchprojectnetwork.com Good City: goodcity.org“A Church of House Churches: An Articulated and Applied Ecclesiology”: https://a.co/d/0vgpSjV

This episode covers what it actually looks like when God is moving among His people. Drawing from Acts 11:19–30, we see that revival rarely happens in perfect conditions—it happens in difficulty, through evangelism, community, generosity, and deep devotion to the Word.This message reminds us that our difficult seasons don’t disqualify us; they often position us for God’s greatest work. When the gospel is pure and the Spirit is powerful, people change, generosity flows, and a watching world noticesWebsite: jasonshepperd.com Audio Devotionals: startwith7.com Have Conversations Toward Salvation: goodgodgospel.com Church Project Network: churchprojectnetwork.com Good City: goodcity.org“A Church of House Churches: An Articulated and Applied Ecclesiology”: https://a.co/d/0vgpSjV

This episode covers what it means to not lose heart when leadership feels heavy. It walks through 2 Corinthians 4, where Paul reminds us that ministry is both a mercy and a battle. The conversation explores how to keep going when you’ve lost passion, how to rest without quitting, and why God’s strength often shows up most clearly in our weakness. This episode is for anyone feeling pressed, tired, or close to walking away — a reminder that the call is a gift, the struggle is real, and God’s power is still at work in fragile people.Website: jasonshepperd.com Audio Devotionals: startwith7.com Have Conversations Toward Salvation: goodgodgospel.com Church Project Network: churchprojectnetwork.com Good City: goodcity.org“A Church of House Churches: An Articulated and Applied Ecclesiology”: https://a.co/d/0vgpSjV