What if your faith could spark something bigger than you? In this final episode of the Be Free podcast, the Flatirons leadership team opens up about what really happened behind the scenes. From wrinkled tablecloths to holy moments in the balcony, this is a story about grit, obedience, and stepping into something way bigger than ourselves. It’s not about hype. It’s about people choosing faith, even when the math doesn’t add up. God showed up. And so did our church. This isn’t the end. It’s the spark that sets the next chapter in motion. Over a year of planning, prayer, and sacrifice led to this. What started as a vision became a unified movement. Jim led through physical pain. Staff carried more weight than ever. Volunteers owned their part. People gave with open hands and open hearts. This is the kind of church Jesus builds. And we're just getting started.
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What would change if you truly believed your sacrifice could set someone else free?
This is the story of a church that started in a living room and became a movement of messy people chasing real freedom. In this message, Jim Burgen shares a raw and honest vision about what happens when men and women lay their lives on the altar—wallets, fears, futures and all. It’s not about money or buildings. It’s about the people still trapped in addiction, despair, and darkness. Everything changes when we say yes to stepping off the sidelines and joining Jesus in the fight.
This moment is personal. Whether you're scared, skeptical, or ready, this is your invitation to go all in. Through powerful stories, scripture, and straight-up challenges, Jim calls us to trust God with more than just our words. It’s time to fight for marriages, kids, our communities, and the freedom of people who don’t even know help is on the way. The altar isn’t just about sacrifice. It’s about transformation.
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What happens when a church decides to go to war against evil, no matter the cost?In this no-holds-barred conversation, Pastor Jim Burgen, Amanda Brown, and Jesse DeYoung talk openly about Flatirons Church’s fight against human trafficking. From international partnerships to dark realities here in Denver, they expose the spiritual, emotional, and cultural weight of this battle. Amanda shares how this work has impacted her deeply, and the team calls the church to rise up, get uncomfortable, and take action. This isn’t for show. This is about saving lives and pushing back real darkness. This is what happens when the church gets off the sidelines and into the fight.The Be Free initiative is more than a campaign. It’s a spiritual assault on the systems that enslave kids and destroy families. Flatirons is bringing together law enforcement, nonprofits, local leaders, and prayer warriors to rescue and restore the broken. Thousands are stepping up to give, serve, and fight because Jesus calls us to do more than watch. He calls us to go. And now is the time.
What if your next step of faith isn’t about more belief but more risk? This week, Jim takes us deeper into the tension between our flesh and the Spirit and what it really means to live free. It’s not about trying harder, being better, or obeying a list of rules. It’s about being led by the Spirit and choosing to walk in step with Him even when everything in you screams not to. As Flatirons moves toward a bold, Spirit-led future, this message invites you to go beyond belief and into obedient action. Faith isn’t a feeling. It’s a decision to trust and give when it costs something. Through Galatians 5, we’re reminded: freedom comes from Jesus, but living free means stepping into the fight between Spirit and flesh every single day. The Spirit leads us into love, joy, generosity, and radical obedience not just for us, but for the mission Jesus gave us: to set others free. As Flatirons moves toward launching new campuses, fighting human trafficking, and equipping disciples across Colorado, Jim asks one question: Will you listen to the Spirit and walk?
Are we really free, or just too comfortable to notice we’re not? What if the life you think is “free” is actually just comfortable and unchallenged? In this episode of the Be Free podcast, Jesse, Karl, and Paul unpack what real spiritual freedom looks like, and how often we confuse it with ease. Through stories about a runaway gecko, quiet moments of boredom, and the example of Harriet Tubman, the conversation gets real about purpose, responsibility, and why so many of us feel stuck, even when life looks good from the outside.Jesse explains how stepping outside of God’s design can feel like freedom at first… but over time, it leaves us empty. The guys reflect on how boredom, disconnection, and comfort slowly shape our faith and how compassion, purpose, and a clear calling can bring it back to life. Whether you’re leading a family, working a job that feels ordinary, or wondering how politics and faith fit together, this is for you.
What if you stopped waiting for the right moment—and just got real with God right now?
This episode of Be Free is as raw as it gets. Jim Burgen, Jesse DeYoung, and Karen Berge talk about the weight people carry, even church staff, and how retreating into “thin spaces” with God opens up places we didn’t want to go… but needed to. It’s honest talk on leadership, brokenness, parenting adult kids, false grace, and the lies culture tells us about freedom. This isn’t about being saved, it’s about living free. And it starts with choosing truth over comfort.
From carrying secret pain to stepping into calling, this is what freedom looks like in real life.
Jim unpacks what happened at the Flatirons staff retreat, tears, confession, silence, healing, and how that led to a bigger realization: freedom isn't one-and-done. It’s truth, then grace, over and over. Forgiveness doesn’t always feel good, but it’s the way forward. The Be Free journey isn’t about behavior, it’s about your heart. And this conversation might be the push you didn’t know you needed.
Why do we keep going back to the same chains Jesus already broke?This message is a gut check for anyone who’s ever tasted freedom in Christ but still finds themselves living like they’re not. Jim unpacks Galatians 5:1 and challenges us to stop rebuilding the same prison Jesus tore down. Be Free isn’t just a slogan, it’s a mission, a strategy, and a spiritual war cry for anyone who’s done being a slave to lies, sin, and fear. It’s time to drop the chains, plant your feet, and live like you’ve actually been set free.Jesus didn’t die just to forgive you; He died to free you. And free people don’t go back. This is our moment to get honest about the chains we keep picking back up and finally put them down. This isn't about being perfect, it's about standing firm in truth and grace, knowing we’re just former slaves showing others where to find freedom. Before revival happens out there, it has to happen in us.
What if the thing you thought was holding you together is actually keeping you stuck?
For two years, the Flatirons team prayed, wrestled, and dreamed about one thing—freedom. Not the feel-good kind. The real kind that changes families, saves lives, and tears chains off people stuck in shame, fear, and hidden brokenness. In this raw, unfiltered first episode of Be Free, Jim Burgen and the team talk about what led to launching this movement, the battles behind the scenes, and the burden to build outposts of hope for a world gasping for something real.Be Free isn’t a church campaign. It’s a war cry.It’s about setting spiritual ground in a culture drowning in noise, and giving men and women a place to heal, rise, and fight back. Whether you’re battling isolation, addiction, anger, or regret, this episode reminds us that Jesus doesn’t just offer heaven later—He offers freedom now. And when a church moves in unity with that mission, freedom follows.
What if your story of freedom was meant to set someone else free?Week one of Be Free isn’t just a new series; it’s a call to arms. Jim Burgen kicks off a six-week journey that’s really the start of a movement: a church stepping out of comfort, out of safety, and into the front lines of spiritual battle. This message is a fire-starter, reminding us that our freedom in Christ isn't a finish line. It’s a launchpad. It's about turning pain into purpose, and choosing to fight for those still enslaved by guilt, shame, addiction, fear, or abuse.This isn’t a metaphor, it’s a mission. From Jim’s personal story of rescue to the biblical call from Galatians 5, this is an unapologetic, boots-on-the-ground invitation to stop playing defense and go to war for the hearts and futures of others. Be Free is about building spiritual outposts for the broken, the addicted, the trafficked, and the hopeless. We don’t hide in a fortress; we carry freedom into enemy territory.
From Cowards to Courageous Leaders, the story of the early church in Acts shows how ordinary people found courage, boldness, and true freedom in Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit.This message wraps up the 35-Day Challenge and sets the tone for Be Free, Flatirons' next bold step of faith. Jim gets real about leadership, unity, and what’s coming next for the church. Drawing from Acts, he shows how the early church exploded with courage and power—not because they were perfect, but because they were filled. Filled with the Spirit. Filled with boldness. Filled with a mission. The same Spirit that transformed Peter and Paul is calling us, right now, to something bigger.If you’ve ever felt disqualified, disillusioned, or afraid, this is for you. This isn’t just a history lesson; it’s a calling. Jesus didn’t build His church with polished professionals; He used screw-ups, cowards, and skeptics who got filled and went first. And that’s the plan for Flatirons moving forward. It’s time to decide: Are you in? Fully in? Because the next move of God might come through your story, your scars, and your obedience.
Leadership Isn’t Being Perfect. It’s Owning the Mess.In one of the most raw and repentant moments of his ministry, Pastor Jim Burgen confronts his own leadership failure and the silence that followed a week of national tragedy and personal loss. What follows is part confession, part challenge, and part rally cry—not just to Flatirons Church, but to every man wondering how to lead in a world on fire. Jim doesn’t pull punches: from owning his mistakes to declaring truth in a chaotic culture, this is the moment where courage meets clarity.This isn’t about politics. It’s about obedience. Jim speaks candidly on the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the school shooting in Evergreen, calling the Church to wake up—not with rage, but with righteousness. This is about standing firm on the Word of God, even when the world calls you crazy. You’ll hear what it means to lead with conviction, love people enough to tell the truth, and follow Jesus even when it costs everything.
What if the risky sacrifice you're avoiding is the very thing that could save your most important relationships?Ben returns to Flatirons with a raw message about drifting in faith, hitting 40, and feeling stuck in a life that looks successful on the outside but is crumbling underneath. Through the story of Zacchaeus, a man hated, wealthy, and desperate, we’re challenged to consider: what’s keeping us from going out on a limb? The 35-Day Challenge isn’t about self-help or behavior management. It’s about choosing bold, relational sacrifices that lead to healing and freedom.Zacchaeus didn’t play it safe, and neither did Jesus.Ben reminds us that conviction is a gift, shame is a weapon, and grace is a choice. Jesus went out on a limb for us—literally. Now the invitation is ours: Will we risk reputation, comfort, or pride to restore what’s broken? This week, it’s not about giving up coffee or Instagram. It’s about making the calls, owning the secrets, showing up for the people who matter, and trusting Jesus to meet us out on that limb.
Why do we keep falling back into the same broken patterns—even after meeting Jesus?Most of us want Jesus to take away the bad stuff, our addictions, our shame, our past. And sometimes, He does. But what happens next? If we don’t intentionally fill the empty space with something better, something holy, something of the Spirit—then the darkness just moves back in, stronger than before. In Part 2 of the 35-Day Challenge, Jim Burgen digs deep into the roots of sin, the spiritual realm we pretend doesn’t exist, and what Jesus really came to defeat. This is not your Sunday School version of the Bible. This is war, and it’s personal.Jesus didn’t just come to forgive you, He came to fill you.Through ancient texts, spiritual warfare, and real talk about depravity, Jim shows how Jesus tackles not one, but three curses that still haunt us today. The Cross wiped your slate clean, but the Holy Spirit is how you write a new story. If your life feels stuck in neutral—or worse, going backwards—it might be because you’ve only accepted half of what Jesus offers. The Spirit is your only hope. And the Church? It's not a building, it's a battle plan.
What are you building your life on—and will it survive the next storm?When life hits hard—and it will—what foundation are you standing on? In this raw and real message, Aaron unpacks why so many of us settle for “fine” lives built on sand, instead of the rock-solid truth of Jesus. He talks about anxiety, identity, the lies we believe, and the ways we try to numb the pain—chasing success, comparison, pleasure, and performance—but none of it holds when life falls apart.The 35-Day Challenge isn’t about earning God’s love. It’s about training your heart to trust Jesus before the storm hits. Because when your marriage cracks, when your kids walk away, when the anxiety is so loud you can’t breathe—you don’t need more information. You need transformation. And that starts when Jesus moves from your head to your heart. Build your life on Him… and when the flood comes, you won’t fall.
Ever feel stuck in your faith? This week, Karl and Jesse kicked off the 35 Day Challenge with a call to get all the way in. Don't settle for shallow. God’s calling you deeper into real freedom.5 habits. 5 weeks. One step at a time:Sacrifice. Pray. Move. Bible. Serve.
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What if fear isn’t the problem, but staying stuck is?This isn’t just about a horse. It’s about every one of us who’s been stuck, scared, running in circles trying to feel safe. At Horse Weekend, Todd Pierce shows us what happens when trust replaces fear, and love rewrites the story. Through the gentle, unscripted dance between a man and a horse, you’ll see the gospel in real-time—no sermons, just surrender. This is a raw, powerful look at what happens when God moves and freedom begins.When fear says run, love says stay.This horse walked in guarded, unsure, and tense—just like many of us. But over the course of one hour, through gentle leadership and love, he softened, listened, and surrendered. Todd’s interaction becomes a mirror for our souls, showing how God doesn’t force us into obedience—He invites us into trust. This is what healing looks like when the gospel gets real and fear loses its grip.
What kind of legacy will you leave? One that spirals upward toward strength and faith, or downward toward destruction?The 5 Chairs series calls out men to step into the Driver’s Seat and Captain’s Chair of their lives, not just for themselves, but for the generations that follow. From the early “me for me” years to leading a family from a “me for them” mindset, Pastor Jim Burgen lays out the hard truth: character drives your life, and the way you lead will shape your family’s future for better or worse.Through raw honesty, biblical truth, and practical action steps, Jim challenges men to reject the lies of unworthiness, armor up for spiritual battle, and surround themselves with brothers who will fight alongside them. This is a call to reverse destructive patterns, protect your family, and build a legacy rooted in courage, faith, and sacrificial love.
What happens when we never grow out of the high chair?
This week, Pastor Jim pulls no punches as he digs into how we accidentally raise weak men when we bubble-wrap our boys, give in to tantrums, and never teach first-time obedience. Using raw stories and biblical truth, Jim shows why parents must prepare their kids for a future where mom and dad won’t always be there. This message isn’t just for parents—it’s for every man wondering why life feels out of control.
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Faith isn’t built in comfort—it’s forged through trials. Jim shows how Jesus calls men to leave childish ways behind, face pain, and grow into strong, loving leaders who can stand when life gets hard.
From childhood to legacy, each one shapes who you are and who you’re becoming. Skip one, and it will come back to haunt your marriage, parenting, and purpose.What if the man your son becomes, or the man your daughter dates, depends on what you do next?From emotional toddler to wise mentor, each chair shapes your soul, mind, strength, and heart. Jim reminds us that spiritual maturity isn’t accidental—it’s intentional. Fathers, husbands, leaders: it’s time to stop making excuses and start owning your role. Growth requires leaving behind childish thinking and choosing a life built on love, discipline, and strength. It’s not about guilt. It’s about grace, conviction, and stepping into the life Jesus died to make possible—for you, your family, and everyone counting on you.
Three Chairs, spiritual compromise, Christian parenting, legacy, lukewarm faith, men's ministry, discipleship, generational impact, what chair are you really sitting in, and who's watching you?What if your quiet compromises today are shaping your kids' faith tomorrow?This message hits hard because it matters. Jesse walks us through the story of David, Solomon, and Rehoboam, three generations, three chairs, and one undeniable truth: the posture of your faith today becomes your child’s foundation tomorrow. Whether you’re committed, coasting, or checked out, this message holds a mirror to your spiritual life and calls you to something deeper, realer, better.David was committed. Solomon compromised. Rehoboam was complacent. That decline didn’t happen overnight. It started with one generation easing off the gas. Jesse unpacks how “The Three Chairs” explains not just their story, but ours. It’s not about perfection—it’s about the direction you’re leading your life and legacy. And the good news? You don’t have to stay where you are. You get to choose.