Join us as we continue our conversation about disagreeing well and dive in to the topic of listening!
It feels as if we're living in a time when people have lost the ability to discuss something, disagree about it, and still walk away as friends. How can we, as followers of Jesus, relearn the lost art of disagreeing well?
Furthermore, what does it look like to be convince-able but not gullible? Join hosts Jake Silvera and Luke and Janelle Heirendt for this important conversation.
In this final episode of our Faith and Film series (and our second discussing Emma) Practically Christian hosts Luke and Janelle Heirendt and Jake Silvera explore the deeper spiritual themes of pride, discipleship, and the illusion of control. Emma Woodhouse may be charming and clever, but her need to orchestrate other people’s lives reveals a problem many of us share: we trust our plans more than God’s.
Why do we struggle to see our own faults clearly? What does healthy discipleship look like when you're mentoring someone with less experience or faith maturity? And when—if ever—is it okay to play matchmaker?
We close with a fun question: Have you ever set someone up on a date—and how did it go?
Tune in for practical theology, relatable laughs, and an honest look at what Austen’s classic has to teach us about spiritual growth and letting go.
In this episode of Practically Christian, hosts Luke and Janelle Heirendt and Jake Silvera dive into Emma. (2020), a visually stunning and delightfully sharp adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic novel. On the surface, it’s a story of romance and matchmaking, but beneath the charm and wit lies a deeper exploration of love, friendship, and the hard truths that lead to real growth.
Join us as we unpack the spiritual and relational lessons hidden in Emma.—from Mr. Knightley’s brutally honest love to the way our friendships either sharpen us or lead us astray. Why is it so hard to tell the truth when it might hurt someone? How do we know if our friendships are pushing us toward Christ or just feeding our ego? And how do we recognize the difference between real love and the idea of love?
Plus, we wrap up with a fun get-to-know-you question: What’s your most embarrassing dating moment?
Don’t miss part two, where we tackle pride, control, and why Emma just can’t stop playing matchmaker!
🎧 Listen now and let’s get practically Christian about love, friendship, and growth!
In this episode of Practically Christian, we dive into Scott Pilgrim vs. the World to explore how identity, self-respect, and spiritual growth shape our relationships and faith.
Scott’s journey isn’t just about winning Ramona—it’s about transformation. We unpack his false self-perception, the difference between self-respect and works-based validation, and why his ultimate victory comes not from the "Power of Love" but from the "Sword of Self-Respect."
Along the way, we reflect on the gospel’s contrast between striving for love and receiving grace (Ephesians 2:8-10), discuss the dangers of unhealthy relationship patterns, and ask what Christians can learn from Scott’s battle with himself—his own worst enemy.
Join us as we break down how true transformation happens through grace, self-awareness, and learning to love others as redeemed, not perfect, people.
In this episode ofPractically Christian, hosts Luke and Janelle Heirendt and Jake Silvera dive into the chaotic, hilarious, and surprisingly deep world ofScott Pilgrim vs. the World. At first glance, it’s a quirky, video game-inspired love story—but beneath the surface, it’s a battle against baggage, insecurity, and the ghosts of relationships past.
Why does Scott have to fight Ramona’s exes? Is he battling them—or theideas of them? What does this story teach us about guarding our hearts, navigating friendships, and dealing with emotional baggage in relationships? Join us as we unpack the spiritual and relational themes hidden inside Scott’s pixelated path to self-awareness.
🔹 Funniest moments & why humor makes the message hit harder🔹 The real fight: Are we battling people, or their past experiences?🔹 How friendships shape us—for better or worse🔹 Moving past relationships: What does healthy closure look like?
Subscribe and stay tuned for Episode 2, where we explorewhy Scott fails when he fights for love—but wins when he fights for self-respect.
Join us for our deep dive into the theological topics that are raised by the movie Tenet. In this episode we'll dive into topics such as: Does God know the future before it happens? If so, does He change his actions in the present based on that knowledge? And, finally, are there things that haven't happened because God prevented them from happening? Questions that are nearly as mind boggling as the movie.
Join us as we discuss one of Luke's favorite films: Tenet. In this episode we break down the plot, what we love and hate about the film, and some initial thoughts about how films in general-and this one specifically-can point us toward the work of Christ. Also, if you listen to the podcast in reverse it will make more sense (just kidding).
Merry Christmas from Practically Christian! We're offering a special bonus episode on Christmas Eve to celebrate what the season of Advent means.
Join hosts Jake Silvera and Luke and Janelle Heirendt as we dive into our final discussion on the seven deadly sins. In this episode we explore the sin of lust, differentiate between natural attraction and lustful thoughts, and offer some of the things we've learned about how to work against sexual temptation.
Welcome to Practically Christian! In this episode we take everyone's favorite subject, food, and heap a pile of shame on it. Just kidding! In reality, exploring the sin of gluttony should not lead to shame about food, but a desire to enjoy food the way God intended: with joy, but not overindulgence. Join hosts Luke Heirendt, Janelle Heirendt and Jake Silvera as we dive into this important topic.
Join hosts Luke and Janelle Heirendt and Janelle Heirendt as return to a conversation about the seven deadly sins. In today's episode we discuss the sin of sloth, signs that it is affecting you, and how to begin working to overcome it.
In this final session of our I.Q. Church Class on theology, Jake and Luke explore the profound roles of the Holy Spirit and the Church, often referred to as the Bride of Christ. In this class, we dive into the Holy Spirit's crucial functions in our spiritual lives, including regeneration, conviction, advocacy, teaching, guidance, sanctification, comfort, and empowerment. Learn about the biblical terms 'ruach' and 'pneuma' that highlight the Spirit's life-giving nature. Discover the Church's role as the Body and Temple of Christ, emphasizing unity, discipleship, and worship. Understand the significance of key ordinances like baptism and communion, which symbolize our new life in Christ and His sacrifice. Reflect on how to live by the Spirit, use spiritual gifts to serve the Church, and grow in your faith journey.
Welcome to Class 3 of the "Foundations of Theology" I.Q. Church series taught by Luke and Jake! We're taking a break from our normally scheduled podcast series to bring you this teaching.
In this session, we dive deep into two essential aspects of the Christian faith: Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and the gift of salvation He brings. We explore how Jesus, being both fully God and fully human, is central to understanding the gospel and our relationship with God. Additionally, we unpack the multi-faceted nature of salvation and its transformative power in the believer's life. Key topics covered in this video: The Incarnation: Jesus as fully divine and fully human, and why that matters for salvation. An exploration of Christological heresies like Docetism, Apollinarianism, Nestorianism, and Monophysitism, contrasted with the orthodox understanding of Christ. Salvation as God's gift: understanding atonement, faith, justification, adoption, and sanctification. The Gift of Salvation: Substitution and Sacrifice: Christ died in our place. Christus Victor: Christ is victorious over sin, death, and evil. Reunion and Recapitulation: Christ reunites us with God and restarts the creation project. Demonstration and Devotion: Christ shows us how to live and influences us toward devotion. We also explore key aspects of salvation: Faith: Belief and allegiance to Christ. Justification: Receiving the gift of grace by faith (Ephesians 2:8-10). Adoption: Being brought into God's family and confirmed as His children (Romans 8:22-25). Sanctification: Growing in holiness and being set apart for God's Kingdom (Hebrews 10:14). Movie Clips for Illustration: We use several movie clips to illustrate the Christological heresies and provide a visual understanding of key concepts before focusing on the correct biblical view of Jesus as one person with two natures. 📖 Scripture References: Colossians 1:15-20 (Christ as the image of the invisible God) Ephesians 2:8-10 (Saved by grace through faith) Romans 8:22-25 (Adoption into God’s family) Hebrews 10:14 (Sanctification through Christ’s sacrifice)
In this episode Luke and Jake continue teaching the "Foundations of Theology" I.Q. Church series for Creekside Community Church. In this session, we explore two foundational truths: God as the Creator and the corruption of creation through sin. We dig into the distinct role of God the Father in creation, His sovereignty, and His ongoing work in the world. Then, we discuss how sin has corrupted both the world and humanity, and how spiritual evil entices us away from God. Key topics covered in this video: The Creator/creation distinction and why it matters. God the Father as the Great Initiator—His attributes, actions, and covenant relationships. Humanity's creation in God's image and the implications of that calling. The nature of sin, how it affects the world, our flesh, and how we are tempted by spiritual evil. Whether you’re new to theology or continuing your faith journey, this class provides vital insights into the character of God and the reality of human corruption. 📖 Scripture References: Genesis 1:26-28 (Creation in God’s image) John 15:16-23 (God's role as the initiator) Romans 8:29 (Being conformed to the image of Christ)
For the next month, we're taking a break from our current series to bring you the Foundations of the Christian Faith.
This is a series of classes taught at Creekside Community Church by Luke and Jake. Welcome to Class #1! In this session, we dive into the fundamentals of theology—what it is, why it matters, and how it shapes our understanding of God and our lives. We also jump into the subject of the Trinity, exploring in what way God is one, and how He is three (and how that is not a contradiction). Key topics covered in this podcast: What is theology? A simple definition explained. The role of the Bible in guiding our beliefs. Common pitfalls of theological study and how to avoid them. How theology can transform our hearts and minds. Whether you’re new to theology or looking to deepen your faith, this class will help you build a solid foundation for your study of God.
One final note: We use a lot of visuals in this presentation, so we encourage you to watch on youtube or anchor.fm (video IS available for this podcast!)
Join Luke and Janelle Heirendt and Jake Silvera as we discuss wrath and how to work to become slow to anger--like the Lord.
Join us as we continue our conversation about the seven deadly sins. Hosts Luke and Janelle Heirendt and Jake Silvera tackle the sin of envy and explore the differences between good and bad jealousy.
In this week's episode cohosts Jake Silvera and Luke and Janelle Heirendt discuss the deadly sin of pride.
Join hosts Jake Silvera and Luke and Janelle Heirendt as we kick off a discussion about the seven deadly sins. This week we dive into the sin of pride.
