Shows / The Locker Room
The Locker Room
Breaking down sermons, stories, and Scripture to prepare Crossroads and beyond for the race of our faith.
Episodes
- The Locker Room
Ep. 134 - The Stoning of Stephen (Acts 6-7) ft. Adam Anderson, Rod VanSolkema, Libby VanSolkema, Tryg Veker
Why was the witness of Stephen in the face of the power brokers in Jerusalem so inspiring, and what does it mean for us today? Preacher: Rod VanSolkema…
- The Locker Room
Ep. 133 - This Life: More Than Religion (Acts 5:17-42) ft. Tryg Veker, Shayla Bassett, Rod VanSolkema
Gamaliel’s words in Acts 5 cut to the heart of every generation: “If their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail; but if it is from God, you…
- The Locker Room
Ep. 132 - When God Guards His Church ft. Nathan English, Molly Vedders, Libby VanSolkema, Tryg Veker
In Acts 5, the early church witnesses both explosive growth and a sobering act of divine judgment. Ananias and Sapphira’s deception isn’t just a story of…
- The Locker Room
Ep. 131 - A New Cosmic Community ft. Nathan English, Shannon Popkin, Libby VanSolkema, Rod VanSolkema
We sit down with Nate English and Shannon Popkin to explore the radical vision of community found at the end of Acts 2 and 4—a people formed by the Spirit and…
- The Locker Room
Ep. 130 - The Spirit that Makes Us Bold (Acts 4:1-22) ft. Aaron Goodrich, Jeremiah Weismann, Ashlea Russ, Tryg Veker
Acts 4 marks a turning point in the story of the early church—the moment when the honeymoon ends and reality sets in. As Peter and John stand before the power…
The Locker RoomEp. 129 - The Retreat That Ruined My Plans (and Saved My Soul) ft. Kurt Suidinski, Rod VanSolkema, Tryg Veker
Kurt Suidinski was respected, successful, and deeply embedded in the Grand Rapids community. To everyone else, he was living the American Dream — a suburban…
- The Locker Room
Ep. 128 - The Lame Leap (Acts 3) ft. Tim Bassett, Shayla Bassett, Libby VanSolkema, Rod VanSolkema
In Acts 3, Peter and John encounter a man lame from birth, sitting at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. With a word and the name of Jesus, Peter commands him…
- The Locker Room
Ep. 127 - Conviction, Grace & God's Presence (Acts 2) ft. Jason Botbyl, Rod VanSolkema, Libby VanSolkema, Tryg Veker
We sit down to unpack the relevance of Acts 2 and Pentecost. We dig into how the Holy Spirit moves with power — convicting hearts of sin, awakening repentance…
- The Locker Room
Ep. 126 - A Church That Changed the World: Witnesses to the King (Acts 1) ft. Jen Schmid, Rod VanSolkema, Libby VanSolkema, Tryg Veker
In this opening episode of our series A Church That Changed the World, we set the stage for the book of Acts and the explosive growth of the early church—from…
- The Locker Room
Ep. 125 - Raising Humans, Not Just Athletes ft. Mark TeSlaa, Stephanie TeSlaa, Tryg Veker
Sports can be a powerful tool for shaping character, not just chasing trophies. In this episode, we sit down with Mark and Steph TeSlaa to explore how…
- The Locker Room
Ep. 124 - There's More with Us than Against Us (2 Kings 6) ft. Ben Glisson, Rod VanSolkema, Libby VanSolkema, Tryg Veker
This week we sit down with Ben, an area coordinator with FCA, to talk about what it means to see spiritually in a world clouded by fear and distraction…
- The Locker Room
Ep. 123 - Too Proud to Be Healed (2 Kings 5) ft. Shannon Popkin, Rod VanSolkema, Libby VanSolkema, Tryg Veker
We sit down with Shannon Popkin again as we dive into the story of Naaman from 2 Kings 5—a powerful commander whose greatness couldn’t hide his deeper sickness…
- The Locker Room
Ep. 122 - Tenacious Faith in the Face of Death (2 Kings 4) ft. Ryan Conners, Brianna Conners, Erik Veker, Tryg Veker
We sit down with Ryan and Bri Conners as we journey through the story of the Shunammite woman in 2 Kings 4 — a story that moves from the heartbreak of hope, to…
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Ep. 121 - Homegrown: Isaac TeSlaa’s Road to the NFL ft. Isaac TeSlaa, Mark TeSlaa, Stephanie TeSlaa, Tryg Veker
In this episode, we sit down with Isaac Teslaa, the newest addition to the Detroit Lions wide receiver room. Born and raised in Grand Rapid's Michigan, Isaac’s…
- The Locker Room
Ep. 120 - The Mantle and The Mission (2 Kings 2) ft. Tim Bassett, Shayla Bassett, Rod VanSolkema, Libby VanSolkema
2 Kings 2:1–15 invites us into a powerful handoff moment. Elijah’s mantle—the symbol of prophetic authority—doesn’t just fall randomly; it falls on Elisha, who…
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Ep. 119 - No Turning Back: Elisha’s Call and Our Temptation to Stay Safe (1 Kings 19:15-21) ft. Gabe Hartfield, Libby VanSolkema, Stephanie Teslaa, Tryg Veker
We sit down with former Crossroads Pastor and church planter Gabe Hartfield (Visible Church) to discuss this Sunday's sermon. Is it possible that God's voice…
- The Locker Room
Ep. 118 - Under the Broom Tree ft. Scott Gustafson, Rod VanSolkema, Libby VanSolkema, Quinn Humphrey
This episode unpacks how God meets people in seasons of burnout, anxiety, and global crisis with compassion, rest, and purpose. Centered on the story of Elijah…
- The Locker Room
Ep. 117 - How the Gospel Reframes Race and Reconciliation ft. Alton Hardy, Tryg Veker, Jason Botbyl, Libby VanSolkema
Alton Hardy is an ordained teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church of America and the founding pastor of Urban Hope Community Church in Fairfield, Alabama…
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Ep. 116 - Throw The First Punch: Defeating the Enemy Hell-Bent on Your Destruction ft. Beth Guckenberger, Jamie Bartlett, Tryg Veker, Libby VanSolkema
We sit down with Beth Guckenberger to discuss her book Throw the First Punch: Defeating the Enemy Hell-Bent on Your Destruction. In this modern-day collection…
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Ep. 115 - When You've Got Nothing Left (1 Kings 17:17-24) ft. Chloe Damron, Rod VanSolkema, Libby VanSolkema, Tryg Veker
We sit down with our Young Adults Administrative Partner, Chloe Damron, to explore 1 Kings 17:17–24—a l story of desperation, death, and divine intervention…
- The Locker Room
Ep. 114 - The Widow at Zarephath (1 Kings 17) ft. Jason Botbyl, Tim Bassett, Libby VanSolkema, Tryg Veker
We sit down and chat about the Elijah's journey to meet an unlikely character. What do you do when you’ve reached the end—emotionally, spiritually, or even…
- The Locker Room
Ep. 113 - Elijah: A Man Just Like Us (1 Kings 16:29-17:6) ft. Jackson Brown, Rod VanSolkema, Libby VanSolkema, Tryg Veker
In this episode, we step into one of the darkest moments in Israel’s history and meet Elijah—a rugged nobody from Gilead who confronts the most powerful king…
- The Locker Room
Ep. 112 - What Happens When God Spills His Spirit (Joel 2:28-32) ft. Brent Becker, Libby VanSolkema, Quinn Humphrey, Tryg Veker
We sit down with Community Life Pastor Brent Becker as we explore Joel 2:28–32, a powerful prophetic vision of God's Spirit being poured out on all people—sons…
- The Locker Room
Ep. 111 - Sabbath in Real Life ft. Erin Graham, Bri Conners, Ally Wassink, Hannah VanderVelde, Libby VanSolkema
This episode features a rich roundtable discussion with Erin, Hannah, Bri, and Ally, on the importance and practice of Sabbath, particularly in the context of…
- The Locker Room
Ep. 110 - Can These Bones Live? (Ezekiel 37) ft. Brittany Riva, Rod VanSolkema, Libby VanSolkema, Tryg Veker
In this episode, we sit down with Brittany Riva as we reflect on the powerful imagery of Ezekiel 37 and the valley of dry bones. What does it mean for God to…
The Locker RoomEp. 109 - Cow Songs and Straight Paths (1 Samuel 6) ft. Brian Sikma, Rod VanSolkema, Libby VanSolkema, Tryg Veker
We sit down with longtime Crossroads member Brian Sikma to explore what happens when the presence of God is reduced to a good luck charm and how that…
- The Locker Room
Ep. 108 - From Emptiness to Redemption: A Deep Dive into Ruth and Pentecost (Ruth 1-4) ft. Jason Botbyl, Rod VanSolkema, Libby VanSolkema, Tryg Veker
In this episode of The Locker Room, we unpack the powerful themes found in the Book of Ruth, exploring how God meets us in our emptiness and redeems our…
- The Locker Room
Ep. 107 - Sacred Rhythms and the Feast of Pentecost (Deut. 16, Lev. 23) ft. Rod VanSolkema, Shannon Popkin, Libby VanSolkema, Tryg Veker
In this episode, we step into the sacred rhythms of Scripture to uncover the rich meaning behind Pentecost, or Shavuot, also known as the Feast of Weeks. Far…
- The Locker Room
Ep. 106 - The First Pentecost (Exodus 19-20) ft. Tryg Veker, Rod VanSolkema, Libby VanSolkema, Quinn Humphrey
In this episode kicking off our Promise of Pentecost series, we explore the truth that God didn’t just rescue His people from slavery—He brought them to…
The Locker RoomEp. 105 - Teach a Man to Fish: Create Sustainable, Transformational Missions ft. Florence Muindi, Kathy Sindorf, Joe Sindorf, Tryg Veker
You’ve probably heard the old saying, “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” The same basic…
- The Locker Room
Ep. 104 - Why the Resurrection Changes Everything (Luke 24:13-32) ft. Jackson Brown, Cayden Kregel, Tryg Veker, Quinn Humphrey
In this episode we sit down with our new Resident College Pastor Jackson Brown and Middle School Director Cayden Kregel to discuss the Road to Emmaus story…
- The Locker Room
Ep. 103 - Why Jesus Compared the Kingdom to Bread and Bushes (Luke 13:18-20) ft. Rod VanSolkema, Tim Bassett, Libby VanSolkema, Tryg Veker
How do you define the Kingdom of God? In Luke 13, Jesus doesn’t offer a tidy definition—He gives us two surprising images: a tiny mustard seed and a hidden bit…
- The Locker Room
Ep. 102 - Is Your Life Built on His Firm Foundation? (Luke 6:47-49) Ft. Sara Krieg, Paul Krieg, Libby VanSolkema, Jason Botbyl
In this week’s episode, we dive into the Parable of the Wise & Foolish Builders and explore what it means to set your foundation of your life on Jesus and…
- The Locker Room
Ep. 101 - The Chronology and Coins of Christ: Passion Week ft. Dr. Brad Bengtson, Tryg Veker, Libby VanSolkema
In this thought-provoking 1-week "Crossroads U" class, we dive deep into the Bible, examining its content through the lens of archaeology and historical…
- The Locker Room
Ep. 100 - Beyond Empty Rituals: Cultivating Heartfelt Change ft. Jamie Bartlett, Stephanie Teslaa, Libby VanSolkema, Tryg Veker
In this episode, we sit down with Jamie Bartlett, Director of Crossroads Adoption and Foster Care, and Stephanie Teslaa, Community Care Pastor, to dive into…
- The Locker Room
Ep. 99 - Come, Be Disciples: The Rabbi's Call to Multiply ft. Rod VanSolkema, Libby VanSolkema, Tryg Veker, Quinn Humphrey
We sit down with Rod and Libby as we dive deep into the journey of becoming and making disciples, exploring the powerful invitation Jesus gives to His…
- The Locker Room
Ep. 98 - This Light of Mine: Living Like Jesus in a Non-Jesus World ft. Dr. Joe Stowell, Tryg Veker
Today Tryg sits down with Joe Stowell to talk about his latest book This Light of Mine: Living Like Jesus in a Non-Jesus World. Joe has a distinguished career…
- The Locker Room
Ep. 97 - Hidden in Plain Sight: Sexuality and the Church ft. Laurie Krieg, Hannah VanderVelde, Tryg Veker, Libby VanSolkema
Laurie Krieg is the president of Impossible Ministries, a coaching/consulting, teaching, and podcasting ministry with the mission to equip Jesus-followers with…
- The Locker Room
Ep. 96 - The Parable of Maximizing Your Kingdom Investment (Luke 19:11-27) ft. Joe Sindorf, Jason Botbyl, Tryg Veker, Quinn Humphrey
In this week’s episode, we dive into the Parable of the Ten Minas and explore what it means to invest in the Kingdom of God with everything we have. We’ll…
- The Locker Room
Ep. 95 - The Prodigal Love of the Father (Luke 15:11-31) ft. Nathan English, Jana English, Tryg Veker, Quinn Humphrey
We sit down with Nathan and Jana English to discuss the Parable of the Prodigal Son from Luke 15. We explore how both sons in the parable are lost in their own…
- The Locker Room
Ep. 94 - Wheat, Weeds & Spiritual Warfare (Matthew 13:24–43) ft. Glenn Dunn, Matt Kenney, Tryg Veker, Quinn Humphrey
Many Christians live with no understanding of the spiritual war that they exist in every single day. Today, we sit down with Glenn Dunn (founder and president…
- The Locker Room
Ep. 93 - The Parbles of Jesus in their Ancient Jewish Context ft. Dr. Brad Young, Rod VanSolkema, Libby VanSolkema, Tryg Veker
In this pre-recorded episode, we sit down with Dr. Brad Young to talk about the purpose of the parables in their original context and how it affects how we…
- The Locker Room
Ep. 92 - The Cost & The Value of the Kingdom ft. Ryan Hannah, Kellie Hannah, Tryg Veker
Kellie and Ryan Hannah have grown up, been married, raised a family, and are now being sent out by Crossroads to pursue their calling of providing biblical…
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Ep. 91 - Keep Striving or Start Resting: A Sabbath Invitation ft. David Nekrutman, Emilie Wierda, Tryg Veker, Libby VanSolkema
In this episode, we sit down with our Jewish friend, David Nekrutman, to dive into the meaning and significance of Sabbath. Together, we explore questions…
The Locker RoomEp. 90 - Raw, Real + Resurrected: One Woman's Post Abortive Story ft. Barb Holtzman, Kim VanSolkema, Jim Sprague, Libby VanSolkema
As Right to Life Sunday approaches, we sit down with Jim Sprague and Kim VanSolkema to hear Barb Holtzman courageously share her powerful story of healing…
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Ep. 89 - In The Beginning was the Word ft. Tina Watschke, Jason Botbyl, Libby VanSolkema, Quinn Humphrey
Join us as we sit down with Tina Watschke and dive into John 1:1-14. We talk a bit about how John differs from the Synoptic Gospels, how the language points to…
- The Locker Room
Ep. 88 - Jesus the Storyteller: Stories of the Kingdom ft. Dr. Klyne Snodgrass, Rod VanSolkema, Libby VanSolkema, Tryg Veker
For the next few months, we are going to be diving into the stories Jesus told and what he was seeking to do with them. For Jesus, the art of storytelling was…
- The Locker Room
Ep. 87 - Examining the Birth of Christ: Unpacking the Chronology ft. Bradley Bengtson, Libby VanSolkema, Tryg Veker
In this episode, we sit down with longtime Crossroads member Dr. Brad Bengtson to dive deep into the chronology of the birth of Christ. Can we know the exact…
- The Locker Room
Ep. 86 - The Shepherd's Joy (Luke 2:8-20) ft. Jana English, Tryg Veker, Libby VanSolkema
In this episode, we dive into Luke 2:8-20. Often overlooked, the shepherds were the first to hear the message of Jesus’ birth—the greatest announcement in…
- The Locker Room
Ep. 85 - How to Relate to Characters in Scripture (Matthew 1:18-25) ft. Neil Martin, Tim Bassett, Libby VanSolkema, Tryg Veker
Neil Martin is a Pastor at Oxford Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Oxford, England. He is also the Director of B Less Oxford. He completed his DPhil in New…
- The Locker Room
Ep. 84 - When God Pushes the Mute Button (Luke 1:5-22) ft. Tryg Veker, Rod Vansolkema, Libby VanSolkema, Quinn Humphrey
In this episode, we explore the Advent narrative of Zechariah and Elizabeth from Luke 1:5-22, focusing on the themes of faith versus religion, waiting versus…
- The Locker Room
Ep. 83 - What's So Hard About Forgiveness? (Genesis 50) ft. Sam Sterk, Rod VanSolkema, Libby VanSolkema, Tryg Veker
We sit down with Sam Sterk (vice-chair of Crossroads Elder Board) as we dive into the often difficult topic of forgiveness, Using the powerful story in Genesis…
- The Locker Room
Ep. 82 - Faith Through Grief (Genesis 48-49) ft. Jamie Bartlett, Jason Botbyl, Tryg Veker
We sit down with Jason Botbyl and Jamie Bartlett as we explore the powerful themes of grief and faith found in Genesis 48 and 49. As Jacob prepares to bless…
- The Locker Room
Ep. 81 - Rediscovering Christmas ft. AJ Sherrill, Libby VanSolkema, Tryg Veker
We sit down with pastor and author AJ Sherill to talk about Advent and his new book Rediscovering Christmas. Are you tired of feeling exhausted, overwhelmed…
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Ep. 80 - The Power of Reconciliation (Genesis 45) ft. Stephanie Teslaa, Jason Botbyl, Libby VanSolkema, Tryg Veker
We sit down with Crossroads Staff members Stephanie Teslaa, and Jason Botbyl to dive into Genesis 45 and explore one of the most powerful moments of…
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Ep. 79 - Judah's Path to Repentance (Genesis 42-44) ft. Ashlea Russ, Rod VanSolkema, Libby VanSolkema, Tryg Veker
We sit down with longtime Crossroads member Ashlea Russ as we explore the powerful theme of repentance in Genesis 42-44. As Joseph’s brothers (more…
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Ep. 78 - Dealing with Dissapointment and Unmet Expectations (Genesis 40-41) ft. Tracy Groot, RJ Alicea, Libby VanSolkema, Tryg Veker
We sit down with Tracy Groot and RJ Alicea (Worship Pastor) as we dive into Genesis chapters 40 and 41, exploring the themes of disappointment and unmet…
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Ep. 77 - Jospeh in Potiphar's House (Genesis 39) ft. Brian Robinson, Tryg Veker, Quinn Humphrey
We sit down to unpack Genesis 39 and the themes of integrity, holiness, resilience, and the complexities of temptation. We'll discuss Joseph's rise to…
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Ep. 76 - Unlikely Redemption: Judah and Tamar (Genesis 38) ft. Hailey Smith, Kayla Smith, Tim Bassett, Tryg Veker
We sit down with a couple of our young adults as we dive into the complex story of Judah and Tamar from Genesis 38. On the surface, it’s an account of…
- The Locker Room
Ep. 75 - Coach Mike Swider: On Leadership, Coaching, Being a Man, and Walking with Jesus ft. Mike Swider, Rod VanSolkema, Tryg Veker
In this conversation, we sit down with Coach Mike Swider, former head coach of the Wheaton College Thunder football team, to discuss the powerful intersection…