Shows / Jesus-Centric Life
Jesus-Centric Life
Life isn’t about us—it’s about Jesus. Jesus-Centric Life is a podcast that helps you discover what it means to center every part of your life around Him. Tune in weekly as Pastor Josh and Donna explore how to follow Jesus in real and practical ways, asking the hard questions, sharing stories of faith, and equipping you to live with purpose, hope, and courage. Whether you’re a leader, a parent, a student, or simply someone longing to grow, this podcast will help you walk with Jesus every day..
Episodes
Jesus-Centric LifeIs God Ever Disappointed In Me?
We know God loves us—but does that mean He’s never disappointed in us? In this episode, we wrestle with the difference between conviction and shame, what…
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What If My Faith Isn’t Strong Enough?
What if I doubt, struggle to trust God, or simply don’t feel like my faith is strong enough? In this episode, we talk honestly about doubt, unanswered prayers…
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Why Is Following Jesus So Hard Sometimes?
Following Jesus doesn’t always make life easier—in fact, sometimes obedience makes things harder. In this episode, we talk honestly about doubt, sacrifice…
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Does God Ever Answer "Bad" Prayers?
Is there such a thing as a “bad” prayer? In this episode, we wrestle with selfish prayers, unanswered prayers, God’s will, and whether His “no” might sometimes…
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What Happens To People Who Never Hear About Jesus?
It's one of the hardest and most important questions people ask: What happens to those who never hear about Jesus? In this episode, we explore what the Bible…
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The Paul and James Debate Explained
In this episode, we take an honest look at one of the Bible's most debated passages and discover that Paul and James weren't opposing each other. They were…
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Called To Foster. Changed Forever. (with Kara Druffel)
Join us as we sit down and talk with special guest Kara Druffel, as she shares the unexpected story of her family’s foster care and adoption journey. What…
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You Don’t Have To Carry It Alone (with Betsy Bowers, MA, LPC)
We were never meant to carry life's burdens by ourselves. Betsy Bowers joins us for a discussion about the importance of vulnerability, community, and seeking…
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A Mindset of Peace (with Betsy Bowers, MA, LPC)
Stressful situations are inevitable, but they don't have to control us. Join our conversation with Licensed Professional Counselor Betsy Bowers as she shares…
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Building Emotional Resilience (with Betsy Bowers, MA, LPC)
Life will bring challenges, but resilience helps us face them with hope instead of fear. In this episode of Jesus-Centric Life, we invite Betsy Bowers to share…
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An Update on the Current State of the LCMS - Round 3
The LCMS has voted, and President Matthew Harrison has been elected to another term. But what does this election reveal about the current state and future…
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Raising Courageous Kids For Jesus
In a world full of competing voices, how do we raise children who truly know, love, and follow Jesus? In this episode of Jesus Centric Life, Pastor Josh and…
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Who Is Disciplining Our Kids? (with Thomas MacLean)
From social media and endless scrolling to online influence and digital pressure, technology is shaping today’s children in powerful ways. Pastor Josh, Donna…
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The People We Walk Past
Every day, we move past people carrying invisible burdens—loneliness, grief, shame, doubt, exhaustion, or simply the feeling of being unseen. In this episode…
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A Faith of Your Own (with Sadie Hixson)
In this episode of Jesus Centric Life, Sadie Hixson shares what it looks like for faith to become your own—shaping the way you serve, the path you choose, and…
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Fully Known, Deeply Loved
We spend our lives hiding parts of ourselves—afraid that if others truly knew us, we would be rejected, judged, or unloved. Yet the heart of the Gospel is…
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Living In The Freedom of Grace
Grace is a gift from God—freely given, deeply needed, and often hard to fully receive. Yet many people still live weighed down by guilt, shame, striving, or…
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What If Christians Were Hard to Offend?
In a world quick to react and easy to offend, what would it look like for Christians to live with deeper grace, humility, and a steadiness rooted in Christ? In…
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The Lie of Self-Sufficiency
More and more, we live with the mindset of “I can handle it” or “I’ve got this.” But what happens when self-reliance slowly replaces dependence on God? In this…
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An LCMS Update - Round 2. (with Thomas MacLean)
The voting continues, and with it come important questions about the future direction of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. In this special edition of Jesus…
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What Does It Mean To Be Spiritually Mature?
In this episode of Jesus-Centric Life, Pastor Josh and Donna explore one of discipleship’s most important questions: How do we define spiritual maturity—and…
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An Update on the LCMS.
In this special edition of Jesus Centric Life, Pastor Josh and Donna provide an update on the current state of the LCMS as it moves through another election…
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Hard Questions About Faith
You’re not alone if you’ve wrestled with faith—or even been tempted to walk away from it. In this episode, Pastor Josh and Donna step into the real concerns…
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Rediscovering Church in a New Season (w/ Guest; Mindy Chapman)
In this episode of Jesus-Centric Life, Pastor Josh and Donna sit down with Mindy Chapman to talk about the shift that happens when kids are grown, and life…
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Trusting God Through the Deepest Pain. (w/ Guests; Dave & Sheri Himmelburg)
In this episode of Jesus-Centric Life, Pastor Josh and Donna sit down with Dave and Sheri Himmelburg to share their journey through the tragic loss of their…
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The Faith You Hoped They'd Have. (w/ Guest; Harold Benecke)
Pastor Josh and Donna talk with Harold Benecke about the reality of parenting adult children with different faith journeys. With honesty and grace, they…
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Faith in the Unknown. (w/ Guest; Kathy Boye)
In this episode of Jesus Centric Life, Pastor Josh and Donna sit down with Kathy Boye as she shares her story of walking through an intense and uncertain…
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Faith and Family: Why It’s Harder Than We Thought. (w/ Guest; Sarah Krepel)
Faith and family often sound like they should fit together naturally—but many parents discover it’s harder than they expected. In this episode of Jesus Centric…
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Is There Really Such A Thing As A Perfect Plan?
Many people wonder if God has one perfect plan for their life—or if they might somehow miss it. In this episode of Jesus Centric Life, Pastor Josh and Donna…
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The Quiet Ways God Changes Us.
Spiritual growth rarely happens in dramatic moments. More often, God shapes us slowly through ordinary days, small decisions, and quiet movements of His…
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The Spiritual Discipline of Waiting.
Waiting is one of the hardest parts of faith. We live in a world that values speed and immediate answers, yet throughout Scripture, God often works through…
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When Online Conversations Turn Ugly
Online conversations can quickly turn harsh, divisive, and unkind. In this episode, we discuss what it means to reflect Christ in a digital world. How do we…
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When Being “Nice” Isn’t Christlike.
Christians are often told to “just be nice,” but is niceness really the same as Christlikeness? In this episode of Jesus Centric Life, we explore the…
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How To Pray When You’re Numb.
There are seasons when prayer feels difficult—when the words are hard to find, the emotions feel distant, and God seems quiet. In this episode of Jesus Centric…
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Let’s Talk About Prayer.
Prayer is one of the most important parts of the Christian life, yet it’s often the least understood and least practiced. In this episode of Jesus Centric…
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Jesus Disappointed…Leaders Will Too.
In this episode, Pastor Josh gets real and honest about the hard truth that leaders will disappoint—and even Jesus did. Drawing from the Gospel of Mark…
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The Pluses & Minuses Of Being a Part of a Synod.
In this episode, Pastor Josh and Donna have an honest conversation about the pluses and minuses of being part of a synod, focusing on the Lutheran…
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Integrity Isn’t About Image; It’s About Alignment
In this episode of Jesus Centric Life, Pastor Josh and Donna explore what integrity looks like when faith moves beyond words and into obedience. Together, they…
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Will God Show Up For Me? He Shows Up For Everyone Else...
In this episode of Jesus Centric Life, Pastor Josh and Donna wrestle with the honest, aching question many believers carry but rarely say out loud: Will God…
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Why Did Jesus Ask So Many Questions?
Jesus rarely gave straight answers. Instead, He asked questions—questions that challenged assumptions, exposed hearts, and invited transformation. In this…
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Why Didn't Jesus Heal Everyone?
Jesus healed many—but not all. This episode wrestles honestly with the uncomfortable reality that some experienced healing while others walked away still…
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When Faith Becomes Routine
Not every season of faith feels fresh or exciting—and that’s okay. In this episode, we talk about the gift of routine and how God often works powerfully…
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When Jesus Disappoints Your Expectations
Many people follow Jesus expecting clarity, blessing, ease, or visible outcomes—and feel shaken when He delivers something different. In this episode, we…
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The Benches In Our Lives (w/ Guest; Emma Turnbull)
In this episode of Jesus Centric Life, we welcome special guest Emma Turnbull to help us explore “the benches” in our lives — those moments of joy, pain…
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Is the Church Still Relevant?
In this episode of Jesus Centric Life, Pastor Josh and Donna wrestle with the question many are asking today: Does the church still matter? At its heart, the…
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Are You Leading, Or Just Doing?
Have you ever asked yourself the question: Am I leading, or just doing? Many in the church don’t see themselves as leaders, but God calls each of us to…
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The Birth That Changed Everything
Merry Christmas! On this special Christmas episode of Jesus Centric Life, Pastor Josh and Donna open Scripture to reflect on the miraculous birth of Jesus…
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Jesus: Historical Figure or Fabrication?
Was Jesus a real historical figure or just a fabrication? Looking through the lens of apologetics, we’ll examine historical evidence, biblical accounts, and…
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Spiritual Formation in the Age of Distraction
The world is sometimes a loud and busy place. Join us as we look at how to pursue spiritual formation in a world of noise and distraction. While the enemy uses…
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Fighting Lies with Truth: The Temptation of Jesus
Join us today as we take a deep dive into Matthew 4 and Luke 4, where Jesus faced temptation in the wilderness. Satan’s lies attacked His identity and purpose…
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From Ashes to Beauty: Living the Aftermath of Forgiveness
Forgiveness doesn’t erase pain overnight. Scars often remain, but in Christ, those scars can become powerful testimonies of His healing and redemption. In this…
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When Forgiveness Feels Impossible
What do you do when forgiveness feels impossible? In this episode, we explore how Scripture calls us to forgive even when others aren’t sorry, keep causing…
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The Power of Six Conversations (Pt. 2) (w/ Guest; Harold Benecke)
In Part 2 of Jesus-Centric Life, Pastor Josh and Donna continue their conversation with Harold Beneke on Dr. Heather Holleman’s book, The Six Conversations…
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The Power of Six Conversations (Pt. 1) (w/ Guest; Harold Benecke)
In this episode of Jesus Centric Life, Pastor Josh and Donna welcome Harold Benecke to dive into Dr. Heather Holleman’s book The Six Conversations. Together…
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Conversational Faith (Pt. 2): Facing the Hurdles
Talking about faith is never one size fits all. In Part Two of our series on Conversational Faith, we will dig into the five hurdles that often keep people…
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Conversational Faith (Pt. 1) What It Is and What It Isn't
Sharing your faith doesn’t have to feel forced, pressured, or awkward. Instead of rehearsed speeches or fear-driven witnessing, conversational faith is about…
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Faith & Culture: Living for Jesus in a Changing World (w/ Guest; Courtney Menefee)
Today on Jesus Centric Life, Courtney Menefee shares how her generation navigates faith in a culture pulling in many directions. From challenges to hope, she…
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Rooted in Family, Rooted in Faith (w/ Guest; Courtney Menefee)
In this episode of Jesus Centric Life, Courtney shares how her faith was nurtured through family and church, and how those roots continue to guide her today…
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Discipleship That Doesn't Rush
We live in a world that celebrates speed—quick results, instant growth, and rapid success. But when it comes to following Jesus, the pace is often slower… and…
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Multiplying Leaders Without Losing the Mission
Multiplying leaders is essential for growth, but how do you do it without compromising your mission? On Jesus Centric Life, Pastor Josh and Donna dive into the…