Christian Living Episodes

Hope + Help for Pursuing Discipleship with Jonathan Hayashi

In this episode of The Hope + Help Project, Christine Chappell interviews pastor and author Jonathan Hayashi. They discuss his book, Ordinary Radicals: A Return to Christ-Centered Discipleship to learn how the gospel of Jesus Christ informs the way we foster genuine, mission-minded Christian community within the context of the local church. Jonathan shares how God used intentional discipleship relationships to radically alter the gang-related trajectory he was on as a teenager. He explains some of the reasons why the church-at-large is failing to faithfully commit to making Christ-centered disciples, while also highlighting some of the unbiblical beliefs church members have about what it means to belong to the body of Christ. Jonathan encourages believers to remember that there are no special qualifications for making disciples, and offers practical suggestions for pursuing a discipleship relationship within the respective "mission fields" everyday Christians find themselves in.
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Hope + Help for Enduring Faith with Trillia Newbell

In this episode of The Hope + Help Project, Christine Chappell interviews author Trillia Newbell to discuss her new book, Sacred Endurance: Finding Grace and Strength for a Lasting Faith. During the interview, Trillia shares her story of coming to Christ as an adult. She also takes on the "fake it 'till you make it" mentality, warns against the toxic effects of the prosperity gospel, and explains how the Scriptures invite us to engage God in the midst of our suffering. Encouraging listeners with gospel-centered reminders, Trillia also helps us to understand how to keep our hearts from growing cynical in the midst of tumultuous political/cultural climates.
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Hope + Help for Self-Focus with Lydia Brownback

In this episode of The Hope + Help Project, Christine Chappell interviews author Lydia Brownback. They discuss Lydia's book, "Flourish: How the Love of Christ Frees Us from Self-Focus" to help us discern the worldly influences that threaten to warp our understanding of what it really means to be a Christian. We’ll explore topics such as self-consciousness, self-care, self-improvement, and self-condemnation, and discover how the gospel of Jesus Christ equips us to enjoy true freedom in these areas.
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Hope + Help for Fighting Discontent with Megan Hill

In this episode of The Hope + Help Project, Christine Chappell interviews author/writer Megan Hill to talk about her devotional, Contentment: Seeing God's Goodness. During the conversation, Megan explains what biblical contentment looks like, the differences between "righteous" and "unrighteous" discontent, and how the gospel of Jesus Christ invites believers to put off bitterness and grumbling when they aren't getting what they want out of life. She also illumines the detrimental effects pride has on our ability to find contentment in Christ, and gives practical helps for stepping away from self-sufficiency mindsets.
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Hope + Help for Valuing Singleness with Sam Allberry

In this episode of The Hope + Help Project, Christine Chappell interviews author/speaker Sam Allberry. They’re talking about his book, "7 Myths About Singleness," in order to help Christians—married and unmarried alike—value singleness as a gift from God. Sam explains frequently misunderstood aspects of singleness, why celibacy and intimacy are not mutually exclusive, and how the gospel of Jesus Christ helps singles take hold of the unique opportunities their singleness affords. He also encourages singles in the various ways they can contribute to the creation mandate without having kids themselves, highlights ways marrieds and singles can strive to better support one another in friendship, and exposes some of the tender feelings singles experience when they feel like they're missing out in life and love.
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Hope + Help for Critical Care with Kathryn Butler

In this episode of The Hope + Help Project, Christine Chappell interviews author/writer Kathryn Butler. They discuss Kathryn's book, Between Life and Death: A Gospel-Centered Guide to End-of-Life Medical Care to help Christians become better equipped to handle medical decisions for incapacitated loved ones. They take an honest look at how common critical care procedures affect the body, discuss what it feels like to wake up as a patient in the ICU, unpack common misconceptions about what it means to protect the sanctity of life, and share how the gospel of Jesus Christ gives family members wisdom in the midst of overwhelming medical situations. Kathryn also talks about biblical perspectives on physical health, comforts to cling to when death is imminent, and offers words of support and encouragement for those presently tasked with making medical decisions for a loved one.
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Hope + Help for Overwhelming Emotions with Alasdair Groves

In this episode of The Hope + Help Project, Christine Chappell interviews author/biblical counselor Alasdair Groves. They talk about his book, "Untangling Emotions," to learn more about a biblical approach to addressing our overwhelming feelings, to discover how negative emotions can actually serve redemptive purposes, and finally, to understand how the gospel of Jesus Christ frees believers to engage our emotions in fruitful ways. Alasdair also offers insights into unhelpful views on the importance of our emotions, helps listeners to understand a biblical view of the mind-body connection, and gives words of encouragement to those who feel frequently overcome by their emotional state.
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Hope + Help for Facing Infertility with Glenna Marshall

In this episode of The Hope + Help Project, Christine Chappell interviews author/writer Glenna Marshall on the topic of infertility, suffering, and her new book, The Promise is His Presence: Why God is Always Enough. During the conversation, Glenna shares about her personal experiences with infertility, church hurt, and chronic illness, unpacking the devastating heartbreak of deferred hope and the dangers of basing our beliefs about God's goodness on whether or not he will give us "good" things. Glenna shares how her struggle with infertility negatively impacted church fellowship and personal friendships, gives suggestions on how to respond to seasons of spiritual dryness, and soothes sufferers with words of comfort for when the grief of barrenness feels all-consuming.
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Hope + Help for Living with Cancer with Marissa Henley

In this episode of The Hope + Help Project, Christine Chappell interviews author/speaker/writer Marissa Henley on the topic of living with cancer, exposing some of the raw emotions that go along with facing a life-threatening illness, the honest fears about death that believers with cancer wrestle with, and how the gospel of Jesus Christ strengthens sufferers to face an unknown future with courage and hope. Marissa shares about her own battle with a rare form of cancer, describes what it's like to sit in the "chemo chair," and gives concerned friends and family members practical tips on how to best support their suffering loved one during a season of uncertainty and medical overwhelm.
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Hope + Help for Post-Abortion Trauma with Camille Cates

In this episode of The Hope + Help Project, Christine Chappell interviews author/speaker/biblical counselor Camille Cates on the topic of post-abortion trauma, unpacking some of the difficult emotional and spiritual battles that manifest in abortion’s wake, and sharing how the gospel of Jesus Christ offers real hope and help for those who seek to heal. During our conversation, Camille shares her personal testimony of horrifying tragedy and loss, recounting the path that lead her to choose to abort her unborn baby. We talk about the lie of "self-forgiveness," why coping mechanisms ultimately fall short in alleviating the grief and guilt of post-abortion trauma, and the various impacts friends, family, and church community members can have in the healing process. Camille also addresses the frequently asked question, "Will I see my aborted baby in Heaven?" and suggests practical ways to lean into God's Word for meaningful healing and spiritual peace through forgiveness in Christ.
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Hope + Help for the Broken-Hearted with Mark Vroegop

In this episode of The Hope + Help Project, Christine Chappell interviews author/pastor Mark Vroegop on the topic of his new book, "Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy", learning how the God-given language of lament offers the broken-hearted hope and help for life’s sorrowful seasons. During the conversation, Pastor Mark shares his family's personal story of tragic loss, and how lament provided them—and ultimately, his church community—an outlet for their pains to be voiced while placing their trust in God. We talk about the key components of lament, heart-attitude cautions (what lament isn't), and why today's culture has such a hard time walking alongside broken-hearted people. Pastor Mark also offers practical steps for traveling by faith through grief and sorrow, as well as encouragements on how to cling to biblical hope, even when we've lost all sense of it.
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Hope + Help for Fighting Destructive Habits with Rush Witt

In this episode, Christine Chappell guides a powerful conversation with Pastor/author Rush Witt on the topic of fighting against diehard sins and destructive daily habits. Rush shares about his personal experience with biblical counseling, helps listeners unpack the undercurrents of our heart struggles, gives practical steps for attacking "acceptable" sins while avoiding the pitfall of destructive introspection, and ultimately offers courage and clarity for the Christian who is desperate for change but feels stuck in the struggle.
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