The Reality Is
Welcome to "The Reality Is," a podcast where the pastors of Crossroads Community Church gather to discuss the practical application of biblical principles in our daily lives. Join us as we explore how faith can guide us through the challenges and triumphs of real life. Whether it's relationships, work, or personal growth, we're here to help you live out your faith meaningfully. This podcast's premise is about how to apply biblical principles to our everyday lives. Tune in for insightful conversations that inspire and empower you to pursue Christ with every moment of your life. Available on all major audio podcast platforms and YouTube.
Episodes
“How are you doing?” is a loaded question when we never slow down long enough to hear the real answer. For our season finale, we leave you with a two-month challenge that sounds simple but cuts straight through superficial relationships: ask someone how they’re doing every day, listen with genuine care, then offer encouragement and pray right then, not later.
We talk about why this matters in a world shaped...
Your calendar may be packed, but your spiritual life doesn’t have to run on leftovers. We talk about a hard truth with a simple picture: when we stay distracted, we end up treating God like social media, scrolling past old highlights instead of building a real relationship day by day.
We walk through practical, doable habits for strengthening your walk with God in as little as ten minutes at a time. That in...
“Am I my brother’s keeper?” sounds like a simple question, but it exposes a huge gap in modern Christian community. We’ve heard it used as a shutdown line, a way to avoid getting involved. We take the opposite stance: yes, we are responsible to love our brothers and sisters with real action, real honesty, and real presence, even when it costs us comfort.
We start in Genesis 4 with Cain and Abel, then move i...
Touch a candle once and you learn fast. Keep reaching for it anyway and you learn something deeper about yourself. That’s where Pastor Joey and Pastor Richard start: the strange pull of sin, the way we argue with warnings, and the moment consequences finally make the danger feel real. If you’ve ever thought, “I know this is wrong, so why do I keep choosing it?”, you’re not alone and you’re not stuck.
We gro...
If you’ve ever heard “join a life group” and thought, OK but what do you actually do there, we get it. Pastor Joey sits down with Pastor Ed to spell out the real nuts and bolts of a healthy church life group, including the simple rhythm that makes it sustainable: a little fellowship, clear prayer requests, then a Scripture-centered discussion that follows a sermon-based Bible study guide. We also talk about why “har...
Church can be packed and still feel lonely. We’ve both seen it: you can worship with hundreds of people, shake a few hands, and leave with zero meaningful connection. That gap is exactly why we’re talking about life groups (small groups, community groups, Sunday school). For many believers, a life group is the difference between attending a church and actually living as the church.
We break down three big r...
Revenge has a way of feeling like justice, especially when the wound is fresh and the story keeps replaying in your head. We’ve both felt that pull to even the score, to say the sharp thing, to plan the perfect comeback, or to “make it right” in our own strength. But the more we chase payback, the more we find it doesn’t heal anything. It feeds anger, shrinks our peace, and drags us down to the same level as the off...
Resentment doesn’t usually announce itself. It slips in when an offense goes unspoken, a tone gets misread, or a “that wasn’t fair” moment keeps replaying until it feels like a settled fact. Joey and Richard go straight at what most of us avoid: grudges, perceived injustice, and the hidden cost of staying angry while the other person might not even know we’re upset.
We talk about why a grudge is more than a...
Easter gets packaged as candy, brunch, and a spring holiday, but we can’t get around the central claim: the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We lay it out plainly: Christianity hinges on whether Jesus truly died, was buried, and rose again. If that didn’t happen, faith is empty and we’re still in our sins. If it did happen, it changes everything about forgiveness, hope, and what it means to follow Christ.
Past...
Jealousy can hide behind jokes, ambition, or “just being human,” but it quietly steals joy and turns gratitude sour. Pastor Joey and Pastor Richard start with a simple question: who are you really doing life for, God or yourself? From a funny boots story to hard truths from Proverbs and James, we draw a clear line between envy (wanting what someone else has) and jealousy (guarding what we think is ours or what we be...
Struggling with pride? This episode offers a clear, biblical guide to developing humility. Pastor Joey and Pastor Richard share how serving others, trusting God, and giving Him glory can transform your mindset and strengthen your faith.
We hope you enjoyed this episode of The Reality Is. If you have found our podcast to be an encouragement to you, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, and sharing it with you...
Why does anger seem so common today? Pastor Joey and Pastor Richard examine the spiritual dangers of uncontrolled anger and how it affects relationships, faith, and personal health. They point listeners back to Scripture and the work of the Holy Spirit as the path toward peace, humility, and restoration.
We hope you enjoyed this episode of The Reality Is. If you have found our podcast to be an encouragement to you, p...
Pastor Joey sits down with Pastor Pete, an Old Testament professor and pastor at Crossroads Community Church, to explore why the Old Testament is essential for understanding the Bible. Pastor Pete explains how the Torah shapes the entire story of Scripture and how later biblical authors constantly return to it. The conversation encourages believers not to skip the Old Testament but to read and reread it as part of e...
Pastor Richard and Pastor Joey unpack the weight of guilt in the believer’s life and why denying sin only deepens spiritual bondage. Rooted in 1 John 1:8–9, they explain how confession leads to cleansing and freedom. This episode clarifies the difference between guilt and shame while pointing listeners to the cross as the only true path to forgiveness and restored identity in Christ.
We hope you enjoyed this episode ...
In this heartfelt episode, Pastor Joey and Pastor Richard discuss the reality of grief, from losing loved ones to enduring life altering changes, and how believers can process sorrow in a healthy, biblical way. They explore the difference between grieving with faith and grieving without hope, reminding listeners that grief is not sinful but must be surrendered to God. With practical wisdom and personal stories, they...
Why do we cut ourselves off when we’re struggling the most? Pastor Joey and Pastor Richard discuss how secrecy, pride, and hopelessness keep Christians stuck in repetitive sin cycles. Through Scripture and practical insight, they show how confession, community, and the power of the Holy Spirit bring true restoration and renewed joy.
We hope you enjoyed this episode of The Reality Is. If you have found our podcast to ...
Why do we protect our sin like a cherished pet? In this convicting follow-up, the pastors challenge listeners to quit justifying disobedience and start setting up safeguards. Learn what it means to build spiritual walls, starve the flesh, and walk in the light of God’s truth.
We hope you enjoyed this episode of The Reality Is. If you have found our podcast to be an encouragement to you, please consider subscribing, l...
Pastor Joey and Pastor Richard launch a powerful three-part series diving into the persistent struggle with “pet sins,” those hidden, recurring behaviors we excuse or justify. In this opening episode, they explore how spiritual warfare and our misplaced affections feed these sins and how to begin the fight to overcome them through God's Word and the armor of God.
We hope you enjoyed this episode of The Reality I...
Pastor Joey and Pastor Richard dive into what true Christlikeness looks like, not just in church but in daily life. They explore Romans 8:29, 2 Corinthians 3:18, and 1 John 3:2 to show that being conformed to the image of Christ is a divine process led by the Holy Spirit. From love to sanctification, this episode offers a rich foundation for anyone desiring to reflect Jesus more authentically.
We hope you enjoyed thi...
In this impactful continuation, Pastor Joey and Pastor Richard reveal the final four habits of a spiritually mature Christian: embracing trials, living a Christlike lifestyle, trusting God over self, and pursuing personal holiness. Through Scripture and honest reflection, they tie together all eight habits as a practical framework for growth in 2026 and beyond.
We hope you enjoyed this episode of The Reality Is. If y...
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