Starting Place with Elizabeth Woodson
Starting Place explores what Christians believe and why it matters when it comes to growing in our faith. As Christians, we should know what our Bible is about (not just the individual books but the one unified story it tells from Genesis to Revelation). We should understand the essential theological beliefs we hold to as Christians. We should know what discipleship looks like. We should know about church history, spiritual formation, and so much more. Each season, I will unpack one of these topics, and in every episode I will interview a new guest to explore a bit of what this topic means and why it matters in our daily lives. Because it's one thing to understand theology, and it's another thing to know how it connects to the most ordinary moments of our lives.
Episodes
May 7, 2025 • 33 mins
In this episode, Elizabeth talks with Jill Barlow about how intentionality builds meaningful relationships and how community shapes spiritual growth. Jill shares honest reflections on starting over, facing disappointment, and finding hope when connection feels hard—reminding us that community can be a place of deep transformation.
Main Takeaways:
Main Takeaways:
- Community requires intentionality, courage, and the willingness to initiate.
- Disappoi...
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April 30, 2025 • 45 mins
In this episode, Elizabeth talks with Bible teachers and ministry leaders Courtney Doctor and Hunter Beless about what long-term discipleship looks like in real life. From friendship and mentoring to challenges and biblical wisdom, this conversation is full of insight for anyone wanting to stay faithful in making disciples.
Main Takeaways:
Main Takeaways:
- How Courtney and Hunter’s friendship and mentoring relationship began
- The distinction betwee...
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April 16, 2025 • 28 mins
In this episode, we continue our Church Mothers series by reflecting on the life of Hannah, a woman who teaches us how to wait well, stay rooted in prayer, and trust God in seasons of longing.
Main Takeaways:
Main Takeaways:
- Hannah didn’t run from her pain—she took it to the Lord.
- Every believer will face a season of waiting. The question is not if you will wait, but how well you will wait.
- Human solutions may offer temporary comfort, but only God...
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April 9, 2025 • 28 mins
In today’s episode, we continue our Church Mothers series by learning from a bold and often overlooked woman in Scripture: Huldah. Though her story is short, her courage, clarity, and closeness to God offer deep wisdom for anyone trying to walk in faith—especially when it’s costly.
Main Takeaways:
Main Takeaways:
- Faithfulness requires courage: Huldah didn’t hesitate to speak God’s truth, even when it wasn’t popular or safe.
- Intimacy with God brin...
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April 2, 2025 • 18 mins
In this episode of Starting Place, we’re kicking off a new series inspired by a conversation about the need for church mothers—women who intentionally invest in the next generation of believers. We explore what it means to leave a spiritual legacy, looking at the lives of Lois and Eunice, the mother and grandmother of Timothy, and how their sincere faith influenced his own. This conversation challenges us to consider how we are sha...
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March 26, 2025 • 26 mins
In this episode, we’re exploring one of the most pervasive ways we forget the gospel. Specifically, we forget the cost, which is surrender. We often sing about surrender, but if we're honest, we tend to surrender some rather than all. But abundant life only comes through surrendering our lives fully to Jesus.
Main Takeaways:
Main Takeaways:
- We are being formed. The culture is shaping us to prioritize ease and comfort, being driven by what feels ...
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March 19, 2025 • 25 mins
In this episode, we explore how insecurity and shame reveal our tendency to forget the gospel. Looking at the story of Mary Magdalene, we see how the power of Christ transforms our past, freeing us from shame and equipping us to walk boldly in our new identity. If you’ve ever struggled with feelings of unworthiness or fear that your past defines you, this episode will remind you of the truth: you are made new in Christ.
Main Takeawa...
Main Takeawa...
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March 12, 2025 • 30 mins
We explore how boredom in the mundane moments of life can lead to spiritual forgetfulness. When our daily routines feel repetitive, we may struggle to see their significance in God's greater plan. But what if every moment—no matter how ordinary—was an opportunity to dwell with God and live on mission? We’ll discuss how the gospel reframes our perspective, helping us embrace faithfulness in the small things.
Main Takeaways:
Main Takeaways:
- Boredo...
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March 5, 2025 • 24 mins
In this episode, we are featuring an interview Elizabeth did on the Culture Matters podcast with Adam Hawkins and Tymarcus Ragland, sharing about the heart behind her new study, Live Free. Elizabeth discusses how Paul's message remains relevant today, addressing the timeless challenges of being right with God and experiencing true freedom from sin.
Recommended Resources:
Learn more about Elizabeth’s new Galatians study, Live Free, at...
Recommended Resources:
Learn more about Elizabeth’s new Galatians study, Live Free, at...
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February 26, 2025 • 27 mins
In this episode, we explore how gospel forgetfulness can show up in our faith. While we often say we live by faith and not by sight, in reality, we can struggle to trust God when we lack control or certainty. We discuss the common reasons we resist stepping out in faith—our desire for control, fear of failure, and the cost of obedience. Using biblical examples like Abraham and Peter, we see both the challenges of walking in faith a...
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February 19, 2025 • 27 mins
In this episode, we explore how legalism and an abuse of grace can hinder our faithfulness to God. The gospel is not just for salvation—it shapes our daily lives. Learn how to recognize and overcome these tendencies.
Main Takeaways:
Main Takeaways:
- Legalism turns faith into a performance checklist, making us believe God’s favor depends on our actions.
- Abusing grace leads to complacency, excusing sin instead of growing in holiness.
- True faith balan...
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February 12, 2025 • 17 mins
Welcome back to Starting Place! Today, we’re kicking off a mini-series on why you still need the gospel—even if you've been a Christian for years.
It’s easy to become overly familiar with Christianity, knowing all the right things to say but forgetting the basics. The gospel isn’t just the starting point of our faith—it’s the foundation we always need.
Main Topics Covered:
✔️ What the gospel really is: not just about forgiveness, but ...
It’s easy to become overly familiar with Christianity, knowing all the right things to say but forgetting the basics. The gospel isn’t just the starting point of our faith—it’s the foundation we always need.
Main Topics Covered:
✔️ What the gospel really is: not just about forgiveness, but ...
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February 5, 2025 • 23 mins
We’re kicking off a new season of Starting Place! In this episode, I’m sharing life updates, including my new book coming in 2026, my upcoming Bible study on Galatians (Live Free), and starting a new doctoral program.
I’m also reflecting on the year ahead—big goals, little goals, and what holds us back. Fear, self-sufficiency, and sin can sabotage our faithfulness to God, but prayer realigns our hearts, reminds us of God’s power, an...
I’m also reflecting on the year ahead—big goals, little goals, and what holds us back. Fear, self-sufficiency, and sin can sabotage our faithfulness to God, but prayer realigns our hearts, reminds us of God’s power, an...
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December 25, 2024 • 33 mins
Elizabeth Woodson reviews the Old Testament story and jumps into the New Testament, seeing how the story of Jesus' birth brings us hope that God can use and even redeem the messy areas of our lives.
Questions Covered in This Episode:
Questions Covered in This Episode:
- What is the story of the Old Testament?
- What happens between the Old Testament and the New Testament?
- How does the book of Matthew begin?
- What are the three main sections of the New Testament?
- What are t...
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December 18, 2024 • 30 mins
Elizabeth Woodson is joined by Kat Armstrong to finish up the journey through the Old Testament by talking about The Intertestamental Period and the themes of waiting on God.
Questions Covered in This Episode:
Questions Covered in This Episode:
- What happens during The Intertestamental Period? Why is this a significant time in the life of Israel?
- What makes waiting difficult for us?
- What does The Intertestamental Period teach us about what it means to wait on God?
- Wh...
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December 11, 2024 • 35 mins
Elizabeth Woodson is joined by Mason King to have a conversation about how the prophets called Israel back to repentance but they did not listen, so God eventually responds by enacting judgment upon them by sending them into exile.
Questions Covered in This Episode:
Questions Covered in This Episode:
- What is exile and why is this event significant in the life of Israel?
- What hope does God give Israel while they are in exile? What is the significance of this hope be...
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December 4, 2024 • 33 mins
Elizabeth Woodson is joined by Jen Wilkin to talk about The Law. The Law shows us who God is and what he loves, freeing us to live in our divine design as image-bearers.
Questions Covered in This Episode:
Questions Covered in This Episode:
- How is The Law designed not to simply restrict Israel, but to form them as the people of God?
- Why do you think God begins this discussion by reminding Israel of how he delivered them out of Egypt?
- Why do you think Christians say t...
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November 27, 2024 • 19 mins
Episode Summary:
In this final episode of the season, we reflect on the transformative habits we’ve explored over the past weeks. Discipleship is never neutral—we are always being shaped by our choices, habits, and surroundings. Join us as we close the season with a thoughtful challenge: to evaluate how we’ve grown this year and intentionally align our lives with the way of Jesus.
Key Takeaways:
In this final episode of the season, we reflect on the transformative habits we’ve explored over the past weeks. Discipleship is never neutral—we are always being shaped by our choices, habits, and surroundings. Join us as we close the season with a thoughtful challenge: to evaluate how we’ve grown this year and intentionally align our lives with the way of Jesus.
Key Takeaways:
- Discipleship requires intentionalit...
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November 20, 2024 • 32 mins
In this episode of Starting Place, we dive into the spiritual practice of disciplemaking and why it’s central to living as followers of Jesus. Drawing from Matthew 28:19-20, we explore the “discipleship crisis” in today’s Church, discuss key challenges like biblical illiteracy and disembodied discipleship, and offer practical steps for becoming a disciple who makes disciples.
Key Takeaways:
Key Takeaways:
- Discipleship is meant to happen in the ...
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November 13, 2024 • 22 mins
In today’s episode, we explore why Christians are called to serve and what that looks like in a divided, individualistic culture. We discuss service as an essential discipline that not only glorifies God but seeks the flourishing of humanity. This episode sheds light on how service shapes us, draws us closer to Christ, and reflects God’s love to the world around us
Key Definition:
The spiritual practice of service is a way of life th...
Key Definition:
The spiritual practice of service is a way of life th...
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