Pocket Theology

You can know every Bible verse, win every theological argument, and still not actually know God. That's not a hot take — it's the whole point.

Jason and Jadan dig into one of the most important distinctions in the Christian life: the difference between knowledge of God and knowing God. They get into why seminary can kill your love for Jesus, what it means to participate with scripture instead of just read it, and why community...

What if the gym and the church have more in common than you think?

Jason and Jadan sit down with Derek Salzo (Kirn Built Fitness) and Calvin Becker (Flow Institute Mason City) — two guys who love Jesus and have built communities around CrossFit and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. They get into their faith journeys, what it means to meet people where they are, why showing up consistently changes everything, and what the church could learn...

"Bear with one another" sounds simple. It's not.

Jason and Jadan dig into what Paul actually meant in Galatians 6 — and why "bearing with one another" gets misread as an excuse to tolerate anything and call it grace. They talk through where patience ends and enabling begins, why boundaries and love aren't opposites, and what it actually looks like to carry someone's burden without losing the gospel in the process.

Patient doesn...

"No regrets" sounds like a faith statement. Jason's not so sure it's a biblical one.

Jason and Jadan dig into 2 Corinthians 7:10 and ask whether Christians are actually supposed to live regret-free, or whether regret can be a tool God uses to teach and transform. They get into the difference between godly sorrow and worldly sorrow, why shame and regret aren't the same thing, and how looking back can actually move you forward instead...

Do you need a marriage license to be married in God's eyes? It's a question Jason's been getting a lot lately — and the answer is more complicated than yes or no.

Jason and Jadan get into what marriage actually is, what covenant means biblically, and why Jason thinks the real question isn't whether the state should be involved — it's why you don't want it to be. They also dig into arranged marriages, cohabitation, prenup...

AI can write your prayers, answer your theology questions, and generate your daily devotional. But who — or what — is actually forming you?

Jason and Jadan get into whether Christians should use AI, what gets lost when something else does your spiritual wrestling, and why fear of new technology might be a faith problem. Romans 12 ties it together.

Questions or feedback? Email us at podcast@zionclearlake.org

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What does the global church have to teach the American church? Probably more than we'd like to admit.

In this episode, Jason sits down with Paul Parisian, director of Mission Haiti, for a conversation that starts with Paul's story — growing up in Haiti, losing family in the 2010 earthquake, finding his way back to faith — and opens up into something much bigger. They dig into the role of voodoo and syncretism in Haitian ...

Forgiveness and reconciliation aren't the same thing. Most of us have been told they are, and it's caused a lot of damage.

In this episode, the guys tackle one of the hardest questions in the Christian life: what does it actually look like to pursue reconciliation with someone who's unsafe, abusive, or just won't budge? Is ghosting them unchristlike? Are you failing God if you keep your distance? And what does the Bible actually say...

What happens when worship stops being about God and starts being about the stage?

Jason sits down with Jeff Deyo — Dove Award winner, Grammy nominee, and former frontman of Sonic Flood — for an honest conversation about the state of modern worship. They dig into the difference between performance and presence, how the secret place shapes everything (and what happens when leaders lose it), and why the celebrity pastor pro...

Your Enneagram type is not who you are—it’s where you start." Today on Pocket Theology, we’re joined by Joel Hubbard and Jim Zartman of The Art of Growth to discuss why self-awareness is crucial for following Jesus.

We tackle the tough questions: Why are many Christians resistant to personality tools? What is "spiritual bypassing," and how do we use religious language to avoid doing our inner work? From Jason&rsquo...

Is the constant stream of global tragedy and social media comparison literally re-wiring our brains? Today on Pocket Theology, Jason, Jaden, and special guest Amanda Farmer tackle the "biocschosocial" phenomenon of modern stress.

We’re diving into the heavy stuff—suicidal ideation among teens, the "body morphing" trends of digital identity, and the rise of AI as a tool for therapy and theology. But it’s not all doo...

What happens when the people we look up to fail? Today on Pocket Theology, Jason and Jaden go "old school" to tackle the tough stuff: the fall of purity-culture icons, the controversy of celebrity pastors, and the messy reality of 1 Corinthians 5. We’re discussing how to balance justice with redemption and why character matters more than charisma. Come for the laughs about "bell boy" etiquette, stay for a serious look at what...

Is there a difference between forgiving someone and letting them back into your life? Today on Pocket Theology, we’re tackling a tough listener question: How do we reconcile with abusive or unsafe people? We dive into the theology of boundaries, the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation, and why your safety matters to God. Stick around for a much-needed laugh as we celebrate Jaden’s new baby and discuss why ...

From "worship leader fails" involving train whistles and broken strings to a deep dive into what real grace actually feels like. Today on Pocket Theology, we’re laughing through our most embarrassing ministry moments and exploring the difference between "experiencing" God and "encountering" Him. Join us for a fun, raw, and encouraging chat on seeking the heart of God together!

To connect, email podcast@zionclearlake.org • (zio...

Is failure a sign to stop, or just part of the process? Today on Pocket Theology, Jason dives into Acts 14-15 to look at how Paul and Barnabas handled rejection and "failure" on the mission field. We’re discussing how to overcome discouragement and distraction when things don’t go as planned. Join us for a fun, honest chat on finding the courage to keep seeking the heart of God!

To connect, email podcast@zionclearlake.or...

In this high-energy episode of Pocket Theology, the team dives into the "Battlegrounds" of the mind, specifically focusing on the language of Ephesians 1.

The conversation challenges the way we often "under-complicate" or "over-complicate" the Bible by bringing our own modern, individualized frameworks to ancient words. Pastor Jason and the team unpack heavily "charged" theological terms like Blessed, Chosen, Predestined, and Holy, ...

In this episode of the Pocket Theology podcast, the team dives deep into the heart of biblical interpretation, the value of education, and the beautiful messiness of the early church.

Pulling from the opening themes of the Philippians series, "Whatever is Beautiful," the conversation moves from the intimidation of the pulpit to the "secret" of finding joy in a diverse community. They challenge the modern tendency to seek "special re...