Provoke & Inspire Podcast

Are there really three billion people who have not yet heard the gospel? What barriers stand in the way, and how can we, as the Church, respond? What role do we play in changing that reality? Ben and Aaron Pierce sit down with pastor, speaker, and author David Platt (Founder of Radical) at Austin Texas' SXSW festival to discuss how the church can hope to reach the unreached, as outlined in the great commission of Matthew 28:18-20.----------------------Interested in the Steiger Missions School? Click HERE to apply for the SMS.Do you ever struggle to share your faith with those who won't walk into a church?----------------------Ben has completely revised and updated his powerful book, Jesus in the Secular World: Reaching a Culture in Crisis—a must-read guide for anyone longing to reach those who may never step foot in a church. Packed with real-world insights and practical strategies, this book could be the breakthrough you’ve been searching for.Don’t wait—get your copy today!Click HERE to check it ou

Jon McCray shares his story of getting started in YouTube apologetics, but not before enduring a season of hearing loss which put his faith to the test.Listen to the full episode here:SpotifyApple----------------------Do you ever struggle with how to share your faith with those who won't walk into a church?Ben has completely revised and updated his powerful book, Jesus in the Secular World: Reaching a Culture in Crisis—a must-read guide for anyone longing to reach those who may never step foot in a church. Packed with real-world insights and practical strategies, this book could be the breakthrough you’ve been searching for.Don’t wait—get your copy today!Click HERE to check it out on Amazon.For more information go to: jesusinthesecularworld.com------------------------Questions, comments, or feedback? We'd love to hear what you think! Send them to provokeandinspire@steiger.org, or send us a message on Instagram.Click HERE to receive news, thought-provoking articles, and stories directly in your inbox

How do we properly address one of the most contentious topics the church faces today? How can we love and engage the LGBT scene with the love of Jesus?   Instagram influencer Rodereck Blassingame sits down with Ben and Aaron Pierce in Austin, TX during the SXSW Festival 2025, and shares his testimony of leaving the LGBT scene for a relationship with Jesus.----------------------Do you ever struggle with how to share your faith with those who won't walk into a church?Ben has completely revised and updated his powerful book, Jesus in the Secular World: Reaching a Culture in Crisis—a must-read guide for anyone longing to reach those who may never step foot in a church. Packed with real-world insights and practical strategies, this book could be the breakthrough you’ve been searching for.Don’t wait—get your copy today!Click HERE to check it out on Amazon.For more information go to: jesusinthesecularworld.com------------------------Questions, comments, or feedback? We'd love to hear what you think! Send t

Is it possible to engage in politics as a follower of Jesus without falling into Christian nationalism? Have we often confused faith with an improper allegiance to one's own country?In the church we are often guilty of conflating the laws of our country with the laws of God; allegiance to our nation as allegiance to the Almighty. Where should these things be separated, and where do they overlap - is a healthy balance possible?The regulars react to Donald Trump's heated oval office meeting with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and moreover the current political climate that finds many of us occupied with political battles much more than with the Kingdom of God. ----------------------Do you ever struggle with how to share your faith with those who won't walk into a church?Ben has completely revised and updated his powerful book, Jesus in the Secular World: Reaching a Culture in Crisis—a must-read guide for anyone longing to reach those who may never step foot in a church. Packed with real

As AI-driven relationships become more common, what does this mean for faith, love, and human connection? Can a chatbot ever replace real intimacy, or is this trend only deepening the loneliness crisis?In this episode, the regulars dive deep into the rise of AI romances, wrestling with the spiritual and emotional implications of a world where people turn to artificial companionship. How should followers of Jesus respond? Can technology offer comfort without true connection? And most importantly—how can we share real hope in an increasingly artificial world?Your voice matters! Help shape the conversation by sharing your thoughts. Take our P&I feedback survey HERE!Want to join the conversation? Join our broadcast channel on Instagram!----------------------Do you ever struggle with how to share your faith with those who won't walk into a church?Ben has completely revised and updated his powerful book, Jesus in the Secular World: Reaching a Culture in Crisis—a must-read guide for anyone longing to reach

Why do many relationships seem doomed to fail despite initial love and commitment? Why are more and more people waiting to get married? Gary Thomas unpacks the hidden dynamics behind why relationships sometimes fail and explores the cultural and personal reasons behind why so many people are remaining single. Drawing from his acclaimed book Sacred Marriage, Gary offers practical, spiritually grounded strategies to build a love that endures and transforms. Whether you’re in a relationship or navigating the dating scene, this episode provides actionable advice to help you nurture a deeper, lasting connection and create a marriage that not only survives but thrives.Check out Gary's books HERE.----------------------Do you ever struggle with how to share your faith with those who won't walk into a church?Ben has completely revised and updated his powerful book, Jesus in the Secular World: Reaching a Culture in Crisis—a must-read guide for anyone longing to reach those who may never step foot in a church.

Ben is joined by author, speaker, pastor, and former frontman of the Christian metalcore band "For Today", Mattie Montgomery!How do we live for what really matters - being faithful in the roles God has called us into, be that a pastor, parent, friend, and above all, follower of Jesus? Mattie also answers the question, "How does the vocalist of a metal-core band become the pastor of a church?"Learn more about Mattie Montgomery HERE.Click HERE to learn more about The Altar Fellowship Church.Do you ever struggle with how to share your faith with those who won't walk into a church?Ben has completely revised and updated his powerful book, Jesus in the Secular World: Reaching a Culture in Crisis—a must-read guide for anyone longing to reach those who may never step foot in a church. Packed with real-world insights and practical strategies, this book could be the breakthrough you’ve been searching for.Don’t wait—get your copy today!Click HERE to check it out on Amazon.For more information go

Do you ever struggle with how to share the love of Jesus with your friends, family, neighbors, or coworkers? Does it feel like an impossible task in today’s culture?You're not alone - but there’s hope!Ben has completely revised and updated his powerful book, Jesus in the Secular World: Reaching a Culture in Crisis—a must-read guide for anyone longing to reach those who may never step foot in a church. Packed with real-world insights and practical strategies, this book could be the breakthrough you’ve been searching for.Don’t wait—get your copy today! Click HERE to check it out on Amazon.For more information go to: jesusinthesecularworld.com------------------------ Questions, comments, or feedback? We'd love to hear what you think! Send them to provokeandinspire@steiger.org, or send us a message on Instagram.Click HERE to receive news, thought-provoking articles, and stories directly in your inbox from Ben, David, Luke, and Chad!Click below to follow the regulars on Instagram!Ben PierceDavid PierceCh

What does the Bible really say about heaven? How has the hope and promise of eternity ignited faith, sparked movements, and reshaped history?  Atheists often accuse Christians of wasting their lives in anticipation of the afterlife, but the guys dive in to how, on the contrary, it has fueled faith, inspired movements, and shaped the course of history.After the podcast's release two weeks ago, there was much more to discuss, so the guys discuss heaven in part two of this faith-stretching conversation!Listen to the first part of this conversation by clicking here.------------------------Questions, comments, or feedback? We'd love to hear what you think! Send them to provokeandinspire@steiger.org, or send us a message on Instagram.Click HERE to receive news, thought-provoking articles, and stories directly in your inbox from Ben, David, Luke, and Chad!Click below to follow the regulars on Instagram!Ben PierceDavid PierceChad JohnsonLuke GreenwoodSend us a text

Los Angeles influencer and speaker Elijah Lamb joins Ben on the podcast to discuss Gen Z's greatest obstacles to accepting the gospel, as well as the greatest opportunities that exist for it. Elijah shares his story of encountering God at an early age, along with his journey of having Jesus lead him to teaching, evangelizing, and better understanding the people God is calling him to reach.------------------------Questions, comments, or feedback? We'd love to hear what you think! Send them to provokeandinspire@steiger.org, or send us a message on Instagram.Click HERE to receive news, thought-provoking articles, and stories directly in your inbox from Ben, David, Luke, and Chad!Click below to follow the regulars on Instagram!Ben PierceDavid PierceChad JohnsonLuke GreenwoodSend us a text

Instagrammer Kareem Rahma of "SubwayTakes" recently posted a reel of him talking with a guy who expresses that going to heaven would suck.Is there some truth in this misconception? Is heaven really going to be an eternal church service? If it's simply the best version of everything here on earth, wouldn't that eventually become a prison?The regulars weigh in on this contentious, complicated subject, recognizing that to grasp ideas of heaven is often like two-dimensional beings trying to grasp third-dimensional realities. ------------------------Questions, comments, or feedback? We'd love to hear what you think! Send them to provokeandinspire@steiger.org, or send us a message on Instagram.Click HERE to receive news, thought-provoking articles, and stories directly in your inbox from Ben, David, Luke, and Chad!Click below to follow the regulars on Instagram!Ben PierceDavid PierceChad JohnsonLuke GreenwoodSend us a text

Send us a textMark Zuckerberg, Founder and CEO of Facebook/Meta, recently went on the popular podcast The Joe Rogan Experience, to discuss his company's policy changes concerning freedom of speech and expression on their social media platforms.Amid Zuckerberg's admissions of deliberate pressure and interference from the Biden administration, especially regarding COVID-19, the regulars weigh in on the value of freedom of speech. What are its origins? Is it a biblical right? What do we make of our ability to speak in the first place? ------------------------Questions, comments, or feedback? We'd love to hear what you think! Send them to provokeandinspire@steiger.org, or send us a message on Instagram.Click HERE to receive news, thought-provoking articles, and stories directly in your inbox from Ben, David, Luke, and Chad!Click below to follow the regulars on Instagram!Ben PierceDavid PierceChad JohnsonLuke Greenwood

Send us a textProverbs 22:6 instructs us to, "Train up a child in the way he should go..."and goes on to say that, "even when he is old he will not depart from it."What about when those closest to us walk away from God? Was it our responsibility to prevent it?  How does this apply, when all around us we see the kids of pastors, missionaries, and Christians in general, departing from the faith they were raised in? Is there a Biblical formula that we all seem to be missing? The four regulars share their experience of raising kids, and the delicate balance one might aim to strike of not forcing religious views upon them, but also not letting them simply roam free without spiritual direction. ------------------------Questions, comments, or feedback? We'd love to hear what you think! Send them to provokeandinspire@steiger.org, or send us a message on Instagram.Click HERE to receive news, thought-provoking articles, and stories directly in your inbox from Ben, David, Luke, and Chad!Click be

Send us a textBack in October, Theologian Wes Huff and ancient civilizations researcher Billy Carson recently had a debate on the Mark Minard podcast.Billy argues that biblical texts are inaccurate and that even the crucifixion did not happen, while Wes, a biblical scholar with expertise in ancient manuscripts, counters this position with evidence of the Bible’s historical reliability and unique origins.The aftermath of the viral debate then landed Wes on The Joe Rogan Experience, where Wes was able to share in detail on one of the world's most influential podcasts, why the bible can be trusted.The regulars react to the debate, the episode on Rogan, and how we should rightly celebrate the public dismantling of lies. ------------------------Questions, comments, or feedback? We'd love to hear what you think! Send them to provokeandinspire@steiger.org, or send us a message on Instagram.Click HERE to receive news, thought-provoking articles, and stories directly in your inbox from Ben, David, Luke, and

Send us a textNew year, new resolutions! But how do we avoid making resolutions that are the desires of a spiritualized hustle culture?"I want this, this, and this (for myself)."Instead, how do we reorient our hearts toward seeking God's will and his dreams for our lives? ------------------------Questions, comments, or feedback? We'd love to hear what you think! Send them to provokeandinspire@steiger.org, or send us a message on Instagram.Click HERE to receive news, thought-provoking articles, and stories directly in your inbox from Ben, David, Luke, and Chad!Join the Provoke & Inspire Discord Community!Click below to follow the regulars on Instagram!Ben PierceDavid PierceChad JohnsonLuke Greenwood

Send us a textBen and David come to you from a hotel in Pereira, Colombia, on the final No Longer Music tour of 2024.Ben shares how nearly every single concert has been a fight: obtaining permissions, facing corruption, problems with city officials, and more. Yet in light of that, how every show has resulted in people becoming radically transformed by the message of the Cross and surrendering their lives to Jesus.------------------------Questions, comments, or feedback? We'd love to hear what you think! Send them to provokeandinspire@steiger.org, or send us a message on Instagram.Click HERE to receive news, thought-provoking articles, and stories directly in your inbox from Ben, David, Luke, and Chad!Join the Provoke & Inspire Discord Community!Click below to follow the regulars on Instagram!Ben PierceDavid PierceChad JohnsonLuke Greenwood

Send us a text“Carpe diem, seize the day”…At the end of the year, Ben goes solo to address a question that haunts many people: “how do I make my life count?” ------------------------Questions, comments, or feedback? We'd love to hear what you think! Send them to provokeandinspire@steiger.org, or send us a message on Instagram.Click HERE to receive news, thought-provoking articles, and stories directly in your inbox from Ben, David, Luke, and Chad!Join the Provoke & Inspire Discord Community!Click below to follow the regulars on Instagram!Ben PierceDavid PierceChad JohnsonLuke Greenwood

Send us a textNo one can choose when they are born, should they be able to decide when they die? Canada’s MAID program (medical assistance in dying) is one of many Euthanasia-based medical practices worldwide, existing as a legal means of ending one’s life in the case of those whose death is “reasonably foreseeable.” Is there mercy in ending someone’s suffering, or are we in danger of treating people as a vet would treat the terminally ill family hound? With the rise in popularity of such a practice, and the loss of the sanctity of life in secular culture, how should Christians feel and respond to this?All of this and more on this week's episode!------------------------Questions, comments, or feedback? We'd love to hear what you think! Send them to provokeandinspire@steiger.org, or send us a message on Instagram.Click HERE to receive news, thought-provoking articles, and stories directly in your inbox from Ben, David, Luke, and Chad!Join the Provoke & Inspire Discord Community!Click below to fol

Send us a textBen is joined by Andy Crouch, author of The Tech-Wise Family, as well as his latest, The Life We're Looking For.Andy Crouch (MDiv, Boston University School of Theology) is a partner for theology and culture at Praxis, an organization that works as a creative engine for redemptive entrepreneurship, and he is the author of The Tech-Wise Family, Strong and Weak, and Culture Making. Andy serves on the governing boards of Fuller Theological Seminary, the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, and InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.Check out Andy's books here.------------------------Questions, comments, or feedback? We'd love to hear what you think! Send them to provokeandinspire@steiger.org, or send us a message on Instagram.Click HERE to receive news, thought-provoking articles, and stories directly in your inbox from Ben, David, Luke, and Chad!Join the Provoke & Inspire Discord Community!Click below to follow the regulars on Instagram!Ben PierceDavid PierceChad JohnsonLu

Send us a textAre you willing to look foolish to reach people for Jesus? What does that look like in everyday life?  Can't we just be cool and faithful at the same time? The guys answer these questions and more!     Also, are you unlikeable? Leon runs the guys through a likeability test. Play along and see how you score! Rarely = 3 Sometimes = 2 Often = 1 0 - 12 = Unlikeable Jerk13 - 26 = Slightly Tolerable  27 - 26 = Decent dude/girl------------------------Questions, comments, or feedback? We'd love to hear what you think! Send them to provokeandinspire@steiger.org, or send us a message on Instagram.Click HERE to receive news, thought-provoking articles, and stories directly in your inbox from Ben, David, Luke, and Chad!Join the Provoke & Inspire Discord Community!Click below to follow the regulars on Instagram!Ben PierceDavid PierceChad JohnsonLuke Greenwood