our blogs

Suffering is a universal human experience, yet it raises perhaps the most difficult questions for Christians. Why does a good God allow so much pain and suffering? And, as we grow to become more like Jesus, can a deep disciple learn how to suffer "well?" What does that even mean? Join Brian as he explores the reality and challenge of suffering.

We're finishing up our mini-series about the characteristics of deep disciples by looking at Jesus as the ultimate Idea Revolutionary. We've introduced two categories of ideas here: Ideas in the Air (in culture and creation) and Ideas in the Soil (in our hearts). Let's explore how Jesus confronted and transformed ideas of both, and how we learn and grow to do the same.

How does the story of the Kingdom of Light wrap up? Do our "ideas" about Heaven match up with what the Bible teaches about the final consummation of the Kingdom? Will we spend eternity playing harps on clouds, or do the New Heaven and New Earth have more in common with our life right now than we assume? Let's explore our ideas of Heaven, and discuss when and how it's coming to Earth.

As we review and wrap up Season 4 (The Forgotten Kingdom), Brian explores a challenging question: what exactly are we praying for when we ask, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done?" The Lord's Prayer has been uttered countless times, though has it become such a rote habit that we haven't truly considered what we're requesting when we pray it? Let's look at the very first petition Jesus taught us to pray in light of our deep dive into the Kingdom of God. What does it mean for the kingdom to come in each of our four relationships (God, others, self, creation)?

Welcome to Season 5! We kick off this new season (called Conversations) with Brian's short introduction to the new material. Then he has a fascinating conversation with pastor, thinker, spiritual director, and innovator Adam Ormord. As we continue to wrestle with all we’ve explored in the first four seasons, Adam helps us step back and contemplate what “spiritual formation” truly is. Is it the same thing as discipleship? How does the modern church play a role in our formation? And what does this odd term “soul care” mean? What role might it play in our discipleship journey? Jump on into this fascinating, challenging, provocative conversation with one of the leaders of the modern spiritual formation effort.

Episode 97 finds the guys back in the Greenhouse to dig into Brian’s interview with Adam Ormord (⁠Episode 96⁠) regarding spiritual formation and “soul care.”  

Dr. Jim Reiter joins Brian to discuss The Critical Journey, a book we’ve discussed a few times on the podcast.

Kyle, Doc, and Brian sit down to unpack Brian’s recent conversation with Dr. Jim Reiter regarding The Critical Journey, one way of describing our spiritual adventure.

Today we celebrate 100 episodes of the podcast with you! Thanks for being a part of the Soil & Roots community. Brian carefully walks through key highlights from the last four seasons, tying together The Great Omission, the vital importance of "ideas," and how we come together to restore New Testament discipleship. Then he asks a key question: So what? What is the cost of not making deep disciples on the individual and civilization? What is the benefit to society when we do become people of spiritual depth? Let's celebrate 100 episodes with this special bonus!

What part does story play in modern Christianity? If it is vital to our spiritual formation, where do we find people and places to explore God’s story and how ours fits into His?

Over the years, we’ve mentioned how the most supple, malleable time in a person’s life is childhood. The heart is the most impressionable and formable when it’s new. So why do we hear so little about spiritual formation in children? Why does so much of the modern discipleship/spiritual formation movement focus on adults?

Spiritual Formation and Children

Brian is joined by Matt Davis, a former megachurch pastor who now heads an organization committed to helping leaders and laypeople heal and find purpose after church hurts. 

Sometimes our institutional churches provide comfort, care, instruction, and community. And sometimes not.  Much like the human person, our Christian communities are beautiful messes. 

In Season 4, we spent a few episodes exploring how our views of the End Times impact our journey to become more like Jesus today. Today, we dive back into that discussion with Dr. Darrell Bock, Senior Research Professor of New Testament Studies and Executive Director for Cultural Engagement at Dallas Theological Seminary.

How do our views of the End Times impact our understanding of the Kingdom of God?  And how does that impact our journey to become more like Jesus?

If what the world desperately needs is “deep people,” what do we mean by that?

For almost five seasons, we’ve explored the world’s desperate need for deep people and how those people are formed.  We’ve concluded that we best become more like Jesus in small, organic communities that often look and function differently from some modern church experiences. While we love and support our local and national institutions, what do we do if we conclude that we are missing these types of intimate, deeply formative communities?

Welcome to Season 6! We've mentioned numerous times that the primary purpose of following Jesus is to become more like Him. We intend to think, act, relate, and love like Him more. It's now time to explore what that really means—and it's not as simple as we might think. As usual when we start a new season, today we'll review the key points from Seasons 1-5. Then, we'll look forward and sketch the idea-transforming route we'll take in this new season. Thanks for coming along as we venture into exploring the object of our spiritual formation!