In this episode, host Aaron Salvato dives deep into the theology of "Treasures in Heaven" as described by Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount. As Christians, it's easy to…
In this episode, we answer a question from one of our students at the GoodLion school of discipleship on the topic of servanthood, which is an essential element of Christian…
In this episode, host Aaron Salvato and three of his classmates from Western seminary sit down to discuss theological concepts surrounding the love and holiness of God's character. Aaron frames…
In this episode, Aaron is joined by guest Nate Holdridge to discuss the anonymity of pastoral work. While pastoral work may seem like a public job in this age of…
In this classic episode from season 2 of the Goodlion podcast, we join hosts Aaron Salvato and Brian Higgins on a deep dive into the Christian idea of "devotions." We…
In this episode Aaron chats with pastor Terry Michaels, senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Austin Texas, for a conversation about a wound that's been inflicted on the church in recent…
The GoodLion Podcast is excited to bring you this special episode featuring a sermon from Aaron Salvato. Aaron recently preached at Calvary Chapel Vista on Psalm 86, a psalm that…
The GoodLion Podcast is a show that explores the intersection of faith and culture. Hosts Aaron Salvato and Brian Higgins have been doing the show for 8 seasons and have…
Evan Wickham and Aaron Salvato discuss the "Mission of God" and what it means for followers of The Way of Jesus. They discuss their shared background growing up as pastor's…
So often we turn to things like money, stuff, safety and security to give us what we need. In doing so, we often grow apathetic towards our true need: Christ.…
Brian and Aaron respond to a message from a listener who 1. admits her struggle with apathy, and 2. also shares some beautiful insight on how to resist it! In…
Part 2 of GoodLion's series on "Resisting Apathy." The first step to waking up from the slumber of apathy is recognizing God's story and where we find our place in…
In this episode, Aaron speaks with professor Uche Anizor, author of the book "Overcoming Apathy: Gospel Hope for Those Who Struggle to Care". They discuss the struggle many church kids…
Part one of a new series by GoodLion Ministries called "Resisting Apathy". Aaron and Brian speak into the problem of apathy in the Christian life, noting how it is a…
Brian Higgins shares with us about the necessity of community in the Christian life. We are currently living through a post-pandemic cultural moment where many Christians are finding it hard…
Is it possible for a sin to be so bad that Jesus himself can never forgive you? This is a question that’s haunted many Christians, especially in light of the…
In a cultural moment that is growing hostile towards the Church, it's becoming easier than ever for Christians to slip into mission drift. “Without careful attention, faith-based organizations will inevitably…
Many Christians now sense the world has shifted. While culture was once positive towards Christianity, we now see a world that has shifted from openness, to indifference, and now hostility.…
Abortion is a hot button topic that is often debated by both Christians and non Christians. Ryan Lynn (Founder of the Speak Life Collective) is here to challenge us on…
Throughout our lives many of us have heard older generations harken back to a time when Christians were accepted, praised, and embraced by the culture. Everyone went to Church on…
Defensive violence, wounded Healers, and how radical enemy-love changes the world! So often as Christians we feel we must defend Jesus and lash out at those who are against Him.…
With war raging between Russia and Ukraine, we wanted to take a moment and connect with a pastor in the thick of it. Friend of the show and CGN pastor…
Aaron talks with Nick Cady all about the problem of Christian hypocrisy, how it is harming the church, and how it shatters the witness of the Christian Church. Nick speaks…
In an age where tech dominates our lives, we spend so much time on social media. Christians need to face the facts. Whether we like it or not, social media…
In the New Testament, Christians are called to be in the world but not of the world. In other words, we are called to live in society and interact with…
How does a Kingdom advance normally? Through the sword. Violence, war, and bloodshed. Jesus' Kingdom is much different. The Kingdom of Heaven does not advance through the sword, but rather…
There is a dangerous tendency today to make the Kingdom of Heaven about what we need, or want. It is not about us. The Kingdom is about Him. He should…
Welcome to the GoodLion theology class, a brand new segment on the show where we bring you rich theological lessons and thoughtful discussions with our students! In part one of…
Welcome to the GoodLion theology class, a brand new segment on the show where we bring you rich theological lessons and thoughtful discussions with our students! In part one of…
Sexuality is one of the main ways people identify themselves today. Our modern moment asks people to freely express who they are by unchaining themselves from traditional concepts of sexuality.…
Aaron and Brian chat with their friend Michael Bowles (Pastor, former youth pastor, and current student at Western Seminary) about the challenges of wrestling through the supernatural. The guys talk…
Prof Gerry Breshears is back for his record breaking 3rd time on the show! In this episode we dive into the debate swirling around PSA (Penal Substitutionary Atonement) and ask…
Most people struggle with change. When we go through major change in a short period of time, it can easily overwhelm us. Learning to navigate change well is crucial to…
In a culture where every issue requires us to take sides, finding unity is incredibly difficult. This has shown up in the church as Christians are dividing over covid, politics,…
The last 18 months seemed to tear everything apart. The normal structures of our lives, our work, and our relationships seems to have fallen completely apart. For many of us,…
In all of the insanity, confusion, and cultural upheaval of the early 2020s, there's been a growing resurgence of the term “social justice” that has taken the world by storm,…
Deconstruction is a growing trend in religious and philosophical circles. While many Christians have begun to address deconstruction, we don’t often engage with deconstructionist ideas directly. In this episode, Aaron…
As Aaron and Brian get ready to go on an official break, they reflect on the importance of rest, the pitfalls of workaholism in ministry, and the call of Jesus…
In today's world, many of us are afraid of confrontation. Confrontation is uncomfortable. None of us like to be in a disagreement with someone, especially if we believe we need…
In this episode, Aaron and Brian explore the way that postmodern thinking is currently effecting young people. As two former youth pastors, we have a huge heart for young people.…
We've got a special treat for you guys: Aaron has asked his old friend Mike Winger to come on and chat about the power and potential of doing ministry work…
Postmodernism may be today’s common thinking, but is that a good thing? In this episode, Brian and Aaron push past the facade of freedom postmodernism offers to explore some of…
Why are Millennials and GenZ kids who grew up in the Church leaving in droves? How can we reach people struggling with doubt and deconstruction? Evan Wickham, pastor of Park…
In this episode Brian & Aaron begin to scratch the surface of a notoriously hard to define topic: postmodernism, specifically postmodern philosophy. While western culture has been in the grip…
Have you ever wondered if you are actually saved? if Jesus' work on the cross was enough to really save you? Have you ever been discouraged about how sometimes the…
In this GoodLion midweek message Aaron shares with us about the evil twin brother of faith - doubt. Doubt is not a very fun topic to talk about because it's…
Brian Higgins sits down with church planting veteran Pilgrim Benham to discuss the ins and outs of everything you need to know before you plant a church. Show Links: -…
Abortion is a hot button topic that is often debated by both Christians and non Christians. Ryan Lynn (Founder of the Speak Life Collective) is here to challenge us on…
Ask GoodLion: What are your strategies for avoiding sin? Brian and Aaron discuss the importance, of confession, openness, accountability, and resisting the devil so he will flee from YOU (instead…
GoodLion is starting an online young adults ministry! Aaron preaches the first message on the importance of Faith, Hope, & Love in a world desperate for all three. - GoodLion…
Ask GoodLion: How are ways that Christians “major on the minors?” Aaron and Brian discuss eschatology, Calvinism / Arminiamism debates, LGBTQ issues, and how the way we talk about these…
Ask GoodLion: Are words necessary when preaching the Gospel, or is the often attributed to St. Francis of Assisi quote “Preach the Gospel.... and if Necessary use words” good advice?…
Aaron gets invited to come onto Brenna Blain's podcast "Can I Say That?", a podcast that tackles tough topics around Christianity and faith. In the episode, Aaron speaks with Brenna…
In this episode, we dive into some dangerous territory: questions about God's sovereignty. The sovereignty of God can be an extremely challenging topic for Christians. A lot of the debate…
Brenna Blain (host of the Can I Say That? Podcast) shares her story about the unique challenges of being a same sex attracted woman of faith. She tells us about…
No one wants to admit they are weak. Our culture puts a high value on strength. But even the strongest among us have weaknesses. Everyone does, even though we all…
Aaron sits down with his old friend Jordan and her boyfriend (now fiancé since the time of this recording!) Hip-Hop and R&B artist Jon Keith to discuss dating, sex, and…
The way to win is not through violence, revolution, or political power. The way to win is through the person of Jesus, and for Christ followers our strategy is laid…
Brian and Aaron discuss discipleship. What is discipleship? Why do we do it? Why is it important? What are ways we misunderstand it? All these questions and more on today’s…
In the last episode of the season, Corrie Jackson leads us through a conversation on creativity. Join us as we discuss why creativity and creative expression matter for us as…
Aaron and Brian are taking a few weeks off for the holidays! For now, here's some links to dive deeper into what we do at GoodLion! Show Links: - Join…
Aaron and Brian have a holiday hangout and discuss a topic that they know nothing about: Advent! Is it essential to the faith? Is It just "Hipster Christmas?" Or is…
On this week's episode, Aaron sits down with Pastor Benjamin Morrison to discuss two articles he wrote for CalvaryChapel.com about the issue of systemic racism. The articles received some pushback…
Kai Wilbanks shares a short devotional on what it means to know God’s will and follow it even in the mundane, and then Aaron Salvato and the rest of the…
The entire Good Voice Collective intern team discusses all the crazy challenges facing churches and Christians during Covid-19. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/goodvoices/message
Aaron sits down with Phil Metzger (lead pastor at Calvary San Diego) to talk about the art of "Crossing Cultures." Phil and his family have spent meant years overseas as…
Shaviane Abiel leads us through a devotional look at all the challenging changes we have been facing in our lives this year. We hope this episode helps you draw closer…
Aaron & Brian are back together to talk about 5 practical ways to Re-Center ourselves on Jesus (when the world seems crazy.) In all the insanity, loss, and change of…
As we wait for election results, Aaron wrestles through his own doubts, anxieties, and fears around the effects of political ideologies and parties on both the Church and the world,…
The 2020 election is one of the most pervasive and divisive topics in American culture. In this episode, Brian discusses the culture of anxiety surrounding the election, they way Jesus…
Aaron invites pastor and author Dominic Done onto the show to discuss questions about faith and doubt. Question asked: 1. What has been your biggest crisis of faith and how…
People generally want to feel in control. We work, think, and plan to map out where our lives are going. But sometimes, it feels like God comes along and totally…
Pastor and comedian Joel Turner talks with Aaron about evangelism... specifically the challenges of doing it during a pandemic, his views on top methods and best practices, the involvement of…
Aaron & Brian are back with Season 4 of the GoodLion Podcast! Is social media a distraction to Christians, or does it actually present one of the greatest Gospel/Evangelism mission…
From Aaron: Some words on something I think is very important: peacemaking in the age of online discussions. We NEED to be talking about how to navigate this. It's SO…
In this episode, Brian and Aaron discuss the reality of "Cultural Pharisees". At one time, Conservative Christians were seen as the strict moralists of the day, but currently, we see…
Aaron & Brian are back recording together for the first time in weeks, and they have a LOT to decompress about. Life, work, COVID, Racial tensions, division in the Church,…
Why is God's wrath often depicted in the Scriptures as a cup of wine? How are we to understand God's wrath theologically? Who must face God's wrath? Who will be…
2020 has been a politically charged year. Between Covid 19, the upcoming election, debates about health and safety vs rights and religious freedom, and now the recent murder of George…
In light of the current unrest, division, and racial tensions in our world, Aaron shares a timely message from the book of Micah about injustice and God's idea of divine…
As we wrestle through the tough questions raised by Covid-19, we begin to look at the topic of God's wrath. Could God be the one behind this pandemic? Is it…
Aaron sits down with Mike Neglia (Calvary Cork, Expositors Collective) to discuss the struggle of "Imposter Syndrome", a psychological pattern in which one doubts one's accomplishments and has a persistent…
When we face a some sort of big global crisis, many make statements about how this is certainly proof of God's wrath and judgement against the world. Aaron and Brian…
The Covid-19 Crisis has been the most challenging thing our world collectively has faced since WW2. For many, a part of that challenge has been the tough theological questions that…
Aaron and Brian answer a question from their buddy Sam. We've been preaching a lot about finding contentment in Jesus, but is their a danger we can have towards growing…
In this short bonus episode, Brian and Aaron answer a question from a listener about finding the balance between being ambitious, and finding contentment in Jesus.
Everyone is focused on improving themselves during the Covid-19 crisis, but how does that work spiritually? Most people think of adding a lot of spiritual habits to their daily routine.…
"Thank You, father. This calamity is not the first one You've seen, nor will it be the last. You've seen so much more than we can comprehend. You've been fighting…
Wives of the hosts Brooklynn Salvato and Tori Higgins join Brian and Aaron for a very special episode. We talk about what marriage is like in this crazy cultural moment,…
No human has actually ever really seen what God looks like, but Jesus has made God known and visible. That's amazing. Because of Jesus... you can see God. We don't…
Jesus, the true light which gives light to everyone... was coming into the world, and yet the world did not know Him. His own people did not receive him. Imagine…
What does scripture say about contentment? How can we find contentment in Jesus alone? And how can we be satisfied when God changes our plans? Aaron and Brian study scripture…
How can followers of Jesus practice contentment while living in this discouraging moment of Covid-19? Aaron and Brian discuss the vices of discontentment and comparison in creativity, ministry, and daily…
"The Logos was sent to bridge the enormous gap between God and the material world." - Philo. What road are you walking? There are so many roads, but not all…
"Jesus is eternally and tirelessly bringing everything and everyone together. The energy of reconciliation is the dynamo at the heart of the universe." - Eugene Peterson. Jesus loves His family…
Brian and Aaron discuss all the chaos enveloping our lives with the outbreak of COVID-19! If God hasn't given us a Spirit of fear... what do we do with the…
Today's episode is a journalistic piece, a response to a clip from NPR's "This American Life" where Professor Elaine Pagels states that Jesus' death on the cross was an utter…
In a world of instant, some of the best things take time. This is especially true in the Christian walk. The common Christian phrase for this steady change is “spiritual…
Why does God seem violent in the Old Testament and loving in the New Testament? Why did Uzzah, Annias, and Saphira have to die? Is Greg Boyd's cruciform hermeneutic a…
Most Christians have friends who are not believers, but sharing Jesus in those friendships can be really hard. In this episode, Aaron and Brian talk through the dynamics of evangelizing…
Sharing the gospel is hard. No matter how much we may want to evangelizing, getting ourselves to do it can be tough. In this episode, Aaron and Brian talk through…
"Hearts rebuilt from hope resurrect dreams killed by hate." - Aberjhani, The River of Winged Dreams. Jesus is the God who loves to reach into our brokenness, pick up the…
"A cosmic mystery of immense proportions, once seemingly on the verge of solution, has deepened and left astronomers and astrophysicists more baffled than ever. The crux … is that the…
Brian and Aaron discuss the challenges of adulting while doing ministry. Both share their experience of formerly being full time youth pastors, who now are working full time outside of…
What do we do when life brings us through unimaginable grief, loss, and tragedy? How do we handle the doubts and questions that arise about God's love and character? Sarah…
Should we read the Bible as a devotional, or should we read the Bible and pray in order to grow more devoted to Jesus and His Kingdom? Aaron and Brian…
Aaron talks about the theological theme of God being Incomprehensible. God is different from us; and that’s a good thing. God will always hold some mystery for us because an…
Last week we looked at the trend of men blaming objectification on the women who are victims. This week we are going to examine the other side of the coin,…
In this class we will - Examine our cultures tendency to play the blame game. - Specifically in this episode we will look at how natural and easy it is…
In the search for truth, sometimes we ignore the emotional state of our people. To teach the Bible effectively, we need to remain aware of the emotions of our congregations.…
Everyone prepares for what they find important. In our Bible teaching, it's important that we prepare ahead of time. A good teaching calendar can help you teach prepared in many…
Aaron sits down with CGN team members Kellen Criswell and George Scanlan to talk about Kanye's new album. How should we treat celebrity conversions? Should we be critical, or optimistic?…
Many people think being a Christian is a list of rules to follow. Unfortunately, bad application methods can reinforce wrong ideas about God. In this episode, we define legalism, mention…
Our First Mailbag Episode! Aaron And Brian Tackle The topic Of Being “set Apart” from a listener who writes in asking "Should Christians Be Set Apart From Sex, Drugs, Music,…
We are introducing a new project for the GoodLion podcast network: the GoodLion PodClass! We gather students in a classroom environment to discuss important theological subjects. Our first subject will…
Many Bible teachers feel like slaves to their notes. But breaking free can be a scary process. This episode talks about the need to learn this important skill as well…
Aaron & Brian get the amazing Dr. Gerry Breshears on the show to discuss all our burning questions about Salvation. What does it mean to be saved? Can you lose…
Brian discusses with Aaron the topic of confession. Why should christians practice confession? Does confession mean you need a priest? Should we be open with our community? How do we…
In the wake of pastor Jarrid Wilson’s tragic suicide, Aaron & Brian sit down with pastor/speaker Wesley Towne to have a serious conversation about depression, anxiety, and suicide within the…
Every Bible teacher will face discouragement at some point. The question for Bible teachers is what they'll do when discouragement comes. This episode talks about analyzing your discouragement, finding the…
