The summer series What Does the Bible Say About ______? continues this week as the crew dives into the topic of masculinity and femininity. When Desert Springs chose this topic for a sermon series in January, Steve admitted he was unsure what people specifically wanted to know. There was just a strong sense that it needed to be discussed.

The conversation begins in Genesis 1 and 2, where God created humanity. Male and female were both made in God’s image, uniquely designed to reflect Him. Rich explains that while God is not biological, our maleness and femaleness are part of His intentional design and carry purpose.

The crew also talks about how culture can sometimes twist these distinctions, either viewing them as unequal or denying differences altogether. But the reality is that men and women are distinct, and those differences are good! Sarah encourages listeners to take a higher view of these distinctions without getting caught up in rigid expectations of what men and women “should” do day to day.

This is a lighter conversation about God’s design for men and women, but stay tuned as next week Steve, Rich, and Sarah will tackle some of the more difficult and “toxic” issues surrounding this topic.

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This week, Steve, Rich, and Sarah continue last week’s conversation on what the Bible says about suicide. Early in the discussion, they address a difficult and often-asked question: If a Christian dies by suicide, do they still go to heaven?

To explore this, Steve references several accounts in Scripture involving suicide and briefly touches on some Catholic perspectives that have historically viewed suicide as a mortal sin. Ultimately, though, he brings the conversation back to the central question of how someone enters heaven in the first place. As Rich reminds listeners, eternity is not determined by individual sins alone but by faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only way.

At the same time, the discussion acknowledges the deep and unique grief that surrounds the loss of someone who takes their own life, recognizing that God is the ultimate giver of life. Every person experiences suffering and brokenness in this fallen world. While some endure darker and more overwhelming levels of pain, that suffering does not mean there is something inherently wrong with them, but rather reflects the reality of sin and brokenness in the world around us.

Steve also speaks to the role of counseling and medication in the life of a Christian facing mental health struggles. Rich adds an important reminder that people are not merely “biochemical machines,” and that wisdom and discernment are needed even as we recognize the value and help that medical and therapeutic resources can provide.

Above all, the conversation points back to God as our ultimate source of comfort and hope. This world cannot provide what only He can.

"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Text or call 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Check out Resident Strangers Episodes 63 & 64 on suffering (audio only)

Ryan Risselman's testimony on The Stories Collective podcast, Episode 53

*available wherever you listen to podcasts

Care & Support ministries at Desert Springs (local counselor referrals at the bottom of the page)

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If you’ve enjoyed today’s episode, we’d be so grateful if you’d subscribe and leave a review as it really helps us reach more people with this message. We’d also love it if you’d share the podcast with your friends, on social media, or anywhere you connect with others. Join us again next Tuesday as we continue the discussion on how to think like a Christian in this foreign world.

This week, a new mini-series begins on Resident Strangers. Over the next eight weeks, Steve, Rich, and Sarah will explore some of the most searched and challenging topics people are asking about online, approaching each one through the lens of Scripture. Each topic will be covered over two weeks, and our hope is that this series will both encourage and challenge us as we head into the summer.

To begin, the team tackles a difficult and deeply sensitive subject: suicide. Steve, Rich, and Sarah approach this conversation with great care, recognizing the weight and complexity surrounding it. In recent years, suicide rates and struggles with despair have become an increasing concern for many. Steve shares thoughts and statistics while reflecting on the lingering sense of hopelessness some have experienced since 2020.

Rich also shares a deeply personal story about losing a friend from his church community to suicide in the 1990s. His emotion is evident as the pain of that loss remains very real, and together the team acknowledges the unique and layered grief that accompanies death by suicide.

The conversation also turns toward spiritual realities, as Steve speaks about the reality of spiritual warfare and the importance of taking every thought captive, especially in seasons of struggle. Throughout the discussion, one message remains clear: leaning on the Lord, grounding ourselves in His Word, and staying connected to His people is vital. We invite you to join us again next week as the conversation continues, and Scripture is examined more closely in relation to this important topic.

Text or call 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Ryan Risselman's testimony on The Stories Collective podcast, Episode 53

*available wherever you listen to podcasts

Care & Support ministries at Desert Springs (local counselor referrals at the bottom of the page)

Watch Resident Strangers on YouTube 🎥

Sign up for the Resident Strangers email list

Questions or comments? Email residentstrangers@dscchurch.com

If you’ve enjoyed today’s episode, we’d be so grateful if you’d subscribe and leave a review as it really helps us reach more people with this message. We’d also love it if you’d share the podcast with your friends, on social media, or anywhere you connect with others. Join us again next Tuesday as we continue the discussion on how to think like a Christian in this foreign world.

To kick off this week’s conversation, Sarah asks returning guest Trevor Schalow what first sparked his interest in studying topics like the Nephilim. Trevor shares how experiences his older brother had growing up in Show Low, Arizona revealed to him that many Christians don’t know how to process paranormal or supernatural experiences. Because these topics can feel unsettling or strange, believers often avoid engaging with them altogether or overlook the supernatural depth woven throughout Scripture.

As the conversation continues, Steve reflects on his experience as a pastor and how hesitant many people are to wrestle with certain spiritual realities, even those found in the Gospel accounts. Trevor revisits last week’s discussion on the Nephilim and points to additional biblical passages worth exploring, including the historical Jewish belief that the spirits of the Nephilim became what we know as demons in Jesus’ day. The group also discusses the Joshua Campaign in the Old Testament and whether certain events may point to deeper connections to the demonic realm.

Throughout the episode, Trevor argues that if something in Scripture seems weird, it’s probably important. Steve emphasizes the importance of keeping our eyes fixed on Christ while exploring difficult topics, a perspective Sarah and Trevor wholeheartedly agree with. The conversation closes by discussing how spiritual oppression often carries a deviant or sexual component. There’s a lot packed into this 30-minute episode, so you may want to listen twice!

Angels Elect & Evil by C. Fred Dickason

The Bondage Breaker by Neil T. Anderson

Michael Heiser's YouTube Channel

Interested in the classes Trevor teaches at Desert Springs? Send him an email at trevor@dscchurch.com

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Questions or comments? Email residentstrangers@dscchurch.com

If you’ve enjoyed today’s episode, we’d be so grateful if you’d subscribe and leave a review as it really helps us reach more people with this message. We’d also love it if you’d share the podcast with your friends, on social media, or anywhere you connect with others. Join us again next Tuesday as we continue the discussion on how to think like a Christian in this foreign world.

Special guest Trevor Schalow joins Steve and Sarah for a conversation you won’t want to miss as they dive into the mysterious topic of the Nephilim. This is a subject that’s been gaining a lot of traction in today’s culture. While the discussion is fascinating, Steve makes it clear from the start: this isn’t a “line in the sand” theological issue. Faithful believers have landed in different places on this, and the goal is to explore, not divide.

Before jumping in, Trevor shares his heart behind studying topics like this. Rather than being a distraction, the “stranger” passages in Scripture have actually deepened his passion for the Bible and strengthened his desire to know God more fully.

Steve then lays the foundation by defining key terms from Genesis, “sons of God,” “daughters of men,” used to describe The Nephilim. These figures described before the flood are often associated with great size or strength. This raises a compelling question: could the Nephilim have been part of the reason for the flood?

From there, the conversation clearly walks through three primary viewpoints:

1. The Sethite View (Most Common)
The “sons of God” are the godly line of Seth, and the “daughters of men” are the ungodly line of Cain or corrupt humanity. The Nephilim are human offspring from these unions, with no supernatural element.

2. The Divine Ruler View
The “sons of God” are powerful Kings or human rulers who abused their authority and took multiple wives. Like the Sethite view, this perspective remains naturalistic.

3. The Supernatural View
The “sons of God” are angelic beings who left their domain and had relations with human women, producing offspring described as giants. Steve and Trevor both lean toward this view, pointing to Genesis, New Testament passages, and ancient accounts, highlighting a more active spiritual realm.

As the conversation unfolds, Trevor highlights how easy it is for modern readers to underestimate the role of the supernatural in Scripture, not just in this story, but throughout the Bible and even in how we understand the world today.

There’s far more in this episode than can be captured here, so be sure to listen in, take notes, and come back next week ready to keep exploring the conversation around the Nephilim.

Resources Trevor recommends:

The Unseen Realm by Michael S. Heiser

Michael Heiser's YouTube Channel

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If you’ve enjoyed today’s episode, we’d be so grateful if you’d subscribe and leave a review as it really helps us reach more people with this message. We’d also love it if you’d share the podcast with your friends, on social media, or anywhere you connect with others. Join us again next Tuesday as we continue the discussion on how to think like a Christian in this foreign world.

Was the apostle Paul the first to deal with something like cancel culture? The idea of “canceling” people has exploded, especially online over the last decade but it’s not entirely new. As Steve, Rich, and Sarah talk it through, Steve points to Paul addressing public correction, particularly when it comes to elders. But even that looked very different back then as the “public” was much smaller and more local. Today, things can spiral far beyond the local church, especially when well-known pastors or leaders are called out on a large scale.

Steve notes that applying biblical instruction to today’s culture, especially in this area, isn’t always straightforward. Rich highlights a consistent thread in Scripture: redemption, reconciliation, and restoration. Steve adds that repentance has to be part of that conversation too. Failure shouldn’t shock us but there is a Christlike way to respond to it.

Passages like Matthew 18 are key when thinking about this, and Steve also points to Proverbs 26:17, which offers a strong warning about getting involved in conflict that isn’t ours to carry. It’s a needed reminder in a culture that’s quick to weigh in on everything. Sarah brings up a real tension: what do we do when leaders fall and then return to influence, sometimes without clear consequences? Rich and Steve help draw a distinction between redemption and reinstatement. They’re not always the same, and that’s where things can get complicated.

At the end of the day, these are messy situations. That’s why it’s so important to stay grounded in Scripture, surrounded by wise community, and led by God—not driven by the court of public opinion. The role of the local church really matters here.

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Some things in Scripture are clear and non-negotiable. Others aren’t directly addressed and can feel more open-ended. Have you ever had a friend feel strongly about an issue that didn’t seem like a big deal to you, especially in your faith?

The Bible gives clear direction on many things, but some areas can be harder to sort through. In 1 Corinthians 10:31, we’re reminded: “whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it for the glory of God.” Tension often comes when a personal conviction, something between someone and the Lord. gets applied to everyone else. As Steve puts it, many of these aren’t sin issues as much as they are wisdom issues, shaped by individual personalities and experiences.

It’s important to remember that we’re each responsible for our own walk with the Lord. Sarah raises a thoughtful question: what about things mentioned in Scripture that may not apply in the same way today? Rich points us back to the heart of it all, following Jesus and being transformed daily, rather than just trying to check boxes. Steve echoes that, encouraging us to keep drawing closer to God.

Ultimately, these conversations should lead us to seek God’s wisdom more deeply. The group touches on topics like alcohol, parenting, homeschooling, and even hair length and ask an important question: as we grow in wisdom, could our perspectives change?

We hope this conversation encouraged you, and we’re looking forward to next week!

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If you’ve enjoyed today’s episode, we’d be so grateful if you’d subscribe and leave a review as it really helps us reach more people with this message. We’d also love it if you’d share the podcast with your friends, on social media, or anywhere you connect with others. Join us again next Tuesday as we continue the discussion on how to think like a Christian in this foreign world.

This week, we continue the conversation from our previous episode on Sodom and Gomorrah. Rich opens with a powerful reminder from 1 Corinthians: “Bad company corrupts good character.” The truth is, what we surround ourselves with shapes us, often more than we realize. That reality is clearly seen in the story of Sodom and Gomorrah and becomes a key theme in today's discussion.

From there, we explore what it looks like to thoughtfully and faithfully engage with the world, even in its most broken places. Sarah reflects on something her high school teacher used to say: “There’s nothing new under the sun.” It’s a reminder that while sin may look different across generations, the brokenness of the world isn’t new. Scripture shows us that humanity has always wrestled with the same deep issues.

So how should Christians live in a fallen world? That’s the heart behind this podcast, to wrestle with that question together. Steve emphasizes that it starts with our own walk with Christ. Before looking outward, we must first examine our own hearts. But that doesn’t mean withdrawing from the world. Instead, we’re called to engage it intentionally and purposefully. As Jesus says in Matthew 10, “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore, be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”

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If you’ve enjoyed today’s episode, we’d be so grateful if you’d subscribe and leave a review as it really helps us reach more people with this message. We’d also love it if you’d share the podcast with your friends, on social media, or anywhere you connect with others. Join us again next Tuesday as we continue the discussion on how to think like a Christian in this foreign world.