Formed by Jesus Podcast

In Week 3 of our Spiritual Warfare series, we look at the Tower of Babel. Genesis 11 tells the story of humanity trying to make a name for themselves by building a tower, likely a ziggurat, in an attempt to invade heaven and recreate Eden on earth. But God comes down to disrupt their plans, confuse their language, and scatter the nations. What started as a third rebellion to create heaven on earth on human terms ends as a tragic story of humanity repeating the same sin from the garden: to see, desire, and take.

But the way of Jesus is to hear, trust, and obey. Where Babel climbs up to make a name for itself, Jesus comes down, humbles Himself, and is given the name above every name. A biblical theology of spiritual warfare helps us discern not only who we are up against, but what we are building, and whose name we are building it for.

https://passioncreek.church/teaching/a-biblical-theology-of-spiritual-warfare/the-tower/

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How to Make Peace at Work When You Can’t Change Jobs (Ephesians 6)

In August 2020 amid pandemic fallout, church disruption, and personal panic attacks, the speaker recalls a mentor asking pastors how to keep going when work they once loved becomes what they hate, introducing a chart of responsibility, control, and reward that explains boredom and burnout and how frustration in work is normal in a fallen world. Turning to Ephesians 6:5–9, he addresses the slavery text with historical context, clarifying Paul isn’t endorsing slavery but guiding Christians within a broken system and planting gospel seeds that undermine it. He then applies workplace principles: spirit-filled employees work respectfully, sincerely, willingly, and expectantly, avoiding “eye service” and people-pleasing by remembering they work for Christ, their true reward. For leaders, Paul warns against power-wielding and threatening, reminding bosses they are under God’s authority. The episode closes with group and growth practices to pursue redemptive (not exploitative) work that serves others for God’s approval.

00:00 August 2020 Memories
00:44 A Pastor’s Breaking Point
01:43 The Work Health Chart
02:37 Boredom vs Burnout
05:31 Peace Without Quitting
05:57 Ephesians 6 Setup
06:43 Slavery Context Explained
12:22 Workplace Principles Today
13:44 Four Marks of Employees
19:02 Eye Service Trap
22:55 Working for Jesus
25:27 Bosses and Control
29:18 Pastor Story Application
35:36 Responsibility Practice
38:24 Redemptive Work Challenge
39:07 Final Response

Parenting Wisdom with My Mom (Principal Lisa Vancamp): Kids as Arrows, Seasons of Parenting, and Priorities

On the Formed by Jesus podcast, the host interviews his mother, Lisa Vancamp, about parenting, peacemaking with children, and viewing kids as “arrows” to launch into the world. Lisa shares how she embraced each stage of childhood, prayed through fears about the teen years, and tried to present upcoming phases as something to celebrate. They discuss avoiding fear-based or scarcity language with children, protecting kids from adult burdens, and modeling faith through consistent church involvement, Bible reading, and avoiding gossip. Lisa outlines overlapping parenting “seasons” (caregiver, cop, coach/cheerleader, and consultant), emphasizing clear expectations, formation through discipline, and giving advice mainly when asked. She also highlights not comparing siblings and concludes that children don’t inherit convictions as much as they inherit priorities.

00:00 Meet the Guest Mom
00:26 Kids as Arrows
02:48 Celebrating Teen Years
07:43 Money Talk and Scarcity
12:13 Millennial Parenting Shifts
18:09 Church Expectations and Discipline
23:44 Family Stories and Quirks
27:55 Parenting Seasons 0 to 4
30:22 Cop Not Dictator
32:46 No Victim Mentality
34:04 Priorities By Example
36:19 Gentle Correction Shift
39:30 Coach And Cheerleader
41:25 Sports Benefits And Idols
43:50 Grades Excellence Mindset
45:49 Consultant After High School
47:52 Boundaries And Freedom
53:24 Protect Each Child
55:15 Priorities Become Theology
55:48 Leaves On Trees Finale