Michael Easley inContext

What if spiritual growth isn't about trying harder to become a better Christian?

Michael Easley sits down with longtime friend and pastor Charlie Boyd to discuss the abiding life and what it means to live from the inside out.

Charlie shares how his understanding of Christianity changed after decades of ministry. He once approached spiritual growth through discipline, rules, information, and striving. Over time, he discovered that abiding in Christ means something different.

Jesus doesn't call us to manufacture spiritual fruit through greater effort. He calls us to remain connected to Him.

In this conversation, Michael and Charlie explore what it means to “preach the gospel to yourself,” read Scripture slowly, meditate on God's Word, practice silence and solitude, and recognize the Holy Spirit's work in our everyday lives.

They also discuss Galatians 2:20, union with Christ, legalism, grace, spiritual maturity, anxiety, surrender, and our longing for a heavenly home.

Chapters
00:00 — The Christian life beyond striving
01:09 — A 45-year friendship begins in seminary
04:13 — Why Charlie wrote The Abiding Life Primer
05:57 — What does it mean to preach the gospel to yourself?
07:59 — Renewing your mind through Scripture
10:11 — Why repetition matters in spiritual growth
12:07 — What does it mean to abide?
13:36 — Abiding versus striving
17:02 — Moving beyond “read your Bible and pray”
19:10 — Rule-based Christianity versus grace
23:03 — Experiencing Christ rather than merely knowing about Him
26:20 — A practical approach to meditating on Scripture
30:02 — Galatians 2:20 and Christ living through us
35:38 — You can't make the flesh better
39:04 — Homesick for heaven
41:15 — Obedience as an invitation into life
45:46 — Charlie's journey through anger and striving
49:33 — Spiritual maturity and learning to surrender
53:46 — Trusting God instead of leaning on our understanding
55:09 — Becoming a non-anxious presence
56:34 — The simplicity of abiding
57:31 — The Abiding Life Primer

Key Topics Covered
-Abiding in Christ
-Union with Christ
-Preaching the gospel to yourself
-Renewing the mind
-Legalism versus grace
-Slow Scripture reading
-Scripture meditation
-Silence and solitude
-Spiritual maturity
-Surrender and trust
-Living by the Spirit
-Anxiety and spiritual formation
-Longing for our heavenly home
Links Mentioned:

The Abiding Life Primer by Dr. Charles Boyd

What God Has Always Wanted by Dr. Charles Boyd

Different Children Different Needs by Dr. Charles Boyd

Watch the highlights and full version of this interview on our Youtube channel.

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What does it really mean to be a faithful steward of money?

In this episode of Michael Easley inContext, Michael Easley talks with Robin John, author of The Good Investor: How Your Work Can Confront Injustice, Love Your Neighbor, and Bring Healing to the World.

Robin shares how witnessing poverty and injustice in India reshaped his understanding of wealth and led him toward faith-based investing. Together, Michael and Robin explore a biblical framework for how Christians earn, spend, give, and invest.

If God owns it all, what does faithful stewardship look like?

They discuss generosity, contentment, comparison, ethical investing, treating workers justly, starting to invest early, and the importance of understanding what your investments actually support.

Chapters

00:00 — God Owns It All: We Are Stewards

01:38 — Robin John's Story and Calling

04:18 — Witnessing Poverty and Injustice

06:43 — Investing for the Common Good

08:05 — “I Am a Human Being Too”

10:30 — Christians, Business, and the Common Good

12:10 — A Biblical Framework for Generosity

14:34 — Make, Save, and Give Money Wisely

17:03 — Can Christians Enjoy Wealth?

19:17 — Contentment and “Enough”

23:08 — Why You Should Start Investing Early

25:23 — Connecting Giving to Its Impact

26:30 — What Are Your Investments Supporting?

28:05 — Faith-Based Investing and 401(k)s

31:00 — Why Investing Can Feel Complicated

32:29 — Ethical Questions in Healthcare Investing

35:16 — Business as an Engine of Blessing

37:30 — Seeing Work as an Act of Generosity

39:41 — Treating Workers Justly

42:06 — A Lesson From Working as a Valet

44:03 — Generosity and Christian Witness

45:22 — Doing Good Work for God's Glory

47:24 — Closing Thoughts

Key Topics Covered

• Biblical stewardship and ownership

• Generosity and the common good

• Contentment and comparison

• Ethical and faith-based investing

• How Christians should think about wealth

• Treating employees and workers justly

• Starting to invest early

• Using work as an expression of generosity

• Aligning financial decisions with biblical values

Links Mentioned:

The Good Investor by Robin John

Watch the highlights and full version of this interview on our Youtube channel.

For more inContext interviews, click here.

What does it mean to be a man according to Scripture?

In this episode of inContext, Michael Easley welcomes Dr. Paul Pettit to discuss his book A Courageous Identity and the urgent need for Christ-centered masculinity. Together they examine why so many young men are struggling with loneliness, fatherlessness, addiction, and a lack of purpose, while offering a biblical vision of courageous leadership rooted in the example of Jesus Christ.

They also explore why discipleship across generations is essential for the health of the church and how older believers can intentionally invest in younger men.

Key Topics Covered:

What biblical masculinity really means

The difference between toxic and Christ-centered masculinity

Why discipleship is essential for spiritual growth

Fatherlessness and the loneliness epidemic

The importance of mentoring across generations

Taking initiative as a Christian man

Building healthy churches through intentional leadership

Chapters00:00 Why Masculinity Matters Today01:28 The Crisis of Biblical Manhood08:29 Why Men Often Become Passive10:48 The Need for Intergenerational Discipleship20:36 How Young Men Find Mentors30:04 The Biggest Challenges Facing Young Men39:28 Welcoming Men into Biblical Manhood44:22 A Simple Philosophy of Discipleship47:18 Encouragement for the Next Generation

Links Mentioned:

A Courageous Identity by Dr. Paul Pettit

Watch the highlights and full version of this interview on our Youtube channel.

For more inContext interviews, click here.

What do you do when the pain doesn't go away?

In this episode of inContext, Michael Easley sits down with author Glenna Marshall to discuss living faithfully through chronic illness, unanswered prayers, and years of physical suffering.

Rather than asking, "Why me?" Glenna explains why Scripture invites us to ask, "How do I trust God today?" Together they explore biblical lament, the role of gratitude, present-tense grace, and the hope believers have because of Christ.

Whether you're battling chronic pain, caring for someone who is, or simply walking through a difficult season, this conversation offers biblical encouragement without offering shallow answers.

Chapters

00:00 Why "How?" matters more than "Why?"

02:12 Glenna Marshall's diagnosis and journey with chronic illness

09:10 Living with chronic pain every day

13:00 What James teaches about trials and perseverance

16:20 Learning to pray through suffering

20:18 When you don't have words to pray

23:10 Present-tense grace for today's struggles

25:30 Is suffering caused by personal sin?

31:05 Gratitude as the pathway to joy

35:50 Joy vs. happiness

40:18 Choosing joy in suffering

43:30 Hope for those who are losing hope

46:10 Why suffering has an expiration date

Key Topics Covered

Chronic pain and the Christian life

Praying through suffering

Biblical lament

Joy versus happiness

Gratitude and contentment

Present-tense grace

James 1 and perseverance

Romans 8 and freedom from condemnation

The hope of resurrection

Encouragement for caregivers and those who suffer

Links Mentioned:

Praying in Pain by Glenna Marshall

Memorizing Scripture by Glenna Marshall

Glenna’s website

Watch the highlights and full version of this interview on our Youtube channel.

For more inContext interviews, click here.

How do you faithfully teach the Bible? How should Christians study Scripture? And what does suffering teach us about knowing God?

Nancy Guthrie joins Michael Easley and Hanna Seymour for an encouraging conversation about biblical theology, hermeneutics, ministry, and how the loss of two children shaped her lifelong passion for God's Word.

Nancy explains her practical process for studying Scripture, offers wisdom for aspiring Bible teachers, discusses the importance of preparation over platform, and shares why every believer should learn to see Christ throughout the entire Bible.

Whether you're leading a Bible study, preparing sermons, or simply wanting to understand Scripture more deeply, this conversation offers practical encouragement rooted in God's Word.

Key Topics Covered

-Nancy Guthrie's journey through grief and suffering

-How suffering deepened her understanding of Scripture

-Why biblical literacy matters

-Practical Bible study methods and hermeneutics

-Preparing to teach God's Word faithfully

-Preparation vs. platform in ministry

-Encouraging women to teach the Bible

-Learning under church leadership and accountability

-Seeing Christ throughout all of Scripture

-Nancy's new Beholding Christ Bible resource

Chapters

00:00 How suffering shaped Nancy Guthrie's ministry

03:40 Losing two children and studying Job

09:35 How Nancy became a Bible teacher

15:10 Why theological training matters

19:30 Nancy's step-by-step Bible study process

28:30 Applying Scripture faithfully today

36:30 Evangelism, discipleship, and everyday faithfulness

40:15 Encouraging women to teach the Bible

46:20 Ministry, accountability, and the local church

54:15 Why every page of Scripture points to Christ

58:30 Introducing Beholding Christ

Links Mentioned

Nancy’s Bible Studies

PRE ORDER Beholding Christ by Nancy Guthrie