Michael Easley inContext

In this episode, Michael Easley sits down with Jon Gauger, author, radio personality, and lifelong lover of Scripture, to explore how the Psalms can transform the way we think and speak to ourselves. From anxiety and impatience to sleepless nights and moments of regret, Jon shares how memorizing and meditating on Psalms reshapes our self-talk, helps us navigate life’s challenges, and strengthens our relationship with God.

Jon shares his personal journey of replacing negative thoughts with Scripture, including practical examples from his daily life, work, and travels. Michael and Jon also discuss the life of David—the ultimate example of a man after God’s own heart—and how his Psalms provide guidance, encouragement, and hope for us today.

If you’ve ever struggled with self-doubt, worry, or mental fatigue, this episode will show you the power of Scripture to renew your mind and bring peace to your soul.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

-How to use the Psalms to combat negative self-talk and anxiety

-Practical steps for memorizing Scripture and making it a daily habit

-Ways Scripture can bring calm during sleepless nights and stressful days

-Lessons from the life of David on repentance, humility, and faith

-How to respond wisely and peacefully in moments of crisis

-Why worship, patience, and praise are choices that shape our thinking

-Real-life stories of mentors, travel experiences, and moments of faith in action

Timestamps & Topics Discussed:

0:00 – Opening prayer and welcome

0:29 – Michael’s love for the Psalms and teaching them

1:27 – Introduction of Jon Gauger and Powerful Self-Talk from the Psalms

3:12 – Why Jon wrote the book: transforming negative self-talk

7:31 – Understanding constant self-talk and what Scripture says about it

10:21 – Using Psalms for rest and sleep

13:19 – Waiting patiently and trusting God (Psalm 27)

18:12 – “Relax, He’s Doing the Doing” and committing your soul

19:41 – Choosing worship and praise in daily life

20:56 – How social media affects self-talk

25:36 – Pausing and trusting God in crises

28:46 – Brag on God: encouraging others through our response

33:58 – How Scripture memorization influences thought, speech, and action

35:16 – David’s life as a model for self-talk, repentance, and faith

38:16 – Psalm 51: turning to God in moments of sin and regret

39:15 – Closing reflections and encouragement to engage with Scripture

Links Mentioned:

Powerful Self-Talk From The Psalms by Jon Gauger

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Visit: https://www.michaelincontext.com

In this episode of Michael Easley in Context, Michael sits down with his pastor and longtime friend Darren Tyler, lead pastor of Conduit Church in Franklin, Tennessee, to address a growing cultural shift: many people—including professing Christians—no longer believe that sin is real, universal, or serious.

Using recent Barna research as a starting point, Michael and Darren explore how ideas like “people are basically good,” “follow your heart,” and therapeutic explanations for sin have reshaped how we talk about responsibility, repentance, and grace. They discuss why minimizing sin weakens evangelism, erodes discipleship, and ultimately obscures the beauty of the gospel.

This conversation doesn’t minimize real pain, trauma, or injustice. Instead, it offers a biblical framework for owning our present reality, understanding the deceitfulness of the human heart, and running toward joyful obedience in Christ. From pastoral ministry and generational shifts to cultural algorithms and everyday gospel conversations, this episode provides clarity for navigating faith in a confused age.

If you’ve wondered how to talk about sin without shame—or why the gospel feels less compelling in today’s culture—this episode is for you.

🔑 What You’ll Learn
-Why many Americans—and Christians—no longer believe sin is universal or serious
-How cultural narratives about the heart reshape responsibility and repentance
-The connection between diminished views of sin and weakened evangelism
-Why following your heart often leads away from biblical truth
-How pastors can address sin without shame while still preaching clearly
-Practical ways to talk about sin and grace in everyday conversations
-Why the gospel is more than an example—it’s a substitution
-How discipleship suffers when churches stop teaching core doctrine

Chapters
00:00 – Why the conversation about sin matters right now
02:45 – Darren Tyler’s journey from the music industry to pastoral ministry
06:10 – Barna’s findings: Are people really “basically good”?
09:30 – How culture redefines sin as trauma or preference
13:45 – The danger of “follow your heart” theology
17:30 – Sin, abuse, and responsibility: drawing biblical distinctions
21:40 – Why minimizing sin undermines evangelism
26:00 – The missing piece in modern discipleship
31:10 – Talking about sin without shame
35:45 – Algorithms, the heart, and modern temptation
40:20 – Why Jesus had to pay the price for sin
45:15 – Sin against God and the meaning of forgiveness
50:30 – Romans 7, Romans 8, and hope for believers
54:20 – Why the gospel is more needed than ever
58:30 – Final encouragement for pastors and everyday Christians

Links Mentioned:

Conduit Church

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https://www.facebook.com/MichaelinContext
https://www.instagram.com/dreasley/

For more information on Dr. Michael Easley and Ask Dr. E
Visit: https://www.michaelincontext.com

Christian parents today face an overwhelming challenge: how do you talk to your kids about sex with clarity, confidence, and a truly biblical foundation—without fear, confusion, or shame?

In this episode of Michael Easley inContext, Michael sits down with Elizabeth Urbanowicz, founder of Foundation Worldview, to discuss her new book Helping Your Kids Know God’s Good Design. Together, they unpack how to begin age-appropriate conversations about sexuality as early as age four, why parents should replace “the talk” with ongoing discipleship, and how to address difficult topics like pornography, masturbation, and cultural confusion around identity.

If you want practical language and a biblical roadmap for guiding your kids in a hyper-sexualized world, this conversation will equip you with the tools you need.

🔍 KEY TOPICS

-Why conversations about sex must start earlier than you think

-How to teach God’s good design for marriage and sexuality

-Talking to young kids about body parts, privacy, and boundaries

-How to be the “first voice” your kids trust

-Preparing kids for cultural confusion about sex and identity

-Biblical guidance for addressing porn, masturbation, and shame

-How single adults can speak into parenting conversations with wisdom

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Conversations on Sexuality

02:55 Understanding God's Design for Marriage

06:11 The Importance of Early Conversations

08:49 Navigating Body Awareness and Shame

11:58 Addressing Indelicate Topics with Children

15:11 The Impact of Technology on Sexual Education

17:58 Discussing Pornography with Kids

21:03 Responding to Children's Questions

23:48 Understanding Gender Dysphoria and Identity

27:03 Overcoming Parental Shame in Discussions

29:50 Resources for Parents

32:56 Conclusion and Encouragement for Parents

Links Mentioned:

Helping Your Kids Know God’s Good Design by Elizabeth Urbanowicz

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

For more inContext interviews, click here.

How do we guide the next generation when their world is digital, fast-changing, and often confusing for adults?In this episode, Michael Easley sits down with sociologist Dr. Josh Packard to unpack the surprising truth: you don’t need to master every platform or trend to meaningfully influence teens. You need presence, curiosity, and listening.Together they explore why today’s teens feel digitally confident yet relationally insecure, how this tension shapes their everyday lives, and what caring adults can do to build trust in a world full of noise. If you’re a parent, pastor, mentor, or leader investing in Gen Z or Gen Alpha, this conversation will reshape the way you think about discipleship and connection.What You’ll Learn- Why adults don’t need to “keep up” with technology to guide teens- How the digital confidence vs. relational insecurity gap impacts students- Why listening is often more powerful than teaching- The shift from “truth → trust → time” to “time → trust → truth”- Practical ways to engage the next generation with presence and consistencyChapters00:00 Introduction and Context of the Conversation07:31 Understanding Generational Differences13:16 The Role of Trust in Ministry18:53 Sacred Listening and Relational Ministry23:32 Growing Up Online: The Impact of Social Media27:34 Navigating Teen Social Media Spaces31:18 Understanding the Digital Generation35:02 Curiosity Over Expertise in Youth Engagement38:48 Building Trust Through Presence43:00 Cognitive Dissonance in the Digital Age47:57 The Challenge of Information Overload52:15 The Power of Listening and Curiosity

Links Mentioned

Faithful Futures by Dr. Josh Packard

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

For more inContext interviews, click here.

Should Christians make New Year's resolutions? In this special (re-release) episode of inContext, Michael discusses New Year's resolutions for Christians.

Links Mentioned:

⁠Download Michael's Personal Development goals template⁠

To read the show notes, ⁠click here⁠.