We’re celebrating a big one - Episode 30 of Sermons on the Side! It’s our 3rd roundtable discussion and our 2nd remote interview, this time with a longtime friend and pastor from New York, Jay Cookingham. Jay has been a friend of Richard’s for decades, and his life and ministry have been marked by a deep passion for seeing men embrace God as their true Father and step fully into their sonship in Him. In this conversation, Jay shares about his years of involvement in men’s ministry, the heart behind helping men live out their true identity in Christ, and the transformative power that comes when we truly believe God delights in us as His children. We also open the door to an honest and vulnerable conversation about grief; Jay lost his wife of 37 years nearly six years ago, and he’s been walking that journey with the comfort and guidance of the Father’s heart ever since. It’s a rich mix of encouragement, real-life wisdom, and faith-filled perspective. Whether you’re navigating your own season of loss or simply want to deepen your understanding of God as Father, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.Want to learn more about Jay’s ministry? Check out the links below to explore his work and resources. 1 > https://jaycookingham.com/2 > https://strategicfathering.net/Grab a cup of coffee, join the table, and let’s celebrate Episode 30 together.Send us a textSermons on the Side Bible Readings Connect with us on our FACEBOOK page Connect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcast Check out our website HERE Love the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong! Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsontheside Thank you for being part of the journey with us!
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29 | Earn This
🚨 Spoiler Alert: If you’ve never seen the movie 'Saving Private Ryan' and plan to, you may want to hit pause and come back later. 🚨This week, we reflect on one of the most gut-punching, unforgettable scenes in movie history - from the final act of Saving Private Ryan. Captain John Miller's last words to Private Ryan, “Earn this...earn it,” echo into the life of the man he saved... and maybe into our own.But what happens when those words slip into our theology? What if we start to believe we have to earn what’s been freely given?In this Sermon on the Side, we unpack the tension between living a life worthy of the calling we've received and resting in the truth of grace - that salvation isn’t something we achieve, but a gift of sheer grace we simply receive.Join us as we wrestle with the pull of performance, the beauty of unmerited grace, and what it really means to run the race with purpose - not to earn salvation, but because of it.Send us a textSermons on the Side Bible Readings Connect with us on our FACEBOOK page Connect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcast Check out our website HERE Love the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong! Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsontheside Thank you for being part of the journey with us!
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28 | The Last Waffle Fry
Radical generosity. Sacrificial love. A toddler’s lesson at Chick-fil-A.In this heartfelt episode of Sermons on the Side, Brad shares a tender moment from a recent family outing - five seats, two parents, three kids, and one single waffle fry left in the tray. What happened next between two-year-old Shep and four-year-old Bekah caught him completely off guard… and led us into a deep reflection on what radical generosity really looks like.This week’s conversation is less about what we do and more about who we are becoming. As we reflect on the kind of generosity that not only costs us something but changes us in the process, we’re asking: Where might God be prompting you to give freely, sacrificially, maybe even inconveniently?We believe this episode will encourage your walk of faith, challenge your habits of giving, and invite you into a new season of grace-fueled generosity - one that ripples through relationships and reverberates into eternity. AMEN!As we say goodbye to July and look ahead to what's next, we hope this Sermon on the Side nudges you toward the kind of generosity that looks a lot like Jesus - the kind that might just start with a single waffle fry.Send us a textSermons on the Side Bible Readings Connect with us on our FACEBOOK page Connect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcast Check out our website HERE Love the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong! Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsontheside Thank you for being part of the journey with us!
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27 | The Ruin
Is it possible that what’s falling apart is more alive than what once stood strong?In this week’s episode of Sermons on the Side, we dive into an unexpected treasure: an ancient poem called The Ruin, discovered through an article sent to Richard by his daughter Carly. Written from the perspective of a translator of old poetry, The Ruin explores the haunting beauty of broken things and of once-mighty structures now crumbled by time.But this isn’t just about history or poetry. It’s about us.We ask: Could the ruins in our own lives - the broken dreams, lost relationships, or unexpected detours - actually hold more purpose, life, and sacred meaning than the "perfect" plans we once clung to?Join us for a reflective, heart-stirring conversation about God's mysterious work through weakness, the beauty in the breakdown, and how Plan A might not look anything like we expected… but might be exactly what God intended all along.Send us a textSermons on the Side Bible Readings Connect with us on our FACEBOOK page Connect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcast Check out our website HERE Love the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong! Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsontheside Thank you for being part of the journey with us!
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26 | Building Altars
What started as a casual dinner with a visiting friend turned into a sacred moment of reflection - one of those conversations that sticks with you. Between talk of wins, losses, and everything in-between, Brad felt prompted to say, “We need to build more altars in our lives.” That simple phrase launched this week’s episode!Join us as we explore the biblical examples of building altars and unpacking what it means for us today. Why did God so often ask His people to stop and build? What does it look like to mark the moments of God's faithfulness in a world that moves too fast?In this episode, we reflect on the power of spiritual remembrance, the tension between gratitude and longing, and how to live with hope and expectancy for what's ahead - while never forgetting what God has already done.Whether you're in a season of breakthrough or just barely holding on, this one’s for you. What altar is God calling you to build for Him today?Send us a textSermons on the Side Bible Readings Connect with us on our FACEBOOK page Connect with us on INSTAGRAM @sermons_on_the_side_podcast Check out our website HERE Love the show? If you’re enjoying the stories, laughs, and conversations we share here, we’d be so grateful if you’d consider “buying us a cup of coffee” to help keep things brewing. It’s a simple way to show your support and keep the podcast going strong! Here’s the link: buymeacoffee.com/sermonsontheside Thank you for being part of the journey with us!
Join two friends, Richard and Brad, each week as they explore the hidden messages in life's everyday moments. From personal stories to tales of family and friends, they uncover the unexpected lessons and sermons that God might be revealing. Tune in for heartfelt conversations, laughter, and meaningful insights that remind us that even in the ordinary, there’s always a deeper purpose waiting to be discovered.
New Zealand