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As we wrap up this season of listener-submitted questions, Neil Gregory is back on the podcast to discuss one of the biggest questions many Jesus followers ask, "How do you know you're following Christ and His will for your life?" Stay tuned for a bonus episode of Locker Room coming up next week with some special guests...

In this season of Locker Room we're answering your submitted questions. Scott and Jon are back this week to hit this week's question: What are the top three things dads should be doing to help our young ones in their faith journey? Have a good question you want us to answer during this season? Drop your questions at lockerroompodcast.com

In this season of Locker Room we're answering your submitted questions. Jon Weece is back on the podcast to help answer this question: "I would love to hear about the history of the church from its leaders, specifically the origins of Southland and how we got to where we are, but also how that relates to the general history of the early Church in Acts." Have a good question you want us to answer during this season? Drop your questions at lockerroompodcast.com

In this season of Locker Room we're answering your submitted questions. Our question this week: How can I as a young guy mature in my faith? What are some practical ways to practice humility and take a posture of learning, in order to mature in Christ? Scott is joined by Connor Hall this week to discuss  this question from the perspectives of two guys in different stages of life. Have a good question you want us to answer during this season? Drop your questions at lockerroompodcast.com

In this season of Locker Room we're answering your submitted questions. Scott welcomes Neil Gregory to the podcast to discuss this question: How do we tune out the distractions of modern society--social media, video games, smart phones and the 24-hour news cycle--and where do we draw the line between removing ourselves and our families from these activities, versus choosing to take part in them to engage with others in a positve and meaningful way? Have a good question you want us to answer during this season? Drop your questions at lockerroompodcast.com

In this season of Locker Room we're answering your submitted questions. Jon Weece joins Scott this week to hit this question: How do you balance a healthy sex relationship in a Christian marriage when each person has different levels of desire and expectations? Have a good question you want us to answer during this season? Drop your questions at lockerroompodcast.com

For this season of Locker Room we're answering your submitted questions. Scott Hatfield is back this week to break down this question: Why does the Church shy away from discussions around sexuality? Have a good question you want us to hit during this season? Drop your questions at lockerroompodcast.com

For this season of Locker Room we're answering your submitted questions. This week Scott kicks off with guest Mike Vandemark to break down this question: Is there a biblical case for adult men to pursue hobbies? With so many God-given responsibilities, how does one justify time spent on self? Have a good question you want us to hit during this season? Drop your questions at lockerroompodcast.com

You've got questions? We've got answers! Be apart of the next season of the Locker Room Podcast by heading to Lockerroompodcast.com and submitting your questions today.

In this episode we take a break from the hot-button topics of this season to enjoy some lighthearted banter and hot takes in the point/counterpoint style with guests Mike Vandemark and Scott Hatfield. Below are all of the questions that Scott asked in the podcast.  Pick 2-3 from each category to discuss with your group. What are the benefits of talking about things like this?  What do we learn about one another?  Is it a waste of time? How often do you get together with friends to just be together and have fun? Could you benefit from doing it more often?  How so? How does all of this play into our life and ministry?  Does any of this have any benefit for ministry or daily living for Christ? Sports: Is golf a sport or a game? Which of the big 3 sports would you prefer to watch live and in person? The college football championship should just be called the SEC championship, true or false? Kobe or Michael Jordan?  MJ or Lebron? 1996 Wildcats vs. 1991 UNLV Runnin' Rebels, who's better? Movies: The Matrix - overrated or underrated? If you had to pick between Steven Segal and Craig T. Nelson to play the lead role in every movie, which one would you pick? Dumb and Dumber or Tommy Boy? Shawshank Redemption or Braveheart? Better actor:  Martin Lawrence or Eddie Murphy? Music: Better Rock Band?  AC/DC or Led Zeppelin? True or False, Rapper's Delight is a terrible rap song? You're on a deserted island and you can listen to only Journey or only Bon Jovi, what do you choose? You are doing Karaoke and you can choose between performing Bohemian Rhapsody or the Humpty Dance? Who wins in a fight, Tony Bennett or Willie Nelson?

One of the challenges for us as men, especially when we assume the role of provider, protector, and any vocational callings, is knowing when it is time to leave one thing and move on to the next thing in our lives. In this episode Scott Hatfield returns to the podcast to reflect on these moments of change and how to discern best what's next. 1. How do you know when it’s time to move on? To leave one thing and move to the next thing? How have you filtered those questions at different points in your life? 2. Hatfield found himself in a conversation that turned into an interview. Have you ever been in a situation or conversation that was pivotal in your work and/or calling? 3. We all need mentors; people who are ahead of us on the journey and pour their experience into us. Who is that for you? If you don’t have a mentor, who might you ask to be that person for you? 4. Whose work, life, or ministry do you look up to or admire from afar? Pray and ask God for the opportunity to grab some time with that person. Can you reach out to schedule an appointment through their admin, or offer to buy them coffee or a meal? 5. “Quit looking over the fence. There is fruit in longevity.” Evaluate your own life and your current position based on this quote. How’s it going? 6. Hatfield recounts seasons of being entrusted with everything and seasons of being entrusted to lead nothing. How have you seen God work in seasons of much and seasons of little? How has it directly impacted decisions about what to do, and where to stay or go? 7. Sometimes simple difficulty is not the best filter for deciding whether it’s time to move on. What are some other critical elements that need to be in the decision-making process as well? 8. Have you ever been drawn toward something that seemed like the right idea for you but you learned it wasn’t God’s idea? Did you realize that before or after a move was made? 9. What do you sense God asking you to do that you need to bring to Him in prayer for further clarity and guidance?

Deconstruction is a word used frequently in regard to people who are 'deconstructing their faith.' Sometimes at the end of this process, people end up denying their faith altogether. Usually the first stop on this journey of deconstruction is 'Progressive Christianity.' In this episode, Scott breaks down some of the main drivers of the progressive Christian movement, and talks about how we equip ourselves to call others home by being immersed in scripture while simultaneously understanding our culture. The four books referenced at the end of this episode: Another Gospel? by Alisa Childers The Gathering Storm by Albert Muller That Hideous Strength: How the West Was Lost by Melvin Tinker A Grand Illusion by David Young 1. Have you experienced the idea of “Deconstruction” in the way society views it today? Is there a sense of tension when you hear the ideas of Deconstruction and Progress in the same ideology 2. When you think of Progressive Christianity, do you feel uncertain what the Progression is actually moving towards? If not, reflect on what aspects of Christianity deserve or require a modern advancement. Is there anything? 3. Scott talks about two drivers behind the Progressive Christian movement: Having a seat at the cool kids table and the opportunity to have sex with someone who you’re not married to. How do those ideas strike you? Agree or disagree—and why? 4. Scott throws out that he doesn’t agree with the label of Progressive Christianity because it isn’t Christianity. Instead he calls it Progressive Spirituality. What are the pitfalls that Progressivity has opened to the Christian faith that can result in loss of Christianity and a movement toward general Spirituality? 5. Do you agree that compassion and concern for social justice which removes Jesus from the equation is a reflection of a doubt that Jesus is who He says He is? How do we advocate for these concerns while also reflecting that Jesus is who He says He is? 6. Do you share the idea that the most tolerant in society are typically the most intolerant? 7. Scott references Romans 1… what were your thoughts and how does it apply to the Progressive movement and the general worldview today? 8. Do you sense the issues that Scott references are occurring due to the breakdown of relational norms and standards? If so, how have you seen that in your day-to-day life?

Fear isn't a sin, but our response to it can be. Sometimes we have to march forward even though we are afraid. In this episode, we talk about pursuing a sound and healthy mind by saturating our thoughts in the word of God instead of the headlines. 1. Scott shared his thoughts about all the talk about the virus. Where are you at with the conversation about COVID? Are you tired, afraid, something else 2. As a whole, we seem to have no goals or target or clear objective when it comes to dealing with COVID, and without that limiting principle we're looking at ongoing and changing restrictions. Some people fear the virus, others are more concerned with the government's response. Where do you land on that spectrum and why? 3. Whether it's the current era or earlier in life, in what ways have you seen fear become a controlling force in your experience? 4. After World War II, the new reality of the atomic bomb created a growing fear of the potential for destruction. C.S. Lewis landed with a conclusion that we are live in a world that constantly presents danger, whether we are aware or not. He said we ought to, in response, be found "doing sensible things like praying, working, teaching, reading, playing, or chatting with our friends, not huddled together like frightened sheep..." What might this solution accomplish? How might you implement it in your life, family, relationships? 5. Fear isn't sin, but it's a breeding ground for sin. Our response to fear is of the biggest concern. Take a look at 2 Timothy 1:7. Paul suggested that the pursuit of a sound and healthy mind is the antidote to fear. In what ways do we pursue things that end with fear? How could we align, instead, with this scripture in 2 Timothy? 6. Scott suggested that, whether you are doing it mindlessly or intentionally, stop seeking out news that feeds fear. In what ways have you seen the media create fear? What does the media gain from promoting fear? 7. Scott also nudged us to connect with people who aren't fearful. How can this help us to also leave fear behind? Do you know someone who fits this description? Make a plan to connect with them and talk about this topic.

Why in the last decade, has the diagnosis "gender dysphoria" transformed from a vanishingly rare affliction, applying almost exclusively to boys and men, to an epidemic among teenage girls? We are all disordered in some way because of sin - we all have sins and struggles and thoughts and feelings that don't correspond to truth and reality. Our challenge is not to conform to the patterns of this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2) In this episode, Scott reads and reflects from Irreversible Damage: the Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters, by Abigail Shrier. 1) What did you think about Scott’s opening analogy about a girl going to the doctor for anorexia, where the doctor affirmed all of her thinking that she was in fact fat, even though she was severely underweight by medical standards? Do you think this is a good analogy for the issue of gender dysphoria, and what is currently happening in our culture? 2) Scott pointed out that in Abigail Shrier’s book “Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing our Daughters”, she says that before 2012, there was no scientific literature on girls (ages 11-21) ever experiencing gender dysphoria. Before that, it affected .01 percent of the entire population, and that number was nearly exclusively boys. Why do you think there is this explosion of talk about this issue and apparently people experiencing it in the last several years? 3) In the book, Shrier offers some thoughts about why this shift in identifying as transgender is happening. She mentioned that it’s mostly upper-middle-class white girls and that they may be trying to carve out a niche of rebellion or be able to identify as minorities. What do you think about that? Agree? Disagree? Why? 4) She also said that many of these kids come from progressive families, raised with few walls, so they hunt for barriers to knock down. Have you seen this happening with your own children? Children/teenagers/young adults you know? What do you think they really are looking for? What do they need? 5) She also mentions our modern-day obsession with mental health. Medicating everyone toward the optimal level of happiness. Is this dangerous? Are we shooting ourselves in the foot by not allowing people to just deal with tough emotions? Where does that lead us if we continue that pattern of just looking for a quick fix to treat our “symptoms”? 6) Have you ever thought about how you would handle it if one of your children voiced that they identify as a different gender? It’s easy to point fingers and judge from a far-off perspective, but what if it happened to you? What do you do? What truths from scripture would you rely on in helping?  

How does the world around us handle sin, offenses and shortcomings? How should we as Christ-followers handle the presence of sin in our world? Should we join in the stone-throwing? In this episode we'll explore how we must address the sin in our own lives, and then we can help our brother and sister out. 1. Scott starts off our discussion today with an example of the way our cultural model tells us to handle perceived injustices or infractions. Have you seen situations where this model has played out? Were the outcomes positive or negative? 2. The current model of dealing with faults is described as a four step process. Which step do you feel pushes a conversation or interaction towards hopelessness the most? 3. Narratives are mentioned several times in our discussion, what narratives are you struggling to navigate, or which have you encountered recently? How can we redeem these narratives? 4. Christians have started to follow the path of culture in virtue-signalling and cancelling, almost as a knee-jerk reaction or as retribution for what they perceive as cancelling towards Christianity. What aspects of the way culture handles these situations can entrap a Christian? 5. Matthew 7 and John 3:17 illustrate the way God views unchecked judgemental behavior, and 1 Corinthians 13 illustrates His model for love and grace. How can we use these ideas to create a new model for dealing with perceived injustices? 6. Jesus tells us to start with our own hearts, and some have asserted that Christians jump onto the piling-on method in order to avoid facing their own sins. What sins are you downplaying or refusing to address? Do you ever find yourself lashing out at others due to the frustration those sins bring? 7. Scott says God didn’t move on after addressing our sin, He moved IN. Reflecting on this, how can we move IN when someone is on the receiving end of society’s model for confronting wrongdoings?

In this week's episode we wrap up our discussion on race: responding instead of reacting, and how as Christ-followers, the ball is in our court. 1) What is your understanding of “intersectionality”? How does looking through the lens of intersectionality affect interactions with people? How has it affected conversations in your experience, recently or in the past? 2) Why do you believe so many churches are recently prioritizing diversity as their main mission? What do you think the mission of the church should be? What does the Bible have to say about that mission? 3) Ariea said, “It would do your church no good to be diverse with all different types of ethnicity and no one saved.” Is there anything in your life that you are striving for in place of bringing people to Jesus? 4) Rod stated, “Fear stands for: False Evidence Appearing Real.” What is appearing real to you that is causing you to be afraid? What’s true and what’s false in the way you’re processing this situation/threat in your world? Identify the “false evidence” and take a moment to intentionally choose to reject the lies. Share your commitment with your group or a trusted friend. 5) Is there anyone in your life who has permission to challenge you even if the challenge is offensive? 6) Who can you ask to mentor you? Is there someone you can speak life into?

This week's episode picks up where we left off with Ariea, Rod, and Scott discussing race and how we as Christ followers can approach reconciliation. 1) When you hear “Solution for Racism” what emotions are stirred up? Do you feel like the conversation will be a positive or a negative one? Will the conversation be civil? 2) Scott Ariea and Rod discuss their solution for racism—fathers in the house and strong male leadership. Rod says that you need examples of how to Look, Live and Love like Jesus as a youth growing up. How might a community transform when there are examples of male leadership in households? 3) In the discussion we hear a call back to the thought that: “We are most helpful to the world when we look least like the world”. Do you find it hard to avoid looking like the world when discussing issues of large concern like race? Does this difficulty stem from a disconnect between how things are handled for world concerns versus spiritual concerns? If so, how? 4) Rod tells us a story from his past and that he told his football team. “You gotta do your best, regardless of if I do my best.” Do you hear the argument that certain crimes are way more prevalent, like “white on black” or “black on black”? Have you found yourself or people in your life falling into the trap of “if they improve I will improve,” or, “if they’d improve the other side of the situation would improve”? 5) You have to understand the necessity of the cross before you can understand or get involved in reconciliation. Review Ephesians 2:11-22. Through a lens of trying to mend racism, what new takeaways did you find in this passage? 6) Scott, Ariea, and Rod agree: Critical Race Theory is a worldview focusing on the oppressed becoming the oppressor. Critical Race Theory is also described as an attempt to fix a sin problem with a sin problem. Do you agree that the endgame for CRT sees the oppressed becoming the oppressor? Can a solution borne out of a sinful world mend a heart-problem like racism? 7) The guys say that changing the law, changing context, and pushing theories does not change a racist heart; only Jesus changes a racist heart. How can we take this to task in our own lives and ask Jesus to start changing the prejudiced hearts around us?

In this episode Scott sits down with friends Ariea King and Rod Butler to discuss the subject of race: how it has shaped our lives and how we as Christ followers can move forward. 1) The guys provided their definitions of racism early in this episode. How would you define racism? 2) What, do you believe, is really the root problem behind racism? What is it that people are scared of, insecure about, or just don’t understand that makes them view people of a different race as anything less than themselves? 3) Have you ever experienced racism, or have you ever come to the realization that some of your thoughts and beliefs might be what some would consider racist? This is a question that requires us to be very transparent, self-aware, and to have humility. Who can share? 4) The guys had a conversation about how not all black people have the same experience just based on the color of their skin. How did that conversation strike you? Where do we need to allow for more diversity of thought and experience? Should our race even play into the discussion? 5) Rod talked about how a lot of white people reached out to him in the wake of some of the events and racial tensions over the last year or so. He mentioned that some of that came across as “virtue signaling”. Virtue signaling means it is more about the person asking the question than it is about the person answering the question. How can we be more proactive when it comes to understanding people’s differences? 6) As Christians, people should be able to look to us as peace-makers—and as people who are empathetic and compassionate. Often, we don’t set the example or set the pace when it comes to leading well through misunderstandings and tensions. What is something you can commit to doing to help you grow as someone who can lead well through things like racial tension? 7) The Bible has some strong words about hate. In your Bible app on your phone, do a search for the word “hate” and read some of the search results together. Do the same with the word “love”, recognizing that there are no conditions to God’s love, and that His expectation is for us to love people the way He loves us!

Jon joins Scott to reflect on the topics we've covered this season and lessons learned from his own marriage. 1. Marriage and parenting teach us a ton. But especially help us grow to be selfless in a way nothing else can. Why do you think this is true? How have you experienced this kind of transformation in your life? 2. Marriage is a visible demonstration of the love of God for people. Marriage apart from the picture of Christ and His bride isn’t going to find fulfillment. How can we intentionally pursue this biblical picture of marriage? 3. Which of Jon’s tips for building a strong marriage have been helpful to you? Which do you want or need to pursue? Take your time and learn from older couples. Pray a lot. Serve together. Invest in the church. Be realistic with financial expectations. Work on conflict resolution. Invest in relationships with a few other couples. 4. What is it about sharing a meal together with the people we love that transforms us? How does it build your family’s relationships? What is accomplished by sharing this space? 5. In the Bible, the Book of Psalms is like a medicine cabinet. If you need words to express your emotion or feeling, you can find it there. Share how God’s words have helped you express emotions, whether they’ve been painful or joy-filled. What are you walking through in this season that could use help from the Psalms to express in words? 6. God chose us. Handpicked us. Adopted us into His family. Adoption is a theme in the NT. If God did that for us, He’d want that for all of us. How can churches help even more families adopt? How could you help personally, financially and otherwise? 7. Considering divorce? Apologize. Forgive. Own what you did. Give it time. Build and rebuild trust. You may have biblical grounds for divorce, but you’re not required to take this step. Where can you reach out for help? 8. Remember: Everyone in your family is going to die eventually. Prepare as you’re able but it’s never going to be easy. The marriage vow, “In sickness and in health,” reminds us to enjoy what we have today. How can you actively and verbally express your gratitude for the people in your life today? 9. Resilience is something this world needs; the ability to stand in the face of sickness, difficulty, loss. Two are better than one; two becoming one. There’s a strength and joy infused into your life when two people are faithful to Him and to each other. Take time to craft a clear statement of your intent to be faithful… in your marriage, friendships, parenting, work… everywhere. Share with your group via email this week.

Scott Hatfield returns for this episode of Locker Room to talk about those important words many of us have said in our vows, "...in sickness and in health." Scott and his wife Sarah have walked through many tough seasons over the 27 years of their marriage. 1. Everyone has a unique story about how they met their wife. Share your story or, if not married, where you’re at in the journey toward marriage. 2. Hatfield was led by God to make some decisions relationally that paved the way for his marriage to Sarah. How do prayer, worship, and God’s word feed into your own relational world? 3. As you heard Hatfield share his story, which parts of their “adventures together” resonated most to encourage, challenge, or inspire you? 4. Sarah jokes that she was in great health and perfect condition before she and Scott met. They quickly faced challenges that required faithfulness to their vow: “In sickness and in health.” How has this vow, or another wedding vow, been a challenge and/or an anchor in your life? 5. Both Nickell and Hatfield compiled a list of “learnings” from going through challenges and hard times: We’re more selfish than we know; If we could change it we would; Sometimes it takes counseling; The church is an amazing family; The husband is called to be Jesus to his bride. Which of them are lessons you have learned? Which ones do you want or need to learn? 6. Hatfield shared several great bits of advice for thriving in marriage. Which of these do you sense God wants you to implement in your marriage? Worship together; Leave it all on the field; Do what it takes; Don’t hit the eject button; Lay down your expectations. 7. How do you need to ask God to work in you, your life, your relationships, and/or your marriage this week? Do that now.