Episode 33 - Love Means Telling Hard Truths.

We confront the cost of following Jesus through Paul’s hostile reception, the pruning of John 15, and how real accountability forms resilient disciples. We weigh crowd-chasing against disciple-making and ask what our legacy says about our love for Christ.

• Paul’s pedigree, past persecution, and why trust came hard
• Hostility to the gospel then and now in 2025
• John 15 pruning and fruit as the measure of growth
• How to judge rightly and receive correction in love
• Stories of accountability that refine character
• Letting people walk away vs softening the call
• Choosing God over comfort, sports, and schedules
• Revival talk vs Monday obedience and discipleship
• Legacy, obituary, and finishing well in community

If you're in the Rockdale area, coffee and fellowship at 10am, service at 10:30 at the American Legion Hall, with kids’ church and nursery available

Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome, Rivalry, and Local Flavor
• 2:05 Service Details and Community Invite
• 2:16 Why Paul Faced Hostility Everywhere
• 4:48 Nominal vs. Costly Christianity in 2025
• 7:04 Flawed People, Hard Truths, and Judging Well
• 10:02 Accountability Stories and Receiving Correction
• 12:10 Pruning, John 15, and Bearing Fruit
• 14:06 When Jesus Lets People Walk Away
• 16:06 Crowd-Chasing vs. Disciple-Making
• 18:20 Choosing God Over Everything Else
• 20:18 Revival, Reality Checks, and Monday Faith
• 22:06 Legacy, Obituaries, and Finishing Well
• 24:30 Prayer, Closing, and Invitation