In today’s episode, we shift from the communal nature of the Church to the deeply personal question: How does one become a part of the body of Christ? Drawing from the intimate conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus in John 3, we encounter the foundational truth that entry into God’s kingdom requires being “born again.” This spiritual rebirth isn’t about self-improvement or religious effort—it’s a radical transformation initiated by the Holy Spirit. Jesus makes it clear that seeing or entering the kingdom of God begins not with status or good works, but with a spiritual new beginning, available to all who believe.

This new birth changes everything. It reshapes our identity, our desires, and our direction. The Apostle Paul captures it succinctly: “If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation.” Being born again is not a momentary emotional experience but the beginning of a lifelong journey of renewal. It’s not about perfection but about progress—daily surrendering to the work of the Holy Spirit and aligning our lives with God's purposes. This transformation isn’t just internal; it manifests in how we live, love, and serve, and it humbles us to extend grace to others also in need of renewal.

In the “Let’s Get Deep” section, we explore the paradox at the heart of Jesus’ teaching: the kingdom of God is radically inclusive—open to everyone—yet requires a singular, specific entry point: spiritual rebirth. No one gets in through power, intellect, or pedigree. Only by surrendering and receiving God’s gift of grace can one begin anew. This reality is both confronting and liberating. It levels the playing field, invites us to reflect on our own transformation, and calls us to live out this new identity daily. Ultimately, it reminds us that Jesus didn’t just come to inform or inspire us—He came to re-create us.

In a new chapter of the 10:10 with Jesus series, we move from the deeply personal promise of Emmanuel—God with us to a broader, communal truth: God is not just with individuals, but with the Church. Jesus’ incarnation showed us divine presence through solidarity with the suffering and marginalized, and that same presence is now meant to be visible through the Church. But in today’s world, marked by division, political tribalism, and widespread loneliness, the Church can often seem irrelevant, or worse, complicit in the fragmentation. Yet the calling remains: the Church is to be a living, breathing sign that God is still with us—not just in word or doctrine, but in tangible acts of unity, compassion, and love.

Looking to the early Church in Acts 2, we’re reminded that Christian community was not built around buildings or programming, but around a radically shared life. The first believers met in homes, shared meals, held possessions in common, and praised God with sincere hearts. This unity, rooted in love and generosity, stood out in a divided world—and drew people to Christ daily. Jesus affirmed this in John 13:35: the mark of discipleship is not theological precision or public performance, but love for one another. Communion itself is a vivid sign of this unity, reminding us not only of Christ’s sacrifice, but also of our oneness as His body—a holy act of remembrance and a present experience of divine togetherness.

Ultimately, the Church’s purpose is not merely to gather but to be sent—to extend God’s presence outward in mission, compassion, and justice. Jesus’ Great Commission (Matthew 28:19) and His words in Matthew 25:40 remind us that when we serve the “least of these,” we serve Christ Himself. The Church is a paradox: a flawed yet grace-filled community meant to represent Christ in the world. This means reclaiming the “one another” commands—loving, forgiving, bearing burdens—and seeing ourselves as ambassadors of a Kingdom not of this world. In doing so, we don’t just talk about God’s presence; we become the way the world encounters Emmanuel.

Emmanuel, or "God with us," is the central and enduring truth of the Christian faith, going far beyond a mere Christmas doctrine. This divine presence is a sacred gift, one that God has demonstrated throughout history—from walking with Adam and Eve in Eden to traveling with Israel in the wilderness. However, this longing for connection took on flesh and bone in Jesus, who was God Himself "moving into the neighborhood." This act of Incarnation represents divine solidarity, where God chose to enter our human experience to be with the forgotten, the suffering, and the searching.

Jesus's ministry showed that God is not distant but profoundly near. By entering into the lives of the marginalized and suffering, Jesus revealed God's proximity and compassion. The passage emphasizes that this presence is not just historical; it continues today through the Holy Spirit. This spiritual reality demands a response from us: we are called to abide in him, to be present with others in the same way he was, and to become God's presence in the world. Our lives should be a reflection of his with-ness, bringing his comfort and peace to those around us.

Ultimately, the name Emmanuel reveals God's eternal commitment and redemptive mission. Jesus didn't just visit humanity; he forever bound himself to it, even in his resurrection. His presence leads to reconciliation, inviting us back into a relationship with God. Therefore, the truth of "God with us" should transform every aspect of our lives, giving us peace, courage, and the assurance that we are never alone. The central question for believers is not just whether God is with us but whether we are willing to be with him.

In today’s episode, we explore the difficult truth of why modern Christian values often stand in opposition to what Jesus actually taught, concluding our “Ripped from the Headlines” chapter in our series, “10:10 with Jesus. A Deeper Look.” This gap exists because Jesus's teachings directly challenge systems that benefit many Christians, particularly those with wealth and power. People respond to this by creating sophisticated ways to explain away the parts of the Gospel that demand personal sacrifice or systemic change, such as spiritualizing economic teachings or individualizing social justice. This “selective scripture reading” allows believers to create a version of Christianity that aligns with their lifestyle and political preferences while ignoring uncomfortable truths.

We also examine how institutional interests contribute to this distortion of the Gospel. Many churches function like businesses, creating pressure to make Christianity appealing to potential members rather than challenging to faithful disciples. We warn that when church leaders prioritize institutional success over spiritual faithfulness, they may compromise Jesus's message to maintain their position. This is exemplified by the prosperity gospel, a teaching that directly contradicts Jesus's message that “blessed are you who are poor” by claiming that God wants Christians to be wealthy and that faith will lead to financial success.

Finally, we offer guidance on how to overcome these distortions and rediscover the radical message of the Gospels. We suggest reading the Gospels as if encountering Jesus for the first time, paying special attention to the parts that make us uncomfortable. We also encourage listening to marginalized voices that often hear Jesus's message more clearly and asking different questions about Christian faithfulness—questions about giving rather than getting. The episode concludes by challenging listeners to remember that following Jesus costs something, and if our faith does not challenge us, we are likely following a domesticated Jesus of our own creation.

In this episode, we explore the historical and cultural reasons why a significant gap exists between what Jesus taught and what many of his followers practice today. We highlight the stark contrast between Jesus's teachings on loving enemies, welcoming strangers, and nonviolence, and the sentiments often expressed by those who claim to represent “Christian values,” such as building walls and prioritizing self-defense. This problem is not new, as Jesus himself warned that not everyone who calls him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven. The episode traces this disconnect back to the “Constantinian shift” in 312 AD, when Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire, leading the faith to confuse the kingdom of God with earthly power and to adopt the very systems it was originally designed to challenge.

We explain how this historical drift continued in America, where Christianity became intertwined with American nationalism, white supremacy, and capitalism, often placing “God and country” on an equal footing. This led to a version of Christianity that is more recognizable as a political movement than a spiritual one, focusing on culture wars and preserving privilege rather than on the core tenets of Jesus's ministry. The episode also delves into the psychological reasons for this drift, arguing that many Christians approach faith from a place of fear rather than love. This fear, whether of losing safety or cultural dominance, leads them to remake Jesus in their own image, creating a “domesticated” version of him who confirms their biases rather than challenging them.

The episode concludes by emphasizing that the authentic Jesus does not fit neatly into any modern political category. He was simultaneously more radically loving and more morally demanding than either conservatives or liberals often admit. We encourage listeners to recognize that when we make Jesus conform to our political or cultural tribes, we are worshiping a Jesus of our own creation rather than the one of the Gospels. The ultimate challenge is to move beyond fear and self-interest to embrace the true Jesus who calls for a life of selfless love, justice, and peace, and whose message is meant to set us free.

Over the centuries, countless atrocities have been committed in Jesus' name—holy wars, inquisitions, slavery, witch hunts, colonization, and antisemitism—often by Christians who believed they were upholding righteousness. These acts stand in stark contrast to the teachings and example of Jesus, who chose peace over violence, mercy over judgment, and love over power. From his own words and actions, it’s clear: Jesus calls us not to conquer in his name, but to serve, to liberate, and to love with radical compassion.

The pattern that emerges through history is clear: whenever Christianity is twisted into a tool for domination or exclusion, it ceases to follow Jesus. True discipleship is not about outward appearances of faith, but about inward transformation and outward grace—about doing the will of the Father, not simply invoking the name of Christ. As followers of Jesus today, we are called to reclaim the core of his message: healing, humility, and justice for the oppressed.

Today’s episode reminds us that spiritual integrity requires vigilance. The same spirit that led Jesus to heal the wounded, dine with the rejected, and forgive from the cross must animate our lives and our communities. Let us not just wear the cross—let us carry it, walking daily in the way of Christ. The world does not need more religion cloaked in power; it needs the living witness of people who know Jesus, love like Jesus, and live for Jesus.

Today’s episode wrestles with Jesus’ teachings on violence and how they apply to today’s pressing issues like gun control, terrorism, and policing. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus commanded His followers to love their enemies and turn the other cheek, breaking cycles of retaliation. He called peacemakers “children of God,” showing that His way was not about ignoring evil but overcoming it through trust in God and radical love. This challenges modern assumptions about weapons and self-defense, raising the question of whether Christians today truly place their confidence in God’s protection or in human tools of violence.

The reflection moves from gun ownership to broader issues of terrorism and law enforcement. Jesus lived under Roman occupation, where both state terror and rebel violence were rampant. Yet He rejected both extremes, calling instead for repentance and transformation of the heart. When arrested, He submitted without resistance, even questioning the injustice of the process. His actions suggest that modern approaches to terrorism and security should avoid dehumanizing policies and instead address root causes like injustice and despair. Likewise, His encounters with soldiers, tax collectors, and accused sinners reveal that His vision of justice was restorative rather than purely punitive, always aiming for transformation rather than destruction.

The episode concludes by pointing to Jesus’ fierce protection of the vulnerable, such as His defense of children and His cleansing of the temple. His anger was never about personal offense but about systemic injustice and exploitation. Applied to today’s crises—mass shootings, broken communities, systemic inequality—Jesus would call His followers to courage, compassion, and prevention rooted in love. He was not passive about evil, but His solution was always to overcome it with good, to heal instead of retaliate, and to trust God over fear. The closing prayer asks the Father for courage to be peacemakers, to reject fear-driven responses, and to build communities where love is the ultimate security.

The Second Amendment is often celebrated in America as a cornerstone of freedom: “the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” Many Christians strongly support it, believing it protects God-given rights and safeguards liberty. But history tells a more complicated story. The Amendment was written not only to prevent tyranny but also to preserve slave patrols in the South. For white citizens, it meant freedom; for enslaved people, it meant oppression.

In this episode of 10:10 Thrive, we wrestle with this paradox. How did an Amendment tied to slavery become so beloved among Christians? We explore the frontier traditions of self-reliance, the blending of patriotism and faith, the belief in God-given rights, and the desire for protection. These cultural and theological currents shaped a narrative where the Second Amendment became more than law—it became part of Christian identity in America.

In our “Get Deep” section, we ask: What does Jesus teach us about freedom, rights, and violence? How does He expose false freedoms, confront oppression, and call us to live as agents of love and justice? We’ll see that while history is complicated, Jesus offers a kingdom where true liberty is not found in weapons or amendments but in Him.