In this special Rooted Reflections episode of the Rooted Discipleship Podcast, Walker Davis and Chad Gott check in after a powerful hurricane struck the Florida Panhandle and Pensacola area, explaining why the podcast has been off the air and sharing what the storm and its aftermath have looked like in their community. They describe the unusual path of destruction, the tornadoes that spawned from the storm, and the stark line between neighborhoods left untouched and those completely devastated.

The conversation turns to the long road of disaster recovery and the way the church has responded. Walker and Chad share stories of volunteer relief crews, local churches, and organizations like Samaritan’s Purse serving their neighbors with chainsaws, heavy equipment, and free meals. They reflect on how the first days after a disaster bring people together naturally, while the weeks and months of continued service can only come from God’s love, joy, and grace. They also draw a Scripture-minded lesson from the storm damage, comparing deep-rooted pines to shallow-rooted oaks as a picture of staying rooted in God’s Word through life’s storms, and tie in the previous Malachi study on tithes and offerings by showing what a faithful local church can do with what has been given.

Ultimately, this episode is a reminder that God can use hardship to bring communities together, spark revival in unexpected places, and move His people to serve others long after the cleanup cameras leave. Walker and Chad also share that regular episodes and listener questions return next week, with the Malachi study wrapping up before the series moves into Genesis.

Have a question you want us to answer on a future episode? Email us at: walker@rooteddiscipleship.com chad@rooteddiscipleship.com

In this episode of the Rooted Discipleship Podcast, Walker Davis and Chad Gott continue their verse-by-verse study through Malachi chapter 3, exploring one of the most well-known passages in the book: God's call for His people to return to Him through tithes and offerings.

Walker and Chad unpack why God declares, "I the Lord do not change," and how that unchanging character answers the question of why evil often seems to prosper unpunished. They dig into the meaning of tithing and giving, explaining that this passage isn't ultimately about money but about trust, obedience, and the condition of the heart, and they discuss what it means for God to invite His people to "test" Him by bringing their full tithe, including the danger of twisting this promise into a prosperity gospel.

The conversation also covers practical, personal reflections on tithing with intentionality rather than on autopilot, and closes with the reminder that God's blessings on His people were never meant to stop with them; they were meant to point the nations toward Him. Ultimately, this episode is a reminder that true generosity flows from a heart fully surrendered to God, trusting Him as provider above all else.

Have a question you want us to answer on a future episode? Email us at: walker@rooteddiscipleship.com chad@rooteddiscipleship.com

In this episode of the Rooted Discipleship Podcast, Walker Davis and Chad Gott continue their verse-by-verse study through Malachi, picking up the fourth dispute between God and Israel, where the people question God's justice and ask why the wicked seem to prosper.

Walker and Chad explore God's response through the prophecy of a coming messenger, John the Baptist, who prepares the way for Jesus, and the promise that God Himself will suddenly come to His temple. They unpack the powerful imagery of the refiner's fire, explaining how God purifies His people much like a goldsmith refines silver, holding them in the hardest seasons of life just long enough to remove impurities and reflect His image, and connecting this process to Job, Moses, and the personal testimonies of both hosts.

The conversation also tackles the difference between purification and judgment, why God delays judgment out of mercy, and how life's hardest trials are often God's way of drawing His people to depend fully on Him. Ultimately, this episode is a reminder that God is not distant in our suffering; He is present, purposeful, and refining us for His glory and our good.

Have a question you want us to answer on a future episode? Email us at: walker@rooteddiscipleship.com chad@rooteddiscipleship.com

In this episode of the Rooted Discipleship Podcast, Walker Davis and Chad Gott continue their verse-by-verse study through Malachi chapter 2, picking up the second dispute between God and Israel's priests before moving into a third dispute focused on Israel's unfaithfulness in marriage.

Walker and Chad first unpack God's warning to the priests about corrupted worship and the higher standard placed on spiritual leaders, connecting it to the responsibility of church leadership today. They then turn to the third dispute, where God confronts Israel for intermarrying with foreign gods and for treacherous divorce, explaining marriage as a three-way covenant between husband, wife, and God, and why faithfulness in marriage reflects faithfulness to God Himself.

Throughout the conversation, Walker and Chad share personal stories about marriage, faith journeys, and staying persistent in walking with God even through seasons of doubt or distance from Him. Ultimately, this episode is a reminder that God calls His people to guard their hearts, honor their covenants, and remain faithful to Him in every relationship.

Have a question you want us to answer on a future episode? Email us at: walker@rooteddiscipleship.com chad@rooteddiscipleship.com

In this episode of the Rooted Discipleship Podcast, Walker Davis and Chad Gott begin their verse-by-verse study through the book of Malachi, the final book of the Old Testament. Written to Israelites who had grown discouraged nearly 80 years after rebuilding the temple, Malachi records a series of disputes between God and His people, and this episode covers the first two: God's love for Israel and Israel's dishonoring of Him through corrupt worship.

Walking through Malachi chapter 1, Walker and Chad explore God's declaration "I have loved you" and Israel's skeptical response, tracing that love back to God's choice of Jacob over Esau and connecting it to the everlasting love described throughout Scripture, including John 3:16. They then turn to God's rebuke of the priests for offering blemished sacrifices, drawing a parallel to modern-day worship, tithing, and giving God our leftovers instead of our best.

Ultimately, this episode is a reminder that God's character and love never change, even when our circumstances make it hard to see, and that true worship, giving, and obedience flow from a heart fully devoted to Him rather than empty religious routine.

Have a question you want us to answer on a future episode? Email us at: walker@rooteddiscipleship.com chad@rooteddiscipleship.com

In this episode of the Rooted Discipleship Podcast, Walker Davis and Chad Gott gather for another Rooted Reflections episode, sharing personal updates, honoring first responders on the anniversary of September 11th, and discussing the power of structured prayer in building a daily rhythm with God.

The conversation then turns to two listener questions: what does it mean to be a "living sacrifice" as Paul describes in Romans 12:1, and why does the God of the Old Testament seem so different from the God of the New Testament? Walker and Chad trace the meaning of sacrifice from the Old Testament through Christ's death on the cross, and explore God's patience, mercy, and purpose in raising up Israel to bring the Messiah into the world.

The episode closes with a fresh look at Jesus and the woman caught in adultery in John 8, connecting His writing in the dust to a lesser-known ceremonial law in Numbers 5, along with practical tips for reading and understanding the Old Testament within the larger story of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration.

Have a question you want us to answer on a future episode? Email us at: walker@rooteddiscipleship.com chad@rooteddiscipleship.com

In this episode of the Rooted Discipleship Podcast, Walker Davis and Chad Gott begin their study of Malachi, the final book of the Old Testament. Written roughly 400 years before Christ, Malachi speaks to a people who had returned from exile but had grown spiritually apathetic and were simply going through the motions of their faith.

Together, Walker and Chad explore the six disputes between God and His people, examining issues of worship, giving, faithfulness, idolatry, injustice, and the question, "What's the point of serving God?"

Most importantly, they look at where Malachi fits within the larger story of salvation and how its final words point forward to John the Baptist and ultimately to Jesus Christ.

Have a question you want us to answer on a future episode? Email us at:

walker@rooteddiscipleship.com

chad@rooteddiscipleship.com

In this episode of the Rooted Discipleship Podcast, Walker Davis and Chad Gott continue their conversation about what it means to live with purpose as followers of Christ. Through personal stories, biblical examples, and honest discussion, they explore how God uses difficult seasons, Christian community, and faithful obedience to shape us into the people He has called us to be.

The conversation begins with the difference between happiness and true Christian joy. Walker and Chad discuss how following Christ does not necessarily make life easier, but it gives our lives greater purpose. They reflect on how believers can find joy even in difficult circumstances because their hope is ultimately rooted in Christ and eternity.

They also talk about the importance of having a strong Christian community—people who will pray for you, encourage you, and carry you through difficult seasons. Walker and Chad reflect on the value of small groups and genuine Christian friendships, emphasizing that discipleship is not meant to be lived out alone.

The conversation then turns toward the cost of following Jesus and the reality that Christians are called to live differently from the world around them. They discuss how proclaiming Christ as King means surrendering our lives to Him and recognizing that our time on earth is temporary compared to the eternity we have with God.

Ultimately, this episode serves as a reminder that following Christ gives us both purpose and hope. When we surround ourselves with fellow believers, remain faithful through difficult seasons, and keep our eyes focused on eternity, we can experience the joy that comes from living the life God has called us to live.

Have a question you want us to answer on a future episode? Email us at:

walker@rooteddiscipleship.com

chad@rooteddiscipleship.com