In this episode of Tell Me More, Luke Stehr and Dr. Wiles catch up on a full and eventful summer — from a granddaughter's poolside birthday bash to a summer packed with missions trips, funerals, and unexpected gospel connections between students serving in Spain and Toronto. They also look ahead to what's next: a churchwide focus on prayer throughout August (anchored in John 17), a fall evangelism emphasis with guest preachers, and the launch of "The Table" on Wednesday nights in September.

The heart of the conversation turns to the summer's Fruit of the Spirit series, wrapping up with a look at Joseph and self-control. Dr. Wiles reflects on Joseph's journey — from the brash younger brother flaunting his dreams, to the man who resisted temptation in Potiphar's house, endured years in an Egyptian prison, and ultimately chose grace over vengeance with the brothers who betrayed him. Along the way, they dig into what it practically looks like to "walk by the Spirit" day to day — starting mornings in Scripture before the phone, praying through a daily rhythm, and keeping your spiritual "radar" up for where God is at work.

A conversation about growth, grace, and what self-control looks like when it's shaped by a life connected to God.

The gang's finally back together! After a jam-packed summer of camp, mission trips, and hosting friends from Jordan, the hosts reunite to catch up before diving into this week's topic: the fruit of gentleness.

They kick things off with some World Cup recap — confessions of a first-time final-watcher, hot takes on Argentina vs. Spain, and how a friendship with visitors from Jordan turned a casual soccer fan into a true believer in the beautiful game.

Then it's on to Scripture, as the conversation turns to Ruth and what her story reveals about gentleness — not as weakness, but as quiet strength and resolve. They talk about Jesus's own example of gentleness (yes, the woman at the well makes an appearance), why the trait feels so countercultural right now, and why it might be exactly what the world is hungry for.

Plus: a rundown of everything happening around the church this August, from teacher trainings to the Night of Celebration for summer trips.

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Dr. Dennis Wiles is back in the studio after a study leave that turned out to be anything but restful. He and Luke catch up on a summer full of surprises, most notably, an unexpected partnership with the Jordanian government during the World Cup that brought thousands of people onto the church's property, connected them with royalty, The Chosen, and Muslim neighbors from across the region. What started as a simple party planning effort kept hitting walls, until God seemed to fling the doors wide open in ways no one could have planned.

The conversation also turns to Sunday's sermon on Mary Magdalene, a woman whose faithful witness has too often been overshadowed by centuries of mistaken tradition. Dr. Wiles shares what inspired him about her story, why the role of women in Jesus' ministry matters more than many realize, and how all of from Jordan to Ruth to a teenager sharing the gospel on a mission trip, seems to be part of something the Spirit is weaving together this season.