What does it really mean to be an apprentice of Jesus in a fragmented world? In this episode of Theology for the People, Pastor Heath Hardesty shares how his years as an apprentice plumber shaped his vision for discipleship and following Jesus.

Heath is the Lead Pastor of Valley Community Church (VCC) in Pleasanton, California, and the author of the recent book, All Things Together: How Apprenticeship to Jesus Is the Way of Flourishing in a Fragmented World.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why apprenticeship is a better paradigm for following Jesus than “just” discipleship classes

• The four pillars of apprenticeship: union, abiding, obeying, and imaging

• How sin fragments our lives and how Jesus reintegrates us

• Practical spiritual practices for ordinary Tuesdays

• Why following Jesus is a fully embodied way of life—not just information in our heads

Whether you’re feeling spiritually stagnant or longing for a more integrated faith, this conversation will challenge and encourage you.

📖 All Things Together releases October 14 and is available wherever books are sold.

What does faithful, biblical care for widows look like, and why does the Bible say that it is at the heart of "pure religion"?

Susan VandePol became a widow when her husband—a Los Angeles City firefighter—died following a line-of-duty exposure. Out of her own grief the Lord led her to create practical protocols for fire departments and churches, and to host deeply healing widows’ retreats.

In this conversation we cover:• Why you don’t “stop” being a widow—even after remarriage• How Scripture frames widowhood (the “quartet of the vulnerable,” James 1:27, Luke 18)• “Pruning” grief: letting God move grief toward health and fruit• Presence over platitudes: what helps, what harms• A simple, sustainable church protocol (care that intentionally extends to two years)• How ministering to widows purifies the whole churchResources mentioned:• Church Protocol for Widow Care – Matters of Life and Breath (download free)• Fire Department Widow Protocol – Matters of Life and Breath (free)• Widows’ Retreat (West Michigan, Oct 17–19) – registration details via the Matters of Life and Breath websiteAbout Susan VandePolWidow, author, and founder of Matters of Life and Breath, Susan equips churches and first-responder communities to care wisely and biblically for widows. She and her husband (a trauma specialist) also serve internationally with grief and trauma care.⏩ If this helped you, please share it with a friend and subscribe for more conversations that bring theology to the people!

In this episode of Theology for the People, Pastor Nick Cady is joined by Pastor Stephen Pomeroy from White Fields Community Church to explore the fascinating story of the conversion of the Vikings.

Stephen, who also hosts the Viking Legacy and Lore podcast, shares how his personal heritage sparked an interest in Viking history and mythology, and how he approaches it from a Christian perspective. Together we discuss:

• What the Viking Age was and how it ended

• The political and spiritual dynamics behind Viking conversion to Christianity

• The concept of the monomyth and how stories across cultures point to the true story of Jesus

• Parallels between Norse mythology and biblical truth

• Lessons for engaging neo-paganism and modern spiritual seekers

This conversation blends history, theology, and mission — showing how God’s truth reaches across cultures and centuries.

📌 Subscribe for more episodes of Theology for the People where we bring theological conversations down to earth in a way that is understandable, practical, and engaging.

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