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Episode Summary

If God has a chosen people, does that mean everyone else is being left out?

Bobby McGraw talks with Matt Davis, a Jewish believer in Jesus and co-founder of The Jewish Road, about why God chose Israel and what that means for the rest of us.

Matt traces the story back to Abraham and explains why he believes God chose Israel to bring blessing to every nation.

Drawing on his own experience of being asked how someone can be both Jewish and a follower of Jesus, Matt connects the Old and New Testaments as two acts of one story.

They also discuss spiritual conflict, God’s faithfulness, and Matt’s conviction that the church has not replaced the Jewish people.

For anyone who has wondered where they belong in the Bible’s story, this conversation offers a way to explore that question while taking its Jewish roots seriously.

Key Takeaways

● Matt explains God’s choice of Israel as a calling to bless the nations, rather than a declaration that everyone else matters less.

● Reading the Old and New Testaments together helps make sense of Jesus’ identity, teaching, and place in the biblical story.

● Matt describes spiritual conflict as part of the Bible’s larger story, while acknowledging how unfamiliar that idea can sound to someone exploring faith.

● Matt believes God remains faithful to His promises to the Jewish people. He distinguishes that conviction from agreement with every decision made by Israel’s government.

● You do not need to understand every part of the Bible to begin exploring it. Matt invites listeners to look for the connections and consider where God may already have been present in their own lives.

Chapter Markers

00:00 - Does Having a Chosen People Mean God Picks Favorites?

07:32 - Israel’s Struggles and the Bible’s Spiritual Battle

16:03 - Where Jesus Fits in the Story

21:43 - Has the Church Replaced Israel?

28:38 - Finding Your Place in the Story

Resources

● The Jewish Road - The ministry Matt and his father started to help people connect the Bible’s Jewish roots with faith in Jesus. Its website includes their podcast, articles, and teaching resources.

● He Was There All Along: Finding Jesus in the First Half - Matt’s 30-day journey through the promises and connections that lead toward Jesus’ birth. He describes a book, a YouVersion reading plan, short daily videos, and a Jesse tree ornament set. Explore the resources through The Jewish Road.

● The 30-Minute Bible - By Craig G. Bartholomew and Paige P. Vanosky. Recommended in the outro as an approachable way to understand the Bible’s larger story.

● InterVarsity Press - Thanked in the outro for supporting the reach of the podcast.

Share this conversation with someone who has wondered why God chose Israel or how the two halves of the Bible fit together. Have a question you would like the show to explore? Send it to Clear Faith for a possible future episode.

Music licensed through Soundstripe.

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Music: “[ctrl]” (Instrumental Version) by Lalinea

Licensed through Artlist.

SPECIAL OFFER | As a listener of the show, you can get 25% off The 30-Minute Bible by using the code IVPOD25 at checkout at ivpress.com. We hope you enjoy this season!

Episode Summary

What happens when you get the thing you thought would finally be enough, and still want more?

Bobby McGraw talks with Joshua Becker, author and founder of Becoming Minimalist, about possessions, achievement, and where we look for security.

Joshua remembers a Saturday spent cleaning his garage while his five-year-old son waited outside for him to play. That moment changed what he wanted to own and how he wanted to spend his time.

But owning less did not end every struggle. Joshua also shares how reaching the New York Times bestseller list left him wanting a higher spot or another week on the list.

He explains how minimalism helped him see Jesus’ teachings about money and generosity differently, and why he looks to God for the contentment achievement cannot give him.

If you keep moving the finish line, this conversation offers a chance to consider what you’re hoping the next thing will do for you.

Key Takeaways

● Possessions can cost more than money. Caring for them can take time and attention away from the people you love.

● Owning less does not automatically end the need to prove yourself. Joshua still recognizes that pull in his accomplishments.

● Minimalism, as Joshua describes it, means owning what you need so you can give more attention to what matters.

● Giving away excess possessions helped Joshua understand Jesus’ teachings as a better way to live, rather than only a demand to sacrifice.

● Joshua finds his foundation for contentment in God’s care. For those curious about Jesus, he suggests exploring a church with someone they trust or reading Mark or John.

Chapter Markers

00:00 - Why More Never Seems Like Enough

05:35 - The Garage Moment That Changed Joshua’s Life

10:00 - Money, Possessions, and the Cost of Wanting More

16:12 - Finding Security in God and Rethinking Jesus’ Teachings

21:28 - Where to Start Exploring Jesus

Resources

● JoshuaBecker.com - Joshua’s recommended starting point for his books, projects, and other work.

● Becoming Minimalist - Joshua’s website about intentionally owning less.

Listen to the full episode of You Asked, Let’s Talk, and share this conversation with someone wondering why the next achievement never seems to feel like enough. Have a question of your own? Send it to Clear Faith for a possible future conversation.

SPECIAL OFFER | As a listener of the show, you can get 25% off The 30-Minute Bible by using the code IVPOD25 at checkout at ivpress.com. We hope you enjoy this season!

How do you figure out what you’re supposed to do with your life without letting your job become your identity?

Leadership expert Brad Lominick joins Bobby McGraw to talk about the difference between calling and assignment, and how the “breadcrumbs” throughout our lives can reveal the gifts and patterns that have been there all along.

Brad also opens up about his own leadership failures, learning to separate identity from influence, and walking away from a highly visible season at Catalyst.

Along the way, they explore curiosity, relational intelligence, and why doing your work well matters.

For anyone navigating purpose, career changes, leadership, or questions about faith, this conversation is an invitation to get curious about who you are and where you’re headed.

• Look for “breadcrumbs” from your past that reveal your natural gifts and wiring.
• Your current assignment is not the same thing as your calling or identity.
• Self-awareness only matters if you’re willing to act on what you learn.
• Ending one season well can free you to fully enter the next.
• Curiosity and relational intelligence can make a meaningful difference in other people’s lives.

00:00 - Meet Brad Lominick

01:13 - Finding His Path from Oklahoma to Leadership

02:46 - Following the Breadcrumbs in Your Life

05:10 - Calling vs. Assignment

07:11 - Finding Your Gifts, Passions, and Sweet Spot

10:02 - Leadership Lessons from the Ranch

13:16 - Learning to Lead Before You Feel Ready

17:01 - The Catalyst Years

18:02 - Meeting “Darb,” Brad’s Leadership Alter Ego

20:15 - Self-Awareness Isn’t Enough

22:01 - Doing the Hard Work of Leadership

25:39 - Knowing When a Season Is Ending

27:28 - How to Transition Well

30:05 - When Your Work Becomes Your Identity

32:19 - Finding What Is Truest About You

34:22 - Faithfulness in the Wrong Season

37:06 - Why We Need Relational Intelligence in the Age of AI

38:02 - Faith, Calling, and Vocation

41:06 - Can You Trust Faith After Leaders Fail?

43:21 - Moving Beyond Cynicism

46:34 - Why Brad Still Chooses to Follow Jesus

48:54 - Where to Connect with Brad