Forge Podcast: Conversations for the Journey

What if one of the most powerful ways to love people well is simply to listen—really listen?
Joe and Trace talk about the “magic” of being genuinely interested in others, and how that posture quietly reflects the heart of Jesus. From parenting moments to everyday conversations, they explore why attentiveness communicates value—and why our self-focused culture makes that harder than it should be.
We talk about what it means to be a “Christ follower” instead of just wearing the label “Christian,” and how deeper faith forms when we stop striving to manufacture fruit and start abiding in the Vine. They also reflect on humility, spiritual attack, and the freeing realization that you can’t carry your marriage, parenting, or ministry on your own strength.
God isn’t asking you to perform—He’s inviting you to be with Him. If you’ve been tired, reactive, or trying to force change through willpower, this is a call back to stillness, dependence, and the kind of faith that becomes real at home.

What if one of the most powerful ways to love people well is simply to listen—really listen?
Joe and Trace talk about the “magic” of being genuinely interested in others, and how that posture quietly reflects the heart of Jesus. From parenting moments to everyday conversations, they explore why attentiveness communicates value—and why our self-focused culture makes that harder than it should be.
We talk about what it means to be a “Christ follower” instead of just wearing the label “Christian,” and how deeper faith forms when we stop striving to manufacture fruit and start abiding in the Vine. They also reflect on humility, spiritual attack, and the freeing realization that you can’t carry your marriage, parenting, or ministry on your own strength.
God isn’t asking you to perform—He’s inviting you to be with Him. If you’ve been tired, reactive, or trying to force change through willpower, this is a call back to stillness, dependence, and the kind of faith that becomes real at home.

What happens when you step away from the noise—phones, schedules, pressure—and you finally sit still long enough to hear from God?
Joe and Steve record from a freezing men’s retreat morning, reflecting on a weekend shaped by quiet, Scripture-soaked teaching, and a felt invitation to stop striving and start abiding. They talk honestly about how hard “ten minutes with the Lord” can be, and why that simple rhythm might be the hinge point for spiritual clarity and peace.
We talk about what it looks like to bring the mountain back home: practicing proximity to the Holy Spirit, trading pride for humility, and learning to see the people God puts right in front of us. They also reflect on the power of shared stories—men receiving Jesus, brothers praying, and the ripple effect that carries into Monday morning.
God meets open hands. If you’ve been running on fumes, striving to hold it together, or craving a reset—this is an invitation to get low, listen closely, and let Jesus do what only He can do.

What happens when you step away from the noise—phones, schedules, pressure—and you finally sit still long enough to hear from God?
Joe and Steve record from a freezing men’s retreat morning, reflecting on a weekend shaped by quiet, Scripture-soaked teaching, and a felt invitation to stop striving and start abiding. They talk honestly about how hard “ten minutes with the Lord” can be, and why that simple rhythm might be the hinge point for spiritual clarity and peace.
We talk about what it looks like to bring the mountain back home: practicing proximity to the Holy Spirit, trading pride for humility, and learning to see the people God puts right in front of us. They also reflect on the power of shared stories—men receiving Jesus, brothers praying, and the ripple effect that carries into Monday morning.
God meets open hands. If you’ve been running on fumes, striving to hold it together, or craving a reset—this is an invitation to get low, listen closely, and let Jesus do what only He can do.

What if the breakthrough in your life starts with telling the truth?
In this episode, Joe and Steve pull back the curtain on what’s really happening inside Forge and the marriage ministry at Scottsdale Bible Church. From tear-filled moments at tables to couples flooding classrooms for help, the heartbeat is clear: vulnerability unlocks freedom.
We talk about leading from weakness, the power of confession, and why discipleship must be relational—not programmatic. Steve shares how pursuing men, rather than waiting on them, accelerates spiritual growth and multiplies leaders. The conversation then turns to marriage revival—how transparency from the pulpit created space for couples to admit they’re struggling and seek Christ-centered restoration.
Revival isn’t hype—it’s humility. If pride breaks, knees bend. And when knees bend, God moves.

What if the breakthrough in your life starts with telling the truth?
In this episode, Joe and Steve pull back the curtain on what’s really happening inside Forge and the marriage ministry at Scottsdale Bible Church. From tear-filled moments at tables to couples flooding classrooms for help, the heartbeat is clear: vulnerability unlocks freedom.
We talk about leading from weakness, the power of confession, and why discipleship must be relational—not programmatic. Steve shares how pursuing men, rather than waiting on them, accelerates spiritual growth and multiplies leaders. The conversation then turns to marriage revival—how transparency from the pulpit created space for couples to admit they’re struggling and seek Christ-centered restoration.
Revival isn’t hype—it’s humility. If pride breaks, knees bend. And when knees bend, God moves.

What happens when experience meets theology in real time?
In this episode, Joe and Steve unpack the tension and gift of stepping into pastoral ministry while still learning in seminary. Steve shares how studying theology at Dallas Theological Seminary is shaping him—not in abstraction, but in the middle of shepherding 450 men every Tuesday night.
We talk about deconstruction in culture, the responsibility of theological depth, and the challenge of preserving vulnerability as Forge continues to grow. As tables expand and new men walk in weekly, leadership must multiply without losing intimacy.
Out of that tension comes vision: raising up table leaders, developing apprentices, and launching a “Watchman” layer to protect the mission and steward revival. Growth is a gift—but only if it’s guarded with humility, prayer, and structure.

What happens when experience meets theology in real time?
In this episode, Joe and Steve unpack the tension and gift of stepping into pastoral ministry while still learning in seminary. Steve shares how studying theology at Dallas Theological Seminary is shaping him—not in abstraction, but in the middle of shepherding 450 men every Tuesday night.
We talk about deconstruction in culture, the responsibility of theological depth, and the challenge of preserving vulnerability as Forge continues to grow. As tables expand and new men walk in weekly, leadership must multiply without losing intimacy.
Out of that tension comes vision: raising up table leaders, developing apprentices, and launching a “Watchman” layer to protect the mission and steward revival. Growth is a gift—but only if it’s guarded with humility, prayer, and structure.

In this episode, Joe and Steve unpack the heart of spiritual freedom: understanding who you are in Christ and learning how to fight with truth. They talk about shame, pride, passivity, and the subtle ways the enemy steals identity from believers who should be walking in authority.
We talk about obedience as a lifestyle, not an event. Steve shares the story of leaving a successful career to step into full-time ministry, the fear that came with it, and the night he sensed God clearly calling him back to Scottsdale for a greater purpose. The conversation moves from theology to practice—bold prayer, spiritual gifts, fighting from victory, and what it looks like to actually “set captives free.”
Freedom isn’t a weekend experience. It’s a Spirit-led sanctification process. If you’ve been living anonymously, passively, or quietly bound, this conversation is an invitation to step into your authority in Christ.

In this episode, Joe and Steve unpack the heart of spiritual freedom: understanding who you are in Christ and learning how to fight with truth. They talk about shame, pride, passivity, and the subtle ways the enemy steals identity from believers who should be walking in authority.
We talk about obedience as a lifestyle, not an event. Steve shares the story of leaving a successful career to step into full-time ministry, the fear that came with it, and the night he sensed God clearly calling him back to Scottsdale for a greater purpose. The conversation moves from theology to practice—bold prayer, spiritual gifts, fighting from victory, and what it looks like to actually “set captives free.”
Freedom isn’t a weekend experience. It’s a Spirit-led sanctification process. If you’ve been living anonymously, passively, or quietly bound, this conversation is an invitation to step into your authority in Christ.