Bearded Theologians

In this episode of the Bearded Theologians podcast, Matt Franks and Zach Bechtold discussed their approaches to Lent this year. Connect with the Bearded Theologians at https://beardedtheologians.com/You can find the Beardcast on Youtube, Stitcher, Apple, Spotify, Castbox, or wherever else you listen to Podcast.

This week, Matt and Zach chat with Rev. Nathan Webb about his book, God and the Machine. Join us for a deep dive into navigating faith and technology in a rapidly changing digital landscape. Get the book: Available now on Amazon and Cokesbury! Check out the Church at https://www.checkpointchurch.com/ Find Nathan's website: https://www.nathanisbusy.com/home

The Bearded Theologians sit down with Austin McIlroy, the Master Brewer and co-founder of Cabin Boys Brewery in Tulsa, Oklahoma.We dive into Austin’s personal journey—from his beginnings in homebrewing to opening a staple of the Oklahoma craft beer scene. Austin also gives us the "origin story" of the brewery's brew: The Bearded Theologian.Beyond the recipes, we explore the heartbeat of Cabin Boys. Austin explains how their brewery is built on a foundation of community, hospitality, and gathering—a model that mirrors the best parts of the Church. It’s a conversation about craft, calling, and why the best theology often happens over a pint.Connect with Cabin Boys at www.cabinboysbrewery.comConnect with the Bearded Theologians atwww.beardedtheologians.com

Zach and Matt are getting real about the Bible. Join them as they wrestle with a big question: Why is Scripture actually important? Beyond the theory, they share their personal reflections and engage in a spiritual check-in, looking back at their week to answer: "Where have we seen God at work?" If you're looking for a grounded, spiritual perspective on faith in practice, this one is for you.

Zach and Matt explored the concept of discipleship growth, discussing how individuals can evolve in their faith while acknowledging past beliefs and practices that may no longer align with their current understanding. They reflected on personal and communal growth, emphasizing the importance of recognizing the Holy Spirit's ongoing work in their lives. Both speakers shared experiences of spiritual development, including Zach's observation of a youth-led worship service and Matt's journey of healing and renewal in his congregation. They highlighted the necessity of making space for growth, acknowledging that change can be painful but ultimately enriching. The conversation concluded with a reminder of the importance of intentional discipleship and the joy of witnessing God's work in everyday life.Connect with the Bearded Theologians at https://www.linktr.ee/BeardedtheologiansYou can find the Beardcast on Youtube, Stitcher, Apple, Spotify, Castbox, or wherever else you listen to Podcast.

Happy 10th Anniversary to The Bearded Theologians! 

In this episode, we sit down with Reverend Kaury Edwards. He is the author of Failure Sparked Innovation. We talk about why our biggest setbacks are often the catalysts for our greatest breakthroughs.Enjoyed this conversation? Make sure to SUBSCRIBE for more interviews on leadership, innovation, and ministry.

This week, Matt and Zach chat about week three in the From Generation to Generation Advent Worship series. The title is We Can Choose A Better Way. The Advent Word is Joy.Check us out on most spaces you can listen to podcast. Don't forget to like and subscribe. The 7 Generation Article ⁠https://www.ecoresolution.earth/resources/seven-generation-thinking⁠

It’s Week 2 of Advent, and the Bearded Theologians are continuing the journey From Generation to Generation. This week, we aren't bypassing the messy stuff—we are diving straight into fear.Listeners interested in a copy can reach out to Zach or Matt to get a copy. Join Matt and Zach for a conversation filled with hope, humor, and the reminder that every story matters. Connect with the Bearded Theologians at https://www.linktr.ee/Beardedtheologians You can find the Beardcast on Youtube, Stitcher, Apple, Spotify, Castbox, or wherever else you listen to Podcast.

For our first week in Advent in the From Generation To Generation series, Matt and Zach discuss how tradition, service, and storytelling shape our faith. They highlight how stories passed from generation to generation keep communities grounded.Listeners interested in a copy can reach out to Zach or Matt to get a copy. Join Matt and Zach for a conversation filled with hope, humor, and the reminder that every story matters. Connect with the Bearded Theologians at https://www.linktr.ee/Beardedtheologians You can find the Beardcast on Youtube, Stitcher, Apple, Spotify, Castbox, or wherever else you listen to Podcast.

We recently had the immense pleasure of hosting an insightful interview with the Reverend Dr. Casey Sigmund, a dynamic leader whose work is reigniting passion in ministry. Dr. Sigmund currently serves at St. Paul's School of Theology and is the visionary behind the Pause Play Center for Preachers. The conversation explored various aspects of preaching, including creative approaches, the importance of presence and energy, and the evolution of preaching in the digital age, with participants sharing personal experiences and insights about sermon preparation and delivery. Find them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pauseplaycenterFind Caey's book here: Engaging the Gadfly: Reflective Online, Hybrid, and In-Person Preaching in a Digital Age Find the Pause/Play Center Website: https://www.pauseplaycenter.com

Don't miss our latest conversation with Reverend Joe Graves, a United Methodist pastor and church planter!Joe shares his incredibly personal and practical experiences, diving into:⛪️ His journey as part of a clergy couple and the realities of balancing leadership and family life in ministry.

How often do we truly listen to understand instead of just waiting for our turn to speak?

The Bearded Theologians were honored to host Chris Wilterdink who is the Executive Director, Congregational Vitality & Intentional Discipleship; Director, Young People’s Ministries for The United Methodist Church. We explored a few things about discipleship. Plus, learn about resources for young people at UMCYoungpeople.org. Connect with the Bearded Theologians at https://www.linktr.ee/Beardedtheologians#TheBeardedTheologians #UMC #ChurchPodcast #Vitality #NewEpisode #Faith

This week we sat down and talked about humility.Connect with us at www.beardedtheologians.com

The Bearded Theologians welcomed back Rev. Justin Coleman to discuss his work as Senior Pastor and his insights on the Wesleyan Quadrilateral, which he explored through personal experiences and spiritual practices. Justin shared his journey with Ignatian spiritual exercises and emphasized the importance of balancing scriptural, traditional, and experiential approaches in modern Methodist spirituality.You can find his article that we reference here: https://tinyurl.com/5bhttww7Connect with the Bearded Theologians at https://www.linktr.ee/BeardedtheologiansYou can find the Beardcast on Youtube, Stitcher, Apple, Spotify, Castbox, or wherever else you listen to Podcast.

This week Matt and Zach caught up with Rev. Matt Rawle (https://www.mattrawle.com/) to check in on how things are going.

Matt and Zach sat down with Rev. Kellen Roggenbuck who is the Executive Director of NextGen Ministries at Wisconsin Conference United Methodist Church. Kellen has a new book out called Called Out: Discerning God's Plan for Your Church and the Beards talked about the book and a few other things. Check it out.Check out us out at www.beardedtheologians.com

In this episode of the show, Zach and Matt dive deep into the first psalm, Psalm 1. They explore the psalm's central themes of righteousness and wickedness, discussing its structure and balance between lament and celebration. The hosts also draw connections between the psalm's imagery and biblical creation narratives, specifically from Genesis 1 and 2. Zach and Matt highlight the significance of being "planted by a stream of water" and how this imagery relates to God's intimate knowledge of the righteous. They also touch on the psalm's importance in setting the tone for the entire Book of Psalms and its relevance to understanding God's love and grace in various life situations. Join them as they unpack the meaning and enduring relevance of this foundational text. Connect with the Bearded Theologians at https://www.linktr.ee/Beardedtheologians You can find the Beardcast on Youtube, Stitcher, Apple, Spotify, Castbox, or wherever else you listen to Podcast.