Simon the Zealot is one of the most mysterious figures among the disciples, identified only by his political label. If Matthew the Apostle was seen as a sellout to Rome, Simon would have been viewed as a patriot—aligned with the zealots, a movement marked by resistance and violence against Roman rule.

Why would Jesus call someone shaped by that kind of ideology, and then place him in the same circle as a Roman collaborator? This episode explores how Jesus builds a community that forces enemies to sit at the same table, and what that says about calling, identity, and kingdom politics.

Matthew the Apostle was an outsider everywhere he went. Rejected by his own people yet never fully accepted by the Romans he worked for, Matthew lived between two worlds. As a tax collector, he profited from the very fishermen and villages where Jesus was performing miracles. So why would Jesus call a man many viewed as a traitor? In this episode, we explore Matthew’s calling and what grace looks like for people no one thinks belong.

On our first episode of this season Garhett and Jermaine are joined by their good friend Pastor Justin Mertz. We explore not just the call of Peter, but the personality that Jesus willingly took on with much polishing needed. Peter is called the rock, but most of his story looks more like a rolling stone. We narrow in on the moment the disciples mistook Jesus for a ghost on the water. What does fear, chaos, and uncertainty reveal about faith and even your unique call?

The book of The Gospel of John is often chosen as the favorite Gospel of many Christians. John is known as the disciple Jesus loved, who was present in some of the most intimate moments of Christ’s earthly ministry. But one detail we often overlook is just how young John was when Jesus called him. What does John’s story reveal about calling, risk, and the willingness to follow God at a young age? Joining us for this conversation is Jeff Akenberger, chaplain at Great Lakes Adventist Academy.

What if Jesus showed up in the year 2026 instead of A.D. 27 and simply said, “Follow Me”?

Can you imagine being one of those twelve? What type of individuals would Jesus choose? It's not like today's common job descriptions are farmers, tax collectors, or fishermen. Would he choose a liberal or a conservative? Someone privileged or another who has been overlooked? someone well informed and another naive or ignorant?

What places would he choose from? Would he have walked the halls of college campuses and called students, or showed up in the mechanic shop and called a machinist? Would he be limited to just choosing the well, or would he consider the broken? What about the unconverted?

What are some questions a modern disciple would ask after hearing "follow me"? Jesus, does your program consider proper boundaries to prevent things like spiritual burnout? Will we have enough time for my self-care routine? I can follow you, Jesus, but I see a nationalist already in your ranks. How will we work together?

Here at God Ink, our curiosity often gets the best of us. And in this season, we can’t help but notice the tension as Jesus continued to call His disciples, these were men and women, who were from all walks of life, all with different stories, yet all converged under the influence of this brilliant leader who was so much more than just that. Like you, we often wondered how this all came together.

Join us May 25th, as we piece together a biographical sketch of each individual chosen by Jesus and listen as we unpack the special role Christ assigned each one as He worked to build up Heaven’s Kingdom.

At the edge of the Promised Land, Moses commits a tragic irony: he calls the children of Israel rebels while himself rebelling against the clear command of God.

One moment, one choice, and it cost him the very goal his entire life and ministry had been moving toward. After decades of pressure complaints, betrayal, exhaustion, and loneliness.

This was not a failure of belief but of obedience; God said, “Speak to the rock,” and Moses struck it, misrepresenting God’s character by reflecting anger where God intended mercy.

This forces the hard question: how does God view rebellion when it comes from His chosen leaders does He excuse it because the burden was heavy or understand the breaking point enough to give a pass? Scripture answers plainly: God understands, but He does not excuse; leadership does not lower the standard, it raises it. Moses lost the land but not the Lord he forfeited the destination, not the relationship grace remained, yet consequences stood, reminding us that pressure never replaces obedience and that how we represent God matters most.

In this episode, we explore the startling story of Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, who faced God’s severe judgment for offering unauthorized fire in the sanctuary. We unpack what this moment reveals about God’s holiness, the seriousness of worship, and the lessons we can apply to our own lives today.

In this episode, we dive into one of Israel’s darkest moments: the golden calf rebellion. Aaron caves, the people break loose, and shame floods the camp. We trace how idolatry doesn’t just distort worship—it drives a wedge between us and the God who rescued us.