Hey friends, welcome back to Jesus the Legend — and welcome to 2026! I honestly can’t believe we’re here already.

This week’s episode isn’t about resolutions or pressure. It’s about what happens when we actually bring God what we have and allow Him to breathe on it. In this episode, I talk a bit about going deeper with Jesus, letting go of fear and old hurts, and discovering the freedom that comes when love doesn’t need armor anymore.

I also took a quick look at Matthew 13:44 from a slightly different angle — one that’s changed the way I see God, myself, and everyone around me.

I’m so excited for what 2026 is going to bring. Let’s jump in!

Intro/outro music licensed from Soundstripe (soundstripe.com)

Hey everyone, just popping in here really quick to let you know that I'm taking December off from posting, but I'll be back in January with new guests, new thoughts. And honestly, I'm already excited about what's coming. This year has been incredible. It's been such a blessing to me and hopefully to you as well.

And just want to say thank you. Thank you for listening. Thank you for supporting the podcast and for being along for the ride. It really means more than you know. So enjoy the holidays, Christmas, New Year's, all of it. Hug your loved ones. Slow down a little bit. Take it all in and breathe. And as always, remember you're amazing and you've got a huge purpose and destiny in front of you. I'll see you all in January.

Intro/outro music licensed from Soundstripe (soundstripe.com)

(Part 2 of 2) Hey everyone, welcome back to Jesus the Legend!

I’m genuinely excited for today’s guest - George Sarris—a speaker, storyteller, and thoughtful voice who has spent decades presenting clear, Bible-based messages to both the Church and the wider culture. George holds a Master of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Speech from Northwestern University bringing a unique blend of theological depth and communication expertise to everything he does.

George is an accomplished actor and spokesperson, with a résumé that includes names like American Express, Burger King, Honda, IBM, Zondervan, Pizza Hut and more.

And on top of all that, he has also written several books, including two that I’ve read and thoroughly enjoyed: Heaven’s Doors: Wider Than You Ever Believed! and its shorter companion, How Wide Are Heaven’s Doors?

You’re not going to want to miss this.

Intro/outro music licensed from Soundstripe (soundstripe.com)

(Part 1 of 2) Hey everyone, welcome back to Jesus the Legend!

I’m genuinely excited for today’s guest - George Sarris—a speaker, storyteller, and thoughtful voice who has spent decades presenting clear, Bible-based messages to both the Church and the wider culture. George holds a Master of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Speech from Northwestern University bringing a unique blend of theological depth and communication expertise to everything he does.

George is an accomplished actor and spokesperson, with a résumé that includes names like American Express, Burger King, Honda, IBM, Zondervan, Pizza Hut and more.

And on top of all that, he has also written several books, including two that I’ve read and thoroughly enjoyed: Heaven’s Doors: Wider Than You Ever Believed! and its shorter companion, How Wide Are Heaven’s Doors?

You’re not going to want to miss this.

Intro/outro music licensed from Soundstripe (soundstripe.com)

(Part 2 of 2) Welcome back to Jesus the Legend! Today we’re joined by a special guest, Michael Bahry — the author of an incredible book I absolutely loved, Hell is a Bad Word. I can’t recommend it highly enough!

After a long and successful career in construction, Michael decided to go back to school to learn more about his faith. In seven years, he earned two graduate degrees at Providence College, one in theology/early church history, and one in biblical studies; he graduated with distinction in both programs. He is an adjunct instructor at Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island and is dedicated to promoting the good news of Jesus.

He carries out this mission through his work with Fifty-Three: Five — a nonprofit organization he founded in 2014 that shares the Gospel of Jesus Christ by offering both spiritual and material support to those in need. He also speaks and teaches on what Jesus truly said — and didn’t say — about divine justice.

I’m really looking forward to this conversation, and I know you’re going to love it too.

Intro/outro music licensed from Soundstripe (soundstripe.com)

(Part 1 of 2) Welcome back to Jesus the Legend! Today we’re joined by a special guest, Michael Bahry — the author of an incredible book I absolutely loved, Hell is a Bad Word. I can’t recommend it highly enough!

After a long and successful career in construction, Michael decided to go back to school to learn more about his faith. In seven years, he earned two graduate degrees at Providence College, one in theology/early church history, and one in biblical studies; he graduated with distinction in both programs. He is an adjunct instructor at Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island and is dedicated to promoting the good news of Jesus.

He carries out this mission through his work with Fifty-Three: Five — a nonprofit organization he founded in 2014 that shares the Gospel of Jesus Christ by offering both spiritual and material support to those in need. He also speaks and teaches on what Jesus truly said — and didn’t say — about divine justice.

I’m really looking forward to this conversation, and I know you’re going to love it too.

Intro/outro music licensed from Soundstripe (soundstripe.com)

Hey friends, welcome back to Jesus the Legend. Today’s episode is really close to my heart—it’s a verse I’ve been coming back to for decades. A verse that’s shaped the way I look at everything. It’s Matthew 6:33.

Let me read it staring at verse 25:

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?

Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For it is the gentiles who seek all these things, and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Intro/outro music licensed from Soundstripe (soundstripe.com)

(Part 2 of 2) - Hey everyone, Welcome to Jesus the Legend. I’m really excited about today’s episode because we’ve got Pastor Chris Mathis from The Summit Church in Edmonton joining us. Chris carries the amazing and contagious message of life-giving hope through Jesus.

Shelly and I have known Chris and his wife Nikki—who, by the way, is an incredible worship leader—since, I think, around 2010.

We absolutely love them and are so proud of all that God’s done and continues to do through their lives and ministry.

Chris and Nikki both have hearts to see people understand their true identity as beloved sons and daughters of God—and to live out of that place of peace and abundance that Jesus promised.

They’re also passionate about church planting and oversee the Summit Church Movement, a grassroots network they founded back in 2009 in Florida.

This conversation is going to be rich—I know you’re going to be encouraged so let’s jump in!

Intro/outro music licensed from Soundstripe (soundstripe.com)