Wisdom for the Wilderness

Today Dr. Hutchens has a conversation with YOU. Yes, you. In Gateway Seminary's recently published Journal of Theology, Dr. Hutchens contributed an article about the recurring motif of "great trees" found in four locations in the Bible. 

Dr. Mark Warnock joins the podcast today to talk about the pastoral leadership crisis; the slow avalanche of declining religious engagement, the expected retirement or passing away of current spiritual leaders within the next decade, and the new generation of leaders. Church residencies play a vital role in training new ministry leaders, bridging the gap between academic study and practical ministry application.

Josh Weidmann joins the podcast this week. He is senior pastor at Grace Chapel in Denver, CO, and a certified biblical counselor. Pastor Weidmann and Dr. Hutchens discuss an increasingly important topic in the world of developing technology; screen time. TV's, computers, and phones have taken over many of our lives. It can be hard even for adults to take a break from the internet. Today's episode explores biblical principles for managing children's screen time and navigating a device-saturated culture. Dr. Hutchens and Pastor Weidmann also provide practical advice and suggestions on how to enforce healthy screen time boundaries.<...

Charles Haddon Spurgeon maintained unwavering biblical conviction despite the hardships that surrounded him. On this episode, Dr. Hutchens and Matt Perry discuss the life, ministry, and enduring theological impact of Charles Spurgeon. They also analyze Spurgeon's approach to preaching and how it remains applicable to modern pastoral work places like Denver and Fort Collins.

Brandon Dupre returns to discuss the Old Testament book of Jonah with Dr. Josh Hutchens. They focus on Jonah's reluctance to preach to Nineveh which is contrasted with the faith of Pagans along his journey and with the compassionate responses of the Ninevites upon hearing Jonah's message. Their conversation underscores the importance of compassion in missionary work, drawing parallels between Jonah's story and the broader themes of biblical theology and the role of God's mercy and discipline.

2026 is the 70th anniversary of the Colorado Baptist General Convention and the 30th anniversary of the Rocky Mountain Campus of Gateway Seminary. Claudean Boatman joins the podcast this week to reflect with Dr. Hutchens on the on the history of Southern Baptist missions in Colorado. They talk about the real grassroots efforts it took to create the Colorado Convention and they highlight several leaders like Miss Nicy Murphy. They also discuss the importance of theological education, the challenges of ministry in rural areas, and the need for local leaders to sustain and grow the faith in Colorado.

Stacy is back to discuss modesty with her husband! Stacy and Josh discuss the biblical background and wisdom for modesty, particularly in the context of purity culture in America. They address the historical context and common misconceptions that have arisen as the culture has shifted with time, and they emphasize the importance of modesty as a reflection of internal character and respect for others, referencing 1 Timothy 2:9-10 and 1 Peter 3:3-4.

Dr. Josh Hutchens and Isaac Dzimbiri, director of Gospel Life Global Missions in Malawi, have known each other for years and have served in the field together. In today's episode, these old friends discuss the importance of friendship in missions, drawing parallels to the Apostle Paul's relationships. They address criticisms of Westernization and Christianity's impact on African culture, emphasizing its positive contributions.

The best guest ever joins the podcast this week, Stacy Hutchens, Dr. Josh Hutchens' wife! Together, they discuss the role of a pastor, focusing on the most prevalent models of pastoral ministry in American churches. Josh and Stacy emphasize the vulnerabilities of those models, such as the church's dependence on one leader and the potential for moral failures, and advocate instead for a New Testament model of plural pastor elders, emphasizing the benefits of shared leadership, wisdom, and stability.

In the first episode of our new season as the official podcast of Gateway Seminary’s Rocky Mountain Campus, Dr. Josh Hutchens talks with Brandon Dupre, pastor of Overland Church North Fort Collins. Together, they discuss the importance of understanding the culture we are called to reach and explore six “false gospels” that shape life along Colorado’s Front Range—the good life, self-creation, wellness, social progress, niceness, and nature. Throughout the conversation, they examine how these cultural narratives promise identity, purpose, and fulfillment but ultimately fall short of the hope found in Christ, offering practical insight into faithfully proclaimin...

We are back! Our first episode of season three airs on September 8th. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch on YouTube.

In this heartfelt final episode of Wisdom for the Wilderness with Pastors Zack and Josh, they sit down to tell the full story of Overland Church — from the very beginning to where it stands today.

Pastor Zack shares how the Lord moved his heart toward church planting while serving at Buck Run Baptist Church in Kentucky, the difficult decision to leave the Bible Belt for Fort Collins, Colorado, and the bold step of faith their family took in 2017. Hear the stories of the small core team that moved west, the miraculous way God provided their building, the ch...

In this episode of Wisdom for the Wilderness, Pastors Zack and Josh tackle the growing conversation around Protestants—especially young men—converting to Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and high-church traditions. They examine the actual data (spoiler: Catholicism is flat or declining overall, and more Catholics are becoming evangelicals than the reverse), the cultural and emotional attractions to liturgical worship, and the real frustrations many feel with modern evangelicalism’s seeker-sensitive, entertainment-driven approach.

The pastors then dive deep into the core theological differences: justification by faith alone versus faith plus works, the authority of Scripture versus tradition and the Pope...

In this episode of Wisdom for the Wilderness, Pastors Zack and Josh address one of the most powerful cultural forces shaping our world today: expressive individualism — the idea that your deepest feelings define you, and the highest goal in life is discovering and expressing your “true self” no matter the cost.

They explore:

In this episode of Wisdom for the Wilderness, Pastors Zack and Josh tackle the latest wave of UFO and alien headlines — including President Trump’s promised disclosures, congressional hearings, and claims that alien revelation could shake people’s faith or drive them to church.

With honesty and biblical clarity, they discuss:

In this heartfelt and transparent episode of Wisdom for the Wilderness, founding pastor Zack Thurman and Pastor Josh sit down to share the difficult news of Zack’s upcoming departure from Overland Church. With honesty, tears, laughter, and deep pastoral care, they walk the church through the emotions and practical realities of transitioning from its founding pastor to the next shepherd.

Zack opens up about the internal wrestling, the Lord’s clear leading, and the mixed feelings of deep love for Overland paired with obedience to God’s new assignment in West Palm Beach, Florida. He shares the ti...

In this episode of Wisdom for the Wilderness, Pastors Zack and Josh sit down with special guest Chris Parrish, pastor of Buck Run Baptist Church and their sending church leader. Drawing from years of pastoral experience and deep friendship, they explore one of the most practical and biblical questions in church life: What makes a good church member?

They begin with why meaningful, formal church membership is thoroughly biblical—not a country club, but a covenant community modeled after the body of Christ in 1 Corinthians. Chris and the hosts unpack the real difference between simply attending church an...

In this timely episode, Pastors Zack and Josh tackle one of the most discussed worldviews of our generation: Islam. With headlines involving the new mayor of New York City (Zohran Mamdani), immigration debates in Europe and the U.S., conflicts like the recent Operation Epic Fury against Iran, and ongoing cultural shifts, Christians need a clear, biblical understanding of what Islam actually teaches.

The pastors explain:

In this timely and weighty episode, Pastors Zack and Josh explore just war theory—a historic Christian framework for thinking about when (and how) war can be morally justified in a broken, sinful world. Drawing from Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Romans 13, and the Sermon on the Mount, they walk through the classic criteria of justice before war, during war, and after war.

As the podcast releases roughly 44–45 days into Operation Epic Fury (the U.S. and Israeli campaign against Iran that began February 28, 2026), the conversation applies these principles to real headlines: preventing a nuclear-armed Iran, targeting military capabilities whil...

In this episode, Pastors Josh and Zack tackle a listener question about boycotting businesses that promote non-biblical values—especially around LGBTQ+ issues like Pride Month displays at Target. But they quickly move to what they see as the bigger, more personal issue: How do Christians faithfully navigate secular workplaces when companies push agendas that conflict with biblical convictions?

Topics covered include:

In this follow-up to Pastor Zack's sermon on 1 Timothy 2:11-15, Pastors Josh and Zack sit down to answer your questions about women in the church, complementarianism, and what the Bible teaches about gender roles in leadership, the home, and beyond.

They recap the key passage—"Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man..."—and explain why Paul grounds his instruction in creation order (Adam formed first, then Eve) and the Fall, rather than temporary cultural issues in Ephesus.

The pastors affi...

In this special episode of Wisdom for the Wilderness, Pastors Zack and Josh reflect on the profound mix of sorrow and joy in "gospel goodbyes" as Overland Church commissions and sends Pastor Brandon Dupré and a launch team to plant Overland Church North Fort Collins. With rapid growth and new homes in the area, this crosstown plant (launching Easter Sunday) represents bold obedience to the Great Commission: "Go and make disciples."

They share candidly about the pain of losing dear friends and key servants (echoing the earlier Durango plant's impact—dozens of baptisms, first-generation believers, and multiplication tha...

In this episode of Wisdom for the Wilderness, Pastors Zack Thurman and Josh Hutchens tackle a listener question: "What do you think about IVF?" Drawing from personal family experiences with infertility, they offer deep compassion for the "unique sorrow" of longing for children in a broken world—echoing biblical stories like Rachel and Hannah.

They explain the IVF process plainly (egg retrieval, lab fertilization, implantation, surplus embryos), then walk through major ethical concerns from a biblical worldview: life begins at conception, embryos are image-bearers of God, routine destruction/freezing of embryos equates to loss of life, genetic se...

In this listener Q&A episode of Wisdom for the Wilderness, Pastors Zack Thurman and Josh Hutchens tackle a pressing question: How do we discern false teachers in an age flooded with Christian books, sermons, videos, and online content? Building on recent sermons from 1 Timothy and our episode on theological triage, the pastors define key terms—heresy (denial of core gospel truths leading to damnation) vs. error (disagreements on secondary matters)—and explain orthodoxy through historic creeds like the Nicene.

They warn against movements like Word of Faith, prosperity gospel, and New Apostolic Reformation as crossing into heresy...

In this follow-up to last week's discussion on receiving criticism, Pastors Zack Thurman and Josh Hutchens explore how to cultivate true critical thinking as Christians—without slipping into a critical, fault-finding spirit. 

We live in a world of two ditches: naive acceptance of everything (being tossed to and fro by every idea) or chronic cynicism that sees problems in everyone and everything. Social media often amplifies both extremes, from blind shares to endless "yeah, but" comments. The goal? Intellectual seriousness grounded in God's objective truth, combined with relational humility, grace, and love—thinking carefully while speaking truth in lo...

In this episode, pastors discuss the biblical approach to receiving, evaluating, and giving criticism—especially in leadership, faith, and daily life. Learn how to distinguish godly critique from ungodly critique, handle it with grace, and grow through feedback.

Summary

In this episode, the hosts discuss the significance of the book of Proverbs in the Christian life, emphasizing its role as a source of wisdom and practical guidance. They explore common misinterpretations of Proverbs, the genre of wisdom literature, and the importance of understanding the context and guiding principles for reading these texts. The conversation highlights the balance between applying Proverbs in daily life while recognizing their nature as principles rather than absolute promises. The hosts also address the cultural influences on wisdom and the necessity of grounding one's understanding in a relationship with Christ.

Join Pastors Zack and Josh on Wisdom for the Wilderness as they tackle a timely topic: video games and grown-up Christians. Building on a previous discussion about kids and gaming, this episode shifts focus to adults—who, statistically, make up the largest group of gamers (with the average age around 35–36 and nearly 60% of adults playing weekly).

The pastors approach the conversation with humility—admitting neither is a big gamer themselves—while applying a biblical worldview to evaluate this popular hobby. They compare video games to other pastimes (like hunting, biking, or riding motorcycles), emphasizing that hobbies should suppleme...

In this episode of Wisdom for the Wilderness, Pastors Zack and Josh dive deep into why the family remains the most foundational institution in society—designed by God from creation, not invented by humans. Drawing from Genesis, they unpack God's blueprint for marriage as a lifelong covenant between one man and one woman, the call to be fruitful and multiply, and how male-female complementarity reflects the image of God and fulfills humanity's mission.

They address hard realities in a fallen world: broken families, divorce culture, fatherlessness as the top predictor of societal ills (incarceration, po...

*Note: This episode was recorded prior to the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti on January 24, 2026, in Minneapolis. That event is not covered in the discussion.*

In this episode, Pastors Josh and Zack discuss a recent disruption at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota—a fellow Southern Baptist congregation in the SEND Network—where anti-ICE protesters interrupted a worship service to protest a lay pastor's role with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). They explore the broader context, including tensions in Minnesota around ICE operations, the tragic shooting of Renee Good, and ongoing debates over immigration enfo...

Welcome to Wisdom for the Wilderness, the weekly podcast from the pastors of Overland Church, where Zack and Josh dive into the Bible, theology, and real-life wisdom for everyday believers.In this episode, we tackle two dangerous extremes that every Christian faces daily: legalism (adding man-made rules to earn God's favor, like the Pharisees—or even Eve adding "don't touch" to God's command) and antinomianism (abusing grace as a license to sin, thinking "once saved, always saved" means obedience doesn't matter).

We explore why we constantly swerve into these ditches—one side condemns us for fall...

Kick off 2026 with Pastors Zack and Josh on Wisdom for the Wilderness as they reflect on standout episodes from 2025 (and a couple from 2024) and share six essential pieces of wisdom to equip you for the year ahead.In this special year-end review, they revisit critical topics every Christian family needs:

Kick off 2026 with Pastors Zack and Josh on Wisdom for the Wilderness as they tackle a timely question: Is ambition a good thing for Christians?

In this New Year's episode, the pastors explore the dangers of worldly ambition—rooted in pride, vanity, fame, or materialism—while making a strong case that the opposite extreme (laziness or aimlessness) is not the biblical answer. Instead, they call listeners to pursue holy ambition: ambitious goals, hard work, and excellence in every area of life (business, fitness, education, creativity, or even the humblest job), all directed toward the glory o...

As 2025 wraps up and 2026 approaches, Pastors Zack and Josh encourage listeners to evaluate and renew their commitment to Bible reading in this final episode of the year. They discuss the value of New Year's resolutions for spiritual habits, the dangers of neglecting God's Word (drawing from Nehemiah's "bring back the book"), and why spending time in Scripture is the most profitable use of your time.

The pastors share practical strategies: the importance of a intentional Bible reading plan with a well-balanced diet (Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs); tips for building the "reading muscle" in a...

In this episode of Wisdom for the Wilderness, Pastors Zack and Josh tackle a listener question that many Christian parents wrestle with: How should we think about letting our kids play video games?

Drawing from Scripture and personal experience, they explore a biblical framework for discipleship in a digital age—examining issues like stewardship of time, the shaping of affections and imagination, dopamine hits, online dangers, violent content, and the risk of idolatry. With charity and nuance, they discuss why video games aren’t neutral, how they differ from past generations’ gaming, and practical ways to guide childre...

In this heartfelt episode of Wisdom for the Wilderness, Pastors Zack and Josh tackle the often-thorny reality of spending holidays with extended family. Drawing from personal stories—like Thanksgiving mishaps, in-law dynamics, and encounters with "that" opinionated relative—they explore why many family conflicts stem from our own expectations and fragility rather than outright toxicity.

With humor and biblical insight, they offer practical advice: adjust your expectations for real (dysfunctional) families, choose battles wisely, avoid unnecessary debates on politics or hot-button issues, protect your spouse and kids, and focus on loving others unconditionally—even when you disagree. They em...

In this timely episode of Wisdom for the Wilderness, Pastors Zack and Josh tackle the explosive rise of artificial intelligence from a distinctly Christian perspective. They celebrate the real ways AI is already helping ministry (faster Bible translation, podcast editing, live sermon translation, and more), while sounding the alarm on its deepest dangers: intellectual laziness, plagiarism, the erosion of deep thinking, the spread of fake information, and the soulless imitation of human creativity and prayer.

With humor, pastoral care, and biblical conviction, they urge believers to use AI as a tool, never a replacement f...

In this episode of Wisdom for the Wilderness, the hosts discuss the intriguing topic of angels and demons, particularly in the context of the Advent season. They explore the nature of angels, their roles as messengers, and the reality of spiritual warfare involving demons. The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding the spiritual realm, the authority of believers, and practical ways to engage in spiritual warfare through prayer and scripture. The hosts encourage listeners to live boldly in their faith, recognizing the victory of Christ over spiritual adversaries.

In this episode of Wisdom for the Wilderness, Pastors Josh and [Co-host Name, if known] tackle the crucial question of how to discern modern Christian trends—from new theological movements to popular personalities—to determine if they are truly led by the Holy Spirit or merely products of culture and novelty.

They discuss the essential role of the Bible as the sole and final authority for truth and practice, while acknowledging the challenge of differing interpretations. The conversation covers:

The Speed of Trends: How social media and content saturation accelerate the spread of new movements.

The...

In this episode of Wisdom for the Wilderness, the hosts celebrate one year of the podcast while discussing the importance of multiplication in the church. They emphasize the need for church planting, particularly in North Fort Collins, and explore the biblical basis for multiplication through the Great Commission. The conversation highlights the significance of discipleship as a lifestyle, the necessity of multiplying leaders, and the sacrifices required for kingdom growth. Ultimately, they reflect on the worth of Jesus and the joy that comes from participating in His mission.