In this episode of Built for Durango, Bob and Daniel unpack Daniel’s sermon on one of the most sobering figures in Scripture: Judas Iscariot.

Judas didn’t fall in a single moment. His betrayal was the result of small, incremental choices — compromises that slowly pulled him away from Christ. He had proximity to Jesus, witnessed miracles, heard the teaching firsthand. But he carried a competing vision of what the Messiah should be, and when Jesus didn’t fit his expectations, Judas chose his own path.

The conversation centers on a hard but necessary distinction: remorse is not the same as repentance. Judas felt regret. Peter also failed—but Peter turned back. Judas tried to fix things himself. Peter sought mercy.

This episode challenges listeners to examine their own subtle compromises, hidden agendas, and attempts at self-reliance. The core message is clear: humility opens the door to grace. No matter how far we’ve drifted, forgiveness is available — but we must choose to turn toward Christ rather than manage our sin on our own.

This is a sober conversation — but also a hopeful one. Because repentance is always just a turn away.

The sermon explores the concept of “wasted opportunities” through the story of Judas, who, despite witnessing Jesus’ miracles, betrayed him. The focus is on the importance of belief and transformation, not just witnessing God’s work. The sermon also examines the process of choosing Judas’ replacement, Matthias, highlighting the need for self-reflection and awareness of potential pitfalls in one’s faith journey.

The sermon explores Judas’s betrayal of Jesus, highlighting his lack of belief as the root cause. It emphasizes the importance of belief in Jesus as the only way to salvation, challenging listeners to examine their own beliefs and prioritize their faith. The sermon also addresses the cultural discomfort with the idea of Jesus as the sole path to God, urging believers to embrace this truth.

The text explores the story of Judas and Peter, highlighting the importance of faithfulness and belief in Jesus. It emphasizes that while Judas had the opportunity to follow Jesus, he chose a path of disobedience and missed his chance. In contrast, Peter, despite his mistakes, remained faithful and ultimately became a leader of the church.

A prayer is offered for belief and faith in Jesus, asking for guidance and forgiveness. The prayer also extends encouragement to friends to persevere in their faith.

In this week’s episode of Built for Durango, Bob is joined by Pastor Brian Firle for his first appearance on the podcast following his second message in our new series on the Book of Acts.

But Brian isn’t calling it Acts of the Apostles. He’s calling it Acts of the Spirit—and that shift changes everything.

While Acts is often remembered for its miracles, bold preaching, and explosive church growth, Brian challenges listeners to look deeper. The real driver of the early church wasn’t human courage or strategy — it was the Holy Spirit. From the resurrection of Jesus to Pentecost and beyond, Scripture makes clear that the Spirit is the animating force behind every movement of faith.

Together, Bob and Brian unpack why this matters for us today. They explore the tension between information and transformation, Western intellectual skepticism toward the supernatural, and the hunger beneath it all for a God who is personal, relational, and near. Brian explains that the Spirit is not a fringe doctrine or mystical add-on, but the consistent way God has always worked—through power, presence, and relationship.

The conversation moves from theology to imagination. If God truly delights in being with His people — if the Spirit is still active — what could that mean for Durango? For our church? For our families, workplaces, and daily lives?

This episode invites listeners to recover a childlike openness to the Spirit’s movement. Not naïveté, but curiosity. Not hype, but hope. Because if Acts tells us anything, it’s...

When the Spirit moves, everything changes.