Episodi

  • Beauty From Ashes - Part 1 - Alex Seidler - Leadership/Stepping Into Your Kingdom Purpose

    Beauty From Ashes - Part 1 - Alex Seidler - Leadership/Stepping Into Your Kingdom Purpose
    Nov 10 2026

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    Is your joy still burning? Pastor Don has company in the studio this week: his longtime friend Alex Seidler, president and founder of The Gateway Project and founder of Forward Movement. The Gateway Project plants churches in gateway cities across the 10/40 Window. Forward Movement is a network that pours into pastors and leaders so they stay healthy and keep moving forward.

    Starting from 2 Timothy 2:2, PD and Alex talk about why leadership in the Kingdom was never meant to stop with us. It's meant to be passed on, multiplied, and released. Alex shares his journey from entering full-time ministry in 2006 to six years in East Asia, sharing the gospel with college students and leading campus church-planting teams. From there he went on to serve as Global Ministries Director with Elim Fellowship and now leads his own ministries.

    "Joy sustains calling. And when joy fades, calling fades with it." – Alex Seidler

    Find out more about Alex at The Gateway Project and Forward Movement.

    tgproject.org

    @forward.mvmt

    @seidlerfamilyministries

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    1 ora e 4 min
  • It Takes Faith Part 14

    It Takes Faith Part 14
    Nov 3 2026

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    Our journey through the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 is coming to a close, and Pastor Don asks the big question: now that we've looked at all these examples, what should we do about them? These men and women aren't in the Bible just for our admiration. The writer wants us to act. Gideon defeated an army as numerous as the sand of the seashore with a mere 300 men. A teenage David took down a nine-foot giant with nothing but a sling and a stone. We may never face a literal giant, but we'll all face giants of our own, and we don't go into battle alone, because Jesus fights for us. Pastor Don also explains why the world was not worthy of these heroes: their sacrifice and love weren't appreciated, and they kept going anyway. It takes faith to keep doing right when no one around you is, to stay godly and loving when people are unappreciative or even nasty, and to keep loving when your love is met with hatred. Jesus and Paul both told us persecution would come. Faith keeps going anyway.

    "…of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth." (Hebrews 11:38, NKJV)

    Action steps:

    1. Don't just admire, act. Pick one hero from Hebrews 11 and ask God to grow that same faith in you this week.
    2. Name your giant. Write down the battle you're facing and declare that Jesus is fighting it with you.
    3. Do right when no one else does. At work, at school, or at home, choose faithfulness even if you feel like you're the only one.
    4. Stay in character under pressure. When someone is rude or hostile toward your faith, ask the Holy Spirit to help you answer with grace instead of a bad attitude.
    5. Love through rejection. Pray this week for someone who has opposed or mistreated you (John 15:20; 2 Timothy 3:12).

    Subscribe to Talk About It with Pastor Don Smith so you don't miss the next episode, and share it with someone who needs encouragement to stay all in.

    📖 Pastor Don's new book With Total Abandon is out now: With Total Abandon on Amazon

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    34 min
  • It Takes Faith Part 13 - Rehab - The Ancestor of Jesus

    It Takes Faith Part 13 - Rehab - The Ancestor of Jesus
    Oct 27 2026

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    Rahab is the name that surprises people in Hebrews 11. She lived in Jericho, a city so violent and depraved that God marked it for destruction. Yet everyone there had the chance to believe, and the only one who did was a prostitute named Rahab. In this episode, Pastor Don looks at Hebrews 11:31 and Joshua 2:1–7: how Rahab came to faith, why God honored her even with her past, and what her story teaches us about standing alone with God. Like Noah, she believed while everyone around her didn't. Believers are still the minority today. It's easier to go with the flow, but we've been given the power to overcome, and we're motivated by those who went before us and won.

    "By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace." (Hebrews 11:31, NKJV)

    Action steps:

    1. Stand against the flow. Name one area where you've been going along with the crowd instead of with God, and take one step to change it this week.
    2. Remember God's mercy. God gave all of Jericho a chance to believe. Thank Him today for the chances He gave you.
    3. Let your past go. Rahab is remembered for her faith, not her past. Write down one thing you've let disqualify you, and give it to God in prayer.
    4. Stay committed. When opposition comes, read Hebrews 11 and let the heroes of faith remind you that it's possible to overcome.
    5. Open your door. Rahab's faith saved her whole family. Pray for one unbelieving family member or friend by name every day this week.

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    39 min
  • It Takes Faith Part 12 - Obeying The Odd Command Part 2

    It Takes Faith Part 12 - Obeying The Odd Command Part 2
    Oct 20 2026

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    Jericho didn't fall because of Israel's strength, strategy, or expertise. It fell because God's people trusted what He said and did it His way. In this episode, Pastor Don looks at Joshua 6:16–20 and Hebrews 11:30. For seven days, Israel marched around the city on a plan that looked ridiculous. They stayed patient, kept their mouths shut until the right moment, and kept going even when doubt crept in. Then the trumpets sounded, the people shouted, and the walls came down.

    Joshua had learned this lesson back at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:12–13). There, God's people couldn't move until the ram's horn sounded the long blast. God expects His instructions to be followed, and going our own way has consequences. Real victory takes humility, patience, and perseverance. It takes faith.

    "By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days." (Hebrews 11:30, NKJV)

    Action steps:

    1. Name your Jericho. Write down the one wall in your life that only God can bring down.
    2. Do it God's way. Is there an instruction from God you've been second-guessing because it doesn't make sense? Take one step of obedience this week.
    3. Keep marching. Don't quit on day six. Pick a set time each day this week to pray over your situation, even when you see no change.
    4. Watch your words. Israel stayed silent until God said to shout. Hold back complaints and doubt this week, and speak only faith over your situation.
    5. Give God the glory. When the wall falls, remember who brought it down. Thank Him out loud and share what He did with someone.

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    29 min
  • It Takes Faith Part 11 - Joshua - Obeying The Odd Command

    It Takes Faith Part 11 - Joshua - Obeying The Odd Command
    Oct 13 2026

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    "By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days." Last week we watched Israel walk out of Egypt and through the Red Sea on dry ground. Their faith wasn't perfect, and soon they were grumbling and complaining. Today we fast forward 40 years to Moses' successor, Joshua, and a new generation standing at the edge of the Promised Land.

    The first city in their way was Jericho, tightly shut and fortified. God's battle plan had no siege, no sneak attack, and no storming the gates. Instead He said: march around the city once a day for six days, then seven times on the seventh day, blow the trumpets, shout, and the walls will fall (Joshua 6:1–5). Joshua could have worried that his leaders would think he'd lost it. Instead he obeyed the odd command, and the people followed (Joshua 6:6–10). Sometimes faith means doing it God's way even when it doesn't make sense to us.

    Action steps

    • Name your Jericho: what wall is standing between you and what God has promised?
    • Ask God for His strategy, and write down what He tells you, even if it sounds strange.
    • Obey the odd command this week. Take the step God showed you, even if you can't see how it works.
    • Keep marching: don't quit on day six. Stay faithful when nothing seems to be changing yet.
    • Lead by obeying first. Like Joshua, your obedience gives the people around you courage to follow.

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    25 min
  • It Takes Faith Part 10 - Perseverance Part 2

    It Takes Faith Part 10 - Perseverance Part 2
    Oct 6 2026

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    By faith Moses kept the Passover, trusting God when the destroyer of the firstborn was coming (Hebrews 11:28). On this week's episode of Talk About It, Pastor Don walks us through the first nine plagues on Egypt, and how Pharaoh kept summoning Moses, promising to let Israel go, then hardening his heart the moment the pressure lifted. We do the same thing with God when a crisis hits: we promise Him anything to get out of it, then go back on our word once life feels normal again. Pastor Don shows how real faith is trust that obeys, even when the worst is still ahead, and how God keeps doing everything He can to help us live up to our end of the bargain.

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    30 min
  • It Takes Faith Part 9 - Perseverance

    It Takes Faith Part 9 - Perseverance
    Sep 29 2026
    Send us Fan MailClick here to support Talk About It!For more information or booking details, visit www.donmsmith.comBuy us a Sweet Tea and a Little Debbie Snack CakeWelcome back to Season 11! This week, Pastor Don continues our journey through Hebrews 11 by examining Moses' faith as he led the Israelites out of Egypt. In the previous episode, we saw how Moses left the palace because he valued God's purpose over the pleasures of sin. Now, in Hebrews 11:27-29, we see how Moses' faith enabled him to persevere through opposition, institute the Passover, and lead the people through the Red Sea.The key theme of this episode is perseverance. It takes faith to stay the course despite the opposition. Moses faced a powerful king, a stubborn people, and impossible circumstances—yet he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible. His example teaches us that when our focus is on God, our problems shrink in comparison, and we find the courage to keep moving forward.In This Episode, Pastor Don Explores:1) Moses' Faith Was in the Unseen (Hebrews 11:27)"By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible."This verse primarily applies to Moses when he approached Pharaoh to demand the Israelites be released from bondage. Although it also took courage to leave the palace and not fear Pharaoh's response, the greater test came when Moses stood before the most powerful ruler of his day and declared, "Let my people go."Pharaoh could have had Moses put to death. But Moses' mind was made up—he was going to do what God wanted him to do. His faith in God superseded his fear of man.We need to do what God wants us to do despite the potential fears and fallout. Sharing the gospel can be scary, but our desire to be a witness for Christ needs to supersede our fear. Making sacrifices for the Lord can be scary—when we tithe, we may fear not being able to pay all the bills. There are times when following Jesus may invoke certain fears. That's when we keep our focus on the invisible God more than our visible circumstances.Moses' Relationships and SacrificeMoses had developed relationships within the Egyptian community. He would have had a strong bond with the woman who raised him—Pharaoh's daughter. He likely had a good relationship with his surrogate grandfather, the Pharaoh. When Moses made the decision to leave the palace, he had to have thought about how Pharaoh and others would react.But God's will outweighed his will and the will of those he loved and who loved him. He followed through with his decision because of what God laid on his heart. And his commitment would be seen in his dedication to leading the Israelites from Egypt and through the desert wanderings with all the drama that would ensue during those 40 years.Perseverance Through FocusYes, Moses was in the presence of God on the mountain when he received the Ten Commandments. But God was not a visible presence in his everyday affairs. He relied on his faith to continue to get him through on a daily basis.Perseverance results from keeping our focus on God. When we're focused on God, our problems are quite small in comparison. Moses' faith caused him to follow through with God's command to challenge Pharaoh. Moses' faith allowed him to be more concerned about the wrath of God than the wrath of Pharaoh. Moses feared God, not man.Psalm 56:4 declares, "In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?" David's trust was in the immortal God, not mortal man. David was convinced that the power and ability of God was greater than the power and ability of man—so what was there to fear?This was the principle Moses lived by, and we should live by it too. We will persist through our visible situations when we are focused on the invisible God.The Application for UsMoses' example challenges us to examine our own faith:Are we willing to face opposition for doing what God commands?Do we fear God more than we fear people?It takes faith to stay the course despite the opposition. It takes faith to keep our eyes on the invisible God when visible circumstances are overwhelming. It takes faith to trust and obey when the way seems impossible. But when we do, we see God do what only He can do.Key Takeaways:Faith in the unseen God conquers fear of visible oppositionPerseverance comes from keeping our focus on GodWe must fear God more than we fear manSupport the show
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    22 min
  • It Takes Faith Part 8 - Heaven's Reward - Moses

    It Takes Faith Part 8 - Heaven's Reward - Moses
    Sep 22 2026
    Send us Fan MailClick here to support Talk About It!For more information or booking details, visit www.donmsmith.comBuy us a Sweet Tea and a Little Debbie Snack CakeWelcome back to Season 11! This week, Pastor Don continues our journey through Hebrews 11 by examining the faith of Moses—the one who challenged Pharaoh and delivered the Israelites out of Egypt. While Moses is best known for leading the Exodus and wandering in the desert with God's people, there was much happening in his life before he became Israel's great leader. Moses exhibited faith well before he stood before Pharaoh.In Hebrews 11:23-26, we see faith demonstrated in two powerful ways: first through Moses' parents, who risked everything to protect their newborn son, and then through Moses himself, who made the extraordinary choice to leave behind the luxury of Egypt for the sake of God's people. His story teaches us that it takes faith to make the right choice—to value the eternal over the temporary, and to choose God's way even when it costs us everything.In This Episode, Pastor Don Explores:1) The Faith of Moses' Parents (Hebrews 11:23)The Hebrews had settled in Egypt during Joseph's time, but a new Pharaoh arose who feared their growing numbers. He first enslaved them, then ordered the Hebrew midwives to kill every newborn boy. When they refused out of fear of God, Pharaoh decreed that every Hebrew boy must be thrown into the Nile River.Moses' parents ignored this decree and hid him for three months. Exodus 2:2 tells us that Moses' mother "saw that he was no ordinary child"—a phrase that may also mean "fair in the sight of God." There was something unique about Moses, and his mother sensed that this child was destined for something special in God's service.When she could no longer hide him, she placed him in a basket coated with pitch and sent him down the Nile. Pharaoh's daughter found him and took him in as her own. Through Moses' sister Miriam, his own mother was able to nurse and raise him—all under the protection of the Egyptian palace!Moses' parents took enormous risks. They defied the king's order and trusted God with their son's life. They would rather face the king for disobedience than face God for going against what they knew they needed to do. This is how faith acts—it enables us to take risks for the right reasons.2) The Faith of Moses (Hebrews 11:24-26)When Moses had grown up—Acts 7:23 tells us he was 40—he came to a defining moment. He refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.This was an incredible sacrifice. Aligning himself with Hebrew slaves meant a humble, strenuous lifestyle instead of royal comfort. He could have stayed in the palace and possibly risen to become the next Pharaoh. But his heart was with the one true God, and he couldn't continue to serve Egyptian gods.The defining moment may have come when he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew. Exodus 2:11-15 records that Moses killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. His motive was noble—avenging the mistreatment of his people—but he took it too far. We can have righteous indignation, but we still need self-control.What's admirable is how completely Moses switched sides. He grew up as an Egyptian for 40 years, yet when he saw an Egyptian attacking a Hebrew, his allegiance was complete and undeniable. When we transition to the side of Christ, may we be as "all in" as Moses displayed here.The next day, when Moses saw two Hebrews fighting, he tried to stop it. But the one in the wrong challenged him: "Who made you ruler and judge over us?" Moses did the right thing but was met with hostility. Our efforts may be met with hostility too, but that shouldn't stop us from trying.Moses fled to Midian, where he spent the next 40 years tending sheep, getting married, and raising two sons. What a lifestyle change! God used this time to prepare Moses. The first 40 years in Egypt taught him how to operate in the palace and court. The next 40 years in Midian taught him the ways of God and the wilderness. He was perfectly equipped to approach Pharaoh and to lead God's people through the desert.3) Moses Made a Better ExchangeMoses exchanged the role of ruler for the role of slave. He gave up the posh life of the palace for the impoverished life of the plains. His peers would have thought him a fool. "He did what? He could have been the next Pharaoh!"But Moses wasn't a fool—he was wise. He left everything behind to gain something far better. The Egyptians had it good—the treasures of King Tut's tomb alone included thousands of pounds of pure gold. But to Moses, the reward of heaven was far more valuable than the treasures of Egypt.Hebrews 11:26 says he "regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward." Moses was able to forsake the visible pleasures of...
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    31 min