In the Woods

#040 Vulnerability

This conversation is about honesty without performance, the courage to be fully seen even when there’s no immediate resolution, and the hope we have in Christ in the midst.

#039 When Anxiety Forgets

This episode explores the “mementos” of faithfulness we cling to: answered prayers, unexpected provision, healed wounds, timely words, old journals, songs, places, people, and moments that remind us God has not changed. Not every reminder removes anxiety instantly, but remembrance can steady us long enough to trust Him again.

#038 When Compassion Gets Complicated

Annette Altena shares pieces of her story and how survival, instability, and loss have shaped how she sees people today. From that story, the conversation opens into something many churches wrestle with daily: how do we genuinely help people without losing wisdom or boundaries in the process?

#037 Giving, Generosity, the Tithe, Oh My!

Money is one of the most sensitive and revealing topics in the church. In this episode, we sit in the tension: if the tithe isn’t a law, then what is it? Obligation? Invitation? Tradition?
Join us as we unpack some of the complexities around giving in the modern church; how generosity actually keeps things moving, while also naming the questions most people are thinking: Where is this money going? What’s actually expected of me? And how do I give without it turning into guilt, pressure, or performance?

#036 What Even Are Pure Motives?

In this episode, we step into Jesus’ words in the Gospel of Matthew, where He confronts the dangerous drift of the human heart: doing the right things for the wrong reasons. Through His teaching on the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus isn’t just giving us a formula; He’s exposing our motives and providing action steps.

#035 Did We Go Too Far… or Not Far Enough?

In this episode, we’re having a real, honest conversation about Easter Sunday, church production, and the heart behind it all. How do we pursue excellence without creating distractions with our presentation? How do we create a space for people to encounter the Lord without overfilling it with ourselves? Let's talk about it!

#034 Thoughts on Divorce

In a culture that treats marriage as both ultimate fulfillment and easily disposable, how do we hold a clear, honest stance on divorce without losing compassion or truth? In this episode, we unpack the tension between grace and conviction, exploring what marriage is actually for, why clarity on divorce matters, and how our beliefs shape the way we endure, leave, or restore. We talk about covenant vs. contract, the role of suffering and growth in love, and the danger of both rigid judgment and careless dismissal.
 
Listen to In the Woods: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-the-woods/id1827258830
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/03Ny9jrvcYFl5aa9cJaXm6?si=C10tk-QvQaeMfG_AzlH-JQ&nd=1&dlsi=37f90db0d57240ea
The Woodland Website: https://www.woodlandchurch.com/inthewoods

#032 The Temptation to Rush God

In this episode, we dive into Matthew 4 and the testing of Jesus in the wilderness, unpacking how temptation often masquerades as practicality and how testing reveals what we trust when God feels distant. We also get to know Kim Read, who preached on this passage the same weekend!
Submit a question for a future episode: questions@woodlandchurch.com

#031 Pete and Ken Talk Baptism

Why was Jesus baptized if He had no sin to repent of? In this episode, we look closely at Matthew 3 and uncover a powerful truth: Jesus’ baptism wasn’t about repentance; it was about revelation. John the Baptist publicly identifies Jesus as the promised King, fulfilling the prophetic pattern of anointing. With the Spirit descending and the Father speaking, this moment becomes heaven’s announcement that the King has arrived!
 
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#030 Many Voices, One Story

In this episode, we get to know Anna Irwin, a newer member of our staff team serving your kids! We also talk about the differences between accounts in scripture. Each book of Scripture carries the fingerprints of its human author: their audience, their context, their burdens, and their hope. What they emphasize matters. What they repeat matters. And even what they leave out matters.
 
Submit a question for a future episode: questions@woodlandchurch.com