Theology on Purpose

In this episode of Theology on Purpose, Sarah is joined by Kara Stout, author of An Untroubled Heart, for a meaningful conversation about faith, anxiety, grief, and God's sustaining peace. In this episode, you'll hear about: Kara's journey through infertility, adoption, and motherhood Losing both parents to cancer and how grief shaped her faith The difference between anxious thoughts and the Holy Spirit's leading Why we shouldn't "spiritually bypass" our emotions How daily rhythms of prayer and Scripture cultivate peace When and why seeking professional counseling can be a faithful choice For anyone navigating anxiety, loss, or spiritual dryness, this episode offers much-needed encouragement, everyday wisdom, and hope rooted in God's compassion. Take the Connect with God Quiz here: https://connectwithgodquiz.com/ Get the show notes here: https://sarahkbutterfield.substack.com/s/podcast  

Seasons of waiting don't need to feel like wasted time, but instead they can be part of our spiritual formation! In this solo episode, I reflect on a missed speaking opportunity, biblical stories of long seasons of waiting, and what our unmet desires reveal about our deeper longing for God. Tune in to discover how waiting can become an active spiritual practice that reshapes our faith, priorities, and trust in God's goodness. Subscribe here to never miss an episode!

In this episode of Theology on Purpose, Sarah talks with Phoebe Miles, co-founder of the Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention, about faith, creativity, and the long work of living out your calling. Phoebe shares the story behind her father's invention of Gatorade, including the personal cost that followed, and how learning to see that story through God's lens transformed her understanding of humility, healing, and vocation. Phoebe discusses how our work—whether visible or hidden, paid or unpaid—can become a faithful presence that serves the flourishing of others. In this episode, you'll learn: Why embracing both the painful and beautiful parts of your story matters for spiritual formation How creativity and innovation reflect our identity as image-bearers of God What it means to live as a faithful presence in your everyday work and community How different seasons of calling shape women's work and ministry over a lifetime Why Sabbath and fasting are essential practices for long-term faithfulness Get the show notes here: https://sarahkbutterfield.substack.com/s/podcast More on the Faithful Presence Initiative here: https://faithfulpresence.com/ Take the Connect with God quiz here: https://connectwithgodquiz.com/  

In this solo episode, I reflect on what it means to trust a good God when the way forward feels uncertain. Drawing on Ruth Haley Barton's insights on discernment, I explore how learning to release our preferred outcomes, listen for love, and trust the Holy Spirit can help us make faithful decisions even when there is no single "right" path. This episode is an invitation to practice discernment as a way of life, especially as we step into seasons marked by change and unknowing. Take the Connect with God quiz here: https://connectwithgodquiz.com/

In this Advent reflection, Sarah shares an unexpected story about her family dog that became a surprising teacher of hope. From a child's innocent question to a tearful moment in a vet's office, this episode explores why Advent hope still matters in a world full of uncertainty. Through Scripture, longing, and the everyday decisions that stretch our hearts, Sarah invites listeners to rediscover the Light that meets us in the dark and leads us toward what could be. Take the Connect with God quiz here: https://connectwithgodquiz.com/ Subscribe to get the latest updates here: https://sarahkbutterfield.substack.com/subscribe

Tune into this rich conversation with author and lay theologian Chelsea Kim Long! We chat about faith, embodiment, and how our journey of following Jesus evolves over time. Chelsea shares how motherhood and doubt reshaped her spiritual life and led her toward a more embodied, and compassionate faith. She reflects on finding healing in intentional Christian community, expanding her theology of womanhood, and discovering how our bodies help us encounter God in daily life.  This episode is a balm for anyone rethinking their faith, longing for belonging, or curious about how God meets us in our real, lived experiences. Take the Connect with God quiz here: https://connectwithgodquiz.com/ Get the show notes here: https://sarahkbutterfield.substack.com/s/podcast

Have you ever found yourself surrounded by all the Christmas decorations, music, and activity—yet somehow missing the wonder of it all? In this solo episode, Sarah reflects on a quiet moment that made her realize how easy it is to grow too familiar with the nativity story. She shares four practical and heartfelt ways to recapture awe this Advent season. If your heart feels a little weary or uninspired this Christmas, this episode will help you slow down, look closer, and rediscover the miracle that the baby was God!

Can painful experiences become the birthplace of blessings? Author Hadassah Treu joins Sarah to share her powerful story of loss, faith, and redemption from her book Draw Near: How Painful Experiences Become the Birthplace of Blessings. She reflects on how grief led her to deeper intimacy with God, what disillusionment can teach us, and the simple practices that sustained her through seasons of sorrow. In this episode, you'll discover how to find hope when faith feels fragile, reframe pain as an invitation to draw closer to God, and cultivate spiritual practices—like gratitude, journaling, and prayer—that bring healing and renewal. It's an honest and hope-filled conversation for anyone walking through suffering and longing to see God's goodness in the midst of it. Take the Connect with God quiz here: https://connectwithgodquiz.com/ Get the show notes here: https://sarahkbutterfield.substack.com/s/podcast  

Sometimes gratitude feels out of reach. This Thanksgiving season, when counting blessings feels like an empty exercise, what if the way back to praise begins with lament? In this episode, Sarah reflects on a simple moment in a church storage room that became a picture of grace, and explores how honest lament before God can clear the way for true thanksgiving. Take the Connect with God quiz here: https://connectwithgodquiz.com/ Read these reflections in your inbox by subscribing to The Scoop! https://sarahkbutterfield.substack.com/subscribe

Author Sylvie Vanhoozer joins Sarah to talk about "The Art of Living in Advent" and how the beauty of ordinary life can draw us closer to God. Growing up in the south of France, Sylvie discovered the sacred in simple things—especially through the santons, small villagers in the traditional Provençal nativity scene. Listen in as they explore how art, imagination, and everyday faithfulness can become acts of worship, and how Advent invites us to wait with wonder and live a more embodied faith. You won't want to miss this timely episode ahead of the Christmas season! Get the show notes here: https://sarahkbutterfield.substack.com/s/podcast Feeling spiritually dry? Take the Connect with God quiz here: https://connectwithgodquiz.com/

What do bread dough and spiritual discernment have in common? More than you might think. Join Sarah for a reflective look at why it's easier to follow someone else's recipe for faith, and how God invites each of us into the kitchen to discover that God's Word is alive and nourishing. Take the Connect with God quiz here: https://connectwithgodquiz.com/ Get the newsletter here: https://sarahkbutterfield.substack.com/subscribe  

In this episode, Sarah sits down with Bekah Stewart, spiritual director and author of "Permission to Matter: The Invitation to Wake Up, Stand Up, and Come Out of Hiding". Together they explore what it means for women to reclaim their spiritual agency and embrace a faith that honors their whole selves. Bekah shares how traditional models of spiritual formation (often shaped by male perspectives) tend to focus on overcoming pride. But for many women, the deeper struggle is self-erasure: shrinking or hiding before ever being seen. She invites listeners to imagine a spiritual life rooted in awakening to our God-given worth and calling. They discuss the difference between self-sacrifice and self-abandonment, the four modes of knowing that shape our faith, and what it means to embody the authority of the Holy Spirit. Find the show notes here: https://sarahkbutterfield.substack.com/s/podcast Take the Connect with God quiz here: https://connectwithgodquiz.com/  

Play isn't just for kids, it can be a spiritual practice for adults, too! In this short solo episode, Sarah explores how play can reconnect us to joy, presence, and the God who delights in us. She shares practical ideas for weaving play into ordinary life and reminds us that delight is a part of spiritual growth. Take the Connect with God quiz here: https://connectwithgodquiz.com/

Prayer can look different for each of us, and that was exactly how God designed it! In this episode, author Janet McHenry shares how her practice of prayer walking opened her eyes to the needs around her and transformed her understanding of prayer. We talk about how prayer shapes our experience of God, why one-size-fits-all methods can leave us discouraged, and how to embrace your unique personality and season of life in prayer. If you've ever felt stuck or dry in prayer, this conversation will bring fresh encouragement and practical ideas! Find the show notes here: https://sarahkbutterfield.substack.com/s/podcast Take the Connect with God Quiz to find out which spiritual practice you most need right now: https://connectwithgodquiz.com/  

Words can build up or tear down, bless or curse, and every sentence we speak carries the potential to shape the world around us. In this episode, I share a story from my childhood in France, reflect on the power of language, and explore how we can steward our words to encourage others, speak truth in love, and join God in His kingdom-building work. Take the Connect with God quiz here: https://connectwithgodquiz.com/  

Bible teacher Mariel Davenport shares her journey from atheism to faith and introduces her simple TEND method for connecting with Scripture. We talk about slowing down, creating space for God in busy seasons, and letting His Word transform your everyday life. You'll learn: How Mariel's first read through Genesis changed everything A simple 4-step rhythm to engage Scripture deeply Practical ways to create space for God even on your busiest days Take the Connect with God quiz here Get the show notes here  

What's hiding in the "closets" of your soul? In this short and reflective episode, Sarah shares how a surprising find in a church closet sparked a powerful reminder: God has a way of redeeming the very things we'd rather throw away. Through stories from her ministry work, childhood, and personal struggles with belonging, Sarah explores how God takes our pain, failures, and forgotten dreams—our inner "junk"—and transforms them into tools for kingdom work. If you've ever wondered what God could possibly do with your past hurts or hidden scars, this episode will encourage you to see your story through a lens of hope and redemption. Listen now and discover how nothing is wasted in the kingdom of God. Take the Connect with God Quiz to find out what spiritual practice you need most right now!

Jo Saxton joins Theology on Purpose to share her journey of faith and leadership, from meeting Jesus as a child in London to empowering women through the Ezer Collective and beyond. She opens up about navigating burnout, rediscovering the simplicity of following Jesus, and helping women step into their God-given gifts with courage and confidence. You'll be encouraged by Jo's honesty and equipped with practical wisdom to rise into your own calling as a leader of faith. Get the show notes here Take the Connect with God quiz here

Falling asleep is something we can't force, we can only prepare for it. In the same way, hearing from God isn't about striving harder but about creating the right conditions to listen well. In this solo episode of Theology on Purpose, I share four practices that can open our hearts to God's voice: silence and solitude, Scripture, creation, and prayer. Take the Connect with God quiz

What does it mean to live as God's beloved daughter? In this episode, author and pastor Amy Seiffert shares insights from her book Your Name is Daughter. We explore the strength hidden in Eve's story, the womb-like compassion of God, and how Jesus restored women's voices in a culture that tried to silence them. Amy's wisdom will encourage you to embrace your identity, use your voice with courage, and live grounded in the truth of being God's daughter. Get the show notes here Take the Connect with God quiz here