The Pastor's Potluck Podcast

09/26/2025

So… I did a thing. I basically handed my podcast over to AI. Yeah. I know what you’re thinking—‘Jared, are you seriously letting a robot run the show?’ And the answer is… kinda.
See, I asked AI to do something bold: to take everything it knows about me—my ministry, my worship leading, my love for Coldplay, even my video game obsession—and then come up with the interview questions it would ask if it were the host.
So basically, AI is my co-host today. Think of it like having an over-eager intern who’s read all your emails, remembered every random thing you’ve ever said, and is now way too excited to put you on the hot seat. Or maybe like that nosy friend who somehow remembers stuff you said two years ago and brings it up at the worst possible time.
Either way, today’s episode is me answering questions I didn’t write, I didn’t plan, and honestly, might regret saying yes to.
So buckle up.

09/19/2025

Have you ever noticed how much in life comes down to your foundation? Whether it’s learning to swing a baseball bat, building a home, or navigating the storms that inevitably come—your foundation determines your stability.
Jesus ends the Sermon on the Mount with a powerful reminder: hearing His words isn’t enough. The wise don’t just listen—they build their lives on what He says.
In today’s episode, we’re talking about what it really means to have a foundation that lasts, one that can hold steady when life throws its hardest storms your way.

09/15/2025

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5

When Jesus said that some would one day hear, “I never knew you,” He wasn’t pointing to a lack of activity, but a lack of relationship. Fake fruit looks impressive from the outside, but it doesn’t last. Real fruit flows naturally from being connected to the true root — Jesus Himself.

The difference between real and fake fruit isn’t how it looks; it’s where it comes from. Manufactured faith depends on appearances and performance. True faith depends on surrender and intimacy with Christ.

This week, ask yourself:
Am I relying on my own effort to appear fruitful, or am I staying rooted in Christ?
Do my words and actions reflect my connection to Him, or just a desire to look the part? Where might Jesus be inviting me to deeper surrender so that His life can flow through me?

Real fruit can’t be faked. Stay connected to the root, and the fruit will follow.

09/13/2025

Some things look real but aren’t. A bowl of fake fruit looks good from a distance, but when you get close you realize it has no root, no life, no taste. Jesus warned us that the same is true in our faith — not all fruit is real fruit. In one of the most unsettling passages in Scripture, He says that some who appear to be religious will hear the words, ‘I never knew you.’ Today, we’re asking the hard question: is our faith real, or is it manufactured?

09/12/2025

We had some technical problems with our scheduled post for the day. But here is the link to today’s episode. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Some things look real but aren’t. A bowl of fake fruit looks good from a distance, but when you get close you realize it has no root, no life, no taste. Jesu...

09/05/2025

Jesus said the road is wide that leads to destruction—and most people are on it. But the narrow road? That one leads to life. In today’s episode, we’re asking: what does it look like to choose the narrow way in a world that’s rushing the other direction? Stick around—this one matters.

08/30/2025

Mystery meat thought of the day:

Bologna is just hot dog pancakes.

08/29/2025

What if living out the Golden Rule — treating others the way you want to be treated — is more radical than we think? In this episode, we’re digging into what Jesus meant when He gave this command, why it’s more than just good manners, and how it could transform the way we handle conflict, relationships, and even strangers.

08/22/2025

What if prayer isn’t just something you do… but a way to actually experience God’s power in your everyday life? In this episode, we’re talking about how prayer can move beyond routine and become the key to clarity, peace, and strength when you need it most. Stick with us — this conversation might just change how you pray.

08/19/2025

You can’t help someone with their speck if you’re smacking them in the face with your plank.
That’s the visual Jesus gives us in Matthew 7, and it's both hilarious and humbling. It's also deeply Kingdom-focused.

This week we looked at one of the most quoted — and misunderstood — verses in Scripture: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” Culture tends to read that as, “Mind your own business.” But Jesus wasn’t outlawing discernment — He was redefining the heart posture behind it.

Kingdom people don’t walk around with a critical spirit; they walk in humility, grace, and truth. They examine their own hearts first. They let the Spirit chisel away the planks in their eyes before they ever try to lovingly help someone else with their speck.

And when they do speak truth? It’s not about condemnation. It’s about restoration.

Kingdom living means we don’t ignore sin — we just start with our own.

08/15/2025

You’ve heard it before — 'Don’t judge me,' or 'Only God can judge.' But is that what Jesus actually meant? In this week’s episode, we’re digging into one of the most misunderstood teachings of Jesus. We’re talking judgment — what it is, what it isn’t, and how Kingdom people are called to live differently. Can we judge without condemning? Can we call out truth without becoming self-righteous? This conversation is raw, challenging, and full of the kind of clarity we need in today’s culture.

08/11/2025

You don’t have to try very hard to worry — it’s almost like breathing.
But if you pause long enough to examine what’s really driving the worry, you might find this: most of our worry is about temporary things.
We worry about our finances. Our homes. Our jobs. Our image. Our future.
None of these are insignificant — but they’re all impermanent.

Jesus didn’t say these things don’t matter; He simply said they don’t last.
And building your life around things that don’t last is a guaranteed path to anxiety.

When we live like everything is up to us, or like this life is all there is, then of course we’ll be overwhelmed by stress. But if Jesus is who He says He is — if eternity is real and He really is Lord — then we can begin to loosen our grip on the temporary and live for something (and Someone) greater.

Jesus doesn’t just challenge our wallets in this passage. He confronts our affections.
He reminds us that what we treasure — we chase.
And what we chase — ultimately shapes us.

Listen to our latest episode to go more in depth with this devotion.