The Pastor's Potluck Podcast

10/24/2025

Every week, pastors step up to preach to a room full of people — some who’ve followed Jesus for years, and others who are still figuring out what they believe. And in those moments, the challenge isn’t just to speak — it’s to connect.
This week, we’re talking about what it really means to preach in a way that reaches everyone in the room — the curious, the skeptical, and the seasoned believer alike. How do we move beyond entertainment and into transformation? How do we speak to hearts that are at completely different places — and still point everyone toward the same Jesus?

10/17/2025

Preaching looks simple from the outside — you stand up, open your Bible, and talk for thirty minutes. But anyone who’s done it knows it’s so much more than that. It’s a rhythm of learning, stretching, failing, and getting back up again.
There are moments where everything clicks — the message flows, the room leans in — and then there are those Sundays where it feels like every word hits the floor. But even in those moments, God is shaping something in us as preachers.
This week, we’re pulling back the curtain on that process — the quiet lessons, the humbling moments, and the small adjustments that make a big difference. Because great preaching doesn’t come from perfection… it comes from growth.

10/10/2025

Preaching isn’t just standing behind a pulpit — it’s carrying the weight of God’s Word into the middle of people’s lives. But if we’re honest, it’s not always easy. There are weeks where the passion feels distant, inspiration runs dry, and the weight of life feels heavier than the message we’re trying to deliver.
In this episode, we’re talking about what it really means to be called to preach — how we know it’s from God, how we keep our hearts fresh, and how we stay faithful when the fire feels dim.
This isn’t a conversation about sermon prep… it’s about soul prep. Because before we preach to others, God often preaches to us first.

10/03/2025

Every week, pastors around the world step into the pulpit to deliver a message from God’s Word. But have you ever wondered what really goes into preparing those sermons? How do preachers decide what to speak on? How do they balance the pull of current events with the timeless truth of Scripture? And what about those moments when the room feels different than expected—do they ever pivot mid-sermon?

In today’s episode, I’m sitting down with Pastor Scott Beha and Aleigha Tucker, two individuals on the teaching team here at Southridge Church who are going to take us behind the curtain of sermon prep.

If you’ve ever wanted to know what it’s like to carry the responsibility of opening God’s Word week after week—or if you just want some encouragement for your own faith journey—this conversation is packed with insight and some pretty memorable stories.

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.