Resident Strangers

Today’s episode of the Resident Strangers podcast reflects on Silent Saturday—the day between Good Friday and Easter. It’s a day that often goes unnoticed, but it’s one filled with deep significance.Have you ever paused to consider what that day must have felt like for Jesus’ followers? We have the privilege of knowing how the story ends—but they didn’t. They were left in the silence, wrestling with grief, doubt, and uncertainty.Scripture paints a picture of Jesus’ followers gathered together, processing their despair and clinging to fragile hope. Would the resurrection really come? Was everything Jesus said true?Silent Saturday reminds us of the power of community—especially in seasons of waiting, sorrow, or confusion. Many of us have walked through our own “silent Saturdays”—a devastating diagnosis, a loss, financial hardship, or heartbreak. And in those moments, community in Christ becomes a lifeline.But the beauty of Silent Saturday is that it points us forward. God is always faithful to His promises. The silence wasn’t the end. Resurrection was coming.We hope you’ll join us tomorrow for Devotional 9 as we continue our journey through Passion Week._________________This Easter at Desert Springs, come celebrate the victorious hope of Jesus! We’d love to see you at one (or more!) of our special services happening throughout the weekend.Easter Weekend• April 19th | 3:30 PM + 5:00 PM• April 20th | 6:00 AM (Sunrise Service in the Pavilion), 8:00 AM, 9:30 AM + 11:00 AMVisit dscchurch.com for more information

Today’s episode of the Resident Strangers podcast focuses on the profound events of Good Friday. Steve takes us through a timeline of that day, beginning in the early hours of the morning and leading us through the weight of each moment.The episode closes with a powerful reading of John 20:30–31, a reminder that John recorded these events so that we might believe that Jesus truly is the Messiah. Our prayer is that this reflection deepens your faith and helps you grasp the magnitude of the cross.If you’re local to Goodyear, we warmly invite you to attend our Good Friday service tonight, April 18th from 5:00–8:00 PM at Desert Springs Community Church. This is an open-house style service where you’re welcome to come anytime during those hours to take communion, reflect, and pray. We encourage you to make space for stillness with the Lord today.If this episode resonates with you, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, and sharing the podcast with others.We hope you’ll join us tomorrow for Devotional 8 as we continue our journey through Passion Week._________________This Easter at Desert Springs, come celebrate the victorious hope of Jesus! We’d love to see you at one (or more!) of our special services happening throughout the weekend.Good FridayApril 18th | 5:00 PM - 8:00 PMAn open-house style service where you can take communion, spend time in prayer, and reflect. Come as you are, anytime during the evening.Easter Weekend• April 19th | 3:30 PM + 5:00 PM• April 20th | 6:00 AM (Sunrise Service in the Pavilion), 8:00 AM, 9:30 AM + 11:00 AMVisit dscchurch.com for more information

Today’s episode of the Resident Strangers podcast reflects on John 13:1–14 (NIV), as Rich offers some context around what many know as Maundy Thursday—the night Jesus shared a final meal with His disciples before the cross.One of the most powerful moments from this evening is when Jesus, fully aware of what was to come, took the posture of a servant and washed His disciples’ feet. His love for them was unwavering—He loved them “to the very end.”And perhaps most striking of all: Jesus even washed Judas’ feet, knowing betrayal was just hours away.This would be His final moment with them before the resurrection. And what He chose to show them—humility, compassion, and selfless service—continues to speak volumes to us today as His followers.If this episode speaks to you, we’d be so grateful if you’d subscribe, leave a review, and share the podcast with others.Join us tomorrow for Devotional 7 as we approach the cross with hearts full of gratitude._________________This Easter at Desert Springs, come celebrate the victorious hope of Jesus! We’d love to see you at one (or more!) of our special services happening throughout the weekend.Good FridayApril 18th | 5:00 PM - 8:00 PMAn open-house style service where you can take communion, spend time in prayer, and reflect. Come as you are, anytime during the evening.Easter Weekend• April 19th | 3:30 PM + 5:00 PM• April 20th | 6:00 AM (Sunrise Service in the Pavilion), 8:00 AM, 9:30 AM + 11:00 AMVisit dscchurch.com for more information

Today’s episode of the Resident Strangers podcast centers on Luke 21:1–13 (NIV).It’s Wednesday of Passion Week. In just over 24 hours, Jesus will be betrayed. In less than 48, He will be on the cross. Yet even in these final moments, we see His deep compassion as He highlights the quiet faith of a poor widow.In God’s eyes, nothing done in faith is ever small.As Jesus also speaks of His second coming, He reminds both His followers then—and us now—that a greater plan is unfolding. And in the meantime, we’re called to bear witness to Him. That calling carries eternal weight.If today’s devotional encourages you, we’d be so grateful if you’d subscribe, leave a review, and share the podcast with others.Join us tomorrow for Devotional 6 as we continue to walk through this holy week together.

Here’s the big picture: Resurrection Sunday is the most important day of the year! In fact, when you really think about it, every day since the original resurrection has been a kind of resurrection day—because those who follow Jesus live in the light of that defining moment. With Easter Sunday coming up, Steve and Rich wanted to take a few minutes to highlight the significance of the resurrection. Rich addresses a concern some may have about the Easter holiday having pagan roots. He explains where that idea originated and offers clarity on why Christians don’t need to be overly concerned about it. Steve passionately reminds us that the resurrection is the very foundation of Christianity—without it, our faith would have no meaning. But with it, we have every reason to celebrate! Together, Rich and Steve also take time to walk through some of the most common theories that attempt to explain away the resurrection. Ultimately, they emphasize that Jesus’ resurrection validated every claim He made. They explore key evidences supporting the resurrection: Jesus’ death, the empty tomb, postmortem appearances, the radical transformation of the disciples, the conversion of skeptics—and more. 2,000 years later, the truth of the resurrection is still changing lives around the world. It remains the foundation of our hope. So let’s celebrate Easter—Resurrection Day—like never before!This Easter at Desert Springs, come celebrate the victorious hope of Jesus! We’d love to see you at one (or more!) of our special services happening throughout the weekend.Good FridayApril 18th | 5:00 PM - 8:00 PMAn open-house style service where you can take communion, spend time in prayer, and reflect. Come as you are, anytime during the evening.Easter WeekendApril 19th | 3:30 PM + 5:00 PMApril 20th | 6:00 AM (Sunrise Service in the Pavilion), 8:00 AM, 9:30 AM + 11:00 AM14440 W. Indian School Rd. Goodyear, AZ 85395dscchurch.comBooks on the resurrection Steve recommends:Who Moved the Stone? By Dr. Frank MorisonThe Resurrection Factor By Josh McDowellThe Case for Christ By Lee StrobelWatch Resident Strangers on YouTube 🎥 Questions or comments? Email residentstrangers@dscchurch.com Would you please subscribe and leave us a review? This will help our podcast reach more people! We’d love it if you’d share this podcast with your friends on social media and beyond. Join us next Tuesday as we continue the discussion on how to think like a Christian in this foreign world. 

Today’s episode of the Resident Strangers podcast explores Matthew 22:15–40 (NIV).In this passage, religious leaders attempt to trap Jesus with tricky questions—but He responds with unmatched wisdom and grace. His answers not only silenced His critics then, but continue to speak truth and challenge us today.This section of Scripture has come up often on Resident Strangers, and for good reason—Jesus reveals that what matters most is the condition of our hearts. His responses teach us not just truth, but also how to engage others with clarity, compassion, and conviction.If this episode encourages or challenges you, we’d love for you to subscribe, leave a review, and share the podcast with your community.Join us tomorrow for Devotional 5 as we journey through Passion Week together.

Today’s episode of the Resident Strangers podcast centers on Mark 11:11–17 (NIV).In this passage, we see a lack of the spiritual fruit that should have come from embracing Jesus as the Messiah. As He approached the cross, Jesus offered final, urgent calls to repentance—warning Israel of the consequences of hardened hearts and misplaced priorities.It’s a powerful reminder for us today: nothing in our lives should take precedence over worship and devotion to Jesus. Engaging with God must come first.If this message speaks to you, we’d be so grateful if you’d subscribe, leave a review, and share the podcast with others.Join us tomorrow for Devotional 4 as we continue walking through Passion Week together.

Happy Palm Sunday!Today’s episode of the Resident Strangers podcast reflects on Matthew 21:1–9 (NIV)—the moment Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a humble donkey, fully aware that ahead of Him lay a path of suffering and a humiliating death.It’s sobering to realize that the same crowds who joyfully shouted “Hosanna!” on this day would, just five days later, cry out “Crucify Him.”If you haven’t already, we’d love for you to subscribe and leave a review—it helps others discover the podcast. And if this devotional speaks to you, please share it with your friends, family, or on social media.We hope you’ll join us tomorrow for Devotional 3!

As Passion Week approaches, Steve and Rich are excited to once again share a series of special devotionals on the Resident Strangers podcast to help prepare our hearts for Easter weekend.Beginning today, we’ll release short daily episodes—each just 5 to 10 minutes long—leading up to Sunday, April 20th. These reflections are designed to help you focus on scripture and cultivate gratitude for Jesus and His sacrifice. These episodes are audio only. Today’s devotional centers on John 12:1-3 (NASB).We’d be so grateful if you’d subscribe and leave a review—it helps more people discover the podcast! And if the message blesses you, please consider sharing it with friends, family, or on social media.We hope you’ll join us tomorrow for Devotional 2!

Steve, Rich, and Sarah kick off this episode by once again giving a big shoutout to the Media Team for their incredible work on the new studio. If you’re listening and haven’t checked out the podcast on YouTube yet—go take a look! This week, the conversation picks up where last week’s left off, diving deeper into the topic of deconstruction. Rich raises a compelling point: many people who say they’ve deconstructed haven’t actually walked away from Christianity itself. Instead, they may be stepping away from a particular system or set of beliefs shaped by a specific church or leader—beliefs that may not align with the heart of the gospel. At the core, it’s about learning how to examine Scripture for yourself and trusting it as authority. The Christian life, after all, is often a battle for the mind. Steve shifts the discussion toward dealing with doubts and questions, emphasizing that there’s absolutely nothing wrong with having them. In fact, the hope is that those doubts would lead us closer to Jesus and into the truth found in God’s Word. Sarah adds that faith plays a crucial role in this journey. When certainty isn’t always possible, trust in Jesus becomes essential. Does belief require absolute certainty? Steve encourages listeners to bring their questions into community, reminding us that we were never meant to wrestle with our faith alone. Rich presses into the idea that spiritual growth and maturity can often help us process our doubts. Sometimes, the real challenge isn’t the question itself, but a mindset that needs transformation. The episode wraps up with a heartfelt reminder: love the people in your life who may be walking through deconstruction. Stay present, offer support, and be a consistent source of grace and truth.Books Steve recommends:The Deconstruction of Christianity by Alisa Childers & Tim BarnettSet Adrift by Sean McDowell & John MarriottWatch Resident Strangers on YouTube 🎥Interested in studying Greek with Rich? Email residentstrangers@dscchurch.com. Sign up for the Resident Strangers email list Questions or comments? Email residentstrangers@dscchurch.com Would you please subscribe and leave us a review? This will help our podcast reach more people! We’d love it if you’d share this podcast with your friends on social media and beyond. Join us next Tuesday as we continue the discussion on how to think like a Christian in this foreign world.