To Be The Church

Andrew is joined by two special guests for a candid conversation about what church community really is—and what it isn’t. Centered on a thought-provoking tweet from Seth Trout, they explore why community isn’t something a church can simply provide and how true connection comes through curiosity, vulnerability, and personal responsibility. If you’ve ever wondered why it feels hard to “find community” at church, this episode is for you.Contact us at podcast@tobethechurch.comSocial Media:Instagram.com/tobethechurchfacebook.com/tobethechurchyoutube.com/tobethechurch

This week, Andrew and Tyler answer some questions we’ve gotten about our Sunday liturgy. Why do we take communion every week—but skip it on baptism Sundays? Why do we say “Thanks be to God” after the Bible reading? How did it originate and what is Andrew's intentions with it. It’s a simple conversation about some not-so-random things we do every week.Contact us at podcast@tobethechurch.comSocial Media:Instagram.com/tobethechurchfacebook.com/tobethechurchyoutube.com/tobethechurch

This week on To Be The Church, Ben is joined by Trevor (Associate Minister at NGC Battle Ground) and Stephen (Local Lead Pastor at NGC Summit View) to explore a fascinating moment in the Gospel of Mark—when Jesus repeatedly tells demons to be silent. Why does He do that? What does it reveal about His mission and authority? And what does this have to do with spiritual warfare today? Join the conversation as the guys dive into Scripture, bust some misconceptions, and unpack what it really means to live with gospel clarity in a spiritually charged world.Contact us at podcast@tobethechurch.comSocial Media:Instagram.com/tobethechurchfacebook.com/tobethechurchyoutube.com/tobethechurch

Today we're following up on last week's baptism episode by addressing a listener question: What is the relationship between baptism and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit? The team reads from Acts 2:38 and Acts 19:1–7, discusses different theological backgrounds—including the former Assemblies of God roots of the church—and explains why Acts is descriptive rather than prescriptive. They emphasize that the indwelling of the Holy Spirit happens at conversion, before water baptism, and unpack the distinction between John's baptism and baptism in the name of Jesus. They also touch on 1 Peter 3 and the idea of baptism as an appeal to God for a good conscience.Contact us at podcast@tobethechurch.comSocial Media:Instagram.com/tobethechurchfacebook.com/tobethechurchyoutube.com/tobethechurch

In this episode, Tyler, Ben, and Andrew dive into the topic of baptism and ask the question: Is this a hill to die on? They explore the role of baptism in the life of the church, where it falls in the framework of theological triage, and whether differing views should divide Christians—or churches. Join the conversation as they unpack conviction, unity, and what truly matters most.Contact us at podcast@tobethechurch.comSocial Media:Instagram.com/tobethechurchfacebook.com/tobethechurchyoutube.com/tobethechurch

We all play video games—but is that a problem? In this episode, we talk about how gaming fits (or doesn’t fit) into the life of a Christian. Is it just a hobby, or could it be something deeper? Something harmful? Join us as we explore the tension between entertainment, discipleship, and what it means to live faithfully in a digital world.Contact us at podcast@tobethechurch.comSocial Media:Instagram.com/tobethechurchfacebook.com/tobethechurchyoutube.com/tobethechurch

We’ve been gone for a minute… okay, more like six weeks. In this episode of To Be The Church, we explain why the podcast went dark for a bit, what we’ve been working on behind the scenes, and why we’re filming from a brand new set. (Spoiler: it has to do with our NGC 101 membership class.)We also dive into one of the biggest changes in our church’s recent history—our new name—and talk about what it means moving forward.Contact us at podcast@tobethechurch.comSocial Media:Instagram.com/tobethechurchfacebook.com/tobethechurchyoutube.com/tobethechurch

A listener asks why NGC doesn’t observe Ash Wednesday or Lent, given their background in a church that did. In this episode, we discuss how we approach the church calendar—using it when helpful but not feeling bound by tradition. Is Lent something Christians should observe? Can it be beneficial? We break it all down.Contact us at podcast@tobethechurch.comSocial Media:Instagram.com/tobethechurchfacebook.com/tobethechurchyoutube.com/tobethechurch

This week, Andrew and Tyler discuss their time at the Church Ventures conference, where Andrew preached to a room full of pastors. They explore the differences between preparing a sermon for pastors versus a typical congregation, the unique challenges of preaching to preachers, and Andrew’s process for sermon preparation.Ask a question by emailing podcast@tobethechurch.comSocial Media:Instagram.com/tobethechurchfacebook.com/tobethechurchyoutube.com/tobethechurch

It’s time for another round of Lyrical Analysis! This week, a listener sent in some wild hymn rewrites from an album called Reclaimed Hymns for Former Church Kids—where classic church songs get a secular, anti-religious twist. The guys break down the lyrics, have some laughs, and talk about why the “gospel” in these songs is no gospel at all. What’s the heart and world view behind these rewrites? Ask a question by emailing podcast@tobethechurch.com or comment below.Social Media:Instagram.com/tobethechurchfacebook.com/tobethechurchyoutube.com/tobethechurch