The Boundless Show

Roles and rhythms while dating, plus strategies to combat loneliness, and when he feels attraction in a relationship but she doesn’t.    Featured musical artist:  Tauren Wells Roundtable: Who Does What When Dating? A listener recently asked what roles, if any, men and women should play in a dating relationship. The question raises many more questions: Should the guy make the first move? Does biblical submission apply in dating? Who should pay for dates? What does leadership of the relationship look like? We tackle these questions and more with our panel of newly-married and engaged individuals.     Leave Us a Voicemail Watch This Segment on YouTube Culture: Overcoming Loneliness Loneliness is a worldwide epidemic. A recent U.S. Surgeon General report states that one in two adults feels isolated. The need for connection is greater than ever, and Christians should be the first to prioritize it. Becky Harling has fought hard for real relationships in her life, and is here to show us how to do the same.    Cultivating Deeper Connections in a Lonely World    Visit Becky’s Website Watch This Segment on YouTube Inbox: One-Sided Attraction A listener has been dating her boyfriend for three months. He’s excited about the relationship, but she’s just not feeling it. Is there reason to stick it out and hope for attraction to grow? Counselor Kari A weighs in.  Find us on YouTube  Link to Counseling Services  Choosing Attraction   

Obeying God’s commands about sex (part two), plus Ben Stuart on breakups, engagement and marriage, and how do you prepare to be a stay-at-home mom?  Featured musical artist:  Zach Williams  Roundtable: A Sexual Purity Reset (Part 2) Do you sometimes feel you’re the last Christian on earth who hasn’t had sex? Or you think God has bigger things to worry about than your sex life, so a little compromise here or there is no big deal. Maybe you’ve caved to sexual sin and are wondering if you’re a Christian at all. If any of these scenarios describe you, you’re not alone. God is pretty clear about His sexual standards and design, so why is it so hard to obey them? And in today’s culture, why should we? In part two of this no-holds-barred conversation, our guests discuss why church can be a difficult place to talk about sexual struggles, how sex in marriage is a big deal, and finding a future beyond sexual sin.     Leave Us a Voicemail Watch This Segment on YouTube Culture: Moving From a Breakup to Marriage Most of us go through at least one breakup while dating, but is there a way to navigate a relationship’s demise without getting caught in a bad cycle of them? Pastor Ben Stuart broke up with a girlfriend in college and learned a few valuable lessons in the process. Breakups may be part of your journey through the relational seasons of being single, dating, getting engaged and getting married. But as Ben explains, it’s possible to survive a breakup (or several) and move toward marriage with confidence.     Single, Dating, Engaged, Married: Navigating Life and Love in the Modern Age    Visit Ben’s Instagram Inbox: Prep to Be a Stay-at-Home Mom Our listener dreams of being a stay-at-home mom and is asking how she should prepare. Counselor Joannie DeBrito weighs in.  Find us on YouTube  Link to Counseling Services 

Obeying God’s commands about sex, plus Ben Stuart on battling adversity and temptation, and how to maximize your final year of college.    Featured musical artist:  Covenant Worship  Roundtable: A Sexual Purity Reset (Part 1) Do you sometimes feel you’re the last Christian on earth who hasn’t had sex? Or you think God has bigger things to worry about than your sex life, so a little compromise here or there is no big deal. Maybe you’ve caved to sexual sin and are wondering if you’re a Christian at all. If any of these scenarios describe you, you’re not alone. God is pretty clear about His sexual standards and design, so why is it so hard to obey them? And in today’s culture, why should we? In part one of this no-holds-barred conversation, our guests open up about their sexual histories, grapple with the truths of God’s Word (even the tough parts), look forward with renewed hope, and cast a vision for finding both strength and grace in God’s forward-focused and for-our-good design for sex.    Leave Us a Voicemail Watch This Segment on YouTube Culture: Fighting Temptation and Finding Rest We’re in a spiritual war against the world, our own sinful desires, and even Satan himself. We need to fight temptation, worthless pursuits, discouragement and adversity on every side. As fighters, our need for rest can be just as important as how we handle the battle — but where and when do we find this rest? Pastor Ben Stuart is passionate about helping young adults find intimacy with God through ancient rhythms and practices. He knows we can reject the enemy’s lies and embrace our true identity in Christ. Pushing through the struggle we are then afforded rest at the often unexpected pastures and streams that God provides. This discussion will help you start the journey.      Rest and War: Rhythms of a Well-Fought Life Visit Ben’s Instagram Watch This Segment on YouTube Inbox: Making Your Last Year of College Count What should you do to maximize your last year of college? How can you enjoy this season while preparing for what comes next? Counselor Linda Miller weighs in.  Find us on YouTube  Link to Counseling Services 

How we budget and save for stuff, plus what to do when you feel behind in life, and conversations with someone who has doubts about God.    Featured musical artist: Hollyn Roundtable: Are You Living Paycheck to Paycheck? A bucket-list trip. A new house. A different car. The latest smartphone. All great things, but they require money. Many of us have gotten used to living paycheck to paycheck and putting things on credit cards. Is there a better way to spend and save without going into debt or eating mac and cheese until we’re 40? Our guests reveal what they’re saving money for, how they’re doing it, and why delayed gratification and planning for the future can be rewarding. If you’re needing clarity on how to better save towards a long-term goal, you’ll be inspired by our discussion.   Leave Us a Voicemail Culture: Am I Behind in Life?  Your friend gets a promotion. Another friend starts dating. A couple in your small group is expecting their first child. Meanwhile, you’re underemployed and staring at another apartment’s popcorn ceiling. This was Meghan Asbury’s life. Every milestone her friends hit left her feeling more and more behind. She moved to a new city for a fresh start, but that didn’t help. The months and years following led to a fair amount of grieving, soul-searching, and reevaluating her situation. In the process she learned a lot about herself, God, His plans for us, and what it means to be “on track.”   You Are Not Behind: Building a Life You Love Without Having Everything You Want  Visit Meghan’s Website Watch This Segment on YouTube Inbox: When a Loved One Doubts God A friend or family member admits they’re having doubts about God. How can you respond without freaking out or sounding preachy? Counselor Glenn Lutjens weighs in.  Find us on YouTube  Link to Counseling Services 

Make your Bible reading more meaningful, plus identifying and addressing trauma in your life, and what did Paul mean by his “thorn in the flesh”?     Featured musical artist: Phil Wickham Roundtable: Beyond Bible 101 You grew up in church, but is the Bible still a bunch of stories and moral lessons to you? Do you want to go deeper and not just know facts, but really get to know God himself? The possibilities for personal study and devotion are endless and sometimes overwhelming. Our guests share their favorite ways to study God’s Word, how they’ve experienced transformation through it, and what has helped them dig deeper along the way.  Watch This Segment on YouTube Leave Us a Voicemail Culture: Understanding the Effects of Trauma Trauma has many forms, and many of us have experienced it on some level. Whether neglect, violence, abuse, injury or tragedy, trauma can be difficult to identify and even harder to process and heal. Licensed professional counselor Eliza Huie joins us to define trauma, demonstrate how to name it, and explain how Christians can respond appropriately to ensure we or others get the help we need.   Trauma Aware: A Christian’s Guide to Providing Help and Care Visit Eliza’s Website Inbox: A Thorn in the Flesh In 2 Corinthians 12, the Apostle Paul describes his metaphorical “thorn in the flesh.” What exactly did he mean by that and subsequent phrases like, “When I am weak, then I am strong”? Counselor Jerry Jones weighs in.  Find us on YouTube  Link to Counseling Services 

A challenge to ditch your screens, plus a conversation on sexuality and the church, and when your friend says she’s bisexual and a Christian.     Featured musical artist: Je’kob Roundtable: Join Our Screen Fast In anticipation of Lent, our friends at Plugged In have teed up a screen fast. Wanna join? If taking a break from digital devices including your smartphone, tablet, TV and gaming console sounds challenging (work exceptions are OK), then this fast may be for you. Two Plugged In team members plus our friend Georgia join us for an honest assessment of our own screen usage and what it might look like to pause for a week and prioritize the real world.  Take The Technology Addiction Assessment  Link to Bring Your Bible’s Instagram Page  Link to Plugged In Website  Leave Us a Voicemail Culture: Discussing Sex in Church Sex is a difficult topic to talk about — especially at church. But the Bible has a lot to say about it, and sadly, sexual sin doesn’t stay outside the church walls. Ellen Dykas is single and part of a ministry dedicated to conversations and restoration around sex, including addiction. She talks with us about how the church can champion a healthy and biblical framework for sexuality and how it can offer healing to the sexually broken.   Rethinking Sexuality: God’s Design and Why It Matters    Visit Ellen’s Website Harvest USA’s Online Courses Watch This Segment on YouTube Inbox: When a Christian Friend Says She’s Bisexual If your friend is dating the same gender but still claims to be a Christian, how do you respond? Jeff Johnston weighs in.   Rethinking Sexuality: God’s Design and Why It Matters   Find us on YouTube  Link to Counseling Services 

Plan your wedding like a boss, plus Ellen Dykas on navigating lifelong singleness, and how to see God at work in a culture of negativity.       Featured musical artist: Darlene Zschech    Roundtable: How to Plan a Wedding   Weddings are big business, and the pressure to have a “perfect” day is real. To make it all happen, many couples invest thousands of dollars and months of preparation. Is the effort worth it? According to experts, what deserves your time and money, and what doesn’t? What are some things to have in mind as you sort out the details? What parts of the planning should the groom-to-be have a say in or take over altogether? How can you make the day meaningful and God-honoring? Our panel of two professional wedding planners plus one engaged (and overwhelmed) guy shares first-hand experience in making your day memorable and manageable on all fronts.    Ready to Wed: 12 Ways to Start a Marriage You’ll Love    Leave Us a Voicemail   Watch This Segment on YouTube   Culture: Fruitful Singleness   Ellen Dykas has been in ministry most of her life, first in international missions and now in leadership for an organization devoted to sexual wholeness. Oh, and she’s in her late 50s and single. She details her journey in singleness, including the pressure to be married, how she finds purpose every day, what’s tough and what’s great about being single, what it’s like to be a leader alongside men in ministry — and much more. Next week she’ll be back to talk about sexuality and the church!     Visit Ellen’s Website   Inbox: Fighting Negativity   When you’re surrounded by negativity and darkness in today’s world, where can you look to see God at work? Counselor Jerry Jones weighs in.    Find us on YouTube    Link to Counseling Services   

Overcommitment on church activities, plus Suzanne Gosselin on Gen Z’s apathy toward dating apps, and what if your date has mental health issues?    Featured musical artist: Jeremy Rosado Roundtable: Church Involvement Overload Sunday services. Volunteering. Helping others throughout the week. Not to mention Bible study, small group, committee meetings and discipleship. If you aren’t careful, doing good and even “godly” activities out of guilt can lead to burnout. Besides, if you’re always at church, what do you do about your neighbor and others who don’t know Christ? To help us find equilibrium, our guests share how they’re learning to pause, prioritize and even cut back on their commitments to find joy in what God actually wants from them and for them.  Leave Us a Voicemail Watch This Segment on YouTube Culture: A Young Adult Exodus From Online Dating In the early 2000s online dating sites were brand new, and heading into the 2010s and beyond, increasing numbers of couples credited digital connections for helping them find their spouse. But the latest statistics indicate Gen Z is ditching online dating apps. Boundless friend and contributor Suzanne Gosselin shares insight on why young adults aren’t as prone to swipe right as older generations.    True Love Dates: Your Indispensable Guide to Finding the Love of Your Life    Dating Apps Lose Popularity Among Gen Z Visit Suzanne’s Website Inbox: Dating and Mental Health Issues Is it possible to have a good dating relationship if you or your significant other struggles with depression, anxiety, or other forms of mental illness? Counselor Joannie DeBrito joins us to answer.  Find us on YouTube  Link to Counseling Services 

Our favorite romantic films, plus the history of St. Valentine and Valentine’s Day, and attending the wedding of someone you used to date.       Featured musical artist: Daniel Bashta    Roundtable: Best Movies for Valentine’s Day   Do you have a go-to film for Valentine’s Day? Do you prefer a rom-com or an epic romance or period drama? To help you celebrate February 14th, our panelists duke it out over the all-time best movies about love and romance. Listen in to see if your favorite makes the list and hear our opinions on what makes for a great love-centric storyline.     Leave Us a Voicemail   Watch This Segment on YouTube   Link to Plugged In Website    Culture: Will the Real St. Valentine Please Stand Up?    Where did the Valentine’s Day traditions of flowers, romantic cards and heart-shaped candies come from? It started with St. Valentine, a real person with a fascinating story. To help separate truth from legend, historian Bill Petro shares facts, fiction and legacy around the Roman priest and the holiday that shares his name.     Turning Points: Decisive Moments in the History of Christianity     Visit Bill Petro’s Blog   Inbox: Attending the Wedding of Someone You Dated   What if you’re invited to the wedding of someone you used to have feelings for? What if it was someone you actually dated? A counselor offers advice.    Find us on YouTube    Link to Counseling Services 

Encouragement when your home life isn’t ideal, plus hope for single parents, and are Christians still committed to God’s standard for sex?     Featured musical artist: Kerrie Roberts Roundtable: Love Where You Live What’s your current living situation and how do you feel about it? You may live by yourself, with roommates, your parents, or a married couple or family. Whatever the circumstances, each situation has pros and cons. Our panelists have lived in a variety of settings and with different types of people. They discuss lessons they’ve learned along the way as well as tips for staying encouraged and making the most of where God has you right now, even if it’s not ideal. Leave Us a Voicemail Culture: The Single Parent Path Tez Brooks got the news nobody wants when his first wife left him. His divorce was both an emotional low and a spiritual wake-up call. In the years following, he navigated life as a single dad — raising two kids, adjusting to a new normal, embracing church and community in a new way, and healing relational wounds. Now remarried, Tez shares encouragement and strategies for single parents who feel overwhelmed, plus advice for trusting God when your life is turned upside down.   The Single Dad Detour: Directions for Fathering After Divorce    Tez’s Website Inbox: What Happened to Sexual Integrity? Our listener is frustrated that almost none of his friends are obeying God’s Word when it comes to sex. What are the implications, and is it right to care? Counselor Geremy Keeton weighs in.  Find us on YouTube  Link to Counseling Services