Épisodes

  • New News

    New News
    Dec 16 2025
    In this special farewell episode, we share some heartfelt "new news" as we officially bring the Placed for a Purpose podcast to a close after two and a half years of fun and insightful conversations on neighboring. Reflecting on over 100 episodes, we celebrate the journey, from memorable interviews and book discussions to practical insights on hospitality, evangelism, and everyday friendship. We also share updates on what’s next: one of us is stepping into a new pastoral role in men’s ministry while the other continues to write, speak, and create neighboring resources. With gratitude and hope for what’s ahead, this final episode is both a goodbye and an invitation to keep neighboring with purpose.
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    14 min
  • How to BLESS your neighborhood with Dave Ferguson

    How to BLESS your neighborhood with Dave Ferguson
    Nov 4 2025
    In this bonus episode, we sit down with Dave Ferguson, author of Bless: 5 Everyday Ways to Love Your Neighbor and Change the World, to explore a practical and relational framework for neighboring based on the life of Jesus. Dave shares how each part of the BLESS acronym, Begin with Prayer, Listen, Eat, Serve, and Share Your Story, offers simple yet impactful steps to build genuine friendships with neighbors and live on mission without turning people into projects. Through stories, research, and a focus on hospitality, the episode dives into why neighboring through blessing, not converting, is not only more effective but more faithful to Jesus’ example. Whether it’s praying for neighbors, sharing meals, or simply being a friend, this conversation encourages listeners to take intentional steps toward loving those around them with authenticity and grace. Order Dave's Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1684510880/?bestFormat=true&k=bless%205%20everyday%20ways%20to%20love%20your%20neighbor&ref_=nb_sb_ss_w_scx-ent-pd-bk-d_k0_1_14_de&crid=EFJW3UXDM232&sprefix=Bless%20neighbor CONNECT ON SOCIALS: Instagram TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: Follow this link to share your neighboring stories with us or tell us your thoughts on today's episode.
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    39 min
  • Wrapping Up the Parables

    Wrapping Up the Parables
    Oct 28 2025
    In this final episode of our “Neighboring Through the Parables” series, we reflect on how Jesus’ parables have shaped our understanding of neighboring, from letting go of grudges to celebrating the overlooked, being generous with our resources, and trusting that even the smallest acts can grow into something meaningful. We revisit key lessons from parables like the unforgiving servant, the mustard seed, the prodigal son, and the rich fool, and how they’ve shown up in everyday moments with our neighbors, whether through sharing a trash can, welcoming new dog-owning neighbors, or pushing past assumptions and scarcity mindsets. As we close out the series, we challenge ourselves (and you!) to take one step of generosity toward a neighbor, trusting that these small acts reflect the upside-down values of Jesus’ kingdom. ⁠Stories with Intent: A Comprehensive Guide to the Parables of Jesus ⁠by Klyne Snodgrass ⁠Interpreting the Parables⁠ by Craig Blomburg ⁠Bible Project Podcast series on Parables⁠ in 2020 ⁠The Parables of Jesus: A 12-Week Study (Knowing the Bible) ⁠by Douglas O'Donnell CONNECT ON SOCIALS: Instagram TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: Follow this link to share your neighboring stories with us or tell us your thoughts on today's episode.
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    30 min
  • Parables on Prayer

    Parables on Prayer
    Oct 14 2025
    In this episode of our Neighboring Through the Parables series, we explore how Jesus uses everyday stories to reframe the way we approach prayer. Drawing from three parables, the friend at midnight, the persistent widow, and the Pharisee and the tax collector, we see a picture of prayer that is raw, relentless, and radically relational. These parables show us that prayer isn’t about polished words or perfect motives, but about persistence, dependence, and humility. Whether we feel powerless like the widow, desperate like the midnight guest, or tempted to rely on our own spiritual résumé like the Pharisee, Jesus invites us to come honestly and shamelessly before God, trusting that He is far more willing to respond than we imagine. Through storytelling and personal reflection, we’re challenged to pray boldly and consistently for our neighbors, not just once, but with a kind of gritty faith that doesn’t give up. ⁠Stories with Intent: A Comprehensive Guide to the Parables of Jesus ⁠by Klyne Snodgrass ⁠Interpreting the Parables⁠ by Craig Blomburg ⁠Bible Project Podcast series on Parables⁠ in 2020 ⁠The Parables of Jesus: A 12-Week Study (Knowing the Bible) ⁠by Douglas O'Donnell CONNECT ON SOCIALS: Instagram TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: Follow this link to share your neighboring stories with us or tell us your thoughts on today's episode.
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    35 min
  • Parable of the Rich Fool

    Parable of the Rich Fool
    Oct 7 2025
    In this midpoint episode of our Neighboring Through the Parables series, we explore how Jesus’ story of the rich fool in Luke 12 challenges our assumptions about money, security, and abundance. Parables, by nature, are subversive and indirect, they stick with us and quietly reshape how we see the world, and this one pushes us to ask whether we have our possessions or our possessions have us. We wrestle with the tension between wise saving and deep dependence on God, and how easy it is to justify inaction when it comes to generosity. Through honest reflections and personal stories, we consider what it looks like to be “rich toward God” and how even small acts of generosity, especially when they cost us something, can be powerful ways of neighboring and living out the values of God’s kingdom. ⁠Stories with Intent: A Comprehensive Guide to the Parables of Jesus ⁠by Klyne Snodgrass ⁠Interpreting the Parables⁠ by Craig Blomburg ⁠Bible Project Podcast series on Parables⁠ in 2020 ⁠The Parables of Jesus: A 12-Week Study (Knowing the Bible) ⁠by Douglas O'Donnell CONNECT ON SOCIALS: Instagram TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: Follow this link to share your neighboring stories with us or tell us your thoughts on today's episode.
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    35 min
  • Parable of the Good Samaritan

    Parable of the Good Samaritan
    Sep 30 2025
    In this episode, we unpack the parable of the Good Samaritan, a viral story that has endured for over 2,000 years, and explore how Jesus redefines what it means to be a neighbor. When a religious scholar tries to draw boundaries around who qualifies for love, Jesus flips the script with a provocative story that places a despised outsider, a Samaritan, at the center of compassion and mercy. We dive into how this parable challenges our natural tendency to categorize people into “neighbors” and “non-neighbors,” and instead invites us into a new kind of neighboring, one that is active, sacrificial, and fueled by mercy. Whether it’s through radical generosity, simple acts of kindness, or choosing empathy over indifference, this conversation calls us to become neighbors in the truest sense: those who show mercy, even when it’s costly. For more resources see: ⁠ Stories with Intent: A Comprehensive Guide to the Parables of Jesus ⁠by Klyne Snodgrass ⁠Interpreting the Parables⁠ by Craig Blomburg ⁠Bible Project Podcast series on Parables⁠ in 2020 ⁠The Parables of Jesus: A 12-Week Study (Knowing the Bible) ⁠by Douglas O'Donnell CONNECT ON SOCIALS: Instagram TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: Follow this link to share your neighboring stories with us or tell us your thoughts on today's episode.
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    34 min
  • Parable of the Mustard Seed and Leaven

    Parable of the Mustard Seed and Leaven
    Sep 23 2025
    In this episode, we explore the parables of the mustard seed and the leaven, two small, humble images Jesus uses to describe the surprising and unstoppable nature of the kingdom of God. Unlike flashy displays of power, these stories remind us that God often works in quiet, unseen ways, through small acts of faith, kind words, and unnoticed love. We reflect on how these parables connect deeply with the neighboring journey: when progress feels slow or invisible, Jesus invites us to trust that something is growing. Whether it’s a seed planted in conversation or the slow rise of spiritual transformation, we’re called to keep going with faith, imagination, and joy, even in the underwhelming. For more resources see: Stories with Intent: A Comprehensive Guide to the Parables of Jesus by Klyne Snodgrass Interpreting the Parables by Craig Blomburg Bible Project Podcast series on Parables in 2020 The Parables of Jesus: A 12-Week Study (Knowing the Bible) by Douglas O'Donnell CONNECT ON SOCIALS: Instagram TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: Follow this link to share your neighboring stories with us or tell us your thoughts on today's episode.
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    34 min
  • Parable of the Lost Sheep and Coin

    Parable of the Lost Sheep and Coin
    Sep 16 2025
    In this episode, we continue our parable series by exploring the lost sheep and the lost coin in Luke 15, two short but powerful stories that reveal God’s heart for seeking the lost and the joy that comes when they're found. We reflect on how Jesus uses ordinary experiences to invite us into kingdom truths, challenging us to take initiative with our neighbors, especially those on the margins. Through personal stories, honest wrestlings, and practical takeaways, we’re reminded that neighboring isn’t just about strategy, it’s about sharing God’s joy, celebrating small wins, and joining Him in the search. For more resources see: Stories with Intent: A Comprehensive Guide to the Parables of Jesus by Klyne Snodgrass Interpreting the Parables by Craig Blomburg Bible Project Podcast series on Parables in 2020 The Parables of Jesus: A 12-Week Study (Knowing the Bible) by Douglas O'Donnell CONNECT ON SOCIALS: Instagram TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: Follow this link to share your neighboring stories with us or tell us your thoughts on today's episode.
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    27 min