Questions about sex, identity, relationships, and God's design are arriving earlier than ever, and Christian parents cannot afford to remain passive.

In this episode, the elders of Riverview Baptist Church discuss how to talk to children about sexuality in an age of confusion and competing worldviews. Rather than relying on one awkward conversation, we argue for hundreds of small conversations that build a strong, positive vision of God's design, over time.

Topics include:

• Biblical manhood and womanhood
• Talking to children about sex
• Identity and feelings
• Social media and entertainment
• Homosexuality/transgender issues and cultural pressure
• Grace and truth
• Healthy parental boundaries
• Modeling a beautiful Christian marriage

God's design for humanity is good, beautiful, and life-giving. Parents have the privilege and responsibility of helping their children see that before the culture teaches them otherwise.

Chapters

• (00:00:16) - Where Do Babies Come From?
• (00:01:30) - Wonders of the World
• (00:03:52) - How to Start a Conversation About Sex With Your Child
• (00:13:03) - Discussing Disney Movies With Kids
• (00:14:13) - On the Sexual Identity Conversation
• (00:19:20) - Why I built the fence
• (00:21:34) - On Permissive Parenting
• (00:27:35) - Problems of Teaching Your Child About Sexuality and Gender
• (00:30:59) - Feelings and Truth for Teenagers
• (00:37:09) - Topics of Sexual Ethics for Kids
• (00:45:49) - How to Talk About Gender and Sexuality With Your Child
• (00:49:35) - Deuteronomy 6: On Your Heart

For many people, it's one of the most uncomfortable words in the Bible.

Our culture has spent decades teaching women that submission is weakness, oppression, or the loss of personal freedom. Scripture paints a very different picture.

In this episode of Word & Flesh, we continue our series on biblical womanhood by exploring one of the most misunderstood topics in the Christian life: submission as an act of faith.

We discuss:

• Why submission ultimately begins with trusting God
• The difference between biblical submission and worldly caricatures
• Why women are called to joyful partnership, not passive silence
• How older women are called to disciple younger women
• What wisdom looks like in everyday life
• What to do when a husband isn't leading well
• Why encouragement often accomplishes what criticism never can
• How feminism has shaped modern assumptions about marriage, authority, and fulfillment

We also tackle practical questions that many Christians are afraid to ask:

• What if my husband and I disagree?
• What if he's passive?
• What if he's wrong?
• What does submission actually look like in a healthy Christian marriage?

But beneath all of those questions lies a much bigger one:

What if God's design is actually glorious?

In Titus 2, women are called to be self-controlled, pure, kind, and submissive to their own husbands "that the word of God may not be reviled."

That's a breathtaking calling.

The goal isn't merely a better marriage. The stakes are bigger than that.

A woman's faithfulness can adorn the gospel, strengthen the church, bless her family, and display the beauty of God's wisdom to a watching world.

Chapters

• (00:00:16) - A Virtuous Woman
• (00:01:42) - Wonders and Flesh
• (00:02:38) - The VIRTUE OF A WOMAN
• (00:04:35) - Wonders of the World
• (00:12:15) - Wonders of the World
• (00:14:20) - What is Submission in the Marriage?
• (00:16:52) - Wonders of the World: Subjugation and Control
• (00:22:06) - God Made Adam Out of the Dust
• (00:27:00) - How To Have a Voted Marriage
• (00:29:50) - Wonders of the Kingdom: What If My Husband's
• (00:34:27) - The Husband's Role in Marriage
• (00:36:16) - How to Approach a Husband Who's Not Leading
• (00:42:17) - Peter on His Wife's Love
• (00:47:29) - What Does Submissive Marriage Look Like?
• (00:52:56) - Forgiveness in the Marriage
• (00:54:45) - Paul's Stakes for Women

In this episode of *Word and Flesh*, we continue the conversation on biblical masculinity by turning to one of the central struggles of men: passivity, fear, and abdication.

From Adam in the Garden to Peter denying Christ, Scripture repeatedly shows men failing to step into the responsibilities God has given them. Facts: modern men struggle with the same thing.

Riverview Elders Nathan Bechtold, Michael Beene, and Ryan Anderson talk about:

* why men avoid leadership
* the difference between taking initiative and taking control
* how insecurity fuels both passivity and domination
* why “happy wife, happy life” is a terrible vision for marriage
* what it looks like to shepherd your wife spiritually
* how men can begin leading their homes in family worship
* and why shrinking back is so spiritually dangerous

We also discuss practical realities many Christian men face:
fear of conflict, fear of failure, feeling spiritually inadequate, emotional disengagement, and the temptation to substitute career success or hobbies for real kingdom responsibility.

At the center of the conversation is this call:
Do not shrink back.

Christ has already won the victory. Men are called to press in, bear burdens, lead courageously, and take initiative for the good of others and the glory of God.

Look to the King!

Chapters

• (00:00:16) - We Fail
• (00:01:47) - The Virtuous Man
• (00:03:00) - What Men Are Deserve to Do
• (00:04:51) - None Shall Shrink Back
• (00:06:01) - "Shrinking Back": Why Men Fail
• (00:09:36) - Leading Well
• (00:13:13) - What Does It Look Like for a Man to Shepher His Wife
• (00:21:03) - How to Lead Your Wife
• (00:28:23) - 7 Reasons Why I Shouldn't Lead My Wife
• (00:31:12) - What are things that good leadership is not like
• (00:36:53) - Separation of the Home
• (00:39:54) - What is the burden my wife needs to bear?
• (00:41:33) - Leading the Family
• (00:47:19) - How to Have Family Worship
• (00:51:43) - Taking Initiative With My Daughter
• (00:55:58) - God's Words for Men

In this episode, we explore a biblical vision of masculinity that goes far deeper than cultural stereotypes. Instead of passivity on one side or domination on the other, Scripture calls men to something better.

We define a virtuous man as one who takes initiative to lead, provide, and protect others with humble, self-sacrificing love under God’s authority.

From there, we walk through what that looks like in real life—at home, at work, and in the church.

We also address:

• why many men feel stuck or unsure of their role
• how fear and comfort can lead to passivity
• what true provision and protection actually look like
• and why the cross is the clearest picture of real masculinity

This episode is about recovering a vision of manhood that is strong, purposeful, and ultimately shaped by Christ.

Music Credit

Intro/Outro:

Old Neptune, He's Roaring

by Brian Sauvé, used with permission

Chapters

• (00:00:09) - What Makes a Man a Man?
• (00:01:29) - WORD AND FLEE
• (00:01:53) - Vincy of Manhood and Womanhood
• (00:03:08) - Virtuous Manhood
• (00:06:19) - What is Virtue? (In Latin, V I, r
• (00:09:24) - Ryan on Taking Initiative in Life
• (00:13:33) - Adam Was Given Responsibility First
• (00:17:43) - What Stops Men From Taking Initiative?
• (00:22:50) - Part 3: Taking Initiative
• (00:26:20) - Lead, Provide and Protect
• (00:28:40) - Provision and Domination in the Garden
• (00:32:44) - Bearers of the burden
• (00:35:18) - Ben Sasse: Cynicism is Denied Manliness
• (00:39:42) - Philip Jones on True Masculinity
• (00:46:18) - Come on Boys, Don't Be Slow

It’s a question our culture struggles to answer—yet Scripture speaks to it clearly, beautifully, and with purpose.

In this episode of Word and Flesh, we begin a two-part conversation on virtous womanhood, not shaped by culture, but grounded in God’s design.

We explore a biblical definition of a virtuous woman:
A woman who nurtures and cultivates others with gentle strength, wisdom, and joyful partnership under God’s authority.

From there, we begin to unpack what that actually means.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why the question “What is a woman?” even matters
• How culture has distorted and confused womanhood
• What it means that a woman is designed to nurture and cultivate
• The beauty and dignity of being a “helper” (and why that word is misunderstood)
• How God uniquely designed women as life-givers—physically, relationally, and spiritually
• What virtuous womanhood looks like for married and single women alike
• Why God’s design is not restrictive—but life-giving

We also begin to address the tension many feel when approaching this topic—especially in light of cultural messaging and personal experiences.

This is about recovering a vision of womanhood that is strong, dignified, and deeply rooted in truth. And that's a beautiful thing.

Chapters

• (00:00:17) - What is a Woman?
• (00:01:01) - WORD AND FLEE: The Culture of Women
• (00:02:08) - What is a VIRGIN WOMEN?
• (00:03:11) - What is a Virtuous Woman?
• (00:04:31) - What is a VOTIVE WOMAN?
• (00:07:44) - A Woman's Virtue and Her Manhood
• (00:09:13) - Adam and Eve: Nurture and Cultivation
• (00:11:59) - Virtue and the role of women
• (00:15:58) - Proverbs 31: The Valor of Women
• (00:20:11) - Genesis 2:18- A Woman's Authority
• (00:24:43) - How Having a Wife Made Me a Better Man
• (00:25:55) - Prescriptivism and the virtuous woman
• (00:27:12) - The normative character of unmarried women in the Bible
• (00:28:34) - Cultivating the Biblical Womanhood
• (00:35:22) - Virtuous Womanhood in the World

In this episode of Word and Flesh, we begin a new series by stepping back and asking a deeper question: how are we meant to think about these things as Christians?

Rather than reducing the conversation to mere rules or reactions, we explore a more foundational framework rooted in identity and grace. The culture tells us to define ourselves by our desires. The church has often responded with silence or simple prohibitions. But Scripture offers something better: transformation through Christ.

In this conversation, we cover:

• Why your sexuality is not the core of your identity
• What it means that God created us male and female
• How the church has historically struggled to talk about sex (and where it went wrong)
• The difference between behavior modification and real heart transformation
• Why God’s design is not restrictive—but actually leads to life and freedom
• How grace empowers change, even when your desires don’t immediately align

We also begin to apply these truths to real life—for both singles and married couples—laying the groundwork for the episodes to come.

Chapters

• (00:00:16) - Wonders of Gender and Sexuality
• (00:02:03) - What Does It Look Like to Grow in Grace on Sexuality and
• (00:06:17) - The temptation of sexual behavior
• (00:06:54) - What Was Missing in the 90s Sexual purity culture?
• (00:12:28) - Don't Apologize for What the Bible Says About Sexuality
• (00:16:45) - Sexual purity for the lost
• (00:21:16) - Sexual Desire and How to Change It
• (00:27:31) - God's Grace is Not a Leash
• (00:30:28) - Sexual Ethics for Unmarried People
• (00:35:03) - Paul on Sex and Married People
• (00:39:21) - Sexual ethics, the fall

If grace is a gift from God, how can we grow in it? And what does that look like in real life?

In this episode of Word and Flesh, we unpack one of the most important (and often misunderstood) ideas in the Christian life. Many believers swing between two extremes—performance-driven Christianity or passive, apathetic faith.

Scripture calls us to something better.

We explore:

• What grace actually is (and isn’t)
• The tension between effort and earning
• Why spiritual growth requires real effort—but not self-reliance
• What 2 Peter says about growing in grace
• The difference between duty and joy
• Why focusing on yourself can actually stall your growth
• How grace empowers everyday obedience
• What it looks like to depend on God in evangelism, Bible reading, and leadership

Grace is not just something that forgives you—it’s the power that changes you.

~

Produced by Ethen Demarce

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Episode Art:

Word & Flesh logo, by Rebekah Wright

~

Signoff:

"Further up, and further in." -- Aslan the Lion, The Last Battle, by C.S. Lewis

~

Word & Flesh Theme - "Dominus me regit"
Created with Suno

Lyrics (in Latin):
Dominus me regit,
nihil deerit mihi;
in pascuis virentibus me ponit.
Super aquas quietis ducit me,
animam meam reficit;
in viis iustitiae me ducit.

Translation:
The Lord guides me;
I will lack nothing.
In green pastures He places me.
He leads me beside still waters;
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness.
*based on Ps. 23*

Chapters

• (00:00:16) - What Does It Mean to Grow in Grace?
• (00:01:25) - Ryan Anderson Welcomed Baby into the World
• (00:02:28) - The 2026 Vision
• (00:03:28) - PODCAST: Word and Flesh
• (00:05:01) - What Might It Look Like to Be Growing in Grace?
• (00:09:36) - Grow in Grace
• (00:13:00) - Paul on Efforts to Pursue Godliness
• (00:17:06) - Paul says, literally, by the grace of God, I am
• (00:18:57) - What is spiritual growth?
• (00:21:25) - What is the Christian Purpose?
• (00:24:56) - 2 Peter 3:18- Grow in Grace
• (00:28:41) - Michael Biehn on Growing in Grace
• (00:34:13) - Peter and the Dying to Self
• (00:39:35) - Growing in Grace

If you’ve been given authority—at home, at work, or in the church—how are you supposed to use it?

In this episode of Word and Flesh, we move from talking about authority to actually using it. What does it look like to lead well without becoming controlling, harsh, or passive?

We cover a practical, biblical framework for using authority rightly:

• Authority is received—not self-created
• Authority exists to serve, not dominate
• Why your personal walk with God matters more than your position
• The difference between transformation and mere compliance
• How to correct with patience and shepherd people well
• Why Scripture—not preference—must set your boundaries
• What it looks like to repent when you misuse authority
• Why the Gospel—not your authority—is the center

Whether you’re a parent, a pastor, a business owner, or just someone trying to lead faithfully in your sphere, this episode will help you think clearly about how to use authority in a way that actually leads to flourishing.

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Episode art:

Christ Washing the Feet of the Disciples -- by Jacopo Tintoretto, Public Domain

Chapters

• (00:00:17) - Wonders and Flesh
• (00:00:57) - Understanding the Root of the Word Authority
• (00:05:24) - How to Use Authority
• (00:09:13) - 7 Rules for Living With Your Wife
• (00:14:16) - Philippians 2: A Matter of Authority
• (00:15:32) - How Do I Use My Authority?
• (00:20:24) - Leading With Authority
• (00:25:18) - All authority in the church
• (00:27:52) - 7 Rules for Using Your Authority
• (00:32:27) - One More Word on Authority

In this episode of Word and Flesh, we wrap up our discussion on authority by turning to one of the most debated topics today: government and political engagement.

We explore:

• What the Bible says about government (Romans 13, Jeremiah 29)
• The difference between the “City of God” and the “City of Man”
• Whether Christians should seek political power
• The danger of placing hope in government
• How Christians should respond to leaders they disagree with
• Common mistakes Christians make in political engagement

We also wrestle with a key question:
Can politics actually bring about the kind of change Christians hope for?

Ultimately, this conversation points us back to where real transformation happens—not in national elections, but in faithful obedience, gospel proclamation, and everyday discipleship.

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Episode Art: Paradise from De Civitate Dei (City of God) 15th Century

Chapters

• (00:00:17) - St. Augustine: The City of God and Its Government
• (00:01:15) - WORD AND FILLED
• (00:01:48) - Conclusion on Government Authority
• (00:02:33) - Government and St. Augustine
• (00:09:39) - Government and the Christian faith
• (00:12:38) - Government in the Kingdom
• (00:17:48) - Ryan on Politics and the Auginian View
• (00:23:54) - Ryan on How We Should Respond to Government
• (00:28:58) - Paul on the Issues of Election
• (00:32:29) - Common Mistakes Christians Make When Relating to the Government
• (00:37:35) - Prayer for Christians:
• (00:40:12) - How do we make America a Christian nation?
• (00:44:23) - Press in for the kingdom

In this episode of Word and Flesh, we continue our conversation on authority by focusing on the local church—its role, its authority, and why it matters more than most people think.

In a culture where church is often treated as optional, personal, or even unnecessary, we ask:

• Where does pastoral authority come from?
• Why does the Bible call believers to obey their leaders?
• Why is local church commitment essential—not optional?
• What’s the danger of outsourcing spiritual authority to online voices?
• What does real church involvement actually look like?

We also talk about the difference between attending church and actually being part of it—living in meaningful relationships, submitting to biblical teaching, and growing together as the body of Christ.

If you’ve ever wondered:

• “Do I really need the church?”
• “Can I just follow Jesus on my own?”
• “Why does church commitment matter so much?”

This episode will challenge and clarify how you think about the church. Also we use the word "ticklish" a lot.

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Episode Art: "Supper at Emmaus", by Caravaggio, Oil on Canvas, 1601

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - WORD AND FLEE: Authority
• (00:00:58) - The Role and Authority of the Church in a Christian's Life
• (00:02:52) - Perpetual Authority
• (00:04:02) - Obedoing Your Leaders
• (00:06:33) - Submit to Your Leaders
• (00:11:43) - I want to make another comment on the Hebrews 13 passage
• (00:13:33) - Where Does Authority Come From in the Church?
• (00:14:38) - Elder-Led Congregationalism
• (00:16:39) - What Does it Look Like to Be Committed to the Local Church
• (00:21:42) - The Real Value of the Church
• (00:24:23) - A Common Prayer for Sunday
• (00:25:29) - WORD AND FLEE

In this episode of Word and Flesh, we tackle one of the most foundational (and controversial) issues in the Christian life: authority. We all live under authority—but not everyone thinks carefully about where that authority comes from or how it shapes their life.

We explore:

• Why authority is unavoidable
• The difference between healthy and abusive authority
• How authority flows from God into the home, church, and government
• The danger of unknowingly giving authority to voices that don’t shepherd your soul
• What it looks like to exercise authority rightly in everyday life

From parenting and discipline to cultural confusion and personal autonomy, this conversation gets practical quickly.

If you’ve ever wrestled with questions like:

• “Why should I listen to anyone?”
• “When is authority good—and when is it harmful?”
• “Who should actually speak into my life?”

This episode will help you think more clearly—and live more faithfully.

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Episode Art:

Christ in front of Pilate, Mihály Munkácsy, oil on canvas, 1881

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Signoff:

"Further up, and further in." -- Aslan the Lion, The Last Battle, by C.S. Lewis

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Music Credits:

Hallelujah chorus - Messiah
Performed by: Oratorio Chorus
Composed by: G.F. Handel
Record format: Edison Diamond Disc
Matrix number: 4433-A-1-1 (6-1)
Recording date: 1916

~

Word & Flesh Theme - "Dominus me regit"
Created with Suno

Lyrics (in Latin):
Dominus me regit,
nihil deerit mihi;
in pascuis virentibus me ponit.
Super aquas quietis ducit me,
animam meam reficit;
in viis iustitiae me ducit.

Translation:
The Lord guides me;
I will lack nothing.
In green pastures He places me.
He leads me beside still waters;
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness.
*based on Ps. 23*

Chapters

• (00:00:15) - Wonders of Authority
• (00:01:20) - The Problem of Authority
• (00:02:40) - The Problem of Authority
• (00:05:51) - Where Does Authority Come From?
• (00:10:26) - Why Did God Create Authority
• (00:15:24) - Matthew 28:18: All Authority, On Loan to Jesus
• (00:17:16) - What is God's Authority?
• (00:18:32) - What Does Good Authority Look Like in the Home?
• (00:21:45) - Proverbs 23:13
• (00:27:38) - Good Parenting: Authority in the Family
• (00:29:31) - Submit to God

Why another Christian podcast?

In this episode, the elders of Riverview explain the heart behind this new venture: helping our people think biblically about all of life—not just Sunday mornings. From the limits of the pulpit to the dangers of outsourcing wisdom to social media, we explore why embodied, local, pastoral guidance matters more than ever.

We also introduce the vision of “thick culture,” the meaning behind the name Word and Flesh, and why Christians are called to live rooted, thoughtful, and God-glorifying lives in every area.

This podcast exists to help you think well, live faithfully, and apply God’s Word to real life.

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Episode Art:

Word & Flesh logo, by Rebekah Wright

--------

Signoff:

"Further up, and further in." -- Aslan the Lion, The Last Battle, by C.S. Lewis

--------

Music Credits:

Hallelujah chorus - Messiah
Performed by: Oratorio Chorus
Composed by: G.F. Handel
Record format: Edison Diamond Disc
Matrix number: 4433-A-1-1 (6-1)
Recording date: 1916

~

Word & Flesh Theme - "Dominus me regit"
Created with Suno

Lyrics (in Latin):
Dominus me regit,
nihil deerit mihi;
in pascuis virentibus me ponit.
Super aquas quietis ducit me,
animam meam reficit;
in viis iustitiae me ducit.

Translation:
The Lord guides me;
I will lack nothing.
In green pastures He places me.
He leads me beside still waters;
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness.
*based on Ps. 23*

Chapters

• (00:00:15) - WORD AND FLESH
• (00:04:15) - Facebook and the Way of the Church
• (00:06:55) - The Thick Culture of Word & Flesh
• (00:11:27) - Wonders of the World: A Time to Think
• (00:14:11) - A Special Thank You To Ethan Demarce