Shows
The Firm Faith PodcastAdvent Devotional 2025 – Week 4Join Pastor Nick for a special four-part Advent devotional series that coincides with our December 2025 sermon series - "The Beautiful Gospel". Episodes will be released each consecutive Sunday beginning November 30th. If you'd like to hear the full sermon related to each episode, please visit www.harvestdesmoines.org/sermons after December 7th, or join us in person each Sunday in December. For additional discussion questions, check out the full devotional at https://www.harvestdesmoines.org/christmas-devotional/.
2025-12-2113 minThe Firm Faith Podcast44 – Helper By DesignNick and Micaela discuss God's design for women in the home. Check out the resources below for learning more about God’s design for women:This Momentary Marriage - John PiperHelper by Design - Elyse FitzpatrickTreasuring Christ When Your Hands are Full - Gloria FurmanMom Enough - Multiple AuthorsGlory in the Ordinary - Courtney ReissigEve in Exile - Rebekah MerkleFeminine Appeal - Carolyn Mahaney + Nancy WolgemuthGirl Talk: Mother-Daughter Conversations on Biblical Womanhood - Carolyn Mahaney + Nicole Whitacre
2025-12-1536 minThe Firm Faith PodcastAdvent Devotional 2025 – Week 3Join Pastor Nick for a special four-part Advent devotional series that coincides with our December 2025 sermon series - "The Beautiful Gospel". Episodes will be released each consecutive Sunday beginning November 30th. If you'd like to hear the full sermon related to each episode, please visit www.harvestdesmoines.org/sermons after December 7th, or join us in person each Sunday in December. For additional discussion questions, check out the full devotional at https://www.harvestdesmoines.org/christmas-devotional/.
2025-12-1413 minThe Firm Faith PodcastAdvent Devotional 2025 – Week 2Join Pastor Nick for a special four-part Advent devotional series that coincides with our December 2025 sermon series - "The Beautiful Gospel". Episodes will be released each consecutive Sunday beginning November 30th. If you'd like to hear the full sermon related to each episode, please visit www.harvestdesmoines.org/sermons after December 7th, or join us in person each Sunday in December. For additional discussion questions, check out the full devotional at https://www.harvestdesmoines.org/christmas-devotional/.
2025-12-0713 minThe Firm Faith Podcast43 – Taking Care of the Body God Gave You – Part 2Nick and Jordan discuss what God has to say about physical health and provide pointers for being a wise steward of your body.Recommended Resources:What God Says about Our Bodies - Sam AlberryLove to Eat, Hate to Eat: Breaking the Bondage of Destructive Eating - Elyze FitzpatrickA Little Theology of Exercise - David Mathis Stewardship Resources on Health App: MyFitnessPal - free app that allows you to track your food intake and create goalsApp: MapMyRun - free app that uses GPS to track your run stats (pace, distance, etc.,)App: Thenics - free app that wa...
2025-11-3027 minThe Firm Faith PodcastAdvent Devotional 2025 – Week 1Join Pastor Nick for a special four-part Advent devotional series that coincides with our December 2025 sermon series - "The Beautiful Gospel". Episodes will be released each consecutive Sunday beginning November 30th. If you'd like to hear the full sermon related to each episode, please visit www.harvestdesmoines.org/sermons after December 7th, or join us in person each Sunday in December. For additional discussion questions, check out the full devotional at https://www.harvestdesmoines.org/christmas-devotional/.
2025-11-3015 minThe Firm Faith Podcast42 – Taking Care of the Body God Gave You – Part 1Nick and Jordan discuss what God has to say about physical health and provide pointers for being a wise steward of your body.Recommended Resources:What God Says about Our Bodies - Sam AlberryLove to Eat, Hate to Eat: Breaking the Bondage of Destructive Eating - Elyze FitzpatrickA Little Theology of Exercise - David Mathis Stewardship Resources on Health App: MyFitnessPal - free app that allows you to track your food intake and create goalsApp: MapMyRun - free app that uses GPS to track your run stats (pace, distance, etc.,)App: Thenics - free app that wa...
2025-11-1532 minThe Firm Faith Podcast41 – The ConscienceNick grills Jack on the topic of conscience. They discuss what it is biblically, how it functions practically, and why deploying it wisely has a plethora of applications for our lives.Recommended Resources:“The Conscience” sermon preached on 1.14.24 by Jack FlahertyThe Conscience by Andy Naselli and J.D. CrowleyThat Little Voice in Your Head by Andy Naselli (Kids resource)The Art of Turning by Kevin DeYounghttps://andynaselli.com/conscience-what-it-is-how-to-train-it-and-loving-those-who-differ
2025-10-3030 minThe Firm Faith Podcast40 – Lead Your FamilyNick and Jack discuss God's design for men in the home.Recommended Resources:How to Lead Your Family: A Guide for Men Wanting to Be More by Joel BeekeDisciplines of a Godly Man by R. Kent HughesDisciplines of a Godly Young Man by R. Kent Hughes & W. Carey HughesBiblical Manhood: Masculinity, Leadership and Decision Making by Stuart ScottFamily Shepherds: Calling and Equipping Men to Lead Their Homes by Voddie Baucham JrFamily Worship by Donald WhitneyThe Family at Church...
2025-10-1537 minThe Firm Faith Podcast39 – The Importance of CatechismsNick, Jack, and Emily discuss the importance of catechisms in training both adults and children to stand firm in the faith once for all delivered to the saints. Recommended Resources:The New City Catechism (Includes free app)Truth and Grace (TAG) Memory Books: 3 Book SET - Founders PressDiscipleship through Doctrinal Teaching and Catechism by Sally MichaelJesus Kids album by Shai Linne (has Catechism Interludes 1-3 + other songs) A Baptist Catechism adapted by John Piper1689 London Baptist ConfessionThe Westminster Confession
2025-09-3039 minThe Firm Faith Podcast38 – Being a Lifelong LearnerJack, Nick, and Jordan discuss what it means to be a lifelong learner. They consider the importance of consuming good resources while rightly prioritizing the Word and the church. Recommended Resources:How to Read a Book: Advice for Christian Readers by Andrew David NaselliHow to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading by Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van DorenFoundations for Lifelong Learning by John PiperHarvest Des Moines’ Churchwide Discipleship ToolsHarvest Equip Class RecordingsThe Wisdom Pyramid by Brett McCraken
2025-09-1547 minThe Firm Faith Podcast37 – One Another ChristiansNick and special guest, Frasier Dew, reflect on the recent One Another sermon series at Harvest, including how they've seen God at work. They also consider ways we might expect God to continue to work in our midst and contrast the fruit of obeying with the fruit of disobedience. Recommended Resources:31 Ways to be A “One Another” Christian by Stuart ScottOne Anothers sermonsUnity One AnothersHumility One AnothersLove One AnothersOther One AnothersOne Anothers study
2025-08-3035 minThe Firm Faith Podcast36 – Cultivating GratitudeJordan and Nick discuss the importance and fruit of cultivating the discipline of giving thanks in all circumstances. Recommended Resources:The Grumbler’s Guide to Giving Thanks: Reclaiming the Gifts of a Lost Spiritual DisciplineThanksgiving: An Investigation of a Pauline ThemeThe Things of Earth by Joe RigneyStrangely Bright by Joe Rigney
2025-08-1541 minThe Firm Faith Podcast35 – Psalm vs. AntipsalmJack and Nick share a helpful way to study the Scriptures. Come and hear how they have benefited from David Powlison's teachings in an effort to root out lies we may believe.Recommended Resources:David Powlison (2000). ““Peace be still”: Learning Psalm 131 by Heart,” The Journal of Biblical Counseling, 18(3), 2-10.Seeing With New Eyes by David Powlison“Two Ways of Doing Life: Psalm 23 versus Antipsalm 23” by Justin Taylor“Antipsalm 23 vs .Psalm 23” by Justin Taylor“The Psalm 131 Anti-Psalm and the GraceLaced Mondays Link Up” by Ruth Chou Simons
2025-07-3030 minThe Firm Faith Podcast34 – The Blessings of Faithful FriendshipsNick has a special guest drop in on the show to talk about the blessings of faithful friendships. This particular guest has been a close friend of Pastor Nick for almost 20 years! We hope you will be blessed by their reflections on 20 years of friendship and the way God has worked in them.
2025-07-1538 minThe Firm Faith Podcast33 – On the Importance of Being DisciplinedNick and Jack discuss the importance of living a disciplined life. Join us as we unpack the benefits of both physical and spiritual disciplines.Recommended Resources:Habits of Grace by David MathisSpiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald WhitneyWhat's Best Next: How the Gospel Transforms the Way You Get Things Done by Matt PermanDo More Better: A Practical Guide to Productivity by Tim ChalliesCrazy Busy by Kevin DeYoungDiscipline of a Godly Man by R. Kent HughesDisciplines...
2025-06-3043 minThe Firm Faith Podcast32 – Preaching the Gospel to YourselfNick and a special guest discuss a question from a listener. How do we actually preach the gospel to ourselves throughout a given day or week? Join us as we discuss how to reorient yourself around Christ throughout the day.Recommended Resources:A Gospel Primer by Milton VincentThe Discipline of Grace by Jerry BridgesThe Cross-Centered Life by CJ MahaneyPreaching the Gospel to Yourself: Class Notes by Nick Lees
2025-06-1529 minThe Firm Faith Podcast31 – Cultivating a Compelling CommunityWe’re continuing to explore the significance of the six pillars of our church for our walk with Christ. In this episode, Jack and Nick discuss the pillar of Compelling Community. Check out the resources below for additional help in cultivating compelling community.Recommended Resources:Sermon on Compelling Community Book: The Compelling Community: Where God’s Power Makes a Church Attractive by Mark Dever and Jamie DunlopNick’s summary of the book from 2021Harvest Membership Commitment FormPrevious episodes on our six pillars26 - Sharing...
2025-05-3037 minThe Firm Faith Podcast30 – God's PresenceJack puts Jordan on the hot seat as they discuss what the Bible says about God's presence. They explore the practical applications of this for Christian life and corporate worship. Recommended Resources:True Worshippers by Bob Kauflin, (chapter 8)Habits of Grace by David MatthisCorporate Worship by Matt Merker (why church is necessary)For deeper study:Systematic Theology by Wayne GrudemThe Presence of God by J. Ryan ListerEnter His Courts with Praise by Andrew HillJordan’s sermon on Go...
2025-05-1550 minThe Firm Faith Podcast29 – Going to Church on VacationJordan and Nick discuss the reasoning and benefits of attending a local worship gathering while on vacation. Recommended Resources:The Things of Earth by Joe RigneyThe Sabbath as Rest and Hope for the People of God by Guy Prentiss WatersHabits of Grace: Enjoying Jesus through the Spiritual Disciplines by David Mathis
2025-04-3032 minThe Firm Faith Podcast28 – The Evidence for the ResurrectionIn this episode, Nick and Jack discuss apologetics related to the resurrection and how we can have certainty of our faith in Jesus.Recommended Resources: The Case for Christ by Lee StrobelThe Case for Easter by Lee StrobelThe Case for the Resurrection of Jesus by Gary R. Habermas and Michael R. Licona“The Reality of the Resurrection” in The Reason for God by Tim Keller
2025-04-1544 minThe Firm Faith Podcast27 – Called to Be a DeaconNick hosts past and present deacons to discuss the role, qualifications, and what their experience has been like as a deacon.Recommended Resources:Paul’s Vision for the Deacons: Assisting Elders with the Care of God’s Church - Alexander StrauchDeacons: How They Serve and Strengthen the Church - Matt Smethurst
2025-03-3046 minThe Firm Faith Podcast26 – Sharing the Good NewsNick has a conversation with Pastor Chris about the work God has been doing in his life to grow him into a courageous evangelist. Join us for a discussion about the pillar of Courageous Evangelism and the desire to reach our community for Christ. Resources:A Gospel Primer - Milton VincentThe Gospel and Personal Evangelism - Mark DeverEvangelism: How the Whole Church Speaks of Jesus - Mack Stiles
2025-03-1541 minThe Firm Faith Podcast25 – God "Called" MeNick and Jack discuss the use of language that is overly subjective and borderline manipulative, even if well-intended. Resource List Just Do Something by Kevin DeYoung “How do I know God’s calling for my life?” by John Piper Ask Pastor John by Tony Reinke “How can I know God’s will for my life?” from GotQuestions.org
2025-03-0135 minThe Firm Faith Podcast24 – Called to Be a PastorNick hosts a few of Harvest's pastors to discuss the role, qualifications, and their personal experience of pastoring.
2025-02-1544 minThe Firm Faith Podcast23 – Mature Disciples Make DisciplesNick and Jack discuss the call to purposeful discipleship by looking at Matthew 4:19 and Matthew 28:18-20. They discuss the goal of being a disciple-making church and issue the challenge to meet with another Christian to mature in the faith. "Who's your 1?"
Recommended Resources:
The Lost Art of Disciple-Making by Leroy Eims
Born to Reproduce by Dawson Trotman
One to One Bible Reading by David Helm
Discipling: How to Help Others Follow Jesus by Mark Dever
How can I Find Someone to Disciple Me? by J. Garret Kell
How Do I Disciple Others? by J. Garret Kell
Spi...
2025-01-3041 min
Full Spectrum CyclingCyclist and Meat Guy Joe Nadolski – Bye, Bye Promises, Light and Motion – Full Spectrum Cycling #288#288 - Joe Nadolski - Cyclist and Meat Guy/Butcher/Sausage Maker joins Sven and Tony in the studio.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNkDgRGuvIM
The Milwaukee Minute (or 5)
Promises Closed! What a drag. -https://milwaukeerecord.com/food-drink/promises-is-closed/
Milwaukee is part of a national trend. Unfortunately, it isn’t a good one - https://www.wpr.org/news/milwaukee-craft-breweries-closed-2024-national-trend
Talkin’ Schmack
After 35 years in business Light and Motion is shutting down - https://lightandmotion.com
Wolf Tooth Bike Tire Pressure Calculator - https://www.wolftoothcomponents.com/pages/tire-pressure-calculator
The Pro’s Closet is back - I found one fat-bike...
2025-01-1629 minThe Firm Faith Podcast22 – Creativity and Bearing God's ImageOverview:
Genesis 1 tells us that we are made in the image of our Creator God. Being his image bearers means we are to reflect his image by our own creativity. Join us as we discuss what this practically looks like and if there is such a thing as a "creative" and "non-creative" distinction. In all of this, hear more about how creativity can play out in the local church to the glory of God!
Recommended Resources:
Adorning the Dark: Thoughts on Community, Calling, and the Mystery of Making by Andrew Peterson
Heaven by Randy...
2025-01-1535 minThe Firm Faith Podcast21 – Host Spotlight: Pastor JackJack shares his testimony and major shaping moments + resources for his life/ministry. Check out the recommended resources below:
Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper
27 Servants of Sovereign Joy by John Piper
Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan
Little Pilgrim’s Big Journey by Tyler Van Halteren
Family Worship by Donald Whitney
Praying the Bible by Donald Whitney
The Call by Os Guinness
Spiritual Growth Series by J Oswald Sanders
Dangerous Calling by Paul David Tripp
Lead by Paul...
2024-12-3018 minThe Firm Faith Podcast20 – Ordinary HospitalityNick, Jordan, and a special guest discuss the topic of Christian hospitality. The origin for the idea for this episode stems from Rosaria Butterfield’s book “The Gospel Comes with a House Key” which was published back in 2018. Each of us has read her book and found it intensely practical and challenging.
Recommended Resources:
The Gospel Comes with a House Key by Rosaria Butterfield
2024-12-1541 minThe Firm Faith Podcast19 – Christians as AmbassadorsBuilding off our previous two episodes, Jack and Nick discuss some key questions about how individual Christians faithfully represent Christ and his kingdom amongst the kingdoms of the earth. They discuss how the Bible calls for Christians to live as ambassadors for Christ.
Check out the resources below for more learning on this topic:
How the Nations Rage by Jonathan Leeman
How Can I Love Church Members with Different Politics? by Andy Naselli and Jonathan Leeman
2024-11-3037 minThe Firm Faith Podcast18 – Church as an Embassy of HeavenIn this episode, we want to think theologically about the church. Specifically, we want to discuss the idea of the church as an embassy of heaven on earth.
Check out the resources below for more learning on this topic:
How the Nations Rage by Jonathan Leeman
What is the Mission of the Church? By Kevin DeYoung and Greg Gilbert
2024-11-1530 minThe Firm Faith Podcast17 – Stewarding Your CitizenshipNick and special guest, Greg Baker, discuss what it means to be a good steward of our citizenship. Greg serves as Executive Vice President of the Church Ambassador Network, an initiative of The Family Leader Foundation based here in Iowa.
Recommended Resources:
Bible Study of Daniel 1-6, 1-2 Kings, Acts
How the Nations Rage by Jonathan Leeman
Politics - According to the Bible by Wayne Grudem
How Christians Should Relate to Government by Wayne Grudem
Kingdom Politics by Tony Evans
2024-10-3031 minThe Firm Faith Podcast16 – Culture of EmotionsThis episode attempts to dive into a simple yet complicated conversation. It's no secret that our Western culture is moving to be driven by individualism and self-expression, what many call expressive individualism or post-modernism. In short, these ideologies lead to a worldview driven by personal emotions, wants, and desires. Today we discuss how this came about and how we can faithfully converse with those around us about how faith and feelings go together.
Feelings and Faith by Brian S Borgman
Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self by Carl Trueman
Strange...
2024-10-1538 minThe Firm Faith Podcast15 – Host Spotlight: Pastor JordanJordan shares his testimony and major shaping moments and resources for his life/ministry. Check out the recommended resources below:
Heart of Change Videos – Brent Aucoin
The Enemy Within – Kris Lundgaard
A Gospel Primer – Milton Vincent
Habits of Grace – David Matthis
The Gospel Coalition
Desiring God
2024-09-3019 minThe Firm Faith Podcast14 – A Praying ChurchWe’re continuing to explore the significance of the six pillars of our church for our walk with Christ. In this episode, Jordan and Nick discuss the pillar of Fervent Prayer.
Check out the resources below for additional help in growing in fervent prayer:
Six Pillars Graphic
Six Pillars Sermon Series
Book: Habits of Grace: Enjoying Jesus Through the Spiritual Disciplines - David Mathis
Book: Prayer: How Praying Together Shapes the Church - John Onwuchekwa
Putting Prayer Into Practice (Handout)
2024-09-1531 minThe Firm Faith Podcast13 – Praying the BibleOverview: Each episode so far has hit on various spiritual disciplines. Specifically Bible intake (reading/listening) and prayer have come up often! So, in light of this and one of our church pillars being Fervent Prayer, Jack and Frasier discuss a helpful combination of disciplines: praying through the Bible. What is it? Why is it worth trying? And practically how is it done?
Praying the Bible by Donald Whitney
Prayer by John Bunyan
What Every Child Should Know About Prayer by Nancy Guthrie
5 Things to Pray for...
2024-08-3029 minThe Firm Faith Podcast12 – Host Spotlight: Pastor NickNick shares his reasons for starting the Firm Faith podcast, his testimony, and resources that have shaped his life and ministry. Check out the resources referenced in the episode at the links below:
A Gospel Primer - Milton Vincent
Knowing God - J.I. Packer
Overcoming Sin & Temptation - John Owen
The Enemy Within - Kris Lundgaard
Holiness - J.C. Ryle
Recovering the Gospel - Paul Washer
Nicholas Lees - ACBC Fellow Essay: Pastoral Maladies and Their Remedy (2023)
2024-08-1527 minThe Firm Faith Podcast11 – Worship MattersOverview: Worship matters! And everyone is a worshiper! What is the next step of growth for you in the area of passionate worship? How can you reorient your daily life to respond in worship of God rather than self or creation? We hope you’ll take time to consider that this week.
Which is why we’re continuing to explore the significance of the six pillars of our church for our walk with Christ. And, more specifically, we will be discussing the pillar of Passionate Worship.
Recommended Resources:
Six Pillars Graphic
Six P...
2024-07-3040 minThe Firm Faith Podcast10 – Preach the WordOverview: Today we’re discussing a very important topic, both for our church and our personal walk with Christ. I daresay this is a topic that no Christian can ignore and that all should be desiring to grow in. What is the topic at hand? I’ll leave you guessing no longer… Today we’re talking about one of the six pillars of our church, specifically the pillar of Bold Preaching.
Recommended Resources:
Six Pillars Graphic
Six Pillars Sermon Series
Books: Expositional Preaching by David Helm
Book: Li...
2024-07-1534 minThe Firm Faith Podcast09 – Family Ministry: Partnering with ParentsOverview:
In our last episode, we discussed the topic of technology and family. How we can steward time, space, and resources to prioritize shaping the character of our households, no matter their makeup, towards the Lord. Today we zoom out a bit from that conversation to discuss how we as a church think about equipping households to walk with the Lord. This is a broader topic that covers many different avenues so to help us and to set us up for some more episodes in the future, we have our kids ministry director joining us. For...
2024-06-3038 minThe Firm Faith Podcast08 – Tech-Wise FamilyOverview:
The call of parents is to train up their children in the ways of the Lord. How do we intentionally shape the character of the persons in our home while keeping the blessings of this technological age in their proper place? Nick and Jack discuss a resource by Andy Crouch that helped them consider how to wisely utilize technology, time, and space.
Recommended Resources:
The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in its Proper Place – Andy Crouch
My Tech-Wise Life: Growing Up and Making Choices in a World of Dev...
2024-06-1537 minThe Firm Faith Podcast07 – Competing SpectaclesOverview:
The human heart longs for something to capture our attention and there are a lot of things that are clamoring for that attention. In this episode, Nick and Jack discuss how we better understand this attention economy that we live in, how we fight to behold the right spectacles, and how a book by Tony Reinke helped spark this conversation.
2024-05-3034 minThe Firm Faith Podcast06 – Everyone Should be a Biblical CounselorOverview:
Nick and Jordan discuss how everyone is a counselor, but they need to get equipped to be a good and biblical counselor. Anytime you open your mouth and offer advice to someone, you are counseling them. This happens all the time in our small groups, in one-on-one conversations with friends or coworkers, in marriages or parenting contexts, and so on. You are regularly offering some sort of counsel about how others should think or respond to their situation. The question is “What kind of counselor are you!?”
In this episode, our focus is on how w...
2024-05-1536 minThe Firm Faith Podcast05 – Destigmatizing Biblical CounselingOverview:
Nick and Jordan discuss why everyone needs counseling and try to identify and remove common objections or barriers to getting help. This episode also serves as a basic intro to biblical counseling. Our focus is unapologetically on helping people learn about and be open to biblical counseling.
Recommended Resources:
Harvest’s Counseling Site + Harvest Counseling's Online Training Page
Biblical Counseling Organizations:
Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC) - www.biblicalcounseling.com
Association of Biblical Counselors (ABC) - https://christiancounseling.com/
Christian Counseling & Education Foundation (CCEF...
2024-04-3035 minThe Firm Faith Podcast04 – Importance of and Lessons from Personal EvangelismIf the Bible is reliable and the Christian faith is true, then we ought to share these truths with others! In this episode, Jack and Jordan explore the importance of personal evangelism and discuss some of the lessons they have learned about sharing the gospel.
2024-04-1532 minThe Firm Faith Podcast03 – Classic Defenses of the Christian FaithIn this episode, Jack and Jordan discuss what makes Christianity distinct from other systems of belief. We also consider some of the non-negotiables and classic defenses of the Christian faith.
2024-03-3034 minThe Firm Faith Podcast02 – Seeking Allah Finding JesusIn this episode, Pastor Jack and Pastor Jordan discuss their takeaways relating to apologetics and evangelism from the book Seeking Allah Finding Jesus. This autobiographical work written by Nabeel Qureshi shares how he was converted to Christianity from Islam after years of conversations with a faithful Christian friend.
2024-03-1528 minThe Firm Faith Podcast01 – Why Do We Believe the Bible is True?Pastor Jack and Pastor Jordan kick off the Firm Faith podcast by discussing the reliability of the Bible. Our goal with this podcast is to equip the saints to stand firm until the Day of Christ. With these first several episodes we will discuss some basics related to the Christian faith, apologetics, and worldviews.
Recommended Resources:
Why Trust the Bible? by Greg Gilbert
Answers in Genesis
Taking God at His Word by Kevin DeYoung
The Inspiration and Authority of the Bible by B.B. Warfield
Reading the Bible Supernaturally by John Piper
Why...
2024-02-2931 min