Jase dubiously attempts to comfort a nervous fellow traveler using his recent death-defying airplane troubles, and Miss Kay is sad when her hospital room neighbor moves on. The guys explore the meaning in Acts 12 of “earnest prayer,” and Phil reckons that by praying for things that God wants, rather than ourselves, we can see his work in all sorts of small and big ways. In this episode: Acts 12; Acts 1, verse 1; 1 Peter 2, verse 9 This podcast is sponsored...

Joel and Luke Smallbone of the band For King & Country and their sister Rebecca St. James talk about their autobiographical film “Unsung Hero,” which details their childhood move from Australia to the United States, the unforeseen circumstances that led to the family of nine facing poverty, and the children's rise to being two of the most successful musical acts in the world of Christian music. Jase is forced to apologize for assuming that the movie would be a typically cheesy Christian...

Phil appears in the dream of a church sister who recently baptized 100 women at a prison, and Jase had his own tense prison experience where his life was undoubtedly threatened. Lisa directly addresses her cancer diagnosis and her reaction to it. The guys and Lisa discuss the revolution of prison ministry and how it all started with Watergate and President Nixon. Zach points out that people’s inherent value proves that God isn’t distant from us, and Jase likens the experience of parenthood to...

Uncle Si wasn’t meant to be on “Duck Dynasty,” but he wriggled his way into a meeting he wasn’t invited to and impressed the producers so much that he won a starring role. The guys tell some of their favorite Uncle Si stories, and Phil has been receiving odd, anonymous letters left on his property. Jase floats a new theory about the reason for “clusters” of miracles, and the guys study the gruesome ends of some powerful people in Jesus’ time. In this episode: Acts 12; Hebrews 2, verses...

Jase comes face to face with death more than once during his trip to a developing country, and Uncle Si has a strategy for working gospel lessons into his appearances at secular events. Phil gives his opinion on his brother’s personality, and Si jokes about the reason he really joined the military. The guys discuss how Jesus’ death redefined salvation away from “sin management” and into true redemption and sanctification. In this episode: Acts 11; Acts 13, verse 35; John 20, verses 11-12; 2...

ase goes back to the founding of “Unashamed” and how he explained the concept to an avidly anti-technology Phil. The guys examine the powerful and diverse founding of the first church at Antioch, where the word “Christian” was coined. Al lays out Paul’s pattern of starting new churches that he follows throughout the New Testament, and Zach uses the example of these early Christians to show how modern people can be confident in their sharing of the gospel. In this episode: Acts 10 &...

Missy has an ominous encounter with a hitchhiker holding a sign on the same day Jase witnesses something similar. Phil reveals his reaction to one of his favorite Bible verses the first time he ever read it. The guys discuss the trouble churches sometimes encounter when it comes to changes in services or leadership and how sometimes we bow to societal norms even when we know they’re not right with God. In this episode: Acts 10; Luke 7, verses 1-10; 2 Corinthians 1, verses 18-20; 2 Timothy 4,...

Phil accepts payment in the form of local crustaceans for loaning out equipment, and Jase categorizes God’s lifting of dietary restrictions from his followers as a genius marketing strategy. The guys cover the watershed moments when Peter and Paul realize God's plan for including Gentiles in his kingdom, as well as the meaning of the dietary restrictions the Jews observed and the meaning of their abolishment. In this episode: Acts 10, Ephesians 2, verse 14; Colossians 1, verses 12-27;...

Jase witnesses a confrontation while at a stoplight between a transient man and fast-food employees and can’t wait to see how the drama unfolds. Phil is intrigued by Paul’s use of the word “mystery” multiple times in the same letter to Ephesus. The guys discuss the symbolic significance of circumcision and why it’s no longer a requirement for being part of God’s kingdom. Al points out Peter’s association with the number three throughout the New Testament. In this episode: Acts 10, 11;...

The Robertsons find comfort in their faith and each other as Al shares the news of his wife Lisa’s breast cancer diagnosis. Zach points out that it’s natural to grieve, though as Christians, we grieve with a sense of peace and hope because of our faith. Al points out some interesting historical facts that tie Peter’s presence in a town called Joppa back to important events from the Old Testament. The guys study the only resurrection performed by Peter and guess his motivation for doing...

Phil awakes with a thought that sets his brain on fire, and Jase accidentally reveals the biggest struggle he faces with Missy every single day. Zach is still scarred by the antics of his Robertson cousins as kids, but this time the torment was psychological. Al guesses that Paul had to reexamine every single Scripture he knew through the lens of Jesus after his conversion. The guys discuss the culture clash between Jews and Gentiles in the ancient world and the difficulties that Paul had in...

Phil’s secret workout routine impresses his grandson-in-law Christian Huff, and Jase’s childhood dreams came true on a special episode of “Duck Dynasty.” Christian describes his mission to help young men learn to focus on their spiritual and physical health as well as the ability to protect their families. The guys skip ahead to study Saul’s transition into Paul over the course of more than a decade and how his heritage as both a Jew and a born Roman citizen helped him out of a tight...

Phil never reads the comments, but he’s got a hilarious response to why he never feels the negativity. Zach taunted Willie years ago, but it came back to bite him — hard! Jase is afraid he might have eaten a record-holding fish, and it turns out Phil has something big in common with Paul. The guys debate the motivations for Paul to give up his powerful position among the Pharisees and his focus on his own guilt and the grace of God. In this episode: Acts 9; Ephesians 4, verses 1-10;...

Phil is touched by the bravery of African missionaries but amused by the ill-advised trip his son took to visit them. Jase recalls how his daughter, Karina, joined his family, and the guys delve into the conversion of Saul, a persecutor of Christians, into Paul the apostle. Al and Jase point back to two other stories in the Old Testament where the Israelites were righteously called to oppose idolatry. The guys agree that sincerity in the Holy Spirit is what draws people to Christ more than...

Phil gets a new piece of bathroom hardware he’s immediately suspicious of, but Jase finds the whole mental picture hilarious. Jase recalls Rucker’s hiring at Duck Commander, even though the first thing he said during his interview was “I’m a convicted felon.” The guys conclude that the best way to stay away from sin is to spend your time chasing Jesus and use the evidence from the story about Philip to propose ideas about the urgency of baptism. In this episode: Acts 8; 1 Peter 2, verse 1;...

A terrible drive-through car wash experience has Jase stating the three things Robertson men should never do, and Phil is happy to report that he’s stuck to that his entire life. Jase, Phil, and Al share their favorite parts of their Louisiana heritage, even though others might find them a little eccentric. The guys cover the two interesting stories of Simon the Sorcerer and Philip and the Ethiopian and recognize the importance of those moments in the spreading of the gospel beyond...

Jase gives an example from his own life as evidence of the overuse of the word “miraculous,” even though he did actually pull off something pretty amazing. Phil is unconvinced by Jase’s achievement, though! The guys explore the ramifications of Stephen’s death and the spreading of Christianity outward from Jerusalem into the world. They introduce Saul of Tarsus, a persecutor of Christians who eventually becomes Paul the apostle and author of much of the New Testament. In this episode: Acts...

Phil wakes up with something special buzzing in his brain, and Jase nearly wrecks his truck trying to fathom an overly aggressive marquee sign at a church. The guys look back on past episodes with surprise at how much they’ve accomplished since the first one as they dive into the deadly sermon of Stephen. Zach points out exactly what was so heretical about it that resulted in Stephen’s death, and Al and Jase connect the similarities between the Old Testament and New Testament events. In this...

Phil’s rescue of a stranded hunter on an icy river leads to a years-long friendship, and Jase’s argument with a lawyer leads him to Jesus. The guys get an overview of the sermon to the Sanhedrin that led to Stephen’s untimely demise, as well as an ironic introduction to Saul who would later become Paul. Al gives out homework for listeners to study before the next episode! In this episode: Acts 7; John 2, verses 13-20; Ephesians 2, verses 11-15 https://hillsdale.edu/unashamed — Get access to...

Jase follows a rabbit hole down a path he finds amusing, and Phil reads an excerpt from his new book. The guys establish who the very first “social influencers” were and how Jesus put Satan on notice after his resurrection. They explore the concept of priesthood as it applies to all of God’s children, not just orthodox clergy. In this episode: Acts 6; Isaiah 9, verse 6; Hebrews 2, verse 14; 1 Peter 2, verses 4-9; Revelation 5, verse 10; Ephesians 2, verses 19-21; Mark 14, verse 58; Romans...

Jase gets stuck in his own home when unexpected company catches him in his drawers, and Phil sees that as a great reason not to have neighbors. A hunting buddy of Jase’s gets baptized in a super-sized ice chest, and Zach figures out how to rid his home of hungry teenagers. The guys investigate the reaction of the Jewish leadership to the first church, an interesting translation anomaly, and what makes Jesus different from everyone else in history who has claimed to be the Messiah. In this...

Jase admits that there are a few checks he’s written in the past that didn’t bother him at all, and Miss Kay gets a cheerful companion when Missy spends a few nights in the hospital with her. Phil is wary of how many scammers there are out there, and the guys discuss the fate of Ananias and Sapphira, two members of the church who lied and stole from God. Zach points out that when the church really works in community, it’s more like Jesus’ Kingdom instead of a political organization.  In this...

Phil’s only link to the outside world leaves him feeling sorrowful but more determined than ever to share Jesus. Jase’s link to the greater world seems to be the local grocery store. Miss Kay's hospitalization leaves Phil feeling lonely, and Zach finds an uplifting reason that the Robertsons have so little aversion to discussing death. The guys deliberate the reason that Christianity seems to flourish during difficulty, such as during the Roman Empire, and how oppression emboldens the...

Jase’s age and physical demands cause him to need an emergency spa appointment, and he might never be the same again. The guys dig deep into their memory banks for a song and join up for a little harmonizing. Phil isn’t too impressed, though Zach thinks they could really go places. The guys investigate the eternal union with Jesus as the reward for living a life following him and why people tend to prefer their own autonomy to submission to God. In this episode: Acts 4; Luke 20, verses 9-19;...