Walking With God: Episode 1

EPISODE 1: Welcome to Walking with God

Section 1: Opening Greeting 

“Welcome to Walking with God, a podcast from Shoe Leather Gospel—helping you cultivate intimacy with God by connecting theology to real life. I’m your host and Bible teacher, Chris Reighley—and I’m glad you’re here.”

Let’s pause there for a moment.

Not just because it’s a good intro—but because it’s a good invitation.

You’re here. You’re listening. And that means, somewhere along the line, you felt that nudge—that desire to go deeper in your walk with God. To see more. To live more faithfully. To connect what you know about God to how you live with God. That’s the heart of this podcast.

Walking with God is a journey—a discipleship trail that winds through the hills of theology, across the fields of biblical truth, and right into the heart of daily life. It’s for the curious and the committed. The dry and the devoted. The seasoned saint and the searching soul.

And if that’s you—welcome home.

This is our first episode, so I am really glad that you are here.

Each week, we’ll unpack one big biblical truth—drawn from systematic theology or worldview studies—and we’ll walk through it together. We’ll open Scripture, define doctrine, sort through cultural noise, and ultimately see how it all points to Christ. We’re not after ivory tower theology. We’re after putting shoe leather on the gospel—truth you can walk in.

Expect a blend of rich theology, gospel-centered encouragement, and practical wisdom. You’ll hear echoes of MacArthur’s clarity, Spurgeon’s warmth, McGee’s plainspoken wisdom, and just a little bit of Jimmy Buffett’s wonder and wit—because truth isn’t just meant to be known… it’s meant to be loved.

So if you’re longing to see the world through God’s eyes, if you want to become fluent in biblical doctrine and bold in your discipleship—this is your trail.

Let’s walk it together.

Section 2: What is Walking with God?

So, what exactly is Walking with God?

At its core, this podcast is about discipleship. Not the abstract, high-concept kind that sits on a dusty shelf, but the kind that meets you in the real world—in the quiet of your morning commute, in the tension of a staff meeting, in the weariness of parenting, or the questions that keep you up at night.

It’s a weekly, 60-minute journey where we explore theology, worldview, and Christian living—not in isolation, but in harmony. Each episode is built on the conviction that theology isn’t just for scholars—it’s for you. Because what you believe about God shapes how you live before God.

Each season of Walking with God will center around a major theme in systematic theology or Christian worldview. And each episode follows a clear, structured path—a 7-part teaching framework that helps us move from Scripture to life, from doctrine to discipleship.

Here’s the roadmap we’ll follow each week:

1. Hook – We’ll start with a story, a question, or a cultural tension that draws us in.
2. Text + Truth – were we’ll open the Bible—and let God’s Word speak clearly into our topic.
3. Doctrine Defined – From there, we’ll define the key theological concepts with biblical and historical precision.
4. Compare & Contrast – We’ll cut through confusion by confronting common errors or distortions of the truth.
5. Christ-Centered Coherence – Every doctrine finds its clarity and purpose in Jesus. Here, we’ll trace how it magnifies the gospel.
6. Life + Culture Integration – Then we’ll bring it home—exploring how this truth shapes our thinking, relationships, and witness in today’s world.
7. Walk It Out – Finally, we’ll get practical. You’ll leave with action steps, reflection prompts, and encouragement for your week.

Every episode is crafted to help you:

• Know God deeply through sound doctrine
• Understand truth clearly in a confusing world
• Live your faith boldly in everyday life

So whether you’re a small group leader needing a theological framework… a stay-at-home parent seeking clarity in the chaos… a high school student asking hard questions… or a pastor wanting to be fed before you feed others—you belong here.

Walking with God isn’t just about information. It’s about transformation. Because when truth takes root, your whole life changes—how you think, how you love, how you speak, how you serve.

And that’s the goal.

To walk with God—not just in theory, not just on Sundays, but in your shoes, in your city, in your calling.

Section 3: What is Shoe Leather Gospel?

So where did this podcast come from—and what’s behind the name?

Let me introduce you to the heart of this ministry: Shoe Leather Gospel.

That phrase might sound a little unconventional—maybe even a bit rugged—but it carries a deep conviction. At its core, Shoe Leather Gospel means this:

The gospel isn’t just something you believe.

It’s something you walk out.

It’s not a slogan. It’s a summons. A call to take the truth of Scripture off the shelf and into the streets. Into your daily decisions. Into your relationships, your work, your church, your culture. Because true discipleship doesn’t just happen in Bible studies—it happens in shoe leather.

Shoe Leather Gospel exists to equip believers to walk out their faith with clarity, conviction, and courage. That means:

• Clarity in doctrine—so you know what you believe and why it matters
• Conviction in living—so you stand firm even when it’s costly
• Courage in culture—so you speak truth with grace and live with gospel resolve

We believe sound doctrine leads to sound living. That’s why our ministry is built on three pillars:

1. Biblical Teaching that’s Theologically Grounded
   We don’t chase trends—we open the text. All our resources are anchored in a literal-grammatical-historical interpretation of Scripture. That means every word matters. Every passage has a context. And every doctrine is drawn from God’s revealed truth.
2. Discipleship that’s Intentional and Integrated
   Theology isn’t reserved for seminaries. It belongs in the living room, the locker room, and the boardroom. That’s why our goal is to integrate biblical truth into the everyday rhythms of life and leadership.
3. Cultural Engagement that’s Bold and Biblical
   We’re not here to curse the darkness. We’re here to shine the light. Shoe Leather Gospel equips you to engage the pressing issues of our time—sexuality, politics, identity, justice, family, and more—with grace, wisdom, and unwavering truth.

So how do we do that? Through a growing network of teaching resources designed to meet people where they are.

We currently produce three distinct podcast series—each one part of a larger discipleship ecosystem:

• Walking with God – That’s this one: weekly theology and worldview, structured to help you connect doctrine to daily life.
• Journey Thru the Bible – A daily, 25-minute walk through Scripture, chapter by chapter, showing the story of God unfold from Genesis to Revelation.
• Footsteps of the Messiah – A Saturday series focused on Bible prophecy and the end times—tracking the footsteps of Jesus from heaven’s throne to His return.

Each podcast is unique, but they all flow from the same conviction: Truth isn’t meant to be admired from a distance—it’s meant to be worn in the dust of everyday life.

So whether you’re listening on your way to work, sitting in your study with your Bible open, or folding laundry while toddlers race by—Shoe Leather Gospel is here to walk with you.

One step at a time. In grace. In truth. In Christ.

Section 4: Why This Podcast Exists

Let me ask you something:

Have you ever felt the tension between spiritual hunger and cultural overload?

You want to go deeper with God—but the noise of life is deafening.

You long for clarity—but the culture keeps moving the goalposts.

You’re committed to Jesus—but you’re unsure how to live that out in a world that’s drifting fast and far from truth.

You’re not alone.

Many believers today feel spiritually shallow and culturally overwhelmed. We’re swimming in information but starving for transformation. We hear sermons, attend small groups, and scroll through “Christian” content—yet still feel disoriented when life gets complicated or culture gets loud.

That’s why Walking with God exists.

This isn’t just another Christian podcast. It’s a discipleship tool designed to help you:

• Grow deeper in your knowledge of God
• Build confidence in what you believe
• Discern wisely in a post-truth culture
• Live boldly in everyday obedience

We’re here because biblical illiteracy is rising—even inside the church. Because more and more Christians are blending faith with cultural ideologies that oppose it. Because too many believers are standing on shaky ground when they were meant to stand on the Rock.

Walking with God is a steady voice in a shifting world.

It’s a theological compass for the discipleship journey.

And we’re building it on three non-negotiables:

1. Anchored in Scripture – We use the Legacy Standard Bible, drawing from the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek with accuracy and clarity. Every episode starts with the text—and stays there.
2. Guided by Clear Theology – We hold to classical theism, Reformed soteriology, and dispensational premillennialism. That means we teach with both precision and hope. God is sovereign, salvation is by grace, and history is headed toward glory.
3. Aiming for Life Transformation – We don’t want to just fill your head—we want to stir your heart and strengthen your walk. Each episode is crafted to lead you from biblical truth to real-world application.

Our hope is simple: that Walking with God would become part of your weekly rhythm. A trusted guide. A sharpening tool. A companion for the road ahead.

Because this journey isn’t meant to be walked alone.

It’s meant to be walked in fellowship—with God, and with fellow travelers who are chasing the same glorious destination.

So if you’ve ever found yourself thinking,

“I just want to grow—but I don’t know where to start…”

you’ve come to the right place.

Let’s take the next step. Together.

Section 5: Introducing the First Series:  Introduction to Biblical Worldview

Now that you know the heart behind Walking with God, let me introduce you to the journey we’re about to begin together—our very first teaching series:

Introduction to Biblical Worldview.

That phrase—biblical worldview—might sound academic or abstract. But don’t let the terminology fool you. This is as real and relevant as it gets.

A worldview isn’t something you decide to have—it’s something you already have.

It’s the lens through which you interpret reality. It shapes what you believe about truth, identity, morality, purpose, suffering, justice, eternity.

It’s the operating system of your life—and most people don’t even know it’s there.

That’s why this first series matters so much.

We’re living in a culture that is saturated with competing worldviews.

From naturalism to postmodernism, from expressive individualism to syncretism—every social media post, classroom debate, Netflix storyline, and political platform is carrying a set of beliefs about what’s real, what’s right, and what’s wrong.

The problem?

Most Christians are walking around with a blended worldview—part Bible, part culture, part feelings—and the result is spiritual confusion and cultural compromise.

But the Bible doesn’t just give us answers.

It gives us a framework.

A worldview.

And in this series, we’re going to learn how to think with that framework—how to connect the dots between Genesis and your job, between doctrine and your digital life, between what you confess on Sunday and what you confront on Tuesday.

This series is based on the book Making Sense of Your World by Phillips, Brown, and Stonestreet. It’s one of the clearest, most practical resources I’ve found for helping believers understand worldview without getting lost in the weeds. And we’ll be building on it with biblical depth and pastoral application.

Over the next 12 episodes, here’s what we’ll explore together:

1. Worldviews in Collision – Why what you believe shapes everything.
2. Meet the Worldviews – Naturalism. Postmodernism. Pantheism. Christianity. Let’s compare.
3. Truth Under Fire – Why truth isn’t subjective—and why that matters.
4. Firm Foundation – God’s Word as our lens for reality and map for life.
5. Can We Trust the Bible? – Historical reliability, divine authorship, and unshakable confidence.
6. What’s Wrong with the World? – A biblical answer to sin, suffering, and brokenness.
7. Is Jesus the Only Way? – The exclusivity of Christ in a pluralistic world.
8. Who Am I, Really? – Identity, purpose, and the image of God.
9. God’s Blueprint for the Family – Marriage, parenting, and generational discipleship.
10. Why Church Still Matters – The essential role of the local church in a fragmented world.
11. Living in Babylon – How to live faithfully in a culture that opposes truth.
12. Walk It Out – A worldview lived is a witness proclaimed.

Each episode will include Scripture exposition, theological definition, worldview comparison, Christ-centered coherence, real-life integration, and practical application. This isn’t just theory—it’s fuel for faithful living.

And here’s the best part:

Once you learn to think with a biblical worldview, you’ll start to see differently.

You’ll have eyes to spot falsehood.

You’ll have confidence to speak truth.

You’ll have wisdom to walk faithfully.

Because discipleship isn’t just about knowing the right answers.

It’s about seeing all of life through the lens of God’s truth—and walking it out with courage and joy.

So if you’ve ever felt like the world doesn’t make sense—or that your faith feels disconnected from your daily life—this series is for you.

It’s not about escaping the culture. It’s about being equipped in it.

Not about retreating—but renewing your mind (Romans 12:2), reclaiming the truth (John 17:17), and reflecting the image of Christ in a world that desperately needs Him.

Let’s start there.

Let’s build the foundation.

Let’s begin with worldview.

Section 6: Closing Invitation 

So—are you ready?

Are you ready to walk with God—not just in concept, but in conviction?

Not just in belief, but in boldness?

This is just the beginning.

Next time on Walking with God, we’ll dive into Episode 2: Worldviews in Collision—where we’ll discover that everyone has a worldview, but only one aligns with reality and leads to life. It’ll challenge how you think, what you assume, and how deeply the gospel reshapes your view of everything.

Before you go, let me leave you with a few action steps:

✅ Subscribe and follow wherever you listen to podcasts—so you never miss an episode.

✅ Share this podcast with a friend, your small group, or someone who’s spiritually curious but culturally confused.

✅ Visit ShoeLeatherGospel.com for teaching resources, worldview articles, and our other podcast series.

✅ Download the Going Deeper companion guide—coming soon with journaling prompts, Scripture studies, and discussion questions for each episode.

And remember this:

You were made to walk with God—not just on Sunday, not just in the big moments, but in the ordinary steps of everyday life.

This world may be loud.

The road may be long.

But God is with you. And His Word lights the path.

Let’s walk it together—one step at a time.

I’m Chris Reighley. Thanks for listening to Walking with God. See you next week.