In this episode of the Exploring More podcast, Michael Thompson and SJ Jennings continue their journey through the Good Man Series by exploring one of its most compelling themes: glory. What if your glory isn't something you achieve—but something you uncover?

Too many men spend their lives chasing approval, performance, and validation, believing their worth rises and falls with their success. But the Gospel tells a different story. Your glory is not found in what you accomplish—it's found in who God created you to be.

Michael and SJ unpack the difference between the false self and the true self, revealing how wounds, fear, comparison, and the need to prove ourselves can bury the unique expression of God within us. As those layers are healed and removed, our true selves begin to emerge—not for our own recognition, but so God's life can be expressed through us in a way no one else can.

The conversation also explores how parents can help identify and call out the glory in their children rather than simply managing behavior or celebrating performance. Through personal stories, biblical foundations, and practical exercises, Michael and SJ encourage listeners to discover the passions, gifts, and desires God has woven into their lives from the very beginning.

The goal isn't becoming someone new. It's becoming the man God had in mind all along.

If you've ever wondered where your worth comes from, why comparison steals your joy, or how to live with greater freedom and purpose, this conversation offers a powerful invitation to rediscover the glory God has placed within you.

Heart of a Warrior Encounter: https://www.zoweh.org/events

Support the Mission: https://www.zoweh.org/give In this episode of the Exploring More podcast, Michael Thompson and SJ Jennings continue their series on Kingdom realities by turning to what Scripture calls the wellspring of life: the heart.

Jesus never invited us into behavior modification—He invited us into heart transformation. Yet many of us have spent years managing our actions while neglecting the very place from which our lives flow. Drawing from Proverbs 4:23, Michael and SJ explore why the Bible places such extraordinary importance on guarding our hearts and what it truly means to become wholehearted.

The conversation examines the biblical theology of the heart, revealing it as far more than our emotions. The heart is the center of belief, desire, affection, identity, and communion with God. It's where we interpret our experiences, form convictions, and ultimately choose how we live. When the heart is wounded, life becomes fragmented. But when the heart is restored, we begin to experience the freedom, joy, and abundance Jesus intended.

Michael and SJ also discuss the journey toward wholeheartedness through three movements: awakening, deepening, and fulfilling. Along the way, they emphasize the importance of curiosity over condemnation, recognizing moments of disruption as invitations from God, and allowing the Holy Spirit to continue His work of healing and renewal.

The invitation of the Gospel isn't simply to have a forgiven heart—it's to receive a new heart. One that is alive, responsive to God, and capable of living from His love.

If you've ever wondered why your outward efforts haven't produced lasting change, this episode offers a compelling reminder: lasting transformation always begins at the heart.

In this episode of the Exploring More podcast, Michael Thompson and SJ Jennings continue their series on Kingdom realities by exploring one of the Bible's most overlooked truths: we are living in a spiritual battle.

Jesus promised abundant life—but He also warned that there is an enemy who comes to steal, kill, and destroy. What does it look like to live with both of those realities in view?

Michael and SJ unpack the biblical story of spiritual warfare, reminding listeners that the conflict we experience is not simply psychological, cultural, or circumstantial. Behind the visible world is an unseen battle for our hearts, our identity, and our freedom. They explore how anxiety, fear, confusion, temptation, and discouragement are often more than isolated struggles—they're invitations to become aware of the larger story unfolding around us.

Drawing from passages like 1 John 4 and Ephesians 5, they discuss the importance of discernment, testing the spirits, recognizing the enemy's schemes, and learning to walk wisely in a world filled with competing voices. The conversation emphasizes that Satan is not a creator but a corrupter, twisting what God has made good, while Jesus continually invites us into truth, healing, and life.

Most importantly, Michael and SJ remind us that believers aren't called to live in fear of the battle. Through Christ, we've been given authority, discernment, and the Holy Spirit to stand firm, fight well, and experience the abundant life Jesus came to give.

This episode is an invitation to become more spiritually awake—to recognize the battle, know your identity, and live with courage, wisdom, and confidence in the Kingdom of God

In this episode of the Exploring More podcast, Michael Thompson and SJ Jennings continue their series on Kingdom realities by asking one of the most important questions of the Christian faith: Why did Jesus come?

For many, the answer begins and ends with the forgiveness of sins. And while forgiveness is central to the Gospel, Michael and SJ explore the much larger mission Jesus Himself declared: to heal the brokenhearted, set captives free, restore sight to the blind, seek and save the lost, give His life as a ransom, and bring abundant life.

Drawing from Luke 4 and Isaiah 61, Michael and SJ examine the moment Jesus stood in the synagogue, opened the scroll, and publicly announced His mission. His words reveal a Gospel of rescue, healing, freedom, restoration, and redemption—a Kingdom reality that reaches far beyond simply securing a place in heaven someday.

Together, they explore the foundational Scriptures that have shaped Zoweh's understanding of the larger Gospel and what it means to experience the life Jesus came to give. They also reflect on their own journeys of faith, the Bibles and passages that have marked their stories, and how a broader understanding of Jesus's mission can transform the way we see God, ourselves, and the world around us.

Jesus didn't come only to forgive you. He came to rescue, heal, restore, redeem, and set you free.

This episode is an invitation to rediscover the fullness of the Gospel and ask: Have I experienced all that Jesus came to give?

In this episode of the Exploring More podcast, Michael Thompson and SJ Jennings continue their series on Kingdom realities by exploring a powerful truth: the Gospel often meets us at our deepest point of need.

For some, it's forgiveness. For others, it's healing, freedom, belonging, comfort, purpose, or hope.

Michael and SJ share deeply personal stories of how God met them in seasons of desperation and transformed their understanding of the Gospel. SJ recounts one of the darkest chapters of his life—walking through divorce, estrangement from his son, PTSD, and months of suicidal thoughts. In the middle of that despair, a simple phone call from his sister and the truth of Isaiah 55 became an anchor that changed everything.

Together, they explore the idea of a "customized Gospel"—not a different Gospel, but the many ways the one Gospel reveals itself to meet people exactly where they are. The conversation highlights how our personal stories shape the way we first experience Jesus and reminds us that there is always more of His Kingdom available than we may have previously understood.

Michael and SJ also reflect on the verses, songs, and moments that become "posters on the walls of our hearts"—truths God uses to sustain us through every season of life.

Whether you're walking through pain, searching for hope, or simply wanting to understand the Gospel more deeply, this episode is a reminder that Jesus meets people personally, compassionately, and right where they are.

In this episode of the Exploring More podcast, Michael Thompson and SJ Jennings begin a brand-new series exploring one of the most foundational themes in Scripture: life. Not simply existence—but the abundant, eternal, Kingdom life Jesus came to give.

Drawing from John 10:10, Michael and SJ unpack the biblical meaning of the Greek word zoe, revealing a life that is far greater than mere biological existence. It's the life of God's Kingdom available to us now—a life marked by intimacy with God, restoration, freedom, and transformation.

The conversation explores the intersection of personal theology and biblical theology, asking how our experiences with God shape the way we understand Scripture—and how Scripture continually reshapes the way we experience God. Michael shares pieces of his own journey through seminary, influential books like Wild at Heart, and the profound impact of discovering C.S. Lewis's distinction between bios (natural life) and zoe (the life of God).

Together, they challenge listeners to consider whether their faith has been built primarily on sin and forgiveness, or on the greater invitation of resurrection life and the Kingdom of God. The Gospel isn't simply about escaping death—it's about entering Life.

This episode launches a series that invites listeners to rediscover the biblical reality of abundant life and to experience the deeper love, freedom, and restoration Jesus has always intended for His people.

In this episode of the Exploring More podcast, Michael Thompson and SJ Jennings continue their conversation around The Life You Built by Scott Jennings, diving deeper into one of the most important realities of spiritual formation: growth is cyclical, not linear.

Many of us expect healing and transformation to happen in a straight line. But what if the journey actually looks more like a wave? Awareness. Breakthrough. Peace. Trigger. Old patterns resurfacing. New awareness. Deeper surrender. Renewal.

Michael and SJ explore how the false self and true self continue to emerge throughout life, especially in our closest relationships. They discuss the challenges of marriage, recurring conflicts, and the temptation to interpret, predict, and protect ourselves rather than remain open, curious, and compassionate. The conversation reveals how the false self operates through fear and self-protection, while the true self invites us into trust, presence, and connection.

The episode also continues the discussion on the Enneagram as a tool for understanding motivations, emotional patterns, and relational dynamics. Rather than serving as a label, it can become a map that helps us recognize why we react the way we do and where God may be inviting deeper freedom.

At the heart of the conversation is a powerful reminder: healing is not a one-time event. It's a lifelong process of learning to "ride the wave"—returning again and again to awareness, compassion, and truth.

If you've ever felt discouraged by recurring struggles or wondered why old patterns keep resurfacing, this episode offers hope. Growth isn't about never falling back. It's about learning how to return.

In this episode of the Exploring More podcast, Michael Thompson, SJ Jennings, and Scott Jennings continue their conversation around The Life You Built, exploring one of the most transformative ideas in the spiritual journey: the Great Exchange.

What if the life you've been living was built around survival rather than freedom?

Together, they unpack the ongoing process of moving from the false self to the true self—from protecting to trusting, performing to resting, pretending to revealing, and fear to love. While survival strategies may have helped us navigate pain, wounds, and difficult seasons, they were never meant to become our permanent identity.

The conversation highlights the reality that freedom isn't about becoming someone new; it's about returning to who God created you to be. Michael, SJ, and Scott discuss how awareness, reflection, and grace help us recognize the ways the false self still operates in our lives and relationships.

They also dive into the Enneagram, not as a tool for labeling people, but as a map for understanding motivations, patterns, and the hidden drivers behind our behavior. While acknowledging the controversy surrounding it, they explore how the Enneagram has helped many people gain greater self-awareness, healthier relationships, and deeper compassion for themselves and others.

Ultimately, this episode is an invitation to exchange survival for freedom, fear for love, and self-protection for trust. The true self isn't something you have to create—it's the person God has been calling forth all along.

In this episode of the Exploring More podcast, Michael Thompson welcomes Scott Jennings and Steve Knee for a powerful conversation around Scott's book, The Life You Built, and one of the most important journeys a man can take: moving from the false self to the true self.

What if the version of you that learned to survive isn't the real you?

Together, they explore the ways men construct false identities through wounds, fears, coping mechanisms, and performance. Over time, these strategies can become so familiar that they feel like who we are. But beneath the masks, defenses, and self-protection is the true self—the man God created and loves.

The conversation centers on what Scott calls "The Great Exchange"—the ongoing process of recognizing the false self, releasing its grip, and learning to live from a place of truth, freedom, and belovedness. Michael, Scott, and Steve unpack practical steps for this journey, including awareness, self-observation, compassion, and choosing presence over fear.

They also discuss the role of community in healing, using the image of interconnected aspen trees as a reminder that transformation was never meant to happen alone. Freedom isn't found by trying harder—it's found by becoming more honest, more awake, and more connected to God and others.

If you've ever felt trapped by old patterns, exhausted by performance, or disconnected from your true self, this episode offers a hopeful invitation: the real you is still there, waiting to emerge.

In this episode of the Exploring More podcast, Michael Thompson and SJ Jennings reflect on the impact of the Good Man Series and the lifelong journey of becoming wholehearted men. Looking back on years of ministry, friendships, and conversations with men, they explore what it means to move beyond performance and into a life marked by healing, freedom, and authenticity. Drawing from stories of transformation and personal experiences, Michael and SJ revisit one of the central themes of the series: becoming the man God created you to be. They discuss the importance of identity, brotherhood, and the courage it takes to engage your story honestly. The conversation highlights how healing is not a one-time event but an ongoing process that continues to shape every area of life. They also explore the significance of legacy—not just what a man accomplishes, but who he becomes and the impact he has on others. Through stories of friendship, mentorship, and spiritual growth, this episode serves as a reminder that every man is invited into a greater story, one where his life, wounds, gifts, and experiences can be redeemed and used for good. Whether you're just beginning your journey or have been walking this road for years, this conversation offers encouragement to stay engaged, remain open to God's work, and continue becoming more fully alive.

In this episode of the Exploring More podcast, Michael Thompson and SJ Jennings continue unpacking the heart behind the Good Man Series, an eight-session journey created to help men recover their identity, heal what has been wounded, and step into the fullness of who God created them to be.

What does it mean to become a good man? Not merely a better version of yourself—but a man who is becoming more wholehearted, more free, and more alive.

Michael and SJ revisit some of the central themes of the series: masculinity, healing, the false self, and the invitation to rediscover the true self beneath the wounds, performance, and expectations that shape so many men's lives. At the center of the conversation is a profound idea from Saint Irenaeus: "The glory of God is man fully alive."

The episode explores the significance of the final session on glory—the unique strength, calling, and beauty God placed in every man. It's not about ego or achievement. It's about becoming the man God dreamed of when He made you.

Michael and SJ also reflect on the importance of commissioning, brotherhood, and continuing the journey beyond a single event or study. Healing isn't a destination—it's a lifelong invitation into deeper freedom, intimacy with God, and wholehearted living.

This episode is an encouragement to stay in the process, share what you're learning with others, and trust that your story still holds purpose, healing, and more life ahead.