80 | Don't Despise the Small Beginnings

10,000 downloads. 80 episodes. And a whole lot of sermons on the side. 

This week, we’re taking a moment to celebrate a milestone we honestly couldn’t have imagined when we first sat down behind a couple of microphones and decided to give this thing a shot. 

Zechariah 4:10 reminds us, “Do not despise these small beginnings.” Looking back, we’re incredibly grateful for ours - and for every person who has listened, shared an episode, encouraged us, or joined us along the way. 

But this episode isn’t just about celebrating where Sermons on the Side has been. It’s also an encouragement to anyone standing at the beginning of something God may be calling you to do. You don’t have to know where it will lead. You don’t have to have everything figured out. Sometimes you just have to be obedient enough to start - and faithful enough to keep saying yes. 

And for this milestone, we wanted you! Throughout the episode, you’ll hear from listeners near and far sharing what Sermons on the Side has meant to them, how God has used it in their lives, and a few words for whatever comes next. 

To every one of you who has been part of these first 10,000 downloads: thank you.

Here’s to small beginnings, faithful obedience, and whatever God has next.

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Thank you for being part of the journey with us!

Transcript

SPEAKER_14 0:01

Welcome to Sermons on the Side. I'm Brad. And I'm Richard. And life can move pretty fast. So we're here to slow down, dig deep, and find the story hidden in everyday moments.

SPEAKER_13 0:14

With years spent in ministry, friendship, and navigating real life together, we're all about blending humor, honesty, and faith into conversations that meet you right where you are.

SPEAKER_14 0:24

So whether you're brand new or you're back for more, we are so glad you are here.

SPEAKER_13 0:30

So relax, listen in, and let's discover meaning together.

SPEAKER_14 0:34

In the ordinary, the messy, and everything in between.

SPEAKER_13 0:38

Sermons on the side, finding meaning in the everyday. And there's a verse in an obscure part of the Old Testament, it's the book of Zechariah, verse uh chapter 4, verse 10, where the prophet speaks on behalf of the Lord and he says, Don't despise the day of small beginnings, because the Lord takes joy in seeing a work begin. That's a good word, is it not? That's a great word. And I think it's for all of us. Thank you for listening in today. Woo! Talk to me. Are you doing all right, buddy?

SPEAKER_14 1:40

Dude, and I'm doing finer than frog's hair split three ways. If I was doing any better, neither one of us could stand it. That sounds that's awesome. That's pretty much get out of here.

SPEAKER_13 1:51

Hey, you know, honestly, Brad, I'm not gonna lie. It seems like you're even more pumped and excited than normal.

SPEAKER_14 1:58

Why would that be? Dude, I'm I'm so excited. This is a very, very fun episode. We are doing a major pivot. I know that we teased out that we've got an awesome um interview that was scheduled for today. Rest assured that interview is coming. Still happening. It's still happening. We're just pivoting to uh episode 85. Thank you, Ross. Yeah, appreciate that. Um but today's episode, we are celebrating a pretty major milestone in this podcast.

SPEAKER_13 2:32

Kind of a big deal. Not only is it the 80th episode, which is huge. Oh my goodness. But, and I think we actually need to say this out loud, really loud together, all right? We just hit 10,000 downloads. What? What just happened?

SPEAKER_14 2:53

That's right. Is that real? Dude, at the time of releasing this episode on Thursday, we will not only uh reach, but we will surpass the 10,000 download. And just for those of you in the podcast world, downloads are like listens. So if you listen to like this week's and last week's just to catch up, that's two downloads. And so we've got 10,000 of those bad boys.

SPEAKER_13 3:19

Brad, can you believe it?

SPEAKER_14 3:21

Honestly, man, I really can't. And one of the things as we were going into this episode that we wanted to do is that we wanted to talk about A, God's faithfulness. Yes. And just how incredibly amazing it has been to be on this journey. But then two, we wanted to celebrate with our listeners. What are you doing today?

SPEAKER_13 3:43

And then two. Oh no!

SPEAKER_14 3:45

Did I really? Oh no, we did.

SPEAKER_13 3:48

We need to consult Elliot's spreadsheet to find out which segment that was. On one of our episodes, we talked about three there's preachers that I know that used to do that. He would start his points in his sermons, you know, with numbers, and then he'd switch. That was an honest mistake.

SPEAKER_14 4:04

I apologize.

SPEAKER_13 4:05

But that was cool. But see, I think we ruined the point you were trying to make. But it's okay because you were making a wonderful point about that. We uh are are just so overwhelmed at God's goodness, and we want to share this with our listeners.

SPEAKER_14 4:21

Oh man, so no, so number one, uh you've got the stats right there. Can you just can you just share with us? Because I mean, I you've written it down. We talked about it beforehand. This is still so staggering to me.

SPEAKER_13 4:31

It just is. Okay, so we released our first episode in February of 2025. That's right. And so in that time, it's not even quite a year and a half, or yes, it is. It is exactly a year and a half.

SPEAKER_14 4:46

That's why you don't do math until gosh.

SPEAKER_13 4:48

I'm bad with math and calendars. Oh Lord, this is horrible. Okay, you're not editing that out, are you? You're leaving it in. Okay. So here are the stats. Since February of 2025, 10,000 downloads slash listens, and they took place in 69 different countries around the world.

unknown 5:12

Wow.

SPEAKER_13 5:13

Mind-boggling, right? And also that also represents 690 different cities in the US and around the world. In addition to that, as part of the episodes and all the downloads, we've had 15 people were interviewees. You know, we got to hear the stories of 15 different people so far.

SPEAKER_14 5:36

Right.

SPEAKER_13 5:36

And uh, and so when you think about these are really cool numbers, and as you can tell, we're super excited. But gosh, that means there's just that many stories, that many times these cool stories are being told and listened to.

SPEAKER_14 5:50

Man, it's been so fun to let this be a part of my weekly rhythm, which is getting together with Richard, recording this incredible podcast, putting it out there. And I'll be totally honest with you guys, this 10,000 number has snuck up on us. I mean, early on, it was like, dude, we hit we hit 500. Oh my gosh, we hit a thousand. Oh, we're at 2,500. You know, like, but then it just became hey, let's just get into a rhythm and let's not really look at it. Well, I think it was last week. We were like, dude, do you see what's about to take place? And so we wanted to call an audible, not because we've been planning for this or we've been working for this. That honestly, 10,000 is it it doesn't matter, right? But what does matter, I think, is the story that God is trying to tell.

SPEAKER_13 6:38

Exactly.

SPEAKER_14 6:39

And when I think about the very first time that you and I even discussed this, I'm talking about way back in the beginning of like 2024. Might have even been the end of 2023, beginning of 2024.

SPEAKER_13 6:51

I think it was. I think it was in 23 at some point.

SPEAKER_14 6:54

Yeah, and you were just talking about having an outlet or some sort of desire to, I don't know, get some of these God sightings or just things kind of out there. And after several months of just kind of back and forth, it was like, What do you want to try to start a podcast? And you know, we actually started that summer of 2024.

SPEAKER_13 7:13

That's when we started recording. So that's really two years ago, because we're it's August now. And so two years ago, we started the recording process, but you're right, it the the this really did begun begin in conversation between the two of us. And it's so funny. I I we've told some of our friends this story, but we used to get together, and and Brad and I, we we've been friends for many years, and we would get together for coffee or for a meal, and we would just be hanging out sometimes. Sometimes we were getting together to specifically talk about particular topics or whatever. But we kind of came up with this thought. It seemed like every time we got together, whether we were gonna have a serious talk or not, always over the conversation, over the cup of coffee, over the breakfast at Waffle House, wherever it was, that we would end up, God would download something cool into us through the conversation. One of us or both of us end up being really encouraged. And we found ourselves saying the phrase, wow, it's like every time we get together, God preaches a sermon to us. And so eventually in our text conversations, it became a thing. That's where this phrase came up where we would say, Hey, you want to get together for uh lunch next week? And dot, dot, dot, probably a sermon on the side. And that's literally how this came up because every time we spent significant time together, something cool came out of the conversation. And there were times when we said, all those years ago, we said, wouldn't it be cool if we could have recorded that conversation so that our we could share it with our friends. And eventually, Brad just started saying, Maybe we could record our conversations. And literally, that's the genesis of the idea.

SPEAKER_14 9:10

Yeah, and I'm telling you, the the God, all God wants is our obedience. Our simple obedience becomes a canvas for God to paint a beautiful story. Okay. And so when we said yes to this idea that seemed impossible, how do you even do this? We started meeting in a shed. We were using equipment that was outdated and old. Y'all go back and listen to some of those early episodes, man. It's a tough listen. It's good quality content, but it's not good quality audio, let me tell you.

SPEAKER_13 9:44

And and literally at some point around the eighth or ninth or tenth episode, you can see you can hear the quality in the world. That's right. But that's to your point, man.

SPEAKER_14 9:55

But there's I wouldn't trade those early days for anything because that's a part of this journey.

SPEAKER_13 10:02

Isn't it a tempting thing for any time you might have an idea of something that God might want you to do? And you say, Oh, well, I'm not ready. Or it's not gonna be really good, or it won't be just right. Boy, if you and I waited till our we we were ready or it was just right, this podcast never might never have happened.

SPEAKER_14 10:24

I know. I still want it to be a video podcast, and so we'd still be waiting, right?

SPEAKER_13 10:28

Right, exactly. But you know, you said something, uh, you said the phrase, when we said yes to this idea. Um and I like the way you put that together in a sentence. And I would like to just ask our listeners, as we celebrate together this miracle of God doing something with this podcast that we probably never envisioned could happen. Let let's let's think for all of us is there something that God might want us to say yes to in our lives right now that we're sort of stutter stepping a little bit and maybe don't feel like we're ready to do? Well, listen, as we celebrate in this episode, y'all keep in mind that we were there at one point together, Brad and I, and we just said, let's do it. That's right. And so there is a there's a time for just do it and and just say yes. That's right. And give it your best effort and see what God does with it. And it might look totally different than your your best dream or your hopes or your expectations, but the obedience is what matters, is it not?

SPEAKER_14 11:40

Absolutely. And and man, don't think for a second that we've somehow arrived. We're not sitting in Joe Rogan's podcast studio. This is this is a dimly lit church basement room that doesn't have any furniture in it. I mean, coach, this but but listen, here's the deal I wouldn't trade it for anything. Come on, and and maybe, maybe one day the Lord has bigger and and more grandiose things in store for sermons on the side. I know that we're planning and we're hoping and we're praying, but right, listen, again, God wants our our obedience, leave the end product up to him. Exactly.

SPEAKER_13 12:17

And and there's a a verse in an obscure part of the old testament, this is the book of Zechariah, verse uh chapter four, verse 10, where the prophet speaks on behalf of the Lord and he says, Don't despise the day of small beginnings because the Lord takes joy in seeing a work begin. That's a good word, is it not?

SPEAKER_14 12:42

That's a great word.

SPEAKER_13 12:43

And I think it's for all of us. Don't despise a small beginning. God is God grooves on something starting, new starts, new beginnings. And so thank y'all. That just wanted you to know that's the vibe and the spirit behind this celebration. Because we're celebrating what God did and is still doing with a small beginning.

SPEAKER_14 13:06

Well, you know, on what will be the uh total journey of this podcast, a year and a half feels like a long time, but it's just the beginning. And so we're we're all experiencing the joy of the Lord with these small beginnings, and so the rest of our time, we're actually very, very excited to be able to share with you. We have received a number of messages from some of our listeners that are celebrating alongside of us this great milestone for Sermons on the Side podcast.

SPEAKER_13 13:38

Exactly. We have almost 15 people, I think, that that send us in these messages. And uh, so we're just gonna play them for you. And these are uh I I think you'll find them uh encouraging. Some of them are are are just super sweet, some of them are are very funny. Um they are uh some of them are both, but we think that this is a good way for us to to mark this milestone and to as we like to talk about, you know, we kind of build an altar to remind us of God's goodness and God's faithfulness. So hopefully these stories and this episode will do that well.

SPEAKER_14 14:17

Well, you guys check this out, be encouraged, and we'll check back in with you at the end of the episode.

SPEAKER_04 14:23

Hi Brad and Richard. This is Anna in Austin. We just wanted to take a few moments and let both of you know how thankful we are for you and Sermons on the side. It is impossible for me to pick out one episode as a favorite because they each have something meaningful to take away and apply to your own life. We have laughed and sometimes cried in my case each week, and I can't thank you enough for the encouragement that each episode brings to us and so many others. It has been such a neat thing to now look for our own sermons on the side moments in our everyday lives.

SPEAKER_21 14:54

My mom and I have been listening to Sermons on the Side for over a year, and it's almost impossible to decide what my favorite episode is. It's also hard to tell others how I feel about this podcast. It's one of those things where you can't explain it, you just feel something. But I'll still try to explain. For some people, Sermons on the side may be an ordinary podcast that they just started listening to. For others, it may be church on a Thursday. For me, it's listening to interesting stories, hearing Mr. Brad and Mr. Richard talk about certain moments in their lives, which shows me that the Lord works everything out. I just wanted to say thank you for all of that.

SPEAKER_04 15:30

We are so excited for everything God is doing through you guys and this podcast. We're praying for you guys and for many more years of Sermons on the Side.

SPEAKER_08 15:40

This is Larry from New Orleans. Uh, I've listened to every podcast of the Sermons on the Side since the week one. It's a weekly refreshing pick-me-up in the middle of the week. Uh sometimes in an entire episode that strikes me and resonates with me. Sometimes it's just a simple phrase or a quote. Like one time Richard was talking about a he quoted a preacher talking about Jacob wrestling with God. And he says, Sometimes when he asked for God's blessing, he breaks something. Well, to me, uh this uh came alive because Jacob didn't want to lose everything he had worked so hard to get. But when he asked for God's blessing, God touched him, leaving him with a limp while possibly uh facing an enemy, a brother, who wanted to kill him after he hurt. To me, this meant that uh I have to be vulnerable and humble before God to receive the blessings that he wanted me to have. My own efforts leave me vulnerable and broken, but when I turn to God and trust in him and obey what he says, then it tells it tells me that he'll take care of the rest because he's faithful to us. I appreciate sermons on the side. Thanks, Richard, Brad.

SPEAKER_12 16:49

Hey guys, Lennon Heather Orenstein here. Just want to say congratulations on 10,000 episode downloads. We are glad so many people are benefiting from the wisdom and humor and stories that you share. I think my personal favorite is the broken seashells, though. Every week there's a tidbit that I can take that helps me to see the Lord more clearly in my everyday.

SPEAKER_06 17:18

Congratulations, David Orenstein. Congrats on the downloads, and all your episodes have been good, but my favorite one is episode three. Broken shows.

SPEAKER_03 17:33

Hello everyone. My name is Johnny Williams. I'm Brad's father and longtime friend of Richard. Congratulations on 10,000 downloads. Wow. As a devoted listener from the start, it's been great to be part of this awesome journey with you guys. Uh, with my job requiring a bit of travel, I listen as I drive. And Sermons on the side has always been such an encouragement. Every episode has at least one good takeaway. So I appreciate you guys so much. And I'm probably speaking with a little prejudice, being Brad's father and all, and grandfather to Becca, Sheff, and Gracie. But my favorite episode is way back on episode 28, The Last Waffle Fry. When Brad shared a wonderful lesson on radical generosity and sacrificial love, when little Chef gave his last waffle fry on an outing at Chick-fil-A to his big sister Becca, who had tragically run out of fries and wanted more. So sweet. Check out that episode.

SPEAKER_17 18:41

Hey there, my name is Lisa Williams, and I listen to Sermons on the Side in Columbus, Georgia. And I like to listen because I get to learn about what's going on in our life. No, in all seriousness, um, I really am encouraged every time I listen and hear a story about something maybe very ordinary that happened, and then what the Lord um teaches Brad and Richard through it and how they share it with others. So um, happy 80 episodes, guys. Thankful for what you do every week.

SPEAKER_09 19:20

Brad and Rico, this is David Anders in Peace Tree City. Congratulations on your 10,000th download. I think I speak for all your listeners when I say keep them coming. My favorite episode, the one that I'm always ready to click on, the one I can't wait to hear, is whatever is the next episode. I love Thursdays. Thanks for what you guys do. And now, a little shameless cross-promotional tribute here. I am planning on giving you a salute in a future weekly since it's Saturday limerick that I post on Facebook on a weekly basis. But here is my early release. We all need in life a guide to move forward and not backslide. Now at 10,000 strong, they've shown they belong. Let's hear it for Sermons on the Side. Thanks, guys.

SPEAKER_20 20:10

Just wanted to give a huge shout out to Sermons on the Sides for being my go-to podcast, whether I'm grocery shopping, doing yard work, or just going about my day. I truly appreciate the time, effort, and heart that Brad and Richard put in delivering a meaningful message each week. Every episode leaves me with something to think about to apply in my own life. Keep up the great work, fellas.

SPEAKER_16 20:31

Richard, I love your podcast with Brad. Your interaction always makes me smile. It makes me laugh, but it always brings a smile to my heart. My favorite podcast by subject matter is still Broken Shells. It's made me more aware of how God is using my broken pieces for his glory. My favorite podcast without considering content was when Brad, also known as The Young One, brought a story that you had not heard and asked you to share your insight. What I love is that Brad was so confident that he could tell you the story and you would immediately be able to find the meaning in the everyday with the sermon on the side. You guys rock.

SPEAKER_18 21:21

Richard, I don't know you personally, but um love what both of you guys are pushing out with sermons on the side. Listen to this at uh mostly the gym every now and then on the road. Um but I just love what's coming out of it. Uh you guys have brought your community that you've created um personally inside of Columbus and you're sharing it with the world. Um just speak on Brad for a little bit. Brad, I think it's great what you're doing. Um, and it's something that young men in their 30s they don't do. Um that is what the Bible says is surround yourself with the wise, and you become wise and have that community. And I think that's huge. And I love that instead of holding on to it and that wisdom that you have found within Richard, you wanted to push that out into the world. So keep it up, guys. Proud of you. Love you.

SPEAKER_01 22:14

Rico and Brad, congratulations on your 10,000th download. I am honored to call you both friend and super proud of both of you. The dynamic between the two of you is heartfelt, authentic, and real. We the listeners can feel the love and respect between the two of you right through our phones. Your podcasts have been enlightening, inspirational, relatable, and best of all, hilarious. Trying to narrow it down to a favorite episode was extremely hard as I have learned so much and have had so many moments of reflection and looking inward from these episodes. But these three stand out to me. Episode 58, what you have seen. To me, it was a loving reminder to share your life stories, to sit and just listen and be a part of loved ones' lives. Even in the simplest action. It also made me think about storytellers and their limited time to share the family stories and how important it is to carry that on. Because once your storyteller is gone, it's up to you to carry it on and feel their shoes. Episode 70's reflection of Richard's mentor and how it changed his life. You can feel the love and admiration Richard has for Trey. I know firsthand the ripple effect it has had on so many men in your recovery group, and how it has been a positive effect on our women's group, and how it has changed my life having Richard mentor me. People don't realize how sharing your darkness can change lives. Also, episode 73, once but now. Reflection on who once was, who you once were, and the amazing gift of grace and forgiveness which transforms you out of the darkness and shame and into the light and freedom. I wish you both nothing but the best on the next 10,000 downloads. But more importantly, I look forward to hearing how your podcast is changing the lives of so many people and seeing how God will continue to use the two of you to reach those that need to hear you, and how God's kingdoms grow one more because of both of you, faithful servants. Congratulations. I am super proud of you both.

SPEAKER_15 24:50

Good evening. Thanks for joining us tonight. I'm Jason Dennis, uh, and this is Sermons on the Side Podcast. Hey guys, uh Jason here, and just wanted to wish you guys congratulations on uh a great feat. I think more than 10,000 downloads. You guys have done a fantastic job. Um I was honored to be on uh episode number 20 uh as a guest for you guys, and uh now you've kind of gone on to bigger heights uh more than a year later, and uh you guys return the favor, Richard and Brad, um, on uh episode number 250 of my Run the Race podcast, talking about fitness and faith. And uh so uh just excited for you guys and thinking back to uh I get to listen to uh several episodes of kind of the episodes with that are 20, 40 minutes long and the ones that are an hour long, with the uh conversations you guys have, the round tables. I think one of my favorites is uh with my friend and uh Richard, your uh your daughter, um Kendall Nipper, uh had a great testimony about being a mom and things she's been through. And and um I really like, you know, I remember sending you guys some texts about some of the episodes I've listened to, just the things that you, you know, uh go through in regular life, the stories that you can tell, and things that, you know, really uh have an impact on maybe, you know, uh examples of faith for us and and kind of stretching us. And one of the things that y'all talked about was what the enemy meant for ruins. You've talked about this several times, the the ruins of our lives and the things that we've caused, the things that have just happened to us, the trauma. God intended that for good, and out of those ruins can come breakthrough. Uh, so it's really been great. And and what I love about you guys is you're down to earth, you're authentic, you're vulnerable, and the best part is you use humor uh to talk about maybe some serious issues going on with our lives because just because we're you know believers, we're Christian, doesn't mean uh that we're gonna have everything go smooth and rainbows and butterflies. It's gonna be really difficult sometimes. And in even in the midst of that, we can laugh. We can have joy of the Lord to be our strength amidst the up and down seasons of our life. And and um, we can find those sermons on the side. And one of my favorite verses, Proverbs 3, 5 through 6, you know, you guys have talked about this one before too. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, because we try to do it ourselves sometimes. Acknowledge him in all thy ways, and he will make your path straight. So, once again, Brad and Richard, congratulations. Hope you have tens of thousands, hundred thousand more downloads so people can uh learn about these sermons and get closer to God through listening to your podcast. So, until next time, love y'all. God bless.

SPEAKER_19 27:38

God has been blessing me through sermons on the side since the very first episode when I was convicted about the rocks I was carrying around that were holding me back both spiritually and emotionally. That episode has made me become more aware of the things I allow to become rocks in my life and remind me to take those rocks out of my backpack. I was driving while I was listening to episode three, Broken Shells. I had to pull over because it was so overwhelming to me. It was that the Lord was speaking directly to me. This episode reminded me that broken things don't have to remain broken. Broken things can be put back together. It might not look like it used to look, but it is still beautiful. The more of my broken pieces that I give to God and quit letting them become rocks in my life, the more beautiful and whole I become. Episode 31, who you say I am, is one that I sometimes play on a loop. So Satan knows that the easiest and most successful way to discourage me is to remind me of all my failures. This episode helps me to remember that I am not who I was, but I am and I always will be who God says I am, and He says that I am chosen and I am loved. Sermons on the side never fails to speak to me, to convict me, to remind me, to encourage me, and I'm so thankful that God is using this podcast for my growth as a Christian. I also think it's great for Christians in any season of their lives. I also have to add that I'm also pleasantly surprised that that mischievous pipsqueak of a seventh grader when I was a senior in the youth group has played such a part of that growth. Thanks, Richard and Brad.

SPEAKER_05 29:49

Hey, Sermons on the Side, fam. My name is Evan Henson. I'm listening from Columbus, Georgia. And man, I'm just so thankful for Brad and Richard and the gifts that God has given them to just bring encouragement and scripture and just a weekly word um to just give some some pip in my step. Um I usually listen to the podcast when I'm running, and man, it just makes it so much easier. It allows me just to relax and breathe better and to just look around and enjoy everything during my runs and just take it all in. And um, man, it's just it's one of my favorite uh times of the week, and one of my favorite things to do is just listen to the podcast and just know that Jesus is everywhere if you just stop and slow down and look for him. And I'm just so thankful um for that new fresh perspective from Brad and Richard. And um, yeah, I'm ready for 10,000 more downloads. Let's get it.

SPEAKER_02 30:50

Hey, Sermons on the side, fam. This is Ken Scarborough. I am Brad's mom and friend of Richard's. I am a longtime listener since the very first episode. Faithfully listen. Don't want to miss this the podcast every week. They are such a blessing. I have learned a lot of things. Y'all have different topics from sports to history to music to movies to personal stories, but they're all relevant the way you tie them in together to focus on the Lord. And I have certainly learned things. I have laughed a lot, I have I have wept over things. Um, but most importantly, every message, every podcast is always pointing us toward the Lord. And it's helped me discover and look for my own sermons on the side in my own life. So thank you for what y'all do, continue to do, excited to continue to listen, and congrats on hitting that 10K download. Appreciate y'all.

SPEAKER_10 31:48

Hey, my name is Robert Powers, and I live in Greenville, South Carolina. Um, what I love the most about Sermons on the side is it gives me a reminder to kind of step back, listen, and appreciate some of the things that God's doing in my life. Uh, the world we live in is a hectic, fast-paced, crazy place where we rarely give ourselves to kind of slow down. So, what I appreciate most about this podcast is that it often pokes at me to stop and reflect on some of the daily things that otherwise may just pass me by. So, certainly want to thank you guys for taking the time to find those moments in your own lives and share them because I think it really helps me in my own spiritual journey. Appreciate some of the mundane moments that sometimes I may take for granted, and it encourages me to spend that extra time to see what God may be trying to tell me. Um, so love you guys and appreciate what y'all are doing. Thanks.

SPEAKER_00 32:33

Hey, Sermons on the Sides. This is Jen Sheritz from the Knoxville, Tennessee area. Congratulations on your 10,000th download. What an incredible milestone for the podcast. I truly appreciate the weekly time and effort that goes into each episode. I love the reminders to find God at work and the everyday moments of life. You point us to Christ each week and encourage us to pursue the one that orchestrates every aspect of our lives as we seek to glorify him in our words, thoughts, and actions. So thank you for the weekly dedication to the podcast. We love you guys.

SPEAKER_07 33:07

Hey, Richard and Brad, congratulations on 10,000 downloads. Wow, what an accomplishment. I gotta be honest with you guys, I think my mother might have been 2,384 of those downloads after our interview together. Coming up on 80 episodes, man, there's been so much good content. It's hard to think of a favorite episode. Uh, you know, a lot of them kind of run together because so many of them are about college football. I think my favorite college football one at least has to be uh the fourth and twenty five episode, just because of a lot of things going on in the background as the Lord used that episode in a very special way in my life. It's hard to pinpoint a favorite, but I can tell you some of my least favorites, and my least favorite episodes have to be the uh no less than 58 episodes where that guy Heath Goodson got mentioned over and over and over. I I just I don't know, man. Something about that Heath Goodson guy just uh you know, he just gets mentioned too much. True Kathy said, How do you know somebody needs encouragement? They need encouragement if they're breathing. That's what I think of when I think of sermons on the side. It is a weekly Thursday encouragement. It's lighthearted, but it's meaningful. It's something that I look forward to. And there's been many Thursdays where the message was perfectly timed and God used it in a special way. God has uniquely gifted both of you with a deep love for Him, the courage to be genuine, and personalities you just can't help but love. I don't know about you, but my life moves pretty fast. So thank you for all you do to help me slow down, dig deep, and find God's story hidden in everyday moments. Thank you for using your years spent in ministry, friendship, and how you navigate real life together as you blend humor, honesty, and faith into conversations that meet us right where we are. I am always coming back for more because you help me relax, listen in, and discover meaning in the ordinary, the messy, and everything in between. I just can't get enough sermons on the side.

unknown 35:36

Oh god.

SPEAKER_14 35:37

He stole our whole intro. Oh my god. He just took our whole intro.

SPEAKER_13 35:48

Oh my face hurts for a minute.

SPEAKER_14 35:52

Elliot and He the rivalry blazes on.

SPEAKER_13 35:59

It's got legs, man. This thing is it it continues for sure.

SPEAKER_14 36:05

I I don't even know I don't even know how to describe my heart right now, dude. First of all, I'm laughing, right? But I really am, dude. Oh man, what on earth? Those are some powerful, powerful encouragement.

SPEAKER_13 36:22

And it's off the charts. I I I'm with you. How do you we can't thank these these folks enough? Uh the the folks that that you've heard uh bring these messages and and and many other of our listeners who have you know texted or all along this journey been encouraging. Um these these things, I mean these words, they're like breathing life into me right now.

SPEAKER_15 36:50

Yeah.

SPEAKER_13 36:51

And thank y'all for sending in those messages that we could share with our entire Sermons on the side community.

SPEAKER_14 36:59

This is a this is a celebratory day. This is a celebratory episode. My heart is full, my cup runneth over. Thank you, Lord. And uh man, you talk about a way to fire me up to get me excited for the next 80, for the next 10,000. Bring on. Let's go. Let's go for Rico. That was awesome, man. You guys have an awesome Tuesday. Awesome Tuesday. We're moving, we're moving to Rico. You guys have an awesome Thursday at Red Deter. We're back to our regular programming that's 25. Tuesday.

SPEAKER_07 37:51

What are we talking about?

SPEAKER_14 37:52

What auto day? Did you hear me say regularly? Regularly. Regularly.

SPEAKER_13 38:00

Easy for you to say, Brad. Dude, this is what we're a mess.

SPEAKER_14 38:06

Because we are an emotional I'm an emotional record.

SPEAKER_13 38:10

These amazing uh messages we got, bro. Oh, you you people. You someone's on the side listener, people. You got us, you got us wrapped up.

SPEAKER_14 38:19

Hey, I just hey real quick, right here at the end. Heart to heart. Come on, talk to us. I am very, very grateful for you, man. People don't know. People get, you know, they they jokingly hear you say that, oh, I'm doing all the work behind the scenes. I get to twist a few buttons and cut a few things out. Brother, you are filling up notebooks week in and week out with sermons on the side that you bring to the table. And I'm just forever grateful for you. This is an incredible journey, and I love you. And uh, thank you. This is awesome.

SPEAKER_13 38:52

Uh we are, I'm just so glad God brought us together on our journey as our as friends, and then let us do this. Are you kidding me? This is awesome.

SPEAKER_14 39:03

Cheers to 10,000 more. Yeah, cheers.

SPEAKER_13 39:07

Yeah, I wish you had a couple of the video podcasts noticed.

SPEAKER_14 39:12

I'm like, what's right holding? Nothing. Ghost. I'm ghost cheers in cheers. You notice how they heard nothing when I tried to clink it. Everybody's listening for the clink.

SPEAKER_13 39:30

Good stuff.