The Scott Sauls Podcast

Епізоди

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  What is Greatness? 17.09.2026 10хв

  What does true success look like in the kingdom of God? Scott Sauls explores how Jesus challenges our culture’s pursuit of status, control, power, and recognition—and offers a radically different vision of greatness. The world tells us that success means climbing higher, defeating our rivals, and making a name for ourselves. Jesus shows us another way: humility, sacrifice, service, and love. His victory was not achieved by crushing his enemies, but by giving himself for them. In this episode, discover why humility is not weakness, how servant leadership redefines strength, and why lasting purpose is often found in the places the world overlooks. If you are wrestling with ambition, identity, leadership, or the desire for a meaningful life, the way of Jesus offers a better path. Follow the Scott Sauls podcast for weekly Christian reflections on faith, culture, spiritual growth, and life with Jesus.
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  The Myth of the Distant God: You Are Never Alone 10.09.2026 9хв

  Feeling far from God? In this first episode of a twelve-part series based on The Mercy King, Scott Sauls explores Psalm 23:6 and the God whose goodness and mercy never stop pursuing us. Faith begins not with our search for God, but with God’s search for us.
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  When God Won't Fix Your Situation 03.09.2026 9хв

  Can you have real joy if you're carrying something that may never get better on this side of heaven? Fanny Crosby was blind from infancy. She lived with that limitation for more than ninety years, yet became one of the most prolific hymn writers in Christian history, writing more than 8,000 hymns and gospel songs, including “Blessed Assurance” and “To God Be the Glory.” Her joy was not denial. Her blindness was real. But Crosby learned to interpret her suffering through two greater realities: the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In this episode, Scott Sauls explores why the cross gives us confidence in God’s love even when circumstances seem to suggest otherwise, why the resurrection means our suffering is temporary rather than ultimate, and how Christian hope becomes “an anchor for the soul” when prayers remain unanswered and circumstances don’t change. The Christian claim isn’t that pain is pretend.It’s that pain isn’t final. Whatever will not be fixed on this side of heaven does not get the last word. And whatever we offer to God in the meantime—our faithfulness, work, love, prayers, and perseverance—is never wasted. Scripture: Ephesians 3:18–19; Colossians 1:20; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 8:18; Hebrews 6:19–20 Podcast Keywords / Topics Christian suffering, joy in suffering, Christian hope, unanswered prayer, suffering and faith, Fanny Crosby, Blessed Assurance, chronic illness, grief and loss, resurrection, resurrection hope, cross of Christ, faith in hard times, hope in hard times, Romans 8, Hebrews 6, Jesus, Christianity, Scott Sauls
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  What Makes a Life Meaningful? 27.08.2026 9хв

  One of the most unsettling experiences in life is getting what you wanted — and discovering that it still isn’t enough. Leo Tolstoy reached extraordinary heights of wealth, fame, and literary achievement. Yet in the middle of his success, he found himself confronting questions his accomplishments could not answer: Why am I here?What will remain after I die?What makes any of this matter? Psalm 90 speaks directly to those questions. In this episode, Scott Sauls explores three truths about a meaningful life: our lives belong to a story larger than ourselves, our deepest worth rests in a love we don’t have to earn, and our work matters because God — not the world’s recognition — is the one who ultimately establishes it. Achievement isn’t the enemy by any means. But it makes a terrible substitute for love, identity, and meaning. In Christ, we don’t work our way into the love of God. We work from the love of God. That frees us to pursue excellence without asking our accomplishments to prove that we matter — and to discover that some of life’s most meaningful work may be the ordinary faithfulness directly in front of us. Scripture: Psalm 90 Podcast Keywords / Topics meaning of life, purpose, finding meaning, Christian purpose, achievement, success, fulfillment, identity, identity in Christ, faith and work, Christian ambition, Psalm 90, Leo Tolstoy, A Confession, meaningful work, spiritual growth, Christianity, Jesus, Scott Sauls
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  Must You Forgive When They Aren't Sorry? 20.08.2026 9хв

  What do you do when someone has hurt you deeply – and isn’t sorry? After Dylann Roof murdered nine people at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, several family members of those he killed publicly forgave him, even though he showed no remorse. Their response raises one of Christianity’s hardest questions: Can we forgive someone who refuses to repent? In this episode, Scott Sauls explores what biblical forgiveness is – and what it isn’t. Forgiveness is not forgetting, minimizing evil, removing consequences, restoring trust, or automatically reconciling. Reconciliation requires the participation of both people. Forgiveness can begin with one. Drawing from Romans 12, the cross of Christ, and the remarkable witness of the Charleston families, Scott considers how we can tell the truth about what happened, maintain necessary boundaries, pursue justice, and still refuse to let another person’s wrongdoing own the rest of our lives. Because forgiveness doesn’t mean the wrong was nothing. It means the debt is no longer ours to collect. Keywords: forgiveness, Christian forgiveness, how to forgive, forgiveness without apology, forgiveness and reconciliation, reconciliation, repentance, boundaries, resentment, Christian living, spiritual growth, Romans 12, Jesus, Christianity
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  There are Only Two Kinds of People 13.08.2026 10хв

  We often think we need to be strong, polished, and "over it" to be effective at helping the people around us. But what if our biggest impact actually comes from the very places where we feel the weakest? In today's episode, Scott Sauls discusses: The "Wounded Healer" concept and why shared vulnerability is the ultimate catalyst for connection. How to transform shame into a source of healing for yourself and others. Lessons from Bill Wilson, the founder of AA, on why admitting "I'm not okay" and "I need help" is the first step to being helpful to others. Biblical perspectives on how God steward our flaws rather than despite them. It's time to stop trying to be the perfect hero and discover the freedom that comes from being authentically human.
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  When People Betray You, What Do You Do Next? 06.08.2026 13хв

  We often look for peace by trying to escape the storm, but what if peace is found by standing in the center of it? In this episode, we unpack the life and letters of Samuel Rutherford, a pastor whose experience of unjust exile became a masterclass in Christian hope. Join Scott as he discusses: "Christ’s palace in Aberdeen"—finding joy in places of our deepest loss. The "eye of the hurricane" metaphor: How to find stability in Christ when your world is turbulent. C.S. Lewis’s profound insight on how "heaven works backwards" to redeem our past suffering. Why the Resurrection is the ultimate anchor for your hardest seasons. If you are seeking strength to stand firm through a "winter season" of life, this episode offers a roadmap to a hope that doesn't just survive, but thrives.
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  C.S. Lewis – The Most Reluctant Convert in All England 30.07.2026 7хв

  C.S. Lewis once described himself as “the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England.” He did not come to faith because he was eager to find God. He came to faith because, in his own words, God closed in. In this episode, Scott Sauls reflects on Lewis’s conversion, Adam and Eve hiding in Genesis 3, Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman in John 4, and the Father who seeks worshipers before they know how to seek him. If your faith feels weak, inconsistent, reluctant, or tired, this episode is a reminder that the Christian life does not begin with your pursuit of God. It begins with God’s pursuit of you. Links:The Mercy King: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/243610949-the-mercy-king?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=Ffs0dWk8OZ&rank=1Website: http://scottsauls.comEssays: http://scottsauls.substack.comSocials: https://linktr.ee/scottsauls
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  Why Is There Anything At All? 23.07.2026 8хв

  Why does anything exist at all? And why do we exist? It is the kind of question we can avoid for a long time, until awe, grief, success, failure, or exhaustion brings it back to the surface. Some answer by saying life is an accident and meaning is something we must create for ourselves. Others live as if meaning must be earned through achievement, usefulness, admiration, or success. But Christianity offers a deeper and more durable answer. The world exists because God created it. Not because He was lonely or needy, but because God is love. And if that is true, then your life is not an accident, your worth is not up for review, and you do not have to justify your existence. In this episode, Scott Sauls reflects on creation, ambition, anxiety, Genesis, Apollo 8, and the God who made you, came for you, and holds you together. Links:The Mercy King: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/243610949-the-mercy-king?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=Ffs0dWk8OZ&rank=1Website: http://scottsauls.comEssays: http://scottsauls.substack.comSocials: https://linktr.ee/scottsauls
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  The Tragic Cost of Friendless Popularity 16.07.2026 9хв

  Why do so many successful, admired, high-capacity people feel so deeply alone? In this episode, Scott Sauls explores the hidden loneliness that often lives behind public visibility, leadership, popularity, and constant responsibility. From Michael Jackson’s longing to be treated like an ordinary neighbor, to Lady Gaga’s description of the silence that follows the crowd, to the quiet burdens carried by pastors, executives, parents, artists, and caregivers, this episode considers why being surrounded by people is not the same as being truly known. Scott also turns to Genesis, where the first thing God calls “not good” is a human being alone, and to Jesus, who entered the deepest loneliness of Gethsemane and the cross. Loneliness is not proof that something is wrong with you. It is a sign that you were made for connection, communion, and love. For anyone who has felt unseen while being useful, admired while being unknown, or strong while quietly exhausted, this episode offers a deeply Christian word of hope: you are not alone, and you never have been. LINKS: The Mercy King: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/243610949-the-mercy-king?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=Ffs0dWk8OZ&rank=1 Website: http://scottsauls.com Essays: http://scottsauls.substack.com Socials: https://linktr.ee/scottsauls
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  The Hidden Joys of Ordinary Faithfulness 09.07.2026 8хв

  The small acts of faithfulness in your life may feel ordinary, hidden, and easily forgotten. But because Jesus walked out of the grave first, none of it is wasted. The meal cooked for a struggling neighbor, the correction spoken to a child, the good work done when no one was watching, and the forgiveness extended in secret are all being folded into a future that has already begun in the resurrection of Jesus. In this episode, Scott Sauls reflects on John 11, the hope of resurrection, and the promise that grief, pain, and death do not get the final word. Jesus does. LINKS: The Mercy King: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/243610949-the-mercy-king?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=Ffs0dWk8OZ&rank=1 Website: http://scottsauls.com Essays: http://scottsauls.substack.com Socials: https://linktr.ee/scottsauls
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  3 Lies That Steal Your Joy 30.06.2026 8хв

  Leo Tolstoy had nearly everything people associate with a successful life: literary genius, wealth, family, fame, influence, and security. Yet by his own account, he found himself deeply restless and despairing. In this episode, Scott Sauls reflects on Tolstoy’s crisis and the three false gospels that still steal joy today: comfort, control, and approval. Each one begins as a good desire. Each one becomes destructive when we ask it to do what only Christ can do. Comfort promises peace but often delivers numbness. Control promises safety but often delivers exhaustion. Approval promises worth but often delivers the slow disappearance of the self. The first commandment is not merely a rule. It is a diagnosis. We were made for God, and when we build our lives on anything less than him, even the best things eventually break under the weight. Links:The Mercy King: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/243610949-the-mercy-king?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=Ffs0dWk8OZ&rank=1Website: http://scottsauls.comEssays: http://scottsauls.substack.comSocials: https://linktr.ee/scottsauls
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  When Achievement Becomes A Trap 25.06.2026 10хв

  You can believe in grace and still live as though God is disappointed in you. In this episode, Scott Sauls reflects on the hidden equation many Christians carry: God’s love equals Jesus plus our current spiritual and moral performance. Through the story of Peter in Luke 5, the ache beneath achievement, and the difference between forgiveness and mercy, Scott considers why grace can feel unsafe to receive and why Jesus moves toward us when shame tells us to pull away. For anyone who has confused usefulness with lovability, or who feels tired from trying to become enough, this episode offers a thoughtful and honest reminder: God’s mercy does not wait for us to become presentable. It meets us where we are most afraid to be known. Links:The Mercy King: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/243610949-the-mercy-king?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=Ffs0dWk8OZ&rank=1Website: http://scottsauls.comEssays: http://scottsauls.substack.comSocials: https://linktr.ee/scottsauls
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  Angry With God? 18.06.2026 10хв

  What should you do when your prayer is not calm, composed, or polite, but angry? In this episode, Scott Sauls looks at Habakkuk, C.S. Lewis, Job, the Psalms, and Martin Luther to explore whether anger toward God is always a sign of weak faith. Scripture is far more honest about complaint, grief, protest, and unanswered questions than many church cultures have allowed. Angry prayer may not be the death of faith. It may be one of the clearest signs that you are still in the conversation with God. If you have ever wondered whether God can handle your honesty, this episode is for you. Key Scriptures: Habakkuk 1:2-4, Habakkuk 2:1-4, Habakkuk 3:17-18 References: C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed; Martin Luther's prayers from 1525 LINKS:The Mercy King: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/243610949-the-mercy-kingWebsite: http://scottsauls.comEssays: http://scottsauls.substack.comSocials: https://linktr.ee/scottsauls
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  When God Goes Quiet 11.06.2026 10хв

  In this episode, Scott Sauls reflects on John 11, the death of Lazarus, and Jesus’ stunning promise to Martha: “I am the resurrection and the life.” Drawing from Elie Wiesel’s Night, Tim Keller’s preaching after September 11, and C.S. Lewis’s The Great Divorce, this episode explores the difference between mere consolation and true Christian resurrection hope. When suffering, grief, unanswered prayer, and God’s silence threaten faith, Jesus does not offer sentimental escape. He enters our sorrow, weeps with us, and promises restoration through his cross and empty tomb. VIDEOS:http://youtube.com/scottsauls  ADDITIONAL INFO:Website: http://scottsauls.com Essays: http://scottsauls.substack.com Socials: https://linktr.ee/scottsauls
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  When Your Worst Mistake Becomes Your Identity 04.06.2026 12хв

  In this episode, Scott Sauls explores the difference between guilt and shame through The Scarlet Letter, Genesis 3, Brené Brown, Brennan Manning, and the mercy of Jesus. Shame says, “I am something bad,” and it drives us to cover, hide, and fear being fully known. But from Eden to the cross, Scripture tells a better story: we cover ourselves badly, but God covers us truly. If you have carried a scarlet letter of your own, this episode offers a gospel-centered reminder that in Christ, you are fully known, fully loved, and no longer left hiding. ADDITIONAL LINKS: The Mercy King: https://tinyurl.com/3prx4wp3 Website: http://scottsauls.comEssays: http://scottsauls.substack.comVideos: http://youtube.com/scottsaulsSocials: https://linktr.ee/scottsauls
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  My Most Personal Book So Far 02.06.2026 2хв

  In this episode, Scott Sauls shares personally about struggles like perfectionism, drivenness, shame, and the exhausting attempt to find worth through achievement. He also shares the invitation Jesus gives to every overextended, over-functioning heart: to stop striving for an approval that has already been freely given. Drawing from Psalm 23, Luke 15, and themes from his newest book, The Mercy King, this episode is for anyone who has succeeded and still felt empty, failed and wondered if God was disappointed, or carried shame while struggling to receive grace. The good news is not that we finally run hard enough toward God. It is that his goodness and mercy have been pursuing us all along.
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  Words I Wish I Hadn't Said 28.05.2026 10хв

  In this episode, Scott Sauls explores why gossip can feel satisfying in the moment while quietly damaging the soul. Drawing from Scripture and personal experience, he looks at the difference between healthy processing and sinful gossip. When does venting become gossip? Why do we use another person’s failures to manage our own hurt? And how can confession, repentance, and the grace of Jesus lead us toward healing? The path out of gossip is not merely trying harder to control the tongue. It begins with honesty, confession, and receiving the grace of God that refuses to perpetuate sins He has already forgiven. Scriptures referenced: Proverbs 16:28; Psalm 141:3; James 3:6; James 5:16.
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  We All Want Justice (Until We Don't) 19.05.2026 9хв

  We all demand justice until it shows up at our own front door. In this episode, Scott Sauls works through the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector in Luke 18, the bishop and the silver candlesticks in Les Misérables, and the cross itself, drawing on Fleming Rutledge, Isaiah 53, and Psalm 130. The real question underneath every cry for fairness: are you willing to receive what justice would require of you, or would you rather be rescued by mercy? VIDEOS: http://youtube.com/scottsauls ADDITIONAL INFO: Website, Essays, Socials: http://scottsauls.com
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  The Sickness That Poses as a Virtue 04.05.2026 14хв

  Workaholism is the most socially acceptable addiction in our culture. Nobody stages an intervention for it. Nobody tells you to get help. Instead, we get rewarded with raises, promotions, and applause. In this episode, Scott Sauls draws from his forthcoming book The Mercy King (Zondervan, June 2026) and a clinical study from the University of Bergen to expose what compulsive working actually is: a slow form of self-enslavement. Scott also describes the three chapters of the workaholism story many of us are living inside, and the invitation Jesus offers to anyone who feels tired from their own striving. VIDEOS: http://youtube.com/scottsauls ADDITIONAL INFO: Website: http://scottsauls.com Essays: http://scottsauls.substack.com Socials: https://linktr.ee/scottsauls