The Halfway There Podcast | Podcast on RSS.com

The Halfway There Podcast

The Halfway There Podcast

by Nick Hartman

Season 1

Bonus Episode: FAQs with Nick

In this episode, Nick and Brian tackle some of the most common questions students ask about faith, life, and following Jesus. From doubts to daily challenges, they walk through real conversations happening in our ministry and help connect those questions to the hope we find in Christ. You’ll hear honest reflections, practical wisdom, and biblical clarity as they break down topics students bring up all the time—things like prayer, identity, navigating friendships, and how to grow when you feel stuck. The heart behind it all is simple: God welcomes our questions, and His Word gives us a sure foundation in a world full of shifting answers. Whether you’re a student, a leader, or a parent, this episode is designed to spark deeper conversations and point you back to the One who invites us to seek Him with all our heart. Highlights: Why questions are a sign of spiritual hunger How Scripture anchors us when we feel confused Nick & Brian’s personal stories from real student conversations Encouragement for anyone walking through doubt Practical steps for growing in faith day-to-day Listen in and be reminded: God is never intimidated by your questions—He uses them to draw you closer, shape your faith, and lead you to His truth.

Bonus Episode: Bible Storying

In this episode, Brian and Nick step into the same activity our students did on Wednesday night — retelling a biblical story from a personal point of view. Students were challenged to step inside the shoes of someone in Scripture, pay attention to what they saw, felt, feared, or hoped for, and notice how God was at work through it all. Brian and Nick each choose a different character and recount a familiar passage through first-person storytelling. The goal: help listeners see the beauty, tension, and grace of God’s Word in a fresh way. What We Did This Week Students were placed into groups and assigned a passage. Each group picked a character from the story — or were assigned one — and retold the entire scene from that character’s vantage point. This required imagination, observation, and reflection on how God moved in real human lives. It also helped students see that Scripture isn’t flat — it’s saturated with emotion, conflict, hope, and the steady faithfulness of the Lord. Brian and Nick decided to jump in and do the same exercise… on the mic.

The Promises of God, Review Episode with Gracie Ring & Jeremy Blount

In this special episode, Brian & Nick sits down with two students, Grace and Jeremy, to look back on our last series and share what stood out most. From the biggest lessons learned to the moments that challenged their faith, this conversation gives a real look into how God has been working in the lives of our students. You’ll hear honest reflections, some laughter, and encouragement for anyone walking through similar seasons. Whether you’re a student, parent, or leader, this episode reminds us that discipleship happens through stories—and that God continues to shape us long after the series ends. Key Highlights: What Grace and Jeremy learned through the series How the topics connected to everyday life and faith Moments that helped them grow closer to Christ Encouragement for others finishing a season or study

The Promises of God, the New Covenant

Big Idea: Every covenant in Scripture points to Jesus. The New Covenant is the fulfillment of God’s promise to redeem His people through the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. Introduction In The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Edmund’s betrayal leads him to a death he deserves. But Aslan steps in, offering his life in Edmund’s place. When the Stone Table cracks and Aslan rises again, death begins to work backward. C.S. Lewis wrote this as a reflection of the gospel—we were guilty, yet Christ took our place. The New Covenant is the turning point of the biblical story. It is where the shadows of previous covenants give way to their fulfillment in Jesus. Read: Luke 22:14–20 & Romans 8:1–5 1. The Center of the New Covenant: Christ Alone Unlike the earlier covenants—rooted in obedience, land, kingship, or law—the New Covenant is centered entirely on the Son of God. Jesus is both: The Mediator of the covenant And the You said: These are simple for our podcast, like you've done before ChatGPT said: Got you. We’ll go simple, clean, to-the-point, like your previous episodes — short summary + key themes + scripture references. Episode Title: The New Covenant — The Turning Point of the Story Episode Summary Tonight we close our Covenant series by looking at the New Covenant in Christ. Every covenant before this—Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David—was pointing forward to this moment. Jesus is the true and better fulfillment of every promise God has made. His death breaks the curse of sin, and His resurrection opens the way to new life. The New Covenant is not another step in the story—it is the climax of the story. Key Themes Jesus is the center of the New Covenant. Where every covenant partner before failed, Christ is perfectly faithful. Salvation is by grace through faith. Not by being part of a certain people group or keeping certain laws—but by trusting in Christ alone. The signs of the covenant are Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. These aren’t empty habits. They are reminders that we belong to Christ. The Upper Room is where Jesus instituted the covenant. The cross fulfilled it, but the covenant meal declared it. This covenant is God’s final and complete promise. To reject Christ is to reject the only means of redemption. Scripture Luke 22:14–20 — “This cup is the new covenant in my blood…” Romans 8:1–5 — “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Hebrews 8–10 — Jesus as the mediator of a better covenant. Illustration The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe: Edmund is guilty. Aslan takes his place. Aslan rises. The gospel in story form. We are Edmund. Christ is the true and better Aslan. Main Takeaway The New Covenant shows the fullness of God’s faithfulness. We are not saved by our performance but by Christ’s finished work. The covenant stands secure because He holds it.

The Promises of God, Covenant of David

This episode explores how God established an eternal throne through His covenant with David—a promise that pointed beyond an earthly kingdom to the reign of Christ. From Israel’s rebellion in Judges to the hope of Jesus as the Son of David, this covenant reveals God’s plan for a kingdom that will never end. Key Themes 1. From Chaos to Covenant Israel’s demand for a king came from wanting to be like other nations, not from trusting God’s leadership. Yet God, rich in mercy, raised up David—a man after His own heart—to lead His people. 2. The Promise of an Eternal Kingdom In 2 Samuel 7:12–13, God promises David that his house and throne will last forever. This covenant shaped Israel’s hope for a Messiah and finds its fulfillment in Jesus, the eternal King. 3. The Sign: Crown and Throne David’s throne became the emblem of God’s promise. Isaiah 55:3–5 expands this covenant to include all nations, revealing God’s plan to bring Gentiles into His kingdom through Christ. 4. The Holy Place: Mount Moriah On the same mountain where Abraham offered Isaac, David built an altar and Solomon built the temple. Moriah became a place of sacrifice, kingdom, and salvation—pointing to Jesus, the true Lamb. 5. Temporary Defeat, Eternal Hope Though David’s descendants failed and the kingdom fell, God’s promise endured. The earthly throne gave way to the eternal reign of Christ, the true Son of David. Takeaway The Davidic Covenant shows that God’s kingdom is built not on human perfection but on divine promise. David’s story points us to Jesus—the greater King who reigns forever and invites us to share in His kingdom.

Promises of God, the Covenant of Moses

Episode Overview — The Covenant with Moses & Israel In this episode, we explore the Covenant with Moses and Israel, where God revealed His holiness, gave His law, and established His people as a nation set apart for His glory. Key Themes Centered on Obedience God, the great King, called Israel to live under His authority as His chosen people. Their obedience would bring blessing; their disobedience would bring consequences. The Promise God promised His faithfulness to a people who would reflect His name and character—a chosen people, a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. The Sign The Sabbath and the Commandments marked Israel’s covenant. The Sabbath declared trust in God’s provision; the Law revealed how to live in holiness and community. The Holy Place Mount Sinai became the meeting place between God and His people—a place of revelation, covenant renewal, and awe in God’s presence. The Result of Disobedience When Israel turned away, they lost blessing and were exiled. Yet even in discipline, God’s faithfulness endured, pointing toward the perfect obedience of Christ. Takeaway The Covenant with Moses reminds us that holiness flows from identity, not performance. God calls His people to live set apart, resting in His faithfulness and reflecting His character to the world through Christ—the true and better Mediator.

Promises of God, the Covenant of Abraham

On this episode, Brian & Nick discuss how God’s covenant with Abraham reveals His faithfulness, His plan for redemption, and His promise to provide — no matter what. 1. The Covenant Begins — Genesis 12 & 15 God calls Abram to leave everything behind and promises to make him into a great nation. Abram believes, and his faith is counted as righteousness. In Genesis 15, God seals the covenant Himself — showing that this promise depends fully on Him, not on human effort. 2. The Sign of the Covenant — Genesis 17 Circumcision becomes the physical mark of belonging to God’s people — a reminder of His lasting promise. Today, baptism carries that same meaning under the New Covenant: an outward sign of inward faith and identity in Christ. 3. Mount Moriah — Genesis 22 When Abraham is asked to offer Isaac, he trusts that “God will provide.” And He does — supplying a ram in Isaac’s place. That moment foreshadows Jesus, the true Lamb who would one day be sacrificed for all. 4. God Always Provides Even when Abraham’s descendants fall short, God’s promises hold. From Abraham to Moses and beyond, His faithfulness never wavers. The covenant reminds us that God not only calls us to trust Him — He provides everything we need to do so. Takeaway: The Covenant with Abraham points us to Jesus — the fulfillment of God’s promise, the ultimate proof that His word never fails.

Promises of God, the Covenant of Noah

This week, Brian and Nick sit down to talk about covenant with Noah. They talk about how this covenant reveals God’s commitment to preserve His creation despite human sin. Like Adam, Noah was entrusted with the Earth, but his faith allowed God to renew it after the flood. Key Points: Preservation: God provided Noah the Ark and protection for the animals, ensuring life would continue. Renewal: Post-flood, the Earth resumed its natural order—animals multiplied, seasons returned, and humanity was commanded to be fruitful again. The Rainbow: A sign of God’s mercy and promise, the rainbow reminds us that God preserves creation and shows patience with humanity. Redemptive Plan: The covenant points forward to Christ, the true and better Noah, who brings both preservation and salvation. Faithfulness: Noah’s trust preserved the world; our hope lies in God’s promises, not our own perfection. Takeaway: The rainbow isn’t just a sign in the sky—it points to God’s faithfulness. He judges sin, preserves His creation, and provides a way forward, ultimately fulfilled in Christ.

Promises of God, the Covenant of Adam

Episode Overview In this episode, we look at the very first covenant in Scripture—the Covenant with Adam. God created Adam in His image, breathed life into him, and called him to live in obedience, trust, and fellowship. Key Themes Centered on Obedience Adam was made as a Priest-King to rule creation under God’s authority. His task was simple: enjoy God’s provision but do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The Promise God’s desire was a lifelong relationship with Adam and Eve—perfect fellowship, abundant provision, and joy. Augustine described Eden as life without any pain of body or mind. The Sign The tree reminded Adam that life and wisdom came from God, not from himself. It was a call to daily trust and dependence. The Holy Place The Garden of Eden was the first holy place—a world of peace, joy, and God’s presence, foreshadowing the temple and later holy places. The Result of Disobedience Adam broke the covenant, leading to exile from Eden. Yet God gave hope in Genesis 3:15—the promise of a Savior who would crush the serpent’s head. Takeaway The Covenant with Adam shows both the seriousness of obedience and the goodness of God’s grace. Though Adam failed, Christ came as the true and better Adam to restore fellowship with God.

Promises of God, What is Covenant?

One of the biggest challenges Christians face when reading the Bible is boredom. Often we read it like it’s just one book, chapter by chapter, instead of what it truly is—a unified story that leads us to Jesus. In this episode, we kick off a new series on the Promises of God by exploring covenant and why God’s promises never fail. What We Cover in This Episode Why the Bible is best read through the lens of typology—seeing how Old Testament people, events, and covenants point forward to Christ. What a covenant really is: more than a contract, it’s a binding relational promise. The five major covenants God made in the Old Testament (Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David) and how they all lead to Jesus. A deep dive into Jeremiah 31:31–37 and what it teaches us about God’s covenant faithfulness. Key Takeaways God remembers His promises, even when people do not. Our faith may fail, but His never does. God never changes His promise—He provides a new way. The covenant reaches its fulfillment in Christ, who cannot fail. God brings order in chaos. His unshakable promises are more certain than the rising sun or the stars in the sky. Why This Matters The Bible isn’t a random collection of stories—it’s one story pointing to Christ. God’s promises are unshakable, not because of our faithfulness but because of His. Understanding covenant and typology helps us see God’s faithfulness woven through the entire biblical narrative.

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