About this episode

The episode discusses the active nature of the heart and its implications for personal growth and relationships within the church.

Our circumstances, emotions, and relationships all shape us, but they don't define us. At the center of who we are is something deeper: the heart. In this fourth episode of our series exploring CCEF's seven distinctives, Gunner Gundersen is joined by Jonathan Holmes and Esther Liu to discuss what we mean when we say, "Our hearts are active." Together they explore how Scripture describes the heart as the center of our desires, fears, loves, worship, and choices. How does understanding the heart change the way we pursue personal growth, care for others, and participate in the life of the local church? The conversation moves beyond behavior modification to consider how God meets us at the deepest level of who we are. Jonathan, Esther, and Gunner share personal stories of how this distinctive has shaped their own walks with Christ and explain why curiosity, humility, and hope are essential when helping others. In this episode, you'll learn: • What CCEF means by "our hearts are active." • Why biblical change is more than changing outward behavior. • How desires, fears, and loves reveal what's happening in our hearts. • Why understanding the heart leads to deeper relationships and…

People in this episode

Host: Gunner Gundersen

Guests: Jonathan Holmes, Esther Liu

Topics covered

• heart
• personal growth
• biblical change
• relationships
• local church
• gospel-centered conversations

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: CCEF

More episodes of CCEF Podcast: Where Life & Scripture Meet

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• Scripture Comes from the Mouth of God · June 15, 2026 · 49 min
• The Personal God Gets Personal with Us · June 1, 2026 · 41 min
• Unity in Marriage: Lessons from Philippians (Part 2) · May 18, 2026 · 35 min
• Unity in Marriage: Lessons from Philippians (Part 1) · May 4, 2026 · 41 min
• The Art of Mentoring · April 20, 2026 · 32 min

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