Live Free with Josh Howerton

Can Christians stand for truth without becoming angry, harsh, or compromising? In a culture where conversations about identity, sexuality, personal freedom, and truth dominate headlines and social media feeds, many believers find themselves pulled between two extremes: conviction without compassion or compassion without conviction. In this episode, Carlos Erazo and Paul Cunningham tackle some of today's most challenging cultural questions while exploring one of the most misunderstood emotions in the Christian life—anger. Through Scripture and practical wisdom, they discuss God's design for sexuality, why truth and love must remain together, the difference between righteous and sinful anger, and how followers of Jesus can engage difficult conversations without being controlled by outrage, fear, or cultural pressure. If you've ever wondered how to stand firmly on God's Word while reflecting the grace and character of Christ, this conversation is for you. In This Episode: The difference between righteous anger and sinful anger Why human anger rarely produces God's righteousness How to respond to controversial cultural issues biblically God's design for sexuality and identity Did Jesus affirm same-sex relationships? How Christians can engage culture without compromising conviction Practical ways to reflect the character of Christ in difficult conversations Truth without love becomes harsh. Love without truth becomes compromise. Jesus calls us to both. Stand firm. Think biblically. Live free. 💬 This week’s giveaway: Comment HAT 🧢 Want a Live Free hat of your own? Visit LiveFree.shop 📲 Looking to grow deeper in your faith? Check out the Lakepointe App to access our Discipleship Guide, daily Bible reading plan, and more. Text APP to 20411 to download

Is God bringing revival to Iran? And what does honoring the Sabbath actually look like for Christians today? In this episode of LIVE FREE, Pastors Josh Howerton, Carlos Erazo, and Paul Cunningham tackle two powerful topics shaping faith and culture right now. First, they unpack Luke 6 and the biblical meaning of the Sabbath—why God built rhythms of work and rest into creation, how the Pharisees turned the Sabbath into legalistic religion, and why Jesus declaring Himself the “Lord of the Sabbath” changes how believers understand rest today. The conversation explores how Sabbath is not just about stopping work, but about restoring the body, renewing the soul, and remembering that our identity is rooted in Christ—not productivity. Then the episode shifts to an eye-opening conversation with Iranian-born pastor David Nasser about what’s really happening in Iran. Nasser shares his incredible story of escaping the Iranian Revolution, how his family encountered the gospel in America, and why many believe the underground church in Iran is one of the fastest-growing movements of Christianity in the world. The team discusses reports of Muslims encountering Jesus in dreams, the spiritual implications of current geopolitical events, and how the gospel continues advancing even in some of the most restricted places on earth. From honoring the Sabbath to the rise of the Iranian church, this episode explores how God is still moving powerfully across the world—and how believers today can join His mission. In this episode, you’ll learn: • What the Bible actually teaches about the Sabbath • Why Jesus called Himself the “Lord of the Sabbath” • The difference between legalistic religion and true spiritual rest • Why the church often grows fastest under persecution • What’s really happening with the underground church in Iran • How Christians can pray and participate in God’s global mission 💬 Comment for this week’s hat giveaway 🧢 Visit LiveFree.shop for merch 📲 Text APP to 20411 for the Lakepointe app

In this episode of LIVE FREE, Pastor Josh Howerton and Jana Howerton dive into one of the most culturally controversial and biblically clear topics: God’s design for marriage. They unpack the theological foundation of headship and helpership from Genesis 2 and Ephesians 5, explaining why loving leadership and respectful support are not oppressive ideas, but protective ones. Rather than competing roles, Scripture presents marriage as a complementary covenant designed for strength, stability, and spiritual growth. The conversation moves into practical and often avoided topics including sexual integrity before and within marriage, emotional boundaries with the opposite sex, in-law dynamics, divorce and restoration, and how trust is rebuilt after betrayal. With clarity and conviction, they show how obedience to God’s Word—not cultural trends—leads to peace and flourishing in the home. In this episode, you’ll learn: What the Bible actually teaches about headship and submission Why “helper” is a position of strength, not weakness How words shape the health of your marriage The difference between loving leadership and passive abdication Why sexual boundaries protect covenant intimacy When divorce is biblically permitted — and when restoration is possible 💬 Comment HAT for this week’s giveaway 📲 Text MARRIAGE to 20411 for your next step 🧢 Visit LiveFree.shop for merch

Did Jesus stay silent on abortion and homosexuality, or are progressive politicians twisting Scripture to fit a modern agenda? In this LIVE FREE reaction video, Pastor Josh Howerton responds directly to James Talarico’s viral claims on Joe Rogan that Jesus “never talked about” homosexuality or abortion and that Christians have made these issues central for political reasons. Walking carefully through Scripture, this episode dismantles the argument from silence, explains why Jesus’ affirmation of Genesis defines marriage clearly, and shows how the New Testament directly addresses sexual ethics and the sanctity of life. If you’ve heard these talking points online and felt confused, this is the biblical clarity you’ve been looking for. You’ll learn: Why “Jesus never said it” is a weak theological argument How Matthew 19 defines marriage and excludes modern redefinitions Why Romans 1 and 1 Corinthians 6 directly address homosexuality Whether abortion is truly absent from biblical teaching How cultural pressure reshapes theology and how to resist it Why the real issue is the authority of Scripture and the Lordship of Christ This isn’t about politics. It’s about truth. 👉 Subscribe for weekly conversations on faith, culture, and biblical clarity 📱 Download the Lakepointe Church App: Text APP to 20411 Stand firm. Think biblically. Live free.