In this episode of the Rooted Discipleship Podcast, Walker Davis and Chad Gott take a break from their Colossians study to walk through Matthew 23:1–12, where Jesus directly confronts the hypocrisy of the Pharisees.

Jesus warns the crowds and His disciples about religious leaders who preach truth but fail to live it out. While the Pharisees knew Scripture deeply, their lives were marked by pride, self-promotion, and a focus on outward appearances rather than inward transformation. Walker and Chad unpack how this disconnect between words and actions led to people being burdened and ultimately led away from God.

The conversation highlights several key warnings from Jesus: practicing faith for the approval of others, placing heavy and unnecessary burdens on people, elevating self over service, and focusing more on tradition and appearance than on the heart. They also explore how the Pharisees missed the true purpose of God’s law—using it to elevate themselves instead of allowing it to shape them into people who reflect God’s character.

At the center of this passage is Jesus’ call to humility. True greatness in God’s kingdom is not found in status or recognition, but in servanthood. “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” becomes the defining principle for how believers are to live.

This episode serves as both a warning and a challenge—calling listeners to examine their own lives, guard against subtle forms of hypocrisy, and pursue an authentic faith that reflects Christ not just in words, but in action.

Have a question you want us to answer on a future episode? Email us at:

walker@rooteddiscipleship.com

chad@rooteddiscipleship.com

Am I doing what God has called me to do or am I mostly serving in the ways that I enjoy? God put this on my heart, and maybe there is someone out there that needs to hear this too.

In this episode of the Rooted Discipleship Podcast, Walker Davis and Chad Gott continue their study through Colossians, focusing on Colossians 3:5–17. After Paul’s call to set our minds on things above, he now turns to the practical application of what it looks like to truly live out the new life in Christ.

Paul first calls believers to “put to death” the old self — addressing sins such as sexual immorality, impurity, anger, slander, and deceit — reminding Christians that these behaviors belong to the life they have left behind. Walker and Chad discuss how these sins not only damage our relationship with God but also tear apart the relationships and community God designed for His people.

The conversation then shifts to the second half of Paul’s instruction: not just removing sin, but replacing it with Christ-like character. Compassion, kindness, humility, patience, forgiveness, and love become the defining marks of those who have been made new in Christ. They also unpack Paul’s powerful reminder that believers are called to forgive just as they have been forgiven, and how forgiveness leads to freedom, peace, and unity within the body of Christ.

Throughout the discussion, Walker and Chad emphasize Paul’s final encouragement — to let the word of Christ dwell richly within us and to do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus. This passage becomes a practical guide for daily living, calling believers to continually realign their hearts, actions, and attitudes with their identity as children of God.

This episode highlights the transformation that takes place in the life of a believer — putting off the old self, putting on the new, and living each day in love, unity, and gratitude as ambassadors for Christ.

Have a question you want us to answer on a future episode? Email us at:

walker@rooteddiscipleship.com

chad@rooteddiscipleship.com