Girls Gone Bible – January 23, 2026

Episode Theme: “The Salt and the Light—Living Out Our Faith Every Day”

Hosts: Angela Halili and Arielle Reitsma
Episode Setting: Celebrating the new Girls Gone Bible studio and reflecting on a new era for the podcast and their faith community.

Main Theme

This episode centers on Jesus’ exhortation in Matthew 5:13-16—to be “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world.” Angela and Ari reflect on personal challenges, spiritual growth, and the tangible ways that everyday believers can preserve goodness, illuminate truth, and point people to Jesus. With vulnerability and humor, they challenge listeners to pursue congruency in faith, avoid complacency, and let Christ’s presence shape every moment and relationship.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. A New Era for Girls Gone Bible

• Celebration of the New Studio (05:00)
  • Angela and Ari share excitement about launching the podcast from their freshly rebranded studio, symbolizing growth and a deeper dive into their calling.
  • Angela: “This is like a new era for GGB. And thank you, Jesus. We have been, like, genuinely working on the studio for such a long time. We hope you guys love it.” (05:00)
• The new logo and studio represent stepping into their true identity, leaving behind old versions misaligned with their faith journey.

2. Processing Past Vulnerability and Community Support

• Both hosts reflect on the vulnerability of last week’s emotional episode and how listener support and prayer were transformative.
• Angela: “It was so, so encouraging and supportive... to know that you guys are praying for us. And I will even, like, go out on a limb to ask you to genuinely pray for me, for Ari, for GGB, for everything.” (06:47)

3. Spiritual Warfare Is Real—Remember the Battle

• Angela recalls wisdom from Pastor Michael Kulianos: believers are in a spiritual battle, and resistance is part of following Jesus.
  • Angela: “He reminded me. He was like, ‘Angela, you are in a spiritual battle... just be aware, you know, that there's always resistance.’” (07:43)

4. Daily Discipline: The Secret Place & Lingering with God

• Both hosts stress the essential discipline of seeking God daily—prayer, worship, “the secret place.”
• Ari testifies to the transformative power of pushing past mental distractions in prayer, encouraging listeners not to give up too quickly:
  • Ari: “If you continue to sit and you let those thoughts pass... all of a sudden, I just felt the presence of God after, like, 20 minutes.” (11:08)
• Angela urges: “Please, for the love of all things holy, get in the secret place every single day, every morning... This is everything.” (09:31)

5. Stretch Yourself for More of God

• Sharing a teaching from Pastor Michael, Angela explains that increasing your spiritual capacity comes from stretching yourself—read one more chapter, pray a few more minutes, linger a little longer.
  • Angela: “When you've reached your limit... just extend it a little bit further and your wineskin will expand and your capacity for more of God will expand.” (12:24)

6. Conviction About Time & Attention

• The hosts discuss the modern habit of scrolling as a distraction and an area ripe for repentance and intentionality.
  • Ari: “If you can scroll on TikTok for an hour, you can give Jesus an hour of your time.” (13:58)
  • Angela invites the community to re-establish the habit of reading the Word before bed: “Let's read the Word before bed, and we don't have to scroll for an hour before we go to sleep.” (16:47)

7. Deep Dive: Matthew 5, The Beatitudes, Salt & Light (17:36 – 59:59)

a. The Beatitudes as a Spiritual Measuring Stick

• The Beatitudes in Matthew 5 define the true identity and thriving of a believer. Persecution for Jesus’ sake is reframed as a blessing.
  • Angela: “If you've been persecuted, for sharing your faith... you have received a blessing that not everybody receives.” (19:34)

b. Salt: Purpose, Boldness, and Congruency

• Historical context—salt as valuable, preserving, healing, and symbolically representing covenant.
• Angela: “For me, being the salt... is almost like I want to preserve the presence of God in a room. I want to preserve the principles of Jesus in a room.” (23:50)
• Passivity and “off-duty” Christianity are recognized as ways to lose saltiness. Angela shares: “Passivity is a way to let your salt lose its flavor.” (27:12)

c. Practical Saltiness

• Living Christian values in tough situations (family, old friends) and carrying consistency between various circles.
• Ari notes, “I want to be someone that doesn’t just preach with my mouth, but actually lives it every single day.” (25:57)
• Stories of failure and returning to “saltiness” through repentance, intimacy, and community.

d. On Losing and Regaining Flavor

• Ari confesses to seasons of compromise and the process of returning to God: “When I hit my knees...I have a heart of repentance. I say, help me with my heart.” (33:14)

e. Light: Illumination and Distinction

• Being Christ’s light means both illuminating beauty and exposing darkness—calling out the good in others and lovingly confronting sin or emptiness by one’s example.
• Angela: “When you walk with the light of Jesus shining inside... people can’t help but look at themselves and feel confronted.” (50:00)
• True distinction is not about being “loud” but having a shared life that provokes questions—“What kind of people are these?” (51:55) (paraphrasing theologian Frederick Dale Bruner)

f. Spiritual Gifts as the Outworking of Salt & Light

• Angela shares her prayer: “Lord, show me what you see when you see people, so I can speak life into people in a way that, that sends them directly on the path that you have for them.” (41:11)

g. Influence Starts at Home and in Small Moments

• Ari: “It starts with your family. It starts with your friends…That’s the beautiful thing about being saved. You have the ability to save the lives of so many people.” (42:03)
• Examples: Smiling at strangers, being gentle, posting content that points to Jesus, intervening in gossip with prayer.

8. Boldness in Discipleship and Everyday Encounters

• Ari tells a story of discipling a friend—responding to the Spirit’s promptings, worshipping together, and witnessing life-changing moments.
  • Ari: “She’s reading Psalms. We're just—I just feel the presence of God. We're weeping together... this is what it looks like to be the salt.” (46:47)
• Both hosts stress: it matters most behind the scenes and in personal relationships, not just on a stage or social media.

9. Avoiding Complacency and the Call to Action

• Angela urges listeners to continual congruency: “I want to challenge all of us…to be the same around every friend group—always pointing to people to Jesus, always behaving in a way that is Christlike, not becoming passive or complacent.” (59:59)

10. Community, Sharpening, and the Need for Covering

• Both stress the importance of pastors, mentors, and Christian community to remain “salty”—to be sharpened, challenged, and encouraged.
  • Angela: “You need to have people in your life who have been walking with Jesus for a long time, who genuinely tell you how it is, what it is, call you out, call you higher, and encourage you, and are very kind and gentle.” (54:58)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Angela (On Identity): “You are supposed to be—and who you are at your core is—the light of the world and the salt of the earth. It's all about identity.” (21:11)
• Ari (On Spiritual Habits): “If you continue to sit and you let those thoughts pass... all of a sudden, I just felt the presence of God.” (11:08)
• Angela (On Mission): “We are on mission. It’s not about us—how can we possibly let our salt lose its flavor when there is a world of people who don’t know Jesus yet and you are involved in this story?” (35:35)
• Ari (On Influence): “You want people to look at you and be like, what do they have? Whatever they have, I want that. Like, you want to radiate Christ.” (30:14)
• Angela (On Being Set Apart): “There is a way to constantly be pointing people to Jesus or even the things of God. So let that be our challenge this week.” (59:59)
• Ari (On Checking Ourselves): “This is something we can go back to and be like, what am I? Even the Beatitudes, am I being this?” (57:54)

Important Timestamps

• 05:00 – New studio and rebranding reflections
• 06:39 – Reflections on last week’s vulnerable episode and community support
• 07:43 – Spiritual warfare insight from Pastor Michael Kulianos
• 11:08 – Ari on practicing presence and pushing through distractions in prayer
• 13:58 – Conviction about social media/time-wasters
• 17:36–21:11 – Introduction to Matthew 5, the Beatitudes, and identity
• 23:50–28:28 – Practical applications of “salt” and handling passivity
• 32:32 – Ari on losing and regaining “saltiness” through repentance
• 41:11–43:12 – Asking for spiritual gifts and the practical outworking of being “salt”
• 46:43 – Ari’s story of discipling her friend at home
• 50:00–53:58 – Angela on the “light” of Jesus, illuminating beauty and exposing darkness
• 54:58 – The importance of pastors, mentors, and strong Christian community
• 59:59 – Weekly challenge: congruency and being “salt and light” everywhere

Weekly Challenge

• Be the Salt and Light: Remain on-mission in every interaction and relationship—whether in public or in private—by carrying Christ’s presence, acting congruently, and avoiding complacency.
• Share your stories: The hosts encourage listeners to write in with testimonies or moments when they consciously chose to be “salt and light” during the week.

Closing Prayer & Blessing

Angela ends with a blessing inspired by Numbers 6:

“May the Lord bless you and keep you. May he make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May he turn his face towards you and give you peace.” (61:45)

Tone

Warm, vulnerable, honest, and practical; blends playful banter with deep spiritual challenge and encouragement.

In Short:
This episode is a heartfelt, scripture-centered call to action for believers: to live congruently as “the salt of the earth and the light of the world”—preserving goodness, shining truth, and actively shaping the world for Christ’s glory, starting with the small moments of daily life.