Podcast
Shoes Off
Hosted by Ray Slavens, Isaac Slavens · EN
Shoes Off is a weekly Christian podcast designed for your commute, morning coffee, or quiet break. Each episode combines scripture, reflection, and a practical weekly challenge that you can carry into everyday life.
The name comes from two powerful images: Moses removing his shoes to meet God on holy ground, and the phrase “that sermon stepped on my toes”—a reminder that God’s word both comforts and challenges us to grow.
Through relatable stories, timely illustrations, and biblical truth, Shoes Off helps you pause, prepare your heart, and walk closer with Christ each week.
Join us as we take our shoes off—because growth begins on holy ground.
Email us at ListenToShoesOff@gmail.com
43episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The Kingdom of Heaven is Like... | Episode 2
Apr 1200:19:50Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailWhat would you give up… if you truly understood what you’ve found?In week two of our series “The Kingdom of Heaven is like…”, we look at two of Jesus’ shortest—but most challenging—parables: the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price (Matthew 13:44–46).In both stories, the response is the same: everything is given up… for one thing.Why?Because when the value becomes clear, the decision becomes obvious.In this episode, we unpack: What Jesus means by “the kingdom of heaven” Why the treasure is hidden—and why so many miss it How Christ Himself is the true treasure And how our lives reveal what we actually value We'd love to hear from you -- email us at ListenToShoesOff@gmail.com
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The Kingdom of Heaven is Like... | Episode 1
Apr 500:18:58Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailWhat if the most powerful work God is doing in your life… looks small?In this first episode of our new series, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like…”, we unpack two of Jesus’ simplest—but most overlooked—parables: the mustard seed and the yeast.Jesus doesn’t describe the kingdom with something big, loud, or impressive. He points to something tiny. Something hidden. Something easy to miss.And that’s the point.The kingdom of heaven isn’t just a future destination—it’s God’s rule and reign at work right now. And more often than not, it shows up in ways we don’t expect.If you’ve ever felt like your faith is small, your progress is slow, or nothing is really changing… this episode is for you.Because the kingdom of heaven is like… something small that changes everything.We'd love to hear from you -- email us at ListenToShoesOff@gmail.com
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Real Talk - Testimonies | Mark 5: Go Tell
Mar 2900:22:24Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailOver the past few weeks, we’ve sat in awe listening to real stories from Joe, Cierra, and Cody, each one a powerful reminder that God is still working, still restoring, and still transforming lives today.But this week, we take a step back and ask a deeper question:Why does our testimony matter so much?In this episode, Ray and Isaac walk through Mark 5:1–20....the story of the man delivered from a legion of demons and the moment Jesus gives him one simple command:“Go home… and tell them how much the Lord has done for you.”Together, we unpack: Why your testimony is evidence of God’s power Why Jesus often sends us back to the very places we came from Why your story isn’t about perfection—but about His mercy If you’ve ever felt like your story isn’t enough… or you’ve hesitated to share it… this conversation is for you.We'd love to hear from you -- email us at ListenToShoesOff@gmail.com
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Real Talk - Testimonies | Cody
Mar 2200:28:47Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailIn this episode of the Shoes Off Podcast, we continue our Real Talk – Testimonies series with our friend Cody, who shares a raw and honest story of faith, struggle, and ongoing transformation.This episode is not about having everything figured out. It’s about the reality that God meets us in our darkest places and continues to work in us, even when the journey is messy and ongoing.Cody’s story is still being written, and it’s a powerful reminder that God doesn’t give up on us — He continues to restore, refine, and reveal Himself over time.Join us for a real conversation about trauma, healing, and the faithfulness of God through every season.We'd love to hear from you -- email us at ListenToShoesOff@gmail.com
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Real Talk - Testimonies | Cierra
Mar 1500:30:40Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailIn this episode of the Shoes Off Podcast, we continue our Real Talk – Testimonies series with our friend Cierra, who shares a powerful and deeply personal story about identity, family, and the faithfulness of God.Cierra was adopted and later began a journey that led her to discover more about her biological family. But this conversation goes far beyond a story about adoption. As we listened, it became clear that what we were really witnessing was the hand of God working through every chapter of her life.When we sat down with Cierra, Brandy, Isaac, and I honestly didn’t talk very much. We mostly listened. There were moments where we simply sat in awe of how clearly God’s presence and guidance could be seen throughout her story.Often when people hear the word testimony, they think of the moment someone first comes to salvation. But sometimes a testimony is about something different — how God continues to pursue us, guide us, and reveal His purpose in our lives over and over again.Cierra’s story is a beautiful reminder that God is always working, even in seasons where we may not fully understand what He’s doing.Join us for a real, heartfelt conversation about identity, belonging, and the incredible ways God continues to work in our lives.We'd love to hear from you -- email us at ListenToShoesOff@gmail.com
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Real Talk - Testimonies | Joe
Mar 800:45:49Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailIn this episode of Shoes Off Podcast, we continue our series called Real Talk – Testimonies, where we sit down with people to hear the real stories of how God has worked in their lives.Our guest today is Joe, whose journey to faith didn’t begin early in life. Like many people, Joe spent years walking his own path before eventually encountering the truth of the gospel in a way that changed everything. In this conversation, Joe shares openly about what led him to Christ, the turning point that shifted his life, and how God continues to shape and transform him today.This episode isn’t about having all the answers or presenting a perfect story. It’s about honesty, growth, and the reminder that no one is beyond the reach of God’s grace.If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s too late for your life to change, Joe’s story is a powerful reminder that God can meet us at any point in our journey.Join us for a real conversation about faith, redemption, and the ongoing work of transformation.We'd love to hear from you -- email us at ListenToShoesOff@gmail.com
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Real Talk - Testimonies | Ray & Isaac
Mar 100:32:09Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailIn this first Real Talk Testimony episode of Shoes Off, Ray and Isaac step into the conversation themselves.No scripts. No polished production. No pretending.Just two men sharing their personal journeys — how they came to salvation, the seasons that shaped them, the moments that tested their faith, and where they stand today.This episode walks through honest questions about surrender, growth, doubt, obedience, and what it truly means to follow Christ — not perfectly, but faithfully. There may be pauses. There may be emotion. There may be moments that feel raw.That’s intentional.The goal isn’t to present a flawless story. It’s to highlight the redeeming work of God and to show that transformation is possible through a relationship with Jesus.If you’ve ever wondered whether your past disqualifies you… if you’ve wrestled with faith… if you’re walking through a season where God feels distant — this conversation is for you.Take your shoes off. Join us for Real Talk.We'd love to hear from you -- email us at ListenToShoesOff@gmail.com
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God's Promises - Restoration
Feb 2200:19:04Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailIf you could restore one thing in your life… what would it be?A relationship?A season?A decision?A part of your heart?In this final episode of God’s Promises, we explore the promise that ties every other promise together: Restoration.Throughout Scripture, God doesn’t just forgive — He restores.He restores the joy of salvation (Psalm 51:12).He restores life after trouble and suffering (Psalm 71:20; 1 Peter 5:10).He restores the years that feel wasted (Joel 2:25).And one day, He will restore everything (Acts 3:21).We also unpack the “4 Rs of Restoration” — Replace, Renew, Revive, Return — and what it means for God to replace hardened hearts, renew minds, revive spiritual life, and return us to deep fellowship with Him.But restoration doesn’t end with this life. Revelation 21 promises a day when every tear is wiped away, death is defeated, and all things are made new. Heaven isn’t escape...it’s restoration completed!We'd love to hear from you -- email us at ListenToShoesOff@gmail.com
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God's Promises - Peace | John 16:33
Feb 1500:16:00Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailIn this episode of God’s Promises, we explore what Jesus really meant when He said:“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)If nearly one in five adults experience anxiety each year, what does it mean for believers to live in peace? Is peace the absence of trouble? Is it emotional calm? Or is it something deeper?In this conversation, we unpack:What Jesus meant by “these things” in John 16:33The difference between peace with God (Romans 5:1) and the peace of God (Philippians 4:6–7)Why peace doesn’t remove storms but anchors us in themHow Isaiah’s “perfect peace” (Isaiah 26:3) was written during national instabilityWhy Christ’s presence — not our control — is the foundation of lasting peaceWe'd love to hear from you -- email us at ListenToShoesOff@gmail.com
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God's Promises - Transform Us | Ezekiel 36:26
Feb 900:18:25Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailLet's be real.....many of us believe God forgives us, but wonder if real change is actually possible.In this episode of God’s Promises, we explore one of the most hopeful assurances in Scripture: God’s promise to transform us. Transformation isn’t instant, dramatic, or driven by willpower. It’s a faithful, God-led process that happens from the inside out.Using passages like Ezekiel 36:26, 2 Corinthians 3:18, and Philippians 1:6, we talk about what it means to receive a new heart, to be transformed “from one degree of glory to another,” and to trust that God will finish the work He started in us. We also draw from the Christian-living article “10 Ways to Be Transformed by Christ and Not Conformed to the World” from iBelieve.com, highlighting why spiritual change is a process of renewal, not conformity.We'd love to hear from you -- email us at ListenToShoesOff@gmail.com
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