Stay True with Madison Prewett Troutt

Episode: Culture, Comfort, and Christianity with David Platt
Date: November 3, 2025
Guest: David Platt
Location: Museum of the Bible, Washington, DC

Episode Overview

In this deep, heartfelt conversation, Madison Prewett Troutt, joined by her husband Grant and pastor/author David Platt, tackles the urgent topic of what it means to truly “stay true” to Jesus amidst American prosperity, comfort, and cultural Christianity. Reflecting on scripture, personal testimony, and global perspectives, the episode challenges listeners to examine their faith, lift their eyes above cultural norms, and courageously follow Christ with surrender and authenticity. The conversation is honest, raw, and peppered with both conviction and encouragement, culminating in a powerful invitation and prayer for true lordship in the life of the listener.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Temptation of Cultural Christianity & the “American Gospel”

(00:00–00:32, 30:35–36:05)

• Madison: Opens with the core question: “What is the difference between American Gospel and the true Bible gospel?”
  • She and Grant share their struggle with living in American comfort while wanting to be radically obedient to Jesus, not just wearing a “Christian spin on the American dream.”
• David Platt:
  • Observes that in America, it’s easy to have a “comfortable, cultural Christianity” where faith blends with consumerism, materialism, or self-fulfillment.
  • Stresses the American gospel often boils down to “Come to Jesus to get ____”—blessings, comfort, prosperity—contrasted to the biblical gospel: “We come to Jesus to get Jesus.”
  • Warns, “If we’re not careful, we can coast through a Christian life and miss out on all that we just talked about...there’s no way you can believe that He is Lord and then live like you’re Lord.” (72:09)
• Quote:
  • “American gospel has come to Jesus to get—fill in the blank...But the reality is we come to Jesus to get Jesus. He’s the goal. We come to God to get God.”
    — David Platt (31:35)

The Call to Radical Discipleship & Sacrifice

(08:36–10:27, 21:15–22:57, 25:19–27:58)

• David Platt: Shares the foundational questions he wrestled with:
  • "Do I actually believe this word? ...If I do, then my life needs to look radically different."
  • Affirms that radical, sacrificial faith is not extraordinary — it’s normal, biblical Christianity: “Some people have said you should have titled [Radical] ‘Normal’...because this is normal.” (09:34)
  • Illustrates with the Parable of the Hidden Treasure (Matthew 13): “He sells everything he has, with gladness...because he knows he’s found something worth losing everything for.” (21:50)
• Grant: Reflects, “If you were to just say, Grant, what lane of Christianity do you run in? It’s stuff from this book [Radical]—I want to lose my whole life to follow Jesus, which is the only lane of Christianity there is.” (08:06)
• Quote:
  • “He is literally better than everything this world has put together...if we believe that, then we live very different lives in this world.”
    — David Platt (22:43)

The Lordship of Christ: Surrender, Abide, Rest

(37:38–39:33)

• David Platt:

  • Reiterates the daily struggle between wanting to glorify Jesus and also being liked or applauded by people.
  • Shares that the real fruit in his ministry and growth came by fighting to “surrender daily,” “abide” in Jesus, and “rest” in His will.
  • Urges daily time alone with the Lord as absolutely non-negotiable: “I cannot live without time alone with the Lord in the morning. I can’t…I need Psalm 27, time in the Word, just in prayer, nobody around, just seeking Him.” (38:08)

• Three Bedrock Words:

  1. Surrender – Daily, honest yielding of self and resources.
  2. Abide – Walk faithfully in what you know to do: seek Him, obey His word, run from sin, love others.
  3. Rest – Confidently trust that “He wants His will to be accomplished in my life more than I do.”

• Quote:

  • “Surrender, abide, rest—and do all that in community with other brothers and sisters…who can help you see things that you don’t see.”
    — David Platt (39:34)

Gospel Stewardship in Privilege, Success, and Platform

(43:37–45:10, 66:49–69:58)

• Maddie & Grant: Ask practical questions about how to handle platform, finances, influence: “God, what truly pleases you, like, what actually honors you? Because we want that. Whatever that is, we want that.” (67:18)

• David Platt:

  • Encourages believers with privilege/platform to constantly keep everything “on the table” before God and honestly evaluate stewardship.
  • Suggests establishing a “level of contentment” in material things and freeing everything above that to give away — “live simply, give sacrificially.”
  • Warns against comparing to cultural norms: “You’re not called to live here. You’re called to live up here.” (69:59)

• Quote:

  • “There needs to be followers of Jesus in Brentwood, Tennessee. There needs to be followers of Jesus in nice suburbs of northern Virginia...”
    — David Platt (67:22)

Danger of Comfortable, Cultural Christianity and False Assurance

(61:20–74:58)

• Maddie: Raises “wake up call” about Matthew 7:21-23 (“Many will say, ‘Lord, Lord…’”): “There might be…a lot of us are missing it. There’s a good chance a lot of us are confused about what it looks like to actually follow Jesus.” (63:02)
• David Platt:
  • Emphasizes repentance and ongoing examination: “I just want to know you truly, Lord. Please help me not create a version of you that’s not true, that looks a lot like me.” (67:36)
  • Warns against equating church attendance or a past prayer with true salvation. True faith is surrender to Jesus as Lord, not just a “one-time prayer."
  • “To be a follower of Jesus is not to do X, it’s to trust Jesus as Lord...There’s no way to believe He is Lord and then live like you’re Lord.” (72:09)

Global Perspective: Stories from the Persecuted Church

(42:37–45:10)

• David Platt:
  • Shares about believers in Bangladesh who regularly budget for hospital and funeral expenses due to the cost of following Jesus—driving home the true stakes of discipleship beyond American comfort.
  • Urges U.S. Christians to learn about, pray for, and be encouraged by stories of believers overseas: “I don’t walk away from those times full of myself…I have so much to learn from the body of Christ around the world.” (44:05)
  • Challenges: “Make sure we don’t get caught up in the bubble that Christianity looks like everything right around me. Because it doesn’t.” (45:06)

Suffering, Joy, and True Life in Christ

(51:29–61:20)

• Maddie & Grant: Reflect on suffering, hardships, public criticism, and the refining impact these have had on their faith and perspective.
• David Platt:
  • Encourages: “Don’t be surprised...When you start sharing the gospel, it’s going to get harder. There’s an adversary who doesn’t want the gospel to go forward...But rejoice—your reward is in heaven.” (51:29)
  • Testifies to God’s presence in suffering: “In one of these really hard seasons...I can truly say I know God more, love God more, trust Him more...So if He’s the goal, then these are great days.” (56:58)

Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

• On memorizing Scripture:
  • “I just want people to see the power of straight God’s word in a way that they go for it and start hiding it in their heart.”
    — David Platt (04:04–05:09)
• On living for Jesus, not applause:
  • “True contentment, life, joy is found in the delight of doing good works, doing that which is good, and being seen and known by God alone.” (54:49)
• On the ultimacy of Jesus:
  • “He is so worthy of your life. And He desires life for you forever that nothing in this world can compare with. If you’ll trust Him—whether that’s for the first time or maybe in a fresh way…”
    — David Platt (76:38)
• Grant: “There’s one prayer that’s like, ‘Hey, God, you know…’ but it’s almost this prayer of like, ‘But deal with them.’ But then there’s another prayer when you’re actually broken and you would love them and want to hug them who have said those things. …You get really humble before God and you get meek...These are good things.” (56:24)

Actionable Points & Encouragements

• Daily surrender and time with God is non-negotiable for real discipleship.
• Question frequently: Is Jesus just Savior, or truly Lord in every area—relationships, resources, ambitions, platform?
• Live simply and seek to radically steward resources for the Kingdom; resist comparison to common cultural Christianity.
• Repentance is for every day, not just a one-time event; keep putting “all on the table” before God.
• Learn about and pray for persecuted believers; let their stories anchor perspective and passion.
• Don’t be surprised by opposition, criticism, or suffering—they are normal and even necessary for intimacy with Jesus.
• Remember: “He is so worthy. He is worth losing all of this for because of how good He is.” (80:55)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Opening—What is the American Gospel? (00:00–02:30)
• Memorizing Scripture and Loving the Word (03:31–05:50)
• Personal Testimony: Calling and Missional Perspective (14:27–21:14)
• Radical Sacrifice and the “Rich Young Ruler” (21:15–22:57)
• Is Jesus Lord of Your Life? (27:58–31:03)
• Difference between American and Biblical Gospel (31:03–36:05)
• Practical Obedience: Surrender, Abide, Rest (37:38–42:30)
• Global Church Perspective: Bangladesh (42:30–45:10)
• Suffering, Criticism, and Purity of Heart (51:29–59:33)
• Call to Repentance, True Discipleship, and Avoiding Comfortable Christianity (61:20–74:58)
• Invitation and Closing Prayer (76:38–80:55)

Closing: Invitation & Prayer

David Platt (76:38):
“Jesus, you are Lord. Just say that in our hearts…maybe for the first time, to say that. Jesus, I believe you died on the cross for my sins. I believe you rose from the dead for me to have life in you. And today, I repent. I turn from my sin and myself. And I trust in you as Savior and Lord of my life…help us to abide in your love, to walk in your love, to seek you, not as a means to an end, but as the end…”

Madison (80:55):
“We talked a lot about, like, dying to yourself…but also just the reminder that He is so worthy, He is so good, He is worth losing all of this for because of how good He is...He is where the joy is.”

Further Resources

• David Platt’s books: Radical, Follow Me, How to Read the Bible, etc.
• Episode links, recommended booklists, and ways to learn more about global missions.

This episode is a must-listen for any Christian ready to move beyond a comfortable or cultural faith and embrace a life of costly, joyful, surrendered discipleship to Jesus.