← Stay True with Madison Prewett Troutt
Stay True with Madison Prewett Troutt
True Discipleship: How to Live Like Jesus with Courtney Slovenski
01:21:02
Welcome back to Stay True Podcast! Today, Madi is joined by one of her best friends, Courtney Slovenski! What does it actually mean to make disciples in real life– not just in church, but in your home, your neighborhood, and your everyday...
Loading summary
Transcript178 lines
- [00:00]
Madison Pruitt Trout
The global phenomenon, the Chosen, the series that has captured audiences around the world, has arrived. I recently posted a Q and A on Instagram, and I always get asked the question, what is your favorite TV show or movie? And honestly, the answer is so easy because I don't watch a lot of tv. Except the Chosen. It's not your typical Bible show. It's raw, it's real, and it's full of emotion. It truly feels like you're walking through the most iconic Bible stories with them. And now it's back with its most powerful season yet. Season five drops June 15th on Prime Video. I know you guys are going to be just as obsessed with this TV show like Grant and I are. The end is just the beginning of this epic, incredible true story. Don't miss the exciting new season, the chosen Last Supper. June 15, season five on Prime Video. How do you make disciples in your own home?
- [00:53]
Courtney Slavinsky
The question that I really think is so important for all of us to ask is if we are truly a.
- [00:59]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Disciple ourselves, what does it cost you to believe in Jesus? Nothing. What does it cost you to follow Jesus?
- [01:04]
Courtney Slavinsky
Everything.
- [01:05]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Everything. What would you say to the mom out there listening that has a desire to be the mom that God has called her to be?
- [01:13]
Courtney Slavinsky
When's the last time you read the Word of God and were changed because of it? The only kind of heart that God can't work with is a prideful heart. Don't worry about being perfect, but worry about being humble. Me and Maddie met because my good friend Peter became the Bachelor. He doesn't pick her. I'm going to pick her as a friend.
- [01:39]
Madison Pruitt Trout
What's up, guys? Welcome back to another episode of Stay True podcast. I'm your host, Madison Pruitt Trout, and I am here with one of my best friends. And this doesn't even feel like we're recording a podcast. It feels like we're hanging out. Except. Except for I'm in sweats and she showed up looking like a supermodel. Welcome to the podcast.
- [01:56]
Courtney Slavinsky
Courtney Slavinsky, I am so honored.
- [02:00]
Madison Pruitt Trout
You've been talked about on this podcast a lot, but this is your first time coming on.
- [02:05]
Courtney Slavinsky
I really. It does. It's just so wild the way that the Lord has like, brought us together in that you one have a podcast that is just reaching so many people. You are so gifted at what you're doing. I tell you this all the time, but I'll make sure that everyone also hears this. But you are so set up for this. The Lord knew you were going to do this and so I'm just so proud of you. I'm so glad I get to be your friend. I feel like it's the greatest gift.
- [02:30]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Of all time, you guys. She comes on my podcast, and she encourages me. Like, this is. And I just get to do life with you daily. And it really is the best I've talked about on this podcast. For those of you who listen to the birth story, I talked about her a lot because she quite literally saved my life when she saved Hosanna's life and my life. I was having a minty breakdown, okay? That's what was happening for me. It was. I was, what, four days, I think postpartum.
- [02:57]
Courtney Slavinsky
Yes.
- [02:58]
Madison Pruitt Trout
So we were fresh.
- [02:59]
Courtney Slavinsky
We were fresh out the hospital. Fresh.
- [03:01]
Madison Pruitt Trout
I did natural childbirth, so I was also overcoming trauma. I was like, you guys were the first ones to come and see us, besides family in hospital. And y' all come in, and I'm like, I don't know if I want to cry, scream. I don't know what I want to do, but we did it. Here she is. How crazy is this? But also, when we found out that we were moving to Nashville, you were, like, one of the first people that I reached out to, and I was like, you have to start this mom's group. You have to start this, like, mom's Bible, right? You started that, and I'm so glad. Well, you already had, like, I think a couple people already coming over to ask you advice. And I was like, well, I want to join, and let's make this legit and, like, make it an official moms group. And I'm so excited about today's conversation because she does this so well. And so, just a couple things about Courtney. So her and her husband started Waygo, which is a high school ministry that they run out of their home. But it is not what it sounds like, y' all. There's, like, 300 high school students, and I'm like, how in the world are. It's just insane. It's so many high school students. And it also, like, one thing about you, and we were praying this right before, but you make following Jesus look so fun and so cool. And. And that's the thing that you see with these high school students coming to WAGO is like, I expected to come to one of these nights, and it's like, this sounds so bad or mean, but, like, I expected, like, these high schoolers to be, I don't know, like, kind of awkward. And. No, these are, like, the coolest high school students you've ever seen, and they're hungry for Jesus. They're on fire for Jesus. But it's because of your leadership in the way that you love Jesus and because just, like, set this example for them. And it's just been so cool to see. Grant actually is like a huge part of it and speaks at WO on Wednesday nights. And so if you live in the Nashville area, if you're a high school student, if you are a mom and you have a high school student, if you have a friend that lives in Nashville and they're a high school student, come to WO Wednesday nights.
- [04:59]
Courtney Slavinsky
Come on.
- [04:59]
Madison Pruitt Trout
I'll include the.
- [05:01]
C
The.
- [05:01]
Madison Pruitt Trout
What am I trying to say? The Instagram handle.
- [05:03]
Courtney Slavinsky
Yes.
- [05:03]
Madison Pruitt Trout
So that you guys can go and check out wo as well as Courtney. But Courtney's also married to St. Steve. And we love Steve. We love Steve. Steve, like, makes things beautiful. And so he built these shelves that you guys are seeing behind Courtney right now. And he does such a good job, you guys. He actually built. We were laughing about this the other day. He built the. I think one of his very first projects was a table for my mom.
- [05:28]
Courtney Slavinsky
That's right. Oh, my gosh, I forgot about that.
- [05:30]
Madison Pruitt Trout
He was like, I'm so glad it hasn't fallen apart. But it's like the staple of our home.
- [05:34]
Courtney Slavinsky
That was five years ago.
- [05:35]
Madison Pruitt Trout
I mean, he was like, just getting started.
- [05:37]
Courtney Slavinsky
Yes. When he was still in our home, in our garage.
- [05:40]
Madison Pruitt Trout
That's crazy. Now he's about you guys. Furniture by Steve also include his handle. But he also. You guys just started this thing called Phone Tree, which is so fun.
- [05:50]
Courtney Slavinsky
Steve is going to love that we are talking about this. He's going to lose his mind.
- [05:55]
Madison Pruitt Trout
No, I just have to give all the shout outs because I'm telling you, you guys, these people are. Are so amazing. And this is not like I'm trying to, like, hype. I'm like, genuinely, what you guys are doing is you're changing lives and you've changed my life. And I think it's so cool, like, what you guys are doing that's local because you also have such a heart for global. Like, the. The reason that. And I'm going to get into our story, you guys, because it's a juicy one, it's a crazy one, it's a fun one. And, like, how Courtney and I met. But one of the connectors when we met was you had started this ministry in Uganda. And I remember just being like, man, that's such a passion of mine. And, like, that's what God's like, put on my heart. And. And so it's so beautiful to see that you have such a passion for the whole world, but you do local ministry and home ministry better than anyone I've ever met.
- [06:46]
Courtney Slavinsky
So kind.
- [06:47]
Madison Pruitt Trout
And one of my favorite things is about you is the way you love being a mama. You're such a good mama. You're such a good mama. And you have the cutest four kiddos ever. And I remember. So Sawyer is your oldest. And I remember right when I came off the Bachelor and I would come and stay with you guys, Sawyer was what, six months?
- [07:08]
Courtney Slavinsky
I mean, yeah, not even a year.
- [07:10]
Madison Pruitt Trout
He was. He was young. Yeah. He was under a year. And we, like.
- [07:14]
C
He would flirt with me.
- [07:15]
Madison Pruitt Trout
He loved me. He loved me. And there was. I had, like, a sign on. You had Maddie's room on, like, a door in your house. And it was like I was part of the family.
- [07:26]
Courtney Slavinsky
You still are.
- [07:27]
Madison Pruitt Trout
I'm part of family. And now you have four kids.
- [07:29]
Courtney Slavinsky
Yes.
- [07:30]
Madison Pruitt Trout
So, anyways, guys, that was a long intro, but I just have to tell you how amazing this woman is, and she has blessed me so much, and we have walked through so much of life together in the five years I guess, that we've known each other. And you've just been in such pivotal moments in my life, it's so crazy to think about. So let's tell them how we met.
- [07:51]
Courtney Slavinsky
Let's tell them. You.
- [07:52]
Madison Pruitt Trout
You start, and I'll chip in if you leave anything out.
- [07:55]
Courtney Slavinsky
Okay. Well, me and Madd because my good friend Peter became the Bachelor, and he invited me on his episode where it was, like, his closest friends and family, first date.
- [08:08]
Madison Pruitt Trout
This was the first one on one date on the Bachelor.
- [08:10]
Courtney Slavinsky
Yes. And he. He and I go way back to high school, and I was so honored that he asked me to be on the episode. Me and Steve got to go. But I remember thinking, like, I remember thinking, there's no way this girl. It's his first one on one date. There's no way she's probably gonna make it that far. And I never even thought for a second that I would get time with the girl. But then you walk in, and I'll just never forget seeing you for the first time. Obviously, everyone here knows how beautiful you are, but there is an inner beauty that shines, and that is from the Lord. I believe that when you have the holy spirit inside of you, there is a joy that comes out that is more beautiful than any silver or gold. I mean, more beautiful than any makeup can produce. Like, when you have the joy of the Lord, it is magnetic, and that Was you. So when you walked in, I immediately said to Steve, I'll never forget this. We were watching because we were watching their parents, like, vow renewal. And I remember looking at Steve, and I was like, she's a believer. She's a believer. And then we got to talk, and I remember we got to pray. I mean, you were. You were not. It was just, like. It was a hard. It was real hard situation.
- [09:15]
Madison Pruitt Trout
It was real hard. And we were. I was like, four days in. We were like, it was hard. I'm like, yeah, it was hard. I was four days in. And what's crazy, my backstory on that before I met Courtney was I prayed. Like, I was. We were literally only like, three or four days into filming, but I was already having such a hard time. I mean, it's just a crazy. It's a crazy environment. It is. It's like, I'm thankful for the experience. I've talked so highly of about my time going on and also how hard it was. And, I mean, even just initially a few days, and you're just like. You're surrounded by beautiful girls. You're all, like, competing for one guy's attention. It's just a crazy recipe for yes. And then if you're, like, a strong believer, you're like, wow, this is just. You're just like, what. How do I wrestle with these things? What do I do with this? And I was already struggling, and I just remember a few days in being like, lord, I don't know if I can. If I can stay in this thing. Like, I. I think I might go.
- [10:11]
Courtney Slavinsky
I don't blame you.
- [10:12]
Madison Pruitt Trout
And I was like, I need something. I need something. And then I got the first one on one day, and I'm like, okay. And then I met you. And when I met Courtney, I'm not kidding you guys, that was like the Lord saying, you're staying. Like, you're staying. And, like, for. And then I stayed as long as I felt like the Lord called me to stay in it. But you just were such an answered prayer for me in that time. And, like, the way we got to just. I got to break from all the things. And we just talked to Jesus. We talked to Jesus and Uganda and mission trips.
- [10:42]
Courtney Slavinsky
It was amazing. And I remember saying when I left, I was like, well, if he doesn't pick her, he's crazy, because she's absolutely amazing. And if he doesn't pick her, I'm going to pick her as a friend.
- [10:51]
Madison Pruitt Trout
I choose her.
- [10:52]
Courtney Slavinsky
And, yes. I mean, I know that was just such a Wild experience, everything that happened and all of it. But I thank God for my relationship with Peter, and I thank God that that brought me a friendship with you.
- [11:04]
Madison Pruitt Trout
It is so wild how we met, but I am so grateful for it. And so, anyways, I had to bring you guys into how we met because it is pretty crazy.
- [11:14]
Courtney Slavinsky
Pretty crazy.
- [11:15]
Madison Pruitt Trout
But then you met Grant, I think. Was it at Way church? Was it at that church service? Yes, when we came to Nashville.
- [11:22]
Courtney Slavinsky
When you came to visit.
- [11:23]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Okay, so let me set the scene for you guys. Grant and I had been pregnant for, I think, eight or nine weeks. Like, so he had only known about it for, like, six or seven weeks. I waited two weeks before I told him or no, one week till I told him. And we had not told anyone yet. So we are like, we have not even told my family. We have not told his family. We have not told friends. We have not told anyone because we hadn't seen any of our families in person. But we were going to Nashville to kind of do, like, a test run. Is this where we want to live? Is this. You know, I had told Grant about Courtney and Steve, and I was like, they are going to be such a gift for us if we choose to move to Nashville. Like, those are going to be people we're going to want to do life with. I really want you to meet them. And sometimes, you know, when you, like, really over hype people, like, I just was like, I don't want to over. I want him to just, like, see you, and I want him to just, like, meet y' all. I don't want to, like, overdo it. I want you all to have, like, the most natural whatever. And so I, like, said it a few times, and I was like, I need to chill. I just need to let them meet. And then we go to way church. And I don't even think it was, like, set up. I think it was, like, organically. We were trying out the church. You guys were there, or maybe I text you. I can't remember. But we run into you guys, and y' all are meeting, like, in the middle of, like, I think there's worship going on. And then you turned to me and you said, are you pregnant?
- [12:40]
Courtney Slavinsky
I knew. I said, I knew what you hear from the Lord.
- [12:44]
Madison Pruitt Trout
And I was like, I can't even hide this right now. And I. I think I was blushing, but it was dark, so it was like, you couldn't tell because we were worshiping. But I was like, she just asked me if I was pregnant, and I'm really Bad liar. And I'm in church.
- [12:56]
C
Like, how can you lie in church?
- [12:57]
Madison Pruitt Trout
But I can't tell her before I tell my mom. Like, I just was like, I was like, it was like a straight up, like, moral battle in my heart. Cause I was like, do I just tell. Tell her? And she knew you knew that we were pregnant?
- [13:10]
Courtney Slavinsky
I just, I, I, I just felt it. I just felt it.
- [13:14]
Madison Pruitt Trout
And then I think I left to go to the bathroom. And then Grant was like, she asked me. And Grant is the worst. He is the worst liar than I am. Like, he cannot hold a secret. He is the most honest. And I love it is. It is a pure heart. He's the most honest man. But I think he had a real hard time, like, trying. He was like, I tried. Like, he was like, but I think she might know now.
- [13:36]
Courtney Slavinsky
So funny. And then the next time I saw him was at camp when he came to preach at Camp Huego, and he could not keep it to himself. He runs up to me and I was like, it's great to see you. He's like, I gotta tell you something. I was like, she was. She's pregnant. She's been pregnant, hasn't she?
- [13:50]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Literally. So that's what I was gonna say. You guys met, and just instantly you were like, your special Grant. And you're supposed to come and speak at our Wago High School ministry camp this summer. And Grant goes, speaks at the camp and literally comes back and was like, that was the most amazing thing I've ever been a part of. And he was like, courtney is one of the greatest leaders I've ever seen. He was like, the way she hears from the Lord, the way she disciples other people. Like, he was like, it's unlike anything I've seen. And of course, I knew that about you, but it was just so cool that because I couldn't, I ended up not being able to go to the camp. So Grant brought his brother Preston, and they went together, which is so cute. Anyways, that's a whole different story because Preston met a girl, the camp and the whole thing, you know? But anyways, then Grant got to just spend time with you and Steve and got to develop, like, Yalls own friendship. And that was just so cool. But then I told Grant, I said, I want to tell Courtney that I'm pregnant. So FaceTime. Don't tell her what it is. Just FaceTime her and let me tell her. And then I'm like, as soon as I get on, he's. She's like, he told me you're Pregnant. I was like, I'm gonna kill you. Can't hold a secret. So we have so many crossovers and just, like, so many things. But you have been such a blessing to me, and you have shown me what it looks like to be so faithful locally and make disciples locally. But you've also shown me what it looks like to make disciples in your home, to make. To raise little disciples and to disciple them, and for that to be not like a burden or a side job, but for that to be such a calling and for you to enjoy it so much. And it's. It's been so cool to learn from that, because I think in the culture that we live in today, it's almost like, oh, if you're a woman who. Like yourself, who has this big calling on her life, and you feel called to, like, reach people for. For the Lord, and you have these dreams and you have these gifts, like, you can teach, you can sing, you can do all kinds of amazing things. Go do it. And then you neglect, like, being at your home, and you neglect spending time with, you know, those that God has called you to raise up and to love on. And I've just seen you do both so well, and to still use your gifts and to still, like, you didn't bury your talents or bury your treasure. You still walk in them and operate in them, but you do it so well within your own home, too. And I think sometimes we can view it as, like, they're separate things. You know, it's like, let me take my gifts, Let me take my talents elsewhere outside of the home. Let me go and travel and speak or start this business or do this thing. And I've seen you use the gifts God's given you in your own home, and that has been so cool. Like, you teach your kids, you guys. It's the most unreal thing. I think Sawyer, at 2 years old, could, like, he memorized, like, the book of Philippians. I don't know. It's. It's the most insane thing I've ever seen. And I want you to get them into that, like, one of the. And I want to. We're gonna. Okay, I. Let me backtrack for a second. We're gonna talk about discipleship on this podcast, and I'm really excited about that, because when I heard the word disciple, even as a strong believer growing up in the church, I was like, what is that? You know, like, that's kind of like a Christiany word for, like, what are you trying to really get to? Like, what. What. What does that actually mean. And the other day when I was kind of getting ready for this podcast, I. I read that the word disciple just means follower. The word disciple just means student. And if you think about it, disciple, like, Jesus went out and recruited these 12 guys to follow him, and they're known as the 12 disciples. And then the last words that Jesus says before he ascends to be with the Father in heaven is to go and make disciples of all nations. And so you see that word disciple as being a pretty important word in the New Testament. And when I was researching, I also saw that the word Christian is only used three times in the New Testament, but the word disciple is used, like, 260 times. Something crazy. And so this is a really, really important thing that we have to understand as believers. What. What is a disciple? Who. Like, how do we be a disciple and how do we go and make disciples? Like, I've already said, you do such a good job with this. And so I'm really excited to dive into this. And so first, I want to tackle, like, making disciples in your own home. Like, how do you make disciples in your own home?
- [18:22]
Courtney Slavinsky
Wow. Well, I think, like, before. Before even that if there's any moms listening or anyone listening that is wanting to make disciples in their own home, the question that I really think is so important for all of us to ask is if we are truly a disciple ourselves. And I'm sure most people listening to your podcast would quickly answer, yes. We would quickly say, yes, I'm a follower of Jesus. But you have to ask yourselves, okay, so if we believe, then we will be saved, right? John 3, 16, Romans 10, 8. Like, the Bible's clear that those who believe will not perish but have everlasting life. But if we believe in Jesus, then we believe what he said, and we believe who he said he is. And he said, he is Lord. And the word Lord means master. So if we believe in Jesus, then we believe he's Lord, which means we believe he's our master, which means that he is actually the one who sets the agenda, not us. And so if you really are a disciple of Jesus, that means that you don't do your will and say, jesus, come with me. You actually say, no, I submit everything to you and Jesus, I want to follow you. Because think about it like if Jesus said to Peter and John on the side of the lake when they were fishing, he didn't look over at them, and he didn't say, hey, keep on fishing. And then if people ask you any questions, say, that, you know, identify with me a little bit. Wear a cross around your neck. I'm about to die that way. Like, that's not what he said. He said, follow me. And what did they do? They dropped their nets. They dropped their profession. They dropped everything they knew. And they said, here I am. Send me. I'm going with you. And I think one thing we have to ask ourselves is, are we really a disciple? Are we really someone that is submitting their agenda, submitting their will, and is saying, jesus, I'll follow you. I'll follow you outside of my comfort. I'll follow you wherever you lead me. Because here's the thing about raising disciples in your home. If you're not doing it, I could tell my kids all day to be patient, but if I'm not showing patience, they're gonna do what I do before they do what I say.
- [20:37]
Madison Pruitt Trout
That's good.
- [20:38]
Courtney Slavinsky
So the question I had to wrestle with my own self is, am I truly a follower of Jesus Christ? And when we follow him, we do what he says, right? John 14:15. Those who love the Lord obey his commands. And so if we love him, we will do what the Bible says. James 1:22. Right? Do not merely listen to the Word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. And if we're following him, we do it.
- [21:02]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Yeah.
- [21:02]
Courtney Slavinsky
So if I'm doing what the Bible says, then that's the best way to raise disciples in your home. And there's a bunch of practical ways as well. But the first things first. Is anyone listening to this is really asking yourself, am I a disciple of Jesus myself?
- [21:17]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Yeah. Amen. Because he's so clear of what it looks like to be a disciple, which is to deny yourself. Pick up your cross and follow him. And you're so right. It's like, it's so easy to just believe. And many of us have had that moment of I believe. Like, I prayed the prayer. I asked Jesus into my heart. But then, does your life show that? Does your life have the fruit that says, I'm attached to the vine? I submit myself to him, and I follow in what he calls me to do. Like you're saying, you know? And I think that is so powerful. And one of the ways that you have practically done this with your kids. And for those of you who. I mean, you're just listening to her give that answer. She quoted, like, 12 verses. And that's because you are in the Word daily. And you. You make it such a priority in your life to meditate and memorize Scripture and I think what's so beautiful about that is one, you're modeling it for your kids. Like you said, you know, they're gonna watch as you do before they listen to what you say.
- [22:25]
Courtney Slavinsky
Yeah.
- [22:25]
Madison Pruitt Trout
And so when they're watching, you find joy in reading the Word. And when they're watching you not just read the Word, but follow what the Word says, they're like, wait, Mommy does it. I want to do it. And it's so cool because you practice that in your home, and your kids love memorizing the Word. And so I want you to get everyone into, like, when I talk about how your oldest, Sawyer, can quote so much scripture, like, how did you start the. Those spiritual disciplines with your. With your kids at such a young age to where they can memorize and quote scripture the way that they do? Okay, guys, I'm taking a short break.
- [23:06]
C
From this podcast to tell you about some exciting news. My new book, Dare to be True.
- [23:13]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Stay true.
- [23:14]
C
Dare to be True.
- [23:16]
Madison Pruitt Trout
It just makes sense.
- [23:17]
C
When God laid this podcast on my heart, I actually had already started working on my next book, Dare to be True. And the whole point of this podcast and the whole point of this book is we were all designed and made for truth, and everyone in this world is searching for it. Yet so many of us are searching for the right things and all of the wrong places. And this book is all about tackling the lies that often entangle us and bind us and finding the truth that sets us free. And so in this book, we're going to be tackling all the things from sin and shame and the lies around eternity and the lies around your identity and the lies around your purpose and how to find the truth and live free. Because the reality is, it says in Proverbs 14:12 that there is a way that appears to be right, but in the end, it leads to death. There is a way that the world preaches, is that we should go, that we should follow, that we should conform to, that we should look like. And in the end, it leads to death. Yet what God's word says is Jesus says in John 14:6, I am the way, the truth, and the life. So he is saying, the truth you are looking for can only be found in me. I am the truth. And I'm not only the truth, I'm the truth that leads to life and life abundantly. And then it says in John 8:32, when you know the truth, it's the truth that will set you free. And so if you have ever felt bound by lies, if. If you have Ever questioned your worth, your confidence, your purpose? If you've ever wondered how you can break free from feeling weighed down, exhausted, overwhelmed, or even insecure about who you truly are and what your purpose is on this earth, this book is for you. I have often said I just want to be free. I have looked at my husband many a times and said, I just want to be free. I'm tired of feeling weighed down. I'm tired of feeling not enough. I'm tired of being on this endless cycle of striving and performing and never feeling like I can reach what I need to reach and be who I need to be. And when I go back to the truth, when I go back to who God is and who God says I am, that is when I experience true freedom. And so this book is for you and I am so excited True crew for you to go and and get your copy of Dare to Be True.
- [25:40]
Madison Pruitt Trout
You can pre order it now.
- [25:41]
C
I will be including the link in this episode and so you can go and pre order it. It will be coming out this fall. I'm so, so excited and I can't wait. We're going to be doing some really fun series all about some of the content in this book, but you're going to want to get your hands on it because there's some really, really fun special pieces in this book that you can't get in this podcast. So you guys can go and pre order Dare to Be True now if you want to break free from what is breaking you.
- [26:09]
Courtney Slavinsky
I think everything with kids, it has to be fun. Like, it has to be fun. And with mine, when they were really young, we would do so many songs, like so many scriptures that are made into songs. Whether it's like Jeremiah 29:13 or like the fruits of the spirit. We have a song like all of these scriptures where if they're singing them, I mean, I think songs are some of the best ways to memorize anything. But then make again, like we used to, we have this star chart on our pantry where like every time they memorized a new verse, they got to put the star next to the verse.
- [26:40]
Madison Pruitt Trout
And you guys, there's like a hundred verses on there. Like, don't. Like I go over there and I'm like, they've memorized do have. I memorized all these verses.
- [26:49]
Courtney Slavinsky
It's really wild. I think that's another thing that parents don't realize is kids are sponges. And if there's ever a time to get your kids memorizing, it's when they're Little. They will memorize so quickly and so easily. Sawyer has out memorized me. I mean, he's six years old now, but he really has memorized the full book of Philippians, and he's memorized the Sermon on the Mount, and he's. He's so much quicker than I am that sometimes when we're going through it with everyone in my little group of four children that I have, we will go over scriptures and I'll forget them, and he'll be like, mommy, it's this. And then he'll fill in the blanks with him. So, parents, it's worth it. It's so worth it. Memorize scripture.
- [27:27]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Yeah, I. And I have seen this firsthand. Like, I will be over and Courtney will be like, okay, tell. Tell them what we memorized today. And, like, they'll just be going. Like, they'll just keep. Like, I'll think that they're going to stop. I think it was right before maybe Christmas time. And you had them, like, memorize the, I don't know, birth story of Jesus. I can't remember.
- [27:47]
Courtney Slavinsky
Yeah, they have that.
- [27:48]
Madison Pruitt Trout
And I was like, thinking they were about to stop. And I'm like, yeah, I have till their memory. And they, like, keep going. And I'm like, wait, you said singing has been a really helpful tool for your kids to remember scripture, but you guys also have something else that you do too, right?
- [28:03]
Courtney Slavinsky
Yes. So we typically will do either a song or if it's longer, we use hand motions.
- [28:09]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Hand motions.
- [28:10]
Courtney Slavinsky
And it helps me. Even, like, when I'm memorizing scripture, I'll, like, make different Bible or whatever it is. We did Psalm 118, 105. Like, your word is a lamp into my feet and a light unto my path. Like, if you do those things, I know it feels silly in the moment, but it helps so much. And it helps you remember it.
- [28:29]
Madison Pruitt Trout
No, I'm so impressed. I tried one time and I was like, I don't think I'm creative enough for this. All of my emotions were the exact same. Because it's hard when it's like, God, Lord, Christ, like, all in one sentence. And then it's like, in different times. And then. Yeah, I just. I struggled with it. But you do such a good job with it. And it's so. It's been so helpful for your kiddos. Like, I see them, like, do the little motions, and it's so cute you post about it on your social media, too. And so I'm gonna include her handle, too, because if you have littles like she shows like different ways that she's done it and, and things that have helped that if you want to like dive more into that specific, you can go and check her out. But I want to know too. You guys have this thing called Holy Spirit Hour, right?
- [29:17]
Courtney Slavinsky
Yes, we do.
- [29:18]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Okay, so tell us about that.
- [29:19]
Courtney Slavinsky
Not an hour, but we will take time most days and we get up and typically I sit in the same chair with the Lord every morning. And what I love is that most mornings when my kids come out, they'll just come and they'll join me and they'll get their Bibles. And I only have one who can read so far because I've got a six year old, five year old, three and two year old. But they'll come and get their Bibles and they'll join me on the couch and I'll finish reading my Bible often, like tell them what I'm reading. Sometimes Daisy will ask me, so she'll find it in her little picture Bible. And then what we'll do is we'll turn on worship and I'll say, okay, for the next song, let's all listen for the Spirit. Let's all take this next song and just ask the Holy Spirit if he has anything he wants to speak to us. Whether it might be a Bible verse that you'll, that you'll think of, or maybe it's a fruit of the spirit. Spirit. Maybe it's a person, maybe it's a friend that we need to love on, but let's give him the silence and the space to speak, and the fruit of that has been wild. And I, I think there's a reason that Jesus says that we're called to have a childlike faith, because my kids have seen things and have said things that are truly miraculous. I mean, I've got story on story on story from even just in the last couple months alone of things that they have said, seen and things they have said that could only be explained by the supernatural God that gives us his Holy Spirit. And wow. I mean, even this morning we did it in the car because we were going everywhere and I was coming here and when we were silent in the car, Sawyer broke the silence and he said, mommy, I just had this feeling that, that what you are about to say on this podcast today is just going to bring peace to everyone. And I looked at him and I said, well, buddy, I needed that encouragement and that I believe. I mean, that's my six year old. First of all, I didn't even know he knew the Word Podcast. So clearly they listen to what we're saying. But the fact that he would say that, I mean, I just hope this encourages people that the Holy Spirit is alive and active and he is speaking. It's a matter if we're listening. And so often we live in a world where we're go, go, go all the time, that even our quiet time isn't very quiet. And how are we supposed to hear the voice of God when the world is constantly shouting? And I do believe that God whispers. And I think he whispers because when someone whispers, what do you do? You lean in. And he whispers so that his children will lean into him, will get close to him, will draw near to him. And then as he whispers truth to you, you will be able to then drown out the noise of the world and say, I'm gonna follow your truth. And if you're wondering if it's the Spirit or not, the best thing you can do is test it with the Word. He will never, ever speak something to you that is counter to the Word of God. So when he tells you something, you check it with the Word, and if it aligns with Scripture, then that's the Holy Spirit. And he's probably calling you to do something out of your comfort zone.
- [32:14]
Madison Pruitt Trout
That's so good. And you just talked about Daisy, who is your little girl, and she's so. I'm obsessed with her. She's so cute. But she calls herself prayer warrior, and I love that so much because she. When she says she's going to pray for somebody, she does. And I have literally, like, I have walked in answered prayers because of her faith. And it's so cool because she is that. She is a little prayer warrior, and she has almost just, like, walked in that identity. And I'm seeing the Lord answer her prayers, and she's even, like, convicted us. Like, you and I will be texting, and I remember when we were texting about the global phenomenon, the Chosen, the series that has captured audiences around the world has arrived. I recently posted a Q and A on Instagram, and I always get asked the question, what is your favorite TV show or movie? And honestly, the answer is so easy, because I don't watch a lot of TV except the Chosen. It's not your typical Bible show. It's raw, it's real, and it's full of emotion. It truly feels like you're walking through the most iconic Bible stories with them. And now it's back with its most powerful season yet. Season five drops June 15th on Prime Video. I know you Guys are going to be just as obsessed with this TV show like Grant and I are. The end is just the beginning of this epic, incredible true story. Don't miss the exciting new season, the chosen Last Supper. June 15, season five on Prime Video. Christians being persecuted and some. Some Christians, like, overseas losing their life for the sake of the gospel. And we were talking about it, and just, like, the way that it. It was just, like, hurting our hearts and. And just, like, what can we do and how can we be praying? And you. I remember you telling me, like, you brought it up to Daisy, and she was like, well, we need to pray for those who are persecuting Christians. Like, we need to pray that Jesus would save them. We need to pray for them. And you and I were like, oh, we did. Like, not that we didn't, you know, think about that, but, like, maybe we didn't want to think about that because we're, like, upset at those people. But it is. It's so true what you're saying about childlike faith. Because, man, the. The purity and the innocence and the. The belief that a child has, it's like, oh, yeah, God says he's gonna do that. He's gonna do it. Like, God. This is who God says he is. That's who God says he is. Like, there's not a doubt. Like, they have this. There's, like, no ceiling. There's no limit to, like, the faith of a child. And I remember having, like, I had that at eight years old, too. And. And just, like, believed such, like, big things and witnessed miracles and witnessed the Lord, like, heal people with me just, like, laying hands and praying. And I still to this day will be like, man, have I. Like, I don't want to lose that. Like, Lord, I remember when I was 8 years old, and I would go up to strangers and be like, hey, do you know Jesus? And there was just no shame. There was no fear of man. There was no fear of rejection. There was only this bold, unashamed faith of. I want you to know that Jesus, that I know. I want you to have the relationship that I have because he's changed my life. And I. And I believed that at such a young age, and. And I pray that for my daughter. But I see that in your kids and all that say, I see that Daisy is walking in this identity of. Of being this prayer warrior, and I love that so much. And so how have you taught your kids how to pray and how to desire a relationship with God?
- [35:38]
Courtney Slavinsky
That's so good. Well, again, circling back, like, they're watching what we do. And so if we want to pray without ceasing and we want to teach them to pray without ceasing, then we have to be praying without ceasing. And so we pray in the morning, we'll pray throughout the day. Recently we've been doing something where if someone's having a hard time or if my 3 year old dodger is not listening to me, before we even reprimand him, I ask his siblings to pray over him and Sawyer and Daisy will come and they'll pray over him and they'll ask for the Lord to help him, obey mommy all the way and ride away. And you know, the more we incorporate simple ways throughout the day to keep praying, I don't believe there's a formula to prayer. I think God is with us, his presence is around us and he wants us to be talking to him throughout the day. One of my sweet high schoolers says that she doesn't say amen until right when she goes to sleep, that she just keeps it as like a dot, dot, dot throughout the day. And. And I thought that was beautiful. But we try to just pray throughout the day and then at the end of the day we do. I'm sure people know this already, but the P R A Y where you first you praise God and then you repent and then you appeal and then you yield.
- [36:55]
Madison Pruitt Trout
No, I've not heard that. Will you dive into that?
- [36:58]
Courtney Slavinsky
Yes. So at the end of the day we do. We always start our prayer with praising him because sometimes we are. We as followers of Christ can get confused that our life is about us and we can even make our prayer life all about us. There's times I'm so guilty of this, where I'll spend the majority of my prayer life asking him for things or begging for things in my own life, when really I forget that I'm not the main character he is. And our prayer life should be 80% at least praising him and just telling him how grateful we are for him. I mean, look at the psalms. Look at how David prays. Yes, he does ask for things, but for the majority of the Psalms, he is just shouting out the character of God.
- [37:41]
Madison Pruitt Trout
That's good.
- [37:42]
Courtney Slavinsky
And the more we magnify him, then all of our problems actually start to kind of fade away.
- [37:46]
Madison Pruitt Trout
That's so true.
- [37:47]
Courtney Slavinsky
So we start our prayers with just praise. You praise him and you can praise him for specific things in your life as well. But try to focus at the beginning, just on the heart of God, on the character of God, praising Him. And then repentance. We love a good repentance moment at the end of the day. Sometimes my kids get a little specific, and sometimes they start calling each other out. So we're working on that. Working on. No, no, no. Repentance is just for you. Just. Just ask God for forgiveness of your sins, not brothers. But then we ask for forgiveness for our sins of that day. And then appealing. We appeal on behalf of our brothers and sisters. We. That's the time when she. Without a doubt, Daisy prays for Hosanna every single night. She prays for her to sleep well every single night.
- [38:31]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Oh, praise God. We need that extra right now. She woke me up three times last night.
- [38:35]
Courtney Slavinsky
Okay, well, I'll tell Daisy, make it, you know, do an extra appeal tonight. Extra appeal for Hosanna. And then we yield, and we just. At the end, we yield, and we'll do. We'll yield in so many different ways, but often we'll end with either the Lord's prayer or Psalm 23, and we'll say it all together. But.
- [38:51]
Madison Pruitt Trout
And by yield. Is that, like, you're just like.
- [38:53]
Courtney Slavinsky
We submit submission. Yeah, yeah, Just like full submission. Again, circling back to like. For followers of Christ, that means we're submitting our will. Like your will, God, not mine. And even all the things I just appealed to. You remember Jesus said, like he said in the garden, you know, not my will, but yours, God, please take this cup from me, but ultimately your will. So he modeled for us what it looks like when we want something, but ultimately we have to surrender it. But even if it's a good thing, God's will might be different totally. And we have to surrender and trust that he is good and his ways are higher than our ways, and they're better than our ways. I'm so grateful for so many prayers. He didn't answer. Yes, I'm sure so many people feel the same.
- [39:38]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Same, Literally same. I'm like, wow, thank you, Lord, that your ways are higher and that I can only see what's right in front of me. But you see the whole picture. You see the whole picture, and I'm so grateful for that because I have such limited understanding, such limited vision and wisdom. Man, that's so good. And I love that you guys model that so well. And I also am having, I think, just, like, compassion for maybe the. The moms or the one, like, trying to become a mom that's listening, that maybe feels. Well, what if I don't feel as strong in my faith? What if I don't have Scripture memorized. What if I didn't have this amazing example of a mom and I don't know how to be a mom like this? What would you say to the mom out there listening that maybe hasn't felt like she's been the best godly mom up until this point, but has a desire to become a better mom and to be the mom that God has called her to be.
- [40:36]
Courtney Slavinsky
First? I would tell that mom that you are so loved. You are so loved, and God is not mad at you, and he is just so happy that you even have that desire. God wants all of us to just take the next step every single day. Every single day. There's no one who will ever have made it. There's no mom, there's no follower of Jesus who will finally say, I did it.
- [41:02]
Madison Pruitt Trout
I've arrived.
- [41:03]
Courtney Slavinsky
I've arrived. You know, every single day until eternity, we're all just trying to look more and more like Jesus. And so for that mom, I would say, just take the next step. Today we've got today. So what? What can you do today? Pray with your kids today, Open up the word today, Call a friend that you know who loves Jesus and say, hey, want to do a Bible study with me and our kids together? Let's start tomorrow. I mean, whatever it looks like, but take one next step.
- [41:30]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Yeah, that's good.
- [41:32]
Courtney Slavinsky
And God is going to smile on it and he will bless it. I believe that with my whole heart that obedience leads to blessing. And blessing is not always in the form of a physical blessing, but it is a spiritual blessing and you will feel it. So take that next step.
- [41:45]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Yeah, that's so good. And comparison will rob you of how God wants to speak to you and use you right now. And so it's so easy to look at Courtney or to look at people on social media or to look at other things and to be like, man, if only I had faith like that. If only I had, you know, that marriage or that opportunity or that blessing or what that gift or whatever it may be. And there's a reason God has given you what he's given you. And only you can run your race, and only you are graced for your race. So only you can love your children like your children need to be loved. And I think it is. I'm so glad that you. You focused on just like, take the next step step. Because it's so easy to be like, I need to take 100 steps. And I feel overwhelmed. And I feel, you know, like, I can't do it because I'll never be, that I'll never arrive there. And, man, you are where you are, and you are the mom that you are, and you are the friend that you are, and you are the wife that you are. Because you continually take next steps. Like, you're never stagnant in your faith. You're never. You never have. Once since I've known you had the attitude of, I've arrived, Everyone, listen to me. You were quick to confess, you were quick to repent. You were quick to be like, I don't have it figured out. And, you know, I got in a fight with my husband and I said this to my kid. But, like, I went and asked my kid, will you forgive me? And I love that so much because it can be so. Even as a new mom, like, coming from me, it can be so intimidating to be like, man, I'm setting this example for my kids. Like, that's so weighty, you know? And, okay, there's all of these opinions, and there's all these things I need to be doing. Okay, But I also need to be loving husband. Okay, but I also need to take care of myself. Like, it's so overwhelming. But then I need to work because we have to make money. And you can feel so, like, how do I do it all? And how do I do it all well? And I love that you just gave such a beautiful advice of just take the next step. It's like when people. Like when you want to go to the gym, you know, and you haven't been in the gym in a while. I have not been in the gym in a while. So I'm about to take my own advice. It's like, don't do everything at one time. Don't try and fit everything in. In 30 minutes, you're going to leave sore, and nothing's going to change. You're going to just be frustrated and so. Sure. But, like, if you just take the next step and just focus on, okay, today I'm gonna work out some arms. Like, I'm just gonna. I'm just gonna be faithful with the arms right now. And then maybe next time I'll. I'll focus on the legs, and then the next time I'll focus on the abs. And you just, like, take it in increments and you. And you be faithful with the small things. I love that you just encourage, like, just pray with your kids today. And God's not after, like, the perfect prayer.
- [44:13]
Courtney Slavinsky
No.
- [44:13]
Madison Pruitt Trout
And your kids don't want the perfect mom. Your kids want a present mom. Your kids want a Mom that says, I see you, I love you, and I'm not perfect. So, like, let me just show you that when I'm imperfect, God is perfect, and God meets us where we're at. And I just wanted to encourage those out there listening, because whether you're a mom or you're not a mom or wherever you are in life, it can be so easy to be, like, dang, like, they've got it all figured out. You know, they've memorized the book of Philippians. That's beautiful. But because, like, she's able to memorize the book of Philippians, and her kids are able to memorize the book of Philippians because of all of these small next steps and yeses that led to that, you know? And it can be very intimidating to just, like, look at the big picture of something and be like, I'll never be that. And it's like, actually, if I can memorize a passage in scripture, anybody can, because I. My memory. You guys even pray for it. Okay? It's. It's only gotten worse since I've become a mom.
- [45:11]
Courtney Slavinsky
That. Ain't that the truth.
- [45:13]
Madison Pruitt Trout
We are memorizing right now. Romans 8 together.
- [45:15]
Courtney Slavinsky
Yes, we are.
- [45:16]
Madison Pruitt Trout
How?
- [45:17]
Courtney Slavinsky
Don't make me say it. Don't make me say it. I got so nervous before today. I was like, she's gonna ask me to do it on the podcast. Not just gonna be like, do you have Romans 12? I bet I could do Romans 12.
- [45:30]
Madison Pruitt Trout
I don't even know if I. Here's the thing about me, and this is what I need. Prayer with my memory is like, I will remember something, and I will quote it to you, and it'll be great. Then a week later, where did it go? Where did it go? I'm like, oh, man, I had that whole thing down, and then now it's just vanished.
- [45:47]
Courtney Slavinsky
There's a scripture, and I can't even tell you the reference, but there is a scripture that says that the Spirit will bring to mind the words that you need. And I really believe that. That if you write scripture on your heart, even if you can't perfectly recite it a week later, the Spirit will bring it back to your heart and mind when you need it. He's just so kind like that. And I was thinking as you were talking, you know, God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
- [46:13]
Madison Pruitt Trout
That's so good.
- [46:14]
Courtney Slavinsky
And Grant actually said this at a wagonight. He said, the only kind of heart that God can't work with is a prideful heart. And so I just. Just to encourage moms, but not even just moms. Any follower, that it's in our weakness he's made strong that so boast only of your weakness, because that is what is going to give glory to God. And I find that with our kids, with my kids too, when I come to them and I apologize, which happens daily, absolutely daily, because I mess up so much. But it's in those moments where you're gonna see the quickness to forgive in a child is something that I have been majorly inspired by in my own children that they're so quick to say, mommy, I love you so much. Of course I forgive you. And I'm like, wow, I want to forgive others as quickly as my kids are forgiving me. Just as an encouragement to everyone, like, don't worry about being perfect, but worry about being humble.
- [47:11]
Madison Pruitt Trout
That's so good. That's so good that God, God, it says, God resists the proud. He opposes the proud. He is in opposition with the proud in heart. But it's, it's what you're saying. It's like, it's not the one who acts like they have it all together. It's the one who says, God, I need you. And that bleeds into every. Everything that's, that's in everything that you do, whether you're married or not, whether you have kids or not, like in your job, in your schoolwork or what, wherever you're at in life. To have the posture of I am poor and needy of you, Lord, like, I am so desperate for you. And that is, that is the heart that I seek to have. I know that you seek to have and that we hold each other accountable and having. And I'm so grateful for that. I want to now kind of move into. We talked a lot about like family discipleship and raising little disciples in your home, but now kind of just this like overall generalization of being a disciple and going and making disciples. And so you talked about at the beginning, which I thought was just so powerful, you know, before you can make disciples with your little kids, like, first you have to be a disciple. And so what does it mean to be a disciple? And how do you know if you really are a disciple? Y' all, this is crazy. Did you know that the average American spends over $3,000 on eating out a year? I looked at our budget recently and yep, we are guilty. It adds up fast. That's why Caraway has been such a smart investment for our family. Their non toxic ceramic cookware makes cooking a lot easier, healthier, fun and honestly saves you some money too. Grant and I used to laugh that the worst part about cooking at home was always the cleanup afterward. But with caraway that's just not the case since using caraway, their pots and pans clean up in just a matter of time seconds, making it so easy. Also, their high quality premium cookware is totally free of any toxic chemicals, which gives me so much peace of mind. If you have been eyeing their Internet famous 12 piece cookware set online for some time now, now is the time to buy it. You can shop caraway risk free, enjoy fast free shipping, easy returns and a 30 day trial. Plus if you visit carawayhome.com stay true.
- [49:25]
C
You can take an additional 10 off your next purchase.
- [49:29]
Madison Pruitt Trout
This deal is exclusive for our listeners, so visit carawayhome.com staytrue or use code Stay True at checkout. Caraway Non Toxic Cookware Made Modern as.
- [49:41]
Courtney Slavinsky
I mean, as we've talked about, like being a disciple is being a follower. So it's asking yourself, even right now in this moment, wherever you live, do you live there because you want to live there, or do you live there because you know that God wants you there? And you know, some, some people who might be listening might be living with their parents. And you're supposed to live with your parents.
- [50:00]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Yeah.
- [50:01]
Courtney Slavinsky
They're like, wait, but if you, you know, there's a lot of people who say God called me to fill in the blank. And I think it's just important for us to ask ourselves, truly, are we where we're at because it's God's will or because it's my will and because it's where I wanted to be. And I said, jesus, come follow me. But that's not the Bible. That's not what he wants. He wants us to submit. And I think what our world is seeing right now, especially in these younger generations, is that there are believers rising up with this mentality of here I am, send me. And it is exciting to see because the high schoolers that I'm seeing on Wednesday night are so fired up that they are saying, I will go to the ends of the earth. Because there are people who need to know about the gospel of Jesus Christ. And gospel means good news. And when you see and hear good news, you want to share it. And I'm watching these 16, 17 year olds who are saying, this is what my life is for. I watched 7 kids get baptized last night saying, I'm all in on this. I'm dead to sin, I'm alive in Christ and I'M gonna go and I'm gonna spread this good news. And what I just think is so important is to ask yourself if you have had that moment. Maybe you had your baptism moment, or maybe you had your moment where you said, I accept Jesus into my heart, which actually there's nowhere in scripture that says you accept Jesus into your heart and you are saved. That's something that the world has created. I don't think it's bad, but I think we need to be careful because accepting Jesus into your heart is a fancy phrase we've made up. When really the word of God says, deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow Jesus, that's a lot different than saying, Jesus, come, come be in my heart.
- [51:51]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Come live in my heart.
- [51:52]
Courtney Slavinsky
Come live in my heart so I can keep living my life. And every once in a while, put on a cross necklace. Following Jesus means I'm dead to my selfish desires. I don't want what I want. I want what you want, God. And I say all this with, with so much conviction in my own life that my husband and I are constantly asking the Lord, is this where you want us to be? And this is a daily, weekly thing that you need to be asking, lord, is this where you want us? Or do you want us globally or do you want us across country? Because we want to be where you'll have us to do your work and to build your kingdom. Because that is all this life is about. The world will tell you that it's about other things. The world will tell you that if you're a woman, you need to go build a great career and you need to make a name for yourself. The world will tell you that feminism is all about the woman being the boss and the CEO and that they're being held back if they're at home. But let me just encourage any stay at home mom right now. There's nothing more powerful and more important than the work you're doing with your children in your home. Don't let anyone tell you that being a mom is not a job. It is the most important job.
- [52:58]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Amen.
- [52:59]
Courtney Slavinsky
And to anyone who is looking for identity in any job other than to make disciples and to follow Jesus, let me just remind anyone that that is our calling.
- [53:11]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Yeah.
- [53:11]
Courtney Slavinsky
And you can do that through any profession. You can do that through any career. But our first call is love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself.
- [53:21]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Yeah.
- [53:21]
Courtney Slavinsky
That is what we're called first and foremost. And then everything else. I believe God will make Clear. But let's make sure our priorities are straight. Because if we're a follower of Christ, we're going to do what the Bible says, we're going to do what he says. And then the, the, the thing that I'm always asking myself, I've been reading in First Corinthians a lot recently. And you know, Paul says, First Corinthians 11:1, he says, imitate me as I imitate Christ. And then in 1 Corinthians 13, he says, if I speak an angelic tongue, but I have not loved, then I'm a clanging cymbal or a noisy gong. So if we're a follower of Jesus, we will be known by our love. So if people in our lives do not feel the love of Jesus from us, then we are missing it. These three remain faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. So if you are a follower of Jesus, people around you will notice, because you love extravagantly. Your neighbors will notice, your family will notice, your sister will notice, your daughter will notice, because you love them so deeply and so beautifully. Because it's not just your love, it's the love of Christ. So that's where the Lord has convicted me recently, is if I'm a follower of Jesus, I need to be known by my love. Love before anything else, before any scripture memorization, before any. Yeah, anything else. Yeah, it's got to be our love.
- [54:48]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Yeah, that's so beautiful. It's so true. And you spoke to this earlier, but you know, when. When Jesus calls the disciples, it's like, he's not pro. He's not saying, hey, come, follow me. This is where we're going. This is what it's going to look like. Literally, he just said, come and follow me. And it says, they drop everything. They left behind everything at once. At once. And immediately it uses those words and immediately followed him. And that's so powerful because I'm constantly. I love that you're saying it's. It's a daily wrestle. It's a daily question. It's a weekly conversation, you know, with the Lord and with your spouse of just asking, like, have we. Have we count it all as loss? Like, have we. Have we considered it all garbage? You know, like, do we. Do we see the world as everything we desire? Do we see Jesus is everything that we desire? You know, are we chasing after the things of this world? Are we chasing after Jesus? And do we consider everything apart from him as garbage and him as everything good? And I think those are the questions we have to ask, because I think so often we're trying to carry our nets with us. We're trying to carry everything that we have along with following Jesus. And we're looking to the right and to the left, and we're like, but how come they got blessed? And how come they have a bigger house? And how come they have it easier? And then we look up and Jesus is nowhere to be found. And then we're like, why wait, Lord, where have you gone? And it's like, wait, no, that's not what it looks like to follow Jesus. They left behind everything. They didn't have this promise. This is where we're going. This is what it's going to look like. They just left behind everything. But then I love that before Jesus ascends to be with the Father in heaven, his last command is, go and make disciples of all nations. And I think that those two are so beautifully together, or they so beautifully are linked, because Jesus first shows them and he says, come and follow me. He shows them what it looks like to be a disciple, what it looks like to submit to him and then to go, this is three years later. And to then go make disciples. And so we see this, this, this. This pattern of first you have to follow and then you can lead. And so often we're just trying to lead. We're just trying to go, right? We're just trying to do. And if we don't first submit, if we don't first say, we're under you, Lord, your will be done. We're submitted to you, and we're following you wherever you take us. And then from there, we're called to challenge others to do the same and to link arms with other people. And I've seen you do this so well, and I would love for you to just speak practically, too, of how can we. You were talking about, like, what it means to be a disciple. What are some practical ways that we can follow Jesus? What are some practical ways that we can be a disciple?
- [57:43]
Courtney Slavinsky
Well, and I love what you just said of, like, not looking right or left. Like, we can't be looking right or left. We need to be looking up. Like, that's the direction our eyes fixed on Jesus. And, you know, one of the blessings of our world right now is social media. It is a blessing. And I call it a blessing because I truly believe that there will be people who get to heaven one day. I am probably one of them because I take a lot of breaks off social media. Sometimes I take a year off social media, and I believe That I will get to heaven one day and Peter will greet me at the gate and he's gonna look at me and go, you're telling me that you could spread the gospel with the click of a button and you didn't do it? He's like, the way I did it was by walking on foot.
- [58:30]
C
He's like, miles and miles.
- [58:31]
Courtney Slavinsky
He's like, what were you doing? But he's gonna look at you and he's gonna say, maddie, you did this, right? You used what God put in front of you and you press that button so that the good news of Jesus Christ would be spread. Think of how many people are going to listen to this and hear about the good news of Jesus Christ. And that's because of your. Yes. And then here is my warning to those who are listening to this is that thank goodness for podcasts like this. Thank goodness for Christian influencers who are going here and they're helping people's eyes get pointed up. But the warning is, don't become a follower of a follower of Jesus Christ.
- [59:12]
Madison Pruitt Trout
That's good.
- [59:13]
Courtney Slavinsky
Be a follower of Jesus yourself. You can get so much from people who are wise. Yeah, I learned so much from my, from my pastors, from people who have written incredible books. But unless I am spending time with my Bible open, following after him myself, reading the word of God for myself, not a podcast, not a book. If I'm not doing that alone, reading the word of God with Jesus, then I become a follower of followers.
- [59:44]
Madison Pruitt Trout
That's so good.
- [59:44]
Courtney Slavinsky
Instead of just a follower of Jesus. And so everyone, after listening to this episode, my next step would be turn off everything, turn off your phone, put it in a phone tree.
- [59:56]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Link included in the bio, but put.
- [60:00]
Courtney Slavinsky
Your phone away, throw it out, throw it in the garbage, throw your phone somewhere and spend alone time with Jesus and get to know him. Because the more you fall in love with him, the more your life is going to transform. You can't help it, because when we read the Word of God, it is alive and active. It's also sharper than any two edged sword. And it says that it pierces through even marrow. It can pierce through everything. And so the question I would ask everyone is, when's the last time you read the Word of God and we're changed because of it. When's the last time you read a passage in scripture and then changed the way you lived?
- [60:38]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Wow.
- [60:38]
Courtney Slavinsky
It should be daily. It should be every single day that we open up the Bible and we read forgive your enemies and bless those who persecute you. And we truly forgive our enemies. That should be every single day. And then we use these podcasts, we use these books, we use all of these things to help us grow even deeper and to grow to bury our roots into truth and make sure that things are theologically strong. Like, these are so important. But it has to be supplemental to our time spent alone with Jesus, because that's where we fall in love with him.
- [61:12]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Yeah, that's so good. And John Mark Comer says that we are all disciples of something. And so it's not a matter of am I a disciple? It's really a matter of who or what am I becoming and what is like disciples me, Is it the world? Is it the phone? Is it social media that's discipling me? And I think for a lot of us, our faith is determined by someone else's faith. Our faith is attached to someone else's relationship with the Lord, whether it's our parents, whether it's someone that we follow on social media, whether it's a pastor. And there's nothing wrong with those things being a blessing to your faith. You should have people around you that grow your faith, that challenge your faith, that push your faith. That is necessary in the faith journey. However. However, your faith can't be based only on someone else's faith.
- [62:02]
Courtney Slavinsky
Right.
- [62:02]
Madison Pruitt Trout
You have to have your own personal relationship with Jesus.
- [62:07]
Courtney Slavinsky
Right. Well, and also, if you think about it, if you. If you keep your eyes on other believers, they're going to let you down.
- [62:15]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Right.
- [62:15]
Courtney Slavinsky
All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. All of us are sinners. We are going to let each other down. And I believe that there are people listening to this right now who have been hurt by people in the church. They've been hurt by a brother and sister in Christ. And because of that, they've questioned all of Christianity as a whole. They've questioned the goodness of God. And to those who have been hurt by someone in church, by someone who claims that they are a follower of Jesus, I am so sorry. And I'm so sorry that happened, because that does hurt your heart. And that hurts my heart for you. But here is the. Here is my advice, and here's my good news, is that if your eyes are on Jesus, then no matter what anyone else does, he will still be good to you. The disciples did not stop following Jesus because of Judas. They had their eyes on Jesus.
- [63:08]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Wow.
- [63:08]
Courtney Slavinsky
And if their eyes had been on Judas and their faith had been in the followers of Christ, they maybe would have stepped away. But did Peter do that? No. He went and built the church, the church that we are a part of today. Two thousand years later, his eyes were on Jesus. And he said, I cannot believe my brother in Christ did the ultimate betrayal and I will probably never forgive him. Maybe he did, but I think we're allowed to have a little bit of anger towards Judas. But Peter did not stop following Christ because of Judas. He said, my eyes are on Judas.
- [63:41]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Jesus. That's powerful. I've never heard that before. That's really good. That's so true. Because people will fail us. It doesn't matter who they are. It doesn't matter if it's your parent, your spouse, your best friend. People will let you down. And I've seen that happen a lot of times. Like, truly like it. It breaks my heart. Like if someone's going to a church and the pastor has a moral failure, then that person's faith is shattered and they stop going to church altogether. And where I have empathy for that is I'm like, that's really hard. And as someone who has experienced deep church hurt, I get it. And I've. I've experienced rejection in the church. I've experienced gossip in the church. I've experienced being let down by the church. I have. And I've been absolutely changed by the way that God uses the body of Christ. I've been absolutely changed by the love and the hospitality and the forgiveness and the accountability that comes through the church. And that is what the church is for. Will the church let you down? Yes, the church will let you down because they're made of human beings who are sinful. And like you said, we've all fallen short. And I went through, after coming off the Bachelor a couple of years, honestly with resistance and walls up towards the church. And I had to work through that. But I got to a point where I was like, man, my life was truly transformed, yes, by the grace of Jesus Christ, but also through the people of Christ. And I need the church. I need people in order to grow in my fai. In order to be who God has called me to be. I have to have people around me. And then ironically, God called Grant to, you know, be a young adults pastor at a church. I was like, okay, here we go. Perfect, amazing. And, and I'm so thankful for that. And now here in Nashville, Courtney and I go to the same church way church here in Nashville. And I'm so grateful because even when I entered postpartum, I felt, and a lot of it was truly ushered by you, but I felt the church come around us. I felt people come around us and help in time of need and help when I didn't feel like I could take another step. And so for those who have experienced church hurt, I want to be the first to say, I get it. I really get it. I, I totally understand. And we need the church. We need the church. We need people around us. And it's not a building. The church is not a building. The church is not a place place. The church is the people. And I do encourage you, though, to go to church in person, because that's where you're going to be with those people. You're going to get to worship together. You mentioned the disciples. I, I talked or I think about, you know, in Acts, when right before they were sent out and they all kind of dispersed and went about, you know, where God had called them to go. They were in one room worshiping one God, you know, together in one name. And it just, it keeps saying the word one and together and, and in unity. And it's like, that's what the church is supposed to be. We're supposed to be together and we're supposed to be unified and not divided and not competing and not comparing. I want to ask you really quickly before we start closing, the importance of local discipleship, the importance of being plugged in locally, because I do think, and we hinted at this, but I do think that a lot of people are being discipled by people online and maybe even by this podcast. And that's great. I'm not obviously discouraging it. However, I do think it's so important. Like, I have so many friends, for example, and, and, and mentors that pour into me that don't live here in Nashville. And I love that and I believe in that. However, it is so important. I knew when I moved here, I said, I've got to have my people in person. Like, I've got to have my Courtney's, that I can text or call and be like, will you pray? Pray? I've got my people that I can confess to and that can hold me accountable and that are helping me become a better disciple of Jesus Christ. And so I'd love for you to speak into just the importance of local discipleship and what that looks like for us to be a disciple locally, but also for us to disciple others locally.
- [67:47]
Courtney Slavinsky
The first thing that comes to mind is just when Jesus said, love your neighbor, he really does mean neighbor. You know, we've taken that phrase and we've generalized it, and that's beautiful because we are called to love everyone. But he does mean our actual neighbor. And I would encourage anyone. If you don't know your neighbors, start there and start with love, right? By this they will know you're my disciple, by how you love. Make your neighbor dinner, make your neighbor a plate of cookies, whatever it is. Get to know your neighbors, because God has you where you are, and he will use you where you are, if you're willing and if you surrender. So where you live, proximity is a blessing. So the people in your neighborhood, or if you live in an apartment, the people next door, or if you're in school, your dorm, your dorm mates, whoever it is, you live near them for a purpose. Don't miss it. So make sure that you really are loving your neighbor. Because like you said, I mean, in Acts he talks about don't get in the habit of not meeting together. And Covid was a crazy time for that, right? And I think it got a lot of people really comfortable with doing everything in isolation. But that is not how we are called to live. I think isolation is the devil's playground. And you want to get healed. You want to start seeing chains break, you want to start living in freedom. Get some brothers and sisters together and start praying, and you're going to see miracles happen. I have seen more miracles happen in the last six months because of the body of Christ coming together and praying and watching that happen. There's nothing I can encourage people more than to get plugged into a local church to get. To get comfortable with talking to the people who live near you and then start doing life with them in some way or another, whether that's inviting them over to your house for dinner. I mean, we're called to show how hospitality. So wherever you live, no matter how small of a dorm you have or small of a house you have, it's not about the size. It's about your heart and your posture. And if you invite people with a heart posture of I want you here, all people want right now is connection. And there are people who are hungry to feel seen. And if you see them, that is showing. That's the first step in showing them the gospel. So I would say the best thing we can all be doing is looking, keeping our eyes peeled for those who live near us, for those right around us, who maybe are believers or maybe not. But either way, God has us where we are for a reason. So ask him. Ask him for ways to open doors for conversations, or be bold and go and knock, because I guarantee you, you won't regret it.
- [70:28]
Madison Pruitt Trout
That's so good. That's so good. And convicting. I'm like, sitting here, like, I need to make cookies for my neighbor. I'm like, so right after this podcast, I'm gonna go make some cookies, and I'm gonna take cookies to my neighbor, because truly, since I've moved here, I'm like, I don't know my neighbors, and I need to know my neighbors. And we have had one neighbor come over and, like, bring us a little baby gift, which was really kind. And I'm like, man, that. It is a lost art today. It is a totally lost art today. It's like, we've. We. Here's what I'll say. And this is really convicting, even for me.
- [71:01]
Courtney Slavinsky
Me.
- [71:02]
Madison Pruitt Trout
We have become so good at loving people online and making disciples online that it has become so much easier for us to post a clip, get off social media, and go about living our life than to actually go and share the gospel with someone who needs it or to go and serve someone who's in need who can do nothing for you. It is so much harder to do it in real life and to push past the maybe possible rejection, awkward, uncomfortable moment or just. Just out of your own selfishness and comfort that, you know, maybe it doesn't fit into your easy daily schedule, Right? And I. And this is me speaking from a place of conviction in my own life, but I do. I think it's. It's become so much easier for us to just, like, post on our Instagram story. Hey, following Jesus is the best. You all should do it, rather than actually going out and sharing that with people around us and loving and serving the people around us, Us. And, you know, like you said, we. We often want to say, hey, Lord, come and follow me. This is my life. This is my agenda. Here's my dreams. Here's what I want to do. Can you bless it? It's all for your name. It's for your glory, God. So can you bless it? Instead of, here's everything, here's everything. It's all yours, right?
- [72:12]
Courtney Slavinsky
And it's like, we'll even schedule out quiet time, right? And that's beautiful. That's beautiful. Don't. Don't hear me that that's not important and necessary because we have to have that space where we meet with him and where we're fueled by his presence. But he has so much more for us than that. Everywhere we go, if we ask for his eyes, he will show you people in the grocery store. He will show you people at the coffee shop. He will show you people in your classroom. He will show you people wherever you're at. If you say, holy Spirit, send me right now, I'm in class. If there's someone you need me to go pray over, if there's someone you need to go, encourage me, send me. If you're in your car alone, you could either scroll on your phone or you could say, lord, put someone on my heart that I need to encourage. And he will. He's so good to. He wants to. It's us that are distracted. It's us that end up missing out on this abundant life because we get so self centered. And really it's wild because the world tells you, build your own kingdom. The world tells you, focus on yourself, follow your heart, live your dreams. And I can promise you if you do that, look at anyone who's climbed to the top of that ladder and they are empty. Yeah, it does not fulfill. But you know what does a life surrender to Jesus. It might sound backwards, but that's kind of the beauty of the gospel, right? He died so we can live. There's so much about it that is backwards, but it's beautiful. But his death is the reason we can live freely. But we live freely with a purpose. And we live freely with a mission. And it's not just a mission, it's a commission. Right? The great commission is to go and make disciples, baptizing them and teaching them to obey all I've commanded you. And what's the end of it? Surely I will be with you till the end of the age. He does it with you. That's why it's called the CO Mission. We're on mission together, we get to do it with him. He could have made heaven and earth rectified right there. He could have made it all done. But instead he said, no, I'm gonna, I'm gonna. I have all authority in heaven, on earth, and I'm gonna send you on this mission because I know how good it's gonna be. I know how much fulfillment you're gonna see. I know how many miracles you're gonna witness. I know how much joy you're gonna feel. I don't want you to miss it. But so many of us do. That's so many of us make it about ourselves. And we get sad and we get depressed because we're thinking about ourselves. But if you focus on the mission and you live out the mission, you are going to experience the fullness of joy like you've never felt before in your life.
- [74:33]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Amen. Amen.
- [74:35]
Courtney Slavinsky
Amen.
- [74:36]
Madison Pruitt Trout
I mean, I have nothing else to add, so. Good. Okay. I do want to say this because we've touched on how important and beautiful it is to be a disciple. And I want to say it comes at a cost. It comes at a cost. What does it cost you to believe in Jesus? Nothing. What does it cost you to follow Jesus?
- [74:59]
Courtney Slavinsky
Everything. Everything. So good.
- [75:01]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Everything. And there's a passage in scripture that is so scary, it should terrify all of us of being face to face with Jesus and hearing the words from him, I never knew you. Because it is a daily relationship, it is a daily surrender and it's a following, it's a denying of self and a surrender to him. And it's not just the one time moment of, of. Of I, I believe in you, God. It's the everyday following him, submitting to him, like you said, making him the Lord of your life. So will it come at a cost? Yes. Will it come at a cost to go and make brownies for your neighbor and go over there and then possibly be like, you're weird. I don't take brownies from strangers. Never talk to me again. Yes. Will it come at a cost to share the gospel with a stranger in the grocery store who might reject you or yell at you, you? Yes. Will it come at a cost to get out of your comfort zone, to, you know, miss that call you had scheduled or to be a little late to the gym time that you slotted in your day? Like, will it come at a cost? Yes, it will. And will there be a reward?
- [76:10]
Courtney Slavinsky
Yes, absolutely.
- [76:11]
Madison Pruitt Trout
And will you always see the reward on this side of eternity? Like there's going to be moments you don't. But man, it may cost you everything, but you gain everything. And it is so true. It's the upside down kingdom. Like, you lose your life to find it. You die to yourself to find your true self, which is in Christ. And I just want to end with that because I don't want to sit here and be like, you know, being a disciple of Jesus is easy. Go do it right. It's not, but it's worth it. And it's the best decision that you will ever make. And you've given so many beautiful practicals of, you know, just even what it looks like to go and make disciples and how you can love your neighbor. And you talked about how we will be like, how they see our love is how they will know if we belong to Christ, and how they see us serve people, how the world sees us serve others and love others is what will be Defined as, oh, they must be a follower of Jesus. And I love that. And so I think that this has been. Been. It's been a convicting podcast to me, honestly. And such a beautiful reminder for all of us that we are all being discipled by something. We are all disciples of something. And so what is discipling you and what are you a disciple of? Who are you discipling? And so those are just convicting questions to ask. I would love for you to just close us in prayer and pray for those who honestly maybe like listening. They're like, man, I. I don't know if I really follow Jesus like I thought I did, but now in hearing this, like, maybe I just. I believed in God when it was convenient for me. I believed in God when it. When I felt like believing in God. But now I'm listening to this. I. I want to, like, I want to make him the Lord of my life and I want to follow him. I want to go all in. And then I'd love for you to just pray for those who are following the Lord, but it just. There's hard moments and we need to endure to the end, and we need to be encouraged and reminded of that.
- [78:09]
Courtney Slavinsky
Yes, I would love to, Lord Jesus, wow. Thank you. Thank you for all you've done for us, God, you are so good. We thank you that you sent your son. We thank you for every good, imperfect gift, because every blessing is from you and you alone. So, Lord, may we turn every blessing we've been given back into praise. And God, right now we just repent and we say sorry for all the times that we make our lives about us. We are so sorry, God, that we have listened to the lies of this world and we've conformed to the patterns of making our entire existence about ourselves. So we repent of that, God, because we trust that your word is true. And we trust that if we count the cost of being a disciple, it will be worth it. God, we want to follow you. I pray for those who want to want to follow you right now, God, I pray for those who have been convicted during this time, Lord, that you will absolutely wreck their hearts for your good news that while they were sinners, you died for them, God, that you loved them in their sin, that you love all of us in our sin, and that you died for us anyway so that we could have everlasting life with you. So I pray right now for those who want to go all in, that they make that decision right now, wherever they are at, whether they're in Their car, in their bedroom, on a walk, that today will be the day that they say, I want to follow Jesus. I believe in him and I want to follow him all the days of my life because I want to dwell in the house of the Lord forever. So, God, meet every girl and guy wherever they are at right now. Surround them with your presence in such a heavy way that this be a moment in their life that marks the rest of their midst of a life before we enter eternity. I pray that they make every waking second about you, God, that we love you with every part of ourselves, that we wake up every day with a fire that is burning for you, ready to do your work. God. The harvest is plentiful and the workers are few. So I pray that because of this podcast, you raise up more workers, people who are ready to die to themselves, to pick up their cross and to follow you, God. Lead us wherever you may, God, whether that is to another country, whether that is to another city, or whether that is simply down the street, God, may we be willing and may we say yes. God, I pray that you will bless those who start to do things out of their comfort zone, that they will start to feel you like never before. And may they be changed because of your word. God, I thank you so much for Maddie, and I pray that you bless her for what she's doing here. God, I thank you for the way that she is pointing people to your truth because truth sets people free. So I thank you for your word, God. I thank you that we get to meditate on it day and night, and may we all do that more and more so that we can look more and more like you until we get to see you face to face. In Jesus name, amen.
- [81:24]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Amen.
- [81:26]
Courtney Slavinsky
Amen.
- [81:26]
Madison Pruitt Trout
I went to church with that prayer.
- [81:28]
Courtney Slavinsky
So good.
- [81:29]
Madison Pruitt Trout
Thank you, Lord. Oh, this was so good. I'm so glad that you came on this podcast and thank you for just your vulnerability and your wisdom. The way you love Jesus truly does change people, and I love it because it's changed me and I'm so grateful for it. Stay true is better because of you. So thank you for coming on.
- [81:50]
Courtney Slavinsky
Thank you for having me.
- [81:52]
Madison Pruitt Trout
As always. Guys, let us know how this episode encouraged you and what you want to hear about next. I will, like I said, include how you can follow Courtney and just see more of what Courtney is doing. And she just. She has. She's a great resource for if you are a mama. Well, for anybody. But if you. Especially if you are a mama and you're raising littles and you're asking how do I be a godly spirit filled parent and how do I raise godly kiddos? Go and check her out. I will also include her husband's link of how you can because I'm telling you, he built some good stuff. Okay, but as always guys, be sure to stay you stay true.
- [82:34]
C
We love you.
- [82:42]
D
Marketing is hard, but I'll tell you a little secret. It doesn't have to be. Let me point something out. You're listening to a podcast right now and it's great. You love the host. You seek it out and download it. You listen to it while driving, working out, cooking, even going to the bathroom. Podcasts are a pretty close companion. And this is a podcast ad. Did I get your attention? You can reach great listeners like yourself with podcast advertising from Libsyn Ads. Choose from hundreds of top podcasts offering host endorsements or run a pre produced ad like this one, one across thousands of shows. To reach your target audience in their favorite podcasts with Libsyn Ads, go to Libsyn ads.com that's L I B S Y N ads.com today.