Intro: A Little Shift, A Lot of Heart

Hey friends—welcome to Sunday Ripple. I’m Rob, and today’s episode is a little different. No deep-dive into a biblical character or spiritual practice. No story-driven series. Just a moment to sit down, catch our breath, and talk about what’s ahead for this podcast and why things are shifting just a bit.

If you’ve been with me for a while, first off—thank you. Seriously. Whether you listen every week, catch episodes here and there, or just stumbled across The Table series and stuck around, I’m grateful.

Up until now, the rhythm has been two episodes a week—one usually reflecting on our church’s Sunday message, and the other something more original: a series, a reflection, a teaching, or sometimes just something from the heart.

But going forward, I’m transitioning to a simpler rhythm:

🎧 One episode a week. All original content.

I still love our church, and I’ll probably still recap the occasional message when it hits deep—but the heart of Sunday Ripple is shifting toward something more sustainable, more focused, and hopefully, more formative for both of us.

I want to share why. Not just from a logistics standpoint, but from a spiritual one—because this decision, for me, is about rhythm. And rhythm is something God takes seriously.

Let’s talk about it.

Part 1: The Gift of Rhythm

Let’s start with something that’s both obvious and surprisingly easy to forget:

We are not machines.

We’re not built to just produce, perform, or create content endlessly. We’re not designed for nonstop output. But everything around us—our schedules, our phones, even sometimes our ministry mindset—tries to convince us otherwise.

We feel pressure to “keep up,” to stay visible, to do more… even when our souls are quietly begging us to slow down.

That’s one of the big reasons for this shift. Because for a while now, I’ve been feeling it—that nudge from the Spirit that says:

“This pace is good… but it’s not sustainable. And you’re missing something by always moving on to the next thing.”

And Scripture backs that up in some pretty powerful ways.

God Built Rhythm Into Creation

Right out of the gate in Genesis, we get a model:

“By the seventh day, God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.”— Genesis 2:2

God worked. Then He rested. He built a pause into the fabric of creation—not because He was tired, but because He was modeling something for us.

There’s a rhythm in the way God moves: create, rest. Speak, pause. Work, reflect.

And as image-bearers, we’re designed to live in that same flow.

When I was producing two episodes a week, I loved the content. But I found myself rushing through it sometimes. Writing while tired. Editing while distracted. Creating not out of overflow, but out of obligation.

And here’s what I’ve learned the hard way:

When we ignore God’s rhythm, the work might still get done—but it won’t be as deep. And neither will we.

Jesus Modeled Margin

Even Jesus—God in the flesh—needed space.

In Mark 6:31, Jesus says to His disciples:

“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

He says this right after they had been out doing ministry—teaching, healing, serving, pouring themselves out. And His response isn’t, “Great job, now back to work.”

It’s: “Come away. Rest. Reset.”

That one little line is full of pastoral love. Jesus sees their output… and invites them into input. He knows that even holy work can wear us out if we don’t make room to breathe.

This new rhythm for the podcast—one episode a week—is my way of saying, “Okay, Jesus. I hear You. Let’s go to the quiet place.”

To Everything There Is a Season

One more passage that’s been anchoring me comes from Ecclesiastes 3:1:

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”

This new season isn’t about doing less ministry—it’s about doing it with more focus, more prayer, more attention to what God is actually saying.

By slowing down, I’m making room for:

• Deeper preparation
• Richer storytelling
• More intentional reflection
• Space to live the things I’m talking about before I hit “record”

It’s about integrity. Alignment. Faithfulness to the why, not just the how often.

And I think it’ll be better for all of us.

The Power of Pacing

I recently heard someone say, “Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast.”

Now, that might come from a Navy SEAL manual and not a Bible verse—but it still hits home.

When we rush, we miss things.

When we slow down, we move with purpose.

The ripple God wants to create through this podcast doesn’t need to be fast. It just needs to be faithful.

And I think slowing down will make it stronger.

Part 2: The Value of Originality

Let’s talk about the second part of this transition:

Moving away from regular sermon recaps and leaning fully into original content.

Now, let me be clear—there’s nothing wrong with recapping a Sunday message. Sometimes a sermon hits so deeply that you can’t help but carry it into Monday. And I may still do that from time to time when something really lingers.

But the shift I’m making is about focus—about being fully present in what Sunday Ripple is uniquely positioned to do.

I started this podcast to create a space where everyday faith and reflection could collide. A place where you could show up on a walk, on a commute, or folding laundry and find something thoughtful, biblical, and deeply human.

And somewhere along the way, I realized:

If I’m going to ask people for their time and attention, I want to make sure what I’m offering is the best, most prayerfully prepared thing I’ve got.

Original Content Comes from a Deeper Place

When I create an original episode—like the The Table series, or reflections rooted in a biblical character, a spiritual practice, or a story from my own life—it comes from a deeper well.

It takes more time. More prayer. More sitting with Scripture. More listening.

But that depth is where transformation happens.

Recaps are reactive. Original content is reflective.

They both have value—but for me, the reflective side is where I’ve sensed God leading me to lean in.

Fanning the Flame (2 Timothy 1:6)

There’s this line in 2 Timothy 1:6 that I keep coming back to. Paul writes:

“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you…”

That verse hits differently when you’re creating.

Because here’s the thing: God gives us gifts—but it’s our job to tend the fire. To steward what we’ve been given. To fan it into something that brings light and warmth to others.

For me, that gift looks like storytelling. Teaching. Creating spiritual reflection that feels *accessible and meaningful.*And I don’t want to just keep the fire barely going with hurried content—I want to fan it into something alive.

That’s what original content lets me do.

Eyes on the Path (Proverbs 4:25–27)

There’s also this bit of wisdom in Proverbs 4:

“Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.”

This shift is about that—fixing my gaze. Giving careful thought to the direction of the podcast.

There are a lot of “good” things I could be doing. But I want to focus on the right things. The ones that align with the voice God has given me and the space I’m creating with you.

Quality Over Quantity

There’s also the simple truth that less can be more.

One original episode a week gives me the space to:

• Go deeper into Scripture
• Tell better stories
• Offer more thoughtful application
• Craft something that feels worth showing up for

And hopefully, it also gives you space—to listen without feeling like you’re falling behind, to reflect more fully, and to carry something from each episode into your week.

I don’t want Sunday Ripple to be just another podcast in your queue.

I want it to be something that stays with you—something God uses to stir something deep in your heart.

And I believe that happens when the content comes from a place of clarity, calling, and creative care.

Whatever You Do… (Colossians 3:23)

Paul writes in Colossians 3:23:

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord…”

This shift is my way of honoring that.

Whatever I do here—whatever I write, record, or release—I want to do it wholeheartedly. Not frantically. Not because of a deadline. But because I believe in the why behind it.

And I want it to bless you.

To encourage you.

To point you to Jesus—not through pressure, but through presence.

So if you’ve been encouraged by the stories, reflections, and series so far—thank you for letting me share them with you.

This move toward weekly original content is less about doing less—and more about going deeper.

Because I really believe:

One thoughtful word, rooted in Scripture and the Spirit, can ripple further than a dozen rushed ones.

Outro: Slowing Down, Leaning In

So that’s the shift.

From two episodes a week to one.

From sermon recaps to all-original content.

From “keep up the pace” to “go deeper with purpose.”

It’s a small change in format, but for me, it’s a big step in faithfulness.

I want Sunday Ripple to be more than just background noise or a helpful distraction. I want it to be a space that helps you slow down, look up, and remember what matters—even for just a few minutes each week.

I want these episodes to carry more than content.

I want them to carry presence.

Truth. Story. Scripture.

And ultimately, an invitation to let God do something in your everyday life that lasts longer than the scroll.

So thank you for being part of this.

For listening. For sharing. For growing with me.

And here’s your ripple for this week:

Where do you need to slow down so you can show up more fully?Maybe it’s in your work. Your relationships. Your time with God.Take one small step this week to realign your rhythm with what actually matters.

Because slow isn’t lazy.

It’s intentional.

And in the Kingdom of God, slower can be stronger.

As always—

Small ripples can make a big impact. Go make yours.