What happened to those who died before Christ’s crucifixion? Scripture says Jesus preached to the “spirits in prison” — but what does that actually mean?

In this episode of Relish, Rowan Miller and Pastor Don Patterson walk through 1 Peter 3, Ephesians 4, Luke 16, and other key passages to examine how the Bible describes salvation before the cross and the sufficiency of Christ’s work across all generations.

The discussion covers:

• the biblical picture of the afterlife before Christ
• Jesus and the “spirits in prison”
• the connection between Noah, baptism, and salvation
• why baptism points beyond outward ritual
• practical habits for growing in biblical understanding

This episode is designed for listeners who want careful biblical reasoning, not clichés or speculation.

Science and Scripture are often framed as opposites—but that assumption deserves to be examined.

In this episode, Rowan Miller and Pastor Don Patterson walk through key questions around origins, including fossil formation, carbon-14 dating, and the claim of a global flood. Rather than dismissing science, they explore how different starting assumptions shape the conclusions people reach.

The conversation also addresses everyday questions about the Bible—some light, some serious—and why clarity matters for both belief and doubt.

This is a focused discussion for anyone trying to sort out whether Christianity can hold up under scientific scrutiny.

00:00:09 Where Do We Find Real Hope Today?

00:03:43 Common Bible Questions (Including “Did Jesus Have a Middle Name?”)

00:12:10 Which Bible Characters Do We Relate To—and Why It Matters

00:17:38 Why Everything Centers on Jesus (Not Just Bible Knowledge)

00:19:34 How to Read the Bible With Clarity (Not Confusion)

00:21:20 Final Takeaways: Faith, Doubt, and What to Do Next

In this episode, Rowan Miller and Don Patterson respond to two common but often misunderstood questions: what happens to pets after they die, and how the Bible actually frames singleness.

First, they address the emotional and theological assumptions people bring to the question of animals in the afterlife. While Scripture offers glimpses of a restored creation, it stops short of giving a definitive answer about individual pets. The discussion focuses on how to think carefully where the Bible is silent—without dismissing the goodness of God.

Second, they walk through 1 Corinthians 7 and Paul’s teaching on singleness. Rather than treating it as a problem to solve, Paul presents singleness as a legitimate and sometimes advantageous calling—while still taking sexual desire and human limitations seriously.

This episode aims to separate biblical teaching from cultural assumptions and help listeners think more clearly about both eternity and everyday life decisions.

00:00:03 Do Pets Go to Heaven? What Scripture Actually Reveals

00:03:44 Singleness in the Bible: Misunderstood or Ignored?

00:10:32 Why Paul Calls Singleness an Advantage (Not a Deficiency)

00:15:29 Where the Bible Is Silent—and How to Respond Honestly

In this episode, Rowan Miller and Pastor Don Patterson tackle a question many Christians quietly wrestle with: how much attention should we give to topics like the Nephilim and the Book of Enoch?

They examine what Scripture does—and doesn’t—say about these controversial subjects, and contrast that with the clear teaching of Romans 8 on identity in Christ. The conversation addresses pride, the proper use of spiritual gifts, and how believers can avoid being distracted by speculation while missing foundational truth.

This episode is designed to help listeners think clearly, prioritize biblical authority, and live with confidence rooted in what God has plainly revealed.

00:00:04 - Identity in Christ: Why It Matters More Than Speculation 00:02:59 - Family, Relationships, and Real-Life Faith 00:03:25 - Nephilim and the Book of Enoch: What Does the Bible Actually Say? 00:07:57 - Pride, Power, and Misplaced Identity 00:13:15 - Spiritual Gifts: Purpose vs Self-Promotion 00:15:20 - What Christians Should Focus On Moving Forward

How do you discern whether something is truly from God—or something internal?

In this episode, Rowan Miller sits down with Pastor Don Patterson to examine that question through lived experience. Don shares specific moments that shaped his faith: his early baptism, a growing sense of calling, and the deep loss of his son.

They also address more debated areas—speaking in tongues, impressions, and everyday moments where people claim God is speaking. Along the way, they connect these experiences to Scripture (James, Job, Paul, Peter) and ask what biblical discernment actually looks like.

This is a grounded conversation about grief, calling, and the challenge of interpreting spiritual experiences honestly.

Do you have questions for Pastor Don? send them to tmadask@gmail.com #bible , #christianity , #jesuschrist , #christiantheology , #faith , #god , #bibleverse , #apologetics , #relish

00:00:05 What Does It Mean for God to “Speak”?

00:02:00 Personal Experiences: Hearing God or Interpreting Feelings?

00:05:50 Life-Changing Moments and How We Interpret Them

00:08:30 Sensing a Call: How Do You Know It’s Real?

00:10:28 Where Faith Begins: Experience vs. Truth

00:14:08 Ongoing Change: Is God Still Speaking Today?

00:15:09 Job, Paul, Peter: Do Our Experiences Match Scripture?

00:16:31 Final Thoughts: Discernment, Gratitude, and Caution

How should a Christian decide who to trust?

In this episode, we work through Jesus’ warning to “know them by their fruit” and apply it to real-life decisions about counsel, teaching, and influence. What do you do when someone claims faith but lacks consistency, humility, or biblical clarity?

We also explore how spiritual habits—Scripture, prayer, Sabbath, and reflection—form the kind of discernment that isn’t reactive but grounded. Finally, we discuss the idea of God’s relationship to time and how that perspective reshapes urgency, anxiety, and spiritual growth.

This is a practical conversation about discernment, formation, and truth.

Students asked direct questions about spiritual warfare, demonic influence, and everyday faith—and we took them seriously.

In this episode, we examine:

• Whether Christians can be possessed or only oppressed
• How objects like charms or Ouija boards fit into a biblical worldview
• What “strongholds” actually mean in Romans 6–8
• How healing prayer works in practice
• Whether Satan has any control over the natural world
• How to understand suffering without losing clarity about God’s character

The goal is simple: replace confusion with clear biblical categories.

This episode tackles a difficult but necessary question: what is Satan actually allowed to do?

Using the book of Job as a foundation, we examine God’s sovereignty, the role of Satan, and what Scripture does—and does not—say about spiritual warfare. We discuss common misconceptions around oppression, possession, and personal responsibility, and why clarity here matters for how Christians interpret suffering.

We also bring the conversation into modern life, exploring how technology, attention, and daily habits can function as points of influence. Along the way, we reflect on real experiences of conflict, hardship, and how God uses those seasons to refine both individuals and churches.

This is a conversation about limits, responsibility, and learning to think clearly about suffering and spiritual reality.