In this Rooted Reflections episode of the Rooted Discipleship Podcast, Walker Davis and Chad Gott share personal updates, including a Veterans Day thank-you to those who serve, a first deer hunt with Walker’s daughter, and a moment of gratitude for God’s creation. They also preview two upcoming projects: a nine-week Bible study on facing life’s storms, which uses animals in nature as a picture of how to respond, and a year-long “story of salvation” reading plan launching January 1st. Along the way, they discuss why a good God allows suffering, pointing to the curse in Genesis 3 and to Jesus walking through human suffering Himself.

The conversation then turns to two Bible questions. The first looks at the book of Daniel and asks why we remember Daniel’s three friends as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, the Babylonian names given to them, instead of their Hebrew names, which honored God. Walker and Chad explore how the Babylonian names referenced pagan gods, how this connects to the fiery furnace in Daniel 3, and how the “fourth man” in the fire points to Jesus being with His people in the storm.

The second question explores Acts 7 and the death of Stephen, the first Christian martyr, and why Jesus is shown standing, rather than sitting, at the right hand of God. They discuss what this might say about Jesus welcoming His people home, how believers can face death with peace, and how Saul’s presence at Stephen’s stoning connects to his later conversion on the road to Damascus.

Have a question you want us to answer on a future episode? Email us at: walker@rooteddiscipleship.com chad@rooteddiscipleship.com

In this episode of the Rooted Discipleship Podcast, Walker Davis and Chad Gott wrap up their verse-by-verse study of Malachi, the final book of the Old Testament, finishing the sixth dispute from Malachi 3:13 through chapter 4. They look at the Israelites’ question “What is the point of serving God?” and God’s answer to their earlier cry, “Where is the God of justice?”, which points forward to the day of judgment described in Revelation.

Walker and Chad unpack the two groups of people in Malachi 3: those who doubt God’s word and measure Him by earthly rewards, and those who fear the Lord and are remembered in His book of remembrance. They discuss the day of the Lord, the promise of the “sun of righteousness” rising with healing in its wings, why good works alone cannot save anyone, and how true salvation produces a new creation that wants to serve God. They also explore the promise of Elijah in Malachi 4:5, its connection to John the Baptist, and the discussion of the two messengers in Revelation 11, along with practical encouragement to test every sermon, podcast, and commentary against Scripture to discern truth from false teaching.

Ultimately, this episode is a reminder that God’s patience is not the same as His approval, and that every person will stand before Him on that day. Walker and Chad also preview what’s next for the podcast: a study of Genesis 1-11, a journey through the Gospels, and a year-long “story of salvation” Bible reading plan launching January 1st on the Rooted Discipleship website.

Have a question you want us to answer on a future episode? Email us at: walker@rooteddiscipleship.com chad@rooteddiscipleship.com

In this special Rooted Reflections episode of the Rooted Discipleship Podcast, Walker Davis and Chad Gott check in after a powerful hurricane struck the Florida Panhandle and Pensacola area, explaining why the podcast has been off the air and sharing what the storm and its aftermath have looked like in their community. They describe the unusual path of destruction, the tornadoes that spawned from the storm, and the stark line between neighborhoods left untouched and those completely devastated.

The conversation turns to the long road of disaster recovery and the way the church has responded. Walker and Chad share stories of volunteer relief crews, local churches, and organizations like Samaritan’s Purse serving their neighbors with chainsaws, heavy equipment, and free meals. They reflect on how the first days after a disaster bring people together naturally, while the weeks and months of continued service can only come from God’s love, joy, and grace. They also draw a Scripture-minded lesson from the storm damage, comparing deep-rooted pines to shallow-rooted oaks as a picture of staying rooted in God’s Word through life’s storms, and tie in the previous Malachi study on tithes and offerings by showing what a faithful local church can do with what has been given.

Ultimately, this episode is a reminder that God can use hardship to bring communities together, spark revival in unexpected places, and move His people to serve others long after the cleanup cameras leave. Walker and Chad also share that regular episodes and listener questions return next week, with the Malachi study wrapping up before the series moves into Genesis.

Have a question you want us to answer on a future episode? Email us at: walker@rooteddiscipleship.com chad@rooteddiscipleship.com