Live Free with Josh Howerton

Should Christians Watch Harry Potter? What Does the Bible Say About Witchcraft and Magic? Is watching Harry Potter harmless entertainment—or could it expose Christians to something spiritually dangerous? Where should believers draw the line between fantasy, witchcraft, and biblical truth? In this bonus episode of the LIVE FREE Podcast, Pastors Carlos Erazo and Paul Cunningham tackle one of the most debated questions in Christian entertainment. From Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings to The Chronicles of Narnia and Marvel movies, they examine what Scripture says about sorcery, spiritual discernment, and the en...

Has Noah's Ark REALLY been found—or are millions being misled by sensational headlines? And what does this ancient biblical story reveal about God's protection, judgment, and salvation through Jesus Christ? In this two-part episode of LIVE FREE, Pastors Josh Howerton, Carlos Erazo, and Paul Cunningham begin with a powerful conversation about becoming repairers of the breach. From resisting spiritual compromise to understanding Christ's victory over darkness, they challenge believers to let God restore what is broken in their lives. Carlos also explains how the four Gospels reveal Jesus through different pe...

Is God bringing revival to America while the Church faces more criticism than ever? And are megachurches really as bad as people say? Pastor Josh Howerton sits down with Pastor Joby Martin of The Church of Eleven22 for an unfiltered conversation about revival, biblical truth, spiritual leadership, and the power of the Gospel. Joby shares his incredible journey from a troubled teenager to leading one of America's fastest-growing churches, including his experience defending biblical Christianity in a liberal seminary. Together, they tackle online attacks against pastors, what Christian men should look for in a godly...

Can you truly follow Jesus without dying to yourself? And what does the Bible actually say about the death penalty? In Episode 97 of the LIVE FREE Podcast, Pastors Josh Howerton, Carlos Erazo, and Paul Cunningham welcome special guest David Nasser for a conversation about the cost of following Jesus, the power of God's grace, and what it means to live a surrendered life. David shares the story behind his 40-day devotional, A Call to Die, while the pastors explain the difference between justification, sanctification, and glorification. Then, the conversation turns to one o...

What happens when Jesus is used to sell a political agenda? In this bonus episode of LIVE FREE, Pastor Josh Howerton responds to James Talarico’s appearance on Jimmy Kimmel and examines what he believes is a dangerous pattern: using biblical language and selective Scripture to make political ideas sound Christian. The challenge for believers is to recognize when something sounds biblical without actually representing the whole counsel of Scripture. Josh breaks down how Christians can develop biblical discernment, distinguish the responsibilities of individuals, the church, and government, and resist turning Jesus into a mascot fo...

Spiritual warfare is real—but should Christians be afraid of it? In this episode of LIVE FREE, Pastor Carlos sits down with Pastor Jonathan (JP) Pokluda for a practical conversation about how the enemy works, how Christians can recognize deception, and why Jesus’ victory gives believers confidence rather than fear. Then the conversation shifts from spiritual warfare to revival and evangelism. JP shares what he has witnessed among thousands of young people responding to the gospel and gives a simple, practical approach anyone can use to start conversations about Jesus. In t...

How do you know if you’re attending a healthy church? How should Christians navigate difficult family relationships without compromising biblical truth? Can a wife correct her husband? And what do you do when someone you love wants nothing to do with Christianity? In this bonus episode of LIVE FREE, Pastor Josh is joined by Pastors Ed Newton and Matt Chewning for an honest Ask a Pastor conversation about faith, marriage, church culture, the Holy Spirit, and some of the difficult questions Christians face in real life. They also explore what may be...

In this episode of LIVE FREE, Pastors Josh, Carlos, and Paul unpack the Apostle Paul's final words in 2 Timothy 4 and his urgent warning about a time when people will reject sound doctrine and gather teachers who tell them what they want to hear. The conversation explores what it means to preach the Word, remain faithful “in season and out of season,” and know the gospel well enough to recognize when biblical truth is being distorted. The pastors also break down five common false teachings and react to a viral example of progressive theology that challenges foundational Christian belie...

What does it look like to contend for your faith when culture is shifting, pressure is rising, and following Jesus may cost you something? Pastor Josh Howerton sits down with Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell for a raw and deeply personal conversation about Philip’s journey from the streets of Queens and Rikers Island to surrendering his life to Christ and eventually becoming a pastor. Philip shares how God transformed his life, shaped his preaching, and taught him that faithfulness—not platform, influence, or recognition—is the true measure of ministry. The conversation also turns to some o...

Does the Bible contradict itself? What should you do when someone points to two passages that seem impossible to reconcile? Pastors Carlos and Paul tackle one of the biggest questions Christians and skeptics ask about Scripture. Starting in 2 Timothy 3, they unpack what Christians actually mean when they say the Bible is inspired and trustworthy—and then put those claims to the test. From different Gospel accounts and genealogies to faith versus works and supposed scientific errors, this conversation offers a practical framework for approaching difficult passages without ignoring honest questions. In this episode, yo...

How do you actually study the Bible—and how do you know whether a spiritual experience is really from God? In this episode of LIVE FREE, Pastors Josh Howerton, Carlos Erazo, and Paul Cunningham unpack 2 Timothy 2 and get practical about becoming people who know God’s Word and live it out. Carlos and Paul also share powerful reflections from their trip to Israel, including what Gethsemane and Galilee taught them about Jesus, His sacrifice, and the ministry happening right in front of us. Then the conversation gets practical: How do you avoid pointless Christian arguments with...

What if some of the “lost” or “banned” gospels actually tell us more about the real Jesus than the Bible does? It’s a claim that continues to resurface—and a recent viral conversation on The Joe Rogan Experience brought it back into the spotlight. In this bonus episode of LIVE FREE, Pastors Carlos and Paul react to claims about the Gnostic Gospels and examine the historical evidence behind Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Were books about Jesus intentionally suppressed by the Church? Were the Gnostic Gospels actually written first? And can we trust the New Testament to give us a...

Should Christian parents ever remove a child from their will? And is an inheritance something children are entitled to—or something parents are responsible to steward before God? In this episode of LIVE FREE, Pastor Josh reacts to a viral Dave Ramsey conversation with a Christian mother wrestling with whether to leave an inheritance to her adult children. From there, he tackles the deeper biblical questions behind the controversy: stewardship, generational resentment, school choices, socialism, and what parents should do when their children walk away from the values and faith they were raised to embrace. Th...

What happens when compassion begins to override truth and justice? And how should Christians respond when a tragic national story becomes a deeply emotional cultural debate? In this bonus episode of LIVE FREE, Pastor Josh examines the national conversation surrounding the Lindsey Clancy case and uses it as a starting point for a biblical discussion about justice, moral responsibility, feminism, toxic empathy, and the danger of allowing emotion or ideology to determine what is right and wrong. But this conversation doesn't end with judgment. Josh turns to the gospel and the radical truth that God's...

Predestination. Election. Free will. Calvinism. Arminianism. Few theological conversations generate more questions—or stronger opinions. So what does the Bible actually say, and how should Christians respond when faithful believers reach different conclusions? Pastors Carlos and Paul begin in 2 Timothy 2 with a practical conversation about spiritual grit, discipline, and the difference between simply trying to follow Jesus and intentionally training to become more like Him. Then they dive into one of Christianity’s most debated subjects: how God’s sovereignty, election, human responsibility, salvation, and evangelism fit together. Rather than ignoring the diffic...

What should Christians do when a viral accusation against a pastor suddenly takes over the internet? Believe it? Share it? Defend the pastor? Or stay out of it entirely? In this bonus episode of the LIVE FREE Podcast, Pastors Josh, Carlos, and Paul unpack the viral criticism surrounding Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell and use it to address a much bigger issue: how Christians should respond to accusations, online mobs, and criticism of spiritual leaders. The conversation explores the biblical tension between holding pastors accountable and refusing to participate in gossip, slander, or unverified accusations. This...

In Episode 90 of the LIVE FREE Podcast, Pastors Josh Howerton, Carlos Erazo, and Paul Cunningham uncover surprising lessons hidden inside some of the Bible passages we usually skim—including the stories of Mark, Demas, Rufus, and Quartus. Their lives reveal powerful truths about failure, restoration, friendship, legacy, and lifelong faithfulness. The conversation also gets intensely practical: Who are the people carrying your mat when you're struggling? Is it biblical to pray for God's judgment on someone? And why does Scripture teach that Christians can approach God directly through Jesus? In this episode, you'll learn: Wh...

Pastors Josh, Carlos, and Paul unpack Paul’s words to Timothy in 2 Timothy 1 and trace his transformation from a fearful young leader into a faithful, courageous pastor. They also compare the major Christian views of baptism in the Holy Spirit, explain what changed between the old and new covenants, and discuss why every believer should continually seek the Spirit’s filling. In this episode, you’ll learn: How Christians should respond to wars, disasters, and uncertainty Why fear should never become the controlling force in your decisions How Scripture—not feelings—helps you discern Go...

Should Christians legally oppose a mosque being built in their city? The answer raises difficult questions about religious liberty, biblical conviction, civic responsibility, and the proper role of government. In this bonus episode, Pastors Josh, Carlos, and Paul examine the controversy surrounding a proposed mosque expansion in McKinney, Texas. They explore how Christians can engage local government lawfully and wisely while remaining committed to sharing the gospel with Muslim neighbors. In this episode, you’ll learn: How the First Amendment has shaped modern religious-liberty laws What Scripture teaches about false worship and civic le...

Who is shaping your faith—and whose faith are you helping shape? Spiritual maturity requires more than consuming sermons and Christian content. It grows through relationships with faithful believers who can model, correct, encourage, and walk alongside us. Pastors Josh, Carlos, and Paul unpack the relationship between Paul and Timothy, explain how to find or become a spiritual parent, and examine whether apostles still exist in the church today. They also respond to cultural ideas about parental authority and show why Christians must use Scripture as the lens through which they understand the world. In th...