2 Pastors and a Mic

Happy New Year!In this special recap episode, Cory and Channock kick off 2026 by looking back on a wild, emotional, growth-filled 2025. We celebrate wins, share honest behind-the-scenes moments, talk about what we’re carrying into the new year, and name what we’re wrestling with as leaders, husbands, dads, and pastors.From podcast milestones (downloads, top episodes, consistency) to personal wins (books, ministry moments, RELife homes, and the launch of Zoay Intensive), this episode is a reminder that showing up matters — and that hope is still on the table.✅ Like / Subscribe / Share (especially to start the year)⭐ Leave a review if the podcast has helped you💬 Comment below: What’s one win from your 2025 — and what are you hoping for in 2026?00:08 - Welcome Back + Happy New Year (2026)00:32 - Matching Sweatshirts + Shoutout to Lakata00:59 - Why This Yearly Recap Is Happening Now01:32 - Thank You to Listeners + Start of Year Six01:54 - Share the Episode to Kick Off the Year02:19 - Cory’s “Verse for the Year” + The 26 Life (1 John 2:6)04:19 - Laugh/Cry/Celebrate: The Heart of the Recap Episode05:01 - Biggest Win: Consistency (Showing Up Every Week)06:18 - The “Sustaining” Season of Life06:49 - Podcast Wins: Downloads, Growth, and 100K Milestone08:07 - Most-Listened Series: “Let’s Talk About Hell” + Shane Willard08:52 - Cory’s 2025 Personal Wins (Books, eBooks, Sacred Undoing, Zoay Intensive)10:55 - Channock’s 2025 Wins (20 Years, Book Release, RELife Progress)14:01 - Family & Life Wins (Kids, Relationships, Soccer Success)15:41 - Supporting RELife: Housing Initiative for Single Moms16:36 - Favorite Podcast Episode of 2025 (Channock)17:13 - Cory’s Favorite Episode: “The Avocado Miracle”18:25 - Favorite Hill City Sermon/Series of 202520:48 - Big Question: What Are You Wrestling With Entering 2026?21:09 - Channock: Leadership Growth, Uncertainty, and Rest23:24 - Cory: Taking Time Before Goals + Releasing “Quit” Language24:00 - Cory Opens Up: The Hardest Three Months + Choosing Joy26:50 - Closing: Share, Review, and You’re Loved (Outro Music)

What if real strength isn’t found in winning arguments—but in knowing when to lay down your rights?In this New Year’s Eve episode of Two Pastors and a Mic, Cory and Channock close out 2025 by unpacking one of Jesus’ most misunderstood teachings: meekness. Drawing from Cory’s final eBook, How to Sheath Your Sword in a Violent Loving Culture, they explore why meekness is not weakness, but strength under control—and why it may be the posture Christians need most in a polarized world.You’ll hear:⚔️ Why “Blessed are the meek” was a radical, counter-cultural statement🗡️ What Jesus was really teaching when He told His disciples to bring swords❤️ How defending Jesus often does more harm than good🌍 The difference between seizing power and inheriting it🤝 Why love—not force—is the way of Christ in a culture addicted to dominationThis conversation invites you to reflect on how you show up in relationships, online spaces, and cultural tension—and what it might look like to enter 2026 with humility, restraint, and courage shaped by love.📘 Download Cory’s FREE eBooks (all 12) → saintsnotsinners.com🎧 Explore past episodes & resources → hillcity.tv💬 Join the conversation: Like, share, subscribe, and leave a review00:00 - Welcome + New Year’s Eve intro00:41 - Five years in: favorite parts of the podcast01:15 - Why archived episodes/resources matter02:03 - Most-listened series: “Who Is the Devil?” + “Let’s Talk About Hell”03:18 - Final eBook episode: How to Sheathe Your Sword in a Violent Loving Culture03:58 - Meekness: a misunderstood Beatitude (and Cory’s tattoo)04:42 - The cost of modern war: drones, missiles, and “the tension”06:11 - “Our Christian identity must trump our American identity”07:29 - Why meekness challenged Cory’s American-Christian framework08:15 - “A Christmas Sheath” series + definition: strength under control09:52 - Meekness ≠ weakness: power submitted to love10:35 - “Sell your cloak and buy a sword”: what Jesus meant11:08 - Two swords, eleven disciples, Roman soldiers… and “That’s enough”12:06 - Peter cuts the ear: Jesus heals (the last miracle before the cross)13:29 - Defending Jesus online: social media as modern sword-swinging14:08 - Why Jesus rebukes Peter: learning strength under control14:27 - “Jesus taught them how not to use swords”14:29 - Tertullian quote: “Christ disarmed all Christians for all time”14:55 - “Swinging the sword is easy; sheathing it takes strength”15:12 - Inherit vs seize: Caesar’s way vs Christ’s way15:51 - Donkey vs warhorse: Palm Sunday symbolism + “Hosanna”16:43 - Once you see meekness, you can’t unsee it17:00 - Go download the eBook (meekness in real life)17:49 - Reflection questions: where you’re tempted to “draw the sword”18:24 - Closing encouragement for 2026: strength that shows love19:16 - Resources for listeners + Zoay Intensive mention19:52 - Sign-off: “You’re loved—and there’s nothing you can do about it”

What if prayer was never meant to be a religious performance—and prophecy was never meant to be scary?In this Christmas Eve episode of Two Pastors and a Mic, Cory and Channock reflect on five years of podcasting and dive into Cory’s eBook How to Pray and Prophesy in the New Covenant. Together, they reframe prayer and prophecy through the lens of union, showing how both flow naturally from awareness, relationship, and love—not fear, formulas, or pressure.This conversation is an invitation to slow down during the holidays and rediscover prayer as something you live, not something you try to get right.You’ll hear:🎄 Reflections on Christmas, gratitude, and memorable gifts☕ Why a temperature-controlled mug became a parable for awareness🔥 How “union” radically changed Cory’s prayer life🙏 Why prayer is less about asking and more about awareness, rest, and participation🎨 The 5 expressions of prayer: awareness, rest, pondering, play, and participation👨‍👦 A powerful picture of prayer through a father-and-son story🕊️ What prophecy really is (and isn’t): revealing Jesus through encouragement📖 Paul’s simple test for prophecy: strengthen, encourage, comfort (1 Cor. 14:3)🤝 Why prophetic words invite partnership—not passive waiting💬 How anyone can be prophetic by offering love, hope, and presenceThis episode will help you release fear-based spirituality and step into a prayer life marked by peace, trust, and joy—right in the middle of the Christmas season.Resources from this episode:👉 Check out Cory's website → saintsnotsinners.com📚 Explore all free eBooks & resources → https://coryrice.gumroad.com🌐 Connect with us → hillcity.tv00:00 - Christmas Eve Welcome + Gratitude00:18 - Celebrating 5 Years of the Podcast01:08 - Like/Share/Subscribe + “Most Memorable Gift?”01:26 - Cory’s Favorite Gift: The Ember Mug (Coffee at 138°)03:11 - Channock’s Gift Story + “Experiences are better than Things”05:46 - Intro to Week 11 eBook: Pray & Prophesy in the New Covenant06:40 - Union Wrecked My Prayer Life (From Checklist to Conversation)08:53 - Five Reframes: Prayer as Awareness, Rest, Pondering, Play, Participation10:27 - The Power of Silence, Solitude, and Realignment12:28 - Why the Disciples Asked Jesus How to Pray14:00 - “Hey Dad, Can You Help?” A Simple Prayer Picture15:24 - Prayer as Awareness, Prophecy as Expression16:05 - Redefining Prophecy: Revealing Jesus16:55 - The Test of Prophecy: Strengthen, Encourage, Comfort (1 Cor. 14:3)18:03 - Prophetic Words Require Participation, Not Passive Waiting19:52 - “Let’s Do It Together”: God Works Through Us21:05 - Stop Chasing Prophecy—Become Encouragement to Others22:19 - Prophecy Flows From Union + Get the eBook22:38 - Reflection Questions + Practical Challenge for Christmas23:42 - Merry Christmas + Next Week’s Final Episode of 202524:01 - Closing: “You Are Loved (Nothing You Can Do About It)”

What if hearing from God was never about chasing a voice—but awakening to the One already speaking within you?In this episode of Two Pastors and a Mic, Cory and Channock unpack Cory’s eBook How to Hear From God, addressing one of the most common—and most anxiety-producing—questions in the Christian life. Together they dismantle fear-based spirituality, unspook the Holy Spirit, and offer a deeply relational, peace-filled framework for recognizing God’s voice in everyday life.This conversation is especially for anyone who’s ever wondered, “Am I doing this right?” or felt insecure comparing how God “speaks” to others.You’ll hear:🕊️ Why hearing God isn’t mystical or mechanical—it’s relational🌊 How peace and the fruit of the Spirit are the clearest indicators of God’s voice🧠 The difference between the Spirit’s voice and the inner critic (and how spiritual trauma confuses the two)🔑 Why union means God’s voice often sounds like your voice📖 A fresh lens on “the deceitful heart” and trusting yourself in Christ🌱 The 10 “W” ways God speaks—and why they look different for everyone🔥 How to unlearn fear-based religion and relearn divine intimacy💬 Reflection questions to help you practice listening with confidence, not pressureThis episode invites you to stop striving, start trusting, and remember: you’re never guessing alone—Christ is in you.Resources from this episode:👉 Check out Cory's website → saintsnotsinners.com📚 Explore all free eBooks & resources → https://coryrice.gumroad.com🌐 Connect with us → hillcity.tv00:00 - Welcome + Like/Share/Subscribe00:39 - Reviews + How to Reach Us (Email/Questions)00:47 - GAN Network Update + Episode 257 + Christmas Banter01:19 - Intro to Cory’s eBooks + Why This Topic Matters02:03 - Today’s Topic: How to Hear From God02:38 - Shoutout Don Keathley + Why This Question Is So Common03:31 - Key Line: “Hearing God isn’t mystical or mechanical—it’s relational”05:05 - Why It’s Confusing: No One-Size-Fits-All + Peace as a Sign06:41 - A New Framework: Sermon on the Mount + Fruit of the Spirit07:28 - Spiritual Trauma + Misusing “God told me”08:17 - Inner Critic vs. God’s Voice (Hillary McBride Insight)08:54 - The 10 “W” Ways God Speaks (Overview)09:39 - Two Big Ones: Witness of Peace + Waves of Thought10:54 - Wisdom + Multitude of Counselors (Avoiding Confirmation Bias)11:54 - “You Should Trust Yourself” Sermon + Union With the Spirit12:52 - “Deceitful” Heart vs. “Mysterious” Heart (Jeremiah Reframe)13:30 - Unspooking the Holy Spirit: The Five C’s14:38 - Reading the Closing: “There’s No Separation” (Union + Rhythm)16:17 - Union Changes Prayer + Unlearning Spiritual Trauma17:40 - Encouragement to Download the eBook18:26 - Reflection Questions + Final Charge19:36 - Sign Off: “You are loved—and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

What if real evangelism was never meant to feel like selling… but like loving? In this episode of Two Pastors and a Mic, Cory and Channock unpack Cory’s free eBook “How to Understand the Gospel and Share It Effectively.” They challenge the old pressure-driven models of church outreach and invite listeners into a relational, grace-based vision of evangelism rooted in identity, belonging, and reconciliation.This episode is all about clearing the fog around the gospel and rediscovering the heart behind sharing it — not urgency, not assignments, not agenda… but presence, peace, and people.You’ll hear:🔥 Why the gospel doesn’t demand your faith — it supplies it⚖️ The difference between retribution-based judgment and restoration-based justice🌱 Why success starts in identity, not hustle or hurry👥 How evangelism becomes toxic when people turn into assignments❤️ The scandalous truth: Jesus accepted you — before you ever accepted Him📜 Why we were created in Christ, not Adam💧 The 5 keys to sharing the gospel without pressure:🧠 Reflection questions that help you rethink how you see people and share good newsIf you’ve ever felt crushed by performance Christianity or confused by the point of sharing the gospel in a union-based faith, this episode will help you breathe deeper and believe better.👉 Check out Cory's website → saintsnotsinners.com📚 Explore all free eBooks & resources → https://coryrice.gumroad.com🌐 Connect with us → hillcity.tv00:00 - Intro & Welcome00:08 - Same Clothes Joke00:19 - Pre-Recording Explanation00:25 - Shoutout: Harrison in Hawaii00:38 - Like, Share, Subscribe00:46 - Podcast Review Celebration01:01 - Thank You to Listeners01:07 - Review Requests & Contacting Us01:32 - eBook Series Overview02:26 - When Success Felt Worthless03:00 - Control What You Can Create03:26 - Children’s Book Promo Tension03:43 - Christmas Stocking Stuffers Fun04:10 - Introducing Today’s Topic04:44 - What Is Evangelism?05:02 - Early Union Conversations05:22 - Evangelism as Reconciliation06:19 - Fear-Based Gospel vs. Pressure07:11 - Purpose of Writing This eBook08:34 - Belief Doesn’t Make It True09:31 - God Accepted You First10:13 - The Masterpiece Origin10:39 - Created in Christ, Not Adam11:00 - What Is Salvation, Really?12:09 - Saved For Something12:30 - Gospel Isn’t Sales, It’s Living13:05 - The Beautiful Gospel Lens14:01 - Reconciliation Is Your Ministry15:18 - Calling the Sun Out in People16:25 - 5 Keys to Sharing the Gospel16:28 - #1 Lead with Relationship16:39 - #2 Let Curiosity Lead17:02 - #3 Share Stories, Not Just Scriptures17:13 - #4 Let the Spirit Set the Pace17:32 - #5 Model the Kingdom First17:41 - Understanding Gospel Takes the Pressure Off19:30 - Listener Reflection Questions20:01 - Final Encouragement & Love Reminder21:22 - Sword-Sheathing eBook Mention21:32 - Outro Sign-Off21:43 - You Are Loved Closing