Skeptics & Saints

Latest Episodes:

Book of Acts Overview Part 2 - Go Eat Pork Chops! Nov 22, 2025

Show notes

Ever wondered what the book of Acts is actually doing from start to finish? 📖🔥

In this episode of Skeptics & Saints, Nolan and Skyler dive into Part 2 of our intro to Acts, unpacking how Acts 1:8 is not just a memory verse, it’s the built-in outline of the whole book. From Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria to the ends of the earth, we trace how persecution, revival, and one wild conversion (Saul ➝ Paul) turned the world upside down.
We talk mission, maps, riots, bacon, and why too few Christians are known for actually reaching lost people. 🌍
👉 Drop your favorite or most confusing passage in Acts in the comments, and don’t forget to subscribe, like, and share this with a friend who loves nerding out over the Bible.

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Power Of Evangelism Nov 10, 2025

Show notes

The Holy Spirit doesn’t fill us to sit still—He fills us to go. 🌍
Right before His ascension, Jesus gave a promise and a purpose: “You will receive power… and you will be my witnesses.” That same power that shook the early church still fuels believers today. But too many Christians live powerless lives because they’ve confused comfort for calling.
This episode unpacks what it really means to walk in the Spirit’s power—courage instead of fear, conviction instead of compromise, mission instead of maintenance. 💥
✨ You don’t just receive the Holy Spirit to feel Him; you receive Him to reveal Jesus.

🌎 Learn More: www.thegardenaz.com
🕒 Sundays at 8:00 AM | 9:30 AM | 11:00 AM | 12:30 PM

📲 Stay Connected:
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YouTube: @TheGardenChurchAZ
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🎙️ Skeptics & Saints Podcast –
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Why Acts? Book Overview! - Part 1 Oct 30, 2025

Show notes

📖 What if the Book of Acts isn’t just history, it’s the blueprint for revival today?

In this first episode of a two-part deep dive, Nolan and Pastor Skyler crack open the Book of Acts to prepare for a new series at The Garden. This isn’t just an intro—it’s a compelling look at what made the early church powerful, messy, and unstoppable.

You’ll learn:

Why Acts is the right book for this cultural moment
The real identity of Theophilus (and how he’s like modern gospel patrons)
How church persecution, holy chaos, and revival often go hand in hand
What it cost (literally) to write the New Testament—and why giving still matters
How Luke wrote with Spirit-filled precision and historic credibility

🎙 Whether you’re a Bible nerd, a church skeptic, or someone wrestling with your calling, this episode will ignite your vision for what the Church can be.

🌎 Learn More: www.thegardenaz.com
🕒 Sundays at 8:00 AM | 9:30 AM | 11:00 AM | 12:30 PM

📲 Stay Connected:
Instagram: @thegardenaz

YouTube: @TheGardenChurchAZ
Facebook: The Garden Church
🎙️ Skeptics & Saints Podcast –
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Should Christians Celebrate Halloween? Or Is It Demonic? Oct 24, 2025

Show notes

Should Christians celebrate Halloween or is it demonic?
In this episode of Skeptics and Saints, Nolan and Skyler take a deep dive into the theology, history, and cultural meaning of Halloween. From ancient Roman festivals where Christians were killed for not bowing to false gods, to neighborhood trick-or-treating in Spider-Man costumes, the conversation spans everything from first-century martyrdom to modern-day conscience.
They unpack:
• Why early Christians were called “atheists”
• The difference between spiritual, meaningful, and communal holidays
• What to do when Christians disagree over participation
• Whether celebrating Halloween compromises your witness or creates one
• The dark side of legalism and disunity in the Church
Relevant Scripture:
1 Corinthians 8–10, Colossians 2:16–17, Romans 14, Ezekiel 37
Whether you’re lighting a candle for Reformation Day, carving pumpkins with your neighbors, or staying in with the lights off, this episode gives you a thoughtful, gospel-centered way to navigate the season.

🌎 Learn More: www.thegardenaz.com
🕒 Sundays at 8:00 AM | 9:30 AM | 11:00 AM | 12:30 PM

📲 Stay Connected:
Instagram: @thegardenaz

YouTube: @TheGardenChurchAZ
Facebook: The Garden Church
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Meet Pastor Skyler Oct 19, 2025

Show notes

After a short break, Skeptics & Saints is back! 🙌 In this powerful episode, Nolan sits down with longtime friend Skyler Elmer, who just joined The Garden Church as a Teaching Pastor.
Skyler shares his incredible story — from being an atheist who mocked Christians, to finding faith, to becoming a pastor and teacher of God’s Word. Together, Nolan and Skyler reflect on their early days of basement Bible studies, hard lessons from ministry, and the importance of humility, prayer, and quick obedience in leadership.
They also unveil something big: The Garden’s new vision for an in-house Bible college and seminary — training disciples, pastors, and future church planters to handle God’s Word with both depth and devotion.
🔥 Topics Covered:
- Skyler’s journey from atheism to faith
- Lessons from ministry: humility, prayer, obedience
- Why The Garden is building an in-house seminary
- The danger of shallow theology & progressive drift
- How the Holy Spirit leads in real, tangible ways
- The future of biblical training in the local church
🙏 Pray For:
Skyler, Stephanie, and their kids as they settle into life and ministry at The Garden.

🌎 Learn More: www.thegardenaz.com
🕒 Sundays at 8:00 AM | 9:30 AM | 11:00 AM | 12:30 PM

📲 Stay Connected:
Instagram: @thegardenaz

YouTube: @TheGardenChurchAZ
Facebook: The Garden Church
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How do I reach my friend who doesn’t do church? Jul 18, 2025

Show notes

⁉️ Yep, we’re asking the question: Who is the church really for? The seasoned saints? The skeptical outsider? 🤨⚡
This conversation will break down into three parts:
1️⃣ What Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14 about building up the unbeliever
2️⃣ Why Spirit-filled and Bible-rooted aren't enemies but essential allies
3️⃣ How to invite your friends to church with confidence and compassion
In this episode, we dive deep into how church can be a space that speaks to both the convinced and the curious. 📖🔥
🎧 Tune in and let’s rethink how we do church—for the lost, the skeptical, and the called.
🌎 Learn More: www.thegardenaz.com
🕒 Sundays at 8:00 AM | 9:45 AM | 11:30 AM

📲 Stay Connected:
Instagram: @thegardenaz

YouTube: @TheGardenChurchAZ
Facebook: The Garden Church
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Is the Church For Non Christians? Jul 18, 2025

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How do I reach my friend who doesn’t do church? Jul 17, 2025

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🎙️ Skeptics & Saints Podcast –
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Why Would God Allow The Texas Floods? Jul 10, 2025

Show notes

WHY DID GOD ALLOW TEXAS FLOODS TO HAPPEN? 🌊💔

When disaster strikes, it shakes us. We ask the question that haunts every human soul: Where was God? In this raw and honest message, we wrestle with the problem of pain, not with cheap clichés, but with the deep truths of Scripture. From Job’s agony to the groaning of creation, from the cross of Christ to the promise of a restored world, this episode explores how a good and sovereign God can allow tragedy and still be worthy of our trust. 🙏
If you’ve ever struggled with grief, doubt, or loss, this is for you.
🎧 Listen now. Find purpose in pain. Find God in the storm. 🌧️➡️🌤️

🌎 Learn More: www.thegardenaz.com
🕒 Sundays at 8:00 AM | 9:45 AM | 11:30 AM

📲 Stay Connected:
Instagram: @thegardenaz

YouTube: @TheGardenChurchAZ
Facebook: The Garden Church
🎙️ Skeptics & Saints Podcast –
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How to Heal From Church Hurt Jul 09, 2025

Show notes

📌 Church hurt is real. The betrayal. The bitterness. The breakdowns in trust. But here’s what’s also real: the healing Jesus offers through His Church, not outside of it.
This message doesn’t minimize your pain. Instead, it confronts it with truth and leads you toward hope. From Genesis to Matthew, from David’s laments to Jesus’ promises, we learn that while people fail, Jesus doesn’t and He hasn’t given up on His bride. 👑💍
You may have been wounded in church… but you’ll be restored in Christ. ❤️‍🩹
🕊️ Don’t let your pain push you away from the very place God designed for your healing.

🌎 Learn More: www.thegardenaz.com
🕒 Sundays at 8:00 AM | 9:45 AM | 11:30 AM

📲 Stay Connected:
Instagram: @thegardenaz

YouTube: @TheGardenChurchAZ
Facebook: The Garden Church
🎙️ Skeptics & Saints Podcast –
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