The Wake-Up Call

Latest Episodes:

How Much More? Sep 25, 2026

Show notes

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This episode reflects on Romans 5 and makes a central argument that the gospel can’t be reduced to either the death of Jesus or the life of Jesus alone. JD Walt contrasts two kinds of churches he grew up around—one focused mainly on Jesus as teacher and example, the other focused mainly on the cross and repentance—and says both captured something true, but neither told the whole story. His point is that salvation includes the full arc of Jesus’s life, death, resurrection, ascension, and reign, and that believers need the whole story of Christ shaping their memory, imagination, and daily life.

The episode then moves into a more devotional and communal tone, ending with a hymn sing with JD’s father, David. Together they sing “Tell Me the Stories of Jesus,” which reinforces the message that the stories of Jesus are not extra details but essential to faith. JD closes by urging listeners to carry Jesus’s love into the world through their actions and presence, encouraging them to go out and lift others up in practical ways.

CHAPTERS:
00:04 Introduction to the Wake-Up Call Experiment
02:01 The Importance of Jesus's Life and Death
05:49 The Whole Story of Jesus
10:05 Immersing in the Life of Jesus
12:58 Introduction and Special Guests
13:47 The Life and Death of Jesus
17:40 Singing the Stories of Jesus
18:37 Encouragement and Community Engagement

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Sing along with us! ► https://seedbed.com/hymnal/

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Get the Wake-Up Call in your email each day ► https://seedbed.com/wakeupcall ⛪️ Are you a pastor? We'd love to connect ► https://seedbed.typeform.com/to/dymjFhUB Join the Field Team and help us sow the Wake-Up Call into new hearts ► https://seedbed.typeform.com/fieldteam Join the conversation: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/seedbedwakeupcall/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewakeupcall/ Listen to the podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-wake-up-call/id1040184070 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7t5qb5dpC7n0yxdyNsTKzTsi=e87495c982f145f6

The Word of the Day and of Eternity Sep 24, 2026

Show notes

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This episode centers on the message that Jesus is calling people home, especially those who feel weary, far away, or like they’ve used up their chances. Through hymns like “’Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus” and “Softly and Tenderly,” the J.D. Walt emphasizes trust, repentance, and the invitation to return to God now rather than putting it off. The tone is pastoral and urgent, with a strong sense of compassion for people living in spiritual exhaustion or distance.

The second half shifts into a teaching from Romans 5:7–8, where the J.D. argues that the key word in the gospel is not just grace, but love. He explains that grace is an idea, but love is personal—shown in the fact that Christ died for us “while we were still sinners.” The episode explores agape love, the parable of the prodigal son, and the idea that God is actively looking down the road for people to come home. It closes with a prayer and reflection prompts that challenge listeners to consider whether they are willing to be known and loved by God.

CHAPTERS:
00:04 Introduction and Call to Worship
01:18 The Word of the Day: Love and Grace
07:33 Understanding Love in the Context of the Gospel
10:10 The Nature of Agape Love
12:18 The Prodigal Son: A Story of Redemption

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Sing along with us! ► https://seedbed.com/hymnal/

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Get the Wake-Up Call in your email each day ► https://seedbed.com/wakeupcall ⛪️ Are you a pastor? We'd love to connect ► https://seedbed.typeform.com/to/dymjFhUB Join the Field Team and help us sow the Wake-Up Call into new hearts ► https://seedbed.typeform.com/fieldteam Join the conversation: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/seedbedwakeupcall/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewakeupcall/ Listen to the podcast: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-wake-up-call/id1040184070 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7t5qb5dpC7n0yxdyNsTKzTsi=e87495c982f145f6

How Does Gravity Work? Sep 23, 2026

Show notes

- - - - - - - P.S. Can't Make it to the New Room Conference? Join Us Online for the New Room Conference! Can’t make the trip in person from Sept 30–Oct 2? You can experience the entire New Room Conference right from home. Join us online for an inspiring time of connection and worship as we are equipped to sow for a great awakening. I’d love to gather with you virtually—register for the livestream here: https://seedbed.com/nrc26-livestream/

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This episode centers on the idea of gravity as a spiritual metaphor for the forces shaping our lives. Using Romans 5, it contrasts the pull of sin, death, and despair with the far greater pull of grace, life, and heaven. The message is that through Jesus Christ, believers are not just forgiven but actually moved into a new center of gravity—one grounded in peace with God, hope, and the power of the Holy Spirit.

The episode also blends teaching with a warm, devotional tone and a family-hymn moment. JD and his father David reflect on farming and harvest imagery, connecting sowing and reaping to the gospel and to Jesus’ call to gather people into God’s kingdom. They then sing “Love Lifted Me,” underscoring the main theme: when nothing else can save or sustain us, the love of Christ lifts us up and carries us into life with God.

CHAPTERS:
00:04 Awakening to Presence
01:37 Understanding Gravity: A Spiritual Metaphor
07:09 The Power of Grace Over Sin
10:04 Living in the Gravity of Heaven

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Sing along with us! ► https://seedbed.com/hymnal/

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Wake-Up Call Conversations with Amy Orr-Ewing and JD Walt Sep 22, 2026

Show notes

Come hear from Amy at the New Room Conference Sept 30 - Oct 2
In-Person Tickets: https://seedbed.com/newroomconference2026/
Virtual Livestream Tickets: https://seedbed.com/nrc26-livestream/
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This episode is a wide-ranging conversation between JD Walt and Amy Orr-Ewing about public theology, awakening, and the holiness of God. Amy explains her work as a preacher and public theologian, describing how she brings Christian truth into public spaces like universities, government, and business settings, with the aim of answering real questions and pointing people toward Jesus. The conversation quickly turns to spiritual awakening, and Amy argues that genuine awakening is not about making faith easier, but about encountering the overwhelming holiness and authority of God. She suggests that many people today, especially younger generations, are not looking for a lowered standard, but for something true, costly, and worthy of their lives.

The second half focuses on themes of the image of God, transformation, and forgiveness. JD and Amy explore how human dignity explains why people care so deeply about injustice, anger, and harm, and how the Christian story gives a deeper account of those realities than secular materialism can. Amy then unpacks forgiveness as something far more substantial than “letting it go,” arguing that real forgiveness does not minimize evil but entrusts justice to God through the cross and final judgment. She connects this to healing, freedom, and even national redemption, making the case that forgiveness is one of the most powerful and consequential Christian practices.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Introduction to Amy Orr-Ewing
02:49 The Role of a Public Theologian
06:01 Awakening and the Holiness of God
08:52 Cultural Context and the Image of God
11:59 The Search for Meaning in a Secular World
15:01 The Call for Transformation vs. Self-Improvement
17:49 Understanding Forgiveness in a Cancel Culture
21:01 The Cosmic Scale of Forgiveness
24:02 The Impact of Forgiveness on Society
26:54 Conclusion and Future Directions

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A Wretch like Me? Sep 22, 2026

Show notes

- - - - - - - P. S. ❗️ Check Out the Revival Town Podcast Some months back I was graced to be a guest on one of my favorite podcasts—The Revival Town Podcast hosted by Chuck Tate and Andy King. We talked about Romans. As a hat tip, I wore the hat Chuck recently sent me with the number 41. I speak in the podcast today of what that is all about. Anyhow I link the podcast here where you can watch on YouTube or listen on Apple or Spotify. I’d encourage you to subscribe as these are two wonderful (and hilarious) men of God. To listen on YouTube, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuX4uORLicE To listen on Podcast, click here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jd-walt/id1533381156?i=1000745685268 To listen on Spotify, click here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1khZo9QdE0Tgp9thmcnAwh

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Amazing Grace is bigger than bad behavior. JD Walt cracks open Romans 4 and shows why the real human problem is not just what we do, but what we are - and why that changes everything about how you hear the gospel.

Using Abraham’s faith, the line “saved a wretch like me,” and the life-changing logic of the cross, JD presses into the deeper diagnosis most people miss: the issue is not simply outward sin, but a corrupted nature that needs resurrection, not just self-improvement.

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Sing along with us! ► https://seedbed.com/hymnal/

Back to the Second Beginning . . . Sep 21, 2026

Show notes

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This episode focuses on Romans 4:13–17 and uses Abraham and Sarah’s story to show that God’s promise comes by faith, not by law or human ability. JD emphasizes that Abraham and Sarah were, in practical terms, beyond hope—old, childless, and “as good as dead”—yet God chose them anyway to demonstrate that He is the God who gives life to the dead and calls things into being. The episode reframes salvation as much bigger than a legal transaction: it is resurrection life, transformation, and participation in God’s new creation.The message then broadens into a call to live as people who have already been awakened by Jesus.

JD encourages listeners to move beyond thinking of salvation only as “going to heaven when you die” and instead see the Bible’s bigger story as creation to new creation. He ties that vision to Romans 12, urging believers to offer their bodies as living sacrifices, be transformed by the renewing of their minds, and live as one body in Christ. The episode closes with a strong note of encouragement: it is never too late for God to work, and Jesus can manifest His life through anyone, at any age.

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Sing along with us! ► https://seedbed.com/hymnal/

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The Man on the Middle Cross Said I Could Come Sep 19, 2026

Show notes

- - - - - - - P. S. ❗️ Can't Make it to the New Room Conference? Join Us Online for the New Room Conference! Can’t make the trip in person from Sept 30–Oct 2? You can experience the entire New Room Conference right from home. Join us online for an inspiring time of connection and worship as we are equipped to sow for a great awakening. I’d love to gather with you virtually—register for the livestream here: https://seedbed.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=108471&action=edit&classic-editor

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The way into salvation is simpler - and far more radical - than most people think: you bring nothing, God brings everything, and the only answer that stands in the end is, “The man on the middle cross said I could come.” If you’ve ever wrestled with grace, performance, guilt, or the urge to add requirements to what Jesus has already finished, this message will land with weight.

JD Walt opens Romans 4:9-12 and gets straight to the heart of Abraham, circumcision, and the stunning logic of justification by faith. He unpacks why faith comes before the sign, why religious add-ons so quickly distort the gospel, and why the cross confronts both despair and pride at the same time.

CHAPTERS:
00:04 A Morning Wake-Up Call
01:36 Understanding Consecration and Faith
04:20 The Power of Believing God
09:37 The Thief on the Cross: A Lesson in Grace
11:04 The Nature of Sin and Salvation
15:08 The Transformative Power of Christ
18:58 Living in the Fullness of Faith

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Sing along with us! ► https://seedbed.com/hymnal/

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The Difference between Knowing What We Believe and Knowing Who We Believe Sep 18, 2026

Show notes

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This episode is a devotional wake-up call centered on Romans 4 and the difference between knowing what we believe and truly knowing who we believe. JD Walt explains the gospel as something far deeper than mental agreement: it is being credited with righteousness we did not earn, like receiving a passing grade, a pardon, or a debt paid in full by someone else. He challenges listeners to wrestle honestly with the terms of grace, asking whether they have merely accepted religious ideas or actually allowed the Holy Spirit to renew their minds and hearts.

The episode then turns toward prayer, worship, and encouragement through the hymn “I Know Whom I Have Believed,” which reinforces the theme that faith is trust in a person, not just facts. JD closes by urging listeners to carry this living faith into their day by becoming a presence of love, listening, encouragement, and truth for others. The overall message is that Jesus is not only the content of belief but the living Savior who meets people in their weakness, transforms them, and sends them out to bring hope to others.

CHAPTERS:
00:04 Awakening to the Day
01:30 Understanding the Gospel: Beliefs vs. Believer
10:22 The Depth of Faith: Beyond Superficiality
15:47 Living Out the Gospel: Transformation and Outreach

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Sing along with us! ► https://seedbed.com/hymnal/

Faith: From Beliefs to Believing Sep 17, 2026

Show notes

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Most Christians have beliefs about God. Far fewer actually believe God. JD Walt draws a sharp, unforgettable line between the two, and it changes everything about what faith, righteousness, and salvation really mean. Using Romans 4 and Abraham's story, JD shows why righteousness is not earned through striving, rule-keeping, or self-reliance, and why the gospel reveals something far deeper: a righteousness received by grace through faith.

He unpacks what it means to move from mental assent to active trust, from "accepting" ideas about God to staking your whole life on God himself.

CHAPTERS:
00:04 Introduction and Call to Prayer
02:24 Understanding Faith: From Beliefs to Believing
11:15 The Distinction Between Believing and Beliefs
14:58 Righteousness Through Faith: A Deeper Understanding
18:36 Living by Faith: A Personal Journey

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Sing along with us! ► https://seedbed.com/hymnal/

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Has Anyone Ever Paid Your Debts? Sep 16, 2026

Show notes

This episode centers on the theme of grace, using the hymn “Marvelous Grace” as a starting point to reflect on God’s ability to hear, understand, and respond to us even when our prayers or words are imperfect. JD Walt and his father sing together and talk about how Jesus is already with believers, going before them, walking beside them, and cleaning up behind them. The tone is warm, devotional, and encouraging, with a strong emphasis on God’s grace being greater than human weakness or mistakes.

The second part of the episode shifts into a teaching on Romans 3:27–31 and the question, “Has anyone ever paid your debts?” JD compares financial debt to spiritual debt, explaining that just as being debt-free is a cause for celebration, so too is being justified by faith apart from works. He shares a personal story about friends who paid off his debts during a painful season of family crisis, using it as a picture of the far greater gift of Jesus paying humanity’s sin debt in full. The episode calls listeners to move beyond merely believing in Jesus to truly believing Jesus and living as though his saving grace is fully real.

CHAPTERS:
00:04 Morning Meeting with Jesus
02:11 Understanding Debt and Grace
10:19 Faith and Belonging to Jesus
11:31 Awakening to Eternal Realities
13:01 The Reality of Sin and Restoration
16:50 Introduction to Grace in Hymns
19:53 The Power of Grace in Our Lives

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Sing along with us! ► https://seedbed.com/hymnal/

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