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PODCAST

Theology on Purpose

Sarah K. Butterfield

Theology on Purpose is a podcast for women who want to deepen their knowledge of God, explore matters of theology, and live out a robust faith. Each episode equips and empowers you to grow spiritually, strengthen your relationship with God, and make a meaningful impact in the world around you. Tune in for thoughtful conversations, practical insights, and tools to live your faith with intention.

religion & spirituality religion

All Episodes

43:01

Wondering Our Way Into Deeper Faith with Meredith Miller

Theology on Purpose ·

2026/03/03

In this episode, I'm joined by author and pastor Meredith Ann Miller to talk about raising kids with a faith that can bend without breaking. Drawing from her books Woven and Wonder, Meredith invites us to move beyond rigid, behavior-focused Christianity and instead cultivate a resilient trust in a good and near God. In this conversation, we explore how curiosity, storytelling, and "wondering questions" can transform the way we read Scripture with our children—and renew our own faith in the process

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10:05

The Cost of Getting Closer to God

Theology on Purpose ·

2026/02/24

We say we want to grow closer to God. We long for deeper faith, greater intimacy, real transformation. But what happens when getting closer to God actually costs us something? In this solo episode of Theology on Purpose, I'm talking about the power of desire—why wanting isn't always enough, what keeps us from acting on our deepest spiritual longings, and how God gently invites us to reorder our loves. If you've ever wondered why your life doesn't always reflect what you say you want most, this

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36:17

A Faith That Can Weather Change with Rev. Courtney Ellis

Theology on Purpose ·

2026/02/17

Reverend Courtney Ellis joins Theology on Purpose to talk about navigating life's toughest transitions with honesty, gentleness, and hope. Drawing from her book Weathering Change, Courtney explores how God meets us in seasons of uncertainty through small, sustaining practices, deep self-awareness, and even the wisdom of the natural world. Tune in to be inspired by this grace-filled vision for faith that can hold anxiety, doubt, and change without rushing toward easy answers. In this episode, you'll

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07:38

Where you look and why it matters

Theology on Purpose ·

2026/02/10

Faith doesn't always look like courage. Sometimes it looks like choosing, again and again, where to fix our gaze. In this solo episode of Theology on Purpose, I reflect on a moment of fear on a snowy hill, the wisdom of Scripture—from Hebrews to the crossing of the Red Sea—and what it means to look honestly at darkness without letting it determine our direction. Get the free download: https://sarahkbutterfield.substack.com/

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42:15

Faith, Food, and the Power of the Table with Kendall...

Theology on Purpose ·

2026/02/03

In this episode of Theology on Purpose, food scholar and theologian Kendall Vanderslice joins Sarah for a conversation about food as a site of spiritual formation. Kendall shares her journey into food and theology and explores what the practice of baking bread can teach us about faith. They reflect on how spiritual growth happens not through control or performance, but through learning to trust God with the work of transformation. In this episode, we discuss: What bread-making reveals about

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10:11

How Your Values Shape the Life You're Building

Theology on Purpose ·

2026/01/27

Every day begins with a blank canvas, and every decision we make becomes a brushstroke. But what happens when life doesn't turn out the way we imagined, or when our plans are interrupted by limits, and the unexpected? In this solo episode, we explore how our daily choices shape our lives, how to honor our God-given limits and capacity, and how to trust God when we're not in control. Through a faith-filled lens, you'll be encouraged to live with intention, clarity, and surrender as you invite God

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32:18

Trusting God When Your Heart Feels Troubled with Kara...

Theology on Purpose ·

2026/01/20

In this episode of Theology on Purpose, Sarah is joined by Kara Stout, author of An Untroubled Heart, for a meaningful conversation about faith, anxiety, grief, and God's sustaining peace. In this episode, you'll hear about: Kara's journey through infertility, adoption, and motherhood Losing both parents to cancer and how grief shaped her faith The difference between anxious thoughts and the Holy Spirit's leading Why we shouldn't "spiritually bypass" our emotions How daily rhythms of

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08:42

Why Waiting Is Never Wasted in God's Economy

Theology on Purpose ·

2026/01/13

Seasons of waiting don't need to feel like wasted time, but instead they can be part of our spiritual formation! In this solo episode, I reflect on a missed speaking opportunity, biblical stories of long seasons of waiting, and what our unmet desires reveal about our deeper longing for God. Tune in to discover how waiting can become an active spiritual practice that reshapes our faith, priorities, and trust in God's goodness. Subscribe here to never miss an episode!

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36:50

Seeing Your Work Through God's Lens with Phoebe Miles

Theology on Purpose ·

2026/01/06

In this episode of Theology on Purpose, Sarah talks with Phoebe Miles, co-founder of the Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention, about faith, creativity, and the long work of living out your calling. Phoebe shares the story behind her father's invention of Gatorade, including the personal cost that followed, and how learning to see that story through God's lens transformed her understanding of humility, healing, and vocation. Phoebe discusses how our work—whether visible or hidden, paid or

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08:19

Trusting a Good God When the Way Is Unclear

Theology on Purpose ·

2025/12/30

In this solo episode, I reflect on what it means to trust a good God when the way forward feels uncertain. Drawing on Ruth Haley Barton's insights on discernment, I explore how learning to release our preferred outcomes, listen for love, and trust the Holy Spirit can help us make faithful decisions even when there is no single "right" path. This episode is an invitation to practice discernment as a way of life, especially as we step into seasons marked by change and unknowing. Take the Connect with

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06:50

Why Advent Hope Still Matters

Theology on Purpose ·

2025/12/16

In this Advent reflection, Sarah shares an unexpected story about her family dog that became a surprising teacher of hope. From a child's innocent question to a tearful moment in a vet's office, this episode explores why Advent hope still matters in a world full of uncertainty. Through Scripture, longing, and the everyday decisions that stretch our hearts, Sarah invites listeners to rediscover the Light that meets us in the dark and leads us toward what could be. Take the Connect with God quiz here:

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39:53

Finding Belonging in a Shifting Faith with Chelsea...

Theology on Purpose ·

2025/12/09

Tune into this rich conversation with author and lay theologian Chelsea Kim Long! We chat about faith, embodiment, and how our journey of following Jesus evolves over time. Chelsea shares how motherhood and doubt reshaped her spiritual life and led her toward a more embodied, and compassionate faith. She reflects on finding healing in intentional Christian community, expanding her theology of womanhood, and discovering how our bodies help us encounter God in daily life. This episode is a balm for

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09:22

How to Recapture the Wonder of Christmas

Theology on Purpose ·

2025/12/02

Have you ever found yourself surrounded by all the Christmas decorations, music, and activity—yet somehow missing the wonder of it all? In this solo episode, Sarah reflects on a quiet moment that made her realize how easy it is to grow too familiar with the nativity story. She shares four practical and heartfelt ways to recapture awe this Advent season. If your heart feels a little weary or uninspired this Christmas, this episode will help you slow down, look closer, and rediscover the miracle that

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31:42

The Hidden Gifts of Grief with Hadassah Treu

Theology on Purpose ·

2025/11/25

Can painful experiences become the birthplace of blessings? Author Hadassah Treu joins Sarah to share her powerful story of loss, faith, and redemption from her book Draw Near: How Painful Experiences Become the Birthplace of Blessings. She reflects on how grief led her to deeper intimacy with God, what disillusionment can teach us, and the simple practices that sustained her through seasons of sorrow. In this episode, you'll discover how to find hope when faith feels fragile, reframe pain as an

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06:49

How Lament Leads the Way to Thanksgiving

Theology on Purpose ·

2025/11/18

Sometimes gratitude feels out of reach. This Thanksgiving season, when counting blessings feels like an empty exercise, what if the way back to praise begins with lament? In this episode, Sarah reflects on a simple moment in a church storage room that became a picture of grace, and explores how honest lament before God can clear the way for true thanksgiving. Take the Connect with God quiz here: https://connectwithgodquiz.com/ Read these reflections in your inbox by subscribing to The Scoop

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33:08

Discovering God in the Season of Advent with Sylvie...

Theology on Purpose ·

2025/11/11

Author Sylvie Vanhoozer joins Sarah to talk about "The Art of Living in Advent" and how the beauty of ordinary life can draw us closer to God. Growing up in the south of France, Sylvie discovered the sacred in simple things—especially through the santons, small villagers in the traditional Provençal nativity scene. Listen in as they explore how art, imagination, and everyday faithfulness can become acts of worship, and how Advent invites us to wait with wonder and live a more embodied faith. You

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07:50

How We Learn the Taste of Truth

Theology on Purpose ·

2025/11/04

What do bread dough and spiritual discernment have in common? More than you might think. Join Sarah for a reflective look at why it's easier to follow someone else's recipe for faith, and how God invites each of us into the kitchen to discover that God's Word is alive and nourishing. Take the Connect with God quiz here: https://connectwithgodquiz.com/ Get the newsletter here: https://sarahkbutterfield.substack.com/subscribe

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38:55

The Spiritual Work of Becoming Fully Alive with Bekah...

Theology on Purpose ·

2025/10/28

In this episode, Sarah sits down with Bekah Stewart, spiritual director and author of "Permission to Matter: The Invitation to Wake Up, Stand Up, and Come Out of Hiding". Together they explore what it means for women to reclaim their spiritual agency and embrace a faith that honors their whole selves. Bekah shares how traditional models of spiritual formation (often shaped by male perspectives) tend to focus on overcoming pride. But for many women, the deeper struggle is self-erasure: shrinking or

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07:18

When Play Becomes a Spiritual Practice

Theology on Purpose ·

2025/10/21

Play isn’t just for kids, it can be a spiritual practice for adults, too! In this short solo episode, Sarah explores how play can reconnect us to joy, presence, and the God who delights in us. She shares practical ideas for weaving play into ordinary life and reminds us that delight is a part of spiritual growth. Take the Connect with God quiz here: https://connectwithgodquiz.com/

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30:17

How to Pray As You Are with Janet McHenry

Theology on Purpose ·

2025/10/14

Prayer can look different for each of us, and that was exactly how God designed it! In this episode, author Janet McHenry shares how her practice of prayer walking opened her eyes to the needs around her and transformed her understanding of prayer. We talk about how prayer shapes our experience of God, why one-size-fits-all methods can leave us discouraged, and how to embrace your unique personality and season of life in prayer. If you’ve ever felt stuck or dry in prayer, this conversation will

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