Episode Details

What happens when obedience to God feels risky?

In this episode, we explore the tension between love and fear — especially when someone we care about senses a calling that could cost them comfort, security, or even safety. It’s one thing to say we trust God. It’s another to release someone we love into His hands.

Looking at Paul’s final encouragement to Timothy, written from a prison cell under Emperor Nero’s brutal reign, we see something remarkable: Paul doesn’t urge caution. He doesn’t prioritize survival. Instead, he tells Timothy to fan into flame the very gift that could invite persecution.

So what gave Paul that kind of courage? And how do we cultivate it today?

What We Discuss

• The internal conflict between protection and obedience

• Why fear often disguises itself as wisdom

• Paul’s deep relationship with Timothy — and his even deeper trust in Christ

• The historical reality of persecution under Nero

• What it means to “fan into flame” your spiritual gifts

• How eternal perspective fuels present-day courage

• Why intimacy with Christ produces boldness instead of timidity

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Full Transcript Below:

Fanning the Flame in Our Souls
By: Jennifer Slattery

Bible Reading:
I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. - 2 Timothy 1:5-7, NIV

Years ago, my extended family experienced a period of panic after my younger brother told us that he was praying about trying to get a job in North Korea so that he could share the gospel. I don’t remember if the country was open to this at the time, but he hoped to teach English and use his role to build relationships that could allow for spiritual conversations. My mind immediately flooded with thoughts of him in a North Korean prison, tortured for his faith–if not executed. 

I wanted to tell him all the reasons this was a terrible idea. By God’s grace, however, I stayed silent, knowing the greater danger was in encouraging him to deny Go