Against the Grain

We all live for something. At 121, we believe that living for Jesus offers the most meaningful and fulfilling life. In our culture, this is living against the grain. It is easy to be conformed to our culture, but what does it look like to live differently, to live for Jesus, to live counter-culturally? Be encouraged and challenged, as we hear conversations with people in various seasons and circumstances, sharing their journeys of following Jesus daily and how that shapes their everyday experiences.

Against the Grain is a religion podcast hosted by 121CC, with 68 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

121CC hosts Against the Grain, a religion show with 68 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

• 

  Episode #66

  66. Pick-Up Soccer, Purposeful Mission (with Jhejuda Ehrbar and Kevin Brooks)

  Sep 6, 202634 min

  Your Neighborhood Is Bigger Than You Think In this episode, Eric, Jhejuda, and Kevin dig into the incredible ministry happening right in our own backyard — from cross-cultural friendships to pick-up soccer games that are becoming powerful tools for reaching people well. Loving your neighbor doesn't stop at the house next door. It reaches the person you sit beside at a soccer tournament, the people at your gym in the morning, and everyone God places in your path. Here in the DFW area, the nations have come to us, and our neighborhoods will never look the same. Keywords: neighborhood ministry, loving your neighbor, DFW ministry, cross-cultural outreach, nations in DFW, community outreach podcast, missions at home, soccer ministry, everyday evangelism, local missions, reaching your community, faith and community, DFW podcast, gospel outreach, urban missions

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Against the Grain

  65. Is a God that Allows Evil Really Good? (with Rick Townsend & Jason Gardner)

  Aug 30, 202643 min

  "I Can't Believe in a God Who Allows Evil" — Wrestling With Suffering & Faith "I can't believe in a God who allows evil." Ever thought that? Most of us have! When life gets dark, staying convinced that God is good isn't always easy, and that's okay to admit. No matter what you believe, we can all agree on one thing: evil is real. So how do we as Christians actually deal with that? Not just in theory, but in real life, real conversations, real doubt. In this episode Eric, Rick, and Jason get honest about the problem of evil, the hard questions, the messy doubts, and how to talk about it with people who are struggling too. No easy answers here, just real talk on one of faith's toughest topics. Resources: The Problem of Pain by C.S. Lewis A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis Walking with God Through Pain and Suffering by Tim Keller The Reason for God by Tim Keller Keywords: problem of evil, Christian podcast, faith and doubt, does God allow suffering, apologetics, evil in the world, God's goodness, Christianity, theodicy, wrestling with faith, suffering and God

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Against the Grain

  64. What Are the Odds This Is All an Accident? (with Rick, Brian & Jason)

  Aug 18, 202654 min

  Is Christian faith a blind leap, or is there evidence pointing to a Creator? In this episode, Eric, Rick, Brian and Jason explore the evidence for design throughout nature, the human body, and the universe. From DNA and biological complexity to the fine-tuning of the cosmos, we consider why the order and purpose we see in creation point beyond chance and toward an intelligent Designer. We also discuss how worldview assumptions shape the way we interpret evidence and how Christians can engage skeptics with humility, curiosity, and thoughtful questions. Ultimately, the evidence of creation invites us not only to greater confidence in our faith, but to greater awe of the God who created it all. Topics: Design, science and faith, DNA, irreducible complexity, fine-tuning, materialism, apologetics, engaging skeptics.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Against the Grain

  63. Science vs. Christianity: Is There Really a Conflict? (with Rick, Jason & Brian)

  Jul 26, 202647 min

  Has science really disproved God or the Bible's account of creation? It's a common claim, but is the evidence as clear-cut as many believe? In this episode, Eric, Rick, Jason & Brian explore the relationship between faith and science, tackling questions about evolution, the origin of life, the Big Bang, and the fine-tuning of the universe. They discuss why scientific debates are often more nuanced than headlines suggest and how Christians can confidently engage these conversations by asking thoughtful questions and examining the evidence. This episode also looks at why believers can remain united on secondary issues like the age of the earth while standing firm on the foundational truth that God is Creator. If you've ever wondered whether science and Christianity are truly at odds, this conversation will equip you to think critically, respond graciously, and grow in confidence that faith and science are not enemies. Resources: Return of the God Hypothesis by Stephen Meyer Inventing the Flat Earth by Jeffrey Burton Russell Privileged Planet (ID the Future) Greg Koukl videos in under 3 minutes & under an hour Keywords: Christian apologetics, faith and science, science and Christianity, biblical creation, creation vs evolution, intelligent design, origin of life, Big Bang, fine-tuning, evidence for God, Genesis, Christian worldview, apologetics podcast, science and the Bible, defending the faith.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #62

  62. Has God's Word Been Lost in Translation? (with Rick, Brian, & Jason)

  Jul 12, 202639 min

  Can we really trust the Bible? Has Scripture been changed over time, or is it reliable after thousands of years? Many people compare the Bible to a giant game of telephone, assuming its message has been distorted through centuries of copying and translation. But does the evidence support that claim? In this episode, Eric, Jason, Rick and Brian explore the historical reliability of the Bible, the accuracy of biblical manuscripts, and the archaeological evidence that consistently supports Scripture. You'll discover why Christians can have confidence that the Bible we read today faithfully preserves God's Word and why the claims of Scripture continue to stand up to historical scrutiny. Whether you're wrestling with doubts, answering tough questions from skeptics, or simply wanting to strengthen your faith, this conversation will equip you with practical reasons to trust the Bible and engage confidently in conversations about Scripture. Resources: History & Biblical Archaeology : 4-part series Can We Trust the Bible Workshop Where Did the Bible Come From? Something Out There is Shaping the Way We Live - Sermon Archive Key Topics Can the Bible be trusted? Is the Bible just a game of telephone? Historical reliability of the Bible Biblical manuscript evidence Archaeological evidence for the Bible Has the Bible changed over time? Bible translations and textual accuracy Defending the authority of Scripture Christian apologetics Evidence for Christianity How to answer questions about the Bible Why Christians can trust God's Word

  ListenShow Notes

Recent guests on Against the Grain. Study who booked and why before you pitch.

Based on semantic analysis of episode topics and host coverage, this show is a strong guest fit for executives in:

Industry fit is computed by PitchCentric using vector embeddings of the show's episode catalog.