Overtime with Jim Putman

Rough Cut: Set in Stone - The OverTime Podcast

Rough Cut: Shattered Edge - The Overtime Podcast

Rough Cut: Sinking Stones - The OverTime Podcast

That's in the Bible?: Mud in Your Eye - The Overtime Podcast

That's in the Bible?: Jonah and the Fish - The Overtime Podcast

That's in the Bible: Balaam's Donkey

UnBelievable: Creation

In this episode of Real Life Overtime, we launch into the new series titled "Unbelievable," starting with a foundational discussion on the existence of God. Jim Putman, together with Lance Wigton, Communications Director at Real Life, dig deeper into the faith dynamics between naturalism and theism, wrestling with scientific, philosophical, and biblical perspectives. This conversation aims to equip Life Group leaders and believers with a strong foundation to thoughtfully engage with both evidence and faith, strengthening their walk and their witness.

Key Takeaways

Faith vs. Faith: Naturalism and Theism

• Naturalism (the belief in a closed, random universe) and Theism (belief in a supernatural Creator) both require faith.
• Faith is not blind; it's a reasoned trust based on evidence.

Four Scientific Evidences Pointing to God

1. The Universe Had a Beginning: The Hubble Telescope revealed that the universe is not eternal—it had a starting point, implying a cause beyond space, time, and matter.
2. The Fine-Tuning of the Universe: Specific conditions allow for life; an accident seems improbable.
3. The Origin of Life: Life emerging from non-living matter is not observable by science and remains a major challenge to naturalistic explanations.
4. The Emergence of Consciousness: Conscious awareness cannot be explained by purely materialistic processes.

Addressing Theistic Evolution and the Age of the Earth

• Some Christians try to blend evolutionary theory with biblical creation (theistic evolution).
• There are arguments for both young-earth (literal days) and old-earth (epochs of time) interpretations, but the critical issue is acknowledging God's direct involvement.

Scientific Challenges to Macroevolution

• Microevolution (small adaptations) is observable; macroevolution (species-to-species transitions) is not.
• The lack of transitional fossils and the concept of irreducible complexity pose major challenges to evolutionary theory.
• Dating methods (like radiocarbon dating) can be influenced by environmental factors, questioning their reliability.

 

God's Sovereign Power in Creation

• God could create a mature universe, just as Adam was created fully grown.
• God operates outside of time, space, and matter, making Him capable of instant creation that appears ancient to us.

Pain, Doubt, and Faith

• Many doubts about God's existence are rooted in personal pain and suffering, not scientific evidence.
• The story of the Prodigal Son illustrates God's patient love and desire for reconciliation, offering hope even in brokenness.

Discussion Questions

• What faith system are you relying on—naturalism or theism? Why?
• How do you respond to the idea that faith can be based on evidence?
• What challenges you most about the origins of life, the fine-tuning of the universe, or the existence of consciousness?
• How does understanding God's sovereignty change the way you view scientific discoveries or unanswered questions?
• How can painful experiences lead people toward or away from faith in God? How can we respond to these struggles?

Action Steps

• Reflect on Your Foundations: Examine whether your worldview is shaped more by cultural assumptions or by biblical truth.
• Engage with Apologetics: Start reading resources like I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist by Frank Turek or The Case for a Creator by Lee Strobel to strengthen your confidence in God's existence.
• Prepare for Conversations: Equip yourself to have grace-filled discussions with those questioning faith, focusing on both evidence and the hope of the gospel.
• Encourage Someone Wrestling with Doubt: Reach out to someone struggling with belief, listen to their story, and gently point them to the evidence of God’s existence and love.

Closing Encouragement

God is not threatened by our questions or struggles. He invites us to seek, to ask, and to find that He is real, good, and powerful beyond our understanding. As we journey through this series, let's remember that our faith is rooted not in wishful thinking but in a God who has revealed Himself through creation, history, and most of all, through Jesus Christ. Stand firm in your faith, pursue understanding with humility, and live confidently knowing that the Creator of the universe calls you His own.

 

For more resources for this series go to: https://realliferesources.org/current-series/unbelievable/

The Wait of Glory: Saturday

Welcome back to the Real Life Overtime Podcast! In this deeply moving episode, Jim Putman, Pat Lessard, Jim Blazin, Gabe Cleave and Christian Putman revisit the final week of Jesus’ life—especially the tension and uncertainty of "Silent Saturday." The conversation centers around the confusing and painful moments the disciples faced, drawing parallels to our own seasons of waiting and silence. Each of the pastors shares personal stories and biblical insights that challenge and encourage us to keep trusting God even when He seems quiet.

 

Key Takeaways

1. Don’t Mistake Silence for Absence

• Silent seasons can feel like abandonment, but God is still present and active.
• "While you're waiting, God is working"—even when we can’t see it, He is shaping us and the situation.

2. God is Doing a Work In You, For You, and Through You

• Sometimes God delays action because He is transforming us inwardly.
• Like John Piper says: “God is always doing 10,000 things, and you may be aware of three.”

3. Waiting Exposes Our Trust Issues

• In the silence, we are often tempted to take control or doubt God’s goodness.
• These moments are invitations to deeper dependence and trust in God's character.

4. Suffering Is Not the Absence of God’s Love

• From the Garden of Gethsemane to the crucifixion, Jesus modeled how to suffer faithfully.
• Romans 8 reminds us that nothing can separate us from God’s love—not confusion, not persecution, not pain.

5. Biblical Characters Waited Too

• Abraham, David, Joseph—all waited through hardship before God's promises were fulfilled.
• Their stories teach us to trust God's timing and sovereignty.

6. We Need Each Other in the Waiting

• Community is essential: we carry one another’s burdens, remind each other of God’s past faithfulness, and speak truth into each other’s silence.

 

Discussion Questions

1. What “day” are you in right now—Thursday (confusion), Friday (tragedy), Saturday (silence), or Sunday (victory)?
2. How have you experienced God’s work during a waiting season?
3. In your silence, what lies has the enemy tried to plant, and how do you fight back with truth?
4. What are you currently praying for that God hasn’t answered yet? How are you responding in the wait?
5. How can you be a source of encouragement to someone else who is in a Silent Saturday season?

 

Action Steps

• Reflect: Take time this week to identify where you are in your spiritual journey. What does your “Saturday” look like?
• Pray Honestly: Like Habakkuk and David, bring your confusion and pain honestly before God.
• Encourage Someone: Share your story with someone else who might be in a difficult waiting season.
• Invite Others: Use the Easter season as an opportunity to invite someone to church or into conversation about faith.
• Trust God's Promises: Meditate on scriptures that remind you of God's faithfulness, even when He seems silent.

Closing Encouragement

No matter what part of the journey you’re on—celebration, confusion, heartbreak, or silence—God is at work. "Silent Saturday" reminds us that even in the most hopeless moments, resurrection is on the horizon. He is not absent. He is present, loving, and working for your good. Trust Him, walk with Him, and surround yourself with others who will help you stay the course. Sunday is coming.

 

 

Scripture References

• Luke 24 (The Road to Emmaus)
• Habakkuk 3
• Psalm 77, Psalm 34
• Romans 8
• 2 Peter 1
• 2 Corinthians 1
• Isaiah 40:31
• Jeremiah 29:11