Unshaken Saints
Unshaken Saints

Unshaken Saints

Jared Halverson

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Episodes

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Seismic shifts in the religious and secular landscapes are destabilizing the faith of millions. Join religious educator Jared Halverson as he explores restored scripture, doctrine, history, and practice; examines patterns and pitfalls in navigating faith crisis; and wrestles with ways to make your faith unshaken.___________Hello my friends, I’m Jared Halverson and this is Unshaken. I’ve spent my life studying the scriptures, my professional career teaching them, and my education at a Bible-belt divinity school exploring ways they have been used and abused, attacked and defended. And I’d like to share with you some of the things I’ve learned. In March of 2020 I created a YouTube channel called Unshaken, and six months later we hit our one millionth view, as people around the world are eagerly pursuing an unshaken faith in God by immersing themselves in His word. More and more viewers have been asking for an audio-only version of the lessons on Unshaken, and this podcast is my attempt to meet those needs. What it lacks in the visuals shown on YouTube, or the polished sound of a podcast-only production, it hopefully makes up for in its accessibility to the drivers, joggers, and multi-taskers out there who want to study their scriptures “on the go.” To you, welcome to our verse-by-verse, Come Follow Me study of the scriptures. I pray that it helps your faith in Christ become unshaken.__________Disclaimer: The content of these podcasts is the sole responsibility of their creator and does not reflect the official position of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or the Church Educational System.

Recent Episodes

1 Samuel 17 - 2 Samuel 10 - David: From Shepherd to King
JUN 18, 2026
1 Samuel 17 - 2 Samuel 10 - David: From Shepherd to King
When David stepped into the Valley of Elah, he wasn't just facing a 9-foot giant named Goliath; he was facing an army of doubts, armor he couldn't wear, and brothers who didn't believe in him. If you are facing massive "giants" or hiding in the "caves" of your own life right now, David’s journey from shepherd boy to anointed king provides the ultimate blueprint for victory. Summary: In this episode, we chart the epic rise of King David across 1 Samuel 17 through 2 Samuel 10. We bypass the standard Sunday School narratives to explore the deep spiritual grit, covenant loyalty, and absolute humility required to step into our divine inheritance. David vs. Goliath: We analyze the stark contrast between Saul’s heavy, untried armor and David’s simple sling and stones. We explore why true power lies in trusting the name of the Lord rather than relying on human architecture. The Wilderness of Jealousy: We trace David's years running from a paranoid King Saul. We study David’s remarkable restraint in the cave of En-gedi, where he refuses to "stretch forth his hand" against the Lord’s anointed, teaching us how to handle unjust leadership and wait on God’s timetable. Abigail the Peacemaker: We dive into 1 Samuel 25 to study Abigail, a brilliant woman who stepped between her foolish husband Nabal and a vengeful David. She serves as a profound type of Jesus Christ, taking the blame upon herself to prevent bloodshed and restore peace. Steadying the Ark: We confront the tragic story of Uzzah in 2 Samuel 6. We break down the spiritual danger of trying to "steady the ark"—or attempting to correct God's kingdom using human methods—and contrast it with the pure joy David felt dancing before the Lord as the Ark entered Jerusalem. Establishing the Kingdom: We finish with a united Israel, looking at how David chose to heal generational trauma by showing kindness to Mephibosheth (Jonathan’s son) instead of wiping out his political rivals. Call-to-Action: Saul relied on his physical stature, but David relied on the Lord of Hosts. What is the "heavy armor" of the world that you need to take off so you can fight your battles God's way? Share your insights in the comments below! If you want to keep your faith firmly anchored and "Unshaken" as we study the kings of Israel, please like, subscribe, and share this video!
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294 MIN
1 Samuel 8-16 - The Rise and Fall of Saul
JUN 14, 2026
1 Samuel 8-16 - The Rise and Fall of Saul
When a child or a nation chooses a path you are completely against, how do you respond without losing your strength? Discover "The Samuel Principle" and find out why a faith crisis or a transition in leadership is an invitation to evaluate our hearts—not just our outward appearances. Summary: In this episode, we unpack 1 Samuel 8–16, charting the shift from the rule of judges to the era of the kings. We navigate the messy landscape of parental grief, corporate peer pressure, and the personal conversion required to shift from a "hidden" potential to a "magnified" priesthood. The Samuel Principle: We analyze how to implement the three-part divine formula when a loved one exercises their agency poorly: hearken to their voice, protest solemnly, and show them the long-term consequences. Hiding Among the Stuff: We address Saul’s overwhelming sense of inadequacy and why we are tempted to bury our potential under worldly distractions when God calls us to step forward. Turned into Another Man: We look at the spiritual alchemy that happens when the Spirit of the Lord comes upon a person, making them unrecognizable to those who only knew their "old" self. The Jurisdiction of Authority: We analyze Saul's fatal overreach at Gilgal, exploring the difference between doing a right thing in a wrong way and why waiting on the Lord's timing is an act of covenant trust. The Heart vs. The Stature: We conclude in Bethlehem, exploring why the Lord refused Eliab's height and chose the ruddy shepherd boy David, reminding us that man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart. Call-to-Action: Are you currently hiding "among the stuff" because you feel inadequate for what the Lord is asking you to do? How can David’s hidden, shepherd-heart inspire you to step into the light this week? Share your thoughts in the comments! To keep your faith "Unshaken" while we walk through the Old Testament, please like, subscribe, and share this video. Chapter Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 2:23 When a Loved One Makes a Choice You Don't Agree With 26:00 The Samuel Principle 40:12 The Call of Saul 52:51 Saul Anointed & Transformed 1:05:02 Israel United, Rebuked, & Reassured 1:19:46 Saul Offers Sacrifice 1:26:24 No Smiths in Israel 1:33:20 Jonathan & the Philistine Garrison 1:53:44 To Obey Is Better than Sacrifice 2:15:39 Samuel Chooses David
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150 MIN
Ruth & 1 Samuel 1-7 - Women of Faith
JUN 2, 2026
Ruth & 1 Samuel 1-7 - Women of Faith
The Book of Judges ends in total moral chaos, with everyone doing "what is right in their own eyes." But right against that dark backdrop, a young foreign widow named Ruth and a heartbroken, barren mother named Hannah shine a brilliant light. If you feel surrounded by a spiritual famine, their stories are the ultimate anchor. Summary: In this episode, we bridge the gap between the chaotic era of the Judges and the dawn of the Kings of Israel by studying the Book of Ruth and 1 Samuel 1–7. We move past the surface history to uncover deep covenants of loyalty, the anatomy of desperate prayer, and the power of remembering the Lord's help. The Oasis of Ruth: We explore how the story of Ruth and Naomi serves as the absolute antithesis of pride. We look at Ruth’s radical commitment to stay on the covenant path ("whither thou goest, I will go") even when it cost her worldly security. Famine in the House of Bread: We analyze the irony of Elimelech leaving Bethlehem—which literally means "House of Bread"—during a famine, and what it teaches us about seeking spiritual sustenance outside of the covenant. Hannah’s Desperate Prayer: We dive into 1 Samuel 1, contrasting the shallow religion of Eli's sons with the agonizing, silent prayer of Hannah. We learn how she moved from wanting a son for her own status to vowing to "lend him to the Lord" for life. The Call of Samuel: We study the transition of prophetic power to a young boy who simply learned to say, "Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth." Raising Your Ebenezer: We break down the battle of Mizpeh in 1 Samuel 7. We discover what an Ebenezer—a "stone of help"—actually is, and why setting up markers of God’s past deliverance is the only way to keep our hearts from wandering. Call-to-Action: Samuel set up a stone and declared, "Hitherto hath the Lord helped us." What is the "Ebenezer" or spiritual milestone in your life that reminds you of God's power when your faith feels shaky? Share your story in the comments below! To keep your eye fixed on a stable anchor and stay "Unshaken," please like, subscribe, and share this video with someone who needs a reminder of God's deliverance. Chapter Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction to the Book of Ruth 4:18 Famine & Loss 11:44 Thinking of Others or Thinking of Self 26:47 Putting Your Blessings on Hold to Bless Others 31:27 Deciding to Go or to Stay 40:15 Giving In & Going Home 45:43 Gleaning in Boaz's Field 54:17 Providing & Protecting 57:42 Honoring the Stranger 1:03:17 Trust Under the Wings 1:09:05 Going Above & Beyond the Minimum 1:18:13 A Near Kinsman 1:25:26 Gleaning in the Right Fields 1:31:33 Ruth & Boaz at the Threshingfloor 1:42:20 Spreading the Skirt 1:54:10 Redeeming Ruth 2:06:08 Hannah's Portion & Provocation 2:16:44 Comforting the Afflicted 2:21:27 Hannah's Prayer & Eli's Misjudgment 2:37:22 Hannah & Samuel 2:49:23 The Song of Hannah 2:56:47 The Sins of the Sons of Eli 3:13:32 Samuel's Call 3:27:03 Raiders of the Lost Ark 3:36:23 The Consequences of Taking the Ark Unworthily 3:50:04 Returning to the Lord 3:56:04 Conclusion: Ebenezer
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241 MIN
The Book of Judges: Faithful God in an Unfaithful World
MAY 30, 2026
The Book of Judges: Faithful God in an Unfaithful World
In this episode, we tackle the raw and unfiltered Book of Judges. We step into an era where "there was no king in Israel" to see what happens when a society—and an individual—abandons prophetic boundaries and begins to substitute personal preference for divine law. The Pride Cycle: We analyze the text's relentless pattern of prosperity, pride, sin, suffering, supplication, and salvation. We look at why God preserves this cycle as a warning for our day. Gideon's Reduction: We explore why God reduced Gideon’s army from 32,000 down to just 300 men. We learn why the Lord intentionally puts us in positions where we cannot boast in our own strength. The Leadership of Deborah: We study the courage of Deborah and the unexpected heroism of Jael, illustrating how God raises up faithful individuals to do what others are too fearful to attempt. The Descent of Samson: We map out the tragic, literal "downward" geographical and spiritual journey of Samson, looking at how a man of such high potential fell victim to low achievement because of weak self-discipline. Doing Right in Our Own Eyes: We conclude with the sobering final verse of the book, confronting the modern trap of moral relativism and discovering why true freedom requires submitting to the King of Kings. Call-to-Action: Gideon needed a fleece to confirm his faith, but eventually had to move forward in the dark. What is a "strange strategy" the Lord is asking you to trust in your life right now? Let’s share our thoughts on overcoming personal spiritual cycles in the comments below. To keep your faith "Unshaken" through every round of life's trials, please like, subscribe, and share this video! Chapter Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction to the Book of Judges 3:01 The Pride Cycle 14:46 An Incomplete Conquest 23:29 Making the Rounds of Righteousness & Wickedness 43:25 The First Minor Judges 51:24 Deborah & Jael 1:08:06 The Song of Deborah & Mothers in Israel 1:31:45 Gideon's Doubt & Faith 1:54:49 The Sword of the Lord & of Gideon 2:17:28 Gideon's Aftermath 2:29:33 Abimelech's Reign & the Parable of the Bramble 2:44:07 Justice & Mercy, Goodness & Grief 2:52:11 Jephthah & His Daughter 3:16:15 Samson: Child of Promise 3:26:18 Samson's Strength and Weakness 3:57:39 Samson & Delilah 4:07:33 Bind and Blind 4:16:15 Micah and the Problem of Priestcraft 4:33:42 The Levite's Concubine and the Price of Virtue 5:00:52 Conclusion 
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303 MIN
The Book of Joshua: Choose You This Day
MAY 22, 2026
The Book of Joshua: Choose You This Day
Moses could get Israel to the Promised Land, but he couldn't get them in. To cross the Jordan, Israel needed a new leader with a familiar name: Joshua. Discover why the transition from the Law to Grace is the only way to claim your divine inheritance. Summary: In this episode, we study the Book of Joshua. We move beyond the battles and the trumpets to find the deep spiritual transformation required to stop wandering and start inheriting. Filling the Shoes of a Giant: We analyze the transition from Moses to Joshua—and from Peter to Jesus—exploring how God stays with the successor just as He was with the predecessor. Crossing the Jordan: We look at the "dry ground" miracle at the Jordan River and how the priests had to step into the water before it parted. Strange Strategies: We discuss the "foolish" tactics used at Jericho. Why does God ask us to do small and simple things—like family prayer or scripture study—that seem unrelated to the "walls" we are trying to bring down? The Valley of Achor: We look at the cautionary tale of Achan and how "one man's sin" can affect an entire community, and how God turns our "valleys of trouble" into "doors of hope." Choose You This Day: We conclude with Joshua’s final plea at Shechem. We learn that our obedience lasts only as long as our memory, and why we must choose—every single day—whom we will serve. Call-to-Action: Joshua told the people that the stones of the altar had "heard" their promises. What "witnesses" have you set up in your life to remind you of your covenants? Share your thoughts in the comments! To keep your faith "Unshaken" as we enter the era of the Judges, please like, subscribe, and share this video. Chapter Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 5:31 Joshua, filling shoes 16:37 Preparing for the Promised Land 34:05 Rahab in Jericho 53:34 Crossing the Jordan River 1:08:02 Magnifying, Memorializing, and Renewing Covenants 1:30:19 The Battle of Jericho 1:46:45 Achan the Accursed 2:19:53 The Battle of Ai 2:25:42 The Gibeonites' Trick 2:37:11 God Fighting Battles & Lengthening Days 2:53:11 The Conquest Continues & Caleb Stakes a Claim 3:10:28 Inheritances in Israel 3:30:15 Mainstream & Margin, Exceptions & Rules 4:12:59 Conclusion
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256 MIN