Dustin Kleinschmidt Podcast
Honest resources and conversations for people figuring out how to live well in a complicated life. Teachings from over twenty five years in pastoral ministry as well as reflections and stories from the wilderness between rescue and restoration. All of them are invitations to encounter Jesus beyond performance and religious routine. Hosted by Dustin Kleinschmidt, author of The Wilderness Way.
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Episodes

Apr 21, 2025
Apr 21, 2025
35 min
This episode explores Luke 10:25–37 and the parable of the Good Samaritan through a fresh lens.Topics covered:Why the lawyer’s question, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”, reveals a deeper problem.How Jesus uses the story to raise the bar—not lower it.Why being a “good neighbor” isn’t about trying harder, but about surrender.What it means that we can’t live up to the standard of “love God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind.”Why the gospel is not a list of moral lessons, but the announcement of good news.This episode reminds us that transformation doesn’t come from striving—it comes from stopping, surrendering, and allowing God to do what only He can.

Apr 10, 2025
Apr 10, 2025
40 min
In this powerful episode, Dustin explores the beauty, depth, and symbolism of the Passover meal and how Jesus transforms it into the Lord’s Supper. You’ll gain a new appreciation for communion, not as a religious ritual, but as a deeply personal reminder of redemption, grace, and the hope of the coming Kingdom.🕊️ Main Passage: Luke 22:7–30Watch the full teaching on YouTube: Click here to viewCommunion is a call to remember the cross, embrace grace, and celebrate a future feast with Jesus.The gospel is a new kind of celebration—one where both the bitter and the sweet are welcome at the table.

Apr 7, 2025
Apr 7, 2025
41 min
Episode Notes• Teaching Text: Luke 15:11–32• This is not just a story about rebellion—it’s a story about restoration.• There are two prodigals:• One ran away in selfishness.• One stayed and served in self-righteousness.• Both believed false stories about the Father.• The younger son thought he’d gone too far.• The older son thought he’d done enough.• But both were wrong.• The real story is about the Father—His love, His pursuit, His grace, and His scandalous joy in restoring what was lost.• If you feel like you’ve gone too far—or tried too hard—this message is for you.

Mar 31, 2025
Mar 31, 2025
42 min
Two men go to the temple to pray: one confident in his own goodness, the other painfully aware of his need for mercy. Only one walks away justified. This episode cuts through the noise of religious performance and self-righteousness to reveal the raw and humbling truth of grace.Episode NotesThis episode continues the Story Formed series, challenging the false narratives we often live by.Teaching Text: Luke 18:9–14 – The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector.Key Theme: Justification—being made right with God—isn’t earned. It’s a gift received through humble surrender.The Pharisee represents religious performance and self-righteousness, comparing himself to others and believing he’s good enough.The tax collector offers no defense—only the plea: “Have mercy on me, a sinner.”God’s standard isn’t "better than them." It’s His own perfect holiness—a standard no one can meet on their own.True spiritual transformation begins when we stop performing and start pleading. Notable Quotes“The only person God justifies is the one who knows they need mercy.”“Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect… was never a goal. It was a problem statement.”“Your sin doesn’t disqualify you. Your self-righteousness might.”“Humility doesn’t say ‘I’m the worst.’ It says, ‘I’m aware of how deeply I need grace.’”

Mar 24, 2025
Mar 24, 2025
39 min
Story Formed is a teaching series that explores how we are shaped by the stories we believe.• “Audacious Prayers” looks at Luke 11:1-13, where Jesus teaches His disciples to pray.• Our prayers—or lack of them—reveal how we view God. Is He a distant, uninterested being, or a loving Father who welcomes us with open arms?• Homer Simpson’s prayer illustrate how we often ignore reality or treat God like a vending machine.• Jesus calls us to pray with shameless audacity—boldly asking, seeking, and knocking (Luke 11:9-10).• Prayer is about relationship more than results. It changes us more than it changes our circumstances.• Tim Keller’s insight: “The only person who dares wake up a king at 3 a.m. for a glass of water is a child—and we have that kind of access to God.”• Even when we don’t understand His answers, God never gives us less than what is ultimately good for us (Luke 11:11-13).• The Lord’s Prayer is not just a ritual—it’s a framework that reorients our hearts toward God’s character, kingdom, provision, and grace.Questions to Consider:• What does your prayer life reveal about how you see God?• Do you approach God with boldness, or do you hold back?• How might prayer be changing you, even if your circumstances don’t change?

Mar 17, 2025
Mar 17, 2025
52 min
• Story Formed is a teaching series that explores how we are shaped by the stories we believe.• In this episode, we examine Matthew 15:1-20, where Jesus confronts the Pharisees and their misplaced trust in religious traditions.• The Black Knight from Monty Python and the Holy Grail—a humorous example of someone refusing to acknowledge reality—serves as a metaphor for how we often ignore the deeper issues in our hearts.• Jesus teaches that our deepest issue isn’t external but internal—our hearts need transformation, not just behavior modification.• We explore Ezekiel 36:25-27 and God’s promise to give us a new heart, showing how the gospel is not about self-improvement but about surrender to Jesus.• Paul’s story in Philippians 3 reminds us that religious devotion and good works are not enough; only faith in Christ can make us right with God.• The call of the gospel: We are more sinful than we dare believe, yet more loved than we dare hope (Tim Keller).Questions to consider:• Are you striving to prove yourself to God, or are you trusting in His grace?• What stories have shaped your understanding of faith?• How is God calling you to trust Him more deeply?

Mar 10, 2025
Mar 10, 2025
44 min
StoryFormed Generosity Episode NotesScripture: Luke 12:13-34🔹 Main Themes:• How stories shape our understanding of the world and God• Jesus’ teaching on greed vs. generosity• The illusion of control and trusting God’s provision• The difference between the world’s story of scarcity and God’s story of abundance• What it means to seek first the Kingdom of God🛠 Key Takeaways:• We are formed by the stories we believe—about God, ourselves, and the world.• Jesus warns against hoarding wealth and trusting in material things.• True security isn’t in what we possess but in who we trust.• Generosity is an act of faith that frees our hearts from possessions.• Seeking God’s kingdom first leads to a life of joy, peace, and purpose.💬 Reflection Questions:1. What stories have shaped your view of God’s provision and abundance?2. Are there areas in your life where you’re holding on too tightly instead of trusting God?3. How can you live more generously with your time, resources, and energy this week?Join the Conversation:• Share this episode with a friend who needs encouragement!• Leave a review – It helps more people find the podcast!

Mar 3, 2025
Mar 3, 2025
46 min
Episode Notes: Clarity Through Confession📖 Main Scripture: Psalm 51Key Themes:✔ Confession is not condemnation—it is the path to clarity and freedom.✔ God’s love is steadfast, not transactional—He is faithful even in our failures.✔ Sin has consequences, but it does not define us—God’s grace is greater.✔ Life change begins with heart change, and heart change comes through confession.🔹 Main Points:1. A Heart of Transparency – David doesn’t justify or excuse his sin—he fully acknowledges it before God (Psalm 51:1-6).2. A Heart of Dependence – He asks God to cleanse, restore, and renew him—knowing only God can change his heart (Psalm 51:7-12).3. A Heart of Surrender – Instead of covering up his failures, David commits to telling others of God’s goodness and walking in faith (Psalm 51:13-17).🔹 Reflection Questions:• Where in your life do you need to bring honest confession before God?• Are you trying to fix yourself instead of depending on God for transformation?• What would it look like to fully surrender your brokenness to God and trust in His grace?🙏 Take a Moment to Respond:• Pray through Psalm 51 and ask God to reveal areas where you need to confess and trust Him.• Remember the Gospel—Jesus took our sin so that we can walk in freedom and renewal.• Invite Accountability—Find a trusted friend or pastor to walk with you in honesty and grace.🎧 Subscribe & Share:If this message encouraged you, subscribe to the podcast and share it with someone who needs the hope of God’s grace today.

Mar 1, 2025
Mar 1, 2025
52 min
In this powerful message from the Wisdom Series at Cornerstone Church, Dustin dives into the often-overlooked book of Song of Songs to bring clarity to the confusion surrounding intimacy and sexuality. This teaching unpacks three key themes found in the text:1. Intimacy is Pursued Intentionally – Healthy relationships require active pursuit, not passivity. Whether in dating, marriage, or faith, love flourishes when nurtured with care and intention.2. Intimacy is Experienced Mutually – God’s design for intimacy is not one-sided; it is a shared, self-giving connection between two people, rooted in safety, trust, and commitment.3. Intimacy is Sustained Graciously – Real relationships are not perfect—they ebb and flow, requiring patience, grace, and a deep understanding that love is more than emotion; it’s a covenant that endures.Through biblical insight and personal reflection, Dustin challenges us to examine our own views on intimacy, whether shaped by culture, past experiences, or personal struggles. No matter where you are—married, single, healing from brokenness, or seeking deeper relational wisdom—this message offers hope, healing, and practical guidance on aligning our hearts with God’s design for love and intimacy.🔹 Scripture References:• Song of Songs 1:1-4, 2:7, 4:9, 5:2-6, 7:9-12, 8:6-7• Genesis 2:25 – The original design for intimacy before the fall.• Ephesians 5:31-32 – A picture of Christ and the church in marriage.• 1 Corinthians 7:3-5 – Mutuality in marital intimacy.🔹 Key Takeaways:✔ Sexual intimacy is a gift from God, not something to be feared or idolized.✔ God’s design for intimacy is one of mutual love, trust, and vulnerability.✔ Grace is essential—every relationship faces struggles, but God is a restorer of broken things.✔ Our identity is in Christ, not in our past, our failures, or cultural pressures.🙏 Reflect & Respond:• Are you pursuing intimacy in a way that honors God and the person you love?• Have you allowed past hurts or cultural distortions to shape your view of intimacy?• What steps can you take to invite God into your relationships and allow Him to bring healing and restoration?💬 Need Prayer or Support?If this message resonated with you, don’t walk through it alone. Seek guidance from a trusted friend, pastor, or counselor. Email Dustin at dsklein25@gmail.com 🎧 Subscribe & Share:If this message blessed you, subscribe to the podcast and share it with someone who needs encouragement today!This episode is a call to reclaim intimacy as God intended—a holy, life-giving, and deeply fulfilling part of our lives when pursued in His wisdom.Let’s walk in clarity, freedom, and faith.



