The Hopeful Heretic Podcast

Intimacy Is the Glue of Covenant | Rediscovering Connection in Marriage (Part 1)

Over the last few weeks, we’ve talked about building healthy marriages—and how those same foundations strengthen our relationships at work, church, and in everyday life. Now, we’re turning our attention to something many couples quietly struggle with but rarely understand fully: intimacy.
In this episode, we kick off a three-week series on intimacy through the covenant of marriage. But we’re going deeper than just physical connection. True intimacy is emotional, spiritual, and physical—and all three are inseparably connected. When one is out of balance, the others are affected.
Many marriages today are close in schedule but distant in soul. Busy. Faithful. Functional. Yet intimacy has slowly drifted into routine—or tension. Scripture reminds us that from the beginning, marriage was designed to be sacred: two becoming one, naked and unashamed—not just in body, but in heart.
In this conversation, we explore:
Why intimacy is not about performance, but presence
How emotional and spiritual disconnect often impacts physical intimacy
Why intimacy is the glue of covenant, not an accessory
The danger of busyness, withholding, and transactional love
How love languages, communication, and mutual honor rebuild connection
Why intimacy grows through small, consistent, faithful steps
This episode isn’t about pressure or control—it’s about alignment, safety, and rediscovering oneness. Intimacy can be rebuilt. Slowly. Gently. Faithfully. And when hearts reconnect, everything else begins to follow.
🎙️ Welcome to the HHP PodcastHosted by Chris Franke, Senior Pastor of HFF Church in Oklahoma CityJoin voices from around the country as we talk all things Bible, church, and family.
We may be right.We may be heretical.That’s for you to decide.
👉 Like, share, comment, and subscribe to help others find the conversation.👉 Support the podcast, read blogs, and access more resources at hff.church👉 Looking for a church home? Join us for Saturday Church in OKC at 10:30 AM.
Pull up a chair.Ask the hard questions.Don’t panic.And welcome to the conversation.
#ChristianPodcast#MarriagePodcast#BiblicalMarriage#ChristianMarriage#MarriageIntimacy#FaithAndFamily
#EmotionalIntimacy#SpiritualIntimacy#MarriageHelp#HealthyMarriage#MarriageRestoration#MarriageAdvice

Forgiveness, Renewed Vision, and Shared Kingdom Purpose in Marriage

Even Christ-centered marriages experience conflict, hurt, and seasons of weariness. The difference isn’t whether pain happens—it’s how quickly forgiveness flows and whether God’s purpose remains alive.
In this episode, we build on the foundation of shared faith and explore what happens after the anchor is set. Drawing from John 21, Romans 12:2, Habakkuk 2:2, and Psalm 127, we talk about how forgiveness protects spiritual unity, how renewed vision keeps marriages from drifting into routine, and how shared purpose transforms a relationship into a living witness of the Kingdom of God.
In this conversation, you’ll learn:
Why forgiveness is essential for spiritual intimacy and unity
How praying together after conflict disarms division
The danger of unspoken disappointment and delayed repentance
How to renew vision and align your marriage with God’s calling
Why your marriage was designed to be a Kingdom witness, not just a private relationship
We also share practical rhythms—like vision nights, praying after disagreements, and serving together—that help couples stay aligned, purposeful, and spiritually alive.
This episode closes with a prayer over your marriage—that it wouldn’t simply endure, but flourish, reflecting unity, redemption, and shared mission in Christ.
💬 Whether you’re rebuilding, refocusing, or simply longing for more purpose, this message will help you see your marriage through a Kingdom lens.
👉 Like, subscribe, and share to encourage other couples to pursue forgiveness, renewed vision, and a Christ-centered mission—together.
#ChristianMarriage #MarriagePodcast #FaithBasedMarriage #MarriageAdvice #ChristianRelationships #ChristianMarriage #MarriagePodcast #FaithBasedMarriage #BiblicalMarriage #JesusAtTheCenter #ChristianPodcast #MarriageAdvice #FaithAndFamily #ChristCentered #KingdomMarriage #MarriageMinistry #PrayTogether #ChristianYouTube

Anchoring Your Marriage in Christ & Community

What’s the difference between a marriage that merely survives and one that truly thrives?It’s not just compatibility, communication, or shared interests—it’s shared faith.
In this episode, we talk about what it really means to anchor your marriage in Christ—not as a religious routine, but as a daily, intentional pursuit of Jesus together. Drawing from Ecclesiastes 4:12, we explore how Christ as the third strand brings strength, clarity, and purpose when life gets turbulent.
You’ll hear practical, pastoral insight on:
Why spiritual unity matters more than personality compatibility
How quiet spiritual drift slowly creates distance in marriage
Simple, intentional practices like praying, worshiping, and growing in faith together
Why marriage is meant to be a safe spiritual community—not a solo journey
How shared faith builds accountability, vulnerability, and lasting unity
We also challenge couples to ask honest questions:Are we growing spiritually together—or just living side by side?
This episode closes with a prayer over your marriage and a preview of what’s next as we move into forgiveness, renewed vision, and shared Kingdom purpose.
💬 Whether you’re newly married, struggling, or thriving—this conversation will help you realign your marriage around Christ, not convenience.
👉 Like, share, subscribe, and join us as we pursue faith, family, and the Kingdom—together.
 
#ChristianMarriage #MarriagePodcast #FaithBasedMarriage #MarriageAdvice #ChristianRelationships #ChristianMarriage #MarriagePodcast #FaithBasedMarriage #BiblicalMarriage #JesusAtTheCenter #ChristianPodcast #MarriageAdvice #FaithAndFamily #ChristCentered #KingdomMarriage #MarriageMinistry #PrayTogether #ChristianYouTube

Trust and Transparency in a Messy World

Trust and transparency—two words that make most of us cringe. Why?Because today we live in a world where promises break, loyalty feels rare, and honesty is hard to come by. It’s tough to trust when people let you down. It’s even harder to live openly when guilt, shame, and judgment seem to follow you everywhere—from your marriage to your church community.
But what if trust and transparency aren’t threats...What if they’re lifelines?
In this episode of the HHP Podcast, Pastor Chris Franke (HFF Church, Oklahoma City) digs deep into the spiritual foundations of trust rooted in Christ—not culture, not fear, and definitely not control.Together we explore:
✨ Why trust is soil where love grows✨ How shame shuts down connection and why Jesus calls us back into the light✨ Three daily habits that build trust over time (not overnight)✨ Why transparency isn’t oversharing—it’s integrity✨ How confession, accountability, and community unlock healing✨ The difference between building walls for protection and building bridges for relationship✨ Why forgiveness frees you, even when others fail✨ And how God can redeem even betrayal and turn your story into testimony
We’ll also ask hard but necessary questions:
Am I trustworthy?
Do I hide when confronted?
Who can speak truth to me without fear?
What lies am I believing about God—and about myself?
Because trust doesn’t start with people.It starts with God.
So join us as we confront fear, choose honesty over hiding, and learn how to walk in the vulnerability Jesus modeled—not the shame the enemy whispers.
Whether you're working on your marriage, struggling to trust church again, or just tired of doing life alone—this episode is for you.
📌 If this podcast helps you grow, share it.Drop a like, comment, review, and invite others to the journey.
🌐 More resources at: https://hff.church⛪ Looking for a home? Join us Saturdays @ 10:30AM in OKC.
We may be right.We may be heretical.That’s for you to decide.Let’s talk trust.

Healing Childhood Wounds with Jesus

In today’s episode of the HHP Podcast, we’re diving into a topic that shapes every one of us more than we realize: childhood wounds. Chaos, neglect, unmet needs, emotional distance, verbal or physical abuse—these experiences leave marks that follow us into adulthood. They shape our reactions, relationships, habits, and even how we see God.
But here’s the good news:Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted.No wound is too deep, no story too messy, no past too far gone.
Join Chris Franke, Senior Pastor of HFF Church in Oklahoma City, along with voices from across the country, as we explore how Jesus leads us into healing, wholeness, and our true identity in Christ. We’ll unpack practical and spiritual steps—like naming the hurt, leaning into healthy community, walking in forgiveness, renewing our minds through Scripture, and discovering purpose in the pain.
Your story is not over.Your scars don’t disqualify you—they point to a Savior who redeems every part.
If the episode blesses you, drop a like, comment, and subscribe. And if you’re looking for a church family, join us for Saturday Church in OKC at 10:30 AM—we’d love to meet you.
For more resources, blogs, and teaching, visit hff.church.
Let’s walk this journey of healing together.
#MentalHealthAndFaith#SpiritualGrowth#OvercomingTrauma#RiseAndHeal#FromBrokenToWhole#YourStoryMatters#PurposeInPain
#BiblicalHealing#FaithInAction#ChristianPodcast#ChristianGrowth#HopeInChrist

Faith in Action: Practical Ways to Care for the Poor & Oppressed

Last week, we explored what the Bible teaches about injustice and God’s heart for the poor, the widows, the orphans, and the needy. In this episode, we bring that conversation home with practical, everyday ways believers can live out justice, mercy, and compassion as a reflection of the Spirit of Jesus—under the authority of our King, Jesus.
Welcome to the HHP Podcast.My name is Chris Franke, Senior Pastor of HFF Church in Oklahoma City.
Together with believers from around the country, we talk all things Bible, church, and family—wrestling honestly with Scripture and what it means to live the Kingdom of God in daily life.We may be right. We may be heretical. That’s for you to decide.
Building off James 2:15–16, we ask a vital question:👉 What does obedience to Jesus actually look like when it comes to caring for those in need?
Biblical compassion isn’t limited to street corners or food banks. Scripture shows us that poverty is often hidden—in our churches, families, workplaces, and communities. Justice begins when we open our eyes, pay attention, and intentionally step into what God is already doing around us.
📖 Key Scriptures Explored:
James 2:15–16
Proverbs 31:8
Acts 2:45
Romans 12:13
Proverbs 24:11
Luke 3:11
Luke 4:18
🛠 Practical Themes Covered:
Seeing the unseen needs around us
Sharing what we already have
Hospitality as dignity, not charity
Advocacy for those without a voice
Giving consistently, not seasonally
Walking toward suffering like Jesus did
Justice that walks.Mercy that lives.Faith that shows up.
This is the way of the Kingdom of Heaven.
🙏 Support the MissionIf this podcast has blessed you, please consider supporting the work by visiting https://hff.church.
🏠 Looking for a church home?Join us for Saturday Church in OKC, every Saturday morning at 10:30 AM.
👍 Like💬 Comment📤 Share🔔 Subscribe
Let’s get to it.
 
#FaithInAction #BiblicalJustice #KingdomOfGod #CareForThePoor #JusticeAndMercy #James2 #Luke4 #ChristianDiscipleship #HHPPodcast #HFFChurch #OklahomaCityChurch #GospelInAction #christianpodcast #faithpodcast #biblepodcast #okc

Justice a Core Gospel Issue | Caring for the Poor, the Vulnerable & the Oppressed

Justice, mercy, and humility are not optional add-ons to the Christian life—they sit at the very heart of the Kingdom of God.
In this episode of the HHP Podcast, Pastor Chris Franke, Senior Pastor of HFF Church, walks through Scripture—from Genesis to Revelation—to show how God’s heart consistently beats for the poor, the widow, the orphan, the foreigner, and the oppressed.
This is not a political trend.This is not a cultural moment.This is a gospel issue.
Rooted in passages like Micah 6:8, Proverbs 14:31, Isaiah 1:17, Matthew 25:40, and James 2:15–16, we explore what biblical justice actually looks like—not punishment or revenge, but restoration. Justice in Scripture is active, practiced, and embodied through obedience, mercy, and humility.
Jesus makes it unmistakably clear: how we treat “the least of these” is how we treat Him. Faith that never moves our hands has not yet moved our hearts.
Join us as we wrestle honestly with Scripture, discipleship, and what it means to live out the Kingdom of God in everyday life.
📌 Topics Covered:
Why justice is central to the gospel
God’s heart for the poor and vulnerable
Biblical justice vs. cultural definitions
Restoration, not revenge
Faith that moves beyond words into action
🙏 Support the MissionIf this podcast has blessed you, consider supporting the work we’re doing by visiting https://hff.church.
🏠 Looking for a church home?Join us for Saturday Church in Oklahoma City, every Saturday at 10:30 AM.
👍 Like💬 Comment📤 Share🔔 Subscribe
We may be right.We may be heretical.That’s for you to decide.
#BiblicalJustice #KingdomOfGod #JusticeAndMercy #GospelInAction #CareForThePoor #ChristianDiscipleship #Matthew25 #Micah68 #FaithInAction #HHPPodcast #HFFChurch #OklahomaCityChurch #ChristianPodcast #feedthepoor #podcast #pastoralpodcast #biblepodcast #fightagainstinjustice

Keeping a Spiritually Clean Home: Repentance, Rest, and Rhythms of Renewal

Most parents want a clean home. Even those who don’t meet someone else’s standard still desire order, tidiness, and peace. We put enormous energy into physical chores—vacuuming before company comes over, rushing the kids to pick up toys, stuffing laundry behind a door.But if we care so much about physical cleanliness…why do we pay so little attention to the spiritual cleanliness of our homes?
Welcome to the HHP Podcast. I’m Chris Franke, Senior Pastor of HFF Church in Oklahoma City. Join me and others from around the country as we talk all things Bible, church, and family. We may be right… we may be heretical… but that’s for you to decide. Drop a like, comment, share, subscribe—and let’s get to it.
Today’s Episode: Repentance Keeps the Home Clean
In Judaism, Christianity, and even many world religions, the physical and spiritual are always intertwined.So why do we clean frantically for guests—yet ignore the emotional dust, spiritual clutter, and relational messes piling up in our home?
In this episode, we explore:
Why repentance and forgiveness are the spiritual “cleaning supplies” of a healthy home
How every household gets messy—emotionally, spiritually, relationally
Why the healthiest families aren’t conflict-free, but conflict-clean
How modeling repentance teaches children that mistakes don’t end love—they begin healing
Why unforgiveness hardens the heart but repentance softens it
How confession lightens the emotional weight in the home
Why lingering silence, passive-aggressive tones, and held grudges poison family culture
The spiritual discipline of rest and why hurried homes create anxious hearts
How Isaiah 30:15 reveals that rest restores the soul
Why Sabbath rhythms teach children that worth is not found in productivity
How your habits become the liturgy of your household—the worship of your daily life
Why gratitude, forgiveness, joy, rest, and prayer preach louder than any sermon
Habits are liturgy.Rhythms are worship.Your home is always preaching something.
When your patterns embody prayer, peace, repentance, gratitude, and rest, you teach your children that God is both holy and near.
The goal isn’t a perfect home—none exist.The goal is a faithful home, a Christ-centered household where everyone knows who truly holds the family together:Jesus, and the Spirit of Jesus.
Philippians 4:9 says:“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
Let your daily rhythms become your family’s clearest testimony.
Reflection for Today
Am I cleaning physical messes faster than I’m addressing spiritual ones?
Do I model repentance or let wounds linger?
Does my home have space for rest—or is busyness running it?
What habits are preaching to my children right now—complaining or gratitude?
Does the presence of God feel near in our daily rhythms?
Connect & Support
If this podcast has blessed you, consider supporting the ministry at HFF.house.For sermons, blogs, and more resources, visit HFF.church.Looking for a church home? Join us for Saturday Church in OKC every week at 10:30 AM.

Habits That Shape Your Home: Building a Culture Your Children Can Imitate

This week on the HHP Podcast, we’re talking about one of the most overlooked truths in parenting:The culture of your home is shaped less by what you preach and more by what you permit.Your habits, your tone, your rhythms, and even what you tolerate all quietly disciple your children—every single day.
Welcome to the HHP Podcast. I’m Chris Franke, Senior Pastor of HFF Church in Oklahoma City. Join me and others from around the country as we talk all things Bible, church, and family. We may be right… we may be heretical… but that’s for you to decide. Drop a like, share, comment, subscribe—and let’s get to it.
Today’s Episode: Habits Become Heritage
The culture of your home will shape the culture of your church—and your children will live out the habits they see more than the words they hear. Children imitate your walk, not your talk. Deuteronomy 6:7 commands us to speak of God’s ways throughout our daily lives, but if we talk about faith without practicing it, we unintentionally teach our children that it’s okay to live one way publicly and another way privately.
In this episode we explore:
Why what you tolerate becomes the culture you teach
How household habits either bring life or chaos into the church community
Why pastor’s kids struggle—and why it’s not just pastors
How small, ordinary repetitions shape eternal values
Why faith is formed in everyday practices: bedtime prayers, forgiveness after conflict, gratitude before meals
Why habits become heritage, not just routine
How Luke 16:10 teaches that spiritual faithfulness grows through small acts repeated consistently
Why spiritual rhythms anchor the soul of your home
Why the three anchors of a healthy household are: pray together, eat together, rest together
How your example becomes your child’s first discipleship model
Why hypocrisy breeds confusion—but authenticity builds trust
What it means to model worship, generosity, prayer, and grace
How gratitude reshapes the emotional tone of your home
Your habits preach louder than your words.If they observe forgiveness, they will learn mercy.If they observe prayer, they will learn dependence on God.If they observe gratitude, they will learn joy.What you model, they will mirror.
This episode will guide you in building the rhythms that create a home filled with life, not tension—thanksgiving, not complaining—worship, not worry.
Reflection Questions for Parents
What habits am I actually cultivating in my home?
What do my children believe I value based on my daily rhythms?
Do my actions reflect the Christ I want my children to follow?
Are we practicing gratitude more than complaining?
What habits am I tolerating that contradict the culture I want?
Connect & Support
If this podcast blessed you, consider supporting the ministry at HFF.house.For sermons, blogs, and more resources, visit HFF.church.Looking for a church home? Join us for Saturday Church in OKC every week at 10:30 AM.

Consistency & Connection: The Parenting Rhythm That Shapes the Heart

One of the hardest things for modern parents—especially in a culture built on trends, fads, and constant change—is consistency. But consistency is one of the purest forms of love a child can receive. It communicates safety, stability, and trust in a world full of noise.
Welcome to the HHP Podcast. I'm Chris Franke, Senior Pastor of HFF Church in Oklahoma City. Join me and others from around the country as we talk all things Bible, church, and family. We may be right… we may be heretical… but that’s for you to decide. Drop a like, a comment, share the episode, subscribe—and let’s get to it.
Today’s Episode: Why Consistency Communicates Love
As parents, we know consistency is difficult. We’re tired, we’re busy, we’re stretched thin. But Jesus gives us one of the simplest and most profound principles:“Let your ‘yes’ be yes, and your ‘no’ be no.” — Matthew 5:37
Inconsistency confuses children and undermines their trust. When expectations shift with our moods, our leadership becomes unpredictable—and unpredictability breeds insecurity.
In this episode we explore:
Why consistency = security
How predictability helps children flourish emotionally and spiritually
Why inconsistency—even unintentional—can create fear and anxiety in a child
Why consistency doesn’t mean perfection; it means dependability
How following through gently and firmly communicates love
Why transparency matters when we mess up—and how apologizing strengthens connection
Why correction must always lead to reconnection
How withdrawing love after discipline distorts a child’s view of God
How Ephesians 6:4 and Revelation 3:19 reveal God’s model for restorative discipline
Why correction without reconnection leaves wounds, but correction with compassion creates discipleship
How pausing and praying before discipline protects your child—and your relationship
Your children need to know what to expect from you, even when you’re tired, frustrated, or overwhelmed. Because correction should always lead to connection, not distance.
Every consequence should end with reassurance:“I love you. We’ll grow through this together. God has us.”
This is how God loves us—and how we model His heart to our children.
A Parenting Prayer for Today
“Holy Spirit, lead my words, my tone, and my actions.Let my correction reflect Your gentleness, not my frustration.Make my consistency a testimony of Your faithful love.”