The Hopeful Heretic Podcast

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.”

The Heart of Discipline: Parenting with Love & Boundaries

The topic of discipline in the 21st century is complicated. Many adults carry the wounds of abusive or unhealthy childhoods, and in response they either swing toward free-range parenting with no structure… or subconsciously replicate the very model they swore they’d never repeat. But biblically, discipline is not optional—and when done God’s way, it produces life, not fear.
Welcome to the HHP Podcast. My name is 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, a share, subscribe, and let’s get to it.
Today’s Episode: Discipline Is About the Heart, Not Behavior
God disciplines His children—and Scripture calls us to do the same.But biblical discipline isn’t about punishing behavior.It’s about training the heart.
In this episode, we explore:
Why heart training matters more than behavior management
How the Torah emphasized the outward, but Jesus emphasized the inner transformation
Why godly discipline prepares, rather than punishes
How consistent boundaries build trust, not fear
Why love without discipline leads to rebellion—and discipline without love leads to resentment
How empowered obedience creates lifelong trust, while blind obedience creates future rebellion
Why boundaries are not barriers to freedom, but environments where freedom flourishes
How calm, consistent authority reflects the heart of the Father (Hebrews 12:6)
Why the goal is not to control your child, but to steward their heart toward Christ
Proverbs 4:23 reminds us: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”Your child’s behavior flows from their beliefs.Change the heart—and the actions follow.
This episode teaches parents to ask heart-shaping questions:
“Why did you do that?”
“What were you thinking in that moment?”
“What was going on inside you?”
Not just: “Don’t do that.”
Rules without relationship create rebellion.Relationship with guidance creates maturity.
What Healthy Boundaries Produce
Safety, not fear
Confidence, not confusion
Responsibility, not rebellion
Freedom within structure (Psalm 16:6)
Use calm explanations instead of threats.Connect correction to protection.Say, “I’m guiding you because I love you,”not, “Do this because I said so.”
Ask yourself: Do my boundaries create peace in my home… or fear?
Your job isn’t to control your child.Your job is to guide them toward Christ.

Parenting from Peace: Spiritual Stability for the Home Part 2

Every parent knows what instability feels like—rage one minute, joy the next, frustration right after. For years, I lived that cycle myself. Ministry pressures followed me home, and I would swing between extremes. I loved my kids deeply, but my emotional instability often set the tone of the household.
Eventually, I realized a hard truth:My home could never be more stable than my spirit.
Isaiah 26:3 reminds us, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast.”A child can only feel as secure as their parent is grounded.
In this episode, we talk about:
Why spiritual grounding is the root of emotional grounding
How children absorb the anxiety, anger, or peace we carry
The “lifeguard principle” of parenting: you must stabilize yourself before rescuing anyone else
Why peace isn’t built by routines but by God’s presence saturating those routines
How grace—not perfection—is what creates long-term stability
The rhythms, habits, and prayers that help form a peaceful home
How your emotional tone becomes your child’s first theology
What it means to replace chaos with Spirit-led consistency
How parents can model Christ in the moments that matter most
Scripture tells us:
“The fruit of righteousness will be peace…” — Isaiah 32:17
“Do not provoke your children…” — Colossians 3
“God is not a God of disorder but of peace.” — 1 Corinthians 14
“Practice these things… and the God of peace will be with you.” — Philippians 4:9
You don’t need perfect routines—you need Spirit-led rhythms.You don’t need control—you need communion.And you don’t need to be the perfect parent—you just need to be a peaceful presence.
Reflection Questions from Today’s Episode
Does my home feel peaceful or pressured?
Are my children confident in what to expect from me daily?
Where can I replace chaos with consistency?
What does my tone teach my children about God?
Have I made peace the pursuit of my home—or perfection?
Connect & Support
If this episode blessed you, consider supporting the ministry at HFF.house.For sermons, blogs, podcasts, and resources, visit HFF.church.Looking for a church home? Join us for Saturday Church in OKC every week at 10:30 AM.

Shepherding & Stewarding Your Children Part 1

In this episode, we explore the heart of biblical parenting—not behavior control, but heart formation.
Children thrive when structure shapes their days and love grounds their identity. Scripture reminds us:
“By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established.” — Proverbs 24:3
“Let all things be done decently and in order.” — 1 Corinthians 14:40
We unpack why:
Structure builds stability, but love builds confidence
Extreme parenting—too loose or too strict—fails to train the heart
Predictable rhythms (meals, prayer, chores, bedtime blessings) create emotional safety
Parents disciple children into either steadiness or chaos
Your tone, presence, and reactions shape how your children imagine God
Authority must reflect Psalm 103: compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love
Daily habits should reflect God’s character—not fear, instability, or emotional volatility
You’ll walk away with practical, biblical tools to help your home become a place of peace, predictability, warmth, and Christlike formation.
If this podcast blesses you…
Consider supporting our mission by giving at HFF.house.For sermons, blogs, resources, and events, visit HFF.church.Looking for a church home? Join us for Saturday Church every week at 10:30 AM in OKC.

Your Role in Creating a Healthy Church Podcast | Part 2

How do you help make your church healthy? 💭
In this powerful conclusion to our two-part series, Pastor Chris Franke of HFF Church in Oklahoma City explores your personal role in building a Jesus-centered, Spirit-led, and servant-hearted church.
Healthy churches don’t happen by accident — they’re built by people, not programs. And the truth is, the church will only ever be as healthy as the people who make it up.
🔑 This Episode Covers:
1️⃣ Serve Faithfully & HumblyJesus said, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.” (Mark 10:45)A healthy church is led by servants, not celebrities — by people who care more about washing feet than building platforms.
2️⃣ Walk in Fruit, Not Just GiftsMany want the gifts of the Spirit, but few cultivate the fruit of the Spirit.(Galatians 5:22–23) reminds us that true transformation happens when love, patience, kindness, and self-control define our lives — not just our ministries.
3️⃣ Stop Complaining — Start ContributingIf you see something missing in your church, fill the gap instead of fueling the gossip.Be the solution God can use to bring healing, maturity, and revival.
Healthy churches are not perfect churches — they’re repentant churches.They’re families on mission, walking in humility, fruitfulness, and unity.
So before saying, “My church isn’t healthy,” ask yourself:
“Am I bringing health to it — or am I part of what’s keeping it sick?”
🎧 Welcome to the Hopeful Heretic Podcast (HHP)Join Pastor Chris Franke 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.
📍 Join us for Saturday Church in OKC every Saturday morning at 10:30am🌐 Visit https://hff.church
 
#HealthyChurch #HopefulHereticPodcast #HFFChurch #PastorChrisFranke #ChurchHealth #ServeFaithfully #ServantLeadership #FruitOfTheSpirit #Galatians5 #Mark1045 #ChurchOnMission #JesusCentered #KingdomInAction #ChristianPodcast #FaithPodcast #SpiritualGrowth #Discipleship #SoundDoctrine #ChurchFamily #ChurchLeadership #BiblicalTeaching #HolySpiritPower #OklahomaCityChurch #HHPodcast #ChurchLife #ChristianFaith #BeTheChurch #ChristCentered #RevivalStartsWithUs #HFFOKC

Your Role in Creating Healthy Churches Podcast | Part 1

How can you help make your church healthy? 💡
In this episode of the Hopeful Heretic Podcast (HHP), Pastor Chris Franke from HFF Church in Oklahoma City challenges listeners to move from consumers to contributors — from spectators to participants in the Body of Christ.
Over the past two weeks, we’ve unpacked what defines a healthy church — a Christ-centered foundation, sound doctrine, authentic community, and the presence of the Holy Spirit.But today we turn the question back on ourselves:👉 What can YOU do to make your church healthy?
🔑 Key Points Covered:
1️⃣ Be a Participant, Not a ConsumerStop asking, “What did I get out of church?” and start asking, “What did I contribute to it?”(Hebrews 10:24–25)
2️⃣ Be Rooted in the Word, Not in OpinionA healthy church requires spiritually rooted members who anchor themselves in the truth of Scripture — not emotion, not popularity.(2 Timothy 3:16–17)
3️⃣ Build Relationships That Heal, Not HurtUnity isn’t about perfection; it’s about forgiveness, humility, and reconciliation.(Ephesians 4:2–3)
Healthy churches don’t just happen by accident — they’re built on people, not programs.When you live biblically, love humbly, and serve faithfully, you bring health to the house of God.
So before asking, “Is my church healthy?” ask yourself:
“Am I helping it become healthy?”
🎧 Welcome to the HHP Podcast — where we talk all things Bible, church, and family.We may be right. We may be heretical. But that’s for you to decide.
📍 Join us for Saturday Church in OKC every Saturday morning at 10:30am🌐 Explore more podcasts, blogs, and resources at https://hff.church
 
#HealthyChurch #HopefulHereticPodcast #HFFChurch #PastorChrisFranke #Discipleship #ChurchHealth #ChurchLife #ChristianPodcast #FaithPodcast #BibleTeaching #SoundDoctrine #AuthenticCommunity #SpiritualGrowth #Hebrews1025 #Ephesians4 #2Timothy316 #JesusCentered #KingdomInAction #ChurchLeadership #ChurchFamily #BiblicalTeaching #ChristianLiving #OklahomaCityChurch #HHPodcast #ChurchOnMission #ChristCentered #ServeTheChurch #BeTheChurch #HFFOKC

What is a Healthy Church Podcast | Part 2

What does a healthy church actually look like? 🤔
In this week’s episode of the Hopeful Heretic Podcast (HHP), Pastor Chris Franke of HFF Church in Oklahoma City wraps up this powerful two-part series on What Makes a Healthy Church.
Last week we explored:📖 1 Corinthians 3 — Jesus as the only true foundation📖 2 Timothy 3:16 — Biblical authority and sound doctrine📖 Acts 2:42 — Authentic, Spirit-led community
This week we conclude with the next four marks of a truly Jesus-centered church:
1️⃣ Discipleship & Spiritual Growth — Churches aren’t called to create consumers; they’re called to form apprentices of Jesus (Matthew 28:19).2️⃣ Mission & Evangelism — The Church exists to transform homes, neighborhoods, and nations (Acts 1:8).3️⃣ Servant Leadership — True shepherds serve in humility and accountability, not control or celebrity (Matthew 23:11).4️⃣ Presence of the Holy Spirit — Not by might, not by programs, but by God’s Spirit (Zechariah 4:6).
Because a healthy church isn’t perfect — it’s repentant.It’s a place where truth and grace meet, where Jesus is enthroned above all, and where transformed people multiply transformation.
💭 Ask yourself:“Is my church healthy?”Or maybe the better question is — “Am I healthy?”
🎧 Welcome to the HHP Podcast — where we talk all things Bible, church, and family.We may be right. We may be heretical. But that’s for you to decide.
📍 Join us for Saturday Church in OKC every Saturday morning at 10:30am🌐 Visit https://hff.church
 
#HealthyChurch #HopefulHereticPodcast #HFFChurch #PastorChrisFranke #Discipleship #SpiritualGrowth #SoundDoctrine #BiblicalAuthority #AuthenticCommunity #ServantLeadership #HolySpiritPower #ChurchHealth #FaithPodcast #BibleTeaching #ChristianPodcast #JesusCentered #KingdomInAction #Acts2Church #Matthew2819 #Zechariah46 #ChurchLeadership #OklahomaCityChurch #HHPodcast #ChurchRevival #RepentantChurch #ChurchLife #ChristianFaith #GospelMission #KingdomCulture #ChurchOnMission #HFFOKC

What Makes a Healthy Church? | Part 1

What really makes a church healthy? 🎯In this episode of the Hopeful Heretic Podcast (HHP), Pastor Chris Franke from HFF Church in Oklahoma City dives into Part 1 of a two-part series exploring what the Bible actually says about a healthy church.
Drawing from Matthew 28, Acts 2, and 1 Corinthians 3, this teaching cuts through the noise of modern church culture — beyond fog machines, donuts, and Instagram hype — to uncover the true biblical foundations of a Christ-centered community.
You’ll discover:1️⃣ Why Jesus must be the foundation of every church (1 Corinthians 3:11)2️⃣ The role of biblical authority and sound doctrine (2 Timothy 3:16)3️⃣ The power of authentic community that practices real discipleship (Acts 2:42)
Because if we don’t know what makes a church healthy, how can we know if we’re in one?
Join the conversation, drop a comment, and share your thoughts on what defines a truly healthy church.We may be right, we may be heretical — but that’s for you to decide.
👉 Subscribe for Part 2 next week as we continue this deep dive into biblical church health and discipleship.🌐 For more podcasts, blogs, and resources visit https://hff.church
 
#HealthyChurch #ChurchHealth #HopefulHereticPodcast #HFFChurch #PastorChrisFranke #BiblicalTeaching #Discipleship #SoundDoctrine #AuthenticCommunity #Acts2Church #JesusIsTheFoundation #ChurchLeadership #FaithPodcast #BibleStudy #ChristianPodcast #OklahomaCityChurch #KingdomInAction #ChurchFamily #SpiritualGrowth #Matthew28 #1Corinthians3 #Acts2 #ChristianFaith #ChurchLife #ChristCentered