That Sounds Fun with Annie F. Downs

Daily Gospel readings focusing on Palm Sunday scenes from Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Short dramatic readings of the triumphal entry, the crowd’s praise, and the symbolic donkey and branches. A reflective narration that connects Jerusalem’s welcome with deeper moments like Jesus’ lament and the Lazarus link.

Rabbi Jason Sobel, a Jewish believer in Jesus and spiritual advisor for The Chosen, offers scholarly links between the Old and New Testaments. He explores symbolism in Jesus’ triumphal entry, the Passover Seder and Last Supper parallels, donkey and palm imagery, the timing of death and resurrection, and themes of new creation and bodily resurrection.

Dr. Derwin Gray, pastor and author who leads Transformation Church near Charlotte, offers a short bio as a pastor and writer. He discusses fasting as a rhythm of grace. He explores prayer and spiritual breakthrough. He talks about scripture memory, virtue ethics, grace versus performance, pastoral care, and preparing for Holy Week.

They trade wild Winter Olympics and ski mountaineering stories, including near-collapse and crash tales. They debate weighing versus measuring in baking and what makes the perfect biscuit. They riff on tour plans, merch shortages for women’s hockey players, sleep and TV habits, and brainstorm quirky VIP goodies.

Lisa Bevere, a NYTimes bestselling Christian author and speaker who teaches on spiritual formation, reframes fasting as invitation, not punishment. She discusses what fasting is and is not. Short practical starts, fasting beyond food, fasting’s role in spiritual breakthrough, deliverance, and reordering idols are highlighted.

Jen Lilley, actress, producer, and author of Wake Up Your Faith, shares her journey from hearing a call to act to living a Spirit-led life. She discusses discernment versus judging, meekness, yielding to God, fasting as a spiritual practice, and how faith shows up on set and in ministry. Short, sincere, and faith-forward conversation.

Matt Smallbone, pastor of Church of the City’s downtown Nashville campus and author of The Prayer Experiment, shares how the Lord’s Prayer reshaped his prayer life. He recounts moving from music to ministry, wrestling with grief and returning to prayer, and practical rhythms like communal petitions, daily bread, forgiveness, fasting, and spiritual protection. Stories and pastoral wisdom pepper the conversation.

They wrestle with how to respond when the world feels overwhelming and debate when to speak up publicly versus acting quietly. A chaotic home disaster story about a collapsing ceiling and flood recovery brings humor and perspective. They trade advice on moving from thought to action, admit fear while holding hope, and finish with movie talk, tour dates, and nostalgic first-film memories.

Brad Nelson, former pastor and content director who helps shape practical prayer rhythms, and Brad Gray, leader at Walking the Text who uncovers Scripture’s original context, discuss their work on The Lord’s Prayer film, series, and book. They explore the prayer’s historic rhythms, how it steadies the disoriented, its role in unity and mission, and simple daily practices to make the prayer part of life.

Milo Ventimiglia, acclaimed actor (Gilmore Girls, This Is Us) who plays Tim Timmons and formed a deep bond with him while researching the role. Tim Timmons, Christian musician and speaker who lived through touring with MercyMe and a personal cancer journey. They talk about making I Can Only Imagine 2, the friendship that grew during filming, grief and gratitude on set, and Tim’s forthcoming book Waking Up Again.