- 16
- Episodes
- 2
- Ratings
- 2024
- First episode
About Ovilla Christian Chats
Welcome to Ovilla Christian Chats, where we discuss Biblical approaches to living life in a secular world. Join us as we dive deeper into topics that affect every Christian. Ovilla Christian School is the educational arm of Ovilla Road Baptist Church and our mission is to cultivate an environment in which students may flourish as they become life-long learners, servant leaders, and devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
- Publisher
- Ovilla Christian School
- Category
- education · religion & spirituality
- Language
- en
- Explicit
- No
- First episode
- 16 Jul 2024
- Latest episode
- 26 Mar 2026
Latest episodes
16 episodes in the feed.
26 Mar 2026
What Makes a Family the Right Fit?
It's admission season and applications are rolling in for next year! We are joined by Mallory Teck, OCS Admissions Director, to get some direct answers to the questions of what we're looking for in families who apply to be a part of Ovilla Christian. Our church (ORBC) and school (OCS) are growing at the same time, and we are intentional about maintaining the core mission as a discipleship school—not just adding more families. Keeping that as the focus is the heart behind our admission standards, including our connection with local churches and our families' church involvement. Church/Home/School is how we say it: this is the three-legged stool of Christian education at OCS. Mallory Teck, OCS Admissions Director, came to us with an array of experience in both private and public schools. She loves those squirrelly middle schoolers, the Denver Broncos, and guiding families through the OCS admission process to find the ones that will add to the culture that we aim to protect and cultivate. Mallory also actively works to equip students as they sign up for dual-credit classes, work through conflicts with teachers or professors, and prove to themselves that they are capable of handling challenges that arise in life.
19 Feb 2026
What About Hard Conversations?
Whether you're tackling questions of politics, identity, or hot topics in culture, ORBC Family Discipleship Pastor Joe Zinkgraf outlines a helpful framework for Christian parents to approach these conversations with your kids. 1. What's your goal as a parent? Step back and let that shape how you have conversations with your kids. 2. Is your end goal to raise someone who looks like you or someone who looks like Christ? Think of the 25-ish year age difference between you and your child in light of eternity. It's so small! 3. "Drip, drip, drip" conversations: this isn't one big conversation but many small, open, age-appropriate ones throughout their growing years. 4. Using the conversations you have with your kids as a gauge, do your kids only know which way you lean, or do they know what God is like? Philippians 4:8 ESV "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Resources Mentioned: Parenting with Words of Grace by William Smith ChristianParenting.org; "How to help kids process disturbing news in a digital age" What Do I Say When: A Parent's Guide to Navigating Cultural Chaos for Children and Teens (https://a.co/d/010iZhPa) by Andrew and Christian Walker
18 Dec 2025
The Question We Asked Our Students
Erich, Julianne, and Pastor Matt hop into this delightful conversation with Jenni Osgood, LPC-A, about the connection that kids desire with their families. Jenni Osgood is a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate who provides individual and family counseling for OCS families. She is also the Guidance Counselor for high school students as they consider careers. "Do you think that you spend too much, just the right amount, or not enough time with your family?" When Jenni asked several middle and high school classes this question, she was surprised by the answers. Overwhelmingly, the students replied, "Not enough time." Join us as we unpack the responses Jenni heard and give some encouragement to parents who want to spend quality time with their kids in this hectic world. Resources Mentioned: "Hurt 2.0: Inside the World of Today's Teenagers" (https://a.co/d/2sMoiN8) by Chap Clark "Habits of the Household" (https://a.co/d/bRJnTmz) by Justin Whitmel Earley "50 Things Every Child Needs to Know Before Leaving the Home" (https://a.co/d/7VQWwws) by Dr. Josh and Jen Mulvihill
17 Nov 2025
Recapping the Worldview Conference
Welcome, Coach and Bible Teacher Ian White! Ian and Erich accompanied the high school students to the Biblical Worldview Conference in September, and for the first time, we also sent the 8th graders. We chat about what stood out at this conference, including: Melissa Dougherty and her talk on "New Thought" (Melissa and Alisa Childers discuss this topic here); this is something that is a part of our students' lives. "Your calling is seasonal but your purpose isn't." Ruslan KD How can students be sure that everything heard at the Biblical Worldview Conference was biblical? Resources Mentioned: Knowing Faith (podcast) BibleTalk (podcast) 9Marks (https://www.9marks.org/books/) (book series) Remember parents, you are the primary discipler of your children! Make sure you're steeped in the truth of the Word of God so you can direct what they are intaking. We hope this conference produced some fruitful conversation in your homes.
23 Oct 2025
Can Athletics Help Christians Flourish?
We want our students to grow both academically and physically—after all, we are embodied people! Perseverance and teamwork can be cultivated in the classroom, but they're certainly developed on the field and on the court. Julianne and Pastor Matt discuss sports with Jonathan Rogers, OCS Athletic Director. What does athletics have to do with a Christian worldview? Should Christians approach athletics differently? Highlights/Quotes: —Coaching is not that different from being a youth pastor—there's discipleship in both. —Just like in the church, every role matters. There's a larger picture here beyond your individual performance. —"We value winning. But valuing winning is different than winning at all costs." —Culture eats strategy for breakfast.
2 Sept 2025
Alumni, Parent, Teacher: What Brought You Back?
It's a full house today! Erich and Matt welcome two alumni who are now teaching at OCS and have their children enrolled here. Caleb Rudolph and JoAnna Rozier, both graduates of the class of 2010, not only met and married OCS classmates, but they were in each others' weddings. Now, Caleb teaches high school English and is an adjunct DBU professor for dual-credit psychology at OCS. JoAnna is entering into her first year in 1st grade, having taught Kindergarten the past two years at OCS. We ask them: why have they decided to come full-circle and bring their families back to OCS? How does OCS support the discipleship that they as parents foster in their homes? Julianne chimes in at the end to tease the upcoming OCS Homecoming events on September 12. Now is the time to come back to campus to see how much has changed and how much has remained the same. Join us for an Alumni Reception before the varsity football game in our very own version of Friday night lights in Ovilla on September 9!
15 Aug 2025
Why Do We Teach the Bible This Way?
Pastor Matt, Erich, and Julianne are joined by Ms. Shannon Williams, our new Elementary Bible teacher. We talk about how this will function in the classroom and what our students will be learning to prepare them for middle and high school Bible classes. Shannon spent the summer working on the scope and sequence of the Elementary Bible curriculum she is creating and implementing this year. She approaches this new role with tenacity and excitement as she partners with homeroom teachers to lay the foundation that the Bible is not a thousand separate stories about God or morality but rather one big story about God's plan to redeem humanity and dwell with us again one day. Our conversation ventures into how the church and school function in different ways in the life of a Christian family. Why do we think it's so important for our families to attend a local church? Listen to hear the reasons!
3 Apr 2025
Are Books That Important?
Christians should be people of the Word—that is, the Scriptures. This is God's chosen way to reveal himself and his plan of redemption. But should the Bible be the only book that Christians read? How do you choose good books: ones that stretch your imagination, solidify your faith, and stand the test of time? Join Julianne, Erich, and Pastor Matt from OCS and ORBC (http://orbc.org/) in this discussion about books, including a list of titles we wholeheartedly commend. Recommendations: "10 Books That Screwed Up the World: And 5 Others That Didn't Help" by Benjamin Wiker (link) "Habits of the Household" by Justin Whitmel Earley (link) "The Tech-Wise Family" by Andy Crouch (link) "God's Glory in Salvation Through Judgment" by James Hamilton (link) "Knowing God" by J. I. Packer (link) Augustine's Confessions (available free through Project Gutenberg eBook) "From Eden to the New Jerusalem" by T. Desmond Alexander (link) "Total Truth" by Nancy Pearcey (link) "Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave" by Edward Welch (link) The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson (link) "What is Biblical Theology" by James Hamilton (link) "None Like Him" by Jen Wilkin (link) "God With Us" by Jeremy Pierre (link)
31 Jan 2025
Do You Have New Year's Resolutions?
Do you know what day in January is considered National Quitting Day for New Year's Resolution? Find out if you've made it past National Quitting Day in this conversation with Pastor Matt, Erich, and Julianne. Whether you've started a new Bible reading plan or want to improve your health, we all know the best way to keep your resolutions is to have accountability. How does the local church fit in with this? Resources Mentioned: "Wonder Confronts Christianity" by Gary Saul Morson "Authority: How Godly Rule Protects the Vulnerable, Strengthens Communities, and Promotes Human Flourishing" (https://www.crossway.org/books/authority-tpb/) by Jonathan Leeman "Life Together" by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
16 Dec 2024
Are the Holidays Hectic or Holy?
In a 2023 study by the American Psychological Association, 89% of responders said the holidays stress them out. (Source) Julianne and Pastor Matt guess the top 10 reasons for increased stress as cited in the survey—see if you can get #1 before Erich reveals it. How can Christians re-orient their hearts and minds around this hectic time to participate in the anticipation of the return of Christ? Join us for this conversation about consumerism, stress, and the season of Advent.
13 Nov 2024
How Does Technology Shape Worldview?
Travis Seekins, Associate VP for Strategic Partnerships at Hardin-Simmons University, joins us for a fascinating conversation about technology, anxiety, and our personal identities. Highlights: Technology is neither good nor evil, but it is not neutral. It is not just there. It's working on you purposefully. When we give it our attention, it shapes our worldview. On average, a person checks their cellphone 144 times a day. This comes out to every 6.7 minutes. For the first time in human history, we have banished solitude. You need solitude to sit with your own thoughts so you can figure out who you are and how you fit in this place. There's a battle going on for your time and attention—and this is by design. Resources Mentioned: Embodied by Greg Allison Love Thy Body by Nancy Pearcey Deep Work by Cal Newport
1 Nov 2024
Why the Biblical Worldview Conference?
This year, our entire Upper School attended the Biblical Worldview Conference, hosted by Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano. Students and faculty in grades 9-12 spent two days in worship, break-out sessions, and main lectures. Why did we send so many students this year? Head of School Bob Yttredahl is back on the podcast to recap his experience at the conference and why it is so important for our school culture. Bonus: can you guess which one of us loves Butterfinger Blizzards? Resources mentioned: "The Shallows" by Nicholas Carr "Total Truth" by Nancy Pearcey (https://a.co/d/d7cKMo5) "Strange New World" (https://a.co/d/5MuJSBC) by Carl Trueman "Church Membership" (https://a.co/d/iJOJ8o2) by Jonathan Leeman If you're interested in listening to the content presented at the 2024 BWC or seeing the list of topics addressed, click here: https://prestonwoodworldview.org/ondemand/
1 Oct 2024
It's Music to My Ears
We're joined by Joseph Arze, Worship Minister at ORBC, for a conversation about how music shapes our worldview. Highlights: • If you want something to be solidified in your mind, sing it. • Music is like swift waters; it carves out channels in your brain to shape your thinking in a certain way. • We often turn to music to confirm our feelings. • One of the biggest obstacles to the gospel in our lives is forgetfulness. Songs Mentioned: All Sufficient Merit (https://youtu.be/VFwC9v9NYQM?si=O9ZklP05xvCJtoQW) All Glory Be to Christ (https://youtu.be/I6P2R9aTAPI?si=WDODfZ-yghnozeeJ) Verses to Consider: Romans 12:1-2 Colossians 3 Psalm 32:10-11
19 Sept 2024
Is Salvation Based on Your Performance?
Erich, Julianne, and Pastor Matt are back! In today's episode, they discuss how our worldview affects our view of salvation and the gospel. Our performance is used as a metric in many areas of life (social media, parenting, work, school). Are we letting this performance-driven view shape how we understand the doctrine of salvation? Resources Mentioned • The Anxious Generation (https://www.anxiousgeneration.com/book) by Jonathan Haidt • Total Truth (https://www.crossway.org/books/total-truth-tpb/) by Nancy Pearcey Verses to Consider • Galatians 3 • Ephesians 2:10 • 2 Timothy 2:12, 13 • Psalm 32:1-6 • James 5:16 • Ezekiel 11:19; 27; 36:26-27 • Jeremiah 32:39-40
22 Aug 2024
Can You Handle the Truth?
We're back for another conversation about worldview and this time the topic of truth is on the table. How we can know that truth exists? How does our source of truth impact how we live as Christians? In this episode, Erich and Pastor Matt are joined by Julianne Fowler, Director of Marketing and Communication at OCS.
16 Jul 2024
What in the Worldview?
Welcome to our first episode! Join Erich Lehmann (OCS Director of Spiritual Life), Pastor Matt Bowles (Ovilla Road Baptist Church), and Bob Yttredahl (OCS Head of School) in a conversation about worldview: what does this word mean and why is it important? What are the proper roles of the church and a Christian school in the life of a Christ-follower? ALSO! Learn to pronounce "Yttredahl" correctly and hear the heart behind changes coming to chapel at OCS this fall.
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