Locker Room

One phone call, one text, or one email can drastically change the trajectory of our day and potentially our lives — especially as it pertains to our physical health and wellbeing. In this episode, Scott discusses his friend Phil’s recent cancer diagnosis, and how Phil is navigating this current season.

Whether we want to believe it or not, our stories matter. Reflecting on our stories provides an opportunity to see how God has been at work in our lives and how He’s still at work in our lives. Scott unpacks his story with his lifelong friend, Phil Miller, who has played an instrumental role in who Scott is today.

Fear Less, with Gary Black This episode of Locker Room is all about helping men fight back against fear. Fear has been bullying people for far too long. Fear is an emotion. To resist fear is really about the decisions we make to not be overcome by it. Gary Black joins Scott this week to share three decisions he has made—that we can all make—to push back on fear, live by faith and be resilient. When fear ambushes us and even slams us to the ground, we'll learn how to rise up, fight back and conquer it. We’ve kicked off Fight Club at the Nicholasville Campus on Monday nights. If you’re interested in jumping in with us—come on. Go to southland.church/groups, click on the NIC campus, scroll through the Group selections and choose Fight Club to sign up. Want to start or join a Locker Room Men’s Group—go to southland.church/groups, pick your campus and start one or jump into one! -- LOCKER ROOM DISCUSSION GUIDE Do you have any irrational fears? (E.g. clowns, the dark, mannequins, etc.) What other fears do you wrest

Enduring Faith, with Brian Lucas Trials and hard times are a part of our story. There is no such thing as a prosperity gospel. It’s not in Scripture. Faith in Jesus doesn’t take away our pain, it doesn’t remove our circumstances and it doesn’t mean we’ll always be happy, healthy and wealthy. It’s not in there. Hard times will either build our faith or if we’re not careful—will destroy our faith. On this episode of Locker Room, Scott is joined by Brian Lucas to share about many trials that he and his wife Jenn have endured together, with God’s help along the way. We hope you’ll be encouraged hearing their story and may identify with some of these same challenges in your own life. -- We’ve kicked off Fight Club at the Nicholasville Campus on Monday nights. If you’re interested in jumping in with us—come on. Go to southland.church/groups, click on the NIC campus, scroll through the Group selections and choose Fight Club to sign up. Want to start or join a Locker Room Men’s Group—go to southland.church/groups, pi

Faith Obeys Most of the significant life-change, transformation and breakthrough in our lives will come on the other side of obedience: hearing God's Word, receiving it humbly, and wholeheartedly putting it into practice. Join us this week as Scott unpacks from the book of James and digs into two words: faith obeys. Locker Room is back and we’re going to continue the theme from last season—taking two words at a time, doing a deep dive, unpacking God’s Word and God’s heart for us as men around things that matter. We’d love to hear from you. Shoot us an email at lockerroom@southland.church. We’d love to hear how this podcast is encouraging you and would be honored to help you in any way that we can! If you want to join a Locker Room Group at Southland, go to southland.church/groups and click ‘Join a Group’. LOCKER ROOM DISCUSSION GUIDE Were you mainly obedient or disobedient as a kid? Is it possible to do the right things for the wrong reasons? Why or why not? Read James 1:19-20. When has being slow to listen,

How is your summer going? What have you been doing along the way? Hopefully you’ve gotten to have some downtime. Hopefully you’ve been able to downshift, get some vacation time, put your feet in some sand, knock out some projects around the house, and get in somebody’s pool or the lake. Circle up with Scott in this episode as we wind out the summer season. Scott shares what’s been going on in his world, and about some exciting things going on here at Southland. We’ll also talk about an additional new podcast and a new resource coming your way in the fall. We’ll be back in a couple of weeks to kick off season 11 of Locker Room. Here's what's happening this fall: - “Fight Club” Men’s Group | Begins Monday, August 21st | 7PM-9PM | Nicholasville Campus (Building B) | southland.church/groups | shatfield@southland.church - “Locker Room” Men’s Podcast | New episodes begin Friday, August 25th | Join or lead a Locker Room group | southland.church/groups | lockerroom@southland.church - Two new podcasts: “Tell Me More”

Sacrificial Surrender Sacrifice is laying down something you love for something you love even more.  It doesn’t matter if what you’re laying down in surrender is good, destructive, toxic or awesome—it’s laying down something that you love for something you love even more. It’s what Abraham did. It’s what God the Father did for us in sending Jesus. It all comes down to the question, “Can I trust God with what He’s asking me to surrender?” Genesis 22:14 says, “...The LORD Will Provide.”  God provides. God meets us where we are and He provides.  He provides us with grace, strength, and peace. He provides us with healing. He provides us with freedom! Pain and beauty are found in these two words: sacrificial surrender.   This is the final episode of this season, but we’ll be back in the fall. In the meantime we’d love to hear from you! Drop us an email at lockerroom@southland.church with responses to these three things: -  Share a couple of the episodes that were helpful or resonated with you. -  Share two words t

10 Passages This week on Locker Room we’re going to take 10 passages from God’s word and look at them closer. These words from God are important because they lay a firm foundation to build your life, your marriage and your family on. We’d love for you to go on this journey for yourself! Please feel free to dig out your own set of 10 passages and then email us at lockerroom@southland.church.   LOCKER ROOM DISCUSSION GUIDE S10 E17 - “Two Words: Ten Passages” What’s one of your favorite quotes? Why is this one of your favorites? Read Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:27. Genesis Ch.1 is known as the “Creation Account.” What resonates with you about this text? Why is this foundational to our faith? Read Mark 12:30-31. The “Great Commandment” can also be found in Mark’s and Luke’s gospel accounts. It’s important to note this is a commandment from Jesus, not a recommendation or a suggestion. Why does Jesus cover all aspects of who we are (e.g. emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and physically)? What’s the significance of

Imago Dei Two words: Imago Dei - the image of God. In this week’s episode of Locker room we are talking about identity. Identity is something the enemy loves to distort in men’s lives.  Identity is foundational.  Who we think we are cuts a channel for how we live, how we interact with others, how we interact with God, how we view our vocation, how we handle success and failure, and how we view others. So what is it?  Where does our identity come from?  How do we know that we have value, significance and worth? It’s who God says that we are!  You are who your Creator says that you are!  And it’s the only thing that will satisfy you, anchor you; it’s the only firm foundation that we can build our lives on.   LOCKER ROOM DISCUSSION GUIDE S10 E 16 - “Two Words: Imago Dei” Who would you say is your celebrity lookalike?  How would you define the word “identity”? Why is it critical to have a proper perspective on where our identity comes from? Read Proverbs 23:7, Philippians 4:8, and Colossians 3:1-4. What or who ha

Healthy Rhythms Jesus had the habit of getting alone with the Father and then being with people. Over and over again, we see Him withdraw to the wilderness to pray and connect with the Father. He had this rhythm of connecting with the Father (filling his tank) and then spending time with people (pouring out from the well of His time with God). We have to realize that we’re not God. We have limits. But if we will fight to protect our relationship with Jesus, and we will love ourselves enough to take care of our bodies, we’ll be healthier men and stronger men. Then we’ll be able to invest in our families, relationships, work and kingdom stuff that God calls us to be a part of. Join us in this episode of Locker Room as we circle up with Scott Nickell and Jon Weece to talk about two words: Healthy Rhythms.   LOCKER ROOM DISCUSSION GUIDE S10 E15 - "Two Words: Healthy Rhythms” We all have at least 1 or 2 weird habits. What’s one of yours? Would you describe yourself as a disciplined person? Why or why not? It’s bee

The Book Many of us own a copy. In fact, the stats say 85% of U.S. households have a Bible, and the average house has 4.3 Bibles. The problem with that stat is this: just because you have one doesn’t mean that you’re using it! So why is this book important? What is the point? The point of the Bible is to know God and to understand His ways. God could have easily simply created us and said, “Well, I hope you find me.” Instead, He gave us His Word. It’s a gift. It’s a love letter from God to us—written with precision and purpose—so that we can know Him and know His heart for us and His heart for the world. In this episode of Locker Room we’re going to hit the fundamentals of how to get into God’s Word and make it part of our daily lives.   LOCKER ROOM DISCUSSION GUIDE S10E14 - Two Words: The Book Would you classify yourself as a reader? Why or why not? If so, what’s one of your favorite books? When you hear the phrase “the Bible,” what’s the first thought that comes to mind? Who introduced you to the Bible, an

Hate Sin (part 2) Each of us are in a daily battle of choosing, “Am I going to live my day walking in what God has for me through Christ—am I going to live for Jesus? Or am I going to be dominated by my past sin, past shame, or sinful desires?” We have to know ourselves. We have to know our history. We have to remember where we’ve been and study our own game tape knowing what brings joy and what brings heartache and shame. Join us this week as we jump back into the two words: Hate Sin. LOCKER ROOM DISCUSSION GUIDE: S10 E13 - Two Words: Hate Sin (Part 2) What was your main takeaway from the previous episode? Do you view sin any differently? Why or why not? Read Isaiah 53:1-12, Romans 3:21-26, and 1 Corinthians 7:23. God hated sin so much, He sent Jesus on a rescue mission to reconcile us back to Him which came at a great cost. God’s grace and mercy should elicit a response from us. If we’re able to move this unfathomable truth from our heads to our hearts, how should this radically change the way we live? What

Hate Sin (Part 1) How does God view sin? How does He see it? When God thinks about sin, what are His feelings? God hates sin so much and He hates what it’s done to His creation. He hates what it does to people’s hearts, relationships, marriages, families and communities. He hates what it does to His Church. He hates how it falls out in people’s lives. What about us? Sometimes we don’t really hate sin…we just hate everybody else’s sin. We’ve grown way too comfortable with the sin that we commit. Or maybe we’re in the middle of habitual sin where it feels like there's no way out: we can’t resist it, and we don’t have the ability to fight or be victorious over it. This week we’ll dive into what God’s word says about sin and its effects in our lives. LOCKER ROOM DISCUSSION GUIDE S10 E12:Two Words: Hate Sin (Part 1) What’s one food you hated eating as a kid? Is this a food you eat today? How has your appetite changed over the years? What would you attribute to this change? Read Romans 6:5-14. When we become follo

You’re Qualified (part 2) You have a story. God doesn’t want you to hide your story, but get comfortable with it and—when the opportunity arises—share it. When we choose to follow Christ, we become billboards of God’s grace and God’s hope. Your story is one of your greatest weapons. Jump back in with us this week as we continue the discussion on the two words: You’re Qualified. LOCKER ROOM DISCUSSION GUIDE S10E11: You’re Qualified (Part 2) What was your main takeaway from the previous episode? After listening to the episode, have you become more or less confident in God’s ability to use you? Why? At Southland, we encourage our congregation to live With Jesus, In Community, and On Mission or what we refer to as “The Triangle.” Read Mark 10:42-45, Philippians 2:3-4, and 1 Peter 4:10. One of the ways we can live “on mission” is by serving inside or outside the church. What does serving look like for you during this season? What have you learned from the experience? If you’ve not been able to serve, what barrier

You’re Qualified (Part 1) God uses broken people. That’s all He has. God doesn’t call the equipped; He equips the called. Jesus desires for you to partner with Him to live your life on mission. Too often we think God is looking for the powerful, the affluent, the charismatic—people with dynamic personalities. We think God is looking for ability and what He’s really looking for is availability. He will equip available men who are willing to take a step and follow Him. Join Scott and returning guest Connor Hall as they discuss how each of us are qualified to be a part of God’s team and make a difference in the lives of our families, friends, and coworkers. LOCKER ROOM DISCUSSION GUIDE: S10E10 You’re Qualified (Part 1) What was your first job or the first team you were a part of? Did you feel qualified? Why or why not? What do you think makes someone qualified for a position or role? Why did you choose your response? Read Nehemiah 1:11-2:5. Nehemiah was a cupbearer in modern-day Iran who felt a burden or call t

Two Words: Crush Pride “Pride is your greatest enemy; humility is your greatest friend.”—C.S. Lewis. Pride makes everything about us. We’re the center of the universe—it’s all about me… Prideful men are everywhere; humble, confident men are hard to find. Here’s the reality: God can do anything in a humble man and He won’t do anything with a prideful man. We’ve got to choose what kind of man we want to be. In this week’s episode, Scott sits down with guest John Sampson for a tag-team dive into key scriptures where we learn what God thinks of pride and how to form a step-by-step approach to crush it out of our lives. LOCKER ROOM DISCUSSION GUIDE S10E9 - Two Words: Crush Pride What’s something you take pride in (e.g. accomplishment/achievement, organization/team, position/title, skill/ability, etc.)? How do you maintain a healthy view of this? We see pride manifest in a number of unhealthy ways throughout the pages of the Bible. How would you define pride in this context? Why is pride considered the root of al

Click Here for the video podcast Two Words: Own It Own it. The mindset for this week is transparent ownership. Transparent ownership is about taking personal responsibility. It’s about personal accountability. It’s being socially, emotionally, and relationally aware of how we operate. Owning it is self-awareness of our words, actions, reactions, and motivations. It’s having a pulse on your personal and professional relationships, and your relationships with your wife and kids. Owning it pushes us towards transparency and healthier relationships. What we’ll also find is that transparent ownership actually enhances the culture around you. A quick correction from last week’s episode: here is a link to the further reading on spiritual warfare from Gary Black: Going Deeper in Spiritual Warfare LOCKER ROOM DISCUSSION GUIDE S10E8:  “Two Words: Own It” 1. Share a time when you were caught “red-handed” as a kid. What was your initial response in the moment? What have you learned from the experience? 2. How would

Your Enemy We all have an enemy. We actually have real enemies. The Bible tells us our enemies are Satan and demons, the world, and the flesh. This is important, because it doesn’t matter if you’re playing high school sports or entering the ring in the UFC; to have a chance of winning, you need to know your enemy. With this week's guest Gary Black, we’ll do a deep dive on Satan and demons and learn how to fight our enemy. Further reading on spiritual warfare: Bondage Breaker by Neil AndersonThe Adversary by Mark BubeckSpiritual Warfare by Karl PayneThe Handbook For Spiritual Warfare by Ed Murphy And this link Gary mentioned in today's episode: Going Deeper In Understanding Spiritual Warfare If we can help you in any way or you’d like to share how this podcast is encouraging you, feel free to shoot us an email at lockerroom@southland.church LOCKER ROOM DISCUSSION GUIDE S10E7: “Two Words: Your Enemy” Who is your favorite movie or television villain (The Joker, Darth Vader, Green Thanos, Voldemort, etc.)? Why

Two Words: Be Accountable We’ve each got a shot at moving beyond where we are and towards the men that God wants us to be—but we need a band of brothers—we need a couple guys. God wants us to step off the island and have some guys that we can count on. And there are guys that need to be able to count on us. We all need these relationships. Join us on this week’s podcast as Scott talks about being accountable. Join us March 17-18 for Meal Pack! Across all five Southland campuses in partnership with Lifeline Christian Mission, we will pack one million meals to feed hungry kids around the world. All of the meals are distributed through Lifeline’s sites in countries like Honduras, Ecuador, Guatemala, and some countries in Africa. To be a part of this event, sign up at http://southland.church/mealpack LOCKER ROOM DISCUSSION GUIDE S10E6: Be Accountable Who’s the best classmate, teammate, or co-worker you’ve ever collaborated with? What did you appreciate the most about them?  Who do you currently spend the most

Worship Jesus We all worship something. We’re all worshippers. It just depends on who or what we worship. For followers of Jesus, worship is our response—both personally and corporately—to God for who He is, and what He’s done; expressed by the things we say and the things we do—by the way we live our lives. This week Scott is joined by Mike Vandemark to talk about his heartbeat of using the gift of music to bring people together. Along the way we break down some of the nuts and bolts of how and why we worship at Southland. Join us March 17-18 for Meal Pack!Across all five Southland campuses in partnership with Lifeline Christian Mission, we will pack one million meals to feed hungry kids around the world. All of the meals are distributed through Lifeline’s sites in countries like Honduras, Ecuador, Guatemala, and some countries in Africa. To be a part of this event, sign up at http://southland.church/mealpack You can find all of the original songs by Southland Music at http://southland.church/music Scott