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Unshaken Saints

Unshaken Saints

By: Jared Halverson
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Seismic shifts in the religious and secular landscapes are destabilizing the faith of millions. Join religious educator Jared Halverson as he explores restored scripture, doctrine, history, and practice; examines patterns and pitfalls in navigating faith crisis; and wrestles with ways to make your faith unshaken.
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Hello my friends, I’m Jared Halverson and this is Unshaken. I’ve spent my life studying the scriptures, my professional career teaching them, and my education at a Bible-belt divinity school exploring ways they have been used and abused, attacked and defended. And I’d like to share with you some of the things I’ve learned. In March of 2020 I created a YouTube channel called Unshaken, and six months later we hit our one millionth view, as people around the world are eagerly pursuing an unshaken faith in God by immersing themselves in His word. More and more viewers have been asking for an audio-only version of the lessons on Unshaken, and this podcast is my attempt to meet those needs. What it lacks in the visuals shown on YouTube, or the polished sound of a podcast-only production, it hopefully makes up for in its accessibility to the drivers, joggers, and multi-taskers out there who want to study their scriptures “on the go.” To you, welcome to our verse-by-verse, Come Follow Me study of the scriptures. I pray that it helps your faith in Christ become unshaken.
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Disclaimer: The content of these podcasts is the sole responsibility of their creator and does not reflect the official position of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or the Church Educational System.Copyright 2020 All rights reserved.
Spirituality
Episodes
  • 2 Samuel 11-1 Kings 11 - The Fall of David and the Wisdom of Solomon
    Jun 26 2026

    He was a man after God’s own heart, a conqueror of giants, and the builder of an empire. Yet, a single evening on a rooftop changed everything. If Israel’s most brilliant and wise kings could fall so completely to the flesh and the world, what does it take for us to stand steady today?

    Summary: In this heavy but necessary episode, we dive into the tragic and cautionary text of 2 Samuel 11 through 1 Kings 11. We analyze the United Kingdom of Israel at its absolute peak of wealth, wisdom, and power, and dissect the exact vulnerabilities that fractured a golden age.

    The Rooftop Blueprint: We map the micro-steps of David's tragedy—from staying home when he should have been at war, to seeing, looking, inquiring, and taking. We learn why the Savior raised the bar to the level of the heart to stop this momentum before it kills us spiritually.

    The Cost of the Cover-Up: We uncover the horrific length David went to in order to hide his sin, culminating in the calculated sacrifice of the fiercely loyal Uriah.

    Thou Art the Man: We break down Nathan’s masterful parable of the ewe lamb and analyze why David was so blind to his own hypocrisy until the prophet held up the mirror.

    The Sins of the Children: We witness the agonizing reality of the law of the harvest as David reaps the whirlwind within his own family tree—exploring the tragedy of Amnon and Tamar, and the heartbreaking rebellion of Absalom.

    The Wisdom and Wealth of Solomon: We transition to 1 Kings to study Solomon's blank check from God. We celebrate his request for an "understanding heart" to judge with empathy rather than cold calculation, but trace how wealth, materialism, and political alliances slowly sapped his spiritual strength.

    The Temple vs. The Palace: We contrast the seven years spent building the House of the Lord with the thirteen years Solomon spent building his own massive palace, asking ourselves: "Whose kingdom are we truly trying to build?"

    Call-to-Action: Saul fell to pride, David fell to the flesh, and Solomon fell to worldliness. Which of these three areas is the adversary currently using to target your foundation? Let’s have an honest, supportive discussion in the comments below. To safeguard your discipleship and stay "Unshaken," please like, subscribe, and share this video with someone who needs a reminder of Christ’s relentless redemption!

    Chapter Timestamps:

    0:00 David & Bathsheba

    42:05 David's Sin Is Revealed

    1:00:24 Amnon & Tamar

    1:21:30 Absalom Flees & Returns: Reconciliation

    2:38:24 Absalom's Rebellion

    2:57:50 The Death of Absalom

    2:06:41 Recovering from Rebellion

    2:29:56 A Psalm of David

    2:37:23 The Arm of Flesh

    2:55:35 Conclusion

    2:56:32 David's Last Days

    2:59:45 Solomon as Successor

    3:21:24 The Wisdom of Solomon

    3:35:33 Discerning a Mother & Dividing a Child

    3:47:39 Largeness of Heart

    3:54:27 Building the Temple

    4:15:34 Cedar & Gold

    4:23:57 The Dedication of the Temple

    4:49:32 Wisdom or Wealth?

    4:54:02 Worldliness & Materialism

    5:11:06 Conclusion

    Show More Show Less
    5 hrs and 16 mins
  • 1 Samuel 17 - 2 Samuel 10 - David: From Shepherd to King
    Jun 18 2026

    When David stepped into the Valley of Elah, he wasn't just facing a 9-foot giant named Goliath; he was facing an army of doubts, armor he couldn't wear, and brothers who didn't believe in him. If you are facing massive "giants" or hiding in the "caves" of your own life right now, David’s journey from shepherd boy to anointed king provides the ultimate blueprint for victory.

    Summary: In this episode, we chart the epic rise of King David across 1 Samuel 17 through 2 Samuel 10. We bypass the standard Sunday School narratives to explore the deep spiritual grit, covenant loyalty, and absolute humility required to step into our divine inheritance.

    David vs. Goliath: We analyze the stark contrast between Saul’s heavy, untried armor and David’s simple sling and stones. We explore why true power lies in trusting the name of the Lord rather than relying on human architecture.

    The Wilderness of Jealousy: We trace David's years running from a paranoid King Saul. We study David’s remarkable restraint in the cave of En-gedi, where he refuses to "stretch forth his hand" against the Lord’s anointed, teaching us how to handle unjust leadership and wait on God’s timetable.

    Abigail the Peacemaker: We dive into 1 Samuel 25 to study Abigail, a brilliant woman who stepped between her foolish husband Nabal and a vengeful David. She serves as a profound type of Jesus Christ, taking the blame upon herself to prevent bloodshed and restore peace.

    Steadying the Ark: We confront the tragic story of Uzzah in 2 Samuel 6. We break down the spiritual danger of trying to "steady the ark"—or attempting to correct God's kingdom using human methods—and contrast it with the pure joy David felt dancing before the Lord as the Ark entered Jerusalem.

    Establishing the Kingdom: We finish with a united Israel, looking at how David chose to heal generational trauma by showing kindness to Mephibosheth (Jonathan’s son) instead of wiping out his political rivals.

    Call-to-Action: Saul relied on his physical stature, but David relied on the Lord of Hosts. What is the "heavy armor" of the world that you need to take off so you can fight your battles God's way? Share your insights in the comments below! If you want to keep your faith firmly anchored and "Unshaken" as we study the kings of Israel, please like, subscribe, and share this video!

    Show More Show Less
    4 hrs and 54 mins
  • 1 Samuel 8-16 - The Rise and Fall of Saul
    Jun 14 2026

    When a child or a nation chooses a path you are completely against, how do you respond without losing your strength? Discover "The Samuel Principle" and find out why a faith crisis or a transition in leadership is an invitation to evaluate our hearts—not just our outward appearances.

    Summary: In this episode, we unpack 1 Samuel 8–16, charting the shift from the rule of judges to the era of the kings. We navigate the messy landscape of parental grief, corporate peer pressure, and the personal conversion required to shift from a "hidden" potential to a "magnified" priesthood.

    The Samuel Principle: We analyze how to implement the three-part divine formula when a loved one exercises their agency poorly: hearken to their voice, protest solemnly, and show them the long-term consequences.

    Hiding Among the Stuff: We address Saul’s overwhelming sense of inadequacy and why we are tempted to bury our potential under worldly distractions when God calls us to step forward.

    Turned into Another Man: We look at the spiritual alchemy that happens when the Spirit of the Lord comes upon a person, making them unrecognizable to those who only knew their "old" self.

    The Jurisdiction of Authority: We analyze Saul's fatal overreach at Gilgal, exploring the difference between doing a right thing in a wrong way and why waiting on the Lord's timing is an act of covenant trust.

    The Heart vs. The Stature: We conclude in Bethlehem, exploring why the Lord refused Eliab's height and chose the ruddy shepherd boy David, reminding us that man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart.

    Call-to-Action: Are you currently hiding "among the stuff" because you feel inadequate for what the Lord is asking you to do? How can David’s hidden, shepherd-heart inspire you to step into the light this week? Share your thoughts in the comments! To keep your faith "Unshaken" while we walk through the Old Testament, please like, subscribe, and share this video.

    Chapter Timestamps:

    0:00 Introduction

    2:23 When a Loved One Makes a Choice You Don't Agree With

    26:00 The Samuel Principle

    40:12 The Call of Saul

    52:51 Saul Anointed & Transformed

    1:05:02 Israel United, Rebuked, & Reassured

    1:19:46 Saul Offers Sacrifice

    1:26:24 No Smiths in Israel

    1:33:20 Jonathan & the Philistine Garrison

    1:53:44 To Obey Is Better than Sacrifice

    2:15:39 Samuel Chooses David

    Show More Show Less
    2 hrs and 31 mins
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