Welcome back to The Stoop Sessions—where we gather for honest, down-to-earth conversations about ministry and the life of the church, straight from a Baltimore stoop.

In this episode, Joel, Akin, and Stephanie sit on the stoop of the ONE HOPE Mission House in Baltimore, Maryland to talk about the importance of doctrine in the life of the church—especially in the inner city. In communities often shaped by a lack of theological training and constant exposure to shallow or false teaching, doctrine is not a luxury; it is a necessity.

Why does doctrine matter for everyday believers? How does sound doctrine shape the health, worship, and mission of the church? And how do pastors and congregations alike receive, guard, and pass on good doctrine?

Together, they discuss the real challenges facing this community, the danger of drifting from biblical truth, and the urgent call to combat false doctrine with the life-giving doctrine of Scripture. This conversation makes the case that doctrine is not cold or abstract—it is deeply pastoral, profoundly practical, and essential for faithfulness and endurance.

Joel Kurz is the Lead Pastor at The Garden Church and Director of ONE HOPE.

Akin Omisanmi serves as Pastor at Southwest Baptist Church, a ONE HOPE church.

Stephanie serves alongside ONE HOPE, laboring for healthy churches and rooted discipleship in the city.

📍 Learn more about The Garden Church: thegardenbaltimore.com

📍 Learn more about Southwest Baptist Church: swbcbaltimore.com

🌱 Learn more about ONE HOPE: onehope.gives

❤️ Support the show: onehope.gives/donate

The love of money is not just a problem of the rich, it can also grip the poor and working class. Many who grew up with little desire much. And we get it. Poverty hurts. It’s not what we want for our kids. But how should we think of having and pursuing wealth?.

The stoop crew first defines wealth. On one hand, wealth is defined as having more than you need. In this sense, most every American is “wealthy” in comparison to other cultures. But a more popular definition is to have enough money so that “I don’t have to think about money.” People don’t like budgets because they don’t like restraints. The desire for wealth is to pursue enough in order to spend without constraint.

Can Christians have this kind of wealth? We usual, Joel, Stephane, and Eric take it to the Word. What does the Bible teach on having money? Listen as they read plenty of Scripture and discuss God’s view of wealth and the Christian.

This episode is part one of three as The Stoop Sessions considers the topic of wealth.

Support the show at www.onehope.gives/donate

Brian and Dawn Sessions were both raised in Baltimore and in the church, but seeing the beauty of reconciliation through the gospel did not come immediately. God used their love of the arts to help them find their identity in Christ, and now they use the arts as an avenue through which they can share that same hope with youth in Baltimore. Their lives are not separate from their ministry, but shared through it, and their success is not an end-marker, but daily fulfilling the mission of sharing the gospel. Listen to the end to hear a preview of Brian's new song and check out our website for links to Brian and Dawn's ministries.

More Info on Brian and Dawn’s Work:

R.O.C. Enrichment: www.rocenrichmentprogram.com

Brian’s music: “Jesus Loves Me” By Brian Sessions on all digital streaming services

Grace Abounds Dance/Mentoring: graceaboundsmentoring.org