Should Christians PRAY to Saints!? (Pastors REACT To Viral Video) | Live Free with Josh Howerton

August 24, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

The episode opens with a jarring visual: a Catholic cardinal placing a jeweled crown on a thousand-year-old skull, then bowing to pray. Pastor Josh Howerton and his co-hosts at Lake Point Church use that viral moment as a launchpad for a wide-ranging conversation about prayer, community, and finishing the Christian life well. The throughline is a practical question: what does faithful Christian practice actually look like, and what common habits—both inside and outside the church—miss the mark?

The Gold in the "Phone Book" Passages

A major portion of the episode is devoted to the seemingly boring lists of names at the end of Paul’s letters. Howerton argues these passages are packed with hidden meaning for anyone willing to dig. He gives two examples. First, the name "Quartus" in Romans 16:23 simply means "fourth"—a number given to a slave child deemed unworthy of a real name. Howerton points out that the Roman Empire saw this boy as nothing, yet God ensured his name would be read by Christians for eternity. Second, he traces the name "Rufus" from Mark 15—where Simon of Cyrene, forced to carry Jesus’ cross, is identified as the father of Alexander and Rufus—to Romans 16:13, where Paul greets a man named Rufus as "chosen in the Lord." The implication is that Simon’s act of carrying the cross led to his entire lineage being transformed. These details, Howerton says, show tha

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What you'll learn

1 Timestamped Outline
2 (00:00) **Episode Tease & Opening** - Hosts preview the loaded topics: reacting to a viral Catholic relic ceremony, praying for vengeance, finding a band of brothers, and hidden gold in the "boring" name lists of Scripture
3 (01:40) **Bear Skull Giveaway & Marvel Trivia** - The hosts welcome a surprise gift from a listener and play a prank on Carlos with a one-second Marvel movie clip
4 (06:22) **Why Politics Matters to Christians** - Josh explains the podcast's philosophy on political engagement, arguing Christians must influence society because politics affects policy and policy affects people
5 (09:03) **James Talarico: Wolf in Sheep's Clothing** - Josh analyzes a viral clip of a progressive "pastor" opposing Bible reading in schools, then contrasts it with his radical positions on gender and abortion
6 (18:33) **Vote Website & Church Stories** - Josh launches a new mobilization tool and shares a powerful story of a father attending church with his incarcerated child for the first time
7 (23:44) **The Agony of Preaching** - Josh and the team discuss the internal struggle every great preacher feels after delivering a sermon

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Guests on this episode

Josh Howerton

Show Notes

In Episode 90 of the LIVE FREE Podcast, Pastors Josh Howerton, Carlos Erazo, and Paul Cunningham uncover surprising lessons hidden inside some of the Bible passages we usually skim—including the stories of Mark, Demas, Rufus, and Quartus. Their lives reveal powerful truths about failure, restoration, friendship, legacy, and lifelong faithfulness.

The conversation also gets intensely practical: Who are the people carrying your mat when you're struggling? Is it biblical to pray for God's judgment on someone? And why does Scripture teach that Christians can approach God directly through Jesus?

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why seemingly insignificant names in Scripture actually matter
What Mark and Demas teach us about failure and finishing well
How to intentionally build a band of brothers or sisters
Why Christian friendship requires encouragement and confrontation
How Christians can pray for enemies while still asking God for justice
Why Jesus alone is our mediator before God
How to keep your eyes centered on Christ throughout your life

Don't simply start the race—finish faithfully.

Stand firm. Think biblically. Live free.

💬 This week’s giveaway: Name the Bear Skull in the Comments!

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