DeepSummary
The episode begins with Granger Smith recounting the night he contemplated suicide after the tragic drowning of his 3-year-old son, River. While on his tour bus with a gun to his head, Granger heard a voice telling him to pull the trigger for peace, but he cried out to Jesus for salvation instead. His wife Amber shares her perspective on that harrowing night.
A pivotal point in Granger's healing journey came when he listened to a sermon by John Piper about truly loving and following Jesus's commands. This revelation led Granger to deeply study the Bible and eventually leave his country music career to preach the gospel full-time. Amber expresses immense gratitude for Piper's role in transforming their family.
The couple emphasizes the importance of not merely inheriting a cultural form of Christianity, but developing a genuine relationship with Jesus through understanding His Word. They encourage young families to raise children grounded in Scripture to withstand life's inevitable struggles. Granger and Amber also share about their surprise blessing of a new son, Maverick, after losing River.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Granger Smith contemplated suicide after his son's tragic death, but experienced spiritual revival after crying out to Jesus for salvation.
- A sermon by John Piper helped Granger realize he needed to truly know and follow Jesus, not just cultural Christianity.
- Granger left his successful country music career behind to go into full-time ministry preaching the gospel.
- The Smiths emphasize raising children grounded in Scripture to truly know God and withstand life's inevitable suffering.
- Despite profound grief, the Smiths found joy in the surprise blessing of a new son, Maverick, after losing River.
- True Christianity is not inherited culturally but through developing a genuine relationship with Jesus by knowing His Word.
- Granger exhorts families to ask if they are truly ready to face life's trials by deeply knowing who God is through Scripture.
- The Smiths' story illustrates how God can bring profound beauty and new purpose out of life's deepest ashes.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “And right then, the slideshow stopped. The voice stopped, the foreign thought disappeared. I dropped the gun onto the little bed of the bus and fell down to the floor in all my clothes and fell asleep right there on the floor.“ by Granger Smith
- “And Piper commentates again in a way that he doesn't love everybody. He yells it, and he's yelling at me in all aspects of this, he's yelling at me. And suddenly, it just overwhelmingly, a flood came over me. And I knew all in that moment, I knew I was loved. I was redeemed. I was restored and forgiven, washed clean of my guilt.“ by Granger Smith
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Episode Information
Date Night With the Woods
Mission Bible Church
2/22/24
In last week’s episode Granger and Amber Smith poured out their story of heartache after losing 3-yr old son River in a drowning accident. Join Tony, Bre, Granger and Amber for this soul-stirring conclusion to God’s story of new life and new calling.
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