Starting Place with Elizabeth Woodson

Latest Episodes:

The Psalms, Prayer, & Calling on God with John Onwuchekwa Mar 01, 2023

Show notes

Elizabeth Woodson is joined by John Onwuchekwa to talk about the Psalms and unpack how prayer was vital for Israel and is vital for us as the people of God.Questions Covered in This Episode:

What is prayer and why is it so vital to our life with God?
What types of prayers do we see in the Book of Psalms? What do they teach us about God and Israel’s experience living in his world as his people?
Why do you think we struggle with prayer? What are some of the obstacles for people?
When were you exposed to prayers of lament?
Do you think pastors and ministers cover those harder prayers in scripture for our people as much as we should?
What are some practical ways you incorporate prayer into your life?
How do The Psalms and the theme of prayer point us toward the gospel?

Guest Bio:Everything in John Onwuchekwa’s life hinges on the power of words, both spoken and written. Whether it’s preaching from Scripture at Cornerstone Church, writing books, speaking into other people’s lives, co-directing the church-planting network The Crete Collective, framing new narratives through ventures like Portrait Coffee, or enjoying books and movies with his wife Shawndra and daughter Ava, in one way or another everything John does intersects with the beauty and power of words—both how he has been shaped by them and how he uses them to shape the world around him. Come learn more about John and how his story can speak into yours.Helpful Definitions:

Prayer: Calling on God to fulfill the promises He made to us. - Gary Millar

Reflection:Take some time today, either by yourself or with a friend, and pray.Continue Learning:If you want to learn more about the entire story of the Bible check out Elizabeth’s new study, From Beginning To Forever.

Scripture Passage: Psalm 3, 13, 119, Matthew 6:9-13
Book: Calling on the Name of the Lord - Gary Millar
Book: Prayer - John Onwuchekwa
Book: We Go On - John Onwuchekwa

Amazon affiliate links are used where appropriate. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, thank you for supporting Training the Church.Follow Us:
Twitter | Instagram | TikTokOur Sister Podcasts:Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Confronting ChristianityStarting Place with Elizabeth Woodson is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Sponsors:To learn more about our sponsors please visit our website.Follow Us:
Twitter | Instagram | TikTokOur Sister Podcasts:Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Confronting Christianity | Tiny TheologiansStarting Place with Elizabeth Woodson is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon.
Join the Conversation:
We’d love to hear how you’re applying these insights to your own life. Share your thoughts, questions, or testimonies with us on Instagram @startingplacepodcast. Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review if you enjoyed this episode!
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The Kings, Leadership, & Stewarding Power Well with Adam Hawkins Feb 22, 2023

Show notes

Elizabeth Woodson is joined by Adam Hawkins to continue with the story of the Bible into 1 Samuel - 2 Chronicles. They talk about the Kings and what they can teach us about stewarding power well for the glory of God and how our hope is ultimately in the one true King, Jesus.Questions Covered in This Episode:

From your reading of 1 & 2 Samuel - 1 & 2 Chronicles, what do Israel’s kings teach us about leadership?
What is the major downfall of most of Israel’s kings?
Why do you think there is a distrust of church leadership in our culture today?
In what way do you think our leadership problems are similar to the leadership problems of Israel’s kings?
Who do you know exemplifies the qualities of a biblical leader?
What does it look like for you to lead faithfully in your own life?
How do The Kings (1&2 Samuel - 1&2 Chronicles) and the theme of leadership point us toward the gospel?

Guest Bio:Adam Hawkins is a pastor at Citizens Church in Plano, Texas. He is a co-host on the Culture Matters Podcast. Adam is married to Heather and they have three wonderful children.Reflection Question:How can you lead like Jesus, stewarding your power to point other people to Christ?Continue Learning:If you want to learn more about the entire story of the Bible check out Elizabeth’s new study, From Beginning To Forever.

Scripture Passage: 2 Samuel 7
Book: 1–2 Kings: A 12-Week Study - Gavin Ortlund
Book: The Village Church 1 & 2 Samuel Study (Audio)
Article: Covenants as the Backbone of the Bible - Bible Project

Moses, The Law, & Becoming the People of God with Jen Wilkin Feb 15, 2023

Show notes

Elizabeth Woodson is joined by Jen Wilkin to talk about The Law. The Law shows us who God is and what he loves, freeing us to live in our divine design as image-bearers.Questions Covered in This Episode:

How is The Law designed not to simply restrict Israel, but to form them as the people of God?
Why do you think God begins this discussion by reminding Israel of how he delivered them out of Egypt?
Why do you think Christians say that Christianity is not about rules but about relationship?
How should we think about the law that we read in the book of Exodus?
What does it look like for you to find delight in God’s law?
Why do we want to obey the law?
How do The Mosaic Covenant and the theme of the law point us toward the gospel?

Helpful Definitions:

Moralism: You do the right thing in order to win approval, favor, or status.
Morality: Obeying God’s law because it is right to do so, it brings glory to Him, and it is how you were designed to function.
Civil Law: How to deal with disputes between citizens. How the moral law is practiced.
Ceremonial Law: How do we approach God specifically in the worship patterns He has instituted for us. How the moral law is practiced. In our current time; shadows that have been fulfilled in the work of Christ.
Moral Law: Expression of the heart of God. Shows us who God is and what God loves.

Guest Bio:Jen Wilkin is an author and Bible teacher from Dallas, Texas. She has organized and led studies for women in home, church, and parachurch contexts. An advocate for Bible literacy, her passion is to see others become articulate and committed followers of Christ, with a clear understanding of why they believe what they believe, grounded in the Word of God. You can follow her on Instagram.Reflection Question:How has following in the way of Jesus formed you to love God and love God’s people?Continue Learning:If you want to learn more about the entire story of the Bible check out Elizabeth’s new study, From Beginning To Forever.

Scripture Passage: Exodus 19-20, Matthew 5-7
Book: Ten Words to Live By - Jen Wilkin
Book: Journey to Freedom by Natasha Sistrunk Robinson
Video: Bible Project - Covenants

Abraham, Faith, & Trusting God with Jennifer Lucy Tyler Feb 08, 2023

Show notes

Elizabeth Woodson is joined by Jennifer Lucy Tyler to talk about the covenant God makes with Abraham in Genesis 12. This covenant is one of many promises that God will make pointing towards the salvation of his people. Questions Covered in This Episode:

What is faith?
In what ways do we see Abraham exhibit faith in his response to God’s call on his life?
What tends to block people from walking by faith?
How can we overcome these obstacles?
What does it look like for you to walk by faith in your relationship with the Lord?
How do you know when God is asking you to take a step of faith?
How do The Abrahamic Covenant and the theme of faith point us toward the gospel?

Helpful definitions:

Faith: Reliance upon and trust in God.

Guest Bio:Jennifer Lucy Tyler is a Bible teacher, storyteller, entrepreneur, and growth coach. She is the founder of Soul Circles, a virtual community centered around studying the Bible inductively. In 2020, Jennifer founded Mission Consulting Hub, which is comprised of a group of BIPOC women creatives who are on a mission to “serve the servant-leader.” She serves on the board of directors for The City of Refuge Ghana, and serves as a women’s ministry leader at her local church. She resides in Maryland and is happily married to her husband Jeffrey Tyler and their fur baby Shadow. You can follow her on Instagram.Reflection Question:In what area of your life is God asking you to take a step of faith?Continue Learning:If you want to learn more about the entire story of the Bible check out Elizabeth’s new study, From Beginning To Forever.

Scripture Passage: Genesis 12-17
Article: Ligonier Ministries - The Abrahamic Covenant
Sermon: Abraham: The Pilgrimage of Faith - Dr. Tony Evans
Book: Genesis: The Life of Abraham Bible Study Book
Book: Discerning The Voice of God by Priscilla Shirer

The Fall, Sin, & Uprooting Our Idols with Tymarcus Ragland Feb 01, 2023

Show notes

Elizabeth Woodson is joined by Tymarcus Ragland to dive into Genesis 3 to discuss how sin disrupts shalom and how sin is about more than us doing bad stuff. Sin is ultimately about who or what we worship and our actions are the indicator of whether we are worshiping the one true and Holy God or a counterfeit god, also known as an idol.Questions Covered in This Episode:

What is the connection in scripture between sin and idolatry?
Where do we see idolatry pop up in these first few chapters of Genesis (chapters 4-11)?
What are some idols we are prone to worship instead of God?
What does it look like for you to be aware of and fight against idolatry in your life?
How do The Fall and the themes of sin & idolatry point us toward the gospel?

Guest Bio:Tymarcus Ragland is married with two kids and serves as a minister at Citizens Church in Plano, TX. Tymarcus studied at Moody Bible Institute and University of Dallas, co-hosts on the Culture Matters podcast and owns Crown Coffee Roasters.Reflection Question:In what area of your life are you choosing your own way over God’s way? Continue Learning:If you want to learn more about the entire story of the Bible check out Elizabeth’s new study, From Beginning To Forever.

Scripture Passage: Genesis 3-11, Matt 5-7, Col 3
Video: Bible Project Video - Sin
Book: Counterfeit Gods by Tim Keller
Book: Not the Way It's Supposed to Be: A Breviary of Sin by Cornelius Plantinga Jr.

Creation, Shalom, & Finding Life in God with Yana Jenay Conner Jan 25, 2023

Show notes

Elizabeth Woodson is joined by Yana Jenay Conner to discuss Genesis 1 & 2. In these two chapters we learn about God and the identity and purpose he gave humans.Questions Covered in This Episode:

Genesis 1 & 2 gives us a vision for how the world was in the very beginning. One word that is used to describe this dynamic is shalom. How would you describe shalom and how/where do we see it show up in these first two chapters of Genesis?
What is the vision of the life that God designed for us?
What is one way you see people fighting to find identity outside of who God is?
What kinds of things do you do to cultivate shalom/work towards the flourishing of those in your immediate community?
How does Genesis 1 & 2 and the theme of shalom point us toward the gospel?

Guest Bio:Yana Jenay Conner is a writer and Bible teacher who seeks to help others think well about faith and culture. By God’s grace, she has served in full-time ministry for the past fifteen years in both the church and parachurch context and earned a Master in Divinity in Christian Ministry from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. She currently serves at Vertical Church as the Discipleship Director and hosts a podcast called Living Single. You can find more of her writing and teaching at yanajenay.com. Helpful Definitions:

Shalom: Wholeness

Reflection Question:Where are you finding identity outside of God?Continue Learning:If you want to learn more about the entire story of the Bible check out Elizabeth’s new study, From Beginning To Forever.

Scripture Passage: Genesis 1 & 2
Video: Bible Project Shalom Video
Book: God of Creation by Jen Wilkin
Article: What Perfect Shalom Looks Like

Welcome to Starting Place Jan 18, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to Starting Place with Elizabeth Woodson, a podcast that explores what Christians believe and why it matters! Season 1 of Starting Place with Elizabeth Woodson begins on January 25!Questions Covered in This Episode:

What is Starting Place?
Why should I listen to Starting Place?
What topics are going to be covered this season?

Follow Us:
Twitter | Instagram | TikTokOur Sister Podcasts:Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Confronting ChristianityStarting Place with Elizabeth Woodson is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon. Sponsors:To learn more about our sponsors please visit our website.Follow Us:
Twitter | Instagram | TikTokOur Sister Podcasts:Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Confronting Christianity | Tiny TheologiansStarting Place with Elizabeth Woodson is a podcast of Training the Church. For ad-free episodes and more content check out our Patreon.
Join the Conversation:
We’d love to hear how you’re applying these insights to your own life. Share your thoughts, questions, or testimonies with us on Instagram @startingplacepodcast. Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review if you enjoyed this episode!
Follow Us:
Twitter | Instagram | TikTok