Starting Place with Elizabeth Woodson

Latest Episodes:

The Church & The Gathering with Nika Spaulding Oct 25, 2023

Show notes

Elizabeth Woodson is joined by Nika Spaulding to discuss certain values or practices that characterized the church in Acts and the Epistles.Questions Covered in This Episode:

Why do the people of God gather in community in the book of Acts?
How was community designed to form the Christian?
Are Christians the only ones who worship anything?
How have you seen living and worshiping in community transform you?
How would you encourage the person who says that they can live without community?
How do the practices of worship and biblical community point us to the gospel?

Guest Bio:Nika Spaulding is a proud graduate of both the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor’s degree in zoology and Dallas Theological Seminary with a Master of Theology. God has given her the privilege of planting a church in Oak Cliff called St Jude Oak Cliff, and she loves her role as the Resident Theologian. When she’s not cheering on her Sooners, playing with her cat Clive, or enjoying a good meal with her friends, she’s probably sneaking off to Oklahoma to snuggle with her favorite humans, her nieces and nephew.Reflection:How has your spiritual community helped you know and love God more?Continue Learning:

Amazon affiliate links are used where appropriate. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, thank you for supporting Training the Church.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. 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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Acts & The Holy Spirit with Alexandra Hoover Oct 18, 2023

Show notes

Elizabeth Woodson is joined by Alexandra Hoover to discuss how the book of Acts shows how The Holy Spirit empowers the work of the church, and how we need to live lives that are consciously aware of and radically dependent on him. Questions Covered in This Episode:

Who is the Holy Spirit and what can we learn about Him from Jesus’ teachings in The Gospels?
What are some ways we see the Holy Spirit empowering/equipping the church for kingdom work in the book of Acts?
Why do you think some of us “forget” to live dependent on the Holy Spirit? How do you think this has impacted the witness/the work of the church?
What does it look like for you to live dependent on the Holy Spirit?
What does it look like for you to abide?
How does what we learn in Acts about the church and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit point us to the gospel?

Guest Bio:Alexandra Hoover is a wife, mother of three, sought-out speaker, Ministry Leader, Bible Teacher, and Best-Selling Author of Eyes Up: How to Trust God’s Hear By Tracing His Hand, and Without Wavering, Resilient Faith Built on the Promises of God. She’s enrolled in Northern Seminary pursuing her Masters of Arts in Women and Theology. Her words spur people on to hope, healing, and mission. She has the privilege of serving on staff at her local Church and spends her days loving on her family and stewarding the gifts placed before her.Reflection:What is one thing can you do to increase your dependence on the Holy Spirit for your sanctification and ministry?Continue Learning:

The Gospels & Jesus' Death and Resurrection with Adam Griffin Oct 11, 2023

Show notes

Elizabeth Woodson is joined by Adam Griffin to discuss how Jesus’ death and resurrection point us to the gospel.Questions Covered in This Episode:

What are some of the significant moments during the final week before the death of Jesus that we should be familiar with?
How does the Old Testament help us understand what is happening in this week?
How does Jesus’ death and resurrection atone for our sins? What did he accomplish for us?
Why do you think we tend to focus more on the glory of resurrection (Easter morning) than Christ’s suffering on Good Friday?
What does it look like for us to spend more time acknowledging the gravity of our sin?
What does it look like for you to live in light of Christ’s atonement?
How do Jesus’ death and resurrection point us to the gospel and the hope of eternal life?

Guest Bio:Adam Griffin (DEdMin, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is the lead pastor of Eastside Community Church in Dallas, Texas. He is the host of the Family Discipleship Podcast and the author of several books and resources for families. Adam is married to Chelsea Lane and they have three sons – Oscar, Gus, and Theodore.Reflection:Read John 12-20 then, take a few moments to meditate on what Christ accomplished for us on the cross, both through his death and resurrection.Continue Learning:

The Gospel, Jesus' Ministry, & Making Disciples with The Urban Christian Woman Oct 04, 2023

Show notes

Elizabeth Woodson is joined by Te’Sheba Oliver and Leah Ross to have a conversation about how Jesus shows us what it looks like to make disciples and how to apply his words to our everyday, ordinary lives.Questions Covered in This Episode:

What do we learn about disciple-making from Jesus' teachings and actions in The Gospels?
What are some components of his process that we should strive to emulate?
Why do you think Christians find it hard to participate in discipleship?
What does it look like for you all to incorporate disciple-making into your everyday life?
How do The Gospels and the practice of disciple-making point us to the gospel?

Guest Bio:Te’Sheba Oliver and Leah Ross are the co-hosts of The Urban Christian Woman podcast, part of a ministry that seeks to restore urban women with God’s truth for everyday life. The Urban Christian woman provides resources to equip them for teaching, discipleship, and bible study in their local churches. Te’Sheba is the founder and visionary of the Urban Christian Woman. As a part of her role she helps churches develop comprehensive discipleship plans for women in their contexts. She is a wife and a mom of 5 kids. She and her family live in Shaker Heights and attend City Church. Along with podcasting, Leah is the executive director of New City Cleveland, a Christian community organization empowering neighbors on Cleveland’s east side. She and her husband live in the city with their 4 kids.Reflection Question:Whether it's with your kids, friends, coworkers, or a small group at church, what is one thing you can do to help one person grow as a disciple of Jesus?Continue Learning:

Matthew 5-7, Matthew 28:19-20, Genesis 1:26-28, Mark 10:35-45, John 13:44
Growing Together by Melissa Kruger
Mentor for Life by Natasha Sistrunk Robinson
Real Life Discipleship by Jim Putman
The Urban Christian Woman

Amazon affiliate links are used where appropriate. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, thank you for supporting Training the Church.Sponsors:To learn more about our sponsors please visit our website.Follow Us:
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Our Sister Podcasts:
Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Confronting Christianity | Tiny Theologians
Starting 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 Gospel, Jesus' Ministry, & Living as a Disciple with Taylor Turkington Sep 27, 2023

Show notes

Elizabeth Woodson is joined by Taylor Turkington to discuss how Jesus shows us in the gospels that discipleship is a process of spiritual transformation that encompasses the entirety of our lives. Questions Covered in This Episode:

What does the term "kingdom of heaven" mean, and how does it relate to being a disciple of Jesus?
Based upon Jesus' teachings, what are some of the characteristics that disciples are called to embody?
What do we learn from him about the cost of discipleship?
What are some of the things that can hinder or stunt our spiritual growth?
How does this impact our work/witness as the church?
How has living in community with other believers helped you grow as a follower of Jesus?
How do The Gospels and the theme of discipleship point us to the gospel?

Guest Bio:Taylor directs the training ministry BibleEquipping where she also teaches and coaches Bible teachers. Previously, she directed training ministries for The Gospel Coalition and Western Seminary, and today serves on the board of an evangelical seminary. She is the author of Trembling Faith and lives in Portland, Oregon with her family where she enjoys growing tall flowers, drinking great tea, and paddling the rivers.Reflection Question:What is one adjustment you can make in how you spend your time and money to strengthen your commitment to the way of Jesus?Continue Learning:

Amazon affiliate links are used where appropriate. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, thank you for supporting Training the Church.Sponsors:To learn more about our sponsors please visit our website.Follow Us:
Twitter | Instagram | TikTok
Our Sister Podcasts:
Knowing Faith | The Family Discipleship Podcast | Confronting Christianity | Tiny Theologians
Starting 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:
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The Gospels, Jesus' Conversations, & Loving Others Well with Raymond Chang Sep 20, 2023

Show notes

Elizabeth Woodson is joined by Raymond Chang to zoom in on how Jesus interacted with the people around him and see what we can learn from Jesus in terms of what it looks like to love others well. Questions Covered in This Episode:

What is notable about Jesus' interactions with each of these groups?
How do Jesus' interactions with others challenge our understanding of what it looks like for us to love our neighbors?
How have the American church's past failures in demonstrating biblical love contributed to the dynamic of young people walking away from the church?
What opportunity do you see for church to help young people?
How have you seen an impact by loving people well in your own community?
What does it look like for you to embody a biblical love for your neighbor?
How do Jesus' interactions with others in The Gospels and the theme of love point us to the gospel?

Guest Bio:Pastor Raymond Chang is the president of the Asian American Christian Collaborative, a pastor, and writer. He currently lives in Chicagoland, serving as the Executive Director of the TENx10 Collaboration, which is a collaborative movement that is geared towards reaching 10 million young people over 10 years with the gospel. He has contributed chapters to several books including “Ministers of Reconciliation: Preaching on Race and the Gospel,” “Confronting Racial Injustice: Theory and Praxis for the Church,” “Preaching Romans from Here,” with other books forthcoming. He is currently pursuing his PhD on the intersection of Spirituality and Campus/Organizational Racial Climates. He is married to Jessica Chang. You can follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and his website.Reflection Question:How does your pride prevent you from loving your friends and family well? How would things be different if you choose to love them by imitating Jesus?Continue Learning:

Matthew 23, Luke 8:43-48, John 3:1-21
Horizontal Jesus by Dr. Tony Evans
Jesus & the Disinherited by Howard Thurman
Jesus & Women by Kristi McLelland

The Gospels, Jesus' Prayers, & Connecting with God with Blair Linne Sep 13, 2023

Show notes

Elizabeth Woodson is joined by Blair Linne to take a closer look at Jesus’ prayer in John 17 and see what it teaches us about the relationship that is available to us with God through Jesus.Questions Covered in This Episode:

Where in The Gospels do we see Jesus interact or speak with or about God The Father?
What do these interactions show us about how Jesus views God the Father and how he believes God the Father views him?
What do they show us about what we need to believe about God the Father and how we should interact with Him?
In what way do you think our earthly relationships make it harder to embrace the loving relationship we have with God the Father through Jesus?
Can you share a bit about your journey and how a right view of God helped you find healing in your relationship with your earthly father?
What encouragement would you provide to those struggling to fully embrace God because of a broken relationship with their earthly father?
How do Jesus' interactions with his Father point us to the gospel?

Guest Bio:Blair Linne is an author, speaker, actress, and Christian spoken word artist. She has appeared in numerous theater productions, commercials, and television shows. Blair has toured globally and is known as one of the originators of the Christian Spoken Word genre. Proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ through spoken word is her passion. She lives with her husband Shai and their three children in Philadelphia. Blair serves in discipling women at Risen Christ Fellowship. She is a contributing writer in the devotional His Testimonies, My Heritage, and the author of Finding My Father: How the Gospel Heals the Pain of Fatherlessness. You can find her on her website and Instagram. Reflection Question:How would your relationship with God change if you approached Him with the same love and trust that Jesus did?Continue Learning:

The Gospels, Jesus' Message, & Finding Life in God with Robert Daniels Sep 06, 2023

Show notes

Elizabeth Woodson is joined by Robert Daniels to discuss the message of Jesus found in the book of John and how far too often the life we can only find in him we try to find in other created things.Questions Covered in This Episode:

In the Book of John, we read about Jesus’ message through the lens of his 7 I Am statements. What are they and what do they tell us about Jesus?
Through these 7 I Am statements, what was Jesus asking people to give up? What was he inviting them to receive?
How do you see people trying to be their own savior or provide themselves with the life that can only come through Jesus?
What does it look like for you to find life in Jesus?
How does Jesus' message in John point us to the eternal hope of the gospel?

Guest Bio:Robert Daniels is the lead pastor of Christ Freedom Church in Lewisville, TX. You can find Robert online at Christ Freedom Church or on Instagram.Reflection Question:What do you need to give up in order to experience the abundant life that is available to us through Jesus. Continue Learning:

Amazon affiliate links are used where appropriate. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, thank you for supporting Training the Church.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 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:
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The Gospels, Jesus' Birth, & Redeeming Brokenness Aug 30, 2023

Show notes

Elizabeth Woodson reviews the Old Testament story and jumps into the New Testament, seeing how the story of Jesus' birth brings us hope that God can use and even redeem the messy areas of our lives.Questions Covered in This Episode:

What is the story of the Old Testament?
What happens between the Old Testament and the New Testament?
How does the book of Matthew begin?
What are the three main sections of the New Testament?
What are the gospels?
What is one thing we can focus on and learn from the genealogy on Jesus?
What do we learn from the story of the birth of Jesus?
How does the complicated nature of Jesus' birth point us to the gospel?

Reflection Question:Think of a situation or person you think is too broken for God to redeem. What would it look like to embody hope in this situation? Specifically hope that the same God who used broken people to bring Jesus into the world, can redeem a broken or imperfect situation for his good. Continue Learning:

Read Matthew 1 & Luke 1-2
Jesus’ Troubled Family History by Nancy Guthrie
Gospel Coalition articles on the Birth of Christ

Amazon affiliate links are used where appropriate. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, thank you for supporting Training the Church.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 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:
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Season 2 Teaser Aug 23, 2023

Show notes

Season 2 of Starting place begins on August 30! In this episode, Elizabeth Woodson gives you a preview of what is it come in Season 2 as she covers the New Testament!Questions Covered in This Episode:

What has Elizabeth been doing this summer?
What is Season 2 of Starting Place going to focus on?
What is the goal of this podcast?

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

“Bullies and Saints” by John Dickson
“Poverty, by America” by Matthew Desmond

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 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

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