The Teaching Series with Brad Gray

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Episode 038 – Psalm 23 Pt 5: Valley of Deep Darkness Oct 23, 2018

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Episode 038 – Psalm 23 Pt 5: Valley of Deep Darknessi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-274{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-274:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-274.icon-hover-animation-pulsate:after {-webkit-box-shadow:0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);-moz-box-shadow:0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);}Key Passage(s): Psalm 23:4We all experience difficult times in our lives that cause fear, frustration, sadness and pain. In Psalm 23, these are the “valleys of deep darkness.” Once in, the only the way out is through. David understood this, and yet he boldly states, “Even though I walk through the valley of deep darkness (shadow of death), I will fear no evil for you are with me.” What exactly was David talking about? Once we grasp what David is saying, we’ll know how to navigate our valleys of deep darkness with hope and resilience and be able to say the same thing! Discussion Questions What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching? Where are you experiencing a dark valley in your life? If you're not, who in your circle is? How can you reach out to them to let you know you’re with them and that you care for them? If you’re in a dark valley, how are you doing? Are you denying your reality in any way? Are you stuck in the valley? Are you moving through it? Was the conversation on fear helpful to you? Why or why not? Where might fear be paralyzing your movement forward? How does the knowledge that God is intimately aware of you and with you as you walk through hard places change your perspective? Do you believe God is walking with you through your difficulties? Why or why not? Do you generally go through your difficulties alone or do you allow others to know and walk with you through them? In what ways have you seen God anew going through the deep valleys of your life? What is God asking you to do to walk out the truths of this teaching? For Further Study The Bible and the Land by Gary M. Burge The Good Shepherd: A Thousand-Year Journey from Psalm 23 to the New Testament by Kenneth E. Bailey Psalm 23: A Photo Commentary by Steven D. Anderson and Todd Bolen Psalm 23: Photo Companion to the Bible (pictures) by Todd Bolen (BiblePlaces.com) While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks by Timothy Laniak Becoming a Judean Shepherd by Doug Green-wold

Episode 037 – Psalm 23 Pt 4: Paths of Righteousness Oct 16, 2018

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Episode 037 – Psalm 23 Pt 4: Paths of Righteousnessi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-277{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-277:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-277.icon-hover-animation-pulsate:after {-webkit-box-shadow:0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);-moz-box-shadow:0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);}Key Passage(s): Psalm 23:3When navigating a disorienting landscape, paths are essential. Sheep know this. Shepherds know this. And it’s why David highlights God leading on “paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” But what did David imply by this? What does righteousness even mean? Why is God’s name at stake? And what happens if we stray from the path? All of this and more are discussed in this next episode on Psalm 23. Discussion Questions What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching? How have you traditionally understood the “paths of righteousness?” How did this teaching confirm, change, or deepen your understanding, particularly with respect to defining “righteousness” as “the standard of right relationship we have between God and other people?” When you’ve been off the path, how has God intentionally pursued you like a good shepherd pursuing a lost sheep? What did that teach you about God in those moments? Do you find yourself off the path in any way today? If so, how are you allowing God (and perhaps someone close to you) to help bring you back? How are you allowing God to lead you well on the “paths of righteousness?” Is there anything God is prodding at your heart? How will you begin implementing your desired changes this week? For Further Study Episode 004 – You Are The Message and Episode 006 – Return to the Path addresses the main aspects of this episode as well. The Good Shepherd: A Thousand-Year Journey from Psalm 23 to the New Testament by Kenneth E. Bailey Psalm 23: A Photo Commentary by Steven D. Anderson and Todd Bolen Psalm 23: Photo Companion to the Bible (pictures) by Todd Bolen (BiblePlaces.com) While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks by Timothy Laniak Becoming a Judean Shepherd by Doug Greenwold

Episode 036 – Psalm 23 Pt 3: Still Waters of Rest Oct 09, 2018

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Episode 036 – Psalm 23 Pt 3: Still Waters of Resti.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-280{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-280:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-280.icon-hover-animation-pulsate:after {-webkit-box-shadow:0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);-moz-box-shadow:0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);}Key Passage(s): Psalm 23:2Were you aware that sheep won’t drink water if it’s moving? It freaks them out. Thus, when David mentions “still waters” in Psalm 23, it's intentional. Water is life. And sheep need to drink. But as David is doing throughout the psalm, this isn’t about getting water; it’s about getting something much deeper – something we desperately long for and need in the midst of the hecticness of life. If you ever feel unsettled in all that needs to be done, this is a teaching you definitely need to hear. Discussion Questions What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching? Where are you feeling the most unsettled in the busyness of life right now? When it was said in the teaching, “We’re not always supposed to be moving. We’re not always supposed to be doing,” what came to mind for you? Do you have anchoring points of rest in the midst of your day where you find that deep, soul-satisfying rest? If so, what are those anchoring points for you? If you don’t have those moments, do you actually believe you need them? Why or why not? If you’re not experiencing these moments of rest and you long to, what needs to happen to make this a part of your life? How will you begin implementing your desired changes this week? For Further Study Episode 018 - Build Your Central Park addresses the main subject of this episode as well. The Good Shepherd: A Thousand-Year Journey from Psalm 23 to the New Testament by Kenneth E. Bailey Psalm 23: A Photo Commentary by Steven D. Anderson and Todd Bolen Psalm 23: Photo Companion to the Bible (pictures) by Todd Bolen (BiblePlaces.com) While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks by Timothy Laniak Becoming a Judean Shepherd by Doug Greenwold

Episode 035 – Psalm 23 Pt 2: Green Pastures Oct 02, 2018

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Episode 035 – Psalm 23 Pt 2: Green Pasturesi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-283{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-283:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-283.icon-hover-animation-pulsate:after {-webkit-box-shadow:0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);-moz-box-shadow:0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);}Key Passage(s): Psalm 23:2; Philippians 4:10-13A flock thrives in the desert, so what could David possibly be talking about when he mentions “Green Pastures” in Psalm 23? The answer will likely shock you. I always thought it was a statement about God abundantly giving us what we need or want. And then I went to Israel, and everything changed. This teaching is geared towards doing the same for you. Discussion Questions What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching? How have you traditionally understood the “green pastures?” Were you surprised by the context of Philippians 4:13? How have you traditionally understood that passage? Where do you find yourself today? In the green? In the brown? In a combination of the two? What’s the biggest challenge you’re facing in your current reality? Where do you need strength and courage to live out contentment in your life right now? How has your understanding of God and how He provides for us changed as a result of what you learned in this teaching? How will you begin walking out your learnings this week? For Further Study The Good Shepherd: A Thousand-Year Journey from Psalm 23 to the New Testament by Kenneth E. Bailey Psalm 23: A Photo Commentary by Steven D. Anderson and Todd Bolen Psalm 23: Photo Companion to the Bible (pictures) by Todd Bolen (BiblePlaces.com) While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks by Timothy Laniak Becoming a Judean Shepherd by Doug Greenwold

Episode 034 – Psalm 23 Pt 1: My Savvy Shepherd Sep 25, 2018

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Episode 034 – Psalm 23 Pt 1: My Savvy Shepherdi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-286{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-286:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-286.icon-hover-animation-pulsate:after {-webkit-box-shadow:0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);-moz-box-shadow:0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);}Key Passage(s): Psalm 23:1Psalm 23 is one of the most well-known and beloved passages in the entire Bible. And over the next several weeks, we’re going to tackle this culturally-rich psalm, unpacking all the ways it’s as relevant today as it was when written three thousand years ago. In this particular teaching, we learn what it takes to be a great shepherd, and how astounding it is for David to proclaim, “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.” Discussion Questions What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching? How have you traditionally understood the shepherding profession? What surprised you most about the skills required to shepherd well? Do you find your deepest security in the good shepherd or do you place it in other things (position, wealth, reputation, accomplishments, other people, etc.)? In what ways have you been lured into the “wants of the world” and have lost sight of your need to rely on the good shepherd? What “needs” do you have that you haven’t brought before God in a while or even at all? Take some time to do so. How will you begin relying anew on the good shepherd this week? For Further Study The Good Shepherd: A Thousand-Year Journey from Psalm 23 to the New Testament by Kenneth E. Bailey Psalm 23: A Photo Commentary by Steven D. Anderson and Todd Bolen Psalm 23: Photo Companion to the Bible (pictures) by Todd Bolen (BiblePlaces.com) While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks by Timothy Laniak Becoming a Judean Shepherd by Doug Greenwold

Episode 033 – 10 Million Dollars Educating You Sep 18, 2018

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Episode 033 – 10 Million Dollars Educating YouWe all mistakes. We all have blunders. But how we view these failures has a significant impact on how quickly we recover and how much we learn in the process. This episode addresses the redemptive nature of failure and how I believe God views our mistakes, which for many of us, is very different than what we often believe - and it’s dramatically hindering us! Discussion Questions What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching? What may be holding you back from believing that God sees our faults and failures this way? Where have you “resigned” in your life because you don’t feel God wants to use you because of poor decisions you have made? Have you ever had a significant failure that a parent, coach, teacher, or friend helped reframe for you that got you back on track faster? What did they say? Have you been able to do that same for someone else? Where do you need to embrace God’s grace so you can get back on track or become even more focused on this out His desires for your life? Where did you need to hear the encouragement of this teaching today? How will you live out the truth of this teaching in the coming days? For Further Study Make Your Mark by Brad Gray – this idea of how we address our failures has been so instrumental in my life, I wrote an entire chapter on it in my book (Chapter 8).

Episode 032 – A Life Worth Mimicking Sep 11, 2018

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Episode 032 – A Life Worth Mimickingi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-289{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-289:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-289.icon-hover-animation-pulsate:after {-webkit-box-shadow:0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);-moz-box-shadow:0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);}Key Passage(s): 1 Corinthians 11:1In 1 Corinthians 11:1, Paul encourages his audience to mimic his life because he’s mimicking the life of Jesus. In essence, Paul says if you’re struggling to imitate Jesus, just do what I do. It’s a gutsy statement to make. The question is, “Could we say the same?” That’s what this teaching addresses as we look at the mimicking reality of life and why what we do matters so much. Discussion Questions What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching? Who has had a positive influence on your life that you tend to mimic? What do you appreciate most about what them? Where have you seen people mimic you? Is your life worth mimicking? If someone followed you around for a month, what would you be most proud of (in a good way) and what would concern you if they mimicked what you do? What tangible changes do you desire to make? How will you begin implementing those changes this week?

Episode 031 – Zacchaeus Pt 7: Answering Your Questions Sep 04, 2018

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Episode 031 – Zacchaeus Pt 7: Answering Your Questionsi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-292{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-292:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-292.icon-hover-animation-pulsate:after {-webkit-box-shadow:0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);-moz-box-shadow:0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);}Key Passage(s): Proverbs 4:23; Matthew 5:19-24Over the last six episodes, we’ve been digging into the Zacchaeus story, and I’ve been encouraging you to ask your questions. In this episode, I seek to answer those questions. The discussion entails everything from what salvation meant for the Jewish people in the first century to how we steward our hearts with respect to our money to how Jesus addressed the religious leaders who though they had it all together (and clearly didn’t), and more. May this discussion help round out some additional aspects of the Zacchaeus story as we seek to live out the truths of this story in our lives. Discussion Questions Were there any “aha” moments for you in the answers given that helped you better understand a facet of the Zacchaeus story or just life in general? Were you surprised by the discussion on “salvation?” Why or why not? Based on your understanding of the Zacchaeus story, were there any questions you would’ve answered differently? What’s your biggest takeaway from this entire series on Zacchaeus? Have you begun living out the most significant truths addressed in this series in your life? If so, how? If not, what’s the next step you need to take in doing so?

Episode 030 – Zacchaeus Pt 6: A Wealthy Pattern Aug 28, 2018

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Episode 030 – Zacchaeus Pt 6: A Wealthy Patterni.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-295{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-295:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-295.icon-hover-animation-pulsate:after {-webkit-box-shadow:0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);-moz-box-shadow:0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);}Key Passage(s): Luke 9:1-2Zacchaeus is a “chief tax collector,” which means he’s incredibly wealthy – something everyone would’ve known. So why does Luke go out of his way to include the detail that he was “wealthy” as well? I believe he’s helping his audience connect into a larger theme of “wealth” that has been threaded throughout his gospel. In doing so, he’s encouraging us to see just how revealing and redemptive Zacchaeus’s response of using his wealth appropriately was to the advancement of Jesus’s kingdom movement. This is a teaching that will challenge us all in how we utilize the resources God’s given to us. Discussion Questions What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching? Do you generally think of yourself as “wealthy?” Why or why not? Remember that half of the world’s population live on less than $2 a day. Knowing this, how does this change your view on what “wealthy” means? Where were you most challenged in thinking about your wealth? Where are you using your resources in a way that advances Jesus’ kingdom? Where have you allowed wealth and possessions to pull you off track? How will you begin walking out your desired changes in the coming weeks?

Episode 029 – Zacchaeus Pt 5: The Amos Backdrop Aug 21, 2018

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Episode 029 – Zacchaeus Pt 5: The Amos Backdropi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-298{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-298:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-298.icon-hover-animation-pulsate:after {-webkit-box-shadow:0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);-moz-box-shadow:0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #333333, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);}Key Passage(s): Amos 7:1-8, 17; Amos 9:14Who cares that it was a sycamore fig-tree that Zacchaeus climbed? Of all the details Luke could’ve included, why this one? Could it be the key for unlocking a substantial element to the story that is often overlooked? I believe so. And what it unlocks will push us all to think deeper and harder about how we live out the biblical concepts of justice and righteousness, and why the entire book of Amos addresses these issues and appears to ultimately inform Zacchaeus’s response. It was these connections that originally gripped by attention towards the Zacchaeus story, and I believe they will grip you as well. Discussion Questions What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching? What was most the most helpful thing you learned about justice and righteousness? How have you traditionally understood “righteousness,” and how did this teaching help or challenge you to think differently about it? What connections are you making to other stories in the Bible after being tipped off to the concepts of justice and righteousness? Where are you being challenged in how you help and interact with the poor and needy? How can you begin walking out these truths in the days and weeks to come? For Further Study Amos Video by The Bible Project Justice Video by The Bible Project Who Cares That it Was a Sycamore? Climbing Trees and Playing on Words in Luke 19.1-10 by J. Lee Magness

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