The Teaching Series with Brad Gray

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Episode 078 – Serving Those Who Serve You Aug 20, 2019

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Episode 078 – Serving Those Who Serve Youi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-154{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-154:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-154.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): Acts 20:35; Matthew 20:28Most people have heard the axiom, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” According to the apostle Paul (in Acts 20), it was Jesus who coined this. He knew this truth more than anyone else, because his entire life was devoted to loving and serving people well. As followers of Jesus, we’re called to do the same. But how can we grow in our ability to do so? I recently had a monumental conversation that gave me a new angle on how to serve people well, and I can’t wait to share it with you. As you implement this strategy into your life, I believe you will experience anew the reality that it is more blessed to give than to receive. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? It’s always fun receiving something (a gift, a compliment, etc.), but do you really believe it is more blessed to give than receive? Why or why not? As mentioned in the teaching, we do not give in order to receive, but where have you received the most by giving? Why do you think that is? When you’re paying for something, you expect certain results (and you should). But where can your sense of entitlement get in the way of appreciating someone’s service to you? Is there anyone who serves you that you take for granted? Has this teaching changed how you will interact with such people in the future? What are some tangible ways that you can serve those who are serving you? How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week? For Further Study The Gathering – this is the organization referred to in this teaching. (A reminder that their site is undergoing significant changes – so be sure to check back from time to time to get their new resources.) Teaching Series Episode 011 – To Live Is To Give

Episode 077 – Fearing or Revering God Aug 13, 2019

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Episode 077 – Fearing or Revering Godi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-157{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-157:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-157.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 1:7; Proverbs 9:10; Job 28:28According to Proverbs 9:10, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” Perhaps you’ve heard this before, and maybe, like me, you’ve wondered, “Are we supposed to be scared of God?” Is this what this verse means? Or as some of us have no doubt learned, the “fear” here is really a “reverent fear.” But is that true? In this episode we unpack this passage to understand what “fearing the LORD” entails and how a proper understanding enables us to trust God more in our lives. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? What do you think it is about the human heart that drives us to stay so busy? Name an experience in your life where your busyness may have left another person feeling like an interruption. When have you experienced a “holy interruption?” What activities, rituals, or practices help you to slow down and be fully present? How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week? For Further Study Proverbs 1:7; Proverbs 9:10; Job 28:28

Episode 076 – Be Strong and Courageous Aug 06, 2019

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Episode 076 – Be Strong and Courageousi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-160{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-160:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-160.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): Joshua 1:9; John 14:27; John 16:33Over and over again in the Bible, we hear the command, “Do not fear.” But what is this command really getting at? Is it simply that we’re never to experience fear, and if we do, we’re disobeying God in some way? Or is there more to it? Fear can be a paralyzing reality in our lives. But it can also be a gift. It all depends on how we engage it. That’s why in this episode, we explore the nature of fear, how it negatively impacts us, and how we can leverage courage to move through it to do what we know we need to do but have struggled to do so. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? Have you ever felt like you were going against God’s will by being afraid? How did that cause to you feel or to respond? How did this teaching confirm or change your understanding of fear? When has fear led you into a state of paralysis? What happened? And what was the final result? Where is fear getting the best of you right now, and what do you need to do to be strong and courageous? Knowing that Jesus conquered sin and death, and is with us in the power of the Holy Spirit, how does this give you renewed courage to act? How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week? For Further StudyHagah The Text – this is a longer teaching (sermon) that goes into greater detail about the concepts explored in Teaching Series Episode 020

Episode 075 – Everyone’s Unique Path Jul 16, 2019

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Episode 075 – Everyone’s Unique Pathi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-163{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-163:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-163.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 22:6Most of us have heard the proverb, “Train up a child in the way they should go, and when they are old they won’t depart from it.” It’s a great proverb about teaching kids how to walk out God’s path in life. But there’s another level to understanding this proverb that I believe sheds light on one of the most significant principles for not only parenting our kids extremely well, but in how we love and lead our co-workers, teams, and others we’re called to serve. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? It was mentioned a few times that Proverbs are not promises, but are wisdom sayings around how life generally goes. Have you heard this perspective before? What do you think about it? How does this new understanding of this Proverb change your perception on this passage? How does it change your attitude toward parenting? In your position(s) of leadership, are you practicing this principle of helping everyone walk their own unique path? How could you do this better? How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week? For Further Study The Wisdom Series by The Bible Project – this will help you better understand the book of Proverbs, as well as the books of Job and Ecclesiastes, and how they must be read and understood in light of one another.

Episode 074 – Weight Distribution Jul 09, 2019

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Episode 074 – Weight Distributioni.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-166{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-166:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-166.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): Genesis 2:18; Galatians 6:2We often carry our burdens alone. Maybe we don’t want others to know what we’re going through. Maybe we don’t want to burden anyone with our burdens. Whatever the reasons may be, we don’t distribute them very well. And when we do this, the weight of carrying our burdens alone becomes an endeavor that leaves us weary and discouraged, with very little hope that anything will change. We cannot carry them alone. Indeed, we weren’t designed to. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? Which way is the triangle pointing in your life? If it’s pointing down, with all of the weight on you, why is that? Do you struggle to share your burdens with others? When it comes to your worries, anxieties, struggles, or burdens, do you find yourself dealing with them in any of the unhealthy ways discussed in the teaching – denying, downplaying, or drowning them out? If you struggle to distribute the weight, what do you feel you need to do? How can you invite God and others (the right people) to help you distribute the weight? How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week? For Further StudyHagah The Text – this is a longer teaching (sermon) that goes into greater detail about the concepts explored in Teaching Series Episode 020

Episode 073 – The Lord’s Prayer Pt 9: Own It Jul 02, 2019

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Episode 073 – The Lord’s Prayer Pt 9: Own Iti.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-169{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-169:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-169.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): Matthew 6:9-13Throughout this series, we’ve looked at all of the various aspects of the Lord’s Prayer. In this final episode of the series, we look at several methods in which we can pray and utilize the Lord’s Prayer on a regular basis to take what we’ve learned and put into a practice. And in doing so, really owning this prayer in our lives so that it governs the way the way we think and live, and ultimately how we follow Jesus in the world today. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? Overall, what has been the most significant learning for you from this series? What has been the most challenging aspect of the Lord’s Prayer for you? Why? Which part of the Lord’s Prayer is your biggest area of strength? How so? How would you live life differently if you had the Lord’s Prayer on the forefront of your mind and heart daily? Out of the options given for engaging the Lord’s Prayer, which one was most helpful to you? How do you plan on walking this out your prayer life? For Further Study The Lord and His Prayer by N.T. Wright ORD, Teach Us by William H. Willimon & Stanley Hauerwas The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard – Chapter 7 deals specifically with the Lord’s Prayer

Episode 072 – The Lord’s Prayer Pt 8: Temptation and Deliverance Jun 25, 2019

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Episode 072 – The Lord’s Prayer Pt 8: Temptation and Deliverancei.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-172{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-172:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-172.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): Matthew 6:13; Matthew 4:1-11; Matthew 26:36-46The part of the Lord’s Prayer that asks God not to “lead us into temptation but deliver us from evil” has created a lot of confusion. Even Pope Francis has sought to modify this language. Is God in the habit of leading us into testing and temptation? Is there a difference between the two? And how are we to understand the moments when Jesus was tempted? In this episode, we answer these questions, as well as addressing the reality that when we focus on Jesus’s divinity at the expense of his humanity, we fail to understand how brutally difficult his own trials and temptations were. But when we understand this, and what he did to overcome, we learn how to do the same in our own lives. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? Knowing that there is a difference between temptation and testing, does this change your perspective on this part of the Lord’s Prayer? How so? When have you gone through a situation where you felt like God was testing you? What was it? Do you feel you were faithful to God’s will through it? What did you learn through it? Knowing that temptation is something we all face, when are you most susceptible to temptation? Do you have a strategy to deal with temptation that prevents you from falling prey to it? Like Jesus, when have you gone through a test that you asked the Father to take away from you? What happened, and what did you learn? Knowing you may not see the victory of your testing in this life, will you look at things differently? Will you act differently? How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week? For Further Study The Lord and His Prayer by N.T. Wright LORD, Teach Us by William H. Willimon & Stanley Hauerwas The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard – Chapter 7 deals specifically with the Lord’s Prayer

Episode 071 – The Lord’s Prayer Pt 7: Forgiveness Has a Source Jun 18, 2019

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Episode 071 – The Lord’s Prayer Pt 7: Forgiveness Has a Sourcei.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-175{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-175:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-175.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): Matthew 6:12; Matthew 6:14-15Jesus told us to pray, “Forgive us our debts as we have forgiven our debtors.” Jesus’s assumption is that we would be forgiving others in the manner in which God has forgiven us. But what happens when we’ve been wronged by someone and we’re struggling to forgive them? What do we do when the pain is so real that we can’t stomach the thought of forgiveness? That’s what we tackle in this episode as we seek to understand the nature of forgiveness. And in doing so, we learn how to forgive others well so that we can not only experience the power and freedom of forgiveness, but faithfully live out this command of Jesus from the Lord’s Prayer. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? How does our awareness of how much we’ve been forgiven by God help us in forgiving others? Why is this awareness still not enough for many people? What are some of the things you learned about what forgiveness is not? Where do you personally find comfort in these? What are some of the things you learned about what forgiveness is? How will this alter your ability or desire to forgive more effectively? Forgiving can be very hard work. After hearing this teaching, what do you believe is your primary roadblock to forgiving others well? Is there anyone you need to forgive? And in what way do you need to ask God – the source of forgiveness – to help you do this? How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week? For Further Study Make Your Mark by Brad Gray – Chapter 3 deals specifically with forgiveness. As We Forgive by Catherine Claire Larson Teaching Series Episode 015 – Loving God By Loving Others The Lord and His Prayer by N.T. Wright LORD, Teach Us by William H. Willimon & Stanley Hauerwas The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard – Chapter 7 deals specifically with the Lord’s Prayer

Episode 070 – The Lord’s Prayer Pt 6: Our Daily Bread Jun 11, 2019

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Episode 070 – The Lord’s Prayer Pt 6: Our Daily Breadi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-178{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-178:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-178.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): Matthew 6:11“Give us today our daily bread.” Sounds pretty straightforward, right? But what does it mean to ask for daily bread? How do we bring our requests before God? And what should we be asking for in the first place? These questions and more are the subject of this episode as we seek to understand what Jesus meant by the phrase, “our daily bread,” and what it means to faithfully live out this aspect of the Lord’s Prayer. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? How would you assess your prayer life? Where do you desire to grow? In what ways did this episode challenge, encourage, and/or help you as you think through your prayer life? N.T. Wright wrote, “The danger with the prayer for bread is that we get there too soon.” Why is it important to ground yourself in the first part of the prayer before you get to this segment? How were you challenged by the communal aspect of this prayer – “Give us this day our daily bread?” How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week? For Further Study Teaching Series Episode 013 – Grounded In Gratitude The Lord and His Prayer by N.T. Wright LORD, Teach Us by William H. Willimon & Stanley Hauerwas The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard – Chapter 7 deals specifically with the Lord’s Prayer

Episode 069 – The Lord’s Prayer Pt 5: Heaven Comes Here Jun 04, 2019

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Episode 069 – The Lord’s Prayer Pt 5: Heaven Comes Herei.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-181{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-181:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-181.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): Matthew 6:9-10; Matthew 6:33; Psalm 115:16Many people believe that the point of Jesus was to rescue us from our sins so that we can leave earth and go to heaven. But the problem is that Jesus doesn’t spend his time teaching about how we from here (earth) to go there (heaven), but about getting there (heaven) to come here (earth). Hold on tight because without question, the content of this episode is the most paradigm shifting aspect of the Lord’s Prayer. And my hope is that we may finally understand what we’ve been praying all along when we’ve said, “your kingdom come, your will be done, here on earth as it is in heaven!” Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? Has your primary understanding of the Christian life been about how we get from earth to heaven? How has this teaching changed or challenged that perspective? What are the implications of focusing so much on getting to heaven that we fail to live out Jesus’s instructions to join him in bringing heaven to earth? Knowing that we each have a kingdom, a realm of influence, how have you been running your kingdom? Have you been orienting your kingdom to The Kingdom, or have you been more focused on building your kingdom? What are some tangible ways you can orient your kingdom to The Kingdom in order for God’s will and way to advance in and through you to impact those your kingdom reaches? How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week? For Further Study Heaven & Earth by The Bible Project Matthew: Episode 21 – Weeds and Wheat by Tim Mackie (Exploring My Strange Bible Podcast) The Lord and His Prayer by N.T. Wright LORD, Teach Us by William H. Willimon & Stanley Hauerwas The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard – Chapter 1 deals with the Kingdom of Heaven and Chapter 7 deals specifically with the Lord’s Prayer

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