The Teaching Series with Brad Gray

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Latest Episodes:

Episode 128 – The Journey Pt 1: It’s Not About the Destination Jun 01, 2021

Episode 128 – The Journey Pt 1: It’s Not About the Destination

Key Passage(s): Genesis 12:1-4, Hebrews 11:8, Exodus 3:9-10, John 1:35-36, 1 John 2:6

Abraham is often held up as a model of faithfulness because when God told him to go, he went. No questions. No “yeah buts.” He didn’t even know where he was going. But he started moving anyways. Abraham understood something about God many of us miss: God is the God of the journey, not the destination. And trusting God as we walk into the unknown is challenging for so many of us because we crave clarity. But when we bring that mentality to life with God, things don’t go so well. By the end of this new series, The Journey, you’ll understand how to adopt a journey mindset, what it looks like to journey well with God, and how to spot the things holding you back from moving forward in faith in the midst of the unknown.

Discussion Questions

What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching?
What do you think are some of the main things that hold you back from journeying well with God?
We’ll sometimes say things like, “I don’t think I would be who I am today if I hadn’t had to go through that.” That’s a journey statement. What are some of the journeys God has used to change you?
How would you describe the difference between clarity and confidence?
What are some of the things you’ve found helpful in developing a journey mindset?
How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week?

Episode 127 – Ask, Seek, Knock Apr 15, 2021

Episode 127 – Ask, Seek, Knock

Key Passage(s): Matthew 7:7-11

What does Jesus mean when he says, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you?” When we look carefully at where and when he says these words, it becomes clear that he’s not giving us a blank check to pursue whatever it is our heart’s desire. God is many things, but a genie in a bottle isn’t one of them. Instead, Jesus is offering us a helpful way of approaching God with our requests. But prayer is more than just asking. It’s also about listening to God and discerning what we truly need, and then practicing consistent, radical dependence on the Father whose extravagant, generous love is just waiting to meet us in our place of need.

Discussion Questions

What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching?
You’ve probably heard the saying, “You have not because you ask not!” In what ways have you experienced that to be true in life?
Sometimes we have no idea what we need, and we need God’s voice to help us name it. What does it look like in your life to listen to God? Where do you go? What do you do to hear God’s voice? (Silence? Going for a run? Etc.?)
How do you feel about the characterization of God as a good father who loves extravagantly?
Would you agree that practicing dependence in a culture that idolizes independence is a critical way for people to embody God’s kingdom? Why or why not?
How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week?

Episode 126 – Easter at Emmaus Apr 05, 2021

Episode 126 – Easter at Emmaus

Key Passage(s): Luke 24:13-32

Easter isn’t a day we celebrate. It’s a way of being in the world. It’s a posture of heart that announces, “What Jesus accomplished at the cross and empty tomb changes everything!” In this resurrection episode, we’ll look at the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus—a story only Luke records in vivid detail—and see how Luke’s subtle use of Scripture makes the bold claim that, in Jesus, everything that had been torn apart was finally being put back together. This episode will help you see connections from the resurrection story that are often overlooked. But, more importantly, Jesus’s actions at Emmaus remind us that in a world of shattered hope, we can live as people who have burning hearts of hope because He is risen!

Discussion Questions

What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching?
In Luke’s gospel, Jesus can usually be found at a meal, on a way to a meal, leaving a meal, or telling a story about a meal. Meals were the way Jesus embodied his kingdom announcement. How have you experienced the significance of meals in your life?
We experience pain and disappointment when reality doesn’t live up to our expectations. The disciples say to Jesus, “We had hoped…” Think of one or two of your own disappointments or painful seasons and finish this sentence, “I had hoped_______.”
Jesus reinterprets the story of his death for the disciples in a way that’s hopeful. How has Jesus re-interpreted painful stories or experiences in your life in a way that helped you to see hope in them?
What does it mean to you that Easter isn’t just a day we celebrate but a way of being in the world?
How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week?

Episode 125 – Who’s the GOAT? Jesus vs. Caesar Apr 01, 2021

Episode 125 – Who’s the GOAT? Jesus vs. Caesar

Key Passage(s): Mark 1:1; Luke 2:10-14, Romans 1:1-4, Colossians 1:15-20

The New Testament uses all kinds of words and phrases to describe Jesus and his kingdom. Savior. Son of God. Gospel. Forgiveness of sins. But these aren’t just poetic, flowery phrases. They’re actually concrete ideas everyone in Jesus’s world was familiar with. But not because of Jesus. They were familiar with those ideas because of Caesar. What the New Testament, and especially Paul’s writings, do is they show us two competing narratives: The gospel of Caesar in which peace is imposed by a sword, and the gospel of Jesus in which peace is offered through a cross. One is strong. The other is weak. One dominates. The other is gentle. Which narrative will you allow to order your world? By the end of this episode, you’re going to hear all those poetic, flowery titles for Jesus through a completely new lens.

Discussion Questions

What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching?
How do you feel about the fact that these ideas and titles were used by Caesar prior to the time of Jesus?
The gospel of Caesar and the gospel of Jesus are very different. Using your own words, describe how the way Caesar brings peace is different from the way Jesus brings peace?
What are some of the other “gospels” or “lords” that compete with the gospel of Jesus in our day and age?
If the gospel of Jesus is upside-down and peculiar when compared to the gospel of Caesar, in what ways is your life upside-down and peculiar when compared to the competing “gospels and lords” of our day?
How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week?

Episode 124 – Rabbis and Disciples Pt 8: Jesus’s Yoke Apr 01, 2021

Episode 124 – Rabbis and Disciples Pt 8: Jesus’s Yoke

Key Passage(s): Matthew 11:28-30

One of the biggest problems we have when reading the Bible is familiarity. When we’re too familiar with a passage, we start believing we already know what it means. In doing so, we forget there’s so much more it has to teach us, and we rob it of its explosive power to transform our lives. In this final episode in our series, Rabbis and Disciples, we set Jesus’s famous words about “his yoke” in their historical and cultural context, and discover Jesus making a shocking claim that no other rabbi ever made. By understanding this passage anew, you’ll experience the depth, the audacious challenge, and the compelling nature of Jesus’s invitation to life in him!

Discussion Questions

What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching?
How did exploring the different “hints” Jesus gave in this passage change or deepen its meaning for you?
What are one or two specific examples of times you’ve made life harder for yourself by trying to do it your way rather than doing it Jesus’s way?
What are one or two specific examples of times you practiced the way of Jesus and it helped you to navigate the difficulty of life with a kind of ease and lightness?
What does “rest for your soul” look like in your life?
How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week?

For Further Study

New Light on the Difficult Words of Jesus by David Bivin – Chapter 4

Episode 123 – Rabbis and Disciples Pt 7: A Difficult Lifestyle Apr 07, 2021

Episode 123 – Rabbis and Disciples Pt 7: A Difficult Lifestyle

Key Passage(s): Matthew 4:23; Luke 9:57-58

We all want to live fully and deeply, but in order to do that we’ve got to live as Jesus lived. The problem is we don’t always understand what Jesus’s life looked like. In this episode, we dig into the details of the itinerant rabbinic lifestyle and quickly realize that Jesus’s life as a traveling rabbi wasn’t glorious or easy. It was actually really, really difficult. It came with a cost. But according to Jesus and the rabbis of the day, it was worth it – costly, but worth it. It’s a message we all need to hear or be reminded of, as we seek to faithfully follow Jesus and experience life that is truly life.

Discussion Questions

What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching?
There’s a saying, “You can’t know at 20 what only 30 can teach you.” Age and experience often go hand-in-hand. Reflect on what you’ve learned and identify one way in which you’ve grown over the last 10 years.
What stood out most to you about the itinerant lifestyle Jesus and his disciples lived?
What are some areas in your life where you’ve caught yourself saying or thinking: It’s hard, but it’s worth it?
What, in your experience, have been one or two of the most difficult parts of following Jesus and seeking to live as a disciple? What have you learned?
How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week?

For Further Study

New Light on the Difficult Words of Jesus by David Bivin – Chapter 2

Episode 122 – Rabbis and Disciples Pt 6: Jesus’s Occupation Feb 09, 2021

Episode 122 – Rabbis and Disciples Pt 6: Jesus’s Occupation

Key Passage(s): Matthew 13:55-56; Mark 6:3

In the culture of Jesus’s day, one was forbidden to receive payment for the teaching of God’s Word. Which is why every rabbi had a trade or occupation. Jesus had one, but the term “carpenter” doesn’t nearly do it justice. In fact, Jesus’s occupation is filled with surprises that perfectly explain how his trade prepared him for his ministry. Speaking of which, the Text implies that once Jesus launches his ministry, he devotes himself entirely to his disciples and teachings. If he wasn’t working and rabbis couldn’t receive payment for teaching God’s Word, how did Jesus and the disciples pay the bills? Let’s find out, and in doing so, let’s gain a deeper appreciation for the way God uses the details to bring about His purposes in our lives.

Discussion Questions

What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching?
What surprised you most in learning more about Jesus’s occupation?
How do you think Jesus’s occupation as a tekton prepared him for his ministry?
What are one or two moments from your past where it seems like God was preparing you to advance His kingdom in the world?
What are some of the inspiring ways you see God advancing His purposes in the world through a person/group/organization that is dependent on the generosity of others?
How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week?

For Further Study

New Light on the Difficult Words of Jesus by David Bivin – Chapter 2

Episode 121 – Rabbis and Disciples Pt 5: Having Authority Jan 26, 2021

Episode 121 – Rabbis and Disciples Pt 5: Having Authority

Key Passage(s): Matthew 21:23-27; Matthew 28:18-20

In the Gospels, people were always commenting on Jesus’s authority. It was clear to everyone that he had it. Some marveled at it, while others scoffed at it. The Scribes and Pharisees even questioned it. But what exactly did they mean by authority? How did Jesus understand it? And does that enhance our understanding of what happens with the Great Commission in Matthew 28? Without question! Welcome to an explosive episode where you’ll gain a deeper understanding of Jesus’s biblical authority and how discipleship with Jesus’s authority leads to the life that God desires for us all.

Discussion Questions

What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching?
We’ve all met people who had authority by virtue of their role or position. But who is someone you’ve met that may or may not have had a role or position but nevertheless possessed an unmistakable gift or life-giving presence?
What are your thoughts about the following statement? Most of us have been taught to understand salvation as the finish line rather than the starting line to a life of discipleship.
How do you feel about the idea that Jesus ordained you and has given you his authority?
In what ways are/have you been sharing the depth of the life you’ve received and learned from Jesus with others?
How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week?

For Further Study

The New Testament and Rabbinic Judaism by David Daube – p. 206-223

Episode 120 – Rabbis and Disciples Pt 4: Walking On Water Jan 12, 2021

Episode 120 – Rabbis and Disciples Pt 4: Walking On Water

Key Passage(s): Matthew 14:22-31

Jesus walking on water is one of the best-known stories in the entire Bible. But we often miss the point because we fail to see the discipleship component at play. When we see it, we learn that the story has less to do with Jesus walking on water and more to do with Peter’s actions and Jesus’s response. But the story isn’t just about Peter. It’s about you and me, and all of the ways we doubt ourselves. By the end of this episode, you’ll have deeper confidence because you’ll know God is with you. You’ll be more willing to face your fears and take holy risks because you know God believes in you. And you’ll grow in your trust that God won’t call you to something and then fail to equip you for it.

Discussion Questions

What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching?
What goes through your mind when you hear that God believes in you more than you believe in yourself?
What are one or two ways God has met you in the place of your deepest fear in your life?
Who is a person that really believed in you, and how did their belief in you make a huge difference in your life?
Where are you doubting yourself right now?
In what way(s), is God inviting you to get out of the boat?
How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week?

Episode 119 – Rabbis and Disciples Pt 3: Being Like Jesus Dec 29, 2020

Episode 119 – Rabbis and Disciples Pt 3: Being Like Jesus

Key Passage(s): Matthew 4:18-22; John 8:31–32

Most of us love the idea of Jesus as savior. We’re usually less enthusiastic about him being our teacher and reorienting our lives around his. But that’s precisely what it meant to be a disciple. The goal wasn’t to know what the rabbi knew. It was to become who the rabbi was. It meant journeying with him and observing how he spoke, what he noticed, and how he interacted with others. It meant understanding how he made sense of life and then learning to do the same. It’s not the kind of learning that takes place in a classroom. Instead, it takes place on the road and in the experiences of everyday life. By the end of this episode of our Rabbis and Disciples series, you’ll have a clearer understanding of what it means to truly follow Jesus, and you’ll be inspired to follow him more closely in the coming year.

Discussion Questions

What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching?
Ask another person who knows you well this question: What are 1 or 2 ways you’ve seen me become more like Jesus? Then share with your group how you felt about what they said.
If following Jesus was less about the destination and more about the journey, what’s one thing you’ve learned about Jesus during your journey over the last year?
Being covered in the dust of the rabbi was evidence you’d been paying attention and following close on the heels of your rabbi. What kind of evidence do you see in the lives of others that they’re following Jesus closely?
How do you feel about the statement, “We hire Jesus as our savior, but we fire him as our teacher?”
How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week?

For Further Study

Covered in the Dust of Your Rabbi: An Urban Legend? (Article) by Lois Tverberg
New Light on the Difficult Words of Jesus by David Bivin – Chapters 2-4
Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus by Ann Spangler and Lois Tverberg – Chapters 4-5

Episode 118 – Christmas Hope in 2020 Dec 15, 2020

Episode 118 – Christmas Hope in 2020i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-37{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-37:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-37.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): Hebrews 12:1-2Christmas is a season of hope. 2020 has been a season of grief. How do we hold hope and grief in creative tension? Because when things get hard, we feel overwhelmed. And when we’re overwhelmed, our tendency is to check out, numb out, and wish the moments or seasons away. But in our confusion, heartache, and disorientation, God is working in subtle and often unseen ways. By the end of this episode, you’ll be inspired to hold the gratitude and grief of 2020 in tension so that you don’t numb out, but instead embrace this season and the God who is with us in it. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? In Brad’s story about Larry, God orchestrated details in such a way that Larry and his family were aware of God’s presence in a challenging time. What’s one story from your life where you felt God doing the same thing for you? Our human tendency is to only see God in the big, booming, and obvious. But the Christmas story requires us to see God in the small but significant aspects of life. How have you seen God in small but significant ways this year? What have been some of the highs from 2020 you need to name and celebrate? What have been some of the lows from 2020 you need to name and lament? What does it look in your life when you check out and numb out? What might it look like during this holiday season for you to stay tuned in? How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching in this Christmas season? For Further Study Teaching Series 013 – Grounded in Gratitude – this episode explores the significance of allowing gratitude to permeate our lives and serve as a foundation for how we live. Teaching Series 014 – Blessing God 100 Times a Day – this episode explores a helpful practice for fostering gratitude and awareness God’s involvement in our everyday lives. Teaching Series 103 – Grapes in the Desert Pt 3: Lament the Loss – this episode explores the importance of naming the disappointments and losses we experience.

Episode 117 – Rabbis and Disciples Pt 2: Jewish Educational System Dec 01, 2020

Episode 117 – Rabbis and Disciples Pt 2: Jewish Educational Systemi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-40{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-40:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-40.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 4:18-22The Jewish educational system in Jesus’s day was astounding. Growing up in that culture was about total immersion in the Scriptures. It was about learning and memorizing God’s Word so that it shaped everything you did. It was also about learning to ask really great questions and debating with your teachers. But much like professional sports, only the best of the best got to keep going and eventually become disciples. Which raises some fascinating questions: What might the Jewish educational system of Jesus’s day reveal to us about his disciples? What might it teach us about God’s intentions for our discipleship? By the end of this episode, you’ll recognize the subtle hints in the Scriptures you’d missed all along and have a deeper appreciation for Jesus’s explosive words, “Come, follow me.” Note: This is a jam-packed 25-min episode. There’s a lot of information in this one. With that said, our goal was to provide you with the single, best resource for understanding the Jewish educational system in Jesus’s day in its entirety. We think we did it. Enjoy! Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? When was the last time someone spoke into your life in a meaningful way (like the letters written for Brad’s son)? How would you describe your relationship with the Bible? How would you describe the difference between devotional Bible reading and digging deep Bible reading? What are some of the barriers keeping you from discussing God’s Words with others? What is one way you’d like to grow in becoming more intentional with God’s Word? How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week? For Further Study The Jewish People in the First Century edited by Shmuel Safrai and Menahem Stern – Chapter 19 Educational Ideals in the Ancient World by William Barclay – Chapter 1 New Light on the Difficult Words of Jesus by David Bivin – Chapter 1 Our Father Abraham by Marvin Wilson – Chapter 14 Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus by Ann Spangler and Lois Tverberg – Chapter 2

Episode 116 – Rabbis and Disciples Pt 1: Laying the Foundation Nov 17, 2020

Episode 116 – Rabbis and Disciples Pt 1: Laying the Foundationi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-43{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-43:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-43.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 23:1-2; Matthew 26:20-25Being intentional with God’s Word is essential to living a deep and meaningful life. In the biblical period, God’s people were called to not only dig into the Scriptures but also to have an ongoing discussion with their friends and family about them. Formany of us, our time with God’s Word often stops with reading it and we miss out on the critical responsibility of discussion. In this episode, we explore why it’s so crucial to be intentional about our relationship with the Bible so that it permeates every facet of our lives. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? In calling Jesus, “rabbi” instead of “Lord” in Matthew 26, Judas was essentially telling Jesus, “I respect you as a teacher, but you don’t get to tell me how to live my life.” What are some of the ways we can be guilty of this same thing? How does translating the word Torah as “God’s teachings and instructions for life” instead of “law” change your understanding and appreciation of the Hebrew Scriptures? Having listened to the episode, how would you describe the difference between the Torah, the Mishnah, and the Talmud? Why is it important to know about this Jewish Literature? How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week? For Further Study Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus by Ann Spangler and Lois Tverberg – Chapters 1 and 2 New Light on the Difficult Words of Jesus by David Bivin – Chapters 2 and 6 The Jewish People in the First Century edited by Shmuel Safrai and Menahem Stern – Chapter 19 Everyman’s Talmud by Abraham Cohen – a great book that lays out the major teachings of the rabbinic sages Meet the Rabbis by Brad Young – an excellent read that sets Jesus’s teachings within the world of the rabbis

Episode 115 – Placing God’s Word Upon Your Heart Nov 03, 2020

Episode 115 – Placing God’s Word Upon Your Hearti.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-46{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-46:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-46.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): Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Hebrews 4:12–13; 2 Timothy 3:16–17Sometimes the Bible speaks right to our hearts by encouraging or challenging us in just the right way. Other times, we walk away uninspired and discouraged, feeling like we didn’t get anything out of it. What do we do in those moments? In this episode, we explore the practice of placing God's Word upon our hearts, so that when the time is right, and our hearts are ready, they will be available to us. Because the Bible wants to do something in us. It wants to challenge us. It wants to confront us. It wants to help us. But if we get discouraged and disengage, we will miss out on what God’s Word wants to do in our lives. And none of us want that to happen. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? Do you agree that Biblical illiteracy is a major problem for followers of Jesus? Why or why not? What are one or two specific ways you see followers of Jesus allowing the culture around them to define truth instead of the Bible Sometimes the Bible hits us with exactly what we need to hear. When is a time that happened for you, and what did the Bible offer that you needed to hear so badly? How do you relate to the idea that there are seasons when it feels like we don’t get anything out of reading the Bible? Sometimes after our hearts have been broken open, words, passages, or truths from the Bible that we didn’t previously understand fall into us and make perfect sense. When has something like that happened in your life? How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week?

Episode 114 – Being Intentional With God’s Word Apr 07, 2021

Episode 114 – Being Intentional With God’s Wordi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-49{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-49:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-49.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): Deuteronomy 6:4-9Being intentional with God’s Word is essential to living a deep and meaningful life. In the biblical period, God’s people were called to not only dig into the Scriptures but also to have an ongoing discussion with their friends and family about them. For many of us, our time with God’s Word often stops with reading it and we miss out on the critical responsibility of discussion. In this episode, we explore why it’s so crucial to be intentional about our relationship with the Bible so that it permeates every facet of our lives. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? When was the last time someone spoke into your life in a meaningful way (like the letters written for Brad’s son)? How would you describe your relationship with the Bible? How would you describe the difference between devotional Bible reading and digging deep Bible reading? What are some of the barriers keeping you from discussing God’s Words with others? What is one way you’d like to grow in becoming more intentional with God’s Word? 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 113 – Storms Reveal Your Foundation Jan 22, 2021

Storms are a guarantee in life. We lose jobs. Relationships end. Money gets tight. All of this can leave us feeling anxious and fearful. Therefore, the reason we feel those things is because storms expose what we really trust. We may say we trust God...

Episode 112 – The Dignity of Difference Pt 3: Being Christ in the Chaos Sep 10, 2020

Episode 112 – The Dignity of Difference Pt 3: Being Christ in the Chaosi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-52{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-52:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-52.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 12:2-3; Matthew 5:14-16Jesus was a master at navigating the polarized social context of the First Century with wisdom and skill. In this third and final episode in our teaching series, “The Dignity of Difference”, we’ll examine how to be Christ in the chaos. There’s a lot of chaos and division right now. Racism. Politics. Wear a mask. Don’t wear a mask. How are we to respond? By watching Jesus, we’ll learn to live by leading with sacrificial love. We won’t get caught in polarizing categories. And we’ll understand the importance of diversifying our relationships. By the end of this episode, you’ll have new tools to help you navigate the complexity of your world and to be Christ in the chaos! WARNING** This episode is slightly longer than our normal length (29 minutes). However, because of the weight of the conversation, we felt it warranted the few extra moments, and we believe it will be extremely helpful to you. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? In 1 Corinthians 6:12, the apostle Paul writes, “Everything is permissible for me, but not everything is beneficial.” In other words, having rights doesn’t absolve us of our responsibilities. Think about some of the rights being demanded in our culture right now. Things like the right to free speech, the right to privacy, and the right to public assembly, and then finish the following sentences: Well, yes, I have the right to free speech, but I also have the responsibility to_________. Well, yes, I have the right to privacy, but I also have the responsibility to____________ . Well, yes, I have the right to assemble, but I also have the responsibility to___________. What cultural issue(s) has made you feel the most pressure in the last 3 months? What was that pressure like? (Pressure to pick a side? To agree with someone? To disagree with someone? To take some kind of action?) If you were grading the diversity of relationships in your life on a scale of 1-10 (1 being not so good, 10 being great), what score would you give yourself and why? How has having a relationship with someone of a different background helped you to experience the fullness of God? How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week? For Further Study A Conversation about Race, Justice and the Gospel – Interview with Bryan Loritts The Dignity of Difference by Jonathan Sacks

Episode 111 – The Dignity of Difference Pt 2: Seek Justice Sep 08, 2020

Episode 111 – The Dignity of Difference Pt 2: Seek Justicei.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-55{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-55:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-55.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 18:19; Isaiah 9:6-7; Micah 6:8Things are heated right now. Tensions are high. People are on edge. And justice is the battle cry of so many. “We want justice for ________!” But what is justice? How does the Bible portray it? And who is responsible for pursuing it? Welcome to the essence of this episode. Justice and Righteousness are two of the most explosive themes in the Bible, and they’re always attached at the hip. But when we fail to understand what they mean, how they relate to one another, and why they’re at the core of Jesus’s ministry, we begin to think they’re optional. For followers of Jesus, they’re not an elective; they’re core curriculum. And they’re what’s needed to heal a broken world. Watch this episode to find out why. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? Finish this sentence: Peace isn’t the absence of conflict, it’s the presence of_________. Explain your response. What are some of the ways you’re seeing the image of God dishonored or disregarded in others in our world right now? What do you think it looks like or means to honor the image of God in another person? What is your response to the question: Are you seeking justice? How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week?  For Further Study Obedience Whatever the Cost – this is a sermon I did on how Justice and Righteousness played in the life of Joseph and why he intended to divorce Mary quietly. Justice (Video) by BibleProject For Justice In Shalom (Article) by Nicolas Article The Dignity of Difference by Jonathan Sacks

Episode 110 – The Dignity of Difference Pt 1: Unity Not Uniformity Aug 25, 2020

Episode 110 – The Dignity of Difference Pt 1: Unity Not Uniformityi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-58{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-58:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-58.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 10:2-4; John 17:20-23God is a God of unity, not uniformity. In this episode, Brad Gray discusses how there is a dignity to difference. As a result, diversity isn’t the aberration; it’s the expectation when it comes to the kingdom of Christ.  Our world is deeply divided right now. Whether it’s politics, race, or the latest headline, our cultural default seems to be an “Us vs. Them” mentality. What’s fascinating is that this was as true in Jesus’s day as it is in our own. For example, Brad demonstrates how Jesus’s own disciples reflected the vast diversity and difference in his world. As a result, Jesus chose such a group that grew because of their unity, not uniformity.  Furthermore, Brad shares how at the heart of the Scriptures is this idea: God wants his followers to live unified through love and respect, and welcome the diversity. This is part one in a series that will explore Jesus’s rich tradition of honoring the dignity of difference. We must come together as a human race to thrive in the world today. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? In what ways are you seeing and feeling the polarization and “Us vs. Them” mentality in our world right now? What kinds of things do you sense are fueling and contributing to the division? What do you think it looks like to value unity over uniformity in the relational networks that make up your life (work, church, social media, community)? What are some of the bright spots or stories where you have personally seen people honor the dignity of difference and live in unity rather than insisting on uniformity? What about those stories or bright spots should we strive to replicate? How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week?  For Further Study The Dignity of Difference by Jonathan Sacks

Episode 109 – Feeling vs. Fixing Aug 11, 2020

Episode 109 – Feeling vs. Fixingi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-61{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-61:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-61.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): Mark 9:14-29Life can be gut-wrenching. And when the bottom falls out, we need people who know how to hold and honor our pain. Unfortunately, most of us don’t know how to respond well to the feeling of pain for others. In this episode we explore Jesus’s response to a desperate situation in Mark 9. His first impulse wasn’t to fix the pain, but to feel the pain. And if we can emulate this in our lives, we’ll understand how to serve one another well, especially in difficult seasons. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? Have you experienced a time when someone engaged your pain with empathy and honored it well? Why do you think our first impulse as human beings is often to try and fix things? How would you describe the difference between sympathy and empathy? Is there anyone in your sphere of influence right now who’s hurting and could use an empathetic presence? What’s one concrete empathetic action you could take to feel instead of fix them? How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week?

Episode 108 – Entertain the Interruptions Jul 28, 2020

Episode 108 – Entertain the Interruptionsi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-64{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-64:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-64.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 8:40-48We’re often oblivious to and annoyed by distractions and interruptions because we inhabit a culture obsessed with speed, efficiency, and productivity. But hurry is trouble for the soul. “Hurry,” said Dallas Willard, “is the great enemy of the spiritual life.” This teaching explores how Jesus led an interruptible life, and how our willingness to slow down and entertain the interruptions can allow us to do the same and not miss out on the “holy interruptions” that come our way. 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 The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer The Teaching Series Episode 016 – Seizing Tassels

Episode 107 – Demolishing the High Places Jul 14, 2020

Episode 107 – Demolishing the High Placesi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-67{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-67:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-67.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 Kings 15:11-14Too often, we live with divided hearts. On the one hand, our hearts are devoted to God. We want God’s best for our lives. We want God’s kingdom to come. On the other hand, we continue to allow places in our lives where evil and sin persist. This episode explores the life of King Asa and our deeply human tendency to be devoted to God without tearing down the high places in our lives. By the end of this episode, you’ll know how to identify the high places in your life and begin the process of demolishing them for good. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? When you think about your life, what are the areas where you can say with confidence that your heart is devoted to God? What’s one high place that continues to persist in your life? Of the three ideas that often accompany high places, which has been or is most likely to be true of your own high places: Achievement, busyness, or boredom? Who is someone you trust enough to ask the question, “Do you see anything in my life that God wouldn’t want there?” How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week?

Episode 106 – Grapes in the Desert Pt 6: Enough Is Enough Jun 30, 2020

Episode 106 – Grapes in the Desert Pt 6: Enough Is Enoughi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-70{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-70:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-70.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): Exodus 16:19-2; Deuteronomy 8:2-5; Matthew 6:25-33The idea that we don’t have enough permeates our lives. We don’t have enough money. We don’t have enough sleep. We don’t have enough time. We’re constantly looking for ways to acquire more. But “more” rarely delivers the contentment we’re looking for. And the wilderness is the place where God strips away the faulty distractions and excess that increasingly define our lives. In the wilderness, God recalibrates our understanding of what’s essential and what’s enough so we experience the contentment we were made for. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? If we were to follow you around and listen in on your life what would we hear you saying you don’t have enough of? Think back on some of the wilderness experiences of your life. How did those experiences re-order your understanding of what was enough? One of the telltale signs of a scarcity mentality is that we start believing other people’s success means there’s less for us. In what ways have you experienced that in your life? How have you experienced God providing you with enough during the COVID-19 pandemic? How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week? For Further Study The Soul of Money by Lynne Twist The Bible and the Land by Gary M. Burge – Chapter 3 is on the desert The Land Between by Jeff Manion – Outstanding book on navigating the deserts of our lives

Episode 105 – Grapes in the Desert Pt 5: Feet for the Path Jun 16, 2020

Episode 105 – Grapes in the Desert Pt 5: Feet for the Pathi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-73{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-73:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-73.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): Habakkuk 3:19; 2 Samuel 22:33-34There are moments in life when the path ahead is unclear or downright scary, moments when everything in us wants out of the situation or circumstance we’re in. It’s only natural to ask God to rescue us or change things. That’s part of what prayer is about. But there’s another dimension of prayer we find in the Scriptures. It’s one we often fail to pray, making our prayers incomplete. It’s the prayer David prayed. It’s the prayer Habakkuk prayed. And it’s an astounding prayer of strength and trust that God will empower us no matter where our path leads. This teaching explores how to pray more completely in the wilderness seasons of life. (Click on images to Enlarge/Download - Courtesy of Todd Bolen of BiblePlaces.com) Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? Words are often powerful because of when they’re spoken. What are some of the powerful words people have spoken into your life in the midst of a difficult season? Sometimes we have no words of our own and need to borrow the words of others to sustain us in difficult times. What are some of the words (quotes, scriptures, etc.) that you cling to in challenging seasons? How has God given you feet for the path in the past? Where do you need feet for the path in the current season? How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week? For Further Study The Bible and the Land by Gary M. Burge – Chapter 3 is on the desert The Land Between by Jeff Manion – Outstanding book on navigating the deserts of our lives

Episode 104 – Grapes in the Desert Pt 4: Trusting God Jun 02, 2020

Episode 104 – Grapes in the Desert Pt 4: Trusting Godi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-76{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-76:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-76.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): Exodus 13:21; Exodus 14:10-12You’re not where you were, and you’re not where you’re going to be. You’re in between. Welcome to the wilderness. It’s in these ambiguous spaces where we either become who God is inviting us to be or we shrink into the smaller, more manageable stories we write for ourselves. Because it’s easier to be a slave in Egypt than to trust God in the desert. But no one aspires to be the person who shrinks. We want to learn to trust well and become all God intended for us to be. This teaching will give you practical ways to grow your trust in God in hard times. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? How do you feel about the statement, “It’s easier to be a slave in Egypt than to trust God in the desert?” In what ways have you experienced that to be true in your life? What are one or two moments from your life where you felt like you really trusted God? What made your trust level so high in those moments? What are some of the small, daily ways you choose to trust in yourself instead of in God? What sliding door moments are before you now? How will you engage them? How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week? For Further Study The Bible and the Land by Gary M. Burge – Chapter 3 is on the desert The Land Between by Jeff Manion – Outstanding book on navigating the deserts of our lives

Episode 103 – Grapes in the Desert Pt 3: Lament the Loss May 19, 2020

Episode 103 – Grapes in the Desert Pt 3: Lament the Lossi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-79{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-79:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-79.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 13The practice of grounding yourself in gratitude is essential to a life well-lived. But in the wilderness experiences of life, gratitude isn’t enough. In those times, we need to identify, name, and express our losses. The Psalms are a case in point. Filled with both songs and prayers of praise, they’re also packed full of songs of lament. Because being grounded in gratitude and lamenting the loss are deeply human and deeply biblical. This teaching will give you a new perspective on how to hold both the gratitude and the loss. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? What are some things you’ve been grateful for during this pandemic, things you wouldn’t have experienced without the pandemic? Why do you think Westerners tend to see sadness as treasonous? Are you more of a glass-half empty or glass-half full kind of person? As illustrated in this teaching, why is it more helpful to be both? What’s at stake if we only choose to live in gratitude and never lament the loss? What’s at stake if we only ever lament the loss and don’t express our gratitude? How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week? For Further Study The Bible and the Land by Gary M. Burge – Chapter 3 is on the desert The Land Between by Jeff Manion – Outstanding book on navigating the deserts of our lives

Episode 102 – Grapes in the Desert Pt 2: Davar in the Midbar May 05, 2020

Episode 102 – Grapes in the Desert Pt 2: Davar in the Midbari.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-82{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-82:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-82.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): Hosea 9:10In Hebrew, the root word for midbar (desert) is the Hebrew word davar, which means to speak. While God is always speaking, we usually hear God best in the desert experiences of our lives. Why? Because in seasons of hardship and challenge, busyness and distraction are stripped away, and we become more present and open to God’s voice. When that happens, God often speaks exactly what we need to hear. What if the COVID-19 pandemic is a desert experience in which God is inviting us to pay attention and listen for His voice? If so, we might just receive a davar in the midbar that could change everything. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? What have been one or two desert experiences where you felt God speak to you in a meaningful or powerful way? The poet Mary Oliver wrote that “attention is the beginning of devotion.” What do you feel are the biggest distractions that keep you from giving your attention to God’s voice? When was the last time you felt God used you to speak His words to someone else? What do you think are some of the characteristics of the kind of person God uses to speak His words to others? How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week? For Further Study The Bible and the Land by Gary M. Burge – Chapter 3 is on the desert The Land Between by Jeff Manion – Outstanding book on navigating the deserts of our lives

Episode 101 – Grapes in the Desert Pt 1: Isolated But Not Disconnected Apr 21, 2020

Episode 101 – Grapes in the Desert Pt 1: Isolated But Not Disconnectedi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-85{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-85:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-85.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 Kings 19:10-18When things go wrong in life, one of the first things we feel is that we’re alone. And the social distancing and stay-at-home orders of the COVID-19 pandemic only amplify our sense of isolation. In the Hebrew Scriptures, the wilderness is the primary metaphor for challenging seasons of life. But what if the challenges and limitations of the wilderness actually call forth the richness of our creativity? This episode explores how creativity can help us overcome isolation so we can experience grapes in the desert. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? In the midst of this pandemic, so many people are having conversations and interactions with neighbors they never usually talk to. Why do you think disaster is such an effective incubator for connection? What are some of the creative ways you’ve been connecting with others during the pandemic, and what have those experiences been like for you? Stories of Italians singing together on their balconies, residents of NYC applauding healthcare workers, and drive-by birthday parties are really moving. Why do you think these simple gestures move us so deeply? If you’re feeling a sense of isolation and aloneness, what can you do this week to remedy this? For Further Study The Bible and the Land by Gary M. Burge – Chapter 3 is on the desert The Land Between by Jeff Manion – Outstanding book on navigating the deserts of our lives

Episode 100 – Life in the 40 Apr 07, 2020

Episode 100 – Life in the 40i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-88{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-88:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-88.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 4:1-2The number 40 is hugely significant in the Scriptures. Noah. Moses. Israel. Elijah. Jonah. Jesus. It shows up again and again, and for good reason. The number 40 represents testing, trial, opposition, challenge, and refinement. But all the challenge and struggle are in service of the wisdom and newness that’s seeking to be born. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, may we not give way to fear, anxiety, and self-preservation, but instead, embrace the hope of what life in the 40 will turn into. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, what has been most difficult for you? What do you see this season of trial and challenge evoking in others? What in this season of trial and challenge is giving you hope? What goodness, wisdom, and newness do you suspect might be birthed because of this trying time? How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week?

Episode 099 – Parable of the Lost Son Pt 6: Shame on the Cross Mar 24, 2020

Episode 099 – Parable of the Lost Son Pt 6: Shame on the Crossi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-91{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-91:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-91.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 15:11-32Honor and shame played a significant role in the cultural context of Jesus’s life and ministry. Like a stain, shame diminished a person’s worth in the eyes of the community, and shame continues to have this crippling effect on countless people. From start to finish, this parable is saturated with shame, and Jesus seems to have designed it this way on purpose. Why? Because Jesus is telling us something about Himself and what happens to shame on the cross. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? What have been some of your own experiences with shame? By scorning the shame of the cross, Jesus, in essence, also scorns the shame that marks our lives. What do you think it looks like to allow Jesus to speak to, touch, and bless the tender places of shame in your life? It was said in the teaching, “There is no length God won’t go to remind you that you are loved, accepted, pursued, cherished, and celebrated.” Do you believe this is true? If you’re struggling to believe this, why do you think that is? What may God be saying to you? How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week? For Further Study How to Read the Bible: The Parables of Jesus by BibleProject Stories With Intent by Klyne Snodgrass – Pages 117-143 Poet & Peasant and Through Peasant Eyes (Combined Ed.) by Kenneth Bailey – Pages 158-206 in Poet & Peasant Jesus, The Middle Eastern Storyteller by Gary M. Burge – Chapter 6 The Parables by Brad Young – Chapter 7 The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen

Episode 098 – Parable of the Lost Son Pt 5: Joy is the Test Mar 10, 2020

Episode 098 – Parable of the Lost Son Pt 5: Joy is the Testi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-94{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-94:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-94.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 15:11-32Two significant (but often overlooked) moments in the parable reveal there’s more than one way to be lost. It’s just as possible to be lost in the Father’s house as it is to be lost in the far country. Countless people end up lost not as prodigals, but by believing they’re earning God’s love and acceptance with their obedience. This is not how the Father runs the house. And this episode explores how joy is the litmus test that keeps us from getting lost on the inside. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? What are one or two specific ways you’ve been the older brother in your life? If joy is the litmus test to a thriving relationship with God, what’s your joy level like right now? What are the implications of being at that level? What would it look like for you to “join the party” this week or in general? How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week? For Further Study Stories With Intent by Klyne Snodgrass – Pages 117-143 Poet & Peasant and Through Peasant Eyes (Combined Ed.) by Kenneth Bailey – Pages 158-206 in Poet & Peasant Jesus, The Middle Eastern Storyteller by Gary M. Burge – Chapter 6 The Parables by Brad Young – Chapter 7 The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen

Episode 097 – Parable of the Lost Son Pt 4: Love as Letting Go Feb 25, 2020

Episode 097 – Parable of the Lost Son Pt 4: Love as Letting Goi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-97{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-97:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-97.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 15:11-24Sometimes people walk away from God, but few things are as painful as seeing your children walk away. Jesus’s words strike a deep chord with parents who’ve felt helpless as their children walk their own path. Parenting is a sensitive issue and addresses the most tender place within us: our deep love for our children. In this episode, we examine the Father’s posture of heart towards a son he knows is lost in his own home. Unlike other characters in the parable, the Father doesn’t pursue his son, leaving us wondering, why doesn’t he do more? Jesus offers us a picture of risky love that doesn’t coerce, or force or control, but instead let's go and waits expectantly with open arms. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? What is your first impulse or thought when you see someone you love making decisions that are potentially harmful to themselves? The Father’s love compels him to let go of the outcome because if he tries to control, coerce, or force an agenda it will only make things worse. What are the situations, scenarios, and relationships in your life where you need to let go of the outcome? Even though the Father doesn’t chase after his son, he’s still engaged. He’s waiting expectantly with open arms. What do you think it looks like to stay engaged and wait expectantly in a strained relationship? How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week? For Further Study Stories With Intent by Klyne Snodgrass – Pages 117-143 Poet & Peasant and Through Peasant Eyes (Combined Ed.) by Kenneth Bailey – Pages 158-206 in Poet & Peasant Jesus, The Middle Eastern Storyteller by Gary M. Burge – Chapter 6 The Parables by Brad Young – Chapter 7 The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen

Episode 096 – Parable of the Lost Son Part 3: Embrace the Grace Feb 11, 2020

Episode 096 – Parable of the Lost Son Part 3: Embrace the Gracei.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-100{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-100:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-100.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 15:11-24It’s easy to forget how much we’ve been forgiven. And when we do so, our relationship with God and others suffers greatly. In this episode of the parable of the lost son, we key in on the younger son and unpack his journey of being lost and then found. And in doing so, we get to marvel at the extravagant grace of God who embraces us despite our faults and failures. But until we allow ourselves to be embraced and changed by this grace, we’ll seek to manipulate and connive in our relationship with God, and we’ll also fail to extend to others the kind of grace God expects from us. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? How have you traditionally understood this parable with respect to the younger son? How did this teaching confirm or change your prior understanding? Is there any way in which you’ve forgotten how much you’ve been forgiven? If so, how is that negatively impacting your relationship with God? Your relationship with others? Where do you need to embrace God’s grace anew today? Where do you need to extend that kind of grace to others? How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week? For Further Study Stories With Intent by Klyne Snodgrass – Pages 117-143 Poet & Peasant and Through Peasant Eyes (Combined Ed.) by Kenneth Bailey – Pages 158-206 in Poet & Peasant Jesus, The Middle Eastern Storyteller by Gary M. Burge – Chapter 6 The Parables by Brad Young – Chapter 7

Episode 095 – Parable of the Lost Son Pt 2: Worth Pursuing Jan 28, 2020

Episode 095 – Parable of the Lost Son Pt 2: Worth Pursuingi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-103{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-103:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-103.icon-hover-animation-pulsate:after {-webkit-box-shadow:0 0 0 2px rgba(255,255,255,0.1), 0 0 10px 10px #ee2e31, 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 #ee2e31, 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 #ee2e31, 0 0 0 10px rgba(255,255,255,0.5);}Key Passage(s): Luke 15:3-10Right before Jesus told the Parable of the Lost Son, he told the Parables of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin. That’s because these three parables go together. And in order to understand what Jesus was challenging his hearers with in the Parable of the Lost Son, we must first understand what Jesus was communicating with the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin. Hence, this episode. And as we’ll be questioned with, if all people are worth pursuing, and God is passionately pursuing all people, shouldn’t followers of Jesus be doing the same? Let’s find out. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? What was new for you in the Parables of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin? Where do you feel most challenged in what you learned? Who is lost in your life that needs pursuing? Have you noticed that they are lost? What does “pursuing” them look like? What does restoration and celebration look like? What may be God calling you to do? How will you begin taking a step in that direction this week? For Further Study Stories With Intent by Klyne Snodgrass – Pages 117-143 Poet & Peasant and Through Peasant Eyes (Combined Ed.) by Kenneth Bailey – Pages 142-158 in Poet & Peasant Jesus, The Middle Eastern Storyteller by Gary M. Burge – Chapter 6 The Parables by Brad Young – Chapter 10

Episode 094 – Parable of the Lost Son Pt 1: Live The Story Jan 14, 2020

Episode 094 – Parable of the Lost Son Pt 1: Live The Storyi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-106{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-106:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-106.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 15:1-2Traditionally known as the “Parable of the Prodigal Son,” this story of Jesus has captured the hearts and minds of people for two thousand years. It’s among his most famous teachings, and it highlights the essence of his mission. And like every story of Jesus (and of the Bible), it has a context that is often lost on readers. Which is why in this episode, we begin laying out that context by looking at the reason Jesus tells the parable in the first place. And as we’ll discuss, too many are content knowing the stories of Jesus. But we’re not just called to know the stories of Jesus; we’re called to live the stories of Jesus. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? Were you aware that the reason Jesus told the Parable of the Lost Son (Prodigal) was due to the muttering of the religious leaders? How does that change or enhance your understanding of the parable? As mentioned in the teaching, the series will explore additional reasons why the religious leaders took issue with Jesus’s love and acceptance of all people, but what do you think some of those reasons were? Do you struggle with any of the reasons you’ve identified? If so, why? Where might God be challenging you with the possibility that you’ve been too content simply knowing the stories of Jesus (and of the Bible), but not fully living them out? Is there a rhythm or a practice that you can employ this year that will help you engage God’s Word more deeply and allow God more access to purifying your life? How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week?

Episode 093 – Parable of the Rich Fool Pt 4: Setting Rich Goals Dec 31, 2019

Episode 093 – Parable of the Rich Fool Pt 4: Setting Rich Goalsi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-109{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-109:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-109.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 12:13-2192% of New Year’s resolutions fail. Clearly, there’s something wrong with the way we execute our goals. But the biggest problem isn’t with the execution; it’s with the goals themselves. Many of us are setting bad goals, and we don’t even know it. They’re having a negative impact on us, and we’re totally unaware. In this final part on the Parable of the Rich Fool, we’re going to challenge the way we think about goals, assess the ones we have, and ensure that we’re setting the right kind of goals. Because if we don’t set the right goals, we’ll pursue the wrong ones, and find ourselves in poverty to the purposes of God. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? In what ways have past goals for you been more enslaving than liberating (and perhaps you didn’t even realize so until now)? What goals do you have for 2020 (or what goals do you have in general)? In assessing those goals in light of this teaching, are they the right ones to have? Gary Burge wrote, “The issue is not whether a person is ‘rich’ toward God (the usual translation) but whether he or she is contributing to a wealth valued by God. People choose: either to enrich themselves or to enrich their relationship with God.” How does this quote encourage or challenge you? Are there certain areas of your life that you need more of a “Kingdom” focus than a “me” focus? What goals can you make that will challenge and remind you on a regular basis to orient your kingdom to God’s Kingdom, and pursue those things that God sees as valuable? How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week? For Further Study Stories With Intent by Klyne Snodgrass – Pages 117-143 Poet & Peasant and Through Peasant Eyes (Combined Ed.) by Kenneth Bailey – Chapter 4 in Through Peasant Eyes Jesus, The Middle Eastern Storyteller by Gary M. Burge – Chapter 7 Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done by Jon Acuff

Episode 092 – Parable of the Rich Fool Pt 3: The Christmas Identity Dec 17, 2019

Episode 092 – Parable of the Rich Fool Pt 3: The Christmas Identityi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-112{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-112:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-112.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 12:13-21We are not the sum total of our possessions and accomplishments. Nor are we the sum total of our faults and failures. And yet, we often live as if that’s the case. We believe our worth and our value comes from what we have or what we do. Jesus confronted this toxic perspective in the Parable of the Rich Fool. But even more than that, he obliterated it in his coming at Christmas. And until we’ve understood and embraced the Christmas identity, we’re going to struggle significantly, and miss out on one of the most foundational and freeing truths in life. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? Where are you seeing yourself as the sum total of your possessions or accomplishments? What about your faults or failures? How so? Where do you need to be reconciled anew? Are there any relationships in your life that you might consider reconciling this Christmas season? How could you do that? What might need to be reconciled in your life with God this Christmas season? How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week? For Further Study Stories With Intent by Klyne Snodgrass – Pages 117-143 Poet & Peasant and Through Peasant Eyes (Combined Ed.) by Kenneth Bailey – Chapter 4 in Through Peasant Eyes Jesus, The Middle Eastern Storyteller by Gary M. Burge – Chapter 7

Episode 091 – Parable of the Rich Fool Pt 2: We Don’t Own It Dec 03, 2019

Episode 091 – Parable of the Rich Fool Pt 2: We Don’t Own Iti.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-115{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-115:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-115.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 12:13-21; 1 Chronicles 29:11; Deuteronomy 15:7-8One of the biggest mistakes we make is believing that what we have, we actually own. In God’s eyes, we don’t own anything. Everything we have – our accomplishments, our possessions, even our lives – all belong to God. We’re simply called to steward what we have on God’s behalf. The rich man in this parable failed to see this, and many of us do as well. Until we recognize this, we’ll struggle with our possessions and we’ll fail to live as generous as God would like. As we move into this Christmas season of giving, this is a teaching we all need to hear. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? In addition to the “I” and “my” language Jesus used in this parable, is there anything else in this story that catches your attention that you may not have noticed before? If so, what do you think the significance is? How did this teaching affirm or change your understanding of possessions and ownership? What are the detriments of living tightfisted? What are the benefits of living open-handed? In what ways have you been tightfisted toward God or others, and God is challenging you to be more open-handed? How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week? For Further Study Stories With Intent by Klyne Snodgrass – Pages 389-401 Poet & Peasant and Through Peasant Eyes (Combined Ed.)by Kenneth Bailey – Chapter 4 in Through Peasant Eyes Jesus, The Middle Eastern Storyteller by Gary M. Burge – Chapter 7

Episode 90 – Parable of the Rich Fool Pt 1: Possessed By Our Possessions Nov 19, 2019

Episode 90 – Parable of the Rich Fool Pt 1: Possessed By Our Possessionsi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-118{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-118:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-118.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 12:13-21Possessions can be tricky. On the one hand, many of them are needed and incredibly useful. But on the other hand, they can possess us in ways that we may or may not realize. In the Parable of the Rich Fool, Jesus warns, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” His point is easy to understand. But then the question becomes, “Do we actually live as if what he said is true?” Let’s find out. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? Jesus warned, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” How did his words hit you in the teaching? Where do you believe you’re using possessions in a helpful and life-giving way? Where might you be blinded by the way your possessions may be possessing you? What may God be saying to you about your relationship with possessions and how He wants you to think and live differently moving forward? How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week? For Further Study Stories With Intent by Klyne Snodgrass – Pages 389-401 Poet & Peasant and Through Peasant Eyes (Combined Ed.) by Kenneth Bailey – Chapter 4 in Through Peasant Eyes Jesus, The Middle Eastern Storyteller by Gary M. Burge – Chapter 7

Episode 089 – Parable of the Mustard Seed: God Is At Work Nov 05, 2019

Episode 089 – Parable of the Mustard Seed: God Is At Worki.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-121{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-121:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-121.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 13:31-32; Mark 4:30-32; Luke 13:18-19Despite what we may think, many people didn’t believe Jesus’s ministry was all that impressive. In fact, they questioned whether or not God’s kingdom was really advancing through him. In response, Jesus told a parable about a mustard seed. Even though it’s incredibly small, its capacity for growth is massive. Jesus challenged his audience to recognize that even though things may not be unfolding the way we think, that doesn’t mean God isn’t at work. Quite the opposite. And what may appear to be small and seemingly insignificant may be germinating into something substantial. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? Why do you think people were questioning whether or not the kingdom was really advancing through the ministry of Jesus? In what ways does it feel like that God’s kingdom isn’t advancing here on earth (or perhaps through your life)? What activities are you currently involved in that feel small and seemingly insignificant? How do the truths of this teaching encourage you or challenge you to think differently about those things? Where may God be challenging you to have a “mustard seed” like faith? How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week? For Further Study Stories With Intent by Klyne Snodgrass – Pages 216-228

Episode 088 – Parable of the Good Samaritan Pt 5: The Common Humanity Oct 29, 2019

Episode 088 – Parable of the Good Samaritan Pt 5: The Common Humanityi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-124{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-124:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-124.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 10:25-37; 2 Chronicles 28:1-15; Leviticus 19:18Did you know that Jesus didn’t manufacture the Parable of the Good Samaritan out of thin air? He was actually drawing upon a story from the Old Testament (his Bible). And it’s one of the most incredible war stories on loving one’s enemies. It’s sitting behind the parable, and this story, coupled with Leviticus 19:18, gives us a window into how we can love all people well, and how we must find the common humanity in others long before we highlight the differences. This is the final episode in this series on the Parable of the Good Samaritan, and so we must ask, “Have we become the neighbor Jesus has asked us to become?” Let’s find out. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? Before this teaching, were you aware of the 2 Chronicles 28 story? If not, how did that enhance your understanding of the Parable of the Good Samaritan? Were you once again reminded of the importance of understanding the Old Testament to understand the teachings of Jesus? Where have you focused too much on loving yourself well first that you have not loved others well? Where do you find yourself highlighting the differences in other people long before affirming the commonalities? How can you become more like a child and affirm the common humanity first? Based on the four aspects we’ve highlighted in this series on “Becoming a Neighbor” (1. Shift the Focus, 2. Empathy and Action, 3. Imagine the Good, 4. Find the Common Humanity), are you becoming the kind of neighbor Jesus has asked us to become? In thinking through the series, what is the most significant thing you’ve learned or been challenged with? How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching or this series this week? For Further Study Stories With Intent by Klyne Snodgrass – Pages 338-362 Short Stories By Jesus by Amy-Jill Levine – Chapter 2 Poet & Peasant and Through Peasant Eyes (Combined Ed.) by Kenneth E. Bailey – Chapter 3 (in Through Peasant Eyes) addresses this parable. The Parables by Brad Young – Chapter 5

Episode 087 – Parable of the Good Samaritan Pt 4: Imagine The Good Oct 22, 2019

Episode 087 – Parable of the Good Samaritan Pt 4: Imagine The Goodi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-127{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-127:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-127.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 10:29-37Jesus didn’t tell the Parable of the Good Samaritan so that we would help people in need. That was a byproduct. He told the parable to smash our categories of who’s “in” and who’s “out” to smithereens. The Samaritans were the most hated people on the planet for Jesus’s audience. And yet, to their utter shock and anger, the Samaritan was the hero of the story. Tantamount to saying, “The Good Hamas Member,” Jesus’s audience was confronted with their inability to love their enemy and to imagine that they could be good. If our world is going to change, it requires a radical love that begins with a better imagination. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? What are you feeling right now as a result of this teaching? Hope? Anger? Frustration? Confusion? Gratitude? Why do you think you feel the way you do? It was stated in the teaching, “If we can’t love those we don’t agree with, then we don’t have a clue as to what it means to follow Jesus.” What are your thoughts on this? It was also stated, “Jesus loved and accepted people without ever watering down his values and convictions.” Where is this most challenging for you to do? Who do you identify as “enemies” in your own life? If Jesus clearly wants us to love all people, including our enemies, how well are you doing with this? If you’re struggling to do so, what in your own heart needs to change in order to love them well? What does loving your “enemies” look like for you? How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week? For Further Study Stories With Intent by Klyne Snodgrass – Pages 338-362 Short Stories By Jesus by Amy-Jill Levine – Chapter 2 Poet & Peasant and Through Peasant Eyes (Combined Ed.) by Kenneth E. Bailey – Chapter 3 (in Through Peasant Eyes) addresses this parable. The Parables by Brad Young – Chapter 5 Jesus The Middle Eastern Storyteller by Gary M. Burge – Chapter 4

Episode 086 – Parable of the Good Samaritan Pt 3: Empathy and Action Oct 15, 2019

Episode 086 – Parable of the Good Samaritan Pt 3: Empathy and Actioni.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-130{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-130:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-130.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 10:33-37There’s a marked distinction between sympathy and empathy. Sympathy stands at a distance and says, “I’m sorry you’re going through this.” Empathy stands in the other person’s shoes and says, “I want to understand your situation so that I can respond in a way that’s truly loving and helpful to you.” Too many of us choose the former. The Good Samaritan chose the latter. And that’s precisely what Jesus was after when challenging his followers to respond in love to those in need. Love must be manifested in action. And in this episode, we learn how to do just that. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? How well do you do in empathizing with someone versus sympathizing with them? Are you making efforts to understand people’s situations? Do you ask enough questions to understand? How could you improve upon this? Where have you empathized well with people? What was the result? Where are you being challenged to respond in love more fully to someone in need? What may God be asking you to do? How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week? For Further Study Stories With Intent by Klyne Snodgrass – Pages 338-362 Short Stories By Jesus by Amy-Jill Levine – Chapter 2 Poet & Peasant and Through Peasant Eyes (Combined Ed.) by Kenneth E. Bailey – Chapter 3 (in Through Peasant Eyes) addresses this parable. The Parables by Brad Young – Chapter 5

Episode 085 – Parable of the Good Samaritan Pt 2: Shift The Focus Oct 08, 2019

Episode 085 – Parable of the Good Samaritan Pt 2: Shift The Focusi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-133{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-133:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-133.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 10:28-33So often, we allow fear or inconvenience drive our response to someone who is in need. In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, we meet a priest and Levite who fail to help a man who is in great need. But a Samaritan does what they were unable or unwilling to do. The priest and Levite were more focused on the implications for themselves than they were for the implications of this man. In this episode, we unpack the stunning details of this remarkable story, and why we must shift the focus from ourselves to others in order to be the kind of neighbors Jesus is challenging us to become. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? How is the Holy Spirit encouraging or challenging you based on what you learned in this episode? Have you been reluctant to help someone in need because you did not feel a responsibility for them? What did that look like? Where have you allowed fear and self-preservation to get in the way of helping people who are in need? Where has inconvenience prevented you from responding in compassion? Where do you need to shift the focus from yourself to others in your life? How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week? For Further Study Stories With Intent by Klyne Snodgrass – Pages 338-362 Short Stories By Jesus by Amy-Jill Levine – Chapter 2 Poet & Peasant and Through Peasant Eyes (Combined Ed.) by Kenneth E. Bailey – Chapter 3 (in Through Peasant Eyes) addresses this parable. The Parables by Brad Young – Chapter 5

Episode 084 – Parable of the Good Samaritan Pt 1: It’s a Bad Question Oct 01, 2019

Episode 084 – Parable of the Good Samaritan Pt 1: It’s a Bad Questioni.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-136{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-136:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-136.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 10:25-28When someone wants to encourage others to ask questions, they will often say, “There are no stupid questions.” But those who’ve been asked too many stupid questions will invariably reply, “Sure, there are no stupid questions – just stupid people who ask them.” It’s their way of humorously (or not so humorously) stating that there are clearly good questions and there are bad questions. In Luke 10, Jesus is asked by an expert, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” It’s a bad question, but not for the reasons you may think. The underlying factors betray his question, and he’s seeking a bare minimum approach to obedience to God. The problem is, many of us do the same thing, but unlike the expert, we may have no clue we’re doing it. If we don’t address it, we’re going to miss the way of Jesus and fail to live the life Jesus is calling us to live right now. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? What new connections did you make based on the content of this teaching? How have you traditionally understood Jesus’s interaction with the expert here in Luke 10? In what areas of your life do you feel like you’ve been seeking the “minimum requirement?” What are some better questions you need to be asking going forward? Where have you been too “eternal life after death” focused, rather than being “eternal life begins now” focused? Why do you think that is? How would life look different for you if were more focused on the now? How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week? For Further Study Stories With Intent by Klyne Snodgrass – Pages 338-362 Short Stories By Jesus by Amy-Jill Levine – Chapter 2 Poet & Peasant and Through Peasant Eyes (Combined Ed.) by Kenneth E. Bailey – Chapter 3 (in Through Peasant Eyes) addresses this parable. The Parables by Brad Young – Chapter 5

Episode 083 – The Parable of the Soils Pt 2: Listen and Obey Sep 24, 2019

Episode 083 – The Parable of the Soils Pt 2: Listen and Obeyi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-139{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-139:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-139.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): Mark 4:10-13; Isaiah 6:8-10; Matthew 13:34-35Did Jesus tell parables to confuse his audience? A literal reading of the Parable of the Soils seems to indicate that. But what most people don’t realize is that Jesus does something with this parable that he doesn’t do with any of his other parables – he bookends it with the words “to hear.” Whoa! Until this phrase is set within the unfolding narrative of the Bible, it’s impossible to understand what Jesus is doing to help and challenge his audience to understand his words, and why he shockingly quotes Isaiah to prove it. He wants his audience to be like a bumper crop. But in order to do so, they must be willing to not only listen to the word of God, but obediently and courageously walk it out. As disciples of Christ, we must do the same, and this parable instructs on how to do so! Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? It was stated in the teaching, “a disciple is someone who listens and obeys.” What are your thoughts on this? It was also stated that this parable is about “preparation and execution.” How do you, or how might you, prepare yourself to hear the word of God? How focused are you on setting aside time to engage the words of God? How well do you think you are listening? How can you grow in this area? Is there any place where you know what God is calling you to do and you’re struggling to do so? Why do you think that is? How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week? For Further Study Stories With Intent by Klyne Snodgrass – Pages 145-178 The Parables by Brad H. Young – Chapter 14

Episode 082 – Parable of the Soils Pt 1: How’s Your Dirt? Sep 17, 2019

Episode 082 – Parable of the Soils Pt 1: How’s Your Dirt?i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-142{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-142:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-142.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): Mark 4:1-9; Jeremiah 4:3-4; Proverbs 4:23The Parable of the Soils (traditionally: Sower) is only one of three parables that shows up in all three synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke). Of the three parables, it shows up the earliest, and in each one, it kicks off a series of parables. Why do we need to know that? Because it’s a parable about parables. To understand what Jesus is doing in his other parables, it’s imperative to understand what he’s doing in this one, which is why we’re starting here. Jesus portrays his listeners as one of four soils, but only one soil is desired. The question is, “Are we that soil?” And if not, what do we need to do? This episode will help you figure that out. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? How have you traditionally understood this parable? What was most surprising to you? Knowing the Parable of the Sower is actually about the soil, how does this change your perspective, if any, when reading it? Have you ever experienced the resurfacing of rocks in your life? If yes, how so? So how is your dirt? What rocks are currently in your field? Like the farmer outside of Nazareth, how hard are you truly willing to work to address the rocks in your field? Who in your life can help you deal with any rocks you may have? What does this process look like for you? How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week? For Further Study Stories With Intent by Klyne Snodgrass – Pages 145-178 The Parables by Brad H. Young – Chapter 14

Episode 081 – Jesus and His Explosive Parables Sep 10, 2019

Episode 081 – Jesus and His Explosive Parablesi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-145{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-145:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-145.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): Deuteronomy 19:15; Acts 1:1Being intentional with God’s Word is essential to living a deep and meaningful life. In the biblical period, God’s people were called to not only dig into the Scriptures but also to have an ongoing discussion with their friends and family about them. Formany of us, our time with God’s Word often stops with reading it and we miss out on the critical responsibility of discussion. In this episode, we explore why it’s so crucial to be intentional about our relationship with the Bible so that it permeates every facet of our lives. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? How have you traditionally understood that nature and purpose of parables? Did you learn anything new that will help you better approach and study the parables? Of all the parables Jesus told, which one is your favorite? And why? Klyne Snodgrass wrote in Stories With Intent, “Parables enlighten and instruct, but often with a message that people do not want to hear (p. 159).” What are your thoughts on this? It was said in the teaching, “We do not grow without tension and challenge. Anything significant in life requires us to be pushed.” Where have you experienced this in your life? What are you most excited about or hoping to get out of this series on the parables? How can you begin preparing yourself this week to engage these explosive stories in the weeks to come? For Further Study Stories With Intent by Klyne Snodgrass

Episode 080 – The Power of Story Sep 03, 2019

Episode 080 – The Power of Storyi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-148{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-148:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-148.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): Mark 4:1-2We’re kicking off a brand-new series on Jesus and His Parables. Nearly one-third of Jesus’s teachings are in the form of parables. Jesus knew how to tell a good story. And he leveraged the power of story because he knew it was the most effective strategy for spreading a message. When we understand the power of story, and how Jesus utilized it, we’ll not only better understand his parables, but we’ll also be convinced that we must tell more stories if we want our most significant messages to spread. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? Knowing more about the power of story, what did this teach you about Jesus’s intentionality when it came to teaching? How have you experienced the power of story in your life? How have stories shaped you? How do you leverage the power of story with your family, at work, with your friends, etc.? Where can you utilize stories more in communicating with others? How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week? For Further Study Talk Like Ted by Carmine Gallo

Episode 079 – Do and Teach Aug 27, 2019

Episode 079 – Do and Teachi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-151{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-151:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-151.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 1:1How do you get people to change? It’s a simple, yet profound question. What if I told you that the way we typically think people change isn’t the way they change at all – that we’ve got it all backwards? The good news is that Jesus didn’t. He knew exactly how people change, and employed an approach that maximized this. And when you understand what he did and why he did it, the way you approach change in your life and in the lives of others will definitely change. Enjoy! Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? Had you ever noticed the word order in Acts 1:1 about the “do and teach?” When seeking change in your life or in others, where have you focused so much on the rider that you’ve neglected the elephant? What’s once experience you could create in order to seek the desired change (again, whether in you or in those you lead or influence)? How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week? For Further StudySwitch by Chip and Dan Heath

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Episode 068 – The Lord’s Prayer Pt 4: Holy Be Your Name May 28, 2019

Episode 068 – The Lord’s Prayer Pt 4: Holy Be Your Namei.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-184{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-184:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-184.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; Exodus 3:15; Ezekiel 36:23, 26-27Hallowed be your name. What in the world does it mean to “hallow” someone’s name? And what is the significance of God’s name? Furthermore, why does Jesus tell us it needs to be hallowed in the first place? As with every aspect of the Lord’s Prayer, this one is loaded with meaning and rooted in Old Testament stories in order to help us understand the absolute necessity of God’s name being recognized in the world, and how our lives bear witness to the holiness of His great name. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? When was the last time someone spoke into your life in a meaningful way (like the letters written for Brad’s son)? How would you describe your relationship with the Bible? How would you describe the difference between devotional Bible reading and digging deep Bible reading? What are some of the barriers keeping you from discussing God’s Words with others? What is one way you’d like to grow in becoming more intentional with God’s Word? How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week? For Further Study Teaching Series Episode 004 – You Are The Message 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 067 – The Lord’s Prayer Pt 3: Always Near Us May 21, 2019

Episode 067 – The Lord’s Prayer Pt 3: Always Near Usi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-187{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-187:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-187.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; Psalm 113:4-6; Deuteronomy 31:1, 6When Jesus told us to pray, “Our Father who is in heaven,” it is literally recorded in Greek as, “in the heavens.” Why would Jesus be talking about God being “in the heavens?” What did this mean to the people first hearing Jesus say this? And what does this mean for us in our relationship with God and in our understanding of “Heaven?” All of this and more is addressed in this teaching as we explore not only the God who rules and reigns over all, but the God who is ever present to us in the midst of our circumstances and our lives. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? Was it helpful learning how the ancients viewed the cosmos? Does this help you to better understand any other passages in the Bible that weren’t discussed in this teaching? Being reminded that God rules and reigns the world, what comfort, joy, or challenge arises in you? When you think of heaven, do you think of a place far, far away? Has this negatively shaped your view of God in some way? In this teaching we learned that God is present and always near us. How will this change the way you pray, if at all? How does this change the way you live? How can you begin walking 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 3 deals with “the heavens” and Chapter 7 deals specifically with the Lord’s Prayer

Episode 066 – The Lord’s Prayer Pt 2: Our Father May 14, 2019

Episode 066 – The Lord’s Prayer Pt 2: Our Fatheri.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-190{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-190:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-190.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; Exodus 4:22-23; Isaiah 63:16The Lord’s Prayer begins with “Our Father.” Whoa! In Jesus’s day, you couldn’t begin a prayer more explosively than that. It’s been said that when Jesus told us to address God as “Our Father” that he was introducing a new way to approach God. Nope! The notion of God as “Father” had been deeply rooted in Israel’s story for fifteen hundred years. What Jesus was doing was calling for revolution, and that revolution would begin as a result of his ministry. The revolution is still underway, and Jesus’s invitation for us is to join it. And it all begins by saying the words, “Our Father.” Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? How did this episode help you better understand the explosiveness of what Jesus was communicating when he called his followers to address God as “Our Father,” knowing the history of God as “Father” beginning with the Exodus? Knowing that this prayer begins with “Our Father,” how does the communal nature of this prayer affect how you will approach this prayer going forward? When you pray, do you take into consideration how the answering of your prayer could affect someone else’s life? Is it challenging for you to address God as “Father?” Why or why not? Where do you need to reformat or enhance your view of God as Father as a result of what you learned in this teaching? How can you begin walking 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 065 – The Lord’s Prayer Pt 1: Daily, Boldly, Collaboratively May 07, 2019

Episode 065 – The Lord’s Prayer Pt 1: Daily, Boldly, Collaborativelyi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-193{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-193:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-193.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 6:9-13; Luke 11:1-2; 1 Chronicles 29:10-11The Lord’s Prayer is the most well-known and well-loved prayer in history. But how well do we know the Lord’s Prayer? Sure, most of us can recite it off the top of our heads (and probably in the King James with its “thy’s” and “art’s”), but do we really understand what Jesus was saying and teaching us when he gave this prayer? I know I sure didn’t. But when I began to understand this prayer in context, I was awestruck by how deep and significant it was. And it compelled me to pray more intentionally, live more faithfully, and love Jesus more fully. My hope is that this series will help you do the same. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? What has been your history with the Lord’s Prayer? Did you grow up saying it? Prior to this teaching, what have been your thoughts on the Lord’s Prayer? Which aspect of the prayer are you most excited to learn more about? Do you find prayer challenging? How so? With the suggestion for praying this prayer daily, boldly, and collaboratively, how will engage the prayer differently going forward? Are there any other truths from this teaching that you want to begin living out 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 064 – Bread of Life Pt 8: The Holy Spirit and Pentecost Apr 30, 2019

Episode 064 – Bread of Life Pt 8: The Holy Spirit and Pentecosti.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-196{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-196:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-196.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): Exodus 19:16-19; Luke 24:50-53; Acts 1:3-5; Acts 2:1-16The most monumental event following the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus was the giving of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. It was a day that changed things forever. And yet, most people don’t know how deep and significant this event was. For example, did you know that Pentecost wasn't a new festival? Or that it didn’t take place in the Upper Room? Or that it was connected to the Exodus? These details and much more are the subject matter for this episode as we conclude our “Bread of Life” series and comprehend the implications of Acts 2 in light of the resurrection! Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? What surprised you most about the conversation on Pentecost? Where were you reminded anew of the importance of understanding the Old Testament when reading the New Testament? It was mentioned that salvation is never the end game, but the beginning. Shalom is the end game and discipleship is what we’re called to do as faithful followers of Jesus? How did this hit you? What are the implications if this is true? How can you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week? For Further Study Jesus and the Jewish Festivals by Gary M. Burge Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus by Ann Spangler and Lois Tverberg – Chapters 8 and 9 deal with the content of this episode. Back to the Future – Yes, I did this as a Teaching Series episode, but it was originally a sermon I did that encompasses last week’s and this week’s Teaching Series episodes.

Episode 063 – Bread of Life Pt 7: Firstfruits of the Resurrection Apr 23, 2019

Episode 063 – Bread of Life Pt 7: Firstfruits of the Resurrectioni.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-199{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-199:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-199.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): John 12:23-24; 1 Corinthians 15:20-23; 1 Peter 1:18-19In this episode, we’re celebrating the Resurrection, and we’re going all out! God raised Jesus from the dead on a Sunday. But it wasn’t just any Sunday. It was a Sunday where people were celebrating a significant festival in conjunction with Passover and Unleavened Bread. And the implications of why Jesus rose on this Sunday will astound you, as there is another whole other level of meaning that God was communicating through the resurrection and its timing. Buckle up, Friends, because what God did will leave you speechless, grateful, and exceedingly hopeful! Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? How did this teaching bring more significance and understanding to the resurrection for you? In the midst of the resurrection plan, there was a Sabbath. Aside from the Sabbath’s connection to the Festival of First Fruits, what significance can we draw from the fact there was a Sabbath in the middle of the story? God raised Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. We learned that those who are in Christ Jesus share the same fate (i.e. will be resurrected to new life and have access to the same Spirit who raised him from the dead now). How does this change how you live now? Where do you need the power of the resurrection in your life? Now knowing the intricacy and timing of God’s plan for the events surrounding Jesus’s death and resurrection, how does this change your perspective on God’s ability to guide the events of your life? How can you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week? For Further Study Jesus and the Jewish Festivals by Gary M. Burg Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus by Ann Spangler and Lois Tverberg – Chapters 8 and 9 deal with the content of this episode.

Episode 062 – Bread of Life Pt 6: Took, Blessed, Broke, Gave Apr 16, 2019

Episode 062 – Bread of Life Pt 6: Took, Blessed, Broke, Gavei.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-202{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-202:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-202.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): John 6:51-59; Matthew 26:26One of the most challenging passages to understand is Jesus’ “Bread of Life” teaching in John 6 where he tells his audience they must “eat his flesh and drink his blood.” And then he goes on to say that if they don’t, they have no life in them. What is up with that? And then John, who spends more time on the Last Supper than all of the other gospel writers combined, doesn’t even mention Jesus’ discussion about the new covenant or the instituting of communion. What? Astonishingly, these stories, along with the feedings of both the five thousand and four thousand are all linked together! Marvel at how all of the pieces come together as we understand what Jesus was proclaiming with the bread at the Last Supper and the eternal hope we have as result of his sacrifice. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? What was most meaningful to you about this teaching that helps you enter well into the recognition that Jesus went to the cross on our behalf? At times, Jesus asks us to do things that don’t make sense. Where in your life are you finding Jesus asking you to do something difficult right now (if any)? Are there any ways in which you are striving to earn God’s love or grace, and today you just need to sit deeply in the reminder that our hope and love and grace from Him is entirely a gift? Jesus’s body was given for us to find hope. In what ways can you offer your life so that others can find hope and experience the love of Jesus? How can you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week? For Further Study Grumble or Eat – this is a sermon I did that brings together all of the content from this episode as well as the last one (and more).

Episode 061 – Bread of Life Pt 5: Grumble or Eat Apr 09, 2019

Episode 061 – Bread of Life Pt 5: Grumble or Eati.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-205{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-205:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-205.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): John 6:25-43What happens when our expectations and our realities do not align? How do we respond when there’s a gap between what we hoped God would do and doesn’t? Answering that is the essence of this episode as we explore Jesus’s bold proclamation in John 6 that he is the “Bread of Life” and that he desires to provide for us in the midst of our circumstances, especially when there is a gap between our expectations and realities. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? Where are you experiencing a gap between your expectation and reality? Are there any areas in your life where you are grumbling, and you need to resort to gratitude? Is there any area in your life where the answer is to grieve appropriately, rather than denying it and resorting to grumbling? In what ways may Jesus be reaching out to you with bread in the midst of the season? The people wanted Jesus on their terms, not his. Where are we making demands of Jesus that are seeking to align him to our agenda, rather than orienting ourselves to his? Where do you need to hold onto the hope that whether our situations happen the way we expect, Jesus has conquered the grave and has the final say? Where could you be a source of bread for someone who is struggling right now? How can you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week?

Episode 060 – Bread of Life Pt 4: Yeast of the Pharisees Apr 02, 2019

Episode 060 – Bread of Life Pt 4: Yeast of the Phariseesi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-208{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-208:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-208.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): Mark 8:9-26Following the feeding of the four thousand, Jesus and his disciples get into a boat and discuss the “Yeast of the Pharisees” after the disciples forget to bring bread. And then Jesus appears to heal a blind twice outside of Bethsaida, making one wonder if he made a mistake. And we’re left asking ourselves, “What is up with these bizarre stories?” Well, they’re bizarre if you lack knowledge of the feedings of the five thousand and four thousand. But since we’ve already tackled those, it’s time to put all of these pieces together and reveal what Jesus is teaching his disciples, and what he wants to teach us as well. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? What was Jesus’ point in saying that “the Kingdom of Heaven was like yeast?” And how did that factor into what he said about “watching out for the yeast of the Pharisees?” Where have you been like the disciples where you thought you saw clearly on something, but found out you didn’t? What happened that changed your perspective and allowed you to see more clearly? Many of the Pharisees believed that God’s love was only reserved for certain people. Where has that perspective infiltrated your life in how you view yourself or others? How are you doing in loving ALL people well? How could you love people better? Are there any areas in your life where you’re “affirming” God’s Word but “not living” it out as intentionally as you should or desire? How can you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week? For Further Study Lexham Geographic Commentary on the Gospels – see Chapter 25: The Geography of Forgiveness by John A. Beck Teaching Series Episode 015 – Loving God By Loving Others

Episode 059 – Bread of Life Pt 3: Feeding of the 4,000 Mar 26, 2019

Episode 059 – Bread of Life Pt 3: Feeding of the 4,000i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-211{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-211:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-211.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): Mark 8:1-9We read of Jesus feeding the five thousand. And then shortly thereafter, we read of him feeding the four thousand. What gives? Of all the stories to choose from, why would two of the gospel writers include stories that seem nearly identical? The answer is that they’re not. The difference is in the details, and the implications of those details are astounding! Without an understanding of the geography around the Sea of Galilee or how numbers are being used in this story, we miss one of the most critical proclamations Jesus was making about his ministry. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? After witnessing Jesus feeding the five thousand in Mark 6, why do you think the disciples respond the way they do in Mark 8:4? In what we ways do we “forget” what God has done in our past and therefore, we live with a lack of faith or perspective in the present? We see from this story that Jesus was intentional about ministering to the Gentiles (i.e. pagans and non-Jews). What does this tell us about the heart and mission of Jesus? What hope does this understanding of Jesus bring to our own lives? Do you find yourself in awe of Jesus? Why or why not? If not, how could you regain your awe of Jesus? How can you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week? For Further Study Lexham Geographic Commentary on the Gospels – see Chapter 23: The Feedings of the Multitudes: When, Where, and Why? by Gordan Franz A Visual Guide to Bible Events by James C. Martin, John A. Beck and David G. Hansen – see “Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand in the Decapolis” (p. 180-181). A Visual Guide to Gospel Events by James C. Martin, John A. Beck and David G. Hansen – see “Seven Baskets in the Decapolis” (p. 98-99).

Episode 058 – Bread of Life Pt 2: Feeding of the 5,000 Mar 19, 2019

Episode 058 – Bread of Life Pt 2: Feeding of the 5,000i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-214{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-214:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-214.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): Mark 6:30-44Did you know that of all the miracles Jesus performed, only one is recorded in all four Gospels? Yep, only one! And it’s the feeding of the five thousand. Why is this story so central to the ministry of Jesus that all four biographers recorded it? That’s what we begin tackling in this teaching. And like all of the stories familiar to us in the Bible, there’s so much more going on. May you marvel at the details and how intentional Jesus is in communicating in both word and deed what his mission is all about. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? Knowing that Jesus just learned of John the Baptist’s death (see Matthew 14:12) and would’ve been in a state of grief and mourning, what strikes you most about Jesus’ attitude and actions towards the people? What we can we learn from that? Why do you think large crowds are flooding to Jesus? He hasn’t multiplied bread before, so what’s drawing them to Jesus? Why do you think Jesus said to the disciples, “You give them something to eat” (Mark 6:37)? After pondering this question, read John 6:6. Why is Jesus doing this? How does understanding that numbers are both quantitative and qualitative enhance or change your perspective on the feeding of the five thousand? What other stories in the Bible are possibly impacted by this reality? What does this story teach us about the mission of Jesus and the character of God? How can you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week? For Further Study Lexham Geographic Commentary on the Gospels– see Chapter 23: The Feedings of the Multitudes: When, Where, and Why? by Gordan Franz A Visual Guide to Bible Events by James C. Martin, John A. Beck and David G. Hansen – see “Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand in a Remote Place (p. 176-177).

Episode 057 – Bread of Life Pt 1: Source of Sustenance Mar 12, 2019

Episode 057 – Bread of Life Pt 1: Source of Sustenancei.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-217{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-217:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-217.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): Deuteronomy 8:3; Isaiah 55:1-3; John 6:35The season of Lent is upon us! We are on a journey towards Resurrection Sunday, and it is a season that will fly by if we’re not intentional about how we’re going to engage it. In John 6:35, Jesus called himself the “Bread of Life.” In this teaching, we explore the imagery of bread, its significance in the Bible, and how it can be a grounding image for us in this season. Furthermore, it challenges us on who or what is the source of our sustenance in the world. May this be a rich season for you, and may we all draw closer to the “Bread of Life” in it. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? Where do you turn to for your source of sustenance? And go deeper here. To whom or to what do you truly lean on when things are tough? How can you draw closer to Jesus in this Lenten season? What practices or rhythms can you engage in that would enable you to take full advantage of this season? Fasting can be challenging without accountability. If you choose to fast in some way, how can you invite someone into this with you (either to join you, pray for you, and/or hold you accountable)? Where do we need to hear from Jesus anew? How can you invite someone into the process of praying with you or for you for what you need this season? What is one step you can take in 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 056 – The Sabbath Pt 8: Answering Your Questions Mar 05, 2019

Episode 056 – The Sabbath Pt 8: Answering Your Questionsi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-220{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-220:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-220.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): John 5:15-18; Matthew 5:17-18; Colossians 2:16-17In John 5, Jesus makes the claim that since his father is “working” on the Sabbath, so is he. Does this undermine everything we’ve explored in this Sabbath series, or is there something deeper going on here? And what is a Christian’s relationship to “The Law?” Does one keep Sabbath out of commandment obedience or because it’s great wisdom? These are the main questions we address in this final episode on the Sabbath. May you continually find freedom and joy in celebrating this amazing gift from God! Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? Did any of the answers in this episode give you a better understanding of the Sabbath? Are there more questions that you still have? What is one thing you learned or were reminded of in the John 5 discussion about the importance of reading the Bible in context? Jesus brought healing and restoration to people on the Sabbath. What are some ways you could also practice this on the Sabbath? In Matthew 5, Jesus says that he did not come to abolish the law but to interpret it correctly. Does this change your perspective on not only the law but on the Sabbath? If so, how? If not, why not? Overall, what’s been your biggest takeaway from this series on the Sabbath? Are you living out the most significant truths addressed in this series in your life? If so, how? If not, what are the next steps you need to take in doing so? For Further Study What “Fulfill the Law” Meant in its Jewish Context (Article 1 of 3) by Lois Tverberg What Paul Says about Fulfilling the Law (Article 2 of 3) by Lois Tverberg Is Christ the End of the Law? (Article 3 of 3) by Lois Tverberg The Rest of God by Mark Buchanan The Sabbath by Abraham Joshua Heschel Sabbath as Resistance by Walter Brueggemann Keeping the Sabbath Wholly by Marva J. Dawn

Episode 055 – The Sabbath Pt 7: Getting Super Practical Feb 26, 2019

Episode 055 – The Sabbath Pt 7: Getting Super Practicali.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-223{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-223:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-223.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 2:1-3; Deuteronomy 5:12-15So what does it look to observe the Sabbath in our world today? This a question my family and I have been joyfully wrestling with for about fourteen years now. And in this episode, I walk you through what we’ve learned and what the Sabbath looks like for us. The purpose isn’t to imply that we’ve got it all figured out, but to provide you with practical ideas and suggestions on how to make the Sabbath a central feature in your life. Furthermore, I briefly tackle two passages we haven’t tackled yet, and they’re passages that I believe will utterly fascinate you. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? When was the last time you woke up with nothing on the agenda for the day and you were able to ask, “How much fun can we possibly have today?” Knowing that observing a Sabbath isn’t so much about which day but a day, what day of the week could you take a Sabbath if you don’t do so already? What constitutes “work” for you? The Sabbath was intended to look and feel totally different than the other six days of the week. So what are the things you need to cease from (“work,” etc.), and what are the things you need to do in order to make this a reality? What gets you the most excited about celebrating Sabbath in your life? What has you the most concerned? Are there any ways in which you’re still stuck in Egypt? How do you need to be set free? How can you begin walking out one of these practical ideas this week? For Further Study The Rest of God by Mark Buchanan The Sabbath by Abraham Joshua Heschel Sabbath as Resistance by Walter Brueggemann Keeping the Sabbath Wholly by Marva J. Dawn

Episode 054 – The Sabbath Pt 6: Unleash The Freedom Feb 19, 2019

Episode 054 – The Sabbath Pt 6: Unleash The Freedomi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-226{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-226:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-226.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): Mark 2:27; Luke 13:14-16; Matthew 11:28-30Thus far, we’ve been talking about the Sabbath in the context of the Older Testament. And now, we get to hear from Jesus! And my oh my, hang on tight. The Sabbath was ridiculously important to Jesus and he addressed it at every opportunity. He knew what an unbelievable gift it was, and emphatically demonstrated in word and deed what it was intended to do for our lives. May you unleash and experience the freedom that Jesus taught, and may you truly take his “yoke” upon you! Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? As we learned about the rabbis in connection with the Sabbath, it’s easy for religious people, in their zeal to be obedient to God, to make following God very legalistic. Where do you see this playing out in our world today (in general)? Where do you see this, if anywhere, being played out in connection to the Sabbath? How have you traditionally viewed the Sabbath – as more of a restriction or a gift? Were you aware of how intentional Jesus was in performing healings on the Sabbath? Why do you think these times were so explosive for Jesus, the crowds, and the religious leaders? How does knowing that the Sabbath was intended to bring you freedom confirm or change the perspective you’ve had on Sabbath? In what ways do you need “to take Jesus’ yoke upon you” and experience the freedom and “rest for your souls” he speaks of in this teaching? How can you begin walking out the truths of this teaching this week? For Further Study The Rest of God by Mark Buchanan The Sabbath by Abraham Joshua Heschel Sabbath as Resistance by Walter Brueggemann Keeping the Sabbath Wholly by Marva J. Dawn

Episode 053 – The Sabbath Pt 5: Clean The Glasses Feb 12, 2019

Episode 053 – The Sabbath Pt 5: Clean The Glassesi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-229{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-229:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-229.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): Exodus 20:1-3; Amos 8:4-5Despite God’s pleas and instructions for His people to observe the Sabbath, they struggled to do so. Sure, they “observed” the Sabbath, but they did so in a way that completely missed the point. They were distracted by the things of life and were completely unaware of how blurry their vision had become. Subsequently, their destructive habits went unchecked. The same happens to us as well when we fail to take a break. It’s in the break where we gain perspective. But in order to see what we need to see, we need to be really intentional about what we do. And that’s what this teaching helps us to unpack. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? Are there any “commodities” in your life that are negatively affecting your relationship with God? Has there been a time when you could see your other relationships being affected by not observing the Sabbath the way God intended? What are some possible “smudges” on your glasses that having a Sabbath could help you recognize? Would you be willing to give up your phone for an entire day to observe a Sabbath? If not, what is keeping you from doing so? Are there any false desires at play? How can you begin walking out the truths of this teaching this week? For Further Study Soul Rest by Curtis Zackery The Rest of God by Mark Buchanan The Sabbath by Abraham Joshua Heschel Sabbath as Resistance by Walter Brueggemann Keeping the Sabbath Wholly by Marva J. Dawn

Episode 052 – The Sabbath Pt 4: Defining Your Identity Feb 05, 2019

Episode 052 – The Sabbath Pt 4: Defining Your Identityi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-232{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-232:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-232.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): Exodus 5:10-18We are a culture of accomplishment. We value people based on what they can produce. It’s toxic and oppressive. The Israelites experienced this in their slavery in Egypt. But God brought them out of that system and instituted the Sabbath so that they’d begin to learn that their identity and worth didn’t come from their work, but from something infinitely more substantial. Until we have a proper handle on our identity, we’ll miss the stunning beauty of the Sabbath and how it seeks to rescue us from one of the most destructive realities of our world. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? When meeting someone new, what is the first thing you want to share about yourself? Do you believe that your worth and value comes from being a child of God, rather than what you do? Why or why not? If you were to lose your job, possessions, and/or your ability to contribute to the world, how would you feel? How do you look at others who may find themselves in this situation? What will you do differently this week to remind yourself that your value (and the value of others you come in contact with) is solely from God alone? For Further Study The Rest of God by Mark Buchanan The Sabbath by Abraham Joshua Heschel Sabbath as Resistance by Walter Brueggemann Keeping the Sabbath Wholly by Marva J. Dawn

Episode 051 – The Sabbath Pt 3: Do You Have Rhythm Jan 29, 2019

Episode 051 – The Sabbath Pt 3: Do You Have Rhythmi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-235{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-235:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-235.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): Exodus 20:8-11We are not beasts of burden. We were not designed to go, go, go. And yet for most of us, we struggle to slow down. Our lives are constant noise, and we’re so drowned out in our schedules that we fail to see the insanity for what it is. Sabbath teaches us that there’s a rhythm and a cadence to life. It slows us down and emphatically reminds us that in order to be healthy, we must prioritize rest. Rest is not a reward. It’s a necessity. But even more than that, it’s the engine that’s intended to power our lives. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? Has there been a time where you kept pushing on when you should have rested? What was the outcome? How could it have been different? Pause and consider the beat that is driving your life right now. Is it just frantic noise, or does it have soul? What is keeping you from taking these regular pauses in your life? Had you ever considered that Adam and Eve's first full day was a day of rest? How does the idea that we work from our rest change your perspective, if at all? What is one step you will take this week to embrace God's rhythm of life? For Further Study The Rest of God by Mark Buchanan The Sabbath by Abraham Joshua Heschel Sabbath as Resistance by Walter Brueggemann Keeping the Sabbath Wholly by Marva J. Dawn

Episode 050 – The Sabbath Pt 2: In Whom Do You Trust Jan 22, 2019

Episode 050 – The Sabbath Pt 2: In Whom Do You Trusti.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-238{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-238:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-238.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): Exodus 16:20-26; Exodus 20:8-11Every day we make decisions, and those decisions are based on trust – trust in ourselves, trust in others, and trust in God. But what happens when our trust is misplaced? What happens when the trust we place in ourselves is actually supposed to be in God? For one, it will prevent us from taking a Sabbath because we’ll believe that if we take a break, our needs won’t be met – financially or otherwise. And yet, this was precisely what God sought to address with the Israelites when we instituted the Sabbath following their slavery in Egypt. And God pressed them, and by association, us, with the question, “In whom do you really trust?” Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? How have you traditionally viewed Sabbath? Is it something that's been part of your life at any point? If Sabbath hasn't been part of your life, what will hold you back from engaging it? Does the way you conduct your work convey that you trust yourself, or God? Why? "Unless we trust God's sovereignty, we won't dare risk Sabbath." Do you believe this is true? Are you experiencing the ability to relax, or the pull to worry in your life when it comes to your work? What is one thing you will do this week to trust God anew in what He's asking you to do? For Further Study The Rest of God by Mark Buchanan The Sabbath by Abraham Joshua Heschel Sabbath as Resistance by Walter Brueggemann Keeping the Sabbath Wholly by Marva J. Dawn

Episode 049 – The Sabbath Pt 1: A Theology of Work Jan 15, 2019

Episode 049 – The Sabbath Pt 1: A Theology of Worki.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-241{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-241:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-241.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 2:15; Ephesians 2:8-10; Colossians 3:23-24Mark Buchanan once wrote, “In order to keep the Sabbath well – to embrace the rest of God – we need a right view of work. Without a rich theology of labor, we’ll have an impoverished theology of rest.” I couldn’t agree more, which is why we’re launching this Sabbath series by exploring the dignity of work, what the Bible has to say about it, and how we’re supposed to approach it in our relationship with God. Buckle up. This series is going to be quite a ride! Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? In what ways has God gifted you specifically to work for His glory? How do you view your work? Is it a burden, where you find your significance, or a form of worship? Have you been allowing your work to define your identity? If so, in what ways? Do you love the work you do, or at least like it? If not, is there something you can do to change that in this season? Have you ever considered that you, in the work you are in now, are in full-time ministry? How can you live out this calling more this week as you seek to worship God with your work? For Further Study Leadership by Brad Lomenick – Chapter 6 addresses the Identity/Calling/Assignment aspect of this teaching.

Episode 048 – Little Man in the Eye Jan 08, 2019

Episode 048 – Little Man in the Eyei.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-244{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-244:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-244.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): Deuteronomy 32:10; Proverbs 7:2The New Year is underway and many of you have made resolutions, but do any of them pertain to the Bible? In this episode, we explore one of the coolest Hebrew expressions (that often gets lost in translation) that depicts our relationship with God and His Word in a way that inspires us to dig into His Word in order to truly thrive this next year. And it all has to do with a little man in the eye. Enjoy! Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? In this teaching, we talked about how God desires a personal, intimate relationship with you. Do you believe this to be true, and do you desire the same? Why or why not? Is there something holding you back from seeking a deeper relationship with God? What are your goals for 2019? Specifically, what are you doing to engage the Bible this year? What is one step you will take this week to keep God’s teachings at the forefront of all you do?

Episode 047 – Genealogy Christmas Pt 4: Son of God Dec 24, 2018

Episode 047 – Genealogy Christmas Pt 4: Son of Godi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-247{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-247:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-247.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 1:18-25It’s Christmas Eve! Which means it's the perfect time to conclude our Genealogy Christmas by looking at Jesus being the Son of God, and how Matthew is helping us understand the magnitude of his identity and calling by using the names “Jesus” and “Immanuel.” As we explore these names, we’ll be reminded of why we celebrate Christmas and are able to have the hope that we have. God became man, and our lives will never be the same because of it. May you be overwhelmed with joy as you’re reminded of the significance of the coming of Jesus, who is Immanuel! Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? At the beginning of this series, what did you identify you were specifically waiting or longing for this Christmas season? Did God meet you in the way you had desired? In what ways might God be showing up in your life right now that is different than you expected or that you’ve haven’t been noticing? Do you find it hard to trust God when circumstances don't resolve how you hoped? It was shared in this episode that "God's presence isn't contingent upon our expectation, God's presence is revealed in our awareness." Does your life currently reflect an awareness of God walking with you in the midst of the highs and lows of this life? How will you begin to grow in your awareness that God is always with you this week?

Episode 046 – Genealogy Christmas Pt 3: Son of Joseph Dec 18, 2018

Episode 046 – Genealogy Christmas Pt 3: Son of Josephi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-250{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-250:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-250.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 1:18-25Have you ever wondered why Matthew tells us that “Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph” and then in the very next verse he tells us that Joseph was planning to “divorce her quietly?” How does that work? And was Joseph being insensitive, or was he demonstrating the noblest of character? I’ll give you a hint – it’s the latter, and the context here is riveting. What’s more, we find that Joseph (and Mary) modeled a righteousness that shaped Jesus as he grew up, and it’s a righteousness that’s intended to shape us as well. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? What is God asking of you this Christmas season? Where is He leading? What is the cost of obedience to God in your life right now? Are you willing to sacrifice this in order to follow Jesus? Are you making decisions, big or small, based on personal gain or comfort over obedience to God? Are there relationships, attitudes, jobs, or anything else hindering your obedience to Jesus? How will you make changes in response to this knowledge? How will you begin to walk in obedience to what God is calling you this week?

Episode 045 – Genealogy Christmas Pt 2: Son of Abraham Dec 11, 2018

Episode 045 – Genealogy Christmas Pt 2: Son of Abrahami.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-253{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-253:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-253.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 1:1-17In Pt 1: Son of David, we learned that Jesus was the fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant for the Jews. Now Matthew wants us to understand that Jesus was the fulfillment of the Abrahamic Covenant. But what does that mean? And how does Matthew “prove” it in the genealogy? Well, buckle up, because what Matthew does next is astounding, and its implications for our lives and for this Advent Season will leave us encouraged and grateful that we get to part of the family of such a loving God. Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? Have you ever felt like you were outside of God's promises? Why or why not? Did hearing the stories of Jesus' history change your perspective at all? Have you ever thought that your brokenness can be used to show the restorative nature of Jesus? Have you seen this reflected in your life or in the stories of others you know? On a scale of 1 (only those just like me) to 10 (everyone), how wide a spectrum of different people do you welcome into your life? How do you inadvertently/unintentionally not welcome all people? (This may be a blind spot that others can help you discover.) Are there certain people you find harder to welcome? How will you begin this week to reflect the heart of God in welcoming all people?

Episode 044 – Genealogy Christmas Pt 1: Son of David Dec 04, 2018

Episode 044 – Genealogy Christmas Pt 1: Son of Davidi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-256{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-256:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-256.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 1:1-17If you were tasked with retelling the most significant story in human history, how would you begin? Matthew had to ask the same question, and what was his answer? A genealogy. Seriously? Could there be anything more boring than that? We normally skip right over them. And yet, what Matthew does with Jesus’s genealogy is electrifying! The jaws of the first century audience would’ve been on the ground. And over the next four weeks, we’re going to explore this “Genealogy Christmas” and begin where Matthew begins – with Jesus being a “Son of David.” The implications are astounding, and I trust Christmas will take on deeper meaning for you this Advent Season! Discussion Questions What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? What are you specifically waiting for and/or longing for this Christmas season? Have you shared this with God? Have you invited anyone to join you in praying for this with you this month? Where do you feel like God is “running late?” How are you responding to this? In this teaching, we were reminded God doesn't make mistakes. As you acknowledge this truth in your life, do you need to make adjustments in your perspective of your circumstances, relationships, or self? Where do you need to relax your plans and trust God and His timing anew this Advent season? How will you begin walking this out 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 043 – Psalm 23 Pt 10: Answering Your Questions Nov 27, 2018

Episode 043 – Psalm 23 Pt 10: Answering Your Questionsi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-259{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-259:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-259.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 23Over the last nine episodes, we’ve been digging into Psalm 23 and I’ve been encouraging you to ask your questions. In this episode, I seek to answer those questions. The discussion entails everything from how we teach our kids to understand the Bible’s context to leaders being intentional about setting aside times for rest and renewal to discussing whether Jesus was beaten with a shepherd’s “staff,” “rod,” or something else, and much more. May this discussion help round out some additional aspects of Psalm 23 as we seek to live out the truths of this psalm in our lives. Discussion Questions Were there any “aha” moments for you in the answers given that helped you better understand a facet of Psalm or just life in general? It was mentioned that a good shepherd is not only aware of the environment, but how each sheep needs to be led uniquely in that environment. As a parent, leader, coach, and/or friend, etc., what stuck out to you about how to do the same? Where do we (as parents, teachers, churches, etc.) need to do a better job of training our children to understand the Bible so they won’t have as much to “unlearn” in the future? Overall, what’s been your biggest takeaway from this series on Psalm 23? 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? 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 042 – Psalm 23 Pt 9: Practicing God’s Presence Nov 20, 2018

Episode 042 – Psalm 23 Pt 9: Practicing God’s Presencei.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-262{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-262:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-262.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 23:6David concludes Psalm 23 by proclaiming, “and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” It’s a stunning ending to a stunning Psalm. But what’s David's context? What’s he declaring? Is he talking about Heaven? Is he talking about the Tabernacle (often referred to as “the house of the LORD”). Is “forever” the best translation? As we seek to answer these questions, I believe we’ll be invited into one of the most significant practices that enables us to grow in our awareness of God, and approach life with a perspective and maturity that we all long to possess. Discussion Questions What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching? Do you have some kind of grounding time to connect with God each day? What does this look like for you? How has this impacted your life? David desperately sought to dwell in the presence of God. On a scale of 1 to 10 (1 – being that “you struggle to do so” and 10 being that “you can’t wait to”), how would you rate your desire to dwell in God’s presence? Have you ever considered the idea of recalibrating to the awareness of God in the midst of your day? What impact do you think this practice would have on your life? Despite all that may be going on in the world and in your life, do you trust that God hasn’t lost control, and that he’s working in the midst of it all? Why or why not? Do you find yourself holding onto to something in life with a tight grip? How is this affecting your work, relationships, and faith? Where is God asking you to loosen the grip? What is one change you will make this week as you seek to daily practice the presence of God? For Further Study Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day by Peter Scazzero 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 041 – Psalm 23 Pt 8: They’re Chasing Me Nov 13, 2018

Episode 041 – Psalm 23 Pt 8: They’re Chasing Mei.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-265{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-265:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-265.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 23:6Have you ever had that sense that someone was following you? It’s a deeply unnerving feeling. As a shepherd, David would’ve experienced this on a regular basis. And yet, what’s on his heels in the last verse of Psalm 23 isn’t something threatening, but two of the most significant realities in the entire Bible. And when we understand what’s chasing him, we’ll have great confidence that they’re chasing us as well! Discussion Questions What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching? Wolves (and other predators) seek to prey on tired sheep at dusk. Where are you feeling tired and weary in your faith (or in life in general)? Is there anything lurking in the shadows that’s seeking to overtake you right now? David’s analogy of God’s “good” and “covenantal love” following us gives us an image of God standing between us and things that might be seeking to overpower us. How does this imagery give you and hope and courage? Despite any circumstances or struggles, how does knowing that good is on your heels change your current perspective? Do you trust that God’s purposes and plans will never fail? Why or why not? What in your life indicates this? How are you inspired to live differently this week knowing God’s love, grace and mercy will always be chasing you? 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 040 – Psalm 23 Pt 7: A Generous Host Nov 06, 2018

Episode 040 – Psalm 23 Pt 7: A Generous Hosti.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-268{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-268:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-268.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 23:5As soon as David mentions “preparing a table,” “anointing with oil,” and “cup overflowing,” we know he’s no longer communicating a shepherding imagery. You don’t do any of these with sheep. So why the shift? And what’s he conveying? This is one of the most fascinating cultural aspects of Psalm 23, and understanding the imagery shift and its implications will help you see your relationship with God and His world in a renewed, compelling, and gratitude-inducing way. Discussion Questions What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching? The same God who created the world has invited you into his tent and wants to share time with you. What comes to mind when you hear this? Do you believe this to be true? Why or why not? To share a meal was a sign of acceptance and love. Where do you need to be reminded today that God loves you and accepts you and wants your cup of joy to be overflowing? Are there “enemies” encircling your life right now, seeking to discourage you or perhaps hoping you fail in some way? What comfort do you find knowing God is aware of that and desires to encourage you in the midst of it? Does the way you live express that you trust God or yourself for your provision and protection? Is your walk with God marked with striving and guilt, or joy and celebration? In what areas do you feel like God is calling you to change? What will your first step be? How can you respond in gratitude this week to the astounding truth that God is a generous host? 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 039 – Psalm 23 Pt 6: Rod and Staff (and Sling) Oct 30, 2018

Episode 039 – Psalm 23 Pt 6: Rod and Staff (and Sling)i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-271{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-271:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-271.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 23:4The rod and the staff, they comfort David. And likely the sling too! These are what the shepherd carries for various situations. Learning about these alone is utterly fascinating, especially when you find out how David uses them against lions, bears, and Goliath (which we discuss). But how these translate into what God does for us in in the midst of our deep valleys is where the power lies. And once we understand that, we’ll find comfort, courage, and hope just like David did. Discussion Questions What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching? When you find yourself in difficult times, where do you turn for comfort? It was mentioned that the one of the reasons a shepherd carries a crook is to help their sheep get back on the path. What came to your mind as you heard this? Have you experienced this in your life with God? In what area is God gently guiding you back to the path He's set before you? What are the differences between safety and being protected from evil? Have you ever considered this before? Does this change anything in your life or relationship with God? How does knowing that evil, pain, and brokenness have been defeated by Jesus change how you view difficult times? How can you be intentional this week in seeking your comfort in God, our great shepherd who can be trusted? 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 038 – Psalm 23 Pt 5: Valley of Deep Darkness Oct 23, 2018

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Episode 028 – Zacchaeus Pt 4: To Seek and To Save Aug 14, 2018

Episode 028 – Zacchaeus Pt 4: To Seek and To Savei.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-301{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-301:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-301.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 19:10; Daniel 7:12-13; Ezekiel 34The Zacchaeus story ends with Jesus stating, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” This wasn’t just a nice summary statement, but an electric proclamation that would’ve sent shockwaves through his listeners’ ears. Drawing upon two substantial prophetic books, Jesus demonstrates that he’s reclaiming the world, that he’s the fulfillment the entire biblical story, and that with extreme compassion, he’s bringing people back into the fold. Discussion Questions What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching? Prior to this teaching, were you familiar with the practice of remez? Are you aware of any other stories where Jesus utilizes this strategy? Teachings like this remind us of the importance of the Old Testament. How have you traditionally viewed the importance of the Old Testament? Where do you feel you need to grow the most in engaging and understanding the Old Testament? Knowing what you now know, what thoughts and emotions would’ve been rattling through the hearts of minds of those who heard Jesus use phrases like “Son of Man” and “to seek and save?” In what ways have you experienced Jesus pursuing you with extreme compassion? How will you begin walking out the truths of this teaching over this next week? For Further Study TaNaK / Old Testament Video by The Bible Project Daniel Video by The Bible Project Ezekiel Video by The Bible Project The Restoration of All Things – this is a 73-minute teaching I did on the entire Bible from Genesis 1 to Revelation 22, providing the overarching narrative and for understanding what the Bible is all about. The timeline graphic that accompanies the teaching can be downloaded at the teaching link.

Episode 027 – Zacchaeus Pt 3: Jesus’s Shocking Actions Aug 07, 2018

Episode 027 – Zacchaeus Pt 3: Jesus’s Shocking Actionsi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-304{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-304:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-304.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 19:1-10; Luke 15:1-2In the first two episodes, we examined Zacchaeus’ actions and how utterly remarkable his responses were. But how were such responses even possible? The answer lies in Jesus’ actions. They’re shocking, perplexing, and infuriating to those in the crowd, but life-giving and healing to those in need of Jesus’ love and forgiveness. May we not only embrace Jesus’ actions, but emulate them to others as well. Discussion Questions What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching? In three weeks of engaging this passage now, what did you see or learn that you hadn’t seen in the story thus far? “How often are we the crowd?” was posed in the teaching. What came to mind as you heard that question? Which of Jesus’ five actions (knew name and pursued, offered love and acceptance, didn’t care about reputation but people, rescued and restored, enabled Zacchaeus to become who he was called to be) struck you the most? Why? What which did you need to hear the most? Which one challenged you the most as you think about emulating Jesus’ actions to others? How will you begin walking out the truths of this teaching over this next week? For Further Study Encounters With Jesus by Gary M. Burge – This story is addressed in Chapter 3 (Note: Gary comes to a different conclusion about Zacchaeus’s actions).

Episode 026 – Zacchaeus Pt 2: A Holistic Response Jul 31, 2018

Episode 026 – Zacchaeus Pt 2: A Holistic Responsei.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-307{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-307:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-307.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 19:5-10Following his encounter with Jesus, Zacchaeus’s response is utterly remarkable. He pledges to give half of his possessions to the poor and provide a fourfold restitution to those he’s wronged. He understands what a holistic response looks like, and offers an incredible pattern for us to follow in our lives as well. Discussion Questions What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching? What surprised you most about Zacchaeus’s response? What connections are you making within the Zacchaeus story, or in relationship to other stories in the gospels or in the Bible at large? In the holistic approach of repentance, reconciliation, and impact, which one do you do the best? Which one do you need to improve? In his forthcoming actions, Zacchaeus was going to have the opportunity to share his story of how Jesus changed him. In what ways has Jesus impacted you, and what opportunities do you have to share that story? How will you begin walking out the truths of this teaching over this next week?

Episode 025 – Zacchaeus Pt 1: Climb a Tree Jul 24, 2018

Episode 025 – Zacchaeus Pt 1: Climb a Treei.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-310{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-310:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-310.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 19:1-4We’re kicking off a series on Zacchaeus from Luke 19 where over the course of several weeks, we’re going to look at this story from a number of different angles. In this particular teaching, we look at Zacchaeus’ desire to change and what he had to overcome in order to have an encounter with Jesus. It’s going to be quite a ride as this electric story is about so much more than just a wee little man. Discussion Questions What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching? How have you traditionally understood the Zacchaeus story? Where do you long to have change in your life? Is it something you desire to become better at? Is it something that needs to go from your life? What’s keeping you from pursuing this change? Shame? Fear? Not knowing where to begin? Like Zacchaeus, how can you put yourself in a position to encounter the desired change – i.e. What tree do you need to climb? How will you begin walking this out over this next week?

Episode 024 – Fully Present (Put Down the Cell Phone) Jul 17, 2018

Episode 024 – Fully Present (Put Down the Cell Phone)i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-313{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-313:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-313.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): Exodus 24:12How often are we “there,” but not really “there?” How often are we distracted and not fully present in the moments we find ourselves in? What does that do to us, and particularly to those who become collateral damage in our inability to be present? This is what this teaching addresses as we look at a fascinating passage in Exodus 24 and seek to apply it to the various aspects of our lives, especially in our addiction (err, usage) of our cell phones. Discussion Questions What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching? When was the last time someone called you out on not being present? What were the implications? In what circumstances are you most likely not to be fully present? What do you need to do to change that? On a scale of 1 (no problem) to 10 (big problem), how would you rate your relationship with your cell phone? Do you have rules (or need rules) to keep a healthy relationship with technology? How would life look differently for you if you were able to be present in every situation? How will you begin implementing your desired changes over this next week? For Further Study The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place by Andy Crouch

Episode 023 – Divine In The Daily Jul 10, 2018

Episode 023 – Divine In The Dailyi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-316{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-316:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-316.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): Exodus 3:1-5We generally look for God in the big things, and yet, I believe God is most available to us in the everyday, humdrum activities of life. The problem is, we’re unaware as we speed through life, not slowing down long enough to notice the miracles in our midst and to encounter the divine in the daily. God woke Moses up to this reality, and I believe God wants to do the same for you and me. Discussion Questions What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching? Where can you create margin in your day to explore those intuitions that arise from time to time? When was the last time you experienced “a burning bush” moment when the unexpected became spectacular because you entered fully into a situation or encounter? What allowed you to give your attention to that moment? Where do you need to slow down, wake up, and pay attention? How will you begin implementing your desired changes over this next week? For Further Study God Was in this Place, and I, I Did Not Know by Rabbi Lawrence Kushner – Chapter 1 addresses the content of this teaching Holy Now by Peter Mayer – YouTube Video

Episode 022 – From Slave To Slave Jul 03, 2018

Episode 022 – From Slave To Slavei.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-319{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-319:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-319.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): Exodus 4:22-23; Colossians 1:13-14; Colossians; 3:1-4On July 4th, 1776, the Continental Congress adopted a statement known as “The Declaration of Independence,” announcing that the thirteen American colonies, then at war with Great Britain, regarded themselves as thirteen newly independent sovereign states – no longer a part of the British Empire – and calling themselves, “The United States of America.” The most well-known line within the Declaration indicates that Americans have a right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Liberty is freedom. But what does the Bible have to say about freedom? That’s what’s tackled in this teaching as we learn the paradoxical truth that in order to find true freedom, we must seek slavery. Discussion Questions What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching? There’s clearly a negative slavery (what we see in our world today and throughout world history) but also a positive one (explored in this teaching). What surprised you most about how the Bible describes the positive slavery? Are there any places in your life where you‘ve sought “freedom” but it has been anything but that? With our dependence upon the Scriptures, Son, and Spirit, where do you need to grow the most? What does that look like practically? How will you begin implementing your desired changes over this next week? For Further Study Life, Slavery & the Pursuit of Happiness – This is a sermon Craig Rees and I did together when I was at Central Wesleyan that goes deeper into the concepts addressed in this teaching.

Episode 021 – Complete Like God Jun 26, 2018

Episode 021 – Complete Like Godi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-322{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-322:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-322.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 5:43-48Rain was always a downer for me growing up. It spoiled the outdoor fun. As a result, I never understood Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5 about God sending sun and rain on the righteous and unrighteous and then concluding with being “perfect as your heavenly father is perfect” – as if that was even possible. But set in its context, this passage makes all the sense in the world, and Jesus’ words take on powerful implications for our lives. Discussion Questions What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching? How have you traditionally understood Matthew 5:48 with the translation of “be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect?” How did this teaching affirm or change your understanding of Jesus’ words here? Knowing there’s a connection with Matthew 5:9, did you make any other connections? In what ways do you respond like the “tax collectors” and “pagans” to others in this passage? With whom do you need to be more complete like God in your interactions with them? How will you begin implementing your desired changes over this next week?

Episode 020 – Hagah The Text Jun 19, 2018

Episode 020 – Hagah The Texti.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-325{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-325:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-325.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 1:8; Psalm 1:2Being intentional with God’s Word is essential to living a deep and meaningful life. In the biblical period, God’s people were called to not only dig into the Scriptures but also to have an ongoing discussion with their friends and family about them. Formany of us, our time with God’s Word often stops with reading it and we miss out on the critical responsibility of discussion. In this episode, we explore why it’s so crucial to be intentional about our relationship with the Bible so that it permeates every facet of our lives. Discussion Questions What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching? How intentional are you about digging into the Scriptures? What detracts you from regularly studying the Bible in this “hagah” kind of way? Too busy? Don’t know how? Don’t have a good rhythm in place? Etc.? What needs to happen for you to overcome these hurdles? How will you begin implementing your desired changes over this next week?

Episode 019 – You Go First Jun 12, 2018

Episode 019 – You Go Firsti.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-328{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-328:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-328.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): Colossians 3:13; Colossians 4:10It’s easy to tell others what they should do. It’s more challenging to lead the way first. But we must. In this teaching, we look at how Paul demonstrates this powerful truth in his letter to the Colossians and his reference to John Mark, who deserted he and Barnabbas at the most inopportune time and caused a tremendous amount of pain and friction. Paul knew he couldn’t ask someone to do something he wasn’t willing to do himself. The same is true for us as well. Discussion Questions What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching? Where might you be asking others to do something you’re not willing to do yourself? In what ways might you be “hiding” behind your position, role, or influence that’s absolving you of leading the way or empathizing well with those you impact? Where do you need to go first in your job? With your family/friends/most significant relationships? How does knowing that Jesus was willing to go first give you hope and confidence in not only your relationship with him but in how you interact with and lead others? 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 018 – Build Your Central Park Jun 05, 2018

Episode 018 – Build Your Central Parki.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-331{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-331:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-331.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 5:15-16Our lives are incredibly busy, and most of us aren’t intentional about creating space to retreat from the hustle and bustle to find rest, restoration, and rejuvenation. And yet, without such spaces, we deteriorate and lose focus on what’s important. Jesus understood this. In this teaching, we look at Jesus’ rhythm of retreat, and get really practical on how we can do the same in order to live a vibrant and properly focused life. Discussion Questions What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching? Where do you currently have Central Parks set up in your life? Do you visit them regularly? Where do you need to be more intentional about building Central Parks (in your personal life, work life, in key relationships)? How do you view the importance of rest and retreat? What gives you the most life? What do you enjoy doing that causes you to lose time? Are you finding enough time to do those things? Where do you need to get out the bulldozer and clear some space (hint: think through what answers you came up with from last week’s teaching, and implement those)? How will you begin walking out these truths in the next week?

Episode 017 – Saying Yes To The Best May 29, 2018

Episode 017 – Saying Yes To The Besti.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-334{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-334:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-334.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): Mark 1:32-39We say “yes” to a lot of things, but are they the things we should be saying “yes” to? Jim Collins has said that “the good is the enemy of the great.” We can get so caught up in doing “good” things that we miss out on the “best” things. Jesus understood this clearly. And in this teaching (shot on location in Israel), we look at how Jesus was totally fine disappointing people in order to stay true to his mission. He knew how to say “no” to the good things so he could say “yes” to the best things. Get ready to have your world rocked because this teaching will mess with you! Discussion Questions What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching? Are there any decisions you’re making in order not to disappoint certain people? What are the good things you need to say “no” to in order that you can say “yes” to the best things? Are you clear on what you’re supposed to be doing and what the best things are? Until you know this, it’s difficult to know what to say “yes” or “no” to. Getting an outside perspective is always helpful. Who is someone who knows you extremely well, is wise and discerning, and could give you their honest feedback on how you're running your life? Schedule a meeting or call with them as soon as possible and listen up (this includes mentors, spouses, best friends, etc.). Mark Batterson made the observation that “a change of place and a change of pace equals a change of perspective.” How can you create a regular rhythm of getting out of your normal context in order to experience this? How will you begin walking out these truths in the next week? For Further Study The One Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan Essentialism by Greg McKeown Note: I can’t recommend these two books enough. They have been the most important resources for helping me get super clear on what my time and energy should be going to.

Episode 016 – Seizing Tassels May 22, 2018

Episode 016 – Seizing Tasselsi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-337{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-337:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-337.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 8:40-48In Luke 8, a woman grabs the corner of Jesus’ garment and is instantly healed. It’s a bizarre story, until you understand the stunning connections she’s making, and why she does what she does. But even more stunning is Jesus’ tender response, and the implications of his invitation for us to come to him for help and healing despite our uncleanness, hesitations, fears, and messes. Discussion Questions What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching? How are you learning to read the Bible differently based on stories like these? What struck you most about Jesus’ actions and responses in this story? Where do you identify with this woman in your life (pain, fear, ostracized, courage, hope, healing)? Where do you need to “seize the tassels of Jesus?” What’s one step you can take in living out this truth this week? For Further Study The Teaching Series Episode 004 – You Are The Message The Teaching Series Episode 005 – God's Instructions For Freedom

Episode 015 – Loving God By Loving Others May 15, 2018

Episode 015 – Loving God By Loving Othersi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-340{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-340:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-340.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 22:34-40Many of us know Jesus’ statement about loving God and loving others in Matthew 22. But I’m guessing most of us don’t know the Gezerah Shavah behind it that makes it even more fascinating, revolutionary, and challenging than we thought. This is what this teaching tackles as we seek to understand what it more fully means to love God by loving others. Discussion Questions What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching? If you struggle with loving people well, why do you think that is? Who are the people who have taught you the most about loving people well? What do they do that’s so compelling? Have you replicated that in your own life? How can you be more intentional and/or creative in loving others well? What’s one step you can take in living out this truth this week? For Further Study Love Does by Bob Goff Everybody Always by Bob Goff

Episode 014 – Blessing God 100 Times A Day May 08, 2018

Episode 014 – Blessing God 100 Times A Dayi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-343{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-343:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-343.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): Deuteronomy 8:10-14; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18There’s an ancient Jewish practice that revolutionized my prayer life and fostered an awareness of both God and gratitude that I hadn’t accessed on a regular basis before. In this short teaching, I share what that practice is and how it can have a significant impact on your life as well. Discussion Questions What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching? If you struggle with consistent prayer life, why do you think that is? How can you be more intentional at seeing God’s involvement in your life and blessing Him for it? How would your life be different if your days were filled with more gratitude? Knowing there was a “short prayer” for everything, are there are few short prayers you could create and then use on a daily basis? What’s one step you can take in living out this truth this week? For Further Study Learning from Jesus’ Jewish Prayer Life by Lois Tverberg – the short article referenced in the teaching. Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus by Lois Tverberg – an absolutely astounding book with a whole chapter (Chapter 7) dedicated to the practice of blessing God through prayer.

Episode 013 – Grounded In Gratitude May 01, 2018

Episode 013 – Grounded In Gratitudei.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-346{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-346:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-346.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): 2 Kings 5:1-15; Luke 17:11-19It's really easy to focus on what’s notgoing well in our lives, rather than being grateful for what isgoing well. But what would happen if we allowed gratitude to be what grounded us? How would we then view the challenging things in our lives? That's what this teaching addresses by looking at the astounding connections between the healing of Naaman (2 Kings 5) and Jesus’ healing of the ten lepers (Luke 17). Discussion Questions What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching? Where are you allowing the things that aren’t going well in your life to dominate your overall narrative? What prevents you from living a life of gratitude? Where do you need to be intentional or creative about gratitude? What practices can you adopt to foster your gratitude? What are you grateful for today? What’s one step you can take in living out this truth this week? For Further Study Grounded In Gratitude– a sermon I did on the intersection of these stories and how gratitude is absolutely necessary to loving people well, especially those who are different from us.

Episode 012 – Everything Is Intentional Apr 24, 2018

Episode 012 – Everything Is Intentionali.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-349{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-349:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-349.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 7:11-17One thing I’ve learned about Jesus is that nothing is random. It’s utterly remarkable how his words and actions tie into the Old Testament story and then propel the overall story forward. Take Luke 7. Jesus raises a widow’s son back to life. It’s incredible. But what makes this story so fascinating isn’t only what Jesus did, but where he did it. When we understand that, we begin to understand just how intentional Jesus is with everything, including your story and mine. Discussion Questions What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching? What’s one study technique you learned by engaging this teaching? What other connections, if any, came to mind in the midst of this teaching? Where does your story feel random right now and you need to hold onto the reality that Jesus doesn’t do random? What’s one step you can take in living out this truth 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 011 – To Live Is To Give Apr 17, 2018

Episode 011 – To Live Is To Givei.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-352{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-352:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-352.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): Mark 10:45; Acts 20:35The Sea of Galilee is bursting with life and vitality. The Dead Sea is toxic and nothing can survive. And yet they’re both fed by the same source – the Jordan River. How can this be? The answer is utterly fascinating, and its truth speaks to one of the most significant realities of how we flourish in life. Discussion Questions What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching? Where do you find yourself functioning more like the Sea of Galilee? The Dead Sea? Where do you desire to grow in your capacity to give (and don’t think just in terms of finances)? Being like the Sea of Galilee isn’t something that just happens. We have to practice it. We do it because it’s right and good, not because it makes us feel good (and many times it doesn’t make us feel good). How can you “practice” this kind of giving? What’s one step you can take in living out this truth this week? For Further Study To Heal a Fractured World by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks – Chapter 3 addresses the content of this teaching.

Episode 010 – Make Music With What Remains Apr 10, 2018

Episode 010 – Make Music With What Remainsi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-355{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-355:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-355.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): Colossians 2:15I’m a really hopeful person, especially on the heels of celebrating the resurrection. But at times, I despair about the condition of our world and the struggles of life. Perhaps you do as well. That’s why I share a fascinating story that has helped me tremendously in addressing these moments and finding the courage to press on. Discussion Questions What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching? Where do you struggle the most to believe that all will be made right in our world? Where do you feel you’re playing with just three strings? How do you need to rediscover how to make music with what remains? What’s one step you can take in living out the truths of this teaching this week?

Episode 009 – Victory In The Garden (Resurrection) Apr 03, 2018

Episode 009 – Victory In The Garden (Resurrection)i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-358{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-358:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-358.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): John 20:1, 11-15The Resurrection of Jesus is the most significant event in human history, and each of the gospel writers tell the story in a way to highlight different aspects. This teaching explores how John records it, and how he employs the “8th Sign” and “garden” themes to boldly declare that sin, death, pain, brokenness, and chaos do not get the final word. Discussion Questions What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching? What amazed you the most about how John told the epic story of Jesus? Did you learn anything new about the relationship between the cross and the empty tomb? If so, what are the implications? What did/do you find most hopeful about the resurrection story? What’s one step you can take in living out the truths of this teaching this week?

Episode 008 – Dying To Expectation Mar 27, 2018

Episode 008 – Dying To Expectationi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-361{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-361:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-361.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 16:21-23One of the most challenging aspects of faith is unmet expectations - that gap between what we thought/hoped God would do and what actually occurred. So how do we deal with those moments? That's what this teaching addresses as we explore the bizarre exchange between Jesus and Peter at Caesarea Philippi. Discussion Questions What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching? Where do you feel like God has let you down or is currently letting you down? What expectations are you holding onto tightly? Why are you holding onto them so tightly? How is this affecting you? What’s one step you can take in dying to those expectations this week? For Further Study Dying To Expectation – this is the full sermon I did on this passage from Matthew 16, including laying out the context for why Jesus has this seminal conversation with his disciples at Caesarea Philippi.

Episode 007 – Back To The Future Mar 20, 2018

Episode 007 – Back To The Futurei.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-364{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-364:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-364.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): Isaiah 2:1-2The future is often really fuzzy. And trying to figure out what is to come or understand what God is doing can leave us confused, frustrated, anxious, or even angry. So how we do we approach an unknown future? This teaching seeks to answer this by looking at a key concept in Isaiah 2. Personally, this was one of the biggest lessons I learned in one of the most challenging transitions I've undergone. Discussion Questions What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching? Where are you allowing the future to negatively affect your present? What are key moments in your past where God met you in profound ways? Where do you need to simply breathe, relax, and trust God with your future? What’s one step you can take in walking out the truths of this teaching this week? For Further Study Back To The Future – this is a sermon I did on this concept from Isaiah 2 in light of the details of Jesus' last week as well as those of Pentecost. Be prepared to have your mind blown because God is a God of the details, and He does care about what's unfolding in your life and future!

Episode 006 – Returning To The Path Mar 13, 2018

Episode 006 – Returning To The PathThere are only two paths in life according to the Scriptures. There is God’s path, and there’s every other path. Life, freedom, and flourishment abound on God’s path. But what happens when we stray from God’s path? How do we effectively return? For many of us, we have confused confession with repentance, and it’s why we keep falling prey to the same destructive habits. But if we learn the importance of both, we’ll have a much better shot at staying on God’s path. Discussion Questions What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching? How have you traditionally understood “confession” vs. “repentance?” In what ways can you allow God’s Word to more effectively shoot you in the right direction? What makes returning to God’s path challenging for you? Where are you currently off God’s path? What’s one step you can take in walking out the truths of this teaching this week?

Episode 005 – God’s Instructions For Freedom Mar 06, 2018

Episode 005 – God’s Instructions For FreedomBeing intentional with God’s Word is essential to living a deep and meaningful life. In the biblical period, God’s people were called to not only dig into the Scriptures but also to have an ongoing discussion with their friends and family about them. Formany of us, our time with God’s Word often stops with reading it and we miss out on the critical responsibility of discussion. In this episode, we explore why it’s so crucial to be intentional about our relationship with the Bible so that it permeates every facet of our lives. Discussion Questions What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching? How have you traditionally understood God’s “law?” Positively? Negatively? Did this teaching change your perspective on God’s instructions? If so, how? Are you experiencing something you thought was freedom, but today you’re recognizing is actually a form of slavery that’s hindering you? Where are you walking too close to the fence? Where have you ventured past the fence? What’s one step you can take in walking out the truths of this teaching this week? For Further Study Life, Slavery And The Pursuit Of Happiness – This is a sermon I did with Craig Rees on the relationship between freedom and slavery, and it takes the concept explored in this teaching further.

Episode 004 – You Are The Message Feb 27, 2018

Episode 004 – You Are The Messagei.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-367{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-367:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-367.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): Numbers 15:37-39; Exodus 19:4-6; 1 Peter 2:9Identity is a big deal. It breeds mission and behavior. It’s why God called His people to be a “kingdom of priests,” and why the Apostle Peter confirms this for all followers of Jesus in one of his letters. It’s a central identity of God’s people and yet most of us have no idea what it means or entails. But once we’re cognizant of its implications, we live more focused, aware, and intentional in the work we do and the people we interact with because we now know what’s at stake (and there's A LOT at stake!). This next teaching in The Teaching Series helps us understand the significance of this identity and how transformational it is in our daily lives. Discussion Questions What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching? What did you find most interesting, helpful, challenging, or nerve-wracking about the role of priests in the ancient world, and God calling His people to emulate this role on His behalf? What message are you communicating? What message would you like to be communicating? If there’s a gap, what’s one thing you can begin doing today to close that gap? God asked the Israelite people to wear tassels with a blue cord on each tassel to remind them of their identity and mission. What could you do to continually remind yourself that you serve as a priest of God and what you do matters? What’s one step you can take in walking out the truths of this teaching this week? For Further Study Make Your Mark by Brad Gray - this idea of the "kingdom of priests" has been so instrumental in my life, I wrote an entire chapter on it in my book (Chapter 6) and its connection to the life of Samson and his desire to do what was right in his own eyes.

Episode 003 – Shalom In Our Trees Feb 20, 2018

Episode 003 – Shalom In Our TreesOne of the most significant words in the Bible is shalom (“peace”). It’s what the entire Bible is all about. However, most of us have a limited view of shalom, and we miss out on God’s great desire is to bring every aspect of ourselves to wholeness. A critical time to invite His help is during this season that leads up to Easter. This teaching discusses how we enter well into this season and seek the shalom that we all desperately desire. Discussion Questions What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching? How have you traditionally understood the season of Lent? What was new or helpful to you about the discussion of shalom? Where do you desire shalom in your life? What are one or two decaying branches that you need to address this season? Who do you need to invite into this journey with you? (Remember, it’s not that people need to know. It’s that the right people need to know.) What’s one step you can take in walking out the truths of this teaching this week?

Episode 002 – God Walks Between the Pieces Feb 13, 2018

Episode 002 – God Walks Between the Piecesi.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-370{ color: #515151;}i.fb-icon-element.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-370:hover { color: #e00400;}i.fontawesome-icon.fb-icon-element-370.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 15:1-21This is a week people celebrate and think about love (Valentine’s Day). It’s also the week that begins the season of Lent that culminates with the death and resurrection of Jesus, whereby God’s immense love for humanity is on display. But God’s extravagant love for humanity is vividly seen much earlier in the Bible. This teaching tackles a monumental moment from Genesis 15, where God does the unthinkable, and demonstrates just how far His love is willing to go. Discussion Questions What’s your biggest takeaway from the teaching? Are there other stories in the Bible that make more sense now based on what you learned? How does this story confirm or change your perspective of God - both in general and in reference to “God of the Old Testament” vs. “God of the New Testament?" Do you struggle with the idea that God is fundamentally a God of extravagant love? Why or why not? Where is God seeking to expand your understanding of Him? What’s one step you can take in walking out the truths of this story in your life? For Further Study The Restoration of All Things – this is a 73-minute teaching I did on the entire Bible from Genesis 1 to Revelation 22, providing the over arching narrative and for understanding what the Bible is all about. The timeline graphic that accompanies the teaching can be download at the teaching link. The Epic of Eden by Sandra L. Richter – Chapter 3 addresses Genesis 15 and the idea of "covenant."

Episode 001 – Welcome to The Teaching Series Feb 01, 2018

Episode 001 – Welcome to The Teaching SeriesWelcome to the first episode in The Teaching Series! In this episode, you’ll be introduced to the purpose behind the series, how to utilize these short teachings, and what to expect in future episodes.

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Episode 128 – The Journey Pt 1: It’s Not About the Destination

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Episode 127 – Ask, Seek, Knock

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Episode 126 – Easter at Emmaus

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Episode 125 – Who’s the GOAT? Jesus vs. Caesar

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Episode 124 – Rabbis and Disciples Pt 8: Jesus’s Yoke

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Episode 123 – Rabbis and Disciples Pt 7: A Difficult Lifestyle

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Episode 122 – Rabbis and Disciples Pt 6: Jesus’s Occupation

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Episode 121 – Rabbis and Disciples Pt 5: Having Authority

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Episode 120 – Rabbis and Disciples Pt 4: Walking On Water

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Episode 119 – Rabbis and Disciples Pt 3: Being Like Jesus

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