Grace On Fire | Loving LGBTQ+ People and Families

The post Born Gay? Answers to BIG Questions | GOF 99 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

The post A Very Brief History of LGBT+ Marginalization in the Church | GOF97 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

The post Love – Grace Nation’s Core Values Part 3 | GOF96 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

Millennials are the justice generation. On today’s episode, Pastor Jonathan explores the theme of Justice and asks, what does the Bible really have to say about justice? Millennials look at their world through a lens of justice. So is it possible that Evangelical’s treatment of LGBT+ people has led to their exodus from the church? The answer is yes. So how should we respond? The post Justice – Grace Nation’s Core Values Part 2 | GOF95 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

LGBT+ people sometimes criticize Evangelicals for lacking compassion for Queer people. To address this issue, Dr. Jonathan explores the interaction of Jesus and a leper to see how Jesus’ was motivated by compassion to cross social boundaries and love a man who was “unclean.” The post Compassion – Grace Nation’s Core Values Part 1 | GOF 94 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

The post John 3:16 Three Core Values of Grace Nation | GOF93 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

What is the mission of Grace Nation? To craft Side B Allies in the Church who will love LGBTQ+ people and families. So to keep you up to speed on this progress, I’m laying out some updates for the ministry of Grace Nation. There are four things we’re dong: 1) Building a Prayer Team, 2) Training Pastors, 3) Developing Seminars, and 4) Providing Life Coaching to Gay Christians. The post Crafting Side B Allies In the Church | GOF92 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

There is more than one path in our journey in sanctification. Today, however, most evangelicals insist that the process of sanctification for the gay Christian leads to heterosexuality with orientation change as the inevitable conclusion. Forty years ago, a different evangelical vision was held by some of the most prominent theological thinkers. What was there vision? The post Sanctification and the Gay Christian – Reformed Orthodoxy | GOF91 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

The post Side B Ally, What I Think I Mean | GOF90 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

Many Gay people have tried to “pray the gay away" only to be left frustrated by unanswered prayers. Yet many well-meaning pastors insist that is the answer. There is a major flaw in this logic. The post Praying the Gay Away | GOF 89 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

What is a queer Christian? For Evangelicals, the word “queer” can seem dangerous. But it doesn’t have to be. To help me understand how this word is used today, I interviewed Bridget Eileen, a Lesbian Christian. She blogs regularly at the Meditations of a Traveling Nun. Bridge describes her faith journey and helpfully reframes our understanding of the phrase queer Christian. The post A Queer Christian and the Gospel with Bridget Eileen | GOF88 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

What is an LGBTQ+ Side B Ally? A Side B Ally is a Christian who holds to the historical teaching of the church and loves LGBTQ+ Christians well. In the new season of Grace On Fire, I explain how I arrived at this new focus of the ministry and the steps I’ve taken to move in this new positive direction. The post LGBTQ Side B Ally – A New Vision | GOF87 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

How to form a mastermind group? What do Cliff Ravenscraft, Ray Edwards, and Pat Flynn all have in common, they belong to the same mastermind group. That's why this episode is dedicated to providing you practical steps on how to form your very own group. To help me, I asked Dr. Mario Escobedo to join me on the show. The post How To Form A Mastermind Group with Dr. Mario Escobedo | GOF86 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

Would you consider making a career change at age 66? What if your career change required you to raise your salary? That’s exactly what Dawn Loomis is endeavoring to accomplish. She and I sat down and talked about how Wycliffe Bible Translators has inspired her to do something BIG, raise support to become a full-time missionary…at Age 66. If you want to be inspired, then take a few moments to listen to this interview. The post Wycliffe Bible Translators – Crafting Your Life Purpose at Age 66 | GOF85 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

John 316 declares that God moved by His love for people, sent His Son Jesus to this world to become the visible and tangible embodiment of Him. The most surprising truth of this verse is the observation that God moved first. So how does this apply to our ability to minister to LGBT people? The post What John 316 Teaches Us About Loving LGBT People | GOF84 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

When it comes to Gay and Christian debates, we need to return to the Gospel. Parents, teenagers, and young people are looking for hope and help from churches. But sadly, there is still much confusion and disagreement over where to start. We need to remember that the Gospel applies equally to all human beings. If the Gospel is true for Evangelicals, then it must be true for LGBT+ persons. The post LGBT and Christian – Why The Gospel Matters More Than Ever | GOF83 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

Gender Dysphoria and Transgender People. Evangelicals have not done well in ministering to transgender persons and families. Stories of heartbreak, isolation, and fear regularly accompany testimonies of individuals with gender dysphoria. The institution best suited to help has often contributed to the problem. Christians can do a better job. The post Gender Dysphoria, Evangelicals and the Way of Grace | GOF82 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

What is Christian Life Coaching? The systematic process of discovering where you are and where you want to be. In short, three words define Life Coaching. Potential. Passion. Purpose. A Life Coach is someone who helps you move from where you are to where you believe God wants you to be. Sound to good to be true? Then find out why I’m so passionate about life coaching and the power it has to move you forward in life. Also in this episode, I’m talking about how as a pastor I’ve changed my approach to the Monday Morning Blues. The post What is Christian Life Coaching | GOF81 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

Can’t sleep?  Find yourself overly tired? Middle of the night anxiety is something I’ve struggled with often.  Whenever I feel the weight of my problems pressing down on my shoulders, I find myself struggling to sleep. Unfortunately, this pattern if left unchecked, can down the road lead to significant health problems.  So how do you solve midnight insomnia?  The answer is not as complicated as it might seem.  Also on the show, I discuss a troubling trend among Evangelicals that is leaving believers paralyzed in their faith. The post Drowsiness and Anxiety – Losing Sleep At Night? | GOF80 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

The Parkland School Shooting is another vivid reminder of the sickness that pervades our society. When children murder other children, we need as a nation to slow down and ask “what’s happening”? What’s going on? What are the conditions in our families, cities, and society that are leading to this kind of outcome? We then need to listen. Questions and statements like these ultimately lead to different solutions. For the Christian, however, we need to withdraw from the debates just long enough to remember one thing. We live on planet death. So how do we navigate this planet? On today’s show, I offer my candid response to the Parkland School shooting, challenging Grace Nation to think deeply about the issues at stake. The post Parkland School Shooting – How To Navigate Planet Death | GOF79 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

Anxiety sucks! I know because I’ve been there. So what are we to make of the claims in the bible about the peace of God? For many people, anxiety and depression seem to be a standard part of life. So how can we embrace God’s promise of divine peace? Well in today’s episode, I’m asking this question to help us move past the shallow responses to discover more profound truths implanted in God’s design of humanity. It turns out that modern science has a lot to say about overcoming anxiety, where merely reinforces what scripture has said all along. The post Anxiety – The Struggle To Embrace God’s Peace | GOF78 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

Should we Evangelicals forgive Tullian Tchividjian? If you have any real understanding of how grace works, then the answer, of course, is “yes.” But when public figures break our trust by acting in ways contrary to their public persona, it is tough to find that requisite forgiveness we all are supposed to grant. I understand. So did Absalom — King David’s son who could never forgive his father’s disgraces. But Jesus calls us to do just that, to forgive those who hurt us. In a candid interview, Tullian opens up his heart revealing his ongoing struggles with guilt and shame tied to the impact it had on his children. He shares his desperate need for God’s grace and how the Father’s “One Way Love” is now more important to him than ever before. The post Tullian Tchividjian On Finding Grace After Your Life Has Been Destroyed | GOF77 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

Do you love money? Sure, who doesn’t like having a little extra cash in their pocket! Unfortunately, man Christians struggle with faulty thinking that keeps them from pursuing creative lives in business and commerce. So how do you craft a healthy relationship with money without compromising your faith? To help me answer this question, I invited Cliff Ravenscraft to rethink money, wealth, and the pursuit of God’s call. The post Four Limiting Beliefs That Are Holding You Back with Cliff Ravenscraft | GOF76 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

How do you find your life purpose? Every generation asks the same questions. Why am I here? What am I doing? Where am I going? But not every person discovers the answer for themselves. That’s because we live in a world of competing views, unrealistic expectations, and broken dreams. But Life Purpose doesn’t have to be difficult to discover. You just need a place to start. So where do you begin? The post How To Find Your Life Purpose | GOF75 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

Warning! Positive emotions can be harmful to your judgment. Thoughtful people be advised. Do you think that is true? If you saw a disclaimer like this, would you automatically reject this warning or would you seek to learn more? Positive emotions, feeling good almost seems like a civil right these days. But there is more to life than just feeling good all the time. So is there a dark side to positive emotions? There is, particularly when those “feelings” can lead to poor decisions. The post How Positive Emotions Can Actually Work Against You | GOF74 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

Are you being honest with yourself? This question goes to the heart of most our problems in life. We are not honest because we’re afraid of the consequences of our honesty. So we lie. Not a lot but a little. We self-rationalize, compromise, and trade off the things we want most in life for safety, security, and predictability. Unfortunately, when we do this? A little piece of our heart grows cold. The only solution is to do something no one else can do for you. Be ridiculously honest. Two forms of honesty are needed — positive and negative. So ask yourself this question, “Are you being completely honest with yourself?” The post How Being Ridiculously Honest With Yourself Leads to A Better Life | GOF73 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

What if gratitude could improve your mental health? Seems too simple? Could merely learning to say thank you change your life? Probably not. But recent psychological research has revealed that it may have a more positive benefit to your well being than you might think. This question and other first emerged thirty years ago in the field of Positive Psychology. Up to that point, research had focused on the familiar issues of mental illness: depression, anxiety, fear, etc. But what about positive mental health? Researchers sought to answer this question and came to some exciting conclusions. So what were the results? Apparently being kind to your neighbor has more benefit than mere social implications. It can actually improve your life. So how do you practice and develop a life of gratitude? The post Why Gratitude Is A Game-Changer For Your Mental Health | GOF72 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

The most significant mistake you can make in life is to define yourself by your job. But the vast majority of people I meet do precisely that, and it costs them so much happiness. Seem a little overstated? Perhaps, but consider this scenario for just a moment. When someone asks “who are you?” What’s the first thing out of your mouth? For most of us, the answer includes some reference to what “we do.” But I think this is a trap. What happens when the market changes, how will you respond? For some people, they can successfully reinvent themselves, but for others, it is a little more difficult. That’s why it’s important to consider this issue “BEFORE” something affects your work. Also, on GOF71, I ask this question: how do you pray when you don’t know what to do? The post Your Job Does Not Define You – So Who Are You? | GOF71 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

Is there something holding you back but don’t know what it is? Chances are you may be encountering what experts call limiting beliefs. They hold us back from seeking healthy and meaningful relationships. Prevent us from pursuing the next step in our careers. And they sabotage our lives when gone unchecked. Unfortunately, detecting limiting beliefs is much harder than you think. Why? Very often limiting beliefs are “controlling beliefs” that shape and form how we see the world. They are ideas that tell us how to think, and sometimes they work against us. If you dig down into yourself far enough, you may just discover some hidden ideas that are reaping massive havoc on your life. So how do you overcome these thoughts? There are at least five foundational ideas that you must accept before any real progress in life can be made. The post Five Steps To Challenging Limiting Beliefs That Are Holding You Back | GOF70 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

Every person looks at the world through a particular set of glasses given to them by someone. That is why inherited racism is so revolting. Someone or some institution systematically passed down a story that has led to hatred and sometimes violence.  At every level it is repulsive. But there are deeper issues, racial narratives that are not nearly as extreme but just as damaging.  These are the narratives of confusion, subtle prejudice, and institutional injustice that must be exposed. So where do you begin? The post Overcoming Racism With The Gospel Story | GOF69 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

What is the most critical question to keep in mind when you read the bible? What is the message calling me to be? The post How To Read the Bible to Change Your Life | GOF68 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

The NFL anthem protest have sparked another social confrontation. This time the matter concerns free speech. So how do we apply God's grace to this issue? The post NFL Anthem Protest – How Should Evangelicals Respond? | GOF67 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

Imposter Syndrome is no fun. The crippling effect of feeling like a fraud can keep any leader from being effective. That’s especially true for pastors. When I finally realized that the internal battles of insecurity, low self-worth, and unnecessarily high expectations were sabotaging my ministry. So on this episode, I'm sharing how I overcame that feeling by sitting down with my mentor and friend. Also on tap, I’m laying out my manifesto of faith as a Gospel-Centered Anglican in North America. The post Imposter Syndrome: Feeling Like A Fraud As A Pastor | GOF66 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

Hurricane Irma opened up a huge ministry door for my church. And I walked through it. Natural disasters and devastating storms do something to communities like nothing else in the world. They unite people together who ordinarily struggle to find common ground. This principle played itself in my church and opened incredible discussions. So on this episode, I share a positive outcome of the storm. Plus, I continue to discuss the role of transformation in everyday life. And as a special bonus, I’m sharing my BBQ secrets! The post The Best Thing Hurricane Irma Did For My Church and Ministry | GOF65 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

How do you get objective, unbiased information about yourself? You can't. Not even your spouse can provide you that kind of feedback. But there is a problem.  Without this sort of information, how can you make progress in life?  Success in life begins by recognizing the patterns, behaviors, and challenges that continue to keep you from moving forward in life.  I argue that to learn from the school of life, you need a system to follow.  In this episode, I share with you seven ways you can leverage a journal to move forward. The post How To Learn From The School of Life: Journaling Part 2 | GOF64 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

What are the first steps you need to take to begin a personal development plan? There are all kinds of “gurus” and “life coaches” available today prepared and ready to sell you comprehensive packages to get you started on a personal development path. While most of their stuff is really good, there are some basic steps you can take with a simple pen and pad of paper. Sound to good to be true? If so, then join us on this episode as Dr. Brian Russell and Dr. Jonathan G. Smith sit down to discuss the basics of personal development. The post Creating Your Personal Development Plan: Journaling Part 1 | GOF63 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

How do you identify the gods working in your life that are keeping you enslaved? Whether we want to admit to it or not, there are powerful forces in our lives that keep us from living the life that God intended. So on today’s episode, my guest host Dr. Brian Russell and I sit down to discuss the overarching story of the Bible and how it challenges the little “idols” that we continue to nurture and feed. The post New Season – How God Liberates You To Love Him | GOF62 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

This year is half way over. So is your opportunity to meet those New Year’s goals set back in January. Here is the good news. Now is the perfect time to make the most of the remaining year. The reason? Generally speaking, summer time is when business, academics, and family life slows down just enough to allow some space for personal reflection. So in this episode, I share with you some of my strategies on how I leverage the summers to plan for the next busy cycle! The post How To Leverage The Summer To Finish The Year Strong| GOF61 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

This week I offer some afterglow thoughts of the Anglican Connection Conference in Dallas Texas. To say that I’m still buzzing is an understatement. I was thrilled with the entire event. But what made this gathering particularly meaningful was just how my journey to this moment finally made sense to me. Whereas before I questioned whether or not I fit somewhere in the Anglican world, I can safely say, I'm so glad to be an Evangelical Anglican. The post Finally An Anglican Conference Worth Attending | GOF60 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

A year has passed since the Pulse Nightclub tragedy. In many ways, I’m still discovering how profoundly the event has personally impacted the way I minister to people. So in this episode, I share four ways this sad event has transformed the way I love and relate to people. The post Reflecting on the Pulse Nightclub | GOF59 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

Have you noticed the growing trend among life experts all proclaiming certain rituals or methods as the key to an incredible life? Tony Robbins, Michael Hyatt, and others have been heralding the benefits of incorporating certain daily habits into daily routines. Surprisingly, some of these men are not religious, yet they are using the religious exercise. So where did they learn these “secret tools”? On today’s episode, I’m joined by guest host Dr. Brian Russell to discuss what he refers to as “the New Methodist.” In our conversation, we discuss how most of the methods employed by today’s secular life coaches have very ancient roots. The post How Leveraging Ancient Methods Can Positively Transform Your Life | GOF58 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

Do you know how to take a vacation? For the longest time, I didn’t. Admittedly, vacationing was never a top priority for my family. So I never learned the importance of rest. So in this episode, I give you some spiritual direction on why you should take the time to rest. Plus, I’m giving you five practical strategies to help you master the art of vacationing. The post Mastering The Art of Taking A Vacation | GOF56 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

Have you ever said these words, “I have a book idea?” Believe it or not, those are words that I have spoken and thought more times than I care to admit. So much so, my wife has challenged me to get serious and begin to write. But where do I start? Well, in this episode, […] The post Why I’m Writing My First Book | GOF55 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

Most of the time, we are concerned about saving for retirement. But what if we turned this on its head and instead focused on generosity? In today’s episode, I talk with financial advisor Matthew Wright of McKinnon Wealth Management on practical steps you can take to maximize generosity. Listen to the Show http://traffic.libsyn.com/jonathangsmith/GOF54.mp3 This Episode’s […] The post Crafting Your Personal Finances To Maximize Generosity with Matthew Wright | GOF54 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

Wouldn’t it be awesome to be a multi-millionaire? Sure. Let’s be real honest for a second. For people like you and I, we could all probably use a few more dollars to help solve some of our financial problems. But that’s just it. Millionaires do not think that way. They don’t think about getting out […] The post Thinking Like a Multi-Millionaire | GOF53 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

Productivity is always on people’s mind. We want to produce more, make more, and do it cheaper. Personally, I don’t think there is a thing wrong with these commitments. But can our commitment to productivity backfire on us leaving us burned out? In this episode, I look at productivity from a theological perspective trying to […] The post Five Practical Steps to Becoming a Productivity Powerhouse | GOF52 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

Mel Gibson’s movie ’The Passion of the Christ’ has inspired me again. Like many Christians, Easter is a time to reflect on the suffering of Jesus as well as to remember his resurrection. Movies like Gibson’s help to re-orient the mind and heart to the life of Jesus. Also, I share with you some thoughts […] The post How ‘The Passion of the Christ’ Challenged My Fear of Pain | GOF51 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

Atheism and Theism have one single thing in common. Faith. That is an established fact. Why? Because like people of faith, it takes just as much faith to believe the dogma “there is no God.”  So what distinguishes the two faith systems from each other? Well, in this episode I argue that art, beauty, and […] The post Why Do I Believe in God? An Answer to Atheism | GOF50 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

Greg Willson has a vision, to reach the city of Manchester with the Good News of Jesus Christ. That’s great! But the real impressive story lies behind the journey he has had to endure to reach Manchester. Just a short while ago, Greg Willson was facing federal charges for mortgage fraud. Through a two-year ordeal, […] The post How Extraordinary Betrayal Led To A New Church Plant with Greg Willson | GOF49 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

How can the church do a better job in showing kindness to the LGBT+ community? That question is answered in my interview with Ty Wyss, founding director of Walls Down Ministry. In today’s episode, I talk with Ty to learn how to move from debate to friendship. Find out how to go beyond defensive posturing […] The post Showing Kindness to the LGBT+ Person with Ty Wyss | GOF48 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.

Does positive speaking, the stuff we say, really have the power to shape our lives? On this episode of GOF, I’m joined by guest host Dr. Brian Russell to discuss the power of language in everyday life. Each day we must make a decision, whether or not to frame reality in a positive, healthy way. Think […] The post Crafting Purpose Through The Power of Positive Speaking | GOF47 appeared first on Grace Nation with Dr. Jonathan G. Smith.