RUF Bama Podcast

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Weekly messages from Stewart Swain, Minister for RUF at the University of Alabama.

RUF Bama


    • Aug 23, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 33m AVG DURATION
    • 226 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from RUF Bama Podcast

    The Book of Revelation: Chapter 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2024 28:15


    Welcome back to the RUF Bama Podcast. This semester, we are working through the book of Revelation. This week Stewart preaches on the importance of reality, and how we as Christians view reality in light of this Revelation. The scripture this week is Revelation 1.

    RUF Senior Night 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2024 75:05


    This week we hear from our wonderful seniors as they share their testimonies, and the role that RUF has played in their lives. The seniors who talked are: Kayleigh Bicknell Maxwell Scharnowski Mary Claire Sides Alexis Rollins Phillip Varnedoe Maria Evola Emma Richardson AK Kuhn Sam Cowart Max Brown Jahee Kim Milo Sulipeck Annie Becker Adam Thorsland Ginny Gray William Lott Cole Herrington Elle Shuford Please continue to keep them in your prayers. To all the RUF seniors we love you and are so excited to see where the Lord takes you. Thank you for the love you have shown so many in RUF and across campus.  "Even in our goodbyes there is a blessing, for the sorrow of parting is a measure of the depth of the bond we have come to share in Christ... O Spirit of God, be as present in our parting as you were in our gathering. Be present in our journeys. Be present in our days to come. Be present in our works and in our hearts. Be present in the bonds of our community, Lord Christ. Be ever at work among us and through us.  Amen." "A Liturgy for Leavings" Every Moment Holy Volume 1 - Douglas McKelvey

    Lies Alabama Students Believe - The Lie: "If I Don't See/Feel God, I Don't Believe God"

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2024 29:41


    Does God ask us to blindly trust Him? Why does it feel like God isn't here? Stewart tackles these and other questions this week as he investigates the lie that "If I Don't See/Feel God, I Don't Believe God." This weeks scripture is Malachi 3:13-4:6, 1:1-2, John 20:24-31, Luke 16:27-31, 1:16-19.

    Lies Alabama Students Believe - The Lie: "I Am What I Feel About Myself"

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2024 30:16


    Whether in pride or shame we tend to have feelings about ourselves that don't line up with reality. So how does God speak to those feelings? This week Associate Campus Minister, Daniel Tortoricci, speaks on the book of Zechariah and looks at how God's power brings peace to Christians. This weeks scripture is Zechariah 3.

    Lies Alabama Students Believe - The Lie: "College is the Best Four Years of Your Life"

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2024 24:52


    What does it mean when we say "college is the best four year of your life"? Does this fit with our understanding of God's promises? This week, Stewart looks to the book of Haggai to see God's promises to His people the Israelites. The scripture this week is Haggai 1:1-11, 2:6-9, 2:19-23.

    Lies Alabama Students Believe - The Lie: "God Doesn't Want Me Yet"

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2024 17:49


    What do I have to do for God to love me? When will I bee good enough? What is success in God's eyes? This week we take a break from the minor prophets to look at the gospel of Matthew. Intern Hunter Brooks examines the lie that "God Doesn't Want Me Yet." The Scripture tonight is Matthew 11:25-30.

    Lies Alabama Students Believe - "God Doesn't Like Us, He Loves Us"

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2024 26:37


    This week, Stew brings a talk on the words of Zephaniah. Stew looks at God's love for His people in the midst of difficult circumstances. The scripture this week is Zephaniah 3:14-20.

    Lies Alabama Students Believe - The Lie: "Living by Faith is the Easier Way to Live"

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2024 28:04


    What does a life of faith look like? How do we deal with the difficult situations we face? Stewart examines the lie that "Living by Faith is the Easier Way to Live." This week we look through the book of Habbakuk. Scriptures for tonight are Habakkuk 2:18, 1:1-4, 1:6, 1:12-17, 2:1, 2:2-4, & 3:16-19. Other passaages are Romans 1:17, Galations 3:11, Ephesians 2:8, & Hebrews 10:38-39.

    Lies Alabama Students Believe - The Lie: "God Can't"

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2024 29:06


    Do we truly believe God is in control? Do we really trust that no matter the circumstance God is using the good, bad, and ugly to spread His kingdom? This week Daniel Tortorici continues our series in the minor prophets speaking about the lie that "God Can't." The passage this week is Nahum 1.

    Lies Alabama Students Believe - The Lie: "We Can't Know What God Wants"

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2024 30:39


    How do we know what God wants? Is there a blueprint for us to live our lives by? This week Stewart looks at Micah 6:6-8 to see God's instruction.

    Lies Alabama Students Believe - The Lie: "God Can't"

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2024 28:59


    Do we really believe that God is enough for us? This week Assosciate Campus Minister, Daniel Tortoricci, turns to the book of Jonah to illustrate how God uses everything to complete His purposes. The scripture tonight is Jonah 3. 

    Winter Retreat - "I Have Learned the Secret to Joy"

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2024 21:59


    What does it mean to be truly joyful? What does biblical joy look like practically? Rev. Chris Reed, RUF Associate Campus Minister at Howard University in DC, joins us at our 2024 Winter Retreat and brings a series titled "Philippians: Unshakable Joy". This is the fourth and final talk in that series. The scripture for this talk is Philippians 4:10-20.  

    Winter Retreat - "Justified by Christ's Work, not our own Works"

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2024 33:11


    What does it mean to be truly joyful? Are we trying to earn our salvation by our own good works? Rev. Chris Reed, RUF Associate Campus Minister at Howard University in DC, joins us at our 2024 Winter Retreat and brings a series titled "Philippians: Unshakable Joy". This is the third talk in that series. The scripture for this talk is Philippians 3:1-11.  

    Winter Retreat - "Imitating Christ's Humility"

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2024 28:09


    What does it mean to be truly joyful? How can we imitate Christ in our lives? Rev. Chris Reed, RUF Associate Campus Minister at Howard University in DC, joins us at our 2024 Winter Retreat and brings a series titled "Philippians: Unshakable Joy". This is the second talk in that series. The scripture for this talk is Philippians 2:1-11.

    Winter Retreat - "Real Joy in the Gospel's Advancement"

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2024 26:16


    What does it mean to be truly joyful? As we see God at work are we really rejoicing? Rev. Chris Reed, RUF Associate Campus Minister at Howard University in DC, joins us at our 2024 Winter Retreat and brings a series titled "Philippians: Unshakable Joy". This is the first talk in that series. The scripture for this talk is Philippians 1:12-18.

    Lies Alabama Students Believe - The Lie: "Safety is When I'm in Control"

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2024 28:41


    This week Stewart examines our misconceptions of safety. Are we willing to surrender our lives to God even when it is scary and uncomfortable? The scripture this week is Obadiah 1:1-21.

    Lies Alabama Students Believe - The Lie: "Safety is When I'm in Control"

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2024 28:41


    This week Stewart examines our misconceptions of safety. Are we willing to surrender our lives to God even when it is scary and uncomfortable? The scripture this week is Obadiah 1:1-21.

    Lies Alabama Students Believe - The Lie: "Only the Poor Can Properly Understand the Word of God"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2024 29:50


    Tonight, Stewart looks at the question of understanding God's word. If we believe only the poor can understand God, what does that do to our relationship with Him and the others around us? The passages tonight are from Amos 1:1-2, 2:4-8, 5:10-15, 21-24, 8:2

    Lies Alabama Students Believe - The Lie: "God Doesn't Care What I Do"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2024 29:43


    Stewart continues the series on the minor prophets in the book of Joel. In college it is easy to believe that we are completely free from responsibility, but this week we look at the lie that "God Doesn't Care What I Do."  Scripture excerpts tonight are Joel 1:1-3, 13-16, 2:1-2, 12-17, 27, & 3:17-21

    Lies Alabama Students Believe - Looking Back to Go Forward: "I'm Not Married Yet"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2024 29:45


    In this semester's series Stewart walks through the minor prophets examining lies that Alabama students believe. The first lie we will be looking at is "I'm Not Married Yet". Passages tonight are from Hosea 1:1-5, 2:14-4:3, & 14:9.

    Apostle's Creed Series: "Amen is not a belief, it is a call to believe"

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2023 28:35


    Stewart finishes the Apostle's Creed series this week in Revelation 22:16-22.

    Apostles' Creed Series: "The Ache, The Anxiety, and the Answer of Hope"

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2023 36:09


    Stewart preaches on "the life everlasting" from Revelations 21:1-8.

    Apostles' Creed Series: "Life Found in Forgiveness"

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2023 34:13


    Assosciate Campus Minister, Daniel Tortoricci, talks on the "forgiveness of sins." The passage this week is Psalm 103.

    Apostles' Creed Series: "I believe in the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints"

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 4, 2023 27:27


    This week Stewart examines the way the body of Christ lives out life together in the church. The passage is Ephesians 4:1-6.

    Apostles Creed Series: "Holy, the Godly Ghost"

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2023 32:38


    Associate Campus Minister, Daniel Tortorici, speaks on the part of the Apostles' Creed about the Holy Spirit. This week's passages are John 14:15-21 & 16:4b-15.

    Apostles' Creed Series: "God Is Gonna Cut You Down"

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2023 34:22


    Stewart talks through the Apostles' Creed. Tonight we look at the phrase "from thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead" through the words of 2 Peter 3:1-18.

    Apostles' Creed Series: "Where is Jesus?"

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2023 29:23


    Stewart brings a new talk in the Apostles' Creed series from Colossians 3:1-17 on "Where is Jesus?".

    Fall Retreat: Praying Our Emotions - Anxiety

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2023 34:16


    Joe closes his series on praying our emotions in Psalm 46 discussing anxiety.

    Fall Retreat: Praying Our Emotions - Sadness

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2023 31:39


    Joe brings his second of three talks from Fall Retreat. This one centers on sadness from Psalm 13.

    Fall Retreat: Emotions Seminar

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2023 80:03


    Stewart talks about our emotions in a biblical context, and how they may manifest as sinful action. 

    Fall Retreat: Praying Our Emotions - Fear

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2023 33:22


    Joe Johnson, RUF Campus Minister at Mississippi State, joins us at the Fall Retreat for a series on praying our emotions. The first sermon on fear is from Psalm 3.

    Apostles' Creed Series: "The Resurrection"

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2023 32:33


    Associate Campus Minister, Daniel Tortoricci, continues the series speaking on 1 Corinthinans 15:12-28 and what it tells us about the resurrection.

    apostles creed series corinthinans series the resurrection
    Apostles Creed Series: "Mission Accomplished"

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2023 33:13


    Stewart continues the Apostles Creed Series in Hebrews 12:1-7.

    Apostles Creed Series: "What Does it Mean To Be Human? "

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2023 37:11


    The Apostles Creed Series continues this week as Stewart wrestles with the question, "what does it mean to be human?" To answer that question we will turn to Matthew 5:1-12, often called the Sermon on the Mount.

    Apostles Creed Series: "What is Greatness?"

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2023 35:52


    Stewarts series on the Apostles Creed continues tonight as he teaches on Luke 1:26-38 and asks the question, "What is Greatness?"

    Apostles Creed Series: "Who is God?"

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2023 37:50


    Stewart continues examining the Apostles Creed bit by bit. This week he speaks on the phrase "in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth" through the lens of Acts 17:16-28.

    Apostles Creed Series: "I Believe"

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2023 33:09


    Stewart kicks off our Fall 23 Large Group series on “The Apostles Creed”.

    "When Expectations Meet Reality" from Luke 24

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2023 32:04


    Stewart ends his 2 part series on "When Expectations Meet Reality" by preaching on Luke 24:13-35. The passage forces us to ask ourselves what we do with unmet expectations, and describes how Jesus meets all the expectations set forth for himself throughout the scripture.

    "Taking Heart in a Tragic World" from John 16:25-33

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2023 29:24


    Tonight Stewart starts his two part series on "Taking Heart in a Tragic World." In part one Stewart talks on a section of the Upper Room Discourse in John 16.

    "Living Towards Godliness" from 1 Timothy 4

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2023 29:11


    RUF Intern, Sam Johnson, teaches from 1 Timothy 4:6-16 on "Living Towards Godliness.

    Ecclesiastes #: “God is Going to Judge Your Joy"

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2023 35:55


    Stewart closes his series on Ecclesiastes "Living Aware of Our Death." Tonight is on Ecclesiastes 11:1-12:14.

    Ecclesiastes #: "From Charmed to Blessed"

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2023 22:45


    Stewart continues his series on Ecclesiastes "Living Aware of Our Death." Tonight is on Ecclesiastes 9:1-12. **Our recording was started late tonight so we are missing the first part of the talk.**

    Ecclesiastes #5: "Becoming Wise"

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2023 36:28


    Stewart continues his series on Ecclesiastes "Living Aware of Our Death." Tonight is on Ecclesiastes 7:1-25.

    Special Guest: Pace Holdbrooks on Ecclesiastes 8:1-9

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2023 39:40


    Special guest Pace Holdbrooks, youth pastor at Trinity Presbyterian here in Tuscaloosa, joins RUF to discuss reacting to corruption in positions of power. He teaches on Ecclesiastes 8:1-9.

    Ecclesiastes #4: "Listening to God"

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2023 31:58


    Stewart continues his series on Ecclesiastes "Living Aware of Our Death." Tonight is on Ecclesiastes 5:1-7

    Ecclesiastes #3: "The Times you are in are not the only Times that are"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2023 29:49


    Stewart continues his series on Ecclesiastes "Living Aware of Our Death." Tonight is on Ecclesiastes 3:1-22

    ecclesiastes our death
    Ecclesiastes #2: "Receiving Life as a Gift Means Facing Your Death"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2023 45:15


    Stewart continues his series on Ecclesiastes "Living Aware of Our Death." Tonight is on Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:26.

    Ecclesiastes #1: "What if You Didn't Have to Play the Game?"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2023 27:49


    Stewart begins his series on Ecclesiastes "Living Aware of Our Death." Tonight is on Ecclesiastes 1:1-11 & 12:8-14.

    Lessons and Carols 2022

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2023 14:38


    Stewart preaches from Luke 13:18-30 in this short sermon from RUF's Lessons and Carols.

    Sermon: Free to Die

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2022 30:34


    Stewart finishes his series on Galatians, called “The Freedom You Want”. Tonight is on Galatians 6:11-18.

    10/26 Sermon: Free to be led by the Spirit

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2022 30:29


    Stewart continues his series on Galatians, called “The Freedom You Want”. Tonight is on Galatians 5:16-26. **Note the opening illustration (YouTube video) can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fjp1921KBsY  

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