These Days: The Resilient Way of Jesus

Welcome to These Days 2.0! New format, new studio, same great conversations! On this week's episode, one of our favorite writers, the "Beneficent Bomb" himself, Gilbert Keith Chesterton.

In this last episode of the year, Ben and Dwain sum up the entire season as they reflect on Jesus' famous promise of "life abundantly". Join us in the new year for a brand new season! In meantime, follow @TheseDaysPodECC on Instagram for updates and fun tidbits!

This week Dwain and Ben look at Jesus' promises about the Holy Spirit and the abundant power we experience in Christ. As always, lots of laughter and good conversation abounds.

This week Ben and Dwain unpack Jesus' promise of "full", "complete", or "abundant" joy. How is such a thing possible in this world?! Find out on this week's episode!

Loaves and fishes, manna and meaning - this week Ben and Dwain discuss how in Jesus we have all our needs met in abundance.

Continuing on the theme of abundance, Dwain and Ben look God's promises of overflowing presence. Or, as Jesus puts it, "streams of living water welling up to eternal life."

This week Ben and Dwain keep rolling along on the theme of abundance as found in the Gospel of John. Often the first way in which we experience abundance when we come Jesus is in his abundant forgiveness. Today we look at a famous story and an even more famous verse from the book of John.

In this episode, Ben and Dwain introduce the theme of abundance. How does Jesus provide a way into a full and abundant life with God? Find out in this first episode of season 6!

In this one-off summer episode, Ben and Dwain share some of their favorite quotes...isn't that what they do in every episode? Yes! But this time it's on purpose!

In the final episode of season 4, Ben and Dwain summarize the past twelve episodes, riffing on the words "fruitful" and "faithful"!

This week Ben and Dwain look at a powerful prayer for boldness, and the kind of winsome, caring, Jesus-style boldness that comes from it.

This week Dwain and Ben return to the theme of prayer, thinking about what it would mean to pray in the power of the Resurrection.

It's vitally important to see things the way they really are. So many things can cloud our vision, but this week Dwain and Ben talk about what it means to see God, the world, and ourselves through the eyes of Christ.

This week Ben and Dwain talk about the resilience and joy that come as we wholeheartedly walk the way of Jesus.

This week Ben and Dwain talk about locating ourselves in the story of God, and the resilience that happens when we see our story as part of God's greater story of hope.

This week Dwain and Ben talk about what's really real, and how we can orient our lives moment-by-moment around the real and active presence of Jesus.

This week Dwain and Ben talk about Christian Friendship, that unique camaraderie and deep connection we find on the way of Jesus...and how it's the answer to our fractured and isolated times.

This week Ben and Dwain jump into the deep waters of identity, security, and what it really means to be "In Christ"...and they have a lot of fun along the way!

In this candlelit episode, Ben and Dwain dive into a central truth for resilience in these days: the sovereignty of God. They discuss practically what it means and how to live in the peace of God's sovereign care.

This week Dwain and Ben look at how we can live with true wisdom in the Information Age. What is wisdom? Where do we find it? And how do we live it?

Ben and Dwain are back, launching season 4! This week they discuss the way God's presence can change the way we see EVERYTHING.

Happy New Year from Ben and Dwain! This week they wrap up the conversation on happiness and talk about what's next on the podcast.

It's one week until Christmas and we're feeling the holiday cheer! This week Ben and Dwain explore the phrase "Merry Christmas" and why we have every reason to make merry during this time of year.

The birth of Jesus often gives us warm and comforting feelings. But do we ever think of it as a revolution, inaugurating the government of joy? This week Dwain and Ben discuss words like "Lord" and "Messiah" and "Savior," discovering how they transcend all other kinds of authority.

This week Ben and Dwain continue talking about happiness, this time jumping into the Christmas story. What is this "good news of great joy" and why does it matter for us?

This week Dwain and Ben finish up talking through the Beatitudes and discuss the surprise of resilient happiness.

This week the Beatidudes keep on working through Jesus' "blessed" or "happy" statements in Matthew chapter 5, discussing the deep and satisfying happiness of trusting God in the midst of our meekness.

This week Ben and Dwain dive into the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12) and discuss the surprising places where true happiness is found. They're also VERY excited for the holidays.

It's the season of happiness...literally! This week Ben and Dwain launch in to a series all about the Bible's vision of happiness. What is it? Where is it found? And how do we find it in THESE DAYS?

It's the Q&A episode of season 2! Listen to Ben and Dwain wrap things up by talking about gratitude...and also hear the what-and-when of season 3!

This week Ben and Dwain get to the rock-bottom foundation of hope in the resilient way of Jesus: the work of Jesus on the cross, and the ultimate resilience of his resurrection! The conversation goes in many directions and they look at the cross from some if its many angles.

Jumping off of last week's episode, Dwain and Ben unpack Titus' reference to "the blessed hope" - the appearing of Jesus and the here-and-now-hope it provides.

CS Lewis said that, "heaven works backwards." What did he mean? Is there a sense in which we can taste heaven now? What is the heavenly, hopeful quality to life in the resilient way of Jesus? This week Ben and Dwain talk about how heaven invades the here-and-now with a pervasive sense of hope.

Truth gives rise to hope. In a world where everything is constantly shifting and changing, we find a solid foundation for hope as we open up to the truth of God. This week Dwain and Ben talk about truth as a freeing, flourishing, and hope-giving thing.

Personal renewal and public revival often come when we least expect it to be possible. Our hope is not in our circumstances or the state of our society, but in the often unexpected moves of God. This week Dwain and Ben discuss our cause for hope as we trust God to bring renewal in our lives and in the world.

What is worship? How do we practice it? And does it have any bearing on real life? This week Ben and Dwain talk about worship, wonder, and the fried gourd of Moses.

This week Ben and Dwain talk about how real Jesus-centered friendships make us resilient and hopeful people, and how, when it comes to finding a true friend, "two is two-thousand times one."

This week Ben and Dwain pull way back to see how Jesus calls on our reason and imagination, opening our eyes to a whole new world.

We often think about serving God, obeying God, listening to God, etc. But do we ever think about enjoying God? This week, Ben and Dwain continue discussing the Trinity and how God's triune nature means that we can know and enjoy God deeply.

This week Ben and Dwain talk about what Jesus-followers throughout the ages have considered the bedrock of Christian faith: What is God like? And what does his "tri-unity" mean for us?

An addendum to last week's episode, this week Ben and Dwain talk about what it means that Jesus is not only "in charge," he is also with us even in these days - and that is our greatest reason for having a resilient hope.

Are these days a turning point in history? This week Dwain and Ben talk about divine providence, historic changes, and where to place our ultimate hope.

Where does hope come from? How can we remain hopeful even when we see no cause for hope in the world? How can we be sure this is all going somewhere? This week Ben and Dwain have a blast talking about how resilient hope is based on Jesus, who sees us where we are and knows where we are going.

This week Ben and Dwain discuss how hope is written into human nature.

In the first episode of Season 2, Ben and Dwain begin talking about essential questions for the rise of hope. What is it? Where does it come from? And especially, do we have any cause for hope in these days?

The final episode of Season 1! Ben and Dwain answer questions from listeners about topics ranging from spiritual warfare, to the current social climate, to Christian t-shirts, to edenic wonderland.

Can prayer really change anything in the world? Or does it just make us feel better? In this final episode on the devoted pattern of prayer, Ben and Dwain talk about prayer as contending for the soul of the world. Renewal is possible.

Prayer defines our identity. When we pray, we orient ourselves to reality and the truth of who we are. This week Ben and Dwain talk about what it means to relate to God as our Father...and how that changes everything.

What is prayer? Is it a mental exercise? Is it words you say? This week Ben and Dwain start discussing this essential devoted pattern, which is truly the glue that holds everything else together.

We're hearing a lot about the "new normal" of life after a global pandemic. This week Dwain and Ben talk about the new normal Jesus intends for his followers to represent in the world.