German theologian and dissident anti-Nazi
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When authoritarianism wraps itself in faith, how should a spiritual community respond? We trace the chilling historical parallels between 1930s Germany and the modern political moment as Quaker lawyer Scott Holmes crafts a modern declaration of resistance. Drawing on the 1934 Barmen Declaration, we explore the collision of religion and nationalism. How do we maintain integrity when political forces co-opt sacred traditions? Join us to navigate the challenge of preserving truth and radical love in a fractured world. Read Scott Holmes' full statement here: https://curtisscottholmes.blogspot.com/2025/12/statement-of-faith-toward-shared.html?m=1 Become a monthly supporter! Sign up for the Daily Quaker Message.
Like Father, Like Son Pastor Mark Havel Matthew 10:24-39“A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household!“So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops.“Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.“Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one's foes will be members of one's own household.“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.” My oldest son, Jackson, who is 22, spent a rainy morning with me on vacation in South Haven, Michigan, this past week, milling around a couple of antique stores there. (“Antique malls,” actually, is what the call them.) It has to be raining and/or vacation for me to do much resembling “antiquing,” but I was there for the nostalgia of seeing old toys from my childhood and whatever vinyl records I might find. Jack was there for the sports memorabilia and baseball cards. He scored a few of the latter and I found myself a pretty clean copy of Bruce Springsteen's “Darkness on the Edge of Town.”While we were looking through a treasure trove of old Sports Illustrated magazines – mostly from the 1970's and 80's – a stranger walked by, looked at Jack, then looked at me, then probably back at Jack, and declared, “Well that apple didn't fall far from the tree, did it?” We both laughed and I told him we'd heard that before. To which he said, with awe, “It's remarkable.” I don't always think we look THAT MUCH alike, though many of you have said so, over the years. But when a stranger notices and feels compelled to call it out in public, I guess there's no denying it.And it's always been a compliment to me – even if I can't always see it – that I share a resemblance with either of my boys. But anyone who's ever been 12 or 13 or 16 or 17 knows the LAST thing you'd count as a compliment is for someone to think you look like one of your parents.You know, those times in childhood and adolescence when you can't stand being seen with, let alone be seen as looking like, your mom or your dad. You know, those moments when kids stop holding mom's hands at the store; when they cringe anytime dad makes conversation with their friends; or when they rush from the car in the school drop-off line as if the vehicle was on fire.And all of this had me thinking about some of what I hear Jesus saying in this morning's Gospel. Specifically, it made me think of what it means when Jesus talks about acknowledging or denying God, the Father, in our daily lives.See, Jesus uses all sorts of images, illustrations and hyperbole today – and it's okay … important … faithful … and a relief, actually, to recognize some of this as exaggeration and hyperbole. All of this talk about peace and swords, setting family members against one another, about not being worthy of Jesus, is nothing more and nothing less than naming the seriousness of our call to be disciples and followers of Christ in the world. So I don't we need to take Jesus LITERALLY at every turn, this morning, as long as we take him SERIOUSLY. Because discipleship is a serious thing. It was in the days of the Jesus and it is meant to be, still. It calls for bold confession, faithful practice, and courageous action, more often than we're always inclined.And, remember, Jesus is talking to his first disciples today, knowing all sorts of persecutions and temptations are in store for them because of what he's asking. When he talks about coming “not for peace, but with a sword,” he's not doing away with his title as the Prince of Peace or with his command to love one another – AND our enemies. Jesus is saying that, too often, the kind of amazing, radical, counter-cultural, life-changing grace, mercy, and peace God offers is more than some people can handle. And that in order to really get it and to truly proclaim it and to faithfully share it means to surprise and to separate and to send people reeling from time to time.(If you need proof of the kind of threat that sort of grace is to some people, you should see some of the hateful, frightening comments I hid from my Facebook feed after posting just a clip from my last sermon. Among other things, you should know, I'm an evil, demonic, blaspheming, false prophet who's going straight to Hell – I deserve it – and I'm bringing all of you with me.)All of this is to say, Jesus wants his people – his people – to be realistic about, and ready for, the consequences of what real, faithful, kingdom-living may lead to in our lives and in this world.Because doing that well – living faithfully, I mean – is hard work. When you stand up for justice for the “least of these,” that often means challenging the systems that protect the powerful. When you speak truth to power, power doesn't always like what you have to say. When you speak the truth, even in love, the response is often denial and fear and hatred of that very truth and of those who proclaim it.And that kind of faithful living gets people like Martin Luther excommunicated. It gets people like Nelson Mandela thrown into jail, people like Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Martin Luther King, Jr., Renee Good, and Alex Pretti, killed. It gets women in some denominations thrown out of the pulpit. And, of course, all of it got Jesus, himself, crucified, too.And those are some tough shoes to fill. I wonder how many of us have had the opportunity or would have the courage and the faith to live out our faith like some of these giants. So we do our denying on a smaller scale, don't we? When we drive by the hungry person on the street corner… When we let the racist comment slide… When we laugh with the bullies or at the queer kids and the sexist jokes on the White House lawn... When we add our two cents to the gossip mill... When we vote with our self-interests, first.So what are we to do with Jesus' promise – or threat – when he says, “Everyone who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven. And everyone who denies me before others, I will also deny before my father in heaven”?What I hear him saying isn't so much that those who deny Christ or fail at this call to faithful discipleship are doomed or damned for all eternity. It's not that if we don't live up to the high bar of King or Mandela or Bonhoeffer, we're out of luck. Remember, he also promises that we hold more value than many sparrows, who, even though they fall, are never beyond the reach of God's care.What I hear Jesus acknowledging is that God – the Father of all creation – knows, like so many good parents know, what it feels like to have his children deny or be embarrassed by their likeness to their Creator: to drop his hand at the grocery store, you might say; or rush by with friends to avoid any awkward conversations; or to shrink down in the seat and hurry from the car hoping no one notices who's in the driver's seat.What I hear Jesus saying to his disciples and to each of us, is that it's time to grow up. He's inviting us to embrace the claim of God, the Father, on our lives and to start living in the joy, responsibility, and challenge of that holy calling.Just like it's hard to pinpoint exactly when children begin distancing themselves from their annoying, embarrassing parents, it's difficult to pinpoint a precise moment when they begin to turn around and to start re-building those more mature bridges of relationship, connection, respect, and admiration, too.But, believe it or not, kids, it happens! There comes a time when the comparisons and resemblances to our parents seem pretty small in the grand scheme of things – and even beautiful and holy and remarkable, the more mature we get, if we're lucky. I got a glimpse of it with Jackson last week in that antique store. And I hope my mom and dad have noticed it over the years, too.And I hear Jesus calling our attention to that same reality when it comes to our relationship with God. He's inviting us to embrace our call to discipleship, to look and act more and more like our maker – all the things an immature faith might fear and resist – because following Jesus puts everything into a different perspective.It's an invitation and a holy challenge, because Jesus knows that when we do it – when we let the call to discipleship change the way we live, what once seemed like work (stuff like generosity, gratitude and grace) will become a way of life. What once seemed beyond us (stuff like sacrifice, selflessness, and suffering, even) actually bears fruit for us and for others. What once seemed unbelievable (stuff like healing, wholeness, and real joy) will become Truth, with a capital T, for our lives. And what once seemed impossible (forgiveness, freedom and eternal life) will belong to us all.Amen
On this weeks podcast C&SI partners up with TheWay.ie to bring you an update on the Irish Synodal Pathway. We had hoped to have Juliann Moran (the Synodal Pathway General Secretary) on with us but unfortunately Juliann is a bit under the weather at the minute. So this week we are sharing an interview with Fr Declan Hurley, Chairperson of the National Synodal Pathway, and Patricia Carroll, member of the National Synodal Pathway and Pastoral Coordinator for the Archdiocese of Dublin who discuss the progress made by the various working groups and explain the purpose and significance of the upcoming National Synodal Assembly.In part one we have our regular run through the up coming liturgical odds and ends including Saints of the Week and we have some reflections this week from Martina Leehane Sheehan (from Ruahrest) and Monica Browne. In part three John and Shane have our weekly effort to share some thoughts with you about the Sunday gospel which this week is from Matthew 10:26-33. On this weeks reflection Shane made reference to the German protestant pastor and martyr of Nazi's Dietrich Bonhoeffer. You can get a brief introduction to Bonhoeffer's discussion of cheap grace V costly grace HERE. Also an article to help break it down from the gospelcoalition.org HERE.Text us at +353 874668950 or email at comeandseeinspirtaions@gmail.com
How Can Freedom, Faith, and the Fight Beyond A Holiday Shape Us? Host Curtis Chang talks with sociologist Dr. Angel Adams Parham about the history of Juneteenth, from the 1865 emancipation announcement in Galveston, Texas, to its meaning for American freedom, racial justice, and collective memory. Together, they explore the spiritual resilience of the Black church, its influence on Christian theology and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and why Juneteenth matters for all Americans. They also consider how Christians can celebrate Juneteenth with both joy and historical honesty. 02:05 - The Historical Story of Juneteenth 05:11 - What Were the Limitations of the Emancipation Proclamation? 09:28 - An American Pattern of Incomplete Freedom 13:34 - How Do We Preserve the Meaning of Juneteenth? 19:24 - The Pain of Historical Erasure & Cultural Setbacks 23:43 - Scripture as a Freedom Narrative Fostering Resilience 29:22 - The Universal Longing To Be Free 32:06 - The Black Church's Contribution to the Christian Story 35:54 - Embodied Practices for Juneteenth 39:09 - The Spiritual Promise of "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" Register for our America 250 episode recording with Russell Moore and David French Sign up for the Anxiety Opportunity Course Use the code: Goodfaith Referenced in the Episode: Transcript of The Emancipation Proclamation Union General Gordon Granger's announcement: General Order No. 3 Claude Atcho's Reading Black Books Frederick Douglass' "What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?" (pdf) Transcription of an interview with ex-slave Felix Haywood Reggie L. Williams' Bonhoeffer's Black Jesus Phillis Wheatley's letter to Rev. Samson Occom James Weldon Johnson's poem Lift Every Voice and Sing Manhattan Harmony Four's recording Lift Every Voice And Sing The Fisk University Quartet's Swing Low, Sweet Chariot Scriptures Referenced: Exodus 12:31–15:21 (ESV) Isaiah 61 (ESV) Leviticus 25 (ESV) Luke 4:14–30 (ESV) More From Dr. Angel Adams Parham: Dr. Parham's bio: the University of Virginia Dr. Parham's Website Dr. Parham's book The Black Intellectual Tradition: Reading Freedom in Classical Literature Follow Us: Good Faith on Instagram Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter) Good Faith on Facebook The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.
Mid-twentieth century theologian and philosopher Dietrich Bonhoeffer claimed that stupidity is more dangerous than evil. Can that claim be applied to MAGA?Dame Magazine: The Four Ideas That Explain America's Democratic CrisisBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/thethinkingatheist--3270347/support.
Wenige Tage vor Ende des Zweiten Weltkriegs. Die Fronten brechen zusammen, Berlin steht kurz vor der Einnahme durch die Rote Armee ... das Ende des Nationalsozialismus ist längst absehbar. Und dennoch werden in diesen letzten Kriegstagen noch viele Menschen ermordet. Unter ihnen: Dietrich und Klaus Bonhoeffer, Rüdiger Schleicher und Hans von Dohnanyi. Sie waren Widerstandskämpfer & Humanisten. Doch mit deren Tod endet die Geschichte nicht. Denn Geschichte verschwindet nicht einfach. … sie sitzt mit am Familientisch. Sie lebt weiter in Erinnerungen, in Erzählungen, im Schweigen, manchmal auch in Musik. Mein heutiger Gast ist Dr. Tobias Korenke, der Großneffe von Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Seine Großmutter Ursula Schleicher, geborene Bonhoeffer, verlor durch die Nationalsozialisten ihren Mann, ihre Brüder und ihren Schwager. Dr. Tobias Korenke studierte Politik und Geschichte in Freiburg, Oxford und Berlin und publiziert zu historischen und politischen Themen. Bis 2025 war er Leiter Corporate & Public Affairs der FUNKE Mediengruppe, begleitet die gemeinnützige yeswecan!cer GmbH von Beginn an und ist seit Februar 2025 deren Geschäftsführer. Im Podcast-Gespräch sprechen wir darüber, wie seine Familiengeschichte sein Leben prägte und wie wichtig Widerstand war und immer noch ist … Hinweis: Im Podcast passierte mir (Claudia Lutschewitz) ein Namensfehler. Die von mir genannte Sekretärin Hitlers hieß nicht Trude Junge, sondern Gertraud (genannt „Traudl“) Junge. Sie war von 1942 bis 1945 neben Christa Schroeder, Johanna Wolf und Gerda Christian eine der vier Sekretärinnen Adolf Hitlers. Herzlichst Ihre Claudia Lutschewitz Wichtige und interessante Links zu Dr. Tobias Korenke: https://raufeld.de/en/corporate-public-affairs https://www.funkemedien.de/de/presse/nach-zwoelf-jahren-tobias-korenke-verlaesst-funke-und-konzentriert-sich-auf-ehrenamtliches-engagement-bei-krebs-selbsthilfe-movement-yeswecan-cer https://www.linkedin.com/in/tobias-korenke-780a0a73/
Today On The Eric Metaxas Show, Eric talks with Brant Hansen about his book Life Is Hard. God Is Good. Let's Dance. and the updated edition of Unoffendable. Brant argues that many Christians have been taught the wrong way to think about anger, outrage, forgiveness, anxiety, and “righteous anger.” Eric and Brant discuss injustice, William Wilberforce, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, forgiveness, praying for enemies, hypocrisy in the church, traffic, anxiety, trusting God, and why the way of Jesus is not weakness but freedom. Subscribe for clips from The Eric Metaxas Show to hear politics and culture from a Christian perspective.GET BRANT'S BOOKS:Living Unoffended: The Joy of Simple Peace in An Angry, Anxious Worldhttp://bit.ly/49Re1diUnoffendable: How Just One Change Can Make All of Life Betterhttps://amzn.to/4eD2AbM⭐ ORDER NOW:Revolution: The Birth of the Greatest Nation in the History of the World
Coming from Graz, Austria, Nancy continues the conversation on “keeping holiday in the midst of the working day,” exploring what it means to live from the Father's rest while carrying significant responsibility. Drawing from the life of Jesus, the writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and the promises of Isaiah 41, she reveals how mature sons learn to labor without anxiety, celebrate without striving, and remain rooted in uninterrupted fellowship with the Father. Nancy challenges listeners to reject a poverty mindset that believes everything depends upon them and instead embrace a life of trust, joy, and dependency upon God's governance. This episode is a powerful reminder that the Father is not merely removing mountains before His sons—He is transforming them into people through whom He can make a way for others. Thanks for Listening! Nancy McCready Ministries is committed to building cultures of personal and corporate discipleship so that believers can walk in maturity and their destiny with the Father. We hope this conversation today has helped you along your journey. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Every journey begins with a conversation, so we would like to invite you to join us on social media to get started! Facebook: www.facebook.com/nbmccready Instagram: www.instagram.com/nbmccready/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/@nancymccreadyministries LINKS The Producer's Way Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/3441416535919719 Want to host or attend Cross Encounter? Click here: nancymccready.com/crossencounter/ Shop to Support NMM: nancymccready.com/shop
When does refusing to repeat a lie become complicity in it?The hardest question in documentary filmmaking is not how to find the truth. It is how to handle a lie. When a false story is already loose in the world, you have two choices that look almost identical on the page: refuse to repeat it, or amplify it by debunking it. The discipline of knowing which is which can decide whether your film tells the truth or makes the lie stronger.In this Deep Dive on Documentary First Episode 279 with Brian Pocrass, host Christian Taylor digs into the question Brian asked on tape about how much oxygen you give a lie. The conversation took thirty minutes to arrive there, but the question turns out to be the spine of every documentary that touches a contested story. This episode traces that question through C.S. Lewis's The Screwtape Letters, Dietrich Bonhoeffer's life under the Nazi regime, Alexander Solzhenitsyn's 1974 essay Live Not By Lies, and a two thousand year old paradox in the book of Proverbs.The spine of the episode is Brian's question on tape: "The question is, how much oxygen do you give it?" That question runs straight into a paradox the rabbis of the Talmud spent centuries arguing over. Proverbs 26:4 says do not answer a fool according to his folly. Proverbs 26:5, the very next verse, says answer a fool according to his folly. The Talmudic resolution maps directly onto the filmmaker's dilemma: the stakes determine the answer. Christian closes the episode with her own test, drawn from her film The Girl Who Wore Freedom: the story of Michel de Vallavieille, the French farmer shot in the back by an American paratrooper on D-Day, and the famous Band of Brothers rumor she refused to put on screen.In this episode, Christian explores:Why every production company wanted Brian Pocrass to tell a different version of Heather O'Rourke's story than the one he ended up makingThe C.S. Lewis principle from The Screwtape Letters that the devil cares more about attention than beliefHow debunking a conspiracy theory can give the conspiracy a brand new piece of footage to point atDietrich Bonhoeffer's argument that silence in the face of evil is itself evilAlexander Solzhenitsyn's 1974 essay Live Not By Lies and the moral discipline of refusalThe two thousand year old paradox in Proverbs 26:4-5 and how the Talmudic rabbis resolved itWhy the Talmud's answer is sacred versus mundane stakes, and what that means for documentary filmmakersThe Michel de Vallavieille story from Christian's film The Girl Who Wore FreedomThe Band of Brothers rumor about Bill Guarnere that Christian refused to put on screenThe two questions every documentary filmmaker has to weigh before they amplify a storyChapters0:00 C.S. Lewis, the Devil, and Brian Pocrass's Question0:30 How Much Oxygen Do You Give a Lie?1:28 The Screwtape Letters and the Devil's Currency2:24 Bonhoeffer: Silence in the Face of Evil Is Evil Itself3:27 Solzhenitsyn's Live Not By Lies and Proverbs 264:59 The Girl Who Wore Freedom: Bill Guarnere and My Own Test6:14 The Question I Leave You WithFrequently Asked QuestionsWhen does debunking a lie make it stronger?Researchers at Data and Society documented this dynamic in a 2018 study called The Oxygen of Amplification. Repeating a false claim in order to refute it gives the claim attention, repeats the language, and trains the algorithm to surface it more. Britannica describes this dynamic as adding oxygen to the fire of misinformation. For documentary filmmakers, this means a debunking film about a conspiracy theory can leave viewers more familiar with the conspiracy than with the truth.What did Dietrich Bonhoeffer say about silence?Bonhoeffer's most famous line on the subject is silence in the face of evil is itself evil; not to speak is to speak; not to act is to act. Bonhoeffer was a German pastor in the 1930s who watched the German church surrender to the Nazi regime. He spent his adult life arguing against the silence of fellow pastors. The Nazis executed him in April 1945. His writings on costly discipleship remain among the most cited works of twentieth century theology.What is Alexander Solzhenitsyn's Live Not By Lies about?Live Not By Lies is the essay Solzhenitsyn released on the day the KGB arrested and deported him in 1974. He argues that while a single person cannot stop a lie from being told, every person can refuse to repeat it. The refusal itself is the action. The essay is one of the foundational moral texts of the dissident movement against Soviet totalitarianism and remains widely cited in discussions of personal moral resistance.How do the rabbis of the Talmud resolve Proverbs 26:4 and 26:5?Proverbs 26:4 says do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself. Proverbs 26:5 says answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes. The Talmudic resolution is that the two verses apply to different kinds of stakes. When the fool is talking about something sacred, you answer. When the fool is talking about something mundane, you do not. The wisdom is in knowing which kind of stakes you are facing.How do documentary filmmakers handle conspiracy theories about their subjects?There is no industry standard. Each filmmaker has to weigh the specific story. Some choose to confront the conspiracy directly and risk amplifying it. Others refuse to give the conspiracy screen time and risk being accused of avoidance. The discipline is to ask what the documentary makes more solid in the world and who the actual audience is: the people who already believe the lie, or the people who deserve the truth.About the Source EpisodeDocumentary First Episode 279 with Brian Pocrass aired on June 9, 2026. Brian is an attorney based in Los Angeles and the producer of She Was Here, the 2026 documentary about the life and death of Heather O'Rourke. The film features Heather's family debunking the Poltergeist curse rumor that has surrounded her death for almost forty years.Episode link: https://pod.fo/e/427c08About The Girl Who Wore FreedomThe Girl Who Wore Freedom is Christian Taylor's documentary about the children of Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, France, and the American GIs who liberated their town on D-Day, June 6, 1944. The film centers on Danielle Patrix Van Den Heede, whose family hid GIs in the days after the invasion, and Michel de Vallavieille, the young farmer at Brecourt Manor who was shot in the back by an American paratrooper on D-Day and went on to build the Utah Beach Museum and become the mayor of Sainte-Marie-du-Mont.Website: https://thegirlwhoworefreedom.comAbout Documentary First: The Deep DiveEach week, host Christian Taylor takes an insight from a recent Documentary First filmmaker interview and explores it through literature, philosophy, theology, current culture, and the universal human experience. It is a companion show to Documentary First, built for documentary filmmakers, lovers of story, and anyone who wants to think more deeply about what we are watching. Christian Taylor is a documentary filmmaker (The Girl Who Wore Freedom, Heroes of Carentan), actor, voice actor, and podcast host based in the United States.Resources MentionedDocumentary First Episode 279 with Brian Pocrass: https://pod.fo/e/427c08She Was Here, directed by Nick Bailey, produced by Brian Pocrass (2026)The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis (1942)Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945), German pastor and theologianLive Not By Lies by Alexander Solzhenitsyn (1974 essay)Proverbs 26:4-5Talmud, Shabbat 30bThe Girl Who Wore Freedom, directed and produced by Christian Taylor: https://thegirlwhoworefreedom.comBand of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose (1992 book and 2001 HBO miniseries)The Oxygen of Amplification, Whitney Phillips, Data and Society Research Institute (2018)Listen and FollowListen to this episode on your preferred podcast app: https://pod.fo/e/[DD 279 CODE — TO BE ADDED ONCE EPISODE IS LIVE]Documentary First on all podcast apps: https://podfollow.com/documentary-firstYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@documentaryfirstSupport the show on Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/c/DocumentaryFirstConnectDocumentary First on all platforms: https://linktr.ee/doc1stConnect with Christian Taylor on...
Stasi invites Blaine Eldredge, our Director of Spiritual Formation at Wild at Heart, for a conversation about recapturing beauty—not the exhausting beauty our culture demands, but the deeply personal beauty that originates in the heart of God. Together they explore how Jesus reveals a beauty that is vulnerable, relational, and inviting; a beauty that isn't based on performance, but draws us into His love. Come and rediscover the beauty that moves our hearts toward Him. This is Part 1 of a 2-part conversation.…..SHOW NOTES:…..VERSES: Genesis 2:18 (NIV) – The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”Exodus 33:11 (NIV) – The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.Deuteronomy 34:10 (NIV) – Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face.Song of Songs 2:14 (NIV) – My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places on the mountainside, show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.Hebrews 12:18–24 (NIV) – You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them… But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem… to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant.2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV) – And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.John 4:16–18 (NIV) – He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband.”2 Kings 17:24–41 (NIV) – Clearly referenced in the discussion of the Samaritan people being brought from five nations associated with false gods and attempting to worship Yahweh alongside them.…..RESOURCESThe Green Ember by S.D. Smith https://amzn.to/4dyvZChThe Prophets by Abraham Joshua Heschel https://amzn.to/4wUgygG The Sabbath by Abraham Joshua Heschel https://amzn.to/4nEW8npGod in Search of Man: A Philosophy of Judaism by Abraham Joshua Heschel https://amzn.to/49cEn99Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle https://amzn.to/495TaCECreation and Fall: A Theological Exposition of Genesis 1-3 by Dietrich Bonhoeffer https://amzn.to/4tPgr3hJesus of Nazareth: From the Baptism in the Jordan to the Transfiguration by Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) https://amzn.to/3RvX3dVThe Glory of the Lord by Hans Urs von Balthasar https://amzn.to/4wEjTA5…..CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS00:00 The Beauty That Captures Our Hearts01:52 Jesus Pursuing the Hearts of Our Children06:11 Why Beauty Begins in God07:41 The Danger of “Instagram Face”11:12 How Empire Erases Personhood14:19 The False Beauty of Invulnerability17:19 Beauty, Limits, and Being Human19:42 Why the World Loves Artificial Beauty22:25 The Enemy's War Against True Beauty24:14 When Beauty Becomes Power26:14 The Beauty That Invites Relationship28:15 The Trinity and Relational Love30:23 God's Desire to See Our Faces33:09 Jesus' Beauty Is Deeply Personal34:45 Vulnerability at the Heart of Beauty36:11 Choosing Intimacy Over Universal Approval39:08 Why Every Woman Bears Beauty40:10 The Beauty of the Crucified Christ41:50 Jesus' Beauty Pursues Our Hearts42:58 The Samaritan Woman and Divine Love45:59 The Lordliness and Goodness of Jesus47:12 Becoming Like the One We Behold48:15 Closing Prayer…..Don't Miss Out on the Next Episode—Subscribe for FreeSubscribe using your favorite podcast app:YouTube – https://wahe.art/4h8DelLSpotify Podcasts – https://wahe.art/496zdfnApple Podcasts – https://apple.co/42E0oZ1 Amazon Music & Audible – https://amzn.to/3M9u6hJ
Hebrews 12:3 Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote about the Psalms, “Whenever the Psalter is abandoned, an incomparable treasure is lost to the Christian church. With its recovery will come unexpected power.” “There is no explicit prayer for healing or deliverance from death (though such may be implied); the prayer begins with the request for the removal of the divine distance.” 1 Peter 5:8 Revelation 5:5 2 Timothy 4:6 Revelation 19:16 Philippians 2:10-11
Coming from Farra di Soligo, Italy, Nancy shares a refreshing reflection on what it means to live from the Father's rest while remaining fully engaged in His work. Drawing inspiration from Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Life Together, she explores the powerful phrase, “keeping holiday in the midst of our working day,” and reveals how mature sons learn to live from inward fellowship rather than outward striving. Against the backdrop of Italy's rolling vineyards, Nancy unpacks the difference between escaping responsibility and carrying the atmosphere of God's presence into every assignment. This episode is an invitation to embrace the fullness of His life, learning to work from His pleasure, rest in His presence, and remain seated with Him even in seasons of great activity. Thanks for Listening! Nancy McCready Ministries is committed to building cultures of personal and corporate discipleship so that believers can walk in maturity and their destiny with the Father. We hope this conversation today has helped you along your journey. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Every journey begins with a conversation, so we would like to invite you to join us on social media to get started! Facebook: www.facebook.com/nbmccready Instagram: www.instagram.com/nbmccready/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/@nancymccreadyministries LINKS The Producer's Way Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/3441416535919719 Want to host or attend Cross Encounter? Click here: nancymccready.com/crossencounter/ Shop to Support NMM: nancymccready.com/shop
In this episode, Brant Hansen argues that holding onto offense is killing us - spiritually, physically, and relationally. He had to decide whether the offense he experienced as a young person should be held on to or if he should release it. It led him to a simple, uncomfortable conclusion: righteous human anger doesn't exist in scripture, and the anger we carry, however justified it feels, is not what faithful people are called to hold. We talk about forgiveness, hypocrisy in the church, and what Jesus actually intended when he told us to love our enemies.Brant is an author of several bestselling books, including Unoffendable, and a syndicated radio host on more than 200 stations. His podcast, “The Brant and Sherri Oddcast” has more than 20 million downloads. He's been featured many times on outlets like Focus on the Family, Family Life Today, and Good Morning America.Brant and wife Carolyn live in South Florida. His latest book, Living Unoffended releases June 9.Brant's Book:Living UnoffendedBrant's Recommendation:The Matter With ThingsConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@shiftingculturepodcast.comGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, Bluesky or YouTubeSupport the podcast and the ministry that my wife and I do around the world. Just click on the support the show link below Support the show
"Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me."Following Jesus is more than attending church or agreeing with Christian beliefs. Discipleship is a daily decision to align our lives with Christ—allowing His teaching to shape our thinking, decisions, relationships, and purpose.Jesus consistently challenged people to count the cost of following Him. Discipleship requires commitment, surrender, and obedience, but it also leads to transformation, freedom, and a deeper relationship with God.Dietrich Bonhoeffer, author of The Cost of Discipleship, famously wrote:"When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die."Jesus invites us into a new life, a new identity, and a new purpose.1. DENY YOURSELF (Luke 9:23)Self-denial is not about self-hatred; it is about surrendering control of our lives to Christ. Instead of allowing our desires, emotions, or personal ambitions to lead us, we choose to follow God's will.Galatians 5:17 reminds us that there is a constant struggle between the flesh and the Spirit.Paul identifies the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19–21, including jealousy, anger, selfish ambition, division, and impurity. In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit produces:Galatians 5:22–23 "Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."True freedom is found when we surrender our lives to Christ. Self-denial is not losing something valuable—it is gaining something far greater.2. TAKE UP YOUR CROSS DAILY (Luke 9:23)In Jesus' day, the cross was not a symbol of hope but of death and complete surrender. To take up our cross means choosing God's way above our own every day.Discipleship requires action, not simply agreement. It may involve:• Reading and applying Scripture consistently • Dealing with unhealthy habits and attitudes • Forgiving others and addressing conflict • Sharing our faith boldly • Taking responsibility for God's calling on our livesThe word "daily" is significant. Following Jesus is not a one-time decision but a lifelong commitment.Matthew 16:25"Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it."When we die to self, we discover the life God intended for us.3. FOLLOW JESUS (Luke 9:23)Jesus did not simply say, "Follow my teachings." He said, "Follow Me."Following Jesus means making Him the centre of every area of life—our relationships, work, finances, decisions, and priorities.John 10:27 "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me."John 8:12 "Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."Matthew 4:19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will send you out to fish for people."Following Jesus means:• Trusting Him completely • Obeying His Word • Walking in His footsteps • Living for His gloryAs we keep our eyes on Christ, He leads us into purpose, growth, and spiritual maturity.Hebrews 12:1–2 "Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus."THE COST AND REWARD OF DISCIPLESHIPJesus is not asking us to simply improve our lives—He is inviting us to surrender them completely.Discipleship requires self-denial, daily surrender, and wholehearted obedience. Yet Jesus never asks us to give something up without offering something greater in return.John 10:10 "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."The challenge for every believer is simple: Are you willing to follow Him?Jesus is not looking for admirers or spectators. He is calling disciples who will trust Him, follow Him, and discover the fullness of life found in Him.
This is the first in a short series, which will be a theological autopsy of how one of Christianity's most respected communicators became MAGA's most dangerous court prophet — and what his collapse tells us about the spiritual crisis inside American evangelicalism. We'll examine Metaxas's two recent speeches at the Rededicate 250 event and Sean Feucht's Christian nationalist rally — what he said, why it matters, and why it qualifies as false prophecy. We trace his full arc: from the Access Hollywood tape to the January 6th insurrection to his claim that Trump's election was "an outrageous gift from God." We also expose the deepest irony: Metaxas literally wrote the definitive biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer — the theologian who died resisting exactly the kind of regime Metaxas now enables. In October 2024, 86 of Bonhoeffer's own descendants signed a public statement condemning Metaxas by name for misrepresenting their ancestor to serve a far-right Christian nationalist agenda. This is what a false prophet looks like. This is what Christian nationalism does to a man's conscience. And this is why it matters for every believer trying to hold the line.
Do you follow God because He's worthy of worship, or because of what He can give you? Brian From lands on that question after a Sunday sermon about Eli and Samuel — and it sticks. Is God a vending machine, a cosmic Santa Claus, or the one who is worthy of praise even when circumstances are bad? That's the challenge at the heart of this hour. First though: Memorial Day reflections on Dietrich Bonhoeffer's costly grace and what it actually means to be called to "come and die" — a word that cuts against a culture obsessed with comfort. A poignant piece called "Judson's Last Ride," a father's reflection on his autistic son's last school bus ride, and what every parent faces when their kids move into a new season. A study on pro chess players that becomes a personal confession about paralysis by analysis. The agonizing .02-second finish at the Indy 500 and what it means to get back in the car. Why youth group attendance is down and what youth ministers can actually do about it. Gas at $4.74 feeling like a victory. And a summer charge: be intentional, or it will pass you by before you know it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Eric Metaxas is the author of seven New York Times bestsellers, including the million-selling biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and his latest, Revolution: The Birth of the Greatest Nation in the History of the World. He is the host of Socrates in the City and The Eric Metaxas Show. His work has been translated into more than twenty-five languages and has appeared in leading national publications.
What does genuine Christian community actually look like?In this episode of 2414, Pastor Dan and Shane continue the conversation on St. Luke's 1-2-3 Challenge by focusing on “Gather: In Life Together.” From learning names and sharing meals to building trust through ordinary conversation, they explore why Christian fellowship is formed through consistent, everyday presence — not just major life moments.The episode moves from personal highs and lows, parenting struggles, and an absurd “Wheels vs. Doors” trivia game into a deeper discussion on friendship, vulnerability, and why modern Christianity can drift toward isolation and individualism.Drawing from Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Life Together, the conversation emphasizes that meaningful relationships are usually built slowly:“We share names before we share burdens. We share the boring parts of life before we share the big things.”Topics include:• Why the mundane matters in friendship• Introverts, extroverts, and practical connection steps• Why consistency builds trust• The danger of isolated Christianity• Summer Nights, meals, check-ins, and shared rhythms• How “training wheels” habits help create real community• Building belonging through ordinary life togetherThe 1-2-3 Challenge invites every person at St. Luke's to take two intentional steps in each of three discipleship areas:Gather. Grow. Go.This week's focus:Gather: In Life TogetherLearn more about the 1-2-3 Challenge:https://www.stlukes-church.com/the-123-challengeShare your completed steps so others can be encouraged:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSewdKCn3HpPkUwboSspBf8IJc_isSnlhyn8RRtWiYs0mxjOWQ/viewform?pli=1Want to share your faith story on the 2414 Podcast?Schedule a recording here:https://outlook.office.com/book/Ge29a5d453add4d478471a0c1bf208af9@stlukes-church.com/?ismsaljsauthenabledDon't forget to continue the conversation at home, in the car, at work, or anywhere you can find someone to talk to! Thanks for walking with us!Support the show
Coming from Neuland, Paraguay during Nancy's first time hosting a Cross Encounter in the Chaco Region, this episode reflects on the richness of true Christian community and what it means to live as “debtors to all people.” Drawing from Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Life Together, Nancy unpacks the difference between soulish, man-made fellowship and the divine reality of community born out of Christ Himself. She reminds listeners that true brotherhood is not built on personality, preference, or emotional need, but solely on what Jesus Christ has done in and through His people. This episode is a call to reject counterfeit community, receive deeply of the Father's love, and allow His life to produce genuine connection, humility, and spiritual richness among His people. Thanks for Listening! Nancy McCready Ministries is committed to building cultures of personal and corporate discipleship so that believers can walk in maturity and their destiny with the Father. We hope this conversation today has helped you along your journey. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Every journey begins with a conversation, so we would like to invite you to join us on social media to get started! Facebook: www.facebook.com/nbmccready Instagram: www.instagram.com/nbmccready/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/@nancymccreadyministries LINKS Want to host or attend Cross Encounter? Click here: nancymccready.com/crossencounter/ Shop to Support NMM: nancymccready.com/sho
What do we mean when we say "heaven"? In this Easter Sunday sermon from Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, Malcolm Clemens Young explores a deeper, richer vision of heaven—not as a distant place we go someday, but as God's dimension breaking into our world here and now. Drawing on scripture, theology, and memory—from childhood Easters to Mary Magdalene's encounter with the risen Christ—this sermon invites us to see Easter as the moment when heaven and earth meet. Featuring reflections inspired by N.T. Wright, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and the poetry of Anne Porter, this message challenges modern assumptions and opens a vision of grace that is already present among us. Heaven is not far away.It is closer than we think.It is where God calls your name. "Alleluia. Christ is risen!" The Very Rev. Dr. Malcolm Clemens Young, Dean Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, CA 2G10 Easter Sunday (Year A) 8:30 a.m. Eucharist Sunday 5 April 2026 Acts 10:34-43 Ps. 118:1-2, 14-24 Colossians 3:1-4 John 20:1-18
How did we get here? From the Enlightenment to the rise of Postmodernism, the landscape of what we believe about God has shifted beneath our feet. In this episode of Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer sits down with renowned theologian Dr. Roger E. Olson (Emeritus Professor at Baylor University) to map out the fascinating—and often turbulent—history of modern theology. They explore the tension between tradition and the "modern mind," discussing how giants like Schleiermacher, Barth, and Bonhoeffer navigated a world that was rapidly deconstructing old certainties. Whether you're a theology nerd or just trying to understand the intellectual roots of your own faith, this conversation provides a vital compass for the journey. In this episode, we discuss: The "Modern" Dilemma: What happens when theology tries to accommodate the demands of the Enlightenment? Reconstruction to Deconstruction: Understanding the shift from building grand systems of thought to the skepticism of the 21st century. The Giants of the Faith: Why figures like Karl Barth and Dietrich Bonhoeffer still matter for your walk with Christ today. The Evangelical Response: How believers can engage with modern ideas without losing the core of the Gospel. Finding Your Place: How understanding the history of ideas helps you situate your own beliefs in a chaotic world. Join us for a deep dive into the ideas that shaped the modern church and discover how to think Christianly in an era of reconstruction and deconstruction. Get early access and a bonus with a Patreon membership. Subscribe to our YouTube channel To read James's article on this topic, check out his author page on Christianity.com.
Paul wasn't just helping people get to heaven. Nijay Gupta joins me to make the case that Paul's letters were written for people trying to figure out how to live, not how to escape. Drawing from his new book Paul for the World, Nijay walks through the Greco-Roman world Paul was writing into - its economic disparity, its philosophies, its hunger for meaning - and shows how we can see our world similarly. The conversation moves through economics, the arts, the Stoics, and the resurrection to land on a grounded, new creation vision of the Christian life. This is a conversation about meaning, hope, and what it looks like to be fully alive in the world God hasn't given up on.Nijay K. Gupta (PhD, Durham University) is Julius R. Mantey Professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary. He is the coauthor (with A. J. Swoboda) of the book Slow Theology, cohost of the Slow Theology podcast, and founder of the popular Substack newsletter Engaging Scripture. Gupta is an award-winning author of numerous books, including Tell Her Story, Strange Religion, and commentaries on Galatians, Philippians, Colossians, and 1 and 2 Thessalonians. He is also a senior translator for the New Living Translation. Gupta lives in Portland, Oregon.Nijay's Book:Paul for the WorldNijay's Recommendation:God's HomecomingConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@shiftingculturepodcast.comGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, Bluesky or YouTubeSupport the podcast and the ministry that my wife and I do around the world. Just click on the support the show link below NEW PODCAST: American Evangelicals - A History PodcastA thoughtful, deep dive into one of the most talked-about movements in American history.Support the show
Personal Revival, Nation Awakening & Generational ReformationAntisemitism is EVIL. And most unfortunately, it is rising throughout America at an all-time high in harassments, violent attacks, hate crimes and vandalism against Jews. This is a battle we are called to as Christians. It is our great conviction that Christians should openly stand against antisemitism in all forms. Dietrich Bonhoeffer's timely words and warning speaks loudly: “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.” Join Brian in this newest episode, as it's high time for Christians to stand boldly and speak truth with moral clarity and fight off the wolves of hatred.For all the latest on all things from Brian, be sure to check out our website at https://victoryfla.com and follow us on social media.Welcome to The Torch. A podcast with Brian Gibbs, presenting Biblical insights and prophetic perspectives for cultural and current events in this day and age. Contending for personal revival, national awakening and generational reformation. Download our app at: https://victoryfla.com/appFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/victorychurchfla/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victorychurchfla/X: https://twitter.com/victorychurchfl/
Everyone's talking about mindfulness… but what if we've missed the most important part?What if the key isn't your mind being focused—but God's mind being focused on you?In this teaching on Psalm 8, John Ortberg explores a deeper kind of mindfulness—one that begins not with your attention, but with God's.While we often struggle with distraction, anxiety, and rumination, Psalm 8 reveals something surprising: God is fully, constantly mindful of you. His attention never drifts. His care never wavers.Through reflection, Scripture, and guided prayer, this teaching invites you to step into praise, re-center your mind, and experience what it means to live in the awareness of God's presence.You'll also learn how to pray the Psalm—turning your attention from distraction to delight, and from anxiety to awe.Music Credits:Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKEAlta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF
"Salvation is free, but discipleship will cost you your life. The Jesus who saves you is the same Jesus standing outside the gate saying, 'Come and follow me.'"This Sunday, Pastor Kenny delivered a powerful message from Hebrews 13, "Go Outside the Gate." Using the story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who left the safety of America to return to Nazi Germany, he challenged believers to stop counting the cost of following Jesus while ignoring the cost of staying comfortable. True discipleship isn't just a moment, it's a full-body movement of the head, hands, and heart. Join. Go. Make. It's not a slogan. It's an invitation.
Your kids can pass a test — but can they evaluate an idea, make a wise decision, or stand for truth when no one is watching? If that question makes you pause, this episode is exactly what you need to hear.We are breaking down why the skills of critical thinking matter more than any answer in a textbook.. I'm also sharing 1 powerful habit that changes everything about how your kids learn and think:✅The 1 daily habit that builds skills of critical thinking in any subject✅Whether memorizing answers produces followers or leaders✅Why asking questions is more powerful than any curriculum you can buy✅What to do so you can see your kids start thinking✅What it looks like when your child can finally evaluate ideas on their ownGrab the free resources mentioned in this episode and start building thinkers in your homeschool today.Resources for You FREE Read Aloud Magic FREE Notebooking Pages Become a VIP when you join the Raising Leaders Not Followers VIP Wait List. . . . - Get extra perks as a VIP in May!Show Notes:Your Child Doesn't Need to Know the Answer — They Need to Know How to ThinkYour child doesn't need to just know the answer. They need to know how to think and make decisions. A kid who can memorize facts but can't evaluate ideas is going to struggle in college, in work, and in life. Let's talk about a way to solve this problem today.What Are You Actually Training Your Kids For?I know you want the best for your kids. You want them to be prepared for the real world. You want them to have strong faith and discernment. But you're worried your kids may not be ready. You're tired of the idea that more school automatically means more success — that the more we do in school, the more successful they're going to be. These are myths.Your goal shouldn't just be that your kid can pass a test. A test just memorizes — it analyzes facts. For me, our goal was that our kids would follow Jesus, think clearly and biblically, and make wise decisions when we weren't around. We wanted to prepare them for real life.Schools teach answers. But leaders evaluate ideas. The problem is answers aren't enough. Schools teach to the test — it's the conveyor belt. Everyone does the same thing and gets a test to see if they've memorized all the answers. And it produces followers. Followers who just wait for direction. Followers who are waiting for approval or waiting for a worksheet to turn in.Thinkers and leaders — that's what I wanted for my kids. Not necessarily the president of the United States, but kids who lead in their own life, in their home, in their family. If your child has only been trained to fill in the blanks, don't be surprised when they struggle to take ownership and they're just waiting for someone to tell them what to do.So my question to you is — what are you training your children for?Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Courage to Think for YourselfI want to share a story about a man named Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He was a German pastor and theologian during Nazi rule. The surrounding culture was demanding conformity, fear, and silence. But he refused to follow. He was going to stand for truth. He kept asking what was right before God — not what was safe or popular.Bonhoeffer did not let the culture tell him what was true. He was surrounded by pressure, but he chose his own conviction. That is what discernment looks like.I don't remember the entire story, but I think it's important that we raise our kids to not have blind compliance to what everyone's telling them to do — but the courage to stand for truth. Spiritually, yes, but also in what they're learning. The history books are being rewritten, and we need to have discernment to know what is truth and what is not.Kids learn in school that it's just about the right answer, not the right question. They're afraid to be wrong. Discernment is both spiritual and practical. And kids need to learn how to pause, reflect, and ask what matters — and make sure their thinking is biblically based.Susanna Wesley Raised ThinkersSusanna Wesley was the mother of John Wesley and Charles Wesley. She home educated her children in the 1600s and was known for setting aside time to teach each of her kids individually rather than just letting them drift. She emphasized spiritual formation, discipline, and thoughtful thinking. She would ask questions.John Wesley went on to start the Methodist church. Charles Wesley wrote somewhere between 6,500 and 9,000 hymns. I can't imagine writing a hymn — that takes a lot of thinking ability.Susanna Wesley's home became a place where children learned to think about God, truth, and obedience with purpose. She wasn't just managing a household. She was shaping her children in character and in thinking. She didn't raise them to comply. She trained them to think, to question, and to live under God's truth.Again — what are you training your kids for? Just to do what mom tells them to do? Or to think critically and biblically?The One Habit That Changes Everything: QuestionsOkay, how do you actually do this? It's really one habit that changes everything — questions. You can use questions in any subject area.When I started using questions, it helped me relax and not be so worried about a checklist. I didn't even need curriculum for every subject because we could read books and ask questions. When I was a school teacher, I was supposed to follow the curriculum and couldn't really veer off of it — and that didn't encourage thinking on the part of my students. When I started homeschooling and started using questions, it changed everything. I was much more relaxed and much more intentional. My kids could take ownership by following their interests.I remember Hunter was into sports, and we were studying Roman history — which he didn't love at the time. But he did love sports, so we let him write a paper on Derek Jeter, one of the greatest shortstops in baseball. He learned about baseball science, math, history — all of it. And you can always ask questions like — why does this matter? What am I missing? What does this tell me about God, people, or truth? Did this person act the way God would want them to act? Did they have honor? And then — now that you've done all this, what are we going to do with this information?How to Start Using Questions This WeekTake one subject you're doing this week. Instead of a worksheet, ask one question about that topic. Keep it simple. Don't overteach. Let the conversation do the work.And here's my trick — when you ask a question, do not answer your own question. Ask another question. You know what happens when there's quiet and you can't handle it? You give them the answer. And what are you training your kids to do? To wait until mom answers her own question, and then we can move on because I don't have to think.Allow some time for quiet and for them to think. If they don't know the answer, ask a different question until you can begin a conversation. This is not a system or a lot of extra things to do. It is a way of life.This is how I teach my grandkids. This is how I taught my kids — in science, literature, music, art, math, history, character building, even cleaning the house. Why do I have to do this? Well, why do you think you have to do this? Turn everything into a question and let them come up with the answers. It's not about your children having the right answer. It's about asking the right question.What This Produces in Your KidsImagine your kids as confident decision makers. Kids who recognize truth. Teenagers who can question lies because they've been thinking on their own. Young adults who know how to act without panicking. Faith that lasts beyond your home.One of my students, Tracy Smith, said it so well — I love the idea of getting off the conveyor belt. Our kids are not cookie cutters. They all have unique thoughts, ideas, and talents that God has given them. If they are not given the opportunity to explore those, their gifts and offerings to this world are stifled. We need to allow them the chance to come to their individual conclusions — and they will give the world something to think about instead of the world telling them what to think.Another student, Rose, said after taking our leadership course — this helped me see how I could teach my kids to think logically. She was encouraged by the real life stories she could relate to, and she said the methods were transformational.You are not alone. These are methods that work. They are real and you can achieve them.The two free tools from last week — the Read Aloud Magic e-book and the free notebooking pages — combined with this idea of questions are three tools that can help you raise your kids to think well and think on their own. Grab those links in the show notes.And stay close to my emails and this podcast because I've got a boot camp coming up that is going to show you how to implement all of this in a real homeschool life. I can't wait to share more details. If you want to get on the waitlist, the link is in the show notes.
Marty Solomon and Brent Billings look at the second of BEMA's four pillars: the commitment to and experience of community.About Impact Campus Ministries (Definition of Success)Loneliness Sucks — Marty Solomon, YouTubeLife Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
“For many former Smokejumpers, smokejumping is not closely tied with their (current) way of life, but is more something that was necessary for them to pass through and not around, and, once unmistakably done, does not have to be done again. The “it” is within, and is the need to settle some things with the universe and ourselves before taking on the “business of the world.” This “it” is the something special within that demands we do something special, and “it” could be within a lot of us.” —Norman Maclean, Young Men and FireFriends, how are we to understand the story of our lives as it unfolds across the years? What meaning do we give to our failures and our faithfulness, our losses and our triumphs, the long disappointments and the surprising gifts we never would have chosen—yet somehow needed? And how do we recognize true growth, not only in our own maturing, but in our apprenticeship to Jesus and the life of His Kingdom?Dietrich Bonhoeffer once suggested that the cost of not following Jesus is, in the end, far greater—even in this life alone—than the cost of walking with Him. For discipleship is not merely a matter of belief, but of learning to live in intimate fellowship with Christ, slowly being formed into the kind of people He Himself would be, if He were to live our lives in our place.In this next episode of the Become Good Soil Foundations Series, we explore apprenticeship and initiation as two essential lenses for making sense of this question: how our small, particular stories are caught up into something far larger—the redemptive and unfolding story of God.It's all been prologue. The best is yet to come.For the Kingdom,Morgan & Cherie
In today's conversation with Dr. Steve Seamands, we continue to explore how to deal spiritually with generational consequences. Steve served as the Professor of Basic Christian Doctrine at Asbury Seminary for close to 40 years. In addition to that class, he taught Introduction to Spiritual Warfare, Introduction to Healing Prayer, and a class studying the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Seamands has authored several books, including Wounds That Heal and Ministry in the Image of God (a Christianity Today book award winner). Now retired, he continues to pray and work actively toward the renewal of the Methodist tradition, serving as a prophetic voice, mentor, and all-around great guy!
Visit Renew.org to sign up for our email newsletter and be the first to know about new content, books and resources. https://renew.org/ Join RENEW.org at an upcoming event: https://renew.org/resources/events/ Join RENEW.org's Newsletter: https://renew.org/resources/newsletter-sign-up/ Jonathan Storment challenges Christians to resist cultural formation by returning to wholehearted discipleship to Jesus. Drawing on examples from Karl Barth and Dietrich Bonhoeffer and lessons from the Gospel of Matthew, he warns against inventing a convenient Jesus and urges a life marked by nonviolence, generosity, racial inclusion, and sacrificial love. This episode calls listeners to fall deeply in love with the true Jesus, embrace radical obedience, and prioritize disciple-making over political or cultural alignment.
QUOTES FOR REFLECTION“Socially prescribed perfectionism is closely related to anxiety; people who suffer from anxiety are more prone to it. Being a perfectionist also increases your anxiety because you fear the shame of public failure from everything you do.”~Jonathan Haidt, social psychologist at NYU, in his book The Anxious Generation “It is the struggle of the natural man for self-justification. He finds it only in comparing himself with others, in condemning and judging others. Self-justification and judging others go together, as justification by grace and serving others go together.”~Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945), pastor-theologian executed by the Nazis “They all therefore were glorified and magnified, not through themselves or their own works or the righteous doing which they wrought, but through His will. And so we, having been called through His will in Christ Jesus, are not justified through ourselves or through our own wisdom or understanding or piety or works which we wrought in holiness of heart, but through faith, whereby the Almighty God justified all men that have been from the beginning….”~Clement of Rome, early church leader, in a letter written to Corinth in c. A.D. 96 “For ‘Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.' In like manner we also are justified by faith in God: for ‘the just shall live by faith.' Now ‘not by the law is the promise to Abraham, but by faith' for Abraham was justified by faith: and ‘for a righteous man the law is not made.' In like manner we also are justified not by the law, but by faith….”~Irenaeus of Lyon (c.125-c.202) in his Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching “When someone believes in him who justifies the ungodly, that faith is credited as justice to the believer, as David too declares that person blessed whom God has accepted and endowed with righteousness, independently of any righteous actions. What righteousness is this? The righteousness of faith, preceded by no good works, but with good works as its consequence.”~Augustine (354-430), North African bishop, in his Exposition of the Psalms “The righteousness of God is not that by which God is righteous but that with which he clothes man when he justifies the ungodly”~Augustine (4354-430) in his A Treatise on the Spirit and the Letter “Lord Jesus, You are my righteousness, I am your sin. You took on you what was mine; yet set on me what was yours. You became what you were not, that I might become what I was not.”~Martin Luther, (1483-1546), German reformerSERMON PASSAGERomans 4:1-25 (NIV) 1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. 3 What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. 5 However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. 6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: 7 “Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.” 9 Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham's faith was credited to him as righteousness. 10 Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! 11 And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. 12 And he is then also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. 13 It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14 For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless, 15 because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression. 16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. 17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not. 18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah's womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22 This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” 23 The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
As Christians enter the most solemn stretch of the liturgical year, theologian David Ford — who spent over twenty years writing his commentary on the Gospel of John — makes the case that no other Gospel prepares you for the cross the way John does. "The right question is not so much what happened on the cross, as who happened on the cross. All through the gospel, every chapter, John is saying — who Jesus is is the most important thing." In this episode with Macie Bridge, Ford reflects on why John's Gospel resists rushing past darkness to get to Easter. Together they discuss what the foot washing reveals about power and humble service; how John's prologue frames the entire passion through the mystery of incarnation; Jesus before Pilate and the priority of truth over empire; the horrific interpretive legacy of antisemitism in Luther, Augustine, and centuries of Christian reading; how the Gospel universalizes identity by rooting it in God rather than lineage; the scene at the cross as the seed of the church; and what Ford calls the sheer superabundance of grace — loving "utterly, intimately, vulnerably, mutually." Episode Highlights "The one thing one mustn't do with these days is see the resurrection as just coming down off the cross a few days later. That trivializes the cross." "Jesus is portrayed as being utterly one with God and utterly one with us. He's mortal. He's flesh. He can weep. He suffers." "The right question is not so much what happened on the cross, as who happened on the cross." "We are invited into this extraordinary intensity of the divine glory — but it's a glory that is utterly, utterly realistic about darkness, sin, death, suffering, and evil." "The whole gospel, I think, is an education of desire." About David Ford David F. Ford, OBE, is Regius Professor of Divinity Emeritus at the University of Cambridge, where he held the chair from 1991 to 2014, and a Fellow of Selwyn College. He is the founding director of the Cambridge Inter-Faith Programme and a co-founder of the practice of Scriptural Reasoning. He has served as theological adviser to three Archbishops of Canterbury. His books include The Gospel of John: A Theological Commentary (Christianity Today 2023 Book Award Finalist), Theology: A Very Short Introduction, The Shape of Living, and most recently Meeting God in John. His commentary on John's Gospel took over twenty years to write and has been translated into Korean. He was awarded an OBE for services to theological scholarship and inter-faith relations in 2013. (Sources: University of Cambridge Faculty of Divinity page; Center of Theological Inquiry profile, Feb. 2026.) Ford does not appear to maintain a personal website or public social media. Helpful Links and Resources Meeting God in John: Inspiration and Encouragement from the Fourth Gospel, by David F. Ford https://www.amazon.com/Meeting-God-John-Inspiration-Encouragement/dp/1587437066 The Gospel of John: A Theological Commentary, by David F. Ford https://www.amazon.com/Gospel-John-Theological-Commentary/dp/1540964086 For the Life of the World Episode 224: How to Read the Gospel of John / David Ford https://faith.yale.edu/media/how-to-read-the-gospel-of-john Scriptural Reasoning http://www.scripturalreasoning.org/ Denise Levertov, "On a Theme from Julian's Chapter XX" — discussed at Image Journal https://imagejournal.org/article/denise-levertov-a-memoir-and-appreciation/ Show Notes Why John's Gospel is the "matured gospel" — distilled from years of meditation, eyewitness reports, and rewriting "From his fullness we've all received grace upon grace" — the theme of superabundance running through John John wrote for both beginners and the experienced — simple Greek, inexhaustible depth Ford's biggest hope after 20 years writing his commentary: that readers would become "habitual rereaders" of John The prologue as the most influential short text in the history of Christianity "In the beginning was the Word" — the only framework for understanding Jesus is God and the whole of reality "The Word was made flesh" — utterly one with God, utterly one with us The farewell discourses of chapters 13–17 as probably the most profound teaching in the New Testament Chapter 17 as the most profound chapter in the Bible — Jesus' final prayer before the passion The foot washing: "All things having been given into his hands — and then what the hands do is wash the feet of his disciples" "Loving utterly, intimately, vulnerably, mutually" — the heading Ford gave to Maundy Thursday; used as the title of the Korean translation of his commentary "If you want to be great, wash feet" The "as" in John's Gospel — love as Jesus loved, sent as the Father sent — requiring us to go deep and then endlessly improvise Jesus washing Judas's feet — the radicality of love extended even to the one who betrays John omits the Eucharist from the Last Supper — placing eucharistic theology in chapter 6 to keep the focus on who Jesus is "I think nobody is in favor of the real absence of Jesus" — Ford on disputes over the real presence The beloved disciple as the model disciple, Peter as "all the rest of us" — the one who tries, fails, and is restored "The anonymity allows us all to write our names there" — reading ourselves into the beloved disciple and the mother of Jesus The threefold "Who are you looking for?" and the threefold "I am" at the arrest — echoing Exodus 3:14, the very name of God Before Pilate, facing the most powerful empire in history, Jesus headlines one thing: truth The scene at the cross as the seed of the church — Jesus sending his mother and the beloved disciple to each other "Here is your mother, here is your son" — the Greek verb for "received her" is the same as "whoever receives the one I send, receives me" "The right question is not so much what happened on the cross, as who happened on the cross" Nelson Mandela as a distant analogy: "Apartheid happened to Mandela, but Mandela happened to apartheid" — likewise, sin happened to Jesus, but Jesus happened to sin Denise Levertov's poem on Julian of Norwich: "the oneing with the Godhead opened him utterly to the pain" "He handed over the spirit" — not "gave up his spirit"; a possible first breathing of the Holy Spirit from the cross Scriptural Reasoning: its origins with Jewish textual reasoning scholars working out what it means to be Jewish after the Shoah Peter Ochs and the founding of Scriptural Reasoning at Princeton Ford on reading John chapter 8 with Peter Ochs: facing the "appalling inheritance" of antisemitic interpretation Adele Reinhartz's reading: John isn't anti-Semitic — John is Semitic; the Gospel relativizes ethnic identity Dietrich Bonhoeffer on doing justice to incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection — all three, not just one Receptive Ecumenism — looking at yourself first, asking how we can be better Christians rather than telling others to be like us "The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness does not overcome it. But it doesn't say the darkness disappeared." "The whole gospel, I think, is an education of desire" #GospelOfJohn #HolyWeek #GoodFriday #DavidFord #Lent #PassionNarrative #TheologyOfTheCross #FootWashing #ScripturalReasoning #ForTheLifeOfTheWorld Production Notes This podcast featured David Ford Interview by Macie Bridge Edited and Produced by Evan Rosa Hosted by Evan Rosa Production Assistance by Noah Senthil A Production of the Yale Center for Faith & Culture at Yale Divinity School https://faith.yale.edu/about Support For the Life of the World podcast by giving to the Yale Center for Faith & Culture: https://faith.yale.edu/give
In this solo episode, Nole reflects on a recent experience at the Hume Lake First Responders Conference that challenged his perspective on small talk and silence. From "evangelizing" about In-N-Out and CrossFit to the weight of staying quiet when a brother is heading off a cliff, Nole explores the moral responsibility of speaking up. Using the biblical imagery of the Watchman on the wall and the wisdom of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, this episode dives into why our silence can sometimes be a form of consent to things that destroy the people we care about.In This Episode, We Discuss:The "Two-Minute" Rule: How Pastor Jim Stitzinger challenges us to bring our true identity into a conversation early.Identity & Evangelism: Why we find it so easy to talk about diets, hobbies, and gear, but stay silent on the things that actually matter.The Watchman on the Wall: Understanding Ezekiel 33 and the weight of seeing danger but failing to blow the trumpet.Truth in Love: How to offer a "faithful wound" to a friend without being combative or legalistic.The Seatbelt Analogy: Why keeping someone "comfortable" while they ruin their life isn't actually loving.The Supply Shed Reveal: A brief moment of transparency regarding the "YouTube vs. Reality" podcast setup.Book Recommendation: Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas (A must-read on standing against evil).Scripture References: Ezekiel 33:6, Ephesians 4:15, Proverbs 27:5-6.Big thank you to My Epic and Facedown Records for the use of their song "Hail" in our podcast!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dz2RZThURTU&ab_channel=FacedownRecordsGet signed up for the next trip with Hold the Line!https://www.fireupprogram.org/hold-the-lineThe Fire You Carry on YouTube.Sign up for a class at The Fire Up Program!https://www.fireupprogram.com/programsThe Fire Up Progam video.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I__ErPW46Ec&t=12s&ab_channel=FireUpProgramThe Fire You Carry Instagram.https://www.instagram.com/thefireyoucarry/Donate to The Fire Up Program.https://www.fireupprogram.com/donateThe Fire Up Program Instagram.https://www.instagram.com/fireup_program/Kevin's Instagram.https://www.instagram.com/kevinpwelsh/?hl=enMyZone facility code for The Fire You Carry: CALIFUS001Get $60 off a MZ-Switch Heart Rate Monitor!https://buy.myzone.org/?lang=enUS&voucher=CALIFUS001-60
Here Be Dragons (Meditation 2): When God Says No—The Apophatic Way and the Church's Stripping Away Bishop Michael Hun of the Diocese of the Rio Grande reflects on the Episcopal Church's shift from mid-20th-century cultural confidence and institutional influence to a present season of decline, financial strain, and uncertainty, describing it as an apophatic “stripping away” in which familiar supports, plans, and programs fail and God seems to say “no.” He argues this is not a verdict of worthlessness but a clarification of vocation: willingness to follow Jesus without the future, security, or success once imagined, focusing instead on the people, place, and work actually given. Drawing cautious historical “rhymes” from the German church under Nazism and the Roman Catholic Church in Chile under Pinochet, he warns against trading the gospel for respectability, silence, or political co-option, and calls the church to speak publicly about bodies, violence, and justice while discerning how to proclaim gospel truth so people across a polarized spectrum can hear it. For more on Dietrich Bonhoeffer : https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sourc... For more on Chile and the Church see: William T Cavenaugh's book, Torture and Eucharist : Theology, Politics, and the Body of Christ. 00:00 Welcome and Series Setup 00:38 The Church We Remember 04:13 Facing Decline and Uncertainty 06:36 When God Says No 08:07 Vocation in the Wilderness 10:25 Germany and Bonhoeffer 15:24 Chile and the Churchs Voice 16:48 Gospel Not Partisan Politics 20:05 Incarnation and Public Witness 21:14 Choosing Faithfulness and Silence
In this Here We Go episode of Tent Talk, Nancy shares from the Netherlands after safe travels from Edinburgh, reflecting on the deep value of Christian community and the reality of life together in Christ. Drawing from Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, she speaks about the priceless gift of true fellowship among believers—not as a sentimental ideal, but as a divine reality made possible only through Jesus Christ. As she prepares for meetings, ministry, and fellowship in the days ahead, Nancy reflects on how the Father is putting His house in order, moving His people beyond isolation, disorder, and false ideas of community into the living reality of His body. This episode is a call to treasure what Christ has made possible between His people. Nancy reminds listeners that we belong to one another only through and in Jesus Christ, and that the deeper true community becomes, the more everything else fades except Him. With tenderness and clarity, she points to a growing hunger for the real Body of Christ—not a religious fantasy, but a spiritual fellowship born of Him alone. Whether alone, among friends, or in the thick of opposition, listeners are encouraged to let the Lord love them deeply, to live richly in inward fellowship with Him, and to move with Him as He brings forward the house He has always desired. Thanks for Listening! Nancy McCready Ministries is committed to building cultures of personal and corporate discipleship so that believers can walk in maturity and their destiny with the Father. We hope this conversation today has helped you along your journey. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Every journey begins with a conversation, so we would like to invite you to join us on social media to get started! Facebook: www.facebook.com/nbmccready Instagram: www.instagram.com/nbmccready/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/@nancymccreadyministries LINKS Want to host or attend Cross Encounter? Click here: nancymccready.com/crossencounter/ Shop to Support NMM: nancymccready.com/shop/
In this episode, Travis and producer Eric take a lighter, conversational approach—reacting to famous quotes about money from pastors, theologians, and religious thinkers. The discussion explores the long-standing tension between wealth, faith, and morality, as they debate whether money is inherently dangerous, a tool for good, or simply a neutral resource that reflects the character of the person who holds it. Along the way, they unpack ideas from figures like Billy Graham, John Wesley, Norman Vincent Peale, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, John Bunyan, and G. K. Chesterton—agreeing with some, pushing back on others, and laughing at a few that feel wildly out of touch. The result is a candid conversation about whether money corrupts people, empowers them to do good, or simply amplifies who they already are. The difference between having money and being controlled by money Why some religious traditions view wealth with suspicion Whether wealth can actually increase your ability to do good in the world The rise of prosperity gospel thinking and why it's controversial Why some philosophical quotes sound profound but fall apart under scrutiny The idea that money itself isn't moral or immoral—people are 1. Money isn't inherently good or evil.Several quotes highlight the difference between possessing wealth and letting wealth possess you. The real issue is the character and priorities of the person handling the money. 2. Wealth can expand your ability to create impact.If used intentionally, having more financial resources can increase the scale of generosity, philanthropy, and positive change. 3. Ideas about money often reflect deeper beliefs about power, responsibility, and morality.Throughout history, thinkers and religious leaders have debated whether wealth leads to corruption or simply reveals a person's true values. “There is nothing wrong with men possessing riches. The wrong comes when riches possess men.” — Billy Graham “Earthly goods are given to be used, not to be collected. Hoarding is idolatry.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer “He who bestows his goods upon the poor shall have as much again and ten times more.” — John Bunyan “The Bible tells us to love our neighbors and also our enemies—probably because they are generally the same people.” — G. K. Chesterton Connect with Travis Chappell:• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travischappell• Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/traviscchappell• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travischappell• Other: https://travischappell.comTravis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency. Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform. Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Healthy marriages aren't built in isolation. In this episode, Derek, Gabrielle, and Andrew talk about why authentic Christian community is essential for a thriving marriage—and why waiting until your marriage is on fire to ask for help is a mistake.Discussion Questions:- Who are the people in your life that truly know what's going on in your marriage?- What fears keep you from being vulnerable with other couples?- What is one step you could take this month to deepen community in your marriage?Resources:- Community Message from Harris Creek- Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
This is an audio essay from Process This, my Substack — head over there if you want more essays like this one, and subscribe if you want them delivered to you. In this one, I'm going deep on a question that sounds biographical but is actually theological: how did Dietrich Bonhoeffer — the man who stood at a lectern in 1933, surrounded by Nazi-pin-wearing theology students, and told them that the historical Jewish particularity of Jesus Christ was "the last truth separating the churches from barbarism" — how did that man become the patron saint of Christian nationalism? The short answer is Eric Metaxas, a bestselling biography, and a fabricated quote. But the real answer is older and more dangerous than any of that, because what Metaxas did to Bonhoeffer is exactly what the German Christians did to Jesus — they turned a Person into a Principle, kept the symbol, and evicted the flesh. Bonhoeffer had a word for it in 1933. He called it Docetism. And here's the thing that should take your breath away: his Christology is not just the subject of the abuse — it is its diagnosis. I'll also tell you about the five-minute rant I recorded and deleted, what Bonhoeffer's Christmas 1942 letter to the resistance said about contempt, and why I think the most important question he leaves us with is not primarily about Eric Metaxas — it's the one he put to those sweat-soaked students, and puts to us now: which are you following — the Person or the Principle? You can subscribe to the Audio Essay podcast feed here. Join us at Theology Beer Camp, October 8-10, in Kansas City! ONLINE LENT CLASS: Jesus in Galilee w/ John Dominic Crossan What can we actually know about Jesus of Nazareth? And, what difference does it make? This Lenten class begins where all of Dr. John Dominic Crossan's has work begins: with history. What was actually happening in Galilee in the 20s CE? What did Herod Antipas' transformation of the "Sea of Galilee" into the commercial "Sea of Tiberias" mean for peasant fishing communities? Why did Jesus emerge from John's baptism movement proclaiming God's Rule through parables—and what made that medium so perfectly suited to that message? Only by understanding what Jesus' parables meant then can we wrestle with what they might demand of us now. The class is donation-based, including 0, so join, get info, and join up here. This podcast is a Homebrewed Christianity production. Follow the Homebrewed Christianity, Theology Nerd Throwdown, & The Rise of Bonhoeffer podcasts for more theological goodness for your earbuds. Join over 75,000 other people by joining our Substack - Process This! Get instant access to over 50 classes at www.TheologyClass.com Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this Here We Go episode of Tent Talk, Nancy records from Edinburgh, Scotland, sharing a glimpse into her travel with Tina Kelly and a two-day working retreat set in the heart of the city's historic Royal Mile. As she reflects on the beauty of Scotland, the purpose of strategic travel, and the unfolding work of God across nations, she also turns listeners toward the deeper realities of discipleship—how grace must train us, how we need the same “butter and honey” that nourished Jesus, and how true fellowship with other believers is meant to strengthen and prepare us, not isolate us. Drawing from Titus 2, Isaiah 7, and Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Nancy reminds us that times of gathering are precious, but they are also meant to ready us to live as Christ did—sent into the world, among people, carrying His life with clarity, strength, and purpose. Thanks for Listening! Nancy McCready Ministries is committed to building cultures of personal and corporate discipleship so that believers can walk in maturity and their destiny with the Father. We hope this conversation today has helped you along your journey. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Every journey begins with a conversation, so we would like to invite you to join us on social media to get started! Facebook: www.facebook.com/nbmccready Instagram: www.instagram.com/nbmccready/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/@nancymccreadyministries LINKS Want to host or attend Cross Encounter? Click here: nancymccready.com/crossencounter/ Shop to Support NMM: nancymccready.com/shop/
The Dangers of Sin Mark 14:53–54; 66–72 Culture of Gospel Share this with someone in your life who doesn't know Jesus Every person is chasing something they believe will give them life—peace, approval, success, love—but many of the paths we take slowly lead us somewhere we never intended to go. Jesus offers a different way: a life where our deepest thirst is actually satisfied instead of slowly destroying us. Introduction: The Danger We Often Don't Notice In this passage, we see one of the most heartbreaking moments in the life of Peter. Just hours earlier, Peter had passionately promised Jesus he would never deny Him—even if it meant death. Mark 14:30–31 “Today—before the rooster crows twice—you will disown me three times.” But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” Peter truly believed those words. He loved Jesus and meant what he said. Yet only a short time later, he denies even knowing Him. Coleton explains that this story reveals two serious dangers about sin that every follower of Jesus must understand. These dangers are not just about Peter's failure—they reveal how sin works in all of our lives. 1. Sin Is Deceptive The first thing we see in this passage is that sin rarely announces itself loudly. Instead, it sneaks in quietly and gradually. Peter does not wake up that morning planning to deny Jesus. In fact, he has the exact opposite intention. He is trying to stay close to Jesus. Mark even tells us he followed Him into the courtyard of the high priest. Mark 14:54 “Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire.” Peter wants to stay nearby in case there is a moment when he can help Jesus. But in the process, something subtle begins to happen. The First Denial A servant girl recognizes him. Mark 14:67–68 “You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said. But he denied it. “I don't know or understand what you're talking about.” Notice what happens here. Peter doesn't panic or collapse emotionally. It barely registers with him that he has just done the very thing he promised he would never do. Sin often works exactly like this—it slips under the radar. The Second Denial When the accusation comes again, Peter denies it again. Still, he does not seem to recognize what is happening. In his mind, he may be rationalizing it: I'm not denying Jesus to the authorities. I'm just saying I don't know what this girl is talking about. But compromise has already begun. The Third Denial The third denial is stronger and more aggressive. Mark 14:71–72 “He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, ‘I don't know this man you're talking about.' Immediately the rooster crowed… Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken… and he broke down and wept.” In that moment, Peter wakes up to what he has done. He likely thinks: How did I get here? How did I become the person who did this? Coleton explains that this is exactly how sin works. It rarely pulls people into massive, dramatic failure immediately. Instead, it leads people there through small compromises that seem harmless. C.S. Lewis famously described this strategy: “The safest road to Hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.” —C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters Sin doesn't start with catastrophic decisions. It begins with small steps: Not an affair, but hiding a texting conversation. Not addiction, but scrolling endlessly for comfort. Not hating your spouse, but constantly focusing on their flaws. Not deep bitterness, but refusing to forgive a small offense. These small compromises slowly move our hearts away from God. Peter later warns the church about this very danger: 1 Peter 5:8 “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” Peter writes those words as someone who has experienced exactly how deception works. 2. Sin Cannot Give Us What We Actually Desire The second danger is that sin promises fulfillment but never delivers it. Peter is trying to protect his ability to stay near Jesus. His lies are meant to help him remain close and ready to act if the moment comes. But sin does not work that way. Instead of helping Peter accomplish his goal, sin leads him somewhere far worse—publicly denying the person he loves most. Coleton illustrates this with a powerful story about Olympic runner and World War II veteran Louis Zamperini, who survived a plane crash and drifted in the Pacific Ocean for 47 days. He was surrounded by water, desperately thirsty. But he could not drink the saltwater. Drinking it would only make things worse—causing dehydration, sickness, and eventually death. Steve Hoppe describes this reality: “Louie was dying of thirst, yet surrounded by water. The saltwater looked refreshing. It looked like the very thing that would satisfy him, but if he drank the saltwater it would leave him thirstier than before… Sin works like that. It looks refreshing. It looks just like what you need. But the more you press in, the more it hurts you.” —Steve Hoppe, Sipping Saltwater Sin always works this way. It looks like the solution to our problems: Lying looks like it will bring peace Overspending looks like it will bring happiness Social media approval looks like it will bring worth Holding a grudge looks like justice But instead of bringing life, it produces something worse. Scripture consistently tells us this truth: Sin promises fulfillment—but pays us in death. Coleton shares a tragic example of a girl whose mother constantly shamed her about her weight in order to “help” her succeed in acting and pageants. The pressure worked in one sense—she became extremely thin. But it nearly killed her. She dropped from 103 pounds to 61 pounds and had to spend years recovering from the damage. What looked like success actually became destruction. Sin often appears to produce results—but those results ultimately destroy us. How Should We Respond? Recognizing these dangers should change how we live. 1. Believe That Sin's Dangers Are Real God is not withholding joy from us when He warns us about sin. He is protecting us. His commands are not cruelty—they are kindness. They keep us away from roads that lead to destruction. 2. Be Watchful and Resist the Enemy Peter eventually echoes Jesus' warning: 1 Peter 5:8–9 “Be sober-minded and watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion… Resist him, standing firm in your faith.” Practical ways to do this include: Pray for God to Search Your Heart Psalm 139:23–24 “Search me, God, and know my heart… See if there is any offensive way in me.” Prayer invites God to reveal areas where sin is quietly gaining ground. Respond Quickly to Conviction The Holy Spirit convicts us not to shame us but to rescue us. Conviction is a gift—like pain in the body warning us that something is wrong. Dietrich Bonhoeffer captured this idea well: “Nothing can be more cruel than the leniency which abandons others to their sin. Nothing can be more compassionate than the severe reprimand which calls another back from the path of sin.” Don't Isolate Yourself Peter was alone when he failed. Spiritual isolation makes people vulnerable. Trusted Christian community helps us see things we might miss. Give Sin No Ground The apostle Paul warns believers not to give the devil a “foothold.” The Greek word refers to giving territory or land. Just as Israel was commanded not to leave enemy nations in the land, believers must not allow sin even small spaces in their lives. Small compromises are the beginning of the most dangerous roads. The Hope of the Gospel: Jesus Can Change a Life Peter's story does not end in failure. Jesus later forgives and restores him. And the next time Peter stands before the same kind of religious authorities, everything is different. Acts 4:8–12 “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them… ‘It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead… Salvation is found in no one else.'” The man who once denied being with Jesus is now recognized for being with Him. Acts 4:13 “They took note that these men had been with Jesus.” Jesus transformed Peter into the person he always wanted to be. And that same transformation is available to anyone who turns to Christ. Peter himself says it clearly: “Salvation is found in no one else.” Jesus is the only one who can rescue us from sin's deception and finally satisfy the thirst of our souls. Discipleship Group Questions Why do you think Peter did not initially realize he was denying Jesus? What does this teach us about how sin works in our own lives? What are some “small compromises” that can slowly lead people away from God? The sermon compares sin to drinking saltwater. What are some examples where something promised fulfillment but actually made life worse? Peter later warns believers to be watchful because the devil seeks to devour people. What practical habits help us stay spiritually alert? Peter's life was radically changed after Jesus restored him. How does his story encourage you about the possibility of transformation in your own life?
The very reverent (or irreverent) Rob Schenck is joining Erin in this very special episode! Reverend Rob shares his transformative journey from a prominent evangelical leader involved in Christian nationalism to a voice advocating for faith-based reconciliation and social justice. Discover how his experiences, theological reflections, and personal crises led to profound changes in his understanding of faith, politics, and love. You'll hear about Dietrich Bonhoeffer's influence, our mutual affection for Abigail Disney, and practical answers to your questions about Christian nationalism!MENTIONSReverend Rob Schenck: Costly Grace (Rob's Book) | Confessions of a (Former) Christian Nationalist | A Dissenting Evangelical Voice on Patreon | Patheos | Facebook The Armor of Light: Watch here Abigail Disney: Learn more hereWhat's the deal with all the Baptists? Learn about the differences hereThe Myth of American Chosenness: Listen to the podcast episode here The Faith Adjacent Seminary: Support us on Patreon. I've Got Questions by Erin Moon: Order Here | Guided Journal Subscribe to our Newsletter: The Dish from Faith AdjacentFaith Adjacent Merch: Shop HereShop our Amazon Link: amazon.com/shop/faithadjacentFollow Faith Adjacent on Socials: Instagram See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Grace is the greatest gift you've ever received — but receiving it was never meant to leave you the same. In Titus 2, Pastor Joel Hastings unpacks what it really means to live as someone who has been forgiven, freed, and transformed by the grace of God. Pastor Joel walks through Paul's instructions to bondservants, workers, and everyday people — showing how the gospel is meant to be visible in the way we live and work. Drawing on Dietrich Bonhoeffer's contrast between "cheap grace" and "costly grace," he challenges us to stop treating grace as a free pass and start living as people who are zealous for good works, anchored in the blessed hope of Christ's return. Here's a couple key takeaways • Grace is a free gift — but it isn't cheap. It cost Jesus everything, and receiving it should change how you live, work, and treat the people around you. • You can't clean yourself up. Just like a child smearing makeup off his face, our best efforts to fix ourselves only make things worse — we need Jesus to make us clean. • We have a blessed hope. In a world full of chaos and uncertainty, Christians live with confident expectation that Jesus is coming back to make all things right. SUBSCRIBE for weekly sermons, stories, and other resources: https://www.youtube.com/@GracePointNWA?sub_confirmation=1 ============================= Connect with Grace Point Church: ============================= Instagram: https://instagram.com/gracepointnwa Facebook: https://facebook.com/gracepointnwa Website: https://gracepointchurch.net #Sermon #GracePointChurch #NorthwestArkansas
Grace is the greatest gift you've ever received — but receiving it was never meant to leave you the same. In Titus 2, Pastor Joel Hastings unpacks what it really means to live as someone who has been forgiven, freed, and transformed by the grace of God. Pastor Joel walks through Paul's instructions to bondservants, workers, and everyday people — showing how the gospel is meant to be visible in the way we live and work. Drawing on Dietrich Bonhoeffer's contrast between "cheap grace" and "costly grace," he challenges us to stop treating grace as a free pass and start living as people who are zealous for good works, anchored in the blessed hope of Christ's return. Here's a couple key takeaways • Grace is a free gift — but it isn't cheap. It cost Jesus everything, and receiving it should change how you live, work, and treat the people around you. • You can't clean yourself up. Just like a child smearing makeup off his face, our best efforts to fix ourselves only make things worse — we need Jesus to make us clean. • We have a blessed hope. In a world full of chaos and uncertainty, Christians live with confident expectation that Jesus is coming back to make all things right. SUBSCRIBE for weekly sermons, stories, and other resources: https://www.youtube.com/@GracePointNWA?sub_confirmation=1 ============================= Connect with Grace Point Church: ============================= Instagram: https://instagram.com/gracepointnwa Facebook: https://facebook.com/gracepointnwa Website: https://gracepointchurch.net #Sermon #GracePointChurch #NorthwestArkansas
Today On The Eric Metaxas Show, Eric Metaxas reacts to the Super Bowl and why he believes the halftime show culture has been a slow moral drip on families, shares the hawk and dove story he says felt like a warning, and gives an update from the Presidential Commission on Religious Liberty including a tense anti semitism discussion and why the Israel conversation is more complicated than the slogans. He also points listeners to Dietrich Bonhoeffer as a lens for courage, talks about preaching at Kings Church NYC, and shares upcoming Socrates in the City events. Subscribe for clips from The Eric Metaxas Show to hear politics and culture from a Christian perspective.SPONSOR: Honest, fast, and free Medicare plan guidance: https://askchapter.org/⏱️ TIMESTAMPS0:00 Intro6:06 Super Bowl Halftime Critique14:03 Religious Liberty Commission Update18:14 Israel, Anti Semitism, And Clarity29:33 Kings Church And Hebrews- - -TODAY'S SPONSORS:⭐️ BlockTrust IRA: https://www.metaxascrypto.com/✡️ Help Save Lives in Israel TODAY: https://www.savinglifeisrael.org/Legal Help Center - Get Free Legal Help Today: https://www.legalhelpcenter.com/MyPillow — Save BIG with code ERIC: https://www.mypillow.com/ten Boom Coffee— Save 10% with code ERIC: https://tenboom.coffee/
Legal Docket on sovereign immunity and corporate state agencies, Moneybeat on the Dow hitting 50K, and History Book on Dietrich Bonhoeffer's discipline and resistance. Plus, the Monday morning newsSupport The World and Everything in It today at wng.org/donateAdditional support comes from The Master's University, equipping students for lives of faithfulness to The Master, Jesus Christ. masters.eduFrom The Joshua Program at St. Dunstan's Academy in Virginia ... a gap year shaping young men ... through trades, farming, prayer ... stdunstansacademy.orgAnd from WatersEdge. Competitive rates and supporting churches. 4.5% APY on a 13-month term investment. WatersEdge.com/invest
Friends, this week we're diving into something that's been eating at me for a while now—how the architects of Christian nationalism have had the audacity to claim Dietrich Bonhoeffer as one of their own. I'm talking about Project 2025 invoking "costly grace" as if Bonhoeffer wasn't writing about them. Here's the thing: when Bonhoeffer penned those famous words in 1937, he wasn't crafting a devotional for suburban book clubs—he was running an illegal seminary under Nazi surveillance, training pastors who were forfeiting their careers, their pensions, and their safety to follow Jesus instead of the Führer. The German Christians of his day fused faith with national identity, blessed political power, and demanded loyalty to a strongman who promised to make their country great again. Sound familiar? The brutal irony is that those who now quote Bonhoeffer are functionally aligned with the very forces he resisted—they're the German Christians quoting the Confessing Church, and that's about as theologically obtuse as Caesar celebrating the cross while forgetting he's the one who put Jesus on it. Costly grace is still available, y'all—it just actually has to cost something. Read the full essay and subscribe for more at my SubStack, Process This You can subscribe to the Audio Essay podcast feed here. Join us at Theology Beer Camp, October 8-10, in Kansas City! UPCOMING ONLINE LENT CLASS: Jesus in Galilee w/ John Dominic Crossan What can we actually know about Jesus of Nazareth? And, what difference does it make? This Lenten class begins where all of Dr. John Dominic Crossan's has work begins: with history. What was actually happening in Galilee in the 20s CE? What did Herod Antipas' transformation of the "Sea of Galilee" into the commercial "Sea of Tiberias" mean for peasant fishing communities? Why did Jesus emerge from John's baptism movement proclaiming God's Rule through parables—and what made that medium so perfectly suited to that message? Only by understanding what Jesus' parables meant then can we wrestle with what they might demand of us now. The class is donation-based, including 0, so join, get info, and join up here. This podcast is a Homebrewed Christianity production. Follow the Homebrewed Christianity, Theology Nerd Throwdown, & The Rise of Bonhoeffer podcasts for more theological goodness for your earbuds. Join over 75,000 other people by joining our Substack - Process This! Get instant access to over 50 classes at www.TheologyClass.com Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What does it mean to follow Jesus when the state is demanding your loyalty—and the church is tempted to comply? Watch the video of this episode on YouTube here. On the 120th anniversary of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's birth (February 4th), Russell sits down with Charles Marsh—author of Strange Glory: A Life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer—to ask why Bonhoeffer still captivates Christians and what his witness demands from us now. Together, they explore how Bonhoeffer recognized the moral collapse of the German church earlier than most, and why he insisted that confessing Christ's lordship must sometimes give way to concrete, costly action in history. The conversation widens to the pastoral dilemma Bonhoeffer never escaped: when is it enough to proclaim the gospel faithfully, and when must a preacher speak directly to the crisis at hand? Marsh reflects on the tension between shaping consciences slowly and naming injustice plainly, and how Bonhoeffer struck a balance. Marsh ultimately tells the story of his own father, a Mississippi pastor who preached “Amazing Grace for Every Race” at real personal cost, and of figures like Will D. Campbell and Fannie Lou Hamer, whose Christian witness fused tenderness with moral clarity. Their lives, Marsh suggests, reveal that faithfulness may not be loud, but it is never neutral. Resources mentioned in this episode: Strange Glory: A Life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer by Charles Marsh Brother to a Dragonfly by Will D. Campbell Fannie Lou Hamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices