Podcasts about l'abri fellowship

A lecture given at L'Abri Fellowship in Southborough, Massachusetts. For more information, visit https://southboroughlabri.org/ Sept 17 Joshua Chestnut The Apostle Paul, and Finding a Pattern for our Prayers. Though he offers little by way of direction instruction on the matter of how to pray, as one reads the letters of the Apostle Paul we often find him at prayer.  This lecture will consider some of his prayers to see what sort of model or pattern they might offer those of us learning what it means to pray.     The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2021

A lecture given by Sarah Chestnut at L'Abri Fellowship in Southborough, Massachusetts on July 16th, 2021. For more information, visit https://southboroughlabri.org/   The image of a master potter's hands on clay spinning on the potter's wheel is an image and metaphor used by the Old Testament prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah, and it is an image and metaphor drawn on again by the apostle Paul in Romans (quoting Isaiah) and 2 Corinthians (treasure in jars of clay).  Job, too, uses the language of being clay.  In this lecture we will aim to better understand how the biblical writers were using the metaphor and what it has to teach us about what God is like and how we should understand what it means to be human.  Additionally, we will consider what the potter's foundational discipline of centering clay has to teach us about prayer. The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2021

“Plato, the Professor and the Real Narnia” A lecture given by Jim Paul at L'Abri Fellowship (via zoom) in Southborough, Massachusetts on July 9th, 2021. For more information, visit https://southboroughlabri.org/ In 'The Last Battle', the final book in CS Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia, the children witness the end of Narnia before walking through a door between worlds into a land of "warm daylight' and "blue sky, with flowers at their feet”. They eventually come to see that this 'new' land is the real Narnia, “which has always been here and always will be”, and that the old Narnia was only its shadow or copy. Digory Kirke (the Professor in ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe') comments by way of explanation that “It's all in Plato, all in Plato." What did Lewis mean by this and how does Plato help us understand the relationship of creation to new creation? The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2021

A lecture given by Mardi Keyes at L'Abri Fellowship in Southborough, Massachusetts on July 2nd, 2021. For more information, visit https://southboroughlabri.org/   THE LONG BATTLE FOR WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE IN THE UNITED STATES   Winning the right to vote was one of many goals articulated at the first American Women's Rights Convention, held in 1848 in Seneca Falls, New York.  It took 72 years to achieve.  On August 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the Federal Constitution was adopted.  It read, “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.”  Of all the women present at Seneca Falls, only nineteen-year-old Charlotte Woodward lived to cast her vote in the 1920 presidential election. Such a long campaign toward one goal, is unique in American History and could not have succeeded without political acumen and doggedness.  In telling the story, we will consider some of the black and white women, whose courage and determination brought about this legislative victory.  We will also consider why the opposition to women's suffrage was so strong.   The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2021

A lecture given by Ben Keyes at L'Abri Fellowship in Southborough, Massachusetts on June 25th, 2021. For more information, visit https://southboroughlabri.org/   “His Own Did Not Receive Him”: The Literary Theme of the Unrecognized King There are many works of western literature in which people of great power and authority disguise themselves and are not recognized even by their own people. Maybe you can think of some stories that contain this theme? While the motivations for secrecy and the outcomes vary widely, this motif of the unrecognized ruler is undeniably powerful. In this lecture we will discuss a few examples of this theme and how they point imperfectly to Jesus Christ—the ultimate unrecognized King.      The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2021

Building on the idea of a clear literary strategy in the Gospel of John, we will look at the thought-world that forms the basis of the Gospel. How do the Hebrew Scriptures shape John's language? How does the author think about God speaking in his days, and about his own role in this? There is a literary strategy in how John deals with these questions, with some familiar and some unexpected results. You can find Part 1 of this lecture series here. For more lectures, visit the L'Abri Ideas Library at labriideaslibrary.org. The library contains over one thousand lectures and discussions that explore questions about the reality and relevance of Christianity. We ask you to respect the copyright for this audio file which belongs to L'Abri Fellowship. Please note that views expressed in the lecture and discussion times do not necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship.

What do you want to be when you grow up? A question we're often asked as children, but not often enough as adults; what are we aiming for? Not many of us would answer ‘I want to be mature'. Yet, it is with the goal of presenting us ‘mature in Christ' that Paul strives ‘with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in' him. So why maturity and what is it actually? Is it something we can actively pursue or a by-product of a way of life? What are signs of maturity? We'll explore the surprisingly rich category of maturity and why it might prove a more helpful goal than we'd expect. For more lectures, visit the L'Abri Ideas Library at labriideaslibrary.org. The library contains over one thousand lectures and discussions that explore questions about the reality and relevance of Christianity. We ask you to respect the copyright for this audio file which belongs to L'Abri Fellowship. Please note that views expressed in the lecture and discussion times do not necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship.

This lecture was given on Friday, June 18th, 2021 at Southborough L'Abri Fellowship by Joshua Chestnut.   The Apostle Paul and the Silencing of Women - Joshua Chestnut   This lecture, the third in a series on Paul and women, will take an extended look at Paul's infamous instruction for women to be silent in 1 Cor. 14:33-36, as well as his words about women not having authority over a man or teaching in 1 Timothy 2:12.  We will consider them against the backdrop of Paul's ministry patterns, consider why he might have written them as well as consider what they mean, both for Christians in the first century and for us today.   The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2021

For many of us, the question of calling and significance looms large. Our culture struggles with questions of equality and hierarchy. In this lecture, we will re-examine one of Francis Schaeffer's most well-known sermons and discuss being small and yet significant because we are consecrated to God in the place where we are. For more lectures, visit the L'Abri Ideas Library at labriideaslibrary.org. The library contains over one thousand lectures and discussions that explore questions about the reality and relevance of Christianity. We ask you to respect the copyright for this audio file which belongs to L'Abri Fellowship. Please note that views expressed in the lecture and discussion times do not necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship.

Where Did Human Rights Come From? by Dick Keyes March 19, 2021 For our lives to go on we all assume a respect for human rights in ourselves and in our neighbors. What are human rights, how did we get them and why are they important? The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2019.

The Apostle Paul, A Friend To The Enslaved? by Joshua Chestnut March 12, 2021 This lecture will be a consideration of some of the Apostle Paul's seemingly problematic passages around slavery, focusing in particular on 1 Corinthians 7 and his letter to Philemon (give ‘em a read before tuning in!). While it is understandably disappointing for many modern readers of Paul that he does not directly condemn the institution of slavery, yet before dismissing the Apostle for what he doesn't do, it is worthwhile to considering again what it is he does do. The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2019.

She Has Done A Beautiful Thing: The Anointing of Christ in All Four Gospels by Anna Friedrich March 5, 2021   When God calls something beautiful that seems worthy of our attention! All four gospel writers include a mysterious story of a woman approaching Jesus at a dinner and pouring oil or perfume on him. What is this about? Why does he call it beautiful? And how might this story help us understand beauty today? The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2019.

When Strangers Become Guests and Guests Become Friends   by Dave Friedrich   Feb 26, 2021   This lecture addresses two interrelated christian practices, hospitality and friendship. It takes note of how these have brought profound healing to societal divisions in the past, and makes a case for why we would want to recover them in the present.    The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2019.

Taking Yourself Less Seriously by Ben Keyes given Feb 19, 2021 The ability to laugh at yourself can be a disarming gift in the midst of difficult conversations and tense relationships, but is laughing at yourself anything more than a communication technique? Is there something fundamentally ridiculous about each of us to which laughter is an appropriate response? What does the Bible teach us about the incongruities of being fallen and limited humans, and why do we experience some of these incongruities as funny? This lecture will examine the potentially redemptive nature of self-directed humor. The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2019.

The Apostle Paul, Our Mother in Christ: Metaphors, Ministry and Masculinity by Joshua Chestnut Feb 12, 2021 This lecture is the second in a series on the Apostle Paul and women. It will be a consideration of the nature of metaphor, Paul's striking but often overlooked use of maternal metaphors to make sense of his own ministry as well as a consideration of what this might mean for the fraught topic of gender ‘roles' today. The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2019.

The Importance of Paradox: Poetry, Prayer, & the Life of Simon Peter by Sarah Chestnut Feb 5, 2021 Paradox is central to Christian theology and experience.  Francis Schaeffer, employing a paradox, described humans as glorious ruins.  We will look to poetry to tutor us in the nature and gifts of paradox, reflect on what are often paradoxical experiences of praying, and with the help of poems, imaginatively enter gospel passages involving Simon Peter ("Rock" and "stumbling stone"!) to better equip us to navigate our complex world. The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2019.  

Curiosity: A Diverse and Fruitful Christian Virtue by Ben Keyes Jan 29, 2021 Curiosity is a quality that is not often counted among the Christian virtues. And yet to be curious can be a wonderful asset to people- a source of learning and joy. In this lecture we will explore different categories of human curiosity and examine some cultural attitudes towards being curious. We will then reflect on some of the ways in which curiosity equips us to better serve God by functioning as a springboard for other virtues.  The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2019.

Becoming Friends with Time by Joshua Chestnut January 22, 2021 While time is a tricky matter to fully wrap our heads around, its elusiveness doesn't keep us from having a complicated relationship with it.  Whether we have too much time on our hands or not enough, for those of us living in “clock time” we often find ourselves having an adversarial relationship with time.  This has been true for so many of us during this year of pandemic.  This lecture will give a history of “clock time” and then consider how we might engage with the time that has been given to us and what it might mean to become a friend of time. The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2019.

The Rise of Outrage October 30, 2020 Dick Keyes In a world where the dominant source of moral authority for the individual is increasingly one's own emotions, outrage has become the quickest path to moral conviction and to political influence. How should we understand this and respond to it? The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2019.  

There Just Aren't Enough Days in the Weekend: Finding Sabbath Rest in the Lord of the Sabbath   by Dave Friedrich   October 23, 2020   What was Sabbath rest about in the Old Testament? How did Jesus “fulfill” it in the New Testament? And how do we find it in our day? These will be the guiding questions of this lecture.    The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2019.  

On Being Politically Homeless October 16, 2020 by Joshua Chestnut In a way that seems prophetic of today, C.S. Lewis commented that one symptom of a sick society is that it talks about politics too much. Wanting to move beyond the incessant, performative, tone-deaf, package deal platform of partisan politics in America, this lecture will consider the quasi-religious nature that politics has taken on today and place that in conversation with the “politics” of Christians in the first few centuries. The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2019.

Making and Fixing in a World of Cheap Replaceable Objects by Ben Keyes October 9, 2020 Most contemporary people are surrounded by cheaply made, easily replaceable products. In addition to this, many of our lives are so mediated through digital technology that we seldom use our hands to engage the physical world at all. Is the loss of ‘manual competence' really a loss, or is it simply the way of the modern world?  The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2019.

The Apostle Paul, A Friend of Women Oct 2, 2020 Joshua Chestnut While many discussions of women in the writings of the Apostle Paul begin and end in the infamous controversial passages, this lecture will start elsewhere and instead look at the often overlooked named women in Paul's letters. My hope is that by looking at who these particular named women are, what they appear to be up to and the way Paul describes them will provide us a fresh way into the often fraught discussion of Paul and women. The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2019.

Fear, Anxiety, and the Fear of the Lord September 25, 2020 by Dave Friedrich There is a curious line from the well-known hymn Amazing Grace that mentions what appears to be two contradictory out-workings of grace: “ 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved.” In this lecture we will take a closer look at this paradox of grace as we compare and contrast fear, anxiety and the fear of the Lord.   The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2019.  

Hearts Set on Pilgrimage: How Taking Walks Might Become Your Favorite Spiritual Discipline September 18, 2020 by Anna A. Friedrich   Walking is as ordinary as it gets. It's so commonplace, it's almost pedestrian. But the Scriptures, especially Proverbs, elevate this simple activity to a rich analogy for life with God. If we're invited to “walk with God” how do we do that? And might regular, literal walks be a way to stay on the Way? The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2019.

The Table Is Laid (A Hymn) by Ben Keyes Southborough L'Abri, 2020   'The Table is Laid' is a hymn that I have been trying to finish writing for a long time. I am not convinced that it is quite done, but I thought I would offer it anyway in hopes that it might be an encouragement. The hymn is a prayer both of longing and of hope. The world is in desperate need of Christ's coming and every day we see brokenness that is not yet mended. But we also stand in a place of confidence in light of the battle already won be God. Ultimately the image of the table is our great hope- a feast at which each of us is truly expected! The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2019.   The Table is Laid We seek the Lord Christ With faith that is dim And hearts that half long To stray away from Him          But the conquering King            holds the bruised and bent reed         And the flickering wick         He will fan into flame.                                                        …We need you O Christ                                             The world brims with hate.                                             The sickness, the strife                                             Your church does not escape                                             May your children rise,                                             In the power of your love                                             In a world ripped apart,                                             But made one by your blood, and unite. We love you O Christ For what you have done The defeat that you sought And the victory you won             So that God's enemies             Might abandon that fight-             O children of Heav'n,             Peace is your birthright…..                                     Our brother, your son                                   Has forged us this place,                                   In Your family O God.                                   We can long for your face                                                  We approach Your great throne                                                         Yet walk by your side                                                         All wrongs they are known                                                         But in Christ swept aside                                                                     And the chairs are pulled back                                                                     And each one bears a name:                                                                     Of a child of God.                                                                     O the table is laid.

22 Things I Have Learned From Life by Dr. Donald J. Drew L'Abri 2001    “I listened to this lecture last month on Nickaela's recommendation. It's full of gems! I played it for one of our Wednesday night Wild Cards and it became a light-hearted competition to try and discern what the actual 22 things were. One of the most helpful things was his way of emphasizing that God doesn't play games!”­ — Anna Friedrich Dr. Donald J. Drew studied at Cambridge and was President of the Christian Union and worked at L'Abri for a number of years. His books include Images of Man: A Critique of the Contemporary Cinema (1974) and Letters to a Student: Encouraging Words from a Christian Mentor (2003). The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2019.

An Altared Heart:  Anxiety, Prayer, Poetry and Hope During COVID-19   by Sarah Chestnut   April 10. 2020   In this personal essay written in the middle of Lent, just as social isolation measures were being put in place, Sarah Chestnut reflects on poems that have given her language for her anxious heart in an anxious time, and on the source of true hope.   The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2019.

CRUCIAL: Poems on Christ's Seven Last Words from the Cross    by Sarah Chestnut   April 9, 2020   Sarah Chestnut shares original poems written on each of Christ's final words from the cross, read alongside the gospel texts.  These meditations on Christ's death are a helpful companion on Good Friday.   The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2019.  

Between the Cross and Resurrection: Reflections on Jesus' Death and Our Own.  by Joshua Chestnut March 13, 2020   This lecture will be an exploration of the theology of Holy Saturday.  Taking what the Apostle's Creed refers to as Jesus' “descent to the dead” as our starting place, this lecture will consider what it means that Jesus was dead as well as what this might mean for us as we consider the inevitability of our own death. The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2019.    

Violence in the Bible from Joshua to Jesus (Part 2 of 2): Jesus and the Cross by Dave Friedrich March 6 What are we to make of the similarities and significant differences between Joshua and Jesus, especially as it relates to the role of violence in the Promised Land? That will be the guiding question of this lecture as we look at how Jesus ‘conquers' in the gospels and the book of Revelation. The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2019.

The Vineyard and the Vine: Reflections on the Biblical Theme of Wine Making By Ben Keyes Feb 21 In ancient Israel vines, vineyards, grapes and wine making were a part of every day life and good wine was considered a sign of God's blessing. The cultivation of grape vines also provides a rich source of metaphorical imagery throughout the bible. This lecture will attempt to follow the thread of vine imagery throughout scripture to see what is communicated about God and his saving relationship to his people. The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2019.

Violence in the Bible from Joshua to Jesus (Part 1 of 2): Joshua and the Conquest      by Dave Friedrich Feb 28, 2020 How are we to understand the violence we encounter in the Bible within the broader culture and context of Scripture? That will be our guiding question as we look at Joshua's Conquest in Canaan and address further questions surrounding genocide, the inspiration of Scripture and the goodness of God. The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2019.

In the Garden of Delight: Reading the Song of Songs for a Broken World by Joshua Chestnut Feb 1, 2020 What was once the most popular and most commented-on book in all of the scriptures, the Song of Songs (or sometimes called the Song of Solomon) plays little role in shaping contemporary imaginations about what it means to be human.  Often assumed to be simplistic love songs, these ancient Hebrew love poems hold beautiful and timely wisdom on the goodness of human love, the problematic dynamics of abused power, the significance of place as well as the delight of life with God.     The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2019.  

“Can Christian People hope to have a redemptive influence in the polarization of American Politics?”       by Dick Keyes Jan 31, 2020 Political Polarization threatens to cripple our government. There seem to be few solutions on offer, but could Christian people willing to stand under the whole counsel of God make a difference? The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2019.

‘For Your Name's Sake': Living for the Reputation of God by Ben Keyes Feb 7, 2020 The biblical writers often tell us that God acts in the world ‘for the sake of his name.' Biblical characters sometimes plead with God to intervene ‘for His name's sake.” What does it mean that God defends his reputation to people? What difference would it make to pray with the glory of God's name in mind? The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2019.

“It was meant to be good”: Becoming More Human in the Kitchen and Around the Table by Sarah Chestnut Jan 24, 2020   What does good food mean?  What makes food good?  Can learning to cook- or even just hanging around the kitchen- make us more human?  Is eating a spiritual act?  In an age of individualized diets that can become their own religions, is there hope for “family style” eating and true hospitality?  Does what and how we eat really matter?  With these questions and many more in mind, we will explore the significance of cooking and eating for the recovery of our true humanity.   The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2019.    

Caring for Creation V: Dappled, Strange, & Glorious: What Can Variety and Abundance Reveal? by Anna Friedrich Jan 17, 2020 This lecture is part of our ongoing series on the goodness of creation and our unique role as humans to explore, care for, protect, and delight in it. We will look at two things revealed in what we see around us and what we read in the Bible — Variety and Abundance. What can these two teach us about who God is and who we are? The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2019.  

  Caring for Creation (IV): Does the Natural World Teach Theology? given by Ben Keyes November 15, 2019 Psalm 19 tells us that the heavens declare the glory of God. What is being declared about God as we look up at the stars? Does the rest of creation have anything in particular to declare? What is the relationship between God's particular revelation in scripture and his revelation in the natural world, which is available to all? In this lecture we will contemplate the value of creation both in itself and in its ability to teach theology. The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2019.  

Ecclesiastes and Something New Under The Sun  Everything is Vapor Part 1 of 3 by Dave Friedrich Theme Weekend: Nov. 1, 2019 What are we supposed to do with this strange and wonderful book? What kind of wisdom is this? And how are we to understand its place within the Bible and its fulfillment in Christ? These will be our guiding questions as we look at three major themes of Ecclesiastes: vapor, joy and a different kind of fear. Theme One: Vapor How would you describe that which is fleeting? What would you call grasping for what is beyond your grasp? How about “vapor” and “herding the wind”? That is how the Assembler, otherwise known as the Preacher or Teacher, describes everything human. He takes a hard look at life and concludes that it is all ephemeral, enigmatic, and frustrating. Is he a cynic? Or is he a realist telling us what it is like to live and work in the shadow of the fall? Could he even be one of the wise, telling us how to live in the wilderness, in exile, somewhere between the promise and the promised land? The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2019.

Ecclesiastes and Something New Under The Sun  A Table in the Mist Part 2 of 3 by Dave Friedrich Theme Weekend: Nov. 2, 2019 What are we supposed to do with this strange and wonderful book? What kind of wisdom is this? And how are we to understand its place within the Bible and its fulfillment in Christ? These will be our guiding questions as we look at three major themes of Ecclesiastes: vapor, joy and a different kind of fear. Theme Two: Joy The Assembler declares that everything is vapor, but he also sees “a table in the mist,” with food and drink and other good gifts from God that we are meant to enjoy. He says, in fact, there is nothing better than when God enables us to see and receive what is good. Is this true? And can we find this joy even in the mist of the wilderness?      The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2019.

Ecclesiastes and Something New Under The Sun  A Different Kind of Fear Part 3 of 3 by Dave Friedrich Theme Weekend: Nov. 2, 2019 What are we supposed to do with this strange and wonderful book? What kind of wisdom is this? And how are we to understand its place within the Bible and its fulfillment in Christ? These will be our guiding questions as we look at three major themes of Ecclesiastes: vapor, joy and a different kind of fear. Theme Three: A Different Kind of Fear For many, fear is an unpleasant and unwanted emotion that steals our joy and diminishes our lives. Ecclesiastes, and the Bible as a whole, call us to a different kind of fear, one that broadens our lives as we recognize the frightening difference between us and God: we are a vapor, but He is eternal. This is the fear of God, a God-ward orientation of holy awe that surprisingly gives us reason to hope, rejoice, and live our lives to the fullest. The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2019.

Navigating Restless Years: St. Augustine on How to Survive Young Adulthood by Joshua Chestnut Oct 2, 2019 Though he never had to deal with particular modern troubles like social media, student loans or internet porn, St. Augustine just like so many of us did have to navigate complicated relationships with parents, disappointment with religious community, haunting memories and seemingly unshakeable bad habits.  In this lecture we will look at how in his most well-known book the Confessions, Augustine opens up about all of this and more, offering help for those of us still navigating the “restless years” of becoming adults.     The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2019.  

How can we grow the right desires – and pass them on to others? by Dick Keyes Oct 18, 2019 It seems that God does not only want us to know what is right and good, but to do it. But that is not all. Jesus wanted much more for us – that we hunger and thirst for what is right and good; that we love and desire it. We probably know something about learning ideas and behavior, but how do we learn the right desires and how can we teach them to others in a world which is skilled at shaping human desires for its own purposes? The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2019.

"Belonging to Every Riven Thing":  Reflecting on the Incarnation with the Help of Peots(II) by Sarah Chestnut Oct 11, 2019 An earlier version of this lecture was given in 2016.  Turning to three new poems, we will consider in a format more discussion than lecture what it means about God, and what it means for our humanity, that Jesus was fully divine and fully human.  For those who would like to read the poems in advance, see “Every Riven Thing” (Christian Wiman), “Descending Theology: Christ Human” (Mary Karr), and “Hill Country” (Tracy K. Smith).  The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2019.  

Shouldn't The Christian Faith Be Easier? (Part II) Growing Biblical Grit by Ben Keyes Oct 4, 2019 Are we really prepared in the affluent west for what the bible has to say about the hardships of the Christian life? We are part of an entitled culture that believes success should come easily. For many, ease is a determiner of what is worth pursuing in life. This lecture will engage with the work of secular positive psychologist Angela Duckworth. What does Duckworth's understanding of ‘grit' have to do with biblical perseverance and long-suffering? The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2019.

Shouldn't the Christian Faith be Easier? (Part I) by Ben Keyes this was given June 14, 2019 Have you ever felt that if Christianity were really true, it would be easier to live out? This is a very common contemporary sentiment, but what does it presuppose? What are our expectations of the Christian life and how are they influenced by the modern belief that ‘ease determines right.' What does the bible encourage us to expect of life following Christ? The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2019.

Making Sense of Anger by Joshua Chestnut September 27, 2019 Whether we simmer in silence and suppression or explode in rage and violence, anger is a part of all of our lives. In this lecture we will look at the nature of anger, what it is telling us, and what we can do with it. The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2019.  

My Times are in Your Hands: Biblical Reflections on Suffering & Sovereignty given by Anna Friedrich Sept 20, 2019 What is God's relationship with all the bad things that happen? What does the Bible actually offer us in our suffering? The very old “problem of evil” continues to haunt and nag. We'll look at one helpful metaphor employed by many Biblical authors and invite this imagery to reawaken our imaginations and our prayers. The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2019.  

Reclaiming Love: Biblical and Scientific Principles for Restoring Relationships by Dr. Andrea Gurney, Professor of Psychology, Westmont College July 12, 2019 In a world that is more connected than ever before, we are somehow missing the mark on the very thing we were created for — loving, intimate relationships. As a society, we experience more depression, anxiety, and suicide than years past, and it is postulated that a primary reason for the increase in suicide is lack of social connections. This lecture will seek to provide practical tools from relationship science and Biblical truths to equip us in building healthy relationships. The Copyright for all material on the podcast is held by L'Abri Fellowship. We ask that you respect this by not publishing the material in full or in part in any format or post it on a website without seeking prior permission from L'Abri Fellowship. ©Southborough L'Abri 2019.