Podcast appearances and mentions of leslie newbigin

Pastor Tommy and Pastor Mary give some additional thoughts on the sermon, "Scripture" given at WCPC on Sunday, March 30, 2025. Watch the sermon Listen to the sermon Savoring Scripture by Andrew Abernathy A Walk Through the Bible by Leslie Newbigin She Reads Truth The Bible Project Bible Gateway

In this episode, Nathan and Cameron discuss if faith is really the opposite of doubt. They dive into the nature of doubt and the hidden assumptions behind skepticism, challenging the idea that atheism is a neutral starting point. Drawing from thinkers like Leslie Newbigin and Michael Polanyi, they explore how faith and reason intersect. They also examine the intellectual roots of modern skepticism and its impact on contemporary debates. If you're interested in apologetics, theology, and the intersection of faith and culture, this discussion is for you! #Apologetics #Theology #FaithAndReason #ChristianPhilosophy #SkepticismDONATE LINK: https://toltogether.com/donate BOOK A SPEAKER: https://toltogether.com/book-a-speakerJOIN TOL CONNECT: https://toltogether.com/tol-connect TOL Connect is an online forum where TOL listeners can continue the conversation begun on the podcast.

This lecture centers on the theme of "missio dei," or the mission of God, which emphasizes the church's calling to engage actively in the world as representatives of Christ. Sam, a pastoral staff member, reflects on the current sermon series titled "Vocatio," exploring concepts such as "creatio dei" (creation of God) and "capax dei" (the capacity for God) in relation to the divine mission entrusted to believers. He opens with contextual prayer, appealing for the Holy Spirit to guide the assembly as they delve into this critical topic.The foundation for today's exploration is the Great Commission from Matthew 28:18-20, where Jesus commands His disciples to make disciples of all nations. Sam emphasizes how traditional interpretations often associate this commission with missionary work in distant lands, but he seeks to broaden this understanding. He asserts that every follower of Jesus is also called to be a "sent one," commissioned to live out their faith in various contexts—at home, in the workplace, and within their neighborhoods.Sam references Leslie Newbigin, a prominent British bishop and advocate for the missional church movement, which encourages believers to understand their lives as part of God's redemptive work. He underlines the importance of being adaptable and open to God's calling, echoing the sentiment that the purpose of the church is inherently missional. Drawing on quotes from various theologians, he reinforces the message that followers of Jesus are invited to engage with God's mission by addressing the needs of the community and participating in acts of service.To illustrate practical applications of this mission, Sam shares insights from Dan Wilkinson, the executive director of World Relief Baltimore. Dan discusses the significant role of the church in supporting immigrants and refugees, emphasizing the biblical command to love one's neighbor. His work highlights the tangible impact of the church through initiatives that help settle new arrivals in the community, showcasing how these collaborative efforts embody the Great Commission in action.The dialogue continues with contributions from Megan Bailey, a Young Life leader in Baltimore County. She details her mission of connecting college students with Jesus through relationship-building and outreach efforts. Megan elaborates on creative ways to foster connections with young people and engage them in meaningful discussions about faith, illustrating a vital aspect of Christ's church: the call to shepherd the next generation.Sam continues to unfold the manifold ways in which St. Moses is actively partnering with local organizations, such as Barclay Elementary and various community outreach programs. He encourages congregants to participate in these initiatives, fostering an environment where church members can collectively meet the needs of their community and discover their unique contributions to the mission.Throughout the talk, a recurring theme emerges: the importance of collective action within the church. Sam urges participants to see themselves not merely as individual agents of change but as a cohesive body unified in purpose, leveraging God's resources to meet the myriad needs present in their communities. He concludes with an invitation for all congregants to reflect on their personal calling within the mission of Christ's church, encouraging them to open their hearts to God's guidance as they embark on this journey of faith together.Sam closes with a prayer, again invoking the Holy Spirit's guidance, and reiterates the hopeful message of renewal and reconciliation that defines the church's mission. He underscores the call to be involved actively, inviting attendees to consider how they might respond to the Great Commission in their everyday lives, thus highlighting the vibrancy and accessibility of this divine calling.

Welcome to the Pinkleton Pull-Aside Podcast. On this podcast, let's step aside from our busy lives to have fun, fascinating life giving conversation with inspiring authors, pastors, sports personalities and other influencers, leaders and followers. Sit back, grab some coffee, or head down the road and let's get the good and the gold from today's guest. Our host is Jeff Pinkleton, Executive Director of the Gathering of the Miami Valley, where their mission is to connect men to men, and men to God. You can reach Jeff at GatheringMV.org or find him on Facebook at The Gathering of the Miami Valley.In March 2012, Scott Sauls began serving as the Senior Pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Tennessee. He is married to Patti and has two daughters, Abby and Ellie. Previously, Scott was a lead and preaching pastor for Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, where he worked alongside Dr. Timothy Keller. He has also planted and pastored churches in Kansas City and St. Louis, and is a frequent speaker at conferences, leadership retreats, and to university students.Formative experiences have included being an athlete, living in a global city, and suffering through a season of anxiety and depression. Influential voices in Scott's life include Tim Keller, CS Lewis, Leslie Newbigin, Soong Chan Rah, Dorothy Sayers, Jonathan Edwards, Joni Eareckson Tada, Miroslav Volf, Paul Tripp, Ann Voskamp, Martin Luther King, Jr., and NT Wright. In his free time you might find Scott immersed in a book, strumming his Gibson J-45 guitar, hiking, partaking in Nashville's ever-expanding foodie culture, enjoying live music, or cheering on the St. Louis Cardinals and North Carolina Tar Heels.Scott has authored five published books: Jesus Outside the Lines, Befriend, From Weakness to Strength, Irresistible Faith, and A Gentle Answer. Scott also blogs weekly on this website and is active on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

The early church launches from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria and the uttermost parts of the world. Even in the midst of persecution, God continues to shape His church and refine it from inside and out. Sources: "I am neither an optimist nor a pessimist. Jesus Christ is risen from the dead." - Leslie Newbigin, British Theologian References: Thanksgiving Meals Outreach Fall Festival Kids Ministry Colorado Housing Asylum Network (CHAN) Stephen Ministry

The early church launches from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria and the uttermost parts of the world. Even in the midst of persecution, God continues to shape His church and refine it from inside and out. Sources: "I am neither an optimist nor a pessimist. Jesus Christ is risen from the dead." - Leslie Newbigin, British Theologian References: Thanksgiving Meals Outreach Fall Festival Kids Ministry Colorado Housing Asylum Network (CHAN) Stephen Ministry

The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice. Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Light shines on the righteous and joy on the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous, and praise his holy name. (Psalm 97:1-2, 11-12).   This psalm encapsulated both Israel's present faith and their future hope.  The Lord reigns: even now, despite however things might look.  And the Psalmist believes that to be good news.  News that should bring all the earth into gladness and rejoicing.  Why?  Because righteousness and justice are the foundations of God's throne.  The Kingdom of God, God's own rule and reign is the essence of all that is right, sound, and solid in this world.  God's Kingdom is itself a living standard by which all things can and will be judged, but a standard that in the end brings all things back to the very fullest of life.  And so the Creation can rejoice in the hope and knowledge that it will one day be liberated from its groanings and set free once again to flourish.  And so with our own lives too: there is a strange confidence the people of God hold on to that there is indeed a living standard of righteousness and justice that transcends our politicking--a justice out there that will “judge the justice for which we fight,” as Leslie Newbigin put it.  Interestingly, that should never give us confidence that we are above the law, as Christians have sometimes done.  No: this justice is clean, pure, and impartial, dividing soul from spirit and joint from marrow when it comes to it.  There's nothing hidden that will not be brought to light.  So, our confidence resides not in the fact that we ourselves are righteous and just, but in the fact that we know a God who is.  A God who knows what actually is wrong with this world, and who is also big enough to set it right. Here then is the future hope of Israel found in this Psalm.  Some of its images do indeed echo with our own book of Revelation, I think.  In the middle of the Psalm, we find that all peoples see the glory of God, and those who have entrusted themselves to any lesser god are put to shame as the justice and righteousness of the Lord King of heaven and earth is powerfully revealed.     Of course, for the people of God, this is the moment when all suffering is redeemed as all injustice is set right.  A moment we have been sitting in pews and folding our hands at bedsides praying and watching for all our lives.  This is the moment when the light shines on the righteous and the people of God are made glad.  Oddly enough, we know that this somehow includes us, unrighteous though we may feel.  “The righteous” includes us, not because we are above the law or have an in with the judge that would cause him to look the other way.  No—this God is the very one who, after making a just appraisal of our situation, has nevertheless loved us, chosen us, and shown mercy and forgiveness to us in Jesus Christ.  So: “Rejoice in the Lord, you who [have been freely made] righteous, and praise his holy name.”  

“The company of Jesus' friends who have accepted (even if uncomprehending) the washing of their feet by their Lord and Master have made the decisive turn. But among them there is one who remains in the service of the power of this age. There is treason in the very heart of the Church, and Jesus knows it and has known it from the beginning. His disciples must know it too, and be forewarned against the collapse of faith.”—Leslie Newbigin, The Light Has Come John 13:21-32

QUOTES FOR REFLECTION “…everyone thinks [my] life is great, I have success, everything is perfect. Well, first of all, no one is perfect, and I definitely am not.” ~Lindsay Vonn, Olympic skier, opening up about her struggles with depression “All of us experience fear, but when we confront and acknowledge it, we are able to turn it into courage. Being courageous does not mean never being scared; it means acting as you know you must even though you are undeniably afraid.” ~Desmond Tutu (1931-2021), South African bishop and theologian “It was almost funny. Life seemed downright accidental in its brevity, and death a punch line to a lousy joke.” ~Maureen Johnson, author “Christ pervades all scripture, as salt all waters of the sea, as light the brightest day, as fragrance the garden of choice flowers.” ~Henry Law (1797-1884), in the preface to his book Christ is All “To believe is to have been brought to the place where one knows that one has to rely completely on Jesus, and on Jesus alone.” ~Leslie Newbigin (1909-1998), British missionary and theologian “The degree to which we are willing to give Jesus access to what is deeply beneath the surface in our lives is the degree to which we will experience freedom in Him.” ~Peter Scazzero, pastor and author “Pastoral training is not an optional extra. It is an essential part of every church's ministry if it is to participate responsibly in the Great Commission that Jesus left the church.” ~Conrad Mbewe, pastor in Lusaka, Zambia SERMON PASSAGE John 7:1-31 (ESV) 1 After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him. 2 Now the Jews' Feast of Booths was at hand. 3 So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. 4 For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 For not even his brothers believed in him. 6 Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. 8 You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.” 9 After saying this, he remained in Galilee. 10 But after his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private. 11 The Jews were looking for him at the feast, and saying, “Where is he?” 12 And there was much muttering about him among the people. While some said, “He is a good man,” others said, “No, he is leading the people astray.” 13 Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him. 14 About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching. 15 The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” 16 So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. 17 If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. 18 The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. 19 Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?” 20 The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you?” 21 Jesus answered them, “I did one work, and you all marvel at it. 22 Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. 23 If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man's whole body well? 24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” 25 Some of the people of Jerusalem therefore said, “Is not this the man whom they seek to kill? 26 And here he is, speaking openly, and they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ? 27 But we know where this man comes from, and when the Christ appears, no one will know where he comes from.” 28 So Jesus proclaimed, as he taught in the temple, “You know me, and you know where I come from. But I have not come of my own accord. He who sent me is true, and him you do not know. 29 I know him, for I come from him, and he sent me.” 30 So they were seeking to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come. 31 Yet many of the people believed in him. They said, “When the Christ appears, will he do more signs than this man has done?”

In Episode 4 of ACAAAWIAB, Neil and Phil explore the meaning of freedom of religion. What is  is it? What are some common ways it's misunderstood? Can real belief even exist without it? We'll discuss British theologian Leslie Newbigin's distinction between de facto and ideological pluralism and how it applies to contemporary society, the parable of the blind men and the elephant, and the telephone game. And it will all connect… somehow…In “Should I Really Care About This?” we discuss relegation and promotion in professional sports and why U.S. sports desperately need it. Beers appearing in this episode:Modern Times Coffee StoutTrace Brewing Tessellated Paradise

In this episode with Chase Davis, we discuss several paradigmatic figures in the missional movement. We offer critiques of the most influential missional understanding today. The weaknesses of this understanding are explored in the face of Trumpism and Critical Race Theory. Finally, we consider eschatology and how it informs our here and now.

The year was 1819. We remember American Missionary Pliny Fisk. The reading is from Leslie Newbigin's “Foolishness to the Greeks: The Gospel and Western Culture.” — FULL TRANSCRIPTS available: https://www.1517.org/podcasts/the-christian-history-almanac GIVE BACK: Support the work of 1517 today CONTACT: CHA@1517.org SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts Spotify Stitcher Overcast Google Play FOLLOW US: Facebook Twitter Audio production by Christopher Gillespie (gillespie.media).

In this episode, we talk with Dr. David M. Gustafson, chair the Mission and Evangelism Department at Trinity Evangelical Divinity Seminary, to discuss the missional movement, historical contextualization methods, and Critical Theory.

Philippians 1:3-63 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of King Jesus.The Word: BeganThe Word: GoodThe Word: Completion“I am neither an optimist nor a pessimist; Jesus Christ is risen from the dead!”Leslie Newbigin

Philippians 1:3-63 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of King Jesus.The Word: BeganThe Word: GoodThe Word: Completion“I am neither an optimist nor a pessimist; Jesus Christ is risen from the dead!”Leslie Newbigin

Philippians 1:3-63 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of King Jesus.The Word: BeganThe Word: GoodThe Word: Completion“I am neither an optimist nor a pessimist; Jesus Christ is risen from the dead!”Leslie Newbigin

Hope - From Axis Culture Translater Premium Vol 6 issue 29 " Experts warn a second surge of COVID-19 deaths are imminent. Racial tensions continue to dominate the news cycle. Economic insecurity is trickling down into every sphere of life. It seems everything these days is up for grabs. Despair, darkness, and depression are dominating the cultural landscape and our interior lives. And yet, as followers of Christ, we are called to be people of hope in a hurting world, which, in hard times like these can only seem like “foolishness to the Greeks.” But is it? If there is one lasting legacy you can leave with your children during this kairos moment in their lives, it might be this: We are a people of hope. But hope and good old-fashioned optimism are radically different things. While optimism is focused on a good future outcome or a pleasant change in our current circumstances, hope is a quiet confidence in the present based on what God in Christ has done in the past. As long-time missionary and theologian Leslie Newbigin once wrote, “I am neither an optimist nor a pessimist. Jesus Christ is risen from the dead.” Amen to that. For Newbigin and for us, hope is defiance in the face of fear. It is the often courageous task of staring reality in the face and still claiming that though evil, suffering, and death remain, they have already been defeated. Hope is standing in the valley of dry bones and daring to believe God will breathe life into them once again. Hope is mustering the courage to go to the tomb in the early hours before dawn, just in case. Hope is living as resurrection people in a dying world. Hope is joining God right here and right now in the renewal of all things. If Hell is hopelessness, then maybe a little bit of heaven is the realization that all over this tired old world, “hope springs eternal.”"

Pastor Chris shares wisdom and insight from missiologist, theologian, and pastor Leslie Newbigin which changed his understanding of the church and have been invaluable in shaping the ethos of Ecclesia. The Gospel is good news for everyone, calling us into the culture to share it; not to cling to the supposed “safety” of our own religious circles. God’s mission is everywhere, and you are called to be a part of it.

Pastor Chris shares wisdom and insight from missiologist, theologian, and pastor Leslie Newbigin which changed his understanding of the church and have been invaluable in shaping the ethos of Ecclesia. The Gospel is good news for everyone, calling us into the culture to share it; not to cling to the supposed “safety” of our own religious circles. God’s mission is everywhere, and you are called to be a part of it.

In this Friday Night Lights episode we talk about Leslie Newbigin, epistemology, Syria, Don Rickles and Barry Manilow. Enjoy!

Welcome to The Shaun Tabatt Show! Scott Sauls is back on the show today to share about his book Jesus Outside the Lines: A Way Forward for Those Who Are Tired of Taking Sides (Tyndale House Publishers, 2015). Here's the ground we cover in this episode: The book opens with you stating, “I decided to write this book because I am tired. Tired of taking sides, that is.” Tell us about the season of your life that this book emerged from. What sorts of questions were you wrestling with at the time? (00:37 - 01:44) Another thing you talk about in the introduction is “outrage porn.” Explain what that is and give us some examples of where we've all likely seen this on full display in our culture over the past 3-6 months? (01:45 - 06:48) If I were to write a list of the top 5 sermon topics that will make your parishioners squirm, I'm guessing tithing would be near the top. In chapter four, you call out a study reported in Relevant magazine and share that if American Christians began to tithe regularly, global hunger, starvation, and death from preventable diseases could be relieved within five years. If this is truly the case, you'd think we'd be going for that with all we're worth. Talk to us about wealth, greed, contentedness, and generosity, why do Christians struggle so much in these areas? (06:49 - 12:36) While sexuality has always been a hot button issue for the church, the questions that people are asking today are far different than they were even 5-10 years ago. In chapter eight, you say that God is both in favor of chastity and in favor of sexual freedom. Take a few minutes to help us build a biblical grid for how we can process and lovingly respond to the questions our family, friends and neighbors are asking about this topic? (12:37 - 18:48) I think one of the most humbling challenges of preparing a sermon or a writing a book is that we're always in essence preaching to ourselves. Was there any particular part of Jesus Outside the Lines that was especially challenging for you to write? (18:49 - 20:30) Jesus Outside the Lines is nearing its two year anniversary, so you've had a lot of time for readers to share feedback with you. Are there any common themes or questions that have  come back to you? Anything that surprised you? (20:31 - 22:19) If Jesus Outside the Lines were releasing for the very first time in 2017, is there anything you would add or say differently? (22:20 -23:40) Scott, if you could have a 5 minute conversation with every reader who finishes Jesus Outside the Lines, how would you challenge or encourage them? (23:41 - 24:58) Are there any morning or evening that you've found to make you more productive with your writing and help you both start and end your day well? (24:59 - 28:48) What about getting into a groove or flow state for your writing? What does that look like for you? (28:49 - 30:00) Any tools or apps that are an indispensible part of your writing process? (30:01 - 30:42) Where can people go on the web to learn more about you and your books? (30:43 - 31:06) About the Book:  Whether the issue of the day on Twitter, Facebook, or cable news is our sexuality, political divides, or the perceived conflict between faith and science, today's media pushes each one of us into a frustrating clash between two opposing sides. Polarizing, us-against-them discussions divide us and distract us from thinking clearly and communicating lovingly with others. Scott Sauls, like many of us, is weary of the bickering and is seeking a way of truth and beauty through the conflicts. Jesus Outside the Lines presents Jesus as this way. Scott shows us how the words and actions of Jesus reveal a response that does not perpetuate the destructive fray. Jesus offers us a way forward - away from harshness, caricatures and stereotypes. In Jesus Outside the Lines, you will experience a fresh perspective of Jesus, who will not (and should not) fit into the sides. About the Author:  In March 2012, Scott began serving as the Senior Minister of Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Tennessee, where he lives with his wife Patti and two daughters, Abby and Ellie. Previously, Scott was a lead and preaching pastor for Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, where he worked alongside Dr. Timothy Keller. He has also planted churches in Kansas City and St. Louis, and is a frequent speaker at conferences, leadership retreats, and to university students. Formative experiences have included being an athlete, living in a global city, and suffering through a season of anxiety and depression. Influential voices in Scott's life include Tim Keller, CS Lewis, Leslie Newbigin, Soong Chan Rah, Jonathan Edwards, Johnny Cash, Joni Eareckson Tada, Miroslav Volf, Paul Tripp, Ann Voskamp, Martin Luther King, Jr., Marva Dawn, and NT Wright. In his free time you might find Scott relaxing with people or a book, strumming his Gibson J-45, hiking, eating Edley's BBQ, enjoying live music, or cheering on the St. Louis Cardinals and North Carolina Tar Heels. Scott has authored two books: Jesus Outside the Lines and Befriend. Connect with Scott: ScottSauls.com Facebook Twitter (@ScottSauls) Instagram For additional show notes, visit ShaunTabatt.com/122.

Welcome to The Shaun Tabatt Show! Today I sit down with Scott Sauls to explore some of the ideas found in his spectacular new book Befriend: Create Belonging in an Age of Judgment, Isolation, and Fear (Tyndale House Publishers, 2016). About the Book:  Is real friendship too risky? We live in a world where real friendship is hard to find. Suspicious of others and insecure about ourselves, we retreat into the safety of our small, self-made worlds. Now more than ever, it's easy to avoid people with whom we disagree or whose life experiences don't mirror our own. Safe among like-minded peers and digital “friends,” we really don't have to engage with those who can challenge and enhance our limited perspectives. Tragically, even the church can become a place that minimizes diversity and reinforces isolation. Jesus models a much richer vision of friendship. Scott Sauls, pastor and teacher, invites you to see the breadth of Christ's love in this book, BeFriend. Join Scott on this journey through twenty-one meditations to inspire actively pursuing God's love through expanding your circle of friends. Scott has met too many people whose first impulse is to fence off their lives with relational barriers that only end up starving their own souls. Yes, it's true: Real friendship is costly. Love does make us vulnerable. But without risk, our lives will remain impoverished. Join Scott in BeFriend as he summons you toward diverse friendship that can enrich your life and, in the process, reveal a better version of yourself. About the Author:  In March 2012, Scott began serving as the Senior Minister of Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Tennessee, where he lives with his wife Patti and two daughters, Abby and Ellie. Previously, Scott was a lead and preaching pastor for Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, where he worked alongside Dr. Timothy Keller. He has also planted churches in Kansas City and St. Louis, and is a frequent speaker at conferences, leadership retreats, and to university students. Formative experiences have included being an athlete, living in a global city, and suffering through a season of anxiety and depression. Influential voices in Scott's life include Tim Keller, CS Lewis, Leslie Newbigin, Soong Chan Rah, Jonathan Edwards, Johnny Cash, Joni Eareckson Tada, Miroslav Volf, Paul Tripp, Ann Voskamp, Martin Luther King, Jr., Marva Dawn, and NT Wright. In his free time you might find Scott relaxing with people or a book, strumming his Gibson J-45, hiking, eating Edley's BBQ, enjoying live music, or cheering on the St. Louis Cardinals and North Carolina Tar Heels. Scott has authored two books: Jesus Outside the Lines and Befriend. Connect with Scott: ScottSauls.com Facebook Twitter (@ScottSauls) Instagram For additional show notes, visit ShaunTabatt.com/094.   

We grope for greatness because we're wired that way. How does the Rabbi and Lord Jesus teach greatness? Suspended between coming from and going to his Father, Jesus commits a lowly act to teach a significant lesson about the good life.

REFLECTION QUOTES “Dump a year's supply of manna into cold storage and, guaranteed, you will forget God until the supply disappears…Do you see how this is exactly what we need? Fears and worries live in the future, trying to assure a good outcome in a potentially hard situation. The last thing they want to do is trust anyone, God included. To thwart this tendency toward independence, God only gives us what we need when we need it. The emerging idea is that he wants us to trust him in the future rather than our self-protective plan.” ~Ed Welch, Professor of Practical Theology and author of Running Scared: Fear, Worry and the God of Rest “The most dark and terrible thing about human nature is our capacity to take the good gifts of God and make them into an instrument to cut ourselves off from God, to establish our independence from God. All the impulses toward good, all the experiences of God's grace, and all the patterns of conduct and piety that grow from these can be and have constantly been made the basis for a claim on our own behalf, a claim that we have, so to speak, a standing in our own right. And so, in the name of all that is best in the moral and spiritual experience of the race, we cut ourselves off from the life that God intends for us – a life of pure and childlike confidence in the superabundant kindness of God.” -Leslie Newbigin, 20th century Anglican missiologist and philosopher “Grief has limits, whereas apprehension has none. For we grieve only for what we know has happened, but we fear all that possibly may happen.” ~Pliny the Elder (23-79 AD) SERMON PASSAGE Exodus 15:27-16:4, 16:14-21, 31-34 (NIV) 27Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water. Exodus 16 1The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt. 2In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. 3The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the LORD's hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.” 4Then the LORD said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions.” 14When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. 15When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread the LORD has given you to eat. 16This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Each one is to gather as much as he needs. Take an omer for each person you have in your tent.'” 17The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. 18And when they measured it by the omer, he who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little. Each one gathered as much as he needed. 19Then Moses said to them, “No one is to keep any of it until morning.” 20However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them. 21Each morning everyone gathered as much as he needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away. 31The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey. 32Moses said, “This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Take an omer of manna and keep it for the generations to come, so they can see the bread I gave you to eat in the desert when I brought you out of Egypt.'” 33So Moses said to Aaron, “Take a jar and put an omer of manna in it. Then place it before the LORD to be kept for the generations to come.” 34As the LORD commanded Moses, Aaron put the manna in front of the Testimony, that it might be kept.