We have a clearer picture of where non-Christians are coming from, and we’ve recognized what’s at the core of some of our own hesitations when it comes to sharing our faith. Now it’s time to get a little more practical. How do we engage in a spiritual conversation with an unchurched person? What do we need to say? What do they need to hear from us?
After gaining a little bit clearer understanding of the perspective and mindset of non-Christians in our community, in this lesson we turn our focus more towards ourselves as Christians. What are ways we have tried to share our faith with others in the past, and how effective have those methods been? We need to also take an honest look at some of the factors that can cause us to be hesitant when it comes to engaging in spiritual conversations.
The mission is simple: "Make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19) and sharing Jesus makes all the sense in the world when you are surrounded by fellow Christians, but in the real world it might look intimidating and even anxiety inducing. Does it really matter? Am I even allowed to share my faith in corporate America? In this class we will seek to better understand the "unchurched" in our community and fan to flame the Spirit inside of us to go after our friends, colleagues, and family that desperately need Jesus just as much as us. //Note: Some sections have been clipped due to not being able to hear questions asked. Marshall and Brandon attempt to repeat questions as needed.
Welcome to Unscripted! Church leaders Marshall Brown and Brandon Dodd engage in meaningful conversations and topics aimed at asking questions honestly about culture and faith. This week's episode is about meaningful community, and more specifically about online friendships and relationships. For a long time, there's been a stigma about online relationships, but can they actually be healthy and effective?
Welcome to Unscripted! Church leaders Marshall Brown and Brandon Dodd engage in meaningful conversations and topics aimed at asking questions honestly about culture and faith. This week's episode is about meaningful community, and more specifically how we are biologically designed for connection. We know that we have a natural desire to connect with people and be a part of a community, but how do our brains actually work when it comes to connection?
Jesus Juke Podcast Ep. 2 MUST OR DUST THANKSGIVING EDITION // We're just two guys talking life, family, weird stories, and the occasional Jesus Juke *Heisman Sounds*. In our second episode, Marshall and @Brandon Dodd talk turkey with Thanksgiving just a few days away. There are some definite dishes that should grace each of our holiday tables, but there is some disagreement on which ones. What dishes are landing on YOUR Thanksgiving tables this season?
WELCOME TO THE JESUS JUKE PODCAST // We're just two guys talking life, family, weird stories and the occasional Jesus Juke *Heisman sounds*. In our Pilot episode, @Brandon Dodd and Marshall Brown challenge each other to a Jesus-Juke-Challenge with some random prompts where we expect each other to make something spiritual out of funny life circumstances. // Let us know in the comments who won the Jesus Juke Battle, and what random topics you think would be funny for us to cover next!
Shame is such a powerful emotion. It goes beyond just a sense of guilt or remorse for past mistakes. Shame leads me to believe, not just that I did something bad, but that I am a bad person. That kind of perspective can be devastating to my sense of self-worth. But Jesus came into our world to conquer the things that keep us separated from God, including our shame. So how do I recognize if shame is something that is impacting my attitude and actions? And how do I allow Jesus to defeat and remove feelings of shame from my mind and heart?
The pursuit of happiness is one of the "rights" outlined in the Declaration of Independence. It's a concept that permeates our culture even today - pursue happiness...search for and find what makes you happy. But is being happy truly the goal in life? Is that what God wants for me? To just make sure that I'm happy? Scripture seems to indicate that God calls us to choose something even greater than happiness. God calls us to choose joy. But aren't joy and happiness the same thing? If they're not, how do I know the difference? And how do I make sure that I'm moving beyond pursuing happiness to taking hold of joy?
The Bible consistently calls God's people to experience joy. Over and over different authors in scripture talk about rejoicing and celebrating God's blessings and God's presence...and that's a good thing! But sometimes I don't feel very joyful. There are days when I'm hurting or I'm tired or I've lost something or someone that meant a lot to me - there are days when I'm just sad. But is that wrong? Does it make me a bad Christian if I have feelings of sadness? How do I keep my moments of sadness from taking over my thoughts and controlling my actions?
There are seemingly countless phobias that affect millions of people worldwide. There are constantly fear and anxiety-inducing situations many of us deal with on a regular basis. Then we read scriptures that say "do not fear" and "don't be afraid," and we feel guilty because we actually are afraid. So is it wrong to feel anxious? Is it wrong to feel fear? And what do I do when it seems like, instead of conquering my fear, my fear is conquering me?
Recent surveys indicate that a majority of Americans believe the country is angrier now than a generation ago. We seem to allow our angry feelings to influence our words and our actions than maybe people in our culture used to. But anger is just a natural emotion, isn't it? Don't I have the right to get angry about things that really bother me? While most of our feelings are natural responses to circumstances around us, allowing strong emotions (like anger) to take control of our thoughts and actions can lead to a whole bunch of problems. So how do I get better at navigating my feelings when someone makes me angry?
Studies have shown how important it is for human beings to have a sense of belonging, to have a community that they feel like they're a part of. This makes sense because from the very beginning, God designed us for relationships. We're supposed to have connections with others; we're supposed to have a sense of community with each other, especially those of us who are followers of Jesus. But this need for connection goes beyond just an innate desire to have relationships with others. We are actually challenged by God to have connections, not just with Him, but with each other. It's not just a recommendation; it's a calling.
40% of Americans say they feel a deep sense of peace on at least a weekly basis. Yet the United States ranks in the top 5 of most stressed countries in the world. We seem to be a people who crave peace yet find difficulty in achieving it. But peace is something that scripture says Jesus came to give and something that God calls His followers to. So how do I find God's peace, and how do I get better at sharing that peace with others?
"Holy" is one of those churchy-sounding words that gets tossed around a lot, especially in Christian circles. For many of us, when we call something "holy," we're saying that it holds special significance and meaning, most importantly to God. But is that it? Is that all that holiness is about? What if I had a deeper understanding of what it meant to be holy? Would that change how I view God, how I view others, or even how I view myself?
Many of us have experienced what it's like to not be picked. We didn't get picked when choosing teams on the playground; the person we wanted to date chose someone else; the promotion we were hoping for went to a co-worker. It can be confusing and even hurtful to not be chosen. The good news is God has chosen each one of us to experience His grace. He has chosen each one of us to have the opportunity to be His child. But the question is...what do I do with that calling? How do I respond when I'm called to a relationship with Jesus?
Throughout scripture we see God calling certain people for certain purposes. He saw certain individuals where they were and chose them to accomplish particular tasks or share specific messages. This "calling" helped provide direction and purpose to the action being taken. But does God still do that today? Does God actually have a calling for me? And if so, what is it?
God doesn’t wait for polished people—He calls the bold, the broken, and the imperfect. Through the life of Peter, we’ll explore how raw, impulsive faith—when surrendered to Jesus—becomes the foundation of a powerful calling. This is a message for anyone who feels unqualified, overlooked, or uncertain about their purpose. God isn't looking for perfection. He's looking for your yes.
Multiple times in scripture we see Jesus' so-called enemies plotting to discredit Him, arrest Him, even have Him killed. It wasn't only Jesus who was having His life threatened though. One of His followers named Lazarus was a thorn in the side of Jesus' opponents as well - so much so that they plotted to take his life too. What can Lazarus' story teach me about sharing my faith story with others?
Most of us like to feel like we're in control. We try to make sure things go the way we want them to, or we at least try to avoid things that may be difficult or hurtful. But then life happens - we experience hardship, frustration, disappointment. And when we can't fix it ourselves, we look to God to fix it for us. But we often want to dictate to Him what it is he does for us, even though our plans may not match up with His. So how do I become more trusting? How do I learn to let go of control and accept God's plan and God's timing?