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Deeper conversation on the mysteries of Christianity with Patrick Kennedy and Jonah Evans, directors of the Seminary of The Christian Community in North America.
In this podcast we engage the great questions of life and do this through a spiritual approach to Christianity made possible through contemplative inquiry and the science of the spirit known as Anthroposophy.
You can support our work and gain access to more unique content if you visit our Patreon: www.patreon.com/ccseminary
247 Episodes
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In our next episode, Jonah and Patrick lead us towards a new understanding of a particularly challenging portion of Paul’s letter (Eph 5:22-33). Paul describes a re-ordering of the universe through Christ based on submission (huppotassō, Greek). We are each invited, out of our own freedom and dignity, to follow the True Human Being, one who possesses a wisdom and heart wider and deeper than our own. How does our growing union with Christ Jesus begin to transform our relationships with each ot...
What is the relationship between Christ’s light and the darkness in and around us that does not bear fruit (Eph 5:11-14). As Paul himself experienced so dramatically on his way to Damascus, the road walked with Christ is not filled with condemnation of others or ourselves. Christ’s light shines on all of who we are. Can we bring all of who we are to him and open ourselves to the transformative, healing processes flowing towards us? When we are filled with God, the qualities sought in states o...
Our series continues with Jonah and Patrick reflecting on the people of Ephesus, who were being led into a new faith experience with Jesus Christ. The birth of a new community in Christ was a fusion of Jewish and pagan traditions, both cultural and spiritual. What were the consequences of this new light dawning in their daily lives? Paul offers us all a discernment practice—when we turn towards Christ’s light, the shadow in us is revealed. One gives life, the other is rooted in death. “Awake,...
In our next episode, Jonah and Patrick explore the darkness and light within each of us as described by Paul in Ephesians 5:1-14. Paul calls us to be “imitators of God” while we live and wrestle with darkness. How do we fulfill this call? God actually reveals God’s nature as a being who “lives in the darkness”—the stars in the night sky reveal this, the beginning of Genesis reveals this, Christ reveals this on the cross. So, we could understand being “imitators of God” as becoming ...
Our next episode continues with Paul’s description of what we might expect as we attempt to put on the true garment of our humanity, the resurrected Jesus Christ (Eph 4:25-32). The Risen One was transformed almost beyond recognition, but he retained his wounds. He suffers for and with us, willingly sharing in our suffering and offering us his peace. That is the new meaning of being human—acknowledging our wounds and offering our substance for our Beloveds. Support the show The Light in Every ...
Dear Listeners, Due to illness and other factors beyond our control, we have gotten behind our regular podcast production schedule here at the seminary. But, we didn’t feel like we could ask you to wait any longer to the next installment of our ‘Letter to the Ephesians’ series. Here is the audio - a full 90 minutes - on speaking the truth in love, a capacity we so desperately need today. Support the show The Light in Every Thing is a podcast of The Seminary of The Christian Community in North...
In this second part of Patrick and Jonah’s conversation, we are given insight into what “putting on the new human” might feel like. Christ Jesus is walking with and working in every single human being, continually offering the sense of another way. His way is not the dissolution of our trials and tribulations, but a new kind of peace that arises in and through them. There is much to be transformed in ourselves and our communities. He is with us and in us, offering Himself as the seed of our b...
In our next episode, we delve deeper into the heart of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, Chapter 4. Paul calls us “to be renewed in the spirit of [our] minds and to put on the new self” (Eph 4:23-24). Jonah gives us a beautifully simple yet powerful example of how he experiences this renewal of mind—an ever-present possibility that can lead us into Christ’s presence and His peace. Support the show The Light in Every Thing is a podcast of The Seminary of The Christian Community in North America....
"We want a name. What do we want to build something? We want a name. What do we want to build? Whose name do we want? To be receiving glory. So I need these maturation processes in me to get me ready. So we needed, I think, to fall Right, you will be, to realize the eternal purposes. We needed a maturation process, and that maturation process seems to be sin and death, to enter a fallen place and every myth and every secret story has this. You need to fall into Sheol, you need to go down into...
In this episode, we the beginning of chapter four in the Letter to the Ephesians. It leads us into three of the qualities of character that the author names as humility, gentleness, and patience. We are led into the topic of intentional character development in and through Christ. This conversation on spiritual formation is stirred by Paul’s words in the fourth chapter of Ephesians, where he “urges” us to “walk in a manner worthy of [our] calling.” We hope and pray that these reflections migh...
Our series continues, this Christmas Eve, as Patrick and Jonah lead us into Ephesians 4:1-8. We recently heard Paul’s beautiful prayer for strength that we may “know the love of Christ” and “be filled with all the fullness of God.” Now we turn our attention to the calling we have each been called to—one that we are free to accept, decline or be in never ending struggle with. Paul describes his calling as being a prisoner or servant in the Lord. Modern consciousness resists these words an...
Dear Listeners, There will be no full podcast on the theme this week, but Patrick is offering up this prayer from Ephesians 3:14-21 for us. We invite you to listen to the short audio above. This translation is based on the English Standard Version, with new elements translated by Patrick. The Prayer for the Ephesians Ephesians 3:14-21 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every lineage in heaven and on earth receives its Name, that according to the abundance of hi...
In our next episode, Jonah and Patrick take us deeper into the significance of the Adam, or human being, first being created in the ‘selem’ or image of God (Genesis 1:26-27) and its relationship to Paul’s understanding of the risen Christ Jesus. What is the purpose of the human being in the unfolding cosmic story? What are we meant to reveal through Christ Jesus? Can we feel that without Him we are cut off and one-sided? Support the show The Light in Every Thing is a podcast of The Seminary o...
Our series continues with a closer look at Ephesians 3:8-11, where Paul points to the ‘manifold wisdom of God’ being made known even in the heavenly places, by the ecclesia—the community of all who hear the call of Christ Jesus. Paul tells us that this Sophia (Wisdom) of God has been hidden for ages in God, but with Christ’s deed of sacrificial love on the cross—and all that flowed from it—this mystery was unveiled and revealed on the stage of world-history. New wisdom and new power now flow ...
The word ‘mystery appears in the New Testament twenty-seven times, with twenty-four references coming from Paul’s letters to the ancient churches. In modern times we can easily understand mystery as a riddle to be solved; but how is Paul using the word, particularly in his letter to the Ephesians? In this episode, Jonah and Patrick delve into what Paul first experienced as the ‘Mystery of Christ’ on the road to Damascus and continued to share throughout his ministry—that the hidden wisdom and...
In our next episode, Patrick and Jonah go deeper into Paul’s understanding of God’s work to shape a “people”, the whole idea of ancient Israel. What is revealed is that the separating off and forming of one nation always had the larger mission of reintegration and “blessing” within it. The story of God’s chosen people was meant to grow into a new humanity and community, one that ultimately unites and reconciles all people to one another. Paul understood that the mystery of Christ Jesus’ death...
The next episode in our series focuses on the particular way that Jesus Christ works with sin, or human error. We are reminded that Christ condemned no human being while on earth; his condemnation was directed towards his true adversary. Nor does Christ condemn us now. Instead, he offers love, understanding and compassion for the great work we are in and what we struggle against. Can we humble ourselves in such a way that, moment to moment, the possibility exists for us to see our errors? Fro...
Jonah and Patrick continue to draw parallels between Paul’s first encounter with Christ Jesus and writer Naomi Wolf’s encounter with Jesus years ago, only recently described publicly in her essay “The Thing I Feared Most to Write.” What does it take to open ourselves to receiving something that lies well beyond our everyday consciousness? Are we willing to be changed forever? Christ Jesus’ heart holds the grief of the world and profound joy and love, all at the same time. Can our hearts stret...
In this episode, we return to Paul’s image of a living temple formed by joining together human beings who were once divided (Eph 2:14-22). Christ’s peace reconciles us to God and allows for God to dwell in us. How will this new temple community continue to grow? Patrick and Jonah share the story of well known author Naomi Wolf’s experience of meeting Jesus. How does her encounter shed light on our own glimpses of Christ and his heavenly kingdom woven through our earthly experience? Support ...
The next episode in our series takes us deeper into Ephesians 2, beginning with Jonah’s question “Where is Christ today? How can we find him?” Patrick answers by describing the biblical history of the temple, meant to house God on earth. Where is the new temple? Paul understands that the seat of the throne of God is destined to be in the hearts of human beings who long for healing. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the h...
In this episode, we are reminded of the many ways our hearts are divided from one another. Jonah brings in the story of Paul’s approval of Steven’s persecution as a poignant example of this division. Saul/Paul is forever changed when he comes to recognize that by persecuting Steven, he is persecuting Christ. Paul’s direct experience of Christ Jesus’ radiant light and love shining down on him as he travels toward Damascus, is what continues to shine through his letters. This recognition united...
In this episode, Patrick brings a new perspective on the Paul’s description of humanity as “children of wrath,” ruled by our impulsive natures, our passions and our desires (Eph 2:1-7). God in his great mercy and love for humanity “made us alive together with Christ” and a new self was born. Paul tells us that Christ has taken us into Himself and raised us up into the heavenly realms with Him. Meanwhile, we are still left to wrestle with our immature selves—the impulsive, passionate, wi...
In this episode, Jonah and Patrick begin to take us deeper into Paul’s letter to the Ephesians 2:1-3 and the question of wrath in all its complexity. What does Paul mean when he describes humankind as children of wrath? What is the wrath of God? And what, if anything, does wrath have to do with a God who “has his being in love?” Can we separate certain spiritual truths from the corrupted, fallen expression of violent discipline at the hands of parents who are also claiming to love us? Suppo...
Welcome to Season 5 of The Light in Every Thing! Patrick and Jonah dive back into the letter to the Ephesians, exploring the paradoxical nature of true life as taught by Paul — a life that emerges from first confronting the forces of death within us. Focusing on Eph 1:15-2:10 and how Christ’s life is revealed in his dying, opens up the path to participating in authentic life, to unraveling the mystery of “dying in Him.” Support the show The Light in Every Thing is a podcast of The Semin...
We are pleased to share with you Part II of the conversation between Jonah Evans, Patrick Kennedy and our incoming co-director, Rev. Emma Heirman. These three will be the guiding lights for The Seminary of The Christian Community of North America starting next summer (2025), but the celebrating has already begun. Emma bravely jumped into the world of seminary podcasting and we are the richer for it. This conversation is shaped by Jonah’s leading question to Emma, “For you, what is the meaning...
We are one week away…But before we start a new season of the podcast, we are delighted to share with you the first of two conversations between Jonah, Patrick, and Emma Heirman. As many of you know, Emma has been called to serve at the seminary as a fellow director, teacher, and priest, starting in September 2025. She has been a priest since 2016 and has served in the Denver, Colorado, and Washington, D.C., area congregations in North America. During our annual director's retreat, which we he...
It’s been quite awhile since we’ve had a Q&A episode here at The Light in Every Thing! But after fourteen packed episodes all relating to the Letter to the Ephesians, it was clearly time. We are always grateful and inspired by the deep listening of our audience. This was evident again in the thoughtful and vulnerable questions posed within our Patreon community. Jonah and Patrick took extra time in this episode to delve into three questions, and touch on a couple of others. We would love...
Dear Friends, Below you will find an excerpt of the Reader’s Notes posted within our Patreon community platform. Each summer we invite listeners anew to join us on Patreon. For as little as $3 USD a month, listeners can receive early access to weekly podcasts and a searchable archive of over 380 episodes; interact with Jonah, Patrick and other listeners via comments; receive exclusive access to support materials, and have seminary news delivered directly to your inbox. It is through the gener...
Dear Friends, We conclude season four of The Light in Every Thing with this powerful double episode. Jonah and Patrick begin by revisiting the theme of the power of God from the last few episodes (Ephesians 1). They continue by taking up several very difficult phrases from Ephesians 2:1-5, the “sons of disobedience” and “children of wrath”. What is Paul’s understanding of true obedience in relation to power? How is wrath transformed into love? We hope you enjoy the episode and we look forward...
Dear Friends, We hope you enjoy the next episode in our Letter to the Ephesians series! Next week we will post a double episode to finish off the season and take a short break. Rumor has it that there is still more to say about Ephesians! So it appears that is where we will begin again for the fifth season of The Light in Every Thing! Support the show The Light in Every Thing is a podcast of The Seminary of The Christian Community in North America. Learn more about the Seminary and its offeri...
Patrick and Jonah’s series on the Letter to the Ephesians will take a short break in a few weeks after a robust twenty-eight episodes altogether! We hope you enjoy the latest installment exploring the mysteries of power. Support the show The Light in Every Thing is a podcast of The Seminary of The Christian Community in North America. Learn more about the Seminary and its offerings at our website. This podcast is supported by our growing Patreon community. To learn more, go to www.patreon.c...
We hope you enjoy listening to the next episode of the Ephesians series! Our usual introduction will be added soon. Support the show The Light in Every Thing is a podcast of The Seminary of The Christian Community in North America. Learn more about the Seminary and its offerings at our website. This podcast is supported by our growing Patreon community. To learn more, go to www.patreon.com/ccseminary. Thanks to Elliott Chamberlin who composed our theme music, “Seeking Together,” ...
In the ancient world, glory was the crowning achievement of a life—to test oneself against the best of the best and come out on top; to risk your life for your people on the battlefield against a common enemy and to triumph. To seek glory was to seek eternity: to be known throughout the land and through the ages. But what is the glory that is bestowed on us from “the Father of Glory”? When we consider rightly the long arc of human becoming, the human longing for glory can be understood differ...
Our next episode returns to the intricacies of what it means to be sealed by the Holy Spirit, a promise referred to in Ephesians 1:13. According to Paul, bearing the seal of the Holy Spirit comes about when we are able to access and participate in the mind of God. Jonah and Patrick explore this uniquely human path—created in the image and likeness of God, coming to our selves within earthly life, and freely choosing, over and over again, to re-turn towards God in all humility. The seeds...
What are the purposes which were implanted in the human being as seeds, from the beginning of our creation? If humanity is able to unfold these seeds, how would God be glorified? What is the effect of Christ’s arrival? And how does all this relate to inheritance and the seal of the Holy Spirit? Patrick and Jonah take us on a long journey as they explore Ephesians 1:12-14. The parable of the Prodigal Son serves as a guidepost and doorway into these deepest of Christian mysteries. “In him we ha...
“With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will…” How do we begin to approach this deepest of all Christian mysteries? Revelation of this will, this purpose, is possible because, ultimately, we are seeking something that is woven into the very fabric of our humanity. This purpose is planted in us like a seed by God and it is because of this that we long for our origin, our true home. We look for reunion—the feeling of wholeness and being known. We are seeking c...
The Light of the World is leading us into a new relationship to our selves, to each other and to the world around us. This community is the human origin story, yes, but these relationships ultimately only come to fruition with the creation of a completely new self. Through Christ’s incarnation, we are granted that possibility—true love flowed into the realm of freedom as God.—and through the Cross, a new creation becomes possible. As we become more and more in His likeness, we begin to ...
Patrick and Jonah lead us deeper into the beginning of Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, where we hear that the humanity’s relationship with Christ existed before creation as we know it. The Father “blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world”. From the beginning, the path of human becoming was seeded in every human heart through Christ’s blessing and choosing. In Him, we find our true purpose and meaning. Support the show ...
“How does the divine creator being become a “Father”? And how does this being become our Father? These questions emerge out of the conversation as Jonah and Patrick explore Ephesians 1:2-3. The questions lead us into the incredible thought that comes through at the beginning of Paul’s letter and all early Christianity—Christ is our brother. Patrick and Jonah work to make sense of these mysteries of the new birth through Christ—the possibility of a whole new self. Support the show The ...
The next episode in our series explores Paul’s understanding of faith. We are familiar with the idea of faith as a belief. The faithful can profess, as many Christian creeds do, “We believe in Christ Jesus.” Paul points us to the reality that this type of faith is only a beginning—a doorway that can lead us into a life in faith. Christ Jesus himself is faithful to the Father; His faith can live in us when we open ourselves to Him and allow it to live in us. Support the show The Light in Every...
In this episode, Jonah and Patrick take us back to the beginning of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, where he introduces himself as “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God…” With that simple line, they take us on a journey—of Saul taking on the name Paul, of becoming an apostle or ‘sent one’ of God, and of discerning the many ‘wills’ at work in the depths of our beings. In the letter, Paul is inviting us to turn towards and unite ourselves more and more with the thoughts, feelings...
In our last couple of episodes, Jonah and Patrick focused on Paul’s call to prayer (Ephesians 6:18). Here, they shift to an earlier portion in the heart of the letter to consider Paul’s own prayer for the community. It is a beautiful example of the kind of prayer Paul is calling us to, and can begin to help us unlock the mystery and work of prayer. What is the activity of prayer? How do we form a prayer out of our inmost selves? What shall we pray for? “For this reason I bow my knees before t...
Our conversations focusing on Ephesians 6:10-20 have delved into the deep question and need that lives in every human heart—with everything that comes at us in this life, where can we turn for true protection? How can we face the attacks of this world, stay standing and cultivate a heart that is still open, whole and capable of generative, loving work? Once again, Christ shows us the way, demonstrating the protection offered by each aspect of armor as He made His way to the cross, faith...
In our next episode, Patrick and Jonah begin to explore Paul’s exhortation to pray—“praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit” Eph 6:18 (KJV). What does it mean to pray in the Spirit? First, we acknowledge our need, then choose where to turn. Having taken up the sword of the Spirit, and aware of the spiritual battle all around us, we offer our prayers to the true source of wholeness and healing. And finally, we become a chalice, opening ourselves to receive God’s will. &nb...
Jonah and Patrick walk us through Paul’s call to “put on the whole armor of God” so that we might stand against the schemes of our spiritual adversaries (Ephesians 6:10-20). Having clothed ourselves in the belt of truth, the breastplate of right relationship, the shoes of peace bringing good news, the shield of faith and the helmet of healing salvation, we earned the right to take up the “sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Only with this preparation can we hope to wield the sword...
In this episode of our “Letter to the Ephesians” series, Patrick and Jonah help us reimagine what is meant by the word “salvation.” They work to pinpoint the longing of the human heart that is related to the word—the longing for safety and protection from all that afflicts us. But where can true safety and deliverance be found? The strange power of Christianity is to seek this safety in the person and life of someone who bore such terrible humiliation and pain—to experience the mystery of sal...
The next episode of our series “Letter to the Ephesians” focuses on the spiritual protection offered when we put on the “helmet of salvation” (Ephesians 6:17). Jonah and Patrick explore the nature of salvation, the protective aspects of a helmet, and how our thinking can reflect either the thoughts of God or the thoughts of the adversaries. The spiritual battle for control of human thinking wages on. When we open our minds, when we put on the helmet forged by Him and endeavor to think His tho...
What is the protection God offers us, as described in Ephesians 6:10-20? The next episode of our “Letter to the Ephesians” series continues with the discussion of the “shield of faith” as protection against the flaming arrows of the adversary. Jonah and Patrick share examples out of their own experience, pointing to a protection that is established when we turn towards him and begin to sense our true self in Christ Jesus. In Him, our true self lives protected. Support the show The Light i...
In this episode, Patrick and Jonah lead us into the next aspect of God’s armor (Ephesians 6:16) —“In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.” What are the characteristics of a faith that can offer us protection against the flaming darts of the adversary? Paul points towards this earlier in his Letter to the Ephesians (Ephesians 3:16-19). Rather than adherence to a set of beliefs, faith is a dynamic activity meant to b...
The next episode of our “Letter to the Ephesians” series takes us a step further in the practice of putting on the armor of God. Jonah and Patrick delve deeply into Ephesians 6:15, “shoe your feet with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace” (translation by Patrick Kennedy). Jonah offers the picture that Christ forged these shoes of protection during his Temptation in the Wilderness (Luke 4:1-13). We can see how the Gospel oriented Christ Jesus to the will of the Father in each tem...
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