Normandy Church Podcast: Recent Episodes
John Bower
Welcome to our first, REAL podcast. Plato said necessity is the mother of invention. So, the purpose of the podcast is life. This, by God’s grace will be a resource to help you live now.
John Bower examines what it truly means to walk with Christ. Are we as believers willing to be brought low for the sake of The Kingdom?
This week Mark Heger goes into Mark 4:35-41. We talk about how to remain faithful to the one who allows the elements of the storm to exist, and to trust He is sovereign over all.
In this week's teaching we discuss what does it mean to be a disciple of God, and how does it look to make disciples? Matthew 28:16-20- What do we learn about being a disciple and by extension about the nature and function of Christ's Church?
This week we considered the idea that not only is God on mission, but he is present and active in the midst to save, redeem and to heal. God is ahead of us in our neighborhoods and business and God the Holy Spirit gifts the church resources and discernment to partner with Him in His work (Deuteronomy 31:8; Matthew 28:16-20).
This week we started our fall sermon series Missio Dei, the Mission of God. This idea of Missio Dei was not something God simply did (ex. John 3:16), this is a part of His very nature: God is a sending, a missional God. And as the Father sent the Son, so the Son sends us into the world (John 3:16; 17:3; 17:18; 20:21).
Out of fellowship with the Godhead and with each other, one of the things John the Elder tells his congregation is to "test the spirits." This is discernment. As a church and with other local pastors it seems we are discerning that God is calling His church into a time of consecration and intercession. In essence, the blood of Christ brings us back into His presence in order for us to play one of the roles humanity was created to be: a kingdom of priests (1 John 2:1-2; 1 Timothy 2:1-6; Genesis 1:26-28; Exodus 19:4-10).
This week we were back in 1 John and noted how an outflow of fellowship with God and with the Body leads to the practice of discernment, together (1 John 1:5-7; 1 John 4:1-3).
John Bower joins Stephen with Forerunner Mentoring to talk about what it's like to do ministry together and why it's important to have people supporting you and filling you up while you are pouring into others.
Welcome to our first, REAL podcast. Plato said necessity is the mother of invention. And during this rather unprecedented time in our nation, we have the opportunity to find new ways of connecting to Christ and one another. The purpose of the podcast is life. This, by God’s grace will be a resource to help you live now. In Episode 1, Pastor John outlines the practice of Lectio Divina and walks us through Psalm 62, “The Only Psalms.” Special thanks to Michael Gooden and Jon Cook of All Delighted People for allowing us to use their song, “You love me well.”
John Bower joins Stephen with Forerunner Mentoring for the fourth and final part of our Relational Needs series. In today’s episode we’re going to cover the relational skills every mentor needs to respond to their mentee’s needs in productive ways. You may have a desire to meet relational needs, but not know how to approach it, how to talk about it, how to meet those needs healthily.
Pastor John Bower joins Stephen with Forerunner Mentoring for part three of our Relational Needs series. Today, we discuss the obstacles to building relationship with your mentee. We cover what a healthy mentoring relationship looks like, what obstacles may be present, and how to overcome those obstacles.
Pastor John Bower joins Stephen with Forerunner Mentoring for part two of our Relational Needs series. Today, we discuss the concept of the emotional cup, what causes us to leave emotions unprocessed, the importance of just being present, how to talk with your mentee about their emotions, and why it's important to differentiate between thoughts and feelings.
Pastor John Bower joins Stephen with Forerunner Mentoring for the first of a four-part series on relational needs. This week, they discuss the pain and potential within relational needs, how shame can hinder us in meeting our relational needs, the role of attachment within relationship, why it's important for us to meet our relational needs outside of the mentor/mentee relationship, and how social media can shape our identity.
We are gearing up to get a handful of podcasts your way. All of these are geared to help you live and live well. This episode draws from Charles Spurgeon's Morning and Evening devotional.
A few thoughts for this Lectio podcast. The first is, the whole reason we set this up was to help you live in Christ. And after the horror we experienced as a church last Sunday, I wanted to cover some verses on peace. Hope this helps.
Back at it again! In Episode 6 we dive into Philippians 2:1-11. As we are all sheltered-in-place, St. Paul comes reminding us that we are still called to be one (even if we are in close quarters).
On Episode 5 is a minor deviation from the straight up practice of Lectio. In this episode, John walks through some thinking about fear and how God calls us to respond to it (Exodus 4:1-5)
What do you think when you think about God? What are the stories you’re telling yourself now about God yourself and our current life? These are some thoughts to think about during today’s Lectio (Isaiah 40/21-31 NIV).
Today's episode was written with the recent shelter in place ruling set forth by Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins. Most believers factually know that God tells us not to fear many times in scripture. Despite this knowledge many Christians live in a great deal of fear. I believe fear is overcome through a relational experience with God and His word that helps us overcome fear with knowledge He is actually with us. Today's Lectio is from a collection of verses and read by Kasey Bower (Deuteronomy 31:8; Isaiah 41:10; John 16:33; Romans 8:15-17; 1 Peter 5:6-7).
After the devastation this weekend, I wanted to produce a Lectio to help comfort our church. In this episode I briefly examine three ways we heal and then walk us through being comforted by God (Isaiah 40:1; Matthew 5:4; 2 Corinthians 1:2-5).