L'Abri Canada: Recent Episodes
canadianlabri
A podcast resource providing audio of the most current lectures given at L’Abri Fellowship Canada, near Victoria, B.C. If you'd like more information, see https://www.canadianlabri.org/
In the tension between evolutionary theories and creationist accounts, some have felt that one solution to bridge the divide is to see Adam and Eve as two hominins given an awareness of the divine ("breathed in life") and thus becoming images of God and representatives of modern humanity. Yet this solution isn't as simple as it first seems. When it is drawn out, it requires a reinterpretation of crucial aspects to Scriptural claims. This talk will examine this (often naturalistic) reinterpretation of the biblical trajectory and ask if the traditional view can still be defended.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
Certain forms of AI are increasingly being experienced as personal contact. In a time of growing anxiety and loneliness, more and more people are turning to LLMs for easy and convincing companionship and advice. What will help me more? Something that mimics personality, sycophantically made in my image? Or someone truly ‘Other’, in whose image I am made, offering true sympathy and the challenge of healing and growth? In the Bible this very contrast is literally the difference between an idol and the true Creator and Redeemer. What might that mean 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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
Grief was once thought of as a linear process that helps us to "get over" loss. But as the book of Psalms shows us, grief is an ongoing dialogue between loss and redemption. In this talk, we'll explore how the grief process can help us dwell more deeply in God's goodness.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
While Christians accept that Jesus should not only be Saviour but Lord over all their life, many remain confused about how to do this in their work and in their interests. This talk will look at how we can apply a biblical framework to whatever we do so that Jesus may be all in all. It will also increase our curiosity and invention.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
What on the surface seems like just another conversion story in the book of Acts is in fact an epiphany of the wideness of the gospel for the world. It was not only a sign that the gospel was spreading to "the ends of the earth," as far as Ethiopia, it also meant that the Gentiles were being incorporated through Christ. This passage has much to teach us about what it means to more radically welcome people and how we might welcome them into the gospel.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
*“Once upon a time, words began to vanish from the language of children.”
So begins the preface to The Lost Words, written by Robert Macfarlane and illustrated by Jackie Morris. Words for childhood like acorn, adder, and bluebell have been replaced with words like blog, bullet-point, voicemail. As this book plays with various genre, through word and image, The Lost Words re-enchants us into a vision of the natural world which is remarkably consistent with a biblical theology of creation. This talk looks at three themes which are central to the biblical account of creation: forming, filling, and naming. Macfarlane and Morris’ playful exploration of these themes re-enchants us into a participatory engagement with the natural world which does not claim mastery, but marvels at mystery*—and thereby compels us to orthopraxy in creation-care.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
"For we are strangers before you and sojourners, as all our fathers were. Our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no abiding." (1 Chronicles 29:15) Pilgrimage is a metaphor that lends embodiment and physical imagery to the invisibly felt experience of walking through life seasons, internally and externally. Life is seemingly outstretched like a long weary road and we the travelers, making our way toward a distant destination. We will be taking a look at the symbol of pilgrimage through the Biblical lens, specifically how it is used in the Psalms of Ascent - the Pilgrim Psalms traditionally known for those traveling on pilgrimages to the temple in ancient Jerusalem. What does it mean to be a pilgrim sojourner and what does this symbol reveal about our journey through life, our spiritual seeking, and our desires for a place to belong?
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
This talk will look at three views - that Jesus was a mythic creation to mimic the Greek gods, that Jesus was historical figure but a failed prophet that the church has propped up through desperation, and that Jesus was the historical figure who was and is what his followers have claimed, the Lord of glory.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
Guest speaker Mark Ryan join us to discuss the complicated relationship Christians have to Israel. He is the director of Sage Christianity, adjunct professor of Covenant Seminary, associate professor of Calvin Seminary, former director of the Francis Schaeffer Institute, and former director of Canadian L'Abri! He walks the tightrope of a biblically informed tension, between full acceptance and full rejection. (The date of this talk was Nov 2025.)
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
We are assured in the Bible that God oversees and provides not just for nature and for all of humanity, but for especially his own children. Jesus said we are not to worry for doesn't our heavenly Father love us more than flowers and birds? But what if God seems absent? How are we to "read the signs" that God does in fact care for us? The Book of Esther is informative in this discussion. Nowhere does the author mention God but it is evident throughout the book that God's invisible hand is orchestrating the miraculous rescue of his people. What might we learn about trusting God and reading "providence" when God seems absent? When life is difficult? How might we journey forward trusting that God's promises will be true?
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
Nobody wants constant noise, in music or in life—we need to rest. Rest is a musical term, and in music it's about breathing, embodying the holiness of time, and giving space to others. We'll explore what music has to teach us about rest. Listen carefully!
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has increasingly advanced such that human intelligence and creativity is easily challenged and superceded by this technology. What does this mean for being Human? Do significant differences remain between Humankind and machine? How can we defend the traditional position that our uniqueness is because we are created in the image and likeness 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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
Our dear Brett Cane, retired Anglican priest, had an operation for stage 2A lung cancer last January followed by chemotherapy in the Spring and recovery over the Summer. He will speak on his experience and weave it together with the following themes: how God orchestrates his care for us and purposes good for those who love him and how that leads us to trust him, and how we can be thankful in the midst of upheaval and uncertainty and loss and facing our own mortality.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
In recent years, many have expressed the proliferation of meaningless jobs. This goes beyond the burden of mundane tasks. It is the burden of not knowing if most of your working life has any benefit to society beyond the good pay. In this talk, we will look at how people have increasingly reported the sense that their work is meaningless (and potentially harmful), and then at David Graeber's work on the topic, from his influential book Bullsht Jobs* (2018). Then we will ask if Graeber was onto something and if so, how might the Christian respond with the gospel to a society filled with telemarketers and PR departments.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
The titular characters in Frederick Buechner’s historical novels Godric (1980) and Brendan (1987) are wayward priests and unsaintly saints, “just as clay-footed and full of shadows as the rest of us,” and yet, nonetheless, remarkable ministers of divine grace. In his portrayal of such saints, Buechner probes one of the central questions raised by the fourth-century Donatist Controversy—namely, whether the sinfulness of the minister compromises the divine grace which is mediated through his ministry. As we shall see, Buechner’s vision is profoundly Augustinian—and yet, his is an Augustinianism inflected through the Protestant Reformation and into Modernity. Even so, Buechner upholds the wisdom and hope of the ancient Church for the contemporary Church, as the Church reels from and reckons with the exposure of moral failures and ecclesial scandals.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
Just thinking about hearing a diagnosis that we have a terminal illness sends a shiver up the spine and dampens the joy in the heart. Our life so significant, only to be snuffed out in a moment. It is a subject we'd like to avoid but it is inevitable as we experience the death of others around us and one day our own. How are we to reflect on death? In this talk we will look at how some want to suggest death is natural, necessary, and good. However, this is not the biblical view, where humans view death in all its horror as a curse, yet are not overwhelmed by that fear since Jesus himself broke the power of death by his own death and resurrection. This lead the early church to express a hope that transformed how they lived now. (NOTE: The first 3 minutes are lower volume.)
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
In this passage we see a scorned woman who is desperate to approach Jesus, despite his being the invited guest of a wealthy and righteous man. To everyone's shock, Jesus welcomes and praises her. This event taught the early church and teaches us that those who are unashamed of Jesus, will be received since he is unashamed of them.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
The table is set: In his 1633 Still life with an overturned silver tazza, glassware, pies, and a peeled lemon on a table, Willem Claeszoon Heda spreads before us a theologically rich feast. This painting is an exemplar of the popular subgenre of breakfast piece (ontbijt), depicting not necessarily a morning meal but any solitary meal which breaks a fast, perhaps at an inn after a long journey. Heda’s 1633 Still life likely would have hung in the interior of a Dutch home, perhaps in a kitchen or dining area, where it would have invited meditation in the midst of everyday life. After offering a thick description of this painting and surveying the history of the interpretation of such paintings, I will sketch a visual theology of Heda’s 1633 Still life which takes into account the pervasive Calvinist imaginary of the time. I will argue that Heda’s 1633 Still life is a nuanced vanitas painting which hints at resurrection hope, affirming not only that all is gift, even as all is passing away, but also that these temporal gifts are harbingers of a delightfully solid and substantial New Creation in the age to come.
For the lecture, please check out this specific painting Willem Claeszoon Heda, 1633. This is the one Christina is referencing.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
Christians have been pressed once again to reconsider what is a biblical way of being politically and culturally engaged. In light of the US Election and in light of increased calls here in Canada to return our countries to our Christian heritage, many - even Christians - are worried of a rise of Christian Nationalism or at least a Christian politicization. One response has been to call Christians to remember the heritage of "two distinct kingdoms," the kingdom of this world and the kingdom of God. This is called R2K (Reformed Two Kingdom) theology. We will examine if this is an adequate response to society becoming increasingly antagonistic to religion, especially Christianity. We will also examine the theological heritage of L'Abri, Neo-Calvinism.
(This talk was given late November 2024.)
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
Problems in the environment have gotten far worse since 1970. For some, this has caused many to feel urgency, for others, indifference. How is one to respond? We will look at four contemporary responses: "traditional Christianity," secular materialism, pantheism & nature religions, and biblical Christianity.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
People grow frustrated when they see Jesus being misused, for example, by political factions. However, it is easy to project a false image of Christ to match what we want Jesus to be and to be for. This talk will look at various images of Christ, contemporarily and historically, before turning to the image presented in the New Testament. We will consider what it means to measure our own images to that original one and what it means to follow Jesus not just as an image but as the risen 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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
Is being swallowed by a sea monster a form of rescue or danger? The book of the prophet Jonah is a perfect example of uncomfortable and often unwanted revelation breaking through an otherwise still life. God, in his relationship to the world and to his creation often disrupts the safety and calm of our known world and bring us deeper into a revelation of who we are and should be. But a break through, in Jonah’s case, requires that he be broken into. Under the calm surface of a silent sea, the book of Jonah shows us that disruption can bring us into the terrifying but wondrous depths 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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
Flannery O'Connor was a devout Catholic writer from the Deep South (in the US) in the 1950s and wrote hilarious and horrifying short stories. T.S. Eliot, the famous poet, said that Flannery's stories made him blanch and refused to read them. Flannery felt that each story were parables to the modern world, and that she had to shout in order for the modern ear to hear. She questioned the narrative that the modern world was continually progressing. The supernatural invades her characters' stories to show that history is not the human march of progress, but a God-directed story. But the question often remains for her characters and for us, When God shocks you by showing up, will you recognize it as grace or not? This talk will look at her brief life - she died at 39 years old - and at understanding her fiction.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
The core of the Christian gospel is not that God promises to remove and replace his beloved creation with something better, but that He promises to save and restore the creation He has made. This applies to us as human beings personally as well. In a broken world, the basic elements of our personalities and character can develop along paths where we do not love our neighbours as ourselves. Being 'set free' does not mean dying to myself and being raised as someone else, but rather asking God's help for radically rediscovering and redeeming my personality. In this lecture we will explore this truth through several texts and examples from the Bible itself.
(Robb Ludwick is the co-director of Dutch L'Abri)
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
Marta Crilly holds a MA in History, and a Masters in Archives Management from Simmons University. She worked as an Archivist for the city of Boston and is now Head Librarian, User Engagement & Burns Library Public Services at Boston College. This is what she has to say about the talk.
Memory is a key aspect of both individual and community identity. Join us to consider how communities form and maintain memory, how community memory can be erased or falsified, and why remembering together is especially significant for Christian communities.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
While these five themes are not the only important aspects to the work of L'Abri, it does give a coherent picture of what L'Abri believes, in what it proclaims and in what it desires to demonstrate. It will look at the truthfulness of Christianity, the reality of the supernatural, the humanness of spirituality, the reality of the fall, and the lordship of Christ over all of life.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
She formerly worked in real estate development and affordable housing but has taken that experience to launch Proximity Project, which she is the founder and director. She has years of experience of helping churches steward their properties with the aim of the common good within the context of their neighborhoods. (You can also read two contributions she has made to Comment magazine, based out of Ottawa.)
In our broken world, how can we design and build places that demonstrate God's redeeming work on earth? We will explore how God invites us, as co-creators, to participate in redemptive placemaking - the art of creating places that extol the dignity of being human and foster relationships for community flourishing. You will discover ways how contributing goodness and beauty to our neighborhoods through placemaking is an act of stewardship and obedience to the biblical command to seek the welfare of the city as we await the full restoration of 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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
Marriage rates continue to decline, especially among younger generations, where marriage is often given little importance. Is this a sign of liberation, or does it signal the loss of something foundational? What value might marriage still offer to men, women, children, and society today? We will examine some reasons for the decline in marriage, its effects, and how a Christian view of marriage can help to restore balance.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
Christianity, particularly in the past few decades, has been under attack. However, it seems that this past decade, and even in the past couple of years, there have been numerous public intellectuals coming out as Christian, e.g. Tom Holland, Paul Kingsnorth, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, and so on. Even people like Jordan Peterson , Douglas Murray, Louise Perry, not Christians themselves, arguing for the need for Christian ethics in society. Why is this happening? What are Christians to make of this trend? This talk will look at the historical trajectory since 9/11 that has led to this renewed interest of Christianity as personally and socially necessary, and lead us to consider ways Christians can engage this renewed interest.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
The poem “The Lowest Room” by Christina Rossetti explores what it means to be in the lower place, the spot where you look up and see all the things that you want to be and should be and instead find yourself, discontentedly, on the lower rung. This Friday, we are taking a look at a life of comparison, the standards we set for ourselves and others, and what Christianity reveals about being in the lowest room.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
This talk looks at the wildly popular books - The Handmaid's Tale (1985) and The Testaments (2019) - by Canadian author Margaret Atwood. The popularity of these dystopian novels has arisen alongside concerns and fears of what is seen as political and religious fundamentalist influences in the States and its potential impact on women's hard-won rights. Then we will see how the Bible and the gospel intersect with the questions the books raise, and ask if the gospel can be good news for everyone.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
*What does it mean to live together well? To be thriving communities of unique people where trust runs deep, differences does not threaten, and power is not abused? What would make people safe to be vulnerable enough to have deep and meaningful relationships?
Marsh Moyle's book Rumours of a Better Country addresses our hunger for justice and a better way of living by awakening our moral imagination to the potential of trust. Drawing on ancient wisdom and looking through the lens of daily reality, it shows trust and trustworthiness are the foundation for any meaningful freedom.*
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
We welcomed Dr. Beth Stovell, professor of Old Testament at Ambrose University, as a part of a local conference on hope and suffering in Victoria. This is the first talk of three. It does stand on its own. About the lecture, Dr Beth Stovell says,
The book of Job tells the story of a righteous man who loses everything and his journey towards hope. It helps us grapple with many questions that arise when we experience suffering: How do we respond when everything in our lives is turned upside down? How do we make sense of grief, pain, and suffering? Is hope possible when everything seems lost? The book of Job offers us an up-close picture of righteous suffering, the pain of accusatory friends, and the hope of God’s presence in the depths of great loss.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
We welcomed guest speaker Christina Eichenroht to give an excellent and accessible lecture on this intriguing topic. Recommended!
What have the cluttered landscapes of Pieter Bruegel the Elder to do with the complex plots of Fyodor Dostoevsky? In each, we find subtle allusions to the holy, hidden and tucked away in the least likely of places. Bruegel and Dostoevsky "bury the lede," so to speak, and thereby implicate us in overlooking or dismissing the presence of the holy—until we stumble over it in double-take recognition, and that hidden detail proves axiomatic. In this lecture, we will consider examples of this phenomenon in Bruegel's paintings and Dostoevsky's novel. Then, we will consider why Bruegel and Dostoevsky employ these compositional strategies. Why is the hiding of the holy so urgent?
(Sorry we cannot include the slides. Bruegel's paintings - left unnamed during the talk - mentioned in the talk are as follows, in order: The Fall of Icarus; The Procession to Calvary; The Census at Bethlehem; The Adoration of the Kings)
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
The founding fathers of sociology - Marx, Weber, and Durkheim - were deeply secular. The field of sociology has championed the social construction of reality and the power of social structures over individuals. Are these commitments antithetical to a biblical worldview? Or does sociology have something to teach the church?
(Jessamin Birdsall received a doctorate from Princeton in sociology and is currently pursuing a Masters at Regent College in Vancouver by examining the intersection of sociology and 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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
In this talk Clarke looks at the importance of seeing the Word of God (namely, the Scriptures) as our only sure foundation in the midst of our lives and our ever-shifting culture. In The Great Evangelical Disaster, Schaeffer called on evangelical Christians to hold to the full authority of the Word of God instead of compromising its message to current cultural values. If it is in any way accommodated, even in the areas of history or cosmos, it weakens its power to transform its listeners and to keep society from sliding into chaos and authoritarianism. This talk references Schaeffer's book but more importantly, this talk is a new call for Christians to see why and how compromise can so easily tempt us (and come in unawares) and to consider the transformative power of the Scriptures for ourselves and for our own culture.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
While it is more common to hear someone say that they are "spiritual but not religious," in their opposition to organized religion, there has also been an increased focus on religious ritual or spiritual discipline to help us have a more intentional life and a more intimate relationship with God. Ultimately, this is looking to meet God through external forms to create internal transformation. Does this work? If not, why not and what else are we to do? This talk will look at this topic through the lens of King Saul's life as recorded in the biblical book, 1 Samuel, and draw lessons from his "religious but not spiritual" life.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
Is singleness a blessing or a curse? Is marriage the Christian “default” position? What about singles and the church? How do singles address the question of intimacy? Brett speaks from his own experience as a single and draw on the experiences of others. He looks first at Paul’s views on singleness and celibacy in 1 Corinthians 7. Then he looks at the following dimensions of singleness: the challenges of being single, the importance of being the Church, and opportunities for ministry by and to singles. He ends by looking at the question of intimacy and God’s provision for singles in this area.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
This talk will be about what biblical criticism is and what challenges it poses to believers. We'll cover these challenges under the headings the problem of originality, the problem of contradiction, and the problem of inspiration. Through all that, we will see how biblical criticism differs from theology, what it can and can't say based on its methods, and finally how we can relate it back to theology to make it a useful tool for Christians to take advantage of.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
There is no perfect parent, but the wounds we receive from our parents can have a long term influence on the beliefs, choices and desires we have as adults. What are some tips for unravelling these connections? In this lecture, we will not be focusing on how to approach that relationship again (questions of confrontation, reconciliation, restoration). Rather, we will primarily be looking at how to identify false patterns in our own thoughts and feelings, the lies we learn to live by, and how the gospel offers us challenge and healing in these areas.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
People struggle to understand the love of God because it is not being expressed in God's people. Difficulties arise because Christians are judgmental or because Christians make Love as an idea, not as arising from the personal holy Creator. Paul prays that Christians may understand the breadth, length, height, and depth of the love of God in Jesus. How are we to experience this love of God, not only in joy but also in purity?
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
This talk is on the perplexing parable of the shrewd manager and how Jesus's teaching has implications for how we are to think of our money and our possessions. Jesus had to tell this parable in a surprising way, to catch people off guard and to help them understand something new. Perhaps it will catch you in a new way of thinking!
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
The more we learn about our Universe filled with galaxies, the smaller and perhaps the more insignificant we and our Earth can appear. How do we respond to this impression? How should we think about humanity’s cosmic role? What might astronomical discoveries tell us about God and the purposes of his creation?
For this talk, we welcome guest speaker Dr. Dennis Danielson, an intellectual historian, a John Milton scholar, who has an interest in the history and literature of science. He has published several books, such as The First Copernican, The Tao of Right and Wrong, and The Book of the Cosmos.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
What are we to think when we see or hear a story of someone shaking in worship, falling when prayed for, or crying out or even laughing uncontrollably in the midst of a service or a time of prayer? Should we conclude that the devil is running amok or that the Spirit is at hand and at work? Although this may not be our everyday experience, we all find ourselves wrestling at times to discern the Spirit's work. This lecture will seek to learn from the wisdom of an 18th century American pastor named Jonathan Edwards, who wrestled with these very questions during the Great Awakening, and left behind a framework for God-honoring discernment.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
The Psalms, a collection of personal and corporate prayers, is considered Israel's hymnbook and they are often our favourites to which we turn in times of sorrow or joy or petition. However, upon closer examination, we find that these psalms, written over a thousand years by several authors, were placed within an intentional structure of five books, reflecting the first five books of the Bible, the Torah. This talk will look at the themes that give the Psalms an overall trajectory, a guiding promise, which was and is fulfilled wondrously, miraculously, in Jesus.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
Increasing pressures from both within and outside the church are causing more and more people to go through a season of "deconstruction", reevaluating the foundations and assumptions of their beliefs. Some go through deconstruction and return to Christianity, while others never do. What does it feel like to go through such a major transition? And what does it feel like to be a friend or family member of someone whose faith is coming apart? This lecture will examine how friends and family members can care for those who are going through a shift in faith, while also caring for themselves.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
Clarke ventures into the mysterious yet wonderful reality of the Spirit. Often people speak of the Holy Spirit as a force or an impression or as a "holy ghost." The Bible speaks of the Spirit as a person yet we never see the Holy Spirit; we only see what the Spirit does. How are we to think of this Spirit who is to indwell us and to mark time since Jesus ascended?
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
This talk looks at and critiques Christian Universalism, the belief that all people will be saved through the work of Jesus, whether a person trusts or does not trust in "Jesus as Lord." Is this a real possibility? And if not, how can God be good if he judges people not unto salvation?
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
Clarke re-gives an earlier talk due to demand! In this talk, he examines the cultural revolution of the 2000s that led many young evangelicals to despise the lack of social justice from traditional churches and led them inadvertently to abandon traditional faith. He then looks at how Critical Theory works in shaping not only their faith but also society in general. Finally he turns to see how the whole church might pursue social justice in light of the whole biblical witness.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
Attachment theory gives us helpful insight into how people bond with each other. But what does it mean for our relationship with God? We will look at attachment styles and how we can understand God as our model for secure attachment, providing a base to move forward into secure relationships with each other.
(NOTE: The recordings include the discussion.)
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
Exciting! A talk on epistemology! While seemingly an intimidating and abstract topic about how we come to know the world around us, this talk will look at how we might gain an understanding of the world that does not divide faith from reason, or meaning from nature. The wisdom tradition (Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes, and Jesus) provides this very much needed integration today. It moves us from a dead modern epistemology to a living one.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
Often people speak of being open-minded as a way of discrediting a belief in God. However, in this talk, I argue that we need to look beyond closed explanations for existence and open our minds to admit our desire for God. This is a basic argument that suffering and joy are two fundamental aspects of experience that point to the existence 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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
Marilynne Robinson's quartet of Gilead novels, set mostly in rural Iowa, explore the tension between shame and grace. Much of this contrast comes through the medium of sight: how we see the world, ourselves, and God, and how others see us. Saturated in the beauty of the natural world, human relationships, and theological meditations, Robinson's novels have been beloved by many. Join us as we discuss how this Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist teaches us to have eyes that see and truly perceive 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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
By looking at Daniel 2, we see that the Bible gives us a reflection on the relationship between God's people, their nation, and the kingdom of God. When we see nations without an anchor, power becomes arbitrary. How might the Christian respond in those times?
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
For this talk, we welcome guest speaker Lisa P Christian, who currently serves as the Executive Director for Community Faith Partners. She has been a missionary in Russia for 15 years and a cross-cultural worker in the Middle East for 5 years. She is currently pursuing her PhD in theology and Christian apologetics. In this talk, she'll examine Paul's letter to the Romans and make a case that it is primarily about racial reconciliation (Jew and Gentile) which can be applied to black and white Christians today. (Stay tuned for the discussion where we get into the nuts and bolts!)
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
Many people accuse Christianity of fostering shame in its adherents. The self-esteem movement has attempted to address feelings of worthlessness. But does self-esteem work? How should Christians think about themselves?
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
In this third talk on Jordan Peterson, we look at his most recent book Beyond Order, the sequel to his best-selling 12 Rules for Life. Through his personal suffering and through his interactions with many people on tour, his thinking is refined and clarified. We also look at his emphasis on maps and stories as sources of knowledge and meaning, and how might a Christian think about his newest contribution.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
Both Peter and Judas asked of Jesus, "Is it me?" after Jesus had told his disciples that one of them would betray him. This can be a question that can cause hand-wringing even today. Am I saved or am I not? Am I chosen? This talk deals particularly with 'theological fatalism' (or 'hyper-Calvinism') and the concerns that the doctrine of predestination bring up. While the doctrine of predestination often brings dread, the opposite is intended in Scripture. It is a doctrine, when properly understood, gives assurance and 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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
There is a deep resonance between our feelings of anxiety and our fear of out-of-control water. We feel ‘overwhelmed’, ‘flooded’. This resonance was shared by the authors of Scripture, who depict floods, storms and towering waves within the emotional landscape of God’s people. In fact, the bible story is saturated with water imagery. We will explore how that offers us company within our struggles, hope within the story of God’s victory over them, and wisdom for how to handle them.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
Today Thomas Paine is remembered for his books Common Sense (1776) and The American Crisis (1776–1783) which made him the leading propagandist of the American Revolution and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America. What is largely forgotten is his devastating attack on Christianity in The Age of Reason (1737-1809) and other writings and his key role in creating what many scholars call "the Victorian crisis of faith." This talk will examine Paine's criticism of Christianity and its influence on writers as diverse as Karl Marx (1818-1883), George Eliot (1819-1880), and Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) as well as Nazism in Germany.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
While it has been popular in the past to call one's self "spiritual but not religious," we also see people who are "religious but not spiritual." This is not just the legalistic person or "a fundamentalist." We can all fall into this category at times in our lives, perhaps looking to this spiritual practice or this tradition to bring us close to God. It is a hope that an external form will guarantee an internal transformation. This talk will look at this topic through the lens of King Saul's life as recorded in the biblical book, 1 Samuel, and draw lessons from his "religious but not spiritual" life.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
This is a look at Job 28, an unusual chapter. It is a calm reflection on the nature of humanity and wisdom in the midst of the torrent of argument and lament throughout the book of Job. What does this have to say to us about being human? How can humans be so powerful, intelligent, and adventurous, yet they cannot discover the meaning and wisdom of all these things? Is it all sound and fury signifying nothing? The Bible offers us a different answer, a valuable one during these chaotic days.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
In this talk, guest speaker Brett Cane examines the two key themes from the book, of God's sovereignty and of human character. God's sovereignty is revealed not through the miraculous but through the ordinary, and human character is revealed by faithfulness, dedication, resourcefulness and ingenuity, and what's more, by women, showing a unique perspective on the importance of women in God's plan.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
Attachment theory gives us helpful insight into how people bond with each other. But what does it mean for our relationship with God? We will look at attachment styles and how we can understand God as our model for secure attachment, providing a base to move forward into secure relationships with each other.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
This is the fourth talk in this series on Loftus's Christian Delusion. Here we deal with arguments against the historicity of Jesus. While the book looks primarily at "the myth of Christ," the talk focuses on three narratives - Christ as myth, Jesus as a failed prophet, and Jesus as resurrected Lord and Savior. (This was recorded on Zoom in Good Friday 2021.)
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
This is the third talk in this series on Loftus's Christian Delusion. Here we deal with what Loftus refers to as the "Darwinian problem of evil," particularly in regard to animal suffering. Many evolutionists point to the evidence of animals suffering prior to human existence. How can this be? Can God be good if animals were created to suffer before the fall of humanity? Christians have offered several possible solutions to this question but are any of them sufficient? (This was recorded on Zoom in Feb 2021.)
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
This is the second talk in this series on if the Christian faith fails as it has been claimed to do in John Loftus's The Christian Delusion: Why Faith Fails. In the first part, we looked at Loftus's "outsider test for faith." He with others now take aim not at Christian faith in general but now the Bible specifically. In it the book claims that the Bible is too scientifically inaccurate, too textually inconsistent, and too easily misinterpreted to be divinely inspired. How could Christians claim otherwise? (This was recorded on Zoom in Feb 2021.)
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
We welcome our colleague Joshua Chestnut from Southborough L'Abri via Zoom to speak to us about how we might have hope when our imaginations have become "pornified." Discussion afterward included.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
This is a look at the first part at the five parts of The Christian Delusion edited by John Loftus (2010). This examines his Outsider Test for Faith (OTF), which he claims makes all religious faiths fall short of probability. (The following parts will include the veracity of the Bible, the goodness of God, the resurrection, and Christianity as a social good.)
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
How does one define freedom and what impact does that make? Liz examines how we think and talk about freedom and how that shapes us individually and socially.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
This past February, it was discovered that Jean Vanier, an important figure in Canada and around the world, and who many had considered a living saint, had over the decades taken advantage of six vulnerable women. How are we to understand such an incongruity? How are we to respond when our trust is betrayed, and our confidence is lost in the power of the gospel itself? We will look at how we can reflect and respond when our spiritual heroes fail us.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
A classic podcast style! For this episode, we are posting an interview rather than a talk with discussion. I (Clarke) discuss with Donna Hornibrook, a former field hockey player and coach, inducted into Halls of Fame for both, about sports and Christian faith. Then we opened it up to those present to ask their questions. Enjoy!
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
In this talk, Clarke looks at a biblical view of sexuality - that is, marriage, family, and singleness - in light of the contemporary battles around sexuality and gender - that is, the battle being waged between nature and freedom. While one may not be persuaded by the biblical view, one should take it seriously and deal with its implications for society.
NOTE: This was recorded on Zoom, with the discussion included.
Please listen in light of this talk...
Clarke Scheibe, "Sexuality and Shame"
Jim Paul, "Surfing the Wave: Rapid Cultural Change and the Transgender Agenda"
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
As the Covid-19 pandemic wears on, most of us have been shaken in unprecedented ways by the global upheaval. However, pandemics have a long history and we have much to learn from the past. From early plagues in the Roman Empire to the medieval Black Death, pandemics have been a means of revealing what lies beneath the surface in society and human hearts. What might this history reveal to us about life in a pandemic today? How can we act in ways that encourage more humanity, not less?.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
The doctrine of sin is perennially disliked and mocked, yet within this doctrine, we see the seeds of the gospel. What might it mean to recover this doctrine as something positive to proclaim to a society in desperate need for a profound diagnosis and solution.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
We live an age where people are more and more suspicious of, and even violent toward, anyone who doesn't share their views. We often speak of the need for tolerance, but this can become a way of still keeping people at arm's length. What does it mean to truly engage with people we disagree with or may even be scared of? This lecture will explore the Christian call to hospitality toward the stranger.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
We welcomed guest speaker Dr. Frank Stootman (PhD, physics), our colleague from Australian L'Abri, via Zoom, to speak on the relationship between science and the Bible. This is an exploration of Genesis and the Bible with the subtext that all truth is God's truth.
NOTE: This was recorded on Zoom. There is also a high resolution video of this talk HERE. On this YouTube clip, you will be able to see Dr. Frank Stootman's visuals. Q&A will be a separate episode.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
In this talk, Clarke explores the biblical view of salvation. Often to say one is 'saved' can create notions of people huddled away, awaiting an eternity that seems overwhelming and boring. Yet the Bible points to a salvation that calls us to become engaged in culture because of what Christ had accomplished through the cross and resurrection. We are not just saved from sin but saved for a renewed cultural agency.
NOTE: This was recorded alongside Zoom. Q&A is included.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
Guest speaker Brittney Salverda speaks on four aspects of prayer. While there are more, these foundational aspects are seen in Scripture, and as we reflect on them, give us more encouragement to speak and hear from the God who is truly there.
NOTE: This was recorded alongside Zoom. Q&A is included.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:19, “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied." A large part of Christian hope is connected to our future existence beyond this life. However, our concepts of the after-life can be somewhat fuzzy and confused and often unbiblical. In this first of two lectures on "Christian Hope" (the second will be in the Fall), we will look first at questions of anxiety over death and the difficulty of understanding what lies beyond. Then we will examine the concept of resurrection in contrast to the immortality of the soul, what happens between death and resurrection, why we need resurrection bodies, what the resurrection body is like and how the Resurrection impacts us today in terms of Christian holiness and Christian mission.
NOTE: This was recorded alongside Zoom. Q&A is included.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
This is simply an introduction to the current discussion over racism in the USA. It first looks at black history in America and at how that informs current protests, and then looks at four views on how to respond: critical race theory, black conservatism, the simple gospel, and the whole gospel.
NOTE: This talk was recorded over Zoom on 19 June 2020 and includes the Q&A afterwards. The discussion focuses mostly on First Nations in Canada.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
In this final talk on the stories of Daniel, Clarke examines how this seemingly simple story about Daniel and the den of lions points us to think critically about the place of the Christian in a society that diminishes or denies freedoms of religion and conscience. Daniel 6 calls us to seek the flourishing of society, without being ensnared by its idolatry, by looking to God in all that one does and by entrusting one's life to the one who can raise to eternal life.
NOTE: This talk was recorded over Zoom and includes the Q&A afterwards.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
This is a new and different version of the podcast under the same name. This was recorded at the annual L'Abri Conference in Rochester, MN, USA in Feb, 2020, hosted by Rochester L'Abri.
In this talk, Clarke examines the cultural revolution of the 2000s that led many young evangelicals to despise the lack of social justice from traditional churches and led them inadvertently to abandon traditional faith. He then looks at how Critical Theory works in shaping not only their faith but also society in general. Finally he turns to see how the whole church might pursue social justice in light of the whole biblical witness.
NOTE: This recording includes the Q&A afterwards.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
During times of darkness, those "dark nights of the soul," we feel that God is not with us. We may even feel that it is the opposite of faith. That God is distant. Yet what we discover in Scripture is a rich resource to say that it is not the opposite of faith but an experience even of the faithful, and even of Jesus himself. What does it mean that God is with us, Immanuel, in the dark?
This was recorded on Good Friday, 2018.
NOTE: This recording includes the open discussion afterwards.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
Is Christ for or against culture? One of the greatest mistakes the Church makes over and over again is to misunderstand the relationship between the Church and the wider world or culture. How do we hold together and relate the unchanging message to the changing world? We will look at major “paradigm” shifts in the Western World that have had profound implications for the life of the Church and how we view our mission and ministry. We will examine the resulting current situation of the Church and the challenges and opportunities to carry out our mission having been moved “to the margins.”
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
In Desire, Part 1 we looked at how our desires can be reordered to bring us toward God. In Desire, Part 2 we'll discuss what kind of fulfillment we should expect for our desires, and what practices might help us live well with unmet longings.
NOTE: All recordings include the open discussion afterwards.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
This talk is a straightforward biblical look at Revelation 1. The talk looks at how the apostle John speaks of Jesus as the Lord of history, standing over our past, our present, and our future. It is Jesus's voice that has the ability to drown out the deafening static noise of our age.
NOTE: All recordings include the open discussion afterwards.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
The book of Daniel gives us a lens on how to think about contemporary issues. Daniel 1 leads us particularly to reflect on how to remain faithful as a Christian in the midst of being renamed and re-educated by ideology, whether ancient or modern. Identity politics, we find, is not that new.
NOTE: All recordings include the open discussion afterwards.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
To desire is part of human experience. We often try to escape our desires or indulge them. But desire is a God-given force that, when ordered rightly, can bring us to Him. We will look at the purpose of desire and how it can be put to its proper use.
NOTE: All recordings include the open discussion afterwards.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
With all the talk about sex with such nonchalance, one would suppose there is little shame. However in personal discussions, most people feel a deep sense of shame around sexuality for various reasons. This talk will examine how the Bible - perhaps a surprising source for some - offers us an honest and yet redemptive look at sex and shame.
NOTE: All recordings include the open discussion afterwards.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2020
This talk looks at Jonathan Haidt's fascinating book A Righteous Mind: Why Good People Divide over Religion and Politics. Haidt's hope is to build bridges between divided groups, particularly political ones. His book reveals how we have all evolved to have 'righteous minds' and shared moral foundations, and how these revelations can help us better understand how we each see the world and how we can get along in our differences. This talk will also look at what the biblical worldview has to offer to Haidt's longing.
NOTE: All recordings include the open discussion afterwards.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2019
George Grant died in 1988. He was a Canadian thinker deeply engaged in the question of how technology shapes modern consciousness, meaning the ways modernity shapes our thinking, what modernity makes it both possible and impossible to think. In his short, profound essay, "A Platitude," Grant helps us to ask, 'what has modern consciousness led us to forget about what it means to be human?' 'How has modernity so shaped our thinking that it is now impossible to answer this question, or any question implying transcendent meaning?' And most pressing: 'how is it possible to remember what has been forgotten?'
NOTE: All recordings include the open discussion afterwards.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2019
This ancient story of Belzshazzar's feast gives a lens from which to understand our political anxieties. We will see how Daniel's response gives us a way forward on how we might be faithful in the midst of today's polarization.
NOTE: All recordings include the open discussion afterwards.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2019
In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus is either going to a meal, at a meal, or coming from a meal,” writes Robert Karris. In Luke, Jesus is accused of being a glutton and a drunkard, describing the Kingdom of God as a great wedding banquet, and remembered by his followers through a particular sort of meal. To his discouraged disciples after the resurrection, his presence is discerned through the breaking of bread and as one who comes offering to host a meal for still-shocked disciples. How might Luke’s Gospel give us fresh eyes for the good news of the Gospel? And how might it inform the important ethical questions concerning how we eat and drink in 2019? This lecture takes Luke’s Gospel as a starting point for a broad interdisciplinary exploration of Food and Faith.
NOTE: All recordings include the open discussion afterwards.
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. Also, note that not all views expressed in the lectures or in the discussion time necessarily represent the views of L'Abri Fellowship. © Canadian L'Abri 2019
This talk looks at the significance of the imprecatory (cursing) Psalms using Psalm 137. We will see that they help us reflect on our own resentment, give us a sense of indignation at evil and help us acknowledge our own sin.
NOTE: The time of the recording includes the open discussion afterwards.
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. © Canadian L'Abri 2019
This talk looks at Daniel 4. At the center of this story stands a tree which reflects life and human culture. Holding the Bible in one hand, and looking at culture in the other, we will see that like Nebuchadnezzar we are called into God's purposes for creation, and that it best grows through small, seemingly insignificant things like humility and kindness, which grow from the roots of the 'tree' of 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. © Canadian L'Abri 2019
In 1988 William Alston, American philosopher, put forward three models which aim to explain the scriptural claim that the Holy Spirit ‘fills’ believers. Alston pointed to weaknesses in two of the models and thus favoured one model: the ‘Sharing Model’. Since then philosophers and theologians have discussed and criticised Alston’s paper. In this talk I outline the three models and offer my own constructive response to the debate. Before doing so I will give a brief outline of my approach to answering theological questions. There will be plenty of space for discussion and critical questions.
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. © Canadian L'Abri 2019
This talk is looking at this cross-pressured space where atheists and Christians often live inconsistently with their own presuppositions, with atheists living as if God exists, and with Christians living as though God does not. How is this at work in society? How might we overcome this incongruity of 'as if'-ness? Pascal, C.S. Lewis, and Francis Schaeffer each give their answer. The surprising answer is a sanctified 'as if.'
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. © Canadian L'Abri 2019
If you haven't heard of Billie Eilish, you will soon. The Californian musician is just 17 but has rocketed to fame in the past few years for her moody lyrics, genre-bending musical style, and unusual fashion sense. Hailed by many as the new queen of pop, Eilish represents a push back against slick, overproduced icons like Taylor Swift and Katy Perry. What makes this surly teenager so popular with Gen Z? And how should we think about the often dark themes in her music?
Below are some of the clips used during the lecture.
Clip (warning: some explicit language): Vanity Fair of Billie Eilish
Another clip: Billie Eilish surprises her fans on Ellen
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. © Canadian L'Abri 2019
This follow up talk on Jordan Peterson aims not at the theological but at the cultural and political. This talk seeks to answer two questions: How did Jordan Peterson become popular? and How has he remained popular? The answers are surprisingly not the same but are also not mutually exclusive.
NOTE: The beginning of the talk has extensive video/audio clips that help orient a person new to Peterson's political views and the rise of his fame. If one is very familiar with Peterson, one may want to skip ahead to the second question at about the 1:00:00 mark.
NOTE 2: All talks include a discussion period. This talk is 1:42:00 in length without discussion.
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. © Canadian L'Abri 2019
Our cultural obsession with human beauty has led to many damaging results, both physical and psychological. Yet fascination with human beauty is present in every culture and era. Is our love of beauty just a social construct, an adaptive feature of evolution, or something more profound? Join us in thinking about how to face human beauty in a way that leads us to the beauty 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. © Canadian L'Abri 2019
This is a look at Daniel 3, the story of the three friends thrown into the fiery furnace, yet preserved by God's power. This story challenges us to move away from the Peter Pan Syndrome into virtuous and courageous adulthood, and better yet, into being made like 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. © Canadian L'Abri 2019
Increasingly younger evangelicals have become more active in their church's mission toward those marginalized yet at the same time, have become more skeptical of Christian orthodoxy. This has arisen from a historical flow of ideas (out of Marxism) that informs their faith and is actually inimical to Christian faith and faithful Christian action. This talk will look at some of those differences, and hopes to call Christians toward a just and faithful witness for structural changes.
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. © Canadian L'Abri 2019
Aldous Huxley’s dystopian novel, published in 1931, envisions a future world governed by the mantra, “Everybody’s happy now.” Today, many of the once-shocking predictions in his novel have already come to pass as we sacrifice questions of human freedom and dignity for the pursuit of comfort and pleasure.
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. © Canadian L'Abri 2019
Hospitality is often reduced to 'hosting' but should be seen as a faithful Christian witness not just in our homes, but intimately in our own person and widely out in society. This talk develops our understanding of Christian hospitality through the concepts of 'true truth' and 'true spirituality,' two concepts important to L'Abri's own hospitality.
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. © Canadian L'Abri 2019
In an era deemed post-truth and awash in fake news stories, do we really need more fiction? Explore the ways great stories can help us dwell more deeply in reality, experiencing the wonder, heartache, and hope of truth.
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. © Canadian L'Abri 2018
How might we think of crying out to God if everything rests in God's hands? David Salverda, a pastor, looks through theological, particularly Reformed, responses at how people were called to understand their suffering in light of God's sovereign power. In light of these formulations, must we "keep calm and carry on" or might these give us the grounds for faithful and honest lament?
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. © Canadian L'Abri 2018
This talk is about Francis Schaeffer's little book called Back to Freedom and Dignity where he explains how a reductionistic view of humans open us up to manipulation by an academic and scientific elite funded by the state. I will look at how his argument engaged his 1970s audience and then we will discuss together how we can see the implications in today's society.
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. © Canadian L'Abri 2018
Are we to think of sex as one of our basic human needs? Is it a human right?
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. © Canadian L'Abri 2018
Seventy-five years after the publication of C. S. Lewis’s The Abolition of Man (1943), proponents of materialism and naturalism still dominate the public square. Their reductionist and nihilistic approach to morality and other things that give meaning to human life also continues to shape what our children are taught in school. There’s every reason, in face of this ongoing dominance, to defend the case that Lewis’s potent little book sketched three quarters of a century ago—a case I seek to reassert in my primer on moral realism, The Tao of Right and Wrong.
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. © Canadian L'Abri 2018
This talk looks at the nature of the Holy Spirit and our vocation. Often we think of the Spirit as a force that stands alien to our daily lives. Yet the Bible speaks of the Spirit as enlivening all areas of life. What does it mean that the Spirit is at work in the world and through our jobs?
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. © Canadian L'Abri 2018
Conservatives vs. liberals. Corporations vs. small farmers. Parents vs. the school board. The government vs. First Nations. The 1% vs. the poor. Often Jesus is invoked as supporting either side, but where would He really stand in these divisive issues? As we look at how Jesus engaged with injustice in His time on earth, we can draw some principles about how to approach our own desires for social change.
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. © Canadian L'Abri 2018
Lydia Collin looks at the nature of music. Can it be morally bad? Can it heal? Why do we love the music we love? What effect does it have? And how? She will examine this through the works of Plato and Karl Barth, and through the music of Richard Wagner.
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. © Canadian L'Abri 2018
Dr. Chamberlain examines the claims by New Atheists that religion, including Christianity, is not just foolish but dangerous. Can the belief in an unseen God give way to irrational and dangerous actions? Does religion play a major role in our societal ills? Dr. Chamberlain is sensitive to the actual arguments made by New Atheists and to the way Christians may respond not only intellectually but humbly.
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. © Canadian L'Abri 2018
The religious landscape in Canada is shifting. Before 1960, nearly every Canadian identified as Catholic or Protestant. Today, the fasting growing 'religious' group are those who check 'None of the above' on the census form. This talk will look at that story and wonder what it means for the church and Christian witness 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. © Canadian L'Abri 2018
Nick Hunter, a former professional actor, looks at the continual interplay of theatre and the gospel historically, and how the gospel informs our understanding of theatre.
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. © Canadian L'Abri 2018
What does it mean to be authentic? How can we be truly ourselves? This talk is an examination of how this cultural pursuit works, how such a pursuit undermines its own goals, and how such a pursuit can be fulfilled through the gospel.
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. © Canadian L'Abri 2018
A closer look at the divisive figure Jordan Peterson and his best-selling book. So many are speaking about him but so little of his thought is being addressed. Where exactly is he coming from? And how should Christians think about him?
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. © Canadian L'Abri 2018
An exploration of the life and art of the most famous Canadian female painter Emily Carr, with a particular focus on her spirituality. Her focus in painting was to portray nature in a way that would communicate God and connect her to the divine.
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. © Canadian L'Abri 2018