The Wesley Foundation Podcast: Recent Episodes
Wesley at LaTech
Welcome to the podcast of the Wesley Foundation at Louisiana Tech University. To learn more visit https://www.latechwesley.org/.
Join us in this final week of the quarter and this school year, as Ryan talks about the blessings of several of the sons of Israel and the kingship of Jesus!
Scripture used: Gen 49:1-28
Join us this week as Ryan talks about recognizing God as our shepherd and the importance of trusting in and talking about God's action in our lives.
Scripture used: Gen 48: 1-22
Join us this week as Ryan talks about what it means to abandon yourself and what you want to God and the reassurances God gives us about that.
Scripture used: Gen 45:1-15, 45:24-46:4
Join us this week as Ryan talks about Jacob's test on his brothers and the importance of reconciliation in Christian community.
Scripture used: Gen 42: 1-28
Join us this week as Ryan talks about commitment to Christian formation and discipleship with a special emphasis on the Wesley's Discipleship team.
Scripture used: Gen 41: 9-57
Join us this week as Ryan talks about success in a biblical context and how Joseph succeeded through consistent opposition.
Scripture used: Gen 39:1-23
*Editor's note: Sorry this episode took much longer than normal to get out. Classes and Life have kept everyone really busy lately. Last week's episode should also be coming out today, and this week's will come out before next sermon. Thank you for your patience!
Join us this week as Ryan talks about Joseph and how his and his family's sin led him into a pit, and how he was taken out of it.
Scripture used: Gen 37: 1-36
Join us this week as guest pastor and discipleship team member Caleb Adcox talks about Jacob's renaming to Israel.
Scripture used: Genesis 35: 1-29
*Editor note: Due to the recording hardware's battery dying out on Tuesday night during the sermon, Caleb was gracious enough to re-record the sermon so we could listen to it. Because of that, there is no chatter or other normal background noise. Everything should be fixed next week.
Join us this week as Ryan talks about the importance of wrestling God and why we should strive to do it and hang on despite any risks involved.
Scripture used: Gen 32:22-32
Welcome to this final week of our Black Celebration Month as we are fortunate enough to have Bishop Richard Washington preach to us about perseverance, preparedness, and love.
Scripture used: Gen 32: 1-21
Scripture: Gen 31: 22-42
Join us this week as we listen to guest speaker and former intern Akin Bailey as he talks about Jacob's growth in character and the struggle with idolatry.
Join us this week as former associate director Camellia Bailey talks about miracles in Jacob's life and trusting in God.
Scripture used: Gen 31: 1-21
Join us this week for our first week of Black Celebration Month as guest speaker Chlese Henderson talks about Jacob's meeting of Rachel, how it's not everything it seems to be, and the familial nature of sin within Jacob's family.
Scripture used: Gen 29: 1-35
Join us this week as Ryan discusses the beginning of Jacob's journey from his father's house, and the dream he had of God, as well as the doubt and conditions Jacob placed on God afterwards.
Scripture used: Gen 28:10-22
Join us for the final sermon of 2023, as Ryan discusses the birth of Jesus and the nature of creation
Scripture used: Revelation 11, Luke 1:26-38
Join us this week for our first Advent interlude this year! Join us as Ryan talks about how we should attain lowliness and why God chooses the lowly to reveal Himself.
Scriptures used: Isaiah 11:1-10, Luke 10:21-24
Join us this week as Ryan talks about the blessing Isaac gives to Esau and Isaac's failings as a father, as well as the difference between human and divine blessings.
Scripture used: Gen 27: 30-46
Join us this week as guest pastor and interim associate director of evangelism, Philip Matherne preaches about the importance of receiving blessing and the sadness of not knowing family.
Scripture used: Gen 27: 1-29
Join us this week as Ryan discusses the importance of building things and also the importance of old stuff!
Scripture used: Gen 26:17-35
Join us this week as Ryan discusses the nature of blessing and also the troubles and blessings of Isaac.
Scripture used: Gen 26: 1-16
Join us this week as Ryan discusses the barrenness of Rebekah, the effect of prayer and the birth and struggle between Jacob and Esau.
Scripture used: Gen 25:19-34
Join us this week as Ryan reads a lot of names! And also discusses the importance of the fulfilment of the blessing on Abraham's family as well as why that blessing only lands on Isaac.
Scripture used: Gen 25:1-18
Join us this week as Ryan discusses the marriage between Isaac and Rebekah, and how their marriage is reflected on the modern Christian marriage and the marriage between God and the Church.
Scripture used: Gen 24:53-67
Join us this week as Ryan discusses the role of the unnamed servant, sent to fetch Isaac a bride, and how he demonstrates humility and selflessness, as well as how we can demonstrate that now.
Scripture used: Gen 24:1-52
Join us this week as we kick off this school year with the fourth part of our series going through the book of Genesis! This week, Ryan discusses Sarah's death and what it means to buy land for the purpose of death, and defines generational blessing.
Scripture used - Gen 22:20-23:20
Join us this week as Ryan finishes up the school year and this series with the sacrifice of Isaac, and how faith is dependent on sacrificing what is given to us, even the things which are good.
Scripture used: Gen 22:1-19
Join us this week as Ryan discusses the birth of Isaac and subsequent banishment of Hagar and Ishmael, and how God uses our suffering to bring us into further communion with Him.
Scripture used: Gen 21: 1-21
Join us this week as Ryan discusses the destruction of Sodom and Gamorrah and Lot's escape from the cities, as well as our place within the church and worldly cities.
Scriptures used: Gen 19:1-29
Join us this week as Ryan discusses the angels of the Lord going down into Sodom while Abraham intercedes against the destruction of the city as well as the grammar of sin and how sin can destroy us.
Scripture used: Gen 18:16-33
Join us this week as Ryan preaches on chapter 18 of Genesis, where Abraham waits on the LORD and Sarah hears the promise of her bearing a child, and hear about the goodness of hospitality.
Scripture used: Gen 18: 1-15
Join us this week as Ryan preaches on the conception of Ishmael and the fallout between Hagar and Sarai that follows, as well as the weakness they experience, and how we should deal with weakness we are given.
Scripture used: Genesis 16:1-16
Join us this week as we begin the third part of our bible study on Genesis, "The Promise" and as Ryan preaches about the tent and faithfulness of Abram.
Scripture used: Gen 12:1-9, Gen 13:1-18
Join us this week as guest pastor and former intern Chlese Henderson rounds out our Black Celebration Month with a sermon on the promises made to Noah and the baggage we can have with parts of scripture.
Scripture used: Gen 9: 1-17, Rev 4:1-11
Join us this week as Rev. Brother Willie Young preaches on Genesis 8, about God speaking to us and the importance of listening to and doing His will.
Scripture used: Gen: 8: 13-22
Join us this week as guest speaker Bishop Richard Washington preaches about the ravens' role in Noahs ark and the end of the flood, among other topics.
Scripture used: Gen: 8: 1-12
*Editor's note: There were issues when recording this episode of the podcast, which led to issues editing and a lot of 'jumpiness' with the audio. For a better experience, follow this link to Temple of Greater Works' livestream on Facebook. Enjoy!
https://www.facebook.com/100001820256451/videos/960323591597131/
Join us this week as guest speaker Rev. Shunda Kidd Wilkin kicks off Black Celebration Month by preaching about important takeaways from the story of Noah and how they have impacted her life.
Scriptures used: Gen: 5:28-6:3; Gen: 7:11-24; Psalm 4, Matthew 24:37-39, Mark 4:35-41
9Join us this week as Ryan discusses the building of the arc and renews his discussion on Obedience, focusing on the obedience of Noah and how we can obey God how we are called to.
Scripture used: Gen 6:9-7:10, Romans 6:1-8, Matthew 14:22-32
Join us this week as Ryan discusses the beginning of our series on the Flood Narrative, and discusses how Christians can give themselves to God.
Scriptures used: Genesis 5:28-6:8, Luke 1:26-38
Join us this week as Ryan discusses some of the prophecies in Isaiah, and how they are revealed in the coming of both John the Baptist, and Jesus Christ, as well as how they relate to Noah's flood, and how much our baptism matters.
Scripture used - Isaiah 54: 1-10, Luke 7: 24-29
Join us this week as missionary intern Akin Bailey discusses Cain's city, and how it affected the lives of the people who lived in it, and how your city impacts your life.
Scripture Used: Isaiah 8:12-14, Genesis 4:17-26, Mathew 18:21-22
Join us this week as Ryan discusses the curses of humanity and the Serpent, how they continue to showcase the weaknesses of the sexes, and how Jesus overcame them.
Scripture used: Romans 5: 12-17, Genesis 3: 14-24, Mark 15:16-20
Join us this week as Ryan discusses the temptation and fall of humankind and the strategies you can use to keep from being deceived by the devil.
Scripture used: Genesis 3: 1-13, Philippians 2: 3-11, Matthew 4:1-11
Join us this week as associate director Camellia Jiles preaches about the creation of Eve, and discusses how we as Christians should interact with each other and others.
Scripture used: Genesis 2:18-25
Join us this week as Ryan discusses the second creation story and how it alludes to the fall, as well as the first commandment, and the importance of every commandment thereafter.
Scripture used: Genesis 2:4-17, Deuteronomy 30: 8-20, John 6: 48-58
Join us this week as Ryan discusses God's creation of the Sabbath and how that resting affected the Old and New Testament since.
Scripture used: Genesis 2:1-3, Exodus 20: 8-11 and Mark 6:30-32
Join us this week as Ryan connects Luke and a passage from Acts. Ryan questions our ability to serve when we take a deeper dive into Stephen and the sacrifices made for the Kingdom.
Scriptural reference: Acts Chapter 6, 7, 8:1-4, and Luke 21:12-19
Join us as Missionary Intern Bekah Beck is our guest speaker and reflects on John chapter 14 and if how if we are to be followers of Christ we have to allow the Holy Spirit to have a say in our lives and what we choose to do and what we will not do.
Scriptural Reference: John 14:5-31
Join us and our guest speaker Camellia Jiles this week as she reflects on 1 Corinthians through the lens of the Cross and how we struggle with seeking a deeper relationship with Christ.
Scriptural Reference: 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5
Join us this week as Ryan discusses the story of the apostles walking and their sadness over the death of Jesus and their encounter with a man they did not initially know was Jesus.
Scriptural Reference: 1 Corinthians 1:17-24 & Luke 24:13-49
Join us this week as Ryan asks what spirit Jesus is giving up when He says "Into your hands, I commit my spirit" with the help of the icon "Death of Jesus" by Nicholas Markell.
Join us this week as Ryan Discusses Matthew 12 and how it lines up with the other cannon of scripture in the New Testament (like John Chapter 3). He also goes into detail about St. Augustine's sermon on blasphemy.
Editor's Note In the beginning of the sermon Ryan is quoting St. Augustine's hesitations to preach on this passage
Scriptural Reference: Matthew 12:22-37
Join us this week as Ryan discusses Romans 14, the cautions of judgement and autonomy, and how it can hinder our community.
Scriptural Reference: Romans 14
Join us this week as Ryan discusses how the Holy Spirit was given to us for prayer and asks us if we rely on the Holy Spirit to pray.
Scriptural Reference: Romans 8:14-39
Join us as Ryan discusses Paul's letter to the romans and being of the flesh versus being of the Spirit.
Scriptural Reference: Romans 8:1-13
Join us as guest speaker Pastor Shivon Green shares how God divinely interrupted her life. She shares that we should allow ourselves to be divinely interrupted and how God uses the people in our life to help us be interrupted.
Scriptural Reference: Luke 1:26-56
Join us this week as our guest Rev. George Lee IV shares with us the difference of being paired and being connected with God and the importance of pruning.
Scriptural Reference: John 15:1-8
Join us this week as special guest Brother Willie Young shares why we should carry the fire of God inside ourselves everyday.
Scriptural Reference: Exodus 40:38
Join us this week as Ryan shares the plan for the Wesley over the next month and our plans to celebrate black contributions to the church.
Scriptural Reference: Acts 11
Join us this week as Ryan discusses Paul being called to Christian Discipleship and asks if we are doing God's will in our life or rather are we using God to justify our own desires.
Scriptural references: Acts 22:1-24 & Mark 16:14-20
Join us this week as Ryan returns and shares his experience and reflections on his latest visit to a monastery in Indiana while discussing when Jesus was baptized.
Scriptural Reference: Isaiah 42:1-7, Titus 3:3-7, & Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
Join us as we return from Christmas break and Intern Philip Matherne concludes our Advent Interlude with the question asking if we are more like the Magi or Jerusalem.
Scriptural Reference: Isaiah 60:1-6 &Matthew 2:1-12
This week Ryan continues our Advent Interlude as he discusses humility and our need to acknowledge our own sin.
Scriptural references: Zephaniah 3:1-2, 9-13 & Matthew 21:28-32
This week we take a break from our ongoing series on the Holy Spirit to focus on and discuss Advent and the meaning of it. Ryan discusses the path provided and forgiveness.
Scriptural Reference: Isaiah 35:1-10 & Luke: 5:17-26
Join us for the last Well of the quarter as Ryan continues our Series on the Holy Spirit and discusses the differences between our interior and exterior self. Ryan also proposes the question "are we filled?"
Scriptural Reference: Ephesians 3:14-21
Join us this week as Ryan continues our series on the Holy Spirit and discusses authority given by the Holy Spirit, intimacy with God, and what is at stake having authority.
Scriptural References: Acts 15:12-36 & Ephesians 3:1-13
Join us this week as Ryan continues our series on the Holy Spirit and discusses how we are the materials of the church and how we should not only become more involved but to also say "yes" more.
Scriptural References: Ephesians 2:19-22
Join us this week as Ryan talks about how Christ is our peace, and how He leads us to break down the dividing walls of hostility and enmity between ourselves and others.
Scriptural References: Genesis 27:30 - 28:5, Acts 15:22-41, & Ephesians 2:11-19
Join us this week as Alana Continues our series on the Holy Spirit and preaches about His Kindness and the fruits of the Spirit.
Scriptural References: Galatians 5:16-26 & Ephesians 2:1-10
Join us as Ryan continues our series on the Holy Spirit and describes the power of praise and why we should be both praising and blessing God.
Scriptural References: Acts 2:1-21 & Ephesians 1:1-14
Join us as Ryan begins our series on the Holy Spirit and the hope that we are called to.
Scriptural References: Genesis 7:17-24 & Ephesians 1:15-23
Join in for the second part of our introductory mini-series as Chlese, a former intern and all around holy person, talks to us about her experience with prayer and how to pray!
Scripture References: Hebrews 5, Philippians 4:4-9, and Matthew 6:5-15
Join us for the first Well of the school year! This year we started with a two-week introduction to The Wesley and our ministry given by current and former interns. In our first talk we join Phil as he tells us how to go about being real people, and how we can tell what makes a real person.
Scripture References: Exodus 12:43-50 & Mark 1:9-22
Join us this week as Ryan talks about how we become more Christlike through the processes of Regeneration and Sanctification!
Join us this week for Hot Summer Nights as Ryan discusses his thoughts on the nature and mission of the Church as well as some of the challenges we face today.
Scriptural References: Ephesians 5:15-20, 1 Corinthians 7:29-31, Mark 13:1-2, Matthew 16:15-18
This week Ryan discusses the second topic of our Hot Summer Nights series, justification and his experiences trying to get college students to understand God's love for them.
Scripture References: 1 Cor. 4:7 and Luke 18:9-14
This week, join us as we begin our Hot Summer Nights series with Ryan's first talk discussing his experiences with our ministry when it comes to repentance.
Scripture References: Acts 2:32-42, 2 Timothy 3:14-17, Matthew 5:29, and Ephesians 4:28
In our final week of this year's study of the Book of Revelation, we join together to celebrate the baptism of two beloved members of our community! Ryan reminds us what it means to be Christians at a time near the end of the world and to be offered that great gift: The Water of Life.
Scripture Reference: Revelation 22, John 7:37-44, and Romans 6:1-11
In our penultimate study of the book of Revelation, Ryan takes us through possibly the most familiar part of Rev. 21 in which God promises to wipe away all of our tears.
Scripture Reference: Revelation 21, 1 Corinthians 15 (selected verses), and Psalm 56
This week in the later half of Revelation 19 and the whole of chapter 20, Ryan draws us to the question of what difference our deeds make in our salvation.
Scripture Reference: Revelation 19:11 - end of Ch. 20 and Psalm 69:1-28
This week, Ryan preaches on Revelation Ch. 19 and delves into John's peculiar moment of idolatry.
Note: Due to technical problems, a section of this week's talk did not get recorded.
Scripture References: Revelation 19 and Mark 9:2-8
This week, we skip ahead to Revelation 18 where Ryan points us to the Lord's summons to come away from the tempting economy of Babylon.
Scripture References: Revelation 18, Isaiah 23, and Acts 19:23-34
This week as we study Revelation 14, Ryan asks us if we understand what it means to worship the Lamb that was slain.
Scripture References: Revelation 14 and Joel 3
This week, Alana underscores for us the importance of knowing the truth from a lie and knowing when we are being called to have faith and endurance.
Scripture References: Revelation 13, Jeremiah 29:1-23, and 2 Corinthians 12:1-10
At this week's Well, Ryan takes us through Rev. 12, honing in on what it looks like for the Church to overcome the accuser, that ancient serpent: the devil.
Note: Due to technical difficulties, a few minutes of the conclusion of this week's message couldn't be recorded.
Scripture References: Revelation 12 and Ephesians 6:10-20
We've returned to this year's study of the Book of Revelation! This week, Ryan takes us through Revelation 11 and challenges us to consider the prophetic vocation that we all have as part of the Church.
Scripture References: Revelation 11:1-14 and Philippians 3:10-16
Title: A Voice In the Desert
This is the final week of our 2021 Race Talks Series! This week, one of our favorite Wesley alums, Khalilah Al-Amin Kersey, comes to us - not unlike John the Baptist - speaking the truth that God has shared with her about addressing racism as the body of Christ.
Scripture Reference: Luke 15:11-32
Title: The Greatest Calling
Pastor Shivon Woodard comes and teaches us to listen to the call of love which Jesus gives to us all.
Scripture Reference: Luke 10:25-37
Title: Who is Your Neighbor?
For the second talk of our annual Race Talks series, we have the honor of listening to guest speaker, Rev. Willie Young, share his wisdom of what it means to trust and to be a neighbor.
Scripture References: Luke 10:25-37
Important Note: There were technical difficulties in recording this week's Race Talks. We hope that, even still, you will be patient in listening.
This is the discussion following Ryan Ford's Race Talk.
Title: Disillusionment, Disenchantment, and Disgust: Reflections to my fellow white clergy on filling up the measure of the sins of our ancestors
**Important Note: There were technical difficulties in recording this week's Race Talks. We hope that, even still, you will be patient in listening.
This week, Ryan begins our first Race Talk of the year by drawing our attention to the parallels of Jesus' warnings to the Pharisees in the Gospel of Matthew and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s' words in the face of white Christians.
References: Matthew 23, Dr. King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail," and part of Dr. King's 1965 interview with Alex Haley
This is a companion piece to our Memorial Service in which Pete offers faithful words about what it means to stand on the side of the oppressed.
Scripture Reference - Matthew 5:1-12
We begin this year's Race Talks by taking time to come together as a body and mourn those who have been killed by police officers in the last year.
Notes:
- After each month during the reading of names, the congregation joins together in this call and response, which we hope you will join:
Into your hands we commend these souls
Lord, no mortal life you have made is without eternal meaning.
- After the reading of names, a brief period of silence is observed.
This week, we celebrate Jesus' baptism and that He is God's chosen servant to bring forth justice to the nations.
Scripture References: Mark 1:4-11, Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7, and Acts 10:34-38
This week we gather together to celebrate the feast of Epiphany - the manifestation of Christ as Messiah to the Gentiles through the visitation of the Magi.
Scripture References: Matthew 2:1-12, Isaiah 60:1-6, and Ephesians 3:2-6
This week as we finish our Advent Interlude, Ryan reminds us of what it is that unifies us as a body.
Scripture References: Matthew 21:28-32, Philippians 2:1-11, Ezekiel 18:25-28
This week, instead of continuing in our study of Revelation, we begin a brief interlude to celebrate the season of Advent.
Scripture References: Luke 1:26-38, Genesis 3:9-20, & Ephesians 1:3-14
In this week's sermon, Alana guides us into what it means to be marked with God's seal and to respond faithfully in the face of His judgement.
Scripture References: Revelation 9 and Hebrews 3
This week, as we continue studying John's vision of Heaven, Ryan points us to the true power our voices can have in this life and the life of the world to come.
Scripture References: Revelation 8 and Exodus 19:16-25
In this week's sermon, Ryan helps us to understand the scope of what it means to live under the authority of God as our Sovereign Lord.
Scripture References: Revelation 6 and Acts 4: 23-31
This week, we continue viewing John's vision of Heaven and begin to understand the worthiness of the Lamb.
Scripture References: Revelation 5 and Isaiah 53
This week in Ryan's absence, Pete leads us through a short discussion about John's vision of the Throne Room of God.
Scriptures references: Revelation 4 and Isaiah 6:1-8
Ryan finishes preaching on Jesus' messages to the seven churches in Revelation and helps us see how we can allow ourselves to also be addressed.
Our Scripture references this week are: Revelation 3 and Isaiah 60:11
This week, Ryan begins to delve into Jesus' messages to the seven churches in Revelation.
Scripture: Revelation Ch. 2*, Acts 19:23-41
The recording this week began after the scripture reading. To follow along, read Revelation Ch. 2
In this first week of our 2020-2021 series, "Apocalypse: Discipleship and Worship at a Time Near the End of the World," Ryan begins to lead us into the hope that is promised through Jesus as we read John's Revelation.
Scripture: Revelation Ch. 1
Note: When "114,000 hours" is said, the true measure is meant to be "114,000 years"
Title: Racism and the Black Professional
Kiara discusses the importance of having courage conversations and gives us insight into how she's been putting that into practice.
Reference Scripture: Mark 12:28-31
Title: When Compassion Means Everything
Skartleth Wagener boldly and compassionately recounts for us her experiences of both privilege and prejudice. Her story is a beautiful one and we thank you for listening.
Scripture: Matthew 14:14, Mark 8:1-3, Proverbs 31:8-9
This discussion follows the lecture given by Ryan Ford on the history of the Methodist Church. We discuss topics of worship, racism, homosexuality, and unity in the Church.
A Modest Proposal for Unity: Let the Christians of the World Agree Not to Enslave One Another - How conservative and liberal Methodists abandoned the Bible, divided over sex, and continued to perpetuate racism
This week of Race Talks features Ryan giving a brief history of the part the United Methodist Church has played in our nation's story of race, racism, and slavery. Listen to find out how this is still happening today.
This week began the first week of Race Talks! This episode features an introduction from the director of the Wesley Foundation, Ryan Ford, as well as highlights from a discussion pertaining to the documentary that was watched. The discussion begins immediately after the introduction so if you want to follow a little better I suggest watching the documentary 13th. It can be found on Netflix.
Ryan discusses the Magi, the significance of their gifts to Jesus, as well as their journey and displacement.
Reference Scripture:
IS 60:1-6
MT 2:1-12
Ryan discusses the Holy Family and how our vision of family is different than what Jesus, Mary, and Joseph were.
Reference Scripture:
COL 3:12-21 and MT 2:13-15, 19-23
Ryan preaches about the frailty of our faith, expecting the presence of Jesus even in our doubt, and why it's important to have faithful friends who we can depend on when our faith is fleeting.
Reference Scripture: Isaiah 35: 1-6A, 10, James 5: 7-10, Matthew 11: 2-11
This week Alana brings the word preaching from Matthew 3:1-12. She discusses how our baptism as preparation for the world to come.
Reference Scripture: Isaiah 11:1-10, Rom 15:4-9
Ryan kicks off the quarter with an overview about the purpose of advent, Christ in the world, and what it means to be in anticipation. These next three weeks are going to be good!
Reference Scripture: Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:37-44
This week Ryan discusses what Jesus says about children. A beautiful and powerful sermon on Mark 9:33-37, 10:13-16. We hope you enjoy!
Ryan discusses the nature of discipleship and the necessity of suffering when it comes to following Jesus. Enjoy listening!
This week Ryan focuses on the metaphor of the seed presented in Mark 4:1-32. He discusses the four places where the seed lands and what we can do to avail ourselves to work that Gospel wants to do in us, to us, and through us.
This week Ryan preaches from Mark 3:20-30 discussing how we think the devil's presence in the world is a rarity and how Jesus has plundered the "Strong Man's" house. This week's message is a convicting and extremely eye opening one. We hope you are blessed by it.
Alana brings us the word this week. She contrasts the Pharisees and the Apostles when it comes to what it means to come to Jesus. She discusses the heart of the Pharisees and their desire to be seen by man. She answers the question: What does it mean to know Jesus?
Ryan concludes Fall Retreat by talking about the ways that communion is a lifting up of our hearts as well as sacrifice to Jesus. And in return he takes it and gives us back His heart.
Ryan discusses how God's grieved heart has prompted him to move in Scripture and how we are invited to participate in His grief.
The purpose of this shorter talk was to explain and prep us to enter into a time of prayer (alone) and discussion (together). During this time Ryan explains to us the practice of Lectio Divina, a particular method of prayer.
The overall title for Fall Retreat is Descriptions of the Heart. Ryan kicks off the first session discussing the ways in which we look for rest in places other than Jesus, but also the way we view Him and His creation.
This week we look at Mark 2 and Mark 7 for our focus text. Ryan Ford discusses matters of the heart as we study the ways in which the Pharisees, and many of us, have hardened our hearts toward Jesus.
In this weeks episode Ryan preaches the importance of seeing each other as Jesus sees us, as sinners and on allowing ourselves to be carried to Him in moments when we can't bring ourselves.
We begin our first worship service of the 2019-2020 school year by diving into the Gospel of Mark. Ryan preaches on Jesus and the wilderness, knowing that Jesus is the only who deals with our sin, and the importance of both repentance and belief.
Reference Scripture: Deuteronomy 9, Jeremiah 2: 1-8, Mark 1: 1-15