Bishop Jonathan G. Smith: Recent Episodes
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Our mission is to help set up a School of Ministry for a small village in Aguacatan, Guatemala.
The post Mission Back To Guatemala appeared first on Bishop Jonathan G. Smith.
The beauty of liturgy is it jars us from the complexities; sharply focuses our attention on this spiritual principle: God loves us.
The post Liturgy for Everyday Life–A Lesson from Parenting appeared first on Bishop Jonathan G. Smith.
The Creeds bring us together, unite us under the banner of Christ, and guide us in life. The Creeds give a "rule of faith" that clarifies our identity, our tribe, our belonging, and our hope. And finally, the Creeds allow us to break bread together and sit in the discomfort of our differences while celebrating our common faith. That is what it means in my mind to be counted as one among many in the "holy catholic church."
The post What does it mean to be a Creedal Christian? appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
The most surprising discovery of the Bible is that identity and sexuality appears on the very first page. But it doesn't say what you might think.
The post Where Did We Come From? How Stories Shape Our Identity appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
My purpose in this series, is to explore the contours of human sexuality through the Christian Bible, to (re)discover the beauty and mystery of God’s intention for humanity, and to find common ground with those whom we love the most.
The post Weird Sex and the Bible appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
If you paint over rotten wood, the wood may look nice, but the integrity is compromised. In time, it can become a big problem.
So it is with our spiritual lives. We can dress ourselves up and look presentable to our friends and neighbors, pretending we're fine. But just beneath the service are the hurts, habits, and hang-ups that are ruining our lives.
The post Rotting Spirituality AND CULTURAL DECLINE appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
Jesus knew that death was the great enemy that had kept all of creation in bondage. And yet, at that moment, he could have exercised His divine authority and overthrown his accusers in a second. But he didn't.
The post Retaining Hope In the Midst of Grief appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
Are you at risk for burnout? How to guard your heart so you don't have to fix it later. Burnout effects everyone. So why does it matter?
The post Are you at risk for burnout? appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
By now, you’ve probably seen the terrible news of the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban. Wherever you land on this issue, one thing I think we can all agree on is the terrible implications for the Gospel and for the few Christians in that country.
The post The Taliban’s Resurgence in Afghanistan: Come Lord Jesus appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
Pastoring is not a 9-5 job. There is no way to quantify the work. How do you put a value on eternity? Well, we can only point to the cross of Christ to determine that price.
The post Transitioning to Bivocational Ministry appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
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What is refreshment? Jesus said, "I will refresh you." But the way to Jesus is through his followers. So do people find your faith refreshing?
The post What is the key to sharing Jesus? Refreshment from the CREO South Intensive appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
How do you grow in life? One of the problems every Christian faces is the troubling aspect of recurring problems that prevent growth.
The post Life Lessons From the Backyard – Uncovering Old Patterns appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
Sam Storm's book "Understanding Spiritual Gifts" is a game-changer for me. Whether you are a committed "Cessationist" or an enthusiastic "Continuist," Storm's work is by far the best I've encountered.
The post Book Review, Sam Storms ‘Understanding Spiritual Gifts: A Comprehensive Guide’ appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
Have you noticed something? Here in Central Florida, aside from the Easter candy sales, church signs advertising Easter services, or egg hunts, you couldn’t tell that anything is different.
It’s as if the world is content to keep on going without a second thought to what the God of the Universe did for it.
The post Good Friday Meditation appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
Today we hear the cry for “justice.” Our politicians promise us justice. But if the cry for justice persists and the promises endure, then that can only one thing — injustice continues to prevail.
The post Does the Bible speak about justice? appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
This week was hard for America. As I reflect on the events that unfolded, I find myself experiencing a flurry of emotions.
I’ve learned over the years that when my emotions are hot, it’s better to withdraw until I can sufficiently process all that I’m feeling.
The post How Should We Feel About The Events In DC? appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
What is the cornerstone of the Gospel of Jesus? According to the Anglican tradition, it is the glory of God to love the unworthy.
The post God’s Glory To Love The Unworthy appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
Is it alright to relate to God as our Abba Daddy? If yes, then how does the Bible support God’s invitation to relate to him as our Father? To answer these questions, Pastor Jonathan explores Galatians 4:4-7 where Paul uses the phrase “Abba Daddy”.
The post Is God Our Abba Daddy? appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
Do you want to experience “real peace?” Sure, we all want genuine peace. But the pressures of life typically keep Christians from experiencing genuine peace.
The post Experiencing The Presence and Peace of God appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
Have you dreaded the Christmas season? Well, if you are like many people, then you might relate with one person who said. “I really hate Christmas anymore. I find myself just getting angry.”
The post How to Recover “Christmas” From Unrealistic Expectations appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
Is God unjust to delay His return? This week Pastor Jonathan explore the theme of God’s delay. He raises the question, why doesn’t God just come already? To answer this question, Pastor Jonathan explores Peter’s answer in 2 Peter 3.
The post Is God Unjust In Delaying His Return? appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
This week at Redeemer, Pastor Jonathan leads us in the first week of Advent Worship. He asks, “how does Advent spiritually prepare us for Christmas?” To help us understand the Advent message, he quotes Henri Nouwen who said, “All of life is Advent.”
The post How Does Advent Prepare Us For Christmas? appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
This week Pastor Jonathan explores Principle #8 of Celebrate Recovery: Yield myself to God to be used to bring this Good News to others, both by my example and my words. (Step 12)
The post God Never Waste’s A Hurt – Principle 8 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
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The post Born Gay? Answers to BIG Questions | GOF 99 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
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The post A Very Brief History of LGBT+ Marginalization in the Church | GOF97 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
Weekly Holy Communion Anglicans love to take communion. It is part of our worship expressed in well-refined liturgies. So much so, that it is often difficult for Anglicans to attend non-liturgical churches where communion is not a regular part of Sunday worship. Something seems amiss as if the service is not complete. But is our […]
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The post Love – Grace Nation’s Core Values Part 3 | GOF96 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
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Prayer is the most important part of the Christian faith experience but sadly often neglected by many believers. How does liturgy help?
The post How Liturgy Transformed My Prayer Life appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
Does God really like us? According to Genesis 1, the answer is yes! In this new series, Jonathan explores God's Passion for People and asks, why?
The post Surprise! God Really Likes us | FITC59 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
Millennials are the justice generation. On today’s episode, Pastor Jonathan explores the theme of Justice and asks, what does the Bible really have to say about justice? Millennials look at their world through a lens of justice. So is it possible that Evangelical’s treatment of LGBT+ people has led to their exodus from the church? The answer is yes. So how should we respond?
The post Justice – Grace Nation’s Core Values Part 2 | GOF95 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
LGBT+ people sometimes criticize Evangelicals for lacking compassion for Queer people. To address this issue, Dr. Jonathan explores the interaction of Jesus and a leper to see how Jesus’ was motivated by compassion to cross social boundaries and love a man who was “unclean.”
The post Compassion – Grace Nation’s Core Values Part 1 | GOF 94 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
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If you could walk away from the year and say, “this was my #1 lesson,” then what would it be? My answer to this question is simple. I’ve re-discovered the power of prayer. Does that seem too simplistic? Too pastoral? Perhaps, but let me ask you a straightforward question. If prayer is so simple, then […]
The post Never Underestimate the Power of Prayer – A Lesson I Learned appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
God could have fulfilled his promise in any way He wanted. But, He chose to do it through the baby Jesus. He did it through a BABY. And that’s particularly surprising. So in this final Advent post, I want to look at why God’s choice to fulfill his promise through a baby is particularly unusual. […]
The post What’s The Big Deal About The Birth of Jesus? Advent 4 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
What is joy? I mean what is it really? Every Christmas season we sing “Joy to the World.” Through that great hymn, we are taught that our Savior’s birth inaugurated a season of joy. However, let me be honest with you, living that out doesn’t seem entirely apparent to me. No, it seems to me […]
The post Finding Authentic Joy In the Chaos of Christmas – Advent 3 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
“When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were bewildered and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Matt 9:36 NET Has America lost its understanding of justice? In the aftermath of the Presidential election, the word justice was tossed around by folks who either felt vindicated or betrayed. That caused me […]
The post Why Compassion is Critical To Real Justice – Advent 2 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
Do you enjoy the “Christmas season?” Or does the chaos of the annual “shopping season” leave a less than desirable taste in your mouth? For many people, this time of year can be the most stressful, leaving some feeling blue and not so full of “holiday cheer.” So what is the answer to this perplexing […]
The post Finding Real Hope In The Chaos of Life – Advent 1 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
What is the mission of Grace Nation? To craft Side B Allies in the Church who will love LGBTQ+ people and families. So to keep you up to speed on this progress, I’m laying out some updates for the ministry of Grace Nation. There are four things we’re dong: 1) Building a Prayer Team, 2) Training Pastors, 3) Developing Seminars, and 4) Providing Life Coaching to Gay Christians.
The post Crafting Side B Allies In the Church | GOF92 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
There is more than one path in our journey in sanctification. Today, however, most evangelicals insist that the process of sanctification for the gay Christian leads to heterosexuality with orientation change as the inevitable conclusion. Forty years ago, a different evangelical vision was held by some of the most prominent theological thinkers. What was there vision?
The post Sanctification and the Gay Christian – Reformed Orthodoxy | GOF91 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
The post Side B Ally, What I Think I Mean | GOF90 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
Many Gay people have tried to “pray the gay away" only to be left frustrated by unanswered prayers. Yet many well-meaning pastors insist that is the answer. There is a major flaw in this logic.
The post Praying the Gay Away | GOF 89 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
What is a queer Christian? For Evangelicals, the word “queer” can seem dangerous. But it doesn’t have to be. To help me understand how this word is used today, I interviewed Bridget Eileen, a Lesbian Christian. She blogs regularly at the Meditations of a Traveling Nun. Bridge describes her faith journey and helpfully reframes our understanding of the phrase queer Christian.
The post A Queer Christian and the Gospel with Bridget Eileen | GOF88 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
What is an LGBTQ+ Side B Ally? A Side B Ally is a Christian who holds to the historical teaching of the church and loves LGBTQ+ Christians well. In the new season of Grace On Fire, I explain how I arrived at this new focus of the ministry and the steps I’ve taken to move in this new positive direction.
The post LGBTQ Side B Ally – A New Vision | GOF87 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
How to form a mastermind group? What do Cliff Ravenscraft, Ray Edwards, and Pat Flynn all have in common, they belong to the same mastermind group. That's why this episode is dedicated to providing you practical steps on how to form your very own group. To help me, I asked Dr. Mario Escobedo to join me on the show.
The post How To Form A Mastermind Group with Dr. Mario Escobedo | GOF86 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
Would you consider making a career change at age 66? What if your career change required you to raise your salary? That’s exactly what Dawn Loomis is endeavoring to accomplish. She and I sat down and talked about how Wycliffe Bible Translators has inspired her to do something BIG, raise support to become a full-time missionary…at Age 66. If you want to be inspired, then take a few moments to listen to this interview.
The post Wycliffe Bible Translators – Crafting Your Life Purpose at Age 66 | GOF85 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
Is Lead Them Home's Posture Shift leading evangelicals in the right direction? In this post, I review Bill Henson's ministry and provide a positive endorsement for anyone interested in attending this workshop.
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John 316 declares that God moved by His love for people, sent His Son Jesus to this world to become the visible and tangible embodiment of Him. The most surprising truth of this verse is the observation that God moved first. So how does this apply to our ability to minister to LGBT people?
The post What John 316 Teaches Us About Loving LGBT People | GOF84 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
When it comes to Gay and Christian debates, we need to return to the Gospel. Parents, teenagers, and young people are looking for hope and help from churches. But sadly, there is still much confusion and disagreement over where to start. We need to remember that the Gospel applies equally to all human beings. If the Gospel is true for Evangelicals, then it must be true for LGBT+ persons.
The post LGBT and Christian – Why The Gospel Matters More Than Ever | GOF83 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
Most Evangelicals I know want to minister to their LGBT friend, son or daughter but don’t know how. Church teaching has failed them. Theologians have warned them. And lobbyists have frightened them. And yet, I consistently encounter enough people who are dissatisfied with the cultural wars and are asking, “how?”
The post How To Minister To LGBT People, Family, and Friends | Let’s Start with the Basics appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
This afternoon I had coffee with a local pastor who has a church just around the corner from Redeemer. After chatting for awhile, he asked the question, “So what’s your church all about?” Reasonable question. Afterall, even though there is only one “Great Commission” we certainly see a great variety of churches today. More on […]
The post What Does It Mean To Flourish? appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
Gender Dysphoria and Transgender People. Evangelicals have not done well in ministering to transgender persons and families. Stories of heartbreak, isolation, and fear regularly accompany testimonies of individuals with gender dysphoria. The institution best suited to help has often contributed to the problem. Christians can do a better job.
The post Gender Dysphoria, Evangelicals and the Way of Grace | GOF82 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
What is Christian Life Coaching? The systematic process of discovering where you are and where you want to be. In short, three words define Life Coaching. Potential. Passion. Purpose. A Life Coach is someone who helps you move from where you are to where you believe God wants you to be. Sound to good to be true? Then find out why I’m so passionate about life coaching and the power it has to move you forward in life. Also in this episode, I’m talking about how as a pastor I’ve changed my approach to the Monday Morning Blues.
The post What is Christian Life Coaching | GOF81 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
Can’t sleep? Find yourself overly tired? Middle of the night anxiety is something I’ve struggled with often. Whenever I feel the weight of my problems pressing down on my shoulders, I find myself struggling to sleep. Unfortunately, this pattern if left unchecked, can down the road lead to significant health problems. So how do you solve midnight insomnia? The answer is not as complicated as it might seem. Also on the show, I discuss a troubling trend among Evangelicals that is leaving believers paralyzed in their faith.
The post Drowsiness and Anxiety – Losing Sleep At Night? | GOF80 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
The Parkland School Shooting is another vivid reminder of the sickness that pervades our society. When children murder other children, we need as a nation to slow down and ask “what’s happening”? What’s going on? What are the conditions in our families, cities, and society that are leading to this kind of outcome? We then need to listen.
Questions and statements like these ultimately lead to different solutions. For the Christian, however, we need to withdraw from the debates just long enough to remember one thing. We live on planet death. So how do we navigate this planet? On today’s show, I offer my candid response to the Parkland School shooting, challenging Grace Nation to think deeply about the issues at stake.
The post Parkland School Shooting – How To Navigate Planet Death | GOF79 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
Anxiety sucks! I know because I’ve been there. So what are we to make of the claims in the bible about the peace of God? For many people, anxiety and depression seem to be a standard part of life. So how can we embrace God’s promise of divine peace? Well in today’s episode, I’m asking this question to help us move past the shallow responses to discover more profound truths implanted in God’s design of humanity. It turns out that modern science has a lot to say about overcoming anxiety, where merely reinforces what scripture has said all along.
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Should we Evangelicals forgive Tullian Tchividjian? If you have any real understanding of how grace works, then the answer, of course, is “yes.” But when public figures break our trust by acting in ways contrary to their public persona, it is tough to find that requisite forgiveness we all are supposed to grant. I understand. So did Absalom — King David’s son who could never forgive his father’s disgraces. But Jesus calls us to do just that, to forgive those who hurt us. In a candid interview, Tullian opens up his heart revealing his ongoing struggles with guilt and shame tied to the impact it had on his children. He shares his desperate need for God’s grace and how the Father’s “One Way Love” is now more important to him than ever before.
The post Tullian Tchividjian On Finding Grace After Your Life Has Been Destroyed | GOF77 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
Do you love money? Sure, who doesn’t like having a little extra cash in their pocket! Unfortunately, man Christians struggle with faulty thinking that keeps them from pursuing creative lives in business and commerce. So how do you craft a healthy relationship with money without compromising your faith? To help me answer this question, I invited Cliff Ravenscraft to rethink money, wealth, and the pursuit of God’s call.
The post Four Limiting Beliefs That Are Holding You Back with Cliff Ravenscraft | GOF76 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
How do you find your life purpose? Every generation asks the same questions. Why am I here? What am I doing? Where am I going? But not every person discovers the answer for themselves. That’s because we live in a world of competing views, unrealistic expectations, and broken dreams. But Life Purpose doesn’t have to be difficult to discover. You just need a place to start. So where do you begin?
The post How To Find Your Life Purpose | GOF75 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
Warning! Positive emotions can be harmful to your judgment. Thoughtful people be advised. Do you think that is true? If you saw a disclaimer like this, would you automatically reject this warning or would you seek to learn more? Positive emotions, feeling good almost seems like a civil right these days. But there is more to life than just feeling good all the time. So is there a dark side to positive emotions? There is, particularly when those “feelings” can lead to poor decisions.
The post How Positive Emotions Can Actually Work Against You | GOF74 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
Are you being honest with yourself? This question goes to the heart of most our problems in life. We are not honest because we’re afraid of the consequences of our honesty. So we lie. Not a lot but a little. We self-rationalize, compromise, and trade off the things we want most in life for safety, security, and predictability. Unfortunately, when we do this? A little piece of our heart grows cold. The only solution is to do something no one else can do for you. Be ridiculously honest. Two forms of honesty are needed — positive and negative. So ask yourself this question, “Are you being completely honest with yourself?”
The post How Being Ridiculously Honest With Yourself Leads to A Better Life | GOF73 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
What if gratitude could improve your mental health? Seems too simple? Could merely learning to say thank you change your life? Probably not. But recent psychological research has revealed that it may have a more positive benefit to your well being than you might think.
This question and other first emerged thirty years ago in the field of Positive Psychology. Up to that point, research had focused on the familiar issues of mental illness: depression, anxiety, fear, etc. But what about positive mental health? Researchers sought to answer this question and came to some exciting conclusions. So what were the results? Apparently being kind to your neighbor has more benefit than mere social implications. It can actually improve your life. So how do you practice and develop a life of gratitude?
The post Why Gratitude Is A Game-Changer For Your Mental Health | GOF72 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
The most significant mistake you can make in life is to define yourself by your job. But the vast majority of people I meet do precisely that, and it costs them so much happiness. Seem a little overstated? Perhaps, but consider this scenario for just a moment. When someone asks “who are you?” What’s the first thing out of your mouth? For most of us, the answer includes some reference to what “we do.” But I think this is a trap. What happens when the market changes, how will you respond? For some people, they can successfully reinvent themselves, but for others, it is a little more difficult. That’s why it’s important to consider this issue “BEFORE” something affects your work. Also, on GOF71, I ask this question: how do you pray when you don’t know what to do?
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Is there something holding you back but don’t know what it is? Chances are you may be encountering what experts call limiting beliefs. They hold us back from seeking healthy and meaningful relationships. Prevent us from pursuing the next step in our careers. And they sabotage our lives when gone unchecked. Unfortunately, detecting limiting beliefs is much harder than you think. Why? Very often limiting beliefs are “controlling beliefs” that shape and form how we see the world. They are ideas that tell us how to think, and sometimes they work against us. If you dig down into yourself far enough, you may just discover some hidden ideas that are reaping massive havoc on your life. So how do you overcome these thoughts? There are at least five foundational ideas that you must accept before any real progress in life can be made.
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The number one problem when sharing our faith in Jesus with friends is the words we use. Most well-intended presentations of the Gospel are laden in “churchy” words no one understands. The net effect of it all, we sound weird. In fact, we probably feel weird when we say it. That’s why it is vital for Christians to learn how to speak “human.”
In this final message of the series “Ambassador: Carrying the Gospel” Pastor Jonathan teaches a basic way to share your faith with your friends. Getting the words right is not important. In fact, using the wrong words can be frustrating for both you and the person you want to share your story. What you need is a framework to think about the story instead of the right words.
The post Speak Human – Sharing the Gospel With Your Friends | FITC58 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
The number one problem when sharing our faith in Jesus with friends is the words we use. Most well intended presentations of the Gospel are laden in “churchy” words no one understands. The net effect of it all, we sound weird. In fact, we probably feel weird when we say it. That’s why it is vital for Christians to learn how to speak “human.”
The post Speak Human – Sharing the Gospel With Your Friends | FITC58 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
Next Tuesday I’m celebrating my 41st birthday, and a funny thing is happening. I keep asking myself, didn’t I just celebrate 40? For those of you who are well beyond 40, please don’t laugh at me. I’m still wrestling with it. 🙂 But the pace of life certainly has me in overdrive right now. Running […]
The post Too Busy To Have Relationships appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
Have you ever thought of God’s reputation being “on the line?” I never have. But surprisingly the Bible actually talks a great deal about this. When Moses pleaded with God not to wipe out Israel after they had totally blown it by worshipping a false god, Moses appealed to God’s reputation (Genesis 32:12). He effectively said, “God if you wipe out the people what kind of reputation will you have among the pagan nations?”
Today, we’re not accustomed to praying this way. We don’t think twice about God’s reputation or we don’t think we need to consider it. After all, God is, well, God and we’re not. He’s in control. That’s true. But it’s also true that God desires for us to pray, particularly in matters of evangelism. In this week’s message, Pastor Jonathan challenged Redeemer to pray on behalf of others and say, “God, your name is on the line, save these people.”
The post How To Pray For The Salvation of Your Friends | FITC57 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
Have you ever thought of God’s reputation being “on the line?” I never have. But surprisingly the Bible actually talks a great deal about this. When Moses pleaded with God not to wipe out Israel after they had totally blown it by worshipping a false god, Moses appealed to God’s reputation (Genesis 32:12).
The post How To Pray For The Salvation of Your Friends | FITC57 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
Does fear keep you from sharing your faith with your friends? If so, you are not alone. When it comes to sharing faith, the statistics for average church goes isn’t very good. So what is the problem? That is the question in this week’s message. While it is true that the West has a “cultural aversion to conversion,” that doesn’t keep us from evangelizing our friends with our favorite products or services. Business experts still say “word of mouth” is still the best form of advertising. That’s because we trust our friends but despise institutions. But for some reason, our faith is different. Insecurity, fear, and doubt creep in when we talk about our faith. And the reason for it, at some level, we don’t fully believe the Gospel ourselves.
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Every person looks at the world through a particular set of glasses given to them by someone. That is why inherited racism is so revolting. Someone or some institution systematically passed down a story that has led to hatred and sometimes violence. At every level it is repulsive. But there are deeper issues, racial narratives that are not nearly as extreme but just as damaging. These are the narratives of confusion, subtle prejudice, and institutional injustice that must be exposed. So where do you begin?
The post Overcoming Racism With The Gospel Story | GOF69 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
Have you ever been in this situation? You have committed to a task so significant and meaningful that the end never seems to arrive? Whether it’s the anticipated birth of a child or completion of a school program, the persistence and endurance needed to see things through to the end sometimes require digging deep within […]
The post Is Redeemer Worth The Effort? appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
Does fear keep you from sharing your faith with your friends? If so, you are not alone. When it comes to sharing faith, the statistics for average church goes isn’t very good. So what is the problem?
The post Preaching the Gospel To Yourself | FITC56 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
What is the most critical question to keep in mind when you read the bible? What is the message calling me to be?
The post How To Read the Bible to Change Your Life | GOF68 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
Evangelism seems like a terrifying responsibility. If you believe that the difference between eternal life and death hangs in the balance of every man, woman, and child, then sharing Jesus can seem overwhelming. But what if our hesitation to share the Gospel with others stems from the fact that we don’t preach it to ourselves? […]
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The NFL anthem protest have sparked another social confrontation. This time the matter concerns free speech. So how do we apply God's grace to this issue?
The post NFL Anthem Protest – How Should Evangelicals Respond? | GOF67 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
Share your faith. Does that phrase frighten you? Most Evangelicals know that part of the Christian life is the call to share our faith. But most of us do not try. That's partly due to the development of comfort zones, designed to make relationships work. Comfort Zones are fine so long as they are healthy. But they can become limitations if never challenged.
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Imposter Syndrome is no fun. The crippling effect of feeling like a fraud can keep any leader from being effective. That’s especially true for pastors. When I finally realized that the internal battles of insecurity, low self-worth, and unnecessarily high expectations were sabotaging my ministry. So on this episode, I'm sharing how I overcame that feeling by sitting down with my mentor and friend. Also on tap, I’m laying out my manifesto of faith as a Gospel-Centered Anglican in North America.
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Most challenges we face each day occur in our minds. Life certainly presents its fair share of developments requiring us to think about “what to do.” But if our mind is a mess, then how we react will be affected to the degree of our mental health. That’s why Paul’s statement in Romans 12 is so important. After writing seven chapters on the role of faith and forgiveness under God, he shocks us with the following words: “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind” (Romans 12:2). What is the Apostle Paul teaching us? In this episode, Dr. Jonathan G. Smith explains that as Christians the encouragement here is a call to actively work to improve the way we think about God, ourselves, and others.
To learn more about Redeemer, visit redeemerorl.org
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Predestination and election are challenging doctrines for most believers. But when they are approached through the lens of scripture, they can lead to deeper truths about God’s passion for humanity. Unfortunately, there are a lot of opinions about Election, even among Anglicans. So what do Classic Anglicans actually believe about the doctrine of Election? To answer this question, Pastor Jonathan examines Romans 8:28-30 and Article 17 of the 39 Articles of Religion.
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Most challenges we face each day occur in our minds. Life certainly presents its fair share of developments requiring us to think about “what to do.” But if our mind is a mess, then how we react will be affected to the degree of our mental health. That’s why Paul’s statement in Romans 12 is so important.
The post Renewing Your Mind: The Power of Thought | FITC 55 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
Predestination and election are challenging doctrines for most believers. But when they are approached through the lens of scripture, they can lead to deeper truths about God’s passion for humanity.
The post What Do Reformed Anglicans Believe About Election? | FITC54 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
Hurricane Irma opened up a huge ministry door for my church. And I walked through it. Natural disasters and devastating storms do something to communities like nothing else in the world. They unite people together who ordinarily struggle to find common ground. This principle played itself in my church and opened incredible discussions. So on this episode, I share a positive outcome of the storm. Plus, I continue to discuss the role of transformation in everyday life. And as a special bonus, I’m sharing my BBQ secrets!
The post The Best Thing Hurricane Irma Did For My Church and Ministry | GOF65 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
Throughout the New Testament writings of the Apostle Paul, you can find Paul referring to the relationship between us and God through the image of adoption. That is, God intentionally choosing us to be a part of His family. That means that all of the rights and privileges of God’s house are “conferred” to us, including the right to call him our Abba Daddy. Find out why this doctrine is vital to understanding our freedom in God.
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God chose us to be in His family. Does the Bible really teach us? We explore this question in more in this message from Romans Chapter 8. Throughout the New Testament writings of the Apostle Paul, you can find Paul referring to the relationship between us and God through the image of adoption. That is, God intentionally choosing us to be a part of His family. That means that all of the rights and privileges of God’s house are “conferred” to us, including the right to call him our Abba Daddy. Find out why this doctrine is vital to understanding our freedom in God.
The post What Does It Mean To Be Adopted by God? | FITC52 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
What does it take to be a Christian? Depending on your faith tradition, you might answer that question in different ways. But our concern at Redeemer is straightforward. What does the Bible say that it takes?
The post How To Become A Christian | FITC53 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
God chose us to be in His family. Does the Bible really teach that? We explore this question in more in this message from Romans Chapter 8.
The post What Does It Mean To Be Adopted By God? | FITC52 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
How do you get objective, unbiased information about yourself? You can't. Not even your spouse can provide you that kind of feedback. But there is a problem. Without this sort of information, how can you make progress in life? Success in life begins by recognizing the patterns, behaviors, and challenges that continue to keep you from moving forward in life. I argue that to learn from the school of life, you need a system to follow. In this episode, I share with you seven ways you can leverage a journal to move forward.
The post How To Learn From The School of Life: Journaling Part 2 | GOF64 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
Why do Christians believe that God unconditionally loves them? In this message, Pastor Jonathan continues his series on Chapter 8 Christians by looking at the heart of Paul’s letter Romans 8:1–2.
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Why do Christians believe that God unconditionally loves them? In this message, Pastor Jonathan continues his series on Chapter 8 Christians by looking at the heart of Paul’s letter Romans 8:1–2. In this powerful passage, the Apostle Paul begins an opening declaration “there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.”
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Are Christians free to do anything choose? The answer is “of course not.” So how does God respond when we fail to do the things we should? In this episode, we are looking at the Apostle Paul’s struggle to resolve the tension between doing what he SHOULD do versus what he DOES do.
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What are the first steps you need to take to begin a personal development plan? There are all kinds of “gurus” and “life coaches” available today prepared and ready to sell you comprehensive packages to get you started on a personal development path. While most of their stuff is really good, there are some basic steps you can take with a simple pen and pad of paper. Sound to good to be true? If so, then join us on this episode as Dr. Brian Russell and Dr. Jonathan G. Smith sit down to discuss the basics of personal development.
The post Creating Your Personal Development Plan: Journaling Part 1 | GOF63 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
Are Christians free to do anything choose? The answer is “of course not.” So how does God respond when we fail to do the things we should?
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How do you identify the gods working in your life that are keeping you enslaved? Whether we want to admit to it or not, there are powerful forces in our lives that keep us from living the life that God intended. So on today’s episode, my guest host Dr. Brian Russell and I sit down to discuss the overarching story of the Bible and how it challenges the little “idols” that we continue to nurture and feed.
The post New Season – How God Liberates You To Love Him | GOF62 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.
What is the philosophy of Grace On Fire? Well, in this post, I give you a straightforward reason why I started "Grace On Fire" and why I've chosen this particular style and format. To learn more, let me encourage you to read this post in its entirety!
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This year is half way over. So is your opportunity to meet those New Year’s goals set back in January. Here is the good news. Now is the perfect time to make the most of the remaining year. The reason? Generally speaking, summer time is when business, academics, and family life slows down just enough to allow some space for personal reflection. So in this episode, I share with you some of my strategies on how I leverage the summers to plan for the next busy cycle!
The post How To Leverage The Summer To Finish The Year Strong| GOF61 appeared first on Grace Nation: Think Differently.