The Servants‘ Feast Podcast: Recent Episodes
Elizabeth Moreau
Everything we think today is predicated on the idea of human change and human advancement. We are evolving. Rev. Elizabeth Moreau raises questions about the nature of human change. If we've changed, is the Gospel still for us? Do the teachings of Jesus Christ apply to us? Do we even understand what Christianity is? In asking the questions, Elizabeth finds some difficult answers, as well as more questions.
The push for acceptance of gender fluidity has produced some surprising antagonists. Frustrated by the conflicts and absence of reason, Rev. Elizabeth Moreau asks the obvious (and unwelcome) question, "What did we expect?"
With Christmas behind us, most people are turning to the New Year, followed by a return to life as usual. Rev. Elizabeth Moreau invites us to think about what really happened all those centuries ago when Jesus was born.
Christmas is just days away. Advent is the season of preparation for the Christmas holyday. Do you have everything prepared and ready for all you want to do? What exactly are you trying to accomplish for Christmas? What are you preparing for?
Before turning to Advent, we pause to think about the celebration of Christ the King. As the world around us seems to be spinning out of control, Christians are reminded to live in the love of the King of kings - and to proclaim that message to a people living in increasing darkness and despair.
What are Christians to think of Halloween? Perhaps more importantly, do Christians think about spiritual forces in the world? As our attention turns to haunted houses, ghoulish costumes, and lots of candy, Rev. Elizabeth Moreau talks about the reality of the spiritual dimension in creation - for good and for evil. We've become accustomed to thinking of the world in purely physical terms, but ignoring evil doesn't make it go away. To the contrary, ignoring evil gives it free rein to steal and to kill and to destroy.
Across the nation and around the globe, advances in science, medicine, and technology drive ideas of a new and improved world. The zenith of human ambition is a utopia of our own making - a vision of a perfect world we create. But who decides perfection for the world? What is the goal of human progress and innovation, especially those that involve changing our humanity? As the push for a 21st century Brave New World continues, Christians are called to abide in Christ, to live in the truth, to stand against evil. and to invite others to the only true progress available to any human being - to be born of God. We must recover the depth of humility and love in virtue, the heights of hope and faith in encountering the living God, and the breadth understanding and wisdom revealed in Jesus Christ.
In this final live-recorded class on The Mind of Christ, Rev. Elizabeth Moreau discusses how the search for self is leading to the diminishment of our humanity and the loss of authentic life. Much of the conflict and confusion of today reflect the same idolization of the creature rather than the Creator that Paul addressed with the Romans of his time. To have life abundant and joyful, we must look beyond the self to Jesus Christ Who awakens us from lives of death to authentic and immortal life. (Note to parents: Some of the material covered in this podcast may not be appropriate for children.)
Sin has fallen out of favor these days, but refusing to acknowledge sin doesn't make it go away. Elizabeth looks at how ignoring sin gives it free rein to mislead - as it did with Cain, and, ultimately, to destroy - as it did in the flood. Sin is more than particular actions. The Bible describes sin as "crouching" in wait to master us, and we are easily overcome. No longer the crowning glory of creation, we become subjected to creation.
The second in a series on seeking the mind of Christ, Rev. Elizabeth Moreau compares cultural perceptions of the Gospel with the reality of the lived Gospel in Christian life. To live fully today requires the confidence of that which is greater than death - faith in what is not seen, trust that there are more important matters than life and death. Live class recording.
What does it mean to be created by God, and how does that change the way we think about who we are and what we do? In this short series, Rev. Elizabeth Moreau explores the meaning of human life in God's created order, as well as the profound challenges every human being faces whether we realize it or not. "To Be Created" is the first of four live-recorded classes intended to help Christians understand life, death, suffering, and hope from a Kingdom perspective.
Working with your hands gives a person time to think and time to listen to all sorts of ideas and opinions. Catching up with this and that while working around the house, Rev. Elizabeth Moreau shares her perspective on faithfully following and reflecting Christ in our rapidly changing world.
As the world feels more and more out of control, hold steady. Choosing from the news of the day, Rev. Elizabeth Moreau offers examples of our underlying sense of unease and, perhaps, fear. The chaos, confusion, division, and anger that we see every day do not arise from nowhere. Hold firm to faith in Christ Jesus, knowing that God is more than sufficient for anything we face. (A few observations may not be suitable for children.)
In this follow-up podcast on the relationship between faith and science, Rev. Elizabeth Moreau reviews a few of the arguments for Intelligent Design and points to the deeper issues involved. Does believing in science mean not believing in God? The answer to the question depends entirely upon what one wants to believe, as opposed to what the evidence supports.
The prevailing view in society today is that, if science hasn't fully disproved the existence of God, it has certainly made God irrelevant. In this first in an apologetical series, Rev. Elizabeth Moreau discusses the relationship between the sciences and Christianity, what is proved and isn't proved, and what the latest developments in science seem to suggest.
Following the celebration of Easter, how many of us take Christ's Resurrection into our daily life and live with confidence that God is still active in our world? As the world we live in seems increasingly unstable, our inclination is to turn inward and to seek shelter. Instead, we are called to follow, to lift our eyes in faith and wait for the Lord to lead. Our God never does what we expect, but His work in our world is always for our blessing. We should anticipate that God will act, and now is a good time to prepare ourselves for whatever God wants to do next.
As American culture embraces the nihilism of postmodernity, Christians are called to disentangle the world's ideas from Christian belief. Comparing non-rational nihilistic ideas to Christian belief, Rev. Elizabeth Moreau encourages Christians to assess ways in which we've compromised our faith and urges us to recover authentic, abundant life in Jesus Christ. The milieu of meaninglessness in western culture needs to be met with the life-giving Gospel of Jesus Christ, starting in the Church.
When American culture seems determined to encourage every sort sexual expression, Rev. Elizabeth Moreau offers Christians a faithful way of thinking about the issues involved, a holy means of responding to individuals who struggle with these issues, and what the milieu of our time implies about our humanity. Due to the nature of the discussion, parental discretion is suggested.
It seems like every day brings some new report of disastrous national and/or world events. With a bit of irreverent humor, Rev. Elizabeth Moreau speaks to Christian faith and life in a world gone out of control.
As issues and policies in the U.S. are debated and tensions rise, Rev. Elizabeth Moreau sheds light on the role of Christianity in the nation's founding. How are we to live as Americans? What is right, and what is wrong? How are we to think about Christianity in American life today? These questions - and more - are especially worth asking in light of the events unfolding in the world today.
American society is deeply divided over what is good, how to define good, what is truly valuable, how to live. Rev. Elizabeth Moreau considers different ideas of good, comparing different visions of the good, and offering an account of the Christian good as revealed in Jesus Christ.
With the New Year starting, Rev. Elizabeth Moreau explains the importance - and the ease - of understanding and defending Christian teaching today. Touching briefly on the topics of Christian marriage and Christian humanity, Elizabeth emphasizes how important it is for Christians to understand these and all of life through the lens of the Gospel - from God's point of view.
The significance of Nativity rests entirely upon the One Who was born. With all the confusion and chaos in our world right now, we forget just Who it is that we celebrate. Rev. Elizabeth Moreau does a quick review of some of the challenges we face in comparison to the God we claim to worship. Nothing is too hard for God. Come to the manger and meet the King of kings again.
During Advent, we wait and prepare our hearts and minds for Christ to come. Many prepare to celebrate His birth. Others prepare for the Christ's Return. In this podcast, Rev. Elizabeth Moreau suggests using Advent as a time to prepare for Christ in us in this time and place, in this generation with the challenges and difficulties we face currently. Are Christians prepared to live fully Christian lives today? How can we prepare to be steadfast and confident disciples of Jesus Christ in the coming year?
In the middle of the ongoing escalation of racial politics, Rev. Elizabeth Moreau offers a Christian perspective in a social conflict that would deny God any voice. Read by Rev. Douglas Caldwell, this Articulate Meditation is the fifth of six in a series on Christianity, Church, and Culture.
Working backward from life and truth, Rev. Elizabeth Moreau reflects on the way of Christ in comparison to the way of the world. Rev. Douglas Caldwell reads the third post on John 14:6, the fourth in the series: Christianity, Church, and Culture. Originally written about a year ago, the series seems almost prescient for today, as well. Christians are called to follow the way of Jesus Christ, and doing so is a greater challenge now than it has been in our lifetime.
All around us, the drumbeat of "to each his own" sounds, and nowhere is this more obvious than around the issue of truth. Indeed, if we are to believe what we hear, even facts are negotiable, and all of reality is fluid. Rev. Elizabeth Moreau explores Jesus' claim to be truth the second of three on John 14:6. This Articulated Meditation is read by Rev. Douglas Caldwell.
As reaction to the new Texas law limiting abortions reverberates through media and protests, Rev. Elizabeth Moreau takes a look at the implications of the law both for women and for pre-born babies in the womb. When emotions are running high and public hype is even higher, most important for Christians, however, is the question of what God thinks of abortion and all that it implies about womanhood and life.
In the shadow of the confusion and chaos of recent events, Rev. Elizabeth Moreau reflects on some of the tragedies and absurdities we've experienced. She follows observations of conditions in our world and our culture with thoughts about living faithfully without fear, as Christians respond to the call of Christ in lives.
How we understand life - its purpose, goal, and meaning - determines how we spend our days. No understanding is as rich, as meaningful, and as hopeful as is the life given in Jesus Christ. Rev. Elizabeth Moreau compares life offered by the world with life we receive as a gift when we become children of God.
Following the Fourth of July celebrations, Rev. Elizabeth Moreau reflects on the nature of human freedom. What does it mean to be free? What is freedom, and where did our ideas about freedom originate? Christian faith has a unique view of human freedom, one that is overlooked or viewed with disdain. Yet, Christian freedom is the only true freedom human beings can ever experience. With a brief look at the history of ideas that lead to contemporary definitions of history, Elizabeth explains the sharp distinction between widely held ideas about freedom in America with the reality of Christian freedom.
In this episode, Rev. Elizabeth Moreau considers the nature of progress, an idea that is woven into the fabric of our American identity. All of our lives, we have heard that we are progressing. Human being are progressing from what to what? What is the nature of our progress? Understanding what is meant by progress from a uniquely Christian perspective is important for living faithfully in today's world. The idea of progress is widely claimed, but Rev. Moreau suggests the reality of progress is far narrower in scope.
The world around us ignores Christianity and Christian belief as never before in American history. Rev. Elizabeth Moreau explores what that looks like, how hostility to Christian belief is encountered without mention of Jesus Christ at all. How are we to respond and to live in a culture that rejects traditional Christian belief? Most of us have never considered the possibility, and yet, that is exactly what is happening. More and more, young people believe that religion is unnecessary and irrelevant. Many prominent voices in western society would like to see Christianity eradicated completely. What does that mean for average, everyday Christians? What does the future hold? Follow along with Elizabeth as she thinks prayerfully about this change in our world.
Reports of the decline of Christian faith in America are not unusual, and there is evidence to suggest such reporting is accurate. Rev. Elizabeth Moreau takes a look at recent polls and what they reflect about Christianity and the church in America. More specifically, Rev. Moreau considers how the activities and actions within Methodism are root causes of decline in the denomination, as well as how changing the focus of our ministry could stop and possibly reverse the decline currently experienced.
Slowly, over time, the idea that faith is a private matter and should not be shared has settled into the mind of most Americans, including devout Christians in America. Rev. Elizabeth Moreau responds to the claim that religious belief should not be discussed and explains why, especially now, Christians can and should discuss their faith openly - as well as intelligently.
Many views compete to tell us who we are and what we ought to be. Rev. Elizabeth Moreau takes up the issue of human nature and what Christianity teaches about what makes us uniquely human. What does it mean to be human in Christian belief, and is it true? Are we only sophisticated animals, or are we no more than the group to which we are assigned? Rev. Moreau suggests that Christianity alone is sufficient for understanding what is truly human being.
Returning to the topic of truth, Rev. Elizabeth Moreau takes a look at contemporary views on the nature of humanity. What is a human being? Various views are prominent in our society, but what is true? Picking up with the definition used in the last podcast, Rev. Moreau raises the question, "What is the accurate depiction of the essence and meaning of human life?" What is the truth about humanity? What truly makes us unique and uniquely human?
Rev. Elizabeth Moreau raises the question of truth. We live in a time in which society and scholarship reflect the cynicism of Pontius Pilate, "What is truth?" Part 1 of 2, this podcast addresses the nature of reality, the confusion of thought and feeling, and the difficulty of pursuing truth without basic agreement on facts.
Rev. Elizabeth Moreau considers conventional wisdom of our times, comparing and contrasting what we think we know with what the Gospel teaches. One common claim heard among some Western intellectuals is that religions are the cause of war, a claim we are inclined to accept at face value. But is it true? Are religions the source of war among peoples? In this podcast, Rev. Moreau discusses the connection between religious conviction and wars, historically and contemporarily.
Rev. Elizabeth Moreau considers conventional wisdom of our times, comparing and contrasting what we think we know with what the Gospel teaches us. The idea that all religions are the same is commonly heard and often believed. Are all religions the same? Rev. Moreau explores the role of religion in human life and history, what religion is to a culture, and why we are inclined to think religions are, at least, mostly alike.
Rev. Elizabeth Moreau considers conventional wisdom of our times, comparing and contrasting what we think we know with what the Gospel teaches us. The first podcast in this series, Rev. Moreau begins with the widespread, but often unspoken, assumptions that humanity has advanced beyond belief in God and religious faith, particularly Christianity, are antiquated and unnecessary. Too frequently, purely secular belief is absorbed by the church and is found in Christian teaching - lowering our trust and hope in Jesus Christ and diminishing our witness to the power of salvation.
The first of six meditations on Christianity, church, and culture. Based on Matthew 11:25-30, Christians are encouraged to think seriously about the differences between the culture in which we live and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As the culture becomes more secularized, are Christians going to follow the culture, or will we follow Christ? Read by Rev. Douglas Caldwell