Around the Table: Recent Episodes
Apostolic Christian Church of America
Published every two weeks, this podcast exists to draw attendees of the Apostolic Christian Church of America closer to Christ and each other by providing a source of readily accessible spiritual teaching and conversations with church leadership.
Guests:
Mike Leman, Frank Sauder, Jeff Wiegand
Show notes:
- Lots of interesting scriptural observations on "the Church", including in the OT.
- Fascinating comparisons/contrasts of the Church today to the Church in the Wilderness with Moses.
- Lots of good thought-provoking ideas (reign of King David, baptism, worldly pursuits, denominations, OT congregational splits).
- God works with the entire Body.
Guests: Wayne Hartzler, Fred Witzig, Ken Wuethrich
Show notes:
- Jesus taught closeness(personal) and reverence together.
- How we started using these pronouns
- German Bible refers to God using familiar language.
- Language has changed over the past 80 years.
- How do we navigate this language change in the church?
- Emphasize heart reverence.
- Support those who desire to continue use of thee/thou language to reflect their heart.
- Support those who desire to express their close personal relationship with God using personal language.
- It's okay to change our language depending on our audience.
- There can be a difference in our personal prayers and our corporate prayers and not be hypocritical.
- Encourage people to pray!
- Don't need to be afraid to pray corporately; express your heart.
- We all need to be understanding and respectful of each other.
- Praying to please others is not authentic.
- Desire to be reverential to God and bring audience together is being authentic.
- Goal is to honor God and respect each other.
Guests: Brett Lanz, Adam Uhler, Paul Virkler
Show notes:
- Share where we serve (our situations).
- Attempt to follow the biblical model.
- Leadership and membership work together.
- Biblical examples of leadership.
- Our roles are not completely defined scripturally.
- Why increase in ordained deacons? Expectation for increased elder responsibilities; more communication needed for our congregations.
- Responsibilities of a deacon, ordained deacon, elder.
- Bible uses various titles for leadership.
- Increased emphasis on sharing of duties historically expected of elders.
- Different roles when a congregation doesn't have a local elder.
- How are we each accountable?
- Blessings of working together.
- Importance of our wives in these roles.
- Roles are grown into.
Guests:
Lynn Fiechter, Trent Meiss, Ted Witzig, Jr.
Show notes:
- Importance of and definition of terms.
- We are seeking to keep from yielding to societal pressures.
- Consider our purpose and vision.
- Need to embrace biblical truth and show compassion to others (both are needed and biblical).
- Is our church position changing? Recap of unchangeable truth.
- Sin is wrong, regardless of what it is (Jesus died on the cross for our sin).
- What has changed? Societal views of sin; sin is more front and center in the world.
- We elders are required to speak into this topic more than in the past due to its increased prevalence in our culture.
- Also, families need more support than in the past.
- We also need to help those who are struggling with these issues (we want to walk with struggling individuals who are trying to live out their faith).
- We can show Christ's love to those who are struggling and interact with them.
- Risks in stepping into this topic: compromise truth and/or don't love.
- Elder body is settled on the truth; it's more difficult to apply the truth.
- How to talk to and help those that are struggling with these attractions? Need Jesus! Call unbelievers to repent; invite believers to fellowship.
- Affirm the truth of I Cor. 6:10-11.
- How to respond to someone that may attend our church while embracing this lifestyle? The gospel is always first; everyone should feel loved in our church and hear the truth.
- We need to love the unlovable so they can experience the love of Christ through receiving the gospel.
- No room for un-Christlike behavior!
- Need to teach and model God's design to our kids.
- Provide an open dialogue for our kids to get their questions answered.
- We want all to know the love of Christ; Christ is the only answer!
Guests: Matt Kaufmann, Mark Streitmatter, John Wiegand
Show notes:
- Evangelism risks.
- How do we keep from being negatively influenced by the world? Our foundation is critical.
- We are to conform to Christ.
- Recognize the influences around us.
- Interesting observation: risks are all around us whether we prioritize evangelism or not.
- Maturity is important in navigating challenges. New believers shouldn't think they are not called to evangelize. They just need to be connected to others in the church for accountability.
- Q: Do we understand the gospel correctly?
- Don't overcomplicate; it's Jesus.
- Gospel may be more nuanced today than 40 years ago (need to be observant of what people are lacking today and emphasize that part of the gospel).
- Loneliness is a big part of today's culture.
- Be careful not to legitimize individualism, but to invite people to be like Jesus.
- Find peace; free from addiction.
- Q: How do I share the gospel?
- First pray; ask for opportunities.
- Build relationships.
- Then, be bold enough to share Jesus.
- Helpful to evangelize myself (remind myself of His presence).
- Know ourselves (use our gifts).
- Q: How do I share the gospel if there is a power differential (I am an employer)?
- No pressure. Be aware of our influence.
- Q: How can I be successful in sharing the gospel?
- Practice helps.
- Sharing the gospel is a discipline.
- Engage!
Guests:
Matt Kaufmann, Mark Streitmatter, John Wiegand
Show notes:
- Opportunity for us to grow and discipleship is fundamental to who we are.
- How is it fundamental and deeply rooted?
- Discipleship is a way of life.
- Discipleship and evangelism are inseparable.
- Discipleship is an intentional conversation with believers.
- Evangelism is an intentional conversation with unbelievers.
- Our gifting needs to be lived into.
- Def. of discipleship
- Def. of evangelism
- Tied into Conference presentation.
- Where does evangelism happen?
- Starts outside of the church, but ends up in the church.
- What is the church?
- Where we gather or in community (both)?
- Convicting to consider we are the church 24/7 wherever we are.
- Church is a hub.
- We are in this together.
- Worshipping together.
- Gifting is effective as we come together.
- How do we preserve what has blessed us as we expand into evangelism?
- We need to prioritize knowing Christ, not just how we got here.
- We should add to what we have (grow).
Guest: *Rod Bajema, Lucas Frank, Nick Gutwein, Greg Lehman
Show notes:*
- Affirmations and cautions around doctrine of discipline.
- Should not be used to manipulate or punish.
- God ultimately punishes unrepentant sin in judgement.
- Caution against the thought that God will not punish unrepentant sin.
- Affirm that God wants a right relationship with Him.
- Affirm God's design that we be in community.
- "Love in the presence of humility brings healing".
- "We can't share more love than we have received".
- Affirm that we must be willing to receive love.
- Corrective discipline takes time.
- Sanctification is accomplished by the Holy Spirit.
- Spiritual disciplines help us receive God's grace.
- Caution against checking boxes of spiritual disciplines; they are not for justification before God.
- Spiritual disciplines should bring humility.
- Corporate discipline in the Church: the entire Body should be involved in Church discipline.
- Don't want to isolate individuals or publically humiliate.
- Don't want to hide sin to avoid conflict.
- Perfect love does not give in to fear, but leans into individuals and their families.
- Our desire (and God's) is a glorious Church.
Guests:
Rod Bajema, Lucas Frank, Nick Gutwein, Greg Lehman
Show notes:
- What was it like to study discipline?
- God desires that we have a peaceful/restful relationship with Him.
- Many scriptures regarding discipline.
- Discipline should be mostly proactive.
- It expresses God's love.
- Restores a right relationship.
- Reviewed updated SoF statement.
- Various forms of discipline.
- Value of spiritual disciplines (self), interpersonal discipline & church.
- Goal is Image of Christ.
- What does a disciplined Church look like?
Guests:
Bruce Frank
Joe Gerber
Show notes:
- God can relate to us because of the incarnation.
- Incarnation models selflessness, servant leadership, humility, and obedience to the Father,
- Incarnation brought us our perfect example.
- Incarnation is a model for preaching the gospel.
- Incarnation is a model for sacrificial living.
- Incarnation was necessary for salvation.
Guests: Brad Eisenmann, Lynn Fiechter, Wayne Hartzler, Nick Gutwein, Ben Wiegand
Show notes:
- Arranged in 3 buckets.
- Update process evolved from 3 documents to one document.
- Not to be just a document used in counseling converts, but one that impacts every phase of our life.
- Onward Media to help put a discussion guide together.
- Emphasis on the document live on the website.
- Written by the Holy Spirit; also the work of men.
- SoF not perfect, but can be useful with the Holy Spirit's help
- Periodic review expected, similar to other documents.
- We want to be open to increasing clarity in what we believe.
- Plan for updating Walking in the Teachings document.
- SoF, Purpose Vision Mission Statement, Guiding Principles meant to work together.
- Helpful for every generation to examine what they really believe.
- Emphasis on the importance of Church and community in living out our faith.
- Praise God for enabling us to work through some initial trepidation and bring us to a settledness; with God leading, we don't need to fear.
Guests:
Isaac Funk, Jonathan Sauder, Mark Streitmatter
Show notes:
- Purpose: develop biblical principles on discerning emerging technologies (ET).
- Defined what it is.
- Examples of ET.
- Historically, some have been fearful of ET.
- Culture we grew up in influences how we view ET.
- Important to have conversations about ET to learn how to use technology well.
- Technology is a tool to accelerate what we can do.
- Use technologies wisely.
- Be careful not to label a technology as completely good or completely bad.
- Maintain a biblical worldview.
- Explanation of ChatGPT and other types of AI (interesting).
- AI is not always accurate.
- AI does not do all things well; humans do some things better.
- Makes us think about what it means to bear the image of God.
- Church needs to help guide these conversations.
Guests:
Tim Funk
Kyle Walter
Carla Wuethrich
Show notes:
- Why the image of God is a relevant topic
- How does it help us understand God and our relationship with him?
- Helps us balance out who we are with what we do.
- Has both a vocational and relational aspect.
- Jesus is the ultimate image of God who came to earth.
- Image of God is also our identity; this identity is also personally unique.
- How does sin and brokenness impact the image of God?
- Sin causes this reflected image to lose some of its luster.
- While there is distance and strain in our relationship, God still pursues us and desires reconciliation.
- Even in our brokenness, we are still loved by God and reflect his image.
- How do we share these truths with others?
- God making us in his image is his universal love language to us.
- We thrive and grow as we share this with others.
Guests:
Crystal Frank, Tim Funk, Blake Widmer
Show notes:
- We need to look to the Bible for how to be godly men & women, not our culture.
- Two teams looking at this: one team of brothers and one team of sisters.
- Additional communications planned.
- Teams contain brothers & sisters from various ages, cultural contexts, urban/rural, & linguistic environments.
- 5 stages to be investigated (1-what it means to be human? 2-how do we represent the image of God? 3-what does it mean to be created male & female? 4-living as godly men & women. 5-interactions with evangelism & discipleship)
- Being human is more than physical; also includes thoughts, soul, spirit.
- Be careful not to elevate one aspect of humanity above another.
- There is a part of us that is of the earth and a part of us that is of God.
- Benefit of study: Our God-given body is good.
- Implications of viewing human as whole, both body & soul: God wanting to dwell with us is an embodied reality in the incarnation.
- What happens if we separate body & soul or elevate one above another? We struggle with self-worth instead of seeing ourself as a tabernacle; we struggle to resolve the tension we feel when we think of ourselves as only body or soul (we don't need to feel bad that we have a body); we might say 'my body doesn't really matter that much', when actually it is very valuable, especially knowing that Jesus will return with a body; we may tend to minimize the body when the body dies, when the reality is that our body will be resurrected.
- Other important discoveries of this study: humanity is one (male & female) - this is significant especially for those that struggle with their identity, value and worth.
- This study should lead us to worship God.
- Plans for additional studies and podcasts on this topic.
Guests:
Jeff Grimm, Peggy Jackson, Ted Steffen, Michelle Strahm, Ted Witzig, Jr.
Show Notes:
How can our congregations help support and protect church leadership?
- Get to know your elder/ordained deacon couple; get to know their needs.
- Remember your leader's children at home when travelling for church business.
- Offer to sit with children in church.
- Give grace to leader's children like you would your own.
- Find out what needs to be done around their home; offer your skills.
- Gifts/acts of kindness are helpful, whether it is help with a vacation or thoughtful gifts periodically like gift cards.
- Take care of church visitors from the community; don't expect leadership to do it all.
- Encourage converts.
- Be willing to serve in church offices when asked.
- Pray for us.
- A text or email can be very helpful; we get down too.
- Don't expect leadership to be perfect; give grace; expect good intentions.
- Sometimes we can't share certain things; please be patient.
- Don't think leadership is too busy to talk about life or get together for dinner.
- Sometimes we need to make hard decisions; please be understanding.
- Our wives have to bear with us when leadership is hard.
Challenges and blessings being in church leadership:
- Challenging to disengage from leadership responsibilities and spend quiet time with the Lord.
- Blessing to see first hand what God is doing in people's lives.
- Challenging seeing all the hard things going on in your congregation.
- Blessing being invited into people's precious moments (death bed, premarital counseling, etc.)
- Challenging for our wives to balance family issues and husband's busy schedule.
- Challenging managing pressure from others' opinions and expectations for our children.
- Blessing when financial burdens are shared.
Guests:
*Jeff Grimm, Peggy Jackson, Ted Steffen, Michelle Strahm, Ted Witzig, Jr.
Show notes:*Tools - Wellness assessment to examine how we are doing; email goes out quarterly to look at various areas; coach newly ordained couples; promote mentoring within elder body; facilitate elder/wife meeting at a conference once a year.
What is 360 Wellness? Approved ad hoc committee to help church leadership, establish healthy practices, and avoid leadership risks.
Committee initially looked at preventing bad things; began looking at areas of growth needed for successful leadership.
Areas of growth:
- Personal stewardship
- Marriage & family
- Shepherding & relationship (managing personalities, minister team, conflict)
- Expanded to help deacons & ministers and their wives.
Leadership recommendations:
- Maintain relationship connections; don't isolate.
- Set and maintain healthy boundaries.
- Should always have time each day for quiet time.
- Keep time open each day for family.
- Get enough rest; we need it.
- Don't think it all depends on me.
- Jesus modeled these recommendations.
Need to work from a healthy reserve, not the bottom of the barrel.
Be careful about seeing our identity defined by how things are going. Our identity is a son/daughter of God.
Watch our self-talk; don't let it go down rabbit trails and things we can't control.
Guests:
Jason Dotterer
Lucas Frank
Show notes:
- Reason(s) for different format.
- Benefits of different format.
- Challenges with changing format.
- Changed format allows addressing more issues due to audience having multiple choices.
- Identified items (format) that have not changed.
- Resulted in better attendance than recent past conferences.
- Increased fellowship periods.
- Remain focused on Jesus and his Word, and being bound together.
- Moving 2025 General Conference to Saturday.
- Will continue to monitor and adjust format in the future.
Guests:
Gwen Leuthold, Gina Martin, Ron Messner
Show notes:
- Looking at additional ways to communicate events to singles and to connect.
- Humans, not just singles, have an inherent need for connection.
- Singles desire more healthy and meaningful interactions with all brothers & sisters.
- Receiving compliments, notes, and cards (little things) are very important to singles.
- Take the time to build relationships with singles.
- Many singles are content being single; don't assume they all want to be married.
- Many singles struggle with not being married; don't assume they are content being single.
- Pray for the singles who are struggling.
- Singles need to share their desires & concerns with others. Others need to validate these concerns; pray with them; show them they are cared for.
- Each of us listening to the Holy Spirit brings about healthy change for all in the body.
- Next steps: recommendations for the national and local body.
- Praying for singles from the pulpit is humbling and appreciated.
Guest:
Gwen Leuthold
Gina Martin
Ron Messner
Show notes:
- Review/Update on survey of our Singles.
- Goal - how to better be one body; how to better serve in the body.
- Wanted to hear the heart of the singles.
- Singles are wondering what change the survey will bring.
- Both the process in making/doing the survey and the data has been valuable.
- Positives: committed to church (local and national); grateful for being included in church roles; grateful when married families include them in their lives.
- Singles needs: more support from local congregation; help in dealing with loneliness; balance with life & church; dealing with sexual needs; need to be married.
- How to help singles? What season of life are they in?
- Testimony and instruction of ultimately looking to Christ to have needs met, and not relying on marriage to be complete.
- Personal experience: easier to be single in a small church (singleness is not an identity); larger churches tend to group singles together as an identity.
Guests:
Brad Eisenmann, Gerry Hertzel, Trent Meiss Brad Strahm
Show notes:
- We respond to what God did by believing, repenting, having faith...
- Justification is us being right with God.
- Sanctification is us partaking in God's holiness; rooted in love.
- Sanctification is God's work. We tend to place too much attention on self.
- Sanctification happens in two parts: immediately upon faith, and over time.
- Jesus' death and shed blood allow us to come into God's presence and for God to dwell within us.
- We are left amazed at what God did for us in salvation!
Guests:
Brad Eisenmann, Gerry Hertzel, Trent Meiss Brad Strahm
Show notes:
- Studying salvation helps us better know what we believe.
- Salvation is more than just saving our souls.
- God's part is great; our part is small (response).
- There is beauty in God's salvation.
- Multiple terms associated with salvation.
- Our perspective makes certain terms more meaningful.
- God is setting all things right again through Christ.
Guests:
Tim Lehman
Gwen Leuthold
Brad Strahm
Show Notes:
- People have various levels of interest in politics, from being disinterested or intentionally avoidant to very interested and involved.
- Our problem: we are drawn to rely on earthly governments.
- Governments are God's servants.
- Government can't solve our problems.
- All earthly governments will fail; only God's government will not fail.
- Our government invites us to participate. How should we participate?
- Should we vote? The Bible is silent on whether we should vote. Perhaps this is because representative forms of governments did not exist in biblical times.
- How do we navigate whether to vote for a flawed candidate? HOT BUTTON QUESTION! Seek direction from God. Pray for spiritual discernment.
- How should I process or discern my level of involvement? Make sure I represent Christ's nature.
- Be careful to not assign bad intentions to those who hold positions I may disagree with.
- We need to separate issues from the candidates, and not accept a position simply because it comes from a certain party.
- Evaluate issues biblically, or if the Bible is silent, what is the Christian perspective?
- Remember: our citizenship is in Christ.
- Pray for our government.
- Recognize God is sovereign over governments.
Guests:
Max Burnham, Harvey Kaeb, Will Manz
Show notes:
Testimonies of giving away Bibles.
Pray for God to show you how to give out Bibles.
People love Bible Story books, even adults.
Many people have Bibles, but few read them.
Don't worry about being rejected.
People know if you truly care about them.
Do I have it in my heart to give out Bibles?
Guests:
Max Burnham
Harvey Kaeb
Will Manz
Show notes:
Get inspired to share God's Word .
Why distribute Bibles?
We need to get Bibles to people, get them to read it and have it change them.
Examples of how to get Bibles to people.
Recognition of God's part in distributing Bibles.
Guests:
Jay Luthi
Duane Rocke
Show notes:
- Thoughts on different types of bridles.
- Ideal would be to not need a bridle.
- Allow God through his Spirit to control our tongue.
- Effective examples, both positive and negative, show how the tongue has a significant impact.
- How to understand and apply James 3.
- Appropriate transparency.
- Jesus is the best example.
- Our words should bring out the best in others.
Guests:
Bruce Frank
Joe Gerber
Show notes:
- God can relate to us because of the incarnation.
- Incarnation models selflessness, servant leadership, humility, and obedience to the Father,
- Incarnation brought us our perfect example.
- Incarnation is a model for preaching the gospel.
- Incarnation is a model for sacrificial living.
- Incarnation was necessary for salvation.
- Incarnation gives us an opportunity to ponder the depths of God.
Guests:
Herbie Knochel, Tony Manz, Tom Waldbeser
Show notes:
Discussion Summary:
Explored Christology (how Christ is fully God and fully human).
Person of the Holy Spirit (fully God yet fully dwells in believers).
Discussion Specifics:
Scriptures how Christ upholds the world.
Christ being God explains how Christ could achieve victory over sin, yet as human, also experience all aspects of humanity.
Humans tend to diminish Christ's divinity or humanity.
Why does it matter that Jesus was fully human? Jesus had to die (God cannot die).
We cannot recognize Jesus as God, except by the Holy Spirit.
Mystery of Holy Spirit indwelling believers.
The Holy Spirit proclaims and glorifies Christ.
How have our lives been affected by this study?
- Discovered validating scriptures that God is one in three persons (both OT and NT).
- Increase the quality of our fellowship as we studied.
- Experienced awe and wonder of seeing God more fully.
- Increase humility as we know God and exalt Him to his rightful place.
- Personally rewarding as we study to know God.
Guests:
Herbie Knochel
Tony Manz
Tom Waldbeser
Show notes:
Discussion Summary:
Trinity is part of elder body focus on core doctrine.
Intent is to help the ministry by better understanding core doctrine.
Elder body has been making efforts to teach well and learn well in areas not emphasized in the past.
Be careful to avoid "ditch" by demanding understanding of God's Word where God's Word doesn't offer or stretch meaning where it doesn't belong.
Identify boundaries where scripture is clear and not clear.
Be willing to accept mystery.
Studying scripture helps us appreciate God more and how he makes himself known.
Discussion Specifics:
How did we (elders) engage this study on the Trinity?
- Spend time reading: the Word, early church authors, middle ages and modern thought to get perspective on how humans have thought about God.
- Comparing various viewpoints strengths and weaknesses.
- Lots of discussion about how these viewpoints affected us.
- Spent time in worship as we reflect on God.
God is beyond us and we will never put God in a box.
Let God's word determine boundaries.
God has made an effort to show us who he is.
What are we doing with this effort? Creating teaching content for ministers to have a better understanding of core doctrine.
Identified scriptures that communicate trinity.
Become aware of God's use of metaphor and analogy to help us grasp difficult concepts.
Be careful to not take analogies and metaphors too far.
Become aware of many references to the Trinity that are not always obvious.
Examples of Old Testament references to Trinity, not just NT.
Affirm there is one God; one divine will; one divine mind.
There are 3 persons that are one God.
These 3 persons share glory and are interconnected.
The Trinity reveals true love and how it is other-focused.
The Trinity reveals true unity, how three function as one and not as independent agents.
Trinity is revealed in scriptural references to creation.
Guests:
Lucas Frank, Bekah Plattner, Darl Rassi
Show notes:
How did curriculum get started? Started in 2020.
What was the previous curriculum like?
Why do we need a new curriculum? Build on past curriculum. More relevant to today's rapidly changing culture. Provide resources to teachers to be better prepared to answer questions.
How did lesson creation begin? Identified ground of individuals to take charge over various grade levels.
Identifies goals of new curriculum.
How are needs of small congregations met to meet intent of curriculum?
How are lessons written? What will lesson look like?
How are lessons reviewed, edited and finalized?
How do lesson goals change with grade level?
How to better support new Sunday School teachers?
Over 700 lessons when finished!
30 lessons piloted in Fall 2022.
75 additional lessons to be piloted in Fall 2023.
Lessons will be available as soon as finished.
Volunteers greatly committed to project.
A blessing to see Body of Christ working together.
Ongoing need for volunteers and how to sign up.
Guests: Ron Messner, Gwen Luethold, Gina Martin
Show notes:
How did the singleness taskforce start?
Don't assume working singles don't want to be married.
Charter Objectives
Surveyed elders to see how engaged elders are with working singles.
Taskforce sisters pleased with elders' response from survey.
How did faith-based decision-making paper come about?
Realized "faith-based" is not defined the same across our churches.
Created paper
Started Facebook page
Initiated survey of singles to be completed in September
Guests:
Jeff Grimm
Tim Lehman
Show notes:
Start with biblical principles: God owns it all
Stewardship vs. selfishness (mindset for both giver and receiver)
Only God knows the impact of the money we give on the lives of others: will it help or hurt them?
Love has to be motivation for giving.
Not always positive to hand down lots of money to the next generation. Can breed laziness and entitlement.
Other pitfalls: family members can have unanticipated expectations. Need to be aware of the range of potential expectations.
Motivation should not be to get every dollar possible. Nor should we expect a "family discount".
Communication is very important! If there is not effective communication, conflict will be an inevitable result.
It is scriptural to provide for our own families; that does not mean we need to give them everything (don't need to prosper them).
Need to keep in mind: how do I promote the christian lifestyle when I give? Will it continue reflecting Christ after I die?
Estate plan is our final act of stewardship. Start thinking about it earlier, rather than later.
Estate plan will need to be updated; often every 3-5 years.
If possible, use professionals who have a Christian worldview.
Be thoughtful and considerate when appointing an executor. It may be best to involve someone outside the family.
Be careful to not be self-focused, but be considerate of others.
There are two different types of gifts: unrestricted and endowed (with restrictions).
Referenced Silver Lining article for information on Endowment Fund.
Giving is not about the amount; it is always a blessing when we promote Christian principles.
Our estate plan should reflect our Christian values.
Scriptures are rich in speaking to financial stewardship; it is important to God.
Guests:
Greg & Mary Beth Lehman, Craig & Terri Martin
Show notes:
Transparent with leadership and our wives
Don't think your fears are unique.
Pre-marriage counseling: using the 3-fold cord materials.
Healthy Perspective of Marriage
Marriage will not fix a problem in our lives.
Pitfalls for husband and wife: to0 high expectations of marriage.
Marriage amplifies problems that existed prior.
Need to maintain relationship with Christ.
We all let each other down.
Good marriages take work.
PREPARE/ENRICH Programs for engaged/married couples.
Sometimes proposals are 'no' or 'wait'.
Need to be surrendered when making proposal.
Encourage not to be discouraged.
A 'no' can be part of our spiritual journey that molds us.
Satan wants us to see ourselves as a failure.
God uses the hard times we go through.
A 'no' does not mean the person will not be married.
Need to trust that one sending proposal also proved it out.
Learn to encourage each other through periods of doubt.
Guests:
Greg & Mary Beth Lehman, Craig & Terri Martin
Show notes:
Part 1
How to prepare for marriage
What happens when we receive a 'yes'?
Martins: We didn't know each other well even though we grew up 3 miles apart.
Had to set boundaries since we lived close to each other.
Lehmans: Other relationship lived 2200 miles apart.
Major changes: move from rural/urban to urban/rural.
See what their environment is like.
Greg let me develop my own thoughts on people.
Challenges of newly married:
Young couple without kids; can be hard to fit in.
FAITH acronym
Follow biblical principles.
Going to be bound together for life so what are the biblical principles?
Call to live out and honor God.
Marriage is designed to make us holy rather than happy.
There is happiness when we build our marriage God's way.
During engagement we don't see each other's faults.
Marriage refines us.
Engaged couples should pray together (married couples too) and listen to each other's prayers.
Wife displays heart of a mother when praying out loud.
Applying Godly Wisdom
Ask of God in faith.
Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.
A house is built with wisdom and understanding.
Do not lean on own understanding.
Invest in Counsel and Community
Growing healthy marriages study can be helpful.
Find a mentor couple.
Guests:
Scott Bahr, Joe Gerber, Luke Kieser, Jeff Waibel
Show notes:
• Story of Lazarus teaches there is a greater good.
• When God doesn't take action, we question God.
• We often can't know 'why?'.
• God will restore all things. All things will be made right.
• Interpret the OT by what we know of Jesus.
• Purpose/goal of apologetics: equip people to be grounded in faith to trust God in the most difficult circumstances, and point others to faith.
• Benefit of academic answers: the truth will prove true; we don't need to be afraid of conversations.
• Apologetics (answers) are necessary, but never sufficient.
• Holy Spirit draws people to Jesus.
• Don't think you have to have all the answers, just know the answers exist.
• Demonstrating the love of Jesus is the greatest apologetic.
• When we have questions about God, it's because we are stuck in the middle of our 'story'. Stories are often messy in the middle. We need to press on to the end where God will reveal himself.
• Reading many stories from one author helps us develop a relationship with the author. We need to read God's stories to strengthen our relationship with Him so we can trust him better in the 'middle' of our story.
Guests:
Scott Bahr
Joe Gerber
Luke Kieser
Jeff Waibel
Show notes:
• General Questions:
• Where did apologetics conference come from?
• What is apologetics?
• Why is it important?
• Does Christianity have answers?
• History of apologetics conferences.
• Specific questions/statements:
• Is God good (the problem of evil)?
• If Jesus is God, He speaks with particular authority and clarity that makes him the lens we should view these difficult questions through.
• Is Jesus fair, good, loving, etc?
• Answer question 'Is Jesus God?' by listening to detractor's questions. Ask 'Why would someone doubt that Jesus is God'?
• God is one.
• Christ is also described as Creator.
• Jesus is worshipped as God in NT.
• Why are we discussing these questions?
• Christians have these questions (doubts), not just unbelievers?
• People are leaving the faith over these questions.
Guests:
Tom Klotzle
Rick Plattner
Show notes:
- Scripture passage to start off the discussion.
- Definition and description of joy; scripture references.
- Described what joy is not.
- Insights of joy in the midst of difficulties.
- Examples of Jesus not avoiding troubles and looking forward to the joy.
- Obstacles to joy are things that disrupt our relationships.
- Our greatest joy is our relationship to God.
- Satan tries to disrupt our relationship to God, to rely on ourselves, leading to worry and hopelessness.
- Linking of scriptures to develop the theme of joy.
- Use of hymns that go along with joy.
- Powerful personal examples of how Satan takes advantage of our troubles to rob our hope and joy, and how God, through His people, leads us back to the promises in the scriptures.
- Reminder we need to let God help us and not carry our load alone.
- Admit we often complain about small matters; but then think of those who are in situations much less desirable than ours.
- Gives suggestions how we can help each other look to God and how He has provided, is providing, and will continue to provide; leads to gratitude.
- Sharing words of gratitude and thanksgiving increases our joy.
- Closing scripture to encourage us in dire circumstances and point us back to God.
Guests:
Steph Baner, Lynn Fiecther, Fred Witzig
Show notes:
- How can church encourage healthy balance for ministers? Prevent resentment from minister's family?
- Positive example of how church surrounded minister's family.
- Negative example of church placing too high expectation on minister's family.
- Good example of congregation, motivated by love, sharing concerns/suggestions with ministers.
- Receiving correction needs to be done within relationship.
- Congregation should not have an agenda in putting in a minister.
- Ministry produces healthy change in the minister.
- Ministers need to not think too highly of themselves.
- Ministers need to be encouraged by congregation by pointing to Spirit and Word working through minister.
- Ministers need to encourage each other.
- Church should just treat ministers as a friend.
Guests:
Steph Baner
Lynn Fiechter
Fred Witzig
Show notes:
- What are pros and cons; what expectations should congregations have
- What expectations should ministers have? What is the congregation's role?
- Thoughts of retired minister
- Different minister models: priest, wise sage, body (entire congregation responsible for the Word)
- Value in shared ministry model (involving entire congregation).
- Ministers are committed, but want to know how to do it.
- Ministers need to rely upon Holy Spirit; need for congregation to pray.
- Need to deal consistently with difficult Bible passages across our congregations.
- Weight of responsibility is good.
- Should not think I have to do it all.
- Should not compare ourselves; we are each uniquely gifted.
- Pulpit does not contain all gifts the church needs.
- Weakness of our model is for ministers to reduce expectations too far because of the congregation's involvement.
- Study of Word is healthy expectation (Instructions from Timothy).
Guests:
Brad Eisenmann, Lynn Fiechter, Nick Gutwein, Wayne Hartzler, Ben Wiegand
Show Notes:
Benefits of revision and categorization.
Goal and benefit of identifying practices.
Some of our practices are not clearly spelled out in the word.
Need to teach principles behind our practices.
Acknowledge concerns around Statement of Faith revision.
Man-made document will never be perfect.
Likely will need future revisions based on the word.
Examples of distinctive practices/understanding.
Hope for how revised document will be viewed by brotherhood.
Acknowledge efforts by past brothers on original Statement of Faith.
Guests:
Brad Eisenmann, Lynn Fiechter, Nick Gutwein, Wayne Hartzler, Ben Wiegand
Show notes:
Historical account of existing Statement of Faith.
Acknowledged concerns around revising Statement of Faith.
Must understand what we believe to preserve sound doctrine (pillar).
Make understandable to those outside of our church.
Carefulness expressed.
Involved many in the church, outside of elder body, into revision process.
Focused on process, not on getting it done quickly.
Process involves spending considerable time in the Word.
Explained separating doctrine from tradition (categorization).
Limits of categorization.
Difficulty of categorization.
Guests:
Randy Beer
Matt Kaufmann
Mark Streitmatter
Show notes:
- Red flags in seeking a mate:
- Looking to marriage to fix me?
- Resistance to transparency & counsel.
- Spending time and talking intimately with opposite sex.
- Feelings win against reason; be thoughtful; don't lead with emotions.
- Good recommendations when seeking a mate: be involved in church activities; build relationships and friendships; build relationship with God; learn how to battle with Satan and overcome; learn healthy interactions with both sexes including mother/father.
- We need to know God has led us together, especially when the storms come.
- Does God have only one mate for me? Don't put God in a box. We should not be on a journey to find "the one". God directs our path; not scripted.
- What do I do when I feel led to ask for a brother/sister? Best advice is to consult with elder.
- Can't eliminate hurt from our world or our own lives.
Guests:
Randy Beer
Matt Kaufmann
Mark Streitmatter
Show notes:
- Connection of marriage to the bride of Christ.
- Our adversary would like to disrupt godly marriages.
- Value of lifelong commitment with sacrificial love.
- Love thrives in an atmosphere of commitment.
- What are pitfalls of marriage by faith? Unrealistic expectations. (Explored more in Part 2)
- Singleness is a time to get to know God; searching him out; preparing ourselves to be married and be parents.
- Marriage problems have roots before marriage.
- Need to be content in whatever state or aspect of life we are in.
- What does it mean to marry by faith? Don't try to predict what God wants. Seek God first; his righteousness. God has it all figured out; trust him.
- Faith needs to be in God, not in ourselves.
- Faith is not having it all figured out (not certainty), but certain that God will have his way.
- God is the faithful One.
- Marriage is a discernment process grounded in faith.
- Faith involves getting godly counsel.
- How do I get godly counsel?
- Elders often have a lot of experience counseling singles about marriage.
- Godly parents are helpful; ministers; a trusted friend.
- What is our picture of a godly wife/husband?
- Society says to choose wife/husband by yourself.
- ACCFS has resource for self reflection.
- Questions to ask yourself:
- Am I ready for marriage? emotionally, financially....?
- Am I willing to be transparent?
Guests:
Marvin Dotterer
Dan Leman
Mark Leuthold
Fred Witzig
Show notes:
• Vulnerability shared
• Impact on wife and family
• Honest questions from kids shared
• Good examples how the congregation can help with young kids
• Challenges shared regarding time commitments
• Helpful to wife that congregation didn't view them differently
• Blessings shared: faith building & growing in the word, God revealing himself in personal ways
• Personal/vulnerable challenges shared
• Course for new ministers from ETR focused on lessons from Timothy: what the course is like
• How the course supports minister's wives
• Unexpected blessing of ETR course: community
• Suggestions for minister support from congregation
Guests:
Frank Sauder
Ted Witzig, Jr.
Show notes:
- Importance of communication to church once people became aware of the tragedy.
- How the church came together during the crisis.
- Family needs privacy.
- How we deal with loss is personal and unique to the individual.
- Loss affects us over time.
- Some people recover from the loss quicker than others.
- The church body has an important function to help the hurting individual(s); the elder can't do it all.
- Support from the national church body was tremendous.
- Needs of the local elder in dealing with his own loss.
- Various emotions experienced in the wake of a loss.
- It is important to meet people where they are at, not where we think they should be.
- Communicate caring to the hurting; can be texts/notes or physical touch.
- It may take months or years to work through hurt.
- Grieving process is God's design.
- Help grieving people find hope.
- We think we need answers (why?), to make sense of things. We need to trust in a God who cares.
- How can we help? Pray for them and tell them they are loved.
- Don't isolate when we are hurting.
- Trauma can add to the grief and get in the way of healthy grieving.
Guests: Karen Martin, Anne Heinold, Ron Messner
Show notes:
• What is palliative care?
• How is hospice and palliative care initiated?
• What is the difference between hospice and palliative care?
• Palliative care availability is more concentrated in larger urban areas.
• What is hospice care?
• How and where is hospice care administered?
• Most insurances cover both palliative and hospice care.
• Spiritual services provided with hospice care.
• Use of volunteers in hospice care.
• What hospice is not. It is not 24 hour care.
• No support for euthanasia.
• Emphasis on comfort, not hastening death.
• Decisions are not black and white.
• Experiences of joy as a believer dies; seeing the sting of death removed.
• Depressing experiences of seeing an unbeliever die.
Guests: Karen Martin, Anne Heinold, Ron Messner
Show notes:
• Importance of advanced directives.
• Importance of planning your death.
• Recommended documents.
• Importance of involving your physician in end of life planning.
• Importance of having ready access to completed end of life forms.
• Have all necessary passwords for accessing online accounts.
• How to spare the surviving spouse from making difficult end of life decisions for a dying spouse.
• Importance of hope when faced with end of life.
• Privilege of walking through death with another.
• How strong should one fight to live?
• Consequences of life-extending treatments.
• Financial implications of fighting to extend life.
• Quality of life when fighting to extend life.
• Importance of having a family conference for effective communications.
• How is letting death occur different than euthanasia?
Guests: Herbie Knochel, Matt Manz
Notes
• What music do we listen to outside of church?
• Music can be very personal; personal tastes are diverse.
• Careful not to judge someone else's musical tastes.
• Consider what is God-honoring.
• Songs must set God apart.
• God sees into the heart; is pleased by our music when our heart is right.
• Secular songs can also be calming and used by God for good as long as they do not contradict God and his word.
• God is worthy of praise.
• Opportunity to consider new hymns; may take time to appreciate.
Guests: Herbie Knochel, Matt Manz
Notes:
• Lots of scriptural examples mentioning music, both Old and New.
• Music can involve instruments and/or voice.
• How music is used in scripture.
• Scriptural instructions to sing as worship.
• Singing is intended to be unifying.
• Singing is intended to be mentally uplifting and emotionally stirring.
• Music reminds us of days gone by.
• The Holy Spirit fills us through music.
• Singing inspires, calms and prepares the heart for hearing the word preached.
• Personal examples of the role music played in the brother's lives.
• Music & singing supports the word.
• Music enhances memorization.
Guests: Nick Gutwein, Frank Sauder, John Wiegand
Notes:
• “Baptism is entrance into the Christian community”.
• “It’s that working together that gives God glory. That collective working together with Christ as head, that gives all honor and glory to Christ”.
• John 13:34-35 loving one another requires us living in community with one another.
• Connection between the “practical” body and the “broader” body.
• The “body” cannot be just the broader body of believers through all ages; the bride of Christ.
• The practical, living out (loving one another) requires a local body.
• Independence contradicts the concept of the body. We are dependent on God and interdependent on each other.
• Our culture primes our thinking to understandings that are contrary to the Biblical body.
• “Causes us to lose sight of how God designed us to function together”.
• Challenges to interdependence with one another:
• When members around us are imperfect Christians.
• When interdependency loop is not affirming or reinforcing.
• Recognizing our dependency on Christ draws us back together.
• Living life in community forces us into situations of exercising instructions on forbearance, forgiveness, love & esteem.
Membership is individually helpful:
• Accountability
• Forces me to consider my relationship with Jesus (molds and shapes me to be like Jesus).
• “What is good for me, is good for us”.
• The local body is where we begin to understand what unity is, who Jesus is.
• For church leadership, it’s hard to shepherd sheep that are not there.
• The local body is a benefit to our unbelieving communities when they see the love of Christ shared among the members.
• The unbelieving community is hindered from coming to Christ when they don’t see the local church connected to the head (Christ).
• The local church is where we live into our calling, 24/7, instead of it being a performance.
Guests: Nick Gutwein, Frank Sauder, John Wiegand
Part 1 Notes
Questions/comments posed:
- There are too many strings attached to being a member.
- Why can’t I just be a follower of Jesus?
In the Bible, baptism was typically done by local church, not an individual or parachurch organization.
- Exception explained: Phillip and Ethiopian eunuch.
We tend to view membership in worldly terms (i.e., member of a club or association).
Correct view of member is defined biblically – I Cor. 12
“They (Corinthians) were baptized into the Body at the Church of Corinth. And we are baptized into this body…”
“And we can only have Christ as our head if we are willing to be tied together as a body”.
“To not be tied into a body is to be dismembered”. Seemed strong language at first, but it is biblically accurate.
“Life as a Lone Ranger Christian is a contradiction to being a Christian”.
Guests: Dave Graf, Ken Manz, Joel Putt, John Wiegand
Show notes:
A group that recently visited Romania and Ukraine addressed the concerns that are on all of our hearts at this time: are the Ukrainian brethren in harm's way? Are their basic needs being met? Is their faith strong? Are the Ukrainian brothers at risk of being drafted into the military? What is the relationship like between the Ukrainian Nazarene brethren and our Apostolic Christian Church? Any additional ways we can help them?
Guests: MaryBeth Lehman, Kathy Sauder, Lyn Wuethrich
Show notes:
• Anchored in scripture and flowed well with scriptural principles for building up the Body.
• Practical suggestions for getting to know your gifts and discussing gifts with others.
• Everyday ways to use gifts to make others lives better.
• Not limiting ourselves to gifts we know and like, but willing to step out in faith when we see a need.
• Lots of examples of sisters using their gifts to build up the Body.
• Pitfalls to be aware of (comparing ourselves to others).
• Gifts can change as we age and our station in life changes.
• Summary of gifts: Being the hands and feet of Christ.
This podcast should be an encouragement to our sisters (and brothers) and communicates we all have a place in the Body, and are equipped by God to help others.