Sometimes we don't have a topic at hand in order to do a deep dive, but we're always reading, thinking and talking. So this is the first episode in an irregular series where we just open our front door as it were, and allow you a glimpse into our conversations. 

We talk about reading fiction, preparing to study and preach sermons, and more! We then spend quite a lot of time discussing the topic of "common grace" and end by talking about some of Jono's reading on authoritarianism, power and abuse in the church. 

Thanks for listening!! If you have any topic suggestions, comments or questions, contact us via our instagram @amitypodcast 

Check out the Kaisis podcast series on Common Grace https://kaisis.buzzsprout.com/1660195/8640216-the-kingdom-of-god-and-common-grace

We recommend Dr. Diane Langberg's book "Redeeming Power: Understanding Authority and Abuse in the Church."

We're back! Or at least we hope we're back. And we're talking through the topic of knowing God's will. This is a topic Jono has preached on several times but we find it's a frequent question on people's minds. We hope this episode can encourage you as you walk in the grace and freedom God has blessed you with. 

We recommend checking out the Kaisis podcast' especially their episodes on Common Grace https://kaisis.buzzsprout.com/1660195/8640216-the-kingdom-of-god-and-common-grace

Kevin DeYoung's book :Just Do Something" is also a helpful resource on this issue.

While the word "lament" is a common one and widely used in even secular contexts, we think it's a discipline that's not practiced as much within the church as we need it to be. Lament is biblical, helpful and even necessary for our journey through the trials of this world. We hope you are encouraged as we talk through Psalm 13 and the issue of how we bring our distress and complaints to the Lord. 

We mention the book "Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy" by Mark Vroegop and the book "Gentle and Lowly" by Dane Ortlund. 

We also recommend listening to the Theology Gals episode on grief http://theologygals.com/2020/06/grief/

And these podcast interviews with Tish Harrison Warren https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/podcasts/cultivated/tish-harrison-warren-how-grief-is-our-companion-in-christia.html   and   https://thelaymenslounge.com/tish-harrison-warren-real-talk-on-prayer-in-everyday-life/

Pre-marital counseling has become quite the norm for churched couples seeking to get married. But is it truly essential? Is it actually helpful? We discuss why pre-marital maybe a good idea and how we walk through it with couples, a bit of our own experience with pre-marital, and why relationship, mentoring and even counseling AFTER the wedding is really the most helpful. While there's no perfect marriage book, we do recommend "The Meaning of Marriage" by Tim and Kathy Keller. 

We began this episode planning to get to our topic, but we ended up just talking. So 7 minutes in we decided to just go for it! Here's a taste of what we talk about. We do share some big news for our family, Jono goes on a bit of a rant and we discuss the book "The Great Sex Rescue" by Sheila Gregoire. 

Listen to the interview Theology Gals did with Sheila Gregoire here http://theologygals.com/2021/05/the-great-sex-rescue-with-sheila-gregoire/

And check out Sheila's podcast here https://tolovehonorandvacuum.com/category/snippets/podcasts/

This episode is part sermon look back and part topical because we've been meaning to do an episode on the subject of SINGING. Specifically, corporate singing. Our foundational passage is Colossians 3:15-16 as we talk though the whys, whats, and weirdness of singing. 

Watch the sermon here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAZyWmZYnF0&t=2378s  

Aaaand we're back! A short break from the podcast due to travel turned into a longer break, but here we are getting back in the groove. We're looking back to 2 sermons ago; Jono's second-to-last sermon in the Gospel Culture series, on the image of God. We both find this topic so mind-blowing and exciting (as you can see from the length of this episode!). We hope this episode gets you thinking, studying, and even talking about this truth more. And ultimately, may it lead us all to love God and love neighbor. 

If you'd like to watch the sermon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwSenjketV8

Or just listen to the sermon https://www.buzzsprout.com/4016/8531140-genesis-value-1-27