Deep-Grace Diving with Tim Wright and Terey Summers

28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28, NRSVue)

But… do we know that? Is that really true?

Tim and Jon take a deep dive into this verse, one that is often used to give people who are going through tough times hope.

But, as we’ll see, this translation may not be the best translation.

God may have something better to say to us.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit recklessgrace.substack.com

Tim and Jon look at the topic of healing, a topic fresh in Tim’s mind as his wife was not healed of her cancer.

It’s a raw, insightful look at healing, our expectations of God, and the small and big ways God heals.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit recklessgrace.substack.com

Tim and Jon look at what the Bible teaches about the sacred gift of love and grace God has for us through baptism.

In him also you were circumcised with a spiritual circumcision, by the removal of the body of the flesh in the circumcision of Christ; 12 when you were buried with him in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with him, when he forgave us all our trespasses,In him also you were circumcised with a spiritual circumcision, by the removal of the body of the flesh in the circumcision of Christ; 12 when you were buried with him in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with him, when he forgave us all our trespasses… Colossians 2:11-13. NRSVUE

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” 38 Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.” Acts 2:37-39, NRSVUE

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. 6 This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 The saying is sure. Titus 3:4-8a.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit recklessgrace.substack.com

Tim and Jon tackle one of the biggies in their on-going series: Christianity 101—What must we do to be saved?

It’s a question that puts a lot of pressure onto ourselves.

But it doesn’t need to. God’s grace has a surprising answer for us.

Acts 16:25-31 (NRSVUE)

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was an earthquake so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted in a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 The jailer called for lights, and rushing in, he fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them outside and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They answered, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Acts 2:37-38

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” 38 Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit recklessgrace.substack.com

Who is the Holy Spirit? How can we be filled with the Spirit? What is the work of the Spirit?

Tim and Jon dive into the life-giving power of the Spirit and the difference the Spirit can make in your life.

Bible verses:

John 7:37-39

On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, 38 and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’” 39 Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive, for as yet there was no Spirit because Jesus was not yet glorified.

39 He said this in reference to the Spirit that those who came to believe in him were to receive. There was, of course, no Spirit yet, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.

Romans 8: 9-13

But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, then the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.

Galatians 5:22-26

By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. 24 And those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit recklessgrace.substack.com

Church is boring. The Church has hurt too many people. I don’t need a church to worship God.

Does the Church matter? Tim and Jon look at what Jesus has to say as they continue their Christianity 101 Series.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit recklessgrace.substack.com

In this week’s podcast we turn our attention to the stunning claim that Rabbi Jesus, was and is God come in the flesh. Tim and Jon look at how we might bring together a human and divine Jesus and what it means for following him.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit recklessgrace.substack.com

Who is Jesus seems like a fairly simple question to answer. But history tells us otherwise.

Tim and Jon begin a look at understanding Jesus and his mission, while trying to strip away the 2000 years worth of layers that have shaped the Jesus story.

(Jon’s reference to a good Bible study resource: https://bibleproject.com/)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit recklessgrace.substack.com

Following up from last weeks re-podcast on grief, Tim and Terey offer a raw (emphasis on raw), insider’s look at grief: Terey from almost two years since the death of her husband, Jonathan, and Tim, five weeks into losing his wife, Jan.

Faith… how to talk to friends in grief… getting to the resurrection too quickly… taking time in the cross… and more.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit recklessgrace.substack.com

This past weekend we celebrated the life of my wife of 46 years, Jan, who passed away on May 3 after a 4.5 year battle with cancer.

Terey lost her husband a few years ago and shared her heart with us not long after he died. Her insights into grief are deep and inspiring.

We’re re-releasing it this week. Next week we’ll reconnect with Terey almost two years later and I’ll add in my own thoughts on grief from a very fresh perspective.

We’ll get back to our Christianity 101 series in a couple of weeks.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit recklessgrace.substack.com