Down to Earth Podcast

Why does church exist? Why do we gather? Continuing the discussion from our last episode, we’re talking about church and looking in particular today at the worship gathering—the structure, why we gather, and where it comes from. Last time we talked about how the emergent church movement and how there was great deconstruct in the worship gathering. After, there came an altogether resistance to the worship gathering with people asking, “What’s the point?” Our goal in this episode is to show that worship—the worship of God—is rooted in the story of God and His people.

There's a predominant thought in our culture that while people really like Jesus they're not sure about church, especially the church as an institution. In general, our society outside the church mistrust's authority and this has disseminated into our culture and now into our churches. In this episode, we're talking about church and belonging. It's an important place to begin in the larger discussion about church and why we gather.

There’s a predominant thought in our culture that while people really like Jesus they’re not sure about church, especially the church as an institution. In general, our society outside the church mistrust’s authority and this has disseminated into our culture and now into our churches. In this episode, we’re talking about church and belonging. It’s an important place to begin in the larger discussion about church and why we gather.

Justice is a huge topic and while we've unpacked a lot of ideas in previous episodes, today we're talking about some of the most common questions we get asked when we teach on justice. While there is tremendous brokenness in this world, there is also the opportunity to see God at work and that's beautiful.

One of the most common themes we're asked about when speaking at workshops and conferences is social transformation from a biblical perspective. And one of the main questions we address is, "what do you do with your money?" People wonder if we're supposed to give it all away to the needy, if we should hold back, and what the Bible teaches.

Justice is a huge topic and while we’ve unpacked a lot of ideas in previous episodes, today we’re talking about some of the most common questions we get asked when we teach on justice. While there is tremendous brokenness in this world, there is also the opportunity to see God at work and that’s beautiful. One of the most common themes we’re asked about when speaking at workshops and conferences is social transformation from a biblical perspective. And one of the main questions we address is, “what do you do with your money?” People wonder if we’re supposed to give it all away to the needy, if we should hold back, and what the Bible teaches.

We all know on some level that God's call is for us to be kind to marginalized people. And not just be kind but do justice.

But knowing in our head and knowing in our heart are two different things. And actually doing something about it is worlds apart from knowing about it.

Every believer, every person who says he or she follows Jesus is called to care for those who are most marginalized in society.

We all know on some level that God’s call is for us to be kind to marginalized people. And not just be kind but do justice. But knowing in our head and knowing in our heart are two different things. And actually doing something about it is worlds apart from knowing about it. Every believer, every person who says he or she follows Jesus is called to care for those who are most marginalized in society.

Christian hospitality. What is it? When most people hear the word "hospitality," they think it's something reserved for senior citizens or those from "hospitable cultures."

In order to think about hospitality from a biblical lens, we need to move past our cultural ideations. Why does God emphasise hospitality? And what does it mean?

We're not talking about Pinterest perfection, we're talking about why Christian hospitality is supposed to be a normative practice for all of us.

Christian hospitality. What is it? When most people hear the word “hospitality,” they think it’s something reserved for senior citizens or those from “hospitable cultures.” In order to think about hospitality from a biblical lens, we need to move past our cultural ideations. Why does God emphasise hospitality? And what does it mean? We’re not talking about Pinterest perfection, we’re talking about why Christian hospitality is supposed to be a normative practice for all of us.

In our last episode, we talked about discerning the bad news people live with and then bringing a good news announcement in contrast, as an act of justice.

We also talked about not just looking at the needs but at the gifts in the people we're serving, carrying on the idea of asset-based community development.

We'll unpack this topic more by telling a few stories in this episode.