Ekklesia After Hours

Up top, we invite more in-person conversation (we will buy your coffee) and we also reiterate why we are not explicitly addressing LGBTQ+ inclusion in the church in a sermon or on the podcast.

We had some incredible questions and an incredible guest this week.

1. What happens to your marriage when you die?

2. How is God the Father and Jesus the Son buying us, any different from the thousand year old patriarchal order of men owning and controlling women’s bodies? Even Mary was not her own.

3. Something I've been wondering in my relationship, we are dating with the intention of marriage, but how much is too much marriage talk? It's a season of our lives that we hope to spend together at this point but I feel like we should live in the moment more. It's just difficult with so many people we know getting married and having babies.

4. How do I glorify/worship God with my sexuality other than refraining from having sex before marriage.

5. My partner of 4 years is going to grad school, most likely out of state. We plan to get married and have both decided to wait until marriage to have sex, but marriage is not financially right for us just yet. Is it still honoring to God if we were to live together for a couple years before getting married?

6. I'm having trouble understanding how masturbation "sabotages our ability to experience intimacy with God". Does the Bible say anything about it? How does it separate us from God? It's not actual sex so what's the problem.

7. Why is it beneficial to not have sex during your engagement? You know you are marrying this person and they are your forever, why is the boundary set around marriage?

We still have a few more weeks of Theology of Sex themed podcast, so there is still time for your questions!

A definitive list of the most romantic songs of all time, a puzzling conversation on why certain members of the Ekklesia staff don't like John Legend, and we also identify why dating in the modern world seems difficult, anxious and full of trepidation. We give some practical tips on how to invite God into your dating life and some simple do's and don't that will help guide you in your dating life. Spoiler: DON'T SAY THAT GOD TOLD YOU TO BREAK UP. IT IS A COP OUT.

Why did Kenna almost throw up when her now fiancé told her he liked her? Why is Garret so emo? What does it mean to have God be the center of a relationship? How do you know if your relationship is honoring God? Is there a way to succeed at being a Christian couple? All of this and more this week on Ekklesia After Hours.

This week we start tackling one of the most asked about topics in our conversations with young adults: Pornography. Part 2 is about practical steps for you to stop looking at pornography and overcome its effects on your life. Part 1 was about some of the research around the effects of pornography on the human brain and our day to day experience with one another. If you haven't listen yet we would encourage you to head back one episode before you jump into this conversation.

This week we start tackling one of the most asked about topics in our conversations with young adults: Pornography. Part 1 is some of the research around the effects of pornography on the human brain and our day to day experience with one another. And Part 2 is about practical steps for you to stop looking at pornography and overcome its effects on your life.

Does the Church talk about sex too much? Do men talk about sex more than woman? What are we excited for during our conversation on sex? What does it mean to be sexually free? What do we do if we have questions about our sexual life? And what does J-Cole's - "Wet Dreamz" have to do with Theology of Sex.

Cancel culture is ruining an opportunity for us to enter into some of the most important part of building friendships. The team discusses how we can enter into conflict with our friends and come out closer on the other side. We had some technical difficulties on this one so thanks for sticking with it.

New Years is coming up, and before you dive into the festivities have you thought about partying? How does it interact with image of Christ that dwells with in us? Also... did you know that Molly started a riot in Bellingham?

We are about to enter into Christmas "vacations" but as a culture we are reporting being more stressed out and higher levels of anxiety and often our "vacations" are anything but relaxing. In the midst of all this there is lots of conversation about taking care of ourself during the hectic holiday season. Today we talk about how we take care of ourselves and get real rest during this season that is supposed to be reflective and restful.

Giving gifts is a central part to how the Christmas season functions. Is there a more holistic way to enter into this vital part of Advent? How can we be intentional around giving and receiving gifts? This week on After Hours we dig into this and more.