Elisha's Bears: Conversations about Baptists and the Church with Pastor Danny

In this episode, we revisit Jesus' visit with the Samaritan woman at the well. This conversation from John 4 is significant not only because it's the longest recorded conversation involving Jesus, but also because he reveals himself as Christ for the first time to this unlikely person. This woman has been vilified due to her past, yet Jesus does not condemn her. Once we get beyond inferences of her sinfulness, we discover profound theological truths about the nature of true worship.

Stress is a real problem for us. It keeps us from "being where our feet are" and appreciating who we are and the people around us. In this episode, we listen in on a conversation between Jesus and Martha concerning her frustration with her sister Mary. This beautiful moment is a template on how worry leads to anger and being distracted from what's truly important. We take our cues on what's important by what Jesus says and does. There are times we need to be like Mary, and times to be like Martha. Jesus also affirms women and their place in his ministry by what he does (and doesn't do) regarding Martha's criticism of Mary.

This first episode is about the cost of following Jesus as it relates to the curious and seemingly harsh reactions he had to three people who were candidates for discipleship. There's a challenge to take seriously the choice between following Jesus and allegiance to our families. There's also a reference to the anniversary of the Asbury College revival and its impact to that campus and the church in general.