Forward by Faith

It's been said that Christian Spiritual Disciplines or Spiritual Rhythms are ways we can place ourselves in the path of God's grace and really learn to seek him. In this episode we dig into three essential Spiritual Disciplines that can shape our lives in powerful ways. As we learn to practice Bible intake, prayer, and Sabbath, we  find ourselves following Jesus more closely in the everyday stuff of life. 

How do you define yourself? In our culture, many people look to define themselves in terms of their vocation, their relationships, their wealth, or their physical appearance – just to name a few examples. However, when you become a follower of Jesus, you are given a new identity that is not defined by the world's standards, but defined by God's standards. Disciples of Jesus have a new identity that is rooted in who Jesus is and what he has done.

This week we conclude our interview with Rhett Smith, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and author of the popular book, The Anxious Christian: Can God Use Your Anxiety For Good? In this second of two episodes, we dive into a discussion of how anxiety can be reimagined as a catalyst toward freedom, and consider the possible ways God uses our anxiety to transform our lives.

This week we interview Rhett Smith, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and author of the popular book, The Anxious Christian: Can God Use Your Anxiety For Good? In this first of two episodes, we dive into a discussion of how anxiety can be reimagined as a catalyst toward freedom, and consider the possible ways God uses our anxiety to transform our lives.

Parents have the responsibility and privilege of helping to shape their families in the gospel. What does this look like in the everyday? In this episode we take time to discuss specific ways families can strive to build a rhythm of worship within their home, and provide examples of how the gospel can take root in the hearts of our children.

There's no doubt that this pandemic has upended many of our everyday rhythms of life. Social distancing and limited gatherings have caused many of us to feel isolated and disconnected from our neighbors, colleagues and church families. Yet, even in this time God is at work and is calling us to join him in his work, participating in his mission to see disciples made. In this episode we briefly discuss what mission is and what it could look like in the here and now.

It's been said that the gospel we preach determines the disciples we develop. And since followers of Jesus are called to make disciples who make disciples, it's essential that we understand what the gospel really is. In this episode, we dive into a biblical understanding of what this good news really is and take a brief look at distorted views of the gospel prevalent in culture today.

We all need clarity and courage from time to time, don’t we? It’s tempting for us to fall into fear and to see through the fog of uncertainty, especially in the cultural moment we find ourselves. But the Bible speaks repeatedly of how God talks to his people about fear and the ways to overcome it. In this episode we discuss how God encourages us to step into the things of life that require faith over fear.

This week we dig in a bit on the pastoral transition taking place at Faith Bible Church with Pastors Dan Lind and Wade Myers. We share the uniqueness of this transition process, along with the challenges and prayerful expectations that accompany changes within church leadership. 

Over the past several days we have seen and experienced protests following the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery. At this very moment in history, followers of Jesus have an opportunity to be ministers of peace and reconciliation in a time of unrest and injustice. In this episode we consider how the gospel shapes us to live in this way, starting with a transformation of the heart.