Lesser-Known Lewis: Christian Reflections on C. S. Lewis's Essays and Short Works

Exploring C. S. Lewis' 1948 article "Some Thoughts" where he explores the Christian paradox — that Christianity is both a world-affirming and world-denying religion. In this episode, we focus on the world-denying aspects of the faith. We see that because Christianity has both sides of the paradox, things like fasting or celibacy should be practiced differently in Christianity than in every other religion and ideology.

NOTE: Our first part of this essay is found a few episodes earlier S2E12 Christmas 2 — "Some Thoughts" (Part 1)

For a visual on the absurd rabbit trail Jordan and Sean start off the show with, as well as devotional connection Jordan draws between Zombies and C. S. Lewis, see this link to a video Jordan made after he had some thoughts of his own.

If you want to read or listen to C.S. Lewis' "Some Thoughts" you can find links to it in print, online, and in audio format at pintswithjack.com/essays

Find more Lesser-Known Lewis —

Patreon: patreon.com/lesserknownlewis

Instagram: @lesserknownlewis

Facebook: Lesser-Known Lewis Podcast

Email: [email protected]

Music by Jessica Syratt (Twitter: @jesssyratt). Graphic by Angus Crawford.

Exploring C. S. Lewis' essay "The Psalms" which was a precursor to his 1958 book Reflections on the Psalms. In the second part of the essay, Lewis explains how Christians need a paradigm shift to see the Psalms of judgment differently. They are more like scripts that help us approach God as the woman in the parable of the Unjust Judge (Luke 18) who knows she is in the right, if only she could get her case heard. Sean and Jordan wrestle with how uncomfortable it makes us as Christians to come to God in prayer, claiming to be standing in righteousness — ironic, right? Well, helpfully, Lewis suggests the Psalms might lead us to the Righteousness that belongs to Another.

If you want to read or listen to C. S. Lewis' "The Psalms" you can find links to it in many formats at pintswithjack.com/essays

Find more Lesser-Known Lewis — 

Online: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠pintswithjack.com/lesser-known-lewis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/lesserknownlewis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@lesserknownlewis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lesser-Known Lewis Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: [email protected]

Graphic Design by Angus Crawford.

Music by Jessica Syratt (Twitter: @jesssyratt).

Exploring C. S. Lewis' essay "The Psalms" which was a precursor to his 1958 book Reflections on the Psalms. In the first part of the essay, Lewis defends why modern Christians ought to pray the Psalms even though they are old and alien to us. While they are at times cruel and vindictive, and at others, appear self-righteous, they are what they claim to be — God's revelation. He guesses that they are useful to us as a way of dealing with our emotions, and provide self-reflection. Ultimately, because Jesus prayed them and the Church has benefited from following his example in doing so for thousands of years. 

Links to things mentioned in today's show:

The Mere C. S. Lewis Podcast episode on "Reflections on the Psalms"

The Wade Center Podcast episode on "Reflection on the Psalms" 

The work by Athanasius that Jordan was referring to is called "The Letter to Marcellinus."

If you want to read or listen to C. S. Lewis' "The Psalms" you can find links to it in many formats at pintswithjack.com/essays

Find more Lesser-Known Lewis — 

Online: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠pintswithjack.com/lesser-known-lewis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/lesserknownlewis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@lesserknownlewis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lesser-Known Lewis Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: [email protected]

Graphic Design by Angus Crawford.

Music by Jessica Syratt (Twitter: @jesssyratt).

This week during Ordinary Time, we are privileged to hear a conversation with one of C. S. Lewis' Neighbours from the 1940's and 50's — Terry Legg, who grew up in Oxford, just around the corner from Lewis as a young man. In this episode, Terry retells some of Lewis' biography, focusing on his affections, friends, and his love, Joy.  

Alister McGrath's "C. S. Lewis Podcast" link to the first biography episode.

"Undeceptions Podcast" C.S. Lewis Biography episode link.

Find more Lesser-Known Lewis — 

Online: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠pintswithjack.com/lesser-known-lewis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/lesserknownlewis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@lesserknownlewis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lesser-Known Lewis Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: [email protected]

Graphic Design by Angus Crawford.

Music: The Flax / Whisky on the Rocks / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

This week during Ordinary Time, we are privileged to hear a conversation with one of C. S. Lewis' Neighbours from the 1940's and 50's — Terry Legg, who grew up in Oxford, just around the corner from Lewis as a young man. In this episode, Terry reflects on what the neighbourhood was like that he shared with C. S., and the trouble he would get in as a young boy on the Lewis property. Terry's unique connection to Lewis transports us back to the special place that birthed Narnia, but it also reminds us of just how special neighbourhoods — and neighbours! — are in the teachings of Lewis, and Jesus.

Find more Lesser-Known Lewis — 

Online: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠pintswithjack.com/lesser-known-lewis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/lesserknownlewis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@lesserknownlewis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lesser-Known Lewis Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: [email protected]

Graphic Design by Angus Crawford.

Music:

Ludvig Moulin / Shady Neighbourhood / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

This week's episode is a sermon Jordan preached at his home church on Jan 6, 2023 for their Epiphany Service. The sermon is on Isaiah 60:1–9, which begins "Arise, Shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you." Finding much overlap between this passage and C. S. Lewis' sermon "The Weight of Glory" (which we just covered in Advent!), we thought we would include it in our feed this season. We hope it blesses you as we head into Ordinary Time.

If you would prefer, you can watch the service here. 

If you would like to find out more about the Church Calendar, the podcast episode Jordan is on is from "Missionary District." 

Find more Lesser-Known Lewis — 

Online: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠pintswithjack.com/lesser-known-lewis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/lesserknownlewis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@lesserknownlewis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lesser-Known Lewis Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: [email protected]

Graphic Design by Angus Crawford.

Music by Jessica Syratt (Twitter: @jesssyratt).

Exploring C. S. Lewis' 1948 article "Some Thoughts" where he explores the Christian paradox — that we sometimes affirm this present world and sometimes deny it as we look forward to a better, resurrected world. In this episode, we focus on the half of the paradox that is grounded in the Good News of Jesus' incarnation (that God became man). Here we let Lewis be our guide to see why Christmas is such good news for this present world and how we can celebrate it well! (We’ll save the other half of the paradox for Lent).  

NOTE: Our second part of this essay is found a few episodes later ⁠S2E15 Lent — "Some Thoughts" (Part 2)

Here's a link to Bishop Robert Barron's episode on "Stoicism and Christianity" that we mentioned.

Camille Parkman's song, "Deliverer / O Come O Come Emmanuel" can be found on Spotify and other music platforms for purchase or streaming.

If you want to read or listen to C.S. Lewis' "Some Thoughts" you can find links to it in print, online, and in audio format at pintswithjack.com/essays

Find more Lesser-Known Lewis — 

Online: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠pintswithjack.com/lesser-known-lewis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/lesserknownlewis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@lesserknownlewis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lesser-Known Lewis Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: [email protected]

Graphic Design by Angus Crawford.

Music by Jessica Syratt (Twitter: @jesssyratt).

Exploring a few short scraps written by C. S. Lewis in 1945, in a piece now appropriately titled “Scraps," while reflecting on their connection to Christmas and the good news of the Incarnation. In "Scraps," Lewis shares four different, interesting, short, and to-the-point thoughts that illustrate some of the reasons we celebrate that God has become Man in the birth of Jesus; that God affirms the goodness of both the physical and spiritual realms and longs to reunite them; that he affirms the goodness of humanity; and that humans were created to be, in the words of Screwtape, "amphibians...half spirit and half animal." We found lots to reflect on for Christmas in what is possibly Lewis' shortest work. 

We also find ourselves returning back to Lewis' essays on prayers briefly, rethinking Lewis' "Problem of Prayer" between the A Pattern and B Pattern prayers and wondering what Jesus knew when he prayed "Thy will be done" in the Garden of Gethsemane. 

The podcast episode Jordan referred to can be found at this link to their show called "Word and Table" .

Camille Parkman's song, "Deliverer / O Come O Come Emmanuel" can be found on Spotify and other music platforms for purchase or streaming.

If you want to read or listen to C.S. Lewis' "Scraps" you can find links to it in print, online, and in audio format at pintswithjack.com/essays

Find more Lesser-Known Lewis — 

Online: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠pintswithjack.com/lesser-known-lewis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/lesserknownlewis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@lesserknownlewis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lesser-Known Lewis Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: [email protected]

Graphic Design by Angus Crawford.

Music by Jessica Syratt (Twitter: @jesssyratt).

Reflecting on the final part of C. S. Lewis' most famous sermon "The Weight of Glory," from 1941. Sean and Jordan, together with their first guest and long-time friend Rev. Dr. Dean Pinter, reflect on the ways Lewis' legendary sermon helps us learn to "wait for the weight of glory" during the season of Advent.

In this episode, we consider why it is good news that we are burdened with God's glory, and draw from Lewis' life-changing practical ethic of loving your neighbour as the "holiest object" you have seen, because, as he wrote, "There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal."

To purchase Dean Pinter's books, look for "Acts" in Zondervan's Story of God Commentary series.

Camille Parkman's song, "Deliverer / O Come O Come Emmanuel" can be found on Spotify and other music platforms for purchase or streaming.

If you want to read or listen to C. S. Lewis' "The Weight of Glory," you can find links to it in print, online, and in audio format at pintswithjack.com/essays.

Find more Lesser-Known Lewis — 

Online: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠pintswithjack.com/lesser-known-lewis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/lesserknownlewis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@lesserknownlewis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lesser-Known Lewis Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: [email protected]

Graphic Design by Angus Crawford.

Reflecting on the third part of C. S. Lewis' most famous sermon "The Weight of Glory," from 1941. Sean and Jordan, together with their first guest and long-time friend Dr. Dean Pinter, reflect on the ways Lewis' legendary sermon helps us learn to "wait for the weight of glory" during the season of Advent.

In this episode, we look at the section where Lewis explores the variety of images scripture uses of Heaven, and why we need variety in the images that draw us on and keep us desiring for that future glory where we will be with Jesus. 

To purchase Dean Pinter's books, look for "Acts" in Zondervan's Story of God Commentary series.

Camille Parkman's song, "Deliverer / O Come O Come Emmanuel" can be found on Spotify and other music platforms for purchase or streaming.

If you want to read or listen to C. S. Lewis' "The Weight of Glory," you can find links to it in print, online, and in audio format at pintswithjack.com/essays.

Find more Lesser-Known Lewis — 

Online: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠pintswithjack.com/lesser-known-lewis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/lesserknownlewis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@lesserknownlewis⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lesser-Known Lewis Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: [email protected]

Graphic Design by Angus Crawford.