Looking Above

Looking Above

By Karen BaughmanReligion & SpiritualityChristianityEducationCoursesReligion
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Looking Above episodes

  • Looking Above Episode 35 - Dear Younger Me...What I Wish I Knew Before Getting Married

    In this episode, Karen and Brooklyn discuss marriage - the good, the bad, and what they wish they had known when they were younger.  Listen to the podcast, and then grab a friend and discuss marriage!

    1. What is one thing you loved about your wedding day?  What is one thing you wish you could have changed?
    2. What do you love about being married? What is one thing (in marriage) that your spouse is really good at?
    3. What is one way you could be a better wife?
    4. Karen and Brooklyn shared some advice they've learned through the years.  What do you wish you knew before you were married?  What lessons have you learned?
    5. Your husband is not your girlfriend.  Do you have any emotions you need to share now with your friend, to spare your husband later? :)
      6. 30 min
    6. Looking above - Episode 34 - Between the Seasons - Dear Younger Me...Life Wisdom

      In this episode, Karen and Brooklyn discuss what they've learned about the world's wisdom versus godly wisdom.  Listen, find a friend, and get together to discuss these questions:

      1. How would you have defined success when you were younger?  How do you define success now?  How do these compare to God's definition of success?
      2. How would you have defined beauty when you were younger?  How do you define beauty now?  How do these compare to God's definition of beauty?
      3. How would you have defined sin when you were younger?  How do you define sin now? How do these compare to God's definition of sin? How do we know what God's will or God's best is for us? Why should we be less concerned with how close we can get to the line and more concerned with how close we can get to God?
      4. What does the world tell us about fun/ pleasure?  What does Scripture tell us about pleasure?  Where does true joy come from? 
      5. Why do we live traumatized and broken, rather than seeking healing?  Why do we stay stuck? What is one thing you need to seek healing from?

        6. The Takeaway: "So we fix our eyes, not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:18

        Action Step: Choose one of the above topics (success, beauty, sin, pleasure, trauma), and find a verse that helps you to remember God's truth on that topic.  Write it on a note card and work on memorizing it this week.

        28 min
      6. Looking above - Episode 33 - Between the Seasons

        This is the start to our "between the seasons season" that we have affectionately called "Dear Younger Me..."  In the break between Life Group seasons, Karen and Brooklyn are going to discuss things they wish they knew when they were younger.  But, this episode is devoted to getting to know them better.  

        Even though you might not be meeting with your Life Group over the next three months, we encourage you to keep listening and get together with a friend (twice a month) for coffee and to chat about whatever we discussed!  Don't let the break from Life Groups mean a break from meaningful relationship!

        Here are the questions we discussed...talk about them at coffee with your friend!

        What’s a skill you want to learn?
        What is the biggest risk you ever took?
        What is your favorite joke?
        What was the last book you read?
        What is your pet peeve?
        What phone app do you use the most
        Would you run a marathon?
        What did you want to be when you grew up?
        What situations make you feel most anxious?
        Have you ever been close to death?
        Would you rather give up eating or sleeping?

        Take away:  Brooklyn is not 13 :) Brooklyn and Karen are "real" people with real feelings and real fears.

        Action step: Set up coffee with a friend and discuss the Getting To Know You questions!

        32 min
      7. Looking Above ep. 32 - Ephesians 6:10-24 / Guidance

        On this episode, Karen and Brooklyn wrap up their discussion on the book of Ephesians with a chat about the armor of God and the spiritual battle that surrounds us. 

        1. Tell a story of a fight you had with someone when you were much younger.
        2. Verse 12 says our battle is not against flesh and blood enemies. Why is this important information? How do we maintain that perspective when we are "fighting" with another person?
        3. When life gets hard (temptation, inter-personal conflict) who's strength do you operate in?  What "armor" do you rely on? 
        4.  How have you seen relying on your own strength and on "worldly" armor to be undependable or faulty strategies?
        5. Have you ever been in a situation where you know it was God's power sustaining you, because your power was gone?  Describe that situation. How might we rely on God's power in all situations (not just when our power is gone)?
        6. As a group, discuss each of the pieces of armor and how it equips you to fight a spiritual battle.
        7. Do you have, or have you had a spiritual mentor?  What is that relationship like?
        8. How might this group work together to seek God's will in your lives individually, and God's will for the group?

          9. The Takeaway: We all need people in our lives who will give us godly advice and remind us that we're in a spiritual battle.  Seeking guidance is a discipline. 

          Action Step: Pray about seeking a mentor or spiritual director who can help you seek God's will in your life. Invite someone into this role.

          40 min
        9. Looking Above ep. 31 - Ephesians 5:21-6:9 / Submission

          Looking Above ep. 31 - Ephesians 5:21-6:9 / Submission

          On this episode, Karen and Brooklyn discuss the biblical concept of submission as presented in Ephesians chapters 5 and 6 and discuss how this view of submission is far different than our society's take on the topic.

          1. Without naming names, talk about a best friend of yours. What makes him/ her your best friend? Why do you love him/her?
          2. What would you do for your best friend? (Would you give him/her a kidney?  Would you suffer for him/her?  Would you give your life for him/her?) Why?
          3. Talk about Jesus' submission to God.  What did that look like in His life?  What did that look like in His death?
          4. Submission is a hot-button topic. Why do people in our society hate the term 'submission' so much?
          5. Ultimately, we submit to each other because we are submitted to God.  Based on these verses, what does submission to God look like for husbands, fathers and masters?
          6. If husbands, fathers and masters lived according to this passage, how might that change wives' children's and slaves' perception of submission and desire to submit?
          7. We are called to submit to each other.  What might that look like practically in your life?  
          8. How does submission build unity?
          9. Submission provides protection.  How?
          10. Talk about the context in which this passage was written. How is Paul actually honoring and elevating wives, children and slaves in this passage?

            11. The Takeaway: Submission brings freedom in our relationships as we honor and esteem each other.  God desires order in the body, and submission brings order.

            Action Step: Pray about your attitude concerning submission.  Who is a godly person in your life to whom you could submit?  

            37 min
          11. Looking Above ep. 30 - Ephesians 5:1-20 / Fasting

            Looking Above ep. 30 - Ephesians 5:1-20 / Fasting

            1. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? 
            2. What or who do you imitate today?
            3. Do you know God well enough to imitate Him?  How do you know what you know about God? 
            4. Skim thru the passage and come up with a list of "do's" and "don'ts". Can you put a reason with each item on the list-why would Paul say "to do" or "not to do" that?
            5. Give an example of how someone else's shining brought your darkness to light.
            6. Discuss how gratitude towards God helps us avoid sin.
            7. What are some examples of the darkness of the world that we might still be tempted to participate in after coming to Christ.  How can we live as light when faced with those temptations?
            8. Have you fasted? What was that experience like?
            9. How can denying ourselves a physical pleasure (or necessity like food) bring us closer to God?
            10. Other than food and technology, what could a person fast from?

              11. The Takeaway: To imitate God we have to know Him.  One of the ways we can know Him more with through fasting.

              Action Step: Choose something to fast from for one day this week.  Be intentional and replace the time you would have spent on that thing with time with God.

              35 min
            11. Looking Above ep. 29 - Ephesians 4:17-32 / Confession

              In this episode, Karen and Brooklyn discuss the second half of Ephesians 4 and talk about the discipline of confession.  They belong to a confessional community and talk about how confession helps us individually and corporately.

              Questions for Group Discussion:

              Last week you were encouraged to SOAP this week.  Take a few minutes and share something that you discovered during your Bible study.

              1. Tell a story of a time when you felt deep sadness.
              2. Vs. 30 says that how we live can cause the Holy Spirit to suffer deep emotional pain.  How do you feel about that?
              3. When we sin, we "wander far from the life God gives" (vs.18). Why does it matter?
              4. Why don't we just continue wearing our "dirty clothes" (sinful nature)?
              5. We are told to "level up" and allow the Spirit raise our thoughts and attitudes to higher levels.(vs. 23) What does that look like?
              6. Take some time to work thru verses 25-32.  What dirty clothes are we to take off?  What new nature are we to put on? Why does each matter?
              7. Have you ever practiced the discipline of confession?  If so, what did that look like?  If not, why not?
              8. What about confession sounds scary or intimidating to you?  What about confession sounds good or enticing?
              9. How might this group practice the discipline of confession?
              10. Each person tell the group one way you struggled this past week (could be a temptation/sin, could be an emotional struggle).  The rest of the group should respond by saying "We will not leave the room" (meaning "we are with you and your struggle won't scare us away.")
              11. End by pairing up (get with a partner) and pray for each other.

                12. The Takeaway: Confession is for our own good, so our hearts don't become callous to our sin.

                Action Step: Daily confession. Begin by asking the Holy Spirit to reveal sin in your life.  Start the practice of confessing your sins to God and if so prompted, with a trusted friend.

                38 min
              12. Looking Above ep. 28 - Ephesians 4:1-16 / Study

                In this episode, Karen and Brooklyn chat about the discipline of study and how it is an important discipline if we want to strengthen our faith.  They will give you some ideas for how to begin to study Scripture (this passage) on your own. Be sure to bring paper Bibles, notebooks, highlighters, pens, and your phone (to access biblehub.com) when you meet with your group this week.

                Group activity:

                This week you will work together to study Ephesians 4:1-16.  Break into pairs (two people) and assign each pair a small section of the passage to study.  Use the first portion of your time to do the things that Karen described on the podcast.  Together with your partner: Highlight words that stand out.  Ask questions about what phrases mean or why they're important. Look up a commentary on biblehub.com and read about the verse.  Possibly look up a word in the original Greek. Make notes.

                Use the next portion of your time together to share what you learned during your study. Feel free to share what parts of the study process were easy/ difficult/ intriguing/ confusing to you.

                Finish by discussing: Why is this important? | How can we apply what we learned? | 

                The Takeaway: Baby birds grow up.  You need to too. Take the next step in growing in Bible study.

                Action Step: Spend time in daily study this week.  Practice the SOAP method. (Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer) 

                42 min
              13. Looking Above ep. 27 - Ephesians 3 / Meditation

                In this episode, Karen and Brooklyn discuss a little bit of history about Paul, talk about God's plan, and look into some of the insights we learn about God in this chapter.  Brooklyn also shares her experiences with practicing the discipline of meditation.

                Questions to discuss with your group:

                1. How does the knowledge that Paul was in prison while writing this letter change the way you read it?
                2. Are you a "plan person or a "wing it" person? How do you respond to the fact that God has a plan?
                3. How might remembering Paul's past help you to be more gracious with others?  How might it change your view of your own eligibility to be used by God?
                4. When you think of God as Father, what thoughts come to your mind?  How do you feel?
                5. You have access to God.  The God of the universe. Do you come to him boldly and confidently?  Why/why not?
                6. What does it mean to you that God has settled down as a permanent resident within you? How does/should that change the way we live?
                7. Have you practiced Christian meditation before?  Talk about your struggles or joys with the process.
                8. How might this group put this discipline into practice this week?

                  9. The Takeaway: Disciplines take discipline.  Don't give up if meditation doesn't come easily. 

                  Action Step: Choose a verse or attribute of Jesus to meditate upon this week. Set aside time to practice meditation.  Come back next week and share how this practice went.

                  37 min
                9. Looking Above ep. 26 - Ephesians 2:11-22 / Fellowship

                  In this episode, Karen and Brooklyn chat about covenants, unity, and how fellowship is a discipline.

                  Questions to discuss with your group:

                  1. What does it feel like to be far away from Christ?
                  2. We live under the new covenant.  Because of Christ's sacrifice (vs. 13) we have been brought near.  What does this mean for us?
                  3. Does fellowship come naturally to you, or do you need to discipline yourself to do it?
                  4. The Greek word translated "peace" in this passage has to do with wholeness, and being bound together.  How can Christian community (fellowship) foster peace?
                  5. When have you realized your need for Christian community?
                  6. Why do you most often isolate or resist going deeper in friendship?
                  7. Have you ever experienced an unlikely friendship that was united by your love for Christ? What did that look like? How did/does that friendship bless you?
                  8. Talk about the beauty of fellowship.  What can happen in fellowship that won't happen in isolation?
                  9. Are you more naturally a "giver" or a "receiver" in friendship?  What one step can you take this week to do the one that does not come naturally to you?
                  10. Why is it important to give and receive?

                    11. The Takeaway: Because our souls need fellowship, we should be disciplined in seeking it.

                    Action Step: Get together with some Christian friends this week.  Light a candle. Engage in meaningful conversation. Take time to listen well and encourage each other. Ask good questions that help you get to know each other better. 

                    33 min

                  About Looking Above

                  From the publisher's feed

                  It’s easy to get bogged down in details of every day life. If we arent intentional, our eyes can easily be pulled away from the Lord and we can set our gaze on things of earth.