Looking for the Real God

Christy contemplates the ways COVID19 is revealing what we believe about God, prayer, and spirituality. She encourages her listeners to trust that God is in control and reminds them that He is using the fear, uncertainty, sickness, and even death to draw people to Himself.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christylynnewood.substack.com

How do we forgive and what does forgiveness really look like? Christy explores some Christianese myths about forgiveness and lays out truth that has helped her own heart to heal.

Related Blog Posts:
https://christylynnewood.com/2019/12/22/healing-from-spiritual-abuse/

Related Resources:
https://youtu.be/TzHtql5Ur5Q

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christylynnewood.substack.com

Christy decided to record an extra episode to address the fear and anxiety that we are currently feeling because of the coronavirus pandemic. She encourages us to trust in a God who has not lost control despite the hysteria and panic around us. Christy also gives practical advice for dealing with our anxiety and fear.

Related Blog Post:
https://christylynnewood.com/2020/03/13/fearful-people-are-easier-to-control/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christylynnewood.substack.com

In the final episode of the Rediscovering Jesus series, Christy takes us to the book of Daniel. There she reminds her listeners that it has always been about faith and about a God who pursues people despite of the mess.

Scripture Referenced:
Daniel 3
John 3:17-18

Bible Tools Referenced:
https://netbible.org/bible/
https://www.blueletterbible.org/

Article about Suzerain-Vassal Treaty:
https://www.fivesolas.com/suzerain.htm

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christylynnewood.substack.com

Continuing her series on finding Jesus in the Old Testament, Christy tells the story of Abraham and Isaac. She looks into the culture, context, and foreshadowing that makes this story a powerful display of Jesus and the free salvation He offers.

Scriptures Referenced:
Genesis 12-24
Romans 4:20-22
Galatians 3:1-9

Bible Study Tools Referenced:
https://netbible.org/
https://www.blueletterbible.org/

Related Blog Posts:
https://christylynnewood.com/2017/10/08/rediscovering-jesus-on-a-mountain/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christylynnewood.substack.com

The Old Testament can be a complicated book to understand through the lens of our modern culture. Christy challenges some popular assumptions and reminds us that we cannot reject or abuse the Old Testament. Rather we should reframe and embrace it as we search for the Real Jesus.

Understanding how the Old Testament is often used within spiritual abuse, Christy begins a series on finding Jesus within its pages. She starts in the very beginning, the Garden of Eden.

Related Scriptures:
Genesis 1-3
John 1:1-4
Luke 19:10

Related Blog Posts:
https://christylynnewood.com/2017/09/24/rediscovering-jesus-in-the-garden/
https://christylynnewood.com/2018/06/19/chasing-eden/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christylynnewood.substack.com

Growing up in her cultic-subgroup of Christianity, everything was either physical or spiritual. There was no room for actual mental illness, but plenty of guilt and shame for feeling depressed, anxious, or more. Christy shares personal stories, recounts crazy scenarios, and explores what happens when we function in fear.

Related Blog Posts:
https://christylynnewood.com/2018/10/18/mental-illness-possessed-baby-dolls-and-the-church/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christylynnewood.substack.com

There are two main things that have influenced Christy's choice to continue her journey as a Christian: meeting a Living Jesus, and experiencing His love.

Christy tells stories about Frankie, a broken bad-boy that God used to teach her about His love. Coming out of her performance driven religion, Christy was shocked to discover that God loved her even more because of her mess. She wants her listeners to know that they are wildly loved too because they are broken and beautiful.

Scripture Verses Referenced: Ephesians 3:14-19; 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.

Related Blog Posts:
Love Beyond Words
https://christylynnewood.com/2017/11/06/8631/
I'm Just Here for the Broken Ones https://christylynnewood.com/2019/10/09/im-just-here-for-the-broken-ones/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christylynnewood.substack.com

In part two, Christy tells the story of how she met her husband. She talks about how the purity culture influenced both of them separately even though they had wildly different backgrounds. Christy admits the ways fallout from the purity culture influenced them even after they were married.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christylynnewood.substack.com

Christy explores the purity culture that was so popular in Evangelical Christianity during the 90s and early 2000s. She shares wild stories of the extreme version she experienced while influenced by her cult. Courtship (I mean arranged marriage) anyone?

Christy also ponders what went wrong in the purity culture and how that ties back to our naturally religious hearts.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christylynnewood.substack.com