In a 2023 study by the American Psychological Association, 89% of responders said the holidays stress them out. (Source) Julianne and Pastor Matt guess the top 10 reasons for increased stress as cited in the survey—see if you can get #1 before Erich reveals it.

How can Christians re-orient their hearts and minds around this hectic time to participate in the anticipation of the return of Christ? Join us for this conversation about consumerism, stress, and the season of Advent.

• Technology is neither good nor evil, but it is not neutral. It is not just there. It's working on you purposefully. When we give it our attention, it shapes our worldview.
• On average, a person checks their cellphone 144 times a day. This comes out to every 6.7 minutes.
• For the first time in human history, we have banished solitude. You need solitude to sit with your own thoughts so you can figure out who you are and how you fit in this place.
• There's a battle going on for your time and attention—and this is by design.

• Embodied by Greg Allison
• Love Thy Body by Nancy Pearcey
• Deep Work by Cal Newport

This year, our entire Upper School attended the Biblical Worldview Conference, hosted by Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano. Students and faculty in grades 9-12 spent two days in worship, break-out sessions, and main lectures. Why did we send so many students this year? Head of School Bob Yttredahl is back on the podcast to recap his experience at the conference and why it is so important for our school culture.

Bonus: can you guess which one of us loves Butterfinger Blizzards?

Resources mentioned: "The Shallows" by Nicholas Carr "Total Truth" by Nancy Pearcey "Strange New World" by Carl Trueman "Church Membership" by Jonathan Leeman If you're interested in listening to the content presented at the 2024 BWC or seeing the list of topics addressed, click here: https://prestonwoodworldview.org/ondemand/

We're joined by Joseph Arze, Worship Minister at ORBC, for a conversation about how music shapes our worldview. Highlights: • If you want something to be solidified in your mind, sing it. • Music is like swift waters; it carves out channels in your brain to shape your thinking in a certain way. • We often turn to music to confirm our feelings. • One of the biggest obstacles to the gospel in our lives is forgetfulness. Songs Mentioned: All Sufficient Merit All Glory Be to Christ Verses to Consider: Romans 12:1-2 Colossians 3 Psalm 32:10-11

Erich, Julianne, and Pastor Matt are back! In today's episode, they discuss how our worldview affects our view of salvation and the gospel.  Our performance is used as a metric in many areas of life (social media, parenting, work, school). Are we letting this performance-driven view shape how we understand the doctrine of salvation? Resources Mentioned • The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt • Total Truth by Nancy Pearcey Verses to Consider • Galatians 3 • Ephesians 2:10 • 2 Timothy 2:12, 13 • Psalm 32:1-6 • James 5:16 • Ezekiel 11:19; 27; 36:26-27 • Jeremiah 32:39-40

We're back for another conversation about worldview and this time the topic of truth is on the table. How we can know that truth exists? How does our source of truth impact how we live as Christians? In this episode, Erich and Pastor Matt are joined by Julianne Fowler, Director of Marketing and Communication at OCS. 

Welcome to our first episode! Join Erich Lehmann (OCS Director of Spiritual Life), Pastor Matt Bowles (Ovilla Road Baptist Church), and Bob Yttredahl (OCS Head of School) in a conversation about worldview: what does this word mean and why is it important? What are the proper roles of the church and a Christian school in the life of a Christ-follower? ALSO! Learn to pronounce "Yttredahl" correctly and hear the heart behind changes coming to chapel at OCS this fall.