People Who See

In part two of our interview with Pastor Jordan Minnich Kjesbo, we dive into questions like: 

What do I do if I feel like the church just isn’t working for me anymore? 

What are the essentials of the church? 

What are the markers of how close we are to the heart of God and how do we measure them? How do we view success in ministry and are our models of church driven by success?

How can we try to be faithful to what God is calling us to do and, ultimately, how can we stay hopeful while still asking the hard questions?

Books we referenced in the episode: 

Preaching as Local Theology and Folk Art by Leonora Tubbs Tisdale

https://www.amazon.com/Preaching-Local-Theology-Fortress-Resources/dp/0800627733 

What is God Like? By Matthew Paul Turner and Rachel Held Evans

https://www.amazon.com/What-Like-Rachel-Held-Evans/dp/0593193318 

Radiolab Antibodies Part 1: CRISPR

https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/radiolab/articles/antibodies-part-1-crispr 

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/sonda/your-own-world

License code: 1WX6GFMRRZEGMYVC

In part one of our very first interview, we talk with Pastor Jordan Minnich Kjesbo about the  church. He introduces us to the concepts of Bounded Set and Centered set models of church and we begin to unpack what we can learn from each. 


Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/sonda/your-own-world

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In part two of our Enneagram conversation we use the Enneagram as a starting point to ask bigger questions of our theology. Some questions we dig into are: 

• How have we watered down our theology to make it more accessible? 
• Is there value in gatekeeping? 
• How have we used our theology as a weapon? 
• How have I made my opinions a part of my identity? 

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/sonda/your-own-world

License code: 1WX6GFMRRZEGMYVC

Here are some resources we recommend to learn more about the Enneagram! 

The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile

https://www.amazon.com/Road-Back-You-Enneagram-Self-Discovery/dp/0830846190 

The Enneagram: A Christian Perspective by Richard Rohr and Andreas Ebert 

https://www.amazon.com/Enneagram-Christian-Perspective-Richard-Rohr/dp/0824519507 

Liturgist Podcast: 

https://theliturgists.com/the-enneagram-episode-37-podcast-page/  

Atlas: Enneagram by Sleeping at Last

https://open.spotify.com/album/1R3C4VebWmWXFlbTSnnLql?si=jRwB2ZrCQJCly-AJQKiM_g 

In part one of our conversation about the Enneagram, Esther and Beth put on their boxing gloves and face off over the question, “Is the Enneagram Overrated?” We share our stories of how we have been helped or hurt by the Enneagram, Esther does a deep dive into the history of the Enneagram, and we explore the ways in which Instagram versions of the Enneagram have hurt more than they have helped. 

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/sonda/your-own-world

License code: 1WX6GFMRRZEGMYVC

Here are some resources we recommend to learn more about the Enneagram! 

The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile

https://www.amazon.com/Road-Back-You-Enneagram-Self-Discovery/dp/0830846190 

The Enneagram: A Christian Perspective by Richard Rohr and Andreas Ebert 

https://www.amazon.com/Enneagram-Christian-Perspective-Richard-Rohr/dp/0824519507 

Liturgist Podcast: 

https://theliturgists.com/the-enneagram-episode-37-podcast-page/  

Atlas: Enneagram by Sleeping at Last

https://open.spotify.com/album/1R3C4VebWmWXFlbTSnnLql?si=jRwB2ZrCQJCly-AJQKiM_g 

In part two of our conversation about the Bible, we unpack how to avoid tribalism by leaning into different spiritual practices that might stretch us past the edge of our discomfort, and learn how to look at truth through different lenses in order to have a more balanced, holistic understanding of faith

Here are some resources we reference in the episode! 

The Holy Longing: The Search for a Christian Spirituality by Ronald Rolheiser

Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices that Transform Us by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun 

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/sonda/your-own-world

License code: 1WX6GFMRRZEGMYVC

What were you taught about the Bible? A lot of us were raised on the mantra of, “If the Bible says it, that settles it,” but have you ever had that horrible sinking feeling when you realized, “Oh, that didn’t settle it”? In today’s episode, we use the story of Andy Stanley’s infamous “The Bible Told Me So” sermon to unpack the things we’ve been taught about the Bible and how we can begin to have a more balanced understanding of the Bible’s role in our faith. We introduce the concept of the Wesleyan Quadrilateral and the ways we can integrate tradition, reason, and experience into our faith and decision-making.

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/sonda/your-own-world

License code: 1WX6GFMRRZEGMYVC

In this two-part episode, Esther leads us into the theological weeds of Christianity’s patriarchal roots. In part one, she shares her story of growing up with a patriarchal and complementarian understanding of Christianity and explains the ways in which her thinking has now evolved and changed. In part two, we dive deeper into understandings of egalitarian and complementarian theologies and the ways in which we can find a third way that honors our shared humanity and sets both genders free. We also begin to unpack how we can learn to have conversations with those on the opposite end of the theological or political spectrum. 

Here are some resources we reference in the episode, and some recommended reading if your heart desires more: 

Books: 

The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth by Beth Allison Barr

Women in the Church: A Biblical Theology of Women in Ministry  by Denise M. Kjesbo and Stanley J. Grenz

Why Wesleyans Favor Women in Ministry by Ken Schenck   

Surprised by Scripture: Engaging Contemporary Issues by N. T. Wright

Articles:

"Women in Ministry" by David M. Scholer
https://www.fuller.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Women-in-Ministry-A-Biblical-Basis-for-Equal-Partnership.pdf

"Why Arguments against Women in Ministry Aren't Biblical" by Ben Witherington
https://www.beliefnet.com/columnists/bibleandculture/2009/10/why-arguments-against-women-in-ministry-arent-biblical.html#comments

Other: 
Marg Mowczko
https://margmowczko.com/

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/sonda/your-own-world

License code: 1WX6GFMRRZEGMYVC

In this two-part episode, Esther leads us into the theological weeds of Christianity’s patriarchal roots. In part one, she shares her story of growing up with a patriarchal and complementarian understanding of Christianity and explains the ways in which her thinking has now evolved and changed. In part two, we dive deeper into understandings of egalitarian and complementarian theologies and the ways in which we can find a third way that honors our shared humanity and sets both genders free. We also begin to unpack how we can learn to have conversations with those on the opposite end of the theological or political spectrum. 

Here are some resources we reference in the episode: 

Books: 

The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth by Beth Allison Barr

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/sonda/your-own-world

License code: 1WX6GFMRRZEGMYVC

In the spirit of asking questions often avoided, we use our first two-part episode to tackle a topic that is creating an increasingly wide divide among people within and without the church. We ask questions like, “How do I walk alongside someone who is deconstructing?” and “What if someone I love deconstructs and loses their faith?” We also discuss the inherent privilege of choosing whether or not to deconstruct, and offer an understanding of embedded and deliberative theology as a lens through which to view the process of deconstruction. 

Here are some resources we mention in the episodes: 

Books: 

After Doubt: How to Question Your Faith without Losing It by A.J. Swoboda. 

Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell 

The Sacred Journey by Frederick Buechner

Native: Identity, Belonging, and Rediscovering God by Kaitlin B. Curtice 

Other: 

https://www.relevantmagazine.com/magazine/how-to-deconstruct-your-faith-without-losing-it/ 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXniowEdmUQ 

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/sonda/your-own-world

License code: 1WX6GFMRRZEGMYVC

In the spirit of asking questions often avoided, we use our first two-part episode to tackle a topic that is creating an increasingly wide divide among people within and without the church. We ask questions like, “How do I walk alongside someone who is deconstructing?” and “What if someone I love deconstructs and loses their faith?” We also discuss the inherent privilege of choosing whether or not to deconstruct, and offer an understanding of embedded and deliberative theology as a lens through which to view the process of deconstruction. 

Here are some resources we mention in the episodes: 

Books: 

After Doubt: How to Question Your Faith without Losing It by A.J. Swoboda. 

Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell 

The Sacred Journey by Frederick Buechner

Native: Identity, Belonging, and Rediscovering God by Kaitlin B. Curtice 

Other: 

https://www.relevantmagazine.com/magazine/how-to-deconstruct-your-faith-without-losing-it/ 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXniowEdmUQ 

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/sonda/your-own-world

License code: 1WX6GFMRRZEGMYVC