Reading Together

After Jesus's ministry in the synagogue at Capernaum he ministers to the crowd, escapes the crowd, and heals a man with leprosy.

Jesus calls his first disciples and brings deliverance in the synagogue at Capernaum.

We look at the beginning of Jesus' ministry from his baptism, through his temptation, to his first proclamation of the Kingdom of God.

In this series of the Reading Together podcast, we'll be reading through the Gospel of Mark. My approach is ask interpretive questions of the text, trying to understand what it says. This is the first episode of this series.

In this last session on George Yancey's book Beyond Racial Gridlock, we get into his analysis of what Christians have to contribute to dealing with racism.  He doesn't offer any platitudes or simple solutions. It's going to take work on our part, work that includes our recognizing our sin, repenting of our sin, having our hearts broken over the ways our sins and the sins of our ancestors have hurt others, and a deep commitment to love one another.

In his book Beyond Racial Gridlock, Baylor sociologist identifies four models on offer in our culture for dealing with racism. In this episode we look at the central claims, strengths, and weaknesses of each. Yancey finds each ultimately inadequate. His objective is to learn from them and bring the resources of the Christian tradition to bear on the problem.

George Yancey, a sociologist who teaches at Baylor University, wrote this book several years ago. He's looking for a Christian approach to the problem of racism. In this first session we look at the introduction and first chapter, where Yancey makes two important claims. First, racism is a sin problem. We're not going to understand it or deal with it successfully until we recognize that. Second, we see that "racism" has two competing definitions. The first (and oldest) sees it in individualist terms. The second (predominant in recent discussions) sees it in structural terms.

In this final chapter Dallas Willard looks at the "worldly good" that comes from the life of disciples of Jesus. Our world suffers from Christians setting out to "transform the world" without first becoming disciples through the transformation that God works in us through the spiritual disciplines.

What is the proper Christian practice when it comes to riches and wealth? In this chapter Dallas Willard argues for a proper use (and stewardship) of wealth that avoids trusting wealth. He believes we are called to use resources at our disposal to bless others and advance God's purposes.

In chapter 9 of The Spirit of the Disciplines, Dallas Willard presents some of what he calls "disciplines of engagement." By taking up activities like study, prayer, service, worship, and fellowship, we give God room to work in our lives.