Magical thinking not allowed in this episode… ok not in any episode. Steve leads by pondering whether the western church needs to make a confession. In this episode, Ruth and Steve go deep on five foundations of discernment. Through these foundations they uncover some hard truths – leaders struggle with believing in the goodness of God and it is really hard to be human. Ruth shares a story of how discernment can be much faster than decision-making when you have leaders who are discerning. Lots to digest in episode 3.

Mentioned in this episode:

Pursuing God’s Will Together: A Discernment Practice for Leadership Groups

Ruth's third season, Pursuing God's Will Together is set to come out on January 31st, 2018. Listen to this short episode to get a discounted rate at the next Pursuing God's Will Together retreat, as well as a sneak peek into what this season is all about. 

Click here to register for the Pursuing God's Will Together retreat with your leadership community. 

Enjoy. 

As we conclude season two, the disciples on the Emmaus Road are so excited about what has happened in and through their encounter with Jesus on the Emmaus Road that they jump up from dinner and turn right around to go back to Jerusalem to share what has happened with the other disciples. The trauma of all they had been through has been redeemed and their spiritual journey now leads them to discern the mission Jesus has for them.  Ruth and Steve discuss the creative tension in the spiritual life between mission and formation. Steve offers us an advice freebie and Ruth brings the season to a close by highlighting how mission cannot be discerned or sustained apart from commitment to an ongoing process of spiritual transformation.

In this podcast:

• Spirituality of Imagination with Martin Sheen

Ever had a conversation you wish didn’t have to end? The two disciples were so stirred by their conversation that “they urged Jesus strongly to stay.” And it was in the staying that the disciples recognized Jesus’ transforming presence as they shared a meal together. The practice of stability is not a strength of western Protestantism, but are we missing something when we are so quick to walk away. What is the essence of a transforming community? Listen to episode 8 and discover the heart of spiritual community.

In this podcast:

• Pursuing God’s Will Together: A Discernment Practice for Leaders by Ruth Haley Barton

Jesus is on a roll now—helping the disciples on the Emmaus Road to see their story and what felt so personal to them as part of the larger story of what God has been doing down through history.  What makes the human journey really exciting is being able to understand our own story in light of the bigger picture of what God is doing. Are there places where we shouldn’t do what Jesus did? Find out in episode 7. Also included is a rich discussion of the Word and the role of mystery in Scripture.  

In this podcast:

• Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Christians in Community by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Jesus listened long enough to the disciples on the Emmaus Road to offer a spiritual perspective on the hardest experiences of life. In this conversation, Ruth and Steve discuss the role of suffering in the Christian journey and how we need to normalize suffering so we can claim its fruitful role in the spiritual life. Ruth highlights the stages of the spiritual journey and how transforming communities need to have resources to meet people at all of these stages.

In this podcast:

• The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God by Dallas Willard

If you read the Emmaus Road conversation carefully in Luke 24, you will notice that part of the story the disciples told Jesus was that “the women of our group astounded us” with news of the Resurrection on that first Easter morning. Ruth unpacks the countercultural approach Jesus took to the role of women and men in Jesus’ life and ministry. Ruth and Steve speak candidly about how discrimination on the basis of gender happens even in settings that affirm the equality of men and women. They also acknowledge the sparks that can be present when women and men are together and Ruth highlights how the person we are is what helps us navigate sexual dynamics safely—not whether or not we choose to be in a car or a meeting alone with a person of the other gender! A great conversation that offers a healthy vision of men and woman in partnership—in life and ministry.

In this podcast:

• Equal to the Task: Men and Women in Partnership at Work, at Church and at Home by Ruth Haley Barton

In their conversation on the Emmaus Road, Jesus created a safe space for the disciples to share their deepest desire. Getting in touch with our deepest desire is like peeling an onion—there are many layers, and getting to the center might leave you in a pool of tears. Listen to a great conversation about how to cultivate communities where people are safe enough with each other to name their deepest desires. In doing so, people can then support each other in arranging their lives for what they say they truly want. This is a great episode for leaders who need a safe place to name their own desires. Psalm 37 anchors this episode.

In this podcast:

• Life Together in Christ: Experiencing Transformation in Community by Ruth Haley Barton