Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership with 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

Continuing the story of the Emmaus Road, Jesus plays dumb and models what spiritual companionship can look like. How do we become the kind of person who can listen rather than fix, and stand still being sad rather than rushing in with our own advice? In episode 3, we discover some great questions that can help us be better spiritual companions. Some great thoughts for leaders even if you don’t use a toolbox! The episode ends with a beautiful prayer; we hope you can pull over to the side of the road, stop what you’re doing, find a quiet spot and join us.

In this podcast:

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

Jesus wants to be in your juicy conversations. Just think about it—the Emmaus Road encounter would not have happened had the disciples not welcomed “the stranger” on their journey home. Welcoming the other’s experience and story are integral to the idea of welcoming the stranger. In episode 2, Ruth shares a story of how welcoming the other created a transforming community experience. What will you miss when you don’t welcome the stranger? The polarization of our culture is so acute, that the practice of learning how to recognize and welcome the stranger is more crucial than ever. Let’s make the radical choice to walk with others and discover how Jesus will meet us there!

Mentioned in this podcast:

• Season 1: Episode 6 | Transformation Through Self-Knowledge and Self-Examination

Life Together in Christ: Cultivating Communities for Spiritual Transformation

Many of us are carrying a lot of baggage regarding Christian community.  Ruth has often commented that it is one of the most over-promised, under-delivered aspects of the Christian life—which means that Christians who have been deeply involved in church are often the most cynical and disillusioned. In Season 2 of the Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership podcast, Ruth and Steve will discuss how to cultivate communities where people regularly and routinely experience spiritual transformation. In episode 1, Ruth shares how God led her to the story of the Emmaus Road as a biblical model for transforming community. She unpacks the three nuanced ways of talking about community: Christian community, spiritual community, and transforming community, and also describes what Christian community is not—with a rich discussion of the role community plays in navigating liminal space. 

In this podcast:

Episode 6 | Transformation Through Self-Knowledge and Self-Examination

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

Sacred Rhythms: Arranging Our Lives for Spiritual Transformation (Chapter 6) by Ruth Haley Barton

The final episode of Season 1: Sacred Rhythms in the Life of the Leader. Ruth and Steve wrap up season 1 with a lively discussion of how to put it all together in your own sacred rhythms. Ruth confesses her true feelings about rules before she defines a rule of life and shares why it is so important for leaders to have one. Do you put sabbath keeping in the too hard file?  Ruth did until she got run over by a car! Ruth’s final words of season 1 will launch you on a great new journey!

Mentioned in the podcast:

Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in Our Busy Lives by Wayne Mueller

Transforming Center

Are you a missional or a formational organization? Steve and Ruth take on this dualism. As usual, the conversation begins with looking at Scripture, showing the cause and effect relationship between our formation and the ability to discern the will of God. Ruth finally gets around to defining spiritual transformation and puts a stake in the ground – mission cannot be discerned and cannot be sustained without spiritual transformation. International Justice Mission gets a shout out for their commitment to connecting spiritual transformation and mission. Do you believe you can either have a healthy life or you can live your life for the sake of others, but you can’t have both? There is a third way. Lots to think about in episode 8 of Season 1: Sacred Rhythms in the Life of the Leader.

Digging Deeper into this topic:

Strengthening the Soul of your Leadership, Ruth Haley Barton

Invitation to Journey, M. Robert Mulholland, Jr.

Transforming Center

Discernment is not a subjective woo-woo experience! Ruth begins episode 7 by explaining why discernment is an art AND a practice. This discussion highlights the unlikely place discernment begins, and why it is important to remember God’s wisdom is often very different than human wisdom. Steve shares his own story of discerning together with other leaders and the surprising win that resulted for his team — transformation. Circling back to an earlier episode on spiritual direction, Ruth gets clear on the role of spiritual direction in the life of a spiritual leader. Facing a big decision? Listen to episode 7 of Season 1 of Season 1: Sacred Rhythms in the Life of the Leader.

Mentioned in the podcast:

Pursuing God’s Will Together, Ruth Haley Barton

Glittering Images by Susan Howatch (Caution: contains some explicit content)

Transforming Center