The Creative Connection With Ed Young

In this episode of The Creative Connection, Ed Young closes the series by sharing openly from his own seasons of shame—including the loss of his daughter—and returns to the parable of the unmerciful servant to teach that forgiveness is uncomfortable, unusual, unceasing, and unemotional, giving five steps to name, own, and release the shame we carry.

In this episode of The Creative Connection, Ed Young compares unforgiveness to a dog dragging a park bench through traffic, teaching from the parable of the unmerciful servant that forgiveness is more for the offended than the offender, and calls believers to identify who is "sitting on the bench" of their lives and unleash the shame they've been dragging around.

In this episode of The Creative Connection, Ed Young preaches an ironic "how to increase your shame" through the tragic life of King Saul—talking down about yourself, resisting vulnerability, bragging, following your heart, and criticizing your peers—then flips each one, calling believers instead to God's truth, honest vulnerability, self-awareness, and obedience.

In this episode of The Creative Connection, Ed Young uses the story of Moses—who murdered an Egyptian and buried him in the sand—to show how shame drives us to hide, cover, and blame, and teaches that God forgives and forgets, turning the "period" of shame into the "comma" of grace as he did in calling a fugitive to become a great deliverer.

In this episode of The Creative Connection, Ed Young opens the series by defining shame as the all-consuming sense that we've let down ourselves, others, and God, and traces its origin to the Garden of Eden—showing how the enemy lures us into the cycle of the fame, lame, and blame games while God offers humility, vulnerability, and responsibility through the cross.

In this episode of The Creative Connection, Ed Young uses the life of Simon Peter—who crumbled at crunch time yet became a man of great courage—to show that spiritual, moral, and relational courage flow from walking with the Son, worshiping the Father, and witnessing through the Spirit, reminding believers that Jesus sees their potential and restores them when they fail.

In this episode of The Creative Connection, Ed Young opens the series by teaching that character is a choice grown in crisis and community, and that courage—the God-given ability to stand for our convictions—can be increased by claiming God's promises, obeying His word, and trusting His presence, using the two "real estate deals" of Israel at the edge of the Promised Land.

In this episode of The Creative Connection, Ed Young teaches that true Christian character is an outward reflection of an inward connection with Christ—formed and revealed through trials, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and demonstrated more in our actions than in our words.

In this episode of The Creative Connection, Ed Young uses Jethro's counsel to Moses to teach that organization is a decision followed by a process, showing how believers find balance by realizing their need for help, accepting constructive criticism, minimizing unnecessary responsibilities, and actualizing priorities rooted in God's order.

In this episode of The Creative Connection, Ed Young uses the story of Hosea and Gomer to illustrate God's irrational, unconditional love—showing how God pursues us even when we run from Him, disciplines us through consequences, and restores us through His grace.