The Next Step Podcast

In this special episode of the Next Step Podcast, Rev. Bryan Wolfmueller, Senior Pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Austin, Texas talks to Rev. Justin Rossow, founder of Next Step Press, about COVID, social media, and running ministry experiments with a sense of play.

I recently saw Pastor Wolfmueller at the Texas District Convention and asked him what he had learned during COVID. His response prompted a further conversation about thinking both creatively and theologically when we face with unique challenges or questions in ministry. A sense of experimentation and play allows you to try something new with curiosity and delight and avoid the burden of having to be successful.

We'll look specifically at the way St. Paul, Austin answered social media questions about resourcing home worship and putting Bible class online for the whole world to see. You can see one example of a home worship resource video or check out their Worldwide Bible Class if you'd like to see those decisions in action.

Your congregation may have come to different conclusions to similar questions, but the attitude and insight Pastor Wolfmueller brings to the table will help you think creatively and theologically about your next ministry challenge.

This recording (and the Thank You gifts) are made possible in part by the generous support of Next Step Patrons. If now is the right time for you to make a commitment to the mission of resourcing next step discipleship, please consider becoming a Next Step Patron today. To see different options for support, visit https://www.patreon.com/findmynextstep.

Conrad Gempf, author and Lecturer in New Testament at the London School of Theology, joins Justin Rossow for the final episode of this season dedicated to the resource Come, Holy Spirit daily discipleship travel log for Easter to Pentecost from Next Step Press.

Following a brief introduction, Conrad and Justin talk about the book of Acts as they set up the reading for the Day of Pentecost. Then the two friends explore the coming of the Spirit in Acts 2, other mini-Pentecost events in the book of Acts, and what it all means for our daily faith and life.

Conrad has been a friend of Next Step Press from the beginning. You can hear his interviews from other seasons of the Next Step Podcast below:

For more from Conrad, check out these books:

(Using the paid links above supports the mission of Next Step Press.)

For more on the Day of Pentecost, see the article Pentecost, Like Jesus by Justin Rossow.

This season of the Next Step Podcast is designed especially to go with the Come, Holy Spirit Facebook Social Learning Group sponsored by Next Step Press. Join us at https://www.facebook.com/groups/comeholyspirit.nsp.

Sign up for the Next Step Community for the latest blogs, podcasts, and resources to help you delight in taking a next step following Jesus.

This episode was supported in part by the generosity of Next Step Patrons, a fun and easy way to support the mission and ministry of Next Step Press. To see different options for support, visit https://www.patreon.com/findmynextstep, or email [email protected] to make a one-time gift.

Like Theophilus, Patrons make it possible.

Connie Denninger, one of the cofounders of Visual Faith™ Ministry, joins author Justin Rossow for Episode 7, Season 5 of the Next Step Podcast to talk about the purpose and origin of Visual Faith™ and of The Secret Code Prayer, one of the prayer experiments featured in the Come, Holy Spirit daily discipleship travel log for Easter to Pentecost.

After a brief introduction, you'll hear Connie's story of how her own personal prayer life was transformed through visual and kinesthetic engagement with God's Word, and how her study of education and spiritual formation led to where she is today.

Connie shares with us some of the thinking behind experimenting with a variety of prayer practices to discover your own spiritual I.E.P., an Individual Education Plan that works for you as you seek to grow and engage God's Word. Along the way, Connie emphasizes the importance of community as we continue to pray, "Come, Holy Spirit" and discover what the Spirit is shaping in our lives.

Connie mentions Sybil MacBeth's Praying in Color as one of the early tools that helped shape her prayer life (use this link to Sybil's book to support the Next Step Community), and Justin references the Hymn Journal Project, a joint effort between  Visual Faith™ Ministry artists and Next Step Press. You can find all three of the current hymn journals on the Next Step Press Resource Page.

Connie also talks about the importance of running faith formation experiments in community; or, as Justin would say, "We follow Jesus better when we follow Him together." To that end, you can find support in your faith walk by joining with the Next Step Community or the Visual Faith™ community at one or more of the following:

You can read more about the Secret Code Prayer or watch a video walk through of the Secret Code Prayer, or find other Next Step podcast episodes, video tutorials, and articles related to Visual Faith™ to help you run your own experiments in personal faith formation.

This podcast is designed especially to go with the Come, Holy Spirit Facebook Social Learning Group sponsored by Next Step Press. Join us at https://www.facebook.com/groups/comeholyspirit.nsp.

This episode of the Next Step Podcast was supported in part by the generosity of Next Step Patrons, a fun and easy way to support the mission and ministry of Next Step Press. To see different options for support, visit https://www.patreon.com/findmynextstep, or email [email protected] to make a one-time gift. Patrons make it possible.

Steve and Jamie Wiechman, cofounders of Breathe Life Ministries, join author Justin Rossow for Episode 6, Season 5 of the Next Step Podcast to talk about the rhythm of rest, healing, and play in the lives of those who follow Jesus.

After a brief introduction, you will hear Steve and Jamie read the Scripture verses for Day 30 and Justin read the devotion in the Come, Holy Spirit daily discipleship travel log for Easter to Pentecost. Then the three friends will discuss what rhythm looks like and how we can receive rest, healing, and play not as another set of aspirational goals or burdens, but as an invitation to notice what Jesus is doing in your life.

Along the way, Steve and Jamie talk about noticing yourself with God, and how their adventure with Breathe Life has led them to rethink their own habits and rhythms of grace. Justin also shares the Meditation Quotation from Day 31, a quote from Andrew Peterson's book, Adorning the Dark:

“All you really have is your willingness to fail, coupled with the mountain of evidence that the Maker has never left nor forsaken you....

(Use this link to the book to support Next Step Press.)

Steve and Jamie have both written articles for The Next Step Community blog and were two of the authors featured in Jesus at the Center of My Messy Life: Tales from The Next Step Community, Year One. Other content from the blog related to this week's travel log include:

This podcast is designed especially to go with the Come, Holy Spirit Facebook Social Learning Group sponsored by Next Step Press. Join us at https://www.facebook.com/groups/comeholyspirit.nsp.

Sign up for the Next Step Community for the latest blogs, podcasts, and resources to help you delight in taking a next step following Jesus.

This episode of the Next Step Podcast was supported in part by the generosity of Next Step Patrons, a fun and easy way to support the mission and ministry of Next Step Press. To see different options for support, visit https://www.patreon.com/findmynextstep, or email [email protected] to make a one-time gift. Patrons make it possible.

Carl Medearis, author and international expert in the field of Arab-American and Muslim-Christian relations, joins Justin Rossow to talk about the risks and adventure of extending and receiving hospitality in this episode of the Next Step Podcast. This whole season is dedicated to the resource Come, Holy Spirit daily discipleship travel log for Easter to Pentecost from Next Step Press.

Following a brief introduction, Carl and Justin will talk about experiencing hospitality in the Middle East and in America, and about how Jesus both expressed and went beyond first-century, Middle Eastern hospitality. In the course of the conversation, Carl brings up Conrad Gempf's book Mealtime Habits of the Messiah. Carl's encouragement is that you take a small risk and extend or accept an invitation for getting together for food and conversation; Jesus doesn't need us to be in charge of extending his Kingdom, but we also are invited to experience that Kingdom at work through us.

Carl has published several influential books you might find helpful in training your thinking for taking a small next step in the area of hospitality, including

(Using the paid links above supports the mission of Next Step Press).

Next Step Press author and founder Justin Rossow prepared sermon and Bible study notes for Carl's 42 Seconds book. These resources are available for free download through the Next Step Press Patreon page.

For an in-depth study of the conceptual metaphors in Speaking of Jesus, see the three-blog series that begins with "Outreach and Warfare," or for a perspective from the pulpit, see "How Speaking of Jesus Changed My Preaching."

If you enjoyed Car's story about accepting hospitality from a Hezbollah leader, you will probably want to check out this video from a Michigan District pastors conference.

Hospitality hinges on the boundary of IN vs OUT, so this video from Justin Rossow on "Jesus at the Leading Edge" from the same Michigan District pastors conference also fits our theme well. 

This episode was supported in part by the generosity of Next Step Patrons, a fun and easy way to support the mission and ministry of Next Step Press. To see different options for support, visit https://www.patreon.com/findmynextstep, or email [email protected] to make a one-time gift. Patrons make it possible.

Professor Lois Malcolm joins Justin Rossow for Episode 4, Season 5 of the Next Step Podcast to talk about paradox and life in the Spirit. The Meditation Quotation on page 76 of the Come, Holy Spirit daily discipleship travel log for Easter to Pentecost comes from Dr. Malcolm's book, Holy Spirit: Creative Power in Our Lives. (Use this link to help support the mission of Next Step Press.)

After a brief introduction, you will hear Justin and Lois discuss both of the paradoxes in that quote and explore ways in which the presence of the Spirit frees us and empowers us to make a unique contribution for the common good while learning to appreciate the unique story of others more and more.

That one quote from Dr. Malcolm's book leads to several other quotes that deepen and broaden the conversation. Before the episode ends, you will hear Lois read the Philippians verse for Day 21 and Justin read the Spilled Wine devotion and pray the prayer for that day.

This podcast is designed especially to go with the Come, Holy Spirit Facebook Social Learning Group sponsored by Next Step Press. Join us at https://www.facebook.com/groups/comeholyspirit.nsp.

Sign up for the Next Step Community for the latest blogs, podcasts, and resources to help you delight in taking a next step following Jesus.

This episode of the Next Step Podcast was supported in part by the generosity of Next Step Patrons, a fun and easy way to support the mission and ministry of Next Step Press. To see different options for support, visit https://www.patreon.com/findmynextstep, or email [email protected] to make a one-time gift. Patrons make it possible.

Pastor Walt Waiser joins Justin Rossow for Episode 3, Season 5 of the Next Step Podcast to talk about his experience seeking meaningful time with Jesus that eventually led him to spend time in the desert wilderness of Big Bend National Park in southern Texas. That adventure fits well with Day 9 of the Come, Holy Spirit daily discipleship travel log for Easter to Pentecost from Next Step Press.

After a brief introduction, you will hear Justin read the devotion for Day 9 and then ask Walt about his time in Big Bend, why he went and what he was hoping to accomplish. In the course of that conversation, Walt mentions several resources he regularly uses in his own faith journey. Use the paid links below to help support the Next Step Community.

To see pictures of Big Bend National Park, visit this episode on the Next Step Community blog at https://community.findmynextstep.org/desert-wilderness/. 

This podcast is designed especially to go with the Come, Holy Spirit Facebook Social Learning Group sponsored by Next Step Press. Join us at https://www.facebook.com/groups/comeholyspirit.nsp.

Sign up for the Next Step Community for the latest blogs, podcasts, and resources to help you delight in taking a next step following Jesus.

This episode of the Next Step Podcast was supported in part by the generosity of Next Step Patrons, a fun and easy way to support the mission and ministry of Next Step Press. To see different options for support, visit https://www.patreon.com/findmynextstep, or email [email protected] to make a one-time gift. Patrons make it possible.

Deaconess, licensed counselor, and author Heidi Goehmann joins Justin Rossow for Episode 2, Season 5 of the Next Step Podcast. Today we focus on Day 3 of the Come, Holy Spirit daily discipleship travel log for Easter to Pentecost from Next Step Press.

By way of introduction, Justin asks for an update on Heidi's recent Next Step blog post, Our Family COVID-versary Meal. Then you'll hear Justin pray the prayer for Day 3 and Heidi read the Romans verses on page 20 before the two authors discuss the pendulum of perfectionism and fatalism on the basis of the Personal Reflection on page 21.

Before reading her Meditation Quotation, Heidi tells us more about her new book, Finding Hope: From Brokenness to Restoration. Justin then reads the Imagination Experiment on page 22 as they close with a conversation of the individual and community aspects of baptism. As the podcast comes to a close, The Emotional Devotion: Following Jesus in Every Emotion comes up. You can read Heidi's endorsement of that resource, written and illustrated by teenage girls, for teenage girls, on The Emotional Devotional home page.

You can read the devotion from Day 3 here: DOWN to Death and UP to Life.

This podcast is designed especially to go with the Come, Holy Spirit Facebook Social Learning Group sponsored by Next Step Press. Join us at https://www.facebook.com/groups/comeholyspirit.nsp.

Sign up for the Next Step Community for the latest blogs, podcasts, and resources to help you delight in taking a next step following Jesus.

This episode of the Next Step Podcast was supported in part by the generosity of Next Step Patrons, a fun and easy way to support the mission and ministry of Next Step Press. To see different options for support, visit https://www.patreon.com/findmynextstep, or email [email protected] to make a one-time gift. Patrons make it possible.

Dr. Leo Sánchez, who has written extensively on the person and work of the Holy Spirit, joins Justin Rossow in this opening episode of Season 5 of the Next Step Podcast. The entire season will focus on the resource Come, Holy Spirit: A daily discipleship travel log for Easter to Pentecost from Next Step Press.

After a brief introduction and an opening prayer, you'll hear Leo read from his foreword to the Come, Holy Spirit volume and the two authors will discuss why we don't pray to the Holy Spirit as often as we might. After a discussion of the book Sculptor Spirit: Models of Sanctification from Spirit Christology, you will also hear Justin read part of his introduction, which is set on that first Easter evening.

This podcast is designed especially to go with the Come, Holy Spirit Facebook Social Learning Group sponsored by Next Step Press. Join us at https://www.facebook.com/groups/comeholyspirit.nsp. 

Sign up for the Next Step Community for the latest blogs, podcasts, and resources to help you delight in taking a next step following Jesus.

This episode of the Next Step Podcast was supported in part by the generosity of Next Step Patrons, a fun and easy way to support the mission and ministry of Next Step Press. To see different options for support, visit https://www.patreon.com/findmynextstep, or email [email protected] to make a one-time gift. Patrons make it possible.

Matthew Scholar Dr. Jeffrey Gibbs joins Justin Rossow in this episode of the Next Step Podcast to talk all things Epiphany while walking through Chapter 11: What Child Is This? from the resource Light in the Darkness: A Hymn Journal for Advent & Christmas.

After a brief introduction and an opening prayer, you'll hear Jeff translate the Matthew passage on page 107 from his Greek New Testament, and then proceed to talk through some of the meaning of that text. As part of the discussion, Justin will read the devotion on page 108, titled "So Bring Him Incense, Gold, and Myrrh."

After we listen to the Brooke and Brenan arrangement of this chapter's featured hymn, Jeff and Justin will discuss more in depth the three gifts, the magi, their guiding star, and what it means for us that God would lead people like that to Jesus.

You might hear a passing reference to a blog from last Epiphany: A Change of Epiphany Bumper Stickers.

This podcast is designed especially to go with the Light in the Darkness Facebook learning community sponsored by Next Step Press. Join us at https://www.facebook.com/groups/AdventHymnJournal.

This episode of the Next Step Podcast was supported in part by the generosity of Next Step Patrons. We welcome three new patrons to our Next Step family: Kay, Sam, and Brooke. Please consider becoming a Next Step Patron for 2021. To see different options for support, visit https://www.patreon.com/findmynextstep, or email [email protected] to make a one-time gift. Patrons make it possible.

The intro and outro music for Season 3: Light in the Darkness was arranged and performed by Brendan Knorp. The music included in the podcast was written and performed by Brooke and Brendan. All rights reserved.

The A Light in the Darkness CD from Brooke and Brendan is now available on your favorite streaming services as well as on YouTube.