The Stoop Sessions

Even professing Christians can find themselves confused by distortions of the gospel. The exclusivity of only one way feels abrasive, against the belief that all ways lead to salvation, without sacrifice. Eric, Joel, and Stephanie discuss why the Gospel of the Bible is singular, what the Gospel is, and how we are to receive it. Do we earn God’s favor through being good people? By good deeds? Are there any sins that cannot be blotted out? To know the work of Christ, we must know why we all need of it. This episode is the first of a short series of episodes examining various “false gospels” in the inner city. Before we examine false Gospels, we must know the true Gospel.

Brian and Dawn Sessions were both raised in Baltimore and in the church, but seeing the beauty of reconciliation through the gospel did not come immediately. God used their love of the arts to help them find their identity in Christ, and now they use the arts as an avenue through which they can share that same hope with youth in Baltimore. Their lives are not separate from their ministry, but shared through it, and their success is not an end-marker, but daily fulfilling the mission of sharing the gospel. Listen to the end to hear a preview of Brian's new song and see below for more info on Brian and Dawn's ministries.

More Info on Brian and Dawn’s Work:

R.O.C. Enrichment: www.rocenrichmentprogram.com

Brian’s music: “Jesus Loves Me” By Brian Sessions on all digital streaming services

Grace Abounds Dance/Mentoring: graceaboundsmentoring.org

Joining today’s episode is a member of The Garden Church, Kesia Lewis, who grew up on the east side of Baltimore. Although a close-knit community, it was also punctuated by trauma. The grief she lived through, including the loss of her fiancé and teenage brother in a car accident, has allowed her to speak into the lives of kids today, through her work with Baltimore’s Parks and Rec. Even when she didn’t know what she looking for, God orchestrated bringing her from knowing of the Lord, to loving Him and living by His will. As Kesia cares for hundreds of kids throughout Baltimore City, many have faced severe trauma. Kesia is able to say: “You’re not the only one.”

Before he died, Jesus prayed for us. He prayed for our display of Christian unity. In a polarizing culture, even the church can find itself on opposite sides of a divide. In this episode, the Stoop squad calls up Isaac Adams, an associate pastor at Capitol Hill Baptist in D.C., to talks about unity and prayer. Prayer is as simple as it is powerful, but when it is lacking, we are led by our pride. Divisions flourish. What is Christian unity and how does prayer play a role? Listen in as we discuss concerning divisions. Be reminded of the vision for the church as be a powerful witness in the world. It begins with prayer and Isaac Adams prays.

Why pray? For some Christians, prayer seems unnecessary. In some churches, prayer has become a mere transition between the songs and ceremonies of the service. In contrast, prayer should be our natural habitat, as water is to a fish. Is prayer absent in today’s church? Does prayer feel too holy, mystifying, boring, or awkward? In this episode, Joel, Eric, and Stephanie discuss public prayer, what holds us back from it, and why it’s vital for our spiritual well being and growth.

Burnout is not simply being tired, but a state of physical, emotional, social, and spiritual exhaustion. Burnout can stem from a wrong perspective, measuring worth in what we produce, and measuring ourselves against others. When our eyes are set on outward performance, our ego can work us like slaves. Eric, Joel, and Stephanie discuss the signs of approaching burnout, and how we can avoid or recover from it, even when our lives are “crazy busy”.

In scripture, elders are addressed as a plurality, not as a role to be served by a single individual. Joel and Eric, both pastors at The Garden Church, share insight into the importance of having both paid and lay (unpaid) elders serving the inner city church. What does it look like for an elder to have full-time secular work, but still hold the same authority as the senior Pastor? Listen in as we discuss various challenges and dangers from the lack of a plurality of elders, to unchecked authority and the weight of ministry. God’s grace remains necessary in equipping all elders.

In this episode, Marla Walker, a member of The Garden Church and ONE HOPE intern, shares her story of addiction, shame, and feeling not good enough to go before God. Being introduced to alcohol at only 8 years old, Marla was put on a path to drug dependency and a series of recoveries and relapses. From trap houses to recovery houses, Marla’s life represents the cycle of so many. Yet, unlike many others, Marla has found forgiveness and healing in Christ. No depth and no transgression could hide her from the reach of God. Through the love of Christ and the church body, listen to how God has set Marla on a new path of reconciliation and redemption.

In this episode, our continued conversation on addiction looks at how the church should respond to the broken and downcast. Churches can become structured only for the “clean-cut” of a certain socioeconomic status, neglecting those who may disturb our comfortableness. Discussed are ways in which the church can be a community that humbly works towards restoration for all, knowing that God’s grace reaches to all. How to love the addicted with Biblical wisdom, in the hope that they will experience the community of church, and find it more loving than the community of the street.