theFormed.life

READ the written blog on our website:
https://theformed.life/2024/02/studying-the-truths-of-the-old-testament-07/

READ the written blog on our website:
https://theformed.life/2024/02/studying-the-truths-of-the-old-testament-06/

SHOW NOTES:

Have you ever felt that the Christian sexual standard is overwhelmingly narrow? In this episode, we delve into the topic of Christian sexual ethics with our host, Bill Gorman, and guests Ben Beasley and Nikki Dieker. Together, they navigate the complex landscape of human sexuality, revising Christ Community’s paper to make it more relevant to today's cultural moment. Throughout the conversation, they discuss the theological and practical implications of the Christian sexual ethic, addressing questions about church life, gender dysphoria, and more. They also highlight the importance of community, spiritual discipline, and the pursuit of Jesus in navigating these challenging conversations. Get ready for a thought-provoking and insightful discussion that offers guidance and resources for those seeking to follow Jesus in today's world.

THREE KEY TAKEAWAYS:

1. Identity and Vulnerability: They discuss the  importance of questioning one's identity in relation to core beliefs of the Christian faith, and the need for a supportive and safe community within the church, especially in dealing with the vulnerability and brokenness associated with discussing Christian sexual ethics.
2. Community and Accountability: The significance of being involved in a faith community surrendered to scripture, rich spiritual friendships, and the importance of accountability in living out a Christian life and sexual ethic. The emphasis on the communal nature of faith and the need for support from others in following Jesus.
3. Spiritual Discipline and Faith: The impact of rigorous spiritual discipline, self-mastery, and faith, including spiritual disciplines like prayer, study, and fasting, in guiding one's life and recognizing and redirecting bodily desires.

 #ChristianSexualEthics #FormedLifePodcast #BiblicalSexuality #TheologyOfSexuality #SpiritualCommunity #FaithfulLiving #ScriptureAndSexuality #CulturalContex #JesusAndSexuality #ChristianEthicalLiving

GUEST BIO: 

Ben Beasley enjoys communicating God’s Word in speech and writing, and he is interested in the church as a place of transformation for people individually and collectively. He is fond of exploring the many questions of faith and spiritual formation by engaging with the works of authors, poets, and artists. Ben received his Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and his Master of Theology from Princeton Theological Seminary. 

Nikki Dieker has been on staff at Christ Community since 2017, but has attended the Olathe Campus with her family since 2007. She is married to her best friend Ryan, and has three incredible children, Noah, Calvin, and Hadley. She loves hiking, getting lost in books, coffee, and spending time with friends. Nikki is passionate about connecting people to one another and the church.

QUOTES:

"We need each other. And so I think, yeah, we need those mothers and fathers who've gone before us. We need those brothers and sisters who are running beside us. And we need those kids that we're encouraging that are coming behind us."

— Nikki Dieker

“We are all sexually broken. So yeah, it highlights that this is something that rubs up against each one of us in deeply personal places, because we're all broken."

— Nikki Dieker

"The traditional Christian sexual ethic just feels like, to our moral taste buds, it almost feels, like, absurd. It doesn't, you know, like, it doesn't taste well."

— Ben Beasley

"Being involved in a faith community, is key. A community that is surrendered to scripture. That's where life is. And when we follow Jesus, we follow him through his word."

— Ben Beasley

RESOURCES:

CCKC Position Paper | Sexuality: Exploring God’s Design for Sexuality

POD 003 | Gender Dysphoria Issues | Dr. Julia Sadusky

POD 007 | Addressing Sexual Brokenness: Clues to Healing Through Story and Curiosity

POD 016 | Exploring Same-Sex Sexual Expression in Romans 1 with Greg Coles

Gentle and Lowly - Dane Ortland

KEYWORDS:

Christian sexual ethics, Human sexuality, Biblical interpretation, Cultural context, Theological work, Creation, Fall, Redemption, New creation, Church life, Homosexuality, Marital sex, Gender dysphoria, Transgender issues, C.S. Lewis, Marriage, Faithfulness, Christian sexual ethic, Preaching, Body language, Moral taste buds, Identity, Vulnerability, Brokenness, Shame, Mental health, Self-mastery, Sacrifice, Temptation, Grace, Mercy, Community, Spiritual friendship, Accountability

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Church revises paper on Christian sexual ethics.

06:24 Positive feedback on updated Christian sexuality content.

07:06 Paper revisions respond to evolving cultural context.

12:55 CS Lewis' challenge on following Jesus honestly.

15:14 Modern age of identity questioning and harm.

18:40 Embracing vulnerability, shame, and mental health.

22:58 Growing in faith, friendship, and intimacy experiences.

24:28 Meaningful friendships and accountability are essential.

28:39 Fasting helps discipline desires for a purpose.

32:11 Show notes will provide access to resources.

READ the written blog on our website:
https://theformed.life/2024/01/studying-the-truths-of-the-old-testament-05/

READ the written blog on our website:
https://theformed.life/2024/01/studying-the-truths-of-the-old-testament-04/

READ the written blog on our website:
https://theformed.life/2024/01/studying-the-truths-of-the-old-testament-03/

READ the written blog on our website:
https://theformed.life/2024/01/studying-the-truths-of-the-old-testament-02/

Have you ever looked at the Christian faith and wondered, “But What About...?” In this episode, Bill Gorman is joined by special guest Ben Beasley, interim campus pastor at our Leawood Campus, while they explore the "But What About...?" series, which addresses tough questions head-on. Whether you are a firm believer or wrestling with uncertainties, we will all have moments of doubt and wrestling. Bill and Ben discuss their own "but what about" questions, emphasizing the importance of patience, charity, and epistemological humility in working through doubts and questions. They also share their hopes for the series, which includes modeling a healthy approach to addressing tensions and guiding listeners towards humble confidence in their faith. Join us as we dive into this thought-provoking sermon series with an aim to know Jesus more and be his hands and feet in our community and world.

THREE KEY TAKEAWAYS:

1. Patience and charity are essential when grappling with tough questions or doubts in our faith journey. Be patient with ourselves and others, recognizing that these questions are not only intellectual but also have emotional and personal aspects. It's important to extend grace and charity to those who are wrestling with difficult questions.
2. Wrestling with doubts and questions is an important part of Christian formation. There is a deep significance in engaging with doubts, questions, and tensions as part of the journey of faith. This engagement, done in a healthy way, can lead individuals toward Jesus instead of away from Him.
3. The "But What About" series aims to address tough questions head-on, including topics such as the church, the Bible, the treatment of women, Christian sexual ethics, politics, suffering, and hell. The goal is not only to provide the truth but also to present a vision of human flourishing and beauty, fostering a sense of humble confidence and trust in the Christian faith. The series also encourages the community to engage with the Bible to resolve tensions and provide insights into these challenging topics.

#theFormedlife #ButWhatAbout #ToughQuestions #ChristianFaith #SpiritualJourney #DoubtsAndQuestions #BiblicalTruth #ChurchCommunity #HealthyDoubt #HumanFlourishing

GUEST BIO: 

Ben Beasley enjoys communicating God’s Word in speech and writing, and he is interested in the church as a place of transformation for people individually and collectively. He is fond of exploring the many questions of faith and spiritual formation by engaging with the works of authors, poets, and artists. Ben received his Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and his Master of Theology from Princeton Theological Seminary. 

QUOTES:

"I think just about doubt being an important part of our Christian formation, even or wrestling with these questions being an important part of our Christian formation. Even the word Israel in Hebrew is ‘to wrestle with God’."

— Ben Beasley

"We can trust that there have been Christians going before who've wrestled thoughtfully with many of these questions. Seek out those thoughtful Christians who have done that work, and look for those resources."

— Ben Beasley 

“We want to be patient with ourselves because there are a lot of reasons we can be asking these questions at different points in our lives. These questions will bubble up, and Some of those reasons aren't only intellectual reasons, and we just have to be patient with ourselves and grace-filled with our own selves as we seek to find responses, thoughtful responses, and answers to these questions."

— Ben Beasley

RESOURCES: 

Spirituality of the Psalms - Walter Brueggemann

After Doubt: How to Question Faith Without Losing It - AJ Swoboda

The Reason For God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism - Timothy Keller

Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World's Largest Religion - Rebecca McLaughlin
theFormed.life - Sermon Series Resources

KEYWORDS:

timepiece, patience, questions, intellectual, grace-filled, thoughtful responses, doubts, Christian faith, uncertainties, deconstruction, hope, sermon series, personal questions, journey, theology, faith, intellectual interest, Hell, suffering, Christian development, prophecy, healing, scripture, spiritual development, gift, community, humble confidence, Bible, church, women, sexual ethics, politics, suffering, disorientation, reorientation, epistemological humility, wrestling with God, truth, human flourishing, truth, Jesus, beauty, resources, Tim Keller, Reason for God, Rebecca McLaughlin, Questioning Christianity, national park service ranger, research librarian, poet, writer

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Introducing a new sermon series, exploring "what about" questions.

03:47 Wrestling with the concept of hell and suffering.

07:57 Questions about Bible trust and suffering.

11:24 Patience and charity in seeking answers.

14:17 Community support is essential for our faith journey.

20:06 Upcoming topics in the sermon series.

24:33 Recommend reading.

READ the written blog on our website:
https://theformed.life/2024/01/studying-the-truths-of-the-old-testament-01/

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