theKindFaith Bible Conversations

theKindFaith Bible Conversations

By Jeff Holmes with Tyler AllredReligion & SpiritualityChristianity
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theKindFaith Bible Conversations episodes

  • The Bible: How do you read it? Episode 4 - wonder & expectation

    In this series Jeff and Tyler unpack the four lenses we should "put on" to help us fully engage with the Bible's story. This week we look at "wonder" and "expectation," and offer some good practices to adopt. 

    https://thekindfaith.org

    #KindFaith #BibleConversations

    SHOW NOTES:

    intro/ hook. “Talking about wonder and expectation!”

    Core Question: How am I encountering a living God through this text today, and how does this lead me to worship?

    Let’s first talk about some examples, then we’ll spend a good amount of time getting practical.

    Part 1 (10 min) Examples and “tricky” sections for finding “wonder”

    • All those lists! Numbers 7 (my current favorite example!)
    • All those names. Keep Genesis 3:15 in mind…
    • The value of community… especially new believers. (Tyler: Story from college and John 3:16). My sense of wonder is reignited when I encounter someone else discovering God through the text in a new way.

      • Part 2 (10 min) Getting practical:

      • Regularly reading scripture (all of it!)
        • God speaks most clearly through the Bible; If we’re not reading it, or if we are only reading a very narrow portion, then we’re not giving him very much to work with.
        • The Bible tells us about God, so the whole Bible is important to get as full a picture as possible.
        • The Psalms are invaluable. If the rest of the Bible is “God speaking to us”; the Psalms teach us how to speak to God.
        • Read through the entire Bible Slowly (if you’re new start with the Gospels; but eventually all of it) and add a Psalm every time you read.
        • You don’t have to be “wow-ed” everytime and it is ok to be bored! Sometimes this element of wonder shows up immediately, other times its a commitment to soak in scripture over the long haul.
          • Pay attention to repeats (God bringing up the same verse in multiple places) (currently it’s Romans 8:28 for me)
          • Pay attention to when a verse you read earlier that week comes back to mind.

            • Personal question: What is your (Jeff/Tyler’s) current rhythm to regularly engaging with scripture?

            “EXPECTATION”

            “Do I expect scripture to speak to me?”

            Part 3 (10 min) practical ways and spiritual practices for fostering expectation:

            • “Holy spirit open my ears to hear you today”
              • Physically. Body posture, setting the space, lighting a candle. While not necessary, creating some sort of physical rhythm can be a great way to tune your heart. (i.e my best way is early morning before the girls are awake with a cup of coffee…)
              • Praying the Lord’s Prayer
              • Psalm 51:
                • Confession

                  • “Have mercy on me, O God,

                  according to your steadfast love;

                  according to your abundant mercy

                  blot out my transgressions.

                  Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,

                  and cleanse me from my sin.”

                  • and a prayer (also from Psalm 51) that looks outward:

                    • “Lord open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”


                    Please "like" and "subscribe" to help others find this podcast! 

                    35 min
                  • The Bible: How do you read it? Episode 3 - challenge

                    In this series Jeff and Tyler are unpacking four of the most helpful lenses we can put on as we engage with the biblical story. This week we focus on the lens of "challenge."

                    https://thekindfaith.org

                    #KindFaith #BibleConversations

                    SHOW NOTES:

                    Core Question: “How is the text challenging me, my place in society, my decisions, my allegiances?

                    Part 1: What are some earliest memories/ personal examples of being challenged by scripture?

                    Part 2:  What are some ways to go deeper into this lens?

                    • “Let scripture set the agenda”
                    • Letting God break our boxes
                    • Question your privilege

                      • Part 3 (5 min) practical applications

                      Ideas to cultivate challenge-

                      • With a familiar text list out everything you already know about this story… now put those aside and specifically look for things you’ve never thought of before. This works even better in community.
                      • “What is my “status quo”, how might this text challenge that?
                      • Identify your own privileges and status…. How might someone who didn’t have those privileges read this story? Who can you pursue conversations with outside of your “group”? Diverse small group. Authors. Speakers. Do I tend to always listen to people “like me”?

                        • Don't forget to "like" this video, and leave comment! Thanks for joining us!

                        40 min
                      • The Bible: How do you read it? Episode 2 - Curiosity

                        'Be curious, not judgmental' Walt Whitman

                        In this series Jeff and Tyler unpack 4 of the "lenses" we need to put on to help us read the Bible. This week we dive into the crucial lense of "curiosity." 

                        https://thekindfaith.org

                        SHOW NOTES:

                        - 2-minute overview of all the lenses—expectation; curiosity; challenge; wonder...

                        Four reasons we aren’t curious (Actually 5): 

                        - Why people tend not to approach scripture with curiosity...what are some common approaches that look like curiosity but aren’t..(i.e. 

                        - Going just for answers or “words to live by”).  Also, we tend to have closed ideas about God we aren’t even aware of so we read to see Scripture agree with us.

                        - we get so focused on understanding.  It is important but we land there too soon. 

                        - It is only for Experts...


                        Remember, Scripture is first about God…

                        Remember, Scripture is for formation…


                        The core question for curiosity:  What questions does the text want me to ask?


                        It is about asking questions:

                        Listen for your “Huh?”

                        There are two types of questions to ask:

                        Context - What? (definitions)

                        Significance - Why?


                        how to cultivate curiosity, what to look out for. Good observations, the tension in the text, questions the author wants us to ask…

                              - types of questions: the difference between context questions vs. interpretive questions

                              -context=history of a word, place names, etc. Bible dictionaries are great for these (Lexham Bible Dictionary is free over at Logos.com! 

                        -interpretive=why? 

                              - Significance of? What did the author mean by writing it this way? What tension exists? Has this word/sentence/theme shown up in the Bible elsewhere? 


                        The Practice: Choose 1 text (Mark 1:9-15?) and model curiosity; 

                        What questions aren’t being asked? (Trinity, etc)

                        What “What” questions are there?

                        What “Why” Questions do you see?

                        Sidebar: cultivating curiosity in community-the need for diversity in our conversation partners. (example: bedouin hospitality and Palestinian priests) How does this lens make me a better human in life? How can “curiosity” become how I approach the wider world? 

                        Always assume there is more to learn

                        Being judgmental (thinking we’ve already heard it, got it, or know it) is a huge obstacle for curiosity.  We have to open our minds.

                        Being in a hurry is the second biggest obstacle.

                        When relationships get stale, it is often because we stopped being curious.

                        Curiosity takes time.  You have to take time, carve out time, read it more than once, don’t just stop with one or two questions but ask many and refine them!

                        38 min
                      • The Bible: How do you read it? Episode 1

                        In this series Jeff and Tyler are unpacking four of the most helpful lenses we can put on as we engage with the biblical story. This week we introduce "Expectation," "Curiosity," "Challenge," and "Wonder." 

                        #KindFaith #BibleConversations 

                        35 min

                      About theKindFaith Bible Conversations

                      From the publisher's feed

                      Having the kind of faith Christ calls us to begins with the Bible. How do you read it? What are the keys to unlocking it? Each week we’ll bring new paradigms for all—those new to scripture and Bible…