Things Above

By Apprentice Institute

Religion & Spirituality Christianity

What's Things Above about?

A Community of Learning Centered on Discipleship

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Things Above episodes:

04.10.2024
The End In Mind
In this episode, James Bryan Smith’s thought from above is, “Begin with the end in mind.” Smith explains his thought from above by talking about his two mentors John Wesley and Dallas Willard. James illustrates his thought from above with...
03.28.2024
Open Hand
James Bryan Smith’s thought from above this week is, “Live life with an open hand.” In this episode, Smith discusses one of his favorite prayers, “The Serenity Prayer.” James talks about the meaning behind prayer and how we can use...
03.20.2024
Conversation with AJ Swoboda Part Three
James Bryan Smith has a Things Above Conversation with author A.J. Swoboda about his book, The Gift of Thorns. Today’s follower of Jesus exists at a moment in history when our desires, longings, and wants are being weaponized against us...
02.28.2024
Our Greatest Opportunity
James Bryan Smith asks, what is the greatest opportunity you have ever been given? In this episode, James explores this question and explains that our greatest opportunity is to follow Jesus. Smith explains that we have been invited to a...
02.21.2024
Conversation with Brian Zahnd Part Three
James Bryan Smith has a Things Above conversation with author Brian Zahnd about his book, “The Wood Between the Worlds.” Everything about the gospel message leads to the cross, and proceeds from the cross. In fact, within the narrative of...
02.14.2024
Two Minute Morning
James Bryan Smith gives his second spiritual practice for 2024, called the two-minute morning. In this episode, James explains how to do this practice and why he feels it helps him set his mind on Things Above. Interested in donating...
01.31.2024
Conversation With Emily P. Freeman Part Four
James Bryan Smith has a Things Above Conversation with author and friend Emily P. Freeman. James interviews Emily on her upcoming book, “How to Walk into a Room.” The book will be released in March 2024. Interested in donating to...
01.24.2024
Grieving with Hope
In this episode, James Bryan Smith talks about how we can experience grieving with hope. James opens the episode by talking about what he considers to be his favorite book that he has written, Room of Marvels. Smith reads the...
01.17.2024
Breath Prayer
James Bryan Smith starts the new year with an episode about a spiritual discipline he enjoys called breath prayer. In this episode, James explains what breath prayer is, and gives several examples of how to practice the soul training exercise...
12.06.2023
Conversation with Farrell Mason
James Bryan Smith has a Things Above conversation with author Farrell Mason on her latest book, “Soulfull: A Weekly Devotional to Nourish the Mind, Body, and Spirit” Farrell Mason speaks to the universal human experience: navigating relationships, coping with change,...
11.29.2023
Glory, Grace and Truth
James Bryan Smith’s thought from above this week is, “Jesus is God’s Glory, Grace and Truth.” This is the 4th episode of the series of episodes on the longings of our soul. In this episode, James explains the connection between...
11.15.2023
Our Soul & Relationships
James Bryan Smith’s thought from above this week is, “Our souls long for relationships.” Over the last three episodes, James has been discussing the longings of our souls. In this episode, Smith talks about five of the final ten longings...
11.01.2023
Conversation with Casey Tygrett Part Three
James Bryan Smith has a Things Above conversation with author and spiritual director Casey Tygrett. James and Casey discuss Casey’s latest book, “The Gift of Restlessness.” Casey emphasizes that restlessness is a sign that we must move up, move on,...
10.25.2023
Longing To Be Loved
In this episode, James Bryan Smith’s thought from above is, “We all long to be loved.” Smith picks up where he left off the last episode, talking about the longings of our souls. In this episode, James talks about three...
10.18.2023
Spirituality & Longings
James Bryan Smith’s thought from above this week is “Your spirituality is what you do with your longings.” Smith is starting a four-part-episode series about spirituality and our souls. In this episode, James examines the relationship between our spirituality and...
09.13.2023
Conversation with Jeff Crosby
James Bryan Smith has a Things Above conversation with author and publisher Jeff Crosby. James and Jeff discuss Jeff’s book, “The Language of the Soul: Meeting God in the Longings of Our Hearts.” For over fifteen years, writer Jeff Crosby...
09.06.2023
The Turn
James Bryan Smith’s thought from above this week is, “Everything turns on the turn.” In this episode, James explains the meaning behind this thought from above, which he learned from Ann Voskamp. He talks about the three ways we turn...
08.30.2023
Greatest Treasure
James Bryan Smith’s thought from above this week is, “Christ is your greatest treasure.” Following up on his first two episodes of season six, James continues to explain what it means to live a good life. In this episode, Smith...
08.23.2023
Conversation with Ann Voskamp
James Bryan Smith has a Things Above Conversation with author Ann Voskamp about her book, “Waymaker: Finding the Way to the Life You’ve Always Dreamed Of.” Ann Voskamp is a Canadian author, blogger, and memoirist on themes of Christian women’s...
08.09.2023
The Emotional Life
In this episode, James Bryan Smith’s thought from above is, “The good life is a deep, passionate, and emotional life.” Following up on the previous episode about the good life, Smith talks about the importance of our emotions concerning living...
08.02.2023
The Good Life
In this episode, James Bryan Smith’s thought from above is, “The good life is the obedient life.” Smith begins the episode by discussing a class he teaches at Friends University called The Good Life. In the class, he asked his...
06.14.2023
Conversation with Ruth Haley Barton
James Bryan Smith has a Things Above conversation with Ruth Haley Barton. In this episode, James and Ruth discuss her book, “Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest: From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back Again” In her book, Ruth offers hard-won...
06.07.2023
Abba Experience
James Bryan Smith’s thought from above this week is, “You can have an Abba experience.” Smith opens the episode with the question, what is the one thing you think God most wants for you? He gives a few different answers...
06.01.2023
We Need The Church
James Bryan Smith’s thought from above this week is, “we need the church.” In this episode, James talks about the impact of attending church and why we need it. To help illustrate his thought from above, Smith references two songs...
05.17.2023
Conversation with Trevor Hudson
James Bryan Smith has a Things Above Conversation with long-time friend and author Trevor Hudson. In this episode, James asks Trevor questions about his upcoming book, “Seeking God-Finding Another Kind of Life with St Ignatius and Dallas Willard.” Trevor is...
05.10.2023
Perfect Peace
James Bryan Smith’s thought from above this week is, “your portion is perfect peace.” In this episode, James talks about times when we struggle with our faith and what we can do during those times. Smith recalls a song that...
04.26.2023
Doubting Thomas
James Bryan Smith’s thought from above this week is, “Our doubts do not trouble Jesus.” In this episode, James talks about the disciple known as “Doubting Thomas,” and explains why we should not think of Thomas in a negative way....
04.12.2023
Conversation with Seth & Heather Thompson Day
James Bryan Smith has a Things Above Conversation with Seth & Heather Thompson Day. James talks with Seth and Heather about their co-authored book, “I’ll See You Tomorrow.” You can learn more about Seth and Heather on their website here....
04.05.2023
King & Kingdom
James Bryan Smith’s thought from above this week is, “As is the king, so is the kingdom.” In this episode, James talks about Holy Week, how Jesus came to defeat death for good, and a leader’s impact on their followers....
03.29.2023
Trust Without Reservation
James Bryan Smith’s thought from above this week is, “faith is trust without reservation.” In this episode, James explains that faith is an extension of knowledge based on knowledge. Smith illustrates his thought from above by referencing Moses’s story and...
03.01.2023
Rhythms of Grace
James Bryan Smith’s thought from above this week is, “learn the unforced rhythms of grace.” In this episode, James discusses four questions that Dallas Willard says all humans must ask and should answer. The first question is, what is real?...
02.23.2023
Conversation with Richard Foster
James Bryan Smith has a Things Above conversation with Richard Foster. James and Richard have been good friends for over 40 years. In this episode, James talks with Richard about his latest book, “Learning Humility.” Brenda Quinn joined Richard for...
02.08.2023
God is Glorious
James Bryan Smith’s thought from above this week is God is Glorious. In this episode, James talks about a recent challenge he gave himself. Interested in donating to the Things Above Podcast? Donate here! Learn more about the Christian Spiritual...
02.01.2023
Magnificent Mission
James Bryan Smith’s thought from above in this episode is, we are all on a magnificent mission. This week James discusses what Dallas Willard calls the “Great Ommission” and the Great “Commission.” In this episode, James explains how we are...
01.18.2023
Conversation with AJ Swoboda Part Two
James Bryan Smith has a second Things Above conversation with AJ Swoboda. James interviews AJ on his latest book, “After Doubt.” Learn more about AJ on his website here! Interested in donating to the Things Above Podcast? Donate here! Learn...
01.12.2023
With God Life
James Bryan Smith’s thought from above this week is, “the kingdom of God is the with-God life.” James opens the episode with a story about a time he was a teaching assistant for Dallas Willard. Dallas asked the class the...
12.15.2022
The Best Gift
James Bryan Smith’s thought from above this week is, “Give the best gift you can give.” In light of the advent season, Smith gives us an example of the best gift we can give someone. James says the best we...
12.07.2022
Conversation with Matt Tebbe and Ben Sternke
James Bryan Smith has a Things Above conversation with Matt Tebbe and Ben Sternke about their latest book, Having the Mind of Christ: Eight Axioms to Cultivate a Robust Faith. Matt and Ben are the cofounders of Gravity Leadership, located...
11.30.2022
You are Called
James Bryan Smith’s thought from above this week is, “you are called.” In this episode, James talks about vocational calling and its impact on our life. Many have felt they are called to a specific job, while others may have...
11.23.2022
Sacred Story
James Bryan Smith’s thought from above this week is, “you have a sacred story.” In this episode, James explains how we all have an origin story that has shaped us into the person we are today. In our origin story,...
11.09.2022
Conversation with James Bryan Smith
In this episode, James Bryan Smith is interviewed by his friend Dr. Jeff Bjorck to ask James questions about his latest book, “The Good and Beautiful You.” Dr. Bjorck is a licensed psychologist and a lifelong friend of James. Jeff...
11.02.2022
Made for God
James Bryan Smith’s thought from above this week is, “you are made for God.” James begins the episode explaining why we have a longing for the “more than.” To help explain his thought from above, Smith gives two examples from...
10.19.2022
Masterpiece
James Bryan Smith’s thought from above this episode is; you are God’s masterpiece. Following his last episode, Smith talks about our significance to God. Smith continues to expose the false narratives we have about God and counters them with his...
10.12.2022
You Are Significant
James Bryan Smith’s thought from above in this episode is, “you are significant.” Smith explains how many of us struggle with the narrative that we are not enough. To help illustrate his thought from above, James tells us two stories...
09.14.2022
Jesus is the Answer
James Bryan Smith’s thought from above in this episode is; Jesus is the answer. Smith opens the episode with a couple of questions that many people have about God. The first question is, does God really love me? The second...
09.07.2022
Conversation with Gem Fadling
James Bryan Smith has a Things Above Conversation with Gem Fadling. In This episode, James and Gem discuss her latest book, “Hold That Thought: Sorting Through the Voices in Our Heads.” Gem Fadling, CLC, is a founding partner of Unhurried...
08.24.2022
Conversation with Curt Thompson Part Two
Curt Thompson M.D. is back for part two of his Things Above conversation with James Bryan Smith. In this episode, James asks Curt questions regarding his books, “The Soul of Desire” and “The Soul of Shame.” Psychiatrist, speaker, and author Curt...
08.17.2022
Walk
In episode two of season five, James Bryan Smith opens the episode with Colossians 2:6. A key word in this verse is “walk” Smith explains what Paul means in this verse through a story from his high school track team....
08.10.2022
Called
Season five of the Things Above podcast has arrived! To start off the new season James Bryan Smith shares a story to explain how God doesn’t call the qualified but rather God qualifies the called. Smith closes the episode by...
06.22.2022
Exchanged
In this episode, James Bryan Smith’s thought from above is, “You must live the exchanged life.” Smith opens the episode by telling us that we are all saints. He goes on to explain how we are saints and how we...

What's Things Above about?

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Things Above episodes:

The End In Mind

Open Hand

Conversation with AJ Swoboda Part Three

Our Greatest Opportunity

Conversation with Brian Zahnd Part Three

Two Minute Morning

Conversation With Emily P. Freeman Part Four

Grieving with Hope

Breath Prayer

Conversation with Farrell Mason

Glory, Grace and Truth

Our Soul & Relationships

Conversation with Casey Tygrett Part Three

Longing To Be Loved

Spirituality & Longings

Conversation with Jeff Crosby

The Turn

Greatest Treasure

Conversation with Ann Voskamp

The Emotional Life

The Good Life

Conversation with Ruth Haley Barton

Abba Experience

We Need The Church

Conversation with Trevor Hudson

Perfect Peace

Doubting Thomas

Conversation with Seth & Heather Thompson Day

King & Kingdom

Trust Without Reservation

Rhythms of Grace

Conversation with Richard Foster

God is Glorious

Magnificent Mission

Conversation with AJ Swoboda Part Two

With God Life

The Best Gift

Conversation with Matt Tebbe and Ben Sternke

You are Called

Sacred Story

Conversation with James Bryan Smith

Made for God

Masterpiece

You Are Significant

Jesus is the Answer

Conversation with Gem Fadling

Conversation with Curt Thompson Part Two

Walk

Called

Exchanged