The Jesus Society

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A conversation about relationships, renewal & purpose in the Kingdom of God

Episodes

Monday Feb 22, 2021

The God of the Exodus - Part 1

Monday Feb 22, 2021

Today, on the one-year anniversary of the start of The Jesus Society Podcast, I want us to think a bit about the Exodus, and in particular, what it revealed to Israel, and what it continues to reveal to us today about God.

Join me today as we discuss:

1. Some background to the Exodus

2. What it means for Israel to be the firstborn of God

3. Seeing God as a parent

4. The focus of the ten plagues

5. The centrality of the Passover to Israel's identity

6. What the blood on the doorposts is intended to convey

7. The Lord's Supper and its connection to the Passover

8. The combined events of Exodus and Exile in shaping the New Testament understanding of Jesus' death.

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As always, we’d appreciate it if you’d tell others about the podcast. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe, rate and review us on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and Amazon Music.

Please visit us on our Facebook page for The Jesus Society Podcast (@JesusSocietyPodcast). We’ve also got a Facebook group for the Jesus Society Podcast. Also, check out our website — thejesussociety.com.

And, as we continue to try and 1grow our audience, we’re currently loading all episodes of The Jesus Society podcast onto YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEy1ppP5RWd3jXPc6bI6WuQ/) and Odysee (https://odysee.com/@TheJesusSocietyPodcast:6). If you search for The Jesus Society Podcast on either YouTube or Odysee, you’ll find us.

If you're interested in supporting the podcast and our related ministry, we’ve added a Patreon page (https://www.patreon.com/thejesussociety).

Thanks for listening!

And remember, you are greatly loved.

Music and audio production by Nathan Longwell Music

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Monday Feb 15, 2021

Sin, Death, and Exile

Monday Feb 15, 2021

Continuing our conversation from last week, we're taking a deep-dive into the biblical idea of sin. My contention is that most of us in the west have a truncated view of sin, and we need to sort that out, not least because a diminished view of sin leads to a diminished view of what Jesus accomplished on the cross.

Join us today as we discuss the related concepts of sin, death, and exile throughout the Bible.

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As always, we’d appreciate it if you’d tell others about the podcast. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe, rate and review us on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, AND now also on Amazon Music.

And as we mentioned, we’ve added a Patreon page (https://www.patreon.com/thejesussociety), if you'd care to support us and the work we're doing.

Thanks for listening!

And remember, you are greatly loved.

Music and audio production by Nathan Longwell Music

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Resources for Today’s Show:

The Story of the Bible - Part 2: Creation & Chaos (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-jesus-society/id1500065616?i=1000467848431)

Monday Feb 08, 2021

Back to the Garden

Monday Feb 08, 2021

This is Episode 50 of The Jesus Society Podcast, and as we approach the start of our second year of the podcast, I want to start something a bit new. I want to lay out a crystal clear view of the God of the Bible — who he is, what he’s been up to, and what his ultimate goal of the world is. I did a little of this early on last year in the “Story of the Bible” episodes we did. But I also know that in trying to give an overview, I sketched things out so thinly in some areas as to be a bit ambiguous. I want to try and fix that.

So today we're going back to the garden to look at the two people God created, the role he assigned to them, and how they abdicated that role. And we'll look ahead to what God intended to do about that, and how Jesus ultimately finished that job. I think we need to get clear-headed about the biblical picture of God’s goal for the world. AND we have to diagnose the human problem of Genesis 3 correctly. Those two things are what we're gonna tackle today.

It might be helpful to go back and listen to the first few "Story of the Bible" episodes that we did last year (we'll put links to those episodes below).

So join me today as we discuss:

1. Creation & Disruption: God’s good world & The battle for control (Genesis 1-3)

2. What it means to be image-bearers of the divine.

3. The idea of rulership in God's good world.

4. The battle for control in God's good world (it's not what you think)

5. What sin really is and how we sometimes fail to see the whole story.

6. Abdication and the power of idolatry

7. How God has worked and is working to restore things to what he intended all along.

8. How the cross fits into all of this.

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As always, we’d appreciate it if you’d tell others about the podcast. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe, rate and review us on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, AND now also on Amazon Music.

And, as we continue to try and grow our audience, we’re currently loading all episodes of The Jesus Society podcast onto YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEy1ppP5RWd3jXPc6bI6WuQ/) and Odysee (https://odysee.com/@TheJesusSocietyPodcast:6). If you search for The Jesus Society Podcast on either YouTube or Odysee, you’ll find us.

And as we mentioned, we’ve added a Patron page (https://www.patreon.com/thejesussociety).

Thanks for listening!

And remember, you are greatly loved.

Music and audio production by Nathan Longwell Music

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Resources for Today’s Show:

The Story of the Bible - Part 1: Why God Created Us (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-jesus-society/id1500065616?i=1000467230098)
The Story of the Bible - Part 2: Creation and Chaos (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-jesus-society/id1500065616?i=1000467848431)

Monday Feb 01, 2021

Worship, The Assembly, and Music - Part IV

Monday Feb 01, 2021

Today is the final episode of our discussion about worship, the Christian assembly, and music.

Join myself, Nathan, and Ashley today as we discuss:

1. Pros & Cons of "Traditional" Worship Music

2. Pros & Cons of "Modern" Worship Music

3. Keeping the main thing the main thing -- God must be at the center, not us. That said, whatever we do in the assembly should foster unity, not self-centeredness; Giving, not receiving.

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As always, we’d appreciate it if you’d tell others about the podcast. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe, rate and review us on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, AND now also on Amazon Music.

Please visit us on our Facebook group for the Jesus Society Podcast. Just search Jesus Society Podcast, and I’m sure you’ll find it. Also, check out our website — thejesussociety.com. We’ve also added a page on Facebook.

And as we mentioned, we’ve added a Patron page (https://www.patreon.com/thejesussociety).

Thanks for listening!

And remember, you are greatly loved.

Music and audio production by Nathan Longwell Music

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Resources for Today’s Show:

1. Skillet Lead Singer: "Stop Making Worship Leaders, Thought Leaders the Most Influential People in Christendom (https://www.charismanews.com/culture/77596-skillet-lead-singer-stop-making-worship-leaders-thought-leaders-the-most-influential-people-in-christendom)

Monday Jan 25, 2021

Worship, The Assembly, and Music - Part III

Monday Jan 25, 2021

We're back again today with Part 3 of our discussion with Nathan and Ashley about worship, the assembly, and music. And by the way, for the purposes of this discussion, I want to make it clear that when we talk about “music,” we’re not talking here about contemporary Christian “radio” (or for the non-geriatric folks like me, “streaming”) music. We're talking exclusively about church assembly music.

Join us today as we tackle the following questions/issues:

1. Is worship about us or God?

2. How does music function among humans? What does it do to us? Is it important, and if so, why?

3. Some interesting quotes about music from luminaries such as Martin Luther.

4. Is music edification or is it worship?

5. What's the purpose of music in the Christian church?

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As always, we’d appreciate it if you’d tell others about the podcast. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe, rate and review us on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, AND now also on Amazon Music.

And as we mentioned, we’ve added a Patron page (https://www.patreon.com/thejesussociety).

Thanks for listening!

And remember, you are greatly loved.

Music and audio production by Nathan Longwell Music

Monday Jan 18, 2021

Worship, The Assembly, and Music - Part II

Monday Jan 18, 2021

This is our second episode in what is shaping up to be a four-part discussion about worship, the assembly, and music.

I’d invite you, if you haven’t listened to last week’s episode (Part I), to go back and listen to that before you listen to today’s conversation, because these episodes build on each other, and I think you’ll follow our conversation today a bit better if you’ve heard last week’s episode first.

Many of us have strong feelings about what goes on in the assembly music-wise and how that all works. But in talking about all this in this series, we want the overall thrust of this conversation to promote unity, hope, and reverence for God.

So join me, my son Nathan, and our friend Ashley Perham today as we share our different backgrounds and experiences as they relate to worship, the assembly, and music. What we love, what we don't love as much, what has worked and what hasn't - again, from our own perspectives and experiences. I think you're going to really enjoy this conversation, because we sure did!

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As always, we’d appreciate it if you’d tell others about the podcast. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe, rate and review us on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, AND now also on Amazon Music.

And as we mentioned, we’ve added a Patron page, which is a one-stop shop for all our Jesus Society content (audio and writing). And should you wish to support us and the work we do, you can do so here: https://www.patreon.com/thejesussociety.

Thanks for listening!

And remember, you are greatly loved.

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Music and audio production by Nathan Longwell Music

Resources for Today’s Show:

Rick Atchley: Chairs of the Restoration Movement (https://youtu.be/dWfAAYuNqCs)
Gordon Mote, The Isaacs -- When I Lift Up My Head (https://youtu.be/UoshZzpl6gQ)

Monday Jan 11, 2021

Worship, The Assembly, and Music - Part I

Monday Jan 11, 2021

Today, I'm joined by my son Nathan, and we’re gonna kick-off a two or three-part little series here today. And we're going to be talking about over the next few weeks is the subject of worship, music, and the Christian assembly.

Nathan and I cooked up the idea of this series together, and a lot of it has grown out of a whole host of conversations we’ve had over the last five or six years about this issue.

But today, I really want to lay some theological groundwork for this discussion, because theological groundwork is always the way to begin an important discussion.

So join us today as we discuss:

1. Worship wars and how worship has evolved over the past 40 years or so.

2. The New Testament words variously translated as worship, and what they mean.

3. Why worship should not just be relegated to the assembly.

4. What often prompts worship in the Bible.

5. The primary purpose of the Christian assembly.

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As always, we’d appreciate it if you’d tell others about the podcast. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe, rate and review us on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, AND now also on Amazon Music.

And as we mentioned, we’ve added a Patron page (https://www.patreon.com/thejesussociety).

Thanks for listening!

And remember, you are greatly loved.

Music and audio production by Nathan Longwell Music

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Resources for Today’s Show:

Justin Martyr (Apology), Chapters 65-67 (https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0126.htm)
The Attraction of Christianity (The Jesus Society Podcast, July 6, 2020) — https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-jesus-society/id1500065616?i=1000482858092

Monday Jan 04, 2021

Relationship Habits For A New Year

Monday Jan 04, 2021

Last week we talked about some spiritual habits to work on developing in 2021. Today I want to talk about some relationship habits to work on developing.

Let’s face it — we all want better relationships. And I am of the conviction that as followers of Jesus, we ought to have the best relationships on earth. AND, because of the way I view the Kingdom of God, one of the big draws to God’s way of living is the way we relate to one another. Christians should be the most attractive people on earth, and a big part of that attractiveness is in the way we relate to one another. God’s family is supposed to be characterized by love and grace and kindness and support and encouragement. And I think if people saw us relating to one another the way we should in the Kingdom, I think everybody would want some of that.

Too often, though, Christians are angry and judgmental and harsh. We’ve got that reputation in the non-Christian world, and if you don’t see that, you’ve been living under a rock. Now anger, judgmentalism, and harshness are certainly reflective of an internal reality that needs redemption, but they’re also relationship characteristics. So most of us — myself included — have some work to do.

So join me today as we talk about some habits we can begin to cultivate in 2021 — with the ever-present help of the Holy Spirit, of course — to improve the quality of our relationships.

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As always, we’d appreciate it if you’d tell others about the podcast. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe, rate and review us on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, AND now also on Amazon Music.

And as we mentioned, we’ve added a Patron page (https://www.patreon.com/thejesussociety).

Thanks for listening!

And remember, you are greatly loved.

Music and audio production by Nathan Longwell Music

Monday Dec 28, 2020

Spiritual Habits for a New Year

Monday Dec 28, 2020

We’re a nation of goal setters, and at this time of year, just about everyone starts thinking about setting goals or making resolutions for the new year. So in today's episode, the last episode of 2020, I want to talk about getting the most out of 2021 spiritually. In particular, I want to talk about how we can improve our relationship with God in 2021. Because really, the relationship you have with God fuels every other part of your life.

But before you listen to this podcast, I highly recommend you head on over to our Patreon site and read the post titled “God’s Spiritual Roadmap.” There's a link below also. It lays out my conceptual framework of what I think are God’s goals for us, and how he works in our lives to accomplish it. And I mention that because everything we’re gonna be talking about today flows out of that conceptual framework. So I encourage you to read that before you dive too deeply into today’s episode.

So with that little introduction out of the way, I invite you to join me today as we discuss:

1. Why developing habits is better than setting goals or making resolutions.

2. A couple of big picture concepts.

3. Four habits to cultivate in 2021 that will absolutely open your life to God in new ways.

4. How the way we think about God predetermines the kind of relationship we can have with him.

5. Three biblical statements about the nature of God.

6. Five important promises of God in the Bible.

7. How to have a meaningful discipleship group that will bless everyone in it.

All relationships require effort, and your relationship with God is no different. But I promise you that if you draw near to God in 2021, he will draw near to you. And it will change your life.

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As always, we’d appreciate it if you’d tell others about the podcast. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe, rate and review us on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, AND now also on Amazon Music.

Please visit us on our Facebook group for the Jesus Society Podcast. Just search Jesus Society Podcast, and I’m sure you’ll find it. Also, check out our website — www.thejesussociety.com. We’ve also added a page on FB.

And as we mentioned, we’ve added a Patron page (https://www.patreon.com/thejesussociety).

Thanks for listening!

And remember, you are greatly loved.

Music and audio production by Nathan Longwell Music
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Resources for Today’s Show:
God’s Spiritual Roadmap (Dec. 21, 2020) — https://www.patreon.com/posts/gods-spiritual-45297989
Reading the Bible like Jesus and Paul (Sept. 14, 2020) — https://www.thejesussociety.com/e/reading-the-bible-like-jesus-and-paul/
Growing in Intimacy with God - Does God Talk To Us? (May 4, 2020) — https://www.thejesussociety.com/e/growing-in-intimacy-with-god-does-god-talk-to-us/
Prayer as Dialogue Episode (May 11, 2020) — https://www.thejesussociety.com/e/growing-in-intimacy-with-god-prayer-as-dialogue/

Monday Dec 21, 2020

God With Us - A Christmas Message

Monday Dec 21, 2020

In the midst of all the hustle and bustle of shopping and cooking and traveling associated with Christmas, all of which I participate in fully, I wanted to talk in this episode about the birth of Jesus, and what it represents to me.

Join me today as we discuss the importance of an ordinary Jesus. When God chose the name his son would carry, he chose a common human name. He chose a name so typical that it would appear two or three times on any class roll. That’s what John meant when he told us in John 1:14 that in Jesus, “the word became flesh.” Jesus was touchable. He was approachable. He was reachable.

It's important to appreciate that when God chose to reveal himself to mankind, he did so through a human body. The tongue that called forth the dead was a human one. The hand that touched the leper had dirt under its nails. The feet upon which the woman wept were calloused and dusty. And his tears – at the tomb of Lazarus, or as he wept over Jerusalem, or even in the Garden of Gethsemane – came from a heart as broken as yours or mine has ever been.

That’s what the angel means when he tells Joseph in Matt. 1:23 that people will call Jesus Immanuel, which is a fascinating Hebrew word that means “God with us!”

And that’s also what the Hebrew writer is getting at in Hebrews 4:15-16 when he says, “We have a great high priest, who has gone into heaven, and he is Jesus the Son of God. That’s why we must hold on to what we have said about him. Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are. But he did not sin! So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved kindness, and we will find help.”

The truth is that we serve a God who wants to live among us. And because of that, people came to him. And they came to him because he refused to be a statue in a cathedral or a priest in an elevated balcony. He chose instead to be Jesus.

There is not a hint, anywhere in the gospels, of a person who was afraid to draw near to him. There were those who mocked him. There were those who were envious of him. There were those who misunderstood him. There were those who revered him.

But there was not one person who considered him too holy, too divine, or too celestial to touch. There was not one person who was reluctant to approach him for fear of being rejected!

Don’t forget that. That’s important. Tattoo that on you brain to be viewed the next time you find yourself wallowing in your own failures. When you feel so overwhelmed by the pressures of this world. Or the unyielding demands of being perfect. Remember it when you find yourself in a cold church listening to a dead sermon about God.

Tragically, for some people, Jesus seems distant. And nothing saddens me more than that. Because through this baby - through this Immanuel - he became human. And now he is approachable and touchable and accessible. And he loves you so very much.

If only we would see that and open ourselves up to him.

So as you celebrate Christmas this week, don’t lose sight of the fact that God himself has entered our world. And He entered our world to offer us hope and peace and joy and love and redemption through a relationship with him. A relationship that will change our lives for our good.

God sent Jesus, as John tells us in John 1:18, to show the world what he is really like. And we just cannot be casual about such an event.

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As always, we’d appreciate it if you’d tell others about the podcast. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe, rate and review us on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, AND now also on Amazon Music.

And as we mentioned, we’ve added a Patron page (https://www.patreon.com/thejesussociety).

Thanks for listening!

And remember, you are greatly loved.

Music and audio production by Nathan Longwell Music

_______________________

Resources for Today’s Show:

Be sure, if you haven't already seen it, to watch The Chosen Christmas Special (https://youtu.be/T5ftnTK9-3w) sometime during the Christmas season. It's fantastic, with some great music, and a great message.