Things Above

In Episode 12 of the Things Above podcast, James Bryan Smith offers a glorious thought on the power of forgiveness. The reason we should forgive is to be healed and the means of understanding that is that we are forgiven in Christ. The Apostle Paul instructed the church in Colossae to forgive one another as Christ has forgiven you. Sometimes this is easier said than done. People slight us, harm us, overlook us, under-appreciate us, abuse us – both verbally and physically. Our response is typically retaliation, anger, resentment, even hate. There’s one person in particular that we especially struggle forgiving – ourselves. We justify a lack of forgiveness for ourselves, but that’s not helpful. We have to also forgive ourselves, as Christ as forgiven us. C.S. Lewis said, “If I fail to forgive myself, I make myself a higher tribunal than God.” Wow! There’s a prayer practice by Linda Schubert that focuses on forgiving ourselves called The Miracle Hour. Here’s the prayer: “Loving Father, I choose to forgive myself because you have forgiven me. Thanks you Lord for this grace, I forgive myself for all my sins faults and failings, especially (fill in the blank). I forgive myself for not being perfect, I accept myself and make a decision to stop picking on myself and being my own worst enemy. I release the things held against myself and make peace with myself by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Why do we forgive? We forgive because it’s the way to freedom. Key verses include Colossians 3:13 Related episodes: 1. Seeing Beauty 2. Desiring God 3. Shame 4. Greater Than Our Sins 5. Blessed The post Forgiveness: The Way to Freedom appeared first on Apprentice Institute.

God’s love is revealed in beauty. Because of that, beauty is a large part of our spiritual journey. In episode 11 of Things Above, James Bryan Smith invites you to rethink how you understand beauty. Drawing from the wisdom of people like Thomas Aquinas, Hans Urs von Balthasar, John O’Donohue and Simone Weil, we discover that beauty has the power to transport us to love. O’Donohue writes, “In order to become attentive to beauty, we need to rediscover the art of reverence. Reverence bestows dignity and it is only in the light of dignity that beauty will become visible. Reverence is also the companion of humility. A sense of reverence opens pathways to beauty that surprise us. The earth is full of thresholds where beauty awaits the wonder of our gaze.” James Bryan Smith closes this episode with a glorious thought that came to him while sitting in the beauty of nature: God sings his love to you in birdsong. God smiles at you in maple trees. God charms you with the color green. He gave you eyes to see sunsets, ears to hear rainfall, a nose to smell a rose. God’s massive love appears in small fragments. God is loving you in these moments, even if you do not know it. This week, you are invited to notice beauty. Let God speak love to you. Write what you see in a “Beauty Journal” or take a picture of something that pleases your sense of sight. Related episodes: 1. The Mystery of the Incarnation 2. God’s Love 3. Forgiveness: The Way to Freedom 4. Epiphanies From a Guitar Part 1 5. Epiphanies From a Guitar Part 2 The post Seeing Beauty appeared first on Apprentice Institute.

In episode 10 of the Things Above podcast, James Bryan Smith interviews pastor and author John Ortberg about his latest book, “Eternity is Now in Session.” In addition to recalling a humorous story of their first speaking engagement together in 1988, Jim and John discuss the impact that Dallas Willard’s writings and personal friendship had on each of their lives. In particular, they agree on Dallas’s teaching that authentic transformation is possible if we’re willing to arrange our lives around the practices and activities that Jesus engaged in, to be constantly at home with, and receiving life from his Father. John says, at its heart, “Eternity is Now in Session” explores how we can experience a deep, joyful and interactive relationship with God here and now – debunking the idea that eternal life is something we participate in after we die. The book also helps us discover what the Bible truly says about salvation and the Gospel of Jesus. Key verses in this episode include John 17:3, Hebrews 1, and Galatians 2:20. Learn more about Eternity Is Now in Session Enjoyed this conversation? Listen to other Things Above Conversations here: 1. Conversation with Emily P. Freeman Part 2 2. Conversation with Chris Heuertz Part 2 3. Conversation with William Paul Young 4. Conversation with Josh Larsen 5. Things Above Conversation with Greg Boyd The post Things Above Conversation 2 appeared first on Apprentice Institute.

God is real. And God’s love for us is also real. But how do we really know God loves us? In Episode 09 of the Things Above podcast, James Bryan Smith tells us the only thing that is credible is love. Our faith is not built on an argument or logic, but by what God, in Jesus Christ, has done for us – namely the incarnation (in which he came to be with us) and the cross (in which he reconciled humanity to God). Not only does God love us, but He likes us and delights in us. Smith ends the episode with a glorious thought that could be sketched on a 3×5 card or in your journal: “God loves us first and loves us always and in every moment – with a passionate love because God is for us, God longs to be with us, and God wants what is best for us. And in every moment of every day, He finds us delightful.” Key verses in this episode include 1 John 4:10, 19 and Deuteronomy 7:7. Related episodes: 1. Episode 01 2. Finality of the Cross 3. Forgiven to be Filled 4. Eternal Life Now 5. Living Godward The post God’s Love appeared first on Apprentice Institute.

The incarnation of God is both a mysterious and wondrous event to ponder. In Episode 08 of the Things Above podcast, James Bryan Smith gives thought to Jesus Christ, who was fully divine and fully human. Have you ever noticed how little was written about Jesus’s childhood in Scripture? What was normal life like for Jesus growing up? What do you think Jesus was like as a kid? Christian music artist Rich Mullins sang a song about these very questions. The mystery of the incarnation is at the heart our faith because, in becoming human in every way, Jesus can offer a full and perfect human life back to the Father. God desires to re-create humanity at the deepest levels, addressing our needs from within our being. Jesus became fully human, took on our humanity and declared it righteous, made it right with God and healed it. Key verses in this episode include Luke 2:41-49 and Colossians 1:15. Note: Permission was given by the Rich Mullins estate to use the music in this podcast. Lyrics to “Boy like me, Man like you“ Related episodes: 1. Overcoming Temptation 2. Christ Plus Nothing Equals Everything 3. Your Identity is in the Invitation 4. Jesus Holds Everything Together 5. Spiritual Mirror The post The Mystery of the Incarnation appeared first on Apprentice Institute.

By setting our minds on things above, we can live a Godward life and, as the Apostle Paul says, walk in the Spirit. This is a powerful way of living. If someone were to ask you about a passage in Scripture that offers the best depiction of life in the kingdom, what would you say? In Episode 07 of the Things Above podcast, James Bryan Smith slowly walks us through the 23rd Psalm, reveals what he believes is the most important verse in the Bible and shares a story of his childhood pet duck, JB. Key verses from this episode include the entirety of Psalm 23 and Matthew 6:33. Related episodes: 1. Second Chances 2. Source of Life 3. The Gift of Pain 4. Moved to Pray 5. Practicing Patience The post Living Godward appeared first on Apprentice Institute.

Every one of us has experienced “hope” of some kind. We hope to marry the right person, we hope our kids live long and healthy lives, we hope our favorite baseball team wins the World Series. Yet there is a big difference between worldly hope and Christian hope. Hope is not wishful thinking about the future. Hope is certainty in a good future. In Episode 06 of the Things Above podcast, James Bryan Smith shares what the Apostle Paul considers a “glorious thought” on the topic of hope and how we best experience it. Key verses from this episode include 1 Thessalonians 4:13 and Revelation 22:5. Related episodes: 1. Christ Plus Nothing Equals Everything 2. Your Identity is in the Invitation 3. Jesus Holds Everything Together 4. Spiritual Mirror 5. Wired for Worship The post Hope appeared first on Apprentice Institute.

In our very first Things Above Conversation, James Bryan Smith interviews Emily P. Freeman about finding God in our everyday lives and the nearness of the kingdom. They discuss the impact of the her book “Simply Tuesday” and her recent experience at Friends University. If you are interested in learning more about Emily check out her website here. Enjoyed this conversation? Listen to other Things Above conversations here: 1. Conversation with Emily P. Freeman Part 2 2. Conversation with Chris Heuertz Part 2 3. Conversation with William Paul Young 4. Conversation with Josh Larsen 5. Things Above Conversation with Chris Heuertz The post Things Above Conversation 1 appeared first on Apprentice Institute.

In our fourth episode, James Bryan Smith explains how eternal life does not begin after you die. It begins in this life and it includes an interactive relationship with God. Related episodes: 1. Source of Life 2. The Gift of Pain 3. Moved to Pray 4. Practicing Patience 5. Overcoming Temptation The post Eternal Life Now appeared first on Apprentice Institute.

The finality of the cross is only half the story. In this episode, James Bryan Smith shares the rest of the story, which includes the secret to overcoming sin. That is, the power of the resurrected Christ in us and through us. Related episodes: 1. Conversation with Chris Heuertz Part 2 2. Overcoming Temptation 3. Wired for Worship 4. Second Chances 5. Things Above Conversation with Chris Heuertz The post Forgiven to be Filled appeared first on Apprentice Institute.