Brandon Shields, Director of Church Engagement at Practicing the Way, shares his journey from knowing about God's love to truly experiencing it. He discusses the significance of healthy goodbyes in church leadership and the emotional 'neutral zone' during transitions. Shields emphasizes the transformative power of prayer in community and authentic relationships, urging listeners to embody love actively. He also introduces reflective prayer exercises to deepen one's connection with God's love, highlighting the role of community in spiritual growth.
45:06
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
Brandon's Personal Journey with God's Love
Brandon Shields shares his journey from knowing about God's love intellectually to experiencing it deeply and personally.
His story reveals the struggle of facing loss, uncertainty, and transformation through God's presence and contemplative practices.
insights INSIGHT
Gap Between Knowing and Experiencing Love
There is often a gap between intellectual belief in God's love and the experiential, felt knowledge of it.
Paul prays that believers would bridge this gap to transform how love impacts their lives.
insights INSIGHT
Experiencing God's Love Through Community
Knowing God's love deeply comes not only through private encounters but also by living it out in relationships with others.
The church is a vital community for learning and embodying God's love together.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
In this book, Henri Nouwen reflects on Rembrandt’s painting of the Prodigal Son, using it as a lens to explore the classic parable. He delves into the several movements of the parable, including the younger son’s return, the father’s restoration of sonship, the elder son’s resentfulness, and the father’s compassion. Nouwen’s meditation is deeply personal, drawing from his own life experiences and spiritual struggles, and it highlights themes of homecoming, affirmation, and reconciliation. The book is structured into three major parts: The Prodigal Son, The Older Son, and The Father, through which Nouwen finds himself in each of these roles, ultimately leading to a stage of spiritual maturity[1][3][4].
Transitions
Making Sense of Life's Changes
Susan Bridges
William Bridges
First published in 1980, *Transitions* is a seminal work that explores the underlying and universal pattern of transition. The book takes readers step-by-step through the three perilous stages of any transition, explaining how each stage can be understood and embraced. It offers a simple yet profoundly insightful roadmap to navigate change and move into a hopeful future. The book emphasizes the importance of understanding endings, navigating the neutral zone, and embracing new beginnings to cope effectively with life's changes.
Do you know about God's love but struggle to actually feel it? Brandon Shields, Director of Church Engagement at Practicing the Way, shares his personal journey of moving from knowing about God’s love intellectually to experiencing it in a way that heals, transforms, and reshapes how we relate to others. He invites us to open ourselves to God’s loving presence and challenges us to not just receive that love, but to become it—embodied in how we see, hold, and care for one another.
Key Scripture Passage: Ephesians 3v14-21
This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Rachel from Broomfield, Colorado; Nathan from Olathe, Kansas; Carolynn from Maryville, Missouri; Chris from Nokomis, Florida; and Robert from Hendersonville, North Carolina. Thank you all so much!
If you’d like to pay it forward and contribute toward future resources, you can learn more at practicingtheway.org/give.
John Mark Comer Teachings 
