The Apprenticeship Way with Marc Alan Schelske

In this enlightening discussion, Ben Sternke and Matt Tebbe, Anglican priests and co-founders of Gravity Leadership, dive deep into the complexities of faith. They emphasize that faith isn't just about belief; it's about faithful action in daily life. The conversation touches on embracing uncertainty in spiritual journeys, navigating grief with compassion, and the importance of community in building faith. Listeners are encouraged to redefine their spiritual experiences, making them authentic and relevant, rather than bound by traditional expectations.

In a captivating discussion, Jonathan Puddle, an award-winning writer and author of 'You Are Enough,' shares his journey in creating a daily devotional for men. He explores redefining masculinity through empathy and selflessness, challenging old narratives. Jonathan also reflects on the surprising positive feedback he received, emphasizing the need for safety in spirituality. They dive into God's transformative love, inviting listeners to embrace a more hopeful view of faith and community engagement. It's a thought-provoking conversation that encourages personal growth and reimagined faith.

Kevin Makins, a writer, speaker, and pastor at Eucharist Church, dives into the pertinent question: Why would anyone go to church? He explores the decline in attendance and engagement, especially among younger generations, and discusses the church's need to evolve into a meaningful community hub. The conversation emphasizes fostering love and authenticity instead of conformity, rethinking church through real community engagement, and envisioning an inclusive future that prioritizes connection and service over division.

Becky Castle Miller, a speaker and Program Manager for Seminary Now, dives into the controversial debate over empathy in the Christian context. She explores how some leaders mislabel empathy as a sin and the implications of this thinking. The discussion highlights the crucial role of empathy in relationships, emotional healing, and understanding marginalized voices. Becky links these ideas to historical religious perspectives and advocates for genuine compassion as exemplified by Jesus, urging listeners to recognize and embrace empathy as essential to faith.

Rich Vellodas, lead pastor of New Life Fellowship and author of The Deeply Formed Life, discusses the disconnect in modern Christianity and the need for deeper spiritual formation. He highlights the pitfalls of shallow faith and calls for genuine self-reflection and transformative values. Vellodas also addresses racial biases and the church's role in promoting racial justice, emphasizing the importance of love and community. His insights urge listeners to examine their faith more critically and embody the teachings of Jesus in their everyday lives.

In this conversation with Dr. Bradley Jersak, an author and theology professor, the nature of deconstruction in Christianity takes center stage. He discusses how deconstruction isn’t just a trend but a crucial process for spiritual growth. Jersak emphasizes the importance of emotional health and thoughtful dismantling of harmful doctrines to foster genuine transformation. The metaphor of art restoration brings clarity to navigating complex faith journeys, advocating for a beautiful integration of truth, beauty, and personal meaning in spirituality.

In a candid discussion, Matt Tebbe, an Anglican priest and co-rector at The Table church, challenges the stigma around being wrong. He shares personal insights on how embracing mistakes can foster growth and humility, especially for those in positions of power. The conversation explores the healing power of vulnerability in leadership, advocating for a culture that encourages authenticity and inclusivity. Matt emphasizes that admitting wrongs can lead to deeper relationships and serve as a pathway to spiritual development.

K.J. Ramsey, a licensed professional counselor and author, dives deep into the often-ignored topic of suffering in the Christian faith. She challenges the notion that churches should sidestep pain, advocating for a community that embraces sorrow. Ramsey shares insights on redefining joy through shared struggles and emphasizes the importance of authentic connection in faith circles. She also discusses the sacredness of individual suffering and encourages listeners to honor their pain as part of their spiritual journey.

Explore the true essence of spiritual growth and challenge traditional views on what a spiritual person looks like. Misconceptions about purity and piety may be hindering deeper connections with the Divine. The discussion dives into the story of Jacob, illuminating how struggles and vulnerability can lead to transformative encounters with God. It's a call to reassess our beliefs about accountability and embrace a more authentic relationship with spirituality.

Episode 042 – Can You Imagine Jesus Demanding Sex? – Interview with Sheila Wray Gregoire. Christian teachers notoriously have lots of opinions about sex. Sometimes they even claim those opinions are God’s will. But what if some of those teachings are hurting people and wrecking marriages? In this interview with Sheila Wray Gregoire we talk about the stunning findings from her survey of 20,000 Christian women about their sex lives, beliefs, and what they were taught in church about sex. This is a crucial conversation if the church is going to be healthy, life-giving community. Show Notes CONTENT ADVISORY: We’re going talk frankly about sex, body parts, sex acts, and porn. Sexual abuse, rape, and marital rape will be mentioned. Meet Sheila: Sheila Wray Gregoire is passionate about changing the evangelical conversation about sex! A popular speaker, marriage blogger, and award-winning author of nine books, including The Good Girl’s Guide to Great Sex, she wants to challenge Christians to go beyond pat answers on marriage to reach real intimacy. Sheila believes in authenticity, and gives real solutions to the very real and messy problems women, and couples, can face. She and her husband Keith spend a lot of their time touring North America in an RV, speaking at marriage conferences, hiking, and birdwatching. The parents to two adult daughters, you can usually find her in Belleville, Ontario, where she’s either knitting, blogging, or taking her grandson out for a walk. Gregoire’s study evaluated the impact of the following beliefs taught many in Fundamentalist or Evangelical churches: “Boys will want to push girl’s sexual boundaries.” “All men struggle with lust. It is every man’s battle.” “If you have sex before you are married, that means you have less of yourself to give your future spouse because a part of you will always belong to someone else.” “The only Biblical reason for divorce is an affair.” “It is a man’s God-given role to provide for his family and a woman’s God-given role to stay home raising her children.” “Women should have frequent sex with their husbands to keep them from cheating or watching porn.” “A wife is obligated to give her husband sex when he wants it.” Interesting Comments In regard to the belief about lust being every man’s battle: “We are conflating sexual attraction with sin.” Sexual attraction is normal and healthy. Lust is objectification that turns people into objects for our pleasure. In regard to the belief that wives are obligated to provide sex to their husbands on demand. One of the consequences of this belief is physical pain. “Evangelical women have twice the rate of sexual pain as the general population.” This is on par with the rates for women who experienced childhood abuse. This belief is abusive. “Consent is the conversation that is missing in our resources.” Almost all of the Christian books on marriage and sex reviewed in this study did not mention consent at all! Gregoire’s Rubric for evaluating Christian Sex & Marriage Books See the questions used to evaluate the sex & marriage books mentioned. Finding more from Sheila Wray Gregoire: Website: tolovehonorandvacuum.com Instagram Facebook Twitter Get the Book: Amazon All other vendors You can also watch and share the video version on Youtube. RESOURCES & OTHER LINKS Today’s Sponsor The Untangled Heart Online Course – An online workshop to help you learn to sit with your emotions, identify them, and discern wisdom in what you learn from them. Find My Stuff Get The Anchor Prayer: A Prayer and Process for Remaining Grounded in a Chaotic World – This little book is free for you by opting in to my email list. Discovering your Authentic Core Values: A Step-by-step Guide Untangle Workbook: A guided journaling process for untangling emotions and finding wisdom. Subscribe to my Email List. You’ll get a free copy of a little book called The Anchor Prayer: A Prayer & Process for Remaining Grounded in a Chaotic World. Subscribe to The Apprenticeship Way on iTunes and all other podcasting apps. Find a video version on my Youtube Channel.