

English L'Abri
English L'Abri
Lectures old and new from workers and guest lecturers at English L'Abri, a residential study center and community open to guests seeking a welcoming place to ask life’s many questions. For more information, visit englishlabri.org englishlabri.substack.com
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 24, 2025 • 1h 39min
All Artists Are Liars (Revd Dr Mark Meynell, Director Langham Partnership)
Truth-telling through illusions and the suspension of disbelief. Mark will play around with a pan-arts approach and show that every art form is inevitably an illusion but that is necessary for their truth-telling.Please note that the ideas expressed in this lecture do not necessarily represent the views of L’Abri Fellowship.For more resources, visit the L'Abri Ideas Library at labriideaslibrary.org. The library contains over two thousand lectures and discussions that explore questions about the reality and relevance of Christianity. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit englishlabri.substack.com

Mar 11, 2025 • 1h 40min
Is God in Nature? (Jim Paul, L’Abri Worker)
How we think of nature is vitally important for shaping our relationship with the natural world. Many Christians are functional materialists in their attitude to nature, whilst many environmentalists tend towards pantheism. This lecture aims to help us understand a biblical view of the relationship of God with his creation, one which will help us better care for and love our world. Please note that the ideas expressed in this lecture do not necessarily represent the views of L’Abri Fellowship.For more resources, visit the L'Abri Ideas Library at labriideaslibrary.org. The library contains over two thousand lectures and discussions that explore questions about the reality and relevance of Christianity. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit englishlabri.substack.com

Feb 17, 2025 • 1h 25min
A Doubtful Saint : The Life and Work of Philip Yancey (Lacey Shelton, L’Abri Worker)
Philip Yancey is one of the highest-selling evangelical authors in the modern era, with over 15 million English books in print. He has made an impressive career writing about his doubts and questions of faith. Yancey recently released a personal memoir, which his wife labelled a ‘prequel’ to all of his other books. Together, we will look at Yancey’s life story and his large body of work, and consider his reputation as a beloved spiritual guide for the doubting and suffering. Please note that the ideas expressed in this lecture do not necessarily represent the views of L’Abri Fellowship.For more resources, visit the L'Abri Ideas Library at labriideaslibrary.org. The library contains over two thousand lectures and discussions that explore questions about the reality and relevance of Christianity. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit englishlabri.substack.com

Feb 10, 2025 • 1h 27min
Leading and Following in the Spiritual Footsteps of Jesus (Peter S Williams, Christian Philosopher & Author, Southampton)
Peter presents his recent work on Christian leadership. What makes someone a "leader"? What does leadership have to do with spirituality, rhetoric and values? What is the specific nature of "Christian leadership"? And what resources does "Christian leadership" have to offer that can mitigate against the abuse of leadership?Please note that the ideas expressed in this lecture do not necessarily represent the views of L’Abri Fellowship.For more resources, visit the L'Abri Ideas Library at labriideaslibrary.org. The library contains over two thousand lectures and discussions that explore questions about the reality and relevance of Christianity. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit englishlabri.substack.com

Feb 3, 2025 • 1h 34min
We are ALL Children of the Jesus Revolution (Rev. Glen Scrivener, author, speaker and director of the ministry Speak Life)
Whether we consider ourselves Christian or not, the Jesus movement is the most disruptive, influential and enduring revolution in history. Even critiques of Christianity turn out to be thoroughly Christian critiques. What does that mean for a culture that considers itself to have moved on from institutional Christianity? And what opportunities does the church have to proclaim Christ in a post-Christian culture?Please note that the ideas expressed in this lecture do not necessarily represent the views of L’Abri Fellowship.For more resources, visit the L'Abri Ideas Library at labriideaslibrary.org. The library contains over two thousand lectures and discussions that explore questions about the reality and relevance of Christianity. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit englishlabri.substack.com

Jan 27, 2025 • 1h 31min
The Two Realities of Gender (Phillip Johnston, Hope Church Greatham)
After forty-plus years studying the understanding of womanhood throughout time, philosopher Prudence Allen confidently asserts that there are but ‘two fundamental principles of gender relation.’ Grasped together, they bring harmony. Grasped in isolation, there is frequently pain and injustice. This lecture will unpack the two realities of gender from the early pages of Scripture and encourage us to hold on to both.Please note that the ideas expressed in this lecture do not necessarily represent the views of L’Abri Fellowship.For more resources, visit the L'Abri Ideas Library at labriideaslibrary.org. The library contains over two thousand lectures and discussions that explore questions about the reality and relevance of Christianity. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit englishlabri.substack.com

Nov 25, 2024 • 1h 15min
If God exists, why isn’t it more obvious? (Max Baker-Hytch, The Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics)
Some philosophical reflections on the problem of divine hiddenness.Please note that the ideas expressed in this lecture do not necessarily represent the views of L’Abri Fellowship.For more resources, visit the L'Abri Ideas Library at labriideaslibrary.org. The library contains over two thousand lectures and discussions that explore questions about the reality and relevance of Christianity. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit englishlabri.substack.com

Nov 19, 2024 • 1h 39min
A Place at the Table (Peter Harris and Jo Swinney, A Rocha)
Since Peter and Miranda Harris co-founded A Rocha in 1983, it has grown into an international family of Christian conservation organisations. After Miranda’s tragic death in 2019, their daughter Jo found her mother’s diaries in which she described the beginnings of A Rocha in their home in Portugal at which there was always ‘A Place at the Table'. These stories became the inspiration for Jo’s recent book which explores the transformative way in which sharing food is at the heart of a shared life. This talk will be a conversation around the theme of the book, and of A Rocha, and how they may resonate with L’Abri’s own calling.Please note that the ideas expressed in this lecture do not necessarily represent the views of L’Abri Fellowship.For more resources, visit the L'Abri Ideas Library at labriideaslibrary.org. The library contains over two thousand lectures and discussions that explore questions about the reality and relevance of Christianity. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit englishlabri.substack.com

Nov 11, 2024 • 1h 29min
Reawakening the Path to Friendship (Ingvild Hellenes, L’Abri Worker)
Statistics of people reporting that they are feeling lonely is going up, and the number of people in cities living on their own is on the rise. Justin Whitmel Earley writes in his book Made for People, “The current of modern life is to become busier, wealthier people who used to have friends”. Is loneliness our future or can we move towards connection and friendship? In this lecture we will look at some of the components of building friendships, and why it is necessary that we keep pursuing the community we were made for.Please note that the ideas expressed in this lecture do not necessarily represent the views of L’Abri Fellowship.For more resources, visit the L'Abri Ideas Library at labriideaslibrary.org. The library contains over two thousand lectures and discussions that explore questions about the reality and relevance of Christianity. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit englishlabri.substack.com

Nov 4, 2024 • 1h 46min
Panpsychism, Cosmic Consciousness and the Logos Made Flesh (Jim Paul, L’Abri Worker)
Panpsychism is the theory that consciousness (or mentality) is fundamentally present throughout the natural world. It has been gaining popularity across a variety of disciplines, from author Phillip Pullman, to neuroscientist Iain McGilchrist, to philosopher Phillip Goff. Jordan Peterson’s ideas on consciousness intersect with panpsychism and it has a following amongst ecologists who want to advocate that non-human nature has rights. This lecture will attempt to describe and then evaluate panpsychism from a Christian perspective.Please note that the ideas expressed in this lecture do not necessarily represent the views of L’Abri Fellowship.For more resources, visit the L'Abri Ideas Library at labriideaslibrary.org. The library contains over two thousand lectures and discussions that explore questions about the reality and relevance of Christianity. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit englishlabri.substack.com