Things Above

In this episode, James Bryan Smith explains the difference between guilt and shame. Shame is feeling bad about who we are. Guilt, in contrast, is feeling bad about what we have done. Guilt can be healthy because it allows us to make amends or change our behavior. However, shame is always bad. Smith explains that […] The post Guilt versus Shame appeared first on Apprentice Institute.

People have a tendency to fear God largely because of our sins. At the heart of our fear lies the narrative that our unfaithfulness to God makes us unlovable by God. This is nothing new for humanity. Ancient Israel struggled with this same fear. In this episode of the Things Above podcast, James Bryan Smith […] The post Greater Than Our Sins appeared first on Apprentice Institute.

In this episode, James Bryan Smith has a conversation with author and pastor Greg Boyd about the transformational process of “mind discipleship.” Greg also describes his childhood journey and the struggles he faced at home and at church. Ultimately, this was very healing, as he moved from deep feelings of helplessness and hopelessness to an […] The post Things Above Conversation 5 appeared first on Apprentice Institute.

In this episode James Bryan Smith explains this glorious thought: You are God’s beloved even in your worst moments. The world we live in today is based on comparison, Smith explains that when we live into this culture of comparison we begin to reject ourselves. We begin to think that we are not good enough […] The post God’s Beloved appeared first on Apprentice Institute.

Our daily activity sometimes causes us to miss the best moments in life. We get lost in our thoughts and fail to see God who is in our midst. In this episode of the Things Above podcast, James Bryan Smith shares a heavenly thought: Be mindful that God is with you in all you do. […] The post Be Mindful appeared first on Apprentice Institute.

Have you discovered that worrying is a healthy way to deal with the future? Yah, me neither. Jesus has something better in mind. In this episode of the Things Above podcast, James Bryan Smith tells us that worrying does nothing positive for us. However, it does come with several negative consequences. Jesus teaches us that […] The post Worry appeared first on Apprentice Institute.

In this episode of the Things above podcast, James Bryan Smith chats with author and pastor J.R. Briggs about a glorious thought that changed the trajectory of his life. Briggs offers a two-fold answer. First, it was the present availability of the kingdom of God and eternal living. The second thought centers on what it […] The post Things Above Conversation 4 appeared first on Apprentice Institute.

What is the true meaning of Christmas? In this episode of the Things Above podcast, James Bryan Smith shares about growing up in the Methodist Church and the influence John Wesley had on his life. Interestingly enough, Richard Foster was the one who pointed Jim to Wesley’s writings and sermons. If he were alive today, […] The post Second Birth appeared first on Apprentice Institute.

The events of our world can be troubling – leading to fear, anxiety and panic. In this episode of the Things above podcast, James Bryan Smith asks, “Is our world governed by fear? Is our fate decided by a roll of the dice?” The short answer is no – because we live in the strong […] The post The Last Word appeared first on Apprentice Institute.

Is it possible for God to overcome our shame? In this episode of the Things Above podcast, James Bryan Smith tells the story of how the great Christian writer, Simone Weil, came to faith simply by reading a poem written by George Herbert, entitled “Love III.” This is what Herbert wrote: Love bade me welcome. […] The post Shame appeared first on Apprentice Institute.