Spirituality For Ordinary People

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mattbrough.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mattbrough.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mattbrough.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mattbrough.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mattbrough.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mattbrough.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mattbrough.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mattbrough.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mattbrough.substack.com

Episode 37 is based on a message given at Prairie Presbyterian Church on Dec 17, 2017.Visit www.spiritualityfornormalpeople.com/sixstories to view the artwork referenced in this episode. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mattbrough.substack.com

Episode 36 of the podcast features an interview with Rodrigo de la Sotta. Rodrigo is the director of spiritual formation for Cyclical LA, an organization that develops leaders toward sustainability in a church-starting ecosystem. As a Coach and Spiritual Director, his passion is to help others explore how theological reflection and psychological development can have a meaningful conversation and how sacred space can be discovered in all things. He considers Chico his hometown, though his roots will always be found in his native land of Chile.Some of What We Talk About:Church planting and spiritual healthMatters of spirituality are so often assumed.Much of our effort is in telling people how important prayer is, rather than helping them learn to pray.How can sacred space be discovered in all things?Beginning with the assumption that God is present everywhere.The challenge of teaching people to prayUsing a prayer of Recollection (see this video) Understanding prayer through a relational lensAre you hearing from

Episode 35 of the podcast features an interview with Ben McFarland. Ben teaches biochemistry and chemistry at Seattle Pacific University in Seattle, Washington. He is also connected with BioLogos, an organization that invites the church and the world to see the harmony between science and biblical faith.Some of What We Talk About:How can there be a harmony between science and faithWhere does the perceived conflict between faith and science come from?The philosophy of scientismHow interpretation is present in both science and theologyUnderstanding the "book of God" and the "book of nature.”What to say to people who believe that science is all there isWhat to say to Christians who reject certain scientific ideas (e.g. Big Bang theory, evolution)How is it that we read Genesis 1-3J.R.R. Tolkien leading C.S. Lewis to ChristListening to various theological voicesThe importance of order, sabbath, being part of your communityReminding yourself to pray, and how God brings you back from a “default deism"The origins of

Episode 34 of the podcast is the third part of a 3 part series where I read from my book, Let God Be Present.Part two is called "After the Storm: A Reflection On Mark 4:36-41 And What Follows"You can buy a copy of Let God Be Present on Amazon or get a paperback copy sent to you when you support the podcast on Patreon at the $4 per month level.A little more about Let God Be Present...What does it really mean to connect with God? We search for meaning, connection, or guidance, but rarely let go of our pre-conceived notions of what we want to hear. This book asks you to trust God to be present and speak on His terms, rather than insisting that God fit in with your own idea of what He should be doing in your life. Join others in contributing financially to help pay for hosting and equipment costs.  Follow Matthew Brough on Social Media:TwitterFacebookInstagram This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mattbrough.substack.com

This bonus episode features a sermon preached by Matthew Brough at Prairie Presbyterian Church on November 19, 2017. It walks through the first two chapters of the Book of Ruth, and discovers that it has a lot to say about how we treat "foreigners." Ruth was a Moabite who came to live in Bethlehem as an outsider. How was she treated and how was it different than the usual way she might have been treated?  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mattbrough.substack.com

Subscribe: iTunes | Stitcher | TuneIn Radio | Google PlayEpisode 33 of the podcast is the second part of a 3 part series where I read from my book, Let God Be Present. Part two is called "Tuning in and Trusting God: A Reflection on 1 Samuel 3"You can buy a copy of Let God Be Present on Amazon or get a paperback copy sent to you when you support the podcast on Patreon at the $4 per month level.A little more about Let God Be Present...What does it really mean to connect with God? We search for meaning, connection, or guidance, but rarely let go of our pre-conceived notions of what we want to hear. This book asks you to trust God to be present and speak on His terms, rather than insisting that God fit in with your own idea of what He should be doing in your life. Join others in contributing financially to help pay for hosting and equipment costs.  Follow Matthew Brough on Social Media:TwitterFacebookInstagram This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonu

Episode 31 of the podcast is the first part of a 3 part series where I read from my book, Let God Be Present. In this first part, I do a brief introduction about how I have always struggled with the word "spirituality" and why this particular book fits with the idea of this podcast. After the intro, I read the introduction to the book itself and then move into the longer section, which is Part 1 of the book, titled "God's Presence Even When You Might Not Want It: A Reflection on Exodus 31-33."You can buy a copy of Let God Be Present on Amazon or get a paperback copy sent to you when you support the podcast on Patreon at the $4 per month level.A little more about Let God Be Present...What does it really mean to connect with God? We search for meaning, connection, or guidance, but rarely let go of our pre-conceived notions of what we want to hear. This book asks you to trust God to be present and speak on His terms, rather than insisting that God fit in with your own idea of what He should be doing in your life

Happy Reformation Day! 500 years ago today (this episode is coming out on October 31st, 2017), Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of the Church in Wittenberg and started the Protestant Reformation.  I thought it would be a ton of fun to talk to a "Reformation expert," and I did. What a great conversation!!!Episode 31 of the podcast features an interview with Bruce Gordon. Bruce is Professor of Ecclesiastical History at Yale Divinity School and is an expert on late-medieval and early modern periods, with a particular interest in the Reformation and its reception.Some of What We Talk About:The meaning and importance of pietyThe centrality of prayer for the reformersPraying the hours of the day was common for the reformers, patterned on the monastic lifeThe doing of charitable works was part of spiritual practice for the reformersWhat changed in terms of spirituality with the onset of the ReformationHow a sense of the mystical, sacredness, and wonder may have been lost with the onset of Protestantism

Episode 30 of the podcast features an interview with Kaitlyn Curtice. Kaitlyn is a Native American writer, teacher and worship leader. Her writing is beautiful, observant, and gracious. Her book, Glory Happening: Finding the Diving in Everyday Places is a book of stories and prayers that remind you to take a closer look at your everyday circumstances, to find the magical beauty in everyday experiences. It is an invitation to live deeply into every moment with the expectation that something good will find you at the end of the day.Some of What We Talk About:Staying still and taking in the beauty around youWhat is the glory of God?The difficulty of slowing downRhythms of seasons, days, and weeksThe first way we learn about God is through natureReading the Bible as an Indigenous personThe temptation of Jesus as wilderness / "learning who you" are storyUnderstanding Jesus as non-whiteThe silence of the Church with respect to Indigenous historyThe importance of hearing the story of North America’s indigenous peopl

Episode 29 of the podcast features an interview with Children's author Laura Alary. Laura has written several books, including the new Look! A Child’s Guide to Advent and Christmas and Make Room: A Child’s Guide to Lent and Easter - both written and illustrated for children ages 7-10.Toward the end of the interview, we talk about an awesome new Children's Bible that Laura has written. You can get Read, Wonder, Listen: Stories from the Bible for Young Readers today!Some of What We Talk About:Teresa McDonald-Lee’s interview - talking about spirituality for childrenExploring the liturgical year with childrenThemes present in Look! A Child’s Guide to Advent and ChristmasPrompting wonder in childrenTactile experiences for children in worship - Prayer flags and Fruit juice of the spiritWalking a labyrinth - Robin McGauley’s interviewSeasonal table - advent wreaths, figurines of biblical people, Jesse Tree (some info on a Jesse tree)Observing the season of AdventA daily walk as meditationLinks and Resources:Laura Al

Episode 28 of the podcast features an interview with Brian Zahnd. Brian is the pastor of Word of Life Church in St. Joseph, Missouri and author of several books, including Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God and A Farewell to Mars.Some of What We Talk About:Experiencing dramatic conversion to Christ and the impact moving forwardBeing honest in our approach to the scriptures and centering our understanding of Christ by reading the gospelsHow the Crucifixion of Jesus provides a lens for understanding the violence of humanityHow God’s "response" to the crucifixion is forgiveness and the sending out of the apostlesHow we mistake violent retribution for justice but God’s justice is restorativeThe place of the Book of Revelation - prophetic critique of the Roman Empire - laden with symbolMystical encounters in prayer - God as love and lightSpiritual practice - Brian has a regular morning liturgy that he follows. He learned to sit silently acknowledging the presence of Jesus / occasionally something would happen -