Doable Discipleship

“If we have eyes to see, we uncover joy almost everywhere. Like someone searching for sand crabs on the coastline, we may not find her under every rock. But we also don’t need to look too hard before we uncover her.” This is a quote from the new book, Longing for Joy. There are many misconceptions about joy. There are many people who may struggle with joylessness because of anxiety, depression, or other factors. But there is also an availability of joy, true deep joy, to be found in Christ and his creation. This episode today is one of those moments where I think God is up to something. I’ve seen, heard, and read a lot about joy as of late. When I hear something pop up in a lot of conversations, that’s usually a sign to me that God is wanting to do a work in us related to this topic - and it was an added nudge from God when I saw the new book, Longing for Joy, by Alastair Sterne, which quickly turned into one of my favorite books of the year. I’m joined today by Alastair to talk about the reality of longing, joy found in creation and each other, practices that help cultivate joy, and much more. Doable Discipleship is a Saddleback Church podcast produced and hosted by Jason Wieland. It premiered in 2017 and now offers more than 400 episodes. Episodes release every Tuesday on your favorite podcast app and on the Saddleback Church YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/saddleback).Resources Related to This Episode:Longing For Joy - https://www.amazon.com/Longing-Joy-Invitation-Goodness-Beauty/dp/151400898XRelated Doable Discipleship Episodes: The Burden and Gift of Living - https://youtu.be/VP6kHyBUpP4Navigating the Bible: Genesis - https://youtu.be/ddhjMfOoasALiving Out of Overflow - https://youtu.be/aBKXbHf0X0sMusic, Story, and Experience with Luke Smallbone of For King & Country - https://youtu.be/6I-ayiHn7TwLiving with Hope in the Midst of Struggle - https://youtu.be/99Nki49V0fI

A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”And the Lord said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle. 1 Samuel 3:8-111 Samuel, the 9th book of the Old Testament, is without a doubt one of my favorite books of the Bible. Continuing the narrative of God’s people, Israel, we transition from the time of the Judges into a new season – but, as is with the case of most of Israel’s history, all was not to go so easily. 1 Samuel contains a lot of well-known stories: the calling of Samuel, the anointing of Saul, the anointing of David, David and Goliath, and so on, but it’s what we learn about God and about ourselves through this book that make it so fascinating. To help us navigate 1 Samuel is Dr. David Jensen, Professor of Theology at Austin Seminary and author of a theological commentary on 1 & 2 Samuel. Doable Discipleship is a Saddleback Church podcast produced and hosted by Jason Wieland. It premiered in 2017 and now offers more than 400 episodes. Episodes release every Tuesday on your favorite podcast app and on the Saddleback Church YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/saddleback).Resources Related to This Episode:https://www.amazon.com/Samuel-Theological-Commentary-Bible-Belief/dp/0664232493Related Doable Discipleship Episodes: Navigating the Bible: Rute - https://youtu.be/YaH-t-ZzTaMNavigating the Bible: Judges - https://youtu.be/qNGcOf2o0NUNavigating the Bible: Joshua - https://youtu.be/hF28aThBtFsNavigating the Bible: Deuteronomy - https://youtu.be/HzmNgPOM4zUNavigating the Bible: Numbers - https://youtu.be/H1HO6V9HDxsNavigating the Bible: Leviticus - https://youtu.be/08RhDCXYex4Navigating the Bible: Exodus - https://youtu.be/NB9UTpS1F3MNavigating the Bible: Genesis - https://youtu.be/ddhjMfOoasAInspiring Dreams by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoonMusic promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/Creative Commons CC BY 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

I have a very vivid memory of a specific church service about 10 years ago. My wife and I go into the worship center, find seats in our usual section, but the stage looks different. There are instruments I’ve never seen on our stage, and in a configuration that I didn’t recognize. When the service starts, a group of people come out onto the stage in long coats, suspenders, moppish hair, and then the drum starts. The rap of the single snare drum (make sound) that I hadn’t heard in that way before but have come to be very familiar with now. That service sticks out so much in my mind because that’s the kind of effect For King & Country have. The experience was so exciting, so fresh, and the music itself had a similar effect. Since then, For King & Country have become one of the biggest names in Christian music as four-time Grammy winners with hit songs such as Crave, The Proof of Your Love, Fix Your Eyes, Priceless, Joy, and so many more. But they’ve also now ventured into other forms of storytelling, with movies they’ve been involved in like Unsung Hero and the new theatrical release of their Christmas Concert, Drummer Boy Live. Today's guest is Luke Smallbone, half of the duo known as For King & Country along with his brother Joel. In this conversation host Jason Wieland talks with Luke about how he sees Jesus show up in the songwriting process, the power of storytelling, how being a parent changes perspective, the special effect experiences have on us, and much more. Doable Discipleship is a Saddleback Church podcast produced and hosted by Jason Wieland. It premiered in 2017 and now offers more than 400 episodes. Episodes release every Tuesday on your favorite podcast app and on the Saddleback Church YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/saddleback).Resources Related to This Episode:For King & Country website - https://www.forkingandcountry.com/Drummer Boy Live Movie Website - https://www.fathomevents.com/events/for-king-country-a-drummer-boy-christmas-live/Related Doable Discipleship Episodes: Navigating the Bible: Genesis - https://youtu.be/ddhjMfOoasALiving Out of Overflow - https://youtu.be/aBKXbHf0X0sWhat it Looks Like to Give God All My Worship - https://youtu.be/E33yKXp1E9wLiving with Hope in the Midst of Struggle - https://youtu.be/99Nki49V0fI

Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go back to your mothers’ homes. And may the Lord reward you for your kindness to your husbands and to me." But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.” Ruth 1:8, 16. The Book of Ruth, the 8th book in the Old Testament, is surely one that stands apart from everything we’ve read so far in the Bible. We’ve been reading epic stories of nations, but Ruth is a little shining jewel that focuses in on one little family – really just something that happened in the lives of 3 connected individuals. While it’s a short book, only 4 chapters, it is not one to be ignored or forgotten. We learn so much about God in how he works in the lives of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz – and yet as with all Scripture there is always still much more goodness to reap. To help us navigate the book of Ruth is Dr. Eric Redmond, Professor of Bible and Executive Director of the Moody Theological Seminary Center for Compelling Biblical Preaching, and author of the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary on Ruth. Doable Discipleship is a Saddleback Church podcast produced and hosted by Jason Wieland. It premiered in 2017 and now offers more than 400 episodes. Episodes release every Tuesday on your favorite podcast app and on the Saddleback Church YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/saddleback).Resources Related to This Episode:https://www.amazon.com/Exalting-Jesus-Judges-Christ-Centered-Exposition/dp/1462797210Related Doable Discipleship Episodes: Navigating the Bible: Judges - https://youtu.be/qNGcOf2o0NUNavigating the Bible: Joshua - https://youtu.be/hF28aThBtFsNavigating the Bible: Deuteronomy - https://youtu.be/HzmNgPOM4zUNavigating the Bible: Numbers - https://youtu.be/H1HO6V9HDxsNavigating the Bible: Leviticus - https://youtu.be/08RhDCXYex4Navigating the Bible: Exodus - https://youtu.be/NB9UTpS1F3MNavigating the Bible: Genesis - https://youtu.be/ddhjMfOoasAInspiring Dreams by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoonMusic promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/Creative Commons CC BY 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

When we talk about reading the Bible, we usually talk about it in a personal context or in a church setting. We talk about developing personal Bible-reading habits, studying God’s Word, or growing a healthy devotional life. But today, we want to talk about reading the Bible in a different way – reading it with non-believers. Perhaps this idea is new to you, perhaps you may think I sound crazy or maybe your muscles automatically tightened at the mere notion of reading the Bible with non-believers, but I hope you stay with me. Reading the Bible with people who don’t know Jesus does not have to be as scary as it sounds. Saddleback Church is actually spearheading a new, multi-church initiative called One Million More – asking the question what if one million more fell in love with the Bible. For today’s conversation on reading the Bible with non-believers host Jason Wieland sits down with Saddleback Executive Pastor Jason Williams. Jason Williams has a long history of hosting Bible book clubs with non-believers so he’s here to break down fear barriers, give practical tips, and talk about the powerful impact that reading with non-believers can have not just on them, but on you as well. Doable Discipleship is a Saddleback Church podcast produced and hosted by Jason Wieland. It premiered in 2017 and now offers more than 400 episodes. Episodes release every Tuesday on your favorite podcast app and on the Saddleback Church YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/saddleback).Resources Related to This Episode:One Million More - https://onemillionmore.bible/Related Doable Discipleship Episodes: Navigating the Bible: Genesis - https://youtu.be/ddhjMfOoasAHow does the History of the Bible Affect How we Read it Today - https://youtu.be/l9I2WlvEeA8What Are We Getting Wrong in How We Approach the Bible? - https://youtu.be/_uAiWrq2EyUWhy Are There So Many Bible Translations? - https://youtu.be/BqeAS2HQljg

"Whenever the LORD raised up a judge over Israel, he was with that judge and rescued the people from their enemies throughout the judge’s lifetime. For the LORD took pity on his people, who were burdened by oppression and suffering. But when the judge died, the people returned to their corrupt ways, behaving worse than those who had lived before them. They went after other gods, serving and worshiping them. And they refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways." – Judges 2:18-19. The book of Judges, the 7th book in the Bible, is a fascinating look at the life of Israel, now in the land of Canaan. It’s a book of tribes, a book of land, but ultimately it’s a book about God and his people. Moses has died. Joshua dies in the beginning of chapter 2 of this book, and now the people are left to make the choice for themselves of whom they are going to follow. The influence of the Canaanite people is strong and we see quickly that Israel falls into disobeying the Lord. The verse immediately following Joshua’s death says “After that generation died, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the LORD or remember the mighty things he had done for Israel.” But thank God that he would send judges to remind Israel of who he was and is and is to come. Judges is a rich, episodic book where we see Deborah and Gideon and Samson and many others wrestle, some better than others, with how to point the people of Israel back to God. To help us navigate the book of Judges is Dr. Kenneth Way. Dr. Way is the Professor and Chair of Old Testament at Talbot School of Theology and has written a commentary on the book of Judges. Doable Discipleship is a Saddleback Church podcast produced and hosted by Jason Wieland. It premiered in 2017 and now offers more than 400 episodes. Episodes release every Tuesday on your favorite podcast app and on the Saddleback Church YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/saddleback).Resources Related to This Episode:Judges-Ruth Teach the Text Commentary - https://www.amazon.com/Judges-Ruth-Teach-Text-Commentary/dp/0801092159Related Doable Discipleship Episodes: Navigating the Bible: Joshua - https://youtu.be/hF28aThBtFsNavigating the Bible: Deuteronomy - https://youtu.be/HzmNgPOM4zUNavigating the Bible: Numbers - https://youtu.be/H1HO6V9HDxsNavigating the Bible: Leviticus - https://youtu.be/08RhDCXYex4Navigating the Bible: Exodus - https://youtu.be/NB9UTpS1F3MNavigating the Bible: Genesis - https://youtu.be/ddhjMfOoasAInspiring Dreams by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoonMusic promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/Creative Commons CC BY 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

On this Election Day in America, host Jason Wieland offers a prayer of hope, love, and peace for the nation. Doable Discipleship is a Saddleback Church podcast produced and hosted by Jason Wieland. It premiered in 2017 and now offers more than 400 episodes. Episodes release every Tuesday on your favorite podcast app and on the Saddleback Church YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/saddleback).Related Doable Discipleship Episodes: Living with a Non-Enemy Mentality - https://youtu.be/YqgVVtjFgB4Being People of Peace - https://youtu.be/4jKaSS3r4V4How to Talk with Others with Civility - https://youtu.be/9tA07RTKaI8The Power in Gentleness - https://youtu.be/So3n7PaBbYMHow to Live with Humility - https://youtu.be/UHroSMEUkXUInspiring Dreams by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoonMusic promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/Creative Commons CC BY 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

For the past two months we’ve been on an exploration of Christlike Character – and in particular, how to maintain and live with Christlike character in an election season. As of the day this episode releases, we are one week away from election day in the United States. It’s expected to be an extraordinarily close election and polarization is, if not at an all-time high, very near it. The closeness of the election and polarized nature of our politics means that one side, the Right or the Left, is going to lose, that half of the voters are going to be disappointed, and tensions will be incredibly high – which is saying something as tensions and rhetoric have already been high. Today's episode is about a matter of choice we all have. We can choose how we think about others, particularly those we disagree with. We can choose whether or not to approach others with an enemy mindset. This episode is an exploration of what the Bible says about how to think of others, our call as Christians to treat others with love, and how to have a non-enemy mindset. Doable Discipleship is a Saddleback Church podcast produced and hosted by Jason Wieland. It premiered in 2017 and now offers more than 390 episodes. Episodes release every Tuesday on your favorite podcast app and on the Saddleback Church YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/saddleback).Related Doable Discipleship Episodes: Being People of Peace - https://youtu.be/4jKaSS3r4V4How to Talk with Others with Civility - https://youtu.be/9tA07RTKaI8The Power in Gentleness - https://youtu.be/So3n7PaBbYMHow to Live with Humility - https://youtu.be/UHroSMEUkXUInspiring Dreams by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoonMusic promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/Creative Commons CC BY 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

“You have seen everything the LORD your God has done for you during my lifetime. The LORD your God has fought for you against your enemies . . . Deep in your hearts you know that every promise of the LORD your God has come true. Not a single one has failed . . . If you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 23:3, 14; 24:15. The Book of Joshua, the 6th book of the Bible and the first book after the Pentateuch, begins a new chapter in the history of God and his people. Moses the patriarch has died and God now charges Joshua to lead the people of Israel into the Promised Land. The years and decades of wandering is done: God’s people can now finally enter into the land He had called them to. However, it’s not just as simple as walking across a river – there are many obstacles that await them and that is what we see in the book of Joshua. Joshua reads like an epic story in and of itself. It’s in this book that we see God’s miracle at the Jordan river, that we meet Rahab and how she protects the Israelite spies, that the Israelites come up against the mighty walls of Jericho and watch them crumble – it’s a book full of battles and renewed covenants and the decisions of what is to become of the promised land, and then, finally, the declaration read at the beginning that as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. To help us navigate the book of Joshua is Dr. Richard Hess. Dr. Hess is the Distinguished Professor of Old Testament at Denver Seminary and author of a commentary on Joshua. Doable Discipleship is a Saddleback Church podcast produced and hosted by Jason Wieland. It premiered in 2017 and now offers more than 390 episodes. Episodes release every Tuesday on your favorite podcast app and on the Saddleback Church YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/saddleback).Resources Related to This Episode:Joshua: An Introduction and Commentary - https://www.amazon.com/Joshua-Tyndale-Old-Testament-Commentaries/dp/0830842063Related Doable Discipleship Episodes: Navigating the Bible: Deuteronomy - https://youtu.be/HzmNgPOM4zUNavigating the Bible: Numbers - https://youtu.be/H1HO6V9HDxsNavigating the Bible: Leviticus - https://youtu.be/08RhDCXYex4Navigating the Bible: Exodus - https://youtu.be/NB9UTpS1F3MNavigating the Bible: Genesis - https://youtu.be/ddhjMfOoasAInspiring Dreams by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoonMusic promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/Creative Commons CC BY 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

What does it mean to be at peace? I would venture to say that true peace is something deeper, more profound, and actually more attainable than maybe you’ve ever imagined. The world wants you to think that peace is not caring, or avoiding conflict, or not disagreeing . . . but those are just facades – bandages that actually do more to cripple relationship than they do to bring peace. I say that peace is more attainable than you may realize because true peace is found in a person – in a relationship – and it's a relationship with somebody who so genuinely wants you to experience the deep-seeded peace that only his can bring. We’ve been in a series on Christlike Character – particularly focusing on how Christlike Character should be exhibited in an election season that so wants to take away all semblances of peace in your life. So what does it mean for Christians to be people of peace – to be at peace and to be peace-makers in a volatile culture? For this conversation host Jason Wieland is joined by Meaghan Grider, Engagement Pastor at Saddleback Church and fan-favorite on this podcast. In this conversation, Meaghan and Jason talk about what true peace means, how to be full of peace, the difference between being peace makers and peace keepers, and much more.  Doable Discipleship is a Saddleback Church podcast produced and hosted by Jason Wieland. It premiered in 2017 and now offers more than 380 episodes. Episodes release every Tuesday on your favorite podcast app and on the Saddleback Church YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/saddleback).Related Doable Discipleship EpisodesHow to Talk With Others With Civility - https://youtu.be/9tA07RTKaI8The Power in Gentleness - https://youtu.be/So3n7PaBbYMHow to Live with Humility - https://youtu.be/UHroSMEUkXULiving With Hope in the Midst of Struggle - https://youtu.be/99Nki49V0fIThinking About the Fruit of the Spirit - https://youtu.be/1JPaiNnbcAs

The Book of Deuteronomy, the fifth book of the Bible and the final book of the Pentateuch, is a book about the precipice of transition. The Israelites have been wandering the desert for decades, seemingly marching towards the Promised Land but wondering if and when they would ever make it. Now they are at the doorstep, they can see the promise of God before them, but Moses knows he will not be the one leading them from that point on. Moses, the prophet and leader of Israel, has final words for this people of God – and that is the book of Deuteronomy. It’s a look at Moses’ heart for Israel, at God’s heart for his people. It’s a call to choose the Lord – Moses can no longer choose God for them. Deuteronomy is a wonderful book and to help navigate it today is Dr. Sandra Richter. Dr. Richter is the Robert H. Gundry Chair of Biblical Studies as Westmont whose books include The Epic of Eden, and an upcoming commentary on Deuteronomy. Doable Discipleship is a Saddleback Church podcast produced and hosted by Jason Wieland. It premiered in 2017 and now offers more than 380 episodes. Episodes release every Tuesday on your favorite podcast app and on the Saddleback Church YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/saddleback).Resources Related to This Episode:The Epic of Eden - https://www.amazon.com/Epic-Eden-Christian-Entry-Testament/dp/0830825770?&linkCode=sl1&tag=thetorcom-20&linkId=c4ebf3d91cf11939681928bf27c12637&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tlRelated Doable Discipleship Episodes: Navigating the Bible: Numbers - https://youtu.be/H1HO6V9HDxsNavigating the Bible: Leviticus - https://youtu.be/08RhDCXYex4Navigating the Bible: Exodus - https://youtu.be/NB9UTpS1F3MNavigating the Bible: Genesis - https://youtu.be/ddhjMfOoasANavigating the Bible: The Pentateuch - https://youtu.be/mmChxhfsLq0Inspiring Dreams by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoonMusic promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/Creative Commons CC BY 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

When we talk about character, particularly in an election season, we have to talk about civility. At its heart, civility is about respect – respect for other people – and that is something that we’ve seen to move away from. One could say it's a lost art . . . but it shouldn’t even be considered an art – it should be an inherent value. Yet as a culture we seem all the ready to disregard the opinions and considerations of others and lose civility in the process. So, how should Christians consider civility? All people should be civil, but  today's episode is specifically talking to the church and offering that reminder that Christlike character is expressed civilly. And there are many deep elements about this truth that my guest is going to guide us through today. That guest is Tom Holladay, frequent guest on this podcast and former teaching pastor at Saddleback Church. In this conversation, Tom and I talk about whether the loss of civility really is a modern thing or is seen in history as well, the winsomeness of civility, why civility matters in us and in leaders, and how we can approach our relationships with civility. Doable Discipleship is a Saddleback Church podcast produced and hosted by Jason Wieland. It premiered in 2017 and now offers more than 380 episodes. Episodes release every Tuesday on your favorite podcast app and on the Saddleback Church YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/saddleback).Related Doable Discipleship EpisodesThe Power in Gentleness - https://youtu.be/So3n7PaBbYMHow to Live with Humility - https://youtu.be/UHroSMEUkXUNavigating the Bible: Genesis - https://youtu.be/ddhjMfOoasALiving With Hope in the Midst of Struggle - https://youtu.be/99Nki49V0fIThinking About the Fruit of the Spirit - https://youtu.be/1JPaiNnbcAs

“Please, Lord, prove that your power is as great as you have claimed. For you said, ‘The Lord is slow to anger and filled with unfailing love, forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion. But he does not excuse the guilty. He lays the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected – even children in the third and fourth generations.’ In keeping with your magnificent, unfailing love, please pardon the sins of this people, just as you have forgiven them ever since they left Egypt.” - Numbers 14:17-19 (NLT) This passage from Number 14 gives us a rather significant peak into the heart of the book of Numbers, the fourth book of the Bible. Numbers continues the story of the Israelites, bringing us deeper into the life of Moses, Aaron and the rest of Israel as a people in-between Egypt and the Promised Land, all the while learning to live with the God who wants to dwell with them. This is an extraordinarily rich book where we find life in the Israelite camp, the beautiful priestly blessing of chapter 6, the wandering in the desert and God’s provision in it, the scouts reporting on the land of Canaan, the earth swallowing up people, Moses’ devastating sin, Balaam and his donkey, battles and much more. To help us navigate the book of Numbers, host Jason Wieland joined by Dr. Michael Morales, Professor of Biblical Studies at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and author a commentary on the book of Numbers. Navigating the Bible is a special podcast series, part of the Doable Discipleship Podcast. Doable Discipleship is a Saddleback Church podcast produced and hosted by Jason Wieland. It premiered in 2017 and now offers more than 380 episodes. Episodes release every Tuesday on your favorite podcast app and on the Saddleback Church YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/saddleback).Resources Related to This Episode:Numbers 1-19 Commentary by Michael Morales - https://www.amazon.com/Numbers-Apollos-Old-Testament-Commentary/dp/1789744717Numbers 20-36 Commentary by Michael Morales - https://www.amazon.com/Numbers-20-36-Apollos-Testament-Commentary/dp/1789745551Related Doable Discipleship Episodes: Navigating the Bible: Leviticus - https://youtu.be/08RhDCXYex4Navigating the Bible: Exodus - https://youtu.be/NB9UTpS1F3MNavigating the Bible: Genesis - https://youtu.be/ddhjMfOoasANavigating the Bible: The Pentateuch - https://youtu.be/mmChxhfsLq0Inspiring Dreams by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoonMusic promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/Creative Commons CC BY 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Today’s conversation is about gentleness. Two weeks ago we started a series on Christian Character with an episode on humility. Today we are going to couple that with a look at gentleness. In Matthew 11:29, Jesus says, “Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” There’s a link here between being humble and being gentle, but they are indeed two distinct characteristics and worth talking about separately. Now, many people may consider gentleness in the same light as soft or weak, but my guest today will put this idea on its head and show the strength that is to be found in gentleness. That guest is Buddy Owens – a teaching pastor at Saddleback Church and a fan favorite on this podcast. In this conversation, Buddy and host Jason Wieland talk about what biblical gentleness really looks like, how biblical gentleness compares to what the world says about it, the winsomeness of gentleness, how we need to be extra intentional in an election season, and much more. Doable Discipleship is a Saddleback Church podcast produced and hosted by Jason Wieland. It premiered in 2017 and now offers more than 380 episodes. Episodes release every Tuesday on your favorite podcast app and on the Saddleback Church YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/saddleback).Related Doable Discipleship EpisodesHow to Live with Humility - https://youtu.be/UHroSMEUkXUNavigating the Bible: Genesis - https://youtu.be/ddhjMfOoasALiving With Hope in the Midst of Struggle - https://youtu.be/99Nki49V0fIThinking Differently About Shame - https://youtu.be/sqKGDjBcHHcThinking About the Fruit of the Spirit - https://youtu.be/1JPaiNnbcAs

“The Lord also said to Moses, ‘Give the following instruction to the entire community of Israel. You must be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.'” - Leviticus 19:1-2 Genesis begins the story of humanity and the God who wanted a family to love and to love him. Exodus offers the first look at the lengths God will go to care for his people on a grand scale. Leviticus, the third book of the Bible, shows us the lengths God will go to care for his people on a personal scale. Leviticus is, ultimately, about relationship – it is a holy God telling the people of Israel how they can be in relationship with him despite the brokenness of sin. It’s an extraordinary book in teaching about who God is and who we are. Now, Leviticus has a reputation of being a rather difficult or tedious book – one that many people skip. But as we navigate through Leviticus, today's guest will make you want to dive into Leviticus head first and see it in a new, exciting way.  To help us navigate Leviticus, host Jason Wieland is joined by Dr. Jay Sklar, Vice President of Academics and Professor of Old Testament at Covenant Theological Seminary, and author of not one but two commentaries on Leviticus. In this conversation, Jay gives an incredible explanation about why we shouldn’t skip Leviticus but instead see it through new lenses that will make you see the book in a whole new way. Navigating the Bible is a special podcast series, part of the Doable Discipleship Podcast. Doable Discipleship is a Saddleback Church podcast produced and hosted by Jason Wieland. It premiered in 2017 and now offers more than 380 episodes. Episodes release every Tuesday on your favorite podcast app and on the Saddleback Church YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/saddleback).Resources Related to This Episode:TOTC Commentary on Leviticus by Jay Sklar - https://www.amazon.com/Leviticus-Tyndale-Old-Testament-Commentaries/dp/0830842845Zondervan Commentary on Leviticus by Jay Sklar - https://www.amazon.com/Leviticus-Zondervan-Exegetical-Commentary-Testament/dp/0310942187From Dr. Sklar:OT Pentateuch.com - https://www.otpentateuch.com/audiohttps://bibleproject.com/classroom/exodus-overview-carmen-imes/Related Doable Discipleship Episodes: Navigating the Bible: Exodus - https://youtu.be/NB9UTpS1F3MNavigating the Bible: Genesis - https://youtu.be/ddhjMfOoasANavigating the Bible: The Pentateuch - https://youtu.be/mmChxhfsLq0

“Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.” - Proverbs 18:12. Humility is, without question, an integral part of what is means to be a Christian – a follower of Jesus, as we humbly acknowledge that there is a better way than what I could come up with on my own devices. When we get down into it, humility is an integral part of what it means to be saved – the acknowledgement that I cannot save myself from my sin and the humility to realize that I need a savior. But we have an interesting relationship with humility because the line between genuine and disingenuous humility is so, so thin. Jane Austen said, “Nothing is more deceitful than the appearance of humility. It is often only carelessness of opinion, and sometimes an indirect boast.” So what makes biblical humility different and how should humility look in our daily life? What are the marks of a genuinely humble person? For this conversation host Jason Wieland is joined by Jamin Goggin, co-author of the books Beloved Dust and The Way of the Dragon or the Way of the Lamb. In this conversation, Jamin and Jason talk about what biblical humility is, the stark contrast between humility and pride, how we can be more intentional in our humility especially in this season, humility in leadership, and much more. Doable Discipleship is a Saddleback Church podcast produced and hosted by Jason Wieland. It premiered in 2017 and now offers more than 380 episodes. Episodes release every Tuesday on your favorite podcast app and on the Saddleback Church YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/saddleback).Resources for this episode: The Way of the Dragon or the Way of the Lamb - https://www.amazon.com/Way-Dragon-Lamb-Searching-Abandoned/dp/0718022351Beloved Dust - https://www.amazon.com/Beloved-Dust-Drawing-Discovering-Yourself/dp/0529110202Related Doable Discipleship EpisodesNavigating the Bible: Genesis - https://youtu.be/ddhjMfOoasALiving With Hope in the Midst of Struggle - https://youtu.be/99Nki49V0fIThinking Differently About Shame - https://youtu.be/sqKGDjBcHHcThinking About the Fruit of the Spirit - https://youtu.be/1JPaiNnbcAs

“Moses protested, ‘If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?’ God replied to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM. Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you.’ God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors-the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob-has sent me to you.” - Exodus 3:13-15Genesis introduced us to the world and to ourselves. Exodus, the second book of the Old Testament of the Bible, does more to introduce us to God – to he who was, and is, and is to come. To a God so eternal that he identifies himself as I AM, but also a God so personal that he also chooses to identify himself in relation to people – the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Exodus is a book of movement, propelling the true story of God and his people forward in such a way that sets forth not just the rest of the Biblical narrative, but human history up to where we are today. It is in Exodus that we see the baby in the basket, the burning bush, the ten plagues, the first Passover, the parting of the Red Sea, the 10 commandments, and so much more. To introduce us to the book of Exodus, host Jason Wieland is joined by Dr. Carmen Joy Imes. Dr. Imes is an Associate Professor of Old Testament at Talbot School of Theology, author of the books Being God’s Image and Bearing God’s Name, and is currently working on a commentary of Exodus. Navigating the Bible is a special podcast series, part of the Doable Discipleship Podcast. Doable Discipleship is a Saddleback Church podcast produced and hosted by Jason Wieland. It premiered in 2017 and now offers more than 380 episodes. Episodes release every Tuesday on your favorite podcast app and on the Saddleback Church YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/saddleback).Resources Related to This Episode:Being God's Image - https://www.amazon.com/Being-Gods-Image-Creation-Matters-ebook/dp/B0BLD43TVCBearing God's Name - https://www.amazon.com/Bearing-Gods-Name-Sinai-Matters-ebook/dp/B07V6ZW9C1From Dr. Imes:Torah Tuesday - https://www.youtube.com/c/CarmenJoyImesPhDExodus Classroom for Bible Project - https://bibleproject.com/classroom/exodus-overview-carmen-imes/Exodus Class for Biblical Training - https://www.biblicaltraining.org/learn/institute/exodus-imesRelated Doable Discipleship Episodes: Navigating the Bible: Genesis - https://youtu.be/ddhjMfOoasANavigating the Bible: The Pentateuch - https://youtu.be/mmChxhfsLq0What Does it Mean to be Made in God's Image - https://youtu.be/S12S7rjsgCwInspiring Dreams by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoonMusic promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/Creative Commons CC BY 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Do you feel you get enough rest in the course of your day or your week? Most people would probably say no – who couldn’t use more rest? What if I were to tell you that you could be at rest right now. Even in the midst of whatever you’re doing at this very moment, you can enjoy rest – the way God intended it. Because true rest is different than what we generally think it means. In fact, we can go all the way back to the story of creation to learn about how God sees rest and how it can completely change the way we view and experience genuine rest. In today's episode, host Jason Wieland is joined by Rachel Booth Smith, author of the new book Rest Assured. In this conversation Rachel and Jason talk about how what the Bible teaches about rest is different than our typical understanding, the role of intention, the uniqueness of the creation story found in Genesis, the difference between forced and relaxed faith, and much more. Doable Discipleship is a Saddleback Church podcast produced and hosted by Jason Wieland. It premiered in 2017 and now offers more than 380 episodes. Episodes release every Tuesday on your favorite podcast app and on the Saddleback Church YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/saddleback).Resources for this episode: Rest Assured by Rachel Booth Smith - https://www.amazon.com/Rest-Assured-Creation-Intended-Trusting/dp/0802432743Related Doable Discipleship EpisodesNavigating the Bible: Genesis - https://youtu.be/ddhjMfOoasALiving With Hope in the Midst of Struggle - https://youtu.be/99Nki49V0fIThinking Differently About Shame - https://youtu.be/sqKGDjBcHHcThinking About the Fruit of the Spirit - https://youtu.be/1JPaiNnbcAs

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” With that single sentence, thus unfolds the Bible, the word of God, and the beginning of history. Genesis, the first of 66 books of the Bible, takes the reader on an incredible journey from the creation of the universe to the creation of man to the fall of man to an ark that survives a global flood to a childless man who God promised would have descendants outnumbering the stars to a man who wrestles with God to a young man who goes from being a slave and prisoner to the second in power of all of Egypt. But Genesis isn’t just a series of historic accounts, it is an introduction to who God is, to the Gospel message, and to his never-ending love for us . . . for you. There are themes in Genesis that resonate throughout all of Scripture and truths in this book that can impact your life today.For this episode, host Jason Wieland is joined by Dr. Andrew Steinmann, a recently retired professor from Concordia University Chicago and author of many books including a commentary on Genesis. In this conversation, Jason and Dr. Steinmann talk about the authorship of Genesis, the narrative flow of Genesis, what Genesis teaches us about God and about humanity, and much more. Navigating the Bible is a special podcast series, part of the Doable Discipleship Podcast. Doable Discipleship is a Saddleback Church podcast produced and hosted by Jason Wieland. It premiered in 2017 and now offers more than 380 episodes. Episodes release every Tuesday on your favorite podcast app and on the Saddleback Church YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/saddleback).Resources Related to This Episode:Genesis: Tyndale Old Testament Commentary - https://www.christianbook.com/genesis-tyndale-old-testament-commentary/Related Doable Discipleship Episodes: Navigating the Bible: The Pentateuch - https://youtu.be/mmChxhfsLq0What Does It Look Like to Live Theologically- https://youtu.be/FZYtjFNsdlIInspiring Dreams by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoonMusic promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/Creative Commons CC BY 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Have you ever prayed hard for something - maybe for someone to be healed or for a job or for a healed relationship - and you didn't get the answer you were hoping for? Have you felt like God said "no" to your prayer? It can be very difficult for us when our prayers aren't answered the way we hope they would be. But what does this say about God and what does it say about us? How should we approach things when God says no? For this episode, host Jason Wieland is joined by Saddleback Church Teaching Pastor Buddy Owens to talk about when God says no. Jason and Buddy talk about what we should know about prayer and how it affects what we expect as a response from God, the reality of not understanding all of God's ways, the role of faith and much more. Doable Discipleship is a Saddleback Church podcast produced and hosted by Jason Wieland. It premiered in 2017 and now offers more than 380 episodes. Episodes release every Tuesday on your favorite podcast app and on the Saddleback Church YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/saddleback).Originally released September 12, 2022Related Doable Discipleship Episodes: Walking Through Sickness in Faith - https://youtu.be/ahVwSg0fc_ETypes of Prayer - https://youtu.be/LldUFR4DDesThe Power of Intercessory Prayer - https://youtu.be/29qWvhFZaII