CCEF Podcast: Where Life & Scripture Meet CCEF

How can understanding Jesus’ emotions help us understand our own? Listen as Alasdair Groves focuses on one particular emotion which Jesus felt: anger, which we see in Scripture is often directed at the things that turn people away from him.

“Jesus is angry about anything that pulls his people away from him, that pulls his people away from their home, the place of life, the house of the living God, where he is leading us to dwell forever and ever.”

Mentioned in this episode: We recently released a new podcast called the CCEF Blogcast! Listen as CCEF authors read their own blogs on a variety of topics. You can find it on your favorite podcast app!

This is episode 4 in a miniseries on emotions (listen to episode 1, episode 2, and episode 3). Quick reminder: the final episode of this miniseries will be a response to listener questions. Do you have any questions about emotions? We'd love to hear from you! Email us your question at podcast@ccef.org.

Related resources:
Good & Angry | Book by David Powlison Be Angry & Do Not Sin | Blog post by Ed Welch Untangling Emotions | Book by Alasdair Groves

How can understanding Jesus’ emotions help us understand our own? Listen as Alasdair Groves focuses on one particular emotion which Jesus felt: compassion, an ache on the heart that presses toward action to make things better.“
 
God sees our frantic bleating, living like sheep without a shepherd, harassed and helpless. He is a good shepherd, and he has compassion on his sheep, even especially where we struggle to have compassion for others.”
 
Mentioned in this podcast: We're excited to announce the 2024 CCEF National Conference on the topic of rest. Learn more and register at ccef.org/nc24.
 
This is episode 3 in a miniseries on emotions (listen to episode 1 here and episode 2 here). Do you have any questions about emotions? You can email us at podcast@ccef.org, and we’ll spend the last episode of the miniseries answering some of your questions.
 
Related resources:
Because He Cares—for Me? | Blog post by Alasdair Groves Saints, Sufferers, and Sinners | Book by Mike Emlet

How can understanding Jesus’ emotions help us understand our own? Listen as Alasdair Groves focuses on one particular emotion which Jesus felt, just hours before his crucifixion: dread. How does Jesus’ experience of dread encourage us in our own experience of it?
 
Mentioned in this podcast: Head to ccef.org/school to register for Dynamics of Biblical Change, one of our foundational courses, in the March 2024 term. Pricing increases after February 5, so register soon for the discount!
 
This is episode 2 in a miniseries on emotions (listen to episode 1 here). Do you have any questions about emotions? You can email us at podcast@ccef.org, and we’ll spend the last episode of the miniseries answering some of your questions.
 
Related resources:
“I often experience intense emotions that can feel debilitating. How can I grow?” | Video by Alasdair Groves Untangling Emotions | Book by Alasdair Groves & Winston Smith

“The heart poured out to the Lord is actually a form of trust.”
 
Sometimes we find ourselves unable to control our emotions. Often this produces guilt, and we wonder, “What does that say about my faith?” How do we navigate such an experience? Listen as Alasdair Groves discusses this experience and what faithful living looks like in this first episode of a miniseries on emotions.
 
Related resources:
Untangling Emotions | Book by Alasdair Groves & Winston Smith Emotions Are a Language | Blog post by Ed Welch Strong Emotions, Extreme Confidence | Blog post by Ed Welch Negative Emotions (Part 1) | Podcast episode by Alasdair Groves

Sometimes Scripture feels dry, distant, or impersonal. How do we apply Scripture in these times? How do we take hold of a cup of cold water when we are most thirsty?

Listen as Alasdair Groves discusses what it looks like to bring Scripture to bear on our sufferings and struggles, using several examples from his own life.

Related resources:
Shaking Off Some Lifelessness with the Psalms | Blog post by Ed Welch https://www.ccef.org/shaking-off-some-lifelessness-with-the-psalms How Do You Personally Engage with Scripture? | Podcast episode by Alasdair Groves & Mike Emlet https://www.ccef.org/podcast/how-do-you-personally-engage-with-scripture Take Heart: Daily Devotions to Deepen Your Faith | Book by David Powlison https://www.ccef.org/book/take-heart-daily-devotions-to-deepen-your-faith

Do you ever feel guilty about how small or weak your faith is? Listen as Alasdair Groves talks about weak faith, primarily considering an example from Peter, one of Jesus’ own disciples.
 
“It's not about the strength of your faith. It's about the strength of the Savior. It's about the strength of the one who can pull you out of the dark waters and bring you back to the boat. Even the tiniest little bit of faith is God's gift to us anyway.”
 
Related resources:
The Way of Wisdom in Weakness & Self-Doubt | Conference talk by Esther Liu https://www.ccef.org/session/the-way-of-wisdom-in-weakness-self-doubt What can I do to strengthen my weak faith? | Video by Winston Smith https://www.ccef.org/video/how-can-i-strengthen-my-weak-faith-0 An Open Letter to a Discouraged Saint | Blog post by Mike Emlet https://www.ccef.org/an-open-letter-to-a-discouraged-saint