Following Jesus Together - The Podcast Midtown Fellowship

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

We welcome OUR VERY FIRST GUEST on the show, author of this year’s Advent Guide, Courtney Gibson. In this episode, she shares how we might use this season of Advent and the pandemic to help us be more like Jesus. Plus, we put Courtney in the hot seat for our first-ever lightning round.

We love hearing from you too. Email us your questions, feedback, and what Jesus has been teaching you through this Advent season.

If you have a copy of the guide, our suggested donation price is $6. You can donate here.

And of course, as always, special thanks to our audio engineer Stephen Simmons.

Resources:

How to Make an Advent Wreath (for under $5)

Hope (week 1) playlist

Peace (week 2) playlist

Joy (week 3) playlist

Love (week 4) playlist

And of course, check out The CHRISTmas Experience playlist

In this standalone episode, we discuss how spiritual practices provide an anchor point to speak into the current injustices of our day.

In our season finale we discuss the discipline of simplicity, where we prioritize what matters most in our lives as we let go of everything else.

“The more you have, the more you are occupied, the less you give. But the less you have the more free you are.” -Mother Theresa

Questions or stories? Email us at podcast@midtowncolumbia.com

Resources:
Spiritual Disciplines Handbook by Adele Calhoun

Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster

Special thanks to Stephen Simmons for being our sound engineer this season and Jared Wise for composing and recording our theme music.

In this episode, we discuss slowing - where we take the principles learned from sabbathing and work it into the rest of the week.

Questions? Email us at podcast@midtowncolumbia.com

“Slowing is one way to overcome inner hurriedness and addiction to busyness. Through slowing, the sacrament of the present moment is tasted to the full.” Adele Calhoun

"Hurry is the great enemy of souls in our day. Being busy is mostly a condition of our outer world; it is having many things to do. Being hurried is a problem of the soul. It’s being so preoccupied with myself and what myself has to do that I am no longer able to be fully present with God and fully present with you. There is no way a soul can thrive when it is hurried. You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life." Dallas Willard

Resources:
Spiritual Disciplines Handbook by Adele Calhoun

Practicing the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence

“How to Digitally Detox” from FollowingJesusTogether.com

Developing a Rule of Life from FollowingJesusTogether.com

“We’re Not Wired to be this Alone” by Frank Bruni, New York Times

In our fourth episode, we discuss the practice of sabbath - where we stop from our work to rest for a full 24-hour period. Where we tend to view rest as something to earn, the biblical narrative reminds us that rest is a free gift we receive from God to enjoy Him and enjoy one another.

Questions? Email us at podcast@midtowncolumbia.com


Resources:
Sabbath Keeping: Finding Freedom in the Rhythms of Rest by Lynne Babb

The Sabbath by Abraham Joshua Heschel

Every Moment Holy by Douglas Kaine McKelvey

“You Need a Sabbath” sermon from Midtown Fellowship

FollowingJesusTogether.com

In our third episode of this season, we discuss the practice of solitude. Unlike isolation, solitude seeks to intentionally remove yourself from noise and distraction to place yourself in the presence of Jesus.

"In a noise-polluted world, it is even difficult to hear ourselves think, let alone try to be still and know God. Yet it seems essential for our spiritual life to seek some silence, no matter how busy we may be. Silence is not to be shunned as empty space, but to be befriended as fertile ground for intimacy with God." - Susan Muto

Questions? Email us at podcast@midtowncolumbia.com


Resources:
Mind Mapping from FollowingJesusTogether.com

Spiritual Disciplines Handbook by Adele Calhoun

Breath Prayer from FollowingJesusTogether.com

“The Restorative Power of Ritual” by Scott Berinato, Harvard Business Review

“Mental Health in the Age of Coronavirus” by David Brooks, New York Times