Pulpit To Pew Rev. Beverly Gibson and Johnny Gwin

In this episode, Rev. Gibson and Johnny Gwin dive deep into the Book of Ruth. This short book but long story details the lives, hardships, and redemption of Ruth, Naomi, Boaz, and the early lineage of King David and eventually Jesus. Within its narrative and lessons, we learn of Ruth as a powerful and resilient woman who represents the threshold of grief and hope. Ruth is the biblical gold standard of loyalty and self-sacrifice. Her story is one of hope, faith, and the power of love overcoming fear and violence to make all things new. Her self-giving and loyal actions have been an inspiration to millions of Christians, Jews, writers, and artists. You should really get to know Ruth.


Readings:
Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17
Hebrews 9:24-28
Mark 12:38-44

About Pulpit To Pew
Pulpit to Pew is a conversation between priest and parishioner, to understand how the message translates and to explore further the weekly Sunday sermon and lessons within the Episcopal tradition and daily life.
Learn more about Christ Church Cathedral.
Please come and worship with us every Sunday at 10 am (central)
Pulpit To Pew is a Christ Church Cathedral and Deep Fried Studios collaboration.

 
There are so many secular views of what Heaven may be. Most are child-like, non-theological and created with comforting imagination. No one knows the real Heaven, but God's Kingdom is described in many ways throughout the Old and New Testament. In this episode, Rev. Gibson and Johnny discuss the secular and sacred nature of Heaven and the New Jerusalem. Where is Heaven? When is Heaven? Heaven is a real place created by God for his People, and Its ultimate end is not floating in the ether but is made new and fully here in the present. Plus, Rev. Gibson explains the Church's view of the Saints, the dearly departed, and their connection to us and the presence of God.

Key Takeaways
> Heaven described in Isaiah and Revelation is a goal and vision. A vision that shapes us in this broken world to have hope so we can participate with God to work to heal it, recreate it, and make it new and whole.
> All the things and people that have been created by God continue in Him.
> Prayers to the Saints and to our loved ones in the Cloud of Witnesses lift us up and unify us to the Divine and strengthens our unity as a community gathered in Christ.
> We do not come to God, he comes to us.
> New life comes from God's power over death.


Readings:
Isaiah 25:6-9
Revelation 21:1-6a
John 11:32-44

About Pulpit To Pew
Pulpit to Pew is a conversation between priest and parishioner, to understand how the message translates and to explore further the weekly Sunday sermon and lessons within the Episcopal tradition and daily life.
Learn more about Christ Church Cathedral.
Please come and worship with us every Sunday at 10 am (central)
Pulpit To Pew is a Christ Church Cathedral and Deep Fried Studios collaboration.

In this episode, Rev. Gibson and Johnny discuss the Disciples and their constant and almost comical chronic misunderstanding of Jesus's teachings of humility and prophecy of his tragic suffering and crucifixion. Jesus preached a message of extreme service and sacrifice for others. Yet, just like us, the Disciples frequently fell to ego, earthly desires and pride. This week's show focuses on defeating the ego, never forgetting your mission, a lifetime of learning, embracing the mindset of the eternal student, and silencing the talk, talk, talk in our heads. Rev. Gibson shares the insights of Ryan Holiday, and his book Ego Is The Enemy and the many lessons within its covers. Metallic, Megadeath, Gilda Radner and Marlon Brando are all discussed, and Johnny can't quit talking about Season 3 of Netflix's Daredevil series. The key takeaway from this installment of Pulpit to Pew: silencing our ego and embracing this "silence" creates a space for God's work to be done within us and in the world. This silence starts by accepting the reality of the present, exercising humility, following the acts of Jesus, and putting our calling before our being. Enjoy the show!


Resources:
Ego Is The Enemy - by Ryan Holiday

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE BOOK
 
Readings:
Job 38:1-7, (34-41)
Hebrews 5:1-10
Mark 10:35-45

About Pulpit To Pew
Pulpit to Pew is a conversation between priest and parishioner, to understand how the message translates and to explore further the weekly Sunday sermon and lessons within the Episcopal tradition and daily life.
Learn more about Christ Church Cathedral.
Please come and worship with us every Sunday at 10 am (central)
Pulpit To Pew is a Christ Church Cathedral and Deep Fried Studios collaboration.

No one prays to God to be "tested"? Usually, we pray to be shielded from such trying times. Does God test us? Rev. Beverly Gibson discusses her belief that God does, and why asking to be tested can be a blessing. Johnny Gwin inquires about the life of Job and the lessons that his example can teach us. Also, Rev. Gibson talks about the Church's, society's, and her views on the tragedy and trauma of divorce. There is growth in suffering. Relationships and bonds are tried and forged in the hardest of times. How can we create positive outcomes from pain and tragedy? Lastly, Jesus (in his constant testing by the Pharisees) shows us how to expect the law but to dig deeper into its meaning and purpose. Be more than followers of the rules. Recognize the suffering of others, be compassionate, humble, and do not fall into the trap of the hardness of heart.

 
Readings:
Job 1:1; 2:1-10
Psalm 26 
Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12
Mark 10:2-16

About Pulpit To Pew
Pulpit to Pew is a conversation between priest and parishioner, to understand how the message translates and to explore further the weekly Sunday sermon and lessons within the Episcopal tradition and daily life.
Learn more about Christ Church Cathedral.
Please come and worship with us every Sunday at 10 am (central)
Pulpit To Pew is a Christ Church Cathedral and Deep Fried Studios collaboration.
 

In this episode, Rev. Beverly Gibson and Johnny Gwin discuss the weekly lectionary lessons and Rev. Marshal Craver's beautiful sermon on how we can be set free of our addictions. Jesus loves us regardless of our faults, sins, and fixations (good and bad). He wants us to be free of the servitude of unhealthy obsessions, and our devotion to the wrong things. Assigning too much attachment to "things" erodes our freedom and harms our relationship with God, others who depend on you, our neighbors, and our community. Truth, humility, compassion, and the ability to ask for help are the holy multitool for cutting out the habit of assigning too much devotion to the things that can become a barrier to becoming the person who we want to be, and who God made us to be. We all have our golden calf or banana in a coconut. We hold on to those things very tight. However, for real transformation, we must work to strike our addictions with a sword, dig deeper, and do more than stop our actions. We must change our hearts.

Readings:
Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22
James 5:13-20
Mark 9:38-50


About Pulpit To Pew
Pulpit to Pew is a conversation between priest and parishioner, to understand how the message translates and to explore further the weekly Sunday sermon and lessons within the Episcopal tradition and daily life.
Learn more about Christ Church Cathedral.
Please come and worship with us every Sunday at 10 am (central)
Pulpit To Pew is a Christ Church Cathedral and Deep Fried Studios collaboration.

In this episode, Rev. Beverly Gibson and Johnny Gwin talk about the nature and identity of "the wicked" and the creation and summoning of Death. Who is The Righteous Man from the Wisdom of Solomon, and why is he reviled as "inconvenient"? What does the 1982 Disney film, Something Wicked This Way Comes, have to teach us about humility, courage, facing our shadow selves, and drawing closer to God? Drawing closer to God starts with us inviting God to be present more in our lives and practicing this purposeful action will bring more light and peace into our dark and shadowy world.
Key Takeaways:
The Wisdom Literature of the Bible is an excellent guide for the faithful to explore the nature of righteous living. Our arch-enemies are not always external. Most of our biggest struggles and conflicts stem from the darkest (and unknown) parts of ourselves. Look inward to find our true selves that can fully participate in a life with God. Drawing closer to God can start by bringing our "Sunday Selves" to our Monday morning lives. Embracing righteousness, humility and sharing God's light repels the "the wicked" around us that is summoned by the World.
Readings:
Wisdom of Solomon 1:16-2:1, 12-22
James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a
Mark 9:30-37
 
Resources:
Something Wicked This Way Comes - Film (1982)
Ray Bradbury
Waiting For My Real Life - Colin Hay Documentary 
 
About Pulpit To Pew
Pulpit to Pew is a conversation between priest and parishioner, to understand how the message translates and to explore further the weekly Sunday sermon and lessons within the Episcopal tradition and daily life.
Click here to learn more about Christ Church Cathedral.
Please come and worship with us every Sunday at 10 am (central)
Pulpit To Pew is a Christ Church Cathedral and Deep Fried Studios collaboration.